December, 2020 - Organizer

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 review

3:56 pm | December 28, 2020

Looking for a cooking appliance to enhance your existing lineup? Ninja’s versatile offering may just be for you. Lavishing us with choice, the Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 joins Ninja’s fast-growing kitchen appliance collection.

Best known for its range of blenders and food processors that rival the likes of Nutribullet in terms of style and functionality, Ninja designs appliances to ‘fit the lifestyles of busy people all over the world’. As well as blenders and food processors, the company offers an intuitive range of choppers, multi-cookers and health grills, all designed to create great tasting food, fast.

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK — (Image credit: Emily Peck / Future)

The AF300 is the latest model to join Ninja’s range of dedicated air fryers and multi-cookers, boasting the most sleek finish and convenient features to date. It’s unique in that it provides the ability to produce two separate dishes in record time. This is possible as a result of its Sync mode, which does the hard work for you by ensuring that the food you place inside – meat in one compartment and veg in the other, for example – are both ready at the same time.

The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 offers all the health benefits of a decent air fryer in that it can cook up to 75% faster than a fan oven, with little to no oil required. What’s more, it has the ability to carry out five other tasks, including max crisp for cooking frozen foods such as nuggets and chips; roast, for vegetables and meats; reheat, which is great for leftovers; dehydrate, for making veggie crisps; and bake, for when you fancy something sweet.

This is now one of Ninja's older models. If you're looking for something with good cooking capacity that will take up less space on your kitchen counter, check out the Ninja Double Stack, which has a two-tiered design with minimal transfer of heat between the two drawers, making it ideal for cooking two dishes at once. It's so good, it took the prize for best air fryer in the 2024 TechRadar Choice Awards.

If you like the flavor of barbecued food but not the hassle of scrubbing everything afterwards, take a look at the Ninja Woodfire, which uses wood chips to create an authentically smoky flavor.

Price and availability

You can buy the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK for £179.99 from the Ninja website if you're in the UK.

Australian shoppers can also pick one up directly from Ninja Kitchen for an RRP of AU$399. It's also available in Australia from other major retailers, including Myer and Amazon, and is frequently discounted.

Design and key features

Ninja’s Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 is unlike any other air fryer we’ve tried. As well as the ability to create healthy air-fried foods using little to no oil, it comes with a unique offering in that it can cook two separate foods at the same time and ensure they’re ready to serve together.

Measuring an ample H31.5 x D35cm, it’s quite a large appliance as countertop gadgets go, but its design is sleek and attractive, as well as functional. A sophisticated black and chrome finish means it’s the kind of gadget you won’t mind keeping out on your worktop – provided you have the room for it.

The appliance feels ergonomic in hand and is luxuriously made. It features two independent cooking drawers that slide out easily to give you an overall capacity of 7.6 litres. Each compartment is deep enough to cook a decent amount of food – be it a 500g batch of sweet potato fries, 1kg of chicken or up to 12 cupcakes, for example. The drawer handles feel comfortable and are easy to insert and take out.

Within each compartment is a crisper plate that helps to brown the food when you air-fry; it ensures that air can circulate around the food to remove excess moisture and ensure a crispy, golden finish. They also stop the food sticking to the base of each compartment. We found them easy to take out for simple cleaning, either by hand or in the dishwasher.

As well as air frying, the device has the ability to max crisp, roast, reheat, dehydrate and bake, too, and all these features are clearly marked on the digital control panel. The countdown timer also makes it easy for you to see how much cooking time remains in each section.

Performance

At 8.2 kg, lifting the Ninja’s Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 out of the box and positioning it on the worktop is the hardest part of handling the machine. It features clearly marked controls that light up stylishly as soon as you plug in the appliance and turn it on.

The appliance comes with a quick-start guide book, which features recipes for inspirational meals you can cook inside covering chicken, pork, fish, vegetarian dishes and desserts. There are things listed that you wouldn’t necessarily consider air frying – browse between ‘Hunters BBQ Chicken and Chips’ to ‘Sweet and Sour Tofu and Asian Style Vegetables’.

To get a feel for the six-in-one appliance, we used it to perform a number of tasks. Firstly, we air-fried some fresh pork sausages and frozen sweet potatoes. While each zone automatically suggests a set time and temperature, you can easily adjust these to your preference. The guide suggests cooking sausages for around 9 mins at 200 degrees, and the sweet potato fries for around 20 minutes at 190 degrees. Once you’ve programmed your zone, you can then press Sync to ensure the foods finish cooking at the same time, which is a feature we’re most impressed by.

It’s recommended that you check food mid-way through the cook, giving it a shake to ensure food is being cooked evenly – but this almost defeats the whole USP of such a machine, whereby you’re meant to be able to set it and wait for the end to work its magic. That said, trying to get the perfect finish takes some experimentation.

The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 is a powerful machine. Our sausages cooked in super-quick time; in fact, following the suggested time, they were a little overcooked. As mentioned, this will improve as you become familiar with the machine and cooking times, and you’ll soon be creating flavoursome dishes in super-quick time.

We particularly like the fact that you can choose different settings for each compartment. For example, you can roast meat on one side, and bake on the other side. We tested its dual functionality by roasting chopped courgettes in one compartment and reheating lamb cutlets in the other. We were suitably happy with the results.

We also attempted to make a batch of halloumi fries – and were impressed at how well the fries kept their structure while they cooked. We were able to enjoy crispy, melt-in-the-mouth halloumi fries in under five minutes.

Should I buy the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300?

Buy it if…

You’re looking for inspiration. Bored of meal times? The Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer may just make dinner more interesting. Use it to create recipes from the dedicated recipe booklet such as ‘Coconut-lime Cod and Cauliflower Rice’ or ‘Chicken Fajitas with Spicy Roast potatoes’.

You want flexibility in the kitchen. This device will give you six cooking settings in one, which you can access easily – use it to cook roast chicken on one side, and dessert on the other.

You want to avoid deep-fat frying but love the taste. Use this and choose a healthier air-fry option to limit the amount of oil you serve on your food.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re not a fan of fried food. The best thing about this device is its ability to crisp foods in under 20 minutes. If you prefer the taste of saucy slow-cooked dishes, this appliance probably isn’t for you.

You expect the reheat function to act as a microwave. While it does revive leftovers, it doesn’t replace a standard microwave, which can cook ready meals or warm and melt liquids, for example.

You have a lot of mouths to feed. While the 7.5-litre capacity is large, you won’t be able to roast a whole chicken in this device. If you’re looking for something that can cook large batches, it’s worth considering a multi-cooker such as the Ninja Foodi Max Multi Cooker instead.

OnPay review

3:29 am | December 24, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

OnPay is a neat option for any small businesses looking for a more streamlined approach to office administration tasks. The cloud-based software lets users amalgamate several chores into one workflow, with the focus primarily on payroll. However, OnPay can also be called upon to help you handle tax-related issues, HR duties and other miscellaneous office tasks too.

Want to try OnPay? Check out the website here

More recently, the OnPay package has been carefully honed and adds in lots more functionality, which alongside its already generous suite of features leaves users with lots of options for managing their payroll more efficiently. While it’s not the cheapest cloud-based software package you can buy, it does represent great value. Combined with its fast and efficient feature set, OnPay certainly deserves closer inspection.

OnPay: Pricing

Following the coronavirus pandemic, small businesses are looking for more value than ever. While OnPay isn't exactly a bargain-basement cloud-based software package, what it does provide is value.

Currently the pricing structure offers a first month free option, with no charges for getting set up either. From there, the base fee is $36 per month with an additional $4 per month charge for each person who needs to use the software. There’s actually a handy slider on the pricing page that gives you a dynamic price quote based on the amount of people you’d expect to add.

Interestingly, it goes right up to 1000 people with a price of $4036 per month, although that is perhaps an extreme example. Either way, OnPay says that you’re only billed for workers who are paid in a given month.

OnPay: Features

Following a fairly recent update, OnPay has plenty of features to make the cloud-based solution of interest to small businesses. There are unlimited monthly pay runs with all tax filings and payments covered. The revised dashboard also allows you to pay W-2 employees and 1099 workers, while payments themselves can be carried out using direct deposit, debit card or good old-fashioned check.

OnPay is versatile too, with the option to set multiple pay rates and schedules, take garnishments and handle unemployment insurance. OnPay is also adaptable if you have to pay employees that are located in more than one state, and works across all 50.

The added bonus of using OnPay is that it can be tailored to suit different kinds of small business, including restaurants, farms and agriculture concerns, non-profits and even churches and clergy. What’s more, there’s the capacity for plenty of employee involvement too, thanks to the OnPay built-in self-service side of things.

OnPay: Performance

With OnPay being cloud-based software and able to work on Windows and Mac platforms you should be sure of decent performance. However, while the package works a treat on a desktop or laptop machine, the experience on mobile is less impressive.

You’re essentially faced with using the same desktop offering, but in a smaller environment, rather than via a dedicated app, which if you’re handling lots of data could prove rather sluggish. In its preferred environment though, OnPay zips along nicely.

OnPay: Ease of use

Working with payroll is invariably complicated and time-consuming, which means that the wizard option in the latest version of OnPay will prove useful if you’re configuring for the first time. Not only that, OnPay has had plenty of tweaks that makes it even easier to use in other areas, with the employee records aspect proving invaluable if you have issues to log outside of regular hours, salary and so on.

Considering that, even the smallest of businesses will find it has lots of data to process OnPay has been designed so nicely that this is generally presented in a crisp and clear fashion. That doesn't quite extend to the mobile variant as we’ve already mentioned, but generally OnPay is easier to grasp than others of its ilk.

OnPay’s recent facelift also means that there are now plenty of options when it comes to custom reporting, which is easier than ever to use. Similarly, its creators have also done a great job with the latest integration features, with plenty of accounting and time-tracking options at your disposal.

If you’re looking for an easier way to integrate your other applications with OnPay then the latest edition makes that pretty straightforward. It can be used in conjunction with the likes of QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, TSheets, Deputy, WhenIWork, Humanity, ThinkHR and PosterElite too.

OnPay: Support

The online support aspect of OnPay is particularly impressive with lots of practical information available. The tax information is of definite value if you're a small business owner who wants to be sure everything is being done to the letter. In terms of getting in touch with support staff then OnPay offers all of the usual options including phone, chat and email routes into the support team.

While phone support is available during business hours Monday to Friday, the OnPay email support is on hand at weekends too should you need to chase up something urgently.

OnPay: Final verdict

OnPay is maturing all the time and its latest incarnation has plenty to offer the small business owner who has to contend with running payroll and other tasks. The new edition has been fine-tuned to take into account all of the issues surrounding COVID-19 too, with plenty of assistance on that front.

This cloud-based software delivers an enjoyable user experience, with a dashboard and supporting layout that makes even those tedious data-heavy tasks that little more bearable. The lack of an app makes using OnPay via a mobile browser less appealing, which is slightly disappointing but it’s a doddle when you’re working within a desktop environment thanks to the revised dashboard.

Cost-wise, OnPay also seems pretty good value considering what you get as part of the package. All told, it’s an interesting proposition for small businesses and easily stands up for itself when put alongside the opposition.

Other business software options worth looking at include Sage Business Cloud Accounting, QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Freeagent, GoSimpleTax, TaxCalc, Nomisma, ABC Self-Assessment or Crunch.

We've also highlighted the best accounting software

Confirmed VPN review

10:39 pm | December 22, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Confirmed VPN claims to be the world's first no-log, fully audited, and openly operated VPN that can safeguard your data against hackers, snoopers, and your ISP. Their mission is simple: "increase user trust in the apps and services they use every day".

They also have the "openly operated" certification, which is given to apps that operate completely transparently. This review will provide you with all the information you need to be able to make an informed decision about whether or not it’s the best VPN for you.

This VPN is based in the United States, a country that falls under the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations. The issue of jurisdiction is critical to your online privacy, as the US authorities have the right to obtain your information and share it with nations which are members of the 5 eyes.

Confirmed VPN has 12+ servers in the United States, Ireland, India, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea. This means their VPN server selection is quite small, especially when compared with Express VPN and other top-tier products.

Confirmed VPN platform has been audited frequently by third parties, who have inspected their source code and open infrastructure. This sits well with us as VPN audits are necessary for customers to verify the security of the service.

Pricing & plans

Confirmed VPN offers a 7-day free trial, but there's a catch: the trial period only begins after you enter your credit card details. So if you try out this option make sure you cancel immediately, otherwise you'll be charged for a full subscription.

If you are interested in using the service after the trial, there are three subscription plans. The first plan is for iOS and Android users only and costs $4.99 monthly. The Pro plan is for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android and costs $9.99 monthly. Alternatively, you can choose the Pro yearly plan which costs $8.33 per month and is billed at $99.96 yearly.

The iOS and Android plans allow you to connect to three devices simultaneously, while the Pro plans give five simultaneous connections. Unfortunately, confirmed VPN does not have a money-back guarantee, so you are most likely stuck if you run into any issues while using the software and want a refund. Currently, credit card is the only payment method available.

If you are looking for the best free VPN, you would be better off exploring other options, as a seven day free trial is a very limited option.

Privacy & encryption

Confirmed VPN’s Privacy Policy states that it does not store or log your IP address, or use a cookie to track you. They claim to only keep the most basic client account information, such as your email address, and to record this in an encrypted format that cannot be cracked. The company will also track the account's creation date, active subscription plan, and overall bandwidth usage over the previous 30 days.

It’s important to understand that ConfirmedVPN may be legally obligated to divulge information to law enforcement in response to a legitimate subpoena, court order, warrant, or similar government order. However, they claim they would notify their clients of any such disclosure unless they are forbidden from doing so by law or court order, or in extremely rare, urgent situations. Their privacy policy is one of the most transparent we have seen, and they have also undergone a security audit to back up their claims.

To secure your private information from prying eyes, Confirmed VPN deploys AES 256-bit encryption, as well as IPSec, HTTPS, SSH, and SSL/TLS VPN protocols. The service does not support torrenting, but even if it did, it would not be safe to torrent on it because of the VPN's jurisdiction.

Streaming

The ability to give customers access to popular streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer in areas where these services are unavailable is a feature that’s highly valued in the VPN market. If finding a top streaming VPN is what you’re after, Confirmed VPN would not be of help. You would be better off looking at a service such as ExpressVPN, which can unblock geo-restricted content on streaming platforms with ease.

Support

Confirmed VPN has native apps for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. If you require assistance, you can only contact their customer service representatives via email or Twitter. That said, we sent an email to this provider but we have not heard back from them yet. During the course of this review, our attention was drawn to the fact that Confirmed VPN is no longer in operation and is currently under a VPN called LockdownPrivacy.

Alternatives to Confirmed VPN

While ConfirmedVPN is inactive, there are a lot of reputable VPNs out there that can provide you with high-quality service. For example, ExpressVPN would grant you access to thousands of servers and cutting-edge security features that would astound you and protect your privacy. If you do not want to pay much but still want an advanced service, you could also consider Surfshark, which will provide you with a reliable service at an affordable cost.

Other options we suggest checking out include NordVPN or CyberGhost. These will provide you with thousands of servers, a native client for all major apps, and lightning-fast speeds. All the VPNs listed here would give you access to geo-restricted content on VOD platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. They would also give you a generous money-back guarantee, cutting-edge security features, 24/7 customer support, and lots more.

Verdict

Confirmed VPN might have been a good anonymity provider when it was still in operation, but since it’s no longer offering active services, we cannot compare it to the likes of ExpressVPN. There are many alternative services out there that would provide better value for money and offer all of the best privacy tools you might need.

Vipre Antivirus review

9:42 pm | December 21, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Comments: Off

There is a chance that you did not hear about Vipre Antivirus despite it being around since 2013 and the original company behind it having its start in 1994. AV Comparatives, in their independent virus detection tests, claim that Vipre detects 96.8% of threats, which is more than enough for you to take a look at Vipre. This, coupled with a solid real-time protection functionality, covers the basics quite well. However, if you’re expecting more from a security suit, then Vipre can disappoint. Sure, it does offer more functionality on higher tiered plans, but if you’re looking to get the “best bang for your buck,” then competitors like Norton are a much better choice.

With higher tier plans, you get access to a range of advanced security tools that go beyond basic antivirus protection. However, it's worth noting that most of these extras are only available for Windows users. For starters, the firewall helps block unauthorized network connections, adding an extra layer of defense against hackers. There’s also a browsing track cleaner that clears your online history to keep your activity private. For those worried about snooping, the webcam and microphone blocker ensures no one can secretly tap into your devices.

On top of that, Vipre offers a Dark Web scanner to keep an eye out for signs of identity theft and a sensitive document auditing tool that helps flag files containing personal or confidential information. You also get access to Vipre’s Advanced Behavioral Analysis, designed to detect suspicious activity before it becomes a real threat. And if privacy is a top concern, the unlimited VPN included with the highest plan encrypts your internet traffic on all devices.

You can sign up for VIPRE Antivirus solutions here

Pricing plans

Vipre offers three plans for something they term “For Home” plans, meaning that users won’t require complex business security solutions. There are three plans under the Home category: Antivirus Plus starting at $14.99 a year, Advanced Security at $19.99 a year, and Ultimate Security Bundle at $39.99 a year. The first plan is quite basic, offering protection for only one Windows device. If you need protection for a Mac, you will need to start with the second-tiered plan that comes with some advanced functions like third-party patching, protection against phishing and spam email exploits, a firewall, and Advanced Behavioral Analysis. If you’re looking to extend the offer with the following functions: browsing track cleaner, dark Web scanner, webcam and microphone blocker, and an unlimited VPN, you will have to opt for the highest tier plan. The decision which plan to go for will depend mostly on your needs. We would also like to point out that all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can always take the antivirus for a spin since you get a free 30-day trial.

Features

Downloading and installing Vipre on your desktop is a simple and quick process. If you’re on Windows, you will be greeted with a Vipre Antivirus window, which we could not resize. Since we did not test the software on a Mac, we compared the online images of Vipre’s presentation on Mac and concluded that the Windows version looks outdated. This is a personal preference, and in no way does it affect the functionality of the app, but we are spoiled by the likes of Bitdefender and other more visually appealing software on Windows. In terms of ease of use, most of the functions and options in the Antivirus software are on-off switches. You can also find the letter i next to numerous checkboxes that offer additional information for each option. Clicking it will bring about a floating text box that does not respect the bounds of the main software window (see image below).

On Android, it’s a completely different story. The app follows modern design principles and is quite intuitive and useful. Moreover, the mobile version comes with some features that the Desktop variant does not have. For instance, the theft prevention tool can help you locate your stolen device. Furthermore, there is the App Lock feature to restrict access to specific apps, and there is an Email Breach Checker that can scan if your email address has been compromised. For iPhone users, though, there’s some bad news; Vipre’s iOS app is only available on higher-priced subscription plans, and even then, the functionality is pretty limited compared to Android.

In terms of Firewalls, we would argue that Windows Firewall is a great option for most users, but if you consider using a different option, Vipre offers a highly customizable version of their own. It allows for easy network management through exception rules, logging, and tweaks that advanced users will appreciate. Despite all of the firewall features, we still prefer the in-built option with Windows, so for us, Vipre’s Firewall is a feature we would skip.

If you opt for the Ultimate Security Bundle, the Vipre Privacy Shield may be an addition that you will find useful. With it, you can block access to your microphone and webcam, block ads and trackers, and ensure your private information is not being siphoned off via cookies. Furthermore, the Privacy Shield also comes with a password manager that can help you keep your online credentials safe, a secure vault for your files, and the ability to check whether your email or passwords have been compromised. All of these features are useful; however, compared to premium providers that focus on a single niche, e.g., password managers, Vipre simply falls short.

The same can be said for Vipre’ Internet Shield VPN, which is available for almost all major OS’. One stand-out feature is that it comes with no bandwidth and no data limits, but the speeds are mediocre at best and, in our test, were inconsistent. However, we applaud the fact that you can choose between IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP tunneling protocols. Similarly, you can choose between AES 256/128 encryption. If blazing speeds are not your priority and you enjoy the fact that your IP is hidden behind a VPN, then Internet Shield VPN will do its job wonderfully. But if you’re looking to stream a lot of content hiding your activities behind this VPN, then we would recommend that you look elsewhere.

For the gamers among us, it is important to mention that Vipre offers a Gaming Mode with its Antivirus software. This feature is intended to enhance your gaming mode by stopping any activities from the antivirus software that may tax your system. It actively postpones scans, updates, and update checks as well as any system updates. Moreover, all notifications from the antivirus and firewall are disabled. With security tools, such modes often automatically launch in the background once a full-screen process is launched (movie, game, etc.), but with Vipre, you do it manually. Launching the mode can be done in two ways, the first one is from the main app window; on the left side, there is a “Gaming” section where you flip the toggle on, and it is started. The second option is right-clicking on the Vipre tray icon and selecting “enable Gaming”. Finally, this option can stay active for up to eight hours or be turned off manually whenever you need to.

Protection

Vipre Antivirus starts off with a very easy-to-use design philosophy, where you choose between MyVipre, Account, and Manage options. There, you will find all of the features you need for your antivirus. From the MyVipre tab, you can choose what type of scan you want to perform (Full Scan, Quick Scan, and Custom Scan), making the entire process quite intuitive. On our test machine, we have a Ryzen 7 series processor, and Task Manager showed that the Vipre was using around 5% of our CPU during the Quick Scan process. Note that we’ve closed all other background processes and other active windows.

As with most other antivirus software, Vipre also immediately quarantines any malware it finds, and you have the option of releasing the files from the quarantine if you believe the application made a mistake. If you’re using Outlook and Edge, Vipre offers some great additional features like the browser protect (which also covers Chrome & Firefox), preventing all malicious attempts that come through the web browser from affecting your system. Similarly, for Outlook, the option of automatically scanning potentially malicious emails and quarantining them is helpful; moreover, we would recommend you keep the anti-phishing toggle on, even if you like to filter your inbox manually.

When testing Vipre's file download protection, the software effectively blocked the majority of malicious files, including zip files containing potentially harmful software. In addition to blocking these threats, Vipre's scan engine ensures that any downloaded files are checked for malware. You can choose to enable or disable protection for specific file types or folders, providing a tailored security solution. For example, if certain files or applications are frequently flagged by Vipre but are deemed safe, you can whitelist them for uninterrupted access.

To extend protection of your entire system, Vipre offers an auto-patch for vulnerabilities option. You can locate this feature in the Updates section of the app. It aims to keep your essential apps updated so you don’t have to. Most of the time, this service runs quietly in the background, checking for versions of your software and updating any that are out of date. Of course, you have the option of changing the frequency of checks as well as asking for your permission before it performs an update. We dislike the fact that you have to go into the Update History section to get an overview of what the app did. Among the apps that it looks to update are browsers, browser extensions, utilities, and communication apps like Zoom, Slack, etc.

For enterprise clients, the last available Vipre test was done on September 2024 by SE Labs, giving it their triple A rating. It scored a 100% overall score across general and targeted attack types used, as well as a 99% accuracy rating. The attacks in this test include threats that impact the general public as well as those aimed at specific individuals and organizations.

Final verdict

In the end, Vipre is a solid, no-frills security solution that can meet the basic protection demands for users not expecting unnecessary extra features. It’s lightweight, making it ideal for older systems, it’s fairly easy to use, and it performs well when it comes to detecting viruses and offering real-time protection to a system. Its versatility is extended with the help of its higher-tiered plans that come packed with a firewall, spam filtering, VPN, and other features. While it does represent a great choice for users looking to get comprehensive coverage from one provider, we would recommend taking a look at the competition before dishing out on higher-tiered plans.

Malware detection has room for improvement, as well as the iOS app, while the Android one is surprisingly capable. So, if you're after a simple and affordable antivirus software that will not eat away your resources, then Vipre could be an option. On the other hand, if you’re a more demanding user who wants all of the latest bells and whistles offered by security bundles, then look elsewhere.

We've also highlighted the best antivirus software in this roundup

SOAX proxy service review

11:30 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Comments: Off

Founded in 2020, UK-based SOAX is one of the youngest of the big proxy service providers, but don’t let that put you off. The company has been working exceptionally hard to grow its service, and now offers a 191m+ pool of ethically-sourced proxies in residential, mobile, USA ISP and datacenter forms.

It’s building a web scraping range, and already has scrapers and APIs for SERP and ecommerce, along with a zero-code AI scraper and a general purpose Web Unblocker. And although SOAX isn’t the cheapest provider around, it’s better value than most of the big names, while new Pay As You Go plans offer a low risk way to find out just how the service can work for you.

You can sign up for SOAX here.

Features

Soax proxy locations — (Image credit: SOAX)

SOAX stands out immediately for its vast proxy pool. There’s an outstanding 155M+ residential IPs (even a giant like Oxylabs ‘only’ claims 100m+), 33m+ mobile, 2.6m+ USA ISP and a mix of shared and dedicated datacenter IPs. HTTP, HTTPS and SOCKS5 proxies are on offer.

You get plenty of control over every area of the service. You’re able to target by 195 countries (see the full list here), city, even ASN/ ISP, allowing you to unblock even the most regional of restrictions.

Residential proxies rotate by default, with standard refresh rates ranging from 1 to 60 minutes, and the option to enter a custom duration if you need something different. You can also opt to use sticky IPs if you prefer, avoiding automatic rotation, or simply opt for a new IP with every request.

There are some restrictions, too. Requests are limited to 1,000 per second for a single plan, and, by default, you’re not able to access websites through ports other than 80 or 443. (SOAX may allow others, depending on your use case.)

The proxy business has its shady side, and that’s bad news for everyone: proxy misuse means poor IP reputations and regular IP blocks. SOAX has a strong focus on trust, and uses various tactics to avoid abuse. KYC (know your customer) checks verify a user’s identity for most plans; usage is restricted to ‘pre-approved ethical use case’; platform usage is continuously monitored to spot signs of abuse, and the company says it quickly investigates and blocks anyone breaking the rules.

Performance

The company has been working hard on performance, and recently announced a major infrastructure upgrade 'reducing networking hops and streamlining our routing... bringing proxy servers closer to users and target websites in North America...'

SOAX claims this reduces datacenter latency by 64% for North American users targeting websites in the US and Canada. The residential proxy Time To First Byte metric (TTFB) has dropped from 1,370ms to only 760ms, and even international users will see some benefit (European connections to the US saw a 16% improvement in TTFB.)

While that sounds good, we were keen to verify these results with our own tests. We ran some checks from the UK, targeting the UK to get the best possible speeds, and the residential proxy results were very similar to SOAX’s, with the TTFB averaging an excellent 787ms. Speeds you’ll see will vary hugely based on your location, your target and the proxy type, but clearly the SOAX infrastructure can perform very well.

Plans and Pricing

Soax proxy pricing — (Image credit: Soax)

SOAX offers monthly plans, priced by traffic, with - the latest addition - low-cost Pay-As-You-Go options if you don’t want to commit or you’re just looking to test the service.

Residential and mobile proxies start at $90 a month for 25GB, or $3.60 per GB. That drops for $2 per GB on the $1600 a month, 800GB deal, with custom plans available if you need more. That’s good value, and unlike Oxylabs and a few other providers right now, it’s not based on a 50% discount voucher that expires in six months. This is the long-term price.

The USA ISP proxy plans start at $90 for 30GB ($3 per GB), and your Datacenter options start at $49 for 80GB ($0.62 per GB.)

Too much? New Pay-As-You-Go plans have low starting prices, are only a little more expensive per GB, and have minimal commitments. PAYG Residential and mobile proxies are only $4 per GB, for instance, barely 11% more than the basic standard plan, with a minimum data requirement of just 1GB.

You can also opt for a 3-day, 400MB trial for just $1.99. That makes for a low headline price, but if you’d like more time, opting for a Pay As You Go plan could make more sense. You’ll spend at least $4 instead of $1.99, but you’ll get 2.5x as much data, you won’t have to rush through your tests in only 3 days, and - unlike the trials - there’s no risk of the plan renewing for at least $90 if you forget to cancel.

Refunds are available, but only in very limited cases; SOAX hasn’t lived up to its SLA, for instance, or you’ve bought a package accidentally and never used it. But if you’ve bought a trial package, used some data or paid by crypto, there’s no refund option.

SOAX could give users a little more control in some areas. Billing is always per GB, for instance, with no per IP option. It’s monthly billing only But, overall there’s a lot to like about SOAX pricing. Standard plans have reasonable starting fees, the per GB cost is a fraction of the competition, and PAYG options give you flexibility without any real price penalty. If cutting costs is high on your priority list then SOAX is a must-see.

Signing up

Soax account creation — (Image credit: Soax)

Signing up with SOAX is easy. There are no lengthy identity checks, no need to provide documents just yet (KYC checks don’t happen until you sign up for one of the full paid plans); enter your name and verify your email address (or just sign up with Google) and you’re in.

The SOAX dashboard opens at the Pricing page. Choose your preferred plan or trial, hand over your cash (we were able to pay by card only, but crypto and other options are available once you verify your identity), and the subscription is immediately added to your account.

The website refreshed at the main dashboard screen, a good-looking panel with a whole host of configuration options and status details. There’s a lot to explore, but SOAX does its best to help, with an initial nine-step walkthrough highlighting the key dashboard areas and what they do.

If, like us, you tend to rush through website onboarding, or sometimes skip it altogether, that’s okay too. The SOAX support chatbot is only click away, and although it’s not smart enough to solve any complex problems, we found it handy for explaining the ‘where do I find…?’ startup basics.

Getting started with SOAX

Soax dashboard reports — (Image credit: Soax)

Setup complete, it’s back to the dashboard to explore SOAX properly. This all starts with authorization, where you can opt to authenticate with a username and password or via IP whitelisting. We tried both, and in each case had to then specify our preferred IP rotation time, city, state or IP targeting, and assign them to specific ports.

That was enough for our first few tests, but if our needs were more complex, we could add more filters to target different locations or use other IP location schemes.

When you’re done, you can download your proxies in TXT, CSV and HTML formats. A handy Online Proxy Checker allows you to test up to 50 of these, report on their status and response times, and export only the working proxies. (You don’t have to be a SOAX customer to try this, it works with any proxies. Check it out here)

While SOAX offers a lot of proxy configurability and control, it doesn’t have the depth of functionality of the big names. Its proxy API is horribly basic when compared to the likes of Oxylabs, for instance, just a handful of calls to whitelist IPs and get location details. And although Decodo has supporting tools including browser extensions and its X Browser, there’s nothing like that here.

SOAX Multi Login tool — (Image credit: SOAX)

SOAX arguably makes up for this, though, with easy integration for a number of anti-detect browsers. The SOAX Integrations page links to tutorials covering how to get SOAX working with 15 popular tools, including Multilogin, GoLogin, AdsPower, Incognition and more.

Support

SOAX is relatively straightforward to use, but if you run into problems then support is on hand 24/7 via website, live chat and email.

The support site seems strong in some areas, at least initially, with 21 articles explaining the dashboard and its features, and 43 tutorials covering how to use your proxies with assorted operating systems, anti-detect browsers and other apps.

Dig deeper, though, and the reality is a little different. Some articles spend more time explaining basic definitions (what is a datacenter IP?) than offering detailed setup advice. We ran across some clumsy issues, including broken links for some important documents.

SOAX broken links — (Image credit: SOAX)

And if you move outside the Dashboard and Software sections, other categories are distinctly short of content. There are only five brief articles in the API section, but instance, and the Troubleshooting section has only three.

Fortunately, if you can’t find what you need on the website, the support team is available 24/7. We asked a couple of questions via live chat and in both cases received a friendly and helpful reply within a very speedy 3-4 minutes, as fast a response time as we see anywhere.

Final Verdict

SOAX is a quality proxy service, but it won't be right for everyone. Prices can't compete with budget providers like proxy-cheap.com, for instance. SOAX doesn't have the rich API of Oxylabs, or the management tools you'll get with the likes of Decodo (formerly Smartproxy).

But there's plenty of good news, too. Signing up with SOAX gets you one of the largest pools of residential proxies around. There's ultra-flexible rotation and targeting options, with helpful 24/7 live chat support to quickly solve any issues.

Better still, although SOAX has some shortcomings, it's releasing major updates all the time. Just the four weeks prior to this review saw the arrival of lower pricing (including Pay As You Go) and big speed-boosting infrastructure improvements. If you're looking for a quality mid-market proxy service then SOAX is one of the best around.

You can sign up for SOAX here.

We've featured the best VPN services.

ClearVPN review

10:50 pm | December 18, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

ClearVPN is another service vying to become the best VPN service on the market. The provider claims to be for anyone who wants to expand and protect their online experience, and was made for both VPN enthusiasts and casual users. It also claims to provide fast speeds and make your digital life safe, private, and comfortable. We tested this VPN provider's security capabilities, cost, jurisdiction, and other factors in this review to determine whether it is worthy of your attention.

The VPN is run by MacPaw, a software company specializing in developing popular software for Mac and iOS devices. MacPaw’s other creations include a PC optimizer, drive manager, duplicate file finder, photo organizer, RAR opener, file encryption, and more.

For its privacy tool, you can access more than 70 servers in 40 countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, and Canada. Although the VPN server pool is quite small, the company says it’s concentrated on those areas where it can provide the best speed/security balance rather than having a large network of medium-speed servers.

ClearVPN has user-friendly desktop programs for Mac and Windows, with mobile VPN apps for iOS and Android. All the apps were easy to download, use and were user-friendly, intuitive, and beautifully designed.

Pricing & plans

ClearVPN offers a free VPN service, as well as monthly and annual subscriptions.

The free version offers unlimited bandwidth but only a few servers and does not include the quick connect features for gaming or streaming; those and the rest of the shortcuts are only available with a paid subscription. Although whether it’s the best free VPN choice for you will depend on a number of factors.

The paid version costs $5 a month and $21 every six months. Subscribing to the paid plan gives you unlimited secure browsing, built-in shortcuts, IP masking, DDoS protection, and six devices per subscription. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Payments can be made via Mastercard, Visa, Paypal, Google Pay via the Google Play Store, and Apple Pay via the App Store. However, there’s no support for cryptocurrency.

Privacy & encryption

ClearVPN claims to have a strict no-log policy, claiming that they do not collect, store, or share any information about your online activities, nor do they collect and save your IP address.

Looking into the privacy policy document, we saw that ClearVPN collects some information with your permission. This includes device information (operating system, device name, and language), your country (using IP), how much data you send or receive, connection type, and cellular network information. There’s also anonymous VPN connection diagnostics and crash reports, which include diagnostic information about if and how a VPN connection attempt failed; speed test data; and crash reports, all without any personally identifiable information. They assert that all of these details are utilized to select the best servers for VPN connections and to uphold the caliber of their service.

For security, ClearVPN employs PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) to route your internet traffic simultaneously through several servers while encrypting it with AES-256 and hashing the exchange of data with SHA2-384 to ensure data integrity. The VPN also supports a range of VPN protocols, such as IPSec, IKEv2, and OpenVPN.

Behind the scenes, there’s an innovative VPN technology called DynamicFlow. This feature finds the fastest idle server that suits your needs based on your current location and connects you to it so you can take advantage of a seamless, low-ping, and secure VPN connection. You’ll also find an auto-connect feature, a VPN kill switch, ad blockers, malware blockers, and multihop servers, letting you route your internet traffic through multiple VPN servers at the same time. And yes, this is a VPN for torrenting and P2P.

Streaming

Some VPN providers can provide their users with access to popular streaming content that may not be available in all parts of the world. Fortunately, ClearVPN unblocks Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. However, this might not be one of the best Netflix VPNs since, unlike ExpressVPN and other top-rated services, we struggled to access geo-restricted content on the platform. If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, this is a fine VPN for streaming.

Support

If you require assistance, it is available via the support page, where you can access an FAQ, about the service, apps, and connectivity. You can also manage your ClearVPN account and subscription and contact customer support directly via email or through a live chat.

We tested the live chat feature and our message was responded to in less than a minute, first by a bot telling us that "ClearVPN typically replies in under 2 minutes," then by a customer care representative, whose response was courteous and clear.

Speed & experience

After privacy and security, VPN speeds are one of the most important criteria for a top-notch VPN provider because it’s essential for using the VPN for its basic functions.

That said, before testing the speed of the servers, we first tested our baseline speed, which gave us a speed of 100 Mbps. We tested a server in the United States, which gave us a speed of 30.22 Mbps. A server in Canada outperformed the others, with a speed of 50.23 Mbps. A server in the United Kingdom gave us a speed of 20.21.

Finally, we also wanted to see how a server in a faraway location would fare, so we picked the Hong Kong server, which gave us a speed of 12.1 Mbps. All told, it might not be the fastest VPN in the world, but it’s no slouch either.

Alternatives to ClearVPN

While it has fast speeds and useful security and privacy features, Clear VPN does not provide anything that the market leaders do not. For instance, ExpressVPN would give you access to tens of thousands of servers and provide you with astonishingly advanced security features that would safeguard your privacy.

If you want something well-known that would offer you advanced functionality, a wide range of protocol options, and support for different devices, especially major platforms as well as support for a few minor ones, we advise checking out NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost. Unlike ClearVPN, all four VPN services have been examined and verified by a third-party auditor in VPN audits.

Verdict

It’s fair to say, in some areas, ClearVPN didn’t impress. The service didn’t unblock regional Netflix content during our tests, doesn’t have thousands of servers, and doesn’t have independent verification of its no-log claims.

But it’s not all bad - in fact, there’s a lot worth recommending here, with many outstanding features, including lightning-fast speeds, reasonable costs, and user-friendly apps. However, if you value your privacy and want a VPN that is secure on all ends and has proven its no-log claims, other options, like ExpressVPN, are worth exploring.

RocketVPN review

11:55 pm | December 15, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

More than ever, it is important to protect your data while online, which is why many people use the best VPN for additional online security.

Services such as RocketVPN claim to help you encrypt all traffic from you to anywhere in the world and protect the data you transmit and receive from your ISP and hackers. This sounds good, but do they keep their word about protecting your data?

With so many VPNs available, it is possible that you will run into a VPN provider with the same name as another. It is important not to confuse RocketVPN with another VPN of the same name because the latter is based in Moscow, Russia, and is run by a company called RocketVPN Network, and the former is based in Dublin and is owned by Liquidum.

The Russian-based VPN offers an undisclosed number of servers but claims they are located in different countries including, Russia, USA, UK, Australia, and India. Additionally, the VPN provider asserts that each time you connect to their VPN, your connection receives a dynamic IP address from a pool of more than 4000 anonymous IP addresses. Another disadvantage of this VPN is that, as of the time of this review, it had not undergone any security audit.

Unlike most Russian-based VPNs that only have their websites in Russian, RocketVPN's website is available in English, Russian, Chinese, and Deutsch languages.

You can try RocketVPN by clicking here

Pricing & plans

The VPN vendor offers a 24-hour free trial, so you can try the service for a day and decide whether or not you want to purchase a subscription, and offers four very straightforward pricing plans.

The Bronze plan costs $19.99 a month. The Silver plan is priced at $29.99 for three months. The Gold plan costs $39.99 every six months. Finally, the Platinum package is charged at $49.99 a year.

Unfortunately, there’s no free VPN option here, which we found disappointing, but the clarity in subscriptions is always welcome. If you encounter any problems while using the VPN, and you want a refund this VPN gets none, which is quite unfortunate as many providers offer a generous money-back guarantee.

When you purchase RocketVPN subscription plan, you can use it on up to five devices at the same time. Also, you can purchase any of the VPN vendors' plans using PayPal, credit or debit cards, Alipay, UnionPay, MIR, Qiwi, Apple Pay, and others.

Privacy & encryption

RocketVPN's privacy policy is a brief document, and all we were told was that it gathers your personal information to better understand your needs and interests, conduct business and improve business, personalize communications, improve service, and give you a quality experience. It also claims not to transfer, sell, or rent your personal information to third-party companies.

And that’s all there is to it. No mention of logging was made in the VPN privacy policy. This statement in the privacy policy makes it impossible to know if any of your information or activities while using this VPN are being monitored. Even worse, no independent auditor has conducted a VPN audit to verify any of these claims.

RocketVPN supports the PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols but the website is silent on the type of encryption employed. All we know from the Privacy Statement is that all personal data, including public and private keys and passwords, is stored in an encrypted format with reputable cryptographic algorithms.

We would appreciate it if the company would let us know what kind of encryption it employs, and offer a security audit in order to increase our confidence. Despite the fact that this is touted as VPN for torrenting and P2P sharing, we do not advise you to torrent with RocketVPN. This is because the VPN lacks a kill switch, and you could run the risk of exposing your original IP to your ISP while you are torrenting.

Streaming

Unblocking geo-restricted content on websites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer has grown in importance - leading to a rise in the best streaming VPNs and best VPNs for Netflix.

Thankfully, that’s the case here. In our testing, we discovered that RocketVPN provides access to geo-restricted streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer

Speed & experience

RocketVPN claims to be a reliable VPN that will deliver fast network speeds. Well, we decided to test this claim on a 60 Mbps connection. Our first target location was the one closest to us, the United Kingdom, and this gave us an exceptionally fast 32.12 Mbps. The next stop was in the US, where the VPN server gave us a speed of 20.43 Mbps. We then wanted to see how a server far from us would fare, so we decided to pay a visit to one in Hong Kong, which delivered a speed of 4.22 Mbps.

To be honest, we didn’t experience a straightforward process while using RocketVPN. We had to follow the website's instructions in order to test the download speeds because there are no native apps for it.

Support

RocketVPN is compatible with Windows, masOS, Android, and iOS. However, it lacks native apps; instead, it only provides access to its services through a device's built-in VPN settings, as well as third-party software and configuration files that can be downloaded from the website.

The website also has comprehensive instructions for setting up the VPN on your device if you need assistance. But these instructions can only be accessed when you sign up and log in on the website. If you still need assistance, the VPN offers 24/7/365 support via live chat and a contact form. Strangely, we have yet to receive a response to a question submitted via the contact form, and the live chat messages we sent were never delivered.

Alternatives

Although it is not entirely bad and has some advantages, RocketVPN is unquestionably no match for services such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or CyberGhost. All of which provide stunning native clients, tens of thousands of servers, unrestricted traffic, round-the-clock customer service, an incredibly generous free trial, and more.

Verdict

Despite the lack of native apps, detailed information, thousands of servers, or flashy extras, Rocket VPN does a great job considering how little it costs on a monthly basis.

It also provides assistance every step of the way, delivers above-average download speeds, allows torrenting, and unblocks geo-blocked streaming content.

With a few improvements, Rocket VPN could compete a little more effectively with industry giants.

PizzaVPN review

2:58 am | December 12, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Perhaps the most notable thing about PizzaVPN is its name, which was inspired by the fast-food favorite. The VPN called London its base, and was developed by the ABC Gamers company.

For the privacy and security-conscious, London is among the worst places for a VPN to have its headquarters since the UK is a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, a collection of nations that share a lot of surveillance information among themselves. Any VPN located in one of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliance nations, including this one, should be used with extreme caution. This is due to the likelihood that foreign intelligence agencies could request specific data from any VPN operating in these countries.

PizzaVPN offers access to over 200 VPN servers in more than 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Nepal, Spain, Panama, Switzerland, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Mozambique, France, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Bolivia, Italy, Angola, the United States, and others.

These servers are separated into four categories based on their functions: regular VPN servers, SmartVPN servers, Torrent VPN servers, and Virtual VPN servers. Although 200 servers may seem like a lot, they are nothing compared to the top-tier VPN services on the market, such as ExpressVPN, which provides its users with more than 3000 servers across 94 countries. Pizza VPN has been providing services for over a decade. However, they never had their software subjected to a VPN audit - a crucial step to assure users that the network is secure and trustworthy and can protect user data from being stolen or misused.

Pricing & plans

Unlike other VPNs in the industry that give you a 30-day free trial, PizzaVPN does not offer a free VPN version to test their product. However, there is a 1-week non-recurring option for a one-time payment of $1.99, which is beneficial if you want to try out the service before committing to a lengthier plan.

PizzaVPN offers a range of different-length subscription plans to pick from, each with the same features included. One month of the service costs you $3.99/month, six months of the VPN cost $3.17/month and is billed at $18.99 on a 6-month basis, and the 12-month subscription plan costs $2.50 per month and is billed at $29.99/year. The VPN provider offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on all its subscription plans and accepts payments using bitcoin, major credit cards, PayPal, and Amazon Pay.

Privacy & encryption

PizzaVPN is based in the UK, within the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance. The provider states clearly that they do not log browsing history, traffic destination, data content, IP addresses, or DNS queries. According to the firm, the only logs collected are user emails, payment information, and user session length data for troubleshooting purposes and deleted after one day. Additionally, it boldly claims that even if required to divulge user information, the firm would be unable to do so because the necessary data isn't available.

PizzaVPN uses the industry-standard OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, and IPSec protocols and also goes far to keep you anonymous by assigning randomly generated usernames and passwords to each VPN subscription. The service has plenty of valuable features to choose from, including an auto-reconnect feature that saves you from having to start the tool every time and a VPN kill switch that halts your internet traffic if you ever lose connection. This is a crucial feature because it stops traffic from going through your ISP by default, thereby hiding your location and online activity.

Speed & experience

While it’s advertised as one of the fastest VPNs, as of this review, the VPN is no longer in operation, so we could not test this claim. It is somewhat unfortunate that it ended this way because this VPN seemed to have had a lot to offer. Is this a temporary closure, and will they soon be open for business?

Ultimately, this is unimportant, since there are much better options available, with features like the ability to access any geo-restricted content on any video streaming platform around the world at lightning fast speeds.

Customer support

According to customer reviews from the period PizzaVPN was still in operation, it had user-friendly native mobile VPN apps for Android and iOS, and desktop apps for Windows and Mac. It was also possible to contact the provider through a contact form, an email address, and by visiting the provider's Facebook and Twitter pages. But all of these channels were unavailable at the time of this review, as well as inactive social media pages.

Alternatives to PizzaVPN

PizzaVPN may have been a great VPN when it was operational, but since it is currently inactive, you can check out practically any of the services that are still available.

The best of these include the top VPN providers in the market, such as ExpressVPN with its extensive server network, NordVPN with its quick connection and ability to unblock geo-restricted content on popular VOD platforms, and Surfshark with its affordable pricing and unlimited bandwidth. We also like the 45-day money-back guarantee offered by CyberGhost. These VPNs may cost more than PizzaVPN’s previous rates, but they offer everything you require in a stand-alone VPN service without any compromises in quality or service.

Verdict

After reading some excellent reviews about PizzaVPN, we had high expectations for the service, particularly after checking out a few of the customer's written reviews about the product. However, our expectations were dashed since the company is currently out of business.

If you want to use one of the best VPNs available right now, pay attention to the major players in the market, like ExpressVPN. Even though it may cost a little more than PizzaVPN, what you get is worth the extra money. You get access to thousands of servers, robust security, the ability to use the VPN for Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services, as well as the ability to operate in regions where other providers can’t.

Dyson V8 review

3:52 am | December 11, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Dyson V8 vacuum cleaner: two-minute review

The Dyson V8 first launched back in 2016, but at time of updating this review, it's still available to buy, both direct from Dyson and via third-party retailers. Although it's not as high-performing or tech-packed as its successors, it's still a very capable cleaner, and compares well against today's best cordless vacuums from other brands. It's also significantly cheaper than many newer models (but more on that in a sec).

Like all the other Dyson stick vacuums, there are a few different versions of the V8 available. They all share the same motor and battery – the only real difference between them all is the number of extra tools they ship with, so do double-check exactly what's included before you buy.

As you'd expect from Dyson, the design is slick and smart, and everything feels high-quality and well-engineered. Although it lacks the super-efficient in-line configuration of later models, the suction here is good. There are two modes – Standard and Max – operated via a toggle switch. We found it could pick up most debris on the lower setting with an occasional blast on the higher setting doing a good job of collecting anything left over. Battery life is decent on standard suction mode, although the seven minutes in Max mode is a touch short, and the recharge time is far longer than modern Dyson vacuums.

You won't get things like sensors that adjust suction based on dirt levels and floor type, nor is there an LCD screen to provide you with usage information, but the design is still perfectly functional and will suit most people's needs.

There's a wide range of compatible tools, which can attach to the vacuum wand or directly onto the motor unit for use as a handheld. All the tools are well designed and very effective – most are essentially the same designs as you'll find with newer Dysons. These tools mean the Dyson V8 isn’t just for floors; it can shapeshift to tackle a range of other cleaning tasks, such as getting hair off upholstery, sprucing up the interior of your car, and even getting into ceiling corners.

In terms of price, the V8 regularly attracts deals and at list price it's usually the cheapest Dyson cordless vacuum on the market. However, prices vary by retailer and version, and sometimes the newer (and better) Dyson Cyclone V10 and even the Dyson V11 aren't hugely more expensive, making the V8 worse value by comparison. It's worth checking what deals are available on those models before buying a V8. That's the short version: read on for my full Dyson V8 review.

Dyson V8 vacuum cleaner in use — (Image credit: Future)

Dyson V8 review: price & availability

Various versions with different tools and different prices
Available direct from Dyson in US / UK / AU, as well as third-party retailers
Cheapest option $349.99 / £329 / AU$397

As is the case with most Dyson vacuums, there are a few different versions available, with different words added on to the end of the name (Animal, Origin, Absolute, and so on). These are almost always the same vacuum but with a slightly different selection of accessories. Because the V8 is an older vacuum, there are plenty of deals available, and prices will vary depending on where and when you buy.

At time of update, in the US there's the V8 available direct from Dyson for $469.99. Alternatively, there's the V8 Absolute (with an additional floorhead specifically for hard floors) for $519.99 but reduced to $349.99. Finally, there's a V8 Origin Plus (with different tools again) for $419.99.

In the UK, if you shop direct at Dyson it's just the regular V8, and it costs £329. Australian shoppers can choose between the V8 Absolute (AU$999 reduced to AU$549), the V8 Extra (AU$799 down to AU$499) or the V8 Origin Extra (AU$649, reduced to $397).

Based on TechRadar's price brackets, most of those are in the mid-range price bracket. The V8 is about the cheapest Dyson vacuum you can buy, and certainly far more affordable than the top-of-the-range models. If you don't have your heart set on a Dyson, there are cheaper options available from rival brands. Furthermore, depending on what deal you manage to find, it might not be much cheaper than a Dyson Cyclone V10 or even Dyson V11, and either of those would be a better pick for most people.

The Amazon Prime Day deals and Black Friday sales can be an especially good time to snap up a bargain, and it's worth checking our Dyson promo codes page to check you're not missing any extra savings.

Dyson V8 specs

Dyson V8 review: design

Versatile design can be used as a floor vacuum or a handheld
Reasonably lightweight, and easy to maneuver
Two power modes, controlled by a button

Dyson is known for its slick-looking products, and the V8 is included in that. The transparent 0.54L dustbin makes up the bulk of the handheld unit, with 15 small cyclone cones arranged in a two-tier flower shape in front of it. While the motor is powerful and well-designed, it's an older configuration that's not quite as efficient as later models, which place the motor, bin and cyclone array in a straight line to maximise suction.

The V8 weighs 3.5lbs/1.6kg with no attachments, and at its heaviest (with the wand and main cleaning head attached), it weighs 5.6lbs/2.6kg. For a household vac, that’s pretty lightweight, but it’s a little on the heavier side when considering comparable handheld vacuums for car cleaning.

The handle is broad and comfortable, even for people with small hands, and the power button – which resembles a trigger – is ergonomically placed just where your forefinger should be. You will need to keep your finger on the power trigger for the entire duration of your clean for the vacuum to run continuously, which can be annoying.

There's a HEPA filter encased in blue/purple plastic, with air vents on the sides. Below the filter and air vents is a toggle switch to change suction power – there are just standard and max settings to choose from on the V8.

All later models have at least three suction modes, and the newest models even have a mode that responds to things like the floor type and how dirty it is, and adjust accordingly. The toggle switch is also replaced by a button on newer models, and from the Dyson V11 onwards there's an LCD screen to give information. However, in use, the more basic V8 methods of operation are perfectly functional.

When the dustbin needs emptying, you pull a large red tab on the handheld unit with a bin icon (a new feature on the V8, but redesigned again on later models). This pushes the cyclone part of the main unit to rise while forcing the base flap to open simultaneously. Lo and behold, dust, debris and hair fall out, with only a very thin layer of fine particles sticking to the interior of the bin.

The V8 comes with a bunch of accessories, although exactly which ones will depend on the version you buy and where you live, so do double check when making your purchase. The floorhead attaches via a telescopic tube that’s perfect for general use, and each tool can also be attached directly to the main handheld unit for use in handheld mode. However, there are no clips on the vacuum for storing spare accessories when they're not in use (this is a feature on later models).

The standard direct-drive head is great on pretty much any surface, but if you buy the V8 Absolute, you’ll get a Soft Roller cleaning head that’s the best option for hard floors. Using soft fibers and carbon bristles on a rotating bar, the Soft Roller is designed to glide directly over floors, and this means that if you have larger debris (like kitchen spills) that need cleaning up, they’re not scattered willy nilly.

And, depending on which V8 model you opt for, you might get a low-reach adaptor that you can fit onto the end of the telescopic tube to get under couches and low tables (this is similar to the flexi-wand feature included on today's best Shark vacuum cleaners).

When using it as a car vac, we loved the crevice tool for getting into narrow spaces and mini motorhead tool for collecting bigger messes in the boot space.

Dyson V8 review: performance

Still powerful, although not as powerful as the newest models
Up to 40 minutes battery life
On the loud side for cordless vacs when on Max suction

Dyson tends to improve suction on its stick vacuums with each generation, so while the V8 isn't as powerful as newer models, it'll still be plenty strong enough for most people's needs. And while it's one of the noisier cordless home vacuums we have tested (at 80dB on max setting and 75dB on standard), it's not offensively loud.

No matter which cleaning tool you use, the V8 remains well balanced and, thanks to swiveling heads, moving the vacuum along hard floors and carpets is a breeze.

On carpets, the motorized direct-drive head does a fantastic job. It’s pretty good on hard floors as well, but if you can get the Soft Roller (or Fluffy) tool, there’s nothing like it on wood and tiles. Alternatively, you can use the mini motorized tool on hard floors, but its footprint is small, and you’ll need to go over the floor several times to finish a room. And that eats into the V8’s limited battery life.

We found it to be great at picking up both large and finer dirt in our in-car tests, using the mini motorhead tool which was a great size for most debris on carpet and upholstery. The crevice tool also worked great for getting into tighter areas, like into door bins, behind pedals and in-seat folds, and is long enough to counteract the V8’s larger body than most other handheld vacs.

Back to home use, and as with the other Dyson stick vacuums, the V8’s edge-cleaning prowess is pretty darn impressive. The cleaner head designs means it can handle the 90-degree angle along the edges of rooms and in most corners as well. This is also helped by how well most of the cleaning heads swivel on their own axes.

Dyson V8 vacuum in handheld mode — (Image credit: TechRadar)

Dyson V8 review: battery life

There’s up to 40 minutes of fade-free power available with the V8 on a single charge, and that holds true even when using the motorized cleaning tools (like the direct-drive and soft roller heads) – which is not something we were expecting.

When the battery has drained, the motor just switches off, with no reduction in suction prior to that, so you get consistent power and performance for the full 40 minutes.

On the max setting, though, the V8 lasts for much less time – you’ll get no more than seven minutes of use. This renders the Max setting good for only spot deep cleans and great for quick car cleanups, but thankfully the V8's standard setting is more than enough for most debris.

40 minutes of battery life is usually enough for an average-sized one-bedroom apartment, but if you live in a larger space, you'll need to charge the V8 again, which is along process – a full recharge can take about five hours.

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Clario review

12:30 pm | December 10, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Comments: Off

Today, our smartphones are much more than simple devices that we use to communicate. Thanks to technological advances, most of us perform activities on our phones that we used to do on our desktop PCs. This leads to similar problems that desktop users have been facing for years, namely, cybersecurity threats that range from malware to phishing and much more. But are our Android and iOS devices secure enough for us to perform our banking, investing, and storing sensitive information on them? Luckily, there are cybersecurity apps such as Clario that look to protect us in this modern world, where cyber threats such as phishing and malware have become quite common.

In the latest report by the FBI, an annual increase of 22% in losses has been recorded, thanks to various online scams, amounting to $12.5 billion. This indicates that fraud is a big business and that we need to stay even more vigilant during activities online, especially on our phones.

Previously, Clario was a suite of antivirus, VPN, and identity protection tools, but now it has transformed into a mobile app for both iOS and Android. The main goal of the spyware checker is to represent a one-stop shop app that neutralizes trackers and spyware on your phones.

Want to try Clario? Check out the website here

Features

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For Android, Clario is the epitome of a minimalist app. It’s easy to use, and the navigation is quick and intuitive. It is available on Google Play, and the download and installation are straightforward, with the signup option including Gmail. The scan process is customizable, meaning that you can start scanning for spyware out of the box or configure the app to scan for viruses and other types of malware. As stated, the app is easy to use, but the charm lies in the wizard that guides you through the mobile protection system, making suggestions on which type of adjustments you should be making. It will even make suggestions to turn 2FA on certain accounts (i.e., Instagram) if you have not already.

Clario offers robust protection against online threats through a comprehensive set of features that target some of the most common online risks. Its powerful ad blocker prevents intrusive and malicious ads from disrupting your browsing experience, while its tracking blocker ensures that your online activity remains private by stopping trackers from collecting your personal information. For the mobile phones, there is an additional feature of scanning your device for jailbreaking on iOS and rooting on Android, both of which can compromise your device’s security. If any such security bypasses are located, Clario will notify you and provide instructions on how to fix the issue.

Besides looking for malware, Clario also looks for any data breaches related to the accounts you’ve used on your phone. If there are any breaches, you should get a recommendation from the app on how to remediate the situation best. In terms of the scan speed, on our roughly 100GB filled out Android phone (Samsung S24 Ultra), the scan was not lightning fast as it took roughly 40 seconds, but still fast enough not to be tiresome. The spyware detector was a bit quicker, taking roughly 15 seconds for the first scan, finding zero threats. In addition, we would like to point out that we did not enjoy the initial setup process, where we had to click through a few options before we could run the first scan.

It’s important to note that Clario comes with an Unlock Catcher feature, which discreetly captures photos of the person who unlocks your phone. Moreover, it also includes a Spy Cam Detector feature that shows any possible hidden cameras transmitting data and recording your activities. If you have any concerns regarding spying, Clario offers round-the-clock human assistance for all spying concerns you might have. With the 7-day free trial, you are allowed one inquiry, and for subsequent ones, you will need to have a paid account. For the less technically advanced, the fact that Clario doesn’t include complex terminology and is not looking to upsell complex features can make it more appealing.

Finally, if you’re concerned about hackers, advertisers, or unwanted snoopers tracking you, Clario offers the option of setting up a virtual location. In essence, it is masking your real GPS location by having you select a random spot like a coffee shop or even the wilderness, making your real location hidden from unwanted trackers.

Pricing

If you want to get to Clario’s pricing on their website, be ready to answer five questions. Once you do, you will have to click on “next” five times, and only then will you be presented with the prices. This is perhaps the most irksome way to get pricing for a service, outside of calling sales directly to get a quote. We’re not sure why the prices are not present once you click on the pricing tab on their website.

All in all, Clario offers three pricing plans unimaginatively called 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months plans. They start at $14.99 a month, $34.99 and $49.99 a month, respectively. At the time of reviewing the app, Clario offered a 22% discount on their 3-month plan, which now costs $11.66 a month for three months. Finally, Clario offers its biggest discount on the 6-month plan, a 45% discount, which comes out to the price of $8.33 a month. All plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee and the ability to cancel the service at any time.

Support

Clario has great support, which is available 24/7, and best of all, it's real humans offering assistance. If you’re on the mobile app, choose the “Expert security help” and you can contact the team directly. If you prefer email, there is the usual “hello” email address from Clario that you can use, or simply go to Clario’s website and use the chat icon to start the conversation. We did not use the service, but from what we could gather from various users across the internet, the customer support is top notch.

Final verdict

There is something about Clario’s uncomplicated nature that makes it a delight to use. It’s a capable app when it comes to removing spyware, and the fact that it’s designed in a minimalist fashion adds to its charm. Furthermore, it’s clear that Clario is geared towards giving its users the best possible support, especially the more paranoid among us who are looking to spoof their GPS location.

With all of that being said, it’s not the quickest when it comes to scanning for spyware, but it is quick enough. The fact that it literally hides its prices under the pricing tab is something the team needs to think about, as well as potentially reducing the price, since you do not get a lot for the price. Although in a different category, Bitdefender offers much more for a similar 1-month price, so it's difficult to recommend Clario as the go-to app for mobile phone security. Clario comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee, which means you have enough time to test it out and make a decision whether it offers everything you need from a security app for your mobile phone.

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