Imagine you have just landed in a foreign place, ready to explore, and then the reality hits - you have no internet connection. Here’s where GigSky enters the scene. This little eSIM solution, intended to work across the globe, promises to keep you connected nearly everywhere without any of the SIM-swapping hassles, roaming charges, and spotty Wi-Fi.
With the instant connectivity and ‘data-only’ model of its international eSIM, supported by 400 partners in the world, GigSky might be just what the data-hungry digital nomad crowd needs. But is it too good to be true and how does it really hold up against competition?
GigSky: Pricing and plans
GigSky’s pricing varies depending on the region (and situation, like if you are on a cruise ship or plane) and the amount of data you need. The paid plans range from 512MB to unlimited data, starting from $2.99 for 7 days and 1GB of data in Bulgaria, for instance, to up to $139.99 for larger plans that cover longer durations, more exotic regions, cruises, and/or more GBs.
For those who intend to visit more than one country in a particular region, GigSky has regional solutions too. Let’s say you are planning to visit Africa - you can choose among plans ranging from 1GB for 7 days at $8.99 to 10GB for 30 days, while world travelers can opt for the 5GB World Plan with a duration of 30 days and costing $69.99.
If you are on a cruise through the Americas and the Caribbean, it is possible to get just 512MB of data during one day, albeit at a slightly higher price than the other pricing plans - $19.99. Having the same amount of data for the same duration at a world cruise would set you back by $26.99.
There is also a free 100MB travel data plan, regardless of the region, and no credit card is needed. This is an extremely limited amount of data but does come in handy if you need urgent online access or just want to get a taste of what GigSky brings to the table.
It is also important to note that there are no hidden fees or subscriptions, which feel like a breath of fresh air. You only pay for what you need - a win for budget-conscious travelers. But if you are the kind that plays online games, shares large files, or streams an entire Netflix series on the go, be prepared - heavy streaming can chew through data faster than you can say ‘bonjour.’
You should also keep in mind that, due to implementing fair usage policies, GigSky eSIM slows down the traffic in its unlimited plans after you have gone through the first 2.5GB in a day - resuming normal speed on the next day, starting from the time the plan is activated.
Even at these reduced speeds, the company guarantees you will be able to perform less data-intensive tasks, like sending and receiving emails and making VOIP voice calls.
What makes GigSky stand out is its seamless installation. As there is no physical SIM to fumble with, you can be in any of the supported destinations and rely on this handy eSIM that is a breeze to download and install (just make sure to do so before you enter the target country).
Not only that, but it works in 200 countries and regions in the world, more than 200 cruise ships, and over 20 airlines, alongside a wide array of cruise ships and airlines, giving you a virtual backstage pass to the digital world almost anywhere. So whether you are in Paris checking Google Maps for the best croissant spot or on a beach in Bali scrolling through Instagram, GigSky can cover you.
The best part? GigSky eSIM works with most recent smartphones and some tablets, so there is no need to lug around any extra hardware. Simply purchase a data package for the region you are headed to, install the eSIM profile, and you are ready to go. Just make sure your device is unlocked for international carriers beforehand, or you might get an unpleasant surprise at the airport.
Installing GigSky eSIM is as simple as it gets, especially since there is no physical card involved (great news if your nails have seen better days or you can’t find that tiny needle).
After downloading the app, the platform guides you through each step, starting with creating your account, choosing your destination (or situation - like a cruise or flying) and package, hooking up the eSIM, activating it, and getting online as soon as you arrive.
A word to the wise - install your eSIM before you head out or while you still have Wi-Fi access in your country/point of departure. It is just one of those things that can save you a heap of trouble if the airport Wi-Fi suddenly decides to go on strike.
Furthermore, GigSky is compatible with lots of devices, including iPhone XR and newer, a long list of Android systems, all cellular-enabled iPad Pro 12.9-inch and newer, as well as others, including Microsoft Surface Pro X, Fairphone 4, Honor Magic 4 Pro, and many more.
That is, as long as your device is not locked for international use by your current carrier (as might be the case with financed phones on a prepaid contract).
In terms of customer support, GigSky offers its own through email and its apps, with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section that is actually quite helpful and detailed. There is also a Help Center with categories that include troubleshooting, getting started manuals, and announcements.
Responses tend to be fairly quick and knowledgeable, and it is a 24/7/365 service - available whenever you need it. The apps are very intuitive as well, guiding you through the process and ensuring a smooth experience. You can use them to top up, change plans, or just get in touch if you hit a road bump.
Gigsky: Final verdict
So, should you give GigSky’s eSIM a whirl? If you are a frequent traveler who values convenience and does not mind paying a bit more for the simplicity of staying connected, it is a solid option. That said, this is not the cheapest data source, particularly for those who plan to burn through data fast.
But for the average traveler who wants to avoid the hassle of changing SIMs in every new country and does not mind the ‘data-only’ model, GigSky eSIM is a nifty travel companion that will get you (and keep you) connected in just a few taps. Just make sure to first look up the experiences of other users visiting the same place.
All things considered, if the idea of exploring the globe with easy connectivity and no extra plastic to worry about appeals to you, GigSky might just become your new best friend - only don’t expect it to cover all your communication needs.
Gigsky: FAQs
Can I install GigSky eSIM using QR code?
Yes. Just like with other eSIMs, you can install a GigSky eSIM on your device using a standard QR code activation method. To do this, you will need to visit the Gigsky website or app and purchase a plan. After this, you will receive a QR activation code in your email. Scan the code on the device you want to install the eSIM on and follow the prompts.
Do I get 5G connectivity with GigSky?
Yes, GigSky currently offers 5G connectivity where available, since some places may be at 4G or 3G speeds. So if your device is compatible with 5G, you are good to go. Keep in mind, though, that 5G connections consume a lot of data, so you may run out of your data limits quickly.
Does GigSky eSIM cover phone calls or SMS?
No, GigSky eSIM is a data-only service, which means it does not come with a telephone number, so regular phone calls and SMS are not supported. That said, texting and VOIP apps like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger, iMessage, and the like can be used.
How many plans does GigSky offer?
All new customers receive a free 100MB eSIM just by signing up on the GigSky app. Beyond that, you only pay for the data plan you need and scale it up based on duration and data volume. There are multiple one-time plans with various data limits for different regions or cruises, as well as unlimited data options.
This review first appeared in issue 358 of PC Pro.
Synology’s DiskStation DS423+ is a home and small office NAS, offering four SATA drive bays, and supporting up to a whopping 72TB of storage. With a Celeron J4125 processor and 2GB of RAM, it’s similarly specified to the two-bay DS224+. Unfortunately, that extends to its dual gigabit Ethernet ports, which look like a misstep when many competitors now offer 2.5GbE. Synology hasn’t been overly generous when it comes to other ports, either. You won’t find HDMI here, and there are only two USB-A 3.2 ports – and they’re the slower, 5Gbits/sec Gen 1.
The DS423+ does have a trick up its sleeve in the shape of two NVMe SSD slots. Drives in these can be configured as a cache for hard disk volumes, used to create a flash storage pool, or split between the two roles. A single SSD doesn’t offer data redundancy, though, so you’ll need to use both slots for caching if you want to accelerate disk writes as well as reads.
The dual Ethernet ports are sadly only of the gigabit variety(Image credit: Future)
This is one of the easiest NAS devices we’ve tested when it comes to setup. Its lockable caddies are tool-less for 3.5in disks. It’s also quicker and easier than the norm to access its NVMe slots – you simply flip the enclosure on its back, pop open two small covers and click the drives in. Even the memory expansion slot can be accessed without tools.
We initially configured this NAS with four 1TB disks configured in a RAID5 array. While Synology, like other manufacturers, is usually quite relaxed about the brand of hard disk you fit, this doesn’t extend to NVM drives. The DS423+ was happy to use two unapproved 1TB WD Black drives as a disk cache, but you can use only approved SSDs to create a storage pool. At the time of our review there were just four approved SSDs on the compatibility list: they’re all made by Synology and have either 400GB or 800GB capacities, limiting you to an 800GB maximum for a flash volume with data redundancy.
With or without disk caching, this isn’t a particularly fast NAS. It lined up closely with other gigabit Ethernet devices in ATTO Disk Benchmark, hitting peak transfer rates of 110MB/sec (write) and 113MB/sec (read). It scored a fair 348 in the PCMark 10 Data Drive benchmark, and managed 59MB/sec writes and 46MB/sec reads in our 11GB Windows file copy test. We retested it when configured with two large WD disks, but its performance was essentially unchanged.
It’s fair to point out that disk caches become more effective over time, and our benchmarks don’t particularly show the benefits. It’s also worth noting that port bonding – in which the NAS balances the load across both Ethernet ports – would help the DS423+ deliver a greater throughput in a multi-user setup. Even so, no single user would see data transfer rates above the 113MB/sec gigabit Ethernet limit, which puts this NAS at a disadvantage when compared with 2.5GbE rivals such as QNAP’s TS-464.
Visible, lockable disk caddies tell you the DS423+ is cut out for business(Image credit: Future)
That’s a shame, because it’s simple to manage Synology NAS boxes. DSM manages to combine user friendliness with plenty of functionality, spanning networking, security and convenience features such as QuickConnect, which lets you access the NAS remotely. You can bolt on extras through the Package Center, which at the time of writing offered 107 apps.
Highlights include strong third-party apps such as Plex Media Center, WordPress and various developer tools, but also Synology’s own software, which tends to focus on business requirements. Examples include Surveillance Station, Synology Mail Server and even the Synology Office suite. There are also tools such as Synology High Availability, which lets you use a second NAS to provide failover cover should the active server fail.
Synology’s excellent software lifts all of its products above rivals(Image credit: Future)
In most ways, the DS423+ is a great product for small businesses, and if speed isn’t a major concern then it’s a good choice. However, with only 1GbE network interfaces – and no expansion slot to upgrade them – it could become a bottleneck in a growing business, particularly one that needs to back up or work with large volumes of data. If that’s likely to be you, we’d advise stretching your budget to get the upgradability of Synology’s DS923+ or the better specification of Asustor’s Nimbustor 4 Gen2.
This review first appeared in issue 358 of PC Pro.
At first glance Synology’s DiskStation DS224+ looks much like the cheaper DiskStation DS223. It’s the same color and dimensions, and has the same button, port and LED layout on the front panel. Snoop around a bit and you’ll spot a significant improvement, though: this NAS has dual 1GbE ports, which can be used to offer faster throughput and failover support.
There’s a bigger upgrade inside, where the DS224+ has an Intel Celeron J4125 processor rather than the limp Realtek in the DS223. Its 2GB of memory is also upgradable to 6GB via a spare slot, accessible without tools if you remove the drive caddies. Synology talks up the enhanced performance of the DS224+ when compared to previous-generation devices, and this processor should certainly help if you’re intending to use it as a media server in the home.
It’s usually easy to set up Synology devices, and the DS224+ obliges with tool-free caddies for 3.5in SATA drives – as with other contenders here, you’ll need to screw in 2.5in disks. You can quickly track down any local DiskStations via the Web Assistant. Once you’re into the web interface, it’s simple to install Synology’s DSM software and configure the storage.
The DS224+ is compact and looks smart enough for any home office(Image credit: Future)
We added two 4TB disks provided by Synology, configuring them in a RAID1 array and formatting them with Btrfs; EXT4 is available if needed. The DS224+ delivered on its improved specifications, outpacing the DS223 in 4KB and 16KB file operations in ATTO Disk Benchmark. It was also a little quicker to write files in our Windows file copy test, hitting 60MB/sec compared to 52MB/sec for the DS223.
This is something of a distraction from the fact that this NAS is throttled by its gigabit Ethernet ports. In our tests it sustained a maximum transfer speed of 113MB/sec. In comparison, 2.5GbE connections can deliver up to 283MB/sec. It’s easy to bond the two network interfaces, but this won’t improve speeds to a single client; instead it helps increase bandwidth when there are multiple users.
Synology pitches this NAS as a data storage device for edge deployments, which is likely to mean home workers and micro offices. Synology’s software is certainly more than equal to the role, combining a solid feature set with 107 apps available through Package Center. Perhaps this NAS’s slower Ethernet won’t be a problem for home workers primarily connecting via Wi-Fi, but if you have several users we’d recommend paying more for an alternative with a 2.5GbE interface.
This review first appeared in issue 358 of PC Pro.
The DS223 sits almost at the bottom of Synology’s huge NAS range, with only the single-slot DS124 and the more basic two-slot DS223j variant sitting below it. Accordingly, it’s not particularly well specified, with only two SATA drive bays and no NVMe slots. There’s 2GB of RAM onboard, which can’t be upgraded, while all the processing work is done by a lowly four-core Realtek CPU clocked at 1.7GHz. Perhaps just as significantly, this NAS has just a single 1GbE network port, immediately putting it at a disadvantage to 2.5GbE devices when it comes to fast file serving.
Still, the DS223 is designed and built with Synology’s usual quality. Pull off the front panel and its two drive caddies slide in and out smoothly – they’re tool-less for 3.5in disks, but you’ll need to screw 2.5in devices in place. We fitted two 4TB Synology disks, turned the NAS on, then connected to its web interface to create a RAID1 array and format it with the Btrfs file system.
While other NAS manufacturers continue to improve their software, Synology remains the master. Its DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system strikes almost the perfect balance between functionality and ease of use. Storage Manager makes it intuitive to create and manage storage pools and volumes, while all the network, user and other settings are gathered together in Control Panel.
You can enhance and add to the DS223’s functionality through the Package Center, which at the time of our review offered 107 apps covering a range of multimedia, backup, business and communication roles. However, this NAS drive’s modest power means it could struggle to run multiple demanding apps at once.
This is a compact and smart NAS that’s easy to install and configure(Image credit: Future)
This NAS was an underwhelming performer in our tests anyway, even compared to other devices limited to a 1GbE interface. In ATTO Disk Benchmark it was around 20% slower than other Synology NAS enclosures for a 4KB file size, and about 10% slower for 16KB files. Even though it caught up when moving 2MB files, it still managed only 111MB/sec writes and 113MB/sec reads – about the maximum possible over gigabit Ethernet. Surprisingly, however, the DS223 was quite competitive when writing files from a Windows 11 PC.
We love this NAS drive’s simplicity and comparative ease of use, but it’s significantly more expensive than QNAP’s TS-233. It’s quicker, but if speed is important we’d recommend spending more on a 2.5GbE alternative such as the QNAP TS-264.
This review first appeared in issue 358 of PC Pro.
Q NAP makes so many NAS enclosures that it can be hard to place specific models within the range. The TS-264 comes under the “Mid-range First Choice” bracket, which is QNAP’s way of saying it’s intended for small offices, homes and micro businesses. The “2” tells you this is a two-bay device, accepting up to two 3.5in or 2.5in drives.
Inside there are NVMe slots capable of accepting up to two 2TB SSDs, which can be used as storage or an SSD cache for the hard disks. QNAP pairs an Intel Celeron N5095 processor with 8MB of onboard RAM, which can’t be further upgraded. At the back you’ll find an HDMI socket, two 2.5GbE connectors, two USB-A 2 ports and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, with another Gen 2 socket on the front panel.
That’s not at all bad for this price, but if needed you can upgrade with a dual-port PCI-E 10GbE network card. There’s also support for various tower and rackmount storage expansion units, some of which require a mini SAS connector card that takes up the PCI-E slot.
QNAP’s TS-264 is packed with ports, including two 2.5GbE connectors(Image credit: Future)
In theory you can set up this NAS entirely without tools, but you’ll struggle to fit NVMe drives without taking off the side panel, which requires a screwdriver. Even with it removed, the two slots are partially obstructed by the hard drive cage, making it hard to insert SSDs. Put it all back together and you can run Qfinder Pro to locate the NAS on your network, connect to its web admin interface and begin configuring QNAP’s QTS operating system.
While QTS is generally excellent, it feels more technical and less slick than some rivals – particularly Synology’s DSM software. It’s great to have the choice between thick and thin provisioning, or using a more conventional static disk volume, but this does complicate things compared to its great rival. If using NVMe drives, you’ll need to provide their physical security ID (PSID) number to securely erase them in the setup process, so it’s a good idea to photograph them in situ before you put the case back on.
The gold and black TS-264 may not look businesslike, but it’s happy to work(Image credit: Future)
We loaded up the TS-264 with 14TB and 12TB NAS disks and two 1TB NVMe SSDs provided by WD, initially configuring these as two separate RAID1 volumes formatted with Btrfs (you can choose EXT4 if you prefer). Over a single 2.5GbE connection, it recorded competitive PCMark 10 Data Drive scores of 487 for the disk performance and 482 for SSDs. In ATTO Disk Benchmark, the TS-264 was level with competing two-bay enclosures for 4KB and 16KB file operations, but some distance ahead for 2MB files thanks to its faster network connection.
File-copy tests confirmed that the TS-264 is fast in real-world use, but the margin over 1GbE devices wasn’t as great as we were expecting. That said, with disk caching configured this NAS put a little more daylight between itself and the 1GbE competition, particularly when copying larger files.
QTS is full of usability and connectivity features, including myQNAPcloud, which makes it easy to access and manage the NAS remotely. You’ll also find a wide range of high-quality apps in the AppCenter – we counted 107, spanning content management, dev tools, security, networking and entertainment. Unlike the home-focused TS-233, you get a full suite of surveillance apps including QVR Pro, and extensions covering face recognition and even automated door access.
The QTS operating system is capable of handling any task(Image credit: Future)
Despite its diminutive size, the TS-264 makes sense for demanding users. Like other QNAP NAS enclosures, it can act as a DHCP, web or proxy server, and even a domain controller. Other apps let you configure it as a proxy, web or backup server, and even to host and manage containers. Its ability to scale and upgrade is also a bonus, although it’s not badly specified out of the box.
While we wouldn’t choose this NAS as a starting point for a small business, it is a good choice as a home NAS if you’ll be using it for both work and entertainment. The TS-264 has the grunt to handle media serving and transcoding, while its twin network interfaces can be bonded to preserve network speeds as you gain users.
Before this year’s Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, developer Asobo achieved something momentous in 2020: they found a way to make a Flight Simulator game feel not just relevant to a mainstream audience, but vital. For at least a few weeks there in that strangest of masked-up, doomscrolling times, we were all budding pilots, exorcising our lockdown cabin fever by exploring a virtual Earth from above.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PC Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: November 19, 2024
The tech - some dark wizardry that pulled Bing Maps data from the cloud via Microsoft Azure - was eye-catching enough that even people who’d never dreamed of buying their own cockpit stopped what they were doing and paid attention. The trouble was, of course, there wasn’t much game to it.
That might sound like an unfair thing to say about a game that gave you an entire planet to fly around, and just about every known airport to take off or land on, but it’s true. Outside of a few scenarios and challenges, the experience was down to you to sculpt and define in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
Asobo’s 2024 follow-up addresses that point with a laser focus, introducing an all-new career mode that’s so astoundingly deep and varied that you can even play it purely as a business sim and take all the actual flying out of the equation entirely. If you do that, though, you’re missing out on – deep breath – firefighting, search and rescue, helicopter cargo transport, air ambulance, agricultural aviation, mountain rescue, skydiving, and aerial construction missions, each requiring a different set of disciplines and familiarity with numerous cockpits and flight models.
It’s here that the developer can really show you what all this ambitious streaming tech and map data can do. The locations are hand-picked for gorgeousness and just the right amount of flight challenge. It’s an absolute treat and an extremely shrewd addition from a studio that didn’t have to go this extra mile in order to impress. Career mode provides a clear mandate for a sequel, in an age when most simulators just whack a few new vehicles into the mix and tout ‘improved physics’. It’s going to keep the non-hardcore engaged for longer, and might even drive a few flight stick sales.
Failure to take off
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
Now to address… the unpleasantness. Career mode remained a mystery to me through launch week, not because it’s particularly impenetrable, but because I simply wasn’t able to access it. n the 16 years I’ve been reviewing games, I’ve never wrestled with a launch quite this bad. For the first 24 hours I couldn’t even say definitively whether the game had even managed to fully install itself, such was the labyrinthine mess of loading screens that I was presented with.
On the rare occasion that I did manage to fly a plane in that launch window, I was greeted by flip-book frame rates, random crashes, planes that seemed to have a life of their own, yet more life-sapping loading screens between menus, and poorly calibrated pad controls.
Most bizarre of the lot are certain landing challenges – and this persists to the present build – in which the plane takes a sudden, unnerving change of direction just before you take control of it and turns a simple test of skill into a harrowing air disaster, every warning indicator blaring in your ears as you try to wrestle control of the plane in time to avoid terra firma. Odd and nightmarish in equal measure.
The loading screens are much quicker now. The (technical) crashes have all but abated. But even on my 1GB internet connection, I’m all too often greeted by heinous low-res textures where an impressive view should be for too long. The streaming tech powering Flight Simulator 2024 simply can’t prop up the ambitions of the game for many of its users. I hope that changes, but during the process of reviewing the game I can’t simply assume that it will, nor ignore such an abysmal launch experience.
The first rule of flight club...
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
Now that what must be said has been said, we can transition back into the content. Where else does the new Flight Simulator build on its predecessor? Well, airports are notably more detailed now. And that’s just the auto-populated ones, not the bespoke ones Asobo offers in the various higher-priced editions of this game. Vehicular and human traffic is much higher, and the overall experience of taking off and landing is much more immersive.
The flight model, too, has had a tune-up. I must confess I didn’t notice this when using a pad, but with a HOTAS flightstick you can feel a bit more detail about the plane’s reaction to your inputs and the weather conditions around it. It’s especially satisfying to feel the gentleness of your inputs rewarded and to fly in a more precise manner afforded by some increased responsiveness.
There’s a ‘but’, of course. Particularly with a pad, but also with a flightstick, it took a long time to dial in the level of assists that made sense, and quite often I was left baffled by unresponsive controls or confusing results to my inputs that were down to a) I didn’t know that they were turned on and b) I didn’t understand the workings of.
Best bit
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
Virtual tourism’s always been this series’ big strength and when everything’s working, the sights look sharper, better tessellated, and rendered more accurately to scale than before. Check out the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone Park, the Pyramids of Giza, and Lisbon’s Pena Palace and you’ll agree.
To an extent, that comes with the territory. Planes are tremendously complicated things, and my penchant for flying commercial jets only exacerbates that phenomenon. Could you imagine actually piloting such a behemoth using an Xbox controller? What would that feel like? Terrifying. Confusing. A bad idea. Imagine boarding a flight and seeing the pilot charging up his controller before take-off. You’d be getting off that flight. With that in mind, this game does a pretty marvelous job of mapping such a complex array of instruments to a pad and having it feel fairly logical and responsive, most of the time.
But the fact remains that until you figure out each plane’s characteristics, you’re often wrestling with assists as much as physical forces. This befuddling assist situation also belies a weakness in Flight Simulator 2024’s Flight School mode. Learning to fly is the core activity of this experience, and the dedicated tutorials should go so much deeper than they do. More than that, they should explain which assists are on by default and let you experience what it feels like to fly with them turned on and off. They’re not particularly responsive to how you perform in each lesson, either. It’s nice to get a grade at the end, but I’ve been given Bs for terrifying near-death ordeals and what seemed to me to be nigh-perfect procedures alike.
Where I ended up having the most fun was in a slightly less forensically minded kind of experience, not trying to understand the subtleties of an Airbus A330, not trying to put out a forest fire in the most business-efficient manner, but taking photos.
Snap to it
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
World Photographer mode exists for the player who just wants to take in the best bits of that astonishing world map. You embark on short flights to picturesque locations, frame photographs according to a few specific criteria, and enjoy the views. It’s meditative, non-taxing, and demonstrates what the tech can do beautifully.
It couldn’t have been a worse take-off, but now that Flight Sim 2024’s airborne, the real work begins. There’s the blueprint for a fantastic experience in here, one that satiates hardcore sim heads and aspiring real-world pilots and also caters to casual players looking to sample the incredible tech without having to take an aeronautical engineering degree. Career mode is such a pleasant surprise, full of bespoke experiences that remold this sim sandbox into different shapes.
But the blueprint hasn’t been realized properly yet. I won’t pretend to understand the vagaries of how Microsoft’s Azure cloud data streaming actually makes this title work, but I can categorically say that it can at present be summed up as ‘not as intended’. There are still significant, miserable performance issues even after some emergency patching work - alt-Tab this game at your peril - and they simply don’t let you enjoy Flight Simulator 2024’s best qualities yet.
Should I play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Play it if...
You’ve got the wanderlust The world map remains Flight Simulator 2024’s strongest asset, and the new career and photo modes give you a fresh excuse to see more of its best bits. If your internet connection can keep up, the scenery can be gorgeous.View Deal
You’re in it for the long haul Once you dial in the right peripheral mappings, deadzones, assists, and display settings, there’s a deep treasure trove of content waiting for you. But it’s not a pick-up-and-fly experience, despite the pad functionality and photo mode. View Deal
Don't play it if...
Your internet’s spotty The cloud streaming tech powering this sim has been unstable so far, even on lightning-quick connections. If you’re still alternating between AOL free trial disks, it’s probably not worth it. View Deal
You’re a frame counter Performance issues persist beyond launch, and although in perfect conditions this game’s easier to run than its predecessor at 4K, it’s still extremely demanding and temperamental. View Deal
Accessibility
Never shy of adding menus and options, Flight Simulator 2024 has a welcome array of accessibility options that include text-to-speech functionality allowing players with differing setups to communicate, and an in-game text chat translation tool to that same end.
There’s screen narration, subtitles, and adjustable HUD opacity, along with scalable text size. Mercifully for the motion sickness, you can turn off camera shake, too.
A range of different input options are available here, from pad and peripheral inputs to old-school mouse and keyboard, including the ‘Legacy’ mode that uses the old ‘90s control layout.
Finally, colors can be adjusted to accommodate protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia, and you can find high-contrast menu schemes to aid visibility.
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
How I reviewed Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
I logged around 20 hours of flight time using either an Xbox controller or a Logitech G X56 HOTAS, dividing that time between Flight School, Career, World Photographer, and the surprisingly compelling Landing Challenges.
The virtual cockpit for this one was my gaming PC, outputting to a 30-inch display via my RTX 2080 TI. This isn’t a resource-light title, but I typically found that connection speed was a greater deciding factor on performance than GPU, whereas its predecessor seemed more bound to local hardware performance.
If you’re shopping for an Xbox external hard drive, then you can’t go wrong with this officially licensed model from Seagate. Although a little more expensive than non-Xbox branded options, it’s still one of the best Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs right now, delivering a solid level of performance and plenty of space for many of the best Xbox Series X games.
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is significantly more affordable than the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card and comes in much larger capacities, including 4TB and 5TB, but it has some extra limitations due to its form factor. First and foremost, as an external hard drive it cannot be used to play Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S optimized games.
Its primary use case is to store large game installations between uses, cutting down on the need to constantly redownload files. This makes them particularly suitable for those with slow or limited internet connections. It’s a fantastic fit for Xbox Game Pass too, giving you the option to keep a considerable number of games on hand at a time.
It’s worth noting that older titles for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, or original Xbox will still run off the external hard drive - albeit with increased loading times compared to internal storage in most cases. If you have a large library of backwards compatible games that you don’t want clogging up your internal drive, this will be the perfect solution. This also means that those still sticking with an Xbox One can rest easy knowing that they will have no issues accessing their entire libraries.
As far as hard drives are concerned, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox also looks superb overall. It’s constructed from a sleek black plastic, decorated with an Xbox logo and a small strip of green LED lighting. It fits perfectly next to a black Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S 1TB console, though owners of white variants like the launch Xbox Series S or recent Xbox Series X Digital Edition might prefer to go for a white alternative to better fit their systems instead.
(Image credit: Future)
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Price and availability
2TB costs $89.99 / £79.99
4TB costs $134.99 / £116.99
5TB costs $149.99 / £132.99
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is available in 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB capacity options which come in at roughly $89.99 / £79.99, $134.99 / £116.99, and $149.99 / £132.99 respectively. The 4TB model is the best value model, as it frequently receives substantial discounts to around the $90 mark. If you’re able to find it on sale for this price, I would definitely recommend snapping it up.
While it is the cheapest, I would try to avoid the 2TB model as that more limited storage capacity is going to fill up quite quickly - especially if you intend to use it for a few large, modern games.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Specs
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Design and features
Matches black consoles very well
Green LED lighting is bright and attractive
But looks out of place next to white consoles
As far as external hard drives go, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a stylish choice. It is constructed from sleek black plastic, which is pleasant to the touch and looks perfect placed next to a black Xbox console. In addition to small embossed Xbox and Seagate logos, there is a bright green LED positioned on the front of the drive lending it some extra flair.
I don’t have any complaints about the design, but I will say that it really stands out next to a white console. Given this drive’s price compared to a generic external hard drive, it’s undeniable that you’re paying a little more for the look. This makes sense if you own an Xbox Series X (or the black Xbox Series S 1TB) and want a fully color-coordinated setup, but not when it’s going to look out of place.
There are, of course, other reasons to choose this hard drive like its strong performance but it’s just something that owners of Microsoft’s white machines should bear in mind. Seagate also makes a white Starfield Special Edition hard drive in 2TB and 5TB capacities, which could be a better choice in purely aesthetic terms.
Setup is easy right out of the box, as the drive comes packed with a Micro USB that can be slotted into a free USB port on the back of your console. It also comes bundled with a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which is a fun little bonus.
(Image credit: Future)
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Performance
Faster than a game download
But slower than internal storage
Still a good fit for Xbox Game Pass
I tested the 5TB model of this external hard drive and found it to be perfectly sufficient as a game storage medium, though noticeably slower than both external SSD options and the console’s internal storage.
To give some real-world examples of what it can do, I moved a handful of games to and from the drive on my personal Xbox Series S 1TB. Moving to the drive, a 14.5GB installation of Dustborn was transferred in just 1 minute 54 seconds while a 16.8GB installation of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst was copied over in just 2 minutes 8 seconds.
Increasing the file size yielded roughly proportional results, with a 40.3GB copy of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2accomplished in 5 minutes and 14 seconds. The two largest games I tested, the 74.3GB Dead Island 2and the 104GB Forza Motorsportwere then transferred in 9 minutes 49 seconds and 14 minutes 19 seconds respectively.
Speeds were similar moving games back from the drive. A 48.1GB copy of Agents of Mayhem, for example, took 5 minutes 40 seconds while a smaller 5.2GB installation of Rumble Roses XX was fully playable from the internal storage in just 39 seconds.
Unless you have some kind of NASA-level connection, all of these times are going to be significantly faster than an internet download - which is exactly what you want from the external hard drive. This would be especially useful if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber who loves downloading new games to try, as you will be able to keep a vast library of included titles saved and on hand whenever you want to dip back into them.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox?
Buy it if...
You want a more affordable storage expansion The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox comes at a significantly lower cost than a Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, letting you increase the number of games you can save locally on the cheap.
You’re sick of waiting for game downloads An external hard drive like the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a great alternative to uninstalling your games. If you find yourself running out of space often and are sick of waiting for big game downloads each time you want to return to an old favorite, this is for you.
Don't buy it if...
You want to play modern games natively An unavoidable drawback for any external hard drive is the inability to play Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S optimized games natively. If that’s what you want from a storage device, you’ll have to look at an Expansion Card instead.
Also consider...
Consider these three alternatives if you’re not sold on the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox.
Toshiba Canvio Flex This budget-friendly hard drive comes in a sleek silver color. You lose the Xbox branding, but it’s small, portable, and is available in a range of capacities up to 4TB. It’s also a fair amount cheaper.
WD Black P40 Game Drive This external SSD from WD is smaller and lighter than the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox, with significantly better speeds. It is much more expensive, though, and is only available in capacities up to 2TB.
Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card If you want to play Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games on your storage device, and can afford its lofty price tag, then the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card is for you.
I tested the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox predominantly with my Xbox Series S 1TB console, but I also spent a few hours checking compatibility with an Xbox Series X. I tested the external hard drive for over a month, using it as my primary external storage device for all things Xbox.
During my testing of the drive, I compared the performance to that of other hard drives, including the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 and WD Black P10. I also checked how it would stack up against external SSD options, such as the WD Black P40 Game Drive, and the official Xbox Storage Expansion Card.
I'm a keen hobbyist runner living in the countryside with a particular running shoe in mind; a trail-first shoe that can also fly on the roads, lightweight as possible yet grippy to handle technical terrain, also durable so I can clock up the kms, all for a double-digit price. Impossible demands, right? Well, no – after multiple shoes from various brands down the years, I might've just found my best running shoes of 2024: the Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2.
The Trailfly G270 V2s launched Q1 in 2023 and are, as the name suggests, a second-generation trail shoe by Inov-8 with minor tweaks to the wildly popular original. With three months and around 350km under my belt wearing these shoes, I can see why.
These shoes deliver in all areas for mixed terrain – at 270g, they are lightweight for a grippy shoe, though the very quickest road shoes are lighter. They are also durable – seriously, I've clocked up around 60 hours of running and they feel as good as new.
As for the fit, these shoes are noted as '5' on Inov-8's width scale, which is the widest possible from the running specialists. However, I have an average-width foot and the fit is perfect, meaning these shoes aren't for those with particularly wide feet.
In the UK I run in all kinds of terrain and weather, covering anything from technical hills, to boggy footpaths and dry roads; these shoes transition between such scenarios with ease.
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
The Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2's are the best running shoes with a double-digit price that I've ever used. That said, they won't be for everyone.
In my experience Inov-8 shoes generally take a little more wearing in than other brand shoes, such as Asics. In this particular case, the outer felt too snug along the side of my little toe, but they are fine now.
There are also two key design attributes to note that might put you off: these are zero drop shoes, meaning the heel is the same height as the front of your foot. Most shoes have some form of drop, typically around 5-8mm.
With zero drop you're more likely to strike the ground with the middle of your foot rather than the heel first, resulting in a lower impact running gait that is kinder to your joints. However, zero drop isn't ideal for all foot types, such as flat feet. Ultimately, it's best to do your research on what is best for your feet. In practice, zero drops works a different part of your calves in the early days, but as your legs adjust you soon won't notice a difference.
The other point is that the cushioning is firmer than most. If you are particularly heavy-footed, and prefer minimal impact as your feet hit the ground, the Trailfly G270 V2's possibly aren't for you. These are firm.
With that firmness comes a decent spring. As you accelerate you get decent encouragement, which is impressive for such a grippy trail shoe.
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
One other minor point is that the laces are on the slippier side, and so getting a tight knot can take a couple of efforts. Not a biggie, but if you're like me you might need to stop and re-tie.
That's all the bad stuff out of the way. I should re-emphasize that these are my favorite trail-focused shoes, for the money. They are available in three colors; all-black, lime green or a blue with orange – I opted for the latter. And they are regularly discounted – I got them on sale in the UK for around half their $170 / £149.99 list price, and I've since seen them even cheaper. That's fantastic value for such a well-made, high performing and durable shoe.
The bottom line is that the Trailfly G270 V2's are up there with the best running shoes especially for runners who spend more time on the trails, and I'll be keeping an eye on the sale prices to pick up a second pair soon.
Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Specifications
Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Scorecard
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
You cover all terrains but are primarily a trail runner
Designed to tackle all terrain, the G270 V2's offer superb grip, decent spring and are relatively lightweight, but dedicated road shoes will be even lighter.
You want a durable shoe
With graphene soles and superb design, these shoes can tackle technical terrain and will go the extra mile.
Don't buy it if...
You like a cushioned shoe
The G270 V2's cushioning is harder than most and will take a little getting used to if you typically run with a cushioned shoe.
You're a road runner
If you mainly run on roads, then there are lighter and quicker alternatives available, designed for speed over durability.
Also consider
Nike Ultrafly
Nike Ultrafly's are also primarily designed for the trails, even if they look like a road shoes. They probably have the edge for speed, but won't handle technical trails as well as the G270 V2s, and they are much, much pricier.
Approximately 60 hours of running on technical trails, footpaths and roads, flat and hilly
I used the Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2 as my primary running shoe for around 3 months, during which time I was typically clocking up around 30kms per week.
I typically cover mixed terrain and run in all kinds of weather: trails, footpaths and roads; wet and dry; flat and hilly.
The Kaleidescape Strato V is the latest Movie Player from Kaleidescape, and it represents a definite shift for the company. Kaleidescape is synonymous with a premium movie experience at home, offering a proprietary ecosystem based around its own hardware and servers. While no one questions the quality of Kaleidescape’s products, the price of admission has been steep and the lack of Dolby Vision support has been a glaring omission given the brand’s pursuit of high-end video and audio performance.
The new Kaleidescape Strato V addresses both of these issues by offering Dolby Vision support and lowering the cost of entry. To achieve this, the Strato V integrates a 960GB solid-state hard drive, and while that means it can only store around ten 4K movies downloaded from the company’s Movie Store at any one time, at least it combines the movie player and movie server into a single, more affordable device that's an excellent alternative to the best 4k Blu-ray players.
With Kaleidescape, you can immediately access a huge library of films, TV shows, and concert videos, with new titles often available months before any disc release. The picture and sound quality are exceptional, with stunning 4K HDR10 and Dolby Vision images and full lossless audio that includes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X – something you don’t get from the best streaming services, which only provide compressed soundtracks. The result is a performance that’s at least equal to a disc but without taking up all your shelf space. So if you want convenience without any compromise look no further than the Strato V.
The new Strato V combines a movie player with built-in 960GB SSD storage – enough to hold 10 movies at a time (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Price & release
Price: $3,995 / £5,379
Release date: September 2024
The Kaleidescape Strato V is available now through registered dealers and online sellers like Best Buy in the US and retails for $3,995 / £5,379. While this certainly isn’t cheap it’s definitely more affordable than the alternative of buying the Kaleidescape Strato C Movie Player. The latter costs about the same but doesn’t support Dolby Vision and requires you to buy one of Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime servers, which are very pricey. Of course, if you want to expand the storage of the Strato V you can add a Terra Prime server, although the extra cost does rather defeat the whole point of buying one.
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Specs
The Strato V uses wired Ethernet for a network connection; it has no Wi-Fi option (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Design
Great build quality
Kaleidescape remote app
Control over Ethernet
The Kaleidescape Strato V certainly looks like a premium product with a sleek, stylish and very well-made cabinet that uses a combination of a 3mm-thick black anodised aluminium chassis combined with a 3mm-thick black glass front with an illuminated Kaleidescape logo. The unit is silent in operation and includes a 960GB solid-state drive, along with a powerful system-on-chip (SoC).
The unit is only 20cm wide, which might disappoint those who like their AV equipment full width, but there’s an optional faceplate for mounting in an equipment rack. There’s also a dual faceplate for use with a compact Terra Prime server, along with a wall bracket for mounting behind a TV.
The connectivity is at the rear, with a gold-plated HDMI 2.1 output, a coaxial digital audio output using a gold-plated RCA phono connector, and an optical digital output. There’s also a gigabit Ethernet port, a USB 3.0 port, an IR input, a service port, and a 12V input for the included power adapter brick. There is no Wi-Fi connectivity, so you will need a wired Ethernet connection for downloading movies, accessing the web interface, updating firmware and using the control app.
The included remote is small and simple but gets the job done. There’s no backlight, which can be annoying in a pitch-black home cinema, but given Kaleidescape’s target market, chances are you’ll be using a third-party control system over Ethernet like Crestron, AMX, Savant or Control4. There’s also the Kaleidescape app (iOS or Android) which makes an effective controller, providing an alternative to the remote with its handy swipe function and access to the Kaleidescape Movie Store.
Design score: 5/5
The Kaleidescape Movie Store features new releases that aren't yet available on VOD services (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Features
Scalable storage options
Highest quality video
Fully lossless audio
The Kaleidescape Strato V’s primary function is as a high-end movie player that offers the best video and audio compared to any device on the market. To achieve this it supports every resolution up to 4K (3840 x 2160), and frame rates up to 60p. It also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range, plus lossless audio up to and including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Crucially, it isn’t limited to certain file sizes as with a 4K disc, nor is it restricted to lower bit rates like streaming services – supporting file sizes of over 100GB and speeds up to 100Mbps. As a result, when you buy or rent movies, TV shows or concerts from the Kaleidescape Movie Store you’re guaranteed the best picture and sound possible from a home entertainment product.
The Strato V is primarily designed to operate as a standalone unit, which is why it has a built-in solid-state hard drive. The downside is that the number of movies you can store at any one time is limited to around 10, and if you want to watch something else you have to download it. Once you purchase a title from the Kaleidescape Movie Store it remains accessible in your collection for download, even if it isn’t stored locally on the Strato V.
If you would rather store your entire collection on a drive for instant access you can connect to one of Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime servers. While doing so is obviously more expensive, and the built-in SSD is no longer available, the process is simple and won’t affect the Strato V’s performance in any way. It’s great to have the option to scale up the storage, even if you never actually need to.
Features score: 5/5
A Strato V setup menu page (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Setup
Web-based interface
Selectable aspect ratios
Cataloging your discs
The Kaleidescape Strato V is incredibly easy to set up, and all you need to do is plug in the power brick, attach an Ethernet cable and connect to your display, or in my case an AV processor. Kaleidescape even includes a THX Certified HDMI cable, which is a nice touch. Once powered up, just follow the onscreen instructions and you’ll be up and running in no time.
The initial options allow you to set up the Strato V as a standalone player, configure it as a new system with a Terra movie server, or add it as a new zone to an existing Kaleidescape system. When set up as a standalone player it operates independently, only playing movies stored locally on its internal drive, and can’t be grouped with other Strato V units for additional storage.
After I selected standalone mode, the activation page appeared. You then either enter your email address if you already have a Kaleidescape account or create a new one. Once you’ve entered your email address you’ll receive a confirmation email to activate the player. You’ll obviously need to add your credit card details as well for making purchases from the Kaleidescape Movie Store.
The web-based interface offers access to all of the Strato V’s setup options and is my preferred choice for the initial installation, although once completed the remote is fine for accessing your movies on the player (Ready to Play), and navigating the Kaleidescape Movie Store and general settings.
In terms of the initial settings you can leave most at their defaults because the Strato V will read the EDID from your display, receiver or processor and optimise accordingly. The one area you may need to adjust manually is the aspect ratio, especially if like me you use a 2.35:1 projector screen. This feature works brilliantly, not only formatting the screens and menus for the wider aspect ratio, but also automatically rescaling 1.85:1 content within the ‘Scope ratio screen.
The main reason for buying a Strato V is access to the Kaleidescape Movie Store, and here your experience will really depend on on where you live. In the US the choice is huge and new films are added months before they’re released on disc, whereas elsewhere the choice isn’t as impressive, and films take longer to be added. I appreciate that studio agreements will differ from territory to territory, but given the store is the main feature it’s a bit frustrating if you live outside the States.
One final feature that Kaleidescape offers is the option to catalog your physical Blu-ray and DVD collections into a digital format. You’ll need to connect an external disc drive via USB, but once connected, the Strato V enters Recognition Mode. Insert a disc into the drive, and the Strato begins cataloging it. The process only takes a few seconds, and you can then see the title in the Store under Digital Offers – sometimes with a discount for the digital version.
The Strato V provides detailed info on video and audio formats during playback (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Performance
Well-designed and intuitive interface
Exceptional picture and sound quality
Excellent upscaling of lower resolutions
The Kaleidescape Strato V is a rock-solid media player thanks to its intuitive user interface, and is also very responsive in operation. The Ready to Play page has titles from the Store along the top, a second layer showing the unwatched titles currently on the internal drive, followed by a layer of paused movies, then the played movies, and finally any movies you’ve marked as favourites.
Unlike the Strato C, the Strato V doesn’t show you all the films you’ve bought on the home page, only those on the internal drive. If you want to see the complete collection you’ll need to go to your account on the Movie Store, but this keeps things neat and tidy. The system automatically deletes the oldest played content to free up space, unless you mark a title as a favourite.
When you click on a title you get information about it, along with options to play, pause or choose a specific scene. When something is playing you can also press the up button on the remote and see additional information such as audio options and subtitles. The entire process is completely seamless, and I never had any issues with playing, pausing or stopping movies. It’s also worth pointing out that the Strato V runs completely silent and cool in operation.
The process of buying titles from the Movie Store couldn’t be easier, and you can access it via the Kaleidescape website, through the player’s interface or even using the app. There are thousands of titles available for purchase or rental, many of which haven’t even been released on 4K disc yet.
I found deleting existing films off the internal drive and downloading new ones onto it to be straightforward. If you decide to rent rather than purchase a title, it will remain on your system for 30 days, and once you begin watching it there’s a 48-hour window. If you like the film and decide to buy it within the 30-day rental period, half the rental price is credited towards the purchase.
The speed of download will depend on your internet connection – if you’re lucky enough to have gigabit speeds you can download movies in around 10 to 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I live in the countryside and only have speeds of 50Mbps, so it took about two hours to download a movie.
When you buy a title it might offer 4K Dolby Vision and 4K HDR10 versions, but even if your display doesn’t support Dolby Vision you still download the former. The Strato V will automatically output whatever your display is capable of handling, while the 4K HDR10 version is only intended for the Strato C because that player doesn’t support Dolby Vision at all.
Kaleidescape’s use of larger file sizes and higher bit rates results in stunning images that are at least as good as the equivalent 4K Ultra HD disc, if not better. I watched a number titles, including Top Gun: Maverick, Dune Part 2, and Furiosa, and the picture quality is simply stunning. The 4K images are sharp and detailed, the HDR10 or Dolby Vision is delivered precisely, and the overall presentation is free of any compression artefacts or other issues.
While you can obviously watch movies on streamers, or via VOD services like iTunes and Prime Video, Kaleidescape offers a quantum leap in quality. In fact, the larger file sizes mean it can even surpass 4K Blu-rays at times. A good example is Once Upon a Time in the West, which is a three-hour movie that gets crammed onto a 66GB 4K Blu-ray disc. Kaleidescape’s file is significantly larger, providing more space and a higher bit rate, which results in a better-defined image when directly comparing this film on both formats.
The audio is equally impressive, with full lossless support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. While streaming services may offer Atmos, it is usually delivered via lossy Dolby Digital Plus, but with Kaleidescape you’re enjoying the same full lossless experience you get with Blu-rays. Hans Zimmer Live in Prague sounds amazing in Atmos, while Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban benefits from a DTS:X soundtrack that really brings the wizarding world to life. The scene where the dementors search the Hogwarts Express is doubly scary thanks to the genuine scale and really deep bass.
While I expected the 4K images to look superb, I was equally impressed by the quality of the Strato V’s upscaling. When watching lower-resolution content the picture is clean and well-defined, with no obvious scaling artefacts. The same is true when the player automatically re-scales 1.85:1 content within the 2.35:1 aspect ratio – the process is seamless and the results are free of any scaling artefacts.
Performance score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Value
It’s a significant investment
There’s no direct competitor
The idea of value for money is always relative, and there’s no denying the Kaleidescape Strato V represents a significant investment. However, once purchased the ability to buy new movies months before they arrive on 4K disc in quality that’s at least as good, if not better, and without taking up shelf space is very appealing. This is especially true if you live in the United States, where the Movie Store library is genuinely impressive.
If on the other hand you’re the kind of person who prefers owning physical media, just to be on the safe side, and you don’t mind waiting for the disc to come out, then you could simply buy a media player and storage, rip your own discs and create a custom server for significantly less. The beauty of Kaleidescape’s unique ecosystem is that they do everything for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your favourite movies.
Value score: 5/5
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Should I buy it?
Buy it if…
You want the best video and audio quality: The larger file sizes offered by Kaleidescape, along with bit rates up to 100Mbps, ensure that 4K and HDR10/Dolby Vision performance is the best of any device on the market.
You want a slick and intuitive user interface: The Strato V’s intuitive user interface and high-powered processing ensure that downloading and watching content is a seamless, responsive and enjoyable experience.
You want early access to the latest movies: In the US in particular the Movie Store offers films months before they are released on UHD disc, and there are even 4K titles available that aren’t currently on physical media.View Deal
Don't buy it if…
You want to collect physical media: Kaleidescape’s system is based on a download model with titles accessed from an online account and stored on built-in drives. If you prefer physically owning content, discs are still your best bet.
You want to rip your disc collection: The cataloguing feature aside, the Strato V is designed to access Kaleidescape’s Movie Store and download content. if you want to rip discs you’re better off buying a media player and storage.
You want a streaming service: This is not a subscription streaming service like Netflix. Instead, you buy titles as very large files that, depending on your internet, can take a long time to download, but the picture and sound quality is significantly better.View Deal
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V
Reviewed in a dedicated home cinema
Video evaluated using 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision
Audio evaluated using Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
I tested the Kaleidescape Strato V in my reference home cinema where the video is handled by a JVC DLA-NZ900 projector, and the audio is configured in a 9.4.6-channel configuration using a Trinnov Altitude16 AV processor and 16-channel power amplifier.
I extensively tested 4K and HDR10 video, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X lossless spatial audio in the home cinema, although for completeness I also used an LG G4 OLED TV in my living room to test the Kaleidescape Strato V’s Dolby Vision capabilities.
Kaleidescape was kind enough to include a number of films pre-loaded, as well as more in the account, along with a credit for additional purchases and rentals. This provided me with an opportunity to test every aspect of the store and overall ecosystem.
It seems something of an oxymoron that bird feeder cameras are another way that technology is helping us become one with nature, but that is what the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo does. The previous generation Netvue Birdfy Feeder AI camera already features in our round-up of the best bird feeder cameras, but the latest Birdfy camera takes the technology to a whole new level.
The premise of the device is simple; it is a bird feeder with a weatherproof Wi-Fi-enabled camera in the centre. Think of the camera in much the same way as a smart security camera, like a Amazon Blink or Ring Camera, in that it sends you an alert every time it detects motion. In this case that motion comes in the form of a bird (or squirrel, or possibly even a bear depending on your location). Using AI technology, the Birdfy app will even identify the bird for you and create a list of visitors to your feeder that day.
The new version of the Birdfy Feeder brings enhanced cameras. The primary camera now houses two camera units. The first is a wide-angle camera that shows the entire perch, whilst the second offers a closer view and is motorized to pan and track any detected bird. You can even view the footage from either camera through a live feed in the app.
(Image credit: Future)
In addition to the primary dual-camera unit, the Feeder 2 Duo has a second camera unit, which mounts onto the side of the feeder and offers a wide angle side view of whatever bird has landed. This second camera is great for larger birds, or if you simply want to edit between two different camera angles.
The image quality of the secondary Feeder 2 Duo camera isn't quite as good as the main one, and if you don't need it then the main camera alone can be purchased as the Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro instead. The second camera suffers a little from chromatic aberration, which can affect the quality, but this is all relative to the fact it is really a camera meant for monitoring rather than providing photographic excellence.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: price and availability
$419.99 / £379.99 / AU$665 - but regularly on offer
There are also Birdfy Feeder 2 and Feeder 2 Pro options
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is the most advanced bird feeder camera system on the market, with two camera units hosting three cameras. However, it's also the priciest at $419.99 / £379.99 / AU$665 on the Birdfy site, prohibitively so for some people. Thankfully, there are different options using the same feeder but with different camera combinations.
The first is the Birdfy Feeder 2 which costs $259.99 / £204.99. Its one camera is the secondary camera mentioned throughout the Feeder 2 Duo on test. This kit doesn't include the solar panel, which can be purchased separately for $29.99 /£22.99. It also doesn't include AI recognition, which can be purchased separately, if wanted, through the Birdfy app.
Then there is the Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro. This uses the same improved main dual-camera unit as the Feeder 2 Duo on test, which includes the tracking camera. It also includes a solar panel and can be purchased without the AI subscription (which can be added in the app) for $279.99 / £249.99, or with a lifetime AI subscription for $299.99 / £279.99.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: specs
Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro: design
Two camera units, with the main unit being an improved dual-camera setup
Multiple ways to mount
Wi-Fi connection, plus solid battery life further expanded with a solar panel
Setting up the whole unit took me less than 10 minutes. The only construction needed was mounting the cameras, including screwing on a small arm for the secondary camera. The cameras themselves can be fixed in to position using thumb screws.
My only disappointment with the design is that the new secondary side camera can only be positioned on one side because the mounting arm is set at an angle. Try mounting it on the other side, where there are mounting threads and the camera isn't angled at the perch correctly. Hopefully, Birdfy will come up with a solution, as it seems like an easy fix.
The feeder is mounted to a quick-release plate, which can be screwed to a wall or fence, or it can be fixed to a strap and fixed around a tree trunk or post. I opted to put it around a tree trunk (see below), with the whole installation taking a matter of minutes. As I write this, the feeder has securely been fixed in the tree for over two months in all sorts of weather and with birds and squirrels using it almost hourly.
(Image credit: Future)
The camera connection is simple, and via the app, the cameras can connect to your home Wi-Fi system. My feeder is around 20ft / 6m from the rear of my house and probably another 5ft / 2m from where the nearest Wi-Fi router is connected , and both cameras maintained a stable connection without any dropouts.
Both cameras feature an internal battery that can be charged via a USB-C port, and the battery life is respectable. How long the battery lasts depends on how active the cameras, for example, how many birds land on the feeder, whether you use the built-in light at nighttime and whether you try to scare off unwanted visitors using the alarm. Generally, though, I have found that a couple of weeks passes before the battery dies, at which point they need to be taken down and charged.
Additionally to solid battery life, the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo also comes with a solar panel which has two USB-C ports on it, enabling you to power both cameras continuously, hopefully without the need to ever bring them in for charging.
The solar panel has a screw-on mount to attach to a wall or fence or a flexible mount to wrap around a tree branch or similar. Wherever you position it, you will of course want to maximize the amount of light reaching it for the best possible performance.
I have used a similar solar panel with the original Birdy feeder camera, and in over 18 months I haven't once had to charge the camera, and its battery rarely drops below 80%. Depending on where you live, you'll need to be smart where you position the feeder and panel in the garden during winter when sunlight hours can significantly drop, assuming you don't want to have to charge the batteries manually.
(Image credit: Future)
As I have found with every bird feeder camera I have tested, none of them are particularly squirrel-proof, and where there is birdseed, a squirrel will try and get to the last of it, even if that means breaking the feeder.
After a couple of weeks of use, squirrels broke some of the plastic in the feeder to get to the last few remaining seeds (see above). The damage doesn't affect its use at all, and to be honest, it is just something you have to accept will happen if you have larger mammals trying to get to a food source.
Sadly, the lights and alarm did little to deter the squirrels. However, screaming into my phone, which then played the audio through the Birdfy camera's built-in microphone, was successful, albeit not a permanent solution. I also got some funny looks when doing this out in public!
Overall, I have enjoyed having the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo in my garden and seeing various birds visiting. The new camera system is a great way to see the birds up close, and the primary camera's image quality seems to be an improvement over the predecessor, particularly the addition of the close-up camera. The secondary camera is a nice add-on, but I wish it could be mounted on the opposite side; for me, it would produce a nicer image where it isn't directly in the sun's light.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: performance
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is a two-camera unit setup with three individual cameras. I couldn't find the exact specifications for the camera sensor. However, based on the still images and video resolution, it is fairly safe to say that the sensor is a generic smartphone sensor, most likely the same as used in security cameras made by Birdfy's parent brand, Netvue.
Although the resolution may not be huge, the cameras are designed for observation and sharing images on social media, not for creating large prints, so the size and quality of the images are perfectly acceptable.
The large-capacity batteries in each unit last for a week or two, but the solar panel included should always keep them charged.
The cameras are also IP65-rated for weatherproofing, and I can attest to this, having had the cameras outside in the pouring rain. I've also had the previous generation of the camera outside in hot and freezing conditions for over a year, and it is still fully working, and the battery is still holding its charge.
Video and photo samples
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want a great bit of garden tech
Garden tech can be underwhelming, but the Birdfy cameras can be connected to Amazon Alexa to do some neat things for security as well as watching wildlife on other devices such as TVs with Amazon Alexa built-in.
You love Birds and wildlife
This one is obvious, but if you love the wildlife in your garden, the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is great. You can collect the birds that have visited like they are Pokemon, and it is always great when you see something rare that you haven't seen before.
You want the best
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is the most functional and advanced bird feeder camera system on the market.
Don't buy it if...
Megapixels matter most to you
Both cameras only output Full HD resolution footage. This isn't a problem, but if you're set on 4K, I'd hold back. It wouldn't surprise me if the next-generation cameras had this resolution.
You are on a budget
The Feeder 2 Duo is expensive, but if you want similar functionality, consider the standard Feeder 2 and Feeder 2 Pro options.
You want something squirrel-proof.
Having tested six bird feeder cameras I can attest that none are squirrel-proof... at least not yet.
How I tested the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo
Mounted the feeder in a tree for 3 months
Connected to my home Wi-Fi
Monitored the birds visiting daily via the Birdfy app
I tested the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo by mounting it in a tree that garden birds (and squirrels) regularly visit. The feeder was strapped to the tree, and the camera was set up using an iPhone and the Birdfy app.
I left the feeder up there for three months through all weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the birds visiting via the app in real-time and reviewed photos and videos that had been captured.
I have also looked at AI recognition and have seen and corrected a few mistakes. Hopefully, this will help improve bird recognition accuracy in the future.
