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Sennheiser Momentum Sport review; High quality at a higher price

2:00 pm | September 14, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: ANC | Comments: Off

Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Two minute review

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport true wireless earbuds follow in the footsteps of Sennheiser’s popular Momentum range (the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 are the most recent) but with added features specially for fitness. The result is a pair of buds that are perfect for sports, with a stable fit, durable build, health sensors, great sound and ANC, and a huge range of features. But they’re not perfect; some might find the features overwhelming, and even if you’re looking for the ultimate sporty pair of buds, there might be better options for you.

Sennheiser is known for its exceptional audio quality, and the Momentum Sport earbuds uphold this reputation. They support high-resolution streaming and are equipped with 10mm drivers, compared to the 7mm drivers found in the brand’s other models. This enhancement allows the earbuds to deliver more power and deeper bass. The sound quality is especially impressive when the Bass Boost profile is activated in the Sennheiser app, making them ideal for sports earbuds where dynamic sound is essential.

Listening to Megan’s Piano by Megan Thee Stallion at the gym, the piano is bright and punchy, while the bass is bouncing and booming. Similarly, Queens of the Stone Age’s Burn the Witch sounds powerful and fun across the range, though cranking up the volume sometimes results in muddied lower frequencies. Overall, the Sennheiser Momentum Sport buds deliver a bold, fun, and engaging sound. The accompanying app offers plenty of customization options, allowing users to adjust EQ settings, select presets, and create their own custom profiles.

Despite the enjoyable listening experience, the audio quality doesn’t quite meet the high standards typically associated with high-end Sennheiser earbuds. While there’s clarity and power, there’s a noticeable lack of richness and detail. The sound is good but not class-leading, which is somewhat disappointing given the price point. When compared to my usual go-to earbuds, the Nothing Ear 2, the Sennheiser Momentum Sport only offers a slight improvement. Now, this is fine because we rate Nothing’s buds. But considering the price, you’d expect a seriously upgraded experience.

I was impressed by the adaptive noise-cancelling (ANC) capabilities of the Sennheiser Momentum Sport. It effectively reduces most background noises, including conversations and transport sounds. However, it’s not the best ANC I’ve tested and doesn’t surpass some of the top contenders in our best noise-cancelling earbuds list. That said, I personally prefer the ANC here for workouts, as it offers solid noise cancellation while still allowing very loud sounds to come through if necessary.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds on grey table background — (Image credit: Future / Becca Caddy)

For instance, while testing these earbuds on a train to the airport, I couldn’t hear the conversations of the people sitting opposite me, and most sounds from the moving train were silenced. However, a loud alarm at one of the stations was still audible, which I find important for safety reasons. Others may prefer a more immersive noise-cancelling experience, but for me, this balance was ideal.

The app allows for extensive customization of the ANC settings, including an anti-wind mode that disables the external mics. This feature was particularly useful for calls and voice notes, ensuring they were clear and free from background noise. There’s also a transparency mode that lets you control the level of ambient sound, which can be activated specifically for calls.

Beyond ANC, the app offers several ways to tailor your listening experience. A fit test helps optimize audio and ANC performance, and the Sound Zones feature allows you to apply different sound settings for different environments, such as work or the gym. While these customization options are great for those who enjoy tweaking their settings, they might feel overwhelming for users who prefer a straightforward experience.

As you’d expect from fitness-focused earbuds, the stability of the Sennheiser Momentum Sport is excellent. If the fit isn’t perfect initially, there are various customization options to help you achieve the right fit. Each earbud has a small silicone band around its main casing, which can be removed and replaced with bands featuring ear fins of different sizes. These ear fins fit under your ear cartilage, providing additional stability. There are three ear fin options and three different silicone eartips to choose from.

I spent considerable time adjusting these different options to find the perfect fit. Although the process was a bit tedious, I was very satisfied with the results once I’d found the ideal combination for my ears. The earbuds remained secure during workouts, walking, and running, providing a reliable fit that I haven’t experienced with other earbuds in a long time.

The secure and stable fit is especially important for those with smaller ears, as the earbuds are a bit large and bulky due to all of the additional onboard technology. Weighing 6.4g each, they’re not particularly heavy but feel different from lighter, mid-range earbuds. After several hours of continuous wear, they did start to feel a bit uncomfortable. However, this took some time, and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t feel discomfort sooner. While this amount of time is more than enough for a workout, it might not be ideal for all-day wear.

The design of the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds is typical for the brand, featuring a simple aesthetic with minimal branding and clean lines. While some people might find this design a bit plain, it fits well in all sorts of settings and, personally, I appreciate the unobtrusive look. The earbuds are IP55-rated, making them suitable for sweaty workouts, though some other fitness earbuds offer better waterproofing.

One of the standout features of these earbuds is the inclusion of optical health sensors. The earbuds feature heart rate and body temperature tracking, made possible through a partnership with Polar. While other earbuds, like the Bose SoundSport Pulse and Amazfit Powerbuds Pro, have included optical heart rate monitors, the temperature tracking is a new addition. Temperature sensors are relatively new even in the best smartwatches and fitness tech.

You can quickly check the health readings in the Sennheiser app, but for more detailed information, the Polar Flow app or compatible Polar watches provide better context. The earbuds can also connect to other devices, such as smartwatches or fitness tech, via Bluetooth. Although I didn’t test the earbuds against a chest strap heart rate monitor – considered the gold standard – I compared the heart rate readings to my Apple Watch and the temperature readings to my Ultrahuman Ring Air, both indicating a high level of accuracy from the buds.

Beyond sound and ANC settings, the Sennheiser app is packed with features and customization options, delivering the high-end experience you’d expect. Users can customize gestures and touch controls on the earbuds, although there is no single-tap option and the touch controls can be overly sensitive at times. For example, a thick strand of hair once tangled around the buds and inadvertently activated the controls. Additionally, the app offers a Battery ECO mode to deactivate high-quality streaming and save battery, and a Smart Pause feature that pauses music when you remove an earbud.

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds come with one of the nicest charging cases I’ve tested. It features a quality build that feels far from plasticky , with a square design and a rubber magnetic lid that closes quietly and satisfyingly. . The earbuds themselves offer six hours of battery life, extending to 24 hours with the fully charged case. This isn’t great battery life, but is standard for high-end sound and lots of features. The charging case is IP54-rated, providing some protection against sprays and dust, though it offers less waterproofing than the earbuds.

My biggest issue with these buds is figuring out who they’re for. If you’re on a budget, they’re expensive. There’s a lot going on with these earbuds, and I worry that some people just don’t need all of these bells and whistles. It might make more sense to get affordable or mid-range earbuds and pair them with one of the best cheap fitness trackers. While I enjoyed experimenting with the health sensor technology, I wonder if anyone willing to spend this much on earbuds and take fitness seriously wouldn’t already have a tracker capable of collecting heart rate data.

That said, there are scenarios where these earbuds might be a good fit. Perhaps you had a capable fitness tracker that broke, or you’ve had it for years and want to replace it. Or maybe you’re a fan of Polar’s ecosystem. There are certainly valid use cases here. If you appreciate the idea of health sensors and would utilize the other features, especially if you’re a fan of Sennheiser’s high-end products, then these earbuds are worth considering. However, for most users, there are better options available at a lower price point.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Price and availability

Priced at $329.95/£279.99/AU$529.95
Available from Spring 2024

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport cost $329.95/£279.99/AU$529.95. Although the buds are currently discounted on the Sennheiser website in some regions. At the time of writing, the price in the UK has dropped from £279.99 to £218.49.

This price makes the Sennheiser Momentum Sport expensive as far as true wireless earbuds are concerned. More expensive than some of our top favorite true wireless picks, like the Nothing Ear (a) at $99 / £99 / around AU$192 and our top buds for working out, the Beats Fit Pro at $199 / £199 / AU$299. They’re even a little more expensive than the Apple AirPods Pro 2 at $249 / £229 / AU$399.

However, the Technics EAH-AZ80 that are currently at the top of our best true wireless earbuds guide are similarly priced at $299/£259/AU$499. As are some of the best noise-canceling buds in the world, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds at $299 / £299 / AU$449.

So the price might be high-end, but it isn’t unheard of or out of this world for a quality pair of buds. It still means you should only consider them if you want them for fitness and you love the sound of health sensors and loads of customization options. Anyone else won’t make the most of everything on offer and could find a much cheaper alternative.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Specifications

Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Scorecard

Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want loads of customization options

You can tweak the sound, set up different sound profiles and sound zones, change the tips and wings to get the best fit and more. If you like to feel in control, these are the buds for you.

You want buds built for workouts

Everything about these buds is built with fitness in mind, from the super stable fit to the durable build to the added optical health sensors.

You want ultimate stability

Not ideal for very small ears, but otherwise you can achieve a fantastic fit. It’ll take some faffing, but then there’s no budging. So it’s worth it.

Don't buy it if...

You already have a great fitness tracker

There’s a lot to love about these buds beyond their health sensors, but if you already have that covered, there are better, more affordable options.

You want the best sound and ANC

I rate the sound and ANC of these buds, but it’s not the best, and if that’s a priority, you’ll want to look at what rivals have to offer.

You want to save money

There are more savvy ways to get health tracking, good sound and a solid fit with other buds and fitness trackers.

Also consider

Beats Fit Pro

Cheaper than the Sennheiser buds also with solid sound and ANC. They have a smaller build and a similar battery life.

Beats Fit Pro review

JBL Endurance Peak 3

An affordable alternative. Sound and ANC aren’t as strong, but you get a secure fit with an ear hook and better battery life.

JBL Endurance Peak 3 review

How I tested

I tested the Sennheiser Momentum Sport buds every day for a month. This gave me the chance to trial them in a range of different situations and environments.

I mostly used them to listen to music and podcasts on my iPhone 14 Pro with Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube music. I tested them when I was traveling abroad, walking around cities and along the beach and jogging in the countryside. I also took them to the gym when I was using the cardio machines and lifting weights.

I’ve tested lots of different headphones and earbuds for more than 12 years now, especially fitness devices. I’m particularly interested in tech that prioritizes ease of use and comfort.

First reviewed: August 2024

Doogee T30 Max business tablet review

3:04 am |

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

Doogee T30 Max: 30-second review

Out of the box, the Doogee T30 Max is instantly impressive, with one of the most stylish, minimalistic looks for a tablet of this size. It's really slim and light but feels robust and premium with a stylish black titanium alloy finish that looks superb. The build quality is far greater than the price would suggest.

Like so many of the best business tablets we've reviewed, the system runs on Android 14, which enables the smooth operation of the entire Google Office suite. With the optional keyboard, this tablet can essentially function as a standard Chromebook. Using the pressure-sensitive stylus, the tablet is fast and responsive, and able to navigate between applications quickly. The split-screen function allows you to see two applications side-by-side, making multitasking easy. For instance, you can edit a video in CapCut while uploading it to social platforms simultaneously, streamlining the whole process.

Applications installed on the tablet are fast and responsive when used with the Google Docs suite. Using the stylus to copy and paste between apps quickly is smooth and without the jitter often seen in cheaper tablets. The internal storage is 512GB, which can quickly fill up if you're shooting videos and stills. However, alongside the network SIM slot, there's also a slot for a TF or microSD card up to 2TB, vastly expanding the internal storage options.

The ability to plug external storage devices through the USB Type-C port further boosts the storage potential. This is especially useful for transferring files to the tablet ready for editing. While editing video, you can start to feel the processing being pushed, but for the most part, it copes relatively well.

For entertainment media, such as playback and streaming video content, the Doogee T30 Max is able to process HD and 4K video content with ease. Even for most gaming, the tablet seems to be fine-tuned to cope with 3D Graphics and the demands of games such as Call of Duty and CarX Street. The only times you really start to see it struggle are with the slight responsiveness delay when using the stylus in applications such as SketchBook and when editing 4K video.

The Doogee T30 Max is one of the best tablets for anyone looking for a stylish, sleek, slim, and lightweight tablet. It's perfect for office tasks, playing back video on popular streaming services, editing video and images, and a little light gaming.

Doogee T30 Max: Price & availability

How much does it cost? Starting from £289 / $349
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? You can get it directly from Doogee Website

The Doogee T30 Max is well-priced, making it a great option for anyone looking for a high-quality tablet without breaking the bank. As of now, the tablet is available for purchase directly from Doogee's official website by clicking here and other major online retailers such as Amazon. Pricing typically ranges from around £289 or $349.

Value: 4 / 5

Doogee T30 Max: Specifications

Doogee T30 Max: Design

The design of the Doogee T30 Max gives it an instantly premium look and feel with its full titanium alloy build. The body is extremely well-finished, featuring a 12.4-inch screen that takes up the vast majority of the front of the tablet. The small front camera is discreetly integrated into the top middle of the border rather than occupying screen space. The back of the tablet has a slightly matte leather-like finish, providing a good tactile feel and a firm grip. On the back, you'll also find the dual AI-enhanced cameras: a larger 50MP main camera and a 2MP macro camera, accompanied by a small light for portrait shots.

The top edge of the tablet houses the power button and volume controls, maintaining a minimalist look. The right side features the first two speaker areas at the top and bottom, with a USB Type-C connector in between for charging and connecting accessories. The base of the tablet includes connection points for the optional magnetic keyboard. On the left side, there are two more speaker slots, a SIM slot that holds up to two SIMs and a TF or microSD card, and a biometric fingerprint scanner for secure access.

Overall, the design of the Doogee T30 Max is sleek and minimalistic. The included case, while not the most premium, offers adequate protection for the tablet and doubles as a stand when needed.

Design: 4 / 5

Doogee T30 Max: Features

The Doogee T30 Max impresses with its stylish looks and equally impressive range of features. The 12.4-inch 4K IPS screen is fully touch-sensitive with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity when used with the active stylus. It also features a certified quad box speaker system with smart PA, providing decent sound quality for multimedia and gaming. Running on the Android 14 OS, it integrates seamlessly with a range of apps, making it ideal as a portable office solution. Internally, it comes with 512GB of storage, expandable to 2TB with a TF or microSD card.

Delving a little deeper into the features and the large 12.4-inch touchscreen dominates the front of the tablet, offering an ultra-clear 4K resolution display with 1.07 billion colours. The screen is bright at 600 nits maximum brightness and supports full P3 and HDR10 dynamic range. This makes it perfect for creative use, allowing for precise control with the active stylus, which promises to mimic traditional art tools for more natural drawing and writing experiences. However, we did find a certain amount of lag between drawing and displaying, which means we wouldn't recommend it for those looking for the best drawing tablet.

The slim, lightweight design makes it highly portable, weighing just 687g and measuring 285.1 x 185.4 x 7.9 mm. It comes in two colour options: graphite black and dark green, with a tactile leather back for a premium feel. Secure access to the table is quick with biometric fingerprint or face recognition.

One of the standout features is the integrated speakers, boasting a 6CC super large sound cavity for superior audio quality. The tablet supports Widevine L1, ensuring the highest quality streaming from providers like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon, and Disney+. The screen also has chip-level intelligent blue light protection, natural brightness adjustment, and manual colour and temperature adjustment.

Powering the tablet is the Helio G99 octa-core processor, combined with the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, 8GB of internal RAM, and up to 20GB with extended RAM. The 10800mAh battery provides up to 710 hours of standby time, 5.5 hours of web surfing, 8 hours of video playback, and up to 46 hours of music playback. It supports fast charging, providing 2 hours of video playback with just a 15-minute charge.

For imaging, the tablet features an impressive 50MP rear camera with AI enhancements and a 2MP macro camera, perfect for close-up shots. The front 20MP camera is ideal for video conferencing, supported by a built-in mic.

Accessories include a simple case, keyboard case, mouse, and an active pressure stylus. The tablet supports dual SIM cards and has band Wi-Fi, GPS, Galileo, Beidou, and AGPS for satellite navigation. The ability to add a TF or microSD card for storage expansion is another neat feature, making the Doogee T30 Max a highly versatile option.

Features: 4 / 5

Doogee T30 Max: Performance

High resolution screen
Highly responsive touch screen

The initial setup is straightforward, utilising the usual Android process of signing into your Google account. Android 14 ensures a smooth and user-friendly experience as ever and connecting the device to a network is easy; connect through WiFi or just pop your device SIM card into the carrier, and it instantly connects to a 4G signal. A notable feature is the dual SIM support, allowing seamless switching between networks for consistent connectivity. During the test, both Vodafone and EE SIM cards provided strong signals and good internet speeds.

The tablet's build quality stands out, with a robust titanium alloy casing and a fingerprint-resistant touchscreen. Opening the tablet is fast with the biometric fingerprint scanner and face recognition working quickly when you need access and also providing that extra level of security.

The tablet comes with a range of pre-installed apps, but additional downloads like Google Docs are necessary for a full test. To assess performance comprehensively, we installed benchmarking software, Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Sketchbook, and Call of Duty.

Starting with Google Docs, the applications run smoothly, and the touchscreen is intuitive to use. The on-screen keyboard is functional, but the handwriting keyboard activated by the stylus offers a more natural and efficient input method, especially across Google apps.

The USB Type-C port allows for easy expansion and connectivity. We tested several USB Type-C sticks, and they were accessed directly through the Google file manager, enabling quick transfer and use of images in Lightroom and other applications.

The main option for expanding the internal storage is through adding a TF or microSD card up to 2TB, this is quick to do with the card simply sitting alongside the SIM cards in the carrier. This feature is ideal for managing large files, such as high-resolution images and videos.

All Google Docs applications performed flawlessly, with the split-screen feature enabling the use of two apps easily. This is particularly useful for research and document editing.

For image editing, Adobe Lightroom performed impressively, handling high-resolution images smoothly. The pressure-sensitive stylus provided precise control, making fine adjustments easy and intuitive. Sketchbook also worked well, despite a slight lag in brush actions, which for experienced users will be distracting, however, most occasional users shouldn't be too bothered.

Video editing in CapCut and GoPro Quik was decent enough with the tablet handling full HD footage smoothly, edits were generally quick with just a few pauses as the system caught up with the processing, and uploads back to the cloud were seamless.

For entertainment, the 4K screen resolution and quad speakers deliver excellent streaming quality. Gaming performance was also surprisingly good, with games like CarX Street and Call of Duty running smoothly, though the tablet did heat up slightly during extended play.

Overall, the Doogee T30 Max delivers solid performance across various tasks, including document management, image editing, video editing, and light gaming. Benchmarking results place it in the medium range of tablets, highlighting its excellent value considering the price.

Performance: 3 / 5

Doogee T30 Max: Final verdict

The Doogee T30 Max is a competent large-screen tablet that should suite for all but that highest demand users. It's well-suited for office work, including editing documents and spreadsheets, browsing the internet, making video calls, and light multimedia editing. The tablet handles all Google apps smoothly and offers good speed and responsiveness. The dual SIM card feature is a great addition, allowing you to select two different network providers for constant connectivity. Storage expansion up to 2TB with a TF or microSD card or external storage via the USB Type-C port adds flexibility.

Performance-wise, the T30 Max handles applications like Lightroom and CapCut well, enabling quick image and video editing. However, it's important to note that this is a relatively affordable tablet, so it may not handle the latest high-resolution footage as efficiently as higher-end models. It's designed for editing mobile, action camera HD, and 4K footage. For entertainment, the Wi-Fi L1 support ensures high-quality streaming from major online services, and the CPU and GPU provide decent gaming potential.

While the T30 Max may not be the most powerful tablet on the market, it delivers impressive performance for its price. Coupled with the stylus, it offers intuitive workflows, making it effective for general use. Dedicated artists might find the slight lag of the stylus in applications like Sketchbook is a bit irritating, but for most it's fast enough to prove effective. Still, for general use and the ability to utilise the stylus, it remains a decent all-around tablet for both business and home use. Overall, the Doogee T30 Max offers good value for money, making it a worthwhile option for those seeking a versatile and affordable tablet.

Should you buy the Doogee T30 Max?

Buy it if...

You want a versatile office companion

If you require a tablet for office tasks such as document editing, video calls, and internet browsing, the Doogee T30 Max is an excellent choice. Its seamless integration with Google apps ensures smooth productivity.

You enjoy multimedia on the go

The T30 Max is perfect for streaming high-quality video and light gaming. Its 4K display and quad speakers enhance the entertainment experience, making it a great option for multimedia enthusiasts.

Don't buy it if...

You need high-end gaming performance

If your primary need is for a device to handle high-end gaming or intensive graphic tasks, there may be better choices than the Doogee T30 Max. It's better suited for lighter gaming and standard multimedia tasks.

You're a professional artist

Dedicated artists might find the slight lag in stylus response for detailed sketching and drawing tasks limiting. For professional art creation, a more specialized, high-end tablet would be preferable.

For more durable devices, we reviewed the best rugged hard drives

Squarespace free logo maker review 2024

7:38 pm | September 13, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Website Building | Comments: Off

If you've spent any time online, chances are you've come across Squarespace, one of the best website builders famous for its sleek design and powerful features. Whether you're watching a YouTube video or browsing your favorite blog, it seems there's no escaping Squarespace. But today, we're diving into one of its lesser-known yet impressive tools - the Squarespace Logo Maker.

The Squarespace Logo Maker, which used to come with a price tag, is now offered at no cost, allowing everyone to create a personalized logo for free. Seamlessly integrated with Squarespace's site builder, this tool lets you easily add your new logo to your website in just a few clicks. It's a straightforward, quick option, ideal for small business owners, freelancers, or anyone seeking a simple, professional logo.

Of course, to apply your new logo to your Squarespace website you will need a Squarespace subscription. These start at $16/mo, but you can save when you use one of the top Squarespace promo codes.

In this review, we’ll examine the Squarespace logo maker's features and usability to help you decide if it's the right fit—or if you should consider alternatives like Wix Logo Maker or Tailor Brands.

If you want to find out more about Squarespace, you can read our full Squarespace review.

Core features of Squarespace free logo maker

Squarespace’s Logo Maker keeps things simple, offering the key tools you need to create custom logos, perfect for beginners looking for an easy way to get started.

Icon library

One of the noteworthy features of the Squarespace Logo Maker is its integration with the Noun Project, which gives you access to a collection of over 2 million icons. This rich library offers a wide range of choices, so you can easily find an icon that matches your brand’s personality, whether you’re going for something sleek and simple or a bit more complex.

That said, because these icons come from the Noun Project, they’re subject to its terms and licensing. This means you'll need to check the specific usage rights for each icon, which might be a bit of a hassle.

Despite this, having such a vast selection of high-quality icons at your fingertips makes it a great tool for quickly crafting a standout logo.

Customization choices

The Squarespace Logo Maker offers several ways to personalize your logo and make it truly yours. You can tweak the colors of your icon and text to match your brand’s color scheme, allowing you to experiment with different shades until you find the perfect look.

There’s also a fine variety of fonts to choose from, so you can select one that complements your icon and reflects your brand’s vibe. Plus, you can play around with the positioning of the elements, giving you the creative freedom to design something that’s both balanced and eye-catching.

screenshot of Squarespace logo maker in use

(Image credit: Squarespace)

That said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The tool doesn’t provide pixel-perfect accuracy for resizing or positioning, so adjustments are done visually, which might be tricky if precision is important to you.

Additionally, after saving your logo, you’ll receive a download link via email, but there’s no easy way to go back and edit your previous designs directly within the tool. This could be a bit of a hassle if you need to make changes later or if you accidentally lose the email with your link.

Download options

Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your logo, Squarespace lets you download it in a few handy ways. However, it’s worth noting that PNG is the only format available, which could be a drawback if you need other file types. On the bright side, the files are high-resolution, so whether you’re putting your logo on your website or printing it on business cards, it’ll still look sharp and professional.

Usage rights

When using the Squarespace Logo Maker, it’s good to know that your logo’s usage rights depend on the specific icons you pick from the Noun Project. Since these icons come from a third-party platform, you’ll need to check the license for each one to see what you can and can’t do with it.

Keep in mind that there’s no option to purchase exclusive rights to your logo or the icons, so others might use the same ones in their designs. To ensure you’re in the clear, just head over to the Noun Project’s website, find your icon, and review its licensing terms. While the logo maker is a fantastic free tool, it’s crucial to be aware of these usage rights so you can use your logo with confidence.

Ease of use

screenshot of Squarespace logo maker in use

(Image credit: Squarespace)

The Squarespace Logo Maker's user-friendly interface allows you to create a professional-looking logo in minutes, whether you’re new to design or have some experience. Just start experimenting with colors, fonts, and icons, and you’ll have a great-looking logo in no time. Keep in mind, resizing and positioning elements are done visually, so you won’t get pixel-perfect precision.

There are a couple of quirks to note. For one, while you can save your logo, there’s no option to revisit or edit previous designs directly within the tool. Instead, you receive a download link via email, and if you lose it, you might need to start over. Overall, despite some limitations in managing projects, the ease of use makes this tool a great choice for quick and simple logo design.

Performance and support

When it comes to output quality, the logo maker provides high-resolution PNG files that look sharp on screens and are perfect for digital use. However, it doesn’t offer scalable vector formats like SVG or EPS. This means that while your logo will work well for most web applications, it might not be the best choice for print needs that require resizing without quality loss.

screenshot of Squarespace logo maker in use

(Image credit: Squarespace)

For customer support, there isn’t dedicated help from the logo maker itself, but you can contact Squarespace’s main support team if you run into issues. The help page for the logo maker is available, though it’s not directly accessible from the tool, so you might have to search a bit to find it.

All in all, the Squarespace Logo Maker performs well and provides good-quality output for digital uses. However, its lack of scalable formats and somewhat limited support options are worth keeping in mind, depending on your specific needs.

Alternatives to Squarespace free logo maker

While Squarespace’s free logo maker is a solid starting point, other tools offer more bells and whistles for a standout logo.

The Wix Logo Maker is a paid tool that uses AI to create logos based on your answers to a few questions about your brand. It offers various packages with high-resolution files and a brand kit for extra customization and branding. You can read our full Wix review for more details on what the platform offers.

If you go with Looka, you’ll get plenty of options to adjust your logo’s colors, fonts, and design. It also offers helpful branding tools and marketing materials, making it a solid choice for building your brand’s identity.

Zarla is easy to navigate and offers both free and paid choices for a straightforward logo design with some customization. Canva is another popular tool, offering a range of free and paid logo design options. Its drag-and-drop interface and a large library of templates make it a rock-solid choice for DIY logo creation.

Final verdict

So, who is the Squarespace Logo Maker fit for? It’s an excellent choice if you need a quick, simple, and free way to create a professional-looking logo. It’s perfect for individuals or small businesses - further securing Squarespace as one of the best small business website builders on the market. It offers a user-friendly experience with instant previews and seamless integration with Squarespace’s site builder.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. Customization options are basic, and the third-party icons might not provide the uniqueness you’re looking for. Additionally, logos are available only in PNG format, and you can’t purchase exclusive rights to your design. There are also issues with icon placement and less-than-stellar customer support.

Despite these limitations, the Squarespace Logo Maker remains a solid option for budget-conscious users who need a straightforward logo quickly.

Squarespace free logo maker: FAQs

Is the Squarespace Logo Maker completely free?

Yes, the Squarespace Logo Maker is completely free to use. You can create and download your logo at no cost. Just keep in mind that while it’s great for basic needs, some advanced features are only available in paid tools.

Can I use the logos created with Squarespace’s free logo maker for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can use your Squarespace logo for all sorts of commercial purposes, such as on your website, in marketing materials, or anywhere else you need. There are no restrictions on its use.

What formats are available for downloading my logo from Squarespace?

Your logo will be available in PNG format, which is fit for most online uses. However, if you need vector files for larger prints or high-res formats, you might need to look at other tools or upgrade options.

Is there a limit to the number of logos I can create with the Squarespace free logo maker?

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Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review

6:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: US | Comments: Off

Dreo MC710S air purifier: two-minute review

The Dreo MC710S is part tower fan, part air purifier. It promises both cleaner air and a cooler room with a host of smart features thrown in for good measure. It’s definitely on the larger, heavier side, and its industrial grey/silver plastic finish may not win any beauty contests. But, its height and build are practical and deliberate to make sure it offers the range of features and power needed.

One such feature is its dual DC motors. These motors push air at a speed of up to 27 feet per second, meaning you can put it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room and still feel a breeze at the other. The oscillation option, which covers up to 120 degrees, then makes sure this air reaches into the corners of the room (albeit at an oscillating speed that's much slower than I'd like).

The fan operates in four modes: Normal, Sleep, Auto, and Breeze. The Sleep mode lowers the fan speed and noise, making it barely noticeable at night. The Auto mode adjusts the fan speed based on the room's temperature. As its name suggests, Breeze mode creates a gentle flow of air; this is the default setting for when the purifier is running. Note that you can run the fan without the purifier, but not the purifier without the fan. This is a little annoying when you just want to clear, and not cool the air, but it's a minor complaint. Overall, it compares well to the rest of the best fans on the market.

Dreo MC710S air purifier and fan — (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the purifier, the MC710S' dual filtration system includes a pre-filter and a True HEPA filter. This combo captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making it great for reducing allergens, dust, and other pollutants. During my review, I noticed a significant drop in dust and pollen, and my hayfever was noticeably more manageable.

There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. In tests, the low setting was pretty slow and poor at clearing particulates from the air, yet the high setting was fantastic, clearing dirty air in minutes. The purifier is not as great at getting rid of smells as other, cheaper purifiers I've used like the Levoit 300S, though, so if you’re cooking or have pets, you might still notice some lingering odors.

One of my favorite things about the MC710S is its smart features and remote controls. You can change the settings on the MC710S using the Dreo app, remote control, or through voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Setting this up is straightforward, and I loved the convenience of being able to adjust settings without getting up. The app shows near-live air quality data and lets you set schedules, which is a nice touch.

The LED touch display on the fan itself is also intuitive, showing all your selected settings at a glance. The unit also features a color-coded light strip that indicates air quality: blue for Excellent, green for Good, orange for Moderate, and red for Poor. This visual cue is handy for quickly seeing the air quality in your room but I'd like the option to enable alerts that warn me when levels are higher than they should be in case I'm not in the room.

If you’re looking for a multi-purpose appliance that improves your home's air quality and keeps you cool, the MC710S is definitely worth considering. While it's not the most aesthetically pleasing of appliances and lacks some finesse, its performance, smart features, and ease of use make it a worthwhile investment.

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan review: price and availability

List price: $299.99
Available in the US

The MC710S is available in the US from Dreo, Amazon and Walmart.

At first glance, the Dreo MC710S's $300 price looks to be on the expensive side. Especially when no other Dreo tower fans exceed $150, and its standalone purifiers top out at $210, for the Macro Max S . In fact, the MC701S is the most expensive product across Dreo's product range.

However, this price looks more reasonable when you consider that you effectively get two appliances in one; rival products such as Dyson's $649.99 TP07 Purifier Cool or the $550 LG AeroTower Air Purifying Fan are around twice the price; and the MC710S is full of the latest motor and smart tech.

The most like-for-like alternatives to the Dreo MC710S are the $299.99 Shark HC450, and the $239.99 Hunter HPF500. The Shark model offers a heater function, but lacks Dreo's dual-motor, while the Hunter fan is cheaper because it has fewer speed settings – 9 versus 12 – and lacks Dreo's smart features, but offers the same HEPA protection.

While $299.99 is far from cheap, it represents good value for money in terms of features, protection, versatility and tech. The smart controls elevate it above many competitors, and with its multi-function design, you don't have to buy or store multiple products.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan specs

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: design

Bulky, industrial design
Digital, color-coded controls

No matter how you look at it, the Dreo MC710S is large, bulky and bordering on ugly with its industrial-looking grey/silver plastic finish. Measuring 46.46 inches x 118cm tall, it's much taller than I was expecting and looks like a tower fan balanced on top of a purifier... which it technically is. The top half of the appliance is where you'll find the controls, LED display and the tower fan portion of the MC710S. Below the tower fan section is a transparent cylinder where the MC710S' dual-motors can be seen spinning, and this cylinder sits on top of the purifier element.

The touch control icons, and the corresponding remote control buttons, are relatively self-explanatory and (moving anti-clockwise) represent:

Timer: This button lets you set a timer. Once the allotted time has passed, the fan will automatically turn off.
Info: This button get you access to the fan's settings.
Minus symbol: Used to reduce the fan speed.
Power button
Plus symbol: Used to increase fan speed.
Purification mode: This button is used to select what level of purification you need, ranging from Auto up to Level 3.
Oscillation: Used to set the oscillation range of the tower fan, from 0° to 120°

All of your selected settings are then shown on the LED display located at the top of the tower fan, below the touch panel. This display lets you see, at a glance, the room temperature, which purifying and fan modes are enabled, the lifespan of your filter, and the fan speed (when adjusted manually).

It also features a thin strip of light that changes color based on your room's air quality. A blue light means the air quality is Excellent; green means it's Good; orange warns you when particulate levels are Moderate and higher than they should be; while a red light is an indication that your air quality is Poor.

The remote control features the same icons found on the touch panel. Alternatively, you can control the MC710S using the Dreo app, or via your voice by connecting the air purifier tower fan to your Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant.

Setup of these smart features is quick and easy. In fact, setup of the appliance generally takes less than five minutes, including getting it out of the box and removing the plastic cover from the filter. The only slightly lengthy task in the whole process is setting up a Dreo account, but even this is painless.

Elsewhere, there is a carry handle on the rear of the appliance to make it easy to move around, but the bulky shape and hefty, 17.8lbs / 8.1kg weight don't lend themselves well to portability so you're unlikely to move the fan after you've got it in place.

I typically like to move my purifier into different rooms, depending on my needs i.e I put it in the kitchen when I'm cooking steak or fajitas, or I put it in my youngest son's room at night when the pollen count is high. This is nigh-on impossible with the MC710S. To put this weight into perspective, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 which is often seen as one of the bulkiest on the market weighs less, at 12.6lbs / 5.5kg.

With the MC710S, it's clear Dreo has prioritized function over form. It doesn't win any points for subtlety, nor does it blend seamlessly into the background, but it is incredibly easy to set up and use and the extra height and weight helps maximize its performance.

Design score: 3 out of 5

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: performance

Powerful airflow
Doesn't reduce odors as well as expected
Purification speeds vary

The Dreo MC710S aims to hit the sweet spot between being a powerful fan and an effective air purifier and it almost manages it.

As a fan, the Dreo MC710S works well. It's powered by dual DC motors and pushes air at a speed of up 27 feet per second. This means that if you place it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room, you’ll feel a breeze all the way across the room, even on the lower speeds. The oscillation feature, which swings up to 120 degrees, then helps make sure the cool air reaches the corners of the room. The fan comes with four modes – Normal, Sleep, Auto and Breeze.

The Sleep setting lowers the fan speed, and noise. The Breeze setting reduces the power of the air flow, and the Auto setting sees the fan automatically adjusting its speed setting based on the room's ambient temperature. The fan isn't as powerful or effective as an air conditioner, and the oscillation speed is slower than I'd like, but it does a decent job of making a room feel cooler by moving the air around efficiently.

The downside is that the blast of air is almost icy and this can feel a little uncomfortable if you get the angle, speed or distance slightly wrong. It took a fair amount of tweaking and experimenting to find the optimum settings. Talking of settings, the fan can be on without the purifier, but the purifier can't be on without the fan. As soon as your turn the purifier on, the fan runs gently on 'Breeze' mode and oscillates at a default 30 degrees. You can't disable these features.

I assume that this helps to improve the effectiveness of the purifier, because I don't know why else this would be the case, but it's not always needed and meant that I had to be particular about where I placed the unit so I wasn't cold while the purifier was running. On Breeze mode, as well as on the lower fan settings the fan is whisper quiet. I barely even realised it was on. The noise does increase considerably on higher settings – as high as 69dB on the top speed, which is around the sound of a car running – and this makes it difficult to have on when you're watching TV or similar. Especially if you're the one sat closest to it.

When it comes to air purification, the Dreo MC710S uses a dual filtration system that includes a pre-filter, which traps larger particles like dust and hair, as well as a True HEPA filter. The MC710S promises to captures 99.97% of tiny particles as small as 0.3 microns and this means it can reduce allergens, dust, and other pollutants in the air. My son and I both suffer from hayfever and even on days when there were so-called 'pollen bombs' in my local area, neither of us experienced symptoms to the extent we normally would. This makes it great for people with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems.

What's more, my kitchen was undergoing a renovation during my review period and the purifier helped remove a noticeable amount of the dust in the air. Even though it wasn't in the kitchen itself, and was in the living room on the other side of the house. It performed less admirably in removing odors, compared to some other air purifiers I've tested such as the Levoit 300S.

There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. To test these purifying capabilities, I sprayed deodorant directly at the purifier for five seconds and timed how long it took for the air quality to return to normal on the lowest, and highest settings.

During the first test, on the lowest setting, the particulate level rose to 880ug/m3. It then took an hour and 15 minutes to return the air quality to normal/excellent. By comparison, on the highest setting it took just 15 minutes to go from Poor (960ug/m3) to Excellent. Interestingly, the purifier continues to take air quality readings even when it's not on, and this is useful for identifying trends and tracking air-quality changes based on certain events.

I just wish that it would alert me when air quality reached dangerous levels so I could turn the purifier on and clear the room. Or even better, it turned on automatically – from being plugged in but switched off – cleared the particulates and turned off again. I found myself regularly asking "Alexa, what is the PM2.5 of Tower Fan" and becoming almost obsessive about it. A little more automation would give me peace of mind.

Speaking of voice controls, this soon became my favorite way to control the fan. If I heard a lot of drilling going on downstairs, I could ask Alexa to turn the purifier on and off while upstairs. It let me set timers and adjust the fan remotely, so the room was cool for when my sons got home from school, and I could then track all of these settings on the Dreo app. This convenience goes a long way towards mitigating some of the minor complaints I have about the unit.

I didn't have the purifier on constantly during the four-week review period. I would use it twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening – to clear the room, occasionally turning it on at other times, when we had friends over or when the building work was particularly busy. The filter only dropped to 98% during this time. A replacement filter costs $39.99 and Dreo recommends replacing it at least every six months so you need to factor this cost in.

Overall, the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S does a decent job as both a fan and a purifier. It has its flaws, and there are features that could elevate it from decent to good, or even great, but it works as you'd expect and does what you need it to do.

Performance score: 4 out of 5

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: voice control

Easy to set up
Adds an extra level of control and personalization
Perfect when juggling work or the kids

One of the standout features of the Dreo MC710S is the ability to control it using voice commands via your smart speaker. I have Amazon Echos in a number of rooms across my house and being able to check on the air quality, and control the purifier and fan no matter where I was in my home, was great.

Once the purifier is connected to your home Wi-Fi, it can connect to any Amazon Echo or Google Home device on the same network at the press of a button through the Dreo app. This app also gives you voice command prompts to get you started, which can be found via Settings and clicking the voice assistant you've connected it to – either Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant.

You can ask Google or Alexa to turn the purifier on and off and adjust the fan speed – either by asking it to select a specific speed, increasing or decreasing the speed, or setting it to maximum/minimum. You can also ask your smart speaker to set the MC710S to a specific mode – Normal, Auto, Sleep, or Breeze. By connecting to Alexa, you can also access basic controls via the Alexa app – on/off, fan speed, mode, and display options.

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: app

Offers a range of control options
Color-coded design is intuitive and simple to use
Near-live air quality data

The app, as well as using voice commands, is one of my favorite features of the Dreo MC710S. It's intuitive, and everything is well-labelled and clear. An image of the fan sits in the center of the app's home page. If you have multiple Dreo devices you can swipe left and right to access each. Below this image on the left is a clock icon, where you can quickly set the fan to turn on after a set amount of time, plus the on/off button on the right.

Below the clock icon is the Climate widget that shows the live air-quality levels above the ambient temperature, next to a Schedules widget. In the next row is your current filter life, and the settings menu.

When the device is on, you can see which mode it's on and whether both the fan and purifier are enabled, or just the fan. Clicking either of these icons takes you to detailed controls page which shows:

Mode
Temperature
A live air quality reading with corresponding color
Purification on/off button
Fan on/off button
Fan mode controls and speed slider
Oscillation controls
Preferences

Clicking the Climate widget shows you air quality and temperature readings for the past 24 hours, and 30 days. These readings are shown on a color-coded chart – red for Poor, orange for Moderate, green for Good, and blue for Excellent. As the air quality changes, so does this number and the screen's color.

Despite the fact these charts deal with some complex information and could be confusing, Dreo makes them easy to navigate and read by carrying through its color-coded system and keeping details to a minimum.

There's a delay of around five minutes in this chart being updated following an air quality change, so it's not hugely useful in the moment, but it's interesting and useful to check after the fact. It's also reassuring to see how the levels change over the day and how well the purifier responds.

App score: 5 out of 5

Should I buy the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
At $299.99, the Dreo MC710S is pricey compared to other standalone fans and purifiers on the market.

How I tested the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan

I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan and its partner app for 4 weeks
Stress testing different substances
Experimented with different speeds, modes and settings

I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan in the living room of my home for four weeks in peak hayfever season. During which time my kitchen was also being renovated and builders were in the house every day.

Every morning and evening I used the device to track and manage the air quality, and used the fan on a range of speeds and settings in different scenarios, including when I had friends over. I also experimented with controlling the device using the Dreo app, the physical remote control, and via my Amazon Alexa speaker.

To test the air purification monitoring and speed, I sprayed a heavy particulate aerosol (deodorant) on the purifier for five seconds while it was in different purification modes and timed how long it took for the air to clear. I also measured the volume with a mobile phone decibel meter.

Hasleo Backup Suite: Features

Hasleo Backup Suite's backup wizard. — (Image credit: Hasleo Software)

Hasleo’s app covers the core functionality of a backup tool, even if its free status means it can’t offer the wealth of features you’ll find elsewhere.

Its backup module caters for system, disk, partition or file backups, just like every other app on the market, and that will handle almost everything for most users – although there are no options to backup data from specific apps, or backup data from smartphones. That’s a feature you’ll find occasionally on more expensive apps.

Still, that’s a good start, and the restoration module is similarly straightforward: you can restore your entire backups or browse through your backups to recover specific files or folders. A cloning module also allows you to replicate systems, disks or partitions.

Backups can be saved to any location navigable on your PC – including network locations – and the app offers a robust selection of scheduling options alongside the ability to perform full, incremental and differential backups. As well as scheduling based on times and dates, you can program Hasleo to start backups when your system boots, when particular users log on, or when you attach particular USB drives.

Hasleo offers different encryption levels, backup splitting with custom sizing, password and 256-bit encryption, pre- and post-backup commands and email notifications. It can also check the integrity of backups when completed and shut down your PC after the job is done.

In terms of core backup functionality for home and small business users, the slate of backup options available here does a good job of competing with some paid home apps.

When it comes to free rivals, like EaseUS Todo Backup Free and Paragon Backup & Recovery Community Edition, Hasleo remains strong. EaseUS Todo Backup doesn’t have system or disk cloning, and Paragon’s app can’t handle partitions and can’t copy disks.

One of Hasleo’s main free rivals, FBackup, goes further here with the inclusion of cloud support and loads of helpful app plugins, but it falls down by not offering incremental or differential backups unless you upgrade to a paid version.

Hasleo Backup Suite also includes some additional tools. You can create bootable, emergency disks, mount or unmount images, wipe drives securely, rebuild your Master Boot Record and merge images.

It’s obviously missing high-end features, like cloud storage, server management, and more, but you’ll have to pay for enterprise-level apps if you need that functionality.

Hasleo Backup Suite's tools tab. — (Image credit: Hasleo Software)

Interface & use

It’s no surprise that this app has a straightforward interface. On the left-hand side you’ll find the core backup, restore and clone modules highlighted with big icons, and relevant options in the central panel.

At the bottom of that left-hand panel you’ll find the additional tools, the options menu is in the top-right, and that’s about it. While Hasleo does look a little archaic, it’s easy to use, even for beginners.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

And while Hasleo’s interface may look a bit dated, its performance was anything but. Its Media file average time of six minutes and six seconds is one of the best we’ve recorded across this latest slate of backup apps – nearly twenty tools in all – and its mixed file average of eleven minutes and 34 seconds is another result that sits towards the top of our results tables.

It took less than four minutes to back up our Excel spreadsheet folder, and the worst result came when handling documents. But while it took thirteen minutes and eight seconds to preserve those files, that was still in the top half of our results tables.

That pace isn’t far off the speed we recorded from EaseUS ToDo Backup and it’s more consistent than Paragon’s app, and it’s miles better than the sluggish FBackup.

Our tester's successful job queue in Hasleo Backup Suite. — (Image credit: Hasleo Software)

Support

The support options for this free app are minimal – Hasleo’s website has an email address you can message for technical help, and there’s a forum, but there are no other options available and no indication about how long support will take.

This is one area where paid-for apps are much better, especially if you’re buying a business or enterprise product with priority support or phone and live chat options.

Competition

Hasleo’s main free rivals come from FBackup, EaseUS and Paragon, and Hasleo Backup Suite Free goes further than most with additional features like partition and disk cloning. And while EaseUS does offer some cloud storage, you’re restricted to just 250GB of space in the free version.

The only area where Hasleo falls behind even slightly is in the speed tests. Because while Hasleo is certainly not slow, EaseUS is even faster.

Verdict

There’s lots to like here: Hasleo Backup Suite Free offers a rock-solid core range of backup features alongside good speed – and you don’t have to spend a penny. It’s certainly a better option than FBackup, too, in most situations – especially when it comes to speed.

That makes it ideal for home users and sole traders who need core backup functionality, although the lack of responsive support or high-end features means this app is not suitable for medium or large businesses.

But if you need a free backup suite you can rely on, then there isn’t much better than Hasleo Backup Suite Free.

Wacom Movink review: impressively thin, with a beautiful OLED screen

5:40 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: OLED | Comments: Off

One-minute review

Wacom’s latest drawing tablet has arrived, focusing on the mobile market by offering an impressively lightweight form factor that makes hardly any compromises when it comes to performance. Hardware advances like its vibrant OLED screen, touch technology and singular USB-C to USB-C connectivity make it one of the best drawing tablets available right now, especially given its surprisingly low price.

The result is a near-perfect mid-range drawing tablet, albeit one that probably won’t cut it for serious pros. For me, the Movink is also an iPad killer, and even beat Apple to the punch for delivering the drawing-friendly portable OLED screen found in the iPad Pro 2024.

I’ve often used the iPad as my main sketchpad, preferring its portability so I don’t need to shuffle around my desk setup. However, the Movink offers the perfect balance, delivering the portability and accessibility of the iPad Pro and the artist-first features and drawing experience of purpose-made drawing tablets.

The Movink is 4mm at its thinnest and 6.6mm at its thickest, weighing just 420g. It can easily connect to one of the best laptops and tablets for drawing and artwork, so it can access more sophisticated programs for photo and video editing or the best digital art and drawing software compared to general-use tablets such as the iPad. As that would suggest, Movink isn’t a pen computer, meaning you’ll still need to lug around your laptop if you want to draw on the go; but given the advanced drawing specs of the Movink and its surprisingly approachable price point.

Wacom Movink in use — (Image credit: Future)

It’s specifically designed to work with some of the latest Wacom pen technology, too, coming with a tailor-made version of the Wacom Pro Pen 3. This stylus is fully customizable (although you’ll have to buy parts separately), meaning you can choose for yourself the thickness of the grip, adjust its balance, and add or remove the side switches. However, if that’s not your speed, the Movink is also Wacom’s first professional creative pen display to incorporate Dual Pen technology and will work with a variety of Wacom and third-party styluses.

However, it might not cut it as the sole tablet for professional use. Its max resolution is 1080p – and, as of right now, there’s only one size available: a 13.3-inch screen, which might not cut it if you’re used to larger displays. On-device, there are only two physical shortcut keys; but you can also use the top corners of the screen as shortcuts, plus the three on the included stylus.

There are some other niggling issues. There’s no pen case or loop holder on the stylus, so it’s easy to lose when you’re on the go, plus it doesn’t come with any case or cover to protect the screen – an essential addition if you’re releasing a product with portability as its unique selling point. There’s also no stand included, and nary a built-in kickstand in sight.

Still, I’m splitting hairs. The Movink is a fantastic option that breaks new ground for Wacom, and it will meet at least most of the needs of artists at all levels – especially if portability is key.

Wacom Movnik drawing pad stylus — (Image credit: Future)

Price and availability

List price: $749 / £729 / AU$1,299
Available in the US, UK and Australia
Launched May 2024

Priced at $749 / £729 / AU$1,299, the Wacom Movink comes in at the higher end of the mid-range spectrum. However, given some of its specs toe the line of pro-grade devices, that’s a surprisingly affordable price for a typically expensive brand. It’s available directly from Wacom as well as through some third-party retailers.

Its approachable price also means I can forgive some of the omissions that other brands typically include with their tablets. In addition to the tablet, there’s just one 1m USB-C to C cable, the Wacom Pro Pen 3 with its built-in nib holder, three replacement nibs (one standard and two felt), and the paperwork to help get you started.

It’s disappointing that there’s no case included for this mobile powerhouse, no stand, and no pen holder or built-in means of attaching the stylus to the tablet. Wacom sells a carry case for $44 / £43 / AU$129 , as well as a foldable stand for $79 / £74 / AU$129.

Value: 4.5/5

Specs table

Design

Slim, lightweight and durable – thus perfect for travel
Four customizable shortcut keys, two physical and two touch
Requires just a singular USB-C connection

Edge of the Wacom Movnik drawing pad — (Image credit: Future)

The clue for the key design ethos behind the Movink is in the name; in case you hadn’t picked up on it, it’s pronounced “Move-ink”.

Measuring in at 12.6 x 8.1 x 0.16~0.26 inches / 319.5 x 205.2 x 4~6.6mm (w x h x d), the Movink is wonderfully petite and sports a subtle wedge shape. In hand, it feels just like drawing on a pad of A4 paper. It weighs just 420g, making it a no-brainer for slipping into your laptop backpack or bag when you’re out and about – and just a whole lot easier to grab for a quick drawing session in front of the TV.

The Movink boasts Wacom’s slimmest bezel yet, allowing for an active drawing area of 11.6 x 6.5 inches / 294 x 165mm. However, that does mean there’s little-to-no wrist room. Given there’s no included or built-in stand, you’ll likely want to consider the ergonomics of your workstation. On its underside, a rubber footing runs along the top and bottom edges of the tablet to keep it stable when used on a tabletop. I really wish Wacom had included a kickstand or feet for the tablet, as your only option to improve the viewing angle is by buying a stand. Thankfully, its light weight meant I was able to comfortably cradle it while seated.

Both sides of the Wacom Movink feature a USB-C connector, as well as one of the two physical programmable keys. There are a further two touch-enabled shortcut keys on the screen itself as well, bringing the total to four. This won’t be enough for a fully established pro at their main workstation, but more than sufficient for drawing on-the-go or for amateurs.

Overall, the Moveink is wonderfully thought-through and purpose-built for its mobile application, but I’m still a little frustrated that Wacom didn’t at least include a pen loop to keep the tablet and stylus together, especially considering there’s no included case.

Design: 4.5/5

Performance

Bright and beautiful OLED screen
1080p maximum resolution is a slight let down
Lovely drawing experience

It’s rare to come across a Wacom tablet that doesn’t perform well in tests, and the Movink is no different. It’s loaded with the latest and greatest hardware from the esteemed brand, paired with easy-to-use Wacom drivers to make for a seamless and pain-free experience.

On test, the Movink proved to be a delight, with its 16:9 OLED screen offering 350 nits of max brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. The Movink also boasts DCI-P3 100%, AdobeRGB 95%, with both Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone Validated certifications to round out its accomplished color gamut. It’s a little disappointing, then, that the resolution is just 1080p; I feel that a minimum of 2.5K is necessary for any device marketed at professionals. Plus, for navigating software such as Photoshop, I found I had to practically press my nose to the screen to read some of the extensive menus.

The OLED technology also means there’s no need for a backlight in the Movink, which means it stays cool even with extended use – and there’s no light leakage, which makes working on darker canvases much easier.

The drawing experience is wonderful, too, with the surface providing the perfect level of bite to replicate that satisfying pen-to-paper feeling. Its anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings effectively address some of the drawbacks of portability-first devices, especially given the Movink is a touch display.

On that point, the touch display is a real boon – and I’d say an almost essential one to get the most out of your Movink. You can disable the functionality, but if you’re used to extensive shortcut keys or using an iPad, then a touch display can be useful for navigating different software applications and moving around your canvas. So much so that I scarcely needed to reach for my mouse and keyboard while drawing.

Performance: 4.5/5

Stylus

8,192 pressure levels
Built-in nib holder and remover
Customizable, but basic in its given configuration

Included with the Wacom Movink is the Wacom Pro Pen 3, and it comes with a twist. It’s an almost entirely customizable stylus, allowing you to change the grip thickness, adjust its balance, and add or remove the side switches. The flipside of this is that the model included with the Movink is very basic and pencil-like, with no provided grip. It’s lightweight, and the lack of grip didn’t bother me too much. However, if you’re drawing all day, have bigger hands or are used to a grippier pen, you might want to invest in those stylus accessories – or make use of the dual-pen technology in the Movink, which allows you to seamlessly use a variety of Wacom and third-party styluses.

Clad in all-black, the Pro Pen 3 is cylindrical and slim. The top can be unscrewed to reveal storage for three nibs (pre-loaded with two felt and one standard nib) in a rubberized holder, which can be removed to reveal the built-in nib remover. Further down the stem are the three shortcut keys on a removable panel, allowing you to customize the number of buttons from zero to three.

Wacom Movink stylus next to an older Wacom stylus — (Image credit: Future)

I also noticed the nib was slightly more proud from the tip than I’ve seen on other styluses such as the LP-190K included with the One by Wacom, an intentional choice for the specific Pro Pen 3 model paired with the Movink. It’s only by just over a millimeter, but that can really make a difference when it comes to honing in on fine detail.

In terms of specs, it offers 8,192 pressure levels with a 60-degree tilt, meaning it matches industry standards. Its sensitivity and accuracy proved impressive and consistent through my brushstroke testing, and I didn’t notice any parallax.

Stylus: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You need something portable

The Movink offers near-unparalleled portability thanks to its thin and light frame and the minimal cables needed to use it.

You don’t want to compromise on performance

Paired with the Wacom Pro Pen 3, the Movink is a powerhouse as far as mobile drawing tablets go – especially with its new OLED screen.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a pro who wants a new main workstation

The Movink is absolutely good enough for pros – but not as their main slate for creative work. The lack of shortcut keys, low resolution and medium-size active drawing area likely won’t cut it for everyday professional use.

Also consider

How I tested the Wacom Movink

I used the Wacom Movink as my main drawing tablet for one month
I used it for editing images as well as drawing on software such as Photoshop and Krita
I tested the stylus responsiveness

To test the Wacom Movink, I used it as the main drawing tablet in my amateur digital art setup for one month, using it to fulfil all of my drawing and editing needs.

I used the supplied Wacom Pro Pen 3 stylus and cables exclusively, completing a variety of tests to assess how accurate, powerful and comfortable the Movink was in a variety of settings. I drew in a cafe, at my desk, on the sofa – everywhere I could think of – to see how easy it was both to move around with and use in different environments.

While I’m no professional artist, I’ve been drawing and painting regularly for over a decade, and have been using graphics tablets and general-use tablets for years as part of my digital art journey. I referenced my previous experiences with tablets such as the Wacom One, XPPen Artist Pro 16 and Huion Kamvas 16, in order to compare the screen quality and drawing experience.

Leica D-Lux 8 review: Leica, for less

5:34 pm |

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

One-minute review

It might be the unmistakable Leica style of the D-Lux 8 that initially grabs the attention, but the pocketable camera with the famous red-dot logo offers more than just good looks. The Four-Thirds sensor is a big upgrade on the 1-inch sensors found in some of the best compact cameras, and the image quality is a massive leap from what you would expect from a mobile phone. Combine that with a physical aperture control ring, a shutter-speed dial, and other tactile controls, and you have a camera that will appeal to fans of a more retro shooting experience. The menu is also straightforward to navigate, partly due to the 3-inch 1.8m-dot touchscreen being useable for changing settings.

However, the Leica D-Lux 8 isn't a major upgrade over its predecessor, which was essentially a rebranded version of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II, released in 2018. Besides a few new design cues that simplify the design and make it look like the Leica Q3, the main new feature is a 2.36 million-dot viewfinder. This new EVF may seem like a downgrade on the 2.76-million-dot EVF of its predecessor, but the important thing here is that the screen tech is new – the D-Lux 8 uses an OLED panel, which offers a better experience thanks to not having color tearing.

Leica D-Lux 8 in-hand — (Image credit: Future)

Leica D-Lux 8: design

The core of the Leica D-Lux 8 is based around a 21-million-pixel Four-Thirds size sensor. Focusing the image on to this sensor is a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9–34 f/1.7–2.8 ASPH lens, the equivalent to a 24-75mm lens on a 35mm or full-frame camera. This lens doesn't create an image circle large enough to cover the entire surface of the Four Thirds sensor; instead, it produces images that are up to 17 million pixels.

Rather than seeing the lack of complete sensor coverage as a negative, Leica has actually used this to its advantage, allowing photographers to change the image aspect ratio in-camera. You can choose between 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, and 16:9, and you can select these via a ring around the base of the lens.

Leica D-Lux 8 price and release date

The Leica D-Lux 8 has a list price of $1,595 / £1,450 / AU$2,790 and is available now, although at the time of writing it's out of stock globally, so you may have to wait for your order to be fulfilled.

The camera comes with an on-camera flash unit.

As mentioned, the D-Lux 8 is very similar to its predecessor, the D-Lux 7, which itself was virtually identical to the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II, which was released in 2018 – that's a long time ago, and we've seen considerable advances in camera technology since then.

Thankfully, its features hold up well, particularly given the lack of competition in the high-end compact camera market, and the Four-Thirds sensor size is significantly larger than the 1-inch sensors typically used in this size compact camera.

Leica users have certain expectations for their cameras: manual controls, simplicity, and a minimalist style that echoes the industrial German design of all of the Leicas that have come before them. Thankfully, the Leica D-Lux 8 offers all of these things, and it both looks and feels like using a Leica camera, notably the Leica Q series.

Close up of the top-plate of the Leica D-Lux 8 — (Image credit: Future)

Weighing 397g, including the battery, and measuring 130 x 69 x 62mm, the D-Lux 8 is a (jacket) pocketable camera with a manual aperture ring, shutter speed dial, hotshoe, and there's even a cable release screw thread in the shutter button. On the camera's top plate there's a zoom control around the shutter button, a custom dial, and a small on/off button.

The most significant change compared to the D-Lux 7 is the improved electronic viewfinder. The new 2.36 million-dot EVF is a lower resolution than the 2.76 million-dot EVF of the D LUX-7. However, the new viewfinder is an OLED display, whereas previously, it was a sequential display, where the RGB LEDs changed very quickly, given the perception of the correct color. This works well in static subjects but can cause jarring RGB edge effects, particularly when you're panning quickly. The OLED EVF solves this.

For those not using the EVF, there's the 1.8m-dot fixed touchscreen. I have to say that with the camera's manual controls and retro design I found myself gravitating to the viewfinder instead of the touchscreen, or perhaps it was because the screen is fixed rather than the versatile tilting or flip-out type.

The viewfinder has a 0.75x magnification, which, although it isn't huge compared to a mirrorless camera, is large enough that your eye can still roam around the scene and you can see details. And there is, of course, a dioptre adjustment if your eyesight requires it.

Where the screen comes in really useful is its touch functionality. Pressing the Menu button on the rear of the camera pulls up all the current shooting settings, which can be quickly changed using the touchscreen. The touchscreen can also be used to select the AF tracking area.

Overall, the design of the D-Lux 8 could be described as streamlined; all of the key features are easily accessible, without the camera being littered with buttons, dials, and labels. Everything else can be quickly changed using the directional pad on the camera's rear, or easier still, by using the touchscreen.

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Image showing detail of the Leica D-Lux 8 — (Image credit: Future)

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Leica D-Lux 8: performance

Leica cameras are known for their popularity amongst documentary photographers, who demand that their cameras can be operated quickly, which is often where compact cameras fall down. After you press the power there's a wait of about a second before you can take a photo with the D-Lux 8, which is an acceptable amount of time. The aperture ring and shutter speed dial make changing the exposure extremely quick, and also easy to do when you're looking through the viewfinder. That said, I'm a left-eye shooter, which made the dial a little more awkward to use with the camera held to my eye, although I largely had the camera set to aperture priority mode, so the camera was adjusting the shutter speed automatically.

Zooming the lens from 24mm to 75mm is steady without ever being fast. If you wish to manually focus the lens, there's a small switch on the barrel of the lens, close to the camera's body. A fly-by-wire electronic focusing ring allows for manual focusing, and it feels naturally responsive, something that's helped by the magnified view presented on the screen or through the viewfinder.

The autofocus system is as comprehensive as you would expect from any mirrorless camera. There are options for eye/face detection and tracking, as well as the more automated Zone Field and Multi-spot autofocus. I generally left the camera set to eye/face tracking, and used touchscreen focus when I wanted to select a particular subject within the scene. I had no issues with the focusing, and the camera felt snappy and responsive.

There are a few continuous shooting modes for moving subjects, each with a varying degree of quality. At 2fps, images can be saved at 12-bit, with autofocus. Shift to 7fps, and the bit rate drops to 10-bit with no autofocus. There's also a higher option of shooting 11fps in 10-bit without autofocus. Everything is kept simple, with these shooting rates working for JPEG, raw DNG, and when in JPEG+DNG mode.

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Image taken with the Leica D-Lux 8 — Leica D-Lux 8: Standard (Image credit: Future)

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One of the more enjoyable aspects of using the Leica D-Lux 8 is Leica's film styles. There aren't an overwhelming number, with Standard, Vivid, Natural, Black and White Natural, and Black and White High Contrast options. The contrast, saturation, and sharpness of each of these can be adjusted, and there's also the option elsewhere to change the I[ntelligent]-DR and Highlight/Shadow settings. I found that images taking using the default settings looked great, although after using the D-Lux 8 for a while I changed the settings to make the shadow areas slightly brighter. It all comes down to personal preference, but having limited options that aren't overwhelming combined with excellent 'default' image quality is refreshing.

The larger Four-Thirds sensor makes a difference in image quality. Images look closer to what you'd expect from an APS-C sensor than the 20-million-pixel 1-inch sensors typically found in compact cameras. The dynamic range is good, with there usually being plenty of detail in highlights and shadows. I was also impressed with the low noise and good detail at higher sensitivities, with the camera performing as you'd expect it to with a Four-Thirds sensor. Images shot at up to ISO 1600 are perfectly useable, and even images taken at ISO 6400 look acceptable when you need to shoot in low light. Beyond this level, the image quality does start to break down, but we need to keep in mind what and who this camera is for; this isn't a camera for shooting landscapes or high-end commercial work. It will most likely be used for travel and street photography; it's a camera that's easy to take with you and can take better images in situations where you may tend to use your phone.

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It is a pretty versatile little camera. The maximum f/1.7 aperture creates a shallow enough depth of field when the subject is quite close to the camera, and I tended to shoot a lot with the lens in this setting, particularly when photographing people. It's roughly the same as shooting at f/3.5 on a camera with a full-frame sensor, so it's enough to throw the background out of focus to isolate your subject.

I didn't shoot much video, reserving this for a few family clips and social situations, as this is how I expect the camera to mostly be used, video-wise. This is not a video-first camera. It only offers 4K capture at 30fps at 100Mbps and Full HD at 60fps at 28Mbps, and there's no articulated screen or external mic socket. The Leica D-Lux 8 simply isn't designed to shoot a video longer than a few seconds; even content creators would be better off using their smartphones and being able to upload footage directly.

Should I buy the Leica D-Lux 8 Camera?

The Leica D-Lux 8 and flash unit — (Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Leica D-Lux 8

I used the camera for a couple of weeks in a variety of situations
I shot documentary images at a local event
I paid close attention to the depth of field the camera captured

I tested the Leica D-Lux 8 over a couple of weeks in the summer in the UK, which included a family holiday. During this time, I used the camera at a local festival, a day out at a farm, and took lots of photos of friends and family.

Overall I aimed to use the D-Lux 8 as an everyday camera, which I believe is how it will mainly be used. Using the camera in this way allowed me to experience it as the target user would, and to try all of the various shooting options in various situations. I also took it with me on a morning walk around London, shooting a few street photos, which I'll admit I am not very good at.

I viewed my images in Adobe Bridge on a computer, examining details in images taken at different ISO settings, and I also edited some images in Adobe Camera Raw to see how much latitude they offered for manipulation.

First reviewed September 2024

Lofree Flow Lite review: A cheaper take on premium

3:34 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Keyboards Peripherals & Accessories | Comments: Off

Lofree Flow Lite: Two-minute review

The Flow Lite is Lofree’s follow-up to its superb Flow keyboard, which combined a low-profile design with delightfully top-quality touches to make it a marvel of premium keyboard engineering, and (in my humble opinion) one of the best mechanical keyboards you can buy. Perhaps the only drawback of the Flow was its fairly costly $159 asking price, and it’s that that has prompted the creation of the Lofree Flow Lite.

This keyboard takes the best parts of the Flow – its quiet, comfortable typing and compact design – and fits it into a more affordable form, cutting a few features here and there to bring the price down to $99 for the 84-key version (which I reviewed) and $109 for the 100-key edition. The key question is whether Lofree has been able to do all that without losing what makes its devices so appealing.

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The Lofree Flow Lite mechanical keyboard against a blue background. — (Image credit: Future)

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Typing on the Flow Lite feels good – for the most part. While the Flow offered both tactile and linear switches, you only get the linear option with the Flow Lite. That’s not a massive problem since the linears are very fast and comfortable to use – this coming from a man who normally steers well clear of any switch that’s not loud and clicky – and if you like smooth key switches, the Flow Lite’s custom Kailhs will be very pleasing to use. That said, my fingers did start to feel a little sore after a few hours of usage due to a fair amount of bottoming out (I find this is common whenever I use linear switches), so that’s something to be aware of if you find yourself pressing a little too hard when you type.

Everything is tied together in the Lofree Key Mapper app, which is used to create macros, change lighting effects, remap keys, and more. It’s admittedly a bit less intuitive than some rival keyboards’ apps, but it gets the job done.

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Lofree has cut a few corners in order to lower the price, but they don’t feel like a massive step down. The aluminum chassis is gone, replaced by an ABS plastic one instead, while the PBT keycaps are now a combination of PBT and polycarbonate plastic. The USB-C to USB-A cable is also now of the standard plastic, non-braided variety. Finally, Lofree has cut the number of lighting effects from 16 to 8 compared to the Flow.

Interestingly, Lofree has actually added a few features to the Flow Lite that the regular Flow lacks. The most noticeable example is the copper-toned volume roller in the top-right corner. This is tactile and metallic, and you can press it in to mute your audio completely. It is a little stiff, but it’s a useful extra regardless.

Other new additions include 2.4GHz connectivity in addition to the wired and Bluetooth modes (the latter of which can connect to three devices); feet to adjust the angle of the keyboard; and a doubled polling rate, going from the Flow’s 500Hz to 1,000Hz in the Flow Lite. I’m particularly happy about the keyboard feet, as it was always a shame you couldn’t change the Flow’s angle. The rubber on the Flow Lite’s feet is a little thin and bendy in places, but I can forgive that if it means I can raise the keyboard to a (slightly) higher angle.

That makes choosing between the Flow Lite and the Flow more complex than simply wanting to save money. While on the one hand the Flow Lite feels like a step below the Flow, on the other it also represents an evolution of sorts. Hopefully, Lofree will work these advancements into a successor to the Flow, if or when that arrives.

I’m left feeling fairly impressed that Lofree has managed to make the Flow Lite still feel like a premium offering, even without many of the things that made me love the original Flow. It’s a more affordable way into the world of mechanical keyboards without feeling like you’re rummaging through the bargain bin. I still prefer the Flow overall – it’s just so good – and I really wish Lofree offered tactile or clicky switches for the Flow Lite. But there’s still a lot to like about this keyboard, especially if you’re in the market for a quality low-profile device that’s still enjoyable to use.

Lofree Flow Lite: Price & availability

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The Lofree Flow Lite costs $99 or $109 (depending on the size you get), knocking $50 to $60 off the price of the $159 Lofree Flow. Whether you decide the trade-offs are worth it for the price cut will come down to your personal taste. Right now, it’s available on Kickstarter, and will be sold on Lofree’s website and on the company’s Amazon store.

Should you buy the Lofree Flow Lite?

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Buy the Lofree Flow Lite if…

You want quality at a lower price

Lofree has cut the price with the Flow Lite, but it still packs in a good overall typing experience, especially if you like linear switches.

You like having lots of connectivity options

The Flow Lite lets you connect via USB-C cable, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz, and it also works with up to three different devices.

You use both Windows and macOS

The Flow Lite comes with keycaps showing both Windows and macOS symbols. It also lets you switch between the two systems’ respective keyboard layouts with a quick key combination.

Don't buy it if...

You prefer tactile switches

You’ll only get linear switches here, which in my experience can lead to tired fingers if you bottom out too much. Lofree sells a different switch option that you can swap in, but it’s also linear.

You want the most premium experience

There’s no doubt that the regular Flow feels more premium than the Flow Lite. The latter ditches the metal body, braided cable, and more in order to bring the price down.

You don’t like compact layouts

Not only does the Flow Lite use low-profile keycaps, but its layout is also very compact, with the arrow keys squeezed in close to the main body of buttons. That doesn’t work for everyone.

Lofree Flow Lite: Also consider

Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL

A compact keyboard that we rated just as highly as the Lofree Flow Lite in our review, the G151 Lightspeed TKL from Logitech is a keyboard that can easily pull double duty for both work and gaming, with a clean design and quiet, comfortable keystrokes perfect for an office environment as much as a home gaming setup.

Read our full Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL review

Corsair K65 Plus Wireless

Although it's a bit on the pricey side, there are few compact keyboards that offer the same build quality and functionality as the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless. With swappable switches, a media control dial, and strong customizability thanks to Corsair's software, this is a great choice of 75% keyboard - perfect for anyone who wants an even smaller board than the Flow Lite.

Read our full Corsair K65 Plus Wireless review

How I tested the Lofree Flow Lite

I spent time using the Lofree Flow Lite day-to-day at my desk. That included writing articles, gaming, and generally using my computer throughout the day. I tried it on both Windows and macOS, and also put its Lofree Key Mapper companion app through its paces.

Fbackup review

2:29 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Lots of backup apps are produced by software companies that also churn out loads of other apps in different categories, but that’s not the case with FBackup 9.9 – its creators at Softland concentrate on backup tools, and this app has been in continuous development since 2006.

That’s plenty of time to create a great bit of software, so we’ve got high hopes for this freeware tool, even up against impressive zero-cost rivals like Hasleo Backup Suite and free tools from other larger competitors.

We've also highlighted the best disk cloning software right now.

Fbackup: Plans & pricing

FBackup is an entirely free backup tool – but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

While we’ve no doubt that FBackup is an impressive app for home users, sole traders and the smallest businesses, it also exists as a shop window for Softland Backup4all, which is the firm’s professional product.

It’s one of the more affordable options out there, at least, with a current price of $48 for a single perpetual licence – an amount which undercuts many other paid pro-level apps, like EaseUS ToDo Backup Workstation Edition and Paragon’s pricier tools.

Elsewhere, it’s possible to purchase OEM bundles for hardware manufacturers and a companion app called Backup4all Monitor, allowing system administrators to monitor their operations. It costs $4.99 per licence.

The Fbackup job queue. — (Image credit: Softland)

Features

The free FBackup tool has a good range of features before you delve into the paid versions. Users can back up their hard drives, external drives, operating systems, configurations, and settings from browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, as well as their Document and Picture folders and even material from Google Drive and Dropbox destinations.

Impressively, hundreds of other plugins to support backups from different apps are also available for optional installation.

Users can back up their files to Google Drive and Dropbox, too, alongside more conventional local and network sources and removable media. When it comes to core backup functionality, this is a good start.

FBackup has options for filtering backup files, running full or mirrored backups, and basic encryption and file-splitting tools.

Varying levels of processing speed are supported, and there’s a scheduling and command tool that gives users a tremendous amount of control over when their data is backed up and if any conditions need to be met for processes to begin.

Some high-end features are reserved for Backup4all customers, though. Only in that app can you use more cloud sources or FTP destinations, manage multiple backup configurations and get access to some drag-and-drop and typing features that make it easier to build backups.

The paid version of the app has a Microsoft Outlook plugin, stronger encryption, the option to pause backups, and settings to let you send email notifications. You can also only access differential and incremental backups in the paid version.

Ultimately, then, FBackup is a solid preservation tool for home users and sole traders, but those missing features – especially when it comes to security, network access and incremental backups – mean that we prefer Backup4all if you’re handling backups in a business of any size.

Setting up a backup in the FBackup wizard. — (Image credit: Softland)

Interface & use

The interface makes it easy to upgrade, at least, because if you click on a restricted feature, you’ll get a popup asking you to try the Backup4all free trial or pay for an upgrade.

There’s a tab at the top of the window that’s entirely devoted to an advert for the paid product, and the home screen – which has icons for managing the app – also includes upgrade links.

Get beyond the adverts and it’s a straightforward and conventional backup app, with options to start a backup on the left-hand side and a useful wizard that guides you through the process of creating a backup. There’s a separate Jobs window that allows you to go into more depth when it comes to backup management, too.

It’s easy enough to use, but FBackup fell behind in our benchmarking. We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

FBackup’s Document and Excel averages of 19 minutes and five minutes, respectively, are moderate results that sit right in the middle of our results tables, but FBackup let itself down when working with media files and more complex jobs.

In our Media test, it averaged a whopping 104 minutes to complete our backup, with those times consistent across three drives – its results ranged between fifty-seven minutes and 107 minutes. And when we tasked FBackup with preserving a mixed folder, which included media files, it took nearly an hour.

It’s a poor slate of results, all things considered. Hasleo Backup Suite, another free rival, is far faster, and free backup software from Paragon and EaseUS are much faster too.

Fbackup's tools menu — (Image credit: Softland)

Support

If you need help with FBackup, the main support option is using a form on Softland’s website, but there’s no indication of how long replies will take. There’s an FAQ and a forum online, too.

It’s a standard slate of support options for a free backup tool, and you’ll have to buy a premium product if you want phone or live chat support.

Competition

FBackup does a reasonable job of competing against Hasleo Backup Suite in the free backup tools market: it may not offer incremental or differential file backups, for instance, but it does include cloud support and loads of plugins.

Elsewhere, there isn’t much to choose between this tool and the free versions of apps from EaseUS and Paragon, and if you’re running backup operations for a business of any size then we highly recommend you invest in a more capable tool with stronger encryption and management options.

Verdict

FBackup gets off to a good start, with its plugins, impressive array of backup sources and destinations and decent commands and filtering, and it certainly does the job if you want a free backup tool.

However, its feature set is uneven – with high-end additions rubbing up alongside glaring omissions – and its lack of speed is a huge problem.

If you’re a home user not fussed about speed, then FBackup is a reasonable free option. But with so many better options, both free and at modest prices, it’s hard to recommend.

Avast One Essential review

9:51 am |

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

Avast One Essential is the free starter product in its Avast One range, a powerful set of security suites with an excellent antivirus and an array of bonus security layers.

Avast’s strong core protection engines block access to phishing and other malicious websites, for instance. Downloads and incoming emails are scanned for threats, ransomware protection shields files in your most sensitive folders, and a firewall helps to control which processes can access the web and which can’t.

That already beats some of the competition (Avira Free Security doesn’t include full system-wide web protection), but Avast One Essential is just getting started. A free VPN may not allow you to change location, but it includes a very generous 5GB data a week (Avira’s free VPN offers 500MB a month); and there are tools to scan your network, find missing app updates, identify Windows security holes, tweak your privacy settings, and a whole lot more.

Looking for antivirus software only? Avast Free Antivirus has the same leading-edge protection engines, but far fewer extras, and may be a better choice. But if you like the sound of a free antivirus with more features than many paid security suites, Avast One Essential is well worth a closer look.

Avast One Essential installer — Avast One’s installer will install Avast Secure Browser unless you click ‘Decline' (Image credit: Future)

Avast One Essential: Getting started

Some companies (hi, Bitdefender) offer free security but demand you ‘create an account’ first, which involves handing over your email address and maybe other personal details. Avast and Avira are exceptions; both companies recommend that you register your email address with them, but that isn’t necessary, and you can install and use the software entirely for free.

(That’s not just a theoretical privacy point; it has practical benefits, too. Bitdefender doesn’t allow you to use its free app on more than three devices per account. As Avast doesn’t know who you are, you can install its software on as many Windows, Mac, Android or iOS devices as you need.)

It’s important to pay attention when installing Avast One on Windows. If you accept all the defaults, it also installs Avast’s secure browser and makes it your system default. That’s such a major change that we would prefer Avast to use an opt-in system, where the browser isn’t installed unless you specifically ask for it. Still, it’s clearly highlighted during setup, and as long as you read each installation screen, you’ll be able to turn down the browser with a single click.

Avast One’s installer does have one very unusual plus: you can set Avast to Passive Mode, which installs the scanner but not real-time protection. The advantage of that approach is you can run Avast One alongside another antivirus without conflicts, use the other antivirus to detect threats in real-time, but run Avast One’s scanner on a schedule or on demand for extra safety. That’s not necessary for most users, but could be a welcome extra touch if you’re looking for the maximum antivirus protection.

Avast One Essential dashboard — The Avast One dashboard can seem a little cluttered. (Image credit: Future)

Avast One Essential: Interface

Once the Avast One App launched, it displayed six tiles covering its various functions. We could run a Smart antivirus scan or connect to the VPN with a click, clean our browsing history or our full hard drive, update drivers or optimize system performance. It’s a little cluttered, but we quickly found our way around.

Avast One mostly does its antivirus work in the background, without you noticing, but there’s one exception. If you run a file it’s not seen before, Avast stops it and spends up to 60 seconds scanning the file for threats. If you regularly download open source or other small tools, then this might happen a lot, and it can become very annoying. But it is good for security, and if it gets too much, you can always turn the feature off.

An Explore menu has individual options covering Avast’s various antivirus, privacy and performance features. It’s good to see these clearly highlight features which aren’t available in the free edition; there’s nothing more annoying than repeatedly choosing some exciting-looking option, only to get the same old screen saying ‘nope, sorry, can’t have that unless you pay.’

Avast One Essential explore menu — Browse every single Avast One feature in the lengthy Explore menu. (Image credit: Future)

Overall, Avast One Essential looks good and is reasonably easy to use for simple tasks, but poor organization of features caught us out occasionally. Avast One has the ability to exclude items from scans, for instance, but instead of making this available from the Scan Center, Avast hides it away in a Settings menu in the Account area. If you like Avast but don’t need Avast One’s lengthy feature list, Avast Free Antivirus gives you the same protection engines in a modern, simpler and more straightforward interface.

Avast One Essential real world protection — Avast Free beats many paid antivirus for protection in independent testing. (Image credit: Future)

Avast One Essential: Protection

We track the performance of all the top antivirus apps as reported by independent testing labs including AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, MRG Effitas and SE Labs. Most providers submit their full-featured paid versions for testing, but Avast sends its free edition, which shows a lot of confidence in its power.

That confidence seems fully justified, too. We keep an aggregate score of antivirus performance across nine major tests, and currently Avast is equal first with Bitdefender and McAfee. (ESET, F-Secure and Norton are equal fourth, and Avira follows in seventh place.)

Avast One Essential phishing alert — Avast One blocks phishing and malicious websites for all your apps. (Image credit: Future)

Lab results are important, but we’re always keen to run further tests of our own. We began by attempting to access 50 of the latest phishing URLs, as collected by experts OpenPhish. Avast did a good job, blocking 86% immediately. Avira Security Free scored a little better in recent tests with a 90% protection rate, but that was with a browser extension only. Avast One is better overall because it has system-wide browsing protection which covers every browser and app on your device. (And even if you prefer Avira’s browser extension, there’s nothing to stop you using it alongside Avast One.)

We switched to our malware test, and tried to download a series of very dangerous files from 50 brand new links. Avira Free scored a 90% protection rate in its last test, but this time Avast One won out by blocking 94% of threats either at the URL level, or when the files hit our hard drive. (We didn’t test further but Avast’s full protection rate will be even higher because even if malware isn’t detected on download, Avast’s behavior monitoring detects most new threats by their actions.)

Avast One Essential free VPN — (Image credit: Future)

Avast One Essential: VPN

Avast One Essential includes a free edition of Avast’s free VPN. This automatically connects you to the nearest server and doesn’t allow you to change location, which means you can’t use it to unblock streaming content in other countries. It has a data limit, too, but that’s exceptionally generous at 5GB a week; for comparison, Avira’s free VPN gives you only 500MB a month.

There is one particularly disappointing restriction: Avast’s free VPN doesn’t give you access to any settings, including its kill switch. If the VPN drops while you’re using it, that means your identity and traffic may be exposed to snoopers.

Although this makes the app a poor privacy choice for really sensitive situations, it still has some value for the most basic tasks. If you just want to spend five minutes on not-especially-sensitive private browsing via public Wi-Fi, for instance, you’re safer using Avast One Essentials than no VPN at all.

Avast Free VPN speeds were a little below par at a peak of 190Mbps and average of 92Mbps (NordVPN and Surfshark typically reach 900Mbps and more.) That’s better than many free VPN’s we’ve tried, though, and more than enough for browsing, streaming and other basic tasks.

Avast One Essential ransomware protection. — Avast’s Ransomware Protection is an extra protective layer for your key folders. (Image credit: Future)

Avast One Essential: Other features

Avast One Essential has many extra features, and we’ll quickly run through those here. But if you’re looking for more detail, or you’d like to know what extra features are available in the paid products, our Avast One Gold review has an in-depth look.

Avast One Essential includes a simple firewall to control which apps can go online, but the free edition doesn’t do much more than the standard Windows firewall (there’s more power available with the paid products.)

Avast One’s Network Inspector is more interesting, with options to check your network for vulnerabilities, and run a full network scan. This can identify the devices connected to your home network, for instance, and raise an alert if a new device connects that it hasn’t seen before.

Avast’s Ransomware Protection adds an extra layer of security which prevents files in key folders from being modified by untrusted apps. This might be useful, but it’s not exactly original, and Windows Controlled Folder Access allows you to do something similar without installing any extra apps.

Avast One Essential PC speedup — (Image credit: Future)

A clever PC Speedup tool aims to speed up your PC by ensuring background processes use less resources. This looks good in theory, but might target important apps which really do need those resources (Avast wanted to access OneDrive and our BackBlaze backup app, for instance.) We wouldn’t recommend using this unless you’ve the expertise to monitor the results and fine-tune any settings, if necessary.

The Software Updater highlights missing updates for 50 popular applications. That might be handy, but the free version only warns you about updates: it can’t install them for you. As most of these apps automatically update themselves anyway, there may not be much value here.

A Clear Browsing Data tool frees up space by wiping away your Chrome or Edge browsing history. It’s a little better than doing this from the browser because you can opt to delete only tracking cookies, while keeping the browsing cookies, ensuring you’re more likely to stay logged in when returning to your favorite sites.

Dark Web Monitoring raises the alert if your email address appears in a data breach, and the Privacy Advisor has simple guides to improving your privacy settings in top apps and social media websites. These do make it easier for beginners to enhance their online privacy, but if you’ve more web and security experience, you could find much more information with just one or two web searches.

Avast One Essential smart scan. — Avast One has a lot of features you can only access if you upgrade. (Image credit: Future)

Avast One Essential: What’s not included?

There’s a lot to like about Avast One Essential, but also plenty of reasons to upgrade.

Avast One Silver enhances many free features, giving you an unlimited VPN, scanning of web email as well as local email messages, a full-featured firewall and automatic installation of missing software updates.

New features include anti-tracking, a secure bank mode, extra protection against webcam hijacking, secure DNS to keep you safe from fake websites, automatic driver updates and assorted other speed-boosting tools.

These extras aren’t always as useful as they sound, but if you need the VPN in particular, Avast One could be very useful. Read our Avast One Gold review to find out more.

Avast One Essential: Final verdict

Avast One Essential delivers better antivirus protection than most paid products at zero cost. If you’re looking for an accurate and configurable antivirus, and can use the VPN and its many other tools, then this is a great free pick. But if you’re not interested in the extras then Avast Free Antivirus might be better. It’s less configurable but has exactly the same protection and is easier to use.

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