Ugreen is probably best known for its line of power stations, chargers, power banks - and now docking stations.
But even with the company powering some of the best portable power stations we've reviewed, we were curious: how does the Revodok Max 208 8-in-1 stack up? We've reviewed the best laptop docking stations, so we put Ugreen's Thunderbolt hub to the test.
Ugreen Revodok Max 208: Design & build quality
Specs
Ports:
• 3x Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps, 15W)
• 3x USB-A 3.2 (10Gbps)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 140W DC power port
Display Support:
• Dual 4K@60Hz or single 8K@30Hz for Windows laptops
• Dual 4K@60Hz or single 4K@60Hz for MacBook Pro/Max
The Revodok Max 208 8-in-1 features eight accessible ports on both the front and back of the unit. The packaging is simple and easy to open, and the unit is securely protected. This dock comes with the dock itself, a 140W GaN charger, a Thunderbolt 4 cable, and the user manual, which I should read in its entirety one of these days.
Overall, the build quality is sleek and durable without being bulky or cheesy. I noticed immediately that the air vent is made to flow through the product through the air-cooling aluminum shell. This is brilliant in function and design.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Ugreen Revodok Max 208: In use
One thing worth mentioning right off the bat is that the charging brick is built into the plug. This means that instead of having a thin plug head, running down a thin cable to a brick, then from the brick to the device, like most docking stations, Ugreen chose to build the brick portion of the power line into the head of the cable, making it relatively large therefore too big to plug into a power strip, for example.
Some great features of the Ugreen 208 docking station include its breathable design, which keeps it cool even under heavy loads. Additionally, the variety of ports available makes it an excellent option for those with modern devices. While it mainly supports Thunderbolt 4, it's still a fantastic choice for users with minimal desk space or anyone with modern (or somewhat modern) devices to connect to this docking station.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Speaking of devices or somewhat modern devices, the Thunderbolt ports are all wonderfully fast for data transfer and charging, and they are spaced out quite nicely on the back of the dock so that I can easily plug in and swap out different cables if needed without accidentally bumping or unplugging the wrong cable.
To test this dock's display output ability, I hooked it up on one of my team's desks that still has an Intel-based MacBook Pro ( I know, I know, I'll upgrade him soon). With the Intel i7 Chip and DisplayLink, I got two full displays running through this dock, though one of them has been a bit fussy; that could be the monitor or the computer's fault, too. Another thing worth mentioning about this setup is that while plugged in, the MacBook Pro charges surprisingly fast, even for an older MacBook, and while under a heavy usage load.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
For this desk setup, the team member who uses this workspace does a lot of creative work in addition to the classic "admin" work. He also has a lot of virtual meetings, runs an iPad Pro in his workflow, and has a hardline CAT 6 Network line. The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 can handle this basic yet high-demand workflow without slowing, throttling, or overheating. So far, we have not seen any issues or other concerns after quite a bit of use. All around, this dock works incredibly well.
Ugreen Revodok Max 208: Final verdict
The Ugreen Revodok Max 208 8-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is notable for its high-speed data transfer, wide range of ports, and impressive display capabilities. Although priced at a premium, its performance and versatility make it a worthwhile investment for professionals needing a comprehensive docking solution that includes three extra Thunderbolt 4 ports.
AI image generators have come a long way from the early days of surreal distorted abominations. Leonardo.ai, one of the early players on the scene, offers a great selection of tools that cater to both hobbyist prosumers and professionals.
The Australian company has clearly set its sights on being a jack of all trades in the best AI image generator space, and from early impressions, it's got a good chance of pulling it off. The combination of some solid Stable Diffusion models foundations, and a welter of cool tools makes it pretty compelling. Sure there’s still some work to do, but the platform’s latest improvements have really thrown down the gauntlet in a big way.
You can check out Leonardo by clicking here. The service is offered primarily via an online web presence, but there’s also an IOS app available, and an Android version threatened for some unspecified time in the future.
Leonardo.ai: Pricing & plans
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
Setting up a Leonardo account is pretty straightforward. You can sign in with Apple, Google, Microsoft, or plain old email.
Next, choose your plan— ranging from $0 for the Free version up to $60 for Maestro Unlimited. There’s also a Teams Plan coming soon, but there’s no pricing given as yet. I joined up to the $12 a month Apprentice Plan, which gives 8500 image tokens a month, token rollover and the ability to keep your images private. Marketeers will also appreciate the ability to fine tune up to 10 models a month, which should cover their brand identity needs.
The account dashboard is full of tools and options, which is a little confusing at first, but it doesn’t take long to work your way through the features and find what you need.
Leonardo.ai: In use
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
Did I mention that Leonardo is pretty feature-packed?. There are tools to generate images from prompts, create AI images from your hand drawn sketches, edit existing images, and even turn still images into videos. One fun option is Realtime Generation. Start typing a prompt, and watch the image materialize before your eyes. It feels like magic, minus the wand.
You can fiddle with various settings to tailor the result, which is even better. The only downside is you’re limited to the models you can use, and the text generation is a bit random. But it’s a great way to quickly test out ideas before you jump into the prompt engineering in earnest.
So the million-pixel question, how does it stack up against the best AI art generators and image generators? Well, if Midjourney is the top choice in terms of solid, reliable, beautiful images, Leonardo is the Swiss Army knife. The kind of versatility the platform offers - from professional text handling to community created fine tuned models - is something others should envy.
Leonardo.ai: Features
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
Leonardo can definitely produce some excellent image results. A testament to the solid Stable Diffusion models underpinning the platform.
I tested out prompts for a variety of animals, and they delivered some solid if predictable results. However it’s text generation that really stands out. Like Ideogram, Leonardo seems to have no problem with delivering consistent coherent text on demand, which is very cool.
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The Motion function, which aims to create video animations from stills, is still a bit suspect. I could generate clips, but for the most part they didn’t really work very well. Having already reviewed the best AI video editors, the only video shorts that worked here were camera pan type clips, similar to Apple’s Live Photos. I guess this is inevitable given the parlous state of current AI video generation in general. Other areas like inpainting (editing small image sections) can also be more tricky than necessary. On the other hand, I found outpainting, where you add sections onto the original image, to be a real breeze. The results were great.
Leonardo.ai: Business use
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
Business users will be pleased to know there’s lots of stuff to keep the marketing department happy.
The Training & Datasets feature lets you train models using your own brand assets. Need new social media content that mirrors your brand identity? You got it. The caveat: it’s only useful if you have a robust brand presence or aspire to build one. Because your personal fine tuned models won’t cope with text generation, you’ll be limited to creating brand assets with the right plumage, and then have to finish off with some of the best graphic design software like Canva or Photoshop to add the text and details you need.
For some reason the fine tuned output I created - I trained a pizza dataset of course - kept throwing up NSFW errors. I understand some people can be a little over obsessed with Italy’s finest, but I fail to see why that warrants a lockdown. A bit annoying, even though the general NSFW lock can be switched off in settings.
Leonardo.ai: User experience
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
While the platform’s overall UI is great, there are areas where it’s a little clunky. For example the Canvas Editor - a comprehensive tool allowing inpainting, outpainting, model-swapping and more - could do with some extra help, especially in the inpainting department. I had to resort to the excellent Leonardo help guides a few times, and even then it definitely wasn’t as intuitive as it should be. I found myself struggling to erase or change small areas of an image, which probably reflects my inept prompting.
Speaking of help, the community aspect of the service is also pretty good. As well as the guide, there’s community support from the product’s Discord channel, or via Facebook or Reddit. Users can also share their work on these channels, as well as the in-app gallery.
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
Leonardo.ai: Final verdict
(Image credit: Leonardo.ai)
Leonardo is not just 'another wannabe' in the AI image generator crowd. It’s easy to use, versatile, and offers excellent value for money given the array of features. Professionals will appreciate the real-time editing, upscaling, and the plethora of various models to choose from. Over one hundred at last count. Speed is another forte. Leonardo is seriously fast. The Lightning XL model generations are under 30 secs per generated set, while the default Phoenix model results are not far behind.
Leonardo is rapidly turning out to be a top contender in the AI image generation space. It’s not perfect, but the impressive thing is it’s improving rapidly. Which is often a solid signpost to a product’s future potential.
For more artificial intelligence, we reviewed the best AI tools.
There are a lot of monitor companies out there. If you are in the market for a monitor, odds are you have half a dozen or so phenomenal options that you could choose for just about any scenario. Our expert reviews of the best business monitors should be a testament to that very fact -- there are some incredible displays out there. Notably, in the world of the best ultrawide monitors, a gaggle of options still skilfully serve their purpose at your desk.
The Dell Ultrawide U4024QW monitor is yet another Ultrawide monitor; this one is a 5K2K panel with a built-in Thunderbolt hub, some impressive onboard software, and outstanding ports. It's not great for gamers or those who want just a casual monitor; this is far too much of a screen for that, but for those who need an acre of screen real estate, need it to be crisp and clear, they want the simplicity of a hub built-in (Thunderbolt at that), and they don't mind paying for it, this is a phenomenal option, with very few drawbacks.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell U4025QW: Unboxing & first impressions
The Dell U4025QW comes well-packaged in an eco-friendly, 100% recyclable box. Inside, you'll find the monitor, a sturdy stand, power cable, DisplayPort cable, USB-C to USB-A cable, HDMI cable, Thunderbolt 4 active cable, a quick setup guide, and the standard documentation. Right off the bat, Dell includes everything needed to plug the monitor into your laptop or computer and get to work. There is no need for extra steps or accessories -- plug and play at its most basic.
Setting up the Dell U4025QW was straightforward. I chose to pop this on my monitor arm, adding the Vesa mount on the back and the mounting plate on the arm bracket. The 40-inch curved screen immediately impresses with its immersive size and sleek design. Admittedly, I was shocked by how vast this screen was after it was plugged in.
Dell's U4025QW fits the design language I have come to expect from Dell monitors. I could line up nearly every Dell monitor side by side, and they would all look almost the same, less the screen resolutions and sizes, etc. The silver color, simple border, minimal Dell badging, and screen coating are all the same. The default basic stand was the same, so I wasn't worried about testing that and jumped right to my heavy-duty monitor arm.
Like other Dell monitors, most of the ports are on the back lower half of the monitor. What's great about this one is that it has a pop-out hub on the bottom bezel on the left half of the monitor. This allows for easy access to the built-in hub without having cables dangling weird or oddly placed ports that are hard to reach for some.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell U4025QW: In use
For everyday use, the Dell U4025QW is a master at productivity tasks. The extra screen real estate from a more traditional monitor layout and size is incredibly noticeable in any application. I found myself spreading my entire workflow across 40 inches of pixels, where I usually have two virtual displays that I swipe between depending on the type of task, and I utilize my iPad for even more screens.
However, I didn't need multiple displays with this display. I could fit everything comfortably on this screen, all at once, or I could still focus on something in the middle and minimize everything else. Perhaps it was a comfort or what I am used to, but I did find myself overwhelmed at some points with just how much I had on the screen. This issue, of course, is a personal flaw and not one of the monitor, as the monitor is only doing what I tell it, but it is worth noting too that if you are someone who struggles with focus or can get easily overwhelmed, this may not be for you.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
While working on this screen, the 120Hz refresh rate delivers smooth scrolling and highly responsive performance. It's worth noting that you'll need a beefy graphics card to push this thing to its highest performance. I even noticed my M2 MacBook Pro lagging if I had too much going on. Further, the image is clear and crisp while staying bright and color-accurate, making this great for business and creative professionals using photo or video editing monitors.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The built-in Thunderbolt dock works excellent and allows me to plug in cameras, a light bar, a mic, Ethernet, extra computers, and devices through the other IO; it allows me to charge my MacBook and run a dongle for even more responsive mouse and keyboard experiences, making it a strong contender for best monitor for MacBook Pro at the least.
Dell U4025QW: Final verdict
The Dell U4025QW is an impressive monitor for professionals needing a large, high-resolution display for productivity or creative work. The color accuracy is excellent, boasts a robust feature set, and has a fantastic array of inputs, making it a true jack of all trades regarding workspace additions. It may not be the best 5K monitor for you - the high cost and need for a powerful graphics card to utilize this display fully make this unattainable or unreasonable for most. Still, for those who need an enormous screen with all the features, this monitor is literally, exactly that.
Last year, Canadian startup Ideogram launched an AI image generation service - with a twist. The team was determined to include text in the AI image mix, something which every other platform struggles with. What's interesting is how well they've succeeded. For the first time, designers, and those with more of an eye on typography, could use an AI tool to produce something grown up and sophisticated. Text was no longer taboo.
A quick look at the home page spells it out. Where many of the best AI image generators we’ve reviewed offer cutesy anime and fantasy style images in their carousels, Ideogram shows off gorgeous high resolution images with a strong typeset integration. It's a subtle but important distinction, and opens up whole new design areas such as logos, humor or other image uses which have previously been off limits for conventional AI platforms.
Of course the market is changing all the time, and already there are alternatives like Stable Diffusion 3 waiting in the wings, but for now Ideogram still holds the AI text crown. You can check it out by clicking here.
Ideogram: Pricing & plans
The platform offers a free plan which gives 20 slow generated images a day. The speed varies according to the load on the service, but in my testing it was around 30 to 45 seconds or so, which is not too terrible. The free plan also provides access to the community image gallery, the use of the Describe tool and 70% quality JPG image file downloads.
The Paid plans start at $8 a month for the Basic plan which gives 400 prompts a month, a basic image editor, high quality 2K image upscaling and 100% quality image downloads. Plus and Pro plan users can also keep their images private and away from the public gallery, and upload their own images to rework. Paying users also get to create seamless repeating Tile patterns, which is a boon for design work like texture or background creation.
Ideogram: First impressions
(Image credit: Ideogram)
The first surprise when you land on the Ideogram front page, is how bare it is. Unlike other AI image generators, there's no browsing here until you sign up or log in to an account. It's quite disconcerting, and probably deters a fair number of potential users. There are two clicks you can make, either a help ? icon or an Apple or Google account login button. There's not even basic email registration.
Mandating a login restricts access to the user community images which are available on the main page, and there's a simple reason for this gatekeeping. You see there are two very useful tools anyone can use once logged in to get started. The first is to click on the three dot menu under any image to copy and use the prompt which made it.
The second more powerful method is to click the same menu but this time select the Describe option. This gives you a full blown 'magic' prompt created by the service which delivers the ultimate quality image from your basic prompt. For example, I grabbed a prompt which read:
"a dog's head in profile with a double exposure of a forest and Dalmatians playing in the background."
The 'magic' feature upgraded that basic copied prompt to:
"a close-up of a dog's face, predominantly in shades of brown and white. The background is a blend of a dense forest and a clearing where two Dalmatians are seen playing in the grass. The juxtaposition of the dog's head with the forest and Dalmatians creates a surreal effect, as if the dog is emerging from the woods or merging with them."
Result: a vastly improved image result, which uses the power of the crowd along with some AI smarts to produce a nice looking image. It's not perfect, but it's a great start to iterate on.
(Image credit: Ideogram)
Ideogram: In Use
(Image credit: Ideogram)
The above example points to one of the key benefits of using Ideogram over some of the best AI art generators and image generators that have sprung up over the last couple of years. The platform really wants to help users get the best out of their image generation credits. Even those on the free plan can benefit from these features, although you'll have to upgrade to a paid plan to edit, upscale or download 100% quality images when you're done.
Proper prompting can be extremely tricky for non-experts, so being able to use the front page community images as a start point is very powerful. Creating a Remix of a sample image is also a great way to produce something quickly and easily, based on an existing user image. It sounds like cheating, but paid plan users have the power to keep their images private, so there is a choice of access.
(Image credit: Ideogram)
In general, creating lush, beautiful images with Ideogram is fast and painless. The addition of the 'Magic' prompt function, although it's not unique to Ideogram, is an excellent way to minimize user disappointment through bad prompting. The new upscaling function is also a powerful method of delivering professional quality images which can be used in commercial settings such as advertising and marketing. The image results may not match the consistent and coherent quality of Midjourney, but it's not far off.
Where the platform falls a little short is in the editing area. There's no outpainting or inpainting functions, so the editing is limited to crop, zoom, color selection and changing aspect ratio. The most valuable editing function is to draw text positions on a generated image and use an updated prompt and Remix to add the actual text to the result.
This is extremely useful for adding or adjusting precise text, as you might need when designing a logo or other brand element. It's just a shame that there's not a larger selection of image editing tools on the platform, as there is with other services.
Ideogram: Final verdict
(Image credit: Ideogram)
When it comes to the best AI tools, Ideogram combines top quality AI image generation with superb typographic control. In that regard it is unique among its peers. The image quality at its best matches anything on the market, even if the editing features are a little weak in places.
The Innocn 49Q1S is a 49in 5120×1440 240Hz ultrawide curved gaming monitor based on a QD-OLED panel with a high contrast ratio, DCI-93 99% colour gamut, a 0.03ms grey to grey response time, Variable Refresh Rate and HDR 400 support. It also includes 2.1 22w speakers and integrated microphones.
We’ve tested the latest best business monitors but finding key specs on the Innocn 49Q1S proved difficult. I can only assume that the 49Q1S is such a new display that Innocn themselves have yet to update their website as it is nowhere to be found.
The known key specs are:
Screen Size: 49in
Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440
Aspect Ratio: 32:9
Max Refresh Rate: 240Hz
Screen Curvature: 1800R
HDR: HDR400
Response Time: 0.03ms (GTG)
Colour Gamut: DCI-93 99%
Speakers: 2.1 stereo speaks with 22W
Microphone Array
Innocn 49Q1S: Packaging & assembly
The monitor came in a gargantuan box measuring some 130cm x 29cm x 48cm (length, width and height) weighing in around 14.5kgs. Once opened the box revealed a large polystyrene foam shell taking up the entirety of the box.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
The polystyrene foam came in two parts encapsulating the monitor with the legs, stand and cables placed externally. Other than the stand and UK plug to IEC C13 power cable, the additional extras included are, a HDMI Cable, DisplayPort Cable, USB C to USB C cable and a USB 3.0 A to USB 3.0 B cable. Also provided were four large standoffs for VESA mounts.
(Image credit: Innocn)
The 49Q1S only came with a quick start manual in several languages, essentially a page of A3, on how to put the display together and what could be plugged where, it wasn’t very in depth. It goes into no detail about the OSD menus other than the joystick directions, specs or basic troubleshooting, in one place the so-called manual is also misleading, more on that later.
The vertical stand and its V shaped legs are put together simply by slotting the vertical mount to the legs and then using the thumbscrew to tighten it down. The stand has a small cable tidy hook on the back in red and towards the top is a concealed hook for headsets or headphones. Once the stand was assembled, it was simply snapped into place on the back of the monitor.
The vertical stand allowed the usual movements of tilt and swivel. Height adjustments allowed the top of the display to be as low as 45cm to as high as 57cm from the desktop, with the stand attached the overall display was 36cm deep and 120cm wide, so ensure you have a large enough desk to accommodate the display.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
On the back can also be found some RGB coloured lighting to add some gaming credentials. These are not configurable and just cycle through a series of colors. They can be switched on or off via the OSD and frankly I quickly forget they were even there.
Innocn 49Q1S: Connectivity
As you can see from the photos, I have mounted the display on a basic desk arm using the 100x100mm VESA mounts, Innocn has provided these large standoffs to assist with VESA mounting as the screw holes are quite deep but I managed fine without them.
Connectivity wise the 49Q1S does not fall short on and comes with:
2 x DisplayPort 1.4
1 x HDMI 2.1
1 x USB-C 90W
2 x USB-A (at USB 3.0 standard)
1 x USB-B (at USB 3.0 standard)
1 x RJ45 (100Mb)
1 x 3.5MM Audio Jack
The DisplayPort, HDMI and USB-C ports are all capable of receiving and delivering the full 240Hz from several sources.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
Innocn 49Q1S: Performance
With a resolution of 5120×1440 at 49in with a 1800R curve, the monitor would be reminiscent of having two 27in displays side by side.
The outlay means you now have a large screen where you can display several windows, all at the same time with each one still maintaining usability. You could for example be writing an article or essay on one side of the screen whilst having reference material on the other at the same time. Windows 11 has large screen support, letting you easily snap windows in place.
(Image credit: Innocn)
As previously mentioned, the Innocn 49Q1S improves over the 49C1R in several fields. This is mostly helped by the fact that the panel went from a standard VA Panel to a QD-OLED panel. The QD-OLED in turn means darker blacks, brighter screen with more vibrancy in colors when viewing content. The screen finish is a glossy type which does reflect light, I suspect that this may hinder some depending on the lighting of the room you intend to use it in. The high 99% DCI-P3 color space coverage also gives it utility in the field of best monitors for video editing.
The HDR400 coupled with QD-OLED means blacks are truly inky black. Greens, reds, blues and yellows were also tested and it was noted the entire screen was even on all colors and no dead or stuck pixels. Colors appeared accurate, Innocn also provides calibration certificates for the display with serial numbers to show that the display was indeed calibrated using a Konica Minolta CA-410 Display Colour Analyser.
(Image credit: Innocn)
Innocn 49Q1S: Useability
There is a single blue light illuminated joystick like button beneath the bottom of the microphone array for navigation through the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu.
(Image credit: Innocn)
There are the standard settings of brightness, contrast, color temperature, picture modes, gaming modes etc.), the Innocn 49Q1S also supports Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture modes, allowing you to display two sources on the screen simultaneously. There are a few gaming-centered features such as having an onscreen crosshair displayed as well as Adaptive Refresh Rates.
I used the 49Q1S as any normal person would, using the display for work, general browsing, gaming and watching films. For work, the 49Q1S large real estate was useful for being able to display several windows at once as previously mentioned. General browsing was at times a bit too intense with such a wide field of view, I found it easier to put Chrome to one side of the screen and read articles from there.
(Image credit: Innocn)
Gaming had no issues, I tested the display playing both Helldivers 2 and Horizon Forbidden West, two games which are PS5 console ports, so more modern PC games should have no issue. The only use case that did have an issue was watching content, Amazon Prime (here seen is Fallout) has two large black bars on either side, as did Netflix
(Image credit: Innocn)
YouTube was the same though this was content dependent. In this example I am viewing a video in the 2160p mode
(Image credit: Innocn)
The 49Q1S has a claimed 2.1 Stereo speaker set up with 22W of power, I listened to the speakers over a day or so using a variety of music, films, games and other genres. Whilst they will do in a pinch, I would not recommend them over dedicated speakers. I noted some audio distortion and audio lacking punch. My aging Creative Gigaworks T40 with only 16W in a 2.0 configuration sounded far better.
The Innocn 49Q1S has an integrated microphone array below the bottom bezel of the display, it is essentially two microphones working in tandem to provide recorded audio and appears to be geared towards voice. I tested the microphone against a similar array from a Creative X7 DAC placing my mouth about approximately 18 inches from both the X7 and 49Q1S.
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the microphone, it performed very well against the X7 where I could hear a slight background hum, none was heard through the Innocn. The voice audio was clear, crisp, loud enough to understand but not so loud to distort, if you had no other high-end microphone and needed to do a Teams or Zoom meeting, this microphone would work very well.
Innocn 49Q1S: KVM
One feature not mentioned by the manual or any documentation was the KVM or docking feature of the display. I did as the quick start guide told me, hooking up my usual mouse and keyboard to the monitor using the 2 x USB-A connectors and plugging in the RJ45 cable into my switch. I then connected my main PC to the USB-B port and the one of the DisplayPorts. I turned on my PC and it worked flawlessly. Mouse and keyboard were detected and worked without a hitch, I noted that the Ethernet from the monitor showed connected and as expected at the 100Mb speed, so far so good.
The aforementioned quick start guide is misleading as it only shows a smart phone being connected to the USB-C port. I was surprised that it, from the manual, made no mention of using the 49Q1S as a dock for portable computers.
(Image credit: Innocn)
Experimenting, I initially used a generic brand USB-C to USB-C cable to connect a business-orientated Lenovo ThinkPad X13 capable of display, mouse, keyboard and ethernet via USB-C, however nothing came up on the display. I then used the Innocn supplied cable, the laptop immediately detected the display, mouse, keyboard and network switch. As an added benefit, the laptop was also charging as well. I also tried plugging in a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and enabling Samsung Dex, whilst it worked fine, I needed to adjust some of the settings in the 49Q1S so that text was sharp, but this did mean black bars on either side.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Innocn)
It would mean that you could have the display set up in an office or studio like environment, with attached ethernet, mouse and keyboard. You could then supply your staff with company laptops or even encourage Bring Your Own, plug this in via USB-C and are good to go with just one cable. An alternative would be to have two workstations connected to the display sharing a common mouse and keyboard. An incredibly useful feature in this day and age of mobile computing and hot desking, which could have been missed by the casual end user.
All seemed to be going well until I stumbled across an odd anomaly. With my mouse and keyboard connected to the 49Q1S, I left my PC long enough that it put the display to sleep. This in turn disconnected the mouse and keyboard meaning I could not wake the PC by tapping a few keys or moving the mouse. Jiggling the joystick gave me a very small window in order to wake the PC tapping the keyboard but this wasn’t always guaranteed. An unfortunate oversight despite other monitors overcoming this.
Innocn 49Q1S: Final verdict
Overall, the Innocn 49Q1S boasts some very high-end features and specs aimed to be a jack of all trades in the best ultrawide monitor space, of which it does most of them well. The calibrated QD-OLED means a sharp, crisp and well contrasted display, useful for a wide variety of tasks.
The sheer number of connectors allows end users the flexibility to use several consoles or workstations with the 49Q1S as well as peripherals. I do wish they gave an additional USB-A connector on the back.
The downside are that there is a lack of support or exact specs on the 49Q1S as they can’t be found on the Innocn website and documentation is non-existent save for a quick start guide which isn’t clear on the capabilities of the 49Q1S which means some users may not even be aware of what they are leaving behind.
The speakers are lacking though the microphone pleasantly surprised us for being clear and noise-canceling.
BenQ has continued to impress me with their monitors. As I have said time and time again with other monitors I have reviewed from BenQ; they hit way above their price range in functionality and performance - and one of the reasons they're often high on our list of the best monitors for photo editing and best monitors for video editing
The monitor stands are functional even on basic models, let alone their Ergo arms; they have the puck for dialed-in control, their display modes are great, the integrated DisplayPilot 2 app adds a crazy amount of functionality for Mac, and their port offering is insane. This is for a reasonable price and a highly versatile, clean-looking monitor. The PD3225U is no exception but another shining example of BenQ's abilities.
BenQ PD3225U: Unboxing & first impressions
BenQ's packaging is consistent and straightforward. Foam surrounds all sides of the monitor; the stand is disassembled, and all the cables you could need, documentation, and the puck controller. The setup was super easy. I unboxed the monitor, added my Vesa mount bracket for my monitor arm, attached the monitor to the monitor arm, plugged in my cables, and got to work. Even without professional calibration after setting up, this monitor has some beautiful colors. Personally, for my use, I rotate between M-Book for light photo touch-ups and when I want to see the deep blacks, and Display P3 for pretty much everything else.
On the right side of the monitor, there are some extra ports for easy access, plus a joystick controller if you don't want to use the DisplayPilot 2 app to make any fine-tuning adjustments to your monitor.
The PD3225U monitor is minimalistic and modern, boasting minimal bezels, a sleek black casing, and a high-quality parts list. If using the included stand, the base is steady, the height adjustment is significant, and the cable organizer is handy when keeping a clean workspace. BenQ says the monitor is made with 85% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. Further, the company prioritizes eco-friendly practices in product development, energy efficiency, and highly recyclable packing materials. That said, the packaging for this monitor can be fully recycled, and the monitor is set automatically to power off when nobody is using it.
BenQ PD3225U: In use
I've used this monitor as my primary display in my home office for the past month. I have not missed my other displays in the slightest while using this one, in fact, I'd be perfectly content if this was my only monitor.
As a tech reviewer, I rotate through monitors, peripherals, desks, chairs, and much more about as frequently as some people change their socks (no, seriously, I am constantly rotating what gear I am using that day to get a feel for all the products I test). So, I am used to bouncing between displays of different sizes, quality, aspect ratio, and resolution. While I have come to find the simple pleasure of a single, high-resolution, high-quality monitor, I have also learned that 32 inches at a 16:9 aspect ratio is a special combination that few other monitors seem to reach. It's one of my favorite size monitors, especially when it is high resolution. I have much real estate to spread out whatever I am working on without cluttering my workspace with another monitor or an open laptop. For those who do not share my love for the highest resolution, smallest font, and Mac Display settings set to "More Space," having a 32-inch display helps still fit quite a bit even with a lower resolution. While 27 inches still reign supreme when it comes to the best business monitors, for my money, 32 inches is where it's at.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
If you've been looking for the best monitor for MacBook Pro, this one may well be it for you. As I mentioned, I have kept this monitor in Display P3 color mode, but changing back and forth and comparing colors with my M2 MacBook Pro or my M1 iPad Pro, while in M-Book color mode, the images are indistinguishable.
While testing, I appreciated the ease of using both the puck and the DisplayPilot 2 app to change colors, inputs, and various other settings. I also greatly appreciated the 90W power delivery via USB-C, which meant I could easily use this monitor without a docking station or adapters.
BenQ PD3225U: Final verdict
The BenQ PD3225U is a fantastic monitor for those who want high resolution, excellent color accuracy, great functionality, seamless Mac integration, and are willing to pay a premium price. Yes, for $400-$500 more, you could get an Apple Studio Display, but if you don't want to spend even more and desire the functionality of extra inputs, a larger screen, and Vesa brackets, this is a fantastic choice. Yes, this monitor is quite expensive, so it is not for everyone by any stretch of the imagination. Still, for those needing high-quality displays, the BenQ lineup of professional monitors, particularly the PD3225U, is worth strongly considering.
Even if you stick to its email hosting, however, you’ll find an excellent service. It’s one of the more affordable email hosting providers on the market and comes with several handy features. Many organizations are looking at private email hosting so they can add a level of respectability to their communications that they can’t get with a generic Gmail address. They’ll certainly get that and more if they choose to sign up for Namecheap.
As well as the boost to your brand that a Namecheap account provides, subscribers can also expect a user-friendly service, rapid support, and decent security. You may find it somewhat lacking in more advanced features, but if you just want a simple, reliable service, this fits the bill.
Namecheap: Plans and pricing
Namecheap’s professional business email hosting is available in three pricing tiers: Ultimate, Pro, and Starter. There’s a free trial available with all three that lasts for a generous 60 days. This is twice the length that you get with most free trials - especially as full plan functionality is included. It’s also a nice touch that no payment details are required when signing up for the free trial, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally committing yourself financially.
The Starter plan costs $14.88 for an annual subscription, with one mailbox included. Additional mailboxes can be purchased for $8.88 a year. The Pro plan, meanwhile, will set you back $41.88 for the year, with three mailboxes included. At this pricing tier, additional mailboxes cost $25.88 a year. The Ultimate is available for $71.88 a year for five mailboxes, with additional mailboxes charged at $39.88 per year.
If you’re a large enterprise, on the other hand, and need more than 50 mailboxes or private email for more than 20 domains, you’ll need to contact Namecheap to receive a custom pricing plan. Overall, Namecheap’s prices are affordable and compare well against other web hosting providers that also offer email hosting.
Features
(Image credit: cPanel)
Starting with the cloud storage provided, Namecheap comes with 5GB for Starter subscribers, 30GB for Pro and 75GB for Ultimate. In terms of the other differences between the pricing tiers, the Pro plan comes with full mobile sync support, access to 50 email aliases, 15GB of file storage, and a document viewer. An Ultimate contract gets you all this, plus online creation and versioning support for spreadsheets and presentations, unlimited aliases, and file storage of up to 30GB.
With Namecheap’s business email hosting, companies will be able to do more than simply add a layer of professionalism to their correspondences. It’ll become easier for your employees to carry out work on the go, which is essential in an era where hybrid work is now viewed as the norm.
Namecheap’s functionality will also unlock more opportunities for collaboration. If you sign up for one of the higher pricing tiers, you’ll find that being able to share and work on files with other team members across devices can greatly improve your team's productivity.
Support
Namecheap has an extensive support offering, complete with 24/7 live chat, email ticket support, and a comprehensive knowledgebase. To make resolution faster, Namecheap has helpfully listed several different email accounts for you to contact in the event that you need assistance. There’s a department for basic, general inquiries, one for pre-sales inquiries, account access, Namecheap’s affiliate program, and an email for leaving feedback.
In fact, Namecheap has a substantial number of support email addresses for you to contact. By choosing the right one, it’s more likely that your inquiry won’t need to be redirected before being resolved. This means that the time you can expect to wait is more likely to match Namecheap’s extremely fast two-hour promise. Of course, replies may take longer than this if your inquiry is especially complex but this is an extremely rapid commitment for the company to make.
Security
(Image credit: Namecheap)
One of the most important security features for any email hosting provider is anti-spam protection. This is included as standard across all Namecheap’s plans, including advanced filter tools. Namecheap’s Jellyfish Spam Protection solution helps businesses to remove email threats, with an estimated 53% of the world's emails being spam and costing over $20 billion a year.
Jellyfish spam protection doesn’t only scan the text of your incoming emails but looks at attachments and links too - discarding anything that looks suspicious. Automation is used to speed up threat detection, with the solution self-learning to protect your inbox with accuracy that is always increasing.
Away from its spam prevention functionality, Namecheap also prioritizes your security in other ways. All web hosting plans are accompanied by a free SSL certificate to ensure there’s some encryption around the data that travels from your website to your visitors. Namecheap also comes with two-factor authentication and advanced antivirus protection to further safeguard your messages.
The competition
Comparing Namecheap to other email hosting providers that also offer additional services, such as web hosting, this is a hosting provider that focuses on simplicity and reliability. Other providers, like Neo or Google Workspace, may provide more advanced functionality, but if all you need is a solid, affordable email hosting provider that will protect your messages from malicious incomings, then Namecheap is a great option.
Just in terms of its email hosting, Namecheap provides a more innovative solution, particularly when some of its rivals are incorporating AI tools to streamline business activities, but Namecheap doesn’t claim to provide this kind of solution. Plus, you don’t need to sign up for any of Namecheap’s other services to enjoy the simplicity of its email hosting.
Namecheap: Final verdict
Namecheap doesn’t over-promise, but what it claims to do, it does well. This is a reliable and secure email hosting offering. Sure, if you want more advanced features, it might be better to go with another provider but for ease-of-use, support and security, this is tough to beat.
Having reviewed some of the best office chairs on the market, I admit, Oak Hollow Furniture is not a company I was familiar with before stumbling upon the Aloria and Reina (review coming soon) office chairs. The first time I read the company name, I assumed they would exclusively sell standing desks or office desks made of oak wood. However, upon inspection, I could not have been more wrong. They do not sell desks but specialize in ergonomic office chairs and have a few great options.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Oak Hollow Aloria: Unboxing & first impressions
Oak Hollow packs its chairs very well in the reasonable-sized boxes it sends them in. The packaging is secure and easy to remove from the box, and there are clear instructions for assembly in the box. The included tools were easy to use, and it took me about 35 minutes to assemble, from opening the box to sitting and adjusting the ergonomics.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The leather seat is nicer than I thought it would be. I expected it to be cheap and worn easily, but after a couple of months of regular use by my team and me, this chair still looks brand new (photos taken at the time of writing this, 66 days into testing). This chair fits excellent in home office and corporate office scenarios. I love the look of these chairs. They are sturdy, comfortable, minimal, simple, yet capable. From the first time I sat down, I appreciated the overall comfort in the seat and ergonomic back.
Oak Hollow has opted for genuine cowhide leather and high-quality mesh for this chair. These premium-level materials ensure longevity and comfort for extended uses. Most people sit at a desk for a good portion of the day. A comfortable chair is a game changer, especially one that is ergonomic and stylish.
The overall style and design of the Aloria by Oak Hollow can be described as "simple elegance." This chair exudes quality, especially in the leather version. What truly counts, however, is the sitting experience. With its lumbar support, headrest, adjustable backrest, and numerous other adjustment options, this chair does not disappoint in terms of customization.
Oak Hollow Aloria: In use
As I previously mentioned, I've had this chair in my workspace for 66 days. Many people from my team have sat in the chair and, out of many of my recent chairs that all look similar, the leather seat on this one makes it unique. So far, we have had zero issues sitting in and using this chair for prolonged sitting. I have had team members ranging from 5 foot 8 inches to 5 foot 10 inches to 6 foot 2 inches sit in and enjoy this chair. We have the standard height, though Aloria offers three height options to accommodate heights of all ranges: short, standard, and tall.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The adjustments have allowed me to set the seat height, lock my chair back if I wish, place the armrests precisely where I want them, and more. I have been able to mold this chair to me instead of molding myself to the chair.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
I waited a minute to add the headrest as I loved the look of the chair without it; however, after a week, I attached it to the chair and I have not regretted it. While I don't find myself leaning my head back on the rest during every moment of sitting at the chair, having the option to relax my head while listening to a meeting with my camera off, while reading, on the phone, or while writing this very sentence is quite comfortable.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Oak Hollow Aloria: Final verdict
The Oak Hollow Aloria Series Leather Office Chair is a beautiful, leather-wrapped choice for those who prioritize comfort, adjustability, and durability in their office furniture. While its high price point and genuine cowhide recline may deter some, the overall quality and ergonomic benefits make it a valuable addition to any office setup.
The internet in 2024 can be a dangerous place: hacks, viruses, phishing, and the abundance of data available to data brokers and other entities. In response to these threats, data removal services have sprung up to help your data hygiene.
Over the past weeks and months, we've spent a lot of time with various data removal services to weigh up what works – and what doesn't. As people become more privacy conscious, having the right tools is key.
Tech giants like Apple have made privacy part of their core message to users, and the Cupertino giant has even introduced features like iCloud Privacy Relay to make surfing the web more safe and secure.
Looking to help keep your data sanitised, Hello Privacy is a compelling data removal service option that offers a comprehensive set of features, a free privacy scan, and more. The company claims millions of users of its service.
We'll get into the nitty gritty below, but Hello Privacy works in three pretty simple steps: searching the web for your data, reaching out to websites to remove the data, and then continuing the monitor the web.
As with every online service, we recommend checking out the full array of options on the market, like DeleteMe, Mozilla Monitor Plus, and Optery, to get a sense of what's out there, and how competitive the asking price of each service is.
Hello Privacy is one of the simplest data removal services we've encounter when it comes to the payment tiers.
First off, there is a free tier, which is pretty limited but gives you a general sense of how the interface works and performs a scan of the web based on your email address, name, and other basic information.
And then there's the $9.99 per month tier (billed at $8.33 when on the annual plan), offering actual data removals from hundreds of website and more powerful features that we'll get into below.
That's it. Hello Privacy really keeps things simple, and we kinda appreciate that: a lot of its rivals offer a huge array of tiers with different prices (plus annual plans), giving and taking certain features based on the plan.
There are also plans available for corporate clients, with details on request. It's hard to say how much these will cost and compare them to rivals.
Like all data removal services, the primary function of Hello Privacy is to scan the web for your personal data and remove it, either by reaching out to each data broker or website or by using human agents to do so.
The service protects the following data: Full name, age, gender, birthday, phone number, current address (and past addresses), the names of family members, email addresses, social media profiles, and arrest records.
We found the scanning process to be pretty straightforward, and actually nicely quick in comparison to some rivals that can take multiple hours or even days.
Our overarching feeling is that Hello Privacy is an extremely simple service. While the free tier is naturally limited, the paid tier offers basically two functions – to scan and to then remove – and that's pretty much it.
One nice touch is that Hello Privacy offers a pretty extensive amount of opt-out guides that work separately from using the platform. Each data broker, for example OKCaller, gets its own entry and set of removal instructions.
Overall, Hello Privacy is definitely on the more "basic" end of the spectrum.
The consumer service might be on the basic side but Hello Privacy has a pretty well-featured setup for enterprise customers, including the usual data removal services, the ability to delete old accounts, and social media cleanup.
There are dark web monitoring services for both consumer and enterprise that we appreciated, and in our testing flagged a fair amount of data breaches where email addresses and so on had featured in leaks.
In terms of enterprise, Hello Privacy lets companies add its privacy features to proprietary products and protect employees from having their data leaked. These tools can be integrated into products with a revenue sharing agreement with Hello Privacy via its API and White Label web portal.
Hello Privacy says Fortune 500 companies uses its services, but doesn't say how many. There are various customer statements on its website.
Hello Privacy is owned and run by BrandYourself, a company that helps with reputation management and offers a few different services. The street address is located in New York City and Pennsylvania.
The company offers the standard set of emails for support, as well as blog, although it hasn't been updated since 2022. As we mentioned above, there are extensive and helpful opt-out guides available on its website.
Responses to the email were pretty fast in our experience, and we had no issues.
As Hello Privacy offers a more barebones set of features, we definitely recommend checking out its rivals like Privacy Bee, IDX, and Kanary.
We found that DeleteMe, established in 2011, was one of the best services on the market, both for its longevity but also its range of features. Similarly, Optery has been around for a long time and proven its dependability and trustworthiness.
During our testing, Mozilla Monitor Plus also stood out as it is backed by one of the most well known companies in privacy space, Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser. Data removal services naturally have a lot of your data, so choosing a company that will never sell that data is essential.
To help make the right decision, we definitely recommend spending some time reading TechRadar's reviews of data removal services and scrolling the websites of each. If you have a specific use case, such as protecting a family member, or a tighter budget, it can't hurt to see the full range of options.
Hello Privacy, a data removal service run by reputation management company BrandYourself, is definitely on the more lightweight end of the spectrum compared to its rivals, offering only very basic options even on its $9.99 per month plan.
The service is functional and worked in our testing, so there is no issues with that, but other services offer a far wider array of features that users may appreciate, both in terms of consumer and enterprise versions.
The UI is pretty basic, which is either a good thing (making it easier to use the service) or a bad thing (for power users), and there are few settings to play with.
Getting a monthly subscription (perhaps with a six month check-in) does make a degree of sense, and $9.99 is on the cheaper end of the spectrum, but we think anyone looking for a really well-featured data removal service would be disappointed with Hello Privacy.
Branch is an ergonomic furniture company that has "branched out" to include accessories in addition to its already popular office chairs and standing desks. We have reviewed a handful of Branch chairs and desks. These products are fantastic and have all received high praise from our team, and rightfully so. Branch has phenomenal gear, excellent build quality, and a great company mission. The Softside Chair is just another step in that mission. While almost all the the best office chairs are ergonomic or gaming chairs, Branch created a chair with a primary aesthetic feel, fitting the space while being comfortable and shockingly good for long days.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Softside: Unboxing & first impressions
Right out of the gate, this box was pretty heavy. I wanted to see the fabric material and the leather, so I snagged one of each, and both boxes were shockingly weighty given how small the chair is overall. The deconstructed chair elements were well packaged and preserved, without any creases or indents from a misplaced flap or an accessory box. Everything looked great when it came out of the box.
Assembly as a whole was simple in concept, though since the arm resets are added where there is padding already, those were a bit difficult. I ended up having to put a bit of pressure leaning into the chair with the armrests and then lining up the screws. Once I got each screw started, I was able to use the tools to tighten them down to finish assembly.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
The Branch Softside Chair looks great, is comfortable, and uses fantastic materials. The cushion is nice and supportive while still surprisingly comfortable, and the adjustments for height and tilt are smooth and logical.
I've tested far more than my fair share of office chairs. I have many lightweight, black, minimal, maximal, bulky, and high-quality chairs. I just now had a simple, clean leather chair that looks great, even if it's in a shared space and not my office 24/7.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Softside: Design & build quality
Specs
Dimensions: Mid back: 27.5”W x 27.5”D x 33”-36”H; High back: 27.5”W x 27.5”D x 37.5”-40.5”H
Weight: 41.0 lbs
Materials: Fabric, vegan leather, or leather; multi-density foam; chrome or powder-coated steel base
Warranty: 5 years
As I briefly mentioned, I grabbed a vegan leather (canyon color) and a fabric (overcast) chair. Both material choices are fantastic and look great in their way. I love that the darker fabric goes with the darker, moodier spaces, like my office, or it can also blend away in most spaces as "just another chair."
However, if you want a multipurpose, comfortable chair in a bright color, there are also options, such as the sunflower yellow color or the light bone color. These are sure to make a statement. The leather and vegan leather pieces look refined and luxurious. I love how my Canyon vegan leather Softside looks, so much so that when people come over, I am happy to grab this chair and have it be another seating place in my living room for those who don't want to sink into my couch. Regardless, the leather material has a premium feeling and is comfortable, cool, reasonably durable, and high-quality.
These chairs are comfortable for all-day use and great for the office or your home office, especially if you are looking for something to fit your workspace rather than an ergonomic chair aesthetically. The Branch Softside chair is a fantastic middle ground of function and flair.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Softside: In use
I've comfortably sat in the Softside for an entire day of work. Yes, it is not the most ergonomically correct chair, but it's still comfortable for most. The integrated lumbar support promotes proper seating position without forcing it. The height and tilt adjustments are excellent and not overly complicated, helping me easily adjust when needed. So far, I have used this chair almost entirely with the armrests on as it looks better, but knowing that if my future workspace needs an armless chair for whatever reason, I can easily remove these and still have a fantastic chair is excellent.
This chair has been fantastic to use and have around as I do not feel I need to hide it or rationalize it for when it is visible to guests. I can enjoy this chair in my workspace and living space and utilize it for many different use cases.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Softside: Final verdict
This differs from your chair if you need something to help with back pain. However, for most, if you are looking for a comfortable chair that looks fantastic, the Branch Softside Chair is for you. It stands out for its combination of comfort, design, and functionality.
