Design: 4.5 / 5
Build Quality: 4 / 5
Functionality: 4 / 5
Ergonomics: 4 / 5
Durability: -- / 5
MSRP: $296.88 (CAD)
Overall: 3.5 / 5
I've been thinking about getting a Smartwatch for quite a long time now. But as the (Cr)Apple iWatch states right up in the 1st paragraph of their battery description, their GOAL was for 18hrs of usage on a full charge. How much sense does that make? It doesn't even last a full day! And what if you forget, or are unable to charge? You're pretty much wearing a $500 bracelet. So I started looking at hybrids, which I also scratched off my list, because the only notification you get, are a small blinking light (indicator), and a bit of a vibrating buzz, upon which, you still have to pull your phone out of your pocket to see what the heck is going on. It's no different than having your phone vibrate in your pocket to tell you that you've got an incoming notification because unless you pull your phone out, you really have no idea what's going on.
The beauty of the ZeTime is that, while the battery to power smartwatch functions will last about 3 days (reviewers have indicated they've gone up to a week), the analogue watch will still power on for up to 30 days. It's the same battery, and this is on a single charge. So even if you forget to charge the ZeTime, you can at least still use it as an old fashioined watch. Not only that, It's actually quite a beautiful time piece.
I'm not going to go on about all its features (you can watch the video up top for that), but some observations of the watch after playing around with it for a bit.
It runs its own OS so functionality isn't quite as seamless as it would be if you were wearing an Android or Apple wearable, you don't have FULL smartphone capabilities, and while you're supposed to be able to be able to make your own pre-set responses on Android phones, all of the pre-set messages I added ended up looking like gibberish that looks like Chinese, but don't even make sense in Chinese.
The heart rate monitor is a bit fickle; it has a tendency to bounce around a bit. But if you patiently sit around and keep pressing the 'check now' function, the overall average seems like it should be accurate enough.
The watch is also able to take photos, but it uses its own camera software. So if you're used to HDR+ features, or portrait features, you will not be able to use these features if you're taking photos by controlling it with the watch.
Response rate isn't the greatest, but it's not so slow that it will start pissing people off. And as stated before, it's still got some bugs, but I think it's a pretty good effort for a 1st gen device. This watch, is not a finished product, nor is it for everyone. But, for the moment, it can be the perfect timepiece for SOME people. This watch is for you if:
1. The primary function for it is to TELL TIME.
2. You want some kit that makes you look like a sexy beast.
3. You're only looking to view notifications and messages and not respond on the watch.
4. You don't REQUIRE fully developed smartwatch capabilities.
CONCLUSION: Smartwatches at the moment aren't a bit of kit that can be all things to all people. There are sacrifices that will need to be made. Full smartwatches seem to have a pretty dire battery life. Other hybrid style smartwatches... Well, just don't ok? For the time being, this one is pretty good as a monitoring device. I've come across two other time pieces that might potentially be better, but....
1. Pebble. They've ceased daily operations, so I guess you can't buy that.
2. Martian. I'm not sure how trustworthy they are. While their new phone (looks like ZeTime + voice) has been kickstarted, every other item that they sell is out of stock on their website.
~Cheers.
Saturday, 6 January 2018
Monday, 4 December 2017
Product: Bobby Anti-Theft Backpack
Design: 4.5 / 5
Build Quality: 4.5 / 5
Functionality: 3.5 / 5
Ergonomics: 5 / 5
Durability: 5 / 5
MSRP: $120.00 (CAD)
Overall: 4 / 5
Build Quality: 4.5 / 5
Functionality: 3.5 / 5
Ergonomics: 5 / 5
Durability: 5 / 5
MSRP: $120.00 (CAD)
Overall: 4 / 5
After many years of searching for backpacks, I've found that the criteria for the perfect commuter backpack is different than the criteria for a travel backpack. While a good large backpack could absolutely play the part of a commuter backpack, it's kind of like saying that you can wear your hospital scrubs to the symphony. You can absolutely do it. Your important bits are covered, and if it's not TOO cold out, you'd be relatively warm.
That being said, when I look for a commuter backpack, I have a separate "want list", as follows:
- Durable
- Anti-Theft features
- Water proof/resistant
- Fits all my electronics required for most day-to-day activities
- Multiple pockets for easy organisation
- Full Day carry comfort
- Security Pocket
- With enough space still to fit an extra layer (ie., jacket, sweater)
- Easy access water bottle / umbrella pocket
- Slim for packed public transit
The Bobby checks off most of the important criteria, but not all. Because they tried to make the backpack as anti-theft as possible, there are no outside pockets whatsoever, so if I wanted to carry a bottle of water around, there really isn't an accessible place to put it. They do make up for it slightly with the bonus feature of having charge port if you've got an external battery to place inside the backpack.
The video does give you all the features of the backpack, so I'm not going to sing its virtues by telling you the wonderful features of the backpack, instead, just a couple of things that I think needs a bit of improvement.
There are a couple of sleeves in the shoulder straps. These are great for putting in your Presto Card / Metropass. That being said, unless you remember to tuck it in snugly into the sleeve (there is a little divot so that it stays a bit more securely), it can very easily fall out. If they included a small magnet, or a slim velcro strip, that would make that sleeve SO much better.
There is only one compartment inside the backpack. And while there are pockets to put stuff, it's not ideal for organisation. If you're bringing along some files, folders along with your laptop, there isn't much for organised space so that your paperwork doesn't get dog-eared or crumpled.
While I love that the backpack itself is cut resistant (i wouldn't go as far as saying it's cut PROOF, I'm sure if someone put some elbow grease in, they could cut through), the straps are not. That is something I do love about Pacsafe.
Bottom line, this backpack is sleek, it's sexy, and it's great peace of mind for your daily commute, and it's got some great nifty features to boot. It's not perfect, but that COULD just be me being overly critical.
Cheers.
That being said, when I look for a commuter backpack, I have a separate "want list", as follows:
- Durable
- Anti-Theft features
- Water proof/resistant
- Fits all my electronics required for most day-to-day activities
- Multiple pockets for easy organisation
- Full Day carry comfort
- Security Pocket
- With enough space still to fit an extra layer (ie., jacket, sweater)
- Easy access water bottle / umbrella pocket
- Slim for packed public transit
The Bobby checks off most of the important criteria, but not all. Because they tried to make the backpack as anti-theft as possible, there are no outside pockets whatsoever, so if I wanted to carry a bottle of water around, there really isn't an accessible place to put it. They do make up for it slightly with the bonus feature of having charge port if you've got an external battery to place inside the backpack.
The video does give you all the features of the backpack, so I'm not going to sing its virtues by telling you the wonderful features of the backpack, instead, just a couple of things that I think needs a bit of improvement.
There are a couple of sleeves in the shoulder straps. These are great for putting in your Presto Card / Metropass. That being said, unless you remember to tuck it in snugly into the sleeve (there is a little divot so that it stays a bit more securely), it can very easily fall out. If they included a small magnet, or a slim velcro strip, that would make that sleeve SO much better.
There is only one compartment inside the backpack. And while there are pockets to put stuff, it's not ideal for organisation. If you're bringing along some files, folders along with your laptop, there isn't much for organised space so that your paperwork doesn't get dog-eared or crumpled.
While I love that the backpack itself is cut resistant (i wouldn't go as far as saying it's cut PROOF, I'm sure if someone put some elbow grease in, they could cut through), the straps are not. That is something I do love about Pacsafe.
Bottom line, this backpack is sleek, it's sexy, and it's great peace of mind for your daily commute, and it's got some great nifty features to boot. It's not perfect, but that COULD just be me being overly critical.
Cheers.
Friday, 1 December 2017
Critique: The D-BOX Experience
Sorry everyone that I'm a bit late to the game on this, my hiatus ended up being a bit longer than I'd anticipated. While there are a few reviews out there talking about D-BOX, ain't no one giving you the truth the way I deliver it (cue evil, maniacal laughter).
D-BOX isn't new anymore. And I'm sure that most cinema enthusiasts/aficionados have already gone ahead and tried it. But for those of you who haven't tried it yet and are considering it, here are some things to consider.
The Price (Cineplex Prices before taxes)
Let's talk about what's important to all of us. In Toronto, here is the range of tickets (I'm not including Cineplex VIP into this post).
Regular Movie Ticket: $13.50
3D Non-AVX Movie Ticket: $16.50
3D AVX Movie Ticket: $18.50
3D D-BOX Movie Ticket: $24.50
It's almost double the price of a regular ticket! Outrageous right? I suppose it depends on who you ask, and what their priorities are. But if you're budget conscious, $24.50 is pretty painful.
The Experience
So the powers that be have decided that D-BOX should take, pretty much the best seats in the house. They're positioned in the centre section of the theatre, and just a few rows down from the back. Down to just above the middle of the room. Why are these seats optimal? The first one is obvious, it's in the middle of the room width-wise. But, they're also the most optimal in terms of viewing angle also. You're not looking down, you're not looking up; you are looking straight from your seat to the screen.
So the video above already shows you the motion sensitive chair and how it rumbles and sways. If you're not prone to motion sickness, it's actually quite fun. For certain films ("Star Trek" and "The Perfect Storm" come to mind), it does enhance the experience of the film. I mean, let's be real here. You probably don't need your seat to rumble around for a movie like "Black Swan".
While I did/do enjoy the D-BOX experience for certain movies, I actually also find the seats to be pretty uncomfortable. It could be because I'm somewhat vertically challenged, but the seats are angled a bit higher at the edge than regular seats and so your feet (well, mine at least) do dangle off a bit. After about 30min into a movie, I find that my legs get fairly uncomfortable. So I spend the rest of the movie shifting my weight from one side to the other, trying to sit one way, then another.
The Options
D-BOX seats are generally found in AVX rooms. So if you don't absolutely need to rattle and roll with what's happening on screen, and still want excellent seats in the house? I say the best bang for buck AVX seats are in the row just in front of the D-BOX seats. You're still in the middle of the room width-wise, and you're still up high enough that your line of sight is still comfortable. There are a couple of added benefits (not including price) to this row also. The arm rests in AVX rooms are adjustable, so you can push it up for a better huggle with your S.O (Significant Other). D-BOX seats , because they move independently, there is some space in between. And because the D-BOX seats also go to and fro, they also provide plenty of leg room. This means that there's almost no chance of some seat kicking douche bag sitting behind you trying to get you to take a whiff of their toe jam.
The Verdict
I tend to choose the alternative that I just mentioned for MOST movies. But, there are certain movies that I don't mind paying the extra bucks for to maximise the viewing experience (the upcoming "Star Wars" movie comes to mind). There is however, actually one more situation where I'll choose a D-BOX seat. AVX tickets for opening weekend for a big blockbuster tends to sell quickly, especially in that centre cluster of seats. D-BOX seats tend to sell a touch slower than the other seats in the house. So when the S.O isn't available and I want to get a good seat close to the show time, there's a chance that there's a D-BOX seat that someone hasn't taken yet.
Bottom line, it's a good choice if you want/need a bit extra to get you immersed into the movie, but it's not entirely necessary.
If y'all are interested in the more detailed technical aspects behind D-BOX, here's a video of their "Motion Code"
Cheers.
D-BOX isn't new anymore. And I'm sure that most cinema enthusiasts/aficionados have already gone ahead and tried it. But for those of you who haven't tried it yet and are considering it, here are some things to consider.
The Price (Cineplex Prices before taxes)
Let's talk about what's important to all of us. In Toronto, here is the range of tickets (I'm not including Cineplex VIP into this post).
Regular Movie Ticket: $13.50
3D Non-AVX Movie Ticket: $16.50
3D AVX Movie Ticket: $18.50
3D D-BOX Movie Ticket: $24.50
It's almost double the price of a regular ticket! Outrageous right? I suppose it depends on who you ask, and what their priorities are. But if you're budget conscious, $24.50 is pretty painful.
The Experience
So the powers that be have decided that D-BOX should take, pretty much the best seats in the house. They're positioned in the centre section of the theatre, and just a few rows down from the back. Down to just above the middle of the room. Why are these seats optimal? The first one is obvious, it's in the middle of the room width-wise. But, they're also the most optimal in terms of viewing angle also. You're not looking down, you're not looking up; you are looking straight from your seat to the screen.
So the video above already shows you the motion sensitive chair and how it rumbles and sways. If you're not prone to motion sickness, it's actually quite fun. For certain films ("Star Trek" and "The Perfect Storm" come to mind), it does enhance the experience of the film. I mean, let's be real here. You probably don't need your seat to rumble around for a movie like "Black Swan".
While I did/do enjoy the D-BOX experience for certain movies, I actually also find the seats to be pretty uncomfortable. It could be because I'm somewhat vertically challenged, but the seats are angled a bit higher at the edge than regular seats and so your feet (well, mine at least) do dangle off a bit. After about 30min into a movie, I find that my legs get fairly uncomfortable. So I spend the rest of the movie shifting my weight from one side to the other, trying to sit one way, then another.
The Options
D-BOX seats are generally found in AVX rooms. So if you don't absolutely need to rattle and roll with what's happening on screen, and still want excellent seats in the house? I say the best bang for buck AVX seats are in the row just in front of the D-BOX seats. You're still in the middle of the room width-wise, and you're still up high enough that your line of sight is still comfortable. There are a couple of added benefits (not including price) to this row also. The arm rests in AVX rooms are adjustable, so you can push it up for a better huggle with your S.O (Significant Other). D-BOX seats , because they move independently, there is some space in between. And because the D-BOX seats also go to and fro, they also provide plenty of leg room. This means that there's almost no chance of some seat kicking douche bag sitting behind you trying to get you to take a whiff of their toe jam.
The Verdict
I tend to choose the alternative that I just mentioned for MOST movies. But, there are certain movies that I don't mind paying the extra bucks for to maximise the viewing experience (the upcoming "Star Wars" movie comes to mind). There is however, actually one more situation where I'll choose a D-BOX seat. AVX tickets for opening weekend for a big blockbuster tends to sell quickly, especially in that centre cluster of seats. D-BOX seats tend to sell a touch slower than the other seats in the house. So when the S.O isn't available and I want to get a good seat close to the show time, there's a chance that there's a D-BOX seat that someone hasn't taken yet.
Bottom line, it's a good choice if you want/need a bit extra to get you immersed into the movie, but it's not entirely necessary.
If y'all are interested in the more detailed technical aspects behind D-BOX, here's a video of their "Motion Code"
Cheers.
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