Month: July 2019

If you’re looking for the best streaming stick when on a budget, the Chromecast is likely your best bet as long as the omission of Amazon Instant Video is not a deal breaker.

The Chromecast(view on Amazon) was announced to a wave of excitement back in mid 2013. The small dongle-like form factor and the promise of beaming our videos from the phone and tablet to the television showed incredible promise; at a killer price to boot. Now, nearly a year and a half later, the device is meeting a variety of competition. With the Amazon Firestick recently announced and the Roku Stick already on the market, how does the Chromecast stack up? Read on to find out.

Supported Apps

Hardware is only as good as what you can do with it. When the device was initially released it only supported a small number of video streaming apps limited to Netflix, Youtube, and Google Play. Today the device supports a myriad of other apps. Below is a snap shot of some of the supported heavy hitters:

For a full list of compatible apps, please visit Google’s Website

This encompasses the majority of the most common streaming services with one notable exception, Amazon Instant Video. It has become increasingly apparent that Amazon is keeping that app closer to the vest to drive consumers towards their own hardware such as the Amazon Phone, Fire TV, and the Fire Stick. Additionally, in my rough count on Google’s website, the device can cast from 725 different apps. That doesn’t include some of the unofficially supported apps that make that number even higher. That is a pretty impressive number with enough content to keep you busy until the day you die.

Design and Form Factor

When first announced, it was the design of the device that had critics raving. Being a little bit larger than a thumb drive that simply plugs into an HDMI port was sexy. I will say that the device is just as sexy in person as in pictures. However, what is often missing from the picture, when advertised, is that the device requires a power supply. Included in the box is a USB cable and plug for the wall to allow you to power the device. If your TV has a USB port, that will likely power the device as well and minimize the clutter. However, this chord puts a pretty big damper on the form factor. What was so minimal in design comes with a 3 foot long chord that sticks out of the side of my TV. It’s not nearly as pretty as I thought it would be.

Secondly, with the small form factor, you would think it would be great for travel. Unfortunately, that is not the case. You can check out the 15 step guide, on Tom’s Guides, about how to change the Chromecast from one Wi-Fi network to another. 15 steps just to change to another WI-FI Network! While for most people, this won’t be a problem as it will stay connected to a single television, but this seriously puts a damper on its use for travel. Not to mention, if the wi-fi has a gateway (a sign in site before you can connect to the internet), which 90% of hotels do, the device is practically unusable. Some dedicated Chromecasters have found workarounds, but it requires you to buy additional hardware and is quite a hassle; not something your typical consumer is going to do.

From a design and hardware perspective, you may have noticed that the device does not come with a remote, nor is an optional remote available for purchase. This is an important factor to consider as the device requires either a smart phone, tablet, or PC to play any content on your television. This may be a deal breaker for families looking for a device for younger children that don’t want to risk getting spaghetti-o juice on their tablets and phones.

Performance

What the Chromecast was designed for, it does extremely well. Anytime you’re using a supported app on your phone, tablet, or computer you simply tap/click the icon and press “Cast” and the image appears on the screen. Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube all look extremely crisp and clear in 1080P in our testing. The device supports 5.1 surround sound, however, the only output of the device is HDMI. This means that your receiver will have to have an HDMI pass through, or your television must have an optical or coaxial output to to enjoy that kind of quality sound out of the device.

Also, one of my initial concerns with the device was that using it would drain the battery of my phone or tablet. Fortunately, for supported apps, your phone and tablet are simply acting as remotes while the Chromecast is actually doing the heavy lifting. This equates to no additional battery drain during use which is a big relief. This does not apply, however, to screen mirroring which we found did have significant drain on the battery. 

Additionally, using the device is quick in terms of getting content on your television quickly. We captured the following benchmarks in our testing:

Netflix:

• 20 seconds to load the app and start a video
• 10 seconds to load a video once the app is already running

Youtube:

• 15 seconds to load the app and start a video
• 5 seconds to load a video once the app is already running

Hulu Plus:

• 9 seconds to loan the app and start a video
• 3.5 seconds to load a video once the app is already running

While 20 seconds may seem like a long time, this is longer than it takes most of our other streaming media devices just to boot up, let alone open the app and buffer the video. For that reason, we were impressed with how accessible the Chromecast makes videos.

Screen Mirroring

While the device does have a few gaps in supported media streaming apps, many of those gaps can be addressed by the devices ability to mirror the screen of many of the most popular Android devices, as well as on the PC. We wrote an indepth article on the device’s screen mirroring abilities. Needless to say, screen mirroring is a welcome, but imperfect addition, that definitely brings additional value to the device. 

Value

When the Chromecast was released, it caused some major market disruption due to being such a great value. At a $35 dollar MSRP and the ability to stream from over 700 apps (limited at time of release), it is hard to resist forking out the dough. Competitors have followed suit with the Amazon Fire Stick priced at $39 and the Roku Stick which is priced at $49. Comparatively, the device is the lowest price on the market with the majority of the apps that you will want, and likely a few that you won’t. 

Overall

In short, the Chromecast offers an incredible value with over 700 supported apps costing only $35 dollars. The device is sleek and of high quality build with the exception of the power chord which adds undesirable clutter. Additionally, the device performs extremely well and the ability to cast the majority of your phone and tablets apps to your big screen brings a surprising level of convenience. If you’re looking for the best streaming stick when on a budget, the Chromecast is likely your best bet as long as the omission of Amazon Instant Video is not a deal breaker.

For additional details, check out the device on Amazon.com. What are your thoughts on Google’s Chromecast? Are there any gaps that you wish Google would address? Let us know in the comments below!

With the Holiday season soon to be upon us, gifts are on the minds of all the boys and girls, and more importantly, parents. The Playstation 4 was released a year ago and has broken records with its success over the course of the past year. The question is, is this the gift that is going to really show your love to your child/significant other/great grandfather’s sister? Read on to see our up-to-date review on this sexy piece of tech.

Hardware and Design: 9.5/10

Sony spared no expense in designing the Playstation 4. Their hunger for market dominance is extremely apparent in the extreme attention to detail in the design area of the console. “Modern” is the primary word I would use to describe the console. It is very minimalistic in its design, intended to blend in discretely with your other entertainment center tech, while still having the ability to turn heads and gain recognition.

This design did come at the expense of user friendliness. When I first purchased the console, I plugged it in and started searching for the “On” button. As I was feeling around the edges of the console, I finally accidentally touched the touch sensitive edge that turns on the console that is marked with a microscopic symbol. (pictured right) This does make it, however, little brother and/or spouse-proof; which is either a good thing or a really bad thing!

Sony has really beefed up the specifications of the console from its previous console counterpart. Packed with more than 16 times the power of the Playstation 3, the Playstation 4 is able to create job dropping near photo-realistic graphics at times. The system is loaded with 8 GB of DDR5 ram that works in tandem with an integrated CPU and GPU system running on 8 cores capable of putting out 1.84 teraflops. Nobody knows what that means nor whether it is relevant, but it is impressive nonetheless. Check out the full specs below:

View spec sheet on Playstation.com

The system has all of the ports that you need for your gaming and multimedia needs. One thing to keep in mind, video output is limited to HDMI. There is no analog video out, meaning that you won’t be playing this console on older TV’s. HDMI to analog converters are not cheap, and they would disgrace a console designed to be used in HD.

The Playstation Eye is an optional peripheral that adds an extra layer of immersion to the console. While for gaming, its implementation has been relatively weak, Sony has struggled to keep up with demand for these cameras due to the popularity of social gamers using them to stream live video in tandem with their game streaming through Twitch and other live video streaming services. The Playstation Eye is also essential to be able to use the Playstation Move functionality using either the Playstation Move controllers or the Dual Shock 4 controllers.

Controller: 10/10

I intentionally did not mention the controller during the hardware section because I think the improvements that Sony has made merit their own section. The latest Dual Shock iteration has taken the gaming world by storm and has been named by many, Sony’s best controller ever made. I can’t say I don’t agree with those individuals.

One of the first differences that you’ll notice is the mere increase in size. A common complaint of the PS3 controller was that it was too small for most adult hands and caused cramping during extended play sessions. The new size of the controller is extremely comfortable. Everything about the controller feels ergonomic. The controller sits nicely in your hands giving you quick access to all of the buttons you need in a snap. The angle of the control also makes for a much more comfortable first person shooter experience while using the new triggers.

Speaking of which, the triggers are a serious improvement over the DualShock 3 controller. The resistance is perfect and the shape wraps nicely around your pointer finger. Also, they now angle outward, preventing you from accidentally fast forwarding that Netflix movie that you’re watching when setting the controller down.

Finally, the twin sticks are one of the most improved upon aspects the of the DualShock controller. Many people complained that their fingers would slip off of the convex DualShock 3 triggers. The DualShock 4 features a concave design. While the placement is the same, the other major improvement to the twin sticks is their resistance and the decrease in dead zone. This equates to more control and less broken TV’s caused by thrown controllers. Another added benefit to the improvement in resistance is less hand cramping. That means more gaming and less discomfort.

The controller also introduced a clickable touchpad, however, few games have really leveraged it. There have been a few clever uses of it, but for the most part it has proven to be more of a gimmick than an actual value add.

Games: 9.5/10

While every new console comes with an initial drought of games, Sony’s has used its strong independent developer partnerships to keep a steady stream of games coming out nearly weekly since launch last November. With a variety of games in nearly every genre, the Playstation 4 is a hard console to not recommend to any fan of console gaming.

Over 100 games are planned to be released by the end of this year ranging in genre from action to platformer, RPG, and even real time strategy games. Many of these are multi-platform games, but where the Playstation 4 really shines against the competition is in their first part studio games. Some critically acclaimed titles include: Killzone: Shadowfall, Infamous: Second Son, and The Last of Us: Remastered. (Note: I have not played all of these games, nor am I giving my personal recommendation) Some promising upcoming titles to keep an eye out for include Uncharted 4: Among thieves, Little Big Planet 3, and The Order: 1886.

Finally, Sony is paving the way with their innovative game streaming platform: Playstation Now. This service provides instant access to anyone with a PS4 to play over 150 PS3 titles. What’s most impressive about the service is that the actual processing of the game is occuring in a nearby server just streaming the video feed to your console. The service works surprisingly well if you have a steady connection. There is some minor latency, but it is really only noticeable in twitch shooters. Platformers, 3rd party adventure, and racing games all performed extremely well in my time with Playstation Now.

Versatility: 8/10

Sony has very clearly stated that the Playstation 4 was designed from the ground up for the Gamer. Gaming is the core functionality of the system. However, we have become conditioned to using our consoles as multimedia hubs. PS4 currently supports the following video streaming services:

• Netflix
• Hulu Plus
• Amazon Instant Video
• Vudu Movies
• WWE Network
• Crackle
• Epix
• Vidzone
• Crunchyroll
• MLB.TV
• NBA Game Time
• NHL
• IGN
• YUPP TV
• Qello HD Concerts
• Sony’s Video Unlimited

In addition to video streaming, another noteworthy feature built into the console is the ability to record or stream gameplay using the Share button. The PS4 was intentionally designed with social sharing at its core. Simply click the Share button at any time, and you can upload the last 15 minutes of gameplay to your social media feeds. Also, click the share button, and you can be instantly sharing your gaming session with the world in real time via the likes of Twitch and Ustream. A recent update to the system also added an app called SHAREfactory. This app gives gamers the ability to edit and make changes and create highlight reels to their gameplay sessions.

The system also has a web browser that can be used to quickly browse sites for walkthroughs and gaming tips while on the fly. The browser supports HTML5 video. I found myself switching to my browser and viewing some of my favorite videos while various games were loading or in between online matches. It is not quite Xbox’s snap, but it gets the job done nonetheless.

A current deficiency of the system is that it does not support DNLA streaming nor playing video nor MP3s from a flash drive; features that have long been present on the Playstation 3. Sony has hinted that they are working on making these features available, but as of yet, they are currently unavailable. The system also does not support external hard drives, though the SSD drive is replaceable with larger sizes.

Online Play: 9.5/10

In a world where we are constantly connected, Sony recognized that their online service on the Playstation 3 had its deficiencies. The Playstation 4 heralds new ground in the online gaming space for Sony fans. Party chat functionality allows up to 8 friends to group up and chat through the included headset even if they are not playing the same game. Getting into friends games is a snap with the friend list game integration. These streamlined features do come at a cost. Online gaming on Sony’s network now requires a Playstation Plus account which costs around $50 per year.

Additionally, firmware 2.0 of the software, which will be released in the near future, will introduce Shareplay. Shareplay will allow friends to join in on games that they don’t own. Additionally, friends will be able to spectate a game, and even take over the controls at times in those moments of helplessness. This will add a new social dimension to single player gaming online.

Conclusion

The Playstation 4 has quickly become the market leader in console gaming. With Sony’s focus on the gamer, sleek design, strong exclusive line up, impressive hardware, improved controller, and new social features it is hard to find a reason not to recommend the system. Gaming aside, the system does lack a few expected multimedia functions such as DNLA streaming and support for external files such as MP3s and videos, but those deficiencies are likely to be addressed by Sony over time. Overall, we strongly recommend the Playstation 4.

Overall: 9.3/10 – Strongly Recommend

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Lenovo has come a long way with the design of their laptops, and the Lenovo Flex 3’s design does not disappoint. Although the laptop is sleek and stylish, does the overall size get in the way? Read on to find out. 

Design and Form Factor

Lenovo’s Flex 3 has a great design, and quite frankly, it surprised me when I took it out of the box. Having used Lenovo’s enterprise grade laptops for work for years, I did not have high expectations when it came to the overall design of the Lenovo Flex 3. My previous experience has been that Lenovo focuses on functionality above style. The Flex 3 is all black with silver hinges. The body is made of plastic, but the plastic feels strong and sturdy. I have owned laptops in the past where I felt any weight on top would cause damage to the screen, but this is not the case with the Lenovo Flex 3. Additionally, the keyboard is made of a metallic material rather than plastic that gives it an extra flair.

Lenovo’s recent claim to fame has been their “hinge” which allows you to rotate the screen 360 degrees. This allows the users to utilize the Flex 3 as a laptop, tablet, and anything between. The Flex 3 has four “modes”: laptop, tent, stand, and tablet. After using the Flex for about a month, I found myself only use the laptop and tent mode. I found the flex difficult to use as a tablet, simply due to its large screen size. At 15 inches the laptop was difficult to hold with one hand, which made typing on the screen nearly impossible to do. The times that I did need to type I had to place the Flex 3 on my lap or table. Yes, the idea of having a 15-inch tablet is cool but when it came down to it, 15 inches are not practical for tablet applications. 

I also found that I never used the Flex 3 in stand mode. I figured the purpose of this mode was to better hear the sound as the speakers are located directly under the screen on the keyboard. When the Flex 3 is in stand mode the speakers are facing directly 

at you which provides a better listening experience. When it came down to it, I was worried to rest the laptop on the keys of the keyboard that could potentially damage the keys. Although you might lose sound quality, it was much less stressful using the Flex 3 in Tent mode.

Some of you may be asking yourself, “what if you hit a key while in a mode other than laptop mode?” No need to worry, the Flex 3 can sense what mode it is in and will disable the keyboard in all modes except laptop mode. After a little testing, I found that the laptop is disabled once you break the 90 degree mark. If you ever need to use the keyboard, simply touching the small keyboard icon on the taskbar will allow you to type whatever is needed in all four modes.

I am what some may consider a typing snob. Many 2-in-1 laptops do not provide a good typing/mousepad experience. For example, I can’t stand typing on the Microsoft Surface Pro, but the Lenovo Flex 3 provides a great typing experience and has a very responsive mousepad with a solid click. However, if you are new to the mouse-pads that provide a single pad that you use for all of your gestures, there might be a bit of a learning curve.Design and Form Factor – 8/10

Screen and Inputs

The Lenovo Flex 3 comes in 11, 14, and 15-inch models, all of which have a 1920 x 1080 anti-glare multi-touch screen. I watched a number of movies on the Flex 3 and was impressed with its image quality and overall screen brightness. Colors are vivid and bright, and the built-in Intel HD graphics card more than suffice. Although the laptop does not have the highest resolution screen available, I was never disappointed.

What the Lenovo Flex 3 is not lacking is the variety and amount of inputs it has. The Flex 3 comes with 2 USB 3.0, 2. USB 2.0, HDMI-out, Ethernet, Audio, and a 4-in-1 card reader port. The 4-1 card reader supports Multimedia Card, Memory Stick, Secure Digital, and xD-Picture Card. Since Lenovo is trying to keep the Flex 3 to 1 inch thick, they had to do without the DVD/CD drive. While I thought this would be difficult to overcome, I have quickly realized that it is really not needed. Unless you like you own DVD’s or listen to your music on a CD, you don’t need to worry about not having a DVD/CD drive.Screen and Inputs – 8.5/10

Sound and Speakers

I was most impressed with the sound and speakers of the Lenovo Flex 3. The Flex 3 has 1.5W stereo Speakers with Dolby Home Theater certification. The speaker is located directly under the multi-touch display that faces towards the back of the keypad. The speakers provide a crisp and clear listening experience.

When watching different movies and listening to some songs, I was surprised by the sound level the speakers were able to produce. I decided to take the speakers to max volume and came to the conclusion that I would probably never have a reason to max out the volume on the speakers.Sound and Speakers – 8.5/10

Specs and Performance

The review unit that was provided to us came with a Intel Core i5-5200 processor, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, and a surprising 1 TB Solid State Drive (SSD). Outside of the 1 TB SSD, the specs of the Lenovo Flex 3 are up to par with what you would find with any mid-tier laptop.

After using the PC for a month, I never felt the urge to throw it against the wall due to performance. With that said, I used the Lenovo Flex 3 as most day to day consumers would. I browsed the internet, watched movies through Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and even wrote a few articles with it. No matter what task I was trying to perform I did not have a problem when it came to processing speed.

I did try to load a large excel file that took about 2 minutes to load, but only 45 seconds with my high-end personal laptop supporting an i7 processor. However, when loading new blank documents the document opened relatively quickly (under 10 seconds).

After running a benchmark test, I was surprised by the results. The Intel Core i5-5200 processor did not perform as well as some other processors on the market.

Intel’s i5 processor is more than enough processing power for the everyday consumer. When you add 8GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD many will be more than satisfied with the power that the Lenovo Flex 3 provides. If you are looking to have a little more processing power, Lenovo provides a number of upgrades that you can incorporate into the Lenovo Flex 3.Performance and Specs – 7.5/10

Overall

After using the Lenovo Flex 3 for about a month, I would recommend this laptop to those that are looking for an everyday computer. If you are looking to perform heavy process tasks such as video editing, processing large amounts of data, or even playing intense video games, I would suggest looking at higher end laptops on the market. When you add the functionality that the Flex 3 provides, there are few laptops that will be able to beat it. With that said, I would look into getting a smaller screen size if you want to take full advantage of the tablet functionality.Overall – 8/10