Author: Kaer

Kaer is a tech geek and star wars fan. He loves playing with new gadgets, writing little code snippets in Python, JS, and dabbling with Android programming from time to time, while keeping a lookout for the next biggest happening in the world of tech!

Sudio Ett – ANC Earbuds Review

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Sudio’s Ett is their latest wireless earphones and first to feature Active Noise Cancelling.

Specifications

Box contents laid out below. There’s a free tote bag, usage guide, a warranty card, one charging cable, and many ear tips included! Which is good, as it let me find the perfect fit.

  • Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
  • 6 hours play time, 4 hours with ANC
  • Total battery life: 30 hours, 4 extra charges with the carrying case
  • Wireless charging & quick-charge with USB-C (15 mins for 1 hour play time)
  • IPX5 water protection
  • Dual-microphone, with transparency mode activated during phone calls for enhanced sound quality
  • Multi-function button for controls
  • Automatic pairing
  • Siri & Google assistant compatible
  • Available in 4 colours: Black, White, Green & Pink
  • Free home delivery to your doorstep (worldwide)
  • Weighs 5 g per earbud
  • Bluetooth 5.0

The Sudio Ett is ready to pair the moment it is removed from the charging case. And after initial pairing, you wouldn’t need to do it again. Everything pairs by itself automatically from then on. The Ett also switches back to pairing mode by itself once the connection is terminated; an audio prompt will tell you the earbuds have reverted to scanning mode. Generally easy to use, but might be troublesome if you want it to pair with another device without having to turn bluetooth off on your current one.

The Ett switches on the moment you remove the earbuds from the charging case. To switch it off, press and hold any button for 6 seconds. To switch it back on, you have to return them to the charging case first. I accidentally turned it off and I found it rather troublesome that I had to return them to the case first, but otherwise it’s rather simple to use. But at least there’s still a physical button to control.

The Sudio Ett now features a new colour Matte Green, which might appeal to some, especially for a more rugged look.

The battery life is relatively good, even with noise cancelling on. With the casing, you can extend it for a few more times. Also, the Ett’s casing can be charged wirelessly. Definitely a plus since wireless charging has become more common today.

Sound Quality

No major issues over the sound. It’s generally well balanced and suited for a range of music. One thing to highlight though, not sure if it’s due to the ANC, I tend to get listening fatigue after about an hour or so.

I was quite happy with the ANC on the Sudio ETT. Sitting next to a rather noisy fan, it was able to filter away the buzz and hum from the fan even though I was less than a meter away from it. One challenge was that it requires you to manually turn it on each and every time. For a seamless transition from music to phone calls, transparency mode automatically lets ambient noise through so you can better hear yourself speaking.

Conclusion

Sudio has continued to improve on it’s previous generations of earbuds. Unfortunately, the prices have also increased. Considering that the market is also becoming more competitive, buyers are spoilt for choice and would need to be discerning as to what they feature they really require. But for those needing an IPX5 earbuds and ANC, the Ett fits the bill. Here’s a code for those interested to get 15% off: gadgetreactorEtt at https://www.sudio.com/sg/. There’s free delivery worldwide and comes with 18 months warranty.

New Razer Opus wireless headphones comes with ANC

Kaer

Razer has launched the Razer Opus wireless headphones that features THX® Certified audio and advanced hybrid Active Noise Cancellation. It will be available at select retail outlets at a recommended retail price of SGD299.90 in September 2020.

With most streaming services now providing high quality audio, a set of headphones able to produce the detail and nuances of these high definition streams is essential. But the sounds of everyday life, from the background hum of the city to the hectic lifestyle of working from home with others around you, can intrude on the listening experience, spoiling your focus and the enjoyment of high-fidelity recordings.

Less noise, more clarity

The Razer Opus uses an Advanced Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) system to cancel out external noise, with four dedicated ANC microphones designed to accurately tune out a broad range of external frequencies, resulting in a cleaner, uninterrupted listening experience.

The Razer Opus is THX Certified, ensuring the highest possible audio standards. To achieve the requirements for THX certification, fine details such as a frequency range and response must be capable of delivering clear, detailed vocals and deep impactful bass with zero distortion at high volumes. The result is a pair of headphones that delivers crystal clear audio with a broad, perfectly balanced soundscape.

“Even with our many years of experience in creating headsets for one of the most demanding audiences in the world, the design of the Razer Opus required us to rethink every detail,” said Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer’s Peripherals Business Unit. “With the Razer Opus headphones, we are able to deliver a listening experience that will satisfy even the most discerning audiophile, in any environment.”

High comfort, maximum versatility

The Razer Opus’ low weight and plush leatherette foam ear cushions and headband provide a comfortable, pressure-point free fit for long periods of use. Each battery charge lasts up to 25 hours with ANC on, allowing users to enjoy a continued, uninterrupted high-quality sound experience while in a noisy environment.

With additional useful features such as the Quick Attention Mode when needing to hear the outside world and the optional 3.5mm analogue input for maximum device compatibility, the Razer Opus is one of the most versatile and adaptable ANC headphones available.

ABOUT THE RAZER OPUS:

  • THX Certified – For clear vocals & dialog, no distortion, and great noise isolation
  • Advanced ANC – Hybrid active noise cancellation with 4 dedicated ANC mics
  • Crafted for Comfort – Plush leatherette foam ear cushions and headband
  • Opus Mobile App – THX-tuned EQ presets, automatic settings, and battery status
  • Quick Attention Mode – For situational awareness whenever you need it
  • Auto Pause / Auto Play – For seamless media playback
  • On-the-Go Design – Up to 25 hours with ANC on, 3.5mm jack, and carrying case
  • Drivers: 2 x 40mm dynamic drivers
  • Weight: 265g
  • Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
  • Microphone: 4 for hybrid ANC, 2 for voice chat
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 & 3.5mm
  • Codecs: AAC & APTX, 4.2, A2DP, AVRCP, HFP

Hackthebox: Admirer Writeup

Kaer

Here’s my writeup for the Admirer Hackthebox Linux machine – 10.10.10.187. It’s an interesting challenge and learnt a couple of new things along the way. Password is the root hash in /etc/shadow and in the following format: M5g******************************f10

Protected Area

This content is password-protected. Please verify with a password to unlock the content.

Make announces Virtually Maker Faire And FREE Family Maker Camp

Kaer

If you need ideas for projects while at home, check out Make’s Virtually Maker Faire And FREE Family Maker Camp!

Making means different things to people, but is a common thread and community uniting the Make Community.

Family Maker Camp encourages making and hands-on learning at home. Making is fun and engaging for kids as well as adults.

What is making? It can be many things and use all kinds of materials and tools. Making is usually defined as a project shaped by your ideas and interests. Making is as much about the process of taking an idea and bringing it to life. Making integrates science and technology as well as arts and crafts.

Family Maker Camp provides inspiration, guidance and an opportunity to share what you do with others online. We have many projects that will help you get started and continue to develop new skills and a maker mindset.

Most importantly, Family Maker Camp will connect you with a community of makers of all ages who have a broad range of interests and skills. We will introduce you to makers online and have them talk about their projects and their process.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Available in Singapore

Kaer

Xiaomi has launched the latest devices in its popular Mi smartphone series, Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. For the first time ever in Singapore, each device in Xiaomi’s new flagship line is 5G-ready out of the box, enabling the next generation in mobile connectivity. Starting from 13th May 2020, Mi 10 will retail starting from SGD 1,099 and Mi 10 Pro will retail at SGD 1,399. In addition, pre-order promotions for the new smartphones with amazing smart hardware gifts will also be available from May 8-12, 2020.

In a nutshell, the Mi 10 is equipped with the Qualcomm SnapdragonTM 865, an 108MP quad-camera with 8K video recording and a 6.67” 3D curved AMOLED with TrueColor technology. However, while the Mi 9 used to be approx <$600, the Mi 10 now retails for over >$1,000, sadly no longer in the “affordable” flagship range.

Quad camera setup with ultra-clear 108MP sensor captures the ultimate photo and video content

Mi 10 Pro brings photography and videography to the forefront with its impressive hardware setup and software features. Packed with an impressive 108MP primary sensor, Mi 10 Pro offers one of the biggest smartphone sensors currently on the market. 

In addition to shooting ultra-clear 108MP shots, users can document scenes in full perspective, thanks to Mi 10 Pro’s 20MP ultra wide-angle lens. The device includes two dedicated telephoto lenses that cover a wide range of focal lengths: users can snap gorgeous portraits at 2x zoom, or faraway subjects up to 50x zoom with the OIS-stabilized ultra long-range zoom lens. The main camera’s laser autofocus module, AI 2.0, Night mode 2.0, and dual-flash join forces to capture unrivaled details during daytime photography and brighter, clearer photos at night. 

When it comes to videography, Mi 10 Pro goes all in. The device offers the industry-leading UHD 8K 30fps video recording feature to capture every moment in detail, while its unique video modes – including Portrait video, Color focus, ShootSteady, Vlog, and slow motion – allow users to easily create movie-grade content. Mi 10 Pro also offers a Pro mode with additional software options for those striving for a more professional video quality. 

World’s best smartphone audio experience with symmetrical dual speakers

Leveraging best-in-class audio hardware, both Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 sport a symmetrical dual speaker system on both the top and bottom. The setup involves two 1216 super-linear speakers and a 1.2cc/1.0cc-equivalent speaker chamber with up to 0.65mm/0.5mm speaker amplitude, respectively. Both devices have been specially tuned at every discrete volume level which assists in producing superior sound fidelity. These features come together to create an extraordinary and immersive smartphone audio experience, with Mi 10 Pro earning a DxOMark Audio score of 76, ranking number one globally. 

Introducing Xiaomi’s most elegant smartphone design with unmatched TrueColor Display

Beauty and functionality join forces to form Xiaomi’s most elegant smartphone design ever. Both Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 sport a 3D curved front and back with smooth contoured edges and slim side bezels to enable the Mi series’ most comfortable in-hand feel yet. To ensure durability, both devices are outfitted with Corning® Gorilla®Glass 5 on both the front and back. Mi 10 Pro flaunts an anti-glare finish and frosted glass rear panel, while Mi 10 offers a gorgeous glossy back. Moreover, the devices’ specially designed discrete in-display front camera minimizes bezels and allows for more display area. 

Featuring a dazzling 6.67” curved AMOLED edge-to-edge DotDisplay with TrueColor technology, Mi 10 Pro offers unparalleled color accuracy for serious creatives and casual consumers alike with a JNCD 0.55 and △E <1.1. This new generation display technology yields higher brightness (up to 1200nit maximum brightness) and better power efficiency over its predecessor, while a 90Hz SmoothSync display provides fast and fluid screen response for a stutter-free experience. 

All in all, Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 deliver Xiaomi’s most pleasant display ever. Dual brightness sensors offer accurate brightness detection, while various brightness modes ensure ultimate eye comfort. In fact, both devices are TÜV Rheinland low blue-light certified, and verified by HDR10+ for their vivid visual experience. 

Leading performance and speed with SnapdragonTM 865 + LPDDR5 + UFS 3.0

Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 feature the latest 5G-enabled flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 5G Mobile Platform. Enhancing CPU, GPU, AI performance and the overall user experience, the 7nm chipset features a maximum clock speed of 2.84GHz with the new Kyro™ 585 based on the ARM Cortex-A77 architecture, and also touts improvements in power-efficiency. The powerful chipset is accompanied by ultra high-speed RAM and storage combinations – LPDDR5 and UFS3.0, offering exceptional write-read data and powerful computing capabilities. 

Moreover, the devices boast LiquidCool 2.0 – an advanced cooling system consisting of a large vapor chamber, as well as multi-layer graphite and graphene stacks that dissipates heat generated during long-term use to ensure peak performance. This robust overall hardware setup earned Mi 10 Pro a compelling AnTuTu benchmark score of 602,660. 

Catering to the increasing demand for high speed content consumption in the 5G era, Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 not only offer 5G network connection, but also support 5G MultiLink for simultaneous connection to three networks (2.4G/5G Wi-Fi and mobile data) at once for quick connection switching. Additionally, both devices feature Wi-Fi 6 support, the most advanced Wi-Fi standard currently available. This significantly increases the upload and download speed, while reducing network congestion when connected to multiple devices. 

Wireless charging-enabled high capacity batteries team up with ultra-realistic haptic feedback systems

Under the hood, Mi 10 Pro packs an ultra-high-capacity 4,500mAh battery that enables a triple fast charging experience with 50W wired charging, 30W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. Mi 10 sports a 4,780mAh battery and offers 30W wired and wireless charging, as well as reverse wireless charging.

Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10’s ultra-realistic vibration system delivers crisper, more realistic haptic feedback than ever before with 150 different vibration options. These updated haptics improve acceleration strength and consistency, and provide sophisticated vibration for the user. Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 also offer multifunctional NFC and IR blaster for daily access of swift payment transactions and quick remote control of home appliances.

D-Link’s New COVR EasyMesh Solution

Kaer

D-Link launches its new COVR-1100 Mesh solution to the market. COVR-1100 is first EasyMesh certified mesh product to introduce to the market. COVR-1100 have a clean and simple design that will blend in well with most households.

World First EasyMeshTM Certified
As one of the world’s first Wi-Fi CERTIFIED EasyMesh™ systems, COVR-1100 boasts industry-standard Mesh Networking technology. You can enjoy the flexibility and reliability of the networking industry’s leading Mesh Wi-Fi standard now, while safe in the knowledge that updates to the standard will be compatible with your system in the future.

Maximum Secure coverage
With COVR-1100, user can enjoy their Internet regardless at which part of their home. To ensure user always enjoy the best wireless Internet experience, it is built in with smart connect where router will choose the best performing wireless band to user devices when user is moving around the house.

In the recent awareness and rise of security concern, COVR-1100 is equipped with WPA3 to ensure greater privacy throughout user’s devices and networks. Its also allow remote secure connect back to your family network with QuickVPN server in built in the router.

Integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Turn on/off your guest Wi-Fi, ask for your guest Wi-Fi credentials, reboot your router or update your firmware. Do it ALL hands-free using voice commands.

Just speak the words of command to your Google Assistant or Alexa, and the router bends your smart home Wi-Fi to your will (without you having to lift a finger).

Easy to Set Up and Protect
Setting up your Internet connection doesn’t have to be a complicated process; just download D-Link Wi-fi app and follow the easy step-by-step instructions to get started – Configure and apply setting to your COVR-1100 has never been easier. It also features FOTA – automatic upgrade of the firmware to ensure all your devices has the latest firmware for any possible further enhancement.

Price and Availability
The new COVR series and its extender are available in all major retail store from 15 May 2020.

Google Meet – Now Free

Kaer

Google Cloud today has just announced that it is making Google Meet, Google’s premium video-conferencing platform, free for everyone, with availability rolling out in the next few weeks. 

Starting in May, anyone with an email address can sign up for Meet and enjoy many of the same features available to G Suite’s business and education users, such as simple scheduling and screen sharing, real-time captions, and layouts that adapt to your preference, including the expanded tiled view.


There are a few ways that individuals, teams and organisations can use Meet for free.

  • Individual users: Once the roll out is complete, anyone with an email address will be able to use Meet for free via meet.google.com and the Meet mobile apps for iOS or Android to schedule, join or start secure video meetings with anyone—whether it’s a virtual yoga class, weekly book club, neighborhood meeting, or any other reason to connect with others. Using the new Meet experience will require a free Google Account, which only takes a minute to create using your work or personal email address of choice. This step is required as a security measure, and you only need to sign up once. Meetings are limited to 60 minutes for the free product, though we will not enforce this time limit until after September 30.
  • Teams that are not G Suite customers: For organizations that aren’t already G Suite customers, today we’re announcing a new edition called G Suite Essentials, which also includes Google Drive for easy and secure access to all of a team’s content, and Docs, Sheets and Slides for content creation and real-time collaboration. It’s perfect for teams that need access to Meet’s more advanced features, such as dial-in phone numbers, larger meetings and meeting recording. Through Sept. 30, we’re providing G Suite Essentials and all of these advanced features free of charge.
  • Existing G Suite customers: G Suite’s 6 million existing customers already have access to Meet. Admins simply need to enable Meet by following instructions outlined on our Help Center. G Suite is also providing three ways for new and current enterprise customers to access Meet through September 30 including: free access to Meet’s advanced features for all G Suite customers, free additional Meet licenses for existing G Suite customers without any amendments to their current contract, and free G Suite Essentials for new enterprise customers.
  • Schools and higher education institutions: Meet is included in G Suite for Education, a suite of free Google apps tailored specifically for schools, which serves over 120 million students and teachers globally for high-quality virtual classes, PTA meetings, etc.