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الأرشيف لأجل نوفمبر 2017

Samsung Gear VR with Controller

Samsung Gear VR

samsung gear vr with controller
Samsung
Along with the release of the Galaxy S8, Samsung's Gear VR with Controller is the latest mobile headset available from the electronics company this spring. The headset is compatible with Samsung's Galaxy S6, S7 and S8 models as well as the Note5. It can easily switch between a Micro USB and USB-C connector making it easy to use across devices. Gear VR is powered by Oculus, a technology company that specializes in virtual reality, meaning you can experience high qualityVR without paying the high price of professional VR headsets and gaming computers (Professional models typically start around $400.)

  • The Headset

The Gear VR features adjustable straps and a cushy foam lining that blocks out light, creating a highly immersive experience. The headset includes a touch screen on the side for navigation during gameplay that is next to the home, back and volume keys. We especially appreciated Gear VR's small wheel at the top of the headset, which lets you adjust the screen to find the best focus. Although during testing, this feature didn't seem to help our testers who are prone to motion sickness. Our testers thought the sound quality of the headset alone was good, but agreed that it was even more immersive when using wireless headphones.


  • The Gear VR Controller

The controller is one of our favorite new features to the Gear VR system. The handheld remote acts as a touch pad that lets you select, drag, drop, aim and more during your VR experience to mirror real-life human movement. It also includes the same home, volume and back keys featured on the headset. Our testers found the controller's design very comfortable to hold and a much easier option than reaching up to use the controls on the side of the headset.
The wireless controller runs on two AA batteries, which are expected to last 40 days based on two hours of gameplay a day. For storage, it fits into a small strap attached to the headset. As of now, only about 20 applications on the Oculus Store are compatible with the controller, but Samsung is promising about 70 new controller-enabled apps in the coming months. We tried a few of the current games with our testers, and especially enjoyed pointing and connecting constellations in A Night Sky — a controller-enabled game that simulates sitting under the stars.

  • The Bottom Line

For gamers who are looking for a good quality VR experience without purchasing all the fancy equipment, Gear VR is a great way to gain access to the Oculus Store's wide breadth of VR apps and games. The controller is the biggest upgrade to Gear VR, and offers a more immersive experience in mobile VR. We look forward to more controller-enabled apps in the future, and are excited to test new titles as they enter the Oculus Store.
About the Good Housekeeping Institute: Experts in the GH Institute evaluate thousands of products each year – helping consumers know what to buy and not. The Media and Tech Lab has a team of engineers and analysts who evaluate consumer electronic gadgets and equipment. It is also responsible for home-improvement products like shower heads, toilets and building equipment, plus toy testing and auto reviews.


Motorola Moto 360 (gen 2)

Motorola Moto


    

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The original Motorola 360, released in 2014, was one of the first smartwatches to feature a round face, bringing much needed variety to the smartwatch market. The newest iteration also has a sleek and round color touchscreen. The battery life has been improved, lasting 1.5 to 2 days off a single charge — so you'll get through a whole day, even if you're using it heavily. Set the watch on "always on" mode (when the watch face constantly displays the time in low-power mode), and the battery can survive a whole day. Design-wise, Motorola has added lugs to the round face, so it looks even more like a traditional watch.
The Moto 360 runs Android Wear and can be used with any Android device. Setup is as easy as downloading the Android Wear app and going through the setup instructions on both the watch and phone. You can customize different color combinations, bands, finishes, sizes, and more on Motorola's Motomaker website. The watch is available in two sizes — 42mm and 46mm — with lines designed specifically for men and women. The device works as a fitness tracker as well, mainly counting steps and measuring heart-rate and recording your progress with Google Fit or Moto Body apps.
How we tested: Our engineers in the Consumer Electronics and Engineering Lab looked at 18 new smartwatches. We performed preliminary tests for quality, comfort, and usability, and pared our products down to 10 watches for further testing. We evaluated each watch's battery life, water resistance, drop durability, and fitness tracking accuracy, plus noted how easy each was to set-up. Consumer testers also provided feedback on how easy the watches were to use, and of course, how comfortable they were to wear.

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Altec Lansing Boomjacket

speaker



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Our overall winner, the Boomjacket performed extremely well in all of our tests. The simple and intuitive controls make setup and operation easy, and its rugged and waterproof design allows it to withstand any accidental drop, whether it's onto a hard surface or into the pool (it floats on water). The added protection doesn't come at the expense of sound quality or volume – this speaker really packs a punch! With a huge battery life and built-in charging capability for your other electronic devices, the Boomjacket is the perfect accessory for outdoor adventures.
  • How We Tested:

 Our engineers in the Consumer Electronics and Engineering Lab evaluated wireless portable speakers based on ease of use, durability and performance. The lab tested each speaker for how easy it was to setup, connect to a smartphone and control music playback. The physical footprint and weight of each speaker were measured in order to factor in the portability. The sound level, sound quality and battery life were all assessed to evaluate the performance. Speakers that claimed to be waterproof or weatherproof were tested for these claims, and outdoor speakers were dropped multiple times to make sure they still functioned.

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Ring Video Doorbell

Ring Video


  

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The Ring video doorbell gives you the power to monitor your front door, and you don't need a dedicated power supply for it to operate. This doorbell comes with an internal battery (5200mAh), that lasts anywhere between six months to a year — and when it runs out, you can just charge it again. It also comes with a dedicated power hookup, just in case you'd like to use a hardwired system left over from your existing doorbell. You can view the live-feed when someone rings the doorbell or if it senses motion. The motion sensor can be set to a set distance or a specific region, and you can set up alerts for recurring activities (like the mail person stopping by).
The video in the live feed is a fish-eye view with a viewing range of 180 degrees. The video quality is great, and it does have night vision, but the fish-eye lens can distort the view. In the live feed you can talk to the visitor at your door, and the audio quality both in and out of the doorbell is superb. If you missed a chance at the live feed, you can see the recorded video in the detailed history below, but that feature requires a subscription. Consumer testers also thought the app was a bit tricky to navigate and use and they also felt they really need to press the ringer for the trigger to activate.
Update, September 16, 2016: For all units that are hardwired, you can tap into the live view at any time.


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Plantronics Blackbeat PRO 2 Wireless Headphones

Wireless Headphones



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The Plantronics BlackBeat PRO 2 wireless headphones have innovative features that are still easy to control. The volume controls are built into a dial on the left earpiece, and you can turn the active noise-canceling on and off with the flick of a switch. We were impressed with the smart sensors, which automatically pause your music when you take them off, then start it again when you put them back on. These headphones use something called, "Open Listening" technology, which lets you quickly turn down your music if you need to hear your surroundings, which is great if you're walking on the street or exercising outdoors. They look stylish, but we wish they would fold down slightly smaller so you could store them. We were pleasantly surprised by the price — you'll be hard-pressed to find another feature-packed pair of active noise-canceling headphones for under $200.
Available late October.
  • How We Tested:

 Engineers in our Consumer Electronics and Engineering Lab evaluated wireless over-ear headphones based on ease of use and performance. First, we set up each pair of headphones and played a variety of music genres to test the controls and sound quality. We also measured the weight and size of the headphones to score portability, and tested the battery life when played at maximum volume. We invited consumer testers into the lab to survey comfort and controls.

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Nikon D750 with 24-120mm VR Lens Kit

Nikon D750
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The Nikon D750 takes excellent images, but it's definitely not cheap. When paired with the 24-120mm zoom lens, the D750 was the most advanced DSLR we tested. The camera has a 24.3 megapixel sensor with ultra-fast autofocus and shooting. In terms of video, the camera has a microphone input and headphone jack, so if you shoot a lot of video and want to monitor sound from an external mic, it's very easy. One downside to shooting video: The LCD preview screen can be tilted, but doesn't rotate out like the lower-end model (D5500).
The camera itself is quite hefty, and weighs 2.2 pounds with the 18-55mm lens. While its size isn't ideal for travel, the photo quality may be the closest you can get to professional quality shooting at sub-pro prices.
  • How We Tested: 

Our engineers in the Consumer Electronics and Engineering Lab evaluated prosumer DSLR cameras for ease of use and photo performance. For photo performance, we took photos in a variety of settings including landscape, portrait, and low light and compared the photo quality across cameras. We also timed how long it took each camera to focus and capture a photo. We noted how easy it was to navigate the menu, change the manual settings (like shutter speed, ISO, aperture), and how comfortable it was to hold in your hands and take photos. Each camera was scored on the extra useful features they included like video shooting and number of ports for external microphones.






Samsung KS8500 4K TV

the new samsung tv 4k



  • Some information :

The Samsung KS8500 4K TV is worth the price tag, and our consumer testers and experts loved its curved design and crystal-clear picture quality. The curved screen allows you to get a great viewing experience from any angle in the room, and minimizes the effects of glare from windows and lights. The Lab found it extremely easy to assemble; the legs snap into place without any screws. The menu pops up as a bar at the bottom of the screen, so you can keep watching while you select your next app, change the input or adjust settings. The remote is very minimalistic and only has a few buttons, which some consumer testers found difficult to understand — but it does fit comfortably in your hand and has an ergonomic curved design.
The KS8500 aced our picture quality tests, and the screen looks crystal clear even with dark or fast-moving images. Its auto-brightness feature sets the brightness based on the lighting in the room, so if it's a dark basement, for example, it'll dim the screen to save energy and protect your eyes. If you have a lot of devices that connect to your TV, there's a One Connect system box so you can connect your DVD player, gaming console and Roku through one cable that goes to your TV.
We only tested the 55" model.

  • How We Tested :
 Our engineers in the Consumer Electronics and Engineering Lab evaluated the latest 4K TVs for ease of use and performance. Consumer testers tried the remote and gave feedback about how easy it is to navigate and use the TV. We assessed picture quality by watching three clips for three different types of movies: one CGI, one animated and one live-action.







Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

Samsung Galaxy S8 

Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung
Samsung and Apple have been going head to head the past few years to produce the ultimate phone. In the latest one-upmanship, Samsung announced two new models: the Galaxy S8 (5.8") and the Galaxy S8+ (6.2"). Beyond being faster and more powerful than the previous generation, here are the big updates:

  • Design Changes

The phone is super sleek. One of our favorite features is the near-invisible bezel (what they refer to as "infinity display") that wraps around the curves of the phone. This not only allows for more visual real estate — perfect for Netflix binging — but also gives enough space to split the screen between two tasks. This means you can watch the viral clip everyone is talking about and text your husband at the same time. Samsung also removed the physical home button from earlier models and replaced it with an "invisible" pressure-sensitive one, which we've easily adapted to for the most part on other phones.

  • Built-in Tech

This Samsung model keeps up with technology updates like facial recognition and iris scanning that are designed for convenience and enhanced security. The fingerprint scanner that unlocks the phone has been moved to the back (until we have the chance to test the product in our labs, we reserve comment on its usability).
Another addition is a feature called DeX that lets you connect your phone screen to a monitor to display media from a select number of apps. But the biggest news for this device is the inclusion of Bixby, Samsung's take on a Siri-like intelligent assistant. Bixby is responsive through all modes of input – voice, text and even visual. While voice and text will likely lag behind Siri, the visual component, which includes QR code detection, landmark recognition and shopping, is something we are keen to test. You also have Google Assistant built into the phone, which gives backup for features that don't yet support Bixby. However, like Amazon's Alexa platform, there are plans to release a tool for third party developers to make Bixby-enabled apps. Along with these new specs, Samsung Connect lets you control SmartThings-enabled smart home appliances remotely with your phone.

  • Picture Quality

Cameras haven't been upgraded spec-wise, but they're still top-notch with 12 MP rear and 8 MP front-facing cameras. The real upgrade comes in the bolstered photo technology that will supposedly allow for better quality selfies, stickers and filters built in to augment your photos. Photo shooting features like auto image focus, processing enhancements to improve picture quality and the ability to manually adjust settings in Pro Mode are great for the more advanced photographer.

  • Additional Specs

One of the less-hyped features that we are really excited about is the upgrade to Bluetooth 5.0. This enhancement offers upwards of twice the speed of its predecessor and four times the range, meaning you'll be able to connect your devices upwards of 650 feet away. This feature also supports the use of two wireless headphones simultaneously.
As with many high-end phones, the S8 family is water- and dust-resistant (it comes with a IP68 rating, meaning it can be submerged up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes). The phones are available in five colors and can be wirelessly charged. One additional perk that some users may be pleased with: This phone is keeping the 3.5 mm headphone jack, which means you won't need to purchase an adaptor for your wired headphones, like you do with other newer phone models.

  • Bottom Line

While we have yet to test them out, our initial consensus is that these phones are iterative, albeit beautiful and powerful, compared to the previous model. While it's not necessarily transformative, we are happy that Samsung packed more high-end features into this phone than it had in the past. With just about every industry-leading feature built into the S8 and S8+, they will definitely be at the top of the pack for 2017.
Samsung is set to release the Galaxy S8 (5.8") and the Galaxy S8+ (6.2") April 21, but is available for pre-order now. Cost depends on carrier, but the S8 runs about $30 per month, or $720 SIM-free. The near Gear VR virtual reality headset with controller will be included for free .

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Should You Really Buy the Microsoft Surface ?

 the Microsoft Surface


Microsoft
You may have heard news recently that made it sound like you shouldn't buy Microsoft Surface products. While this recommendation came from a reliable source, the ensuing headlines may not tell the full story. That's why we're here to help clarify, so you can make informed decisions – just in time for back-to-school shopping.
Here's where the controversy started: Consumer Reports announced that it cannot recommend Microsoft laptops or tablets because of poor predicted reliability. The nonprofit organization explained that Microsoft Surface products "could become less reliable after two years of ownership." Other media outlets quickly picked up the story, but here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we wanted to dig a little deeper.
"The headlines are attention-grabbing, and also potentially misleading to consumers," says Laurie Jennings, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Microsoft spokesperson Panos Panay responded to the criticism in a blog post, where he explained that the company has found less than 25% people actually return their Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book within 2 years.

Should You Be Worried About Buying?

Our engineers and product analysts are constantly testing laptops and tablets, including those in the Surface line, in our own labs in addition to getting consumer feedback. "Reliability is difficult to predict," says Rachel Rothman, chief technologist at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Surveys are helpful because they can deliver rich behavioral insights, but hands-on testing is also important to factor in when making product recommendations."
No matter what you are looking at, most testing can't predict if a product will fail long-term, which is why doing your research before buying is so important. Here's some advice to help you be a savvier consumer — no matter what product you choose.
New models bring big improvements.
Upgraded devices aren't just about shiny looks — new iterations often provide better performance, usability and reliability. Thurrot.com, a tech news site, released an internal memofrom Microsoft's Panay showing that return rates were high for earlier Surface models, but decreased for later ones. "A good rule: wait for the second version of a product," says Selina Tedesco, a product testing analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Media & Tech Lab. "The company will have had time to iron out kinks and add newer, cooler features."
Always update software to keep your device healthy.
Manufacturers push updates to add features and resolve bugs. Updating your device's software as soon as a new version is available is key to staying protected against mishaps and security issues.
Customer support is half the battle.
When purchasing a laptop, always check the warranty and customer-support resources. Microsoft offers a free one-year limited hardware warranty starting day of purchase. For extra protection, you can buy Microsoft Complete, which covers your device for two years.
Surveys aren't perfect.
Responding to any survey is voluntary, meaning those with stronger opinions might opt to answer, while others without much of an opinion might opt out. This could skew results if it causes only people on opposite ends of the spectrum to participate.

The Takeaway

Reliability over time is hard to measure. Each Good Housekeeping Institute lab runs a battery of tests to evaluate performance in every product we recommend. Our engineers are still in the process of testing Microsoft's most recent Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, but our preliminary analysis suggests that the Surface line offers strong performance combined with impressive battery life and crisp, clear picture quality.
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