The Fitbit Charge 4 is Fitbit’s first fitness tracker with a GPS antenna in this line of devices. So, I decided to compare it to my current set of devices that has GPS antennas also.
What I found is that the GPS tracking of the Charge 4 can be improved upon, and that, in the best case scenario, you should still bring your phone on your runs or bike rides since your phone can also use network antennas for GPS mapping. Not to mention you can use your phone in the event of an emergency. Also, there was a point in my run when the Charge 4 decided to just give up on finding a GPS signal.
However, the Fitbit Charge 4 is still a great fitness tracker to have. Its calorie counting and heart rate measurements are on par with the Apple Watch. Also, its sleep tracking is one of the best out there. Not to mention that, because of its smaller size, it is more comfortable to wear when going to bed.
Also, I found out in this comparison that, even if it is an “old” device, both the Apple Watch 4 and the iPhone XS Max still have the best when it comes to GPS tracking! Yes, you don’t need to update your devices every year!!!
The next thing I will try is compare the Fitbit Charge 4 to my Garmin Fenix 5. Though that could take some time before I’ll be able to do it...
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I reviewed the Apple AirPods 2. I love it. The fact that it fits my ears well is a very big bonus. Actually, if they didn’t fit my ears, then, really, there is no reason for me to get one. But, since the EarPods fit my ears well, then that was a good indicator that the AirPods will fit my ears too!
And I love them. I love the sound, I love the fit and I love the comfort of wearing them for extended periods. The link to my review can be found here.
However, not everyone is lucky enough to have the AirPods fit their ears properly. For some, even if they only move slightly, the AirPods drop every time.
The Powerbeats Pro is the natural evolution of the Powerbeats 3. For those who are not familiar, Powerbeats has hooks that go around your ear so that they don’t fall off when you do athletic activities. The two ear pieces are connected by a cord that can go behind the back of your neck. I love the Powerbeats 3. It has been my constant companion whenever I do long runs. The battery lasts for 12 hours so I only had to recharge the device once a week. I love its sound, though, as Beats go, it can get a bit bass-heavy.
The Powerbeats Pro is essentially the Powerbeats 3 without the cord. Each earpiece has a hook that can go around the ear so they won’t fall off. Each earpiece has a battery which lasts for 9 hours. This is significantly shorter than the Powerbeats 3. However, the charging case can give the unit 15 hours more for a total of 24 hours. (For perspective, the fastest Iron Man done in Kona, Hawaii is less than eight hours.) Also, if the battery of each piece runs out, you can quick-charge them and get one hour and a half of use for 5 minutes of charging!
The Powerbeats Pro is comfortable to wear for extended period. I just needed to adjust the ear hooks a little and it was good to go. The unit feels well-made as all beats go and it is rated to be sweat and splash resistant. This means the earphones will keep on going even if you get caught in the rain. Or if simply you sweat a lot. Just don’t swim with it… The case also is well made but it is not water resistant. So, if you think that there is a big chance that you will get wet, then make sure you leave the case/charger in the water resistant part of your bag or in a zip lock container.
Yes, I said “bag” because the case is big and there is no way you can put it inside your jeans pocket. It “can” fit in the pocket of your running shorts or running jacket but the case is heavy enough to not feel comfortable when you go on a run. Yeah, I personally will not go on a run with the case on my person…
Now, I am not an audiophile so I really cannot tell you if you would like the sound of these pair of Beats or not. Quality of sound is, in my opinion, highly subjective anyway. What I can say is that I love the sound of the Powerbeats Pro. And, surprisingly, this pair is not bass-heavy the way Beats usually sound. Bass is still there but it is not as heavy as the Powerbeats 3 that I still use. The lows and mids are also clear and I appreciate the sound it produces whether it be Hip Hop, Rock or Classical music. And the sound is very good even for watching movies and videos. The sound is well-balanced whether you are listening to dialogues or to the soundtrack of whatever you are watching.
The Powerbeats Pro has a bit of passive noise cancellation, which means it does mute the sound of your environment via the seal of the earpieces. However, it is not sealed enough to completely block out the outside world, which is the way I like it - I still wish to be able to hear my environment especially when I am walking or running outdoors.
To illustrate this passive noise cancellation, you will be able to hear that people are talking on the table next to yours but you won’t be able to tell what they are saying nor what language they are speaking in...
So, all-in-all, using the Powerbeats Pro is a really positive experience.
However, one negative thing about the Powerbeats Pro is the price. It is really expensive and a lot of people will balk at the idea of spending $250 pre-tax for this headset (about 13,000 pesos in Philippine money - not including the extra amount that importing this may incur). The AirPods with wireless charging case is actually $50 less expensive than the Powerbeats Pro. And, there are a lot of other brands that are cheaper but sounds as good, or some may even say better, than the Powerbeats Pro!
So, why would you spend more money for the Powerbeats Pro than a different brand?
For me, it is the H1 chip that Apple has developed in-house. With this chip, pairing the device for the first time seems like magic. When you open up the lid, the Powerbeats Pro will appear on any device you have with you that has an active screen (either an iOS, iPadOS or MacOS device). The chip also makes it much quicker to re-pair the Powerbeats Pro to whatever bluetooth device it is registered to. Also, the H1 chip makes the connection between the earpiece and, say an iPhone, much more stable: music does not easily cut off over an extended distance, call quality sounds better for both parties, though i noticed that I need to pump the volume up for voice calls, and there is no lag between the left and the right units. Trust me, if there is a lag between the left and the right earpiece, it can get really, really disconcerting… (Have you ever watched something where the movement of the mouth of the actors is not in sync to the sound you are hearing? It “is” that annoying!)
So, if you have ears that seem to hate AirPods, if you have the extra cash, and if you don’t mind carrying a huge charging case, then the Powerbeats Pro might be for you!
I have been fortunate to have my ears fit the earphones that come with iPods and iPhones. Actually, if the environment I am in is not that noisy, then, my default earphone of choice is actually the EarPods. I like the sound, I like the balance between the lows, highs and mids, and the fit in both my ears are perfect.
So, when the AirPods came out, I was greatly interested.
However, for one reason or another, I wasn’t able to get the first generation ones. But with a trip to the US, I made it a point to visit an Apple Store and get the second generation ones.
As to be expected, the AirPods fit my ears nicely, I love the sound, and I love the battery life. I love that my music, from the built-in music app, or from Spotify, and even videos from YouTube, automatically pauses when I pull out one, or both, of the buds. The buds are so comfortable in my ears that I barely notice that they are there - I don’t feel any pain nor any discomfort even if I wear the buds for an extended time. And with a battery life of up to five hours, the AirPods stay in my ears for a long time.
But, yes, the AirPods are not noise-isolating buds so, if the environment gets loud, like on the streets (where I don’t usually wear earphones nor headphones) or in cafes, the noise can leak into your ear and you would have to pump out the volume of the sound you are listening to. That is the only way to overcome outside noise.
But, all-in-all, the AirPods sound way better than the EarPods!
To pair the earphones to your iPhone, just open up the lid and, after some time, a display on your iPhone (or any Apple devices) appears and asks you to pair the earphones. It is that easy! If you are on an android phone, then you pair the AirPods the same way you pair any other pair of bluetooth headsets.
So, I am sold to the AirPods. I love them, and, now that I have them, I can’t live without them.
However, when I bought the AirPods from the Apple Store, the Apple employee actually gave me a case that charges solely via a lightning cable without me noticing. I would have wanted to get the one with the wireless case. So, when we came back home to the Philippines, I gave my not-so-old pair to the wife and I bought a pair with the wireless case.
The wife, also is comfortable with wearing EarPods so the AirPods fit her ear like a glove also! She was blown away by the AirPods and now she also considers it one of her most favorite accessory! For listening to music, for web calls and online meetings, she uses the AirPods solely now!. She loves the AirPods and she can’t live without it now also.
Just like me!
But what can I say about the wireless case? It is a love-hate relationship, to put it mildly…
I have an iPhone XS Max and I rarely charge it via the lightning port now. I use a wireless charger and I just leave it on the charger overnight. So, I was expecting the same kind of convenience when it comes to the AirPods with a wireless charging case. Well…
First of all, the light that tells you that the case is charging turns off after a few seconds. So, you really don’t know if your case is charging or not. I would have wished that Apple designed it so that the amber light is switched on the whole time while the case is charging! The only way for you to know if the case, and AirPods themselves, are fully charged is if you check on your iOS device or on any device the AirPods are paired with. (Unfortunately, I can’t check how it is done on an android device.)
Secondly, I feel that the induction coil in the AirPods case is so small that a slight misalignment from the coil in the charger can cause the charging process to stop. This happened to me a lot of times already - I thought that I have placed the case on my charger properly and, after some time, when I got back, the charger is blinking, signifying that the case was improperly placed. This also meant that, instead of charging the case, it actually had less charge than when I put it on the charger.
Oh, the blinking light can also mean that the metallic hinge of the case has interfered with the induction coil in the charger.
So, when you place you wireless charging case on your wireless charger, make sure that you observe the set up first before you leave. You don’t want to have a depleted case when you go out of the door. You can also use a lightning cable exclusively. This is a more reliable way of charging the case anyway.
So, if you want to save on some cash, just get the case that is charged via a lightning cable. It is more reliable and it charges the case faster. But, if you just want to plunk the case down on a wireless charger that you already have, like myself, then I suggest you get the one with the wireless charging case. Just make sure that the case is properly set first before you leave it for an extended time.
Overall, the wife and I are happy with our AirPods. If you are happy with the way the EarPods fit your ears, then you will be happy with the AirPods.
Now that the iPhone Xs Max pricing is out in the Philippines (it is pronounced 10 s Max), we can now compare several things that are actually cheaper than its maxed out version.
My pride and joy bike and its accessories: a Ridley Fenix 2017 model with a Shimano 105 groupset, XTR pedals and Continental four-season tires. I have Fizik MTB shoes, Lezyne head unit, Wahoo speed and cadence sensor and heart rate sensor. I also use an Insta360 One camera attached to a Gorillapod.
10 pairs of ON shoes. I reviewed one actually here.
Four GoPro 7 - the digital image stabilization for this one, according to early reviewers, is sick! One even said you don’t need a gimbal anymore!
Bathtub - yeah, one of the leisures of life
The new Fujifilm X-T3, a quantum leap from the still wonderful X-T2. Review in the works...
As the coming of the new iPhone looms near, I would like to share my thoughts on the iPhone SE. It's been a long time coming but I wanted to really think about what I feel about this device...
So, while walking in one of my favorite Metro Manila mall, I chanced upon the iPhone SE. While inside the store, I was able to test the many features of the new phone. I was even able to sneak in some shots.
My preliminary findings are as follow...
First of all, I will discuss the elephant in the room: the "old" design... To be honest, the iPhone 5s is my most favorite iPhone design so far. It has a 4-inch screen and, as the old advertisement for the 5s showed, it's perfect for us with opposable thumbs.
Also, the boxy design makes the phone highly grippable. In the whole time I had the 5s, I never put it in a case since I wasn't afraid that I was gonna drop it. The iPhone 6s+ is a different story altogether: the rounded edges make it really, really slippery and, the day after I bought it, I immediately bought a case for it.
So why am I discussing the iPhone 5s whereas this should have been a post about the iPhone SE? Well, it's because the two phones share the same design. Really, all the cases you bought and is in existence for the 5s (and even the iPhone 5 before it) would fit the SE. There really is no design difference. (And I believe accessory-makers breathed a big sigh of relief when Apple released the SE. All of their accessories made in 2012 will still work with the new phone!!!)
Is this a bad thing? Well, some Apple pundits deem this as a sign that the company is running out of ideas. I don't know about this. For me, this is a sign that Apple is reusing the design, the components, etc, to bring the cost of the phone down. You see, if the company didn't need to product test something for, say, rigidity, strength, etc, then that would bring the cost down. If they are able to recycle some of the parts, like the aluminum case, the screen, then that also will bring the cost down.
Also, when it comes to design, I wouldn't bet against Jony Ive...
Anyway, as far as the exterior is concerned, the only thing new are two things: the phone is now branded with "SE" at the back and it now also comes in, yep, "do-not-call-it-pink" Rose Gold. So the iPhone SE now comes in Space Grey, Silver, Gold (which appeared first on the 5s), and now Rose Gold.
But, as most things new from the company, it is what's inside that matters. The iPhone SE has a new processor, a new embedded motion co-processor (the very first one of which also appeared in the iPhone 5s! Are you seeing some trend here?!?), a new 12-megapixel stills and 4K video capture from the rear camera, and a NFC antenna which, as of this writing, is useless for us in the Philippines since Apple Pay is not yet available in the country. Essentially, these features can be found in the newest flagship phones, the 6s and the 6s+.
Conspicuously absent though are the 5-megapixel front camera, 3D Touch, the second generation Touch ID and the barometer that can read elevation. Apple doesn't explain the absence of these things but I am guessing that it is due to the limitation of the space in the SE. Of course you can put more sensors in a bigger volume and I feel that the company was constrained and, thus, they limited the capabilities in the SE. My second guess is they also, again, want to bring the cost down so they limited the functionalities that they put in the new phone.
So, how did the phone fare?
Well, in the brief amount of time that I got to spend with the phone, I noticed a couple of things:
One, this phone is really, really snappy compared to my old iPhone 5s! Apps open faster, multi-tasking does not slow the phone down, and changing from one app to another is a breeze. However, I feel that it is still slower than my 6s+, though I just might be biased... (Remember, I only spent a few minutes with the phone) But, if you are coming from a one-year old phone or older, you will be blown away by the processing speed of the iPhone SE.
Another thing that blew me away was the SE's rear camera. It has the same module as in the iPhone 6s and they essentially produce the same photo quality. The only thing missing on the SE is the optical image stabilizer which will reduce blur in low-light situations. Or when you had too much caffeine... Take note though that the optical image stabilizer feature is only available in the iPhone 6+/6s+.
The SE also has a super slo-mo camera capture, True Tone flash, panorama and auto-HDR. Again, these same features are brought down from the iPhone 6s/6s+.
So, if I were to sum up the reason for getting an SE, it will be these two: faster performance and better rear-facing camera.
One thing which I wish Apple put in the iPhone SE is the newer front-facing camera. The company put it in the iPad PRO 9.7 (and the 6s and 6s+) and yet they didn't put it in the SE. If it's a question of engineering, i.e. they couldn't put it inside because of the smaller space, then I would have understood the situation. But if it's a matter of saving cost, then I wish the company had taken a slight hit for it: we live in the age of selfies and snapchats and I believe the company is short changing their potential customers with the lower-spec'd front facing camera.
But all-in-all, the iPhone SE has become a very nice entry level for those who want to get into the Apple ecosystem but are turned off by the high entry price of the iPhone 6s/6s+. And anyway, Apple's hardware are just a gateway drug... The company doesn't stop earning after one buys an iPhone (or anything in their lineup...). The company also earns from music, movie, app downloads... And each "Made for iPhone" accessory also brings in licensing revenue money for the company. So those old accessories from 2012? Apple will also earn from those...
But, the main question still is: would you get an iPhone SE?
I love my iPhone 6s+ and I couldn't think of going back to the smaller phone. Well, maybe a 4.7-inch iPhone... But if, say, I am using a non-iPhone device and if I am not willing to spend so much on a phone, then I would consider getting the iPhone SE. It is a new phone in an old form factor, a form factor that I actually love the most... So yes, if I were you, I'd get it.
It will be a great primary phone or, as in my case, it would be a great second phone!
Highly Recommended!
Photos shot with an iPhone 6s+ using the iOS app VSCO
NB: This review originally appeared on the GMA News Online Network. The link to that post can be found here.
When you use one iPad, you've used all of them. Ever since Steve Jobs first introduced it in January 27, 2010, in terms of usage, the iPad has not really changed much. Sure it's faster now, it's thinner, it's now in it's 7th iteration... But when you have learned how to use one, you will be able to use any one of them: there is a home button, the volume rocker buttons on the upper right corner, and the power button near it. Yes, the ringer/lock switch has disappeared since the iPad Air 2 but there is still the same sense of familiarity that you get with all iPads out there.
Even the finger gestures remain the same.
(I get the same sense of familiarity when I use a Canon camera, another brand that I admire. Whether I use a DSLR or a point-and-shoot, my fingers seem to know the layout right away. The same is true with its menu system.)
However, despite not changing much, despite the familiarity one feels when one upgrades to a newer model, one cannot help but be impressed with the progression Apple has made regarding this "laptop-replacement" device.
So, what impressed me the most regarding the new iPad Pro 9.7? (Ok, I'm getting tired or writing "iPad Pro 9.7" every time. So let me just call this "the new iPad" or simply "the iPad".)
First of all, this new iPad now comes in - don't call it pink - Rose Gold. Yes, it's the first iPad to come in this color. And with the arrival of this iPad, the biggest capacity now comes in 256GB! It is as big as the ones on the starting configuration of most MacBooks!!!
The screen of this iPad is glorious! It has the same resolution as the previous iPad Air but there is something different with the latest device. It is bright and texts are highly readable even in direct sunlight. The new screen has reduced glare and reflections are reduced to a minimum. And with the new "true tone" technology, the color of the screen adjusts based on the color of the ambient light. It is not the same as the screen on, say, a Kindle, but this iPad is the closest one can get to reading on a real piece of paper. I was able to read the Kindle e-book Dune on this!
When iOS 9 was introduced, picture-in-picture within an iPad (and iPad Mini) became available. With the new iPad Pro, this transition is really fast and really smooth. For example, if you are watching a movie and you decide to use the four finger swipe to change to a different app, then the movie you are watching will automatically be reduced to a smaller size! This transition, as I've said, is really smooth! There is no lag, the sound will continue playing.
And I can't believe I will be saying this, but this new iPad is the one where I can see myself taking pictures! Its cameras, the back and the front, have the same specs as that on an iPhone 6s! Yes! Including, but not limited to, 12 megapixel back camera, 5 megapixel front camera, Live Photos, True Tone flash, panorama, auto HDR, and 4K video recording. The camera on the new iPad is really, really good! However, having similar camera module means the camera on this iteration of the iPad also has a protruding camera... (Hence the new sapphire lens on the new iPad also... This is so that the lens will not be scratched even if you put the iPad, or the iPhone 6s/6s+ on a rough surface.)
Now if only I can find a way to mount this iPad to a tripod...
Now, speaking of rough surfaces, I still recommend that you don't put it down on one. The metallic back is glorious and when you put it down unprotected, the back will surely be scratched. It's just the way Apple products are... The irony here is, if you want to protect your latest device, you have to put it in a case, which will hide the device's true beauty. Ironic, isn't it?
Also, the use of a case for this iPad seemed to be a necessity. It is so thin and the back is so slippery that you absolutely need to increase friction between the device and your fingers. And that protruding camera? Yes, you're better off using a case so that the camera will not touch the surface when you put it down.
(Ok, let me put this out there since I am already on the subject of cases - one of the best back protection for the iPad is Apple's own silicone back. It doesn't add much to the thickness of the device and it will provide enough grip for those times you want to hand hold the new iPad. This is also the same material used for the silicone cases used for the iPhone 6s/6s+.)
Well, are there times when you don't want to hand-hold the iPad? Well, yes! There are times when I just want to put the device down when I want to watch a movie. That is also true when I am reading an e-book. And whenever I want to do some typing - I want to have a real keyboard to type on, rather than type on the iPad's screen.
When Apple introduced the big iPad Pro, the 12-inch one, they also introduced the Smart Keyboard case for it. This is because the company was trying to sell that device as a laptop replacement. When this new iPad was introduced, it also came with its own keyboard cover. And boy, is the keyboard really, really good!
The keyboard of the 9.7 iPad is, of course, smaller than the one for the 12-inch iPad Pro. I thought that the smaller keyboard would be uncomfortable to type on, but I was greatly surprised at the typing speed I was able to achieve on it. This review is actually typed using the new iPad Pro and the keyboard cover. It is nice to type on and the response of each key click is very precise.
The keyboard draws its power from the iPad itself, via those three new holes on the left side of the device, and, since it doesn't use Bluetooth, you don't need to pair it with the iPad. This is some ingenious design by Apple...
And since it's a cover also, the keyboard will also serve as protection of the new iPad's glorious screen.
Have I told you that the screen is glorious?
However, because of the presence of the keyboard on the cover, the cover has an uneven thickness - there simply is no way around it...
The keyboard cover, together with the back case, makes the new iPad Pro thicker and slightly heavier.
And I wouldn't want it any other way...
If you say that there isn't much changed with the design of the new iPad Pro, you will be mostly right. Aside from the change in the design of the LTE antenna, the iPad Pro is almost identical to the iPad Air. However, what is new with this iPad, and the bigger iPad Pro before that, are the four speaker grills. You will find two speaker grills at the top of the iPad and two also at the bottom. And boy are these speakers loud! With these speakers, you really wouldn't need to pair it with an external Bluetooth speakers. Yes, the bass is on the tinny end, but for casual listening, the built-in speakers would be enough. And these are stereo speakers so sounds originating from the left will come out of the let set of speakers and the same is true for the right set. And Apple made it in such a way that the high frequency sounds are emitted at the topmost speakers - no matter how you hold the thing! And don't worry if you rotate the iPad: the speakers will be oriented accordingly to how the sound is made to come out.
But what about productivity? Can the iPad Pro replace a dedicated laptop?
According to a Wired article, only about 5% of people really requires a laptop/desktop. These are the people who do extensive coding, use photoshop a lot, or edit and render videos for example. But for the other 95% percent, all they do are surf the web, Twitter, Facebook, emails... For majority of users, an iPad will be enough. And since you already get a device to watch movies on, read e-books, a great camera, a great device for surfing the web and updating the web, for a lot of people, instead of getting a laptop, the new iPad would be a much wiser choice.
And when you buy a new iPad, Apple gives you its own version of office suite, iWorks, for free! So you can be productive right off the bat with this device. (The same is true if you buy a Mac.)
Even I, when the wife and I went on a holiday, just brought the new iPad Pro and a wi-fi-enabled camera. I then edited photos on the iPad!
And if you are a creative, you may also get the new Apple Pencil. You might also find it enjoyable to use an Apple Pencil if you do calligraphy, or write in Chinese or Japanese characters for example.
Just don't get the 32GB model. Start at 128GB. And you will be using the new iPad for a long time.
Highly Recommended!
Photos shot with an iPhone 6s+ using the iOS app VSCO
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