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Highscreen Bay – Android 5.1 smartphone with 5.5″ AMOLED screen with HD resolution

Russian manufacturer Highscreen recently released new device Bay – smartphone, working on Android 5.1 platform with 5.5″ AMOLED screen with HD 720 x 1280 pixels resolution. In it 8-cores processor MediaTek MT6753, working with 1.3 GHz frequency; Mali-T720 graphical chip; 2 GB of RAM; 16 GB of built-in memory with ability to extend via flash cards, inserted into slot for micro SD and micro SDHC cards; and 2 micro SIM cards slots are built-in. Smartphone can work in 2G, 3G and 4G LTE networks; supports GLONASS and GPS navigation tools; and has lighting, proximity and acceleration sensors.

In Highscreen Bay there are 2 cameras placed : 5 MP frontal one and 13 MP main one with auto focusing and LED flash; smartphone supports wireless Wi-Fi ( IEEE 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth ( 4.0+EDR, A2DP, HID, PB AP ) connections establishing for communication with other devices and remote data transferring. It has USB Type-C port for connection with computer and Li-ion battery charging ( external devices also can be connected to it in USB OTG mode ) and 1/8″ mini-jack connector for headset; charge of Li-ion battery is 3150 mAh ( this is a good value for smartphones ). Device sizes are 154 ( height ) x 77 ( width ) x 7.2 ( depth ) mm and mass is 153 g; it is supplied in 3 color variants : light-brown, black and white.

Package contains : Highscreen Bay smartphone itself, USB Type-C cable, HiCover case, Li-ion battery, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, smartphone is good, it costs around 250 USD – such price is mainly due to use of large AMOLED screen, because devices with IPS LCD screens with similar characteristics cost much less, for example, among Microsoft, Huawei, Highscreen itself and other manufacturers such smartphone can be chosen.

ESI PHONORAMA – external USB sound card for high-quality stereo sound recording and playback

Among ESI devices there are compact audio interfaces, capable to record stereo sound, for example, PHONORAMA, supporting sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision. Its frontal panel has : 2 RCA inputs with gold-plated connectors for stereo sound recording; grounding connector; and Mini USB port for communication with computer and powering. Its back panel has : 2 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) outputs for headphones and speakers connection or signal passing ( judging by ESI UGM96, only their outer rings are look like gold-plated, but connectors themselves are inside and they are nickel-plated ); and power and peak indicators for right and left channels. To card’s inputs preamplifier is connected for signal level increasing.

External sound card ESI PHONORAMA ( back view )

For ESI PHONORAMA drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0 interfaces support and for Mac OS X with Core Audio interface support, with which in modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) there is ability to use card’s capabilities to their full extent. Cards characteristics are as following : ( THD+N 0.0025 %, 10 kOhms impedance ), with Moving Magnet systems connection ( THD+N 0.03 %, 47 kOhms impedance ), with Moving Coil systems connection ( THD+N 0.08 %, 47 kOhms impedance ), linear outputs ( THD+N 0.0022 %, maximal output power 100 mW and 32 – 600 Ohms impedance ); analogue to digital conversions ( dynamic range 102 dB, S/(N+D) ratio -92 dB ), digital to analogue conversions ( dynamic range 108 dB, S/(N+D) ratio -97 dB, channels isolation 100 dB ). Devices usually consumes 1.1 W of power and 500 mA maximal current; its sizes are 6 ( width ) x 7 ( depth ) x 1.7 ( height ) cm.

Package contains : ESI PHONORAMA sound card itself, USB cable, optical disk with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio card is very good for its tasks and in comparison with similar Roland, Behringer and other manufacturers devices, it superior to them in sampling rate and bits per sample precision; wherein ESI devices usually cost less, than audio interfaces of other manufacturers.

Xiaomi Piston Youth – recently released in-ears headphones with built-in microphone

Company Xiaomi recently released new in-ears headphones Piston Youth with built into their volume control module microphone and smartphone remote control buttons. They can reproduce sounds with frequencies in 20 Hz – 20 kHz range, have 32 Ohms impedance, 98 dB sensitivity and 5 mW input power. To both cups 1.25 m cable is connected, reinforced with kevlar and with 1/8″ mini-jack connector with nickel-plated contacts. Headphones mass is 15 g. Package contains : Xiaomi Piston Youth headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, headphones are good and their price is adequate : around 12 USD, however, there is ability to find in-ears headphones with similar characteristics for smaller price.

Huawei Mate 8 – new smartphone with 6″ screen and Android 6.0 OS

Among smartphones new device was released : Huawei Mate 8 with large 6″ multitouch IPS LCD screen with Full HD 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution, 367 PPI density and tough Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It works on Android 6.0 platform. In smartphone following modules are built in : 8-cores HiSilicon Kirin 950 processor, Mali-T880 MP4 graphical chip, 3 or 4 GB of RAM ( depending on modification ), 32, 64 or 128 GB of built-in memory with ability to extend via flash memory cards with 128 GB max size, inserted into slot for second SIM card. Overall there is ability to use 2 SIM cards; it can work in 2G, 3G and 4G networks; GLONASS, GPS and BeiDou navigation systems are built into it; as well as lighting and proximity sensors, gyroscope, electronic compass and fingerprints scanner.

In Huawei Mate 8 two cameras are placed : 8 MP frontal one with 1080p video recording support and main one with 16 MP 1/2.8″ sensor, optical image stabilization in lens, autofocusing, dual LED flash and HDR functions. Smartphone supports Wi-Fi ( 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac ), Bluetooth ( 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE ) and NFC wireless connections for remote data transferring and communications with other devices. In it Micro USB 2.0 port ( for communication with computer, Li-ion battery charging and other devices connection in host mode ) and 1/8″ mini-jack connector for headset are built in; charge of Li-ion battery is 4000 mAh ( it is very good value ), it is enough for approximately 528 hours in stand-by mode. From other functions support of FM radio with headset can be noted; device sizes are 157.1 ( height ) x 80.6 ( width ) x 7.9 ( depth ) mm and mass is 185 g. It is supplied in 4 color variants : gold, light-brown, dark gray and white.

Package contains : Huawei Mate 8 smartphone itself, Li-ion battery, recharger, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. Overall smartphone is very good : it has large 6″ screen, powerful processor and graphical chip, large RAM and built-in memory sizes and full spectrum of navigation systems and sensors; and here is need to compare it with close level devices of Microsoft, Highscreen and other manufacturers, which do not overprice their smartphones, to find the best one in value/price ratio respect.

Focusrite Saffire 6 – portable USB audio interface for live performances

External USB sound card Focusrite Saffire 6

Among USB audio interfaces of Focusrite there is portable device Saffire 6, oriented for reliable work on live performances; it can work with sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision; to both inputs of interface Focusrite preamplifiers are connected. Front panel of card has : 2 combined XLR/TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) inputs, which can work in linear/microphone and instrumental Hi-Z modes; signal amplification control knob, work mode and PAD function switches and signal and clip indicators; phantom power +48 V switch for both inputs; mixing control knob ( between input analogue signals and sound from computer ) and its work mode switch; device’s volume control knob and USB and MIDI connections states indicators; TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) monitor headphones output, their volume control and its source switch. On back panel there are placed : Kensington Lock slot; USB port, through which it is powered and communicates with computer ( it has no need in additional power adapter ); MIDI input and output; 4 RCA outputs with nickel-plated connectors; and 2 TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) balanced outputs.

External USB sound card Focusrite Saffire 6 ( back view )

DAC and ADC of Focusrite Saffire 6 dynamic range is 114 dB; accounting full analogue and digital parts, it goes down to 105 dB for analogue to digital conversion and to 103 dB for digital to analogue conversions; ports characteristics are as following : microphone inputs ( signal to noise ratio 105 dB, THD+N 0.0025 % ), linear inputs ( signal/noise 105 dB, THD+N 0.001 %, noise level -90 dB ), instrumental inputs ( signal/noise 105 dB, THD+N 0.0025 %, channels isolation 80 dB ), TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) balanced outputs ( THD+N 0.0025 % ), RCA outputs ( THD+N 0.03 % ) and headphones output ( signal/noise 103 dB ). With device Xcite+ package ( including DAW Ableton Live Lite 8, software synthesizer and sounds samples packages ) and VST/AU plugins package ( among them there are compressor, reverberation, gating and equalizer ) are shipped. For sound card drivers for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0 interface support and Mac OS X with Core Audio interface support are released, which allow modern DAWs ( REAPER, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live and others ) to use its capabilities to their full extent.

Device sizes are 220 ( width ) x 145 ( depth ) x 45 ( height ) mm and mass is 1 kg; manufacturer does not tell what amount of current device draws, but judging by amount of inputs and functions around 200 – 600 mAh. Package contains : Focusrite Saffire 6 audio interface itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Maximal sampling rate of device is not the highest one, but it has MIDI connectors, balanced outputs and high analogue connectors specifications. So, when there is choice between this sound card and devices of Steinberg, Behringer, ESI, M-Audio, Roland and other manufacturers, there is need to look on their prices and accordance of technical details to specific tasks, for which device is bought.

Sven AP-350M – great on ears headphones for 8 – 9 USD

Among headphones manufacturers there are also honest companies : Sven is one of them, releasing new model AP-350M with 8 – 9 USD price, which is simply great for such device. Headphones are of over ears type, with 40 mm drivers ( with ferrite or neodymium magnets : manufacturer does not clarify which ones are used ), 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible frequencies range, 105 dB sensitivity and 32 Ohms impedance. With all of this, they also have built-in microphone with 30 Hz – 16 kHz perceivable frequencies range ( this is very good value, amplitude frequency characteristic, probably, is not quite flat, but microphone is good anyway ) and -58 dB sensitivity. To one of cups 1.2 m detachable cable is connected with 4 pins nickel-plated 1/8″ mini-jack connector. Headphones mass is 135 g. Package contains : Sven AP-350M headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones have very good characteristics and with their price they have no competitors at all in value/price ratio respect; so, if there is need in good headphones with optimal price, then these ones are candidate number 1 for purchasing.

Olympus Pen E-PL7 – compact MFT camera with OMD E-M10 technologies

Among mirrorless compact cameras with interchangeable lenses for Micro Four Thirds bayonet there is replenishment : Olympus Pen E-PL7 camera, having top level Olympus OMD E-M10 technologies in small size. In it 4/3″ Live MOS sensor with 16.1 MP effective resolution, sensor-shifting image stabilization and TruePic VII graphical processor are built-in. Camera can make photos with 4608 x 3456 pixels maximal resolution, saving them in JPEG, RAW ( with 12 bits per channel precision and lossless compression ), RAW+JPEG and MPO formats; and record videos in Full HD 1920 x 1080 30p, HD 1280 x 720 30p and SD 640 x 480 30fps modes, saving them in MOV ( with MPEG-4 AVC or H.264 image encoding ) or AVI ( Motion JPEG ) and recording stereo or mono sound in Wave Linear PCM 16 bits and 48 kHz format via built in or external microphones. Supported color modes are sRGB and Adobe RGB, with ISO sensitivity levels in 100 – 25600 range; camera has no built-in viewfinder and flash, its 3″ touch LCD screen has 1.04 MP resolution and can be tilted under different angles.

Photo camera Olympus Pen E-PL7 ( top view )

Olympus Pen E-PL7 supports manual and automatic focus, diaphragm and exposure settings and can be used for astronomical photos making via T-mount adapter. Camera saves recorded photos and videos on SD, SDHC and SDXC ( UHS-I ) flash memory cards with Eye-Fi support for saving directly on external devices; it supports wireless Wi-Fi connections ( IEEE 802.11b/g/n ) for remote data transfers and control with QR code connection and position coordinates receiving from smartphones. Among connectors there are : USB 2.0 for connection with computer ( it also can be used as AV out and for remote control ); HDMI Micro Type D; Hot Shoe; and Accessory Port 2; speaker is only one and plays mono sound; one charge of Li-ion battery BLS-50 is enough for 350 photos ( this is a good value for compact mirrorless interchangeable lenses cameras ). Device sizes are 114.9 ( width ) x 67 ( height ) x 38.4 ( depth ) mm and mass is 309 g ( only camera without lens, memory card and battery ); its body is made from metal; operating conditions are : temperature in 0 – 40 degrees on Celsius range and relative air humidity level in 30 – 90 % range.

Photo camera Olympus Pen E-PL7 ( back view )

Package contains : Olympus Pen E-PL7 camera itself, Li-ion battery BLS-50, BCS-5 recharger, USB cable, external flash FL-LM1, CD-ROM disk with OLYMPUS Viewer 3 program, mount cap, warranty card and user’s guide; there are also kits with included lenses and their caps. Camera is good and gives high-quality photos, videos can be not always of the best quality, frontal grip can be not convenient for people with large palms. Overall camera worth its money, wherein for the same price there is ability to buy APS-C sensored mirrorless cameras of Sony, Pentax, Canon or Fujifilm, so, in this case, there is need to choose : professional technologies of top-level Olympus OMD E-M10 in compact body or APS-C sensor.

Highscreen Spark 2 – new balanced smartphone made in Russia

Quite recently Russian-based company Highscreen released new smartphone Spark 2, which has balanced functions and costs around 60 USD. It works on Android 4.4 platform, its 4″ touch LCD screen has WVGA 480 x 800 pixels resolution. In it following modules are built : 4-cores Qualcomm MSM8212 processor, working on 1.2 GHz frequency; Adreno 302 graphical chip; 512 MB of RAM; 4 GB of built in flash memory with ability to extend via micro SD cards ( with micro SDHC support ); and 2 SIM cards slots. It can work in 2G and 3G networks; GLONASS and GPS navigation tools are built into it; it has acceleration, proximity and lighting sensors.

Smartphone Highscreen Spark 2 ( side and back views )

In Highscreen Spark 2 two cameras are built : 0.3 MP frontal one and 2 MP main one with flash; it supports wireless Wi-Fi ( IEEE 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth ( 4.0, EDR, A2DP, HID, PB, AP ) connections for remote data transfers and communication with other devices. It has USB port for connection to computer and Li-ion battery charging and 1/8″ mini-jack connector for headset; battery capacity is 1420 mAh ( this is a low value for smartphones ). Device sizes are 122.4 ( height ) x 64.5 ( width ) x 9.69 ( depth ) mm and mass is 108 g; it is supplied in 5 color variants : orange, white, blue, black and yellow.

Package contains : Highscreen Spark 2 smartphone itself, USB cable, Li-ion battery, recharger, warranty card and user’s guide. Device has balanced characteristics and very concurrent price, in value/price ratio respect it is one of the best devices. However, there is need to note, that entry-level Microsoft Lumia devices has close price and in some technical characteristics are better, than this model.

Roland Tri-Capture – portable audio interface with 3 inputs

Lets review external USB audio interface Roland Tri-Capture, oriented on portable recording of 3 inputs, incoming signal monitoring and sounds playback from different sources. All connectors are placed on card’s back panel, among them there are : TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) headphones output; the same balanced outputs for left and right channels; USB port for connection with computer and power receiving from it; 2 RCA inputs for stereo sound recording; TRS ( 1/4″ jack ) input, which can work in linear and instrumental Hi-Z modes; and XLR microphone input, to which phantom power +48 V can be connected. Its top panel has : phantom power switch and signal level control; Hi-Z/linear modes switch for instrumental input and signal level control knob; stereo signal level control; signal and clip indicators for all 3 inputs; recording mode selector ( microphone/instrumental inputs, all inputs or loop back mode ); outputs mute button, Direct Monitor mode switch for headphones and their volume level control with levels and clipping indicators for both channels. Card can work with sampling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision.

External sound card Roland Tri-Capture ( back view ) — External sound card Tri-Capture ( back view )

Roland Tri-Capture fully powers via USB connection and draws 480 mA maximal current. Device sizes are 171 ( width ) x 134 ( depth ) x 40 ( height ) mm and mass is 320 g. For sound card drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0 interface support and for Mac OS X with Core Audio interface support, via which modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) can use all its functions. Package contains : Roland Tri-Capture sound card, USB cable, CD-ROM with drivers and VST plugins and instruments, DVD-ROM disk with Cakewalk SONAR LE program for Windows, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, this is a good card, which has all connectors for analogue sounds recording in small studio; from its minuses not the highest sampling rate, lack of MIDI connectors and quite big sizes can be noted. Also, there is need to look on device’s price, quite may be that more functional entry level studio audio interfaces of Steinberg and Behringer cost less.

Panasonic RP-HXS220E – over ears headphones with 10 Hz – 25 kHz sound for 20 USD

Over ears headphones Panasonic RP-HXS220E

Panasonic continues to rejoice with good headphones for optimal price, releasing RP-HXS220E model. They are of over ears type and can be folded for more compact carrying and storage; 30 mm drivers are built into them, moved by neodymium magnets. Headphones support 10 Hz — 25 kHz sounds playback, 1000 mW maximal power input and have 24 Ohms impedance. To both cups 1.2 m cable with 1/8″ mini-jack gold-plated connector is mounted; their mass without accounting for cable is 138 g. Package contains : Panasonic RP-HXS220E headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great, costing around 20 USD and having great sound characteristics, to which many much more priced models do not come even close.

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