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Lenovo Vibe X3 – new powerful 5.5″ IPS Android 5.1 smartphone with 3 GB of RAM, 6-cores CPU, 4G LTE, A-GPS, 21 MP camera and 3500 mAh battery for 400 USD

Company Lenovo presented new powerful Android 5.1 smartphone Vibe X3 with 5.5″ multitouch IPS screen with Full HD 1920 х 1080 pixels resolution and tough Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 3 GB of RAM, 64-bits 6-cores processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, support of 4G LTE networks and satellite navigation GPS+A-GPS, 21 MP main camera with ability to record Ultra HD 4K video and 3500 mAh battery for 400 USD. In it following are also built in : 32 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via Micro SD flash cards with 128 GB max capacity and 2 Nano SIM cards slots. It supports 2G ( GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 ), 3G and 4G LTE networks and has proximity, acceleration and lighting sensors and electronic compass.

In Lenovo Vibe X3 two very good for smartphones cameras are placed : 21 MP main one with autofocusing, 6-elements lens and support of Ultra HD 4K video recording and 8 MP frontal one with fixed focus. On external panels of device there are : Micro USB 2.0 port for connection to computer and battery charging, 3 microphones and 2 speakers, 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones output, as well as power and volume control buttons. It supports wireless Wi-Fi ( 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac ) and Bluetooth 4.1 LE connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices and does not support NFC connections. Its battery charge is 3500 mAh, which is a good value for smartphones; device’s body is made from aluminum and plastic and has 154 ( height ) x 76.5 ( width ) х 9.3 ( depth ) mm sizes and 175 g mass.

Package contains : Lenovo Vibe X3 smartphone itself, USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. Smartphone is great : it has large IPS screen, very powerful system, support of 4G LTE and capacitive battery; of course its price is high, but it is not overpriced for its functions. So, if somebody needs very advanced in all areas smartphone, then this one has one of the best value/price ratios; but, if there is no need in such high characteristics. then there is ability to buy much cheaper optimal Windows or Android smartphone + tablet PC with large screen and there even is an ability to buy good camera with interchangeable lenses with them.

M-Audio M-Track 8×4 – new USB audio interface with 192 kHz, 24 bits, 8 inputs and 4 outputs

USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8x4 — USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8×4

New device of M-Audio company, released in a first quarter of this year, is a USB audio interface M-Track 8×4 with support of 192 kHz and 24 bits work mode, 8 analogue inputs and 4 analogue outputs. On its frontal panel there are : 2 TRS 1/4″ jack outputs for monitor headphones, their volume controls and 2 TRS 1/4″ jack linear inputs. On top side there are : 4 gain control knobs for inputs 1 – 4 with volume and clip indicators, phantom power +48 V switch buttons for these inputs, mono work mode and Direct Monitor switches, sensor power button, volume levels and clip signalization for inputs 5 – 6, gain control knobs with levels and clip indicators for inputs 7 – 8, mixing control between Direct Monitor and USB signal, stereo/mono work mode of Direct Monitor, main volume control knob and channels selectors of monitor headphones.

USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8x4 ( back panel ) — USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8×4 ( back panel )

On back panel of M-Audio M-Track 8×4 there are : power button, grounding connector, power adapter input, USB port, 4 TRS 1/4″ jack analogue outputs, 2 the same type inputs, 4 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack microphone/linear inputs and Kensington Lock slot. With it following programs are supplied : DAW Steinberg Cubase LE, AU/VST effects package AIR Creative FX Collection, AIR Strike, AIR Xpand!2 and AIR Mini Grand. Device works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X with support of ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces accordingly, allowing it to interact with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Audio interface’s body is made from metal for increased wear resistance and protection from electro-magnetic interference.

Package contains : USB audio interface M-Audio M-Track 8×4 itself, 2 USB cables of different types, disks with drivers and programs, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all device is good : it has large amount of connectors, control elements and work modes customization abilities, as well as support of professional 192 kHz and 24 bits; probably, M-Audio will set high price for this USB audio interface, so there is ability to look on other close devices of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production with similar or even better characteristics.

Simolestes – plesiosaur from late Jurassic period with pack of teeth on the ends of jaws

One of the plesiosaurs of Jurassic period of Mesozoic era is a simolestes – 6 m marine predator with 1 m skull and pack of teeth on ends of jaws. Earlier it was thought, that animal hunted on large prey and teared off large chunks of meat by rotating, like today’s crocodiles do; but modern studies show, that simolestes’ jaws were not so strong and they ate mostly mollusks, fishes and other small reptiles. They had 2 pairs of paws-fins, with which they made simultaneous or alternating swings, like other plesiosaurs did; modern simolestes’ bones studies show, that they belonged to true plesiosaurs and not to the earlier primitive forms.

Simolestes had short neck, broad jaws and short tail, which make them typical pliosaurs, belonging to plesiosaurs. During life their teeth were positioned much more vertically, then fossilized skull of almost complete skeleton of reptile has; their rotation to outer sides is caused by crushing and deformations of skull during millions of years in Earth‘s crust. Fossils of animals were found in England and France, and also India. For the first time they were described in 1877 year by Richard Lydekker.

LG K5 X220ds – 5″ Android 5.1 smartphone with 3G, GPS, 1 GB of RAM, 4-cores CPU and 1900 mAh battery

Another one new device of LG company is a smartphone K5 X220ds with 5″ multitouch screen with 854 x 480 pixels resolution, OS Android 5.1, 3G, satellite navigation GPS+A-GPS, 1 GB of RAM, 4-cores processor MediaTek MT6582, working on 1.3 GHz frequency, and 1900 mAh battery. Manufacturer does not tell which matrix is used for screen, but, judging by angles of view, it is an IPS or other high-quality one; it also contains : 8 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via 32 GB max flash cards ( there is ability to say, that larger ones also should be supported ) and 2 SIM cards slots. Smartphone can work in 2G and 3G networks without 4G LTE support.

LG K5 X220ds has 2 good for smartphones cameras : 5 MP main one with flash and 2 MP frontal one with screen as flash. On external panels of device following are placed : Micro USB 2.0 for connection to computer and battery charging, microphone and speaker, power and volume control buttons and 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones connector. It supports wireless Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n, +Direct ) connections for remote communications with other devices and data transfers, without NFC; it looks like, that smartphone has metallic body, but maybe this is such plastic. Its sizes are 141.5 ( height ) x 71.6 ( width ) x 8.8 ( depth ) mm and mass is 120 g, it is supplied in titanium and gold color variants; battery charge is a 1900 mAh, which is relatively low value for smartphones.

Package contains : LG K5 X220ds smartphone itself, USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. Device has no some top-level characteristics, but, taking into account lack of 4G LTE in it and average-level other parameters, there is ability to anticipate not very big price on it. So, if there is no need in high characteristics of smartphone, then there is ability to look on this device and other similar Windows and Android smartphones.

Alesis VI49 – USB MIDI keyboard with 16 drumpads, 36 assignable buttons and 12 knobs

Among middle functionality MIDI keyboards of Alesis company there is a device VI49 with 49 full-size velocity-sensitive keys, 16 velocity-sensitive drumpads with RGB back light, 36 assignable buttons and 12 programmable knobs. Besides this it has : modulation control and pitch-bend wheels, LED screen, transport and octaves control buttons; as well as TRS 1/4″ jack input for sustain pedal, MIDI output, USB port for connection to computer and powering, switch on button and power adapter input on back panel.

MIDI keyboard Alesis VI49 ( back panel )

Alesis VI49 works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X without additional drivers via Plug and Play technology; and integrates with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others, as well as their VST/AU instruments and effects. After purchase there is ability to download from manufacturer’s site DAW Ableton Live Lite and program AIR Music Tech Xpand!2. Package contains : MIDI keyboard Alesis VI49 itself, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. Device has very high functionality, wherein Alesis sets its price on affordable level for such functions; so, if there is need in MIDI keyboard with large amount of controls, which will be enough for a long time in creative development, then this one is one of the best devices.

ZTE Blade A476 – 5″ IPS Android 5.1 smartphone with 2 GB of RAM, 8 MP camera, 4G LTE and GPS for 180 USD

Company ZTE presented new quite powerful Android 5.1 smartphone Blade A476 with 5″ multitouch IPS screen with HD resolution 720 x 1280 pixels, 2 GB of RAM, 8 MP main camera, 4G LTE and GPS satellite navigation for 180 USD. Besides this it has : 4-cores processor MediaTek MT6735P, working on 1 GHz frequency, graphical chip Mali-T720, 8 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via flash memory cards with 32 GB maximal size ( larger ones are, almost for sure, also supported ) and 2 slots for Nano SIM cards. It supports 2G ( GSM 900 and 1800 ), 3G ( 900 and 2100 ) and 4G LTE ( B1, B3, B7 and B20 ) networks; and has only lighting and proximity sensors.

ZTE Blade A476 has 2 good for smartphones cameras : 8 MP frontal one with flash and autofocusing and 5 MP frontal one. It supports wireless Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 4.0 connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices and does not support NFC connections. On its external panels following are placed : 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones output, USB port for connection to computer and battery charging, microphone and speaker and power and volume control buttons. Smartphone’s body is made from plastics, its sizes are 145.5 ( height ) x 75.9 ( width ) x 7.8 ( depth ) mm and mass is 150 g; its battery charge is 2200 mAh – which is an average value for smartphones.

Package contains : ZTE Blade A476 smartphone itself, USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. Smartphone is good : with large IPS screen, powerful system ( 2 GB of RAM, instead of 1, as it is often the case for such devices ), 4G LTE, good cameras, GPS navigation and 2 Nano SIM cards slots; its price corresponds to its functions and even lower, than of some of close smartphones. But, if there is no need in its specific functions, then there is ability to buy much cheaper optimal Windows or Android smartphone and tablet PC with large screen.

M-Audio Micro DAC 24/192 – new USB audio interface with professional sound in compact metallic body

USB audio interface M-Audio Micro DAC 24/192

Company M-Audio promises to release this year new compact USB audio interface Micro DAC 24/192 with professional sound ( as it follows from its name, 192 kHz and 24 bits ) and metallic body. It has 1/8″ mini jack output with gold-plated contacts for headphones and speakers, the same type optical digital output, volume control and sampling rate and power indicators. Device powers from USB port.

Package contains : M-Audio Micro DAC 24/192 interface itself, disk with drivers and programs, warranty card and user’s guide, as well as optical digital cable for connection of other audio devices. Interface can work in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.8 and newer operating systems. Device has sizes 10 ( thickness ) × 70 ( height ) × 24 ( depth ) mm and mass 30 g, it is released only in black color variant.

From one side, device is good and provides high-quality sound for mobile devices : notebooks and tablet PCs, first of all; from the other side, M-Audio, probably, will set high price for this device ( on the middle of Summer of 2016 year is costs 130 USD – this is considerable more, than many entry-level professional studio audio interfaces ). So, it can be useful only if compactness is must have and it, for sure, will not be used for other tasks, than sounds and music listening and conversions of signal into optical digital; if it will be used for other tasks too, then it is better to buy for the same or even smaller sum entry-level studio USB audio interface of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio, Alesis and other companies production and receive much diverse functionality for professional concert and studio uses or high quality sounds and music reproduction at home.

M-Audio – is a company, founded in USA in 1998 year, it produces audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, loudspeakers, monitor headphones, DJs equipment, microphones and other sound devices. Company offices are also located in Canada, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Many popular artists use its products, among them there are The Crystal Method, Depeche Mode, Evanescence and others.

Sven SEB-300M – 10 mm in ears headphones with microphone, 20 Hz – 20 kHz and wooden body

Company Sven presented new model of its in-ears headphones SEB-300M – device with 10 mm membranes, microphone, 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range and wooden body for 12 USD. Headphones impedance is 16 Ohms, sensitivity is 93 dB and mass is 13 g; perceivable audio frequencies range of microphone is 30 Hz – 16 kHz and sensitivity is -42 dB, which is a good values for microphones. Cable is attached to both cups, its length is 1.2 m, in its volume control module smartphones control button is built-in, it is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector. Package contains : Sven SEB-300M headphones themselves, stylish aluminum case for storage and carrying, 2 interchangeable earstips, warranty card and user’s guide. These headphones do not have some very high audio characteristics, but they are quite good, provide high-quality music reproduction and do their job; wherein their price is adequate to their functions. However there is need to note, that if there is need in high-quality sound and not compactness of device, then it is better to add 14 – 20 USD and buy good 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones.

Samsung Galaxy J3 – 5″ Super AMOLED Android smartphone with 4G LTE, GLONASS+GPS and 1.5 GB of RAM

Company Samsung released new Android smartphone Galaxy J3 with 5″ multitouch Super AMOLED screen with HD 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, 4G LTE, GLONASS+GPS satellite navigation and 1.5 GB of RAM for approximately 180 USD. In it following are also built-in : 4-cores processor, working on 1.5 GHz frequency, 8 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via Micro SD flash cards with 128 GB max size and 2 Micro SIM cards slots. It supports 2G ( GSM 800, 950, 1800 and 1900 ), 3G and 4G LTE networks and has only acceleration and proximity sensors.

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy J3 ( back and side panels )

In Samsung Galaxy J3 two good for smartphones cameras are built-in : 8 MP main one and 5 MP frontal one with CMOS sensors and ability to record HD 1280 x 720 pixels video. On external panels of device following are placed : 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones connector; Micro USB 2.0 for battery charging and connection to computer; microphone and speaker; and also power and volume control buttons. Smartphone supports wireless Bluetooth 4.0 ( A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HFP, HID, HOGP, HSP, MAP, OPP, PAN and PBAP ) and Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n, +Direct ) connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices and does not support NFC. It is supplied in white, black and gold color variants; its sizes are 142.3 ( height ) x 71 ( width ) x 7.9 ( depth ) mm and mass is 138 g; charge of interchangeable battery is 2600 mAh, which is a good value for smartphones.

Package with Samsung Galaxy J3 contains : USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all smartphone is good : with large Super AMOLED screen, powerful system ( usually in such smartphones only 1 GB of RAM is built-in, this one has 1.5 GB ), good cameras and both most used satellite navigation systems. Its price is adequate to its functions and even lower, than many close smartphones have; however, there is need to note, that for much smaller sum there is ability to buy optimal Windows or Android smartphone and tablet PC with large screen.

Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 – high-quality ADAT audio interface for DA and AD conversions

ADAT audio interface Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000

One of the most functional audio interfaces of Behringer company is an ADAT device ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000, supporting 48 kHz and 24 bits work mode and oriented on high-quality digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions fulfillment. On its frontal panel following can be found : 8 sets of microphone balanced XLR inputs, linear balanced TRS 1/4″ jack inputs, signal and clipping indicators and gain control knobs; work and locking indicators; phantom power +48 V switch; and power button. On its back panel there are : line power input; optical digital TOSLINK ADAT input and output; time synchronization connector with external devices with work mode switch; and 8 balanced XLR linear outputs.

ADAT audio interface Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 ( back panel )

Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 handles DAC with dynamic range 100 dB, ADC with 103 dB dynamic range; its THD is 0.01 %, channels isolation is 86 dB. Devices draws maximum 25 W of electric energy; its sizes are 215 ( depth ) x 44.5 ( height ) x 482.6 ( width ) mm and mass is 2.59 kg; it can work with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others, and specialized sound recording and editing software.

In the package with Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 there are : line power cable, warranty card and user’s guide. This audio interface is oriented on high-quality fulfillment of DA and AD conversions with use of large amount of analogue and digital inputs and outputs, it does its job very good and oriented on use in large studios. For in-home and small studios there is ability to buy USB or Firewire audio interface with smaller price and high components quality of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production.

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