Geekazine Review SD

By Jeffrey Powers

Technology Product reviews, interviews, industry news in an SD video format... more

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March 07, 2024The Spacetop Laptop Uses AR Glasses Instead of a Monitor
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Last Updated on June 20, 2024 8:27 am by Jeffrey Powers
I checked out a few AR Glasses at CES 2024 this year, but none like the Spacetop Laptop by Sightful. They have completely done away with the laptop monitor for a pair of AR glasses.
What is the Spacetop Laptop
Claiming to be the “First AR Laptop”, this is a pair of glasses with a computer, keyboard, and trackpad attached (plus more). The main feature is a pair of glasses using Xreal Light to create the OLED display panels (2 1080p panels per eye) and give you the equivalent to a 100 inch screen area.
The Laptop
The Spacetop laptop runs on a Qualomm Snapdragon XR2 chip, Kryo 585TM with 8 cores and speeds up to 3.1 GHz. GPU is the AdrenoTM 650 GPU.
8 GB of DDR5 memory inside, and internal storage of 128GB. The unit has 2 USB-C ports, supporting fast charge, and 10 Gbps speeds.
Wifi 802.11ax (Wifi 6), Bluetooth 5.1, and 5G LTE NR Sub 6 connectivity.
Full sized keyboard and touchpad, along with a 5MP camera.
The Spacetop uses the Spacetop OS, which is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
The AR Glasses
This is a the 2X OLED display panels with a sRGB 106% color gamut. The screens have a ~52 degree FoV, so you can place multiple windows together to see all your work, game, or video.
The lenses have a fingerprint resistant coating on them, and the headset compes with dual microphone array, omnidirectional MEMS microphones for calls and other needs. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is available for more private listening.
The glasses will sit on a dock on the laptop, and a foldable cover adds protection to both the laptop and glasses.
Interchangeable Lenses
The best par about the glasses is you can get your prescription for them. The lenses snap in for viewing – which you can then either remove and put in a case, or switch out for another user’s prescription.
Thoughts on the Spacetop Laptop
It is an interesting concept, but there is no way to bring in an external monitor for when you don’t want to use the glasses. No mention of being able to use another OS, but since it’s using AOSP, you can get most apps from the Chrome App store. Google Suite, Microsoft 365, Slack, Zoom, and many more applications are ready for you.
Of course, there is a cable to deal with from laptop to glasses, which sits at the front of the unit. With no external monitor or secondary AR glasses port to plug into, this is truely a solo machine.
Price and Availability
The Spacetop Laptop will be available later this year for $2150. More information at Sightful.com

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3min
July 22, 2015 Geekazine and the Blip.tv Channel – Blip Closing on August 20, 2015
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If you haven’t heard, Blip.tv will be closing its doors on August 20,2015. I have used Blip to host video since 2009, so I have to find a new home for over 900 videos. In the meantime, I put together a little video on what’s going on and what you can expect in the next couple weeks.

Remember to join my YouTube channel

What is Happening to the Videos You Posted?

I have to download all 900+ videos and find a new home for them. Yes – Find a new home. Some will be archived at Archive.org. I am still working on a CDN option.

Will there be iTunes in the Future?

Possible. As you know, a YouTube channel video cannot port to iTunes unless you download and place on another hosting provider. Once again, I am working on that solution at this time.

For Those Still Posting to Blip.TV

STOP!!! Since the announcement, I noticed many still uploading to Blip. I highly suggest you put up your roadmap video like me to try and keep as much of your audience as possible.

NO VIDEOS AFTER AUGUST 20TH! That means your content will GO DARK.

Below is the announcement letter.

Blip.tv letter announcing the closing of Blip

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8min
July 20, 2015 ZAGG Speaker Case for iPhone 6, Also a Battery Charger
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ZAGG Speaker Case, Phone Charger for iPhone 6

ZAGG has outdone itself with a new type of iPhone case. The ZAGG Speaker Case is not only that, but also a backup battery that gives you up to 8 hours of charge.

About the ZAGG Speaker Case

The case itself is technically a bumper you put around the phone. However, there is a detachable speaker you can put on at any time. It just snaps into place and you are off on your adventure.

The bluetooth speaker is solid, with 4 different buttons on back. A power/bluetooth discover button, a play/pause button and a mute button. The speaker is on the bottom and is covered by a grate pattern. The microphone on top allows for you to turn this into a conference call – all while the phone might be sitting on its charger across the room.

I did say four buttons, right Captain Picard? The Triangle button is the battery indicator. This is so you know how much charge you have left not only for the speaker, but to charge your phone.

The bottom of this device has a USB micro to charge from the wall, and a USB port to plug the lightning cable (or another cable) into the phone. The speaker is also an 1800 mAh battery to give you up to 8 hours charge, if you are not using the Bluetooth speaker that much.

Pros and Cons – ZAGG Speaker Case

First of all, this is only for iPhone 6. No word on if a 6 Plus or other model will be available. I would guess so and you would get a different type of bumper case for it.

A big downfall is the use of the micro-USB connector instead of a lighting connector on the speaker. In order for me to get full charge, I have to carry around two different cables. What is worse, to use the charger for the phone, you have to bring along your lightning cable. It would have been nice if there was a side-attached cable to plug in.

If you use 3rd party Lightning cables or headphone cables, the access ports might not allow you to plug in. The bumper case doesn’t give much opening for those types of cables.

So far, the charger doesn’t separate from the case while in my pocket. I would guess the bumper case will eventually wear and this will become more common.

The speaker/battery will double the weight of the iPhone. Of course, any charging case will also do that. The ZAGG does need a little getting used to when you are holding it. After about a day, the phone will get somewhat comfortable again. You don’t always need the battery/speaker attached all the time. It could easily go into a bag or leave at home from time to time.

The best asset is simply the combination charger and Bluetooth speaker. You can connect up to and charge any device – iOS, Windows or Android. Even when new phones come out, I could see this device in my bag as a spare battery/speaker.

The price is right, too. Only $99 for this case. For more information, check out ZAGG.com

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9min
July 17, 2015 Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens Attachment, Case for iPhone 6, 6 Plus
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Olloclip and Accessories

I have worked with lens adapters for phones and handheld cameras for a few years. Some work well while others fall short. Olloclip is one of those devices that work very well for your iPhone. With the iPhone 6 and 6 plus, they have recreated the clip not only for easy connection, but also for easy storage.

The Olloclip is a 4-in-1 lens adapter for your main camera and front-facing camera. The design allows you to flip it around and use how you need it. There are two lenses – a Telephoto and a Fish-Eye lens. The Telephoto lets you get close up without sticking the device in someone’s face. The Fish-Eye captures a larger area in a convex picture. Perfect for group shots or capturing larger buildings. The lens does cause a little distortion, but most photo and video programs can adjust that out nowadays.

Also in the box you get a series of clip-ons for the Olloclip to store. Two lens caps and a cloth case if you want to put it in your pocket. There is also an insert in the Olloclip which you have to remove for either iPhone 6 plus, or if you are like me you have a screen protector on your iPhone 6. Removing that piece will allow you to slip onto the phone.

Olloclip also has a handy iPhone case with an opening that allows the clip to easily seat. You don’t need the case, but it comes in very handy.

Pros and Cons of OlloClip 4-in-1

Most of the cons are really from the iPhone. I normally shoot in 1080p 60fps. While the main camera can do 60 fps, the front-face camera only does 30. Therefore, this video is not as crisp as my others. If I was shooting solely from the front, that might be a different story.

The only wish in my list would be to have strings on the lens caps. I can then attach to the clip or the lenses so I don’t lose them. Otherwise, this is an easy to add, easy to store device. I can flip the lens over easily to continue my shooting if needed.

The Olloclip 4-in-1 is around $80 and comes in different colors. The case is an additional $29.99. If you shoot video and photos like I do, the clip is well worth the price.

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6min
July 02, 2015 V-Moda Crossfade M-100, V-Moda XS Headphone Review
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When it comes to headphones, we want functional and we want it to look good. Especially when you have an over-the-ear set of headphones. Portability is a key functionality in these types of headphones. That is where the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 comes in.

Foldable, adaptable, comfortable. Those are three things I use to describe these headphones. If you owned the M-80 headphones, these are definitely a step up. So let’s look at the specs of this, and I also have a pair of the XS headphones.

About the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 Headphones

V-moda headphones have been a favorite for DJs for years. The Crossfade M-100 headphones contain a 50 mm dual-diaphragm driver. This patent pending process allows the Bass to stay separate from the mids and highs via an inner and outer ring system.

This is a corded headphone only, but with the detachable cord, you can turn it from a set of headphones, to an iPhone 3-pole headset, and even with a Boom Pro mic adapter you can turn it into a full gaming mic headset.

The M-100 has analog noise isolation built-in. So these headphones work well for airplanes, or noisy room situations. This is all pure sound, so no batteries are needed for these headphones to work.

Around the earpieces are BLISS Memory Foam cushions to mold around your ear and help with the noise isolation. It also helps in keeping headphone noise leakage, along with the immersive sound V-Port V3 Airflow System.

The sides are detachable so you can customize with your own plates – some which you can design yourself.

These headphones are also compact. Simply fold upon themself, disconnect and wrap the cord, then place it in the case. With the case Carabiner, you can clip it to a backpack and it doesn’t take up space inside.

About the V-Moda XS Headphones

The XS are a smaller version headphones, with a 40 mm dual diaphragm driver. Other than that, they have the same functionality as the M-100 Crossfade

Pros and Cons on V-Moda Crossfade, XS Headphones

The only con is it being a corded experience. But I’ve been around corded headphones all my life, so I’m used to that. I DO like you can disconnect the cord easy at either end. I also like the fact I can attach this boompro microphone with not only 3-pole connection, but also adapters to connect to a computer if I wanted to.

Putting away these headphones is easy and the case allows you to bump it around and not destroy these things. Only problem is there’s no place to put the boompro. If you purchase this extra device, you’ll have to find it’s own case.

The XS headset is smaller than the M-100 and only comes with one cord. These headphones don’t really conform around my ears too well, but a smaller head might really like these over the M-100.

In all, I enjoyed some great tunes and some TV watching on my tablet and phone. They are built like an aircraft, and even have cases to add protection. While I cannot boast the quality while doing a DJ-style show, I can say I’ve used these downstairs while playing my drums, using them both as ear protection and playing with the song.
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6min
June 28, 2015 Affordable Studio and Video LED Light Solution from Neewer
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I have been a fan of these camera lights for a few years now. I own several Neewer CN-126 and CN-160 camera lights. Some I use for my video shoots, a couple in the studio and one even illuminates me during my solo-acoustic shows. But did you know you can get add-ons that will turn this light into a great studio light? No batteries needed!

The Neewer CN-160

Let’s start with this small camera LED light. The dimmable LED comes with 2 filters – diffusion and 3200K light for a warmer look. Take the filters off and you have 5700k lights to brighten any situation. The CN-160 LED can throw over 600 Lumens up to 20 feet. In my 10-12 foot studio (a.k.a. the second bedroom), two of these lights would be more than enough. I am adding a third to get a backlight as well.

The CN-160 can take multiple battery types. An adapter for certain Panasonic batteries, Sony camera batteries (including my camera batteries) and even 6- double A batteries, which keep the light going for a good hour.

Get the Neewer CN-160 Light system over at my Amazon Store!

Neewer Plug-In Adapter

I found these a few months ago. Neewer created an adapter you can plug in using the F550 style connection, then simply plug the wall wart into a power source. The wart has a green light to show power. I have used these lights for hours plugged in and they do not falter.

Neewer Softbox Adapter

With these lights on (even with diffusion) can cause an eye strain. However, the softbox adapter for CN-160 can help alleviate that issue. The softbox also reduces light glare. They simply cover the light, and velcro in place (make sure you don’t cover all the vents, though).

Neewer 6 Foot Cowboy Stand

Finally, the Cowboy stand to bring the lights in the air. For the studio, 6 foot is more than enough. You can definitely get more expensive cowboy stands that go higher, but with the adapter system on the top, you can easily raise the lights higher with other adapters. The stands also have screws on top to attach the lights or another camera to – something other cowboy stands don’t seem to have.

LED Lights in the studio

I had 3 florescent in front, and one behind me. 400 watts of light (160 watts of power) for video shoots. All with white cloth over each light to soften the look. This will be replaced with 2 in the front, one in the back. 27 Watts with 600 Lumens each in 3 directions.

And the price – around $75 each. Compared to a professional light panel: 2-3 times more, and without stand, battery or softbox.

Of course, the cheapest solution is the florescents with can clip lights at $25. However, you’ll have to deal with heat and placement issues, since they don’t have stands.

Get the Neewer CN-160 Light system over at my Amazon Store!

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13min
May 21, 2015 Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight and Alarm Monitor
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Leeo

Home automation is valuable in not only keeping us safe, but informing us when something is wrong. Internet connected thermostats and detectors are great, but some of us rent as opposed to own. In those cases, we might be stuck in what we have.

But it doesn’t mean we can’t be informed.

Enter in the Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight. This is an Internet connected device that’s primary role is to illuminate your hallway, stairs, or another area of the house. But the nightlight is only one of the few cool things it does.

First of all, let’s look at how easy it is to activate. Simply plug in the nightlight, then download the iOS or Android app. Connect via the peer-to-peer Wifi Leeo emits to configure this device and add to your home wireless system. The Leeo smart alert will then be available when you call up the app.

The main page shows you the temperature and humidity which you can re-check at any time. If the device detects a major change, it can send you an alert right away.

Another interesting feature is it can detect your smoke or CO alarm. You set those up by testing your alarms while Leeo is in listen mode. Of course, Leeo needs to be close to the alarms to detect the sounds, but since this is also a nightlight, it’s meant to be out in the hallway, already.

You can set multiple emergency contacts. It will first try to contact you, but if you have an emergency contact in there, it will send another alert as well.

Finally, you can adjust on the fly by turning the dial on Leeo for a brighter nightlight.

So the Leeo alert smart nightlight will monitor your alarms and give you a safer passage. But how well does it really work? When we come back, I’ll talk the pros and cons to this device.

Pros and Cons on Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight

So the Leeo smart alert nightlight illuminates at night, and becomes a home monitoring system all day long. But how well does it work?

First of all, the nightlight can get pretty bright. If you don’t close your bedroom door, certain colors can be really distracting. Even at it’s lowest illumination setting, the nightlight can still be a distraction. I found green on a white wall is the best color in those cases, although walls with different colors and textures might change your results.

The ambiant light sensor is not as sensative as I’d like it to be. I had mine in a spot where enough daylight got through and it still stayed on.

It would also be nice to see a motion detector so after so many minutes of inactivity, the light either drops low or turns off.

The design does cause for the Leeo to take up your plug outlet, and can eventually “droop”. If your power goes out, there’s no backup battery inside to send an alert, or even keep illuminating so you can find your way out in a smokey room.

Keep in mind, the device does have to be in earshot of the alarms – around 75 feet and not behind a door. If you have a larger house, you may have to get more than one Leeo to monitor. So a two-story house may need 2 to really work.

But it does work. I set off my smoke alarm, the Leeo went red and I got a notification,
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6min
May 06, 2015 Video Streaming Computer Build Part 1: AMD Processor, Gigabyte Motherboard
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AMD FX-8350

I remember when you changed out your desktop computer every 18 months. Yet, I have been using the same computer now for the last 6 years. The AMD Phenom II 4-core processor has not failed me in those years of work. But now with newer chipsets and faster speeds, I can more than quadruple the power of my desktop. Therefore, I am off to start building a new machine – with one of the top AMD processors out there.

Why a Desktop? Why not a Laptop?

I have laptops that also do the job. While ultimately portable, the desktop has a level of adjustability. If I need to add a drive or card, I can do so rather easily.

I also like the idea of having a workstation. Sometimes that gets lost in a laptop. This corner is where I can focus and work with little distraction. I also like having multiple screens to work from, and this can be the best solution for that.

I also wanted to show you can get a high-end machine for around $500. A laptop of this power would cost $1,000 or more and does not have more than 4-cores to it. It cannot hold up to 32 GB of memory and definitely hold multiple hard drives. Even newer laptops are losing side ports to get smaller. I cannot connect 3 cameras, ethernet, an external monitor, secondary or tertiary audio (for Skype calls with mix-minus) into a laptop with one connector.

Most shocking: This computer will be one-twelfth the price of a Mac Pro with the same specs.

Video Streaming, Video Post-Production Desktop

Since I do a lot of video production, I need a desktop that can keep up bringing in and recording video. Software that can handle this task is great, but can only go so far on older equipment. This upgrade will allow me to do all the tasks on one machine – rather than 2-3 different ones.

As for post-production, I will be able to edit and render video while working on other projects, or just getting the material ready for posting.

Part I: Motherboard and Processor

There are two items for the first part of the build. I unbox and put together the motherboard and processor – heatsink combo.

To save money, I pulled an older computer case from the basement. Cases haven’t needed to change in the last 15 years because of their ability to adapt to most systems. I used to own an old IBM PS/2 tower case which held my older Pentium computers.

Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3

I got this motherboard because it still has one IDE port on it. That may sound weird, but there are times where that comes in useful. The backwards compatibility allows me to bring in cards that are a little outdated, yet still functional for my needs.

The 990 FXA-UD3 contains 4 memory slots for up to 32 GB of 1866 memory. 6 SATA connectors that support 6 GB drives by themselves or in a RAID 0, 1,10 configuration. 2 PCI Express x16 slots, 2 PCI Express slots, and 1 PCI slot for legacy hardware that you still need to run.

On-board contains USB 3.0, Firewire 400, and eSATA connections to external drives, mixing boards, and other devices. 1 GB LAN port to connect with the Internet or other IP-based cameras.

The 990FXA-UD3 also protects from humidity, overheating,
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24min
May 04, 2015 ZAGG Pocket Wireless Keyboard: Foldable Keyboard for your Smartphone
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ZAGG Pocket Keyboard

Mobile devices have become more powerful, but sometimes their size makes it harder to do things like type up notes, messages and more. ZAGG is helping those who need to use their phones in more of a laptop setting with the ZAGG Pocket foldable keyboard.

I have used ZAGG products for a few years now. The Folio on my iPad has turned that tablet into a more powerful machine and I don’t have to bring my laptop to everything. That is where the Pocket comes in even handier – all you need is a pocket to put the keyboard into.

About the ZAGG Pocket Foldable Keyboard

The Pocket folds up into the size of a pencil case. Unfold it to reveal a slightly smaller keyboard, stand for your phone, and kickstand to hold it at an angle. Bluetooth connection to the phone and you can start typing right away.

While the keyboard can connect to anything via Bluetooth, the stand can only hold smaller items. An Android or iPhone, 7″ tablet or iPad mini. Unfold the keyboard to turn the power on. The Pocket has a 950 mAh battery claims it can offer 2 years of use from a full charge. I have only had it a week and it did just fine so far. If the battery is low, the LED light will show red and a full charge the LED will show green.

The keyboard is 85% the size of a regular sized one. The fold in the middle made for a bit of bounciness, so a standard typing style was a lot harder to accomplish. I found myself missing keypresses more than missing the keys. The smaller size was not as much of deterrent, though.

Overall, this is a great option for someone that doesn’t want to carry a tablet or netbook with them. The keyboard will allow for you to type anywhere you need to type notes, email, SMS messages and more. Those flying a lot may like the compactness and ability to type on a tray table.

For more information, check out Zagg.com

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4min
April 23, 2015 Roland Video Mixers VR-50HD and VR-3EX at NAB 2015
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Roland VR-50HD

Those of us moving to streaming or recording video are always looking for a good switching unit. While at NAB 2015, I checked with Roland and their VR-50HD and VR-3X mixers.

Roland VR-3EX

Roland VR-3EX

The VR-3EX is a four-channel SD video mixer. This mixer will send a 480i signal through the USB 2.0 port, or upscaled 1080p through HDMI. The 3EX includes 4-HDMI input support, RGB/Component in support, HDCP support, 4 channel audio, and can be controlled through the LCD touchscreen control center.

Roland VR-50HD

If you need a little more power, the VR-50HD unit allows for HD streaming and recording using the USB 3.0 connection. You can also connect both HDMI (4 ports) and SDI (4 ports), and also connect RGB components (2 ports), then pass the RGB signal out to an external monitor. 3 HDMI out allows to connect to a monitor, another streaming device and more.

The VR-50HD also has up to 12 channels of audio – perfect for connecting microphones, break music, computer audio and more. A MIDI feature and RS-232C connector for a remote is also available.

Clearly, the VR-50HD is the more powerful work horse, but if you are simply switching between four cameras, the Roland VR-3EX can be what you need for the job you are doing.

Both of these devices do not record from the unit, so you will need an external recorder – either through computer or other unit. The computer sees the USB connection as a USB camera, therefore, you will be able to send to a streaming service like uStream, Livestream, Google Hangouts and more without issue.

The Roland VR-3EX is $2,195 and the VR-50HD is $7,495. For more information, check out the Roland website

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5min

FAQs about Geekazine Review SD:

How many episodes does Geekazine Review SD have?

The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.