Second Opinion

Second Opinion

By The NexusTechnology
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Second Opinion episodes

  • Second Opinion #78: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 1 Review
    Ryan reviews the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 1, and the verdict is there are not enough apps for this to even be a smart watch.

    Episode summary
    • Watches
      • I don’t like watches, they’re touching me
      • Ambient display is my preference
        • But I get in trouble anyway when I walk away from my phone
        • Samsung included coupon for another Samsung-product in the Note 10+ order in 2019
          • Couldn’t use it on the Active 2; so stuck with this
          • Physical Look and Feel
            • Default band is a sporty rubber
            • The weight is minimal
            • It’s still too thick for my tastes
            • Screen isn’t close to edge-to-edge, bezel all the way around
              • No flat tire though
              • Two buttons, home, and back
              • Software
                • Default screen is time + “widget spots” where you can add whatever widgets are available
                  • My choices were heart rate, date, steps and sunrise/set
                  • Fitness apps by Samsung are built in
                    • The cal/sleep/movement counters are available
                    • Exercise tracking
                    • “Stress monitoring” — just breathe
                    • Heart rate sensor is actually nice
                    • A weather app, but not my DarkSky data
                    • Google calendar integration, but needed who knows what Samsung permission
                    • Shows notifications as they come in
                    • Messages app (via Samsung); you can use a bad build in keyboard, send an emoji or voice dictate
                      • Some can be interacted with
                      • For example, Telegram has no Tizen app, but you can use the “reply” function on the notification instead; but no initiation
                      • The true lack of apps makes this not so useful; if I can’t use Slack or Telegram on the device, it’s not enough
                        • Android or bust; but Wear is a bust too
                        • If you want a real watch with real apps and integrations, get an Apple Watch
                          • Attributions
                          • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor – Organic (electric edit)
                            • Connect With The Nexus
                            • Support us on Patreon
                            • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                              • Copyright

                              Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to https://thenexus.tv/so78.

                              Listen to more at The Nexus and follow us on Twitter and Google+ for our latest episodes and news.

                              22 min
                            • Second Opinion #78: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 1 Review
                              Episode summary
                              • Watches
                                • I don’t like watches, they’re touching me
                                • Ambient display is my preference
                                  • But I get in trouble anyway when I walk away from my phone
                                  • Samsung included coupon for another Samsung-product in the Note 10+ order in 2019
                                    • Couldn’t use it on the Active 2; so stuck with this
                                    • Physical Look and Feel
                                      • Default band is a sporty rubber
                                      • The weight is minimal
                                      • It’s still too thick for my tastes
                                      • Screen isn’t close to edge-to-edge, bezel all the way around
                                        • No flat tire though
                                        • Two buttons, home, and back
                                        • Software
                                          • Default screen is time + “widget spots” where you can add whatever widgets are available
                                            • My choices were heart rate, date, steps and sunrise/set
                                            • Fitness apps by Samsung are built in
                                              • The cal/sleep/movement counters are available
                                              • Exercise tracking
                                              • “Stress monitoring” -- just breathe
                                              • Heart rate sensor is actually nice
                                              • A weather app, but not my DarkSky data
                                              • Google calendar integration, but needed who knows what Samsung permission
                                              • Shows notifications as they come in
                                              • Messages app (via Samsung); you can use a bad build in keyboard, send an emoji or voice dictate
                                                • Some can be interacted with
                                                • For example, Telegram has no Tizen app, but you can use the “reply” function on the notification instead; but no initiation
                                                • The true lack of apps makes this not so useful; if I can’t use Slack or Telegram on the device, it’s not enough
                                                  • Android or bust; but Wear is a bust too
                                                  • If you want a real watch with real apps and integrations, get an Apple Watch
                                                    • Attributions
                                                    • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                      • Connect With The Nexus
                                                      • Support us on Patreon
                                                      • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                        • Copyright
                                                        Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so78.
                                                        22 min
                                                      • Second Opinion #77: AirPods Pro Review
                                                        Overview
                                                        • AirPods Pro - Apple
                                                          • 00:00 | Intro
                                                          00:18 | Features
                                                          06:38 | Earbuds Comparison List
                                                          15:27 | Outro
                                                          Attributions
                                                          • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                            • Copyright
                                                            Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so77.
                                                            Connect With Us
                                                            • Brian Mitchell (@BrianMitchL) | Twitter
                                                            • The Nexus TV is creating podcasts from the technological convergence | Patreon
                                                            • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                              • 17 min
                                                            • Second Opinion #76: Anker Soundcore Motion+ Review
                                                              Ryan reviews the Anker Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker, and describes his criteria for using and purchasing a modern speaker against the alternatives.

                                                              • Why not use an Alexa or CC Audio or Home?
                                                                • They’re bad products; not universal
                                                                • Audible, Ryan’s primary audiobook provider, does not function over these proprietary systems (except Alexa)
                                                                • Ryan’s review on Amazon
                                                                • Criteria for bluetooth speaker (2019)
                                                                  • Bluetooth 5 – longer range, lower power usage, better quality
                                                                  • Integrated battery + USB Type C charging
                                                                    • Bonus: AC always on support
                                                                    • Decent volume; outside usage
                                                                      • Attributions
                                                                      • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor – Organic (electric edit)
                                                                        • Connect With The Nexus
                                                                        • Support us on Patreon
                                                                        • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                                          • Copyright

                                                                          Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to https://thenexus.tv/so76.

                                                                          Listen to more at The Nexus and follow us on Twitter and Google+ for our latest episodes and news.

                                                                          13 min
                                                                        • Second Opinion #76: Anker Soundcore Motion+ Review
                                                                          • Why not use an Alexa or CC Audio or Home?
                                                                            • They’re bad products; not universal
                                                                            • Audible, Ryan's primary audiobook provider, does not function over these proprietary systems (except Alexa)
                                                                            • Ryan's review on Amazon
                                                                            • Criteria for bluetooth speaker (2019)
                                                                              • Bluetooth 5 - longer range, lower power usage, better quality
                                                                              • Integrated battery + USB Type C charging
                                                                                • Bonus: AC always on support
                                                                                • Decent volume; outside usage
                                                                                  • Attributions
                                                                                  • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                                                    • Connect With The Nexus
                                                                                    • Support us on Patreon
                                                                                    • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                                                      • Copyright
                                                                                      Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so76.
                                                                                      13 min
                                                                                    • Second Opinion #75: Apple Watch Series 5 Review
                                                                                      Overview
                                                                                      • Apple Watch Series 5 - Apple
                                                                                        • 00:00 | Intro
                                                                                        01:08 | New Features
                                                                                        05:40 | New Cases
                                                                                        07:50 | Thoughts
                                                                                        10:36 | Outro
                                                                                        Attributions
                                                                                        • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                                                          • Copyright
                                                                                          Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so75.
                                                                                          Connect With Us
                                                                                          • Brian Mitchell (@BrianMitchL) | Twitter
                                                                                          • The Nexus TV is creating podcasts from the technological convergence | Patreon
                                                                                          • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                                                            • 13 min
                                                                                          • Second Opinion #74: Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Review
                                                                                            • Preordering 
                                                                                              • BestBuy changed their preordering process this year; this was a bummer because I prefer to buy local (economy, returns, etc)
                                                                                              • Bought through Samsung’s website this year
                                                                                              • Arrived 2 days ahead of general availability date via preorder so that’s something
                                                                                                • Pricing
                                                                                                  • That’s right, there are two models this time; I can’t tell you much about the little one; I wish that one was just as good as the big one
                                                                                                  • $999 for regular sized Note 10
                                                                                                  • $1099 for large sized Note 10+
                                                                                                  • Also: black on launch this time; no more of that blue on launch-only restrictions
                                                                                                  • Display
                                                                                                    • Size
                                                                                                      • 6.8 inches
                                                                                                      • 19:9 ratio; which is just ever-so-slightly better than 18.5:9
                                                                                                      • Gorilla Glass 6; at some point this is not remarkable anymore is it?
                                                                                                      • Special features
                                                                                                        • All of the features from the S10 line are here; fingerprint sensor, ambient display, you name it
                                                                                                        • There’s a new placement for the front camera though; instead of the S10+ 's strange double cutout in the corner, there is a single camera cutout just pixels from the top of the phone
                                                                                                        • There’s no speaker cutout in the top glass, the speaker is literally in the top of the phone and not on the display side
                                                                                                        • Physicals
                                                                                                          • Look and feel, build quality
                                                                                                            • Footprint
                                                                                                              • It’s huge! Who could have guessed
                                                                                                              • 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)
                                                                                                              • Weight
                                                                                                                • 196g 
                                                                                                                • It’s slightly heavier than the S10+ but feels lighter than the Note 9
                                                                                                                • Comparing the Note 10+ with the Note 9; the Note 9 looks ancient, the chin, forehead, the chunky look and feel - even the curved edges were massive
                                                                                                                • The S10+ fares much better, Note 10 is really an extension
                                                                                                                • Battery
                                                                                                                  • 4300 mAH
                                                                                                                  • Effectively the same as the S10+ for my usage patterns
                                                                                                                  • Charging
                                                                                                                    • The new 45w charger might be more note... get it... worthy than the phone’s charging capabilities, but it can charge fast when you need it to
                                                                                                                    • Ports
                                                                                                                      • No more headphone jack; I haven’t missed this whatsoever
                                                                                                                      • TypeC otherwise with Dex Support
                                                                                                                      • Speakers
                                                                                                                        • They’re fine, but I’ve seen criticism of them since the top speaker is not in the previous position
                                                                                                                        • Buttons
                                                                                                                          • What an amazing change!
                                                                                                                          • The bixby button is gone, well, it’s the bixby button but your first job upon set up is to change its function to the regular wake/sleep power button
                                                                                                                          • There’s no more power button on the right side
                                                                                                                          • Many people took weeks to adjust, while I was very ok
                                                                                                                          • Keyboard (if applicable)
                                                                                                                            • There’s no keyboard...
                                                                                                                            • Pen
                                                                                                                              • But the pen is back!
                                                                                                                              • Really, the S10+ could have a further variant S10 Pro that has a pen
                                                                                                                              • The pen has all of the same gimmicks as last time
                                                                                                                              • I like taking photos with the pen as a remote, it’s not like this couldn’t be done with an add-on accessory on any phone, but it’s great built in
                                                                                                                              • “Air Actions” are new and useless since most apps will never support them
                                                                                                                                • I would have liked Samsung to figure out how to make “scrolling” a default universal “air action”; if I am on Twitter in a lengthy list, air scrolling would be great - but no
                                                                                                                                • The new notes app allows handwriting to be kept as handwriting but internally converted to text for search capabilities, making notes searchable is huge for usability in the long term
                                                                                                                                • Camera
                                                                                                                                  • How is it
                                                                                                                                    • It’s the same as the S10+ but after almost a year with a wide lens, I can’t imagine having a phone without the option; I take so many shots with it
                                                                                                                                    • 2x mode is kind of mediocre in my opinion; if the camera had regular, 4x and it’s current 1/2x mode, I think it would be a wonderful mix
                                                                                                                                    • 2 12mp sensors, the wide is 16mp
                                                                                                                                    • Time of Flight sensor for something
                                                                                                                                    • Special modes
                                                                                                                                      • Night Mode is available
                                                                                                                                      • Due to how Samsung updates their unlocked phones, those get updates last; I was never able to use Night Mode on the S10+
                                                                                                                                      • I never use Night Mode; why are you taking pictures in the dark?
                                                                                                                                      • Better slowmo options
                                                                                                                                      • 4k60 recording
                                                                                                                                      • S10+ had an issue where taking photos during a video would cause framedrops in video, this doesn’t exhibit the same issue
                                                                                                                                      • Pro mode lets you tweak whatever you want
                                                                                                                                      • Notable features
                                                                                                                                        • QR code scanning is now an automatic thing the camera will do
                                                                                                                                        • Specs
                                                                                                                                          • CPU
                                                                                                                                            • Snapdragon 855
                                                                                                                                            • RAM
                                                                                                                                              • 12GB because this is the Note 10+
                                                                                                                                              • Storage
                                                                                                                                                • 256gb + I added a 64GB SD card
                                                                                                                                                • Software
                                                                                                                                                  • OS
                                                                                                                                                    • TouchWiz is still gone, the Samsung EXperience is gone, now it’s the One UI and I enjoy it
                                                                                                                                                    • I skip the default One UI launcher and use Action Launcher and I have it customized the way I like it (which is really not at all the way Chris Lacy likes it at all - get your Google Pixel nonsense out of here)
                                                                                                                                                    • Running Android 9.0 probably until March (by the time the S11 comes around)
                                                                                                                                                    • Updates
                                                                                                                                                      • Carriers suck
                                                                                                                                                      • Samsung should figure something out for this; but I get the complexity of such a thing
                                                                                                                                                      • Performance
                                                                                                                                                        • It’s as fast as any phone has been and should be
                                                                                                                                                        • Some people like turning the animation speed up
                                                                                                                                                        • Final thoughts
                                                                                                                                                          • Note 10+ is great
                                                                                                                                                            • It’s big, fast, has cameras, has a good interface
                                                                                                                                                            • S10+ is cheaper now, almost as good
                                                                                                                                                            • S11 coming in just a few months
                                                                                                                                                              • Connect With The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                              • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                                                                                                                              • Become a Patron
                                                                                                                                                                • Attributions
                                                                                                                                                                • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                                                                                                                                  • Copyright
                                                                                                                                                                  Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so74.
                                                                                                                                                                  58 min
                                                                                                                                                                • Second Opinion #73: Android 10 Review
                                                                                                                                                                  Episode Index
                                                                                                                                                                  00:00 | Intro
                                                                                                                                                                  01:54 | Dark Mode
                                                                                                                                                                  06:49 | Gesture Navigation
                                                                                                                                                                  13:55 | Share Menu
                                                                                                                                                                  17:32 | Notifications
                                                                                                                                                                  Android 10 playback notification with scrub bar.
                                                                                                                                                                  26:18 | Focus Mode
                                                                                                                                                                  27:56 | App Permissions
                                                                                                                                                                  30:16 | Privacy
                                                                                                                                                                  33:41 | Emoji
                                                                                                                                                                  34:58 | Miscellaneous
                                                                                                                                                                  39:35 | Under the Hood
                                                                                                                                                                  54:27 | Coming later this fall
                                                                                                                                                                  55:36 | Outro
                                                                                                                                                                  Further Reading
                                                                                                                                                                  • 10 things to know about Android 10
                                                                                                                                                                  • Android 10—The Ars Technica Review | Ars Technica
                                                                                                                                                                    • Connect With The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                    • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                                                                                                                                    • Become a Patron
                                                                                                                                                                      • Attributions
                                                                                                                                                                      • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                                                                                                                                        • Copyright
                                                                                                                                                                        Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so73.
                                                                                                                                                                        58 min
                                                                                                                                                                      • Second Opinion #72: Sony MDR-v6 Post-Mortem
                                                                                                                                                                        Intro
                                                                                                                                                                        Other headphone reviews:
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #15: AirPods Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #60: Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #63: Samsung Galaxy Buds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #64: Panasonic ErgoFit Earbuds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #65: Anker SoundBuds Slim Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #66: JLab Fit Sport Earbuds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #67: Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #68: Google Pixel USB-C Earbuds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #70: Corsair Vengeance 1500 Post-Mortem › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                        • Second Opinion #71: Audio-Technica ATH M50x Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                          • Notes
                                                                                                                                                                          • Sony MDR-V6 - Wikipedia
                                                                                                                                                                          • MDR-7506 Professional Headphones - Sony Pro
                                                                                                                                                                            • Studio monitors; classics
                                                                                                                                                                            • Price: ~$70-80
                                                                                                                                                                            • Sound quality
                                                                                                                                                                            • Durability
                                                                                                                                                                            • Fit, comfort
                                                                                                                                                                            • Portability
                                                                                                                                                                              • Connect With The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                              • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                                                                                                                                              • Become a Patron
                                                                                                                                                                                • Attributions
                                                                                                                                                                                • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Copyright
                                                                                                                                                                                  Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so72.
                                                                                                                                                                                  16 min
                                                                                                                                                                                • Second Opinion #71: ATH-M50x Review
                                                                                                                                                                                  Episode Index
                                                                                                                                                                                  00:00 | Intro

                                                                                                                                                                                  Other headphone reviews:

                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #15: AirPods Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #60: Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #63: Samsung Galaxy Buds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #64: Panasonic ErgoFit Earbuds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #65: Anker SoundBuds Slim Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #66: JLab Fit Sport Earbuds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #67: Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #68: Google Pixel USB-C Earbuds Review › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #70: Corsair Vengeance 1500 Post-Mortem › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Second Opinion #72: Sony MDR-v6 Post-Mortem › The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                    • 03:43 | Price
                                                                                                                                                                                    • ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones || Audio-Technica
                                                                                                                                                                                      • 04:06 | Sound Quality
                                                                                                                                                                                      07:31 | Durability
                                                                                                                                                                                      09:48 | Fit and Comfort
                                                                                                                                                                                      11:51 | Portability
                                                                                                                                                                                      12:57 | Analog vs USB
                                                                                                                                                                                      16:22 | Compare to ATH-M40x
                                                                                                                                                                                      19:48 | Outro
                                                                                                                                                                                      Connect With The Nexus
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Discuss this episode on our Subreddit
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Become a Patron
                                                                                                                                                                                        • Attributions
                                                                                                                                                                                        • Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor - Organic (electric edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                          • Copyright
                                                                                                                                                                                          Second Opinion is released under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International license. Feel free to use any or all of it as long as you link back to http://thenexus.tv/so71.
                                                                                                                                                                                          23 min

                                                                                                                                                                                        About Second Opinion

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                                                                                                                                                                                        Second Opinion is a reviews show about anything and everything under the sun. If we can experience it, we can review it.