Why The Lucky Stiff

One man's journey to be more just a lucky stiff

Product Reviews

10 Best Wearable Camera Gadgets to Buy Right Now

Last updated on

Are you ready for the best wearable camera gadgets to capture those fleeting moments at the right time? We’ve reviewed the most popular choices out there to bring you a hand-picked collection of the best camera gadgets that you can buy right now.

For as long as humans has inhabited the planet Earth, we’ve been obsessed with being able to capture its beauty. Whether you go all the way back to the age of Neanderthals who hand painted vivid sceneries of the natural world, or the modern age where everyone is trying to capture that perfect shot, photography and our passion for finding a way to eternalize that fleeting moment has not changed one bit. With the tremendous advancement in wearable technology and high-powered cameras, the combination of both has helped bring to life create wearable camera gadgets.

Having a lens to shoot in the right place, at the right time, is now a reality, and there are plenty of ways to do so. The very reason wearable camera gadgets have been developed, is to help you have a camera on you at all times, since you never know when the right moment could pass you by. While your mobile phone may be a great way to have a camera with you at all times, you might need more than just that when shooting a vlog for your YouTube channel on the go, video casting sports activities in real-time, and everything in between that requires high-quality video and image capturing on the go.

10 Best Wearable Camera Gadgets of 2019

There are plenty of gadgets out there to fulfill your craving for the perfect shot, and we’ve browsed through them to find the very best and present them to you. Here’s our curated list of some eloquent and multi-purpose gadgets that come with high-definition cameras equipped right into them, so you never have miss a shot, no matter what.

1. Snapchat Spectacles

Bringing together the best of social media and photography, Spectacles by Snapchat is your way of sharing the beauty of the world through your eyes. Designed to help you create mesmerizing 10-second videos in the click of a button, or a longer 30-second one by double-pressing, Spectacles also allow you to capture still images through the camera embedded on the left temple of the glasses, with an LED ring on the right side.

Compatible with both Android and iOS devices, you get to share your content wirelessly right away through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Available in Nico, Onyx Moonlight, Ruby Daybreak, Sapphire Twilight, and Veronica models, you get to choose your style. Built for travel with USB charging that lasts for days and a water-resistant design, the Snapchat Spectacles are also rechargeable up to 4 times directly through its charging case itself.

Get the Snapchat Spectacles

2. Samsung Gear 2 Smartwatch

Although Samsung has dropped this particular line of smartwatch series, the Samsung Gear 2 continues to be available online, and for all the right reasons. Packing a crisp and clear SAMOLED display that makes it easier to read messages and glance at notifications, the design and build quality of this smartwatch from Samsung is sure to make heads turn. While it may not be compatible with iOS, you do get widespread support with Samsung Galaxy devices.

Thanks to the S Health fitness service that works seamlessly with the heart rate sensor and pedometer built into the Samsung Gear 2, fitness always comes first. As the cherry on top, this wearable camera gadget comes with a camera lens right above the display, allowing you to capture life in action. The camera is able to record videos at 720p HD resolution, while being able to take still shots in Full-HD 1080p resolution, giving you a way to hold on to those daily moments.

Get the Samsung Gear 2 Smartwatch

3. GoPro HERO Session

A popular brand in the world of action cameras that has set the standard for the industry, GoPro has gone all-in with the HERO, minimizing things to the limit. Small and portable enough to fit into your palm, the GoPro HERO is no lightweight when it comes to handling rough environments. Offering water resistance up to 10m without any kind of protective housing needed, this wearable camera weighs just about 2.60z.

The no-nonsense single-button control allows you to start and stop recording the easy way, while offering HD video quality of 1440p at 30FPS, 1080p at 60FPS, and 720p at 100FPS. Albeit the GoPro HERO does not come with a built-in display like its siblings, the minuscule size more than makes up for it, making it a more comfortable choice to be mounted to a helmet and carried around in the pocket anywhere.

Get the GoPro HERO Session

4. OPKIX ONE

GoPro may currently be the go-to choice for most, but OPKIX hopes to makes waves with a product that is nothing short of a leap into the future. The OPKIX ONE is one of a kind wearable camera that combines the portability of a device such as the Apple Airpods, along with the sharp video quality of an action camera. The “Egg” includes a tiny rectangular camera that can be strapped on to your hat, the side of your eyewear, or worn around your neck.

Weighing just 12 grams, the OPKIX ONE is housed in aluminum for a durable and premium recording experience, marked with IP-67 rating to be water and dust resistant, and high resolution of 1080p at 30FPS. The in-app electronic imagine stabilization makes sure that you don’t end up with a shaky footage, the sapphire glass lens offers added protection when you’re out and about.

Get the OPKIX ONE

5. Google Clips Camera

The Mountain View company knows how to work with cameras, which is apparent from the fact that Google Pixel offers the highest-rated smartphone camera year after year. But the reason behind developing the Google Clips is to create a way to capture all of those moments when we don’t necessarily have a camera or our phones ready. Google Clips does not have the most impressive camera specs, since the lens is not movable, which limits the viewing angle.

Add a hefty price tag to that, and it may not seem like the right solution for most, but rather than the hardware, it is the software where you’re spending your money. The live feed or still shots from the Google Clips Camera gets synced to Google Photos, and you get unlimited full-resolution storage space to do this, while the machine-learning connects everything together by recognizing faces, creating location and time-based “Clips”.

Get the Google Clips Camera

6. FrontRow FR

Ever wanted to take up vlogging but the idea of carrying around a GoPro or a full-fledged camera around hours every day give you a migraine? Creating an elegant solution is the FrontRow FR wearable camera that allows you to create first-person time lapses that runs for hours at a stretch. Offering both, a front and rear camera with an LCD touchscreen panel and a dedicated media button as well, you also get fast-charging USB Type-C connector.

The built-in media capabilities of the FrontRow FR allow you live-stream directly across social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. The BATTERY does last a long time too, with an estimated standby time of 50 hours, live streaming time of a maximum 1 hour and 45 minutes, while the circular display allows you to preview content before pushing it online.

Get the FrontRow FR

7. MIUFLY Mini Body Camera

Ever wanted to have a body camera like the cops do? Well, the MIUFLY Mini Body Camera is just what you’ve been looking for, but this brilliant gadget is not just for those in the law enforcement. Ideal for security personnel or for adventure seekers who wants to record their experience in first-person, the MUIFLY 1296P comes with an LCD monitor built right into the rear panel, so you can grab a preview of how the footage has turned out to be.

Powered by a mega 2900mAh battery, you get to record upwards of 10 hours of video in multiple high-definition formats. The MUIFLY wearable camera comes with a HDMI and USB connectivity, along with water and dust resistance, making it ideal for outdoor situations as well. Apart from the rugged exterior, the internals of the body camera are secured as well, thanks to the password protection in place that safeguards your photos and videos.

Get the MIUFLY Mini Body Camera

8. MIOTA Camera Glasses

If you like the concept behind Snapchat Spectacles that offers you a true first-person video recording experience, but you aren’t too excited about the price tag that it comes with, then here’s another interesting offering for you. The MIOTA Camera Glasses are designed to be minimalistic and blend into your regular attire, with a pinhole camera hidden between the ridge of the frame that is capable of recording videos in Full-HD 1080p resolution at 30 FPS.

Built out of ABS Plastic, which is durable enough to last everyday usage, and comfortable on the eyes too. The device is capable of recording footage of up to 80 minutes on a single charge, and comes with a MicroSD Card slot that can handle up to 32GB storage. The 5MP CMOS sensor may not be the most impressive one on the list, but the discreetness of it all. along with a multifunctional button to capture those shots, makes it worthwhile.

Get the MIOTA Camera Glasses

9. Veho MUVI HD PRO

The base model in the lineup of action cameras that are offered by Veho, the MUVI HD PRO is surely built to impress. The tiny device is capable of capturing videos in 1080p Full-HD resolution with its 5MP camera at 30FPS, while giving you about 4 hours of footage duration, thanks to the 4GB memory card that comes included in the box. The 1.5-inch LCD panel may not offer the richest colors, but does allow you to preview videos and images.

What makes the MUVI HP PRO a great option for outdoor video recording is the healthy collection of accessories that it comes with right out of the box. From helmet and bicycle mounts to hook up the camera for your next adventure, to the wrist strap and wireless shutter button that makes clicking those perfect images even easier, you won’t have to go around looking for add-ons when you have this wearable camera by your side.

Get the Veho MUVI HD PRO

10. MOFILY Yocam Life Camera

The last one on the list but certainly not the least, MOFILY Yocam is one of the more premium offerings available in the world of body cameras. Designed to be portable, stylish, and appealing, the Yocam Life Camera is an action camera, a selfie camera, a baby monitor, and so much more, all combined into one device. The camera is nothing short of phenomenal, packed with the option to record footage in 2.7K at 30FPS, 1080p at 60FPS, and 720p at 120FPS.

Unlike some of the third-party manufacturers out there that offer no software support with their cameras, MOFILY Yocam Life comes with an official mobile app. Through the mobile app, you can enjoy live preview, create, manage, and edit videos on the fly, and even share your recordings with others through social media integration. The best part about the MOFILY Yocam Life is that it is water resistant, so you can take it for a dive any time.

Get the MOFILY Yocam Life Camera

Final Words

The world is going digital, and the best way to connect it is through the power of the internet and video streaming. Websites such as YouTube have redefined the way people enjoying video entertainment, and has given people a platform where they can share videos and even live-stream from anywhere at any time. The growing demand for high-definition content in action-packed situations is the very reason that most of these wearable camera gadgets exist in the first place. Apart from offering you the convenience of having a lens on you at all times, some of these awesome gizmos make it allow you to record underwater footage and capture shots that were never possible before.

Are you among the life-casters looking for an ideal wearable camera gadget to supercharge your vlogs, or do you need an entry-level device that gets the job done, while offering awe-inspiring footage? We’ve done our best to include a wide range of gadgets that come packed with a camera, but feel free to suggest more in the comments section that you believe should be on this list.

Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – Battle of the Budget Streamers

Last updated on

Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – Battle of the Budget Streamers

Can’t decide who to pick between the competition of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV to select for your entertainment streaming experience? Here’s a close look at both of the budget streaming devices from Google and Amazon, so you can choose the right one to buy.

The television is more than just an entertainment system – it is a piece of technology that is able to bring alive the party and adds to the home space for some family time. For decades, the visual entertainment industry has been tied down to the cable company, which strictly limited the content you could enjoy on the big screen. But the recent pushback possible with the help of the internet, has ushered in an era of streaming entertainment, made possible by smart devices that allow content to be played over the wireless network.

In the fight to cut the cord and reclaim the easiest way to watch our favorite movies and TV shows, the biggest brands in the tech business have come up with some nifty solutions. Streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, and many others are offering millions of customers across the world the ability to enjoy entertaining content on the go as well as from the comfort of their living rooms. What makes it possible for users to stream content on the big screen are devices like the Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – The Fight

Web entertainment services can be expensive as it is, which is why most users are weary of stepping up and spending hundreds of dollars on a premium streaming device. The idea behind the Google Chromecast as well as the Amazon Fire TV Stick is to create an entry-level solution for customers to access online entertainment. By bringing down the price point and making online entertainment accessible, both the budget streaming devices are here to help you explore a world of content, while cutting out the hefty recurring fees, viewership restrictions, and advertisements that the traditional cable company dumps on you.

Are you planning to get onboard with wireless entertainment, but can’t decide on whether you’re all about Amazon, or want to be a member of team Google? We’re here to help you understand the best features of the both these wildly popular budget streaming devices, so you can choose the one that suits your needs the best.

Design and Build

Starting off with the Amazon Fire TV Stick, you get a rectangular structure which resembles an extra-large USB drive by its design. But instead of the USB connector, you have an HDMI port that plugs into your TV, along with a Micro USB port at the rear of it, which takes in the power supply. There isn’t any element to the design of the Amazon Fire TV Stick that would stand out, but since it will mostly be tucked away behind the TV panel, the aesthetics should not be much of a concern. A useful addition in the box is the HDMI extension adapter, which should come in handy if the boxy structure of the Fire Stick TV obstructs the HDMI port.

Speaking of the Google Chromecast, you get a rather unique look in the form of a circular structure with the HDMI cable dangling out from one end. The pebble-shaped Chromecast conveniently tucked into the back side of the TV, while the flexible HDMI cable ensure that it never gets in the way either. Available in Black and White color schemes for you to choose from, the rear side of the HDMI cable and the Chromecast itself is magnetic, allowing you to fold it over for an even more minimalist appearance. Unlike the Fire TV Stick, Chromecast does come with a button right next to the Micro USB port, which acts as a reset button.

Winner: Google Chromecast

Remote Control

The competition of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV starts heating up when it comes to the remote control options, especially since the latter comes with a physical remote control. Amazon offers the Alexa Voice Enabled Smart Remote along with the Fire TV Stick right out of the box, which comes with a physical voice assistance button built right into it. Apart from allowing you to easily access content using your voice, the added ability of having a smart voice assistant on the big screen allows you to perform a quick online search, look up the weather, and even check the latest sports score right away.

With a circular navigation panel at the center which resembles the old Apple TV Remote, you get the Back, Home, Options, Rewind, Play/Pause, and Fast-Forward buttons embedded in it. A physical remote control makes it easier for the less-tech-savvy users to operate the smart streaming device, hence giving the user a more traditional way of enjoying big-screen entertainment. The Amazon Fire TV for both, Android and iOS allow you to ditch the remote, and makes it easier to type in your searches, which is quite a slow experience when done through the Alexa Voice Remote.

On the other hand, Google Chromecast takes a different approach entirely, by ditching a physical remote control and turning your phone or tablet into one. Google has integrated the Chromecast service into thousands of apps, which makes the transition from the mobile phone’s display to the TV screen almost instantaneous. The user interface that the app provides you to control the Chromecast from a phone or tablet is fairly easy to understand, and the entire ecosystem of Google apps such as YouTube, Google Play Music, and many others, makes the experience fairly gentle and intuitive.

While Google Chromecast may beat the Amazon Fire TV Stick app, it does beat the actual interface that comes with the convenience of a physical remote control. For instance, when you choose to cast a movie or TV show from your Netflix app on the phone to the Chromecast, you can’t choose to watch anything else on Netflix from your phone without interrupting the playback on the big screen. Additionally, your phone or tablet must always be well within the range of the Wi-Fi network to which the Chromecast is connected to, if you want to enjoy uninterrupted streaming.

Winner: Amazon Fire TV Stick

Apps and Content

Amazon follows the same process of app deployment for the Fire TV Stick that it does for the Fire tablets, choosing to run its own version of Android. The company chooses to filter out Google Apps suite such as the Google Play Store, Google Movies, Google Play Music and several other, in an effort to minimize the monetization for its closest rival in the online media streaming business. The Amazon App Store still gives you a healthy choice of apps to choose from, including everything from news, games, productivity, and more, and there’s the option to sideload apps such as Kodi media player by enabling “Unknown Sources” from the Developer Options, just like you would on an Android phone or tablet, and the built-in 8GB storage should give you enough room to do so.

Google offers the ability to include the Chromecast option in almost every major media streaming app available on the Google Play Store, which is in the thousands. You get seamless integration in all of the popular names such as YouTube, Netflix, Hotstar, Hulu, Plex, Kodi, and there’s even the ability to cast non-supported ones through third-party apps such as AllCast. Amazon once again goes head to head with Google, by not offering the casting feature in the Amazon Prime Video app, thus putting your hopes of cross compatibility between Amazon and Google to rest. Additionally, Chromecast does not come with any built-in storage like the Fire TV Stick does, so all of the apps that you use with it need to be installed on your phone or tablet.

Winner: Tied

Display Mirroring

The Chromecast Vs FireStick TV showdown gets even closer when you are comparing two devices’ ability to perform screen mirroring. The feature allows users to use their TV screen as a duplicate display for their phone or tablet, allowing them to essentially view all sorts of media on the big screen effortlessly. Amazon Fire TV Stick comes with Miracast support right out of the box, which makes it possible for Android users to easily select the streaming device as a casting display and get going. Albeit there is lag when it comes to casting motion content such as videos, but the Mirroring feature on the Fire TV Stick is self-sufficient in handling photos, documents, and even music content.

Google Chromecast is a power-house when it comes to the ability of casting and mirroring content, allowing you to not only use the Cast button that is supported by thousands of apps, but also to cast directly using Google Chrome web browser. Just like its rival, the streamer does lose a few points when playing high-definition video content using screen mirroring, especially when the wireless router is not built to handle it. But the seamless integration of Google Photos makes the experience viewing images on the big screen a lot more fluidic and comfortable to navigate through.

Winner: Tied

Value for Money

Amazon is creating an ecosystem of products and services that are intertwined, and it has been successful in the form of Prime service. The chances are that as someone who is purchasing an Amazon Fire TV Stick, you are also an Amazon Prime member, which grants the Amazon Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Photos service bundled in. Considering that you can get the Fire TV Stick for cheaper as a Prime subscriber during the Amazon Prime Day sale, it makes the device even cheaper to get. The base price of the Fire TV Stick is set at $39.99 as of now, which includes the Alexa Remote along with it, making it a standalone media streaming solution.

Google Chromecast on the other hand is just a few dollars cheaper than its competitor at $35.00, but it does come with a lot less than the Fire TV Stick. You don’t get any form of physical remote control with the device, or is there an HDMI extension adapter included in the box. Google does have its very own streaming services such as Play Movies & TV, and Play Music as well, but these services are offered separately and not bundled along in the sense that Amazon has been able to achieve, which makes them an added entertainment expense for you to bear.

Winner: Amazon Fire TV Stick

Chromecast Vs FireStick TV – ExpressVPN is Essential

Regardless of the streaming device that you have your mind set on, it all comes down to the quality of your viewing experience with the numerous streaming services that are available. Services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many others tend to offer varying catalogs of content based on the region you access the website from. Additionally, you may not be able to enjoy premium streaming services in certain regions due to regional copyright conflicts, but your way around it all is ExpressVPN. 

Bypassing Geo-restrictions – If you reside in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other regions where there the federal authorities have blockaded access to streaming services, you won’t be able to access the service through Kodi either. Whether the functionality of the add-on is censored in your region or the service is entirely unusable, ExpressVPN allows you push forward with hundreds of remote servers across the world for you to connect to.

Avoid ISP Logging – Even if the service is not explicitly banned in your region of residence, the ISP (internet service provider) can still keep tabs on your usage. The online activity that you perform  can be logged, which poses not only a privacy threat, but the problem of the ISP fining you for unauthorized usage as well. With ExpressVPN and its military-grade encryption to secure your online activity, rest assured that your online browsing experience is 100% secure.

High-speed Streaming – Although you can find plenty of free and barely-secure VPN services out there that can help you connect with Kodi and make the most out the services, most of them offer sub-par streaming quality. When using ExpressVPN, you are automatically recommended servers which offer top upload and download streaming speeds, so you don’t ever have to sit in front of the screen, waiting for the buffering circle to load up.

Final Verdict

Amazon may essentially be an e-commerce company, but it is attempting to conquer the streaming entertainment world as well. Although there is plenty of competition in the space, thanks to Apple TV, Roku Player, Android TV, and others, Amazon is reaching out to the consumer base by offering a unique entry-level streaming device in the form of the Fire TV Stick. The only real competitor to the service at the same price point and similar features is the Roku Streaming Stick, but it also pales in comparison when you consider how well Amazon Prime Video and its supporting streaming services are cross-integrated.

BUY AMAZON FIRE TV STICK

BUY GOOGLE CHROMECAST

Google may have been first to market with the Chromecast, but the streaming device has always been more of an accessory, rather than a standalone streamer. In the battle of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV, the fact that the latter has its own user interface that is free from the requirement of a mobile phone or tablet, makes it a better choice. Google still has a huge stake in the industry, thanks to Android TV, which gives the Fire TV platform a run for its money. But when comparing the budget offerings from two of the biggest names in the tech industry today, Amazon Fire TV Stick is our preferred choice.

Is your home entertainment system powered by the enclosed, self-sustaining ecosystem of Amazon Fire TV Stick, or is Google Chromecast your choice of weapon against the cable company? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section on which side you’re on in the battle of Chromecast Vs FireStick TV and specify why so.

Learn How to Type Faster in 10 Minutes

Last updated on

Wanna learn how to type faster? You can do so in 10 minutes by reading this guide. However, do keep in mind that just knowing how to type isn’t enough to get faster. You’ll need hundreds of hours of practice to truly get good and become one with your keyboard.

Now, I’m not the fastest typist alive. But, with an average speed of 90-100 WPM, I think I’m at least qualified to give a few typing tips. So, let’s get right into it!

1: Learn How to Type Faster With Touch Typing

Learn how to type faster

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a professional or seasoned writer who needs to look at his keyboard. That’s because most of us are accustomed to at least one kind of touch typing. 

The image that you see above is more or less the standard touch typing layout that your average typist uses. All you have to do is merely place your index fingers on the F and J button, the rest of your fingers side by side, and then type by only moving each finger up or down depending on the button that you need to press. 

The only exceptions are your index and pinky fingers as they can move left or right to reach other keys. Everything else only goes up or down. 

That being said, it’s not like you’re forced to rely on this layout. You can make your own modifications to fit your personal style and whatever feels best for you. 

For example, I personally don’t like using my little fingers for pressing the 0 and 9. I prefer pretty much anything else that’s near them at that point. You can do anything similar. 

If up till now you relied on your eyes to type, then it’s definitely going to take you a while to get used to blind typing. Not only because you need to memorize every key and have your fingers become one with your keyboard, but also because you need to develop a certain level of finger dexterity to move each individual finger freely. The smallest fingers can be particularly tough. 

Still, once you get through this, I can guarantee you that your typing speed will start skyrocketing. 

2: Learn How to Type Faster By Typing Slower

Learn how to type faster

When you want to type fast, the logical approach of every newbie to typing is trying to type as fast as possible. And that sounds logical, right? 

However, there is one huge issue with that approach. The average brain is rather weak and fragile. If you push it to 100% even for more than a few seconds you’ll start getting tired and losing focus. That leads to mistakes which have a tremendous impact on your typing speed. 

Typing a bit slower than your maximum potential and being accurate will actually lead to you being faster than simply going as fast as you can. After all, hitting that backspace key is truly a speed killer. 

Fan fact: Rally drivers are known for only operating at 90-95% of their full potential. That’s because a single mistake can kill them or at the very least end the race. So, they leave a little bit of room and go just a tad slower than they can just to minimize the risk of making a mistake and crashing. It’s more or less the same thing for typing. You’re fighting with accuracy and trying to avoid mistakes as much as you can. 

3: Get a Good Keyboard

If you’re trying to learn how to type faster, lots of people will say that your keyboard has nothing to do with your ability. I assume that they’ve never managed to get past 60 WPM or they just have fingers that are made of iron or something. 

A keyboard can make a huge difference in your typing speed. I personally can’t type over 60WPM on my Laptop’s membrane keyboard but I’ve managed to get up to 138WPM on my Desktop’s mechanical one. 

Of course, I’m not saying that mechanical keyboards are better than membrane ones. It’s a matter of personal preference. And that brings us to the next point: finding something that fits your style and preference. 

As mentioned above, you can primarily pick either a membrane or a mechanical keyboard. Both of them give of a very different feeling, have different features, endurance levels, price points, noise levels, etc. 

Which type should you choose? Well, to put it in nutshell, membrane keyboards tend to feel a bit mushier and “heavy” on your fingers. However, they are also extremely silent and some people prefer that soft, mushy feeling. 

Mechanical keyboards feel a little bit more like a typewriter and some of them offer the tactile feedback that so many people are after. However, they also tend to be very expensive, heavy, and loud. So, do your research and pick whatever fits you best. 

If you’re into mechanical keyboards, make sure to check our best selections! I personally use the Corsair K70 Lux with red LEDs as my daily driver and it’s a wonder to work on. But, again, it’s a matter of personal preference. 

4: Look Forward And Find Your Own Style

Once you truly learn how to type fast, you’ll soon notice that despite how fast you are, you can still read and think much faster than you can type. Unless you’ve got superhuman fingers or something; in which case, you clearly don’t belong in this guide or in this world for that matter. 

So, take advantage of that fact to type faster. How? Simply think about what word is about to come after and proceed to place your fingers in the appropriate positions before you actually need to start typing that word. 

This saves up a lot of time and speeds up your typing. If you want to learn how to type faster, then this skill is a must have. Especially after a certain point where you’re at least two times faster than your average typist. 

It’s tough at first. But, if you practice enough it’ll become second nature to you and you won’t even have to think about it!

Best Power Supply To Get in 2019: VFM

Last updated on

Making a new PC build and looking for the best power supply that you can get? You should! The PSU is the heart of your computer. It’s responsible for providing stable power to all your components at all times. 

That being said, it goes without saying that this is the one component that you should never cheap out on! So, let’s take a look at the best power supplies that you can get right now, shall we?

1: Best Power Supply in The Budget Range: Corsair CX550

best power supply

Lots of PC enthusiasts may tell you that the Corsair CX series should be avoided. But, the truth is that it has served thousands and thousands of people with little to no issues. 

Add that to the fact that numerous reputable/experienced reviewers like Linus and JohnyGuru have said good words about it, and you can see why we picked this as the best power supply that you can get at the budget range. 

The CX 550 is 80 Plus Bronze certified which means that it’s at least 82% efficient at 20% load, 85% efficient under 50% load, and 82% at 100% load. That being said, 550 watts is definitely more than you’ll ever need for a budget system. But, it’s better to have a bit more room for upgrading and for playing it safe as well. 

Regarding the specifications, we’re looking at a full-wired setup, 5 SATA cables, 4 PATA connectors, 2 PCI-E connectors, and the standard stuff. 

Now, the full-wired setup can be a bit of a pain for cable management. But, we’re talking about a decent budget PSU here. We can’t have everything at this price range. 

The 2 PCI-E cables are definitely overkill and we wouldn’t recommend actually using 2 GPUs on this power supply. Corsair themselves are saying that this is not multi-GPU ready. So, not sure why they added 2 PCI-E connectors. 

If you’re living in a rather hot room, do keep in mind that the maximum operating temperature is 40-celsius degrees.

2: Best PSU For Mid-Range Builds: EVGA Supernova G2 (650)

best power supply

By moving on to mid-range builds, the power demands only get higher and so does the need for a more efficient and cooler, no pun intended, power supply. Thus, we’re moving from a 550-watt 80 Plus Bronze rated PSU to a 650-watt 80 Plus Gold rated one. 

Speaking of 80 Plus ratings, the Gold rating of the EVGA Supernova G2 means that you’ll be getting at least 87% efficiency or 90% depending on where you live. Oh, yeah. According to Wikipedia, power supplies seem to be more efficient on 230V EU plugs. Not a big deal, though. 

As mentioned before, this is a 650-watt power supply. This should be more than enough for a mid-range build which gives you room for upgrading towards the higher-end spectrum and maybe even use dual-GPU setups. After all, according to EVGA, this is SLI and Crossfire ready.

Moving towards the connectors, there are:

  1. 9 SATA ports divided into 3 cables
  2. 6 four-pin peripheral connectors split into 2 cables
  3. And 4 GPU connectors split into two cables with one of them offering a couple of 6-pin connections and another one offering two 6+2 connections

The EPS and ATX cables are a given so we’re not even going to mention those… even though technically speaking we just did. 

Last, but not least, this is fully modular and comes with Japanese capacitors on the inside with 7-years of warranty. To summarize: 

  1. Good cable management? Check
  2. Good price? Check
  3. Reliable and quiet? Check

Overall, we do definitely consider this as the best mid-range power supply that you can get – or at the very least one of the best!

3: Best High-End Power Supply: Corsair RM 650X

best power supply

At about 60 dollars more than the EVGA Supernova, the Corsair RM650x offers high-end performance for not a whole lot of money. It’s still a bit expensive, but not so much compared to other high-end models. 

“But, WTLS! This offers the same wattage as the previous choice and even the same efficiency level. Why should I pay more money for the same thing?” Good question, fellow reader! 

While on paper, both power supplies look identical, the RM650x is often placed on a higher tier level by enthusiasts and pros and is often deemed as a bit more reliable choice. So, who are we to speak against them? 

Now, of course, we’re not saying that the Supernova G2 is a bad choice for high-end builds. It’s actually still a great choice. But, if you’re making a brand new build, consider spending the extra money and getting something a bit more high-end like this one. 

Again, as we mentioned above, the RM650x is very identical with the Supernova in terms of on-paper specifications: 

  1. Fully modular
  2. Fanless operation in low power draws
  3. 80 Plus Gold rated
  4. Full Japanese capacitors
  5. 10-year warranty (3 more years compared to EVGA)
  6. Same number of connectors and multi-GPU ready

Overall, we’re looking at a high-quality PSU here that’s been approved by both thousands of users and pros. It’s hard to go wrong with it and we consider it the best power supply for high-end builds. 

4: Best Power Supply For Enthusiasts: Seasonic Prime 1000 Titanium

best power supply

So, this is obviously not targeted towards your average consumer. No “normal” gamer, professional, or any PC user who actually utilizes his computer like a normal person will need a thousand watts of power. 

If you’re into mining or you got multiple power-hungry GPUs running at once? Sure. You can utilize it. For the rest of us, chances are that there’s no need to go anywhere near something like that. There’s a reason that we ranked this as an “enthusiast” PSU. Still the best power supply on this category or at least one of the best.

As the name suggests, this offers Titanium efficiency, meaning that you get at least 92-94% efficiency which wastes little to no energy in waste heat, and also up to 1000 watts of power. Obviously, all of this costs quite a lot. More than twice as much compared to our high-end recommendation. 

Specification wise, you get all the goodies that our previous two recommendations offered along with even tighter load regulation. Fully modular setup, fanless mode up to 40% power draw, multiple connectors for GPUs, drives, and peripherals, etc. 

Overall, it’s simply one of the best PSUs that you can get in the enthusiast range. And in the rare chance that even a thousand watts are not enough for you, there always choices like the Corsair AXi 1600 (stay away from the 1200i model – too many negative reviews). 

That’s all for now! Hopefully, you managed to find your pair. If you’ve got any questions, let us know about them in the comments section down below!

Choosing the Best VPN Router – Buying Guide

Last updated on

Choosing the Best VPN Router – Buying Guide

Out in the market for the best VPN router that money can buy, but can’t seem to decide on one? Here’s our guide explaining what a VPN router really is, why you would need it, and a selection of hand-picked VPN routers for you to choose from.

In this modern age of computers, mobile phones, and smart devices that span across homes, online security is in focus. The need for setting up a virtual private network (VPN) has steadily increased over the years in personal and business setting as well, and plenty of services have sprung up to offer the best of it. Whether you’ve chosen to employee a VPN service to mask your online activity from the prying eyes of your ISP, or need one to keep the data that is going through your local network under the wraps, you are going to need a dependable VPN service to get the job done.

Traditionally, you would need to install the VPN service as an app on your computer or mobile device to allow filtering of the incoming and outgoing connection. While this is doable for domestic use around the house and even up to an extent for a small-scale business, how do you make sure that the internet connection on an enterprise level is being put through the protected servers of a VPN service provider? This is where the need for the best VPN router comes in handy, giving you a way to secure the internet connection right at the source, so you don’t need to manually set it up on devices one by one.

What is a VPN Router?

The wireless internet router that you choose to set up for your home or your business is the entry point for any incoming or outgoing online traffic. Generally speaking, we tend to focus on aspects such as bandwidth support and the extent of network connectivity when choosing a wireless router, but seldom do we consider whether it comes with VPN support. Regardless of what your thoughts are on the current state of federal-level web monitoring, it is essential for most workspaces to establish a VPN connection, especially if the business depends on the internet for remote connectivity and work done online.

This is where the need for the best VPN router comes into play, allowing you to bottleneck the incoming and outgoing network traffic. All of the internet traffic is filtered directly through the remote servers of the VPN, thus ensuring that each and every megabyte of data that is sent in and out of the wireless connection is concealed by the VPN service provider that you choose to set up the internet router with.

Why Choose ExpressVPN for your VPN Router?

While there are dozens of VPNs out there, ExpressVPN has managed to make a name for itself not just a preferred service provider, but one that works seamlessly with VPN routers. To sum up all of the advantages that ExpressVPN offers specifically for VPN routers, here’s everything that you need to know:

All-in-one Protection – Rather than grabbing every piece of tech that you have in your work space and home and installing the VPN service app on it, a wireless router with the ability to set up the ExpressVPN service on it directly, helps you streamline the process and save you the trouble of doing the installation process on a bunch of separate devices.

Tightened Security – There’s no point in bolstering the online security on the office computers, if you’re going to end up with employees using their mobile devices to connect to the internet in an unsecured way. An ExpressVPN-powered router makes sure that every bit of data that goes in and out is protected by the highest standards of internet security protocols that ExpressVPN has to offer.

Simplified Interface – While most VPN services do offer a well-designed app for users to download, set up, and start using, ExpressVPN makes it even simpler. Apart from a clean user interface that easily allows you to activate the VPN service and choose your preferred server locations, a feature called “Split Tunneling” allows you to add and remove devices that are included under the protection of ExpressVPN.

What’s the Best VPN Router? – Buying Guide

The dire need of control over the internet freedom and to secure the network connection for businesses and enterprises, VPN routers have become commonly available. We’ve sorted through the sea of options that are available in the market today and shortlisted the best ones, based on the area of service they are required for.

Best VPN Router for Home – Linksys WRT AC3200

The WRT series of wireless routers from Linksys have been a household name in the market for decades now, and the latest Linksys WRT AC3200 retains all of the qualities that users like about the brand. The open-source software design of this home router comes with the ability to flash the DD-WRT firmware for VPN compatibility. Packed with features such as Tri-Stream 160 technology along with ample of connectivity through 4x Gigabit ports, there’s plenty of firepower tucked away in the modest casing of the Linksys WRT AC3200.

Specs:

  • 11ac: 3x 867 Mbps
  • 11n: 600 Mbps
  • 4x Gigabit Ethernet
  • 1x USB 3.0
  • 1 x ESATA/USB 2.0
  • 8GHz dual core CPU

Get the Linksys WRT AC3200

Best VPN Router for Office – Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN Router

This router from Cisco Systems cuts out the fancy additions and adding some core features that corporate offices and enterprises need to fulfil their connectivity requirements. The Dual Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports that have been added to the wireless router by more than a dozen, allow you to hook up multiple devices and smoothly manage the network traffic. VPN capabilities have been advertised fairly on the Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN Router, with a simplified user interface, backed by SSL and IP security right out of the box.

Specs:

  • Dual-Band 802.11a/b/g/n
  • 14x Ethernet
  • 1 x ESATA/USB 2.0
  • Integrated VPN support

Get the Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN Router

Best VPN Router for Gaming – NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S AC2600

For those who don’t want to settle for anything less than the best for their gaming experience, while ensuring complete anonymity online, the NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S AC2600 is the beast to choose. Offering rapid-fire wireless speeds, support for Multi-User MIMO, and Dynamic QoS that prioritizes bandwidth for latency-sensitive services such as video streaming and gaming, you even get the smart integration of Amazon Alexa to control your home network using voice commands.

Specs:

  • AC2600 Wi-Fi – 800+1733 Mbps speeds
  • 2x USB 3.0 and eSATA
  • 4x High-gain external antennas
  • MU-MIMO and Quad Stream technology

Get the NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S AC2600

Best VPN Router for Portability – GL.iNet GL-AR750 Travel AC Router

Allowing you to set up your very own VPN service with the pre-installed WRT/LEDE firmware, GL.iNet GL-AR750 adds an element of portability to high-speed secure internet usage. Powered up by a simple USB connection right from your computer, this travel router comes with plenty of connectivity options not just through the Ethernet ports, but by the support of MicroSD card slot as well. Offering dual-bandwidth support, paired with a high-range antenna allows you to have a full-fledged internet experience no matter where you are.

Specs:

  • Dual-band 300MB/s(2.4 GHz)+433MB/s(5 GHz)
  • Qualcomm QCA9531 SoC,650MHz CPU
  • 10/100 Ethernet port x 3
  • Supports MicroSD storage up to 128GB
  • 80 – 100 meters Wi-Fi Range

Get the GL.iNet GL-AR750 Travel AC Router

Final Words

There is no denying the fact that the internet needs policing, especially due to the growing rate of cybercrime and other malicious online activities. But it doesn’t seem fair that the end-user pays for the sins of a few and being stripped of their internet freedom. The very reason behind the boost in the popularity of VPN services is to help unsuspecting users stay guarded against online threats, while enjoying anonymous access into the World Wide Web.

Integrating the VPN service right into the source of the internet makes your browsing experience more secure, while saving you the trouble of manually enabling and disabling the service each and every time. We’ve chosen to stick with ExpressVPN, since it offers a ability to set up a VPN router not just manually, but directly through the ExpressVPN app as well. Our collection of the best VPN router offerings out there has been curated to help you make the selection easily.

Are you also going to join ExpressVPN and pair it with a VPN-compatible router on the crusade for online freedom? If you do need any assistance in choosing a VPN router, or want to know more about it, just ask for help in the comments section and we’ll surely get back to you.

Best SD Card Reader for iPhone – Buying Guide

Last updated on

Looking for the best SD card reader for iPhone and iPad that can help you forget your woes regarding the low storage space? Let’s take a look at the best offerings available in the market and reviewing them one by one.

In the year 2007 when the very first Apple iPhone was released to revolutionize the mobile market, it came with a base storage of 4GB. In times when mobile camera quality was subpar compared to today, and the operating system was not as beefy as the current generation of iOS and Android OS, even a single gigabyte seemed like an overachievement on Apple’s part. However, as the era of mobile devices has progressed, the software component along with the hardware, camera picture quality, and the need for media storage has increased tremendously over the years.

The technology behind expandable storage has also evolved over the years, with 1TB MicroSD cards also available on the market now. Most Android OEMs have realized the need for expandable storage and added the feature to their devices, allowing users to plug in a MicroSD card and enjoy hundreds of gigabytes of extended storage space. Apple continues to capitalize over the phone storage space, just as it has been doing right from the start. However, the high-quality camera that shoots high definition photos and videos, along with media-heavy apps, might make you thirsty for those extra gigabytes.

Apple iCloud Isn’t Enough

So you choose to purchase a 32GB version of the Apple iPhone, hoping that the storage space would be ample for all of your apps, files, photos, videos, and more. Just a couple of years down the line, you end up with an iPhone that is bloated with all sorts of content, and there’s no physical way to make space for more. The only option that is provided to you is using the iCloud service, which is Apple’s way of monetizing at your expense while giving you a mediocre way of adding some virtual gigabytes to the storage space.

However, Apple iCloud is far from perfect and monopolizes the way you use it, without allowing you any means to compartmentalize the data that you add to it. Although there is always an option to move media to a computer using iTunes, it simply doesn’t offer the convenience you deserve. This is where the invention of an SD card reader for iPhone comes in handy, giving you a way to connect an SD card directly to your iPhone or iPad. By utilizing the Lightning connector on your iOS device, the SD card reader allows you to access media files stored on a thumb drive or SD card directly from the iPhone itself.

Best SD Card Reader for iPhone and iPad

Since our mobile devices have become the window we use to view and connect with others across the globe, sharing photos and videos online is made easier with SD card readers for iPhone and iPad, especially when you’re sharing them directly from a DSLR camera. Apart from the official accessory available from Apple, we’ve reviewed a handful of high-quality SD card readers that work with both, iPhone and iPad.

1. Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

The official accessory from Apple comes as a recognition of the fact that users do need a way to connect external media devices such as pen drives and even cameras to transfer and view photos and videos on the go. However, the USB 2.0 port on the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter takes things one step further, by allowing you to connect other devices such as an iPad, an iPhone, or even other mobile devices to your iPhone and view the media that is stored on these devices. The adapter comes with its very own Lightning port, allowing you to charge the device while you’re using it to transfer and view media content.

 

Get the Amazon Lightning USB 3 Camera Adapter

2. FA-STAR SD Card Reader

One of the highest-rated SD card reader for iPhone and iPad that is available at the moment, FA-STAR has managed to solve the issue of media sharing on iOS devices for good. Priced at less than half the cost of the adapter accessory that is offered by Apple, this SD card reader with Lightning port comes with the ability to support all of the popular photo (JPEG, RAW, etc.), and video formats (H.264, MPEG-4, etc.) as well. Offering decent transfer speeds of standard USB 2.0, the FA-STAR SD Card Reader comes with two slots, allowing you to connect both, a regular SD Card, as well as the minuscule MicroSD Card directly.

Get the FA-STAR SD Card Reader

3. Aigouzer SD Card Camera Adapter

Based on the working design of the first generation official Apple Lightning to SD Card adapter, this iteration by Aigouzer matches the original one in terms of performance. The cheapest SD card for iPhone and iPad that you can find the market right now, the SD card reader can support a capacity of up to 64GB and offers decent transfer speeds of up to 16MB/sec. While you do not get an additional Lightning port to charge the iOS device simultaneously or get multiple slots for connection, the Aigouzer iOS SD Card Reader is worth the money.

Get the Aigouzer SD Card Camera Adapter

4. SUNTRSI SD Card Adapter

Taking the ability to share media files among your iPhone, media devices and even your computer one step further, the SD Card USB Adapter by SUNTRSI still manages to be cheaper than Apple’s official accessory. The 4-in-1 design of this adapter comes with a Lightning port for you to directly connect to an iOS device, includes a USB drive on the other end that you can hook into a computer directly, gives you the ability to add a MicroSD card through the slot, and also comes with a USB Type-C connector port, allowing you to share content with Android devices as well. There are two additional slots on the side of the adapter that grant you the ability to hook up a MicroSD and SD Card to the rig as well.

Get the SUNTRSI SD Card Adapter

5. Nousija SD TF Card Reader

Based on a similar design concept as that of the official adapter that Apple has developed, but this third-party accessory comes with a bunch of more additions. The 4-in-1 adapter comes with a Lightning port that allows you to hook up a Lightning cable to simultaneously charge the device while using it, a Micro SD slot, an SD Card slot, and finally, a USB 2.0 port as well, so that you can use a USB cable to hook up any media device directly to your iPhone or iPad. Offering high transfer speeds across devices of up to 16MBs/sec, you don’t need any third-party app to use the Nousija SD TF Card Reader with your iOS device.

Get the Nousija SD TF Card Reader

Bonus: SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive 64GB for iPhone and iPad

If you are not looking for a way to just view and transfer content from an SD card, but want to add expandable storage to your iPhone or iPad, the easiest way to do so is using a pen drive that is officially supported by Apple. SanDisk offers an easy way to do so through the iXpand Flash Drive that is available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and even 256GB variants. The device comes with a USB drive on one side and a Lightning port on the other that you can use to hook up to your iOS device, the iXpand Flash Drive offers high-speed USB 3.0 transfers when connected to the computer. The flexible design of the Lightning port on the USB Flash Drive allows you to easily maneuver it, without damaging the components.

Get the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive 64GB for iPhone and iPad

Final Words

For most Apple fans who choose to stick to the brand no matter what, the closed-circuit design of the iOS is not a nuisance, but a feature. But even the most diehard Apple fans have to endure the pain that comes with the limitation of storage space that iPhone enforces upon its users. It may cost Apple only a few bucks on the manufacturing level to add large storage space to the iOS devices, but the company uses this opportunity to maximize its profits.

If you are among those who can’t let go of Apple but don’t want to end up shelling out hundreds of dollars more just to double the storage space, then getting your hands on the best SD card reader for iPhone and iPad is just what you need. By adding gigabytes of expandable storage to your iPhone and also get the ability to view photos and videos directly on your iDevice. Which of the SD card readers above are you going to grab to make your phone’s media management easier? If you do need more assistance in choosing the right one, simply ask for help in the comments section right down below.

Best Android Voice Recorder Apps to Get Right Now

Last updated on

Are you on the lookout to find the best Android voice recorder app but can’t select one from the long list of options available? Here’s our personal pick of the best audio recorder apps that you can find on the Google Play Store right now for free.

Back in the day when mobile devices were intended to be nothing more than communication devices, you’d expect nothing more than text messaging and voice calls. However, as the technology behind mobile phones has evolved, so has the number of features that the manufacturers are able to pack into a single piece of technology. The modern smartphone can do a whole lot more than just be used for day-to-day communication, thanks to the power of internet connectivity, high-quality camera hardware, and plenty of software features built into the system.

One such feature comes through the secondary use of the microphone that is embedded into each and every mobile phone, which doubles up as a voice recorder. For years, the voice recorder app was a complimentary feature offered my almost every major smartphone manufacturer by default. With the inception of the Google Play Store, there has been an influx of Android voice recorder apps available for users to try out. Whether you’re a journalist who needs to record an interview on the go, want to save a voice note as a reminder, or just a musician trying to get some tunes right, a voice recorder app always comes in handy.

Best Android Voice Recorder Apps

Now that so many options to choose from, how do you settle upon the best audio recorder app for you? We’ve boiled it down to the best and brightest voice recorder apps that is ideal for capturing those voice notes anywhere at any time.

1. Easy Voice Recorder

This is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a voice recorder app that works as your daily companion for audio notetaking, capture class lectures, take down personal notes and more. You can choose the different compression formats to record in, and there’s no limit to the duration of the voice recordings that you take. You can easily share the saved audio notes, use the Easy Voice Recorder widget to quickly capture voice notes, and the support for Android Wear allows you to make recordings right from your smartwatch.

Get the Easy Voice Recorder App

2. Voice Recorder

One of the highest-rated Android voice recorder apps that you will find on the Google Play Store, this app comes provides you with the ability to create high quality sound recordings. The simplified user interface makes it easier for users of all age groups and experience to use the app with ease, and supports the two major audio formats of MP3 and OGG to create voice notes during business meetings, interviews, lectures, and more. The Voice Recorder app comes with a live audio spectrum analyzer, microphone gain calibration tool, and more.

Get the Voice Recorder App

3. Samsung Voice Recorder

Now available as an app that is free for use across the Android platform, Samsung Voice Recorder is your gateway to a high-quality sound recording experience. This Android voice recorder app is available in three modes – Standard where you get a basic and simplified sound recording experience, Interview mode that makes use of the two microphones on your device to measure the different waveforms separately, and the Voice Memo more than includes STT (on-screen text).

Get the Samsung Voice Recorder App

4. Music Maker JAM

While this specific app is designed to be a rival to the GarageBand virtual music studio that Apple has crafted, Music Maker JAM doubles up as a vital audio recording app. Designed to help up and coming musical talents to create their very own music and even record instrumental music, vocals, and sound effects right from the smartphone, Music Maker JAM makes it easier to share, manage, and even edit the voice recordings that you’ve created.

Get the Music Maker JAM App

5. Otter Voice Notes

Made for the professional notetaking use that many need during college lectures, important office meetings, and journalistic use, Otter Voice Notes is a step towards the evolution of Android voice recorder apps. Giving you the ability to easily transcribe all sorts of media and spoken content, the widget on your phone’s home screen will get you started right away, while the ability to include picture at a certain point in the recording, highlight key points, and the AI-powered engine for added punctuation makes Otter Voice Notes revolutionary.

Get the Otter Voice Notes App

6. Sony Audio Recorder

The Japanese tech giant seldom releases an app for open use across the Android platform, but when it does release products like the Audio Recorder app, you can expect the best from it. The simplified user interface will almost make you forget that the app comes packed with powerful features such as speech-to-text transcription, easily manage voice notes and edit them on the fly, easily share work across different media platforms, and the best part is that you get all of these premium features absolutely free.

Get the Sony Audio Recorder

7. Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder (Free)

Packed with the ability to record audio notes in MP3 format (which is universally compatible with every sound playback device and software), making the files compact and easily transferrable. You can change the quality up to 320-BIT and the format as well, along with the choice to transfer files wirelessly to a computer across a Wi-Fi network, or back it all up to the cloud, all thanks to the Dropbox integration.

Get the Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder App

8. WaveEditor for Android

If you are an audiophile who is not just looking for an Android voice recorder app that can not only save voice notes but also edit the recording to the very core, then the WaveEditor app is the one for you. Built with multi-track mixing and editing, support for both MP3 and WAV formats, and packed with sound editing features such as 32-BIT signal processing, amplitude meter, sample editing and more, you can break down the audio notes to bits, process and analyze them further, and comes with a bunch of premium features in the paid version.

Get the WaveEditor for Android App

Final Words

Audio recording is a handy feature to have, and if you are among the smartphone owners who don’t get the feature right out of the box, third-party apps are the way to go. The fact of the matter is that most people are going to download one audio recorder app and stick with it for years to come. Rather than just mentioning a list of Android voice recorder apps that top the list on the Google Play Store, we’ve cherry-pick the most unique offerings that are available for users to download for free.

Which of these audio recording apps for Android devices are your absolute favorite when it comes to creating audio notes and transcribing lectures, meetings, and interviews? Be sure to share your favorite and if we’ve missed on a great product, mention it in the comments and we’ll surely review it and add it to the rest of the good ones.

What’s The Best Bluetooth Audio Receiver? (2019)

Last updated on

Nobody really likes messing around with cables. But, up to a certain point, it is a necessity. And you can go with wireless options, but, what if you already got your expensive wired speakers or headphones and don’t want to spend anything more for wireless counterparts? Well, that’s where a Bluetooth audio receiver may come in handy. 

In case that you don’t know about them, Bluetooth audio receivers can connect with a Bluetooth device and turn your wired headphones, speakers, or any sound solution that has an AUX input into a wireless system. But, which one should you choose? Well, let’s check out some of the best options out there!

Best Bluetooth Audio Receiver For in-House Usage: Logitech Bluetooth Adapter

Bluetooth audio receiver

This is one of the most popular Bluetooth audio receivers out there. You can rest assured that it’ll work as intended over a very wide range. After all, we’re talking about Logitech here. 

One of the biggest advantages that this adapter offers compared to some of the cheaper options that we checked out is that you can connect two devices to it at once. Now, we don’t know if you can stream audio with both devices simultaneously. But, chances are that you don’t want to do that anyway. 

At about 23 bucks, you get both one AUX port for connecting “traditional” speakers but also RCA ports so that you can use things like A/V receivers or something. As for range, according to Logitech, you’re looking at about 50 feet, or 15 meters depending on where you’re from. 

Now, do keep in mind that this audio receiver needs to be plugged in. It doesn’t have a battery for portable usage. That’s why we mainly recommend this one for home usage. Simply plug it in, connect your speakers, pair your devices with it, and enjoy. 

One disadvantage that numerous people have mentioned on their reviews for the Logitech adapter, though, is that it’s a bit “too persistent” when it comes to pairing. Meaning that it can cause a number of issues if you want to use your connected devices for other wireless activities. So, do keep that in mind. 

Apart from those two small disadvantages, this is definitely one of the best receivers that you can get. Especially now that it’s on sale. 

Check out the Logitech Bluetooth audio adapter on Amazon
 

Best Audio Receiver For Portability: TaoTronics Receiver

bluetooth audio receiver

The TaoTronics receiver is one of the best that you can get. In fact, it’s currently Amazon’s best selling Bluetooth audio receiver right now with almost 7,000 ratings and an average rating of 4.3/5. So many people can’t possibly be wrong. 

But, with that being said, what is it that makes this receiver so good? After all, it doesn’t give you dual connectivity or anything more than AUX output. It doesn’t even give you the range of Logitech’s adapter. So, what gives? 

Apparently, when it comes to portability, this receiver outranks most of the other choices; if not all of them. It gives you about 10 hours of battery life, 200 hours of standby time, and a built-in microphone. 

You get about 33ft of range, which is obviously not as good as our previous option. But, it should still be more than enough. Especially for the purpose that this was made for. 

Media control buttons are also present which is a huge plus when it comes to portability and ease of use. At least in certain cases. You can use them to adjust volume, pause, skip, or resume playing. 

One great thing that you can do with it is to use it so that you can turn your wired headphones into wireless. All you need to do is plug your headphones in, pair the adapter with your phone or PC, and voila, your headphones are now technically wireless. And all of that for just 15 bucks. Not bad. 

Check out the TaoTronics audio receiver on Amazon
 

Best Bluetooth Audio Receiver For Audiophiles: EarStudio ES100

While the rest of our options are definitely great for casual users, demanding audiophiles will definitely find the audio quality to be lacking. After all, wireless connectivity is known for being inferior in terms of quality, right? Well, as it turns out, not always. 

The EarStudio ES100 is an audio receiver that promises to deliver 24-bit audio. Under other circumstances, this isn’t that much of a big deal. Because nowadays, even built-in Laptop sound cards can give you that. However, doing that over Bluetooth and on smartphones is very impressive, to say the least. After all, do keep in mind that many smartphones don’t support this bitrate. Wired or not. 

Other than that, this doesn’t only work as an audio receiver, but also as a USB DAC. So, you’re basically getting two products for the price of one. But, boy is that a high price tag. At the moment, if you want to get the EarStudio ES100, then you’re looking at $100. Ouch. 

This is clearly much more expensive than our other options. But, it’s also much better. You get high-rez audio, a built-in equalizer, the DAC, a built-in mic, analog volume control, and of course, the media control buttons. 

Still, with that being said, before spending your hard earned money on this, make sure that you’ve got the appropriate equipment and ears to use it. After all, it doesn’t make sense to spend 100 bucks on a DAC/receiver to use it with your $10 earphones. You get my point. 

Furthermore, as we mentioned above, not everyone can tell the difference between “normal” audio and high-rez audio. So, do keep that in mind as well. 

Check out the EarStudio ES100 on Amazon

Conclusion

This was our collection of the best Bluetooth audio receivers that you can get right now. Hopefully, you managed to find the best option for you. Let us know if you have any questions.

If you feel like there is another choice that we should’ve included, then do let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!

Headphone Ear Pads Buying Guide

Last updated on

Headphone Ear Pads can massively impact both sound quality and comfiness. But, which type should you choose? There are so many to pick from. No need to worry. We’re here to help. Let’s check out the different types of ear pads and what you can expect to get from them!

A Couple of Side Notes

Before we start, let us note that ear pads will impact your sound quality. We’ve noticed that most of the negative reviews on 3rd party ear pads are talking about that and it’s amazing that so many people are not aware of this. 

Now, the amount of change that you’re going to experience in sound largely depends on what kind of ear pads you’ll get, which is what this article is about, how much distance they put between the headphones and your ears, and if you’re getting a set that is specifically made for your headphones or not. 

With that being said, let’s move on. We obviously can’t list every pair of headphones out there and that’s why we’re going to be checking out ear pads from 3rd parties. More specifically, Brainwavz. After all, they are the most popular and reliable in this niche right now. 

1: Leather And Pleather

headphone ear pads

Leatherette is one of the most common ear pads. It’s kinda like the pop culture of headphones and headsets really and there’s a good reason for that. 

Leather offers good sound isolation. Thanks to that, not only you won’t be able to hear any noises from the outside (depending on your headphones) but others won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to either. 

Other than that, thanks to the tight fit and the leather itself, you do also get more bass with balanced mids and highs. 

Well, that sounds Perfect! Right? No need to check out anything else then! Well, just hold on there a minute. Leather ear pads may be offering the best audio quality in terms of both base and balance, but they are also the most uncomfortable – at least compared to other types. 

No matter how soft, leather cannot compete with velour in terms of comfiness. No matter if we’re talking about real leather or pleather, it’s just naturally a bit tougher/harder on your ears. 

While we’re at this subject, rumor has it that real leather is far more endurable compared to pleather. So, do keep that in mind. Though, we can neither confirm or deny that. 

Pros: 

  • Decent noise isolation
  • Decent bass

Cons: 

  • A bit uncomfortable compared to other options
  • Soundstage is a bit narrow

Check out Leatherette ear pads on Amazon
 

2: Velour

headphone ear pads

As far as headphone ear pads go, velour is quite possibly the softest material that you can get for this kind of use. However, it offers poor sound isolation which can be both a positive and a negative thing depending on who you ask. 

For example, if you are looking for a more “open” feel with a wider soundstage then you can definitely take advantage of velour. After all, sound flows almost freely through it which is what gives this kind of ear pad its unique profile. 

At the same time, if sound isolation is a big deal for you, like if you’re living on a noisy environment or you don’t want to annoy others with whatever you’re listening to, then this can become quite an issue. So, it’s a matter of personal preference. 

Another negative thing is that velour ear pads almost sacrifice the low-end sounds while boosting mids and highs which can make for an almost painful experience – depending on your headphones, equalizer, and how much distance there is between the headset and your ears. 

Overall, as comfortable as they are, velour ear pads are a major turn off for numerous people because they sacrifice bass and offer poor audio isolation. 

Pros: 

  • Very comfortable
  • Can offer a wider soundstage

Cons: 

  • Poor audio isolation
  • Poor bass and audio balance (depending on headphones and equalizer)

Check out velour headphone ear pads on Amazon

 

3: Hybrid Headphone Ear Pads

headphone ear pads

Hybrids are using a combination of both velour and leather in order to offer the best of both worlds. How? You get velour on the top of the pads in order to get the comfiness of velour while the sides are covered with leather. And in that way, you get both comfiness and audio quality along with noise isolation in one package. 

However, do keep in mind that this is not as breathable as full velour and not as soundproof as full leather. The sound is closer to what stock leather gives you, though. 

Overall, hybrid ear pads are pretty close to perfection and you can hardly go wrong with them. If you want the comfiness of velour ear pads and the sound quality of leatherette, do definitely consider getting a hybrid pair. 

The only ones who are likely to be totally disappointed with this pair are those who need the soundstage that velour offers. In which case, you can always just ignore this set and go with whatever you prefer. 

One thing to keep in mind is that they are a tiny bit more expensive than a leather set. But, only for about $4 usually. So, not a big deal. Especially if you consider that you’re not going to be replacing them for a long time. 

Pros: 

  • Comfortable
  • Good audio quality and balance

Cons: 

  • Relatively narrower soundstage compared to velour
  • A tiny bit more expensive than the stock options

Check out hybrid ear pads on Amazon

 

What Headphone Ear Pads Should I get? 

  • Leather: Suitable for both music lovers and competitive gamers as it offers good audio isolation and good audio balance/quality
  • Velour: Suitable for those who want a wider soundstage and value comfort over audio quality. Also if you don’t care about noise isolation and bass all that much. 
  • Hybrids: Suitable for those who want the comfiness of velour and the sound that leather pads offer

Hopefully, that helped you find the right ear pads for you. Before buying, make sure that the ear pads will fit your headset. You can do that by either checking on the Amazon questions, description, or by taking the measurements for yourself. 

 

What’s The Best Budget Monitor to Get in 2019?

Last updated on

Looking for the best budget monitor that you can grab in 2019? Well, we’ve made all the research for you and came across some of the best options that are out there right now. 

The reason that we’ll be looking at numerous monitors is because each one of them is the best in a certain category like gaming, editing, casual use, you get it. And when we say budget, we mostly look at $200 or less. 

We understand that for some of you, 200 bucks is definitely not on the cheap/budget range. But, do understand that those monitors offer the best value for what they do. You’re better off saving a few pennies and getting something a bit more expensive than scraping by to get something slightly cheaper and end up regretting it later. That being said, let’s start!

Best Budget Monitor For Gaming: ViewSonic XG2401

best budget monitor

As far as budget gaming monitors go, this is definitely one of the best options out there; if not the best. Yes, the bezels are quite thick and that’s a bummer. But, the advantages that it offers at this price point more than makeup for this. 

First of all, you get a refresh rate of 144Hz. If you’re into competitive gaming, then this is definitely a game changer. And the best part? It only asks for 200 bucks or less depending on if you want the ergonomic version or not. 

Other than that, it’s 24 inches big which is arguably the sweet spot for gaming and it has a response time of 1ms. That being said, low input lag is a given. As for the resolution, you’re looking at 1080P which is the gold standard for that screen size. 

Last, but not least, you also get FreeSync support with a DP port which means that you can use it on both AMD and Nvidia cards that support this kind of technology, sweet. 

Overall, if you’re into competitive gaming and you don’t mind the rather thick bezels, this is definitely a very solid choice. Though, do keep in mind that it uses a TN panel. So, if you’re planning on editing pictures and videos, then this may not be the best choice; both because of color accuracy and viewing angles. For the rest of us, it’s not a big deal. 

Check out the ViewSonic XG2401 on Amazon

 

Best Budget Monitor For Casual Use: Acer SB220Q

best budget monitor

Gaming in 144Hz is nice and everything. But, not everyone likes or needs gaming, fancy features, big screens, and stuff like that. Some people just want a “normal” monitor to get them through the day for basic usage. So, why spend extra money on something that you don’t need when you can grab the Acer SB220Q for less than 100 bucks? 

If you simply want to do things like browse social media and watch a YouTube video every now and then, then this is definitely one of the best budget monitors for casual usage that you can get right now. Thin bezels, sleek design, decent resolution, it has everything you’ll need for that kind of use. 

The biggest difference between this one and other monitors in this price range is that it doesn’t simply offer a resolution of 1080P at 21 inches (which is super sharp at this size), but also a refresh rate of 75Hz. So, you can basically also use it for a pleasant gaming experience if your desktop is up to the task. 

It also uses an IPS panel which makes it usable for work as well. However, due to the fact that it’s only 21 inches, you may find it tiresome for working and gaming in long periods of time. That is clearly a matter of personal preference. But, just saying. 

Check out the Acer SB220Q on Amazon

 

Best Budget Monitor For Watching Movies: AOC Q3279VWFD8

Best budget monitor

The AOC Q3279VWFD8 could get our recommendation as the best budget monitor for all kinds of use. However, the huge display that it offers is both an advantage and a disadvantage depending on who you ask. 

For an example, those who work 8 hours shifts on their computers may find this a bit tiresome. Same goes for gaming. And for that reason, we’re giving it the title of the best budget monitor for movies. 

With a 31-inch IPS panel and a resolution of QHD, this will definitely offer a great experience for watching videos. Though, at about $228, we’re slightly stepping out of our budget range. Still, it’s probably worth it. 

Chances are that you can also use it for playing RPG games or something that’s considered a bit cinematic. After all, it offers both a refresh rate of 75Hz and FreeSync. But, again, it may be a bit too tiresome for playing FPS games, working, or anything that requires you to focus on small points. 

Check out AOC Q3279VWFD8 on Amazon
 

Best Monitor For Everything: Acer SB270

Best budget monitor

Yet another monitor from Asus joins our list. This is pretty much the same monitor that we recommended for casual usage, except it comes with a 27-inch display. 

The SB270 is kinda the jack of all trades, master of none. You can use it for gaming, work, casual browsing, and pretty much everything. However, it really only excels for work thanks to its perfectly balanced size and IPS display. 

It’s kind of the middle line between everything that we’ve checked out till now. It doesn’t have the monstrous size of AOC, but it’s big enough for entertaining yourself. And it doesn’t offer the crazy refresh rate of the ViewSonic, but it’s still suitable for most kinds of gamers. 

However, do keep in mind that it doesn’t offer a DP port. So, Nvidia users won’t be able to get advantage of the FreeSync technology here. After all, it only works through DP ports in Nvidia cards. 

Overall, if you want something that can do a little bit of everything, then this one is definitely a great choice. 

Check out the Acer SB270 on Amazon
 

That’s all for now. If you feel like there are other monitors that are worthy of being on this list, then please do let us know about them on the comments section down below!