Review

REVIEW – Audio-Technica ATH-M40x

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A few months ago I had to replace my daily driver headphones after my Samson Z55 headphones broke after nearly four years of everyday use (the bracket connecting one of the ear cups snapped off). After doing some research and being unable to source another Samson Z55, I decided on getting the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x.

The ATH-M40x are closed-back dynamic headphones with 40mm rare earth magnet drivers, with an impedance of 35 ohms, making them very easy to power.

The headphones have a frequency response of 15 – 24,000 Hz and are tuned flat for incredibly accurate sound monitoring across the entire frequency range, thus making them excellent studio reference headphones.

The headphone consists of a mainly plastic construction with a folding design, making them easy to pack away in a travel bag.

As with most decent headphones, the ATH-M40x has a detachable cable. The one thing to note is that the cable connects to the headphones via a 2.5mm jack, instead of a 3.5mm jack, as with many headphones.

The ATH-M40x headphones have a very comfortable fit, except for the included ear pads, which I found too small and caused unpleasant pressure on my ears, a common problem I have found with most earpads included with headphones. I resolved this issue by replacing the earpads with the Brainwavz Hybrid Memory Foam Ear Pads, available on Amazon for around $25.

I enjoy the sound quality and tuning of the ATH-M40x, and after a few months of usages, I am impressed by the quality they offer, especially at the $99 price point. Although the ATH-M40x will not be to everyone’s tastes, especially for people who prefer heavier bass, I can highly recommend them for anyone looking for a comfortable neutral headphone.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is available on Amazon for $99.

REVIEW – Audio-Technica ATH-M40x

REVIEW – COOLER MASTER MM710 PRO-GRADE GAMING MOUSE WITH HONEYCOMB SHELL AND ULTRAWEAVE CABLE

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The Cooler Master MM710 is an ultra-light gaming mouse in the same vein of the now famous Glorious Model O mouse. It is currently listed on Amazon at around the $50 price-point, making it a fair bit less expensive than the Glorious Model O. It weighs 53 grams and as someone who usually prefers a heavier mouse, it feels completely weightless.
The Honeycomb shell has a very comfortable ergonomic shape, and the ultraweave cable combined with its ultra smooth PTFE feet makes using the mouse absolutely effortless.

The mouse pictured below is the matte black option, however, matte white, gloss black and gloss white options are also available.

Here is a technical specification breakdown of the MM710:

MM710
Year Released 2019
DPI 16000dpi
Buttons 6
Connectivity Wired USB
Weight 53g
Sensor Pixart Optical
Additional Features

Ultra-Lightweight

Ultraweave cable

Omron Switches

The MM710 was the first ultra-lightweight gaming mouse I have tried, and I found using it very comfortable and precise, saying that I am not quite ready to give up the Logitech G603 as my daily driver as I still find it more comfortable. A large part of this relates to the muscle memory I have developed by using a heavier mouse for many years now, and it will take time to get used to such a lightweight mouse.
The MM710 is an excellent product at a very reasonable price, and it is worth considering if you are looking for a lightweight mouse.

REVIEW – COOLER MASTER MM710 PRO-GRADE GAMING MOUSE WITH HONEYCOMB SHELL AND ULTRAWEAVE CABLE

MOVIE REVIEW – MAKER: A DOCUMENTARY ON THE MAKER MOVEMENT

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MakerMovie

Maker is a documentary film directed by Mu-Ming Tsai that focuses on the maker movement and the wide variety of topics it entails, such as 3D printing, electronics, biotech, etc.

Numerous interviews with different individuals within the movement are shown and clearly shows the passion they all have. And the film really presses the message across of getting people away from being consumers and becoming makers.

Throughout the documentary, the filmmakers visit various maker spaces and even one biotechnology maker space, and it very interesting to see the facilities on offer.

Two companies formed out of the maker movement, Pebble smartwatches, and OpenROV are also visited, and both illustrate how it is possible to establish companies on the principles of the maker movement.

The film also examines Crowdfunding and how it can provide the financial means for anyone to turn their creations into a consumer product and a successful company.
As an avid supporter of the maker movement, I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and it is an excellent mechanism to introduce people to what the maker movement is. I highly recommend this film.

MOVIE REVIEW – MAKER: A DOCUMENTARY ON THE MAKER MOVEMENT

MOVIE REVIEW – INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE

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indie-game-the-movie

Indie Game: The Movie is a Documentary Film initially released in 2012. It takes a look at the Indie Game industry and follows the creators of three successful indie games at various stages of the game development process.

The main indie games followed throughout the film are Super Meat Boy developed by Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, Braid created by Jonathan Blow, and finally, Fez created by Phil Fish.

Around 2008 a surge in the number of indie games released into the market started, mainly due to the rise of digital distribution channels, which removed the barrier of entry related to physical distribution indie developers struggled to overcome in the past. This growth in the indie games released has resulted in a healthy and robust indie game industry today, filled with many passionate and driven people chasing their dreams.

The film features numerous interviews with these individuals throughout the development process and gives incredible insight into the enormous passion, sacrifices made, and challenges faced by Indie Game Developers. Throughout the numerous conversations with these indie game developers, one thing becomes abundantly clear, and that is that the games they work on are far more than simple games, but rather a way of deep and meaningful self-expression, sharing a part of themselves and exposing personal vulnerabilities.

Indie Game: The Movie is a must-see film for anyone interested in the video game industry or game development in general, and it is one of the best films on the topic.

MOVIE REVIEW – INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE

MOVIE REVIEW – BATMAN VS TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

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IMG_8421

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 2019 DC animated movie based on the comic book miniseries Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles written by James Tynion IV and drawn by Freddie Williams II.

This movie is a great deal of fun and is more light-hearted than many other DC animated movies. The version of the Turtles in this movie is a mix between the 1987 cartoon and the Turtles from the comic books by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, keeping the colored face masks from the cartoon but being significantly more violent as in the comic books. It is worth reiterating that Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a lot more violent than the cartoon show, with the Turtles drawing blood in fights and Shredder killing quite a few people, the foot soldiers are also people like in the comic books and not robots as they where in the cartoon.

There are numerous homages to the 1987 cartoon in the movie, such as a scene from the cartoon shows opening sequence recreated in the movie, as shown in the screengrabs below.

Without spoiling the story, it centers around Shredder and Ra’s al Ghul teaming up to execute some evil plan and Batman teaming up with the Turtles to stop them. A great selection of Batman’s rogue gallery makes an appearance, such as the Penguin, Bane, Mr. Freez, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Scarecrow, and the Joker,  and some of them even get a unique TMNT twist. There are some truly amazing scenes with these villains, like when Leonardo is exposed to Scarecrows fear toxin, or when Bane tries to break Donatello’s back the same way he broke Batmans back (It didn’t work out so well for Bane, with Donatello having a shell).

There is also an epic scene where the Batmobile drives side by side with the Turtle Van and another great sequence where the Turtle Van fires manhole covers painted like pizzas, a reference to the 1989 Pizza Thrower Toy.

The voice cast does a fantastic job with Troy Baker voicing Batman as well as the Joker, and although he does an amazing job and has performed these roles before, he never quite reaches the levels of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.

This movie is a joy to watch, and both fans of Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will love it. It is one of my favorite DC animated movies and one of the most enjoyable movies I have watched this year. Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes highly recommended and is a must-watch for fans of either of the title characters. And to finish off, it is worth mentioning there is a post-credit scene that might hint at a sequel…

MOVIE REVIEW – BATMAN VS TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

3D PRINTING REVIEW – CCTREE PLA AND WOOD FILAMENT

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IMG_7750

CCTREE PLA Filament

The CCTree PLA filament we will be looking at today is the 1.75mm diameter variety, but it is also available in 3mm. The filament is available in a wide variety of colors, around 25 colors, and is sold in 1kg spools.

The experience with this filament has been great, producing very good quality prints with a great level of detail and only minimal 3D printed object cleanup required after printing.

 During printing the filament has minimal stringing, if any at all, and I have never had a print fail because of a filament issue using CCTREE PLA filament.

CCTREE PLA filament is a very easy filament to print with and offers great value being one of the less expensive filaments available. I would highly recommend this filament for novices and experienced 3D print enthusiasts alike.

CCTREE Wood Filament

IMG_7740

CCTREE Wood filament is a 1.75mm diameter filament consisting of a mixture of PLA plastic and wood fibers that produces prints with a slightly rough wood-like finish, similar to Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), that can be sanded and stained in a similar way to wood.

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This filament is slightly more challenging to print with and is more prone to stringing (due to the wood fibers) and larger flat surfaces are prone to slight bowing as the print cools down.

It is still however possible to produce prints with a great level of detail, it just requires an extra bit of cleanup and finishing.

IMG_7763

During printing, this filament gives off a subtle wood-like odor.

The CCTREE Wood filament is more expensive than their PLA filament, costing approximately double the price.

This filament is great for prints that benefit from a more natural wood-like finish (for example a baby Groot) and the end result looks fantastic. This is a great filament but is probably not the best choice for a 3D printing newbie to get started with.

 

CCTree filaments offer great quality and value for money, the filaments are available in a wide variety of colors and options and they come highly recommended.

3D PRINTING REVIEW – CCTREE PLA AND WOOD FILAMENT

REVIEW – CORSAIR HS70 WIRELESS GAMING HEADSET

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The Corsair HS70 is a wireless headset which features virtual 7.1 surround sound using 50mm drivers in a closed back design. The headset connects to your PC using an included USB dongle and utilises a 2.4GHz low latency wireless connection.

Additional features of the headset include on ear controls, a detachable microphone and an advertised battery life of 16 hours (although my experience was closer to 12 hours), all of which makes the HS70 a very alluring offer at a retail, price of approximately $100.

The headset is extremely comfortable and the build quality is good. Sound quality is also exceptionally good for a wireless headset, and this is from someone who normally avoids wireless headsets and uses professional grade wired studio headphones that cost about 6 times more than the HS70. The microphone quality is also good and delivers crisp and clear quality sound.

In closing, the Corsair HS70 is a great wireless headset at a great price.

REVIEW – CORSAIR HS70 WIRELESS GAMING HEADSET

REVIEW – AMAZON FIRE 10 HD (7TH GENERATION)

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The Fire 10 HD is a tablet computer developed by Amazon. The one we are looking at today is the most recent iteration of this tablet, the 7th generation which was released in 2017.

The Fire 10 HD is a 10.1-inch tablet with a screen to body ration of approximately 71%. The screen is a 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD panel with a 16:10 screen ration and a screen density of 224 ppi. The screen is by far the best part of this tablet, it is bright, crisp and has a very large viewing angle.

 The Fire 10 HD has a Quad-core processor consisting of two 1.8GHz Cortex-A72 cores and two 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 cores, making the tablet feel snappy and responsive. For a GPU the tablet uses the PowerVR G6250. The Fire 10 has 2 GB of RAM and comes in two variations for storage 32 and 64 GB but both can accept SD cards of up to 256GB.

The tablet has a VGA front-facing camera and a 2MP rear-facing camera which is capable of 720p video recording. The cameras are definitely the weak point of this tablet and to be frank they terrible to the point of being unusable. However, I have never actually used the camera functionality on any tablet I have owned so this does not really bother me.

The Fire 10 has a 3.5 mm stereo jack and the integrated dual stereo speakers implement Dolby Atmos Audio and they sound great, you can comfortably watch a movie without using headphones.

From a connectivity perspective the Fire 10 has dual-band Wi-Fi and built-in Bluetooth. The tablet has a micro USB connector used for charging the battery and data transfer.

The battery is advertised to last up to 10 hours and after 4 months of daily use I typically get 7-8 hours of usage between charges.

The tablet comes in three color options, red, blue and black and weighs in at around 500 grams.

fireback

A customized version of Android, called Fire OS, is used by Amazon on the Fire product range. This means that the default App store for the device is the Amazon App Store, however the Google Play Store can be easily installed to get access to the entire Android app library.

This device is great for content consumption, and this is predominantly what I use it for. From Amazon Prime video, to Kindle Books and Comic books, to Audible Audio Books, to Magazines, to Podcasts this tablet does an exceptional job at offering a convenient way to get access to a vast variety of content.

Since acquiring this tablet, I read significantly more comic books and magazines as I can easily and relatively inexpensively get access to them.

Now given all this, the real surprise of the Fire 10 HD is the price, coming in at $150(USD) if you opt for the Special Offer option, which means ads will be displayed on the lock screen of the device, or alternatively $15(USD) more to remove the ads. And given that the cheapest variation of the latest iPad is over $300 at present, this tablet offers exceptional value.

From a content consumption perspective, the Fire 10 HD is faultless. With access to the entire Amazon library of content, the selection is endless. So, if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the iPad with a well-established ecosystem, or you are just looking for a convenient way to read your electronic books, comics and magazine the Amazon Fire 10 HD is a perfect choice.

REVIEW – AMAZON FIRE 10 HD (7TH GENERATION)

REVIEW – ADATA SD600 EXTERNAL SSD (256GB)

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I recently found myself in the market for a high-capacity high-speed external storage solution and after shopping around I decided to pick up the ADATA SD600 External Solid State Drive as it provided 256GB of storage at a very reasonable price of just under $75 (USD).

The SD600 is a USB 3.1 compatible device, advertising read speeds of up to 440MB/s, very fast compared to more traditional external USB hard drives.

The SD600 utilizes 3D NAND technology, thus offering better performance compared to Solid State Drives that does not.

Below is a performance comparison, using Crystal Disk Mark, of the ADATA SD600, a Samsung EVO 850 500GB internal SSD running on SATA III and a SanDisk Ultra Flair 16GB USB 3.0 Thumb Drive:

ADATA

ADATA SD600 Results

 

Samsung evo 850 Crystal Disk

Samsung EVO 850 Results (SATA III)

 

USB3 Crystal Disk

SanDisk Ultra Flair 16GB USB 3.0 Thumb Drive Results

As can be seen the ADATA SD600 performs much better than the USB 3.0 thumb drive, but does not quite match the results of the Samsung drive running on SATA III. However, for an external storage solution these results are great.

From a size perspective the SD600 is much smaller than a traditional 2.5-inch external Hard Drive and the image below shows the size compared to two USB thumb drives.

ADATA Size

The SD600, however slightly larger than the thumb drives, is really compact and is definitely small enough to be comfortably carried around in your pocket. It is also very durably built and offers a very convenient solution for portable storage.  Thus far, after over a months’ worth of usage the SD600 has given me no problems and serves its purpose exceptionally well. So, if you are in the market for an external storage solution the SD600 offers a great solution at a very reasonable price.

REVIEW – ADATA SD600 EXTERNAL SSD (256GB)