LG V40 ThinQ Smartphone Review

It’s amazing how much a smartphone can do. Obviously, there’s calls, and texts, including video calls. They’re also great for photos, videos, checking and sending emails, playing games, and even music. They do so much, our phones tend to be our go to device. We can do everything with them. And every year they keep getting bigger, better, and faster. Which is the right one for you? Enter the LG V40 ThinQ.

While so many used to have a cellphone, camera, camcorder and music player, and even a PDA, now the current smartphone can replace them all! The new smartphones may not do all of those functions excellently, it does all of them at least very good. The big battle that everyone is trying to get better at is at photos and video. But what about audio?

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like music. And thanks to their increased storage capacity of internal storage, as well as the use of memory cards, you do not have to resort to just streaming services. You can even save your entire CD collection onto your phone, and turn it into the ultimate music player! And this is what really confuses me. Everyone enjoys their music. And we’ll spend $500, $700, even around $1000 on the new smartphone. But then go around and spend $20 or $50 on a pair of headphones at your neighborhood Walmart. For those of you that want to actually enjoy your music there are much better headphones available. Smartphones are also improving on that front as well. Sure AptX will give us CD quality sound, but there’s also hi-res audio now as well.

Hi-Res Audio is starting to go big. If you thought music sounded good on CD, you need to listen to Hi-Res audio. The sound quality is amazing. There are more and more headphones coming out that can handle it as well. But most smartphones aren’t built for excellent audio. That’s were the LG V40 ThinQ comes in. It is probably the most under-rated phone available, and it’s also one of the best smartphones available! It’s one of the few that are also designed for audio.

Features and specs:

Cameras

	TRIPLE REAR CAMERAS
	Standard Angle		Super Wide-Angle	2x Zoom Telephoto
Field of View	78˚		107˚	45˚
Maximum Aperture	f/1.5		f/1.9	f/2.4
Sensor Size	1/2.6"		1/3.1"	1/3.4"
Sensor Pixel Size	1.40 μm		1.00 μm	1.00 μm
Resolution  (up to)	12 MP  (4032 x 3024)		16 MP  (4656 x 3492)	12 MP  (4032 x 3024)
Flash	LED		LED	LED
DUAL FRONT CAMERAS
		Standard Angle		Wide-Angle
Field of View		80˚		90˚
Maximum Aperture		f/1.9		f/2.2
Sensor Size		1/4"		1/5"
Sensor Pixel Size		1.12 μm		1.12 μm
Resolution  (up to)		8 MP  (3264 x 2448)		5 MP  (2560 x 1920)
Flash		Selfie-Light		Selfie-Light

• TRIPLE REAR CAMERAS
• 16x Continuous Zoom - 2x optical zoom-in, 5x digital zoom-in, and 1.6x optical zoom-out, total 16x zoom from super wide-angle to telephoto zoom
• OIS+ and EIS - capture sharp images quickly with less blur¹
• Dual PDAF - autofocus using dual PD pixel sensor (standard angle camera)¹
• Triple Shot - capture 3 shots (standard, wide, and tele) and create a short video with one touch
• Triple Preview - press and hold a camera icon to see a live preview of the 3 rear lenses
• Super Bright Camera - automatically activated in extreme low light to capture bright photos and video²
• Manual Mode - adjust shutter speed, ISO, exposure, white balance, and more; save image as raw (DNG) and JPEG
• Graphy 2.0³ - select reference photos that automatically adjust Manual Mode settings
• Food - adjusts white balance to improve appearance
• AI Composition - recognizes up to 3 people and adjusts the picture composition based on photography’s rule of thirds
• AI Cam - intelligently suggests the optimal effect and angle by automatically identifying what’s in the shot
• TRIPLE REAR CAMERAS & DUAL FRONT CAMERAS
• Cine Shot - create partially animated GIFs by selecting specific areas to animate
• Google® Lens - searches what you see and provides relevant online information; features QR code and real-time translator⁴
• Backdrop - switch the background to a specific color or an image from the gallery
• Portrait - bokeh effect blurs the background while keeping the subject in focus
• 3D Light Effect - apply lighting effects on the background of selfies; options include Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono
• Flash Jump-Cut - photos are taken every 3 seconds and saved as a GIF
• Live Photo - record the action right before and after you take a photo
• AR Sticker - personalize photos with a variety of pre-loaded stickers
• Film Effect - choose from 17 preset filters
• HDR - corrects backlighting with multiple exposure techniques
• dual front cameras
• My Avatar - take a picture of yourself to create a personalizable animated emoji²
• AR Emoji - 3D graphic animals mimic your facial expressions
• Makeup Pro - manually change the appearance of selfies by adjusting complexion, lip color, or enhancing eyes and eyelashes²
• Auto Shot - take a selfie with automatic face detection²
• Gesture Shot - take a selfie with a simple hand gesture²
• Gesture Interval Shot - make a fist twice to take four selfies in a row²
• Gesture View - automatically preview the image when bringing the phone close²
• Selfie Light - screen illuminates for well-lit selfies²
• Beauty Shot - softens facial features²
• Quick Sharing - access sharing apps instantly after taking pictures and videos

1 Feature only available on standard rear camera.
2 Feature not available on Telephoto Zoom Lens.
3 App download required.
4 Google Lens not available on Dual Front Cameras for AT&T

• 4K Video Recording at 60 FPS
• Resolution: up to 3840 x 2160 pixels (1920 x 1080 default)
• Steady Record - record smoother, clearer videos on the move with OIS+ and EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization)
• HDR10 Video Recording - life-like footage with a wide spectrum of color that is rich, accurate, and high contrast
• Point Zoom - zoom in on any selected area within the frame for more stability and control
• Video Manual Mode* - adjust audio focus, manual focus, white balance, frame rates, and more
• Cine Effect - choose from 16 different color grading presets for a cinematic look
• Slo-mo - HD 240 FPS Slow Motion Video Recording
• Time-Lapse Video - video where time appears to be moving faster
• Video Studio* - merge up to 50 photos or videos; trim and add title/text, background music, and theme effect overlays
•  Audio Tuned with Meridian
• Boombox Speaker - inner resonance chamber along with top and bottom speakers provide greater sound levels for boosted bass
• DTS:X Virtual Surround - deep 3D stereo audio experience¹
• 32-Bit Hi-Fi Quad Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) - produces crisp, full sound through wired headphones
• Sound Preset - custom options to achieve different sound experiences
• Digital Filter - Short, Sharp, or Slow options of Sound Filter characteristics in DAC
• Super Far-Field Voice Recognition (FFVR) - improved voice recognition picks up commands better in noisy environments from up to 16' away²
• Wind Noise Filter - minimize wind noise during video recording
• RAM (Receiver as Mic) - 2 analog mics and the phone’s receiver improve sound clarity while recording in loud environments
• HD Audio Recorder - choose between Normal, Concert, and Custom modes; record over a separate track
• Hi-Fi Video Recorder - 2 high AOP mics record higher-quality sound³
• Hi-Fi Streaming - MQA decoder enables high resolution audio to be packaged in a small size

1 Wired headphones or speakers required.
2 Ambient noise and room configuration may lessen operational distance and accuracy.
3 Available only in Manual Mode.

Display

• 6.4"* QHD+ OLED Display (3120 x 1440, including notch); 538 ppi
• FullVision Display - 19.5:9 Aspect Ratio; 84.3% screen-to-body ratio
• New Second Screen - choose to add a color fill to the status bar
• Floating Bar - access app shortcuts and call notifications on a movable/collapsible toolbar
• Always-On Display - time, date, and notifications appear on a sleeping screen
• Palm Rejection - prevents accidental interactions on the touch screen

* Actual viewable area is less due to rounded corners and notch.

Design & Durability

• Size: 6.25" (H) x 2.98" (W) x 0.31" (D), Weight: 5.96 oz.
• Dedicated Google Assistant Key
• IP68 Dust and Water Resistant¹
• Shock Resistant - MIL-STD-810G Tested²
• Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 - protection on front, back, and camera
• Heat Pipe - absorbs and moves heat away from the processor to help minimize the risk of overheating

1 Tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes). If the product gets wet, use a clean, soft cloth to dry it thoroughly.
2 Compliant with a military standards test (MIL-STD-810G Method 516.6, Procedure IV “Transit Drop”). Device may not perform as tested in all conditions. Test performed in controlled environment. Do not attempt.

Connectivity

• 4G LTE Network¹
• Mobile Hotspot² - share a 4G LTE data connection with up to 8 wireless devices³
• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology Version 5.0
• Supported Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, DI, GAVDP, GOEP, HDP, HFP, HID, HSP, MAP, OPP, PAN, PBAP, SPP, HOGP, ScPP
• Wi-Fi® Standards: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
• Wi-Fi Direct® - connect directly to devices
• USB⁴ and Bluetooth Tethering² - share your Internet connection
• Android Beam (NFC) - share contacts, web pages, and more
• Media Server - allow nearby devices to access content
• Screen Sharing - wirelessly mirror device screen
• MIDI Device - connect to musical instruments via USB⁴
• HD Voice Capable⁵
• MirrorLink® - connect to a MirrorLink-capable car to share your screen and apps
• S-GPS, A-GPS, and Qualcomm® Service for Enhanced Location Accuracy

1 4G LTE Network not available everywhere.
2 Carrier service required. Product features subject to change. Features based on carrier program availability. Additional charges may apply.
3 Depends on network availability. Additional carrier charges may apply.
4 USB cable required (included).
5 HD Voice required on both caller and receiver devices.

POWER & PERFORMANCE

• Platform: Android™ 8.1 (Oreo)
• User Interface: LG UX 7.1
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 845 up to 2.8 GHz x 4 + 1.7 GHz x 4 Octa-Core
• Battery Capacity: 3,300 mAh Non-Removable
• Charging: USB Type-C™ port; wireless charging¹; Qualcomm Quick Charge™ 3.0
• Internal Memory: 64GB (Usable memory varies by carrier)
• microSD™: supports card up to 2 TB (cards sold separately)
• RAM: 6 GB
• Hearing Aids: Rated for M4, T3

The LG V40 came in an elegant looking black box. Opening the box revealed a well protected phone wrapped in plastic and held in place by custom paper box. The plastic wrapping showed some of the phone’s features. Sliding the phone out of the plastic protective wrap, showed a beautifully elegant black phone. It has an aluminum frame with glass wrapping both the front and back. While gorgeous to look at now, it’s also a fingerprint magnet. Quality of materials used was excellent, as was the fit and finish. This is LG’s flagship phone, and it shows! Also included are the guides, charging cable, wall adapter, some fairly basic earbuds, and a replacement ear tip for the earbuds, as well as a small tool to access the sim card tray. Now it’s time to get it charged.

This is an android device. We won’t be covering all of the details of Android, or the Oreo 8.1 OS that it uses. Although I was a little disappointed that it didn’t come already loaded with Pie 9.0, as Pie was released before the phone was. Walking through the setup was extremely easy. And downloading the LG Mobile Switch app made it very easy to get all of my info from my LG V20 to the LG V40. The app also worked great back when I got my info from my old HTC phone onto the V20. Now that it’s setup, it’s time to put it through the paces.

We’ll start with the display. The LG V40’s P-OLED display is nothing short of breath taking! And while it is huge at 6.4 inches, it does not seem huge. I also like the way it goes all the way to the top, and wraps under the front camera lenses and speaker. Colors really pop with excellent resolution and are well saturated. Contrast is also excellent, and thanks to the high resolution the images are also really sharp! Whites are bright, and blacks are deep and inky black. And whether you are looking at photos or videos, they all look amazing. I liked the 2^nd small display at the top of the V20, and am glad to see it is used on the V40, at the very top on each side of the lenses to display notifications for time, email, texts, temperature, wi-fi and signal strength. The always on feature is nice. The screen goes completely black, adjust displays the time, date, notifications, temperature and battery life. The LG V40 ThinQ is a top of the line phone, and the internals also match up to this level of product. It comes with the quality top tier Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630 GPU, 6GB of RAM and 64 GB of memory, as well as an SD card slot. That means you will have the power for all of the apps you use. Whether it’s games you play or music you listen to on your daily commute or documents you may need to access and work on for work, there is plenty of computing power at your fingertips.

When I think of a smartphone, I initially think of talking and texting. But there is also surfing online, playing games, listening to music, as well as taking pictures and recording video. The LG V40 ThinQ does it all extremely well. Calls come in crystal clear, and those who I spoke to heard me crystal clear as well. Text messages were very responsive. All my favorite time passing games also played very well with excellent visuals, responsiveness, and great sound. And when I wanted to turn to YouTube and didn’t have any headphones with me, the built-in speaker played sufficiently loud, and sounded good for a smartphone speaker. There’s an internal cavity to improve bass responses and it did help. Holding the phone I could feel the improved bass as the phone had a little resonance to it. Listening with headphones, my music sounded extremely good. When it came time to use the camera for pictures and video, I was even more impressed.

To me, it’s a little funny how much weight we put on the quality of photos out of our phones. After all, it’s not like it’s a DSLR with a larger sensor and a bunch of glass in the lens. Yet manufacturers have been working hard to improve the quality of the photos and videos. LG has had great success with the V40.

For me, the use of 5 cameras is awesome! You get 3 main cameras; 1 for regular shots, 1 telephoto lens, and 1 wide angle lens. On the front you get 2 cameras for your selfies; 1 regular lens, and 1 wide angle lens. And to bring it all together, they provided a great app that is easy to use! Moving around among the settings and various modes was easy, even for a beginner.

In the main camera page, you have buttons for what will probably be used the most. There is AI Cam, Triple shot, portrait, and google lens. AI Cam did everything for you, and worked very well. Triple shot is just what it sounds like. It takes a pic with each lens, so you get a photo using regular, telephoto and wide angle. Portrait is for when individuals are in the photo. Google Lens is for finding that item or a similar item, so you can buy it online. It is cool in theory, but was hit and miss. Mostly it was a miss. On the bottom of the app are a record button for video and a shutter button for photos. On the side are buttons for telephoto, regular, and wide angle, so you can select the camera lens you want to use. On the top of the app are buttons for setting, mode, colors, switching from back to front cameras, and button to turn off the flash.

Going to the main page. There are options for camera and camcorder. Some of the modes were kinda cool, and fairly self explanatory, like slo-mo and penta shot. Manual modes were pretty cool for both photos and video. For camera, it showed the 9 AF points in the center. At the bottom it showed the graph, WB, Focus, EV, ISO, and Shutter Speed. You could also tap on each of those items and make manual adjustments. For video mode, you had the same buttons on the bottom of the page to make manual adjustments. But instead of the graph, it showed you the quality setting as well as left and right channels to show real time audio levels for the hi-fi stereo sound. There was also a hi-fi button to make adjustments to the audio. Making adjustments was all very easy to do!

Analyzing the photos, I was impressed with the quality. I saw no readily apparent negatives, such as vignetting or barrel distortions. LG did a good job on the lenses. The colors seemed very natural and correctly saturated with good detail. And even in difficult low light settings, it did better than expected with a well useable image.

For video, I’ve always had a hard time with concerts. So I thought I’d see how well it would do with my daughter’s play. The lighting for the junior high schools equipment gave for a good challenge. The HDR definitely helped. But being able to easily go and make brightness adjustments on the fly was even better! I was also impressed with the quality of the audio! You don’t always have great environments when you want to take photos and videos. But the easiness to make quick adjustments made for made for easily usable photos and videos in most lighting conditions. I can’t help but to quote Vader: “Impressive…Most impressive!” It has me more excited and wanting to take photos and video with this phone, then I ever have been with any other phone.

Now it’s time for what has me the most excited on this phone. The audio features. Users of quality wired headphones can rise and shout hallelujah! Not only does the LG V40 ThinQ still have a headphone jack, it also has a quad 32-bit DAC! Going into the phone settings, you can access the sound quality and effects settings. Here you can change volume (if hard buttons stop working) and access the equalizer, which has 13 different sound curves to choose from.

In these Sound Quality and effects setting, you can also access and turn on and off the DTS:X3D Sound and the hi-fi Quad DAC. The DTS:X is pretty cool and gives you a bit of a 3D sound with a few different effects of wide, front, and side to side. But what I love is the hi-fi Quad DAC! It amplifies the sound, and more importantly makes your headphones sound much better! With the Hi-Fi Quad DAC engaged, you also have access to a few sound presets, a few digital filters, as well as the ability to adjust the balance of your headphones.

The Hi-Fi Quad DAC is also not a gimmick. It not only works, it works extremely well! Audiophiles will rejoice. I turned to some of my favorite tracks and every single one sounded amazing. Using my reference Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro’s, I was actually a little taken back after hearing some nuances and details that I hadn’t picked up on before! Use some good quality headphones and thanks to the hi-fi Quad DAC, the LG V40 will let you hear things in your music you may not have heard or noticed before! Highs were crisp and clean and not overly bright.  Mids were smooth with excellent harmonics.  Bass had great extension and punch and played with authority.  In all I would say the sound provided was very transparent to the source, with excellent resolution to hear all of the aural bliss you are used to hearing with your music, only better!!  I ended up getting lost in my music, in a listening session that ended up going on for a lot longer than I had planned. And that’s probably the biggest compliment I could give.

Looking back, LG has hit the ball out of the park with the LG V40. With the improvements to phones year after year with manufacturers, it can be hard for some to catch up, or stay ahead of the curve. Some like Samsung, have excellent products themselves. Hi-Res Audio is gaining more and more ground, and gaining in popularity. With the LG V40, Audiophiles have an all in one device. And it also makes non-high res files sound better. After all, if you’re going to listen to your music, enjoy it! With the LG V40, you definitely will!! And LG may just have more market share coming their way thanks to the V40. And if you don’t like wires for your headphones but still want to enjoy hi-res audio, the LG V40 has you covered there as well, with aptX HD compatibility. I was also surprised at some manufacturers not having aptX HD compatibility in their new phones.  At least LG is making audio a priority.

LG has a real winner here with their LG V40 ThinQ. It is very well built, and feels very solid in hand. The finish of the glass and edges are excellent. The screen is gorgeous, and has the power to handle what you throw at it. The cameras also perform great, and sound quality is top rated for what is available for phones. If the LG V40 isn’t on your short list for phones to checkout, it should be. Based on it’s design, features, quality and performance, the LG V40 ThinQ has earned our Editor’s Choice award. For more info and specs, check out their website at www.LG.com.

Amped Studio Release 7 New Devices

The most advanced cloud based DAW releases version 2.1

                       

Amped Studio, the online beat making software, just released a major update with seven new devices, a video tutorial page and some general design improvements as they continue their mission to take online music making to higher level. The latest update includes 3 free effects: BitCrusher, CompressorMini and LimiterMini and 4 devices included with a premium subscription: Distortion, Compression, Gate and Expander.

Crush & Distort

Distortion and BitCrusher are two great new effects for sound mangling and coloration. BitCrusher is a free effect and is available for all users. Distortion is a Premium effect offering plenty of character to anything you throw it on! With eleven different distortion modes it can do anything from subtle saturation to aggressive destruction.

Dynamic Power

Four new Premium dynamic effects Compressor, Limiter, Gate and Expander are great for any mixing situation. The new video tutorial page has separate videos explaining how use and understand each effect. Compressor Mini, offers a one knob control to glue or squash wherever needed!

Amped Studio 2.1

The Amped Studio website was also updated with a new studio manual, improved navigation and videos to help you get started. Amped Studio is free and costs only $4.99 a month ($49.99 a year) to get access to the premium devices, sound library and expanded audio options. Other Amped Studio features include Pitch to Midi technology, WAM support (cloud based VSTs) and an array of instruments and effects to help you develop your music production skills. For more information or to give Amped Studio a try go to https://ampedstudio.com and discover your sound.

Det här mejlet skickades till jeff@stereowiseplus.com
Amptrack Technologies, borgargatan 18, Stockholm, N/A 11734, Sweden
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ASUS Announces ROG Strix, ASUS Dual and Phoenix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti Gaming Graphics Cards

ASUS Announces ROG Strix, ASUS Dual and Phoenix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti Gaming Graphics Cards

-- GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti series graphics cards from ASUS enable high refresh rates in high definition - a competitive advantage for serious gamers --

KEY POINTS ROG Strix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti doesn’t compromise on customization or performance ASUS Dual GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti rocks two fans with IP5X dust resistance ASUS Phoenix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti packs performance into a small package

Fremont, California (February 22, 2019) — ASUS today announced four new flavors of the GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, spanning the ROG Strix, ASUS Dual and Phoenix product lines. This new chipset leverages the unbridled essence of the Turing architecture, making it ideal for gamers seeking an uptick in performance on a budget. The proposition pairs perfectly with the slew of recent monitor offerings that are pushing high refresh rates and low response times at 1080p and 1440p. It’s a great time to be a competitive gamer.

Peak Performance Designed for competitive gamers that want peak performance for a given chipset, the ROG Strix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6 has a powerful cooling setup that keeps temperatures under tight control no matter how hard you play. The Strix heat spreader is manufactured with MaxContact technology, creating a super-smooth contact surface that efficiently transfers thermal energy from the GPU die. Heat is then wicked into a large sink topped by new fans that feature the new Axial-tech design, which delivers improved static pressure and lower noise. The card also benefits from Auto-Extreme Technology and a reinforced frame that both enhance durability, one via an automated manufacturing process and the other through physical strength. With the speed and reliability of the Strix 1660 Ti on your side, you’re sure to grace the top of leaderboards in no time.

Never Stop Gaming The Dual and Phoenix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti graphics cards are both designed for nonstop gaming performance, each with different features to bring more choice to customers. The Dual 1660 Ti rocks two fans with IP5X dust resistance for powerful cooling and consistent performance. The Phoenix 1660 Ti is smaller, with a single fan, perfect for chassis with limited space. It leverages our patented Wing-blade fan design to produce ample performance despite its diminutive size. Both cards are manufactured using Auto-Extreme technology, which ensures industry-leading reliability for those epic gaming sessions.

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AVAILABILITY AND PRICING The ROG Strix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti is immediately available starting at $319.99 USD from Amazon, Newegg and other leading retailers. The ASUS Dual GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti is immediately available starting at $304.99 USD from Amazon, Newegg and other leading retailers. The ASUS Phoenix GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti is immediately available starting at $279.99 USD from Amazon, Newegg and other leading retailers.

Gourmia GPC965 Digital ExpressPot 13 in 1 Pressure Cooker Review

Usually, the old wisdom goes that if you get your wife something that plugs in for Valentine’s Day, than you deserve what you get. And that is usually a very unhappy wife. There are exceptions to this, however, and one of those is for something that will make her life easier. And whether it is Valentine's Day, anniversary, or birthday, it would be a welcome gift.  My wife loves her crock-pot. In fact, we own two so we can cook multiple parts of dinner at once. The only issue is that you have to plan so far in advance. My wife works early in the morning, so to be up at 4 am to fill the crock-pot up for dinner is not something she feels up to all that often. Enter in the new sensation in the culinary world, the ExpressPot!

 Features and specs:

AUTO RELEASE: Safely releases steam upon cooking completion, or at the touch of a button.

ADJUSTABLE PSI: From 1.5-12 psi.

MULTI-FUNCTION: Packs a kitchen full of specialty appliances into one powerful pot. This versatile Pressure Cooker can also Slow Cook, Saute/Brown and Steam.

SPEEDSENSE TECHNOLOGY: 1000 watts slashes away cooking time by 70%, while retaining maximum flavor and nutrients in meals.

13 in 1: Boasts a huge variety of 13 easy cooking modes, including Rice, Soup, Stew, Yogurt, Keep Warm and more!

SECURE LOCK TECHNOLOGY: Air-tight lid features a 12 level safety system, remaining firmly locked into place until internal pressure reaches safe levels to open.

6 Qt CAPACITY: Dishwasher safe, nonstick cooking pot removes for breezy cleanup.

The Gourmia GPC965 Digital ExpressPot Pressure Cooker arrived in a sturdy cardboard box printed with pictures of the product. Opening the box, the product was well secured with molded Styrofoam and was enclosed in plastic bags. Materials used in the construction were metal and plastic. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish was excellent. This was a very well made product. Also included was a meat rack, a measuring cup, a wide plastic spoon, a quick start guide and an owner’s manual.

The Gourmia ExpressPot was a hefty package. This is wonderful, as it makes it almost impossible to tip over while cooking. The quick start guide was easy to follow and the owner’s manual clear and straight forward. We tried a variety of meals in this quick cooking wonder. First, we made a recipe exactly like we would in our slow cooker. If you do this, it works, but some adjustments will need to be made to the amounts of liquids used in the cooking, as the ExpressPot seals and losses literally no liquid in the cooking. It is considerably faster. A meal that would have taken 4-8 hours in the crock-pot took only 1 hour in the ExpressPot. We also tried a number of recipes from the internet. It was wonderful to have everything cooked together. The pot roast and vegetables were tender and well cooked and the orange chicken was quick and had plenty of sauce to accompany it. But our personal favorite was chicken taco bowls. It is destined to become a repeat meal in our house.

This pot does everything you might need. It has a sautee option, so you can brown your meat. It has a slow cooker option, so it can replace your crock-pot. It has a rice option, so it can replace your rice cooker as well! It even has a yogurt option which I am excited to try out! This one appliance can replace two or three other appliances easily, to more room in the cabinet! The internet is abounding in recipes to try for this appliance. We tested a few of them out and found the wonder of being able to have fabulous meals with only an hour or so of notice. All told, it has 12 quick start settings. Just chose the one closest to your main ingredient, like poultry, and then spin the knob to increase or decrease the cook time desired.

What’s also nice is it is extra safe to use.  The steam has an automatic release.  There is no need to have to manually release the steam when it is done cooking.  The ExpressPot does it automatically.  Hearing it release steam for the 1^st time was a little startling, but you get used to it.  

So, any wife who loves to cook would be thrilled to receive a Gourmia ExpressPot for Valentine’s Day, or as an anniversary or birthday present for that matter.  It does so many things that we will be evaluating our cabinets soon for things we can now get rid of. And with an MSRP of $199 that is a steal! Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the Gourmia GPC965 Digital ExpressPot 13-in-1 Pressure Cooker has earned our Editor’s Choice award. Congratulations!  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.gourmia.com. And here is a simple link to Best Buy, where you can purchase the Gourmia ExpressPot:  https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gourmia-6-quart-pressure-cooker-with-auto-release-stainless-steel/6280306.p?skuId=6280306
*Sample product provided did not have an influence on the resulting review

EcoVacs Deebot OZMO 930 Vacuum and Mop Robot Review

It’s that time of the year, when love is in the air for Valentine’s Day. And we thought we would review a couple of products that would make for a great gift for your significant other. Candy is sweet, but not always a favorite for obvious reasons. Flowers are also nice, but have a short life span. Diamonds are supposedly a girls best friend, but not in everyone’s budget. What most of us tend to be short on in addition to money is time. Give your significant other a time saver and you will also be loved for it. The first of two reviews we will do this Valentine’s Day segment is a big time saver. It is the EcoVacs Deebot OZMO 930.  And even though it is Valentine's Day season, it would even work great as an anniversary or birthday gift!

I don’t know anyone who likes to sweep floors, or vacuum. It takes time. But it’s a necessity if you don’t want a messy looking house. Thanks to modern day technology, there are robots available to do the sweeping and vacuuming for you. They have been out for several years. But now they can mop as well. So a single robot can do all of your sweeping, mopping and vacuuming. Enter the EcoVacs Deebot OZMO 930.

Features and specs:

Carpet Indentify:          Yes

Anti-Drop:                    Yes

Anti-Collision:              Infrared Anti-Collision Sensor

Anti-Block:                   Yes

Auto Charging:             Yes

Machine Weight:           3.49 kg

Noise Level:                  69.5db

The EcoVac Deebot OZMO 930 came shipped in a nice looking color printed box with photos and specs of the robot. Opening the box revealed a well protected product, held in place in custom sized cardboard. Materials used in the construction were mostly plastic, with some metal and rubber. Quality of materials used was excellent, as was the fit and finish. The EcoVacs Deebot OZMO 930 is a premium product, and it showed. Also included was the charging station, extra set of rotating brushes and mop pad, as well as owner’s manual.

Setting up the Deebot OZMO 930 was simple, thanks to the owner’s manual. The manuals were well written and easy to follow. If you have no experience with robot vacuums, this is good news for you. There were just a few pieces that needed to be attached to the robot before it could be used, but it was easy and didn’t take long. Once it was all put together and the location for the docking station was decided, it was time to set it on the base for it to charge.

 The charging station was also pretty cool. There are two metal contact points that are used to charge the robot. So the charging dock and the robot needed to be lined up. When the robot is charging, the power button lights up blue, and glows on and off while it charges. Once it is fully charged, the blue glowing LED completely turns off.

Now the fun begins. Being fully charged, it was time to put it to the test. Before it could get to work, the Deebot OZMO 930 had to map out the area. So away it went, and got to work mapping out the entire area. It took awhile, but it worked. Once the mapping was done, it went back and docked with the charging station.

Pressing the power button again activated the Deebot again. It woke up, backed off the docking station, and got to work, vacuuming and sweeping. AS it approached a wall, it slowed down when it got about 4 inches away, and slowly inched up to the wall. It was really cool to see how well the sensors worked. Working around our table, chairs, and even the baby grand piano was no issue. It hit a leg, rotated, and went around it.

The built-in mapping also worked extremely well! Not only did it know where it was, but it also knew where it had been. So the entire floor area got cleaned. Once the floor was all cleaned, it returned automatically to the charging station. And it did so good enough so that the charge contacting points always lined up and got it charging so it’s ready for the next cleaning.

Given that it is a robot, I did not have high expectations. I was expecting spots to get missed. And I was also not expecting a very good job of vacuuming. After all, I was not expecting a very powerful suction on a robot. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by it’s performance. Thanks to the quality of the mapping, it actually cleaned the entire floor and did not miss any corners. The sweeping performance did well on hard surfaces. The vacuum performance was not as good as an upright vacuum, as expected. But it did a better vacuuming job than expected. Definitely better than the average teenager’s job! And for dirtier areas, it was easy to just have it go over that area more with the spot cleaning option.

As for the mopping option…There is no pressure placed on the floor. It basically just squirts the water and runs over it with the pad. This is fine, but any more difficult spots will need to be done by hand. Mopping is a great option for people without kids or for a daily quick wash, but in a household like ours, with 5 teenagers, it won’t replace our mop any time soon. Going over areas a second time also helped. I love the vacuum option for daily cleaning of both the hard floors and carpeted ones.

One of the more up to date features of the Deebot is its wi-fi options. Once the mapping is done, you can access that map through wi-fi and direct which parts of the map you want to clean, parts that are off limits and you can even pinpoint a spot that might need to be covered more than once. This is especially helpful in getting higher traffic areas cleaned without wasting battery life on areas that might not need daily cleaning. And you can change the boundaries easily so you can cover different areas on different days.  Thru the app you can even set cleaning schedules.

Overall, I was very impressed with the performance of the EcoVacs Deebot OZMO 930.  The excellent mapping allowed it to do a thorough cleaning without missing an area, knowing where it was, where it had been, and where it still needed to clean.  So grab a drink, get your feet up, and relax while the Deebot does the work for you! The vacuum function cleaned better than expected, and the mopping also cleaned sufficiently well for light duty.  The build quality was also excellent, and looked to provide a long life.  And not once did it have a problem finding it’s way back to the docking station to recharge.  With an MSRP of $699, it is fairly priced to save you a lot of time cleaning.  Based on it’s design, features, quality, and performance, the EcoVacs Deebot OZMO 930 has earned our Highly Recommended Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.ecovacs.com.
*Sample product provided did not have an influence on the resulting review.

AudioControl Teams with IMAX and DTS to offer IMAX Enhanced AV Receivers and Preamp/processors

AudioControl Joins the IMAX^® Enhanced Program to Deliver a Heart-Pounding Immersive Entertainment Experience

 

AudioControl teams with IMAX and DTS to offer IMAX Enhanced AV receivers and preamp/processors

 

Seattle, WA, February 4^th, 2019 – AudioControl (audiocontrol.com), makers of innovative high-performance audio solutions for the residential, commercial and automotive markets is pleased to announce its partnership in the IMAX^® Enhanced program, a new certification and licensing program combining the highest-end consumer electronics products with IMAX digitally re-mastered 4K HDR content and DTS audio technologies to offer consumers a new level of quality in immersive sight and sound experiences for the home. The IMAX Enhanced firmware update for AudioControl cinema products, including the Concert AVR-7 and AVR-9 receivers and the Maestro M5 and M9 preamp/processors will become available Tuesday, February 5^th.

 

Feel the Sound

As one of the program’s initial licensees, AudioControl will offer a line of IMAX Enhanced AV receivers and preamp/processors, enabling consumers to experience the IMAX signature sound mix, delivered by DTS, and all with the power and grace of AudioControl’s remarkable line of AV engines. To become IMAX Enhanced-certified, consumer electronics manufacturers must meet stringent performance standards, set by a certification committee comprised of IMAX and DTS engineers as well as Hollywood’s leading technical specialists. Those settling down to a home movie with audio powered by an IMAX Enhanced AudioControl AV receiver or preamp/processor can expect a heart-pounding immersive sonic experience – sound that you can feel.

 

AudioControl’s IMAX Enhanced AV receivers and preamp/processors feature DTS:X immersive audio decoding that is optimized to properly reproduce the full dynamic range of IMAX theatrical sound mixes available in IMAX Enhanced content. With meticulous adjustments modelled on the IMAX theatrical sound system, this proprietary IMAX audio mix is translated for home theater environments and exclusively delivered using a special variant of the DTS:X codec technology to deliver the IMAX signature sound experience in the home. Additionally, IMAX is working with its global studio and content partners to make available a steady stream of IMAX Enhanced versions of blockbuster movies and additional programming.

 

“AudioControl receivers and preamp processors have been recognized for exceptional quality and performance, and adding IMAX Enhanced further elevates the cinematic experience to the highest level,” said AudioControl CEO Alex Camara. “Now enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the visceral dimensionality of content from DTS and IMAX combined with the unrivaled power and detail available from AudioControl.”

 

Current owners of the AudioControl Concert AVR-7 and AVR-9 receivers and the Maestro M5 and M9 preamp/processors may download the required firmware from the AudioControl website at audiocontrol.com to update their units.

 

Unparalleled Cinematic Excitement

AudioControl also offers a superb lineup of 7, 5 and 4/3/2-channel Savoy G3, Pantages G3 and Avalon G4 theater amplifiers to create the ultimate home cinema experience. AudioControl’s receiver and preamp/processors all offer an unmatched feature array including Dolby Atmos and DTS-X immersive audio surround formats and Dirac Live room correction along with dual balanced XLR inputs and balanced XLR outputs for all channels. There are inputs for seven HDMI sources plus dual HDMI outputs (ARC compatible) as well as an ultra HD 4K video pass-through and upscaling capability.