Cobra SC 250R True 4K Dash Cam Review

It’s always smart to have protection for yourself. After all, it’s not Mayberry any more.  Crime and accidents can happen. Having a dashcam is a smart investment in your safety. Up for review today is the Cobra SC 250R. MSRP is a fair $259.

 

Features and specs:

Key Specs

Front Resolution: 4096 x 2160 (4K)

Rear Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)

Front Field of View: 140 degrees

Rear Field of View: 120 degrees

Max Capable Camera Views: 3

Screen Size: 3"

Memory: 32GB microSD Card (up to 512GB)

Built-In GPS

Dual Band Wi-Fi

Bluetooth® Connectivity

USB-C

G-Sensor

 

Features

Heads-Up Navigation

Accessory Camera Capable

Loop-Cycle Recording

360 Alerts with the Drive Smarter® App

Emergency Mayday Alert

Automatic Incident Detection & Reports

Parking Mode & Motion Detection

Trip Clips

Privacy Mode

Extreme Temperature Protection

Cloud Video Management

Night Vision (Accessory Interior Camera)

On-Screen Display Languages: English, Spanish, French

 

Unit Dimensions

Weight: 0.36 pounds

Height: 2.56"

Width: 3.27"

Depth: 1.3"

 

The Cobra SC 250R came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the dash cam. Opening the box revealed a well-protected dash cam, held in place by custom cut cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the cable, cable management kit, power cord, 32 GB SD card, and owner’s manual.

 

I really like the design of the Cobra SC 250R. It’s smart to have a dashcam. But with the Cobra SC 250R you actually get two. The main camera attaches to the front windshield. The second camera is a rear-view camera. It attaches to your rear windshield, to record what happens behind you. So if anything happens in front of behind you, the Cobra SC250R will record what happened. Or instead you could mount the 2^nd camera to record what happens inside the car.  This could be an excellent security feature, especially for Uber drivers, for example.

 

The Cobra SC250R is also loaded with features. First of all, it records in 4K. So if something does happen and you need to review the footage, you’ll have great resolution to be able to see what happened. But it’s not just video, it records audio in the car as well.  You also get alerts on your display. This includes Red Light and Speed cameras. There’s also the Drive Smarter app, which connects you with a community of drivers, to provide shared alerts on your display. And if that wasn’t enough, through a subscription you can also get heads up navigation with its built-in GPS.

 

The functionality also doesn’t stop there. The Cobra SC250R provides a generous 3-inch display. It also is designed to work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. So the notifications you get, can also be seen on your car stereo receiver.  And for any fun road trips, you can even create condensed time-lapse videos to re-live those fun scenic drives.  There’s also privacy mode, where you can pause recording video and audio.  Thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi and the Cloud, you can also store, edit, and share the videos. In the event of a severe impact, you can even send a Mayday Alert to your designated contact person.

 

Installation was very simple, thanks to the included sticky glass mounts.  The Cable Management kit even comes with plastic management clips, to assist with your installation and keeping wires out of the way.  Now that it’s mounted, it’s time to put the Cobra SC 250 thru its paces.  You’ll want to start by downloading the Drive Smarter app on your smartphone. Once you have the app open on your smartphone, you can pair it with the Cobra SC 250R and download the latest firmware. You’ll also need to create an account. And once connected to the Cobra SC 250R thru the app, you can receive alerts thru the database, such as red light cameras, Speed cameras, and speed traps.  Setting it up thru the menus was also very simple and straight forward. Now that it’s fully installed, lets see how it performs.

 

The Cobra SC 250R was simple to use, and performed very well.  The 3 inch display provided sufficient resolution to see very well what the camera’s are recording.  Most of the screen shows what it in front of you and recorded on the main camera.  Up in the corner is a smaller picture-in-picture of the real camera.  Colors were more vibrant than I expected, and had not just good resolution, but also had nice saturation of all the colors.  The image on the display was also a little brighter than it was outside, which means when it’s dark out the image being recorded would also be brighter than it is outside. So it gives great low-light performance with a bright lens. 

 

When it comes to night driving, the Cobra SC 250R also performed very well.  While there was a little bit of graininess, overall a great looking image was produced.  And while brightness was much lower than during the day, there was still good color to the images.  Resolution was also better than expected with good details of the images being recorded.  And color saturation was only a little on the low side.  The rear facing camera also provided similar performance.  So even at night, the Cobra SC 250R provided a great looking image.

 

Cobra provides good quality products, and our experience with them has supported that.  I was happy to see that the reputation continues.  It’s a well-made product, that also provides a great image.  And they are very fairly priced at $249.  If you are in the market for a dashcam, the Cobra SC 250R should be on your short list.  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Cobra SC 250R has earned our Highly Recommended Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.cobra.com.

JBL Charge 5 Review

When it comes to wireless speakers, one of the best companies is JBL. They have an extensive product line with many products to choose from. And many of them are water and dust proof for use outdoors. Up for review today is their JBL Charge 5. MSRP is a very fair $180.

 

Features and specs:

General Specifications

Output power (W): 40

 

Audio Specifications

Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 60 Hz - 20k Hz

 

Dimensions

Dimensions (cm): 22 x 9.6 x 9.3

Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67

Weight (kgs): 0.96

Weight (lbs): 2.11

 

Control and Connection Specifications

Bluetooth profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6

Bluetooth frequency: 2400 MHz - 2483.5 MHz

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK

Bluetooth transmitter power: ≤ 20 dBm (EIRP)

Bluetooth version: 5.1

 

Battery

Charging time (hrs): 4

Maximum music playing time (hrs): 20

 

Features

Bluetooth: Yes

Charging cable: Yes

IP67: Yes

JBL PartyBoost: Yes

Powerbank: Yes

Waterproof: Yes

Wireless: Yes

Rechargable battery: Yes

IP Code: IP67

 

The JBL Charge 5 came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the product. Opening the box revealed a well-protected speaker held in place by custom cardboard, wrapped in a cloth bag. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some cloth and rubber. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish was excellent. Also included was the charging cable and manual.

 

I love the design of the JBL Charge 5. The cloth wrap gives it an elegant look, with the rubber ends for the passive radiators giving a nice touch. All of the controls are on top, for ease of use. And there’s also added functionality, in that it doubles as a power bank that you can use to charge your smartphone. On the back next to the USB-C charging port is a rubber seal, and under the rubber seal is the standard USB port to charge your smartphone. But it doesn’t end there. JBL also includes the JBL Partyboost, which allows you to link multiple speakers together wirelessly.

 

Using the JBL Charge 5 was extremely simple.  First I charged it. Once charged, it was time to put it to use.  Once if the few buttons on the top is the Bluetooth button.  Getting it to pair with my smartphone was extremely simple, and paired without a glitch.  Now let’s see how it sounds.

 

Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E:  Cymbal was really crisp and clean, bass has really good low-end extension for its size and did so smoothly. Piano sounded more natural than I expected. Violins were silky smooth, with trumpets being both very dynamic with great harmonics. Vocals were also smooth like honey, with better-than-expected resolution of the texture of the timbre.

 

AC/DC – Back in Black:  Cymbals were really crisp and clean. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals were also nice and raw. Drums played with really good low end extension, and with good authority.

 

Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker:  cymbals were really crisp and clean, snare drum was really dynamic. Kick drum was really deep and played with a ton of authority. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals were silky smooth and also really dynamic. She can really wail, and it came through in spades. You just have to blast this song, and it sounded stellar.

 

The JBL Charge 5 proved to be a great speaker. It’s well-made, has great features, and it all comes together really well to provide a great sound. And it’s also fairly priced. Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the JBL Charge 5 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.JBL.com.

SoundSkins Dual 12-Inch Sealed Enclosure for 2004 And Later Nissan Titan Crew Cab Review

When it comes to car subwoofers, the driver is only part of the equation. To get the best performance out of the driver, you need a good enclosure. How well a subwoofer performs, is partly determined by the enclosure used for it. SoundSkins is increasing their portfolio of products, and now includes a line of subwoofer enclosures. They offer both universal as well as vehicle specific. Up for review today is an enclosure designed for the 2004 and later Nissan Titan Crew Cab, Model SSK-P212SNT1C. MSRP is a fair $399.

 

Features and specs:

SSK-P212SNT1C Dimensions:

Width:53,

Front Height:8.75,

Rear Height:7,

Height:8.75,

Bottom Depth:14,

Top Depth:14,

Depth:14,

Mounting Depth:5.5,

Total Air Volume: 1.8 FT^3

 

Upgrade Option 1 - SoundSkins Pro Specs:

- Features a triple-layer construction of acoustic foam, foil, and rubber butyl for durability and superior performance.

- Effectively reduces resonance and back wave cancellation, crucial for achieving optimal sound quality in any enclosure.

 

Upgrade Option 2 - Steve Meade Designs - SMD TCR-1 Speaker Terminal Cup Specs:

- Supports up to 2000 Watts, significantly higher than the standard 500 Watts.

- Designed to endure demanding conditions without breaking or leaking.

- Constructed from lightweight, high-strength materials for durability.

- Includes stainless steel hardware to resist rust and corrosion.

- Features a 5/16" bolt terminal for secure connections.

- Cut-out diameter: 2.75 inches.

- Flange diameter: 3.75 inches.

 

The enclosure came in a standard cardboard box. It was protected by custom molded foam. Materials used in the construction was all wood, using ¾ inch MDF, and some nails and glue. Quality of materials used was very good. It also has a bedliner spray finish for extra durability. The spray finish was also done very well, and looked excellent.

 

I really like the design of the SoundSkins SSK-P212SNT1C. It’s a sealed design for two down firing 12-inch subwoofers. It fits under the back seat of a 2004 and later Nissan Titan Crew Cab.  It will also work for the Titan King Cab, but it will stick out from under the back seat a couple of inches. And while it’s designed for a shallow mount subwoofer, it can still handle a lot of power. It features a solid ¾ inch MDF construction throughout. It’s also USA-made.  And while it doesn’t have any additional internal bracing, that didn’t seem necessary based on the design and location of the cuts.

 

SoundSkins has done it right for their enclosure line. Not only are they built solid to handle a lot of power, they also realized the weak link of enclosures – the terminal. An enclosure can be designed for the output that comes from thousands of watts. But if you can’t get that power to the woofer, you’re missing out. That’s why SoundSkins is offering as an option, an SMD terminal cup. Standard terminal cups provided are rated at 500 watts RMS, but the SMD terminal cup is designed to handle up to 2,000 watts RMS.

 

Thanks to SoundSkins we have the full package. It’s a thick, well-built enclosure designed to handle a ton of power. And when choosing the optional SMD terminal cup, now you can maximize the design. You can actually get all that power to the driver. And if your vehicle calls for one of the shallow under the seat enclosure designs, there are new shallow mount subwoofers that can handle over 500 watts. And even more in the future will come out that can handle over 500 watts. So a SMD terminal cup is still a smart upgrade for any enclosure.

 

Based on its specs, the enclosure has a mounting depth of 5.5 inches.  But there is also a circle cut-out at the back of the enclosure for the magnet.  Depending on your driver’s magnet width, and internal cooling design, you may be able to use a driver with a slightly deeper mounting depth.  The subwoofer drivers used to test was Kenwood’s Excelon KFC-XW1241HP 12 Inch 500 Watts RMS with 5.75-inch mounting depth.  The Kenwood subwoofers fit like a glove, no problem.  And the enclosure fit perfect under the back seat of my 2017 Nissan Titan King Cab.  It just stuck out a couple inches since I had a King Cab and not the Crew Cab.  The enclosure came with the stick terminal cups which handle up to 500 Watts, so they should work just fine for the Kenwoods. 

 

With both subs mounted, the enclosure installed and wired up, it was time to see how the enclosure performs.  And both Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1241HP subs were getting 500 Watts each from my reference Wavtech Link1000.1 mini subwoofer amplifier.   Thanks in part to the enclosure, the Kenwoods played tight, extremely deep, and with a ton of authority.  They hit really hard, like a sledgehammer to the chest!  And what I really liked to see, when the subs were really being pushed hard, was that there was no apparent strain on the enclosure.  There was no flexing of the enclosure walls, which would then affect the internal sound waves.  This helped to ensure that sound quality of the subs was maximized.  The enclosure was not a weak link in the sound quality of the subwoofer system. 

 

SoundSkins makes some great products, and it was nice to see that the trend is continuing with their new subwoofer enclosure line.  They are high quality made in the USA enclosures, and fairly priced at $399 for their Model SSK-P212SNT1C, which is a sealed enclosure designed to fit dual 12-inch subwoofers under the back seat of a 2004 and later Nissan Titan Crew Cab.  And the Kenwood subs sounded great in the enclosure.  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the SoundSkins Model SSK-P212SNT1C has earned our Highly Recommended Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.soundskinsglobal.com.

Yeyian Shift 3-in-1 RGB Gaming Mouse and FlexCam Streaming Camera Review

With computers, the auxiliaries create ease of use and can include some excellent features. Your gaming compute with cool RGB, now you can carry that theme with your peripherals.  Today I will be reviewing Yeyian Shift's 3-In-1 RGB Gaming cordless mouse and the FlexCam Streaming Camera. They are both priced at $59.99 respectively.

 

Features and specs:

Shift Mouse

Voltage:  3.7 V

Programmable buttons:  6

Max. Acceleration:  50g

Integrated memory:  Yes

Cable length / reach:  4.92 feet

Cable sheath:  Braided Cable with magnetic ring

Plug and play:  Yes, Triple mode gaming mouse, wired, wireless (2.4 GHz) and bluetooth

Power:  Internal Li-Ion battery 600mA, USB cable

Buttons:  6

Illumination:  RGB with 6 effects

Current type:  DC

Compatibility:  Windows 11/Mac OS

Warranty:  US 12 | MX 12 | ES 24

Dimensions:  105 x 65 x 43 mm (4.72 x 2.51 x 1.54 inch)

Extra Features:  Swappable Switch Design (Kailh 80 million * 2, an extra top cover and a pull switch tool)

Weight:  80g

Stream:  18 mA

Connector:  USB type-C

Sensor:  Pixart 3395

DPI resolution:  26000 DPI

Switch:  HUANO + 2 Kailh Switches

Button durability:  10 millions

Response time:  1ms

 

Flex Cam Webcam.

Video Resolution:  2560x1440P@30fps + HDR

LED Light:  Yes, rotation wheel to adjust the brightness and colors.

Tripod Ergonomic:  360-degree free swivel adjustment for stability and comfort

Operating System:  Windows® 10 Windows® 11 Mac OS 10.6 or above Linux 2.6.24 or above Ubuntu® Linux 10.04 or above Android

Extra Features: - 3 light colors: White light, Cold White light, Warm White light - Distance sensor up to 2m - 18 buttons Remote control

Dimensions:  68.1mm x 87.6mm x 63.8mm (2.7in x 3.4in x 2.5in)

Weight:  265g (0.6lb)

USB Connector:  1.6 m magnetic ring anti-interference shielded cable USB Type-C Dongle x1

Warranty:  US 12 | MX 12 | ESP 24

Focus type:  Auto Focus

Dynamic Range:  HDR mode 105db

Microphone:  Dual Noise cancelling mics

Active Noise Cancellation:  Yes

Data Format:  H.264 and above, JPEG, YUY2

Field of View:  78 degrees with Vertical distortion

Connectivity:  USB Type-A (with USB Type-C dongle included)

 

The mouse came in a lime green and grey box with high-definition pictures of the mouse on the front and the back of the box. On one side is the Yeyian brand logo, and on the other side has some key features about the mouse. On the back, the specifications of the mouse are shown as well as the contents. The FlexCam webcam came in a similar smaller box, with a high-definition picture of the product on the front with the Yeyian logo on the top and the side of the box. The box has key features listed on one side with the specifications listed on the back. Also included with the mouse was the charging cable, a tool to change out the various switches, and manual. And for the webcam, also included was the USB to USC-C adapter, remote, and manual.

First up is the Shift 3 in 1 RGB Gaming Mouse. The mouse has some nice customization capabilities from being able to change the switch design to being able to program the 6 customizable buttons to your liking. This mouse connects to the computer in one of three ways. Either Bluetooth, by a 2.4 GHz connection, or by connecting with the provided cord. This mouse is also nice and lightweight that feels great in my hand to help combat the aches that often happen in extended sessions. The mouse also has RBG lightings which you can customize thru their app. You can also customize its sensibility to your liking.

The FlexCam webcam has some nice features from having a wide-angle camera that can capture at 2560x1440P at 30 frames per second, to having a privacy slider to cover the sensor for the camera. This webcam also has a ring light around the camera that has a tap button on the back that controls the mode the light is on from white, mixed, and warm. There is a spindle that wraps around the light that controls the brightness of the light. The cam is mounted on an adjustable stand to be able to capture at many angles. It’s also designed to transmit the data faster and smaller to provide better quality and speed to make the video better.

The Webcam has some nice features that make it unique from other webcams I have used and seen. From the spindle around the lighting to adjust the brightness to the tap button on the back to change the mode of the light. And the remote makes it easy to adjust its settings as well.  The mouse has some good creativity with their buttons and switch design. The mouse lasted around the 60-hour battery life it advertises.

In conclusion, I enjoyed these products and they are reasonably priced. From the Shift 3-in-1 RGB Gaming mouse to the FlexCam Streaming Camera, they are great products that I would recommend when you are looking for great quality items and long-lasting. Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, both of these products have earned our Recommended award. To find out more about these products please visit https://us.yeyiangaming.com/.

International edition of the REDMAGIC 9S Pro to be announced on Tuesday July 16, 2024 at redmagic.gg

REDMAGIC, the gaming brand, has launched the REDMAGIC 9S Pro and REDMAGIC 9S Pro+ gaming smartphones series along the REDMAGIC Titan 16 Pro, gaming laptop in China International edition of the REDMAGIC 9S Pro to be announced on Tuesday July 16, 2024 at redmagic.gg REDMAGIC 9S Pro and REDMAGIC 9S Pro+ are available in four designs in China The REDMAGIC Titan 16 Pro gaming laptop available in two colors with various storage combinations. The leading gaming brand, REDMAGIC, has unveiled its latest flagship gaming phone, the REDMAGIC 9 Pro series: the REDMAGIC 9S Pro and the REDMAGIC 9S Pro+. This series features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the leading version with UFS 4.0 + LPDDR5X. It is available in four iterations with storage up to 24+1TB. REDMAGIC's at redmagic.gg on Tuesday July 16, 2024 will announced the launch of the international version from 8:00 PM Hong Kong Time / 7:00 AM Eastern Standard Time / 1:00 PM Central European Time. The launch of the REDMAGIC Titan 16 Pro, gaming laptop will be announced soon at redmagic.gg. Check out these resources for more information: Access the media kit here including a press release and review guide of the REDMAGIC 9S Pro, international version. Complete this form to request a sample for review of the REDMAGIC 9S Pro international version. Complete this form to apply for a sample of the REDMAGIC Titan 16 Pro, gaming laptop, the international version. For inquiries please contact us at pr@redmagic.gg. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the future of mobile gaming! Sincerely, The REDMAGIC Team

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