We delve into the exciting world of Adobe Photoshop AI and its groundbreaking new Generative Fill feature. Join us as we explore how this cutting-edge technology revolutionizes the way we edit and enhance images. From seamless object removal to stunning content-aware fills, we’ll demonstrate how to harness the power of Photoshop AI’s Generative Fill to effortlessly transform your photos.

With the Generative Fill tool, users are able to create or remove objects, generate backgrounds, extend images, and more. All you have to do is access the Contextual Task Bar window, type in the desired outcome, and select the desired variations. It’s just way too easy.

Creators can tap into the power of the Generative Fill feature today through Adobe Photoshop’s desktop beta app. This new feature is set to officially roll out in the second half of 2023. It is also available as a new module in the Firefly beta app if you are interested to test out the new capabilities on the web.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Adobe Photoshop AI’s Generative Fill Is Impressive But What Does This Mean For Content Creators? appeared first on Geek Culture.

When the first Sony ZV-1 was released back in May 2020, consumers regarded it as a good but not quite great camera. Yet, it managed to carve out a niche that Sony continued to explore and with the upgraded Sony ZV-1 Mark II, the company is looking to address all the concerns consumers had back then, in a refreshed and superior offering.

A few key highlights that potential vloggers will be looking forward to would be a wider lens compared to before, as the Sony ZV-1 Mark II has a 18-50mm lens, which means that users would not have to extend their arms too far out, to capture both themselves and the environment behind them.

Having that flexibility goes even further with the implementation of an intelligent 3-capsule microphone. By default, the camera will recognize a human in the frame and change the microphone’s audio focus accordingly. Otherwise, users also have greater flexibility to toggle the mic to sound focus on the front, or on the rear, and on the fly as well, so audio still comes off crisp, just the way you want it.

With the hardware getting tweaks as well, the new cinematic vlog settings on the camera help users go from content capture to content creation easily. With a myriad of colour profile settings, these presents help users achieve their desired look with minimum fuss.

Given that the camera will be used mostly for travel, the Sony ZV-1 Mark II has its charging port upgraded to USB-C so that users will have to juggle with fewer cables while on the go. It’s a much needed quality-of-life upgrade and goes a long way considering that the dated micro-USB connection had major shortcomings. With the new iteration, shooting on the go while powering up the camera is very much a possibility when connected to a power bank.

The Sony ZV-1 Mark II’s release and price will be announced at a later date.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Sony ZV-1 Mark II Camera Packs Essential Features For Vlog Creators To Express Creativity appeared first on Geek Culture.

It’s the three-way, mid-range smartphone Mexican standoff with the Google Pixel 7a, Samsung A54 and POCO Pro F5. We pit all three devices in a camera battle royale in the streets of Chinatown to determine which Android phone will rule the night.

The standoff was conducted with a series of video and photo tests with each device’s front-facing and rear camera, in low light and portrait mode. Watch the video below to find out which is the clear winner!

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Android Camera Battle: Google Pixel 7a vs Samsung A54 vs POCO F5 Pro appeared first on Geek Culture.

How do you improve on a well loved mirrorless camera? If you’re Nikon, you make it smaller still. The new Z8 is a smaller and lighter version of its popular Z9 model, packed with the same features and functionality, including 8.3k video and 12-bit ProRes 4K, 6K, and 4K 120, but in a body that is 30% smaller and significantly lighter, weighing just 990 grams.

While there were expectations for a 60MP (megapixel) sensor, the Z8 offers a smaller 45MP one that still impresses as performance here is nearly identical to 2018’s Z7, with the exception of some recording limits based on battery power. Despite this minor drawback, the Z8 is a phenomenal system with no significant flaws.

With a rear display that articulates the same as that on the Z9, the Z8 also comes with the brightest EVF on the market, going up to 3,000 lumens, making it perfect for low-light photography and video. The autofocus system has also been improved and can now detect planes and cockpits.

We took a unit out for a spin, and as you can see, this camera has everything you need to capture high-quality images and footage.

Pricing for the unit has not been released. Watch our full review above.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Geek Review: Nikon Z8 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Canon has just announced the successor to the popular Canon EOS R6 full-frame camera, with the new R6 Mark II along with the new RF 135mm f1.8 USM lens and Speedlite EL-5 flash.

The R6 Mark II sports an all-new 24.2 Megapixel sensor, up to 40fps burst mode making it the fastest EOS R camera on the market, 6K 60p External recording via HDMI and 4K 60p with no crop internally.  In addition, we are seeing a new Autofocusing system, the Dual Pixel AF II with EOS iTR AX subject tracking with additional subjects such as trains, planes, and horses.   

The starting price for the EOS R6 Mark II in Singapore is S$3899 and will be publicly available on 18 November 2022. 

Alongside the announcement of the R6 Mark II, the new RF 135mm f1.8 USM lens is also making its way into the RF lens lineup.  This tele-lens is ideal for portraiture with the fast aperture of f1.8, and has a 0.7 meter close focusing, optical stabilization, and custom buttons on the lens to assign additional functionality.  As a trade-off, all these features come at a cost when it comes to weight at approximately 996 grams. It’s a hefty boy indeed.

The last product that was announced is the new Speedlite EL-5 which sits right below Canon’s flagship Speedlite, the EL-1.  The EL-5 will produce light spread up to 60 meters, and fully compatible with Canon’s multifunction hot shoe seen on the EOS R3, R7 and now R6 Mark II. 

Unfortunately, the previous generation EOS R5 will not be able to take advantage of this new Speedlite at this time. 

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II and RF 135mm f1.8 USM produce stunning imagery which will be enticing for many that want to improve their photography and video work. Its price tag places the gear in a sweet spot as well. We will be doing a more comprehensive review in the coming weeks so in the meantime, check out our impressions video above.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Hands On And Impressions appeared first on Geek Culture.

Apple’s iPhones have had a long history of consistently having one of the best cameras in a smartphone, and that legacy has carried on across many generations of devices in the last 15 years.

This year’s iPhone 14 series of devices can be broken down into two groups, based on the camera features. Both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models come with a main 12MP camera with 26mm, ƒ/1.5 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, seven-element lens, and 100% Focus Pixels, as well as a 12MP Ultra Wide camera at 13mm, ƒ/2.4 aperture, and 120° field of view, five-element lens and 2X optical zoom out with 5X digital zoom.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro models come with a main 48MP camera with 24mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, seven-element lens and 100% Focus Pixels, a 12MP 3X Telephoto with 77mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture, optical image stabilisation, six-element lens, 3X optical zoom in, 2X optical zoom out with 6X optical zoom range and digital zoom up to 15x, as well as a 12MP Ultra Wide camera at 13mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, six-element lens and 100% Focus Pixels.

That doesn’t automatically mean one is inherently superior in every way, as the great thing about the iPhone is that it teaches us that with it, anyone can be a photographer. During the recent Singapore Grand Prix, we took the Apple iPhone 14 Plus to the tracks, and snapped some great photos. Singapore’s F1 is a night race, so what you see here are photos captured on the iPhone 14 Plus at night, and as with any shots taken by the iPhone, the photos speak for themselves.

And as a comparison, we also shot some photos with the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and you can ask yourself this – if we didn’t differentiate between the photos taken, can you tell which were shot with the iPhone 14 Plus, and which were taken by the iPhone 14 Pro Max camera?

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post iPhone 14 Plus Camera Test: Hitting Singapore’s F1 Night Race appeared first on Geek Culture.

Nikon has been aggressively filling out their lens lineup over the past year, from the super telephoto range of lenses — the Nikkor 800mm f6.3 to the 400mm f2.8 with the 1.4 Telecoverter — and 400mm f4.5. At the same time, they’re also working on an affordable lens lineup for their Z Mount cameras, including the Nikkor 28-75mm f2.8 (S$1,549.00), which was released in January 2022, adding a great alternative to their impressive and more expensive 24-70mm f2.8 (S$3,599.00).  

Nikon has decided to build on this f2.8 aperture range by offering the new Nikkor 17-28mm f2.8, and we’ve had the opportunity to have a brief hands-on with it prior to launch. We came away impressed with optics and performance of the lens, especially the compact size and internal zoom vs the telescopic zoom of the 28-75mm.

Looking on the outside, the design language is very similar to the 28-75mm f2.8.  Both of these lenses are not categorized as S-Line lines (Nikon’s naming convention for their top tier lens),  but the performance from our brief testing didn’t seem lacking.  

One could easily see similarities to the Tamron 17-28mm Di III RXD for the Sony E-Mount, from its compact size and to the internals consisting of 13 Elements and 11 Groups, but with 3 Aspherical Elements, 2 ED elements, and a slightly heavier weight of 450 grams. Despite that, like the 28-75mm which bears similarities to the Tamron 28-75mm version, the performance of this lens provided us with sharp images, pleasing bokeh with minimal chromatic aberration and impressive close focusing coming in at .19m at 17mm and .26m at 28mm. Video-centric users will also like the size and weight for gimbal use and or handheld solutions. 

Another benefit to the size is how it pairs well to the newly announced Nikon Z30 and FM2 inspired Nikon Zfc, but due to APS-C sensor size the focal range will be 27mm at its widest and 42mm at the tele focal length. Check out some sample images below:

The all new Nikkor 17-28mm f2.8 is looking to give the end-user a great compact budget friendly wide angle zoom option that is designed to complement the 28-75mm at f2.8. We will be doing a more comprehensive review in the coming weeks so look out for it here on Geek Culture soon!    

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Nikon Unveils The Affordable Nikkor 17-28 f2.8 Zoom Lens appeared first on Geek Culture.

The gaming headphones market continues to be saturated with plenty of choices, but that isn’t stopping premium audio companies from dipping their toes into the growing landscape. Bang & Olufsen (B&O), known for its beautifully-sounding speakers and classy aesthetics, is the latest to ride the wave with its gaming-focused Portal series of headphones. 

Enter the B&O Beoplay Portal gaming headphones, which offer either Xbox or PlayStation console support, while also boasting PC compatibility. The PlayStation/PC model was used for this review, and actually comes highly recommended for those who aren’t diehard Xbox enthusiasts.

Right out of the box, the device cuts a handsome figure, sporting clean lines, touch-enabled metal plates on the outside of the ear cups, a padded headband, and soft, comfortable ear cups that feel sublime over the ears. It weighs 279 grams, so these headphones don’t sit heavy around your head and offer a comfortable experience instead, accentuated by the bamboo fibre material of the headband, which adds ample relief over periods of long use. 

Tap twice on either ear cup, and you’ll be able to play and pause your audio, or mute your microphone while on a call or during gaming sessions. The ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and Talk-Through modes can be adjusted on the left slider in Bluetooth mode, while the right side allows for volume control. At the bottom are a host of buttons and connectivity options, including a USB-C port, power button, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The Beoplay Portal isn’t just a good looker, however. When put through its paces, the set of cans performed excellently where sound quality is concerned, offering prominent, finely-tuned bass that didn’t drown out other audio elements. The mids and highs were pronounced without being too overpowering, with the phrase “dynamic balance” repeatedly coming up over the course of the review period. 

While designed primarily for gaming with Dolby Atmos, streaming music from an iPhone or Android phone made for a very enjoyable listening experience. In fact, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that these headphones sound richer than Apple’s AirPod Max headphones, and are even capable of besting the Sony WH-100XM4.

The ANC technology also proved to be equally impressive and when turned on, the Beoplay Portal was able to kill most of the surrounding noise, with the Talk-Through mode allowing users to hear all around them without the outside world sounding synthetic. It doesn’t quite beat the AirPod Max in the latter category, but they do hold their own as one of the better ANC solutions out in the market.

Audio immersion is further enhanced with great wireless connectivity. You’ll be able to hook the headphones up to two other devices at the same time, and enjoy low-latency Bluetooth connection with two dongle options: USB-C and USB-A, both of which have been included in the box. Like most headphones nowadays though, the device isn’t standalone, in that the Beoplay Portal relies on the B&O app to realise its potential, and that comes with some slight connection issues at times. Fortunately, Bluetooth connection to various devices was quick and reliable, though there’s always the option to go wired. A USB-C cable and 3.5mm cable have been set aside in the box as well for direct connection, but do note that doing so will drain the headphone’s battery more than Bluetooth does, so B&O recommends the dongle as the choice pick. Should you have to carry it around, a provided premium cloth pouch can be used to protect the cans from scratches, even if it doesn’t do much for drop protection.

And if you’re constantly on the go, battery life would be a concern. Thankfully, the Beoplay Portal is able to last 19 hours with wireless, Bluetooth, and ANC enabled, 42 hours with Bluetooth and ANC activated, and an impressive 60 hours with Bluetooth only. Charging time clocked in to be about two hours from an empty tank to a full one – a claim we can attest to from our usage.  

Where the headphones falter slightly is in the microphone category. While B&O’s effort to keep them free of boom mics and microphone attachment as an extra accessory is commendable, its two-mic set-up in each ear cup results in a quieter and unclear voice quality. Putting them in gaming and phone call situations yielded subpar microphone audio, which may be a deal-breaker for gaming enthusiasts who rely on voice chat or participate in conversations on Discord, Slack, and other conference apps. However, it shouldn’t be a problem for those who only use mics sparingly. 

The other factor that may hold potential buyers back would be the price. The Beoplay Portal headphones are priced at S$799 (US$499), putting them at a similar price range as the AirPod Max. With a gaming audience, though, this price tag is as much as a PlayStation 5 console, and that’s likely to deter some in the community from getting them. For those who want a great sounding gaming headset, here’s your best bet. 

While designed primarily for gamers, the B&O Beoplay Portal headphones impress with their all-in-one capabilities to offer great audio, flexible multipoint connectivity, stellar noise cancellation, other ANC technology, lasting comfort, and exceptional battery life. They come highly recommended for both gaming enthusiasts and non-gamers alike, with the exception of two groups: individuals who rely on and want a solid microphone performance, and those looking for some additional RGB effects to their products.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Geek Review: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal ANC Gaming Headphones appeared first on Geek Culture.

While companies are known for offering the best hardware at premium prices, there are those, such as China’s OnePlus, who has made a name as the smartphone company that provides premium hardware specifications and design, for a fraction of the price.

And now that they have established a reputation for it, they can offer the next best thing – top-end hardware and still at a fraction of the price of its peers, with the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G. Powered by the latest Snapdragon 8th Gen 1 chipset, a large 5,000 mAh battery, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage, the 6.7-inch flagship is one of the brand’s better looking handsets to date, and priced at a mere S$1,299. While a bit more conservative in design, everything flows when it comes to camera modules and placement, colour options and the thin bezels wrapping around the LTPO2 AMOLED Display.

Our review unit is the Volcano Black version, which has the appearance of a more textured backing but is still very smooth to the touch, so much so that we recommend using the case included in the box to help with a more secure grip. The display is bright and vibrant but OnePlus does give you the ability to tweak the colour of the display to your liking.  Since we use the phone for more photos and video we intend to have it set to look more natural vs the highly vibrant settings out of the box.

The phone performs well with the Oxygen OS, which is essentially stock Android minus a few tweaks and improvements. For photography nuts, the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G has taken the playbook from its bigger brother, Oppo, and established a partnership with Hasselblad,  You see this alliance in the colour output, XPan mode and Hasselblad Pro modes inside the camera system.

Overall the image quality is impressive, with the cameras producing sharp images out of the triple camera setup: 48MP Wide 50MP Ultra-Wide and 8MP Telephoto, especially when it came to Pro mode and XPan mode. The XPan mode is our personal favourite, as it mimics the panoramic feature in the Hasselblad XPan film cameras, but gives you the ability to shoot in both black and white, and colour.  

For video, the phone is capable of shooting up to 8K at 24fps, 4K at 30, 60 or 120fps, and 1080p at 30, 60 or 240fps, which matches the latest from the current flaships models from competitors. Performance with video is good, but nothing that stood out amongst the competition.  

However, one thing that does stand out is the fantastic charge times the phone can get when paired to the 80 Watt Super VOOC Charger that comes with the unit. This can charge the phone from 0 to full in around 30 minutes time, and defies the competitors, who have withdrawn the provision of a charger out of the box. plus min. 

For what it offers in terms of hardware, features and performance, the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G is a worthy contender for low price powerhouse, though there is a caveat. The brand does not have a full-fledged customer service operations, so paying that much for little to no support isn’t something that most people can deal with. If you are looking for a smartphone manufacturer with a more physical presence, consider the Oppo with the Find X5 Pro, which shares many of the same features, but costs just slightly more.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Geek Review: OnePlus 10 Pro 5G appeared first on Geek Culture.

Which came first? The chicken (rice war), or the Apple iPhone?

For veteran documentary filmmaker David Gelb, using Apple’s latest and best for this latest project with Apple Singapore was a given, but it was the subject matter that gave him a little pause. To the world at large, chicken rice is a dish that has become synonymous with Singapore cuisine, with many versions populating the coffee shops, hawkers and restaurants in the tiny Republic, and even around the world.

But when he flew into Singapore in February to film Poached, his new project on the nation’s iconic hawker culture that has been added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage, he found out firsthand what made the simple dish such a complex case study.

“Part of the story here I’m really drawn to is passion. In Singapore, people are very passionate about their food and they are very passionate about chicken rice. That’s like perfect, fertile ground for a dramatic story,” said Gelb in a video call and exclusive interview with Geek Culture.

“The incredible thing about chicken rice in Singapore is that there are so many different takes, on what is fundamentally similar, that everybody can find their favourite.”

Poached is a short documentary focusing on more than just the popular Singapore dish, as it also represents something near and dear to many. Like the Mexican taco, American burger, Italian pizza and Japanese ramen, it’s not just any food, but one whose popularity is directly intertwined with the national identity as well. For those not familiar with the legendary Chicken Rice, it’s a crux to the beloved food culture in Singapore, and many argue night and day which is the best, and have no qualms about traveling the farthest distances to try. 

So the international filmmaker, famed for creating Chef’s Table on Netflix, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and The Lazarus Effect, honed in on the two most famous chicken rice sellers in Singapore, located in the same hawker centre in Maxwell – Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice and Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice. 

Both establishments have a deep connection, but have since been separated due to personal reasons, though are also forever linked to each other. The five-and-a-half-minute episode includes interviews with Tian Tian’s founder Foo Kui Lian and current owner, daughter Loi Mui Yin, Ah Tai’s founder Wong Lian Tai, as well as food journalist Annette Tan, and restaurateur Bjorn Shen.

And while few filmmakers can capture the soul of food like Gelb, Poached also gave him the opportunity to create a project shot entirely on the Apple iPhone 13 Pro. It’s no secret that the smartphone has changed the way we capture and create, and in the small, public space of Maxwell Food Centre where the short film was short, freedom of movement, hardware capabilities and more came into play during production. 

On a technical level, the 38-year-old has a preference in shooting with prime lenses, with nice fall off and bokeh, and while smartphone cameras don’t offer this due to the design and size of the lens, what the iPhone 13 has is a powerful Cinematic Mode which simulates this feel and look. In fact, it was his obsession with Cinematic Mode that made him use it primarily for this film. 

“I really wanted to push the device itself to its limits. The vast majority of the piece was shot in cinematic mode in the native app and it performed brilliantly,” gushed the filmmaker. 

“I just want to shoot it on Cinematic mode, I want to shoot everything on Cinematic mode, I’m like, obsessed with Cinematic mode.” 

One of the benefits in using a small device during the shoot was the versatility, as the relative small size of the Apple 13 Pro allowed for more unique angles, such as when the phone was attached to a butcher knife for more creative shots. It also provided a less intrusive feel to those being filmed, which allowed those interviewed for the film to feel more at ease during filming. Also, the all encompassing macro lenses allowed him to capture sharp details in food, without the need of additional accessories.

For audio, the nature of the work meant that Gelb relied on separate audio recording and mixing but did state when he wanted ambience sound, the iPhone 13 Pro’s microphone did an excellent job in this regard, and some of those audio clips made their way into the final film.  

So was the iPhone 13 Pro the perfect tool? Yes, but if anything, there are improvements to look forward to and on his wish list for Cinematic mode? Slow motion, and ability to shoot in larger format.

Since the launch of the iPhone, Apple has been pushing these boundaries with every iPhone release. While they may not have the highest megapixels and gimmicks that other smartphone manufacturers have, what they include are features that work in a cohesive and organic way, giving the creator the freedom to create vs burning our faces in multiple menus and settings just to get the shot we want. 

So now that the project is completed, one final question that seemingly deserves an answer – which of the two stalls serves the superior chicken rice?

“It’s tough,” admits Gelb. 

“We have great sauce; we have beautiful rice. One is a little fattier, on the Ah Tai side, and there’s a little bit in the leaner-ness going on with Tian Tian. But I think they are both fantastic.”

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Food Filmmaker David Gelb Dishes Out On Singapore’s Chicken Rice War In Poached, And Shooting Entirely On Apple iPhone 13 Pro appeared first on Geek Culture.

If you’ve been living under a rock and have no access to the Internet, you might have missed out that the buzzword in routers for 2022 is Wi-Fi 6, the latest in wireless networking technology that offers more than just faster speeds.

Yes, in theory, Wi-Fi 6 is faster but the new standard is also about managing congestion and multiple devices connected to a router, enabling devices to still tap on the faster fibre speeds at the same time, ensuring that no single bandwidth-hungry device hogs the network.

What this means though is that every month, a new line of Wi-Fi 6 routers hit the market, all touting speeds that mere mortals and few devices will never experience, but also all future-proofed, until a refreshed model lands in four months time that is.  

Adding to the ranks is the new router /mesh Wi-Fi system from ASUS, the ZenWiFi Pro XT12, or XT12, because it’s 2022 and brands still feel the need to label their products in memory friendly ways.

This is one of the top routers from Asus, promising speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps, and 6,000 sq ft of coverage with just two nodes. Impressive? Only if you read the fine print. The unit offers Tri-Band connectivity, including 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz-1 and 5Ghz-2, and 2.5G multi-gig ports for high speed direct connection from either node, optimal for NAS systems, gaming or just about any workflow demanding the fastest connection possible. And all three combined offer the magical 11,000 Mbps, of 4,804 Mbps each for 5Ghz, and 1,148 Mbps for 2Ghz.

That said, fibre speeds are not fixed, and dependent on a lot of other factors, including service provider and its network set-up, and other physical factors that end-users are not always able to control. 

Designwise, the XT12 has more in common with the Linksys Velop, with a taller tower look, but in black. There is also a clear case at the top, resembling a power crystal from Superman’s Fortress of Solitude from the 1977 movie. Each node is on the larger side, but definitely sleek-looking enough to fit any household aesthetic.

When it comes to performance, the XT12 delivers. The promise of better coverage with fewer nodes is accurate, as one node was all it took to cover a 2,200 sq ft condominium, offering the same coverage as other more expensive Wi-Fi 6 router/mesh systems. This one single node covered about 95% of the condo, and two covered the entirety of the apartment, offering network access at even the most tucked away rooms and corners, something that the earlier systems didn’t manage to do.

In terms of speed, the 11,000 Mbps on the marketing material was nothing more than wishful thinking but also because in Singapore, the common standard offered is 1 GBPS (1,000 Mbps), which is decent but a far cry from the 4,804Mbps ASUS mentions for its 5Ghz band.  

Our Wi-Fi connection speed using an iPhone 13 Pro Max and MacBook Pro M1 Max next to the main node/router was around 700 Mbps, which is pretty much standard for the many systems we’ve tested. However, when we connected to the second node, we noticed that the speeds dropped by just 25-30%, compared to the 40-60% on the other mesh systems. This was measured on the 5Ghz-1 band exclusively. Meanwhile, devices on the 2.4Ghz will give you more distance in coverage, but far less speeds.

Alas, connecting to the 5Ghz-2 band didn’t fare too well in our testing, as we saw a reduction in speeds vs 5Ghz-1. Perhaps this is a frequency not utilised yet by many devices, but perhaps this is part of the future-proofing ASUS has built into the XT12 system.

Overall, the XT12 performed well, although we did find that some of our existing Wi-Fi smart lighting systems were unable to connect to this router, even at the recommended 2.4Ghz band. We tried various settings, from changing our WPA security settings, to turning off the firewall, all without success.

Given the new technology, this can be rather common with some smart lights and older model smart cameras we’ve seen, so if you’ve invested in some smart home systems, you might want to check back to see if hardware or software compatibility is an issue.

A huge drawback is the price, as $1,299 for a set of two is not cheap. Sure, a regular HDB flat or condominium might make do with one, but why buy a mesh system and not tap onto it?

The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12 is available now on Lazada and Shopee.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Geek Review: ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12 Mesh Router appeared first on Geek Culture.

A few years ago, everyone and anyone was launching fitness trackers, until no one could keep track. These days, it’s the realm of wireless earbuds and you can find them everywhere, but there are a few kings of that audio hill. Sony has been one of the bigger players, mixing it up with the other players, but facing up against Apple with its iconic AirPods range. With the release of its new Sony LinkBuds, the Japanese tech giant seems to be moving away from the tried and tested WF series, and urging folks away from the beloved AirPods?

The Sony LinkBuds are one of the most unique designs we have seen in years, outside of the original AirPods. At first glance you may think these are a compact earbud that swivels out, to allow physical audio transparency, then can close when you want great sound isolation, but this is not the case.  The two-part look is a one-piece design that relies on the ear loop to keep them secure. There is no silicone or foam tip to secure the buds inside your canal, as they only sit inside the outer portion of your ear canal like many standard earbuds. 

Due to the top part of the LinkBuds being heavier than the bottom that sits in your canal opening, the fitment and size choice of the rubber hook is crucial, otherwise these will fall out immediately.  This is a design we would strongly recommend one tries on before purchasing in case you find them not to your liking. The carrying case they come in is small, lightweight and very pocketable, though this means there’s no wireless charging. The case design and build quality is minimal, and lacks okay, but does feel more budget-like than what the brand has been known for. If you are keen to pick up a set, they come in Charcoal Grey or White, and we recommend the grey as it’s better at hiding dirt or markings that can get on over time.  

Sony is all about being as eco-friendly as possible with the LinkBuds packaging,  and while we appreciate the effort and consciousness towards sustainability, the presentation is, for lack of a better word, flimsy. The ear loops that you so desperately need to rely on are positioned as such in this thin paper sleeve that once removed, are difficult to put back in, and the sleeve immediately loses its shape, resulting in customers that in almost certainty will lose or misplace a loop or two as they can easily fall out.

There is no quick setup guide for the earbuds, only a QR code to link you to an online video that isn’t the best at explaining how to fit the earbuds securely.  It took us multiple attempts to figure it out, and we have had our fair share of earbuds in the Geek Culture office. In addition to the packaging contents, You will get a USB C Cable for charging, but no power brick, but this is more the norm in 2022 so it’s expected.

Performance-wise though, it’s another matter. We have been testing the LinkBuds for the past couple of weeks, and walk away a bit perplexed.  We applaud Sony for taking a new approach to the wireless earbud segment, but also wonder if they actually did their due diligence when it comes to real-world testing, especially when it comes to fitment and audio quality.  

Connectivity to an iPhone or Android device via bluetooth is fast and relatively simple but does rely on the Sony Headphones app for more settings and firmware updates.  Speaking of the latter, the update process is somewhat frustrating. Updates can take up to 60 minutes, yes 60 minutes even over Wi-Fi. The LinkBuds need to be outside of the case to do this which means you will need to either carry the link buds in hand with your phone for an hour, or just take an hour out of your day to update the LinkBuds when needed. 

When it comes to audio quality though, that’s where things get muted. The sound is decent with good mids and highs, but due to the design, there is little to no bass. Like the NB10 we reviewed, this is surprising because based on Sony’s track record for excellent audio reproduction in various speakers, headphones, earbuds, this should not be the case. Sony does try to compensate with (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) DSEE, an option with the LinkBuds that helps reduce that compressed sound one gets with video and MP3’s. It does give audio playback a more dynamic sound but unfortunately doesn’t help the lack of bass. Audio performance is average at best but if you just want to hear some music at the gym or on a run they will definitely do the job. 

Also, the volume at maximum is quite soft compared to other offerings. Perhaps this is better for ear health but it’s nice to have the option in loud environments. Audio quality in the WF series is definitely superior, so depending on your needs the LinkBuds may or may not be right for you.

Comfort-wise, the Sony LinkBuds are designed to keep in your ears longer with less discomfort compared to other earbuds. In this regard, they succeed, allowing one to wear for more than an hour or more without ear fatigue. Do they outperform the current AirPods in this regard? Not quite but they do come close. Battery life is good, coming in around 5 hours per charge with a 17.5 hours of charging in the case.

One interesting feature is Speak to Chat. This setting that can only be activated in the Sony Headphones app, detects when the user is talking, will automatically pause the audio and will resume 2 seconds after no words are spoken or you can tap two or three times to activate playback. This works quite well and does make conversing easier than other true wireless earbud offerings. 

Sadly, the cons tend to outweigh the pros, and while Sony has been known to make some of the best true wireless earbuds in the marketplace, the LinkBuds fall slightly short of the same standard Sony set.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Geek Review: Sony LinkBuds appeared first on Geek Culture.

Audio peripherals are a huge market, with brands coming up with the latest earbuds, headphones and speakers. Adding the phrase ‘Gaming’ in front of them, and you have a brand new category to cus on, but naturally, Sony is looking at leading, not following, the pack, which is why it has launched the latest for the niche segment known as wearable neckband speakers.

Sony and Bose have been two companies that have been periodically releasing such devices for the past few years, and while they work as described and can produce fantastic audio at times, they haven’t seemed to capture a large market of audio enthusiasts. In comes the SRS-NB10 Wireless Neckband Speaker that aims to bring a more lightweight, wearable speaker that goes beyond your house or office.

So what are neckband speakers? Instead of getting up close and personal with earbuds and headphones, or audio levels enough to fill a small room, these sit somewhere in the middle, with a loop that sits nicely on your shoulders around your neck. There are upward-facing speakers on each side, offering acoustics for your personal pleasure, without the presence of anything in or on your ears. 

Having tested the NB10’s for the past couple of weeks, we can definitively say these are versatile, but also not without some caveats.  The weight, at 113g, feel fantastic around the neck for long wear times, especially outside walking or doing non intensive activities. As these neckbands are IPX4 rated, and lightweight, they are designed to be taken outside comfortably, unlike the offering from Bose or even Sony’s NS7.

The NB10 is completely made from plastic composites, which have a soft rubber touch to the longer areas that contour to your shoulder, and a harder plastic for the neck area. The band that contours to the back of the neck has slight ridges to help keep the band in place, and while flexible, cannot bend or be molded to a particular position.

On the top of each side are the speaker grills, which are exposed but due to the IPX4 rating, offer some protection in case rainwater or sweat drops on them. It seems like Sony loves the Charcoal Grey or White colour options, and as always, we opt for the grey as they do a better job of hiding scuff marks or dirt over time.

So how do they work? the controls are relatively simple with Plus, Minus, Stop/ Pause buttons on the left side and a power button on the right side.  All controls are placed on the inside of the neckband, which makes sense as you can support the band with your thumb and use your index finger to select the appropriate button. In addition, the USB-C charging port is placed next to the power button and covered with a rubber cap to protect it from water, dust, etc. 

Connectivity to an iPhone or Android device via Bluetooth is fast and simple with no issues with either platform. Range is fantastic, allowing us to set our phone in one room and walk around a 2,000 sq ft office without much interruption. Now this is subject to the design of your home or office, but we found the range to be superior to many other wireless devices we have used in this segment.

Audio-wise though, it’s a different experience from headphones and where the NB10 doesn’t quite hit the mark. The lack of bass is apparent right from the get-go, resulting in some of the most underwhelming audio we have heard in a while, which is surprising based on Sony’s track record for excellent audio reproduction in various speakers, headphones, and earbuds.

Having said that, if you just want to have some music in the background, listen to podcasts, spoken word and use for web conferences or phone conversations, these work well for that, but don’t go in expecting the NB10 to replace your WH-1000XM4 or WF-1000XM4. 

The Sony SRS-NB10 Wireless Neckband Speaker does open up a lot of options for users, especially those that don’t want to wear something over their head for long periods of time or in their ears. We have found the battery life to be comparable to most high-end wireless headphones, coming in around 20 hours on a single charge and with a quick charge of 10 min, one will get 1 hour of audio which is a welcomed feature.

The volume level in a quiet room is fine but in a crowded environment, we found the maximum volume to be not as good but then again, we won’t recommend you wear these in crowded places as folks around you will be able to hear what you are listening to. When volume is set to 50%, the audio isolation is relatively good considering the design and placement of the speakers which are essentially right behind your ears, though at neck level.

The splash-proof design of these neckbands does make going outside with them much easier, but due to the lack of adjustment on the neckband, jogging or anything strenuous may not be the most ideal due to comfort and fit. With the outdoor activities of walking and cycling, the NB10 performed well as audio devices offering some level of ambient acoustics.  

They do take some getting used to, like having a personalised speaker trailing you everywhere. We won’t recommend using them in public or on the bus, but it’s a good accessory to have around the house while you’re listening to conference calls, and need to focus on other things as well.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Geek Review: Sony SRS-NB10 Wireless Neckband Speaker appeared first on Geek Culture.

Unveiled just earlier this month at CES 2022, the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is the world’s first 17.3-inch foldable OLED laptop. It offers two sizes of OLED display into a single device with a large 4:3 17.3-inch 2.5K touchscreen that folds right in the middle that becomes two 3:2 12.5-inch 1920 x 1280 displays.

We got our hands on an early prototype, courtesy of the folks at ASUS Singapore. Check it out below!

The OLED touchscreen is PANTONE Validated and Dolby Vision HDR enabled, along with Dolby Atmos audio, 12th Gen Intel Core i7 U-Series CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, up to 16GB of RAM, 17Wh battery, and an ASUS ErgoSense Bluetooth keyboard, the biggest test for the foldable laptop will be the durability of the display over time.

The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED will be available for purchase around the middle of 2022 via the ASUS Online Store.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post First Looks: ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED (UX9702) appeared first on Geek Culture.

The mirrorless flagship camera market has been enjoying steady growth in recent times, and the Canon EOS R3 is the latest member to join its ranks… well, of sorts. 

On paper, the industry giant states that this new offering isn’t marketed as a flagship – leaving that title to the now outdated Canon 1DX Mark III and the R1 that’s rumoured to drop this year – but it performs like one, offering options and specifications that will keep speed – and accuracy – reliant photographers and videographers happy for years to come.

For starters, the R3 touts similar specs to the Sony A1 and Nikon Z9, sporting a 24MP sensor as compared to 45MP and 50MP respectively. Video-wise, the former allows for 6K recording, while the latter two top out at 8K. The biggest difference, however, is that the R3 has now become the first hybrid camera from Canon, arming users with 30fps per second burst modes for added speed, fantastic autofocus performance that can track any moving subjects, great colour renditions, and other bonus features. 

While some may prefer a smaller body, like the R5 and EOS R before that, the R3 is designed for professionals, with an in-built vertical grip that houses the battery (LP-E19). This extra size, while not foreign to 1DX and Nikon D series users, does have a smaller footprint than its DSLR siblings, which gives the camera a more compact feel. In a first for a sports camera, the R3 also comes with a rotatable display that would be handy for more creative photography, or videographers who need to use it as a monitor at various angles. Users will be able to enjoy increased battery life and added stability when paired with the great-performing IBIS, courtesy of its bigger build.

The R3 mitigates an unformatted mishap of the EOS R5 as well, offering a fix for the overheating issue that handicapped the latter from being the ultimate hybrid many users hoped for. To Canon’s credit, the R5 has been improved with firmware updates, but the physical hardware limitations remain an issue, especially when it comes to heat management with high quality 4K and 8K video recording.  

Over the past three weeks of using the camera in various conditions, we enjoyed the experience and feel of the R3. While there were some concerns with the sensor being only 24MP, its output resembled the image quality of 30-plus megapixels when paired with the impressive RF lenses. We even used the high quality 4K option to record a number of reviews here for our YouTube channel, and the camera produced some of the crispiest images we’ve had to date. Colours are as one would expect from a Canon camera with a tremendous amount of detail. 

The only real issues were the inability of the autofocus system to switch between faces when shooting more than one subject, and the new Eye Control technology, which diss not always work as described. This function adds an extra point inside the EVF at the subject in focus, but it feels more like a gimmick in its current state. In fact, the R3 did more than a decent job at locking focus on its own. Additionally, the flip out display doesn’t sit flush to the camera when extended, resulting in the horizon line being thrown off.

Still, there is no arguing that the Canon R3 is the best camera Canon has made to date. It exceeded our expectations, and out of the many cameras we had, became one we tended to pick up more often than not. However, Canon does need to figure out the pricing structure, as this sits above the other flagship offerings while not being an official flagship camera.

Bobby Tonelli

Bobby is an actor, host, photographer and tech geek who always wanted to be Batman, but settled as a Jedi in training.

The post Review: Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera appeared first on Geek Culture.