Four months ago I purchased AirPods, and they immediately became something I kept with me at all times. If they’re not stuck in my ears or stowed in a pocket of my pants — I panic until I locate them. Before AirPods, there were only three objects that held this level of importance: my wallet, my keys, and my phone. AirPods are so good that they instantly became unquestionably essential.
Continue reading “4 months with Apple AirPods: A picky sound person review”First thoughts on the new Zoom F1 Field Recorder
Zoom recently released the new F1 Field Recorder, an ultra-compact device that can handle a variety of audio tasks. It can be used as an on-camera microphone and recorder, it can placed on a person’s belt and be used as a clip-on mic recorder, it can even be used to record music, ambient environmental sounds, and for recording a two-person podcast. That’s an impressive array of solutions for such an inexpensive device!
Continue reading “First thoughts on the new Zoom F1 Field Recorder”Hands-on review of the Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II film scanner
If you’re looking for a film scanner that can deliver a high-resolution images without seriously hurting your bank account, the Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II is one of the best options out there. However, in order to use it to its full potential, you need to endure a complicated software installation process, and then learn how to use it. But for many people, the quality of the scans is worth the effort.
Continue reading “Hands-on review of the Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II film scanner”Using a Samsung Chromebook Pro after years of MacBook Pro
I’ve been a satisfied Mac user for 14 years, and aside from the occasional hiccup, I’ve never been tempted to switch back to Windows. But the idea of having a little Chromebook around as a secondary computer is something I’ve considered, but never acted on. Luckily I came into possession of a Samsung XE510C24-K01US Chromebook Pro through my day job. Now I’ll share what it’s like being a Mac person in Chromebook town.
Continue reading “Using a Samsung Chromebook Pro after years of MacBook Pro”How to start using the Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II film scanner
Many people rave about the image quality and features of the Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II film scanner, but just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s easy to start using — especially if your goal is to make the highest resolution scans possible. I had trouble figuring it out myself, so wrote this post to clearly explain everything to you — and save you the trouble.
Continue reading “How to start using the Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II film scanner”Everything that’s new on the Sennheiser 100 series G4 camera-mount wireless systems
Sennheiser just announced the new G4 100 series camera-mountable wireless systems, which are the same series that are used by a great number of people. When important gear gets updated, you want to know exactly what’s different about the new models. Unfortunately, this information has been very difficult to find. So, I’m collecting all of the actual updates in this blog post. I’ll add to this post when I find more information (if there is any).
Continue reading “Everything that’s new on the Sennheiser 100 series G4 camera-mount wireless systems”First thoughts on the new Zoom H1n audio recorder
The new Zoom H1n is a compact audio recorder with high-quality built-in microphones, and it was just announced, so I wanted to share my thoughts on it. This model is an update to the much-loved Zoom H1, a budget-friendly recorder that offered easy-to-use operation. There are many features of the new H1n that improve upon the old design, and at least one change makes it less desirable for a certain type of use. I’ll explain this later in the post.
Continue reading “First thoughts on the new Zoom H1n audio recorder”The Canon FTb SLR: My new camera (from 1971)
Wish you could afford one of those amazing full-frame mirrorless cameras with a fast, juicy lens? You know what I’m talking about. Yeah. The Sony a7R III. Compact, easy to transport. Big, lush sensor. Creamy glass. Quick operation. Improved battery life. That’s the dream, right?
But… It’s expensive. Too pricey for you and me. Right? Maybe not.
On a recent episode of the Accidental Tech Podcast, co-host Marco Arment was talking about the Sony a7R III he had recently purchased, and was rightfully gushing about its performance and the beautiful images it made. He went on to explain how this kind of camera is prohibitively expensive.
Continue reading “The Canon FTb SLR: My new camera (from 1971)”How to set up Sonos One with Alexa
The Sonos One is an excellent-sounding smart speaker that has the Amazon Alexa digital assistant built in. You just speak to it, and Alexa does what you ask her to do, such as playing your favorite music. This post features clearly written step-by-step instructions that explain how to get it working.
Continue reading “How to set up Sonos One with Alexa”Three weeks with the Apple Watch Series 3 GPS: A review
The majority of Apple Watch Series 3 reviews focus on the cellular model, but the one most people should get is the less-expensive GPS version. While it’s amazing you can place calls from your wrist without a phone, the GPS-only version does almost everything the fancier one does, and it doesn’t add a $17-a-month fee to your bill (I explain why it costs this much later in the post).
This is a hands-on review of the new Apple Watch Series 3 GPS that was written after three weeks of non-stop usage — and it’s coming from a person who had never used an Apple Watch before. It’s an unbiased look at this lust-worthy and slightly puzzling gadget.
Continue reading “Three weeks with the Apple Watch Series 3 GPS: A review”