Bill Loguidice's Blog, page 94

An Android Phone for your iPhone?

In what can perhaps best be described as “unusual,” Tel Aviv-based ESTI Inc., has revealed a Kickstarter for something called Eye – The Smart iPhone Case. It’s unusual because it basically promises a fully functioning Nougat-based Android smartphone in a case that attaches to your existing (or upcoming) iPhone, including the Plus model.

Personally, I love the basic idea of strapping a whole other smartphone to your existing smartphone, and it really does sound like they’re targeting some pretty impressive features, including “wireless” charging, dedicated battery, and shared storage. At the same time, I also struggle to see the need for such a thing, despite my fondness for insane technology whose only major reason to exist is because it’s darn cool.

 

Another issue of course is that this is a company without a known track record, and this is an incredibly ambitious project, particularly for an August/September delivery date. I know I for one am tired of investing in these things and either being disappointed with the end product, or not getting the end product at all.

And then there’s the price. At $95 for a Super Early Bird, this seems like an awful lot of technology for too little money.

Although I’ll be keeping an eye on this project, ultimately, it won’t be something I’ll be investing in. Between my fondness for the magnetic Rokform case that’s indispensable in my car and at the gym, and all the red flags, I’ll be keeping my money away at a safe distance. With that said, with over 30 days left to go in the Kickstarter, it looks like they’re already almost at their modest $95,000 goal, so, one way or the other, this will be heading to production. Of course, as stated, whether or not that means backers will eventually get the product promised remains a question mark.

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Five Ways Wearable Devices Will Change Personal Health

Current trends like Fitbit and Apple Watch are already having a significant impact on our lives. Whether these devices are helping us be healthier or more efficient, they are all considered wearable devices, and experts are predicting a sizable boom in this market in the coming years. Here are five ways wearable devices will change personal health:

 

Source. Edited transcript:

Gartner Inc. has forecast that 274.6 million wearable devices will be sold worldwide in 2016. If the current market trends are any indication, then the majority of those devices will be designed to transform personal health. Here are five examples of how wearable devices will do just that:

5. Monitoring Diabetes: Researchers from the Institute for Basic Science in Seoul, South Korea, have created a dual patch to help diabetics monitor their blood glucose levels. The device replaces the need for diabetics to prick their fingers to test their blood’s glucose level. Instead, it monitors the wearer’s glucose levels by analyzing sweat. If high levels of glucose are detected, the patch releases a drug to help lower it, giving diabetics an easy, pain-free way to monitor their health.

4. Brain Wearables: EEGs or Electroencephalograms are wearable devices designed to detect and measure brain activity. They are usually deployed to measure frequencies during specific times like sleep or stressful events. These wearable devices will help doctors “read” your mind.

3. Monitoring the heart: ECGs are Electrocardiograms; these devices record electronic activity in the heart via external electrodes placed on the skin. Many also believe that in the future, the heartbeat profile of the user can be used as a biometric password through a sensor placed in a smart watch or other devices. This could do away with credit cards, keys, and tickets, providing new meaning to having a key to someone’s heart.

2. Nanosensors: Scripps Health is currently working on a nanosensor that can be injected into the bloodstream, which will provide a live glucose reading and transmit them wirelessly to a smartphone app. This is just one of the many ways that nanosensors could be deployed to monitor a person’s health.

1. Wearable Circuit Board Tattoos: Tech tats are peel-and-play biometric wearables that utilize special conductive ink and biosensors to monitor a person’s vital signs. This information can be sent to directly to a user’s smartphone or health care professional.

There is no doubt that the next major evolution of smart technology will come in the form of devices like these. However, the future of wearable device technology is dependent on the number of qualified electrical engineers available to help with development. To learn more about how you can impact the future through an exciting career in electrical engineering fill out the form below.

Sources:

http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?contain...

http://www.businessinsider.com/wearab...

http://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech...

http://nerdist.com/wearable-circuit-b...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/b...

http://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech...

http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/31...

http://www.popsci.com/this-wearable-p...

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Review: Syllable D900S Tip Wireless Earbud

It’s rare that I receive a device for review that is so utterly disappointing that I hesitate to write the review for fear of giving such a product undo attention. Unfortunately, the Syllable D900S Tip Wireless Earbud is one such device.

Although I was relatively critical in an earlier review of a similar device, the FKANT Gemini SE-6 Bluetooth Earbuds, that product turned out to be my daily driver at the gym. It’s still not perfect, with the occasional drop-out before quickly recovering, average-at-best sound quality, and fairly short battery life, but it has the great advantage of actually working, and at less than half the price of the D900S.

The box.

First impressions of the D900S are promising. The packaging is fairly slick and you get some nice extras like optional ear grips and a carrying case. It also has a charging storage case, which means that after wearing them and placing them in the case, they can be charged. Unfortunately, placing them in just the right way in the case to make the contacts meet is difficult, and the actual charging part is non-intuitive. It’s a good idea in theory, but not in execution, which pretty much describes this product as a whole.

What you get.

While the buds themselves are bulkier than the SE-6’s, that’s not necessarily that big of a deal, although it does tend to increase the risk of them falling out of your ears. What is a big deal is the fact that despite trying it across two different iPhones, one an iPhone 6 Plus, and another, an iPhone 7 Plus, the connection was completely inconsistent. Whether it lost sync between the two buds or with the phone itself, it was a constant, losing battle to maintain a signal.

The paperwork.

Even removing the variable of location and distance, it makes no difference. Whether at the gym, in the office, or right next to the phone, the connection was never stable. Combined with all of its other shortcomings, including its high relative price, there are simply no redeeming features. Avoid this!

Pluses:

In theory, the product is a good overall concept

 

Negatives:

Does not maintain a consistent connection
Charging system is poor
Bulky
Expensive

 

Summary:

It simply doesn’t work.

 

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Infographic: The Evolution of The Legend of Zelda’s Link

With today’s official launch of the Nintendo Switch and marquee title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (also for Wii U), we thought it would be nice to roll-out this infographic, courtesy of console-deals.com:

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News: Xbox Game Pass – Unlimited Access to More Than 100 Games

Today, Microsoft announced their upcoming Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Starting in the Spring, for $9.99 a month, Xbox Game Pass will give you unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and backward compatible Xbox 360 games.

As Microsoft states, unlike Sony’s PlayStation Now subscription service, which lets you stream more than 450 Playstation 3 games to your PlayStation 4 or Windows PC, Xbox Game Pass lets you download each game for optimal performance. In fact, this is quite similar to the Xbox One’s EA Access subscription service, which costs less, but has far fewer games in its library.

Although these monthly subscriptions definitely start to add up, it’s hard to argue with the potential value some of these bring, particularly since you can pretty much forgo buying new retail games with a combination of one or more of these and the “free” monthly games you get for having a base online console subscription.

I think this highlights more than ever that Nintendo really should do what everyone has been calling for for years (like they finally did with the NES Mini) and introduce a subscription-based Virtual Console service (at minimum). The Switch would have been the perfect platform for that, particularly since they really need to make a huge splash this time. Maybe Microsoft’s actions here will inspire Nintendo to response in kind.

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Review: Astrohaus Freewrite Smart Typewriter, a distraction-free writing device

As I wrote in my initial coverage of what was then known as the Hemingwrite at the start of its December 2014 Kickstarter, “I can speak from both my own personal and extended social experiences with fellow writers that the collective we often like to romanticize the concept of the ‘writing process.’ The Hemingwrite is just the latest of countless attempts to cash in on what for many of us seems to be a primal need for that ideal writing environment, where the hoped-for end result is that the words simply flow out, mocking even the idea that there’s something out there called writer’s block.”

Since writing that piece, the Hemingwrite blew through its crowdfunding goals, went through both a design (polish) and name change (Freewrite), and is now available for immediate purchase and delivery from both the main Astrohaus Website and retailers like Amazon. Most impressions I’ve read to date have been extremely positive, so I was anxious to try out a Freewrite for myself.

WHAT YOU GET

I’m reviewing the US ANSI keyboard model of the Freewrite, but it’s also available in an ISO keyboard version for elsewhere in the world (additional languages can be set in the Freewrite’s software). Outside of the keyboard layout, all other features remain the same.

The box.

Opening the box.

In the box you get the unit itself, as well as a small Quick Start Guide and braided 1.8 meter (about 6 feet) USB Type-C cable for charging (an extra is available for purchase). Per the Quick Start Guide, set up is simple. Basically, turn on the Freewrite with the ruby red power button on the upper left of the unit, follow the onscreen prompts to start writing, then retrieve your documents by connecting the unit to your free Postbox acccount. While you can technically use the unit without connecting to a Postbox account by using a workaround to connect to a PC, it kind of defeats the purpose of the device.

What you get.

Photos don’t really do the unit justice. As you would hope for the price, overall build quality is excellent. In person, it’s decidedly solid thanks to its aluminum body and rubbery underside. It’s vaguely reminiscent of a vintage portable typewriter, albeit one that weighs only around 4 lbs. The styling is akin to 1960s mod mashed up with 1980s design standards, along with a dash of the present day. It’s a unique look, to say the least.

Outside the box. There is a type of screensaver active at all times when the unit is powered off. It occasionally cycles through stylized drawings of famous authors like Agatha Christie, Edgar Allan Poe, and Isaac Asimov (one of my personal favorites).

The mechanical keyboard itself, however, is arguably the real star of the show. While I’m used to the loud clank on my PC keyboards of Cherry MX Blue switches, which are prized for typing responsiveness, the Freewrite uses Cherry MX Brown switches, which have a softer sound (you can get a keyboard dampening set if you want it really quiet), and even quicker response. Combined with the solid base unit, it may even provide a pleasanter typing experience than the current steel reinforced mechanical keyboard I use and enjoy so much on my desktop PC. In fact, in showing the Freewrite off to colleagues, the keyboard’s feel and sturdiness in its aluminum base proved to be its most frequently praised feature.

The rubbery underside.

Speaking of the Freewrite’s base, unfortunately, there was one annoyance with the build tolerance for my particular unit. Thanks to the upper right rubber foot being pushed in more than the others, it had a slight wobble on the lower left side of the unit, which was just enough to be annoying. Since this was a review unit, my temporary solution was to put a little dab of Blu-Tack on the offending rubber foot, which made the unit level and removed the offending wobble. Unfortunately, the Blu-Tak sometimes stayed stuck on the table surface, so I finally went to a self-sticking 1/2″ diameter cork pad, which worked much better.

The handle.

The only other minor criticism about the design of the unit itself is the handle. While it does its job, it doesn’t stay in place when rotated out of its slot for use. If you don’t place it back down before lifting the unit up, it will slam back down in place on its own.

KEY FEATURES

Here are some of the Freewrite’s key features:

Full-size mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Brown switches
5.5″ diagonal (primary) E Ink screen with frontlight
Internal storage capacity for over one million text pages
802.11 a/b/g/n wifi connectivity
256-bit secure SSL encryption when automatically uploading drafts to Postbox Web app
Automatically saves documents to Google Drive, Evernote, or Dropbox (all via Postbox) when wifi is connected
Send button to send an email with a PDF and text file of the current document to the logged in user for additional redundancy (i.e., device, cloud, email)
Battery lasts between 3 – 4 weeks of normal usage, which is defined as 30 minutes of writing per day and wifi turned off (charging takes about 3 hours)

 

As stated, there are not many complications to the unit, which is by design. Above the keyboard is the main E Ink screen, which is on top of a Status Screen, which by default shows what cloud service the document is being saved to, the date, the language, and the email account associated with Postbox. Pressing the special key switches the Status Screen to different display functions, including a particularly useful one that shows Reading Time, Words, and Characters.

At work.

To the left of the main E Ink screen and below the ruby red power/wake button, is a folder switch, which allows you to select between A, B, and C folders. You can access prior documents within a folder by holding the new key and pressing pg up or pg dn. The documents are organized by the most recently accessed first. If you need to archive or delete documents, you can do that via Postbox.

On the right side of the main E Ink screen is the wifi switch, which can be toggled between off, on, and new, with the latter only being needed when you want to add a different wifi connection.

Because of the nature of E Ink displays (essentially the same type of technology you’ll find in dedicated E-readers like the Amazon Kindle), there’s a slight delay between what you type on the keyboard and what’s displayed on the screen. As such, you’ll have to get used to just letting the words flow from your fingers rather than keep track of what’s being displayed on the screen. That’s kind of the whole point of this device, anyway. That’s also why it lacks typical keyboard features like arrow keys; it’s simply not meant for heavy edits, but rather to power out drafts that can then be extensively edited on a more traditional computing device.

WORKFLOW

The basic workflow is simple. Wake the device, choose a folder (if not picking up where you left off), and start typing. When wifi is switched on and connected, what you’ve typed is automatically sent to Postbox, which disseminates it to your cloud service of choice. In my case, I chose Evernote, where it automatically created a Freewrite Notes folder and stored each new document as its own note. While these notes can’t be further edited in Evernote by design (it’s locked for edits from the Freewrite side, so it updates from there), they can be copied into a new note if you so chose. As an additional point of redundancy, the document can also sent via email as both a PDF and text file when you tap the send button.

Typing away.

Although you can easily include markup for creating content like blog posts, the Freewrite is really at its best for quick drafts, or, when used by, say, a fiction writer or essayist who has minimal need for initial exterior references and can save that process for the formal editing process on another device. After all, the whole point of the Freewrite is to write and not be distracted by anything else. With that said, I did write portions of this blog post on the Freewrite. I found it was a great note taking device when my computer hapened to be off. In fact, I often write myself notes or jot down ideas for various current projects (typically in Evernote, but sometimes in other apps like Notepad++). This is a quick and easy way to do that, with an almost instant on and near immediate ability to compose a note in a dedicated folder, i.e., separate from your main writing folder. In any case, the point is, although there are a selection of keyboard shortcuts, like the lack of arrow keys, the Freewrite is at its best when you allow yourself to just focus on the words to the exclusion of all else.

A WRITER’S LIFE

To wax philosophical for a moment, unlike an app on your computer or tablet, the Freewrite is a separate physical device that serves as a constant reminder to write and as a purposeful destination. Seeing the Freewrite in a room, it all but beckons you. Should you answer its siren call? If you want to write, then the answer more often than not should be yes. If you’re looking for a way to force yourself into a writing routine, this is a great way to do it, separate from the usual distractions of multi-function devices.

Writing.

As part of my testing, I wanted to write a short fiction piece. So, what did I think when writing that?

First Session

I had come up with a quick idea for a superhero story. The basic premise is that just because the heroes are generally impervious to all kinds of destructive forces, it doesn’t mean their clothing is.

With that vague, but hopefully fun idea in place, I proceeded to write.

Since I didn’t want to have too much baggage going in, I did away with the usual basic planning and advance plotting. As such, I started with a simple dialog between one of the heroes and someone she just rescued.

Unlike simple note taking, it was definitely more jarring trying to write in a more structured manner on the Freewrite. Because I didn’t exactly know what I was writing, the words didn’t quite flow the same as before. In fact, I broke one of the unwritten rules of this device, and that’s to just write. I kept wanting to go back and make changes, refine, and otherwise “perfect” what I was doing. Without arrow keys, that’s of course impossible. So, instead of tediously backspacing, I found myself rewriting the same lines of dialog over, right after its predecessor. Eureka! That’s how this is supposed to work.

In any case, I found myself essentially workshopping some ideas on the device, but nothing I was particularly happy with. Nevertheless, I decided to continue this practice for the next session.

Subsequent Sessions

Subsequent sessions proved more fruitful. The more practice I had with breaking my usual, sometimes tortured writing style of perfecting every word, every sentence, and every paragraph, the words started to flow more easily. It will definitely require a lot of editing work on my computer, but it’s arguably a more productive way to write for certain types of content. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the old typewriter days, where you type, then edit with a pen, then type up the revised material. Fortunately, this makes that process electronic, so it’s rather less tedious.

CONCLUSION

Despite a few niggling issues, I found my nearly month with the unit a pleasant, fruitful experience. Although there have been many attempts at simplified, portable electronic writing devices dating all the way back to the early 1980s, none have survived to see modern iterations. As a result, all of these legacy solutions (Tandy Model 100/102, AlphaSmart 3000, etc.) to this unique problem require retrofits or other concessions or workarounds to make them function in a modern workflow. While that’s OK for wacko collectors like me who are into maintaining and celebrating vintage technology, that’s not really OK for the average person, particularly since even the best retrofits don’t solve every issue. All of that makes the Freewrite’s relatively high price tag go down a bit easier.

Of course, there’s also a plethora of distraction-free writing software for computers and tablets. Unfortunately for those apps, it’s on the same computer or tablet you look at all the time for other stuff. Since all the Freewrite does is allow you to write, psychologically, you’re far more likely to be locked in to the task at hand when using it. As such, the Freewrite has unique potential as an empowering and liberating writing tool.

Since there’s nothing else quite like it and it serves its stated purpose exceedingly well, I’m happy to award the Astrohaus Freewrite an Armchair Arcade Editor’s Choice award for 2017.

2017 Armchair Arcade Editor’s Choice Award

Pluses:

Well-suited to its stated mission
Overall solid build quality
Unique
Amazing battery life
Front-lit E Ink screen is easy to read
Nice keyboard
Easily transportable to let you write in the setting of your choice

 

Minuses:

High price
Handle doesn’t stay up on its own
Slight wobble in base of review unit (upper right rubber foot)
Due to nature of E Ink screens, there’s a slight delay between what you type and what you see

 

Wildcards:

It’s a device with a high curiosity factor, so be prepared for lots of people to ask questions about it!

 

Summary:

Despite its limited utility and high price, the Freewrite has an almost magical appeal. It’s hard to understand why until you get to handle one in person. The Freewrite has that “it” factor.

TIPS

There is sometimes a lingering shadow from the author “screensaver” when first powering on the unit. This can be distracting, but is easy enough to eliminate by switching folders, then switching back to what you wanted to work on. By doing this, it forces a screen refresh.

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Preview: Lofree, a typewriter-inspired wireless, backlit mechanical keyboard

Typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboards are nothing new, like with the popular, if pricey, Qwerkytoys QWERKYWRITER. While a lovely piece of engineering, the QWERKYWRITER’s price leaves open the possibility for a more streamlined and inexpensive approach to simulating a typewriter-like portable keyboard experience. The LOFREE keyboard attempts to meet that challenge.

Similar to the QWERKYWRITER, which was a Kickstarter success story, the LOFREE is hitting Indiegogo on March 7. Early bird pricing is going to be a more-than-reasonable $59, with the eventual retail price hitting $99.

While the LOFREE uses the popular Apple Magic Keyboard layout, it will also work with most Bluetooth-enabled devices, including those running iOS, Windows, Macintosh, and Android. The nice thing is is that despite being wireless (there’s a backup wired connection option), it also features an adjustable backlight, which is something not even the QWERKYWRITER sports, and something a lot of wireless mechanical keyboards lack. While it lacks a tenkey (number pad), and therefore doesn’t meet the requirements to become my personal holy grail, its support for pairing with up to three devices is still a nice touch for something meant as a portable.

The target backlighting in action.

While it remains to be seen what delivery date they’re targeting, the type of mechanical switches they’ll be using, and how enjoyable its round keys will actually be, it’s a product I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on. While it may not capture a lot of the romance of a typewriter like the QWERKYWRITER does, the LOFREE’s price is a lot more friendly to the old budget.

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Reflections and other insights on 15 years with the console trio of Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft

After having some interesting discussions on the forums on AtariAge, I thought I would expand upon some of those thoughts in a brief editorial here on Armchair Arcade.

In discussing the current state of the videogame industry, I was struck by perhaps the most interesting historical point about the current big three of Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. They’ve been the same three mainstream competitors in this space since November 15, 2001, or, as of this writing, 15 years, 3 months, 6 days. That’s pretty impressive considering what happened prior in the videogame and adjacent computer industries.

While someone tried to bring up the idea that there were typically three competitors in past generations, that simply wasn’t the case prior to this particular trio. Almost all of those previous eras had many more than three active competitors, although we can certainly argue the finer points of how many of those were truly serious competitors. Things really only moved into a stable trio once and for all (at least for the foreseeable future) after Sega officially discontinued the Dreamcast on March 31, 2001, and transitioned to being solely a third party software publisher. That’s also when the idea of a worldwide territory really took hold, i.e., there was wide availability in most countries for all consoles, with relatively little difference in support in each of the territories. This is of course acknowledging that Microsoft has had a very tough road indeed in Japan with that country’s relative electronics xenophobia, but they’ve nevertheless done a reasonable job in terms of software parity despite the relative disinterest there.

There was also a discussion point brought up about which of the big three was closest to making a Sega-like industry exit. I don’t think any of the three are close, although Nintendo is arguably the closest, with the most to gain by becoming strictly a third party software developer and publisher. With that said, it’s still not all that close, despite what happened with the Wii U, and particularly since pre-order and overall enthusiasm for the Switch seems promising. It’s also important not to underestimate Nintendo’s entry into the online subscription space.

Beyond the usual hardware and software royalties, receiving regular subscription revenue has been a revelation for Microsoft and Sony, and no doubt soon for Nintendo. That’s not to be taken lightly, as that’s the kind of consistent, predictable revenue that shareholders love. As long as the Switch sells enough, there’s no reason that all three current companies won’t last another 5 – 10 years (it’s hard to predict much beyond that) as-is in this space, and that’s even before we factor in further “innovations” like Pro models and other generation extending maneuvers. As long as there’s not a mobile-like (smartphone) disruptor in the console space like what happened to gaming handhelds, these consoles should continue to play an active role in the living room for some time.

There was also an idea presented about who might be the next to enter the console space, including names like Apple, Google, and Amazon. I just don’t think it’s a worthwhile market for any other company to target at this point, at least until one more, and probably two more, of the three key players stumbles and there’s an opening. Between the three console makers and PC gaming, there’s just no other proven audience to target for this kind of stuff. At best, I think we’ll get more formal gaming tie-ins from Apple (perhaps with an official controller that supports Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad), but even then that’s unlikely to expand beyond the typical types of casual gaming that “other” devices specialize in.

Streaming is always an x-factor, but we’re still a ways off from that being practical for everyone, particularly due to the poor Internet quality we have in the US. And then, assuming it did take off, it’s really just another way to play PC games, which doesn’t necessarily get us much, and still wouldn’t necessarily drag away a significant number of console gamers.

Finally, there was a discussion about why Microsoft never tried to compete in the gaming handheld space. As I’ve discussed here in the past, the dedicated gaming handheld market is in decline, despite the relative success of the 3DS series, so it’s actually a good move that Microsoft never acted on those plans.

Yes, Nintendo’s 3DS series did well in spite of the rise of smartphones, and, to a lesser degree, tablets, but a clear decline is still a clear decline, and it’s directly attributable to the rise of those two device categories. And, despite its success, the 3DS series is still the worst selling of all Nintendo handhelds. When all is said and done, it will probably fall about 5 – 10 million units short of the next worst selling, the GBA series, which sold about 81.51 million units; again, great, but still a decline.

A dedicated gaming handheld does serve a different market than a smartphone or tablet, but a dedicated gaming handheld used to serve a portion of the market that now is more than satisfied with a smartphone or tablet. There is no reason that would change, i.e., that part of the market that dedicated gaming handhelds used to have and lost to smartphones and tablets is now gone forever, and there’s plenty of evidence to believe that the decline will continue, as more and more of what was traditionally a market for a gaming handheld is perfectly happy with a more versatile and omnipresent smartphone.

Interestingly, despite occasional historical ignorance presented as fact, Sony’s PSP was a success and the only true challenger to Nintendo’s dominance in the gaming handheld space all these years. In fact, the PSP sold more than Nintendo’s GBA series for what it’s worth, and yes, that means more than the 3DS series, so you can’t call one a success and the other a failure. That’s why, Sony being who they are, a preeminent name in videogames, and the lead-in being the PSP, the Vita’s poor sales (just a bit under what the Wii U has sold) had a lot to do with the shrinking mainstream market for a dedicated gaming handheld.

For those who countered me about the state of the gaming handheld industry, despite the clear decline in numbers, they bring up the fact that the 3DS has outsold the PS4 and Xbox One to date. I never quite understood that line that’s been thrown out by more than just forum commenters. The 3DS has been out six years already, and it hasn’t and won’t sell more than the Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii. As it’s tracking now, the PS4 is on pace to blow past 3DS sales in less time. So, comparing it to the two console generations it sold in, while doing enviably well, it was never the best selling system, despite being the least expensive. With that said, there’s no better evidence than Nintendo’s own Switch. If Nintendo truly believed there was still a market for dedicated gaming handhelds, the Switch would not be designed the way it is, which I’ve discussed at length in the past.

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Review: Redragon K558 ANALA RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

While it’s often been the case that mechanical keyboards have erred on the upper end of the pricing spectrum, products like the Redragon K558 ANALA RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard prove that it’s possible to provide most of the same flourishes at less than half the typical price.

In the box you get the keyboard itself, a keycap puller (although no extra or replacement keys), and a multi-language instruction sheet. Since the keyboard is plug and play, does not require drivers, and does not have configuration software, the instruction sheet is dedicated to describing all of the onboard functions that work with the FN key.

These FN key functions include modifying the function keys, number row, and arrow keys, as well as INS. The  function keys control media and other functions, like opening the calculator. The number row is for different RGB backlighting effects, like FPS mode, which only illuminates the ESC, A, S, D, W, arrow up, arrow down, arrow left, and arrow right keys. The arrow keys and INS control the RGB backlighting, including different motion patterns, brightness, and, of course, whether or not to turn the feature off entirely. While, as stated, there is no dedicated software, there is an onboard DIY Mode where you can program your own lighting setup.

What you get.

Unlike many other mechanical keyboards, the ANALA has only one USB cable, which is not braided, but does have a gold-plated connector. Although this setup loses out on a USB data or power port or two mirrored on the keyboard, it does cut down on some of the typical bulk that requires, and of course  takes up only the one USB port on the device you’re connecting it to.

As for the keyboard’s performance, you can definitely tell it’s not a high-end model. The Blue Outemu switches are considered Cherry MX Blue equivalents, which are generally preferred for heavy typing, but the keyboard’s plastic shell does create a slightly hollow feeling and sound. Despite the keyboard lacking the usual heft, the styling is attractive enough, with a nice built-in wrist wrest and rubberized bottom risers. Nevertheless, despite not always feeling or quite performing like a high end keyboard, the styling, along with the RGB lighting, certainly looks the part.

 

If you’re looking for a low cost alternative to many of the premium mechanical keyboards, the ANALA is a good value. While you won’t get quite the same typing performance, you do get a lot of value-added features for the price.

Pluses:

Great price
Good RGB lighting and effects
Simple setup and customization

 

Minuses:

Build quality feels and sounds a bit cheap in places
How do you pronounce Redragon?

 

Thanks to Redragon for the review unit.

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FLUX Delta+ multi-function 3D printer available for super early bird pricing

While we’re fans of multi-function 3D printers here at Armchair Arcade, they’ve typically been priced out of the range of the typical hobbyist. Not so with FLUX’s Delta+ pre-order, which is set to last for 45 days, with super early bird delivery expected in June. You can get the basic package for as low as $499, plus the cost of shipping, or the deluxe package for as low as $649, plus the cost of shipping.

The basic package allows for 3D printing and 3D scanning (thanks to the built-in imaging camera), while the deluxe package adds toolheads for laser engraving, vinyl cutting (among other types of cuts), and a holder module for pens and other writing implements. The FLUX Delta+ itself, as the name implies, features a tube-like delta design, where only the toolhead moves, plus it takes up less desk space. While you lose some build area around a model with this design, at roughly 6.6″, you gain a lot in height at 8.2″. However, in this particular case, the available build area is still more than most other printers in this price range.

While you can check the exhaustive list of features and specifications out on the main Website, you’ll want to use this link to pre-order, which gets you an extra $50 off (it’s what I used as well). Keep in mind that as of this writing, there are fewer than 57 super early birds left, so, as more time passes, you may end up paying a little more and waiting a little longer if you miss out. Still, even at the early bird to pre-order pricing, it’s still a good value, but, paying less and getting it sooner is ideal, so pre-ordering as quickly as possible is best.

The removable print surface seems like a good innovation for easy print removal.

Laser engraving.

Vinyl cutting.

Vector drawing.

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