logitech – Tech Raman

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Review | Freestyle designs

Lakshmi Rajan — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 20:17:07 +0000

Ultimate Ears has a legacy with in-ear monitors having custom build IEMs for some of the best musicians. After the take over of the brand by Logitech in 2008, who were strong in the personal computer and mobile accessories, the portable wireless speakers where introduced under the UE brand in 2013 and the UE Boom was launched. What I got here is the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Freestyle, yet another compact bluetooth speaker offering the signature boom sound the UE Boom series offer. One of the first wireless speakers with waterproofing I have tried was the UE Boom 2 and I know how convenient it can be during outdoor listening or even when you take the speaker to shower. One can strongly assert that Logitech’s UE makes one of the best sounding waterproof speakers, period. UE Wonderboom Box contents:

Speaker
microUSB cable

Wonderboom Freestyle Design

The freestyle collection adds more spunk to the already existing Wonderboom speakers. Available in five funky clothing Concrete, Avocado, Patches, Raspberry and Unicorn is trendy and youthful. Wonderboom has a petite design and can easily sit on the palm. It has a prominent on the face volume controls, which rather looks unique and cool. There is also a small loop. The top and bottom has a rubberized finish. The top face has three buttons cleverly and neatly laid out. A Bluetooth indicator, a power on/off button and the logo in the middle also doubles the play/pause button which is not noticeable but work when pressed. The rubberized material at the bottom also aids in the good, firm footing when placed on a smooth surface. A flap covers the microUSB port. It also makes sure water doesn’t enter via the port. The Wonderboom has a IPX7 rating which gives it an endurance under water for 30 minutes up to 1 meter. The company also claims it is rugged enough to withstand fall from 5 feet, so should be quiet a tough cookie for a speaker. I did put it down deliberately and it looks seemingly fine.

Wonderboom sound quality

The Wonderboom’s pint size could be misleading, when it comes to sound output. Simply put, its surprisingly quiet loud and in a pleasant way. Not harsh but well rounded audio chops. It is bass heavy but not overpowering other notes. I really liked the well balanced tuning and is one of the best or the best in the segment. Even when the volume cranked up, it tends to hold up well without much of distortions except when you hit to the max. It is so loud that it can even make for a small party speaker at home for your impromptu party. Even the battery life is spot on, while the company claims 10 hours on 75 percent volume, I figured it does live up to 9 hours in my usage, which is pretty good.

key features of UE Wonderboom :

You can pair up to 50 Wonderbooms togethert for one big hell of a party
Waterproof with an IPX7 rating which means it can withstand 1 meter under water up to 30 minutes
Shockproof with an endurance to cope up with fall from up to 5 feet
100 feet bluetooth range

Verdict:

If you want a booming, nice sound from a compact speaker, the UE WonderBoom is what you should be looking at. Yes, it is slightly on the pricier side, but the sheer good audio output makes it worth it. What I like about the WonderBoom

Amazing sound quality
Neat pronounced bass
waterproof
shock proof
good overall package

What is lacking on Wonderboom

There is no mic, so can’t be used as speaker phone
No extra features like aux input or SD card slots.

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Logitech X50 mini wireless speaker launched in India; Priced at Rs 2,495

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 11:05:21 +0000

Remember the X100 review we did sometime back? Logitech then followed it with X300 and now has outed X50 in the Indian market. Like the other two siblings, the X50 looks peppier, quirkier and playful and a compact bluetooth speaker for music on the go. Priced at Rs 2.495 the Logitech X50 Mobile Wireless Speaker is available in a range of colors – gray, yellow, orange or blue. Apart from the Bluetooth, the other connectivity options include auxiliary jack. A handy volume control is built-in. It has a wireless connection range up to 30 feet. Ashok Jangra, Cluster Category Manager, India & South West Asia, Logitech. “The Logitech X50 Mobile Wireless Speaker gives you exactly that. Deceptively loud for its size – and price – this speaker is highly portable and it makes a big scene wherever you go. Paired with its bright colors, you’ll see it’s a whole lot of fun.” So do you love wireless speakers? Did you like the Logitech X50? Do let us know.]]>

Turn your wired speaker into wireless with this Logitech Bluetooth Adapter

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:37:02 +0000

So you have this awesome speaker but you have your favourite playlist on your smartphone or tablet. Streaming the songs to your speaker wireless would be cool thing right? Now you don’t need to buy a good expensive Bluetooth speaker but easily convert your existing wired speaker system by hooking on to this Logitech bluetooth adapter. The set up includes a small matchbox sized adaptor that you can connect to your home theater system or computer speakers with a standard analog RCA or 3.5 mm cable that comes out of the box. Then you can pair your smartphone or tablet to the adapter and play music. The Logitech Bluetooth adapter comes at a retail price of Rs. 1,995. [gallery link="file" ids="7719,7720,7721"]]]>

Turn your wired speaker into wireless with this Logitech Bluetooth Adapter

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:37:02 +0000

Logitech announces Big Bang Case for iPad Air and iPad Mini in India

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 13:46:08 +0000

Logitech, the global provider of personal peripherals for computers, mobiles and tablets has announced the sleek yet rugged Big Bang cases for iPad Air and iPad mini in India, priced respectively at Rs 4,995 and Rs 4,495. The company claims that the Big Bang cases are made with high protective standards and exceeds Military Drop Standard tested for protection up to 1.4 meters height drop. Logitech mentions the cases uses shock-absorbent material utilised in the aerospace, automotive and sports industries In addition to the rugged build quality, the cases are also easy to wipe off the liquids and thus can protect from the occasional spills and bumps. The cases are 16mm thin and are convenient to move around and grip it. It also offers multi-angle viewing for your preferred inclination. Additionally the tablet also comes with a Auto-wake, auto-sleep feature . The case wakes your tablet when you open the cover and puts it to sleep when you close it. Along with the Big Bang cases, the company also launched today UltraThin Keyboard folio for Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 today. Check the news > HERE ]]>

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio announced for Samsung Galaxy Tab 4

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:31:19 +0000

Logitech has announced an ultra thin protective case with integrated keyboard for Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 tablet. The folio is priced at Rs 6,495 Connecting to the tablet via Bluetooth, the keyboard has nicely spaced keys and a row of Android shortcut keys for good typing experience. The dual-view stand with two inclinations, when you are typing you can place the it on upright position and there is a flat position where you can browse conveniently without the distraction of the keyboard. The folio has a SecureLock system to firmly secure the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 to the case with the aid of corner clips. The case is made of water-repallant and durable materials to protect it from occasional spills and bumps and scratches. The folio has an inbuilt rechargeable battery and a USB cable is included out of the box for powering it. Additionally the tablet also comes with a Auto-wake, auto-sleep feature . The case wakes your tablet when you open the cover and puts it to sleep when you close it.]]>

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio announced for Samsung Galaxy Tab 4

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:31:19 +0000

Logitech X100 Mobile Wireless Speaker Review

Lakshmi Rajan — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 23:58:08 +0000

The best thing I like about these Bluetooth wireless speakers? The quirky designs and colors. Many companies are coming up with interesting design language in various price formats making this segment really ‘hot and happening’. Logitech has a good portfolio of Bluetooth speakers including their top-of-the-line Boombox series. They also have some really cool affordable speakers and today we have Logitech X100 wireless speaker falling in the $60 price bracket. In India it has a MRP sticker price of Rs 2,995. In our Logitech X100 wireless mobile speaker review, let’s take a look at the good, bad and I don’t think there would be anything ugly about it but still – we will rest our case at the end. The X100 comes in a well-thought of package that gives a good view of the product within. With design playing an important factor to attract consumers, the package does justice to it. The box contents includes a manual, a USB cable and the portable speaker. Surprisingly there is no power adapter included, so you may have to use your phone or tablet power adapter to charge the speaker or the PC / laptop via the USB cable. The X100 is a pretty basic device. It looks like a rounded lunch box with a smooth protrusion with a closed gap where a short lanyard (included with the device) can be attached to. The front face of the speaker has a plastic mesh with an interesting asymmetrical visual pattern made out of the perforations. At 3.35-inch diameter, the X100 is portable and can fit easily into any travel bag and also to carry it around. The included nylon strap is secured through plastic nubs but it feels delicately attached that I feel it might giveaway any time. So I prefer not to hang the speaker for much. The body initself is made out of a combination of plastic and rubber. Apart from the plastic mesh, there casing is made out of rubberized material and offers good grip and feels sturdy. Along the perimeter, the controls are nested as if etched to the case. There is a plus and minus buttons for volume controls, between them is a Bluetooth connecting button and then there is a small power button spaced slightly away. There is a ring along the buttons and they give a warm blue glow. The bluetooth button also works as play/pause button. Follow the sides and you will find an audio input, a Micro-USB port. The cut-out are neat with smooth edges giving extra brownie points to the premium feel. The rear has the company name and logo etched into subtly.

How does it perform?

The X100 has a single 2.5inch speaker driver perched inside. For the small size, Logitech X100 throws very good audio output. It delivers surprisingly good mid-range and treble frequencies. The volume also maxes out pretty nice considering the size of the device and even at the maximum volume, it handles well the high frequency sound. Of course it does not out a stereo sound and we have to content with the monaural output. For an average music buff looking forward to a decent wireless speaker at a budget price, X100 performs decently good enough though a good ear can pick the lack of depth in the output. With a built-in microphone, the X100 also can double as a hands-free device to attend phone calls, though it is not very great at the department giving out a muffled output but you can manage with it for your random calls while you are kitchen stirring the pot or building a lego for your son. The bluetooth range of the X100 is manageable if not the 10meter range, it should see through a wall or two and 15-18 feets. The X100 gives a 5 hours playback and recharges back fully in 1 hour.

The final call

So is X100 worth the bucks? Absolutely. For US $50 or INR 2,990 it offers a good package – good looks, decent performance for the price, sturdy build quality. It’s a no-frills speaker and if you are looking for a portable, lightweight speaker to carry around at home or as a travel companion, X100 is a good choice.]]>

Logitech PowerShell Controller Review [Hands-on]

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 12:06:19 +0000

With iOS7, Apple paved the way for the App developers to adapt their games to integrate and make provisions for accessory makers to come up with officially-certified accessories for iOS devices. Apple’s MFi program authorizes the Apple certified official accessories and with the opening of the API for external controllers, now Game app developers can access and insert support for the game controllers. Apple also has a set of ‘framework’ for the developers outlining a two specific sets of controller types: a “standard” controller with a d-pad, four buttons, and left/right shoulder buttons, and an “extended” game controller with two analog pads and two sets of shoulder buttons. The mandate is that the Touch has to be compulsory part of the gaming experience and the ‘standard’ controller to be supported even if the developers opt for the ‘extended’ layout.

PowerShell Design and Buttons layout

Logitech PowerShell Controller is one of the first to hit the market as gaming controllers for iOS device and it has a ‘standard’ controller layout. So we get a Directional pad on the left along with a ‘Switch’ that latches up to the iPhone’s lock button. On the right side are four face buttons, named “A,” “B,” X” and “Y,” as well as a pause button. On the top on either sides are a two shoulder buttons identified as “L” and “R”. The bottom has a micro USB port for recharging the integrated battery. On the left there is a metal button switch to enable the battery and on the right side there is a port for headphone adapter. The adapter is quiet large and an eye-sore and sticks out oddly when connected. It is required if you have to connect connect any of your headphone with the controller. All the buttons are analog and not digital which is good. More importantly, the buttons are pressure sensitive too which is again nice while playing certain games. For eg. a lighter press can make a character walk and a little more pressure can make it run. It again comes handy in racing games where applying a little more pressure on the button can burn the tyres on tracks. The controller connects to the iPhone through the lightning connector and it can be spotted bending outward on the inside of the controller. The Logitech PowerShell Controllers looks and feels sturdy. It definitely is very durable and should last longer. It also easy to tug the iPhone to the controller case and to remove it. [gallery columns="5" link="file" ids="6937,6938,6939,6940,6941"]

Extended battery:

PowerShell controller has a built-in 1500mAh battery. The battery can be used to charge the iPhone thus doubling as a powerbank when in need. There is a metal button which when pressed charges the phone. The game controller keeps working even while it is charging the iPhone.

Compatible Devices:

Logitech PowerShell Gaming Controller is compatible with only iPhone 5/5S and iPod Touch 5th generation devices.

User Experience:

The controller works with MFi certified games which are coded to work with the controllers. There are some 100 odd games to choose from currently with some 15 making for good picks. More games has to be gamer-controller supported if the accessory has to find more user base. Unfortunately, Apple has failed to categorize separately the MFi certified games that support the game controllers. Logitech PowerShell Controller with its ‘standard’ set of layout requires a combination of buttons and iPhone touchscreen to get most games get going. At times I wished Logotech had opted for the ‘extended’ layout and included an Analog stick atleast. It would have made the PowerShell Controller truly power packed for gaming experience. Still the PowerShell controller works neatly with the buttons on disposal. It takes a bit of time to warm up to get used to the controller after playing extensively the games on the touchscreen. Asphalt 8: Airborne was a great game to play and I thoroughly enjoyed playing it with the controller. It synced well with the button layout and enhanced the gaming experience. Though it cannot be said with all the games. It runs down to picking the best compatible game that gives the optimum gaming feel with the controller. Accelerometer works with the controller and the best gaming productivity comes with the combination of mixing tilt, touch, and buttons. Once you get the hand on the layout and how it works with the particular game, you start enjoying. Logitech has made clear cutout sections to access volume, on/off, and camera access and so all the iPhone/iPod device functionality are retained and accessible even while you are playing. There is a red color-LED indicator on the back that glows when the iPhone is charging through the extended battery of the controller. Though there is no way to know how much charge is left in the pack.

Logitech PowerShell Controller – To buy or Not

The PowerShell Controller comes at a MRP of $99.99 in US, though it can be found for as less as $66 in certain e-commerce sites. In India it comes at a MRP of Rs 8,995. It can be picked for around 6K at e-stores. It’s still early days for gaming controllers but there are early birds who aim to strike the market. Logitech definitely is a company who looks dead serious to take the early mover advantage in this category. PowerShell Controller is very robust, has a good form factor and is very durable. Though the choice of ‘standard’ layout by Logitech does not provide the full gaming console experience but the buttons on disposal works neatly in combination with the touch and accelerometer functionality of the iPhone device. So is it worth picking? It depends on the kind of gamer you are. If you have a keenness for retro-gaming and an early adopter of technology, this PowerShell controller is worth a try.]]>

Logitech X100 Wireless Speaker launched in India at Rs. 2,995

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:38:49 +0000