Category Archives: Product Review

Logitech Group review

09 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in Logitech, Product Review, Product Review

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With the huge uptake of Video across organizations I am often asked to find upcoming and innovative products. Just recently I got my hands on the Logitech GROUP.

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My test environment was Skype for Business 2015. Tested in two different room sizes, one was 4m x 4m and the other was 8m x 4m.

What I Liked

  • Very Easy setup, only thing I had to tweak was the Video Frequency (Anti Flicker)
  • This unit has excellent sound quality
  • Its USB and so Plug-and-Play, also works with a variety of platforms  including Office 365
  • Coloured indication on the extension mic’s and the base unit to indicate status
  • Bluetooth, paired to it(called Logi Group) from both Windows 10 Phone and iPhone
  • Once Bluetooth was paired, the mobile doubles as the remote
  • Expansion mic’s extend the reach of the unit well to up to 20 participants
  • Five preset positions, as well as face detection
  • Preconfigured Bundle (includes the Logitech GROUP, an Intel NUC, Wireless keyboard)
  • Price (from under USD1000)

What I didn’t like

  • The remote is a bit slow, this means that pan and zoom becomes jerky

Summary

The Logitech GROUP caters for rooms with up to 14 participants, which can be extended to up to 20 participants by using the expansion mic’s (at an additional cost).

At the price point and ease of setup, together with solid audio and video performance, I believe that it will make its mark.

This is where the Logitech product range shines. There isn’t much competition in this space either. Well spotted Logitech, please keep the product developments coming

 

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Product Review: Jabra Speak 810

23 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by in Product Review, Product Review

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My first though was “Wow! The Jabra Speak 510 has grown up”. But the Jabra Speak 810 is not simply a larger version of the 510.

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The 810 is designed for small to mid sized rooms with up to 15 participants. This of course is an area that’s fast seeing more affordable devices come to market. Its not the kind of device you would pack into your bag and run off to your next meeting with, that’s what the 510 is for, although the neoprene case it comes with does allow you to do so if you wish. In my case the sheer size of the 810, about 38cm x 18cm, will have me thinking twice before attempting to take it on a road trip.

This beauty is better suited to staying in the room. That’s what its intended for, hence why it has no battery and requires a power adaptor.

Features

Plug-and-Play support allows you to connect just about any device. Connect options include:-

  • USB – allows connection to PC (LED lights up to indicate that its connected)
  • 3.5mm Jack – Connect to headset port on mobile devices
  • Bluetooth – connect to Mobile phones and Tablets (NFC for quick connect)

Other features are:-

  • Support for Kensington lock
  • USB Charge out port (Charged my Lumia to satisfaction)
  • Cables coil up and tuck away nicely below the unit

Its all about the Audio in the end. Doesn’t matter how good a device looks, if it sounds bad, its no good. So how does the Jabra Speak 810 measure up with Audio?

In a word, Superb! I was able to clearly hear participants at opposite sides of a room. The participants were around 3m from the unit. this must be the 6 x ZoomTalk Microphones doing their thing. Once the participants moved to about 5m the quality hardly deteriorated , clear evidence that the auto gain is working.

I also found that the maximum volume was more than adequate for the recommended room size (10m x 10m). Didn’t notice any distortion and very minimal echo, depending on the room acoustics.

Did I mention that the Jabra Speak 810 will remember up to 900 paired Bluetooth devices?

Updating the device firmware was a breeze using Jabra Direct found here.

Overall, this is a well designed device. Aesthetically it plays the part and certainly delivers on what’s promised.

Nice work Jabra!

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Introducing the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC

15 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Product Review, Product Review

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Voyager Focus UCPlantronics have done a great job in creating anticipation for the Voyager Focus UC. I have been waiting to get my hands on this little beauty for almost 3 months.

First impression is that its Voyager Legend UC meets Blackwire 720.

Handling the unit I niticed how it looks and feels like a quality product. No cutting corners to save a few dollars on inferior plastic etc. On closer investigation I was very pleasantly surprised by all the additional innovations that have been included.

My Favourite Features include:-

  1. Left and Right sensed based on direction of the boomSkype for Business Bluetooth headset
  2. Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)
  3. Incredible battery life, I had almost 2 full days – and I listen to music 95% of the day
  4. USB Pairing to my mobile phone, PC and tablet simultaneously without any issues.
  5. Presence updated to In a Call when I am on a mobile call (Yaya!) – not new but very useful
  6. Love the music control buttons (Track Backward\Track Forward\Play\Pause)
  7. Rotating Wheel for volume control
  8. Great sound quality
  9. Mute On\Off when you take off\put on the headset (thank you active sensors), and a notification toast (mute on reminder) to tell you that its happened
  10. Also, a screen toast that tells you that you are on mute if you forget and start talking while on mute
  11. OpenMic – When not in a call, mute (Red so you cant miss it) button becomes OpenMic on\off. You can adjust the amount of ambient noise to allow with the volume wheel
  12. Familiarity – since the buttons\controls are in exactly the same place as my Voyager Legend, operating this beauty is already second nature.
  13. Bluetooth range beyond any of the devices I have tested before
  14. The pouch has a separate compartment for charging cable and USB adapter, I have lost a few of these little adapters so am rather happy with this little inclusion.

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Comfort

Once I found the proper adjustments for my melon it was great. Managed to wear it for a full day without any discomfort. Its rather light and the ANC works fairly well for a headset that doesn’t totally encapsulate your ears.

Headsets often start to agitate me if they are too tight, partly because my radars get squashed. But wearing spectacles is also a discomfort when the headset is competing for the same real estate (over the ear).  No such contention between my spectacles and my Voyager Focus UC.

Suggestions

  1. I wish the Charge stand was also a Bluetooth receiver, I am often handicapped with only one USB socket
  2. Using the Plantronics Hub Software, I can set the Media Player Action on incoming calls. I would love see Spotify on the list
  3. Also the music control buttons don’t work with Spotify
  4. Taking the headset off while music is playing pauses the music, cool BUT (see a theme developing here?) not working with Spotify
  5. The USB receiver is very active, flashing bright blue all day long. Its a bit distracting and I would love to see an option to disable this altogether.

Overall I think this is a fantastic headset. Dare I say, its the best headset I have had the pleasure to use.

NOTE If you somehow missed it, this is a Bluetooth headset, not DECT

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