Author Archives: Andy Kumar

Garmin fenix 3: two years on (should you upgrade to the fenix 5?)

Posted in Running gadgets by

Okay, so itā€™s been two years since Garmin released the fenix 3. As Iā€™ve gone over in my previous reviews, it is probably the best sports watch money can buy. Last year Garmin released the fenix 3 HR, which was essentially the same watch as the fenix 3, but with a built-in heart-rate monitor. That alone was probably not worth the upgrade, especially for me, as wrist-based heart rate monitors typically donā€™t work well for me at all. And seriously, I have tried a number of wrist based heart rate trackers, including the Mio and Tom Tom multi sport. But now with the fenix 5 unveiled, is it worth upgrading from the fenix 3?

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LaMetric TIME wifi clock- a brief review

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Every once in a while, a product comes out that changes the way we view technology. Something that fills a certain void in the market, enhances our overall productivity, but at the same time, is not exactly essential. In essence, the LaMetric TIME is one of those nifty gadgets. Simple in performance, minimalistic, yet functional. In this brief review, I will explain what exactly this device does, how well it works, and my reasons for purchase.

WHAT IS THE LAMETRIC TIME?
The LaMetric TIME is basically a retro looking LED display clock. But that would be an over simplification, akin to calling a smart phone just a phone. For this reason, I would call the LaMetric a ā€˜smart clockā€™! It connects to your home wifi network. To get the most (and even most basic of functionality) from the LaMetric, you will need to download the app (free from the app store) and register. You can then download a vast number of ā€˜appsā€™ which can easily be installed. The possibilities, like a smart phone, really are endless. The number of apps currently available are somewhat limited, but rapidly expanding.

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Apple AirPods review- are they worth buying?

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I was initially pessimistic about the Apple AirPods when they were announced back in October 2016, even going as far as engaging in mild mockery whenever a conversation about them cropped up. The main reason for my dismissal of them was that they looked far too easy to loose. I mean, just look at them! How could they possibly stay put in your ears without falling out(?). My Apple EarPods would always fall out of my ears, but were obviously never lost as they were wired. Furthermore, launch delays were encountered, and the AirPods were finally released to the public in December 2016. I did not preorder a pair. But after watching some YouTube reviews, I was a believer. Hereā€™s why.

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MoRun Greenwich Park 10k race report

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Iā€™ve been meaning to write a race report on the MoRun Greenwich Park 10k for a while, but never got around to it (procrastination rules!). So here it is! I ran this wonderfully organised event back in November 2016. It took place on the 27th, two days after my birthday, and I thought it would be a nice treat to myself. The 10k is one of my favourite distances; short enough to be over quickly, yet long enough to feel accomplished. Having not raced 10k since the summer, I had no real expectations and just wanted to go out and enjoy then run. I have only done one other run/race in Greenwich Park (BHF 10k back in August 2014), so forgot about the ā€˜undulatingā€™ nature of the terrain. I was about to be reminded!

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Captain America shield (75th anniversary edition)

Posted in Games and comics by

I am a huge Captain America fan, and had wanted Capā€™s shield for a very long time. Back in June (2016), I saw these limited edition 75th anniversary shields available for pre-order on Amazon.com. There were two variants; a plastic PVA one, and this. A full metal shield. Although more substantial in price, I opted for the latter. As a one-time purchase and collectors item, I really wanted to make sure that I was happy with my purchase. Roll on to October, the shield was finally available and shipped to me from the US, with delivery taking just over one week. Even with import fees and delivery, the overall cost was significantly cheaper than how much this would have cost here in the UK. Here are my thoughts.

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Nanoleaf Aurora smarter kit review

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One of my favourite things about home automation is the ability to control my lights. I am already heavily invested in the Philips Hue ecosystem, with Hue bulbs populating my living room, bedroom and study. Controlling these using the Amazon Echo has been a huge convenience and delight. I often wondered if there was room in the market for another lighting system. I happened to stumble upon the Nanoleaf lights on Amazon and a few YouTube videos, and was immediately intrigued. At a first glance, they are very attractive, and one cannot but help to be drawn to them. So, what exactly are these lights?

The Nanoleaf Aurora lights consist of individual triangular panels. They can be mounted to your wall using the (included) 3M double-sided sticky tabs, and connect to each other through interlocking chips. The panels are made entirely from plastic and fairly light in weight, yet have a solid and premium feel.

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Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones review

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Since Apple acquired Beats a few years ago, we all knew the day would arriveĀ when there would be flawless integration of the brand into the Apple ecosystem. With wireless sound already showcasedĀ as the future by Apple with the removal of the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, it seems that the time has truly come to adopt wireless headphones as standard. This is my first venture into the world of Beats headphones, and in a word, wow!

UNBOXING
The Beats SoloĀ³ ship in a nice box and are very well presented. Included inside are the following:

-Beats Solo-3 wireless headphones

-USB-A to USB-micro charging cable

-Wired connection cable

-Carry case with clip

-Quick-start guide/warranty information/beats sticker

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Review of the Amazon Echo Dot (UK version)

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The Echo Dot is Amazonā€™s smaller and more affordable option for those looking to satisfy their home (voice) automation curiosities, without laying down a more substantial investment. Priced at a modest Ā£49.99, it is considerably cheaper than its bigger brother, the Echo unit, which is priced at Ā£149.99. I have already reviewed the standard Echo unit (CLICK HERE). In a nutshell, the Echo Dot carries out exactly the same functions. There are however a few differences as well, which I will also highlight.

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Royal Parks Half Marathon 2016 race report

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The Royal Parks Half Marathon is a yearly road race that takes place through closed roads in central London. Being the only half marathon to have this privilege, places are fiercely sought after through a ballot-only entry system, akin to the London Marathon. There are no ā€˜good for ageā€™ or ā€˜championshipā€™ places, so faster runners are not going to be guaranteed a place. If one fails to get in through the lottery-ballot, they can choose to run for any of the numerous charities, where they pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship amount. This usually ranges from Ā£200-250 for most charities.

I was a 1:45 XEMPO pacer for this event. Having missed out on pacing the 1:40 group last year due to injury (gutted!), I was very excited to have been offered a pacer place this year. It was an early start, and I was in Hyde Park just before 7:30am. I collected my race pack from the XEMPO tent where some of the other pacers were already getting kitted out. The event T-shirt in there was incredibly large, so that was a disappointment. We each picked up a lightweight backpack, Tom Tom ā€œpacerā€ T-shirt and a flag pole that contained the pace we were pacing. We received from brief instructions before bing ushered by a Royal Parks representative into the start pens at around 8:25am.

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