DTS NEO:X Review

UPDATE: DTS:X will likely use DTS NEO:X instructions as a basis for 11 discrete channels.

Then use extra location data for object located sounds in the extra speakers. 

DTS NEO:X 11.1 Heights Review

Upmixing solutions in the past left a lot to be desired, leaving many purists to stick with discrete channels versus extrapolated or matrixed channels.    Can DTS NEO:X satisfy the purists?   I wanted to review NEO:X because there isn't much out there about it.  Let us find out.

NEO:X I believe has a max input of 7.1 @ 32-bit @ 48khz designed to run on SHARC.  The performance of the setup is based on horse-power in processing intermixed signals.  A good 11.1 system can output 32 different modes taking in up to 7.1 and putting out between 2.1 and 11.1. NEO:X is primarily an upmixer but it is more than that with the ability to matrix 11 channels from 7.1.  The matrix ability is excellent in terms of sending directional sound, but I have not heard it be discrete despite DTS claims.

DTS NEO:X puts out excellent upmixing ability is in addition to the its 11.1 directional matrix ability.

Rolex President Quickset vs Double Quickset 180 vs 182 and 1182

The Rolex president

from it's inception has always been very expensive.  A halo flagship designed to appeal to the "men who change the world."

For whatever reasons Steel Sport Rolex' just took off in terms of used value vs the Gold Rolex models (aside from rare ones).  The low residuals mean buying a modern solid Gold Rolex is not terribly expensive.  Someone once calculated the melt weight of a Rolex President is approximately 1/3 to 2/3rds the total cost depending on the market which means there is a lot of value in the President line.  Let's look at two that posses great value:

180*** Single Quick-set Rolex President vs 182 Double Quickset Rolex President

The Single Quickset Rolex President ran until the late 80s.  The difference between the single and double quickset don't seem to be great, since the day and date are both instant changers (e.g. they don't do the slow "9pm -3am date change" the date and day flip instantly simultaneously.  The advantage of the double quickset seems to be in setting vs a completely different movement but I will check into this. 

Both Rolex President models feature Sapphire Crystal and similar case dimensions.  1182 has solid presidential bracelet which should be reliable and less prone to stretching vs early Rolex Presidents.

Rolex GMT Master II 16710 Notes

Pros

1. Very Nice Movement 
2. Keeps Excellent time in multiple locations 
3. Useful trizone computation, quick hour jump, and 24 hour home zone 
4. Light and easy to wear
5. Reliable Functionality 

Cons

• Better bracelets available from other manufactures 
• Dials and bezels subject to discoloration 
• Bracelets subject to stretching, popping open (you can get an AD to tighten them down) 

Conclusion

• You can trade out bezel inserts
• You may want to just buy it new for 2k more.  

Google Glass App Steals Passwords

It's been noted that some "crafty" individuals have stolen passwords with google glass "applications."  I wonder what google and the government is "stealing", I mean parsing....

Lot's of individuals I work with have google glass, I never see any of them use it. 

Basel 2014 Breitling Preview

Super Ocean Chronograph Blacksteel /1000

From BreitlingSource.com

Chronomat GMT 44 Patrouille Suisse

TF-701T Infinity Arrives

The TF-701T is the upgrade to the TF-700t continuing the line of the TF201.  It comes with a new Tegra 4, nearly 2k display, and 2GB DDR3.  Rumors are that the stuttering is gone but that it isn't as fast or polished as an iPad Air.  Some forum members suggest it has docking issues that the TF700 didn't because of the new connector which also precludes the use of the TF201 / TF700 Keyboard. 

At $400 it seems to be a good bang per buck.  With super high resolutions there will be some GPU bottleneck issues in 3D.

• Cnet Review 701t
• Asus 701t

IP Fragmentation PS4 Link Connection

If your PS4 link is slow make sure your router supports IP Fragmentation.  You can check this by running an Internet Connection Test from Vita Settings.  If it doesn't tell you there's an issue with an asterisk than your router supports IP Fragmentation.

It is I think perhaps a big jump in the playability of the PS4 Link over a router and network vs the direct connect.

Once your network connection is looking good make sure you disable direct connect as it doesn't roam well between the two. 

R7000 Nighthawk PS4 Link Review

So my previous foray into Remote Play has been with a cheaper router.  Now I really want to see remote play work, I discussed and coined the term personal cloud several years ago, so in a sense getting the PS4 Link to work with the Vita was a validation of earlier prediction of the direction of the tech world.  I did get it to work more or less on a poor router but I believed there was more performance I was lacking, so I bit the bullet and got a slickdeal on a R7000 at Staples with stacked coupons for around 150.

This is the finest router I've used and I used to work as a Network Admin.  I'd say this is very close to being a server for up to maybe 10 simultaneous users, this guy has a nice chipset with significant RAM and dual Core 1ghz CPU so it handles routing very well while being able to serve files, ftp, http, etc. 

While I don't have any benchmarks, as usual, the upgrade was significant, so different none of my previous optimizations really help.  With R7000 you just give those ports highest QoS and let it run, and it runs.  There are slight slowdowns in very detailed sections with a lot of visual change, but overall it runs perfectly. 

The biggest issue now is the fact that not many games go from TV to Vita well, or as well as they could in terms of layout and gui. I wished Sony duplicated the DS4 in terms of R2, L2, R3, L3, implemented in real buttons the touch screen is only mediocre providing an inconsistent experience in terms of button press reliability.  However, every detail and special effect is recreated on a beautiful screen. I'd recommend NFS Rivals as the best PS4 link experience game.

Lets Recap and Conclude:

• PS4 Link Graphics visuals screen audio: 9/10
• PS4 Link Buttons remapping: 6.5/10
• PS4 Link Responsiveness and IP implementation: 8/10
• PS4 Link with R7000 Nighthawk: 8.9/10

iPad Air Review

So the iPad Air is interesting.  I knew what I was in for moving from androids freedom and inefficencies and data collection to the closed but more optimized and perhaps more private iOS 7.  However, I was surprised by the adaptions of many Android functions including the ability to multi-task.

While devices like the Tegra 3 and Tegra 4 have garnered hype before their release, the iPad Air seems almost anti-climactic.  It brings two features we have already seen in other iOS devices and leaves out things like the fingerprint scanner and 2gbs of RAM.

I will say the RAM is an issue.  Sometimes safari will close but up until that rare point it is the finest mobile browsing experience I have ever utilized.  That's a lot of devices including premium i7 based devices.  Now i7 Laptop with a proper i7 will out power the air, but a lot of the windows tablets don't.  The buttery smoothness of how everything works is impressive.  The screen is accurate and vibrant the chassis is solid.  The biggest issue encountered with wifi is I wasn't able to pull full speed 57mbps from the farthest room in the house, it was 47mbps.

Sometimes I miss the T700 and I did try to buy a T701 first.  I am not unhappy with the decision to go iPad Air.

Seriously the thing just works.  Its like a PS4 that works.