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Showing posts from September, 2024

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: a competent performer struggling to be heard in a crowded market

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Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8: One-minute review When Sony announced its 2024 AV lineup, it wasn’t just its TVs that received a more straightforward naming system, but its soundbars too. This year, the potentially tricky-to-remember model numbers have been replaced with a much simpler Bravia branding. The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 replaces the HT-A5000 as the company’s mid-range model – sitting below the Theater Bar 9 and the Bravia Theater Quad four-speaker audio system – and arrives with the aim to be one of best soundbars . As with the HT-A5000, this latest model is a standalone Dolby Atmos soundbar. There are no wireless rear speakers included, nor is there a wireless subwoofer, but these can be added as optional extras if you wish to create an even more immersive surround sound experience. Despite the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 cramming 11 speakers into its slimline body to create a “bubble of sound” in Sony’s words, we would recommend true movie buffs consider adding at least a sub...

McAfee+ Premium review

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McAfee+ Premium is an easy-to-use security suite with some very welcome features. There’s supremely accurate antivirus for unlimited mobile or desktop devices, for instance; a full and unlimited VPN (no missing features, no data limits); a password manager; powerful data breach monitoring for email addresses, phone numbers, credit cards, bank accounts and more; mobile apps include a scam detector to spot and block links in dangerous texts, and privacy tools  help you lock down your social media settings, find and remove your personal data from web brokers, and locate and close down old and unused web accounts. It’s an appealing feature set, and in this review we’ll take a closer look at McAfee+ Premium to see just how well it performs in real world use, and whether it might be one of the best antivirus software . (Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Pricing McAfee+ Premium is available in two flavors. McAfee+ Premium Individual includes antivirus for unlimited devi...

Fezibo Worland standing desk review

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Fezibo is yet to feature heavily in our best standing desks list, but don't write the standing desk maker off; it has a superb range of premium-looking desks and accessories, such as the the Executive B , that are competitively priced albeit typically at a higher price point to budget options. Enter the Worland: it's a reversible L-frame standing desk, available in various finishes, multiple sizes and in single or triple motor options. This review is of the 'Rustic Brown' 63 x 47.2 inches / 160x120cm triple-motor version. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Fezibo Worland: Unboxing and First Impressions Two boxes securely hold and protect the Fezibo Worland parts, including those triple metal leg motors and robust tops, that when combined make for a very heavy setup. On unwrapping, it's immediately clear that each part is well made, even if the tops are made from plastic board rather than solid wood, while the necessary tools are provided for the buil...

CRKD Atom review: a surprising novelty that is perfect for retro gaming

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CRKD Atom: One-minute review The CRKD Atom is far and away the smallest controller I have ever tested. Billed as a collectible keychain controller by its manufacturer, the Atom is an impressively compact 3 inches (about 76mm) from left side to right. This alone makes it remarkably portable-friendly and is easily stored in your pocket or even on your keychain. A range of attractive colorways also add to the Atom’s collectability factor, and the controller sits at a reasonable price, thus making that collectible nature broadly more achievable for those who are interested. And of course, for stalwart CRKD heads, the Atom has the manufacturer’s app integration, allowing you to scan for your product’s overall rarity and unique number via near-field communication (NFC). It’s a neat little controller in the aesthetics department, then, but I’ve also been impressed by its overall gaming performance. Compatible with Nintendo Switch , PC, and mobile devices, I found the CRKD Atom to have pin...