Technology – Pummkin's Pitch https://pummkin.net I'm not here, I'm underwater...! Wed, 14 Jun 2023 04:08:27 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://pummkin.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-Favicon-e1693978732566-32x32.png Technology – Pummkin's Pitch https://pummkin.net 32 32 Baseus Bowie H1i with Active Noise Cancellation https://pummkin.net/2023/06/baseus-bowie-h1i-with-active-noise-cancellation/ https://pummkin.net/2023/06/baseus-bowie-h1i-with-active-noise-cancellation/#respond Wed, 14 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000 http://pummkin.net/?p=5333

I travelled to the interiors of Sabah.

 

Taking advantage of the 6.6 Sale on Lazada, I used the opportunity to try out 2 different headphones, one was the Baseus Bowie H1i, an upgraded version of the H1 and the other turned out to be a bad copy of a branded headphones which I shan’t mention here. Basically, I initiated a return, to which it was promptly executed and a guy from Lazada’s logistic partner, Flash MY, arrived at the appointed time to pick up the faulty product. This is one reason for the confidence I have in Lazada.

The H1i is an astounding pair of headphones that can rival Bose Quiet Comfort and Sony’s top offerings. Since the world has opened up after the lockdown, I took my first flight to Kota Kinabalu last month to chance upon the endemic avian life. The 2.5hrs flight with my flaky ear cushions of the Motorola Pulse Escape+ from months of non-usage, left crumbly bits of vegan leather on my shoulder and an unsightly impression on the immigration officer at the counter where I got my brand new 5th passport stamped. Feels surreal to be setting foot on a plane since January 2020. 

The sound quality is tested with FLAC music (an audio coding format for lossless compression of digital audio) using Bluetooth for wireless connection and the supplied audio cable for wired connection. The ear cushion feels soft and snug without making my head and ears feel compressed. I played the selection of my bass-iest music, ranging from K-Pop rap, mellow-pop K-Will and Davichi to Keiko Matsui. I expect a certain sound quality because I have listened to them using my DJ headphones (Urbanears Zinken and Krutis) and blasted them on my Ultimate Ears’ Wonderboom speakers as well as my Angry Birds Gear4 30W subwoofer speakers. 

Baseus Bowie H1i surpassed my expectations. The sound could be fine-tuned from the Baseus app, downloaded from Google Play store or Apple’s Appstore. After pairing with your phone, get the app to pair with the headphones as well. Toggling between the 3 available modes of the spatial acoustics, I settled with Normal mode and selected the Mega Bass mode from the EQualiser mode which packed quite a punch! Take note that the mega bass can only be selected from the app and cannot be invoked by any buttons without it. 

though the selection stated ‘White,’ the headphones is actually beige in colour. My only worry is the lifespan of the cushions and I’ve written to the principal to ask them for a genuine leather pair of cushions to avoid flaking and crumbling in the hot, humid weather of the tropics.


More info after this, stay tuned. I’ve to attend to an emergency.

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GaN Chargers – What Good Is It For? https://pummkin.net/2023/04/gan-chargers-what-good-is-it-for/ https://pummkin.net/2023/04/gan-chargers-what-good-is-it-for/#respond Sun, 16 Apr 2023 03:52:21 +0000 http://pummkin.net/?p=5290 Macbook Pro/iPad users and USB-C smartphone/tablet users will benefit much from this GaN (Gallium Nitride) charger that I have been testing for the last six months. It’s especially for you if you’re a traveller for business/leisure (diving, birding, foodie, photography trips) as your cameras have batteries that need recharging. This is possible if you can charge via USB. Imagine carrying one charger to charge your laptop, phone and camera batteries! Imagine the weight you save!

If you find that your phone drains faster than you can charge it, you need this charger. If you’re constantly on the go and need power to charge all your devices in super fast time, you need this charger. (You will also need a fast-rated charging cable, not any ordinary cable to maximise the power delivery from these kinds of chargers, a review which I will do in another time 😃)

Think of the times you have forgotten your battery charger on a crucial trip and the panic attack you got as a result! It has happened to me and I’m glad I’ve converted most gadgets including my mouse and keyboard to USB-C rechargeable ones not to mention torchlights, dive lights, external battery chargers which are USB rechargeable. Having a high powered 140W charger means it’s able to recharge your power station on days you need to go offgrid to!

GaNAwei-2023-04-16-11-52.jpgAwei PD21 140W GaN Charger

This is the link to get it from the official store of Awei in Lazada which offers 6mths international warranty and many local return points to submit a claim and return it physically should you need to do so. This is one advantage against Shopee which doesn’t have any should you wish to return any product within their warranty period. In addition, you can select the slimmer profile of US 2-pin rather than the clunky UK 3-pin that we use here. It is far better to pack in pouches keeping everything streamlined. The charger has an input voltage of 100 – 240v, that you need not worry about conversion in any country you travel to.

Go to this link and it will take you to your Lazada app. Save it to your wishlist or add it to cart as you please. It’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made! 🥰 Discounted price now is at RM214. You may find it cheaper elsewhere but without warranty nor the option to select the US 2-pin charger.

https://bit.ly/aweiPD21

So what on earth is Gallium Nitride (GaN)?? In the simplest sense, it is the future of chargers. It is a semiconductor material that has gained popularity in the world of electronic devices, especially in USB-C chargers.

High power output: GaN chargers can provide higher power output compared to conventional chargers, making them suitable for charging high-powered devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. They are smaller and more compact compared to conventional chargers, which makes them more portable and easier to carry around.

GaN chargers have a higher efficiency than conventional chargers, which means they waste less energy and generate less heat. This means that GaN chargers can transfer more power from the power source to the device with minimal energy loss, resulting in reduced energy consumption and lower electricity costs.

GaN chargers can have multiple ports, which means you can charge several devices simultaneously. You get faster charging than conventional chargers, which is a significant advantage for people who are always on the go and need their devices charged quickly or like me who travel to remote places with window of opportunity to charge while they power up for a set duration of time! I remember the days when dive resorts were only powered up by generator sets from 6pm till 6am daily. I had to scramble to charge my batteries for the many devices that needed to be powered by them, and rotate with those whom I was sharing the power outlet with. Agonising when you’re a photographer.

GaN chargers are designed to provide safe charging, and they are equipped with safety features such as over-current/over-voltage/overheat protection. They are more eco-friendly than conventional chargers because they waste less energy, which is good for the environment and can also save you money on your electricity bill. This alone will convince me to purchase another one solely for home use while my existing one goes travelling with me.

GaN chargers are future-proof because they are compatible with the latest USB-C technology and can charge a wide range of devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, camera batteries, lights and gaming consoles.

You can get a similar one on Amazon here:-

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Protect Your Credit Cards & Identity From Thieves https://pummkin.net/2014/10/protect-your-credit-cards-identity-from-thieves/ https://pummkin.net/2014/10/protect-your-credit-cards-identity-from-thieves/#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2014 06:40:00 +0000 http://pummkin.net/?p=4010 Ever since I read about identity thieves using RFID (radio frequency identification), I’d been shopping around for a wallet that contains RFID-blocking properties. What exactly is RFID? According to this Wiki, “Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless use of electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects. The tags contain electronically stored information. Some tags are powered by electromagnetic induction from magnetic fields produced near the reader. Some types collect energy from the interrogating radio waves and act as a passive transponder. Other types have a local power source such as a battery and may operate at hundreds of meters from the reader. Unlike a barcode, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object.”

This simply means, anyone with an RFID reader/tracker who comes close (or not, depending on tracking device) to your wallet containing credit cards & ATM cards, they may steal vital information and access to your identity (and bank account) within seconds. Pacsafe has a range of RFID-blocking bags & packs, built with anti-theft features such as slashguard wire mesh woven into the bag and slashproof straps and temper-proof zips.

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Tatonka Euro Wallet with RFID Blocker

Getting around in Frankfurt & scouring around to look at equipment in their outdoor shops, I found Globetrotter, a 5 -storey trekkers’ haven, that stocks the most comprehensive solutions to camping, trekking, hiking, kayaking & climbing located at the East end of Frankfurt. Here, I found a range of Pacsafe bags amongst other big names in outdoor equipment & bought the Stashsafe100 GII in Midnight Blue, a hip pack with built in anti-theft features & RFID-blocker. I also bought a Tatonka RFID Block wallet for days I don’t need to use the hip pack.

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Pacsafe Stashsafe 100 GII hip pack

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Inside of main compartment.

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Comes with a lock/keys and slash proof strap!

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5 storey of excitement!

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Bags! Globetrotter has all kinds of backpacks!

To think that Malaysia is the first country to adopt the smart passport system, using RFID technology in 1998, our passports are vulnerable to identity fishing. Whenever I fly, I always have this insecurity about falling asleep & waking up to a ransacked bag. With a hip pack that is lockable on your body, zips that can be secured from opening & straps that are slashproof, I doubt anyone would want to attempt to remove/grab it from me but the added peace of mind of knowing that they can’t is already worth the money paid for. If you travel as much as I do, get the Pacsafe Stashsafe100 GII anti-theft hip pack. You would be glad to walk around the streets of South East Asian cities with the knowledge that nothing would fall out of your bag if it gets slashed neither could anyone pry the bag off you.

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