Author - Jerry Paxton

FAVI HDTV SmartStick Review (Tech)

2013/05/12

FAVI has released a very cool little product that promises to make getting a “Smart TV” experience simple and easy with its SmartStick. The SmartStick is a small dongle measuring 3.6-inches by 1.3-inches. There is an HDMI port sticking out of one end and a USB expansion port on the other. To the unit’s side is a mini-USB power port and an IR receiver port. To install the SmartStick, you simply plug the dongle into an available HDMI port, connect it to an available USB port for power (most TVs with HDMI ports have one), and then connect the IR receiver for the included remote control. After the unit powers up, you set your TV to the HDMI input and you will get a fairly simple setup wizard. After all is said and done, you will essentially be looking at the desktop of an Android 4.0 computer.

Official Specifications

OS: Android (4.0)
Resolution: 720P, 1080P (HDMI)
Microprocessor: ARM Cortex-A9 @ 1.0 Ghz
RAM: 1GB DDR3 SDRam
Built-in WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n
Storage: 4GB (or 8GB)
USB Port: 2.0
Mini USB: DC Input,
Micro SD: Up to 32GB
Remote Control: Infrared
Dimensions: 3.6″ x 1.3″ x 0.6″
Weight: 0.08 lb.

Using the SmartStick can be a rather frustrating experience as the included remote control is severely inadequate for full usage of the various apps. FAVI’s custom desktop is mostly fine, but the real issue comes within the third-party apps themselves. The Netflix app, in particular, is badly laid out and clunky to say the least. The optional remote keyboard helps quite a bit in terms of navigation and typing, but it still isn’t perfect. A major issue is that these remotes are all IR – the SmartStick does not feature bluetooth capability. This is not only a major issue as you require line of sight with the IR receiver but, also, you can’t connect a game controller which is a big drawback when it comes to future gaming on the device. Another strange issue on the SmartStick is that, no matter how good our Wi-Fi network was, we couldn’t get streaming video apps like Netflix not to stutter. It wasn’t a buffering problem – the video was caching without problem. The video simply stutters for an inexplicable reason.

One usage that I was hoping would redeem this device was plugging it into a projector’s HDMI port for wireless, backyard movie watching on the “big screen”. Unfortunately, we still encountered the video stuttering issue, so I can’t recommend it for that purpose unless your family and friends like watching things “frame up”. My hope is that this is a software glitch and can be patched at some point. In terms of reasons to buy, plugging it into a projector would be a good one.

Overall, the FAVI SmartStick has potential for expansion. The biggest problem facing the SmartStick is that the 8GB model runs $79.99 and most SmartTV boxes, like Apple TV or Roku, are very similar in price. In comparison, those more robust models have the upper-hand in performance and user experience. The 4GB SmartStick is a good value at $49.99 as it plays 1080p video. Low-end SmartTV boxes like the Roku start at $79.99 for 1080p video. What the SmartStick does have going for it’s good portability. A bigger problem is that there are some competing products out there of this same type that retail for roughly the same price and feature things like dual core CPUs, resulting in much better performance. This device seems like it is about a year and a half past when it should have been on the retail market. Back then, SmartTV boxes were much more expensive and SmartTV dongles like these were few and far between. The FAVI SmartStick isn’t horrible by any means – it has just been eclipsed by more capable products.

[easyreview title=”FAVI HDTV SmartStick Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”2″] Our Rating Scores Explained

Images

ContourROAM2 Camera Review (Tech)

2013/05/12

Jerry Paxton

Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

Contour’s new ContourROAM2 action-sports camera manages to fit a lot of capability and quality into its $199 dollar. New action sports cameras are popping up all the time. Most, however, are simply bringing the most standard of features and mediocre image processors to the table. While these cameras will do fine for the layperson looking to record a skiing trip or some other leisurely activity, serious sports players want to make sure their videos come out right. This could be for personal memories, playbacks, post-game debriefings – even Airsoft game play for your team’s YouTube channel.

That being said, when first using the ContourROAM2, I made the mistake of charging it up, slapping in a memory card, and taking video (or so I thought). Unfortunately, our camera would not reliably shoot video out of the box. We would use the sliding toggle to begin recording and nothing would happen. Other times, it would chime for many seconds and, again, nothing would happen. What ended up fixing it was attaching it to our PC and installing the Storyteller software (free at Contour’s website). The software asked us if we wanted to update the camera’s firmware. Once done, the camera performed without a hitch. I breathed a hearty sigh of relief and very excitedly packed it into our Airsoft gearbag for the next day’s game. In our setup, the ContourROAM2 is attached to the headband of a goggle system.

Here is the video we recorded from the camera (views from the pink airsoft gun are taken from another camera):

The biggest issue I have with using the ContourROAM2 is that you can’t change video-shoot modes on the camera itself. In order to configure it, you MUST download the Contour Storyteller software and plug it in. That’s the only way to do it. Speaking of video modes, the ContourROAM2 will shoot video in the following modes:

Full HD – 1920 x 1080 @ 30/25fps
Tall HD – 1280 x 960 @ 30/25fps
Action HD – 1280 x 720 @ 60/50 or 30/25fps

The 30fps modes work great in both 1080p and 720p. The camera uses a 170 degree wide angle lens, so the field of view “feels” natural without having fisheye effect. 60fps slows the action down a bit, allowing for a bit of cinematic slow-mo when played back at normal speed. The ContourROAM2 uses small, MicroSD memory cards up to 32GB in size. The website claims that it can use Class 4 cards but, in our opinion, the higher speed a memory card is capable of, the better.

Overall, Contour’s ContourROAM2 acti0n sports camera takes very good quality video at both 30 and 60 frames per second, depending on the resolution. The camera feels robust and durable, and the price point is very reasonable at about $200 dollars. Contour offers a variety of mounts for the camera and its on/off functionality is easy to use.

[easyreview title=”The ContourROAM2 Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained

G&G Top Tech TR16 R4 Commando AEG Review

2013/05/11

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, Articles, News, Reviews

The G&G Top Tech TR16 R4 Commando blowback airsoft electric gun is a large model M4 meant for MilSim and field play. It features a full metal (quality aluminum) receiver – both upper and lower, as well as an included (and rock-solid) vertical foregrip and 450-round, hi-cap magazine. One of the most impressive features of this AEG is its pneumatic blowback system which generates a slight amount of vibration/feedback when fired. In addition, this blowback system also makes the AEG a bit louder than usual – especially when laying down a lot of fire. I also have to praise the hop-up system that G&G has put into this gun – it is very reliable and consistent, making this a very solidly-accurate AEG.

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Official Specifications:

Length: 870mm
Weight: 2600g
Inner Barrel: 357mm
Magazine Capacity: 450rd Hi-Capacity. Works with Matrix, G&G, Tokyo Marui and other compatible M4 / M16 Series Airsoft AEG Magazines
Muzzle Velocity: 300~340 FPS (Measured with 0.20g BBs)
Thread Direction: 14mm Negative
Gearbox: Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Fire Modes: Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Battery: 9.6v Small Butterfly Type recommended (Battery not included)
Hopup: Yes, Adjustable

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Official Features:

Full Metal Receiver and RIS Handguard
High Strength Polymer Full Stock
Removable Rear Sight
Vertical Grip and Handguard Covers included
Full Metal Ver 2 Blowback Gearbox

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Unfortunately, I ran into some serious comfort issues with the G&G Top Tech TR16 R4 Commando that just made it un-usable for any period of time. First, the spring wire which protrudes from the ejection port cover is very easy to prick your finger on. I did so and bled for about a minute. After slapping a band-aid on my finger, I also found that gripping the gun is very uncomfortable. The grip on this M4 has two very acute edges next to the back side of the trigger. Usually, when the trigger housing is as wide as the grip, they are not noticed. In the case of this AEG, however, the assembly is really narrow in comparison to the grip, leaving these two edges poking out. These edges dig into my middle finger when holding the gun. Even with gloves on, the edges dig in. If you have smaller hands, this might not be a big issue.

That being said, the G&G Top Tech TR16 R4 Commando does have some very cool features. One of the biggest and highly-touted of the G&G Top Tech line is its “Forward Assist” feature. Now, most of you know that in order to release the tension on your airsoft gun’s spring after a game, it is a good idea to do a couple shots of semi-automatic fire. With the forward assist feature in the TR16 R4 Commando, you never have to worry about it. Simply press the button to the right of the bolt catch and the tension is relieved! Another user-friendly feature on the TR16 R4 Commando is the locking bolt catch. When pulling back on the charging handle, you can press on the bolt catch to lock it in an “open” position. From here, you can easily adjust the AEG’s hop-up mechanism. On M4’s without this locking bolt catch, you have to keep back pressure on the charging handle while doing any adjustments (which is a pain).

[wpcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]What We Liked

Solid vertical grip
Good hop-up unit
Aluminum upper and lowe receiver
Blowback system

[/wpcol_1half] [wpcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]What We Didn’t

Unsafe ejection port cover spring is sharp and extends too far
Grip is not comfortable for people with larger hands

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Overall, I wanted to love the G&G TR16 R4 Commando due to its solid construction, realistic feel, and G&G Top Tech features. If you are an airsoft player with smaller hands, you may not have much of an issue with the foregrip digging into your middle finger. However, still take care to avoid the sharp and pointy spring wire sticking out into the ejection port. Personally, I found the gun very uncomfortable to use for any period of time and have to lower its score to a 3 out of 5 stars. If you are interested in picking this gun up, I would recommend hitting a local airsoft store and finding out if you can hold it first. If you don’t experience these issues, you will no doubt have a solid gun to use on the field or in your MilSim games.

[easyreview title=”G&G Top Tech TR16 R4 Blowback Airsoft Rifle Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″] Our Rating Scores Explained

Product Images

G&G Top Tech TR4 M4 CQB-H Airsoft Rifle Review

2013/05/10

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, Articles, News, Reviews

G&G Armaments TR4 M4 CQB-H airsoft electric gun retails for about $360 dollars on websites like AirsoftGI and AirSplat – It is not a cheap purchase. However, this product is truly a textbook case of “getting what you pay for” and you will not be disappointed in this AEG – especially if you are looking for an accurate, powerful, and reliable CQB weapon.

Much like the larger TR16 R4 Commando that we reviewed earlier, the Tr4 M4 CQB-H AEG features G&G’s pneumatic blowback system which adds a slight bit of recoil when the gun is fired. In reality, this “recoil” is more of a vibration – which works nicely as it gives you some force feedback when using the rifle while not altering your aim. In addition to the vibrations, the blowback unit also adds a nice bit of additional sound when firing the gun. As you can see during the range portion of our video review below, the gun sounds very distinctive and much louder than the M4 being fired next to us.

Out of the box, the TR4 M4 CQB-H shot a bit hotter than we expected, at around 360 fps. This is a bit over the limits of indoor arenas like Tac City Airsoft in Fullerton, but it will definitely “cool down” a bit after some breaking in.

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Official Specifications:

Manufacturer: G&G
Model: TR4 M4 CQB-H
Muzzle Velocity: 330-350 FPS
Magazine Capacity: 450 rounds
Color: Black
Package Includes: Gun, magazine, manual

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Official Features:

Full metal construction
Pneumatic blowback
SOPMOD-style stock
Realistic feel and looks

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Brief Video Review

[wpcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]What We Liked

Full metal receiver
Excellent build quality
Very accurate
On the top end of FPS limits for most CQB arenas (once it cools down)

[/wpcol_1half] [wpcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]What We Didn’t Like

The plastic handguard
We couldn’t keep it (this was a unit on loan from G&G)

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After spending a great deal of time with the TR4 M4 CQB-H, I grew to love its solid feel and small, CQB frame. I even got to use it on field games and I did not have much issue. Of course, with its FPS range, I would not recommend it for really large field play, but in smaller outdoor arenas (like the HSP Combat Center), it will prove to be a worthy gun to play with. Another excellent addition to its featureset is the “Forward Assist” function which released the tension in the gun’s spring after play is over. All you have to do is depress the button to the right of the charging handle and it will accomplish what most players have to shoot a couple of semi-auto shots to do after player. Speaking of the charging handle, you should know that this one has the ability to lock back in the open position, allowing users to easily adjust the gun’s hop-up.

Overall, the G&G Tr4 M4 CQB-H AEG is an excellent airsoft gun with solid construction, light weight, and good accuracy. Coupled with its pneumatic blowback system, you have a fun airsoft gun to shoot that will be reliable and effective for a long time to come. We give the G&G TR4 M4 CQB-H a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

[easyreview title=”G&G Full Metal TR4 M4 CQB-H Airsoft Rifle Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″] Our Rating Scores Explained

AEG Photos

Is The TF-X Our Flying Car?

2013/05/10

Jerry Paxton

News, Tech News

People have been dreaming of flying cars for quite some time. Personally, I would love to drive a Fifth Element-style flying vehicle around a crowded Manhattan skyway as Milla Jovovich bounces around the backseat. Mmm… But, I digress, as Terrafugia has unveils its concept for the TF-X flying vehicle, a personal aircraft that uses a V-22 Osprey style flight mechanic to perform vertical takeoff and landings.

Checkout this promotional trailer for the TF-X:

Ubisoft Releases New Watch Dogs Screenshots

2013/05/10

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Screenshots / Photos, Xbox 360 News, Xbox Infinity News

Ubisoft has sent out some new screenshots from their upcoming game, Watch Dogs, which is set to release on November 19th, 2013.

Screenshots

Civ V: Brave New World Culture and Tourism Trailer

2013/05/10

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

2K Games and Firaxis have released a new trailer for their upcoming Civilization V: Brave New World, which is due out on July 9th, 2013.

Trailer

Wargame AirLand Battle Deck System Trailer

2013/05/10

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Focus Home Interactive has released a new video showing off the “Deck System” of its upcoming Wargame AirLand Battle. With the Deck system, players can customize but also specialize their armies: they choose, from over 820 realistic units coming from 12 countries, the ones that will compose their army and the available reinforcements during their multiplayer battles.

Trailer

Airsoft for Gamers #7: Upcoming Events

2013/05/10

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Articles, News

In this entry of our Airsoft for Gamers article series, we wanted to take a look at some of the upcoming Airsoft events, tournaments, etc in which you might be interested in participating.

Code Red Airsoft Presents Desert Rats Mil-Sim

When: Saturday, May 18, 2013. 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Where: Code Red Airsoft Park. 1600 Agua Mansa Road, Colton, CA 92324
Expected Attendance: Open to Everyone
Forces: Varies on Scenario
Registration: Come play planned scenario games based on past, present and future events. World War 2, Modern and other game variations will be played throughout the day. Bring your team out to practice as a group to learn new tactics or just to have a good time! This is open to all paying players that come to field, walk-on or private games. All Code Red rules are strictly adhered to by private (non-Code Red) staff. In addition, other rules may be added or modified that will not affect the safety or enjoyment of others.

AirSplat’s Appreciation Day 2013

When: Sunday, May 19, 2013. 10:00am ~ 5:00pm
Where: Tac City Airsoft Fullerton. 2430 Artesia Ave. Fullerton, CA 92833
Expected Attendance: ???? Players
Forces: Games throughout the day inside the indoor arena (350 FPS limit)
Registration: Please claim your ticket at Eventbright. Tickets are free but there is only so much space available at the venue so they will run out.

Evike’s Operation Airsoft Nation 2013

When: Saturday. June 8th, 2013. 7:00am ~ 5:30pm
Where: SC Village. 8900 McCarty Road. Chino, CA 92880.
Expected Attendance: 1000 Players
Forces: 2 Forces
Registration: Please register by adding either an Alpha or Brave team ticket (mind the camo pattern requirements for each side) to your shopping cart, or in person at the world-famous Evike.com walk-in super store. $15 for early bird registration. $20 Regular after per-registration period. Admission includes park entry, park insurance, food voucher for lunch, RAFFLE TICKET, a Velcro IFF Op. Airsoft Nation event patch, a small donation to the police foundation, and a player’s packet provided to you by our sponsors.

GiantSportz Airsoft Operation Black Shield: Trinity

When: Saturday and Sunday, July 20th and 21st, 2013 (starts at 0800 hrs each day)
Where: SC Village. 8900 McCarty Road. Chino, CA 92880.
Expected Attendance: ???? Players
Forces: 2 Forces
Registration: Please register by adding either a SOCOM or SPETSNAZ (mind the camo and equipment requirements for each side) ticket to your shopping cart. For an additional charge, you can purchase overnight camping passes for RVs and cars on the same website. Operations: Black Shield 3: a 2 Day Airsoft Operations The highly acclaimed 2 Day Airsoft Operations returns with Black Shield 3. The event will be held at the World Famous SC Village in Chino, CA on July 20th and 21st…home of the renowned premier airsoft field in California, SC Viper. The event will feature an immersive and exciting weekend of tactical Milsim game-play that players of all skill-levels can enjoy all weekend long.

Operation Sovereign Fury

When: August 31 and September 01, 2013
Where: Guardian Center, 600 W. Perry Pkwy. Perry, GA 31069
Expected Attendance: 500 Players
Forces: 2 Forces
Registration: Register over at their official registration page. This is an event you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS! Registration for Operation Sovereign Fury will open on May 1 and close on August 1. Walk-ons will not be accepted at the event. Teams will be structured into company, platoon and squad level units with commanders assigned well in advance for unit coordination and planning. More details on the event, rules and requirements will be forthcoming!

American Milsim Presents – Broken Home II

When: August 31 and September 01, 2013
Where: D-Day Adventure Park, 66800 E 175 Rd Wyandotte, OK 74370
Expected Attendance: 500 Players
Forces: 3 Forces
Registration: Register over at their official registration page. This is an event you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS! Registration for Operation Sovereign Fury will open on May 1 and close on August 1. Walk-ons will not be accepted at the event. Teams will be structured into company, platoon and squad level units with commanders assigned well in advance for unit coordination and planning. More details on the event, rules and requirements will be forthcoming!

There are a ton of other upcoming Airsoft events, so feel free to post any you have going on below in the comments.

We Would Like to Thank Our Sponsors

Xbox Infinity Rumors Resurface [Rumor]

2013/05/09

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, Tech News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox Infinity News

According to a leak last year, and more recent rumors, it looks as though Microsoft’s next Xbox console will be titled the “Xbox Infinity” – with an infinity symbol resembling a Windows 8 “8” turned on its side. These rumors were further reinforced today by the good people at The International Business Times, the console will indeed be called the Xbox Infinity.

Once again, this has been a long-reported rumor which may or may not be true. So, stick around as May 21st and the big reveal is right around the corner!