James Trew
Articles by James Trew
GoPro Hero 8 Black review: Minor redesign, major pay-off
Typically, each year's flagship GoPro touts a marquee feature. In the past, that's included 4K/30fps video (Hero 4), built-in waterproofing (Hero 5) and really good stabilization (Hero 7). The new Hero 8 Black ($399) does not have a single showstopping feature. Instead, it brings several updates, each of which is good on its own, but together, I think they add up to the sort of big step forward that fans of the brand have been waiting for. There's actually quite a lot to get through, so we'll dive right into what's new.
Aspirational action: How GoPro makes you want a GoPro
"We'll get about 10 feet from the beach, and it's an easy swim to the shore," the captain of our small boat chirps confidently. It looks more like 60 feet to me. My handler dives right in, so I flop belly-first behind her. I flail against the waves for what feels like a breathless eternity until I finally sense land underfoot. And then a wave crashes over me while the rest of the group -- all bronzed GoPro employees -- watch me get rolled over. And then a second one, until someone takes pity and peels me out of the shame-soup onto dry land. This is categorically not a GoPro moment, but it's about to be.
Teenage Engineering's 'rumble' module puts haptic bass in the OP-Z
When I reviewed the OP-Z from Teenage Engineering, I was most curious about the expansion port. The diminutive portable synth and sequencer already packed a lot of musical power into a small box. The fact it could be further expanded was exciting. Today we're seeing one such example, with the announcement of the "rumble" module. As the name suggests, the rumble module ($89) adds haptic feedback to the OP-Z, courtesy of a collaboration with Lofelt (of Basslet fame). At its most basic, rumble endows the OP-Z ($599) with a silent, vibrating metronome. Slot the module in, and you can feel the tempo, rather than hear it with the typical (and annoying) shrill "beep."
The Atari Lynx’s 30th birthday gift is a bunch of new games
1989 was a year of revolutions. The Berlin wall fell, protesters rallied in Tiananmen Square and Neneh Cherry was taking a Buffalo Stance. This was also the year that portable gaming had its own revolution. The Game Boy launched in the spring, and, 30 years ago this weekend, we were introduced to the world's first true color hand-held console -- the Atari Lynx.
How to shoot your next adventure like a pro
In the Instagram and YouTube age, your outdoor adventures basically didn't happen unless there are good images and videos to share. At least that's how it feels sometimes. So why is it that your photos and carefully curated montage clips don't visually pop quite as much as those of your favorite action sports athlete? It could be the gear you're using, the lighting or maybe your settings. Either way, it's probably more than something a filter can fix (even my beloved Clarendon). To help you up your game, we spoke to several experts. From pro skateboarders to wingsuit fliers and YouTube creators to make sure you have all the tools you need. We hope that next time, you absolutely get the shot. (If you want to add Clarendon after the fact, that's up to you). Before we get to the experts, though, there are a few basics to consider. When it comes to action shots, there's one name that's pretty hard to avoid: GoPro. Its Hero line of cameras has become synonymous with outdoor activities, thanks to the rugged design and extensive range of accessories. At the time of writing, the Hero 7 Black is the flagship, and that's the camera we're recommending. We love the built-in stabilization, and the waterproof design has stood the test of time. For aerial video and photos, we're recommending the superlative Mavic 2 Pro.
Engadget’s guide to all the outdoor gear you need this summer
If you're reading this at a desk, take a moment to stand up and locate your nearest window. You might see a street, a garden or even some fields. Whatever your current view, you are peering at the edge of the great outdoors, and adventure is beckoning. But this is Engadget, and we believe there aren't many things in life that a sprinkling of gear can't improve -- and that includes the time you typically reserve to escape a screen (ironic, we know).
Petcube's Bites 2 and Play 2 are smart speakers in disguise
Unsurprisingly, most smart-home gadgets are fairly human-centric. But what about all the furbags that live with us? Don't they deserve a little slice of the connected dream? Petcube certainly thinks so. The company has two pet-camera products, the Bites and the Play. The former lets you sling treats at your cat or dog, while the latter has a laser allowing you to "play" with them remotely. Both models have just been refreshed, with a few interesting upgrades: a wider camera view (180 degrees, up from 138) and Alexa baked in. They're available starting today.
Boosted’s Rev scooter is an inconveniently fun powerhouse
Boosted made its name by becoming the de facto electric skateboard. When rumors emerged that the company was working on a scooter, I had mixed feelings. I worried Boosted might bring out a me-too product and, well, scooters tend to be a little dorky. When the $1,599 Rev was finally revealed earlier this year, I was proved wrong (at least about the first part). The Rev is clearly inspired by San Francisco, the city Boosted calls home. Most garden-variety scooters offer somewhere between 250 and 500 watts of power. At the high end, that's enough to get you up some pretty decent inclines, but you'll feel every slow, meandering yard. The Rev offers a whopping 1,500 watts.
Omura's Series 1 cannabis vaporizer uses 'flower cartridges'
Cannabis vaporizers have come a long way. As weed becomes legal in more states, companies are free to devise new methods to administer the herb. Enter Omura and the Series 1. At first glance, it looks like a conventional — if not more stylish — flower vaporizer. The Series 1 takes a different approach to most though, using pre-filled "flower cartridges" over the bring-your-own approach of rivals like PAX.
DJI Osmo Action review: A worthy GoPro rival
Well, here's a surprise. After GoPro trod on DJI's foot with its ill-fated Karma drone, DJI is stomping right back with a rugged camera of its own -- the Osmo Action. It looks like a GoPro, is similarly priced ($349 -- $51 cheaper) and pretty much goes toe-to-toe with the Hero 7 Black on key specs. Can DJI pull off what GoPro couldn't, and give its rival a run for the money? We'll get to that, but at the very least, the king of action cams has a new challenger to fend off, and that can only be a good thing for video-loving action fans.
The next frontier for cannabis vapes: mood-specific formulas
"In New York, my bicycle messenger really had two types of cannabis. It was either green or brown." Michael Ray is the CEO of Bloom Farms, a California-based cannabis company that specializes in vape cartridges and CBD tinctures. Ray's reflecting on cannabis's current cultural explosion. As an increasing number of states fully legalize it, alongside countries like Canada, the curtain of illegitimacy is slowly lifting. For the first time, cannabis can be explored and experimented with in plain sight. The result: an emerging trend of tailored and targeted vape products that claim to do more than get you lifted. Cannabis is going a la carte.
Amazon Kindle review (2019): The Paperwhite gets a run for its money
Like many gadgets, the Kindle line follows the "good, better, best" marketing strategy. A few years ago, this would mean the difference between features like a touchscreen, better contrast on the display or a much-needed front-lit screen. Today, the distinctions between Kindle models are subtler. When Amazon recently announced that the "All-New Kindle" (that's the basic, non-Paperwhite, non-Oasis model) would come with a front-lit screen, the last big deal-breaker for the most basic e-reader was finally dissolved (unless waterproofing is a must have). For less than $90 (with "special offers"), there's finally a Kindle you can read in the dark, that has a touchscreen, and supports Audible over Bluetooth. I'd wager that for a large slice of Kindle readers, the reasons to spend extra on a Paperwhite are getting more specific.
Dispatches from MWC: Six things that don't fold
Did you hear? They're making foldable phones now! Yes, it's the unavoidable bendy trend of the show for sure, but there's plenty more going on here in Barcelona, and we've summed it all up here to provide some respite from our foldable future.
Teenage Engineering OP-Z review: Small synth, big dreams
Read the fucking manual. It's pejorative advice usually dispensed to someone struggling to find an answer — one typically available to them with minimal effort. The OP-Z from Teenage Engineering doesn't ship with a full manual (though there is one online). But even if you read that thing from top to bottom, twice, I bet you still wouldn't know everything this magical box of secrets has to offer. It's a mind-bendingly complex, yet hysterically fun mini-studio that keeps on giving. And at $600, it's not crazy expensive, so you're probably going to get more than your money's worth.
Focal's Sphear Wireless squeeze premium sound into $130 earbuds
Focal is no newcomer to the audio game. The French company has been around since 1979, and gained a following with its Grande Utopia speaker line. In recent years the company has been making headphones, many of which are at the higher end — like the Clear or Elegia. Not everyone has a four-digit budget though, and that's why the company has also added more affordable lines, such as the Sphear in-ear buds and the Listen over ears. Today the more affordable line grows with the Sphear Wireless ($129)— an untethered version of the original earbuds.
GoPro Plus now offers unlimited uncompressed video storage
When GoPro launched Plus -- it's subscription service for cloud storage -- it was a modest offering. For $5 a month, you could store a bunch of your photos and videos online, access a library of music to use in your edits, and a get a 20 percent discount on accessories. Early last year, the company added a new benefit -- a no questions asked camera replacement scheme and bumped photo storage to unlimited. Today, the company extends that unlimited feature to video, and importantly at native resolution (i.e. 4K videos won't be compressed at all).
Now there's a handheld filter to kill your massive vape clouds
If you made the switch from "analog" tobacco to e-cigarettes, congratulations, you've likely done your lungs a solid. The rest of the world? Not so much. Despite growing evidence that the clouds vapors produce are less toxic than tobacco smoke, they still have an antisocial effect and can reduce air quality. That's fair: No one wants to be blinded walking through someone else's exhale. And while it doesn't stink like smoke, not everyone's into your blueberry cheesecake vibes. Enter Philter and its "Pocket" device -- a $15 widget you breathe into to eliminate cigarette or vape clouds.
Native Instruments’ Traktor DJ 2 breaks free from the iPad
Last fall, Native Instruments gave its DJ and production hardware a significant refresh, especially at the entry level. Today, the company is introducing a second wave of tools to complement the new line up, along with even more new hardware.
Akai Force is for DJs and producers that want to ditch the laptop
Akai made its name around the early 90s thanks to its line of relatively affordable S-series samplers and the (now legendary) MPC. Since then, the company has continued to release new spins on those mainstays, the latest of which is the all-in-one Force workstation.
GoPro's Nick Woodman is happy he gave away a million dollars
GoPro's Nick Woodman is happy that there's nothing to report. After an eventful few years, 2018 was pretty much back to business as usual. That doesn't mean it was an uneventful 12 months though. The Hero 7 Black landed with a (stabilized) splash, and the company embarked on a new endeavor: The Million Dollar Challenge, that gave GoPro Hero 7 Black users the chance to claim a slice of the seven-figure prize pool. In our stage interview here at CES, Woodman (joined by one of the winners) explains how it could well be one of the best ideas they ever had.