Apple iPhone 7 Review

Well, it is finally here - the most hyped phone of the year. While Apple made controversial decisions with this phone, is it worth buying in the end?

Design & Hardware

The iPhone 7 looks closer to the iPhone 6 more than ever, with the same unibody aluminium surface and antenna lines, this time more subtle than before. The camera bump became even bigger, but it can  still be hidden with the right case. The headphone jack is no longer here, but instead you've got an adaptor for it. I don't get it - why make the thinnest phone you can make, just to look prettier, if it means sacrificing battery, a headphone jack and a camera that doesn't stick out of the phone. I guess it's the generation that likes phones thin, because otherwise I don't understand it. You remember the home button, right? Well, you can get that out of your head, because now the click is replaced with a vibration, and let me tell you, it is painful to even press it. It feels like clicking the entire chin of the phone, making some weird feeling that I find distracting.

The specs are as best as they can be - the latest A10 Fusion chip comes now with four cores - two for high power and two for low power; basically, when you set your phone on low-power mode, the demanding processors are shut down and only the power friendly ones work. It's a great idea, and the performance speaks for itself, wiping out all the competition. The graphics are great, as usual, with no significant improvement over the last year.

Software

IOS 10 is simply the best operating system, and you know why? It is simple to use, it keeps the normal flow of things, and it is easily kept clean and functional. Apple was always known for its desire of keeping things elegant, and the OS shows that perfectly. It's the little things like changing your vibration pattern for your ringtone, modifying the button press and size of apps, the things that made Apple unique compared to the competition.

Conclusion

Basically, the iPhone 7 is a revolutionary idea from Apple, a pretty courageous one, but pretty respectful. The performances are excellent, the design looks great, and the little things do set the iPhone apart from the competition. In the end, I think the iPhone 7 is an excellent purchase.

Apple Watch Review

Well... I didn't write in a while, did I? Now it is time to refresh and write something new, a smartwatch. What better way to start than with the Apple Watch. Let's see what we can find about this little piece of tech, and whether to buy it or not.

First things first, let's talk design, shall we?

DESIGN

The Apple Watch is pretty squared, with a display that curves around the edges, creating an infinite-pool kind of feel. On the right side we can see two buttons: on the top there is a round button, the "Crown", which spins both left and right. It is used to change time and to switch between apps. On the bottom there is your average power button that also takes you to the friend list. But you won't need a power button, because all you need is to lift your arm, and the watch automatically turns on. It's pretty reliable, but it need a bit more than just a hand twist. On the bottom there is a heart-rate pulse sensor, which is interesting, but I couldn't find an important use to it. 

Even though the watch looks neat, I found it to be quite fragile and the screen looks also a bit sensitive to scratches. But Apple says that you don't need to worry, because our watch has a genuine sapphire screen. Really, that is true. But still, if you're a type of person that likes to go to mountain expeditions and trips, maybe this isn't for you. You can still try a rugged case for the Watch, maybe something like this: 

There are three versions of the Apple Watch: Sport, Normal and Luxury. I suggest the Sport version, because it's the cheapest and the silicone band is very comfortable. And also choose the 42mm version, because the small one is tiny. Really, I could barely see anything on that screen. If you plan on getting the luxury version, really, there are 10 000 ways to spend that money better than on a 10 000$ watch.

SOFTWARE

The latest software version for the watch is WatchOS 2.2. The OS looks pretty good, but it isn't that intuitive. If you plan to buy the Apple Watch, I suggest you watch a tutorial before getting into it. Pairing the watch with the iPhone is pretty easy, I didn't have any problems whatsoever. There is a decent selection of apps for it, mostly for social media and business apps. The apps are arranged in this honeycomb-like fashion, and it works quite well for it. 

CONCLUSION

The Apple Watch is a great product from Apple. Even with it's flaws and being a little bit overpriced, the watch is a great to use with the iPhone. I think it is targeted to the people that want to be the cool guys in town, honestly. It looks different from other watches, and it feels like a luxury product, rather than a simple watch.

Sega MegaDrive Review

Here it is... The biggest competitor to the Super Nintendo, the Sega MegaDrive, better known as Sega Genesis. It is one of the best consoles ever made, a console that extended the 16 bit era, a console that made Sega a household name.

The original Sega Genesis, released in Japan in 1988

There were a couple of different versions made throughout it's lifespan. The most known one is the Sega Genesis I, that looked pretty nice. A smaller version was made, called the Megadrive II. It was basically the same thing, just a bit smaller. The standard controller came with 3 buttons for action, one start and one select button. An updated version was made, that added 3 more action buttons. Both controllers are comfortable to hold, even for extended periods of time.

It had some decent specs for the time, including "Blast Processing", which is basically a programming trick on the graphics hardware. The console was marketed as being better than the SNES, due to the presence of "Blast Processing", despite the fact that the SNES is technically superior than the Genesis. That hole justified the existence of the Sega 32x and Sega CD.  

Sega Megadrive II, with Sega CD and Sega 32X add-ons

As for the library of games, the Sega Genesis was filled with amazing titles, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Mortal Kombat, Golden Axe, and many more. It did have a feature ahead of its time, though. You could buy a cartridge called "Sega Channel", which is basically an online service to gain access to the entire library of games for the Sega Genesis, for which you would pay once a month. That was a big deal, even though overlooked because it didn't catch on. So, yeah, the Genesis had a lot going for it.

To wrap everything up, the Sega MegaDrive was a remarkable console that challenged Nintendo in the 90's. It is the most-known console from Sega, and because of the huge library of games, one of the best consoles ever made.

Sonic the Hedgehg I, one of the greatest games for the Sega Genesis

Apple Magic Mouse Review

Here it is... the Apple Magic Mouse. With an interesting design and futuristic controls, is it good enough to be your daily mouse?

The design is surely unique. It is completely made out of glass and aluminium, all of which create a premium feel in the hand. Even if the shape is not exactly shaped for your palm, it is fits well and stays comfortable for quite a few hours. The mouse is powered by two AA batteries. The newer model, though, gave up the battery door and replaced it for a much cleaner Apple Lightning Charging port. That is a bit of a minus, because the mouse can't be used while charging. But the battery lasts for about a month, with moderate use, and takes about two hours to get fully charged. 

The features are also great. The "scrolling wheel" is actually just a swipe on the centre of the mouse. The left and right clicks are changed into one big click, which knows when you press on the left or the right side. There are also many other features, such as double pinch to zoom. To be honest, the Magic Mouse feels a lot like an Apple trackpad combined with a mouse. That is not a bad thing, it actually works great. I haven't had any issues with the mouse. There is an on/off switch on the back of the mouse, and the connection is only wireless. But the bluetooth connection is very reliable. 

The Apple Magic Mouse is definitely an interesting experiment from Apple. As always, Apple makes things differently, and the mouse is no exception. Even if the shape is not as ergonomic as other mice, the overall package is extraordinary. It's surely a great productivity mouse for Mac users.

Logitech g700s Gaming Mouse Review

I've been using this mouse for so long, but I've asked myself: is it good enough to be a daily mouse for you?

At first glance, the mouse definitely look stunning. It's younger sibling, the G700, may have the same shape, but the white lines surely make it more modern. The overall shape, even if a little big, fits perfectly in your hand. The form is specially designed to feel better and stay better in your hand. By the way, this monster has 13 programmable buttons. This feature is very useful for people who are into gaming, those who need easy-to-reach buttons. The only minor issue that I had with the mouse is with the scrolling wheel. You can only click if you press on the middle. The sides won't work unless you try harder. The mouse itself is mostly made of plastic, with metal here and there, but at least the plastic is not glossy; it won't get any fingerprints or dust. It surely looks great.

Looking at it twice, and you get to see the awesome features it has. It can be both wired and wireless; the connection is made via a Micro USB cable. The scrolling wheel can be both smooth and more stable, for more precise scrolling. The gaming laser detects even the slightest movement, and not only that, but the mouse can be used on any type of surface. This makes the mouse one of the best gaming mice out there, but all of this comes at 100$. 

As a final word, this mouse is amazing. For the price it has, it offers quite a lot. It is absolutely perfect for both casual and extreme gamers, because it can take a lot. Of course, because gaming is the main point of the mouse, it's packed with features that may or may not be appreciated by a regular person.