Tom Brauser

    I have always been a big fan of GoPro cameras – well the Everio Quad Proof video camera is sort of the GoPro of “camcorders.” Unlike the GoPro, which has a separate case that makes it waterproof, the Everio Quad Proof camera is so durable that the camera as it is can go underwater, in snow, dust storms, and won’t get damaged if it is accidentally dropped. A great camera for all you outdoorsy types that don’t want the elements to prevent you from getting the perfect shot. I had a chance to test drive one and here’s what I found.

        I was pretty excited to review this Audio Technica turntable, as it was a good opportunity to digitize some of my older classic vinyl records. This turntable is also a higher quality machine that is full of the features that I was looking for. It has a lot of flexibility since you can digitize LPs, play them through a receiver, a computer or directly through speakers. It also has DJ capabilities to create a lot of special effects, whether you are a DJ or not.

  Smart TVs are now the dominant TV, but what about Smart home products? They are not far behind in becoming just as pervasive in most homes. Smart home gizmos are usually technologies that are linked to our mobile devices and that add a lot of convenience to our lives. Most of us cannot live for an hour, let alone a day, without doing some activity on our Smartphone. But Smartphones have a lot more capability than what we use them for, and Smart Home products tap into that underutilized capacity. They also make great gifts, so here are my top picks that will delight just about anyone.

    This LG OLED Smart TV is loaded with lots of great features but the best feature of all is its absolutely fantastic picture. In fact CNET who do detailed reviews of hundreds of TVs have claimed that it has the “Best. Picture. Ever.” Picture quality is the most important attribute of any TV and this one is at the top of the list, but it doesn’t stop there because it has so much more to offer.  

    Security systems have come a long ways over the last few years, and DLink has really improved their solution with the DLink Video Recorder (DNR-202L). It no longer requires a PC to operate and it eliminates the need for cloud-based storage solutions for their cloud-based cameras. You can customize your surveillance security system more economically and manage and view it from anywhere in the world.

          Dedicated sports fans spend a fair amount of time glued to their TVs, so Christmas is an ideal time to help make that experience even more enjoyable. If you are having a hard time coming up with some great gifts for the sports junkie in your house, here are some suggestions for you.

There are many wireless audio options out there, like Sonos, Airplay, Bose Soundtouch, Dennon HEOS, and many more. But they all require connecting up to “their” system using an app on “their” devices. But if you already have a good stereo system that sounds great and simply want to wirelessly play music on it the Mass Fidelity Relay may be just the ticket! Here’s why.

            The MyGica ATV1200 is also called Dual Core Android TV box, and will turn your TV into a multifunctional smart TV. It is a media player, an Internet browser, a video and photo viewer, a game player, and a music player. I had a chance to test one out and run it through a few paces and here is what I found.

        Soundbars have come into their own, because they are extremely easy to set up, they look great, don’t take up much space, no ugly wires, and they sound good – a lot better than you will get with your flat panel TV. There are an awful lot of soundbars to choose from so selecting the right one can be a challenge. Paying attention to what consumer experience and views can be an enormous help as they are the toughest critics. Here are the top 5 soundbars based on ratings by actual users.  

  Vizio, the latest newcomer to Canada, at least as far as TV home entertainment goes, has a great lineup of Smart TVs. I recently got to test out the their top of the line M Series 42” LED HDTV. Vizio’s price point for their TVs is lower than their competitors for the same feature set, so I wondered how they really compare. I was very favourably impressed…