Well, as I mention in a prior article, Amazon got in the lossless/hi res music streaming game.  In my opinion, it lacked a lot of features and those issues pretty much doomed the service for me as soon as I had a better, affordable option.  First I am going to discuss why I am leaving Amazon and then I will discuss why I am choosing Qobuz instead.

Bit Perfect Audio

For people that care about audio quality, having bit perfect audio is a necessity.   What this means is that the application need to be able to perform bit rate switching on the fly.   The issue with Amazon is that their apps don’t have this basic feature on the Mac, PC, or even iOS.

Lack of an iOS Remote

If you are willing to live with the issue above, the second major issue for me was the inability to control what was playing on a computer with an iOS remote app.  This means you have to fire up your display and use a mouse/keyboard to chose what you want to hear.   I do have a remote app (Rowmote Pro) that will work in place of a keyboard and mouse, but that is not ideal.


Streaming from computer to device at lower resolutions 

With the exception of Bluesound Node, which has some of its own interface issues if what I have read is true, you are stuck with mostly Airplay or Chromecast streaming.  Neither will stream at the max resolution of the service.   I even invested in a Firetv with the hopes that I could stream at higher resolutions and no such luck.  It is capped out at 48khz even on their own products!


The Price Drop

Thanks to Amazon getting into the market, Qobuz just dropped its hi res streaming package from $24.99 to $14.99 a month.  Not as cheap as Amazon Music HD with a Prime account, but close enough for my needs.  This price drop made me give this service a shot.   While I still don’t think it is right to make people pay more just to be able to play music in the format it is meant to be heard, it is close enough for me at this point.   I would have never paid $24.99 for the service!  That pricing is outrageous in my humble opinion.

Audirvana

When Amazon first got in the market, I frequented the websites of Roon and Audirvana to see if they would work with Amazon.   Both services indicated that they didn’t see it on the horizon.  However, Qobuz already works with both audio apps.   While these apps aren’t cheap, $75 for Audirvana and $119 per year for Roon, they add great sound quality, access to your own music library, and both have remote apps on iOS.  

Personally, I decided on Audirvana for two reasons:  Price and UPNP streaming.   I was already looking for a way to get my ALAC files out of iTunes and had even tested both services.  So, I just needed a little more incentive to invest in one of them.   Audirvana is cheaper, and while it doesn’t have the great metadata features you get with Roon, it does offer fantastic sound quality.   

Also, Roon does not work with UPNP.  What does this mean?  It means that streaming is done with their own protocol or with Airplay/Casting.  I have three receivers and a Yamaha WXC-50 that all support UPNP streaming.  This means I can stream to all of these devices at 24/192 quality rather than having to live with a lower resolution.  It isn’t the most important thing, but having that kind of flexibility for less money just seemed to make more sense for my specific uses.

Qobuz app

Without Audirvana, the native Qobuz app is still nice and has Airplay, Bluetooth, and Casting built into the interface.  It will be more than enough for most people, so it is worth trying out, even if you have no interest in Audirvana or Roon features.  Even without Audirvana, the app is capable of bit perfect audio on iOS, MacOS, and Windows.  Not sure about Android.  

What about Echo Devices and HomePod?

Yes, I have both Amazon Echo devices around the house and a HomePod.  Neither support Qobuz without getting another device involved via Airplay or Bluetooth.   I don’t really care because I am keeping my Apple Music subscription and it works with both products and is ideal for CarPlay.

$25 A Month for Music?

Yes, I am increasing my outlay for music.  I may buy a year long sub to Qobuz which will bring down the average monthly fee a bit more.   However, I can’t eat out once with my girlfriend for $25, so it isn’t like we are talking about a fortune to have convenience when I need it or the ultimate sound quality when I have time to really listen to music.   I am not saying it is for everyone.  Most people will be happy with the lossy files on Spotify or Apple Music.   However, I have a lot of money invested in audio equipment and speakers/headphones around the house and this allows me to use them at their max potential.   

Below is the Qobuz app - notice the casting symbol in the corner:

Below is a landscape pic from the Audirvana app:

Below is Audrivana in portrait mode on the iPad:

As in past years (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011), I am putting together a new list of my top tech.  The list contains my favorite things from the last year, even if they were available in prior years.  By "tech" I am basically including any new toys, apps, etc... that I find cool and/or useful.  

Note:  I receive items for free in exchange for my review and I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this site.  My reviews are solely based on my opinion.  I have never been asked to to provide only a positive review and I would not participate in any program with that condition.

Samsung 34-Inch CJ791 Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor -  After years of using a 27 inch iMac in my office, I decided to get a monitor that has more flexibility for my needs.  This fits the bill with USB-C inputs, HDMI input, etc.  It works with my Mac mini, Dell PC, and with everything plugged into my Onkyo receiver.  I can plug my MBP right into the USB-C and get a great image with power.  It is a substantial upgrade, for my needs, from the iMac.

Tamron 17-75mm lens- I mentioned my Sony camera in a prior top ten list, but this lens takes things to a new level and really makes for a nice compact setup for traveling when I want to get photos with something better than an iPhone.   The price for a fast f2.8 lens is really amazing.   

As a side note, Tamron now has a wide angle lens available and a 70-180mm on its way to market.  Don't be surprised if one or both of these lenses are on my top ten tech list next year.

2018 Mac Mini - This Mac Mini made it possible to get rid of my iMac and go with a more useful setup at my desk.  I love the size and versatility of this little fella.  I guess the one shortfall is the graphics card, but I may update that via an eGPU, if I find I need it down the road.  Right now, I am happy with it for doing everything from spreadsheet work to running photo apps like Lightroom and Photoshop. 

Vanguard  VEO2GO235CB Tripod - I can't even explain just how useful a tripod that is light and will fold up and fit in a messenger bag is.  However, this has taken my photography up a notch because I can take it anywhere.  I took the picture below while using the tripod with my Sony camera and a Canon 100-400mm lens mounted on this tripod.

Amazon Music HD -  While they are still ironing out the kinks in the service, it is just fantastic to finally have a lossless service that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.  Also, I hope that Amazon's adoption of this format puts pressure on Apple to also put out a lossless music streaming option.   With the speed of the internet services getting faster and faster, it is really stupid to continue giving listeners only a lossy option.  Don't get me wrong, I would like the option to adjust the bitrate down for cellular, but this is a huge statement from Amazon. 

Topping D10 DAC - With Amazon offering a lossless music service with a bunch of "UltraHD" songs, it has became a great time to upgrade my DAC.  For me, this was the best, most economical solution because it accomplished two things:  1. It gave me a path for Hi Res audio out of the USB output of my Mac Mini and 2.  It has its own digital out, so I fed that into my Cambridge DAC Magic.  This allows me to continue using the DAC Magic's other inputs and filters without spending a fortune on a total replacement.

Secura Electric Bottle 4A Battery Powered Wine Opener with Foil Cutter 4A Battery Powered Wine Opener with Foil Cutter - My kitchen is getting pretty full with all the tech stuff I have received over the years.  That being said, this was worth the counter space.  It makes opening wine bottles easy and fun.  

Anova Culinary AN500-US00 Anova Precision Cooker - ​Smaller and more useful than my old Bluetooth model.  Not that that model was bad, but this gives me more flexibility to drop something in the water in the morning, then set it to start cooking from work.

Automax 100M Auto Feed Shredder - When I got a chance to review this shredder, I questioned adding it because of it size.  However, it has been awesome!   I have been going through a bunch of old bills and documents and shredding them.  It is fast and does the job!

BISSELL Cleanview Rewind Pet Deluxe Upright Vacuum Cleaner - Seems like I always have some new vacuum cleaner on my list and this year is no exception.  This does a great job of cleaning, but the thing I really love about it is the retractable power cable.  My prior vacuum cleaners always had that cord that had to be wrapped around it from top to bottom.  You couldn’t use the wand without removing it, either.  This makes vacuuming just a little bit less of a chore.​

HyperDrive USB C Hub- I have a lot of adapters, like any good MacBook Pro owner, but this one is my favorite.  I mainly like it because it feels like part of the laptop.  The adapters that use cables hang off to the side and you never forget they are there.  

First Aid Kit Home Comprehensive 25 Items 131 Piece Soft Case Bag - Right after I got this bag, we had an accident at the house and the bandages came in handy.  I mainly got this to keep in my Jeep, but I will have to replenish it before we hit the road!

As with past years, there was plenty of great new tech that caught my eye, but I resisted a lot of it.  The hardest thing to resist was the new Apple Watch with its always on display (hopefully I can continue to resist it for another year!!) and the new iPhone Pro.  I have to admit that the 3 lens configuration would come in handy.  However, I am still using my 7 plus and I am happy with it.  I prefer it to the new iPhone 11 (non-pro) because I like having a telephoto lens over an ultra-wide.  I am very surprised that they felt people would prefer to go even wider versus having a normal length lens.  I know I prefer the look of humans in photos with an ordinary length lens.  

I also like the 12.9 inch iPads.  As I suspected, they marketed this product with Adobe Photoshop, but here we are almost a year later and the app still isn't available to the public.   It was definitely worth holding out.  I have had time to move most of my photos to Lightroom CC and make them available on my older iPad.   I am already using it to edit, but before I shell out that kind of money, I need Photoshop.   


Note:  I receive items for free in exchange for my review and I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this site.  My reviews are solely based on my opinion.  I have never been asked to to provide only a positive review and I would not participate in any program with that condition.

FINALLY!!!

I remember signing up for premium "streaming" with Rhapsody Music as soon as it was available.   If memory serves me, that was at least 15 years ago.  At the time, I remember wanting better quality.  Of course, data caps and streaming speeds made that a difficult, if not impossible, endeavor at the time.

A couple years, Tidal introduced us to lossless CD quality music.  The downside was they charged more than twice as much as every other service for the privilege.  I don't want to get into a discussion about human hearing, but most would say there are only, at most, small differences in sound quality between lossless and the compressed stuff from everyone else.  I personally gave Tidal a trial and thought it sounded cleaner, but it just wasn't enough of a difference to get me to pay double!

Tidal also introduced something called MQA that offered "high resolution" files.  MQA has caused a big riff in both the audio industry and the audiophile community.  I don't want to go to deep into the subject, but to get the most from MQA you have to have an MQA DAC or a streamer with an approved DAC.   

Qobuz was introduced to the USA in recent months.  They have multiple tiers, but if you want they best that they offer, you pay 24.99 per month.  This includes files up to 24 bit and 192 kHz.   Some audiophiles have decided to go this route to avoid MQA, but for the most part, these services are a niche.  Whether that is because of the lack of a desire for lossless and Hi Res or the ridiculous pricing is unknown.   I expect it is a combination of both.  

Enter Amazon with Hi Res formats, no MQA, and a price of $14.99 a month, or $12.99 for prime members.  That is $3 a month more than Spotify/Apple Music and all the other services offering compressed audio.   They also have a 3 month free trial!

That being said, there are still some downsides that mean a lot of audiophiles aren't going to budge from Tidal or Qobuz.  The biggest issue right now it that there is no bit rate switching on the fly.   What does that mean?  It means that when you set your computer settings, in my case a Mac, to be able to play 24/192 files, the system spits out everything in 24/192 whether the track is 24/192 or 16/44.1.  Amazon should be telling the computer to play in the native format and it currently isn't doing that.

Secondly, many audiophiles want more features.  As of right now, the streamers people bought to play their own files and Tidal aren't compatible with Amazon HD.  Computer programs that have integrated Tidal and/or Qobuz, like Roon, Audirvana, Plex, haven't implemented Amazon Music HD.  An app like Roon ($119 per year) gives you a much better interface and let you control what is playing on many different devices (including multiple computers) with a tablet of cellphone.  Amazon currently doesn't have a way to control what it playing from the computer with an iPad.  They need to figure that out if they aren't going to work with the many different streaming platforms.

Another issue is that Amazon only has one device with a digital output optical out that works with Amazon Music HD and it is priced at $199.   You can get a FireTV (4k for the living room and regular for the bedroom and some sort of HDMI to Optical/Coax adapter to feed a DAC, but that gets a bit cumbersome.  Personally, I have 2 systems that only use HDMI, so I am going to get a couple FireTV Sticks for them.  These will allow me to not only have easier control over the interface than using a computer, but also give me Alexa control.  I have a spare Echo Dot sitting next to the couch and the FireTV (#ad) comes with an Alexa button, so searches or playing music I know will be easier.  I still would rather have the service in apps like Roon and Audirvana, though.  

Right now, it is very early days of Amazon Music HD.   Since it is free for 3 months, I can see how it advances over that period before paying them anything.  I suspect that I will carry a membership to both Amazon Music HD and Apple Music until Apple adds lossless or gives Amazon access to Siri.  However, I will just see how things play out and enjoy the service for the next few months.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

I have been using a big, heavy tripod for the past several years.   It is very stable and does the job, but the fact is, I don’t use it very often.   I mainly get it out when I am recording video around the house.

I have thought about getting a carbon fiber tripod for travel, but when I have looked into it, the price was usually around $350, so I just put it off thinking that the price would eventually drop.   Anyway. right now the Vanguard  VEO2GO235CB is currently being priced at $219.99, so at least the price of this particular tripod is at a more affordable level.

The first thing I noticed about the VEO2GO235CB is just how compact it was coming out of its carrying bag.  The bag itself has a strap that you can sling over a shoulder, which is very convenient.   I was a little worried that this would be too small and fragile to work for my purposes.   That has been proven to be far from the case.

I tested this with my Sony A7 RIII body, with a Metabones adapter, and a Canon 100-400mm lens.  This is a fairly heavy combination and I didn’t have the tripod mount ring to make things more stable.  In other words, I simply connected the tripod adapter directly to the Sony body.  I extended the legs, with the exception of the last section, and took a bunch of pictures of birds and I never felt concerned about the heavy lens making things unsteady.  Of course, if it is a windy day, they have a little hook you can use with your camera bag to put more weight at the base of the tripod.  The tripod uses the twist on - twist off things to release and tightened each leg section.   I prefer the kind of tripods that have clips, but I am getting used to them. 

This tripod fits easily inside my travel bag (I have a video on my travel bag, with this tripod) that I never posted on my blog, so I will do that soon).   I just throw it in the bottom of one side of the the bag and use the rest of the bag for the camera and a few lenses, and other things.  This small size and weight means I can have the tripod with me all the time.  The ability of using it on a table or expanding it out to a pretty decent height means I have a lot of flexibility, as well.   It makes me a little bit sorry that I didn’t pony up that extra money years ago.  It really changes the way I shoot!

I have been seeing some new comparisons of the 2018 Mac Mini vs the 2019 iMac.   Many of the reviews are saying the iMac is the way to go.  However, for my own personal use, I have to disagree with this assessment.    Below are the 5 main reasons I prefer the Mac mini, in general, and for my own personal use.  

(NOTE:  The pic above shows the 2018 Mini on top of the 2010 Mini)

5.  Future Use -  While the iMac is nice while it is your main computer, it has limitations for secondary use.   I know because I have moved a 2010 Mac Mini and 2011 iMac from my desk in the last 8 months.   With the Mac Mini, I simply unplugged it and connected it to my main home theater system.  It is used as a server and for bit perfect audio.   It also added web browsing to the big screen.   The iMac, on the other hand, is difficult to move.  You can’t just pop it into an entertainment system, closet, or into an audio setup to reap the benefits.  It is too large.  For now, I cleared off some shelves in my office and will use it as a “standing desk” for when I just want to get off my butt and use it for browsing the web or something.   The fact is that I struggled to find a use for it and it isn’t worth selling.   We may eventually find a place near our kitchen to put it, but so far, we haven’t come up with any great ideas.

4.  Ports - The iMac has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports.  The Mini has 4.  The only advantage to the iMac is the SD card slot, but it is slow and hard to reach.  I would rather have something I can access easier that plugs into the USB-C port.   Currently, I use an adapter that has a card reader and a bunch of USB ports.  

3.  Display Options - with the Mac Mini, I can use any monitor I want.  Yes,  If you like the 5k, 27 inch monitor on the iMac, maybe that is the route to go.  However, I wanted an ultra wide monitor and was tired of the 27 inch form factor.  It seems like we have seen pretty much the same form factor in the iMac forever.  Other than trimming some width (Big deal), there isn't much difference in the old and new versions.

2.  Entry Level Price - If you already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse, you can get into a Mac Mini for a lot less money.   I see the iMac as a great buy if you can live with the restraints related to the screen, but you can’t buy one for anywhere close to the entry price of the Mini.  The entry level price of the Mini is $799, the cheapest iMac is $1099 and that is with an archaic spinning hard drive and a small 21.5 inch, 1920x1080 screen.   Add SSD (no 128GB option) and it goes up another $200.  If you just want an entry level computer for running MacOS, the choice is obvious because I would rather buy a larger screen with the price differential.  Which is a better buy is a different question and it would depend on your needs.  


1.   iMac has a limited monitor - The main reason I personally dislike the iMac monitor isn’t just related to the form factor or the lack of size configurations.   It has more to do with the inputs.  It simply doesn’t have the input options.  Yes, you can use target display with another Mac, which is nice, but that’s it.   I want to use my main monitor to connect to a receiver for watching all my entertainment devices…AppleTV, Roku, Chromecast, Shield,Tivo, etc.  I also want an input for my Dell PC for gaming.  I know my situation isn’t the norm, but this is one of the most important factors for me.  I have a 32 inch 4k monitor I have been using on an arm alongside my iMac and I ended up using it more than the iMac display that was in the center of my desk.   


To be fair, the iMac is a great option for people that have never owned a computer before because it gives you a mouse, keyboard and monitor with the computer.  However, it isn’t ideal for my needs.  

The only thing I would like available in a Mini that the iMac has is a better GPU.  The one in the Mini is garbage.  Most of those differences can be minimized by adding an external GPU via the Thunderbolt 3 port, though.  I knew this going in, but I figured I could live with the onboard graphics until I had the money and need for an eGPU.  The great thing about adding it externally is you can add it later or upgrade as prices drop or as new cards are supported.  

I will probably add the Vega 54, which will be more than enough for my needs, when prices drop closer to Christmas, but that isn’t set in stone, so I will see how it goes.   I haven’t been shooting enough video lately to make the extra expenditure worth the money and it is solving a problem I currently don’t have.   The other upside is that if I want to use the eGPU with my MBP, I can just unplug the Mini and plug the eGPU into the MBP.  That may come in handy for when I start a Final Cut workflow on the road or on my couch and want to just wrap up the process in my office without having to move files.  That isn’t possible with an iMac unless you add an external GPU, which would be kind of unusual since it already comes with discreet graphics.  

As you can see, there are plenty of reason to still prefer the mini over Apple’s latest iMac.  Hopefully, it will continue to get spec bumps, but even without them, it is a very capable machine with tons of flexibility for people that favor those attributes.

So I was watching some "Everyday Carry Videos" and stumbled on GQ's ten essentials list.  This is where a "celebrity" talks about some of their essential items.  It isn't meant to be taken too seriously because obviously food, air and shelter would be on anyone's list.  However, these are the things that make your life better or easier.

As a result, I decided to replace my "Favs" page with a new "Essentials" page.  It is mainly some of my favorite items, but unlike the old "Favs" page, it will be easier to update as new "essentials" come along and gave me some space to discuss what I like about each thing.  Just a note, I did not include my dogs or friends on this list because those things are so much more important than a list of products.  As a result, I decided that it was better to leave them off.

As in past years (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011), I am putting together a new list of my top tech.   The list will contain my favorite things from the last year, even if they were available in prior years.  By "tech" I am basically including any new toys, apps, etc... that I find cool and/or useful.  The prices I have in the article are the current prices, but I would expect them to fluctuate between now and the end of the year. 

Apple Watch Series 4 -  ($429) This wasn't an easy choice, as usual.   However, this Watch can literally be a life saver with features that will call for help if you fall and the EKG features that are forthcoming.   The 44mm is easier to read that the older models, you now have the ability to download audio files to listen to later with headphones, and it gets faster every year.  It still isn't perfect..they should allow you to listen to podcasts on its speaker and it should have some always on clock face options.  However, it is such a big step forward from prior generations that it belonged at the top of this year's list.  

I got the cellular version just in case I want to use it down the road, but in hindsight the regular version makes much more sense unless you know exactly what you want to use cellular for and are willing to pay for it with your cellular company.

Sony A7 RIII - ($2798) - This camera was a game changer with its small mirrorless design, adapters that make it work with many lenses, its 42.4 megapixels, and its fantastic 4k video capabilities.  My only complaint is the high price of Sony lenses and the fact that the LCD is not fully articulating.  Other than that, it is close to perfection. 

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Breville BES880BSS1BUS1 Barista Touch Espresso Maker - ($1,124.77) - I have a review coming of this espresso machine.  However, it is amazing because it makes it easy to make perfect espresso, cappuccino, latte, etc. with its easy to access recipes on its LCD screen.  It will also let you customize and save your own recipes.   It is a beautiful machine that makes great tasting coffee with ease.

Unlike other years, I do want to mention 2 other competing devices that I tried this year that are excellent in their own right:

The Nespresso Expert by Breville and the Saeco Incanto Carafe Super Automatic Espresso Machine - The Nespresso uses small pods to make great espresso every single time.  I have one so I can get a variety of different flavored espresso drinks.   The Saeco is more traditional because it uses real coffee beans, but they have made the process so much easier for those that just want to hit a button and be served fantastic coffee.

LaCie DJI Copilot BOSS Computer-Free in-Field Direct Backup and Power Bank with SD Reader - ($349) This is the ideal hard drive for backing up your photos no matter where you are.   It works with SD cards, iPhones, iPads, computers, etc.   It is the perfect solution for the road warrior.

George Foreman GBR5750SCBQ Broil 7-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill, Broiler, Panini Press, and Waffle Maker - This is my second George Foreman grill and this one takes it to a new level.   It is one of the best ways to cook fish because it locks in the juices and flavor.  It is excellent for sandwiches, Panini, Waffles and so much more.   The best part is that it can stand up on one end, so it takes a lot less room on my counter than the last one I owned.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

HomePod - ($349) It is nearly impossible to get great sound from a speaker with such a small footprint.  However, somehow, Apple had done it.  They also added some smart features that enable you to tell Siri what you want it to play, turn on and off your Hue lights, etc.   They recently added Airplay 2 features which means you can just tell it to "Play Sinatra on AppleTV" and music will play from your main home theater system.   The one other thing that really sets it apart from the competition is the mics.  You don't have to scream at it over music.  It just hears the commands at a normal volume.

Echo Spot - ($89.99) I have one of these in my office and it accomplishes many tasks.  It can display my Arlo cameras, play music on the stereo in the room (via AUX), receive a Bluetooth signal from my iPhone, control my Simple Control app, perform calculations, add new items to my grocery list, etc. 

AppleTV 4K -  When I first set this up, I was shocked to see the movies I had in MoviesAnywhere were now available in 4k in Apple’s movie library.   The 4k resolution is amazing,   However, being able to tell the HomePod to “Play Prince in the Den” and music just comes from my main system via the AppleTV just takes everything to a new level.

NETGEAR Orbi Built-in-Modem Whole Home Mesh WiFi System - ($399) Orbi was my top rated product last year and they pushed everything to a new level. They now have a modem built in, so you can eliminate a separate modem from your setup.   Of course, their mesh system is reliable and first class which makes the system worth the investment if you are having drop outs.

Parrot Anafi Drone - ($549) - I hesitated to put this on my list because my experience with their customer service was awful.   That being said, the camera on this thing is great with HDR, 4k, lossless zoom, etc.  It isn't as easy to control as my DJ Mavic, but it costs half as much.  Also, one day, I had the drone with me and forgot the controller and was able to have it up in the air with just my iPhone in seconds.  It also charges by USB-C, so you can use a powerbank  to top it off between locations.

Razer BlackWidow Elite -  ($158) This is the ideal keyboard for most gamers.  It has mechanical keys (which means it is nice and clicky), has macro buttons you can assign, a media wheel, adjustable RGB lighting, and its app will even allow you to control hue lights.  Awesome! 

Eureka InstantClear NEA120 Air Purifier - ($150) - What is more important than breathing?  I can't think of anything, to be honest.  This True Hepa filter captures 99.7 percent of particles in the air.  The patented UV LED sterilizer is a bonus.  My favorite feature is the good looks and the almost silent low setting that makes it possible to run it all the time.

Lots of great tech and I did not get to it all.  Stuff I will review soon are theEufy 30C that takes Robotic vacuuming to a new level,truly wireless headphones, NVME case, and more.

There are also products that I decided not to buy or might buy later.  I decided not to update my phone for another year.  I am happy with my iPhone 7+ and at the current prices, I just don't see a favorable cost/benefit situation.   The iPad 12.7 is delicious, but I want to wait to see if Photoshop is backward compatible when it is released.   If it is, I will stick with my 9.7 inch iPad Pro.  I already plan on adding the Tamron 28-75mm camera to my gear list, but if it is decent, I will put it on my list next year.

As with last year, there wasn't a lot of inexpensive gear on this year's list, but I guess you have to pay up for most really nice tech.  

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

As I mentioned in my unboxing video post, I have two drones, but I have never flown either of them.   The main point of this review is to talk about some of the  best features and some of the shortfalls of the Parrot Anafi Drone.   I will include some unedited video (other than clipping them to a shorter length)  just to show what the footage and photos look like out of the drone.

Getting up and running couldn't have been easier.  Just pop the controller and drone out of the box and charge them with any USB/USB-C charger.  Getting the wings ready to fly is easier than the process with the Mavic Pro.  The "wings" on that drone don't just unfold, two of them rotate around, as well. This means you have to unfold the Mavic in a specific order. The Parrot wings just pop out, so you can unfold them in any order.   My Parrot Anafi had a bunch of updates to the controller and the drone, so if you plan on taking it on the road for your first flight, make sure you update it first.

Also, the drone itself comes in a nice carrying case that has a strap so you can wear it on the outside of a backpack or camera bag strap.  I had to buy a case for my Mavic.  The only thing I can complain about with the design is that it is a bit plasticky and the microSD card has a weird mechanism that holds it in place.  

I received this drone for testing purposes and it came with a note from Parrot with two codes to unlock their "Follow Me"" and "Flight Plan".  They were charging nearly 18 dollars per app when I received the drone.  However, these codes did not work.  Therefore, I called Parrot's customer service to see if they could turn them on and after talking to them over a two week period, they said they would not turn them on and that the codes expired.  It should be noted that there is no expiration date on the codes they sent me. 

Before I got a final answer from Parrot, these apps dropped to 99 cents each.  The company would not even turn them on with that in mind?   While I went ahead and bought them, it does make me wonder if someone has a much larger issue with the drone, will this company stand behind their product?  Personally, I will never buy anything from Parrot because of it.  When I trained to become a hazardous goods specialist several years back, the instructor said that if the outside of the box is screwed up, you can't trust that they got anything right on the inside.  If you can't turn on $2 features, what does that say about how they will handle larger issues?  

I really like the controller that comes with the Parrot Anafi.  It is larger and heavier than the one that came with my Mavic Pro, but I feel like it is worth the extra heft in this case.  The knobs on the back for controlling the camera are fantastic.  The mounting of the phone above the controller seems to make more sense than the below the controller mount of my Mavic.  Also, it uses tension to hold in the phone, while the Mavic has little arms that will hold the phone in.  The Mavic has two independent antennas, while the Parrot's antennas are built right into the controller.  All in all, with the quick unfolding of the body and the quick mounting of the phone, it is just faster and easier to get everything setup and get the drone in the air.

With 21 megapixels, HDR, 4k, Hyper lapse modes, lossless zoom, etc.  there isn't much to complain about.  The camera is fantastic and the many features are great.

Below is an example of the hyperlapse mode:

Below is an unedited photos straight from the camera:

Below has an example of the smooth zoom feature.   I know these aren't cinematic examples, but I think you can get an idea of the features with these videos.  I should mention that the camera can shoot 4k, but I saved them in 1080p for the website:

The Parrot handles well and has great features like hand held take off, automatically return to home, has about 25 minutes of flight time, is very quiet, and can travel at speeds of around 35 miles an hour.  

While the gimbal is amazing and can travel a full 180 degrees, it only has 3 axis stabilization, so it is slightly more unstable than the Mavic Pro in the wind.  The big downfall is the lack of obstacle avoidance.  I actually crashed it into a tree because of the tight space of my yard, the number of trees in the area, and the fact that I am a novice.  That being said, it fell 10 feet, but there were no noticeable problem with the drone, other than it was a bit dirty.  

Overall, I think the Mavic handles a bit better and has obstacle avoidance.  The other upside is that there are third party apps like the one from Litchi.  

For my needs, the lossless zoom, 180 degree rotation of the lens, and the great camera are enough to keep this drone in my collection.  However, if I had to choose between it and the DJI, I would go with DJI because Parrot's customer service was disappointing at best.  I have never dealt with DJI, but I can't imagine that it could be much worse.  Also, the DJI Mavic Pro just feels sturdier and the object avoidance is a great feature.   That being said, it was more expensive, but I bet deals can be had on Ebay.  

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Just a quick unboxing of my Parrot Anafi Drone.  Hopefully, I will have a full review available in the next month.  

​Anyone that knows me, knows I love gadgets, so I am not easily impressed.  However, the Lacie DJI Copilot BOSS Computer-Free in-Field Direct Backup and Power Bank with SD Reader, 2000GB + 1mo Adobe CC All Apps (2TB) truly impressed me.  This review will be longer than my typical review, but hopefully, it will help answer questions for those in the market for such a device.

First off, the packaging was first class.  It reminded me of the excellent packaging you get from Apple.  Secondly, they provided several cables and a power cable that came with many different connectors for traveling abroad.  Most importantly, it looks rugged in its rubbery skin.  The main cable that they provide for your phone or tablet tucks nicely into the device and the cable can be run around and tucked into a slit in the surface of the rubber.  Then, you can use a removable rubber piece to cover the plugs so they aren’t exposed to the elements.  My preference would have been for the rubber piece to stay connected, but it is a separate piece you don’t want to lose.

I thought this device would be a great way to back up SD cards on the road in case one of them got corrupted and this would save me from having to keep that second SD card backup that I use with my A7RIII.  In other words, I just pop out my card, pop it into the Copilot and it will start to copy after hitting the “action button”.  The LCD screen, which is very minimal, so don’t get too excited, will show you when the SD card is finished copying.  At that point, I store the card and then reformat the second backup card and use it for shooting.  This gives me a backup on the road without losing an additional SD card in the process.  While I would prefer some way to actually see the photos that are copying on the screen, it is nice that I can just pop the iPhone out of my pocket and verify my photos are there (more about that later).

As I mentioned, the iPhone, which I always have on me, can connect to the device with their provided cable.  I am a little bit concerned about what will happen if I lose this cable because I checked and didn’t see it for sell on Amazon.  Maybe I will contact Lacie and see if I can buy a couple spares.  I did test this with the mini-USB to lightning bolt cable that came with my Blue Raspberry Microphone, but it did not work.

When you use this with an iPhone, you download the CoPilot Boss app.  This app was of great use to me.  You can plug in an SD card or a USB thumb drive or both into the drive and access files on those devices directly from the iPhone, even when they files have not been copied to the drive.  When a file format is not natively compatible, you can tell the app to use another app to view them.  In my case, that was Infuse and VLC which I already had installed on my phone.  I tested playing movies, Flac files, WMA lossless files, etc and the app found a way to play them or it would hand them off to another app that couple play them.  This is ideal trips where you want to access music or movies from a thumb drive without taking up space on the Copilot drive, tablet, or phone.  I should mention that I also tested this app on my iPad and it works the same way.  Of course, files can move both ways.  You can save them from the device or backup to the device.

One thing I did notice that is that the app showed my RAW Sony A7RIII on the screen with no problem.  However, if I copied them to my iPhone, the Photos app does not see them.  However, I could open them up with Lightroom and edit them and save them.  I just have to get used to a bunch of blank files in my Photos app until Apple supports the format in iOS.  It is fantastic that the file can be reviewed directly from the CoPilot app, though.

When using with a computer, it doesn’t require a separate app.  I believe I had to hit the action button the first time I used it, but I haven’t found that necessary every time.  I think that if you have used it with the computer once before and the CoPilot is on, it will just show up as an external drive.  Anything connected to it…SD card or thumb drive will also show up in the computer’s menu of drives.  This is so helpful for recent MBP owners if you don’t want to carry along a bunch of “dongles”.  I was curious whether it could handle non-storage devices, so I plugged my DragonFly DAC into the Copilot and the computer recognized it as an audio device and it played back audio through the Dragonfly without any issues.  Obviously, I am not commenting on whether sound quality is effected by this type of setup versus using a dongle, but I was happy to see that it works as a “dongle” for other devices.

Is this device perfect?  No, the LCD could be better.  I would prefer the detachable cover actually stayed attached.  However, this device is ideal for my needs.  It lets me transfer files, view them on my iPad and iPhone and copy them or backup my devices to its 2 terabyte drive.  It also works to allow me to see (or backup) external devices plugged into it, which is ideal for those of us using MacBooks.  Heck, in a pinch, it can be used to power your phone or tablet!  This is easily one of my favorite, most useful, tech products.  As you can tell, I am extremely happy with this device!  Now I just have to find out how to get some backup cables!

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.