I am starting a new series called “Random Tech”.  The articles will include different gadgets or products used with tech that I have used and get my recommendation.

Today, I am going to discuss the Petzl Tikka Improved Lumen Output Xp 2 Headlamp (currently $39.98).  I got one of these for Christmas and it has been amazingly versatile.  Below are just a few ways I have used it in the short time I have owned it:

1.  Cleaning up - When cleaning up the rat’s nest of cables in my office, the headlamp allowed me to keep my hands free while wrapping cables, routing cables, and plugging stuff in behind my desk.

2.  Troubleshooting - I had an issue with the PC that is under my desk.  This allowed me to craw under the desk and figure out what was going on while providing light and allowing me to use both hands to fix the issue.

3.  Cooking out - I often use a Big Green Egg to cook out at night.  This allowed me to be able to pick up a pork butt and put it on the grill while putting light exactly where I wanted it.  It also helped when I needed to adjust the amount of airflow later in the night.

4.  Pool problem - we had a problem with the pool pump in the middle of the night.  I was able to put this on and see what was happening without using one of my hands to hold a flashlight.

5.  Attic - we have some dark spots in out attic, but I knew I had put some power cables up there.  This allowed me to search through boxes with ease.

In the short time I have had this product, it has proved to be invaluable.  I could see how it could be beneficial for photography at night since my 5D Mark III doesn’t have a pop up flash for auto-focus  as well.  Heck, anything that is useful for someone sitting in an office and at the same time for a coal miner in a cave has to be one of the most versatile pieces of tech out there.  Since it is so small, it gets a place in my backpack anytime we go out of town.  You just never know when you will need to look for a power socket under a bed or need light during a power outage.
 
Below is Amazon’s product description of the lamp I have been using:

"TIKKA XP Headlamp with 1 high-output LED, 1 red LED and five lighting modes (three continuous and two blinking) and Wide Angle lens The TIKKA XP headlamp integrates two light sources as well as a Wide Angle lens with a simple open-close feature, allowing the user to choose between a long distance focalized beam and flood beam proximity lighting. This headlamp is equipped with a white high-output LED and a red LED. The white LED delivers 60 lumens in maximum mode and lights up to 60 meters. In economic mode, it can reach a burn-time of 160 hours. The red LED provides lighting to preserve night vision or to become a blinking light for increased safety, for example in an urban environment, etc. TIKKA XP can be used with lithium batteries to decrease weight or increase performance in cold weather."

Needless to say, I give this my highest recommendation because it is something I have used so often that I am beginning to wonder how I ever lived without it. 

The screen on this thing has been the selling point all along.  It gives me the option to mount it with Twitterrific, Roomie Remote, etc... and still be able to easily read it without having to pick  it up.  It is ideal for work since I can run Twitterrific and put it in landscape mode under my monitor.  With the autoscroll functionality of Twitterrific, it will always have the latest posts on top.   Since the screen looks so good, I will often launch an album or playlist with Rdio (at work I use a Belkin Songstream BT with a Sangean Radio) and once music is playing, I will launch the aquarium app.  Nothing better to take a break from the hectic pace by looking at the aquarium while Kind of Blue cycles through the playlist. 

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

I thought I would give a quick update related to how I feel about the 6+ after more than 6 months of use.  I didn't re-read my article from October, but to be honest, I don't think I have changed a whole lot related to my use, but feel free to check out my old article if you are curious.  

I would be ashamed to mention this to Steve Jobs back in the day, but I have never been sold on "one handed" use.  I have two hands and I am not afraid to use them.  For me, two hand use feels more natural on the iPhone 6 plus than it did on my tiny 4s.  However, I can still use it one handed if I need to answer a call or something.  However, I have Chewbacca sized paws, so that may just be me.  Hey, at least we have a company not discriminating against us giants any more (are you listening car manufacturers?).

The size is still a bit awkward in the pocket.  However, I don't really even think about it most of the time anymore.  I haven't worn a lot of shorts while carrying the iPhone 6 plus yet, so that may prove to be more awkward.  However, I need some new shorts anyway, so I will get cargo shorts and it should rectify any possible issues. 

The main reason I got this phone is because of the apps.  The bigger screen just makes everything easier to read, images look tons better, and video is actually something I can watch without feeling like I am looking through a matchbox.   Five of my favorite apps (besides those I already mentioned above) are:

Safari - it simply looks a lot better on the larger screen.
Flickr - looking through photos is no longer a huge compromise.
Overcast/Downcast - the excellent landscape mode makes it easier than ever to hit that 30 second skip.  
Rdio - the album art looks even better.  Would be nice to see them add a landscape mode, though.
Plex - The best way to get media from your computer/NAS to where you are.  Looks much better with the larger screen.

This is one more compelling reason to get the larger iPhone.  It makes a world of difference in battery life.  I used to tether my phone all day, including the time I was in the car.  Now, I never plug it in in the car and rarely even plug it in at work.

An added convenience that makes life so much easier.  First of all, the thing never fails in my day to day use.  Once I get in the phone, I setup my password manager to work with TouchID and I don't ever have to type in another password when I am browsing the web.   Our local pet store also takes ApplePay, so it is a win all around for this feature.  It was actually the main reason I skipped the Air 1 and bought the Air 2.

While I still would like a higher megapixel count, the camera is so much better than my old 4S.  While it is still a compromise compared to a DSLR, it is often the only camera with me and since it leaves me with decent photo quality, I don''t hesitate to use it.  Below is a recent pic I took in Florida.  I did  some editing on the iPhone and posted it directly to Flickr.

To be honest, this is the smartphone I have wanted since I picked up a Kyocera 7135 back in the day.  The screen is amazing, the camera is great, the thinness makes up for the size to some extent, and it is just a much better fit as an internet companion rather than just something to use to make phone calls.  

I started my introduction to the HP Spectre 32-inch Studio Display LED-lit Monitor on somewhat of a sour note.  I noticed a gap in the bezel in front of the area that the stand attaches (see the gap below the HP logo in the pic below).  I spent two hours on chat with HP and I would recommend talking to them on the phone instead if you have this or any other issue.  HP specifically says not to provide a credit card# when you log into the the chat, but they will request it for collateral if they replace it under warranty.   As a result, two hours down the drain without a resolution.  Anyway, this may just be a problem with my specific monitor, but I wanted to mention it because it might be related to a design or manufacturing defect.  I may still call HP, but I think I can live with this cosmetic issue.

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

USE WITH OLDER COMPUTER

Once I got the chat out of the way, I decided to try out the monitor.  I don’t currently own a computer that can put out a 4k signal, but the display will upscale the picture from several different resolutions.  My 2011 iMac did recognize the HP and automatically set the resolution to match the 4k resolution of the monitor which caused a black screen to show up.  I am not sure why the iMac would allow it to select a resolution the OS can’t support, but I went into the display module and set it to match the iMac’s display resolution (2560x1440) and I was up and running.  The screen does a great job of upscaling the signal, so I was happy with the way it looks as a second monitor.  

PICTURE IN PICTURE 

I also tried out the Picture in Picture settings.  They are unique.  I like the fact that you can go right to max size or small size with one setting in the menu.  If you want something in between, it allows you to step up or down the size of the PIP box in small increments.  You can also select the corner where the box is placed.  Additionally, it has an option to split the screen, but it will shrink each box to keep the initial resolution and that makes it fill less of the top and bottom of the screen.   

The display has several port options including MHL, HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4 and Display Port.   I tested both of the HDMI ports and they worked with my older (2010 & 2011) Macs and the PIP worked perfectly while I streamed video to one box while surfing the web.  You can also flip which source is in the PIP box and which gets the remains screen space.  This might come in handy during football season.  

INTEGRATED SPEAKERS 

The "DTS Audio" speakers are 6 watt per channel.  They don't sound awful, but I would have preferred an option to remove them.  I have much better speakers in my setup and these speakers make the unit wider than it needs to be for those that would rather just use the monitor.  That being said, I decided to mount the display on an Ergotron MX arm, so the speakers provide the ability to put the sound in the same direction of the display no matter where I have it placed. It comes in handy for YouTube and Lynda.com where I don't usually need optimal sound quality.  There was some weird issues communicating with my HDMI switch when I first selected the Mac Mini input.  The speakers put out static and turned themselves up automatically.  I turned the monitor off and back on and it fixed the issue.  However, I was worried about the speakers being blown out, so I tested them afterwords and luckily they were fine.  I thought it was strange, so be careful if you are using an HDMI switch box.  

STAND AND MOUNTING OPTIONS 

The stand for this display does not allow for much movement.  You get a 5 percent forward or 23 percent back tilt.  You don't have an option to raise it.  Since I ended up putting it on an Ergotron MX mount, it wasn't a problem.  Unlike the iMac, HP makes this thing very easy to mount.  You simply pop out the stand ( if you have it attached) and pop in the included VESA adapter, remove one screw and insert the screw from the adapter.  Then attach it to the VESA mount using 4 screws. It is simple.  

USE WITH PS3 

I was curious how the display would look with Blu-Ray, so I attached a Sony PS3 and put on Planet Earth.  Other than some noticeable light bleed on dark scenes, it looked sharp and detailed even from less than a couple feet away.  I also had an old video game called Tekken 3 on the PS3 and I played a couple games.  There was a lot of detail, the colors where vibrant, and I did not notice any ghosting (although I can't say how it would perform with faster games).  HP says that it has a 7 ms gray to gray response time. 

The upscaling from 1080p to 3840x2160 wasn't a problem in my use at all. HP touts a 60 HZ, HDCP supported (Note: nothing in their manual specifies the version of HDCP for each port.  I contacted HP's Sales Help via Chat, and for what its worth, they said that HDCP 2.2 was supported.  However, I have no way to confirm that claim.), AHVA display with 178 degree viewing angles, a low haze treatment, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 10M:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio and 16.7 million colors.  While the low haze treatment may help, I still see a lot of reflections, so just be aware that the refelectiveness falls somewhere between a glossy and a standard matte display.   As I mentioned, the "light bleeding" is especially noticeable on dark scenes, even when you turn the brightness of the display to very low settings, when you view in a dark room.  When viewing at angles, I also noticed a haze over the screen. 

DESIGN FEATURES 

The monitor is "blizzard white" and should look great in most setups.  However, if you are using it in a multi-monitor setup ( which may not be needed as much with a 32 inch screen with PIP) it probably won't match your other monitor as easily as a black display.  All of the features can be adjusted right from the monitor, but they also include a convenient remote control, which I used quite often even while sitting right next to the display.  It simply makes it easy to get to all of the features.   If you are close to the display, all of the controls are easy to get to.  There is a scroll wheel near one speaker that allows you to control volume, a power button under the other speaker, and the monitor setting controls are on the right side of the display.

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

All in all, I can't give the HP Spectre 32-inch Studio Display LED-lit Monitor an unconditional recommendation because of the quality issue with the bezel of the display and the light bleeding.  However, I do like the detailed picture, the upscaling, and the fact that it will be even more useful when I eventually get a computer that can put out the native resolution (which will hopefully be next year after Skylake is available on the MBP). 
 
Upsides:
Great upscaling from numerous resolutions
Light weight (less than 20 pounds without stand)
Easy VESA mounting option
Remote control 
4K
PIP

Downsides:
Quality control or design issue that I described
Non-removable 6 watt speakers (although some may like the aesthetics)
Noticeable light bleed 

Apple is supposed to be releasing a major update to the Beats Music Streaming service they bought last year when they acquired Beats.  As I have mentioned, I have tried many of the streaming services and currently Rdio is by far the best for my needs.  I have several posts with comparisons to other services and if you are curious just type the service name into the search box and you can find my articles on those subjects.  

If I could design the service from scratch, these would be key components that I would include.  Many of these components were in MOG prior to Beats acquiring them, so maybe they will reappear now that Apple is redesigning the service? ( I should mention that I haven't used Beats in a while, so some of these features could have been improved by now.).

1. Siri integration - the ability to take advantage of Siri would be a game changer even if every other feature I would like to see aren't added.  How cool would it be to get in the car, tell Siri to play the latest album by My Morning Jacket and the album just starts playing?  They have something similar already built into iTunes Match, so it isn't much of a stretch.

2.  iTunes Match - currently, only Google Music Play allows you to upload your entire library and listen to it alongside the music available on their service.  For fans of The Beatles and other artists not available for streaming, this would be a major benefit.  

3.  Desktop app - I would love to see the service pulled into iTunes.  I know some people feel that iTunes is a bloated mess, but I want a desktop app for any streaming service I use.  I don't want to have to launch a web browser just to use it.  Hopefully, they redesign iTunes to make it more streamlined, but that is a subject for another article.

4.  Remote control - currently, iTunes can be controlled with an app called Remote on iOS.  They need to allow it to also control the streaming service.  iTunes also has the ability to play to multiple AirPlay speakers and I want to see this functionality to be included (right from iOS and for remotely controlling a computer running the app.)

5.  Deeper iTunes integration in curation - when I tested Beats last year, the best feature was their curation engine.  I would love to see it use my iTunes library to help with that curation.  Instead of relying on a list of questions, they already know what I like from my iTunes library ( of course, if you don't own music or use iTunes, they can still get by with the questions, but those using iTunes already would get a great benefit).  Now instead of just having Genius Mixes including only my music, they can include any album in their streaming universe,

6.  App redesign - I would keep the Beats curation page and dump everything else about app.  When I tested it last year, you had to go through genres to get to the new releases.  If they haven't fixed that feature, they need to make a menu item for new releases so people can get to all if them quickly.  I shouldn't have to go to every single genre to see every new release.

7.  Bring back MOG features -  MOG had a slider for artist radio.  You could listen to only that artist or move the slider to the right to add more similar artists.  Beats killed that feature.

8.  Better search engine - I would love to see something like Rdio's search engine.  You do a general search, but you can also narrow down that search based on artist, label, album, etc..

9.  AutoPlay - I don't remember that Beats had this, but it needs to be included.  When an album ends, I don't want music to end.  I want the option to have it continue playing similar music.  

 10.  Better Bluetooth Integration - Apple's "Music" app already works perfectly with the nav screen in my car.  Beats, when I tested it, did not.  I found this unusual since it worked with MOG.  They need to fix this issue.

As a bonus, I would like to see higher resolution music with at tier similar (hopefully cheaper) to Tidal.  Tidal, when I tested it, was also missing tons of features that are currently available with Rdio and features that MOG had before it was purchased.  It is a shame that Beats, in my opinion, ruined MOG with their updated interface.  I hope Apple can fix it with the implementation of the features above.