Preliminary test Polar M450: one (Good ?) GPS bike Affordable

Polar confirms its interest in cycling. After V650 GPS dedicated bike (which leaves just now after much delay), the company has just introduced another device of its kind, the M450, although smaller in size and larger public. I had the chance to do a test on the ground for about a day. Here's my grip.
It seems, we are more and more of our bike ride. Among the new riders, there are certainly some who use their device in a sportier mode. To them in particular, road bikers or ATV wishing to invest in an affordable and easy to use GPS, Polar therefore targeted a model equipped with a small screen size (a square of about 3.5 cm square). The stated aim of Polar is to provide a truly easy to use GPS.
On the field
On the field, at least for a few hours of use around the Alpe d'Huez, the GPS satellite signals detected relatively quickly. The manufacturer claims to use what's best for currently receiving GPS signals: I do not know for the moment the chip used. However, in the field, for a short period of a few minutes (a total of more than four hours out), Polar M450 has lost at least three times the GPS reception. But things quickly returned to normal. 
Despite the small screen size, one of the strengths of this GPS is the great readability of data during the race: heart rate, altitude, speed, distance, the ... The assembly is particularly clear.
Site and App
The M450 is designed to synchronize with the Polar Flow site through the USB connection to the computer or Bluetooth connection synonymous with application. It's the same app (this becomes obvious now) than other devices on the mark the watch premium sports Polar V800 (tested here on HTO).
Other issues
I will not be definitive on autonomy. Just this observation: after output more than four hours, there was still energy reserves. 
But I have a regret it is not possible to follow a track (in gpx example) transferred from a computer or of an application.
Price € 160, € 200 with Bluetooth heart rate monitor belt.
I like
the simplicity of use. 
The readability of the data. 
The price. 
The Smart Bluetooth connection. 
The integrated barometer. 
The function guide back to the starting point. 
The Polar Flow associated website.

Some products, a priori banal, make the difference through small things. This armlet Axtion Night Run Armband for smartphones small society The Joy Factory is a fine example.
1/Design
The Axtion cuff The Joy Factory is relatively thin, and overall design is sleek. I particularly appreciate its manufacturing quality. The window that reveals the smartphone is obviously tactile. The product is designed to hold a smartphone with dimensions equivalent to those of an iPhone 5. I did the test with it elsewhere. No pun intended, the cuff fits like a glove. A scratch is used to keep everything in the arm. Above all, the difference with the other arm bands, it is the presence of the plastic support around which may partially wrap the cable headphones or earphones connected to the smartphone. A notch at each end allows to thereby lock the cable. Small detail interesting cuff has a flat pocket, discreet, identical surface smartphone compartment: it allows to slide a small object, such as the key to the house or that of his car. 
I did not but it has mentioned cuff reflector elements, so that you distinguish at night. But it really is not this aspect that caught my attention Axtion cuff The Joy Factory.
2/Field
It is the cable reel (with securing slot) that makes the difference. Precisely because it allows to adjust the cable length: it no longer flutters in every sense when short. Very convenient.
Price € 30.
I love
the winding and fixing the cable system. 
The build quality. 
The secondary pocket.

Sony Xperia Z3 Test: a smartphone to move

An update: I will not do here the full technical performance testing of this high-end smartphone Sony Xperia Z3. There are many sites and blogs for such tests. What interests me with this Xperia Z3, as with other motives that should be tested here: whether this smartphone is convenient to use during sports activities (often short with the phone), its daily journey and even Travelling. FYI, this is not the first smartphone test on HTO: the Archos 5 (tested here) preceded it. The latter is intended to hiking, to mountain. The Sony Xperia Z3 is it more urban. Although it can think outside the box.

1/Design and dimensions

compared with other high-end smartphone current competition (iPhone 6 Galaxy S6, Nexus 6, ...), the Sony Xperia Z3 has relatively small dimensions. Its screen size is 4.6 "against the 5.1" minimum of others. For those who do not like too much phablets, the size of the Z3 is an advantage. It is also lighter than most competitors with a weight of 126 g. Its design is sleek. I find pretty aesthetics. Among the buttons on the right side we distinguish dedicated to photography: it launches the camera function, makes the development and triggers. The very quickly. On the left side there are two caches. One protects the nano SIM card, the other the Micro SD card and Micro USB.

2/Water resistant

These are caches then it must be close to fully benefit from one of the big advantages (though not exclusive brand) this Sony Xperia Z3: it is waterproof. How deep can you immerse this smartphone underwater? There, in my opinion, Sony is a blur. He says on his website ( here ) that the phone meets IP65 and IP68 standards. Or a standardized IP68 device (resistance to dust and immersion to a depth of 1 meter for at least 30 minutes) is already IP65 (dust resistance and water spray). Sony still says that the maximum immersion of Z3 reached 1.5 m depth in fresh water. I could not, during the loan period of the smartphone, plunge at that depth. However the Z3 operated normally during and after an immersion for half an hour in a water container. At least you are sure that this smartphone then not afraid of the water.

3/Stalker

Like other high-end smartphones, the Sony Xperia Z3 incorporates several motion sensors and position. But for those who want to follow their daily activities, the most interesting is probably the app preinstalled Lifelog. This summarizes, among others in the form of an animation, not only your different physical activities (walking time, bike, racing, traveling by public transport) as well as events recorded by your smartphone (taking of pictures, video playback, ...). Automatic detection of the type of movement performed, although nice, is not always very accurate. It can save a trip by public transport where these are the muscles that made ​​you move.

4/Extras pleasant

This smartphone Sony Xperia Z3 are other perks that will make your travel or travel more convenient and enjoyable. For example, the presence of FM radio. And especially the music player, excellent. Wow !!! We recognize well here the inventor of the Walkman. The sound delivered to the output of the jack is really a very high quality: it is rich and powerful. Congratulations. For owners of external sensors equipped with ANT + wireless link (used by various manufacturers like Garmin to connect eg a heart rate monitor belt), know that this Sony Xperia Z3 is compatible. And you will find and Android apps can read for example heart rate recorded by ANT + belt.

Price 550 € . I like dimensions. water resistance. The quality of the photos. The music player of audio excellence. Autonomy. The pleasant interface. The monitoring activity Lifelog App. Compatibility the ANT + connection. The video recording in 4K at 30fps / s. Design.

Test Withings Activity: tracker and above (beautiful) shows

After a preliminary test, here it is, after about two months of use, the test of this Activity Withings. I confirm the good first impressions, a few bugs details or not recognized on the watch but obviously the associated app.
Just look at this Withings activity to enjoy it. Because for an activity tracker (number of steps taken during the day but also monitoring of sleep, the classic among classic now, with all these bracelets and other such devices), it's damn beautiful watch. At the traditional look: mean by that needles, true, that rotate in a circular dial. So it is an analog time display, even if the electronics under the hood. Mechanics, we are told, is made in Switzerland. The "Swiss made" proudly stamped on the back of steel case. The strap is leather, calf France, we are told! Added to that the glass is sapphire material to ensure it resistant to scratches. In short, all that exudes quality. And it is there, this quality!
Perfectible app
I quickly replaced the leather strap by the silicone also provided with Withings activity. Thus, the watch is waterproof, you can swim in the bearing: it would be according to the manufacturer resistant to a depth of 50 meters (which I have not had the opportunity to check). But, sure, you can shower with the watch. At the beginning of the test, I had to open and close the watch to replace the original battery (CR 2025). I never found condensation inside despite this opening.
I ran several times with this activity. Because what interests me beyond the pedometer function, whether this watch can act, just to watch sport. I understand that this is definitely not a tool for enthusiasts running, especially since it is not GPS. But since the watch automatically detects racing phases, and the app is supposed to distance running, so I pushed a little test in that direction. Before continuing on the run, know that the watch should be able to also detect motion in swimming. The manufacturer announced this feature for March 2015 
Overall, the number of not picked up by the watch activity is transferred via Bluetooth to the Withings application (test performed on iOS, the Android version has been available a few days after the publication on HTO). But during these two months of testing, there was sometimes malfunctions, bugs in the display of the number of steps. For example, during a single day, although the app has noted a race activity (10 km) and walking phases while maintaining a number of non-zero!
Strength and duration
After about two months of use, the watch appears to be of sufficient strength, especially as I have not done evil sport with it. The metal is certainly scratched around the edges, but we must scrutinize it to notice. And I saw no scratches on the glass (sapphire reminder).
Another nice point autonomy. It's a high-tech fun shows we are not obliged to charge even before the end of the day! Activity Withings work, according to the manufacturer, for eight months, without the battery is replaced.Price 390€ .

GoPro Hero4 Black Test: a cam action towards the top of video quality

Here is a short test of the GoPro action camera Hero4 Black. The number 4 to 4K. But even without provision Ultra High Definition screen, this action worth seeing ... if you have the means. A big close detail ...
The previous version of GoPro, the Hero3 Black Edition + (tested here on HTO), I had named "transition cam action." She already recorded the video in 4K (ie a definition of 3840 × 2160 pixels, so 4 times that of Full HD). But his shooting rate was only 15 frames / sec. FYI, the new 4K TV is normally 60 frames / sec. This new GoPro camera Hero4 Black, the rate equal to 30 frames / sec. That's not bad. And should be sufficient in many cases, unless you want to shoot subjects moving very quickly. Mainly, it's the difference that therefore this Hero4 Black GoPro compared to the previous + GoPro Hero3 Black Edition. We will return low quality images.
Manufacturing
The GoPro Hero4 Black remains a small device. Weighing only 85 g. Its manufacture is neat. The quality is there. The protective casing provided with the basic product is designed to withstand a depth of 40 m. During the three weeks of the product ready, I could not test it in the water and at that depth.
1/Image quality
Let's talk about the quality of images. At the time of this loan GoPro Hero4 Black, I had other action cameras (EEA S71, 47018 Medion Life, AZ1 Sony, Kodak SP360). Well this GoPro Hero4 Black is just above the lot! Even if the comparison holds EEA S71 Full HD at 50 frames / sec, the Black Hero4 however recorded, in addition, 4K ... In short, this action cam offers the high-end image quality. Knowing that the 12-megapixel photos are not bad, either. I found this high level of quality at the sight of the return of details, herbs and branches, back from a forest in test output. Awesome.
2/Application
The GoPro App associated with this is also a success. Practice, it makes it more comfortable setting the parameters that the tiny laHero4 Black LCD. Obviously, again via WiFi, you can view the images. Bluetooth theoretically allows to combine accessories, but I have not had to test them. Besides thus the ergonomics of this app, it is worth noting an interesting function, ProTune. By activating the menu, it is possible to tweak certain settings. For example, the maximum ISO sensitivity automatically chosen by the program to adjust the exposure. Thus, for example by opting for a limit of 200 ISO can reduce image noise. You can also choose several color temperatures (warm 3000 kelvin cold 6500 kelvin) and modify the margins of exposure (from +2 to -2). This could prevent, on a snowy runway, underexposure. Autonomy In the previous test of the GoPro Hero3 + I already critiquai autonomy of the camera. In video recording, continuous and Full HD GoPro Hero4 Black reaches about that ... Against 1:35 1:28 for the EEA S71. 2:40 And for Kodak SP360, always in Full HD, but certainly a lesser quality. I remain critical on the autonomy of the new GoPro camera.Price 530€ .

Medion Life S47018 Test: Action cam good price, good eye

A little more than a hundred euros, this action Medion Life S47018 camera certainly does not inspire confidence. Think again. After being tested, I tell you the deal is good.
The action cam Medion Life S47018, yes, do not look. While plastic. She is "cheap" even. Light with 120 g, it seems to have been deprived of the minimum. Thus, she did not even cache to isolate its micro SD memory card (whose capacity can however reach 32 GB) ... Its LCD screen is tiny, but also that of GoPro. On, the screen remains sufficiently legible.
In fact, the little beast hides her game. She has as standard a set of multiple and interesting accessories. Indeed, it comes with a sealed housing up to 60 m under water (better than the last action cam GoPro Hero Black 4, limited to 40 m). To be honest with you, I have not had the opportunity to test this depth during the test period.
he manufacturer also provided in the pack as a WiFi remote strap: it has two buttons, one to turn on the video, one for taking pictures. To this is added including a bicycle carrier, the adhesive supports for flat and curved surfaces, a cap for the lens and the lid of the box for the above water records. For it is a plus, the Medion Life S47018 has a mini jack for microphone input. And there is also a mini HDMI. Okay, so, again, all this for a hundred euros. While some elements, like the bike mount which can rotate the camera laterally, can be improved, but all interesting!
On the ground
handling of this action Medion Life S47018 cam via its own buttons is relatively easy. But it is above shows the remote control that makes use of Life S47018 practice. I did the test bike and it worked well. Taking pictures can be made ​​frame or burst, and according to pre-set the camera settings. For cons, I tried to use the dedicated application to control the Medion Life S47018: all those for cams action I've tested, is perhaps the most basic and the least practical. I think you will get away with the buttons on the camera or watch.
1/Video Quality
This is probably the best surprise of this action Medion Life S47018 camera: the quality of video images. It is quilted and well mixed. It was difficult to accept the price of the device as the quality is generally good. Then, of course, the Full HD throughput is constrained at 30 frames / sec (where other camera go at least twice as fast). But for many actions, for most individuals in any case, it should go, in my opinion. 
A little useful information to understand a little the good results: the Medion Life S47018 is supplied by the processing circuits manufacturer Ambarella video, the same supplier GoPro ...
2/Autonomy
In continuous recording, you should, as in my test, to reach about two hours.
Price 120 € .

Test NPC EEA S71: good action camera GoPro rival

While this NPC Action camera AEE S71 are not as recorded in 4K as Hero4. But that is limited to Full HD, it is however the weight? Answer in this short test.
A quick update on the features "4K" this action cam EEA S71. His recording speed in the resolution is limited to 15 frames / s. GoPro Hero4 Black (tested here on HTO) is better, at 30 frames / sec. I recall that 4K TVs accept a rate of 60 frames / s. That said, the rate of the EEA S71 Full HD (1080p) is 60 frames / sec.
Manufacturing side, the EEA S71 has several differences with the GoPro. Its housing is made of plastic. And optics is the end of a protuberance. Used without his box, the object may be fragile. Fortunately, the box precisely supplied with the camera is strong! It looks like a bathyscaphe. I could dive into the depths of the seas with this well, but know that it is still designed to withstand a depth of 100 m! This is better than the one supplied with the GoPro.
Also sold together with the NPC EEA S71, there is the removable screen. And fortunately, because besides viewing the images, it will help better navigate in the menu with the small monochrome LCD screen.
A visible difference on this S71 EEA, it is the presence of many buttons, where the design of the GoPro is uncluttered. These buttons are supposed to improve ergonomics, handling of the device. For example, at the front, the WiFi activation buttons, changes in the extent of exposure and activation of the acceleration sensor (to start recording after detecting a shift ). But I think overall, in terms of orders, not as convenient as that. For example, why have colored green video release button? Usually, it is red. Well here the red button is the one that stops video recording. Confusing: even after several days of use, I did not yet have the reflex.
1/Video quality
I had the chance to have simultaneously test GoPro Hero4 Black and NPC EEA S71. Except in 4K mode, remember that videos generated by the EEA compete with the S71 Hero4 Black. This is the high end! This is piqued enough contrast and fluid. The colors also are relatively lively and rather warm. Is it a coincidence? No not too much. Knowing that the NPC EEA S71 has the graphics processor Ambarella ... the same manufacturer GoPro team.
2/Autonomy
The manufacturer claims that the EEA S71, the battery is 1500 mAh, can shoot for 2:30. It is not that two tests of autonomy in continuous recording mode and Full HD at 50 frames / sec showed me. A less pronounced dead battery (loaned device being passed between different hands), count rather 1:30 video recording in Full HD. Also note that the camera accepts micro SD card maximum capacity of 64GB, which is comfortable.Price 340 €.

Skullcandy Test Method: stylish headphones, its entry level

The Skullcandy headphones manufacturer has released headphones dedicated to sport. ITE Method I evaluated mainly arrive after running several tests of similar products. Let's say that there is still a job.

Design side, Skullcandy is not in its infancy. These headphones Method of their sports range are no exception to the rule. Available in three versions, in gray, blue or yellow, with each gray parts, they have a successful aesthetic, in my opinion. I particularly appreciate the flexible plastic part and gray cable that attaches to the earpiece. In short, manufacturing is neat.

As often, in the case of headphones dedicated to sport, the manufacturer emphasizes the presence of resistant materials sweating and even germs. Note, these Skullcandy Method are provided with a second pair of ITE smaller , a small transport pocket and a clamp. I would have preferred that it attaches to the cable other than by its sole jaw.

1/Field

Running with these Skullcandy Method, I often felt like they were going to fall out of my ears. It was a bit annoying. But in fact, they have not failed. And it was later that I realized that I had used the two biggest tips. Otherwise, know that the remote has a button controlling playback. Typically, a pressure to start or stop reading this, a double to the next song and triple to go back. But there is nothing to adjust the volume. You have to go through the controls on your smartphone or music player.

2/Sound quality

Hum, hum. Here, things go wrong a little. The sound reproduced by these Skullcandy Method is not bad, it means any more. If the boom boom, low frequencies are audible, it must be said that all really lacks clarity. The details, the higher frequencies are anemic. To put breeches Otherwise, the effect is a little "carverneux". Again, this is not bad, some might say that we should not expect a good performance from sports headphones. But no, I do not agree. For here on HTO, I heard more from sports headphones.Price 30 € .

Preliminary test Parrot Bebop : a drone in the wind

So what does a drone, right here at High-Tech Out? Meanwhile a more important test, the answer is in the wake of the grip of this quadricopter piloted in some rough weather.

In 2010, with the iPad, the Parrot AR.Drone was the high-tech device that had impressed me most. I was impressed by the technical performance of this flying machine, which also could fly with an iPhone or iPad. One of the most remarkable things was enjoyed by stabilizing the object in flight. At the time, it was the "fun" side, toy, leaping over the eyes. The ability to fly a craft, more easily than traditional airplanes or other remote-controlled models. But soon the drone seemed to me a great viewing platform. Hence it is possible for less than renting a helicopter or an airplane, to take pictures such as environment or site. For a photographer, eager to complete some of his stories by aerial views, it fell sense. Less spending, more freedom. It remained to equip the drone of a sufficient quality optical sensor for claiming serve professional tool. Other drones, more expensive and more complex to drive, exist. More TV channels are fitted in. For instance, France Télévisions, who still used the drone to capture some stunning images of the Tour de France. BFM also used to make residential areas of videos taken in flooding. Companies like DJI seek professional photographers with drones equipped with Full HD cameras. Now we are in from 1100 €. Prices, as is often the case in the field of high-tech, rapidly declining! Even if the last toy of the brand, the DJI Inspire 1, costs about € 2,800, but it is able to make 4K video (at 30 frames / s), a higher resolution four times that of Full HD ... 

Parrot, for its part, is the general public. Bebop drone, which is now the subject of the preliminary test, looks like a flying Full HD camera, capable of taking images of great stability, ensures the manufacturer. I will not go this time in detail the technical aspects. Just a note to indicate that the Parrot Bebop, like its predecessors, is controlled with a smartphone or tablet running iOS and Android via WiFi. Personally, I tested here with a Asus Nexus 7 tablet. Price 500 € 

Test Panasonic HX-A500 : a true action camera

With cable that connects the objective to its case, the Panasonic HX-A500 camera is presented as "a concept in two parts" clean "to set new standards in its class." This device is certainly original in the world of action cameras that he wants to penetrate. But is this really an action camera? 

More action cameras mimic the undisputed leader in this field, namely the GoPro. A lightweight, waterproof case, with a wide angle lens, capable of filming, mostly in Full HD now, all his might, more or less banal according practicing in question. And in various environments, thanks to the protection of an additional housing more hermetic and shockproof: in deep water, in free fall, let down a slope at full speed by bike, ... Can also be added, in general, these basic properties, Wi-Fi connection to control and configure the camera more easily using a smartphone app. Panasonic, arriving like other major manufacturers of consumer electronics (eg Sony) well after GoPro, already has the merit of proposing a different device. Indeed, his "action camera" is not one piece, unlike the competition.

Exploded
Panasonic HX-A500 camera is composed, firstly, of a housing, designed for sealing 3 m under water (for 30 minutes). It has relatively small dimensions (about 91 mm x 59 mm x 26 mm), a small display screen (36 mm diagonal). And three buttons: one to turn, to capture a second image and a third (as a small joystick) to define the settings. In addition, the HX-A500 is composed of a lens, a remote target at the end of a long cable of approximately 70 cm. If we put aside the wifi to view images captured by the optical (and also control shooting), the benefit to deport and the goal is to be able to direct it more freely, it give various directions, regardless of the direction of the housing.

1/Settings
can tweak some settings. Like, for example, choose white balance: it is even possible to customize. Obviously, one can adjust the sharpness of pictures, video and photo. If the general handling of the Panasonic HX-A500 camera is generally easy, switching between video and photo is not at all intuitive. Else, the choice of viewing angle is really limited: there are only two, one normal and wide angle ... By cons, there are options such as shooting video slowed, the 'Interval photo. The videos are of course recorded in Full HD 1080p at 50 frames / sec. But also in 4K, as emphasized like Panasonic, 4K TVs manufacturer. But that 4K is limited to 25 images / 4K TV sec.Une respecting theoretically should now be able to display images from this definition at 60 frames / sec. So with 25 frames / sec on ​​fast moving objects, it may lack fluidity. FYI, the latest GoPro, the Hero4, announces the 4K at 30 frames / sec. In photo, the sizes available on the Panasonic HX-A500 is 5.3 megapixels, 8.3 megapixels and 16.3 megapixels.

2/The app associated
Panasonic HX-A500 camera that has a WiFi connection, you can order it via the app Android or iOS App Image Panasonic, also used for APN. In a word, this application is really easy to use. Namely, the HX-A500 has an NFC link. Which facilitates the pairing Wifi with a smartphone or tablet NFC-compatible (like the Nexus Tablet with which I took the test) that approaches the camera.

3/Accessories
The "war" action cameras is also played on the field of accessories. And you probably know, GoPro has taken a significant lead. Recently, when preparing tests on drones, I found that the manufacturer NPC Action cameras also had a significant number of accessories. The moment I finished this test, the Panasonic site only presents new accessories dedicated to the HX-A500 camera. I had all on loan.