I think my colleague Cherlynn Low has us down in the last part noting that it was slower than the usual October. The last week of the month was full of news, especially from Appleso we expect a few more weeks of research to wrap up the year. This week we tested Amazon’s long-awaited color E Ink reader, a DJI action camera that finally has a decent GoPro competitor, and Google’s latest TV streaming device. Here’s a quick recap of the week’s in-depth analysis and a quick look at what to expect during the post-Halloween deluge.
Kindle Colorsoft Review
By Valentina Palladino
Engadget / Amazon
Kindle Colorsoft (finally) brings color to Amazon’s e-reader lineup. It’s a solid premium reader that will be ideal for those who primarily read things like comics, graphic novels, and other material best experienced in full-color glory.
- Color on Kindle, finally!
- Fast page turning and loading times
- The pinch-to-zoom feature lets you zoom in on the details
- Automatic front light adjustment
- There are no lock screen ads by default
- Expensive
- There is a noticeable blue tint to the screen when the warm light is turned off
- Slight reduction in sharpness and contrast when reading black-and-white text
After years of users clamoring for a color E Ink option, Amazon has finally committed with Kindle Colorsoft. This model fills a key gap in the company’s ereader lineup with its fast performance and many conveniences. The main problem is that it’s expensive at $280, plus it has a blue screen when you turn it on hot. Moreover, the text is not as sharp when reading in black and white. Still, this new model will be great for graphic novels and other materials where you need to see everything in full color. “Although color is late to the E Ink party, the Kindle Colorsoft is a solid premium ereader that delivers a great experience in both color and black-and-white.” Valentina notes.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro review
By Steve Dent
DJI
With the Action 5 Pro, DJI finally has a worthy competitor to the GoPro and Insta360 action cameras thanks to excellent battery life and solid image quality.
- Best action camera battery life
- Good in low light
- Unique thread tracking feature
- DJI Mic 2 compatibility
- Internal memory
- Oversaturated color
- Video is less sharp than competitors
Our camera expert Steve Dent put DJI’s new action camera through its paces to see if the company can do enough to catch the likes of GoPro. The short answer is yes, as the Osmo Action 5 Pro has good low-light performance, useful subject tracking and built-in memory, along with the best battery life of any model in the category. Color quality and video sharpness could be better, but DJI has finally given the competition something to worry about with this model.
“It’s one of the best action cameras I’ve used, with battery life well above its competitors, a solid waterproof build and full support for DJI’s Mic 2” Steve writes. “If low-light performance is key, go straight to DJI’s Action 5 Pro.”
Google TV Streamer review
By Amy Skorheim
Google/Engadget
While a few missing features make the price feel steep, the Google TV Streamer is a great device that combines speed, a great UI, and useful smart home control.
- The excellent interface is adept at organizing content from different streaming sources
- Attractive box-top design with a great-feeling remote
- Switch between apps and load content quickly
- A smart home control panel has a utility like a hub
- Double the price of its predecessor
- The lack of support for Wi-Fi 6 or 6E makes it future-proof
- The required HDMI cable is a separate purchase
Another streaming device from Google? Yes! The Google TV Streamer isn’t the perfect choice for your living room, but according to buying advice reporter Amy Skorheim, there’s a lot to like about this little gadget. Google doubled the price compared to the previous option, which isn’t great, and the company didn’t include an HDMI cable or Wi-Fi 6 or 6E support. Once you’re in, the mix of great UI, attractive design, fast performance, and smart home compatibility make TV Streamer a must-have device.
“Yes, the extra RAM and storage are great, but there are a few features — Wi-Fi 6E support, true Assistant capabilities, screaming processor speeds — that Google could have packed to make the $100 price tag unaffordable.” Amy explains. “Google TV Streamer is responsive and fast, featuring the best streaming interface with useful and well-integrated smart home features.”
Future reviews: All Mac, Sonos Arc Ultra and PS5 Pro
For three days this week Apple announced new iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Proall of which are equipped with the company’s M4 chips. The biggest design overhaul came in the Mac mini, which now truly lives up to its name because it’s a two-inch-long, five-inch-by-five-inch box not much bigger than the Apple TV 4K. Of course, the changes to the iMac and MacBook Pro warrant a new list of reviews, so we’ll be testing all three machines in the coming weeks.
Sonos’ follow-up to the Arc soundbar started shipping this week, and I received our review unit for a test run. Dubbed Arc Ultrathis model should offer better bass performance than the soundbar itself before connecting a separate wireless subwoofer. It’s the debut of the company’s Sound Motion technology, which boosts low-end tone without the need for larger components in a living room speaker. Look for my review of this unit as soon as next week.
Gamers have probably expected plenty of PS5 Pro reviews, and ours is coming soon release date is November 7. As shared by our gaming guru Jessica Conditt in his preview last month, it’s not the console you need, it’s the one you definitely want. Stay tuned for our in-depth thoughts on how the combination of increased power and extra tricks factor into the $700 price tag.
