The foreign media has learned that the EP4 concept car by Audi factory 12 apprentices based on a Prin Z transformation, the 1971 factory small two-door sedan originally equipped with a rear-mounted 598 cc air-cooled two-cylinder engine, can only output about 30 horsepower. The interns replaced the old engine with a 240-hp electric motor from a 2020 Audi e-Tron, replaced the front-mounted fuel tank with a high-voltage battery pack from an Audi Q7 TFSI e quattro plug-in hybrid, replaced the original chassis with a modified chassis, brakes, and bearings from an Audi A1, and drastically modified and widened the bodywork by adding a massive rear spoiler. A huge rear spoiler was added.

The interior is very simple, with just a single-board computer and corresponding screen for instruments and displays, two Recaro Podium bucket seats, and a roll cage. Timo Engler, Head of Audi Training Vehicle Technology/Logistics, said: “This program gives our interns the opportunity to work freely with different technologies and materials. For example, in addition to electric drives, they used 3D printing and carbon fiber for the front hood.”

The small but menacing electric car is a tribute to the history of the Neckarsum plant and a look into the development of the Audi brand.

The post Reinventing a Classic: Audi Unveils EP4 Electric Concept Car with e-Tron Motor appeared first on TechGoing.

Weighing just 198g and coming in at a thickness of 9.5mm, the Note 12 is a very handy device. It sports a 6.8-inch INCELL display panel with a 720 x 1640 resolution. It has a 20:9 aspect ratio and a peak brightness of 450 nits.

Under the hood, Note 12 is powered by Unisoc T606 octa-core chipset. Manufactured using TMSC’s 12nm technology process for performance and power efficiency. It also comes with Mali-G57 GPU for graphics. The Note 12 features an 8GB + 128GB memory setup. The storage is expandable up to 1TB using a microSD card. 

Talking of cameras, the phone comes with a 48MP primary camera on the back and a 16MP front camera. Both cameras will allow you to record 1080p videos at 60 fps. A massive 6180mAh battery is tasked with keeping the phone running. And when you ran out of battery, an 18W charger which is bundled with the phone should get you back to 100% in a few hours.

Out of the box, Note 12 runs the latest Android 13 OS. Supports the four major navigational satellites (GPS+GLONASS+Beidou+Galileo) for precise positioning. It comes with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and supports NFC for payments.

Availability, Pricing, And Giveaway

The Hotwave Note 12 will be available for purchase on AliExpress from March 20th. Although originally priced at $199.99, the Note 12 will be available for $99.99 for a few days after launch. Keep this date in mind if you are on the market for a budget smartphone.

Hotwav company is also holding a giveaway where ten (10) lucky people will get a free Note 12. If you are feeling lucky, click the link here and leave your email address.

Also check out

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G appeared on benchmark site: using overclocked Snapdragon 680 chip

The post The New Hotwav Note 12 Is A Great Value For Money Entry-Level Smartphone appeared first on TechGoing.

The official price of the public version of AMD RX 7900 XTX is 7999 yuan, while the price of the public version of RTX 4080 is 9499 CNY.

In terms of parameters, the RTX 4080 16GB has 9728 CUDA cores and 16 GB of high-speed Micron GDDR6X video memory, and its performance in modern games can reach twice that of GeForce RTX 3080 Ti; at lower power, its performance is more powerful than GeForce RTX 3090 Ti.

According to overseas media reports, the RTX 4080 is not selling well at the current price, but the RTX 4090 is more cost-effective. With the upcoming release of AMD RX 7900 series graphics cards, it is reasonable for Nvidia to cut the price of RTX 4080.

The post Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU will be reduced, new price is expected to be close to AMD RX 7900 XTX appeared first on TechGoing.

After two weeks of using this phone, the following is my view of the iQOO Neo 7.

Unboxing And Features

I have unboxed many products, but it is still an experience I love and relish. That said unboxing the iQOO Neo 7 wasn’t much different from other smartphones. The phone comes in a black box with the model name written on it. In the box, you get the usual contents.

• 1 x iQOO Neo 7 smartphone
• 1 x 120W fast-charging brick 
• 1 x type-c cable
• 1 x TPU case 
• Sim ejector tool
• Documentation

Design

Let’s start with the front of the phone, where a 6.78-inch AMOLED display takes up most of the real estate. A thin bezel that grows slightly thicker at the chin lines the edges. The only interruption is a small cutout at the top for the selfie camera.

The 6.78-inch display is an AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1080×2400. It has a peak brightness of 1500 nits, which is usable in all situations, even on very sunny days. The display also has a refresh rate of 120Hz but it can go as low as 60Hz. There is a feature called Smart Switch that works like the Adaptive refresh feature. It switches the refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on what you are doing to conserve the battery.

On startup, the phone boots into the Standard color mode as the default color mode. This mode is well-balanced and gives a natural look to the overall color temperature. There are two other color modes: a professional mode that gives the display a warmer look, and a bright mode that makes the colors look a bit washed out. I will stick to the standard. There is no adaptive color option like you will normally find on Xiaomi phones.

In marketing, the company claimed the phone is certified for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ which means the display can support up to a billion colors. And that seems to be true as the phone handled HDR contents with ease.

The review sample I got was orange, but it is also available in blue and black. The back of the phone is made of a plastic material that doesn’t leave fingerprints. At the top left corner sits a square camera bump that houses all three cameras. The brand name “iQOO” is engraved at the bottom.

The frame of the phone is plastic, but unlike its back case, it feels more like aluminum. Its four corners are rounded off to prevent it from digging into your palm when you hold it, and it curves slightly into the plastic back case. The volume rocker and power buttons are on the right side of that frame. The sim tray, the USB charging port, and a speaker grill for one of the two speakers on board. The second speaker grill can be found on the top of the phone.

Its dimensions are 164.8 x 76.9 x 8.5 mm and only weighs 202g. All in all the phone is well-built and feels good to hold in the hand. 

Performance 

The iQOO Neo 7 runs on MediaTek’s latest chipset, the Dimensity 9000+ octa-core processor, which is really powerful. Memory comes in several configurations. Some of the configurations available include 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB, and 8GB + 512GB. The one I have with me is the 12GB + 256GB variant. 

When I put it through the Antutu test, it returned a benchmark score of 1030642 which is a very respectable result considering it is a midrange. But not surprising because it used such a high-end processor from MediaTek. Check out the scores below. 

Software

For software, the iQOO Neo 7 runs Android 13 out of the box with Oxygen OS over it. And I must admit that the software is properly implemented. Everything runs smoothly, swapping around is like butter, and the overall performance is snappy.

You have the usual peck of using an Android including split screens, floating windows, and all the cool widgets. To summon the notification you will have to swap down from the left corner and the top right corner for the control center. The order they are summoned can be changed in the settings.

Aside from that, everything else is pretty much the same, especially for anybody who has used Oxygen OS before. You get the usual customization options for everything including backgrounds, themes, ringtones, and widgets.

Still, in the settings, there is an Ultra Game Mode option. Here, you get to set up some really cool stuff. My favorite is the Cool Light Effects setting which shows light effects when you make impressive moments like triple kills but this effect is only limited to the Arena of Valor game. One of the gaming settings that is sure to come in handy is the Game Countdown. If you are waiting for a game to start up and you switch to the background, the system will display the required waiting time.

For security, the Neo 7 comes with the usual, face ID, fingerprint ID, passwords, and patterns. The fingerprint scanner beneath the display is fast and unlocks almost instantaneously. Face ID is even faster when unlocking the phone.

iQOO Neo 7 Cameras

The Neo 7 is equipped with three cameras, and the primary sensor is a 50MP camera with OIS. There is also an 8 MP ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP macro camera. Vivo, the parent company of iQOO, is known for having some of the best cameras on smartphones, and you see some of those technologies in play here.

Pictures 

I spent the last two weeks taking pictures and videos in various conditions. During the day the photos were really good with excellent balance, and sharpness. The dynamic range and contrast were also excellent. The colors were very vibrant but the photos looked a bit processed. 

The ultrawide also manages to hold up its side of the bargain, and there is no noticeable drop in color richness as you switch between cameras. The zoom camera

In night mode, images were okay with good color saturation. It also manages to reduce noise while maintaining a good amount of detail. The contrast and dynamic range in the night mode are commendable. But the one problem I had with it was how it tended to dial up any source of light to such an extent that you begin to lose details very close to those light sources.

Selfie 

The selfie camera is a 16MP clicker, and it captures some really cool pictures. Again, the company did impressive work with the color saturation, dynamic range, and sharpness here. My biggest problem is that pictures tend to be a bit over-processed. My selfies looked a bit whiter than I personally am. But considering the Neo 7 is only released for the Chinese market, it is not much of a big deal.

Videos

The rear camera can record up to 4K video at 30fps and the front camera is limited to 1080p at 30fps. Here, the company manages to keep up the good work in sharpness and color saturation. The 4k videos were good and the dynamic range was okay. The OIS does great at stabilizing the video

Battery and Charging

The iQOO Neo 7 comes with a 5000mAh battery on board. My phone usage is very gaming-intensive during this process, which makes this phone a perfect fit for me. On any given day, I spend at least three hours in between playing COD, PUBG, and Asphalt Legend. The rest of the time, the phone handled other processes like messaging, checking social media feeds, downloading apps, listening to music, and streaming videos. At the end of an eight-hour workday, I still had about 20% of the battery.  That’s really impressive.

It will take some time to drain the battery, but when you are finally there, refueling is really quick. The Neo 7 comes with a 120W fast charger. In my test, the charger took about 30 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%. Though fast chargers are becoming more common, I am still impressed by them. In this case, I just had to put the phone on charge before I stepped in the shower in the morning, and it was done when I got out.

Haptics and Speakers 

The pair of speakers on the Neo 7 sounds fantastic. They’re loud and clear even at high volumes, when you would expect most phones to struggle. 

Now, I don’t know about most people, but I love vibration feedback on my smartphones, especially when I am gaming. The Neo 7 has some really good haptic feedback. The vibrations on this phone are sharp and very responsive.

Variant

The iQOO Neo 7 comes in three colors, Black, Blue, and Orange. Memory-wise, there are 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB, and 8GB + 512GB configurations.

Pros

1. Very capable performer 
2. Extremely fast charger 
3. Large Battery
4. Great display

Cons

1. Limited to only China and India
2. Selfies look over-processed 

Verdict 

Overall, the iQOO Neo 7 is a very capable phone, and at its price point, it is a very easy recommendation.

The post iQOO Neo 7 Review – The Best Value-For-Money Midrange Smartphone appeared first on TechGoing.

There are a few good vacuum cleaners out there but in my opinion, the DreameBot D10 Plus set itself apart with three features: self-emptying, a massive 5200mAh battery, and max suction power of 4000Pa.

Before we get into the review, a quick glance at the features

DreameBot D10 Plus Specifications

Unboxing And Description

The DreameBot D10 Plus came in an 18.2 x 14.9 x 17.0-inch carton box. After cutting the tape open, you first find a box containing accessories. Moving that aside, you come into contact with the main content. The complete contents of the box are:

• The charging base
• Disc-shaped vacuum
• A side brush 
• A spare 2.5L vacuum bag
• A water tank cartridge with a mop pad
• Some documentation
• Power cable 

With a dimension of 303 × 403 × 399mm, the charging base stands out but is not too big to be tucked away under a table (which is where mine currently sits). At the top, there is an opening big enough to hold 45 days of dirt.  It is also easy to get to when it is time to take out the vacuum bag when it is time to empty it. 

The robot itself has the classic disc-like shape of all vacuum machines with a diameter of about 35cm and a thickness of 9.63cm with a LIDAR sensor at the top. There are two buttons also on the top, one of which is the power button that powers the robot to begin cleaning and pausing. The other button is for docking the robot or stopping cleaning.

Setting Up

There are two levels to setting up the Dreamebot D10 Plus, the first is the physical, which is pretty easy. All you have to do is connect the cable to the charging base, and find a good corner to place it while making sure there is at least 20cm of space around it on all sides. Finally, install the side brush and remove the protective strips on the sides. And just like that, the physical part of it is done.

Next is setting up the software, which is just as easy, starting with downloading the software. Search for the “Mi Home” or “Xiaomi Home” app in your app store and follow the usual download steps. There is a shortcut using the QR code provided on the back of the quick guide.

After the download, you need to create a profile and connect the robot to your wifi again by scanning the same QR code. The whole process is easy to follow even if you are not a technical person.

Mapping

Once the signup and pairing are done, the app prompts you to map out the room. Using LiDAR and an advanced SLAM algorithm, the robot moves around your room, mapping every corner. To maximize accuracy, it is advisable to move furniture and other obstacles out of the way.

When it was done, I got a very accurate 2D map of my tiny apartment, which I then had the option to save. There is the option of creating more maps if you have more rooms and saving them separately. 

The app also allows you to schedule cleanups, which is perfect for me since I am always rushing out the door early in the morning and not returning until late at night. Considering the whole purpose of a robot vacuum cleaner is to take the stress off of you, I would admit this robot nails it effortlessly.

Another feature of the app is, it allows you to track the progress of the cleanup in real-time. As cleaning is going on you also get some info such as the area cleaned (sq m), runtime, and remaining power.

Vacuuming

Starting is as simple as everything else, just tap the power button on the button or the play button on the app and the robot will hum to life.

The DreameBot has a max suction power of 4000Pa which is divided into four suction levels: Quiet, Standard, Strong, and Turbo. Quiet and Standard modes are quiet, the Strong and Turbo modes on the other hand are loud but not loud enough to disturb your music.

I used cookie crumbs, sugar, and some spices for the cleaning test on a hardwood floor. In Standard mode, it took the robot about 10 minutes to clean 7m² of space. It is safe to say the robot sucked up about 98% of all the dirt. I don’t own any pets, but from what I have seen so far, pet hairs won’t be a problem for this robot.

I later tested the robot again but this time on Strong and Turbo and to be honest the effect is almost like using the robot in Standard mode. On these settings though you will need to accommodate two side effects: loud noise, and faster battery drainage. So I would advise sticking to the standard mode which is not only effective but is a bit easier on the battery and quieter.

Self-Emptying 

One of the main selling points of the DreameBot D10 Plus is its self-emptying technology. It works exactly as it sounds, the robot is able to empty the content of the dirt cartridge on-board into the dirtbag in the charging base. Be warned, it gets really loud when it is in action.

It gets better, the dirtbag in the base is 2.5L in size, which means you only have to empty it once in every 45 days which comes to about 8 times a year. Talk about convenience.

You can also use the app to schedule how often the robot self-empties. There are options to empty after every clean or two cleaning cycles. 

Mopping

To use the mop option, you will have to fill the water pad, attach the mop pad, then install the tank on the robot. Two things will happen immediately. First, the robot voice prompt will confirm the installation by saying: “Water tank has been installed.” Secondly, the mopping settings would be released in the app.

From the app you can choose from three mopping levels: low, medium, and high. The medium setting seems to get the job done just right. In this setting, the robot quietly moves around in a dense Z-pattern, leaving a polished floor behind it. The effect it has on the floor is similar to using a damp rug to clean a surface. And you only have to wait a few seconds for the mopped ground to dry to be able to step on it without leaving a footprint.

The timing wasn’t really different from the amount of time it took to vacuum the same space.

There are two other mopping options, which are “Deep Mopping” and “Daily Mopping”. Deep mopping increases the intensity of the mopping, and daily mopping explains itself.

FYI: The mopping feature won’t buff out tough stains and supports water-mopping only.

Software (Mi Home or Xiaomi Home )

DreameTech is a subsidiary of Xiaomi, so it is no surprise, the app that is used to control the robot comes from Xiaomi. Both Mi Home and Xiaomi Home apps are ok.

I have talked about some of the features of the apps in other sections but there is more to it. The app allows you to schedule clean-ups, track the robot, and see some data but there is more.

Main Software Page

Just on the first page of the app, you get info such as cleaning area in sq meters, runtime, and remaining battery. Then there are others such as 

• Map management allows you to mess around with the maps you have already saved. You can merge maps or remove parts of a map.

• The Zone feature allows you to focus the robot on a particular area.

• With the No-go Zone feature on the app, you can map out parts of your room you want the robot to avoid.

Settings

In settings, you have options for the suction levels we discussed under “Vacuuming”.

There are also other mop options. Here, there are also three options available: “Sweeping”, “Mopping”, or “Sweeping and Mopping”. 

Finally, when you tap on the three dots in the top right corner, you have access to a host of options such as device settings, scheduled cleanup, cleaning history, and my personal favorite, accessory usage.

Other Features

• Carpet boost – leverage the maximum 4000Pa suction power to thoroughly get out the most ingrained dirt in carpets
• Voice commands – You can also connect Alexa and Google Assistant to use voice-activated commands.

Verdict

The DreameBot D10 Plus robot has a lot of things going for it. Starting with its self-emptying technology, easy-to-use app, mopping feature, and overall ease of setup. A quick review of the Pros and Cons.

Pros

1. Overall Fantastic Performance—The DreameBot D10 Plus does what it is designed to do. It gets most of the dirt, and the self-emptying feature is perfect for every lazy being out there.
2. The DreameBot D10 Plus’ 5200mAh battery is massive enough for multiple cleaning cycles on a single charge.
3. Self-emptying—I really love this feature. It actually takes the whole hands-free cleaning thing to a whole new level. With this feature, you get up to 45 days of cleaning before you have to empty the dirt bag.
4. Easy-to-use and feature-rich app
5. Voice Notification  
6. Price – At just $499.99, this is the best value for money you can ask for

Cons

1. Obstacles: To get the best out of the robot, you will have to move furniture, toys, and other obstacles out of its path. It also gets stuck and needs a minute or two to find its way back on track.
2. Water Tank Installation: Installing the water tank when you want to mop undermines the idea of the robot’s autonomy. The mopping itself was as efficient as you can expect.

Recommendation

If you are someone who is too busy to get the dirt out of your house, the DreameBot D10 Plus is an easy recommendation. You can order the robot and all accessories on Amazon and DreameTech shop at just $499.99.

The post DreameBot D10 Plus Review: Powerful Two-In-One Vacuum Cleaner With A Self-Emptying Feature appeared first on TechGoing.

Most of the rugged tablets on the market are designed for use in manufacturing, warehouses, fieldwork, and such areas. Aiming to offer a durable tablet for both industrial and household use, the OUKITEL company, the one with a rich experience in rugged electric devices, today is introducing the newest RT2 tablet with military standard rugged toughness. This is the upgraded version of the OUKITEL first-gen tablet RT1, which comes with the greatest 20000mAh battery, 10.1-inch large immersive display, military-grade ruggedness, and more impressive features. It is particularly capable of sustaining the rigorous environment, and you can always enjoy a seamless experience anywhere. 

The Most Powerful Tablet with the Largest Battery 

After successfully launching WP19, the world’s largest battery-rugged phone, OUKITEL is pushing the tablet’s power capacity to a new era. This latest OUKITEL tablet RT2 comes with a 20,000mAh battery, the world’s largest capacity battery in the tablet category, which is more than thrice the average (4000mAh-6000mAh) on the market. It comes in very handy if you forget to refuel it or can hardly access any power outdoors. This power giant can handle 4-5 days of work without interruption. The 33W fast recharging function only allows you to wait for 4 hours to fully refuel. Moreover, it is also a backup power source for any emergency since it supports reverse charging.

Large Full-View Display And Military-Grade Toughness

The RT2 tablet has a 10.1-inch display with a 1200×1920 resolution and is made of ultra-durable glass. This sunlight-readable screen features 350 nits of brightness, and you can easily view all content even when you work or travel outdoors. As mentioned earlier, RT2 can be used in harsh environments. This tough tablet with military-grade durability is MIL-STD-810H, IP68&IP69K drops, and water and dust-resistant. The OUKITEL company has confirmed that this durable tablet will be available on AliExpress in mid-September. Apart from those, the RT2 rugged tablet is coming with more reliable features. Unlock more information on OUKITEL’s official website.

Related News

Oukitel’s Flagship P2001 Portable Power Station: Safe and Reliable Power Supply for Home and Camping 

The post OUKITEL RT2 World’s Largest Battery Rugged Tablet Coming Soon In September appeared first on TechGoing.

In many countries and areas, there is a huge rise in the adoption of backup power today for any unpredictable situation, such as home blackouts and natural disasters. Battery, diesel, and gas-powered generators are the most accessible options in the global mobile power station market. The benefits of the battery-powered generator can be commonly recognized in environmental protection and maintenance costs. 

OUKITEL introduced the P2001 portable power station in January 2022, which is designed for home power outages, outdoor activities such as camping, and disaster prevention. It comes with a huge 2000Wh battery capacity, a 2000W high-wattage AC output, 1.5 hours of super-fast charging, and many more features.  

2000Wh Huge Capacity and 2000W AC Output 

The P2001 power station is equipped with a capacity of 2000Wh (LiFePo4), the largest battery in the lineup of Oukitel. Moreover, the rated output of 2000W (Surge 4000W) can almost power 99% of your electric devices, such as TV, microwave, rice cooker, fridge, coffee maker, etc. for hours, even including those heavy-duty ones (electric drill, circular saw, bench grinder, etc.)

1.5H Super-fast Recharging

There are 4 main recharging methods (standard wall outlet, solar panel, electric car, or other power generators) to power P2001. It is well-known for its eco-friendly power supply. Charging P2001 fully is less than 4 hours by the solar panels (MAX 500W). P2001 features a time saver since this large capacity can be refueled fully in 1.5 hours by dual recharging (1100W AC Input together with 500W solar panels or 500W adapter simultaneously)  

Durability and Safety: LiFePo4 Battery and UPS & BMS 

P2001’s built-in battery packs are made of LiFePo4. It supports 3,500 life cycles, which can still reach up to 70% of the original capacity. P2001 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) can protect your fragile electrical products from any sudden power failure damage, particularly those medical essential equipment. The safety of the P2001 battery is guaranteed by the Battery Management System (BMS). Being monitored by this intelligent system, all errors, such as overheating, overload discharging, over-voltage discharging, etc. can be fixed automatically. 

OUKITEL P2001 portable power station is built to cover all your power needs in the safest, greenest, and most efficient way, and is the best choice for camping, RV travel, unexpected power outages, and natural disasters.

About OUKITEL

OUKITEL, founded in 2007, is a well-known international consumer electronics manufacturing company in Hong Kong. With the rich experience from the track record of creating huge capacity and durable batteries. Our vision is to enable everyone to access renewable power to build a green planet. We move to a sustainable and eco-friendly future together.

Enjoy the nice summer camping 

Drive to a beautiful campsite on a breezy day, then spend some time with friends or family. You can also enjoy the same comfort outdoors as staying at home. Cold beverages from the mini fridge, fresh BBQ meals from Gill, etc.C

The post Oukitel’s Flagship P2001 Portable Power Station: Safe and Reliable Power Supply for Home and Camping  appeared first on TechGoing.

The External Monitor feature on the Xperia PRO and Xperia PRO-I will now include Livestreaming, Wave Form, and False Color capabilities. The Wave Form monitor function examines the exposure and RGB balance. The False Color function on the other hand aids in iris setting selection by making certain exposure details more visible. Finally, the External Monitor software update will also provide additional control features for selected Alpha cameras on the Xperia PRO. The External Monitor feature on the Xperia PRO will include a trigger function for Rec/Stop via USB-C cable, as well as status visibility on screen for REC status, shutter speed, F-number, ISO, and EV Indication.

This update now allows creators to livestream using their Sony Alpha camera via the External Monitor feature on their Xperia PRO or Xperia PRO-I. This enables creators to share livestream videos in stunning Sony Alpha quality.

This update has been made available to all Xperia PRO and Xperia PRO-I owners from August 12, 2022 via a push notification.

Source

You May Also Be Interested In:

Xiaomi 12S Ultra Review: 2022 Smartphone Photography Standard

TwoTress TTS-55 Beginner’s Laser Engraver Review

The post Sony Released New Updates That Offer Xperia PRO and Xperia PRO-I Smartphones New External Monitor Capabilities appeared first on TechGoing.

I have been using the Xiaomi 12S Ultra for about one month now, and it is one of the most balanced phones I have used in 2022. It features the latest Qualcomm chipset, Leica optics, and a refreshingly new design.

Let me start by saying, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is a bold statement and reaffirms Xiaomi as a company capable of holding its own in the flagship smartphone space. That’s aside from the fact that Xiaomi is one of the biggest mid-range smartphone brands. This model builds on the reputation of its two previous predecessors but shares a bit more with the Mi 11 Ultra, especially with the outrageous camera bump design.

A disclaimer before we continue, this is going to be a long review because it is my belief that such a special device deserves the time and energy.

But before we dive in, here are the features:

Unboxing

Unboxing is as normal as it gets. The Xiaomi came in a black package and contained the usual – a 67W fast charging brick, a soft transparent case, a USB-A to Type-C cable, a sim ejector, and some documentation.

For this review, I was sent the green one with 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM, but there is a black option also.

DESCRIPTION >>>

The post Xiaomi 12S Ultra Review: 2022 Smartphone Photography Standard appeared first on TechGoing.

What is the TwoTress TTS-55 Laser Engraver?

The TTS-55 is a successor to the TT-5.5S laser engraver from Twotrees Technology which comes with a 5W laser module and a large 300mm x 300mm workspace. It is designed for beginners and is an amazing piece of design to have around if you are into creating cool stuff.

This machine is capable of engraving a wide range of materials, including wood, acrylic, metal, cardboard, leather, and many more. For this review, I used it mainly on wood and cardboard.

Unboxing

The unboxing experience was as normal as it gets. The list of the things in the box includes: 

• Four bars for the frame, probably made of aluminum alloy of some sort. Either way, they feel light but are very strong. 
• The laser head came in a smaller carton.
• Acrylic laser filter
• A pair of safety goggles
• A small cylindrical metal was used to measure the laser’s height.
• A set of tools
• A user manual

I am impressed with the overall packaging. The laser head came in a separate box from the rest and everything was well padded.

Description

The four bars form the primary frame and are held in place by the screws included. They have markings on them that are very useful when determining the size of your cut. It is kept a few meters above the table by the stands. 

The control board sits on the front with the TwoTress logo printed on the front. On the control board, there is a TF card slot, a power button, a USB TYPE-B slot, and a slot for the power cable. 

The company marketed the TTS-55 as 60% preinstalled out of the box and it sounds about right because it took me less than an hour to put the thing together.

Two stepper motors on either side of the frame control the X and Y-axis movements. The wires were already bundled beautifully, so all I had to do was just plug them into the motors.

Parameters

• Model number: TTS-55
• Type: Laser Engraving
• Material: Aluminium + Metal
• Control board: LTS ESP32 (32bit)
• Laser wavelength: 445nm
• Laser power: 5500mW (LD+FAC)
• Engraving Size: 300mm x 300 mm.
• Laser input: AC100-240V
• Power supply: 12V 4A DC
• Plug: USA/EU/UK/AU Plug (optional)
• Accuracy: 0.08mm
• Engraving speed: 10000mm/min
• Carving method: USB/APP/Wireless Web Application/Touch Control Screen
• Interface: USB
• File format: .nc/.dxf/.bmp/.jpg/.png/gcode/.svc etc.
• Engraving mode: image/text/scanning/outlining/pixel engraving, etc.
• Support software & system: LaserGRBL (Windows)/LIGHTBURN (Universal)
• Continuous working time: ≤24Hrs
• Machine Size: L570*W510*H150MM

Hardware Setup

After putting everything together, it was now time to have fun. There are three ways to run the TTS-55: using the included TF card, the included USB drive, or just connecting straight to the computer. The TF card and USB come with additional software, firmware, and user guides.

Anyway, I decided to go with a direct connection to my PC using the included USB Type-B cable.

Once I set up the laser head’s height and connected the USB cable to my PC, it was time to set up the software.

Software Setup

LaserGRBL

The first one I tried was called LaserGRBL. It is free and open-source software for Windows and uses G-code to control the laser head. Using the cartesian graph, the G-code guides the laser head around as it cuts.

Using this software is pretty straightforward. You just upload the file into the software, out in the settings, and let it run.

LightBurn

While LaserGRBL works only on windows, LightBurn works on both macOS and windows. It is more user-friendly than the laserGRBL. 

The coolest part of the LightBurn software is, that it allows you to lay a couple of different designs onto one project. For instance, you can have a quote and place a logo in the top corner. Then assign a different speed to each layer. Cool…Right?

LightBurn is not free, but there is a one-month trial period, after which it is $60 for a license key. It is worth it if you can afford it.

Settings

I worked with wood and cardboard only, which meant I had to make sure I set the right balance of speed and power. For example, using too much power when working with cardboard will set it alight (make sure you are doing this in an open space and have a fire extinguisher on hand). Meanwhile, low power on the wood will produce low-quality work.

The good news is, that the staff at TwoTrees provided a list of the best settings for different materials. Other factors affect the settings. Cutting will require a different setting from engraving. The list provided is a good guide on what is the best setting to use.

Finished Works

Safety

This is a 5W laser. It is several times more powerful than a common laser pointer, so you should be careful when using one. Keep the following in mind if you get one of these.

• The laser can cut through the skin, so avoid all forms of direct contact. 
• Do not look directly at the laser, I would advise you to use the safety goggles at all times.
• Do not leave a working laser engraver unsupervised.
• Keep away from kids.
• Use the acrylic protective box at all times. 
• Cutting produces a lot of fumes and smoke so remember to use it in a well-ventilated room or outdoors.

Pros

The TTS-55 is way more fun than I expected. I intend to keep creating more designs. It is perfect for an enthusiast or a beginner. Its pros include:

1. Strong build 
2. Cheap & affordable 
3. Large work surface 300*300mm

Cons

1. No enclosure for smoke and fumes
2. The user manual can be improved upon

PS: I only tested the TTS-55 on wood and cardboard. I didn’t test it on the other materials, so I can’t comment on how well it works on them.

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