Podcast #1175: Tips for Buying your 4K TV on Black Friday

On this week’s show we take a quick look at a $20 set of earbuds, the Soundcore A30i. We also get you ready for your Black Friday TV shopping with 10 tips. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news.

News:

• Disney+ Introduces Top 10 List Of Movies & TV Shows To Help Users Discover New Content

• Samsung To Cease LED Production

• This tiny smart puck can control your entire smart home

The Soundcore A30i are earbuds that are housed in a lipstick-shaped case. They are lightweight and comfortable, ensuring they feel almost weightless during use. These earbuds have “noise cancellation” but I’d say it's more like noise isolation. Going from ANC to passthrough was almost imperceptible in the amount of sound coming from the outside.  Since they do block out sounds, they work well in noisy environments.

In terms of audio quality, the soundcore A30i delivers decent sound once you set the EQ. I was not happy with any of the preset EQ modes. But increasing the bass and treble yielded a nice sound. This is done through the soundcore app.  You can turn on a 3D surround sound effect via the app as well. But after about 30 seconds it was turned off.

Additionally, the earbuds feature four microphones equipped with AI technology that Anker claims yields crystal-clear calls, regardless of location. Not so! I made three test calls and everyone of them sounded bad to the person on the other end. When I reconnected with my AirPods the people I was talking with said it was much better. Range wasn’t very good either. I put my phone on my workbench and by the time I got to the edge of my garage there were dropouts. I tested this multiple times.

So is it all bad? Is there any redeeming features? Well yes there is, it only costs $20! For twenty dollars this makes a great stocking stuffer for a younger child who may be prone to losing things. They are also a good backup for when your Airpod Maxs start to hurt your ears. Sometimes you need to give your ears a break from the vice that’s on your head!

Tips for Buying your 4K TV on Black Friday

Buying a new 4K TV can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience due to the variety of options available. With Black Friday deals right around the corner we want you to consider a few things before you go out hunting. Here are steps you need to take to ensure you get the best TV for your budget:

1. Budget - This has to be the first consideration. Everything else is impacted by cost. Fortunately, you can get higher quality TVs for less money than when we first started doing Black Friday episodes. Once you set your budget and determine size (next tip) you can begin to decide on the other criteria.  

2. Screen Size: Choose the right size for your room. This is where you would expect us to come up with some cool formula about seating distance and screen size. Not us! Measure your available space and put the largest screen that will fit. Of course after you consider the remaining items on this list. Also, don’t be opposed to knocking down walls or buying new furniture to gain a few more inches of diagonal ;-)

3. Display Technology -  You’ll have to decide between OLED, QLED, and LED. Each has their place and will have an impact on screen size. By that we mean a larger OLED will cost more than an LED so you may not get the size you want.  But in a nutshell

   1. OLED - Offers su