The monsoons are upon us, and it's time to scramble for new jackets, umbrellas and bags. But you'd probably still feel a lot better if you knew your precious devices are safe, even if they do get splashed. Look no further.
The monsoons are here, tis’ the season for those all-weather shoes and windbreakers. It’s also time for us to put the spotlight on two devices that are programmed for a little rough and tumble. A rugged external hard drive and a Bluetooth sound box that don’t mind getting splashed about in the water.
Seagate Seven:
It’s no surprise that external hard drives are a low involvement category. They stay tucked away in your study or large backpacks only to make an appearance when you’re running out of space on your laptop or once you’re back from a holiday where your camera was on overdrive. The Seagate Seven could change that; it brings serious oomph to a category that desperately needs some excitement. Seven, because it’s just 7 millimetres thin – the thinnest in the world currently, almost insane because that’s thinner than most of the hard drives that are nestled in ultra books.
It’s actually a 5mm thick hard drive encased in a metal chassis – the perfect accompaniment to those brushed metal ultra books. This hard chassis gives the Seagate Seven much needed stability and ruggedness. There’s hardly anything that breaks the clean lines and the industrial chic except for a circular groove in the top centre and a tiny blue LED that lights up when you hook up the drive. Seagate claims it is drop-proof, we can vouch for it after a few staged drops; we didn’t fling it off the tenth floor balcony though. We love the form factor – it weighs just 91g and slips effortlessly into those tight jeans. It’s also that rare external USB drive that you will proudly show off at meetings and when you’re shamelessly stealing movies from your buddy’s laptop.
There are plenty of external drives with slightly faster file transfer speeds; the Seven’s USB 3.0 slot is quite swift too. It’s incredibly easy to set up and you can use the entire 500GB onboard. There’s also the in-built Seagate option that allows you to share image files on Social media networks, though that’s one feature we don’t expect too many users to try just yet. If there’s one chink in the armour (or the metal chassis in this case) it is the limited memory. The Seven comes in just one version – 500GB and it’s pricier than some 2TB External drives. Except that they don’t look half as good and lack the ruggedness of this device. It’s clearly a case of form and utility over sheer storage space; depending on which side of the fence you are.
What we liked: Slinky form factor, ease of setting up, very rugged
What we didn’t like: Limited (only 500GB) storage
Price: Rs 9,500
Logitech UE BOOM
From optional accessory, the Bluetooth speaker is suddenly becoming ubiquitous; an almost indispensable piece of your kit, whether it’s background music for your workspace or an impromptu house party. Logitech’s UE (Ultimate Ears) BOOM has taken a while to find its way to Indian shores. It still might not be too late, given the speaker’s unique form factor and its killer, water-proof USP.
Design has become the key differentiator in this segment, especially with the likes of Bang & Olufsen, and Bose also jumping into the fray. The UE BOOM’s distinctive cylindrical design smacks of cool aesthetics and also brings a 360-degree sound experience, quite unique for a device this size. You can prop it up vertically or horizontally, just like the more affordable Logitech X300. There’s a wide array of colours – from deep black to a vibrant blue, just in case you need the boom box to match your den or your favourite outdoor space. It’s one of the funkier looking Bluetooth speakers out there and can hold its own against other design-driven products like the Jawbone.
Pairing is a breeze – the UE BOOM can support up to 8 devices so you don’t have to worry about repeatedly configuring your smartphone or tablet. Aside from Bluetooth there’s also the option of NFC connectivity. We also liked the comparatively long rope your devices have (a range of 50 feet is a big deal for this category). An extra acoustic skin lends this device both water and dust-proof credentials – handy for that pool party or an extended weekend shower. It’s easily one of the speaker’s biggest draw cards. Ultimately it’s the sound quality and battery life that are critical for this category; the UE BOOM trumps on both counts. While sub Rs 10,000 speakers usually manage 5-6 hours, this speaker comfortably clocks over 12 hours; for most average users a single charge could last more than a week. Sound quality is terrific, unless you push the volume to the maximum, a zone where most portable speakers struggle.
A native UE BOOM App (On Both iOS and Android) allows you to pair two speakers for extra firepower but, at Rs 30,000 (for two UE Boom speakers), it’s quite a pricey proposition. The UE BOOM ticks most boxes; if there’s one thing that could dampen its appeal, it’s the stiff price tag.
What we liked: Battery life, design, water-proof functionality
What we didn’t like: Pricey
Price: Rs 14,995
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 "dnaTechReview, Logitech, Logitech UE Boom, Seagate, Seagate Seven, external hard drive, bluetooth speakers")
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