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Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 review – 2 in 1 Bluetooth speaker/RGB lamp combo

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I think it’s safe to say that Bluetooth speakers aren’t all that popular yet, but maybe that’s just because most of them are being manufactured by Xiaomi and people need a little bit of variety in their lives in order to make things more interesting. Luckily, another Chinese company named Ovevo stepped up to the plate and recently launched a very nifty Bluetooth speaker dubbed Fantasy Pro Z1. We were able to test out the device for quite some time and are now ready to share our thoughts with you so check out our review for the Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 Bluetooth speaker down below.

First Impressions

The packaging for the speaker is not all that flashy, but it gets the job done considering that our review unit arrived in one piece. Aside from the Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 itself, the box also included a user’s manual, a micro-USB cable, an AUX cable, and a card containing a QR code that you can scan to download the free app that goes with the Bluetooth speaker. Once you finish installing the app, it’s just a matter of turning on Bluetooth and pairing your mobile device with the Pro Z1. Once that’s done, the speaker can then play music directly from your phone or from the web and you can also use the aforementioned app to change the color of the Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1.

Aside from being a Bluetooth speaker, the device also acts as a lamp with RGB LED, which means that you have a massive amount of color options to choose from. You can also turn the brightness up and down, set alarms or choose an effect for the lighting, such as flashing or pulsing. All in all, there are a number of useful features here, though some might find the Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 a bit too fancy due to all the lighting effects. That said, this speaker/lamp hybrid was designed as a bedside companion for children, so just keep that in mind.

Design and Build Quality

The Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 is mostly made out of plastic and sports a very interesting triangular design. Plastic aside, the Bluetooth speaker does feature a stainless steel touch pad on the top and the bottom is made out of rubber for the most part. The touch pad can be used to circle thtough a few of the available colors and also to turn the speaker on or off. However, it’s not all that sensitive due to the steel so you may have to press a little harder if you want to make good use of it. I would suggest simply using the smartphone app instead, but if that’s not an option for some reason you can definitely make due with just the pad alone.

On one side of the Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 you will find the AUX jack and the micro-USB port, while on the opposite side there’s a microphone if you want to use the speaker for hands-free calling. As for the bottom part, Ovevo’s decision of using rubber was definitely wise because this allows the speaker to stick firmly to pretty much any type of surface you place it on. Also on the bottom you will be able to find a Bluetooth LED that tells you when the device is connected, as well as the play/pause, forward, back, and volume buttons.

Sound Quality and Battery Life

When it comes to the actual sound, there aren’t that many small Bluetooth speakers that can match the Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 in terms of volume. The clarity of the audio is pretty good as well all things considered, however, the loudness was definitely what impressed us the most. That said, I would recommend not cranking the volume all the way up because the speaker tends to vibrate a lot and will even start moving if you go all out. But while the audio quality is pretty impressive coming from a miniature device like this, the battery life could certainly do with some improvements. You can get a few good hours of playing time, but don’t expect more than 5 or 6 and that’s with the lights off and the volume to a moderate level. However, if you don’t play any music and use the Fantasy Pro Z1 as a regular lamp it should last a whole night under normal circumstances.

Pricing and Final Thoughts

The Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 can currently be found at various retailers for around $25. Is it a perfect Bluetooth speaker? No, but the device does offer a lot for such a modest price. As mentioned earlier, this speaker was intended more for children, but after having it around for several days I can tell you that adults will definitely be able to make good use of it as well. With a few improvements the Ovevo Fantasy Pro Z1 could become an excellent speaker, but in its current state it’s ‘just’ good. Then again, that’s pretty much an ideal scenario for a Bluetooth speaker that only costs 25 bucks.

Although George has many hobbies, he likes nothing more than to play around with cameras and other photography equipment.

Mobile Devices

3 Video Games About Women’s Health

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Video games have transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for promoting health and wellness. One notable genre in this realm is fitness gaming, exemplified by titles like Hatsune Miku Fit Boxing, which motivates players to engage in physical activity to enhance their fitness levels. Building on this foundation, developers have ventured into women’s health with games designed to raise awareness and empower players to take control of their well-being. Here are 3 video games on women’s health that provide valuable health information and foster a sense of agency to uplift women around the world.

Tampon Run – Menstrual health

Created by Girls Who Code alumnae Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser in 2014, Tampon Run is an old-school 8-bit online game where the main character, Luna, lobs tampons to destroy enemies, who will confiscate the tampons if she lets them pass by. Interestingly, the concept of weaponized tampons is based on a real incident that occurred in 2013, where Texas state troopers confiscated tampons as potential projectiles, but not guns, from visitors observing a vote on abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol. The goal of Tampon Run is to destigmatize periods and menstrual products, which, up until recently, have not been properly studied to measure their absorbency, which underscores the need to address menstrual health so that women can get better care.

In between tossing tampons, Luna shares empowering messages about how periods are a natural part of women’s lives and should not be a source of shame or embarrassment. The game is available to play on the Tampon Run website and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iOS users.

PCOS Vitality – PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal condition and the leading cause of female infertility that affects approximately 5 to 6 million women in the US, according to the Endocrine Society. Common features of the condition include having irregular menstrual periods, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, some studies estimate that up to 88% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese. While there are weight loss programs helping women tackle PCOS, focusing on aspects like lifestyle, symptom management, diet, and other tips for how to lose weight with PCOS, the condition itself remains grossly under-researched. For some women, it may take years to confirm that they have PCOS, as there are other disorders that mimic PCOS signs and symptoms that must be excluded.

The lack of research has extended to a lack of awareness among the general population and is what clinicians from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are trying to address with the 2023 game PCOS Vitality. Essentially a learning tool, the game takes users through a simple obstacle course. As you click toward the finish line, you are asked simple trivia questions about PCOS. The game is free to play on Focus Games’ website.

Bound by Blood – Period poverty

Period poverty refers to the lack of regular access to period products, painkillers, or underwear during a menstrual cycle. In the US, where 16.9 million menstruating women live in poverty, two-thirds cannot afford basic menstrual products. Period poverty has also been associated with mental health issues and urinary tract infections.

Available to play on the itch.io website, Bound by Blood was created by Jessica Gates in 2017 and aims to educate players about the reality of period poverty. Users take the character of Beth, a homeless woman who wakes up in her car and realizes that she’s started her period. Players then make a series of choices to try to stay as hygienic as possible in spite of lacking resources such as menstrual products and clean restrooms. There isn’t really a way to “win” the game, and it is instead a peek into the reality of life where period products are inaccessible and how this affects women’s quality of life.

Through these games, players not only gain valuable insights into various aspects of women’s health but also find themselves actively engaged in their own well-being. As developers continue to explore this emerging field, the potential for video games to serve as educational tools and catalysts for change in healthcare remains promising

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Consoles

Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year

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PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.

With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.

While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.

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Consoles

New PS5 firmware is available for download!

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A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?

Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:

  • We updated system software security
  • We improved system software stability and performance
  • Some screens now have better messages and usability

That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.

 

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