FutureFive New Zealand - Consumer technology news & reviews from the future

About Owen

Owen McCarthy mugshot photo
Owen McCarthy
Reviewer
Owen McCarthy has had a long love affair with all things technical since the dawn of the computer age. A child of the 1960’s, he agrees with legendary author, Douglas Adams, that digital watches were a pretty neat idea. By the 1980’s Owen was learning how to code using C and by the turn of the century, he was teaching HTML to enthusiastic youngsters. These days, Owen can be found pestering editors for new technology to review on an annoyingly regular basis. In his spare time, he rides motorcycles of the three-wheeled variety, studies theology, aqua-jogs, and works hard to honour his late wife’s request to live a joy-filled life.

Stories by Owen

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Hands-on review: Maono Wireless Microphone WM620 Series
This month
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reviews
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gadgets
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microphone
Given my lack of descriptive vocabulary, I thought I’d take you through what Maono says before describing my experience using the WM620 series. .
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Hands-on review: Mobile Pixels Duex Max DS: Time to double up!
Last month
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monitors
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reviews
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pro av
Duex Max DS is a 14.1” portable monitor that clips to your laptop magnetically. For me, it means a doubling of my workspace, with everything in my line of sight without having to raise my head. .
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Hands-on review: Intel NUC 12-PRO Wall Street Canyon
Tue, 23rd Jan 2024
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reviews
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endpoint protection
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technology gifts
The new Intel NUC impresses with its tiny size and customizable features, offering powerful computing in a compact package.
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Hands-on review: Tozo S3 Smartwatch and T20 Ear Buds
Thu, 14th Dec 2023
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reviews
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digital music
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technology gifts
Golden X1 earbuds and was impressed with the aesthetics, quality, and performance. I leapt at the chance to review the S3 Smart Watch and the T20 Ear Buds.
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Hands-on review: Rakuten Kobo Nia
Wed, 13th Dec 2023
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tablets & laptops
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mobility
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reviews
The Rakuten Kobo Nia is described by Kobo as “our friendliest e-reader yet” on their website. Accompany me on my journey, and we’ll see if it lives up to this encouraging statement.
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Hands-on review: JBL Quantum TWS Air
Thu, 30th Nov 2023
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cloud services
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digital music
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reviews
The Quantum TWS Air has proven an interesting addition to my listening experience. Ergonomically, JBL continues to surprise me with their beautifully comfortable devices.
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Hands-on review: Gaomon M106K Pro Battery-free Pen Tablet
Tue, 14th Nov 2023
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tablets & laptops
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mobility
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reviews
The Gaomon M106K Pro offers impressive features for an entry-level graphics tablet at a competitive price. Check it out!.
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Hands-on review: Xencelabs Pen Display Tablet 24'
Thu, 17th Aug 2023
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tablets & laptops
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mobility
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reviews
Xencelabs appear to be on to a winner here. The Pen Display 24 had me feeling that with a little more time, I might become the next Banksy.
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Hands-on review: Arlo Pro 5 2K Wire-Free Spotlight Security Camera
Tue, 25th Jul 2023
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pc hardware
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cloud services
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reviews
The Arlo Pro5S2K Spotlight Camera promises great video quality and peace of mind for the security-conscious. Here are my thoughts about it.
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Hands-on Review: Twelve South Curve Flex
Wed, 19th Jul 2023
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pc hardware
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mobility
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tablets & laptops
Twelve South’s Curve Flex MacBook stand is a game-changer for posture, comfort, and portability, according to this review.
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Hands-on Review: Tozo Golden X1 Earbuds
Fri, 2nd Jun 2023
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gaming
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digital music
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reviews
Tozo's Golden X1 earbuds offer top-notch sound quality, noise cancelling, and intelligent charging, making them a must-have for audio enthusiasts.
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Hands-on review: Technics AZ60 Noise Cancelling and True Wireless Earbuds
Thu, 15th Dec 2022
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gaming
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digital music
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reviews
Listening to music is quite an experience. The bass and treble sounds are distinct and makes listening to music a real pleasure.
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Hands-on review: Nanoleaf Essentials Light Bulbs
Thu, 22nd Sep 2022
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gaming
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apple
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reviews
There is a veritable panoply of colour schemes and I found one that matched my editor’s mood when I’ve made too many typos.
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Hands-on review: JBL Free WFH wireless headphones
Mon, 5th Sep 2022
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cloud services
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gaming
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voip
JBL’s Free WFH Wireless headphones provide peace and quiet to help you work from home, with noise-cancelling technology and a long battery life.
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Hands-on review: JBL Flip 6 portable speaker
Mon, 15th Aug 2022
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gaming
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digital music
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reviews
Once you switch it on, and listen away for up to 12 hours, you will quickly realise that this is a little speaker looking for a party.
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Hands-on review: Arlo Go 2 security camera
Thu, 11th Aug 2022
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gaming
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cloud services
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reviews
In my humble opinion, Arlo Go 2 offers security for anyone needing to keep a remote eye on prized possessions or premises at different locations.
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Hands-on review: James Donkey RS4 Knight Wireless Gaming Keyboard
Thu, 4th Aug 2022
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gaming
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reviews
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technology gifts
I have always liked mechanical keyboards, and this is no exception. I find the action much easier to use than the modern keyboards with limited travel.
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Hands-on review: Norton Secure VPN
Thu, 21st Jul 2022
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cloud services
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gaming
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vpn
Norton Secure VPN offers enhanced online security and privacy, with features such as anonymous browsing and split tunneling.
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Hands-on review: HP Evo Spectre X360 Flip Ultrabook 13.5” laptop
Tue, 19th Jul 2022
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gaming
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mobility
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tablets & laptops
HP's Spectre X360 Ultrabook impresses with its ergonomic design and seamless performance, making it a versatile laptop worth considering.
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Hands-on review: Samsung S22 Ultra
Tue, 14th Jun 2022
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smartphones
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gaming
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martech
Samsung's S22 Ultra phone offers impressive camera capabilities and a stylus with multiple uses, but lacks some expected features.
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Hands-on review: Morphée
Thu, 9th Jun 2022
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gaming
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cloud services
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reviews
Life in the twenty-first century has become a 24-hour affair. Morphée promises to help restore some balance to your life.
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Hands-on review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
Wed, 11th May 2022
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gaming
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pc hardware
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reviews
In almost every respect it works like a book, apart from the fact that it weighs next to nothing, fits in my hand perfectly, and is soothing on my eyes.
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Hands-on review: JBL Partybox 110 Bluetooth speaker
Thu, 28th Apr 2022
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gaming
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digital music
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reviews
My first review in a long time is sure to create a lot of noise, if the experience in my household has been anything to go by.
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Hand-on review: Sony X-Series XG500 Portable Bluetooth Speaker & Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
Tue, 14th Dec 2021
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gaming
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digital music
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reviews
For as long as I can remember, Sony have been known as purveyors of quality sound. I leapt at the opportunity to review two of their latest products.