Darren Ankosko

New Products
The Whole Picture: VSN Mobil V.360° Camera Review
Darren Ankosko  |  Sep 15, 2015
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $449

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Easy to use
Unstitched 360-degree photo and video
Compatible with standard tripod and GoPro mounts
Minus
No controls on the camera
Slightly soft video quality

THE VERDICT
While video quality lacks the crisp wow factor of modern GoPro footage, this single-lens camera represents a huge step in the immersive video market.

Launched in 2013, VSN Mobil is a new face in the tech crowd, and the company just set the bar in the immersive video market with an action camera that shoots unstitched 360-degree video—the V.360º. Comprised of hand-plucked talent from Foxconn, General Dynamics, Motorola, Pininfarina, and Samsung, VSN Mobil has a leg up on the competition out of the gate. With a creative director from the design house that brought us the timelessly elegant Ferrari F40 and a head of engineering who previously served one of the world’s largest defense contractors, you would be correct to assume that the V.360º is equal parts beauty and brain.

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Headphone Reviews
Underwater Audio Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Headphone Review
Darren Ankosko  |  Jun 30, 2015
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $70

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Comfortable in and out of the water
Impressive sound while swimming (with some limitations)
1-year warranty
Minus
So-so sound above water

THE VERDICT
The Swimbuds Sport headphone gets the job done in the water but falls somewhat short in its quest to provide a high-quality, multi-sport solution.

I was pleasantly surprised when my audition of the Swimbuds Sport Waterproof headphone began with a familiar voice. After discarding multiple plastic baggies and opening the mesh pouch and zipper case, I was greeted by a card with an access code for a downloadable 30-minute swim workout guided by Rebecca Soni. Her staggering career accomplishments—including eight world records and, for Team U.S.A. at the Olympics, three gold medals and three silver—were severely understated here with a title that read: Olympic Medalist. I trained with Rebecca at the Scarlet Aquatics Club in New Jersey from the late 1990s through 2005, and so welcomed the excuse to pick up the phone and call an old friend.

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