ESDDI Travel Tripod TP-30 https://youtu.be/QcZ0U7G4yqY More Info and Purchase: https://tinyurl.com/ygs7r5ts Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2021/05/24/esddi-travel-tripod-tp-30/ The main things to look for in a travel tripod are compact size, low weight and decent build quality and for £26.66 the ESDDI TP-30 delivers the goods. However, this is a travel tripod first and foremost and is not made for nor suited to studio work and with anything other than a lightweight camera or phone. In the box are the tripod, soft carry case, quick release plate, Phone mount and a well written and easy to read User Guide. Everything seems well made and as robust as can be expected for the price and lightweight aluminium/plastic design with nothing looking likely to fail anytime soon. The legs of the tripod are made from lightweight aluminium alloy, which makes it great for travel use. With a more expensive studio tripod, including those higher up the ESDDI range, I would expect to see metal used throughout and in a heavier gauge, but this is a budget tripod designed for travel use and the lightweight build here makes more sense. The tripod is easy and very quick to set up, a boon when on location, and the non-detachable video head makes it particularly suited for that use. The inclusion of the phone mount also makes clear the intended market. The tripod is lightweight and I would say this tripod is best suited for nothing larger than a DSLR with standard to medium size lenses. I was pleased to see quick release leg extension clips, not only are they easier to use than rotating clips but also you can see at a glance that the legs are locked. Beware that the top central extension below the head is liable to descend rapidly if the lock is released before locking it in place. The quick-release plate is good too as it clips in place from the side, which I prefer to the older front/rear slide system and the head also incorporates a rather basic but still handy spirit level. The tripod extends up to a full 140 cm, (55 inches) although delicate handling is needed at this height to avoid vibrations. In general, I am very happy with the tripod as it is quick and easy to use, offers good stability, is well made and thoughtfully designed. This is an excellent lightweight travel tripod, suitable for amateur or some professional use and at just can only be looked on as a bargain indeed at the price. The Good Compact Size Light Weight Quick Release Plate Quick Release Leg Locks Phone Clamp Mount Spirit Level The Bad Unstable at Full Elevation Video Head Cannot Be Removed Music: YouTube Audio Library: Silent Partner: Succotash ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcZ0U7G4yqY

Who knows how long TV boxes such as this will be available for as a test prosecution is currently underway against a market seller for facilitating copyright violations. It may mean that KODI boxes or at least pre configured versions will no longer be available and that prices, currently in free fall, will go back up again. Inside the box was the device itself, a UK power adaptor with 1.5m cable, medium sized remote control, HDMI cable, and a User Guide. Don’t expect the User Guide to tell you much about how to operate the KODI or other installed software as it basically shows you just how to connect the device to the internet and configure the TV screen. I enclose a scanned copy of the Guide on the end of my unboxing video. Switch to full screen and pause to read it. Like most TV boxes, it is essentially an Android phone without the mobile phone capabilities and optimised for use with an HDMI TV as a media player for local and internet files.The core of this and similar devices is the remarkable Kodi application and currently this box has the most recent version installed. A good range of ports are available for playing local files and additional equipment. It features four USB, HDMI, Ethernet, power in, SPDIF, AV and an SD card slot. The included remote control is well made and is unlike the generic ones usually bundled with TV Boxes this one was clearly designed for use with this box.. It has the snappy Amlogic S905 Quad Core chipset, which is perfectly powerful enough for a TV box. This box runs Android 5.1 which is a relatively new version of the operating system. Many budget boxes still run Android 4.4 although most run Android 5.1 and increasingly Android 6. The only real setting up task is to connect to your home network and it has both wifi and Ethernet options available to do this. If you are familiar with Android then this is very simple, non Android users may find this more difficult. Once on the network to get the best from this device you should login to your Google account, that way apps can be easily installed via your computer from the Google Play website, Gmail and YouTube will be auto configured at the same time.. Thanks to the USB ports third party memory sticks, keyboards and mice can be used to make navigating the User Interface faster and easier, although the built in pop-up keyboard and remote control will suffice. The supplied handset is fine but some users may wish to invest in a USB dongle wireless keypad to give the full range of keys and a built in mini touchpad. This can also be done over Bluetooth but I find that a dedicated dongle/keypad works best. This is a reasonably well specified entry level Android TV box. It comes with 1GB of RAM , the usual size ,and the almost standard 8GB of storage. The box has standard speed Ethernet and 2.4Ghz wifi but misses out on the faster and less crowded 5Ghz band and high speed Gigabit LAN. That said, I must also say that in use I have found very little difference between any TV boxes once KODI is installed and running. This one works very well, has an attractive and well laid out on screen interface and an easy to navigate menu system. It seems stable and reliable in use. As with all TV Boxes experienced users may prefer to reset and update KODI and install their own preferred options and plugins. I don't really look on this device as a rival to easy access user friendly streamers like the Roku or the Amazon Fire TV as this device offers so much more but at the price of being difficult to fully configure as well as being more clunky and long winded to operate. The Kodi app uses plug-in type configurations which are volatile in nature and tend to cease working without notice and need to be replaced or updated, A search on Youtube will find a host of guides to getting the best from KODI. This is a decent quality entry level TV streamer but as with all Android TVs there is a learning curve to get the best from it. Priced at just £27.59 this is certainly a budget priced device but with enough higher end features to make it a worthwhile buy. The Good Android 5.1 Four USB ports Many essential apps pre installed Good build quality All necessary cables supplied SD card slot The Bad Can be complicated configure for non Android users No handset batteries supplied No 5Ghz wifi No Gigabit LAN ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONPTr9Q6p4g