Home 2018 June

Linedock may finally be the right answer for photographers, videographers and filmmakers on the go!


As a Photographer/Videographer/Filmmaker, I am constantly faced with workflow data-related challenges, especially when on location. Whenever I discuss these challenges with my follow media creators, the main issue/challenge always seems to be about the amount of gear that we have to carry when we go into unpredictable scenarios and locations. Apart from carrying around the various camera bodies and lenses, there are also “a ton” of the accessories that we must pack to make sure that we can power, charge, and back up our work. It is critical that we ensure the integrity of the data we capture, as well as create some sort of redundancy while maintaining the capacity to continue shooting until the gig is over.

I have continuously searched for an effective all-in-one solution for charging, data storage, and data backup, and I may have just found the solution in a device called Linedock.

Linedock is a slim and sleek device that provides multiple charging ports, data transfer ports, pass-through charging, a SD card slot, a HDMI port, a DisplayPort and docking capability all in one. It allows you to access up to 7 devices at once. This device seems like it would be a “dream” device for my workflow, and it could adequately address most of the related challenges that we in the industry battle with at each gig.

The Linedock is currently available for purchase in three models that offer no included storage for $299, 256GB of included storage for $399 or 1TB of included storage for $749. You can head over to the Linedock website and pick one up today.

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Linedock may finally be the right answer for photographers, videographers and filmmakers on the go! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2018 at 1:00 pm.

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This power cord uses witchcraft to light up when it gets near an outlet

I’ve been reviewing and writing about gadgets for almost 21 years now, so it’s rare to come across a product that I haven’t seen before. That’s why my hat is off to Ten One Design today because their new Stella power cords have the unique ability to light up when the plug gets within a few inches of an outlet. How does it work? Heck if I know. I just know that I want one. The Stella power cord is available in several styles that make it compatible with your existing Apple chargers, and PC power bricks. The power cord feature a woven covering over the cable and a 45-degree plug with an auto-illuminating LED light near the prongs. The cords stay tidy by using a slide-out clip (Apple versions) or an included strap (PC versions). You can order a Stella cable today for $34.95 with shipping due next month. Head over to Ten One Design for all the details.

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This power cord uses witchcraft to light up when it gets near an outlet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2018 at 11:59 am.

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Epson Expression Premium XP-6000 All-In-One Printer review

I remember watching the original Star Trek series on TV as a lad. Every time someone wanted to look at some kind of media, it was always presented on a tablet-looking device. We’re not there yet, but until we get there, a good printer, like Epson’s XP-6000 fills the void nicely

What is it?

Epson’s Expression Premium All-In-One XP-6000 printer is a wireless computer printer, with fax, scanning, photo printing, and dual-sided capabilities. Multiple paper trays allow borderless 4” X 6” and 8-1/2” X 11” printing.

Hardware Specs

• Printing Method:  Epson Micro Piezo™ print head

• Nozzle Configuration: 360 Nozzles Black, 180 Nozzles per Color

• Minimum Droplet Size: 1.5 Pl, With Variable-Sized Droplet Technology

• Ink Technology:  Claria™ Premium Ink

• Printing Resolution: 5,760 x 1,440 DPI

• Application: Home, Photo

• All-in-One Functions:  Print, Scan, Copy

• Printing Speed ISO/IEC 24734:  15.8 pages/min Monochrome, 11.3 pages/min Color

• Printing Speed:         32 pages/min Monochrome (plain paper 75 g/m²), 32 pages/min Color (plain paper 75 g/m²),15 Seconds per 10 x 15 cm photo (Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper)

• Colors: Black, Photo Black, Cyan, Yellow, Magenta

• Scanning Resolution: 1,200 DPI x 4,800 DPI (Horizontal x Vertical)

• Scanner type:  Contact image sensor (CIS)

• Number of paper trays: 2

• Paper Formats: A4, A5, A6, B5, No. 10 (Envelope), Letter, 10 x 15 cm, 13 x 18 cm, 16:9, Legal, 9 x 13 cm, 13 x 20 cm, 20 x 25 cm, DL (Envelope), C6 (Envelope)

• Duplex: Yes (A4, plain paper)

• Print Margin: 0 mm top, 0 mm right, 0 mm bottom, 0 mm left (Wherever margin is defined. Otherwise 3mm top, left, right, bottom.)

• Multifunction: 100 Sheets Standard, 20 Photo Sheets

• Media Handling: Automatic duplex (A4, plain paper), Borderless print, CD/DVD print

• Energy Use: 18 Watt (standalone copying, ISO/IEC 24712 pattern), 0.7 Watt (sleep mode), 6 Watt (ready), 0.2 Watt (Power off), ENERGY STAR® qualified

• Supply Voltage: AC 220 V – 240 V

• Product dimensions: 349‎ x 340 x 142 mm (Width x Depth x Height)

• Product weight: 6.6 kg

• Noise Level: 4.6 B (A) with Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper / Photo RPM mode – 33 dB (A) with Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper / Photo RPM mode

• Compatible Operating Systems: Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3, XP Professional x64 Edition SP2

• Included Software: Epson Easy Photo Print, Epson Print CD

• Interfaces: WiFi, USB, Wi-Fi Direct, USB host

• WLAN Security: WEP 64 Bit, WEP 128 Bit, WPA PSK (TKIP), WPA PSK (AES)

• Mobile and Cloud printing services: Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Epson Connect (iPrint, Email Print, Remote Print Driver, Scan-to-Cloud, Facebook print)

• Housing Color: Black

• LCD screen: Color, Diagonal: 6.1 cm

• Memory Cards: SD, SDHC, SDXC, MicroSD*, MicroSDHC*, MicroSDXC*, MiniSD*, MiniSDHC* (* Adaptor required, not included)

• Features: Red-eye removal, Photo Enhance, Direct print from USB, Wireless PictBridge

• Warranty: 12 months Carry-in

What’s in the Box?

  • Individual Ink Cartridges
  • Printer
  • Power Cable
  • Setup Guide
  • Software CD
  • Warranty Card

Design and features

Epson has been a household name in printing for many years. In fact, my first color printer was an Epson some 20 years ago.

The XP-6000 printer arrived in a full-color, well-padded box with hand grips in the sides –always helpful for the bulky gadgets. Epson was gracious in including several types of paper for this review.

I removed what seemed like dozens of blue tape tabs to secure the printer during transport, unwrapped and installed the ink cartridges and plugged in the printer for its maiden voyage.

The printer starts with a number of print quality and head alignment tests which took about 10 minutes.

Several pages were printed which asked me to provide answers to my preferred printed squares, blocks, and colors. Connecting the printer to WiFi was a bit cumbersome scrolling through alpha-numeric screens using the keypad cursors and “ok” button.

The printer is very “boxy” with not very many protrusions in its resting state. I like this clean unencumbered design.

To start printing, the front of the printer must be opened and the collection tray extended. This might pose a problem if someone sent data to the printer, but didn’t make sure the collection tray was not extended. With the tray closed, the printer is very compact and quite sexy (can I use “sexy” to describe a printer?)

I loaded plain paper and 4 X 6 photo paper and selected a few images from my iPhone. The printer isn’t a speed demon, but the output was sharp and clear, I was particularly impressed with the subtlety in the greys in the photo of my daughter’s pet bunny.

A few more printed 4 X 6 and 8 X10 photos were proof enough for me that the printer is very capable. Like all inkjet printers, ink can be expensive and has a limited shelf life. Inks for the XP-6000 are comparably priced with others on the market. It’s worth noting this printer has four colors, black, cyan, magenta, yellow and photo black that can be purchased in multi-packs.

Next, I chose a two-sided color text document on plain paper. Output was quick and quiet, with only short delays between pages.

I installed the included software on my computer to gain access to the scanning and CD printing capabilities and found the software to be intuitive and easy to use. There are separate apps for CD Printing, scanning and a very comprehensive user guide.

The printer also boasts direct-to-disk printing for CD/DVD/Blu-ray an SD card slot (micro SD cards will need an adapter that isn’t included) and a USB port.

The CD print tray is cleverly housed under the 8-1/2 X 11 tray. The CD printing app works well with lots of options. I’m big on home video so I might have to re-burn all my discs to give them a more polished look.

Computer-free printing is as simple, pop in a USB or SD card, and work through the menus – select the photos, number of prints, finish quality and, poof – done, just don’t forget to extend the output tray.

What I like

  • Attractive styling and compact size
  • Plenty of print options
  • CD printing and tray included
  • Great performance
  • Reasonably priced

What needs to be improved?

  • The ink alignment and head cleaning process can take a while and uses precious ink.

Final thoughts

Epson’s XP-6000 All-In-One printer is solid, offering a great design, CD, two photo sizes and plain paper printing. The apps are well designed and easy to use. Since this printer lacks a document feeder, it’s more geared towards the casual user. The pull-out trays are a bit quirky to get accustomed to, but not onerous. Overall, I really liked the XP-6000 and give it a solid recommendation. It’s not Star Trek yet, but with a snazzy printer like this, I can wait.

Price: $89.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Epson.

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Epson Expression Premium XP-6000 All-In-One Printer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Hate washing dishes by hand? Here’s a dishwasher that fits in even the tiniest kitchen.

If you rent an apartment without a dishwasher or spend a lot of time traveling in an RV, the SPT Countertop Dishwasher may be exactly what you need.  The dishwasher measures 21.67″ wide x 19.67″ deep x 17.25″ tall, so it will fit on many countertops.  You connect to the kitchen faucet with the included faucet adapter.

The exterior is white or silver-colored plastic; the interior and spray arm are durable stainless steel.  Just like bigger models, this countertop dishwasher has automatic detergent and rinse agent dispensers.  The dish rack and flatware basket holds up to 6 standard place settings.  The dishwasher has six cycles to get your dishes clean:  heavy, normal, light, glass, speed, soak.

The SPT Countertop Dishwasher is $230.00 at Amazon.

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Hate washing dishes by hand? Here’s a dishwasher that fits in even the tiniest kitchen. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Jabra Elite 65e headset review

I am a fan of wireless Bluetooth earbuds, and these types of earbuds have been the focus of my search to find the best fit for me. When I first got the chance to review the Jabra Elite 65e Wireless headset, initially I was not very interested because the design included a wire from earbud to earbud. However, I decided to give them a chance. Here is how things worked out.

What is it?

The Jabra Elite 65e headset is a wireless Active Noise Cancelling headset that provides access and functionality for music listening and cell phone functions via Bluetooth.

What’s in the box


1 x Jabra Elite 65E Headset
3 x Pairs of EarGels
3 x Pairs of EarWings
1 x Micro USB Charging cable
1 x Storage Pouch
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

The Jabra Elite 65E headset is designed as 2 earbuds that are connected by a wire that incorporates all of the controls and the charging option. The middle of the wire is built thicker and of a rubber material, and forms the neckband that when worn properly, rests around your neck. The included pairs of EarGels and EarWings come in 3 different sizes and can be easily interchanged for the best fit.

When worn correctly around your neck, the left side of the neckband contains 2 controls and a LED. The top round button pictured below is the Active Noice Cancellation/HearThrough Button. Holding this button down for 2 seconds will toggle this feature on or off.

The microphone symbol button below is used to activate Siri or Google Now, and to mute and unmute the microphone. In addition, when the headset is on, holding down the microphone button for 5 seconds will toggle the voice guidance on or off.

On the right side of the headset neckband, there are 3 buttons as pictured below. The button in the center of the 3 buttons, is the Multi-function button. When you first use the headset, you have to hold this button down for 3 seconds to turn on the headset and to put it in pairing mode. From there, the pairing process is the same as any other Bluetooth device. Once the headset is paired, the Multi-function button handles the following for calls and music:
– Hold down for 1 second to turn on the headphones
– Hold down for 3 seconds to turn off the headphones
– When listening to music, pressing this button will pause or play music
– When using the phone, this button will answer or end the call
– Double pressing this button will reject a call

The Multi-function button also handles multiple calls:
– Press to end a current call and answer an incoming call
– Hold down for 1 second to put the current call on hold and answer an incoming call
– Hold down for 1 second to switch between an active call and a call on hold
– Double-tap to reject an incoming call when you are already on a call

The + and – buttons control the following functions:
– Use the + or – button to adjust the volume when listening to music or on a call
– When using a Smartphone/Tablet and listening to music, press the + or – button for 1 second to skip a track forward or backward.
– When not listening to music or when not on a call, press the + or – button to hear the battery status.

Above the buttons, there is a status LED that indicates battery level for full, medium, low and very low, and pairing mode and resetting.

 


On the right side cable between the neckband and the earbud, there is a microphone in the middle.

As a part of the earbud section of the headset, each earbud has a magnet built-in. The magnets allow you to attach the 2 earbuds together when wearing them for added security, cable management, and power management. If you connect the earbuds together via the magnets while listening to music or on a call, the music will be paused or the call will be ended. If you are receiving a call, separating the earbuds will answer the call.

The thick part of the neckband that sits around your neck includes the charging port, and it also vibrates when powered on or off, when the headset connects to your Smartphone or computer, etc., and when there is an incoming call.

Performance

Although I am a big fan of completely wireless earbuds and not a big fan of the neckband, I must say that I LOVE this Jabra headset. It remains charged for quite a long time and recharges quickly. However, those features are just the tip of the iceberg. When placed around my neck, the headset fits so well that I forget that it is there. The fit of the earbuds in my ears is comfortable and secure, and I can wear them for a long time. The buttons function well, and the voice commands are clear and make sense. In terms of the sound, the lows, mids, and highs are well balanced and just sound great, and there is a built-in volume limiter that limits how loud they get. At first, I was a bit annoyed about the limiting, but the volume is more than adequate, and this feature will likely preserve my hearing. Phone calls are clear on both ends, and the Bluetooth connection is very reliable with very few disconnects. The accompanying Jabra Sound+ App is a nice feature, and the ability to equalize your music especially when switching genres is nice. I listen to Contemporary Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Easy Listening, some “borderline” classical music, etc.

Jabra Sound+ App

The Jabra Sound+ App allows you to customize your music along with handling other functions. You can manage the Automatic Noise Cancellation/HearThrough, enable or disable vibration, manage voice prompts, equalize your sound, as well as register your headset for the 2-year warranty and get any firmware updates. The pictures below show some of the available screens and choices.






What I Like

I love the quality of the build of this headset, the built-in features and functionality, and the fit and finish. Holding them in my hand just gives the feel of a quality product. The sound reproduction is pretty darn good, and they are really comfortable to wear.

What can be improved

I do think that while this headset is well built, the magnets that hold the earbuds together could be a bit stronger. I am not sure how that would affect performance, but they do constantly separate while I am wearing them, and on a couple of occasions, the headset fell from around my neck after the magnets separated.

Final thoughts

In a market that is saturated with wireless earbuds of every shape and size and gimmick, the Jabra Elite 65e headset stands out as a quality product in just about every way. It is well built, produces well-balanced sound and most of all remain reliable use after use. If anything changes, I will be sure to write an update, but in the meantime and until I find earbuds that can do better, this headset holds on to the #1 position in my growing collection.

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: Jabra and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Jabra.

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Jabra Elite 65e headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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