Where did this past week go? If it was as hectic for me as it was for you, you probably didn’t get a chance to read everything that we posted this week. Never fear my Gadgeteer friends, I have a handy list of all the news, articles, and reviews from the past seven days organized and ready for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
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If you’ve ever tried typing a memo or a lengthy reply to an email on your smartphone, then you’ve probably experienced that frustration of cramped fingers, getting the cursor in the right position, or wrestling with highlighting a bit of text to copy. Logitech’s KEYS-TO-GO portable keyboard is a serviceable remedy that comes with a few small hurdles of its own.
What is it?
The Logitech KEYS-TO-GO is an ultra-light, super-portable standalone Bluetooth keyboard specifically made for mobile phones and tablets.
Hardware specs
Works with all Bluetooth-enabled devices
Height: 5.39 in (137 mm)
Width: 9.53 in (242 mm)
Depth: 0.24 in (6 mm)
Weight: 6.35 oz (180 g)
Powered by rechargeable battery, a single charge lasts up to 3 months (2 hours of typing per day)
Full-Size Keyboard with sealed edges
17 mm key pitch
Scissor Keys (1.2 mm key travel)
Keys wrapped in spill-proof, crumb-proof covering
Full row of iOS shortcut keys
What’s in the box?
KEYS-TO-GO Bluetooth keyboard
Attachable phone stand
USB micro adapter
Documentation
Comes with all you see here.
Design and Features
In my initial tests with the KEYS-TO-GO, my first thought was that it was going to take a lot of time to get used to typing on it. The overall size of the keyboard is maybe 85% of the Apple Magic Keyboard that I type on every day, which is admittedly already diminutive compared to many standard PC keyboards. But boy does that little bit make a big difference.
Setup
Pairing is as easy as any Bluetooth device. After the initial pairing, the KEYS-TO-GO connects automatically upon powering on. The indicator light emits a blue light while the Bluetooth is connecting (very brief) and changes over to bright green, indicating that it has a good charge. Then the light remains off until the batter button is pressed or the battery itself starts to get low. There is no key backlight or indicator that the caps lock is enabled.
The indicator light also glows while charging over the included USB micro adapter, and emits a slowly pulsing light.
Usage
First impressions of the key travel, which is arguably the most important aspect of any keyboard… it feels similar to the Apple iPad Smart Cover keyboard. There is a decent amount of separation between the individual keys, lessened by the tension of the rubber material stretched over all of the keys. You can feel the adjacent keys dip a little bit in response to the material being depressed next to those keys. For a touch typist like myself, it certainly doesn’t feel as “clean” as typing on a regular keyboard for that reason. It feels easy to accidentally press the key next to the one you were aiming for.
KEYS-TO-GO vs. my hand.
I’m getting used to it, and it’s certainly better than many travel keyboards I’ve tried in the past. And it’s practically silent.
Being used to Apple’s Magic Keyboard that they bundle with their iMacs or the keyboard they embed in their laptops, I’m accustomed to a low profile and low travel keyboard. The Logitech’s keys are slightly lower than any of those.
Apple Magic Keyboard vs. KEYS-TO-GO
The whole keyboard feels sort of “spongy.” The home row key bumps on the F and J keys are very prominent, so that serves to realign my hand after moving them off the keys or making a strange combination.
That said, it is very well suited for travel. You can throw it in any tote bag, backpack or purse. The keyboard itself is about as thick as a newer Kindle. Thinner than an iPad or iPhone. And it’s waterproof, save for the ports on the side, so spills are no problem.
I like the function keys at the top. It’s something I miss on my iPad Smart Cover’s keyboard.
KEYS-TO-GO vs. 12.9″ Apple iPad Pro and Smart Keyboard.
Those function keys are, from left to right: – home button – app switcher – search – keyboard language selector – software keyboard show/hide – screenshot button – media keys – volume keys – Bluetooth pairing – battery
There is also an odd function key that enables a handful of extra functions, such as hitting FN-C for copy and FN-V for paste, or FN-left or right arrow for highlighting the next word in either direction. And that’s it. I would have much rather that space be utilized to make the CMD key twice as wide as it is… like I’m used to on my other keyboards.
It’s worth noting there’s no escape key. But I suppose there are not a lot of mobile apps that utilize the escape key. Even Apple doesn’t have on on their iPad Smart Keyboard.
The battery life is advertised to last for months when averaging two hours a day of typing time. However, I found that two weeks at that same pace of roughly 2 hours a day seems to drain it enough to put it in the red. It’s possible that I could have left the keyboard in the on position overnight, or over a weekend… that certainly would have done it. I will have to do more testing to see if that was the case. Still, a few weeks of life without having to recharge is excellent.
The inclusion of an attachable phone stand with the KEYS-TO-GO really positions it as a mobile phone keyboard, and that makes a lot of sense. Even with an iPad or tablet, typing in landscape format is fairly serviceable for long-form emails and documents. However, it’s not so easy on an iPhone. Being able to pull this keyboard out of your backpack or purse at a coffee shop or bookstore sounds like a great proposition on paper.
As minimal a typing experience as you can get, an iPhone with a keyboard.
However, in practice, I’m having a hard time thinking of a time or place where I’d prefer typing on the tiny screen of my iPhone vs. a laptop or tablet. If you knew you needed to type out something lengthy, then you’d probably just take something more comfortable (i.e. a larger screen) to type on. The KEYS-TO-GO does pair well with a tablet, provided you have something to prop it up with.
You do need a flat surface in front of you. Trying to type with the KEYS-TO-GO on your lap, on an iPhone, is nearly impossible.
This rubberized coating can take some abuse, too.
This keyboard seems best suited for people who want to travel super light, as in just this small keyboard and their phone, which is certainly an idea I can get behind. If only this keyboard was a tiny bit larger, or my hands were a bit smaller. Personally, most of my bags are large enough to where I could carry around an additional Apple keyboard (which only costs $20 more, new) and use that exclusively with my phone rather than deal with to the differences in key travel and key size.
What I liked:
Ultra-lightweight and portable
Spill-resistant
Phone stand is nice
What needs to be improved:
The keyboard layout is just a little too cramped for my taste
For the price, there are many fuller-sized options
Final thoughts
The KEYS-TO-GO works well in a pinch, provided you have a nice surface in front of you to type on. I’m sure I could get used to typing on it, given time, but personally, there are better solutions for me that are within the price range. I can appreciate their vision of toting this keyboard to use with your always-on-you mobile phone, so it would be easy to recommend to someone who wants to travel light and still accomplish the goal of long-form typing on their phone.
Price: $69.99 Where to buy: You can pick up a KEYS-TO-GO Bluetooth Keyboard from Logitech’s website and Amazon in black, stone gray, blush pink or smoky blue. Source: The sample of this product was provided by Logitech.
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Having a tiny kitchen meant, in the past, that you couldn’t have a gourmet kitchen. That’s no longer true with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. They’ve offered 30″ dual-fuel ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, and counter-depth fridge/freezer units for some time now, but now they’ve introduced 24″ and smaller appliances for the tiniest of kitchens.
Sub-Zero now offers integrated counter-depth column refrigerator modules as narrow as 24″ and freezer modules as narrow as 18″, so you can custom design your refrigerated storage. They also offer 18″ wine fridges and 15″ wide ice makers.
Wolf offers a variety of cooking options for the small kitchen, including a 24″ 3-burner induction cooktop, a 24″ E Series Transitional built-in single convection oven, 24″ built-in steam ovens, built-in drop-drawer microwave, and a built-in coffee system.
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In my time with the Gadgeteer, I’ve written about a lot of iPhone X cases. I’ve even reviewed a couple that I really liked. The jimmyCASE Slim Classic is another fun case I recently came across.
The case has a silicone protective bumper with a genuine mahogany wood core, giving the case a distinctively rich look.But what makes this case a stand out is the elastic pocket on the back.
The high-performance elastic gives the case a push to slide wallet function.
It’s capable of holding up to 6 credit cards and cash. It’s even strong enough to hold a car key fob. And it will never lose its stretch.
The Slim Classic is available in 18 different options with various colors, stripes, and patterns. There’s even a really cool looking Black Maple option, which costs slightly more.
You can purchase the case on the companies website for $45.
The sweet looking Black Maple case will set you back $60.
If you have a different iPhone, you can purchase a jimmyCASE case for iPhone 7 Plus/8 Plus, iPhone 7/8 and other models starting from $39.
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Today we’re sharing a piece of American history. The Diamond Brand Gear Company has been making tents and camping gear in the U.S.A. since 1881. I’m reviewing the latest edition of their iconic Belay Bag, a daypack made for exploring on and off the grid. Let’s get packing!
What is it?
It’s a 22 liter daypack with a fully adjustable harness system that converts from a backpack to sling bag.
Hardware specs
1000D Nylon fabric construction
Pockets made from upcycled 70D Ripstop with Polyurethane Coating
Nylon Webbing
YKK zippers
All Metal Hardware
Main Compartment: 19 inches tall, 12 inches wide, 6 inches deep
Front pockets: 14 inches tall, 2 1/2 inches deep
22 Liters
What’s in the box?
The package includes the pack, 2 adjustable/removable shoulder straps, and an extra set of pull chords if you want to change up the colors.
Design and features
Diamond Brand Gear supplied the U.S. military in World War I and II, and made the first packs for the Boy Scouts of America in the 1930s. The Belay Bag was first introduced in the 1980s. There’s a lot of history here, and the Belay Bag does a nice job of presenting a contemporary design that still pays homage to it’s roots.
You’ll find a lot of heritage-inspired design elements in the Belay Bag: the bullet-shape, the bold pops of color, and the big ol’ Diamond-branded leather lash tab on the front face of the pack. But the whole look is pulled together with a clean, sophisticated treatment that works just as well on the street as it does on the trail. The profile is streamlined and modern, and those bold pops of color are tastefully placed to accent the form of the bag. It’s definitely at home in business casual workplaces or city commutes, standing out against the sea of black and grey business bags. One of my coworkers complimented me on it’s “fashion forward” style in a recent meeting. Seriously. Those were his actual words.
The form factor is that of a clamshell top-loader. A pair of zips open down to just about the bottom of the bag, which is great for allowing easy access to main compartment while ensuring that things don’t tumble out when the bag stands up. A simple padded sleeve protects your laptop (up to 15”) and a tablet, and there’s a zippered pocket at the top of the bag (on the front face) for little odds and ends. It’s simple and functional with room to spare (19” by 12” by 6”) for a lunch, a sweater, and assorted extras.
The front face of the bag features two HUGE external pockets, each of which is 14” tall and 2-1/2” deep. Either pocket will house a big hydration bottle or a rolled-up light jacket. They’ll also each take a 32-ounce growler or a bottle of your favorite party beverage (I like to bring whiskey) so that you’re ready for the next gathering. Each pocket also has a sleeve on the rear face to manage smaller items. The zips stop short of the bottom of the pocket, so you can toss loose items like your keys in there without fear of them falling out. They are great multifunctional spaces that extend the overall functional flexibility of the bag in day-to-day situations.
At a 22 liter capacity, the Belay Bag fits perfectly in the daypack category: room for extras, but not so much that you’re feeling like you have too much bag for day trips. If you are hitting the trail, you won’t lack for outboard attachment points. Strips of nylon loops on the front face of the bag and the shoulder straps give you a total of 22 places to hang axes, tripods, ball caps, cell phone pouches, a bedroll, walking sticks, a wet gear bag… you name it. The possibilities are endless.
Diamond Gear placed an emphasis on comfortable carry with the new Belay Bag design. The back pad is thick closed-foam with a mesh cover, designed with an open center channel for air circulation. The attachment points at the top and bottom of the shoulder straps are also completely adjustable to your shoulder width and body type. The strap pads contour slightly at the hips to reduce rubbing against your sides. It’s really comfortable for all-day wear.
The Belay Bag has another trick to play: it converts to a sling bag. Quick release metal tabs at the top and buttoned loops at the bottom allow for quick removal of the shoulder straps. Take one strap and re-attach it at the opposite shoulder, loosen up the leads, and the bag wears cross-body like a messenger bag. It’s not an afterthought, either: the bag is designed to works really well in both configurations. I actually prefer using it in sling mode given the bag’s size… think of it like a vertically-oriented messenger bag.
Construction is excellent across the board. 1000D Cordura nylon is the primary material. Upcycled materials from tent production (70D Ripstop with Polyurethane Coating) are used in the pockets, adding a cool little sustainability bonus. Metal hardware and YKK zips are used throughout. It’s a solid utilitarian build that matches the personality and multipurpose usability of the bag.
I do have two minor design improvements that I think would help the bag. The internal zip pocket kind of flaps about, and could probably be attached to the front face so it doesn’t get in the way when you’re digging in the bag. I also wouldn’t overpack that pouch, because it gets in the way of reaching stuff in the main compartment. The shoulder pads are a bit blocky and stiff, and could probably use a touch more refinement. But these are both extremely minor issues.
What I like
Very comfortable and adjustable for all-day wear
Perfect size for a daypack
Excellent multipurpose external pockets
Lots of external attachments, tastefully designed
Great for both work and play
Works equally well in both backpack and sling bag mode
What needs to be improved
Shoulder pads are a little stiff and blocky but will break in over time
Internal zip pocket is useful but can get in the way if the bag is full
Final thoughts
Made in the Carolina Mountains, the Diamond Gear Brand Belay Bag is an ideal multipurpose daypack. While it’s not a heavily tech-focused bag, the usability is solid as a daily work commuter that will adapt seamlessly to travel and off-road exploits. The big external pockets and plethora of attachment loops, while subtly rendered in the design, make the bag super-adaptable. It is very comfortable to wear for extended periods, and the easy conversion to a sling-style bag is a well-executed bonus. It’s rapidly becoming one of my favorite all-around performers. I’ll be giving it some more in-depth travel testing in the next few weeks!
Price: $139.00 Where to buy: But direct from Diamond Brand Gear or on Amazon. Additional colors are also available. Source: The sample of this product was provided by Diamond Brand Gear.
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