Home 2018 July

LiteXim Aerobuds wireless earbuds review


REVIEW – Once again I got the opportunity to further my search to find the earbuds that are perfect for me. So far, I have come across 2 that are close to perfect but I always wonder if there is something better “out there”. Given the opportunity to try another set, I willingly said yes!! Now let’s see what my experience was like.

What is it?

The LiteXim Aerobuds are a pair of wireless, Bluetooth lightweight earbuds with the usual charging case. They perform the standard audio functions including phone functions.

What’s in the box


1 x Pair of Aerobuds
1 x Charging Case
3 x Pairs of Wing Tips
3 x Pairs of Ear Tips
1 x USB Micro USB Cable
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

The LiteXim earbuds come nicely and safely packaged. Once you remove them from the box and charge them, you are ready to go. I was able to use the Wing Tips and Ear Tips that were already installed. It is important to note that the instruction manual that comes with the earbuds is more like a quick start guide. There is a printed QR Code on it that allows you to download the full manual onto your phone or you can go to their website and download the manual to your computer.


Once the earbuds are charged, you press down on the surfaces of each simultaneously for 2 seconds, and they power on and show up in the Bluetooth settings screen of your phone. The surface of each earbud is the Multi-function button (Referred to as MFB for the rest of this article). Just as an FYI, I use the iPhone 8 Plus. The earbuds automatically connect to each other, and the right earbud flashes red and white while in pairing mode, just like most earbuds. Once the earbuds are paired, they are ready for use. For phone calls, only the right earbud is enabled.

The following is the status indicator chart from their manual:

Performance

Specifications:
Bluetooth version: 4.2
Stand-by-time: Approx. 60 hrs
Talking time: Approx 3.5 hrs
Earbud battery capacity: 50 mAh each
Charging case battery capacity: 500 mAh

Using the earbuds:

To answer a call: Press MFB once.
To hang up: Press MFB once.
To reject a call: Double tap MFB.
To play/pause music: Press MFB to play or pause when playing music.
To switch to the next song: Double tap MFB.

When the batteries are low, the earbuds will announce “low battery” and eventually power off. They will also auto shutoff if they fail to connect to your device within 3 minutes after powering on, or if they are connected to your device and lose the connection for more than 5 minutes.

These earbuds work well for use during daily running around and needing or wanting to listen to music. They sound ok but are definitely not audiophile grade. The bass is somewhat lacking, and the highs tend to be harsh even at lower volumes. The Mids are fairly present and within range. I did encounter the following issues:

  • I charged the earbuds overnight, and the next day, about 10 minutes into listening to them, the left ear announced that the battery was low and shut off. It turns out that even though you drop them in the case, you have to move them around a bit to ensure that they are connecting properly. Once I figured this out, I charged them again overnight, and they have been fine since. I do check them each time I “drop” them in the charging case.
  • I travel back and forth to work using the same route every day, so all of the earbuds that I have tested are used within the same environment. These earbuds would lose their Bluetooth connection a few times on each journey, and this is not counting the disconnections in the known areas on my route where interference is high and where difficulties are presented to all of the earbuds.
  • When earbuds like these are functioning properly, once paired they should automatically connect to the mobile device when powered on and disconnect when placed in the case. Neither of these functions works consistently. I have to go into my settings and manually connect to the earbuds at least 2 out of 3 times, and this is even though they appear in my Bluetooth device list as they should. On most occasions, the earbuds would remain connected to my Bluetooth after they are placed in the case and the case is closed. I would wait for a couple of minutes to see if they would disconnect, and then I would have to go into my Bluetooth settings and manually disconnect. I have tested many earbuds, and if my memory serves me correctly, this is only the second time I have come across this issue.
  • As you can see in the picture below, when I charge my Aerobuds, only the LED for the right earbud and the power LED light up. For some reason, the LED for the left earbud never lights up. I do suspect that my case is defective since both earbuds do charge once I make sure that they are seated properly in the case.


The Aerobuds fit quite comfortably in the ears and stay in place quite well. They are lightweight and do not add any additional noticeable presence other than what can be expected as “normal”.

The Phone functions work as they should, and I could hear the person on the line very clearly. However, the other party would indicate that while they could hear me clearly, my voice is very low. I have to raise my voice significantly for them to hear me in a volume that would be considered close to “normal”.

What I like

I like the small size of the Aerobuds and how well they fit in my ears. They are lightweight and feel quite comfortable.

What can be improved

  • The stability of the Bluetooth Connection
  • The upper-frequency threshold for the highs
  • The range of the bass
  • The quality control related to the Aerobuds and the connection in the charging case
  • The ability to connect and disconnect from the mobile device

Final thoughts

The LiteXim Aerobuds have many positive features for the everyday run-around earbuds. They are lightweight and for the price, they are an ok value. I also usually mention in my “Final thoughts” segment, that feel, fit and sound are all individually subjective dynamics. For me, the issues that I experienced with the Bluetooth connection along with the overall sound that was a bit harsh in the highs and lacking in the lows make these more usable for convenience if my other earbuds are charging or for some reason out of reach. They are not my first choice if my other earbuds are readily available. I would mention the names of some of the others, but that might be unfair given their cost.

Price: $65.99
Where to buy: Amazon Use the code RD4336XO for 28% off (expires 7/30/18)
Source: The sample for this review was provided by LiteXim.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

LiteXim Aerobuds wireless earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2018 at 4:15 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Micro veggie growing tray, tiny EDC pen, a toothbrush for dogs, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

NEWS – This week we are bringing you info on ten crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. This week’s campaigns are for people who like indoor gardening, dogs, EDC tools, mobile computing, and more.

Bristly – World’s Most Effective Toothbrush for Dogs

What is it?

Bristly is a specially designed canine teeth cleaner/toothbrush with a channel for toothpaste, soft rubber nubs to gently tartartarter off teeth, and a base that is paw friendly.

Why is it cool?

I like the Bristly because you can load it up with some doggie toothpaste and let your best pal “brush” his or her own teeth instead of trying to do it yourself which isn’t fun for you OR your dog.

Things to consider before pledging

Bristly won’t last forever. The makers claim it’s only effective for 3-4 months. So this isn’t a buy it once kind of product.

Where can I find more info?

The Bristly campaign ends on 8/10/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $15,000. You can pre-order a Bristly starting at $22. After the Bristly campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Lumen: Hack your metabolism & lose weight

What is it?

Lumen is a small device that can measure your metabolism through your breath.

Why is it cool?

I think Lumen is interesting because you can use it to find out if you’re burning fat or carbs in real time. That gives you good info on when you should workout, what you should eat, and when.

Things to consider before pledging

They won’t start shipping rewards until February of next year. That means you’ll already be past your new year’s resolution to lose weight dieting phase.

Where can I find more info?

The Lumen campaign has a little over a month left and they have already passed their funding goal of $50,000. You can pre-order a Lumen starting at $199. After the Lumen campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

DUO: The on-the-go dual screen laptop monitor

What is it?

DUO is a portable attachable second display for a laptop computer.

Why is it cool?

I like the DUO because it adds more screen real estate to your laptop even when you’re mobile/traveling or even at home if you have a small work area. The 12.5-inch 1080p display is compatible with any laptop and connects with a USB cable.

Where can I find more info?

The DUO campaign ends on 7/24/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $35,000. You can pre-order a DUO starting at $189. After the DUO campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in January 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

NanoPen | World’s Smallest & Indestructible EDC Pen Tool

What is it?

The NanoPen is an aluminum pen with a screen top cap.

Why is it cool?

I like the NanoPen because it’s small enough to attach to almost anything without adding bulk. That means you’ll actually carry it with you and use it. It uses an ink refill that has a Tungsten Carbide tip so that you can use the NanoPen for more than just writing. You can use it as a pseudo knife to open packages.

Things to consider before pledging

The NanoPen is designed to be disposable. It has a unibody so that the pen can’t be refilled. I find that to be disappointing. On the other hand, you get 3 pens per pack. But still…

Where can I find more info?

The NanoPen campaign ends on 9/7/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order a NanoPen 3pk starting at $18. After the NanoPen campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

EcoQube Sprout – The First Hydroponic, Stackable MicroGarden

What is it?

The EcoQube Sprout is a 4 in. wide x 11.25 in long x 1.60 in tall stackable seed tray for growing micro veggies/sprouts.

Why is it cool?

I like the EcoQube Sprout because it’s designed to make growing sprouts as easy and mess-free as possible. No soil is needed, no rinsing, no special lights, and no fertilizer. Just add your seeds to the molded pulp seed pad, add water to the tray, and in a week you’ll have nutritious micro greens that you can add to sandwiches, salads, etc.

I recently reviewed the Click & Grow Garden system and am all for having my own little indoor garden like the EcoQube because it’s hot outside and I don’t like the mosquitos!

Things to consider before pledging

The rewards aren’t supposed to ship until May 2019. That seems like forever away. Also, all you’re really getting here is a plastic tray with a specially designed seed pad. It doesn’t come with a light or anything like that, so what’s to stop you from just creating your own version of these trays?

Where can I find more info?

The EcoQube Sprout campaign ends on 8/10/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order an EcoQube Sprout starting at $18. After the EcoQube Sprout campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

HYDAWAY. The world’s most collapsible water bottle, reborn.

What is it?

HYDAWAY is a collapsible BPA-free, dishwasher safe water bottle that comes in 18 or 28oz versions. We reviewed the original HYDAWAY last year, and now they are back with a new version.

Why is it cool?

I like the new version of the HYDAWAY because they’ve added some new colors and they have redesigned the spout lid of the bottle to have a built-in carbon filter to help your water taste better. The fact that the bottle smashes down to a small form factor means that it’s perfect for travel.

Things to consider before pledging

I don’t see any deal breakers with this campaign.

Where can I find more info?

The HYDAWAY campaign ends on 8/15/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $20,000. You can pre-order a HYDAWAY starting at $21. After the HYDAWAY campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

The EVERGOODS MQD24 and CTB40 Crossover Backpacks

blurb by Andy Jacobs

What is it?

Evergoods launches their 3rd and 4th crossover backpacks, designed and built to go from urban to office to outdoors with ease and understated style.

Why is it cool?

Like their predecessors, the CPL24 and MPL30, Evergoods’ latest backpack offerings have a simple, understated style that almost masks their thoughtfully-designed features and durably-performing build. The Mountain Quick-Draw, 24 Liter (MQD24) is an Alpine climbing-styled pack with a quickdraw drawstring opening. The Civic Transit Bag, 40 Liter (CTB40) is a larger, suitcase-styled travel bag that opens like a clamshell and can also be worn like a backpack.

Where can I find more info?

The MQD24 and CTB40 Kickstarter campaign launched on July 9, 2018 and ends August 13, 2018. To date, 249 backers have already pledged over $57,000 of the campaign’s $45,000 funding goal. Pledge packages start at $149 for a Super Early Bird MQD24 and $199 for a Super Early Bird CTB40. Visit The EVERGOODS MQD24 and CTB40 Crossover Backpacks Kickstarter campaign site for additional details or to become a backer.

Minimaa productivity boosting notebook/planner with clock

What is it?

Minimaa is a paper journal that has a built-in analog clock right in the center of the page and a variety of productivity and goal features included in the pages.

Why is it cool?

How many journals have you seen with an actual clock built right into it?

Things to consider before pledging

The clock in the middle of each page means that there’s a hole in the center of every page. You’re either going to love this feature or be annoyed by it.

Where can I find more info?

The Minimaa campaign ends on 9/14/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $1,302. You can pre-order a Minimaa starting at $27. After the Minimaa campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Blox: organize your world!

What is it?

Blox is a magnetic modular desktop organizer system made of solid CNC sculpted Walnut and Maple wood.

Why is it cool?

I love wood and I love magnets. Put the two together and what’s not to love? You can rearrange the modules to customize how you like to keep your items organized.

Where can I find more info?

The Blox campaign ends on 8/15/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $1,000. You can pre-order a Blox starting at $40. After the Blox campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

NKMOS Premium Magnetic Modular Mount

What is it?

The NKMOS mount is a modular mounting system for smartphones and tablets.

Why is it cool?

I like the NKMOS mount because it appears to be able to be used on almost any surface from glass to wood and even walls. And it uses magnets! We’ve reviewed quite a few NKMOS products over the years, so they aren’t a new company.

Where can I find more info?

The NKMOS mount campaign ends on 8/10/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $3,677. You can pre-order a NKMOS mount starting at $48. After the NKMOS mount campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Micro veggie growing tray, tiny EDC pen, a toothbrush for dogs, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Pitaka Magcase Pro iPhone X case review

REVIEW – Pitaka has made the leap from single layer cases to a multi-material protective case in the new MagCase Pro for the iPhone X. Does the military spec testing grade matter? How bulky is it? Does it come in black? All these questions and more are answered below.

What is it?

MagCase Pro is a protective case for iPhone X built to take drops and still be relatively thin without affecting the daily use of your phone.

Hardware specs

  • 5 layers of defense to provide the ultimate protection.
  • Protective yet not bulky. Only 0.1 inch profile.
  • Specially-designed bumper corners provide excellent shock-absorption.
  • Shock-resistant back protects the phone against shock.
  • Anti-slip grip ensures a firmer hold when carrying the phone.
  • No interference to WIFI, GPS, Apple Pay, Wireless charging or your signals.

What’s in the box?

  • MagCase Pro for iPhone X
  • Thank You & social media contest card

Design and features

The design of this case has really come to intrigue me. It’s not that I was particularly drawn to the way it looked. I purchased Pitaka’s MagCase for my previous iPhone 6 Plus and it was the first case I ordered for my iPhone X. Interestingly enough I’m not terribly fond of carbon fiber either and the Aramid fiber they use definitely has that look to it. What originally struck me about their MagCase was how thin it was, how sturdy it was, that it always had a slightly warm feel and that it wasn’t slippery, nor too grippy. The opportunity to review their MagCase Pro came up recently and I wanted to see how they designed a case for increased protection.

From a design perspective, let’s look at what you can see and feel. The website images show a protective case that adds some bulk and isn’t too dissimilar from the many protective cases out there, other than their distinctive Aramid material on the back. The box that showed up had me concerned as it felt pretty heavy. 180g on the scale. Opening the box however immediately assuaged my fears as the box is very overbuilt for a case and weighs 143g. If you’re doing the math that means the case is 37g.

I threw a few other protective cases on the scale and they’re all between 40 and 50g. That may not seem like a big difference, but it’s noticeable when the iPhone X is already 174g (an iPhone 6 plus is 172g btw).

From the back, there are some interesting details. The back plate is their Aramid material which I’ll detail out in a bit.

The camera hole has a raised edge offering increased protection of the lens. The other three corners have small arcs raised to the same height so the phone sits totally flat on a table.

Just beyond that rounded rectangle is a scalloped relief that absolutely aids in making the case feel thinner than it is. The last thing visible from this back view is the four corners which clearly protrude (~ 1mm) and add protection for those unexpected drops which happen to all of us.

Looking at the sides, you’ll notice the slanted ridges on the long sides look very pronounced at first. The spacing of them however provides comfortable traction and even something to play with. I find myself frequently dragging my thumbnail along it washer board style.

The power and volume buttons all have great button actuation where you don’t have to press very hard, and you can feel that it pressed and registered. The cut-out for the ringer switch is a good size without being too deep. The bottom has cutouts for the speakers/mic and a charging port large enough for most cables while the top is nice and smooth. Those same four protruding corners come in handy while handling the phone.

Inside the case is a soft microfiber to protect the glass back of your phone while the inner sides have a dimpled texture in the TPU. Those dimples make contact with your phone and compress on impact offering a bit of an air cushion.

The amount of ‘travel’ is pretty minimal compared to the four corners. What was protrusions on the outside is a void on the inside and this provides a good bit more travel should your phone take a direct corner hit in a drop.

That leaves us with the front of the case. There’s a slight ramp up from the sides towards the screen and then a noticeable lip to the screen edge.

This raised lip means you can set your phone face down without any worries, even if you want to add screen protection as well. This is an underrated and definitely something that was missing from their MagCase product.

Setup

This step is really easy. The TPU material that Pitaka uses is rigid while still being very pliable. You can literally put the phone in any side first, or even flat and just push down. The phone pops right in and all the sides bounce back.

Performance

I’ll get this right out of the way. The MagCase Pro is my new favorite case. I’m a switcher. I swap my case a lot, or I should say I did. This has been on my phone solidly since I got it, the exception being a cycling specific case that mounts to my bike. I can honestly say that I’ve dropped my phone less, and when it has dropped it’s never made one of those sounds where you think ‘Uh oh’. The corner hits absorb well enough that had you not seen it you’d think there was rug down there.

Pitaka claims that this case passes 3x the military specification standard. I don’t doubt the veracity of that claim at all. Does it matter? Or is mil-spec a relevant standard? That’s a little harder to quantify as it’s really hard to repeatably drop a device the exact same way. I’ve had cases before that have protected a device flipping off the roof of a car, yet shattering the screen when falling 3 feet from a table at a car dealer. What you can take away is that they’ve done a lot of drop testing and it’s done well.

One of the other reasons this is now my case of choice is their daily use compatibility. If you’re like me, you’ve got some kind of mount in your car and probably a wireless charger at home, at work or both. Pitaka made sure that wireless charging was not affected by their design. That’s one thing when creating a protective case. When you also include magnets to work with your car mounts, that’s pretty cool.

Pitaka has two car mounts; MagMount ($14) and MagMount Qi ($25). Both are available in your choice of vent, suction or CD mount solutions. I’m partial to magnetic mounts and the annoying thing has been the requirement to put a metal plate on the back of your case, or inside if you like to live dangerously. They sent the standard MagMount with vent clip along with this case for review.

It’s a pretty simple ball joint connected to a larger vent clip that grabs the vent fins well. If you mount it closer to the bottom of your vent, the weight of your phone keeps things from bouncing around.

Having metal plates embedded and manufacturing both the case and the mount has allowed Pitaka to create a very sturdy and reliable solution. I’ve yet to have it slide off in the car on this mount, or their MagMount Qi which I had purchased to use with the MagCase I own.

I’m going to steal a graphic from their site now because I really don’t want to cut this case up to show you the layers. There’s 5!

From inside out it’s; microfiber, shock-absorber foam, Aramid layer, Aramid with magnets, and Aramid again. That’s all surrounded by the TPU perimeter.

So what’s Aramid? And how did we get this far down without talking about it? Let’s just answer the first of those two. Aramid is short for aromatic polyamide. They’re man-made synthetic fibers originally made for aerospace. There’s a lot more detail on their website, including a detailed article but what you should take away is how durable it is. It will show some scratches, but it also seems to have some self-healing properties as you can ‘rub-them-away’ in most cases. Funnily enough, I have an extreme example I can show you. This is Doolittle, our beagle.

He’s a chewer and got ahold of my previously mentioned MagCase a while back. Here are some photos of it now after trimming off the seriously damaged corner and using a sanding wheel to smooth out and flatten a couple spots.

Still fits and works other than not protecting the camera corner anymore.

So, can it be possible that there’s nothing I’d change? Almost, but it’s not on the case itself. I want to see is more colors and more devices supported. Right now you can get a MagCase Pro for any device, in any color as long as it’s black for iPhone X. If there were versions for iPhone 7, I’d require my kids to use this case. It’s that good. Luckily for me, I do have the right phone and Black/Grey is fine by me.

What I like

  • Fit, feel and finish
  • Non-slippery in hand, non-grabby in pocket
  • Protection from drops
  • Magnetic mount and Qi compatibility

What needs to be improved

  • Options. 1 device, 1 color

Final thoughts

So let’s recap. This is my new favorite case and I think my phone is safer for it. If you have the right phone, you like black and want to protect your phone investment, please consider this case. If you have a different device and/or want some color in your life, let’s hope Pitaka expands their collection as this case is great.

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Pitaka and Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Pitaka

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Pitaka Magcase Pro iPhone X case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

The Galen Leather Tool Roll is a versatile organizer

NEWS – Often times, the secret to your EDC kit is organizational accessories that make it easier to carry.  That’s the case with this Leather Tool Roll from Galen Leather.  This organizer can function as:

  • Pencil Roll
  • Cable organizer
  • Paintbrush holder
  • Travel watch holder
  • Make-up roll
  • Scissors case
  • Whatever you need it to do!

The organizer measures 13.4″ x 11.9” when opened flat.  Inside pocket measure 1.6″, 3″, 3,75″, 2,5″, and 2,5″.  Once you loaded it up, fold down the top flap to keep everything safely inside, roll it up, then secure it with the leather thong.

The Leather Tool Roll is available in brown, red, or rustic brown leathers for $69.00.  You can add up to three letters of personalization for $10.00.  Order these tool rolls at the Galen Leather website.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

The Galen Leather Tool Roll is a versatile organizer originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2018 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

The Beam Router will keep your privacy the way you like it


NEWS – On any given day, if we pay attention to the people around us, everyone is on the internet with via their phones or tablets or tablets, etc. Our entire lives are now controlled in some way or the other by internet-based services, and our personal information is everywhere. Many of us stay away from the internet cafes and free wifi hotspots and prefer the security that our home networks offer. But do they actually offer the level of security that we think that they do?

“Big Brother” as we know is always watching and paying attention to every website that we visit and every transaction that we make. The right to privacy is no longer a qualified assumption, so manufacturers are working to provide devices that will help us to reclaim some of our privacy.

According to the company Passel, the Beam router is “The World’s Most Advanced Router”. It encrypts all of your information so that all of your navigating and services you utilize will be your own business and your confidentiality will be maintained. The manufacturer goes on to say that “It protects all the devices in your home from threats online and keeps your physical location hidden so you can access any part of the internet, from anywhere in the world”. As per its performance, “It comes equipped with latest-gen wireless technology, gigabit networking, and an incredibly powerful processor and co-processor. This enables Beam to provide every device in your home with breathtaking encrypted speeds”.

If you are interested in purchasing the Beam Router, you can pre-order it on the Passel website with the option of a subscription to Forcefield which is a VPN service designed to make privacy and security easy. The cost starts at $249.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

The Beam Router will keep your privacy the way you like it originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2018 at 8:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.