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swrve jeans, BeanPlus Cold Drip Coffee Brewer, and more – Review updates

REVIEW – You might wonder what happens to the products that we review. Do we keep using them long after the review has been posted or do they break after long term use? We answer those questions by posting long term updates to our past reviews and today we have four updates from Andy Jacobs for a review almost 5 years old and others that are going on 2 years old. Click on the review link and then scroll to the bottom to see what new info Andy has added.

Satechi 4-Port USB 3.0 Premium Aluminum Hub review by Andy Jacobs

BeanPlus Cold Drip Coffee Brewer review by Andy Jacobs

swrve CORDURA Slim jeans review by Andy Jacobs

PureGear PureBoom Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds review by Andy Jacobs

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swrve jeans, BeanPlus Cold Drip Coffee Brewer, and more – Review updates originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 25, 2019 at 1:25 pm.

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IOGear USB-C Docking Station with Power Delivery 3.0 review


REVIEW – Last year, I got the opportunity to test and review a few USB-C docks that allowed me to expand the versatility of my several workstations so that I have all of the capabilities I need regardless of what platform I am using. This year, I am continuing my interest in USB-C docks looking to find the most practical with the most features and connectivity options for mobile use. The IOGear USB-C Docking Station with Power Delivery 3.0 is the first candidate in this category for 2019. So let’s get started!!

What is it?

The IOGear USB-C Docking Station with Power Delivery 3.0 is an expansion dock that provides multiple and various ports and connectivity via one USB-C connection. It is USB port powered and also includes a USB-C pass-through power delivery port.

What’s in the box

1 x IOGear USB-C Docking Station with Power Delivery 3.0
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x Warranty Card

Design and features

Features:

    • Instantly dock up to 10 devices
    • Charge laptop & devices with up to 100W pass-through
    • Fast Role Swap provides safe operation for connected devices during power changes
    • Versatile video options: HDMI (4K), Mini DisplayPort (4K) or VGA (1080p)
    • Dual video outputs available via HDMI & Mini DisplayPort for up to 1080p @60Hz
    • Silicon rubber pad prevents dock from slipping or scratching laptop
    • SD/MicroSD card reader/writer supports memory expansion
    • 1 x 3.5mm Audio input & 1x 3.5mm Audio output
    • 3x USB-A 3.0 ports; 1x BC 1.2 charging port (1.5A)
    • 1 x USB-C data port
    • 1 x Gigabit Ethernet port
    • HDCP 1.4 compliant
    • Works with the new USB-C iPad Pro under mirror-mode

Specifications:
Upstream Port:
USB: USB-C Built-in USB 3.1 G1 Type-C cable
Downstream Ports:
HDMI: 1x HDMI port (v.1.4 spec compliant, up to 3840×2160@30Hz)
Mini DisplayPort: 1x MiniDisplayPort port (v.1.2 spec compliant, up to 3840×2160@30Hz)
VGA: 1x VGA port (up to 1920×1200@60Hz)
USB-A: 3x USB 3.0 A ports, 1 port with BC1.2 charging
USB-C: 1x USB-C port for sharing, 1 x USB-C for data
Card Reader: Supports SD/SDHC/SDXC @ UHS-I class, MMC
Ethernet: 1x Gigabit Ethernet port
Audio: DC3.5 port, support audio or microphone
Power Delivery Pass-Thru: PD 3.0 / 100W (A total of up to 85W can be charged to the laptop after deduction of max 15W used by the dock)
Operating System Requirements: Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10, Mac OS X 10.10.5+
Dimensions: Height 2.96″ (7.5cm), Depth 0.39″ (1.5cm), Length 13.78″ (35cm)

This dock is built with a slant/slope from back to front and is designed to sit directly under your laptop with the back edge of the dock aligning with the back edge of your laptop. This allows access to the ports while creating a better viewing angle. It has a built-in rubber pad on its surface that prevents the laptop from slipping off. It also includes a built-in USB-C connection cable that tucks away neatly underneath.


On the back of the dock, there are several connectivity ports. The second picture below shows the port configuration.

Performance

I started off by trying the dock with my HP laptop. I placed it under the laptop so that the ports protruded just past the back of the laptop. I found this to be the best position for me to be able to attach accessories and cables without moving the laptop.

Since my HP laptop does not have any built-in USB-C ports, I used the USB-C to A adapter shown below.

I then plugged the connection cable with the USB-C to A adapter into one of the USB ports on my laptop. While this dock seems to be geared towards a MacBook, the specifications say that it is also compatible with any Windows laptop. My MacBook Pro has 2 USB-c ports on its left side. However, if I wanted to plug in the connection cable to one of the USB ports on the right side of my HP laptop, it would only work while under my laptop if I use a USB extension cable. The cable built into the dock is not designed to swing over to the right side of the laptop.

The picture below shows the right side of my laptop and the dock under it. The only port on the right side of the dock is the 3.5mm audio input/output port.

In the picture below, the dock is connected to my Windows HP laptop, and I am using a Kensington wireless mouse with its USB wireless dongle plugged into the dock.

The next picture shows the dock underneath my MacBook Pro, with an HDMI cable for an external monitor attached as well as the MacBook Pro power adapter plugged into the USB-C PD Pass-through port.

Below you see the side of the MacBook Pro with the built-in USB-C cable from the dock plugged into my MacBook Pro.

And the screenshot below shows the charging icon on the screen to confirm that the MacBook Pro is being charged via the USB_C PD Pass-through port.

The extension monitor works well via the HDMI and VGA ports of the dock.

As shown in the picture below, the dock also works with the iPad Pro and an external/extension monitor.

Unfortunately, my laptop still has Windows 7 installed, so I was unable to test the dual monitor feature with it. However, I have no reason to believe that it will not work with a Windows 10 laptop as per the specifications. I also tested the ethernet connection, both the SD and micro SD slots, and the 3.5mm audio port and everything worked very well.

What I like

  • The form factor and compact footprint
  • The number of ports
  • The versatility of the selection of the ports and their functions
  • The USB-C pass-through power delivery port
  • The standard USB charging port

What can be improved

  • The addition of one or two USB ports on the sides of the dock
  • The ability for the built-in USB-C connection cable to be able to “swing” and plug into USB ports on either side of the laptop.

Final thoughts

When I first saw this delivery dock, I liked the concept of the design that allows you to place it under your laptop to provide an optimal viewing angle in addition to the expansion capabilities. I like the number of ports and the versatility that really accommodates most of the usual needs. The pass-through power delivery allows you to maintain just one power adapter, and the included 3.5mm I/O audio port rounds off the selection. I also like that it was easy to use it with my Windows laptop, my MacBook and my iPad Pro. With the exception of the inconvenience of not having any side connectivity, this dock works well and is well built. While it may not be 100% perfect for my personal needs, it comes very close. Well done!!

Price: $179.95
Where to buy: IOGear website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by IOGear.

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IOGear USB-C Docking Station with Power Delivery 3.0 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 25, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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SecureDrive KP hardware encrypted external portable harddrive review


REVIEW – I’ve been into computing for many years and I’ve collected a good amount of data that has to be kept secure. When the opportunity to review the SecureDrive came along, I figured this would be a good time to implement even better security than I previously had.

What is it?

The SecureDrive KP is a hardware encrypted external portable drive. It features a physical keypad and works across and with any OS and Devices.

Hardware specs

Capacity:   1TB, 2TB, 5TB, 500GB SSD, 1TB SSD, 2TB SSD, 4TB SSD, 8TB SSD
Cryptographic Processes:   AES-XTS 256 Bit Hardware Encryption (OS independent)
Dimensions (L x W x D):   127mm x 77mm x 12.5mm (1&2TB) – x 20.5mm (5TB)
Weight:   Approx. 9 oz. (1TB & 2 TB) Approx. 12 oz. (5TB)
Interface/Power Supply:   USB 3.0 (2.0 compatible) / BUS powered
Certifications:   RoHs, FCC, CE, USB, FIPS 140-2 Level 3
Assembled:   U.S.A
Languages:   English
Warranty:   2 years (limited warranty)
Password Policy:   Strong password (7-15 chars) Alpha Numeric
System Compatibility:   Microsoft, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Thin Clients,
Embedded Systems (No software or drivers  needed)

What’s in the box?

  • SecureDrive KP (250GB SSD as tested)
  • Quick Start guide
  • 16″ USB cable
  • Export Notice information sheet


Design and features

The SecureDrive KP is about the same size as all other external drives, measuring just 3″x5″x0.5″. There is no external power supply requirement, it simply operates off of the USB cable power.

One of the key ways the SecureDrive keeps your data safe is that there is absolutely no communication between the host Operating System (Windows, Linux, MacOS or similar) and the drive until the User enters the correct PIN via the onboard keypad. This prevents computer/software brute force attacks and/or hacking of the system.

Once the correct pin is entered the drives USB controller is unlocked to initiate communication between the drive and host OS. This also prevents any malicious firmware modifications/updates that might be intended to breach the security of the drive.

The drive uses 256 bit AES XTS Mode hardware encryption. This hardware encryption is much faster than software based encryption which can slow performance by 30% or more.

Speaking of performance, the USB 3.0 super speed interface provides for a transfer rate of 5.0 Gbit/s while being backward compatible with USB 2.0 for older hardware. The USB cable is 16″ long and appears to be a standard cable often used for portable drives.

The wear resistant keypad has a special coating which masks key usage, without such coating an attacker could determine the most commonly used keys. The drive requires a 7 to 15 character password.

A secure drive would not be completely secure if it allowed access to the electronics that control the drive. The SecureDrive is certified FIPS level 3 (U.S. government computer security standard) and every vital piece of electronics is covered with a tough epoxy coating cementing the critical components in an indistinguishable solid capsule. There are no externally visible means to open the drive enclosure.

The SecureDrive works with any host operating system (Microsoft Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Thin Clients, Zero Clients, Android & Embedded Systems).

The drive has a brute force anti-hacking self destruct feature that is triggered after entering an incorrect password ten consecutive times. When triggered it will crypto-erase the passwords, all User data and drive formatting. Basically, it will wipe the drive and it will reset the password to the factory password. The drive is still useable, just empty. I tested this feature and it indeed worked perfectly. This is probably a good point to mention that there are no techniques to retrieve the pin. There are absolutely no back-doors and all data will be erased permanently.

One feature I really like about this drive is that you can configure an admin password and a user password. This also allows you to optionally set the user to be read-only and set an inactivity autolock.

When there are an admin and user password set, entering the wrong user password ten consecutive times only erases the user password, the admin password and drive data remain intact. This prevents a malicious user from intentionally or accidentally erasing the drive.

Another feature I like about the drive is the inactivity autolock. The Drive can be set to automatically lock after a pre-set amount of time of inactivity. The default state of the Inactivity Lock is OFF. This is a great feature because regardless of how careful you are to re-lock the device, one instance of forgetting to lock it and the drive becomes vulnerable. This feature can be set to activate (lock) at predefined times between 1 and 60 minutes. The 60-minute limit is something I would like to see changed. For me, I work from home and would like the drive to remain unlocked all day, but then lock after 8 hours or so.

For the technical minded, here are some CrystalDiskMark tests from my setup:



What I like

  • Physical keypad
  • Compact design

What needs to be improved

  • Auto lock times need to be longer
  • Did not have a full printed manual with it, but PDF’s are on the drive and a printed quick start instruction sheet was provided.

Final thoughts

The SecureDrive KP provides an easy and portable way to secure data and is available in the following capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 5TB, 500GB SSD, 1TB SSD, 2TB SSD, 4TB SSD, 8TB SSD.

Price: $279 as tested, many other models available
Where to buy: SecureDrive
Source: The sample of this product was provided by SecureDrive

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SecureDrive KP hardware encrypted external portable harddrive review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 25, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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See tall and wide with the new Remo+ RemoBell S video doorball

NEWS – Getting a good view from a video doorbell has always been a challenge.  Remo+, maker of the DoorCam over-the-door wireless video camera has introduced the RemoBell S video doorbell with 180-degree viewing angles both vertically and horizontally.

Nicely styled, the RemoBell S will fit in with most decors. Rated for -4 degrees to +122 degrees fahrenheit, it should survive most climates, unless of course, you’re anywhere in the northern part of the US this polar vortex winter.

Video is recorded at full HD 1080p (1556 x 1536) and h.264 compression.  The doorbell comes with rolling three-day cloud storage included and longer, paid options available. Remo+ offers both IOS and Android apps for smart-device connectivity. Home automation integration is available through Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT.  The RemoBell S and its app combine for two-way audio, push notifications, user-definable motion zones, night vision, and live view.  You can create up to five account users so the whole family can access the doorbell.  The app also has a dewarping feature that promises to make the video appear more normal and not curved, like the video from competitors.  The RemoBell S operates off 16 and 24 VAC systems and is hardwired to your existing doorbell wiring.

With its wide field of view, free cloud storage, low price, and good looks, RemoBell S is a compelling new entry into the crowded video doorbell market. RemoBell S is priced at $99 and available from Remo+.

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See tall and wide with the new Remo+ RemoBell S video doorball originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 24, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Tapplock Lite fingerprint lock review

REVIEW – One of my recurring nightmares is trying to open my junior high combination lock. I have a very bad memory, so I avoid combination locks whenever possible. The Tapplock Lite features fingerprint unlocking with a “Morse code” backup. I know Morse code, so I wanted to check this out.

What is it?

The Tapplock Lite is a lightweight lock with a capacitive fingerprint sensor and can be managed via smartphone app (Bluetooth).

Hardware specs

  • 8 month battery life per charge (1200 unlocks)
  • Stores up to 100 different fingerprints per lock
  • Inner width: 23mm
  • Shackle diameter: 6mm

What’s in the box?

There’s not much to it: Just the lock, a short microUSB charging cable, and manual.

Thankfully, the instructions explain how this lock works. That’s good because I didn’t have the foggiest idea what the LED colors meant.

Design and features

I was set the “Electric Yellow” colored lock. The body is plastic, which isn’t very reassuring. There’s an LED indicator above the TAPP logo, and that square thing is the fingerprint sensor. It’s not a mechanical button.

Setup

The lock came with a partial charge. The micro USB charging port is under a rubber plug. The LED glows red when charging.

Once paired with the app, I discovered you can set up multiple users and provide levels of access (start and end dates).

I liked the ability to add different fingerprints per user. You can add ten prints per person (five left, five right).

Performance

Understanding the user interface is critical for this lock, so I’ll sum up:

  • Squeeze the shackle once: Wake from sleep. LED = steady white
  • Squeeze 2nd time: Bluetooth mode. LED = blinks blue
  • Squeeze 3rd time: Morse code mode. LED = steady purple

To unlock with a fingerprint, you squeeze the shackle once to wake from sleep, then press your print on the square sensor. The sensor doesn’t click since it’s not a physical, mechanical button. If the LED turns green, the lock opens. If it blinks red, it’s rejected the print.

If you’ve ever used a phone with a fingerprint sensor, this feels a lot like it, including the occasional frustration of failed unlocks. I learned the lock doesn’t care what orientation you align your print, which is nice.

In Bluetooth mode, you can manage the lock settings via smartphone app. You can also unlock this way, too.

Morse code mode was incredibly frustrating, but maybe only to me. When in Morse mode, the LED attempts to show purple by illuminating a blue and red LED, but it ends up looking like two tiny LEDs (one red, one blue) which is sort of confusing.

You set the Morse unlock code via the app with dots and dashes. Registering the presses on the lock itself was a steep learning curve.

When in Morse mode, you register a “dot” by briefly squeezing the shackle. If you’re successful, you see a blue LED blink. For a “dash”,  you will see a white flash. Given the way the multi-color LED is set up, it’s a little tricky telling white from purple. If you get the code wrong, the LED will flash red. Green means you got it right, and the lock opens. Morse is intended as a backup, and I can see why. It’s tiresome.

What I like

  • When the fingerprint opening works, it’s magical.

What needs to be improved

  • For something more heavyweight, you may not want a plastic-covered lock.

Final thoughts

I see a lot of copycat lookalike fingerprint padlocks online. This is the first time I’ve seen one in person. I have a little “range anxiety” about how long the battery will last, but maybe I should just stop playing with it and let it keep my things secure.

Price: $59.00
Where to buy: Tapplock.com
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tapplock.

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Tapplock Lite fingerprint lock review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 24, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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