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Julie’s gadget diary – I’m finally upgrading to a new phone

ARTICLE – My track record for upgrading phones has been bad the past year and half but that’s finally going to change. Really, I promise this time guys!

First some background… I bought the Pixel 2 XL back in the fall of 2017 which feels like forever ago, but I’ve been using that phone since the day I bought it and even though I’ve tried to upgrade multiple times, I always ended up returning the Pixel for some reason or another.


First I bought the Essential Phone PH-1. There was a lot to like about the Essential phone like the amazing price! But my dislikes outweighed the likes. Mainly the fingerprint sensor which wasn’t compatible with my alien fingertips. I also found it to be smaller than what I’d become used to after using the Pixel 2 XL. So I boxed it up and shipped it back for a refund.

Then I got all excited about the iPhone XS Max and ordered one only to send it back within a few weeks. It was nice enough, but every time I try an iPhone, I end up missing the Android OS.

Let’s see… then there was the Pixel 3 XL which I thought for sure I’d keep, but…. nope. Sent it back because it felt identical to my Pixel 2 XL.

In between those phones which I bought on my own dime, I reviewed other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9, LG V40, and Sony Xperia XZ2. None of them made me want to part with the cash to update. But now I’m ready to literally say goodbye to my Pixel 2 XL because I’m trading it for a $300 credit towards the Samsung Galaxy S10+ which I pre-ordered this morning. I opted for a blue S10+ with 128GB. Why the S10+? I figured bigger is better and the overall dimensions are actually ever so slightly smaller than the Pixel 2 XL.

I’m pretty jazzed to finally upgrade to a new phone and I am looking forward to having wireless charging again, a microSD card slot, and screen mirroring. I’m also excited to try DEX again because I’m always thinking about turning my phone into my only computer. Yeah, I know it probably won’t work, but it’s always fun to give it a shot and let all of you know my thoughts about trying.

The Samsung Galaxy S10+ might not be as new tech drool worthy as the Samsung Fold (which I want to try when it becomes available) but it has enough features to make me finally upgrade – at least until this fall with the Pixel 4 XL comes out! Just kidding… Ok, probably not kidding. But we’ll just have to wait and see. Head over to Samsung.com to read about the S10e, S10, and S10+.

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Julie’s gadget diary – I’m finally upgrading to a new phone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 21, 2019 at 12:55 pm.

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CountyComm’s Survival Titanium Fishing Card is a pocket-sized fishing kit that isn’t sold by Ron Popeil

NEWS – If you’ve ever found yourself far from the nearest tackle shop and wanted to test your skill at the local fishing hole, or you’ve found yourself lost in the wilderness and needing to catch a fish for your next meal, the CountyComm Survival Titanium Fishing Card may be just the tool you need. The Survival Titanium Fishing Card is a limited-run EDC / emergency fishing kit that includes a selection of hooks (14) and spoons (3) that may be combined with some locally sourced line (say a gutted piece of paracord) and a pole (the included saw can help with building a suitable pole from local materials).

The card is laser cut from a single sheet of Grade 4 titanium and is backed with a piece of adhesive neoprene to allow for the removal of individual pieces while allowing the rest to remain securely attached to the card. The backing also allows you to return a used piece of gear to the card for storage. The card may also be secured to the back of another EDC card, such as a fishing license, credit card, or membership card for slimmer and more discrete carry options.

The card with the adhesive neoprene backing is roughly the same thickness as a US quarter dollar coin and is the same footprint as the average credit/debit card. The specifications of the Fishing Card are

  • 3.35″ x 2.12″ x 0.24″
  • 0.3 ounces

The Survival Titanium Fishing Card list for $13.95 and may be purchased through the CountyComm website at www.countycomm.com.

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CountyComm’s Survival Titanium Fishing Card is a pocket-sized fishing kit that isn’t sold by Ron Popeil originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 21, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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AceBeam H40 headlamp review


REVIEW – Headlamps, or flashlights that are worn on the head, are invaluable when working or traveling in dimly lit areas. They may be judged on their brightness, battery life, beam spread, robustness, size, and weight. The H40 by Acebeam combines several features to make it a useful gadget. Read on to see what I think!

What is it?

The Acebeam H40 is a small lightweight headlamp that features a bright LED. The brightness can be fine tuned between 20 and 230 lumens. The light also features a low-power mode of 5 lumens, a turbo mode of 1050 lumens, and an SOS signaling mode at 1050 lumens. All of these brightness and control options are made using a single rubberized button. The Housing is made of aircraft aluminum and is IP68 rated. The housing opens to allow replacement of the single AA battery.

What’s in the box?


H40
Headband
Spare O ring
User Manual
Warranty card

Design and features

Specifications


The specifications chart is a little confusing and would benefit from an additional column of the color rendering index (CRI). The CREE-HD XP-L HD has a color rendering index (CRI) between 70 and 80, while the SST-20 CRI 95+ has a CRI of 95 or greater. This means that colors appear to be more natural under the SST LED than under the CREE LED. While the SST LED has better color reproduction, it is not as bright as CREE LED. People who work all day under a headlamp would benefit from the SST LED. The light of the lamp is focused into about a 70 degree arc, based on the relationship between candela and lumens.

Unboxing

The headlamp is packaged in a foam-lined matte cardboard telescopic box designed for retail display.

The front of the box shows the projector in perspective and some of the performance characteristics. The sides of the box identify the unit serial number, UPC code, QR codes for the website and Facebook page, and applications: Mountaineering, cycling, camping, first aid, construction, and adventure.

The back of the unit includes the specifications displayed above, description, features, the address of the manufacturer and some compliance codes.

The inside of the box has everything nicely packaged. The unit also contains a silica gel packet.

Design and features

Hardware

The design of the AceBeam H40 is tactically inspired. Batman would be proud to wear this on his head. The design features each serve a function. The knurled grip on the battery cover, the cooling fins on the back of the headlamp, the grooves into which the headband fit, the easy to feel operating button are all designed for functionality.

The design is also backed by a five-year warranty, which attests to the confidence the manufacturer has in its design and construction. As an added bonus, and to make warranty claims easier, the serial number is etched and painted onto the glass lens retainer. There are two improvements I would love to see: adding knurling on the end opposite the battery cover so that it is easier to position the lamp up and down in the headband, and adding a retaining lock on the battery cover so that the cover is not accidentally opened when re-positioning the lamp in the headband.

The reflector does a great job in dispersing the light. The picture below is of the lamp in the lowest power mode.

The headband has two adjustments; one for the circumference and one for across the top of the head. The circumference fits 26″ unstretched, so will fit hard hats and bike helmets.

The inside of the headband is coated in two zig-zag beads of silicone to provide exceptional traction even on slick or sweaty surfaces.

The outside of the headband features 3M reflective paint to enhance the visibility of the wearer at night.

Operation

The operation of the lamp is intricate because all of the functions are accessed by one button but the commands are easy to learn and are intuitive after a short while. The lamp is operated by the sequences below:

Single click – turns the lamp on at the previously set intensity.
Double click – toggles the lamp from high intensity (350 lumens) to turbo intensity (1050 lumens). This mode can be reset by a long press when on or by turning the lamp off and then back on.
triple click – starts the SOS Morse code mode (use single click or double click to exit)

long press when off
1 second – turn on ultra-low mode
3 seconds – toggles button lock mode (acknowledged with three blinks of the light)

long press when on
adjusts the intensity from 20 to 230 lumens.

You can see what the lamp looks like as I’m wearing it in the pictures below. Alas, a headlamp will never be the most glamorous accessory.

 

Performance

The following video shows the view at a local town park on a moonless night in a slight rain. It’s about the worst-case conditions to test the performance of the lamp.

The video is barely able to detect what the naked eye could see, but there was some of the green painted swing set visible at night, lit up by the lamp. Plugging my location into https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/. I determined that the what I saw is actually very close to the stated beam distance of 106 m (0.106 km).

It is difficult to test the other parameters of the lamp. Fortunately, AceBeam is a member of The Portable Lights American Trade Organization (PLATO), which allows member companies to publish verified specifications and performance ratings of their products. Because AceBeam is a member of PLATO, comparing the lamps parameters with other PLATO member products is straightforward and reliable.

What I like

  • lightweight
  • bright
  • secure fitting

What needs to be improved

  • unintentional loosening of the battery cover
  • the grip on barrel opposite battery cover

Final thoughts

The AceBeam headlamp will effectively and reliably cut through the darkness and still leave two hands-free. I give it two (flashlight-free) thumbs up.

Price: $34.90
Where to buy: Acebeam and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Acebeam.

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AceBeam H40 headlamp review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 21, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Rakōt75 reusable cloth towels will change the way clean

NEWS – I don’t know about you but I use paper towels for EVERYTHING, and I’m always running out. It can get pretty expensive not to mention wasteful. The Rackōt75 cloth paper towels caught my attention because they come on a roll just like paper towels you buy at the store. However, unlike paper towels, they last a lot longer.

The reusable cloths are basically a tougher more durable version of paper towels. They’re made of tear-resistant cloth that is both lint-free and washable so you can use one over and over. The towels can be used either wet or dry. Perfect for common household tasks like wiping and dusting to tougher projects like dry mopping floors or washing and waxing cars.

A single roll of 75 perforated sheets can last up to six months, depending on what you use them for. You can purchase a roll of Rakōt75 cloth towels for $19.95 from The Grommet.

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Rakōt75 reusable cloth towels will change the way clean originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 21, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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LifeProof LifeACTIV Power Pack 20 review

REVIEW – Portable batteries/power packs are probably the type of item I have reviewed the most here on the Gadgeteer.  I mean, can you really have too many of them??  This gadget category is so popular that you see them everywhere, in every shape and size. I have them everywhere myself, and I couldn’t live without them.  We all use our cellphones all day long, right?  And I run down batteries faster than Usain Bolt runs down finish lines.  How’s that for an analogy?  So what makes the LifeACTIV Power Pack 20 stand out?  Let’s find out.

What is it?

A portable 20,000 mAh power pack to charge your gadgets.

Product specs from the manufacturer

Dimensions: 6.72″ x 2.96″ x .70”

Weight: 8.8 oz

Power: Dual 10,000-mAh batteries

Energy Saving: auto-stop charge technology

Quick Charge: rapid recharge saves on socket time

Survives Depth:  6.6 feet underwater for 1 hour – Charge port door must be closed

Drop Height: 4 feet

What’s in the box?

The LifeACTIV Power Pack 20, a 20-inch USB-C cable, and a small instruction booklet that anyone over 40 won’t be able to read because the text is incredibly small.

Design and function

Most portable batteries try to set themselves apart by having something that is different from other batteries in this crowded space. The LifeACTIV Power Pack 20 is first and foremost a battery for the ‘active’ person who is going to take this gadget outdoors.  Hiking.  Camping.  Skiing.  To the beach.  The manufacturer bills it as water-proof, drop-proof, dust-proof, and snow-proof.  You can submerge it under water, drop it in the mud or sand, even drop it from a height of 4 feet without incident.

Around the edges of the LifeACTIV you’ll find a rubberized coating to absorb the shock when you drop it.  There’s a door covering the ports that is pretty sturdy and will need to be closed if you want to enjoy all that ‘proof’ I just mentioned.  I did drop it from 4 feet several times and never had any issue with it not working.  I did not submerge it for 1 hour (as listed above in the specs) but I did completely submerge it in water and then when I removed it from the water immediately plugged up my cellphone and it worked normally.

Under the hood, you’ll find two 10,000 mAh batteries that give you 74 watts of power for a total of 20,000 mAh.  For me, that means I can charge my Samsung phone about 5 times before the battery is spent.  The rapid charge feature did indeed appear to be as rapid as other rapid-charge batteries that I have, so no complaints there.  The LifeACTIV also turns off automatically when your gadget has been fully charged, which is nice.

Built into the end of the LifeACTIV is a flashlight (activated by holding down the 1 button on top) that can fluctuate between a normal LED white light, a high-intensity white light, a red light, and a flashing red light.  I can see how this might be very handy for those ‘active’ folks who not only need a flashlight while they are out and about, I can see how the flashing red light could come in very handy in emergency situations.  But of course, using the flashlight will drain the battery.  On top of the battery, you’ll find the standard 4 LED lights next to the 1 button to indicate the status of the power.

On the other end of the battery, you’ll find the small door that opens to reveal 2 ports: a USB-A and a USB-C.  The USB-C port functions as both in and out charging, but the USB-A port is only used to charge your gadgets.  Because it has USB-C, this battery should be popular with the crowd that has Nintendo Switchs, iPad Pros, and Macbooks.  I currently don’t own any devices that use USB-C to charge, so that is the biggest downside of this battery for me right now.  I can only charge 1 device at a time with the LifeACTIV.  I know that will change over time because USB-C is becoming the standard, but for now, all that 20,000 mAhs of juice can only be tapped 1 device at a time for me.

Final thoughts

The LifeACTIV is ideal for those folks who are the adventurous types who need a portable battery that is rugged and tough and big enough to last for days out in the wild, but small enough to carry and stow away easily.  But the price of $99 is a little on the high side, so you’ll have to see the value in having a battery that fits your lifestyle.  The downside is that the number of ports is limited.  So just make sure that your buddy has his own portable battery before you take off on that hiking trip.

Price: $99.99
Where to buy: Lifeproof.com
Source: The sample of this product was provided by LifeProof.

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LifeProof LifeACTIV Power Pack 20 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 20, 2019 at 12:31 pm.

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