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Evo Global Travel Adapter review

REVIEW – I travel for work fairly often, and typically outside the US 2 or 3 times per year, and for those trips, it’s essential to carry electrical gadgets that can be used with the electrical outlets in countries.  I typically carry a fairly standard travel adapter for my laptop, but when I want to charge my iPhone or another device, I often need a second (or third) travel adapter to charge that device and others, which just adds to the growing amount of gear that I find myself having to carry for travel.  The Evo Global Travel Adapter presents a solution to the problem of needing multiple adapters while traveling in other countries.  Let’s check it out. Gadget on!

What is it?

The Evo Global Travel Adapter is a double USB charger that can be used with the electrical outlets in multiple countries.

What’s in the box?

  • Evo Global Travel Adapter
  • Spec/instruction sheet

Hardware specs

  • Dimensions: 0.8 x 1.2 x 2.7 in (20.3 x 30.5 x 69 mm)
  • Weight: 1.76 oz (50 g)
  • Input: 100-240VAC (90-260VAC max)
  • Output: 5V 2.1A (total 2.4A max)
  • Max Power: 12 W
  • Material: PC94V0 with fire-, overheat- and cold-resistance
  • Supported countries: 150

Design, setup, features, and performance

The Evo Global Travel Adapter began as a successful Indigogo campaign and is now available for sale on Amazon.

My initial impressions of the Evo were somewhat mixed.  First, I marveled at how small it was.  Second, I realized that it was not a standard travel adapter, but only a USB adapter.  This took me by surprise because I had been expecting to be able to plug my laptop into it like other travel adapters, but this is not the case.  Once I got past that initial disappointment, I shifted my evaluation to judge the Evo on its actual merits.

As mentioned above, the Evo is quite small; it is about the size of two iPhone charging blocks stacked atop one another.  This helps makes it a great travel companion because its small size and relatively light weight help cut down on the amount of space required to carry it as well as adding less to your overall carrying load.

The Evo’s shape is roughly rectangular in two dimensions, and it is quite slim.  It has two USB ports situated on one side and two buttons that slide in tracks on opposite sides.  There is also a small removable component that fits into the middle that remains tucked away when not in use.

As mentioned above, the two sets of prongs are actuated via sliding motion outward from the main body of the Evo, and a small button on either side must be depressed to unlock them, as shown in the photos above.  Press down, slide out the prongs and they click into place once fully extended.  Each button must be pressed again to unlock the prongs for retraction back into the body.

 

 

The above series of photos shows the appearance of each set of prongs once full in place and locked out.  The photo on the far right also shows the Evo with its additional side component attached (more on this below).

The Evo has a small additional component that is stored in its middle and remains tucked away and locked in place until needed.  It is essentially deployable length of plastic that acts as a dummy prong for outlets in which a third prong ground is typically needed, such as in the UK.

The series of photos above illustrate the progression of the deployment of the side prong from its storage location.  If you can get a fingernail under the prong’s edge, you can begin to lift it, then a small, spring-loaded side piece must be depressed in order to release the prong from its storage location.

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Additionally, the Evo’s sliding metal prongs can be rotated into an angled orientation for compatibility with outlets in countries such as Australia.

Since I did not have any imminent travel outside the US when I received the Evo to review, I did a bit of experimenting with it.  In the photo above, I’ve set its prong configuration to be compatible with North American, two-prong outlets.  In this case, it was functioning like any standard double USB charger.  It was able to charge both my wife’s iPhone X and my old iPhone 6 Plus simultaneously, as well as my wife’s iPad Air and my old iPhone 6 plus.  This was expected considering Evo’s output rating of V 2.1A  individually and a 2.4A max total but this exercise confirmed that at a minimum it could charge a higher-current iPad and lower-current iPhone in parallel.

Next, I placed one of my typical travel adapters in my outlet set for standard US flat two-prong configuration.  I then set up both the Evo’s sliding and deployable ground prong configuration as if I were traveling in the UK, and plugged it into the UK outlet holes in my typical travel adapter.  The idea here was to simulate usage in the UK.  While I realize that the voltage is different in the UK, what I really wanted to test was the physical prong configuration of the Evo and determine if it would chare devices if using the UK prong setup.

As shown above, the Evo was able to charge both my wife’s iPad Air and my old iPhone 6 Plus.  I expect that at some point, I will take another trip outside the US to a country that uses a different outlet setup and perform a full test, but for now, this was the best I could do.

What I like

  • Small, compact, lightweight
  • Can charge up to two devices (including tablets) simultaneously
  • Prong configuration should be able to be used in many countries

What I’d change

  • Add the capability of being a typical travel adapter (allowing items like laptops to be plugged into it) in addition to being a double USB adapter, but keep its small size

Final thoughts

Firstly, the Evo Global Travel Adapter is not a travel adapter in the typical sense in that only USB cables can be plugged into it.  That said, Evo can charge up to two devices at a time (including tablets),  is very compact and lightweight, and would work well as not only an adapter for USB items while traveling outside the US, but also could be domestically as a double USB adapter in its own right.

Price: $21.99
Where to buy: MicroNovelty and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by MicroNovelty.

 

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Evo Global Travel Adapter review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 24, 2019 at 2:00 pm.

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A Lost Windows Password Is No Problem with iSumsoft Windows Password Refixer

This is a sponsored article and was made possible by iSumsoft. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored. Whether you’re talking about your work computer or a personal computer, your password is one of the first lines of defense. You can debate what makes a secure password, but length and complexity are two of the most important factors. Unfortunately, the same things that make a password secure can make it difficult to remember. There are different ways to deal with a forgotten password,… Read more

How to Upgrade a Raspberry Pi to Raspbian Buster

The Raspberry Pi 4B first launched late in June 2019, and with it came a new version of Raspbian, the Raspberry Pi’s official operating system. Not long after, Debian, the operating system Raspbian is based on, also released its latest version, Debian 10 Buster. Thanks to the framework already in place from Debian, upgrading the Raspberry Pi’s operating system is very simple. Plus, if you’re looking to use an existing Raspbian install on a new Raspberry Pi 4, you can, once it’s upgraded to Buster. Related: 4 of the Best Lightweight Operating Systems for Raspberry Pi … Read more

Akaso V50 Pro action camera review

REVIEW – Action cameras have become all the rage, now that the price has gone down for high-quality camera sensors. Is this something you should add to your Gadget Garage? The team was offered a new model from Akaso – the V50 – and I was chosen to review it. Let’s see how this can change a Gadgeteer’s life.

What is it?

Compact video and still camera with view screen and sound recording capabilities. Included in the package are a number of holders, case enclosures, and two batteries.

What’s in the box?

The box is a clear plastic enclosure surrounding the camera and waterproof housing attached to a flat platform. It is hermetically sealed to a pasteboard box that cannot be opened without totally destroying the entire packaging unit. The box, however, does not just serve as a holder for the camera and a few odds and ends. No, this package contains holders for helmet mounting, a fully waterproof (underwater) mounting, on-person mounting, handlebar mounting, and a bunch of flexible mounting brackets and fixtures that will allow you to attach this camera to just about anything you may want to record from. This clear presentation of the product belies the bounty below. Once it’s opened, it’s a veritable piñata of clamps, mounts, stick-ons, and straps. Look at the picture below of the whole collection. All of that was packed into the pasteboard box!

  • Waterproof enclosure with an extra backing door
  • Handlebar mount
  • Helmet mount
  • Frame for attaching to mounts
  • Wrist-worn remote
  • Lens cloth
  • Straps and bracket for body mount
  • Wires, sticky pads, and cable ties for snowboard, skateboard, or surfboard mounting
  • Wrench for mounting screws
  • 2 batteries
  • Battery charger (for 2 batteries)
  • USB2< ->miniUSB cable for charging

Hardware specs

  • Superb Image Quality – 4K/30fps and 20MP images
  • Electronic Image Stabilization – Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) with 6-axis gyroscope.
  • Optional View Angle – adjust the view angle between Super Wide, Wide, Medium and Narrow.
  • WiFi and HDMI Output

Design and features

Like smartphones, action cameras have seemed to settle down into a standard size and shape. The V50 is a rounded rectangle with a soft-touch surface. Measuring just over 1″ thick by 1.5″ high and 2.25″ long, it fits nicely in the hand. The 90º angle sides also mean it can sit on any flat surface for framing. The .75″ lens sticks out of the front surface .25″, and the entire rear surface is a touch-enabled view screen that is used for framing shots or playback.


On the top are the only buttons: the red circle for power on/off and for cycling between choices, and the blue for start/stop of video or finalizing choices. All functions can be accessed through the buttons or through the touch screen. Opposite the buttons on the top are a microphone opening and a Wifi signal indicator.

On the left side (as you’re looking at the screen) there are three ports: a microSD card slot, a miniUSB port for charging and a mini HDMI port for playback.

On the bottom are a standard quarter-20 tripod screw mount and the door to the battery compartment. The right side has just a speaker opening.


Once the battery is charged (either in the included charger or in-camera) and a data card put in place, you’re ready for action. You can mount it on handlebars, various surfaces or just hold it in your hand. There’s a waterproof cover to protect it during water sports or rainy rides. There are play-through buttons on the waterproof case, or you could use the remote if you’re not in the water yourself. The button passthrough pins look pretty sharp (as in damaging, not as in really cool.)

I found the camera easy to stop and start, and the flexibility of mounting hardware gives many options for most situations. For instance, with the bike shot below, I used just a tripod screw-mount on the handlebars. I could have gone for the more rigid frame that would allow me to only adjust the forward-facing angle, or even the waterproof case, in the event of a shower. Having more options means you’re going to try and get more shots.

Since this unit is all but identical to other action cameras on the market, it’s a good bet that there are other accessories that can be had. With the tripod mounting socket, you can place it anywhere with a quarter-20 screw. (Did you know this is the size screw that holds on lamp shade finials? Next time you need a tripod, keep that in mind. You’re welcome!)

Performance

While I like the rear panel touch screen, it could sometimes balk at finger input. The remote connected without issue and was able to start or stop photos or videos reliably. The time between capture and seeing it on screen is dependent on the card inserted into the camera. I used a SanDisk Ultra 32 GB card in the camera for much of my testing, which is a fairly fast card, and was still getting “Waiting for Capture” for 2-3 seconds when taking a still shot. Maybe the larger images were giving the renderer problems.

What I like

  • Huge collection of accessories
  • Nicely compact unit with minimal inputs needed
  • Card or external storage options
  • Built-in Wifi

What I’d change

  • Faster writes to the memory card
  • less hesitancy with touch input

Final thoughts

Action cameras don’t just have to be for Extreme Sports. Tiny, easy to mount, and high-resolution, they may just beat out your pocket point-and-shoot on your next vacation. And that included waterproof housing will sure make those beach photos more interesting!

Price: $119.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Akaso.

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Akaso V50 Pro action camera review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 24, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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RHA’s TrueConnect true wireless earphones now come in true color

NEWS – Scottish brand RHA (Reid Heath Acoustics) has been making terrific earphones for a while now. They are always coming out with new products as well as updating existing ones—such as offering wireless versions of previous earphones. Recently, they came out with their first truly wireless earphone, the RHA TrueConnect true wireless in-ear headphone. I like them a lot as I noted in my review here.

And as Henry Ford once famously said, “You can have them in any color you like, as long as it’s black.”

No more. RHA has just released the TrueConnect earphone in Cloud White and Navy Blue as well as the original Carbon Black. A color matching charging case and USB-C charging are included. Nothing else has changed: They have 25-hour battery life with an IPX5 rating for working out or getting caught in the rain.

Now your wireless earphones can be a bit more stylish while still keeping RHA’s terrific audio quality. It’s like having your cake and … oh, you know what I mean.

The RHA TrueConnect true wireless in-ear headphones are available now and sell for $169.95 US. Visit RHA for more information.

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RHA’s TrueConnect true wireless earphones now come in true color originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 24, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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