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Rowkin Ascent Micro Bluetooth headphones review

REVIEW – Julian Perry and I have been on a quest to find a great pair of Bluetooth earbuds and I’m not sure which one of us will finish our quest first or even there’s even an end in sight since new earbuds are coming out every day and it’s too tempting to try yet another pair. The latest pair that I’ve been testing is the Ascent Micro true wireless headphones from Rowkin. Let’s check them out.

What is it?

The Rowkin Ascent Micro is the latest Bluetooth headphones from Rowkin and the 4th pair of wireless headphones that I’ve tested from this particular company. From their Bit Charge earbuds that I reviewed back in 2016, I have been interested in this form factor but wasn’t impressed with the way they performed. Then more recently I reviewed their Micro Touch earbuds and again, I wasn’t impressed… But now I have their latest Ascent Micros and… well… you’ll see as you read on.

What’s in the box?

Rowkin Ascent Micro charging case with 2 Bluetooth earbuds inside
USB-C charging cable
USB-C to USB adapter
2 extra sets of eartips

Hardware specs

Charging time:
• Earbud: ≤70 minutes
• Portable charging case: ≤120 minutes
Number of recharges: 4
Standby time (power on): Up to 70 hours, (power off): about 120 days
Music / Talk time: up to 3.5+ hours
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Bluetooth version: 5.0
Bluetooth profiles: HFP, HSP, AVRCP, A2DP and SPP
Audio enhancements: Noise reduction and echo cancellation

Design and features

The Rowkin Ascent Bluetooth earbuds are available in 2 versions. There is the Micro version that was sent to me and shown above, and the Charge version. What’s the difference? The style of the storage container. The Ascent Charge has a long storage case that doubles as a power bank and charges wireless on a Qi wireless charger. The Ascent Micro which I have has a storage case with a built-in battery that charges the earbuds using a USB-C cable.

Available in black, slate, or cobalt blue, the Ascent case has 2 slots that the earbuds snap into via a magnet that holds them in place.

The earbuds have a bullet shape like previous Rowkin earbuds that I’ve reviewed, but the eartip is angled to better fit in your ear canal.

Compared to the other three Rowkin buds that I’ve tested over the years, I think the Ascent earbuds have a more premium feel.

The Ascent buds also have a silicone ring which Rowkin has named the Retention Wheel. This wheel is supposed to provide a more ergonomic fit and to aid in keeping the earbuds in your ears.

The Retention Wheel can be removed if desired. I haven’t noticed much of a difference with the fit and the wheel installed or removed. The earbuds fit me fine either way. But of course, everyone’s ears have a unique shape.

I will say that the Rowkin Ascent earbuds are the most comfortable truly wireless earbuds that I’ve tested so far. I have no problem leaving them in my ears for an hour or two at a time and have experienced zero discomfort with them. The fit for me isn’t perfect though. I’ve had the earbuds fall out of my ears during workouts where I was moving around a lot. But wearing them while sitting at a desk has been perfect.

The Ascent earbuds charge in the included flip-top case. There’s a pin in each slot that plugs into the earbud when they are seated in the slot.

You will know that charging has begun when you see the two tiny LEDs on the earbuds throb red. When the LEDs turn off, that means the earbuds are fully charged.

On the bottom of the charging case are two LEDs on either side of the USB-C port. These LEDs provide a battery capacity status for the case. The instructions tell you to gently shake the case so the LEDs will light up but that didn’t work for me. To see the status, I would set the case on a flat surface and lift the end up slightly and let it fall back down.

I love the charging case because the buds are always charged and ready for me to use, which makes the battery life feel like it’s infinite. It’s actually pretty close at about 17+ hours per recharge of the case itself. The earbuds can be used for about 3.5hrs for music, but recharging them only takes about an hour.

How do they sound for music and video?

I used my Pixel 2 XL to do my testing of the Rowkin Ascent Micro earbuds along with streaming music services like Pandora, Spotify, and Amazon music. Music sounded good. I won’t say that these buds are fantastic and that autophiles should run out and buy a pair asap, but I enjoyed using them to listen to my favorite tunes.

I also tested them while watching video on Netflix and noticed no problems with the audio syncing with the video. Again, audio sounded good.

I’m very happy to report that I’ve yet to experience the issue I’ve had with other Rowkin earbuds in the past where the audio in one earbud will cut out for a second. This was always an annoying issue that would happen a couple times an hour, but after testing these earbuds over several days for hours at time, it hasn’t happened even once so it appears that using Bluetooth 5.0 and an LDS antenna has solved the problem.

Touch controls

Touch controls appear to be a popular feature for earbuds these days and I have to say that I’m not loving the trend so far. I much prefer physical buttons over capacitive buttons as 9 times out of 10, I’ll have to repeat the command before the earbuds decide to pay attention to my taps which I find annoying.

How do the sound for calls?

For calls, my side (the Rowkin) side of the conversations sounded great. But on more than one occasion as soon as I would answer a call and start talking, the person on the other end would ask me where I was why I sounded so bad. Apparently, I sounded like I’d fallen down a well, or as Jeanne so eloquently put it, I sounded like crap.

What I like

  • Comfortable
  • Good sound
  • Charging case provides up to 17hrs total playback time

What needs to be improved

  • Mediocre call audio quality on the side opposite the Rowkin side

Final thoughts

I’m happy to report that as of today, the Rowkin Ascent Micro earbuds are my favorite truly wireless earbuds. They power on almost instantly, pair quickly, sound good, fit comfortably, and conveniently charge in their storage case. The only slight knock that I’ll give them is that they are a bit on the pricey side compared to the 100’s of other wireless earbuds that are flooding the market but with that said, I’ve tried a few of them and so far the Rowkin Ascents are beating the others in all other aspects.

Price: $99.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Rowkin.

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Rowkin Ascent Micro Bluetooth headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 22, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Saddleback Leather Simple iPad case review

REVIEW – Many moons ago I owned an original Saddleback Leather iPad case. It was a beautiful, beefy piece of leather. The new Simple iPad Case is a completely different animal. Simple and streamlined, it’s made for portability and optimal day-to-day usability. Fear not, however: you still get that gorgeous full-grain leather. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a leather iPad case for your iPad, iPad Air, or iPad Air 2.

Hardware specs

  • 10″ by 7″ by 0.5″
  • 0.55 pounds
  • Full-grain leather with pigskin suede lining

Design and features

The Saddleback Leather “Simple” designs offer lighter products with simplified designs as an alternative to their beefier, full-featured gear. The new Simple iPad Case is great example of this. You get all the benefits and style associated with quality leather, in a streamlined and extremely functional package.

While it is a simple shell-style design, Saddleback fans have no need to fret about the quality and construction on this item. a 7″ by 10″ piece of full-grain leather forms the back panel, while two 1” by 7” strips of leather on the front face form a pocket into which you slip your iPad.

My tester is the newer black leather, backed by pigskin suede to protect the iPad. It’s a beautiful, thick leather that measures roughly 1/8″ including the suede backing. It is thinner than some of the older leather pieces I’ve had from Saddleback, but I think it’s just as tough. It’s also got a great pliant feel. I like it quite a bit.

You’ll also see some subtle embossed logo work on the back face in the Saddleback logo and the tribute to Blue, founder Dave Munson’s dog. They’re nice touches that are tastefully handled, adding some character to the piece.

Black has always been my favorite color in Saddleback products, and they do a quality job with the dye work here. The leather is dyed through the whole piece, so scratches don’t pull up an underlying color. I haven’t seen any dye rub-off on clothes or other gear. It’s marvelous and speaks to my artistic side.

Saddleback Leather deserves a lot of credit here for their commitment to leather as a medium. There are three materials used in the build of this case: leather, pigskin suede, and marine-grade thread to keep it all together. That’s it. Even the spacers/bumpers between the layers are made wholly from leather dyed to match the case:

It would be easier (and probably cheaper) to solve design problems in a case like this with additions like plastic tabs, foam padding, or elastic webbing. Not that those solutions are inherently bad, but I appreciate that Saddleback doesn’t go that route. It’s a truly unique leather-focused design solution that’s *just* a bit more special as a result.

This case is designed for the 9.7″ iPads, specifically the 2017 iPad and multiple 2018 models (the iPad 9.7, Air, Air 2, and 9.7 Pro). You’ll find an assortment of cuts to accommodate the whole range of speakers, ports, and buttons on these models. As we walk through the slots, note that mine is an iPad Air 2. Here’s the audio-in port and sleep/wake button port. It looks tight, but the leather is flexible enough to get your fingers in there for obstruction-free operation:

The same goes for the bottom ports for the lightning cable and speakers:

The right-panel rocker buttons  have an additional slot cutout for easy access:

You’ll also find two cutouts for the rear camera to accommodate multiple model iterations:

When I first received the Simple iPad Case I was concerned by the fact that the front face and sides are completely exposed. After kicking it around a bit, however, I’m becoming more and more impressed with the design. There’s 1/4” of extra leather around all edges, so that thick leather absorbs side impacts to protect your tablet. It absolutely brings more protection than silicone shells like the Apple iPad cover, and only adds 8 ounces of weight to your kit if you’re including this in your daily carry.

Overall usability is excellent. There’s front flap or cover to mess with here. The entire screen edge-to-edge is accessible, with generous slots cut for the home button and front camera. Everything is easy to get to, and you don’t find yourself fumbling to get to the ports. It’s also wonderfully easy to handle, working perfectly with the iPad’s form factor. Nothing interferes with regular operation, and it feels solid in your hands. It slips easily in and out of your bag, with no protrusions or extra bits that could get caught on zippers. If you like your iPad covers lean & mean, this cover gets you there with the added protection and style of excellent leather.

The simple design does lack some capabilities found in more feature-rich cases. There’s no front cover for additional protection. It’s not compatible with the Apple keyboard. There’s also no integrated stand. If these are capabilities you are looking for, you’ll need to look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a great leather case that works well with the iPad’s natural form factor, however, the Simple iPad Case is worth putting on your shopping list.

What I like

  • Excellent leather quality and construction
  • Streamlined form that is easy to handle without adding significant bulk
  • Well-designed access to all the ports, controls, and speakers

What needs to be improved

  • No inherent flaws that I see

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a well-built, straightforward iPad case with great looks, the Saddleback Leather Simple iPad Case is a great choice. The leather is fantastic, usability is excellent, and the simple form factor makes for easy handling and day-to-day use. You’ll also get Saddleback Leather’s famous 100-year warranty. This one is now in my EDC lineup, and I expect it to stay there for quite some time. Maybe not 100 years. We’ll see.

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

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Saddleback Leather Simple iPad case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 21, 2018 at 9:42 am.

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Nitecore NU25 Headlamp review

REVIEW – Sometimes a product is so universal that it’s hard to imagine it needs a manual. Headlamps fall into that category for me. They have batteries, LEDs and buttons to turn them on and off. What more is there to know? In the case of Nitecore and their NU25 headlamp… Quite a bit, and I’m impressed. Join me after the jump to find out more.

What is it?

Nitecore’s NU25 is a best-of-breed headlamp designed specifically for outdoor use. It’s slim, fits well and does what it’s designed to do very well. Read on.

Hardware specs

– Size: ~2.2″ x 1.4″ x 0.9″ including holder
– Weight: ~1 oz
– Lamp: CREE XP-G2 S3 LED
– Max Output: 360 lumens
– White Light: CRI ≥90
– Color Temp: 4500K
– Max Beam Intensity: 1650cd
– Max Beam Distance: 81m
– Battery: 610mAh Li-ion polymer battery
– Charging: Via micro-USB port

What’s in the box?

  • Inside the refreshingly simple packaging are the following items.
  • NU25 headlamp
  • Elastic headband
  • Micro-USB charging cable
  • Instruction manual

Design and features

The NU25 is a very slim, rectangular headlamp. The low profile is a welcome feature as is the lightweight.

On the front, you can see the main light on the right and the auxiliary light on the left which provides both red and white lights independently.

Two buttons. White on the left and red on the right.

On the bottom is the Micro-USB port underneath the silicon tab

The holder pops off easily (but not too easily) for you to attach the headband.

Tuck it behind the lower section and then again under the top like so.

Here’s a look at the different angle indexes within the 60º range of motion that the interface between the holder and the module provides.

Feature list:
– Lightweight design specific to outdoor activities
– Built-in rechargeable battery
– White (4 levels) and Red (2 levels) light options
– 1 SOS flashing mode
– Button lock mode
– IP66 rating against water and dust ingress
– 60º of angle adjustment

Setup

Out of the box, setup is as simple two-step operation.
1. Connect the USB cable to the micro USB charging port to make sure the battery is topped off
2. Slide the headband into the guides of the pivoting holder and adjust to fit

Performance

This review has taken me longer to get to than any other one that I’ve worked on for a simple reason. It works so well that I pretty much forgot that I was testing it. Let me explain a bit more.

Our family includes two dogs. A big sweetheart great pyrenees/shepherd and a very loud beagle. They get wound up pretty quickly on walks and are very vocal with other dogs to the extent that we now do the extended walks at 6am and after 9pm. For the last couple months that means that it’s been really dark when we’re out for our stroll, and headlamps are the solution for us to see and be seen. We’ve got 3 or 4 headlamps that are pretty typical examples of what you might expect. They have a bright LED and take 3 AAA batteries each. The odd number of batteries makes for interesting charging as we like to use rechargeable batteries and a lot of chargers require charging in pairs. But I digress.

The NU25 is… easy to size adjust, plenty bright, very comfortable, lightweight and its battery lasts. As a result, it’s been going on my head every morning and every night and has become such a reliable part of our daily outings that it really slipped my mind that I needed to write a review. The second part of that is that it works so well that there aren’t any negatives that were gnawing at my brain to talk about. And lastly, I finally got around to reading the manual (something I didn’t think I needed to do) and learned about three new features that I didn’t even know it had.

When I first put the NU25 on I noticed that the band was threaded differently than most headbands I’ve used. It’s deceptively simple in that the adjustment slides effortlessly and then stays in place when on your head. This means that when not on your head the setting is likely to change. At first I was a little annoyed, but then I quickly realized how frequently I adjust the tension and it became one of my favorite features. The headband also has a thin strip of silicon printed on the inside of the band which helps to keep it right where you place it without being too tacky.

Next is the buttons. Really easy to press, and know you’ve pressed them. There are two buttons. One for the white light and one for the red. Each cycle through the different levels of each light. For white (off, level 1, level 2, level 3), for red (off, level 1, level 2). A cool intuitive feature you discover while using is that if you are idle on a setting for a bit (I generally use level 2), the next press will now turn it off. It’s a quick learning curve that you adapt to pretty much right away.

You may have noticed that the features bullets listed 4 levels for the white light. Here’s the first extra I learned reading the manual. A 1 second hold on the white light engages Turbo mode. This is full 360 lumens and will only run for 30 seconds to avoid overheating. The handy chart in the manual then explains the lumens for each level.  1 = 3 lumens, 2 = 38 lumens, 3 = 190 lumens. Here are photos to show what each of those looks like. I’ll update this post with a Turbo photo just as soon as I’m back from traveling, as again as I wasn’t even aware that it had a Turbo mode. I had just assumed the level 3 was 380 lumens.

The red light is a really useful feature for visibility without the harshness of a white light. Best use example is probably camping and needing to find something in your gear without waking up your tent mates. It’s also just very cool looking. Here are those two levels.

The next thing I learned from the manual (aside from remembering that I should always read manuals), is that there’s a button lock. To engage this, just press both buttons simultaneously. This is a great way to keep the headlamp from turning on while in your bag. Instead of turning on, it’ll just flash its status light once. Repeat the process to unlock the buttons again.

My last manual discovery was the SOS feature. A three second press of the white light sets off the well known ••• – – – ••• Morse code sequence. A very cool and potentially life-saving feature to have access to.

As for the battery, it just works. I was pretty used to charging batteries once a week and frequently finding a dead headlight when I needed it. With the NU25, it seemed very hard to kill the battery, and when it was running low, it would restrict access to the highest output white light first and then dim the 2nd level. It was pretty easy to tell that it was time to charge again which is a quick 2 hours to get back to full. Let’s wrap this review up.

What I like

  • The ease of size adjustment
  • The many lighting options
  • Lightweight and comfort
  • Great battery life

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing that I could find

Final thoughts

It’s really uncommon to find products that work this well and this thoroughly thought through. As I mentioned earlier, this is now in the daily kit as a product I can 100% rely on without surprises. I’ll be picking up a second one for our daily dog rounds and probably a third to keep in my bike commuter bag.

Price: $36.95
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Nitecore.

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Nitecore NU25 Headlamp review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 20, 2018 at 11:30 am.

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Inateck 9 in 1 USB-C Hub review


REVIEW – Just recently, I acquired access to a MacBook and I immediately saw the need to have a USB-C hub to be able to use all of my desired accessories and peripherals. This was especially true since the only ports on my MacBook Pro are 2 USB-C ports. A couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to test and review the Inateck 9 in 1 USB-C Hub. Here is a review of my experience.

What is it?

The Inateck 9 in 1 USB-C Hub is a compact and lightweight hub that allows you to use one USB-C port on your MacBook/Laptop and expand it to accommodate just about every commonly used accessory/peripheral.

What’s in the box


1 x Inateck 9 in 1 USB-C Hub
1 x Instruction manual

Design and features

On the side of the hub shown below, from left to right, there is a USB Type C port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, a lower SD card reader and an upper micro SD card reader.

On the opposite side as shown below, from left to right there is a HDMI port, a VGA port, a gigabit ethernet port, and a 100W PD USB type C charging port.

At the bottom of the hub, there is a built-in USB-C cable that can be tucked away until you are ready to use it.

Performance

This hub performed well in every way. In the first picture below, I am showing the MacBook Pro USB-C AC power adapter connected to the pass-through USB-C power port on the hub. This allows you to charge/power the MacBook Pro while using the hub and also provides the USB charging port with power.

Below, I have a USB-C male to USB A female adapter connected to the USB-C data port on the hub. I then have a USB 2.4Ghz wireless dongle connected to the adapter that allows me to use my wireless mouse.


Here I have both my MacBook Pro and a monitor connected to the hub. I am mirroring the screen. The monitor is connected to the hub via the HDMI connection, and I also successfully connected the monitor via the VGA connection.

The hub performed without any access or operational issues for everything I tested. The only thing that I notice is that after each period of use, approximately 8 hours, the body of the hub is quite warm. I am not sure how the heat will affect the performance of the hub over time and after repetitive and continuous use.

What I like

  • The size, weight, and portability
  • The number of accessories/peripherals it accommodates
  • The built-in USB-C cable
  • The pass-through power port
  • The powered charging port

What can be improved

  • Better heat dissipation so that the heat does not shorten the life of the device

Final thoughts

I really like the 9 in 1 USB-C hub. It allows me to add just about every accessory that I need to my MacBook, and to use just about every data drive that I commonly use whether directly or via a USB card reader. While I have not tried it as yet, I feel confident that I can use this hub on my PC laptop via a USB-C female to USB A male adapter. This simple but effective device gets two thumbs from me!!

Price: $59.99
Where to buy: Amazon or Inateck Website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Inateck.

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Inateck 9 in 1 USB-C Hub review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 20, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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SOUL Emotion Wireless Earbuds review


REVIEW – As my quest for the best earbuds for me continues, there seems to be a constant battle among the earbuds that I test, with all challenging for supremacy and the number one position. The Soul Emotion Wireless Earbuds from Soul Electronics are the next to take on the challenge. So, here we go!!

What is it?

The Soul Emotion earbuds are wireless Bluetooth earbuds that provide the functionality for audio listening and phone functions. Their functions are similar to the standard earbuds.

What’s in the box?


1 x Soul Emotion Earbuds
1 x Charging Case
3 x Pairs of Ear Tips
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x Communication card

Design and features

Specifications
Bluetooth Version: V4.2
Profile: A2DP, AVRCP, and HFP.
Range: 10 meters (33 feet)
Charging time (Full charge): Approx. 1 hour
Playtime: Up to 6 hours
Standby time: up to 40 hours
Charging Box: 300mAh
Recharge Earphones: 2 Times for each fully charged charging box
Weight: 27g Charging Box, 5g Each Earphone

Music Functions:
On either the left or right earbud:
1 press – play/pause
2 presses – track forward
3 presses – track backward

Call Functions:
On left earbud:
1 press – answer call
1 press – end call
1 long press – reject call

The charging case is small measuring just 2″ x 1″ x 1″, and the earbuds are also small and lightweight. They are offered in both white and black.

Inside of the charging case is a simple layout with a place for each small earbud and with charging pins on each side. In the center of the case between the two earbuds, there is a small circular LED that flashes during charging. (Check out the video below)

Performance

These earbuds are very lightweight and very comfortable in the ears, I was able to find a set of the included ear tips that fit me perfectly. When you first use them, you have to look carefully at the contacts, and remove the thin plastic film that covers them. The thin film is almost invisible to the naked eye, and I have to be honest and say that I only figured it out after I could not get the earbuds to charge even after plugging them in overnight. Pairing the earbuds is very easy and straightforward, and after the initial pairing, they automatically power on and pair with that device each time you remove them from the case. Their function includes the standard voice commands that confirm power status and connectivity. They also properly disconnect the Bluetooth connection when placed into the case. They produce a well-balanced sound, but for my taste, they do fall short a bit in the lower frequency.  I tested them with Jazz, Reggae, Gospel, Easy Listening, R&B, Soul and the Classics, and overall they performed quite well. The Bluetooth connection remained solid throughout testing with no disruptions even when in the high interference areas that I usually travel through each workday. It is important to note that they do employ a volume limiter, so they never get really, really loud. They fit well in your ears and do not attempt to fall out even during vigorous movements. When I tested them for phone calls, I could hear the other party clearly, but the other party kept saying that I sounded like I was in a basement and I did have to raise my voice quite a bit for them to hear me. Since I am convinced that somehow this is an issue that is specific to me regardless of the earbuds, these earbuds might handle phone calls better for others. One downside is that since the charging case battery is only 300mAh, so you only get just about 2 charges from the case per case charge.


On a sided note, they provide quite a nice light show when charging. (I shot the following video in my dark truck while it was raining heavily outside)

What I like

  • The compact size of the case and earbuds including how lightweight they are
  • The instant connection and disconnection when placed into or taken out of the charging case
  • The solid Bluetooth connection

What can be improved

  • The overall frequency range to provide deeper bass
  • A bit more volume range

Final thoughts

The Soul Emotion earbuds are a great balance of sound, size, weight, and functionality. They work very well in each category and are very pleasing to use. In this challenging battle to “wow” me and to reign supreme as the best earbuds for me, they do not earn the top spot, but they certainly earn a Good Performance rating. However, if rated in a class of earbuds in a similar price range, they could possibly earn top honors. They get a job well done and a thumbs up!!

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Soul Electronics.

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SOUL Emotion Wireless Earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 19, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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