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PadMate PaMu Scroll BT 5.0 wireless earbuds review

REVIEW – With the increasing lack of headphone jacks on popular devices, wireless earbuds are appearing on the market with increasing rapidity. The latest I’ve been asked to review has just started their crowdfunding campaign and is from a company we’ve already seen good products from – PadMate. Their recent Indiegogo launch has already earned past their $20,000 goal. Why all the backers? Read on.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

A while back, I was sent the first iteration of PadMate’s wireless earbud line. They were great for sound and connectivity, but I was not a fan of the charging case design. The team has gone back to the drawing board and improved not only the case, but the size and connectivity of the product and launched it as the PaMu Scroll.

What is it?

The Scroll is a new type of case for wireless headphones. We’ve seen cases with removable lids, which can get lost or not seal, we’ve seen connected lids like the Apple AirPods, which can get sprung out, but also make opening and removing a bit more trouble. The Scroll is a flap of leather that is rolled over the opening, which holds the earbuds into their magnetic charging mounts, yet allows you to get your fingers around them in order to remove them for use. It’s securely sealed with two sets of magnets, yet releases with the flick of a finger.

Hardware specs

(from the Company’s IndieGoGo campaign)

What’s in the box?

  • Earbuds
  • Charging case
  • 3 sizes of silicone tips
  • USB-A to microUSB charging cable (1’ long)

Design and features

The size of the PaMu Scroll buds is a bit smaller than the previous models, only .75” versus a full inch for the first model, but they are still a subtle oval with a hidden button on the face. The ear tips are a good bit smaller, and the whole unit fits more flush into your outer ear area, which makes them a bit less noticeable.

Still, however, there is that tell-tale blinking light, though. They now are sweat-resistant (IPx6), so they’re going to be better for sweaty sports. The Video on the website shows someone with them on in the shower. You do you.

The PaMu Scroll is sleek and stylish right out of the box. The earbuds are held separately from the charging holder, so that you can appreciate the beauty of both at first glance. Like the previous PaMu earbuds, the Scroll units are easily placed into the charging cradle, and due to the form fit and magnets, it is impossible to get them in the wrong space. They are also marked L and R to avoid any attempt at this. When you remove them from the charger, just like the previous model, they start trying to pair with themselves and any BlueTooth units in pairing mode. These, however, use the new BlueTooth 5.0 spec, so their pairing is more solid.

I was sent a set in Sakura (rose gold) to test. They are also available in several darker shades: Rock ‘n’ Roll, Graphine, and Glory Edition. They look (sorta) black, bronze, and blue, I think. (Your vision may vary.) Each color also has a different pattern on the leather cover. The Sakura cover is a pebble grain.

The interior is a natural suede finish, and there is very even decorative stitching along the outer edge. A metallic plastic piece on the end houses the magnetic catch that seals the cover onto the body of the case. There is a single magnet on each end of both the cover and the case for this purpose.


On the left side of the cylindrical case is a microUSB charging port.

On the right side there are 4 LEDs to indicate level of charge of the case itself.

Like the earlier model, there is no on/off switch or other way to force the case to reveal available charge. This can only be done by removing and inserting one of the earbuds, or by plugging in the case for charging.
The case itself is 3.75” long and just under 1.5” in diameter. The two ends are indented with the center pulled back up into a center pedestal about .75” in diameter. There is a metallic accent around this center area that matches the metal accent on the earbuds. The plastic of the Sakura case and earbuds is white. On the others, it looks blackish, but I couldn’t really tell in the promo videos.

Setup

Pairing and moving between several devices is clean and easy. We’re still not to that “Do What I Mean” stage where earbuds will be able to know which device we’re listening from, but it’s no bother to turn off the PaMu Scroll in my iPad settings and click connect in the Bluetooth settings of my iPhone.

Performance

While the sound quality was still full and rich (better than my AirPods!), they’re still not able to give the same body-thumping sound of a good set of speakers, or the head jarring rattle of really large over-the-ear cans. But for walking around, listening to podcasts or some street tunes? They are fantastic!

What I Like

  • Great sound, especially at this price.
  • Pairs quickly and solidly (BlueTooth 5.0!)
  • Stylish look on earbuds and case
  • Case is substantial

What needs to be improved

  • None that I could find, really

Final thoughts

I was sent these by mistake, so I had no say in the color. Even though I’m not a fan of white and rose gold, I have still been wearing these almost daily since I got them. Every now and again, I’ll pull out the AirPods or the original PaMu’s, and there is always some reason that I go back to these at the next listening session. They really give a full depth, especially to podcast sounds, and that’s usually what I’m listening to when wearing earbuds.

Additional item

I was not able to test this add-on, but there is a microUSB to Qi wireless adapter available. The crowdfunding price is currently $10. It plugs directly into the charging base and looks like it’s part of the unit (well, except I have a white case and it’s black.) I don’t have a Qi charging pad yet.

Price: $39 at super-early bird price. $49 at regular backer price. $149 retail after Indiegogo funding round.
Where to buy: IndieGogo
Source: The sample of this product was provided by PadMate.

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PadMate PaMu Scroll BT 5.0 wireless earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Black & Decker Infuser 3-In-1 Digital PowerCrush Blending System review


REVIEW – My family is one that is on a major healthy lifestyle journey, and we are always on the lookout for products that allow us to create nice variations of our specific diet. Some of the mandatory tools are a blender, a juicer, etc. When I got a chance to take a look at this 3 in 1 combination, I readily accepted. Let’s see how it went.

What is it?

The Black & Decker Infuser 3-In-1 Digital PowerCrush Blending System combines a personal blender, and regular blender and an infusion blender in one device.

What’s in the box


1 x 3-in-1 blender base unit
1 x 6-cup blending jar
1 x 18-oz. blending jar
1 x Infuser and infusion filter
1 x Instruction/recipe booklet

Design and features

The system is constructed of a metal base and plastic blending parts and combines three blending devices in one.  Its motor produces 900 watts of power that pulverizes even ice, with the use of its 4-tip QuadPro Stainless Steel Blades.

Here are some specs:
Parts material: Glass, Plastic
Dimensions (Overall): 9.88 inches (H) x 15.0 inches (W) x 7.88 inches (D)
Weight: 8.82 pounds
Finish: Baked-on Paint
Capacity (Volume): 48 ounces
Includes: Stainless steel multipurpose blade, Pouring Shield, Blending Cup with Lid, Glass Bowl, Rubber Seal, Instruction Manual, travel jar, infuser insert, tamper
Features: Pulse Feature, Pouring Spout, Hideaway Cord Wrap, Variable Speed, Stainless Steel Blades, Push Button Controls, Indicator Light
Base – Metal Finish: Stainless Steel
Appliance Capabilities: Blends, Crushes Ice, Mixes, Purees, Chops, infuses, emulsifies, Juices, Liquefy
Care and Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe Parts, spot or wipe clean
Number of Speeds: 3
Warranty: 2-year limited warranty

The personal blender includes an 18 oz jar that can be used on-the-go with the snap lid. It works much like every personal blender and creates a smoothly blended mixture.

The picture below shows the system set up as a traditional blender. It functions well in this combination as well.


The infuser device basically uses an infusion filter with a “pusher”. You place the ingredients in the inside of the filter and then use the “pusher” to apply pressure downwards onto the ingredients as the blade spins. The blade action starts off as a pulsating action to crush the ingredients and then a fast, free spinning action as the blades work to pulverize the ingredients while the juice escapes through the filter into the jar. As far as I know, the true concept of infusion does not involve a blade, but for my personal use, this is better because the resulting mix is very rich in flavor. “Infusion is the process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent such as water, oil or alcohol, by allowing the material to remain suspended in the solvent over time (a process often called steeping)”. – Wikipedia

The base unit of this 3 in 1 infuser is made of plastic and metal and is sleek and shiny with a digital touchpad control interface. From left to right, there are 3 speeds controls: an on/off and ice crush control the uses a pulsing action, a smoothie selection that spins consistently to blend, an infuse control that is a pulsing and then free spinning action that is used for juicing, and a shake mode that is also a fast free spinning motion. Basically, they are intuitive controls for the three speeds, three programs, and a pulse function to provide the desired consistency.

Performance

The personal blender use of this system works very well and produces a very smooth blend. I also actually have and have reviewed the Black & Decker personal blender as a separate device, so I was expecting the same great performance and it did not disappoint. While the base unit is slightly different for the separately sold personal blender, the performance is the same except that this system has 900 watts of power and does the job even faster and, slightly better.


Below is the mixture that is a result of the infusion/blending process. the ingredients were blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. The flavor was smooth, rich, and tasty.
The pictures below show frozen Kale, frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, pineapple, almond milk and ice cubes in the blender and the resulting mixture that was very tasty. You can see in the middle picture that I have the ingredient “pusher” in the center hole in the blender cover as opposed to the attached hole cover that it comes with. This is because I had a minor accident with it and it broke off. (my fault). The blender action is a constant speed at either speed 1, 2 or 3.



The next set of pictures show a smoothie in the personal blender that was made from frozen bananas, kale, apple, peanut butter, and protein powder.  The smoothie action by the blender starts with an on/off cycle until the ingredients are pulverized, and then it changes to a constant speed to finish off mixing the smoothie. It makes an excellent and really smooth smoothie with no type of pulp.


What I like

  • The 3 in 1 feature
  • The blending results
  • The infuser/juicer

What can be improved

  • Some of the materials used have resulted in this label on the seller’s website: – WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Styrene, which is known to the state of California to cause cancer, and Bisphenol-A, which is known to the state of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. www.p65warnings.ca.gov 
  • Less plastic for some of the parts. Maybe a glass jar for the blender?

     

Final thoughts

This 3 in 1 blender system is very convenient and a great use of precious countertop space. It is really nice to make one reasonably priced purchase and have all 3 systems in one. It works well, and we have been using it continuously for our fruit and vegetable shakes. While I am not necessarily a fan of all of the plastic parts that are a part of this system, so far it has held up well. As far as performance goes, I am happy. I will post an update should there be a need to. For now, I give the Black & Decker Infuser 3-In-1 Digital PowerCrush Blending System a thumbs up. (Still researching the whole Styrene issue and effect).

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Target
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Black & Decker.

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Black & Decker Infuser 3-In-1 Digital PowerCrush Blending System review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Cowin E7 Pro Bluetooth active noise cancelling headphones review

REVIEW – Noise canceling headphones are wonderful, but they cost a bit more than regular headphones, and the cheapo ones generally are not up to snuff. I’ve tried one pair out so far and enjoyed them, but they were wired, so I had to keep an adapter handy. The Cowin E7 Pro active noise canceling headphones are Bluetooth with an option to wire in if needed and come at a reasonable price tag. That combination intrigued me enough to want to see them for myself. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Cowin E7 pro headphones are noise canceling, over the ear Bluetooth headphones that are made for daily use.

Hardware specs

Active Noise Canceling
45 mm drivers
Frequency: 20Hz-20kHz
Bluetooth or 3.5 mm wired

What’s in the box?

Cowin E7 PRO Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Headphone Case
Micro USB Cable
3.5mm Audio Cable
User Guide

Design and features

Other than the decent price tag, what I liked about these headphones was the simplicity in the design. On the right headphone, you have a plus and minus button, which if pressed once will change the song, or held down change the volume. It took a bit to get used to how long to keep it pressed for, but it was so sleek and simple to use. If you press towards the middle of the ‘triangle’ where the plus and minus buttons are, you will start and stop the music. They were easy to use and gave a tactile click when pressed.

One thing about Bluetooth is that you have to keep them charged up and watch the battery life. I was very impressed with the battery life on these headphones. I took a trip to the Midwest and used them nearly constantly on the plane (a good six hours total) and I barely made a dent in the battery. I am at about 3/4 of the way through the battery in three weeks of on and off use totaling around 20 hours. Not bad at all.

I was quite impressed with the comfort of these headphones, as they did not cause any ear fatigue after three hours of constant use. The pads are soft and while not giant, still big enough to go fully over my ear. They are very loose on the head, however, so if you are jostled around you can hear the noise canceling go in and out due to the seal loss. This happened during turbulence on the plane and if I walked downstairs. The sounds it made when it would move around on my head was the one thing I felt needed improving since bumps happen in the air and in a motor vehicle.

The noise canceling was pretty decent. They are not Bose by any means, but they worked very well at cutting out the noise of the engine and chatter in the airport. I had a lovely red-eye flight to test these on, and I used the noise canceling only (no music) for a majority of the flight and was very thankful for them. In the airport, I could still hear the announcements from my gate, but most of the idle talk around me was drowned out by the noise canceling and music. It made for a very enjoyable airport experience.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I hate the sound delay with Bluetooth headphones. The best pair I have so far is a pair of Bose earbuds, but I am very happy to say the Cowin E7 Pro headphones beat the Bose in that there is virtually no sound delay. In fact, I watched several videos, got to my destination, and thought “Oh yeah, I need to test the sound delay!” and while pulling up the videos, realized I had already watched them, and didn’t realize it because it was unnoticeable. That impressed me most of all with these headphones.

Lastly, let’s talk about the sound quality. I took a phone call on these and I could be heard, and I could hear my friend just fine. When it came to music, these had above average bass sound, decent mid-range sound, and average highs. The sound itself was nice and clear though, and I could definitely hear the words articulated pretty well. Since I sometimes listen to music in foreign languages, it was nice to really hear how the words were sung. This, of course, was with the noise canceling on. With it off, the overall sound quality was just average.

What I like

  • No delay when using Bluetooth
  • Good battery life
  • Decent price

What needs to be improved

  • The headphones don’t fit tightly against my head

Final thoughts

Overall, for the price, these headphones are pretty decent. The sound quality is not mind-blowing, but still good, the battery life is great, and I can watch videos on my phone without any sound delay, which is better than my Bose wireless earbuds. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly pair of active noise canceling headphones, the Cowin E7 Pro wireless headphones would be a good pair to look into.

Price: $79.99
Where to buy: LuLuLook
Source: The sample of this product was provided by LuLuLook.

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Cowin E7 Pro Bluetooth active noise cancelling headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 18, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle version H.20 review

 

REVIEW – Have you ever been in an airport and wanted some water, but refused to pay $8.95? Tired of lugging around a plastic or metal tube that occupies half of the volume of your backpack? If yes, Hydaway’s collapsible bottle might be for you.

What is it?

Hydaway’s latest incarnation is a liquid-carrying vessel that has accordion-like bellows that enable the bottle to be compressed into a flat disk.

Hardware Specs:

  • 6 x 4 inches when expanded, 1 x 4 inches when compressed
  • 18 ounces capacity
  • Weighs 5 ounces

What’s in the Box?

  • Hydaway bottle
  • Travel storage case

Design and features:

I reviewed Hydaway’s original bottle last year. I found them to be great for travel, easy to clean, and expertly crafted. I was aware of upgrades and looked forward to looking at the new H2.0 version.

The bottle arrived in a sturdy box with plenty of biodegradable packing material. Included was a travel storage case.

Retail bottle packaging is minimal – I always appreciate that. It’s similar to the original with just a card that fastens under the bottle lid.

Hydaway’s Version H2.0 is slightly smaller in diameter than its predecessor. Anything that saves size or weight is welcomed. The following picture shows the difference between original (green) and the new version (dark blue).

The new bottle sent to me is the 18-ounce version. At some point, I’d like to have a look at the larger 28-ounce version.

The storage case fits both the old and new versions.

Opening the accordion folds of the new bottle is the same as the previous version – loosen the cap (or on the original version, open the spout) to break the vacuum, and pull the upper and lower expansions in opposite directions.

Here’s the thing… The original version had a spout that could be opened to allow air to enter the bottle during expansion. The new version has no spout – the lid needs to be removed, or at least loosened enough to let air in and out to expand or collapse the bottle. The original version is definitely easier.

The new version has a folding handle built into the cap. My first attempt to open the bottle, I loosened the cap and pulled on the folding handle. It popped off. It goes back on easily but I certainly wouldn’t trust it to hold the bottle secure while jogging through an airport. I suppose that’s what the travel case is for.

The old version also had plastic molded into the base that could be grabbed with index finger and thumb to assist with deployment. The new design integrates a “lip” into the base. I’m sure it’s less costly to manufacture but makes the version H2.0 version a bit more difficult to open.

Now that it’s open, fill with your preferred beverage or snack and you are on the move.

The H2.0 version lid seals well. No spills but it lacks the spout of the original version. When I tried using the bottle while walking and found having to remove the lid makes it more prone to spilling. It also makes drinking a more involved two-handed process – one hand to open the bottle, the other to hold the lid. The original version needed one had to hold the bottle, the other to open the spout, once the spout was opened, the other hand could go back to what it was doing.

Please note: You CAN purchase a lid with a spout with the version H2.0.

What I like:

  • Small size
  • Great for travel
  • Eliminates the need for disposable bottles

What needs to be improved?

  • Sturdy up the handle

Final thoughts:

I love gadgets that reduce size and weight, so I’m a big fan of Hydaway bottles. Their innovative design, great construction, and features are top-notch. I suppose it’s clear that I prefer the original version to the H2.0. Still, I love this product and will continue using them.

Price: Starts at $21
Where to buy: Indiegogo Indemand
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Hydaway Bottle.

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Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle version H.20 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 18, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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GRID wallet review

REVIEW – There are a few wallet junkies on the Gadgeteer team and I’m one of them. I’m probably the pickiest wallet person on the team because the wallet I use has to look a certain way, feel a certain way, and perform a certain way before it earns a spot in my pocket. In other words, it has to be just right. The latest wallet to be put through my testing is the GRID wallet. It looks great, but how does it feel and how does it perform? Let’s find out.

What is it?

The GRID wallet is a minimalist RFID blocking wallet that can hold 1-12 credit cards and folded cash and is available in either anodized aluminum, carbon fiber, forged carbon, or titanium. I was sent the blue anodized aluminum GRID wallet that you see here.

Design and features

This wallet follows the minimalist design as it is made of two plates of anodized aluminum that are held together on three sides with strong elastic bands. If the GRID looks familiar to you, you might be thinking of another wallet review that we did about 5 years ago of the Ridge wallet. The GRID looks identical to the Ridge except that it has the card push slot in the center instead of off to one side.

On the back of the GRID wallet, you will find a steel money clip that will hold a stack of folded dollar bills.

The GRID wallet is thin and lightweight when it’s empty.

To load it with credit cards, you just pull the two plates apart and slide in a stack of cards or load each card one at a time by sliding it between the chamfered edges of the plates. The elastic on the sides and bottom will stretch or retract to accommodate a changing stack of 1-12 cards while holding them securely. There’s no worry that the cards are going to fall out of this wallet.

I started out testing the GRID with 5 standard sized plastic credit cards and 4 folded dollar bills.

Loading the cards is easy as they just slide in between the front and back plates.

The wallet has the same form factor as a credit card, so it’s compact and pocketable. You will notice the half-circle cutout along the bottom edge. This cutout helps you push the cards up so you can retrieve one of them when needed.

The money clip on the back of the GRID wallet is very strong so it will securely hold 1 dollar bill to 10 or more bills. I only had a few bills to test because I don’t usually carry cash and I’m not Oprah.

Here’s a side view of the wallet with 5 credit cards and 4 folded dollar bills.

Does it pass the look and feel test?

When it comes to look and feel, I like the GRID quite a bit because it has a simple but attractive look and style. As far as the feel, it is lightweight, but I feel like it’s slightly bulky due to the money clip. Since I don’t usually carry cash, the money clip is just in the way for me and causes the wallet to get caught in my pocket. It would be nice if there was an easy way to remove the clip if it’s not a feature that you need. As is, it appears that it might be possible to remove the clip if you have a hex driver that fits the screws used to assemble the wallet. I can’t be 100% sure of this though as I’ve not tried it.

Does it pass the performance test?

I really wanted to love the GRID Wallet, but I found it awkward to use with one hand compared to my current favorite wallet (see my favorite gear page). The wallet is like a credit card sandwich. The elastic holds the front and back plates of the wallet/slices of bread around the credit card/meaty center. To remove a credit card from the stack, you need both hands. One hand to hold the wallet, and one hand to press slide the cards up. Then one hand to find and retrieve the desired card.

Removing the top or bottom card is semi-easy, but if you want a card in the center of the stack, it’s a little more tedious. You can either slide the cards almost completely out of the wallet so you can fan them out to find the one you want, or you can also pinch the bottom of the wallet to let you flip through the cards like they are an accordion. The pinch feature isn’t easy to do especially if you have dexterity problems with your hands. It felt like the process of removing a card took too long for my liking. Here’s a quick video that demonstrates what I’m talking about.

What I like

  • RFID blocking
  • Expands and contracts to hold your credit cards

What needs to be improved

  • Not easy to remove a specific card from a stack

Final thoughts

The GRID wallet looks nice and is well made, but I think it’s one of those products that you’ll either love to use or you’ll be looking for a refund. I won’t say that I hate it, but it’s just not a wallet that I personally would want to use on a daily basis because it feels too awkward and time-consuming to retrieve a card compared the wallet that I’m using now.

Price: $65.00
Where to buy: GRID
Source: The sample for this review was provided by GRID.

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GRID wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 18, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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