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Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack review

We all love our gadget and gear hauling bags, but sometimes we don’t want or need to lug around that full-sized backpack or messenger bag.  I’ve seen several smaller alternative options pop up over the years, but many of them either looked like a strange purse, a European man-bag, or just plain weird.  The Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack is none of those things.  In fact, I very quickly got past the fact that the Axis resembles a “fanny pack.”   The Axis is low-profile in both design and styling, build from high-quality, durable materials and it is compatible with Mission Workshop’s modular Arkiv® system.  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Mission Workshop Axis is a lightweight Arkiv-compatible waist pack built with rugged materials and a weatherproof design that is intended to carry essential gear close to the body.

Hardware specs

  • Model number = HT500
  • Color options = Black (reviewed here), Gray, Black Camo
  • Materials =
    • High Tenacity 500D nylon
    • TPU coated nylon liner
    • YKK urethane coated zipper
    • Laser cut back panel
  • Dimensions = Height: 5” x Width: 10.25” x Depth: 3.4”
  • Total maximum circumference = 50″
  • Internal volume = 2.5L
  • Weight = 8 ounces
  • Country of manufacture = Built by hand in small batches in the USA
  • Lifetime guarantee

What’s in the package?

  • Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack

Design and features

OK, let’s get this out of way early: Yes, the Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack does resemble the “fanny pack” that was so very popular in my formative years, the Decade of Excess, the 1980s.  But I was totally willing to overlook that for a few reasons.  First, I’ve never owned or tried anything from Mission Workshop, but their products look very much my style, very functional, and I’ve read that their products are extremely well-made and very durable.  Second, the online photos of the Axis made it look a lot more like a tactical/”tacti-cool” pouch than one of the gaudy, dorky fanny packs from the 80s.  And once I slid the Axis from its shipping pouch, I knew that I had made a good decision to volunteer to try it out.  Immediately the Axis felt like it had been built from super high-quality materials and with the highest attention to detail and quality in the build process.  The main material and the one used to build all of the exterior parts of the Axis is High Tenacity 500D nylon.  This is a great material for a small pack like this because it is very strong yet flexible and lightweight, quite abrasion resistant, has a fairly high degree of moisture resistance and is weave is relatively tight, so it will not tend to abrade your clothing light higher-denier nylon fabrics.

I’m going to start from the rear of the Axis first, beginning with the photo above.  The first of many features worth pointing out is something you can’t see from the outside but adds greatly to the overall product durability and performance, and that is a laser-cut panel made of semi-rigid plastic that is enclosed in the back of the Axis.  This panel serves a few functions.  First, it gives the Axis a bit of rigidity, preventing it from being completely floppy and unstructured.  Second, this panel helps when wearing the Axis, because it provides a flat, solid shape up against your body (it will curve slightly to help confirm, however, which is also helpful for comfort).

The back of the Axis also has a short length of webbing that at first I thought was some type of handle, but the placement seemed odd to me.  Then I realized that this strip of webbing is actually a holder for a mini bike U-lock.  Just slip the mini U-lock down through the webbing and it will be held securely while you ride, then pull it back out when you need to lock up your bike.  My apologies that I don’t own a mini U-lock or I’d show a pic to demonstrate this functionality.

The final feature on the back of the Axis is a series of four pairs of laser-cut slots that are specifically designed and built to allow the Axis to be compatible with Mission Workshop’s Arkiv modular system.  The Arkiv system utilizes webbing straps and small metal clips, which are available separately in a set of 4 for $10, to attach all sorts of modular accessories to the Arkiv line of backpacks.  Alas, as this is my first Mission Workshop item, I do not have any of their Arkiv-compatible products to evaluate with the Axis, but the principle and method they employ for achieving modularity does seem very sound and functional.

Working our way towards the front of the Axis, let’s check out the belt itself.  The belt is actually a strip of heavy-duty, laser-cut nylon webbing material.  Additionally, on either side of the Axis are two triangular “wings” (seen above) under the belt that help give it extra support when the Axis is in contact with your body, and the belt is stitched to the wings in such a way that a length of the belt (seen above) can be used as an attachment point for other items using carabiners or other, similar types of fasteners.

I just wanted to briefly touch on the Mission Workshop external branding, which is a subdued label stitched to the side of the Axis, as seen in the image above.  I really like that Mission Workshop does not feel the need to include overly visible (i.e. obnoxious large or eye-catching) branding on the Axis.  This very much add to the clean and low-profile look of the Axis, which I think is one of its selling points.  Good job on this.

Now back to the belt.  The belt is stitched to the Axis, so it can’t be separated from the main Axis body.  However, what Mission Workshop has done is, I think, actually more clever and useful than simply a removable belt.  As shown above and below, the belt ends can be slid back inside the main body of the Axis, effectively hiding them and getting them out of the way.  This does two things: prevents you from ever losing the belt, and makes it easier when using the Axis with the modular Arkiv system, because the belt would typically not be needed when attaching the Axis to an Arkiv-compatible pack.  Nice feature!

Next, let’s start moving toward the front and inside features of the Axis.  Its compartment is accessed via a YKK urethane coated zipper with a slim top and bottom flaps “kissing flaps” that have been perfectly cut and sewn to join together, helping to prevent moisture ingress into the compartment.  The zipper pulls on the Axis are made from tied loops of 550 Paracord material.  I think this is a great feature because 550 Paracord pulls are ninja silent, unlikely to wear out, and can be easily swapped out for a multitude of 550 Paracord colors if they do happen to actually wear out, or if you would like to do a bit of customization to your Axis.  The knots also make them easier to grip than a standard zipper pull.

Opening the Axis reveals an interesting lining and some organizer features.  Let’s start with the lining.  While the front of the Axis, as detailed above, is made from High Tenacity 500D nylon material, which is fairly water-resistant itself, the Axis also has a “floating liner” made from TPU coated nylon, which is the gray, grid-pattern material seen in the photos above and below.  This floating liner is intended to provide an addition layer and higher level of moisture and water protection for any sensitive items you may want to carry inside the Axis, like your phone, earbuds or a camera.  Additionally, there is an organizer along the flat back of the compartment that consists of a long mesh zipper pocket plus two pockets behind the mesh zipper pocket, all of which are very handy for stowing smallish items.  And, with a 2.5L capacity, the main compartment will hold quite a few larger items as well.

The final organizational feature is a spring hook that is attached to the inside of the Axis by a loop of 550 Paracord.  This spring hook is not a cheap, fragile plastic hook, no sir.  It is a metal hook with a black finish.  This could be used to secure your keys or other similar items.

Next let’s take a look at various carry options for the Axis, starting with the most obvious, wearing it in the lower back/lumbar region (yes, the classic “fanny pack” position).  I’ll be honest, once I cinched it down, it was very comfortable, more than I even thought it would be, and its easy to spin around to the front to retrieve items, then spin it back.  It only weighs 8 oz while empty, which helps.  Plus, I think it actually looks pretty cool.  The materials and design certainly contribute to this.

I think the plastic back plate combined with the wide belt strap and the “wings” all contribute to the Axis feeling quite comfortable when worn in this position.  I barely noticed that I had it on.

Next, I wanted to try the sling bag style carry position, with the Axis slung over my left shoulder.  Looking at these photos as I type this, I think I probably could have tightened the Axis’ belt strap a bit, because it seems to be hanging a bit low on my back, but honestly it felt fine like this to me.  

With the Axis in this sling bag style carry position, it made it easy to tighten or loosen the belt strap so that I could adjust how high or low the Axis would sit.

Additionally, this sling bag carry style allowed me quick access to the Axis’ contents; all I had to do was rotate it around up under my right arm and the Axis was right in front of my chest in just the right position to get inside and retrieve or store an item, which was convenient.

What I like

  • Well-designed, sturdy build, smart + durable
  • Weatherproof materials keep contents dry
  • Stowable belt straps
  • Compatible with Mission Workshop’s modular Arkiv system

What needs to be improved

  • Pricey.  Way pricey.  While I fully understand and appreciate that Mission Workshop’s products are made in small batch size in the USA, $120 is still pretty expensive for a bag of this size and type.  Though it does have a lifetime guarantee.

Final thoughts

The Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack defies the socially-stigmatized reputation of its 1980s “fanny pack” ancestor.  It is a versatile, sleek, low-profile, well-designed and even more well-built mini waist pack that is actually quite comfortable to wear. The only drawback I see is that it is a bit pricey for what it is, but I can somewhat understand its pricing considering its quality of materials and construction, its USA manufacturing and its lifetime guarantee. For further evaluation, I plan to bring the Axis on a 2-week family vacation to Europe in a few weeks and I will report my findings here.

Price: $120.00
Where to buy: Mission Workshop
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by Mission Workshop.

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Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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IOGEAR HVER RGB Aluminum Gaming Keyboard review

I’ve been a gadget geek all my life, and a computer gadget geek for over 36 years. I’ve had so many gadgets that I’m pretty used to everything from the mediocre to the fabulous. I have boxes of old keyboards, and I’m very picky about the kind I like – mechanical clicky of course! It’s not that often that I’m surprised with a gadget being of a very poor quality, but the IOGEAR HVER RGB Aluminum Gaming Keyboard succeeded in doing just that.

What is it?

The IOGEAR HVER RGB Aluminum Gaming Keyboard is an RGB multi-zone backlit keyboard with a brushed aluminum chassis and the ability for 3 user profiles and programmable keys.

What’s in the box?

  • IOGEAR HVER RGB Aluminum Gaming Keyboard
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Warranty Card


Design and features

The HVER keyboard has an open frame design with elevated keys that appear to “hover” above the brushed aluminum chassis. In addition to the standard HVER features like 26 anti-ghosting keys, Windows key lockout, and heavy-weight gaming base, the HVER RGB also adds the ability to program individual keys as macros for in-game use or shortcuts to system controls, PC functions, etc.


When I first plugged in this keyboard I wanted to see what I could do before I installed any of their software. Surprisingly all of the special function (FN) key options worked, except for the programmable keys of course. I was able to change all 13 of the backlighting effects. The backlighting was fairly good. I really liked the various options for the lighting:

  • Multicolor light dance
  • Multicolor breathing
  • Multicolor techno beat
  • Solid color fixed (7 colors)
  • Solid color rotation breathing
  • Solid color techno beat
  • Multicolor fixed




The lighting can be turned off, or set to one of three levels of brightness.

Then I installed the software. This is where everything went downhill.

First, neither the installer nor the app itself is digitally signed. On Windows, this causes windows to display the “Unknown Publisher” warning when launching, and for limited users, it can even prevent the software from running at all. In this day and age, signed installers and executable programs are a must.

With no instructions on how to use the software, it took me a few minutes to learn that you click on a function, then click on a key to assign it. That worked great. Then it took me a while to figure out how to undo that assignment. Turns out that you have to select Default, then the Default effect, and assign that to the key to restore the original keys function.

I didn’t notice exactly when, but I think when I clicked Apply, the app applied the settings (which is odd, since the changes already worked), but the backlighting on the keyboard stopped working. No amount of unplugging, restoring, rebooting, or resetting made it work again. The backlighting does flash when changing profiles, but it doesn’t stay on.

To make matters worse, the lettering on the keys are barely visible without the backlighting.






What I like

  • Function keys for lighting works without installing software
  • Windows Key Lockout feature

What needs to be improved

  • Software seems broken
  • Uneven key lettering backlighting on some keys

Final thoughts

This is a definite “don’t buy” unless you don’t want to customize any of the keys.

Price: $42.97
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by IOGEAR

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IOGEAR HVER RGB Aluminum Gaming Keyboard review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Azpen DockAll D108 wireless docking station review

There are so many QI wireless chargers and Bluetooth docks available to consumers today, that manufacturers must provide well built, feature-packed devices to appeal to customers, and to win the battle to be the device of choice. Let’s see how this one “stands up”.

What is it?

The Azpen DockAll wireless docking station is a QI wireless fast charging dock with Bluetooth connectivity and hands-free phone capability.

What’s in the box


In the box, you will find the dock, the manual, the AC adapter,  and the warranty card.

Design and features

This Azpen dock is a well-built dock, with a good solid feel to it, and very nice features. When you first turn on the dock, there is a voice announcement that confirms that it is in Bluetooth mode and ready to be paired. Pairing is very simple. The dock appears as “DOCK ALL” in your Bluetooth settings, and once selected, it pairs immediately.

On the back of the dock, there are 2 USB charging ports that allow you to charge two devices in addition to the QI wireless charging capability. To the right of the USB charging ports, there is a micro SD port that allows you to insert a micro SD card as large as 64GB  with the music of your choice, and the dock will automatically play the music. The music controls on the front of the dock work for music played from the SD card as well. To the right of the micro SD slot, there is the power jack and to the right of the jack, there is the power button. There are air vents on both ends of the back of the dock.

On each side of the dock, there is a really nice sounding speaker. Together, the 2 speakers sound well-balanced and are loud enough to easily fill a 200 square foot room.

On the lower front of the dock, there are the controls for the music and sound, including volume up and down, track forward and backward, play/pause, the microphone, and the phone handsfree control.

When your phone is connected to the dock via Bluetooth, the handsfree function can be used for phone calls. When the phone or tablet is properly docked, there is a blue LED along the lower front of the dock that confirms the proper connection to the QI wireless charging pad. The ledge that the phone rests on is wide enough and deep enough to even accommodate a full-sized tablet.


What I like

I really like the build quality of this dock, and the sound it produces both for music and for phone calls. Its ability to play music from a micro SD card is a real bonus. The additional features of the charging ports work really well, along with the easy Bluetooth connectivity.

What can be improved

The only issue I encountered with this dock is that several times when I disconnected from the Bluetooth connection, it would randomly reconnect and my music or conversations would then be played via the dock, sometimes even when I was in another room. I am not sure whether the dock or my smartphone is to blame for this, but maybe a Bluetooth on/off button would be a good addition.

Final thoughts

The Azpen DockAll wireless docking station does enough of what it is designed to do well enough, that it is a good choice for an all-in-one solution of this kind. Its functions work well and with ease, and it seems like it would stand up to normal “wear and tear” for years to come. While its longevity is still to be determined, it now has a permanent place on the counter in my kitchen where my wife uses it to listen to music from her phone and to carry on her normal phone conversations while free to move around, because of the very capable handsfree function.

Price: $99.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: Sample for this review provided by Azpen Innovation

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Azpen DockAll D108 wireless docking station review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2018 at 3:40 pm.

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Huawei P20 smartphone review

I enjoyed using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro when I reviewed it a few months ago and now I’ve had the chance to use the newer and smaller Huawei P20 for a few weeks. Do I love it? Like it? Or is it just meh? Let’s find out.

What is it?

The Huawei P20 is one of Huawei’s latest Android smartphones that runs the most current version of Oreo (Android version 8.1). The P20 is a smaller and lower cost version of the P20 Pro which also from Huawei. Both phones feature a thin bezel display with an iconic notch at the top and both phones feature Leica lenses. The P2o Pro sports 3 lenses on the back while the P20 only has 2 lenses. The P20 also has a smaller 5.8-inch display while the P20 Pro’s display is 6.1 inches. The P20 only has 4GB of RAM while the P20 Pro has 6GB and of course, the P20 Pro has a larger battery. But enough comparison, let’s focus on the P20.

Hardware specs

Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 970 CPU, octa-core, 4 x Cortex A73 2.36 GHz + 4 x Cortex A53 1.8 GHz
Operating System: Android 8.1
Memory: 4 GB RAM+128 GB ROM
Display: 5.8in FHD 1080 x 2244, 428 PPI IPS Display
Network: LTE TDD / LTE FDD / WCDMA / EDGE / GPRS
Camera (rear): Dual-lens camera: 12 MP (RGB, f/1.8 aperture) + 20 MP (Monochrome, f/1.6 aperture), supports autofocus (laser focus, deep focus, phase focus, contrast focus)
Camera (front): 24 MP, f/2.0 aperture, supports fixed focal length
Connectivity:
Bluetooth: BT4.2, support BLE
WiFi: Wi-Fi 2.4 G/5 G, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with Wi-Fi Direct support
NFC: yes
Positioning: GPS / AGPS / Glonass / BeiDou Navigation Satellite System
Battery: 3400 mAh
Dimensions: 149mm X 70.8mm X 7.65mm
Weight: 165 grams

Whats in the box?

  • Huawei P20
  • USB-C Earphones
  • Charger
  • USB-C Cable
  • USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
  • Flexible Clear Case
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Eject tool
  • Warranty card

Design and features

The P20 is available in 5 colors that include Black, Pink Gold, Champagne Gold, Midnight Blue, and Twilight. As you can probably guess, I was sent the Black version of the phone. The phone has a smoothly rounded metal frame with rounded corners. The face of the P20 is all screen except for a smallish notch at the top where the front camera lens, speaker, and status LED are located. At the bottom is a medium sized chin where the combination home and fingerprint scanner capacitive button is located.

The back of the phone is made of glass with the dual Leica lens camera in the top left corner with the 20MP monochrome camera on top and the 12MP RGB lens below it. There’s also an LED flash below the lenses.

The dual lenses are covered in glass and protrude from the back of the phone so you might want to keep the phone in a case that will help protect the lenses from dirt and finger smudges. This is definitely something you should consider because the P20 doubles as a great camera so you will want to keep your images clear and sharp by keeping the lenses clean.

The rest of the phone’s back is blank except for the Huawei brand in the bottom left corner. As I mentioned, the back of the phone is made of glass which has perfectly smooth curved edges that make the phone feel very comfortable in hand. However, even though the back of the phone is made of glass, the P20 surprisingly and unfortunately does not have wireless charging.

Like the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, the P20 comes with a glass screen protector already installed over the display. The phone also ships with a clear case although my review unit didn’t have the case in the box. I think Huawei is the only phone manufacturer that I’ve seen that includes a preinstalled screen protector and a basic case. I like that!

The bottom edge of the P20 has a downward firing speaker and a USB-C port for charging and connection to an HDMI, VGA, or DVI adapter or dock for connection to a monitor or projector. More about that feature later.

On the top edge of the phone is a microphone.

On the right side of the P20, you’ll find the up and down one-piece volume button with the power button below it. The power button has a red stripe inside it which I suppose is just for decoration. Both buttons stick out from the side so that they are easy to find with your fingers and they have excellent tactile feedback.

The left side of the phone has a dual SIM card tray and the phone has software that will allow you to easily switch between SIMs. I only had one active SIM, so I didn’t test the dual SIM capability of the phone.

IP53 dust and water resistance, which means the phone is protected from dust and a light spray of water but is not submersion in water.

In hand, the Huawei P20 feels great. It’s small and solid. The rounded sides make it comfy to hold with no sharp edges when you grip it. Speaking of gripping the phone, I’m happy to report that the P20 passed my 20 years and counting Gadgeteer squeeze test without flexing or creaking.

Display

Love it or hate it, the notch is here to stay. At least that’s what we’re seeing with the current generation of smartphones as it seems to be the latest fad. I personally don’t have any strong feelings one way or another about it, but I know some people who absolutely hate them.

If you’re a notch hater, you can use a software setting to turn off the notch. I will say that with the notch hidden, it’s much easier to see the notification icons. They kind of blend in with the screen’s wallpaper when the notch is present. That said, the Huawei P20 has one of the smallest notches to date. It doesn’t come close to being as small as the one on the Essential Phone, but it’s only about twice as wide as that one. Inside the notch is the front facing 24MP camera, a tiny status LED, a speaker, and an ambient light sensor.

The Huawei P20 has an IPS LCD display instead of an OLED display like its big brother the P20 Pro. Is that a big deal? I don’t think so. The P20’s screen is vibrant, crisp, and clear but to my eyes, the P20’s display is not quite as bright or as easy to read as my Pixel 2 XL when both are set to max brightness, but my Pixel’s display is larger which makes a big difference – at least for my eyes. I’m not complaining about the P20’s display though and find it to be perfectly fine and enjoyable to view.

If you dive into the display settings, you’ll find options to turn on a blue light filter, manual adjustments for the color mode (vivid or normal) and color temperature, or automatic color temperature adjustments based on the ambient light. You can also manually choose between the screen resolution of HD+ which is 1496 x 720 or FHD+ which is 2244 x 1080. Or you can toggle Smart resolution which will automatically lower the resolution to save power.

Fingerprint reader

After using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro’s fingerprint reader, I expected to be equally impressed with the P20’s reader. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. First of all, I’m so spoiled by having a reader on the back of my phone that I can’t stand having one below the screen on the front. Even after getting used to the location, I still find that the P20’s reader doesn’t work for me 100% of the time and I’ve had to reprogram my prints at least 2 times in the last few weeks. If you’ve been reading my smartphone reviews for any length of time, you’ll already know that I have a less than stellar history with fingerprint readers… at least until I started using a Pixel 2 XL which has the best fingerprint reader in the galaxy (at least for me).

Even though the fingerprint reader on the P20 doesn’t work that well for me, that’s ok because the P20 can use face recognition too and that does work well for me. Between the two unlock methods, I’ve had few instances where I’ve had to use a pattern swipe to unlock the phone.

Camera

I was very impressed with the Mate 10 Pro’s camera, so I was expecting the same performance from the P20. Although I was really looking forward to checking out the P20 Pro’s 3 cameras, the P20’s 2 cameras didn’t disappoint me. Like the Mate 10 Pro, the P20’s lenses are LEICA lenses and like the Mate 10 Pro, I’ve been impressed with the images I’ve been able to capture with the P20.

I usually don’t have very exciting images to show as samples in my reviews, but as luck would have it, I received the P20 as I was preparing for a vacation to California to the Carmel and Monterey area. Check out some of my sample shots which are straight out of the camera with no edits. Click to see the full-sized image.








The cool thing about the P20’s stock camera app is that it will detect what you’re shooting and adjust the image to make it look as good as possible. When I was shooting beach scenes it would show BEACH at the bottom of the screen and it would also sometimes put a level on the screen so that I could easily see if I had the horizon straight. I will admit that the water in some of those images was not quite as dazzling blue as it looked in real life, but I just love how the images turned out. If you hate the hyped colors, you can turn off the P20’s AI in the camera settings. As for me, I think the images look like they came out of a magazine if I do say so myself. Well, all of them except for the selfie… 😉

Just to compare, here are two of the same shots taken with the P20 and my Pixel 2 XL within seconds of each other so you can compare.


Which one do you like best? The picture taken with the P20 is on the left and the picture from the Pixel 2 XL is on the right. I’m going with the one on the left.


The P20 also surprised me when I began taking a picture of a sign. The stock camera app recognized it as a document and scanned it to fill the image and made it perfectly square.

Also, like the Mate 10 Pro, a double-tap of the volume-down key will take a snapshot in as little as 0.3 seconds from standby mode (locked with the screen off).

The camera is my favorite feature of the Huawei P20. It inspires me to want to travel more just so I can capture some more insanely great pics.

Oh, and it does a good job with video too… Check out this huawei-p20-47. It’s a 54MB video.

The P20 earned top marks on DxOMark the trusted industry standard for independent image quality measurements and ratings of digital cameras, lens, and smartphones. Test results are available on www.dxomark.com.

Audio quality

Although the P20 has what looks like two downward firing speakers on the bottom edge of the phone, there’s really only one speaker on the right. If you can get past the fact that it has a mono speaker, the P20’s speaker is clear and sounds decent and at full volume, it’s loud.

I rarely listen to music through a phone’s speaker, so using the included USB-C to 3.5mm adapter with earbuds, I found the P20’s audio to sound very good while listening to music through Google Play and Spotify.

According to the Huawei website the HUAWEI P20 incorporates a Dolby Atmos® sound system that breaks new ground for smartphone audio. Premier 990 Kbps HWA* supports Hi-res audio files so you can enjoy true Hi-Fi audio quality wirelessly via Bluetooth audio devices that support HWA. The open HWA ecosystem invites industry advancement in smartphone audio, keeping your audio experience best-in-class.

Using the Huawei P20 for phone calls

During my 3 weeks using the Huawei P20, I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls with this phone on the T-mobile network and have felt that the volume level on both sides of the conversation has been just fine.

Software and user interface

Like the Mate 10 Pro that I reviewed, the P20 ships with Huawei’s own skin over stock Android that’s called EMUI. EMUI doesn’t make Android look that much different from stock, but it does include Huawei’s versions of the stock apps like the calendar, clock, calculator, etc. and it adds extra features like the ability to take screenshots by knocking twice on the screen with your knuckle. You can also knock once and then draw an S to take a scrolling screenshot for really long pages. There’s even a built-in tool to record a screencast.



Other EMUI gestures include HiTouch where you put two fingers on the screen when you’re viewing a product image and it is supposed to pull up product info on Amazon. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it came up with completely weird results.

You can also show two apps in a split-screen view and you can launch apps by drawing a letter with your knuckle.

The P20 even has its own very basic built-in assistant called Emy that you can use to make and answer calls using your voice.

Another cool feature allows the P20 to easily connect to a monitor or projector if you have a USB-C HDMI, VGA, or DVI dock or adapter. Just plug it in and it will display a full-screen user interface on the larger screen. It’s like the Samsung DEX Station without paying for the extra hardware. It worked great with my BenQ PD2710QC DesignView 27-inch Designer Monitor.

The interface is simple and easy to use and makes me know that the day is coming soon where my phone will be able to function as my one and only computer.

As an added feature, when the P20 is connected to a monitor or projector, the phone’s screen will turn into a touchpad that you can use to move the cursor around on the screen.

Overall performance and battery life using the Huawei P20 for day to day tasks

The P20 performs well and I haven’t noticed any problems launching multiple apps and switching between them. It also scrolls smoothly when viewing long web pages. The phone has a 3400mAh battery that kept it running for a full day of medium usage, with some juice to spare. I never saw a low battery warning while reviewing the phone and when I did recharge, it was topped off very quickly due to Huawei’s SuperCharge technology which gives you almost a full day of power with a quick 20-30-minute charge.

What I like

  • The camera shoots great pics
  • Comfortable in hand and pocket
  • Can connect the phone to a larger monitor or projector
  • Fast charging

What needs to be improved

  • The fingerprint reader is underwhelming
  • No wireless charging
  • No micro SD card slot
  • Mono speaker

Final thoughts

I had originally wanted to review the Huawei P20 Pro because after all, it’s the top of the line pro version… but I was sent the P20 and I’m happy to say that I haven’t been disappointed in the least. Except for a couple missing features like wireless charging and a micro SD card slot, the Huawei P20 is a pint-sized powerhouse with a great camera that I love. I think this phone is a viable alternative to other flagship phones and has a better price.

Price: $567.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Huawei.

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Huawei P20 smartphone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine review

A good night of sleep has always been a challenge for me. Insomnia seems to follow me no matter how much I try to tire myself out before I head to bed. The last time I can remember not struggling to sleep, was when I lived in the Caribbean near the beach, and when I was near the Amazon. When I got the opportunity to try the AuCuTee, I was curious to find out if replicating the sounds of those familiar environments, would help to take me back to those days.

What is it?

The AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine is a device that simulates sounds of various environments, with the added ability to wirelessly charge your phone and act as a speaker via its Bluetooth connectivity.

What’s in the box


1 x AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x USB AC Wall Adapter
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

The AuCuTee is small and lightweight, and while the construction feels a bit cheap, it has not operated in that manner in any way. Starting with connectivity, on the back of the AuCuTee, there is a micro USB port that provides power to the device via the included micro USB cable and AC adapter, a USB port that can be used to power or charge an additional USB device, and speakers on each side.


On the front of the device, there are 10 sliders that represent the 10 sounds that are offered. These sliders work like an audio mixing board and allow you to use each sound individually, or to mix the sounds for the desired effect. To the right of the sliders, is the main volume knob, that turns the device on and off, as well as increases or decreases the volume.


On the top of the front of the AuCuTee, there is a row of control buttons. From left to right, the first 3 control the music playback functions for previous track/track from the beginning, Play/Pause, and next track. The 4th button turns on the Bluetooth capability and pairing mode. This is confirmed by a voice command. The 5th button controls the timing/sleep capability. Each of the green lights in front of this button represents 30, 60 or 90 minutes for the device to go into “sleep” mode. I do not use this function since I prefer the sounds to continue all night just in case I wake up during the night.

The rest of the top of the device is the QI wireless charging pad and it works well just by placing your QI compatible phone on it to charge.


The following picture represents the slider settings that I enjoy the most:

The AuCuTee performs well in all capacities, including the sounds it produces, the wired and wireless charging that it offers, and the Bluetooth connectivity.

What I like

I like the amount and variety of sounds offered, and the ability to mix the sounds. I also like the wireless charging capability and the external charging/power port.

What can be improved

I found that when connected via Bluetooth,  the music volume was much lower than the volume of the sounds, even with both the AuCuTee and phone at maximum volume. Although this device is used for sleeping, I had difficulty hearing the music if my nearby fan was on.

Final thoughts

While I have always felt that these types of “noise” devices that were supposed to help you to sleep were a gimmick, I must say that I am pleasantly surprised by the AuCuTee. I do think that the ability to mix the sounds did the trick for me, and I have been using it to sleep ever since. For me, it is a winner.

Price: $39.99
Where to buy: AuCuTee or Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was supplied by AuCuTee

The post AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 13, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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