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Gunnar Work-Play Infinite eyewear review


For years I’ve been an IT guy and now recently am doing web development, so the time I sit at a computer has increased tremendously. My eyes never seem to get a break from a bright computer monitor or mobile phone now that we’re in an always-online world. GUNNAR Optiks has introduced a new set of glasses that protect eyes from digital screens as well as transition to sunglasses for outdoor protection. Let’s check out how these worked for me!

What is it?

The GUNNAR Work-Play Infinite lens, designed by Publish, is a dual-purpose lifestyle lens designed for indoor blue light protection from digital screens which then transitions to a sunglass for outdoor protection from UV light and the sun’s rays.

Hardware specs

  • Steel eyeglass frames with adjustable nose pads
  • lens width: 2.04 in
  • nose: 0.86 in
  • frame width: 5.9 in
  • temple: 5.7 in
  • weight: 0.88 oz
  • Blue-Light Protection Factor (BPF) of 65 indoors and 90 outdoors

What’s in the box?

  • GUNNAR Work-Play Infinite eyeglasses
  • warranty and user guide

Design and features

The GUNNAR Work-Play glasses I received are the “Infinite” style, which are made of a gold painted steel, round frame, and nosepads. They are very trendy and super comfortable. If you’re familiar with GUNNAR computer eyewear, the tint of the frame is yellow so as to remove any blue light from a computer or mobile device screen. As mentioned early, the special feature of the Work-Play lens is that they transition to sunglasses in about 45 seconds when going outdoors.



Performance

These GUNNAR Work-Play glasses were very comfortable to wear at work all day. My co-workers complimented me on the style, and I got used to the yellow tint of the lens after twenty minutes or so. At lunch, I wore them outside and did see them darken in about a minute, but I wish they were as dark as my normal sunglasses.

What I like

  • Sturdy but lightweight
  • Stylish
  • Fit very well all around
  • No pulling on the sides of my hair or digging into my nose

What needs to be improved

  • I wish the lens tint was a bit darker for the bright sun we’ve been having lately. They aren’t dark as regular sunglasses

Final thoughts

In my opinion, the GUNNAR Work-Play glasses are a worthy investment for your eyes if you sit at a computer screen all day long. My eyes felt pretty comfortable at the end of the day, and I didn’t get tired of wearing them any more than my normal glasses. The fact that they transition for the sun outdoors is pretty nifty, but they just need to be slightly darker to be practical.

Price: $99.99
Where to buy: The GUNNAR Work-Play Infinite can be purchased on their site in gold, onyx, and plan or with a prescription.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by GUNNAR Optiks.

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Gunnar Work-Play Infinite eyewear review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 11, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool review

I’m a big fan of gadgets that pack several (or many) uses into a single, small device.  And with survival products being a huge market these days, when I saw the Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool, I was immediately interested.  It’s the size of a largish pocket knife, but includes 21 survival-type tools—such as fire-starting rods, a compass and signal mirror, to name but a few—in a durable frame aluminum frame.  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro is a unique multitool that includes 21 features that outdoor enthusiasts, military, rescue/first responders, preppers or just about anyone might find useful in survival situations.

Hardware specs

  • Product Dimensions & Weight: 4.50 x 1.40 x 0.66 inches ; 0.27 pounds
  • Body: Dark gray die-cast aluminum
  • Fold-out ferrocerium fire starter rod and magnesium tinder rod
  • Carbide blade/axe sharpener
  • Fail-safe whistle, 109dB max volume
  • Liquid-filled compass
  • Thermometer
  • Reflective panel
  • Signal mirror panel
  • Lanyard hole
  • Feature-rich removable stainless steel belt clip, including:
    • Can opener
    • Bottle opener
    • Flat head screwdriver
    • Serrated saw edge
    • 1.5-inch ruler
    • Fire starter scraper
    • Hex wrenches in 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″ sizes
  • Designed in the USA, manufactured in China
  • Limited Warranty

What’s in the box?

  • Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro

The Survival Companion Pro’s packaging, as shown in the images above and below, gives good visibility to the product contained inside, which is a feature I really appreciate in retail product packaging.

The back of the package also includes a list of the Survival Companion Pro’s many features.

Design and features

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to state that the Survival Companion Pro is veritably packed with features (21 in total), which I could tell even before I removed it from the package.

Once out of the package, the Survival Companion Pro felt quite solid in my hand, which I took to be an early indicator of high-quality design, build and materials.

The Survival Companion Pro’s main body is made from durable aluminum that should have a low potential for rust or other corrosion, yet is lightweight and strong.  It also has a robust pocket clip.


Although it is not actually a pocket knife, the Survival Companion Pro is actually more like a multitool, with its fold-out magnesium tinder rod and ferrocerium fire-starting rod, both of which are shown above in their fully-deployed positions.  Magnesium is a material that can be scraped to produce fine shavings that can be used as fuel to start a fire in the absence of other tinder-type materials.  Ferrocerium is a metallic alloy material that can be scraped to produce sparks which have enough heat to ignite the fine magnesium shavings.  Once a bit of magnesium shavings have been produced by scraping the rod, the ferrocerium rod can be scraped quickly to produce sparks which have enough heat to ignite the magnesium shavings.  Therefore, using these two fold-out rods, the Survival Companion Pro can be used to create a small fire, which can then be fueled, stoked and tended to create a large fire should the need ever arise.  Also note that the Survival Companion Pro’s belt clip (described in detail below) can be removed and used as a scraper for both the ferrocerium and magnesium rods.

Another feature of the Survival Companion Pro is its “fail-safe, pealess” whistle, depicted above.  Off Grid Tools claims that this whistle has a 109dB max volume.  I did a bit of research and Purdue University reports that 109dB is approximately the volume of a steel mill auto horn at a distance of 1 meter.  That is LOUD, people.  Loud enough to possibly get the attention of a first responder or rescuer some distance away from your position in an emergency.

As mentioned above, although the Survival Companion Pro is not a pocket knife, it does have a carbide blade sharpener, as seen in the image above.  A good knife is a survival essential, but a dull knife will be much less useful, so this sharpener feature could come in very handy.  It could even be used on a small axe in a pinch.

Survival Companion Pro’s belt clip itself also contains several very useful features. The belt clip typically sits securely attached to the back of the Survival Companion Pro’s main body by two brass pins, as seen above.

The belt clip can be removed for use.  I found the easiest way was to start by rotating its right side upward to release it from the right-side pin, then wiggling the clip a bit to free it from the left-side pin.

It only took me a couple of times before I had this maneuver down and it became simple to remove the belt clip for quick operation and then to replace it securely when finished.

The belt clip has a spring-type design that allows it to be used to attach the Survival Companion Pro to not only a belt, but also a pocket, backpack webbing, straps, or many other locations.

As listed in the Hardware specs section above, the belt clip contains, starting from the left in the image above, a  scraper for the ferrocerium and magnesium firestarter rods (described above), flat head screwdriver (can also possibly be used as a Phillips head in a pinch) can opener, bottle opener, serrated saw edge, 1.5-inch ruler, a, and hex wrenches in 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″ sizes.  That’s a lot of tools packed into a pocket clip!

Back to the Survival Companion Pro’s main body, another useful feature is a small thermometer, shown in the images above and below.  Note that also show above is the lanyard hole on the left side.  I found this lanyard hole to be the only somewhat frustrating feature because it was challenging to get anything through there.  I tried a small S-carabiner and it wouldn’t fit, and also some 550 paracord, but it didn’t seem to want to be pushed through the hole very easily.

I compared the accuracy of the Survival Companion Pro’s thermometer to the weather app connected to my Garmin Fenix 3 HR watch. Both seemed to be comparable within a few degrees of each other.

Another of the Survival Companion Pro’s move essential survival features is a small, liquid-filled compass, as shown above and below.

Once again, I used my Garmin Fenix 3 HR watch—this time its compass app—to compare to the Survival Companion Pro’s thermometer, and once again, they only seemed to differ by a few degrees.  While this variance could make a difference for accurate navigation in a survival situation, I’m not sure I fully trust my Fenix 3 HR’s compass app’s accuracy.  I may have to do a bit more experimenting and report back here at a later date.

Two more features are packed into the main body of the Survival Companion Pro, as shown in the images above and below.  First, a reflective strip that could be used in low-light situations.

Additionally, below the reflective strip is a mirror-like reflector panel, as shown in the images above and below.  At first, I didn’t realize that this reflector panel had a thin protective film over it (see above).

However, once I removed the film, this panel proved to be quite reflective, mirror finish, a feature that could be used to signal far-away rescuers by reflecting the sun’s rays.

The Survival Companion Pro is roughly the size of a large folding-blade pocket knife, easily fitting into the palm of my hand.  The entire device is stout, sturdy and compact, yet lightweight.

During my evaluation period, I carried the Survival Companion Pro attached to the MOLLE webbing on the exterior of my GORUCK GR1 rucksack, as seen in the images above and below.

The Survival Companion Pro’s spring-type belt clip worked, keeping the tool attached very securely.

What I like

  • Lots of survival tools packed into a small and compact size and shape
  • Durable
  • Inexpensive

What needs to be improved

  • Lanyard hole could be a bit larger
  • Thermometer and compass may not be super accurate, but they do the job

Final thoughts

The Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro is packed with useful features in a small size.  You may never need to use this product in a survival situation, but in an emergency, it might come in very handy and could possibly even save your life.  I carried the Survival Companion Pro as part of my EDC during the time that I evaluated it, and I have since made it a part of my ongoing EDC kit.  Although I thankfully never actually needed it in an emergency or survival situation, it gave me the confidence to know that I had its many useful features available for quick access should the need arise.  Plus, with its relatively low price, you could buy one of each of your vehicles, give them out as gifts and so forth without breaking the bank.  If you are into EDC and/or survival tools, have a look at the Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro.

Price: $24.99
Where to Buy: Off Grid Tools or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Off Grid Tools.

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Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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MPOW H5 Active Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones review

This is me, on a Philly train during rush hour, enjoying blissful solitude. How is this possible? I’m rocking the MPOW H5 Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones. Spoiler alert: the active noise canceling feature is the real deal. Let’s have a look!

What is it?

They are Bluetooth enabled headphones with a noise canceling mode that reduces low-frequency background sound.

Hardware specs

  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • Active noise canceling mode
  • Aux-in port for wired use
  • 20-hour battery life
  • CVC 6.0 noise-canceling microphone
  • Inner ear cup size: 1.65- 2.95 in
  • Foldable & rotatable design

What’s in the box?

The package comes with a hard case, auxiliary cable, and USB to micro-USB charging cable.

Design and features

The MPOW H5 Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth headphones are of the over-ear style, completely covering your ears to focus the sound. For a $50 pair of headphones, I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality. All the hardware and components are nice and burly, and the housings are all capped to protect the delicate bits. There’s nice thick padding on both the cups and the frame for comfort. It’s built to take the hard knocks associated with commuting or traveling.

I’ve found these headphones to be very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The ear cups swivel 90 degrees and include length adjustments to tweak the fit to your head shape. With a total weight of about 8 ounces, they also don’t feel like they are dragging you down.

All of your controls and ports are built into the ear pods. You’ll find the volume controls, power/Bluetooth button, and charging port on the left ear pod. The active noise control switch and aux cable port are on the right ear pod. Placement of the controls is on the rear of the cups so that can manage all your functions with your thumbs while the headphones are on. I have found that I occasionally hit the power/Bluetooth button when I go to adjust volume since it is set between those two controls. It’s not a huge problem, but it would be nice if MPOW tweaked the layout here.

The combo Bluetooth/power button is where you get started. Press and hold for two seconds, and voice indicator tells you that you’re powered up, pairing, and connected to your device. Bluetooth pairing is pretty straightforward. The headphones will go into discovery mode if no device is connected. By pressing and holding the button on power up, the device will go back into pairing mode if you want to connect a new device. Press and hold that same power button for 2 seconds to power down again. It’s all straightforward & easy to use.

Sound quality is great to begin with, but the active noise canceling (ANC) is the big feature here. It’s a slider switch that, when enabled, focuses the sound and reduces low-frequency noise. The MPOW Amazon page spends quite a bit of time qualifying how well this works, which gave me some doubts… until I used the headphones on a recent train trip and a cross-country flight. Boy, what a difference. Low level background noises like train rumblings and cabin just vanish. You’ll still hear higher-frequency and louder noises (think human voices, machinery), but even those are muted. I’ve also used it at the office, where it significantly reduces background noise on a busy office floor. It does a lovely job of focusing you in on your music, audiobooks, or podcasts. You’ll really notice the difference when you switch ANC mode off, and that background noise creeps back in again. I’m a believer.

MPOW does a nice job providing a complete package for travelers. The 20 hour battery life is great, and you can switch to wired mode to further extend your battery. The headset folds up nicely into an included hardshell case, which also includes an aux cable and a charger. There’s even a nice little web pocket in the case to corral your chords. Everything you need for long trips.

Two warnings about charging. When you flip it to ANC mode, it will continually drain the battery even if you are not connected to a device. There’s a green indicator light that lets you know when it’s on, but it’s kind of a bummer if you forget to hit the switch. The headphones are also not to be used with 12W chargers, or you risk overheating. Standard USB charging from your laptop is fine, as are most smartphone power blocks. I haven’t seen any issues with this, but they put a big warning sticker in the package. Forewarned is forearmed.

The MPOW H5 also sports an integrated microphone for making/receiving calls. Incoming sound is good, but outgoing audio is just OK. the microphone just sits too far away from your mouth, so I received reports of very muted sound when I used it. It’s a nice extra option, but I don’t know that I would rely on it for extended calls (like conference calls) on the road. You’ll need to speak very loudly to be heard.

Finally, it is important to note that the MPOW H5 is a bulkier headset at 5″ by 3 1/2″ in the case. It’s going to take up some room in your bag, and won’t fit in slim briefcases or backpacks if you already have your laptop and gear loaded up. There’s also no external attachment point to clip it to the outside of your bag. You’ll want to check the dimensions of your usual carry and packing needs.

What I like

  • Great sound quality with an active noise cancellation feature that really works
  • Very comfortable
  • 20-hour battery life
  • Aux-in cable option
  • Durable
  • Hard case included with purchase

What needs to be improved

  • Using ANC will drain the battery, even if you’re not connected
  • Rated for charging on 5W USB only
  • Bulky dimensions may not work for you if you’re traveling lean and mean
  • Phone microphone isn’t very useful

Final thoughts

If you’re a frequent commuter looking for a headset for listening to your tunes & podcasts, the MPOW H5 Active Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones are a good option. The noise reduction feature actually works, sound quality is great overall, and the unit is built with far more rugged durability than I see in most headphones at this price point. I would not recommend them if you’re on the phone a lot. Also keep in mind that while they are lightweight, you’re adding a chunky addition to your daily carry.

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by MPOW.

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MPOW H5 Active Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 9, 2018 at 10:26 am.

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OmiCam 4K VR action cam review


What is it?

OMICAM is a versatile wearable VR action camera with built-in auto horizon and image stabilization, along with supporting features that include editing and streaming.

What’s in the box

Package contents:

1x OMI Camera
1x OMI Stand with Quick Release
1x 360 degree Quick Release Clip
1x Quick Release Set (Flat Mount, Screw Mount, 3x Tape)
1x Carrying Bag
1x Micro USC Charging Cable
1x Screw Driver
1 x Instruction booklet

Design and features

The OMICAM VR action camera is a small, compact, water resistant action camera that records video in 4K, and has the ability to provide stabilization on both horizontal and vertical planes even with rigorous movement. At the top of the camera, there is the lens in a circular encasement, and on the front, there is a shutter button.

On the bottom there is a ¼”-20 female threaded mount.


On the left is the power button and Wi-Fi button as one button, the micro SD card port, and the USB port.

On the top at the back there is the Lifelog button which allows you to switch the selection between photo and video. The camera and video icons light green when the camera is on and in ready mode, and the video icon lights red when recording video. The camera icon flashes blue when the shutter button is depressed to take a picture.

The rest of the back has the mounting holes for the various mounts.

This action camera has a lens that is able to capture footage at a 240 degree angle, which provides a nice perspective when moving up or down or side to side. When I viewed the video, looking at the footage from that VR 240 degree perspective was strange. The camera recorded both video and audio, and for every one minute, it took up 108MB of space on my micro SD card. It has a 12 Megapixel Sensor for capturing great images,  records up to 80 minutes in continuous video mode,  2 1/2 hours of video in lifelog mode, and 15 hours of video when filming in long period Lifelog mode. It records 4K video at 30 frames per second. In Lifelog mode, the OMI Camera uses a smart algorithm to record up to 15 hours of film. It does this by turning off for 3 minutes and then waking up for 5 seconds to record video. It continuously repeats the cycle. It can also take snapshots/photos at intervals.

Once you download the app, it connects to the OMI Camera via the Wi-Fi built in to the camera. When you open the app you see the main screen.


From the app you can go into the recording screen and choose photo mode or video mode, and either take a picture or start and stop the video recording. The camera records in one minute files that are 108MB in size. When you are done with your recordings, they can be viewed and edited by going to the edit tab.


Once you select a video to edit, you can play it, choose to add or remove stabilization, and/or make a square video for mobile upload or sharing. You can also save it to an album. You can also take snapshots with this camera and process them via the mobile or desktop app.


On the top right hand corner, there is an icon to download the video. When that icon is selected, the next screen gives you the option to download as a VR story in different resolutions, or save as the original video.


There is also a settings screen that allows you to set up the operational basics of the camera. This screen also has a link to FAQs, the Privacy Policy, the Terms of Service, and the usual “About” information.


There is also a desktop version of the software for both PC and MAC. Once downloaded and installed, you can create a VR Story, or process a single video, or batch them together.

The following are links to 2 videos that I recorded with the OMICAM during my daily commute:

Here is a snapshot that I  took from above in my truck:

What I like

I like that this action camera can capture clean video footage in 4K and that it has versatile mounting capabilities. It also includes the ability to mount a tripod plate, or the numerous other ¼”-20 available rig options. The audio is also quite clear for anything audible in relatively close proximity.

What can be improved

The two major aspects that can be improved are the access to the micro SD card slot, and the cover that slides on to protect the ports and the front bottom half of the camera. The micro SD slot is indented and I guess because of my “big” fingers, I had to use a paper clip to fully insert the card. To remove the card, I once again had to use a paper clip to press it in to engage the spring loaded mechanism, and once it popped out, I was still unable to pull it out by hand. I had to use tweezers squeezed tightly to get the card out the rest of the way.

When I first examined the front cover that protects the ports, I felt that it did not click into place securely, and that it could be easily lost. Sometime during my third recording outing and just as I suspected, it fell off and was lost.

Final Thoughts

The Omicam 4k VR action camera is a nice action camera for someone that enjoys capturing and watching footage from that 240 degree perspective. It is quite different from a conventional video camera, and even different from the famous GoPro action camera. Whatever footage that you capture with this camera will be very good. I do believe that in scenes such as kayaking through waves that pass over you, or in adventurous places like caves in mountains, etc, it would provide amazing footage. In my opinion, while it is unlikely to be an everyday mainstream action camera for many, it will be very popular for people seeking the specific perspective that it offers. On the other hand, the very effective built-in horizontal and vertical stabilization may very well make it a major contender against some of the more popular action cameras on the market today, as long as the front cover issue is resolved.

Price: $249.99
Where to buy: Omicam and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Omicam.

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OmiCam 4K VR action cam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 8, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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MNML Case Pixel 2 XL thin case review

I prefer to use my phones naked. That’s the phone, not me! 😉 Cases add bulk and cover up the phone’s style. But, I also like to keep my phone protected and add some grip to it since a lot of phones these days are ultra slippery. One way to add a little protection and grip to a phone is to add a thin cover to the back. The folks at MNML Case sent me one of their 35mm thin covers for the Pixel 2 XL. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Pixel 2 XL Thin Case from MNML is exactly that. It’s a really thin case. 35mm thin to be exact. And it is available in 6 colors including the Really Blue version that they sent me.

Design and features

There’s not a whole heck of a lot to say about this “case”. It’s basically a super thin piece of flexible plastic that snaps on the back of your phone.

The case has cutouts for the power button, volume buttons, camera, fingerprint sensor, USB-C port, and microphone.

When it’s snapped in place, it covers the sides and back without adding any extra weight or thickness to the case.

The MNML case also does not have any branding at all. This is a completely utilitarian style case. There’s nothing flashy about it.

One nice feature is a lip around the camera lens that slightly higher than the lens itself, which adds a bit of protection when the case is on a flat surface.

The cutouts for the power button and volume buttons line up perfectly and since the case is so thin it doesn’t hinder pressing the buttons.

The MNML case doesn’t affect your calls in any way either.

Although this case covers the corners and the back of the phone, it only adds the basic protection from scratches and knocks. I would not expect the case to offer any protection from falls.

What I like

I like that the MNML case is so thin that you will forget that it’s there. I like that it adds a little bit of protection to the camera lens and it will keep the back of your phone from being a fingerprint magnet.

What needs to be improved

A lot of people like to add a thin case to their phone to provide extra grip because their phone is slippery. Unfortunately, I don’t think that the MNML case improves the slipperiness of my Pixel 2 XL at all and it might be just a little bit more slippery than without it. I really wish the MNML case had more of a rubberized coating that would improve the grip.

Final thoughts

The Pixel 2 XL thin case from MNML adds zero bulk and some basic protection from scratches to the back of your phone, but that’s about the extent of it. If that’s all you desire for your Pixel 2 XL, and your budget is small, the MNML case isn’t the worst choice that you can make, but I think there are better choices if you don’t mind paying more. You can check out my favorite gear page to see my current favorite Pixel 2 XL cover.

Price: $14.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by MNML.

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MNML Case Pixel 2 XL thin case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 7, 2018 at 5:12 pm.

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