Toffee Berlin Backpack review

Continuing on my recent quest for the perfect backpack, I recently asked to review the Toffee Berlin Backpack. Eighteen months ago, I reviewed the Toffee Centennial pack, a red all-canvas model that I carried for a while. One day, my oldest came by the house and proclaimed it “too girlie” for her dad, and absconded with it. I’m not sure if that was just a ploy to get a new bag, but I’ve gone through several possible replacements in the intervening months. This is but the latest.

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

What is it?

The Berlin is billed as an Urban backpack and is shown in very masculine settings, and is listed in the “For Men” section of Toffee’s website. (For what it’s worth, the Centennial also shows up under the “For Men” section. I’m so confused….)

Design and features

The Berlin is a waxed canvas bag with a covered zipper, leather accents, and nicely padded shoulder straps. There is a generous double-thickness leather haul loop stitched and sealed and sewn into the center of each back strap. Inside are two pockets for laptop/tablet, sewn into the back and lifted slightly from the bottom of the bag for drop protection. The tablet pocket on the front of the laptop pocket can hold an iPad Air without a cover of any type, but it’s tight. A mini will fit easier. The laptop pocket holds a 12” laptop nicely and a 13”-er in a pinch. My iPad Pro 12” fits with a bit of extra space, but not enough to also fit my 10.5” one. Fortunately, the rest of the single inner compartment is roomy enough for my Freudian Slip, K811 keyboard, and the smaller iPad Pro without too much compromise.

Hardware specs

Here are the specs as laid out on the website:

Water-resistant waxed canvas and genuine leather
Leather side pockets to hold a water bottle or coffee in a can
Padded laptop compartment, separate tablet compartment
Reinforced base with metal feet, durable YKK metal main zip
Outer Fabric: 100% waxed cotton canvas, and genuine leather
Side pockets: 100% genuine naturally milled leather with a subtle pebble grain
Lining: 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex
Bag Size: 260 mm/11.4 inches (L), 410 mm/15.3 inches (H), 14 cm/5.5 inches (W)
Compatible With: MacBook Air/Pro, Surface Pro 3 & 4 and other similar sized notebooks up to 13-inch.

The only difference I can find between the Berlin model and the earlier reviewed model is the front handle from the Centennial is missing from the Berlin and the leather side pockets. The yoke where the straps converge at the top has a leather reinforcing patch on the Berlin, where it’s the regular canvas on the Centennial. I don’t think that’s enough of a difference to worry about. The interior is the same mattress-ticking cotton/spandex blend, there is ample padding around all sides of the laptop compartment except the top edge, the tablet pocket is sewn onto the laptop pocket so that it is well above the bottom of the bag for shock absorption. The YKK zippers are made from the same odd non-brass material that doesn’t quite slide easily. (Aluminum? Zinc? I can’t tell. But it doesn’t polish up and wear to get smoother, that’s for sure.)

The straps are leather and canvas and sewn into the top structure of the bag very well. The adjustment is easy to reach when wearing, but it slides the opposite way most of my other bags do. Since the straps are all one piece, there’s no buckle at the end of the padded area of the strap. Instead, it continues down the pack, then loops back to the center of the buckle. To loosen the strap, you grab the buckle and pull it down, in the same motion that tightens other straps. To tighten, you pull the buckle up, just like loosening up other straps. Strange, but no big deal. Your muscle memory soon works it out.

As for weather resistance – I’m glad the waxed canvas is there, as much of our spring and fall weather is misty and drizzly in the mornings. With no weather seal on the large-toothed zippers, however, I’d make sure to get under cover in the event of a downpour.

What I Like

Leather side panels add a sharp look.
Well-sewn with quality materials (except that zipper!)
Good padding and sewn-in pockets for laptop and tablet.
Enough room for headphones, crusher hat, or other slightly bulky items.

What needs to be improved

The main zipper is a really horrible experience.
The side and front pockets are so tight as to be unusable.

Final thoughts

The Berlin, which is available in Black (shown), Olive, and a Royal Blue, is a fine-looking backpack, that will easily hold a 12” laptop, a standard or large-sized iPad Pro, and the basics of a daily commute. Leather accents permit it access to a little better level than most backpacks, but it’s still a backpack.

Price: $149.95
Where to buy: Toffee or Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Toffee.

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Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Backpack

Toffee Berlin Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 26, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Pixel 2 XL review

I’ve been using a Pixel 2 XL Android smartphone for the past 5 months and have yet to write a review about it even though it has swiftly become one of my all-time favorite Android phones. Does that mean it’s the perfect Android smartphone? Nope, not even close. But right now it’s perfect for me and that’s what counts. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Pixel 2 XL is Google’s flagship Android smartphone which is powered by a stock version of Android version 8 otherwise known as Oreo.

Hardware specifications

Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon 835
Operating System: Android 8.0.0 (Oreo)
Memory: 4GB RAM, Storage 64GB or 128GB
Display: 6in 2880 x 1440 pixels, 538ppi pOLED Display, 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Network: Carrier unlocked
4G LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B20/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B66
TD-LTE Bands: 38/40/41
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
CDMA EVDO Rev A: BC0/BC1/BC10
Supports up to CAT 15 (800Mbps DL / 75Mbps UL), 3x DL CA, 4×4 MIMO, 256-QAM DL and 64-QAM UL depending on carrier support
Camera (rear): 12.2MP, f/1.8
Camera (front): 8MP
Connectivity: Bluetooth: BT5.0+LE
WiFi: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
NFC: yes
Positioning: GPS/Glonass
Battery: 3520 mAh
Dimensions: 6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 in (157.9 X 76.4 X 7.9 mm)
Weight: 6.2 oz (175 grams)
Water and Dust Resistant IP67 under IEC standard 60529

What’s in the box

Pixel 2 XL
USB-C 18W charging plug
USB-C to USB-C cable
USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter
Quick start guide
Quick switch adapter

Design and features

Google sells 2 sizes of the Pixel 2. I decided to buy the Pixel 2 XL because I was moving on from a Nexus 6p so I was already used to carrying a phablet-sized phone.

As far as first impressions go, the Pixel 2 XL looks like most other larger phones. It’s rectangular with rounded corners, has no buttons on the front, and has slim bezels on the edges. The Pixel 2 XL doesn’t have a bezel-less display like the iPhone X or the Essential Phone. But it’s close enough for me.

Other than the display, the only other things on the front of the Pixel 2 XL are the front firing speakers.

When you flip the Pixel over, you’ll find a glass section at the top where the camera and LED flash are located. Below that is the fingerprint scanner which is surrounded by a smooth matte finish and a Google G logo at the bottom. I like the matte finish on the back of the Pixel because it adds some grip and it hides fingerprints and smudges.

You’ll find the SIM card slot on the left side of the phone and on the right side you’ll find the power button and one-piece volume button. On the top edge of the phone is a microphone and the USB-C charging port is on the bottom edge.

In hand, the Pixel 2 XL feels solid. It’s neither lightweight or heavy. I think it’s just right. A quick squeeze and a shake reveal no flexing or rattles. But, squeezing the sides towards the bottom of the phone triggers the Google Assistant to do your bidding. More on that later.

Display

Soon after the Pixel 2 phones were available, people began reporting about problems with the displays having a blueish tint when not viewed straight on. Other complaints about the display included problems with the touch screen being insensitive on the edges, muted colors, and burn in issues.

When I read about these supposed defects, I obviously became concerned that I had purchased a dud phone. But I’d already been using my Pixel 2 XL for a few days before reading about these problems which I had not noticed on my own unit. Once I read about the blue tint issue, I checked my phone and I definitely saw what they were talking about. Did it make me mad or consider returning my phone since I was still within the return window? No, it didn’t. I had not noticed the problem until it was pointed out to me and even after I saw the issue with my own eyes, I didn’t really care because I don’t use my phone with the screen tilted away from me. I look at it straight on and in that orientation, the screen looks fine to me.

As for the issues with the touchscreen not registering taps on the edges, muted colors, and burn in, I haven’t noticed the touch screen sensitivity issue or burn in issue with my phone so I can’t comment on them. But if I’d had these problems it would have really annoyed me and I would have returned the phone immediately.

I didn’t really notice the muted color issue until it was pointed out. But Google released a fix for that so it’s a non-issue now.

However, there is one issue with the Pixel 2 XL display that I’ve noticed but haven’t read much about… My Pixel 2 XL screen has picked up a LOT of fine scratches in the last couple of months. It seemed like the scratches magically appeared several months after I got the phone. I should mention that I do not use screen protectors on my phone because I don’t like the feel of the edge of the glass protectors on a curved screen like the Pixel 2’s screen.

The scratches on my screen aren’t immediately noticeable. Y0u have to tilt the phone to see them in certain lighting conditions. Seeing them made my stomach drop but I shrugged it off figuring that the phone is a tool and “stuff” happens to tools. As long as the camera lens doesn’t suffer the same fate (and it’s fine so far), I can deal with it.

Fingerprint reader

If you’ve read my phone reviews, you may remember that I like to gripe about how much trouble I have with fingerprint sensors. They just don’t work for me for longer than a day or two. I’d resigned myself to live with this tragic issue until the Pixel 2 XL came into my life. I half-heartedly set up the fingerprint reader with the index fingers of both hands and figured it would stop working soon thereafter. I was wrong. I’ve not had to reprogram my prints yet. The sensor on the Pixel 2 XL works every single time and it works fast. To say that it makes me happy that I can unlock my phone by touching the sensor on the back is an understatement. I feel like I’ve finally been let into a club for the cool kids now

In all seriousness, being able to easily unlock my phone without drawing a pattern or tapping a 4-digit pin number is wonderful. I thought the Pixel 2 XL was the only phone in the world with a fingerprint sensor that would work with my alien prints, but when I recently had the opportunity to review the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, it also worked great. But then I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S9 and I was back to same old problems.

Camera

The Pixel 2 XL’s camera is excellent. It’s so good that I ended up selling my Canon 70D DSLR and have been using my Pixel 2 XL as my primary and only camera. I use it for day to day snaps and for all my product photography for my reviews.

Here are some sample images that have not been edited in any way.

I’m very happy with the Pixel 2 XL’s camera and the only way it could be better would be an ultra-fast snap option likeHuaweiauwei Mate 10 Pro.

Audio quality

The Pixel’s front firing speakers sound good when listening to music or watching videos without using headphones. Even at full volume, audio sounds clear and crisp. I do wish the bass was a bit stronger, but I rarely if ever listen to music or watch videos listening to the sound through the built-in speakers so I don’t find this a big deal.

Using the Pixel 2 XL for phone calls

So far I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls on the T-mobile network with this phone. The volume level and clarity on both sides of conversations have been just fine.

Software and user interface

Google’s Pixel phones have stock Android, so you don’t have to waste space with a bunch of apps that the carriers load that you will never use or special skins that you may or may not like that enhance the user interface.

There are advantages to buying a Pixel that other phones don’t have.

OS updates faster than other phones
Google promises security updates for at least the next 3 years
Free unlimited full resolution photo storage to the Google cloud until 2020.

The Pixel 2 does have a feature that isn’t stock and that other Android phones don’t have. It’s the Active Edge feature that launches the Google Assistant when you squeeze the lower half of the phone. When I first heard about the feature, I thought it sounded silly. But I’ve actually grown to really like it once I tuned in the sensitivity level.

In addition to launching Google Assistant, the Active Edge feature can be used to silence alarms, timers, and incoming calls. I wish you could also customize it to launch the camera app and take a picture which would be a great use for it.

Overall performance and battery life using the Pixel 2 XL for day to day tasks

This phone has a 3520mAh battery that keeps it running for a full work day of normal use. It’s a shame that the Pixel 2 doesn’t have wireless charging, but battery levels are topped off pretty quickly when connected to power. I don’t have a power cable near my bed, so I don’t charge it throughout the night. I’ve yet to have it run out of power by morning, although I do charge it as soon as I get to work.

As far as performance, I think the Pixel 2 XL does very well. It might not feel quite a fast as the latest phones that I’ve reviewed, but the difference is negligible.

What I like

Great camera
Fast fingerprint sensor
Stock Android, no bloatware
2-year warranty and 3 years of security updates

What needs to be improved

Screen scratches too easily
Price
Needs HDMI out from USB-C port

Final thoughts

As I already stated at the beginning of this review, the Pixel 2 XL has become one of my all-time favorite Android phones. Although it doesn’t have a micro SD card slot, Qi charging, or HDMI out, it’s yet to disappoint me with day to day performance. I’ve reviewed several phones since buying the Pixel 2 XL and I’ve yet to feel the need to replace this phone. It’s become a dependable workhorse for me and I look forward to seeing what features gen 3 brings to the Pixel later this year.

Price: $849.00 – $949.00
Where to buy: Google and Amazon
Source: The product for this review was purchased with my own funds.

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Filed in categories: Featured Items, Reviews

Tagged: Android, Google, Pixel, Smartphone

Pixel 2 XL review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 25, 2018 at 2:23 pm.

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Master & Dynamic MA770 Wireless Speaker review

It’s no secret that Master & Dynamic make some of my favorite headphones. Not only do the MH40, MW50 and MW60 sound great, they are also quite comfortable and have a retro look that’s simply stunning. Even so, M&D continue to innovate, both aesthetically and sonically with earphones and now a desktop speaker. I use the word desktop carefully because the MA770 Wireless Speaker is a 36.4 lb. concrete monster—in a good way.

What is it?

The Master & Dynamic MA770 Wireless is a concrete (yes, concrete) Bluetooth speaker with a built-in pedigree that sets it apart from almost any other speaker, Bluetooth or not.

Specs

Dimensions: 14.5”(H) x 18”(W) x 9.5”(D)
Speakers:
1.5” Titanium dome tweeter
Dual 4″ Woven Kevlar Long Throw Woofers
100W Class D 3 Discrete Channel amplifier
Weight: 36.4lbs
Ported cabinet materials:
Proprietary grey concrete composite, stainless steel and anodized aluminum
Wireless Connectivity:
Dual band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE
Chromecast built-in, Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE, 3.5mm Auxiliary Analog, TOSLINK Optical Audio
Streaming Services:
Chromecast enabled applications including: Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, Soundcloud, Deezer and more

Design and features

A lot of work went into the design of the MA770. Master & Dynamic had an architect design the speaker—and not just any architect. Tanzania born Sir David Adjaye is the architect of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington D.C. His eye for unusual design is plainly evident in the MA770 speaker. He formed its unusual triangular-themed shape from concrete. He said, “This speaker is not about the traditional idea of making boxes, but about a directional form. We created a new geometry for this speaker.” Whether this geometry benefits the audio or not, I can’t say—it certainly doesn’t hurt it.

The MA770 is a singular speaker with no stereo separation. For that matter, there’s hardly any stereo in other Bluetooth speakers large or small, so it’s hard to fault the MA770 for that. However, you can pair two of them for true left/right stereo—if you have the money.

The front panel on the MA770 consists of four buttons, but it looks like five: Volume down, Volume up, Pause and Source buttons. The Source button handles 4 modes that are listed on what looks just like a fifth button: Cast (Chromecast), BT (Bluetooth), AUX and OPT (optical). These buttons are an example of design over function. First, the small, white letters against brushed aluminum are hard to see unless the lighting is just right. Secondly, the Source button must be pressed to switch between the four sources listed on the fifth button that isn’t a button. I found myself pressing this “button” wondering why it wouldn’t work. It’s not intuitive.

The MA770 Wireless Speaker is heavy in both weight and sound. One of the reasons that concrete—mixed with M&D developed polymers—was used is to increase damping and reduce resonance—their words. What this means is more detailed audio with less unwanted vibrations that can cause distortion. It has dual 4 in. kevlar long throw woofers with a single 1.5 in. titanium tweeter that sits slightly above and between them. Lift off its magnetically held aluminum grill and it doesn’t look like an impressive array of speakers. Don’t let it fool you. Due to its 100-watt class D amplifier, the MA770 can rock loud and shake things with its low end.

Besides wireless Bluetooth and built-in Chromecast, there are two wired methods for connecting the MA770 to a music source: Standard AUX and optical (Toslink). Optical is good for any PC that has an optical out port (like an earlier iMac) or stereo receiver. Optical (and Bluetooth) make use of the built-in digital audio converter (DAC) which can handle any digital music file up to 24bit/96kHz—a higher resolution than most people will ever use. M&D did not pack AUX and optical cords with the MA770. In this price range, they should have been included.

Speaking of Chromecast—in previous reviews, I’ve had my issues with this wireless protocol but many people use it and like it, so the more speakers that incorporate alternatives to Bluetooth, the better. Chromecast also supports enabled applications such as Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, Soundcloud and more.

The MA770’s unique shape directs lower frequency air out the back through an open port while the woofers handle the bass notes with ease. Robert Palmer’s song, “Johnny and Mary” has super low bass notes thrown into the middle of the song. They appear out of nowhere and can easily buzz lesser speakers. Not these. If anything, the bass was tamed a bit too much for my taste, but what the MA770 played was tight without a hint of muddiness. The same is true of Brian Eno’s “Written, Forgotten” with its pulsing, relentless bass rhythm. Note that I had both of these songs turned up all the way—maxing out both the iMac and the MA770. No distortion at all—and that’s using Bluetooth.

It’s not just bassy songs that the MA770 handles well. The speaker sounds musical, meaning that it sounds great whether being played loudly or at low volume for background music.

The MA770 is not a portable speaker. Once set in place, you’ll want to leave it there. I had to move it around for photos and became paranoid that I would accidentally drop it. Not only is it heavy, but its unusual shape makes it difficult to grasp. It’s highly recommended that two people move it when necessary. Sending the speaker back after this review will not be an easy task.

Even though the MA770 sounds good for serious listening—especially if it can be paired with another—it excels at setting the mood while playing in the background. There is probably no better music made to be aural wallpaper than albums by Steve Roach and Brian Eno. Roach’s 28-minute opus, “Structures from Silence” sounds perfect when played at low volume during dinner and conversation. Many speakers stop sounding substantial when played low—the bass drops off—but the MA770 still can command an audience whether you’re paying attention or not.

Does the MA770 sound better than other less expensive speakers? Sometimes, but not always. I’ve reviewed less expensive speakers that sound better. But that’s not the purpose of the MA770 speaker. The MA770 makes a statement about design, art and sound and how they can relate to each other. Few people will appreciate that or even be able to afford it (me included). But some will and have the means to act on it.

What I like

The unique shape of the MA770 can be polarizing, but the more I used it, the more I like its unusual shape. The sound is commanding, but the MA770 works even better as a room background speaker, while not losing any presence.

What needs to be improved

For some reason, the volume-up key does not work on my Apple keyboard when used with the MA770 speaker. I have to get up and turn up the volume on the speaker itself—there is no remote. This has never happened with other speakers. It takes two paired speakers to become serious about listening in true stereo—which doubles the price.

Final Thoughts

To say the Master & Dynamic MA770 Wireless Speaker is unique is an understatement. It manages to make the equally unusual Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin speaker look tame by comparison. The MA770 is breathtakingly expensive. But if you are a rare individual who can afford such luxuries, go for it. The MA770 will please you in both sight and sound.

Price: $1,800 US
Where to buy: Master & Dynamic
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Master & Dynamic and will be returned after the review is posted.

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Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Master & Dynamic MA770 Wireless Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 25, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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Sumo Solace review

We here at the Gadgeteer are not afraid to tackle anything that could remotely be considered a gadget – even a piece of non-traditional furniture. Such is the subject of today’s review, the Sumo Solace, a beanbag-type chair that adjusts to the user’s body. I was sent one in a deep red wide-wale corduroy to test. I have given it a full battery of tests, from reading, napping, and just sitting while chatting with others to playing guitar and trying to type.

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

What is it?

In 1968, the Italian Modernist movement in it’s transition to post-Modernism, released the Sacco chair, a loose sack stuffed with polystyrene beads. Due to the post-war manufacturing machinery of the time, the design was easily copied, slightly modified, and took over dens, dorm rooms, and TV rooms of most of the families I knew at the time. It was tough to go to a house where there wasn’t one lurking in a corner, usually in a slick vinyl, and in some pop-art color like buttercup yellow, fire engine red, or Mr. Yuk green. Sometime in the late 1970’s however, structure returned to furniture and we got overstuffed couches, but at least you could get out of them with ease.

Let’s go to Wikipedia:

A bean bag chair is a large fabric bag, filled with polystyrene beads, dried beans, or a similar substance. The product is an example of an anatomic chair. The shape of the object is set by the user.

Hardware specs

As best as I could for a flexible seat, here are the measurements I took:

25 in. X 25 in. seat
16 inches high on the front
30 inches high in the back
41 inches deep overall

What’s in the box?

Just the bag, in a plastic bag.

Design and features

The Solace is roughly L-shaped. The back is fairly thick but doesn’t force you to sit up straight like a structured chair does. Instead, it conforms to your back’s natural shape. The texture of the fabric is lush and inviting. When you push your hand into it, it gives for a long way before offering support. There is a single pocket on the right side as you’re sitting in it, which would hold the remote for an AppleTV or a smartphone. I don’t think a normal cable system remote would go in without stretching or ripping the fabric out – it’s pretty tight, especially once you sit down in it.

The transition between the 25”x 25” seat is a stitched seam, and the side panels make a dramatic upward angle at that point. This is the point where your hips will naturally fall. The less-than 90º angle of the chair gives you some of the benefits of sitting (you can eat and drink and see others in the room) and some of the benefits of lying down (your back is fully supported, your pelvis is not forced into a right angle). This could be a good angle for watching TV or playing a video game. I tried it with a stand for my iPad with the keyboard on my lap. Since I still have to look at the keyboard on occasion, it’s not optimal.

The biggest irritation I noticed when sitting in it is that everything required effort to hold up on the chair. Books had to be held tightly, along with holding your arms up. (Note that the whole Solace is only 25” wide, so there is little space to hold your arms on the back or seat area.) Gravity wants you to have your arms flop to the floor. Plates required constant attention because your thighs are slanted back, which makes for easy spillage. If you want to nap, your arms will flop at an unnatural angle, unless you put them in your pockets or hook them into a belt loop. Using a blanket helps, but you have to almost swaddle yourself.

If there is an animal in the house, your face is at a perfect vantage point for attention, which may or may not be to your liking. I didn’t use this in a house with toddlers, but that may be another thing to consider.

Since it’s low (25” from the floor), it requires surrendering to gravity when sitting. You don’t sit on it so much as approach it with a controlled collapse. (Forget trying this in a short skirt or with your kilt on, unless you’re among intimate friends!)

Unless your shins are very short (or you’re under 3’ tall), you’re not going to be able to plant your feet on the ground and lift yourself out with just your legs, since your legs are at a ~65º angle, and you can’t place your feet far enough behind your knees to do a kip-up. (Well, I guess you could slide forward into one, but it’s gonna be tough.) There are no arms or anything else to use to boost your body up, so you’re at the mercy of someone to help you, or rolling onto your knees to hoist yourself up. If you have a drink, iPad, guitar, or another item, you’re further compromised, since there’s nowhere to put these items.

Setup

I suggest you move the shipping containe, or at least the inner bag, as close as possible to where you want to use the Solace because releasing it from that bag is almost like pulling the string on a self-inflating life raft. It’s going to expand – quickly – and be larger than you thought. It can be moved around, but it is larger than the box it comes in and requires a bit of wrestling to move far.

Performance

The Solace performs as expected: it’s soft, enveloping, and comfortable. It’s also impossible to get out of gracefully.

What I Like

Comfortable and enveloping
Self-contained
Washable cover and replaceable filling

What needs to be improved

The product as is functions nicely

Final thoughts

I’ve been using the Solace in my living room, and while comfortable, the arm-flop aspect is a huge negative for me. I will probably build, find, or improvise some sort of frame/table to place next to it to provide structure for drinks or other items, as well as assistance getting into and out of it. I could see this being used in my office or an enclosed porch as a relaxation/casual seating piece, but it’s not something I would use regularly for gaming or reading.

Price: Usually $299.00 – currently on sale for $249.00
Where to buy: Sumo Lounge
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Sumo Lounge.

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Tagged: Furniture

Sumo Solace review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 24, 2018 at 11:30 am.

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Audew Vehicle Vacuum Cleaner Review

I have always been a fan of a well-kept vehicle. Ever since my first car at 16 (Yay! Because of H.S. band and I had to be there before the bus) I have had what you call OCD about keeping it clean and looking good. That is why I was excited to get a chance to review the Audew portable vehicle vacuum cleaner.

What is it?

The Audew vehicle vacuum cleaner is a completely portable vacuum cleaner that runs off the 12-volt socket in your automobile. It comes with a very long power cord and multiple attachments to make cleaning your car easy and fast. It will handle wet and dry tasks and when finished it all goes nice and neat into a storage bag.

What’s in the box?

You get a nice collection of cleaning tools with the Audew. These include:

The vacuum cleaner itself with an attached 15 ft power cable that plugs into the cigarette lighter.
EVA stretch soft long hose
Detachable crevice head
Detachable soft brush head
Extra fuse
Storage bag
User Manual

Specifications

The vacuum is rated at 4500 – 4800pa
They recommend not using it over 20 minutes at a time
15 ft power cable with a nice Velcro wrap attached
Stainless Steel HEPA filter – it can be removed and washed
LED light that can be turned on and off with a button
Can work with both wet and dry items.

Setup and Use

I loaded everything into the bag right away to see if the bag was big enough to hold all of the items. It held everything nicely as you can see in the picture above.

I then zipped up the bag and it was all ready for me to carry out to my ready and waiting truck. Now I have to mention that I have been detailing cars and trucks for a while. I normally use a really nice wall hanging shop vac in my garage for all of my vacuuming needs. I will admit that it is a pain to have to pull the vehicle into the garage in order to get my vehicle close enough for the hose to reach the car. I am hoping this handy dandy portable vacuum will eliminate the need for moving the vehicle.

In the pictures above you can see my driver’s side and passenger side floor mats. The driver’s side will be in my opinion the tricky one to clean. I have a dog with long fur and I swear it just likes to embed itself in the carpet. The driver’s side also contains a lot of very small particles. The passenger side has some larger leaf particles and rock pieces. This truck is not quite a year old and the carpets are still pretty full and thick. I am now going to include some videos of me actually vacuuming the carpet.

This video shows me trying to vacuum the driver’s side floor mat. As you can see it simply pushes the dog hair around and does not really pick it up with the brush. I will admit the dog hair even gives the shop vac some difficulty. The suction power of this vacuum is much less than that of the shop vac and it has an even harder time with the dog hair.

The video above is showing the vacuuming of the passenger side. The vacuum had an easier time of it picking up the larger particles. There was one stubborn piece that was giving me some issues, but otherwise, it seemed to do a decent job.

Finally, I have a picture of the HEPA filter after the cleaning. It is very easy to pull out of the vacuum cleaner. I simply ran water from the other side forcing the particles out the way they came. You then let the filter air dry and it is ready for the next use. I was not going to sacrifice my truck for this review and pour water on the floor mats to test the wet capabilities of the vacuum. I did, however, try suctioning up water off the floor and it did an OK job of getting most of it off. If the water were embedded in carpet I am not sure it would get much of it out. The suction power is just not there.

What I like

Nice storage bag – I am all about stuff going into bags and being easy to keep
You can clean the air filter yourself. It reminds me of a K&N type filter you would use on your car except that it does not need to be oiled.
Inexpensive
Nice long power cord. You could easily reach the back of a suburban with this cord.
Runs off the car cigarette lighter
Nice attachments

What needs to be improved

Suction power – using the brush head the area trying to get suction is almost too wide for the amount of pull the vacuum has. This means little to nothing gets picked up with that head.

Final Thoughts

I would recommend this vacuum to the minivan owner with little kids. I know how the kids like to drop food in the car and I think this vacuum would do a good job of picking up those messes. You can be anywhere and whip out this vacuum cleaner from the back of the van and quickly clean up messes. I would not recommend it for someone who has dogs or cats and loves to take them for car rides all the time. It just does not have the suction power to pull embedded fur out of carpets.

Price: $32.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Audew.

The post Audew Vehicle Vacuum Cleaner Review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Car Gear, Cleaning

Audew Vehicle Vacuum Cleaner Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 23, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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