If you think back to your favorite toys when you were a kid, were they video games or were they toys that let you use your imagination like construction sets and other building toys? I’m going to show my age here, but some of my favorite toys when I was a budding gadgeteerling were Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and an Etch A Sketch. I spent hours playing with these toys because each time I built or drew something, it was new. You can still buy those classic toys today, but if you’re looking for a new toy for your kids that promotes creativity and open-ended play, check out Modarri. They call it the Ultimate Toy Car. Let’s see if that’s true.
What is it?
Modarri are car building sets designed for kids and those who are still young at heart. Each car building set comes with at least one car and individual parts that you can mix and match to create different looks.
In the image above, you can see what is included in a single car set. The single car set includes 6 frame pieces, a set of wheels, and a hex screwdriver.
Although it’s not obvious, you can even mix and match tires and seats if you have more than one car.
The wheels feature real suspension and shock absorbers.
The Modarri car frame parts stack on top of each other and are held in place with two screws.
The hood goes on first.
Then the fenders.
And then the metal frame that has the screws which are retained in the frame so that they won’t fall out and get lost.
The whole idea of the Modarri car building system is that you can mix and match the parts to create new cars.
Three car sets like the one shown above contain extra parts like the traffic cones and additional screwdrivers. And of course, the more pieces you have, the more variations of cars you can build.
All of the car parts except the metal frame with the screws and some of the wheel mechanism are made of plastic. The parts feel rugged enough though, so they should be able to stand up to some rough play.
Building the cars isn’t the only fun kids can have. You can also “drive” the cars by putting your finger in the seat. Since the wheels have built-in suspension, you can actually steer the cars, which is fun.
Modarri also offers a carrying case so you (I mean your child) can keep the cars, parts and tools organized and tidy.
The case can hold a dozen cars and has a removable tray and a handle for easy transport.
Final thoughts
So is Modarri the ultimate toy car building set? Yes, it is. These cars are a lot of fun to assemble, disassemble and “drive”. The system is very LEGO-like, but the Modarri cars look a lot more like a real car than any LEGO car does.
If your child likes to build things and likes race cars, Modarri car building sets are sure to keep them (and you) entertained for hours.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Modarri. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.
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The next stop on my gaming gear journey has us looking at a gaming mouse. Now, Kingston is not a brand I usually associate with gaming peripherals, rather, I think of internal components instead. When the Kingston HyperX Pulsefire FPS gaming mouse was offered up for review, I thought I would give it a chance. Would their name live up to my expectations? Time to find out.
Inside of the box you’ll find the HyperX Pulsefire gaming mouse and a quick start guide.
This mouse is meant to be plug and play. There is no special software to customize the buttons, and there are four DPI settings that cannot be changed. Each preset DPI setting is indicated by the button color, ranging from 400 DPI to 3200 DPI. I ended up using the third highest setting for day to day and gaming use, but could switch easily to whichever I wanted with a push of a button. I really liked the color indicator feature so that I would know which DPI setting that I was on.
The mouse is lightweight and would glide smoothly across my mouse pad. It is a hair larger than my previous mouse, but weight wise, it was around the same. There are tactile, textured grips on each side of the mouse to theoretically keep your hands from slipping around. I’ve never had a problem with slipping, but it felt nice under my fingers either way. The Pixart 3310 optical sensor had no problem working on the wood of my desk or on my mouse pad. I never felt any hesitation due to the sensor; it always worked perfectly regardless of whatever game I played.
It took about a week to get used to the slight differences between my old mouse and the Kingston one, but once I did, it was very comfortable and felt normal to use. There are six buttons on this mouse; the left and right standard buttons, the scroll wheel, DPI button, and two thumb buttons. The layout of the thumb buttons were perfectly placed and easy to press, and it was easy to customize them using in game settings for what I used them for.
After getting my key bindings set up, (my previous mouse has software that sets the key bindings for each game) figuring out which DPI setting worked best for me, and getting used to the feel of the mouse, I have had no desire to switch back to my old mouse. The ease of gliding across my mouse pad is the main reason, as my old mouse would catch on the bottom from time to time due to a bottom pad wearing down.
I also liked the look of the mouse. The black and red color scheme is simple, yet you get that splash of color. The durable, braided cord is also black and red, and made it easy to figure out which cord was which in the back of my computer.
Overall, I really liked the Kingston HyperX Pulsefire gaming mouse and it definitely lived up to the expectations I had for it. The quality and comfort level is great, and it is simple and easy to use. The biggest downside I see is that you lack any customization outside of pre-sets, and that can be a deterrent if you can’t find a DPI level on the mouse that suits you. For a casual gamer though, this mouse is worth looking into.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Kingston HyperX. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.
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An electric kettle is a really useful appliance to have around the kitchen. The AICOK Electric Kettle not only promises some new design & safety features but gives you a set of 6 preset temperatures for more refined control of your hot water for teas and coffees (in addition to a boil). How does it work in practice, and is it worth considering as a replacement for your old electric kettle? Let’s turn up the heat!
Design and Construction
Out of the box, the AICOK Electric Kettle is a nice looking appliance. It has a brushed metal finish, accented with black in the handle and base. At XX inches tall, it fits nicely under most overhead kitchen cabinets, and the overall streamlined look of the kettle is attractive enough that you won’t mind keeping it on display on your kitchen counter.
The design of the kettle has some nice features for safety and confident handling. The kettle itself is placed on a base to provide power to the heating unit. There’s a wide peg that the kettle slides onto to attach to the base, so it’s easy to place and lift free as needed with 360-degree rotation when in position. Because the power chord is attached to the base, it doesn’t get in the way when serving; you can heat up your water in the kitchen, for example, and take the kettle out to the dining room for your guests. The base is wide and stable, so it will take an accidental hit and not tip over. It’s also got a burly cool-touch handle, which enables safe management of a full pot of boiling water when carrying and dispensing.
Construction overall on the kettle is solid and substantial. It’s built from stainless steel and BPA-free plastics, which are both pluses for safety and durability. The water meter, tucked behind the handle, is wide and easy to read from multiple angles while filling. The lid is solidly constructed, sports extra seals to promote insulation, and unlocks with a spring-activated mechanism by pushing a button. It’s a good build and feels like it will stand up to long-term regular use.
Operation
The water heating options on the AICOK Electric Kettle are where things start to get really interesting. Many teas and coffees require more precise heat control to get the most out of your brew. This kettle has 6 preset temperature options, enabling you to dial in the right temperature for your application. Recommended temperature settings are as follows:
160°F For Delicate Teas
175°F For Green Tea
185°F For White Tea
190°F For Oolong Tea
200°F For French Press Coffee
212°F (boil) For Black Tea Or Instant Cocoa, Oatmeal, Noodles, etc.
Once you fill the kettle to the desired capacity (0.5 liters to 1.7 liters), the kettle will heat to the selected temperature. The warming option keeps the water at that temperature for up to two hours. Should the water level get too low, the unit will automatically shut off to prevent burning. Both of these are great safety and convenience features because you don’t have to babysit the kettle as you go about your business.
The controls on the AICOK Electric Kettle are all found on a small panel on the handle. You have 6 LEDs (one for each temperature setting), and three buttons. After filling the kettle to the desired level and placing it on the base, you press “Start” and use the “Set” button to toggle to the desired temperature setting. Press the “Keep Warm” button to activate this feature, and that button will light up to indicate that it is active. The “Start” and “Keep Warm” button remain lit until the kettle reaches the desired temperature, at which point the “Start” button light shuts off and the “Keep Warm” button begins to blink to let you know that it’s active if it’s been toggled. If you remove/replace the kettle on the base, the unit has a 90-second memory that will activate your last setting.
If you think that this setup sounds a little confusing, you’re right. At first, I kept trying to set temperatures and warming preferences before I hit “Start,” which would yield no result. There’s also no indicator when the water has reached temperature if you’re not using the warm feature; everything just shuts off. I don’t think that either of these are deal breakers that you won’t get used to, but they are little design “gotchas” that could have been thought through better to make the interface completely intuitive. It would also be nice to have some additional piece of feedback to indicate when heating is complete, like an audio tone or a “done” indicator light. This isn’t a big deal if you are in “Keep Warm” mode since the button blinks, but there’s no such indicator if you’re not using that feature.
Pricing and Conclusion
The electric kettle isn’t the most glamorous appliance in your kitchen, but it’s a very useful tool to have around. I think the added utility the AICOK make it even better, essential if you or your guests are tea drinkers (or you brew your own coffee like I do). I have found myself using it more and more, and the combination of fixed temperature controls and extended warming add an unexpected bit of convenience as part of the morning routine. The safety features are great, especially if you have a houseful of kids and/or guests. On top of all of that, it actually looks good if it takes up a permanent position on your countertop. And there’s nothing wrong with that!
The list price for the AICOK is under $50, which seems pretty good based on what I have seen in pricing for electric kettles that start adding additional features like this. It’s only available for purchase through Amazon, and was unavailable when I last checked… but keep an eye out on the product page to see when it will be back in stock!
Source: The sample for this review was provided by AICOK. For more info visit their site and Amazon to order.
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A little over a week ago I switched from Android to iOS by buying an iPhone 7 Plus. While I was at the Verizon store, I had them install a screen protector to protect the screen from scratches, but I didn’t get a case to protect the back of the phone because I thought I had several stuck in a drawer back at Gadgeteer HQ. But when I got home and started looking, there were no 7 Plus cases to be found. So off to Amazon I went to find a thin case that would add some grip and protection. The first case that I found was the Rock iPhone 7 Plus wood grain case with a built-in metal plate. Let’s check it out.
What is it?
The Rock Products iPhone 7 Plus wood grain case is a flexible black TPU rubber with a 0.2mm layer of genuine wood. The case comes in Rosewood (shown here), Carbon Fiber, Black Rosewood, and Sandalwood.
The case also comes with a metal plate so you can easily use the phone with a magnetic car mount.
Design and features
The interior of the case has a circular depression that holds the included steel disk. One of the main reasons why I bought this case is because I have an iOmounts iOauto Pro car mount in my car and usually attach a metal disk to the back of my phones. Attaching a steel plate can be pretty sketchy when it comes time to remove them.
The Rock iPhone case has a cutout for the mute switch and molded buttons over the volume buttons on the left side of the case. The molded buttons are large enough to find easily by touch and they don’t hinder button usage.
The same goes for the power button on the right side of the case.
As well as cutouts on the bottom of the case for the speakers and Lightning connector. There’s even an attachment point for a lanyard on the corner if that’s your kind of thing.
As mentioned earlier, this case has a layer of real wood attached to it. But if you didn’t know that it was a very thin layer of wood, you would think that the case was just painted to look like wood because it doesn’t smell or feel like real wood. It feels like rubber to me. You also can’t feel the transition between the TPU rubber and the layer of wood where the seams meet.
The disk has an adhesive back that you remove and then stick the disk in the circular depression inside the case.
I’m still a little protective of my new iPhone 7 Plus, so I also added a thin sheet of paper between the back of the iPhone and the case just to minimize any potential scratching that might happen if the edges of the steel plate were to make contact with the back of my matte black iPhone.
Inserting (and removing) the iPhone from the case is simple and painless with no curse words or wrestling needed.
Once the iPhone is inserted into the case, all of the cutouts and buttons line up perfectly.
This case provides much-needed grip to the slippery iPhone, with minimal added bulk and the matte finish doesn’t show fingerprints or grease, which is a plus.
I don’t have any real complaints about this case. It fits well, looks nice enough, and has the rare option of attaching a metal plate inside it.
Final thoughts
I’ve been using the Rock iPhone 7 Plus wood grain case for a few days and I like it well enough. However, the metal plate doesn’t offer as strong of a hold to my magnetic car mount as the steel disks that are included with the ioMount. My phone hasn’t fallen off the mount yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a thump over a pothole or a sudden stop might cause it to lose hold.
I like the Rock case but will probably end up buying a skin from Dbrand at some point. But for now, this case offers some protection and grip, so I’m happy with it for the time being.
Source: The sample for this review was purchased with my own funds. Please visit Amazon for more info and to order.
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Is it wrong every time I receive a new dashcam to review I hope and pray for something crazy/insane to happen in front of me while driving? I firmly believe in the benefits of dashcams and recording the world zipping by while motoring down the road. You never know when something bad is going to happen; when it is your word vs the person who hit you and a picture or in this case video proof could be priceless. For this review I’ll be looking at the X2 Pro, ddpai’s latest and most ambiguous dashcam to date, packed full of high-tech features and is the first duel channel dashcam I have ever tried.
The ddpai X2 Pro features dual cameras/channels enabling one camera facing forward through the front windscreen and one pointed behind. In addition to featuring dual cameras, the X2 Pro is a high resolution, GPS/WiFi enabled, social media capable dashcam. I really like the X2 Pro’s form factor…preferring screen-less dashcams, finding them less distracting or intrusive.
Package Contents:
ddpai X2 Pro dashcam
xX2 Pro rear dashcam
Connection/extension wire for rear dashcam
microUSB 12v power cord
Remote Snapshot button
32gb microSD card
Spare 3M adhesive pads and wire stays
Wire shim tool
Specifications:
HUAWEI HiSilicon processor; Format H.264 HD video coding
OmniVision Image Sensor
6-class glass lens and 1 infrared filter with zero distortion; Front cam – 140°wide angel & F1.8 aperture; Rear cam – 120°wide angel & F2.2 aperture
Front cam – 2592×1520P image; Rear cam – 1440×896P image;
Digital image stabilization
New generation GPS system; High speed positioning
3 axis acceleration sensor
High sensitivity microphone; high power loudspeaker (1w)
Front cam – 12V@1A~2.1A; Rear cam – 5V@1A~2.1A
Built-in super capacitor allows video shooting when electricity is turn off
The top of the X2 Pro dashcam has its mounting hard point which allows for easy installation and removal of the device. The bottom of the X2 has a speaker, microphone, and convenient LED-lit mute button. Even though I installed the X2 Pro in my truck, I find being able to quickly unplug and remove any device a convenient/important security feature so I can lock it in my glovebox vs closing the top of my convertible or if I’m in the wrong part of town.
The front facing camera takes a very respectable 2592 x 1520 resolution for still images and 2560 x 1440 for videos. The front camera has a 6-class glass lens with a 140° wide viewing angle & F1.8 aperture. The X2 uses an OmniVision Image Sensor that provides “excellent video monitoring performance under low light & WDR”. The front camera is able to be rotated for best line of sight based on the angle of your car’s windshield.
The smaller rear camera’s resolution is 1280 x 720 for both still images and video. Like the front camera, the rear also has a 6-class glass lens but a more narrow 120° wide viewing angle & F2.2 aperture. It can rotate in its mount as well.
The back of the X2 Pro has one microUSB port for power and a port for connecting the rear camera. There is also an indicator LED on the far side. I did find it interesting the camera would not work with my Macgyver’d USB power outlet I mounted behind my rearview mirror or any other microUSB cable I tried. My best guess why neither worked is that the X2 Pro is more power hungry due to the built-in GPS, capacitor, rear camera, etc.
The right side of the dashcam has the microSD card slot. The X2 Pro is compatible with up to 128gb class 10 microSD cards. The left side has a speaker that is loud enough to hear 99% of the time. The X2 Pro has built-in NAND flash memory (D2 Save technology), that acts as a backup should your microSD card fail.
The windshield mount installed as you would expect, quick and easy. ddpai includes an adhesive mount but no suction cup option. There is little to no movement or shaking/vibration in the video when driving on a smooth roadway. Though the X2 Pro has digital image stabilization for bumpy roads.
The rear camera is small and does not interfere with your view. Running the wires to the back of your vehicle may take a bit of trial and error but overall it is a simple enough project depending on the interior of your car. I’m pretty AR and I was relatively pleased with my efforts. Total setup time was less than an hour.
As I mentioned above, the X2 Pro needs the dual USB charger (Front cam 12V@1A / 12V@2.1A; Rear cam5V@1A / 5V@2.1A) ddpai includes in the package. The X2 has IPS (Intelligent Protection System) technology that protects vehicles against extremely low voltage and intense heat by cutting off the power to the dashcam automatically. The X2 Pro has a built-in “super capacitor” that holds a charge and enables it to function in Parking Mode video capture that records even when electricity is turned off.
ddpai also includes a wireless, one-click physical button that when pushed captures a still image and automatically downloads it to your smartphone. It attaches nearly anywhere in your vehicle with a double sided sticky pad. The button is a surprisingly convenient and useful.
The internal GPS acquires the satellites fast enough. It’s not the quickest dashcam in this respect but not the slowest either. The GPS tracks not only location but calculates speed as well. The X2 Pro also has a built-in G-sensor to monitor your acceleration in three-dimensional space and collisions, that will lockdown that video/moment for future review.
Since the X2 Pro does not have a screen, setting up the camera, viewing live video & driving telemetry, watching past recordings, and downloading pictures and video is all done via your smartphone. The X2 Pro is the most complex and capable dashcam I have ever used. It is definitely not a plug & play, beginners dashcam setup by any stretch of the imagination. It’s smartphone control and management app is complicated and does take a bit of time to get used to. It also takes time to understand all the features of the X2 that you can tweak and/or manage via app as well.
The ddpai X2 Pro supports photos, videos, and driving stories sharing via the app linked to multiple social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and etc.).
The I mentioned above, your connection to the X2 Pro is 100% via your smart device. The interface is well designed and thought out. It provides you not only 2k front facing video but a PIP with the rear view/video plus: date, time, speed, temp, power (I believe), G-forces, compass direction, GPS connection, elevation, time and distance traveled. The vertical orientation of the app also adds a map with your location superimposed on it. Though you have to toggle between two screens to get all the telemetry.
It is a shame you do not get all of this data and rear view PIP captured in the video you download from the dashcam. Worse yet, ddpai has not created any desktop software to view all of your driving perimeters holistically from the microSD card.
The X2 Pro records video in H.264 / .mp4 format in 5-minute segments. When the microSD card is full, the dashcam continuously overwrites the oldest video with new. You can tweak the video resolution, various video, and card management settings via the ddpai smartphone app.
Daytime Video:
The 2K video is very clear with more detail than the standard 1080p resolution that a majority of dashcams record at. The 140-degree viewing angle has nearly no fish-eye effect towards the edges. The camera does a great job blocking out glare.
Skipping Video:
Occasionally the video would record with hiccups/skips happening every few seconds for no apparent reason.
In addition to skipping, I did have my fair share of other issues with the X2 Pro as well.
These included:
The dashcam occasionally failed to begin recording when I started my vehicle, often never turning on until I unplugged it for a few seconds then reinserting the power plug.
When in parking surveillance mode, it occasionally didn’t record or did but in normal time for the whole duration (aka hours). It does have a smart shutdown mode when power is low, but this happened right after driving long distances.
Occasionally after sitting in a cool garage all night, it immediately shuts down due to overheating and doesn’t start back up again until I reset the power. Sometimes continuing to shut down over and over again.
The rear facing camera does not work every now and then. Turning the X2 Pro on & off occasionally fixes the connections other times not.
I worked with ddpai and some of the issues were fixed with a firmware update. Though I am still working thru many lingering sporadic glitches.
I really wanted to like the ddpai X2 Pro, its screen-less form factor and a long list of high-end features definitely appeal to me. But its poor performance and sporadic reliability are more frustrating than anything…never knowing when it will operate as advertised. Sadly the X2 feels like a beta product still in development. Bottom line — I plan on uninstalling it ASAP and replace it with a more dependable dashcam.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by ddpai. Please visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.
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