Home 2017 December

iStorage diskAshur2 1TB SSD Encrypted Portable Drive review

About a month ago I reviewed the datAshur PRO password protected flash drive from iStorage. I was so happy with the datAshur PRO that I am now following up with a review of the 1TB capacity diskAshur2  Solid State Drive.  We are all aware of the risks of our data falling into the wrong hands.  Whether that is our personal information that puts us at risk for identity theft or our sensitive work information or files that could cause a security problem for your company, protecting our data is more important than ever.  Up until now, I have been guilty of knowing these risks but not taking actions to prevent the accidental dissemination of my private information.

I have been using the datAshur PRO flash drive for backing up my personal records but also in my office as well.  If I am giving a presentation, I just load it on the drive and head to the meeting where I can easily enter my password on the flash drive and access the information I need, knowing that if I leave it behind it will lock itself using the timer function I have set.  I also travel a lot for my job so the piece of mind provided by a secure data storage solution is invaluable given the number of times I have left a flash drive behind and thus exposing all of the information stored on it.  Before using the iStorage data storage solutions, my strategy for protecting my data was simply hoping I wouldn’t lose my flash drive or external hard drive.  That is not the most robust security protocol as none of us intentionally lose our devices or want to hand out our sensitive information.  I keep my storage devices in my briefcase but since I do not walk through airports with my briefcase handcuffed to my wrist or have a tether to my external storage device when it is plugged into a computer, the possibility always exists that I can be separated from them inadvertently.

The diskAshur2 offers all of the same security and functionality as its smaller sibling but provides much greater storage capacity.  With the diskAshur2 line, you have a lot of options to choose from.  They offer solid state drives (128GB-4TB) and hard disk drives (500GB-5TB) and come in black, blue, green and red for both the SSD and HDD.  You can set up administrator and user passwords on the drive to allow access to different people if needed.  You can also set a timer to lock the device after a predetermined amount of time even if the device is plugged in, adding a level of security if you leave the drive plugged in.  It automatically locks when it is disconnected from your computer, requiring the passcode to be entered when you want to access your information the next time.  There is also a self destruct feature that when set, allows you to enter a different customizable code that will wipe all of the data and reset the passwords back to the default settings.

There is a built in rugged USB cable that stows away on the side of the drive when not in use.  This cable seems to be very secure and robust so I am not worried about it being pulled out or being damaged.  Included with the diskAshur2 is a nice protective carrying case to keep it protected when not in use.  With USB 3.1 your data transfer is extremely fast.

As with the datAshur PRO, I reviewed and the other offerings from iStorage, the diskAshur2 is secured by hardware encrypted passcodes, which doesn’t require any additional software and can be used on any computer and operating system.  Being able to use your protected storage device on any computer or OS is not a feature that all password protected drives offer but iStorage has you covered.  There are so many security considerations and defenses for every kind of attack on the unit that it would be impossible to list them all here but if you want to know all of the details, I highly recommend that you check out the product page to read about all of the safeguards this product has to keep your information secure.  Bottom line is you can be supremely confident that this will stand up to any attempt to gain unauthorized access to the drive.

The most obvious feature of the diskAshur is the numeric keypad on the face of it.  There are lights to indicate the current state of the drive so you know when it is locked or unlocked.  The buttons have a great feel and give a feedback click when pressed so you know you have pressed the button.  I am a sucker for a good button (that may sound strange to those who don’t have an appreciation for a good button) and this doesn’t disappoint, it has the feel of high quality telling me that it was built to last.

The diskAshur is offered with a solid state drive (SSD) or a hard disk drive (HDD).  The price for SSD’s has been falling in recent times but because data is stored on microchips and there are no moving parts, SSD’s are still considerably more expensive in a dollars per gigabyte metric than a HDD.  The SSD is similar to your memory stick or flash drive in how it stored data.  Advantages to a SSD is that there are no moving parts and the speed at which data can be retrieved.  The HDD is what is still found in many computers today even though it is technology that was introduced by IBM in the mid 1950’s.  It relies on a mechanical arm to read/write information from/to the disk, much like a turntable’s arm moves to capture information from different parts of a record.  This mechanical process is the cause for slower response times in accessing data.  The big advantage that HDD’s have over SSD’s is the ability to store a tremendous amount of data relatively cheaply.  If you are wanting a cheaper but equally secure storage solution, I would recommend checking out the iStorage diskAshur2 HDD where you will get more bang for your buck as far as that $/GB metric goes.  I have the 1TB SSD and love the speed of recall and the fact that there are no moving parts to break or wear out over time.  The great thing is you get the choice with this product and can decide whether SSD or HDD is right for you and how much memory you need.  iStorage seems to understand that one technology or storage solution does not fit all and have offered many options for your specific needs.

The rubberized surfaces, the solid buttons and the rugged USB cable all have the great feel of a very high quality product.  You can quickly see and feel that this product was designed to last for years, providing the peace of mind that your files, pictures or records will not fall into the wrong hands.  Until I received the first product from iStorage a couple months ago, I had never really considered how much of my personal information is on my computer and external hard drive.  I keep them on my desk at home or in the office and my flash drives in my briefcase and I have developed a false sense of security because nothing bad has happened to me yet.  I know of others who have lost their storage device and worried about identity theft, and others who have left sensitive information somewhere they shouldn’t have and suffered the consequences.  These stories did nothing to make me actively protect myself from similar situations.  Now that I have passcode protected flash drive and a large capacity solid state drive, I feel protected for the first time.  In today’s digital world, making the investment in a robust and secure data storage device should be a priority for anyone who keeps digital versions of sensitive personal or corporate information.  Investing in security is an insurance policy that will likely pay for itself many times over when you find yourself needing it.  After using the diskAshur2 SSD and the datAshur PRO, the feeling of protection and security is something that I will never again go without when it comes to my data.

Price is always a consideration with any product but especially with such a technology and security packed device as this.  There are many options and I will list them off below with the pricing I have found on newegg.com:

diskAshur2 HDD: 500GB – $168, 1TB – $231, 2TB – $305, 3TB – $348, 4TB – $411, 5TB – $474

diskAshur2 SSD: 128GB – $147, 256GB – $231, 512GB – $400, 1TB – $569

The SSD is also available in 2TB and 4TB but are not currently on newegg or Amazon.  The price on the iStorage website is £999 (~$1346 at the time of this article) for the 2TB and £1,899 (~$2,558 at the time of this article) for the 4TB.  I believe these larger capacity models may be newer and may not have made their way to these secondary retailers.  If you are interested in the highest capacity SSD drives, I recommend you shopping around to make sure you can find the best price for these products.

The unit is 124mm x 84mm x 20mm (4.88″ x 3.31″ x 0.79″) and weighs approximately 180 grams (0.4 pounds).

I can wholeheartedly recommend this and the iStorage line of products for your data storage needs, whether they be large or small.  Not everyone reading this may have the need or think they have the need for securing their data so the increased price over unsecure drives may not be worth it to some readers and potential purchasers.  Products that offer functionality above and beyond what is common in the marketplace can often create a niche that only is appealing to a certain group of consumers and that is completely understandable.  I ask you to consider how it would affect you if your information fell into the hands of someone you don’t know.  I didn’t see the need for protecting my data until I owned these products.  Now I feel much more secure and protected knowing that I am the only one who can access this information and that creates value for me and justifies the increased cost of these products over your standard unsecured plug and play drives.  I am very grateful that I have seen the importance of this security but didn’t have to go through the nightmare of my data falling into the wrong hands before making security a priority.  You will be impressed by the build quality and ruggedness of the device and like me will find comfort knowing that your information is secure.  After using the products from iStorage, I will never again keep any sensitive information on anything else.

Positives

  • Hardware passcode protected to provide the best defense for your data
  • Easy to set your passcodes and lock timer
  • Built in USB that stows away on the side of the device when not in use
  • Compact design
  • Protective carrying case
  • Various storage capacities to fit your needs; SSD or HDD options
  • Comes in 4 different colors.

Negatives

  • The $/GB for the SSD is quite a bit more expensive than the HDD given the difference in technology so if data recall speed isn’t your top priority the HDD option will give you a better bang for the buck

Final thoughts

The bottom line is the iStorage diskAshur is an extremely high quality product that offers maximum security for your data.  If you decide to purchase one of these products I know that you will be impressed.

Now through the end of 2017, iStorage is providing a 1 year license to NERO BackItUp and iStorage DriveSecurity for securely backing up your data and providing powerful antivirus software for your qualifying iStorage device (the diskAshur2 is a qualifying device), a value of approximately of $65.

For more information on the diskAshur2 or their other password protected data solutions I encourage you to look at their website to find the product that is right for you.

Price: Varies depending on capacity of drive
Where to buy: Newegg, Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by iStorage.

Carry your laptop in style with the backpack from Duchess Case

A few years ago, I reviewed a cute little clutch case for the iPad mini from Duchess Case.  The case looked like a clutch handbag instead of a utilitarian bag, so it was ideal for the woman who wanted something more fashionable than the standard tablet case.  I was checking out the Duchess Case website recently because I wondered if they had a similar case to fit the 12.9″ iPad Pro, and I was disappointed to see they don’t have a tablet case that size.  However, they do have a backpack that looks very similar to that cute little iPad mini clutch.

The Backpack for laptop has the same vintage style as the clutch I reviewed, with the same “kisslock” closure used on old-fashioned coin purses and handbags.  The backpack is 13.7″ tall X 9″ wide, so it should handily fit a variety of laptops or a 12.9″ iPad Pro. The bag has two interior sections: one for the laptop, and the other for notebooks, papers, or other gear.  The Backpack for Laptop is made of the same highly textured fabric the mini clutch used, and it’s available in blue, black, green, gray, lemon green, purple, red, or yellow for $159.00 at Duchess Case.

Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 600 wireless gaming headset review

As some of you who read the Gadgeteer on a regular basis may have seen, I previously reviewed the Turtle Beach XO THREE gaming headset. If you read my summary on that review you saw one of my issues with the XO THREE, or any gaming headset in general, is the lack of a removable/replaceable cord. Turtle Beach does have a wireless gaming headset, as a matter of fact they have a new wireless gaming headset for the Xbox One, the STEALTH 600. The STEALTH 600 is part of their Ear Force line and the folks at Turtle Beach were nice enough to send me a set to review.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

While wireless headphones are not uncommon for console gamers most of them in the past required a transmitter that you had to attach to your Xbox to use, but the Ear Force STEALTH 600 uses the native Bluetooth from the Xbox One to send sound to the headset.

The Turtle Beach STEALTH 600 headset comes with the following:

  • Headset
  • Micro USB to USB cable
  • Quick start guide

The Turtle Beach web page list the following as the headsets features:

  • Xbox wireless
  • Flip up mic
  • Independent game and chat volume controls
  • Windows Sonic Surround Sound
  • Super human hearing
  • 15- hour battery life
  • Glasses friendly
  • Mic monitoring
  • Powerful 50mm speaker
  • Audio presets, including bass boost

The only issue you may have with the setup is if you are using an older Xbox One,, the instruction are made for the new Xbox One X.

The left side of the STEALTH 600s ear cup has the three position boom microphone, the on/off button, and the preset button. The right side ear cup has the Turtle Beach logo.

The bottom of the left ear cup has an indicator light, a Micro USB port, and the connect button.

Located on the rear of the left ear cup on the Turtle Beach STEALTH 600s are the game volume dial and the chat volume dial. The right side ear cup has no controls.

As mentioned previously the boom mic has three positions. All the way to the rear is the off position, halfway between the rear and all the way down is mute mode and all the way down turns the mic on. This design is fine, but it can be difficult to try to mute the mic when in full on battle mode.  A nice feature is an audio chime that lets you know when you mute and unmute the mic.

The insides of both the left and right ear cups are cushioned with a soft cloth cover. Covering the actual speaker inside the ear cup is soft cloth with the Turtle Beach logo. I have been using this headset since I got them to review and I will say they are pretty comfortable. I wear my headsets for several hours at a sitting and find these more comfortable than my Turtle Beach XO THREEs, but not on the same level as my Polk Striker Pro Zxs.

The top of the headband on the STEALTH 600 headset is made of a flexible material with “TURTLE BEACH” stamped across the top.

The inside of the headband has soft padding covered by a soft cloth material.

On both the right and left sides of the STEALTH 600s are the swivel mount points that holds the ear cups to the headband. They swivel a full 90 degrees to the back allowing them to lay flat for packing, but only swivel a little forward. With the height adjustability and swivel of the ear cups the STEALTH 600s should fit most folks comfortably.

Set up and play out of the box was fairly simple, charge the headset with the included Micro USB to USB cable (you can do this thru the USB port on your Xbox), sync the headset with your Xbox One and play. One caveat here, the quick start guide seems to have been written with the new Xbox One X in mind so you may have to look around or remember where the Bluetooth sync button is on your Xbox (it is the same button you use to sync your controller).

Positives

  • Wireless
  • Easy to sync
  • Rechargeable
  • Price

Negatives

  • None

Final thoughts

So, what’s my bottom line here? I think Turtle Beach hit a home run with the STEALTH 600 headset. The first thing that comes to mind is the price. Based on previous and current pricing for wireless gaming headsets, the STEALTH 600 is great at $99.95. Ease of use is another place where Turtle Beach has done it right. Being able to sync the headset straight to the Xbox without having to have an external transmitter means there is one less thing to break or loose. Although the muting feature on the mic is not the easiest to use, the mic itself is well made and everyone I gamed with said my voice was clear. Having a separate volume controls for gameplay and chat is another nice feature. In the heat of battle, you want your sound priority to be on the enemy, not your buddies. Being able to recharge the STEALTH 600 headset means no more battery replacement. Like the Xbox controllers, Turtle Beach has the ability to push out firmware updates to make the headsets work better. Like I inferred above, I really like the Turtle Beach STEALTH 600 headset, it is not the most feature-rich wireless headset that Turtle Beach makes but for $99.95 they may be the best value. Let’s face it even though my ego says I am on a pro gamer level my wallet lets me know I am not.

Price: $99.95
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Turtle Beach.

You can charge your phone with this car emergency escape kit

We’ve told you about a variety of emergency escape kits to keep in your car to help you escape quickly if you’re ever trapped in the car after an accident.  Some of them hang on your keychain, others are larger and are kept in the map pocket on the door or in the glove compartment.  Some of them might be hard to find or to reach after an accident, but you’ll not lose sight of the Ztylus Stinger Car Charger Emergency Tool.  This tool incorporates the window-breaking, spring-loaded punch and a blade to cut through a seatbelt into a USB charger that plugs into the car’s power outlet.

There are two USB outlets, each capable of a maximum of 2.4A; a Plus version has a maximum output of 3.1A per outlet.  You can use it daily to charge your phone or even a tablet.  Hopefully, you’ll never need it to escape a damaged or submerged car, but you’ll be able to easily see it and reach it if you ever have the need.  The Ztylus Stinger Car Charger Emergency Tool is available in black or white for $14.95 each for the standard or $24 each for the Plus version, or get two standards for about $28 or two Plus for $40 from Amazon.

Peak Design Everyday Sling 5L bag review

The bags we use to carry our daily gear are chosen based on a variety of criteria. Large messenger bags work great when you have a lot of bulky items, smaller bags are better when all you need to carry is a wallet and a phone. And then there are medium sized bags like the Peak Design Everyday Sling bag which we’re going to talk about today.

What is it?

The Everyday Sling 5L bag from Peak Design is a small bag that can be worn over the shoulder or as a waist bag (aka fanny pack) and has been designed to be used as a camera bag, small drone bag, or general purpose bag.

Design and features

The Sling bag is available in two sizes, the 10L version and a 5L version like the one that was sent to me. Both versions of the bag are made of weatherproof 400D nylon canvas and are available in black or ash. I was sent the ash version of the Sling bag which matches the Peak Design Everyday Messenger bag and Everyday Tote bag that I’ve also reviewed.

This bag doesn’t have a flap, but a zippered top that provides access to the interior. On the front of the bag is a horizontal zipper which secures the quick-access front pocket. This pocket is roomy enough to hold a large phone like my Pixel 2 XL.

For security, the zipper pull for the main compartment can be locked into the zipper pull for the quick-access pocket.

Here’s a view of the back of the Sling bag which as you can see, does not have any pockets.

The top of the bag has a padded grab handle with a leather accent.

The adjustable shoulder strap can be flipped for left or right shoulder carry and the extra length of the strap can be hidden in a slot on the back of the bag.

The strap has a quick adjuster loop that makes it easy to loosen and tighten the strap while you’re wearing the bag, and the g-hook provides a way to quickly switch the bag from shoulder to waist carry.

I prefer to wear bags crossbody style, but I was surprised by how comfortable the Sling is to wear around the waist. I can imagine wearing it this way while hiking.

The exterior of the Sling also has a dedicated attachment point for Peak Design’s Capture Clip system which is designed to attach cameras to the outside of the bag for quick access.

The Sling reminds me of a clamshell. The main compartment doesn’t have a flap to secure it, but a zipper which allows the front part of the bag to hinge forward.

Peak Design bags all have FlexFold dividers which are a really cool way to organize your gear inside the bag. Inside the Sling are two FlexFold origami dividers that can be repositioned, folded or even removed to configure the interior of the bag exactly how you want it.

The interior of the bag is an open compartment with a small stretch pocket on the side and a padded open topped pocket along the back that is large enough to hold a tablet with dimensions no larger than 9.4 x 7.3 x 0.6 inch (24 cm x 18.5 cm x 1.5 cm).  The top of the tablet pocket has a magnetic closure.

If we flip the Sling bag around, we can see the other side of the bag where there’s a zippered pocket.

Inside the pocket are 4 small pockets that can hold memory cards or other small items.

The Sling 5L is designed to hold small drones like the DJI Mavic or DJI Spark, and small mirrorless or DSLR cameras.

I don’t own a DJI drone and I no longer have a dedicated DSLR camera, but do have a collection of EDC gear that goes with me to and from work each day. Here’s my latest selection minus an A5 notebook, and my Pixel 2 XL which I used to take this photo.

And here we see all my items stowed neatly in the Peak Design Everyday Sling 5L bag. The bag was able to hold the majority of my essentials, but I did have to compromise and remove one of the individual notebooks from my X47 leather notebook binder instead of carrying the whole thing. I was able to put the thin A5 notebook in the tablet pocket inside the Sling.

Another compromise I made was not being able to put my lunch in the Sling since there was absolutely no room left to hold even a small container of food.

Bonus points for the fact that the Sling 5L sits upright on a flat surface without falling over.

Positives

  • Multiple ways to carry
  • Customizable FlexFold organization dividers
  • Small but can hold a lot of gear

Negatives

  • 5L version can feel cramped if you like to carry a lot of gear

Final thoughts

Since reviewing the Peak Design Everyday Messenger bag, I’ve become a fan of their bags. The bags are well made, expertly designed for customization, and stylish. The Everyday Sling 5L is a great little bag for people who don’t carry a lot of gear with them each day or want a dedicated bag for a small mirrorless camera kit or drone kit. This is another winner for Peak Design and I’m happy to recommend it.

Price: $99.95
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Peak Design.