2017 – Page 130

Julie’s gadget diary – One month with the iPhone 7 Plus has taught me never to say never

I’ve been a devout Android user for close to 5 years after switching from an iPhone 4S to the Samsung Galaxy S III back in September 2012. Wow, that seems like forever ago. After I made that jump from iOS to Android, I fell hard for Android and every time after that when I would test a new iPhone, I would grumble about how it felt so limiting compared to Android devices. If you go back through my past gadget diary posts, you’ll see how I would get excited about new iOS hardware only to send it back a few days later due to disappointment with iOS.

So what changed this time? ,I’m not really sure. All I know is that when circumstances caused me to return an LG G6 that I had purchased for myself last month, I made a spontaneous decision to buy an iPhone 7 Plus. I remember telling Jeanne that was what I was going to do and she rolled her eyes and gave me a “you’re nuts” look. I had previously told her that I would never buy another iPhone again after I bought the iPhone 7 last fall and returned it.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would keep the iPhone 7 Plus that I bought last month. I just bought it on a whim because I needed a phone and could get one instantly by driving to the Verizon store. So that’s what I did and I haven’t looked back since.

Through the years I’ve complained about the iOS restriction on home screen widgets, the inability to place icons exactly where you want with spaces between them, lack of a back button, and the lack of wireless charging. Those four things have been my main “issues” and they sound dumb now. Well except for the wireless charging because I still miss that – at least until I get an iPhone 8!

Regarding the home screen widgets complaint, I’ve gotten used to placing all the widgets on the swipe right from home screen page. Would I rather have the option of putting at least one widget on the home screen? Yes. I would place the Up Next widget there. But I have found that I’m checking the widget screen pretty regularly throughout the day, so it’s really not a huge deal.

I still wish I could move the icons around exactly where I want them on the various home screens, but I’ve learned to deal with that too by using folders which I never used when I had an Android phone.

No back button is a non-issue because I can just either press and hold the left side of the screen or double tap the home button to switch between open apps.

So it turns out that those complaints were all pretty lame. Except for wireless charging

There is a new complaint though. With Android I would use my Flic buttons or an NFC tag to do things like send a TXT message to Jeanne when I would arrive home from work. NFC usage with iOS is currently limited to things like pairing Bluetooth speakers and not with automation. The FLic buttons work with my iPhone but they can’t be programmed to send a TXT message because the phone has to be unlocked first. Even if you ask Siri to send a message, she’ll make you unlock the phone before she sends the message, which is annoying.

All in all, I’m really enjoying using the iPhone 7 Plus and am excited about what the iPhone 8 will bring.

Are there any other recent Android to iOS switchers out there? How’s your experience so far?

Filed in categories: Articles

Tagged: gadget diary, iPhone 7

Julie’s gadget diary – One month with the iPhone 7 Plus has taught me never to say never originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 3, 2017 at 10:43 am.

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Olight H2R Nova Flashlight review

The Olight H2R Nova Flashlight is a powerful, versatile flashlight that functions great both as a handheld light and a headlamp. The design, battery life, and brightness of the $89.95 flashlight exceeded my highest expectations and it has quickly found its way into my every day carry kit.

The H2R Nova comes in a very sturdy, well designed box with clear product specifications.

Once the outer sleeve is removed, the box opens up revealing the H2R Nova set stylishly into the packaging.

A separate compartment holds all of the Olight accessories and there are clear icons describing the contents.

Package Contents

Olight H2R Nova
Two-way Pocket Clip
Head Strap
Silicone Mount
Olight 18650 3000mAh Lithium Battery
Magnetic Charging Cable
EVA Pad
Single-sided Adhesive Replacement EVA Pad
Instruction manual

One of my favorite features of the Olight H2R is that it functions both as a handheld light and a headlamp.

The headstrap has a silicone latch and a magnetic base that securely holds the unit in place.

The included USB-A charging cable also utilizes magnets to stay in place and has a LED indicator.

The H2R Nova is powered by a customized Olight 18650 3000 mAh lithium battery. You can also use any button-top 18650 batteries to power the unit.

One concern that a lot of users have is short circuiting the battery because of the exposed contacts, but Olight engineers have confirmed that there is over-current protection on the battery that activates at 27 amps. This feature will protect the unit and battery from damage in the case of a short circuit.

Like most parts on the H2R, the charging cap on the bottom of the flashlight is also magnetic. The magnet is strong enough to keep the unit mounted in place on metal surfaces, which is very useful for an EDC flashlight.

The main purpose of the magnetic cap is so that the charging cable cap snaps into place when near the charging end of the unit.

Because the unit is shipped about 30% charged, my initial charging out of the box took about two hours and fifteen minutes. Charging fully from a depleted battery takes a little over four hours in my testing.

The LED indicator on the charging cable lights green when connected to a power source and when the battery is fully charged; it lights red while charging.

I love the grip and form factor of the H2R, especially the 90-degree angled light and large top mounted power switch.

The Olight also comes with a two-way pocket clip which I found to be a terrific bonus feature.

The clip design doubles your carrying options and allowed me to mount the Olight on my person no matter what gear I was using that day.

The pocket clip easily pops off of the Olight when needed, like for placing it in the headstrap, but maintains a solid hold on the unit when in place.

When placing the unit in the headstrap, magnets in the base hold the unit in place once the pocket clip is removed.

The silicone latch of the headstrap stretches firmly over the H2R and locks the unit in securely.

The H2R Nova has a number of brightness modes and is quite a smart little flashlight. The five brightness modes are moonlight, low, medium, high and turbo. There is also an SOS mode which can be triggered by quickly triple clicking the top switch from off. The Nova will then flash the Morse code equivalent of SOS. Turbo mode is activated by double clicking the switch from off. The basic modes are accessed by pressing and holding the switch during normal operation. The H2R will cycle through the modes until you release the switch to choose your desired mode.

You can also engage a button lockout to prevent accidental activations by pressing and holding the switch for about two seconds from off. The unit will confirm it is in button lockout with a single blink.

One additional mode feature allows the Nova to memorize the last brightness setting. This also works for High and Turbo mode, but it only remembers those brightness settings for 10 minutes to avoid turning on a blindingly bright light hours after using it last.

The high and turbo modes of the H2R are seriously impressive. The run times at those levels are understandably short, and their usefulness is a bit questionable, but they are impressive nonetheless. Some have likened those modes to being able to “carry the sun in your pocket”.

Light Runtimes

Neutral White Level 1 : 2000 lumens(~750lm) /1h50m (1m)
Neutral White Level 2 : 550 lumens – Cool White/2h30m
Neutral White Level 3: 140 lumens – Cool White/10h
Neutral White Level 4: 27 lumens – Cool White/50h
Neutral White Level 5: 1 lumens – Cool White/45 days
Cool White Level 1 : 2300 lumens(~750lm) /1h50m (1m)
Cool White Level 2 : 600 lumens – Cool White/2h30m
Cool White Level 3: 150 lumens – Cool White/10h
Cool White Level 4: 30 lumens – Cool White/50h
Cool White Level 5: 1 lumens – Cool White/45 days

Overall, I love the H2R Nova Flashlight, both as an EDC flashlight and a headlamp. It has a number of useful features and is designed to take a lot of abuse. The price is right in line with other flashlights with similar features and the unit is backed by a five-year manufacturer warranty.

Specifications

Waterproof Rating: IPX8 (Suitable for continuous immersion in depths over 1 m)
Light Intensity: 5850 candela
Drop rating: 1.5 m / 4.9 ft
Weight: 64 g / 2.26 oz
Length 110mm / 4.33 in
Head Diameter 25 mm / 0.95 in
Body Diameter 23.2 mm / 0.91 in
Led: Cree XHP50 Cool or Neutral White

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Olight. Please visit their website or eBay for more info.

Product Information

Price:	$89.95
Manufacturer:	Olight
Retailer:	eBay
Pros:	Lightweight Great battery life Powerful Versatile Waterproof Magnetic Mounting
Cons:	Concerns about exposed battery contacts Brightest settings have questionable usefulness

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Flashlight

Olight H2R Nova Flashlight review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 3, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Here’s a sweet thing: the new Timbuk2/Froot Loops Tuck Pack collaboration!

Since 1989 Timbuk2 has been producing top-quality messengers and backpacks, and they always have an eye towards new designs and new styles. They also have a reputation for diving into new and interesting collaborations, and this might be one of their most fun products yet: the Froot Loops Limited Edition Tuck Pack. As in the kids’ cereal. How sweet is that?

Inspired by the legendary breakfast treat of our youth, the exterior fabric pattern features a cascade of Froot Loops in all of their glory. As if it couldn’t get any better, there’s a treat hidden inside: Toucan Sam himself makes an appearance on the inside lining, along with a special sleeve for your box of Froot Loops (or a 15-inch laptop, if you had breakfast already). They even include a box of cereal with your order… you know, in case you ran out.

Behind all of this sugary goodness, you’ll find the well-reviewed Tuck rolltop backpack. It’s a 20-liter pack with two side pockets for water bottles and U-locks, an external zip pocket, and a hidden stash pocket on the back of the bag for your valuables. I have a closet full of Timbuk2 stuff. Their products are consistently well built and carry a lifetime guarantee; I would expect this to be the same, with a bit more sweetness added in for good measure.

Retail price for the limited edition bag is $100. Check it out at the Timbuk2 web site!

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Bags

Here’s a sweet thing: the new Timbuk2/Froot Loops Tuck Pack collaboration! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 3, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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Rollbe EDC ruler, Vizy smartphone car mount, the best alarm clock, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

Happy Wednesday! Here’s a new batch of five Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns that I think are interesting and/or worthy of your pledges. Click through to see this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.

Sandman Doppler: The World’s Best Alarm Clock

What is it?
Sandman Doppler is an alarm clock that’s Alexa enabled, has 6 USB charging ports, can play music, and more.

Why do I like it?
The Sandman Doppler a smart alarm clock which by itself doesn’t sound that exciting, but I like that it has a bunch of USB ports on the back so you can keep your everyday gadgets charged. But the best thing are the programmable physical buttons on top of the clock that you can use to interact with your other gear. You can program a button to turn off all your Philips HUE lights, turn your Nest thermostat up or down, and more.

Where can I find more info?
With 14 days left in the campaign, Sandman Doppler has already passed their funding goal of $25,458. You can pre-order a Sandman Doppler clock starting at $119. After the Sandman Doppler campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Tülry: The World’s First Glamour Utility Necklace

What is it?
Tülry is a wearable EDC tool kit designed for women that has 16 built-in tools.

Why do I like it?
I can’t imagine actually wearing a Tülry necklace because I never wear necklaces, but I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the design. The necklace can expand to add more tools like different types of screwdrivers, a bottle opener, and hex keys. It’s both goofy, useful, and geeky.

Where can I find more info?
With 9 days left in the campaign, Tülry has already passed their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order a Tülry necklace starting at $69. After the Tülry campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

SHIFT: The Ultimate Pack for Photography, Travel and Tech

What is it?
The SHIFT Pack is a modular backpack that’s perfect for photographers but one that can be used by anyone that likes to keep their gear organized and easily transportable.

Why do I like it?
I’ve been a messenger bag carrier for years, but have just recently started thinking about switching to a backpack and I’ve been keeping an eye out for interesting bags that have more features than the standard run of the mill backpack. The SHIFT Pack can sit flat without falling over, has a ton of storage pockets, can easily attach to rolling luggage, and it has a zippered padded compartment in the bottom that can be used to hold a camera, shoes, or other larger items that you want to keep separate from the rest of gear.

Where can I find more info?
With 15 days left in the campaign, SHIFT Pack has already passed their funding goal of $20,000. You can pre-order a SHIFT Pack starting at $179. After the SHIFT Pack campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Rollbe – Super Compact Measuring Tool

What is it?
Rollbe is a 4 or 8 inch (10 or 20 cm) stainless steel ruler that you can carry in your pocket.

Why do I like it?
I like the Rollbe measuring tool because it can be used to measure straight lines and curves. It’s cool little pocket ruler that you can take with you when you’re shopping for quick measurements.

Where can I find more info?
With 28 days left in the campaign, Rollbe has already passed their funding goal of $6,361. You can pre-order a Rollbe starting at $16. After the Rollbe campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Vizy – World’s Safest Car Mount. Period.

What is it?
Vizy is a smartphone holder for your car that attaches to the window visor.

Why do I like it?
I like the Vizy holder because it doesn’t use a suction cup, adhesives, vent slats, etc. It looks easy to install and relocate as needed. I also like that your phone will be more in line with your eyes than if it was down in the console area.

Where can I find more info?
With 39 days left in the campaign, Vizy is still working their funding goal of $9,448. You can pre-order a Vizy starting at $14. After the Vizy campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Crowdfunded

Rollbe EDC ruler, Vizy smartphone car mount, the best alarm clock, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 2, 2017 at 11:09 am.

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North St. Bags Pioneer 12 Hip Pack review

Imagine a high school where instead of normal students the attendees were bags. If the jocks were big, tough backpacks and the cool kids were sleek messenger backs, then certainly the nerds of the class would be fanny packs. I feel like they’ve been sort of unfairly picked on… sure, they’re useful but lack that cool factor of a sweet leather satchel or messenger bag. But North St. Bags is out to change that perception with their line of tough, waterproof Hip Packs.

I’ve been a fan of Portland-based North St. Bags since I reviewed their Flanders backpack several months ago. Their backpacks are hand-stitched and incredibly rugged and durable. The Pioneer Hip Pack is no exception.

Beautiful color on that waterproof sailcloth material.

The Pioneer 12 is the larger variety of North St.’s hip packs. That expanded size makes it the perfect companion for bike enthusiasts, hikers, running or any other outdoor activity where a backpack feels like overkill, but you’d need to carry equipment too large for pockets.

The back contains several loops for custom belts, straps and bike mounts, all removable.

I immediately noticed several ways to use the bag. There is, of course, the typical adjustable belt and clasp to wrap around your waist, but also includes handlebar loops and straps for mounting to the front of a bike. Additionally, North St. offers a shoulder strap for further stabilization while on the move or for converting the pack to a small shoulder bag.

The specs:

Made from waterproof X-Pac™ LiteSkin™ sailcloth
Belt sizes: Small 28″-37″ and Large 36″-52″
Features loops to insert your own belt if you prefer
Extra long zipper ties
Handy side grab loops
Water resistant DWR finish on exterior
Dimensions: 12” x 7.5” x 4”
Capacity: 350 cubic inches / 5.7 liters
Weight: 9.5 oz / 269 g
Handmade in Portland, Oregon with a lifetime warranty

I love the feel of the sailcloth, somewhere in between canvas and nylon. It’s thick and rugged and can really take a beating.

An inside view of various pocket sizes and a handy velcro side for further customization.

The outer waterproof zipper on the pack is high-quality, chunky and silky smooth. Fully unzipped, the pack lays flat and reveals several pockets of various sizes. The opposite side sports two long strips of Velcro for securing additional inserts.

Pockets inside a zippered pouch with pockets on top of that! Hello, organization.

Plus, behind the pocketed panel is a zipper pouch containing even more space and pockets. This pack can hold quite a bit and, thanks to the adjustable side straps, can expand to accommodate more than you’d think.

And a surprising use… a rugged case for toting around your new gaming system!

Personally, I’ve been using it as a carry-all for toting to work. Typically, I’ll throw in my Nintendo Switch, USB cables, pens, checkbook, sketchbook, keys, wallet, cleaning cloths, granola bar and still have plenty of room. It easily accommodates a typical business-size envelope, just to give you a sense of size. It’s been fantastic.

The humble fanny pack just got a big upgrade…

Did I strap it on in the standard around-the-waist format? Yes. A bit. For this photo. But if I have to be honest, I took off all of the straps and carry the pack around by the loop on the top, sort of like a small briefcase. I’m not putting fanny packs on blast, here, there’s just not a lot of sense it strapping it around me for the 30-second walk from my car.

It did make me wish I had a pack like this back in my motorcycle commuting days. I could give the Pioneer Hip Pack a hearty recommendation for anyone looking for the function of a fanny pack with the looks of a sporty backpack.

The only negative I could find was the price… the pack starts at $77, and that’s without belt straps, which you would more than likely want. You could easily top $100 with additional inserts and straps, but there’s no doubt this pack would last a lifetime. It’s quality that’s well worth the premium.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by North St. Bags. Please visit their site for more info and to order.

Product Information

Price:	from $77.00
Manufacturer:	North St. Bags
Pros:	– waterproof – plenty of room – lots of organization and pockets – actually looks cool
Cons:	– a bit pricey, especially when adding on all wanted accessories

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bags

North St. Bags Pioneer 12 Hip Pack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 2, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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