Home 2017

GOATcase Anti-Gravity iPhone 7 Plus case review

See my iPhone on the wall above my monitor in the image above? Is it stuck there with magnets? Nope. Velcro? Nope. Tape? Nope. Magic? Kinda. It’s the GOATcase Anti-Gravity iPhone 7 Plus case. Let’s find out more.

What is it?

GOATcase is a weird name for an iPhone case. It actually stands for Greatest Of All Time case. It’s a case with grippy nano-suction material on the back that has been designed to stick to smooth surfaces like glass, finished wood, smooth metal, plastic, ceramic tile, and more.

Design and features

The case is made of flexible black plastic with a rigid back panel that has the GOATcase brand printed on it.

The back of the GOATcase has cutouts for the Apple logo and camera and a thin film over the nano-suction surface.

My iPhone 7 Plus was easily inserted into the case which provides a slightly raised edge around the display to protect it when the phone is positioned face down.

Don’t pay any attention to the glass screen protector that’s on my iPhone 7 Plus. It’s a glass protector from ZAGG that was installed at the Verizon store when I bought the phone a few weeks ago. Yes, the protector is insanely thick and looks hideous because it doesn’t stick around the edges. I just haven’t replaced it yet.

The GOATcase has a cutout for the mute button on the left side of the case. The sides of the case cover the volume buttons and while there are etched representations of the buttons, they are flat and not as easy to press/activate as cases with raised buttons.

On the bottom edge of the case are cutouts over the speakers and lightning connector.

On the opposite side is a flat area over the power switch. Again, this type of button design isn’t nearly as nice as cases with molded/raised buttons.

The back of the case has a circular cutout for the Apple logo to show through and a cutout for the camera.

The left and right sides of the case are knurled to add a nice grip which I like.

To use the anti-gravity features of the GOATcase, you have to peel the film off the back surface of the case.

Once the film is removed, it reveals the tacky feeling nano-suction surface.

You can then stick the case with your phone on most flat smooth surfaces and it will stick there. So I tried it on the painted wall above my desk, which worked fine, but I was a little worried to remove it because it really sticks securely when the nano-suction surface is clean.

It also worked well on smooth finished wood…

As well as a painted steel door.

And a mirror which seemed to work the best.

I also tried the case on a stained wooden door, but it did not stick there very long before falling off.

I tested the GOATcase on various surfaces and in between each test, I’d stick the phone in my pocket.

After only an hour or so, this is what the back of the case looked like. Click the image for a larger view. As you can see, the nano-suction surface is a magnet for lint, cat hair and other fuss. This causes the stickiness of the case to become compromised quickly.

You can clean the surface by just running it under some water.

Final thoughts

Does the GOATcase have anti-gravity properties? Yes, as long as the nano-suction material on the back of the is clean and you’re sticking it on very smooth surfaces like glass and finished wood, it works really well. But once it gets dirty, the suction is not as reliable or safe. Cleaning off the lint and other dirt from the back of the case does restore the stickiness, but that action will become a chore very quickly.

The GOATcase is a good idea in concept, but I don’t think it’s that useful as an everyday case.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $29.95
Manufacturer: GOATcase
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Sticks well to smooth surfaces like glass and metal
  • Grippy sides
Cons:
  • Attracts lint and fuss
  • Have to wash often to restore suction properties
  • Built-in power and volume buttons are flat

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GOATcase Anti-Gravity iPhone 7 Plus case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2017 at 12:00 pm.

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Need a new hobby? How about 3D metal model building?

Put down your phone or gaming controller and spend some of your free time building something cool like this Peterbilt 389 Metal model from Amusien.

I know what you are probably thinking. Building a metal model sounds difficult. But it’s not. You don’t need to weld or glue the pieces together. You don’t even need any tools at all except your hands… although a pair of pliers might make things easier.

Amusien sells a large selection of slot and tab style models that are made of 3D laser cut metal. The Peterbilt 389 model is available in silver or color versions. Like you see above.

If you get the color version of the Peterbilt 389 model, you will have to follow it up with the Transformers Optimus Prime model since that is what it turns into.

Amusien 3D metal models are not very expensive. The Peterbilt 389 is $16.99 – $24.99 depending on the version (silver or color) and the Transformers Optimus Prime model is just $34.99. Visit amusien.com for more info.

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Need a new hobby? How about 3D metal model building? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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Earhoox 2.0 review

If you are like me, headphones and earphones are a personal thing. I have several pairs of both but I have my favorites. One of the earphones I use a lot are the Apple EarPods that came with my iPhone. They work well enough, but one issue I have with the design is that they tend to fall out of my ears and that annoys me. Earhoox has a solution to this problem and they were nice enough to send me that solution to test out.

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

As the name implies this is version 2.0 of the Earhoox, the company has been making a version of this product for five years now. Each package of Earhoox contains two pairs of Earhoox, a small pair, and a large pair.

Earhoox are made of silicone and are designed to fit on Apple EarPods and AirPods. They are available in three colors; blue, white and black.

Putting the Earhoox on my EarPods was not overly difficult, you simply place the front of the EarPod into the front opening of the Earhoox. The hook part goes to the top of your EarPods in case you are wondering.

All that being said, I will say that I was a little disappointed with the included instruction sheet. The visual representation of how to put the Earhoox onto the EarPods and use them was okay but, the white outline on the light brown paper made it really hard for me to see what exactly I was supposed to do. I had to look at the instruction under a bright light to fully see everything.

I have a small ear, so I used the small Earhoox to test out the product. First, let me say that my EarPods feel a little tight without the Earhoox on them, but I did not notice that much difference in the feel with the Earhoox on the EarPod. Although my EarPods are not my main earphones when I am out and about, I do use them just about every day when back in my bedroom watching videos or movies on my iPad. I often have an issue with my EarPods falling out of my ears over an extended time of using them, with the Earhoox in place I did not experience that issue.

So, what’s my bottom line here? To me, the Earhoox is a great product. They do exactly what they advertise, keep my EarPods in my ears. The fit and finish on the Earhoox are excellent and the price is right. For $9.99 through the Earhoox website, you get two pairs of Earhoox, a small and large pair (so you may even be able to share them with a friend). I will admit that I did not use them during my workouts, but I did use them for everyday activities and had no issues. If you are looking for a way to keep your EarPods or AirPods secure in your ear while using them you should check out Earhoox.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Earhoox. Visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $9.99
Manufacturer: Earhoox
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Apple EarPods or AirPods
Pros:
  • Great price
  • Good fit and finish

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Earhoox 2.0 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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ORII Bluetooth “headset” ring, ANCOR CABLE, Swidget modular wall outlet, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

This week we bring you five Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns for a variety of products. Click through to see this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.

The Best Premium Toiletry Bag For Traveling

blurb by Andy Jacobs

What is it?
A premium quality, durable, & versatile toiletry bag that lets you organize & pack your toiletries. It’s sleek, sturdy, and adaptable.

Why do I like it?
Many of us here at The Gadgeteer, myself included, are travelers of varying degrees. Two of the habits that typically help make my travels go more smoothly are organization and packing light. Gravel founders Lance Williams and Chris Livingston seem to agree, because this Premium Toiletry Pack they designed might just help with both. The pack has a ton of pockets in differed configurations specifically designed to separate and store various type of travel items, a full-opening zipper clamshell design, a hideaway hang strap, and multiple premium materials including a Tarpaulin PVC exterior for water resistance. And to top it all off, a Lifetime Warranty.

Where can I find more info?
The Kickstarter campaign kicked off June 19 and ends August 18, but Gravel has already vaulted past their funding goal of $12,000 with over $100,000 in pledges and 1,950 backers as of this writing. Pledge package pricing starts at $39 for the Early Bird package and combo packages are available. Estimated delivery is December 2017. Travel over to the Kickstarter campaign page for more details.

ORII – Your Voice Powered Smart Ring

What is it?
ORII is a “headset” that uses bone conduction to send sound through the bones in your finger and into your ear.

Why do I like it?
I like the ORII because it’s a headset that you don’t have to leave in your ear to send and receive calls. I always feel like a dork when I have a Bluetooth headset in my ear and I refuse to wear one in public to the grocery store, etc. With ORII, you’re already wearing the headset, but it’s on your finger, so it’s less dorky.

Where can I find more info?
With 21 days left in the campaign, ORII has already reached their funding goal of $30,000. You can pre-order an ORII ring starting at $119. After the ORII campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

ANCHOR CABLE – Last cable you will ever need

What is it?
ANCHOR CABLE is a stainless steel magnetic charging cable that can be used with USB-C, lightning, and micro USB enabled devices by way of special magnetic plugs that stay in the device’s charging ports like the Apple MagSafe connector on MacBooks.

Why do I like it?
I like the ANCHOR CABLE because magnets! And because it’s made of stainless steel. What’s there not to like? Seriously though, if I can’t have wireless charging for my iPhone, I want a MagSafe-like cable for it. Or even one for my 12″ MacBook for that matter because Apple likes to ruin everything and got rid of the MagSafe connector for their newer MacBooks…. sniff.

Where can I find more info?
With 15 days left in the campaign, ANCHOR CABLE has already reached their funding goal of $13,022. You can pre-order an ANCHOR CABLE starting at $34. After the ANCHOR CABLE campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in January 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Swidget™ Outlet: The Smart Home Device for All Platforms

What is it?
Swidget is a replacement AC wall outlet that uses your home’s existing wiring to make your home a smart home with special inserts that plug into the outlet to add various capabilities.

Why do I like it?
I like Swidget because it’s a neater way to add smart home features without having plugs sticking out of walls or modules that you have to find room for on shelves and tables. It’s also customizable. You choose the features you want like temperatures sensors, USB ports, motion detectors, etc.

Where can I find more info?
With 36 days left in the campaign, Swidget still has some work to do before they will reach their funding goal of $40,000. You can pre-order a Swidget starting at $38. After the Swidget campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in June 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

DJIN: The Wallet, perfected.

What is it?
DJIN is a small wallet that has a clip for cards and bills, a slide pocket for coins, keys and USB sticks, and a secret stash-drawer for smaller items like SIM and flash cards.

Why do I like it?
I like DJIN because it’s an interesting example of a minimalist wallet. It’s a bit thicker than some minimalist wallets, but I like the fact that it has a drawer for coins, keys and more.

Where can I find more info?
With 31 days left in the campaign, DJIN has already reached their funding goal of $25,000. You can pre-order a DJIN starting at $39. After the DJIN campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

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ORII Bluetooth “headset” ring, ANCOR CABLE, Swidget modular wall outlet, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Relaxing with a good book on your iPad at the beach just got easier

One of my favorite vacation activities is reading a good book at the beach. Our usual destination is Sanibel Island, Florida at Ocean’s Reach condos where we usually carry chairs and an umbrella down to the beach so we can relax in the shade which is important if your method of reading is an iPad or Android tablet. But for those of you who like to actually lounge on the sand/beach and don’t want to rent or drag around bulky umbrellas and chairs, another solution is a ShadyFace Sunshade.

The ShadyFace Sunshade is a portable folding canopy that can be used when you’re laying on the ground, or it can be attached to a beach chair to provide an adjustable sunshade that has a built in universal tablet holder.

The top tilts up 180° or down 20° to block the sun’s rays so you can see the display.

The shade is made of ABS plastic so it’s light weight but strong, and the frame is made of aluminum. Everything folds up into a compact format and stows in an included canvas backpack for easy transport.

The ShadyFace Sunshade is priced at $149.00 and they also sell a pet sized version for $129.99. Visit shadyface.com for more info and Amazon to order.

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Relaxing with a good book on your iPad at the beach just got easier originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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