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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I have scoured Kickstarter and have chosen 4 crowdfunding campaigns that I think are interesting enough that you’ll want to check them out. Click through to see my list of this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.
Cubetto – Coding without screens for kids aged 3 and up
Blurb by Ryan Pagel
What is it?
The Cubetto is a Montessori-approved toy for children ages 3+ that introduces and teaches logic based coding in a fun and screen free format.
Why do I like it?
I have two boys, ages 6 and 4 who both attend a Montessori school. Through the use of different maps and stories and a little robot, the children have been introduced to coding in a fun and very approachable way. Right out of the box we were playing and having fun. After a few days of exploring this, it has become one of my children’s favorite indoor activities. When I first received this I didn’t know if this would be something my children would enjoy but after playing with this for a few days, I would recommend this to any children with an interest in science, robots, puzzles, remote controlled cars, computers, etc.
Where can I find more info?
With 12 days left in the campaign (ends July 19, 2017) Primo Toys has crushed their goal of $100,000 with over $577,000 in pledges and nearly 2,600 backers. There are only a handful of advanced purchase packages available on their Kickstarter page so if you are considering this, move quickly before they are all gone. You can pre-order a Cubetto Adventure pack starting at $50. Estimated shipping date is in September of 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
Scribbler DUO: The World’s First Dual-Nozzle 3D Printing Pen
What is it?
The Scribbler DUO is a handheld 3D printing pen.
Why do I like it?
I like the Scribbler DUO because it features two nozzles. That means that you can use two different colors of filament in the pen to create interestingly colored models and you can finish those models even faster since there are two nozzles.
Where can I find more info?
With 20 days left in the campaign, The Scribbler DUO campaign is still working towards their funding goal of $15,750. You can pre-order a Scribbler DUO starting at $99. After the Scribbler DUO campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in August 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
TELOUR | Minimalist Spinner Wallet
What is it?
TELOUR is a minimalist wallet that’s also a fidget spinner.
Why do I like it?
I like the TELOUR wallet because it’s a simple minimalist wallet AND it’s also a fidget spinner. Crowdfunding campaigns for minimalist wallets are usually pretty popular, so a designer decided to create a wallet with the latest crazy – fidget spinners. Silly? Yes. But it’s a genius idea and I can’t believe it’s not already up to eleventy million dollars in pledges!
Where can I find more info?
With 40 days left in the campaign, The TELOUR campaign is still working towards their funding goal of $10,000. You can pre-order a TELOUR starting at $29. After the TELOUR campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
BondicEVO™ Liquid Plastic Welder
What is it?
BondicEVO is a battery operated pocket-sized liquid plastic welding tool.
Why do I like it?
I like the BondicEVO because it looks like a great tool for makers and DIYers. Just squirt the liquid plastic on a broken item, shine the special curing light on the liquid plastic and within 5 seconds, it’s hardened, allow you to easily repair broken products instead of trashing them.
Where can I find more info?
With 40 days left in the campaign, The BondicEVO campaign is getting close to reaching their funding goal of $34,891. You can pre-order a BondicEVO starting at $11. After the BondicEVO campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in August 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
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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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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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Today is like Black Friday except that it’s Tuesday and it’s July. But other than that, it’s exactly the same because today is Amazon Prime Day where there are tons of deals and bargains on some of your favorite products. You’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of all the savings, so if you’re not a member yet, head over to Amazon and sign up for a free 30-day trial and then warm up your credit card and browse through this quick list of deals that look worthy to me. Don’t wait too long though because the best deals are selling out fast.
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