Home 2017

SOG introduces a pen-shaped multi-tool with pliers


The word “multi-tool” has become a household term since Leatherman marketed the original PST, Pocket Survival Tool, in 1983. I bought my first one in 1984 to replace a backpack full of tools that were required to bring to all of my engineering labs, making for a very heavy backpack. Since then, multi-tools have become ubiquitous, available virtually everywhere from big-box stores to the smallest gas station. 

The basic premise of the multi-tool has remained largely unchanged, compromising of a plier’s head and multiple implements that could be folded into parallel handles…. until now.

SOG Knives has now introduced a major innovation in multi-tools with their Baton Series. Currently, most multi-tools house the pliers in handle recesses, but not The Baton. This tool places the “parked” implements into a linear package, shaped like a bulky pen that pulls towards each end and folds, deploying the pliers (or scissors). This design should appeal to many who want the convenience, utility, and security of carrying of a multi-tool without the bulk. Clearly, an elegant solution when less tactical attire dictates.

SOG has been a major player in the multi-tool market since 1986. I’ve had the pleasure of owning and extensively using several of their tools over the past few decades and I look forward to getting my hands on a SOG Baton Q4 which will retail for $120. Anticipated release is June 2017.

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SOG introduces a pen-shaped multi-tool with pliers originally appeared on on April 27, 2017 at 6:39 am.

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SAFEGO is a lock box for your valuables


We travel to Florida once a year and our favorite activity when we’re there is to relax on the beach under an umbrella. When we need a break from all that relaxing, we like to walk along the surf soaking up the sun and looking for shells. Sounds perfect right? It is except that I’m usually a little nervous that someone is going to steal our stuff while we’re away from our beach chairs. 

Sure, we could wear a bag and put our valuables in it while we were walking, but that just sounds cumbersome, especially when you’re bending over to pick up a shell every few feet. Another possible solution is the SAFEGO Portable Safe.

The SAFEGO is made of high impact ABS plastic with a keyed lock and a built-in custom 3-digita combination lock that secures a 6mm heavy-duty steel cable. The cable can wrap around the frame of a beach chair or any other object.

The water and sand resistant 7″ x 4″ x 7.5″ compartment is large enough to hold phones, money, credit cards, passports, etc. There’s even a pass-through that you can use to route your headphone cord from a device inside the SAFEGO or route a cable from a backup battery stored inside the SAFEGO to your device on the outside.

The SAFEGO Portable Safe is priced at $39.00 and is available in black, white, blue, pink or gold at safego.us and Amazon.

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SAFEGO is a lock box for your valuables originally appeared on on April 26, 2017 at 10:16 am.

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Catalyst Water Proof Shock Resistant Case for Apple Watch 42mm Series 2 review


Since getting my Apple Watch, I have used it regularly for months for day to day activities. Now that winter is over, tennis season has started up, and with that, more physical activity that could potentially damage my expensive watch. With the Catalyst Case for the Apple Watch Series 2, I was able to set my worries aside. Let’s see how well it held up to everyday use.


In the box, you’ll find the Catalyst case housing, wrist strap, silicone waterproof sealing wrap, a test unit (for waterproof testing purposes), a spare screw, and a small screwdriver.

My first thought when I saw the waterproof housing was.. “Why?” The Series 2 is already waterproof, right? That’s true, but the Catalyst case is waterproof up to 330 ft, which means you can go snorkeling with your watch, or your watch should be safe if it decides to go snorkeling without you.

I tested and made sure the case was indeed waterproof as the instructions say, and then inserted my Apple Watch inside. It was a bit of work getting the unit open, but that made me confident that it will not fall apart randomly. After removing the old wrist straps, you put the watch in the silicone sealing wrap, sit the wrap on the bottom plate, then snap the top into place. Lastly, using the tiny screwdriver, tighten the screw and it is ready to go.

The backside of the watch has silicone covering the heart rate sensor, but it has not had any problems registering my heart rate, and it doesn’t feel much different than without.

Using the dial and button located on the side of the watch was no different than before, though if the watch slid towards my hand, I would accidentally press down the dial and activate Siri. That was probably the number one thing that annoyed me with the watch; how often I activated Siri on accident!

One thing I missed from my Fitbit Charge HR was the standard wrist strap. Don’t get me wrong, I am used to the Apple Watch sport band by now, but the standard strap just feels more secure. The Catalyst case gave me back that strap, so that made me very happy. It secures into place easily and the black clasp adds a dash of color to the white strap.


This case definitely adds some bulk to the Apple Watch. The watch is already big, but with the case, it seems massive, especially on the 42mm version. It took a good week or so to get used to having the case on it. Weight wise, it isn’t bad at all, it is just the size in relation to my small wrist.

Lastly, the case has done a very good job of protecting my Apple Watch while out on the tennis courts. It has withstood scraping against chain link, clanking against tennis rackets, and a drop or two at home with little to show for it. The top of the watch is exposed, but there is a lip that (theoretically) would stop a scratch from occurring on the screen. The strap also has stayed clean, which impressed me since I thought the white silicone would collect dirt and grime.


Overall, I am happy with the Catalyst Case for my Apple Watch Series 2 and plan to keep it on for the immediate future, especially since I will be outdoors more. The price point is only ten dollars more than a sport band from Apple, and it gives solid protection for the price. It definitely adds some bulk to the watch itself, but if you don’t mind a big watch on your wrist, take a look at the Catalyst Case for the Apple Watch Series 2 and see if it is the right fit for you.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $59.99
Manufacturer: Catalyst
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • – Apple Watch Series 2
Pros:
  • – Protective and lightweight
  • – Adds additional waterproofing to the watch
Cons:
  • – May be lightweight but it adds bulk to the size of the watch
  • – Dial sticks out a little more than normal, causing Siri to be activated on accident

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Catalyst Water Proof Shock Resistant Case for Apple Watch 42mm Series 2 review originally appeared on on April 26, 2017 at 8:11 am.

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First you could buy them faded, then ripped, and now covered in mud. Wait, what?!


In a new series that I’m going to call “Wait, what?!”, comes PRPS Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans. Jeans, who cares right? But wait a sec… These are no ordinary jeans Gadgeteers. These jeans are covered in mud and have a price tag of $425 a pair! Nordstrom describes them as “Americana workwear that’s seen some hard-working action with a crackled, caked-on muddy coating that shows you’re not afraid to get down and dirty.”

And that’s where the “wait, what?!” comes in. Have we degraded into a society that has to pay for dirty clothes to give us the appearance of being hard workers?

The traditionally styled 5 pocket jeans are made of 100% cotton and are machine washable which makes me say it again… wait, what?! So you buy a pair of muddy jeans for $425, but you can wash them? Is it really April 1st, because this can’t be for real. But sadly, it apparently, it is. We’re doomed as a species. If you’re not distressed about this (pun intended), head over to Norstrom for more info.

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First you could buy them faded, then ripped, and now covered in mud. Wait, what?! originally appeared on on April 26, 2017 at 7:14 am.

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GENIE voice assistant speaker, Trash Press, a desktop sized CNC mill, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns


crowdfund

It’s time for another selection of crowdfunding campaigns that have caught my interest in the last week. This time around we have five projects that range from a trash smasher to a CNC mill that is small enough to put on a table. Click through to read my picks for this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.

GENIE – A Multi-Language Voice Assistant Bluetooth Speaker

What is it?
GENIE is a portable Bluetooth speaker that you can use with your favorite voice assistant service like Amazon Alexa, Google Now, Siri and Cortana in 50+ different languages and dialects supported by Google and Apple including Arabic, Chinese, Taiwanese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai and Turkish.

Why do I like it?
I like GENIE because it has a multi-function button on the side that will launch the voice assistant software on the paired device. The multi-function button is also a rotary dial that controls volume. The speaker can run for up to 24 hours on a single charge and has a play time of up to 10 hours.

You can use GENIE to take and make hands-free calls, listen to and control your favorite music and playlists with 360-degree omni-directional sound, and you can take it outdoors because it’s water and dust resistant.

Where can I find more info?
With 59 days left in the campaign, The GENIE campaign is just getting started working towards their funding goal of $50,000. You can pre-order a GENIE starting at $40. After the GENIE campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Tapdo | World’s Smallest Remote for Everything

What is it?
Tapdo is a wearable button that triggers commands based on the prints from different parts of your hand from your fingers to even the print on the palm of your hand.

Why do I like it?
I like Tapdo because it’s one button that can have up to 20 different commands associated with it. It’s like a Flic smart button steroids. It is powered by a standard coin cell battery that has a lifetime of approximately 6 months.

Commands can include wireless light control, camera shutter button, send a tweet, time tracking, make fake call, and a bunch of other commands.

Where can I find more info?
With 10 days left in the campaign, The Tapdo campaign is very close to reaching their funding goal of $48,867. You can pre-order a Tapdo starting at $108. After the Tapdo campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in September 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

The MicroMill – A desktop CNC milling machine

What is it?
The MicroMill is a small table top sized computer controlled 3-axis milling machine for makers and designers.

Why do I like it?
I like the MicroMill because it’s a small machine that anyone from makers to hobbyists can use in their home or garage to create things. It can mill materials that are softer than steel, like brass, acetal/Delrin, aluminum, wood, wax, foam, and more.

Where can I find more info?
With 31 days left in the campaign, The MicroMill campaign still has work to do to reach their funding goal of $39.614. You can pre-order a MicroMill starting at $804. After the MicroMill campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Trash Press: Simplify the Way You Deal with Garbage

What is it?
The Trash Press is a handheld plastic press that you use to compress the trash in your trash bin to make room for more trash.

Why do I like it?
There are only two people living in my house, but I’m always surprised by the amount of trash that we produce even though we do our best to recycle paper, cardboard, glass, cans, and plastics, and we throw food scraps in our woods. Every week we have at least two to three bags of trash that we have to drop at the trash center. A product like the Trash Press might cut that down by half, saving us a trip to the trash center, trash bags and reducing the amount of junk that we send to the land fill.

Where can I find more info?
With 16 days left in the campaign, The Trash Press campaign still has work to do to reach their funding goal of $5,000. You can pre-order a Trash Press starting at $10. After the Trash Press campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in August 2017. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

AirVolt charging smartphones from radio waves

What is it?
The AirVolt is two piece charger that converts radio waves into electricity that recharge a device battery.

Why do I like it?
I like the AirVolt system because it’s a new and unique way to charge devices wirelessly. It does need a special adapter plugged into the device, but it is exciting that such technology exists and it makes me daydream about devices that have this technology baked in so that you never have to plug in a device to charge it again. Imagine having the base chargers all over the place so that your device is always charging. Endless battery life and no more worrying if your phone will last till you get home.

Where can I find more info?
With 30 days left in the campaign, The AirVolt campaign is just getting started working towards their funding goal of $9,000. You can pre-order an AirVolt starting at $35. After the AirVolt campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2017. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

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GENIE voice assistant speaker, Trash Press, a desktop sized CNC mill, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on on April 25, 2017 at 11:28 am.

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