Home 2018 January

This Bluetooth speaker harkens back to the days of vinyl LPs

Unlike most Bluetooth speakers today which are usually black, utilitarian, and often cylindrical, the Vintage Vinyl Bluetooth Speaker combines the looks of an old horn-shaped gramophone and the appearance of an old vinyl 10″ LP on display.  Actual reclaimed vinyl albums are turned in to a horn speaker to give a new spin to your modern music collection.  And to make the speaker truly personal to your tastes, you can customize the speaker in a variety of ways:

  • Request a genre, and Jeff Davis (the maker) will select an album for you.
  • Create a custom label by choosing a design and specifying your own text.
  • Supply a photo or artwork to have a photo label created for your speaker.
  • Send in your own album and have Jeff turn it into a speaker for you.
  • Request a particular album, and Jeff will source it and add it to your speaker.

The speaker stands 15.25″ tall x 8.5″ deep x 12″ wide (at horn); the 12- diameter horn has a 3.9″ depth; and the wood base is 6.8″ deep X 10.9″ wide.  It connects via Bluetooth to your modern digital audio sources, or you can plug an audio source into the AUX input on the back of the speaker.  The Vintage Vinyl Bluetooth Speaker is $225 for request-a-genre, $235 for custom label or submitted albums, and $275 for requesting a particular album.  Purchase it at UncommonGoods.

This stand from Filofax puts your tablet at the perfect viewing angle

Were you here last week when I posted a quick review of the SmartStand360 universal phone stand? No? Ok, click the link and check it out. I’ll wait. Done? Great! That little stick-on stand for your smartphone totally reminds me of this much larger stick-on stand for your tablet.

From the same people who brought us the Filofax comes the eniTAB360. This stick-on stand has been designed to work with any tablet. It uses micro-suction technology instead of 3M adhesive strips. Yay! It also features a folding non-slip rubber foot with a friction hinge that opens up to 140-degrees for custom viewing angles.

The Filofax eniTAB360 is priced at $19.99. You can buy one from Amazon.

IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru review

We recently bought a new Apple MacBook Pro for my wife.  It’s a fantastic device, but one of its limitations (I’m sure Apple would say advantages) is that basically the only ports on it are four USB-C ports.  I do like USB-C and I’m looking forward to the day when old-school USB is phased out of devices far and wide in favor of USB-C, but until then I thought it would be useful to have a way to connect non-USB-C-cable based peripherals to our new MacBook Pro.  The IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru is one way to address this. Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru is a compact docking station that is intended to effectively turn your laptop into a full-functioning desktop workstation.  It includes a total of 10 ports and slots for various cable an memory card types and can also perform pass-through charging of your laptop.

Design and Features

As mentioned above, the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru includes the following ports:

  1. USB-C
  2. Memory Card Reader for SD or MicroSD cards
  3. USB 3.0 (Type A)
  4. USB 3.0 (Type A)
  5. USB 3.0 (Type A)
  6. Gigabit Ethernet LAN
  7. HDMI video
  8. Mini DisplayPort video
  9. VGA video
  10. Headset/Microphone jack

 

Above, the front of the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station’s packaging.  It includes an accurate photo of the product contained inside.

The rear of the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station’s package includes a detailed list of features include a list of all ports.

One thing I noticed when unboxing the Dock was that the tape seal had already been cut.  I wondered if this was evidence that I had not received a new device as a review sample.  I wondered this further when the Dock itself seemed to have some cosmetic scuffs on its exterior.  In any case, it seemed to function just fine.

Above are the contents of the package, which are also listed below:

  • IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station
  • Quick Start Guide booklet
  • Troubleshooting card

My initial impression of the Dock was that its aluminum case had a look and feel quite similar to an Apple MacBook laptop with its silver, matte-type texture.  More detailed on this below.

In the closeup photo above, my wife’s new Apple MacBook Pro is on the left, and the Dock is on the right.  As mentioned, both aluminum surfaces are very similar in appearance and texture, though I would note that the MacBook Pro is Space Gray in color; were it the Silver version, I think it would appear to match the Dock almost identically.

Above is a closeup of the USB-C docking interface cable that is intended to be plugged into your laptop.  This single cable provides all of the port replication of all peripherals plugged into the Dock.

As seen above, the underside of the Dock includes symbols adjacent to each of the ports to indicate their compatibility.

 

The underside of the Dock also has a silicone foot at each corner, as shown above, to keep it from sliding around while sitting on your desk or another surface.
The Dock has ports on three sides (the USB-C docking interface cable that plugs into the laptop protrudes from the fourth side).  The side depicted above has, from left to right, MicroSD card slot, standard SD card slot, and USB-C port.  This single USB-C port is intended to plug your laptop’s power supply into, to enable Power Delivery Charging (PD Pass-Thru) while the Dock is connected to your laptop and in use, with up to 60W of charging power.  Also, when you are away from home, the bus-powered Dock does not need a power supply to connect your devices.
The next side of the Dock includes the ports shown above: HDMI video, VGA video, Ethernet LAN and Mini DisplayPort video.
The final side of the Dock includes a headphone/microphone port and three USB 3.0 (Type A) ports.  Per the port symbols on the underside of the Dock, the USB 3.0 port to the far right also has a small lightning bolt near the USB port symbol, indicating that this USB port can be used for fast charging of phone, tablet or another device.Above, from left to right I’ve placed a MicroSD memory card, a standard SD memory card, and the laptop’s power supply USB-C cable into the Dock.
Next up, I’ve inserted, from left to right, an HDMI video, a VGA video cable, and an Ethernet LAB cable.  The fourth port is a Mini DisplayPort, but I don’t own such a cable to illustrate this, so you’ll have to use your imagination here.  The Dock gives the ability to connect two additional monitors (both at 1080p resolution) alongside your laptop’s monitor if using a Windows laptop, or a single additional monitor (at 4k Ultra HD resolution) alongside your laptop’s monitor if using an Apple laptop.
Finally, in the photo above, I’ve inserted an Apple Earpods cable and three old-style USB cables: one for an external hard drive running Apple’s Time Capsule backup software, one for a keyboard and one for an iPhone.

Above, a photo of the Dock connected to our MacBook Pro, and with multiple devices connected to the Dock.  The Dock is very compact and easy to use; once all of your peripherals are plugged into the Dock, the Dock’s single USB-C cable is all that is needed to quickly add a significant amount of desktop-like capability to your laptop.

Positives

  • 10 ports and slots allow a variety of peripherals to be connected to your laptop quickly and easily
  • Pass-through charging allows your laptop to be charged while still utilizing any of the connected peripherals
  • Slim, compact design that mimics the Apple MacBook in appearance and style

Negatives

  • None

Final Thoughts

We found the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru to be quite useful alongside my wife’s new Apple MacBook Pro.  It provides a quick and easy way to attach multiple peripherals with a single USB-C docking interface connection.  We were able to routinely connect an external backup hard drive as well as an HD TV as an external monitor and a keyboard on occasion, and all while continuing to charge the laptop’s battery.  At around $100, this dock isn’t necessarily cheap, but compared to other, similar docks, it seems to give a lot of features for the price.

Price: $99.99 MSRP
Where to Buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by IOGEAR.

Girls can foster an interest in the STEM fields as they prepare for a mission to Mars with the new American Girl doll of the year

Few toys aimed at girls encourage their interest in the STEM fields, but the new American Girl Doll of the Year is helping them reach for the stars.  American Girl dolls are designed to introduce girls to different historical eras and different cultural backgrounds by issuing dolls, their introductory book, and a set of accessories from these eras.  Previous dolls have introduced girls to American history, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War and slavery to the Depression to now.  Luciana Vega is taking girls on a mission to Mars.

Luciana, like all 18″ American Girls, has a cloth body and plastic limbs and head.  She comes complete with her signature outfit of:

  • cosmic-print dress with attached vibrant red purse belt that she wears to Space Camp
  • A shiny holographic choker and special red star charm necklace she received as a baby
  • A pair of holographic lace-up boots

She also comes with a book, which discusses her life as an aspiring astronaut, studying in the science and math fields to hopefully prepare for a mission to Mars.  The space suit seen above ($75) is part of her accessories line.  Luciana in her signature outfit and the introductory book is $115; accessories include a maker’s station, flight suit, space suit, Mars habitat, and books and other items ranging in price from $8 – $350.  Luciana and her accessories are available at American Girl.

EACHINE E56 quadcopter folding selfie drone review

In case you have been living under a rock, there is this phenomenon called drones going on. They are everywhere, and range from tiny insect-sized devices the size of a soda can top to large, load-bearing monsters that are being considered or actually used for everything from package delivery to first-aid supply drops in war zones. The speed, range, ease of control, and flight time all vary, and price ranges from under $50 to well over $2000. We have reviewed a few here, but none that I have seen so far that hit that sweet spot between affordability for a toe-dipper, fun of flying, and ease of getting started. EACHINE sent me their E56 model to test a few weeks ago, and I’ve found it may just be the beginner’s model you’ve been looking for.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

The E56 is a quad-copter, with arms that fold out and friction-lock into place with a nice, satisfying click. Folding up the legs is just as easy, and they nest perfectly against the body. Folded up, the body measures 5.75” x 2.75” x 1”, which fits into most of my shirt pockets easily. The unfolded wingspan is about 8”. The unit is very light, at only 3 ounces flight-ready. The battery weighs .7 oz. The only other thing you need to fly this little guy is a smartphone. Sure, there’s a thumb-guided controller included in the package, but the smartphone app is much more fun, plus you get to see what the drone’s camera is seeing as you fly, and it records directly to your smartphone’s camera roll!

Hardware specs

Product Specification:

Video Resolution: : 720P
R/C distance: : About 30m
Product battery: : 3.7V 500mAh Lipo Battery(Included)
Product size: : 17.8*18*3.2 cm (Before Folding)
Wheelbase: : 18.7cm
Package Size: : 19.5*8.5*16.5cm

What’s in the box?

  • Drone
  • battery
  • charger
  • 3D thumb controller
  • Extra propellers and screwdriver for replacement
  • Instruction manual

Design and features

The unit is very compact and easy to deploy. With short battery life, having easy access to a USB recharger or a computer/car/power outlet that will allow recharging is important. With any drone, there is a huge gap between recharge time and flying time. Be prepared with multiple batteries, if possible

I took it out to a field near my house that is a former elementary school and now houses a teacher training facility. On the weekend, the place is deserted, and I sometimes take our dog here for frisbee and general running fits. Probably two acres of flat, tree-less grass with no power lines. Neighbors in the area use it to practice golf shots as well.

Here is the first in-flight movie I made with the E56.

I also made another that day, trying to turn and get more perspective on the area.

The drone has it’s own WiFi signal, which you lock into with the Wifi on your smartphone. Then, you get the generic UI to go up/down, or forward/back, sideways.

There are camera and other controls across the top. I found the E56 to be fairly responsive when connecting, but a little less so the further away it got from my iPhone. I tried some tests in my driveway, indoors, and in the previously mentioned field. The field, with no other competing wifi signals, was by far the best experience, but I never really felt totally in control. I would send a signal to turn and sometimes, it would. But it just as often would ignore the command. The “STOP” command was always obeyed, however, and brought the drone straight down where ever it was when you hit the button.

The software got an update the other day, but I’ve not been able to retest it yet. If I find it a huge difference, I will update this review.

Positives

  • Everything you need in one light, zippered carry case
  • Easy enough to set up and get started
  • works with the included remote or smartphone app

Negatives

  • Camera cannot be adjusted via software
  • Wifi connection prone to interference

Final thoughts

While the fun and ease of use would seem to make it an easy pick for a younger UAV pilot-in-training, the fiddliness and lack of total control makes me not recommend it for someone who may not fully understand what it can do to someone, say, driving a car, to see a drone bearing down on them. One thing it did for me, however, it has kindled my interest in drone flying generally. I have already found a more beginner-friendly model that I will be testing early in the new year. For the price of this unit, however, it’s an easy decision to grab it and play with it enough to see if you want to take that curiosity further.

Price: $62.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Eachine.