NEWS – In the digital age, where digital content replaces printed material at an ever-expanding rate, it only seems logical to draw with digital ink on a digital screen. The graphics tablet, which combines a tablet pen, tablet, and screen is one way digital drafting can become a reality. Last month, Huion introduced the KAMVAS Pro 22 graphics tablet; the successor to the powerful and versatile KAMVAS GT-221 Pro. The newer model adds a more responsive report rate (266PPS vs 233PPS), a battery-free electromagnetic resonance pen, and 100% fidelity of the sRGB color set. These features already included in the previous version include: 589 x 344 x 21mm dimensions, 4 kg weight, 20 customizable hard keys with a touch bar, 8192 levels of pen pressure, 5080 LPI of pen resolution, and 178° wide viewing angles. The surface of the tablet is a specially etched glass which is anti-glare and also provides a paper-like feeling. The size and weight permit this tablet to be used on a lap, but it also includes a stand that can be set from 20° to 80°. KAMVAS Pro 22 is compatible with both Windows (Windows 7 or later) and MacOS (MacOS 10.12 or later). It is also compatible with mainstream software like Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio, Toom Boom Harmony and many more. Being left-handed, I especially appreciate that the hard keys and touch buttons are symmetrically placed on each side of the screen. In addition to the graphics tablet and the pen, the package includes an HDMI cable, a USB cable, power adapter, pen holder, 10 pen nibs, nib clip, and adjustable stand. The retail price is $899.00. Visit https://www.huiontablet.com/all-products/presale-item/kamvas-gt-221-pro-v2.html for more information.
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NEWS – Tired of having a pocketful of loose coins? The Delta Coin Pouch’s mission is to help you take command of your change. The pouch’s shape is inspired by the Delta badges of the original Star Trek series. The spiral insignia screen-printed on the front of the pouch is the Operations insignia used in the new Star Trek: Discovery TV show.
The coin pouch is officially licensed. It’s made of faux leather and has a zipper closure. You can use it to hold your earbuds or charging cable if you don’t need a coin purse. Hopefully, the red color doesn’t carry the same connotations as the red shirts…
The Star Trek Delta Coin Pouch is $4.00 at Amazon.
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REVIEW – Conference calls may be problematic if the local telephone system ineffectively captures voices or is not loud enough for everyone to hear the remote party. The eMeet OfficeCore M2 is a portable Bluetooth adapter for a mobile or telephony app that ensures great conference calls can be conducted anywhere. Read on to see what I think!
What is it?
The eMeet OfficeCore M2 is the second generation of a portable Bluetooth speakerphone adapter made by Chinese manufacturer eMeet. The previous version of this device, the OfficeCore M1, has received many celebrated reviews. This new version is very similar to the previous one. They are both small round battery powered units that feature speakers and microphones and are connected by Bluetooth, USB, or 1/8-inch jack cables. The M2 version has optimized VoiceIA signal processing (a custom eMeet solution), Bluetooth 4.2, enhanced Bluetooth range, and a touch sensitive interface. A specialized version of the M2 unit permits the user to record a conversation. In addition, a separately sold cable enables the user to daisy chain multiple M2 units together to increase range. The OfficeCore M2 weighs about half of the M1 but as a tradeoff, it cannot be used as a power bank like the M1 can.
What’s in the box?
The Box is a black, stiff cardboard design that has a nylon pull tab on one end. The pull tab opens the inside of the box in a sliding fashion to reveal the OfficeCore M2, a compartment for cables and adapter (the BT adapter only ships with the M2+ SKUs), and a sleeve that contains the manual.
OfficeCore M2
1/8-inch jack cable
USB 2.0 Type-A to Micro-B Cable
User Manual
Design and features
Specifications
Size: 125 x 125 x 35 mm
Weight: 290 gr
Loudspeaker: 3W x 1 / 84dB
Touch Buttons: Yes
Bluetooth Distance: 20 meters
Bluetooth Version: V4.2, BLE
Connection Type: Bluetooth or USB cable, AUX cable
Output: 3.5mm audio output to connect loudspeaker or earphone
Sound Pickup Angle: 360° omnidirectional
Sound Pickup Radius: 8-10 meters
Microphone Array: 4 Microphone Array with AI algorithm
Algorithm: VoiceIA algorithm, AI algorithm, AI adaptive noise suppression
Voice Localization: AI Positioning
eMeet OfficeCore M2 Design
The M2 is available in black, grey, or silver/white design. The grey and black design both have a black base. The silver/white design has a white base but uses the same black rubber port cover as the black and grey model. This results in a black rubber bar across the back which looks out of place. The speaker grill on each unit is black, grey or white.
The look and feel of the unit are well suited to the modern office environment. It is sleek and modern, but not flashy so as to distract from the conference at hand.
The unit is a squat cylinder that has a saucer-like base and a domed top. The circumference of the base is a rubber ring with three small feet on it to isolate it from sounds coming from the table it is resting on.
The side of the unit is a smooth anodized aluminum finish. Four speakers grills are evenly spaced around the perimeter. A rubber-covered port area is placed at the topside of the unit, between the microphone grills.
The ports include a Kensington lock slot, audio in, audio out, and a micro USB port. The labeling of the audio ports is a little confusing. The “audio in” port accepts a 4-pole 3-ring cable that supplies audio in and audio out to a PC or mobile. The “audio out” accepts a 3-pole 2-ring cable for transmitting the captured audio to a loudspeaker (although a 4-pole 3-ring cable would also work). The OfficeCore M2 comes with a three foot 4-pole 3-ring cable.
The top is a domed speaker grill. Between the sides of the unit and the top is a circular array of LEDs. The LEDs are hidden behind the grey plastic ring that blends seamlessly into the top. The LEDs are divided into 10 zones and shine in white, blue, green and red.
At the top center is a glossy plastic surface with a set of capacitive buttons. It’s a nice detail but the plastic can act as a bit of a fingerprint magnet
The center button is the mute button. The area for mute is larger than the other areas so that it is easy to activate by anyone on the call. There is a circle surrounding the mute button to highlight the area to be struck if a mute is required. There is no physical separation from hitting the mute and accidentally hitting the adjacent buttons thereby changing the input source or hanging up the call. However, the mute button is just the right size that there is little chance of missing it. The buttons around the center have the following functions. Intelligent assistant (Cortana, Google, Siri, etc.), call answer and hangup, volume up, power/battery check, volume down, and source button.
Operation
The unit is powered on by holding the power button for 3 seconds or more. The unit responds by illuminating the LEDs surrounding the top in blue and tracing the blue LEDs with a white LED in a clockwise fashion. A startup tone comes from the speaker. After the startup routine is complete, a single LED indicator glows above the power button that indicates the audio source: blue for Bluetooth, green for USB, and white for analog audio.
If there is no signal from the input cables then the unit enters pairing mode. Pairing is indicated by a blinking blue light above the power button and a sonar-like tone from the speaker. When it is paired the LED above the speaker is a solid blue. If multiple sources are connected then pressing the source button cycles through the connection options. The Bluetooth radio only supports pairing with one device at a time.
If the unit is paired to a phone and a call is received the phone rings but the OfficeCore ring blinks blue. Pressing the phone button will answer the call and holding the button for 3 seconds will reject the call. If the unit is paired with a phone then the eMeet logo button can be used to dial an outgoing call using the intelligent assistant. When the unit is plugged in but turned off the power light glows yellow while charging.
Using the eMeet with a mobile is a lot more straightforward than with a computer if only for the fact that the computer generally has a more difficult process connecting to a Bluetooth device and/or selecting the correct audio input and output. On a non-mac computer is also important to pick the correct mode of output. A windows computer will list both eMeet M2 stereo and eMeet M2 hands-free. The stereo is used for audio streaming of music and the hands-free is for calls.
The Bluetooth will only connect to one device at a time but will pair with multiple devices. Pressing and holding the audio select will cause the eMeet to search for another input source. The eMeet does not support NFC pairing.
The eMeet also has a mobile app. It runs just fine on iOS; on Android, it only seems to work if you grant all the permissions. The ap doesn’t do much. It interrogates the eMeet through Bluetooth and provides the battery strength. It is able to change the name of the device and can provide OTA updates if they are available.
Performance
I made a couple of sample recordings with the eMeet. The first is a standard recording made with the eMeet to a voicemail system in a 10 x 12 office on a desk.
The voicemail announcement is loud and clear. The recording has hints of audio processing but is overall a good recording. In comparison, I made a recording using a JBL Flip 2. The recording is much lower quality – there are encoding artifacts, phasing, and generally low quality.
When used in a larger conference setting the eMeet still picked up my voice over 15 ft away quite clearly. The white LED lamp is a good feedback indicator of what the eMeet audio isolation system is capturing so that if a bunch of people are talking the other end will be able to at least hear one person speaking.
The recording below is made using a USB connection to a MacBook Pro. No recording enhancements are made to the recording below.
I performed the Andy Chen Vacuum challenge. This is an audio test that our Gadgeteer Andy Chen performed on a Plantronics headset. The eMeet seemed to isolate the noise, but only slightly better than the iPhone.
To test the battery I fully charged the unit and streamed Bluetooth audio to it at full volume continuously for as long as possible. It lasted a total of 11:30 hours. Which is right around the advertised 12-hour battery life.
The eMeet M2 is first and foremost a conference speakerphone, but it is also able to work as a Bluetooth speaker. The audio from these speaker sounds tinny and lacks bass depth, but the audio doesn’t cut out, even at max volume. The JBL Flip 2 is much louder; it sounds about as loud as the eMeet when it’s only about 20% of its full volume. Also, the bass out of the JBL is much fuller and the overall sound is a lot warmer. So while the eMeet is a great conference speakerphone, it does poorly as a portable Bluetooth speaker.
What I like
Noise isolation
the indication of which direction noise reduction is isolating
What needs to be improved
Audio volume
Final thoughts
The eMeet OfficeCore M2 conference speakerphone is a great choice when you need a portable speakerphone with noise isolation and extended range. Although it isn’t very loud as a Bluetooth speaker, it has just the right volume for a conference phone for up to a 20-foot radius.
Price: $209.99 Where to buy: Amazon Source: The sample for this review was provided by eMeet.
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NEWS – Most DIY solar landscape lighting seems to be the sort installed in the ground to light a pathway or to wash a wall or a plant in lights. These Falove solar-powered lights can be attached to your house’s gutters to light up an area where you could never plant them in the ground – like the front of a garage, as seen in the above image.
Each light contains a 2V, 100mA solar panel that charges the included rechargeable AA battery. The light sensor automatically turns the light on at twilight to illuminate the area with bright white light produced by the three LEDs. The fixtures are about 3 inches by 5 inches in diameter. They are water-resistant, heatproof, and weatherproof.
As mentioned, they can be installed on your gutters, but they also work on walls, sheds, fences, or most any flat surface. They are easily installed and require no wiring. A set of six Falove Outdoor Solar Gutter LED Lights is $27.99 or a set of eight is $35.99 at Amazon.
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REVIEW – What’s defines heritage? How about a company that’s been making cycling and equestrian gear since 1886! Today I’m reviewing the Pitfield Backpack from Brooks England, and it’s a beauty. Let’s take a ride!
What is it?
It’s an all-weather backpack designed for biking that has the capacity for all of your daily essentials… including your bike helmet.
Hardware specs
12.6” wide by 21.6” tall by 6.7” deep
2.9 pounds
24-28 liter capacity
Waterproof PU Coated Nylon 66 & Cordura
YKK Aquaguard Zips
Padded Compartments
High Grade Aluminim Hardware
100% Recycled Lining
Design and features
The Brooks Pitfield Backpack is a sneaky operator. It’s a working bag designed with the cyclist in mind, but the clean & understated profile looks good enough to rock in the office. At a 24-28 liter capacity, it’s a bigger bag but feels smaller due to its streamlined profile and some very clever pocketing design. It’s kind of like a stealth bomber.
The Brooks Pitfield Backpack is built to handle the elements. Water resistance comes from a combination of waterproof PU coated nylon, Cordura, and YKK Aquaguard zips. An interesting combination of textures combined with Aluminum hardware add subtle style. It will take a downpour, and look good doing it.
The interior lining boasts a cheeky pattern that pays homage to Brooks England’s heritage. I love little details like this!
Your laptop rides in its own padded 18” by 12” compartment that sits on your back, and has a separate side zip for access. A 15” laptop fits easily in there along with a tablet.
The main compartment is positioned in the center of the bag, accessed from a flap-over lid that is closed with two sturdy aluminum hooks that connect to loops on the flap. Adjustable straps allow you to cinch-down or expand the compartment based on what you’re carrying. There’s also an 8” deep divider at the bottom of the compartment to help organize your stuff.
Those locking straps are actually set at 45-degree angles to the front face of the bag, to accommodate the Pitfield’s most unique feature: an 11” by 15” front panel compartment that stretches to accommodate larger items like a bike helmet!
A vertical zip opens this compartment, which also includes two small stash pockets (3-1/2” by 6” and 4-1/2” by 8-1/2” respectively) with zips built along the centerline for easy access when the main pocket is opened. A 7” deep open pocket at the bottom of the space wrangles loose items, while a hanging loop at the top of the compartment gives you a place to dangle your keys on a strap or carabiner.
There’s an additional pocket on either side of the bag, accessed by vertical zippers. The left pocket is 9” by 6”, perfect for your smartphone or wallet. The right pocket features a pop-out elastic water bottle net that fits oversized bottles. I’m seeing this on a lot of packs these days, and it’s a great feature that tucks away neatly when not needed.
Finally, there’s also a 10” by 4” horizontal pocket accessed from a zip under the top carry handle, made from a stretchy mesh material.
The carry system features moderately-padded straps that are curved for comfort & fit. Custom aluminum buckles on the adjustment straps use a double-loop strap insertion method and curved profiles to prevent unwanted slippage, and a built-in sternum strap adds some stability to your ride. The back panel padding is marvelous, with deep perforations to promote air circulation. It won’t slip and slide around on you, either.
The build is full of little quality details. External zips are hooded to prevent leakage in the bag. Every strap has a sliding collar to lock down extra flappy bits when adjusted. The zips don’t quite run the length of the pockets, creating a nesting space in each pocket so things don’t tumble out when they are opened. Every seam is reinforced. It’s a nicely detailed build, backed by a 10 year warranty that shows Brooks England’s commitment to quality.
Performance
I am not a cyclist, but I tend to favor bike-oriented packs for daily use for comfort, weather resistance, and overall usability. The Brooks Pitfield’s design is so well executed that it works just as well on or off the bike. It’s ridiculously easy to live with.
The Pitfield is on the bigger side of a daypack, but it doesn’t feel like it. The tall, wide format of the bag may be an issue if you have a smaller frame, but check out how nicely the profile compresses!
I love the streamlined harness system. While it looks fairly light, it’s actually super-comfortable to wear all day, even when you’ve maxed out capacity on the bag. It also an office-friendly: slipping the bag on and off is easy, and you’re look is not dominated by massive shoulder straps if you’re dressed up. The whole system hugs the body well and provides excellent balance. Despite the larger size, I don’t feel that a waist stabilizer is required here.
Pocket design is a delight. You have just enough of a variety of places to organize your less-used stuff (like chargers), with secure locations for important stuff (like your wallet) and dump n’ grab places for things you need on the run (like sunglasses). I really like the overall accessibility of the external pockets. The beefy zipper tabs make for easy manipulation, and all the pockets are wide enough to get in and out of without straining your fingers. And you won’t find a single piece of Velcro anywhere to fight with. I kinda love that.
With all of the external compartments for your tech and travel bits, that leaves the main compartment wide-open for a change of clothes, a packed lunch, or groceries on the way home. Those aluminum hooks & loop points are actually very effective here for smooth one-handed operation. The divider in the space is nice to tuck a notebook or tablet in there for easy removal but doesn’t get in the way if not needed.
If there is one knock on the bag that I have found, it’s that the matte fabrics seem to pick up marks in use. Most of what I’ve seen so far wipes off easily, but I’ve collected some scars. I will be curious to see if these marks start to collect over an extended period of time.
What I like
Great build with careful attention to details.
Streamlined, sophisticated profile.
Ready to handle the elements.
Excellent accessibility and pocket design.
What needs to be improved
Some external surfaces may show wear over extended use.
Tall, wide format may not work for people with a smaller frame.
Final thoughts
The Brooks Pitfield Backpack is a stealth warrior that is buttoned-up enough for the office, yet packed with features for tackling the road. The usability is dialed in on this design, making it easy to live with both on and off the bike. It is one of my favorite bags so far in 2018.
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algorithm, AI algorithm, AI adaptive noise suppression
At the top center is a glossy plastic surface with a set of capacitive buttons. It’s a nice detail but the plastic can act as a bit of a fingerprint magnet
The center button is the mute button. The area for mute is larger than the other areas so that it is easy to activate by anyone on the call. There is a circle surrounding the mute button to highlight the area to be struck if a mute is required. There is no physical separation from hitting the mute and accidentally hitting the adjacent buttons thereby changing the input source or hanging up the call. However, the mute button is just the right size that there is little chance of missing it. The buttons around the center have the following functions. Intelligent assistant (Cortana, Google, Siri, etc.), call answer and hangup, volume up, power/battery check, volume down, and source button.
If there is no signal from the input cables then the unit enters pairing mode. Pairing is indicated by a blinking blue light above the power button and a sonar-like tone from the speaker. When it is paired the LED above the speaker is a solid blue. If multiple sources are connected then pressing the source button cycles through the connection options. The Bluetooth radio only supports pairing with one device at a time.
