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Zanflare LCD Display Speedy Universal Battery Charger with Car Adapter review


REVIEW – Whenever I am out of my home studio and shooting on location, I usually have at least a dozen or more batteries for my flashes, recorders, etc. Having a charger that is adaptable for the studio and for the car while on the road, is very convenient. The Zanflare C4 Battery Charger promises to provide just that along with some bells and whistles.

What is it?

The Zanflare is a universal battery charger that can charge Lithium Ion and NiMH – Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries at various current ratings.

What’s in the box

 

1 x Zanflare C4 Battery Charger
1 x AC Adapter
1 x 12V DC Car Adapter
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

This battery charger has charging slots for 4 batteries simultaneously. It can charge rechargeable batteries Ni-MH, Ni-Cd, A, AA, AAA, SC, Li-ion, 18650, 26650, 26500, 22650, 18490, 17670, 17500, and 17355. It is almost twice the size of my existing battery charger as seen below.

The LCD display provides information for each of the four charging slots. The information includes voltage (V), current (mA), time (h), capacity (mAh), internal resistance (mR), and you can cycle through the selections for each battery by pressing the relevant button.


The versatility of this battery charger includes four different charge current options to choose from (300mA / 500mA / 700mA / 1000mA), and each slot works independently. There are 3 modes for each slot: CHARGE, FAST TEST and NOR TEST.

At the back of the battery charger, there is a 5V / 2A USB output that allows this device to function as a USB power bank. (Note: TheUSB output capability is only functional when you disconnect the external power and insert a battery; this does not apply to Ni-MH batteries).

What I like

I like the build quality of this charger and I really like the flexibility of being able to select a separate current rating for each battery and to charge up to 4 different batteries at once.

What can be improved

The LCD display on the charger could have a better contrast between the backlight and the display information so that it is easier to see.


When shooting on location, there can be numerous challenges with ambient lighting. Being able to glance at the display and easily and clearly see all of the battery information would be a nice improvement.

Final thoughts

The Zanflare LCD Display Speedy Universal Battery Charger is a well built versatile charger that is a great asset for those of us that need to recharge various types of batteries both at home and while on the go. It is well built and quite sturdy. It has now earned a place in my gear bag for on-location shoots and at home during downtime when I just need to recharge all of my batteries. In my opinion, it is well worth the investment.

Price: $29.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Zanflare.

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Zanflare LCD Display Speedy Universal Battery Charger with Car Adapter review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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The Dozzi is an adjustable white noise machine with a twist – Literally

NEWS – If you have trouble sleeping (like many of us do) sometimes a little noise can be soothing. The Dozzi adjustable white noise machine might just be the answer.

Unlike a lot of other sound machines that use recorded sound Dozzi actually has a built-in fan that creates soothing white noise. The fan has three-speed settings which control the volume. With a twist of Dozzi’s cover, you can open or close airflow vents that help to amplify or soften the air-flow sound.

Dozzi is great for day sleepers who must sleep through intrusive daytime sounds. It even works to mask snoring so you or your partner can sleep better.

Sound isn’t the only thing that the Dozzi can do. It also has a built-in sleep timer that can be set to 60 or 120 minutes.

There’s also a nightlight that has four different modes, off, bright white, soft white, and looping multi-color.

A convenient USB charging port allows you to charge your smart devices while you snooze.

The machine is lightweight and portable making it the perfect travel companion. Allowing for you to get a good night’s sleep just about anywhere.

The Dozzi adjustable white noise machine comes with a 5V 2A power adapter and is available for $49.99 on Amazon.

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The Dozzi is an adjustable white noise machine with a twist – Literally originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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The perfect ice cubes for your Aldebaran whiskey

NEWS – This ice tray is the perfect addition to a collection of Star Trek-themed barware.  I assume you’ve already gotten your Star Trek Etched Rocks Glasses that we told you about recently.  Now it’s time to add the Star Trek Starfleet Silicone Ice Cube Tray.  You’ll be able to make 8 Starfleet Command insignia-shaped ice cubes in this silicone tray.

The tray measures 8″ long x 5″ wide.  In addition to making ice, you can also use the tray to mold chocolates, Jello shots, or other candies.  The Star Trek Starfleet Silicone Ice Cube Tray is available at Amazon for $12.99.

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The perfect ice cubes for your Aldebaran whiskey originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 26, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Toffee Handmade Banjo Leather Zip Pouch review

REVIEW – I’m an absolute sucker for bags, pouches, satchels, cases … you name it. If it’s an object that holds smaller objects, I want to give it a try. So my eyes lit up when I got the chance to review Toffee’s Banjo Leather Zip Pouch.

What is it?

Toffee’s Banjo Leather Zip Pouch is a handy sized pouch handcrafted from smooth, thick, raw leather. It fits a passport, many sizes of mobile phones, several cards and cash.

Oh, that rugged and thick raw leather.

Hardware specs

  • Handcrafted in Sydney, Australia
  • Made from smooth, thick raw leather from New Zealand
  • High quality, durable zips, and zip pulls
  • Size: 18cm x 9.5cm x 1.5cm
  • Fits: Passports, and most iPhone models, including the new iPhone X and iPhone 8. Will just barely accommodate iPhone 7/8 Plus.

What’s in the box?

  • one leather zip pouch (and a cute protective bag)
I like that little tag and bag. Nice packaging.

Design and Features

The first thing that stands out with this large, zippered pouch is just how soft, supple and thick the leather material is. It has a nice texture to it, smooth but not shiny. It looks like it could really take a beating and look all the better for it.

The Banjo Pouch exudes quality. It’s got that warm feeling, holding it, that some extremely skilled leatherworker personally crafted this wallet just for you (because, well, they did.)

Inside the zippered pouch is a long pocket meant for your phone, and two card pockets on either side. I have an iPhone 7+ and found that this size phone juuuuust fits in that phone divider. An iPhone 8 or X something of similar size and thickness would fit just fine. I usually don’t carry my phone inside of a pouch or bag, simply because I like quick access to it to review tasks and messages, but the Banjo Pouch could act as a combination wallet/phone case.

The pouch itself is just a bit larger than an iPhone 7+.

Instead, I used the center slot to hold receipts, coupons, cash and other paper items, and it worked very well for that purpose.

Instead, I opted to use the center divider for paper items.

The overall size of the pouch proved to be a little too large for some pairs of pants. It fit okay inside the roomy pockets of my cargo shorts, and the soft leather formed comfortably against my leg. However, I imagine this pouch would work better in a backpack or bag or carrying it as a small clutch.

The only knock I could bring against this pouch is the price. You’re paying for fine materials and expert craftsmanship, and the durability of this pouch is high as well, so much so that one could hand it down for generations. Despite that, I’d guess that $100+ is too steep an asking price for most.

What I liked

  • Gorgeous, handcrafted raw leather
  • Fits most phones, a passport, cash and several cards
  • Will last a lifetime or more

What to consider before buying

  • It’s rather expensive

Final thoughts

The Banjo Zip Pouch is gorgeous, durable, and feels great in your hand if you can swing the cost.

Price: $109.95
Where to buy: You can purchase the Banjo Leather Zip Pouch Toffeecases.com in brown, black or tan.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Toffee Cases.

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Toffee Handmade Banjo Leather Zip Pouch review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 26, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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The Allsees Portable Power Station provide portable and convenient power on the go

NEWS – Those of you that have been following my news stories know that I have been looking for a portable power/charging solution that will work for me during power outages or otherwise for my charging/power needs. This is especially necessary during the hurricane season and/or for my photography and videography gigs when I am at locations that do not offer any power sources.

I recently came across the Allsees Portable Power Station that seems to have the specifications that may just do the trick. This portable generator (I would say inverter), offers 300W maximum power and 64800mAh that can provide relatively adequate continuous power for a wide variety of equipment including lamps, phones, laptops, TVs, cameras, battery chargers, CPAP machines, etc. It includes dual 110V AC outlets, dual DC ports, and 4 USB ports. It measures just 7.8” x 3.15” x 7.8”, and weighs only 4.5lbs. It can also be recharged via solar panels.

If you would like to learn more about the Allsees Portable Power Station or you would like to purchase one, you head over to Amazon and grab one for $185.99.

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The Allsees Portable Power Station provide portable and convenient power on the go originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 26, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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