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This biometric safe will make you feel like James Bond

Remember the touch pads and retinal scanners featured in James Bond films and other thrilling movies? Now you can purchase a gadget that fits into your favorite on-screen storylines.

The Barska AX11224 Biometric Home Safe doesn’t require keys you might misplace, nor does it use lock combinations.

Instead, this product stores up to 30 fingerprints in a central database. If it doesn’t recognize a person’s prints, the safe stays closed. Fingerprint scans happen in only two and a half seconds, letting you get your goods without delay.

Options that prevent lockouts

Perhaps you’re somewhat hesitant about using high-tech safes and worry malfunctions could prevent accessing the contents. Fortunately, this safe runs on AA batteries. The low-power operation makes a set of batteries last for a year, or 10,000 scans.

If the batteries run out, you can still use the keys that come with the safe. Insert them into the hidden keyhole and get inside. Barska sells battery backup packs, too. Prefer not using keys in any case? Purchase at least one of the spare power sources when buying the safe.

Keep a variety of items inside

Maybe you’ve never felt the need to own a safe. If you think carefully, though, it’s easy to come up with relevant things to stash inside. Guns, important documents and collectible coins or other items are common possessions most people would put inside.

A door-open alarm on this model gives an audible cue that might warrant investigation. Among the other benefits of the safe is the fact you can put it into a silent mode to avoid disturbing others.

What are the potential downsides?

It’s a good idea to learn about the pros and cons of this safe before purchasing it. By reading a detailed review of the product, you’ll realize things you might not otherwise know before using the safe once it arrives at your home.

For example, the safe’s door doesn’t open 180 degrees, which could make it difficult to get some items out.

Also, people weighed in on the product’s Amazon page to say that the safe sometimes opens in response to fingerprints not registered in the safe’s system or with the imprint of someone’s knuckles. That could be dangerous, especially if a child gets inside.

On the other end of the spectrum, individuals say when they have difficulty getting the safe to function properly, Barska’s customer service representatives are not sufficiently responsive.

Keep in mind, this is not a fireproof safe. If that’s a problem, buy one at a higher price point that does protect from flames.

Should you buy one?

Made from solid steel and featuring pry-proof deadbolts, this is a sturdy safe. Stay aware of the potential shortcomings when deciding what to store in it and whether to purchase one, though. If you are interested, they are currently priced at $175.91 on Amazon.

Images via Barska

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This biometric safe will make you feel like James Bond originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2018 at 3:22 pm.

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The Tablo – DUAL LITE OTA DVR with WiFi makes it easier to cut the cord to cable service


A few days ago, I wrote a couple of news stories and a review of the Mohu Blade Over-the-Air HD antenna, which is used by folks like me when regular cable service fails, or by some folks who decide to cut the cable cord completely. My experience with the channels I received was quite good, and there can be a great cost savings if you choose to cut the cord to cable. While I do sometimes contemplate what it would be like without a cable TV service, I am deterred by the loss of simple functions like my DVR capabilities.

Today, while browsing the internet, I saw an advertisement for the Tablo – DUAL LITE OTA DVR with WiFi. This DVR takes the coaxial input from your OTA HD antenna, and streams the content via your home network to your streaming boxes and devices, such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, IOS and Android Smartphones and tablets, PC or MAC, and more, utilizing the Tablo app. It has 2 built-in Over-the-Air ATSC Tuners, and has both wireless and wired network capability. Add a USB hard drive of your choice, and a storage capability that is incredible, since it supports up to an 8TB hard drive. Tablo also offers an optional TV guide subscription service that organizes the content, and provides cover art. The subscription also offers a cloud DVR service if you choose not to use a USB hard drive.

If the Tablo – DUAL LITE OTA DVR with WiFi sounds interesting to you, head over to BestBuy and purchase one starting at $139.99. You can also purchase the version with 64GB of storage built-in from Amazon for $179.99.

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The Tablo – DUAL LITE OTA DVR with WiFi makes it easier to cut the cord to cable service originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2018 at 12:03 pm.

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Nintendo reveals Switch Online service details

Nintendo Switch Online

After months of conjecture based on a handful of details, Nintendo finally announced their full intentions with their upcoming Nintendo Switch Online service, launching in September of this year.

The service will allow continued access to multiplayer games as well as Save Data Cloud Backup (finally!) and access to a growing library of classic NES games with “added online play.”

The pricing for the plans start at $3.99 for 1 month with $7.99/3-month and $19.99/year options. Compared to other online subscriptions like Playstation Plus and Xbox Live Gold, both $59.99/year, it’s a fairly easy fee to swallow.

However, it does seem that Nintendo is going to stick with their smartphone app to connect players to in-game chat sessions. This heavy reliance on an external phone and app is baffling, but then again, online gaming isn’t really Nintendo’s forte. Hopefully, they can learn some lessons and adapt along the way.

You can read more about the upcoming service on Nintendo’s website.

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Nintendo reveals Switch Online service details originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool review

I’m a big fan of gadgets that pack several (or many) uses into a single, small device.  And with survival products being a huge market these days, when I saw the Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool, I was immediately interested.  It’s the size of a largish pocket knife, but includes 21 survival-type tools—such as fire-starting rods, a compass and signal mirror, to name but a few—in a durable frame aluminum frame.  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro is a unique multitool that includes 21 features that outdoor enthusiasts, military, rescue/first responders, preppers or just about anyone might find useful in survival situations.

Hardware specs

  • Product Dimensions & Weight: 4.50 x 1.40 x 0.66 inches ; 0.27 pounds
  • Body: Dark gray die-cast aluminum
  • Fold-out ferrocerium fire starter rod and magnesium tinder rod
  • Carbide blade/axe sharpener
  • Fail-safe whistle, 109dB max volume
  • Liquid-filled compass
  • Thermometer
  • Reflective panel
  • Signal mirror panel
  • Lanyard hole
  • Feature-rich removable stainless steel belt clip, including:
    • Can opener
    • Bottle opener
    • Flat head screwdriver
    • Serrated saw edge
    • 1.5-inch ruler
    • Fire starter scraper
    • Hex wrenches in 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″ sizes
  • Designed in the USA, manufactured in China
  • Limited Warranty

What’s in the box?

  • Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro

The Survival Companion Pro’s packaging, as shown in the images above and below, gives good visibility to the product contained inside, which is a feature I really appreciate in retail product packaging.

The back of the package also includes a list of the Survival Companion Pro’s many features.

Design and features

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to state that the Survival Companion Pro is veritably packed with features (21 in total), which I could tell even before I removed it from the package.

Once out of the package, the Survival Companion Pro felt quite solid in my hand, which I took to be an early indicator of high-quality design, build and materials.

The Survival Companion Pro’s main body is made from durable aluminum that should have a low potential for rust or other corrosion, yet is lightweight and strong.  It also has a robust pocket clip.


Although it is not actually a pocket knife, the Survival Companion Pro is actually more like a multitool, with its fold-out magnesium tinder rod and ferrocerium fire-starting rod, both of which are shown above in their fully-deployed positions.  Magnesium is a material that can be scraped to produce fine shavings that can be used as fuel to start a fire in the absence of other tinder-type materials.  Ferrocerium is a metallic alloy material that can be scraped to produce sparks which have enough heat to ignite the fine magnesium shavings.  Once a bit of magnesium shavings have been produced by scraping the rod, the ferrocerium rod can be scraped quickly to produce sparks which have enough heat to ignite the magnesium shavings.  Therefore, using these two fold-out rods, the Survival Companion Pro can be used to create a small fire, which can then be fueled, stoked and tended to create a large fire should the need ever arise.  Also note that the Survival Companion Pro’s belt clip (described in detail below) can be removed and used as a scraper for both the ferrocerium and magnesium rods.

Another feature of the Survival Companion Pro is its “fail-safe, pealess” whistle, depicted above.  Off Grid Tools claims that this whistle has a 109dB max volume.  I did a bit of research and Purdue University reports that 109dB is approximately the volume of a steel mill auto horn at a distance of 1 meter.  That is LOUD, people.  Loud enough to possibly get the attention of a first responder or rescuer some distance away from your position in an emergency.

As mentioned above, although the Survival Companion Pro is not a pocket knife, it does have a carbide blade sharpener, as seen in the image above.  A good knife is a survival essential, but a dull knife will be much less useful, so this sharpener feature could come in very handy.  It could even be used on a small axe in a pinch.

Survival Companion Pro’s belt clip itself also contains several very useful features. The belt clip typically sits securely attached to the back of the Survival Companion Pro’s main body by two brass pins, as seen above.

The belt clip can be removed for use.  I found the easiest way was to start by rotating its right side upward to release it from the right-side pin, then wiggling the clip a bit to free it from the left-side pin.

It only took me a couple of times before I had this maneuver down and it became simple to remove the belt clip for quick operation and then to replace it securely when finished.

The belt clip has a spring-type design that allows it to be used to attach the Survival Companion Pro to not only a belt, but also a pocket, backpack webbing, straps, or many other locations.

As listed in the Hardware specs section above, the belt clip contains, starting from the left in the image above, a  scraper for the ferrocerium and magnesium firestarter rods (described above), flat head screwdriver (can also possibly be used as a Phillips head in a pinch) can opener, bottle opener, serrated saw edge, 1.5-inch ruler, a, and hex wrenches in 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″ sizes.  That’s a lot of tools packed into a pocket clip!

Back to the Survival Companion Pro’s main body, another useful feature is a small thermometer, shown in the images above and below.  Note that also show above is the lanyard hole on the left side.  I found this lanyard hole to be the only somewhat frustrating feature because it was challenging to get anything through there.  I tried a small S-carabiner and it wouldn’t fit, and also some 550 paracord, but it didn’t seem to want to be pushed through the hole very easily.

I compared the accuracy of the Survival Companion Pro’s thermometer to the weather app connected to my Garmin Fenix 3 HR watch. Both seemed to be comparable within a few degrees of each other.

Another of the Survival Companion Pro’s move essential survival features is a small, liquid-filled compass, as shown above and below.

Once again, I used my Garmin Fenix 3 HR watch—this time its compass app—to compare to the Survival Companion Pro’s thermometer, and once again, they only seemed to differ by a few degrees.  While this variance could make a difference for accurate navigation in a survival situation, I’m not sure I fully trust my Fenix 3 HR’s compass app’s accuracy.  I may have to do a bit more experimenting and report back here at a later date.

Two more features are packed into the main body of the Survival Companion Pro, as shown in the images above and below.  First, a reflective strip that could be used in low-light situations.

Additionally, below the reflective strip is a mirror-like reflector panel, as shown in the images above and below.  At first, I didn’t realize that this reflector panel had a thin protective film over it (see above).

However, once I removed the film, this panel proved to be quite reflective, mirror finish, a feature that could be used to signal far-away rescuers by reflecting the sun’s rays.

The Survival Companion Pro is roughly the size of a large folding-blade pocket knife, easily fitting into the palm of my hand.  The entire device is stout, sturdy and compact, yet lightweight.

During my evaluation period, I carried the Survival Companion Pro attached to the MOLLE webbing on the exterior of my GORUCK GR1 rucksack, as seen in the images above and below.

The Survival Companion Pro’s spring-type belt clip worked, keeping the tool attached very securely.

What I like

  • Lots of survival tools packed into a small and compact size and shape
  • Durable
  • Inexpensive

What needs to be improved

  • Lanyard hole could be a bit larger
  • Thermometer and compass may not be super accurate, but they do the job

Final thoughts

The Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro is packed with useful features in a small size.  You may never need to use this product in a survival situation, but in an emergency, it might come in very handy and could possibly even save your life.  I carried the Survival Companion Pro as part of my EDC during the time that I evaluated it, and I have since made it a part of my ongoing EDC kit.  Although I thankfully never actually needed it in an emergency or survival situation, it gave me the confidence to know that I had its many useful features available for quick access should the need arise.  Plus, with its relatively low price, you could buy one of each of your vehicles, give them out as gifts and so forth without breaking the bank.  If you are into EDC and/or survival tools, have a look at the Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro.

Price: $24.99
Where to Buy: Off Grid Tools or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Off Grid Tools.

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Off Grid Tools Survival Companion Pro multitool review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Design you own luxury Lucrin zippered smartphone wallet

I’m paranoid, and I always worry that cards would fall out of most smartphone wallet cases I’ve seen.  The ones that close with a single snap tab look insecure to me, and those cases with open card slots on the back of the phone give me the willies.  This phone wallet from Lucrin is just what the doctor ordered for paranoid folks like me, because it’s zippered with the cards safely inside.

The zippered wallets are available for Apple 7+, 8+, and X iPhones and for Samsung S9/S9+.  The wallets are custom made in your choice of color and leather.  You select from granulated or smooth leather, starting at $147, or you can choose from premium, real ostrich leather ($500), or crocodile-style calfskin for $184.  You also select the color of the stitching, add an optional monogram, and you can even elect to have the Lucrin logo removed from the wallet (at an extra cost).

The interior has a pocket for the phone, another pocket for receipts or currency, plus two credit card slots.  A zipper closes the wallet securely.  Even fully loaded, the Lucrin wallet is designed to stay sleek and elegant.

Start designing the luxury wallet phone case of your dreams at Lucrin.

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Design you own luxury Lucrin zippered smartphone wallet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 10, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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