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The DotStone 2 Port HDMI Switcher simply works!

For many years, since HDMI first became one of the standard ports included with audio/video devices, I have been in search of a HDMI switch that will allow me to connect more than one device to my TV or one of my monitors. In some cases, I needed it to work vice versa to connect one device to 2 separate displays, and switch between the two.

Over the years I have purchased numerous HDMI switches ranging in price from $80 to $400 and all have failed over a relatively short period of time, with a bit longer than a year being the greatest longevity. Most of the switches, especially the more expensive ones with multiple outputs and in some cases multiple inputs and outputs, required external power and seemed to eventually suffer their demise from the heat their circuits generated. I do suspect that the eventual failure had to do with burned out components or “cold” solder joints.

About a year ago, I once again found myself in a similar situation with a need to connect a Roku box and a Fire Stick to a monitor. Because of my failed history with HDMI switches, I was very apprehensive to try another one, but it seemed like the only sensible option. After extensive online research, I came across the DotStone bi-directional 2 x 1/1 x 2 Manual HDMI Switcher that was quite cheap, and therefore could not inflict the financial damage of its predecessors. Since it also had a relatively large number of positive reviews, I decided to give it a chance.

After using the very small but well-built switcher for almost a year, I am very pleased with its reliable and consistently perfect performance. I honestly was not expecting much, but I have been so impressed by it that I have now purchased a second one. Since I do not care about the convenience of having a wireless remote, this manual switcher is a win!! I have additional praise for its included feature of bi-directional switching, which I have tried it in both directions with multiple devices. I am happy to report that it has performed flawlessly.

You can purchase the DotStone 2 port Bi-direction Switch on Amazon for the amazing price of $10.18

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The DotStone 2 Port HDMI Switcher simply works! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Scriba Stylus review

The digital stylus, reimagined. That’s what Scriba did, investing an impressive amount of research and design into building a stylus for creatives that’s not quite like anything else I’ve played with before. It’s definitely innovative, and there’s a lot to like. How does it work? Let me draw you a picture… or two… or three…

What is it?

It’s a Bluetooth-enabled stylus for your mobile devices that’s been  features a unique ergonomic design, “squeeze motion” technology instead of buttons, and haptic (vibration) feedback.

Hardware specs

  • Stylus weight: 16 grams
  • 200 hours of rechargeable battery life
  • Charges via micro-USB cable
  • Dynamic “squeeze motion” technology for extended app interactions
  • Haptic (vibration) app support for tactile feedback

What’s in the box?

  • The Scriba stylus
  • Micro-USB charging cable
  • 3 additional replacement silicone tips

Design and features

About Scriba

I spent some time talking to David Craig, Scriba’s founder, to learn more about the origins of the product. Based in Dublin, Ireland, the Scriba team set out on a mission to rethink the concept of the digital stylus from the ground up. It’s an impressive story that involves rigorous usability testing, industrial design, and the development of 136 different prototypes (136!) that resulted in a product that has since received numerous prestigious design and innovation awards. Check out the full story on their web site, which details their long journey. It’s a good read.

Overview and Walkaround

The Scriba is is based an open-framed, ergonomic layout that’s designed around the shape and movement of your hand. The barrel of the stylus is straight and rests along your thumb line, while the body is contoured to create a natural grip point for your pointer finger. The primary contact points for your thumb and pointer finger are enhanced with a rubberized surface to improve control.

You won’t find any buttons on the Scriba. The body of the stylus is flexible, and responds to squeezing/pinching between your thumb and forefinger. This enables what Scriba refers to as “squeeze motion” pressure-responsive technology, which provides airbrush-like control of stroke widths in drawing/painting apps. The Scriba stylus also utilizes haptic feedback, which uses a vibration in the pen to confirm other squeeze-based actions or alerts in compatible apps.

To charge the Scriba, unscrew the cap on the base of the pen and plugging in the micro-USB cable. You won’t need to do that too often, though: the Scriba stylus can go for an outrageous 200 hours of continuous use between charges  and 6 months of standby mode! Considering that the whole device barely tips the scales at a feather-like 16 grams, this is really impressive. The unit can be recharged in about two hours.

The Scriba utilizes standard silicone tips on the business end. The top is secured by a screw-on aluminum cap to keep it tightly in place, which is nice to keep the tip from popping off in the middle of a drawing session.

Apps and Compatibility

It’s important to note that the advanced features of the Scriba are dependent on using Scriba-enabled apps. A list of iOS-compatible creative and productivity apps are listed on their web site (Android and Surface compatibility are in development). Scriba is continuing to partner with app developers to expand their compatibility, so it’s worth watching their site for updates if you’re looking for specific app pairings.

Scriba also produces their own apps that fully leverage the features of the stylus including a paint program, photo app, and slide presentation tool. I’ll touch on these in the performance review below.

Performance

My weapon of choice for drawing is the Apple Pencil, which I consider the gold standard for creative pursuits. It sets a really high bar for control, intuitive use, and natural feel. After a month with the Scriba, I’m impressed with what it has to offer. There’s a lot to like about the Scriba’s innovative design, and a ton of potential in the future.

From an ergonomics perspective, the form factor of the Scriba is marvelous. It sits naturally in your hand, requiring less pressure than typical-pen style designs to maintain constant control while writing or drawing. It also feels great when engaged in free-flowing hand/wrist movements you’ll use for drawing or painting. It’s so light that you are barely conscious of the weight of the device. And boy, is it comfortable… I was really surprised at how comfortable it is for extended drawing sessions.

I took the Scriba for a spin in my favorite drawing package (Procreate), to see how it would work. While pressure sensitive control is not available at this time, the control and precision for general work (sketching, inking, and linear airbrush effects) is excellent. The silicone tips provide the same challenges as other similar styli with respect to ultra-fine detail, but the fine point helps to overcome this issue. Here’s a sample piece I did that I was very happy with:

Taking the Scriba to work with Brushes4Scriba, Scriba’s paint program, shows the potential of the squeeze motion technology. If you’ve ever worked with an airbrush, this will be a natural fit for you. Here’s a sample shot of me playing with stroke weights in the Brushes4Scriba app:

You can set limits on the minimum/maximum brush widths variations and levels of transparency to create variations in stroke types for graphic-style illustration, like so:

You also have a variety of patterns to choose from that you can apply to brush strokes to give texture to your work:

I’m still getting used to the airbrush-style controls… here’s one I did after a bit more practice:

The squeeze motion technology, coupled with the haptic feedback, enable additional extensibility depending on the app you are using. All Scriba-enabled apps pair with the device by squeezing the stylus. Then you can use a “hard squeeze” to enable toggling between functions, moving between slides in a presentation, or as a remote to snap pictures (when using Scriba’s custom apps). Haptic feedback compliments the functions by delivering a vibration when these functions are used.

I also tested the Scriba in ZoomNotes to get a feel for how it works for general writing. Handwriting note apps are very dependent on software, of course, but I found the Scriba to be very comfortable and more than capable of performing general writing functions comfortable and effectively.

Here’s where we get to the greatest area of potential improvement for the Scriba stylus: app compatibility. You can use the Scriba like you would any silicone-tipped stylus in most drawing/writing programs and get all the benefits of the ergonomic form factor. The bluetooth-enabled squeeze-motion technology and haptic feedback, however, are only available in a limited set of apps at this time. I like where Scriba is going with their own apps, especially the Brushes4Scriba app, but they could use some refinement and are not available outside of the iOS yet. In speaking with David, this is the next hurdle for the Scriba team. I’m really looking forward to seeing where they go as their own apps evolve and we get more compatibility in the future. In the meanwhile, you’ll want to check the compatibility against any tools you intend to use.

If there is one other area that I would nitpick, it’s in the silicone tip. Silicone tips can sometimes get a bit dodgy when playing with ultra-fine details, like dotting your “I’s” in a note taking app. I’m also spoiled by my Apple Pencil, however. Compared to other styli I have used that are on the market, however, it’s got great detail control.

And that battery life? 200 hours of continuous use? I haven’t charged it since I got it. Amazing.

What I like

  • Wonderful, natural ergonomics.
  • Excellent control for free-flowing wrist/hand movements.
  • Absurdly light and comfortable for all-day use.
  • 200 hour battery life.
  • High potential in the squeeze motion technology for airbrush-style painting.

What needs to be improved

  • Mainstream app compatibility is limited but in development.
  • No support for Android or Surface devices (yet).
  • Native Scriba apps could use some refinement.
  • Silicone-style tip does have some issues with fine detail (typical for this type of stylus).

Final thoughts

I really like the Scriba Stylus. For creatives and digital note takers, there’s a lot to like in the ergonomics, control, and comfort that this design brings. Battery life is off the charts. There’s also a ton of potential in the squeeze motion technology, especially for those who are familiar with airbrush-style tools. I’m looking forward to seeing where Scriba goes as they evolve their own toolset and extend compatibility with other platforms beyond the iOS and other drawing, painting, and writing apps. It’s going to be fun!

Price: 65 Euros (About $80 US), with 8 Euros for shipping to the US ($90 US in total)

Where to buy: Scriba

Source: The sample of this product was provided by Scriba.

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Scriba Stylus review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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ACME Studios Eco Pen doesn’t add to the landfill

I like using those clear barrel disposable pens.  They’re cheap, and you can always keep several around in case you misplace one, but the downside is that the plastic barrel is going to hang around in a landfill for a long time.  ACME Studios has developed some plastic barrel pens that will break down in about a year, so you can still use your favorite style of pen without the guilt of adding to the pollution.

The ACME Studios Eco Pen’s body and cap are made of 100% biodegradable corn starch plastic.  When disposed of properly, they’ll break down in a year; the refill isn’t biodegradable, though.  The body of the pen has a window that lets you see your ink level, and all pens use black ink.

Bedol offers the Eco Pen for $2.49 each.  They are available in twelve colors, but you’ll be sent a random color.  Check them out at Bedol.

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ACME Studios Eco Pen doesn’t add to the landfill originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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This dashcam protects your car around the clock

Thieves don’t like cameras. That’s what Owl is counting on with their new entry into the ever-crowded dashcam market. Owl is an always-on, multipurpose “Car Cam” which records video when you’re driving and protects your car when you’re elsewhere. This small but powerful device leverages a touchscreen, front and rear-facing cameras, a lot more tech, and an LTE connection to monitor your car. Their monthly Owl LTE Service lets it call you, providing live audio/video and 24-hour recording if there’s an activity you should know about. Saying “OK Presto” sends clips to your phone instantly for sharing to your social channels.
Owl retails for $349 and currently requires an iPhone 6 or newer running iOS 11 (or higher). A year of their LTE service is included with some limitations on the number of clips you can upload each month. There’s also a waiting list for any Android users out there. To find out more, head on over to owlcam.com for the details.

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This dashcam protects your car around the clock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 7:00 am.

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Something new for Star Wars fans: Wooden model kits!

If you are a Star Wars fan and are looking for a new collectible, try these wooden model kits.  You can build your own Millennium Falcon, X-Wing fighter, or TIE fighter with these kits from Lee Valley Tools.  Each kit has laser-cut plywood pieces that punch out and assemble without the use of glue.

Each model comes with a booklet “detailing the spacecraft’s background, design and capabilities, and includes photos, drawings and behind-the-scenes commentary on techniques used to bring it to life on the screen.”  You’ll also find tips in there for painting or decorating the ships using your own paints and supplies.  Each kit is $16.95 at Lee Valley Tools.

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Something new for Star Wars fans: Wooden model kits! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 1, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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