Home 2018

Julie’s gadget diary – I just ordered an Essential Phone

I have been happily using a Pixel 2 XL smartphone that I bought back in October. At least I’ve been happy with it until recently when I started having issues with Bluetooth connectivity. At first, I thought the issue was with the gadgets that I was reviewing and not the phone itself. But when the third product failed to connect via Bluetooth to the Pixel, but worked fine with my Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, I started digging and found some forums where other Pixel 2 XL owners were talking about having Bluetooth problems.

Having issues with Bluetooth makes it tough to review gadgets that require that type of connectivity so I’ve already been thinking about my next phone. I thought I would probably pick up the new Samsung S9 or S9+ when it comes out next month. But then fellow Gadgeteer Dave Rees texted me this morning to tell me that the Essential Phone was on sale on Amazon for around $400. $434.99 to be precise.

The Essential Phone hasn’t been on my radar after hearing the complaints about the camera. A great camera is the most important feature that I look at when buying a new phone. I rely on the camera more than I do the telephony features.

Just a couple weeks ago Gadgeteer supreme wizard and man behind the server Rob Tillotson bought himself an Essential and sung its praises to me until he accidentally dropped and shattered the screen. He said he loved it. So in my usual buy now and regret later fashion, I put the phone in my cart and bought it with the snap-on 360 camera. I figure if I hate it, I can return it. Good ole Jeff B won’t care will he?

The Essential Phone is due to arrive on Monday. Anyone interested in me doing a review? I asked Rob if he’d be interested in doing a dual review with me after he gets his replacement phone and he said sure, so we might get a two-person perspective.

Sena Cases Isa Crossbody Leather Hand Bag for smartphones review

Because my days have no set format, I don’t like relying on a single gear bag.  Some days I need a laptop or my 12.9″ iPad Pro, so I need a big bag.  Other days, I’m just running a few errands, so I only want to carry some keys and a wallet, but I still want a small bag to hold them since my clothing never seems to have useable pockets.  The Isa Crossbody Leather Hand Bag for smartphones from Sena Cases seems like a great bag for my errands days, and I was happy to be selected when Sena offered one to The Gadgeteer for our review.

What is it?

The Isa Crossbody bag is not a fitted case; it is a universal phone bag, and it has extra room inside to hold a small EDC kit in addition to a phone.  It holds everything I need for most of my days when I’m just going out to do some errands or go shopping.

Specs

The Isa Crossbody is about 8″ long,  4.5″ tall, and 2.5″ deep (empty).  It has a strap that’s about 5/8″ wide and adjusts from 48″ to 52″ long.  It’s designed as a crossbody bag, so the strap is longer, but you could carry it on your shoulder at the shorter length if you don’t mind carrying it low.

The bag is available in black or red leather.  I asked for the red, of course!

Design and features

The lead picture is a photo of my actual bag, but I thought I’d also include the one from Sena’s website so you can see the strap adjustment buckle.  They more artfully staged the Isa than I was able to do.  You can see the small, round metal Sena badge at the top center.  This was the only branding on the bag’s leather exterior.  You can also see the gold-toned metal hardware and zippers.

The leather on the front of the bag has been quilted into an attractive small grid design.  There is no external pocket on the front of the bag.

The zipper pull tabs are made of metal, as well, and they are very thick.  So thick, in fact, that they can get stuck in strange positions that make it hard to operate the zipper sometimes.  It’s impossible to see in this image, but the zipper pull tabs are branded with the Sena name.

The back of the bag has no quilting.  There is an open pocket that covers most of the back.

The bag has two separate zippered compartments.  The front compartment has a sewn-in sleeve that holds a phone with up to a 5.5″ screen.

It easily held my iPhone 7 Plus in its thin, clear Spigen case.  I stored my Vera Bradley zippered card case and a folding Kent comb in the rest of the front zippered compartment.

The back compartment has a little zippered pocket on the back wall; it’s unzipped in this image.  There’s also a leather badge imprinted with the Sena name on the back wall, but it can’t been easily seen in this image.  The red line visible just under the interior zipper is the top of the badge.

I packed most of my stuff in this back compartment.  I have my iPod touch in a clear Spigen case in the zippered pocket.  I have three car fobs in cases, a Bic 4-in-1 pen/pencil, and a small LED flashlight with a Swiss Army knife attached in this pocket.  And the compartment actually zips!

Here’s a look at everything, except the iPhone 7 Plus, that I carry in the Isa Crossbody.  (I used the iPhone to take this photo.)

Granted, the bag was a bit cramped, but I could leave behind the fobs for my husband’s car (red leather case) and my daughter’s car (small oval, blue leather case) and have room for other stuff.  Truth is, I never remember to pick up the fob for the other car if I’m going to to be using someone else’s car, so I’d rather just carry all three fobs.  I’m glad the Isa allows me to carry them all.

I like the Isa Crossbody universal smartphone bag.  If I get a new phone, I won’t have to worry if it will fit in the Isa, because I can just leave it out of that phone sleeve if I need to.  I like that I can segregate my stuff to keep the keys away from the phone screen, and I like that I can fit what I consider to be my minimal EDC items in the bag and zip it all up securely.  I like that it’s a crossbody bag, because that leaves my hands free, and I don’t have to worry that I’ll set my bag down to look at something then walk off without it.  I think Sena has a winner with this well-constructed, reasonably-priced, attractive phone bag!

What I like

  • Great size for a phone, keys, and wallet
  • Beautiful leather, design, and construction
  • Adjustable strap so you can carry it on your shoulder or wear crossbody
  • Interior zipper pocket and two main zippered compartments help organize contents

What needs to be improved

  • Zipper pull tabs are thick and can get stuck in a position that makes it harder to pull open the zipper

Final thoughts

The Sena Cases Isa Crossbody Leather Hand Bag for smartphones is an attractive, well-made bag that’s perfectly sized for a minimal carry kit when you want to travel light.

Price: $129.95
Where to buy: Sena Cases
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Sena Cases.

The Bosun Fleece: slick, new streetwear style from Mission Workshop

In addition to their bags, Mission Workshop produces some pretty awesome apparel that combines ready-to-rumble weather protection with sleek urban style. Don’t believe me? Check out the new Bosun Fleece jacket. The profile is all about streamlined style, combined with a shearling poly fleece for warmth and moisture management. It also sports a removable hood, zippered hand pockets, and a rear “touring style” pocket to stash things while you’re on your bike.

The Bosun Fleece retails for $265 and is available in four sizes (S-XL) in your choice of grey or black. If you dig the style, it’s in pre-sale now. Order by February 1, and you’ll get $50 off (ships on 2/16). Check it out at the Mission Workshop web site!

Keysmart Pro key holder plus Tile finder review

One of the most useful technologies that has come out the past few years has been Tile, that little Bluetooth wafer you attach to anything you are afraid of misplacing.  For me, although I liked the concept of using Tile with something like my keys, the extra item hanging from my keychain just wasn’t worth the extra bulk it brought.  My keys have constantly been a source of annoyance because no matter how I placed them in my pocket, they were uncomfortable.  Especially with those really long key fobs.  So when KeySmart, the expert in minimalist key chain design, combined a killer keychain design with a built-in Tile, well, I was more than excited to try it.

What is it?

It’s a minimalist keychain that can hold 8-10 keys comfortably.  It has a built-in LED flashlight, powered by a rechargeable internal battery, and it has a Tile Bluetooth locator built-in as well.

Hardware specs

The built-in 40 mAh battery provides, according to KeySmart, about 90 days of juice before it needs to be recharged.  (I was only able to get about 60 days of use before it died on me.)  It is just a tad under 4 inches long, about ¾ inches wide, and with my 6 keys and spacers between them it is about ¾ inches thick. The more keys you have, the thicker and heavier it gets.  It also has a micro-USB port for charging.

What’s in the box?

You get a KeySmart keychain, and a USB charging cable. Included is a bottle opener attachment that also provides an eyelet where you can attach your large key fob.  You’ll also get a bunch of round separators that you can put between the keys inside the KeySmart.

Design and features

As far as the design of the product goes, I like it.  The ends of the KeySmart are slightly wider than the middle, so it is quite easy to hold in your hand.  The ends are also rounded, so no sharp edges to poke or prod you.  The integration of the LED flashlight button on top is a nice touch. For the keys on that end of the KeySmart I can press the button to illuminate the keyhole in dark situations like at night.  Nice.

There are some keys that I have found won’t work very well with KeySmart.  I have one key that has a really big head on it and it sticks out of the KeySmart quite a bit, so I got a copy made with a smaller head that fits much better.  I also have an old key to one of our family cars where the head is encased in a thick black plastic. (Both keys are pictured below).  That key is just awkward in the KeySmart, so I chose not to add it and I keep it in a drawer at home.

And here is an example of what my keys looked like before and after:

Installation

Getting started with KeySmart is pretty easy.  To start using the Tile functionality you download the free Tile app, create an account (if you don’t already have one), attach the KeySmart to your account, and you are ready.  As far as getting your keys added, it takes a bit more effort.  You use a screwdriver or even a coin to remove the 2 screw posts on the ends of the KeySmart and deatach the 2 halves, add your keys to each end in the order that you desire, put the KeySmart back together, and you are ready to go.

Performance as a keychain

So there are some things I like and don’t like about the KeySmart as far as a keychain.  It is an awesome way to organize your keys and keep them in line.  I won’t be going back to my old keychain set up, that’s for sure.  But I think as a keychain it isn’t perfect.  For example, it can be awkward flipping out an individual key from the KeySmart with just one hand.  I usually end up flipping out all of the keys and have to rotate back in the keys I don’t want to use. You can adjust the tightness of the screw posts on the ends of the KeySmart, so of course the tighter you have it set the harder it is to flip an individual key out, and of course the looser you have it set the more likely it is that the keys will flop about and negate one of the benefits of the KeySmart which is keeping your keys under control.  I suppose I would call this a minor complaint but it is an issue for me because I have to flip out most the keys on a daily basis.

One other issue I have found is that the keys that are on the end of the KeySmart that has my key fob on it are harder to use.  Let me try to describe it.  My key fob is attached to the bottle opener attachment, which is lined up with the keys on that end of the KeySmart.  So when I have to use one of those keys I have to rotate the key fob out of the way, which then causes the can opener to rotate out along with the key I am trying to use.  It is just awkward.  So I keep my most-used keys on the other end of the KeySmart.  Again, this is a little annoyance, and as I said, I won’t stop using the KeySmart just because of this.

Tile features

If you already use any Tile products, you won’t be disappointed because it works great with the KeySmart.  Basically, I see 2 common scenarios where the Tile feature is valuable.  If you are around your house or office and you can’t find your keys, you simply open the Tile app on your phone and press the button to locate your KeySmart, which will then start playing a little audible tune to help you locate them. And if you can’t find your phone then you press the Tile button on the KeySmart and your phone will start playing a little tune to help you find it, even if your phone is on silent.  Really nice.

The other scenario is if you misplace your keys someplace and have no idea where.  The Tile app will show you a map of where your keys were last located when they were last near your phone.  All you have to do is go back to that vicinity and look for your keys.  And when your keys get close to your phone the app will indicate such.  An additional Tile feature is that if another Tile user gets close to your KeySmart that has been lost, their Tile app will notify the Tile website that it has been located and will notify you where it is approximately located.  Pretty cool.

I should also mention something really important at this point.  The only way that this Tile feature works is if you have both Bluetooth and Location Services activated on your phone at all times.  The KeySmart connects to your phone via Bluetooth and then Location Services lets the Tile app keep track of where the KeySmart currently is.  So if you don’t have those 2 features on at all times, the Tile feature of the KeySmart isn’t really working for you.

One feature I hope that is added to the KeySmart that I currently have in the MYNT Tracker is that when I walk away from KeySmart and get beyond the Bluetooth range I wish my phone would start ringing so that I could simply go back and retrieve my KeySmart instead of realizing later that I left it somewhere and have to go through the motions of finding it using the Tile app.  Avoiding that whole scenario up front seems like a great idea.

Positives

  • Awesome key organizer
  • Built-in flashlight is very handy
  • Tile integration works flawlessly

Negatives

  • Using more than 10 keys could make it too bulky
  • Using your keys with one hand can be awkward
  • Some keys will simply be too big or thick for KeySmart

Final thoughts

If you want to organize your keys then this is an excellent solution that will work with most keys.  It is clean and easy to carry and you won’t be poked and prodded in your pocket or purse, and the flashlight is pretty handy.  The Tile feature works great and just as you would expect, as long as you are willing to keep your Bluetooth and Location Services on at all times and live with the battery hit you will take.  I live with the minor annoyances of using the keys with one hand, but they aren’t enough to cause me to give it up.  If you often lose your keys are phone, this product is essential for you.  For those of you who never lose either of those things, then you’ll still be happy with the KeySmart.

Price: $59.99
Where to buy: KeySmart and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by KeySmart.

Reolink Argus 2 is a wireless security camera that can be placed anywhere

At my old house, I had a security camera on my front porch.  It was nice to have, but it required an electrical connection.  When we moved to the condo, I couldn’t have a camera by my door because there is no electrical outlet nearby.  The Reolink Argus 2 security camera would work perfectly by my condo door, because it operates on a rechargeable battery, so no electrical connection is required.  It can also be powered by the optional solar panel seen in this image.

The camera also uses 2.4GHz WiFi, so you don’t need any cabling to get connected to the internet, either.  Because it is completely wireless and waterproof, you can place the Argus 2 anywhere you like, indoors or outdoors.  You’ll access the camera with the Reolink app on your smartphone or tablet.  With the app, you’ll be able to see what’s happening outside your door, and with two-way audio, you’ll be able to talk with anyone who comes to your door – no matter where you happen to be at the moment.

Features of the Reolink Argus 2 include:

  • PIR smart sensor that activates the camera and sends instant app push notifications, email alerts, and sound alarms (siren) when motion events are detected.
  • Card slot for optional SD card; when installed, recording will be activated when motion is detected.
  • Full HD 1080p camera; 130° wide viewing angle; Sony Starlight CMOS sensor for clearer night vision, up to 33 feet.
  • Live view available any time on your smart device, and recording when motion detected available with optional SD card

The Reolink Argus 2 wire-free, rechargeable security camera is available for $129.99 and the optional solar panel is $29.99 now from Reolink and will probably be added to their Amazon store soon.