Home 2018

Add a shelf to your wall’s power outlets

NEWS – The power outlets in both of our bathrooms are by the door, and they are too far away from the sink counter for me to use the outlets with my electric toothbrush.  I’ve been looking for a wall shelf, but I really don’t want to start screwing shelves into my ceramic tile walls.  One of these IdeaWorks Wall Outlet Organizers could be the perfect solution for bathrooms like mine.

The shelf works with standard outlet covers 2.75‘’ X 4.5 ‘’.  No extra hardware is needed; you just use the screws already provided for the outlet cover.  The shelf itself is 9″ wide, and it can hold up to 5 pounds.  There are two cord wraps under the shelf to keep excess cord length neatly out of the way.

It’s perfect in the bathroom for an electric toothbrush, razor, or a little Bluetooth speaker.  You can also use the outlet shelves in the kitchen or bedroom for a little charging station for phones.  I just wish they made one that would work with a double outlet cover, like the ones in my bathrooms.  The IdeaWorks Wall Outlet Organizer is $12.37 at Amazon.

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Add a shelf to your wall’s power outlets originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 23, 2018 at 8:07 am.

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Peak Designs backpack, GRID wallet, Black & Decker blender, and more – Weekly roundup

NEWS – It’s time to check out a comprehensive list of everything we posted this week from articles to reviews and news on all of your favorite gadget topics.

Articles

The Samsung Galaxy S10: what we think we know

My fab five cases for the new iPhone Xs Max

Reviews

Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth iPad Pro keyboard review

MK Controls Lightning Bug review

Bestek 3-Outlet Vertical Cube Mountable Power Strip

Baron Fig Wander Dream Journal review

Vankyo LEISURE 3 2200 LUX LED Portable Projector review

JESE Air Purifier review

Sleepgram adjustable pillow review

PadMate PaMu Scroll BT 5.0 wireless earbuds review

Black & Decker Infuser 3-In-1 Digital PowerCrush Blending System review

Cowin E7 Pro Bluetooth active noise cancelling headphones review

Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle version H.20 review

GRID wallet review

Nanoleaf remote review

Logitech MX Vertical advanced ergonomic wireless mouse review

Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo review

Black & Decker PowerCrush Digital Blender with Quiet Technology review

Renogy Outdoor Tactical Flashlight review

Peak Design 45 Liter Travel Backpack Review

News

Protect your personal items in a portable travel safe

The Trident Odyssey Valet is a luxury charging pedestal for Apple Watch

KUWOW backpack, Pitaka MagDock, Camper Hooded Jacket, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

Nomad’s new Base Station wireless charger is a beauty

Levenger has just the tools to organize your desk

A bracelet 20,000 years in the making

Stop carrying your flashlight at night. Wear it instead!

The MightyPurse is an inexpensive phone-charging wallet

Vizio debuts three new Dolby Atmos soundbars starting at $499

The DraftTable is big and sturdy enough for an iPad Pro 12.9

Thwart the laundry room sock monster!

This extension cord makes charging your device easier while on the go

Don’t settle for flat waffles!

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Peak Designs backpack, GRID wallet, Black & Decker blender, and more – Weekly roundup originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2018 at 5:28 pm.

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Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth iPad Pro keyboard review

REVIEW – When I got a 12.9 in. IPad pro, I had already purchased a case for it. I’m that paranoid of dropping and ruining any iDevice I buy. The case I bought was the Speck Stylefolio Pencil Case—a great case that does not include a keyboard. I’ve never been thrilled with the choice of keyboard cases (including Apple’s), so I resorted to using a discarded Apple Bluetooth keyboard to do my typing. What I really wanted was something that was as easy to type with as my wife’s MacBook Pro laptop. I now have that keyboard—the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard.

What is it?

The Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard is just that—a full-size keyboard for the larger iPad Pro. But it’s a bit more than that. The Brydge keyboard is so perfectly matched to my iPad Pro, that when closed, it looks just like a Mac laptop. You can feel the engineering quality as you open/close the lid or type on the keyboard. This is what Brydge calls the Series II Bluetooth keyboard.

Specs

  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9 in.
  • Dimensions: 12 in. x 8.75 in. x 0.25 in.
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Weight: 1.55 lb.
  • Backlit Keys: Yes (3 levels)
  • Battery Life: 12 months (rechargeable)”
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1
  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • Colors: Silver / Space Gray / Gold
  • What’s In The Box: Keyboard / USB Charging Cable / Quick Start Guide

Series II improvements over Series I

  • Faster connectivity
  • Longer battery life
  • Lower profile “butterfly” keys
  • Improved backlighting

Design and features

If you’re familiar with how the keyboard on an Apple MacBook laptop looks and feels, you will feel right at home with the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard. When paired with the 12.9 in. iPad Pro, the combination keyboard/iPad will fool anyone except an astute person that you’re typing on a Mac laptop. The giveaway is when you start touching the screen to perform certain functions. No Mac has a touchscreen option.

Since the Brydge Bluetooth keyboard has Bluetooth 4.1, there is no noticeable lag time—typing is instantaneous. Plus, the Brydge keyboard comes with many features that make typing much faster than using the on-screen keyboard. For instance, Command-C will copy any selected text and Command-V will paste—just like a Mac. The top row of keys features keys that control screen brightness, speaker volume, play/pause, on/off and battery life. There’s also a home button that will take you back to the home page regardless of what app you’re in. Speaking of battery life, the Brydge keyboard will last 12 months between charges. Impressive.

One of my favorite features are the backlit keys that can be set in three brightness levels at the touch of a key. Apple’s own overpriced keyboard case doesn’t even have backlighting. I also appreciate the directional text arrow keys. I don’t have to touch the screen to place the cursor. The arrow keys move it much more efficiently—just like a Mac. (Notice a trend here?)

One thing the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard does not have is a way to connect to the iPad’s built-in Apple Smart Connector. This connector bypasses Bluetooth completely and allows an attached keyboard to have more custom functions than is possible with Bluetooth alone. Maybe Brydge can incorporate the Smart Connector in a future version of their keyboard. Time will tell.

When the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard is open for typing, there’s a large area below the keys for resting the palms while typing. Ordinarily, this is where a trackpad would go, but Apple’s iOS does not support trackpad gestures. 

One thing to note is that the Brydge is a “clip-on” keyboard only. It is not a case and does not add any protection to the iPad, except maybe the screen surface when it’s closed. But it was never Brydge’s intention to design a case that also happens to have a built-in keyboard. Let others do that. Brydge set out to make an aluminum keyboard that perfectly matches the iPad and that’s exactly what they accomplished.

What I like

  • The Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard ranks up there with Apple’s own laptop keyboards. 
  • 3-level backlighting for typing in less than favorable conditions 
  • Superb 12-month battery life
  • Quality construction

What needs to be improved

  • Offers no protection
  • Doesn’t connect to iPad’s Smart Connector

Final Thoughts

The last 3 reviews I’ve written have been typed mostly using the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard. I tend to switch between my iMac and iPad when writing reviews and the Brydge makes it much easier to jump from one to the other using Apple Pages with iCloud. It’s becoming my new—and improved—way of working. The Brydge has made my portable life more efficient, productive and fun. I may not be a quick typist, but my typing speed has noticeably improved since using the Brydge keyboard. It’s a keeper.

Price: $149.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The samples for this product were provided by Brydge.

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Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth iPad Pro keyboard review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Protect your personal items in a portable travel safe

NEWS – Where do you keep your keys and wallet while you’re on the beach?  Under your towel or stuffed up under your chair isn’t safe, because they could be quickly grabbed by someone walking by if you’re distracted.  It’s better to put your stuff in a FlexSafe portable travel safe.  Attach the FlexSafe to a rib of your umbrella or a bar of your chair, and your items will be safe from opportunistic thieves.

This portable lockbox measures 10” x 6” x 3” and weighs 10oz.  Construction includes five layers of protection, including an RFID-blocking layer to prevent someone reading your cards or passport as they pass by and an ultra slash-resistant layer to prevent someone from cutting the bag open to steal the contents.  And it’s water-resistant to protect your gear from pool splashes.

The front  locks with a re-programmable lock.  Open the lock, and you’ll see that the contents are further protected with a zipper.  Place your wallet, keys, jewelry, camera, and other small items inside, zip it up, then wrap the front flap around a stationary bar of your lounge chair, wheel chair, umbrella, or other fixed object.  You can even use it as a hotel room safe by locking it around the closet bar.  Once the front lock is closed, your bag can’t be easily snatched up by a passerby.

The FlexSafe is available in black, aqua blue, navy blue, lavender, or digi camo.  The black bag is $59.95, while colors are $69.95.  The FlexSafe can be purchased at the AquaVault website.

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Protect your personal items in a portable travel safe originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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MK Controls Lightning Bug review


REVIEW – As a photographer, I like to shoot all types of photos. Recently, I have been shooting waterdrop photography, with a device that functions in many modes including being triggered by sound and light to be able to photograph other events. Another type of event I would like to shoot is lightning strikes, and while the device that I have incorporates that ability, I was very intrigued when I came across a device that is designed specifically for lightning strike photography. MK Controls immediately and willingly granted our request to review and test their Lightning Bug. Here is the summary of the review.

What is it?

The Lightning Bug is a device that is designed to connect to your compatible camera and trigger it to take photos when lighting strikes. As per the manufacturer: “The Lightning Bug is based upon the science of lightning. There are two components of lightning; the bright white flash everyone wants to capture and the unseen infrared light that always precedes it. The Lightning Bug uses a high-speed photodiode sensor optimized to the infrared burst that occurs just before a lightning strike. This infrared light comes from the vaporization of air and particles in the air. The Lightning Bug acts as a lookout for your camera, watching for a change in infrared light. When a significant change of infra-red light over a very short period of time is detected, it directs the camera shutter to trip and capture the lightning in action”. It will also work for fireworks.

What’s in the box


1 x Lightning Bug
1 x CD instruction manual
1 x Compatible camera cable

Design and features

Manufacturer Specifications:

Power-On Self-Test
Sensitivity set-point indicator (LED Bargraph)
MOSFET isolation between the camera and the Lightning Bug™ circuitry
26 levels of sensitivity
Easily adjust frames per second (from 1 to 10)
Water Resistant Soft-touch panel buttons
Front Overhang (from the center of camera shoe): 3.51″
Rear Overhang (from the center of camera shoe): 0.74″
Overall Height (not including the shoe mount): 1.13″
Overall Height (including the shoe mount): 2.10″
Overall Length: 4.25″
Overall Width: 2.60″
Weight (not including Battery): 2.96 oz
Weight (including Battery): 4.48 oz
Battery: Standard 9V Cell

On the top surface of the Lightning Bug, there is the company name and device name, the sensitivity meter, and the 3 surface-mounted control buttons.


At the bottom of the Lightning Bug, there is a camera shoe mount that also has a 1/4-20″ threaded mount so that it can be mounted off camera on a light stand or tripod, etc, and a sticker with a summary of the controls and other industry required information.


One one of the short sides at the back of the Lightning Bug is a cover and a battery compartment for the required 9-Volt battery. On the opposite side at the front is the IR cover, and on one of the long sides is the 1/8″ jack for the camera cable.



Connectivity and function

The Lightning Bug attaches to the camera shoe mount or any mount with a 1/4″-20 stud, and the cable is attached to the 1/8″ jack on the device and the appropriate jack on the camera. (See the MK Controls website for the compatible camera list).


When you power on the camera and the device, the sensitivity indicator lights up. You can use the left or right buttons to increase or decrease the sensitivity.


Operation and Performance

The Lightning Bug has 2 operational modes which are Standard Mode and Fireworks Mode. When you power on the device starts up in Standard Mode which is used for Lightning photography) or in Fireworks Mode depending on which buttons are held down during startup. Fireworks Mode allows for delayed shutter release.
To start the unit in Standard Mode, you have to press and hold down the power button for approximately 2 seconds. To start the unit in Fireworks Mode you have to press and hold down the power button and the Increase Sensitivity button at the same time for approximately 2 seconds, and then release both buttons.
When you first turn on the device, it displays the current firmware version by lighting up the LEDs, and the display stays that way until the power button is released. The settings that you choose are saved in the device’s memory for the next time you power on. An additional nice feature is that the device will automatically turn your meter off after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity.
There are a total of 26 levels of available sensitivity. The factory default setting is level 12. The yellow LED that looks like a lightning bolt, lights up whenever the unit has detected an event and has triggered the shutter.
With fireworks photography, the yellow activity light flashes to let you know that you are in the Fireworks Mode. In this mode, you must be relatively close to the fireworks to be successful. To exit, you have to turn the device off, then back on again.
There are numerous settings to customize. The complete manual is available on the MK Controls Website.

This section will be updated once I get an opportunity to photograph fireworks and/or storms.

What I like

  • That it is lightweight
  • The size
  • The functionality

What can be improved

  • Although I like how lightweight it is, I would prefer it to have a rechargeable battery that can be charged internally or externally
  • (Nothing else so far until I get to take pics)

Final thoughts

As a photographer that likes many types of photography, I like the Lightning Bug device. Apart from the fact that it is compact and lightweight, it provides a dedicated function that should produce amazing results. There are fantastic examples of photos taken with the use of this device on the MK Controls website. You can take a look at them here. While I have not yet been able to shoot with it, I will give a thumbs up to its simple construction and its intended functionality. Winter is on its way in NYC, so I will be on the lookout for photography opportunities. To be continued…

Price: $179.00 (Includes the required cable for your compatible camera)
Where to buy: MK Controls website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by MK Controls.

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MK Controls Lightning Bug review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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