NEWS – Although the Trident Odyssey Valet looks like a protective display case for the Apple Watch, it’s more than that. The clear plastic top does keep dust off your Watch, but the base is a charging stand. And it’s powered by an internal battery to keep your Watch charged even when you’re away from a power source.
The charging cable for the Watch hides away in the base to keep everything looking neat. The internal 2600mAh lithium battery can charge your Watch multiple times, or you can charge both a Watch and an iPhone simultaneously. The LEDs on the front of the pedestal displays charging status for the battery. The clear top holds your iPhone while it charges
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REVIEW – Let’s have a real talk for a minute. Your house or office is full of electronics, and you know that the old clunky power strip you bought 10 years ago is getting a little… dated. It’s time for an upgrade! Today we’re reviewing a charger from Bestek that combines modern features with excellent usability. It looks good, too. Let’s plug in!
What is it?
It’s a cube-shaped power strip that includes 3 standard outlets, 3 USB ports, and a USB-C port. It’s also mountable on your wall.
Hardware specs
Input Voltage : 100-240V
AC Rated power: 1875W(125V 15A)
USB Output: 20W 4A(Total), 5V/2.4A Max(each port)
Size(Base included)/Weight: 3.4*3.4*3.2 in / 1.05 lb
Cord length: 5 Feet (14AWG)
Includes protection from overloading, overheating, short circuits, and power surges
What’s in the box?
The package comes with a power strip, detachable base, double-sided adhesive trips and screws for wall mounting, a self-adhesive cable clamp, and the instruction book.
Design and features
The Bestek 3-Outlet Vertical Cube is a cube-shaped design that packs some nice usability extras for managing all of your power sources. It’s compact exterior dimensions measure in at 3.4″ by 3.4″ by 3.2″. It also looks nice, which is a bonus if you’re mounting it on your desktop. Here’s a pic with my MacBook Pro power brick for a size reference:
If you’ve ever had to play Tetris with all of your odd-shaped power bricks, you’ll appreciate the form factor here. Three of the vertical faces each have one three-pronged plug, oriented sideways to accommodate those oddball bigger bricks (I’m looking at you, Apple!). Have a look:
On the top face of the block, you’ll find three USB ports, a USB-C port, and the power button for the unit. The button glows blue to let you know when it’s on. Placing these ports and the control on the top face is lovely, as none of the functionality fights for space with your traditional 3-prong blocks:
Here’s what the unit looks like in its natural habitat. Check out that 5′ long cable that allows you to position the block pretty much anywhere you want it, including on the desk if desired. I love that.
The block is also removable from the stand. Squeeze those little tabs and it pops off. Why is this useful? Well, you can mount the stand to any surface with the two screws included or the double-sided adhesive mounting strip if you want it connected to your desk or hung on your wall. You can then remove the block if you need to use it in another location in the house or office.
The block can be positioned in 90-degree increments, so you can drop the cable below your plugs if it’s vertically mounted.
Bestek has clearly thought about their customers in the little usability enhancements at work here. The chord includes its own velcro cable wrangler, and the package includes a second mountable clamp that uses self-adhesive backing to manage running chords (not shown):
The power plug itself is also nice. It’s designed to drop below your outlet, making room for other plugs. It’s also got some nice ergonomic grips on either side to facilitate removal. Little stuff like this make users (and product reviewers) happy.
You’ll have a total of 7 power ports when installed: three traditional three-prong outlets, three USB ports, and one USB-C port. I just got a new MacBook Pro, and I love the inclusion of the USB-C port here. It allows me to free up one of the three-prong outlets for other stuff. Again, this makes me happy.
As far as protection goes, you have a bunch of safety features to protect your precious electronics. There’s protection from over-heating, short circuits, power surges, and overloading. It’s also FCC certified for reliability and quality.
What I like
Designed to accommodate a wide variety of power blocks
3 USB and one USB-C port that won’t fight for space with your 3-prong plugs
Good looking, compact design
5′ long cord makes for easy positioning on your desk if desired
Wall-mountable
Nice usability features
What needs to be improved
None to be found
Final thoughts
The Bestek 3-Outlet Vertical Cube Mountable Power Strip is a great upgrade for your charging needs. It looks great, handles USB and USB-C duties in addition to traditional three-prong plugs, and you can mount it just about anywhere you need it. The little usability and safety details are all on point. What’s not to like?
Price: $27.99 Where to buy: Get it at the Bestek Web Site. Source: The sample of this product was provided by Bestek.
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NEWS – This week we are bringing you info about six different crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. This week’s campaigns are for people who like to want a good night’s sleep, gear bags, travel gear, and more.
KUWOW 2.0 – The Versatile Anti-theft Backpack
What is it?
The KUWOW is a backpack that is made of Kevlar and has been designed to be theft and cut proof.
Why is it cool?
I like the KUWOW backpack because it’s a well thought out travel bag that has a ton of features. It’s constructed of waterproof and cutproof material and offers pockets and attachment points for all of your gear, from laptops and tablets, to even your clothes and toiletries. It also has built-in reflectors, a password lock, Bluetooth tracker, and even a USB port.
They sent me a pre-production sample of this backpack and I was very impressed with the construction and all the built-in features. This bag isn’t huge but it can hold a lot of gear and the small touches like a metal grab handle and a pass-through for rolling luggage are great.
Where can I find more info?
The KUWOW campaign ends on 10/21/18 and they have already reached their funding goal of $5,000. You can pre-order a KUWOW starting at $99. After the KUWOW campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2018. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.
Pitaka MagDock
What is it?
The Pitaka MagDock is a multi-device wireless charging station with an onboard battery for on-the-go wired charging. When used with a magnetic mount case, the MagDock can position your phone at a 45-degree angle so it can be used for FaceTime, watching movies or web surfing.
Why is it cool?
Generally speaking, you can find wireless chargers that can handle 2 devices. Finding one that can handle 3 devices simultaneously is something of a unicorn. This could come in very handy for couples and families traveling together.
Where can I find more info?
The Pitaka MagDock Kickstarter campaign ends on October 16. Within 24 hours of launch, they had already hit their all or nothing goal of $15,476. The campaign states that the MagDock will ship in November and will be in your hands for Christmas. You can get the base version of the MagDock on an early bird perk for $49 or the Pro version for $64. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
The Camper Hooded Jacket available in men and women’s sizes that is a lightweight and packable puffy jacket for the city or the woods.
Why is it cool?
I like the Camper Hooded Jacket because it’s it stuffs into its own bag for great portability. You can put it in your travel bag and forget about it until you need it. It features a synthetic multi-layer insulation that has expanded cells for increased warmth in a jacket that doesn’t weigh much at all. It also has a lot of little extras like a headphone port, cinch waist and cuffs, and 6 pockets for your phone or other items.
They sent me a pre-production sample of the jacket and it’s going to be my new go-to travel jacket to pack when I travel from a warm spot to a cold spot and don’t want to actually wear a jacket until I get there. I can just put the jacket pouch in another bag and break it out when I need the extra warmth.
Where can I find more info?
The Camper Hooded Jacket campaign ends on 11/6/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $50,000. You can pre-order a DreamOn starting at $95. After the Camper Hooded Jacket campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
EVERMORE Origin // a functional rugged EDC Sling/Beltbag
What is it?
The EVERMORE is a small travel pack that you can wear around your waist or across your back like a sling bag.
Why is it cool?
I like the EVERMORE because it’s small but has the ability to carry almost everything you need (except a laptop or tablet) when you’re on the go. It also has attachment points all over the pack so that you can clip things to it like your keys, a water bottle, etc.
Where can I find more info?
The EVERMORE campaign ends on 10/7/18 and they have already reached their funding goal of $8,000. You can pre-order an EVERMORE starting at $60. After the EVERMORE campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
DreamOn: Your 1-Step Solution For Better Sleep
What is it?
The DreamOn is a wrist wearable sleep aid and sleep tracker.
Why is it cool?
I like the DreamOn because it’s a drug-free way to fall asleep faster by providing a low-frequency pulse that gives your brain something to focus on so that you can relax and drift off to sleep quickly.
Where can I find more info?
The DreamOn campaign ends on 10/20/18 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $40,000. You can pre-order a DreamOn starting at $109. After the DreamOn campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in January 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.
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NEWS – Wireless chargers have been around for a while in all kinds of shapes and sizes. However, most designs tend to go more for function than form. The newly-announced Nomad Base Station is a wireless charger that not only chargers four devices at the same time it also looks good doing it. The charging pad has a sleek, modern design that includes a padded leather wireless charging surface with a soft finish for your phone to rest on.
Making it one of the most beautifully designed charging pads on the market to date.
Along with good looks, the charging pad boasts 3 high-power coils, for dual 10W wireless charging. There are also two USB ports, A USB-A 7.5W port and a USB-C PD that has an 18W output for fast charging.
There’s also an LED charging indicator light and an ambient light sensor that dims the LEDs at night.
The Base Station wireless charger is up for pre-order on Nomad’s website for $99.95. And will officially begin shipping on October 1.
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REVIEW – Are you the type of notebook or journal user who likes to have a separate notebook for different subjects or topics like travel, daily journal, tasks, etc? How about a journal that’s dedicated to recording your dreams. But, not dreams for your future, I’m talking about the dreams you have when you’re asleep. Baron Fig’s new Wander Dream Journal is a journal just for that task. Let’s check it out.
What is it?
The Baron Fig Wander Dream Journal is a 192-page hardbound notebook that has been specially designed to make it easy to record the dreams that you have during the night.
Design and features
The Wander Dream Journal is a 5.4″ x 7.7″ cloth-bound book that is dark blue with silver stars and a moon stamped into the front and back covers.
The journal has rounded corners and a grey elastic band that can be used to secure the top cover.
Each notebook has 192 pages of acid-free fine grain 90gsm paper that’s a light cream color.
When you open the front cover, you’re greeted with a lively geometric design and a blank area where you can write your name and contact info should you lose the book, or dates that the book covers, etc.
You’ll have to flip a couple pages before you get to the actual journal area of the notebook.
You’ll find a quick start guide at the beginning of the book that explains the page’s outer edge “gadgets”… at least that’s what I’m going to call them.
They say that the best way to remember your dreams is to document them as soon as you wake up. The Gadgets on each page help you do that by including things like emoticons for your mood during your dream, your sleep quality, when your dream took place in history, if your dream was in color or in black and white, the viewpoint of the dream, and type of dream.
Then the 2-page layout gives you a whole page to write about what happened in the dream on the left and a place to draw and interpret what the dream might have meant on the right side.
Notice at the top of the left page that there’s a place to circle the day of the week and add the current date. This dream journal has all the bases covered.
What I like
2-page layout for each dream
Lots of info to record about each dream
Attractive book
Lay flat design
What needs to be improved
The book isn’t a standard size, so it would be nice if they offered one that was A5 sized just so it would be the same height as other journals on a bookshelf
Final thoughts
The Baron Fig Wander Dream Journal is a nicely made notebook that has all the features that someone would want in a journal. It has acid free pages, a lay-flat design, ribbon bookmark, and an elastic closure. But then they add extra features to the pages to help you document each dream. All in all, this is a nicely designed dream journal. The only thing missing is a pen with a built-in red light so you can write your dream in the dark without bothering your sleeping partner or wrecking your night vision.
Price: $22.00 Where to buy: Baron Fig Source: The sample for this review was provided by Baron Fig.
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