Home 2019 March

How to Personalize the New Gmail App

The improvements that you’re currently seeing in the new Gmail app are something that you could have seen coming. A while back Google announced they were going to discard the Inbox app yet improve the Gmail app. The new Gmail app is still easy to use, but now it has a different look. You might not find what you need in the places where you might typically find them. Let’s see how you can give the app your personal touch. Related: How to Move Emails from One Gmail Account to Another How to Add or Remove Categories Just like with the desktop version, you can… Read more

Make Bibliographies Easier with These Citation Apps

If you are a high school or college student, you have undoubtedly been asked to use citations for your sources and to create a bibliography for your paper. This is not an easy task. It can be challenging to keep track of all the different formats and places to find information. Using a citation manager or citation builder will save you considerable time, freeing up more time for the actual writing of the paper. They will also reduce the number of errors. So what are citation managers and citation builders? Which one do you need? Related: How to Automatically Generate Bibliographies and Citations in Microsoft… Read more

AZIO RCK Retro Compact Keyboard review

REVIEW – Do you like a minimalist keyboard with shallow keys and a modern style to go with your high tech computer or do you like to change things up and go with an eye-catching keyboard that has a vintage style but modern tech hidden inside. The AZIO RCK Retro Compact Keyboard is all that and more. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The AZIO RCK Retro Compact Keyboard is a Steampunk-styled retro mechanical keyboard with modern features like Bluetooth or USB, multi-device connectivity, a rechargeable battery, and backlit keys.

What’s in the box?

  • AZIO RCK Retro Compact Keyboard
  • Palm rest
  • Interchangeable feet
  • USB Type-C cable
  • Dust brush
  • Drawstring bag
  • User guide

  • Mac & PC replacement keycaps

Design and features

The AZIO R.C.K. is available in four styles that include a top plate made of wood or leather. The style I chose to review is the Elwood version with gunmetal trim. Wow it is stunning.

At not quite 13 inches wide x 5.5 inches high, this is a compact keyboard that won’t take up a lot of room on your desktop, but still feels very roomy to type on.

The keyboard is heavy, so that and the large round feet mean that stays put on your desk which is a good thing.

As is, the keyboard has a slight ergonomic rise to the back edge, but if you want the angle even steeper, you can change out the back feet with the taller second set included with the keyboard.

The R.C.K. can be used wired with the included USB-C cable which doubles as a charging cable. If you prefer wireless, you can connect it to up to 3 devices using Bluetooth. I did all my testing with my 12inch MacBook paired via Bluetooth.

The AZIO keyboard supports Mac and PC layouts which you can toggle with the switch on the back. Included with the keyboard is a selection of keycaps that you can swap out for the preferred operating system.

One thing to be aware of is this AZIO keyboard is very tactile and with that comes noise. It’s a clicky keyboard and that will be something you’ll either love or hate as will anyone in the same room with you. This isn’t the type of keyboard that you’ll want to use in a bedroom if there are others trying to sleep.

Here’s a quick soundbite so you’ll know what I mean: azio-keyboard

The slightly concaved backlit keys are round with a matte finish. They are large and comfortable to press.

But another thing to keep in mind is the key travel. Unlike many laptop keyboards and modern desktop keyboards that have slim keys with shallow travel, the keys on the AZIO keyboard press down a LOT. Like a vintage keyboard from days gone by. It can feel like you’re giving your fingers a workout if you’ve never typed on such a keyboard before. The first day or so felt a bit awkward, but I soon become accustomed to it.

The keyboard comes with a matching palm rest which I thought would be uncomfortable, but it wasn’t at all. The wood is smooth and warm and really does add to the overall look of the setup. Speaking of which, AZIO also offers matching mice and mouse pads as an optional purchase.

The keyboard’s battery is 5,000 mAh and will last for about 9 months with the backlight off. With the backlight on, it will last for about 1 to 2 months depending on the backlight intensity setting.

AZIO Retro Classic mouse and leather mouse pad

These accessories are not included with the purchase of an AZIO keyboard, but if you want a cohesive look, they have you covered with their wireless mouse that is available with a black or white leather covering that has a copper, gunmetal, or black scroll wheel.

Like the keyboard, the Retro Classic mouse charges via USB-C and can be connected to your computer with a USB RF receiver or via Bluetooth.

That mouse has a built-in high-capacity 1000mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable battery that will provide up to 4 months of use on a single charge.

The mouse looks nice but I’m pretty fond of my Logitech MX Master 2S which allows me to turn off the ratcheting scroll wheel which I am not fond of. Unfortunately, the AZIO mouse doesn’t have such a feature.

The large 11 x9 inch leather mouse pad is very nice and comes with an adhesive gunmetal and copper ring that you can stick on the logo stamped into the pad.

Isn’t it pretty? And yes, I did figure out that I have the mousepad upside down. Their logo is an A for AZIO.

I haven’t used a mousepad in years and this one has been a nice change. It’s smoother than my semi-textured desktop surface, which makes all my mousing activities faster.

What I like

  • Gorgeous look
  • Excellent craftsmanship
  • Vintage style with modern features
  • Multi-device pairing

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

Keyboards like the AZIO Retro Compact Keyboard (R.C.K.) are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Some people won’t like the clickity clackity sound that the keys make while you’re typing. Some might find the key travel to be too extreme. But for mechanical keyboard fans, the AZIO keyboard could become their new favorite. The modern features paired with the look, feel, and luxury construction really do make this keyboard stand out from other mechanical keyboards on the market.

Price: $219.99 (Keyboard), $99.99 (Mouse), $49.99 (Mouse pad)
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by AZIO.

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AZIO RCK Retro Compact Keyboard review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 31, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Apple Airpad cancelled, Nomad offers alternative

NEWS – Apple has just announced that they are putting the final nail in the AirPad coffin. (Photo credit for above shot goes to The Verge.) Matthew Panzarino at TechCrunch has the dirty details: “After a delay of over a year since it was first announced in September of 2017, the AirPower charging mat has become something of a focal point for Apple’s recent habit of announcing envelope tickling products and not actually shipping them on time.” Sometimes, Physics wins over engineering hubris. So it goes.

So, what shall we do, if we want a single device that can handle the terrific trio of charging (iPhone, Apple Watch, and wireless AirPods)? Our friends at Nomad have an answer. Their Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition has three Qi-certified charging coils across the charging pad. (The photo below is a promo shot from Nomad’s product listing.) The pad itself can charge two iPhones or an iPhone and AirPods in a wireless Charging Case at the same time thanks to 7.5 watts of power across those coils, according to an iMore review.

Did you, like me, rush to buy the wireless AirPods, thinking that the AirPad was just over the horizon? Are you going to use a different wireless solution, or take advantage of Apple’s 14 day return policy and fall back to a wired charging pair and spend the extra $50 on a nice steak dinner? Let’s discuss the Nomad solution and any others in the comments. Maybe we can get some of these solutions into the hands of willing Gadgeteers to test and review.

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Apple Airpad cancelled, Nomad offers alternative originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 31, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Rakōt75 cloth towels review

REVIEW – I’m a self-admitted paper towel addict. I use them for everything, it’s an expensive and wasteful habit. I kept track of my paper towel use for a week. In that week alone I used 64 paper towels, an average of about 9 a day. To try and cure myself of this malady I opted to review a new multi-purpose cloth towel, the Rakōt75. 

What is it?

The Rakōt75 is a multi-use cloth towel that comes on a roll like a standard paper towel.

Design and features

The thing that attracted me to Rakōt75 was the fact that they came on a roll like regular paper towels. In fact, there are exactly 75 – 11” x 16” perforated sheets on each roll.

The roll fits on a paper towel holder keeping it within reach when you need it. Being on a roll also makes it easy to take them from room to room while cleaning.

Rakōt states that one roll will last up to six months depending on what you use them for.

How does Rakōt75 differ from a standard paper towel?

  1. Highly absorbent ( it can hold up to seven times its weight in water. )
  2. Superior strength wet or dry
  3. Tear resistant
  4. Can be used with any chemical
  5. Hand rinsable
  6. Scratch resistant
  7. Lint-free

What can Rakōt75 towels be used for?

All of this sounds great but how do they perform in a day to day life scenario? After spending the past few weeks using them, I can tell you they faired pretty well. I used them to clean up spills, wash & dry dishes, dust furniture, clean the bathroom, and even wipe my dog’s muddy paws. In each case, the Rakōt75 performed as well as a paper towel, and in most cases even better.

I gave a few sheets to my mom to try, and she couldn’t stop raving about them. She loved how absorbent they were and said she would never use paper towels again to clean the mirrors in her house. You know if your mom likes something it must be pretty good.

Absorbency

To test absorbency, I used a single sheet of the Rakōt75 vs. a single sheet of paper towel to wipe up a coffee spill. As you can see from the video below the Rakōt75 easily beat the paper towel.

And the great thing about the Rakōt75 is that you can simply rinse it out and reuse it. Try doing that with a paper towel.

Durability

One thing I like about the towels is how durable they are. For example, I used them to wipe off my dog’s muddy paws. In the past, I would’ve gone through sheet after sheet of paper towel or several rags. With Rakōt75, I was able to use one sheet several times. When it got dirty, I rinsed it out with warm water and a little soap. See the pic below.

You can even toss them into the washing machine for a more thorough cleaning.

Durability is certainly not a problem for these towels, even when they’re wet. Depending on what I was using them for I got a good 4-6 uses from each towel. After that, they seemed to lose a little absorbency and started to fray. Your mileage may vary.

You can even cut them into halves or quarters if you don’t require a full sheet to do a particular task.

What I like

  • The roll is convenient
  • Super Absorbent
  • Durable even when wet
  • You can use them for just about any task you can think up
  • Eco-friendly

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

Although I don’t think they’ll cure me of my paper towel addiction when it comes to multi-use towels, Rakōt might just be the G.O.A.T. And, you don’t have to take my word for it, you can try them yourself. Just head over to the Rakōt75 website and get your Free Sample. What will you use them for?!

Price: $19.95
Where to buy: Rakōt75 website and The Grommet.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Rakōt75.

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Rakōt75 cloth towels review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 31, 2019 at 9:14 am.

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