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Moshi Tego Sling review

REVIEW – More sling bags! The only thing better than More Cowbell! Just kidding. But the more I test and carry these bags for a week or two at a time, the more I am convinced this is the bag everyone should be carrying for EDC nowadays. I wrote a news article here a while back about the Moshi Tego, and the company offered us one to test. When it arrived, I was stunned at how spacious it is inside and how well it fits into my “big-flat-slab-of-glass” lifestyle. Let’s check it out!

What is it?

A stylish sling bag made from slash-resistant materials with zippers for all pockets against your body. Great for crowds, touring in dangerous areas, and for just taking your iPad and lunch to work. It’s available in three colors – Stone Grey, Charcoal Black, and Vintage Brown. I was sent Vintage Brown

What’s in the box?

  • The bag itself.
  • A dust-proof storage sack

Hardware specs

  • Padded compartment for laptops up to 13”
  • Padded compartment for iPad 12.9-inch
  • Proprietary ViscoStrap™ alleviates shoulder strain by up to 30%.
  • Quick-release strap for fast access to belongings
  • Adjustable Airmesh crossover strap with accessory loops
  • Removable ActiveStrap for added stability
  • Crossbody design that is wearable on the left or right shoulder
  • Concealed, anti-theft rear zippers
  • RFID Shield pocket to protect personal data

Materials

  • Cut-proof and lightweight fabric
  • 3M Scotchlite reflective strip for safety at night
  • Padded Airmesh support for breathability and comfort
  • Weather-resistant surface treatment
  • Zinc alloy hardware and studs

Dimensions

  • Length: 16.34 in (41.5 cm)
  • Height: 12.01 in (30.5 cm)
  • Width: 4.72 in (12 cm)
  • Weight: 1.87 lbs (0.85 kg)

Design and features

The Moshi Tego is designed with security in mind. The zippers are both tight against your body when being carried. The materials are cut-resistant. By being able to slide the bag around in front of you while wearing it in crowded situations or on public transportation, you have better control and awareness of anyone attempting to access your bag.

The outside of the bag is made of a synthetic woven water-resistant material that resists cutting. The top has a shaped roof-like covering that is made from a similar material but is coated in a vinyl-like material. Under the edge of that roof is a strip of Scotchlite reflective fabric. (The flash from my camera set it off in the shot above. I originally snapped it for the raindrops beading up on the fabric.) When you’re cycling, bent over the handlebars, this stripe is squarely in the headlights of approaching vehicles.

The strap is 1.5″ wide seat belt material for most of its length. Each end is sewn into a custom molded spinning clip with the company name molded in, and attached to the bag with solid molded D-rings of the same matte-finished zinc alloy. The wearer can swap which ring it’s clipped into to wear it over either shoulder. The long end of the strap has a cam-release that makes it a breeze to tighten or loosen your strap with one hand. When tightened, there is a management loop for the free end, but it is sewn in at the end of the strap next to the lower clip. (It’s visible on the right center of the photo below. I’m debating cutting it free, but that may cause it to come apart and I don’t have a way to sew it back.)

The part you wear on your shoulder has an 11″ long x 3″ wide Airmesh cushion. This is attached to the clip with a dual-thickness, 1.5″ wide elastic band. This allows the bag to give slightly as you’re moving along so that the load doesn’t feel quite as heavy. In use, I found this very comfortable. (It’s visible on the left center of the photo below.)

There’s also a removable crossbody band that goes from a removable loop on the strap to a thinner D-ring on the bottom center. Great for stability if you’re cycling, running or need the extra security. (It’s attached in the two photos at the top of the article, but you can see the center D-ring below.)

The only opening into the main compartment zips out with a double-headed zipper from the side that fits flat against your back (or front) when you’re wearing it. The zippers pull down to about 3″ from the very bottom of the bag. On the outside of that flap opening, which is against your body while wearing, is an RFID-shielding pouch large enough for passports, credit cards, and other items that you may need fast access to. At 9″ x 5″, with no actual width (see photo below), it’s not going to be a place for your eReader or phone (although either of mine fit in there), but it’s great to have a secure place for travel documents, credit cards and ID. It’s also padded with an open Airmesh material that will aid in ventilation since it rides on the center of your back.

Inside the main compartment, against your back, there is a thinly padded laptop/tablet sleeve with a 1.25″ wide velcro strap closure. It will hold my original 12.9″ iPad Pro in the Moko case, but it’s a tight fit. The Lovely Bride’s MacBook Air fits in the main compartment, but is a touch too large for the padded sleeve. On the outside of this are two flat pockets 7″ x 4.5″. There is a little extra fabric to allow items of depth to be carried here (passport, Moleskine, power banks and the like). Across on the outer side are two more such pockets, 3.5″ deep x 6″ wide. 

What I like

  • Huge main compartment
  • Secure opening
  • Large RFID pocket
  • Great materials and design

What needs to be improved

  • Main strap has a great management loop, but it’s sewn in

Final thoughts

This is a fine bag for those carrying large, flat items but also needing some bulky item storage space.

Price: $149.95
Where to buy: Moshi store or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Moshi.

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Moshi Tego Sling review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 30, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Shinola updates the classic Runwell with automatic movement

NEWS – Shinola, Detroit’s darling that produces high-quality watches, bicycles, audio gear, leather goods, and jewelry is updating their flagship Runwell watch line with the new Runwell Automatic.

Automatic watches have a rotating weight inside the caseback.  As you wear the watch, the movement of your arm causes the weight to rotate, winding the watch.  There are no batteries. You can also wind the stem, like a traditional mechanical watch if you don’t wear it for a day or two.

This is my well-worn 41mm Shinola Runwell.

The new automatic Runwell will be larger, at 45mm.

Shinola worked hard designing the Runwell Automatic, updating it slightly, while staying true to the original Runwell design.

The addition of the exhibition caseback showcases the automatic movement through a sapphire window.

 

This isn’t Shinola’s first automatic.  Last year’s Monster series featured the company’s initial automatic movement in a diver-style watch. The Runwell Automatic is a return to the company’s design roots.

Pricing and availability have not yet been announced. To read more about the Runwell Automatic watch, and to join the waitlist for updates, visit the Runwell Automatic story or Shinola.com.

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Shinola updates the classic Runwell with automatic movement originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 30, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Smart Nora Snoring Solution review

REVIEW – If you or your partner snores, you know the struggle. I’ve snored for years and tried all kinds of solutions, so I jumped at the chance to review the Smart Nora snoring solution. Has Bob finally secured peace in the bedroom after all these years? To the review!

What is it?

It’s a system that uses a sensor to detect snoring, activating an inflatable insert under your pillow to stimulate your throat muscles and resume normal breathing.

What’s in the box?

The Smart Nora kit includes everything you see in the picture below, including:

  • The base unit.
  • The Bluetooth sensor “egg” with a USB charging cable.
  • An egg cradle for wall mounting.
  • The pillow insert.
  • A soft sleeve for the pillow insert.
  • A standard power chord, with adaptors for international markets.

Design and features

The Smart Nora is a non-invasive solution to reduce snoring. The unit consists of three primary components. The first is a 20″ by 8″ pillow insert connected to an air hose:

The second is the sensor egg, a palm-sized Bluetooth unit (4″ by 2-1/2″ by 1-1/4″) that detects your snoring:

And the third component is the base unit, a 10″ by 4″ by 7″ box that manages all the functionality.  

Here’s what it looks like when everything is in place:

And believe it or not, this thing really does seem to work in my case. Let’s walk through the setup, then we’ll talk about operation and performance.

Setup

You’ll have the Smart Nora setup in just a few minutes. You start by connecting the air hose from the pillow insert to the base unit.

The power plug also connects to the base unit. The Smart Nora includes multiple adaptors for international markets, which is a nice bonus if you plan on taking it on trips.

The sensor egg is charged by plugging it into the base unit with the USB cable that’s included with the package. Once charged, the egg can be disconnected and operates via a Bluetooth connection.

The pillow insert also includes a foam padded sleeve that can be used if desired.

Slide the pillow insert into your pillowcase under your pillow, and you’re good to go!

The sensor egg is designed to be in close proximity to the user when sleeping and includes an adhesive-backed mount so that you can position it on the wall or headboard above the sleeper’s head. I have a nightstand next to my bed right next to my pillow, so I’ve been keeping mine there.

Operation

The pillow insert is where all the action is. When snoring is detected, an air compressor in the base unit gently inflates air bladders in the insert to get things moving. Here’s what it looks like when the insert inflates:

And here’s an inside shot of the air bladders. Once they come to full inflation, the weight of your head will gradually deflate them back to the flat position.

You can also select the height to which the insert will be inflated. I started in the “high” position, but found it to be a bit uncomfortable for me. I’m using the middle position right now.

The controls for the sensor egg are all on the underside. You can adjust the sensitivity of the device to account for noisier bedrooms. The Bluetooth connection reset is there as well as the power on/off pad.

When fully set up, you just push on the egg to turn it on or off. A blue light indicates that the unit is on.

Throughout the course of the night the insert will slowly inflate when snoring is detected, then slowly deflate in a cycle that runs about 30 seconds. The gentle motion is intended to stimulate your throat muscles to resume normal breathing.

Performance

I really like the usability of the Smart Nora solution. A lot of snoring devices can be pretty invasive, involving mouthpieces or other equipment that takes a lot of getting used to. There’s none of that here. Setup takes minutes. No changes are required to your bed arrangement. When you’re ready to go to sleep, you just press the egg and go to sleep in whatever position you are comfortable with using your regular pillow.  You will hear the air compressor and some squeaking as the pillow inflates/deflates, but the noise is subdued and the movement is slow and gentle. It does take about a week to get used to, but I don’t even notice it now.

After a week of adjusting to it, my wife and I have both noticed significant improvements in my snoring. There are nights when I snore like a rusty chainsaw cutting through cinderblocks. While the Smart Nora hasn’t completely eliminated my snoring (I have some pretty bad allergy issues), it’s certainly much better. My wife isn’t getting woken up in the middle of the night by my commotion like she used to, and if I do snore she says it’s significantly less disruptive than it was before. Four weeks in and I feel like I am getting better rest as well.

The Smart Nora is clinically tested to be effective. I had an opportunity to chat with one of the researchers at Sleepscore Labs that ran the clinical trials on the Smart Nora. 29 couples were monitored in their homes for two weeks without the Smart Nora, and then two weeks with the device. Electronic monitoring demonstrated measurable improvements in sleep quality for both partners, and daily surveys indicated that 78% of the participants (both the snorer and partner) believed that their sleep was improved after using the Smart Nora. I’d say that pretty much aligned with my personal experience.

It’s important to note that there are lots of causes for snoring, and the Smart Nora isn’t a guaranteed fix. It won’t work for you if have sleep apnea, for example. I’d suggest you check out the Smart Nora web site and have a chat with your doctor to see if it might work for you.

What I like

  • Non-invasive snoring solution that’s easy to adjust to.
  • Simple setup and operation.
  • Excellent usability.
  • Subtle looks don’t stand out like a medical device in your bedroom

What needs to be improved

  • May not work for all snoring conditions.

Final thoughts

There can be lots of underlying causes for snoring, and the Smart Nora presents a unique solution that’s backed by clinical studies. I can’t say that it will work for everyone, but I can tell you that it’s worked for me and (more importantly) my wife. We’re both sleeping better on a nightly basis and I haven’t been banished to the spare room for month. Everyone wins. The excellent usability also makes for a solution that’s easy to use daily. I’ll keep you posted as I continue to use it.

Price: $329.00
Where to buy: Buy it at the Smart Nora web site.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Smart Nora.

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Smart Nora Snoring Solution review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 30, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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The Silk Magnetic Cable Wrangler is attracted to your charging cables

NEWS – I just can’t help myself. I’m drawn to cable organizers like the Cable Wrangler (see what I did there?) by Silk, a company based in Austin, TX. Silk describes themselves as a “jaunty, down-to-earth, and highly-caffeinated group of folks that, since 2009, have taken our products seriously, but ourselves … not so much” (Silk website).

The Cable Wrangler is a simple device that measures 3.24″ x 3.24″ or 82 mm x 82 mm and uses magnets to keep your charging cables organized on your desk or nightstand. It works with all cables and if the cable is not “attractive enough, use included magnetic collars to boost its Tinder rating” (Silk). It has a “hefty grip that won’t slip” (perhaps a silicone base) and comes with a lifetime warranty – “No commitment issues here” (Silk). These guys are funny! The Silk Magnetic Cable Wrangler – which includes three magnetic collars – comes in two colors, No. 2 Pencil Gray and Lightly Toasted Beige, and is available from Amazon for $19.99.

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The Silk Magnetic Cable Wrangler is attracted to your charging cables originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 30, 2019 at 8:26 am.

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How to Clear the Cache on Your iPhone and iPad

Is your iPhone or iPad performing slower than usual? It may be that its storage is almost full, or there are several hidden files that may be hindering it from running at optimum speed. Whenever you use your iPhone or iPad, tons of tiny, hidden files are created in your apps, containing data needed to run the apps. These are stored in a temporary area in your device’s memory called the cache. Such files include memory hogs, junk files, and other unwanted or temporary cache files, and while your iPhone or iPad can have their caches cleared automatically by the system, you can still do… Read more