The new Canvas Collection from Brothers Leather Supply offers a modern take on a classic design

Founded in 2014, Brothers Leather Supply has been steadily building a reputation around their affordable leather products and distinctive urban/rugged style. The latest offering from the Grand Rapids, Michigan studio serves up a whole new look (and materials) with the Canvas Collection. 

The Canvas Collection sports a modern look while paying homage to heritage design elements. The streamlined, squared designs in the Motown and Windy City Backpacks cater to the daily carry needs of the commuter with ample padded interior pockets for laptops, tablets, and electronic accessories. Breathable mesh backs, padded backpack straps, a top carry handle, and YKK zippers add modern functionality to the designs.

The Big Easy Duffle Bag boasts a similar streamlined design aesthetic that looks to be at home in the gym or on the road.

I like the unique style of this collection. The color options (solid gray, black, and olive) will look great in both business-casual offices and travel adventures. Leather accents and metal hardware highlight the overall design and look really sharp across all the color combinations. I’m also digging how Brothers has turned the classic leather lash tab into a distinctive design element… a clever little highlight that shows an attention to detail.

The Canvas Collection offerings are priced between $195 and $215, a nice price for hand-crafted, well-designed bags. Go check them out at Brothers Leather Supply.

Filed in categories: Bags, News

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The new Canvas Collection from Brothers Leather Supply offers a modern take on a classic design originally appeared on on February 25, 2017 at 10:30 am.

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Ably Apparel with Filium review

Do you enjoy doing laundry? If you answered yes, then click the back button on your browser because this isn’t a review that you need to read. But if you answered no, then stick with me because Ably Apparel with Filium might have the perfect shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants for your laundry hating heart.

What is it?

Ably Apparel makes clothing that repels odor and stains – for weeks. Their clothing line is made of 100% cotton that is Filium activated. Filium is an eco-friendly technology that makes natural fabrics like cotton repel dirt, stains, liquids and resist odors.

They carry men and women’s garments that include short sleeved t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, zippered jackets, hoodies, and sweatpants.

They sent me a sample of one of their long sleeved women’s t-shirt.

Testing their claims

I knew that I would have a hard time testing their odor claim because it’s very rare for me to have body odor. In fact, I already wear my clothes several times before washing them just because they never smell bad. I know it’s hard to believe, but my workout t-shirts don’t get smelly even when I sweat.

Stains, on the other hand, that’s where I have can have some issues. Especially when it comes to food or condiments that are red like ketchup and tomato sauce. Sometimes I think my shirts have a magnet for stains.

So let’s get to testing the Ably Apparel with Filium.

Instruments of torture

Red cooking wine
Kraft Classic Catalina salad dressing
French’s Classic Yellow Mustard
Heinz Ketchup

Red cooking wine

For test number one, I picked the red cooking wine, which I dripped on the shirt. As you can see, it beaded up perfectly and I was able to touch a tissue to the droplets and it sucked them right off the shirt without staining the shirt.

Result: The red cooking wine was no match for the Ably shirt.

Kraft Classic Catalina salad dressing

Next up is some red colored salad dressing. The drip did not bead up because salad dressing has a much higher viscosity (thickness) to it.

But I used a damp paper towel to wipe off the salad dressing blob with no residue remaining whatsoever.

Result: The Kraft Classic Catalina salad dressing was no match for the Ably shirt.

French’s Classic Yellow Mustard

Test three called for something of a different color… so I chose mustard, which I think is completely disgusting. I apologize to all mustard lovers, but yuck!

I deposited a quick squirt of the nasty substance on the Ably shirt and then followed up with a wet paper towel which smeared the mustard instead of cleaning it off the shirt. I got another wet paper towel and tried wiping at the mess a bit harder, but unfortunately….

The stain remained. If you click the image above, you can just barely make out a yellow streak to the right of the red arrow.

Result: The Ably shirt was no match for the French’s Classic Yellow Mustard.

Heinz Ketchup

Let’s go back to something red. This time I went with my all time clothes staining nemesis, ketchup.

Squirt, swipe with a paper towel, and…

Result: The Heinz ketchup was no match for the Ably shirt.

It wiped off easily with no residue. Wow. Filium, where have you been all my life?

After these tests, I lost a bit of interest and left the shirt in the laundry bin for a couple of days like I also do with my everyday clothes because no one who is “normal” immediately does a load of laundry when they get a stain on a shirt.

A couple days later I washed the Ably shirt with a load of other clothes and unfortunately, I could still barely make out the yellow mustard stain upon very close inspection.

I repeated the entire test with the freshly washed and dried Ably shirt and had the exact same results. Everything red could be cleaned off easily with no residue or resulting stain, but the mustard won again with another streak that I wasn’t able to clean off.

I also wore the shirt for several days during my workouts and checked for odors, but found none as expected.

Then I decided that I should try the same test with a regular 100% cotton shirt without the magic Filium. So I did…

As you can see, the results were not pretty.

  1. Red cooking wine
  2. Kraft Classic Catalina salad dressing
  3. French’s Classic Yellow mustard
  4. Heinz Ketchup

The reason for the large streaks is because that’s what happened when I tried to clean them off using the same method that I used with the Ably shirt. The difference between the Ably garment and another 100% cotton garment without Filium was like night and day.

Final thoughts

If your clothes tend to look like you used your shirt as a napkin, then Ably Apparel with Filium might be just the type of garments you’ve been looking for… that is as long as you stay away from mustard.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Ably Apparel. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $48 and up
Manufacturer: Ably
Pros:
  • Stain resistant
  • Odor resistant
  • Dries quickly
Cons:
  • Mustard wins

Filed in categories: Reviews

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Ably Apparel with Filium review originally appeared on on February 25, 2017 at 9:30 am.

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Organize your daily medications into individual packets with the PillSuite

Have you ever gone on a trip and had to pack all your bottles of medications and supplements only to find they take up too much space? The PillSuite helps eliminate that problem. This system allows you to organize your daily pills into a pill organizer which has a spout on the lid so that when the organizer is inverted, you may use the spout to pour each day’s medication into a small plastic bag (food-safe biodegradable plastic bags with soy ink panel) that can then be closed by the sealer. You can then label them with the date and time to be taken if necessary. The baggies can then be packed without taking up valuable space in your suitcase or purse. When it’s time to take your medication, you simply tear off the bottom of the bag which is perforated. The PillSuite comes with a sealer, 7-part sorter with built-in funnel, two rolls of 200 biodegradable pill bags, and 4 AA batteries. It is available from The Grommet for $34.95 and the 400 Packets Refill for Pill Pack System is also available from The Grommet for $7.95.

 

Filed in categories: Health, Fitness, Sports, News, Travel Gear

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Organize your daily medications into individual packets with the PillSuite originally appeared on on February 25, 2017 at 8:39 am.

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Spring 2017 gadget giveaway!

To celebrate spring, we are giving away nine awesome products speakers from Audioengine, headphones from 808 Audio, a hybrid women’s smartwatch from Martian and many more. One winner takes it all! Entering is easy! Just for answering three questions in a comment at the bottom of this post. And if you’re willing to jump through a few extra hoops, you can get up to three additional entries which greatly increases your chances of winning. Please click through to read the details on the prizes and to submit your entries for a chance to win our spring gadget giveaway prize pack!

Prizes:

One person will win a prize pack consisting of 1 of each of the 9 products shown below:

Audioengine HD3 wireless speakers

When our own Bill Henderson reviewed the Audioengine HD3 wireless speakers, he said:

If you judge a speaker by how it is to be used (and you should), then Audioengine’s HD3 wireless speakers are about as perfect as you can get.

That’s high praise for these small bookshelf sized speakers that feature a built-in DAC and have Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

Price: $399.99
Website: audioengineusa.com

808 Audio: Performer Headphones

New suspension ear cup technology designed by DJs and sound engineers for an instant, tailored fit and long listening sessions  

  • New Technology: First ever headphone with ear cup suspension technology for the best possible ergonomic fit for heads of all sizes and designed for long listening sessions and all-night spinning
  • Perfect Fit: The fit with silicone headband padding provides more bass than found with a flat curve – ideal for those DJs who want to “feel” their music; and also has a 90° vertical ear cup rotation for single ear monitoring
  • DJ Inspired: Sound engineers and influential DJs, including EDM DJ and producer Audien, hand-selected the Performer’s robust features, ensuring they are perfect for both casual listeners and professionals
  • Budget-friendly: Substantial headphone with quality materials for the casual listener or aspiring artist at an accessible price point – $79.99 with standard detachable cable and $99.99 with full wireless Bluetooth functionality with up to a 15-hour battery life

Price: $99.99 (Bluetooth)
Website: www.808audio.com

Lifeprint: Lifeprint Photo and Video Printer

Augmented-reality photo printer that allows you to instantly print your favorite photos and videos from your iPhone

 

  • Augmented Reality Hyperphotos make your prints come to life in your hands.
  • Print photos and videos from your iPhone camera roll, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.
  • Use free iPhone app to edit, share and make printed photos come alive.
  • “Follow” your friends and even print to any Lifeprint printer in the world.
  • Printer requires no messy toner or ink. The ZINK film is simple to use and the process is environmentally friendly.
  • Sticky back film makes it easy to put your photos anywhere and decorate your space with favorite memories.

Price: $129.95 / 30 pack photo refill $19.95
Website: www.lifeprintphotos.com

Martian Watches: mVip

Hybrid smartwatch designed specifically for women connects your lifestyle to everyday living, reshaping how you communicate in style

  • Discreet smart notifications appear on a modest 38mm round diameter
  • LED notifications appear discreetly hidden at the 6 o’clock position so you only see your customized alerts and notifications from the apps you authorize
  • The watch offers seven unique LED colors, allowing users to create and customize their own “VIP Groups,” representing apps and notifications that are most important to them
  • Easily set personalized vibration patterns along with custom-assigned LED alerts through Martian’s Smart mVip app
  • Tracks steps, distance and sleep duration and quality using a 3-axis accelerometer
  • Enjoy up to 14 days of notifications battery use and 2 years use with your analog Japanese Quartz movement
  • Choose to receive notifications from 1000’s of iOS or Android apps that use push notifications
  • Additional features include camera control to control your smartphone’s camera shutter from your watch and phone leash so you never leave your phone behind
  • Winner can choose color/style of mVip watch

Price: $195 – $215
Website: www.martianwatches.com

Click & Grow: Smart Herb Garden + iOS App

Self-watering garden that takes your home cooked meals and handcrafted cocktails to the next level with totally fresh, organic, GMO-free, homegrown herbs, veggies and flowers

  • The Smart Herb Garden uses NASA-inspired technology to help herbs, flowers, veggies and fruits grow faster and more nutritious.
  • iOS companion app offers support, tips, watering reminders, recipes and will ensure your plants are growing exactly as they should.
  • No pesticides, fungicides, hormones or any other kind of harmful substances are used in any of Click & Grow’s fresh homegrown plants.
  • Just set and forget, the technology supplies plants with the right amount of oxygen, water and nutrients with a built in light that helps grow the plants faster.
  • Each starter kit includes three basil plants. Variety refill packs sold separately include the Pizza Mix, Craft Beer Mix, Tea Mix, Tomatoes, Chilies, Catnip, Flowers and more.
  • Add a unique design element to your Smart Herb Garden with Click & Grow’s handcrafted wooden cases cut and made from real solid wood. Available in White Oak, Black Alder and Walnut.
  • Ask about Smart Farm coming in Winter 2016. Click & Grow is optimizing the Smart Herb Garden’s technology to grow food on a larger scale and change how people grow food. Their mission is to provide sustainable, clean and affordable food to all.
  • Winner can choose from orange, green or white.

Price: $59.95
Website: www.clickandgrow.com

ECOXGEAR: EcoCarbon Speaker

100% waterproof, floating speaker delivers hours of playtime and unparalleled rugged capabilities

  • Comes equipped with multiple mounting accessories to affix to your tent, bike, or board
  • Floats on top of water so tunes can be enjoyed in the lake, ocean or pool
  • Offers over 12 hours of playtime, a 4 step LED battery meter and an LED flashlight for navigating

Price: $130
Website: www.ecoxgear.com

GEAR4: Carnaby iPhone 7 case

Carnaby combines cutting edge D3O® technology with Apple color matching for a sophisticated and slim look that shows off your iPhone

  • Provides premium protection without the bulk
  • Made with unique patented D3O® technology and Trusted Protection, a material used by Olympic ski teams and the military, to deliver superior impact protection through advanced shock absorption
  • Injectable D3O® delivers more impact protection per cubic millimeter than other leading materials
  • TPU bumper features color matched D3O® inside with a perforated back panel (TPC rear) to show off the original color of your iPhone
  • Rear impact protection and scratch-resistant surface results in an ultra-slim, stylish and protective case that can make an impact and survive modern life
  • Available in Gold, Rose Gold, Silver for iPhone 7
  • Available in Silver for iPhone 7 Plus

Price: $39.99
Website: www.gear4.com

Elgato: Eve Energy for Apple HomeKit

A smart plug that monitors a device’s energy consumption, and controls it with a simple tap or using Siri

  • Switch your devices on or off with a simple tap or using Siri
  • See your home at a glance through beautifully crafted and detailed consumption reports on how much energy your devices are using
  • Enabled to function in Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, guaranteeing  advanced security and privacy
  • Easy setup via Bluetooth technology, no hub or gateway necessary
  • Download the free Eve app view all data collected by Eve and control all accessories featuring HomeKit technology

Price: $49.95
Website: https://www.elgato.com/en/eve

SCOSCHE: MagicMount Wall Charger

Sleek wall charger eliminates tangled cords and cluttered countertops with high- powered Neodymium magnet system

 

  • 12W (2.4A) Perfect Charge USB port automatically detects and charges phones and tablets at the correct rate for the safest and fastest charge possible
  • Built with powerful rare-earth Neodymium magnets, which will not damage devices, to securely maintain a tight grip on a device.
  • Cradle-free design allows users to position their screen for optimal viewing
  • Surface is covered by a non-scratch silicon pad to prevent any marring of the device’s surface
  • Combine with other SCOSCHE MagicMount products for a complete, cradle-free system for mounting devices while on the road, in the office or at home

Price: $29.99
Link: www.SCOSCHE.com

How to enter (please read carefully – any missed steps and your entry will be disqualified):

Between now and 02/28/2017 midnight EST leave a comment on this page answering the questions below.

  1. What is your current phone?
  2. What game do you play the most often on your phone?
  3. What non-gaming app do you use most on your phone?

Get a 2nd bonus entry by subscribing to our newsletter:
You’ll receive 3 emails a week with latest post info. Subscribe here.
If you’re already a newsletter subscriber, let me know and you’ll get a 2nd bonus entry.

Get a 3rd bonus entry by tweeting:
The Gadgeteer is giving away a giant prize pack of 9 gadgets. Entering is easy! http://wp.me/p3LRkH-Tok

Get a 4th bonus entry by linking to The Gadgeteer home page on Facebook.

Make sure you come back to this page and leave a separate 2nd comment stating that you subscribed to the newsletter, a 3rd comment with a link to your tweet and a 4th comment with a link to your Facebook post. To get the links for Twitter and Facebook, just click the time stamp of your post and it will give you the page with that post so you can grab the link.

At some point on 03/01/2017, I’ll pick one random winner using random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hrs to claim their prizes. If I do not receive an answer to my email in that time period, I’ll do other random.org drawings till the prize pack is claimed.

Rules:

1. Only one entry per person (warning: I check IP addresses).

2. Gadgeteer writers and their immediate family members may not enter this contest.

3. the-gadgeteer.com is not responsible for any lost packages due to incorrect shipping addresses.

4. the-gadgeteer.com is not responsible for the winner not accepting their prize offer within 48hrs. The winner will be posted on this contest page, in the contest page comment section and will be emailed using the email provided in the comment section. Check your spam folder.

5. Winner must have a US shipping address.

Filed in categories: News

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Spring 2017 gadget giveaway! originally appeared on on February 24, 2017 at 4:53 pm.

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Trivae is a Gadgeteer worthy trivet. Wait, what?

If you enjoy cooking, then you can probably relate to this scenario. You’re making a pot of soup, boiling pasta, tomato sauce, etc. and you need to put the pot lid down so you can stir or serve the food. If you place the lid “face down” on your stove or countertop, the condensation that built up from the steam in the pot will drip onto the surface, making a mess that you’ll need to clean up later.

Trivae has been designed to solve this problem. It’s an over-engineered trivet that can keep one or even two hot pots from damaging a countertop and it can also fold into a z-shape to convert into a handy pot lid holder.

In this configuration, the Trivae trivet can hold upside down lids or even elevated platters of food. Don’t worry, it won’t collapse under the weight of your homemade meat lover’s pizza because it’s strong enough to hold up to 10 pounds.

Trivae is available in four colors and is priced at $80. You can read more about it at Trivae.com and order from The Grommet or Amazon.

Filed in categories: Home and Kitchen, News

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Trivae is a Gadgeteer worthy trivet. Wait, what? originally appeared on on February 24, 2017 at 11:46 am.

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