Home John

PURP screen protector, PIXL magnetic building blocks, ONDU III pinhole cameras, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

NEWS – This week we are bringing you information about six different crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter that will be of interest to camera buffs, EDC fans, and more.

PURP NanoTech TGlass Blue Light Screen Protector

What is it?

PURP is a screen protector for iPhone 7, iPhone 7Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8Plus and iPhone X, iPhone XS iPhone XR and iPhone XSMax that blocks harmful blue light.

Why is it cool?

A screen protector that protects your phone’s screen and blocks blue light is cool because blue light is bad for your eyes. too much exposure may increase the risk of macular degeneration because blue light from devices like your phone penetrates all the way to the retina (the inner lining of the back of the eye) where it can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina.

What to consider before pledging

Right now, PURP is only going to be made for iPhones. If you have an Android device you are out of luck. Also, they won’t be shipping until next May. I have a feeling other blue light blocking screen protectors will be on the market well before PURP begins shipping their rewards. In fact, I reviewed such a screen protector that is available now. The ZAGG Invisibleshield+ with Vision Guard filters out blue light too.

Where can I find more info?

The PURP campaign ends on 12/08/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $5,317. You can pre-order a PURP screen protector starting at $21. After the PURP campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

SoundWave

What is it?

SoundWave is a Bluetooth speaker with a built-in light that makes it look like a candle.

Why is it cool?

The built-in light looks like a “candle” that flickers to the beat of the music that you’re playing and the speaker has a 25hr battery life. It also has a microSD card slot that you can use to plug in a whole library of tunes.

What to consider before pledging

Rewards aren’t scheduled to ship until July of next year. That’s a long wait time.

Where can I find more info?

The SoundWave campaign ends on 11/23/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $12,789. You can pre-order a SoundWave starting at $127. After the SoundWave campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

PIXL: A Magnetic Building System

What is it?

PIXLs are teeny tiny multi-colored building blocks that have rare-earth magnets in them that can be used to make 2D and 3D creations.

Why is it cool?

Ummm… magnets! Need I say more?! I didn’t think so.

Where can I find more info?

The PIXL campaign ends on 12/14/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $15,000. You can pre-order a PIXL starting at $16. After the PIXL campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

ONDU III- Pinhole Cameras

What is it?

ONDU III is a camera that has no lens, no mirror, no batteries, and don’t need to be focused. They are pin-hole cameras that use 120 or 135 rolls of film (remember what that is?) to create old-school images.

Why is it cool?

The ONDU III is cool because… well, look at it. Any photography enthusiast would love to have one of these cameras as a gift. You can even use filters with them because they have a special magnetic mount.

Where can I find more info?

The ONDU campaign ends on 11/28/18 and they have already met their funding goal of $20,000. You can pre-order an ONDU starting at $89. After the ONDU campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Morph Bottle

What is it?

The Morph Bottle is an insulated water bottle that has a built-in storage compartment in the bottom. The bottle can hold 15-20 ounces of liquid depending on how full you fill the storage compartment.

Why is it cool?

The think the Morph Bottle is cool because it’s an all in one water bottle and gear holder. You can put your keys, a protein bar, etc., in the bottom of the bottle and still use the bottle to hold water or another beverage. The EDC compartment collapses to allow the storage of my liquid if you don’t carry as much in the storage compartment. It’s a pretty genius idea.

Where can I find more info?

The Morph Bottle campaign ends on 12/23/18 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $30,000. You can pre-order a Morph Bottle starting at $37. After the Morph Bottle campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in May 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

LUNA Tiny Titanium Flashlight

What is it?

LUNA is an ultra mini flashlight made of Titanium.

Why is it cool?

The think the LUNA flashlight is cool mainly due to the size and material it’s made of. But it’s good to know that it’s been designed to be waterproof and highly durable.

What to consider before pledging

It is powered by hearing aid batteries and there’s no info on the run time yet.

Where can I find more info?

The LUNA campaign ends on 12/08/18 and they have already reached their funding goal of $999. You can pre-order a LUNA starting at $20. After the LUNA campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in March 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

PURP screen protector, PIXL magnetic building blocks, ONDU III pinhole cameras, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 17, 2018 at 8:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Act quickly and you can get the Fingbox for $69

NEWS – I reviewed the Fingbox in December 2017 here on the Gadgeteer. It is a small hockey puck-sized device that you connect to your router (it is NOT a firewall). It helps you to keep an inventory of the devices on your home WiFi network and will detect when a new device connects to your network. The Fing app then allows you to block the new device manually or automatically thus protecting your network from nearby intruders. It also allows you to detect all the new or anonymized devices that are within range of your network (Fings calls this feature the Digital Fence). In addition, it detects your home’s WiFi hotspots, detects bandwidth hogs, and allows you to schedule or manually pause internet access to your network devices. The app has been updated several times since 2017 and is now much more user-friendly.

Some commented to my review that the Fingbox was interesting but a little too pricey ($129 at that time). However, now it is available for $69 on Fing’s website – be sure to use code: VIPBLACKFRIDAY (not the advertised BLACKFRIDAY code which makes the Fingbox $74). I received an email that says the sale is good until the end of the day November 17, 2018. If you miss this sale you could try the code BLACKFRIDAY to try to get it for $74. Additionally, it looks like standard shipping is free! It’s a great device and I recommend it especially if you don’t have a newer router that provides a lot of the features this device provides.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: ,

Act quickly and you can get the Fingbox for $69 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2018 at 5:36 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Otterbox celebrates Mickey’s 90th birthday

NEWS – Otterbox must really love Mickey Mouse. Last month I told you about the Otterbox stand that turns a Google mini into a Mickey Mouse head. Well, now they are back with three new iPhone cases that feature everyone’s favorite mouse. These new Ultra-slim Symmetry Series cases celebrate Mickey’s 90th birthday with three designs that are compatible with the iPhone 6 through the iPhone Xs Max. Each case features a raised bumper to protect the screen, built-in buttons, and Disney artwork on the back. I’m digging the light grey one with Mickey in various poses. If you want to celebrate Mickey’s bday (he sure looks good for his age), head over to otterbox.com and order one of these cases for $44.95 – $54.95 each.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: , ,

Otterbox celebrates Mickey’s 90th birthday originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Aurochs Space Long Wallet review

REVIEW – What the heck is a long wallet, you ask? It’s a wallet designed with extra room for all of your stuff, but the dimensions are taller rather than thicker in order to keep a lean profile. We’re looking at the Space Long Wallet from our friends at Aurochs today, which brings the size in a luxurious vegetable tanned leather. It’s also very user-friendly. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a long weather wallet sized to fit all your cash, cards, and your phone.

Hardware specs

  • Full-grain vegetable tanned leather
  • 3.5” by 7.5”

Design and features

The Aurochs Space Wallet uses full-grain vegetable tanned cow leather as the primary material, and it’s lovely. The hand feel is soft & supple. The leather is just thick enough to provide nice density without feeling like a massive brick in your pocket.

On the interior, the Space wallet offsets the dark brown leather with tan secondary interior flaps to provide some contrast. This also adds a bit of usability by visually separating the slots when you are managing your stuff.

I previously reviewed the Aurochs Gravity Wallet, and was very impressed with the build quality then. It looks like Aurochs is getting even better with their finishing work in the new wallets. It’s precise, with nary a bad stitch or exposed seam to be found. Check out the close ups:

Nice, right? Even the little divider in one of the pockets is made 100% from leather. It’s only about an inch and a half long… that’s some nice precision work:

The form factor is a long bifold design that measures 7.5” tall by 3.5” wide. Other than an embossed company logo, you won’t find any additional ornamentation or design elements on the exterior. The leather just speaks for itself.

The left panel includes 4 card-sized slots, each of which has beveled edges to help you sort out your assortment of credit cards, business cards, and the like. I’d estimate that 8 cards can be kept there comfortably, and you could get to 12 cards in all with some stretching.

Behind the card slots is a vinyl-lined pocket for your big bills. No folding required! This pocket runs the height of the wallet, and is generous enough to pack a small stack of bills while allowing easy access. There’s no pinching your fingers to get into the bill slot (or any pockets on this wallet, for that matter).

Moving to the right panel, the front pocket is kind of a multipurpose slot. It’s got a magnetic strip closure and a small leather separator in the pocket so that you can use this space for assorted items like a USB card, a key, or your spare change. I didn’t find the magnetic strip to be super powerful, but it clips just enough to keep that loose stuff from falling out.

Behind the multipurpose pocket is another big pocket intended for your phone. This pocket is designed for a 6” phone, like the iPhone Xs. Check out the fit shots below for an iPhone Xs in its case:

The iPhone Xs Max and it’s 6.5” display will fit (barely), but it is a tight squeeze. Check out the pics below to see the Xs Max in the same space:

See that? It’s doable but very tight. I think you’d want to stick to 6″ phones to make the best use of this feature.

Performance

As far as daily use goes, the Space wallet is as simple and usable as it gets. Every pocket and slot is easy to manipulate, with soft leather that doesn’t pinch your fingers or make you work too hard to get to your stuff. The layout is well-sorted out to make maximum use of the large size and doesn’t gunk things up with fancy gimmicks. This is a wallet that’s really easy to live with on a daily basis.

The leather is just outstanding. The rich, supple texture makes it a nice product to handle. It slips easily in and out of your pocket. I also expect it to break in quickly, and the patina should be lovely as it ages.

My only real issues with the Aurochs Space Wallet are purely around personal preference. It’s a big wallet at 7.5” by 3.5” and can get thick with the phone in it’s slot. If you’re a front-pocket wallet person, you may find this wallet to be too big for you.

There are, of course, alternatives to carrying your wallet in your front pocket. I’ve worn it with dress pants that have deep front pockets, and it’s just fine. It’s perfect for slipping in the breast pocket of a sports coat (or jacket), or keeping in your bag or purse (it is a unisex design). I actually see this as a great travel wallet, especially since I seem to carry a bunch of extra cards and such when I am on the road. I’m also always carrying a bag when I travel.

What I like

  • Excellent craftsmanship
  • High quality vegetable tanned leather
  • Simple usability

What needs to be improved

  • Doesn’t fit larger phones
  • Long wallet form factor may not work for some people

Final thoughts

I continue to be impressed by both the quality and the design work coming from Aurochs on their small leather products. If you like keeping your pockets clutter-free, the Space Long Wallet is ideal for keeping all your essentials organized in one place. The leather is beautiful. The design is user-friendly. If you like the form factor of a longer wallet, this is a good one.

Price: $109.00
Where to buy: Aurochs Web Site.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Aurochs

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Aurochs Space Long Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Stationery nerds will love this wooden washi tape dispenser

NEWS – If your idea of storing your washi tape collection is throwing all the rolls in a Ziploc storage bag, then I have something that you’re going to drool over. Got your Kleenex ready? Ok, check out these gorgeous wood and cast iron holders from Galen Leather Co. Available in your choice of mahogany or walnut, these holders have a 25cm wooden cylinder that is designed to hold up to 16 standard sized MT rolls of 1.5cm wide washi tape. You can stack multiple holders if you have an extensive collection, and each holder comes with a metal cutter. Want one or more? Head over to galenleather.com to buy one for $35.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Stationery nerds will love this wooden washi tape dispenser originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2018 at 10:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.