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Sena Vettra Folio 360 Rotating leather iPad Pro 12.9 case review

The iPad Pro 12.9″ is a great device.  It has a beautiful screen, works beautifully with the Pencil, and could serve as a laptop replacement for many.  But it’s bigger and heavier than other iPads, as you would expect, which means you’re likely to want a stand for it sometimes.  Sena, known for their leather accessories, of course offers a beautiful leather case / stand for the iPad Pro.  They actually offer the Vettra Folio 360 Rotating leather case for the new iPad, the iPad Pro 10.5″, and both the original and the 2017 versions of the iPad Pro 12.9″.  I was lucky enough to be selected to give it a try.  I requested and received the Vettra for the new version of the iPad Pro 12.9″ in black.

Hardware specs

  • Dimensions:  12.25″ x 9″ x 0.75″
  • Weight: 1 lb, 5.2 ounces
  • Leather book-style design
  • Microfiber lining

Design and features

For some reason, the 12.9″ iPad Pros seem to be marketed as a business device, and most accessories for it seem to always be in somber colors.  Sena follows this trend by offering the Vettra for the new 12.9″ Pro only in black or tan.  I don’t use my Pro for business, but even if I did, I’d prefer a nice blue or a red case for it, because I love color.  The black case is very suited for business, and of course, it’s great for every day use, as well.

The inside of the front cover is lined with a microfiber material to protect the screen.  The other side has a slightly flexible, snap-in case for the iPad.  The snap-in case is also lined with microfiber to protect the back of the iPad, and the outside edges are covered with the same leather used on the rest of the case.

The grooves on the inside of the front cover are “stops” where the iPad rests when the case is folded into a stand.

The front of the Vettra is plain, with no product branding.  The leather spine of the case is very soft and flexible, so you can fold the front cover completely to the back.  The vertical line on the front of the case is a fold line for the stand function.

The front cover has magnets that operate the iPad’s sleep/wake function.  They didn’t hold the front cover closed on my iPad Pro, though, perhaps because the front cover with its leather and stiffening was just too heavy for the magnets to hold closed.

The back of the case is branded with the Sena name at the bottom right.  You can also see an elastic loop that holds your Apple Pencil.  The vertical line on the back of the Vettra is another fold line for the stand function.

The bottom has a cutout for the Lightning connector.  I had no trouble plugging in the Apple Lightning cable and charging the iPad while it was in the Vettra case.

What you can’t see in this photo, or even very well in person, are the sets of small holes on each side of the Lightning connector that open up the case over the bottom speakers.

The top of the case also has the small speaker holes, again not visible in this photo.  The sound from my iPad wasn’t muffled by the Vettra case.

You’ll also see cutouts for the headphone jack and a hole at the mid-point for the top microphone.  At the far right is a metal button that covers the iPad’s power/standby button.  You need to be sure to press in the center of this button to easily operate the iPad’s power button.

As you can tell from the name of the case, the iPad can rotate from landscape to portrait orientation in this case.  A couple of details you can see in this close up of the portrait orientation is that the back camera and its flash are left uncovered; the case doesn’t interfere with the camera’s operation.  You’ll need to turn the case into the portrait orientation to be able to use the back camera at all, though.  And this case is big and a bit cumbersome to hold while you take photos with the back camera unless you stand it on a stable surface.

The center of the back has another microphone opening.  And you’ll see two metal button covers on the left side of the image that covers the volume buttons.  Adjusting the volume was easily accomplished with these buttons.

The last thing you need to notice in this image is how the case is cut away on the side opposite the volume buttons.  This leaves the iPad Pro’s Smart Connector exposed, making the Vettra usable with the Smart Keyboard, if you use one.

Here’s the iPad Pro standing in the landscape orientation.  The stand was very stable, and it worked well for watching videos on the iPad.  You can use the grooves on the front cover to adjust the viewing angle.

Here’s the iPad Pro in the portrait orientation.  I personally never use my iPad in this orientation, but it seemed that I couldn’t quite get the iPad as nearly vertical as I’d like.  It seems that you would always see a slanted view of the screen in portrait orientation.

I don’t know what type of material was used as the stiffening inside the front and back of the case, but you can see it started to bow after I’d been using the case for a few weeks.  That’s the back of the case you see here.  The front of the case also bowed a bit, but it’s not visible when the case is laying on its front, as it is here.

Performance

The Vettra Folio 360 Rotating leather case for the new iPad Pro 12.9 is sturdy and very protective.  I didn’t worry about the screen at all when I put the iPad in this case inside my bigger gear bag.  I liked the stand function very much, especially the landscape orientation that I primarily use.

The Vettra for the big iPad Pro is heavy, at 1.33 pounds, but that’s because of the quality and the sturdiness of the materials used for it.  However, it does make the iPad Pro 12.9 even heavier, bringing it to about 2.9 pounds.

What I like

  • Sturdy and protective
  • Well made
  • Works well as a stand for watching videos or reading
  • Magnets in front cover operate the iPad’s sleep/wake function

What needs to be improved

  • It’s a bit cumbersome to hold in your hands while using the back camera
  • It makes the already heavy iPad Pro 12.9 even heavier

Final thoughts

The Sena Vettra Folio 360 Rotating leather case for iPad Pro 12.9″ (2017 model) is a sturdy, protective case that also serves as a stable landscape or portrait stand for this big, heavy tablet.  Because of its style and quality, you’ll find it will fit into the business environment beautifully, and it works just as well for more casual environments.

Price: $89.95
Where to buy: Sena Cases and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Sena Cases

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Sena Vettra Folio 360 Rotating leather iPad Pro 12.9 case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 23, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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The RIF6 CUBE Mobile Pico Projector lets you watch a movie or video anywhere and at anytime!


For the past two months, I have written a few news stories about projectors of various sizes and specifications. As summer approaches for us here in the USA, barbecues, and picnics, and movie nights become more frequent, with the idea of watching a movie popping up at various unplanned times, and sometimes at unplanned locations. These days, technology has allowed us the necessary portability to be ready to project a movie at any moment. In addition to being able to project the movie, most folks expect a decent level of quality.

The RIF6 CUBE Mobile Pico Projector is a mini portable HD 2-inch Video Projector that comes in a ready-to-go package that includes built In Speakers. It measures just 2 inches by 2 inches by 1.9 inches, and yet it offers LED DLP projection with 50 lumens with a lifespan of 20,000 hours. It can display a screen size of up to 120 inches, and has several inputs including USB, HDMI, and MHL. It allows you to mirror from your Smartphone, laptop, tablet, streaming device, etc, and it has flexible legs that allow you to adjust the position for the best viewing. The internal battery lasts for up to 90 minutes.

If you would like to take a closer look at The RIF6 CUBE Mobile Pico Projector, it is available on Amazon for $220.38.

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The RIF6 CUBE Mobile Pico Projector lets you watch a movie or video anywhere and at anytime! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 23, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Life is also too short for dumb coffee tables!

We recently told you about the Sobro smart nightstands Indiegogo project.  (My geek side won out over my design plan, and I’m waiting for my pledge for two of the nightstands to be fulfilled in October of this year.)  As it turns out, Sobro already has some experience with smart furniture, because they also used crowd-funding to launch their Sobro Coffee Table last year.  This smart coffee table is the ideal piece for your TV or game room.

The Coffee Table has a 22″ x 11″ x 7″ refrigerator drawer that can keep up to 32 drinks cold.  It also has two built-in Bluetooth speakers with enhanced sound and bass, and it has 2 USB charging ports and four 120V power outlets to keep your phones, remotes, and other devices charged.  Underneath is an LED fixture for mood lighting or for a nightlight.   A tempered glass top has built-in touch screen controls to control all the functions of the table without having to download an app to your phone or tablet.

And the table even has two storage drawers to hold your remotes, coasters, game controllers, cables – even your old-school TV Guide, if those things still exist in a paper format.

The Sobro Coffee Table measures 43.1″ x 22.8″ x 22.8″ and weighs 100 pounds.  It is available in all white (second photo), all black, or black with woodgrain (top photo).  You can purchase directly from Sobro for $1499.00 for any color or at Amazon for $1299.00 for the white and woodgrain or $1499.00 for the all black model.

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Life is also too short for dumb coffee tables! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 23, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Airthings Wave smart radon detector review

You’ve heard of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, but have you heard about an electronic radon detector? Me neither. So I was surprised and interested when the folks at Airthings offered to send me their Wave smart radon detector for a review. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Airthings Wave smart radon detector looks like a smoke detector, but it will let you know what level of the deadly radon gas is in your home or building. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. What exactly is radon gas? According to the EPA:

Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

Why is radon gas deadly? According to the National Radon Defense site:

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer from radon exposure can include:

  • Persistent cough.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Wheezing.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Coughing up blood.
  • Chest pain.
  • Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
  • Loss of appetite.

Scary right? You may have used a charcoal radon detector kit before. It comes in a small box that you leave in your house for several days before mailing it to a lab for the results. Unlike the charcoal tests, the Airthings Wave smart radon detector will let you see the level immediately anytime you want to check it and it will also tell you the humidity, and temperature level. It even supports hand gestures.

Hardware specs

Power supply: 2x AA alkaline (LR6) or Energizer L91 batteries
Dimensions: Radius: 120 mm (4.72 in)
Height: 36 mm (1.42 in)
Weight: 219 g (incl. 2x E91 batteries)
Radon sampling: Passive diffusion chamber
Detection method: Alpha spectrometry
Operational and storage environment:
Temperature: +4 °C (39 °F) to +40 °C (104 °F)
Relative humidity: < 85 %
Initial Accuracy/Precision at 100 Bq/m3 (2.7 pCi/L):
7 days < 20 %
1 month < 10 %
Measurement range: 0 Bq/m3 to 50000 Bq/m3 (0 pCi/L to 1350 pCi/L)

What’s in the box?

  • Airthings Wave smart radon detector
  • 2 AA batteries

Design and features

At first glance, the Wave smart radon detector looks like a traditional smoke detector. It’s made of white plastic with a sensor and a built-in color LED indicator on top.

It has a magnetic cover on the base that covers 2 AA batteries which are included with the unit and which should last up to 1.5 yrs before they need to be replaced. The base plate can be attached to the wall or ceiling with a single screw.

How do you use it?

All you have to do is install the batteries, mount it on a wall or ceiling and wait an hour for it to do its initial reading. Then all you have to do is wave your hand over the unit to see if the reading is green which means good air quality (low radon levels), yellow which means the level of radon gas is above the recommended levels and red which means the levels are high and action should be taken which is usually the installation of  a Radon Mitigation fan.

You can use the Airthings Wave smart radon detector by itself, but you can pair the detector with your Android or iOS device and use it with the free Airthings app to automatically record radon, humidity, and temperature level readings so you can see trends over time. This important because just one good reading doesn’t mean you’re home free. Radon readings fluctuate with the seasons and the location of your home.


The app has an easy to understand interface that will immediately show you if there is an issue with radon gas in the area where the detector has been placed.



You can drill down into the data to see averages and trends for radon, temperature, and humidity levels. The Airthings website mentions an audible alarm that will sound if the radon gas levels are unsafe, but I couldn’t find any details about this feature in the app.

If you’d like to read more about the accuracy of the Airthings detector, check out the article below.

Charcoal Versus Airthings – Accuracy

I don’t recall having a radon test for my home when I bought it, but that’s been almost 20 years ago. So, I was a little nervous about trying the Wave detector because I didn’t want to see a bad reading and then worry that we’ve been living with high levels of radon gas for almost 20 years. Luckily that wasn’t the case. I tested the levels in my basement (levels tend to be the highest on the lowest level of your home) and was greeted with very low levels for a couple of weeks.

What I like

  • Really easy to setup
  • Runs on batteries that are included and will last up to 1.5 years
  • Portable, so you can move it from room to room to check levels
  • Can be used alone or with an app to keep a history of the levels

What needs to be improved

  • Expensive
  • Wish it also included a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and radon detector in one device for the same price

Final thoughts

I really like the idea of having an easy to use radon detector that can give me a reading immediately instead of having to wait weeks and send a kit in the mail for the results. I also like that the Airthings app will show trends and averages over time so you can see how the radon levels fluctuate during the spring, summer, or winter months.

I gave the detector to a friend of mine who used a radon test kit and found that his house had high levels. He had to have a special remediation fan installed in his house to bring the levels down. The Airthings Wave smart radon detector will see if the fan actually works. Too bad he didn’t have the Wave BEFORE he had the fan installed… Anyway, I will update this review in a few weeks after the detector has collected some data on his house. So stay tuned.

Price: $199
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Airthings.

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Airthings Wave smart radon detector review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 22, 2018 at 3:55 pm.

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The Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount will keep your weighty cameras safe


Another one of my passions is writing, filming and producing short films. I have only worked on one so far, but I have several more planned for the future. One of my scripts includes a scene in an SUV, where I need to mount sizeable and somewhat weighty video cameras at various positions on the external of the vehicle, including on the hood, and on the sides of the driver and passenger doors. Obviously, a major concern is the ability to do so and ensure that there is no damage to the quite expensive video and audio equipment that will be mounted.

My search for a very safe, budget-friendly solution led me to the Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount. These mounts come in various sizes for various applications, but the focus of this news story is safety and the “bang for the buck” for this specific model, primarily because it is designed for cameras and rigs that weigh up to 8 pounds. This capability makes it more eligible for professional productions, with the ability to mount a large variety of professional video cameras and DSLR cameras. As with these types of gear, it can be mounted to any flat surface, and with this model via the dual 3-inch diameter suction cups, which do a great job of creating a strong and secure bond that will hold even when the vehicle is moving. This mount is designed to reduce vibration, and with the 3 adjustment points and the ball head, it allows for great versatility.

The Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount is available for purchase at Amazon or B&H Photo Video for $65.

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The Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount will keep your weighty cameras safe originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 22, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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