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Twinkle, twinkle, little skirt – Milky Way galaxy version

Last year, we told you about a skirt from ThinkGeek that was decorated with constellations that came to life when you turned on its hidden battery-powered LED lights.  That skirt was pretty, but it was missing scientific accuracy. ThinkGeek has introduced a new twinkling skirt decorated with “Great Observatories Unique Views of the Milky Way – a NASA image created from data provided by the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory”.

This above-the-knee circle skirt has three layers – a see-through layer printed with the Milky Way image, white gauze layer, and a white liner.  You’ll need to do a little assembly by snapping in the stands of 60 cold-white LED wire lights.  The lights can be operated in six different modes, and they will appear violet as they shine through the printed layer.  The lights are not as heavy as Christmas tree light strands, but they are sturdy enough to withstand being sat upon.  With a fresh set of batteries, you’ll twinkle for up to nine hours.

After removing the electronics, the 100% polyester skirt can be machine washed in cold and line dried.  It has two side pockets and a 2″ tall flat-front waist, with elastic and a zipper in back.  It’s available in sizes S-3X for $59.99.

The Twinkling Milky Way Skirt is a ThinkGeek design and is exclusive to ThinkGeek.

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Twinkle, twinkle, little skirt – Milky Way galaxy version originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Thinium ReCharge+ 2.0 backup battery review

What is it?

The Thinium ReCharge+ 2.0 is a slim Smartphone/Tablet charger that can be used to provide power and charge via several different types of connections, using its interchangeable adapters and built-in USB port. It can be re-charged directly via a wall outlet without the need for a cable or a wall wart.

What is in the box?


Package contents:
• 1 x Thinium ReCharge+ 2.0 Power pack
• 2 x Magnetic plates
• 1 x Kickstand
• 2 x Suction cups
• 1 x USB-C adapter
• 1 x Micro USB adapter
• 1 x Lightning adapter
• 1 x Booster

Design and features

The Thinium ReCharge 2.0+ is a smooth to the touch, all black, lightweight, versatile charger that can be used to charge or power devices via its USB port or directly charge and power any phone that uses either a USB-C, USB micro or Lightning port. It can also charge 2 devices simultaneously. It has a popup section that uses the various adapters and allows you to connect your phone directly to it. It also has a pop out AC plug that allows a phone that is connected to it to be charged while the Thinium is also being charged from a wall outlet.

There are suctions cups that are provided that can be mounted to the surface of the Thinium to secure the phone, and there are 2 magnetic plates with a strong adhesive backing that can be attached to the phone or the phone case, and magnetically clamped to the Thinium.

On the opposite side of the Thinium, there is a kickstand that can be used to support the phone horizontally, so that full screen viewing can be enjoyed while it is being charged. The Thinium can also be used in a similar manner to charge a tablet.

What I like

The Thinium is lightweight and the fit and finish are great. It offers multiple ways to charge devices, and multiple adapters to accommodate different types of ports. I like that the AC plug is built-in so that there is no need for a cable and a bulky wall wart.

What can be improved

While the Thinium offers versatility in several ways, when it was attached to my phone I found it to be very bulky and inconvenient to carry around as a daily charging device. Today’s technology offers QI wireless portable chargers that are thin and light, and also include the ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously. In addition, since wireless charging works with many cases that have built-in kickstands, that feature is readily available but in a more convenient package. When I attached the magnetic plate to the back of my case, it did not work for me because my phone case has a built-in kickstand that made the distance between the case and the Thinium too far. I decided to take it off and adhere it directly to the back of the phone to try it without my case. However, the adhesive was so strong that I needed to use a screwdriver to remove it. In my opinion, that would have damaged my phone if attached directly to it and if I later needed to remove it. Prior to removing the magnetic plate from my case, I placed my phone in its case on the QI wireless charger that I regularly use. About an hour later, I picked up my phone and I almost dropped it because the magnetic plate had become incredibly hot. To me, this means that if I decided to use the Thinium charger and the magnetic plate to keep it in place, I would only be able to use the Thinium to charge my phone from then on, because using any other wireless charger would result in this heating or overheating problem.

The other factor that needs improvement is the capacity of the battery and the time it takes to provide a charge. I plugged in my iPhone 8Plus at 58% of charge and it took 2 hours and 40 minutes to charge it to 100%. I then plugged in my iPad Pro 12.9″ which was at 64% to charge, and by the time it reached 71%, the Thinium’s battery was completely depleted. The next day I charged the Thinium to full charge and again I plugged it into my iPad Pro 12.9” via the lightning connector. It charged my iPad from 66% to 86% in 2 hours and 30 minutes, and the battery was once again completely drained. While I understand that it is primarily made to be used with phones, it does state that it has the ability to charge other devices via its USB port, and that it can charge multiple devices simultaneously. Based on the initial results of its charging capability, it seemed pointless to test it using my power hungry laptop. Manufacturers today offer slim, lightweight, high-powered wireless chargers with way more capacity. This lack of capacity just compounds the negatives of this device.

Final thoughts

While the Thinium offers some versatility and features in an innovative way, it lacks the portability, and the 3000mAH capacity is simply not enough for what people today demand and need from their devices. The added bulk negates the advantage that most of the other convenient features are intended to provide. While this device may work for some, it is likely to be passed over by most.

Price: $69.99
Where to buy: Thinium Website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Thinium.

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Thinium ReCharge+ 2.0 backup battery review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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This gadget solves the age old problem of sorting and folding socks

One household chore that I detest is matching and folding socks. I guess it’s because, for only two people, we have enough socks between us to cover the feet everyone in a small country. We also tend to do shipping container sized loads of wash so the task of folding them seems to take forever. That’s why the SockSync caught my eye. It’s an easy and what looks like a shockingly fun way to match and fold a clean load of socks.

The SockSync looks like a laundry basket with a specially designed spinner on top. The spinner has tubes that you place a sock over and then when you find the matching sock, you place it over the end and shove it through to create a perfectly “folded” pair of socks. Genius! Can’t picture what I’m talking about? Check out the video below.

Cool right? I can’t wait to try the SockSync. So look for my review soon. If you can’t wait, head over to socksync.com or Amazon and order one for $59.99. Yes, it’s a little expensive, but if it can tame the dreaded sock monster, it just might be priceless.

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This gadget solves the age old problem of sorting and folding socks originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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The Lastolite Joe McNally Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 Plus is reliable gear for the photographer


In my world of portrait photography and what I call “object” photography, I frequently utilize my Canon Speedlite flash head along with a softbox to get that beautiful, wide, soft light I need to flood and enhance my subject. That kind of lighting also creates interest and enhances the detail.

Thus far, the problem that I have encountered with all of the softboxes that I own is the badly designed method that they all use to be attached to my flash. They attach via Velcro in some sort of way, and over time during a shoot, they either become detached on one side or in some cases, they fall off completely.

As I continued my search for a better designed softbox, I came across the Lastolite Joe McNally Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 Plus. This 8.7” x 8.7” softbox mounts to the flash with “a secure twist-lock silicone strap”. It has two built-in magnets for mounting accessories as needed, and it can also be used off-camera. By design, it is capable of producing a very soft light with the use of both interior and exterior diffusers. It folds flat for easy packing, and it even comes with its own carrying bag.

If you are like me and you have been looking for a softbox like this, you can pick one up at B&H Photo Video for $78.88.

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The Lastolite Joe McNally Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 Plus is reliable gear for the photographer originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Forget the knife – get yourself a Swiss Army axe!

You won’t be building a house or blazing a wilderness trail using just this multi-tool, but it could be a handy addition to your home or car toolbox or your hiking or camping kit.  This Wit Bird multitool with an axe is perfect for small jobs where you need a few tools but you don’t need a full mechanics toolbox.

The tool measures 6.88″ x 3.54″ x 1.18″ and weighs 14.5 ounces.  It’s made of ferritic stainless steel metal with a wood inlay handle.  It includes the following tools:

  • Hammer
  • Axe / hatchet
  • Knife
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Flat screwdriver
  • Fish fork
  • Saw
  • Allen wrench
  • Bottle opener
  • File
  • Locking plier
  • Flat nose pliers
  • Scale knife
  • Rasp
  • Wire cutter
  • Can opener
  • Wrench

At $12.88 each, you could get a couple of these Wit Bird multitool axes to throw in your car and your outdoor kits.  Get them at Amazon.

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Forget the knife – get yourself a Swiss Army axe! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 6, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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