John – Page 736

Tapplock one smart fingerprint padlock review

Today most of the products we use are more secure than ever and security features like fingerprint sensors are commonplace in high-tech items like phones, tablets, and laptops. Now Tapplock has taken that technology and put it into a paddock. The Tapplock one combines today’s technology with unbreakable durability. It’s the padlock reimagined and I got the chance to review one for the Gadgeteer. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

Quite simply the Tapplock one is the world’s first smart fingerprint padlock. It’s available in 3 colors Sterling Silver, Gun Metal, and Midnight Black.

Whats in the box?

Tapplock one
Charging cable
User manual

Design and features

The Tapplock one has a bold and sturdy design. The first thing you notice is that the combo dial has been replaced by a fingerprint sensor and a small power/mode button. Say goodbye to keys and combinations. The lock’s body is forged using Zamak 3 zinc alloy, with a 7mm cut resistant stainless steel shackle, and it has a double-layered lock design with anti-shim and anti-pry technologies making Tapplock one virtually unbreakable. All in all, it’s really a nice modern take on the boring old padlock.

The lock is rust-proof, water resistant up to IP66, and has full functionality between 14 and 140 degrees F. The users manual, however, does point out that “Tapplock one is not waterproof when it is unlocked. Water entered through open socket may cause permanent damage.”

Tapplock uses a rechargeable battery that allows it to run for an entire year per 2-hours charge time (or 3,500 unlocks per charge). It charges using a USB charging cable that magnetically attaches to the locks charging port.

Setup

Setting up your Tapplock is quick and easy, just download the free Tapplock app from the App Store or Google Play. After a quick account setup, which includes entering an e-mail address and a password you will receive an activation code via the e-mail address you provided. Once activated you will be asked to add a new Tapplock.

After the lock has been added you’ll be asked to add a fingerprint. Enter the name of the fingerprint owner, which hand, and which finger you want to be recorded. Then simply place your finger on the sensor and voila you are now ready to start unlocking your Tapplock with your fingerprint.

3 ways to unlock

Not only can you unlock Tapplock with your fingerprint it can also be unlocked with Bluetooth using your phone or Morse-Code by pressing long/short combinations on the power button.

Opening Tapplock with your fingerprint is as easy as it sounds. Push the power button to turn the Tapplock on (Status Indicator light will glow white) then simply place your finger on the sensor to unlock it. Tapplock uses state-of-the-art captive fingerprint sensors that allow unlocking in under 0.8 seconds. You can even store up to 500 different fingerprints to allow access for multiple users.

To unlock your Tapplock using the app push the power button twice to activate Bluetooth mode(Status indicator light will flash blue). Then using the app tap unlock to open the Tapplock. While in Bluetooth mode the app allows you to check Tapplocks battery percentage, edit your fingerprint, and access the lock settings.

In lock settings, you can add a profile pic, name your Tapplock, setup Morse Code, and check for firmware updates.

Morse Code allows you to open Tapplock without using your phone or fingerprint. To setup Morse Code in the app, choose a pattern of short and long presses of the power button anywhere from 6-12 presses long. To activate Morse Code mode press the power button 3x (status indicator light will flash green) then enter your chosen short-long button press code to open the lock.

Shareable wireless access

Using Bluetooth and the Tapplock app you can share & control access remotely to unlimited users. The app also allows you to control the type of access each user has. You can set permanent or limited access, down to a specific date and time. And you can revoke access at any time.

Sharing is easy. Enter the e-mail address and choose a username for the person you want to share access with. That person will then receive an invite via e-mail asking them to download the Tapplock app. Once they set up an account they will be granted access to your Tapplock.

Using the app you can also track and monitor access history. The app will show which user accessed the lock, when they accessed it, and the location. The app even keeps track of fingerprint access.

What I like

Cutting-edge fingerprint technology
It’s water and weather resistant
There are 3 different ways to unlock it. (Fingerprint, Bluetooth, and morse code)
Shareable wireless access
It’s virtually unbreakable

What needs to be improved

Might be a bit pricey for some.

Final thoughts

I’ve been using the Tapplock on the locker at my gym in replacement of an inexpensive combination lock and using the fingerprint sensor really beats having to fumble with the combination dial, especially after a tough workout. I’ve even gotten a few comments and questions about the lock from other guys at the gym. Once the weather here in Michigan turns a little less harsh I plan on using Tapplock on my standalone storage shed.

The Tapplock one is everything you could want in a high-end padlock. It’s water/weather resistant and is virtually unbreakable. Add to that the ability to unlock it via state-of-the-art fingerprint sensor and Bluetooth technologies. The ability to share/control access to multiple users with the Tapplock app and the piece of mind of being able to track the locks access history. And the Tapplock one may be the last padlock you ever buy.

Price: $99.00
Where to buy: Tapplock
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tapplock.

Build your own VW Van before summer

The VW Bus T1 Campervan 3D puzzle from Ravensburger won’t be big enough to drive to the beach this summer, but it will decorate a bookshelf nicely. It’s designed after the Samba, in the United States also known as Sunroof Deluxe, which Ravensburger says was the most luxurious version of the T1. The puzzle is made of all plastic pieces that fit and stay together without needing glue. You’ll build the body on the included wheeled base, and you can assemble by eye or by checking the numbers on the back of the pieces if you run into a snag.

The design is printed directly on the plastic pieces, so there are no glued on papers to get damaged or peel off. Building the van is a great family activity for children ages 10+. Once it’s completed, the van measures 11.75″ x 5.5″ x 6″.

You can purchase the Ravensburger Volkswagen T1 Campervan-162 Piece 3D Puzzle for $29.99 at Amazon.

Things 3.4 update adds automation and linking

In the latest version 3.4 update of Things for iOS and Mac OS, automation support has at last been added, making this useful task manager even more powerful.

The linking, automation and handover actions come in the form of a new things:/// URL scheme, allowing the application to launch and add tasks with pre-filled information in the form of variables. URL schemes have been a staple of iOS automation apps such as Workflow and Launch Center Pro, allowing users to launch complex tasks with a single tap.

For example, I was able to create a workflow that asks for a list of groceries that I need that day, parses that multiple item list and adds those items as tasks to my Grocery list with a due date of Today.

There are more examples on Cultured Code’s blog post, as well as full documentation and a nifty link builder tool.

I expect several automation apps will quickly incorporate Thing’s new URL scheme and variables to make workflow building even easier.

Save on dry-cleaning costs with the LG Styler Clothing Care System

I try to avoid buying dry clean-only clothes because it’s a pain – and expensive – to have to run things over to the dry cleaners. And I tend to avoid wearing the dry clean-only clothes I do have for the same reasons. With the LG Styler, you can wear your clothes and extend the time between trips to the dry cleaners, because the Styler can remove odors, reduce wrinkles, and keep clothes cleaner by sanitizing at home. You can even use the Styler to quickly and gently dry clothes that can’t go in the clothes dryer.

The Styler looks like a tall, thin cabinet (about 72″ tall X 17.5″ wide), so it can fit in your laundry room, your closet, or even your bedroom. It uses pure water to produce steam to clear away odors, wrinkles, bacteria, and even allergens. LG says that 80-90 minutes in the sanitizer cycle reduces allergens and bacteria by 99.9%, which is more effective than 3 hours in sunlight.

Inside, the Styler has a moving hanging bar to vibrate clothes 180 times/minute to help reduce wrinkles and odors. There’s also a rack for sweaters and things that don’t need a hanger, a pants press for sharp pleats, and an accessory hanger for ties, scarves, and the like.

There’s no plumbing required; you just load up the portable water container and empty the collection container as needed. No chemicals are required for cleaning, but you can add an aroma kit to add refreshing scents onto your clothes.

The LG Styler is available in espresso or white; MSRP is about $1800. Learn more about the Styler and find a retailer on the LG Styler website.

SOLGAARD Lifepack: The Carry-On Closet review

I travel a lot for my job and I am always in search of a more user friendly, convenient and rugged suitcase or bag to help me move quickly through the airport. I have closets full of suitcases, duffels, backpacks, etc., each with their pros and cons but none of them were exactly what I was looking for. When I received the Lifepack from SOLGAARD I was extremely excited, one because it was a new suitcase and that alone gets me excited (hey, I’m a regular traveler so I kind of geek out on suitcases) and two, it offered a unique storage solution for my clothes, shoes, and toiletries that I have never seen before but we will get into that in a little bit.

What is it?

The SOLGAARD Lifepack is a carry-on sized hard sided roller suitcase that is extremely rugged and durable and comes with a collapsible closet that stows away inside the suitcase for easy packing and unpacking for your trip.

Hardware specs

The dimensions of the Lifepack are 21.6″ tall (including the wheels), 14″ wide and 9″ deep, complying with all airline carry-on size requirements (please double check with your airline on size requirements before taking this or any bag as a carryon) and has a 38 liter volume. The hard shell is made from jet black polycarbonate, which is reinforced with a gunmetal grey aluminum frame for the perfect balance of strength and weight. A TSA approved lock is integrated into the bag so you will never again worry about leaving your lock in a hotel room or having it bent or smashed as it dangles from zippers (this has happened to me on numerous occasions). The Lifepack also comes with a lifetime warranty.

What’s in the box?

The SOLGAARD Lifepack comes with the suitcase and a collapsible closet system for easy packing and unpacking or when you just need to quickly get into your suitcase to find that one thing that would normally have you digging through your neatly packed bag.

Design and features

The Lifepack has been very well thought out and constructed. Starting with the suitcase itself, the shell is as sturdy and durable as I have ever experienced in a piece of luggage. The video on their website demonstrates being able to sit and stand on the suitcase with little give. The four wheels on the bottom are high quality and glide with ease, something that is a feature you look for if you have ever owned a bag that has cut costs by using low-quality wheels. The telescoping handle is very solid and doesn’t rattle around like with other bags I have owned. It responds to your movements instantly and glides with ease over hard floors, carpet, and concrete. On the underside of the handle is a very soft, plush grip that makes pulling this bag through an airport very comfortable in your hand.

My favorite feature of the shell is the closing mechanism and the integrated TSA approved lock. SOLGAARD has eliminated the zipper and instead has used an attaché style closure so never again will you have to deal with a zipper coming off the track, getting a piece of clothing or the liner stuck in it or worry that your bag can be easily cut into even when locked. The lock is built into the frame on the shell directly under the side handle and used a 3 digit wheel locking system so you don’t need to remember where you put your key to your suitcase.

All of the features mentioned above already make this my favorite hard-sided carry-on suitcase that I own but what really separates the Lifepack from the competition is the patented internal collapsible closet system that makes for extremely fast and easy packing and unpacking. As you can see in the pictures, this internal closet is made from extremely lightweight and rugged fabric and hangs easily from the trolley handle, allowing you to see all of your clothing easily and remove just what you need without rummaging through your bag to find a shirt or pair of socks. once packed, the closet collapses and fits easily into the suitcase where you can snap it securely into place so it doesn’t fall out should you open the suitcase while it is standing upright.

I have always hated living out of a suitcase when I travel so before receiving this bag, I would get to my hotel and immediately unpack my entire bag and put the suitcase in the closet or on the side of the bed. Now that I am using this suitcase for my shorter trips, I simply open it, take out my collapsible closet, hang it from the handle and voila, I am unpacked. No more accidentally leaving a shirt or pair of pants in a hotel drawer that I forgot to look in, it’s all right there just as I packet it. No more storage cubes to separate my pants from my t-shirts and no more jamming all of my stuff into the suitcase as I race out the door to catch my flight, wondering if I left anything behind.

What I like

The rugged design and durability of the shell is sure to impress even the most seasoned traveler and suitcase abuser. The collapsible closet has completely changed the way I pack and unpack and makes finding what you are looking for effortless. I am in love with the closure and locking system. I can’t count the number of times I have broken a zipper or got it caught on something, which always seems to be when I’m in a hurry. At $249 right now on their website, I think this is a great value for the quality and ingenuity you get with this suitcase.

What needs to be improved

From a design and value standpoint, I honestly have nothing bad to say about this suitcase and portable closet system. At this time it is only offered in the one color that is shown in this review so for those of you who don’t like black luggage, this will be a negative, but for me, I prefer black luggage and the combination of the black shell and gunmetal grey frame is extremely sharp and professional looking.

Final thoughts

If you are looking for a high quality and durable carry-on sized roller bag I cannot recommend this product enough. If you are like me and are tired of having to sift through all of your neatly packed clothing to look for a specific item or are tired of spending time unpacking and repacking your suitcase when you get to your destination, this is a great solution for your travel needs. I have used this on three work trips and will NEVER go back to my other carry-on sized roller bags after using the Lifepack. Every feature of this suitcase is well thought out and engineered to make your life as a traveler easier and it is extremely successful in that effort. I could not be happier with this product and am very comfortable recommending it to our readers, which is why I am giving this the highest rating of 5 stars. Job well done, SOLGAARD!

Price: $249.00
Where to buy: SOLGAARD or Amazon.
Source: The samples for this review were provided by SOLGAARD.