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Julie’s gadget diary – I’m switching back to Android

It’s been three months since I switched from an LG G6 to an iPhone 7 Plus and I’m ready to go back. Big shock right? Three months might not sound like a long time, but it’s the longest stretch that I’ve had with an iOS device in many years. 

Why am I switching back? It’s not that I don’t like the iPhone 7 Plus. I like it quite a bit. I like the camera, iMessage, AirDrop, and the battery life. It’s a great phone and anyone would enjoy using it. But I’m not really “anyone”. I have a built-in desire to tweak, and bend devices to my own will and that’s tough to do with iOS and the iPhone.

When I switched to the iPhone three months ago, I told myself that tweaking was time-consuming and not necessary. It was the self-talk equivalent to “it’s time to grow up and put away childish things” that a parent might have with their child.

That talk didn’t stop me from being frustrated that I couldn’t rearrange the iPhone’s home screens my way instead of the Apple way.

I also ran into a few instances where I wished I had an Android phone so I could pair a mouse and a keyboard and use it like an ultra-tiny laptop to connect to The Gadgeteer web server while I was at my day job where they block SSH to outside machines.

Then when I wanted to revisit my in-vehicle handsfree media player project from a few years ago I quickly figured out that I can’t do those sort of things with iOS.

But what really did it was when Verizon Wireless sent me a Samsung Galaxy Note8 to review a couple weeks ago. That’s all it took to make me realize that I’m an Android person, not an iOS person and it’s time to switch back.

Now the question is which phone do I switch back to? A Samsung Galaxy Note8? Hmmm…. that’s a nice phone, but I don’t think so. I think I’ll go with an LG V30 or the new Pixel that’s going to be announced on Wednesday. I wish I had Android phone to switch to right now, but I don’t. I hate waiting…

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Julie’s gadget diary – I’m switching back to Android originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 1, 2017 at 12:04 pm.

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World Maker Faire New York 2017

This past weekend I attended the 8th Annual World Maker Faire New York held at the New York Hall Of Science. Started in 2006 by the publisher of Make: magazine and sponsored heavily by Barnes & Noble, Maker Faires are “family-friendly festivals of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement.” Everything a gadget lover could ever desire is represented in some form at a Maker Faire.

I spent two whole days touring the exhibitions and still feel like I might’ve missed out on some cool stuff.

Mainstays of the Maker Movement, like microelectronics, 3D printing, drones, and robotics are always represented well at these events. Several big names like Dremel, Mimaki, and Otterbox often display and demo prototypes of up-and-coming tech that they’re working on. It’s a great chance to get hands-on with the next level of DIY gear.

3D printers abound at Maker Faire, there’s a whole section devoted solely to vendors selling the biggest, smallest, fastest and cheapest 3D printers on the market. In addition, plenty of booths and exhibits showcase every type of 3D printing accessory and artwork.

Kids are definitely the target audience for a good part of the exhibits and the DIY spirit is strong. Little Makers were able to craft everything from a cardboard pinball set to their own soap to PVC marshmallow guns. All types of kits and workshops were being offered and enjoyed throughout the weekend.

With a strong emphasis on STEM learning, even the toys and fun workshops were geared toward teaching the participants critical thinking and the basics of science and mathematical theory

Art and music are also a big focus of Maker Faire. There are roaming street bands and tech-inspired performers making music nonstop.

The art on display tends toward the big and impressive sort. Where else can you see a fire-breathing dragon/bus as well as a robotic dinosaur being controlled by a hacked Nintendo Power Glove?

Competitions at Maker Fair are a great diversion after spending the day deciding which of the hundreds of vendors you’ll be giving your money to.

The Power Racing Series, known as “the only sub-$500 electric vehicle racing series that features grown-ups driving kids cars,” is great fun and offers a lot of thrills and spills.

Drone Racing, featuring competitors from the Aerial Sports League, is a fan favorite as well. With races running all weekend long, there was always something cool happening by the race area.

This year drone racing was even more exciting because fans were able to “ride-along” during races by donning FPV goggles that tapped into racers’ feeds.

And no Maker Faire would be complete without some Coke and Mentos shenanigans. The crowds lined up each day for the soda fountain fun.

If you like technology, are a nerd at heart, or just like arts and crafts, there’s something for you at a Maker Faire, be sure to check one out. To find a Maker Faire near you visit Make: magazine or the Maker Faire website here.

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World Maker Faire New York 2017 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 26, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gear bags (part 2)

Welcome to part two of an on-going series where we tell you about the gear that we use on a daily basis. Today we have the favorite gear bags for five of our writers here on the Gadgeteer team. Enjoy!

Also read:
The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gear bags (part 1)

Ryan Chapman

I am not someone who carries a bag around often; unless I am going to the dojo. Years ago my sister bought me an Ogio Gymbo duffel bag for Christmas. It is large enough to fit two karate uniforms, tonfas, sparring gear, purse, and a water bottle. For being about six years old and used multiple times a week, it is in immaculate shape.

The side pocket is used for odds and ends such as hair-ties and any important papers I may receive. It is thin, long, and not very wide. The back pocket is supposed to be used for shoes or dirty clothes, but I use it to store snacks and my purse to keep them away from my sparring gear and uniform.

You can read more about Ogio bags at ogio.com and although this particular bag doesn’t appear to be available any longer, you can buy similar Ogio bags from Amazon.

Joe Porletto

Here’s a pic of my trusty GoRuck GR1, 26L. I’ve been using this bag every day for the last two years and there’s barely any signs of wear. It’s the toughest, most durable piece of gear I own, which is important because it carries ALL of my other gear on a daily basis. It was a large investment for a backpack, but knowing that it will most likely be the last EDC bag I ever have to buy makes it all worth it. Can’t say enough good things about it.

You can read more about this bag at goruck.com.

David Ferreira

With all the hurricanes and prep and such, getting in and around Atlanta has been fun, in a totally not-fun kind of way. I was scheduled to return on Monday but weather delays, over-booking and general madness delayed me until Wednesday night. Finally made it back to Seattle, and will be here until after Irma visits Atlanta next week, so time to catch up. I managed to use the OVC earbuds under the most strenuous circumstances, so the review on those are coming early next week.

In the meantime, the zip has 4 pictures of my bag – use any of them you like. The next paragraph starts the bag post. More soon.

I travel a lot these days. I mean A LOT (sorry to shout). I leave on Sunday morning and get back home early Friday morning. It can be grueling so my bag has to be able to withstand anything the airlines, hotels, Uber and I can throw at it.

My gear bag is the Tumi Alpha Bravo Shaw Deluxe Brief Pack. I’m guessing they just couldn’t fit any more nouns in the name. Regardless, this bag is big – since when I am not at home my office is my bag, so it would have to be. I can carry pretty much anything I need – laptop(s), tablets, notebook, power and charging gear, cables, pens, ibuprofen, and Altoids.

One of the nice things (especially when I am in Seattle) is the waterproof side pocket that holds my umbrella when I am home or a bottle of Smart Water when I am not. And the luggage handle sleeve on the bag makes sure that no matter how much I overload it, I can just hook it on my luggage handle and not overload myself.

Plus it is an upscale-looking bag, which is never a bad thing when meeting with clients. This bag solves all my carry problems, and a few I didn’t know I had until I got the bag.

You can read more about this bag at tumi.com and you can order one from Amazon for $365.

Andy Chen

My gear bag is the Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon II Backpack.

Overall size: 9.5″(L) x 8″(W) x 17.5″(H)
Main compartment: 9″(L) x 4.5″(W) x 17″(H)
Volume: 1100 cu. in. / 18L
This is what I carry to my desk job. I don’t carry much, but I want it to be comfortable. It’s one of the smallest dual-strap backpacks in the Maxpedition lineup, which is what I wanted. I like that it has many loop attachment points on the outside for hanging things (trauma shears, flashlight), plus two “bottle” mesh pouches on the outside just in case I want to convert my work bag into a day pack.

You can read more about this bag at maxpedition.com and you can order one from Amazon for $100.

Available in Black, Khaki, Wolf Gray and Foliage Green.

Ryan Pagel

I recently bought my first piece of Filson outside of their clothing line.  I decided to go with the 24 Hour Tin Briefcase.  This has quickly become one of my favorite gear bags for many reasons.  It is what I am currently carrying to the office to hold my computer, charging cables, notebook, etc. and has the style of a rugged waxed canvas bag with bridle leather accents that fit in a corporate setting but also says “I have my own style and march to my own beat”.

What I love about this bag is that although it is technically a computer bag, it is also a great gear bag for weekend excursions, a day hike or a day trip up to Estes Park, Colorado to see the sights and do some walking, shopping and maybe a picnic with the family.  One main pocket with a padded area for a computer holds a lot more stuff than you would think.  the two front pockets have some interior organization for pens and a zippered compartment for hiding cash, thumb drives, passports, etc.  there is an open back pocket for quick access to papers, an iPad, plane tickets (I am assuming they still have paper tickets, I just use my phone now), and also has a strap across the back to put it over the top of the handle of your roller bag.

Filson has been a master of canvas bags for decades and they just seem to be getting better.  I would highly recommend checking out this great bag whether you are looking for a new EDC to the office or something for the weekend getaways and especially if you are looking for both.  If you need more storage or want to carry camera equipment or bulkier items, I would recommend looking into their Padded Computer Bag.  It has many of the things I love about my 24 Hour bag but offers more padding and internal volume.  You honestly can’t go wrong with Filson.

You can read more about Filson bags at filson.com and you can buy this back on Amazon for $389.

Also read:
The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gear bags (part 1)

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We’ll post another series of favorite gear bag blurbs next week for five more Gadgeteer team members, so stay tuned.

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The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gear bags (part 2) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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OtterBox: 10 years of iPhone Protection

2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple iPhone, and OtterBox, a company I thought only made dry boxes, has been making cases for every single model since the original game-changing phone ever since.  To mark the milestone, OtterBox hosted an event in San Francisco, CA.

“Pass it On” refers to an iPhone that OtterBox sent to seven cities around the world to highlight the wide variety of cases they make to suit nearly every style you can think of.

The autographed phone itself that traveled the world was on display.

The entire product line was out on display, including a rather curious, squat-looking one.  The black and yellow one in the middle is a case for the very first iPhone, next to a case for the newest iPhone X. As of this writing, the iPhone X has not been released for sale yet. However, OtterBox had this rugged full-size sample on display.  Note the vertically-oriented lens cutout.

Did you know that Lifeproof is also under the OtterBox family?  I didn’t know!

Here’s another iPhone X prototype. Unlike most Lifeproof cases I’m familiar with, this one doesn’t have a front cover, so it’s mostly “splash resistant”.  However, the newest iPhones already have a degree of water resistance, but this case has a black rubbery seal around the opening to keep some moisture out.

Not to be outdone by the likes of Yeti and other premium coolers, OtterBox also had one of their Venture coolers on display.  This one is the Venture 25, which has a 25 quart capacity.  Also available in 45 and 65 quart.  The Venture features latches that can be operated with one hand quite easily, plus modular accessories such as dividers, cutting boards, and external attachments. The Venture coolers are actually made in Detroit. Yes, I was surprised, too.  That tiny gap in the rubber seal is designed to allow pressure equalization to avoid situations where you can’t open the lid after a change in altitude. With two-inch thick refrigerator-grade insulating foam that will keep ice for 14 days, I can attest that this thing feels built to last. And if you’re wondering, it is certified bear-resistant, and prices start at $249.99.

I was sent home with this Pursuit-series iPhone case for my model 7 Plus.  The Pursuit is one of OtterBox’s slimmest yet rugged case.

The case comes in two halves.  The front half has no cover, but it keeps the screen inset so the screen doesn’t lay flat.  An OtterBox tech on site suggested assembling the case with the phone face down into the “front” part of the case first. I noticed a foam ring around the camera cut out. Nice touch. See where the speaker cutouts are? Those audio “holes” actually have a membrane to resist liquids.

That tiny hole on the bottom can accommodate a lanyard (not included)

It’s a little hard to see, but the sleep toggle switch above the volume is actually a rotary cam switch.

The back of this particular color combo is actually a deep blue.

Here I am peeling back the charging connector.  Note how the audio “holes” tilt forward instead of down.

To read more about OtterBox and their family of products, please visit OtterBox.com.

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OtterBox: 10 years of iPhone Protection originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gear bags (part 1)

Welcome to part one of an on-going series where we tell you about the gear the we use on a daily basis. Today we have the favorite gear bags for five of our writers here on the Gadgeteer team. Enjoy!

Larry Geisz

My current gear bag is the Solo Altitude backpack. I reviewed this backpack in April and love it for traveling, the reason I wanted to review it. This pack is small enough to carry as a personal item so I can bring my rolling carry on bag with me when I fly. With room for my iPad and all the other electronic gear I cannot seem to leave home without the Solo Altitude backpack has and is serving me well.

Read Larry’s review of the Solo Altitude backpack.

Dave Moore

Here’s my go-to gear bag, an Ogio TP-8. I use this bag for a number of reasons – pockets. There are more pockets on this bag than most others I’ve found. This allows me to compartmentalize my needs. Things I use on a flight (like tickets, USB cable & earphones), are in one pocket. Stuff I might need on arrival (umbrella, sunglasses, folding clothes hanger) are in another. Keeping things separated by activity means I don’t have to dig through layers to grab something buried at the bottom of the bag, spilling contents and potentially losing something important.

The bag is relatively inexpensive but has held up well on multiple international trips, often times, being my only luggage. Unfortunately, Ogio no longer makes this bag but has a similar replacement in their Renegade RSS.

It’s constructed of ballistic nylon with tough zippers. There is even a side-mounted panel permitting the bag to be carried briefcase-style, handy for boarding and leaving aircraft. Anyone who has flown and sits in an aisle seat has been pummeled by passengers who insist on wearing their backpacks, swinging back and forth looking for seat 37F.

The padded laptop compartment in the rear accommodates 15.6″ laptops, or a few shirts and pants 😄. Internal pockets abound making keeping smaller items contained and in their places when needed.

I’ve carried a multitude of other bags in the past, but so far, I think the Ogio TP-8 has been one of the better ones.

It doesn’t appear that this bag is still available, but you can browse through other OGIO bags on Amazon.

Bill Henderson

Although I’ve been a fan of Waterfield bags for a few years, it was their Maverick Laptop Messenger Bag that truly made me appreciate how beautiful and practical a bag can be. The all-leather Maverick has a classic elegance in its simplicity. It won’t hold as much as a backpack and it’s size required me to edit some of the stuff I was carrying around, but I’m now much better for it. Since my review, the bag has weathered and the marks and scars on the leather from daily use just add to its beauty.

I’ve gone from carrying just a few items to over-stuffing it, but the Maverick’s interior shows no signs of wear and tear. My only regret is not getting the larger version, but I’ve learned to adjust. I’ve told people at my office that the more I use this bag, the more I like it.

Although the Maverick messenger bag is a bit pricey, the years of use it will deliver makes it a bargain. This may be the best bag Waterfield makes.

Bob Patterson

The Tom Bihn Stowaway is a multitasking marvel. The pocketing and organization are so good, you won’t believe how much stuff this tiny bag can swallow. It switches effortlessly from your mobile office to your ideal travel companion and converts to a backpack when you need both hands-free. Look for my full review coming soon!

You can read more about the Stowaway at tombihn.com.

Michael Strange

I don’t own a gear bag (I need to get on that), however, I do have a bag that I love to use when going to the gym. My Nike Vapor Training gym sack. I was sick of carrying a large oversized duffle bag to the gym and this bag is the perfect size. It’s water resistant and has a zipper pocket on the front, perfect for carrying my keys and lock. The drawstring closure gives me quick easy access to the main compartment and also allows me to wear the bag like a backpack. Inside there’s a divider that gives me 2 separate compartments for my stuff. I’m so glad I purchased this bag and when it wears out I won’t hesitate to buy another.

You can order one from Amazon for $26.99.

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We’ll post series of favorite gear bag blurbs next week for five more Gadgeteer team members, so stay tuned.

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The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gear bags (part 1) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2017 at 9:33 am.

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