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The most popular kinds of drones we’ll see in 2019

ARTICLE – Consumers arguably became most familiar with drones by getting introduced to the ones that took photos from the sky. Those kinds are still popular, and many drone enthusiasts own them.

But, like any other segment, the drone industry evolves to meet needs. Here are five kinds of drones most likely to gain prominence in 2019.

1. Pocket-Sized/Microdrones

Although there are drones of modest builds that make them maximally accessible to hobbyists, there’s a recent push toward drones that could fit in backpacks or even smaller compartments.

AirSelfie unveiled several new pocket-sized drones at CES 2019, opening up the possibilities for people who want drones they can hold in their hands. The AIR 100 is the least expensive option, retailing for under $100. It boasts a 12-megapixel camera and a six-minute flight time.

The U.S. Army is also getting into the microdrone market with plans to equip its soldiers with personal reconnaissance drones that can survey battlefields for their operators and send back footage to them. The drones weigh only 1.16 ounces and are less than seven inches long.

People could see many more uses for microdrones in 2019, especially depending on the reception of these early efforts. It’s easy to see how these gadgets could be big hits during backyard parties.

2. Home Security Drones

Households are accustomed to intelligent security cameras that move in response to changes in the environment and even use artificial intelligence to recognize people versus animals, for example. It appears the next level of home security advancements involves drones. Many of the companies offering them suggest that drones get used as part of a more extensive home security system.

If a person noticed something on a camera that caused concern, they could direct the drone to check it out in detail. Sunflower Labs has a drone called a Bee that flies autonomously, guided by sensors called Sunflowers. Users can also make the Bee fly to designated places on their properties.

Companies use most of the security drones now, but Sunflower Labs is among numerous companies trying to make drones staples of home security systems. They could be especially advantageous for people who live on expansive properties, such as farms. The moveable nature of drones could mean an owner could send only one drone to look around the whole property, instead of installing several cameras.

3. Underwater Drones

Thanks to new technologies, people can admire drones in the air as well as underwater. Companies sell models for hobbyists and professionals, with one called the Deep Trekker DTG2 Pro outfitted with 4K camera and video capabilities at a depth of up to 150 meters. Those features make the drone excellent for scuba divers who want footage of their adventures.

And, there’s the Geneinno Titan, with its three speed levels and power from six thrusters. This model has an automatic hover mode and can take shots from both high and low angles.

In today’s society, people love collecting videos and snapshots and sharing them with others. The nice thing about these water-ready drones is that they give undersea perspectives to individuals on land.

4. Disaster Recovery/Relief Drones

Engineering experts in laboratory settings have suggested drones could be excellent for helping relief workers examine rubble after earthquakes and engage in similar tasks that are dangerous for humans to undertake. In 2019, people interested in drones can expect more real-life applications of those drones.

A recent collaborative project in Japan involved TerraDrone, KDDI, and Secom, and the companies unveiled a drone used for stadium security that detects suspicious people. Representatives believe the drone could be a good fit for disaster relief missions, too.

Also, the underwater drones mentioned above help people acquire footage of surroundings beneath the ocean. But, some could do double duty and assist after disasters, too. In one case, officials in India used a drone to find the body of a miner trapped due to flooding.

That story didn’t have an uplifting outcome, but an initiative in Alaska that relies on drones could be different. Drone experts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are working on a way to use unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver supplies during medical emergencies. The researchers assert mushers on dog sleds handled the job in earlier eras, and now the task seems suitable for drones.

Many Drones to Interest Gadget Lovers in 2019

Some of these drone projects are in the early stages, but they give previews of larger trends likely to happen in the world of drones this year.

People should keep an eye on the headlines to stay abreast with how these possibilities develop, and which other companies follow suit with other ideas that fit into these categories.

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The most popular kinds of drones we’ll see in 2019 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 8, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Valentine’s Day 2019 gift guide

ARTICLE – Sound the alarms and get out your wallets because there are only seven days left until Valentine’s Day! If you haven’t already bought something for your partner in crime, significant other, sweetie, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc., here are a few gift ideas to help you out.

NixPlay Seed Wave digital photo frame

Nixplay makes nice digital photo frames and the new Seed Wave features a high definition IPS 13.1-inch or 10-inch widescreen display and built-in Bluetooth speakers that will let you play a soundtrack while viewing your photos or you can stream Spotify Connect, Pandora and Internet Radio directly from the Nixplay app or from a paired Bluetooth-enabled device.

The Seed Wave’s digital photo frame features include Google Photos connectivity which will let you create live albums that are will update as you add new images. If you’re not a Google fan, you can connect the frame to your photo albums on other social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, and Verizon Cloud.

But wait, there’s more! The Nixplay Seed Wave (I don’t quite understand where they got the name…), has a feature called Smart-Hu which is a motion sensor that wakes up the display when it detects motion. This helps it save power when no one is around to look at it. It also works with Amazon Alexa so you can control it with your voice. I reviewed their Cloud Frame last summer and felt it was one of the nicest digital photo frames I’d ever tested.

Price: $149.99 – $249.99
Where to buy: Nixplay.com

SodaStream Fizzi One Touch

The SodaStream Fizzi One Touch is a gift that is sure to make your Valentine all tingly inside. It’s the best sparkling water maker that I’ve tried so far and I’ve been using one since last summer when I posted my review. You only have to press one button to get the water as fizzy as you like it. The only thing to keep in mind with this particular model is that you have to plug it in.

I use mine to make my own calorie-free carbonated drinks using Capella’s flavor drops and some packets of Stevia sweetener. Using a SodaStream and these drops helped me kick my Diet Coke habit with ease.

Price: $109.99
Where to buy: SodaStream and Amazon

Mavin Air-X True Wireless earbuds

There’s a quote that says that “music hath charms to soothe a savage breast”. I don’t know how savage my breast is, but I know that music is my friend throughout my day, on my drive to and from work, and during my workout sessions. Finding a pair of wireless earbuds that sound good and are comfortable has been a quest that I’ve been on for quite a while and I’ve found a couple pairs of truly wireless earbuds that fit that criteria. One such pair is the Mavin Air-X earbuds. These earbuds feature Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus technology, 100 ft. connection range, 50 hours of battery life with the charging case, splash resistant, and voice assistant-enabled (Siri/Google/Alexa). They even come in pink and red for Valentine’s day or more guy-friendly colors like black and white.

Price: $139.99 for one pair or $249.99 for two pairs (Valentine’s Day special pricing)
Where to buy: Mavinlife.com and Amazon

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera

blurb by Julian Perry

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, many of us are going through the yearly ritual of trying to figure out what gift to get for that special lady in our life. If you have been with her for a while, then you have likely exhausted many of the customary and commonly accepted gifts and the task has become much harder. If your favorite lady happens to be a gadget nerd, then there are usually many options to choose from. With the constant release of new gadgets or new versions of older gadgets, your chances of please here are likely good.

My wife loves to take pictures, and many women love to have those wallet-sized photos to show and in many cases to keep tucked away in their wallet. While we do walk around with 1000s of pictures on our phones, the physical wallet photo is usually a more personal and memorable treasure.

The FujiFilm INSTAX Mini 9 Instant Film Camera with Instant Film Kit is a compact and versatile camera that holds 20 sheets of film at a time and produces credit card sized prints on demand. There is a built-in selfie mirror that also allows you to capture your own moments. With its built-in flash and versatile settings controls, this little gem measuring just 4.6 x 4.7 x 2.7″ is the perfect companion to live comfortably in her purse. And, just in case she has a preferred color, it is available in Cobalt Blue, Flamingo Pink, Ice Blue, Lime Green, and Smokey White.

Price: $62:50 ~ $64.50 with the Instant Film Kit and depending on the color; $49.99 without the Instant Film Kit (Amazon)
Where to buy: B&H Photo and Amazon

Folding Massage Chair

blurb by Julian Perry

In a couple of days it will be Valentine’s Day 2019, and just as men are scrambling to find the right gift for the lady in their life, women are also window shopping looking for the right fit for that man. In my opinion, most men like gadgets of some sort, and if your man is a gadget nerd then he is like me. When I think about myself, I begin to understand how difficult a task this is for my wife. I own so many gadgets that it is impossible to count or for her to remember what I have and don’t have. This is especially true for smaller gadgets. However, like most men, I have my moments when I want to just stop fiddling with any gadget and sit outdoors on the deck or in my Man Cave or maybe more realistically I should call it my Man Space since technically I have to share every room (lol), and just watch TV or listen to music without distractions.

Whenever I go to the mall, I always find myself sitting in the public massage chairs and paying the $1 required to experience the most relaxing 3 minute back massage that I wish would just keep going and going. I easily spend $5 or more on each visit. I have explored getting a massage chair for home, but they are typically big, heavy, and don’t usually meet the decor requirements that would deem them to be an addition that pleases my wife.

Urban Outfitters sells a folding massage chair that is compact, portable, and it offers the massage that I constantly seek.

Finally, a way to relax any place you choose and to experience that “ultra-soothing, deep-tissue massage in a compact design that you can store away in a cinch.” The chair features 4 massage modes with 3 pressure settings to customize your relaxation preferences just how you like it to target neck, shoulders, and back. It also features a built-in USB port so that you can charge your phone or tablet with ease. This may be just the right Valentine’s Day gift for the man in your life.

Price: $269.00
Where to buy: Urban Outfitters website

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Valentine’s Day 2019 gift guide originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 7, 2019 at 1:02 pm.

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Gadgeteer time machine – Remembering the PalmPilot and its spinoffs

ARTICLE – For those of you who are new here, The Gadgeteer will be 22 years old this summer. That’s a long time to be writing about gadgets and as you can imagine, I’ve amassed quite a collection of devices over the years which I keep in a special drawer down in my Gadgeteer lair.

The other day I opened that drawer of gadgets-from-days-gone-by (yes, that’s the drawer’s name) and started sifting through the contents and ended up taking everything out to create the group shot that you see above.

There are a lot of great memories connected to these devices and I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane and bring all of you along with me for the trip. So let’s go!

PalmPilot and friends

I consider the USRobotics PalmPilot to be the first real PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). I know there were Casio and Sharp databank style devices before the PalmPilot came on the scene, but they weren’t real PDAs in the way I/we think of them today. When I think of a PDA, I think of a touch screen, with a stylus, a selection of core apps like a calendar, task manager, address book, memo pad, etc., and the ability to install other apps to extend its capabilities.




The PalmPilot with its grey plastic housing, matching “toothpick” stylus, and iconic black on green non-back lit LCD display is the device that you can really thank for the Gadgeteer website.  This device is what originally fueled my excitement for reviewing products. I had so much fun with that little device, testing and writing about 100’s of cases, styluses, programs, and all the crazy accessories.

Do you remember The Bridge from Midwest PCB Designs? This little adapter would let you use a case with the PalmPilot’s HotSync cradle and was actually inspired by me. Go read the review for more on that back story.

Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky, and Ed Colligan were the inventors of the PalmPilot and ended up leaving USRobotics/3Com/Palm Computing to start their own company called Handspring. They developed the Handspring Visor devices which also ran the Palm operating system. I had (and still do) several Visors which were exciting devices because they had a Springboard slot which allowed 3rd parties to create special accessories like modems, remote controls, etc.

But Handspring wasn’t the only company who made PDAs powered by the Palm operating system. Sony’s line of Clie devices was also popular. Back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Palm, Sony, and Handspring were popping out new devices with stunning frequency. Sony was one of the best innovators of the time with their devices that had rotating displays and other unique features.

The image above is the Sony Clie PEG-N710C. It’s funny to read my review of this device from 2001 and see how excited I was about the fact that this device had a 320 x 320 resolution display back when 160 x 160 was the norm. My how times have changed. 😉

My first smartphone

The Palm Treo 650 was my first smartphone and as luck would have it, I still have this 15-year-old device and was able to find a charging cable that works with it. When I plugged it in, I was really surprised when it powered up. I thought it would be fun to see if it might still work as a phone, but when I checked for the SIM card slot, I didn’t find one because it was a Sprint phone. Those were the days when Sprint and Verizon didn’t use SIM cards and phone batteries lasted for days instead of hours.

Here’s an interesting tidbit… I “hacked” that Sprint branded Treo 650 to work on the Verizon network. The Treo was high tech then, but we are talking 2G speeds (if that). So it wasn’t that great as a web surfing device, but it worked if you had an unlimited supply of patience. Those were the good old days.

The Palm Centro was another favorite smartphone of mine mainly because it was so cute. I still had one in my drawer and was able to charge it up too and was very surprised to find a bunch of old text messages and a few old emails still saved on it.

Today Apple, Samsung, and even Sony could learn a thing or two by revisiting these devices from 15 – 20 years ago. Then Palm, Handspring, and Sony were in a pseudo “arms race” to see who could come up with the most featured packed devices. It was like they threw everything but the kitchen sink into each new model just to see which features would stick. Now, they only seem to throw in extra cameras and consider that to be the pinnacle of innovative.

Did you enjoy this quick stroll down nostalgia lane? What was your favorite device from 10 – 20 years ago? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. And also be sure to check out our new Gadgeteer Time Machine widget in the right sidebar towards the top of the page. It shows Gadgeteer reviews from 1, 5, 10, and even 20 years ago each day.

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Gadgeteer time machine – Remembering the PalmPilot and its spinoffs originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 6, 2019 at 7:55 am.

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8 Gear pouches that will organize your EDC gear

VIDEO – I thought I’d try something a little different and created a video where I talk about 8 gear pouches from 5 companies that you can use to keep your EDC gear organized. Here are the pouches that are included in the video.

Electronics Travel Organizer and Tech Dopp from Zero Grid

This gear pouch is 9 x 4.5 inches and is made of water-resistant ripstop nylon. It’s available in black or silver. As you can see, I have the black version.

The pouch has a wrap around zipper with a paracord zipper pull that opens the pouch like a book to reveal 2 panels of elastic straps and a zippered pocket.

The elastic straps and the zippered pocket let you customize how you want to organize your gear. You can use them to hold flash drives, cables, pens, and more.

The Zero Grid Electronics Travel Organizer and Tech Dopp will easily keep your small items neat and organized and at $24.95, it’s a bargain when you consider that it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Price: $24.95
Where to buy: Zero Grid

Tom Bihn Snake Charmer

This pouch is available in a variety of colors and in either Cordura like you see here, or ripstop nylon.

The Snake Charmer features a webbed loop on the side and top along with a carabiner on the other side so you can easily grab it from your main bag.

There are two zippered compartments that each have a plastic ring that you can use to attach small items. But the main feature of the Snake Charmer are the see-through mesh panels that let you easily see what’s inside.

Price: $25 – $30
Where to buy: Tom Bihn

Pad & Quill TechFolio Classic Cord Organizer

The Pad & Quill TechFolio Classic Cord Organizer is a leather and canvas folding wrap-style gear holder that features a full-grain leather construction that looks nice when brand new but will look even better after it’s gotten some scuffs and scratches.

The folio is held closed with a strap and button type of closure which you may or may not like. Personally, I am not a big fan of it because it requires too much effort to use.

Inside the folio are three canvas slots with strap and button holders, a dedicated Apple Pencil slot a, a zippered canvas pocket, and 2 SD card slots. The Pad & Quill TechFoilo Classic Cord Organizer looks great if you’re into rugged gear, but it really isn’t designed to hold that many items and the $80 price tag is something else to consider.

Price: $79.95
Where to buy: Pad & Quill

Waterfield Gear Pouch and Tech Pocket


First, let’s look at the gear pouch which is available in 3 sizes and colors. I opted to try the smallest version in a brown waxed canvas that has a great look and feel that will only get better as you use it.

The gear pouch features a zippered pocket on the front that has Waterfield’s iconic gold liner that makes it easy to see the items inside and a wrap around zipper gives you access to the main compartment which has 4 slots that you can use to organize your small items. The Gear pouch is small, but it can surprisingly hold quite a few items which make it one of my favorites.

Then we have the Waterfield Tech Pocket which is only available in one size in either black ballistic nylon or the same brown waxed canvas as the gear pouch that I just showed you. Like the gear pouch, the tech pocket has a zippered pocket on the front that has the gold lining. But instead of a zippered main compartment, the tech pocket has a magnetic closure. The interior is lined in a soft dark plush material that provides some padding and protection. Two open slots provide some extra organization.

Price: $39-$49
Where to buy: Waterfield

Bellroy Classic Pouch, Pencil Case, and Pencil Case Plus


First, we have the Bellroy pencil case and the larger pencil case plus. The smaller pencil case is priced at $39 and comes in 4 colors. It is a simple zippered tube-shaped pouch that is sized to hold pens and pencils but can be used for all sorts of small items. The plus-sized version is $6 more and is slightly bigger to hold more gear.

The $49 Bellroy Classic Pouch is made of the same canvas material as the pencil cases, but it’s a larger clamshell type pouch with a wrap-around zipper that has a leather pull tab. Inside the pouch is a roomy storage area with a large open topped pocket on one side and two stretchy pockets on the other side. Although the Bellroy pouches are simple, I really like them because they don’t have features that get in the way. They are designed to hold your gear easily and simply just the way I like it.

Price: $39-$49
Where to buy: Bellroy

Which pouches are my personal favorites?

I like all of the pouches that I’ve shown you here, but if I had to pick favorites, I’d go with the Waterfield gear pouch and the Bellroy pouches just for their simplicity, look and feel.

Check out the video below and let me know if you’d like me to continue creating videos like this one on a regular basis or if I should just stick to written reviews.





Source: The samples for this review were provided by Zero Grid, Tom Bihn, Pad&Quill, Waterfield Design, and Bellroy.

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8 Gear pouches that will organize your EDC gear originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 28, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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6 gadgets that can protect you from hackers

ARTICLE – You might have gadgets that charge your phone with solar power or help you find a lost set of keys, but what about those that safeguard you from hackers?

Here are six items to put on your to-buy list.

1. Mic-Lock Gen 2 Microphone Blocker

Many people know hackers can break into webcams and spy on them. Therefore, covers that slide onto the built-in webcams on laptop screens became popular, and concerned individuals started covering webcams with tape, too.

But, there’s a possibility of hackers listening in through microphone ports. Apple’s second-generation T2 chips even disconnect the mics at the hardware level when people close the lids of newer MacBooks.

You can also buy a Mic-Lock Gen 2 microphone blocker that stops hackers from listening through any device that has a microphone port. Its design plugs into the 3.5 mm audio jack and allows you to still listen to music through your computer. ($10.99)

2. Firewalla Red Smart Cyber Security Firewall Appliance

Although the internet has many advantages, it features associated risks, too. The Firewalla Red gadget is a firewall for today’s connected world that features both intrusion prevention and intrusion detection.

The gadget plugs into your router and continually scans to check for abnormal behaviors.

You can also access specialized functions and get specific information via the complementing app. Since Firewalla Red also offers a built-in VPN service for mobile devices, you can enjoy enhanced protection anywhere. ($109.99)

3. Titan Security Key

An unsecured email account is a hacker’s playground, but the best hackers convince people to give up information they’d ordinarily keep secret.

Online lottery scammers target victims by convincing them to reveal private details to collect their “winnings,” and scams that initiate in an inbox can be just as convincing. That’s especially true if they appear as order confirmations or other documents that people can’t access unless they divulge information.

The Titan Security Key is a security measure developed by Google and used by its employees. As a result, Google says phishing problems have been eliminated. The Titan has a hardware chip that includes Google-engineered firmware to verify the key’s integrity.

The key also gives cryptographic proof a person is interacting with legitimate services where they initially registered their Titan gadgets and that they remain in possession of the key. Think of the Titan as a physical aspect of two-factor authentication. It replaces a text message or email a hacker could intercept in transit and complements your password. ($50.00)

4. Dojo

The rising popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices makes some manufacturers rush their products to the market and not prioritize security. The Dojo is a small gadget born from the need to secure those devices in a home. It’s a product you can move around your abode to get an idea of which internet-enabled products you use might be introducing vulnerabilities to your network.

The accompanying app gives three alert levels, and you’ll get smartphone notifications about the most severe issues. Plus, Dojo learns the characteristics of the network so it can understand what constitutes unusual traffic. ($199.00)

5. Everykey

Many people intentionally set passwords that are easy for themselves to remember, but that typically also makes them easy for others to guess. Then, it becomes potentially simple for hackers to break into devices such as laptops or smartphones. Everykey is like a physical version of an online password manager.

It automatically generates passwords for the websites you visit, plus enters them for you when you reach the website. If you lose an Everykey, there’s a way to freeze its functionality, making it useless in the wrong hands.

And, Everykey isn’t just for your computer and smartphone. Its military-grade security even works for your front door. The product is a Bluetooth-enabled device that looks like a small tile. Like many of the other things on this list, it pairs with an app. ($69.00)

6. 3M Privacy Screens

Have you ever worried someone sitting on either side of you might watch as you deal with confidential information on your laptop or enter it into form fields on your smartphone? If they do, all the information needed to gain access to your accounts or other things you want to keep private would be available. Fortunately, 3M makes privacy screens to hide content unless people look straight on at the screens.

You can find them for most of the devices you own, ranging from smartphones to laptops. (Prices vary depending on the type and third-party seller chosen)

Stock Up on Products That Give Peace of Mind

In this extremely connected world, hackers know various attack points exist. These six gadgets help you keep cybercriminals at bay and rest assured your information stays safe.

Lead photo by Jefferson Santos on Unsplash

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6 gadgets that can protect you from hackers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 11, 2019 at 12:31 pm.

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