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Thermaltake BlacX Duet External Hard Drive Enclosure Docking Station is convenience at its best


Photographers and videographers alike usually have a need for a large amount of data storage. Depending on your workflow, you might be like me and have numerous SSD drives for several projects that you access quite frequently, and therefore they are always within reach. You may also have some legacy 5 ¼ drives. While the 5 ¼ drives may not be a daily part of your workflow, or drives that you walk around with, I am sure that they have content on them that you may need to access them from time to time.

This scenario describes a part of my workflow quite well, and I use multiple USB hard drive docks to provide ease and quick access. Despite the number of docks I already own, I have been looking to add one more. The Thermaltake BlacX Duet 2.5″/3.5″ SATA I/II/III USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure Docking Station seems like it would be a nice addition for me. It has a USB 3.0 interface, and is capable of data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps which is much better that some of my existing docks that are USB 2.0. It also supports both 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch drives, and for those that use the MAC OS, this dock will work as well. I really like the hot swap capability that these docks offer, and the 2 year warranty is a plus.

If you want to add this dock to your workflow, you can purchase one at Amazon for $59.97.

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Thermaltake BlacX Duet External Hard Drive Enclosure Docking Station is convenience at its best originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 22, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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The GVB Gear Compact Daylight On-Camera Light may just be your go to light when on the go!


Whether you are an aspiring or professional photographer/videographer, or just enthusiastic about capturing photos and video, there are likely many occasions when you just grab your camera as you head out of the door, with the anticipation of capturing a great photo or some good footage. Whenever I do the same, I always seem to find myself in a situation where I can get a great shot, or some great footage, but I am missing some accessory that would make the task easier and the outcome much better. A few times when I have been in this situation, I can remember wishing that I had an on-camera light, but when on the go, the light and the weighty battery are just too much extra to carry for a casual and unplanned shoot. After all, many times I return home with no photos or footage worth mentioning.

The GVB Gear Compact Daylight On-Camera Light with Built-In Battery may be the perfect on-camera light for this scenario. It is 5600K daylight light with a 120 degree beam, and a CRI (color rendering index) between 95 and 97. It has a built-in 2500mAh rechargeable battery which eliminates the need to carry that extra weighty battery. The battery provides enough power for approximately 2 hours of use. The light is dimmable, and includes diffusion that attaches magnetically. The package also includes a phone clamp, and a cold shoe adapter. This light weighs only 6 ounces, which is great for the complete on-the-go on-camera light solution.

If you would like to purchase the GVB Gear Compact Daylight On-Camera Light with Built-In Battery, you can head over to Amazon or B&H Photo Video and pick one up for $39.00.

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The GVB Gear Compact Daylight On-Camera Light may just be your go to light when on the go! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 21, 2018 at 1:00 pm.

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Prevent the agony of de feets with Travelon

Okay, okay, I apologize for that horrible pun, but I know the agony of which I speak.  I’m short – just barely five feet tall, and that’s after I gained a half inch in height when I had double total knee replacements a couple years ago.  No matter where I find myself, I almost never find a chair that’s low enough for me to sit with my feet touching the ground.  My feet dangle above the floor and go to “sleep”, often leaving me trying to walk on numb and tingling feet when I’m ready to move on to the next location.  I need one of these foot rests from Travelon.

The 13113 Inflatable Foot Rest will elevate your feet, improving your comfort and circulation.  It measures 14” x 12” x 5” when inflated and 15” x 11.5” x .5” when deflated.  It’s made of flocked PVC, so it feels comfortable even to bare feet.  Travelon says it inflates with 4-5 breaths and deflates quickly when you push in on the flap covering the inflation port.  It fits easily in your bag, so it’s perfect to take along when you’re flying or traveling by other means or when you’re just going about your daily activities or work.

The 13113 Inflatable Foot Rest is $17.00 directly from Travelon or $13.96 from Amazon.

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Prevent the agony of de feets with Travelon originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 21, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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The Mission Battery Shell For Amazon Echo 2 has you covered

The Amazon Alexa service is a world class platform for enabling natural language with a host of Alexa capable devices. Many people interact with the Alexa service using one of Amazon’s own Echo devices. Late in 2017, Amazon updated the original three-year-old Echo with a new design. The new design offered a lower price, new skins, and the ability to stream audio, but also kept the Echo tethered to an AC power receptacle. The Mission Battery Shell For Amazon Echo 2 looks to change that with designs that provide power and portability to the Echo.

What’s it offer?

The shell comes in 2 flavors and a total of four colors: black, white, sandstone or charcoal. The standard design offers a soft fabric finish, a non-marking silicone base, and 6 hours of portable playtime. In contrast, the rugged version offers a hard shell finish, an extra-thick silicone base and 8 hours of playtime.  In addition to offering a battery, each design also includes a three-segment LED battery level indicator. One thing this design apparently lacks: a charging dock. You’ll need to connect this to a cable to keep the battery full. Also, while the front looks suave and cylindrical, there is a jumper in the rear which connects the Echo’s existing DC plug to the battery compartment of the sleeve.

You may think it is preferable to purchase an Alexa enabled speaker with a built-in battery. The Amazon Tap is a viable option (and also compatible with hands-free mode). While there are some 3rd-party manufacturers that also build portable speakers with Alexa, Amazon will limit the services you can ask Alexa to stream.

Each version of the Mission Battery Shell sells for $49.99 at Amazon. Visit the Mission site here to find out more info.

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The Mission Battery Shell For Amazon Echo 2 has you covered originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 21, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Turn a single-bulb garage or basement light socket into a motion-activated light

My previous house had those old-style ceramic, single-bulb ceiling light fixtures in the basement.  There were three of them in about a 1000 ft² area, and two of them could only be turned on with those pull-chains.  If I had seen these Motion Activated Garage Lights while I lived there, I could have converted that dark, dangerous area into a light-filled area simply by walking down the stairs.

You just screw one of these lights into the bulb socket – you don’t need to replace the ceiling fixture or add any special wiring.  The three LED light panels can be adjusted to direct light where it’s needed.  They produce 3000 lumens of light while using only 25W of electricity; that’s 3.8 times the light of a 60W bulb while using less than half the electricity.  The LEDs are rated for 50,000 hours of use.

If you just want the extra light but can easily control the fixture with a switch, the motion detector can be turned off.  The fixture is only for indoor use, but it can be used in basements, garages, attics, or wherever you need extra light.  The Motion Activated Garage Light is $129.99 at The Sharper Image.

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Turn a single-bulb garage or basement light socket into a motion-activated light originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 21, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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