NEWS – The tide is turning toward sling bags. Thin devices and larger screens are convincing users that bracing their device against their back is great for protecting those fragile slabs of glass from breakage. Being able to slide the sling around and not lean on it while on public transit or for security in crowds adds to the appeal. Moshi has done us all a favor and created a nicely proportioned bag called the Tego with cut-proof materials and an integrated (removable) stabilizer strap.
The entry to the bag is against your body, along with an outer RFIC-shielded pocket for your phone or wallet or passport. Looks like an interesting design, but there are no pictures of the internals. Visit Moshi for more info and Amazon to order one for $135.99
Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.
NEWS – Let your imagination and creativity sore to new heights with the PowerUp 2.0 paper airplane conversion kit electric motor.
In just minutes you can convert your own paper airplane into a motorized flying machine.
The PowerUp 2.0 includes:
50K RPM motor
Carbon-fiber body
Reinforced nylon nose clip
Quick-charge port
Charger (3 AA batteries not included)
The kit is designed to maximize flying time, yet durable enough for those inevitable crash landings.
Each charge takes only 20 seconds, and each set of batteries is good for about 50 charges.
This gadget is ideal for those interested in paper airplanes, STEM, aerodynamics or just making things fly and crash. It could also be a fun option if you’re looking for a hands-on activity for your class, birthday party or scouting event.
When paired with a paper-airplane folding kit or construction book, along with some heavy-duty paper, the PowerUp 2.0 could make for a cool, unique gift for the children in your life (or the kids at heart!).
Available on Amazon for $16.99, currently offering a 10-percent off coupon.
Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.
NEWS – This week I’m bringing you four Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns and one campaign from Indiegogo. We have pens, drones, “notebooks”, and more. Let’s check them out.
Micro Drone 4.0
What is it?
The Micro Drone is a palm-sized autonomous drone that captures smooth aerial video and is priced under $200.
Why do I like it?
I’ve been on the lookout for an ultraportable drone that has a decent feature set without hurting my wallet. The Micro Drone 4.0 looks pretty sweet at less than $200. It has a 2 axis gimbal which is a must-have if you want smooth footage, and it’s going to have cool features like autonomous flight and 360 orbiting around objects of interest. Another plus is that these guys already have a successful drone campaign under their belts.
Where can I find more info?
The Micro Drone campaign ends on 3/1/19 and they have already met their funding goal of $75,000. You can pre-order an Micro Drone starting at $145. After the Micro Drone campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in June 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.
Spoke Pen
blurb by Andy Jacobs
What is it?
The Spoke Pen is, “a streamlined geometric-deco style in a world of minimal cylindrical machined pens.”
Why do I like it?
This campaign is a collaboration between Brian Conti of Spoke Design and Brian Dowdy of The Pen Addict. You could not have a better combo of pen technical knowledge and the ability to bring campaigns to life. Brian Conti has produced some really cleverly designed, solidly built, and successfully-crowdfunded products in the past, so I am confident in his ability to make this one happen. He has also been progressively updating his original Spoke Pencil design for several years now, with the latest evolution being the Spoke Pen, which he has been working on for some time. The Spoke Pen continues the familiar “spoke” shape and includes an aluminum barrel grip in either aluminum or titanium, a magnetic cap, a spring clip, and anodized colors. It’s also been designed to accommodate the Uni-ball Signo DX cartridge.
Where can I find more info?
The Spoke Pen campaign ends on March 9, 2019. To date, over 600 backers have already pledged over $50,000 toward the $20,000 funding goal. Pledge packages start at $55 for a single aluminum-grip Spoke Pen shipped to the USA and increase from there based on the options selected. Visit the Spoke Pen campaign site for more information or to become a backer.
Re:ease – The Modular Desk Organizer with 11 Features
What is it?
Re:ease is a modular desk organization system that is made of small magnetic modules that include a pen holder, a wireless phone charger, stapler, hole punch, and more.
Why do I like it?
I like Re:ease because I’m a stationary and an organization nerd. Combining both seems like a win win for me because I don’t like a messy and unorganized workspace.
Something to consider before pledging
Rewards aren’t estimated to ship until November which is a very long time to wait.
Where can I find more info?
The Re:ease campaign ends on 3/7/19 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $17,013. You can pre-order a Re:ease starting at $124. After the Re:ease campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
Paper Guardian Zero-waste Refillable Notebook
What is it?
Paper Guardian is a paper holder that lets you recycle regular used paper to create a refillable notebook that never runs out of paper.
Why do I like it?
I like the Paper Guardian because it lets you reuse paper that you would otherwise throw in the trash. I also like that has a built-in straight edge that you can use to resize the paper into an A5 sized notebook which is my favorite size to use because it’s more manageable and can easily fit into bags.
Something to consider before pledging
Rewards aren’t estimated to ship until December which is a very long time to wait.
Where can I find more info?
The Paper Guardian campaign ends on 3/1/19 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $35,000. You can pre-order a Paper Guardian starting at $37. After the Paper Guardian campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in December 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
DualFuel – Charge Any Device on the Go
What is it?
DualFuel is a pocket-sized emergency power bank that can charge any of your USB gadgets and it’s a flameless lighter.
Why do I like it?
I like products that can have dual uses and the DualFuel fits that criteria. You can use it to charge your phone or other gadget and if you need to burn something, you can do that too. Because who wants to sit around rubbing two sticks together when they have a flameless lighter in their pocket. Nobody! Even better is the fact that this lighter doesn’t use lighter fluid so there are no consumables to manage. Yay!
Where can I find more info?
The DualFuel campaign ends on 2/28/19 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $9,712. You can pre-order a DualFuel starting at $45. After the DualFuel campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.
NEWS – Atwood Rope MFG of Winchester, Ohio has recently introduced a Micro Cord Dispenser (Mini TRD) to compliment their Tactical Rope Dispenser (TRD). The Tactical Rope Dispenser hold standard 550 paracord, while the Micro Cord Dispenser holds 3/64″ (1.18 mm) cord. Both of the dispensers come loaded with a full spool of appropriately-sized cord and are refillable with your choice of cord. Both allow you to carry and easily dispense and cut cord using built-in cutters.
The Micro Cord Dispenser checks in 3.25″ long by 2.35″ high by 1.5″ thick and will hold a spool of either Atwood Rope’s micro or nano cord.
If you elect for the micro cord, you will have up to 125′ of cord at your disposal while you can carry up to 300′ of the nano cord. Atwood Rope offers over 15 different patterns and types of cord for the Micro Cord Dispenser including glow-in-the-dark, reflective, and Aramid / Kevlar (r) and can be reloaded in seconds. A built-in cord holder and cutter allow you to dispense and cut the small cord as easily as using a tape dispenser. The cord holder prevents the cord from unspooling during and between uses. The Mini TRD also sports a molded loop which may be used to secure your dispenser. The Mini TRD comes in black and has an MSRP of $12.99
The larger Tactical Rope Dispenser comes fully loaded with 50′ of 550 paracord. The TRD has a heavy-duty belt loop on the back and a loop for securing it to your gear using a piece of cording. The TRD is approximately 4.2″ long by 4″ high by 2.7″ thick.
Atwood Rope MFG Tactical Rope Dispenser in Flat Dark EarthAtwood Tactical Rope Dispenser Clear showing paracord spoolFDE Tactical Rope Dispenser showing belt clip
Like its smaller brother, the TRD has a cord management clip and built-in cutter to allow for easy dispensing. If the TRD is worn using the belt clip, dispensing and cutting paracord can be performed one-handed. A handy viewing window on the front of the case allows you to check how much cord is left on the spool.
Close-up of TRD cord clip and integrated cutting blade
The Tactical Rope Dispenser will hold 50′ of 550 paracord and may be reloaded. The process of loading the TRD is much more involved than that of the Mini TRD and will take minutes rather than seconds. The Tactical Rope Dispenser is available in 12 color choices, including black, safety orange, red, flat dark earth, glow-in-the-dark, and multiple camouflage options. Prices for the TRD range from $19.95 to $29.95 depending on the type of shell.
The TRD and Mini TRD are available at retailers nationwide like Amazon and from Atwood Rope MFG’s website at atwoodrope.com.
Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.
NEWS – Have you ever tried to video chat with someone, post live on Facebook or shoot a vlog, only to find that the video is muddy and dull because there simply wasn’t enough ambient light? Lume Cube, a provider of lightweight, portable lighting solutions has a solution with the Lume Cube AIR VC lighting kit for video conferencing.
The kit comes with a suction cup mount that allows you to attach the light to phones, laptops, desktop monitors, tablets – essentially anything with a smooth surface. Beyond the suction cup mount, it can also be mounted to any standard tripod mount or attached to any magnetic surface.
It comes with two different diffusers. The first, a white diffuser, softens the harshness of the light and provides bright white light. The second, a yellowish warming diffuser, provides more flattering light for faces. The light is daylight balanced at 5600K, provides a 60-degree beam angle and 400 lux brightness at 100% power. For reference, 300-500 lux is typical for assembly halls and retail space, so at 400 lux, this light will provide sufficient light for a well-lit video call.
The difference between using ambient room light and adding supplemental lighting makes a dramatic difference in the quality of your video. This is important for vloggers trying to build an audience, remote workers making a video call to the office and parents trying to provide a quality experience when the grandkids are FaceTimingwith grandparents.
At 1.6″ x 1.6″ x 1.1″ and two ounces, the light is small and easy to carry. Its non-replaceable lith-ion polymer battery has a claimed runtime of 2.5 hours at 50% brightness and 30-45 minutes at full brightness. Controls for power and the four lighting levels are handled via a single button or via Bluetooth through the Lume-X app. A micro USB cable is included, but you have to use your own charger or simply use your laptop or PC USB port to recharge the light.
Lume Cube AIR VC is available directly from Lume Cube or Apple for $79.95.
Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.
