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Phoozy Capsule tablet and laptop case review

REVIEW – Laptops and tablets are – big slabs of glass and electronics that want more than anything to find a hard surface or body of water to throw themselves into. Or it can sometimes feel that way when you’re traveling with them! A company called Phoozy has created a series of covers they call the Capsule that expands on their drop protection and thermal barriers to offer floating protection for your electronics. IP66 water-resistance keeps your laptop or tablet from rain, snow, spills, and actual immersion!

What is it?

A layered soft cover that zips around tablets and laptops to protect from overheating, freezing, water damage, and impact. (That’s an original 12.9″ iPad Pro with a full MoKo case on it in the photo above and in several other photos below.)

Specifications

  • Patented Chromium Thermal Barrier is adapted from the NASA technology that protects astronauts, electronics, and satellites in the extreme conditions of space.
  • IP66 water-resistance rating protects your laptop from rain, snow, spills, and water.
  • HydroGuard Technology in our materials and zippers repels water and fully floats in water if the unthinkable happens.
  • The Impactor Core 2.0 delivers military-grade shock protection to absorb impacts and help reduce damages caused by accidentally bumping.
  • Sleek, Slim, light-weight design easily slides inside other bags or use the included adjustable, quick-release shoulder strap with pad for comfortable wear across body or over the shoulder. Multiple strap connection points allow for vertical or horizontal carry.
  • Laser-cut Molle Connection Panel on the back allows you to easily connect other PHOOZY products and gear to customize your load.
  • The PHOOZY Tablet/Laptop Capsule provides 6-layers of protection to keep your devices protected while helping maintain their operating temperature as long as science allows when exposed to hot or cold temperatures. However, the capsules are not designed to be left in a hot or cold vehicle for more than 3 hours.
  • Case will not interfere with cellular, WiFi or Bluetooth signals.

Design and features

The Phoozy Capsule comes in two sizes – 11″ and 13″. Each size is available in four colors: Cosmic Black, Iridium Silver, Iridium Gold, and Realtree Timber. I was sent the 13″ model in Black.


Overall size is 13.5″ x 10″ x 1″. The double-pull zipper extends across the top and 3.5″ down each long side. At each zipper end, there is a molded plastic D-ring sewn into the body of the sleeve. On one side, there is another D-ring sewn about 3 inches up from the lower side as well, which allows the user to attach the included 53″ 1.25″ nylon webbing adjustable strap in a horizontal or vertical orientation. The strap has 2″ clip-on swivel hooks at either end and an 8″ padded shoulder piece that can slide along the full length. Sadly, there is no grab handle to use when you’ve removed the shoulder strap and packed the sleeve into a larger bag.
Inside, the Cosmic Black model is lined in a plush red microfiber material. There is good padding all around.

On the opposite side, there are three rows of molle strap lace points six deep. If you’ve got anything that can use this attachment system, you can add pockets to the outside of the Phoozy.


I tested it with every portable computer in the house (13″ MacBook Air, 12.9″ Original iPad Pro, 10.5″ iPad Pro, and iPad mini.) They all fit easily, and some could even double-up.

What I like

  • Solid design layout and manufacturing.
  • Great that you can carry horizontal, vertical, or as a sleeve inside another bag.
  • Surprisingly roomy.

What I’d change

  • Adding a grab handle across the top would be a nice touch.

Final thoughts

We have all had cases and covers for tablets, phones, and laptops. Some work OK, others protect from the dented corner or allow you to worry less about running to your car in the rain. The Phoozy system is based on NASA technology and not only protects from freezing by insulating your tech inside, but protects from water, overheating in a hot car, and will still pick up your messages through the bag. Not too shabby.

Price: $59.99 for 11″, $69.99 for 13″
Where to buy: Phoozy.com and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Phoozy.

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Phoozy Capsule tablet and laptop case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 2, 2019 at 8:14 am.

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Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus 3-Axis Stabilizing smartphone gimbal review

REVIEW – For most of us, our phones are our point and shoot cameras and our video cameras. We use our phones to document our lives and we improve the built-in camera by using accessories like clip-on lenses and selfie sticks. But when it comes to selfie sticks, they just hold the phone at a static angle and don’t help with stabilization. For those features, you need something like the iSteady Mobile Plus 3-Axis Stabilizing smartphone gimbal from Hohem. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The iSteady Mobile Plus 3-Axis Stabilizing smartphone gimbal is a selfie stick on steroids. It holds your phone in landscape or portrait orientation and uses a motor to keep the phone stabilized while you use buttons on the handle to start and stop recording and move the phone/camera to the perfect shooting angle.

What’s in the box?

  • iSteady Mobile Plus gimbal
  • Mini tripod
  • USB cable
  • Carrying case
  • User manual

Design and features

The iSteady Mobile Plus gimbal (I’ll just call it the iSteady going forward) is about 11.75 inches long and weighs in (without your phone) at 1 lb 1 oz. (480g). Although it’s portable and compact, it’s not an accessory that’s going to fit in your pocket.

The iSteady is constructed of a combination of parts that makes up the handle and the gimbal/phone holder assembly.

The handle of the iSteady has a power button that doubles as the capture and video record/stop button. There’s also a mode button, a zoom slider button, and a joystick button that moves the phone holder up, down, left, and right. There are also two LEDs at the top of the handle that show the status of Bluetooth and the gimbal mode.

There are battery status LEDs on the side of the handle and a trigger on the backside of the handle which centers the phone when pressed.

Speaking of batteries, there’s a micro USB port on the side of the handle that is used to charge the iSteady’s internal battery which has a 12-hour battery life. There’s also a built-in USB-A port that you can use to “borrow” power from the iSteady to power your phone or another accessory like a microphone.

The iSteady has 3 standard sized threaded tripod mounts. One is on the phone holder, one is on the side of the handle, and one is on the bottom of the handle.

The phone holder assembly has rubber lined spring-loaded jaws that take two hands and a bit of effort to spread apart in order to place the phone between them.

Let’s get iSteady

To get started using this smartphone accessory, you first need to put your phone in the holder and then balance it using the adjustable holder. In the image above, you can see the adjustable arm that slides in and out to balance the phone and then the screw knob tightens it in place. As mentioned before, it takes two hands to get everything ready to go.  Getting the iSteady ready to use takes enough time that you probably won’t be able to use it to capture spur of the moment footage.

It’s important to note that you should never turn on the gimbal without the smartphone mounted.

Hohem app

You can still use your favorite image/video capture app with the iSteady, but the Hohem app has to be used if you want to take advantage of some of the special features like face tracking, the image capture/video capture button on the handle, and the zoom/focus switch.

The app also has a cool panorama feature.

There’s also a follow feature that will let you draw a box around a person’s face or a subject and then the phone is supposed to follow the subject if it moves. I have a lot of trouble getting this feature to work.

See it in action

The gimbal can be set in 1 of 4 modes that include Pan follow, Pan/Tilt follow, All locked, and All following. I prefered to use the Pan/Tilt follow mode during most of my testing.

What I like

  • Makes video capture smoother
  • Controls right under your thumb
  • No motor noise at all

What I’d change

  • Bulky/heavy
  • Follow feature doesn’t work well

Final thoughts

For capturing smooth video, while moving, walking, and running, the iSteady does an excellent job. I also like that all the controls are right there at the tip of your thumb and the 12hr battery life lets you use this accessory for a long time before it needs to be recharged.

The only downside that I found is that it’s pretty heavy once you mount your phone and if you plan to use it for more than a few minutes at a time, you’ll start to feel the strain on your wrist. Or maybe I just have wimpy wrists! 😉

The Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus 3-Axis Stabilizing smartphone gimbal definitely has a lot of good things going for it including the affordable price, quiet operation, and of course, the ability to shoot smooth video. Although I find it a little uncomfortable to use after a few minutes, I still consider this gimbal a worthy addition to your smartphone camera accessory kit.

Price: $89.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Hohem.

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Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus 3-Axis Stabilizing smartphone gimbal review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 1, 2019 at 5:08 pm.

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BRYDGE PRO Bluetooth keyboard for the 2018 iPad Pro review

REVIEW – OK, I’m going to lead with…I LOVE this thing. I know the BRYDGE PRO is not for all iPad users for reasons I’ll get to. But for me it fits into, at least in part, how I want to use my tablet. Last year Bill Henderson reviewed the Brydge 12.9 Series II Bluetooth keyboard for the previous generation of iPad Pros. But with new iPad designs come new accessories. Well the engineers at Brydge went back to the drawing board and have created an even better wireless keyboard that truly does transform your iPad Pro into a small MacBook.

A bit of the backstory: for years Julie and I have discussed the possibility of using a tablet as our primary computing device. And over that time, the tech world has ever so slowly moved in that direction. Many could argue, Android tablets are closer to the finish line than iPads, but with iPadOS coming soon, Apple is finally in the game. With folks like BRYDGE creating feature enhancing accessories, Adobe releasing full-blown Photoshop for the iPad, and the iPadOS becoming its own mobile operating system…we’re finally at a point, where this tech-dream is becoming reality.

What is it?

The BRYDGE PRO is a Bluetooth keyboard engineered specifically for the latest generation of iPad Pros and designed to give a (surprisingly) MacBook-like experience. The aluminum chassis is perfectly fitted and color-matched for the current iPad Pros, transforming your tablet into a mini, touchscreen MacBook Pro.

What’s in the box?

  • Brydge Pro 11.0 Bluetooth Keyboard
  • Snap-on Magnetic Protective Cover
  • USB-C Charging Cable
  • Quick Start Guide

Design and features

The BRYDGE PRO keyboard is made from a solid high-grade aircraft aluminum, giving the casing a very Apple feel to it. The PRO has a great heft and sturdy build quality. And like the MacBook and MacBook Pros, the BRYDGE PRO has four rubber feet so that your iPad Pro & keyboard combo doesn’t slide around your desk or table while in use.

The BRYDGE PRO can be configured into three modes: Laptop for typing, Tablet for drawing/note-taking, and Movie for hands-free video watching. In general, I kept my setup in Laptop mode 99% of the time, where I typed and watch movies/videos. When I wanted to use my iPad as a pure tablet, I simply pulled my iPad out of the BRYDGE PRO’s hinges/clamps.

The iPad Pro is held securely in place by two very sturdy clamps that use just the right amount of friction/pressure to keep the iPad Pro from slipping out. These U-clamps are rubber lined so they do not damage your tablet. The hinges themselves are very strong, and well-engineered to withstand the force needed to press (aka shove) the long edge of the iPad into place.

I have an ultra-thin tempered glass screen protector and Slickwrap skin on the back of my iPad Pro. These combine to ever so slightly increase (< 0.5mm) the thickness of my tablet but due to the extremely exact tolerances, it does cause the iPad to not sit in the hinge perfectly. But only by a millimeter or so…the BRYDGE PRO still works as designed.

When opened, the BRYDGE PRO engineering raises the rear of the keyboard for a better angle of typing.

The keyboard is well thought out with a great build quality and key travel. I find using the BRYDGE PRO a better typing experience as compared to the Apple iPad Pro smart keyboard folio and about equal to the MacBook butterfly mechanism. In addition to having good travel distance, the keys are (mostly) responsive and have a great feel/click to them. I say “mostly” because I found the need to type with a hint more force and accuracy, occasionally needing to retap a key if I wasn’t spot on. That said, I got better with practice…

The BRYDGE PRO keyboard is backlit with three levels of brightness.

The 11″ BRYDGE PRO layout is smaller and more compact than a standard full-sized keyboard but no worse than the Apple iPad Pro smart keyboard folio. I am not the greatest typist but found the PRO’s smaller layout and firm base more than useable and extremely lap-friendly. Truth be told, it felt just like using a MacBook when typing on my lap.

The BRYDGE PRO charges via USB-C, enabling you to use the same cord that came with your iPad Pro to power up. You can also connect the iPad Pro and the BRYDGE PRO keyboard using the included USB-C to USB-C cable for a direct, no lag connection.

According to BRYDGE, the PRO’s battery life is impressive, lasting as long as 12 months of use. But that is with limited use and no backlighting on the keys. But with the backlight on, the battery should last nearly a full day of typing (aka 20hrs). What I can say is that I have been using the BRYDGE PRO keyboard for several wks, on & off for a total of about 12+hrs, and battery life is still going strong.

BRYDGE includes a magnetic back cover that works really well with the PRO’s hinge design. The rigid rubbery back cover is relatively thin with a cutout for the iPad Pro’s camera assembly. Overall, the back cover works well enough though it does pop off pretty easily and could use stronger magnets.

Hardware specs

  • Material: Aluminum
  • Weight: 1.14 lb.
  • Backlit Keys: Yes (3 levels)
  • Battery Life: 12 months (rechargeable) via USB-C
  • Connectivity: USB-C + Bluetooth 4.1
  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • Colors: Silver & Space Gray
Brydge Pro 11.0

Length: 9.74 in (247.6mm)
Width: 7.02 in (178.5mm)
Height: 0.26 in (6.7mm)
Weight: 1.14 lb (550g)

 Brydge Pro 12.9

Length: 11.04 in (280.6mm)
Width: 8.46 in (214.9mm)
Height: 0.27 in (6.8mm)
Weight: 1.51 lb (690g)

The BRYDGE PRO does add some girth and heft to the sleek and slim iPad Pro. Here you can see it compared to my 12″ MacBook. The combined thickness of the iPad Pro and BRYDGE PRO keyboard are nearly double that of my 12″ MacBook.

OK, here is the elephant in the room…the BRYDGE PRO more than doubles the weight of the 11″ iPad Pro, weighing in at nearly the same weight as a 13″ MacBook Pro. Truth be told, I doubt I will travel that often with the BRYDGE PRO but I love this setup for around the house or (nearby) coffeeshop use.

What I like

  • Very well built with sturdy engineering
  • Made from high-grade materials
  • Perfectly designed for the iPad Pro
  • Excellent keyboard design
  • Backlit keys

What I’d change

  • Heavy/adds a significant amount of weight and volume
  • Keyboard a bit cramped on 11″ version
  • Doesn’t utilize iPad Pro’s Smart Connector
  • Back cover could have used stronger magnets

The new Brydge Pros are by far our best iPad keyboards yet. Designed to create an experience that amplifies the iPad as a tablet, and delivers the perfect MacBook-like experience.

Final thoughts

The BRYDGE design and material engineers have done an incredible job creating a Bluetooth keyboard that transforms your iPad Pro into a mini touchscreen MacBook Pro. The BRYDGE PRO integrates perfectly with the iPad Pro…the quality feel, high-grade materials, and user experience all feel like they came from Cupertino. The BRYDGE PRO adds excellent usability and functionality to your tablet. I’m just hoping the next generation includes a built-in touchpad 😉 . But for now, if you can live with the additional weight and bulk, the BRYDGE PRO is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a keyboard for your iPad Pro.

Price: $149.99 ($169.99 for the 12.9″ iPPro)
Where to buy: The BRYDGE PRO is available from bridge.com or Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Bridge.

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BRYDGE PRO Bluetooth keyboard for the 2018 iPad Pro review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 1, 2019 at 8:30 am.

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Pressable Review – One Of The Best Managed WordPress Hosting Services?

Pressable are one of the original providers of managed WordPress hosting. If you’re looking for a new home for your existing site, or you want to launch a new WordPress website with a high-quality host, read on. To help you decide if Pressable is right for you, we highlight their best features, point out some… View Article

The post Pressable Review – One Of The Best Managed WordPress Hosting Services? appeared first on WinningWP.

ZWraps Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps review

REVIEW – We live on planet Earth. We are stewards of our world, and as it’s the only world that we have, we should probably take care of it.  In our culture, there’s a growing awareness that as individuals and families we should live a manner that damages the Earth as little as reasonably possible.  One way that we can do this is to reduce our usage of consumable items.  Instead of using plastic straws, we can use a stainless steel one.  Instead of cleaning with paper towels, we can clean with microfiber towels.  Instead of drinking water from disposable plastic bottles, we can drink from one that we wash and use again.

If your kitchen is like ours, you have a drawer that has several boxes in.  One box contains plastic wrap, another Ziploc bags, another sandwich bags, and so on.  Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a reusable product with which we could keep our food fresh instead of all this disposable plastic?  That’s exactly what the food wraps by ZWraps are for!

What is it?

ZWraps are all-natural, reusable food wraps designed to keep our food fresh.  They are cotton fabrics crafted with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin.  They come in a variety of sizes from small (8×8 inches) to extra-large (16×26 inches) as well as a variety of designs, and all are handmade in the USA.

What’s in the box?

Each package contains one, two, or three wraps, depending upon which pack is purchased.  The back  and inside of the package contains instructions for use and cleaning.

Materials

The wraps are crafted with the following:

  • Beeswax – makes the wraps sticky
  • Jojoba Oil – keep the wraps soft
  • Tree Resin – helps it keep its seal

Design and features

First Impressions

Each wrap comes in a thin, cardboard package and is wrapped with plastic.  (Yes, it’s a bit ironic that a product designed to reduce disposable plastic comes in disposable plastic.)  When I first touched the wrap, I immediately noticed that it is sticky and leaves a slight, waxy residue upon my fingers.  This is, of course, by design, as they are made out of beeswax, but it is slightly disconcerting at first, as I’m used to plastic bags that are not sticky.  When I lay the wrap out on the counter, the wax gets on the counter as well.

Let me go ahead and point out the elephant in the room:  Whether or not you enjoy using a ZWrap will largely depend upon how you react to this stickiness.  You might go “ewwwww!” and choose to never touch one again.  You might, however, decide that it’s not really that big of a deal and get used to it.  Both my wife and I are in the “not a big deal” camp, and we are happy to use them. After sealing food with a wrap, I simply wash my hands and the counter with hot water, something I already should be doing when handling food.  It’s a very small price to pay for using this gadget.

The other thing I noticed is how attractive the various designs are.  They mostly come in greens and reds, a mix of patterns and stylistic artwork.  The ZWraps add some nice-looking color to our kitchen.

How to Use

The ZWraps are easy to use. If you’re wrapping food, lay the wrap flat on a counter, put the food in the middle, then wrap it up.

If you’re wrapping a container (or a bowl) that contains food, set the container on a counter, lay a wrap on top of the container, then fold down, and pressing the wrap against itself.  It helps to use a wrap that is a couple extra inches longer on all sides than the container. If the wrap isn’t sticking to itself very well, hold it for a few seconds and let the natural warmth of your hands seal it.

One note of caution: Do not use these wraps for raw meat or eggs.  They can contaminate the ZWraps, and there’s no good way to remove the contamination.

My wife and I have been testing the wraps with a variety of fresh food items, including breads, cheeses, fruit, and veggies.  Without exception, the ZWraps easily wrap around the food and seal it tight.  Here’s a canary melon from our garden that is sealed tight.

Four of our tests were especially rewarding.  One, we used the extra-large wrap on a fresh baguette that we bought at Lidl.  Typically we have to eat bread like this within one day, as it doesn’t stay fresh long.  After 2 days, however, the baguette was still perfectly fresh with no sign of getting hard.  This was a huge improvement!

Two, we used the medium wrap on an avocado.  Normally we have to eat an avocado as soon as we cut it open, as it will very quickly turn brown, become soft and squishy, and look most unappealing.  After 24 hours wrapped with a ZWrap, it was only mildly brown, still (relatively) firm, and was good enough to eat.  We were surprised and very pleased!

Three, I picked some fresh basil from our garden, rinsed it, then ZWrap’d it and put it into the fridge. I opened it back up three days later, and the leaves were fresh as could be.

Four, we peeled a carrot, wrapped it, then put it in the fridge.  Four days later, I could find only the slightest signs of browning.  It’s ready to eat.

It’s clear to us that not only are ZWraps great for our environment, they are also great at keeping food fresh.

How to Clean

ZWraps are unique items, so they need to be taken care of in a special manner.  They can’t be washed with hot water, nor can they be used in an oven or a microwave; naturally the heat would melt the wax and ruin the wrap. The best way to clean them is to lay them flat and wash with cool, soapy water; to dry, spread them out over a flat surface, perhaps a cutting board, but do not wring them out.  To store them, roll them up and put in a basket or a canning jar, anywhere that is cool and dry.  ZWraps estimates that a wrap should last 100 washes, which is usually 6 to 12 month.

If you’re looking for more information about how to use or take care of a ZWrap, their website has an informative set of videos.

What I like

  • Reusable wrap instead of disposable plastic
  • Bright and cheery designs
  • Keeps bread and veggies super fresh

What I’d change

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

I’m a big fan of being good stewards of our planet, so I like what ZWraps is doing.  My wife and I really like their wraps, and we really, really like the way they keep fresh those foods that normally spoil quickly.  If you are at all interested in reducing the amount of disposable plastic that you use, I recommend purchasing one medium or large ZWraps to start out.  This will give you a chance to test it out and see for yourself.  If you like it, then you can buy as many others as you need.

Price:  From $7.50 (small) to $22.50 (for a multi-pack)

Where to buy:  ZWraps online store or Amazon.  The ZWraps website also has a store locator, if you want to purchase locally.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by ZWraps.

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ZWraps Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2019 at 9:30 am.

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