Garmin Speak Plus Dash Cam connects you to Alexa and gives you additional safety

NEWS – Today’s new cars are coming equipped with more and more safety features and applications that work hand-in-hand with our cellphones. However, this doesn’t do much for those of us driving older model cars that did not come with now standard safety enhancements. Garmin has set out to help those of us who would like those features without buying a new car with the Garmin Speak Plus Dash Cam. This small camera (smaller than a deck of playing cards) packs a considerable number of features for its size.

Garmin has incorporated their navigation system to include lane departure, forward collision warning, and an HD dash camera; all while adding the capabilities of the Amazon Alexa app to help get you where you need to go safely via Bluetooth connection to your phone and/or vehicle via AUX cable connection. Also, there is a “Go” alert that will let you know when traffic has started moving at an intersection in case you’ve been distracted in some way. Navigation and other commands are executable simply by speaking to the Garmin Speak Plus just as you would to any Amazon device. You can create shopping lists, play music, or even check for the closest gas station without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

The camera records at up to 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second onto an included MicroSD card. These videos are downloadable onto your phone via the Garmin Speak app instantly should an incident occur on the road.  There are just two apps required to be downloaded to enable all of the features of this device: Amazon Alexa and Garmin Speak.

Currently, the Garmin Speak Plus Dash Cam can be found on Garmin’s website for $179.99. These are available at many popular online retailers like Best Buy, so it may be worthwhile to shop around to find the best deal.

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Garmin Speak Plus Dash Cam connects you to Alexa and gives you additional safety originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 5, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Mobile Edge Graphite messenger bag review

REVIEW – I am always on the lookout for my next bag.  Whether it be to carry a laptop, camera equipment or a traveling bag.  I currently have a bag that I am using to carry my laptop at work.  Where I work we have three separate buildings and trying to carry a laptop, mouse, power cord and water bottle is just too unwieldy without a bag.  So when I was given the opportunity to review the new Mobile Edge Graphite Messenger Bag I jumped at the chance.  Let’s see how it worked out for me.

Design and Features

  • Exterior Dimensions – in inches 17.5 x 13 x 4.25
  • Holds computers up to 16 inch widescreens
  • Weight 2.1 pounds
  • Has a padded computer compartment
  • Has a padded shoulder strap and a grab handle
  • Ballistic Nylon exterior

The picture above shows you the front of the bag.  The main flap is secured with two heavy duty plastic clips.  I like that Velcro is not being used to secure the main flap.  It can often be really noisy to open a bag in a quiet office environment.

This next picture shows the back of the bag.  You can see the grab handle at the top.  It is made of some kind of thick nylon that is double stitched to the back and has a rubber grip handle at the top.  You can also see there is a flap in the back that leads to a large exterior pocket.  This flap is secured with Velcro.  I would use this compartment to store paper documents or magazines. The second picture shows this compartment opened up where you can see the Velcro tab at the top.  Another thing to note on the back of the bag is the extra padding in that black area.  I assume it is there to protect the laptop since the compartment directly on the other side of the back panel is the laptop area.

The next picture above is a close up of the carry strap.  The clip attaching it to the bag is heavy duty plastic but with a metal flange.  It swivels which makes getting the strap in the right position really easily.  You can also see they provide a nice padded piece that you can move around on the strap or even take off completely if you wish.  The next picture is a closeup of the ballistic nylon.  It is a nice grey color.  The bag does not come in any other colors but the black/grey combination you see in this review.  I think it looks really nice and professional.  I love bright colors, but carrying a bright purple bag around work is not something I want to do.

The next picture is a closeup of the bottom of the bag.  You can see where everything is double stitched.  The bottom is not leather but some heavy weather-resistant type of canvas.  It seems like it could really take a beating.  I also like out they strengthened the sides of the bag by adding the extra strapping.

This next picture is a shot of the bag with the main flap open.  There are multiple compartments and features in this area.  Next we will walk from left to right on this part of the bag.  The next picture shows the ID holder and it is detached from its Velcro holder.  This is a nice feature if you want to carry your id around without having to carry your purse with you.  It also has a metal key ring to attach things like keys or maybe your work badge.  I like that you can just detach it completely and save a little weight if you are not going to use it at all which is what I personally did.

The next two images above try to show you how the pockets in the front of the bag are laid out.  The first one on the left is a larger pocket right in the middle of the front of the bag.  The picture on the right shows a smaller pocket and then the larger pocket behind it that runs the entire width of the bag.  This messenger bag gives you plenty of pockets to organize your stuff.

This next picture shows my Samsung Galaxy S9 in that far right pocket.  You can see it just barely peeks out of the pocket.  It could easily hold something like a Note where more would be sticking out, but the front flap of the bag would protect it.

The picture above is a close-up shot of the pen/pencil storage area.  I like how they provide a small pocket below the pen holder to slide the ends of your pens inside.  That way you don’t have to worry about losing your pens if they are too narrow for the nylon holding slots.

Now let’s start to walk through the interior of the bag.  The first thing I noticed was the material they used on the inside.  It is a nice light color combo of white and light grey.  It makes finding things inside the bag pretty easy.  The first picture is a shot of that main pocket on the very front of the bag inside the flap.  You can see it goes almost all the way across the bag.  The next shot is a picture of the first storage area behind the front of the bag.  The black area is a hard plastic divider.  This pocket is the narrowest in the main compartment area.

The next picture shows a large compartment that is right after the black plastic and just before the main computer storage area.  You can see it has a spot where a nylon flap from the computer area will attach.  That will help to hold the computer in its place.  This is a nice deep compartment.  I use it to put my power supply and mouse inside.  I have even put a water bottle in this area at one time.  Picture a standard bottle of water you would buy at a convenience store.  The picture on the right shows the actual computer compartment.  The flap to attach over the area back to the Velcro area in the picture on is lying in the middle.  This compartment is padded on all 4 sides including the bottom of the bag.  I had no worries about damaging my computer by setting it down hard on a table.

This next picture shows the computer area with my Dell XPS 15 inside.  I have the flap over the top to secure the laptop.  You can see that I do have at least an inch more in width and maybe a quarter inch or so at the top for a larger computer.

This last picture shows a slim zippered area that is fronted by some mesh that is on the back of the main flap.  This is another area to put small items you may want to carry.

What I like

I love that this bag has so many compartments.  I like to try to organize my stuff and this bag gives me plenty of opportunities to do so.  A lot of messenger bags I have used before tended to have a single main compartment and maybe one or two additional storage areas.  I feel this bag is very sturdy and should last me a long time.  The materials and double stitching make me feel secure that my stuff won’t be falling out of the bag.  The colors are professional and should not show stains or scrapes like some lighter colors would.

What can be improved

Really the only suggestion I would make is to possibly make a slightly smaller bag.  At least where I work, I don’t see anyone carrying around a larger 16 in laptop anymore.  If anything, people have downsized to things like a Surface Pro.  My 15 inch laptop is now one of the larger ones in the company.  Having a smaller version that would handle up to a 15 inch bag would save some weight.

Price: $69.99
Where to buy: Mobile Edge and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mobile Edge

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Mobile Edge Graphite messenger bag review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 5, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Razer adds more gaming gear to their Quartz Pink product line

NEWS – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Razer recently announced that more of their gaming products have been added to their Quartz Pink product line.  Last year Razer refreshed four products in their lineup of high-performance gear with this new pink color; this year they added eight new items, including a mouse, a headset, and a laptop computer.  Razer is best known as a lifestyle brand for video gamers, and with these products they’ve promised gamers girls will find an “unfair advantage in both performance and looks.”

These pink power products are available exclusively on Razer’s online store, and several are sold together in bundles, which slightly reduce the cost.  Here’s the complete list of products available in Quartz Pink:

  • Razer Basilisk mouse
  • Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma mouse mat
  • Razer Huntsman keyboard
  • Razer Kraken headset
  • Razer Raiju Tournament Edition controller for PS4
  • Razer Seiren X microphone
  • Razer Base Station Chroma headset stand
  • Quartz case for Razer Phone 2

The price of these specially-colored items are same as their black and venom green counterparts; there’s no “pink tax” for the girls. Head over to razer.com for more info.

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Razer adds more gaming gear to their Quartz Pink product line originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 5, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Mission Workshop Renan alpaca knit pullover/hoodie review

REVIEW – Last year the folks at Mission Workshop sent me a pair of their Icon City Pants to review. While not very techie or gadgettie, they are definitely a finely made, high-quality piece of clothing. Though, I hate to say it, I have passed them onto the Gadgeteer Kid who can pull off that modern look much better than I can. That said, recently Mission Workshop has sent me their Renan alpaca knit pullover to checkout…hopefully it stays in my closet vs his 😉 .

A bit of backstory: As I get old(er), I do my best to age with some semblance of grace. And I occasional read threads that help in that effort, saying ‘don’t wear these sort of things’ or ‘these phrases are no longer cool or worse yet not acceptable’. It’s not that I follow trends (at all really). But I seriously don’t want to be the 50-something guy walking down the street with people thinking “OMG what was he thinking” as they stare at my 20 yr old cargo shorts and white socks pulled up to my knees. So as my story goes, one of these articles suggested a list of all-purpose clothes every (aging) guy should own. One of those items was a quality pullover/hoodie. So, I did an internet search and the Renan knit pullover was near the top of the list to consider.

What is it?

The Renan pullover is an extremely nice, handcrafted hoodie made in the Peruvian Andes using 100% Alpaca fleece. It is soft, thick, warm, and feels awesome to wear. (I asked the Gadgeteer Kid to be my model and to smile, this is the best he could muster.)

Design and features

The Renan is handcrafted “from start to finish in the Peruvian Andes using 100% Alpaca fleece”. According to Mission Workshop, the Alpaca fibers provide unparalleled softness, regulate body temperature, naturally repel water, and are odor resistant. And while I haven’t tested the odor resistance, I completely agree. The Renan is constructed better than any knitted pullover/sweater I have ever worn. The Alpaca fleece is finely woven yet very dense, thick and heavy, as you would want, to stay warm on a cold day. During the first month of on and off use, the Renan has held its shape very nicely.

The Renan hoodie is styled and has the look to wear on its own or as a mid-layer piece when things get really cold. I regularly wear it under my leather jacket and personally think it looks awesome. Considering the quality and cost of the Renan pullover, I would not wear it while working on home improvement projects or put it in harms way like I would my Carhartt hoodie. But it is an excellent choice for a winter Friday @work, puttering around town, or a casual get-together.

The Mission Workshop Renan is European cut and is relatively slim-fitted. The Gadgeteer Kid stands 6’3″ and weighs in at about 175 pounds, he’s an ideal model for the Renan (in large).  I’m 6’1″ and 185lbs, it fits me nicely as well but let’s just say you can see the places where I need to workout a bit more.

The back of the Renan has a rear facing touring pocket to hold your phone or keys out of the way while riding your bike or leaning forward. Mission Workshop uses custom YKK zippers to keep your stuff securely in the pocket. The YKK zipper operates smoothly and have yet to get hung-up.

Positives

  • Extremely well made from the finest materials
  • Alpaca is finely woven, soft, heavy, thick, gorgeous
  • Handwoven on manual looms with custom Alpaca yarn
  • Nicely fitted
  • Integrated touring pocket

Negatives

  • Expensive

The Renan is available in Heathered Gray and Black.

Final thoughts

You know it’s funny, the wife and Gadgeteer Kid rarely have much, if any, interest in the gear I receive to review. They might take a pair of wireless earbuds or tech-bag if they’ve destroyed the last one I hooked them up with. But it is more me forcing stuff on them than anything else…yes, crazy I know. I do not believe there has ever been an item that was fought over before it even arrived. Well, long story short, the Mission Workshop Renan alpaca knit pullover has the coveted honor of being the first. This hoodie is definitely a keeper, its ageless style, material quality, and construction should last years, if not decades. If the Kid somehow sneaks it off to college next year, I would most likely order another to replace it…which also say quite a bit as well. The Renan is just the hoodie I was looking for when I started my search.

Price: $325

Where to buy: The Renan alpaca pullover is available on the Mission Workshop website.

Source: The sample of this product was provided by Mission Workshop.

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Mission Workshop Renan alpaca knit pullover/hoodie review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 4, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Mystery Ranch Updated ASAP Pack

Exterior view of Mystery Ranch ASAP backpack

If you are looking to upgrade your day bag or create the ultimate dad bag, Mystery Ranch of Boseman, Montana recently released an updated version of their smallest assault pack, the ASAP. Like many of their other assault packs, the ASAP uses their patented 3-Zip design to allow you to access even the deepest recesses of the pack without having to unload everything from the top. The military / tactical design of the ASAP means it will stand out in a crowd and stand up to just about any abuse you can throw at it.

The main compartment has three pockets, of which two are designed for holding water reservoirs, but can also swallow light jackets, water bottles, or a changing pad, baby wipes, and diapers with ease. In addition to the main compartment, there is a small compartment in the top lid. MOLLE / PALS (pouch attachment ladder system) webbing on the outside of the ASAP allows for expansion and customization using any pouches that utilize the PALS system of attachment.

Interior view of Mystery Ranch ASAP pack

The ASAP utilizes Mystery Ranch’s internal Futura Yoke system to customize the fit of the pack to your torso once you’ve selected one of the three frame sizes. ASAP packs are available in four colors: black, coyote (tan), foliage (green) and multicam (green with multiple shades of brown).

Mystery Ranch designs and manufactures all their assault packs in the United States. While many of their mountaineering packs are available through various brick-and-mortar retailers in the United States, most of their assault packs are only available from their website www.mysteryranch.com. The ASAP retails for $275.

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Mystery Ranch Updated ASAP Pack originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 4, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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