Form follows function with this Everlane bag

NEWS – Ladies, forget about using big, bulky bags for your everyday carry.  The streamlined Form bag from Everlane can carry your gear, including a laptop.  The bag is made of 100% Italian leather in Prato, Italy.  Although it measures only 13” tall x 5” deep x 10.5” wide, the bag can fit up to a 13″ laptop inside (horizontally).

The 1.6″ wide strap adjusts from a minimum of 27″ to 44.5″, so you can wear it as a shoulder bag or a crossbody bag.    Inside, you’ll find a pocket and plenty of room in the body of the bag for a laptop, a water bottle, plus your other daily gear.  The top is held closed by magnets, so there’s no zippers to scratch your laptop.

The Form bag is available in black, cognac, or green leather.  The black is available to ship now, but the other two colors ship October 28.  Each bag is $235.00.  Learn more and purchase at the Everlane website.

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Form follows function with this Everlane bag originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 15, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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KYZA Travel Wallet review

REVIEW – I would say that I am an occasional traveler, getting on a plane maybe 4 to 6 times a year to go somewhere.  But even though I am not a heavy traveler, I am always on the lookout for travel gear that can make my life a little easier during the trip.  For some time I have wished that I could find an easier way to keep track of all the stuff you need while traveling… wallet, cash, cards, boarding passes, passports, notes, business cards, and more.  I hate having all those things spread out across my wallet, my suitcase, and my laptop bag.  So I decided to give the KYZA travel wallet a try.

What is it?

A leather travel wallet (2 actually) that keeps all your travel documents organized like your cash, credit cards, passport, boarding passes, receipts, notes, business cards, and more.

Product specs

Made of 100% genuine leather; brushed leather on the exterior and smooth leather on the inside. The wallet includes an inner wallet for your everyday travels and an outer wallet for your travel necessities.

Outer wallet:

  • Two slip pockets for boarding pass and passport
  • Note/cash compartment
  • Travel pen
  • Four credit card slots

Inner wallet:

  • Four credit card slots
  • Note/cash compartment
  • Rear slip pocket

Note: this travel wallet is designed for passports up to 125mm x 88mm (4.9 in x 3.5 in).

The larger outside wallet
The smaller inside wallet
Here is the smaller wallet slipped into the larger wallet.
Here is the smaller outside wallet with numerous items inside.
This is the back of the smaller wallet where the outside slit pocket is located.

What’s in the box?

A larger outer wallet, a smaller inner wallet, and a drawstring cloth bag to hold them when you aren’t traveling.

Design and function

When you look close at the KYZA you can tell that it is a quality product.  It doesn’t feel cheap and I imagine that it will last for several years of use.  The inner wallet is smaller and thus can be slipped into the outer wallet to keep everything together while you are traveling.  And the inner wallet is designed to slip out to use during your daily touring away from your hotel room.  As you can see from the pictures, the KYZA is quite thick when you get everything inside.  I did not feel comfortable having the KYZA (both the outside and inside the wallet together) in my suit coat inside pocket because it was so thick.  So I kept it in my laptop bag while en-route.  It was however wonderful having all my travel stuff together in one place instead of spread out in multiple places.

Here are some pictures of the how thick the wallets are when compared to a deck of cards and my existing wallet I use every day at home:

The larger outside wallet
The smaller inside wallet
Both of the wallets together
The smaller outside wallet compared to my everyday wallet at home

As you can see from the pictures, the number of slots and pockets in the KYZA is wonderful, and you can place all manner of things inside… cash, passport, boarding passes, receipts, business cards, credit cards, notes, and more.  There is even an ink pen nicely tucked inside the center spine of the outer wallet so that you never have to hunt for a pen when you have to fill out a form or sign a receipt.  Very nice.

I did have a couple of negatives that I want to mention.  The KYZA doesn’t come with RFID protection for your credit cards.  There are competing products that are also very nice out there that are cheaper and come with RFID protection, so KYZA needs to add that to be competitive.  Also, the KYZA logo on the outside is a bit too much for my taste.  It makes the wallet look like something I picked up a trade show, not a premium product that costs almost $130.  They could have easily done a small stamped logo in the leather on the front if they really wanted their logo on there, or better yet inside the wallet.

Final thoughts

I really like the KYZA despite the conspicuous logo emblazoned on the front and the lack of RFID protection.  I have some travel bags that have RFID protection and can utilize those to keep my KYZA safe when needed.  But it would be nice at this price point to have a feature that competing products already have.  I can’t give my highest recommendation to the KYZA, but it is a high-quality wallet that does the job and will last you a long time.

Price: $129.99
Where to buy:  KYZA website
Source: The sample of this product was provided by KYZA

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KYZA Travel Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 15, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Bring your car into the 24th century – Make it so!

NEWS – Finally, there’s a set of family stick figure car decals for the devoted Star Trek:TNG fans!  Although these stickers will adhere to any flat surface, they are perfect for identifying your family as the type who Boldly Go to soccer practice and the car rider line.

You’ll get a set of 33 figures, including 27 easily identifiable TNG figures, some generic Borgs, and a logo.  They include tall figures for adults, small figures for children, and even some pet figurines.

  • Tall characters (4 3/4″ tall): Jean-Luc Picard, William Riker, Data, Geordi La Forge, Tasha Yar, Worf, Deanna Troi, Beverly Crusher, Reginald Barclay, Guinan, Miles O’Brien, Alyssa Ogawa, Borg (male), Borg (female), Q, Lursa & B’Etor (one sticker), Sela, Gul Madred, Gowron
  • Short characters (3 3/4″ tall): Young Jean-Luc Picard, Young William Riker, Young Data, Young Geordi La Forge, Young Tasha Yar, Alexander Rozhenko, Wesley Crusher, Borg (male), Borg (female)
  • Other: Livingston the fish (1″ tall), Spot the cat (1 1/2″), Borg Queen Head (3 1/4″) + Borg Queen Body (3 1/2″), ST:TNG logo

You know, I like these stickers, but where are the young female characters?  I’m asking as a mother of a daughter; what if I had two daughters?

These Star Trek TNG Family Car Decals are created by and exclusive to ThinkGeek.  The normal price is $14.99, but they are available for $6.99 at the time of writing.  Get them now.  Make it so by visiting ThinkGeek.

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Bring your car into the 24th century – Make it so! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 15, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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BoxLock smart padlock review

REVIEW – Road rage. PTSD. Spam. Phishing. You know something has become widespread when there’s a name for it that most folks recognize. Here’s a new one – Porch Pirate. Those are the folks who drive around behind delivery vehicles and grab packages from the stoops of the intended recipient. And, like any good contagion, there is a solution. BoxLock is a lock for a porch box that can be unlocked by your delivery person only with the bar code of the tracking number of expected packages. The Gadgeteer, of course, is on the case and have been testing one they sent us. Read on for the details.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

The BoxLock is a heavy-duty hasp-type lock with an integrated bar-code scanner. The software that you configure your lock with allows you to add package tracking numbers to the account. When the delivery person scans the tracking number from your package, the lock opens.

What’s in the box?

  • Lock
  • MicroUSB charging cable
  • USB 110V charger
  • Instruction sheet
  • Printed Master BarCode card

Design and features

The BoxLock is a bright yellow 1.25” triangular lock 5” long on the rear, and 3.5” long on the angle that faces forward. The hasp is 1.25” in diameter inside, and extends about that amount from the top in the locked position. One flat side is against the back of the hasp, the opposite angle faces out. When naturally grasped, your thumb falls onto that angle at the top, where a button is placed that, when pressed, engages a light and a bar-code scanner beam. When a package whose tracking number is entered into the lock’s account, the lock will open, and the owner of the account can get an alert. If the lock is left open for a set amount of time, another alert will be sent, warning the owner that the lock was not properly re-engaged.


Since the hasp is a pretty standard padlock size, it will fit into most places that can be secured by a standard padlock. This means you could even have your shed or backyard be the place the delivery person opens to leave your package. I had planned to move my rear deck box (which normally houses electric hedge clippers, electric blower, and a 100 ft. heavy-duty extension cord and various other garden implements) to the front porch to test the lock. BoxLock was kind enough to include a Step2 box, one of the models which they also sell from their website. This vented box came preassembled and ready to place on my front stoop. The deck box had to be assembled, which was not an easy task. The metal hasp fits the BoxLock perfectly, with the bright yellow of the box lock drawing attention to the “Deliveries” label molded into the box. This made no difference to drivers whose habits have become ingrained. But, if we can ever get deliveries there, it can be easily weighted and it would make walking off with packages a bit more problematic.

Setup

The lock will not work until it has been activated with an account, which is a good thing. You wouldn’t want a lock that you can’t control accidentally locked to something. Setup requires creating an account in the website or app and agreeing to the privacy policy of an unknown company (of course). Once you’ve fully activated your account, scanning or entering the serial number adds it to your account, and you’re in complete control. You can re-name the lock, or add anyone you’d like as a user by sending them a barcode that is their unique access code. You’ll get a notification (or at least a notice in your account) that they have accessed it.

Performance

Performance in unlocking with a package was perfect. Also, when I sent the signal from my account to open the lock, it immediately popped open every time. The one area that could use some work is when I sent the barcode to my Lovely Bride for her to be able to unlock the box using it on her phone. She was never able to get that to work. I could wiggle it around and play with the various distances and angles and finally get it to work with her phone barcode, but she hasn’t the patience for that. Printing out a card that I would expect her to have on her person every time she goes to fetch packages from the porch is a little beyond the pale. I’ve only just gotten her to see the need to carry her phone on such missions.

The lock, when used by the delivery companies, worked flawlessly. Through my video doorbell, I watched the first driver walk up on the porch, check the notes I had left on the delivery, and walk up to the lockbox. He swung the lock up and saw the scanner in the bottom, and then tested the button. He then grabbed the package he had set down, scanned it, and chuckled slightly when the lock popped open in his hand. He put the package in the box, locked it back, and gave the lock a tug to ensure it was secure. This was repeated with each driver who bothered to read the delivery instructions. Which brings up another issue. I’m lucky to get drivers to read that I want packages delivered to the front door, where they will be out of the sun and rain. (Our side door is south-facing and gets blisteringly hot.) It doesn’t matter how many times I call and ask, There is always some new driver who takes the route, and it’s not delivered to the correct place. The other issue is that the Post Office delivers many packages for other carriers. If it’s a package that meets the USPS parcel minimums, all of the shippers just have them fulfill the shipment. These are stuffed in the mailbox along with the rest of the mail. Even valuable packages like RAM or medicines are shoved in the mailbox with the mail and left to bake in the sun.

What I Like

  • Easy setup and entry of packages into account
  • Auto-recognizes the “Big Three” common carriers (UPSP, FedEX, UPS)
  • Allows adding other account users with their own custom barcode

What needs to be improved

  • Getting carriers to use it is going to take time
  • Using barcodes on phone screens in daylight is still problematic

Final thoughts

I love this product. It addresses a real problem that is growing, especially around gift-giving seasons. I think it would earn a permanent place on my front porch, except for two factors: having a strong-box on your porch is not very “welcoming”, and my Lovely Bride can’t get into it through her phone barcode. The other side of this is getting carriers to use it. Most of the prescription medicine deliveries are left in the mailbox, rather than delivered to the door.

Price: $129.00
Where to buy: Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by BoxLock.

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BoxLock smart padlock review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 14, 2018 at 11:30 am.

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Master & Dynamic go wireless again with the MW07 earphones. Totally wireless.

NEWS – Premium headphone maker Master & Dynamic would never admit to being satisfied with all they have accomplished in four short years. Even if they have just about covered all the audio bases in they’re product line of headphones, earphones and Bluetooth speakers. So what’s left? Truly wireless earphones, that’s what. M&D have not only developed their own spin on the wireless earphone market, but they have upped the game with the MW07 True Wireless Earphones.

The MW07 earphones incorporate Bluetooth 4.2 and 10mm beryllium speaker drivers. They’re made with premium materials, such as stainless steel and handcrafted acetate. The lightweight acetate shells are made in a time-honored way that dates back to the 1800s, giving each pair a unique and classic look. 

There are four choices of earpiece colors: Grey Terrazzo, Tortoiseshell, Steel Blue and Matte Black. They sit inside a chrome, stainless steel case with lights that indicate charging status. The MW07’s are slim, sit close to the ear and look good doing it. Each earpiece contains custom buttons that make it easy to control volume and play/pause/voice control. Optical sensors detect when an earpiece is removed and pauses the music. Audio is resumed when the earpiece is placed back into the ear.

Beryllium drivers are typically used in hi-fi products and result in a warm sound that M&D is becoming famous for. “Our goal is to offer the best of both superior sound and sophisticated design to our customers,” says Jonathan Levine, M&D founder and CEO. “With the launch of the MW07, we’ve not only improved the user experience, but we’ve selected premium materials to take true wireless earphones into uncharted territory.”

I had a chance to test a prototype of the MW07s and came away impressed with the quality of both the audio and build. If they were prototypes, you could have fooled me. I will soon be doing a full review of the finished version MW07 wireless earphone.

The MW07 True Wireless Earphones are available now from M&D and sell for $299 US. Visit Master & Dynamic for more information.

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Master & Dynamic go wireless again with the MW07 earphones. Totally wireless. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 14, 2018 at 10:30 am.

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