Pivo Tiny Pod camera mount review

REVIEW – I am usually interested in almost every type of gadget that is designed for videography and/or photography. These days, almost everyone has a smartphone and many people use the built-in features to shoot either videos or to take pictures or both. In response to this popularity, many companies have manufactured various kinds of gadgets to help phone users to get more enjoyment and versatility when shooting. The Pivo Tiny Pod is just that type of gadget.

What is it?

Pivo is a smart interactive pod for smartphone photography and videography. It is built around 12 main features that include 9 quick create modes, 2 auto-follow modes, and 1 multi live streaming mode.

What’s in the box


1 x Pivo Pod
1 x Panoramic Mount
1 x Adjustable Mount
1 x Remote Control
! x Micro USB Cable
1 x Travel Case
1 x User Leaflet

Design and features

Specifications
Pivo Pod –
Max Load: 1kg
Bluetooth: BLE 4.0
Rotation Degree: 360 degrees
Speed Rotation: 10s/r-2h/r
Bluetooth: 2402MHz~2480MHz
SRD: 2440MHz
Battery: 500mAh
Charging Method: Micro-USB Part, 5VDC, 0.5A
Charging Time: 1 hour
Working time: 10 hours
Height (without mount): 5 cm / 2 inches
Height (with mount): 7.3 cm / 2.9 inches
Width: 6.3 cm / 2.5 inches
Weight: 176g / 6.2 ounces

Remote Control –
Controller: 2.4GHz RF
Distance: 50ft (15m)
Height: 8.8cm / 2.7 inches
Width: 3.65cm / 1.4 inches
Weight: 30g / 1.0 ounces
Battery: 3V Coin Button Cell

Looking at the Pivo Pod, on one side, there is the grip fastener at the top, the 360-degree rotation gear below that, and a USB charging port at the bottom. Around the body of the Pod, there is a sort of rubberized finish/coating.

On the opposite side of the Pivo Pod, there is the power button.

Looking down at the Pivo from the top, there is the smartphone holder/grip and a bubble level.


At the bottom/underneath of the Pivo, there is a 1/4-20″ tripod mount and 3 extendable feet.


The Pivo Pod also comes with a remote that controls shooting modes, speed, capture and rotation functions.

Performance

The Pivo Pod is very easy to set up and use. Just take it out of the box and charge it, download the app and it is ready to go. The app requires that you create an account and then login. It connects via Bluetooth but the app controls the connection. Once you mount the phone into the Pivo you can start recording. You can mount it either vertically or horizontally.


It has several modes that can track in different ways to handle tasks like panoramic or 2 persons back and forth switching or individual movement tracking, timelapse, motion timelapse, etc. Since it is a bit hard to explain and showcase all of its functionality, here is a video to help do so:

The Pivo Pod app is also easy to setup and use. Here are some screenshots from the app:










The following is a short tracking video test that I did from my point of view:

What I like

  • The compact size
  • The features and functionality
  • The versatility
  • The ease of use
  • It works with the remote, snapping your fingers and even saying cheese
  • It uses front and back cameras

What I’d change

  • It works great so I can’t think of anything at the moment.

Final thoughts

I really like the Pivo Pod, especially in my case for shooting product videos and product photography. It shoots 360-degree photos/video. The tracking feature is great and responsive enough that it allows for versatility when shooting video. The remote works well for any distance that I have need. You also have the ability to stream live to popular platforms like Facebook and YouTube, and they have partnered with Ustream to allow streaming to over 30 platforms. I give this device a well done and two thumbs up!!

Price: $109
Where to buy: The Pivo Website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Pivo

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Pivo Tiny Pod camera mount review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 11, 2019 at 9:47 am.

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Leatherman Free T4 pocket multi-tool review

REVIEW – How many times have you needed something – a screwdriver, knife, something to pry with?  One solution is to carry the well-known Swiss army knife, but those tend to be bulky and heavy. That need led to the creation of multitools – small, pocketable tools and Leatherman is at the forefront of that market. Always innovating, Leatherman has a new tool in the game – the Leatherman Free T4.

What is it?

The Leatherman Free T4 is a small and lightweight multitool that comes with a cool dozen tools.

What’s in the box?

  • Leatherman Free T4 tool
  • A really basic “how to use” card

Hardware specs

  • Closed length: 3.6 in / 9.3 cm L x 0.62 in / 1.51 cm W
  • Blade length: 2.2 in / 5.6 cm
  • Weight: 4.3 oz / 121.9 g

Design and features

Each side has a lock-release thumb switch to release opened tools.  The back has a removable pocket clip with a lanyard loop included on the clip.

The T4 feels great in the hand. It’s super-solid and at the same time, very lightweight.  In fact, my wife, the engineer, couldn’t believe how light it was. But, a tool’s value isn’t in how it feels or how light it is.  It has to function, and the T4 brings a dozen tools to the party.  Let’s see what’s included in this beauty.

  • Item #1 is a 420 high-carbon stainless steel knife
  • Item #2 pulls triple duty as a pry tool, package opener and, a medium screwdriver
  • Item #3 is is a twofer with a wood/metal file and a small screwdriver
  • Item #4 is a spring-action pair of scissors
  • Item #5 is both an awl and an extra-small screwdriver
  • Item #6 is a Phillips screwdriver as well as a bottle opener
  • Item #7 is a pair of tweezers in the top of the unit and pictured below

When a tool is opened, it locks in place.  There are two releases – one for each set of tools.  A push of the thumb releases the lock so the tool can swing back to its stored position.

A cool feature of this locking mechanism is that it uses magnets and makes for a very smooth open/close.

Speaking of opening – historically, that was one of the pains with multitools.  To get at specific tools, it took industrial-strength fingernails to pry the tool out from its stored position.  The Free T4 changes that with a thumb-driven opening mechanism that simply pivots the desired tool up so it can be easily accessed.

This design allows for one-handed opening operation – a very nice feature.

What I like

  • It’s solid
  • It’s light
  • It has most everything I need

What I’d change

  • It is a tad thick in my pocket, making it a challenge to get my wallet out (perhaps that’s a bonus…), but I don’t know how I would include all these features in anything smaller
  • Including a reusable toothpick would have been nice

Final thoughts

I tend to travel light.  I have my trusty cell phone in one front pocket and wallet (and sometimes key fob) in the other.  Adding the Free T4 on the wallet side was a non-event.  I never felt it.  It clipped perfectly on my pocket and rested in my pocket.  As I mentioned above, because it is a little thick, it will take some getting used to getting my wallet out, but I expect that won’t take much time.

All Leatherman tools (including the Leatherman Free P2 which we also reviewed) are proudly made in the USA. The Free T4 comes with a 25-year warranty. I really like the Free T4 and look forward to it becoming a key player for every day carry.

Price: $59.95
Where to buy: Direct from Leatherman. It is announced on Amazon but pricing and availability are not available.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Leatherman.

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Leatherman Free T4 pocket multi-tool review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 11, 2019 at 8:40 am.

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REECHO EchoWeek Wireless Earbuds review

CROWDFUNDED REVIEW – Today, we’re taking a hard look at the REECHO EchoWeek to find out if these truly wireless stereo earbuds are an instant classic or a cautionary tale of crowd-funding gone awry.

What is it?

REECHO’s EchoWeek TWS earbuds are yet another entry into the crowded wireless earphone market. They are currently in prototype stage and have only in the past month or so sent out their first batch of product to their Indiegogo backers. I received a sample product with that first shipment, and I really hope I didn’t jump someone’s place in line who paid real money for a pair.

Behold, another tiny Truly Wireless earbud.

What’s in the box?

  • earbuds and case
  • 3 different earbud tips and sports wingtips
  • micro-USB cable
  • manual and quick guide
It does come with an array of eartip and wing sizes.

Hardware specs

  • Unique rounded balanced armature
  • True-wireless stereo earbuds
  • 3 sizes of wingtips & 3 sizes of eartips
  • IPX6 sweat resistance
  • Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connection
  • Up to 48 hours with use of charging case (750mAh case capacity, 50mAh earbud capacity)
  • Easy access to voice control smart assistants

Design and features

The EchoWeek earbuds have a nice look to them. Made from smooth, black matte plastic, they have sleek, sporty feel and are very lightweight. I was pleased that the largest of the earbud tips fit well in my notoriously difficult ears, fully sealing my ear canals.

Fits the big ear holes.

The case is … fine. It’s colored metal, with chamfered silver edges, and you can tell that they were simply trying to match the color of the plastic cases pictured in their Indiegogo campaign page. Looking at what they were promising versus what they delivered, it’s clear that they either ran out of time or the glossy plastic of the 3D prototype just couldn’t be achieved.

Ooh that sharp metal edge.

They don’t even match the box they were shipped in. It must have been a really late decision in the manufacturing process.

The earbuds were supposed to match the color of the case, but instead, all of the shipped products were black, which garnered a lot of complaints from their project backers. I would have preferred a straight silver case instead of this color, but I’m assuming they still had to try to match the seven colors they were offering in the campaign.

What they were promising vs. what they delivered. Yes, really. Big oof.

I wonder if REECHO called it the EchoWeek because there were 7 colors, one for each day of the week. Indeed, the top-tier perk ($399) was for a 7-pack. Just a random thought.

Setup and Functionality

Pairing is, as usual, pretty straightforward. I’ve heard that these TWS earbuds are sort of hit and miss when it comes to Bluetooth setup, since they’re technically two separate devices that work together as one, but I’ve never run into any issues.

Once you’re paired up, it’s a simple matter of opening the case and removing the earbuds from their chargers to connect to your device. You can use one or both earbuds, which is nice for when you want to keep an ear free for traffic or talking to others.

One thing that I’m a bit torn on is the button function. Look at this button guide.

It’s comprehensive as to what you can do with the buttons, but difficult to remember what hitting the right button 2 times or the left button one time will do. Plus, the buttons are a bit tough to press, so completing a triple-click is quite difficult. Compare that to a programmable double-tap on Apple’s AirPods, and, well, even if that’s not a fair comparison, I guess I just like things simple.

Just look at this “easy setup guide.” Come on.

Sound

The sound drivers, which Reecho is dubbing their “balanced armature drivers (BADs?),” are claimed to have superior sound isolation, require less power, and are very small and lightweight. And given the apparent uniqueness of this driver, REECHO can tout on their IndieGoGo page that the EchoWeeks are the “smallest rounded BA TWS Earbuds,” because everything has to the be the first and/or only thing of its kind on crowdfunding sites.

Good fit. Decent sound. Now if you could pick them up for $29? Pretty easy recommendation.

Overall, they sound pretty good! Especially if these earbuds would only set you back a mere $29. They sound a little flat, overall, like the highs are a bit muted. I can’t say if the

Connection

As with some past TWS earbuds that I’ve come across, the connection seems rather spotty. Reecho claims 10m “straight line connection distance,” but it seems even putting my phone in my pocket is enough to interrupt the audio at times. Placing my hands over my ears is also enough to cause music to fuzz out to silence.

You’re certainly not going to be full on swimming with these things on, despite REECHO’s promotional videos might show. I mean, seriously?

I can’t even get a wall to work between these earbuds and my iPhone, and this dude is full on Michael Phelps-ing around the pool. I’m not buying it.

Battery Life

Unsurprisingly, the battery life on these earbuds didn’t quite match their advertised 6 hours. I got about 3.5 hours of constant music out of them before they died. I imagine you would get 7 charges out of the case, though, mathematically speaking, bringing that total listening time to over 24 hours. That’s not too bad, it’s in keeping with most other TWS earbuds of this size.

What I like

  • They do sound pretty great for the apparent price
  • Build quality is good, too

What I’d change

  • Buttons are a bit hard to press
  • Weak connection, sound drops out
  • Simplify the button controls

Final thoughts

If the time spent with the EchoWeek’s taught me anything, it would be to approach crowdfunded products with a side of caution, because this is a very real outcome.

From an objective standpoint, these earbuds sound great for $29. If REECHO somehow launched their product on a mass scale at this price, they’d be a clear favorite. Even with the weak connectivity issues. But as to whether or not you’ll actually be able to get your hands on a pair … let’s just say I wouldn’t hold my breath.

I tried to get in touch with a representative from the company and didn’t hear back from them. Reading the comments on the Indiegogo page, there are a lot of others who unfortunately had the same issue.

Price: Lowest backing “secret” price was $29, but no word on what the final retail product cost will be or if they’ll go into full production.
Where to buy: This product is, as of the time of writing, unavailable for purchase. You can find their closed Indiegogo page here. And if you want a bit of schadenfreude for their backers, read through the comments section.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by REECHO.

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REECHO EchoWeek Wireless Earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2019 at 10:10 am.

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