Can the Treblab X5 earbuds take a bite out of the Apple crowd?


NEWS – When Apple first introduced their AirPods, I was not at all intrigued by the design or the cost. Don’t get me wrong, I am a daily all-day user of the iPad and iPhone, but their earbuds were just not appealing to me. I do believe that it was a combination of their design, with the two small stick-like pieces that more resembled earrings, along with their white color that made them as conspicuous as possible. Since then, I have chatted with many folks that swear that they sound incredible and are worth disregarding any of the pesky preferences that I may have that may be stopping me from purchasing them.

For the past few months, I have opted to test and review other wireless earbuds in an ongoing search for the best earbuds for my personal taste, and I have continued to stay away from Apple’s product. This is why it is so strange when I came across the TREBLAB X5 earbuds and became strangely intrigued by this product. They follow a similar design to the AirPods which I initially so despised, but I seem to be more accepting because of the black color that looks more gadget-like to me. They are water resistant and are designed for use when exercising and even when competing in sports events. They claim to offer the latest in Bluetooth technology and include Beryllium speakers.

If you would like to purchase the TREBLAB X5 earbuds, you can head over to Amazon and pick them up for $79.97. There is currently a coupon that is available on the Treblab website that can be used on Amazon, and it will reduce the price to $47.97.

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Can the Treblab X5 earbuds take a bite out of the Apple crowd? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Conbrov 1080P USB charger hidden camera review

REVIEW – I’ve taken a liking to home security since some vehicles near my home were burglarized. I have several security cameras, but, since they look like cameras, if someone was to enter my home, they would like to be the first thing to be destroyed, taken, you get the idea.  I’ve toyed with the idea of having something more discrete and volunteered to have a look at Conbrov’s WiFi 1080P USB charger camera.

What is it?

Conbrov’s WiFi 1080P USB charger camera is a plug-in security camera. It looks like an oversized USB charger and equipped with a working 1 Amp USB port, an internal backup battery, and night vision.

Hardware Specs:

  • 1080P resolution, 160° viewing angle, 15fps
  • Internal 500mA battery1 Amp USB port
  • Selectable night vision modes
  • WiFi
  • Maximum SD card capacity of 64GB
  • JustMyCam app

What’s in the Box?

  • Camera
  • Instruction manual
  • Wall plug adapter
  • Conbrov VIP card
  • Amazon “warning” card (covert cameras with audio are illegal to sell on Amazon in the U.S.A)
  • Unicef $1 donation card for submitting a review

Design and Features:

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. I am not a pervert, deviant, voyeur or creep. I have no intention of using this camera for unscrupulous, immoral or illegal purposes. My sole intention is to use this camera to supplement my home security system in a common area of my home. It will never be placed in a location that would compromise the privacy or modesty of anyone living in or visiting my home.

The camera arrived in a strong, largely black box about 3-1/2 X 3-1/2 X 5 inches. The camera is protected by a cardboard “nest” and wrapped in a plastic bag. The camera itself measures 3-1/4 X 2 X 1-1/4 inches. The construction is largely plastic, with sliding doors to access the controls.

Controls are basic, on/off, SD card slot, reset, microphone on/off, and motion detect mode. There are two LEDs with status indicators, but they can’t be turned off. They are under the doors so they are not obvious, but some of the lighting from the LEDs illuminates the inside of the camera and is visible through the cooling vents.

According to the instructions:

I grabbed a 64 GB SD card to format as FAT32 only… Hmmm, really? Windows limits FAT32 to a maximum of 32 GB. There are third-party apps that can format FAT32 drives larger than 32 GB, but the manual specifically states to use Windows only to format the card. So….

I grabbed a 32 GB SD, format it as FAT32, and started through the installation process. I loaded the JustMyCam app on my phone, connected to my network and connected to the camera, all relatively painless.

The app is intuitive and connects to the camera quickly. It allows viewing a live video feed or access to the library of 10-minute videos that the camera records in a loop after the SD card has been filled.  There is even an internal 500mAbattery to keep it running if unplugged or the power goes out. Everything works as described.

Setup functions allow mirroring and flipping of the image, creation of a passcode to safeguard recorded videos, alarm scheduling for mothing detection and recording, SD card management, image management, and network setting.

Image quality is sharp, but with a distorted “fish-eye lens” appearance. More significantly, the image cannot be changed from portrait to landscape. Switching to “full screen” squishes the portrait image into a landscape format, making the image barely usable.

Night vision capabilities are quite good with plenty of illumination for the majority of rooms.

A portrait image just isn’t practical for home security, where a wider field of view is a necessity.  Because of this, I won’t be using this camera as I originally intended as a backup for my Canary camera system. Instead, I’ll probably use it in my garage to make sure I’ve closed the door.

What I like

  • Small size
  • Good image quality
  • SD storage

What needs to be improved?

  • Needs landscape image capability
  • Internal battery

Final thoughts:

Conbrov’s WiFi 1080P USB charger camera is a convenient way to add video to your home.  The app is basic but has plenty of useful functionality. Unfortunately, the inability of the camera to produce a landscape picture is a killer if your goal is to use it as a home security enhancement.

Price: $60.95
Where to buy: Amazon (30%off code： 30OFFNT20 expires 9/29/18)
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Conbrov.

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Conbrov 1080P USB charger hidden camera review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Wear the solar system on your wrist

NEWS – I’m fascinated by jewelry and little knickknacks representing the solar system.  I recently found a bracelet with stone beads that shows the sun and all the planets (plus Pluto, too if you want).  The Solar System Stone Bracelet is the perfect gift for the astronomers – or even astrologists if that’s your wont.

The bracelet has semi-precious stones for the planets.  There’s no sun for this bracelet, but there are blue sandstone beads to represent the universe, obsidian black holes, and metal stars and spacer beads.  The bracelet is available in 6.9″ or 7.4″ fixed-lengths (seen in the top image) or as an adjustable bracelet (second image).  All three styles are available with or without Pluto.

The Solar System Stone Bracelet is normally $39.99, but it’s available right now for $19.00.  All sizes and styles are the same price.  Check them out at the GiftTheGalaxy website.

And just so you know, they say they donate to the Planetary Society for each purchase made, to help advance space science and exploration.  There’s no mention of what they plan to do for the Space Force…  😉

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Wear the solar system on your wrist originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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SentryShield makes your child’s backpack bulletproof

NEWS – It’s an unfortunate fact that the terms active shooter and mass shooting are commonplace today. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their children when they send them off to school each day, but worry is just part of the world we live in now.

Some schools and businesses have active shooter scenario drills so that people will know what to do if such a terrible situation occurs. But are there other ways to provide some extra protection and peace of mind for your kids? SentryShield, the maker of tactical protection gear, thinks so with their Bulletproof Backpack Insert.

The Bulletproof Backpack Insert is a NIJ Level IIIA-compliant bulletproof insert that is eight times stronger than steel without being made of any metal. It’s constructed of up of 24 layers of ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) to make it capable of stopping a variety of ammunition without setting off a metal detector at the airport, schools, etc.

The backpack (16.25 by 11.75 inches) and handbag (14 by 10 inches) versions of the SentryShield inserts are both only 10 millimeters thick, and weigh only 1.46 and 1.74 pounds respectively. They can be easily inserted into your bag and left there to provide extra protection in the event of an active shooter situation.

The SentryShield is available now at SentryShieldUSA.com for an introductory price of $89.99. And for a limited time, a second SentryShield is available for 50% off when purchasing one at full price and entering code Protect50 at checkout.

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SentryShield makes your child’s backpack bulletproof originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 30, 2018 at 2:00 pm.

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Dremel’s Power Cleaner Tool makes things squeaky clean!

NEWS – As a self-confessed gadget nerd, I am always looking for gadgets that either make a process easier, are able to consolidate multiple individual processes into one, or present a new way of handling a task. I own a lot of various types of gadgets and equipment, and any type of tool that makes keeping them clean a quicker and easier task would very much work for me.

Recently, while browsing the internet, I came across the Dremel PC10-01 Versa USB Cordless Lithium-Ion Power Cleaner Tool. I am a big fan of Dremel tools, and I have their rotary tool both corded and wireless, and a bunch of their attachments. However, when I saw this cleaning tool with its design, I immediately thought of several niches that it could inhabit within my world. I can easily see its ability to work in tight spaces of specific spaces, and its grip design suggests that it would be more comfortable to use and control as opposed to the normal Dremel tool design. It features a USB fast charging Lithium-Ion battery and a rotation speed of 200RPM. It can handle wet and dry applications in both indoor and outdoor applications.

If you are interested in purchasing the Dremel PC10-01 Versa USB Cordless Lithium-Ion Power Cleaner Tool, you can head over to Amazon and pick one up for $49.88

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Dremel’s Power Cleaner Tool makes things squeaky clean! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 30, 2018 at 1:00 pm.

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