As a self-confessed gadget geek, I am always looking for the next gadget that provides convenience with some cool technology built in. I am also attracted to functional gadgets that combine things for everyday use in a practical form.
Today I was browsing the internet and came across a pen called the Chargewrite. In my opinion, this pen is really cool. It combines the functionality of an everyday need for the purposes of charging, data storage, and writing. It includes a built-in battery and a universal Smartphone tip that accommodates either a lightning port or a Micro USB port so that you have one charging tip for all of your devices and without the need for an adapter. It is also a ballpoint pen, a screen cleaner, and a stylus. In addition, there is an option for an included 16GB flash drive.
If you would like to purchase this cool Chargewrite pen, you can pick one up on the Shopbkey website for $29 for the version that has a 1000Mah battery but no built-in flash drive, or $39 for the model with a 650Mah battery and a 16GB flash drive.
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In my mind, great accessories makes a great gadget even better. I love my 2nd-gen iPad Pro 12.9, and I want accessories to protect it and keep it looking great. I want a protective iPad Pro sleeve that will protect it in my gear bag and when I’m carrying only it with me. I’m even happier when the protective sleeve is attractive. The Lucrin Zippered Sleeve for iPad Pro 12.9″ is both protective and beautiful. It seems to be the perfect accessory for me! When Lucrin offered a review sample to The Gadgeteer, I hastily asked to be chosen.
Design and Features
Founded in 1994, Lucrin is a Swiss luxury leather company that offers a collection of “beautifully designed everyday leather essentials that are colorful, timeless and easy to personalize.” Lucrin says that customization is what they do best, and their ordering process is proof of that.
With every bag, you have a selection of leathers and colors. You can customize this sleeve by adding your monogram or removing the Lucrin logo. (Other bags and accessories offer more leathers, including exotic skins.) I chose the granulated leather. The beautiful red seen here was very tempting, but I opted for the Royal Blue because I wanted to coordinate this sleeve with the Oberon Design Sonoma Tote that I use as my gear bag.
You see that there are many colors, from the more masculine darks to the more feminine pinks, to choose from. I think men and women are equally able to design a sleeve that suits their style.
Lucrin has a philosophy that I like. They say:
“The beauty of a leather article relies on several ingredients: a good leather craftsman, of course, as well as an expert tanner, along with a top quality hide and, if we go right back to the source, farms that make animal welfare their priority and good grazing.
Lucrin buys directly from the best tanners in Italy, Spain and South Africa (for ostrich leather). Each tannery we work with has been carefully selected for the quality of its hides and its expertise. These tanneries buy raw hides, prepare them and carry out dyeing as per the colors of the Lucrin catalogue and high-end texturing procedures.“
As you can see from the photos in this review, the Royal Blue sleeve in granulated leather that I received shows the quality that went into every step of the processing.
I opted to leave the Lucrin logo on my bag, as you see. The logo is very discreet, and not a major component of the design. I brightened up the photo here to highlight the graining of the leather. The top photo better represents the actual color.
The back of the sleeve is plain, with no pockets. This sleeve is designed to hold only the iPad Pro 12.9 and nothing else.
Notice that the zipper pulls are little straps made of the same leather as the rest of the bag.
The interior of the bag is microfiber fabric to protect the iPad Pro from scratches. The bag opens up completely, as seen here. The zipper’s teeth are plastic, to further prevent scratching. What you can’t see is the padding between the leather and lining that will cushion the iPad.
The microfiber fabric looks like suede. In this photo, you can see the actual color of the lining fabric. Notice also how even and straight the stitching is. This Lucrin sleeve is beautifully constructed.
This is my 2nd-gen iPad Pro 12.9 laying inside the Lucrin Zippered Sleeve. Although the iPad Pro isn’t cased in this photo, I did find that the Pro will also fit inside while wearing a thin TPU back cover. The cover zips easily around the Pro with or without the TPU back cover.
Here’s the Lucrin sleeve beside my Oberon Sonoma bag. The leather colors don’t match, but I wouldn’t expect bags from two companies to have an exact color match. I still think the two bags complement each other beautifully.
Here’s the Lucrin sleeve, with my iPad Pro inside, fitting in the front of the Oberon bag. The sleeve fits inside the compartment of that Oberon bag as if it were custom-made for it. I don’t have to remove the sleeve from the tote to get my iPad Pro out. I just unzip the sleeve a little past the top corners, and I can slip the iPad right out – cased or uncased.
What I like
Can be customized with the color and the leather texture you like
Well made
Beautiful leather exterior and protective interior
Works well to protect your iPad Pro in your gear bag or as you carry it to meetings
What needs to be improved
Nothing
Final thoughts
The Lucrin Zippered Sleeve for 12.9″ iPad Pro can be customized with color and leather type, so you can have your perfect zippered sleeve for your iPad Pro. It’s well-constructed of quality materials, and it’s beautifully constructed. I love this Lucrin zippered sleeve, and it makes a beautiful addition to my gear bag.
Price: $265.00, as configured for this review Where to buy: Customize and purchase at Lucrin Source: The sample of this product was provided by company Lucrin
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To celebrate summer, we are giving away thirteen awesome prizes. One winner takes it all! Entering is easy! Just answer three questions in a comment at the bottom of this post and if you’re willing to jump through a few extra hoops, you can earn up to three additional entries which will greatly increase your chances of winning. Please read the details on the prizes and the rules before you submit your entries for a chance to win our spring gadget giveaway prize pack!
Prizes:
One person will win a prize pack consisting of 1 of each of the 13 products shown below:
Wiplabs SLOPE large tablet stand
SLOPE is a Premium Micro-Suction tablet stand that is compatible with any tablets that have a flat back of four 8 to 10.5inches.
The solution to your data transfer needs. This hub is compatible with your MacBook Pro 13” and 15” models, complementing your Apple accessories while completing your desk set-up.
Lightweight, low-profile design with genuine lambskin cushioning, which is collapsible for portability. This is pair can travel with you in your backpack with no hassle.
Ideal for professional recording and DJ reference
Tuned for a natural, warm mid-range
Lightweight, low-profile design with genuine lambskin cushioning
Collapsible, closed-back design with 90° rotating ear cups
Compact earphones with wireless technology and IPX4 water-resistant design combine durability and outstanding sound. Perfect for the gym you’ll be using on campus.
The best workout is the one you do. The easy-to-use Polar M200 with wrist-based heart rate monitoring motivates and guides you every step of the way. This takes away the stress of keeping track of fitness, and helps you focus on school.
Computer-crafting kit that teaches coding to help you build your own computer. Computer science education at an early start for children who know what they’ll study early on.
How to enter (please read carefully – any missed steps and your entry will be disqualified):
Between now and 07/01/2018 midnight EST leave a comment on this page answering the questions below.
Are you a regular visitor or a brand new visitor to The Gadgeteer?
What types of reviews do you enjoy reading the most?
What types of news articles do you enjoy reading the most?
Get a 2nd bonus entry by subscribing to our newsletter:
You’ll receive 3 emails a week with latest post info. Subscribe here.
If you’re already a newsletter subscriber, let me know and you’ll get a 2nd bonus entry.
Make sure you come back to this page and leave a separate 2nd comment stating that you subscribed to the newsletter, a 3rd comment with a link to your tweet and a 4th comment with a link to your Facebook post. To get the links for Twitter and Facebook, just click the time stamp of your post and it will give you the page with that post so you can grab the link.
At some point on 04/29/2018, I’ll pick one random winner using random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hrs to claim their prizes. If I do not receive an answer to my email in that time period, I’ll do other random.org drawings till the prize pack is claimed.
Rules:
1. Only one entry per person (warning: I check IP addresses).
2. Gadgeteer writers and their immediate family members may not enter this contest.
3. the-gadgeteer.com is not responsible for any lost packages due to incorrect shipping addresses.
4. the-gadgeteer.com is not responsible for the winner not accepting their prize offer within 48hrs. The winner will be posted on this contest page, in the contest page comment section and will be emailed using the email provided in the comment section. Check your spam folder.
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This week we are bringing you several crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. This week’s featured campaigns are products for people who like to travel and like EDC wallet tools. Check out our picks for this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.
Tail it: 4 new affordable GPS trackers with global range
What is it?
Tail its are small 2G, 3G, 4G, and WiFi item trackers that are ultra affordable.
Why do I like it?
Most item finders/trackers that are on the market use Bluetooth, but the Tail it uses 2G, 3G, 4G, and WiFi, which means once the item is out of Bluetooth range of your phone, you will still be able to track it. Tail it doesn’t require a subscription or any other extra fees and the battery life lasts anywhere from 3-8 weeks depending on the version.
Where can I find more info?
The Tail it campaign ends on 7/19/18 and they have already passed their funding goal of $12,342. You can pre-order a Tail it starting at $86. After the Tail it campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in September 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
PocketRule – the complete reference tool, in your pocket.
What is it?
PocketRule is a 3pc set that includes a ruler, protractor, and maker/designer/scientist/engineer reference card that is made of fiberglass and designed to fit in your wallet.
Why do I like it?
I like the PocketRules tools because they are wallet sized. That means that they will also fit in the cardholder that you might have in your journal, which is where I’d keep mine for better doodles and diagrams.
Where can I find more info?
The PocketRule campaign ends on 7/25/18 and they are close to reaching their funding goal of $3,600. You can pre-order a PocketRule starting at $11. After the PocketRule campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
SmartRuler – Titanium Creative Design Credit Card Multi Tool
What is it?
SmartRuler is a credit card sized ruler with additional EDC features.
Why do I like it?
If I had to choose between the PocketRule (campaign shown above this one) or the SmartRuler, I’d go with the SmartRuler because they are made of aluminum or titanium instead of fiberglass and they double as a multi-tool with a bottle opener, hex wrench, headphones holder, smartphone stand, and more.
Where can I find more info?
The SmartRuler campaign ends on 7/26/18 and they have already surpassed their funding goal of $5,000. You can pre-order a SmartRuler starting at $13. After the SmartRuler campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
The Bento Bag: Most Thoughtful Travel Bag Ever
What is it?
The Bento Bag is a carry-on travel bag.
Why do I like it?
I like the Bento Bag because it has a variety of features that are important to in-flight travelers. The bag opens like a suitcase for easy packing, has special easy-access pockets for a variety of your gear and a pass-through charging port for your device, all while remaining small enough to stow under the seat in front of you on a plane.
Where can I find more info?
The Bento Bag campaign ends on 7/16/18 and they have already reached their funding goal of $15,000. You can pre-order a Bento Bag starting at $149. After the Bento Bag campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in November 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.
PLEVO – The World’s Most Innovative Smart Luggage
What is it?
PLEVO is a rolling luggage set with a built-in removable battery pack, GPS tracking, smart lock, built-in digital scale, garment hanger, and travel assistant app.
Why do I like it?
I like PLEVO luggage because they have so many built-in features including a hanging garment rack, removable/replaceable 360-degree wheels which are a must-have and the set is covered by a lifetime warranty. They also look unlike any luggage I’ve seen before which means you probably won’t grab the wrong bag off the luggage carousel at the airport.
Where can I find more info?
The PLEVO campaign ends on 8/3/18 and they have already reached their funding goal of $50,000. You can pre-order a PLEVO starting at $245. After the PLEVO campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in October 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.
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There are lots of smart, connected thermostats for controlling your full-house HVAC unit, but you’re stuck with manual controls for window air conditioners. Kapsul is changing that by bringing connectivity and app control to the window unit.
The Kapsul W5 unit has the performance of a traditional 5,000 BTU window air conditioner. At only 7″ tall, Kapsul brings a new, more attractive look to the window units, and it’s twice as quiet as traditional window units. And Kapsul says their “patented window frame adapter can be installed by one person in minutes, creates a perfect airtight seal, and eliminates the possibility of improper installation, or worse yet, a unit dropping out of the window.”
The W5 has on-board temperature, humidity, ambient light, and kilowatt sensors. The app lets you monitor all these conditions and control the W5’s performance from anywhere you have internet access. Plus, the Kapsul W5 is compatible with Nest, Google Assistant, and Alexa, so you can control the W5 with your voice, too.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: 5,000 BTU Window AC
Dimensions: 7″ X 20″ X 22″
Window Size: 21″ to 36″ wide
Weight: 40 pounds
Power Type: 120V AC
EER: 11 energy efficiency rating
Temperature: in Fahrenheit
Operation: between 70º – 110º F
Certifications: FCC and ETL
Right now, Kapsul is taking pre-orders for their W5 unit. By ordering now, the W5 will be $499, $100 off the normal price. Delivery is expected in the Spring of 2019; your card will not be charged until your unit is ready to ship. Learn more at the Kapsul website.
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