The Mount Genie Smart Home Shelf is smart decor for smart devices


In today’s technology-driven world that is constantly evolving and redefining the way we live, smart devices have become an integral part of our home environment, and as such, their designs must adhere to the decor demands of consumers. In an effort to comply, many companies have come up with creative ideas to make sure that the devices blend into any décor.

Mount Genie is one such company that has introduced several mounting products for voice assistants and other smart technology, including the Smart Home Shelf geared towards residential customers.
The Smart Home Shelf goes on either side of your wall outlet and installs in seconds. It creates a decorative space for you to place any device such as “Amazon Echo, Google Home, Nest, security cameras and more.” It includes a built-in custom cord holder that nicely hides any wires for a clean look, and it “comes with three additional short cords designed to be used with USB outlets so plugs aren’t lost”.

It is important to note that to use the Smart Home Shelf, you must purchase a décor outlet for it. The décor outlet can be purchased from any home improvement store for about $2 and are easy to install.

If you would like to purchase the Mount genie Smart Home Shelf, you can pick one up on Amazon for $13.99.

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The Mount Genie Smart Home Shelf is smart decor for smart devices originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 21, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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North St. Bags Scout 21 VX Duffel review

I do a bit of travel, mostly for work, some for vacations.  I also do a fair bit of working out.  Well, OK, I work out 6 or 7 days a week.  I had been looking for a bag that I could use for either travel or the gym, and one that would be durable and weatherproof.  Lo and behold, North St. Bags’ Scout line of duffel bags seemed to fit the bill.  We’ve reviewed a few products from North St. Bags here at The Gadgeteer, so I welcomed the opportunity to try out their Scout 21 VX Duffel.  Gadget on!

What is it?

With a 30 Liter capacity, the Scout 21 VX Duffel is North St. Bags’ largest duffel.  It is made from ultra-durable and waterproof LS42 Smoke X-Pac™ Shell material, includes an interior zip pocket with lanyard and an adjustable shoulder strap.

Hardware specs

  • Color options:
    • MultiCam® camouflage
    • Smoke (reviewed here)
  • Size = 21″ long x 10.5″ diameter
  • Capacity = 30 Liters
  • Materials”
    • Exterior = Waterproof LS42 Smoke X-Pac™ Shell
    • Interior = Nylon Packcloth liner
  • Country of manufacture = Built by hand in Portland, Oregon, USA
  • Warranty = Lifetime

What’s in the package?

  • North St. Bags Scout 21 VX duffel

Design and features

First impression: The Scout 21 VX’s material, both look and feel, both piqued my interest immediately, but for different reasons.  The color of this particular bag, North St. Bags’ “Smoke” color scheme, looked cool—kind of a subdued gray (which I am really into right now), but with a look that is almost like denim.  However, the feel was a different story.  This particular bag’s material, North St. Bags’ Waterproof LS42 Smoke X-Pac™ Shell has a sort of smooth plastic finish, a bit like a cross between nylon and canvas (in the words of our own Jacob Haas).  It does feel waterproof (or at least very water resistant) and also very lightweight yet very tough.

One other feature worth mentioning is that the Scout 21 VX includes an adjustable shoulder strap made from the same type of tough nylon webbing from with the duffel’s handles are made.  The shoulder strap has spring hooks that attach to plastic D-rings on either end of the bag.  For this the Scout 21 VX’s price of $149.99, I’m glad that North St. Bags includes a good, sturdy shoulder strap with the Scout 21 VX and doesn’t require you to buy one separately.

Above, a photo of the front and back of the tag that was attached to the Scout 21 VX duffel.  Made in the USA: good.  Why do I like made in USA products? Because in my experience, more often than not, they are of better design, better materials, and better manufacturing than imported products.  Yes, USA-made goods are often more expensive, but I am a big believer in paying more for quality when appropriate.  Not everyone shares this view and that is fine, I will disagree with you with the utmost respect.

First up, let’s look at the logo tag.  If you follow my reviews, you know I’m a fan of logo tags that are low-profile and not obnoxiously eye-catching.  The Scout 21 VX’s tag is a bit on the biggish side, but because of the somewhat subdued black and white color scheme, it’s not as obtrusive as it could be.  And I like that they decided to include “Made in Portland, OR.”

Next, let’s look at something a bit more functional, the handles.  Made from high-quality nylon webbing, these straps are super sturdy, but not the most comfortable, especially if you are carrying a heavier load in the duffel.  However, they do get the job done.

One aspect of the handle straps that I thoroughly appreciated was that they actually wrap all the way around the duffel, solidly stitched down at regular intervals even across the very bottom, as seen in the image above.  Not all duffel bags are designed and built like this, and I think this contributes to a much sturdier bag that can not only handle heavier loads, but can also contribute to the life of the bag.

Above, a closeup of the Scout 21 VX’s #10 zipper, which appears to have some pretty serious water-resistance.  The two halves of the zipper meet up perfectly and there is a slick polymeric coating over the teeth.  The zipper is made by Lenzip, which is a brand I’m not familiar with, but this zipper appears to be very well-built, with beefy teeth and big, sold pulls.

The Scout 21 VX’s zipper pulls have had knotted loops of bright orange cord attached to them, which appears to be gutted 550 paracord, but I can’t be 100% sure.  These knotted cord lengths enhance the zipper pull’s grippability (Is that a word?  It is now.).

The photos above and below depict the inside of the Scout 21 VX’s main compartment.  First up, note in the pic above that the Scout 21 VX is lined with a dark gray fabric.  North St. Bags’s site claims this is their “Nylon Packcloth liner” that helps with water resistance.  Also, note the inside zipper pocket.  This is a standard zipper, not like beefy, water-resistant exterior one, but it does have a matching knotted length of cord attached to the zipper pull.  This pocket is actually fairly sizable, large enough to simultaneously hold a wallet, keys, and a phone.

Speaking of keys, stitched inside the inside pocket (did you follow that?) is a lanyard made from a length of webbing with a metal spring hook on the end, perfect for attaching keys or other items.

Next, I wanted to set up a little “farmer Jones” test—which is basically a test that is not particularly scientific, but the results can be useful nonetheless.  Wanted to assess the water-resistance of the Scout 21 vX’s materials and zipper, so I took out to my yard and unwound my garden hose…

…and proceeded to douse the poor unsuspecting duffel with about 20 seconds of water on the “shower” setting.

As seen in the image above, the water appeared to bead up quite well on the LS42 X-Pac™ shell material, as well at the 10# zipper. I let the water sit on the Scout 21 VX for several minutes while I snapped a few more photos.

In the image above, you can see a small pool of water that has collected on the surface and didn’t appear to be soaking through the material at all, at least from external observation.

The image above is a bit more of a closeup of the Scout 21 VX’s #10 zipper.  The water appeared, again from external observation at least, to be beading up on the zipper and the excess running off.

However, when I finally did open the Scout 21 VX, the water had indeed ingressed through the zipper, as you can see in the images above and below.  The water soaked into a bath towel that I had used to pad the inside of the duffel.

I drew two conclusions from this somewhat primitive evaluation.  First, I don’t necessarily consider this result a failure of the Scout 21 VX’s zipper.  Because I used the “shower” setting on my garden hose, I think the water pressure applied to the bag was likely greater than it would have been if it had been subjected to anything but a very heavy, wind-driven rainstorm.  I suspect that a light to medium rainfall would probably not have penetrated the zipper.  Second, the LS42 X-Pac™ Shell performed very well indeed. Because this material is almost like a plastic-coated canvas, it appeared to essentially be impervious to the water.

Finally, let’s check out the size.  Above and below are photos of me holding the Scout 21 VX duffel.  As you can see, at 30 Liters, it is a fairly large bag, one that could easily hold enough belongings for a multi-day adventure, or to haul all your workout clothes, gear and even items for your daily commute.

I immediately put the Scout 21 VX to work as my gym duffel bag, swapping it out for a smaller duffel that just didn’t have enough capacity.  So far, the Scout 21 VX has performed well.  It has a large capacity yet light weight is a great combo.  The only criticism I have is that the Scout 21 VX duffel could stand to have a few more pockets for organization.  While I realize that this would further add to the cost of the bag, for my own personal use, these pockets would definitely be useful.

What I like

  • Durable material but very lightweight
  • Very water-resistant
  • Includes a sturdy shoulder strap

What needs to be improved

  • Needs a few more organizational pockets
  • Handles are durable, but could be more comfortable.
  • Pricey, but not bad for what you are getting: a well-designed and high-quality made in USA bag

Final thoughts

The LS42 Smoke X-Pac™ Shell material from which the North St. Bags Scout 21 VX Duffle is made was the first thing I noticed with this very well-designed and well-built bag.  It is made from quality materials throughout, including significant water resistance.  It is on the pricey side at $114.99, but for a USA made item that will probably outlast a many other, less expensive bags, the Scout 21 VX could be a good investment for travelers, gym goers, commuters or anyone who could use a good duffel bag that will likely last them a long time.

Price: $114.99
Where to buy: North St. Bags
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by North St. Bags.

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North St. Bags Scout 21 VX Duffel review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 21, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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KarTent is the king of cardboard camping!

What’s cardboard camping?  It’s camping in a tent made of cardboard, of course.  KarTent was created in response to the immense amount of waste of camping gear that occurs at festivals all around the world.  The folks at KarTent say 1 out of 4 people leave their tent behind on the various festival camp sites worldwide.  In the Netherlands alone, where KarTent is based, they say this counts up to 25.000 tent every year.  And these abandoned tents usually end up in a dump.

The KarTent is a festival-use tent made entirely of cardboard, which is easily recycled instead of adding to the landfill.  The tents are made of high-quality cardboard with long woodfibers, and they are water-resistant.  The tents are suitable to sleep two people, with room for their gear (7.9 feet x 5.25 feet).  The sides are opaque, so they keep out the morning sunlight – which is nice when you are suffering from too much fun from the night before.

The size and the shape of the tents don’t lend itself to mailing to your home, though you can have one shipped to you if you are willing to pay the postage and have a vehicle big enough to transport it to your event.  Usually, you place an order and KarTent will deliver them to the festival, if you happen to be attending one of the festivals KarTent will be at this year.  If your festival isn’t on the list, you can contact KarTent and the festival organizers to see if you can get KarTent coverage for next year.

A KarTent (Home) is € 49.95 (about $58 US).  You can order a tent (and apparently be prepared for sticker shock if you choose to have it shipped to you), and you can check out the list of festivals for this year at the KarTent website.

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KarTent is the king of cardboard camping! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 21, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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With the Bruw you can use mason jars to make delicious cold brew coffee at home

I recently discovered the joy that is cold brew coffee. I like it because it’s more flavorful then iced coffee and being someone with stomach issues I love that it’s less acidic than a regular cup of Joe. The problem is it’s also more expensive to buy at your local coffee shop. And buying a home cold brewer can be pricey as well. Then I came across the Bruw.

Bruw uses a simple and relatively less expensive way to make cold brew coffee at home. It’s a filter that screws onto two mason jars, and sieves out the coffee grounds. The result is a fresh, smooth-tasting, cold brewed coffee.

The filter is specifically designed to fit any standard wide-mouthed mason jar.

 

By itself, the Bruw filter will cost you $14.99. If you’re thinking to yourself “but I don’t have any mason jars just laying around my house.”  No worries you can purchase the Bruw mason jar starter pack for $29.99.

The starter pack includes the Bruw filter, two 32oz.,standard mason jars, two mason jar covers, and instructions.

To start making your own cold brewed goodness at home, you can purchase the Bruw on Amazon.

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With the Bruw you can use mason jars to make delicious cold brew coffee at home originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 20, 2018 at 3:30 pm.

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NazTech MagBuddy phone mount system review

Car mounts for phones have been around as long as mobile phones have been around. With the rise of SmartPhones, their need has only grown, since the phone in your car often takes the place of that glove box full of maps (or the dedicated GPS device), your box of mix-tapes (or mix CDs), and the car club guide for your vacation spot. Naztech recently sent us three models (Vent, Dash, and Anywhere+) of their MagBuddy series to test. I’ve given them a run through and am ready to share the results with you.

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

What is it?

The MagBuddy system consists of three parts: a holder of some type, the adjustable magnetic headpiece that attaches to the holder (which I have dubbed the MagHead, for this article), and a flat steel piece that affixes to your device or case. The last two pieces are the same for each system, but the holder varies. There is a suction mount unit with an adjustable arm to control the height and angle of the magnetic head, one that clips onto your AC/Heat vent, and one that will stick to any flat or slightly curved surface permanently. I’ll discuss each one below.

What’s in the box?

Each box contains a MagHead, two steel plates (small and large) and a holder, as well as an alcohol prep pad. You can buy plates and Mag heads separately.

Design and features

The MagHead is a roughly triangular piece of molded plastic 1.75″ across with a screw clutch socket on the back. The holder’s ball snaps into this and can be tightened so that the Mag head is steady. The face of the MagHead is covered with a soft rubbery material – not quite silicone or neoprene, but somewhere in between. The edges around the plastic under this pad are edged in a thin silver metal. Embedded within the head are strong magnets that will grab on to anything steel quite tightly. This is where the steel plates come in. The large plate is 1.75″ x 2.5″, and the smaller plate is 1.25″ square. Stick one to your phone, iPad, back-up camera monitor or whatever else you want to hold onto, and the MagHead will hold it – up to a point. If you put it on an iPad Pro and go off-roading, I don’t think it will hold for long. But I used it with an iPhone 8 and have had no problem with bumpy roads, railroad tracks and the like encountered on a normal city street. We are using it with the MacBuddy Dash stuck to the windshield, because the dash on the car it’s in is textured, and the suction cup doesn’t hold very well there. (Note the texture on the dash in the photo below.)

Setup

The first thing you’re going to want to consider is where will be the best place for your device. Note that the Anywhere or Anywhere+ model holder can be stuck to any smooth, quasi-flat surface. This doesn’t have to be in a vehicle. You could put one up in a back room for staff to use for pricing or break schedules on an iPad. Or mount your phone to your mirror in the bathroom to check the news or listen to a podcast while prepping for your day, without worrying about knocking your phone onto the tile floor – or worse. Also, the Dash model with the adjustable arm would be just as happy affixed to your monitor support or desk, so that your iPad or Phone is just under your monitor. It’s a hugely flexible system, and once you have the plate on your device, you can easily swap between holders.

Performance

As mentioned earlier, you’ll need to use a steel plate that matches the size of the device you want to be held, and any case you put over the plate may loosen the MagHead’s grip. I had the large plate inside my iPhone 8 Plus leather case (above), and the first bump I hit sent the phone into the floorboard. Even that thin layer of leather was enough to loosen the MacHead’s grip.

My wife’s iPhone 8 has Qi charging, but when it’s inside the case with the steel plate on it, the phone doesn’t charge in a Qi charger. Pop it out of the case, and it charges as expected.

What I Like

  • There are two plates included with each mount, and more can be bought.
  • Can be used by multiple devices, and each device can attach to any holder.
  • Fully adjustable for different viewing angles.
  • Sturdy, yet easy to mount device onto.

What needs to be improved

  • Larger items may break loose.
  • You have to use the metal plates, which may affect wireless charging of device.
  • The plates can be mounted to the case or your device.
  • Some cases may weaken the grip if mounted directly to the device and covered by a case.
  • Metal plates on the back of phones that have Qi charging are going to have problems. Period.
  • The Silicone band of the bicycle handlebar model would be a nice individual sale, like the steel plates. It would enable the connection through my leather case to be secure on rougher roads.

Final thoughts

Phones do everything nowadays. There are so many different uses that we can’t be without them for very long. This is never more true than when we’re driving, it seems, especially when you’re in an area you don’t know well. All the questions about routes, service stations, food, and parking that come up in any normal car trip are easily solved by using your phone. Having it in a single place where it can be referenced without taking your eyes off the road and the instrument panel makes using it for navigation safer. Having it be adjustable so that a rider can adjust audio settings is also a plus. This series of holders offers something for everyone: an adjustable swivel-arm model to attach by suction to the windshield or dash, an air vent clip model, and a model that sticks to almost any surface to offer the swivel head, magnetic snap-on mount.
If you aren’t worried about losing the Qi charging feature, it’s fantastic. Otherwise, there are compromises. You may find an area of your phone where the plate doesn’t block the charging connection, but will it hold your device securely enough over construction and off-road driving?

Pricing is reasonable, and there is a wide variety of holder styles to choose from. $29.99 for cupholder model; $24.99 for Bike mount, CD slot mount, dash mount, windshield mount, or Anywhere+; $19.99 for headrest mount, air vent mount, Anywhere, or desktop. Extra plates, $9.99 for a set of two (one of each size).

Price: Varies depending on the item
Where to buy: The Naztech website or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Naztech.

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NazTech MagBuddy phone mount system review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 20, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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