Logitech KEYS-TO-GO Bluetooth Keyboard review

Logitech KEYS-TO-GO bluetooth keyboard leaning next to metal pole

If you’ve ever tried typing a memo or a lengthy reply to an email on your smartphone, then you’ve probably experienced that frustration of cramped fingers, getting the cursor in the right position, or wrestling with highlighting a bit of text to copy. Logitech’s KEYS-TO-GO portable keyboard is a serviceable remedy that comes with a few small hurdles of its own.

What is it?

The Logitech KEYS-TO-GO is an ultra-light, super-portable standalone Bluetooth keyboard specifically made for mobile phones and tablets.

Hardware specs

  • Works with all Bluetooth-enabled devices
  • Height: 5.39 in (137 mm)
  • Width: 9.53 in (242 mm)
  • Depth: 0.24 in (6 mm)
  • Weight: 6.35 oz (180 g)
  • Powered by rechargeable battery, a single charge lasts up to 3 months (2 hours of typing per day)
  • Full-Size Keyboard with sealed edges
  • 17 mm key pitch
  • Scissor Keys (1.2 mm key travel)
  • Keys wrapped in spill-proof, crumb-proof covering
  • Full row of iOS shortcut keys

What’s in the box?

  • KEYS-TO-GO Bluetooth keyboard
  • Attachable phone stand
  • USB micro adapter
  • Documentation
Keys-To-Go Contents
Comes with all you see here.

Design and Features

In my initial tests with the KEYS-TO-GO, my first thought was that it was going to take a lot of time to get used to typing on it. The overall size of the keyboard is maybe 85% of the Apple Magic Keyboard that I type on every day, which is admittedly already diminutive compared to many standard PC keyboards. But boy does that little bit make a big difference.

Setup

Pairing is as easy as any Bluetooth device. After the initial pairing, the KEYS-TO-GO connects automatically upon powering on. The indicator light emits a blue light while the Bluetooth is connecting (very brief) and changes over to bright green, indicating that it has a good charge. Then the light remains off until the batter button is pressed or the battery itself starts to get low. There is no key backlight or indicator that the caps lock is enabled.

The indicator light also glows while charging over the included USB micro adapter, and emits a slowly pulsing light.

Usage

First impressions of the key travel, which is arguably the most important aspect of any keyboard… it feels similar to the Apple iPad Smart Cover keyboard. There is a decent amount of separation between the individual keys, lessened by the tension of the rubber material stretched over all of the keys. You can feel the adjacent keys dip a little bit in response to the material being depressed next to those keys. For a touch typist like myself, it certainly doesn’t feel as “clean” as typing on a regular keyboard for that reason. It feels easy to accidentally press the key next to the one you were aiming for.

Keys-To-Go Keyboard with hand on it
KEYS-TO-GO vs. my hand.

I’m getting used to it, and it’s certainly better than many travel keyboards I’ve tried in the past. And it’s practically silent.

Being used to Apple’s Magic Keyboard that they bundle with their iMacs or the keyboard they embed in their laptops, I’m accustomed to a low profile and low travel keyboard. The Logitech’s keys are slightly lower than any of those.

Apple Keyboard situated above Logitech Keyboard
Apple Magic Keyboard vs. KEYS-TO-GO

The whole keyboard feels sort of “spongy.” The home row key bumps on the F and J keys are very prominent, so that serves to realign my hand after moving them off the keys or making a strange combination.

That said, it is very well suited for travel. You can throw it in any tote bag, backpack or purse. The keyboard itself is about as thick as a newer Kindle. Thinner than an iPad or iPhone. And it’s waterproof, save for the ports on the side, so spills are no problem.

I like the function keys at the top. It’s something I miss on my iPad Smart Cover’s keyboard.

Logitech keyboard on top of iPad Keyboard
KEYS-TO-GO vs. 12.9″ Apple iPad Pro and Smart Keyboard.

Those function keys are, from left to right: – home button – app switcher – search – keyboard language selector – software keyboard show/hide – screenshot button – media keys – volume keys – Bluetooth pairing – battery

There is also an odd function key that enables a handful of extra functions, such as hitting FN-C for copy and FN-V for paste, or FN-left or right arrow for highlighting the next word in either direction. And that’s it. I would have much rather that space be utilized to make the CMD key twice as wide as it is… like I’m used to on my other keyboards.

It’s worth noting there’s no escape key. But I suppose there are not a lot of mobile apps that utilize the escape key. Even Apple doesn’t have on on their iPad Smart Keyboard.

The battery life is advertised to last for months when averaging two hours a day of typing time. However, I found that two weeks at that same pace of roughly 2 hours a day seems to drain it enough to put it in the red. It’s possible that I could have left the keyboard in the on position overnight, or over a weekend… that certainly would have done it. I will have to do more testing to see if that was the case. Still, a few weeks of life without having to recharge is excellent.

The inclusion of an attachable phone stand with the KEYS-TO-GO really positions it as a mobile phone keyboard, and that makes a lot of sense. Even with an iPad or tablet, typing in landscape format is fairly serviceable for long-form emails and documents. However, it’s not so easy on an iPhone. Being able to pull this keyboard out of your backpack or purse at a coffee shop or bookstore sounds like a great proposition on paper.

iPhone sitting in mobile phone stand
As minimal a typing experience as you can get, an iPhone with a keyboard.

However, in practice, I’m having a hard time thinking of a time or place where I’d prefer typing on the tiny screen of my iPhone vs. a laptop or tablet. If you knew you needed to type out something lengthy, then you’d probably just take something more comfortable (i.e. a larger screen) to type on. The KEYS-TO-GO does pair well with a tablet, provided you have something to prop it up with.

You do need a flat surface in front of you. Trying to type with the KEYS-TO-GO on your lap, on an iPhone, is nearly impossible.

Close up shot of Keys-To-Go keyboard
This rubberized coating can take some abuse, too.

This keyboard seems best suited for people who want to travel super light, as in just this small keyboard and their phone, which is certainly an idea I can get behind. If only this keyboard was a tiny bit larger, or my hands were a bit smaller. Personally, most of my bags are large enough to where I could carry around an additional Apple keyboard (which only costs $20 more, new) and use that exclusively with my phone rather than deal with to the differences in key travel and key size.

What I liked:

  • Ultra-lightweight and portable
  • Spill-resistant
  • Phone stand is nice

What needs to be improved:

  • The keyboard layout is just a little too cramped for my taste
  • For the price, there are many fuller-sized options

Final thoughts

The KEYS-TO-GO works well in a pinch, provided you have a nice surface in front of you to type on. I’m sure I could get used to typing on it, given time, but personally, there are better solutions for me that are within the price range. I can appreciate their vision of toting this keyboard to use with your always-on-you mobile phone, so it would be easy to recommend to someone who wants to travel light and still accomplish the goal of long-form typing on their phone.

Price: $69.99
Where to buy: You can pick up a KEYS-TO-GO Bluetooth Keyboard from Logitech’s website and Amazon in black, stone gray, blush pink or smoky blue.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Logitech.

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Logitech KEYS-TO-GO Bluetooth Keyboard review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 16, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Having a small kitchen no longer means you can’t have gourmet appliances

Having a tiny kitchen meant, in the past, that you couldn’t have a gourmet kitchen.  That’s no longer true with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.  They’ve offered 30″ dual-fuel ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, and counter-depth fridge/freezer units for some time now, but now they’ve introduced 24″ and smaller appliances for the tiniest of kitchens.

Sub-Zero now offers integrated counter-depth column refrigerator modules as narrow as 24″ and freezer modules as narrow as 18″, so you can custom design your refrigerated storage.  They also offer 18″ wine fridges and 15″ wide ice makers.

Wolf offers a variety of cooking options for the small kitchen, including a 24″ 3-burner induction cooktop, a 24″ E Series Transitional built-in single convection oven, 24″ built-in steam ovens, built-in drop-drawer microwave, and a built-in coffee system.

Go to the Sub-Zero / Wolf website to learn more and start planning your dream kitchen.

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Having a small kitchen no longer means you can’t have gourmet appliances originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 16, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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With the jimmyCASE Slim Classic iPhone X case you don’t have to ask ” What’s in your wallet?”

In my time with the Gadgeteer, I’ve written about a lot of iPhone X cases. I’ve even reviewed a couple that I really liked. The jimmyCASE Slim Classic is another fun case I recently came across.

The case has a silicone protective bumper with a genuine mahogany wood core, giving the case a distinctively rich look.  But what makes this case a stand out is the elastic pocket on the back.

The high-performance elastic gives the case a push to slide wallet function.

It’s capable of holding up to 6 credit cards and cash. It’s even strong enough to hold a car key fob. And it will never lose its stretch.

The Slim Classic is available in 18 different options with various colors, stripes, and patterns. There’s even a really cool looking Black Maple option, which costs slightly more.

You can purchase the case on the companies website for $45.

The sweet looking Black Maple case will set you back $60.

If you have a different iPhone, you can purchase a jimmyCASE case for iPhone 7 Plus/8 Plus, iPhone 7/8 and other models starting from $39.

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With the jimmyCASE Slim Classic iPhone X case you don’t have to ask ” What’s in your wallet?” originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 16, 2018 at 8:08 am.

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Diamond Brand Gear Belay Bag review

Today we’re sharing a piece of American history. The Diamond Brand Gear Company has been making tents and camping gear in the U.S.A. since 1881. I’m reviewing the latest edition of their iconic Belay Bag, a daypack made for exploring on and off the grid. Let’s get packing!

What is it?

It’s a 22 liter daypack with a fully adjustable harness system that converts from a backpack to sling bag.

Hardware specs

  • 1000D Nylon fabric construction
  • Pockets made from upcycled 70D Ripstop with Polyurethane Coating
  • Nylon Webbing
  • YKK zippers
  • All Metal Hardware
  • Main Compartment: 19 inches tall, 12 inches wide, 6 inches deep
  • Front pockets: 14 inches tall, 2 1/2 inches deep
  • 22 Liters

What’s in the box?

The package includes the pack, 2 adjustable/removable shoulder straps, and an extra set of pull chords if you want to change up the colors.

Design and features

Diamond Brand Gear supplied the U.S. military in World War I and II, and made the first packs for the Boy Scouts of America in the 1930s. The Belay Bag was first introduced in the 1980s. There’s a lot of history here, and the Belay Bag does a nice job of presenting a contemporary design that still pays homage to it’s roots.

You’ll find a lot of heritage-inspired design elements in the Belay Bag: the bullet-shape, the bold pops of color, and the big ol’ Diamond-branded leather lash tab on the front face of the pack. But the whole look is pulled together with a clean, sophisticated treatment that works just as well on the street as it does on the trail. The profile is streamlined and modern, and those bold pops of color are tastefully placed to accent the form of the bag. It’s definitely at home in business casual workplaces or city commutes, standing out against the sea of black and grey business bags. One of my coworkers complimented me on it’s “fashion forward” style in a recent meeting. Seriously. Those were his actual words.

The form factor is that of a clamshell top-loader. A pair of zips open down to just about the bottom of the bag, which is great for allowing easy access to main compartment while ensuring that things don’t tumble out when the bag stands up. A simple padded sleeve protects your laptop (up to 15”) and a tablet, and there’s a zippered pocket at the top of the bag (on the front face) for little odds and ends. It’s simple and functional with room to spare (19” by 12” by 6”) for a lunch, a sweater, and assorted extras.

The front face of the bag features two HUGE external pockets, each of which is 14” tall and 2-1/2” deep. Either pocket will house a big hydration bottle or a rolled-up light jacket. They’ll also each take a 32-ounce growler or a bottle of your favorite party beverage (I like to bring whiskey) so that you’re ready for the next gathering. Each pocket also has a sleeve on the rear face to manage smaller items. The zips stop short of the bottom of the pocket, so you can toss loose items like your keys in there without fear of them falling out. They are great multifunctional spaces that extend the overall functional flexibility of the bag in day-to-day situations.

At a 22 liter capacity, the Belay Bag fits perfectly in the daypack category: room for extras, but not so much that you’re feeling like you have too much bag for day trips. If you are hitting the trail, you won’t lack for outboard attachment points. Strips of nylon loops on the front face of the bag and the shoulder straps give you a total of 22 places to hang axes, tripods, ball caps, cell phone pouches, a bedroll, walking sticks, a wet gear bag… you name it. The possibilities are endless.

Diamond Gear placed an emphasis on comfortable carry with the new Belay Bag design. The back pad is thick closed-foam with a mesh cover, designed with an open center channel for air circulation. The attachment points at the top and bottom of the shoulder straps are also completely adjustable to your shoulder width and body type. The strap pads contour slightly at the hips to reduce rubbing against your sides. It’s really comfortable for all-day wear.

The Belay Bag has another trick to play: it converts to a sling bag. Quick release metal tabs at the top and buttoned loops at the bottom allow for quick removal of the shoulder straps. Take one strap and re-attach it at the opposite shoulder, loosen up the leads, and the bag wears cross-body like a messenger bag. It’s not an afterthought, either: the bag is designed to works really well in both configurations. I actually prefer using it in sling mode given the bag’s size… think of it like a vertically-oriented messenger bag. 

Construction is excellent across the board. 1000D Cordura nylon is the primary material. Upcycled materials from tent production (70D Ripstop with Polyurethane Coating) are used in the pockets, adding a cool little sustainability bonus. Metal hardware and YKK zips are used throughout. It’s a solid utilitarian build that matches the personality and multipurpose usability of the bag.

I do have two minor design improvements that I think would help the bag. The internal zip pocket kind of flaps about, and could probably be attached to the front face so it doesn’t get in the way when you’re digging in the bag. I also wouldn’t overpack that pouch, because it gets in the way of reaching stuff in the main compartment. The shoulder pads are a bit blocky and stiff, and could probably use a touch more refinement. But these are both extremely minor issues.

What I like

  • Very comfortable and adjustable for all-day wear
  • Perfect size for a daypack
  • Excellent multipurpose external pockets
  • Lots of external attachments, tastefully designed
  • Great for both work and play
  • Works equally well in both backpack and sling bag mode

What needs to be improved

  • Shoulder pads are a little stiff and blocky but will break in over time
  • Internal zip pocket is useful but can get in the way if the bag is full

Final thoughts

Made in the Carolina Mountains, the Diamond Gear Brand Belay Bag is an ideal multipurpose daypack. While it’s not a heavily tech-focused bag, the usability is solid as a daily work commuter that will adapt seamlessly to travel and off-road exploits. The big external pockets and plethora of attachment loops, while subtly rendered in the design, make the bag super-adaptable. It is very comfortable to wear for extended periods, and the easy conversion to a sling-style bag is a well-executed bonus. It’s rapidly becoming one of my favorite all-around performers. I’ll be giving it some more in-depth travel testing in the next few weeks!

Price: $139.00
Where to buy: But direct from Diamond Brand Gear or on Amazon. Additional colors are also available.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Diamond Brand Gear. 

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Diamond Brand Gear Belay Bag review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 15, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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My first experiences with the Nest Temperature Sensor

My condo is a rectangle, with the HVAC unit and thermostat at one end and the bedrooms at the opposite end of the condo on the long axis.  The air flows out and has a straight path to the living and dining room areas, but it has a 90° turn to the hallway towards the bedrooms and another 90° turn back to the office.  This means the living/dining areas are freezing in the summer / hot in the winter and the bedrooms and office are uncomfortably warm in summer /cold in winter.  We replaced our ancient HVAC unit last summer, which did greatly improve the amount of air flowing to the bedrooms, but they are still too warm this summer.  When the HVAC unit was replaced, we had a Nest Learning Thermostat installed.  This made it easier to adjust the thermostat settings without having to get up in the middle of the night, but the Nest alone couldn’t make our bedrooms more comfortable.  That’s why I was so interested to learn about Nest’s Temperature Sensor.

The Sensor works with the Nest thermostat to send information about the “local” temperature to the Nest.  The Nest app can then prioritize that sensor temperature to control the behavior of the HVAC unit if desired.  I purchased a Sensor from my local Lowes and installed it in the master bedroom.  Adding the Sensor to the Nest system was easily accomplished by simply following the instructions included with the Sensor.

The Temperature Sensor is powered by a CR2 3V lithium battery (included); Nest says you’ll get up to two years from the battery.  It connects to your Nest thermostat (either the 3rd-gen Learning or the Thermostat E model) via Bluetooth Low Energy and can be placed up to 50 feet away from the thermostat.  This distance may vary depending on the construction of your home and sources of interference.  My Sensor connected to my 3rd-gen Learning thermostat with no problems.  I placed it on a wall close to the bed and out of the direct flow of air from the vent in the master bedroom.

You can see the Sensor in the above image.  It’s a white plastic puck with a 1.9″ diameter and a 0.8″ thickness.  It comes with a special hanging screw to allow you to take it down to change the battery when needed.

The Sensor shows up in the Nest app under the thermostat information.  If you aren’t familiar with the app, the circle shows the set point (longer white marker) and the current temperature (shorter blue line with the current temp shown beside it).  Under that, you’ll see the temperature measured by the thermostat and by the sensor.  The white dot beside the master bedroom temperature shows that I have manually selected that sensor to be prioritized by the thermostat.  You can see that the bedroom is still three degrees warmer than the dining room area with the thermostat.

However, I was able to increase my set point after I installed the Sensor.  I used to have the set point at 67° to try to get the bedrooms cooled down a bit.  The living and dining rooms would be uncomfortable to stay in without a blanket or sweater, and the bedrooms would still be uncomfortable for sleeping.  The bedroom used to be about 76° at the coolest.  Now that I have the Sensor controlling the HVAC unit, the bedroom is much more comfortable and the living and dining rooms are, too.

You can have 6 Nest Temperature Sensors supported per connected thermostat and up to 18 Nest Temperature Sensors supported per home.  With multiple sensors in your house, you can use the Nest app to schedule which Sensor will be prioritized during various hours during the day.  I don’t need a schedule, because I need the bedrooms always prioritized.  Since adding the sensor, I haven’t had to use a fan to make the room more livable.  This makes me very happy because I can’t stand the sound of the fan.  Having a cool bedroom to sleep in was well worth the cost of the sensor for me.

The Nest Temperature Sensor is $39.00, or you can purchase a three-pack for $99.00 from Nest and other retailers like Target.

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My first experiences with the Nest Temperature Sensor originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 15, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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