Introducing the new Dyson Cyclone V10 – no cord needed, or wanted anymore.

I’ve owned a big Dyson for a few years and my wife and I like its power and usability. However, it is a big machine with a cord that never seems to be long enough. This has always made me wonder whether I should switch to the smaller battery powered Dyson cord-free stick vacuum cleaners. Dyson has now made it easier to consider ditching the cord with the new Dyson Cyclone V10 vacuum cleaner. Inventor James Dyson simply states “This is the reason I’ve stopped developing corded vacuums.” ‘Nuff said.

The V10 is an evolution of the cordless Cyclone series. It’s the most powerful cleaner Dyson has made to date. The battery provides 60 minutes of fade-free power before recharging. There are three switchable power modes available for any kind of floor or carpet.

It’s also versatile. It will quickly change from a stick to a handheld vacuum cleaner and back again, with just one click, making it perfect for home and car. It includes a wall-mounted charging dock that stores the V10 and its attachments.

The collection bin is 40% bigger than the Dyson V8, so there’s less stopping to empty the bin. It features a “Point and shoot” mechanism that ejects debris in one action, so there’s no need to touch any dirt. Whole machine filtration captures 99.97% of particles as small as .3 microns expelling cleaner air.

Four models of the Cyclone V10 will be available after March 15 with prices ranging from $499.99 to $699.99. They can be pre-ordered from Amazon. Visit Dyson or more information.

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Introducing the new Dyson Cyclone V10 – no cord needed, or wanted anymore. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 8, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Ember mug, Wyzecam, FIXD, and more – Review updates

Do you ever wonder what happens after we review a product? Do we immediately stop using the product because it breaks? Or do we continue to use it for years and even decades? To answer those questions, we like to do review update posts, so we can take a look back at past reviews and comment on how well the product stands the test of time. Check out these latest review updates by clicking on the review links below and then scrolling to the bottom of the page to read the latest dated updates.

Logitech Craft keyboard review by Julie Strietelmeier

FIXD car health sensor review by Julie Strietelmeier

WyzeCam security camera review by Julie Strietelmeier

Ember Mug by Julie Strietelmeier

DockCase MacBook sleeve with built in USB C hub review by Julie Strietelmeier

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Ember mug, Wyzecam, FIXD, and more – Review updates originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 7, 2018 at 12:09 pm.

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Native Union Eclipse 3 port charger review

I’m pretty good about charging my phone throughout the day, and with wireless charging now included on more phones it’s easier than ever to stay charged. Inevitably though, I’m actively using my phone or other non-wireless-charging device when I really need a charge. My solution has been to strategically place cables around the house. It gets the job done, but the result is a visual mess (cables never getting put away), or the cables get into a fight with the Roomba. This has resulted in countless hours browsing for a functional and aesthetically pleasing solution. The latest candidate is the Eclipse Charger from Native Union which I’ve been using for a couple weeks now.

What is it?

The Eclipse is a smart USB charger that has more in common with home decor than the typical wall adapter. It sits on a table top and can provide 7.8 Amps of power for up to three devices at the same time. Native Union clearly has a vision for the Eclipse, and for a device that’s meant to blend in visually, they’ve made sure that it still stands out.

What’s in the box

Eclipse Charger
Wall Mount
Quickstart Guide and Cable Offer

Design and features

The Eclipse is available with different top surfaces. I’ve chosen to review the textile version (shown here) that looks right at home next to our fabric covered sofa. It’s also available with wood or marble top surfaces for a premium. It has a good heft keeping it in place during operation with smooth sides and fabric covered power cord giving it a clean look. The 90º plug keeps the cord close to the wall with a letter wrap to handle any extra length.

Cable management is a central function of this product and Native Union has a pretty novel solution that involves providing your own cables. The Eclipse uses a gesture based system where two taps on the top results in a cable reel magically emerging out of the center of the product. A single tap activates a nightlight “halo” feature that helps you find and connect your cables in the dark.

You should only need to access the ports during initial setup. A slight counterclockwise turn and then a lift of the reel, reveals 3 USB ports, one of which lets you choose between USB-A and USB-C.

Connect your 3 favorite cables (up to 6’ long) to each of the USB ports. I’ve used a pair of Anker 6’ Powerline Lightning cables and Micro-USB that came with a Mophie battery case.

The reel has 3 channels equidistant around the perimeter and it’s important to note how they work as you put it back into place with a clockwise twist.

Your first cable needs to route up to the top channel through the slot that breaks through all three tiers. From there you’ll wind it clockwise until your cable end tucks away. Repeat this process with the second and third channels. When finished a double-tap hides it all.

What I like

It looks great and is very functional. In designing the Eclipse, they purposefully left a gap between the center reel and the outer wall which lets you close the mechanism with cables in use. You can unwind as much (or as little) cable as you need before closing it back up.

What needs to be improved

There are a couple of things that I feel could use some refinement. It’s supposed to work with most cables, but cables come in a lot of sizes and shapes. The micro/USB cable I used has an oversized end that barely fits. Winding it loosely allowed me to shift the end to an area with more allowance. It’s not a deal-killer as you likely have a few varieties as I do.

The gesture thing is cool at first, but seems to misfire frequently, either ignoring my taps or reading it as a single tap turning on the nightlight that glows from the bottom of the device. Adding a slight delay between taps helps remedy this but I find myself wishing for a physical button that just works every time.

Final thoughts

Overall I like the Eclipse as it has solved a rat’s nest cable problem for me. Something about the design and the manual nature of winding has me wanting to put them away when not in use. A quick tip is to put your most frequently used cable into the bottom channel. If you connect your top cable and go to use cable 2, you’ll end up having to thread it under the first cable every revolution.
The only other thing you should know is that the Eclipse is significantly bigger than you might think. Here it is next to a soda can for reference. That said, the diameter makes sense for limiting the number of times you need to wrap cables and if you have a big enough table, it’s not a major issue. The Eclipse has found a place on my side table.

Price: $80 / $100 / $160 for Textile / Wood / Marble
Where to buy: Native Union and Amazon

Source: The sample for this review was purchased with my own funds.

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Native Union Eclipse 3 port charger review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 7, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Bellroy introduces Pencil Cases and Classic Pouches

Known primarily for their high-quality, thoughtfully-designed wallets (several of which have been reviewed here at The Gadgeteer), Bellroy has recently launched a line of cases pouches. Intended to store and organize your smallish items, the YKK-zippered pouches are made from either Leather Nubuck leather or Soft-woven Polyester, available in multiple colors and in three sizes: Pencil Case, Pencil Case Plus and Classic Pouch. The Pencil Case and slightly larger Pencil Case Plus have a single compartment that can fold out into a tray and are sized for holding writing instruments or other small items, while the clamshell-styled, wide-opening Classic Pouch has mesh wall pockets inside for organization and is collapsible for travel (including one pocket with a discreet magnetic closure). Prices vary from $39 to $79 depending on the material and size of the pouch. Visit Bellroy.com for more info or to order.

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Bellroy introduces Pencil Cases and Classic Pouches originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 7, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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The Dracast LED180Halo Ring Light – A real gem.

Many photographers use ring lights both in the studio and on location to help produce wide, even, and flattering light that eliminates almost all shadows, and is very good for highlighting beautiful skin tones. As a photographer, I have also tried a few ring lights, and most recently I purchased the Dracast LED180 Halo Daylight Ring Light in the 19” size, and in the Daylight version. This light is offered in both 13.5” and 19” sizes, and in color temperatures of Bi-Color or Daylight.

The LED180 features 252 surface-mounted LEDS in a 360-degree light that works great. The lens of the camera can be placed in the middle so that the light surrounds the lens and provides even light over the entire subject. It also has 10 to 100% dimming, and a CRI – color rendering index of 96. The CRI is the measure on a scale of 0 to 100 of how accurately the light can illuminate objects in “true colors”.

The light also comes with a nice case, AC adapter, an extra diffusion filter and a base that allows it to rotate 180 degrees when securely attached to a light stand.

I have also used this light on the side on a light stand to provide beautiful lighting from angles, and to create interesting shadows. It is important to note that it is made entirely of plastic, so while it is well made, care should be used when handling it.

The Dracast LED180 light is a real gem, and you can purchase one at B&H Photo Video for $199.

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The Dracast LED180Halo Ring Light – A real gem. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 7, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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