Ko-Axis Rail Pen, a raincoat in your wallet, fidget toys, and more – Notable crowdfunding campaigns

This week we are bringing you five crowdfunding campaigns that are currently running on Kickstarter. This week’s campaigns are for people interested in EDC gear like wallets, pens, bags, and more. Check out our picks for this week’s notable crowdfunding campaigns.

Ko-Axis™ Rail Pen

What is it?
The Ko-Axis is a flat pen designed by TEC Accessories.

Why do I like it?
I like the Ko-Axis because it has a unique design, won’t roll off your desk, and doesn’t require any special tools to change standard D1 refills. It also uses magnets to extend and retract the writing tip. I love anything that uses magnets, so… I’m also a fan of products from TEC Accessories, so I know they are a company you can trust to deliver rewards when they say they will.

Where can I find more info?
The Ko-Axis Rail Pen campaign ends on 3/29/2018 and they have already met funding goal of $7,500. You can pre-order a Ko-Axis Rail Pen starting at $49. After the Ko-Axis Rail Pen campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in July 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

The NOMATIC Messenger and Laptop Bags

What is it?
NOMATIC is a brand of messenger and laptop bags.

Why do I like it?
I like the NOMATIC messenger and laptop bags because they look sharp, have a lot of built-in features that let you easily carry your EDC, and they have a really cool shoulder strap mechanism that uses magnets which if you read about the campaign above, I really like. The Messenger (the one I’m really interested in) can stand up when placed on a flat surface, has a reconfigurable interior, is airport friendly with a pass through on the back to attach the bag to your rolling luggage, and a dedicated laptop holder that makes it TSA compliant.

Where can I find more info?
The NOMATIC campaign ends on 4/21/2018 and they have blown way past their funding goal of $100,000. You can pre-order a NOMATIC starting at $119. After the NOMATIC campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in August 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

SonarPen: World’s most affordable Smart Pen for iPads

What is it?
The SonarPen is an inexpensive active stylus for your favorite iPad (and has some support for Android and Windows tablets too) and iPhone.

Why do I like it?
I like the SonarPen stylus because it doesn’t require batteries that need to be replaced or charged because it plugs directly into the 3.5mm audio jack to draw power. If you are using the SonarPen with an iPhone that doesn’t have an audio jack, you can use a lightning adapter that’s provided with the SonarPen. The pen doesn’t require a Bluetooth connection either and can detect different pressure levels.

Where can I find more info?
The SonarPen campaign ends on 3/23/2018 and they have already more than met their funding goal of $25,546. You can pre-order a SonarPen starting at $25. After the SonarPen campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in June 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

VORTECON- Kinetic desk toy with mesmerizing motion

What is it?
The VORTECON fidget spinning desk toy made of solid stainless steel, brass or copper.

Why do I like it?
I like the VORTECON because it creates an optical illusion of a continuously spinning helix design on the side that looks hypnotic and soothing.

Where can I find more info?
The VORTECON campaign ends on 3/28/2018 and they have met their funding goal of $2,791. You can pre-order a VORTECON starting at $32. After the VORTECON campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in June 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Raincard – The First Credit Card sized raincoat

What is it?
The Raincard is a full-size raincoat that has been compressed down to the size of a credit card that can fit in your wallet or your pocket.

Why do I like it?
I like the Raincard because it’s so small that you can easily add one to your EDC with little to no additional bulk. The only downside is that it’s pretty much a one use type of product since you won’t be able to fold it back down into the same form factor. But the right side is that you get 10 Raincards with the lowest price pledge amount.

Where can I find more info?
The Raincard campaign ends on 3/24/2018 and they are still working towards their funding goal of $6,636. You can pre-order a Raincard starting at $11 for 10 Raincards. After the VRaincard campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in August 2018. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Make your daily carrying tasks easier with the UpCart deluxe folding cart

I am one of those independent types who carry 3 or 4 different carts around in the back of my truck, to help me to move or carry stuff that I constantly and seemingly habitually find it necessary to move around. Whether it is speakers or a couple of large cases of water, I always do fine on flat surfaces. However, as soon as I encounter stairs or sidewalks my simple tasks become quite difficult. Depending on the load, there are many occasions when extra manual labor is required to either try to pull the cart up or when that fails, I usually just take the packages off and carry them one at a time.

Recently I came across the UpCart Deluxe All-Terrain Stair Climbing Folding Cart that seems to answer all my moving and carrying challenges. It is a three-wheeled type of cart that makes going up a curb or stairs much easier. And, despite its design, it folds flat enough to take up not much more space than the average folding cart. It even handles uneven surfaces well, and with its capacity of up to 125lbs and solid tires, it should hold up well over time.

The UpCart Deluxe can be purchased on Amazon for $85.99.

Posted by / February 28, 2018 / Posted in News

Introduce connected lighting to your home with this low-cost Philips Hue starter kit

For Christmas 2013, I received a Philips Hue starter kit with three color-changing LED bulbs and a bridge to connect them to my home’s WiFi network.  I was thrilled by the thought of having lots of light “recipes” to change the color and mood of my living room.  But I found that I really didn’t use the color changing ability of the Hue bulbs.  I always set them to white and used the Hue app to turn my lights on and off.  Over the years, I’ve replaced almost every bulb in my house with Hue bulbs, and every one that I’ve added has been the less expensive white-only bulbs once they became available.  That starter kit with 3 bulbs I got was about $200 at the time.  The new Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Starter Kit has four bulbs and a bridge for under $90.

The White Smart Bulb Starter Kit has four A19 bulbs (fit standard sockets) and the second-gen bridge that’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, and Google Assistant.  You can create lighting scenes and schedules with the Hue app or with IFTTT, and you can use the app to control your lights real-time from anywhere with an internet connection.

Once you have the Hue bridge, you can expand your system with up to fifty bulbs (I’m up to 40 bulbs) and 12 accessories like the Hue Tap on/off controllers and motion sensors (I’m up to 7 of the Taps).  Soon your entire house can have automated lighting.

The Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Starter Kit with four bulbs and a bridge is $87.99 at Amazon.

EasyAcc has your Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ covered

Samsung officially announced their next best selling phones in Barcelona, Spain at the 2018 Mobile World Congress (MWC) this past Sunday. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ have a few updates to the Samsung Galaxy S8 series of phones from last year, but one thing hasn’t changed. The new Galaxy phones are expensive and most people will want to protect them from everyday wear and tear. The easiest way to do that is with a case, and the folks at EasyAcc have you covered. Actually, they will have your new Galaxy phone covered with four different cases for the S9 and S9+ phones. And if you order one before 4/30/18, you can save 30% off their already low prices by using the coupon code: 6Y3GWH95. So head over to Amazon to check them out.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro review

So far, 2018 has been a gut punch for Huawei. Huawei is the 2nd largest phone maker in the world, and they were all set to finally make their big splash here in the US, but then AT&T pulled out of a partnership deal and then US intelligence agencies sent out a warning that Americans should not buy phones from Huawei (and ZTE) because of fears that these Chinese companies are a cybersecurity threat for stealing information. To answer this, Huawei says:

“Huawei is aware of a range of U.S. government activities seemingly aimed at inhibiting Huawei’s business in the U.S. market.  Huawei is trusted by governments and customers in 170 countries worldwide and poses no greater cybersecurity risk than any ICT vendor, sharing as we do common global supply chains and production capabilities. We are committed to openness and transparency in everything we do. Ultimately, Huawei will continue to develop its global business through a significant commitment to innovation and R&D and to delivering technology that helps our customers succeed in all markets that value the innovation and value it delivers.”

At the time of this writing, there hasn’t been any hard evidence to back up the government’s claims that Huawei or ZTE are spying on us. I’m not going to tell you to buy or not buy Huawei phones and I’m not going to talk politics either because that’s not what we do here on The Gadgeteer. I’m just here to review this phone. So let’s get started.

What is it?

The Mate 10 Pro is Chinese technology giant Huawei’s latest flagship Android smartphone with the build quality and features that have been set to compete with other high-end phones from Apple,  Samsung, etc.

Hardware specifications

Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 970
Octa-core CPU (4 x Cortex A73 2.36 GHz+4 x Cortex A53 1.8 GHz)+i7 co-processor, Mali-G72 MP12 GPU
NPU: Neural Network Processing Unit
Operating System: Android 8
Memory: 6 GB RAM+128 GB ROM
Display: 6in 2160 x 1080 pixels, 402 ppi OLED Display
Network: Carrier unlocked 4G LTE TDD: B39
4G LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B14/B18/B20/B28/B29/B30/B66
LAA Band: B46
3G WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8
2G GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8 (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Camera (rear): 20 MP Monochrome+12 MP RGB, f/1.6
Camera (front): 8 MP FF, f/2.0
Connectivity:
Bluetooth: BT4.2, support BLE
WiFi: Wi-Fi 2.4 G/5 G, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with Wi-Fi Direct support
DisplayPort 1.2
NFC: yes
Positioning: GPS/Glonass/BDS
Battery: 4000 mAh
Dimensions: 154.2mm X 74.5mm X 7.9mm
Weight: 178 grams
Water and Dust Resistant IP67 under IEC standard 60529

What’s in the box?

  • Mate 10 Pro smartphone
  • USB-C Earphones
  • AC Charger
  • USB-C Cable
  • USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
  • Flexible Clear Case
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Eject tool

Design and features

When I first opened the box and saw the pretty Midnight Blue phone, I was like ooooh, it’s so pretty! For those of you who are adverse to color, the Mate 10 Pro is also available in Diamond Black and Titanium Gray.

The front of the phone is all screen except for narrow bezels along the top and bottom edges. At the top edge is a front firing speaker that has an ambient light sensor on one side and the front-facing camera on the other side. To the left of the ambient light sensor is a tiny status LED that lights up when the phone is charging and when notifications come in.

The back of the phone has dual camera Leica lenses, an LED flash, and a fingerprint sensor.

The phone’s back is made of glass with a finish that is slick and shiny. That means that it’s a magnet for fingerprints and smudges and is slippery as heck. But in what is a first for modern smartphones, I was surprised to find that the Mate 10 Pro ships with a clear silicone case included in the box. That’s a nice touch as you will be able to protect your shiny new phone as soon as you take it out of the box.

Another equally nice touch is a pre-installed screen protector. Again, I was surprised that Huawei included this with the phone, but it’s a welcome “freebie”. Especially since it’s been installed perfectly with no bubbles or dust to be seen.

On the left side of the phone, you’ll find the SIM card slot, but it doesn’t have an area for a micro SD card.

On the opposite side, you’ll find the power button and volume rocker button. Both buttons are nicely raised so you can find them with your finger and both have excellent tactile feedback. Like the Essential Phone PH-1, the power button is located below the volume button instead of above it, but unlike the Essential, I didn’t find that I had any problems pressing the wrong button.

The top edge of the phone has a speaker and an IR blaster so that you can use your phone as a universal remote control for your TV and other equipment.

On the bottom edge, you’ll find more microphones, a USB Type-C charging port and a downward firing speaker.

The Mate 10 Pro looks and feels like what you would expect from a high-end flagship phone. It’s solidly made with rounded sides and a smooth rounded back for a comfortable feel. The Mate 10 Pro had no problems surviving my rigorous Gadgeteer squeeze test without rattling, flexing, or creaking.

Display

The Mate 10 Pro’s 6-inch OLED display is lovely to look at. It’s bright, crisp, and clear. Unlike other screens like the one on my Pixel 2 XL, the screen doesn’t have a blue tint when you look at it from any angle other than straight on. Even with the brightness level set to 50%, the Mate 10 Pro’s screen is really comfortable to view.

I mentioned earlier about the status LED and the screen protector. The image above shows both. Yes, that tiny yellow dot at the top is the LED.

Fingerprint reader

For those of you who like to read my phone reviews, you might remember that I’m always complaining about fingerprint scanners because they almost never work for me. I say almost because the Pixel 2 XL’s fingerprint scanner is the first one to work for me 99% of the time. All other phones work for the first day after I set up my fingerprint and then they stop until I reprogram it. Then it stops again within a day. Rinse and repeat. Guess what though? The Huawei works for me too and I would say that it might work even better and faster than the Pixel 2’s! It seems to unlock as soon as my finger gets close to the scanner.

Camera






With Leica lenses, you would expect the Mate 10 Pro’s camera to be impressive and it doesn’t disappoint. This phone is a capable shooter. It’s blazing fast at capturing impromptu shots with a double click of the volume down button. It even shows off how fast it is by displaying the speed it took to wake and snap a picture, which if you’re curious is less than a second every time I’ve tried it.

I’m not going to pretend to be a professional photographer, but from the pictures I’ve taken with this phone, I’ve found that the colors seem true to life and sharp, even in low light. It’s even really good at taking macro shots.

Audio quality

Although you probably won’t want to listen to your favorite tunes through the phone’s speakers, you won’t be put off by their audio quality if you do. Music and other media audio sound really good. Audio quality is even better if you use the included 3.5mm to USB Type-C adapter with your favorite wired headphones.

Using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro for phone calls

During my 2 weeks using the Mate 10 Pro, I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls with this phone on the T-mobile network and have felt that the volume level on both sides of the conversation has been just fine.

Software and user interface

The Mate 10 Pro ships with Android v8.0 and Huawei’s own skin over stock Android that’s called EMUI. EMUI doesn’t make Android look that much different, but it does add extra features like the ability to take screenshots by knocking twice on the screen with your knuckle. You can also knock once and then draw an S to take a scrolling screenshot for really long pages. There’s even a built-in tool to record a screencast.


Other features included in the EMUI includes a special button that you can add anywhere on the screen that improves one-handed use. Tapping the button goes back to the home screen, and holding the button and sliding to the right goes to the previous app while holding the button and sliding to the left pulls up all the open apps.

The are other gestures that you can use to show apps in a split-screen view and you can launch apps by drawing a letter with your knuckle.

The phone even has its own very basic built-in assistant called Emy that you can use to make and answer calls.

I like some of the gestures, especially the screenshot gestures, but one thing I don’t like about the Mate 10 Pro is the software bundle. Instead of sticking with stock Google apps for the core set of programs like contacts, calculator, messages, calendar, etc, Huawei has included their own versions of these apps. Blah… I’m not saying their versions of these core apps are bad, but they are a waste of space for me because I like to stick with stock Google apps. Even more disappointing is that you can’t uninstall or hide the Huawei apps from the app list.

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro does have another trick up its sleeve. You can connect it to a large screen via HDMI and experience a desktop computer look and feel that reminds me of the Samsung DeX Station without having to buy a special dock. All you’ll need is an HDMI cable with a USB Type-C connector on the other end or a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter. I already had a cable and an adapter, so all I had to do was connect the Type-C connector to the Mate 10 Pro and the other end to my Hisense 65″ TV.

The large screen TV shows a full-screen Android desktop with a taskbar at the bottom and icons on the left side. Can’t you see the icons on the left side? Yeah, me neither. That’s the problem. A problem that I wasn’t able to resolve by changing the resolution on the phone or the format of the TV. Actually, switching the TV to 4:3 format, did allow me to see part of the icons, but ick. This feature would be really cool – if it worked. *I’ll update the review when I hear back from  Huawei if there’s a fix for this problem*

Overall performance and battery life using the Huawei Mate 10 Pro for day to day tasks

This phone has a 4000mAh battery that keeps it running for a full day of medium to heavy use, with lots of juice to spare. I never saw a low battery warning and when I did recharge, it was topped off very quickly due to Huawei’s SuperCharge technology which gives you a full day of power on a 20-minute charge.

What I like

  • Comes with a case and pre-installed screen protector
  • Terrific camera that’s blazing fast
  • Great battery life
  • Unlocked for use on GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T

What needs to be improved

  • Bloatware
  • No wireless charging even though the phone has a glass back

Final thoughts

I wasn’t expecting to like the Huawei as much as I do. Except for wireless charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot, this phone has pretty much every other feature you’d expect in a premium phone. The Mate 10 Pro is a quality phone and it’s a shame that it probably won’t get a lot of traction here in the US due to government warnings not to buy it and the fact that none of the major carriers are going to sell it. However, you can buy one from online shops like Amazon and Best Buy.

Price: $799.99
Where to buy: Amazon and Best Buy
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Huawei.