Easily add a security camera by screwing in this smart lightbulb

The LightCam is a smart lightbulb with a security camera built in that’s currently seeking funding on Indiegogo.  The project is very popular and has been funded at more than 425% with 20 days still left in the campaign, so you have plenty of time to reserve one for yourself.

The lightbulb works in any standard socket.  To install, you simply screw it into the socket – no drilling or additional wiring is needed, which makes it the ideal security camera for renters.  It connects to your WiFi and communicates with you through a smartphone app.  There is no service contract required; the LightCam has enough built-in storage to save about a week’s worth of video, and you can access the video through the LightCam app and even download clips for more permanent storage.

The weatherproof bulb fits in a variety of fixtures, interior or exterior.  The 1080p HD camera with wide-angle lens can adjust to change the viewing angle to work with the fixtures, even with recessed fixtures.  It can “see” even in the dark, producing gray-scale images of objects up to 25 feet away.  A motion sensor can alert you when someone approaches the LightCam, and a microphone and speaker allows you to communicate with the visitor.  Using the app, you can control when the LED light comes on and when you get alerts,   It even comes with a cover for your light switch, so you can be sure the camera isn’t accidentally turned off.

The LightCam funding period ends in 20 days.  You can pledge $99 for a single LightCam, with discounts available for purchase of multiple bulbs.  Learn more and get your own LightCam at Indiegogo.

Help wanted – I want you to join the Gadgeteer team!

Would you like to become a writer on the Gadgeteer team and write about interesting gadgets and cool gear? I currently have 2-3 positions that I need to fill. These are volunteer positions, where your “pay” is the opportunity to try out the latest gizmos. Interested? Details on how to apply are listed below.

 

Work expectations:

Newbie team members will start out writing news posts for a week or two. News posts are short articles and consist of only one image and a short paragraph with a minimum of 200 words. Check out our past news posts to see examples of the type of writing and topics we cover.

If you are picked to become a permanent part of the Gadgeteer team, you’ll have the opportunity to do product reviews. Team members who also write news posts on a regular basis will get preferred access review samples.

Compensation:

This is a non-paying position. Your “pay” will be the product samples that you’ll be able to keep once you’ve written a review.

I’m not looking for professional freelance writers or guest posters to write fluff pieces just for SEO purposes. I’m looking for everyday gadget nerds like me and the rest of the team, who just love this stuff and aren’t in it for the $’s.

Requirements:

1. You must have a firm grasp of the English language, the basic fundamentals of good grammar, and know the difference between “its” and “it’s” and “your” and “you’re”. I don’t have time to completely re-write your posts, so your writing skills will weigh heavily on my decision to choose new people for the team.

2. You must have above average photography skills and have the ability to take sharp, well-lighted close-ups of the products being reviewed. Dim, blurry images won’t cut it.

3. You must be able to stick to deadlines. Reviews must be submitted within 30 days after you receive the product sample. If you can’t stick to that deadline, then please don’t apply.

4. Age and gender do not matter, but you do need to be located here in the US because the PR agencies that I work with generally will not ship review samples outside the country due to shipping hassles and expense.

How to apply:

Send me an email to julie@the-gadgeteer.com telling me about yourself, your age, location, what you currently do for a living, what types of products that interest you most and why you think you would be a good fit for my team. I’ll use this info to decide who I will ask to audition for a spot on the team by writing a sample review which will show me your writing and photography skills. I will then choose the best candidates to go through a trial period posting news. After that trial period ends, I’ll decide who will become permanent team members.

I’m excited to hear from you! If you have any questions before sending me your bio email, post them in the comments.

Wrap your Amazon Echo in toast

Do you love your Amazon Echo or Amazon Echo Dot but wish it had a more luxury look and feel instead of black plastic meh? You’re in luck. The folks at Toast are now offering skins for the Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot that are made of wood. Available in walnut, ash, bamboo, and ebony, the Toast skins are made of real wood veneer.

Each skin is handmade and laser cut for a precision fit in Portland, Oregon. The skin uses adhesive to adhere to the Echo but is easily removed without leaving any sticky residue behind. The smaller Amazon Echo Dot skin is priced at $19 and the larger Amazon Echo skin is $34. Head over to toastmade.com for more info.

This little adapter will let you charge your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Pencil at the same time

The Node adapter from ilovehandles is a small adapter that has been designed to allow you to charge three iOS gadgets at the same time with just one cable. The Node adapter has two male lightning connectors for your iPhone and iPad, and 2 female lightning connectors for an Apple Pencil and a lightning charging cable. The ilovehandles Node adapter is priced at $19.95 and will start shipping on February 15 at ilovehandles.com

Arteck HB030B Bluetooth keyboard review

Keyboards, they come in many sizes and shapes, with endless features, but what do I really need in a keyboard? That was the question I was recently confronted with when I changed over to an iOS iOS only user. What I was looking for was a keyboard that was portable, Bluetooth, and rechargeable. I also needed a keyboard that would not break the bank. I found the Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard a multi-featured, affordable, portable keyboard.

What is it?

The Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard is a compact, rechargeable, backlit, Bluetooth keyboard, with multiple backlight color options and and two backlight brightness settings.

Hardware Specs

  • 9.3” length
  • 5.3” width
  • 0.24 thick
  • 0.37 pound
  • Lithium battery

What’s in the box?

Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard
Micro USB to USB cable
User manual
6 3M rubber feet dots

Design and features

The top view of the Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard shows the key layout, the on/off switch, the connect button, and the indicators LEDs (CAPS, Status, Charge, and Power).

Other than the Micro USB charging port on the right hand side of the keyboard there are no features on the front, back, sides and bottom of the Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard.

Two things you should notice in the above pictures. First is the backlit keys. The key colors that I can see are purple, turquoise, green, blue, red and light blue. I did notice another green in the rotation but I cannot tell if it is any different from the first green color. Along with the color options, you have two brightness levels for the backlit keys, as well as the ability to turn the backlight function off. The second item of note in the above picture is the key size on the keyboard. The keys are smaller than my Apple Magic keyboard and the reason why will be evident in the next picture. For me, the key size is not a major issue but for some, it may be.

As you can see from the above picture this keyboard is smaller than my 10.5” iPad Pro. This makes the Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard a perfect travel companion. The 500mA rechargeable Lithium battery means I should never be without a useable keyboard.

What I like

  • The keyboard is compact enough to be a great travel keyboard
  • The price of $19.99 on Amazon makes it a winner
  • The 24-month warranty is better than almost any of its competitors
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Metal construction

What needs to be improved

  • Not all of the iOS functions work
  • I could not use the keyboard while it was charging
  • The keyboard could use the ability to set the keyboard on an incline

Final thoughts

So, what do I think of the Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard? So far I think it is a winner. Size, price, and features all make this keyboard a favorite, and the two-year warranty doesn’t hurt. I will be honest though while researching this keyboard I did see some complaints about the keys coming off of the keyboard but the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Amazon made me willing to take a risk on it (did I mention the two-year warranty?). Now, if you are a finicky typer this keyboard may not be for you, but if you can accommodate for smaller keys in a smaller footprint you may want to take the Arteck HB030B Bluetooth Keyboard for a spin.

Price: $19.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: I bought this keyboard with my own money.