Adapter – SoFun

FlyTunes lets you share audio with your sweetie on your next flight

NEWS – Scosche has introduced a new audio gadget today called FlyTunes. FlyTunes is a wireless audio transmitter that pairs with up to two Bluetooth devices at once and comes in a handy travel sized package.

The adapter has been designed so it works with any model of aircraft and features two folding 3.5mm prongs that can plug into a single or dual-output. Also included in the package is a short AUX cord that allows you to plug into difficult to reach AUX output locations.

FlyTunes doesn’t have to just be used on airplanes, it can also be used at the gym with fitness machines, televisions, stereos, and portable gaming systems, such as the Nintendo Switc®. This wireless audio transmitter adapter can also to share audio from non-Bluetooth enabled audio devices by plugging in with a 3.5mm output jack.

The new FlyTunes Wireless Audio Transmitter is available now in black or white for $39.99 on Scosche.com.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Adapter, Audio gear, Travel Gear

FlyTunes lets you share audio with your sweetie on your next flight originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 10, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Picture Keeper Connect photo backup software/adapter review

Using a portable device is immensely freeing, as most of the world has discovered over the past decade. What happens, though, when you run out of space on your phone/tablet and don’t have a wireless service to back it up to? While having a Mac or PC around is nice, that defeats the mobility aspect, if you’re on a long-term trip or project where carrying a laptop is not practical. There are a number of small devices that have come on the scene to bridge this gap, and we were recently offered a new one that offers a few new wrinkles to this solution. It’s called the PictureKeeper Connect and is from Simplified I.T. Products, LLC.

What is it?

The Picture Keeper is a data backup/transfer device and service combination that gives you access to your mobile’s photos, videos, and contacts without having to have an internet service. With the standard USB type A port, you can upload this data to a computer, or download it for uploading to a new device for setup.

Hardware specs

Mobile Requirements: iPhone 5 and newer (iOS 8+) and Android OTG (Android 4.1+).
Computer Requirements: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP (SP3), Mac OS 10.7 (and newer) computers.
Newer devices with a USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3) port will require an adapter, like our Keeper Converter.

What’s in the box?

In the box, there is the PictureKeeper itself (which has a USB type A plug on one end and a Lightning connector on the other), a cable to attach the USB-A plug to a micro USB device, and an instruction sheet.

Design and features

The Picture Keeper looks for all the world like a larger-than-normal thumb drive with an extra connector. One end is a standard USB type-A connector, and the other end has an Apple Lightning connector, which will fit any iPhone or iPad made in the last few years. The included female USB-A to male micro USB plug allows you to plug it into any but the most recent Android devices. If you have a newer device that requires USB type-C, the company will send you an adapter.

When you plug the PictureKeeper into either a portable device or a computer, you are given the opportunity to create an account, and can then backup photos, contacts, and videos. Once you’ve backed them up, you can then, through the app or your device, remove them from your device or from your iCloud backup.

Built into the software on this unit is also an installer for MacOS and another for Windows that will install a program to manage the picture archives copied from your portable device. This allows the same access to your data.

Once your photos, videos, and/or contacts are loaded, you can access them from any other device the PictureKeeper is inserted into. Data is stored on the unit itself but can also be linked to your online repository.

Creating an account isn’t required to use the device, nor is uploading your content to the service. (There is a separate app where you can upload photos for magnets, mugs and the like.) Initially, I could not figure out how to use it without sharing it with the service, which was a bit unnerving. With privacy concerns abounding due to data breaches, I’m less than excited about loading up one more online service from an unknown company with my most personal of data. But once I found the data is not tied to my iCloud account (unless I specifically link it), I was a little less panicky.

Performance

I was kind of shocked that the device would hold as much as it does. I’m not sure if there is some sort of compression going on beyond what is normal, but I have quite a few photos at very high resolution, and they did not fill this 16 GB of storage. I think I may have stopped it early since there’s not really a way to tell it “only back up the past year of photos.” The interface is a bit spartan, only offering a view of 6 at a time on my iPhone 8 Plus. There’s no way to do anything other than “Select All” or “Unselect All” from the menu, and no filtering at all. For a product offering to help manage large photo collections, there are few data management tools.
Also, there is zero security. When you plug it in, you have to create an account, but putting in any combination of characters that fit the format will create an account on the device that will then be able to read every file stored on it from any account. I’d rather they not have the account thing at all, rather than give the illusion of security without the reality. (I was worried I would forget my password or which email address I used until I tested it with the default data in the fields.)

What I Like

Small, easy to use “one trick pony” that does what it says.
The softwaree is functional and supports all major platforms and devices
Allows sharing data without giving access to iCloud accounts

What needs to be improved

No deep filtering of data
No indication on the device when data is being written or read
No real security – any account can read everything on the drive

Final thoughts

I like the idea of this device, but I think it’s about 6 years too late to market. Between Google Photos and iCloud, not to mention the dozens of others not tied to an operating system, there are any number of ways to backup and share photos and videos that don’t require keeping up with another device.

Only two scenarios where this device would be needed come to mind in 2018: You’re traveling to a truly remote area that has no cell signal or wifi, and are planning to document a lot of activity. The jungles of Costa Rica, Peru, or Africa, for instance. I have been to the far north of Wales, the West of Ireland, and central Italy in the last 5 years, (not to mention rural areas in the US) and have never been more than a few hours away from an internet connection if I wanted it. (When you’re in a Gaelic-first community and the publican understands the phrase “Wifi Password” in my Southern US English, the internet is truly everywhere!)

The second scenario is if you’re someone who is just violently opposed to putting your photos online, then this would be a good thing. I feel the security risk of losing this device, however, is larger than having your iCloud or Google account hijacked – unless you are reusing passwords or just cluelessly careless. Those are not traits that are going to go well with an unsecured device like this.

As a point of price comparison, the price of online storage on iCloud is cheap. For a dollar a month, you can get 50 GB of online storage that is way more secure than this, and share it with your “family” account – up to 4 other people, on all their devices. At the Picture Keeper’s $120 price for 32 GB, that’s almost twice the storage for a full ten years! I’m sure I’ll lose this device or it’ll get broken in less than 10 years. And what do I do when I run out of room on this device? I’ll have to buy another, but with iCloud, I can get four times the 50 GB storage for only 3 times the price ($3 a month for 200 GB), and it’s instantly available as an increase in space, not another account. For $10 a month, I can get 2 TB. And if there are several family members in various places, how do you share a physical drive? My advice? Bite the bullet and pay the buck a month to iCloud.

Price: $119.00 USB-C adapter adds $4.99
Where to buy: Picturekeeper.com and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Simplified I.T. Products, LLC.

The post Picture Keeper Connect photo backup software/adapter review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Adapter, Backup, Photography

Picture Keeper Connect photo backup software/adapter review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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This tiny USB Type-C to HDMI adapter is perfect for travel

I have a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter that I use to connect my 12-inch MacBook to an LG 29″ monitor on my desk. The size of that adapter doesn’t matter to me because it never leaves the desk. But if I carried a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter with me in my gear bag every day, I would prefer to have the smallest adapter available. Nonda offers just such an adapter.

The Nonda USB-C to HDMI Adapter is very small and features 4K with resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 @60Hz in a fold-up form factor that you’ll have no trouble finding space to store it in your bag or pocket.

The wrap around braided cable helps keep the adapter small and compact, and the $22.99 price tag won’t empty your wallet.

Read more about the Nonda adapter at nonda.co or head over to Amazon to order one.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged: Adapter, HDMI, Type-C USB

This tiny USB Type-C to HDMI adapter is perfect for travel originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 9, 2017 at 2:37 pm.

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MEEM backup cable review

There are several things that I believe are givens. Cellphones will need charging daily. And cellphones will get lost and damaged. And what about hackers breaking into websites, including cloud services, and stealing our information? So what’s a gadget-geek to do? Well, one thing you can do to solve all those problems is getting a MEEM backup cable. It looks like a snake that swallowed a small rodent, so what is it? Let’s find out.

So the simplified explanation is that the MEEM is a charging cable for Android or iPhone that has a built-in USB drive (the part that looks like the aforementioned swallowed rodent) near the end of the cable that plugs into your phone. But before we dig deeper, let’s look at the specs from MEEM.

Overall cable length: 3 ft
Main Body: L-4 inches by W-.8 inches by H-.3 inches
Weight: about 2 oz
Processor: MIPS32® microAptiv™ UC- @ 80 MHz & MIPS32® microAptiv™ UP- @ 240 MHz
Ram: 1GB DDR3(L)
Flash Memory: SD3.0
USB: v2.0
USB BC1.2 Battery Specification
Charging Rate: up to 2.7A@5V (As per maximum charging rate of the phone)
Data Transfer Speed: 1.6 to 3 MBps (depends on the phone OS and hardware)
Memory size: 32, 64, and 128 GB
For Android: it backs up Contacts, Calendar, Photos, Videos, Music, Documents, and Messages. Utilizes Micro USB connector, and is compatible with Android OS 4.1.2 and better.
For iPhone: it backs up Contacts, Calendar, Photos, Videos, and Documents. Utilizes Lightning connector, and is compatible with iOS 7 and better.
Price: Android (32GB: $59.99, 64GB: $79.99, 128GB: $109.99)
iPhone (32GB: $69.99, 64GB: $89.99, 128GB: $119.99)

I charge my Galaxy S6 Edge+ every night. That beautiful screen comes with a price, and I must charge every night! And I have experienced the hassle many times of changing phones every couple of years and worrying about transferring all my information from the old phone to the new phone. Contacts, messages, documents, photos, etc. It’s all important, and I haven’t always had success with Verizon’s auto-backup/restore feature. Sure, there are cloud services and apps you can use to do backups for you, but the MEEM provides a seamless way to do it all. Charge your phone and back it up at the same time.

The MEEM does this by having built-in USB storage inside the cable and an app on your phone that automatically backs up the data from your phone to the cable. And it’s important to note that the information doesn’t go into the cloud. It stays right there in the cable.

So how easy is it to use? Plug the cable up the first time and it launches your app store to install the free app. Create a PIN# to protect the app from others seeing your data, and it automatically begins the backup. That’s it. You can watch the backup taking place and stop the backup if you want. The MEEM can be used with up to 3 devices and back up all of them (assuming there is enough storage in the cable), and using the app you can transfer the backed up data from one device to another. You can also connect the cable to your computer and use the desktop software you download from MEEM’s website to then back up the data from the cable to your computer hard drive.

When you open the app you can choose which data categories to sync to your computer and after the sync is done you can scroll through the data and see everything. It couldn’t be much easier.

Finally, I want to mention that there is also a feature of this product called the MEEM Network. There are detailed instructions on the MEEM website about how to set it up, but the short explanation is this. You can purchase 1 MEEM cable (in my case, the Android version) and 2 other devices on your wireless network (in my case, my Nexus Android tablet and my wife’s iPhone 6) can be backed up wireless across your home wifi network to the cable. Regardless of which operating system they are. It works. And it’s pretty cool.

Bottom line

At a price between $59.99 and $119.99, depending on the amount of storage you need, this is not a cheap solution. But it just works. And having the peace of mind that your data isn’t being transmitted to a cloud service and is pin protected is a huge plus. Setup was easy, you can even backup your data from multiple devices wirelessly on your home network, and it happens while you are doing what you have to do every day anyway… charging your phone. I highly recommend this device and think you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by MEEM. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

Product Information

Price:	$79.99 as tested (64GB version)
Manufacturer:	MEEM
Retailer:	Amazon
Requirements:	You have to pick either iOS or Android version, depending on your device.
Pros:	Built-in storage Wired and wireless backup capabilities PC software to transfer backup to laptop
Cons:	Expensive

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Adapter

MEEM backup cable review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 10, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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Alfa AWUS1900 WiFi adapter review

Wifi is built into most laptops and tablets these days. Sometimes, however, you have a box you’re building or a desktop system that, for whatever reason, doesn’t have a decent Wifi adapter. Or, perhaps, it’s in a location that just doesn’t pick up your base station well enough for stable internet access. That’s when you may need an external adapter, like the Alfa AWUS1900. We recently were offered one, and I’ve given it a test. Let’s see how it measured up.

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

The Alfa AWUS 1900 looks like a dead spider, at first glance – a body with all legs in the air. But the four antennas that attach to the main body pull in wifi signals from the ether with surprising power for such a small, light little unit. The main unit is the size of a .75″ thick stack of business cards (2.5″ x 3.5″), but there are four miniBNC connectors where angled antennas fit on it, plus a cable, which makes it appear far larger.

On the underside, there is a place to mount a holder for either a suction cup or a clip to use in attaching it to the best location. Without the holder, it sits on 4 rubberized bumpers. You can switch between flat on a surface, stuck to a surface, or clipped to a surface without much trouble.

The four antennas can be removed in seconds, as can the cable, making this something that you can pack up and have on hand for those times you’re just outside of “normal” wifi range. The base unit weighs a mere 2.14 oz., but with the antennas and cable, it’s a package of 6.4 oz. It’s bulkier than it is heavy, but the antennas will easily fit into pen loops in a gear bag. They may be a little long for some pockets, though. Be aware that this looks like a remote detonation device through an x-ray, so the TSA may want you to “Please step over here, and do not touch the table.”

I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, mid-2014) with built-in wifi. While the radio does a pretty good job with hotspots close by, I know there are more out there, and I was curious as to the speeds I was getting. (Fat City is a play on my name, Richbourg. My German prof in freshman year dubbed me that. When we moved from the suburbs, we had to change from Uverse (which suggested our former wifi network, Across the Uverse). I had to find some name for our network….)

I installed the software from the enclosed CD (since the site would not let me create an account and download the latest version!), let it reboot, and a new item appeared in the menu bar. I pulled down the list and – WHERE DID ALL THOSE HOTSPOTS COME FROM?!?!?!

Seriously, I had no idea there was this many in my neighborhood! (I live in an area of single-family homes, with large lots and loads of parklands and undeveloped areas. I know one of my neighbors doesn’t have internet access other than through the phone, let alone wifi. The retired couple on the other side seems pretty tech-agnostic as well. I’m stunned at all those hotspots.)

After signing into my network, I ran some tests through Speedtest.net. Thankfully, I can report that my internal wifi module was just as fast as the Alfa in most tests. I’d not want to have to figure out how to carry this package, but it’s nice to know that I’ll get good response if I do.

Software install aside, the unit was exactly like using my onboard wifi. I could easily stop and start the radio, change hotspots, and save wifi locations as favorites.

I was actually a bit surprised that there were Mac drivers. They cover the last seven or eight major MacOS releases, all the way up to 10.12. I’m curious to see if they update it this fall after 10.13 drops.

If you’re needing to access wifi from a long distance (say a remote building on your campus or your backyard geek-cave) this just may pull the signal in. And at $70, it’s not going to break the bank. If your current computer works well except for the internet connection, this may help you put off a full upgrade for a few months.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Alfa. Please visit http://alfa.com.tw for more info, or their storefront at Amazon to purchase.

Product Information

Price:	$69.99
Manufacturer:	Alfa, Inc.
Retailer:	Amazon
Requirements:	Windows or Mac computer with USB port
Pros:	Light weight but powerful Wide range of support OSes for Driver install Complete kit, nothing more to add No external power needed
Cons:	Lightness makes it tend to feel "cheap" Not really better than builtin response on higher-end laptops Proprietary port on unit will make getting a replacement or longer cable difficult

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Adapter, WiFi

Alfa AWUS1900 WiFi adapter review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 21, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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