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Carbon Fiber Gear real carbon fiber and leather 42mm Apple Watch band review

I really like my Apple Watch and about the only thing I like more is looking for unique bands for it. So when I had the chance to review the Carbon Fiber Apple Watch band from Real Carbon Fiber Gear, naturally I jumped at it. The band combines actually carbon fiber with a soft black leather. The result is a modern, high-tech looking watch band that’s ultra lightweight and extremely durable.

Now you may be asking yourself (much like I did) what exactly is carbon fiber? Simply put, carbon fiber is a super-strong fabric that’s used to make diverse products, where light-weight, strength and modern looks are valued. Some examples would be Formula One, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, yachts, MotoGP, and even items from luxury brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Montblanc and more. It is stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum. The strongest carbon fiber is five times stronger than steel. Carbon fiber also has other valuable qualities; It resists corrosion, is both moisture and heat stable and has super energy absorption. Now there’s a lot more to carbon fiber, but I won’t bore you with that here – But If you would like to learn more watch the video below.

The watch band arrived in a very nice carbon fiber textured box, with the words “Carbon Fiber Watch Band” inscribed in silver on the top. Inside the box, the band is nicely displayed on a satin material, a really nice presentation. You defiantly feel like you’re getting something special.

Taking the watch band from the box, the first thing I noticed was how incredibly lightweight it was. Feather-light. And it’s incredibly thin, almost to a point of feeling cheap. But this watch band is anything but cheap. The woven design and sheen of the carbon fiber give the watch band a really rich look. I really like how the leather wraps around and is stitched into the edge of the carbon fiber. A small but nice detail. Add to that the silver oblong buckle and this Apple Watch band is as unique looking as any I’ve seen.

Installing the band is quick and easy. Simply slide the old band out and click in the new carbon fiber watch band. Voila!  You’re done.

Wearing the Carbon Fiber watch band is like wearing nothing at all. It’s so lightweight you hardly feel it on your wrist, and the soft leather backing makes it extremely comfortable against your skin. Definitely the kind of watch band you can wear all day long. I only have one small gripe. I have really small wrists (my own personal gripe) so I have to wear the band on the last notch available. This leaves a lot of excess watch band to deal with. My gripe is the second loop on the band is a little large and the excess band constantly slips out of the loop. I remedied this by doubling the excess band over and then sliding it into the loop. But it would be nice if that second loop were a little tighter. Other than that the band feels great. As strong as the carbon fiber material is it’s also very pliable. There’s absolutely no stiffness to the band, which is great because there’s no break-in period. It feels great the first time you put it on.

I really like how versatile this watch band is. Its modern, high-tech look makes it perfect to wear every day, but it’s luxurious enough for a night out on the town.
This watch band has its own story to tell and is definitely a conversation starter.

In closing Carbon Fiber Gear’s Carbon Fiber Apple Watch band checks all of the boxes for me when it comes to what I look for in a watch band. It’s unique (made of carbon fiber), versatile (you can dress it up or dress it down), comfortable (soft leather backing/ultra-lightweight), durable (carbon fiber again) and most importantly it looks great on my wrist. It certainly more than justifies its $59.95 price tag. So, if you’re like me and like unique Apple Watch bands, this one should be in your collection. Currently, the band is only available for the 42mm Apple Watch series 1 & 2.

The sample for this review was provided by Carbon Fiber Gear. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $59.95
Manufacturer: Carbon Fiber Gear
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • unique look
  • lightweight
  • durable
  • comfortable
Cons:
  • second loop a little large

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Carbon Fiber Gear real carbon fiber and leather 42mm Apple Watch band review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 8, 2017 at 2:02 pm.

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Kanex’s Apple Watch charging stand review

I have been reviewing charging stands almost since the first day having an Apple Watch. We have seen everything from metal folding stands to exotic wood travel stands to charging gizmos that take over every function on your nightstand but the controller for your electric blanket. Some have been great, others have been – um – misguided. None, however, have not required you to add your own Apple Watch charger (which adds an additional $30, minimum, plus the hassle of threading it through the stand’s wiring channels.) Until now. Kanex has just released a stand for Apple Watch that includes the magnetic charging puck, as well as a single USB port. I was sent one to test and was excited to give it a go.

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

The stand is disarming in its simplicity. It’s a disc almost 4″ in diameter, with a space gray plastic finish and black plastic accents. There is a simple company logo centered on the disc. The 5/8″ thick base has a rubber gasket on the bottom to keep it firmly on your desk or nightstand. A metal tube almost 1/4″ in diameter rises just over three inches from the base, and curves gently to a position centered over the base. The charging puck is affixed to a metal holder set at a permanent 29º angle. The holder is smooth and nicely rounded. The fittings between the puck holder, the tube, and the base are both smooth and tight. There is no play at all.


The unit weighs only 7.35 ounces but feels substantial. Because of the right angle between the base and the upright of the watch stand, this is not something you’re going to pack for trips or move about – it’s going to sit quietly on your desk or nightstand and do what it’s supposed to when called on.


The single USB port on the rear of the base means you can also charge an iPad, iPhone, or your partner’s Apple Watch, but you’ll need to supply your own cable. I was a bit put off when I unboxed it and found that the power was provided by a round positive-tip plug, rather than the standard mini- or microUSB. Kanex, however, took the important step of providing an extra long plug that fits deeply into the body of the base for added strain relief. There is virtually no possible way to get the plug and pin misaligned and possibly damaged. It holds tightly, and powers the charger and USB port reliably.

At $79.95, it’s a little spendy, but, remember, there’s a $30 Apple Watch charger included, and a single USB charger, which would run another $5-$10. I, personally, would not hesitate to spend $80 for a quality piece like this.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $79.95
Manufacturer: Kanex
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Apple watch, any generation, and 110 US power outlet
Pros:
  • No need to use your stock charging puck!
  • Solid construction
  • Good strain relief on power connector
  • USB port for another device

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Kanex’s Apple Watch charging stand review originally appeared on on July 9, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Carry this wireless Apple Watch charger on your keychain


We’ve reviewed quite a few Apple Watch chargers over the years, but the Oittm charger is the smallest charger that I’ve seen. This charger is so small that you can attach it to your keychain or carry it in your pocket.

This keychain-sized power bank is compatible with all versions of the Apple watch and has a built-in Li-ion battery with a capacity of 700mAh. If you’re thinking that 700mAh is not a lot of juice, you would be thinking correctly. The Oittm charger is not going to fully recharge your Apple Watch. But it will top it off and/or add up to 3 hours of extra running time to the watch.

You’re not going to use the Oittm as the primary charger for your Apple Watch, but it could come in handy as an emergency charger if you’re off the grid and need to revive your watch before you can get back to your regular charger.

The Oittm Apple Watch wireless charger is priced at $39.98 and is available from Amazon.

Source: BGR

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Carry this wireless Apple Watch charger on your keychain originally appeared on on July 3, 2017 at 11:47 am.

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Archeer 2 in 1 Apple Watch Stand and iPhone Charging Dock Station review


If you own an iPhone and an Apple Watch, you may find this beautiful aluminum dock station to be something you’re not sure how you’ve lived without.  I used to charge my phone by my bed, then charge my Apple Watch near my computer and I didn’t really have a system as to when I’d connect them. With the Archeer 2, I never have to part with my beloveds and somehow my life feels more organized and complete. There was some simple set up involved, that I detailed with pics.  Let take a look. 

Above is the bottom of the charging station and you can see that there are 4 screws that need to be taken out.  There is a lightning cable already installed in the station which you will see in detail in the pic below.  There is nothing you need to do with that half of the device. It’s ready for you to plug into a USB port or outlet and connect your iPhone, right from the get go. What we will be doing is installing the standard Apple Watch charger (not included) into the charging station.

After the four screws are removed, there are an additional two screws that need to be removed to free the bracket that holds the watch.  In the pic above you can see the lightning cable threaded through the device, and the two screws to the right of those are the ones to take out.

Now that all the screws are removed, slide the long metal piece out of the bracket and pop the round head of the standard Apple Watch charger that came with your watch into the bracket.

Make sure that the cord is tucked nicely inside the groove in the bracket and slide the metal cover back on.

Now all that’s left is to slide the bracket back into the charging station and reaffix it to the base with the two screws that were removed. Then put the back cover on with the four screws that were taken out in the first step and you are ready to charge. Note: a small screw driver came with the device, but I was unable to unscrew two of the screws with it because it was very thin and I could not get a good grip on it, so I just used my own.

I have a case that I normally have on my phone that would not allow me to charge it while it was on, so I need to remove it when charging.  It seems to work for me though because I do it just once a day and it’s right on my desk so when it’s done charging I can put the case back on for the rest of the day.  However, if I had the Utomic Edge case I would have the perfect setup as only the corners of the phone are covered. Ahhh….a girl can dream…

Now all that’s left is to find two USB ports (a dual USB wall plug would work great) or wall adapters to plug the two cords into and you can let the charging begin!

I found a great place in the corner of my desk to use as a new home for the charging station and my two favorite mobile devices.  I can sit and work all day and even use the phone while it’s on the charger. I think the station looks great on my desk and would look good on my night stand too if I decide to move it into my bedroom.

All in all, I think this is a great charging station. It does the job and looks good doing it!  The only downside is that I have to remove the case that I use in order to charge my iPhone, and if this was my only watch charger, I would have to disassemble the unit to remove the charger or take the whole thing with me when I travel.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Archeer. Visit their site for more information or find them on Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: $32.99
Manufacturer: Archeer
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Minor assembly
  • Apple Watch charger
  • 2 USB ports
Pros:
  • Sleek simple design
  • All aluminum and durable
  • Convenient place to charge devices together
Cons:
  • May need to remove iPhone case (depending on case) to charge
  • If traveling, you'd have to disassemble to remove Watch charger, or take the whole thing with you

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Archeer 2 in 1 Apple Watch Stand and iPhone Charging Dock Station review originally appeared on on June 17, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Juuk wants your Apple Watch to take flight with their aircraft-grade aluminum Ligero watch band


 

Ever since I purchased my Apple Watch I’ve become obsessed with watch bands for it.  Now, I don’t own that many YET, but I love to peruse all of the new and unique designs that come out. Juuk has designed a band that’s made of aircraft- grade aluminum. A watch band made out of the same material that’s used to make planes! That caught my attention. 

Juuk Design’s owner Eugene Ho thought that changing watch bands on the Apple Watch should be like changing songs on a jukebox, based on mood or preference. Hence the inspiration for the companies name Juuk (pronounced “juke”) as in jukebox.

Ligero is the third and most recent of Juuk’s Apple Watch band collection. It’s an aircraft-grade 6061 series aluminum link band that comes in eight different vibrant finishes. Each a perfect compliment to the aluminum Apple Watch Series 1 and 2.

The robust 6061 series hard anodized aluminum is not only used in aircraft, its also used in the automotive, boating and diving industries, yet it’s so lightweight that it weighs like plastic. And because Juuk uses aluminum instead of steel it allows them to more closely match the aluminum Apple Watches colors.

Juuk designed the bands so that they’re easily customizable.  They customized their own concave capsa pins and adjustment tool, which comes with every band. This makes it easy to make size adjustments right out of the box. Juuk also includes a microfiber cloth for cleaning the band and Apple Watch.

With its horizontal single-link design and beveled edges, this band has real character. Perfect for going to the gym, office, or out to dinner.

The Ligero is offered in Cosmic Grey, Silver, Ruby, Obsidian, Cobalt, Cadmium, Tyrian and Viridian. All bands are available in both 38mm which sells for $119 and 42mm which sells for $129. Juuk is also doing a real cool thing, for a limited time they’re selling a Rainbow colored Ligero band. What makes it cool is that $20 from each band sold will go to Amnesty International Hong Kong to support their efforts to combat discrimination. So not only is it an awesome looking band it also supports a good cause. The Ligero Rainbow is only available thru juukdesign.com and is priced at $159 – $169

For more information or to check out the Ligero and other Apple Watch Bands Juuk has to offer, visit them at juukdesign.com  . Bands can be purchased on their site and on Amazon.

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Juuk wants your Apple Watch to take flight with their aircraft-grade aluminum Ligero watch band originally appeared on on May 8, 2017 at 9:27 am.

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