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OWC USB-C Travel Dock review

REVIEW – Multitaskers are the road warrior’s best friend, and that’s what the USB-C Travel Dock by OWC offers. It’s a single device that includes an assortment of ports for your charging and peripheral needs! Leave the extra gizmos and doodads at home… but stay for the review!

What is it?

It’s a USB-C travel dock with a USB-C port, 2 USB ports, an HDMI port, and an SD Card Reader.

Hardware specs

  • 1 USB-C Port, fully compatible with all Thunderbolt 3 equipped Macs and PCs
  • 2 USB 3.1 (Standard-A) Ports
  • USH-II SD Card Reader
  • HDMI 2.0 Port
  • Supports 4K display resolution – up to 4096 x 2160 at 30Hz

What’s in the box?

The dock, and nothing but the dock.

Design and features

The Travel Dock is a 3.2″ by 3.2″ by 0.7″ block that weighs in at a mere 3.2 ounces, perfect for tossing in just about any pocket in your bag. You can get it in a choice from four finishes to match your MacBook (Gold, Silver, Space Grey, or Rose Gold). It looks and feels like a natural accessory. While it’s a bit chunkier than some other USB-C adaptors on the market, there’s actually a lot of subtle and very functional usability built into the design.

For starters, it’s got a dedicated 9″ UBC-C cable, which is great for uncramping the immediate space around your laptop. The 3-sided port setup also helps with managing your chords because you’re not fighting to plug a bunch of stuff into a small space. There’s plenty of room to work.

Once you’re plugged in, a blue indicator light shows you that you’re drawing power:

The USB-C port is on the opposite face from the dedicated plug, which allows your power cable to keep running without interfering with the other ports. You can plug your power into this port, and the pass-through feature enables you to take full advantage of integration with the rest of your devices. You can charge your laptop, your accessories, and link your iPhone or iPad to the MacBook at the same time:

One face has a standard USB port and an HDMI port. This faces towards the back of the unit when plugged into the left side of your laptop, which is handy if you have a permanent location for your monitor or are trying to hook up to a projector in a conference room:

The other face has a second USB port and an SD Card Reader, which faces the front if you’re plugged in on the left-hand side. That extra USB port is lovely when you’re trying to charge multiple items at once:

The base also has some soft tabs on the corners to keep it from scratching your desk, which is a nice touch:

As someone who doesn’t have a permanent desk these days, I’m loving the convenience that a single dock offers. I can tap into whatever power and video sources are available in any conference room or hoteling station at work, and still have ports to spare to charge my iPhone and iPad (or other USB-compatible peripherals) as needed. The roomy dock also means less fumbling when you’re trying to plug things in, a plus over some of the more compact adaptor solutions.

As an added bonus, you can plug the dedicated USB-C cable into your MacBook power brick and use the dock as a dedicated charging station. Not only is that great for when you crash in a hotel room, but that means less stuff to manage when traveling. I’ve been running with the MacBook power brick and USB-C cable and two extra USB cables for charging stuff, leaving the other assorted power bricks at home. It’s ideal for the minimalist traveler.

What I like

  • 9″ dedicated USB-C cable uncramps your workspace
  • Well-spaced ports make for easier management of cables
  • Also works as a dedicated charging station with your MacBook power brick

What needs to be improved

  • None to be found

Final thoughts

I’m really liking the OWC USB-C Travel Dock as a do-it-all accessory. It’s well designed, well built, and has some nice design features that make it easy to manipulate while giving you some extra room to work with. Some may prefer the more compact adaptors, but I like the added features an extra USB port for all the gadgets I typically carry. It looks great and comes at a great price, too.

Price: $39.00
Where to buy: Go to the product page on the OWC web site.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by OWC.

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OWC USB-C Travel Dock review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 15, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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IQAir Atem Car air purifier review


REVIEW – With my family, it is all about air purifiers to help us with our allergies. We are doing pretty well with in-home air purifiers, but until now I have never been able to try an air purifier in my car.  Usually, when I am in my car, I become very aware that I am continuously clearing my throat to the point that it is annoying. So, when I got the opportunity to test and review the IQAir Atem Car Air Purifier, I gladly accepted.

What is it?

The Atem Car Air Purifier provides a solution for in-cabin gas and odor elimination as well as eliminating other types of pollutants that cause allergies. It combines two types of media that adsorb odors and gases, and that change pollutants to an oxidized form.

What’s in the box



1 x Atem Car Air Purifier
1 x Car Mount
1 x Belt and Buckle
1 x Car Power Adapter
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x User Guide

Design and features

Features
Mobile applications: iOS and Android
Display languages: automatic language selection based on phone system language: English, German, Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, French and Spanish
Intelligent filter life monitor: yes (mobile app; LEDs at air outlet flash red twice when filter must be changed)
Advanced fan speed selection: yes (use the mobile app or tap on Atem logo on the unit to control fan speed; LED indicator)

On the back of the round Atem Car device, there is an interface to connect to the power port and latches located on the car mount.

The photo below shows the car mount that connects to the Atem device. It has the latches on the exterior parts and in the center is the power interface that connects to the Atem device. On the side of the car mount, there is a power port for the car DC power adapter and a release button on each side that allows you to separate the mount from the Atem Car device.


The photo below shows the car mount connected to the Atem Car device.

The web belt and buckle are used to attach to the loopholes on the car mount and secure around the poles of the car headrest.


On the entire circumference of the Atem device, there are air fins that allow the flow of air into and out of the Atem Car device so that the air passes through the internal filter and performs the purification function.

Performance

Attaching the Atem device to the headrest is quite easy. You first attach the belt and buckle of the car mount and then loop the belt around the poles of the headrest. Once secured tightly, you attach the Atem device.

Once you connect the car DC power adapter to the power port on the car mount the Atem powers on with a red LED light, and then the LED light turns to blue one it is fully operational. According to the specifications, the LED flashes red twice when the filter must be changed.

App

There is an app for Android and IOS that works with the Atem device. It allows you to adjust settings, including the power level of the fan/blower in the Atem device and it also provides information regarding the temperature and humidity inside the vehicle and an indication of the filter life and when it needs to be changed. You can also access additional instructions and the user guide from the app.


What I like

  • The effectiveness as an air purifier
  • Build quality

What can be improved

  • The car mounting options
  • The cost of the replacement filter
  • The design makes it look like a dorky satellite antenna attached to the back of my seat and it is highly visible

Final thoughts

To be honest, I was not quite sure what to expect from this air purifier since I had never tried one in my car and before trying this device, I was definitely a doubter. The Atem Car device has changed my mind. My throat clearing that was the result of my allergies had become such a normal occurrence when I was in my car. When I started using this device it decreased significantly to the point that it actually stopped being an issue for me. It was so obvious that I had to take notice. While this device is relatively expensive and while the replacement filter is as well, it really works for me. Keep in mind that I cannot assure everyone that it will work for them, but as I stated, it works for me. My only unanswered question is how long will the filter last before I have to replace it and therefore how expensive will it be to maintain. When the app tells me that it is time to change the filter, I will post an update to this review. Until then, I give it two thumbs up!!

Price: $399 – Replacement filter: $69
Where to buy: IQAir website and Amazon
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by IQAir

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IQAir Atem Car air purifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 15, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Knack Pack expandable backpack review

REVIEW – I have always had the drive to find the perfect backpack. Between travel and daily use at school, I’ve tried countless backpacks only to find them too small, too big, or without the right features. The Knack Pack intrigued me the moment I set eyes on it. Not only did it look the right size for school use, but it also could expand to supposedly work for travel as well. I had to take a look and see for myself.

What is it?

The Knack Pack is a backpack that can be used as an everyday bag on one day and small suitcase for travel on the next.

Features & Specs

  • Separate padded side-zip pocket for laptops up to 15″
  • Fits carry-on requirements when expanded, even under most seats
  • Separate packing compartment for suitcase use
  • Water Resistant
  • Dimensions: Expanded: 19″ x 12″ x 9.5″ – Unexpanded: 19″ x 12″ x 4.5

What’s in the box?

Nicely packaged in the box you’ll find the Knack Pack and instructions on what it can all do.

Design and features

A few years ago I reviewed a backpack that was the size of a carry-on suitcase. While it seemed nifty, the bulk of it made it so I never used it as a backpack after my testing trip. I was really hoping the Knack Pack would be different and thankfully, it was.


Let’s start with the different pockets. Having a dedicated side pocket for laptops is a great idea. Not only does it allow for easy access, but I feel it keeps it safer than when it is strapped inside of the main pocket. It fit my MacBook Pro with ease.


The bottom pocket can be used for charging cables, adapters, and more. I placed my small purse inside so that I could easily access it without digging through the clutter of the main compartment.


The water bottle pocket fits a 24 oz Hydro Flask water bottle in height, and could potentially fit something a little wider, though it will not zip closed if you do. My water bottle just barely fits with the zipper closed. As you can see above, a standard plastic water bottle fits without issue.


I used the triangle shaped pocket on the front of the bag to store extra pens and pencils for the kids, as well as items I need to pull out quickly. I didn’t use it at first, since I had a plastic pencil case and went with that, but once I switched over I was very happy.


On the top of the bag, there is a pocket for your phone and any other small items. One section has soft fabric within to protect your screen while the other is there for perhaps a backup battery, keys, sunglasses, or in my case, my lanyard with my work badge.


The main compartment of the backpack portion is well protected with padding on the sides and front. I was fine with tossing my Nintendo Switch and accessories in there to take along. During the school day, I kept my lunch box and coat in this compartment. It will fit these two things just fine but there is not room for much else. That’s fine with me since the laptop is in a separate compartment.


Inside of the main compartment houses two smaller zippered mesh pouches, key leash, and tablet sleeve. I use the tablet sleeve for my notebooks at work, but it fits my iPad Air just fine. I put extra odds and ends that I rarely use, such as deodorant, gum, and a few dollars in the mesh area while at work.

Now let’s talk about the suitcase compartment of the Knack Pack. On a normal school day, I don’t really use this section, but it is so hidden away that I never notice it when opening zippers. When I stayed for a weekend at my sister’s, I used this bag solely for my suitcase. I had enough room for two pairs of clothes, my Switch and accessories, cords, laptop, toiletry bag, and a twin fleece blanket. This made it packed to the brim, but I was very pleased that it fit everything, zipped up easily, and felt comfortable wearing back and forth to the car.


There is a single large mesh zippered pouch in the suitcase compartment just like you find in most carry-on bags, along with a strap to hold your clothing down. I really like that this strap is easily adjustable and still was able to be clasped together with the bulky blanket within.


The back side of the backpack is well padded and comfortable to wear. My back did not sweat at all while wearing this around school. The straps are comfortable, and I always like having the chest strap just in case I need to walk for a while (such as in an airport) or if I am carrying anything heavy. If you prefer, you can also detach the straps and tuck them into a zippered compartment just behind the padding. This would make storing it easy, but the only way to carry it is to use the top handle, which while sturdy, would get awkward since it would be held in a vertical position.


The fabric that makes up the Knack Pack is tough and water resistant. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we get lots of rain during these winter months. Everything has been safe and dry within the backpack. All of the zippers work well and seem to be durable. I was sent the medium model that fits a 15″ laptop, and it is a perfect size. Will it fit under the seat on a plane when jammed to the brim with blankets and clothes? Probably not, but if I took the blanket out it would.

What I like

  • Very comfortable to wear
  • Versatile
  • Lots of space

What needs to be improved

  • Maybe a little pricey for some

Final thoughts

Overall, I will be keeping the Knack Pack as my everyday school bag and taking it with me on my next flight. With the ability to expand and pack more inside, I will have no need for a checked bag. The front pocket works great for easily accessing small items and the cell phone pocket at the top keeps my phone secure and easy to grab on the go. Lastly, the water-resistant fabric has kept my things dry in the rainy months here in Seattle. While the price may be a little steep for some, The Knack Pack is definitely a backpack worth looking at.

Price: $165
Where to buy: Knack Bags Website
Source: Knack Bags

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Knack Pack expandable backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 14, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Kwilt2 personal cloud hub device review


REVIEW – Early in 2018, I got the opportunity to test the first Kwilt cloud device called the Kwilt Shoebox Mini that is primarily designed for storage of photos from your mobile device or other devices and access anywhere in the world. I really enjoyed it and jumped at the chance I received to test and review the 2nd version, the Kwilt Shoebox Plus. Now I have found myself in the great position of being able to review a new version called the Kwilt2. So, let’s get started.

What is it?

The Kwilt2 allows you to transfer/backup your photos and videos from your phone or tablet, and to have access to them and any other media attached to the shoebox from anywhere in the world and at any time, as long as you have internet access.

What’s in the box


1 x Kwilt2
1 x 16GB Thumb Drive
1 x Ethernet Cable
1 x HDMI Cable
1 x AC Adapter
1 x Informational Guide

Design and features

Specifications

Processing power: 1.2 GHz Quad-core CPU; 600MHz Quad-core GPU;
Input ports: 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x SD/SDHC/SDXC;
Storage ports: 3 x USB 2.0;
Networking: 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4GHz + Ethernet 100Mbps;
Video out: 1 X HDMI 4K @60 fps;
Bonus storage: 16 GB USB 2.0 memory stick;
Software: Android 7.1, Open source components, Kwilt firmware;
Device size: 4.56” x 4.56” x 1.18”;
Device weight: 6.6 Oz.

Features

  • Offload and backup your phone’s photos and videos seamlessly on the go;
  • Enjoy unlimited mobile storage sitting safely at home;
  • Keep original full resolution photos and videos;
  • Access your photos and videos from anywhere, on any platform;
  • Upload photos and videos directly from SD card to the connected storage hard drive using the built-in SD card input port;
  • Free Android and iOS apps;
  • Store and access any file type;
  • Easy photo and video sharing;
  • Rich mobile photo editing;
  • Play your photos and videos on your TV (via Kwilt HDMI port);
  • Directly order custom photo prints from your phone;
  • Web, Windows and Mac compatibility;
  • Supports multiple Kwilt devices per account and multiple users per device.

The pictures below show the ports on the sides of the Kwilt2. On one side from left to right, the ports are USB, SPDIF, AV, HDMI, Ethernet, and Power.


On one other side of the Kwilt 2, there is an SD port and a USB port that are input ports and 2 storage USB ports.

Performance

This Kwilt2 is so easy to set up and to start using that I was amazed. To start using it, you plug in the ethernet cable, the included thumb drive (Or any USB hars drive), the power adapter, download the app and that is it. Once you open the app and select the + sign to add a device, it finds the device, and the setup is done (As long as you are on the same network. I mention this because I have more than one network at home). It is that simple. You can go from taking it out of the box, to copying /moving photos/videos from your mobile device to the attached storage in under 5 minutes. It also has input ports that you can plug in any USB drive and/or SD card and copy the files and photos to the attached storage. For example, if you attach 2 x 4TB USB drives, you then have 8TB of cloud storage. For additional operational informationwhich is basically the same for all of the Kwilt devices, you can read my previous reviews here:
The Kwilt Shoebox Mini review
The Kwilt Shoebox Plus review

App

The following are some of the screenshots from the Kwilt app:








What I like

  • Built quality
  • Compact size
  • Number of i/o ports
  • Ease of setup and use

What can be improved

  • It does exactly what it is designed to do. I do not have any suggestions for improvements

Final thoughts

The Kwilt2 offers performance and expansion improvements over the previous models and it works very well without any issues. I love these devices because they provide a really easy solution for my own personal and dedicated cloud storage for my photos, and I can show them to friends, family and clients anywhere and at any time as long as I have internet access. The setup is so darn easy, and their customer support is A+. After my review of their first model, several readers indicated that it was just a Pi Raspberry OS in a box. I have to say that for me, it does not matter when it is already designed and built for me in one package and works perfectly. And with this model, they also include a 16GB thumb drive all for a great price. There is a more powerful version to the Kwilt2 called the Kwilt3, and hopefully one day I will get my hands on that version too. I give Kwilt another well done and two thumbs way up!!

Price: $89
Where to buy: Kwilt website or Amazon
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by Kwilt

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Kwilt2 personal cloud hub device review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 14, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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YubiKey 5 NFC security key review

REVIEW – In a previous YubiKey review, I mentioned how we now live in a world where many websites are being compromised. Along with mobile authenticator apps available, using a hardware device such as the YubiKey is great for extra login security. I had the opportunity to take a look at the newest of Yubico’s hardware keys; the YubiKey 5 NFC. Let’s take a look!

What is it?

The YubiKey 5 NFC is a hardware-based authentication device that provides extra authentication over NFC (Near Field Communications). It also supports FIDO2, allowing organizations to enable passwordless login on a computer that supports FIDO2 open authentication standards.

Hardware specs

  • Dimensions: 0.7 in x 1.8 in x 0.13 in
  • Weight: 0.04 oz

What’s in the box?

  • YubiKey 5 NFC along with paper documentation

Design and features

The YubiKey 5 NFC looks much like any traditional USB device, but is flat and with a gold disk in the center of the key. It also has a keyhole to keep it on a lanyard with your EDC gear. I find it useful to keep in my backpack since I have it with me every day and keep it separate to my cell phone that I carry in my pocket.

Setup

Just like with the YubiKey 4 and other series, you can add this hardware key to tons of online services that support two-factor authentication. You can look into account preferences for an option along the lines of “set up a hardware key”. Then insert your YubiKey into your computer’s USB port, follow instructions, and all is set. When logging in, you touch the gold plating on the YubiKey to activate log on.

With this YubiKey 5 NFC, you can simply touch the key to the back of your phone (if your supports NFC). I have the Google Pixel 2 XL, and was able to set up my second Google account easily. I touched the key to the back of my phone shown above. It buzzed and then logged me in. It’s a little bit easier than using my mobile authenticator app, copying the password, and then logging into the site directly.

The software and services that support two-factor authentication with YubiKey are listed on their website. You can also use the YubiKey Authenticator for desktop or Android to generate OATH credentials on your YubiKey. Note: Since I already use the Authy Authenticator app with all my online services, I didn’t test this out. It’s also possible to log onto Windows 10 and all Microsoft accounts using the YubiKey. (Windows 10 version 1809 update and Microsoft Edge need to be installed for this to work.)

What I like

  • Extra security for most online services such as Google, Dropbox, most social media sites etc.
  • Durable, waterproof, and crush resistant
  • Fits on a key chain for portability

What needs to be improved

  • If you lose your YubiKey, then you’ll need to reconfigure all of your apps to use another authentication method
  • Expensive for a small usb device

Final thoughts

Overall, as someone who appreciates an extra layer of security in her web apps, I really love using my YubiKey. It puts my mind a bit more at ease when logging onto my laptop, work machine, or phone. I think it’s very much worth grabbing one if you can!

Price: $45.00
Where to buy: You can purchase the YubiKey 5 NFC directly via their website or various online resellers including Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Yubico.

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YubiKey 5 NFC security key review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 13, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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