Reviews – Page 119

HQBKING Dashcam review

REVIEW – It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a dashcam and this one from HQBKING caught my interest because the windshield mount is magnetic and you can rotate the camera 360 degrees. But what’s the video like? Let’s find out.

What is it?

The HQBKING is a 1080P dashcam that features a mount that allows you to remove and/or rotate the camera while it’s attached to the mount which also provides power to the camera.

Hardware Specification

Picture Resolution: 4032*3024/3648*2736/3264*2448/2592*1944
Video Resolution: 1920*1080(30fps)/1280*720(30fps)/WVGA848*480/VGA640*480
Memory Card: Support 8GB – 64GB high speed TF card Class 10 or above
Chip-set: NTK96658
Sensor: SONY IMX323
Screen: 1.54 inch
Video Format: MP4
Picture Format: JPG
USB Type: USB2.0
Frequency: 50HZ/60HZ
Current: 450mA
Mic/Speaker: Support
Storage Temperature(Deg.C): -30 to +120
Battery: 140mAh 3.7V lithium battery
Power Supply Port: USB2.0 DC5V 1A
Power Size: 2 inch (width) x 1.8 inch (height) x 1.5 inch (depth)

What’s in the box?

Hqbking dash cam
Magnetic mount
12V power adapter
2 mini USB cables
User Manual

Design and features

This dashcam is one of the smallest dashcams that I’ve reviewed in a long time if not ever. The camera itself is about the size of a golf ball. The front is basically just the lens and the top has an electrical contact that mates with the magnetic mount/pins on the windshield mount.

The windshield mount comes with two 3M adhesive strips that you’ll use to affix the mount to your car’s windshield.

The camera can rotate on the mount without losing power. This will let you film the interior of the car or out the sides of the car.

While you can rotate the camera around in the horizontal plane, you can’t adjust the vertical angle of the camera which can be a problem if you’re trying to record people inside the camera as you can’t adjust the lens to make sure it’s pointed correctly.

On the left side of the camera is the power button, a status LED and a microphone.

On the opposite side of the dashcam is a protective cover over the microSD card slot and a second built-in mini USB connector that can be used to connect the camera to power or transfer video to your computer.

On the bottom of the camera are four buttons that are used navigate through the camera’s menus.

Installation

Installing the HQBKING dashcam in my MINI Cooper was as easy as sticking the mount to the windshield and then routing the mini USB cable from the right side of the camera mount up along the top edge of the headliner and then down the right side of the windshield, down the side of the dash and around to the 12V power adapter.

Once installed, the camera powers on automatically when the car’s engine is started. It then turns off when you stop the engine. You can also set the camera to turn off in 3, 5, or 10 minutes later. But the default it is to turn it off as soon as you shut down the engine.

The camera has a G Sensor which detects if there has been a collision and will lock the video so that it won’t be overwritten by later videos. This feature makes sure that you can find and use the video if you need to for insurance purposes in the event of an accident.

There’s also a smart parking monitor that you can toggle on/off which will make a recording if the camera senses some sort of impact when you’re not driving. Note that you’ll need to have the camera hard-wired for power to use this feature as the camera’s built-in battery isn’t designed to keep it powered on for very long. It’s only designed to protect the settings, time, and date in between uses.

The length of each video clip can be adjusted to 1, 3, or 5-minute clips. Once the microSD card is filled, it will start overwriting the old clips (except for any locked clips).

Mobile app

If you install the HQBKING app on your iOS or Android smartphone, you can use it to connect to the camera’s built-in WiFi signal to see a live footage, view, or transfer video clips and photos to the phone.

See it in action

Here are two quick videos that show you the video quality of this dashcam when used for night and day driving. The first video is night driving with a bit of day driving at the end.

If you skip to the daytime part, you can see where I turn the camera on its magnetic mount. I do this again at the end of the review while driving.

As you can see, the video quality is ok for a 1080P camera. Of course I’d like 4K quality video, but all things considered, you can read road signs and some license plates depending on the proximity to other cars.

What I like

Small
Magnetic mount
Ability to rotate the camera 360 degrees on the mount

What needs to be improved

Needs a way to adjust the vertical angle of the camera
Needs GPS capability built-in

Final thoughts

I’ve enjoyed testing the HQBKING dashcam. I like its small size and how easy it is to grab it and take it in the house to connect to my MacBook if I want to transfer video clips. I find this easier and faster than using the HQBKING app with my phone. As a dashcam, it works fine. Video quality didn’t blow my mind, but it gets the job done and the price pretty low.

Price: $89.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by HQBKING.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Car Gear, dash cam

HQBKING Dashcam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Cotton Carrier Skout camera sling style harness review

REVIEW – As a photographer, I am always looking for easy ways to carry a camera and have it at the ready, while reducing the stress of carrying it and while keeping my hands as free as possible, The Skout Sling Style Harness seems as if it can be a good fit for moving around while having access to my camera.

What is it?

The Cotton Carrier Skout Sling Style Harness is a camera harness that straps around your shoulder and upper chest and allows you to clip your camera to it in a secure but easily accessible way.

What’s in the box

1 x Skout Sling Style harness
1 x Camera Weather Cover
1 x Aluminum Hub, Spacer, Attachment Screw, and Allen Key
1 x Informational Leaflet

Design and features

The sling harness is made up of a padded cotton pad that includes the aluminum hub receptacle to hold the camera and web straps that go over your shoulder and around your chest.

On the back of the padded section, there is a zippered pouch where you can store small and flat accessories.

The buckles and clasps are made of ABS plastic so they are very strong and should hold the expected weight of a camera and lens without issue.

There is a camera weather cover that is included to cover your camera and lens. The size of my camera and lens seems to put both the cover and my camera and lens under some stress, so below I show the manufacturer’s picture of how it is supposed to work.

Performance

The Cotton Carrier Sling Harness is very easy to put on and very easy to adjust. Once the aluminum hub is attached to the bottom of the camera, it is ready to be clipped onto the harness.

After adjusting the harness as much as it allowed, it was still too slack for the body frame of my model. The pictures below show that most comfortable position that she was able to find. It also shows how awkward a fit it is with a large professional DSLR camera and especially so if the camera includes the extended grip. Since this is her usual camera setup, it was important to try it this way.

As you can see in the pictures above, attaching the larger professional DSLR made the fit a bit cumbersome. Even at the maximum adjustment of the over-the shoulder-section, it was still too long for my model’s comfort. While she did indicate that the position shown above proved to be the most comfortable for carrying that size of camera and lens, it did not feel comfortable enough for her to walk around with for an extended period of time. I do suspect that it would prove to be much more comfortable with a smaller DSLR or a mirrorless camera. It is very easy to remove the camera from the harness with a simple 45-degree turn and then pulling upwards.

What I like

The construction of the carrier
The concept and design of the carrier

What can be improved

Design improvements that would accommodate larger professional cameras
Multiple sizes or more adjustment to allow for a better fit for more body types

Final thoughts

I actually like the construction of this camera sling harness, and for a person with a larger frame than my model, it would fit much better. I did try it on myself, and while it fits ok, it did feel awkward once I added my large DSLR. The pictures on the company’s website show that the carrier should be worn with the mounting pad closer to the middle of the chest, but neither the model nor I found it to be more comfortable in that position especially with the large camera and lens. Since I do not own a smaller DSLR, I have not been able to try it with the smaller camera body, but I do intend to do so when I can get my hands on one. For many people with regular consumer DSLR or mirrorless cameras, this harness will work well and will allow them to move around freely while having instant access to their camera.

Price: $79.00
Where to buy: Cotton Carrier and Amazon.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Cotton Carrier

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Camera gear

Cotton Carrier Skout camera sling style harness review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Traveler & More notebook review

REVIEW – Over the years I’ve tried countless task and todo apps like Google Keep, Todoist, Wunderlist, and more. I start out excited to go digital with my task tracking, but I always end up going back to using a good old pen and a notebook because manually writing the task with a little box next to it is something my brain needs as an incentive to actually finish the task at hand. Why? I want the satisfaction of drawing an X in that box and tapping a box with my finger in an app doesn’t work the same for me. That was a long-winded explanation for why I love notebooks and why I also love to review them. The latest notebook on my testing bench is the Traveler & More notebook. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Traveler & More notebook is a simple leather notebook cover with multiple notebooks and inserts inside. It borrows the design and style of the popular Midori Traveler’s Notebooks from Japan which I reviewed many years ago and even made a pocket-sized Traveler’s Notebook DIY version of my own.

Design and features

The Traveler & More notebook arrives in a simple thick craft paper package tied with string. I am a fan of minimalism and often get annoyed by flashy packaging that ends up in the trash. The Traveler & More packaging is minimal and will end up in the recycle bin.

The notebook is the spitting image of the Midori notebooks and features one piece of leather that folds around the inserts to create a simple 8.7 x 4.9 x 1.6 inch cover. The leather used to construct the Traveler & More notebook cover is crazy horse leather which has been dyed a rich dark chocolate brown. I still have a Midori Travelers Notebook and find that I like the feel of the Traveler & More leather better because it’s softer and more supple. It even smells better

The Traveler & More notebook uses elastic bands to keep the cover closed, and a narrow strip of leather protects the edges of the cover from being deformed by the thin elastic cord.

The Traveler & More cover’s elastic band is attached to the spine of the cover instead of the back cover which I never liked with Midori covers. And as you can see from the image above, all the holes in the cover have been reinforced with metal eyelets which not only look a lot nicer but protect the leather. You’ll also notice in the image above, that the Traveler & More logo is stamped into the spine of the cover. Luckily, it’s not too noticeable.

The inside surface of the covers is raw leather which does shed a little bit. At least mine has since I’ve been using it for the past couple of weeks. Not that it’s a big deal, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Each Traveler & More notebook comes setup with 4 separate notebooks and several inserts. The notebooks and inserts are held in the notebook by elastic bands. It’s a simple system, but it works great and is secure. There isn’t a worry that the notebooks or inserts will fall out.

The 8.5 x 4.5 inch notebooks all have the same brown kraft paper/cardboard cover, sewn binding, and 40 sheets/80 pages that have a light cream color. You get a lined notebook, with faint light grey dotted lines.

There’s also a planner or memo style notebook that has a section at the top where you can mark the day of the week and date along with an agenda style list for the rest of the page with 1am – 12pm slots.

The Traveler & More notebook includes a notebook with plain pages for people who like to draw or who just like to have blank pages for their own layouts.

Last but not least, a square grid notebook is included. The paper used in the notebooks is 100GSM paper and it feels pretty thick. I don’t use fountain pens, but I do use ink, both rollerball, and gel pens, and markers, and didn’t notice any issues with the ink bleeding through the pages.

Other inserts include a vinyl card holder that has 1 large slot on top and 3 slots on the back that are sized to hold typical credit cards, business cards, etc.

I’m using mine to hold some journaling tools.

There’s also a zipper pouch that you can use to hold small flat items like stickers, stamps, receipts, etc.

Other storage options included in the notebook are a craft paper envelope.

And a craft paper folder with card slots.

With 4 notebooks and the inserts, the Traveler & More notebook is a pretty chunky setup.

The leather notebook cover is sized large enough to hang over all the edges a bit so nothing sticks out. Some people will not like a notebook this chunky/thick and others seek out notebooks like this one so that they can use each notebook for a different topic. So like many of the products that we review, it’s all about personal preference.

I don’t mind a thick notebook, but I do find that it takes a little more effort to stow it in my bag when I’m taking it to and from work.

One feature that is a must have for me when I’m shopping for a new notebook, is that the notebook has to lay flat and stay open to the page that I’m working on. If it flops closed by itself, or if I have to constantly try to smooth down the pages, it will annoy me pretty quickly. The Traveler & More notebook doesn’t lay perfectly flat but it does a pretty decent job of staying open to the page I’m writing on and I think that with use, it will get better as the notebooks get broken in.

What I like

Comes with 4 notebooks and inserts
The leather cover is soft
Price is very affordable

What needs to be improved

Would be great to offer other sizes like A5 or pocket-sized versions

Final thoughts

If you enjoy a rustic looking notebook that you can refill and customize, the Traveler & More notebook is a steal at $32 because it comes with 4 notebooks and inserts that will help you keep “stuff” organized. It’s well made, will only get better looking as it lives with you through your adventures and everyday wear and tear. If you’ve wanted to buy a Traveler’s notebook but didn’t have the money for the brand name version, look no further than this one from Traveler & More. In my opinion, it’s better in every way and significantly less expensive.

Price: $32.10
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Traveler & More.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Leather, Notebooks

Traveler & More notebook review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 10, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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The Currant AI Powered Smart Outlet review

REVIEW – On a few occasions over the past few years, I have questioned the power company about the amount I am charged each month for electricity. I know people with way more square footage than my home paying much less. I have even had the power company monitor my home, and they always tell me that I am being charged the correct amount. They have stated this enough times, that I eventually just accepted that the numerous gadgets that I have connected 24/7 must be the culprits, albeit that many of them are very small gadgets that theoretically draw very little power, especially when idle. The Currant AI-powered Smart Outlet promises to be able to give me better insight into the energy usage of the devices I have plugged in. Can it? Let’s see!!

What is it?

The Currant AI Smart Outlet analyzes the electricity power usage for the devices that you have plugged into it. With the use of the associated app, you can monitor how much energy the devices are using and therefore make better decisions about saving energy and money. It is also Alexa enabled.

What’s in the box

1 x Currant AI Smart Outlet

Design and features

On one side of the Currant Smart Outlet there are two AC receptacles, and on the back, there is a 3-prong AC plug.

The front of the outlet is covered with a shiny mirror-like plate, the name branding, and if you look closely, two embedded touch power buttons, one for each outlet. You will see these better in the next set of pictures in this review.

As shown below, there are two lighted arrows that are touch sensitive and control the power on/off for each outlet.

Performance

When I opened the box, I was surprised to see just the device and instructions printed on the inside of the box to download the app. At first, I thought this was strange but after experiencing the simplicity of setting up this device, I understood the choice which in my opinion is not only good enough to operate this device but environmentally friendly since I feel that a paper manual would have been a waste of paper. I followed the instructions and downloaded the app and after it was installed I followed the very simple process to add the device to my home network and it was good to go. Since I have an Alexa device, I also followed the instructions that are provided by the Alexa app to add the Currant to the Alexa skills which in turn allows it to be voice controlled via Alexa. I decided to use my Christmas tree as the first testing device. I initially had ten strings of lights daisy chained and plugged into a wall outlet. This proved to be too many and the fuse in the first string kept blowing after a few hours. I decided to separate the chain into 2 sets of 5, and I plugged one set into the Currant Smart outlet to see how it worked and to use it to generate input for the app. The app immediately began to show the usage of the outlet I used as compared to the second outlet that I did not initially connect. I then connected the second set of lights to the second Currant outlet so that both were monitored. The Currant Smart Outlet maintains its connection to my wifi network without issue and it continues to provide data that I will use for comparison and analysis once I move it to other devices.

App

The following are screenshots from the app that not only showcase the app but also some of the information that the Currant Smart Outlet provides:

What I like

The build quality
The function
The nice clean design of the app and the information it provides

What can be improved

The unnecessary shiny and fingerprint magnet cover. It looks nice but serves no real purpose even for a flashy design since it is quickly covered with fingerprints

Final thoughts

The Currant Smart Outlet may not appeal to everyone, but for a gadget nerd like me, it allows me to see which of my gadgets or even household appliances is the culprit for my relatively large monthly electricity bill. My plan is to move it around to various devices every couple of weeks and make note of the usage. Maybe I will get lucky and there will be a few devices that I can go without being plugged in 24/7 and that if unplugged can actually make a dent in my electricity bill. For me, this device is a nice tool. As I mentioned previously, I currently have the Christmas tree with about 10 strings of lights plugged into it at 5 strings per outlet. While Christmas lights are only temporary, for now, I am getting a better understanding of energy usage and enjoying saying “Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree”.

Price: $59.99
Where to buy: Currant and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Currant

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Home Automation

The Currant AI Powered Smart Outlet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 10, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Adonit PhotoGrip Smartphone Camera Grip review

REVIEW – The cameras in smartphones are truly a technological marvel, rivaling most modern digital cameras and pushing the boundaries of what an average user can capture. But grabbing on to a slab of glass isn’t the easiest way to get a decent snap. Enter the Adonit PhotoGrip, a classic take on modern smartphone photography.

What is it?

The Adonit PhotoGrip is a smartphone camera grip that makes single-hand camera operation easier through its clamp-on grip and detachable Bluetooth shutter remote.

Hardware specs

The PhotoGrip can support smartphones within a width range of 62.5mm – 85mm, which I believe encompasses even the widest of phones, such as the Galaxy Note 9 and any plus model of iPhone. The maximum depth of phone it can handle is 10mm. Really, it seems like the only limitation on the model of phone you can use is if it happens to be too narrow to place in the grips, something like an iPhone 5, for instance.

It does require Bluetooth to operate as there is no direct connection with the phone. The internal battery in the shutter remote is good for 20 hours of continuous use (or 72,000 photos, so you could potentially take 1 photo per second for 20 hours) and charges in just 40 minutes.

What’s in the box?

camera grip
built-in mini (and I do mean mini) stylus
mini tripod
neck strap
carrying pouch
user manual
USB cable (typical A to micro-B type you have a million of)

Design and Features

The PhotoGrip’s design is actually quite simple. It consists of a solid block of grippy silicone-wrapped plastic attached to a spring-loaded clamp. I tend to get a bit nervous with devices that put a great deal of pressure on the sides of what feels like an impossibly thin device. I know that most phones are pretty resilient, with all the initial backlash of the iPhone + series “bendgate” still fresh in my mind, I try to be as careful as possible with grips and cases that threaten to put extra pressure on my phone.

This seems OK in that regard, it’s just a thought I had every time I popped that grip on my phone.

The entire functionality of the device is built into the detachable shutter button, which is essentially just a tiny Bluetooth remote that sends a “Volume Up” command to the phone, which is, of course, the shutter button on most devices when in camera mode. I did try the button when my phone wasn’t in camera mode and sure enough it simply adjusted the volume up one notch.

When attached to the phone, wielding the grip with one hand feels very much like a compact digital camera. Using two hands for extra stability is recommended, as pushing the shutter button on top of the grip tended to shift the camera just enough to cause some shaking, as it would with any other camera. Two hands, people.

The PhotoGrip is plenty comfortable, though, and it goes a long way toward making a thin sheet of glass and metal feel more like a standard camera.

The detachable shutter control is brilliant, so much so that I’d even taken to using it without the grip when trying to line up a group shot. There have been plenty of times when having a tiny button to snap multiple shots without the whole “set 10-second timer, run back to group, take shot, rinse and repeat” routine would have been great. Not only that, but the battery is rechargeable, and lasts for about 20 hours. So nice.

The PhotoGrip also has a standard 1/4” tripod mount on the bottom, which means you can slap your phone on any old tripod you might have laying around.

The mini-tripod is cute, though, and a nice little addition. It can certainly work well enough in most situations.

That stylus, though … 1 3/4” inches of aluminum concealed in the side of the grip … is nigh unusable. Think of a mini-golf score pencil. Now snap that in two. And that’s what you’re working with. Your mileage may vary, but in every instance I used it, the added accuracy of the fine point wasn’t worth the awkwardness that came with it. Still, it’s hard to fault them for including one.

I think they included it because of the “markup” functionality in many photo editors. Even in the iOS Photos app, there is a mode to draw/write directly onto photos, although I couldn’t tell you the last time I did this.

Lastly, Adonit packed in a neck strap that I ended up not using because I couldn’t figure out exactly where it clipped to on the PhotoGrip itself. That’s just as well, I don’t relish the thought of dangling my $800 phone from my neck secured with a tiny spring clip.

What I like

remote is tiny and works over long distances
grip can be attached to any standard tripod mount
adds some stability and standard camera feel

What needs to be improved

stylus isn’t much more useful than a finger and potentially easy to lose
grip is a bit tough to attach/detach

Final thoughts

Given the high quality of recent smartphone cameras, adding what feels like a standard camera grip onto your phone greatly enhances its stability and control. The detachable shutter is wonderful and adds versatility to the grip’s functionality. It would make a great, and affordable, addition to any mobile photog’s tech bag.

Price: $39.99
Where to buy: You can purchase the PhotoGrip in black or yellow directly from Adonit on their website and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Adonit. To find out more and check out their line of mobile accessories, visit their website.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Camera bag, iPhone accessory

Adonit PhotoGrip Smartphone Camera Grip review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 9, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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