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Kensington SD4700P USB-C & USB 3.0 Universal Dual 2K Docking Station review


REVIEW – For the past few months, I have been working on expanding the versatility of my several workstations so that I have all of the capabilities I need regardless of what platform I am using. I have found that using computer docks is a great way to do so and a great way to accommodate all of the drives and other peripherals that I may use. The Kensington SD4700P USB-C & USB 3.0 Universal Dual 2K Docking Station is another such device that I got the opportunity to test. Here is my experience with it.

What is it?

The Kensington SD4700P Universal USB-C and USB 3.0 Docking Station allows you to expand your laptop’s connectivity and capabilities to accommodate various types of computer accessories using the included USB Type-C/USB 3.0 Type-A cable.

What’s in the box


1 x Kensington SD4700P Universal USB-C and USB 3.1 Docking Station
1 x USB Type-C/USB 3.0 Type-A to USB Type-C Cable
1 x 135W AC Power Supply
1 x Quick Start Guide and Warranty Booklet

For this review, Kensington also included the 60W USB 3.0 Power Splitter for the SD4700P dock.


1 x 60W Laptop Power Splitter
8 x Power Tip Adapters
1 x User Guide, Warranty Guide, Communications Statement
3 x Power Tip Adapter Retention Rings

Design and features

Specifications

  • Support: USB-C or USB 3.0 Laptops, Ultrabooks and Monitors that support up to 2K
  • Monitors Supported: Single Monitor: 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz, Dual Monitors: 2048 x 1152 @ 30Hz
  • USB Ports: 5 x USB 3.0 Ports: (1) front with 5V/2.1A fast-charging & (4) back supporting 5V/0.9A
  • USB-C Ports: 2 x USB-C Ports: (1) front with 5V/3A and (1) rear supporting 60W power delivery
  • Audio: 1 x 3.5mm Combo Microphone & Headphone Port (front)
  • Compatibility: Windows 7 or above, Mac OS 10.14
  • Video Output: 1 x HDMI v1.3, 1 x DisplayPort v1.1 ++ (Passive cables/adapters for HDMI or DVI conversion)
  • Plug & Play: DisplayLink driver installation required
  • System Requirements: USB-C host device must support Power Delivery. Power Delivery is not supported on USB 3.0 host devices
  • Mounting Option: VESA Mount Compatible: Mounting plate (K33959WW) for 75mm or 100mm (sold separately)
  • Warranty: 3 Years

On the front of the dock from left to right, there is a LED power light, a combination microphone/headphone jack, USB port, and a USB-C port.

On the back of the dock from left to right, there is the power port, a USB-C port, the HDMI port, the DisplayPort, the ethernet port and 4 USB ports.

The 60W Laptop Power Adapter uses the power supply from the SD4700P to provide power to USB 3.0 enabled laptops with 20V power inputs (20V/60W).


The 8 included Power Tip Adapters provide a variety of connections for laptop brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo and other leading manufacturers. The ones that you use most frequently can be kept connected to the cable of the splitter using the included retention rings.

Performance

I started out by connecting the Power Adapter Splitter to the power supply so that I could power the dock and the HP laptop that I used as the primary computer for this testing.

As shown below, I was able to find the correct size power adapter tip for the HP.

I then connected a monitor via HDMI and my iStorage encrypted secure drive.

I plugged one of the Power Adapter Splitter ends into the dock to power it and the other with the tip adapter that I chose into the HP laptop.

I downloaded the DisplayLink driver from the Kensington website and it installed without any issues. Once installed, the laptop (Windows 7 OS) was able to see the dock and access the devices connected to the dock. However, as you can see in the picture below, it did not work to power my laptop. The laptop remained operational on its own battery.

I was able to successfully connect to a second monitor via HDMI and I was also able to successfully access the USB drive and use a wireless mouse with a wireless dongle all plugged into the dock.

A few of the USB-C docks that I previously tested worked with my iPad even though their specifications did not indicate such support. Just to see what happened I did test it with my 12.9″ iPad Pro (2018) and it did not work. This is not a negative but rather just my exploration.

What I like

  • The build quality
  • The number of ports
  • The USB-C Power Delivery capability
  • The included power splitter

What can be improved

  • The size of the dock
  • The relatively large and  heavy power supply
  • The addition of 4K support

Final thoughts

The Kensington SD4700P USB-C & USB 3.0 Universal Dual 2K Docking lives up to almost all of the capabilities that it is designed for. I did not experience any issues other than the inability to power my laptop, and while the large power supply and the additional power splitter means carrying around more with more weight, the use of the two together would be very useful when using laptops that cannot be charged via USB-C. Although in my case, the power adapter splitter did not work to power my laptop, I feel confident that it would for others and this is more of a compatibility issue. Since I leave this dock in place at work, I do not have to carry it around. Overall, this is a very solid product that is very capable and it does provide for a lot of flexibility.

Price: $189.99
Where to buy: Amazon and B&H Photo Video
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Kensington.

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Kensington SD4700P USB-C & USB 3.0 Universal Dual 2K Docking Station review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Amazon says Big Mouth Billy Bass is back and better than ever with Alexa compatibility!

NEWS – Amazon has been expanded the list of items that have Alexa built in.  There’s even a microwave with built-in Alexa.  The Big Mouth Billy Bass is being introduced into the Echo universe as an “Alexa compatible device.”  Billy doesn’t have Alexa built-in, but he pairs with an Echo device you already own.  Once paired, the fish will lip sync with everything that Alexa says.

According to Amazon, Billy responds to inquiries about the weather, your commute, the news, random facts, and more; he reacts to timers, notifications, and alarms; and he’ll even dance to the beat when Alexa is playing music.

The plaque measures 11″ x 3″ x 7″.  Big Mouth Billy Bass is available to pre-order for $39.99.  Never fear, you’ll get him in time for Christmas with no problem, because shipping begins December 1, 2018.  Order yours at Amazon.

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Amazon says Big Mouth Billy Bass is back and better than ever with Alexa compatibility! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2018 at 8:16 am.

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Bag Branch Folio 5 review

REVIEW – My wife was excited when I showed her the Bag Branch Folio.  She said, “Oh yeah, I need that.”  So we got the 5-pocketed Bag Branch Folio 5 so she could give it a spin.  You see, my wife spends inordinate amounts of time fumbling through her bag/purse to find things.  Where are my glasses?  Oh yeah, in the bottom of the bag.  Where the heck is a pen when you need one?  Oh yeah, in the bottom of the bag.  So she was looking forward to the Folio 5 solving some of her problems.  Let’s see how it turned out.

What is it?

The Bag Branch Folio is a multi-pocketed leather accessory that holds all the essentials inside your bag/purse (glasses, credit cards, lipstick, cellphone, etc) and enables you to easily transfer them between bags/purses.  You can get a 5-pocket or a 6-pocket version.  My wife reviewed the 5-pocket Folio 5.

Product specs

  • Overall size: 4.5″W x 6.5″H
  • 5 connected-pockets: 1 full-height, 2 mid-height, and 2 card slots
  • Removable keychain: 8.5″L
  • Adjustable loop: 4.5 to 6.5″L
  • Rose-gold tone hardware
  • Weight: 5 oz
  • Lightweight Vegan leather
  • Lined
  • 30-Day Money Back Guarantee

Design and function

The Folio 5 has 1 larger pocket that easily holds a cellphone or sunglasses, although not both at the same time (more on that soon).  It has 2 mid-height pockets that could hold many things such as earbuds, lipstick, money, etc.  And there are 2 ‘card’ pockets, which are designed to hold credit/debit cards.

There is an adjustable loop that is used to attach the Folio 5 to your bag/purse by attaching it around the handle/strap.  There is also a slender chain that attaches inside the Folio 5 with a clasp on the other end to attach to any number of things such as keys.

If used as designed, it works great.  Which means, it is designed to live inside your bag/purse to hold your essentials that usually get lost in the bottom of the bag, making them easily accessible when you need them.  Transferring the Folio 5 to the next bag/purse you are using is a breeze.  Simply remove the loop and attach it inside the next bag/purse.

When my wife first got the Folio 5 it was right before we went out for the day to do some shopping.  She put her cellphone in the larger pocket and filled the other pockets with things she normally takes everywhere with her: A few lipstick/lip gloss items, her cellphone, various credit cards, and cash.  She grabbed the handle/loop and away we went. She quickly discovered that the Folio 5 is not meant to be a substitute for your clutch.  She was constantly worried about the lipstick items and credit cards falling out because the pockets aren’t designed to close (although one of the mid-sized pockets does have a single snap-button to semi-close it).  She was also unable to put both her cellphone and glasses inside the Folio 5 because there was only 1 large pocket.

To be fair, Bag Branch never claims that the Folio should be used as a stand-along bag/purse solution.  And my wife can confirm this.  When she started using it as designed, she discovered the handiness of the Folio.  After several weeks with the Folio 5 she had wished that she had opted for the Folio 6 simply because of the aforementioned issue of not being able to put both her cellphone and sunglasses in the Folio.  The Folio 6 has 2 large pockets to solve this.

My wife did have some small issues with the Folio 5 though.  The handful of bags/purses she currently uses all have zippered openings.  That means she can’t zip the bags closed because the Folio attaches to the handle of the purses.

The Folio is not designed to hold loose change.  So she still has to carry her wallet in the bag to keep track of the change.  She also has literally dozens of credit/debit/gift cards in her wallet, along with old receipts, notes, business cards, etc.  The entire contents of her wallet can’t find inside the Folio, which is not really designed to do anyway.  The same goes with her makeup bag.  She has dozens of items in that makeup bag, all of which aren’t designed to fit inside the Folio.  You are only supposed to fit your most essential items in there.  So she found herself switching items in and out of the Folio quite a bit.

None of those things are deal-breakers for her, but they are worth noting.  And she would recommend the Folio 6 over the Folio 5 for sure.

What I like

  • Ease of use
  • Great price
  • Fits just about any bag/purse

What needs to be improved

  • The Folio 5 can’t hold both a cellphone and sunglasses at the same time
  • No loose change compartment
  • If your bag has a zipper, you probably won’t be able to zip it closed using the Folio

Final thoughts

My wife thinks that the best situation where the Folio shines is when she is traveling.  It is handy for daily use, for sure.  But it really shines when you are traveling because you normally minimize what you carry with you on trips anyway.  She also has to forgo zipping up her purse right now when she uses the Folio, which is a little inconvenient.  But she still recommends the Folio as a great gift for someone because of how handy it is.

Price: $29.00
Where to buy:  Bag Branch or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Brag Branch

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Bag Branch Folio 5 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 29, 2018 at 1:06 pm.

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LG V40 ThinQ smartphone review

REVIEW – It’s been a while since I reviewed an LG smartphone and the new LG V40 ThinQ is a good one to break that dry streak. This phone features 5 built-in cameras if you can believe that! If you’re asking yourself why anyone needs a phone with 5 cameras, you would be asking yourself the same question I did when this phone was first announced. Are 5 cameras better than 2 or 3 cameras which seems to be the norm these days? Let’s find out.

What is it?

The V40 ThinQ is a smartphone from LG that runs on Android v8.1 Oreo.

What’s in the box?

LG V40 ThinQ
Travel Adapter & USB Cable
Quick Reference Guide

Hardware specs

Processor: 2.8 GHz Octa-Core (Qualcomm®Snapdragon™SDM845)
Operating System: Android 8.1
Memory: Internal: 64 GB RAM: 6 GB, microSDXC support (up to 2 TB2)
Display: 6.4” QHD+ OLED FullVision™ Display 3120 x 1440, including notch
Network: CDMA, GSM, UMTS, LTE Frequencies: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA; GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; UMTS850/900/1900/2100 MHz; LTE Bands 2/3/4/5/7/13/20/28/46/66 Data Transmission: LTE, EVDO Rev
Camera (rear): 12MP Telephoto Zoom, 16MP Super Wide-Angle, 12MP Standard
Camera (front): 5MP Wide, 8MP Standard
Connectivity: Bluetooth: 5.0, 802.11 b/g/n/ac
Battery: 3,300 mAh Lithium Ion, quick charging and wireless charging compatible
Dimensions: 6.25H x 2.98W inches
Weight: 5.96 oz

Design and features

At first glance, the LG V40 ThinQ looks like all the other smartphones that are currently on the market. It has a display with a notch (love it or hate it) at the top and virtual buttons at the bottom of the display. There are no physical buttons on the front of the phone.

At the top of the phone are two front-facing cameras. One is the standard lens and another one is a wide angle lens so you can show more in your selfies.

Flip the phone over and you’ll be greeted with 3 camera lenses, an LED flash, and a fingerprint sensor.

The left side of the phone has individual volume buttons and a Bixby… I mean Google assistant button below it. And just like Samsung’s Bixby button, this button is kind of annoying. I always seem to press it by mistake when I’ve meant to press the volume buttons while in a call.

On the opposite side of the LG V40 ThinQ, you’ll find the power button and the SIM card tray.

The SIM card tray holds the SIM and a microSD card for expanding the phone’s file storage.

Along the bottom edge of the phone, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, a USB-C connector, and a speaker.

On the top edge, you will find another microphone.

The LG V40 ThinQ is a solid phone and didn’t cave in to my Gadgeteer squeeze test. Nope, no flexing, creaking, or cracking was observed.

Display

The V40 ThinQ has a bright, crisp display with vibrant colors. I have no complaints at all about the quality of the display and as far as the notch goes…

I think it’s time for people to get over the “stigma” of the notch. It’s here to stay folks, get used to it. I never really could understand why some people hate it in the first place. It doesn’t bother me in the least.

But if you’re someone who just can’t accept the notch, you can hide it by changing the color scheme of what LG is calling the “second screen” in the settings.

LG lets you squeeze as much info as possible on the display by allowing you to hide the virtual nav buttons at the bottom of the display. See that little dot on the left side of the nav bar? If you tap it twice…

You can see that the buttons are gone. Need to get them back? Just swipe up from the bottom of the display and tap the dot again.

The LG V40 ThinQ has of my “must have” features in a phone which is an always on display. What does that mean? It means that you can use your phone as your clock/watch because it displays the time of day and some notification icons on the screen when the phone is idle.

You can even customize the clock face style, add 2 clocks if you like to keep track of 2 time zones, or even add a picture. Turning on the always-on display feature will use more battery life, but I think it’s worth it.

Fingerprint scanner

My alien DNA must be getting weaker because the last few phones that I’ve tested with fingerprint scanners have all worked great for me. If you’ve been following my smartphone reviews over the years, you’ll remember that I had trouble using them until I bought the Pixel 2 XL. That seemed to be the turning point. Since then I’ve had really good luck with scanners. The one of the V40 ThinQ is placed in the perfect location – on the back of the phone, and it works consistently for me.

If you have probs with fingerprint scanners like I used to, you can always switch to typing a passcode, pattern, or even using face recognition which works without even pressing a button, just pick up the phone, look at it, and it will unlock. It’s a bit slower than the iPhone XS Max though.

Camera

More is always better right? That must be what LG was thinking when they decided to put 5 separate camera lenses in the V40 ThinQ. There are 3 camera lenses on the back and 2 on the front. Check out these sample pics using the standard lens on the back. Click to see the full-sized image.




I think the colors are true to life and the macro capability and sharpness really excite me.

I also love the wide angle and telephoto lenses. Here are some more samples.



I’m standing in the same location to take all 3 pics.



Same with the images above.

Then there are the front lenses.


By default, the built-in software softens your features because my skin isn’t that flawless in real life. You can also change settings to make your face look thinner. The software does do a decent job blurring the background for selfies.




You can also choose to change the style and color of the portrait background. The software does have a little trouble making a perfect cutout of your head sometimes. Check out the right side of my cheek in the first pic to see what I mean.

Software and user interface

LG has their own “skin” called UX 7.1 on top of Google’s stock Android user interface. The differences over stock Android Oreo interface aren’t too different though. There’s the virtual button hide feature we already talked about above, the ability to have scrolling home screens that list your apps instead of an app drawer.

You can also add a pop-out sidebar that can have a quick access panel of your favorite contacts, screen capture tools, media controller, and app shortcuts.

Audio quality

The LG’s down firing speaker sounds good when listening to music or watching videos without using headphones. Even at full volume, audio sounds clear and crisp.

Using the LG V40 ThinQ for phone calls

For the most part, I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls on the Verizon network with this phone except when I’m in the basement of my house. For some reason, this phone seems to have issues holding on to the cell signal down there and on several occasions, people have tried to call me and have gotten my voice mail.

As far as call audio quality, the volume level and clarity on both sides of conversations have been just fine.

Overall performance and battery life using the LG V40 ThinQ for day to day tasks

When it comes to performance, I think the LG V40 ThinQ does very well and felt comparable to other phones I’ve reviewed recently. That’s not a huge surprise since most phones are all running with the same Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 processor.

This phone has a 3300mAh battery that easily kept it running for a full work day of normal use and with wireless charging, it is convenient to keep it topped off. With my typical usage level, I had no problems with battery life.

What I like

  • Multiple camera lenses for wide angle, telephoto, etc.
  • Always on display
  • Headphone jack
  • Free 2nd year warranty

What needs to be improved

  • Runs on an older version of Android instead of the latest version

Final thoughts

I wasn’t sure what to expect with the LG V40 ThinQ, but I have to say that I’ve been impressed with this phone. It has every feature I want and need in my daily smartphone. It has snappy performance, good battery life, nice display, and an excellent camera(s) for the types of images I take. My only knock on this phone is that it didn’t come with Android v9 (Pie). But without the latest and greatest version of Android, I still think the LG V40 ThinQ is a great phone and one I would seriously consider if I were in the market to replace my current Android smartphone.

Price: $979.99
Where to buy: Verizon Wireless
Source: The loaner sample for this review was provided by Verizon Wireless.

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LG V40 ThinQ smartphone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 29, 2018 at 8:06 am.

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Tribit XBoom IPX7 Bluetooth speaker review

REVIEW – Tribit may not be the first name you think of for Bluetooth speakers, but that is beginning to change, based on several of their last few releases. I was sent their Xboom cylinder, a black, fabric-covered monolithic unit that stands 7” high and is 2.5” in diameter. With three prominent buttons stacked in the “+”, “O” and “-“ shapes that have become popular, it stands out by not standing out. You hear it, but don’t really notice it. And that’s a good thing, to me.

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

What is it?

So, the Xboom enters the crowded fray of being a Bluetooth speaker that will accept AUX connections from those few devices that still have headphone jacks. There are prominent speakers on both ends, but much of the sound also radiates from under grille mesh that surrounds the entire devices. I cannot tell by feel or listening just where that sound is coming out. The whole device just seems to radiate sound, which may be why they semi-permanently attached a 1.5” loop of plastic strapping to hang it on your handlebars, belt loop, pack, or whatever.

Hardware specs

  • Audio – Bluetooth version: V4.2
  • Waterproofing – IPX7 Completely Waterproof
  • Driver size – 2 x 45mm, 2 x Passive radiator
  • Output power – 2 x 12W
  • Battery –
    • Playtime: Up to 20 hours (varies by volume level and music files)
    • Charging time: 4 hours @ 5V/2A
    • Capacity: 3.7V, 5200mAh
  • Weight – 545g /19.2oz
  • Dimensions(H x W x D) – 68 x 180 x 68 mm /2.68 x7.09 x 2.68 in

What’s in the box?

  • Xboom speaker unit
  • Charging cable
  • Warranty/instructions

Design and features

The Xboom (I’m not even going to comment on the name, it’s so bad) from Tribit has a fabric outer layer that hides speakers that project sound in all directions. Rather than trying to tune it to be heard by rotating it around, the Xboom just projects sound all around. It’s hard to tell where the sound is coming from even when you put it up to your ear!

I enjoy listening to music, and while I rarely have it on at home, due to living with introverts, I like it loud enough to hear the details. Having spent time in many different ensembles in my years, I expect full-range sound with the limitations and characteristics of instruments audible: the hum of a guitar pickup when it’s clicked on, the click of a violinist tapping the stand with their bow while turning a page, a mute tapping the bell of a horn as it’s being inserted. These are the things that make music created by live, human musicians exciting to me. They’re the things that let me know this is not just some synthesized stuff but actually performed by real people. And the Xboom brings this out, amazingly so for a small relatively inexpensive speaker.

My Lovely Bride has still not fully accepted my Gadget habit. A box arrives, and her first thought (and often, first statement to me) is “Why do you need another gadget?” Especially when it’s something I already have more of than I can ever really use, like a backpack, battery pack, or today’s item, a Bluetooth speaker. I just smile and show her the item, and say “Whadda ya think?” and she knows I am after a non-gadgeteer’s viewpoint on first look, so she turns off her “Why did you buy that” alarm, and says “Nice. A little proud of those buttons, aren’t they?”

The rear of the column starts out with a soft-touch power button. A few inches of space later, there’s a dedicated Bluetooth button, and then a button to turn on the XBOOM bass boost. Below that is a flap-sealed set of ports: AUX and microUSB DC in.

Performance

I found the Xboom to be a solid performer with Spotify’s Acoustic Covers playlist, which has become my favorite Saturday jam. Vocals and all the various instruments come through clearly and accurately. Acoustic bass, mandolins, close-miked guitars are all crisp and well-defined. Give the cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” from Sarah Jarosz or Imagine Dragons covering Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” a try. There’s a lot of nuance in there, and reproducing it well is pretty tough. The XBoom matched any other speaker I have in the house for clarity.

What I Like

  • Waterproof (IPX7)
  • Solid, no soft spots on the case or in the sound projection
  • Hanging loop is large enough to actually use

What needs to be improved

  • Can’t think of anything

Final thoughts

The stakes in the Bluetooth speaker game are rising quickly. IPx7 weather- and dust-proofing have joined sealed charging and AUX ports, and now Bluetooth 5 as what it takes to be noticed. Not that I’m ever going to take my speaker into a meter of water for 30 minutes, but knowing that it can still survive makes me a bit less nervous around a pool, a pitcher of Margaritas, or on a picnic with impending thunderstorms. Another feature offered is linking with a second model of the same or similar type to form a stereo pair. (Note to those providing units for review – if this is important to you and you want it covered in reviews, you may need to start sending pairs of pair-able units to your reviewers.) At $70, however, this is one of the first units I’ve considered buying a second one of to pair with the one I have.

Price: $99.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tribit.

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Tribit XBoom IPX7 Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 28, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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