Home Reviews

Alexa in your car, Bellroy wallet, and more – Review updates

Do you ever wonder what happens after we review a product? Do we immediately stop using the product because it breaks? Or do we continue to use it for years and even decades? To answer those questions, we periodically like to update our past reviews with new information. Check out our latest review updates by clicking on the review links below and then scrolling to the bottom of the page to read the newest dated updates.

Speak Music Muse Alexa voice assistant review by Julie Strietelmeier

Optoma NuForce BE6 Bluetooth wireless headphones review by Andy Jacobs

Bellroy Note Sleeve wallet review by Andy Jacobs

ONOTONE Concrete and Bamboo iPhone X Case review by Ryan Pagel

SOLGAARD Lifepack: The Carry-On Closet review by Ryan Pagel

Albert Clock review: Improves your math skills and looks cool by Ryan Pagel

The post Alexa in your car, Bellroy wallet, and more – Review updates appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Alexa in your car, Bellroy wallet, and more – Review updates originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 28, 2018 at 12:15 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Colonel Littleton No. 30 Leather Composition Journal review

OK, we’re definitely going old school on this review. The Colonel Littleton No. 30 Leather Composition Journal doesn’t have any chips, batteries, buttons, etc…it doesn’t even protect or carry tech. This journal is meant to capture your thoughts, dreams, notes, todos by putting pen to paper. Over the years, I have attempted (and failed for the most part) to write down what’s going thru my mind or take better notes when need be, hopefully a closer look at the Colonel’s latest creation will help me get that done.

What is it?

The No. 30 Composition Journal is a leather book cover, designed to hold Colonel Littleton’s journal register paper insert. The exterior is made from polished, full grain leather with a timeless, Old World style and functionality to it, meant to hold and protect the notepad (and what’s written) within. 

According to Colonel Littleton –

The leather composition journal has been around since the mid-1800s or thereabouts.  Even with a proliferation of electronic devices, its popularity and relevance endures.

Funny thing is, my 20-something nieces have preferred to read real books (vs ebooks) and take notes on an actual pad of paper their entire lives. I’ve dogged them a bit over the years but they continue, even into adulthood, to prefer the feel of flipping the pages and putting pen to paper. My point is, the Colonel is spot on and this sort of classic design and functionality spans the test of time, generations, and technological progress.

Design and features

The journal is made of thick, well-finished leather that is not only gorgeous but durable enough to last decades of use. The No. 30 Composition Journal is created for executives, writers, journalers, educators, students, note takers, list makers, etc. Really anyone who wants to memorialize something in real life vs virtual zeros and ones. The leather notebook measures 10.5” H x 8” W and opens vertically. There are insert pockets on both sides that hold the front and back cover of the writing journal securely in place.

The leather pieces are sewn together using high-quality thread that is finely stitched. The spine is reinforced with an extra piece of leather for greater strength and added style.

The inside cover has slipper pockets meant for business cards and pens. Both slipper pockets are initially very tight and take a bit of force to get the cards and pen inserted, but should loosen with time and use.

The Colonel Littleton composition journal has dedicated space for date, owner information, and subject on the inside cover, enabling you to chronicle/organize each notebook when filled. The journal is lined and is meant to be written on both sides of each sheet of paper.

The Colonel includes a wood pencil and brass paper clip to truly round out the Old World functionality of the journal.  In addition to the (very lose-able) brass paperclip, the No. 30 journal has two integrated leather bookmarks for saving locations within the notebook.

Specifications:

  • Leather Composition Journal Overall Dimensions 10.5” H x 8” W (Closed)
  • Journal Register Paper Insert 9.75” H x 7.38” W x 0.5″ D (Closed)
  • Left and Right Journal Insert Pockets (hold writing journal secure) 10″ H x 3.25″ W
  • Business Card Pocket 3.5” H x 2.25” W (Inside dimensions)
  • Pen Pocket 4.25” H x 2.25” W (Inside dimensions)

Material quality and craftsmanship:

Like all of the Colonel’s products, the journal’s craftsmanship and attention to detail is second to none. It is definitely eye-catching with an Old World charm that truly stands out. The front of the journal has a riveted brass plate where your initials can be engraved. The back has the Colonel Littleton logo embossed into the leather. The edges are all stitched for strength and well finished. The black with brown trim version of the No. 30 journal has opposing thread color which really gives it a nice touch.

The No. 30 Leather Composition Journal is handmade in Colonel Littleton’s leather workshop in Lynnville, TN. It is available in vintage brown, saddle tan with brown trim, black with brown trim, American alligator, and American buffalo.

Colonel Littleton designs his products to last a very long time. He stamps each one with a single word: *warranted* and backs that promise up. I use my 1943 Navigator bag almost every day and it’s definitely aging very well. But when one of the brass clips failed, his crew didn’t bat an eye when I asked if it could be repaired. My point is, that it’s nice to know that in our disposable society there are still those who create things meant to last a lifetime and backs that up without hassle or BS.

Positives

  • Handmade from thick, supple leather
  • Excellent Old World craftsmanship & functionality
  • Comfortable to carry from meeting to meeting
  • Captures your thoughts, ideas, notes, todos, etc.
  • Great warranty

Negatives

  • Expensive

Final thoughts

As I have gotten older my memory has gone to cr@p, so I have been haphazardly writing things down more and taking better notes when I think to do so. Though I typically do this on scrap paper and old business cards I find in my wallet, most of which I sadly misplace or worse yet, loose. I hate to say it, I need to be more diligent and systematic about upping my game on this front. The Colonel’s No. 30 leather composition journal is an excellent and stylish was to make that happen.

Price: $137.50
Where to buy: Colonel Littleton.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Colonel Littleton.

The post Colonel Littleton No. 30 Leather Composition Journal review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: ,

Colonel Littleton No. 30 Leather Composition Journal review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 28, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

VogDUO 30W Wall Charger review

Since every gadget that I own requires charging, it sometimes becomes a challenge to get everything plugged up.  And I am sure that you have struggled, as I have, with keeping all the cables in check and organized on your desk.  I have used charging hubs for years that sit on my desk or bedside table, but many of those take up too much space or look ugly, or both.  I have also used numerous wall chargers that have multiple power plugs or USB plugs, but they are usually bulky and are hard to use when behind a piece of furniture.  With the VogDUO 30W wall charger, I believe I have found the solution to some of my problems!  And at a price of $39.99, it won’t break the bank.

What is it?

A thin 3-port USB wall charger that is only .5 inches thin and rotates up to 270 degrees therefore giving you several options of orientation to plug up your USB devices.

Hardware specs

Model: SPC001
Charging capacity: 6A (30W) output allowing you to charge up to 3 USB devices at the same time.
Input: AC 100-240V
Output: DC 5V 6A
Size:  Approx. 2.4 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall by .5 inches thick
Weight: 3.0 oz
Safety: UL and FCC certified to protect against over current, over voltage, & over temperature.

What’s in the box with the VogDUO?

Just the VogDUO wall charger and a small pamphlet of instructions.

Design and function

The real beauty of the VogDUO wall charger is how it swivels the built-in standard electrical plug to either fold inside the case when you are transporting it somewhere.  And that built-in plug then folds out and rotates a full 270 degrees to allow you to fold it flat against a wall when plugged up behind your desk, either with the USB plugs coming in from the top or up from the bottom.  Let’s look at some pictures of it plugged up to see what I am talking about.

I do not use a power strip at home, so I grabbed one of VogDUO’s pictures to show the real convenience when using the VogDUO with a power strip.

Image by VogDUO
Image by VogDUO

With the full 2A of output for each USB plug, it was able to charge all my gadgets, including our tablets, at normal or fast charging speeds just as if it was plugged up directly to a wall outlet.  It performed great and never got hot like some chargers.

But like any gadget, it’s not perfect.  Like any wall charger, if you plug it up behind a piece of furniture, you’ll struggle to plug and unplug your USB cables because it sits flush to the wall.  It also doesn’t have USB-C plugs, so as the gadget world moves toward that standard, this device will fall out of favor, although I imagine VogDUO is already working to address that.

Positives

  • Great price
  • Elegant design
  • Easy to store and transport

Negatives

  • No USB-C outlets means newer USB-C gadgets are out of luck.
  • Does not come with USB cables, but then again, not many gadgets do anymore
  • When used behind furniture, it is awkward plugging up the cable into the VogDUO

Final thoughts

The elegant design, ease of use and functionality, and portability make this gadget a must-have for anyone who struggles with the cable mess that comes with multiple gadgets.  I highly recommend you get one.  Or two!

Price: $39.99
Where to buy:  Amazon or VogDUO
Source: The sample of this product was provided by VogDUO

The post VogDUO 30W Wall Charger review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

VogDUO 30W Wall Charger review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 27, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Toffee Berlin Backpack review

Continuing on my recent quest for the perfect backpack, I recently asked to review the Toffee Berlin Backpack. Eighteen months ago, I reviewed the Toffee Centennial pack, a red all-canvas model that I carried for a while. One day, my oldest came by the house and proclaimed it “too girlie” for her dad, and absconded with it. I’m not sure if that was just a ploy to get a new bag, but I’ve gone through several possible replacements in the intervening months. This is but the latest.

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

What is it?

The Berlin is billed as an Urban backpack and is shown in very masculine settings, and is listed in the “For Men” section of Toffee’s website. (For what it’s worth, the Centennial also shows up under the “For Men” section. I’m so confused….)

Design and features

The Berlin is a waxed canvas bag with a covered zipper, leather accents, and nicely padded shoulder straps. There is a generous double-thickness leather haul loop stitched and sealed and sewn into the center of each back strap. Inside are two pockets for laptop/tablet, sewn into the back and lifted slightly from the bottom of the bag for drop protection. The tablet pocket on the front of the laptop pocket can hold an iPad Air without a cover of any type, but it’s tight. A mini will fit easier. The laptop pocket holds a 12” laptop nicely and a 13”-er in a pinch. My iPad Pro 12” fits with a bit of extra space, but not enough to also fit my 10.5” one. Fortunately, the rest of the single inner compartment is roomy enough for my Freudian Slip, K811 keyboard, and the smaller iPad Pro without too much compromise.

Hardware specs

Here are the specs as laid out on the website:

  • Water-resistant waxed canvas and genuine leather
  • Leather side pockets to hold a water bottle or coffee in a can
  • Padded laptop compartment, separate tablet compartment
  • Reinforced base with metal feet, durable YKK metal main zip
  • Outer Fabric: 100% waxed cotton canvas, and genuine leather
  • Side pockets: 100% genuine naturally milled leather with a subtle pebble grain
  • Lining: 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex
  • Bag Size: 260 mm/11.4 inches (L), 410 mm/15.3 inches (H), 14 cm/5.5 inches (W)
  • Compatible With: MacBook Air/Pro, Surface Pro 3 & 4 and other similar sized notebooks up to 13-inch.

The only difference I can find between the Berlin model and the earlier reviewed model is the front handle from the Centennial is missing from the Berlin and the leather side pockets. The yoke where the straps converge at the top has a leather reinforcing patch on the Berlin, where it’s the regular canvas on the Centennial. I don’t think that’s enough of a difference to worry about. The interior is the same mattress-ticking cotton/spandex blend, there is ample padding around all sides of the laptop compartment except the top edge, the tablet pocket is sewn onto the laptop pocket so that it is well above the bottom of the bag for shock absorption. The YKK zippers are made from the same odd non-brass material that doesn’t quite slide easily. (Aluminum? Zinc? I can’t tell. But it doesn’t polish up and wear to get smoother, that’s for sure.)


The straps are leather and canvas and sewn into the top structure of the bag very well. The adjustment is easy to reach when wearing, but it slides the opposite way most of my other bags do. Since the straps are all one piece, there’s no buckle at the end of the padded area of the strap. Instead, it continues down the pack, then loops back to the center of the buckle. To loosen the strap, you grab the buckle and pull it down, in the same motion that tightens other straps. To tighten, you pull the buckle up, just like loosening up other straps. Strange, but no big deal. Your muscle memory soon works it out.


As for weather resistance – I’m glad the waxed canvas is there, as much of our spring and fall weather is misty and drizzly in the mornings. With no weather seal on the large-toothed zippers, however, I’d make sure to get under cover in the event of a downpour.

What I Like

  • Leather side panels add a sharp look.
  • Well-sewn with quality materials (except that zipper!)
  • Good padding and sewn-in pockets for laptop and tablet.
  • Enough room for headphones, crusher hat, or other slightly bulky items.

What needs to be improved

  • The main zipper is a really horrible experience.
  • The side and front pockets are so tight as to be unusable.

Final thoughts

The Berlin, which is available in Black (shown), Olive, and a Royal Blue, is a fine-looking backpack, that will easily hold a 12” laptop, a standard or large-sized iPad Pro, and the basics of a daily commute. Leather accents permit it access to a little better level than most backpacks, but it’s still a backpack.

Price: $149.95
Where to buy: Toffee or Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Toffee.

The post Toffee Berlin Backpack review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged:

Toffee Berlin Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 26, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Pixel 2 XL review

I’ve been using a Pixel 2 XL Android smartphone for the past 5 months and have yet to write a review about it even though it has swiftly become one of my all-time favorite Android phones. Does that mean it’s the perfect Android smartphone? Nope, not even close. But right now it’s perfect for me and that’s what counts. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Pixel 2 XL is Google’s flagship Android smartphone which is powered by a stock version of Android version 8 otherwise known as Oreo.

Hardware specifications

Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835
Operating System: Android 8.0.0 (Oreo)
Memory: 4GB RAM, Storage 64GB or 128GB
Display: 6in 2880 x 1440 pixels, 538ppi pOLED Display, 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Network: Carrier unlocked
4G LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B20/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B66
TD-LTE Bands: 38/40/41
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
CDMA EVDO Rev A: BC0/BC1/BC10
Supports up to CAT 15 (800Mbps DL / 75Mbps UL), 3x DL CA, 4×4 MIMO, 256-QAM DL and 64-QAM UL depending on carrier support
Camera (rear): 12.2MP, f/1.8
Camera (front): 8MP
Connectivity: Bluetooth: BT5.0+LE
WiFi: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
NFC: yes
Positioning: GPS/Glonass
Battery: 3520 mAh
Dimensions: 6.2 x 3.0 x 0.3 in (157.9 X 76.4 X 7.9 mm)
Weight: 6.2 oz (175 grams)
Water and Dust Resistant IP67 under IEC standard 60529

What’s in the box

Pixel 2 XL
USB-C 18W charging plug
USB-C to USB-C cable
USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter
Quick start guide
Quick switch adapter

Design and features

Google sells 2 sizes of the Pixel 2. I decided to buy the Pixel 2 XL because I was moving on from a Nexus 6p so I was already used to carrying a phablet-sized phone.

As far as first impressions go, the Pixel 2 XL looks like most other larger phones. It’s rectangular with rounded corners, has no buttons on the front, and has slim bezels on the edges. The Pixel 2 XL doesn’t have a bezel-less display like the iPhone X or the Essential Phone. But it’s close enough for me.

Other than the display, the only other things on the front of the Pixel 2 XL are the front firing speakers.

When you flip the Pixel over, you’ll find a glass section at the top where the camera and LED flash are located. Below that is the fingerprint scanner which is surrounded by a smooth matte finish and a Google G logo at the bottom. I like the matte finish on the back of the Pixel because it adds some grip and it hides fingerprints and smudges.

You’ll find the SIM card slot on the left side of the phone and on the right side you’ll find the power button and one-piece volume button. On the top edge of the phone is a microphone and the USB-C charging port is on the bottom edge.

In hand, the Pixel 2 XL feels solid. It’s neither lightweight or heavy. I think it’s just right. A quick squeeze and a shake reveal no flexing or rattles. But, squeezing the sides towards the bottom of the phone triggers the Google Assistant to do your bidding. More on that later.

Display

Soon after the Pixel 2 phones were available, people began reporting about problems with the displays having a blueish tint when not viewed straight on. Other complaints about the display included problems with the touch screen being insensitive on the edges, muted colors, and burn in issues.

When I read about these supposed defects, I obviously became concerned that I had purchased a dud phone. But I’d already been using my Pixel 2 XL for a few days before reading about these problems which I had not noticed on my own unit. Once I read about the blue tint issue, I checked my phone and I definitely saw what they were talking about. Did it make me mad or consider returning my phone since I was still within the return window? No, it didn’t. I had not noticed the problem until it was pointed out to me and even after I saw the issue with my own eyes, I didn’t really care because I don’t use my phone with the screen tilted away from me. I look at it straight on and in that orientation, the screen looks fine to me.

As for the issues with the touchscreen not registering taps on the edges, muted colors, and burn in, I haven’t noticed the touch screen sensitivity issue or burn in issue with my phone so I can’t comment on them. But if I’d had these problems it would have really annoyed me and I would have returned the phone immediately.

I didn’t really notice the muted color issue until it was pointed out. But Google released a fix for that so it’s a non-issue now.

However, there is one issue with the Pixel 2 XL display that I’ve noticed but haven’t read much about… My Pixel 2 XL screen has picked up a LOT of fine scratches in the last couple of months. It seemed like the scratches magically appeared several months after I got the phone. I should mention that I do not use screen protectors on my phone because I don’t like the feel of the edge of the glass protectors on a curved screen like the Pixel 2’s screen.

The scratches on my screen aren’t immediately noticeable. Y0u have to tilt the phone to see them in certain lighting conditions. Seeing them made my stomach drop but I shrugged it off figuring that the phone is a tool and “stuff” happens to tools. As long as the camera lens doesn’t suffer the same fate (and it’s fine so far), I can deal with it.

Fingerprint reader

If you’ve read my phone reviews, you may remember that I like to gripe about how much trouble I have with fingerprint sensors. They just don’t work for me for longer than a day or two. I’d resigned myself to live with this tragic issue until the Pixel 2 XL came into my life. I half-heartedly set up the fingerprint reader with the index fingers of both hands and figured it would stop working soon thereafter. I was wrong. I’ve not had to reprogram my prints yet. The sensor on the Pixel 2 XL works every single time and it works fast. To say that it makes me happy that I can unlock my phone by touching the sensor on the back is an understatement. I feel like I’ve finally been let into a club for the cool kids now 🙂

In all seriousness, being able to easily unlock my phone without drawing a pattern or tapping a 4-digit pin number is wonderful. I thought the Pixel 2 XL was the only phone in the world with a fingerprint sensor that would work with my alien prints, but when I recently had the opportunity to review the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, it also worked great. But then I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S9 and I was back to same old problems.

Camera

The Pixel 2 XL’s camera is excellent. It’s so good that I ended up selling my Canon 70D DSLR and have been using my Pixel 2 XL as my primary and only camera. I use it for day to day snaps and for all my product photography for my reviews.

Here are some sample images that have not been edited in any way.















I’m very happy with the Pixel 2 XL’s camera and the only way it could be better would be an ultra-fast snap option likeHuaweiauwei Mate 10 Pro.

Audio quality

The Pixel’s front firing speakers sound good when listening to music or watching videos without using headphones. Even at full volume, audio sounds clear and crisp. I do wish the bass was a bit stronger, but I rarely if ever listen to music or watch videos listening to the sound through the built-in speakers so I don’t find this a big deal.

Using the Pixel 2 XL for phone calls

So far I’ve had no issues making and receiving calls on the T-mobile network with this phone. The volume level and clarity on both sides of conversations have been just fine.

Software and user interface

Google’s Pixel phones have stock Android, so you don’t have to waste space with a bunch of apps that the carriers load that you will never use or special skins that you may or may not like that enhance the user interface.

There are advantages to buying a Pixel that other phones don’t have.

  1. OS updates faster than other phones
  2. Google promises security updates for at least the next 3 years
  3. Free unlimited full resolution photo storage to the Google cloud until 2020.

The Pixel 2 does have a feature that isn’t stock and that other Android phones don’t have. It’s the Active Edge feature that launches the Google Assistant when you squeeze the lower half of the phone. When I first heard about the feature, I thought it sounded silly. But I’ve actually grown to really like it once I tuned in the sensitivity level.

In addition to launching Google Assistant, the Active Edge feature can be used to silence alarms, timers, and incoming calls. I wish you could also customize it to launch the camera app and take a picture which would be a great use for it.

Overall performance and battery life using the Pixel 2 XL for day to day tasks

This phone has a 3520mAh battery that keeps it running for a full work day of normal use. It’s a shame that the Pixel 2 doesn’t have wireless charging, but battery levels are topped off pretty quickly when connected to power. I don’t have a power cable near my bed, so I don’t charge it throughout the night. I’ve yet to have it run out of power by morning, although I do charge it as soon as I get to work.

As far as performance, I think the Pixel 2 XL does very well. It might not feel quite a fast as the latest phones that I’ve reviewed, but the difference is negligible.

What I like

  • Great camera
  • Fast fingerprint sensor
  • Stock Android, no bloatware
  • 2-year warranty and 3 years of security updates

What needs to be improved

  • Screen scratches too easily
  • Price
  • Needs HDMI out from USB-C port

Final thoughts

As I already stated at the beginning of this review, the Pixel 2 XL has become one of my all-time favorite Android phones. Although it doesn’t have a micro SD card slot, Qi charging, or HDMI out, it’s yet to disappoint me with day to day performance. I’ve reviewed several phones since buying the Pixel 2 XL and I’ve yet to feel the need to replace this phone. It’s become a dependable workhorse for me and I look forward to seeing what features gen 3 brings to the Pixel later this year.

Price: $849.00 – $949.00
Where to buy: Google and Amazon
Source: The product for this review was purchased with my own funds.

The post Pixel 2 XL review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Featured Items, Reviews

Tagged: , , ,

Pixel 2 XL review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 25, 2018 at 2:23 pm.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.