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totallee $29 thin leather iPhone X case review

Even though I had many high end iPhone 7 cases to choose from, the case that protected my smartphone the longest in 2017 was the totallee $29 thin leather iPhone 7 case. I found its simple, minimalistic design perfect for protecting my iPhone from minor bumps and scrapes without taking anything away from the look and feel of the device itself. So, when I decided I was going to upgrade to the iPhone X, I immediately checked to see if totallee was planning on creating a similar case for Apple’s latest & greatest. Thankfully they have and sent one my way for us to check out. 

Truth be told when you pull the totallee case out of its packaging it doesn’t really impress. Not at all actually… It feels very thin, plasticky, and flimsy. But once you insert your iPhone X into the case, it takes on a whole new personality. The totallee case feels great on the phone, adding grippability and protection without any added weight or bulk to the sleek and slim device.

The case itself is made from polypropylene and is a mere 0.02″ thick, weighing in at 0.1 oz. The totallee leather iPhone case features an ultra-thin lambskin leather backing that is inset into the plastic. The case is perfectly fitted for the iPhone X, having a very tight fit with zero gaps whatsoever. totallee’s goal is to: keep your iPhone looking like an iPhone.

The totallee case perfectly wraps around all sides of the X but does not extend above the screen. Which I actually prefer in a case so your thumb and fingers can flow/swipe on & off the screen without bumping into any edging. The case works well with a screen protector, as seen installed in this pic.

This case snaps-on the smartphone and covers/protects nearly all of the iPhone’s sides and back. Instead of push-throughs, the totallee case has well-fitted cutouts that allow access to the iPhone’s mute, volume, and power buttons. The buttons themselves are slightly recessed but are easily pressed when desired.

The case covers the entire top of the iPhone. The X’s camera bump is perfectly flush with the case.

The right side has a single cutout for the Siri/Apple Pay/power button.

The totallee case has a cutout for the lightning connector and speaker holes on its base.

totallee backs their cases with a hassle-free, 2-year warranty.

Like its siblings, the totallee $29 thin leather iPhone X case is great minimalistic protection for the latest and greatest iPhone on the market. This case adds little bulk or weight to your smartphone while providing decent protection from bumps, nicks, or scrapes. Though it wouldn’t add much drop or impact protection. The totallee case does not interfere with the iPhone X’s ability to wirelessly charge. Just like its predecessor: The totallee thin leather iPhone case is well made/engineered from solid materials, designed to keep your iPhone looking and feeling as Apple intended while adding grippability and protecting it from the outside world.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by totallee. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order one at a substantial discount.

 

Product Information

Price: $29
Manufacturer: totallee
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • iPhone X
Pros:
  • Excellent minimalistic design
  • Solid materials
  • Perfect fit
  • Protection from nicks, scrapes, bumps
  • Great value
  • Hassle-free, 2-year warranty
Cons:
  • None

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totallee $29 thin leather iPhone X case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 5, 2017 at 11:48 am.

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Trayvax Element Old Glory Brand wallet review

The Trayvax Element Old Glory wallet is for the person who wants to make a statement with the wallet’s unique form and function shape.  And its guaranteed to get a few stares and a few comments.
On the outside of this Tobacco Brown wallet, there is an American flag branded onto the side flap which covers the money clip on the inside. It is made of a very nice top grain oil tanned leather that looks and feels durable. The wallet is accented by a MIL-SPEC paracord trim along one side of the wallet.
One of the first things I noticed when I opened the box was the aroma of the leather itself. Something about fine quality leather has that certain smell to it.
On the inside of the wallet is a black solid stainless steel metal frame, with a durable Melonite finish, in which the leather exterior wraps around to compliment the wallet shape. On the metal frame is a bottle opener in case you need it.
I personally never used the built-in bottle opener on anything even though I own a belt and a pair of Reef flip-flops that have a built-in bottle opener on them. But I suppose if you find yourself in need of a bottle opener then having the Trayvax wallet would be very handy to have with you. Plus, the metal frame makes the wallet RFID resistant so it helps to protect from radio waves and identity theft.
The Trayvax is 4.5″ inches long, 2.8″ inches wide, and 1.5″ inches thick. And it weighs in at 5 ounces.
 Along one edge of the metal frame are grooved notches for a better grip of the wallet. And at the top of the wallets frame is a small eyelet opening where you can attach your keyring or Trayvax’s own Keyton Clip-Carabiner Keychain.  The Keyton Clip is an optional accessory for the Element wallet that you attach to the wallet and clip to your belt loop to keep the wallet secured to your hip or you can clip it almost anywhere.
 Although the Trayvax website states that this wallet can hold between 3 to 10 cards I was skeptical at first to believe that this wallet could hold that many cards.  When you first unbox the wallet you will see how thin the wallet initially is and you’ll wonder how exactly you’ll get more than 2 credit cards in there.  Apparently, there is a little method to do before you can carry all those cards. According to the instructions, you must first insert several cards into the Trayvax wallet and then soak the wallet with the cards in it for 10 minutes. This will not only stretch out the wallets leather material but will also keep its shape after the wallet dries.
 Surprisingly, the soaking and drying of the wallet did allow the leather to stretch and maintain the shape to accommodate several cards, drivers license, insurance card, business cards and some cash.  An added bonus is that the color of the leather darkened and now it looks a little worn in and not so new. Kind of like a favorite pair of jeans that fit just right after one or two washes. It has a whole new look to it.
 Because of the size of the wallet, it can fit comfortably in your back pocket and just as comfortable in your front pocket. I tend to carry my wallet in my back pocket and then if I know I have to sit for a long period of time I switch my wallet into my front pocket.  I do this because I don’t want sit lopsided which can cause my lower back to ache if I sit unevenly too long.
 At first, I was concerned about the metal part that protruded from the end of the wallet getting in the way or at least be uncomfortable in my pocket but it wasn’t like that at all.
Sitting with the wallet in my back pocket wasn’t cumbersome as long as you remember to keep the metal end pointing out of your pocket rather than pointing down. Having the Trayvax in your back pocket feels like a regular leather wallet.
The overall size of the wallet fit generously in both the front and back pocket of my jeans.
On one side of the wallet is a small opening that allows you to slide a card upwards with your finger to retrieve the cards in the wallet. With only about 6 cards I had inside the wallet, sliding a card up did take some effort. It wasn’t terribly difficult but with that many cards, it should be expected. Makes me wonder how it would be if I had one or two more cards jammed in the wallet. Under the flap, where the money clip is located,  it is very easy to insert and retrieve cash that you place there. The flap helps keeps the cash in place and the strap keeps the flap shut.
 This wallet is a pretty cool leather minimalist wallet that can fit in your back or front pocket. And be prepared to be at the register a little longer when you pull this wallet out to retrieve your debit card, credit card or cash when you make your payment. You will definitely get a few “oohs” and “ahs”, polite inquiries, or some light conversation about this Trayvax Element leather wallet. So, while you are making your payment, don’t be surprised if someone pays you a compliment.
Trayvax also sent along their wallet comb, the Shift. It’s a Dual-Sided Stainless Steel Comb about the size of a credit card and is about as thick as one. The Shift has can be carried in the Element wallet as well since it will fit inside the wallet. It has comb teeth on opposite sides of each other. One side is a fine tooth comb and the other side is a wide tooth comb. The Shift is not only intended for combing the hair on your head but can be used for beards as well. I must say I gave it a try and it actually works like a regular comb. I didn’t think it would make a difference but the Shift worked well if not better than other combs I have used. The Shift is very well made and constructed, and yes, it has a bottle opener on it too. Why? Why not.
The Trayvax Element wallet and the Shift stainless steel comb are both made in USA and come with a Trayvax 65-year Heirloom Warranty.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $89.99
Manufacturer: Trayvax
Pros:
  • Quality made product.
  • RFID resistant.
  • Tough top grain leather.
  • Can hold several cards.
  • Built-in bottle opener.
  • Secure snap button and strap.
Cons:
  • Metal frame could hurt if sat on too hard.
  • Too many cards make sliding difficult.

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Trayvax Element Old Glory Brand wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 5, 2017 at 10:30 am.

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QICENT 10 Port USB Hub review

The 10 port USB hub from QICENT is pretty self-explanatory.  After receiving this sample to review, the particular model that I received is no longer available for sale on Amazon or anywhere else that I could find for that matter.  Other offerings from QICENT are similar and can be found on Amazon but this particular model seems to have disappeared. 

Overall the device works as advertised.  It plugs into a single USB on your computer or docking station and also a wall power outlet and provides 10 USB ports and an additional 2 charging ports, which provide rapid charging but no data transfer.

The model I received has a plastic body rather than the aluminum that is offered on other models.  The plastic body makes the port feel very cheap and not worth the $30 (this is an approximation since it is no longer available) it was being offered for on Amazon.  If you are looking for an expansion hub, I would highly recommend buying one with an aluminum body.  Overall this device does what it is designed for.  It will connect up to 10 USB devices like external hard drives, thumb drives, phones, etc. to your computer simultaneously while also charging two other devices.  It has an attractive look, the USB ports are spaced appropriately so you can actually fit plugs or thumb drives into neighboring ports and the cables provided are long enough to reach your power outlet and computer even if they are not right next to them.  There are also indicator lights that light up when a device is plugged in, telling you that the device recognizes your USB and data/power is being transferred.

Overall I would not recommend this particular model, which doesn’t appear to matter since it seems to now be unavailable.  The cheap feeling of the body just makes it feel like it should be sold for <$10.  Because it does accomplish the single goal that justifies its existence, I would recommend checking out the aluminum body versions of their different hubs.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by QICENT.  USB hubs from QICENT similar to this can be found on Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price:
Manufacturer: QICENT
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Clean aesthetics, plenty of ports for data transfer, 2 additional ports for rapid charging.
Cons:
  • Overpriced for a cheap feeling plastic body.

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QICENT 10 Port USB Hub review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 4, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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OROS Discovery jackets review

Like flipping a switch on a lamp, it’s turned from summer in the 90’s to what already feels like winter in the 30’s here in Southern Indiana. When the leaves start turning and the mornings get crisp, it’s time to grab a jacket. OROS apparel sent me some jackets and outerwear to check out that use the same technology that protects astronauts in space to keep you warm on earth without weighing you down. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

OROS jackets use a thin breathable insulating aerogel material called SolarCore which uses the same technology that NASA uses to keep astronauts warm and toasty in outer space.

OROS sent me two jackets and a pullover shirt let’s take a closer look at each one.

OROS Women’s Essential Quarter Zip

When OROS sent me the samples in September, it was still in the 80’s – 90’s here in Columbus, Indiana. It took a few weeks for the weather to cooperate enough so that I actually wanted to try on the gear for more than a few minutes at a time.

The lightest item that they sent me was the Women’s Essential Quarter Zip which is more like a shirt than a jacket and is perfect for 60-degree weather, drafty office buildings, or even on flights. That is is how I tested the Essential Quarter Zip a week ago. It was the only long-sleeved clothing that I took with me on a vacation to Sanibel Island Florida.

I always get a little chilled waiting at the airport gate and also on the plane, so this shirt was a perfect remedy for that. You can see that Jeanne is wearing a bulkier hoodie and I am wearing the Essential Quarter Zip which is much lighter but still kept me warm.

Just looking at the shirt, you wouldn’t notice that there’s anything special about it. It looks like an ordinary gray knit shirt. But it has a special layer of the SolarCore material between the front and the back panels of the shirt, and even around the neck. Note that the sleeves and side rib areas of the shirt do not have SolarCore.

The shirt feels heavenly to wear. The sleeves are silky smooth and feel like they are lined with microfleece inside even though they really aren’t.

The Essential is made of 88% polyester and 12% spandex. It only comes in the gray color that you see here in sizes XS to 2XL. Their sizing might run slightly large. I was sent a Medium and I think I would have been better served by a Small.

The shirt has a quarter zip nylon locking zipper at the neck and the collar has a flap that covers the top of the zipper to prevent it from rubbing your neck or chin if you like to wear it completely zipped up.

In the image above you can see the OROS logo on the left shoulder. There’s also a second logo on the back right hip.

Another feature of the Essential Quarter Zip is the thumb hole in each sleeve cuff that makes it easy to keep the sleeves from sliding up your arms if you put another layer over the Essential.

I wondered how the SolarCore material would stand up to being washed, so I ran the shirt through the washer and dryer. I’m happy to report that it came out looking and feeling no different than when I first unboxed it.

The OROS Essential Quarter Zip saved me when we came home from Florida and got off the plane in Indianapolis to 35 degrees and rain. I hadn’t been smart enough to bring a coat with me would have frozen if it hadn’t been for this shirt.

Price: $120.00

OROS Women’s Discovery Fleece

The next heaviest jacket that OROS sent me is their Discovery Fleece which is available sizes XS up to 2XL and in Charcoal, Green, and Reflecting Pond colors. No, I didn’t name that color which is blue 😉 I was sent the Charcoal version.

The Discovery Fleece is made of 100% polyester with a 100% nylon lining.

The jacket has a stand-up collar and a nylon zipper with a large easy to grab zipper pull.

There are two pockets on either hip that have small zipper pulls.

The image above shows one of my favorite features of this jacket. Can you guess what it is? It’s the longer waistband in the back. It really helps keep your lower back warmer.

Like the Essential Quarter Zip, the Discovery Fleece also has SolarCore on the front and back. The sleeves and side rib area of the jacket do not have SolarCore which keeps the jacket lightweight and comfortable.

I really like the OROS Discovery Fleece multi-season jacket. It has a nice understated look, is very comfortable, and will keep me warm in the spring and fall temps.

Price: $150.00

OROS Women’s Discovery Jacket

The Discovery Jacket is the heaviest jacket of the trio. It is designed to be versatile and to withstand various cold, wind, rain weather conditions. The jacket is available in black, green (what you see here), and gray. It’s made of 90% polyester/10% spandex and has a 100% nylon lining.

The exterior of the jacket has a water repellant coating and there’s a hood to keep your non-water repellant coated head dry. Note that the hood is not removable and does not have drawstrings.

The jacket has a tall collar that’s lined in a silky short pile “fur”.

The sleeves have an extended knit cuff that keeps the wind from blowing up your arms. This jacket also has a longer hem at the bottom like the Discovery Fleece jacket.

OROS put an inspirational quote inside the lining of the jacket that says:

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.

Although I didn’t show an image, this same quote is printed inside the Discovery Fleece jacket too.

In addition to the zippered pocket at each hip, there’s a zippered chest pocket inside the jacket that is large enough to hold a phone, sunglasses, wallet, etc.

The OROS Discovery Jacket not only looks nice, but it’s comfortable to wear, moves well, and really keeps you warm with the SolarCore thermal material.

Price: $215.00

Final thoughts

I’d never heard of the OROS brand before being offered the chance to review the Essential Quarter Zip pullover, Discovery Fleece, and Discovery Jackets. Now I can say that they are quality made outerwear that will make you look and feel good while wearing them.

I’ll update this review in a month or two after we’ve had temps in the 20’s and lower.

Source: The samples for this review was provided by OROS. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: See above
Manufacturer: OROS
Pros:
  • Very comfortable
  • SolarCore insulating material does a good job of holding in heat while remaining thin
Cons:
  • Essential Quarter Zip is expensive

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OROS Discovery jackets review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 3, 2017 at 12:00 pm.

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Chamberlain MyQ Wi-Fi hub and Home Bridge Review

If your home is anything like mine, we don’t use our front door much. More times than not, we come and go through the garage door, even when not using a vehicle. Inevitably, the door gets left open, creating an ideal habitat for many friendly (and not so friendly) woodland creatures. This doesn’t happen much since installing the Chamberlin MyQ Wi-Fi Hub and Home Bridge. 

I’ve owned and happily used Chamberlain’s MyQ Wi-Fi Hub happily for several years. Without a doubt, it’s one of my most frequently used home automation gadgets.  It’s allowed me to open, close and check the status of my garage door anywhere I have an internet connection, even half a planet away. I’ve used it to allow access to pet-sitters, repair people, meter readers, and open the door more than once when the battery in my vehicle opener was depleted.  I’ve found it absolutely indispensable, particularly when I accept a ride in someone else’s car.

The first part of my system was the chamberlain Smart Garage Hub with MyQ Smart Phone Control. For about two years, it has flawlessly controlled my Genie door opener. It beeps and flashes a warning when about to close and the integrated area light stays on for a short time after the door opens or closes.

The device was easy to set up. After creating an account, I found my Wi-Fi signal in the garage was sufficient so I placed in near the opener, mostly to centrally locate the light. Also included are the power supply and a wireless, battery-powered position sensor that attached with sticky tape and rides on the door to tell the base unit if the door is closed open. Before you ask, no, it’s not intelligent enough to know the exact position of the door so you can leave the door open a little for your cat to get in but does provide information that the door is open, closed, or in motion.

The app walks through the setup process which connects to the device using Wi-Fi, adds the security credentials of my home network, and finally programs the MyQ to use the correct frequency to control my existing garage door opener. It’s compatible with many different opener manufacturers, but you should definitely check compatibility before you buy. Chamberlain also makes garage door openers with MyQ built in, so the Wi-Fi Hub isn’t needed.

The app sends push notifications letting me know when the door operates. Initially, I thought this might be annoying, but it’s added a large degree of comfort knowing when a family member arrives or leaves home. The app also has an Apple Watch component allowing door operation and status checking without needing to dig the phone out of my pocket, which, at least in my state is illegal when driving.

Initially, the app had the functionality to open or close the door on a schedule. I found this feature particularly useful for ensuring my door was closed daily at bedtime, particularly because my daughters were notorious for leaving it open, resulting in a family of chipmunks living in comfort and the subsequent purchase of a Have-A-Heart animal trap to evict the little boogers. Unfortunately, Chamberlain stopped this capability (although the app still has the scheduling portion intact a year later) due to a communications issue with the door position sensor when the battery was low.

Adding the Home Bridge was as simple as a procedure as adding the Smart Garage Hub – connect to Wi-Fi and add to the app, but there is another step added to push a button on the Garage Hub to get the components to play nicely together. Another few pokes of the screen added the capabilities to Apple’s Home Kit. This means I can ask Siri to open or close my garage door or check status – Very nice! Now I can close the garage door without even having to pick up my phone. However, I was disappointed that the scheduling features require Apple TV which I don’t have at the time of this writing, but I might request from Santa this Christmas.  As an alternative, for $1 a month or $10 a year, Chamberlain’s app will integrate with IFTTT, adding countless home automation possibilities. Since I really wanted the timer functions to protect my tools and to prevent our local skunk from calling my garage home, I opted to take the yearly subscription and successfully got the timer working. I’ve since added another IFTTT applet to turn on my hallway WEMO light when the door opens meaning no more walking into a dark house. My wife is going to love this!

In the two years, I’ve used the MyQ Hub and the week with the Home Bridge, I’ve found the Siri integration fun and useful. I would love to see integration with Alexa and a fix to the app’s timer scheduling functions (alleviating the need for IFTTT or the purchase another piece of hardware). Chamberlain’s MyQ hub and Home Bridge are some of my favorite and most frequently used devices. I look forward to product improvements and many more years of use.  When my venerable Genie screw-drive garage door opener inevitably is put out to pasture, I will likely be looking at a Chamberlain with MyQ to fill the gap.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Chamberlain. Please visit their site for more info and you can order from Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: MyQ Wi-Fi Hub $99.99, Home Bridge, $49.99
Manufacturer: Chamberlain
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Reliable and Convenient
  • Lots of integration options
Cons:
  • None

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Chamberlain MyQ Wi-Fi hub and Home Bridge Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 3, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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