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Power Practical Luminoodle Color Bias Lighting review

Every once in a while, a gadget comes along that, at first glance at least, appears to be basically superfluous and unnecessary…but cool and fun, nonetheless. That was exactly what I thought when I first saw the Power Practical Luminoodle Color Bias Lighting. Heck, just the name “Luminoodle” had my attention. Truth be told, I’d actually been seeing these LED strips for a while and thought I might like to try one, so when Julie offered the Luminoodle to review, I was gleefully all over it. Let’s check it out! Gadget on!

Specs

  • LED rating: 50,000 hours
  • Light output: 450 Lumens
  • USB input: 5 Watts (5 Volts, 1 Amp)
  • 3M adhesive backing
  • 15 colors
  • Warranty: 1 year

Options

  • Small (1 meter) – $19.99
  • Medium (2 meters) – $24.99 (reviewed here)
  • Large (3 meters) – $29.99

Packaging

The Luminoodle arrived in a slim plastic zip-closure pouch with a tear-off opening.The back of the pouch depicted a brief explanation of installation configurations for the product inside.

Contents

  • 2-meter Luminoodle on a spool
  • Wireless remote
  • Luminoodle instruction booklet
  • Remote instruction booklet

Features & Functions

The Luminoodle wireless remote has multiple buttons used to control its various functions. The Luminoodle is powered by plugging it into a standard USB port.  Bonus: this is a reversible USB plug!The Luminoodle can be controlled with a simple in-line remote that includes three buttons, as shown above.  Above is a closeup of a segment of the Luminoodle’s ribbon cable.  The Luminoodle’s color illumination is driven by sets of RGB (Red Green Blue) LEDs.  NOTE: If for some reason you need to trim off the excess length of cable, the Luminoodle can be cut at any of the points where the “+GRB” copper connectors are located, as seen on the right side of the image above.As shown above, the Luminoodle utilizes some high-strength 3D tape to attach to the back of a TV, computer monitor or any other surface.


The wireless remote is powered by a single CR 2025 3V lithium battery.  The battery is simple to change; it fits into a small tray that slides into the bottom of the remote.The wireless remote is quite small and thin and very lightweight.Almost immediately upon opening the pouch, I just had to power up the Luminoodle.  Without even removing it from the spool, I plugged the Luminoodle into an iPad power adapter and cycled through its four primary colors: white (above) and red, blue and green (all below).  I literally giggled to myself—it was already pretty fun, and I hadn’t even installed it yet.



I began the installation process by turning my TV around so that I could access its rear.  My TV measures 55 inches diagonally, and the Luminoodle I was sent was 2 meters in length, so I figured it would wrap around most of the back of my TV, but probably not in a full loop.  Next, I carefully dusted the back of the TV to help the adhesive backing adhere better.  Then I used some masking tape to mock up where I would ultimately place the Luminoodle (see above image).  After a few adjustments to make it as symmetrical as I could, I was satisfied.

Once I was happy with the Luminoodle’s placement, I began peeling the red backing from the 3M tape, exposing its adhesive side, as shown above.  I quickly realized that this particular tape was actually a double-stick type and very grippy, which I saw as a good thing—I wouldn’t have to worry about the Luminoodle spontaneously falling off of my TV.  Also, it took me a few minutes to be able to peel the backing off without pulling the tape itself off of the ribbon cable, but once I got it started, it was fine.

The only challenging part about attaching the Luminoodle was the corners.  Because the Luminoodle is basically a flat ribbon cable, it was impossible to get it to form a curve shape.  Therefore, I had to improvise by putting a small fold or crimp in each of the two corners, as seen in the images above and below.  NOTE: In re-reviewing the instructions, maybe I didn’t do this correctly, but it seemed to work for me.

I am still a bit concerned that these corner crimps may result in a short-circuit over time, but considering that the Luminoodle on either side of the crimps is stationary and well-fixed as a result of the 3M adhesive tape, I don’t expect this to become an issue.
Above is a photo of the fully-installed Luminoodle.  This 2-meter long Luminoodle model ended up covering around 2/3 of the perimeter of the rear of my 55-inch diagonal TV, which I was happy with.  For TVs of different sizes, Luminoodle offers different lengths.

Above, another view of the installed Luminoodle.  I should note that taking the time to mock up the location with the masking tape actually made the final installation go very quickly.

Above, a photo of the Luminoodle’s reversible USB power connector plugged into the USB port on the back of my TV.  Because it is USB-powered, the Luminoodle can be plugged into not only a TV, as I’ve done here, but a USB port on a monitor, computer or even a wall USB adapter as I showed up above.  However, plugging the Luminoodle into a TV, monitor or computer allows it to power on and off whenever you use these devices.

Above, one more shot of the installed Luminoodle before I spun it back around.  Even BB-8 is anxious to see the Luminoodle in action.

Above and in the next several pics are a teaser to give an idea of just how much illumination the Luminoodle can output.







The Luminoodle has 14 different color modes plus white, warm white and cool white, and I’ve attempted to show a pic of each of them here (though I may have missed a few!).  In addition to being able to change colors, Luminoodle also has 10 dimmer levels, and I’ve shown the brightest of them here because the lowest level didn’t come through well on photos.  And finally, the Luminoodle also has 4 modes.  You can manually switch from color to color, you can have Luminoodle slowly cycle from color to color (or “Crossfade,” the mode I like best while watching TV), or you can have Luminoodle pulsate rapidly from color to color like a strobe light (party mode!), either in a single or all colors, and you can even control the speed.  The Power Practical folks tout Luminoodle’s ability to help reduce eye strain and dryness by providing a gentle ambient backlighting.  To me, this is at least a plausible concept but I have to say that I wasn’t really able to prove it either way.


Conclusion

OK, the Power Practical Luminoodle Color Bias Lighting is just plain fun.  It was easier to install than I expected (and even installation was kind of fun), and the wireless remote made it even more fun to cycle through its many colors, brightness levels, and modes.  I’m not completely sure about the claim of making my TV’s picture’s darks darker to reduce eye strain and dryness.  Maybe Luminoodle can help with that, maybe not.  All I know is, Luminoodle is easy to install and fun to use.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Power Practical. Please visit powerpractical.com for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $19.99 (1 meter), $24.99 (2 meters), $29.99 (3 meters)
Manufacturer: Power Practical
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • A USB port to power the Luminoodle itself
  • A single CR 2025 3V lithium battery to power the wireless remote
Pros:
  • FUN
  • Easy to install
  • Lots of colors and modes
Cons:
  • Can only be installed once

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Power Practical Luminoodle Color Bias Lighting review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 2, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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Jaybird RUN True wireless sport headphones review

I find minimalistic running to be the best kind of running. Thankfully the days of the big, clunky, bright yellow Sony Sports Walkman are long behind us. We have come so far that headphone ports are even being phased out (like it or not), as are many types of cables and cords. I prefer running without wires or anything that weighs me down or jiggles around to distract me from pounding pavement, preferring truly wireless earbuds and music streaming from my smartwatch. In this case, Jaybird is joining the (quickly getting crowded) cordless earbud market, with their recently released RUN True Wireless Sport headphones. 

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

I have reviewed more than a few Jaybird Bluetooth earbuds over the years, all with decent, comfortable design and solid sound quality that continues to evolve and improve with each generation. The RUN True Wireless Sport headphones are Jaybird’s first completely cordless earbuds. Like previous Jaybird headsets, the RUN’s are noise-isolating earphones, designed to fit tightly/snugly in your ears blocking out a majority of the ambient sound.

The new RUN True wireless sport headphones feature all of the sport-centric features that you would expect from Jaybird, most importantly a sweat-proof/water-resistant minimalistic design. The RUN earbuds follow Jaybird’s familiar wing-tip design.

The earbuds are made of a black plastic with silver accents around the rim with Jaybird’s logo on the main face of each. The RUN’s have a double hydrophobic coating to prevent sweat or rain from killing them.

In the Box:

  • Jaybird RUN True Wireless Sport Headphones
  • Charging Case
  • Round Silicone Ear Tips S/M
  • Oval Silicone Ear Tips S/M
  • Secure-Fit Ear Fins 1/2/3/4
  • USB 2.0 Charging Cable
  • Carry Pouch

The Jaybird earbud case is not only for storage, loss prevention, and safe transport but is designed to charge the RUN True Sport headphones as well. The case has a microUSB port in the back for connecting to power. There are three LED’s on the front of the case that glow on and off while charging and solid green when fully charged. The center LED shows the status of the case’s internal battery and the side ones show the individual headphones. The case itself is a bit “plasticy” and not the best quality. The latch mechanism occasionally failed, popping open in my bag or pocket activating the earbuds which unbeknownst to me connected to my smartphone.

The RUN earbuds are inserted into their respective spots within the case where the five inductive charging points make contact.

By themselves, the earbuds are rated for four hours of playback on a single charge. The carrying case provides an additional eight hours or two more charging cycles for a total of 12 hours of playback before the trio has to be recharged. While I do not spend hours at a time marathon training, the RUN’s never died on me during a workout. They easily made it through an hour on the elliptical machine or 4-mile run. But in a pinch, a 5-minute charge gives an hour of play time.

Connectivity:

You can use the right earbud by itself or the pair depending on how situationally aware of the outside world you need/want to be. The main face (where the Jaybird logo is) of each earbud has a programmable button that by default: plays/pauses music (right ear) and activates Siri or Google Assistant (left ear). But you can change that to volume controls via the smartphone app.

The right/main earbud connects to your smartphone and the left/slave earbud connects to the right. After a few connectivity issues, I came to find out the two earbuds do not use Near-Field Magnetic Induction (like other well-known wireless earbuds do) to communicate, just Bluetooth.  This is what I believe to be the cause of them having trouble staying connected and in sync with each other. We live out in the sticks where interference shouldn’t be an issue as compared to the big city. The connection problems come and go randomly (fixable by turning the buds off & on) but overall the earbuds work as advertised.

Comfort and fit:

For the most part, the RUN True earbuds are comfortable with a relatively secure, wiggle-free fit. Jaybird includes a multitude of tips and wings to ensure the earbuds fit your ear without feeling loose or ever having to worry about them falling out during an epic workout. I’ve have tried various combinations of wings and tips and found the medium for both stays in my ears best. That said, they sit in my ears pretty well while running stairs, on my elliptical machine, walking around etc. Though I do need to adjust and reseat them every now and then while on the treadmill or out for a run due to sweat and up & down motion while running.

Sound Quality:

With a solid, sealed fit…the overall sound quality of the RUN’s is very good.

Jaybird engineers the RUN True wireless earbuds to work hand in hand with their MySound app, available on both iOS and Android. As with previous Jaybird headphones, the app allows you to customise the equalizer balance of the RUN earbuds, tweaking the sound profile to your liking. The app includes a multitude of preprogrammed sound curves and the ability to create personalized ones of your own. It is easy; you simply use your finger to tweak the equalizer curve, dragging the bass, mid, and treble settings however you prefer. Whichever profile you select or create is saved directly to the earbuds and stays set until you change it.

The RUN True wireless earbuds worked well with all the devices I paired them with, this included: iOS, Android, Tizen, and macOS.

In addition to Jet (black), the RUN True wireless earbuds are also available in Drift (white).

As the Jaybird website touts, the RUN True wireless earbuds are designed and built by runners for runners and in theory, I agree. Their form factor is ideal for minimalistic running without anything to distract you from the Zen of pounding pavement. They are comfortable and well fitted, stay securely in your ears, and are hardened against sweat and rain. The only real issue I have with them is the intermittent connectivity problems that can hopefully be fixed with future firmware updates…though no guarantees.

Source:  The samples for this review were provided by Jaybird. Please visit their site for more information and visit Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $179.99
Manufacturer: Jaybird
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Comfortable, secure fit
  • Good sound quality
  • Customizable sound profiles
  • Programmable buttons
Cons:
  • Just OK build quality
  • Connection issues
  • Phone conversations only in right earbud

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Jaybird RUN True wireless sport headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 1, 2017 at 1:14 pm.

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Bellroy Duo Totepack review

Hailing from Australia, the folks at Bellroy have built a reputation for their sophisticated, minimalist wallet & accessory designs. This fall, they’re introducing their first work bags and backpacks. We’ve got our hands on the Duo Totepack, and it’s a beauty. Let’s check it out!

Walkaround

The Bellroy Duo Totepack is a bit of a chameleon. It’s a tote, but it carries with the style of a briefcase. It’s also got the organization of a vertical messenger bag and converts to a backpack. The shape of the bag is contemporary, clean, and focused. As we’ll see in the walkaround, however, there are all sorts of organization & functionality hidden in this stealthy package. 

The Duo Toteppack measures 15” by 13” by 3” and is gently contoured so that it widens as you reach the bottom of the bag. It’s a simple, elegant shape is also expandable. The tote-style main opening is wider than the bag, but those extra flaps tuck & button down under leather loops on the side of the bag when you don’t need them. There are also a pair of slide/lock buttons on the side panels that, when released, open up the body of the bag to its full 15 liter capacity. 

  

You have two carry options with the Duo Totepack. A pair of wide leather-wrapped handles at the top of the bag enable briefcase-style carry. You’ll also find backpack straps that disappear into the rear pocket when not in use. These straps are built for daily use with metal hardware, light padding, and finishing that matches the style & substance of the rest of the bag.

Overall the bag makes a very modern design statement that’s at home in both business and casual environments. As a stylish accessory, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better looking bag for urban adventures.

Organization & Layout

The Bellroy Duo Totepack features excellent organization, with an impressive amount of attention to functionality and practical usability. There are a total of 12 (yes, twelve!) compartments & pockets in this bag designed to satisfy all of your organization needs. Here’s how it all breaks down.

First up, there’s a 12” by 13” compartment on the front face of the bag, which includes two 5” by 5” drop-pockets (one is padded & elastic) and a pen slot for quick grab items.

Next is the main compartment. A 3” deep main area includes a padded laptop slot for up to a 15” MacBook Pro, a rear pocket that will fit an iPad Pro in a case, and a semi-rigid document divider with a magnet seal that snaps to the laptop pocket. There are also two 6-1/2” by 6” zipped pockets for accessories and 7” by 6” elastic pocket at the base of the bag for a water bottle or power brick.

  

  

  

Behind the main compartment, you’ll find an 8” by 6-1/2” quick access pocket accessed from the top of the bag for your phone, keys, headphone, etc. 

Finally, the rear pocket not only stores the backpack straps but is also padded and can hold an tablet or a notebook. It also has a button snap for additional security.

This sounds like a lot of pockets, but Bellroy has done an excellent job of sorting out the layout of the Duo Totepack. Every pocket is wide and deep to accommodate a variety of items; even the pen slot will hold two pens. Positioning on all the pockets is also excellent, with easy access from the top of the bag even if you’re fully loaded with gear. The whole layout is flexible and very easy to use.

Construction and Materials

In addition to innovative design, Bellroy is also known for the quality of their products. The Duo Totepack scores big here with top-shelf materials, construction, and finishing.

The primary material is fantastic. It’s got the toughness and weather-resistance of a Cordura, but the tight weave pattern is more sophisticated and has a nice hand feel. It’s described as moss green, but there’s a subtle dark heather to the pattern that reads more to me like a dark grey in close-up shots (there’s also a black variant available). Whatever you call it, it’s beautiful. Leather accents are all soft & supple. The interior fabrics are just as good with a rich texture and durability that’s a step-up from typical vinyl interiors.

There’s also no skimping on hardware, which is all metal. Every clip, ring or button feel durable without being bulky. Even those slide/lock buttons on the side include Fidlock-style clips to secure the snaps in place. YKK zippers are standard inside and out with Aquaguard zips on the externals. It’s all high-quality stuff, and in alignment with the character of the bag.

The assembly details are really impressive. I’ve seen a lot of bags that do nice finishing work on seams and corners, but Bellroy takes this a step further with reinforced edges on wear points, beveled corners on open pockets, and little “zipper garages” to finish the zips. As you go about using the bag, you find all kinds of thoughtful finishing points that speak to the quality in detail. 

In Use

The Bellroy Duo Totepack is a great bag for the professional or creative type that looking for something that stands apart from the sea of briefcases and messengers you find on the daily commute. Not only does it make a unique design statement, but it has excellent functional usability that switches easily from business to casual situations.

The Duo Totepack has become my go-to work bag. I’ll load it up with my 13” MacBook Pro, my iPad, a notebook, device chargers, a power brick, headphones, and all the trimmings. There’s just enough room for all of that plus space for a light lunch. The organization is dialed in so well that I find myself using this bag throughout the day as a sling bag to manage my stuff as I run from meeting to meeting. The minimalist profile also works well for this, as I don’t look like a Sherpa lugging a massive pack around the office. I really like the easy grip and handling of generous briefcase-style handles. And if you need to go hands-free, you can swap to backpack mode in a few seconds. The bag also slims down just as well when I am traveling light with an iPad and a notebook. It’s also really light,  so you don’t feel like your hauling a lot of extra weight along with your gear.

I should also point out that the backpacks straps are well designed for extended use. Some  convertible bags skimp on the backpack straps to save space and weight. These straps, while thin, are substantial and more than comfortable enough for a bag this size. I use the backpack straps all day long, and they’re very good. 

When you turn on your out-of-office notifications, the Bellroy Duo Totepack makes for a great urban adventurer. Because the design leverages all soft materials and no framing, it will adapt to non-rectilinear items if you’re packing for a day trips around town (snacks, sweaters, a camera, etc.). I’d also expect it to work very well as an under-the-seat carry on item. Its slim profile makes moving through crowds a breeze. It also looks great dressed down with a pair of jeans for running about.

Speaking of style… be prepared for comments & compliments. I’ve received more compliments on this bag than perhaps anyone else I have tested. The Bellroy Duo Totepack makes a unique design statement that gets noticed.

Caveats and Considerations

There’s a whole lot to like the Duo Totepack, and Bellroy has clearly attempted to perfect every detail in this bag. But there are some things that you should consider before picking one up.

First off, this bag is really designed for urban landscapes. Its tough, but it lacks the framing or beefy backpack straps that stabilize a bag on extended outdoor hikes. It’s slim form is really designed for tech and accessories, with no big open compartments to accommodate outdoor gear. I wouldn’t hesitate to take it for travel, but one-baggers or outdoor enthusiasts would do better with more mission-specific bags

Speaking of capacity: at 15 liters with a slim profile, this is not the choice for hauling your life on your back. Your laptop and accessories will take up the majority of the space in the bag, leaving some room for extras… but not a lot. I was actually surprised at how much it can hold if you ditch the tech gear, as the form has a lot of give & flexibility. If you need room for work gear, gym gear, and your groceries on the ride home, however, you’ll need something a bit bigger.

The length of the padding on the backpack straps could be a bit longer relative to the strap length. I am a bigger guy, so those pads ride a lot higher than I am used to in my packs. They are still comfortable in my opinion but may take some getting used to if you have a larger frame.

Finally, there’s the $295 retail price. Competitors like Tumi, Killspencer and Cote & Ciel play in this designer bag space; I found the Bellroy Duo Totepack’s pricing to be well in line with these sorts of bag makers. Based on the quality of construction and innovative design, I believe that it’s priced fairly for what you’re getting… but it’s still a $300 bag. If that’s too steep for you, Bellroy does offer other products in their new bag lineup that are not as feature-rich but share the design language and materials found here for under $200. 

Conclusions and Pricing

The Duo Totepack is a unique bag that makes a strong creative statement. Elegant forms, innovative design, and a very usable layout make this a bag an excellent and flexible day-to-day companion for work and play. The superb construction and meticulous finishing show extraordinary attention to detail. Well done, Bellroy. I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!

The Bellroy Duo Totepack retails for $289. Check out the Bellroy Duo Totepack and the rest of the new bag lineup at Bellroy’s web site.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Bellroy. For more info visit their site.

 

Product Information

Price: $289.00
Manufacturer: Bellroy
Pros:
  • Innovative & modern design
  • Excellent layout with lots of good usability
  • Beautiful, high-quality materials
  • Excellent craftsmanship & finishing
  • Works equally well in both carry modes
Cons:
  • 15L capacity & slim profile may not work for everyone's carry needs
  • Expensive, but worth it if you're ready for a splurge

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Bellroy Duo Totepack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 1, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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Nextbook Flexx 11a 11.6″ Convertible Touchscreen Tablet PC review

I’ve been using a Mac as my main computer at home for quite a few years now. I started with an iMac, went to a 15″ MacBook Pro, then to a 13″ MacBook Pro, next was a MacBook Air, and now I’m currently using a 12″ MacBook.  I keep downsizing because I prefer a lightweight laptop that won’t break my shoulder when I travel but is still large enough to work on. The 12″ MacBook is almost perfect. But, I recently had an itch to switch to a Windows laptop and was shopping around for an ultralight machine and started thinking about 2-in-1 laptop/tablet devices. As luck would have it, the folks at Nextbook asked if I would like to review their budget-priced Nextbook Flexx 11a 1.6″ Convertible Touchscreen Tablet PC. I was happy to accept their offer and decided to make the Nextbook my travel companion for my yearly vacation to Florida. Read on to find out what I think of the Nextbook after using it exclusively for a full week.

What is it?

The Nextbook Flexx 11a is a laptop with an 11.6″ touchscreen that can be used as a laptop or detached from the keyboard and used as a tablet PC.

Hardware specs

1.84GHz Intel Atom CherryTrail Z8300 quad-core processor
2GB DDR3L of system memory
64GB of internal memory
Genuine Microsoft Windows 10 OS
11.6″ touchscreen 1366×768 resolution (IPS)
Back 2MP webcam and front 2MP webcam with microphone
USB 2.0 port, micro USB 2.0 port, micro HDMI port, headphone jack
Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth v4.0
Dimensions (L x W x H) 11.36 x 0.39 x 7.65 Inches
Weight 3.02 lbs

Design and features

My first look and feel of the Nextbook didn’t cause me to say words like “wow” or “oh my”. This is a budget computer, so the Nextbook isn’t flashy which is fine by me.

The case is made of plastic and it feels like plastic right down to the creaking and cracking noises that it makes when you lift the lid and perform the Gadgeteer squeeze test.

The back side of the display has a dark gray matte finish on the top, with Nextbook and Intel logos, and a back facing 2MP camera.

You’ll also find the power button and a volume button bar on the top edge of the back side of the display.

On the right side of the keyboard, you’ll find a full-sized USB connector that can be used for a wired mouse, flash drive, etc.

On the opposite side of the Nextbook is a 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, power port, micro USB, micro HDMI, micro SD card slot, and a status LED for charging status.

The Nextbook display opens up to reveal a a silver and black plastic QWERTY keyboard with a touchpad below it. Click the image above if you would like to see a larger view of the keyboard.

Although the Flexx 11a is a small laptop, the keyboard is roomy enough for a touch typist like myself. The keyboard is a little spongy feeling, but I didn’t have any problems with the layout.

The touchpad is adequate, but nowhere nearly as responsive as the touchpad of every MacBook that I’ve ever used. I’m kind of a touchpad snob and compare every one that I try to the ones on a MacBook because they are that good.

During my week using the Nextbook, I had a lot of issues selecting multiple lines of text using the touchpad. Sometimes I’d highlight a whole section and as soon as I’d try to copy it with a CTRL-C, the selection would change to just the first word or two. This became very frustrating and I found myself relying on a wireless mouse when I wanted to do extended writing and text editing.

Display

The Nextbook Flexx 11a’s display is about the same size as my 12″ MacBook, so I had no problems with the size. For a sub $200 laptop, I was impressed with this little laptop’s display. The colors and sharpness of text and graphics are very good. It’s not a retina display, but when I place the Nextbook next to my MacBook, I really can’t tell a huge difference between them except for the huge bezels on the Nextbook.

Setting up Windows 10

It’s been awhile since I’ve set up a new Windows computer so I was surprised when the setup for the Nextbook was mostly handled by Microsoft’s Cortana voice assistant. She tells you what she’s doing during each step of the setup and asks questions that you can answer with a Yes or No answer using your voice. It was slick and easy.

Is it a laptop or a tablet?

The Nextbook Flexx 11a can be used like a traditional laptop but unlike Microsoft Surface and other tablet-style PCs that have a kickstand, the Nextbook works just fine on your lap even though it’s slightly top heavy.

For those times when you want to use the Nextbook like a tablet, you just detach it from the keyboard with a simple tug.

The Flexx attaches to the keyboard with magnets that hold it securely in place but also allow for easy detachment.

The nice thing about the Nextbook is that you don’t have to charge the keyboard separately or bother with pairing it to the tablet. Charging is done through the tablet/display when it’s attached to the keyboard and the keyboard just works as soon as it’s connected to the display.

The display/tablet has a touchscreen so you can use your finger to tap icons and use an onscreen keyboard.

The tablet will also auto-rotate feature when you turn it from landscape to portrait orientations. For audio, there are two speakers built into the edge of the display.

I’ve tried Windows 10 on small tablets before and didn’t really enjoy the tablet PC experience but I hoped the Nextbook would offer a better feel since it has a bigger display.

I had no real issues using the Flexx 11a’s display to watch media, read, and surf websites while in tablet mode, but to do real work in this format didn’t work out well for me. I didn’t like using onscreen keyboards because I can type so much faster on a physical keyboard. I also find selecting items in menus and tapping small buttons with my finger to be tedious and frustrating.

Performance and battery life

The first thing I noticed about the Nextbook Flexx 11a is that it seems to take forever to fully charge it. I’m talking over 4-5 hours for an 8 hour run time return.

As far as performance, the Nextbook felt “ok” after a reboot and an hour or less of surfing using Chrome. But once you opened a few tabs, performance became noticeably sluggish. I would use the task manager to kill the Chrome processes and things would be “ok” again for awhile. I think the problem is due to the fact that this laptop only has 2GB of ram and it has a budget processor.

I’m not an expert on CPUs, so I went to someone who knows much more than I ever will on that topic: Lisa Gade from MobileTechReview.com. Lisa reviews laptops so she knows what she’s talking about. Just for fun, I asked her how my early 2016 12″ MacBook with a 1.1 GHz Intel Core m3 processor compares to the Nextbook Flexx 11a’s 1.84GHz Intel Atom CherryTrail Z8300 quad-core processor. Yes, I know it’s crazy to compare apples to oranges or in this case an Apple to a Nextbook, but both machines have mobile processors, so I was just curious as to what Lisa would say:

The MacBook is a rocket scientist compared to the Cherry Trail Atom CPU. I’ve reviewed a few Cherry Trail over the years, but nothing recently (I guess I’m a CPU snob). I can live with having to use a Core m3 and 12” MacBook here and there. The Atom is “just shoot me now” territory, for my unduly colorful and subjective opinion ;).

This might be the most useful for lots of metrics for each:
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Atom-x5-Z8300-SoC.146643.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-m3-7Y30-Notebook-Processor.178426.0.html (this is the slightly slower 1.0 GHz rather than Apple’s 1.1 GHz, but close enough).

Final thoughts

When it’s all said and done, I find it hard to complain very loudly about the Nextbook Flexx 11a due to the fact that it only costs $179 and can be used as both a Windows 10 laptop or a Windows 10 tablet.

As long as you understand its limitations and keep in mind that it’s no speed demon, the Nextbook Flexx 11a is a capable little computer for email, browsing, watching videos and even some lightweight gaming.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $179.00
Manufacturer: Nextbook
Retailer: Walmart
Pros:
  • Budget-friendly price
  • Can be used as a laptop or a tablet
  • Touchscreen
  • micro SD card slot
Cons:
  • Sluggish performance

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Nextbook Flexx 11a 11.6″ Convertible Touchscreen Tablet PC review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 31, 2017 at 3:02 pm.

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HYDAWAY collapsible water bottle review

I’ve always been a big fan of space-saving gadgetry and have become quite skilled at minimalistic travel. I typically carry a collapsible bowl, titanium spork, and an inflatable water bottle. The water bottle was lightweight, but difficult to clean and prone to leakage.  Most of the deficiencies have been addressed with HYDAWAY collapsible bottles. HYDAWAY offers lots of color choices, multi-packs, and travel cases and sent me green and orange as samples. 

Two brightly colored, kid-size and large-size, bottles recently graced my mailbox, packaged in a simple white cardboard box with HYDAWAY’s droplet logo gracing the cover. Inside, a sicker with simple instructions was ready to greet me.  Packaging for the bottles is minimal, with only a cardboard card held in place between the bottle and cap. Everything is recyclable. I appreciate sparing the trees.

Unscrewing the top releases the bottle from packaging captivity. Reattaching the cap provides a tight seal. So tight, in fact, that it’s not possible to expand the bottle’s accordion frame without opening the spout or loosening the lid.  The bottles themselves have a sturdy feeling plastic base and cap. The 21-ounce bottle sports another plastic ring around its midsection when fully deployed. The rest of the bottle is comprised of an accordion-formed rubbery material that is pleasant to the touch.  The bottles are BPA free and top-rack dishwasher safe. Since the opening is quite large, I have little doubt that my dishwasher would have trouble getting all of the innards clean.

The 12-ounce bottle is widest at the bottom, leaving the center of gravity very low which will help avoid spills. The only issue I found with this configuration is the base is too large to fit into the cup holders in my cars. The 21-ounce model expands in both directions and isn’t quite as stable, has a wide enough base to stand independently.  It also fits very nicely in vehicle cup storage. Because the bottom of the cup doesn’t touch the bottom of the cup holder, its weight sits near the middle of the bottle and it’s quite stable, much more so than your average bladder-busting big-gulp, even on the tightest interstate off-ramp.

The bottles squish down to about an inch thick and four inches in diameter. I love the compact size. Interestingly, the small and large bottles are the same size when collapsed. How do they do that? It must be some kind of magic. When compacted, they’re a little larger in diameter than a hockey puck and shouldn’t pose much of a problem tucked into the most efficient carry-on, diaper bag, or glove compartment. Having one of these handy means never having to pay $45 for a bottled water in an airport ever again. Besides, when collapsed, I doubt even the most zealous TSA agent would protest taking these bottles through x-ray. However, with the plastic and rubbery construction, these bottles aren’t insulated so plan on room temperature beverages if you plan on carrying them full for any length of time. A tepid libation is better than none in my book.

Alternatively, the wide openings and tight seals lend themselves perfectly to snack time. Pack these babies full of Goldfish Crackers or Cheerios and have the little ones content through the longest car ride, church service or parent-teacher meeting.

My only real concern is the size. For most, I’m sure they would suffice, but for me, I typically have a mighty thirst and 21 ounces is a bit small. I hope at some point they offer a larger size. Yep, a railroad tank car size would be dandy! HYDAWAY collapsible bottles are well made, compact, alternatives to bulky water bottles.  Ideal for travel, they are sure to reduce the number of plastic bottles lurking in landfills. The 21 ounce, large size, has already found its way into my carry-on bag.

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

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HYDAWAY collapsible water bottle review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 31, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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