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ThanoTech K11 iPhone Bumper review

When I recently switched to an iPhone 7 Plus, I felt the need to find a case to protect my investment without adding a lot of extra weight and bulk. When I stumbled upon the ThanoTech K11 Bumper while doing some online shopping, I knew I had to try it. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The ThanoTech K11 is a bumper style case for the iPhone made of anodized aluminum and flexible TPU. It’s a way to protect the iPhone from up to a 16-foot drop without adding the bulk of a full coverage case.

The K11 is available in black, silver, gold, rose gold, and red. I was sent the silver version.

The K11 is a bumper style case that only covers the outside edges of the phone, which doesn’t sound like it would be very protective, but bumper features two layers of material. There’s an interior layer that’s made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and an exterior shell of 6063 T6 aircraft grade anodized aluminum. TPU is a hybrid material that’s a mixture of hard plastic and soft silicone. It helps absorb shock from drops and can protect the iPhone from up to a 16ft drop when it’s in this case.

The cool thing about the combination of TPU and aluminum is that the TPU makes the bumper flexible and that makes it much easier to insert and remove the phone.

Installation is simple. Just put the bottom corners in the bumper snap the top edges in place. It takes only a little effort, but you won’t feel like you’re going to snap the phone in half like I’ve felt with other iPhone cases and bumpers.

Once seated, you still have access to all the iPhone’s ports and buttons. The lightning port cutout on the bottom edge is large enough to fit most 3rd party cables. I’ve yet to find one that is too large.

On the left edge of the bumper, there is a cutout for the mute switch and individual buttons for volume. Unlike some cases, that have molded buttons, the K11 has individual metal buttons that provide excellent tactile feedback.

You’ll find the same type of button over the power button on the opposite side of the phone.

And on the back of the phone, you’ll see that the entire back of the iPhone is exposed. The front and back edges of the bumper are raised so that the front and back of the phone is slightly elevated when placed on a flat surface.

The area above the camera lens is raised evfurtherter to protect the camera lens.

If you’re worried about scratches, ThanoTech includes a protector that you can install on the back of the phone. Actually, they include two back protectors with the Kll Bumper

The K11 is pretty minimal as far as cases go, but it does add some width all the way around the phone. If you have small pants pockets, you might notice that you have less wiggle room when using your phone in this case and you try to put it in your pocket.

You might be wondering if the aluminum has a negative impact on your signal reception. The answer is no, it doesn’t due to the layer of TPU that’s between the phone and the aluminum. I’ve noticed no issues with signal strength degrading in the weeks that I’ve been using this bumper case on my iPhone 7 Plus.

Final thoughts

I had not heard of ThanoTech before reviewing their K11 Bumper. I’m impressed with how nice their products are. They look sharp and are really well made. They also sent me a charging adapter for the car which is made of stainless steel which is extra nice.

Bumper cases might not be right for everyone, but for people who want drop protection without completely covering every surface of their phone, the ThanoTech K11 Bumper is an option.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $34.95
Manufacturer: ThanoTech
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Easy to install
  • Easy to remove
  • Edges raised to keep screen, camera, and back from scratching
  • Less bulk than a full coverage case
Cons:
  • Does add some width to the phone

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ThanoTech K11 iPhone Bumper review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2017 at 1:58 pm.

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TaoTronics 2K car dash cam review

I have never had a dash camera before so you are getting my review of the TaoTronics 2K Car Dash Cam (TT-CD06) as a total neophyte. The camera comes well packaged and includes:

  • A camera that supports 2K video recording at 30 fps and 1080P footage at 45 fps for high-quality captures even in low light conditions and a 160° Wide Angle Lens
  • Dual- port USB 12V adaptor
  • 11.8’ and 5.9” USB cables
  • Suction cup and 3M adhesive window mounts
  • Installation kit includes cable guides, extra adhesive pad, and spudger for putting the cable around the windshield
  • 32GB Class 10 Micro SD card (Samsung)
  • User Guide and offer card

Setup was easy and included installing the card, attaching the mount and cable, and powering up. The TT-CD06 starts automatically on power being applied via the USB cable and starts a rolling record. A blinking red led in the upper right corner indicates the record mode and a blue light indicates power.  Connectors include USB and HDMI out. The display (backlight) turns off automatically after three minutes. The rolling record time is selectable between 1, 3, and 5 minutes. Other settings exist for date and time, mic on/off, video resolution, exposure, white balance, and file management. The unit does not have a GPS. In case of a collision, the latest recording is locked (did not test…!). Recording and microphone can be triggered manually as well for things like traffic stops, etc.

My experiences with the camera were generally positive. The display is bright even in the southwest sun as was the suction cup mount.  Night vision is good as well.  I did have a problem with the unit powering off but this was fixed by the firmware update on the TaoTronics web site. The update is performed by loading the firmware on a formatted SD card. It would have been nice to have it available over the USB cable. Another minor gotcha for me was the unit itself says “connecting USB” even when it is already connected.

I kept the unit in the 1920×1080 HDR. This also looked quite good at night. My biggest complaint about the whole experience is the poor translation of the manual. There are two features mentioned in the manual – G-Sensor and Park mode. The unit will automatically lock the video in case of a shock but there is an additional mode. The manual also recommends that this mode be OFF during normal driving. The unit also has a high power capacitor supporting park mode with power removed. When the unit is in park mode, it will recode a bump to the car, however, this mode is also recommended to be OFF in normal operation. I found it annoying to turn on every time I stopped the car. A better feature would for this mode to enable automatically upon power being removed. I asked support and the marketing manager and never got a good explanation of how to use these TT-CD06 features effectively.

Overall, I think the unit is well made and operated flawlessly after the firmware update. It is small and discrete and was almost unnoticeable behind my rear view menu. The user interface is fast and responsive. Video quality is quite good. As for features, there are a couple I would like but they do drive the cost up for dash cams. The first would be GPS or a GPS interface, be that wired or wireless, to stamp the location of a video. The second would be both front and rear-facing cameras, esp. if I were a Lyft or Uber driver. Though the driver in the front car of a rear end collision is rarely at fault, it would be nice to have a record if that occurred. As for Lyft/Uber drivers, sometimes passengers are not always well behaved and I will leave it at that… For an entry-level unit, I was pleased with the TaoTronics 2K Car Dash Cam and think it is fairly priced.

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

 

Product Information

Price: $68.99
Manufacturer: TaoTronics
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Small and Discrete
  • Fast
  • Everything included and ready to go
Cons:
  • Some confusing instructions
  • No provisions for GPS

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TaoTronics 2K car dash cam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 review

If you are a frequent traveler like I am, you probably have a pretty high standard for your suitcases and travel gear.  I am no different.  I travel 25-50% of my time for my job and finding that perfect bag for those 2-4 day trips has been an ongoing quest.  I have quite a collection of different duffels, suitcases, roller bags, etc. and each has had their benefits but also their drawbacks, leaving me searching for that ultimate bag for my work trips.

When I had the opportunity to review the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 travel bag, I was excited to have another option for my travel needs but managed my expectations because I have yet to find the perfect bag and there is always something that just isn’t quite right for my needs.  I can say right now that  I am more impressed with this bag and accessory system than I have been with ANY other product I have used since becoming such a frequent flyer.

The size of the Aeronaut 45 is designed to meet the maximum carry-on dimensions for your major airlines (22″ x 14″ x 9″) but maximizes the space and can be internally modified to fit your exact needs.  “(T)he Aeronaut is at once soft luggage, a duffel bag, and a backpack” as described in the product description.  the backpack straps can be completely hidden, allowing you to use the top handle or the optional shoulder strap should you want to carry it over the shoulder or cross body.  The Aeronaut is not a roller bag and that is fine by me!

Many duffel bags are simply a sack with no compartmentalization or have a tiny pocket that serves little purpose for actually organizing your clothes/equipment.  The Aeronaut 45 is smartly divided into three compartments, a main/center compartment where most of your clothing will go, which is flanked by two large end compartments on each side that will actually hold a lot.  I wear a size 14 shoe and I was able to fit a pair of my bulky clodhoppers in one of the side compartments (the website says they can accommodate a size 12 running shoe so I am guessing nobody there had a size 14 to test but mine fit like a glove).  This is the first time I have had a carry-on sized bag that I was able to keep a pair of my pontoon sized shoes in anything other than the main storage compartment.  This was the first thing I tested when I received the bag and when I discovered that both shoes would fit in one pocket, I was ready to call it a victory and write this review, but there is so much more to the bag and the accessories, I might as well earn my keep and look into the rest of it.

The bag is offered in a myriad of external and internal color combinations with more on the way.  Constructed ballistic ripstop nylon, this bag will have no issues being used regularly and being thrown in overhead bins or in the seat in front of you.  The materials feel thick and sturdy yet lightweight and flexible at the same time.  All zippers are YKK and any external zippers are also YKK Aquagaurd Coil Zippers.  Everything on this bag looks and feels like it was designed with longevity in mind and to be a piece you will use for years.

    

The main compartment is the perfect size for folded pants or dress shirts and work perfectly with their optional packing cube accessories or with many of the packing accessories you might already own.  I have a couple sets of organizing cubes from other manufacturers and they fit quite well but I really like the ones from Tom Bihn because of their clear intent to be used with this product.  There are so many little conveniences that have been so thoughtfully designed into this bag it is difficult to list them all but everything on the bag is there for a reason and you will find that you will miss them if you go back to using another bag after this.

    

I am a bigger guy (6’1″, 230#) and the bag fit me perfectly in backpack mode but also adjusted to fit my wife who is much more petite than I am.  I usually prefer a shoulder strap and was fortunate to receive one of those as well but I can see myself using the backpack mode as often or more often than the shoulder strap because of how comfortable it is and how well the straps and back are padded to make for a comfortable carry over long distances.

The offer a comprehensive range of travel accessories, which can be ordered to match your Aeronaut bag.  I received a couple of large packing cubes for organizing pants and shirts inside the Aeronaut; some of the travel stuff sacks, which can be used as compression sacks for lightweight jackets, socks/underwear, dirty clothes or just anything you want to keep separate and tuck into nooks and crannies in the bag; a 3D Clear Organizing Cube for holding my toiletries and can be easily taken out at airport security if it is holding liquid; and the shoulder strap, which gives me an additional option for how to carry the bag.  The shoulder strap is the most comfortable strap I have ever had on any bag.  It is constructed from soft neoprene with a stretch backing, which makes the bag feel 50% lighter on your shoulder and cuts down on the pressure point on your shoulder or collarbone.  The all-metal hardware on the shoulder strap is another sign of quality and assures me that I won’t have to deal with a broken plastic buckle at an inopportune time.  With a retail price of $295, I think this bag is a bargain.

Overall I think Tom Bihn hit a home run with this product.  I have recommended it to people in my office when we talk about our travel and the gear we use.  I highly recommend this bag and strongly encourage you to look into their accessories to help organize your packing.  I have actually been using the pouches on their own to carry small items to my kid’s soccer games and also to keep things organized in my car.  the versatility offered by all of these products is one of the reasons it is my new go-to for my short business trips.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tom Bihn.  For more information please visit their website.

 

Product Information

Price: $295.00
Manufacturer: Tom Bihn
Pros:
  • Extremely well engineered and constructed bag that has the traveler in mind; very competitively priced for the quality, versatility, and functionality of this bag; best shoulder strap I have ever had on any bag; the backpack straps are completely hidden when not in use.
Cons:
  • I am actually at a loss here.  I have no complaints, which is a first for me with bags and travel gear.

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Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 20, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 5)

The minute I powered on the Samsung Galaxy Note8 and started using it, I felt the urge to ditch my iPhone 7 Plus and go running back to Android. But am I still feeling that way after using it as my primary device for the past 5 days? 

Check out my earlier posts in this series:
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 1)
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 2 & 3)
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 4)

Day5

Today started out VERY early for me. I woke up at 3 am and was wide awake. As I lay there, I noticed that the notification LED on the phone which was on the nightstand, kept blinking and lighting up the room. You would think that using the Do Not Disturb feature would also include the notification LED. Go figure.

I went ahead and got up and went into work because (I’m crazy) I figured that I could contact people in China. I’m engineering application support for my day job and it’s tough to help our Chinese users because of the time difference.

At 4:50 am, the alarm on the Note8 went off causing me to jump like a cat who sees a scary cucumber. Wouldn’t it be nice if your phone realized you were already awake and automatically silenced the alarm for you?

The Note8 is a great camera

My day was done at noon, which was perfect because I drove around Columbus, IN to find some interesting photo opportunities to show off the Note8’s camera. Here are some samples:










Although Samsung tends to oversaturate images, I was impressed with the photo quality of the Note8 in most lighting situations.

Most people think or assume that the iPhone 7 Plus has the best camera of any smartphone, but the Samsung Galaxy Note8 sure gives it a run for its money.

Round two with Walmart and Samsung Pay

After the photo shoot, I decided to run by Walmart and give Samsung Pay another try at their self-checkout machines. If you read my day 2 & 3 post, you’ll remember that the first time I tried paying for my groceries using Samsung Pay, it displayed an error on the kiosk machine so I ended up swiping my physical credit card. Later I received a notice on the phone, that the transaction using Samsung Pay had actually worked. So I had duplicate payments. Thankfully, one of the payments was automatically reversed.

Today, I’m happy to report that paying with Samsung Pay worked just fine. It was quick and easy with no errors and no waiting.

System performance and battery life

It’s been a long time since I tested a phone that was laggy and the Samsung Galaxy Note8 hasn’t changed that. It’s very snappy loading apps, switching between apps, etc. I have absolutely no complaints about system performance.

The same goes for battery life. I’ve had no problems getting through an entire day with this phone with 30-40 or more battery percentage to spare.

Final thoughts

So, after five days of using the Samsung Galaxy Note8, do I want to put my iPhone 7 Plus in my drawer of lonely gadgets and go running back to Android?

Yes and No.

I’m always going to enjoy using Android devices. Specifically, I like:

  • The ability to have graphical widgets on the home screens
  • The ability to arrange icons on the home screens with spaces in between
  • The ability to pair both a mouse and a keyboard with the device to turn it into a pseudo computer
  • Access to the file system
  • The OS is more open for tweakers

What I don’t like:

  • I think that so many different devices with their own skins and bloatware over stock Android hurts the platform
  • Takes too long to get OS updates unless you have a Google device

Although I do feel the tug to go back to Android, I am also happy with iOS right now and am excited to see what iOS 11 has to offer. So at least for the time being, I’m sticking with iOS, but am sure at some point in the not so distant future that I’ll be switching back to Android. And then probably back to iOS, and over, and over. What can I say, I’m pretty much OS inclusive and like them both almost equally at this point.

I’ll be sorry to send back the Note8. It’s a gorgeous device and would be the one I’d buy today if I wanted the best Android device available.

Check out my earlier posts in this series:
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 1)
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 2 & 3)
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 4)

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Verizon Wireless. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $960.00
Manufacturer: Samsung
Retailer: Verizon Wireless
Pros:
  • Very nice camera
  • Great display and I love the always-on feature
  • S Pen is handy
Cons:
  • Expensive

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Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 5) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 19, 2017 at 4:57 pm.

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Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 4)

I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 since last Friday and what started out the type of infatuation that you feel when you meet a new love interest that shares your same interests, has cooled down to the type of friendship that you have with someone you’ve known for years. You really like that person, but they can be annoying at times. That’s the way I’m feeling about the Note8 because today is Bixby testing day. 

Check out my earlier posts in this series:
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 1)
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 2 & 3)

Day4

I’ve been playing with Bixby off and on since I received the Note8, but today I really wanted to focus on it to see if it could be a viable “voice assistant”. Not to let the cat out of the bag right away, but the answer is no, no it isn’t viable. Not even close…

All newer Android devices can use Google’s Ok Google voice assistant, but Samsung had to create their own version because that’s what Samsung likes to do. They even created a dedicated button on the left side of the phone to launch / talk to Bixby. The button kind of reminds me of a walkie-talkie. You hold down the button and speak. When you let go of the button Bixby is supposed to respond to your question or command.

Problem is that the button is easy to press by accident when you pick up the phone. Until just the last day or so, Samsung did not allow you to disable the button, but apparently, there’s an update that will now allow that.

You can also launch Bixby by saying “hey Bixby”.


Other than the fact that it doesn’t work very well, what I find most annoying about Bixby is the way it’s been game-ified. Every time you do something you get points that will display on the screen like +15 for opening an app by saying “hey Bixby, open my email”. And after you’ve earned so many points, it will say that you’ve leveled up. For some reason that really annoys me. I don’t want to level up. I don’t want to play a game with Bixby, I just want it to do what I ask.

Bixby is “supposed” to be smarter than Siri and Ok Google, and is supposed to allow for more conversational style requests. In most respects that’s true, it does allow you to give multiple commands based on what you’re doing. For example, you can say “hey Bixby, open my email and read my last message”. That usually works. But then you can’t say something like “archive message”. You have to say “archive conversation”. So it’s important to know the right commands to say to do what you want to do. I found that I would get tongue-tied trying to say exactly want I wanted.


I think Bixby could be really useful if you have problems using your hands to hold the phone and interact with it. But for a person without that issue, I found it to be really cumbersome and frustrating.

I saw a lot of messages like the one above. It’s also important to realize that Bixby does NOT work with all apps. For example, it will open Spotify by saying “Open Spotify”, but that’s all it seems to be able to do with that app. If I follow up with “play my driving playlist”, it will open Google Play Music and tell me there’s no such playlist. Or if I just say “play music” while inside Spotify, it will also launch Google Play Music.

Other random bits from day 5 with the Note8:

  • Face scan unlock is working better / faster today
  • Had some Bluetooth issues last night with Flic button not responding to turn off my Lifx smart bulb. I’ve had this issue with other Android phones, while my iPhone 7 Plus works fine.

I’m going to wrap up this diary style review series tomorrow with Day 5, where I’ll talk more about battery life, overall performance, and the camera.

If you have any specific questions that you would like me to answer, be sure and leave them in the comments below.

Check out my earlier posts in this series:
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 1)
Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 2 & 3)

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

 

Product Information

Price: $960.00
Manufacturer: Samsung
Retailer: Verizon Wireless
Pros:
  • Face unlock working much better/faster today
Cons:
  • Bixby voice assistant isn't ready for prime time

Filed in categories: Reviews

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Samsung Galaxy Note8 review (day 4) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 18, 2017 at 5:23 pm.

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