Smythe Richbourg

Author Archive for Smythe Richbourg

MakerBot available in some Home Depot stores

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Sunday, July 20th, 2014

· 4 Comments

If you visit certain Home Depot stores in California, Illinois, or New York in the next few months, you may notice something new on sale that could prevent you from having to go back there for little widgets and such: they will be stocking three models of MakerBot 3D printers in those states soon! For Gadgeteers, this means there will be an easy place to see the units in action, purchase filament replacement spools and such.

According to The Verge, this is a pilot program, which will include in-store demos and give-away trinkets printed on the spot. They even theorize having a customer print out a replacement part for things that are not in stock or difficult to come by. And, hopefully, if things go well, this trend will grow to Home Depot stores across the country!

So, have any of you Gadgeteers used or purchased a 3D printer yet? Are you interested in picking one up next time you shop for a box of nails and some paint? Let us know in the comments!

4 Comments

Categories : Computer Gear, Gear, News

Tags : 3d printing, print

Fold & Go tablet stand and Smartphone Lounger stand review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Saturday, July 19th, 2014

· 1 Comment

There are many types of stands for tablets. Some are a single angle, built for either reading and movies, or for typing and heads-down work. Others (such as those from Apple and the kickstands on Microsoft’s Surface) mandate that you cannot change the orientation – it’s horizontal (usually), and that cannot be changed. But if you’re reading news or a book, portrait gets more info on the screen at a time with a shorter line-length and is more like reading a traditional “dead tree” source. New entrants in the portable stand market from Gibson Holders are the Fold & Go tablet stand and the Smartphone Lounger for phones. They sent one of each of these stands, so that I could test both.

1 Comment

Categories : Gear, Reviews, Tablets, Ultra Portables

Tags : iPad stand, iPhone Stand, Universal stand

BUKcase Cote for iPad and iPhone 5/5s review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Friday, May 2nd, 2014

· 2 Comments

The warmth of real leather pairs so well with the clean, metallic sheen of today’s electronics. I never tire of feeling and smelling this old-world material while using cutting edge technology. The folks at BUKcase have added a very simple series to their product line for iPhones and iPads, which they call Cote. I was sent a review sample for both the iPad 2/3/4 and the iPhone 5/5s/5c to test, both in Wenge (which looks fairly black on their website, but is in actuality a reddish brown). Read More →

2 Comments

Categories : Android related, Cases, Covers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : iPad, iPhone, Leather, Samsung Galaxy S3 Cases

Creative Sound BlasterAxx AXX 200 review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

· 2 Comments

Portable sound and power. That’s what it’s all about today, it seems. Everyone has enough storage, or knows how to access it in the cloud. Everyone knows you need several cases and bags for all your stuff in varying situations. Now, it’s how to hear music (or whatever) in your chosen working area, and how to stay in places devoid of power outlets. SoundBlaster, the venerable audio hardware company, set out to do both – and much more – with their Sound BlasterAxx AXX 200. I was sent a test unit for review, as well as the separate charging base, and have put them through their paces. Pretty spiffy bit of kit, I’ll have to say. Read More →

2 Comments

Categories : Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Speakers, Reviews

Tags : Backup Battery, Bluetooth Gear

Quivvers Big Rig review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014

· No Comments

When we’re out and about, most Gadgeteers carry a few things: smartphone, wallet, keys, tablet. Maybe a tin of mints. Oh, sure, if we’re gone for the day, we’ll have a bag of other stuff including power adapters, charging cables and batteries, energy bars, and enough EDC stuff to survive a moon landing. But when you’re just gonna bike to the library or the bank, or run out for lunch, do you still grab all that stuff? The folks at Quivvers think not. They have designed a variant of Robin Hood’s tool carrier in two sizes for more modern tools. I was sent a black & brown “Big Rig” model to test. Read More →

No Comments

Categories : Bags, Backpacks, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tags : bags, gear bags, Tablet

Armytek Barracuda flashlight review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Monday, March 31st, 2014

· No Comments

Flashlights come in all shapes and sizes nowadays, and LED technology has enabled blindingly bright units to be smaller than some coins. But, for longer distances, there always needs for a good reflector and lens system involved, in order to amplify the LED’s glow. Enter the ArmyTek Barracuda, a powerful, rugged, handheld light with a 520 meter throw. (Yeah, that’s over 1700 feet!) I thought this was impossibly powerful at the price of $160. They sent us a review unit, and I’ve been disturbing neighbors and wildlife in my area of the state for several weeks now. It’s probably good that I’m not in a major airport’s flightpath!

No Comments

Categories : Outdoor Gear, Reviews

Tags : Flashlight, rechargable, worklight

Sherwood Excape EXM-30 Bluetooth speaker review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Friday, March 21st, 2014

· No Comments

Portable speaker systems range in price from $20-30 for the little pocket-sized ones to huge $600-800 units that can become your entire stereo. Where’s the sweet spot? We’ve reviewed many here at The Gadgeteer, and the ones I actually consider for purchase or gifting usually fall somewhere in the $100-$250 range. I was sent Sherwood’s Excape EXM-30, and have been listening to it for a few weeks now, using it around the house and out on the deck (when it’s not snowing or raining!), so thought it was about time to share my thoughts on it. Read More →

No Comments

Categories : Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Speakers, Reviews

Tags : Bluetooth Gear, Speaker

Prong PocketPlug charger-case for iPhone review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Tuesday, March 11th, 2014

· No Comments

With the always-online connectivity of smartphones these days, the folks making chargers are trying to keep up as much as those developing better battery chemistry. If you’re one who can’t quite make it through the day on a full charge, or if you travel and need to take along a charger, you’ve probably been irritated at the bulk or lack of flexibility of most chargers. I’m quite the fan of chargers like Apple’s iPad charger, where (at least on the US plug) the prongs fold into the bulk of the charger. Usually, however, you still have to deal with cords as well. You can bid those days a fond farewell, if you’re an iPhone 5 or 5s owner now, because a company called Prong has come up with the PocketPlug charging cases for iPhone 5/5s or iPhone 4/4s that incorporate a collapsible plug. Sounds pretty cool, no? Read More →

No Comments

Categories : Cables, Batteries and Chargers, Cases, Covers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : Case, iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5/5S, iphone charger

Blue Flame “The Pack” review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Saturday, December 21st, 2013

· 4 Comments

As our devices have shrunk in recent years, so, too, have carrying cases. Sling bags, messenger bags, and even the trusty backpack are slimmer, more focused on those slimmer devices, and more attuned to organization and ease of access, rather than capacity. Blue Flame, a fairly new entrant into the market place, has developed an entry into this growing space, and dubbed it “The Pack.” It comes in one size, one color combination, and one fabric. Let’s take a closer look. Read More →

4 Comments

Categories : Bags, Backpacks, Reviews

Tags : Backpack, bags

GripBase Podium review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Saturday, November 2nd, 2013

· No Comments

Anyone who has used an iPad or other tablet while standing, walking around, or speaking to a group, without the ability to rest it on something solid, has known the pain that juggling these tools can bring. Since it is a two-handed device, holding with one and manipulating with the other means you’ve got to somehow steady the device, usually in a pincer grip of the non-dominant hand, which leads to a pain in the thumb joint. Even with the iPad mini and Android tablets of smaller size and weight, holding on to them for hours can be rough. One solution, from the peripheral maker Newer Tech, is the GripBase Podium, a part of the full GripBase system. One of their major distributors, Other World Computing, offered the Gadgeteer team a demo unit, and I was chosen to give it a go. Read More →

No Comments

Categories : iPhone, iPad, iPod, Music Gear, Reviews, Tablets, Ultra Portables

Tags : iPad, Stand, Tablet

Booq Viper Courier 13 review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Friday, October 11th, 2013

· No Comments

Ah, gadget lovers and their gear. Hauling around our stuff used to be such a hassle. Today, it’s all about carrying multiple screens rather than a single screen and power adapter. Most of us carry a smartphone, as well as a tablet or phablet, and maybe a laptop. To accommodate the changes wrought by the iPad and similar devices, gadget bag makers have started to scale back some of the giant messenger bags of yesteryear and offer bags and slings of more modest size, but designed for a few screens, rather than one gigantic one. One such company is Booq, who have produced several lines in the few years the iPad has been on the market. Now they have added the Viper Courier 13, a horizontal-orientation laptop bag sized either for a 13-inch MacBook Pro or Air and iPad and iPhone, plus other accessories. (There’s also a model for 15 inch MacBooks Pro, but I was sent the 13″ model for testing.) Read More →

No Comments

Categories : Bags, Backpacks, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Laptops and Gear, Reviews, Tablets, Ultra Portables

Tags : gear bags, Laptop Bag

I'm not a fan of bare metal showing on a plug.

Belkin Dual Car Charger with Lightning to USB Cable review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

· 1 Comment

Getting power on the go used to mean carrying a bag-phone the size of a large loaf of bread and a power port plug to keep it juiced. Nowadays, we have much better battery chemistry, but for us power-users, the battery in a gadget may not last through a full day of use. If you’re spending any time in a vehicle with a 12-volt power system, plugging in an adapter to get a midday top-up can mean the difference between missing messages and easily making it through the day. WirelessGround offered the Gadgeteer team the Dual Car Charger with Lightning to USB Cable from Belkin, and I was selected to get it. Read More →

1 Comment

Categories : Cables, Batteries and Chargers, Car Gear, Reviews

Tags : Car accessories, USB charger

SharpScan Pro iOS app review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Sunday, September 29th, 2013

· 3 Comments

Paper. The curse of our record management as 21st century humans. The promise of computers has always been “the paperless office,” but most computer users have produced more paper, rather than less. The need for a piece of paper for giving information to someone else, “sign and return” situations like leases and contracts, and the wealth of information available only on paper has contributed (via photocopiers) to this avalanche of paper in which we find ourselves. What if I told you that virtually everyone reading these words has, in their possession, a device that will prevent you from ever having to seek out a photocopier. Think I’m crazy? Nope, that device is your smartphone or tablet. These devices have enough horsepower to scan any document, store it, send it, and convert it to text. All that’s missing in most cases is a handy, easy-to-use software package. That’s what SharpScan Pro for iOS offers, and in many ways, it lives up to the hype. Let’s take a closer look. Read More →

3 Comments

Categories : iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : Apps, Scanner

Grip & Shoot System iPhone holder review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Friday, September 20th, 2013

· 5 Comments

Camera phones have taken over as the go-to image maker for most folks. Now that the quality of the pictures created is good enough to replace your old point-and-shoot, there’s still one thing that hampers good photographic technique: holding the camera in landscape mode. Most cameras – I mean smartphones – tend to be set up to use in portrait mode – with the long axis vertically. But most photos – and especially videos – are better viewed in landscape, with the long axis horizontally. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was some type of holder that would let you easily hold your iPhone and trip the shutter with your phone in landscape? Well, oddly enough, there is just such an animal, and it solves both issues. It’s the Grip & Shoot System from gripandshoot.com. Let’s take a closer look at this aptly named device. Read More →

5 Comments

Categories : Bluetooth Gear, Camera Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : iPhone Holder, Photography

WHen used on a laptop, the volume buttons are readily accessible.

Carbon Audio’s Zooka portable Bluetooth speaker review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Friday, August 16th, 2013

· 1 Comment

With the change in mobile listening habits from stored music to streaming and Apple’s move from their 30-pin connector, we’ve seen a huge increase in wireless portable speakers. Used to be, everyone wanted an iPod or iPhone dock, but as Bluetooth has become more robust, so, too, have the speakers being offered. Today, you visit any electronics store in person or online, and you’ll see an almost endless variety of sound-producing gadgets. Carbon Audio entered this crowded-yet-growing field a while before last year’s holiday season with their Zooka, a stereo Bluetooth unit designed to clip onto the edge of a laptop or tablet. It’s designed to provide good stereo separation by having the speakers point out each end of the bazooka-like structure that gives the unit its name. I was sent one in a deep purple/wine color to test. Read More →

1 Comment

Categories : Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, Reviews

Tags : Bluetooth speaker

Cellet iPhone 4/4s belt clip review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Tuesday, August 13th, 2013

· 2 Comments

During the 90′s, when cell phones were becoming all the rage, the belt clip for phones became a status symbol of sorts. Since phones started out so large that they wouldn’t fit in a pocket, clipping them to a belt (or hiding them in a fanny pack) was an acceptable way to transport them. Even today though, when a smart phone is thinner than a pack of cards and not much larger (in many cases), some people prefer to have their phone clipped to their belt. On cooler days when I wear jeans to work, I usually use a belt clip for my phone, since my work shirt has no pocket. That’s why I was excited to test out the Cellet Leather iPhone belt clip case from the folks at the Wireless Emporium. Read More →

2 Comments

Categories : Cases, Covers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : belt, iPhone 4 case, iPhone accessory

Smart Cargo for iPad review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Monday, July 29th, 2013

· No Comments

I have completely replaced a laptop in my life with my iPad. I discovered this about a year into having my first iPad, when I realized the only time I had moved my MacBook Pro from the desk was when I presented, using both it and my iPad at a few meetings. But, when I’m out for the day, I still want to carry along a few things: a charger and cable – just in case; a portable battery pack; a screen cleaning cloth; a portable speaker; and my Square dongle. So, I usually wind up taking a bag along, just as I did with my MacBook Pro, but it’s just a much smaller bag. When I saw Dotan Saguy’s Smart Cargo for iPad on Kickstarter (project ends 8/9/13), I knew I’d have to have one. When Julie asked us to review it, I knew I’d be able to give it a whirl the very day it arrived, which I did. I just checked the project page, and it’s well over 400% funded. (Good on ya, Dotan!) I’ve spent some time using it and can echo what those early supporters felt – it looks great, and it does what it promises. We’ll look closer below, and I’ll share my thoughts as we take a deeper look. Read More →

No Comments

Categories : Crowdfunded, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : Cover, iPad accessory

LederMann Bridle Leather Camera Bag review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013

· 7 Comments

Ah, leather! One of the oldest and most durable materials humans have found to use, yet it still causes us to react warmly when we feel the texture or smell the scent. Whether it reminds us of new school shoes as a kid or that folio we were given at graduation, we all have a special reaction to it. So when Julie asked the team about reviewing some of a collection of bags from LederMann, a new vendor, they didn’t stay available for long. I was sent a traditionally-shaped Bridle Leather Camera Bag. Let’s dig deeper, shall we? Read More →

7 Comments

Categories : Bags, Backpacks, Camera Gear, Reviews

Tags : bags, Camera bag

The Toast cover arrives flat in a cardboard sleeve.

Toast iPad cover review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

· 2 Comments

Why is it we feel a need to cover over our gadgets? Designers spend thousands of hours perfecting the look and feel of the enclosures for these little pieces of glass, aluminum, and plastic, and yet, we cover them up in the name of protecting something we’ll almost never see. My first iPad rarely went anywhere without a case, but when I got my “new” iPad last March, I went native. I do carry it in a Javoedge slipcase, but use it “naked” most of the time. Lately, though, I’ve tired of always feeling the cold metal on the back of my iPad and was thinking about some sort of case or cover. So when Julie offered the team a chance to review the Toast wooden iPad cover, I was right there in the front row with my hand up screaming “Me! Me! Pick me!” It was quite embarrassing, so she took pity on me and let me review it. Read More →

2 Comments

Categories : Cases, Covers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : iPad cover

Salt, pepper, and hot sauce make lunches tastier. A titanium spork and a good, sharp Opinel folding knife help transfer it to my tummy.

Everyday Carry Bags – Smythe Richbourg

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

· 2 Comments

Salt, pepper, and hot sauce make lunches tastier. A titanium spork and a good, sharp Opinel folding knife help transfer it to my tummy.

I have not one standard geek bag, but three! I have a favorite for work, a different one for days off, and, if I’m taking my lunch to work, I have my required condiment and tools selection. Let’s start with the last mentioned – my lunch kit. Read More →

2 Comments

Categories : Articles, Gear

Tags : EDC

SoundBender iPad Sound Amplifier review

Posted by Smythe Richbourg

· Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

· 2 Comments

I love watching video and listening to podcasts and books on my iPad. It’s so much more portable and useful than my MacBooks have been over the years (which is to say it doesn’t have a hinge and require me to figure out what to do with that keyboard while watching!) The constant drawback to iPads, however, is sound. Specifically, getting enough of it in all but the quietest of rooms. A new, non-powered solution has recently come onto the scene, and I was fortunate enough to get one for review. It’s called the SoundBender from Simply Amazing, LLC. Is it? Does it? Let’s take a closer look.

2 Comments

Categories : Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Reviews

Tags : iPad accessory, sound booster