We’ve featured Eton radios on The Gadgeteer before, and I’ve gotten to try two of them myself.   They offer a lot of features for a low price, and the Eton American Red Cross FRX3 is no different.  It’s Ni-MH battery charges with the included power adapter or from the built-in solar panel or the hand turbine crank.  The AM, FM, and WB digital radio with display provide you with emergency news and weather information and the built-in USB charger keeps you in touch with the outside world by keeping your phone charged.  There’s even a glow-in-the-dark indicator around the solar panel to help you find it in the dark.  The Eton American Red Cross FRX3 is $60 at Eton.

Filed in categories: Gear, News, Outdoor Gear

Tagged: Emergency preparedness, Emergency radio

Give Dad the Gift of Preparedness for Father’s Day with the Eton FRX3 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 25, 2012 at 9:00 am.

USB On The Go (OTG) is fantastic when you need additional storage or need to transfer files to or from your smartphone or tablet.  One of the things you often need is some sort of converter cable to go from USB to Mini-USB to Micro-USB.  USB Fever removes at least one of those cables you might need to carry with you with their 2-in-1 OTG and USB Flash Drive (4GB) for Smartphones.  With 4GB of memory, transfer rates of up to 10 MB/s,  measuring 58 x 19 x 10.5mm and weighing in at 10g, the stick has both full size USB and Micro-USB ports for plug in convenience.

Available for $28.99 from USB Fever.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Flash Memory, Smartphone accessory

USBFever 2 in 1 OTG and USB 4GB Flash Drive originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 21, 2012 at 10:00 am.

I love it when someone takes an item that we all use everyday and reinvents it to make it more convenient. For example, when was the last time you thought to yourself that you love the design of the everyday ordinary keychain split ring? Probably never… More likely, you swear under your breath every time you break a nail or pinch your fingers when you need to remove or add a key to your keychain. The FREEKEY is a reinvention of the split ring and it’s awesome. Trust me, I don’t say the word awesome very often.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

I’ve been using the FREEKEY for a few months now, but didn’t post a review because I was unable to find any stores that sell them here in the US (or anywhere else for that matter). I don’t like posting reviews of products that you can’t buy because that’s just mean… so I held off until today. Something told me to google FREEKEY and I happened to find out that this Swedish made product is now being carried by Fenix Outfitters. So here we go…

What is the FREEKEY? It’s a sandblasted finished stainless steel split ring key holder that has been redesigned to make it much easier to use. In the image above, you see the FREEKEY on the Left and a regular split ring that we all know and love on the Right. The regular split ring has been around for years and years and does its intended job well. The only problem is that to add and remove keys, you have to wedge something between the two pieces of the ring to lift one end. Usually the thing we use as a wedge is our fingernail, which often ends with pain and suffering as nails break or finger tips get pinched.

That’s where the redesigned FREEKEY shines. It’s still the familiar circular shape, but instead of the layers of metal being flat, there’s a curved layer that creates a spring effect.

Squeezing the FREEKEY in a specific spot on the ring causes one end to lift up.

The squeeze takes much less effort than using your nail to pry the two layers apart on a normal split ring.

Just squeeze…

…and slide a new key on or off the ring. Simple! No broken nails, pinched fingers or swear words needed.

Put all your keys on one FREEKEY…

Or use the included group rings to organize your keys. Keep all your house keys on one group ring and all your work keys on another.

I absolutely love the FREEKEY and plan to never use an old fashioned split ring for my keys ever again. The only problem with the FREEKEY right now is availability and price. One FREEKEY (with 3 smaller organizational group rings included) is about $9. I know that’s very pricey. But once you use a FREEKEY, I think you’ll be hooked. Here’s hoping that this product will take off in a big way and we’ll never have to deal with those old style rings again.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Car, EDC, Keychain, Keyring

FREEKEY Press to Open Keyring Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 19, 2012 at 2:45 pm.

Bellroy, a company that specializes in Better Ways to Carry, have developed a Travel Wallet that’s small enough to fit in your pocket.  The Travel Wallet is made of midnight or cocoa leather, and it has multiple pockets to organize your tickets, cards, and passport.  (Doesn’t hold the double-thickness passports, only standard ones.)  It holds 8 or more cards, and the ticket section holds your tickets and boarding passes without creasing.  There’s even a micro travel pen tucked inside (see top, left photo) with some extra refills.  The Travel Wallet is $119.95.  Bellroy ships worldwide.

Filed in categories: Gear, News, Travel Gear

Tagged: Wallet

Organize Your Travel Papers with the Bellroy Travel Wallet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 18, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

Creating a collection of every day carry (EDC) items is obviously a personal thing. What is an indispensable item for one person, may be completely useless to another. However, one item that almost all of us will agree is useful, is a pen. Even though the majority of people reading this review carry a smartphone and may use it to take quick notes, a ballpoint pen is infinitely faster and easier. If I would look in your pocket or gear bag, my bet is that you have a pen in there some where. Pens come in all shapes and sizes, but the Mini Pen from Sunshine Products USA that I am going to show you today, has been designed specifically for EDC fans.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Sunshine Products USA is father and daughter company based out of California. Frank and Ahmy Rossini started out using a metal lathe and drill press and have been offering quality products since 1976.

The Mini Pen is just that… mini. From end to end (with the cap on), the Mini Pen measures approximately 2.75 inches long. It’s available in a variety of materials that include Stainless Steel, Brass, Aluminum, Stainless Steel with Carbon Fiber, Brass  with Carbon Fiber, and Aluminum with Carbon Fiber. The Mini Pen you see pictured above is Aluminum with Carbon Fiber. You can even get a Titanium version of this pen if the $225 price tag doesn’t scare you away.

Another popular EDC pen is the TEC Accessories PicoPen. Here you can see it next to the Mini Pen to give you a comparison. The Mini Pen is the diameter of a normal sized pen (about .25), but just with a shorter overall length.

The pen disassembles into 4 pieces: Body, Lamy ink cartridge (available in Blue or Black), end cap and top cap. If you click the picture above to zoom in, you’ll notice the two rubber O’rings on the end cap. There is an additional O’ring at the base of the end cap where it meets the pen body and there’s another O’ring on the writing tip end, where the cap meets the body. These rings help protect the pen and components from moisture.

The great thing about the Mini Pen is that you can mix and match the components. If you want a Brass body with a Stainless Steel end cap and an Aluminum top cap, you can. You can also choose between a keychain cap and a pocket cap.

One thing to note… the top cap screws on to the writing end of the pen, but does not screw on to the opposite end of the pen. The O’rings perform as pseudo threads though and hold the cap in place while you’re writing.

With the cap on the end, the Mini Pen grows to about 3 7/16 inches long. Although it’s short and very light weight, it is still comfortable to write with. I find it to be more comfortable than the TEC PicoPen, which sometimes causes my hand to cramp.

The workmanship on this pen is excellent. I have no complaints at all about how it’s made. The Carbon Fiber is definitely a head turner. When people see me use it, they almost always ask me where I got the pen.

If I could change anything about the Mini Pen, it would probably be the ink cartridge. The Lamy cartridge writes fine, but I think the ink cartridges in the Uniball Jetstream pens that I reviewed not long ago have completely spoiled me for other pens because the ink is so smooth and fine. That said, I really like the Mini Pen. It’s a keeper and has replaced the TEC PicoPen as my EDC.

Do you EDC a pen? If so, let us know your favorite.

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Writing Instruments

Sunshine Products USA Mini Pen Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 14, 2012 at 6:46 pm.

Although it’s the middle of May here in Indiana, we are still having a few 40 degree mornings. Instead of dragging out my winter coat, I’ve been enjoying the comfort and gadget storage of the SCOTTEVEST Lola Jacket. Wearing this jacket allows me to hide all my gear in the jacket and leave my shoulder bag at home. Let’s take a closer look.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

The Lola jacket is made of 100% quilted nylon with DuPont Teflon fabric protection that repels both water and oil based spills, while remaining machine washable. It is available three colors: Rhapsody, Sparkle and Fluff. The jacket is sized for women and comes in X-Small up to XX-Large. Guys don’t need to feel left out. SCOTTEVEST has a men’s version of this jacket called the Puffer which is available in Red and Black and sized from Small – XXX-Large.

I was sent a medium sized Lola in Rhapsody, which is a stylish Purple/Blue color with bright Yellow trim.

SCOTTEVEST products are famous for their pockets, so the Lola jacket lives up to that tradition. This jacket offers 16 pockets that allow for great gear organization.

With the jacket zipped (btw: I love the long metal zipper pulls), you have access to two zippered hand warmer pockets.

Inside the Right pocket is a removable extendable key holder, a wide elastic bottle holder and a lipstick / chapstick pocket.

In the Left pocket you’ll find a small change pocket.

The cuffs have a narrow elastic band to keep them from shimmying up your arm.

Like other SeV jackets, the Lola has a built in PAN – Personal Area Network that you can use to route your earbud cables. In the inside collar area, a flap of the quilted material is held in place with Velcro. Opening this channel will allow you to place your earbud cables so that you can easily access your music while on the go. Small rubber holders add additional cable management. This system works fine, but I did notice that if you don’t arrange the flap correctly, that the Velcro in the collar might scratch your neck. For this fact, I’d prefer just having a hole that I could fish the wires into, instead of a flap. I like the SeV Chloe jacket PAN system design a little better than the Lola’s design.

The pockets on the Left side of the jacket include a Cellphone / MP3 player pocket at the top, with a pen pocket next to it near the zipper. This pocket is large enough to comfortably hold an iPhone 4S or Motorola Droid X with room to spare. There’s a conduit in the pocket to route the connector from your earphones.

A little lower is a zipper that opens into a large 8.5 x 8.5 inch pocket that extends to the bottom of that side. This pocket can hold a small tablet or ebook reader like the Amazon Kindle Fire.

Another zipper allows access to a smaller 8.5 x 4 inch pocket on top of the 8.5 x 8.5 inch pocket. This pocket is meant to hold your passport and your ID (in the small pocket on the outer layer). The pocket works great for holding a Field Notes notebook or Moleskine Cahier notebook too.

On the Right side, you’ll find two large zippered pockets.

The upper pocket, which is accessed with a vertical zipper holds your sunglasses and includes a handy chamois cloth that is attached to an elastic cord.

A horizontally zippered pocket below the sunglasses pocket is meant to hold your digital camera. There’s even a smaller pocket inside which you can use to hold extra SD flash cards. It’s possible to place a CF sized card in that slot, but you won’t be able to Velcro the top closed.

I should note that all the interior pocket zippers have nice hard plastic pulls on them, while the exterior zippers have metal pulls.

You’ll also notice that there’s an adjustable bottom cinch cord that will help keep the wind and cold from blowing up your back.

Speaking of the back, that’s where the largest pocket of this jacket is located. It’s an open topped stretchy mesh pocket that is large enough to hold an iPad. I don’t think I’d want to walk around with an iPad bouncing against my back, but it also works great for holding a standard sized magazine.

I love the Lola jacket. It allows me to carry quite a bit of gear without having it all stuffed into two side pockets, which is what I usually end up doing with non-SCOTTEVEST jackets. I don’t carry tons of gear, but it’s nice to have my keys, wallet, phone, earbuds, lip baum, sunglasses clip, pen and a Field Notes notebook all stowed in the jacket so I don’t have to carry a bag. I also like that the jacket doesn’t have a lot of SeV branding. What it does have is subtle… the SeV logo on the interior lining and then a rubber SeV logo sewn into the back of the collar.

I was very surprised by how comfortable and light weight this jacket is, while still providing adequate protection from cool weather. It’s so cozy that I keep hoping for more cool mornings so I can wear it to work. It seems like the perfect weight for Fall and Spring weather, but not quite heavy enough for the dead of Winter… unless of course the winters in your area are not too cold.

The Lola jacket is made very well. I could not find any defects in the material or construction. I’m a fan of this jacket and expect it to hold up to everyday wear and tear for many cold seasons to come.

Filed in categories: Gear, Outdoor Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Clothing, Gear

SCOTTEVEST Lola Women’s Jacket Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 13, 2012 at 2:30 pm.

Charging a bunch of gadgets, each with their own wall wart, uses up a lot of outlets.  Scosche has four new USB chargers that can charge multiple gadgets with one wall wart.  The reVIVE h4 (top, left) and reVIVE h4 pro (top, right) both feature 4 USB ports, each delivering 5W (1A) charging power.  The reVOLT h2 (bottom, left) and reVOLT h2 pro (bottom, right) have two USB ports, each with 10W (2.1A) of power, so you can charge two tablets at once.  Each pro model comes with a Scosche charge/sync cable with both an Apple connector and a microUSB connector.  Set up a charging station at home with these chargers, or fold up the plugs and throw them in your gear bag.  The reVIVE h4 and reVOLT h2 chargers are each $29.99; the pro models of each are $39.99.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: USB charger

Scosche Announces Four New Multi USB-Port Home Chargers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 8, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

Adding a skin to your device is a good way to add scratch protection without adding a lot of bulk.  There are basically two types of skins – clear to let your device shine through and colorful, graphical designs that can overwhelm the device.  iCarbons skins offer a different approach.  Their vinyl skins add color and texture without adding wild patterns.  iCarbons are available to fit a variety of phones, tablets, game consoles, Apple computers, certain iPods, and even an Apple TV and its remote.  They are available with a carbon fiber texture in black, red, or white, in dark or light wood grains, or even brushed aluminum or brushed titanium finishes.  You can get a back cover, front cover, or a set of both for most devices.  Prices vary depending on the device, starting at about $7 for an iPod nano and up to $50 for some of the computers.  (Click the image for more details.)

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Skins

iCarbons Are Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Device Skins originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 7, 2012 at 8:16 am.

If your computer has a USB 3.0 port, you’ll want a USB drive that can take advantage of the increased speed.  Verbatim has just released the new Store ‘n’ Go V3 USB 3.0 Drive that’s just what you need, with “10 times faster transfer rate than earlier generation USB 2.0 ports”.  Available in 8-64 GB models and in a variety of colors, the Store ‘n’ Go V3 is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers.  The capless design protects your drive without the hassle of keeping up with a separate cap.  The Store ‘n’ Go V3 drives are available now, starting at an MSRP of $19.99.

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Flash Drive, USB 3.0

Verbatim’s New Store ‘n’ Go V3 USB 3.0 Drive Transfers Data Up to 2 Times Faster Than USB originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 2, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Is it just me, or does having a gadget fetish tend to spawn a second fetish for gear bags and cases? Being a gadgeteer is a slippery slope my friends, and I’m here to provide you with yet another way to spend your weekly paycheck. You’re welcome and I’m sorry. Pick one. Skinth Solutions are hand sewn sheathes for your small EDC (everyday carry) items. I happened to discover them several weeks ago and was given the opportunity to have one created for me so that I could tell you more about them.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Skinth Solutions is a 1.5 man operation ran by Eric Au. He’s a photographer that had a personal need to carry some tools and found that the current sheaths available on the market just didn’t make the cut. So he made his own and Skinth was born.

The Skinth is available in several sizes, Cordura colors and with many customization options. I’m not going to go over every available feature and size sheath. If you’re interested in having one made, you can spend hours (not kidding) drooling over the pictures on the Skinth site. I was sent a Skinth OG + in Royal Blue with Orange that you see above. The OG + has room for a 4.5″-5″ long tool (interior 1.75″ wide, 3/4″ and 3.5″ long). A snap flap keeps the tools from falling out and two side tubes can hold pens and small flashlights.

The back has a belt loop and an added option of Velcro strips to hold a knife.

There is a large pocket to hold one or more tools, a flat slot in front of that and then two narrow pockets in front of that. In addition to the slots and pockets there are two open tubes on each side.

Side view.

The main storage compartment on the OG + can hold most standard sized multi-tools like a Leatherman. The thin pocket above the main pocket can hold smaller flatter objects like a pocket knife.

Here is an example of what the Skinth OG + can hold. It can actually hold more than what is pictured here if you get creative and have smaller tools.

The materials and construction of the Skinth is great. Eric definitely knows his way around a sewing machine.

The only mini gripe that I have is that there’s about a half inch of extra material at the base of the main compartment. My guess is that Eric just forgot to trim the extra fabric during the construction process. This is a handmade product, so I can forgive it.

Skinth sheathes are well made and look great, but they aren’t something I would wear on my own belt… mainly because I don’t wear a belt. And because I’m a girl who works in a office and doesn’t have a job that requires me to keep a collection of tools at the ready. But if I was a guy that needed my EDC tools with me all the time, a Skinth sheath would definitely find a home on my belt.

Eric does a wonderful job designing and making these tool holders. He offers enough customization options that you will be able create the perfect sheath to hold your gear.

Update:

Right after I posted this, Eric emailed me with this info:

Funny you made that note, as soon as I finished making your Skinth, I thought about how to improve how the bottom can be done. That 1/2″ of xtra material is now hemmed in place and the bottom is finished in the same way.

Everything past yours is now constructed in the same way.

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Case

Skinth Pocket Sheath Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 30, 2012 at 8:53 pm.

Come on admit it, you really want one! Well I do anyway, and the field of 3D printers is getting better and cheaper.  We reported on the Makerbot Thing-o-matic in August last year, a “consumer” 3D printer for $1299 at the time. Well former Makerbot COO Samuel Cervantes now heads up  Solidoodle and they’ve just released for pre-order the Solidoodle 3D printer for $499.

With a 6″ X 6″ X 6″ build area, the printer comes fully assembled, and the frame is constructed from steel.   The unit has an 11.5″ X 11.75 X 11.75″ case footprint (LxWxH) and weights in at 17 lbs.  It uses 1.75mm plastic filament to “print”.

Available from Solidoodle in Base ($499), a Pro ($549) and Expert($599) models.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: 3d printing, Printer

Solidoodle 3D Printer – Under $500 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 28, 2012 at 1:30 pm.

I travel a great deal throughout the country and do my best to survey what the tech folks are using along the way. This is especially true in the airports, where people (young children to little old ladies and everything in between) are killing time on their various electronic devices. Over the past year or so, I have noticed an increase of stylus use on tablets. So, when asked if I would like to try the AluPen Pro from Just|Mobile, I accepted to see if a stylus really added to the modern-day tablet experience.

Remember back in the days of the Palm Vx, where you had to use the included stylus to input and control the device? For better or worse, when Apple released the first iPhone, that all changed. Manipulating our devices evolved from the stylus to touching, swiping, and tapping. According to Steve, anything else was just so 90′s. For the most part I agree.  However, I have found the more I do with my slate devices, finger input is not always the best method especially when it come to drawing or illustrating finer detail.

Just Mobile’s AluPen Pro is a redesign of their original AluPen stylus that Bill reviewed a few years ago, adding 2-in-1 functionality (a retractable pen on one end and a rubber ball shaped stylus tip on the other) in a sleeker, slimmer package. It’s constructed of finely machined aircraft aluminum with a six-sided body that is easy and comfortable to hold. Just Mobile includes a quality leather sleeve/case for the stylus, a replacement tip, and a high-quality Pelikan ballpoint ink cartridge.

Features

• High-quality aluminum construction
• Soft rubber stylus for precise control
• Works with all capacitive touch screens
• Retractable ballpoint with twist mechanism
• Equipped with high-quality Pelikan ballpoint refill
• Replacement nib and carry case included

Dimension:

• 13.43 x 1 x 0.9 cm
• 5.23 x 0.4 x 0.35 in

The black tip is meant to substitute for your fingertip. Using it in conjunction with the pen-shaped form of the stylus makes drawing much easier and more precise. The nub is rounded, soft and a bit squishy….reminds me of an eraser.  I use it 99% of the time when playing Draw Something.  The Gadgeteer Kid and I pass the stylus back and forth when playing.  According to Just Mobile, the tip works on all capacitive touch screens.

On the other end, the AluPen Pro has a retractable ballpoint pen that easily retracts with a twist of the barrel tip.

The Pro’s high-quality Pelikan ballpoint ink cartridge writes very well; smooth with great ink flow.

The AluPen Pro is available in the aluminum you see in my review and black as well.

The AluPen Pro is a nice update to the original design, doubling its functionality without losing any of the original’s craftsmanship or stylish, high-tech design. The Pro’s solid construction, beveled feel, balance, and moderate weight makes it an ideal stylus/writing instrument. However, adding the ability to write nearly doubles the cost ($40) from the original AluPen ($25).

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Stylus

Just Mobile AluPen Pro Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 27, 2012 at 5:15 pm.

I recently reviewed a small set of Incase USB cables that will lighten your daily-carry load, and now I’ll tell you about a single USB cable from Innergie that can charge almost every USB device you own.  The Charge & Sync 3-in-1 USB Cable contains a miniUSB, microUSB, and Apple 30-pin connector in a single unit.  I ordered one of these after I saw Ian’s news post about these cables.  Let’s give it a closer look. 

The Innergie 3-in-1 USB cable is about 7″ long used with the Apple connector, about 6.25″ long with the microUSB connector, and about 5.25″ long with the miniUSB, and it weighs about 0.5 ounce on my digital kitchen scale.  The cable is stiff, but you don’t really need to wrap it up to store it in your gear bag.  At almost 0.25″ in diameter, the cable is thicker than that used for the Incase cables.

One end has a normal male USB connector.  The other end has a miniUSB connector, and there are a microUSB and an Apple 30-pin adapters attached to the miniUSB connector.

I saw a user review on Amazon that said some of the connectors didn’t work.  I wondered if that person hadn’t thought to push the connectors together to make the last two work.

To use the Apple connector, I pushed all the connectors together and plugged it in to my iPhone.  I was able to use the Innergie cable while my phone was in the Apple Bumper.  My iPhone 4 started charging and iTunes opened and synced my iPhone as soon as I connected the cable to my laptop.

I was also able to use the microUSB connector with my Sony PRS-T1 ebook reader.  I still don’t have any devices that use the miniUSB connector, but I have to assume it would work since it passes power through to the other two connectors.

Of course, you can use the Innergie Charge & Sync 3-in-1 USB Cable with USB power adapters as well as the USB ports on your computer.  If the cable length isn’t long enough, you can add the 1-meter AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Female Extension Cable that I purchased for $5.

I gave the Innergie cable and the extension cord to my husband, Butch.  He used it on a recent business trip.  It worked great to charge his travel gear, and it lightened the load in his Tom Bihn Empire Builder.  The Innergie cable is a great way to carry a variety of USB charging cables in one small, lightweight package.

Filed in categories: Gear, Pocket Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Travel kit, USB cable

Innergie Charge and Sync 3-in-1 USB Cable Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2012 at 11:00 am.

When you think of pocket gear, you probably think of multitools or even small flashlights that you can add to your keyring.  You probably don’t think of USB cables, but the USB Cable Kit from Incase is small enough to qualify as pocket gear.  I recently purchased this cable set to keep in my purse, and I thought I’d do a small review for this small set.

The Incase USB Mini Cable Kit also comes in a Grey color choice, but I bought the Fluorescent option.  All the cables are stored in a little travel pouch with a Velcro closure.  The pouch measures 4.6″ long X 3″ tall X about 0.25″ thick with the cables inside.

Incase states the cables are 4″ long, but mine actually measured about 3.75″ each, tip to tip.

The cables are color-coded so you can easily grab the one you need:  orange miniUSB, blue microUSB, and green Apple 30-pin connector.  Of course, each cable has a standard USB plug on the other end.  These cables have flexible reinforcement sleeves at the plug junctures and a soft-touch, rubbery coating over the cables and plastic ends.

The cable is thin, only about 1/8th of an inch in diameter, and they are stiff and resistant to easy bending.  The cables are short enough that they certainly don’t need to be wrapped for storage, and they lay flat inside the travel pouch.  Hopefully they’ll last a long while.

Although the cables are short, you can see I could easily use them to charge/sync my iPhone (Apple cable) and my Sony PRS-T1 (microUSB).  I don’t currently have any device that uses a miniUSB cable, so I couldn’t test that one.  Both the other cables worked fine.

I needed room beside my MacBook Pro to rest the devices on while charging, which is fine while I’m at home.  When I’m traveling, I might not have that much room, so I purchased a 1-meter AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Female Extension Cable ($5) to use with these little cables.

It didn’t fit inside the pouch with the other cables, but I could easily roll up the extension cable and use the Velcro to hold it with the travel pouch.

The travel pouch and three Mini cables weighed 0.95 ounce on my digital kitchen scale.  With the extension cable, my little kit weighed 2.7 ounces.  I can drop it in my Tom Bihn Little Swift bag that I use as my daily purse and not even notice anything extra is in there.  I’ll be glad it’s there if I need a cable, because I’ll know I have anything I could need with me at all times.  You could fit them in your pocket, but it would probably be better to keep the kit in a shirt pocket instead of pants pockets, where they’d be more subject to bending.  I know, they’re a bit expensive, but they are convenient, more compact, and cost less than buying 3 individual cables.

Filed in categories: Gear, Pocket Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Travel kit, USB cable

Incase USB Mini Cable Kit Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 21, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Fans of EDC (EveryDay Carry, the art and science of preparedness through personal gadget selection) have been using belt-mounted key holders for years.  How about one that does more than just its obvious function? Billed as “The world’s most talented keychain,” The Clip from LittleBonsai is a stainless steel belt clip that can hold your keys, but it can also be used as a personal electronics cable manager, money or credit card clip, bottle or box opener and more.  Designed and manufactured in Boston, Mass., U. S. of A. The LittleBonsai site shows it “starting at $15,” but alas, it appears to be out of stock at present (as of 17 Apr 2012). If interested, you can go to the Webstore and enter your email address to be contacted when The Clip is again available.

UPDATE: As of 18 Apr 2012, it appears that The Clip is once again available for pre-order here.  I’ve placed my order…!

Filed in categories: Gear, News, Pocket Gear

Tagged: Belt Clip, Keychain

LittleBonsai The Clip is Simple, Functional, Versatile originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 17, 2012 at 3:00 pm.

ATTSavings has released a cool Fiction to Reality Timeline for gadgets (you can also click on the graphic above for a full size version).  From the screen to your hand, I suspect there’ll be some debate about some of the associations and claims put forward, but still a bit of fun anyway. Much is the pity, there’s still no teleporter or Marty McFly hoverboard.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: History

ATTSaving’s Fiction to Reality Timeline originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 14, 2012 at 8:00 am.

The Feinger system consists of an mount attachment for the back of your phone and a finger sleeve to attach the phone to your hand.  The neoprene finger sleeve is available in sizes to fit fingers of most sizes.  The mount has an adhesive pad that attaches to your phone or small, handheld device.  Snap the finger sleeve into the mount, and your phone will be securely held to your hand.  You’ll also get a keychain mount to store your finger sleeve when you aren’t using it with your phone, and you’ll get a unimount that you can use to attach the phone to your car dash, a wall, or other similar surface.  The Feinger is available for pre-order for $14.95.  You can purchase accessories, like lanyards to extend the usefulness of the Feinger system.

Filed in categories: Android related, Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Miscellaneous, News

Tagged: Phone Holder

Never Drop Your Cell Phone Again with Feinger originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

The Standeazy smart phone stands work with most every smart phone on the market now.  They’re made of polypropylene, and they are about the size of a credit card.  They fold up and store in your wallet when you don’t need them, and they’ll open into a stand that can support your phone in either portrait or landscape orientation.  The stands are available in the clear, original version, or in a variety of cute and colorful designs.  Prices start at £3.50 (about $5.56 US)  for the clear and go up to £4.99 ($7.93) for some of the designs.  Standeazy is a UK-based company, and I’m not sure if they are shipping to the US.  Hopefully, they’ll ship here soon!

Filed in categories: Gear, News, Pocket Gear

Tagged: smart phone accessory, Stand

Standeazy Stand for Smart Phones originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 9, 2012 at 8:00 am.

The Credit Card knife from Cool Material isn’t as thin as a credit card, but it does have similarly sized dimensions. It’s made of titanium and can fold up to keep it a compact 2.75 inches long. It’s priced at $29.95. It doesn’t look very comfortable to hold and use with the wide handle, but I’ll give it points for its eye catching design.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Knife

You’ll need a credit card to buy this credit card knife originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 8, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

Taking good photos is very important to me.  Not only do I want to have good photos of family and friends, but I need good photos for my reviews here at The Gadgeteer.  The Adorama Learning Center has three eBooks that can help me improve my photo skills, and they are offering free downloads of all three titles.  The Adorama Guide to Snapshooting teaches you how to fix common point-and-shoot mistakes.  The Adorama Guide to Studio Lights teaches you about various kinds of studio lights and backdrops.  And The Adorama Guide to Family Photography teaches you how to best capture memories.  Each is available as either an ePub or PDF file.  All you have to do is supply your first name and an email address to download the books from Adorama.

Filed in categories: Gear, Miscellaneous, News

Tagged: Books, Photography

The Photography eBook Collection Free from Adorama Learning Center originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 1, 2012 at 8:00 am.

Just|Mobile has the answer to that tangle of cables you fight with.  The 1.2″ X 0.9″ X  0.5″ AluCube Mini is made from a single piece of aluminum with a rubber-lined slot to hold your cables.  You can use it as a cable tie, or use the adhesive patch to attach it to your desktop to keep your cable just where you need it.  You’ll get two cubes in a package for $16.95.  Just|Mobile ships worldwide, and you can pre-order now.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Cable management

Avoid Cable Chaos with the AluCube Mini originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 30, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

We’ve told you about the GRID-IT! system from Cocoon Innovations before.  These panels are covered in interwoven elastic straps that grip and organize your smaller items.  These panels come permanently installed in some laptop and gear bags from Cocoon, and they are also available as separate panels that you can add to your own laptop bag.  The CPG4 GRID-IT! is a stand-alone panel that’s sized to fit in a purse or a small gear bag.  It’s 7″ X 5″ X 0.375″.  The flip-side of the CPG4 can be used as a mouse pad.  It weighs just under 0.25 pounds, but you get a lot of organization for the slight added weight.  The CPG4 GRID-IT! is $9.99 at Cocoon.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Bag accessory, Organization

Now You Can Organize Your Purse with GRID-IT! Panels originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 24, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

A drill-mounted polishing/buffing device may not be as cool or as ‘gadget-y’ as a lot of the stuff we review here, but there is something to be said for a well-made device that does its designated job very nicely.  The BufferBit kit is one of those not-so-fun but necessary items that keep you looking professional.

The $24.99 BufferBit kit consists of two main elements:

• A conical bit that fits any drill bit holder or that can be used directly in the chuck, and
• 3 wool buffing pads that fit snugly on the bit- red, black, and white/natural (all the same other than color), that can also be purchased separately.

The pads and the conical bit

The pads are held on the bit by a strong elastic band. The 100% wool pads are machine washable (cold water, air or cool tumble dry) and designed to be used without any other polishes or chemicals (although it is a good idea to clean whatever you are about to polish first.)

Pad installed on bit. Notice the elastic band

BufferBit in drill, ready to use

The pads will polish leather shoes, purses, leather jackets, leather or leather-like furniture, chrome, stone, tile, car rims, automotive chrome, and more around the home or garage. Although not mentioned, it would probably be smart to designate a specific colored pad for some cleaning jobs like polishing car rims, etc. where some abrasives may be picked up that may damage other surfaces. If you use it on leather or shoes, it may also be wise to roughly match the pad color to the leather color.

You don’t need much pressure, or a very powerful drill – in fact, slower speeds are generally better for this sort of thing. Cordless drills are recommended for this very reason. In use, I found that a smaller, lower-powered drill generally is easier to use and handle than the bigger ones. I suspect that the ‘power screwdriver’ versions, with the straight-line body and handle, would work even better, assuming they are powerful enough.

As mentioned, you don’t need polishes or chemicals – just light pressure and the all-wool pads. They will shed a bit for a while, but this is common with all wool polishing pads, so it is nothing to worry about.

Now that I had it all set up, I started to look for things to polish… and ran into a small snag. I just don’t have a lot of things in the house that this sort of device will help with. (I took it to my shop as well with similar results. I also drive a car that has few things it would help with. I would have sworn I had more polishable things when I agreed to do this review!)

My most shine-able shoes. Both dry wiped, the left one polished.

I tried it on my most polishable shoes, but they barely showed any results- more due to not being very soiled and not having a finish that takes a shine than due to any flaw in the pads. (Although I did include most of the lint from the polishing effort!)

Bathroom faucet- right side polished (I swear there are water spots all over the left side!)

OK, the bathroom faucet was a little better example. I polished the right side and the spout. There is a slight haze due to a little water that got on the pad, but it did a nice job (shedding a little more lint).

The design of the BufferBit helps it useful for small jobs that can be done with a cloth and bigger jobs that might normally call for a power buffer unit. The conical shape allows it to fit in smaller spaces, while still being able to work larger jobs using the sides. All of the components are well-made. The bit especially is sturdy and should last a long time.

Overall, I was impressed with the build quality and thoughtful design of this tool. I was less impressed with the usefulness. Certainly part of that is because I have so little need for it now, but in my experience in the last several years with several tools of this type, most of the jobs a unit of this size can handle can generally be handled nicely with other options I already have (like microfiber cloths). I also find that cordless drills are generally not comfortable to use for long when you are using a bit that involves sideways pressure – the handles and balance of the drill is just not designed for that.

Filed in categories: Gear, Miscellaneous, Reviews

Tagged: buffer, polisher

BufferBit Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 21, 2012 at 11:00 am.

For being (touted as) the most powerful handheld flashlight in the World, the first thought that went through my mind was how very unassuming the Wicked Lasers Torch is….from the packaging to the flashlight itself. According to Wicked Lasers, the Torch throws a massive 4100 lumens, many times more powerful than some of my brightest flashlights (and I have a LOT of flashlights). Having used/reviewed so many in my time, when I read that the Torch was THE Big Dog in town, I definitely wanted to see/play with one in person. Thankfully Wicked Lasers sent me one to see if it lives up to all the hubbub.

When I first saw/held the Torch, it completely reminded me of those old MagLite flashlights. It’s casing is constructed of a powder-coated, military grade aluminum. The front lens is made of a specialized heat resistant glass so it will not shatter under the tremendous amount of heat the Torch generates.

Here is the Torch next to my father’s ancient nightstick he carried with him as a police officer. While the MagLite is bigger and heavier, the Torch throws tens (perhaps even a hundred) of times more brightness than this old relic.

The Torch arrived in several plain brown cardboard boxes. Four to be exact, housing the two batteries, smart charger, and the flashlight itself. To understand how everything works, I actually read the user manual/directions.  Considering that you are instructed to attach a thermal couple/sensor to the side of the battery before charging….probably a good idea to read the manual.

The magnetic +/- leads are color-coded and attach effortlessly. It takes approximately 30 minutes to fully charge the battery. Wicked Lasers advises that you do not overcharge the battery; when the smart charger’s indicator light turns green, you should disconnect it soon there after.

Specifications:

• Lamp Output: 4100 Lumens w/an Adj High Efficiency Reflector
• Dimensions: 2.25″ X 9″ (57mm x 230mm)
• Weight: 19.3 ounces (547g)
• Power Supply: 12×2/3A 1500mAh Cells 14.4V
  
• Battery Lifetime: 5 Minutes
  
• Bulb Type: 100W Halogen
  
• Expected Bulb Life: 2000 Hours
• Casing: Military Grade Aluminum
• Tail switch: On/Off Button
• Warranty: One Year
  

The battery is specifically engineered and shaped for the Torch. The Torch is machined to only accommodate the correct battery (vs C-sized). The battery appears to be constructed of twelve double A-like cells, Macgyver’d into a single powercell (or something like that).

A bit surprisingly, the bulb is not LED but a filament-based 100W halogen estimated to last for 2000 hours of use.

From an operational standpoint, the Torch has its limitations….some pretty large limitations. The manual warns that you should not use the Torch for more than 3 minutes at a time, otherwise the heat it generates can damage its inner workings – a detail I completely agree with. After a few minutes of use, the head of the flashlight gets seriously HOT. So hot, it causes rain to sizzle (aka do not touch the operational end until it cools down). In addition to continuous runtime heat ‘issues’, the Torch’s battery only lasts 5 minutes…. Yep, you see correctly (and stop laughing) – 5 minutes.

But for those 5 minutes, the Torch is extremely bright. I would classify it as carrying a handheld spotlight.

The Torch is controlled with a single on/off button located on the center/end of the tailcap. To say the Torch is simple to operate is an understatement; it is either on or off. No power/brightness settings or special combination of clicks to activate it.

Here is a video of the Torch in action cooking eggs:

It can also burn paper, light cigarettes, and ignite matches.

From a real world standpoint:

We have a heavily treed ravine that runs through our property. It is a VERY dark at night and the perfect place to test flashlights. So, the Gadgeteer Kid and I took three of my flashlights to see how they stacked up against the Torch and its 4100 lumens. We chose a wide variety of size and brightness to give perspective of just how bright 4100 lumens is.

The pictures (f2.8 / ISO 3200) below can be expanded/enlarged if you click on them.

The Torch illuminated the entire ravine but had a dark spot in the middle of the light it threw. I tweaked the adjustable reflector which helped but did not make the dark stop go away completely. Being a filament-based bulb, the Torch’s light was definitely more yellow than the LED-based lights we compared it to.

Overall, the Torch’s build quality is good/fine but I would say is not up to ‘SureFire’ quality. At the time of writing, Wicked Lasers is including a ‘free’ one year warranty when you purchase the Torch. Considering it is $180 flashlight, a worthy warranty seems like a no brainer.

From a practicality standpoint, it is very difficult recommending a flashlight that can only be on for less than 3 minutes and batteries lasts less than two ON-cycles. Going beyond, my gal-pals ask ‘what good is a flashlight like that‘ after I explain the Torch’s complete lack of longevity. Even my flashlight-loving associates question the Torch’s true use and function. I found it difficult to argue the counterpoint and come up with a real-world use. But if you want or need an extremely bright lantern/flashlight/handheld spotlight, there are none brighter than the Wicked Lasers Torch.

Filed in categories: Gear, Outdoor Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Flashlight

Wicked Lasers Torch Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 19, 2012 at 11:00 am.

Remember in the “old days” when only the geekiest of us had a USB drive? Now everybody seems to have at least one hanging off their keyring.  Subtley show off your geekiness with the Folderix Flash Drive.  Shaped like a file folder icon, the Folderix comes in yellow, purple or blue and only in one (ungeeky) size of 4GB.

Available from ThinkGeek for $14.99.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: USB flash drive

Folderix Flash Drive – Discreetly Show Off Your Geekiness originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 19, 2012 at 8:06 am.