Bill Loguidice's Blog, page 116

Review: Sumsonic Apple Watch Stand

One of the nice things about owning an Apple product is that because of the relatively limited product line and extreme popularity of most of their products, aftermarket support is a given. It’s no different with the Apple Watch. Whether it’s bands, screen covers, or, in this case, watch stands, there is no shortage of Apple Watch enhancements.

The box for the Sumsonic Apple Watch Stand.

The inside of the box.

The Sumsonic Apple Watch Stand eschews modesty and goes straight for a bold, arch-shaped design. This is actually appealing, because you not only have the option of placing the watch on this stand with its band opened on the arch, but also with its band closed by positioning it away from the arch.

The contents of the box.

Partially assembled.

The stand itself is well constructed and comes in three pieces. The first piece is the transparent, acrylic platform. The second piece is the small pad that fits in the acrylic platform’s groove where you place your existing Apple Watch charging cable. The third and final piece is the aluminum cover that keeps the other pieces in place. Despite the Chinese language instructions (albeit with companion photos), assembly was simple.

Fully assembled.

Once assembled, the non-slip silicone mat base keeps it in place and, just as importantly, keeps whatever surface you place it on scratch free. Once you place your watch, it will stay nicely in place as well and look good doing it. My only real criticism is that the tab end of the stock black band on my 42 mm Apple Watch Sport Edition goes slightly past the bottom of the arch. I would have preferred it to be slightly larger so that when my watch was placed on the stand in this manner it would be entirely on the arch. With that in mind, it’s a minor complaint at best, as I still appreciate the overall design and premium feel. It’s definitely my favorite Apple Watch stand to date.

The watch on the stand.

The watch on the stand on my nightstand.

Thanks to Sumsonic for the review unit.

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Review: iPow Universal Car Mount

The problem with a lot of the car mounts on the market today is that they were designed around 2010-era technology, meaning sub-4.7″ phones. Today’s smartphones push 5″ or more without breaking a sweat, which is where the iPow Universal Car Mount comes into play.

The box for the iPow Universal Car Mount.

With a stretchable clamp that can go as wide as 3.54 inches (90 mm), the iPow Universal Car Mount is designed to accommodate even the largest of these oversized phones. For reference, the Apple iPhone 6 Plus is 3.06 inches (77.8 mm) wide and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is 3.09 inches (78.6 mm) wide, so that leaves plenty of wiggle room for the future.

The contents of the box.

The iPow Universal Car Mount is packaged in the form of three basic pieces. One piece is the double bracket clip that you squeeze to secure your phone, another piece is the gooseneck rod that’s attached to the suction cup and pressure switch, and the third piece is the barrel screw that joins those two other pieces together. As you would expect, assembling this is simple and intuitive.

Once you remove the protective plastic from the suction cup, you stick it to your windshield or dashboard, then lock the pressure switch. The suction cup is slightly tacky, which, combined with the pressure switch, makes for an incredibly secure connection.

My iPhone 6 Plus in the iPow Universal Car Mount on my car’s windshield.

Once your phone is in place, it’s easy to pivot your phone in either portrait or landscape modes. In my tests with my iPhone 6 Plus using this 360 degree rotation feature, I had no issues with turning my phone exactly as I liked it, particularly with how easy it was to also adjust the gooseneck rod.

At only $11.95 on Amazon right now, the iPow Universal Car Mount is a great value that gets the job done. My only real criticism is that I noticed the occasional jiggle when driving. Unfortunately, that’s just about unavoidable with a product that’s as adjustable as this one is.

Thanks to iPow for the review unit.

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Review: Aleratec 8000mah External Battery Charger

While there are smaller portable USB chargers out there, few others, big or small, have as much capacity as the Aleratec 8000mah External Battery Charger. Its 8000mAh lithium ion battery is more or less what you’d find in large tablets like the Apple iPad Air. Considering even some of the largest smartphones usually only have 3,000mAh batteries, that’s a lot of power to work with for charging your USB-based mobile devices.

The packaging for the Aleratec 8000mah External Battery Charger.

The inside of the box.

The charger‘s case, which is available in white and choice of three accent colors (blue (reviewed), orange, or pink) is sleek and rugged, with dimensions of 4.4 in (112 mm) x 2.91 in (74 mm) x 0.9 in (23 mm). The top of the device features two full-size USB ports, with one side providing 5V 2.1A and the other 5V 1A; an LED light (press the Power button twice to use this as a portable flashlight!); and a micro-USB port for charging the device with either the included cable or any other compatible cable that might be handy. An LCD display on the front of the device shows internal battery level (as a percentage, up to 100%) and input/output indicators.

What you get.

In my testing, it had no issue with charging my Apple iPhone 6 Plus. In fact, it’s smart enough to know to turn itself off once your device or devices are fully charged.

Charging my iPhone 6 Plus.

This is one charger that’s definitely bag worthy, not only for its power, but also for the convenience of being able to charge two devices at the same time (honorable mention goes to the flashlight feature). Even with the increased size over some other USB chargers, the fact that you’d typically need three or more of those smaller chargers to equal the capacity of this single unit makes the trade-off in portability worth it.

Thanks to Aleratec, Inc., for the review unit.

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Review: Gshine Nylon USB Cable with Lightning Connector (Apple iOS)

The Gshine Nylon USB Cable with Lightning Connector is an inexpensive, yet high quality charge and sync cable for Apple iOS-based devices. Unlike certain cables I’ve reviewed, it instantly worked with my iPhone 6 Plus, both for charging and syncing; no compatibility messages ever popped up.

The front of the box for the Gshine Nylon USB Cable with Lightning Connector.

The back of the box for the Gshine Nylon USB Cable with Lightning Connector.

The braided cable, which is made from Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE; materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties), feels incredibly durable. It’s definitely made to last for years of use.

Even the interior packaging is nice.

The back of the interior packaging.

The Gshine Nylon USB Cable with Lightning Connector is available in three colors: rose gold, silver, and black. Although they call the color I’m reviewing rose gold to no doubt match Apple’s nomenclature, to my eyes it’s more of a bronze color. Either way, it looks great. While the cables are available in different sizes, the one I reviewed came in a convenient 3 ft (0.9m) length.

The cable.

Considering it’s only $6.99 on Amazon right now, if you need a lightning cable, this is one deal you shouldn’t pass up.

Thanks to Grandshine for the review unit.

The post Review: Gshine Nylon USB Cable with Lightning Connector (Apple iOS) appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: LED Light Up Balloons

LEDs have reached the point where they’re cheap enough to appear in just about anything. Case in point are these LED Light Up Balloons. While easily the most frivolous of the LED-driven products I’ve reviewed, it’s still nice to see this technology implemented in an imaginative manner.

The two packages of balloons I received.

Setup is simple. Pull the tab to activate the LED light, then inflate and tie off the balloon like usual. While we used our own breath to inflate our balloons, helium is also an option.

After a short while, the glow was modest.

The balloons inflate to around 12 in. (30cm). Once lit, the LED – or more specifically the battery that powers the LED – is rated to last for about 48 hours, although your time will vary. When we lit our three test balloons, all lost intensity after a few hours, with only one of the three being particularly impressive when first activated. However, the red LED in each balloon did continue to have a weak glow for well after 48 hours.

My digital camera did its best to capture the subtle glow of the balloons as the evening wore on.

Although I wasn’t particularly impressed by the variable quality of the LED intensity in the three test balloons (we actually incorporated them into the decorations for our youngest daughter’s first birthday party), I will say that the material used to make the balloons themselves was impressively thick. While the LED technology needs some tweaking, balloon quality does not. As such, even with a likely repeat of the lackluster and inconsistent LED glow, we’ll definitely be incorporating the rest of these balloons into our middle daughter’s ninth birthday party decorations.

What my digital camera saw in our darkened house.

What my Apple iPhone 6 Plus saw in our darkened house.

Thanks to Echen for the review units.

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Armchair Arcade is now on Apple News!

For those with iOS 9 on their Apple mobile devices, there’s a new app called Apple News. The News pitch is that it collects all the stories you want to read, from top news sources, based on topics you’re most interested in, so you no longer need to move from app-to-app to stay informed.

Armchair Arcade is now available as a news source within the app. From your iOS 9 device, simply click this link to see the latest Armchair Arcade postings. Feel free to add us as a Favorite, and, as always, enjoy!

Armchair Arcade on Apple News on an iPhone 6 Plus.

 

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Review: 2Charge 4-in-1 USB Cable

Third party charging and sync cables are a competitive business. Some try to get by on price, some on quality, and some on unique features. The 2Charge 4-in-1 USB Cable goes for the latter.

One end of the 2Charge 4-in-1 USB Cable is a standard USB connector meant to be plugged into a USB port for charging or syncing, while on the other end of the 3.3ft (1M) cable are four different connectors: 30 pin for Apple iPad 3 or earlier, iPhone 4S or earlier, or early iPods; Lightning for iPad 4 or later, iPad Mini or later, or iPhone 5 or later; micro-USB for many Android devices, bluetooth headsets, etc.; and mini-USB for most other types of devices, including GoPro’s and digital cameras. Needless to say, this one cable has nearly all of the charge and sync bases covered.

The box for the 2Charge 4-in-1 USB Cable.

Unfortunately, my testing didn’t go so well. For example, the Lightning cable end gave me errors when used with my iPhone 6 Plus, and flat out refused to charge it. The same happened when I tried to charge an Xbox One controller with the micro-USB cable end. Since other reviews I’ve seen on Amazon seem to indicate no issues, I can only assume that perhaps I was given a defective cable.

The 2Charge 4-in-1 USB Cable looks good, but disappointed in actual use.

Considering how thin the cable is – which admittedly does make it nicely portable – I do have to wonder how well it will hold up to repeated usage. In any case, my cable absolutely didn’t work for me as expected, so this is not a product I can recommend.

Thanks to 180concepts for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: 2Charge 4-in-1 USB Cable appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: 1byone Smart Jump Starter, Power Bank, and Flashlight

The 1byone Multi-function Power Bank Smart Jump Starter is an incredibly well thought out product. Not only can its generous 9000mAh lithium battery jump start your vehicle’s dead battery numerous times, it can also charge even the most demanding mobile devices via its 5V 2A USB port, and even provides a powerful LED flashlight with emergency functions for the countless situations that might come in handy. While it’s of course meant to sit in your vehicle with its accessories inside its sturdy protective case, ready to spring into action when needed, the incredibly compact nature of the core device means its the type of thing you can easily bring along with you wherever its non-jump starting feature-set might come in handy.

How the 1byone Multi-function Power Bank Smart Jump Starter comes when you first get it.

Removing the plastic over-wrap reveals the cardboard-covered plastic case.

Inside its plastic storage case is the main unit, an AC adapter and car charger for charging through the main unit’s 14V 1A input port, instructions, and what they call a mini-mouse protector that interfaces between the attached jumper cables and main unit. The main unit measures just 5.31in (1.35cm) high, 2.75in (7cm) long, and 0.9in (2.3cm) wide.

The plastic case with all outer materials removed.

The contents of the plastic case.

On the main unit is a LCD display, on/off multi-function button, USB output, an input port for the AC adapter or car charger, a small three LED flashlight, and a covered terminal port where you attach the separate mini-mouse. Once fully charged, the battery will last about six to 12 months, depending upon conditions, although it’s recommended you charge the device at least every six months.

While the 1byone Smart Jump Starter can jump start a wide range of vehicles (for most of us, that’s a car, but it also does boats, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, lawn mowers, etc.), there are recommendations for maximum engine displacements. For gas powered vehicles it’s 1.2gal (4.7L) and lower, for diesel it’s 0.5gal (2.0L) and lower (12v), and for petrol it’s 1.2gal (4.7L) and lower (12v). Once you ensure the vehicle is within spec, you simply connect the alligator clips to the battery (red, or positive, is usually on the left and black, or negative, is usually right, and should be put on in that order), connect the mini-mouse protector to the main unit’s terminal port, press the mini-mouse’s button, then start your vehicle.

To the right is the main unit, and to the left is an Apple iPhone 6 Plus. As can be seen from the size comparison, it’s an incredibly compact unit for all of its features.

When jump starting, safety is key, and using this device is no exception. Fortunately, it features spark-proof technology (nothing happens if you accidentally touch the clamps together) and reverse-polarity protection (incorrectly putting the red clamp on negative or the black clamp on positive). In fact, if you hook it up wrong, an alarm sounds to remind you to switch the clamps to the correct polarity. That’s a big plus, particularly if you’re in a frazzled state from your vehicle not starting! As mentioned earlier, the 1byone Smart Jump Starter is good for multiple jumps – around 200! – on a full charge, using smart-chip technology and an electricity recycle function to send redundant power back to the host and guarantee a continuous instant start.

Moving onto the power bank feature, as mentioned, its full-sized USB output port provides 5V, 2A. Combined with the powerful internal battery, this means it can easily charge even larger USB-powered devices multiple times, including over-sized smartphones and full-sized tablets (e.g., expect about four one hour charges from a full charge for a 1420mAh battery). Now, you may ask why don’t you just use your vehicle to charge your USB-powered device (assuming, of course that the vehicle’s battery isn’t dead and you need this device for a quick jump start)? While that’s normally what you’d want to do, that completely ignores that the 1byone Smart Jump Starter is easy to take with you. In other words, it’s a great device to bring along for when you’re away from your vehicle or a handy AC outlet, which is probably a lot more than you might realize.

Finally, there’s the flashlight functionality. As expected, the three LED bulbs are quite bright, giving you great visibility in even the darkest conditions, but it also has two additional emergency-centric modes. The first is an attention-grabbing strobe light, while the second is an SOS signal flash, which can last up to 120 hours on a full charge. That’s great piece of mind for when you’re stuck outdoors and in need of assistance.

Whether finding a permanent home in your vehicle, taken along for your next boating or camping trip, or placed in a handy location within your home, the 1byone Smart Jump Starter is the type of device that can prove its value time and again. The 1byone Smart Jump Starter is the type of product you make sure all of your family and friends have on hand, and at only $76.00 on Amazon right now, certainly makes for a reasonably priced, premium gift.

Thanks to 1byone Products Inc., for the review unit.

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Review: Lenzies Lens Cleaner Wipes

Modern TV screens (and often the surrounding bezels), glasses, smartphone screens, laptop screens, mirrors, etc., all need to be cleaned in very specific ways to avoid damage. You simply can’t use the old paper towel and Windex method. There are two basic solutions available for today’s screens and glasses, and that’s microfiber cloths and pre-moistened wipes like the Lenzies Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes.

Unfortunately, the Lenzies Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes box came a bit undone in shipping.

I’m a big fan of microfiber cloths, but sometimes a bit more is needed. That’s where something like the Lenzies Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes come in handy. They’re individually wrapped for easy portability and are already pre-moistened with isopropyl alcohol (IUPAC name 2-propanol), so you don’t need to worry about how or what to spray your screen or glasses with.

The Lenzies Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes unfold to a generous 5″ x 6″ and are extremely moist coming out of their wrapper. Unfortunately, it’s this extreme moisture that seems to represent problems on certain screen and glass types. I’ve found that no matter how I used these wipes in those instances, they leave streaks; having to follow-up with the aforementioned dry microfiber cloth really shouldn’t be a step in the process to total cleanliness. In contrast, when using Zeiss-brand wipes, I’ve had been far fewer instances of having to go over its wet cleaning. Perhaps it’s the Zeiss brand’s addition of eythanol in the formula that helps keep the isopropyl alcohol in check.

The front and back of two pairs of the wipe packets, which are ready for travel.

While the Lenzies Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes represent a decent value with 200 wipes in the package, as well as a little travel pack case for 10 wipes for when you want to take more than one or two on the go, the performance has disappointed in my testing. With that said, the company does offer a no questions asked, full refund, so if you need something like this, it still might be worth taking a chance on to see if the results with your particular screens or glasses are better.

Thanks to Net Power Deals for the review unit.

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Infographic: A Guide to Modern Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the intelligence exhibited by machines or software. It is also the name of the academic field of study focused on creating computers and computer software that are capable of intelligent behavior. Major AI researchers and textbooks define this field as “the study and design of intelligent agents,” in which an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success. John McCarthy, who coined the term in 1955, defines it as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.”

What follows is an infographic from buddyloans.com that provides a visual history of AI:

Infographic: A Guide to Modern Artificial Intelligence via buddyloans.com

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