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Ask Engadget: Best sub-$100 camera/laptop bag?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Joseph (he's from Atlanta) who needs a camera bag for his semi-professional photography enterprise. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I've recently gotten into semi-pro photography and I've come to the problem of how to transport all my gear. I'm looking for a camera / laptop bag that has enough space for a DSLR body (Nikon D90), a 15-inch laptop, 3 or 4 lenses and a speedlight or two. My budget can't stretch beyond $100 and I need it to be durable and weather-proof. I don't have any preferences with style (backpack, messenger bag etc), I just need a large, affordable bag to carry all of my gear. Thanks for the help and keep the gadget passion guys!"We don't think you should scrimp too much on a bag, given it'll be carrying $3,000 worth of kit. Your host uses a Lowepro Fastpack 250, costing $99.95, its only drawback that it has no space for a tripod or cables, so you have to sacrifice a couple of lens slots just to tote your power lead. Other staffers suggested using a standard bag with individual Crumpler pouches (a suitable Crumpler like the "7 Million Dollar Home" is $150) or the KataKTD, which sadly doesn't pack a laptop sleeve. How about you, commenters? What's the budget bag you wouldn't let your DSLR venture away from? Together, we can work it out.
iBackFlip Somersault available for preorder; watch creator explain improvements
I met up with the guys behind iBackflip while at Macworld, and was impressed with their passion for design. Their first iBackflip was a pretty straightforward flip-down arm sling for the iPad. Using Velcro, it offered a basic black design and minimal extras. The new iBackflip Somersault, now available for pre-order, is a thoroughly updated version. At $99, I got to see one of the final versions, fresh from their factory. The Somersault's main feature is the ability to position the iPad in front of you while being securely fastened to your body via an ample sling. The flip-down panel securing the iPad is no longer Velcro, it is a sturdy YKK zipper now, and the iPad is more securely fastened in its own pocket. In addition to an iPad, the Somersault has room for an 11" MacBook Air, pockets for your headphones, ID, etc. and several loops on the shoulder strap. This is made of durable ballistic nylon in the USA and looks terrific. I can't believe they're only charging $99 for them, but I'm not complaining. Take it from someone who is a bit of a luggage/case nut, the Somersault is an excellent case for your iPad or small computer if you don't need to carry a full backpack and want a great deal on a quality on-the-go style bag. Check out the designer giving a demo below.
Addon Spotlight: Grab Bag 7, probably the best grab bag
Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same. Do I need to remind you again that right now is the perfect time for you to tinker with your user interface? WoW feels much more relaxed now. A second cataclysm has been averted, Deathwing has been defeated, and life is feeling pretty good right now. Sit back, relax, and clean up your interface. You'll thank me when Mists of Pandaria comes out. Grab bag Addon Spotlights are some of my favorite editions of the column because the regular format means a lot of words about just one addon. That's great and all, but what about those addons that just don't have many words worth saying about them? These little guys fall through the cracks and land in my grab bag collection sack, thrown into the back of a shady-looking truck and taken off for "processing." It's totally painless -- no one complains too much.
IRL: Spotify, Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 and Oakley's AP backpack 3.0
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. In this, our last edition of IRL before worldwide eat-Chinese-food-and-go-to-the-movies day, we're unpacking our gifts a few days early. Darren replaced his document scanner after his old one went to wherever it is that deceased scanners go, Joe finally settled on a gadget bag stylish enough to go with his skinny jeans and Brian's given himself the gift of a Spotify premium account. So how's it going, here in real life? Head past the break to find out.
Marshall Bergman Corbin bag for iPad and 11" MacBook Air: Review
Most of the bag and case manufacturers that we receive review samples from are in the US, and their products are usually sold in Apple Stores in the US as well. An established UK bag maker, Marshall Bergman, is making a splash in the UK with the Corbin canvas bag (£79.95) for iPad and/or the 11" MacBook Air. The bag will be sold at Apple Stores in the UK and a number of other European countries, so here's a close look at a top quality way to carrying your favorite Apple toys. Design Back in the early to mid 1990's, I carried my Newton MessagePads in a bag from Eagle Creek. The Corbin bag reminds me of a larger version of that beloved bag in both looks and functionality. It's a cross-body bag that is designed up to fit the iPad or 11" MacBook Air. The exterior of the bag is made of a water resistant canvas material, so if you're in a rainy climate you'll love the protection you get from the Corbin. %Gallery-140321% Around the sides and on the bottom of the bag is a rubberized material that provides even more protection so that the bag can be placed on wet surfaces with no worries. There's a long and adjustable canvas strap for using the bag over one shoulder or cross-body, with nice brass hardware that really adds a touch of class. All of the zippers have long leather pulls attached for easy access to the main bag and pockets. There's a large snap-closure pocket on the front of the bag with a smaller pocket inside to hold an iPhone. On the back is a zipped pocket for those items you want to keep safe. The inside compartment is padded, and has a zipped pocket, a removable key holder, a couple of pen holders, and some slip-in pockets for organization. The Corbin canvas bag comes in two colors, black and khaki. There are also leather editions of the Corbin in brown and black at £124.95. Functionality Marshall Bergman says that the Corbin bag is designed for the iPad or 11" MacBook Air. Of course, that meant that I had to push the envelope and try placing both an iPad 2 and an 11" MacBook Air in the bag. Sure enough, it worked just fine with both devices -- and the iPad 2 is in a folio case. Now you know that the Corbin bag has room to spare, but how about those other features I described earlier? There are two things that I think would improve the bag slightly. First, it would be nice to have a pad on the shoulder strap to make for more comfortable carrying, and second, there should be a Velcro flap to close over the iPhone pocket. That pocket is in a large snap-closure pocket, and it would be easy for an iPhone to slide out of both pockets. The construction of the bag is flawless. The 'gear bag' space is chock-full of great US manufacturers such as Tom Bihn or Waterfield Designs, but for non-US shoppers I don't think you can go wrong with the well-designed, spacious, and protective Corbin bag. Conclusion For our European readers who are near Apple Stores, you owe it to yourself to take a look at the Marshall Bergman Corbin bag for your iPad, 11" MacBook Air, or both. The canvas bag is affordable and is well-suited for years of protective service, and you can go with the extremely classy all-leather version if you so desire. The Corbin bag also makes a perfect holiday gift for the gadget geek on your list, so keep it in mind if you're stumped about what to buy your favorite person.
Ona Camps Bay DSLR / laptop backpack review
Look, when it comes to hunting down a pack for your gadget collection, you've got options. Plenty of options. But not too many options like this. Ona -- a high-end purveyor of handcrafted camera bags -- first caught our eye last year with the markedly functional Union Street, but at the time, we felt that there was an even bigger gap in this universe that could only be filled with a like-minded backpack. So, here it is. The Camps Bay is the outfit's first full-on, back-worn pack designed to carry both a laptop (up to 17-inches, no less), a DSLR and a plethora of lenses and accessories. %Gallery-138241% In fact, this here bag holds a downright astonishing amount of kit, while looking decidedly unlike every other backpack that you've ever laid eyes on. For quite some time, Kata's brilliantly constructed 3N1-33 (review) was our go-to multi-mode bag; it's largely a perfect combination of laptop sack and camera organizer. But we always found ourselves hung up on a couple of issues. For one, it wasn't capable of swallowing 17-inch multimedia rigs. Secondly, shoving a full-frame body in there (Nikon's D3S comes to mind) isn't exactly easy when you're also toting a 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 -- two (huge) hunks of glass that any self-respecting pro almost certainly has access to. Read on for more of our thoughts.
Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag
We've seen some rather inventive USB chargers in our time, but surprisingly few have managed to make charging while traveling a painless process. Aviiq's new Portable Charging Station, on the other hand, has threatened to make the outside world a more welcoming place when it comes to juicing up. Acting as a sort of USB hub in a bag, this little black travel sleeve lets you pack and power three USB devices -- even an iPad -- with one outlet. What's more, the station allows for easy syncing by way of a retractable USB port. So $80 ain't cheap, and it won't cook up pork and beans while you sing Camptown Races, but if you're willing to shell out a little extra scratch for a practical USB travel charger, you can get your hands on one at the source link below. Full PR after the break.
Versetta iPad cases promise form and fashion, deliver something else
When we first got wind of Versetta's line of iPad-toting totes, we were immediately intrigued. Handbags and cases that deliver form and fashion you say? Well, we took the extra two seconds to scroll on past the press release and found -- to our surprise -- the peak-a-boo bag featured above. Now, Versetta's clearly taken some liberties with the English language here -- its bags are more Paris, Texas than Paris, France -- but we're nonetheless impressed with the novel approach to stowing your iOS slab. The company's pushing two separate lines for its pouches -- one for professionals and one for ladies who lunch -- both of which allow you to access your iPad, ports and all, without taking it out of its case. Sure they're more QVC than LV, but if you're into trap doors, you can grab a bag at the source link below. Full PR after the break.
Element5's Mini L Solarbag brings eco-friendly energy, protection to your iPad
Modern day solar bags are more about looks than utility -- the energy conversion rates on those things aren't exactly jaw-dropping -- but if it comes between a generic satchel and one that's Ma Earth-approved, well... you know what to do. Element5's Swiss Made Mini L Solarbag is tailored to fit your iDevice of choice, but it's fairly obvious that the iPad line will be most at home here. We're guessing that the company's taking a few liberties with that "mini miracle" tagline, and we aren't exactly thrilled with the lack of information surrounding charging time, but those who value form over function can get their order in now for 348 Swiss Franc (or $412 in actual money).
Patch 4.2 brings quality-of-life changes for jewelcrafting
One of the things I'm looking forward to the most in patch 4.2 is the addition of a couple of nice things for jewelcrafters. First, cut gems will now stack. I can't tell you how happy this makes me -- while most people never carry more than a gem or two of the same type, as someone who sells them, I frequently have to make five or more trips between the mail and auction house in order to repost my expired auctions. Now if Blizzard would just make blue rings stack, I'd be a happy camper. The other thing that reeks of awesome is the brand spanking new JC bag. Every expansion seems to bring with it new profession bags, and Blizzard seems to randomly leave certain ones out. This time, we get the Luxurious Silk Gem Bag. Combined with the ability to stack cut gems, we're in business. These will both be particularly welcome changes once epic gems are launched, eventually doubling the number of different types of items gem sellers keep in their bags. Personally, I'm hoping that this change is in preparation for the imminent launch of epic gems in 4.2; however, I've logged into the PTR and prospected some pyrite each build and as yet have not seen anything new. The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!
For Earth Day, consider an eco-friendly laptop bag
Around the end of February, the good folks at Plaid Doctrine sent me one of their laptop bags to try for a week. These stylish, vintage-inspired bags are aimed at women who want a more elegant bag to carry in a professional setting. An extra bonus is that these bags are also eco-friendly: they're built from fabric made from recycled plastic bottles, vegetable-tanned leather and completely sourced and produced in the U.S. Although my taste runs toward backpacks (my current bag of choice being the Tom Bihn Synapse), I took the US$449 Eco Laptop to work. It's a great-looking bag, but it has a few drawbacks that might turn off some potential buyers. Read on for a short review of a solid eco-friendly bag -- just in time for Earth Day.
Reader UI of the Week: Coding, Lua, and Efn's UI
Each week, WoW Insider brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com. Reader UI of the Week is jam-packed with Lua goodness today, and if any of you master coders out there want to share some resources for the budding developers out there, now is your time to shine. We're looking at Efn's UI today, one that relies heavily on his own coding and simple addon creation in the spirit of Grid, Pitbull, and more. For the perfect tweaks, though, there is nothing better than doing it yourself. %Gallery-19902%
Visualized: when backpacks attack!
We spotted this giant backpack from Everki here at CES and couldn't help but put it to the intern test. Sadly, Sam Sheffer decided to open the backpack and was never heard from again. %Gallery-113447%
Ona Union Street DSLR / laptop messenger bag review
Ever heard of Ona? Up until last week, we hadn't either. Turns out, Ona's a purveyor of "fine" camera bags and accessories, and given that it's the holiday season, we figured it prudent to have a gander at the outfit's latest and greatest -- you know, just in case you've a camera lover in your family who you've yet to buy for. The all-new Union Street ($279) is quite clearly an upscale messenger bag on the outside, but the internals are arranged in a way that the amateur photog / gadget lover would appreciate. There's room for a few pens (of the lens and / or ink variety), a smartphone, a navigation system, a 15-inch (or smaller) laptop and -- according to Ona -- a DSLR along with three lenses. The other notable aspect is the waxed canvas exterior (dubbed Waxwear), which is generally more rugged and weather resistant than your average patch of suede or leather. How's it all shake out? Join us after the break for our pair of pennies. %Gallery-109233%
Engadget's back to school guide: Laptop bags
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we have laptop bags in our sights -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. By now you should have had enough time to decide what on our laptop buying guide takes your fancy, but, as Apple will tell you, the protective case is sometimes as important as the precious hardware itself. You'll notice that this year we have a good number of bags that include padded camera sections as well -- to the point of perhaps being described as camera bags with laptop compartments -- but we feel that's justified by the massive proliferation of DSLRs into the mainstream market. Entry-level interchangeable lens shooters have grown cheap enough even for non-photography students to consider owning one, but we can think of no good reason why they should require a separate bag of their own. So, on with the recommendations.
Ask Engadget: best backpack for holding a laptop and textbooks?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Eric, who is just about ready to ship off to the "best years of his life." If he can find a backpack, that is. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I am going to be attending college in the fall and am l looking for a good backpack that not only provides protection for my 15-inch laptop but also has space for accessories and books. I don't care about brand; I want something that will last and I don't have to replace for a while. Thanks for your suggestions!" Look, this guy doesn't need yet another thing on his plate when it comes time to get ready for college. The least you can do is provide him a name and model of a solid backpack for carrying around his LAN party rig and [Insert Course Here] 101 books. Bone throwing is encouraged in comments below.
AddOn Spotlight: Battle of the Bags
AddOn Spotlight focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience - the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond - your AddOns folder will never be the same! This week, Bag mods are serious business. Stuff. We sure do have a lot of it. Sometimes it's important stuff. Other times it's fairly stupid stuff that somehow accumulates over years. Somethings we just cannot throw away. This week on AddOn Spotlight, we dive into what makes our stuff manageable, from tabards and weapons to gems and ores. This week's Spotlight features addons, sure, but we will be grouping these addons by philosophy, not necessarily function. Let's roll.
Ask Engadget: Best TSA-approved laptop bag?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Addison, who now needs a shiny new laptop bag to house that shiny new laptop that arrived for Christmas. The kicker? TSA approval is passionately desired. "I was lucky enough to receive a new Laptop (ASUS UL80Vt-A1) this Christmahanukwanzaakah. Hurray! The only problem is, my old LL Bean Messenger bag just isn't going to cut it anymore now that I'll be carrying around my precious laptop along with school books and a whole gaggle of cables. Perhaps your readers could suggest to me a replacement? I would prefer a messenger / shoulder style bag, but if there is an especially cool backpack out there, I wouldn't turn my nose up at it. TSA compliance would be an added bonus since I have to fly quite a bit nowadays. What do you think, could you and the hive-mind give me a hand?" Air travel just gets worse and worse these days, so we're emphasizing that "TSA-approved" bit for Addison's own good. We know the bulk of 'em ain't that pretty, but for the jetsetters out there who have had a chance to weed through and pick the best, we're hoping they'll share their secrets down below.
Possible changes to tabards, backpacks, and banks
In the recent Blizzard developer chat there were several questions pertaining to player storage. They spoke about the issue with storing tabards from all of your various factions, the default backpack falling behind other bags, and being able to access the bank slots of your alts without the need to use the mail. All three of these are long standing issues that have usually been avoided when direct questions came up, usually invoking the safe and often used "we'll see" remark. I would love to be able to replace my backpack with a Glacial Bag and gain six storage slots or clear out the bank space I'm using to store specialty tabards. Let's take a look at their responses after the break.
EVERKI Camber is a netbook bag with a degree in ergonomics
The EVERKI Camber netbook case must have an inferiority complex. Why else, when every other netbook sleeve is designed to take up minimal space, does the Camber sport a large, bulging protrusion from one side? Well, you might say, it's designed to raise your netbook or ultraportable up to a more ergonomic 30 degree angle away from horizontality, but when was the last time you really regretted not owning a CushionSpeaker or a CushDesk? The more useful feature here, for us, is the space that bulge provides for storing your charger and AC plug (which can be horrifically huge in the UK), though whether the $49.99 price is justifiable, we leave up to you. Video demonstration awaits after the break.
