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ICYMI: Facebook VR selfies, laser-powered water and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-35216{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-35216, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-35216{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-35216").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Facebook is adding VR to the social network and one of the new tricks will let users take a selfie of their avatar selves inside of different tourist spots. Japanese researchers discovered that a water droplet coating allowed water to be controlled by a laser, capable of pulling 150 times its mass when harnessed like a mini oxen. Finally, a backpack on Kickstarter would charge your devices on the move and roughly nine other things. Guinness World Record fans will want to see this crazy long K'NEX contraption. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
IRL: The Phorce Freedom is a bag that trades space for versatility
At CES -- the world's largest tech show -- the intrepid reporter faces many challenges. Most of them involve sleep (lack of), nutrition (lack of), human beings (abundance of) and coffee (usually lack of, but often, taste of). As such, it's very important that you don't go and add to that list of problems with some form of self-sabotage: the wrong cables, poor coffee choices, no backup power and, crucially, a P.O.S. bag. You and your bag are going to become close friends over the week, so it pays to get one that'll do the job, with a minimum of fuss.
Engadget giveaway: win a Camps Bay and Clarendon bag courtesy of Ona!
Whether you're an amateur photographer or plying your trade to pay the rent, it helps to keep your full kit at-the-ready to deal with any eventuality. For those that prefer smartphone snapshots, there's also a new breed of tools to extend the photo abilities of your daily driver. Now, if you're a style-conscious shutterbug, multi-purpose bags like those crafted by Ona can provide all those organizational necessities in a classicly designed package. This week, one lucky Engadget reader will be getting Ona's Camps Bay camera backpack, along with the Clarendon photo accessories organizer for more mobile outings. The first has room for cameras packing a 70-200mm lens and several backups, along with space for a laptop and more. While the Clarendon can zip up all your mobile lens attachments into a fold of Italian leather. Sound good? All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this duo of carry cases. Winner: congratulations to Stephen G. of Washingtonboro, PA.
OGIO's Newt 15 is a high-quality backpack for day-to-day commuting
The OGIO Newt 15 (US$100) is a stylish, mid-sized backpack for day to day transportation of your digital essentials and then some. Previously, TUAW's own Steve Sande and Ilene Hoffman reviewed OGIO's 13 inch Covert Shoulder Bag ($69.99) and Hampton's Women's Tote ($70) respectively. Both of those bags garnered high praise. My last backpack review was the Incase Compact Backpack ($79.95), which I found did a solid job of holding my gear at a reasonable price. The Newt 15 is $20 more expensive, so I was keen to see just what a $100 backpack has to offer. Design The Newt 15, presumably named after the small, slender-bodied amphibian, is an apt title for the backpack. It's of a slim build (weighing 2.2 lbs), with a 6-inch depth, a good height of 18.75 inches, and a width of 12.75 inches. Its total capacity is 1050 cubic inches. According to OGIO's website, the Newt 15 is made from 400 D Nylon / 300 D poly-cotton. On OGIO"s Amazon page, it says the bag is made from durable ballistic polyester, oxford polyester and poly/cotton fabric. I have no idea what any of that means, but the bag is really well put together and feels particularly rugged and durable. I can't say if it's in any way weather or water resistant, as I couldn't find any indication or classification on OGIO's website. The Newt 15 has six compartments or pockets. At the rear of the backpack is a side-entry, fleece lined laptop compartment (14.5 inch H x 10.5 inch W x 1 inch D). In the middle is the main compartment, with double zips. When fully unzipped, the main compartment opens wide, allowing for good access. Inside is a padded iPad sleeve as well as two mesh compartments for storing smaller items like chargers, USB sticks, in-ear headphones, an iPhone and the like. On the front side of the Newt 15 are two smaller compartments. The upper compartment is fleece lined, with four mesh compartments; two on either side. There's also a spacious gap between these mesh pockets for additional loose items. The lower compartment is longer, but less roomy. It has four pen holders and an additional pocket, as well as a larger space for things like glasses. There's also a key hook here. On the top of the bag is a small, fleece lined single-zipper pocket for small valuables. Finally, on the side of the bag is a zip pocket for what OGIO describes as travel essentials. It's perfect for passports, travel tickets or anything flat that will sit flush with the back panel of the bag. Speaking of the back panel, there are five padded bars here that cushion the Newt 15 against your back, also providing some ventilation. The adjustable shoulder straps are well padded by what OGIO calls Dual Density foam shoulder straps, for comfort and stability with heavier loads. There's also an adjustable front clasp that secure the two straps together over your torso. Take a look at OGIO's promo video of the backpack below. Functionality The Newt 15 has what feels like an endless number of pockets, compartments and ways to organize your stuff. It took me a few days to even realize there was a side zip pocket flush with the back panel. My 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro easily fit into the back compartment with room to spare for extra papers or anything else you'd feel comfortable placing alongside your laptop. For me, that was a bunch of loose papers. The well-padded fleece-lined compartment left me with no concern for scratches, bumps or knocks. The main compartment is roomy, with mesh pockets to organize cables, cards, sticks and accessories in many varying ways. My iPad Air fit snugly into the sleeve and I found I still had plenty of room for my MacBook charger, iPhone charger, a journal, my umbrella and I could shove a light hoodie in there, too. As a day to day commuter, you'll have no trouble getting your essentials into the Newt 15. You may struggle, though, if you have to bring along three or four large books in addition to everything else. In a pinch, I'd happily use the Newt 15 for an overnight trip, provided you're happy to travel light, with a small change of clothes and toiletries. That being said, it's amazing that the Newt 15 accommodates all this content for its size and weight. The travel pocket is a nice touch, though anything thicker than a passport and some tickets does become noticeable as a bulge against the back panel, making for a lob-sided fit. I found the bag to be comfortable to wear, though there was a bit of a 'wear-in' period and it did take me a few days to adjust the straps to a setting that felt snug, but not uncomfortable on my shoulders. Once there, though, I found the Newt 15 to be a tremendously resourceful and comfortable bag. I also got a few appreciative remarks towards the Newt 15's Dark Static color and minimalist styling. Conclusion Commuting around London with the OGIO Newt 15 was a pleasure. The bag is ideal for day-to-day travel as well as the odd overnight excursion. The backpack's materials and the way it has been put together emanate a durability and ruggedness, which, overall, gives the Newt 15 a premium feel. There's still a question mark around its weather resistance, and it does take a fair bit of adjusting to get comfortable. But compared to the Incase Compact Backpack, which has solid, but baseline features, a rather understated appearance and no frills, the Newt 15 excels in looks, quality and functionality.
Booq Cobra pack: The ultimate lightweight laptop backpack
Whether you're a college student lugging around a MacBook Air and some books or a creative professional with a MacBook Pro who travels constantly on the job, you probably like the hands-free convenience of a backpack for your laptop. Booq's Cobra pack (US$295) is a lightweight, roomy, and streamlined laptop backpack that will hold up to years of use and abuse. Take a look at our review, then take a chance at winning a Booq Cobra pack in our giveaway. Specifications Exterior Dimensions: 14 x 18 x 9 inches (356 x 457 x 229 mm) Interior Dimensions: 10.6 x 15.5 x 1.5 inches (269 x 294 x 38 mm) Weight 3.57 pounds (1.62 kilograms) Compability: 13- to 17-inch MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Lining: Copper (reddish-orange) nylon, exterior 1680D black nylon Design Highlights The Cobra pack looks more like a futuristic astronaut backpack than what you'd normally see in your local office supply or big box store. It has a very streamlined and square shape, designed to let you hold up to a 17-inch MacBook Pro comfortably inside. Your laptop sits in a protectively padded compartment complete with a water-resistant zipper, and the entire backpack is covered with waterproofed ballistic nylon. There are two zippered side pockets that open and expand to hold a water bottle or umbrella, a front zipper pocket with an open-top phone pocket, two zippered back pockets for an iPad or other goodies, and two shoulder strap pockets for your iPhone or iPod touch. The strap system on the shoulder straps has three adjustment points, meaning that you can configure the pack for ultimate comfort. The back padding of the Cobra is breathable so you won't end up with a sweaty back carrying this backpack in warm, humid weather. Each Cobra pack comes with a Terralinq serial number and bar code so your bag can be returned to you if you're ever parted from it accidentally. Finally, the zippers used by Booq on the Cobra pack are all YKK originals, which means that they're going to work without issues for years. Functionality Highlights Besides looking good, the Cobra pack is designed to hold a lot of stuff! The copper (reddish-orange) interior lining is very useful for ensuring that you'll be able to find things in the bag. That's quite different from the usual black backpack interiors that make it virtually impossible to see inside the dark packs. The strap system is very comfortable, and I like the padded top handle that makes it easy to "one hand" the backpack if you need to carry it to put it into a security scanner. The side water bottle pockets expand to fit even large water bottles, making the Cobra pack perfect for carrying your favorite hydration beverages with you everywhere. I compared the weight of the Cobra pack to that of a few laptop backpacks I have around the office, and though it's much larger, the weight is actually less than those other packs. While the Booq Cobra isn't exactly an inexpensive backpack, it's going to last for years. Why swap out cheap backpacks every year when you can buy one more expensive backpack that will stay with you through college and beyond? That being said, I do wish that Booq would consider bringing the Cobra pack more into the realm of reality with pricing. $300 for a laptop backpack is kinda crazy, folks. To quote two TUAW bloggers, "For $300 it better reply to email for me" (Dave Caolo) and "The only way I'm paying $300 for a backpack is if it's actually a jetpack" (Mike Wehner). Conclusion The Booq Cobra pack is a sleek, futuristic looking laptop backpack that can hold any Apple MacBook and all the rest of your gear and accessories as well. It's lightweight, built to last, water-resistant, and well-padded. But the price tag is so out of line with reality that I'm taking a full star away on my rating. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway OK, if you're like me, Dave, and Mike, you're not going to shell out three Benjamins for the Booq Cobra pack, but that doesn't mean that you can't be the proud owner of one of these premium laptop backpacks. Thanks to Booq Bags, we're giving one away. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before August 9, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booq Bags Cobra pack valued at $295 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
IRL: Living with the Cocoon Slim, a backpack made for gadget hoarders
When you run around town with a lot of technology, a good bag isn't just nice to have -- it's a necessity. In any one given day at Engadget, we might be attending a product launch, interviewing people or taking all those lovely sample shots you see around the site. A regular courier bag or rucksack will likely do the job, but do you really want all your work-essential kit rattling around in a cross-city spin cycle? No, us neither.
HEX Convertible Laptop Briefcase: A TUAW Video Review
Sometimes you need the professionalism of a briefcase to carry your MacBook; other times, you need both hands free so a backpack is the answer. The HEX Convertible Laptop Briefcase (US$109.95) provides both a clean-looking briefcase and a race-through-airports backpack in one sleek package. Check out the specs below, watch the video review, and then enter our giveaway to win this versatile bag. Specifications Outside dimensions: 16.5 x 11.5 x 8.75 inches (41.9 x 29.2 x 22.2 cm) Weight: 2 lbs, 2 oz (approx. 1 kg) Interior padded & fleece-lined 15" MacBook slot, interior zippered gear pocket, external zippered iPad pocket 2 external gear pockets and rear document pocket Quickly converts from a briefcase to backpack Zippered pockets designed for both horizontal and vertical orientation Slim profile design Conclusion While the HEX Convertible Laptop Briefcase is certainly versatile and can handle a 15-inch MacBook Pro, it's a bit pricy compared to other laptop bags and somewhat plain-looking. If you're carrying a 13-inch or smaller MacBook Pro or Air, you might want to consider the equally-versatile and much sportier Hayward or Westmore Convertible Laptop Sleeves and save fifty bucks in the process. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway With summer travel heading your way both for business and pleasure, the HEX Convertible Laptop Briefcase could be just the thing for carrying your MacBook Pro all over the world. We're giving one away, courtesy of HEX. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before May 24, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a HEX Convertible Laptop Briefcase valued at $109.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
WoW Archivist: What has never changed?
WoW Archivist explores the secrets of World of Warcraft's past. What did the game look like years ago? Who is etched into WoW's history? What secrets does the game still hold? With WoW's tenth anniversary fast approaching, one thing is clear: virtually everything in this game has been changed, updated, or replaced at one time or another. The UI, the stats, character creation, raid systems, class abilities, questing -- all have undergone necessary overhauls to keep the game relevant and modern. A question for the Queue last month asked a very interesting question: What in WoW has never, ever changed? You might think so, but no Many aspects of the game seem like they have never changed, but they have. The act of gathering: Sure, Blizzard added bonuses to the professions in Wrath such as the crit bonus for skinning or the HoT from herbalism. And as of Cataclysm, you can now earn XP by gathering. Gathering no longer requires tools. Yet the fundamental mechanics have always been the same: you right click stuff, get the stuff, and skill up so you can click on better stuff. Right? Back in classic, gathering actually had a chance to fail. Orange difficulty nodes would not cough up their resources to anyone who wandered past with the minimum required skill. Failing three or four times on a node before a successful gathering attempt was not unheard of. This led to some interesting "PvP" gathering scenarios, even on PvE realms. If two players converged on the node, the first to click it didn't necessarily get the goods. This situation sometimes led to a hilarious "duel" in which both players failed at gathering over and over again. It became a matter of luck, persistence, and rapid clicking. Mining was especially bad, because it used to take multiple strikes to clear out a node. Two players could spend minutes trying to outmine each other on a single rock. Racial bonuses, enchantments, and items that boosted gathering skills all mattered much more, not just to save time from the failed attempts, but to beat other players to the punch.
Booq Boa shift backpack: Sleek and roomy MacBook companion
If you've been looking for a way to carry that 15-inch MacBook Pro of yours hands-free, then you're reading the right accessory review. Booq's Boa shift backpack (US$150) is an modern-looking, sleek bag that provides a huge amount of room for your MBP and accessories. Specifications Designed for 13-inch MacBook Air,13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro Exterior Dimensions: 13.5 x 18 x 8 inches (343 x 457 x 203 mm) Weight: 3 lbs. (1.4 kg) Materials: Herringbone nylon lining, 1680 Denier nylon exterior Equipped with Terralinq Lost and Found Serial Number Design Highlights The Boa shift is surprisingly futuristic looking, but it's not the good looks that are the big feature here. It has two side quick-access pockets for things like plane tickets, phones and pens; a top-front zipper pocket for storing things you want to have fast access to; and two elastic pockets on the shoulder straps for phones or MP3 players. On the inside, you'll find a really large main zippered compartment that's perfect for documents, power adaptors, external mice and other accessories. There's also a document slip pocket, five lining slip pockets, a large mesh pocket, four pen slots and a heavily padded laptop compartment with a separate zipper. Booq made sure that the lining is made of soft Nylex to avoid scratching your gear, added an air-mesh back padding so your back doesn't sweat while you're carrying the Boa shift and then added water-repellent coatings to both the exterior nylon and interior lining. Functionality Highlights I loaded the Boa shift with my 15-inch MacBook Pro (Retina display, naturally) and a pile of accessories, and I found I still had room to spare. I love the fact that the MBP was sitting in its own nicely padded pouch, and that, if I wanted to remove just the laptop, I didn't have to worry about it getting scratched by other "stuff." It's the main pocket of the Boa shift that's amazing. It has a huge amount of room available for everything you might want to carry on a daily commute. What's really nice is the fact that the backpack is designed in such a way that it is "stiff," making it easy to load and unload without the bag collapsing onto whatever you're trying to dig out or put in. I'm a huge fan of backpacks (don't judge me, but I own three different ones for various purposes), but the ones that I currently own drive me bonkers when I'm trying to find stuff and they're collapsing. One other feature of this bag that's worth mentioning is the Terralinq Lost and Found Serial Number. If you ever lose the bag, someone can use that number to return the bag to you. That's a feature that only Booq provides, as far as I know. Finally, the construction of Booq bags is unparalleled in the business. They really make durable products, and the Boa shift is no exception. Sure, you could be like me and buy a cheaper backpack, but your $150 investment in the Boa shift will last a lot longer. Conclusion For laptop users who are looking for a backpack that's tops in functionality, capacity and looks, the Boa shift backpack is definitely worth putting at the top of your list. It will last for years, protects your MacBook with thick padding and has style to spare. Rating: 4 out of 4 stars possible Giveaway You've seen the bag; now win it! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 27, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Booq Boa shift (Graphite) backpack valued at $150 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Incase Compact Backpack: Perfect for daily life with a 15-inch MacBook Pro
The Incase Compact Backpack (US$79.95) has been a surprisingly pleasant and functional addition to my commuting around the city with my 15-inch MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, my MacBook Pro doesn't fit in my beloved Jost leather satchel. So, previously, I'd sling the satchel over my shoulder and put my MacBook Pro in a padded sleeve for my odd excursions out of the house with it (clutching it tightly to my chest with both arms, shielding it from the potential harms of public transport in London). More recently, my work has required that I'm out and about a whole lot more, and with a few near drops and knocks, I quickly resolved to get a decent backpack. Specs and performance The Incase Compact Backpack is designed to be slim and, well ... compact. But it's in no way small. In fact, to me it's the ideal size. Small enough not to be overbearing, yet big enough to fit everything you need on a day trip. In terms of the exterior, the bag is made from durable nylon. The external dimensions are 18.5" x 11.75" x 4.3". The back and adjustable shoulder straps are well padded. They're also covered with a breathable mesh, making wearing the back really comfortable and easy to adjust. The front of the backpack has a zippered exterior pocket for small accessories, like a small notebook, keys, pens or headphones, etc. There's also a smaller zippered pocket down the right side of the backpack, near where the strap begins. It's perfect for keys or small items you may need to get at quickly. At the top of the bag, just ahead of the padded top-loading handle, is a dedicated zippered pouch with faux-fur lining for an iPhone or iPod, or something small that needs protection. Within the bag is a faux-fur lined laptop compartment with breathable side panels. It snugly fits my 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. The faux-fur is only on the back side of the backpack, while the front side of the laptop compartment is made of a padded nylon. It would have been nice if the faux-fur was on both sides of the compartment, but still, I feel confident my MacBook Pro is safe from bumps and drops. Attached to the front side of the laptop compartment is a further nylon pocket to house an iPad or even an iPad mini. It's not as snug a fit, and there's no faux-fur protection or padding against things within the bag, which is a little disappointing -- especially if you don't have a protective sleeve or case for your iPad -- but I guess most people will already have some kind of protection for their iPad, be it a sleeve, case or one of Apple's magnetic covers. Still, it's nice to have a dedicated place to slip my iPad into. On the front side of the inside of the backpack are three nylon pockets, one large and two smaller ones. These are more for cables, a power supply, SD cards, USB sticks, etc. The main pocket is big enough to fit my Mac's power supply or a bunch of smaller items.The smaller two pockets are perfect for SD cards, USB cables and the like. There are two dedicated pen holders, but they're not very deep, so maybe they're actually for USB sticks. Finally, there's an additional mesh pocket with an elastic rim. Once more, perfect for SD cards, USB sticks, or tiny accessories. The interior compartment of the bag is really quite spacious -- more deep than wide -- but even once I loaded my MacBook Pro and iPad in, and my accessories stuffed into the internal pockets, I could still easily fit my coat into the bottom, a bulky hard drive on top of that, and I had room to spare on top of that. Conclusion I really like the Incase Compact Backpack. While it doesn't have many frills (and is quite understated in appearances), it's solidly built and is very comfortable to wear. It's easy to use, too, and provides fantastic protection for my MacBook Pro and iPad (though I'd recommend an iPad sleeve, cover or case just to be on the safe side). There's ample additional storage for most day-to-day requirements, with practical pockets within as well as on the exterior of the bag. To top it all off, I found the $79.95 price tag to be very reasonable. If you're looking for a solid backpack for your MacBook Pro, I'd start by looking at the Incase Compact Backpack. It may be the only one you look at.
Waterfield Designs Staad BackPack carries your gear, looks awesome doing it
One of my favorite computer bag companies is Waterfield Designs of San Francisco. Its bags are not only stylish, often mixing leather, waxed canvas and ballistic nylon in ways that please the eye, but they also just plain last. A case in point is the Waterfield Travel Express bag I purchased years ago for a MacBook Air, which is still going strong as an iPad bag (it can carry two easily) and still looks like it did when I unboxed it for the first time. Well, Waterfield has introduced an amazing backpack -- the Staad BackPack (US$319-$329) -- that carries on the tradition of design and function that the company is known for. Read on for a review and a chance to win one of these beautiful backpacks. The Staad BackPack, like people, comes in two sizes -- slim and stout. The slim model is perfect for those situations where you want a backpack for carrying your laptop (up to 13 inches) and accessories hands-free, but don't want it to be so huge that it's constantly bumping into other people. The stout model is $10 more, and provides a bit more capacity for your stuff, including a laptop of up to 15 inches in size. As Gary Waterfield notes in the video that's embedded below, the idea behind the Staad is for it to be a backpack that can easily fit into a more formal working environment. The bodies are made of one of two materials -- waxed canvas or ballistic nylon. An oversized leather flap covers the top of your gear, and comes in one of three colors -- black, chocolate or grizzly. On top of the bag is a large grip handle for picking up the backpack that's made of the same flap material. Two large padded straps are used to distribute the load on your shoulders, with neoprene inserts helping to make for a comfortable ride and a moisture-wicking material on the side that's closest to your shirt. That same wicking material is used on the back of the pack, perfect for making sure that you don't get the dreaded sweaty back from carrying the bag in warm weather. On the inside are a number of smaller pockets surrounding two larger cushioned pockets -- one for your MacBook and another for your iPad. There are two angled, zippered side pockets (one on either side) for your phone, wallet and keys. Holding the big leather flap in place is a World War II-era buckle that opens with a quick pull. Like all of the other Waterfield Designs products, the construction of the Staad is first-class. You may pay a lot more for this than the typical backpack, but it's going to last for a long time. And let's face it; it also looks incredibly classy. Conclusion If you want the hands-free convenience of a backpack, but want something that will be at home in the executive suite, then pull out your wallet and buy the Waterfield Designs Staad BackPack. Using the time-honored credo "You get what you pay for," the Staad is more costly upfront, but will serve you for years to come. Pros Extremely well-constructed, and made of top-grade materials Separate padded pockets for MacBook and iPad Vintage closure buckle is surprisingly handy, and it looks great, too! Cons Not TSA-compliant, will require you to pull your laptop out of the bag during security screening Who is it for? Anyone who wants a laptop backpack that looks great and will last until they slide you into your grave Video Giveaway Oh, how I envy TUAW readers, who get a chance to win some of these amazing products. In this case, one lucky reader is going to be opening a box in the near future containing a slim Staad BackPack in black ballistic nylon with a chocolate leather flap and trim. It's valued at US$319, and I will weep to put this guy onto the FedEx truck. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 5, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Waterfield Designs Staad BackPack valued at $319 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
ECBC Harpoon Daypack carries gear in a compact package
The slim Harpoon Daypack from ECBC carries your gear in a compact, easily portable package. The black version with red accent stitching I tested includes water-resistant YKK zippers with rubber coated metal pull tabs. The durable 840D HD nylon construction and its seams are finished well, and no stray threads appeared during use. The Harpoon also comes in grey. The back panel on the backpack strap side includes medium filled protective material, and the inside is divided into pockets for your devices. The Harpoon Daypack includes a laptop pocket with a small overflap suitable for any sized MacBook. In front of the laptop sleeve lies a pocket with a velcro closure for an iPad or other tablet. Another zippered net pocket above the tablet sleeve holds cables, chargers, or any other small miscellaneous items. A three-quarter outer zipper compartment also includes a zipper net pocket with a plastic carabiner clip for keys. There are also two Velcro closure compartments and a variety of slip pockets for pens, notebooks or other items. The inside is a silver rip-stop nylon, also with red accent stitching. At the top of the compartment is another zippered closure that runs the length of the compartment. The Harpoon's nicely padded adjustable shoulder straps are attached to the pack a little too close to each other, but are wider than I've seen on other backpacks. I found, even on my small back, that they chafed slightly under my arms. However, the pack sits securely on the top of my back, so it made carrying a full load comfortable and it didn't drag on my lower back. I don't usually recommend a pack without a waist strap, but didn't miss it on this daypack. The top of the pack sports another small padded zippered pocket with a fleece lining, suitable for a phone or other item that needs scratch protection. A handle for a quick bag grab sits behind that pocket and above the backpack straps. Two water bottle zippered pockets grace the lower sides of the pack. The elastic pockets expand nicely and are so deep that a 20oz bottle sits inside securely. I appreciate that my water bottles didn't fall out and roll away every time I picked up and put down the pack. All in all the build quality and design of the Harpoon Daypack (model B7101) is impressive and its US$99 price matches other packs of similar size. I doubt this pack is suitable for a six-foot man, but is perfect for my five-foot plus frame, except where noted above. My only complaint is that the bottom of bag is soft, even though the base is 1680D HD nylon, it includes no flat surface upon which it can stand. That means when you put it down, it immediately falls over and gets dirty. I expect that the Harpoon Daypack will last a long time and withstand most abuse that we make our packs suffer through. Specifications External dimensions: 18.5″ x 12.1″ x 6.2″ (47cm x 30.7cm x 15.7cm) 840D HD nylon body with water repellent coating 1680D HD nylon base Air mesh back panel for comfort Fits 17" laptop Weight not specified
Bicycle turn signals get the Ben Heck mod treatment (video)
Ben Heck's devised hacks for everything from console mashups to wheelchairs, and now he's turned his attention to the humble bicycle turn indicator -- something we've seen reinvented from time to time. Heck's take on the device uses a LilyPad Arduino and a backpack modified with an array of lights in the shape of two arrows. Merely pick a direction by jabbing one of the satchel's shoulder pads with your chin, and the appropriate lights will blink for 20 seconds. Sure, the existing contraption is slated for a giveaway, but the build process will be detailed on the next Ben Heck Show this Friday. To catch a glimpse of the construction in advance, mosey past the break for a quick video preview.
IRL: TYLT's Energi charging backpack and the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio
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. This week, Darren Murph, the man of many bags, is at it once again, trying out a charging backpack we got to handle for just a few minutes back at CES. In addition, we'll give you a peek at Logitech's suspiciously Surface-like FabricSkin keyboard case. Find it all after the break.
Tom Bihn's Synapse 25 is the perfect starter professional backpack
Tom Bihn's Synapse 25 backpack taught me an important lesson over the month I spent testing it on numerous road trips. That lesson? Stop buying cheap backpacks. Investing a little extra money right now can save you time packing, unpacking, and getting through airport security in the future. Say hello to the Synapse 25 backpack, the road traveler's best friend. Design From a purely aesthetic standpoint the Synapse 25 is a stylish and compact looking bag. While its pockets are cavernous, they don't stick out from the bag like the bulky pouches on your old high school backpack. This is simply a beautiful bag to carry around, and the multiple color options provided by Tom Bihn allow you to match your backpack to your work situation. Not everyone works at an office with a foosball table and a lax dress code. Sometimes you just need a nice professional solid color. Even when loaded down, the Synapse 25 is comfortable to wear. Its backing and straps have a dense foam padding that never feels squishy and provides plenty of support. The bag comes with removable chest and waist straps for hiking, along with additional straps for attaching gear and other accessories. The main compartment of the Synapse is massive with a room to easily store a laptop, books, assorted notebooks, change of clothes, and personal grooming supplies for a few days travel. Inside you'll find an extra elastic-ringed open-top pocket and several o-rings for attaching keys and other accessories. The main pocket also features clips to attach Bihn's Cache with Rails laptop and tablet case (sold separately). Cache with Rails is a soft padded envelope with a fold-over flap that comes in a number of different sizes for the iPad, MacBook, and MacBook Air. Simply attach the Cache to the clamps in your main compartment to quickly slide the carrying case out of the backback. It features five outer pockets of various functionality. There are two big side pockets -- one with a Ultrasuede-lined space for your phone and the other with three pen holders -- and a large front pouch with room for chargers or an extra book. The other two pockets are found on the center of the outer flap. One is a simple shallow space for pens, keys, or other small objects. The last pocket however is big enough to hold a 1 liter bottle, making this pack perfect for bikers who don't want their water hanging off a mesh side pouch. Functionality I took the Synapse 25 with me on several weeks worth of travel around the country. Even when completely stuffed the straps remained comfortable on my shoulders during long walks or waits in line. Getting through security checkpoints with my laptop was a breeze, as I simply needed to slide the Cache case out of my bag on its rails instead of taking it out and messing with another x-ray bin. When I was done with the check point my Cache slipped right back into my bag. Trying to reassemble yourself after a checkpoint can be a hassle. Thankfully the Synapse makes struggling to re-secure your most expensive travel companion a breeze. I wish they'd figure out a rail system for my shoes. Synapse offers travel cubes and bags to make packing easier, each designed to perfectly fit the bags various pockets. I packed with the travel cube samples they provided for one trip and without them for the other. Traveling without the cubes, the bag's bounty of space meant I could still easily roll up a few days worth of clothes and still have room for all of my work supplies to rest neatly on top. Repacking everything and remembering the order things went in took some extra time, but there was always room. When using the travel cubes to organize your bag's contents, packing became a breeze. Fold your clothes, zip them up, insert cube into bag. Place books and notebooks in front. Done. It's remarkable how much faster packing goes when everything is organized into boxes. The Synapse is a great bag without the extra packing cubes, but with them it becomes an incredible one. Best of all, the bag is largely pet resistant. I have two cats who shed like crazy and want nothing more than to sleep on top of my backpacks. Even when put up against the worst shedder in my house, the bag barely picked up any cat hair, even in the zippers. For students and professionals with furry friends at home, this pet hair resistance will be a delightful added bonus to an already impressive package. Conclusion There comes a time in everyone's life where you realize perhaps spending a little more money on a quality product is better than regularly replacing your cheap items. At $170 plus the cost of accessories, Tom Bihn's Synapse 25 a bit of a long-term investment. But the storage, durability, and general stylishness of the bag make it a worthy investment for commuters and students looking for a reliable backpack for work or play. Pros Mixes comfort and style with equal success Solid construction is designed to take abuse Seemingly unending pocket space Cache with Rails system for laptops makes travel checkpoints easy while protecting your gear Pet hair resistant Lots of little hidden features like Ultrasuede phone compartment, pen storage, bottle pocket, and copious o-rings. Add-ons like the Cache with Rails system and packing cubes make organization a breeze Cons At $170 dollars this bag is a bit of an investment, but it's one that will last Cache with Rails system takes some getting used to Add-ons like the Cache with Rails system and packing cubes must be purchased separately Who is it for? Students and traveling urban professionals who want a stylish backpack/laptop case that doesn't sacrifice extra space.
Scosche BoomBottle ships for $150, just in time to serenade fellow cyclists (video)
Scosche promised a soundtrack to our biking and hiking when it unveiled the BoomBottle back in January; conveniently, it's shipping the Bluetooth speaker right as the spring thaw lets us give the peripheral a proper workout. The outdoorsy among us can now spend $150 to get a dust- and splashproof stereo system that fits into a bike's water bottle holder, or on a backpack through a carabiner, and plays for 10 hours on a charge. We'll have to wait, though, if we want a dash of color while we bombard other travelers with our taste in music. Gray versions are available now or very shortly at Scosche's site and Walmart, but more season-appropriate blue, green, pink and yellow hues will only sell through Scosche in May.
CES 2013: Kensington offers a tracking solution with the Proximo Tag Kit
Kensington is in attendance at the International CES here in Las Vegas this week, and the company kindly sat down with TUAW this afternoon to show off some of its latest products. The most interesting of their recent offerings is something called the "Proximo Fob and Tag Kit," which is a relatively cheap tracking solution designed to work over Bluetooth 4 with your iPhone 4S or iPhone 5. We've seen tagging kits like this before, but Kensington's, now available, offered a nice set of features at a very reasonable price. The idea is that you can use an included key fob or a tag (just the tag is available for US$24.99, while a full fob and tag kit is $59.99) by attaching it to whatever object you'd like to keep safe, whether that's your keys, a purse or even a kid or a dog. Then you can use Kensington's free app to get alerts whenever that item/person moves out of range of your phone, so if you ever walk away and leave your keys at your desk, or if the dog wanders out of the yard, you'll know right away. The app offers a nice bit of customization -- you can attach five different tags to it, and each one gets its own alert sound and an icon (or a custom picture), so there are plenty of different options for tracking various objects. The app also lets you set the sensitivity for each tag, so you can set your keys to stay very close, or set your car for a wider range. You can also track your phone directly from the fob (though the tag doesn't have any extra buttons on it, so that's a no-go there). If you ever lose your phone, you can just hit the button on the key fob, and then your phone will light up with an alert. Finally, Kensington's kit also tracks your GPS, and while it can't actually find items via Bluetooth (because that service isn't positional at all), it can let you know where you last saw them. Whenever you lose track of a tag, the app will mark that point on a map, so you can be aware of where you last were when the tag went out of range. It's not quite as nice as geolocating right to the tag, but it works for helping you find lost items. Aside from the Proximo tags, Kensington also showed off new charging kits, including a 4.2 Amp dual-USB charger for the car (enough to charge two different iPads up at the same time) for $34.99, a "Fast Charge" Lightning adapter to charge any iOS device for $29.99 or an iPhone-only charger for $24.99. Kensington is also offering another line of iPad cases, including some more stylish "Folio cases" for the iPad, and even a line for the iPad mini. Finally, while not iOS-specific, the company was showing off a Contour Overnight backpack, with a special laptop-sized pocket and easy liquid access for going through airport security checkpoints. The backpack is a very impressive addition to the company's luggage lineup, and should also be available later on this year.
The Perfect Ten: Absolutely ridiculous cash shop selections
This past week, the Money Gnomes at Turbine tested the waters with the idea of selling a $50 horse in Lord of the Rings Online. Oh, not just any horse, mind you: It's a toy hobby horse. For $50. The representative who asked for feedback on the item and price-point probably caused herself internal hemorrhaging by stating, "This is not a joke." The fans responded, "Of course, and the sky is made out of blue cheese." At the very least, it allowed the more creative players to come up with humorous expressions of incredulity. The fun finally came to an end when the studio announced that the "experimental" price point was a failure. Of course, this is by far not the first time a game studio's attempted to sell a ridiculous item, an item with a ridiculous price point, or both combined. If you sell it, after all, the rubes will come. So in the spirit of a $50 hobby horse that costs something like $20 in real life to acquire, here are 10 completely ridiculous items that we've seen in MMO cash shops.
Google Trekker goes to the Grand Canyon, takes Street View souvenirs back home
You might remember Google's unveiling this spring of the Street View Trekker, a seeming cross between a backpack and Van de Graaff generator that lets the mapping team produce 360-degree imagery where even trikes dare not tread. The portable camera ball is just going on its first trip, and Google has chosen the most natural destination for a novice tourist -- the Grand Canyon, of course. Staffers with Trekkers are currently walking trails along the South Rim of the canyon to provide both eye-level points of reference for wayward hikers as well as some breathtaking, controllable panoramas for those who can't (or won't) make it to Arizona. Once the photos make it to Street View sometime in the undefined near future, it'll be that much easier to turn down Aunt Matilda's 3-hour vacation slideshow.
Twelve South debuts BackPack 2 shelf accessory for iMac with three enhancements
By now, you're likely familiar with Twelve South, the Mac-minded accessory maker that prides itself on staying small. Well, three years after the debut of its first product, the BackPack, it's refining the shelf accessory in three ways that'll make you smile. If you'll remember, the BackPack originally began its life as an attachable storage shelf for the iMac and Apple Display, which sat discretely behind the unit. Now, not only can the BackPack 2 be attached in a forward-facing manner, but it also offers integrated cable management and vertical support pegs to properly hold equipment such as the MacBook Air and upright hard drives. In all, the BackPack 2 will accommodate up to 3.5 pounds of gear, and it's available now for $34.99. If you'd like to get acquainted with the redesign, just check the gallery below. %Gallery-161586%
