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CabinR's travel bags keep thieves away with an annoying alarm
Not everyone is good at keeping track of their personal belongings, like a backpack or a messenger bag. So CabinR, a startup based out of Hong Kong, wants to help you feel safer on a journey. The company has created two bags, a backpack and a messenger model, that feature an alarm system powered by RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags to (hopefully) keep any potential thieves away from your stuff. It works quite simply: On the bag, there's an alarm device that you activate by pressing a button, and the only way to deactivate is by tapping an RFID plastic card on it.
The Everyday Messenger bag isn't just for camera freaks
The Everyday Messenger camera bag has grabbed the imagination of Kickstarter users, raising an unprecedented $4 million and counting. You may wonder how the folks behind it, Peak Design, managed to convince more than 14,000 people to roll the dice on a $200-plus concept sack instead of snagging one from an established company like Ona. I was certainly curious, so when the company offered me a chance to try it, I took it -- even though we don't review bags very often. And while the style is not to everyone's taste, the attention to detail and unique features like a magnetic latch and folding dividers make it the best small camera (and regular bag) I've tried.
How I nearly became hooked on a $335 laptop bag
When I was first approached about checking out the WaterField Designs $335 Rough Rider messenger bag, it occurred to me that I've never written about something as decidedly non-technical before. Let's face it: When I plop down my case and begin unloading my work stuff, my focus has always been on the contents, not the vessel. But once the bag arrived, I realized this San Francisco outfit doesn't just peddle any old type of gear; its handmade leather goods (crafted in the US, to boot) are something truly special. Still, coming from a world of ultra-padded messengers, I was worried if it would be quite good enough to do the job. So I broke up with my cushy day-to-day bag and switched to this all-leather interloper to see how I'd fare.
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.
IRL: Bluelounge Messenger and the Blackmagic Cinema Camera
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. How do you make our one-man French bureau really, really happy? Obviously, the answer is to give him sparkling wine, a baguette and maybe a striped boatneck shirt. And also, hand him a $3,000 camera to tinker with. If you're at all interested in the three-grand Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Mr. Steve Dent has some detailed impressions (and complaints) after the break. And if you're not, we're still on the hunt for the perfect gear bag.
IRL: Timbuk2's Commute Messenger and Fujifilm's EF-X20 flash
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. When he's not copy editing Engadget, Philip Palermo likes to write about his gadget collection. And that gadget collection includes an impressive pile of camera gear (like this and this and this). Now he's back, taking Fujifilm's EF-X20 flash for a spin alongside his X-E1. Meanwhile, Dan's found a bag spacious and compartmentalized enough to fit several days of clothing and all his trade show gear. Not an easy feat, folks.
Ask Engadget: best carry-on electronics 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 coming to us from Ben, who needs a stylish way to carry around his electronics haul. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hey Engadget, I'm looking for your help in picking a new travel bag. Ideally, I'd like something that's in a messenger format, but I'm open to other options if you can suggest them. Currently I've got a 13-inch laptop (and charger), iPad, noise cancelling headphones and the various bits and bobs that go with them. Any help you can provide would be great, thanks!" This week, we're revisiting a topic from January 2010, but given how much has changed since then, it's well worth keeping it up to date. We've heard good things about the Timbuk2 Commute Messenger that we gave away as part of our Back to School sweepstake, but your humble narrator is still toting around a cumbersome (and less useful) Lowepro Fastpack 250, which the TSA doesn't take kindly to. Still, that's why we'll open this up the floor and find out what you're all rocking when it comes time for that gadget-laden cross-country jaunt.
Booq Python courier bag protects your DSLR, lenses and iPad in style: Enter to win
Booq makes some amazing bags for laptops, iPads, and the like. Now the accessory manufacturer has introduced the Python courier bag ($179.95), a fine-looking bag for photographers who want to also have room to slide in an iPad. Read on for a review of the Python courier and enter for a chance to win this sweet piece of equipment. Design Booq's bags and cases have always had a sleek, modern look to them, and the Python courier is no exception. The exterior of the bag is made of a gray water-repellent 1680 denier ballistic nylon that should hold up to healthy abuse. On the top of the case is a well-padded handle, but the real attraction for photographers will be the wide shoulder strap. That strap comes with a removable pad to keep your shoulder unbruised when you're lugging a DSLR body and a couple of big lenses. %Gallery-150443% The Python courier features a flap that can be used to secure the case to the handle of a rolling suitcase. But it's "what's inside that counts" with this bag. To protect your delicate camera equipment and lenses from the rigors of travel, the Python courier has a removable padded camera compartment surrounded by two contoured dividers. Booq refers to this compartment as being "densely padded," and that's an understatement. The bag itself has good padding in the front and back walls; the camera compartment adds even more protection to the mix. If you're wondering what you can carry in terms of camera equipment, Booq says that a DSLR and 2 to 4 lenses can fit into the Python courier. Now remember, the bag also has room for an iPad -- or a laptop with dimensions up to 10" x 7.5" x .5". A quick look at the specs for the MacBook Air shows that even the 11" model isn't going to fit, so you'll have to look at another of Booq's bags if you want to carry a laptop with you. The zippered iPad pocket doesn't provide as much protection as the cameras get, but of course you're getting AppleCare+ for your new baby, aren't you? Like many of the Booq products, the Python courier has a Terralinq serial number tag affixed to it. Should you lose your bag and have registered the serial number, the Terralinq service might help you get that valuable stuff back to you. By the way, if you don't have a DSLR or have suddenly decided that all of your future photography will be done with your iPhone, iPad, and Lytro, you can pull the camera compartment out to turn the Python courier into one big messenger bag. There are a number of other little pockets here and there on the Python; I leave it to our giveaway winner to count them for us. Functionality The Booq Python courier has room to spare. As you can see from the gallery images, I was able to stuff two Canon PowerShot IS cameras (sorry, I don't own a DSLR) into the camera compartment and had plenty of room to spare on top. My iPad 2 slid into the back pocket with ease and I filled the interior pockets with all manner of electronic gadgetry. With the shoulder pad attached and the bag slung across my body as all good courier bags should be, I was impressed with how comfortable the Python courier was even when fully loaded. It's also damned good looking, nice whether you're outfitted in a three-piece tailored suit or wearing jeans and a photographer's vest. Conclusion and Giveaway Booq did good work on the design and construction of the Python courier. For digital photographers who want to protect their equipment and take along an iPad for note-taking or editing work, the bag is perfect. A quick look at several photographic equipment store websites shows that the bag price is right in line with or actually lower than a number of camera-only shoulder bags by Billingham, Arri, Crumpler, Domke, and other camera accessory manufacturers. We'd like to give this bag away to a loyal TUAW reader. To win, check out the rules and then fill in all the blanks on the entry form below. The rules are as follows: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, click fill out the form below completely and click the submit button. The entry must be made before Monday, March 12, 2012, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: A new Booq Python courier bag worth $179.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Good luck! Thank you for your entries - this giveaway is now closed. A winner will be named soon!
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: bags and cases
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Santa may be able to toss a few thousand laptops in his bright red sack with nary a scratch to be seen -- but you sure can't. You'll want to keep those goods sparkly and new for as long as possible, and that's what today's gift selections are all about - getting your tech from A to B in the safest, most stylish way possible. There's plenty of choice for transporting your goodies, ranging from the bland to the bizarre, from rucksacks to courier bags, silicone to silk -- there is literally something for everyone. Finding a one-size-fits-all solution is going to be nigh-on impossible, but we're hopeful that what we've got here will be just the ticket to re-wrap what you just unboxed.
Engadget's back to school guide 2011: bags and cases
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're walking around with new bags in tow -- 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. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Cutting a bag free from an oversized cardboard container isn't nearly as exciting as unboxing the latest, well, anything else -- but you're probably gonna need one, unless you don't mind biking around campus with a laptop under your arm. We've rounded up some of our perennial favorites that are sure to keep your gadgets safe on any budget. And see that messenger bag up above? It's stuffed full of some of this season's hottest gadgets -- and we're giving one away to 15 of you. Simply leave a comment below and at each of our other back to school guides to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details.
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.
First Look: Tom Bihn Ristretto bag for iPad
I blame Steve Sande for my newest iPad-related purchase. Well, there's a lot of things to blame Steve for, but it was his reviews of the Tom Bihn Western Flyer and Checkpoint Flyer that had me checking out the company he bought the bags from last year. Tom Bihn is based in Seattle and has the distinction of being among those rare companies that still makes its products in the U.S. using mostly U.S.-produced materials. Only a few components are sourced from overseas, but those parts are fully disclosed. Tom Bihn was also had gear designed specifically iPad right off the bat, announcing its offerings -- The Ristretto and the Cache for iPad -- just hours after the original iPad announcement. The US$110 Ristretto, which also comes in a larger size designed to hold a MacBook, is a vertical messenger bag with a padded area that is large enough to hold a netbook or an iPad. After having my iPad and accessories bounce around a larger bag for a few weeks, I caved and placed a Ristretto order to see if it suited my needs. I could have gone cheaper, I could have used a regular netbook case, but I'm glad I held out for the Ristretto.
G-Tech kicks out Bluetooth-enabled iPod backpack
Similar to another company we're familiar with, G-Tech has hit it big by slapping iPod-compatibility onto an otherwise drab offering, and now the company has upped the ante by tossing in Bluetooth. Unveiled at CES, the self-proclaimed Next-Generation Messenger Bags with Bluetooth feature the same Eleksen ElekTex smart fabric controls right on the strap, but these controls now control the track / volume functions of your dock-connecting iPod as well as the volume / mute of your phone. The Bluetooth functionality simply allows users to easily mute their iPod to take an incoming call, and the built-in speaker can also pump out the jams (rather meekly, we assume) with any audio device that connects via a 3.5-millimeter cable. There's no word on price or availability, but if you're really dead set on owning an iPod-controlling pack, might we suggest one that doesn't look like an early '90s experiment gone awry?[Via Textually]
Eleksen slaps SideShow on a messenger bag
SideShow ain't just for laptops anymore, Eleksen just grabbed a few of its nifty "ElekTex" fabric controls, a 2.5-inch LCD, and some SideShow functionality and pasted it all onto a hip little messenger bag. The SideShow module can communicate with your laptop via Bluetooth or USB, and the unit supports MP3 playback, photo albums, videos and more, beamed straight off your laptop's on-board memory cache. We spotted a non-working prototype of this thing last night, so be sure to check out those pics after the break.[Via Carrypad]
G-Tech kicks out iPod-controlling Messenger Bags with integrated speaker
'Tis the season for iPod controls on every piece of wearable kit possible? Apparently you stand a decent chance at being given some form of iPod-enabled clothing / gear this holiday season, as a swarm of manufacturers are jazzing up their apparel with built-in controls for Apple's cashcow. On deck is G-Tech's Messenger Bag, which sports your average selection of handy compartments in which to store your notebook, cellphone, PDA, or other portable gadget, as well as coming in black / chocolate brown colors. This knapsack boasts Eleksen's ElekTex smart fabric controls -- a "unique five-layer laminate of electrically conductive materials that transforms fabric into an electronic touchpad" -- to handle the play / pause, volume, and track operations of your dock-connected 'Pod. If that weren't geeky enough, the bag also sports an integrated speaker (no word on wattage) and a 3.5-millimeter "extension jack" in case removing your DAP from the snug confines of the Messenger Bag proves too time consuming. If Monster's iEZClick lacked that dual functionality you yearn for, G-Tech's shoulder bag / iPod boombox hybrid is available now for $129.[Via Playlist]
