HooToo updated its popular line of iPhone flash drives earlier this summer to incorporate the speed of USB 3.0 and improve design. The HT-IM003 model is housed in a durable aluminum alloy case and wins out in terms of functionality and design.

It’s slim, sleek, and sturdy. It weighs just a quarter of an ounce and is about 2″ long. On one end sits the standard USB 3.0 drive, with the lightning end on the other. This time around the lightning connected is protected by a cap that is attached by a key-ring. The connector is extended by 4mm which is just enough to work around thick protective cases. That’s a pretty important function, as it’s a pain in the ass to take off a phone case every time you want to use your device.

USB drives are not known for their fast speeds. But USB 3.0 technology gives the HooToo a significant boost over previous models. The drive hits 80 MB/s read and 30 MB/s write speeds on USB 3.0, with some user benchmarks surpassing advertised speeds. That’s good enough to transfer a full HD movie in less than a minute. Unfortunately, lightning port speeds are still stuck in the dark ages, with top read speeds of 30 MB/s and write speeds of 10 MB/s. That means moving large amounts of data from your Apple device to the drive will take a while, but still much faster than uploading to the cloud or sending via email.

HooToo uses a free app called iPlugmate to work on your device. The app has a simple interface that automatically segregates your files based into pics, music, videos, etc. It supports most common file types, including wav, mp3, avi, mkv, doc, pdf, and ppt. You can stream your files directly from iPlugmate while it is attached, which frees up valuable storage on your device. The app lacks any security features, which is disappointing.

Best 2-in-1 iPhone USB Drive: RAVPower Charging Cable

HooToo just released the RAVPower Charging Cable, a 64GB external storage device that doubles as a charging device. It’s the perfect 2-in-1 plug-in for viewing high-usage content like HD videos and picture slideshows.

The RAVPower cable delivers transfers files at a similar clip to the External Storage stick. That means the USB 3.0 port gets 80 MB/s 30MB/s, while the lightning port chugs along at 30 MB/s read and 10 MB/s write. It also operates on the iPlugmate app, which lets you stream most common file types directly from the drive.

The design differs in a couple ways. First, the metal USB 3.0 and lightning ports are connected by a soft rubber cord. This 5 inch long device is flexible, with no unwieldy clip. While the design is convenient, both ports are uncapped. This opens the possibility of them snapping in a purse or briefcase, which is a disadvantage compared to the standard drive. But its functionality as a charger offsets this restriction.

The post The Best USB Drive For iPhones/iPads appeared first on Reactual.

Anker’s Ultra Protective Case is currently the best dustproof iPhone 6 case. It features a built-in screen protector and raised edges to prevent phone damage, and port protectors to keep out dust.  It fits the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6s.

The Details

This ultra-protective case is Anker’s answer to the wildly popular Otterbox smartphone cases. For half the price you get a case that is just as durable as the Otterbox, but is also much slimmer. The Anker Ultra Protective Case adds just .15 inches and 1.6 ounces to your phone, while the Otterbox Defender is 1.7 inches thick and weighs 1.92 ounces. The Anker also has an 18 month warranty, which is six months longer than Otterbox’s 12 month warranty.

Attaching the case to your phone is incredibly easy. Anker’s precision cutouts are engineered to just snap on to the iPhone 6 / 6s. It is a two-part case with a built in glass screen protector. The back of the case has a tactile grip that feels secure in your hand. The front has raised edges to prevent drops, though Anker claims the phone is drop tested 6 times from 3 feet. Customer reviews confirm that the phone does survive drop tests.

Button and port guards ensure that dust does not enter the phone via the charging and headphone openings. They are a bit of a pain to latch back up, but open easy enough. Unfortunately, the case is not rated to be completely waterproof, although the port guards do prevent water from entering.

Currently, Anker only offers three color options, so it they are lagging behind the competition in terms of variety. The case does not have a circular cutout to display the Apple logo, which is either a good or bad thing, depending on your preference.

Another Option

If you want a dustproof iPhone 6 case that is also completely waterproof, check out the LifeProof Fre case. The FRE meets IP68 standards, which means it is completely dustproof and is fully submersible to 2 meters of water for 1 hour. The Fre also has a MIL STD 810F-519 rated, which means it can withstand drops of 6.6 meters.

Expect a trade-off in functionality for the waterproof rating. The Fre requires an extension cord to use most headphones, and reviewers note that the mute button often fails.

The post The Best Dustproof iPhone 6 Case appeared first on Reactual.

Update September 2016: We’ve found this water-resistant keyboard — this one is interesting because it’s a true mechanical keyboard.

The Details

You can now drink your beverage of choice at your desk while keeping your peace of mind. The Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 has overwhelmingly positive user reviews on Amazon for its durability and design. Users report that it survived coffee, soda, water, and soap. It can be hand washed and submerged in up to 11 inches of water. The K310 is equipped with drainage holes for fast drying and comes with a keyboard brush for dusting and scrubbing. Just leave it in a drying rack overnight to air dry.

While most waterproof keyboards are made out of a soft, clumsy rubber, the K310 looks and responds like a conventional keyboard. Its keys are laser printed and UV coated so that they will maintain their form after many washes. Far from clunky, the K310 is a slim .8″ by 17.2″ by 5.5.” It weighs 17.3 ounces, making it fairly lightweight for a keyboard.

The K310 is a USB keyboard and is ready to go as soon as it is plugged in without any driver updates. It features 12 programmable shortcut hotkeys that can take you directly to the Internet, email, volume control, pause, sleep, play and more.

PCMag wrote a positive review of the K310, but noted that its keys are quiet and felt a bit mushy, which would be a turn-off for fans of mechanical keyboards.

The Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 is available at Amazon for around $79.

Another Option

The Kensington K64406 Washable Keyboard is another spill-proof keyboard at a more affordable price tag. Reviewers on Amazon did notice a sacrifice in design and functionality, however. It is available for around $27.

The post The Best Spill-Proof Keyboard appeared first on Reactual.

This Slim Portfolio Briefcase from J. W. Hulme is handmade in St Paul, Minnesota. It is constructed with “analine finished deep burgundy” leather and brass hardware. The company has been producing leather goods since 1905. All their products come with a lifetime repair policy.

Available directly from J. W. Hulme website for $380.

The post Buy It For Life: Slim Portfolio Briefcase by J. W. Hulme appeared first on Reactual.

Uni-Solar PowerBond PVL-136 ($447)

Pros:

• Simple installation
• Five-year warranty

Cons:

• May need to purchase additional cables

Top Review Sources:

• BestFlexibleSolarPanels.com: 4.5/5.0 “One of the very best inventions in solar as far as we’re concerned”
• Amazon: 5.0/5.0 (1 review)
• Amazon: 3.5/5.0 (3 reviews) (PVL-68)

The Uni-Solar PowerBond PVL-136 is a commercial-grade, peel-and-stick flexible solar panel. As its name implies, each PowerBond PVL-136 panel will produce 136 watts, and multiple PVL-136s can be chained together for increased output. This panel is intended to be installed on building, boat, and RV rooftops, though it will work just about anywhere with a clean, large surface. The PVL-136 stays put because of its adhesive backing and will not slide off even in high winds or high heat. In fact, its high-heat operation distinguishes it from crystalline silicon, which degrades in performance as temperatures rise. The PVL-136 works in temperatures up to 185 °F. It is able to operate in low-light and shadowy conditions because of its amorphous solar cells. Each panel measures 216” L x 15.5” W x 0.2” D and weighs 17 pounds. The PVL-136 comes with a five-year warranty.

Purchase the Uni-Solar PowerBond PVL-136 solar panel on Amazon. You’ll also find the smaller PVL-68 ($234) and larger PVL-144 ($465).

PowerFilm R14 ($200)

Pros:

• Rugged construction
• Portable

Cons:

• Adapters for devices not included

Top Review Sources:

• Preparedness Advice Blog: “I was impressed with the one we had the opportunity to test”
• Amazon: 5.0/5.0 (1 review) (R28)

The PowerFilm R14 is a flexible solar charger designed to charge small- and medium-size devices such as netbooks, LED lanterns, and 12-volt batteries. The R14 is built to move, with a rollable, waterproof design and extreme temperature operability. It is useful for camping, hiking, and marine excursions. If it is punctured, it will continue to provide solar power, though its ability to repel water will be compromised. The R14 produces 14 watts and is able to function in cloudy conditions. When unrolled, it measures 14.5” W x 42” L (14.5” W x 4” diameter when rolled) and weighs about a pound. Devices are connected via the included RA-2 female cigarette lighter adapter, so make sure you have the proper cord for the gadget you wish to charge. Reviewers like the durability of the R14 and praise its performance/size balance.

Amazon sells the PowerFilm R14. Amazon also sells other rollable solar panels in the PowerFilm line, including the smaller R7 ($140) as well as the larger R21 ($270) and R28 ($346).

The post The Best Flexible Solar Panels appeared first on Reactual.

Until recently, digital cameras fell into two basic categories: point-and-shoot cameras, and digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs). Now there’s type of hybrid camera available –Micro Four Thirds. These cameras do away with the mirrored lens system of DSLRs, and most of the manual controls  found on DSLRs. Instead, Four Thirds cameras use screen-based controls.

The appeal of these cameras is that they are small enough to fit into a jacket pocket, but are capable of taking professional photographs. So, if you want to take high-quality photos while traveling, hiking, or while strolling through the city, these cameras are for you. Because they have interchangeable lenses, they allow for a photographic versatility previously unavailable on a compact camera.

Currently, only four companies make interchangeable lens compact cameras: Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. Olympus and Panasonic use the Micro Four Thirds standards, while Samsung and Sony have proprietary systems.

Currently, the range of lenses made specifically for these cameras is somewhat limited. But you can fit them with older lenses by using adaptor rings. They actually support a wider range of lenses than most DSLRs, because they have a thin lens-to-sensor distance. Note, however, that these lens may be manual focus only and require an aperture ring or control mechanism for usability.

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds Camera

The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is the Micro Four Thirds camera that has received the most recommendations from experts and buyers. We surveyed reviews on the major camera review sites: Imaging Resource, DPReview, CNET and Amazon.

Reviewers say this camera takes great photos, rivaling the quality available from the best DSLR cameras. The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is a sturdy, 12.3-megapixel camera that includes a built-in pop-up flash. You can purchase this camera with a 17mm lens, making for a very portable configuration.

This camera does have a few drawbacks. The camera has no manual control wheel but instead has menu commands for adjusting aperture, shutter speed and exposure. Those who are accustomed to a manual control wheel might find this tedious. It has a maximum shutter speed of 1/2000th sec — most DSLR cameras have max of 1/4000th sec or above.

Most reviewers said the camera lasted only one full day of use before needing a recharge (about 290 shots per charge). Some reviewers suggest bringing extra batteries if this is an issue.

Overall, this is a top-rated, rugged camera that can take gorgeous pictures. Selling for under $500, this is a great step-up from a point-and-shoot camera — it provides many of the advanced features found in DSLRs.

The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is available at Amazon for $490. The older Olympus Pen E-P1 with a slim-line 17mm lens is available here.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Micro Four Thirds Camera

The Lumix DMC-G2 is another Micro Four Thirds camera that gets top marks from expert reviewers. Like the Olympus PEN PL-1, the quality of the images from this camera are typically stunning, and on par with images from a quality DSLR.

The Lumix DMC-G2 features 12.1-megapixels sensor, and a touch-screen LCD that rotates 180° from side to side and tilts 270° up and down. Reviewers were very impressed by the build quality and the ergonomics of this camera. They say the camera is quick to start up, and has snappy performance, compared to its competition.

On the negative side, reviewers pointed out that the camera has no image stabilization, and the image quality is poor in ISO 1600 and above. The Lumix DMC-G2 is also not the most compact camera of its kind — it’s a bit heavier and larger than the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

The Lumix DMC-G2 is available at Amazon for $547.

Sony Alpha NEX-3 Interchangeable Lens Camera

In response to the Micro Four Thirds cameras introduced by Panasonic and Olympus, Sony has created its own line of compact, lens interchangeable cameras. So far there are only two cameras in this line: the Sony Alpha NEX-3, and the Sony Alpha NEX5. These cameras use E-mount lenses, but other lenses can be used together with an adaptor.

The Sony Alpha NEX-3 is one of the highest rated cameras of its type, priced under $500, and directly competing with the two cameras we reviewed above. Sony’s Alpha NEX3 is even more compact that those cameras. Sony claims it’s the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera. The exact dimensions are: 117 x 63 x 33mm, and it weighs 297g (10.5 oz). Despite its size, this camera boasts a sensor that is 50% larger than the Micro Four Thirds format. This is a breakthrough unique to Sony, and reviewers say this improves image quality overall.

The NEXs don’t have a built-in flash, but come with an attachable external flash, which draws its power from the camera’s main battery.

One thing to note — the range of lenses available for this camera is quite limited at this time. You can use A-mount lenses (used by Sony’s Alpha DSLR cameras) by using a LA-EA1 adaptor. This is an optional accessory. The bundled 18-55 mm F3.5-5.6 lens has a metal finish and is of excellent quality. However, you will need buy a compact lens if you don’t want to obliterate the camera’s slim profile (see photo above). You can buy this camera with a 16mm lens bundled with it.

The Sony Alpha NEX-5 is very similar to NEX-3, the only important difference is the that NEX-5 supports 1080 HD video recording. It sells for $699 from Amazon.

The Sony Alpha NEX-3 is available from Amazon for $499. The 16mm version is available here.

The post The Most Portable Interchangeable Lens Cameras appeared first on Reactual.