Electronics & Technology

myCharge Adventure Series Portable Charger

Technology can be both good as well as bad. Everywhere you look, people are walking with their face buried in their smartphones. Believe me, I have two teenage boys and it frustrates me how attached they are to this technology. Many times I’ve lost comms with my 14 year old because of a dead phone battery. Apparently, SnapChat consumes a lot of juice, I wouldn’t know. So to solve this problem, I’ve been searching for a compact portable charger for him. One that will withstand the punishment of an active teenage boy. And myCharge has just the solution with their new Adventure Series chargers.

The Adventure Series is engineered to be rugged, durable power for charging in extreme conditions. This new series includes the AdventureMini, AdventurePlus, AdventureMax and AdventureUltra. All of which provide a varying range of charging capacities to suit your needs. I settled on the 3,350 mAh Mini as well as the 10,500 mAh AdventureMax. One key feature of the Adventure Series is a rubberized rugged exterior. Making them both drop and splash resistant. Compact and lightweight, the AdventureMax will go virtually unnoticed in a backpack. And the AdventureMini is a convenient pocket sized power pack perfect for EDC. Time will tell, but they look to be capable of some abuse.

Adventure Series Technology courtesy of mycharge.com

Smart-sense: ensures complete device compatibility
Hyper-charge: ultra-fast charging of your devices; up to 65% faster than competitors
Power-stay: maintains battery power for up to 1 year
Max-power: maximum power transfer from powerbank to device
High-density battery: the smallest and lightest powerbank
Safe-cell: provides the highest level of battery safety
Rapid-recharge: powerbank recharges up to 50% faster than competitors
Pass Through Charging: will charge the powerbank and connected device simultaneously

The temptation to wander around like a zombie glued to the warm glow of your iPhone screen is great. Put the phone away and try to remain aware of your surroundings. A little common sense and awareness will go a long way should an emergency arise. Stash the phone and connect it to any of the new Adventure Series chargers. This way, you’ll have a topped off phone when you reach your destination.

AdventureMini Specs

Battery: 3350mAh Lithium Ion
Product Dimensions: 4.4 in x 1.9 in x 1.0 in
Product Weight: 0.20 lbs.
USB port delivers 1.0A output
Smartphone Charges 2 times
MSRP $29.99

AdventureMax Specs

Battery: 10500mAh Lithium Ion
Product Dimensions: 4.4 in x 2.9 in x 1.0 in
Product Weight: 0.55 lbs.
USB port delivers 2.4A output
Smartphone Charges 6 times
MSRP $49.99

Midland Weather Radio: Just in Time for Storm Season

Midland Weather Radio: Staying ahead of storm season

The month of September is National Preparedness month and right on cue Hurricane Dorian has decided to pummel the Atlantic Coast. This wakeup call from mother nature has grabbed people attention on the local and national news media. This series of events shows us in real time the value of preparedness and having the correct gear at the right time. What better time than now to cast a light on our latest piece of disaster preparedness gear, the Midland ER310 Weather Radio. This little bright red radio is easy to use and packed full of features that are relevant to any weather-related event that you might encounter anywhere in the United States.

Simple and Effective

In any emergency situation communications are usually the first thing to degrade to the point of being unreliable. In a storm-related event, communications about changing conditions could make the difference between placing yourself and your loved ones in harm’s way or on the path to safety. The Midland ER310 Weather Radio offers simplicity and reliability in a small highly portable package that you can leave on the counter at home or toss in your Go Bag if you have to leave your location in a hurry. It’s design minimizes moving parts and extra features and focuses on whats import and what works.

Never Run out of Power

The problem with power grids is that for the most part they susceptible to things like floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, ice storms or hurricanes. Because they are subject to these forces of nature they often time go offline for hours or days at a time during disasters. That makes operating and charging things like cell phones, radios and other electronic equipment almost impossible. The folks at Midland took notice of that and made the model ER-310 Weather Radio able to be powered by three different sources of power. Adding a built-in resiliency factor to anyone who has one in their possession. This unit can be powered off of six AA-sized batteries, one 2600 mAh lithium-ion battery, a hand crank dynamo or the top mounted solar panel.

Let’s take a look at exactly what exactly the team at Midland packed into this surprisingly small and lightweight weather radio and we will explain why I am so excited about this unit and why I can’t stop recommending it to my friends and family as soon as they ask about preparedness.

Specifications

Brand: Midland

Model: ER-310

Power Source:

AA Battery (six total)
Lithium Ion Rechargeable (one total)
Solar Panel
Hand crank

Dimensions:

Length: 9.61″
Height: 6.85″
Thickness: 2.95″
Weight: 1.46 lbs

Channels:

AM/FM
7 NOAA/National Weather Service automated weather alert channels

Other Features:

1400 lux LED light
SOS flashing beacon
Ultrasonic dog whistle
USB capable smart phone/tablet charger charging port
One year warranty
32 Hour run time when fully charged

MSRP: $69.99 at Midland.Com

Why You Should Own One

Why should you own a Midland ER-310 Weather Radio? because I’m betting that if you are reading this in the United States that if you stop and think about it you certainly face one or more natural hazards that could greatly impact your life. You might live near a seismic fault line or a floodplain and not even know it. Mother nature doesn’t usually give a ton of warning about when she is going to unleash her fury. If its weather-related usually the forecasters at the National Weather Service have been up all night tracking the rain, wind, ice or whatever storm or weather event you are facing and have the NWS automated forecast broadcasts up and running.

What that means is that all you have to do regardless of if you have electricity or not is reach over and push two buttons and you will have a real-time accurate report of the conditions. When I say accurate I mean down to the conditions of the prevailing winds, barometric pressure changes, temperatures and when the last update was done. It also gives you the most current forecasts for your local area out to 72 hours. All information that may seem mundane on a normal day, but become vital during storms if you don’t think so just ask someone who has lived through tornado season in North Texas or the Great Plains

The Midlands ER-310 can be found online for between $60-80 and in the grand scheme of things is a great value and makes a perfect accessory for your Go Bag, recreational vehicle or your car. The utilitarian nature of the radio allows the user the flexibility of not just listening to the radio or weather updates but lets them recharge other devices via the external USB plug located on the side of the unit. So when everyone is out of cell phone battery and the power if off for days you can plug your phone into the Midland ER-310 and place it in a sunny spot and very slowly recharge your battery.

Prepping Thoughts

We want to hear from our readers who are avid preppers, what do you think of the Midland ER-310? Are you currently running a weather radio or base station as part of your bug out set up or is it even something you have considered? Many times communications are overlooked in the world of preparedness, but with the Midland ER-310, it doesn’t have to be any longer. Small, portable, and several ways to supply power all at an affordable price point. What’s not to like?

Overland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000

I’m starting to consider myself an Overlander now, but I’ve only been at it for a couple of years. Still a green horn by all accounts and measurements. So I constantly refine my personal equipment, vehicle and loadout after each trip. It’s the only way to get better. Figure out what worked, what didn’t, and what adjustments need to be made to the vehicle. With limited space on board, the items I select need to serve a legitimate purpose and not just end up as dead weight. They also need to be robust enough to endure the rugged environment. These items that make the final cut become Overland Essential. And the MXT275 from Midland Radio is one such item.

Midland Radio Video Review:

Midland Radio has been manufacturing 2-way radios since the 1950’s and was the first company to introduce a 14 channel FRS radio. Since then, their products have continued to lead the market with constant innovation and refinement. With a full line of portable 2-way radios available, I selected the MXT275 as our “base camp” radio along with a pair of GXT1000 handheld units for use on foot, or bike, or kayak. As a family of four that adventures together, I felt this set-up would offer the most flexibility and range at a great price.

Midland Radio MXT275

The MXT275 is a compact portable 2-way radio that sports a powerful 15watt base station. This Micromobile unit is small enough to be mounted just about anywhere. My Toyota Tundra serves double-duty as a work truck as well as our Overland vehicle. So I chose the center console as my mounting location for several reasons. There is a 12v plug in the console which is required to power the MXT275. Additionally, I can easily route the antenna wire from here under the carpet and rear seats to place the magnetic antenna on the roof via the rear sliding window. And finally, I can store the entire unit out of sight when not in use. All in all, a pretty seamless 10-minute install.

Although Midland advertises up to a 50-mile range in perfect unobstructed conditions, we live in Northern Michigan which is heavily wooded and expect far less range in this environment. However, we have not experienced any lapse in comms between the MXT275 and the GXT1000 handheld units when the boys push out from the campsite. With plans to head out west next season to the vast expanses of Colorado or Utah, we’ll get to test that long range capability. But for the time being, these radios from Midland have served us reliably.

Midland Radio MXT275 Spec Sheet

Midland Radio GXT1000

For use beyond the vehicle, I chose the Midland GXT1000. These small handheld units pack a powerful 5-watt punch offering up to 36 miles of range. Again, in perfectly un-obstructed conditions. This kit includes a pair of handheld units along with rechargeable batteries, a base station and headsets all for $89.99. Furthermore, the charging station includes both AC and 12v plugs for charging flexibility while in the vehicle.

A handy feature found on both the MXT275 as well as the GXT1000’s is the NOAA Weather Alert Radio with Weather Scan. This automatically locks on to your local weather channel and alerts you to severe weather in your area. On a 4 day trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan this summer, we found ourselves in a bit of a pinch. Setting up camp in a remote logged out area away from civilization seemed like a great way to watch the sunset over Lake Superior. Out of cell range, I was unable to check the rapidly changing weather over the lake. As we settled into our rooftop tent for the night, we had no idea what we’d wake up to.

Around 4am, I thought I saw a flash of light through my eyelids. Maybe it was just my imagination. As I lay there, I start to hear the familiar rumble of thunder. Peeking out the window, I see a large fast moving storm cell. The detail of the clouds revealed in the dark sky with each lighting strike. Illuminating the angry mass of clouds as if someone was turning on and off a light switch within. I grabbed the Midland Radio and pushed the WX button. The radio scanned for a local NOAA Weather channel. Once locked on, the bad news hit us loud and clear.

We found ourselves in the path of a severe thunderstorm with winds exceeding 40 mph. The next 15 minutes mimicked ground zero of an artillery barrage. I counted around 40 lightning strikes within 5 miles of us. With nowhere to take refuge, we just hunkered down and hoped that the odds were in our favor. As I watched from our window, a tree on the edge of the clearing took a direct hit. About a half of a mile from our tents and way too close for comfort. It was as beautiful as it was terrifying. And another important learning experience. In the future, I’ll pull up a full weather brief for our area of operation prior to departure.

Final thoughts:

In the video, Scott and I are exploring areas closer to home. Driving our trucks in Northern Michigan and getting ready for Overland Expo East. Good 2-way comms allowed us to warn one another of obstacles on the trail and game plan our route on the fly. GMRS radios are a great way for a group traveling together to have reliable communications. More powerful HAM radios are a good solution in the event you need help from outside the group over greater distances. But require each user to have a license. Just a couple of considerations when selecting a vehicle radio for Overland travel. However, the compact size and transmit range of these Midland products allow you to outfit your rig with an affordable and very reliable set-up.

“Midland Radio Corporation develops consumer products such as all hazards/weather alert radios, GMRS two-way radios, citizen band radios, marine radios, and bluetooth intercom systems. It has manufactured two-way radios since the late 1950s and was the first to introduce a 14-channel FRS radio to the market. In addition, as a manufacturer of land mobile radios, MRC supplies analog and digital portables, mobiles and base stations/repeaters for government entities such as forestry, public safety, etc., and other commercial users. Midland is the U.S. affiliate of an international group of companies with offices in Bulgaria, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. MRC is headquartered in a distribution facility in Kansas City, Missouri, which houses its entire U.S. operations.” ~Wikipedia

Watch: This is what full-color night vision looks like

There is no question that night vision technology has revolutionized the way wars are fought, particularly among America’s special operations community. That said, anyone who’s been stuck wearing the sort of night vision goggles (NVGs) that find their way into the hands of conventional forces can attest that television rarely provides an accurate portrayal of how tough it can be to function with them strapped to your head.

The wearer must often adjust the focus of the goggles by hand, which means removing at least one hand from one’s weapon. It also means that without constant adjustments, one’s field of view lacks any real sense of depth. Aside from the constant need for adjustments, the wearer’s complete lack of peripheral vision (with the exception of the alien-looking L-3 setup used by special operators) makes night vision only slightly less dangerous than closing your eyes and hoping you don’t trip.

Of course, these problems aren’t because the technology for better night vision doesn’t exist; it’s simply a matter of making the technology more cost effective so conventional troops can get their hands on more capable gear for less money. The need just isn’t there for conventional troops to receive the latest and greatest in NVG tech, but with each advancement in this realm comes a reduction in cost for last year’s breakthroughs.

And let there be no mistake, there have been breakthroughs. Night vision has historically come in shades of green—that’s not a tech issue, but a human one. The human eye, adept as it is at interpreting reflected light as the world around us, can only register and process so much at once. Through extensive experimentation, shades of green proved to be easiest for the human eye to distinguish between, and as such, green was adopted as the monochrome color of choice for night vision tech. In truth, these goggles could display images in any color depending on how we built them—it would just limit our ability to interpret the images on the lens.

But what if we could do away with that monochrome idea altogether? After all, the human eye is great at picking out threats against a well-lit, daytime backdrop. That’s where SPi Infrared’s X28 night vision system comes in.

This video was recorded at around midnight, with no lighting beyond what can be seen in the distance:

Or how about this video of the beach, also taken in the middle of the night? When the camera pans up, you can see cloud cover with light stars behind it.

These images were recorded using SPi’s camera, which is not currently available as a wearable night vision rig, but as this technology continues to mature, it’s likely America’s special operations troops will soon enjoy the same level of detail and clarity during nighttime operations as they do during the day. As for the conventional side, chances are good they’ll be upgraded to something that keeps them from tripping over their own feet in the years to come, too.

Originally published on NEWSREP

Hitcase | The Ultimate Protection for your Phone

In a world where phone cases are quickly running out of steam and the market is demanding more protection with a smaller profile, it’s tough to find the case that doesn’t render your phone a brick. You frequently see a slim iPhone X in the most ungodly of cases from manufacturers like OtterBox and LifeProof. They fail to understand that less is more. But we, the consumer, fail to understand that complete protection comes at a cost. For a while, I accepted the fact that I would sacrifice waterproof and drop protection for something that was just going to keep the screen from getting cracked with a small drop.

Hitcase is a Canadian phone case company that has heard our cries for help and has addressed the issue head-on by creating a phone case with complete protection and the smallest profile possible. I was sent a box of their cases just prior to the desert event known as Burning Man, where the dust and mayhem can completely destroy your digital devices with swift efficiency. In such a visually stimulating environment, most “Burners” rely on their phones to take pictures of various art cars and their friends; capturing memories that could hardly be explained weeks later. So this was to be a true test of capabilities for Hitcase and my precious iPhone.

With an aluminum frame and rubber gaskets covering the ports, the Pro case hugs the edges of the iPhone X without rolling over the sides, feeling big and bulky. In fact, the case is so sleek that it feels almost natural holding the phone like Apple designed it themselves. The case comes with two top covers for the screen. One is the waterproof and dustproof cover that offers the ultimate protection needed for the active person. The other case is for your more casual environments which allows you to directly touch the screen without a protective barrier. I found that over the week in the desert, the protective cover held up incredibly well and sustained only minor scratches. This was strictly due to the fact that you often find yourself without pockets, so your phone sits inside your bag, smashing up against any number of things like water bottles, goggles and a dust mask.

Hitcase sent along three of their TrueLUX lenses to test out. On the site, they sell Superwide, Wide and Macro, but I seemed to have obtained two different Macro’s as well as the super wide. The Superwide is phenomenal and really allows you to replicate a fisheye with a simple quarter turn of the lens onto the back of the case. With the aluminum frame of the case coupled with the strong threads of the lens, you get a really positive connection without the worry of the lens falling off during active activities. However, I did notice some image quality degradation in the photos where I used the lens. The two Macro’s really allow you to pull out the smallest details in whatever subject it is you’re taking a picture of. But one of the Macro’s sent to me required that I put my phone so close to the subject that they were almost touching. I felt like I turned my phone into a microscope. So I found very little use for those lenses for any practical purposes.

Out of the box, the case has what they call a Railslide that allows you to mount the phone to various accessories to enhance the capabilities of your now waterproof device, similar to GoPro. When not in use, this Railslide is mildly annoying due to its awkward protrusion from the side of the phone. What makes it more annoying is the fact that the only way to remove the rail is with a small Allen wrench that doesn’t come in the box contents. So to go from a sanitary case to the ability to mount it and get in the water takes a little more effort than is desired. But looking at it from an engineering perspective, there really is no better alternative without some serious engineering complications. Covering the lighting port is a rubber gasket that works incredibly well at keeping the water out, but it’s also quite difficult to get open if you have slightly damp or oily fingers. Picking at the small flap over the past few weeks caused the rubber to tear leaving me unable to open the port, so I just took it off entirely. Yes, this is preventing my phone from keeping anything out, but I’m not requiring my phone to film the next Bluefin I spear on a dive trip. If Hitcase sent one or two extra’s with the contents, that would alleviate this issue entirely. With the durability of the Pro Case, I find a hard time believing it will need replacing until I upgrade to the next phone model. So this small oversight is something that I hope they will address in the future. Overall, Hitcase knocked this out of the park and have stepped in the ring with the big dog case manufacturers to deliver a knockout blow, cementing themselves as the only case to find itself protecting my most needed piece of technology.

Specs

Triple patented design
Low profile anodized Aluminum frame
IP68 Waterproof rating up to 33ft/10m
Drop-proof to 16ft/5m – MIL SPEC Shock rated
Take stunning photos/videos with 3x TrueLUX® Lenses: Wide, Macro and Superwide (sold separately)
Mount it anywhere with our Railslide mount system.
Compatible with all 8 HITCASE mounts and GoPro® mounts
Scratch resistant screen
Get your phone in and out in seconds with our super secret Shockseal design
Seamless Touch ID: talk, text, shoot, share = do all the things.

Professionals Playbook: CEO of Veo Robotics Patrick Sobalvarro talks robots, AI, and his No-Jerks policy

Patrick Sobalvarro is the Co-Founder and CEO of Veo Robotics, a company that creates the brains for superhuman industrial robots.

Patrick has more than twenty-five years of experience in computer vision, robotics, and industrial automation. Prior to founding Veo Robotics, he was the first Entrepreneur in Residence at Siemens Venture Capital.

Patrick was also President of Rethink Robotics, creators of collaborative manufacturing robots, and founded and led the computer vision startup IntelliVid to its acquisition by Tyco International.

Originally trained as a computer scientist, Patrick holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Computer Science from MIT.

I was impressed with how Patrick was able to explain the nuances of what he does to someone outside the industry like myself. He is humble and knowledgeable which makes him a great teacher. In this episode we talk about how robots are similar to the plow-horse from the early 20th century, how Tesla automated their factory too much leading to disastrous results, computer vision, A.I., what he looks for in new-hires, and his No-Jerks policy.

In this episode, we talk about in order:

Insights from computer vision in stores (min. 5:30)
What defines a robot? (min. 9:30)
Industrial robotics overview (min. 14:15)
Tesla overreaching (min. 19:30)
Handoff between robots and humans (min. 24:30)
Removing robots from their cages (min. 33:00)
The “Moses Vest” (min. 37:45)
Computer vision (min. 39:00)
Computing power required (min. 40:30)
AI/machine learning (min. 42:00)
Future of industry (min. 47:15)
As CEO what qualities he looks for in new-hires (min. 49:45)
No-Jerks Policy (min 51:30)

Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.com