Tag Archive | USB
December 30, 2019  

We Now Have 9 USB Charging Ports In Our Kitchen!

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Yes, it is a fairly large kitchen (though I have been in others that are muh, much, much larger) and given that it was built in 2006 (when they were generous on this matter) it has 6 dual socket power outlets — as well as a phone jack and a 220V outlet for the stove.

Yes, I guess we have a few electronics between us, THOUGH I don’t charge many things in the kitchen. We basically have USB charging ports (maybe even stations) in every room — and, of course, on either side of the bed.

I though 5 was enough. I was overruled so right after Christmas I had to order the latest ‘outlet’ (the one shown on the left) with 4 USB ports. I think we will be OK for awhile. I won’t even mention how many charging ports/cables we carry in EACH car. You would think we were dependent on USB. SMILE.

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by Anura Guruge

August 1, 2019  

My Garmin ‘MARQ Expedition’ Is Now At Software Version 3.50.

by Anura Guruge

Click images to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE. From Garmin ‘Forums’.

I fired up ‘Garmin Express‘ (now at 6.16.0.0) on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, while I was charging up my MARQ Expedition. I did NOT see a message that said there was a new software version.

But, when I unplugged it from USB the MARQ asked when it could install the new version of software.

From what I can see this new software version doesn’t do ANYTHING for I. That is not to say that the MARQ is without bugs. It loses the installed watch face on a regular basis — for one. To be honest I am not thrilled with the MARQ. Just glad that I didn’t buy it per se. It was an upgrade and ‘goodwill’ (for work performed). SMILE.

Garmin MARQ Expedition Anura GurugeRelated Posts:
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by Anura Guruge

February 21, 2018  

My Fitbit Ionic Software Updated To OS 1.2 With Firmware Version 27.31.1.29.

by Anura Guruge

Click images to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE and read here. Use link below to access original at Fitbit.

Click here to access original from Fitbit.

This update happened, over Wi-Fi, when I did a forced Sync around 12:05am on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

I am not sure whether I was lucky or not. The above says that they just started the rollout to just 10% of the Ionic users. So, I was in that 10%.

The update downloaded and installed ‘OK’ though it took about 20 minutes in total. I much prefer the Garmin approach of doing updates over a USB-connection using Garmin Express.

Have not, as yet, noticed anything different or untoward. But, early minutes … let alone days.

That the Firmware is at 27.31.1.29 is disquieting! That is a LOT of updates.

But, let’s keep fingers crossed. I need the Ionic to work till around May 2018 — when I plan to upgrade to a Garmin Forerunner 645.

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by Anura Guruge

August 30, 2016  

Nikon P900 — Not Including A Battery Charger Is Crazy [+ Thumbs Up For “DOT-01” Batteries].

by Anura Guruge

p900charger

Click to ENLARGE and gaze in wonder. From the Nikon P900 “Quick Guide”.

dot01batteries

Click to access Amazon product page.

chargerp900

Click to access Amazon product page.

For reasons that totally escape me Nikon does NOT provide a standalone battery charger with the Nikon P900. Yes, the P900 has an internal battery for its clock but that alone is not a good enough reason not to skim on a $4 charger.

I have never liked charging batteries INSIDE the camera. It is so limiting in that you can’t use the camera while the battery is being charged.

Given my penchant for taking upwards of 900 pictures on some days I can easily go through 3 charged batteries within 8 to 12 hours. So I tend to carry 3 to 4 charged batteries on me.

So, yes, I got chargers for the Nikon P900 even BEFORE I picked up the camera — and yes, that was in the plural.

I had never had one of these DUAL chargers and they make SO MUCH sense for me given the batteries I have to charge. Being USB only is not an issue since I have USB charging stations all over the house! So why do I need two chargers? One to go in the camera bag — of course.

Up until I got my now traded-in Fuji X-E2s, in May 2016, I used to be “Wasabi” only when it came to extra camera batteries. Then, with the Fuji, I saw posts for the “DOT-o1” batteries, with extra “charge”, on Amazon. There prices were good. I got a set of 3 for the Fuji and they did fine. No problems. Though I never counted the shots I think they gave me more shots per battery. Worst case, they were no different to the original Fuji battery or the two “Wasabi” batteries that I also bought.

With the Nikon P900 I did NOT bother getting any “Wasabi”. Just ordered the four “DOT-01” batteries. I have already used two of them. No issues.

So, for now, I have to say that the “dual charger” and the “DOT-01” batteries work just fine with the Nikon P900.

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by Anura Guruge

February 17, 2016  

Lenovo Tab 2 10″ 16GB Android Tablet — Pretty Darn Impressive For $171.

by Anura Guruge

I ordered the Lenovo 10″ Tab 2 last Thursday when the 10.6″ 8-Core Dragon Touch X10 Android Tablet which I had got from Amazon the day before proved to be a major disappointment in terms of screen resolution and USB-based battery charging.

The 1920 x 1200 screen on the Lenovo, as is mentioned in all the product reviews and many of the Amazon ‘feedback’, is pretty spiffy. Vastly superior to the Dragon X10. Crisp and vivid (and I do have it set to ‘vivid’). It is also surprisingly and pleasantly fast. That was a bonus. As I have stated before 96% of what is do on a pad is Web browsing — using Chrome. And it seems to be very adept at doing that. I am pleased.

Slightly more ‘bloatware’ than was in the Dragon. Most of it was easy enough to remove though I am still stuck with a few, such as ‘FM Radio’, which I will never use because it needs an earphone cord to act as an antenna and I don’t use (or like) earphones.

It upgraded, as part of a mandatory System Update, to Android 5.0.1. So I have only used it with Android 5. Works fine (so far). Haven’t found an APP that has not been compatible,

The only problem I have is I can’t get a magnetic compass APP to work. Yes, I know I about calibration but I still haven’t managed to crack that. GPS works. So not the end of the world.

Only has USB-charging (as opposed to also have a separate charger as was the case with the Dragon) and charging, so far, seems par for the course.

So bottom line, after (say) 28 hours and maybe 90 minutes of use is that ‘So Far So Good’, screen is impressive and performance, including Wi-Fi, more than acceptable. I am happy.

Hope this helps.

 

lenovotablet1

Click to access Amazon listing. Smaller and a (slower) Quad-Core as opposed to the 8 in the Dragon.

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by Anura Guruge

February 11, 2016  

Dragon Touch X10 Android Tablet — Screen Resolution & Battery Life Not Up To My Criteria.

by Anura Guruge

The 10.6″ 8-Core Dragon Touch X10 Android Tablet which I ordered from Amazon over the weekend arrived yesterday. Definitely a nice, responsive unit with NO BLOATWARE — and it was fully charged when it arrived. It even came with fairly comprehensive instructions and a very cute, ‘clingy’ screen protector with additional guidance. I was able to get it up and running with my core set of APPs — Chrome, Bank of America, Fidelity, ‘GPS’, ‘Home Security’ etc. — very quickly and with NO issues. I was impressed.

But, I have already printed the paperwork from Amazon to return it! I used it for less than 2 hours!

There were two things that were not up to my requirements and those were such that I would never be happy with this tablet. These being: screen resolution not good enough when using Chrome and battery charging/battery life.

The screen resolution is 1366×768. In theory that should be good enough. It is OK when you are using APPs so to speak, but not when trying to read Webpages on Chrome — in particular ‘marketwatch.com‘ (in desktop mode). Deanna had a look and agreed. Resolution way below par. Also the case when watching video. Given that I HAVE to read at least 30 – 40 minutes of ‘marketwatch.com’ a day, in order to be I, this was NOT going to fly. I need a tablet where I can read Webpages without the screen resolution getting in the way.

The second issue proved to be worse that I had hoped, given that I had already read, on the Amazon reviews that this could be a stumbling block. Though it can be charged via USB it is NOT ‘happy’ being charged as such. It, appears, though I did not bother to try, that it prefers to be charged using its dedicated charger. I had hoped that this would not be as bigger an issue as it proved to be. It was NOT fully charged after 7.5 hours plugged into my standard USB charger! That is not acceptable. Every room in this house is set up, one way or another, for USB charging. Plus when we travel I carry a pouch of USB chargers. I am not going to take another dedicated charger. IF it is not going to charge, fast and adequately, via USB, it is NOT for I. Alos noticed that battery capacity was going down in front of my eyes. Wow.

It also appears that I can’t get the magnetic sensor, used by non-GPS compass APPs to work. Not a showstopper BUT annoying. I like an ‘analog’ non-GPS compass on my tablet. Also not convinced that it had the latest and greatest Wi-Fi chips.

So the Dragon, alas, is going back. Shame. 

I have already ordered a 10″ Lenovo tablet:

lenovotablet1

Click to access Amazon listing. It has a higher resolution HD screen. Smaller and a (slower) Quad-Core as opposed to the 8 in the Dragon.

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by Anura Guruge

November 21, 2015  

Totally Hooked On Power Outlet Taps With Built-In USB Charging Ports.

usbpowerjacksdsf.Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail
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by Anura Guruge

Every once in awhile I run into a product that I immediately fall in love with because it is exactly what I needed — sometimes not even knowing that I so needed it till I saw the product.

That is the case with this 6-outlet wall mount tap with 2 built-in 2.4 amp USB charging ports. It is just what I wanted. I love it.

Yes, like so many other households our house is littered with charging devices — we even have them in the car and I have a bag of adapters and cords for when we travel.

With my two cameras, the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 and the Sony RX100 M2, and Teischan’s Samsung, I have a charging station set-up in my office just for the batteries given that I have 8 batteries in total to deal with. For convenience I have it on the floor next to my reading chair since much of what I read when seated in that chair has to do with cameras. So I also need power for a reading light and a clock around that chair. Though I have an extension strip off the wall outlet I was running out of outlets.

So the other day I was thinking that it was time to get a wall ‘block’ with say 6 outlets. I was going to get around to ordering it. Then within 48-hours I get an e-mail, purely by coincidence, by a TV promotion company trying to sell me a tap with built-in USB charges. Eureka! That is what I wanted.

I checked Amazon. Their prices were better. They actually had the TV promotion product for CHEAPER. But it did not have very good reviews.

Then I found this, the ‘Cable Master‘ product, with better reviews and only fractionally more expensive. I ordered it. It arrived Friday.

It works. Works well. The USB chargers worked, in parallel, just fine. I know that 2.4 amp is good. That is what I use in the car. I charged my pad, Teischan’s Samsung camera and my phone. All worked fine. I am chuffed. I am going to get a FEW of these. I would like to have one in each room.

Yes, down the road, say 10 years from now, I visualize all new houses with power outlets with built-in USB charging ports.

Cable Matters 6-Outlet Wall Mount Surge Protector with USB ports

Click to ENLARGE.

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