(Credit:
Daily Relish)
Most camera bags these days can hardly be called a fashion statement. Many look drab, though Crumpler has a couple that sport psychedelic colors. Still, at the end of the day, all these bags shout, "I'm a camera bag!"
A photographer/blogger on Daily Relish saw the need for a more fashionable alternative, and worked on a line of bags for female photographers who want both style and function. According to her, it took two years of research, including trials, before she came up with the final design.
Looking more like handbags that woman would tote along when they head out for shopping, these bags have Velcro-removable compartments so our female shutterbugs can arrange the compartments to fit their equipment.
There's just one catch. The bags aren't in production yet. But you can sign up to be on the mailing list to be notified once these stylish carriers roll off the production line.
(Source: Crave Asia)
Your friends call you a klutz, Mom calls you careless, and you beat yourself up every time you drop your phone in the toilet or step on your MP3 player. We can't help you with your overall clumsiness, but there may be a solution for your soaked devices.
The Bheestie Bag is a small, lightweight pouch that draws moisture out of personal electronics using small, liquid-absorbing beads. After the device has been soaked or spilled upon, take the battery out, dry the device, and place it in the bag for 24 to 72 hours. The beads absorb water in much the same way rice absorbs water, as they are made to physically bond with liquid and don't release the moisture back into the bag when they've reached their absorption capacity.
At first, I thought Bheestie Bag was just another mythical solution for rescuing drenched devices, but after putting it to the test using a soaked Insignia MP3 player, I'm far less skeptical.
Other well-known device-drying methods come to mind, of course, the most infamous bring the blow dryer. Unfortunately, it's more likely that you'll further damage your device under the dryer's heat, so it's not recommended.
There's also the "just let it sit" myth. Many, like CNET News reporter Ina Fried, have tried this and seen positive outcomes. But I have a feeling that the success of this method has a lot to do with the inner workings of the device and how crammed the parts are. If there's a sufficient amount of open space in the device for air drying, it's more likely that if you "just let it sit," the device will work again.
The last, less obvious tactic is the bag of rice. Here, you simply dry off your device, remove the battery, and place it in a bag of rice for a couple of days. Since rice is a natural soaking agent, it supposedly removes the moisture from the device. Like many others, I can say this method works.
Despite these available solutions, none have proven to be consistently successful. Luckily, after trying the $20 Bheestie Bag, I can say there's a more dependable solution for those of you who are accident-prone. See our photo gallery for more on our experience with the product.
Lowepro has recently added to its lineup of all-weather camera bags. The new bags all share Lowepro's All-Weather construction, with built-in rain covers for when conditions change. Some bags have removable laptop sleeves; one even has a flip-up sunshade. From smaller, stealthier bags, to holster-style cases and full-size backpacks, there is something to meet the wide array of needs of professionals and photo enthusiasts.
The Pro Trekker 300 AW, 400 AW, and 650 AW are professional-grade backpacks designed to carry large amounts of gear. The model number refers to the largest focal-length lens that can be on the camera when it is inserted in the bag. The bags have removable waist belts that can be used as work belts, and they have hydration-ready side pockets with seam-sealed pouches.
Sharing some design elements with camping backpacks, there is a cap that covers the top of the backpack and can be cinched to tighten up the bag. The top cap can be removed and converted into a belt-pack. All three bags come with a removable foam laptop sleeve that fits up to a 15.4-inch-screen laptop. The Pro Trekker 300 AW sells for about $240, with the Pro Trekker 400 AW going for $280, and the Pro Trekker 600 AW for $320.
The Magnum 200 AW, 400 AW, 650 AW series are black and designed for the professional photographer as a durable, portable toolbox. One piece of foam frames the cases all the way around to strengthen corners to protect against impacts. The 650 is the largest in the series and features a removable laptop sleeve with a built-in sunshade for location work. The Magnum 200 AW sells for about $150, with the Magnum 400 AW going for $200, and the Magnum 650 AW for $250.
... Read more
(Credit:
Alan Harvey )
Updated at 2:40 p.m., July 9, with correct name of inventor, Adam Harvey.
If I were a popular Hollywood celebrity, chances are the paparazzi would be staking out my house and jotting down notes on what I had for lunch. Alas for commoners like me, Adam Harvey's invention won't do much.
Harvey, a New York University graduate, conceived a fashion clutch (no, not the pedal you step on for manual transmission cars) that can help scandal-stricken stars steer clear of the spotlight. His Anti-Paparazzi Clutch Bag includes a small microcontroller, LED lights, and a sensor that detects bright flashes from external sources.
When the clutch detects a flash, it responds by activating the LEDs which, in theory, will over-expose the paparazzi's shot (see above picture for an example). But this will probably work effectively only at night.
For now, Harvey has secured the patent for his invention and is working toward commercializing this product (he says a limited release of the clutch bag will become available in early spring 2010). When I become famous one day, I'm going to get one of these.
(Source: Crave Asia via PDN Gear Guide)
This week was FILLED with conceptual ideas that were sometimes pure genius, and sometimes pure WTH. Seriously, Pornisonic, we are talking to you! Natali Del Conte and Gknee join the party to make this extra-long episode 80 percent female, 20 percent male. Has this ever happened at CNET before?!
Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 142 |
Programmable doorbell blends soothing chimes with real wood craftsmanship
Panasonic’s limp remote concept is both cool and unsettling
Tennis star Maria Sharapova dons geeky light-up phone dress
B-Touch cell phone with Braille touch screen is an iPhone for the blind
Nested cellphones track techno-evolution
Power outlet wall solves your electrical needs
... Read more
(Credit:
Modern Mommy Gear)
Food storage bags have revolutionized how we store edibles for longer periods of time, divide bulk bags into healthy portions, and pack lunches for workdays. The problem is that we use millions of them every year, and many of them end up in oceans, rivers, and landfills. Since they're not biodegradable, they end up staying there for a long time.
I'm certainly guilty of using the bags: on any given day, I'll use at least one, whether it's in a packed lunch or to bag dinner leftovers. I try to limit my use of them, but when I do have to use them, this bag dryer will thankfully let me reuse them too.
The Bag-E-Wash is handmade in Canada, and dries up to eight bags at a time. After being washed with soap and water, the bags are dried on the rack, preparing them for their next use. This simple act could cumulatively do wonders for the environment: if you reuse your 25-pack of sandwich bags 5 times, you prevent 125 bags from going in the garbage, and save yourself the cost of 5 additional boxes of 25 bags.
Not a bad bargain for the $16 price tag, if you ask me.
(Credit:
RedCamper)
Although this laptop holder looks typical of any other run-of-the-mill bags, there is more to it than meets the eye.
The Skylark LTD. is designed and created by RedCamper's Maura Gramzinski. The first thing you'll notice is the use of photographic slides to furnish the front and sides of the bag. These slides are actual vintage images taken by Gramzinski in the past, and each picture is carefully chosen by her.
Other than the old photographs, the designer also sourced 1970s car upholstery to make the Skylark LTD. The adjustable strap of the bag is modeled after a seatbelt, complete with a clip from an airplane.
The Skylark LTD. can hold a 15-inch laptop and has compartments for your iPod, mobile phone, and other knickknacks. But you got to have a deep pocket for this retro-looking bag. It retails for $224 on RedCamper's Web site, though given that each piece is handmade, that probably justifies the price.
(Source: Crave Asia via PDN Gear Guide)
(Credit:
Chrome Bags)
Chrome started with a couple of guys in Boulder, Colo., who set out to built a bag that could stand a lifetime of daily abuse. Eight years later, the operation is now based out to San Francisco, where Chrome bags have become the staple of bike messengers, students, and packrats alike. Today, Chrome also announced its sojourn into the techie commuter market with the release of two stripped-down, laptop-friendly bags: the Vega and Corsair.
Chrome Vega
(Credit: Chrome Bags)The Vega draws inspiration from the classic "musette" bags used to feed cyclists in the middle of a big race. Since weight is everything to these pros, the bags have to be minimalist and utilitarian, and the Vega is no different. It's light, tough, and can easily fit up to a 15-inch laptop.
It's important to stress the tough material used in the build: 1,000 denier Cordura material, a heavyweight nylon with a urethane coating to protect from water, abrasian, and grime. Make no mistake about it: these are some of the toughest bags you can get.
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(Credit:
Aerovation)
Planning on flying with your laptop on a summer vacation? You should definitely consider a TSA checkpoint-friendly bag. There is no shortage of options, but this new model from Aerovation makes one important change to the typical design so getting away from the checkpoint is even faster.
Most TSA-compliant bags split into two pieces: one side for a laptop, the other for your travel gear. These sides butterfly open letting the notebook sit flat on the security scanner's belt in order to meet guidelines. Once through the checkpoint you have to stop and seal up the two sides.
Aerovation solved this small-but-inconvenient issue on this bag by lining the sides with Velcro. Just grab it by the handle on top and the two sides slap together and instantly connect so they're not flapping around as you run to catch your flight.
This model--the Aerovation CPF--is designed to fit laptops up to 15.4-inch wide-screen sizes and sells for less than $80.
I have not tested or even seen this bag in person, so I can't speak to its quality. Just letting you know it's out there if you're in the market for a fairly inexpensive laptop bag to speed you through airport security.
If it's not a right angle, it's a wrong angle. That's exactly the ethos that has inspired the type of precise, structured and rigidly useful gadgetry that we highlight in today's episode.
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EPISODE 138 |
The perfect father’s day gift for the Type A griller
Cocoon’s laptop bag is perfect for type A personalities
Sensor-laden kokoro adjusts playlist to match the rhythm of your heart
GameDr destroys recreation of youth
Sony’s 400-disc BDP-CX7000ES Blu-ray Mega Changer reportedly coming soon
... Read more
