The Compass camera from London-based Drift Innovation, isn’t the best quality camera but it is absolutely one of the most versatile I’ve seen in the rugged, wearable category.
It takes 8 megapixel still images, video up to 1080p at 30fps and 720p at 60fps and has a time-lapse feature.
You’ll get about 2 full hours recording at 1080p before the battery needs a USB charge or up to 50 days on a single charge in the time-lapse feature.
The camera also has Wi-Fi for remote control recording, live streaming of events, play-back and sharing to social media with the free Drift Life app (iOS and Android) that also controls the camera’s settings. Compass comes with 10GB of free cloud storage and has a microSD card slot for using the removable media up to 32GB. Live streaming can also be done with the camera’s controls to make your content live or public.
The Compass mount kit (sold separately) is a handy system enabling the camera to be mounted and used most anywhere. The kit includes a magnetic silicone skin (which also protects the camera from drops, dents and scratches) that can be attached to the tripod adapter, clip, 3M adhesive and a carrying case. A lanyard can be attached for wearing around your neck.
The camera measures 43 mm squared and just 19 mm thick and weighs just an ounce. A front facing button turns the camera on or off and lets you toggle between mode settings for still images, video or time lapse. A side button controls the Wi-Fi connection.
A recent firmware update also allows for another way to hit record. Now you can also press the Drift logo button instead of relying on the g-sensor to double tap for record-ing.
http://driftinnovation.com $129.99
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Smartphones are far more than just phones they can be used for exercise tracking, taking still images and videos, and some people go old school and store documents.
There’s probably a better than average chance that less than half of you back your phone’s data. The MEEM Memory is a phone charging cable with innovative technology that puts internal memory into the cable. This allows your phone (iPhone or Android) to charge the battery like any other cable while at the same time backing up data onto the cable. Backups occur every time a device is connected guaranteeing the most recent files will get backed up.
First, install the MEEM app, which controls the file backup. Then connect the two to an AC power source and put in your four-digit passcode. Backups can be done automatically or manually. The app will tell you how much memory is left in the cable.
Everything is stored in the cable’s memory so there are no storage, cloud or transfer fees, just the price of the cable.
According to MEEM, the data transfer speed is 3 to 4 MBPS (depending on the phone OS and hardware) and it will take up to six minutes to transfer 1GB of data. Like any other backup system, the initial backup takes the longest.
The MEEM cable is FCC and MFi (Made For iPhone) approved.
www.meemmemory.com 16GB Android model $49.99, 32GB iPhone model $69.99
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When I put “smartphone charging cable” in the Amazon search, 126,925 choices came up. If you want to go through each one, go for it but I’ll make it easy for you by recommending the Paracable microUSB and Lightning cables.
They work fine for charging but what makes this cable stand out is the construction and durability. The cables are wrapped in 32 bit paracord fabric and features sleek and durable aluminum end housing, which translates into a very durable product that works after winding it up for storage in a backpack or back pocket. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, depending on the connection.
https://paracable.com $23.95 for the 5-foot Lightning, $17.95 for the 5-foot microUSB
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Contact Gregg Ellman at greggellman@mac.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greggellman
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