Friday, August 25, 2017

RAVPOWER FILEHUB



Trying to stay connected when you’re out traveling isn’t always easy. And carrying a bunch of different devices for specific jobs ends up with a lot of moving pieces, a lot of extra weight, and more things to go wrong.

There are starting to be some new products that try to solve several of these problems at once. They don’t fit easily into a standard category but are rather a bunch of different solutions packed into a single device.

The one I’m focusing on here is the pocket-sized RAVPower FileHub (model no. RP-WD01). It includes an SD card reader makes it particularly attractive to photographers.

It’s a device of many talents, but they’re hard to pin a name to. FileHub isn’t especially useful or sexy, but that’s not to say that I can think of a better name. And here’s why–these are the key features of the RAVPOWER FILEHUB

WiFi Hub

The wifi functionality is really to the heart of why this device exists. There are several aspects to it, but the first is that it acts as a wifi hub or personal router.

But it’s important to be clear what it isn’t. By itself it doesn’t provide internet access—it acts as a bridge between your wifi devices and another form of internet access. For instance, you can connect the FileHub to a hotel’s wifi and then connect your phones or computers by wifi to the FileHub to share the hotel’s connection. That can come in handy when hotels limit the number of devices you can use (or charge by the device). You can also connect the FileHub by wifi to a mobile hotspot and then connect your devices by wifi to the FileHub.

But the FileHub is not a mobile hotspot. It doesn’t connect directly to cell networks—you need to arrange that separately. And you can’t easily use it as a traditional router to turn a wired connection into a wifi connection (there’s nowhere to plug in a regular internet cable).

The FileHub has a built-in SD (SD, SDHC, SDXC) slot so you can download your photos from the memory card to your device over wifi. But it’s also important to point out that the FileHub doesn’t have any of its own storage space onboard. It’s not a portable hard drive, and it’s not the same thing as a dedicated memory card backup device. You can, however, connect it to a portable hard drive and access the drive over wifi.

There are two ways to download photos from an SD card. The fastest is the old-fashioned way of connecting he FileHub to your computer with a USB cable and using the USB 2 connection. Then it’s just a regular card reader, and you can download your photos in whatever way you usually do.

But the more impressive feature is that you can use it as a wifi card reader. That comes in handy if you’re using a mobile device like a phone or tablet where it’s not easy or even impossible to connect by regular USB. You an use a web interface or a dedicated app. It’s much slower than using the cable connection, but it also opens up options that aren’t available by USB cable. Most importantly, it means that you can browse the contents of your SD card using your phone or tablet. It’s important to note, though, that you won’t natively get preview images for RAW format image files, so you’ll need to actually download the images to your device to work with those.
NAS Hub / Web File Server

The FileHub doesn’t hold any data itself, but it acts as a wifi bridge between your phone or tablet and an external hard drive. Whether you want to watch movies stored an external hard drive, listen to music, or work with photos on that drive, you can stream from an external hard drive to your phone or tablet
External Battery

The RAVPower FileHub is also an external battery or portable USB power bank. You can use it to recharge your phone or tablet or provide external power to your GoPro. It has a built-in 3000 mAh battery.

Compared to some other dedicated external USB power banks you can get, which can run up to at least 20,000 mAh, the FileHub’s battery isn’t huge. But it’s enough to fully recharge most current smartphones at least once, and enough to charge something like a GoPro HERO4 multiple times.

It is also important to know that the battery is used to power the FileHub’s own features, so if you’re using things like the wifi functionality you’ll be drawing down on that same pool of battery juice.

To connect it as a battery you use a USB cable directly to your device and turn the FileHub on. Simple.
Real-World Use

I’ve been testing the RAVPower on some recent trips and have found it to work as advertised. It does accomplish each of the core functions its supposed to. But I still have a few quibbles. Overall, they fall into two areas: the steps required to get the wifi and networking set up and the app/web browser interface. Both work, I’ve found them to have a little more friction to use than I’d like. There’s a third issue that isn’t the FileHub’s fault–working with photos over wifi is slow. That said, slow is better than not possible.

Battery Power Supply. It works. It’s convenient. And while it’s a smaller capacity than I usually take with me, I don’t have any complaints about the battery pack functionality. In short, it’s handy to have, but it’s probably not the reason to buy this device.

Wifi Hub. This is probably the feature I’ve found most useful. Too many hotels, airport lounges, or other protected wifi hotspots still limit usage to a single device or at least make you sign on separately for every device (sometimes frequently). If you’re traveling with a phone and computer or tablet and any number of other wifi-enabled devices that can get tedious (and sometimes expensive) very quickly. With the RAVPower you can log in to the wifi network once from the Filehub and then connect up to ten devices by wifi to the Filehub. While that doesn’t actually solve the problem of slow internet connections, it does add convenience and can reduce internet connection costs for those places that still charge by device.

And while I’m not a big fan of the Filehub’s user interface through a web browser, which you have to use to get it to log into the wifi network, it’s functional and stable.

NAS Hub / Web File Server. If you want to watch moves or browse photos from your tablet or smartphone without actually storing them on your tablet or smartphone, this can come in very handy because you can plug in a portable hard drive and effectively turn that hard drive into a wifi-enabled hard drive. I’ve found this feature also to be useful, especially for browsing photos. It’s a bit slow doing it over wifi if you’re using large RAW files, and the web interface is a bit clunky, but it works.

SD Memory Card Reader. Again, it works. But I haven’t found myself using this function much beyond testing in part because I often use CompactFlash or microSD cards and in part because I prefer to use a dedicated memory card backup device. But if you regularly use SD cards (or microSD cards with an adapter) and want to keep things light, this is a good option.
Wrap-Up

I’m glad I’m not responsible for marketing this device, because it’s hard to pin down exactly what it does in an elevator pitch. But for photographers on the go, it can come in handy to solve several different digital-life problems in a single device that’s small and relatively inexpensive.

It’s available at Amazon.
Specs

Model: RP-WD01
Colors: Available in Black or White
WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz
WiFi Speed: 72 Mbps at 20 MHz / 150 Mbps at 40MHz
Battery Capacity: 3000 mAh
Power input: 1.5A (max)
Power output: 1A
Dimensions: 4.65×3.11×0.55 inches / 11.81×7.90×1.34 cm
Weight: 4.23 oz / 120g
Made in China

Sunday, June 4, 2017

MOULTRIE M-999I MINI GAME CAMERA



Capture, view, and experience wildlife in a whole new light with the stealthy 20.0 MP resolution MOULTRIE M-999I MINI GAME CAMERA Thanks to the camouflaged, weatherproof exterior; the game will be completely unaware and not disturbed by the camera's presence. Mounting is easy with the 1/4"-20 bottom tripod mounting and back slots, which are used with the included nylon strap or a separately sold, Python locking cable for securing to a tree or other structures. Shooting in complete darkness is accomplished with the 36 invisible infra-red LED's that permit high-resolution, still or full, HD 1080px video shooting with sound. Fully-featured, the camera offers multi-shot, time-lapse, and hybrid modes with passive triggering and time lapse. These features allow for reduced motion blur and an extended flash range of up to 60' that combine for enhanced night-time image clarity. Images record to an up to 32 GB, SD/SDHC class 4 or higher memory card – purchased separately. Your M-999i Mini Game Camera runs on 8 AA batteries (not included), and the camera will also run on any Moultrie 12VDC external power source.



iNVISIBLE INFRARED FLASH
A flash equipped with 36 iNVISIBLE infrared LEDs illuminates game up to 70 feet away in total darkness, without giving away the camera’s position.

PHOTO & VIDEO RESOLUTION
Manage image quality and storage with 4 resolution settings, from low (1280x720px) to enhanced (6080x3420px), and capture full HD video in 16:9 aspect ratio.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Multi-shot, time-lapse and hybrid modes (triggered by passive infrared and time lapse) offer hunters total versatility and customizability while reduced motion blur and extended flash range enhance nighttime image clarity.

EXTERIOR
A sturdy case with a weatherproof plastic exterior comes with standard 1/4"-20 bottom tripod mounts and back slots for use with an included nylon strap or Python lock cable (sold separately) for tree mounting. A Python lock-compatible clasp offers added security.

MEMORY CARD COMPATIBILITY
Works with SD/SDHC Class 4 cards or higher and can handle up to 32 GB. Memory cards sold separately.

MANAGED MEMORY
If set to “Overwrite Oldest,” the M-999i will erase your oldest photos and videos to free up space for new photos and videos when your memory card reaches full capacity.

BATTERY LIFE
Requires 8 AA batteries. Captures approximately 15,000 images. Actual results may vary.

OTHER POWER SOURCES
Compatible with any Moultrie 12V DC external power source. Camera also supports AC power mode.

Monday, March 6, 2017

A Small Business Owner’s Guide to Local Search Optimization


A Small Business Owner’s Guide to Local Search Optimization

It’s a restaurant owner’s worst online nightmare – someone is searching for a restaurant in your neighborhood and your business doesn’t appear until page 7 of the search results, right below the creepy deli/gas station hybrid three towns over.

According to a 2014 Google study, 50% of mobile users are most likely to visit a storefront within a day of conducting a local search online. Over the next few years it’s very probable that these numbers will only continue to increase. With conversion rates like these, it’s clear that there are revenue driving benefits to optimizing your local presence so that you can be seen online by more of your potential customers.

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Guest Post: Selection Of Roofing Material For Your Roof Construction



In the recent times people have become more conscious about their roofs and it results in their knowledge about roofing materials. Especially for homes people need to have roofs that last for decades if not for ever. Their choice of shingles was limited to their color alone. But now it is not the case and people are aware of the fact that all shingles are not same so they select the right quality material that makes their roofs durable. Roof building has never been economical and with increasing prices the rates are now further up. That is why people are more concerned about this part of their buildings. They simply want to have the best value of their money. Along with this the construction material recycling is good news for people and it is getting popular in many countries of the world.

The aesthetic sense of homeowners plays an important role to choose color of shingles for the roof. Their observation of roofs in the area and color of exterior walls also need to be considered for a better look of the whole property. The material used for making shingles also noticed because their performance is depending on it. A large range of colors are available to the people so choice has been made rather easy. People freely ask for a color that is in their mind. In market shingles are available with guarantee and it also varies from decades to life time.

People can see how the selected shingle would like when applied to a roof so they can make a reasonable decision. The shingle providers have this facility because of computer program that shows how a shingle would change look of your entire home. Asphalt, metal and slate were common materials for manufacturing it but now shingles of other materials are also present in the market. For the experts the life of a roof must be at least 20 years and years more than this period clearly indicates the superiority of the material used for constructing roof of a house.

A well reputed and experienced contractor certainly makes a difference to the project of roofing Bronx. Nothing can beat experience and suggestions or consultation of the skilled persons for a better roof is quite valuable. Insured and licensed contractors can be hired for this purpose because they have obligations to fulfill so they perform better than those who do not have these features. Roof repair and maintenance are also critical. Roofs are the most exposed to weather conditions so they need maintenance for a longer life. For people a durable and beautiful roof is required for their homes at a rate that is reasonable in Bronx.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

A Dangerous Threat to Your Small Business: Mediocrity.

A Dangerous Threat to Your Small Business: Mediocrity.

I think it’s safe to say that no one starts a new venture or a business simply to be average. There’s a drive, a passion and a vision of possibilities. There’s also confidence that great things can be achieved.

People who start new companies often risk a great deal with substantial investments in time and money to make their ideas a reality. Having some skin in the game also drives many entrepreneurs to succeed because it’s all they have.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

New Report Reveals the True Impact of Social Media Marketing for Business


New Report Reveals the True Impact of Social Media Marketing for Business

The way social networks have impacted our personal and professional lives is far greater than most of us could have anticipated. While we were battling with our friends over getting cut from their top friends list on their Myspace profile, we couldn’t have imagined the impact of social media today. The evolution of social networks in the past 10 or even 5 years has been truly remarkable.

Social Media Examiner’s 2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report holds valuable insight into how marketers are incorporating social media, how much time they’re spending and what is on the horizon.