In an exclusive to cadget, we’re releasing pictures of the brown Asus Google Nexus 7 for our readers. The good news? The brown back that everyone had been concerned about is a deep dark brown (easily mistaken for a dark grey) and actually looks quite good – very good in fact. The other good news is that the $25 Google Play credit is available even if you purchase the Nexus tablet from retailers in store. Continue reading for pictures and further details.

See below for various angles showing the brown Google Nexus 7 back cover. It comes with the distinctive rubberized, dimpled back in a deep dark brown colour. As you can tell, not too shabby at all!

The Google Play $25 credit is available upon booting up the device as soon as a valid credit card is added to Google Wallet. Rumours that the credit was only available to orders from the Google Play store are untrue. The tablet also comes pre-loaded with Android 4.1, Jelly Bean.

So there you have it. The Google Nexus 7 is still not officially available for release through stores in Canada until late July or early August (Staples, NCIX, Futureshop and Best Buy).

Yet another delightful product by Newer Technology is now on the market called the Power2U providing both AC and USB charging ports on a standard size electrical wall outlet. The design and functionality is both novel and required in today’s environment where we often have a plethora of devices and appliances, from laptops and printers to music players, tablet computers and cell phones.

The Power2U wall outlet comes packaged in a tough clear plastic casing and at first there doesn’t seem anything extraordinary about the product until you see the two USB ports (with safety covers) on each side of the face plate. The packaging itself contains the outlet housing itself, two faceplate screws, two electrical box mounting screws and an installation manual. While we didn’t need to refer to the manual, we noted that it was very detailed with clearly marked diagrams.

After opening the package, the first thing we experimented with were the spring loaded USB saftey shutters. It takes a while getting used to the mechanism, but it is well-built and withstood the number of times we played with it. Besides being safe, the act of opening the shutter triggers the power to the USB port; closing the shutter cuts the power. The outlet is designed to charge USB 3.0/2.0/1.1 devices, including iPads, iPhones, other similar phones and tablets (e.g., Android), digital cameras, etc.

The outlet itself is quite a bit larger than standard outlets – mainly due to all the circuitry required for the USB ports. Of course, it’s all hidden in the wall after installation, so aesthetically it’s not a concern. However, one needs to be sure it’ll fit in the wall itself as standard outlet boxes tend to be slightly smaller and you may end up having to pick an alternate outlet to install the Power2U if it doesn’t fit in your preferred location. It should be noted that the Power2U wall outlet is rated for 15 Amp electrical runs, so you won’t be able to use it if you’re wired for 20 Amp electrical runs. The power delivered to the USB ports is 2000 mA or 5.2V which is the same as an Apple iPad wall adapter so you should be okay plugging in most devices (note: while it should be okay in most cases, be sure to check the specific power rating on each device to ensure it can be plugged into the outlet).

Installation itself was a snap (after was found a suitable location). Our first attempt at plugging the device was in an area where the wall was thinner and the outlet box in the wall was not deep enough to comfortably accept the Power2U wall outlet. However, we quickly found another spot in the same room for purposes of our test. There was nothing special required to connect the wiring (reminder: take necessary precautions) and we were ready to test within 10 minutes. Everything worked just as expected! For our test, we plugged in an iPad 2 in one port, a Canon digital camera in the second USB port and a laptop in one of the two available power sockets. All three displayed a charging symbol immediately – it’s quite something when technology works exactly as expected!

Pros and Cons

+ UL rated and approved for use in Canada
+ Solid construction
+ Safety shutters
+ Just works!

- A bit pricey at $29.95
- Larger than standard outlet boxes

Conclusion

We were very impressed with the Power2U wall outlet. It addresses an increasingly common problem in our digital device ridden world where the smallest devices either ship with their own power unit or expect the owner to run to a computer to locate a free USB port when the device has a low charge. The $29.95  price tag may cause some to take pause, although NewerTech pointed out that the actual street retail price may come in as low as $22.95. On their website, NewerTech even provides bulk packs – a great idea if you’re renovating your home this summer, e.g. a home office. We’d recommend the Power2U wall outlet for those looking for that added flexibility in their home or office – now if they just had a selection of decorative face plates, this would be an almost no-brainer!

Disclaimer: Cadget was provided with a demo unit to complete this review

With the Canadian winter upon us, we got increasingly frustrated with our touchscreen devices. The iPhone 4S and the iPad are wonderful devices, but due to the capacitive nature of their touchscreens, they rely exclusively on sensing the electrical properties of the human body (or specifically, the finger) to register touches, clicks and swipes. In winter when we are bundled up and wearing gloves for warmth, the capacitive screens are no longer able to recognize touches by hand. This is why we were delighted to learn about the NuTouch gloves, manufactured by Newer Technology. Not only do they keep your hands warm, they work perfectly with capacitive touchscreen devices.

Our trial version of the charcoal grey NuTouch gloves arrived in a large size. While we were initially concerned about the gloves fitting different hand sizes, the gloves are made of a stretchable cotton fabric (thanks to the 10% spandex mix), making it easy to fit on both larger and smaller hands. Newer Technology does manufacture other sizes ranging from small to extra large so finding a good fit should not be a problem. In addition, the gloves are quite smart looking as well. They would go very well with formal attire or as liners inside thicker gloves (although that somewhat defeats the purpose as the outer glove wouldn’t work with touchscreen devices).

We immediately wanted to give the gloves a test run. While indoors, we put the gloves on and fired up our trusty iPad 2. The swipe on the first screen? Effortless. The iPad 2 responded just like we would expect with a finger touch. Clicks and touches on different icons worked, but could the gloves handle some prolonged typing? We moved over to the mail application and typed a few sentences…no problem at all! How about some light gaming? We fired up Angry Birds Seasons and the swipes and timed touches all registered extremely smoothly! We next tried these tests outdoors when the temperature was close to -10 degrees celcius. All the tests performed wonderfully, although this gave us a chance to also test the core function of the glove itself: to keep our hands and fingers warm! In this area, the gloves fell a bit short. For light winters, the thickness of the gloves would be perfect, however for colder temperatures, we would’ve liked the gloves to offer extra warmth and padding.

The secret of the gloves lies in the special 14% of conductive fiber that has been woven into all 10 fingers – note the darker shaded finger tips on the gloves. It is such an obvious solution to transmit the electrical signals from your finger to the glove that it’s a surprise no one has executed it this well. Would we recommend these gloves? Absolutely. They’re smart, comfortable and best of all they work exactly as advertised! If there’s one improvement we would have liked, it would be to have a thicker version of the same gloves for those of us in colder temperatures or those looking for a more rugged solution in our Canadian winters.

Disclaimer: Cadget was provided with a demo unit to complete this review

The CarMD is a consumer-level vehicle diagnostic system which promises to monitor your vehicle’s health using tools and quick diagnosis powered by a database that is updated daily by CarMD’s network of ASE-certified mechanics. Rather than taking your car into the dealership to diagnose a check engine light, it allows immediate diagnosis of the root cause and possible solutions – all accessibly by downloading your vehicle’s data to your computer.

Packaging

The CarMD arrived in an attractively packaged box with graphics and product features and benefits plastered all over the box. The package itself contained all the bare essentials: a software installation CD for your computer, the CarMD handheld device and a small mesh zip bag to protect the device.

Overview and Features

All 1996 and later model vehicles in North America come equipped with an On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD-II) port – used by CarMD to gather important diagnostic information from your vehicle. This port essentially lets the CarMD device speak directly to the vehicle’s on-board computer and downloads all manner of data that isn’t obvious through just a simple check engine light. The actual process of connecting the CarMD to the OBD-II port is relatively simple – once you locate the port itself. On the two vehicles used as part of the review, the OBD-II port was located directly under the steering column, although we’ve been told that other vehicles sometimes provide the port in the arm rest compartment. The device itself could’ve been a bit more well constructed (the exterior plastic feels a bit fragile);  however, the large LCD and indicator lights (green, yellow, red) are fairly well marked and easy to understand. The connector felt sturdy and rugged when connected to the port and didn’t feel like it was going to snap either the CarMD connector or the vehicle’s port.

Installation and Usage

The installation process started by signing up for a free CarMD account which allows monitoring of up to three vehicles and provides six reports per month. While technical service bulletins (TSBs) get identified for the vehicle in question, they are not free and need to be purchased individually. While we can see the time-saving benefit of providing TSBs in one place, we found that a quick Google search for a few TSBs by number brought them up in the search results – all for free. Now it may be that some are outdated or not directly released by the vehicle manufacturer, but it’s hard to beat free.

We tested the CarMD with a 2007 Mazda 3 sedan with about 150,000km on it. While the vehicle is pushing the mileage needle, it (thankfully) has no check engine light as yet. The OBD-II port was found underneath the steering column and the CarMD easily plugged straight into it. We switched the ignition to the “On” position and within a few moments saw the green light blink to indicate CarMD had downloaded data from the vehicle.

The next step was to connect the CarMD to the computer via a USB cable. This is where things got interesting. The CarMD software immediately jumped into action, sensing the CarMD device had been connected. The software detected the make and model of our vehicle (2007 Mazda 3) even identifying the vehicle identification number (VIN). Within 20 seconds, a status dialog appeared showing green check marks next to a number of categories, indicating there was nothing erroneous to report. The My Diagnosis tab similarly reported completed or not applicable tests for other categories such as the oxygen sensor and engine parameters. Finally, the Staying Healthy tab identified a number of TSBs, however nothing alarmingly urgent (see note about TSBs above).

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), we didn’t have a vehicle that had a check engine light for us to test with CarMD. We understand that CarMD identifies the individual error codes and possible causes and solutions – however it doesn’t allow you to actually clear the codes. For that, you will need to take your car into the dealership or a mechanic.

Pros and Cons

+ Easy to install and simple to use
+ Quick diagnosis and download
+ Access to recall information and TSBs in one place

- Doesn’t clear codes
- TSBs are not free and cost $

Conclusion

Would we recommend CarMD? Yes and no. For the car enthusiast that enjoys learning about their engine, monitoring every nuance, the CarMD doesn’t deliver the powerful oomph an expert would expect. Its inability to actually clear codes may be a deal-breaker for most car junkies. However, with that said, for the average user and car owner, the CarMD provides quick diagnosis (which you often have to pay for at most dealerships) and provides important safety information for your own car or one owned by someone else that you are considering to purchase.

Disclaimer: Cadget was provided with a demo unit to complete this review

It’s not often we review non-tech items, the last such case being the Behance Action Pad. However, County Comm’s Embassy Pen is a fine exception to the rule. Combined with Fisher Space Pen ink technology, this is a dependable pen built for the most demanding conditions from the battlefield to the home office. Having acquired a small batch through a government contract, County Comm is selling this writing instrument for a limited time and we were fortunate enough to get our hands on one to conduct a full review.

Packaging

The Embassy Pen arrived encased in a tube-like package just slightly longer than the pen itself – first time we had seen a writing instrument presented in this fashion. The tube itself appeared to be made of a glass or plastic polymer, tough enough that it withstood a drop of four feet onto a hard floor. Not that we’d recommend testing this, but it was nice to see it remained whole despite the impact and protected the product from any noticeable damage. A quick twist of the plastic cap and the pen popped out with ease.

First Impressions

Holding the Embassy Pen for the first time is very reassuring. It feels substantial in the hand and we’ve been able to attribute this to a couple of features. The dark metal aluminum build both adds weight and suggests a ruggedness missing from most writing instruments in the market today. With little left to chance, even the grip has been machined to provide a textured grip that minimizes the risk of slippage during everyday use. The 301 grade stainless steel clip on the cap is very durable to the touch and is literally bolted to the cap with two recessed screws adding additional strength…so much so that once secured to your front shirt pocket, tugging on the pen may just take the entire pocket off the shirt!

Usage / Pros & Cons

The Embassy Pen comes loaded with a black medium SPR4 pressurized Fisher Space Pen refill. For those unfamiliar with the Fisher Space pen technology, this is the original “Astronaut” pen and is claimed by its manufacturer to be able to perform in the most demanding of conditions from conditions of zero gravity (which, unfortunately, we could not test) to writing upside down, underwater, over wet and greasy paper and in extreme temperatures (from -30F to +250F). Needless to say, we couldn’t wait to give the pen a spin.

Unscrewing the cap (just one and a half rotations) reveals a not-so-abrupt step down of the body leading to another machined deep-knurled grip and the actual ballpoint writing tip of the Fisher Space Pen cartridge. Unfortunately the cap cannot be screwed back on to the top end of the pen which appears to be an oversight given the extreme conditions that the pen could be used in necessitating the need to keep everything secure and in one place. The metal body can be unscrewed further to reveal the Fisher Space pen cartridge and allows for quick access to the refill chamber. An interesting feature is the ability to the screw the cap on top of the refill itself making for a super short pen. We didn’t find the pen very comfortable in this smaller form, however it’s nice to know that the pen can be used when you’re writing in a space with limited vertical clearance (e.g., making notations on a label inside a chamber).

The pen itself performed magnificently. We are not writing experts, however using the pen on a standard HP 8.5 x 11 in. printing paper (HPP1122) of 83g metric weight resulted in a very smooth transfer of ink to paper. We didn’t notice any spurts or gaps in the writing when holding the pen upright. Next, we held the Embassy Pen upside down and wrote on the same sheet of HP printing paper – the results were incredible. The pen (or more specifically, the Fisher Space Pen cartridge) performed flawlessly. It isn’t until you’ve used a pen like this that the true failings of a standard pen become so painfully obvious. Our next test of the Fisher Space ink technology was on a smooth tire-pressure label affixed on the inside of a driver’s side door on a standard 4×4 truck. Most ballpoint pens would’ve glided over the label barely making a mark, however the Embassy Pen allowed us to make accurate notations on the label without much effort. The ink appeared to be lighter than on the HPP1122 paper, however this was likely due to the glossy finish of the label. Throughout these tests, the Embassy Pen remained secure in our hand, thanks to its weight and the machined deep-knurled grip.

Pros

• Feels solid and substantial in your hands
• Fisher Space Pen ink technology
• Cheaper than most comparable pens

Cons

• Metal cap cannot be screwed on top of the pen after removal

Disclaimer: Cadget was provided with a demo unit to complete this review

Sporting a new operating system (about time!) called BlackBerry 6, RIM announced its latest touch-screen smartphone, the BlackBerry Torch 9800. The device sports a slide-out physical keyboard (evoking the Palm Pre), a 5 megapixel camera and most importantly, a WebKit browser. The latter loads webpages faster, formats text for easier reading and even has tabbed-browsing to boot. While equipped with a 3.2-inch screen, the Torch only displays at a resolution of 480×360 – a real disappointment when other comparable smartphones from HTC and the iPhone sport much higher resolution displays. The BlackBerry Torch is slated for a “Fall launch” through Bell with pricing yet to be announced.

It’s official – Rogers and Fido stores will begin offering the Apple iPhone 4 from their retail stores on July 30, 2010. What’s even better is that the pricing, for once, is actually competitive: $159 for the 16GB version and $269 for the 32GB version – for new customers on a 3-year contract or existing customers eligible for the upgrade. Fido continues to offer its $65/mo. (with 250 minutes and 500MB data) and $80/mo. (500 minutes and 1GB data) plans. Rogers has upped the stakes and will be bringing back its $30/mo. 6GB data plan. At least initially, the iPhone 4 will only be available for ordering through retail stores and not via telephone customer service.

Decidedly non-tech (and perhaps the reason for its allure), Behance’s line of Action Method products is certain to give your ideas a productivity boost. We review two of Behance’s products, the Action Pad and Action Journal, and discover how effortless it can be to organize notes, doodles, tasks and action items from a packed day of meetings. Cadget already has plans to order additional sets for our office – and we’re betting we can convince you to do the same!

Foreword

First things first. There’s nothing “tech” about Behance’s Action Method or the pad and journal. No wires, built-in LCDs, hand recognition technology or over-the-air cloud sync. Instead, the “tech” lies in the simplicity of the Action Method and how this has been cleverly designed into the products. Even the most tech-heavy gadgets can be a nuisance to use, and with the Behance’s line of products, the corollary appears to hold true as well: even the most low-tech solutions can be amazingly useful in the purpose they serve.

Look & Feel

Unpacking the pad and journal, we were awestruck by the quality of material and construction. Both came neatly shrink-wrapped with a snug paper band (a bit too snug perhaps) around the products. As described by Behance:

The Action Pad is made of 80lb Premium Blend paper with a subtle texture (30% post-consumer recycled), printed full bleed, padded, and perforated along with a three-hole punch.

The Action Journal features a unique suede-to-the-touch hard cover, created using 100% sustainable materials. The pages are made of 60lb New Leaf paper with a subtle texture (100% recycled), printed full bleed, and perforated for maximum flexibility.

One notable element that comes across in build quality and product literature, is the attention and focus Behance places on the environment. Its partnership with New Leaf Paper, founded to inspire sustainability in the paper industry, is testament to its core beliefs as an organization. Quite refreshing to see new thinking applied in an old-economy industry.

Usage

While both the Action Pad and Action Journal had similar designs, we found they worked differently depending on need and style of meeting. Let’s talk about the layout and design first.

The Action Journal is broken down into three sections: notes, action items and the backburner. Each section serves a distinct purpose and helps to organize thoughts into actionable steps. The separate area for action items made it easier to determine what needed to get done from previous meetings. The notes area, unlike a conventional notebook, did not have horizontal lines; instead, Behance designed a dot matrix area for notes, diagrams and process charts – what they called thinking “beyond lines and boxes”. Cute. The Action Journal provides all this plus an extra section at the very top for preparation and focus items. We found keeping this section separate from the content kept a subtle focus on the agenda and served as a reminder for what needed to be accomplished despite all the wonderful ideas and tangential discussions that tool place during meetings.

In terms of actual usage, the Action Journal, with its suede, hardbound cover and elastic band seemed more well-suited as a daily meeting tool. The book format allowed quick reference to meetings past and the pocket on the inside back cover was great for storing notes, business cards and even a USB key. The Action Pad on the other hand worked better in a team brainstorm session. The paper is a heavier grade compared to the Action Pad and was able to withstand when used and passed around the table by meeting participants. The perforated edges made it ideal to tear and hand sheets to others and almost made it seem as if the sheets were designed to be used once and then discarded (even though a three hole punch was provided for filing purposes).

Conclusion

We used the Action Pad and Action Journal over a course of two weeks and thoroughly enjoyed using them both. The construction and quality of workmanship is truly excellent and the fact that the products are manufactured in a socially-conscious way using environmentally friendly material is just icing on the cake. The Action Journal is available in deep orange and turquoise, while the Action Pad also comes in warm grey. Orders can be placed online or at select retail stores in Canada.

Officially unveiled Monday, the iPhone 4 is expected to make its Canadian entrance in July 2010. The new device is thinner and sleeker, comes with a front-facing camera capable of making video calls (over Wi-Fi) and boasts a whopping screen resolution of 960×640 pixels (can you say great e-book reader?). Other notable features include a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, multi-tasking and high definition video recording and editing using the ($4.99) iMovie app. Rogers and Fido are expected to launch the device in Canada “in the coming weeks” with Telus and Bell expected to follow shortly thereafter.