High-tech passport cover has some nice features
GADGETS
By GREGG ELLMAN
Tribune News Service (TNS) S atechi’s new Vegan-Leather Passport Cover with Find My technology allows it to be located with Apple’s tracking system.
The pocket-sized case (5.6 by 4.2 by 0.7 inches, 3.7 ounces) has a slot for a passport, four credit cards and room for a boarding pass. But the technology inside makes the Satechi Passport Cover stand out, especially when it’s misplaced or even stolen.
Inside the case is a 210 mAH rechargeable lithium battery, which can be charged at 2.5 watts by placing the passport case on any Qi, Qi2 or MagSafe wireless charger (not included). A single charge is rated to last up to _ve months, but Satechi recommends charging every three months. A small LED indicator shines orange when charging and green when it’s complete.
A power/pairing button turns on the power, allowing it to be paired to your device via Bluetooth 5.2. RFID-blocking technology is also built into the case, which creates a protective shield for what you have stored in the case, blocking signals against skimming. This is where the bad guys are trying to steal sensitive personal information. The RFID makes skimming impossible by disrupting the signal.
Once it’s powered up and paired, go to the Find My app on your Apple device and you can track the passport cover, pinpointing its exact location. The cover has a built-in speaker with a volume level of up to 80-90 dB. We often misplace items around our house or in hotel rooms, and with the signal alert, you’ll hear exactly where it’s hiding.
It’s made with a soft vegan leather material with stitching around the perimeter. The Satechi logo is front-and-center, which acts as a guide for the placement of the wireless charger. If, for whatever reason, you need to set it back to the factory default settings, you can do so easily by pressing the power button four times and then a longer three-second press. https://satechi.net, $59.99 From the gym to an airline ight to just lying down and listening to your favorite playlist, the XP Pia true wireless earbuds are a great choice. They have a responsive active noise-canceling system for any environment in which they are put to the test.
While the sound is a primary feature to consider when earbud shopping, appearance and design are also often top considerations. This is where Astrum’s new Hybrid noise-canceling XZ Pia true wireless earbuds will catch the eyes of many.
The XZ Pia has an impressive design highlighted by an attention grabbing design. This includes the true wireless earbuds, which have a pearl _nish and a 14-karat gold-plated metal alloy charging case.
While the appearance is stylish, the sound is what counts, and they deliver. According to Astrum, the crisp, clear sound with exceptional detail comes from a triple-driver system and surrounds 360-degree spatial sound via Qualcomm’s award-winning Snapdragon (aptX) processing. With the Fully Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation enacted, up to 37 dB of outside noise will be eliminated.
The stem-style earbuds have an ergonomic design and sit comfortably in your ears for all-day use. Three sets of different- sized ear tips are included to ensure a perfect _t. You’ll get about 5 hours of playtime with Bluetooth and Active Noise Cancellation on and 7 hours with the ANC off.
Touch controls work perfectly to play your music, make hands-free calls and access voice assistants. The XZ Pia earbuds have an IPX 4 dust and waterproof rating. With Bluetooth 5.3, you’ll be able to connect to a pair of devices (iPhone and iPad, for example) via a multipoint connection. www.astrumtech.com, $199
Contact Gregg Ellman at greggellman@mac.com. Follow him on Twitter @gregg ellman.
Satechi’s new Vegan-Leather Passport Cover with Find My technology allows it to be located with Apple’s tracking system.
Satechi / TNS
The XZ Pia earbuds have an IPX 4 dust and waterproof rating. Touch controls work perfectly to play your music, make handsfree calls, and access voice assistants.
Astrum / TNS
