I remember the day: a sinewy bicycle messenger skillfully weaved through honking automobiles and came to a stop at the traffic light in front of me. But instead of dropping a foot, he balanced high above his fixed-gear pedals for nearly a minute, his crossbody bag bulging against the urgent deliveries within. That was â90s San Francisco, when anyone could tap into that free-wheelinâ zeitgeist by wearing a messenger bag â only conformist dorks wore backpacks.
Switzerland-based Freitag got its start in 1993 with messenger bags, and itâs keeping that spirit alive with its latest, the F685 Henry. Itâs heavy, water resistant, and incredibly durable because itâs made from worn seatbelts, recycled plastic bottles, and used tarps that act as walls on European trucks. That means no two Freitag bags are identical in a world of mass-produced homogeny.
Ironically, Freitag bags are built to last despite being made from trash. A Freitag messenger bag that I purchased almost 20 years ago is still my go-to for errands around town. I expect the same longevity from the Henry, which Iâve been testing as an all-purpose gear bag for the last few weeks. That makes its $330 price point a …
Microsoft’s business-oriented “Link” mini-desktop PC, which connects directly to the company’s Windows 365 cloud service, is now available to buy for $349.99 in the US and in several other countries. Windows 365 Link, which was announced last November, is a device that is more easily manageable by IT departments than a typical computer while also reducing the needs of hands on support.
If you’ve worked for a company with an internal IT department in the last decade, you’ve probably come across small “thin client” PCs that run a virtual Windows PC off an on-site server. The Windows 365 Link is basically a modern version of the thin client, but it runs over the internet so that you can work from home or anywhere. It’s also designed to boot in seconds, which sounds like a better experience than the thin clients of the past. Microsoft says that Windows 365 Link was tested in a preview program by over 100 organizations and that the company has refined the software experience before going on sale.
Since it is being marketed to businesses, you won’t be able to easily buy it for home use like any consumer PC; instead, you’ll need to contact a Microsoft account team or authorized reseller (and may have to buy more than one). Windows 365 Link is available in the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand.
Amazon’s smallest dish teased in 2023. | Image: Amazon
The first batch of 27 Project Kuiper space internet satellites are scheduled to launch next week. Amazon has secured 80 such launch missions that will each deliver dozens of satellites into low earth orbit (LEO) to create a constellation capable of competing with Elon Musk’s Starlink juggernaut. Amazon says it expects to begin offering high-speed, low-latency internet service “later this year.”
The KA-01 mission satellites — short for Kuiper Atlas 1 — will launch on an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance. It’s currently scheduled for 12pm ET on Wednesday, April 9th, assuming weather and technology cooperate at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Amazon’s other Project Kuiper launch partners include Arianespace, Blue Origin, and yes, SpaceX.
As a global service offering, Amazon’s space internet service will eventually be available from “virtually any location on the planet.” Users will need terminal antennas to tap into the satellite constellation. In 2023, Amazon said that its smallest dish, a seven-inch square design weighing just one pound, would offer speeds up to 100Mbps, making it a Starlink Mini alternative. Amazon will further compete with SpaceX by offering larger dishes for residential and enterprise use offering speeds up to 1Gbps. Amazon expects to produce the terminals “for less than $400 each,” which may or may not be subsidized to attract users.
Amazon’s first-generation satellite system will eventually consist of more than 3,200 LEO satellites, all flying at 17,000 mph (27,359 km/h), 392 miles (630km) above the Earth, and circling the planet in about 90 minutes. SpaceX’s Starlink constellation currently exceeds 7,000 LEO satellites, the first of which launched in 2019.
Notably, the satellites flying on KA-01 are coated in a “dielectric mirror film unique to Kuiper” that scatters reflected sunlight. That should help make them less visible to ground-based astronomers, according to Amazon.
Although Amazon already launched a pair of Project Kuiper prototype satellites, its upcoming mission will include a number of firsts that introduce risk. “We’ve done extensive testing on the ground to prepare for this first mission, but there are some things you can only learn in flight, and this will be the first time we’ve flown our final satellite design and the first time we’ve deployed so many satellites at once,” said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper.
“No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years.”
Buying a giant battery for the next blackout or off-grid adventure can be daunting, especially when hundreds or even thousands of dollars are on the line. Get it wrong and youâve either spent too much money for something youâll never use or discover that you didnât buy enough capacity to keep your most important devices running. To get it right, you need to become intimate with the watt-hour (Wh).
The watt-hour is a measure of capacity, or how much electrical energy a battery stores. If you know how much power â measured in watts â your devices consume, then the Wh rating of a battery lets you quickly calculate how long those devices will run. For example, a typical LED light bulb requires about 10W to illuminate. So a 1000Wh (1kWh) battery can run that bulb for 100 hours because Wh divided by watts gives you the time.
For context, the average US home consumes about 889kWh per month, or about 29.2kWh per day, according to the US Energy Information Administration. During a blackout, youâd need about $15,000 worth of batteries on hand to keep it running for just one day (based on a rough average of 50 cents per Wh of battery capacity). But thatâd be silly because you …
Itâs sold as an outdoor camplight, but BougeRVâs very bright LED lantern is really a multifunctional work lamp for any place that needs an extra dose of lighting. Itâs rechargeable and compact enough to serve as a long-lasting flashlight with three swiveling LED panels that can direct 3000 lumens onto your table, campsite, workspace, or engine block from a height of more than five feet thanks to its telescoping aluminum pole.
Iâve found it impressively versatile and useful over the last week of testing at home, at the beach, or tooling around in my camper van. It provides warm or cold light exactly where I need it, with three levels of brightness ranging from dim to supernova.
At $109.99, the BougeRV Outdoor Portable Telescopic Camping Lantern is also more capable than many of its more expensive competitors. Thereâs a lot to like here.
At the heart of this lantern is a 57.7Wh battery that can power the lamp on its lowest setting for up to 60 hours, or about three hours when all three LED strips are set to max brightness. You can power it off USB-C from a separate external battery or wall jack if you need more time. Itâs slim enough to carry in the water bottle pocke …
The Reolink Argus 4 Pro supporting vanlife in Switzerland.
As a part-time vanlifer, Iâm constantly looking for opportunities to be alone in the world. But I also want to feel safe when parked overnight at an abandoned train station where thereâs a non-zero chance of starring in a Netflix true-crime drama. Thatâs why I always travel with an axe, my reactive beagle, and â more recently â a pair of battery-powered Reolink Argus 4 Pro security cameras.
I chose this particular 4K camera to test because it works directly over my Starlink Miniâs Wi-Fi connection (5GHz or 2.4GHz) and doesnât need a SIM card or data plan like more expensive go-anywhere cellular cameras. Its IP66 rating makes it suitable for use indoors and out, even when I return home to maximize value for money. And because the camera has two lenses that automatically stitch together footage for a 180-degree field of view â Iâve been testing two Argus 4 Pro cameras for a full 360-degree view of the area around my van.
There are two other things I really love about the Argus 4 Pro camera. First, it records directly to an SD card up to 512GB, which means no recurring monthly fees for cloud storage or services. Second, itâs fitted with a passive IR motion dete …
Can you love and hate something equally? Thatâs the relationship I have with Bluettiâs Handsfree 1 Backpack. For $349 you get a large 42L backpack and a skinny 268.8Wh solar generator built around long-lasting LFP battery cells that can be recharged by up to 200W of connected solar panels. It features two USB-A and two 100W USB-C ports with a single 300W AC jack to power modest devices like a Starlink terminal for a full work day.
Iâve been traveling around Europe with it in my van for several weeks. On one hand, I love that I can store all my gear inside a single giant bag, including my DSLR, lenses, Starlink Mini, a drone and controller, action camera and accessories, laptop, a 45W EcoFlow solar panel AND that relatively giant power station capable of recharging my MacBook Pro about three times.
On the other hand, it’s an ugly, overwrought backpack that looks like it was designed by an electrical engineer who dabbles in plumbing. Its brutal construction lacks even an ounce of finesse, despite weighing a very heavy 5kg / 11 pounds before adding any of my gear.
But thereâs something to be said about being able to power and carry an entire remote office setup on my back …
It fit! Despite Brompton embiggening everything on its iconic folding bike, I was chuffed to see the new model G e-bike collapse into a compact package I could hoist onto the narrow tray inside my adventure van â the first crucial step in testing what Brompton calls âthe most versatile e-bike in the world.â
The G lineup is already being sold in many countries as a regular bicycle or pedal-assisted electric bike, but only the former is currently sold in the US, with the e-bike coming later this fall. All Brompton G bikes come fitted with larger 20-inch wheels, hydraulic disc brakes, fat all-terrain tires, wider handlebars and pedals, and a longer wheel-base that reduces the twitchiness I experienced when reviewing Bromptonâs first e-bike â changes that make the G ride more like a full-sized bicycle.
The G lineup represents a major change for the nearly 50-year-old British bicycle company without compromising on the features that make Brompton bicycles so desirable in the first place.
The European G I tested maxes out at 25km/h from a rear-hub motor powered by a 345Wh battery that mounts onto the front of the bike. This unique battery placement allows Bromptonâs e-bi …
Anker is pushing portability limits with the launch of its giant 58-liter Solix EverFrost 2 dual-zone refrigerator / freezer. Itâs portable because it has wheels, a handle, and slots for two batteries. But this thing weighs 64 pounds (29kg) empty and quickly reached 120 pounds when I filled my review unit with drinks and food. It can be recharged from a standard wall socket, 12V car socket, USB-C charger, and from up to 100W of solar from a traditional panel or Ankerâs new beach umbrella.Â
The 58L (about 61 quarts) model Iâve been testing has far greater capacity than the largest solar fridges Iâve reviewed from EcoFlow (38L) and Bluetti (40L) â both of which allocate precious space to integrated ice makers. As an avid vanlifer and cocktail enthusiast, Iâm definitely tempted by the idea of making ice on the road. I never do it, though, because water and electricity are just too valuable when venturing away from civilization. Iâd rather bring a fridge that stuffs as much usable capacity into the smallest footprint possible.
Unfortunately, thatâs not what Anker has done.
Instead, Anker allocated that space to two large fan housings in each lid. Itâs all part o …
Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink… without a filter like this.
Access to water is always a concern when heading off the grid in my van â not when Iâm home in Amsterdam, a city surrounded by the stuff. That certainty changed recently when government ministers began quietly prodding citizens to stock up on emergency supplies due to an increased risk of armed conflict and other regional unpleasantries.
One recommendation, of many, is to have three liters (almost one gallon) of water per person per day on hand, or 15 liters per day for my five-person household. That means 105 liters for just one week or 450 liters each month! I donât have space for that. Who does?
So, I started thinking: why not augment my emergency freshwater stores with a filtration and purification kit that can adapt to all the water sources around me? And since Iâm a budding vanlifer and chronic adventurer, letâs make it portable so I can take it anywhere.
I came up with this as a first-time prepper: pairing quick-connect water filters like the $42 LifeStraw sold by Camelbak with Dometicâs portable 11-liter Go water jug ($69.99) and its rechargeable Go Hydration Water Faucet ($99.99). Dirty water goes in and clean water comes out with a double-tap on the fauce …
Many of us work from home, and so one of the most important places in those homes is our workspaces — in other words, our desks.
Everyone’s workspace is different. What kind of desk — and desk chair — do you use? Is your workspace neat and organized or filled with tchotchkes and toys? Do you have an old-fashioned wooden desk or a mechanized standing desk? Are you sitting on a stool or the latest Herman Miller desk chair? Is your workspace filled with this year’s high-end tech for working and gaming, or are you happy with a five-year-old laptop and a pair of headphones?
In our “What’s on your desk?” series, we look into how people organize and use their workspace so that you can find out all of the various ways we see our spaces and ourselves.
