Review: Anker 5-Port USB Charger

These days just about everything is powered by USB, and I never seem to have enough ports to charge the items. If I used individual chargers, I'd have a bunch of chargers on power strips and when I travel, I'd have a bunch of pieces to bring. So, when I started reading about multiple port chargers that would handle iPhones as well as the increased power required for iPads, I was quite intrigued. After further research, some chargers required me to plug iPads into certain ports and other devices into the other ports. This is cumbersome and when I saw the Anker® 40W 5-Port USB Charger where it would intelligently figure out what output is required for each port, I jumped at this.

The charger is pretty compact and its operation is simple, plug it in. I've been using it for travel on a number of trips and it is a real lifesaver. When I travel with my family, we have 3 iPads, 2 iPhones, my Pebble watch, and an external iPhone battery. While I don't have to charge all at once, it is quite handy to plug in 5 devices. It works as advertised and I haven't had any problems with it. Some reviews have indicated that the device arrived dead or overheated. I haven't seen those and it just works.

Pros

• Compact
• Handles multiple devices

Cons

• None

Summary

The only question about this is how many should you get? I recommend getting at least one to throw in a suitcase so it is always ready for travel. Getting a second one to leave on a desk isn't a bad idea either. While I don't have an Anker on my desk (I have a different one that is of lesser quality), having a charger on my desk is quite handy.

These do go on sale for about $20-$25 periodically, so I wouldn't pay more than that, but if you travel with more than 1 device, this is a great addition to any travel pack.

My Kickstarter Scorecard

Over the last few years, I've seen a number of interesting projects on Kickstarter. I've backed 10 of them and have had mixed results in the results. So far 9 of the items have been delivered and the last one is due to be delivered in a few months. Let's take a look at what I backed in chronological order:

• Icons for iOS

  While the author probably didn't need backing for this project, he did quite well and produced some nice icons. I received exactly what was promised and I'm pleased with the result. The author has continued to put out great icons. So I'll give this a thumbs up.

• The Oona

  This project was for a stand/way to hold an iPhone. Unfortunately, this was an utter failure. I reviewed what I got and wasn't too pleased. This will be a thumbs down.

• MySaver: protection for your iPad, iPhone, and iPod cables

  This was in interesting project designed to reinforce 30 pin iPhone/iPod cables. I reviewed this as well. While a bit expensive, this project delivered on what was promised. 3 years later and I still have cables with the MySaver on it that are doing well. We'll give this a thumbs up as well.

• MobileMount – Double Suction Cup Mount for Phones / Tablets

  As some might be able to tell, I've been in the search of a good way to hold my iPhone/iPad on my desk. This was another attempt to find a good way to hold the devices. Like other projects, I reviewed this as well. Unfortunately I've learned that suction cups are extremely unreliable and make poor mounts. This is a thumbs down.

• Pebble: E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android

  This project had a number of delays and it was well funded. Would this live up to all the hype? Well, 2 years after I received my Pebble, I still wear it everyday. When I first received it, I reviewed it. The product has only gotten better over time with all the updates. I'll this this a big thumbs up.

• Une Bobine - For People Who Love iPhone... and Android

  Another interesting project of a way to hold an iPhone. Unfortunately the longevity of this was limited given that Apple changed its connector. While they delivered what was promised, I wasn't wowed by it. I'll rate this as a neutral.

• Almond+ : 802.11ac Touchscreen WiFi Router + Smart home Hub

  I was excited to see another option for home automation. This project was delayed a number of times, but was finally delivered. They are still working on the firmware and a new firmware was released the other day. I think they over promised and barely delivered. The hardware seems up to snuff, but the software has a lot to be desired. I think this ranks in as a neutral (leaning on thumbs down, but since they keep updating the firmware, I'll leave it as a neutral).

• Reel Delicious

  I backed this project in order to help a school project (most of the backing was tax deductible). I'm going to give this a neutral as it doesn't fall in line with the tech projects I normally back.

• XY - The secure iOS/Android Bluetooth tracking tag

  A co-worker pointed me to this project and I was curious about the software on other Bluetooth LE tags. Unfortunately, like other Bluetooth LE tags, it didn't live up to the hype. I think that this is more of a failure of the technology than the implementation. I have to give this a thumbs down.

• Hush | The World's First Smart Earplugs

  These haven't been delivered, yet. I'm confident that they will be delivered, but it remains to be seen if they will work as well as they promise.

So, lets recap. 3 thumbs up, 3 thumbs down, 3 neutral, 1 to be delivered. That's not a great track record for projects. Will I keep backing projects on Kickstarter? Sure, I love the anticipation and being the first to get something new. I do have a limit on how much I'll risk (unlike other projects that people back, so far I've received the promised items), but I'll keep going with some projects.

Revising my stance on vacation rentals

As many people who follow my blog know, I'm fighting a battle against short term vacation rentals since my neighbor decided to kick out a family and turn his property into a mini-hotel with people staying for a few days at a time. I've been scouring local regulations and reading everything I can about this topic.

Last week I spoke with a few attorneys about my legal options and listened to what they had to say. After these meetings as well as having another group of transients next door (with 1 call to the police), I think I have figured out my major complaint with the short term rentals. That complaint is that the property next door is being used as a mini-hotel and isn't in the spirit of a neighborhood. Some people who support vacation rentals argue that they should be able to rent out their houses when they go on vacation to earn some extra money. While I don't plan on doing this myself, I realize that I don't have a huge problem with this if it is only done occasionally and not as a primary use of the property.

So while some may think I've softened my position on vacation rentals, I'm really just fine tuning it in a way such that what I want has a chance of being addressed by the city council. Taking a hard line stance completely banning vacation rentals has a very tough time passing given that the city collects tax revenue from visitors staying in these properties.

My new proposal is:

In order to promote neighborhood quality, character, and livability, the SDMC should be amended to allow short term rentals in RS zones with a minimum stay of 7 days only as an accessory use of a property. As an accessory use of the property, the owner must reside in the property for at least 10 months of the year.

This would address my needs of not having a mini-hotel next door and would let home owners earn extra cash. What it would do is prevent people from turning neighborhoods into rows and rows of mini-hotels. The proposal is similar to San Francisco's new ordinance about rentals, but San Francisco's ordinance doesn't apply to single family residences.

The good news is that the city council's subcommittee on smart growth and land use is taking up vacation rentals at its April 22nd meeting. You can submit feedback to Ryan Purdy by March 2nd. While I have no idea what will happen, the fact that the subcommittee is looking into this is a step in the right direction.

Access to Politicians

Now that I've started my fight against vacation rentals, I've been trying to get a meeting with my city council representative, Lorie Zapf. At a recent Town Council meeting, she indicated that she was going to setup "office hours" where the public could arrange a time to speak with her. I haven't heard any more about this and have asked via email if I could setup a meeting. While I was down at city hall today, I decided to see if I could schedule a meeting in person as I'm impatient and haven't heard back to my email.

I went to the 10th floor of city hall, walked out of the elevator to a nondescript waiting area with a lady behind a window. The waiting area was uninviting and all the doors around said "authorized personnel only". I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this seemed like an experience worse than a doctor's office. I asked the lady behind the window if I could get a meeting and she called back to someone and asked me to wait.

One of the councilwoman's people came out, asked where I lived and then went back to see if the area rep could meet with me. She came back, said he was busy and took my name, email address and phone number to setup a meeting. I've previously sent email and haven't heard back, so maybe my physical presence downtown today might change that.

While I understand that we live in a representative democracy, it would be nice if I could express my concerns in person to the person that represents me. I've never been particularly interested in politics as it didn't really affect me. Hopefully I can get a meeting with someone from my councilwoman's office and plead my case.