When I saw the headline on a press release for the Lock Socket Charger-Lock saying “Never lose a phone charger, cable again,” it got my attention. I also thought about “borrowed” chargers that seem to grow legs and never return.
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We go through a lot of smartphone chargers and cables, so a solution to keep them in place is welcome. One personal application comes to mind: keeping your kids from grabbing your chargers because they need one. Another would be when you own an Airbnb and leave a charger in the wall for the guests, but somehow they are always gone on checkout (just sayin’), which gets annoying.
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The Lock Socket Charger-Lock sure helps. In a few easy steps, it attaches to the outlet they are plugged into with full access to the USB port. Once you have the Socket Charger for your USB charging block, slide the cable through the slot and plug it into the charger. Then secure the lock over the block.
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In the last step on a standard AC wall outlet, remove the screw from the center of the plate and replace it with the one provided with the Lock Socket to hold in the lock and the existing outlet plate. The new safety screw is locked in with included Allen wrench.
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Lock Sockets come in different-sized models and are designed to work with and keep factory-provided chargers in place. They are available for iPhone standard, iPhone Pro 20V, iPad 12V, and Android charging blocks, with single units ($13.95-$16.95). Two-packs for the standard iPhone edition are $19.95, and a four-pack is $28.90. Custom charger lock solutions are also available.
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JLab earbuds aren’t new, but they are new to me, and I was impressed with the features without breaking the bank. They come in various styles, but all are made with high quality, comfort and affordability.
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The JLab Go Air Pop true wireless earbuds are small and offer a 15% smaller fit. They run for eight-plus hours of playtime in each earbud and over 32 hours with the included charging storage case. A tiny USB charging cable is built into the case, which is ultra-convenient.
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The entry-level earbuds won’t break the bank and have more essentials than everyone will need, with decent sound and built-in microphones for hands-free calls. On-ear touch sensors are responsive, and three ear tips are included.
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The Go Air Pop earbuds are available in five colors (rose, black, lilac, teal and slate for $25, or the multicolored Fruity Pebbles for $35).
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Next is the JLab GO Air Sport true wireless earbuds, which also have 32 hours of playtime and a charging case with a built-in USB cable. The earbuds have ear hooks for stability and security to keep them on-ear during work, which includes an IP55 sweat and splash-proof rating.
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The heavy bass sound is enhanced EQ3 sound, which sounded great on recent bike rides. Cellphone calls were heard loud and clear. The Go Air Sport true wireless earbuds are available in six colors; yellow, graphite, teal, green, sand, and light blue, for $30.
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The JLab JBuds Air ANC True Wireless Earbuds cost a little more ($59) but have many more features, including a bigger battery life (40-plus hours), active noise cancellation and three noise control modes. The modes are: the smart ANC on, off, and a be-aware mode to hear your surroundings.
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To enhance the sound to a more customized tone, the JLab sound app is available with personalized controls. Touch controls are responsive, and the JLab JBuds Air ANC earbuds are also designed with a 15% smaller fit.
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Like the others, there’s a small USB charging cable built into the case, and the same goes with all the cases; use it with care. There’s no Qi charging, so if the cable is broken, they won’t charge. But the construction of the cases seems solid, so the durability should be long-lasting.
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www.jlab.com
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(Contact Gregg Ellman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @greggellman.) ©2023 Gregg Ellman. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
this story was originally published April 19, 2023, 5:30 AM.