Moshi’s Aerio Messenger bag may be the ultimate tech bag (Review)

I’m a father. I write, I travel a lot and I’m a tech enthusiast. Many of you reading this may be one or more of those things. If you are, you know that most segments of your life have a phone, tablet, computer or something else that goes along with it. In this day and age, we all have devices that fit our needs. Some times a device can do many things, but if you’re anything like me, you’re toting around several gadgets. Whether that may be a tablet for the kid to keep her entertained while we wait on an oil change, my laptop so I can get some writing done, battery banks and both of my phones, they all live in my Moshi Aerio messenger bag.

In addition to the things I listed, I’m also a bit of a bag addict. I’ve used many messenger bags and backpacks in the past and I’m always in search of the perfect one. That’s why when the good people at Moshi offered me the chance to review the Aerio, I jumped at it. I am an admitted fan of Moshi. I think they make excellent stuff. I hope in the future they make a big push into Android accessories because the iPhone accessories they do make are fantastic.

The Aerio may look like any high premium messenger bag out there, but there are two things that make it stand out over others I’ve tried: its weight and the strap.

This is one of, if not the, lightest bag I’ve ever used. Even when its fully loaded with my Macbook Pro, headphones, notebook, pens, pills, two tablets and two phones, it feels incredibly light. Moshi used really high quality materials that not only make it light, but water resistant too. Now, it’s not waterproof, but I would definitely trust this bag to take a splash, or get rained or snowed on. In addition to it being water resistant, it also stretches. A lot. I’ve never been in a situation where I couldn’t get everything I listed in this bag, plus my lunch and whatever small boxes I have to mail out that day. Unless you’re taking a change of clothes, you should be able to get all of your devices into the Aerio.

What makes the Aerio easy to use is the strap. It extends to and retracts long enough for everyone to find their perfect length. I’ve had many bags that don’t give me nearly enough length since I like to keep my bags near my thigh. The pad that sits on your shoulder is extremely comfortable. There is a ton of padding, and it’s just tough enough to last while still preventing any shoulder fatigue. Where the strap connects to the bag is stretchy material that keeps your bag from tugging on your shoulder when you walk. These things combined makes the Aerio a joy to walk around with. I wish the strap was a bit thinner, but other than that, it’s pretty much perfect.

On the inside of the bag you’ll find a big pocket for up to a 15″ MacBook Pro that has a velcro strip and two notebook sized pockets. I keep my LG G Pad and Moleskin Notebook in these pockets and they have plenty of room to expand outward to hold more. You could easily get four or five tablets in each pocket. In addition to these three pockets, there’s one more on the inside which is just kind of a generic “throw your cables in here” pocket. I keep my headphones, coffee mug, lunch Tupperware and any packages in between these pockets in the main storage area. There’s plenty of space to fit whatever you need.

Moshi Aerio Interior

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On the front of the bag is a large pocket and on the front of that is a smaller pocket that zips up. Both of these pockets extend to the bottom of the bag. This is where I keep battery backups normally since I don’t need to get to them as often. Under these two pockets are the plastic fasteners that keep the bag closed. Around back is a huge pocket that stretches the entire length and depth of the bag that secures with a zipper. This is great for large notepads and earbuds or whatever you need to get to quickly.

Moshi Aerio Exterior

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There’s simply a ton of storage in this bag. I have the bag, I’m staring at it and I don’t know how it’s all fitting in there without it blowing up. It always feels slim and easy to handle.

The fit and finishes of the bag are excellent too. I have the black option that has a brown strap and details. It honestly looks really great. I prefer darker colors anyway so it really blends well. All of the zippers are silver with the Moshi logo and feel high quality while handle on the back is sturdy and well stitched.

I’ve tried and tried and tried to find issues with this bag. I don’t want to write a review that seems like an advertisement for Moshi, but I really can’t find anything I dislike about this bag. It holds everything, it looks absolutely stunning and my shoulder never gets tired, even on long walks. This isn’t a cheap bag and it’s priced to match. The $150 price tag isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you’re looking for a bag that will last you a lifetime, this is it.

Product Link: Moshi Aerio Messenger Bag

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Alleged Xiaomi Mi 5 render leaked, shows physical home button

An alleged render of the Xiaomi Mi 5 smartphone has been leaked online. The leaked image shows us the front side of Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship, which reveals a physical home button sitting right below the display of the phone, if the render is indeed accurate.

Having a physical home button is of significance, especially since it would make the Mi 5 the first Xiaomi device to move away from the standard 3 capacitive buttons arrangement. We do agree that having a physical home button nicely aligns with rumours of the Mi 5 carrying a fingerprint scanner, which in this case can be easily integrated into the home button itself.

See also: Marshmallow update “coming soon” to Xiaomi Mi 4 and Mi Note3

According to reputed Chinese analyst Pan Jiutang, the Mi 5 will not make use of Qualcomm’s new UltraSonic Fingerprint Scanner technology, which the analyst says isn’t ready for action yet. Thus, we can expect a traditional fingerprint scanner, just like the ones in latest the Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy handsets, etc.

Late in November, we published a story talking about the expected release date of the Xiaomi Mi 5. According to Jiutang, the Mi 5 will be unveiled to the world in January 2016. The Chinese phone maker is said to be stocking up on Mi 5 handsets, expecting a huge demand for the handset after its release in February next year.

The Mi 5 is rumoured to run on MIUI v7, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset and paired with a Quad HD display, 4GB RAM, a 16MP rear camera, and 3000mAh battery. There’s also a rumour that the Mi 5 will come with a Force Touch equipped screen. Nothing can be confirmed as of yet.

Amazon lets you attach other video services to your Prime account

Those rumors of Amazon letting you attach other video services to your Prime subscription? They’re true. The internet giant just kicked off the Streaming Partners Program, an alliance that makes it easier for you to sign up to multiple video services. So long as you have that Prime subscription, you only need your one Amazon account to handle everything. The option even gives you a multi-service watch list and integration with other Prime features, like ASAP playback, voice search and X-Ray. You also receive a discount on pricing, such as the $9 per month you’ll pay for early launch partners Showtime and Starz.

The initial selection likely won’t blow you away. Besides the two services mentioned above, most of your current options are either relatively small services like Qello or specialty offerings from larger networks like A&E and AMC. There’s no access to HBO Now through Amazon yet, and even the discounted Showtime pricing is only the same amount Hulu charges.

All the same, it’s clear that Amazon is positioning itself as a bundle replacement for cord cutters, who often have to sign up at multiple sites or else accept that they’ll miss out on some shows. It’s not pure kindness on Amazon’s part, of course (you’re locked into Prime to make this work), but it makes ditching conventional TV for streaming slightly easier — even if it looks a lot like the cable bundle you just left.

[Image credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson]

Source: Amazon

The BBC wants ITV to keep its opinions to itself

At the end of 2016, the BBC will be given its next Royal Charter, which will define its duties as a public service broadcaster for the following decade. While the UK government will ultimately agree the finer details of the next Charter with the BBC, earlier this year it put out the first call for opinions on what the future remit of the broadcaster should be. ITV made a point of publishing the report it submitted as part of the public consultation process, with one of the main recommendations being a requirement that the BBC focus on delivering distinctive programming, not chasing audience figures. This obviously ruffled a few feathers at the BBC, today provoking the broadcaster to defend its creative decisions and go about debunking some of ITV’s more accusatory claims.

What ITV recommends

As far as ITV is concerned, the BBC’s initial pitch for the new Charter is more or less identical to its current remit. Vague commitments to creative, innovative and distinctive programming, which ITV argues hasn’t been as important to the BBC as maximising viewing share “at all costs.” Case in point: The closure of BBC Three as a linear TV channel despite its unique programming (though the BBC Trust only approved this with the condition the remaining BBC channels take more creative risks). ITV believes there’s an onus on the BBC, being publicly funded, to provide what competitors cannot. This should mean no purchased content or formats, unless rival channels aren’t interested in getting first dibs, and guaranteed investment in content that’s not available elsewhere.

With a budget commercial competitors can only dream of, and an increased money pot set aside for dramas, ITV argues that “derivative and indistinct content” might get people watching the BBC, but makes it harder for rivals to compete. The BBC must be obligated to offer choice, meaning it shouldn’t schedule entertainment and drama programming at the same time as competitors. This would also put an end to the “aggressive scheduling” ITV accuses the BBC of. Citing a diminshing variety of content for the sake of enlarging audience share, ITV recommends the new Charter not only decree any new BBC endeavours be innovative and distinctive, but that more effective oversight is needed so proposals are actually met. ITV agrees, as others have suggested, that Ofcom assume some of the responsibilities of the BBC Trust to ensure this, and that it’s important to come up with a clear definition of distinctiveness that the BBC can be measured against.

Why the BBC doesn’t agree

It’s safe to say the BBC isn’t best pleased with ITV’s assessment or suggestions, claiming they’re based in “a parallel universe where BBC One’s editorial strategy is to ape ITV and chase ratings at all costs.” The BBC argues that ITV is actually advocating for less choice for audiences, at odds with previous praise of the “competition for quality” between the broadcasters. In the Beeb’s opinion, distinctiveness is not something that can be strictly defined, since it has a different meaning to different people. It doesn’t make sense that the BBC only make a show because others won’t, and that the best way to come up with new content is not identifying a gap in the market and plugging it.

The way to keep the creative juices flowing is aspiring to create the best programmes in any given genre, as well as offering a complete range of content that’s distinctive from competitors. This means taking creative risks, adhering to the highest standards and supporting ideas and talent coming out of the UK. This is how the BBC is and will continue to create distinctive programming, it argues, with the licence fee giving it the freedom to do so. Even in the past week, BBC One has shown new factual programmes, comedy and reality-based entertainment, as opposed to ITV’s evening peak slots, which were almost entirely dominated by I’m a Celebrity and The X Factor.

Is @BBCOne the same as ITV? Last week’s schedules give you a clue… https://t.co/c9UvBYtYGF pic.twitter.com/til6HstLkX

— BBC (@AboutTheBBC) December 8, 2015

The BBC also claims that aggressive scheduling is a myth, and that putting special demands on when shows are broadcast will only benefit competitors to the detriment of the audience. ITV used a particular example of competing dramas to evidence its claim the BBC is only after viewer share, but in rebuttal, the Beeb points out that ITV actually changed the time slot for its show — “So who is scheduling against whom?” Also, tying the BBC’s creative hands up in regulation could be paralysing. According to the broadcaster, ticking boxes is not how you come up with innovative shows. Factual output is growing, and BBC One offers a more diverse schedule and commands a bigger audience than ITV despite budgets being approximately the same.

Furthermore, by stopping the import of formats, there’d be no more University Challenge, The Apprentice or Dragons’ Den, which we certainly wouldn’t be happy about. Comically, the Beeb said in its blog post “Perhaps this proposal should be re-named: “The BBC can’t have these programmes, because ITV wants them.”” We haven’t heard a great deal of industry back-and-forth during the Charter Review thus far, but it’s clear the BBC doesn’t want the likes of ITV steering its creative direction, especially when protecting the competitiveness of its own content forms part of the agenda.

ITV does raise some interesting points, though, if only arguing that the Charter lay out a clear, accountable direction for the BBC that isn’t drafted in vague language. The new Charter is more than a year away of course, so we’re bound to hear plenty more points of view between now and then. But if there’s one thing you can expect the BBC to remain bullish on, it’s protecting the creative freedom it already enjoys.

Source: The BBC, ITV