Connect with us

Technology

Peak Design now for (small) mountain peaks.

Published

on

Peak Design now for (small) mountain peaks.

San Francisco-based Peak Design — maker of one of our all-time favorite backpacks — is back with its first new bag lineup in five years. PD says its new Outdoor line of backpacks and slings can be worn together for use beyond the pavement. They feature the company’s “most advanced soft-goods design to date,” with lots of adjustment points for a variety of body types and loads. The new bags are compatible with the company’s modular packing cubes that make it easy to organize and quickly access camera equipment, clothing, and other gear.

“Peak Design has been synonymous with ‘outdoor photography’ yet we still haven’t created true outdoor bags…until now,” says Peak Design founder and CEO Peter Dering in a press release. “The Outdoor Line is not only the culmination of everything we’ve learned as bag designers, it’s also a giant nod to our most loyal and longest-tenured customers.”

The Outdoor Backpack is available as an internally framed 45L (L for liters) model for heavy loads and a smaller 25L version for shorter excursions. Both offer quick-cinch roll-top access from the top as well as the ability to splay the bag almost completely open from the back for easy packing and “total visibility” of your gear. The bags also feature sleeves for laptops and hydration packs (with drinking hose passthrough), slash-proof and “weatherproof” construction (with an optional Rain Fly sold separately), and a promise of “superior comfort and fit with significantly less bulk” compared to other backpacks (including PD’s own bags, I hope). The bags also support several options for external hauling including deep pockets and a cord system for carrying things like tripods, sleeping pads, jackets, and water bottles.

All the new bags and colors in the Outdoor lineup.
Image: Peak Design

It’s worth noting that the 45L Outdoor Backpack weighs 3.97 pounds (1.8kg) while the 25L model weighs 2.54 pounds (1.15kg). That’s heavy if your primary goal is backpacking through open country where huge 60-liter bags often weigh less than 3 pounds (1.36kg). Still, the 45L Outdoor Backpack is definitely an improvement over Peak Design’s previous flagship, the 3.88 pound (1.76kg) 30L Everyday Backpack.

Advertisement

Besides the internal frame and extra hauling capacity, the 45L bag differs from the 25L bag by shipping with a removable hip belt that’s sold as an add-on for the 25L Outdoor Backpack. Both bags are available in black, “cloud” white, and a purple-ish “eclipse.”

Each backpack is compatible with Peak Design’s camera and packing cubes that come in a variety of sizes and fabric choices that prioritize weight or weather resistance. The camera bags are designed to help haul everything from diminutive mirrorless systems, to multi-accessory drones, on up to full professional rigs. Only the 45L bag is suitable for the largest packing cubes sold by Peak Design.

The Outdoor Slings are available in 7L (weighing 0.74 pounds) and 2L (0.39 pounds) sizes and convert quickly from crossbody to waist bags. The larger 7L bag features stowable gear loops for external storage, and it can also fit PD’s smallest camera cube. Both can be worn on the chest when mounted to the shoulder straps of the Outdoor Backpacks for quick access to your most important gear.

Given Peak Design’s crowdfunding history, it’s unsurprising that the Outdoor line is launching as a Kickstarter exclusive today through October 15th, with a January 2025 targeted ship date. There, you’ll find discounts of 20 to 25 percent off retail pricing, according to PD, before the bags eventually make their way to peakdesign.com, Amazon, and other global retailers as early as late November 2024.

Retail pricing will be as follows:

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Technology

Jacob Wohl is running an AI lobbying company under a fake name, Politico reports

Published

on

Jacob Wohl is running an AI lobbying company under a fake name, Politico reports

LobbyMatic claims on its website that its AI-powered software can do everything — like automatically monitor congressional hearings or “supercharge research” into legislative and regulatory issues.

Jumping on the AI hypewagon is a perfectly respectable career move. The problem is that sources have told Politico that Wohl and Burkman are running the firm under the pseudonyms “Jay Klein” and “Bill Sanders.”

LobbyMatic has no leadership listed on its official website. A company by the name of LobbyMatic that is registered in Delaware lists its registered agent as “A Registered Agent, Inc.” When reached for comment, LobbyMatic emailed The Verge with a link to a video featuring a man who looks like Jacob Wohl. In the video, he admits that “years ago I was involved in partisan politics.” Later in the video, he adds, “I don’t want my past in partisan politics half a decade ago to distract from a phenomenal product.”

The man does not explicitly identify himself as Wohl at any point or address the claims that he is running the company under a false name.

Politico’s report is based mostly on four former employees they are keeping anonymous. Its case can be summarized as follows:

Advertisement

When The Verge emailed LobbyMatic, we received an email with nothing but a hyperlink to a post on X by an account called @TheLobbyistGuy. The post reads, “Explaining the situation” and features a four-minute and forty-one-second video of a man who looks like Jacob Wohl. “There’s a news story out today I’d like a chance to respond to,” says the man. “It’s no secret that years ago I was involved in partisan politics. It’s certainly no secret in Washington, D.C. It was about half a decade ago, I was a young man, and since then, I have taken my energy in a new direction.”

He then proceeds to give a sales pitch for his software.

Continue Reading

Technology

Brazilian Supreme Court panel upholds X ban, while Starlink refuses to comply

Published

on

Brazilian Supreme Court panel upholds X ban, while Starlink refuses to comply

A panel of five Brazilian Supreme Court justices voted Monday to uphold a decision (PDF) requiring the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to limit access to X, the service formerly known as Twitter. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the ban on Friday in response to X owner Elon Musk’s refusal to comply with court orders to block certain accounts and to identify a legal representative in the country. Four other justices have now backed the decision.

Poder360 and The Globe report that three justices, Cristiano Zanin, Flávio Dino, and Cármen Lúcia, fully supported de Moraes’ ruling, while a fourth, Luiz Fux, noted reservations about a fine for people who circumvent the ban with a VPN, saying only people who post criminal messages like those expressing Nazism or fascism should be fined.

As far as the ban’s effect, competing platforms have reported large numbers of new accounts made by Brazilian users. News organization Poder360 noted that its X account will now be managed exclusively from Portugal to respect the judge’s decision.

Meanwhile, Starlink has told Brazil’s telecom regulator, Anatel, that it will not comply with the ban until the court unfreezes its assets. So far, X is reportedly still accessible via the service. The New York Times reports de Moraes has blocked Starlink from making Brazilian transactions while the court seeks to collect $3 million in unpaid fines by X. The satellite-based internet service is operated by SpaceX, which is also partially owned by Musk.

Poder360 reports that the court order gave internet providers as well as app stores five days to take measures to block access to X in the country, establishing a deadline on Wednesday, September 4th.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Technology

You’ll now be able to charge your devices on the moon

Published

on

You’ll now be able to charge your devices on the moon

As we gear up to return to the moon with NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions, we’re not just aiming to set foot there again. This time, we’re planning to stay. The Artemis program is focused on establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon, which will serve as a crucial stepping stone for future journeys to Mars.

This ambitious mission involves more than just landing astronauts. It requires a whole new level of infrastructure, and that’s where Honeybee Robotics steps in with its cutting-edge solutions, contributing to the development of essential technologies needed for living and working on the moon.

GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE

Lunar power grid on the moon (Honeybee Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The lunar power grid on the moon 

Humans haven’t set foot on the moon in more than 50 years. As NASA and its partners work to change that, Honeybee Robotics is focused on ensuring we have the power systems necessary for long-term habitation and exploration. In collaboration with mPower Technology, Honeybee Robotics has been selected to develop the Lunar Array Mast and Power System (LAMPS), a key component of the lunar power grid.

Advertisement

This system will consist of towers as tall as the Statue of Liberty, equipped with solar panels and batteries, providing power, communications, and even street lighting on the moon. LAMPS utilizes Honeybee’s DIABLO technology and mPower’s DragonSCALES solar modules, enabling flexible and efficient energy solutions in the harsh lunar environment.

You’ll now be able to charge your devices on the moon

Lunar power grid on the moon (Honeybee Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

CRAZY-STRONG ROBOTIC DOGS GEAR UP FOR MOON MISSION

Powering the moon, one tower at a time 

Honeybee Robotics’ LUNARSABER initiative complements the lunar power grid by providing deployable towers, approximately 328 feet tall, that integrate solar power, storage and communication capabilities. These towers capture and store solar energy during the lunar day, ensuring power availability during the two-week lunar night.

The design includes innovative solar panels that offer 360-degree sunlight capture and large sails that track the sun’s position, ensuring nearly 95% solar light access throughout the year. This technology supports lunar operations and lays the groundwork for similar systems that could be used on Mars.

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET

Advertisement
You’ll now be able to charge your devices on the moon

Lunar power grid on the moon (Honeybee Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

NASA’S DRAGONFLY DRONE CLEARED FOR FLIGHT TO SATURN’S MOON, TITAN

Creating a connected lunar network

The LUNARSABER towers can function independently or as part of a network, beaming energy and communication signals over long distances. This capability effectively creates a lunar grid, connecting various outposts and vehicles. In emergencies, such as a lunar rover running out of power during the lunar night, a nearby LUNARSABER could direct a concentrated beam of sunlight to recharge its solar panels, ensuring continuous operation.

SUBSCRIBE TO KURT’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR QUICK VIDEO TIPS ON HOW TO WORK ALL OF YOUR TECH DEVICES

You’ll now be able to charge your devices on the moon

Lunar power grid on the moon (Honeybee Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

THE RACE TO FLOAT TOURISTS TO EDGE OF SPACE IS HEATING UP

Kurt’s key takeaways

The idea of having a power grid on the moon is quickly shifting from a far-off notion to something we can actually see taking shape. Honeybee Robotics is playing a big role in making this happen with its LUNARSABER initiative. While there are still hurdles to overcome, the potential for a bustling lunar economy is becoming somewhat more realistic. As these technologies continue to evolve, the moon could possibly become a vibrant center of human activity, setting the stage for future trips to Mars and beyond.

Advertisement

If given the opportunity, would you want to be among the first people to live and work on the moon? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Advertisement

New from Kurt:

Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending