Mozilla developers have given the green light to ship Firefox 10 on Tuesday.
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The big news this week regarding Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 software was that it features picture passwords, something that drew widespread attention but also some skepticism. Otherwise it was a week of rumors about what other features Microsoft’s next big software release might contain and devices that might be coming out specifically to support it.
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What is it?
So you’ve already heard about the Incase Alloy Series Compact Backpack, and perhaps you felt that the style was super slick but you tend to prefer messenger bags over backpacks. Well, no worries. Incase has a space pack for every need, including the Alloy Messenger Bag. It’s got the same silvery metallic finish, and fits just as much of your junk, but can be tossed over one shoulder instead of two.
As far as style is concerned, the bag will certainly attract people with very specific tastes. That silver metallic finish certainly isn’t for everyone, so if you prefer a more weathered or classic look, this may not be the bag for you. Then again, its construction is super lightweight, making it easier to pack this thing full of goodies. In fact, since it’s a messenger bag instead of a backpack the material is much less rigid to where you can probably fit a few awkward shapes in there and still have no problem.
Type: Messenger Bag
Dimensions: Fits up to a 15-inch MacBook Pro
Pockets: Large main compartment, laptop sleeve, iPad/journal sleeve, large zippered pocket for miscellaneous tidbits under the flap, zippered faux fur-lined exterior pocket
Features: Nylon construction, dual Velcro and buckle clasps, faux fur-lined laptop sleeve, breathable mesh shoulder strap pad, padded top-loading handle
MSRP: $99.95
Product Page
The Alloy Messenger Bag is one of the most comfortable shoulder bags I’ve used all week. No matter how much junk I packed in there, it was still comfortable to carry around all day long. A huge amount of credit has to go to the breathable mesh shoulder strap pad, which is way more comfortable than the shoulder pad on the Andy Warhol Shoulder Bag.
Protection, on the other hand, became a bit of a concern. My laptop, cuddled comfortably in the faux fur-lined laptop sleeve had no issues. My camera, on the other hand, which was sitting in the roomy main compartment, hit the ground with a hard thud when I put down the bag. The main compartment doesn’t have any extra padding or cushion, so anything that goes in there need not be easily breakable. Otherwise, you’ll have a mess on your hands.
The snap buckles that hold the bag closed are protected with some soft touch plastic, which seems like a tiny unimportant detail but it could actually prove quite useful. Those plastic buckles break all the time, and placed at the bottom of the bag they’re way more susceptible to harm. Any extra protection that can be offered to those buckles is much appreciated.
The bag offers quite a bit of space, as I’ve already said, but I was disappointed not to see a rear magazine sleeve. I find that type of easy access to paperwork and the like pretty useful on messenger bags. The front zippered pocket, however, is super accessible and is a great place to store an iPod or iPhone thanks to that protective faux fur lining.
Who is it for?
The Incase Alloy Messenger bag is for the reader who wished that Incase’s Alloy Backpack came in a messenger-style. Also, anyone who digs all this silver, anyone who needs a lot of room but not necessarily high-end protection, anyone who can’t stand an uncomfortable shoulder strap, and anyone who has a C-Note to burn.
Do I want it?
To be honest, I’m much more of a backpack person. But if I had to choose one of the messenger bags we reviewed this week, this one would certainly be in the running. I don’t like that anything sitting at the bottom of the main compartment is at risk of being broken, but I really appreciate the space and the level of comfort provided.
Check out the rest of Bag Week 2011 here.
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Today’s giveaway is pretty exciting. For your pleasure, we have a Timbuk2 D-Lux Racing Stripe Laptop Messenger bag, a $120 value, yours for the low, low price of free. Like the previous contest (won by a young man named Ryan Mense), this is a comment contest. Your goal this time is to tell us about how this bag will save/improve your life. That’s right: treat this bag like a DJ who did something for you last night.
Here’s a bit of info about the D-Lux, but darn it if it doesn’t look cool.
Timbuk2 incorporated user feedback into the D-Lux Messenger to create a laptop messenger that works with and without your machine. The racing stripe makes you go faster and the upgraded features mean safer, more comfortable portage for daily rides on and off the interweb. Features include a vastly improved cam buckle, side-entry Napoleon pocket, color-coordinated, three-zipper front organizer, and slim, studded laptop sleeve for your computer’s protection. The D-Lux is a machine for your machine.
Additionally, if you enter, consider friending me on Facebook so I can send you a message a bit more quickly. If there’s one negative to Facebook comments it’s our inability to directly contact you all if you win. Anyway, not mandatory, just helpful.
Good luck and look for our amazing grand prize later this week. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our Bag Week 2011 reviews.
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Is there justice in cyberspace? The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) last week offered hope there is, charging seven individuals with 27 counts of wire fraud and other computer-related crimes in connection with a massive “clickfraud” scheme that was based in Estonia.
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Here are some of the past week’s stories on TechCrunch Gadgets:
Makerbot Releases New Extruder
Dyson Turns Up The Heat, Releases The Dyson Hot AM04 Air Multiplier
Super Mario Bros. Recreated In A Cardboard Box Complete With Realistic Side Scrolling Action!
Intel: 75 Million 2nd Generation Core CPUs Shipped, Fastest Selling CPU In Company’s History
Pedal Power: Two Empress Guitar Pedal Reviews For Knob Twiddlers
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Samsung reportedly will unveil a new tablet computer that runs on the Windows 8 OS next week. It would become a convenient alternative to the legally imperiled Android OS used in Samsung’s Galaxy Tab computers.
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Some older assumptions about security — such as firewalls are needed for perimeter defense, and we’ll all make do with reusable passwords and browser-based SSL connections provide great security — were once again ripped apart as we heard this week from several individuals who say they simply don’t agree.
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If you’d never heard the phrase ‘advanced persistent threat’ before, you may have gotten an ear full of it the past week in a collection of news stories that used the APT term to describe a variety of network security problems that are causing big problems.
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This week’s roundup of iPhone 4 cases features more nostalgia, more luxury, and more odors. Intrigued? Read on.
Bracketron: If you’re planning a long bike ride, but want your iPhone to be in easy reach, you might check out Bracketron’s $40 All-Weather Soft Case Bike Mount. The device comes in two pieces: a clamp that attaches to the bicycle, and a weather-resistant case that snaps onto the clamp. Bracketron says the device can help cyclers monitor their speed and other data using the iPhone’s Maps app or other bicycling apps.
Case-Mate: Sometimes you need an iPhone case that’s both luxurious and capable of surviving a launch into space. Case-Mate’s new limited-edition Titanium case for the iPhone 4 fills the bill on both fronts. A lot of engineering know-how goes into the production of this device: each single-piece case is machined from a block of titanium. You’ll also need some engineering know-how—the Titanium comes with a small tool kit needed to assemble the case around your phone. The $300 case will be available for order on June 27.
Cygnett: You can’t accuse this Australian company of thinking small: It has announced a line of 13 new case models for the iPhone 4, ranging in price from $15 to $40. The line includes the AeroGrip, AeroGrip Edge, Aerosphere, Arcade, Boston, Imperial, Manhattan, Milan, Nomad, Tactile, Transition, UrbanShield, and WorkMate Pro. Each model includes a screen protector and micro-fiber cleaning cloth.
ESI Cases: The iPhone 4 appeals to three of the five senses—you can see it, you can touch it, you can hear it. But can you smell it? Now you can—ESI has partnered with Ronald Reagan’s favorite candy maker, Jelly Belly, to produce a line of cases with a sugary smell. Each $15 Jelly Belly case is available in Strawberry Cheesecake, Very Cherry, Blueberry, Licorice or Berry Blue “flavor” and can be found at F.Y.E, Hudson News, and ShopKo stores.
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