01732 759725
33
magazine
On Test
KeepCup
KeepCup reusable cups are promoted
as a sustainable alternative to single-
use paper cups. The range includes
KeepCup Original, available in 8oz,
12oz and 16oz sizes, and KeepCup
Longplay in 12oz and 16oz sizes. All
sizes are compatible with barista-
style coffee machines.
A new addition to the range, the
Longplay glass cup has a removable
triton outer layer that works like a
thermos to maintain the temperature of
hot and cold drinks and protect hands
from heat and condensation.
Business Info
tested a medium-sized
(12oz) Keep Cup Original and a large
(160oz) Longplay. Almost everyone who
saw the KeepCup Original likened it to a
child’s drinking cup because of its shape
and bright colours.
One useful feature is the wide
silicone grip – I would have made it even
wider – as the cup can be hot to hold
when filled with coffee or tea. This isn’t
so much of a problem with Longplay
thanks to its insulating outer layer.
The cups are made up of four parts,
five in the case of Longplay, which
you will need to take apart for proper
cleaning. This requires more effort than
throwing a paper cup in the bin, but it’s
worth it if it helps to reduce the billions
of disposable cups that end up in landfill.
KeepCups are clearly a sustainable
alternative to paper cups, but they do
have one or two of the same drawbacks.
For example, you can’t throw one in
your bag to take back to the office and
be confident that it won’t leak.
The cups are available in a range of
colours, standard editions and special
editions, including a new Star Wars
collection.
Tayla Ansell tries out this
month’s selection of new
office products
On test
iStorage datAshur PRO
iStorage PIN-authenticated, hardware-
encrypted storage devices secure
sensitive information with military-
grade XTS-AES 256-bit full disk
hardware encryption and an optional
Brute Force Self Destruct feature that
automatically wipes all files after 10
unsuccessful PIN attempts.
The range includes USB Flash, Hard
Disk and Solid State Drives.
Business Info
tested the datAshur Pro USB 3.0 Flash
Drive. Considering its many features
(super-fast USB 3.0, read/write speeds
up to 116/43 Mbps, a keypad and
rechargeable battery), this USB device is
surprisingly slim and compact. It’s longer
than many standard USB sticks but still
fits comfortably into a pocket – any
smaller and the keypad would be difficult
to use. A metallic blue aluminium
sleeve protects against dust, water and
accidental keypad use.
A handy Quick Start Guide explains
how to unlock the drive and how to
change your PIN from the default
code. It’s vital to choose a PIN you can
remember as without it you won’t be
able to access the device or the files
saved on it, including the full User Guide.
This you will definitely need, as
changing settings can be complicated.
For example, configuring a User and
Admin PIN, which enables the boss to
retrieve data if an employee leaves the
company, is done through the device
itself with only coloured LED indicators
as a guide (e.g. solid green LED means
it’s unlocked). However, with three
different colours, used individually
or simultaneously, and a distinction
between ‘blinking’ and ‘flickering’ lights,
this system is complicated and hard to
remember.
For people who carry highly sensitive
information, the optional Brute Force Self
Destruct Feature provides reassurance
that even if a device is lost or stolen data
will be protected. Moreover, because
the datAshur Pro USB 3.0 Flash Drive is
unlocked via the on-board keypad, it is
not vulnerable to software/hardware-
based keyloggers.
Drives with these security features
cost more than standard flash drives
(from £69 for 8GB), but we can see
how valuable they would be for a
business with sensitive data, such as a
government or healthcare organisation.
/
Rexel ActiVita Pod+
Daylight lamp
When the clocks went back, the
chance to review a desk lamp that
simulates daylight to improve energy
and concentration levels was too good
to pass up. The model we tested was
the Rexel ActiVita Pod+ Daylight lamp.
Featuring a minimalist, white design
that would suit any modern office, the
lamp has a flexible neck that lets you
shine light exactly where you want it
and a battery-operated LCD panel that
displays the temperature, time and date.
This can also be used as an alarm. Rexel’s
Strip+ model includes a USB port for
charging mobile devices.
The long-lasting (40,000 hours)
energy-saving Blue LED lamp has a warm
light mode for relaxation and reading
and a whiter, daylight mode that mimics
natural sunlight to “lighten your mood,
enhance concentration and increase
productivity”. Each mode has five
brightness settings so that you can get
the light exactly as you want it.
I don’t know what effect, if any, the
lamp has had on my mood, but the control
it gives me over my working environment
makes it a very useful supplement to
overhead office lighting, especially when
reading or note-taking. Because I have a
largeish working area, I would prefer the
lamp to be taller and cast light over a
wider area, but for standard desk sizes (or
bedside tables) the Rexel ActiVita Pod+
Daylight lamp is hard to fault.
KeepCups
iStorage dat
Ashur PRO
