Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

Sleep Number Launches New Lifestyle Furniture Line Along with Next-Gen Sleep Number Smart Beds

Sleep Number’s first 360 smart beds launched in 2017. After seeing one in person at CES 2018, I soon bought the i10 360 smart bed. That was over five years ago, and ever since, Kev and I have enjoyed personalized sleep from our dual-zone, self-adjusting mattress. Each night, sensors inside our smart bed collect biometric data that is crunched to produce a SleepIQ Score. Today the next-gen Sleep Number smart beds were announced along with Sleep Number’s new lifestyle furniture line. It’s hard to imagine what could make our mattress any better, but Sleep Number has some ideas.

Travel, Reviews

Sterling Pacific 35L Cabin Travel Case Review: Raising the Bar for Stylish and Well-Built 2-Wheeled Aluminum Carry-On Luggage

Business travel is ramping back to pre-pandemic levels, which means many of us are once again on the road or in the air multiple times a month. If the sight of your beat-up carry-on is making you question its viability, the Sterling Pacific 35L Cabin Travel Case is here for your consideration. Built like a tank and sporting a chic retro style, this bag harkens to an era when travel was an event. It costs as much (or more) than a round-trip economy flight to Europe, but could this bag be the last you’ll ever have to buy?

Reviews, Health and Fitness

BlenderCap by Cruz Review: Don’t Leave Home Without It If You Enjoy Smoothies on the Go!

We’ve reviewed portable blenders before, but the BlenderCap by Cruz is something else. Designed by two former Apple Engineers, BlenderCap is one of the most functional and best-designed solutions we’ve yet seen for making smoothies, shakes, frozen drinks, or flavored ices while traveling or on the go. All you need to create your favorite concoctions are the ingredients, some ice, a wide-mouth bottle, and the BlenderCap by Cruz will do the rest.

Gear Bits

The All-New Ring Battery Doorbell Plus Offers Significant Battery and Field of View Improvements

Eight years ago, I reviewed the Ring Video Doorbell. This was such a new product category at the time that I wrote, “knowing who’s standing at your door when you are or aren’t at home is a pretty handy superpower.” Honestly, I still think that’s true. The all-new Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is the brand’s most significant update to its battery doorbell lineup yet, and one of the features being touted is battery life that can last up to three times longer than that first-gen Ring Video Doorbell I reviewed, but that’s just the start.

Gear Bits, Events

Watch the Launch of the Honor Magic Vs Foldable Smartphone and the Flagship Magic5 Series, LIve from MWC

If you aren’t going to be at Mobile World Congress 2023, the next best thing is live-streaming all of the new smartphone launch events! Honor will be launching its latest foldable phone, the Honor Magic Vs, and the brand-new flagship Honor Magic5 series at MWC on February 27th at 1:30 pm CET from Barcelona (or 7:30 am ET); here’s how you can watch it all!

News

The OPPO Find N2 Flip Is Gunning for the Samsung Galaxy Flip4, and It Just Might Be the More Compelling Device!

Is a smartphone with a folding display on your wishlist? One that, when flipped open, is the size of a regular smartphone rather than a tablet? If so, you might think that your only options would be a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola Razr. But if you don’t mind trying something new, there’s now the OPPO Find N2 Flip to consider. What can an OPPO folding display smartphone offer that might make you choose it over one of the other brands? With the Find N2 Flip being released worldwide, there’s no better time to find out.

News

Take a Look at the New OnePlus 11 5G, and Let Us Know What You Think!

Returning to its roots, OnePlus has taken a bold step with its latest smartphone release; rather than being one of several flagship models offered, the OnePlus 11 5G stands alone. Maybe you won’t feel like you’re settling without a Pro model, though, because the 11 5G comes loaded with many top-of-the-line features, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, a 5,000mAh battery, and 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging in the US. However, there is one feature you won’t find on this new device; will its omission be a deal breaker for you?

News

Samsung Galaxy S23 Series Is Out; Which One Sparks Your Interest?

If you’ve been considering replacing your aging smartphone with a new Samsung Galaxy Device, now is the time! During today’s Unpacked event, the Samsung Galaxy S23 series was introduced. This latest generation of flagships, which includes the S23, S23+, and the S23 Ultra, builds upon the brand’s past successes with bigger batteries in the Galaxy S23 and S23+ models, even better AI cameras across the board, and of course, all three boast the latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy.

Gift Guides & Round-Ups

Gear Diary’s 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

February 14th is coming up soon, and if you’re drawing a blank on gift ideas beyond the usual flowers and chocolates, we’ve got your back with our 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide. Take a look at the items we’ve rounded up; let us know which ones are your faves!

Events

Gear Diary’s Best of CES 2023 Awards

It was a blast to be back in person for CES this year, and as is always the case, we found plenty of new gear that caught our fancy. After sorting through hundreds of announcements and making our way through dozens of CES events, venues, and demos, we’ve decided on the gear that we found to be the most innovative and intriguing. Without further ado and in no particular order, here are our top ten choices for Best of CES 2023!

News

Outfit Your New Google Pixel 7 Pro with the Best Accessories, Cases, and Charging Solutions

Did you get a Google Pixel 7 Pro over the holidays? Lucky you; it’s safe to say that you’re in for a treat! Not only does the 7 Pro offer a pure, uncluttered, and frequently-updated Android experience with all of the Pixel-exclusive features and apps that users have come to expect and appreciate, but it also offers one of the (if not the) best cameras available on any smartphone. If you just got a Pixel 7 Pro or already have one and are interested in new gear, here’s a great selection to keep it stylish, protected, connected, and conveniently charged!

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

Escort MAX 360c MKII Radar Detector Review: Another Fantastic Radar Detector Hampered by the (Still) Buggy Drive Smarter App

The Escort MAX 360c radar and laser detector were released five years ago. Made to integrate perfectly into vehicles with their own WiFi hotspots for real-time alerts and ticket threats, the Max 360c gave drivers 360º protection with intuitive onscreen arrows that displayed the direction of threats relative to the driver’s vehicle. It was a hit! The Escort MAX 360c MKII builds upon the original’s success with an all-new internal platform and more powerful components, including a new Blackfin DSP chip that provides faster response times and a 50% improvement on the original model’s detection range.

Gift Guides & Round-Ups

Gear Diary’s 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Something for Everyone and Every Budget!

If you’ve got a list of people you’d like to buy gifts for and are wondering where to even start, we’ve got you covered. Our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide has something for everyone and every budget. Many of these items have special holiday pricing, so be sure to click the links to check for discounts if something catches your fancy. So grab a drink, get comfortable, and have fun perusing our mega-guide!

Gift Guides & Round-Ups

Gear Diary’s 2022 Holiday Toy Gift Guide: Let’s Have Some Fun Together!

This year, we’ve gathered up a collection of gifts that offers everything from games to play to things to make, personal care products, and books to read. It’s good to slow things down a bit and unplug every now and then; these items will offer the young and young at heart some fun ways to do just that! Welcome to our 2022 Holiday Toy Gift Guide!

Outdoors, Reviews

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Review: A Compact Cooker That Can Do It All, with Smoke!

If home is an apartment where the use of open-flame grills is banned on patios and balconies, you can still enjoy cooking outside with the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill. Billed as a portable and compact electric cooker, the Ninja Woodfire’s primary function is grilling; however, it’s also a wood-infused BBQ smoker, air fryer, and outdoor convection oven that can bake, roast, broil, and even dehydrate. If the Ninja Woodfire actually delivers an enjoyable outdoor cooking experience anywhere with electrical power, then I can think of quite a few other uses for it, too. Let’s take a look.

Deals

Upgrade Your Home with Shark Ninja Black Friday Deals

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to upgrade some of your home or kitchen’s small appliances, look no further than the Shark Ninja Black Friday Deals. The specials have started, and the savings can be quite significant!

Events, Gear Bits

Only a Live Human’s Face Can Unlock a Smartphone Protected by trinamiX Face Authentication

We keep everything on our smartphones anymore — our personal files, photos, email, and messages — we also use them to store sensitive info like our credit cards and passwords. You’ve likely heard horror stories about how facial detection on Android smartphones can be less secure than using a fingerprint or a PIN, but trinamiX Face Authentication aims to change that.

Reviews

Ugreen 100W USB C DigiNest Pro 7-in-1 Charging Station Review: A Compact, Powerful, and Solidly-Built Desktop Power Strip

If you often find yourself searching for a free outlet or port, the compact Ugreen 100W USB C DigiNest Pro Charging Station will be right up your alley. With three AC outlets, three USB-C ports, and a legacy USB-A port, the DigiNest Pro has proven to be a very convenient and powerful desktop power strip.

Reviews

Cielo Breez Plus Review: A Brilliant Way to Make Just About Any Remote-Controlled AC Unit Smart

A few years ago, I bought a Kenmore window unit air conditioner that touted being smart, app-controlled, and able to connect to Alexa and Google Home. After Kev had securely installed the AC in my office window, I powered it on only to find that the app and smart features were incompatible with my WiFi mesh system. :facepalm: Long story short, for the past three years, I’ve had an otherwise excellent window unit that’s never lived up to its potential. However, that all changed when I received a Cielo Breez Plus review unit; with it, my AC is finally smart!

Stock photo of the MediaTek Dimensity 1080

Gear Bits

MediaTek Dimensity 1080 Chipset Provides Upgraded Cameras and Performance to Next Year’s Mid-Range Android Smartphones

Do you know what processor is powering your smartphone? Chances are that you don’t, and that’s okay, but I find processors fascinating because they control everything from your phone’s responsiveness to how many megapixels the cameras on your phone can be. With the new MediaTek Dimensity 1080 5G chipset, we’re promised upgraded camera features and a performance bump compared to its predecessor, last year’s Dimensity 920.

Reviews

Two Months with the OnePlus 10T 5G: Power and Speed Make for an Excellent Experience

In August, I posted a first look at the OnePlus 10T that covered the OnePlus 10T 5 G’s design, features, and hardware. In this follow-up, I’ll cover the smartphone’s cameras, battery life performance, carrier compatibility, and other things I’ve noticed while using it for the past couple of months. If you haven’t already, read the first part of this review, and then come back to read the rest of the story.

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