Gear Bits

Shrink the Workstation but Up the Power with the Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra

Desktop setups for work are increasingly all about the footprint. No one wants to have to deal with a big heavy tower, especially if there’s potential for swapping units around, and smaller devices mean less need for excess storage space. However, smaller doesn’t mean less need for power, and Lenovo understands that balance well. They’re trying to meet both space and specifications with the new Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Ultra.


A Reminder: Buying a Massage Gun Shouldn’t Mean That You Have to Break the Bank!

We received a pitch for a massage gun that clocked in at a jaw-droppingly cheap $26.31 (or as low as $22.10 if you buy in bulk!). In an email to me, Judie questioned whether a massage gun that cheap could possibly be effective. While we plan to review this inexpensive massage gun to see how it does, I pointed out that while $26 does seem overly cheap, the reality is that a massage gun is a relatively simple device that probably shouldn’t cost $300 and up, either!



Brickit Aims to Bring High Tech Creativity to That Mess of Lego Bricks!

When my brother outgrew his LEGO bricks back in the early 90s, my mom had the foresight to pack them away for future generations. It’s quite amusing to see my son build things out of the same LEGO his uncle used (and see him occasionally texting my brother to ask why he drew his initials in all the roof pieces). Everyone has that big LEGO bin from years of accumulated bricks, and Brickit thinks they’ve cracked the way to inspire you to see potential in every mismatched choice.




Qualcomm Brings Augmented Reality to Life with the Snapdragon XR2 Platform

Everyone loves the idea of full virtual reality, but the really interesting future is in augmented reality. With this, you’re still seeing the world around you, but you’re getting an overlay of new details, from inventory management to pretending you’re catching Pokemon. Qualcomm wants to push AR to new heights with their Snapdragon XR2 Platform, and it offers some really exciting potential!


Sony LinkBuds S Shrink Down True Wireless Earbuds While Boosting Features

Have you looked at true wireless headphones and thought they’d hit the limit on what can be crammed into such tiny devices? Well, Sony doesn’t believe in limitations, but they do believe in maximizing the earbud experience. Today they’re rolling out the Sony LinkBuds S, which they say are the smallest and lightest true wireless noise-canceling headphones on the market!





The Roku Ultra Bundle Now Includes the Phenomenal Roku Voice Remote Pro!

If I had to make a list of “can’t live without it” devices that I use regularly, my Roku Ultra would absolutely be at the top of the list. If you can only have one streaming device, it would be hard to argue for a better choice. Roku is sweetening the appeal immensely by adding their phenomenal Roku Voice Remote Pro to the Ultra bundle!


MediaTek Genio Aims to Make AI Chipsets Even Smarter!

We all love our shiny technology, especially now that it is all getting even smarter and more connected. But here’s the thing — the more we want our devices to keep up with us, the more they need that boost under the hood. To that end, the new MediaTek Genio chipsets aim to bring more power and support to devices featuring AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things).



Anker 757 Portable Power Station Is Ready for Spring Storms, Emergencies, and Camping Adventures

Having alternate power sources during uncertain weather is very important, and it’s much easier to manage with today’s high-capacity power stations that don’t require a gas-powered generator and the inherent carbon monoxide risks of running them. Whether dealing with power outages from weather events or rolling blackouts, we will all have to deal with needing a reliable source of backup power at some point. The new Anker 757 Portable Power Station promises to provide portable, long-lasting battery power during outages, emergencies, or outdoor activities.





Acer Aspire Vero Notebooks Help You Make Every Day Earth Day

April 22nd is Earth Day, which marks the 52nd anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. If you’re of the “reduce, reuse, and recycle” mindset (as I hope you are), and you’re in the market for a new laptop, you might want to look at the Acer Aspire Vero notebook line. The Aspire Vero uses 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in its chassis, 50% PCR plastics in its keyboard caps, comes in 100% recyclable packaging, and is held together with standard screws for easy disassembly when it’s time for repairs, upgrades, and eventual recycling.


Roku OS 11 Brings New Audio Updates As Well As New Ways to Find Content

We’re big fans of Roku here at Gear Diary. Roku offers a very user-friendly experience where you can aggregate all your favorite streaming services in one place as well as find new content when you’re tired of reruns of “Chopped”. They also never stop looking to the future with more features and options to consistently raise the bar, and we’re seeing that again with the rollout of Roku OS 11.