Apple iPhone Gear

Designed by M AL13 AeroSpace Aluminum Bumper for iPhone 5 Review

This is my kind of iPhone case.  I absolutely hate bulky, oversized phone cases.  This is a very personal feeling, of course, being that I don’t tend to drop my phone very often.  I lean heavily towards bumper-style cases since I always keep my phone in my pocket and do not want any added bulk in the pocket of my jeans.  As soon as I started opening the shipping box that this bumper came in, I was impressed by a packaging design that signified the product was designed with care.  The AL13 AeroSpace Aluminum Bumper by Designed by m is…


Ampjacket for iPhone 4S Review

The iPhone has some amazing multimedia features, but you need headphones, a Bluetooth speaker, or some other sort of stereo system to really appreciate them. The built-in speaker is ok, but nothing mind-blowing. What if you need a sound boost, but don’t want to lug around a full speaker system? The Ampjacket aims to deliver boosted sound in an iPhone case, but does it live up to the promise? The Ampjacket is a simple case made of a soft plastic material. Inserting the iPhone is simple, and the Ampjacket is quite protective with a slight lip around the edge for…


JBL SoundFly Air Review – It Takes Off with Sound

The other day I came home to find that our router was blown. For some that might not be a big deal, but for me it was no small issue since it meant no television, no phone service, and no internet connection; I was in my car and on the way to buy a new router within minutes. The new router cost me an unexpected $200, but I was up and running in no time. Once I had everything working again, I discovered an added benefit — our WiFi network no longer faded and dropped the signal the way it…


Get the Most from Your iPhone With the Mophie Juice Pack Plus

Get an extra 120% battery with the mophie juice pack plus When the iPhone 5 arrived, it was a welcome change. After two years using the iPhone 4’s design, the iPhone 5 was both new and familiar at the same time. The new phone was thinner, longer and lighter. It also sported the new Lightning connector. Unfortunately, the new design meant that any accessories that were “form-fitting” and either wrapped around the phone or relied upon the now-obsolete 30-pin connector were of no use. Among the accessories that were now unusable were docks with a 30-pin connection (unless an adapter…


The Arriba! Adapter Is a Brilliant 2-in-1 iPhone 5 Charging Solution

You’re in your buddy’s car, and your iPhone’s battery is low. Typical, right? And of course, you forgot the Lightning cable for your iPhone 5. Your friend has a car charger, but it’s for his 30-pin iPhone, and he’s using it anyway. Buried under an open bag of chips and some diaper wipes, he has an old microUSB cable. That’s not much help, is it? Or maybe it is, if you happen to have the Arriba! Adapter attached to your keyring. Plug in that microUSB cable, stick the Arriba! Adapter’s Lightning plug into your iPhone 5’s port, and plug the…


iLuv Aud 5 Proves the Speaker Dock Isn’t Dead

In an age of wireless technologies like Bluetooth, AirPlay and DLNA, one might expect the speaker dock would be dead. And while there certainly are far fewer speaker docks that rely on a direct connection to the audio source, iLuv clearly believes there is a market for such accessories. After using the iLuv Aud 5 for the last week, I have to agree with them. I love my Sonos system, and I’m a fan of the Libratone Zip (Elana is too, and she uses it every morning), but there is something to be said about a speaker that will also charge your…


Innoio and Texas Instruments Partner for SmartBeam Pico Projector

In Brief: The SmartBeam Pico Projector from Innoio is one of the latest handheld projectors powered by Texas Instruments DLP Pico technology. At 45mm on each side the SmartBeam is tiny. And yes, despite its small size the projector puts out 35 lumens at a resolution of 640 by 480. That means the small projector can push out the equivalent of a 60” screen. This isn’t going to be one of my typical reviews. While I could go through the general description of the Innocube SmartBeam and then hit up the specs that really would not do it justice. Instead…


Shoot Better iPhone Video With the Satechi Professional DV Stereo Microphone

When I began using my Canon T3i to shoot video last spring I quickly discovered that the onboard microphone was terrible. It did not capture good audio and, even worse, you could hear the autofocus motor when it was doing its thing. I ultimately solved this by using a Marshall Electronics MXL FR-310 Hot Shoe Shotgun Microphone (read the review) and a firmware hack that gave me more control over the camera’s operating system. It worked well but the Canon T3i and even the Sony NEX-6 I am now using, are a bit on the large side. It makes sense…


Yurbuds Focus Pro Review – They Stay Put and Keep the Music Going

In 2010 yurbuds came out with one of the silliest audio products ever- or so I thought. They offered custom-sized “earbud enhancers” that fit over the one-size-fits all earbuds Apple and others included with phones and media devices. The goal of these “enhancers” was to create a better, more comfortable fit. I wasn’t impressed. Fast forward to CES 2011, and the company showed off their revamped product. Now, instead of having a cover that fit over your existing earbuds, they offered a complete package — their own brand of earbuds with the yurbud special sauce,  the earbud enhancers already in place. We…


IK Multimedia iRig HD Guitar Interface for iOS Review

A few years ago a little company based out of Italy released a neat little accessory for the iPhone and iPad called ‘iRig’, and an app that went along with it called AmpliTube. We have covered loads of ‘pro-sumer’ grade hardware and software from IK Multimedia. Now they are back with the next generation of the guitar interface that made them famous – the iRig HD! Let’s take a look!


Hang Your iPhone in Style with the Just Mobile AluPocket

Our friends at Just Mobile have done it again and created an awesome smartphone accessory that you never thought you would want but which, now that they have released it, makes a lot of sense. The Just Mobile AluPocket is made from high-grade aluminium and moulded plastic. The AluPocket attaches to any flat surface thanks to glue-free tape. Once in place, it is a perfect way to keep your smartphone handy but out of the way. And since it has a slot for the charging cable as well as a connector recess, the AluCup is also a great charging solution…


InteliScope Introduces Geek to Tactical Rifles

Anyone who reads my posts knows I love to hunt and love to shoot. In fact, I just received my first custom rifle built by my best friend. My next firearm goal is to have a tactical rifle built. Since tactical rifles have rails, many accessories and other items can be added making each firearm unique to the owner. Of course, there are plenty of scope options, lights and lasers and other cool stuff to add to the rails, but what about for a geek like me? For those of us who love technology and gadgets added to everything we…


Toddy Screensters Clean Your Screen with Character

If you own any device with a touchscreen, then you know all too well how quickly and easily they get dirt and grease and all sorts of crud all over them. I tend to have a small microfiber wipe with me in my car and my laptop bag at all times, and a couple of my jackets have them on the inside pockets. But for those looking to wipe their screens with a bit more ‘character’ than a simple square microfiber wipe, Toddy introduced Screensters. They sent me a couple to try out, so let’s take a look!


LifeProof fr? and Arm Band for iPhone 5 Review

When I began doing Couch to 5K again (something I need to do yet again tomorrow because I let too much time pass between runs) I needed a way to carry my iPhone. After all, during a run my phone is not only my music source but it is also my “trainer”… Walk 10 minutes, run half a mile, slow, fast etc. When I did the program the first time I had an iPhone 4S that fit into my iPhone 4 armband. Now that I’m using an iPhone 5 that armband no longer worked. So I went in search of…


Mophie Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 5 Packs a Bigger Whallop

If you have an iPhone 5, then you already know that there are times when the battery can be just a little bit lacking. Mophie has long been one of our preferred ways to keep our iPhones going, and with this latest addition to their power arsenal — the mophie juice pack plus — things just got a little bit better for us iPhone users. How so? It packs enough juice to double the iPhone 5’s battery life with one charge, and there is no need to slip your phone in and out of its case to charge, because the mophie juice…


Orbino Pantera Cinque iPhone 5 Case Review – Luxurious Leather for Your Personal Communicator

I got into a funk not too long ago; because I had dropped my iPhone and managed to ding it up a bit, I knew I needed to change my device carry habits. I already knew that I wouldn’t be interested in a rubber or plastic iPhone case, and while the right wooden case might have appealed to me, I was ready to try something different. I was going for leather, and as I had on my iPad mini, I was going for handmade. So at the same time I placed the order for my Orbino iPad miniPadova case, I…


Magnet Stick-On Periscope Lense for iPhone and Camera Phones Surfaces

    The good folks at USBFever work very hard to bring plenty of the most unusual peripherals and accessories for iPhones and other smartphones to the market. From the most simple and functional to the rather esoteric offbeat tech, USBFever has got you covered! Take camera lens add-ons for cell phones. Some of you might think, “What else is there, more zoom to the telescopic lenses?” No, you’d be wrong there. The latest to swim into view is in fact the curious Magnet Stick-On Periscope Lens for the iPhone and Camera Phones. Maybe you are tired of having to…


Just Mobile AluFrame for iPhone 5 Review

Leave it to our friends at Just Mobile to get the aluminum bumper frame for the iPhone 5 just right. Yes, Just Mobile AluFrame for the iPhone 5 is an aluminum bumper that makes all the right moves. It’s gorgeous and refined, protects the sides and edges of the iPhone admirably, and, perhaps best of all, I’m not seeing any signal degradation when I use it. That last point is particularly striking considering the fact that this aluminum frame doesn’t have any cuts or openings in it. (Many companies looking to create an aluminum frame without signal degradation resorted to…


Findables Cases for iPhone 5 and iPad mini Review

The more I review tech accessories, the more I find that I’m less inclined to use gadgets that rely on app-gimmicks than ever before. What I mean by that is, if there is something that lends itself to having a specialized application great. But if the inclusion of an app is a little more than a gimmick that differentiates the case from the other players in that space, I’m not interested. That’s why I wanted to check out some of the cases from Findables; Findables describes itself as offering the first cases that come with an app. Findables makes a…


3 to 5 Hours of Streamed Music from the MiPow Boom mini? Not Even Close!

We brought an exclusive first look at the MiPow Boom mini (read the post), and then we shared the first ever review of the diminutive new speaker coming from MiPow. As you might recall, Judie and I met with MiPow in January when they were showing off their newest offerings at CES 2013. We were impressed by the company and its products and were glad that the company, unknown in the US but widely popular internationally, was finally bringing their products State-side. Here’s our unboxing of the MiPow Boom mini. So here’s the thing, the MiPow Boom mini sounds great,…


Just Mobile AluCup iPhone Accessory Review

Just Mobile has made some of our favorite iPhone and Mac accessory. We met with the company at CES 2013, and they showed us a few of their upcoming products. One of them, the AluCup, struck me as one of their less compelling products. Still, there was something about it that intrigued me, and I looked forward to using and reviewing it. They sent one to us, so let’s take a look at this cup-shaped iPhone and iPad stand. The Just Mobile AluCup is the result of a combination of an aluminium cup-shaped frame that provides rigidity and a rubber insert…