May 2014

Evernote Is the New Destination for LinkedIn’s CardMunch Users

Are you a CardMunch user? Dan and I were for ages; I liked how CardMunch made it so easy to request a LinkedIn connection after scanning business cards. But as time went on, and I got tired of seeing my scanned cards sitting in purgatory pending, I started using Evernote as my card scanner. Now LinkedIn is using Evernote, too.


TokyoFlash Kisai Optical Illusion – a Watch with a Secret

Here is a simple question – when you want to know the time, do you want a challenge? Moreover, do you want it to be difficult for most people to read the time from your watch? If so, read on – but if not, the TokyoFlash Kisai Optical Illusion Watch is likely not for you!



Can the Made Simplify Your Kitchen and Make You Eat Better?

If the idea of bringing home bulk beans, lentils, rice, and loose grains causes you to get nervous because you don’t want to figure out cooking measurements, but you know you need to integrate these healthy items into your diet more, then The Made might just be a Kickstart project that you should back.


Inductively Charge Your Galaxy S5 with the TYLT VU-Mate and TYLT VU

When Judie reviewed the TYLT VU Wireless Charging Pad in January, I was jealous. To use inductive charging with my iPhone 5S, I would need a bulky case. Now that I’m using a Samsung Galaxy S5 things have changed. That’s where the TYLT VU-MATE comes in. For under $25, the VU-MATE lets you inductively charge your S5. I love it.



Towlhub 4 Port USB Charger – with Complimentary Wine Stopper Top

I noticed the Towlhub, a 3-in-one paper towel holder while browsing SkyMall on the flight back from the happiest place on earth. It features  a 4-port USB power , paper towel dispenser, and a hidden wine stopper (which also holds the paper towels); this MacGyver-ish device will set you back $49 –  add  Bluetooth speakers for a total  of $79. 


Mobile Edge’s UrgentPower DX 5200 Review: Immediate Power for All!

Perhaps one day, mobile phones will be invented that have batteries that recharge themselves as the person carrying them walks around. Until then, we’ll have to continue relying upon charging cords, AC/DC adapters, and extended batteries. If you’re still shopping for a mini power plant, Mobile Edge‘s UrgentPower DX 5200 is small enough to carry around for unforeseen charging emergencies.




2014 Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion Energi Review Updates

During a recent (and very short) schedule with Ford press vehicles, I was able to revisit two vehicles first reviewed here last summer, specifically the Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion Energi. As I had already become familiar with these models, would a week behind the wheel of each still prove them to my liking?


Who Am I? Ancestry DNA Knows

Last month I shipped a vial of saliva that I’d collected to Ancestry DNA; the hope was that their lab could tell me more about my genetic relatives, geographic origin, and my ethnicity. The results are in, and while there were no huge surprises,  I did get some answers.


Cursed Ship Collector’s Edition Comes Haunting iOS Devices!

A drifting, abandoned, deserted ship is a great setting for a mystery game, and add ghosts supernatural elements and you have a great premise for an adventure. Cursed Ship features an abandoned ship with loads of damage, seaweed covered walls, green fumes and ghostly figures. There is one flaw, but nothing that should stop you from checking this game out!


Screen Off and Lock: The Cure for Big Phones and Power Buttons

My HTC One M8 is a very tall phone. 90% of the time it doesn’t bother me, but sometimes if I am using it one-handed, hitting the top power button to lock it is a stretch. I resigned myself to just dealing with it, but then I discovered a simple utility, the aptly named Screen Off and Lock!


I Just Filled Out a Google Glass Survey, And …

When the option to purchase the Google Glass Explorer Edition was made available to me, I jumped in with both feet — completely disregarding the fact that I was paying $1500 to be a beta tester of roughly $80 worth of electronics (as it turns out). Dan bought in, too, and then we both decided Glass wasn’t for us.



Audrey Hepburn Is One Glamorous Google Doodle

Today, Audrey Hepburn would have been 85 years old; to commemorate, Google has released a doodle in her image. A gifted actress, international style icon, humanitarian, and one of the most beautiful women ever, Audrey’s life was cut short by appendiceal cancer at 63. What better way to celebrate her life than to do something kind for a needy child?


Blacksmith-Labs iPhone Cases: Some Jobs Require a Blacksmith

Sometimes fine, dainty, pretty stuff just doesn’t work. And sometimes what’s in a name can be pretty dead-on. Blacksmith-Labs does a good job of living up to its name with its new line of iPhone cases. Made of thick leather with strong, sturdy metal clips, their cases really do bring a blacksmith’s work to mind.


My Sony Xperia Z2 Is Big, Purple, and Gorgeous

Of all the phones that I saw at MWC, the Sony Xperia Z2 was the one I returned determined to buy. With its 5.2″ Display, 20.7 megapixel rear-facing camera, 4K camcorder, generous battery, and its IP55/IP58 waterproof and dust-proof rating, the Z2’s specs were pretty impressive. I’ve purchased a Z2, and I’ve made it my daily-driver. Here are some highlights.


The Bracketron Xolar3000 Lets You Harness the Sun for More Mobile Fun

If you’re in the market for a new external battery, the Bracketron Xolar3000 may be just the thing. The battery packs a 3000mAh battery into a nicely designed, plastic, metal and glass body. Why glass? That’s what really makes this battery stand out. Read on to see what a solar-powered external battery looks like, and why you’ll want one.


VitaClay StoneWare Yogurt Maker Adds Culture to Your Kitchen

Many of us have fond memories of summer days spent cranking the handle of an ice cream maker waiting for a homemade treat, but what about yogurt? While ice cream is great, it’s not nearly as healthy as yogurt. The new VitaClay Stoneware Yogurt Maker and Personal Slow Cooker makes it fun and easy to make your own at home.