January 2016

2016 Jeep Patriot Is the Real Value Deal

Quite honestly I did not realize the Jeep Patriot was the lowest priced compact utility vehicle on the market. At under 18 grand it offers value along with the on and off-road capability folks have come to know with the Jeep name. Sure, you won’t be doing any rock crawling with this unibody vehicle but Patriot can go everywhere else!



IllumiBowl Takes the Guesswork out of Nighttime Bathroom Visits

Have you found that it’s pretty jarring to deal with bright overhead bathroom lights when you get up in the middle of the night to relieve yourself? Bright lights can wreck our sleep ability and cause health issues, it’s proven, but you still need to be able to see where you’re going and what you’re doing.


T-Mobile Takes $75 off Any Note 5 with Code NOTE5DEAL

Have you been thinking about a Samsung Galaxy Note 5? If so, this could be your lucky day. T-Mobile offers $75 off any model Note 5 with promo code NOTE5DEAL. The Note 5 first appeared in the U.S. in late August. Three months later in November, a gold platinum variant was added.  In other deals, T-Mobile is also offering $80 off the Samsung Galaxy S6, and $40 off the LG Leon LTE. Deals are good online or via telesales with no expiration given.





Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual-Layered Drop Protection

We’ve looked at the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 1 case. (Read the review.) It’s thin and light, and it offers just enough protection. If, however, you still want thin and light but need a bit more protection, you’ll want to check out the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual Layered Drop Protection for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.


Giving Up a Smartwatch Made Me Feel Free!

My wife recently challenged me to turn off my smartwatch. Instead of letting me discreetly stay connected, I was constantly reacting every time it buzzed, even if I didn’t check my phone. It was interrupting dinner, playtime with my son, and distracting me during meetings. Surprisingly, I’m not the only Gear Diary person who has disconnected from their smartwatch!


Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S Review: One Classy Hard Case

If you are looking for a hard shell case that has a bit more class than your typical hard shell case, look no further than the Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S. This case takes a shell-style case and dresses it up with a sheet of quality Beyzacases leather floating on the back. And at just over $30 it’s a bargain!



The SanDisk 200GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card: A Tiny Marvel

One of the things I’ve never liked about iPhones and iPads has been Apple’s refusal to add a memory card slot. No removable battery? Fine. A closed ecosystem with curated apps? Fine. No ability to expand my phone or tablet’s memory without paying exorbitant upgrade prices? Not so fine. That’s where Android and Windows devices have a definite advantage.


Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 Offers Lightweight Protection

Incipio has released a line of cases offering five different levels of protection. Each case looks good and reflects the thought and care that went into creating their design. And with each number you get a bit more protection. This time out, we will look at the two lightest cases in the lineup; the Level 1 and the Level 2. [PERFORMANCE] SERIES LEVEL 1 The Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 offers lightweight drop protection for your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. For $24.99 the case gives you the lightest protection in the series. In this case lightest not only refers…


2016 Honda Civic Truly Worthy of ‘Car of the Year’

On the day it was named North American Car of the Year, the all-new 2016 Honda Civic sedan was delivered to the test driveway. Civic is Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate and it is one of the best-selling cars in the world period. This is Gen 10, and it may just be the best Civic yet.


BEYZACASES Natural ID Slim for iPhone 6S

I’m not a huge fan of sleeve-style cases for the iPhone, preferring to have more protection surrounding my phone at all times. Still, there’s something about having a naked phone that is protected when not in use that is appealing. The Beyzacases Natural ID Slim is a great option if you are looking for a protective leather sleeve.


Decibullz Cuts the Cord on Their Custom Earphones

We reviewed Decibullz earphones last year and were impressed. The company has found a way to let people create a pair of custom earphones that are molded to their specific ears without having to incur a huge cost or see an audiologist. (Read the review.) Now the company is going wireless with their new Decibullz Custom Molded Wireless earphones. 



The Knomo Dering Charging Power Purse Will Keep You Going

You know what it’s like to be out and about, looking at an ever sinking phone battery percentage. The Knomo Dering is a classic and fashionable wristlet with an integrated 3,000mAh battery; not only can you carry your essentials in its two main internal sections, your phone will sit inside a padded compartment safe from scratches while charging. The water and dirt resistant nylon and Saffiano leather trimmed Dering measures 8.5″ wide by 5″ tall by 0.75″ thick, but it has gusseted sides so that it can expand a bit to hold your necessities inside its grosgrain lined interior. Gold…



The Go Puck Battery Pack Charged My iPhone During CES

While in Las Vegas for CES, traveling from booth to booth, there was one thing I went without quite often: Battery Life. Luckily I was able to stumble upon the Go Puck Booth who supplied me with a stylish, wearable power solution in their Go Puck 5x; it not only kept me going but actually looked quite nice on my badge as well.