February 2016

The Logitech Harmony Elite Advanced Universal Remote and Hub Review

If your TV watching reality includes a basket filled with six or seven different  remotes, then I understand your pain. That was how things were at my house before Logitech sent their Harmony Elite Remote to review. I have to say that after a relatively painless setup, the results of consolidating have been so worth it.


Facebook Messenger Groups Introduce Valentine Picture Presents

Everyone loves a present, right?  So how about a nice photo wrapped in a bow and red heart paper? You can send your Facebook friends just a present if you are in a Facebook Messenger Group with them. To send the wrapped image, simply click the heart/arrow icon in the lower right corner of your chat display window. Then select an image and send.


Is Spam Going Through a Bold Renaissance?

Is spam going through a rebirth, led primarily by information you submit to business directories? My inbox for the past year would answer yes based upon the number of email newsletters; semi-official looking emails received to my company’s “honeypot” email address.


Facebook Showing Realtime NHL Scoreboard for Check-ins

I don’t think this is new. But I do think it’s pretty cool. Facebook last night showed a realtime updated score for the Kings/Rangers game that my sister was watching at New York’s Madison Square Garden.  At first I thought it was just a static score – which would have been interesting by itself. Then I went back to check the status update and noticed that not only had the score changed but the current time left for play was also updated. It appears this may have started, at least in a test version, around the time of the last…


MiPow Playbulb Sphere Lights the Night…Anywhere

In the past few months, I have found myself enamored with smart lighting technology. I have lights that can be controlled through my Amazon Echo in three rooms and when Raina and I get a house, I plan to have it throughout. One of the items I expect I’ll put in some rooms is the MiPow Playbulb Sphere. It’s awesome!



How to “Brick” Any 64-bit iOS Device in 6 Easy Steps!

The folks on Reddit have uncovered what appears to be a flaw in the iOS code which will render any 64-bit iOS device (32 bit reportedly unaffected) unusable until the battery power is removed. This flaw occurs when the internal clock of the device is manually changed back to 1970 and then the device is rebooted.



Alcatel Announces The First Windows 10 Phone for T-Mobile

There have been plenty of rumors this week regarding whether or not ALCATEL would release their Windows 10 Phone at some point this week. Well it’s official. As of Wednesday, February 10th, ALCATEL ONETOUCH announced that T-Mobile will be receiving it’s first Windows 10 Smartphone in the Fierce XL, for the price of $139.99. President & General Manager for ALCATEL ONETOUCH Steve Cistulli states: “As the fourth largest mobile phone manufacturer in North America, ALCATEL ONETOUCH has continued to grow rapidly in the U.S. mobile marketplace by offering consumers the perfect amount of more when it comes to their mobile…


2016 Toyota Tacoma: All New and Best Yet

Toyota has been making trucks for fifty years and twenty years ago it introduced the Tacoma pickup. For the past ten years, Toyota has dominated the midsize truck segment and, for 2016, Tacoma is all new. Designers and engineers have rebuilt Tacoma from the ground up to make this model the best yet.


Finex’s Revolutionary Cast Iron Skillet Makes Your Stovetop More Useful

We’ve all gone through kitchenware pans and a skillet or two in our lifetimes, and to be honest, there aren’t a lot of good quality pans out there that won’t cost you a pretty penny for actual quality. More recently I had my cheap Black Friday skillet legitimately die on me (It was cheap) and I was pretty excited when Finex sent me their Finex Cast Iron Skillet to review. If you’re not familiar with Finex, what you should know is they are a company based in the United States that got their beginning courtesy of Kickstart, and ever since they’ve been…


Popular Smart Garden Company Edyn Announces Partnership

Last year, Perry told you all about the Edyn Smart Garden that was successfully funded by Kickstarter. Well, you’ll be happy to know that the company announced a few partnerships that will help further their growth in business in the U.S. and beyond.



The Dell XPS 15: Go Big and Go Home with the Smallest 15″ Laptop on the Planet!

When I got my 2015 13″ MacBook Pro retina, Kev inherited my “old” 2012 15″ MacBook Pro retina. So when I read the Dell XPS 15’s reviewer guide and saw that Dell was calling it the “smallest 15-inch laptop on the planet”, heck yeah I was skeptical! But I had the means to do a quick and dirty size comparison, and guess what? Dell wasn’t exaggerating.


Moshi Aerio Lightweight Messenger Bag Is Featherlight and Ready to Go

One of my issues with many messenger bags and backpacks is that, even before you put anything into them, they weigh a ton. Then, after you stow your gear inside, they feel like you are carrying a bag of bricks. Ouch! Not so with the Moshi Aerio! This bag is featherlight but ready for a day of serious productivity.


IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2 Brings out the Inner Composer!

IK Multimedia released a product recently that will prove to bring out your inner composer. Miroslav Philharmonik 2 brings a concert hall full of musicians and allows them to be directed and composed on your computer. The virtual orchestra utilizes over 2700 instruments sampled in high-definition audio. Read on to get more information and check back soon for the review!


Twelve South Forte is Jewelry for Your Apple Watch

Since Apple released the Apple Watch companies have been scrambling to release charging stands that add aesthetics and functionality to Apple’s first wearable. We’ve looked at a number of them. Many have impressed us but the Twelve South Forte is, by far, the most elegant I’ve seen. At just under $60 it isn’t inexpensive but refined looks don’t come cheap.




Tiltcard Fits in Your Wallet but Holds Up Your Phone

It’s easy to find a tablet case with a built in stand, but most phone cases with kickstands tend to be pretty bulky. Tiltcard offers a better solution than choosing between a bulky case and propping your phone up against an assortment of objects by offering a collapsible stand that fits in your wallet.


A Quick Look at the Honor 5X and Its Android Skin

We will be doing a full review of the Honor 5X soon; it’s a phone with the build quality of a flagship at budget pricing. But the Honor EMUI skin has gotten a lot of criticism, and it may not be as bad as first reaction seems. It’s easy to judge the EMUI apps and enhancements negatively if you’re a fan of plain, stock Android. But this is a phone aimed at people who aren’t looking for a flagship; Honor is a subsidiary of Huawei, and if you want a flagship, they make the Nexus 6P or the Huawei Mate…