October 2017

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Already Taking the Cake

Three-row crossover utility vehicles are popular and they are putting a real pinch on minivan and sedan sales across the showrooms. And while they have been around for some time now there apparently is still room for competition as Volkswagen has just rolled out its entry into the segment, dubbed Atlas.


Original Grain Showcases the Art Form of the Analog Watch

I test a lot of gadgets and gear for this site, and none of them have received the compliments or interest that the Original Grain “The Barrel” watch has. It doesn’t tell me when I have a call, or buzz me for texts, or vibrate uncontrollably when I haven’t visited Facebook in 20 minutes. It does two things: tells time, and looks good doing it.


Honeywell Lyric C2 Wi-Fi Security Camera Is DIY Security at Its Best

If you’re looking for a powerful security camera that is relatively inexpensive, simple to set up and easy to use, the Honeywell Lyric C2 Wi-Fi Security Camera is for you. I reviewed the Lyric thermostat and still use it. (Review) I also reviewed the Lyric C1 Security Camera. (Review) The Lyric C2 is a fantastic addition to our ever-smarter home.


WD My Cloud – A Perfect Home NAS

There was a time in the not-to-distant past when setting up storage solutions on your home network was complicated and expensive.  Then, once you get everything setup, you could only access that Network Attached Storage (NAS) when you were actually in the network.  That doesn’t do you a lot of good if you need that file while you are traveling.





Guardzilla 360 Won’t BBQ Intruders, but It Will Watch Your Home

Since the name Guardzilla seems like such an obvious riff on Godzilla, it only stands to reason that this life-size product would watch whatever you’ve aimed it at and incapacitate intruders and interlopers with a flamethrower blast when notified to do so. What? It’s “only” a compact 360º motion detection home security camera? Well, I guess that’s okay, too.


Review of the LG V30 – Not Quite Perfection

A few weeks ago, Judie asked if I’d like to review the LG V30 for Gear Diary.  I jumped at the chance.  I’d heard many good things about LG’s latest flagship and had also read some concerns about it.  But the chance to use it was on offer, and I took advantage of it.







Naztech Alloy Advanced Magnetic Earphones Deliver

I am a huge fan of wireless earphones. One issue I often have with these products is what to do with them when not wearing them for a bit. Naztech has addressed this problem with the Alloy Advanced Magnetic Earphones. The $69.99 earphones add a new twist to wearing wireless, Bluetooth earphones. Let’s take a look.



BONX Grip Is Like a Walkie-Talkie, but Better

If you participate in activities where you want to communicate with your friends, but you need to be completely hands-free, then you might want to check out the BONX Grip. It uses your phone (and it’s 3G/4G/WiFi signal) to allow communication between two people (up to 10) without touching any buttons. Think of the convenience when fishing, biking, or hunting!


Cover Your Samsung Galaxy Note8 with a Toast Wood Veneer Skin

I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Note8 to replace my iPhone 7 Plus. So far, I love it! One of the first accessories I was excited to try was a customized Toast Wood Veneer Skin. Toast makes wood veneers that are both beautiful and protective; I’ve had one on my 13′ MacBook Pro retina for years, and it’s been great.


Ford F-150 Is Still King of the Hill

The Ford F-150 pickup has been the best-selling truck for 40 years, and for the past 35 years it has been the top-selling vehicle in America as well. For 2018 none of that looks to change and the new model has already earned a belt buckle and trophy as top truck in Texas.



Get Rid of Separation Anxiety with the Orbit Card

If you have a problem misplacing your wallet and need to be reminded that it’s not in your pocket but on your nightstand, then you should really check out the ORBIT Card. Personal identification, receipts, cash, you name it is something that we all carry day in and day out in our wallets and purses, and the Orbit Card wants to make sure that you never forget any of those things. The premise of the Orbit Card is pretty simple: it’s a Bluetooth tracker about the size of a traditional credit card that stores in your wallet and allows you to…