2017 | Gear Diary

Super Mario Run Gets an Upgrade and a Temporary Price Cut

Reaction to Super Mario Run was a bit mixed when it was first released. On the one hand, it was Mario, on a phone! On the other hand, it was a bit of a generic running game, plus there wasn’t much to do once you slammed through all the levels. Plus, it was really pricey relative to other games at $9.99. Both issues are being resolved with the update out today, which adds new levels AND cuts the price to $4.99 temporarily! The new update adds levels beyond the original 6, as well as a new game called Remix 10….

News & Features

Amazon Lets Loose with a New Range of Amazon Echo Devices

I love my Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and FABRIQ Speakers with Amazon Echo built in. Now Amazon has gone to town with not one, not two, but a host of new products that expand the Echo lineup. They look great, cover a lot of ground and I can’t wait to get my hands on a few of them.

News & Features

A Look at How New Technology Is Changing the Face of Remote Working

It’s impossible to deny the growth of remote working and how it’s taking over the business world. For millennials, who love the idea of flexible work, this is welcome news. What technology is fueling this rise – and what new trends are paving the way for tomorrow?

Vehicles & Gear

2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid Is the Way to Go…Everywhere

A while back, I recommended the new Acura MDX to those of you shopping for a new premium utility vehicle. Now less than a year later, I am back to recommend its greener sibling, the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid complete with four motors and electronic all-wheel drive.

Reviews

Need to Paint It Black? Try BlackPods to Re-Finish your Apple AirPods

I’m a huge fan of my Apple Airpods. They’re small, light, and sound great for everyday use. But I wanted to differentiate myself from every other guy on the streets of New York City. Enter BlackPods, a New Jersey-based customization service that beautifully re-finishes those stark white AirPods Black.

Reviews

Nomad Universal and 4-in-1 USB C Cables: Everything you need!

If you’ve got an iPhone, or one of the newer Android phones, a MacBook, or many of the newer Windows computers, then you need all of the USB Type-C cables you can get your hands on. When you’re ready to upgrade to the best, Nomad has you covered with their new Universal Cable and 4-in-1 USB C Cable.

Reviews

FABRIQ Chorus Is a Good-Looking Alexa-Enabled Voice Activated Speaker with Bluetooth, Too!

Last year I reviewed a small Alexa-enabled speaker from FABRIQ. (Read the review.) I was impressed but wished it had the voice-enabled feature that makes my Amazon Echo so great. Now FABRIQ has released an updated device. The Chorus is bigger, sounds better and is voice activated. It is Amazon Alexa-enabled AND Bluetooth and costs under $100.

Vehicles & Gear

2017 Nissan Titan XD King Cab Completes Nissan’s Truck Launch

It first appeared on the stage at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit a couple of years ago, and now the rollout of the Nissan Titan XD pickup line is complete with the delivery of the 2017 Nissan Titan XD King Cab body style.

How to Do It Yourself!

Update to iOS 11 in Advance of the Official 9/19 Release Date

The official release of iOS 11 won’t arrive until mid-day Tuesday, September 19. There is, however, a way to update your iPhone to the latest release of iOS now. This is the final shipping, aka Gold Master or GM, version which all eligible iPhone models will receive Tuesday.

Reviews

LG V30: A Peek at What’s to Come

Can we all agree that this has been a banner year for smartphones? The other day we finally got all the details for the iPhone 8 and X; Samsung has come out with their S8 and S8+ and the Note8, and now we have the LG V30 to look forward to. The darling of IFA, LG’s newest Android flagship phone is impressive.

How to Do It Yourself!

5 Tips All DIY Tech Businesses Need to Prevent Failure

If you haven’t hired an IT team, you’ve got your hands full. If you only hire outside professionals when there’s a problem, you’re spending more money than you realize. Despite the evolution of the internet, Google doesn’t have all the answers. Sometimes you need real people to solve your problems.

News & Features

How the Zello App Helped Those Affected by Hurricane Irma

People from hurricane-prone areas characteristically know how to respond when they hear the news that a big storm is coming their way. Such was the case when Hurricane Irma made headlines.

Reviews

PillDrill: Smart Medication Tracking for Yourself or a Loved One

One of the bothers that comes with getting older is that you’ll likely have to add at least a few medications to your daily routine. Whether you are keeping up with your own meds or those taken by an elderly relative, the PillDrill aims to make the process of remembering to take those medications as painless and streamlined as possible.

News & Features

Nomad Is Ready to Help Protect Your New iPhone

Nomad has quickly become one of our favorite iPhone accessory companies. They made amazing products that are well-made, look and function well and, best of all, come at a reasonable price. Now they have announced an entire collection of cases for the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X. Here’s a quick look at them all.

News & Features

Everything We’ve Learned from Today’s Apple Keynote

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you know September of every year is Apple’s month of showcasing their latest products, typically the newest iPhone and iPad. Well, 2017 is no different as the company announced a few new products, including the Apple iPhone X, which many were expecting.

News & Features

LandingZone’s New Docking Station for MacBook Pro with Touch Bar Looks Amazing

The LandingZone has announced what they call “the most powerful Apple MacBook docking station to-date.” It just might be. This new docking station offers an oh-so-awesome 16 different ports and can turn your MacBook Pro with Touch Bar into a powerful workstation. At $299 it is pricey, but the added functionality is unparalleled if you want an impressive desktop computer.

Vehicles & Gear

2018 Lexus LC 500h Hybrid Luxury Sport Coupe: A Blast From the Future

If you don’t like people staring at you, don’t buy the all-new Lexus luxury sport coupe. If you do crave attention, this concept car turned production unit may just be for you. We recently spent a week behind the wheel of the Lexus LC 500h and found most folks could not take their eyes off of us.

Reviews

Cutting the Cord? The Tablo Dual OTA DVR Will Help Ease the Transition

Cord cutting just got easier with the Tablo Dual OTA DVR, an Over-The-Air DVR that allows you to stream or record two free HD broadcast channels at once. With 64GB built-in storage and Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, you can get streaming right out of the box; all you need is an antenna.

Reviews

E Fun’s Nextbook Flexx 11A Sets a New Bar for Budget Machines

How much technology can $230 buy you? It’s not enough for an iPad, certainly not enough for an iPhone, and will maybe get you a low-end Chromebook. If you’re willing to look beyond the big brands, though, E Fun offers a hidden gem in the form of the Nextbook Flexx 11A.

Reviews

Lenovo Yoga Mouse – The Only Mouse You Need

So let’s be honest. A mouse is a mouse is a mouse. Right? Well, maybe not so much. Technically, a mouse pretty much does the same thing when it was conceived in the 1970s but the innards of the device itself, along with the way they connect to your PC or Mac.

Reviews

Optoma’s NuForce BE2 Wireless Headphones Are a Great Pair of Sports Headphones

If you’re looking for an affordable pair of headphones that have a build quality that will last you for a very long time, Coupled with a pleasant (and comfortable) listening experience, look no further than the Optoma Nuforce BE2’s. The company sent me over a pair to try out, so lets dive right into it.