February 2018

SleepScore Max Sees You When You’re Sleeping and Offers Helpful Tips to Improve Your Snoozing!

Sleep Is a precious commodity that’s taken for granted. It’s important, but it is far too easy to let it slide in favor of binging Netflix or stalking old high school classmates on Facebook. I’ve tried wrist based sleep devices in the past, but I tend to forget to check it or use the information it provides. SleepScore Max aims to change that with their one-two punch of an easy to use nightstand device and a full-featured and very helpful app!


2018 GMC Terrain Denali Is Pricey but Good

The compact crossovers at General Motors have undergone major makeovers and they are now better than ever. Given the surge in CUV sales lately these improvements could not have come at a better time for the automaker. We recently tested the all-new 2018 GMC Terrain Denali.


Going to the Olympics Made Me a Believer

As the closing ceremonies bring the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea to an end, I’m feeling exceptionally fortunate to have been able to go and see some of the highlights of these games in person. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to get to know a little more about Korea, its people, and their culture.






Samsung Galaxy S9 Takes on Apple’s Animojis and Improves on Low-Light Photos (Hands-on)

The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ have just been announced, and on the hardware front, they aren’t dramatic updates to their predecessors. Perhaps we’ll finally get a foldable display with the Galaxy S10? But for the S9, Samsung’s heavily focused on improving the phones’ features with a big emphasis on improved low-light photography, slow-motion video, and Bixby integration.




Huawei Mediapad M5 Might Be the iPad of Android

  Huawei MediaPad M5 is a premium tablet at a time when no one seems to care about Android tablets. Not too long ago at MWC, there were more Android tablet announcements then anyone could care for. But in recent years, Android tablet announcements have become few and far between.


Alcatel’s New Phones Prove Budget Doesn’t Mean Cheap

TCL Communications has come to Mobile World Congress with a fleet of new budget phones, including a new smartphone that is truly one of a kind. After announcing their two new Alcatel tablets, TCL Communication is modernizing their Alcatel smartphones by bringing flagship-style features and premium designs in their new 5, 3 and 1 series.





Winegard Elite 7550 Gets the Locals

As a cord cutter, finding streaming sources of television has become important. One thing many streaming services ignore is over the air locals. Most local channels have 3 or 4 channels packaged together, and the HD quality is much better than what is found on a satellite. The Winegard Elite 7550  is an excellent streaming option for those local channels. 



Frywall Is Shark Tank Promoted and Raina Approved

When we saw the Frywall on Shark Tank, Raina said, “That’s genius! I want one of those.” I neglected to order one, and the next time she cooked the kitchen was covered with oil. So I ordered one from Amazon. At $21.95 for the 10″ and $28.95 for the 12″, it is pricey, but it does exactly what it promises.



Gear Diary’s Best of 2018 Toy Fair

We’ve spent the last couple of days scouring the aisles at the 2018 Toy Fair in NYC to find the coolest new toys. Whether you are looking for toys that will encourage your kids’ interest in STEM, get them more active, ignite their creativity, or help them imagine worlds far, far away, there is something for everyone.