May 2018



Philips Hue Sync Is Surround Sound for Your Eyes

Ambiance is everything, which is why Philips Hue lights have been so successful – they let you transform a room into a different mood with custom colors. Now Philips Hue is aiming to take things to the next level with Philips Hue Sync.


Thermacell Radius Brings Zone Protection for Mosquito Season

South Texas mosquitos are often the size of a pigeon and seem to be super hungry for human blood. I have used a Thermacell for hunting and outdoors for years. Their new Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent ($49.99) brings scent free, powerful protection with only one refill component and a rechargeable battery. Let’s see how it holds up to summer skeeters.


LG V35 ThinQ Is the Consolation Prize for AT&T Customers

If the LG G7 ThinQ got you all excited when it was announced, but the “Verizon-only” made the AT&T customer in you sad, you’ll be glad to know that you’ll soon be able to get your hands on something similar. Of course, similar does not equal same, but the AT&T LG V35 ThinQ is very close.


Vivint Made My Home Smarter and More Secure: Part 1

I recently had the good people from Vivint come and install a home automation system/security system in my home. Vivint provides a ton of options and provides professional installation with every purchase. Read on to see how the process and products have transformed my home. 


Be the Boss of Your Grill with the Flame Boss 300

Memorial Day has become regarded as the unofficial kick-off of summer, and with that distinction, the beginning of outdoor grilling season. If you’re a fan of barbecue or low-and-slow cooking in general, temperature control is vitally important to your efforts’ success. I’ve recently discovered an extremely useful tool that has upped my barbecue game, the Flame Boss 300.




The One61 Flash Smartwatch Will Make You Want to Get up And Move!

The Flash TV show on the CW is a mixed bag. It’s not the best-written show, but it transcends script weakness through the sheer charm and chemistry of the cast. The One61 Flash Smartwatch is taking notes from the TV show; it has a lot of flaws, but it’s just so darn cute it almost balances out.


The Camp Chef SmokePro SG Pellet Grill Makes You Feel Like a BBQ Pitmaster

The Camp Chef SmokePro SG Pellet Grill is that rare breed of equipment that’s so easy to use; you can feel like a master after your first cook. Although this was the first pellet grill/smoker I’ve ever used, the SmokePro SG made me feel like a championship BBQ pitmaster. Starting at $749.99, the SmokePro SG belongs in every carnivore’s backyard.




Ergo Impact LeanRite Elite Is the Standing Desk Chair Everyone Needs

I bought an L-shaped bamboo-topped standing desk last year. With grand illusions of doing all of my work while standing, I also bought the large Topo Mat to help with fatigue … but after 10 minutes of standing still, my back starts hurting, and I’m back in my chair — gah! And then I got the Ergo Impact LeanRite Elite.


Acer Covers All Bases with a Slew of New Devices

Everyone around you might be getting ready for Memorial Day, but Acer is still hard at work upping their computing game with new Chromebooks, gaming notebooks, desktops and more! So be prepared to spend whatever money you haven’t committed to a beach vacation on some sweet new tech!


Blue Designs Compass Boom Arm Takes Podcasts to New Heights

Judie and I first met when we were doing a podcast. She had already started Gear Diary, and I was a staff writer from Just Another Mobile Monday. A few weeks ago, Judie was on a friend’s podcast. She sounded great but commented that she needed a better podcasting setup. I told her one piece of it should be the Blue Designs Compass.




Music on the Go Thanks to the IFROGZ Cocoon Earbud Charging Case

Wireless earbuds have finally come into their own. You can now buy high-end earphones with great sound, excellent battery life, and ANC. You can also find inexpensive earbuds that sound quite good! (IFROGZ has some great offerings!) To keep them charged, IFROGZ has released the Cocoon Earbud Recharging Case. At under $30 it’s an interesting idea for a wireless world.


The Alcatel 3V Is One Slick Under-$150 Smartphone

If you think that you need to pay big bucks to get a great phone, Alcatel begs to differ. Just under $150 will get you a smartphone that offers a TCL custom-built 2K display, dual rear cameras, biometric security, and more. No contracts, no monthly payment plans, just a really great phone for cheap — that’s the Alcatel 3V!


2018 Nissan Titan Midnight Edition Sees Light of Day

The light truck segment of new vehicle sales is ultra competitive, and relative newcomer Nissan is doing everything possible to get its share of those transactions. Case in point is the new Titan Midnight Edition we recently tested that adds many items consumers would add to the pickups after purchase, but they can now get right on the showroom floor.