August 2018

Waterhoody Will Shield You from the Sun’s Harmful Rays

Sun-kissed skin may make you look healthy but as we know, excessive exposure to the sun can cause irreparable damage. As a parent, I try my best to protect my children’s skin from the sun by using highly rated EWG sunscreen and SPF clothing, which is why Waterhoody is now one of my essential summer items.



Trying to Decipher the Novation Launchkey 25 MkII

A couple of weeks ago, I got a text message from an old family friend. “Hey—would you be interested in a keyboard? I have no use for this one.” The keyboard in question was a Novation Lunchkey 25 MkII, one of the most popular MIDI controllers on the market. It’s an offshoot of Novation’s famous LaunchPad series, which rose to prominence when this video by Madeon went viral. I don’t have very much MIDI experience, but I’m not one to say no to instruments (my wife agrees, gesturing vaguely at the piles of guitars and keyboards filling up most of our…


Corsair HS60 Gaming Headphones Review

Over the past week, I began and finished my first custom PC build (look for my upcoming article detailing my experience and insights). Intended for everyday use, yet powerful enough to handle the major AAA game releases for the foreseeable future, I decided it was time to finally upgrade my standard headset and mic that came with my Xbox.


Alienware and Dell Bring Their A-Game to Gamescom!

Dell and Alienware are at Gamescom 2o18, and they’ve got a slew of announcements designed to remind you why Alienware is synonymous with top of the line PC gaming. There are new monitors, fun new keyboard LED lighting, updated GPUs, new ways to manage peripherals, and an esports academy!


The iHome iAV2 Is a Dock with a Clock for Your Amazon Echo Dot

We have a number of Amazon Echo Dots in our home. They are a great way to inexpensively get into the Amazon Echo ecosystem, and the 2nd generation Dots work incredibly well. Still, the anemic speaker and lack of a display are far from ideal. Enter the $69 iHome iAV2. I describe it as a “clock dock for your Dot.”


Understands EVO 1: Elevate and Organize Your iMac with Gorgeous, Functional Wood

The understands EVO 1 is a sustainable hardwood stand that elevates your iMac for an ergonomic viewing experience. With undermount technology built-in, your iMac integrates into the wooden stand for an uncluttered and organic effect; cable management and a storage drawer complete the custom organization. I like an uncluttered desktop, and I like the look of hardwood; this looks promising.





Disney Is Lining up for the Ultimate Female Hero Crossover

Disney is buying 21st Century Fox, which means that they’ll be adding the X-Men, Fantastic Four, The Simpsons, Futurama, and a whole slew of movie and television properties to their already huge portfolio. They’re also picking up arguably one of the greatest heroes of the late 90’s/early 2000’s, and the crossover possibilities are very exciting: Buffy is coming to Disney.


The Complete Guide to Putting Together a Pedalboard

Few instruments are as versatile as the electric guitar. From the folksy licks of Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham to the two-handed tapping of prog metal outfit Scale the Summit to the otherworldy soundscapes of My Bloody Valentine, there’s almost nothing an electric guitar can’t do.


Gear Diary’s Summer 2018 Bicycle Gear Roundup Featuring State Bicycle Co.

Summer means getting outside, and there’s no better way to enjoy nature by hitting the open road on a bicycle. State Bicycle Co was kind enough to send us a Le Fleur 3 single-speed bike from their 4130 Core Line, so we wanted to put together a Summer 2018 Cycling guide, also featuring Showers Pass, Ottolock, ABUS, and Thousand helmets.






Alcatel 1X Proves You Can Get a Decent Phone for Under $100

We recently reviewed the Alcatel 3V. It’s a large, impressive Android phone for under $150. If, however, you want to spend even less but still get a decent Android device, check out the Alcatel 1X. The 5.3” display is on the small side, and it runs Android Oreo Go Edition, but it is surprisingly good.


SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD Review

If you need a large capacity portable SSD, and you prefer one that is small, tough as nails, and fast, then you should check out the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD. With read speeds up to 550MB/S, rugged IP55 water and dust-resistance, shock and vibration resistance, capacities up to 2TB, and its small size, it’s great for on-the-go students and professionals.