2020




The LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen Is Something Special

The iPhone ushered in the era of slab phones and quickly became the design-standard for the industry. Companies looking for “the next big thing” are exploring dual-screen phones. Some look more intriguing than others, but all are pricey as hell. With the LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen, LG has taken a unique approach and kept the phone affordable.



The Ethical Reasons for Taking COVID-19 Seriously

Unless you live under a rock, you’re probably drowning in news about coronavirus, or COVID-19. And if for some reason you have no idea what I’m talking about, stay under your rock, you’re less likely to get sick. But for the rest of us, it’s a balancing act between worrying and living life, but how and why balance those?



Nomad Releases Updated Base Station Apple Watch Edition

Nomad makes some of the best wireless charging solutions available. I loved the original Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition (read my review) but missed the rear charging ports found on other Base Station models. Nomad just addressed that and just released a new version with ports galore; now you can charge pretty much all your devices at once.


Vivint Helps Protect Packages with Vivint Doorbell Pro

Vivint products have made my home much smarter and more secure. The company keeps innovating, recently announcing the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro. “Customers want us to do more than just record and report crime—they expect us to help prevent it,” said Matt Mahar, vice president of cameras at Vivint Smart Home.


Show Your Feet Some Appreciation with Telic Recovery Shoes

Feet are incredibly important. That seems obvious, but it’s something people don’t always consider-if your feet have taken a beating, it impacts your knees, hips, and back… Enter Telic Recovery Footwear, designed to keep your feet happy after a long day of activity. We tested the Apres-Ski Recovery Boot, even though it’s been too warm for skiing this winter!



Roborock S5 vs S6 Smart Home Robot Vacuums: A Comparison

Roborock’s mission for 2020 has been to surpass robot vacuum brand like Neato for the best home cleaners on the market. Their efforts have led us to the Roborock S5 Max and the Roborock S6, two of their higher-end models, yet still, carry a lesser price tag than many of the competition.


Ooni Announces Their Next Big Pizza Oven: The Ooni Koda 16

Ooni is back with another crowd-pleasing pizza oven for the masses with a much larger version of their popular Ooni Koda capable of baking 16″ pizzas in around 60 seconds.  You may remember our glowing reviews of the Ooni Koda, Ooni Pro, and more.  The Ooni Koda 16 is gas-powered and designed with home chefs, street food vendors, and professionals in mind.



Arlo Pro 3 2K QHD Wire-Free Security 2-Camera System Review

Maybe you’ve lost packages to porch-pirates, or maybe you have a stalker ex; perhaps you live in an isolated area, and you need to know what’s going on when you’re not home. For those reasons and many more, adding security cameras around your home’s perimeter can give you peace of mind, and the Arlo Pro 3 system is a great choice to consider.


Gear Diary’s Best of Toy Fair NYC 2020 Awards

I spent some quality time at the 2020 New York Toy Fair; while it may be a bit smaller than CES, it is no less overwhelming. There was so much to see that it was almost impossible to settle on this year’s ‘Best of’, but we persevered and made our selections. Here’s a look at our picks.


How to Season a Blue Carbon Steel Pan by Made In Cookware

Made In makes excellent cookware, as you could tell from our enthusiastic review. One of their more interesting products is the Carbon Steel line, which is made out of thin, light metal with great heat conductivity and retention that rivals cast iron without the weight. Check out my video below to see how to season your Carbon Steel.




Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Makes Pretend Reality Even Better Than the Real World

Virtual reality has gone from sci-fi to living rooms, though sadly we aren’t yet at Holodecks. However, we’re getting closer, thanks to the innovations of companies like Qualcomm, which is rolling out the Snapdragon XR2 Platform. It may not sound exciting, but don’t let the dry name fool you — it’s a reference design for eXtended Reality, aka better virtual reality!