2020 | Gear Diary

The Zepp E Is a Wellness-Focused Wearable That Fuses Style with AI to Better Monitor Well-Being

Zepp has just revealed its new line of fashionable smartwatches, the Zepp E, which uses AI algorithms to help its wearers better monitor their well-being. The Zepp E has a sleek 3D curved bezel-less design, and it is available with either a round or square watch face. But the Zepp E is set to be more than yet another fitness and sleep-tracker, it will also use AI to give the wearer actionable insights to help regulate their physical and mental well-being.

Deals

Get up to $1200 in Savings on the Samsung Note20 or Note20 Ultra 5G at Sam’s

If either the new Samsung Galaxy Note20 or the Note20 Ultra has caught your eye, you are probably trying to figure out how to get the best deal on these pricy phones. Sam’s Club has a special offer that their members should consider, and it starts August 21st; Sam’s Club members can get a $200 gift card with their purchase and activation, plus up to $1000-off in bill credits with an eligible phone trade-in!

Gear Bits

Up Your Home Theater Experience with Fluance’s Reference Series Speakers

In a year where almost nothing is guaranteed, one thing you can count on is that you probably won’t be going to many movie theaters. However, your video-on-demand experience can still be theater-quality; you just need some microwave popcorn, your tv, and the Reference Series speakers from Fluance!

Reviews

Vissles-M 15.6″ Portable Touchscreen Monitor Has Been a Lifesaver During the Pandemic

I’ve been working from home since March 6th, and I will likely be doing so for the foreseeable future. At my office, I had a 27″ iMac and a second monitor. Working at home with just my laptop was far too restrictive. Thankfully, I was sent the Vissles-M 15.6″ Portable Touchscreen Monitor for review; it gives me the dual-screen setup I was missing.

Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra Camera Review: Great Photos, Good Videos, Giant Zoom

Samsung recently announced the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, and it packs a very interesting camera system. It’s similar to what Samsung offered on the Galaxy S20 Ultra earlier this year, but with a few key differences. Since I’ve been using the company’s latest flagship for a few days, I wanted to share my experience shooting photos (primarily) and videos. So what’s new, what’s different? Is it better, is it worse? Let’s dive in.

News & Features

Lenovo Rolls Out New Yoga Laptops to Brighten Your 2020

You can’t accuse Lenovo of slacking; they’re continually refining their products to improve already great devices into even better ones. Yoga devices are already impressive, but Lenovo isn’t content to leave them as is; they’ve added all-new updates in both hardware and software to make them even better!

News & Features

VIZIO Partners with Square Enix to Become the Official HDTV and Soundbar for Marvel’s Avengers

VIZIO announced today that they’ve teamed up with Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics to be the official HDTV and soundbar partner for the highly anticipated Marvel’s Avengers video game. VIZIO’s HDTVs are optimized for gaming thanks to their IQ 4K HDR processors as well as the ProGaming Engine. Paired with a VIZIO soundbar, you’ll be ready to game.

News & Features

MediaTek’s Dimensity 800U Will Help Bring Even More Premium Features to Mid-Tier 5G Smartphones

Higher display refresh rates on devices provide faster and smoother gaming and media streaming, and until recently, a 120Hz refresh rate was the stuff of flagship smartphones with premium prices. MediaTek‘s newest chip, the Dimensity 800U, will bring that premium experience to mid-tier 5G devices, but that’s not all it will do.

Gear Bits

Mutiflexstand Universal Smartphone Mount Gives You the Perfect Spot to Place Your Mobile Device

If you’ve been taking your laptop to the park to get some much-needed vitamin D (as well as a change of scenery), you’ll immediately see the value of the Multiflexstand Universal Smartphone Mount. It’s a slim aluminum device holder that adheres to the side or top of your laptop, giving you a place to put your phone while working.

Reviews

Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System Proves It’s as Powerful and Versatile as Its Predecessors

You may remember my previous review of the Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System blender and food processor and how we loved its power and versatility. Well, Ninja has made improvements over the years and was kind enough to send us their latest Kitchen System for review. The newest Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-iQ retails for $199.99.

Deals

Nomad Marks Eight Successful Years with Their Story and YOUR Discount

Almost a decade ago, Judie introduced me to a product from a new company called Nomad. It was the ChargeKey, a keychain attachment with a USB on one side, and a Lightning connector on the other. Little did I know Nomad would become one of my favorite accessory companies. On their 8th anniversary, the savings are yours for the taking.

News & Features

Head Back-to-School with Our Big Lenovo Giveaway

Need a little something to perk up your back to school experience? We’ve got you! Lenovo has sent us a huge box of giveaway items that are looking for new homes, and we can’t wait to share them with you! Entry is easy, and if you are one of our lucky winners, one of these prizes will soon be in your hands.

Game Diary, News & Features

Neverwinter Nights for Android Gets Another Massive Update!

It has been more than a year and a half since Beamdog released the 2002 classic RPG Neverwinter Nights for Android on Google Play. The patch includes usability, graphics, and performance in addition to a host of bug fixes. This follows another huge patch nearly a year ago that similarly improved the graphics and gameplay experience.

Reviews

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera Expands Your Security Camera System with a Bright Light and Tracking

Last year, I reviewed the Arlo Pro 3 2K QHD Wire-Free Security Camera System, which is still going strong. One of the best things about the Arlo wireless system is how easy it is to set up and how customizable the app has been over time as my specific needs have changed. The Arlo system is, of course, expandable, and I recently added the new Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera.

News & Features

TCL Brings Your Television Experience to a New Level with Roku and 4k in Their 5 and 6-Series!

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us all, it’s that streaming is an essential service. It’s also taught us to wash hands better, but that’s more life advice and less relevant to why you’re probably reading Gear Diary. In any case, if you’ve been working your TV to the limit, check out the new TCL 5 and 6 Series 4K smart TVs with Roku!

Health and Fitness, News & Features

Carbon Trainer Is a Magic Mirror on the Wall That Makes You the Fittest One of All

Most of us are learning to navigate at-home workouts these days. You can go super minimal with a bodyweight workout, or trick your garage out better than the neighborhood gym. But working out at home also involves finding the drive to push, and the skill to get your form dialed in properly. The Carbon Trainer Smart Mirror aims to solve that gap!

Reviews

LinearFlux HyperSonic True Wireless In-Ear HD Speakers Sound Good and Stay Put

True wireless earbuds aren’t a new thing — they’ve been a few years, and they have moved from status symbol to everyday carry. I’ve never been able to embrace them because earbuds, in general, truly bother my ears. So while I had low expectations for enjoying the LinearFlux Hypersonic, I was absolutely blown away once I used them.

Gear Bits

MediaTek and Intel Take Computers to the 5G Future with Their MediaTek T700 5G Chips

5G is coming, and no, it didn’t give everyone coronavirus. It is going to make connectivity faster and more efficient, not just with phones but also tablets and computers. MediaTek has been working hard to bring 5G to a tremendous number of devices, and now they’ll have even more devices to power thanks to a partnership with Intel.

Events, News & Features

Samsung Unpacked Brought Galaxy Note20 Series, Galaxy Tab7 Series, Galaxy Z Fold2, and More!

Continuing the necessary trend of online events during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Samsung held their Fall Unpacked event today. In it, they introduced five new products, including the Galaxy Note20 series, The Galaxy Tab S7 series, the Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Buds Live, and the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Reviews

BlendJet and JetPacks Let You Make Smoothies Anywhere, Anytime

A few years ago, Judie and I were at CES, and she turned me on to having a smoothie for breakfast. Most days since that time, I’ve done just that. Now, thanks to the BlendJet and JetPacks, I can have a delicious smoothy anywhere. With the company’s overpriced but delicious JetPacks, the process is even easier!

Reviews

Upgrade Your Kitchen Gear with the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer

The Ankarsrum Assistent Original is a beautiful machine that’s ready to help complete many kitchen tasks. Best known as a high-end mixer that’s perfect for mixing and kneading bread dough, it can also mix cake batter, churn butter, mix cookie dough, whip cream, and much more all without any additional accessories. This powerful mixer with an excellent warranty may be the last one you ever need to buy.