January 2022

Muse S Review: A Brain-Sensing Band That Promises EEG-Powered Meditation and Sleep Support

I tried out the original Muse EEG-Powered Meditation headband; it looked like something out of Star Trek, but it worked as promised. I was amazed that a simple band could read my brain activity and, using biofeedback, help me meditate. The new Muse S brain-sensing band has a more refined design, and it now comes with Sleep Support technology. It promises to offer EEG-powered meditation and sleep support, but does it work?

Gear Bits

The Insulated Grizzly Drifter Carryall Bag Will Let You Leave Your Cooler at Home

When spending time outdoors, going to a friend’s backyard BBQ, or bringing home cold items from the store, it’s always handy to have an insulated bag to carry your supplies. There are times when a full-on ice chest or cooler is just a bit too much, but you still need something durable that can keep items cold or warm, and that’s easy to carry. Sound familiar? You need a Grizzly Drifter Carryall Bag!

Health and Fitness, Reviews

Lumen Review: Hack Your Metabolism and Learn About Your Body!

There are many ways to track your overall health, but most focus heavily on physical markers like heart rate; this is helpful, for sure, but that doesn’t always tell you how your body is doing when you’re not actively working out. You can track what you eat and guess pretty well, but being able to quantify whether you’re burning fat or carbs and how your body responds to workouts can make a huge difference — enter Lumen, which aims to “hack your metabolism” to maximize your health.

Reviews

PowerShades Motorized Shades Review: They’ll Keep You in the Dark (But Only When You Want Them To)

When Raina and I purchased our home, we did a massive renovation on the upstairs. Eventually, we got to the point of ordering shades. They were fine, but we never loved them. Then PowerShades offered the opportunity to review their products. Our new shade just went in the living room, and I’m quite pleased with the result.

Reviews

Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charger (MagGo) Review: This 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station Has Several Convenient Features

Anker was founded in 2011; since then, the company has become a powerhouse in the mobile accessory market and the world’s number one charging brand. We included a number of their new offerings in our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, but I wanted to dig deeper into the Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charger (MagGo), a 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station.

News

Acer Offers Four New Educational Chromebooks for At-Home and In-Class Learning

The ongoing pandemic has forced a shift in education that probably would have occurred anyway but has been profoundly accelerated. It’s no longer optional for kids to have access to a Chromebook or similar device; they’re becoming as necessary for education as a pen and spiral notebook. This need inspires new market innovations by companies like Acer, who are rolling out four new educational Chromebooks designed to fit various students’ (and teachers’) needs!

Reviews

Rockport Men’s Rhyder Tie Slipper Review: Great for Home or Running Errands

One of the results of working from home during the pandemic has been a total changer in what qualifies as “workwear.” A decent shirt, sweatpants, and slippers have been appropriate for the last two years; the Rockport Men’s Rhyder Tie Slipper strikes a nice balance between casual work-from-home slippers and something you can wear to run errands.

Gift Guides & Round-Ups

Gear Diary’s 2022 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly; are you ready? If not, that’s okay! We’ve got plenty of ideas in our 2022 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide that will make your sweetheart swoon! If you’re looking for romantic, thoughtful, practical, or “gee, how did you know I wanted this?” items, we’ve got you covered.

Reviews

TravelPro Platinum Elite Large Check-In Expandable Hardside Spinner Review: It Can Carry Everything and Then Some

Last July, I reviewed the TravelPro PLATINUM ELITE Compact Business Plus Carry-On. It’s a superb carry-on that will give me years of use. I recently received the TravelPro Platinum Elite Large Check-In Expandable Hardside Spinner to review. It has all of the great features that made me a fan of their carry-on, but this checked luggage offers plenty of room for an extended trip.

Reviews

Kovol Sprint 120W and 65W 4-Port PD GaN Desktop Chargers Review: With Them, You’ll Have Power to Spare

Not long ago, Apple stopped including AC adapters with their phone and tablets. As annoying as it was, that move prompted numerous companies to jump in and fill the vacuum; Kovol is one such company. The Kovol Sprint 120W 4-Port PD GaN Desktop Charger and the smaller Kovol Sprint 65W 4-Port GaN Desktop Charger share a similar compact design; they also put Apple’s old chargers to shame.

Gear Bits

MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 Live Demos Are Happening. Oh, You Thought Your Wi-Fi 6 Was Fancy? Bless Your Heart!

Once upon a time, Wi-Fi was just Wi-Fi. You’d have your modem and Wi-Fi router, and you’d be forgiven if you hadn’t a clue what version of Wi-Fi the router ran because it didn’t matter! Then Wi-Fi 6 happened, and all of a sudden, it was like, “Oh, Wi-Fi 6 is so fast! I upgraded my home and office routers, and now I can fly!” Well, I’m here to let you know that MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 Live Demos are happening today. If you have no idea what I am talking about, get ready to have your mind blown.

Reviews

WaterField Pro Executive Backpack Review: A Well-Organized and Professional Backpack That’s Perfect for Commuters, Road Warriors, and Remote Workers

If you are one of the many who now has to work remotely, or if you regularly commute and need a bag that can hold it all and then some, you’ve come to the right review. Finding a well-made backpack that looks professional, has intelligently designed compartments, and that’s comfortable to carry when fully loaded is no easy feat; the WaterField Pro Executive Backpack handles it with élan.

Reviews

INTELLI StepUp Magnetic Wireless Charging Station Review: An Elegant Solution to Charging Multiple Apple Devices

With all of the technology we carry around in our pockets or on our wrists these days, we need a way to keep them all juiced up and ready to go when we wake up in the morning. This is why I wanted to check out the INTELLI StepUp Magnetic Wireless Charging Station.

News

Lenovo Aims to Help Education Through the Pandemic with the Lenovo 10W tablet, Lenovo 13W Yoga, and Lenovo NetFilter

It’s been almost two years since the pandemic began. Ask any parent how it’s going, but keep a box of tissues, a bottle of wine, or both handy for the response. Lenovo may not be able to help there, but they are looking for how they can use technology to help kids get caught back up after what’s been a very uneven two years of schooling. They’re rolling out the Lenovo 10W tablet, Lenovo 13W Yoga, and Lenovo NetFilter to help get kids hooked up with the right tools to keep their education going!

Reviews

TROVA GO+plus Review: More Room for Keeping Your Smaller Items Safe with Biometric Security

Judie reviewed the TROVA GO Smart Safe last year. As she explained, the TROVA GO is “a biometric physical storage device that is large enough to hold certain items that you want to keep private, yet is compact enough to fit inside a larger pocket.” For those who need something larger, there’s the TROVA GO+plus.

Reviews

Kizik Shoes Review: Quite Possibly the Most Comfortable and Easy to Wear Shoes Ever!

Before CES, Zek and I got offered the chance to try Kizik Shoes. As you can imagine, wearing the right shoes is critical when you’re going to be on your feet all day. Thinking that we would be doing our usual 15K+ steps per day while walking to meetings and attending events around Vegas, we were eager to see if Kizik styles could possibly be as comfortable as promised. We didn’t make it to Vegas for CES, but Zek and I still managed to put the shoes to the test; here’s how it went.

Gear Bits

Infinix INBOOK X2 Series Brings brand into the Laptop Market with Budget-Friendly and Impressively Designed Options

Infinix has made some impressive Android devices, and they’re not resting on their success in the smartphone market. They’re expanding their roster of affordable but powerful devices with the Infinix INBOOK X2 Series. In the market for affordable and powerful Windows 11 laptops? Read on to find out what Infinix has to offer!

Editorials, Events

CES 2022 Gear: Things Changed, Plans Changed, Life Is Unpredictable, and We Rolled with It

Zek and I had planned on being in Las Vegas to cover CES while Dan held down the fort from home until the coronavirus yet again derailed our best-laid plans. Long story short, Zek and I didn’t travel to Las Vegas. Even so, we wanted to work together, so we traveled, just to the opposite coast. Here is the CES 2022 gear that Zek, Dan, and I used.

Reviews

MeatStick Wireless Meat Thermometer Review: Get Wireless Perfection for Your Cooking Temps

The most important part of smoking meats and outdoor cooking is temperature. Many people ask how long something takes, and my answer is always, “What temp does that food needs to be?” With that said, a tool that monitors those temps is essential; if you can make that tool completely wireless, then you have something special. The MeatStick Wireless Meat Thermometer is just that, a wireless probe that works flawlessly.

Reviews

Brydge MAX+ for iPad Pro Review: The Best Wireless Keyboard with Trackpad That You’ll Find for the 11″ & 12.3″ iPad Pro and 11″ 4th Gen iPad Air

Judie and I backed the first Brydge keyboard for iPad on Kickstarter, and we’ve been a fan of their keyboards ever since. Their latest, the Brydge MAX+ for iPad Pro keyboard, is, by far, their best yet. The funny thing is that it isn’t the actual keyboard (although it is excellent) or the trackpad that makes it stand out.

News, Travel

QuietOn 3 Sleep Earbuds Are Perfect for Home, Work, and Travel

Dan reviewed the QuietOn 3 Sleep Earbuds with active noise cancelation a few months ago; he’s happy to report that he still uses them every night. With CES 2022 on the way, I got the opportunity to check out a different use for the QuietOn 3; I wanted to see how well this latest generation worked while on a plane or in other situations where I might find myself needing peace and quiet.

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