February 2022

Lutron Serena Smart Architectural Honeycomb Shades Will Add Beauty and Convenience to Your Home

News

Lutron Serena Smart Architectural Honeycomb Shades Will Add Beauty and Convenience to Your Home

In 2018, I reviewed a custom set of Lutron Serena Smart Shades for my office. I opted for a traditional roller shade style, and I’m happy to report that they are still operating as perfectly as they did when first installed. Serena Smart architectural honeycomb shades have just been announced, and they look very sleek and elegant. If you’ve been thinking about adding smart window treatments to your home, and you’re particularly interested in something that looks refined and timeless, these might just be the shades that you’ve been looking for!

MGear Gadget Wallet 3.0 Review: Create an Everyday Carry That Is Tough, Attractive, and Uniquely Yours!

Reviews

MGear Gadget Wallet 3.0 Review: Create an Everyday Carry That Is Tough, Attractive, and Uniquely Yours!

I tend to go through cycles with my wallet. Sometimes it’s bursting with receipts, business cards, and every card I’ve ever thought I might need, but every once in a while, I get the urge to slim down my everyday carry to a more reasonable level. I was recently given a chance to check out the MGear Gadget Wallet 3.0, a customizable minimalist wallet, and I figured it might be worth a try.

Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Glass

Crowdfunding, Gear Bits

Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Glass Will Simplify and Elevate Your Cocktail Experience

As a home bar owner, I’m always looking for an innovative way to mix the best cocktails, and the Elevated Craft Hybrid Cocktail Glass seems pretty special. This cocktail glass introduces drink-mixing possibilities without the mess. It features an integrated measuring system that allows cocktails to be built right inside your glass, while the stainless steel base effectively acts as a coozie to keep your mixed drink at the perfect temperature.

Satechi Pro Hub Max

Reviews

Satechi Pro Hub Max Review: Your 14″ MacBook Pro Needs This

Apple may have reintroduced some extra ports with the new MacBook Pro line, but these laptops are still not as port-rich as they used to be. The Satechi Pro Hub Max is a convenient way to get back some if not all of the ports you might need so you can focus on your work. The Pro Hub Max is small, powerful, affordable, and it’s a purchase that you won’t regret making.

Front of Level8 28" Luminous Trunk

Reviews, Travel

28″ LEVEL8 Luminous Trunk Review: This May Just Be the Perfect Checked Luggage

Heading to the airport after the Snapdragon Summit in December, a friend noticed that my 6-years-old (and very well-traveled) Rimowa trunk had a massive new crack just below the handle on its front side. Thankfully, the luggage and its contents made it home without self-destructing, but it will need to be sent in for repairs (assuming they are even possible). With many upcoming trips planned, I was thankful for the opportunity to review the  28″ LEVEL8 Luminous Trunk. How does it stack up against the more than twice as expensive Rimowa trunk? Read on to find out.

Sony Linkbuds in white

Gear Bits

Sony LinkBuds Let You Enjoy Your Music Without Losing Touch with the World

Here at Gear Diary, we’re big advocates of being aware of your surroundings when you’re out running, walking, or biking. It’s tough to listen to music and work out unless you opt for the “one in/one out” earbud strategy or use bone conduction headphones that leave your ears open. Leave it to Sony to come up with an answer that lets you keep your earbuds in without losing contact with the outside world with the new Sony LinkBuds!

Hands-On with the Realme 9 Pro+ and Realme 9 Pro: Excellent Features Abound in Two Very Reasonably Priced Smartphones

Events

Hands-On with the Realme 9 Pro+ and Realme 9 Pro: Excellent Features Abound in Two Very Reasonably Priced Smartphones

Realme became its own brand, independent of OPPO in 2018; since then, the Chinese company has become a force in its own right. Currently listed as a top-5 smartphone vendor in 30 global markets and six regions, part of realme’s success has come from its firm commitment to make well-designed, aesthetically pleasing smartphones that have competitive features rarely found in similarly-priced devices. The latest models in their lineup are the just-announced realme 9 Pro+ and realme 9 Pro; realme has sent them in for us to check out, so here’s a hands-on look at both devices.

Woman spraying Fend Airway Cleansing Mist

Reviews

FEND Airway Cleansing Mist Review: Should It Be Part of Your Arsenal Against Covid?

The messaging about Covid has been a mess; people don’t understand the role vaccines play (i.e., they don’t cure Covid or even prevent catching it), and many have stopped appreciating the importance of masks and social distancing. But why wouldn’t we use every possible tool to fight this? FEND Airway Cleansing Mist wants to be part of that arsenal. But should it be?

The new Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and S22

News

Samsung Galaxy S22 Line-Up Announced; Galaxy S22 Ultra Picks Up Where the Galaxy Note Left Off

This morning, Samsung held their Galaxy Unpacked event to introduce the Galaxy S22, S22+, and the new S22 Ultra. This latest Samsung S series flagship lineup boasts big batteries, excellent cameras, and fast processors. If you are a Galaxy Note fan, you’ll be relieved to find that the Note lives on in the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which now sports a built-in S Pen. By meshing the Ultra’s large display, flagship specs, and pro-grade cameras with the Note S Pen’s siloed convenience and note-taking functionality, Samsung has created a smartphone that might just offer the best of both worlds.

Zagg protect

Editorials

ZAGG Protect Phone Insurance Offers to Pick up the Slack When Cases and Screen Protectors Fail

Our phones are our lifeline to everything that connects us to each other, which means that a broken phone is far more than just an inconvenience. Adding carrier or manufacturer insurance can be expensive, and that’s why ZAGG Protect might be worth considering as an alternative. At just $99 per phone per year with a $49 deductible, ZAGG Protect won’t replace your lost or stolen phone, but it does include coverage for drops, liquid damage, cracked screens, and more.

Nomad Pen Review: Bring a Taste of Analog Luxury into Your Life

Reviews

Nomad Pen Review: Bring a Taste of Analog Luxury into Your Life

Nomad has made a name for itself by releasing some of the best mobile accessories on the market. Whether you have an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, Nomad has something for you. Now, with their new Nomad Pen, they’ve gone in a new analog direction; sure, it’s “just” a pen, but it is all Nomad.

liteboxer vr

Reviews

Liteboxer VR and Oculus Will Bring the Boxing Gym to You

Like most people, I’ve managed to get pretty well settled in my home gym. I have a good arsenal of kettlebells, some dumbbells, a rowing machine, and other ancillary equipment. Everything I have has to be relatively compact to be stored away in my small space. As a result, while I love boxing, it’s hard to find the space to hang a bag or set up a stand. This is a pretty common issue, and the folks at Liteboxer have a creative solution — box in virtual reality with Liteboxer VR and Oculus!

Google Pixel 6 Case Round-Up: Protective Options from Incipio, Vena, and Gear4

Reviews

Google Pixel 6 Case Round-Up: Protective Options from Incipio, Vena, and Gear4

Have you got a Google Pixel 6 series? If so, I’ll bet you love its flagship build, the pure Android experience, the Pixel exclusive features, and the excellent cameras. It may seem like a shame to cover up such a beautiful device, but a naked Pixel 6’s glass body is slick, slippery, and just waiting to be dropped. With that in mind, we’ve got five protective Pixel 6 case options for your consideration, including the Incipio Dual, the Vena vCommute, the Kate Spade New York Defensive Hardshell Case, the Gear4 Havana, and the Incipio Grip.