Articles by Dan Cohen

Speck MightyVault for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Video Review

klutz (klts) n. Slang 1. A clumsy person. [Yiddish klots, from Middle High German kloz, block, lump, from Old High German.] Are you a klutz? Have you dropped your iPhone more than once? Do you need more iPhone-protection than the average person? If you answered any or all of these questions affirmatively you may need Speck’s new MightVault case for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. At under $50 the MightVault provides a great deal of protection while still offering a distinctly Speck-style appearance. Here’s a closer look. From Speck: Are you that tough on your phone? Well, MightyVault is…


ePillow Tablet Pillow review

Every now and then we are invited to review something that just looks… well… ridiculous but we end up agreeing to take a look anyway. When the “ridiculous review item” first arrives and we open the box our first impressions are, for the most part, confirmed. Yes, more often than not the product is silly, looks like a bad joke and poses a bit of a challenge with regard to actually writing the review. Every now and then however, once we actually start using the item we discover that our first AND second impressions were actually wrong! Sure, the item…


The ivee Flex Personal Assistant Video Review

This isn’t the first time we’ve looked at an alarm clock that not only speaks the time but understands when YOU speak. No, two years ago we reviewed the Moshi Travel Alarm Clock, and before that we took a look at the bedside version of it. Despite some limitations both worked fairly well. Yes, voice commands were limited, but once you learned HOW to speak to the clocks they did respond properly most of the time. Fast forward two years, and a new batch of voice-controlled alarm clocks are hitting the market. They come from a company called ivee and…


Sena Sarach LeatherSkin for iPhone 4S Video Review

Over the past few days we’ve looked at a number of Sena cases for the iPhone 4S. We began with the most “complicated”, the Hampton Wallet. Next we looked at another case-wallet combination but this one, the WalletSlim, was a bit simpler. This third video review brings us the least complicated case yet but don’t let that fool you, the Sena Sarach LeatherSkin may be simple but it is a beautiful case that stands out from the crowd of “me too” iPhone cases. Here’s a look… From Sena: The Sarach LeatherSkin case is a part of the unique Sarach Designer…



Sena WalletSlim for iPhone 4S Video Review

The other day we reviewed Sena’s gorgeous Hampton Wallet for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The case completely protects the iPhone and doubles as a highly functional wallet with three card slots and an additional space behind them for stowing receipts or a few dollars. In day-to-day use, however, the case can be a tiny bit cumbersome since it requires you to unsnap the cover to access the screen. It also can be challenging to use the iPhone with one hand. That doesn’t mean it isn’t an awesome case. It IS but it might not be the right case…


Tekkeon TekCharge MP1580 review

We’ve seen and reviewed a lot of different external backup batteries for mobile devices. Many of them will be coming to CES next month in the hopes that, for once, we won’t be scrambling to recharge our gear. One of the batteries that will be coming along is the Tekkeon TekCharge MP1580 but calling it an external battery is actually not quite accurate. No, the MP1580 can be thought of as a rechargeable battery charger that can double as an external battery. That means it serves a double function when you are on the go. Priced at under $25 it…


Random Cool Video: The Mike is a Mensch Edition

Mensch (Yiddish: ????? mentsh, from German: Mensch “human being”) means “a person of integrity and honor”. The key to being ‘a real mensch’ is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous.” You know Mike as the gamer, prolific poster, pot-stirring editor here on Gear Diary. He is all that but, as this news clip that includes Mike and family shows, there’s yet another dimension to him. We hope everyone had a great holiday weekend with family and friends. We also hope you had a chance to do some good in the world. After all, that’s…


Evernote Essentials Extra: Delete Me

If you got a new phone, tablet or computer and you plan on doing anything more than play games on it you are going to want to check out Evernote. Evernote will let you save pictures, documents and other forms of information in a single place and then access them for virtually any and all devices. And if you check out Evernote you are going to want to check out Evernote Essentials: The Definitive Getting Started Guide for Evernote by Brett Kelly. Evernote Essentials is a PDF book with some great tips that will get you up and running with…


Joy Factory Klick Desk Stand for iPad 2 Review

The other day Bryan (who we are THRILLED to have writing for Gear Diary now!!) wrote an interesting piece entitled Where’s My “Made for Android”? In it he reflected on the fact that there are so many different accessories available for iOS devices but a relative few for Android-running phones and tablets. Of course this is, in part, due to the fact that iOS devices are few in number and their specs are tightly controlled by Apple while Android is all over the place (go ahead, shoot your flaming arrows but you KNOW it is true!). That doesn’t change the…


Speck FabShell for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Video Review

We’ve recently taken a look at a number of Speck’s offerings for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S but I saved my personal favorite for last. The Speck FabShell is a low profile case that protects the back, sides, top and bottom of the iPhone but leaves the screen fully accessible The addition of fabric not only on the back but on the sides and bottom makes it a case that looks… and feels unique. Let’s check out this new style from Speck. Speck on the FabShell: Custom patterns, extra protection and a super-slim fit are what make this…


New Car? It’s All About the Tech

  I needed a car a few weeks ago. That opened the door to my getting some of the neat technology we have seen and reviewed here on the site built into the car. Here was the Gear Diary editors backroom chatter. Judie: Question: What color? Answer: black Question: 2 or 4 door? Answer: 4 door Carly: Question: 2 or all-wheel drive? Answer: all-wheel-drive – between where I live and what I do it is a necessity. Question: hybrid or standard? Answer: Unfortunately standard because hybrid all-wheel drives are rare and the all-wheel-drive kills the gas benefit of the hybrid….


Do You Really Need to Missspel Your Product Name to Get Attention??

The other day Carly wrote a post about the lack of professionalism when using Text-spelling for business communication. It is a good post and one worth reading. (Find it here.) Here’s a related pet-peeve… companies intentionally misspelling words in order to be unique, cool or grab attention. Seriously, there are ways to spell things and… …there are ways not to spell things. I just finished a review of the Joy Factory’s Klick Desk Stand. It is a nice product but my spellcheck is pretty much hating the company right now. GAH!!!!!


Eskuché 33i and Control-i Headphones Review

Back in November we brought a pair of on-ear headphones to your attention that look great, sound good and don’t break the bank. At under $70 for each pair eskuché’s 33i and Control-i headphones are worth considering if you’ve been looking for a pair of on-ear headphones that include an in-line mic. We’ve had both of them here for the past few weeks and have used them to listen to a variety of music. In this lightening review we will take a quick look at both, give you some of the upsides and some of the potential downsides and then…


Speck CandyShell Flip for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

If you dock your iPhone you have discovered the challenge of finding the right case, one that provides enough protection but also fits into the charge/sync dock or speaker dock you use. Speck took a decidedly different approach to solving this issue with their CandyShell Flip by making it possible to protect your iPhone in a thick, shock absorbing CandyShell case AND charge/sync/dock without having to ever remove the case. It is a simple but effective design and may be the ideal case for you. Let’s take a look… From Speck: Dock your iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 without removing…


Gear VS Gear: The JawBone JamBox Faces Off Against the Spar Zephyr 300

The JawBone JamBox is one impressive device. It is a Bluetooth speaker, a speakerphone and one of the best gadgets of 2011! At $199 it isn’t inexpensive but it is a quality device that is well worth the money. Spar’s Zephyr line of speakers looks to step into the fray with the JamBox and one up it by including a backup battery that can charge your device on the go. They even got Wired to run a piece entitled “Like a JamBox, Only More Generous” despite the author never having heard one. So how do the Zephyr’s (which cost between…


Speck CandyShell View for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

I had two different students come in to see me the other day. Both had brand new iPhones. Both iPhones were in the same style of case although in different colors. Yes, both students had opted to buy Speck’s CandyShell case to protect their new iPhone. The CandyShell line has been a huge hit for Speck and, as a result, the company is continuing to expand the line. They sent a few different samples over and we will be taking some video looks at them. First up, the Speck CandyShell View for iPhone 4/4S. From Speck: This clever twist on our…


Speck CandyShell Card for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

The other day we reviewed Sena’s gorgeous Hampton Wallet for iPhone 4/4S. It is a luxurious leather case that doubles as a wallet and is a pleasure to hold and to use. Yesterday, however, I found myself a tiny bit frustrated by having to open the cover each time I wanted to access my phone. I also found that, when using the case, one handed iPhone manipulation is impossible. I still love the case but it did make me wonder what the same approach would be like if it did not have the cover. Let me introduce you to Speck’s…


Evernote Essentials Extra: Remember the Rare

Many of the people I’ve turned onto Evernote find it invaluable. Others, however, underutilize the service and, as a result, don’t see what the big deal is. That’s where Evernote Essentials: The Definitive Getting Started Guide for Evernote by Brett Kelly comes in. As Brett explains: The amount of information we want and need to keep track of today is, frankly, ridiculous. Not long ago, my desk was covered with piles of financial statements, medical records, automotive service receipts — and that didn’t even include everything dealing with my job. We all struggle to keep our information organized and accessible,…


Sena Hampton Wallet for iPhone 4/4S Review

I left my house yesterday and headed into the office. I was in the car. My iPhone was in the car. My wallet, however, was on the kitchen table. Oops. Yes, I NEVER leave home without my iPhone but, time and again, I seem to forget my wallet. That is a bit of a problem but one that is easily solved by using a wallet that is also an iPhone case. We’ve looked at a few previously, but many had a fatal flaw in that they lacked a camera cutout. In addition, we’ve also previously debated the question of whether…


If You Can’t Beat ’em, Eat ’em: Nuance Buying Vlingo

Last May we published a post entitled Bloomberg Businessweek: A More Nuanced Approach to Discussing Nuance Please. In it I wrote Yesterday Bloomberg Businessweek published a rather scathing article about Nuance and its approach to business; it was heavy-handed and one might say once-sided. I went on to say that The article highlights the back and forth between Nuance/Ricci and Vlingo and it is, at times, a bit unpleasant to read. It notes that Ricci offered significant monetary incentives to Vlingo’s co-founders if they could persuade the Vlingo board to sell to Nuance and, if that did not happen, would…