As CES 2019 begins, Acer is announcing some new computing devices worthy of note. The first is the Swift 7. This large, powerful laptop is a premium offering that has a starting price of $1699. A “compact design and “incredible screen-to-body ratio” gives consumers a full-size experience in a thin and light design.
When we reviewed the Jabra Move wireless on-ear headphones in 2014, we were impressed. These inexpensive headphones offer surprisingly good sound and comfort for under $100. Now Jabra is bringing an update to market. More battery life, new colors and more make a good pair of headphones even better. We can’t wait to check them out.
Jabra produces some of the best wireless headphones on the market. Now, they’ve announced a new best-in-class offering, the Jabra Elite 85h. The Elite 85h takes Jabra’s years of experience and packs it into relatively small over-the-ear headphones. With great sound, amazing battery life and powerful ANC, the Elite 85h are in a league of their own.
Some months ago I reviewed an OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock. It has twelve ports and does a tremendous job turning my laptop into a desktop. I was thinking about picking one up for my work iMac when I heard the company had released a fourteen port Thunderbolt Dock. I have one in hand for review, and boy am I impressed.
Since Apple dropped the 3.5mm headphone jack, other companies have followed their lead. Yes, the 3.5mm headphone jack is quickly disappearing. In its place, there is a flood of new wireless headphones. Still, there is a place for this “older” technology, and the Flare JET earphones show just how good wired headphones with a 3.5mm jack can be.
I recently reviewed iHome’s small Alexa-enabled bedside clock. Raina used it last night for the first time, and this morning reported that she considers it a “winner.” It is, however, a basic smart clock. If you want or need something with more bells and whistles, you can check out the iHome iAVS16 smart Bedside/Home Office Speaker System.
Since Apple added wireless charging to their iPhones, accessories for taking advantage of this convenient technology have multiplied faster than Captain Kirk’s tribbles. Wireless chargers now come in all shapes, sizes, and price points; few are as thoughtfully designed, easy to use, or as convenient as the Belkin BOOSTUP Wireless Charging Dock for iPhone and Apple Watch.
We recently reviewed a bedside clock from iHome that works with Google Assistant. It’s impressive but only if you are using Google Assistant as your smart assistant. For those of us deep into the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, there is the iHome iAV14. It may look like a traditional nightstand clock but, thanks to its “smarts,” it offers much more.
Some weeks ago I was complaining about my WiFi to Perry. I had long used an Apple Airport, but it was no longer doing the job, I tried a few different routers, but none worked the way I wanted and needed. Perry hooked me up with eero. They were kind enough to send a review sample; the rest is history.
As I’ve previously shared, I have dealt with rheumatoid arthritis for years. For the most part, it is under control. However, after having surgery last spring, I wasn’t allowed to take my main medication. My back pain, always present, got much worse. That’s why I was excited to try the Quell 2.0 Wearable Pain Relief System; I’ve become a fan.
When I was a kid father had a large utilitarian leather briefcase that opened like a clamshell. It wasn’t much to look at but it certainly got the job done. The Wellington & Cromwell Hatch Briefcase takes that classic design to new heights. Made from beautiful leather, it has an elegant look that’s certain to add to your professional appearance.
I was impressed by the true wireless IQbuds from NUHEARA I reviewed some time ago. But while they offered some unique features, they didn’t stand far enough in front of the pack to make them my daily driver. The new IQbuds BOOST takes things up a few notches, and they do things no other true wireless earbuds can do.
We’ve seen an explosion in the number of smart home products currently available. Some are standalone units. Others have speakers and/or touch screens. The iHome iGV1 falls somewhere in the middle. It’s a smart speaker with Google Assistant and a digital clock built-in. It’s great if you want to replace your beside clock with something a bit more powerful.
I recently reviewed a stand-alone keyboard for use with any Bluetooth-enabled device. It is a good keyboard and a great option if you want something “universal.” If, however, you want something that is specifically designed for your primary device, and you happen to be using an iPad Pro 10.5”, look no further than the Brydge 10.5 Bluetooth keyboard.
So you bought, or plan to get, an Apple Watch. It will ship with a band, but it will likely be little more than functional. They are nothing to get excited over. The good news is that Nomad offers some impressive watch bands that take things upon a notch. Among them is the beautiful Nomad Shell Cordovan Strap for Apple Watch.
We’ve seen an abundance of wireless charging solutions for phones such as the current generation of Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and similarly Qi-enabled devices but while many work, most look fairly utilitarian. The mophie charge stream desk stand stands out thanks to its style, but it is much more than that. It’s a fast, stylish and flexible wireless charger.
ZAGG began as a company providing screen protectors for various devices. In recent years they have expanded their product line rather remarkably. Among their products is a line of keyboards that help make your phones and tablets even better productivity devices. The ZAGG Flex keyboard is a new keyboard from ZAGG. It is small, portable and gets the job done.
The newest Mac laptops are fantastic. They are fast, thin, light and get the job done. Unfortunately, in their ongoing commitment to industrial design, Apple has, as you know, dropped many of the ports that used to be standard in laptops. Thankfully, the OWC USB-C Travel Dock is here. For under $40 it gives you back what Apple took away.
We’ve been covering Ultimate Ears speakers for years. Their original BOOM speaker was great, and the evolution of those speakers, as well as the growing portfolio of designs in the lineup, continues to impress. Their latest, the UE MEGABOOM 3 is no different. At $199.99 it is loud, sounds great and is packed with features. It is one awesome speaker!
Changer is a Bluetooth headset described as, “the Swiss army knife of headphones, [that] keep the music or your smartphone going with power-sharing abilities.” That deserves more explanation but, once you learn what these headphones can do, we think you will be impressed. Sure they are headphones, but their cable can be used in a variety of other ways.
Drones are awesome. They look cool, often take impressive photos and videos and are just fun to fly. Sadly, my drone experience has put me on track to get a doctorate in “drone crashing.” Seriously, when it comes to flying a drone, I suck. Then I got to review the AEE MACH 1. It’s as easy as it is awesome.