Dan Cohen | Gear Diary

Ventev Wallport and Dashport Use Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 to Save Time

It is one of the ongoing challenges of modern life. Yes, our mobile devices are becoming more and more powerful, but battery technology has barely improved. Ventev recently unveiled two charging solutions designed for power-hungry devices. The Ventev Wallport q1200 and the Ventev Dashpot q1200 both charge mobile devices up to 75% faster than conventional USB charging solutions. Both products are single output charging solutions and employ Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 Technology. Each features an illuminated USB port. Each has the company’s signature slate gray matte finish with orange accents. (You are going to either love it or you are…

Reviews

Casper Mattress Is THE Place to Buy Your Next Mattress

I recently began a series of posts about covering and reviewing items that help me as I begin the next stage of my life. To be single again for the first time in 20 years is an adjustment; creating a new home that feels like home is important, and that began when my Casper mattress arrived. I love it.

News & Features

Martian Watches Is Making Big Smartwatch Moves in 2015

Judie and I have been covering Martian Watches since they first debuted a few years ago. While smartwatches are still trying to find the sweet spot of form and functionality Martian Watches has stuck with its winning formula that leverages the capabilities already present in today’s smartphones and allowing access to them from your wrist.

Editorials

Starting Over At Midlife: A Gear Diary Diary Entry

At 49 years old, I find myself on my own and “starting over.” I want my new place to feel like home. Fortunately I know what I like and, within reason, I can afford what I need. This post series will look at some of the gear that come into play as I start my life … at midlife.

Editorials

Samsung Gear S and Why You’ll Want (or Not Want) One

During CES 2015 I picked up a Withings Activité Pop; it hasn’t been off my wrist since. It is the anti-smartwatch, and it doesn’t try to do too much. At the other end of the spectrum is the Samsung Gear S; it tries to do it all, and thanks to Sprint, that even means replacing your smartphone!

Reviews

Twelve South BookBook for iPhone 6 Is Three Products in One

One of the great things about being around the tech world is watching the way in which companies and product lines evolve. The TwelveSouth BookBook for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is a perfect example. The original BookBook was nice but flawed; a few product generations later, and the new BookBook is nothing short of a home run.

Events, News & Features

Smartphone Coverage of #FordNAIAS, Thanks to ShoulderPod and IKMultimedia

Judie and I went straight from CES in Las Vegas to NAIAS in Detroit (Judie with GM and me with Ford) last week. By that point I was dog tired. I wanted to cover all of Ford’s news — and all the rest of course — but do so in the lightest way possible.

Reviews

A MacBook/iPad User’s Take on the Toshiba Chromebook 2

This post about the Toshiba Chromebook 2 has been a long time coming. It isn’t because I don’t like the machine. I do. Rather, it has taken time because I tried to see how it might fit into my workflow. I’ve come away from the experience impressed by what Google and Toshiba have done. Still, I need to come clean…

News & Features

The Waterfield Bolt Briefcase Is All Business and All Waterfield

We love Waterfield products and look to them to protect our gear when we go on the road. We also love seeing the company come up with new ways to bring their great aesthetic and device protection together. That’s certainly the case with the new Waterfield Bolt Briefcase. It’s the Waterfield bag for the man, or woman, who means business. The Bolt Briefcase comes in two sizes. The large version holds up to a 17″ laptop, comes in black ballistic nylon for $279 and weighs 2.95 pounds. The small version can handle up to a 13″ laptop, comes in tan…

News & Features

Bodyguardz ScreenGuardz Pure Makes Protecting Your Smartphone Screen Simple

Judie and I are huge fans of Bodyguardz products and made our annual CES Booth visit with the company. This time, however, we did so with a purpose. You see, my iPhone 6 Plus screen protector was damaged. They installed a new Bodyguardz ScreenGuardz Pure glass screen and showed just how easy they are to put on. Yes, the company’s new ExpressAlign system makes installing your new Bodyguardz ScreenGuardz Pure Premium Tempered Glass Screen Protector a breeze. How easy is it? Check THIS out. You can learn more here.

Reviews

SHOULDERPOD S1 Smartphone Tripod Mount Review

I’m finding that, thanks to the amazing cameras in both my iPhone 6 Plus and my Sony Xperia Z3, I really don’t have much need for a dedicated camera. The right accessories make that even more the case, and the $34.90 SHOULDERPOD S1 smartphone tripod mount is one such accessory. It serves multiple functions and fulfills each role quite nicely.

Reviews

DRACOdesign’s DUCATI Ultra slim iPhone 6 Case Review

DRACOdesign’s DUCATI Ultra slim iPhone 6 case is the result of a collaboration between DUCATI and DRACOdesign. The result, in this case, is a thin, light and stunning case that protects your phone while also making a bold statement. I’m not a DUCATI fan but I cannot help but find this case more than a bit intriguing.

Reviews

Beyzacases Folio F iPad Air and iPad Air 2 Case Review

The Beyzacases creation we’re looking at this time around is the Beyzacases Folio F iPad Air and iPad Air 2 Case. This formfitting case is absolutely gorgeous, designed to both protect the iPad and add functionality to it. While this $109.95 case isn’t inexpensive, it is a case that will turn heads and you will love to use it.

Reviews

Beyzacases Thinvelope iPad Air and iPad Air 2 Case Review

We love Beyzacases products and have long been huge fans of their quality leather products. We have a few of their latest offerings and thought we would take a closer look at them. We’ll start this series with a classic, the Beyzacases Thinvelope iPad Air and iPad Air 2 Case. At $129.95 it is pricey, but it is also undeniably gorgeous.

Reviews

ZVOX SoundBase 670 Offers Huge Home Theater Sound in a Slim Package

Some time ago, I reviewed one of the SoundBase products from ZVOX. I was impressed by the relatively inexpensive device, but I did wish it had integrated Bluetooth and even better sound than it did. Well, the ZVOX SoundBase 670 does have Bluetooth along with bigger and better sound, and I’m a huge fan. Let’s take a look.

Reviews

OtterBox Commuter Series Case iPhone 6 Plus Case Review

The other day we took a look at the OtterBox Symmetry Series Case for the iPhone 6 Plus. It has a great, one-piece design that keeps your iPhone safe. If you want even more protection you might want to check out the OtterBox Commuter Series. This iPhone 6 Plus Case has a two-piece design that will keep the Apple Phablet safe.

Reviews

Incipio offGRID 6000mAh Portable External Battery

Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to the Incipio offGRID 6000mAh Portable External Battery. It is a small, light but powerful backup battery that is designed to keep your devices charged on the go. Better still, thanks to its simple, dual-USB ports, the device will charge two devices on the go with simplicity.

Reviews

Symmetry Series Case for iPhone 6 Plus Review

If you got an iPhone 6 Plus as A holiday gift from a loved one (or yourself), then you’ll want to quickly pick up a case or two to keep the pricey phablet safe, secure and dent-free. OtterBox has some great case options, and in these next two reviews we’ll take a look at two of them. The first OtterBox case we’re looking at is the OtterBox Symmetry Series. This case has an MSRP ranging from $49.95 to $54.95. For that price you get a case and… that’s it. That’s correct; no screen protector is included with the OtterBox Symmetry Series case….

Reviews

Ringke FUSION Sony Xperia Z3 Case Review

The other day we reviewed the Ringke FUSION case for the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. The company also makes a case for the full size Z3. I picked one up, and I have to say I’m impressed with this simple protective Sony Xperia Z3 case.

Reviews

1 Voice Beanie with Bluetooth Stereo Built In

The other day we reviewed the 808 SoundCap beanie with built-in speakers. One comment on the video review stated, “Meh, should have been Bluetooth.” Well it just so happens we have a 1 Voice Beanie with wireless stereo headphones on hand for review. And I do agree with the commenter — the SoundCap is great but cutting the cord and having a wireless, albeit pricier, Bluetooth option is even better. The cap is a great way to stay warm, is available in a variety of colors and… it delivers wireless sound on the go. From 1 Voice: The 1 Voice…

News & Features

Noreve Saint-Tropez Tradition B Case for iPhone 6

With a price starting at under $60 for a finely crafted, rich leather case, the Noreve Saint-Tropez Tradition B 2107TB case is a luxury offering for your Apple iPhone 6. I needs a nicer name but the case is gorgeous and truly lives up to the high standards this company has set for itself. It is a great example of affordable luxury.

Articles by Dan Cohen