Articles by Dan Cohen

What Makes Bluebird from American Express and Walmart Different?

????? ‘Tis The Season to Spend Money, fah lah lah lah, lah lah lah lah… ????? The other day we brought word about Bluebird, a new joint initiative between American Express and Walmart. Bluebird lets you make direct deposits, pay bills online, deposit checks with your iPhone or Android device, set up Sub-Accounts, and more. As I noted in that first post, we were invited to open an account and try out the service. This is a sponsored series of posts, but the observations and experiences I’ll be documenting in the coming weeks are mine and mine alone. In this…

Reviews

Bodyguardz Armor for 7th Generation iPod nano Review

I love my iPhone and iPad, but I also wanted something small and convenient that simply played music. The 7th Generation iPod nano fit the bill perfectly and, thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth, it is more flexible as a musical source than ever. And while this is one small, tough little music player, it does need protection. I opted for the thinnest, lightest option possible; I bought Bodyguardz Armor, and it is all the protection I need. Here’s a quick look. We’ve written extensively about the Bodyguardz Armor series. It is my default scratch protection on everything from my…

Gear Bits

American Express and Walmart Team Up to Create Bluebird

????? ‘Tis The Season to Spend Money, fah lah lah lah, lah lah lah lah… ????? What could be better than an entire season dedicated to separating you from your money? I’m kidding but still, this is the season when money seems to flow more heavily than usual. Having a safe, convenient and secure way to spend can be a huge help. It turns out that American Express and Walmart have teamed up to offer a way to do just that – Bluebird. Bluebird lets you make direct deposits, pay bills online, deposit checks with your iPhone or Android device,…

Reviews

Spigen SGP iPad Mini Hardbook Case Review

My iPad mini goes pretty much everywhere with me these days. And while it is true that I had my 9.7″ iPad with me much of the time previously, thanks to its smaller size and reduced weight I don’t think I have left the iPad mini behind a single time since it arrived. Yeah, I like it that much. That, however, means the iPad mini is seeing a lot of use. And THAT means it is more important than ever to keep my tablet well-protected. Thusfar I’ve been using the Bodyguardz Sentinel as my go-to case. (Read the review.) It…

Reviews

iLuv ReF Deep Base On-Ear Headphones Review

Billy Crystal famously said “It’s better to look good than to feel good”, and it was a terrific SNL bit that still makes me smile. Of course the statement is simply wrong. Looks are important, but they are secondary to feeling and functioning well. As my grandmother famously NEVER said, “So long as you have your health, everything will be fine.” (She never said it because she was far too negative a person to have made such a positive comment. That, however is an entirely different story.) This also applies to such items as headphones, which have now become fashion statements…

Reviews

Just Mobile HeadStand Review

So you’ve got a pair of big, beautiful, great sounding headphones like the SMS STREET by 50 DJ over-the-ear headphones I reviewed last month. Sure, you could store them in the included football-shaped case,heretofore referred to as the “fbcase”, but that quickly becomes pain if you use them on a regular basis. I mean, do you really want to have to unzip the “fbcase”, remove the headphones and attach the cord each and every time you want to listen to music without disturbing the other people in the house? And that doesn’t take into account having to disconnect the cord,…

Reviews

Belkin Charge + Sync Dock with Audio Port for iPhone 5 Review

Belkin was quick from the gate in offering accessories for the iPhone 5. As you know, the iPhone 5 didn’t just get a longer screen, but it also got a new dock connector and a relocated 3.5 mm headphone jack. As a result, accessories designed to work with the dock connector of the iPhone in its earlier iterations no longer functioned unless you added an adapter. Belkin quickly released a number of cables, and now they have released a dock for the iPhone 5 and the iPod touch. The company was kind enough to send one for review, so let’s…

Events, Reviews

PowerStick+ Backup Battery with 4GB of storage and Gear Diary Branding Review

CES is coming up quickly, and we’re making lists of the gear we’ll be bringing. When PowerStick reached out and told us about some of their upcoming products, we knew we wanted to spend some time with them in Las Vegas. And when they offered to brand a couple of their PowerStick+ backup batteries with the Gear Diary logo … well, that was an offer we couldn’t refuse. After all, the PowerStick+ packs in a 2300mAh battery AND 4, 8 or 16GB of storage into a small package that easily slips into a pocket or gear bag. Let’s take a look….

News & Features

Twelve South Releases the BookBook for iPad mini

I love my iPad mini. I love my Twelve South BookBook. Now I can bring my favorite tablet together with one of my favorite tablet accessories thanks to the new Twelve South BookBook for iPad mini. Here’s the news in the company’s own words. Twelve South is proud to introduce the latest BookBook volume – BookBook for iPad mini. Conceived exclusively for the smallest iPad, BookBook for iPad mini is a compact, genuine leather case that discreetly protects iPad mini from dings, scratches and sometimes even theft. New features include a spine that allows users to hold their iPad mini…

Reviews, Travel

Phiaton PS 300 NC Premium Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

I’m into a period of time that will see me on planes rather frequently, and while I’ve tried various noise canceling headphones over the years, I’ve never found a pair I loved to use. For example, I was impressed with the Sennhauser MM 450s when I reviewed them, but when I bought a pair on sale a few months ago I found myself disappointed with the buzz created by the noise cancellation system. It wasn’t bad, but it was noticeable, and I just couldn’t see myself using them longterm. Most recently I had purchased a pair of inexpensive Sony in-ear…

Reviews

RHA MA450i Noise Isolating Aluminium Earphones with Remote and Microphone Review

Back in August, we took a look at $35 MA350 Noise Isolating Aluminium Earphones. I liked them, but I didn’t LOVE them. My conclusion read, What I Like: Good build-quality; Decent sounding; Fabric cord; Surprisingly low price for what they offer What Needs Improvement: Lacks in-line microphone and controls Recently the company was kind enough to send a pair of their RHA 450i Noise isolating aluminium earphones. Why are these different? Simple, they bring everything I liked about the MA350 and added in a remote and microphone. Even better, they managed to keep the price below $50. Let’s take a…

Reviews

Just Mobile AluRack for Apple iMac and ThunderBolt Displays Review

If you use a MacBook and either an iMac or a ThunderBolt Display, Just Mobile’s AluRack will help you keep things neat and tidy while letting you be more productive than ever. We recently looked at the company’s AluBase. It holds your MacBook in a vertical position on your desk and lets you connect it to your big, beautiful iMac or display whenever you want your notebook to work as a desktop. If, however, you don’t want to take up the extra desk space with the AluBase and MacBook, then the AluRack is exactly what you have been looking for. Let’s…

Reviews

Bodyguardz Sentinel and Armor Carbon Fiber Protection for iPad mini Review, Part 2 of 2

In part one of this two-part review, we looked at the Bodyguardz Armor for iPad mini. It is my skin of choice because it lets me protect my iPad mini from scratches without adding bulk or weight to the smaller, slimmer iPad. The problem with the Armor is that it only protects the iPad from scratches; it doesn’t add any bump or drop protection and, other than the included BodyGuardz ScreenGuardz screen protector, the screen remains vulnerable. Fact is, if you use your iPad a lot you are going to need a case. My case of choice at the moment?…

Reviews, Travel

Lensbaby Spark Lets You Take Fun Pics on the Go

Want to use you camera to take fun pictures on the go? The Lensbaby Spark may be just what you need. The Lensbaby Spark is one of the more unusual camera accessories I have used since I began covering camera accessories. The lens runs $80 and is available for both Canon and Nikon mounts. For your $80, you get a “selective-focus” “tilt-shift” lens that shoots at f/5.6 with a fixed focal length of 50mm. If you are not quite sure what that means, you are not alone. And while, in most cases, I might take the attitude of “if you…

Reviews, Travel

Lifeproof is Your iOS Device’s Best Travel Companion

While Elana, Judie, Kevin and I have been down here in Aruba this week both my iPhone 5 and my 4th generation iPod touch have been well-protected in Lifeproof cases. The cases do a great job of protecting your device from bumps, bruises and… water. And while I didn’t want to dump my iPhone 5 in the Caribbean, I did take my touch with me when we went snorkeling. Not only did it work well, but it worked well enough that I am completely and totally impressed and, next time, I WILL trust my iPhone to the Lifeproof case. From…

Reviews

Bodyguardz Sentinel and Armor Carbon Fiber Protection for iPad mini Part 1 of 2

I love my iPad mini and I’m honestly a bit surprised. Sure, I was looking forward to having a smaller, lighter iPad option but I really expected the mini to be something that augmented my 9.7″ iPad. Instead, it has effectively replaced it for everything except watching videos. I love reading on it. I find it more than fast enough for productivity. And, quite honestly, when I’m using it I really don’t sense it being substantially smaller. It isn’t and that’s the key. It is thinner and lighter but the screen isn’t THAT much smaller. (Oh, and yes, I do miss…

News & Features

Sonos Goes iOS Direct

One of the things I most love about the Libratone Zipp is its ability to play music directly from my iOS and OS X devices. It is a small convenience but one that I have come to truly appreciate. Now Sonos has added some similar functionality. As an email this morning explains… The latest software upgrade helps you play even more music, quickly, in deep, richly textured HiFi sound. Sonos now plays your iTunes® music direct from your iPhone®, iPad®, or iPod touch® anywhere there is a Sonos speaker or player. No more syncing your Apple® mobile device with your…

Reviews

ZAGGsparq 6000 Portable Power Station Review

CES 2013 is coming up fast, which means we are already thinking about the gear that will help us best cover the show. This year I expect Judie’s and my iPad minis will play a big role. I’ll also be using my Canon T3i to grab better photos and video than I have previously. And Carly, Carly will be getting her first taste of the gadget-craziness that is the Consumer Electronics Show. Each year Judie and I have talked through what gear would best help us keep our gadgets charged and, each year, we have found ourselves running on vapors…

Reviews

Think Tank Photo CityWalker 20 Camera Messenger Review

I’m a fan of messenger-style gear bags. I find them to be comfortable, flexible and, well, I like the way they look. My appreciation of messenger bags extends to camera bags as well. And when a camera messenger bag can easily convert into a standard gear messenger, I’m interested. Think Tank Photos new CityWalker is just that kind of messenger back. The company was kind enough to send one for review, and I have to say I think it is one of my favorites. The bag is light, well-built, feature-rich, and it looks great. Let’s hear what Think Tank has…

Reviews

Audyssey Wireless Speakers Review

Hi, Captain Obvious here with a thought that is… well, obvious. Today’s totally obvious thought? No matter how good tech gets, there will always be pros and cons to any and every device. This holds for computers, it holds for tablets, and it holds for audio systems; let’s focus on audio system. I LOVE my Sonos system. It works perfectly for me, thanks to its connection with my home WiFi network and the terrific Sonos app that works on any and all my devices. And since I subscribe to Spotify, I can have all my music anywhere there is a…

Reviews

Hunter’s Universal Internet Thermostat Review

Every now and then I review a product that I quickly realize I’m not only going to continue using after the review but will likely purchase more for use elsewhere. That is the case with Hunter’s Universal Internet Thermostat. The thermostat is simple to install, uncomplicated to set up, and it works phenomenally well. In fact, just this morning, Elana said to me, “so before I even got out of bed, I used the iPhone application to make sure the temperature was going up in the kitchen and living room.” That’s enough for me to want to continue using it and…

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