Articles by Greg Alston


Reader Beware, You’re in for a Scare Thanks to Philips Hue

Even though Pumpkin Spice might be the best part of October for us adults, Halloween is still one of the best traditions for families and children alike. And who’s to say you can’t find a creative way to give a fright on the 31st in a creative way? Well, this year, you can with Philips Hue.



Thanks to Seagate and LaCie, I Don’t Have to Purchase a New MacBook Pro

Back in 2016, when I purchased my MacBook, I thought that 1TB of storage would go far. At the time, I was using Dropbox to store larger files in an attempt to go all-in on cloud storage. Four years later, and I once again find value in having my crucial documents and files readily available without having to use a browser to get to them. And thanks to these LaCie and Seagate portable storage solutions, I’ve been able to do just that.


Takeaways from Apple’s Annual September Event

2020 has taken away a lot, but perhaps it has given us even more. And with brands like Apple, who tend to do the absolute most when it comes to their keynotes, yesterday was a welcome surprise. As the resident Apple Fanboy for GearDiary, it’s only right that I give my take on things.



Simplehuman’s Social Distancing Campaign Tells You Exactly How Much Space You Need

2020 would have been an interesting enough year on its own, but the global pandemic has made it into something most of us have never been alive to experience before. Everywhere you look, there are signs telling you to wear a mask or to keep your distance to help stop the spread of COVID-19; simplehuman is going the extra mile by amplifying the importance of physical distancing with their Making Space collection. 


Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Smart Bulb Starter Kit Is an Intelligent Lighting Solution

When Jess and I started setting up our daughter Skyler’s nursery, we knew that we would eventually need more smart lightbulbs. Even though I’d previously bought the basic white Philips Hue smart bulbs before, I want to try their ambient smart bulbs to see how they would work in a nursery setting. The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Smart Bulb Starter Kit that I received not only works with Alexa but with Google Home and Apple’s HomeKit as well.




The ThermoWorks ThermoPop and Industrial IR Gun Review: Take the Guesswork Out of Cooking Temperatures

Ever since the pandemic began, my wife & I have made a point of cooking more. In the past, I’ve eyeballed when my chicken, fish, or steak was done cooking, but I wanted a more accurate way to prepare my meals. This resulted in me reaching out to ThermoWorks, a leader in instant-read thermometers, to check out the ThermoPop and Industrial IR Gun, two products that will make sure I get that perfect medium steak every time. ThermoWorks sent over their ThermoPop, which has transformed the way I cook, but more importantly, how I appreciate food. Before cooking with the…









The 15.6″ Lepow Portable Monitor Is a WFH Must-Have

Back in March, when I was told that I would be working from home for the foreseeable future, I knew that I was going to need a monitor to get work done. The issue is that most larger monitors and displays cost a fortune, or have been sold out for months. Then I discovered the Lepow Portable Monitor.


Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI versus Ecovacs T5: Which Is Better for Your Home?

Ecovacs is known to have the world’s most advanced robot vacuums, always innovating with cleaning robotics, cleaning your home fast, all the while avoiding the common items that may (or may not) be reached by your standard vacuum. But their latest products, the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI and the Deebot Ozmo T5 plan on setting a new standard in AI-driven floor cleaning leaving only one question — Which one is the one for your home and wallet?