Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

Mark Levinson Expands Their 5000 Series with New Amps, a Turntable, and a Network Streaming SACD Player and DAC

News & Features

Mark Levinson Expands Their 5000 Series with New Amps, a Turntable, and a Network Streaming SACD Player and DAC

Mark Levinson, by Harman, makes audio equipment that many of us can only ever aspire to own. I’ve been able to listen to several of their system set-ups in person, and each time I’ve walked away thinking that if I ever become rich and famous, I’d be tempted. If you’re already in a position to buy, then you’ll be glad to know that they’ve expanded their offering of luxury-line components. Even though the prices are still quite aspirational, they are a little more obtainable than Mark Levinson’s typical price-points.

OnePlus 8T Launches, and It's Full of Powerful Surprises

News & Features

OnePlus 8T Launches, and It’s Full of Powerful Surprises

OnePlus continues to live up to its mantra of “Never Settle,” which has never been more evident than its latest flagship, the OnePlus 8T. Boasting a 120Hz screen refresh rate, Warp Charge 65, quad-cameras, Android 11, and the top of the line Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G Mobile Platform, this mobile powerhouse is a stunner.

Amazon Prime Day Is Here, and We've Found Some Great Deals for You!

Deals

Amazon Prime Day Is Here, and We’ve Found Some Great Deals for You!

Amazon’s Prime Day event is running October 13th through 14th, giving you two days to save big on lots of items Amazon sells. Since Amazon basically sells everything, this has turned into a highly anticipated annual event. Here are some of the deals that have arrived in my inbox; I will add more over the next couple of days, so be sure to check back!

The Tack GPS Will Make Indoor and Outdoor GPS Location Tracking Possible with Portability, Ultra-Long Battery Life, and Affordability

Crowdfunding

The Tack GPS Will Make Indoor and Outdoor GPS Location Tracking Possible with Portability, Ultra-Long Battery Life, and Affordability

Location trackers have been around for years, but most of them rely on a second device’s Bluetooth connection to work indoors or a battery-hungry GPS connection to work outdoors. The new Tack GPS is small and lightweight, and it will bring peace of mind to people who have young children, active senior parents, pets, or other tracking needs. The battery lasts a proven 30 days, and it has independent connectivity; most importantly, it will be affordable.

The 20W Anker Power Port III Nano Is the Ultra-Small Charger You'll Need to Complete Your iPhone 12 Charging Survival Kit

News & Features

The 20W Anker Power Port III Nano Is the Ultra-Small Charger You’ll Need to Complete Your iPhone 12 Charging Survival Kit

Word on the street is that Apple won’t be including a wall charger with their new iPhone 12 devices, but they’ll likely be selling an optional new 20W fast-charger. iPhone 12 buyers now have a choice to make: spend at least $30 on an Apple-branded 20W block, or take a look at the less expensive offerings from other companies. If you want one of the smallest fast-chargers available without paying Apple prices, a great choice would be the 20W Anker Power Port III Nano.

Does Apple Owe You Compensation for Your iPhone's Diminished Performance? Possibly

News & Features

Does Apple Owe You Compensation for Your iPhone’s Diminished Performance? Possibly

Did you own an Apple iPhone 6, 6S, 6S Plus, SE, 7, or 7 Plus? If so, you might be able to claim $25 compensation as part of the up to $500 million settlement Apple has made as a consequence a class-action lawsuit filed against them for admitting to slowing down older iPhones to get better life from aging batteries and keep the iPhones from crashing. But time to file any claim is about to run out.

The LG Velvet Is a Stylish Phone with a Versatile Dual-Screen Case Option

Reviews

The LG Velvet Is a Stylish Phone with a Versatile Dual-Screen Case Option

If there is one thing that 2020’s new tech has shown us, folding screens and dual screens are a popular feature that people want, even if they aren’t always affordable. Smartphones that can seemingly do it all are de rigueur, and sometimes it takes more than just a single screen to make that happen. The 5G LG Velvet starts as an agile, fashionable, and versatile Android smartphone; the addition of its optional and removable Dual Screen case provides a second display for those times when you need a phone that can do more.

Arlo Adds Essential XL Spotlight Camera and Essential Camera to Round Out Your Home Security System

News & Features

Arlo Adds Essential XL Spotlight Camera and Essential Camera to Round Out Your Home Security System

Arlo makes one of the best DIY home security systems that you can buy, and I’m excited that they’ve just announced two new wire-free devices in their Essential Series, the Arlo Essential XL Spotlight and the Arlo Essential. What sets the Essential Series apart from their Pro series is that these devices connect directly to your home’s WiFi, with no need for a SmartHub, and they can act as a standalone security solution or complement your existing Arlo home security system.

Lenovo Expands Linux Program to Include ThinkPad and ThinkStation PCs

Gear Bits

Lenovo Expands Linux Program to Include ThinkPad and ThinkStation PCs

Lenovo supports the Linux community. That has never been more evident than with their announcement of expanding their certification program that we covered in June to include PCs preinstalled with Ubuntu. There will now be nearly thirty Ubuntu-loaded devices available from Lenovo, including thirteen ThinkStation and ThinkPad P Series Workstations and fourteen ThinkPad T, X, X1, and L series laptops.

iCharge Pro Cable Brings Magnetic Versatility to Your Device Charging

Reviews

iCharge Pro Cable Brings Magnetic Versatility to Your Device Charging

One of the things that I used to love about MacBooks was their MagSafe charger; it would quickly and easily plug in, and if someone jerked the cable while you were working, it would simply disconnect from the port without sending your expensive laptop clattering to the floor. The iCharge Pro Cable uses a similar idea, but it works with USB Type-C, Apple Lightning, and MicroUSB mobile devices.

Luno Air Mattress Review: Enjoy Car Camping at Its Finest and Most Comfortable

Reviews

Luno Air Mattress Review: Enjoy Car Camping at Its Finest and Most Comfortable

Are you a camper? Some people are, some people think they could be, and some people are not. I like the idea of camping, but when I think about sleeping unprotected — except for a sheer nylon tent barrier protecting me from wild animals, snakes, bugs, and the elements out in the middle of nowhere — it freaks me out, no joke. Car camping, though? That’s a possibility; with the Luno Air Mattress, it’s now possible, safe, and, most importantly, comfortable.

LG Brings an Interesting Twist to Phone Design with Their LG WING 5G

News & Features

LG Brings an Interesting Twist to Phone Design with Their LG WING 5G

Remember when phones were more individual and fun? Some might slide or flip open to reveal a keyboard, while some were shaped like everything from a make-up compact to a 1960’s spy camera. These days we have slab phones and folding phones, and while the technology is light years ahead of where it was decades ago, the designs can be a bit too similar. LG is breaking from that mold, though; today they have introduced their new LG WING 5G, and it is something interesting and different.

Huawei MateBook Line Continues to Impress with the New MateBook X and MateBook 14

News & Features

Huawei MateBook Line Continues to Impress with the New MateBook X and MateBook 14

Huawei has just refreshed its popular MateBook line with the new MateBook X and MateBook 14. One of the things that sets these laptops apart from most of the others is that they have a document-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio, which is fab for reading documents, browsing the web, writing, and general productivity. Whether you need a new travel laptop or a laptop that can do it all, you’re going to want to take a look.

VIZIO Launches One of the Best 'Marvel Avengers' Giveaways We've Yet Seen

Gear Bits

VIZIO Launches One of the Best ‘Marvel Avengers’ Giveaways We’ve Yet Seen

What do you have going on every week until Christmas? Hopefully, whatever it is, you’ll have time to enter this huge giveaway from VIZIO each week because you’re not going to want to miss it. To celebrate their partnership with Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics for the Marvel’s Avengers video game, VIZIO is giving fans a chance to win a Quantum 4K HDR Smart TV, a V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar, and a digital copy of Marvel’s Avengers in weekly giveaways!

Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series Anniversary Edition Speakers Celebrate 25 Years of Audio Excellence and Value

News & Features

Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series Anniversary Edition Speakers Celebrate 25 Years of Audio Excellence and Value

I’ve been using Bowers & Wilkins headphones and portable Bluetooth speakers for some time, and I’ve enjoyed that right out of the box they are perfectly tuned to my listening preferences. B&W also makes high-end bookshelf and floor-standing speakers. For 25 years, their 600 Series has been a more accessible introduction to Bowers & Wilkins’s home-audio line. To celebrate its silver anniversary, B&W is launching the 600 Series Anniversary Edition.

JBL Has More Ways for You to Enjoy Your Music Wherever You Might Be

Events, News & Features

JBL Has More Ways for You to Enjoy Your Music Wherever You Might Be

This year, IFA will consist of a much smaller live convention coupled with a virtual show. Even though the pandemic travel restrictions have made it just about impossible for press from the states to attend, there will still be lots of news to share. One of the IFA press conferences I never miss is Harman’s, and even though things will be very different this year, there are still plenty of exciting new JBL offerings to check out.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G: Is this the (An)Droid You Seek?

News & Features

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G: Is this the (An)Droid You Seek?

Last month, during the virtual Samsung Unpacked event, we got a brief teaser along with some new information about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 G5, and now it’s official. If you are someone who likes to have the latest and greatest technology, but you were a wee bit nervous about going with a first-generation Galaxy Fold device, your wait is almost over!