Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

Can You Breathe Your Way to Weight Loss with Lumen?

What if I told you there was a device that you could blow into multiple times a day that could then read your breath and tell you what you need to eat to meet your dietary goals — to effectively hack your metabolism? Sounds crazy, right? Well, that’s what Lumen says it can do.



TYLT Block Party: Perfectly Portable Charging and Sound

Summer is all about spending time by the pool, hanging out on the back deck, travel, and camping. The TYLT Block Party gives you a way to stay charged while outdoors while enjoying your favorite music. The Block Party is a combo portable Bluetooth speaker and 20,000mAh battery that can charge up to four devices at the same time.


Douchebags Base 15L Daypack: Obnoxious Name but a Fab Bag

When you hear the phrase “douche bag”, your mind might automatically conjure up the slang definition of “an obnoxious, offensive, or disgusting person.” Set that aside for now, okay? For this review, Douchebags is a Norwegian brand of smarter travel gear, and the Douchebags Base 15L Daypack is one of the nicest and most stylish backpacks I’ve yet tried.



Huawei P20 Review: You’ll Want It if You Can Find It

I’ll start this review by saying that the Huawei P20 isn’t going to be as simple to buy as most other current phones in the United States, and that’s a shame. You can’t just walk into AT&T or Verizon and get one with an easy payment plan, and let’s be real, that’s going to turn the typical cellphone buyer off.


Flo HomeProtect Will Reimburse Your Insurance Deductible for Major Water Damage

Flo is an all-in-one security system that detects micro-leaks and other vulnerabilities in your home’s water supply. Perry reviewed it last month and found that it was able to detect even the smallest of leaks in his home’s water system. Now you can get Flo HomeProtect which will reimburse your insurance deductible if your Flo-equipped home suffers major water damage.


Huawei MediaPad M5 (WiFi version) Is Now Available for Purchase!

Easily one of the best portable tablets I have ever used or reviewed, the Huawei MediaPad M5 (WiFi version) is now available for purchase. Whether you are looking for the 8.4″ version I reviewed, the 10.8″, or the 10.8″ MediaPad M5 Pro, you’ll be able to get yours from Amazon or NewEgg for $319, $359 and $449 respectively.


Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Convertible Laptop (2018 20LD0015US) Review

Describe your perfect laptop. What would you want? Light enough to carry every day? A brilliant and large display packed into a compact body? Powerful enough to run every program? Something with plenty of built-in ports? Long battery life? The ability to be used as a tablet? The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (2018 20LD0015US) checks every box.


BlackBerry KEY2 Updates an Instant Classic

If you prefer the feel of physical keys under your thumbs when you’re tapping out emails or posting on Instagram, you’re going to love the BlackBerry KEY2. Sleeker and with dual-lens optics, the BlackBerry KEY2 is a welcome update to last year’s KEYone.


Gear Diary’s 2018 Father’s Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day is rushing upon us quickly, and it’s time to think about what token appreciation you’re going to present to the guy who’s always been there for you. Don’t bother with another tie or yet another socket set — give him what he really wants: useful tech!



LG V35 ThinQ Is the Consolation Prize for AT&T Customers

If the LG G7 ThinQ got you all excited when it was announced, but the “Verizon-only” made the AT&T customer in you sad, you’ll be glad to know that you’ll soon be able to get your hands on something similar. Of course, similar does not equal same, but the AT&T LG V35 ThinQ is very close.


Ergo Impact LeanRite Elite Is the Standing Desk Chair Everyone Needs

I bought an L-shaped bamboo-topped standing desk last year. With grand illusions of doing all of my work while standing, I also bought the large Topo Mat to help with fatigue … but after 10 minutes of standing still, my back starts hurting, and I’m back in my chair — gah! And then I got the Ergo Impact LeanRite Elite.


The Alcatel 3V Is One Slick Under-$150 Smartphone

If you think that you need to pay big bucks to get a great phone, Alcatel begs to differ. Just under $150 will get you a smartphone that offers a TCL custom-built 2K display, dual rear cameras, biometric security, and more. No contracts, no monthly payment plans, just a really great phone for cheap — that’s the Alcatel 3V!


Udoq400: The Aluminum Docking Station That Is Worthy of Your Desk

If you have less than three things that require USB charging sitting on your desk, then I’m impressed with your minimalism! My electronics tend to sit in a “charging pile”; it’s neither pretty nor visually efficient. Now that I have the udoq400, there is no more charging pile; I can see and use my devices as they charge.


Anyone Can Be a Brew Master with the PicoU — Even You!

If you read my review series on the PicoBrew S, then you probably thought that being able to brew beer on your kitchen counter was pretty cool — but that price tag, though! $799 is a lot to invest if you’re just a hobby brewer, but now Pico has come out with a sub-$200 solution for everyone, the Pico U.



LynQ Is a Smart Compass and Tracker That Can Save Lives

  If you enjoy skiing, hiking, biking, or any other outdoor activity that can get you separated from your group, you’ll want to check out the new LynQ Indiegogo campaign. LynQ is a smart compass that “locates anyone without the need for phones, networks or infrastructure of any kind,” and it’s available for pre-order today.