Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

Skyroam Global WiFi Hotspot: Perfect for World Travelers

Let’s say that you go to a foreign country, and you’ll need data. What do you do? You could find a cell provider and buy a local SIM, but that takes time and requires registering with your passport. At best, you’ll get a local SIM with a hard data cap, or you could arrive prepared with a Skyroam Global WiFi Hotspot.


The Huawei Mate 8 Android Phone Review

While Dan and I were at CES, we attended the Huawei press conference; at the end, they gave each attendee the choice of their new flagship, the Mate 8, or their Nexus 6P. Based on my positive experience with the Huawei Mate S Dan and I lined up for the Mate 8. Did we choose wisely?


RAVPower 20100mAh External Battery Review: Large and in Charge

I am a bit of a size snob when it comes to portable batteries; if there is an option to get it, I want the largest mAh available. Nothing gives me more comfort when I’ve got a 20-hour international journey than knowing I have enough battery power to keep all of my portable devices charged during the trip.




Lenovo Shines with Travel Ready Convertible Laptops and a Detachable Tablet

Today Lenovo is introducing two new convertible Windows 10 PCs, the YOGA 51o and the YOGA 710, along with the affordable ideapad MIIX 310 a 2-in-1 detachable tablet. All of the new devices sport better battery life, versatility, and portability. YOGA 510 14″ and 15″ The YOGA 510 14″ and 15″ boast more than 50% improved battery life. The 510 has a new design, lighter weight, and it delivers up to 8.5 hours battery life. Similar to the YOGA 710, the new YOGA 5101 delivers a smooth transition between laptop, stand, tent, and tablet modes. Lighter than before at only…





Adorn Your 13″ MacBook Pro retina with a Wooden Toast Skin

What’s better than wrapping your laptop in a beautiful wood cover — front, back, and sides? Not much, I tell you. But Toast managed to top all of that goodness by sending me one of their Real Wood MacBook Covers with Gear Diary’s logo emblazoned on the front. The result is absolutely gorgeous!


The Spongester: Keeps Your Good Sponge Separate from Your Evil Sponge

If you use sponges (or O-Cell-O pads) in your home, then you probably have two: one that you use on dishes and countertops and one that gets used in places like the toilet, floor, or worse. The Spongester is a simple two-tiered stainless steel rack that stores your sponges so they can dry, keeping them clean and most importantly — separated.


The Logitech Harmony Elite Advanced Universal Remote and Hub Review

If your TV watching reality includes a basket filled with six or seven different  remotes, then I understand your pain. That was how things were at my house before Logitech sent their Harmony Elite Remote to review. I have to say that after a relatively painless setup, the results of consolidating have been so worth it.


The Dell XPS 15: Go Big and Go Home with the Smallest 15″ Laptop on the Planet!

When I got my 2015 13″ MacBook Pro retina, Kev inherited my “old” 2012 15″ MacBook Pro retina. So when I read the Dell XPS 15’s reviewer guide and saw that Dell was calling it the “smallest 15-inch laptop on the planet”, heck yeah I was skeptical! But I had the means to do a quick and dirty size comparison, and guess what? Dell wasn’t exaggerating.



APC Network Battery Backup + Mobile Power Pack Review: Keep Your Network Alive

Isn’t it aggravating when you’re working on something important, the power goes out, and you lose your laptop’s internet connectivity? Sure, you could use your mobile phone as a hotspot if you’ve got a tethering data plan, but if your modem and router were plugged into the APC Network Battery Backup + Mobile Power Pack, you wouldn’t have to.





The Withings Aura Connected Clock + Sleep Sensor Accessory Review

Sleep and I have a sometimes erratic relationship. Some nights I deal with insomnia, and I might sleep 4 or 5 hours at best; other nights I’ll need to catch up on sleep so badly that I’ll pass out for 12 or more hours. Ideally, I should get 8 hours sleep per night. Obviously, what I’ve been doing isn’t ideal.


IllumiBowl Takes the Guesswork out of Nighttime Bathroom Visits

Have you found that it’s pretty jarring to deal with bright overhead bathroom lights when you get up in the middle of the night to relieve yourself? Bright lights can wreck our sleep ability and cause health issues, it’s proven, but you still need to be able to see where you’re going and what you’re doing.