Judie Lipsett Stanford

Phorce Freedom Keeps Your Mobile Devices Charged and Carried in Style

Does your bag manage your devices and keep them powered, too? Can it be a briefcase, a messenger bag, or a backpack? If you have the Phorce Freedom, then your answer will undoubtably be yes, yes, yes! The Freedom can charge “up to two devices simultaneously with two LED backlit USB reversible ports. It has a “built-in, flight-friendly, rechargeable 15,000 mAH lithium-ion battery which charges the bag to full power in eight hours. The Phorce Freedom features “intelligent connectors that automatically supply the correct voltage for your device”, and it has a “Smart Power Core includes power save function that automatically…

Vehicles & Gear

The 2016 Kia Sorento SUV Is One Hot Mid-Size SUV!

What happens when you bring forty (or so) auto writers to Lake Tahoe to cover the launch of the 2016 Kia Sorento the day before a huge winter storm is predicted to roll in? It turns out that not only have you guaranteed that the SUV will have a chance to shine, you’ve also guaranteed a great time for all.

Reviews

OtterBox Alpha Glass Privacy Screen Protector Review: No More Nosey-Rosies!

Have you ever sat on a plane catching up on email, Facebooking (yay inflight WiFi!), or watching a movie, only to realize that the guy sitting next to you was stealing glances at your screen? If you believe that the items on your phone are meant for your eyes only, then you need an OtterBox Alpha Glass Privacy Screen Protector.

Reviews

HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Desktop Mini Business PC Review #HPDiscover #HPElite

Do you remember when desktop computers were so large that they had to go under (or to the side of) the desk? Oh wait; most of them still are still that large. The HP EliteDesk 800 G1, however, is an exception. The EliteDesk is small enough to fit almost anywhere, and using one requires very few compromises.

Outdoors

SailorBags Has Tech Bags for Those with Sailing on the Brain

If your free time is spent taking your sailboat out on the lake, or if you’re serious enough about your sailing to be part of a regatta, then you’ve no doubt heard of SailorBags. Their sailcloth bags are water-resistant, tough, and — as you’d expect — nautically colored; they also now have a Laptop bag and an iPad sleeve.

Crowdfunding, Reviews

iMagbond Is a Most Elegant Aluminum Dashboard Phone Mount #Indiegogo

Most phone mounts I’ve used are not what you would consider elegant by any stretch of the imagination. They are usually made of thick black plastic, and they use a large claw-like clamping system to secure the phone. When your phone isn’t mounted, the equipment is unsightly; the iMagbond phone mount is not.

Reviews

Velvetwire Powerslayer Kit Review: Beautiful and Smart Charging Solution

I’ve got a tendency to leave my phone plugged in when home, and while that isn’t necessarily bad for today’s Li-Ion batteries, it’s kind of wasteful to use a charger that is trying to continuously supply power to a battery that has already been topped off. I was recently sent a Velvetwire Powerslayer Kit, and it solves the problem beautifully.

Reviews

Armorz Stealth Extreme Lite Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

Have you got a new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? If you do, then I can’t recommend immediately putting a screen protector on it highly enough. All that Gorilla Glass; sure it’s stronger than glass, but you can still scratch it or crack surprisingly easily. How can a glass screen protector like the Armorz Stealth Extreme Lite help? Well, do you keep your phone in a pocket or bag with your keys? Do you ever have sand, dirt, or grit in your pockets? Gorilla Glass is fantastic, but it isn’t scratch-proof; unfortunately I’ve seen that first-hand. Covering your display with a glass…

Reviews

Goal Zero Torch 250 USB Power Hub and Flashlight Review: A Smarter Light

I seem to have been on a disaster-prep kick lately, and that’s a good thing considering that unforeseen events can happen at any time. It’s smart to plan ahead, be prepared, and keep gear that can power itself and other devices ready for when it’s needed. The latest tool in my arsenal is the Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight.

Reviews

TP-LINK 10400mAh Power Bank External Battery Review

If you have a mobile phone, then power management is something that just goes with the territory. Even the new iPhones and Sony Xperias with their larger batteries will still have their moments of inexplicable drains; it’s better to be safe than sorry, so just plan ahead and carry an extended battery pack like the TP-LINK 10400mAh Power Bank.

Reviews

Slive-4U Self-Powered AM/FM/WB Radio with Flashlight & Phone Charger Review

Kev has a small hand-cranked emergency flashlight; I reviewed it years ago, and it has become an inside joke how he won’t travel without it. At least he’s always prepared! It took just one look at the Slive-4U Self-Powered AM/FM/WB Radio with Flashlight & Phone Charger for Kev to say he wanted it if it really works.

Reviews

Orbino Pantera for iPhone 6 Plus in Stingray; Pretty Fabulous!

I recently received my Orbino Pantera for iPhone 6 Plus order, and it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cases I’ve ever used. Mine is the special edition stingray with black Tuscan leather sides; I opted not to go with the snake skin sides it usually comes with. It’s pretty fabulous!

Gear Bits

Track Your Domino’s Pizza Order from Your Pebble Watch

So you’ve placed your dinner order from your mobile device’s Domino’s Pizza app, but picking your phone or tablet up to check the status every few minutes is just so hard. No worries; leave your device lying there, and look at the Pebble Watch on your wrist, instead. Because you can. A good looking watch with an even better looking display. Mmm. Introducing Domino’s Tracker® for Pebble Watch. A photo posted by Domino’s Pizza (@dominos) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:20am PST

Reviews

VisionTek USB 3.0 120GB Solid State Drive Review: Portable Convenience

My otherwise excellent 500GB MacBook Pro r serves as my desktop computer, but I wish it had a larger SSD. To compensate, I’ve perfected the art of juggling media around via a collection of external SSD devices of various shapes, sizes, and purposes; the VisionTek USB 3.0 120GB solid state drive (SSD) is the latest tool in my arsenal.

News & Features

So You Think You Can Dance, but Can You Attract a Mate?

According to a group of evolutionary biologists at Northumbria University, there are the dance movements that will catch a woman’s eye; in other words, these are the movements that will attract a mate. Can you do them? If not, you’d better get busy. If you nail the moves, we’d love to see your videos. 😉 The biggest difference I see is that the “good” dancer has his head up and he is working his legs and torso; such confidence! Obviously he is an excellent hunter-gatherer who will provide for his prospective spouse and his future family. The “bad” dancer is stuck in…

News & Features

Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition Coming in December!

Have you heard about the Oculus Rift? Over the past 12 months the virtual reality company has been collaborating with Samsung, and the result is the new Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition which creates a virtual reality experience driven by the Galaxy Note 4, and it will be ready in early December. Why should you care?

Reviews

Magnetic Organizational System (MOS) Review: Fab Cables That Stay in Place

I’ve made no bones about my disdain for OEM Apple cables, but I’ll reiterate: they are cheaply made, they fray, they fail, and they are not inexpensive. That’s why I love quality aftermarket cables, and right now I am really digging the Magnetic Organizational System (MOS) I was recently sent. Their quality is outstanding, and the work perfectly.

Reviews

7″ Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet: Not Ready for Prime Time

When the Amazon Kindle Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet was announced, I was intrigued by the “Everything Kids love. Everything Parents Want.” tagline, and I immediately preordered. These 6″ and 7″ HD Fire tablets come with a 2-Year Guarantee, a kid-proof protective case, and the setup seemed perfect for a child’s first tablet. After fiddling with one, I’m not convinced.

News & Features

You’ll Never Run Out of Memory Again If You Have the Leef iBRIDGE

I thought upgrading to a 128GB iPhone 6 Plus from a 64GB iPhone 5S would solve my constant struggle to balance music, photos, and apps with my device’s available memory, yet I’ve managed to hit a wall. I’ve actually seen the dreaded out of memory warning already; once I get the Leef iBRIDGE, it will no longer be a problem.

Events

Dell Venue 8 7000 – A Most Intriguing Android Tablet

At 6mm, the new Dell Venue 8 7000 is being billed as the world’s thinnest Android tablet, but it’s size isn’t the only attractive feature; it also has an incredible 2560 x 1600 OLED display and “the first RealSense depth camera integrated into such a small form factor.” Have you even heard about it? Well, let me tell you…

News & Features

No More SIM Swapping with KnowRoaming!

If you travel internationally, then you know that one of the best tricks is to buy a local SIM and swap it out with your home SIM in your unlocked smartphone; then you can enjoy data and local calls at a reasonable rate. Buying a local SIM and making the swap can be a hassle; that’s where KnowRoaming comes in. I met with Gregory Gundelfinger, the CEO of KnowRoaming, at Mobile World Congress this year; that’s where I first learned about this service and how it works. KnowRoaming is coming off of a successful 12 month pre-launch and beta period, and now you can get your money-saving kit for…

Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford