Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

The Sprint LG G3 Is Ready for Your Calls

Gear Bits July 11, 2014

The Sprint LG G3 Is Ready for Your Calls

With a 5.5″ screen, the Sprint LG G3 is big, it’s 4G, and even though it’s available date was July 18th, now there’s no need to wait. If you’ve been lusting after this latest LG super-phone, you can get one — even in the Sprint exclusive ‘shine gold’ color option — today. “Our stores are stocked and the devices is available at sprint.com and by calling 1-800-Sprint1. Sprint is thrilled to get this amazing device into our customers hands even earlier than expected.” You can see the full list of specs for the Sprint LG G3 here; you can get one for $199.99 with a two…

should you take that selfie?

Gear Bits July 8, 2014

Are You Sure You Want to Post That Selfie?

Much fun has been had talking about how ridiculous and ubiquitous taking pictures of oneself, or “taking a selfie” has become. At a cool historical site? Take a selfie. Eating a fab meal while out with great friends? Take a selfie. Is it narcissistic? Sure! But we all do it, right? When is enough, enough? Well … There’s nothing wrong with snapping a memento when you are doing something fun, but there are definitely times when taking a quick selfie might be a bit much. 😉

Kinivo Bluetooth Car Kit Makes Your Hooptie Hands-Free

News & Features, Vehicles & Gear July 8, 2014

Kinivo Bluetooth Car Kit Makes Your Hooptie Hands-Free

My car is a 2008 Yukon Denali XL, and while it has tons of bells and whistles, it doesn’t have a hands-free bluetooth hookup for calls or audio. I figured I’d have to wait until we eventually upgraded vehicles (not any time soon!) before I had that feature, but with the $45 Kinivo Bluetooth Car Kit, there is no need. Setting up the device is as simple as plugging the BTC455 directly into the auxiliary port on your stereo (assuming that your car stereo has at least that) and then plugging it into the volt outlet. Once that’s done, you’ll have hands-free streaming through your…

Huawei Ascend Mate2 Review: Big Phone Little Price

Reviews July 8, 2014

Huawei Ascend Mate2 Review: Big Phone Little Price

Are you someone who spends more time on your phone texting, emailing, checking social media, and surfing than you actually do making calls? I am, and that’s why I’m intrigued by some of the larger devices available today, including the new Huawei Ascend Mate2. This $299.99 phone with the 6.1 screen might allow you to leave your tablet at home!

The Travelteq Mirjam Leather Tote Laptop Bag

Reviews June 29, 2014

TravelTeq Mirjam Leather Shopper Laptop Bag Review

It’s easy to find structured, businesslike leather laptop bags, but when you want something a bit more casual and feminine — yet still made of leather and stylish — options become limited. That’s why it was love at first site when I found TravelTeq Mirjam Leather Shopper, a handmade brown leather laptop bag that can double as an everyday tote.

The 128GB SanDisk MicroSDXC Is a Tiny Powerhouse

Reviews June 27, 2014

The 128GB SanDisk MicroSDXC Is a Tiny Powerhouse

One thing that most Android phones get right, and that Apple (and many Windows Phones) still hasn’t, is the ability to add extended memory. The largest amount of memory any mobile phone can be purchased with is 64GB. Thanks to the 128GB SanDisk MicroSDXC I recently received and added to my Sony Xperia Z2, I now have 130.57GB. WHOA!

TiMaG Engineered Titanium Magnets Are Strong, Cool, and Useful

Crowdfunding June 23, 2014

TiMaG Engineered Titanium Magnets Are Strong, Cool, and Useful

I’ve enjoyed playing with magnets since I was a kid; I think that everything about them is fascinating, and when I find strong magnets that also look cool, I generally can’t resist getting a set. TiMag Engineered Titanium Magnets fit the bill, and I have some coming soon. Why should you back this Kickstarter project? Well … According to their PR, this is the kind of magnet that Super Man would use — it might even be “the strongest magnet in the world! It’s so strong, it’s up to 50x stronger than any normal refrigerator magnet! Not to mention it’s made from Grade…

Oregon Scientific Ultra Precision Weather Station Review - Accuracy Matters

Reviews June 17, 2014

Oregon Scientific Ultra Precision Weather Station Review – Accuracy Matters

Checking the weather compulsively is not considered odd where I live, and when people talk about what the weather is doing, it’s not just to make idle chit-chat. It’s also common for locals to measure and record their rainfall to the hundredth of an inch, and many use sophisticated tools like the Oregon Scientific Ultra Precision Weather Station.

Ice Balls Review: Make those Frozen Spheres that Mixologists Love

Reviews, Yum Log June 17, 2014

Ice Balls Review: Make those Frozen Spheres that Mixologists Love

When I was in Barcelona, a “steampunk gastro-bartender” named George made me one of the foulest-tasting alcoholic concoctions I’ve ever tried. It didn’t matter, though. After watching all of the steps he took to create my gorgeous drink, capped with the flavored ice balls he was rationing out as if they were gold, I sipped and pseudo-savored that sucker.

Bison Airlighter Review: A Flamethrower Almost Anyone Can Handle

Reviews June 14, 2014

Bison Airlighter Review: A Flamethrower Almost Anyone Can Handle

Lighting a fire in your barbecue pit or pot belly stove is not always a simple task; sometimes that wood just will not ignite no matter how much you baby it along. For all of you who’ve ever sprayed a pile of hardwood with lighter fluid in frustrated defeat, I give you the Bison Airlighter — your own personal flamethrower.

Leef Copper Edition Surge 64GB USB Flash Drive Review

Reviews June 13, 2014

Leef Copper Edition Surge 64GB USB Flash Drive Review

I love my 15″ MacBook Pro retina, but I still kick myself for settling on the 500GB model when I should have waited and bought the 750GB version. Now the MBPr is available with 1TB, but I’m not ready to upgrade. External memory is my best option, so I’ve been trying the Leef Copper Edition Surge 64GB USB Flash Drive.

Replace Your Pebble Steel Strap with Gorgeous Natural Leather

News & Features June 8, 2014

Replace Your Pebble Steel Strap with Gorgeous Natural Leather

If you’ve got a Pebble Steel, then you know that the bands that ship with it are not awesome; due to the Pebble’s odd lugs, finding replacement straps is tricky. The Pebble watch is awesome, and it deserves a better strap. I am extremely glad to have found an Etsy seller who makes a gorgeous natural leather Pebble Steel strap.

The Handiheadset Will Guarantee a Second Look

Crowdfunding, Gear Bits June 5, 2014

The Handiheadset Will Guarantee a Second Look

Can you imagine pulling out the Handiheadset when making a call at the office? Okay, maybe it wouldn’t be much fun, because you might look like someone who’d had an allergic reaction while trying a new hand cream. Even so, if the ‘huge hand to face’ is a look you’ve wanted to rock, you’ll probably love the this. Making a call on a Handiheadset puts a big smile on everyone’s face. Shaped like an oversized hand giving the ‘call me’ gesture, the Handiheadset plugs into the headphone jack of your mobile phone. It has a built-in microphone and high quality speaker so you can comfortably talk…

Stinger, Because the Best Bugs Are the Dead Ones

News & Features, Outdoors June 5, 2014

Stinger, Because the Best Bugs Are the Dead Ones

We recently received almost 5″ of rain at our house, and although we desperately needed it, the tradeoff was made in bugs, bug, and more bugs! No problem, though, as I had recently received a package from Stinger. Inside were their No Touch Fly Trap and their On-the-Go Zapper Racket. Bugs beware; I am now on the prowl!

Iglo Pulse: Fiber Optic Headphones that Pulsate to the Music's Beat!

News & Features May 27, 2014

Iglo Pulse: Fiber Optic Headphones that Pulsate to the Music’s Beat!

Whether you run at night or you just want to be seen in the dark, the iGlo Pulse headphones are the world’s first to “pulsate to the beat of your music using fiber optic technology.” Take calls, listen to your music,  and enjoy hours of lights due to the headphone’s rechargeable battery. Available in either blue or green for $29.95.

Choo-San: It's Only Paint, but It's Email Worth Opening

Gear Bits May 27, 2014

Choo-San: It’s Only Paint, but It’s Email Worth Opening

All the forwarded email said was ” It’s Only Paint; Body painting by a 19-year old Japanese girl”. A bit of searching reveals the artist’s name to be Choo-San, and her work has been featured on Reddit, Odee, LaughingSquid, the Daily Mail UK, and other sites. Some of these are so realistic that they are hard to look at!

The Kisai Xtal Wood Watch Puts a Bit of Nature on Your Wrist

Gear Bits May 26, 2014

The Kisai Xtal Wood Watch Puts a Bit of Nature on Your Wrist

Strap a bit of nature onto your wrist with the Kisai Xtal Wood watch. The watch “combines a crystalline shaped natural wood case with a faceted mineral crystal lens and a cryptic yet simple to read LED time display.” I think that’s a first? There is finally a Tokyo Flash watch that doesn’t require a guide to read it! 😉