Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

Fitbit Force Flips the Bird at Early Flex Adopters

I like Fitbit clip-on trackers because they measure sleep, steps, floors climbed, and they integrate well with Android and iOS fitness apps. But after losing two to the washing machine, I’d given up and moved to more convenient bracelet-style trackers. As an early adopter of Fitbit’s Flex bracelet-style tracker, I feel cheated by today’s release of the Force. Here’s why.


If You Can Smell Peanut Butter, You May Not Have Alzheimer’s Disease

If everything in life were only so simple! A new release from the University of Florida says that in those with Alzheimer’s, the ability to smell from “the left nostril is significantly more impaired than the right.” So cover your nostrils and breathe deep from an open jar of peanut butter, a “pure odorant”. How did you do?


Nest Protect Will Be a Beautiful Smoke & CO2 Detector

A Beautiful Smoke & CO2 Detector?! That’s certainly not a phrase that I ever thought I would find myself writing! I have a first generation Nest Thermostat — which I love. Based on how well it has performed in my house, I anticipate nothing but good from the Nest Protect, available soon in black or white, wired or wireless for $129.


Waterfield Staad Is the Best Looking and Most Functional Backpack Ever!

I’m so picky about my backpacks, that for the longest I didn’t carry one. I had finally found one I liked well enough, but it’s not the one. I had just about admitted defeat and given up on backpacks, but now there’s no need. Say hello to the Staad, Waterfield’s perfect backpack available in two sizes and multiple color combinations.


Gold Plated HTC One is Rare, Costly, and Pretty Ugly

If you thought the gold iPhone was a bit much, then you might want to avert your eyes from the 18K shine coming off of the £2,750 Gold HTC One that is one of only five. This is the most exclusive and expensive HTC ever, and chances are you won’t ever see one in person. Good thing? See more here.


Just When You Least Expect It … Liquor Store Edition

Have you seen this video yet? I just did, and it’s a good reminder that freaky, unexpected, and potentially scary things can happen without warning. It takes a minute to get to the meat, but once you are there, you may have to watch it again. Have you ever seen anything like this? Stay vigilant, my friends. 😉 via LiveLeak


2014 Kia Soul Stays Fresh with Funky Styling and Special Features

The first Kia Soul model was sold in 2010. Since then, the Soul has become a favorite of everyone from urban dwellers looking for a fuel-efficient compact with personality, to those who appreciate its low profile with easy trunk and rider access. 2014 brings its first major redesign since 2010, and it quite the transformation. The Soul is known for its funky boxy design; Kia’s priority was to stay true to that while making their 2014 model unique and special but obviously evolved. They succeeded. The 2014 Kia has improved dynamics; it draws inspiration from a wild boar, as seen by its…


Does It Bother You That the NSA Is Probably Tracking Your Social Connections?

Online privacy is an illusion; anything you wouldn’t want your boss, friends, relatives, present or future significant others (or anyone else important to you) to see should never be posted, texted, emailed, tweeted, or liked. And now it appears that our own government is the party most interested in our social connections and interactions. How bothered should we be? I began writing reviews on the internet in 1999, and at that time I accepted that a certain loss of privacy came with the territory. I have lived my online life as transparently as possible, because I believed that I had nothing…


Travel in Style with the Oberon Design Waxed Canvas and Leather Everyday Tote

Have you been looking for a tote that could work as a purse but also function as a stylish gear bag? If so, the Oberon Design Everyday Tote may be perfect! I received mine just before our vacation, and it soon became a favorite. At $195, it is not inexpensive, but it is well made and should last for years. The Everyday Tote is composed of bench crafted waxed canvas and leather; it measures approximately 12” tall x 17.5” wide x 6.5” deep, and it weighs 1.75 pounds empty. The majority of the bag is waxed canvas, which I have learned…


Get the Boost Mobile Warp 4G Today, and Enjoy an Affordable Smartphone

If you are considering a prepaid mobile plan, and you are interested in keeping your hardware costs down, but you don’t want a budget phone, then Boost Mobile has some news that should pique your interest. Today they are releasing the Boost Warp 4G LTE, their $199.99 Android-powered smartphone that has a 4.5″ display and an 8 megapixel camera. The Boost Warp 4G comes with •       Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean OS •       Dual Mode 3G/4G LTE •       4.5inch HD IPS touchscreen display with durable glass •       8-megapixel camera with 1-megapixel front-facing camera •       1.2GHZ dual core processor •       Wi-Fi & GPS enabled •       Stereo Bluetooth 4.0 •       Visual Voicemail •       Services: Boost…


Kohler Moxie Showerhead + Wireless Speaker Review – Stream Music & News While You Shower

Is it time to replace your leaky old showerhead and bring your bathroom into the 21st century? Then you should check out the Kohler Moxie Showerhead + Wireless Speaker. This clever design includes a removable Bluetooth speaker that magnetically inserts into the middle of a 2.5 gpm showerhead with 60 nozzles; its style will look great in any bathroom’s decor. When I was offered the chance to review the Kohler Moxie, there were two things that immediately went through my mind: the first was that I needed to replace the leaking showerhead in our master bathroom anyway, and the second…


Griffin PowerDock 5 Review – an Efficient Charging Station + Storage for Five Devices

Anyone who owns a smartphone and tablet knows that charging can become a juggling act between cables and plugs. Multiply those devices by a couple of owners, and suddenly a better storage and charging solution becomes a necessity; that’s where the Griffin PowerDock 5 Charging Station comes in. It efficiently stores, charges, and organizes up to five of different devices.


Want to Be Kind to Your Ears? Check Out JBL’s New Synchros Headphones

Last night JBL and Harman International formally introduced their new JBL Synchros line of headphones in a rather unusual way. They had the amazing performer Trixie Whitley offer up a small, intimate concert with Trixie, her keyboardist, and all in attendance wearing the new flagship S700 headphones. The sound was amazing, and the music was too. Here’s a look …   Here’s a bit of Trixie performing in the S700 headphones and then some details on each … JBL Synchros S700 are the top of the Synchros line. These premium powered over-ear stereo headphones are “built for those who know…


The Nokia Lumia 1020 Is the Only Camera You’ll Need When Traveling

I use an HTC One, but its camera is subpar, and I take a lot of pictures. When the Nokia Lumia 1020 was released, who wasn’t intrigued by its camera? I sure was, and so I bought one. But could the 1020 function as my only camera while on a dream vacation in Paris and Dubrovnik? I would soon find out. From the moment we arrived in Paris, I started snapping pictures predominantly with the Lumia’s Pro Cam app set to 5 megapixels, which is oversampled for lossless zoom. About midway through the trip (or about the time we moved on to Dubrovnik),…


Has Klout Suckered You into Thinking You Are Important?

People are such competitive creatures, and bloggers can be some of the worst; Klout is a company that feeds that beast. Touting itself as “The Standard for Influence”, Klout measures the reach of everyone who is active in social media. What’s your Klout score? Should it even matter? Does it matter to you? Of course it does; you’re human! Klout preys upon people’s desire to feel or at least be perceived as influential or important, and it gives users a tangible score that can be used for comparison against others in their field (or in other non-related fields). Klout offers instant validation…


Come Explore King’s Landing (Dubrovnik) During Game of Thrones Season 4 Filming

Do you watch Game of Thrones on HBO? Kev and I love the books by Gorge R. R. Martin as well as the television series based on them, so an added bonus to our recent trip to Dubrovnik (arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world) was that we knew we might recognize some of the locations from the show. Are you a fan? Then this post is for you! Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a medieval walled city located on the coast of Croatia, and since season two it has been used for various locations in Game of…


Didn’t You Say That You Wanted a Super Awesome Martian Smart Watch?

Dan and I met with Martian Watch while at CES, and it was one of our Top CES Picks. A smart watch that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, the Martian Watch doesn’t have its own operating system, rather it connects to your smartphone and uses voice control. If you are intrigued, you can now buy one! Get yours here.


Spectacular Even in Death – Jeweled Skeletons of the Catacomb Saints

What do you do when you’ve got a catacomb full of purported martyrs’ skeletons, and you want to remind the faithful of the heavenly treasures awaiting them? You bedazzle those bones with jewels, and then display the results in shrines! And when skeptics question the skeletons’ provenance and the gaudy display, you hide them away until someone comes along and writes a book … This all goes back to 1578, when thousands of skeletons were found in the Roman catacombs; the remains were assumed to be early Christian martyrs, and so they were packed up and sent to “many Catholic churches…


How Many New iPhones Can We Expect to See in September?

Mike Philbin just sent in a tip that on Amazon he “can see cases for upcoming iPhone 5C, but also mention of iPhone mini. The page also mentions that the case will not fit the iPhone 5S. We are going to see 3 new iPhones on September 10th?” Good question, Mike! One that I don’t have the answer for, but I suppose that at this point … anything is possible. =P What do you all think? Will there be a 5S (the more expensive and more highly specc’d iPhone 5 successor), a 5C (the “cheap” iPhone 5), and a smaller sized iPhone…


TheQ Camera Creates Instantly Shareable Photos

It’s nearly impossible to take a picture any more without immediately thinking, “this needs to go on Facebook (or Tumblr, Twitter), so why not just get a camera that can take a great photo and immediately post it for you to the social network of your choice? Say “Cheese”, and preorder the $199 socially acceptable theQ Camera.   Every aspect of the pocket-sized camera can be controlled, from the social media settings through to the built-in photo filters. In addition to the one-button upload for social sharing, theQ users receive unlimited storage on their theQ LAB personal photo archive page. TheQ camera…


Enjoy an Aerial Tour the Arctic & Greenland from the Comfort of Your Home

I’ve always been fascinated by the Arctic and Antarctic, but touring either would take a lot of money, and it’s just so … cold! Enter IceBridge, a six-year NASA mission to survey the ice at both of Earth’s poles; they’ve released almost 4.5 minutes of icy aerial goodness. I’m still shivering at the thought, but now I’m even more intrigued. Find out more at the Operation IceBridge website; via Universe Today.