Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

Mobile Phone Accessory Review: the Oberon Design Cell Phone Sleeve

It’s not very often that I can get excited about a universally fitting mobile phone sleeve, mainly because most of the ones I’ve reviewed in the past were pretty utilitarian. But when I received an email from Oberon Design, the company responsible for some of my favorite Kindle2, Kindle DX and iPad cases ever, asking if I’d like to review their new cell phone sleeve, I was happy to oblige. Our cell phone sleeve is offered in twelve cropped versions of our most popular designs and accommodates many different smart phones and regular cell phones. As in the past, the…

News & Features

Did You Catch Last Night’s Lunar Eclipse?

Last night Kevin and I watched the lunar eclipse. It was cold but clear outside as we watched the earth’s shadow pass over the moon, and I was able to snap a few photos with my Canon G11. I didn’t have a special lens attachment, I wasn’t using a tripod, these aren’t going to win any awards, and I sure wish that I had planned ahead and got a camera mount for our telescope … but even so, we had a lot of fun watching our fully moonlit yard go dramatically black. How about you? Did you catch the eclipse?…

Gear Bits

Spice Up Your New Year with Fyre TV’s FyreBoXXX

Are you one of those people who orders adult movies when you stay in hotel rooms? Oh, don’t worry … I’m not here to judge you! But if adult entertainment is your thing, and you hate getting raised eyebrows from nosy hotel staff, then you might want to take a look at Fyre TV’s new FyreBoXXX.

Reviews

iBottleOpener for iPhone 3GS Review

I like beer. This is a fact that I didn’t realize until about two and a half years ago, when I began dating a man who was a home-brewer and all-around beer connoisseur. I’d never really been much of a beer drinker before, so I never had much need for a bottle opener; that has since changed. There are so many fantastic brews available — none of which come with twist-cap, so being able to safely and easily remove a bottle cap when offered a new brew is a necessity. Therein lies the rub: I don’t carry a Leatherman or…

News & Features

Join Us In Wishing Coach Travis the Best of Luck with His Game Tonight

Travis, or “Coach” as he is affectionately called by many of us, is in the midst of fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams; tonight the Falls City Beavers are one of the high school football teams that will be duking it out for the State Football Championship in their division. As you can imagine, even getting to this point is something that few football players or coaches will ever do. In Texas — perhaps even more so than in other states — the competition between high schools is fierce, and the players and coaches give it their all for a…

Reviews

AUTUM Straight Jacket Review: An Insanely Simple Leather MacBook Air Sleeve

Dan mentioned a little while ago that AUTUM was releasing Straight Jackets for the new MacBook Airs and the iPad, which he soon followed with a review of their iPad Straight Jacket. Because Dan and I are now the owners of new MacBook Airs, we have been sent a couple of AUTUM’s MacBook Air Straight Jackets to review as well; I was sent the 11″ version, and Dan has Both the 11″ and the 13″. The picture above shows all three; the 13″ is on the bottom, the 11″ is in the middle, and the iPad is sitting on top….

News & Features

Get Added to Orange UK’s Secret Portrait Twitter Gallery

I’ve always loved watching caricature artists quickly plot out their exaggerated perception of their subjects, but this new offering from Orange UK’s The Feed takes the art to a whole new level. They are offering “secret portraits” of twitter users based on a tweeted self-description. I am about to enter mine, and I thought you might want to give it a try, too. Describe yourself in a tweet – and don’t forget the #secretportraits hashtag If your tweet intrigues us, our illustrators will dive into your Twitter profile to find out more about you They’ll draw a secret portrait based on…

News & Features

Phone Fail? Motorola Droid Allegedly Explodes While Owner Is In-Call

You can’t even make these things up … or maybe you can. It’s hard to imagine that your two-day old Motorola Droid — or any other mobile phone, for that matter — would explode next to your ear while in a call. But that’s exactly what Aron Embry says happened to him yesterday. A North Texas man talking on his cell phone was rushed to a hospital after his phone apparently exploded Thursday morning. Aron Embry was at Ray Elementary in Cedar Hill at the time of the incident. The man said he had just finished a call when he…

News & Features

Win a Mystery Item That You KNOW You’ll Want from ioSafe

This is obnoxious! I am absolutely awful at those “guess what this is” type games where they show you the tiniest portion of a product and expect you to figure out what it is … and this one happens to come with a prize that I am sure I would love to win! ioSafe, makers of the fantastic hard drives that are impervious to fire, water, crushing — or any other disaster man or nature can throw at them (and you had better believe that we have tried!) — is giving away a mystery item that they will soon be…

News & Features

Be the Band with an Old School Synth Style Tshirt from ThinkGeek

When I graduated from high school, several of the PTAs in San Angelo banded together to do a Project Graduation party … one where we could go and have fun, win prizes and (theoretically at least) be alcohol-free for the night. One of the events they held which drew the largest audience by far was an air guitar contest. Now bear in mind that I graduated in 1985, so this was before the days of Rockband — my friends were truly standing there, jamming on imaginary guitars — and it was beyond funny, yet also kind of impressive. For some…

News & Features

The Windows Phone 7 Dell Venue Pro is Now Available

The Dell Venue has been one of the more highly anticipated Windows Phone 7 devices, and now you can order your own! $99 with a two-year T-Mobile contract, or $449 contract free, the Dell Venue offers a unique form factor, a huge screen and a possibly triumphant return of Dell in the Windows mobile device space; past-Axim owners rejoice! Introducing the definitive Windows® Phone 7 experience with a 4.1-inch sliding touch display and full QWERTY keyboard. Features include: The stunning 4.1-inch WVGA AMOLED capacitive, multitouch display enables easier navigation. With Office Mobile built in, you can operate on-the-go as seamlessly…

News & Features

Apropos of Nothing: The Chins

Just because I figure we can all use a smile on the first day of one of the year’s most hectic months, I bring you the Chins. Slightly disturbing, yet highly amusing. Enjoy …

News & Features

Alexandra Knights Alligator iPhone Cases 50% Off Today Only

If you’ve been longing to wrap your iPhone in alligator skin, but the idea of spending $300+ just didn’t appeal, this sale will be right up your alley. Until the end of today, you can purchase an Alexandra Knight iPhone case, 3G/3GS or 4G in sumptuous alligator skin without breaking the bank! Usually $295, they are slashed 50% and for the rest of today are only $147.50. There are many colors available – matte and glazed, so there’s sure to be something for everyone. I am debating the matte cognac or the matte army green or the glazed emerald or…

News & Features

Happy Thanksgiving from Gear Diary!

Thanksgiving is a great time to take a break and recognize all of the things in our lives which are going right … the things we have to be thankful for. Once we start thinking about the things in life that are good, it doesn’t take long before we realize that there is much to celebrate. So have a virtual turkey dinner with us on this Thanksgiving, as we celebrate the good things and enjoy the day! We hope that all of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving today have a huge list of things that are going “right”, as well…

News & Features

Wrap-A-Nap Lets You Sleep Anywhere, and I Do Mean Anywhere

I have long admired people who could nap anywhere, even when they weren’t sick and half-doped up on cough syrup. My problem is that if the room is too lighted, too noisy, too cold or too hot, or if I am thinking about all the other things I need to be doing, it doesn’t matter how sleepy I am, a nap isn’t happening. But let’s say that I am able to overcome all of that, perhaps because I’m the passenger on the world’s longest car ride … there is no comfortable position to get into, because no matter how far…

News & Features

Speck Product’s A-Line Bag for Netbooks May Be the Best Looking Gear Bag Yet!

This is going to sound jaded and awful, but I am going to say it anyway: One of the absolute best things about being a product reviewer is that sometimes companies surprise you with packages containing items you didn’t know existed and you certainly didn’t expect to receive … and that you can’t wait to try out. But on the other hand, one of the absolute worst things about being a product reviewer is that sometimes companies surprise you with packages containing items you didn’t know existed and you certainly didn’t expect to receive … and you don’t necessarily even…

News & Features

Abernathy Road, for a Different Type of Phone Case

It’s pretty easy to find rubber, plastic and lesser-grade leather cases for most phones, but when looking for an accessory that makes a statement, one that would make a fantastic gift for yourself or a loved one, the choices immediately narrow. While searching for a unique leather belt, I stumbled across Abernathy Road, a Nashville Tennessee business which offers items “for the Road Less Traveled. Ranch, Range, and Roughwear for those looking to find their own way, pave their own path, follow their own direction.” While I have indeed found the belt that I’m going to purchase, I have also found…

News & Features

Urbanears Tanto Proves that Music is Colorblind

… or maybe it just proves that you will need to be to wear them. 😉 What do you get when you mix a little bit of Paul Smith with a pinch of United Colors of Benetton and add just a dash of The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Why, you get the technicolor limited edition Urbanears Tanto headphones, of course. Priced at $47, so that the kids and young-at-heart who will covet them might actually be able to afford them, the Tantos are available today at the “exclusive Wired Pop Up Store event in NYC” (on 692 Broadway), or at WiredStore.com….

Reviews

iPad Accessory Review: Saddleback Leather Company iPad Sleeve / Large Gadget Pouch

There aren’t many materials that are more long-lasting, beautiful or more protective than thick, full-grain leather; Saddleback Leather Company is one of the few companies that takes advantage of that fact. I recently received their iPad Sleeve / Large Gadget Pouch, and have since had a chance to put it under the microscope (figuratively, of course).

News & Features

Don’t Believe Me? Bing It!

It’s not like you could possibly miss it, but if you were watching last night’s Hawaii Five-0 episode, then you likely saw the scene where … oh heck, just watch! Chin Ho Kelly challenges Kono Kalakaua to perform the search while they are looking at a sculpture, when she reaches into her bag and pulls out the LG Optimus 7 — the first time I have seen one in the wild, even if only on TV. Larry has pointed out Apple’s movie and television product placements, and it looks like Microsoft is taking a page from their book; the one…

Reviews

Android Device Review: U.S. Cellular’s HTC Desire

all photos by Kevin Mitchell reviewed the HTC Desire back in April, an Android 2.1 device which at the time was only available in the UK, Europe and Asia, but that’s since changed. US Cellular, a CDMA carrier, has released their branded US version. While in many ways it is basically the same device as the one Mitchell had, there are some differences worth noting. But first, we’ll start with the similarities. Some of the other phones we’ve seen released as both GSM and CDMA carrier branded versions can appear to be completely different model phones when placed side by…

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