As has become tradition, Apple released their yearly iPhone update this September. After two years with my iPhone 6 Plus, I decided to take the plunge and update to the iPhone 7 Plus. This year, Apple added water resistance, a solid-state home button, telephoto camera, A10 Fusion chip, stereo speakers, and more. Read on for my first impressions.
Assassin HTPC, one of the top names in the Home Theater PC game, is back in the news with their new Assassin Micro Media Extender. It’s a pint-sized PC that runs on Android that comes preconfigured with Assassin HTPC customized software that’s ready to use straight out of the box. The Assassin Micro retails for $249.99, including lifetime cloud updates.
I think I’ve found my favorite juxtaposition in technology; a natural, soft-looking wood cover for my high-tech iPhone 6 Plus. Toast makes a drop dead gorgeous mobile phone cover with three finish choices and a ton of designs that can be etched into the wood with the option for custom engraving. Covers for the iPhone 6/6s/6 Plus start at $34.
As a parent, I know very well how quickly kids feet grow as well as how expensive kids shoes can be. KINBE has developed a unique and innovative moccasin design that, using adjustable straps, allows the shoe to grow with your child. These attractive leather moccasins are available for pre-order now starting at $40 on KINBE’s Indiegogo campaign.
Boogie Board, makers of fantastic LCD e-writers, are back with two new offerings, the Scribble n’ Play and the Jot 4.5 featuring Clearview. These new e-writers are geared towards kids, as the Scribble n’ Play features a Colorburst screen and the Jot 4.5 features a translucent screen for writing practice. Both are available today on MyBoogieBoard.com starting at $19.99.
There’s been a big shift in the workplace environment, with many desk workers breaking free from their chairs and turning to standing desks. Loctek is looking to serve the not-so-lazy office worker with their new FlexiSpot sit-stand desktop workstations. With effortless transitions from sitting to standing and back to sitting, this convenient solution impresses.
360-degree photos and video are all the rage right now, what with Facebook and Youtube embracing the technology. The Insta360 Nano is looking to capitalize on the craze, with its super portable, iPhone compatible design. It can shoot 360-degree photos and even live-stream high definition virtual reality video right to Facebook or Youtube. Get yours now on Amazon for $199.
Since their launch in 2008, Proper Cloth has been selling custom dress shirts through their online store to customers around the world. Using a number of sizing methods, each shirt is custom made and hand-assembled and then delivered to your doorstep in about 2 weeks. Proper Cloth guarantees a perfect fit; they’ll alter or remake your first shirt for free!
Volant Sound is hitting Kickstarter hard with their super unique headphones; a three-in-one design that combines wireless Bluetooth headphones, wired over-the-ear headphones, and wired in-ear headphones. Instead of buying three different headphones for all of your listening situations, you can buy one set that morphs like a Transformer to give you exactly what you need. Pledge today to reserve yours!
The ilumi smartbulb brings a ton of features to a previously “dumb” appliance. Unscrew your boring old light bulb and screw in the ilumi smartbulb and you’ll get a highly efficient, color changing, music sync’d, presence detecting light bulb that can be controlled by your smartphone via Bluetooth connectivity. You can get yourself an ilumi A19 smartbulb for $59.99.
Earlier this year, Husqvarna USA ran an online contest called Automower First. Thousands of Americans entered, hoping to get the opportunity to test a Husqvarna Automower and post reviews on social media about their Automower throughout the summer. I was lucky enough to be one of about 40 Americans to be chosen by Husqvarna to join the Automower First campaign!
French audio manufacturer, Focal, has hit another home run with their Sphear high-resolution in-ear headphones. These audiophile-quality headphones are noise isolating, provide excellent sound quality, and come with all of the accouterments you’d expect from a high-end set of headphones. Equipped with an in-line remote control button and separate in-line microphone, these versatile headphones can be yours for around $149.
Everyone loves Star Wars, and there’s nothing more symbolic of the series than the weapons brandished by the main characters, the light saber. Thanks to Ultrasabers, you can bring home your very own light saber starting at around $150, equipped with bright LED lights, authentic sound effects, and hilt designs that look like they came straight from the silver screen.
The Nox Smart Sleep System combines the Nox, a smart sleep light; RestOn, a non-wearable sleep sensor; and the Sleepace mobile application to monitor, track, and improve your sleep. The Nox will provide soft sleep-inducing light and sound while you are falling asleep, the RestOn will monitor your sleep, and the Nox will wake you naturally with light and sound.
Nectar Sunglasses is a fun-loving shade shop that offers a fun new way to buy stylish, unique sunglasses. Nectar’s Weekly Limited Edition Sunnies gives consumers 7-day access to custom-made sunglasses that have never been produced before and never will be produced again after the week is up. Nectar’s sunglasses range in price from $25 to $35.
Quip is a company with a plan to help us form better tooth brushing habits using holistic design rather than gimmicks. They’ve designed a simple electric toothbrush they hope will help promote dentist-recommended habits, without any bells and whistles.
In a very innovative partnership, Leesa, one of the first and leading online mattress companies, has partnered with ArtLifting, an online marketplace that allows disabled, homeless, and other disadvantaged artists to sell their artwork. Together, the two have launched a retail storefront in SoHo, NYC called The Leesa Dream Gallery, a combined mattress store and art gallery.
iClever is a purveyor of smart USB chargers, Bluetooth accessories, and more which can be purchased on their Amazon shop. They have a large line of AC adapters for mobile device charging, USB adapters for use in cars, as well as Bluetooth speakers and headphones. Read on to hear about my experience with iClever’s BoostCube series and magnetic Bluetooth headphones.
If you’re a home chef who loves making your own pizza, the Uuni 2S wood-fired oven should be #1 on your shopping list. It’s an outdoor pizza oven made of stainless steel with a stone baking board to give you a crispy crust. It uses wood pellets for fuel and can get up to 900°F; the Uuni 2S costs $299.
Plain and simple, the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced is the most fun I’ve ever had piloting a drone. Its simple controls and fantastic stability can make even a novice drone pilot like myself feel invincible. Paired with the multi-functional DJI Go app, the Phantom 3 Advanced is out of this world. Get yours now for $799 from Drone World.
The Olala S100-i is a mobile power bank with a built-in Apple MFi certified lighting cable. With 13,000 mAh battery capacity, it’s slightly larger than a wallet, so you can toss it in your travel bag and carry around enough juice to last the whole day. Read on for a coupon code to buy the S100-i for $31.99!