There are very few laptop brands that non-tech geeks recognize. They’re aware that Samsung, HP, and Dell make PCs, but the one laptop that evokes an “Oh yeah, those are supposed to be great, right?” is the ThinkPad.
Voice assistants on our phones, from Google to Alexa to Siri, have gone from novelties to key parts of our daily workflow. Up until now, with the exception of the Amazon Echo Show, they’ve been stuck solely on phones, tablets, and speakers. Lenovo is smashing everyone’s perception of a digital assistant with the Smart Display, which will quickly become the main hub of your home. The Smart display one-ups the Amazon Echo Show by offering larger screen options, and instead of Alexa, it’s focused on Google Assistant integration.
Baby-boomers are often referred to as the “Sandwich generation”, stuck between taking care of older parents and family members as well as caring for their own children. It stretches everyone thin, and at CES 2018 we are seeing more and more technological solutions designed to give everyone a bit of peace of mind without forcing anyone to teach Grandma how an iPad works.
It is a sad commentary on our society that so many companies are working to find ways to incorporate self-defense products into everyday life. We’ve seen tasers built into phone cases, discreet pepper sprays, and all sorts of apps that alert your loved ones if you aren’t home/at your destination by a set time. Most of the time the pitches make complete sense. Then there’s the Invi bracelet, which allows you to skunk your attacker.
Sleep is very important. That’s pretty much non-negotiable for just about everyone, but many of us spend more money on a phone case than we do on pillows and other sleep accessories. A good pillow is the difference between healthy sleep and a miserable night, and the Snuggle-Pedic believes it is that pillow!
Remember on the show “The Jetsons,” how George Jetson would hop on a conveyor belt and get washed, dried, brushed, and dressed by a machine? We’re not quite there yet, but LG is getting scarily close with their LG Styler, which is basically a Jetson shower system for your clothes!
A few years ago it looked like the laptop was dying. Instead, a combination of bigger phones and touchscreen computers have pushed new and better innovations into the laptop market, and Samsung is at the forefront of these with their newest additions the Notebook 9 line!
In some areas of life, “winging it” isn’t always the most effective option. You don’t guess at how much gas your car needs, so why are you guessing at the quantities of ingredients in your food?
For all my grumbling about switching from Android to iOS, it’s really not so bad. The one thing I really missed was Google Assistant, but the JBL Link 20 is doing an excellent job of filling that gap. It’s a portable Bluetooth and WiFi speaker with Google Assistant built-in, so I can take my “Hey, Google” obsession all over the house!
Nomad makes some amazing products, from cases to cables and stands, and if you’ve ever eyed their carabiner with a mini USB cable attached, now is the time to snag it. If you head to Hello Nomad, and enter the code MINI, you can snag the carabiner for only the cost of shipping (normally $29.95). This ONLY applies to the mini USB carabiner, and only one per person. Better head there fast, you never know when you’ll need to charge a camera while climbing a mountain!
I have not had cable for almost three years. Instead, everyone in my house relies on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime for their entertainment needs, all on a Roku 3. It works quite well, and we probably pay around $25/month for the three services. Platinum Box is claiming to do the same thing but for free …
Here at Gear Diary, we know that your gear extends beyond just your smartphone and tablet. Once in a while, you sometimes like to get outside and see the sun, as you’ve heard it’s quite nice. Or maybe you know someone who does this thing called “exercise”, and you need some gift ideas.
Running is great. Music is great. Combining them can be fun, but it also creates a safety issue. X-Shock thinks they have a “bright” idea to address this with transparent, LED-equipped wireless earbuds.
I’ve been watching a lot of classic superhero stories lately, thanks to my 4-year-old, but my running joke is that I don’t want him to discover the DC Extended Universe — it’s just too bleak and dark. However, the folks over at Cracked have found a way to make it much more delightful: with Martha Kent and Martha Wayne doing commentary!
You know how I can tell smartwatches have officially hit the mainstream? I showed a coworker the Fossil Q Grant, and she attempted to tap the glass, thinking it was a touchscreen along the lines of the Android Wear powered smartwatches that Fossil has been marketing.
I have had a habit of carrying some sort of pocket knife around for years. People tease me sometimes, but it really does come in handy to have a blade for everything from opening cardboard boxes to slicing up an apple. So when Urban Kukri offered to let us check out their artistic and unique spin on pocket knives, I was all over it!
We have an LG washer/dryer set in my house. Overall, they’ve been fantastic, but a week ago the washer started having issues. It’s out of warranty, but according to LG, I could purchase a flat fee repair to get it fixed. Our other option was to call a local appliance repairman. I assumed that going through the manufacturer would be the more prudent solution. As it turned out, I was very, very, very wrong. Avoid LG Repair Service at all costs.
It’s been a few years since I have been able to really self-identify as a runner. I still love running, but after two knee surgeries, my left knee is less enthused. I am always an optimist, though, and eagerly try every new running shoe we get offered, hoping to find one that works…and Brooks seems to have come through in a big way with the Levitate! Brooks Levitate is a lightweight, cushion-y neutral road shoe. At first glance, they look almost simple — there’s a tread pattern, a sole, and a smooth upper. No fancy swirly holes, or gel-filled packs, or…
I have a love/hate relationship with essential oils. I know they can be soothing and relaxing, but often, when they’re running through a diffuser for a long time, I get a headache. We were offered the chance to review the KININ personal aromatherapy pens, which have a different approach to aromatherapy, so I thought it was worth a shot!
Indigo Books might not be a household name in the United States, but they are extremely well known in Canada. Much like Barnes and Noble in the USA, Indigo is the last bookstore standing for our neighbors to the north. B&N needs to step it up, though, because Indigo is coming to America!
I test a lot of gadgets and gear for this site, and none of them have received the compliments or interest that the Original Grain “The Barrel” watch has. It doesn’t tell me when I have a call, or buzz me for texts, or vibrate uncontrollably when I haven’t visited Facebook in 20 minutes. It does two things: tells time, and looks good doing it.