I’m not a huge fan of sleeve-style cases for the iPhone, preferring to have more protection surrounding my phone at all times. Still, there’s something about having a naked phone that is protected when not in use that is appealing. The Beyzacases Natural ID Slim is a great option if you are looking for a protective leather sleeve.
If you like to listen to music while working out, but you don’t like to be wired to your mobile device, then you should invest in a pair of wireless fitness-focused earbuds. But which ones? We’ve covered more than a few on Gear Diary, and the latest under our lens are the Jam Transit Micro Sport Buds.
Is the phrase “I’m sorry, what did you say?” a common part of your day? It is for me. My hearing is…questionable, or, as my wife put it, “It’s not normal to be 34 and need the closed captioning.” The good folks at Etymotic have clearly experienced this too, and that’s where the Bean Quiet Sound Amplifier can shine.
When the summer faded away last year, I wondered to myself how I would go without my grilled veggies and meats now that I could no longer grill outdoors. I’ve tried many options in the past, from George Foreman Grills, to even stovetop grill pans for $20 on Groupon that honestly do not work. So when Kenyon sent over their Revolution Grill, I knew that I had a product that would make the neighbors in my building jealous now that the outdoor grill has been shut up for the winter. Let’s start by saying this: The Kenyon Revolution Grill gets…
There’s no question the screen is the most vulnerable part of your smartphone. Gorilla Glass helps but if you really want to protect your phone you need something more. Usually, I turn to glass screen protectors, but the nanotechnology of the Kristall Liquid Screen Protection has me rethinking that. You can’t see the protection but it is there.
Do I really need an app-enabled water bottle? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself since Judie and I each received a Thermos Connected Hydration Bottle with Smart Lid at CES. This looks like a regular water bottle, but it’s Bluetooth-enabled and monitors your water intake over the course of a day. Is this something worth purchasing? You decide.
I spend a lot of time outdoors, hunting, fishing, grilling, and taking the kids to the pool. Of course, most outdoor activities are better with music, so there is always a Bluetooth speaker around. The Scosche boomBottle H2O ($109.99) has now given me great audio without the worry. The speaker is water proof, rugged, and perfect for the outdoors!
Judie and I received Huawei Mate 8 smartphones at CES 2016. The phablet is amazing but won’t work with our Apple Watches. We also picked up the amazing Withings Activité Steel Fitness Watch. It’s a great tracker but doesn’t do notifications. Fortunately, the Ditto notifier fills in that gap in a manner that is both inexpensive and discrete.
Some friends of mine have frequently watched movies and football games in their backyard by setting up a projector. A few, like I have, used a projector as decoration or set pieces. This is thanks to the Epson Home Cinema 1040 and AtmosCheerFX. Next year, you can be the life of the party!
CES is now over and activity trackers and other wearables were all the rage at the show this year. With Under Armour, Casio, and others releasing devices, it looks like almost everyone has a tracker now. Avia, who I know more for sneakers than electronics even has one, and they sent me an Avia Stride; I am underwhelmed.
Sitting on the kitchen table when I returned from CES were a pair of nondescript black earbuds. You know, the free type that reinforce the notion that you get what you pay for. “What are these?” I asked. “I used them for a conference call today,” said Raina. They were the perfect test earbuds for the new Boomstick headphone accessory. I’ll admit it. My work with Gear Diary has spoiled me. I’ve heard $1500 headphones from HARMAN that use the latest technology and were tuned by none other than Quincy Jones. I’ve reviewed Blue’s first foray into the headphone market….
The SKEYE Hexa Drone is the latest flying gadget from our friends at TRNDlabs. Forgoing the typical four-propeller design, the Hexa Drone has a six-propeller array that’s completely ready to go straight out of the box. The additional two propellers give the drone more stability in the air. The SKEYE Hexa Drone comes ready to fly for $59!
I recently had the opportunity to use and test a composite case for my 12-inch MacBook from Urban Armor Gear. This manufacturer’s sample states it is military grade and drop-tested. Although I’m not about to start drop-testing my MacBook, I have no reason to believe it’s not military grade. It feels very sturdy and well-built, while remaining lightweight. So as I just mentioned, my initial reaction is that it is really light. I’m sensitive to things that add bulk to the MacBook since it’s size and weight are a key part of what makes it so nice to travel with….
If you’re a coffee drinker like myself, you know the struggle of waking up in the morning, creating your own brew, and even worse, finding that mug of cup that will keep that House Blend warm as you go on your daily commute. Well over the course of CES, as well as a few weeks prior to that, I had the pleasure of reviewing the HeyJoe Coffee Mug which solves a lot of problems we all have throughout the morning. Originally a Kickstarter that has since been in full production, the HeyJoe Coffee Mug is the first coffee mug to…
Last year Dan and I took a look at the Blue Mo-Fi Headphones, and to this day, they are still among my favorites. At $349, the Mo-Fi might be a bit out of grasp for the casual audiophile, though. If you don’t necessarily need the built-in amplifier the Mo-Fi sports, then you should consider the comparably built, less expensive Lola. Included in the box are the Lola headphones, a soft travel case, an almost 4-foot long flat tangle-free audio cable with Apple iPhone/iPad controls and microphone, an (insanely long) flat 10-foot audio cable, and a 3.5mm-to-1/4 inch adaptor. If you…
V-MODA headphones have consistently impressed me with their build quality, design, and sound. In fact, V-MODA tends to serve up some of the best, cleanest audio I have ever experienced. Now they have brought that same aesthetic and audio excellence to a pair of wireless headphones. In a word… the V-MODA Crossfade Wireless Headphones are nothing short of unfreaking amazing!
If you got an iPhone or iPad over the holidays, you’ll soon need more than the original cable that came in your box. Why? Because those flimsy white cables are notorious for fraying and falling apart. When you’re ready to buy a more substantial cable, take a look at the new Lander Neve.
The ZTE Spro 2 is an Android-based pico projector with a built-in 5” touchscreen that, when paired with an activated Verizon SIM card, can serve as a wireless hot spot with 4G speeds. It has an internal speaker and battery as well, making it a great all-in-one solution for presentations on the go. The Spro 2 currently sells for $499.98. Breaking the mold from conventional pico projectors, the ZTE Spro 2 has a built-in touchscreen tablet so that it’s easy to operate and can used with or without a separate media player. With Android 4.4 KitKat running, you’ve got access…
In the grand scheme of things, USB wall chargers probably don’t rate too highly on your list of “things that should be pretty”, but it’s nice when one comes along that not only looks good, it also does a fab job of quickly charging your USB powered gear; that’s the Just Mobile AluPlug.
When you think of protective iPhone cases, you probably imagine something bulky and cumbersome, like Otterbox and other similar styles. But if you want serious protection that doesn’t add a lot of bulk or weight to your incredibly thin iPhone 6/S Plus, you need look no further than the Lander Powell. Before we jump into the case review, let’s talk about the package. At first glance, it seems a bit much for what should be a simple iPhone case … But upon further examination, you’ll find that the packaging is actually a reusable, somewhat waterproof two-piece rubber travel box; the paper wrapper…
If you’re looking for an excellent sound system for a space in your home for the holidays, well look no further. I had the opportunity to review the Creative T4 Wireless Bluetooth Sound System, and I’ve been holding off on reviewing the T4 Speakers for a few weeks as I’ve been enjoying them quite a bit in my home, and wanted to give an accurate review of how great they are, both in sound and in overall quality. Now when you first see the packaging, it’s pretty much like all of Creative’s products. They make it a mission to highlight not…