Reviews | Gear Diary

1 Voice Beanie with Bluetooth Stereo Built In

The other day we reviewed the 808 SoundCap beanie with built-in speakers. One comment on the video review stated, “Meh, should have been Bluetooth.” Well it just so happens we have a 1 Voice Beanie with wireless stereo headphones on hand for review. And I do agree with the commenter — the SoundCap is great but cutting the cord and having a wireless, albeit pricier, Bluetooth option is even better. The cap is a great way to stay warm, is available in a variety of colors and… it delivers wireless sound on the go. From 1 Voice: The 1 Voice…

Reviews

Illustrate Word Quiz App Boosts Your English Skills

The new Illustrate Word Quiz increases your English language knowledge using picture and video content that can boost your vocabulary and overall skills with dynamic, varied topics that match your skill level in short, entertaining sessions plus developers are offering a holiday present with special codes for more coins and unlocked topics.

Game Diary, Reviews

Survivors: The Quest Asks If You Have What it Takes to Stay Alive

I have enjoyed survival simulation games from G5 such as The Island: Castaway in the past, which was pretty much what I assumed Survivors: The Quest would be like. But it is much more – it is a story-driven, quest-focused adventure-survival game with RPG elements. And within minutes of starting the game I was hooked.

Reviews

Monster Mobile PowerCard Turbo Portable External Battery

Monster Mobile describes their PowerCard Turbo external battery as “The Universal Smartphone Charger.” And while I’m not sure I would call it “THE” universal smartphones charger, it certainly holds its own thanks to its small size and built-in 3350mAh battery.

Reviews

Inateck BP-2001 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

This portable Bluetooth speaker from Inateck functions with various devices as well as PC and Mac computers. The BP-2001 portable bluetooth speaker also boasts quality sound in most applications and has a convenient device placement option on top that puts it a step above the average sound speaker.

Reviews

Liquid Plastic Welder Bondic Is an Incredible Do-It-Yourself Tool

If you need a last minute Christmas gift for a do-it-yourselfer, you’ve got to check out Bondic. It’s the world’s first Liquid Plastic Welder. The full system fits in a package the size of a pen case and can quickly and easily fix, bond, and fill anything and cures within four seconds. The Bondic Complete Starter Kit sells for $21.99.

Reviews

808 Soundcap Keeps Your Head Warm and Your Music Going

Ah, winter in the northeast. This season was made for crackling fires, warm apple cider, heated steering wheels, and… The 808 Soundcap. The Soundcap may sound a bit cheesy but, to be honest, I’m a fan. It promises to keep me warm AND let me enjoy my music this winter. And for just $19.99, it is a great last-minute stocking stuffer.

Reviews

Anker’s Astro 6400mAh External Battery Is a Slam Dunk

Anker’s new 2nd Generation Astro External Battery may be one of the smartest external batteries that I’ve ever used. It’s PowerIQ USB port recognizes the power requirements of your specific device and sends just the right amount of power at just the right speed for that device. The 6400mAh capacity Astro External Battery retails for $59.99.

Reviews

Guardian Angel Outlet Review: Protect Your Children

Make electricity safe this holiday season. The Guardian Angel Outlet protects users, particularly young ones, by going beyond simply putting plastic plugs in regular electrical outlets for safety. This easy-to-install outlet temporarily shutting down the electricity using “smart”, “capacitive sensing” technology when potential danger is near while still supplying electricity through the outlet.

Reviews

Poetic FlipBook for Sony Xperia Z3 Review: Inexpensive Protection

My experience using my Sony Xperia Z2 on vacation as my in-pool ebook reader and underwater camera prompted me to pick up the Xperia Z3 when I got home. That meant I need a Sony Xperia Z3 case. That’s where Poetic came in. Their FlipBook is inexpensive protection simplicity. The poetic FlipBook for the Z2 surprised me. It was inexpensive but far nicer than its low price suggested. That’s why I immediately ordered the version for the Z3. At $16 it’s anything but pricey. And yet it looks and feels great. There is, as you will see in the video…

Game Diary, Reviews

Mahjong Journey Is a Fun, Casual, Free-to-Play Game to Pass the Time

Mahjong is the classic tile-matching game that seems to have existed since the earliest handheld systems, at least since the Newton MessagePad. G5 has released two great Mahjong games in the past, which I reviewed here and here. Now they are back with a free-to play Mahjong game that takes you on a journey through Asia solving puzzle after puzzle.

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

ProClip Keeps My iPhone 6+ Safe on the Road

I recently upgraded to an iPhone 6+ and a 2015 Lexus IS 250 F-Sport. A new phone and a new car meant I needed to rethink how I used technology on the go. The car has Apple’s EyesFree, but I still need a safe, secure place for my phone to charge. That’s where ProClip came in quite handy. I’ve used ProClips’s products on and off for many years and am consistently impressed with the quality and selection. The products can become pricey rather quickly, but you get what you pay for in many cases, and that certainly is true here. In addition, the system tends…

Game Diary, Reviews

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Review on PlayStation 3

The fast paced, double stick, and multi-directional shooter franchise continues as Geometry Wars³: Dimensions features online play, leaderboards, furious music, and new boss fights plus a single player campaign mode called “Adventure” where movement is the key to success as players can enjoy a retro title full of content and fun.

Reviews

Dog & Bone Makes a Wetsuit for your Phone – Yes, Really

A wetsuit for your phone? Are you kidding me? This I gotta see. This was my initial reaction when reading the press release for the new Wetsuit waterproof case for the iPhone 6 by Australian accessory company Dog & Bone. Yes, the Wetsuit is designed to make your device waterproof and shock-proof while allowing direct touch access to the screen.

Game Diary, Reviews

’80 Days’ Is a Journey Worth Taking on iOS or Android

Think about this – interactive ‘build your own adventure’ storybook plugged into a role-playing adventure, based on the classic Jules Verne story ‘Around the World in 80 Days‘. Seems like a lot – but when put in the hands of Inkle Studios, the result is an amazing game that recently topped Time’s ‘Top 10 Video Games of 2014’!

Outdoors, Reviews, Travel

Luci by MPOWERD Inflatable/Rechargeable Outdoor Solar Lantern Review

This inflatable, rechargeable solar lantern from Luci by MPOWERD has great durability, easy use, and convenient applications when you’re hiking, fishing, camping, biking, boating, barbecuing, by the pool or anywhere else where you might need some outdoor illumination. Also available in aura, lux, and original models.

Music Diary, Reviews

Feel the Beat with iRig Pads Controller by IK Multimedia

IK Multimedia has had a great 2014, starting with the iRig Keys Pro, then the iRig Voice, iRing, iRig Pro and more. Now they are closing out the year by jumping into the pad controller ring with iRig Pads, a fully MIDI compliant controller for iOS and the Mac with multiple connectivity options and controller configurations.

Reviews

IVSO Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Case Protects for Pennies

Ivso has become my go-to company when I am looking for decent but inexpensive cases for Non-Apple devices. The IVSO Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet compact case is a great Android tablet case in point. It’s price is under $30, and you can get it through Amazon for half that.

Game Diary, Reviews

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Review on PlayStation 4

Now that this LEGO game series has connected the Dark Knight and Boy Wonder to their DC superhero counterparts, developers TT (Traveller’s Tales) expand LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham‘s gameplay with even more action, content, and extras plus the first ever Season Pass for a LEGO game to nab all the substantial downloadable content (DLC) and extras nicely coinciding with Batman’s 75th anniversary.

Music Diary, Reviews

Mary Halvorson Invokes Past, Present, and Future with ‘Reverse Blue’

In 1962 Sonny Rollins created what remains my favorite album of his – The Bridge, with a quartet featuring guitarist Jim Hall. The interplay of guitar and saxophone on top of bass and drums has continued to fascinate me for the last 30+ years, and is one of the reasons I find the new Mary Halvorson project ‘Reverse Blue’ fascinating.

Reviews

Marshall Headphones iPhone 5S Case Review

The name Marshall is usually held in high regards with most musicians. The iconic amplifier and headphone brand has been cranking out epic sound as long as instruments have been electrified. They currently offer an iPhone 5S case for just $20. You can now wrap your iPhone in the look and feel of the famous Marshall amps. Let’s take a look.