I’m hesitant to describe the Incipio offGRID Portable Backup Battery 4000mAh as “cute” but it’s actually kind of cute… for an external backup battery. The bright colors, soft-touch material and cable-holder come together in a rather attractive way. Add in the accessible price of $49.99 and you have an impressive way to stay charged on the go.
In late 2012, along with 3400+ other people I backed a Kickstarter project called Instacube (which has since been renamed Hashtag Cube, or #Cube). The premise was simple: it was to be a stand-alone Android-based device that would wirelessly stream and display Instagram photos, when you could only view Instagram photos on iOS or Android devices. I backed at the early adopter $99 level, and the wait began.
It didn’t really occur to me when I reviewed Levin-Minnemann-Rudess, but Marco Minnemann was the brilliant drummer behind Trey Gunn’s Modulator – both of which are important for this review. Now he is back with ‘Eeps’, a solo effort in the truest sense of the term – playing all of the instruments and writing the songs, he delivers a breathtaking experience.
Every now and then an item comes in for review that surprises me and is far better than I expected it to be; that’s certainly the case with the Polaroid Cube action camera. This camera is under $100 and yet it performs surprisingly well and gets the job done. Let’s take a closer look at it and some video from it.
It never fails: I travel somewhere that is known for its wine, and I find myself with a bottle to bring home. Packing the bottle safely can be tricky, though. I’ve had bottles break that were inside the bubble wrap bags that some wine stores sell, but I think I have found a solution in the inflatable VinniBag travel accessory! It’s marketed for wine, but you can also use the 22″ x 8″ inflatable VinniBag to safely transport anything that fits inside — things like camera lenses, coffee cups, and other small breakables. Think outside the box, too; the VinniBag floats, so you can…
Being new parents, my wife and I are always on the lookout for new and innovative baby products. We recently received the D-Link DCS-825L Wi-Fi Baby Camera for review, and we are absolutely floored by the 720p HD video quality along with the number of features jam-packed into this little camera. The DCS-825L retails for $179.99.
I’ve written about many external battery packs that hold 9,000mAh or more, but I haven’t covered much in the sub-5000mAh area, and that’s a shame. If I’m going out for the evening, I’ll inevitably need a boost, but I won’t want to carry a bulky battery pack; that’s where the lipstick-sized Anker Astro Mini comes in. It’s evening bag friendly.
We reviewed the Harman Kardon Esquire a short time ago and were impressed; it sounds as gorgeous as it looks. I was thrilled to see that the company was releasing the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini Bluetooth Portable Speaker. This smaller version of the Esquire is under $150, and it has the same refined look and feel as its big brother.
Lesson 1: External batteries are a must-have item when traveling. Even if it just for a day. Lesson 2: Pay attention to lesson 1. Each time I disregard Lessons 1 and 2 I have issues. Most recently I DID have an external battery, but it was too small for my needs. The Juno Power Konnect Two 9000 External Battery isn’t.
The Genius DVR-FHD568 is the new dash cam powerhouse on the market today. This high-def vehicle recorder can record up to 1080p resolution with a 140-degree lens and crisp 2.4” LCD screen on the back. This dash cam also has a built-in G sensor, which detects a crash and will protect that specific video file. The Genius DVR-FHD568 retails for $169.99.
Marshall, Marshall, Marshall…sorry, couldn’t resist. You see, I have three Marshall sound reproduction devices sitting in front of me in the form of Minor in-ear headphones, Major on-ear headphones and new Marshall Monitor headphones. Marshall, long known for its electric sound reproduction equipment for stage and studio now offers a full line of wearables for our digital lives.
My synagogue’s executive director recently asked me to look into purchasing a conferencing device so Board members unable to attend our monthly meeting could still be part of the conversation. I’ll admit it never would have occurred to me to check out the IPEVO VX-1 Internet Conference Station were I not offered one for review. I was and am impressed.
If you are looking for thin, light and inexpensive protection for your iPhone 6, then you owe it to yourself to check out the Evutec Karbon Osprey S Series for iPhone 6. Evutec isn’t a familiar name to many, but it should be. Their cases are Kevlar reinforced, feather light, supermodel thin, and they offer terrific value.
Destiny has come calling to gamers everywhere as Bungie, the game producer that brought the world Halo, offers several game elements, styles, and genres in one action role-playing, first-person shooter (FPS). Though the story gets deeper than needed, players can easily find amazing experiences, challenges and victories amid a post-apocalyptic world set 700 years into the future.
One of the best things about the release of a new iPhone design is the commensurate release of new Element Case cases. We’re huge fans of their products and the Element Case Soft-Tec Case for iPhone 6 is a reminder why. The folio-style case is thin, light, highly protective, nicely functional and, perhaps best of all, it is under $50.
When selecting a messenger bag, especially to actually use on a bicycle like they were originally intended for, balance is everything. It’s important to maintain a proper balance between being big enough to hold your stuff and not too bulky to ride with. And the actual balance of the payload is critical. The Altego Lunar Mirror Messenger has it all!
Ask me what my favorite headphones are, and I’ll list three or four different models. Ask me what my favorite tablet stand is and I’ll answer, “The FLOTE M2 Floorstand Tablet Stand.” (Reviewed here.) Now another tablet stand is giving the M2 a run for its money; the FLOTE Orbit is the M2’s smaller sibling, and it is awesome.
If you are looking for a Bluetooth wireless speaker that offers a clean yet rugged look and serves plenty of bass for under $150 you’ll want to check out the JBL Charge 2. This is a seriously loud portable speaker. Better still, as the name suggests, this speaker can double as an external battery for your phone or tablet.
Moguls Mobile is a new mobile accessories company that was started by Daymond John, known for founding the FUBU clothing line as well as appearing as an investor on TV’s Shark Tank. Moguls Mobile has an innovative new screen protector that acts as a high-definition mirror while your phone’s screen is off. The Mogul Mirror screen protector retails for $19.99.
I spent a week in Israel this past summer and pretty much everywhere we went, my friends Robyn, Menachem and I took a selfie and shared it on social media. (If there is more than one person is it called an “Us-ie?” just wondering…) I really wish we had the Satechi Smart Selfie Extension Arm with us at the time!
Can you ever have too many USB ports available? That’s a silly question; of course you can’t, and that applies whether you are at home, at work, or traveling. So here’s something that’ll help take some of the burden off of your laptop’s ports, allowing you to travel with just one power source: the Lumsing 5 Port USB Travel Charger. Measuring approximately 5.3″ long x 2.75″ wide x 1.25″ thick, the Lumsing charger is compact enough to fit into a pocket in your laptop bag, gear bag, larger purse, or briefcase, but it is powerful enough that it can charge up to five devices at once using USB…