Reviews

Etymotic ETY•Plugs HD Review- Protect Your Precious Ears

The other day Judie reviewed the VitaSound Personal Audio Enhancer PAE-300. This great little gadget is perfect for the person coping with some degree of hearing loss. Even Judie was surprised by how well it works and the fact that her daughter Sarah, the actual hands-on reviewer, is using it constantly. (Read the review.) It is fantastic that technology can help those with hearing loss. Better still however is taking steps to not have hearing issues in the first place. Sure, as Judie pointed out in the review, some hearing loss is genetic but there is a growing epidemic of…


A Trio of Terrific Tribute Albums!

I recently reviewed Al Di Meola’s ‘All Your Life’ album, which is a tribute to his lifelong love of the music of The Beatles. Tribute albums have been made since the dawn of recorded music, but have been especially popular since Hal Willner introduced the current formats in 1981. It has become a cliche for older rock and pop singers to put out their version of the ‘Great American Songbook’ at this point, and while tributes are often heartfelt, theme albums like that are usually a more cynical ‘cheap to make, easy to sell’ affair. So when a group of…


Sir Lancelot’s Armor Holy Grail Screen Protector Review

Screen protectors. They aren’t the most exciting of smartphone accessories. They are, however, rather important if you want to keep your smartphone’s screen pristine. The Holy Grail of screen protectors? One that is easy to install, nearly invisible when in place and uber-protective. After all, replacing an iPhone 5’s screen can cost well over $200. That’s where Sir Lancelot’s Armor Holy Grail Screen Protector comes in. This screen protector, which started as a Kickstarter project, is made of bullet proof glass. Is this a screen protector worthy of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table? Read on to…


Booq Boa Squeeze Graphite Backpack Review – Looks Cool, Gets the Job Done

I was on a train headed to Washington DC last year and saw someone getting off the train wearing a most unusual backpack. Instead of a square or sack-shaped backpack this one was curved. Moreover it was entirely black… my favorite. I sped up to get a closer look and was not surprised to discover it was made by booq. A bit more research when I got to my hotel revealed it was the booq Boa squeeze. I almost bought one at the time but never followed through. Then we got word that a new version, the booq Boa Squeeze…


Georgetown Dry Pannier from Detours Bike Bags Review – Keeps the Elements at Bay

I like to try to ride my bike whenever I can in an effort to burn off some of the extra pounds that I put on in my gig as a food writer. I have a Litespeed Titanium road bike that I ride for fitness, but it’s not very practical for in town use, especially since I use Speedplay pedal clips that make it almost impossible to walk in the specialized shoes when you’re not on the bike. So for just getting around town or riding to the YMCA and back (where I then go to a spin class ……


Spigen SGP Ultra Fit for the Samsung GALAXY S4 Review – Puts Your S4 On a Diet

If you are looking for a case that will give a bit of scratch protection to your Samsung GALAXY S4 while adding as little bulk and weight as possible, then you will want to check out the Spigen SGP Ultra Fit for the Samsung GALAXY S4. On Amazon for under $10, this case is just about as minimalist a case as you are going to find. No, it is not for the accident-prone S4 owner but those who tend to be careful with their smartphones and want a bit of extra protection will likely be quite happy! As you can…


VitaSound Personal Audio Enhancer PAE-300 Review – Hearing Help Where It Is Most Needed

There are several people in my family who have hearing troubles, some more severe than others. For instance, my mom started having degenerative hearing loss when she was in her early 20s, and for as long as I can remember she has worn hearing aids. My daughter, Sarah, has always had problems with certain tones; she has trouble discerning what people are saying if they don’t speak clearly or if they mumble, and she has used the closed caption setting on her TV to watch movies since she was 15 or so. I’ve had Sarah’s hearing tested, and although it’s…


Phiaton Bridge MS500 Headphones Review – They Offer Style, Comfort and Excellent Sound

Sexy and stylish are the only way I can describe the Phiaton Bridge MS500 headphones. That came as a surprise, considering I have been impressed with the sound of previous Phiaton headphones I’ve reviewed, but I would not have described any of them as particularly stylish. (The Moderna MS200 did come close.) The Bridge MS500 headphones bring style to the Phiaton lineup even as they bring a premium price tag of $299. Does high style merge with great sound when it comes to the company’s marque headphones offerings? Read on to find out.


First Impressions of the Merrell Vapor Glove Minimal Running Shoes

Carly did a great job reviewing Merrell’s philosophy of running shoes and some of their line-up earlier this year. This week the company sent me a pair of their most recent addition – the minimalist Vapor Glove. These are Merrell’s lightest shoes at a specified 5 oz per shoe (my scale in the video has them at 6oz … I blame the lousy scale), and have an ultra-light, breathable barefoot construction that puts barely anything between you and the ground. I decided to do a quick hands-on video while in the midst of my first run using the shoes –…


Eye-Fi Mobi Memory Card Review – Your Camera Wants One Now!

One of the big selling points of the Sony NEX-6 I recently purchased was the built-in WiFi that allows for wireless on-the-go transfers from the camera to an iOS device. (Yeah, I like the small size, awesome picture quality and interchangeable lenses too but this WiFi thing really caught my eye!) Fortunately you don’t need to go out and buy a new camera in order to get wireless on-the-go transfers of images from your camera to you mobile device. Eye-Fi’s new mobi SD card lets anyone add the functionality to just about any camera. And with an 8GB card running…


Red Crow Mysteries Legion Brings Another Great Hidden Object Mystery to the Mac

When I reviewed Red Crow Mysteries: Legion for the iPad, I was thrilled to check it out because I had enjoyed the games I had played by developer Cateia Games, including Where Angels Cry and Fate of the Pharoah. Each of these had compelling gameplay and interesting stories, so I assumed that would carry over to Red Crow Mysteries: Legion – and I was right! Let’s see how the port to the Mac went!


SETA Smartphone Stand Review

When I first set eyes on the SETA Smartphone Stand, I was initially underwhelmed.  Not knowing anything about the product before receiving the review sample, I saw the simple stand thought, “What’s the big deal?”  Then, I did my research and realized that this stand is more than just something to lean your smartphone against.  Once I peeled off the plastic protective cover and placed my phone on the pad, I was instantly impressed.  The SETA Smartphone Stand may be one of the best smartphone stands on the market.


Pilot Brothers 2 HD for iPad Review – Hit that Hint Button!

I have to confess that I didn’t really ‘get’ the original Pilot Brothers game, but by the end I enjoyed myself and was able to recommend the game to others. I still never really followed what was going on, or the reasoning behind the different capabilities for each brother, but the charm of the presentation and the overall fun and challenge won me over. Now that Pilot Brothers 2 is out, will I enjoy it as much?


Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard Strikes All the Right Keys

I have been using Apple’s Bluetooth Keyboard pretty consistently ever since I made the move to Mac. I have used one with my various iMacs, and I also use one at home with my laptop, since I elevate the computer on one of a number of stands and use a separate keyboard and mouse. This arrangement is not only better ergonomically and puts less strain on my neck, but it also keeps the computer off the desk or countertop surface just in case something spills (I started doing this after I dumped an entire glass of Crystal Light into my…


The Stinger Portable Bug Zapper Review – Swat and Fry Annoying Flying Pests

We’ve been enjoying a wetter than usual summer in my part of Texas, and although the rain has been extremely welcome due to the drought we’ve been dealing with for the past two-years, our warm climate has coupled with the rain to create a bug population explosion of unwelcome proportions. This might not be too big of a deal, if we could just keep those unwelcome critters outside, but alas. Our home has clear glass doors, and the bugs have been so bad that if we have a light on inside the house at night, whatever door or window is closest to…


Scosche RH1056md Headphones Review – They Will Rock Your World

To say that I have been impressed with the Scosche RH1056MD Reference Grade On Ear Headphones with tapLINE Remote and Microphone would be an understatement. It is not that these are the best sounding or most comfortable over-the-ear headphones on the market; they aren’t. But they do look good, fit and sound quite good, and for under $150, they are an excellent value. The RH1056MD reference headphones, which ship with an abundant collection of accessories that add even more value to an already impressive package, have 40mm drivers and are designed with a custom blend of mylar, precision wound copper…


Al Di Meola Remembers The Beatles with ‘All Your Life’

It is hard to imagine it now, but for jazz musicians in the 1960s, wanting to play the music of The Beatles could result in being ostracized by your peers. So it was a bold move by folks like Wes Montgomery making a Beatles album, but his career was being pushed in a pop-jazz direction by his managers so his fans were more forgiving. But for those who grew up listening to the music there was a conflict as they were trying to become established as ‘serious’ musicians while being told that there was no place in serious music for…


iStabilizer Glass Car Mount Goes Along for the Ride

If you are looking for a windshield mount that will hold your smartphone with ease while offering a good degree of flexibility you will want to check out the iStabilizer Glass windshield mount for smartphones. It is part of the company’s growing line of smartphone and tablet accessories and, like all of the other products from iStabilizer, I’m rather impressed.


Blue Microphone’s Spark Digital Review – Brings Clarity to Audio Recording

If you are looking to record good audio with your computer AND your iOS device, then you will want to check out Blue Microphone’s Spark Digital. The company is proud to note that the Spark Digital is “the world’s first studio condenser microphone to offer both USB and iPad connectivity”. What that means to us as consumers and content creators is simple — if you want one microphone that does an excellent job of recording audio on both your Mac and your iPhone this is the microphone for you. At $199.95 the Spark Digital is not inexpensive but when you consider…


Designed by M AL13 AeroSpace Aluminum Bumper for iPhone 5 Review

This is my kind of iPhone case.  I absolutely hate bulky, oversized phone cases.  This is a very personal feeling, of course, being that I don’t tend to drop my phone very often.  I lean heavily towards bumper-style cases since I always keep my phone in my pocket and do not want any added bulk in the pocket of my jeans.  As soon as I started opening the shipping box that this bumper came in, I was impressed by a packaging design that signified the product was designed with care.  The AL13 AeroSpace Aluminum Bumper by Designed by m is…


Tornado – an American Red Cross App for Android Review

After reading Travis’s post on the alerts being added to iOS, I started thinking about actual apps instead of the textual messages that the federally mandated messaging being built into the handsets.  Can they do it better? I loaded another couple of apps on my phone in preparation of the last line of storms that rolled through the Columbus, Ohio area.  The last line that rolled through our area was supposed to be similar to the Derecho that rolled through our area last year, so needless to say I was on alert! I loaded two additional apps to test during this…