Reviews

The WhaleTail Tablet Vacuum Dock and Handle Review

I do a lot of news items here at GD — just keeping you folks abreast of new offerings, deals, and the like.  Every once in a while an item pops up that makes me think, “Yeah, okay, I’ve gotta give that a try.”  Such an item was the Octa WhaleTail tablet stand/holder.  I mean, it just looked cool, and I have been in search of a decent “holder” for my iPad ever since I got it.  Not just to hold it up on a table, but also to hold it up, ya know, in front of my face.  This…


a-JAYS ONE+ Headphones Review

In recent years we have seen an increasing number of headphones that use tangle-free, flat cords. They really do help you avoid having to deal with the tangled mess that is wired headphones. Plus, they look and feel neat. That’s why I was excited to review the a-JAYS One+ headset when it was offered to me. After all, not everyone can afford $150 for in-ear headphones, and that’s what I’ve been reviewing lately. At $59.99, the a-JAYS ONE+ look like a bargain. I was even more excited when I saw the box. It is unusually done in oval-shaped plastic., and…


ReAuthored for New iPad; from Dead Tree Book to iPad Case

We’ve seen a lot of cases for the iPad (and there are many more to come). Some follow a familiar theme, while others are more unique. The case we are looking at in this review is one of those “more unique” ones. It comes from a company called ReAuthored, and it gives new life to old books even as it protects the “book-killer” that is the iPad. The iPad cases they offer are approximately 11″ high, 8.5″ wide and .5″ deep. They weigh about a pound. Why are the dimensions and weight just “approximate”? Simple. ReAuthored cases are made from…




Us+U Swivel Portfolio for Kindle Fire Review

Sarah has had a Kindle Fire since Christmas, and she loves it. She uses it for reading, watching movies, and playing games. For a while her primary case was one she found at Brookstone that was clearly a repurposed Blackberry Playbook case. So Sarah was very excited when we had the chance to check out the US+U Swivel Portfolio! US+U is not just a typical case maker though. They give 3% of the net revenue from each case to various charities, meaning purchasing this case does more than outfit your Fire, it does something good for the world at the…


GasBuddy for iPhone

I know I am old and have finally become “that guy”. You know, the one that tells the kids how gas went sky-high during high school during the first Gulf War. It actually went over $1 a gallon, and we could not cruise town near as much as we could the summer before. Wow! Were those not the days? Driving across town seems to break the bank with today’s gas prices. My wife and I have a habit of watching gas prices as we travel. We do not always stop when we see a deal, but one of us always…


DiRT Showdown for PlayStation 3 Review

The latest instalment in the award winning DiRT video game series features racing events, demolition derbies, and special stunt (a.ka. Hoonigan) events plus split-screen multiplayer and online options with competitive challenges in on and off-line modes.


Jabra Supreme UC Bluetooth Headset and USB Adapter Review

We took a look at the Jabra Supreme headset back in October. (Read the review.) It was an impressive Bluetooth headset; it offered active noise cancellation, and the headset was designed for noisy environments. The active noise cancellation cut through much of the ambient noise and allowed for clear conversations on both sides. Sure, the active noise cancellation created a funky feeling in the ear, but the pay off was clear, clean, crisp phone calls. Also impressive was the actual design. While I don’t tend to be a fan of large noticeable Bluetooth headsets, this particular offering has the convenience…



Gear Diary Outdoors, MyGunDB Intelligent Firearms Solutions

As a South Texas country boy and an avid hunter, I have a love for firearms. Shotguns, pistols, rifles, if it goes bang, I want one. I often tell people owning a firearm is like eating potato chips…you can’t have just one. While my collection is far from finished, I do have several pieces and am always looking for ways to keep records of them. They are all under lock and key in a large gun safe both to protect against theft as well as keep my kids’ hands off of them. As the number of weapons grows, so does…


2012 Kia Rio Review

For the last several days, I have had the opportunity to tool around in a 2012 Kia Rio. It’s a cute, sporty, very compact car, and it has been quite a difference from my usual car, a Toyota Prius, and Sarah’s car, a Volkswagen Jetta. It has a lot of impressive features, and a few things I found to be annoying. Read on to learn more! So, let’s start with the basics. This is what Kia calls an “entry-level” car, and it retails for around $18,000, making it very affordable. Now, to get the price that low, there are certain…


Twelve South BookBook for iPad Review; It’s Updated and Awesome!

Twelve South just announced a brand new product that isn’t brand-new. Their new BookBook for iPad is a complete redesign that warrants a post in and of itself because it takes an interesting iPad case concept and turns it into something extraordinary. I’ve had an early release version of it for about a week and I can honestly say this is one of the most interesting and functional cases I have used in a long time. I thought we would let the company speak about the case in writing while I talk about it on video so let’s take a…


Sonos SUB Reviewed; It Brings “Soul-Shaking Sound and Heart-Pounding Design”

If there is one line of products with which I have been totally enamored it is the Sonos system I purchased a bit over a year ago. To recall my experience with Sonos: I had long been interested in the company and their wireless audio system, but I had never actually seen or heard one in action. I reached out to the company, and they were kind enough to send a loaner system for review. I got it, opened the boxes, set up the system (it took me just a few minutes), and turned it on. I listened, then listened…


Us+U Simple Swivel for iPad 2 and 3 Review

Two cases from Us+U arrived last week. One, for the Kindle Fire, is on the way to Carly for a full review since Sarah LOVES her Fire. The other, the Simple Swivel, is for the iPad 2 and 3, so I took it out and ran it through its paces. When I first saw it I was not impressed. After all, the case doesn’t protect the screen and is made from “synthetic leather” which is simply a euphemism for cheap plastic. Actually, it’s not cheap at all; it feels quite good, but it’s still plastic. In addition, because of the…


SPIGEN SGP Ultra Thin Case for the New iPad, Review

I like a minimalist iPad case. Yup, I like a case that will help keep my iPad in pristine condition without adding a ton of weight to it. The balance between weight/bulk and style is often a difficult one to strike. The more fashionable cases tend to add to the size and heft of the iPad, while the minimalist protective systems often look and feel a bit cheap. With the Ultra Thin Case Series for the New iPad SPIGEN SGP has struck the right balance. The case all but disappears while still protecting the iPad from scratches. No, this is…


Keen Waimea H2, the Ugly Sandals You Will Love, Review

Warning, if you care about style do not read this post. Warning, if you’re self-conscious don’t read this post. Warning, if you can’t handle a bit of ridicule don’t read this post. Okay, if you are still reading this post then you clearly don’t care about style, aren’t all that self-conscious, and can handle a bit of ridicule from your peers. Good let’s get started. A little over a year and a half ago Carly wrote a few posts that discuss Vibram Five Finger shoes. (Check out last year’s lineup here.) They are the ugliest things I had ever seen…


iLuv Epicarp Slim Folio for the New iPad Review

When iLuv’s Epicarp Slim Folio for the New iPad first arrived at my home, I was not impressed. It is thin, remarkably light and the plastic material feels… well let’s just say it does not feel substantial. (UNDERSTATEMENT!) The case truly lives up to its name when referred to as a “slim folio”. It is a folio design into which the new iPad easily, but securely, snaps. And it is quite slim. It is so slim, in fact, that I could not imagine that iLuv had been able to include the magnets necessary to activate the iPad’s sleep/awake functionality. Hey,…


The Miniot Cover Mk2 for iPad Review

I have a secret that I never thought I would share with anyone, but I feel like I can tell you. I ordered one of the first magnetic covers that Miniot offered for the iPad 2. The idea of having a smart cover made of gorgeous wood was simply too enticing, so without reading the fine print (my fault, not Miniot’s!), I sent off for one and waited almost three months for it to arrive. And when it came, I was sorely disappointed. Although I absolutely loved the wood, and there was no denying the craftsmanship, the cover wasn’t exactly…


TP-Link TL-WR702N 150Mbps Wireless N Nano Router Review

A long time ago Apple released the Airport Express.   I have always wanted one of those, and I still kind of do for other reasons.  While the Airport Express does more than just WiFi and networking, its price is still a bit high.  I am sure there are even some who just want something of a similar size that JUST does networking.  Well, TP-Link has brought out something that is even smaller than Apple’s Airport express.  In fact, it is so small I can even fit it in a small pocket on the case I used to carry my…


Propel Man for iPhone

With temperatures soaring over 100 degrees here in South Texas, my boys and I have had to find some inside activities for the heat of the day this summer. We go to the pool around 9 am, then venture back out for trampoline and bikes in the evening. During the afternoons we are staying inside and trying to find new ways to entertain ourselves. Between movies, coloring, toys and video games we have done pretty well, but the boys wanted something new to try. I searched around and found a game called Propel Man. It looked interesting, so we downloaded…