Reviews

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…


iLuv Premium Audio Cables Review

You know you have hit true geekdom when you get excited over cables. Yes, I hit a new “tech low” (or is it “high”) when I heard about iLuv’s new line of premium audio and charge/sync data cables and I actually got excited about them. (It is like Elana getting excited when she received her first piece of Le Creuset cookware. I just could not understand it.) And while I have to call the company out for Press Release hyperbole such as “iLuv’s audio and data cables revolutionize the market in quality and design” (“revolutionize the market”?? seriously?), now that…


AmpliTube ‘Slash’ Signature Edition for iPhone and iPad Review

Back in 2010 Travis reviewed the iRig and initial AmpliTube app for the iPhone. My wife and kids bought me one soon after it was released, and I have used it for the past couple of years, first with the standard Amplitube app and more recently with the custom-branded Fender edition. AmpliTube has earned a reputation for great sound and accurate modeling with excellent effects, and hope to continue this winning trend with their newly released ‘AmpliTube Slash Signature Edition’, which celebrates the famed Guns N Roses guitarist’s favored Marshall stacks, along with a host of presets and effects. Let’s…



iLID MK-1 iPhone case/Stand/Wallet Combination Video Look

The iLID began life as a Kickstarter Project. (Here’s the page.) I got in on it later, so I ordered one retail (I ended up with two, so be on the lookout for a giveaway). Here’s what the website has to say about it. The World’s Thinnest iPhone Wallet! The iLID iPhone 4 Wallet Case is the thinnest Wallet iPhone (Patent Pending) in the world. Its ultra-thin 17mm profile means you’ll never be weighed down by an iPhone Wallet again. MSRP: $39.95 What I Like: Light; Not as thick as I expected; Let’s you go out with just your phone; The…


SPIGEN SGP GLAS.t Screen Protector for iPad, Review

We recently reviewed SPIGEN SGP’s GLAS.t screen protector for the iPhone 4S. (Read the review.) The review sample was my second GLAS.t for iPhone because, quite frankly, I messed up the install on the first. Thankfully, the second one went better and, while still not perfect, the screen protector is good enough that I continue to use it. Honestly, at this point, I would not consider using a different screen protector. The company has now released a version of the GLAS.t for the new iPad. At $69.99 it is pricey (!!!) which leaves open the question, “Is it worth the…


Satechi Audio Cube Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

I love my iOS devices and use them constantly– but I have one problem. The speakers on the devices are terrible and I love to listen to podcasts, especially when writing for Gear Diary. Headphones or speakers are nearly a must, even in a quiet room. Maybe it is too much blasting of speaker systems in high school, too many car races or too many guns, but, for me, ambient noise washes out a voice on a podcast. Given the choice, I would always prefer to go wireless. (And once you have used a wireless speaker for a time wired…


2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 Most Powerful Jeep Yet

With gas prices continuing to drop across the U.S., perhaps it is time to start thinking about that “impulse” purchase you put off when a gallon of the precious fuel rose to near 4-bucks-per. I recommend Jeep’s new “MUV” or Musclecar Utility Vehicle. Recently we spent a week in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, the most powerful production Jeep on the road, period. SRT has released an SRT8 Grand Cherokee previously but for 2012 the hot rod gets the beefier 470hp 6.4-liter V-8 HEMI that also delivers 465 lb. ft. of torque. And get this – the new Jeep still…


Ballistics Life Style Case for iPhone 4/4S Review

The iPhone is an elegant device. So much has gone into the design, yet we all seem to cover them with cases. Most cases are used for protection, but there are also people who use them for style. I do prefer to protect my device, but if it is to be covered, I prefer protection also. Large, bulky cases protect the phone well, but I find them to be extremely ugly and hate the bulk. Most options available that keep bulk down provide a limited amount of protection. I recently had the chance to try to try out the Life…


Fix It Up World Tour for the Mac Game Review

Earlier this year I reviewed the iPad version of Fix-it-up: World Tour and found that it improved up on the fun but flawed original in every way. Even after the third game in the series arrived and tweaked my 80s nostalgia, World Tour remained my favorite. When G5 told me they were releasing the game for the Mac, my thought was ‘if they do a decent port this will be a great Mac game’! So let’s see how they did! The Hype: Go global in this fantastic strategy adventure! In this sequel to “Fix-it-up: Kate’s Adventure”, you must help Kate…


Case-Mate RPET 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC CASE for iPhone 4 / 4S

We recently brought word that Case-Mate was releasing a new line of cases for the iPhone 4S that are made completely from recycled plastic. What is key here is the fact that they don’t just use SOME recycled plastic but the cases are made from 100% recycled materials. That’s a good thing. Let’s take a look at the review sample they sent over. From Case-Mate: One bottle, one case. Do your part with the eco-friendly rPET Barely There case. Molded from 100% recycled material, the translucent, glossy finish showcases more of your iPhone. Its ultra-lightweight, minimalist design delivers a stylish…



DRACOdesign CLEAVE CRYSTAL Bumper for iPhone 4/4S review

So you love the look of those fancy aluminum-frame designed iPhone cases but don’t love the added weight or the impact they can have on the iPhone’s signal strength. Well good news… DRACOdesign’s CLEAVE CRYSTAL Bumper for iPhone 4/4S offers the same great style in a plastic case that is light and has zero (ZERO!) impact on your phone’s signal. Let’s take a look. From DRACOdesign: This crystal edition iphone4/4S bumper, CLEAVE, is an extension of DRACO IV. By using polycarbonate as base material, the bumper is hard on the surface to prevent from scratch with elasticity around the frame…


Sena Lugano Snap-On Case for Apple iPhone 4S/4 Review

Sena makes great cases. We love them. Their leather is gorgeous and the build-quality is always terrific. What is also great about them is that they are continually coming out with new designs and trying to rethink how they approach something as simple as an iPhone case. Case in point (sorry, bad pun), the Sena Lugano Snap-On Case for Apple iPhone 4S/4. It is a simple, low-profile case, a design that is quite familiar, but because this is from Sena it has the added luxury of… leather. Let’s take a look. From Sena: Lugano is the SENA’s Snap-On Case for…


Big Green Egg vs. Primo XL: Kamado Dragons Face Off in the Ceramic Grill Octagon

Anyone who is slightly befuddled by the title of this post probably isn’t a member of the cult of ceramic grills, which are also known by their Japanese name of kamado grills. I used to be one of those people who sneered at my friends who went on and on about how wonderful their Big Green Eggs were and how they could cook perfect ribs or chickens or pork shoulders all the time because of the incredibly well-insulated ceramic grills’ ability to hold a constant temperature for so long.


Speck FitFolio Case for Kindle Fire Review

I love my Kindle Fire and use it regularly, nestled in the Oberon ‘Celtic Hounds’ design case. I am very happy with the feel and utility of that case, so anything else has a tough road against the incumbent. Speck recently sent us a FitFolio case to review for the Kindle Fire, so let’s have a look! The Hype: FitFolio is a Kindle Fire case that combines the fit of a precision-molded hard shell case, with the cover-to-cover protection in a book-style folio. The form-fit hard-shell cradle keeps your Kindle Fire securely in place, so it doesn’t slip or slide,…


IK Multimedia iKlip Studio for iPad Review

Every now and then you come across an accessory that after using it seems so obvious, so necessary, that you can’t believe it took two years for someone to bring it out. THAT, in short, described my feelings about the iKlip Studio from IK Multimedia. Let’s take a look! The Hype: -Sturdy, durable, lightweight, shock-resistant thermoplastic construction holds your iPad securely without scratching or marring it -Rubber foot pads grip the desktop and prevent unwanted sliding -Flexible orientation allows iKlip Studio to be tilted from a very low-profile angle to near-vertical positioning -The device can be quickly rotated between its…