Fitness watches are enjoying a very sudden surge in popularity. People are buzzing about Fitbit, and Nike Fuel, and quantifying their movements and sleep for optimal health. Magellan is entering that market with the new Echo Fit, a “smart sports watch” that uses Bluetooth to sync to various fitness apps, from Runkeeper to Strava and plenty others.
Back in June I reviewed iRig Voice, which is a great fun microphone for amateurs with a solid feature set and a great price. Now they have released the iRig Mic HD, which steps up the features and sound quality and is more suited to budget-minded professionals and those seeking to make professional-sounding recordings. From IK Multimedia: iRig Mic HD is the only mobile digital condenser microphone designed for live handheld performance and recording. It delivers high-quality digital sound via an electret condenser capsule, a 24-bit audiophile-grade A/D converter (with 44.1/48 kHz sample rate) and a built-in low-noise high-definition preamp….
It’s hard to believe it’s been just a little over a year since Google released the cheapest set-top “box” there is, the Chromecast. Initially, I wasn’t too enthused. After hearing how my friends liked it, I figured why not make the jump? It would give me some entertainment when I was on the road as well. Since picking it up, I’ve completely fallen in love.
It's been said for a very long time that the digital camera as a standalone gadget is a dying business. Smartphones are getting better as cameras, and as apps improve shooting and sharing photos, it has become less and less important to have a standalone camera. This past week I had two experiences that really sealed that message for me.
Cables to charge and sync devices are a boring, uninspiring but important part of a modern mobile life. Every smartphone and tablet ships with one, so aftermarket cables may seem like a waste of money. But they are cheap, and many of us need cables in various locations. That’s where the TYLT Syncable Charge and Sync Cable comes in.
When the Fitbit Flex came out, I ordered. It took about 15 minutes to realize that I hated its bracelet, but that the device itself was okay. I threw it in a drawer, and it’s sat there for a year. Last week came the announcement of Tory Burch Fitbit accessories. Because of them, I’m giving my dusty Flex another try.
The other day, Judie posted on Facebook that the 6.4″ Sony Xperia Ultra might replace both her Sony Xperia Z2 and her iPad Mini. I don’t see that happening for me, as the Z2 is so amazing. The Ultra is actually a great option from a financial perspective, but there are other reasons to consider it as well.
This is a sponsored post; we received compensation from Intel, but all opinions are the author’s. I’ve been using a Mac for more than 5 years and never thought I would go back to using a Windows laptop or desktop. When Intel offered me the opportunity to become part of the #Intel2in1 program, I couldn’t say no. I’m impressed by the device and think it might be ideal for someone heading off to college. Here’s why.
Free, unlimited guest ekeys and more access control are two of the big changes that came to the Kwikset Kevo remote door lock. I’m working on a review of the system, and the timing of this could not be any better for me. It takes an impressive aftermarket smart home device and makes it even better.
It’s an age-old question: (put delicately) does a bear go to bathroom in the woods? Of course the answer is yes, but until a few generations ago, so did humans. The makers of the Squatty Potty toilet stool believe the progress that is indoor plumbing may be harmful to your colon health. Here’s a quick look at their proposed solution: First a little background. The team here at Gear Diary has a pretty lively online chat community where we discuss tech trends and possible review topics. But we also are friends who like to support each other when someone needs…
The Ultimate Ears UE Boom is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers we have had the opportunity to review. (Read my review.) Perhaps the most compelling aspect of it – besides the great sound, battery life and superb build quality – is the fact that ultimate ears has continually found ways to update the speaker since it was first released.
I’m constantly on the hunt for new ways to grab better video and audio with my iPad mini. And while there have been a number of different external microphones that have come to market I have yet to find one that I wanted to use consistently. That may change with the release of the Blue Microphone Mikey Digital with Lightning.
Booq is one of those companies that, time and again, serves up bags, backpacks and sleeves that impress with both their design and their features. The new Booq Cobra pack is no exception. At $295 it is a pricey backpack but it promises to hold a ton of gear and serve you for years to come.
Sure the Moto X Android smartphone seems like it’s perpetually on sale, so I cannot say if you miss this current “sale” of $100 off a 16 GB (no contract) or $125 off a 32 or 64 GB that the deal will be lost forever. What I can tell you is that this is one rock-solid piece of Android.
Electronic Arts has released a The Sims 4 gameplay preview video featuring raw video footage to prime players for the worldwide September 2, 2014 release on PC and Mac computer. In the future, players might also likely see eventual The Sims 4 console versions, similar to the widely popular The Sims 3 that launched in June 2009.
We now live in a world where you cannot simply believe that a picture or video is real. After all, computer graphics have become so powerful that, in the right hands, technology can make things appear far different than they actually are. That noted, as these optical illusions demonstrate, even low-tech approaches can fool us.
Hurricane Season is upon us, and Texas eyes are closely watching the Gulf of Mexico. Chances of being affected may be slim, but Gulf Coast residents must always be prepared. Panasonic’s Bluetooth enabled phone system is designed to keep communication open with no land line needed. With a powerful battery backup, the $89.96 system keeps lines open during a storm.
Amazon has officially announced Kindle Unlimited, a $9.99 all-you-can-read monthly ebook subscription. This was leaked earlier in the week, but now we have more details on this ebook and audiobook service!
My name is Carly and I have a very shameful confession: I’ve become hooked on Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. I want to stop, but every time I think it’s over, I duck back in…one more chance to make the A-list. Worse, I’ve dragged Judie into my shame spiral, and now we’re both addicted. At least we both have nice virtual houses.
Amazon is reportedly testing a new offering named Kindle Unlimited according to a series of images posted on their site which have since been removed. For $9.99 per month, Kindle users could have access to over 600,000 Kindle eBook titles and thousands of audiobooks. It’s not yet known exactly which publishers would be included or which audio titles will appear.
Think of a mash-up between Beats headphones, Instagram, and GoPro, and you’ll have some sense of what the Soundsight headphones are about. Soundsight is a newly introduced product that will combine high-quality Bluetooth headphones with a 1080p camera to allow users to record HD video from their point of view. Soundsight is available for preorder at $349 for 30 days.