We sing the praises of Roku often here. Their user interface and general streaming ecosystem are simple to navigate but offer everything you’d want, from casual users to people building powerful entertainment systems. They’re branching out further now, taking their smart home integration to the next level with their own brand of smart home products!
Steam Next Fest 2022 runs from October 3rd – October 10th this year. This is the week where developers and studios from all over the world get a chance to livestream their upcoming products, provide demos for potential customers, and engage with the community. There are hundreds of titles being showcased right now, but here are the six I’ll be keeping an eye on ahead of their official releases. These are not ranked in any particular order, and there is zero analysis to be found here, just my thoughts pouring onto the page.
If you struggle to fall asleep because your bed is too hot, too cold, too hard, or too soft, and if you and your partner can’t seem to find a mattress that will work for both of you, maybe it’s time to try something like the Sleep Number Climate360 Smart Bed. It’s billed as the first-ever bed to actively cool, warm, and effortlessly respond to each sleeper. Although pricy, the Climate360 Smart Bed sounds brilliant.
Amazon is coming for literally everything in your home. Your books, home security, entertainment systems, car — even how you sleep — can all be connected, and Amazon wants to be that connection. The slew of new Amazon hardware and software features they announced this week shows they’re impressively close, and we are slightly overwhelmed just thinking about it all!
Do you remember the Kindle DX that came out in 2009? I had one of those, and while I loved the larger, 9.7″ display, having the physical keyboard at the bottom made for a very oversized reading device. I bring up the Kindle DX because after it was discontinued, there were no large-screen Kindle options available. Anyone who wanted a Kindle with a larger display had to buy an iPad or Android tablet just to run the Kindle app. But now, we have the 10.2″ Amazon Kindle Scribe, the first Kindle for reading and writing.
A few months ago, I was out riding my electric bike. My iPhone was in a cradle attached to the bicycle; after hitting a bump, it went flying. Thankfully, my phone was in a Nomad Sport Case, and it was fine. Needless to say, when my new iPhone arrived, it went right into a Nomad case; as you’ll see, there are some great Nomad iPhone 14 cases from which to choose.
Sometimes we check out items that bring our tech to the cutting edge. Other times, we look at things that turn simplicity into art. We were offered the opportunity to check out a Carved Alloy Wallet, and it’s safe to say they’ve set a new bar for functional art!
Did you get an iPhone 14? If so, this giveaway is just for you! ZAGG is a premier smartphone accessory company with several well-known brands under its umbrella, including Invisibleshield screen protectors, Gear4 cases, and mophie power solutions. We’ve partnered with them to bring five lucky winners a ZAGG iPhone 14 prize bundle that will include a case, screen protector, and charging accessory for the winner’s specific model; you supply the iPhone 14, and we’ll supply the accessories!
Whether you’ve been pulled back into the office or you’ve finagled a chance to make the world your office, there’s almost always going to be times when you’re working from new places. Maybe it’s a coffee shop, an Air BnB, or your dining room table. You can work from anywhere, but you’ll sorely miss that extra screen if you’re used to a dual monitor setup. Good news, you don’t have to if you take advantage of Amazon’s LG Gram and +view portable monitor bundle!
The first live and in-person IFA since 2019 has concluded. To celebrate this return to something closer to normalcy, we have one Lenovo laptop to give away to three lucky winners. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home caretaker, a gamer, a business owner, or someone who knows someone who needs a new laptop, you are welcome to enter our IFA 2022 Giveaway!
Lenovo has done some great stuff when it comes to taking tablets to the next level; the new Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) and its elevated cousin, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen), promise to continue that trend.
As much as I appreciate and enjoy using the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4’s expansive 16″ display, traveling with such an unwieldy laptop isn’t always easy, much less ideal. The X1 Extreme is almost impossible to use in tighter spaces (i.e., airline economy seats); a 14″ or smaller travel laptop makes more sense. Still, I struggle to recreate the same productivity I enjoy on the X1 Extreme when using something smaller for all but the most basic tasks. The just-announced Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold appears to be my perfect solution. Check this out.
Without a case, the Google Pixel 6a is a very stylish and slick little smartphone. If you’re rockin’ a nekkid 6a — all the better to admire its distinctive style, I get it — then you should know that all it will take to tragically end this love affair is the wrong drop on a hard surface. With the longevity of your pocket communicator in mind, we’ve rounded up a few Pixel 6a accessories for your consideration that will protect your phone and its screen.
Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology is the most significant improvement to hit mobile device chargers in recent years; it offers more efficient, faster-charging speeds in a smaller-sized charger than traditional silicone chargers. Anker was one of the first companies to incorporate GaN technology into their chargers; now, they’re the first to introduce a charger line that uses GaNPrime. Coupled with PowerIQ 4.0, Anker GaNPrime chargers will do something that, until now, no other GaN charger’s been able to do — dynamically adjust power distribution to release any extra power output from one USB port to the other devices being charged.
While introducing the iPhone in 2007, Steve Jobs famously asked, “who wants a stylus?” In 2022, a surprising number of people still do! While not as common as they used to be, smartphones with built-in styli have remained popular among those who prefer the accuracy that comes from using a stylus. The alternative, of course, is the imprecise fingertip smudges and swipes the rest of us encounter while using our devices. If you’re seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with a built-in stylus and you’re a T-Mobile customer, the new TCL Stylus 5G is worth considering.
If you thought that the Dimensity 9000 system-on-chip (SoC) has impressive specs, you’ll want to pay attention to the upcoming MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC. If you’ve been hoping for phones with an even more powerful and efficient chip than the Dimensity 9000, the new top-of-the-line Dimensity 9000+ will should fit the bill. And if the last thing you’ve ever thought about was whether or not a smartphone’s SoC sounded impressive, read on, and I’ll give you a few reasons to care.
Nomad, one of our favorite accessory companies, has been on a roll lately, releasing some fun new products. Just in time for summer, there’s a new Nomad Sports Slim Band for Apple Watch and a Nomad Leather Cover for Apple’s Siri Remote that protects the remote and helps you keep track of it. And there’s a new Nomad x Orbitkey Key Organizer too. Here’s a quick look at each.
All winter long, I lived in the LIVSN FLEX Canvas Pants I reviewed last year; they were so comfortable. Now that it’s warmer, I’ve transitioned to the LIVSN FLEX Canvas Shorts that I also reviewed. Now the company has released their new Reflex Shorts for Men; they look fantastic, and I think I need to pick up a pair.
We all love our shiny technology, especially now that it is all getting even smarter and more connected. But here’s the thing — the more we want our devices to keep up with us, the more they need that boost under the hood. To that end, the new MediaTek Genio chipsets aim to bring more power and support to devices featuring AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things).
We’re used to Lenovo providing uniformly excellent devices to keep you productive and on the go, but they don’t just excel at work. If you’re in the market for a gaming laptop, Lenovo Legion has an impressive lineup for multiple budgets and uses. They’re expanding that even further now with the new Lenovo Legion Slim 7 series and the Lenovo Legion 7 series refreshes!
The very first laptop I ever used was one my father had, and it was at least three (or more!) inches thick. At the time, it still felt like the peak of technological achievement. Fast forward to today, and Lenovo has unleashed a slew of new ultra-slim laptops that take sleek, futuristic design and jaw-dropping performance to a whole new level!