Despite being a full-blown nerd from an early age (“Why do you always have to fiddle with things?” my brother once demanded when we were kids), I’ve rarely been an early adopter. I don’t get version one releases of software, cars, or new gizmos (with the notable exception of the iPhone). And I still don’t have a robot vacuum. But maybe I should take a look at the new Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum, hm?
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you don’t need to know what’s under the hood of your phone. It makes calls, and it takes pictures; what else do you need to know? But phones are the center of so much of our lives that getting the best bang for your buck matters, even if it’s not a flagship phone. And that’s why MediaTek has the new Helio G96 and Helio G88 chipsets.
I didn’t fully appreciate the MagSafe connector on my iPhone 12 until I was sent a collection of Moment MagSafe accessories to try. If you weren’t aware, Moment makes some of the best smartphone photography gear and accessories available. The Moment MagSafe accessories I’ll be telling you about today are great, and I can’t imagine going back to the old system for connecting my iPhone to a tripod, securing it in the car, or attaching cold shoe accessories like a microphone.
At my age—and no, I am absolutely not going to tell you how friggin’ old I am—acidic stomach issues are definitely something I have to keep in mind. But even if you’re a youngun’ like my daughter and you drink enough coffee, sometimes the very acidity of the brew can catch up with you sometimes. That’s what Trücup low-acid coffee wants to help alleviate.
The Monoprice Monolith M-TWE earphones have been an exciting maze to explore with few dead ends. Monolith went all out on these earbuds adding Sonarworks’ SoundID, Qualcomm aptX Audio, Qualcomm cVc 8.0 Echo Cancelling and Noise Suppression, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), and making them “Sweatproof.” With a current sale price of $99.99, these true wireless earbuds pack a big punch for a small price.
In case you weren’t aware, in March, Qualcomm set up a program called Snapdragon Insiders. It all kicked off with a simple video done by Christiano R. Amon, the President and (at the time) CEO-Elect of Qualcomm. Amon promised access to Qualcomm experts, the latest updates from Snapdragon, and tech-reader collaborations. Months have passed; Amon is now the CEO of Qualcomm, and the Snapdragon Insiders program now has 1.6 million members. To celebrate, today they are announcing their first Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders that utilizes the best Snapdragon has to offer in a mobile experience.
Nomad has just introduced a great way to upgrade your desk or nightstand aesthetics. Apple’s MagSafe chargers for iPhones are the simplest and fastest way to charge the device, but they are boring white discs. The Nomad Leather Cover for MagSafe wraps the plastic disc MagSafe charger in Horween leather and, in the process, gives them some style.
I hate mopping. I’m sure you hate mopping too. I did it to make money when I was in high school, working as a janitor for a restaurant in Walnut Creek, California (that no longer exists, ‘natch). I did it to help put myself through college in the University dining hall. I do it now to keep my house clean. Now SLYDE says they can help ease my (and your) mopping pain.
A Strava subscription has been a great way to keep me motivated during my journey of getting back in shape. 2020 was rough; I was working out regularly but wasn’t eating well. Unfortunately, it’s true that you can’t outrun a terrible diet. So paired with a proper eating regimen, Strava’s been my go-to tracking app for getting to a better me.
While things are slowly going back to a new sense of normal, and we’re back in person for a lot more work than we were a year ago, it’s safe to say that video conferencing took a giant leap forward during the pandemic. It is so convenient that even when we’re not working remotely, it’s going to be a tool for the future to bring us face to face no matter where we are in the world. Dell is ready to embrace the future with the Dell UltraSharp Webcam, the most intelligent 4K webcam in its class!
TCL turned heads and won hearts with their 10-series smartphones last year, and they’re growing the family with the new TCL 20 series phones. They’re taking everything great about the 10 and doubling it; from the flagship TCL 20 Pro 5G to the TCL 20S and the TCL 20SE, there’s something for everyone to love.
In a lot of ways, I came of age in a weird in-between generation. I’m on the cusp of the Generation X to Millennial transition. And as a child of the ’80s, I’m part of the generation of LGBT folks who grew up aware that AIDS was a scary pandemic, but after the age where we would have seen the worst of the horrors firsthand. But we all grew up being warned about it, and I knew many people who started taking PrEP as soon as they could afford it.
July 4th is when we celebrate our awesome country and spend time with friends and family. Good eats, good drinks, and a good time outdoors are what we most like to partake in. With that in mind, here are a few cool products that will spice up your July 4th party plans.
The folks at TCL make excellent devices. We’ve been impressed in the past by their phones and televisions, and they’re kicking things to the next level at MWC with new phones, new software, and some very cool NXTWEAR G immersive video glasses!
The world is slowly going back to some form of normal, but whether you’re working from home or back in the office, you’re probably looking to upgrade your tech. Lenovo has your back, with a slew of new updates for their powerful ThinkPads and a new 34″ ThinkVision P34w monitor with a curved display!
If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive 5G-capable smartphone, you might want to check out the OnePlus Nord N200 5G that’s just been announced. Priced at $239.99 in the US, it’s a great value.
Nomad is on a roll this spring and announcing one new product after another. Today, there are three new premium Nomad leather wallets to look at as well as a brand new product they call “Card for AirTag.” Each wallet has a different card capacity, so there’s sure to be one that’s just right for you. Card for AirTag then takes them to the next level.
When we first met Nomad, they were a startup with one cool but simple accessory for the iPhone. In the years since, their catalog has grown exponentially and, with it, our appreciation of their design sense and commitment to creating quality products. Their newest offerings include a Moment Rugged Case for the iPhone 12 Series and Rugged Cases for the Pixel Buds A-Series.
Eufy Security has just announced a host of new outdoor cameras, many of which offer 8GB on-device storage. The new devices include the eufy Security SoloCam E20 & SoloCam E40, the eufy Security SoloCam L20 & SoloCam L40, the solar-powered eufy Security SoloCam S40, and the eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro. Read on to see the details on these new security cameras and what they have to offer.
Over 40% of the bits in the world are stored on Western Digital products, which is insane when you think about it, but here we are. Just about everything that we use or do utilizes some form of storage, and Western Digital is the global leader in both hard drives and SSDs. During the Western Digital Flash Perspective Event today, they shared some exciting announcements that give us a glimpse at how Western Digital will continue creating environments for our data to thrive.
The WaterField Hip Sling Bag Collection is yet another product designed based upon input from customers. This “community-designed” collection is perfect now that the summer heat has arrived. Available in two sizes, it can be used as either a hip bag or as a sling bag. I don’t see using it as a hip bag (AKA fanny pack), but I do love a good sling.