Reviews | Gear Diary

Reviews January 24, 2016

Channel Your Inner DJ with Pioneer’s HRM-7 Headphones

Over the past month or so I’ve had the opportunity to review Pioneer’s HRM-7 Reference Monitor DJ Headphones from their Studio Monitor series, and for a lover in mixing music, or just audio in general, the HRM-7’s are not only unique, but great to wear! As soon as I opened the box and saw the headphones, the first things I thought was: Pioneer is serious about this! The DJ HRM-7’s are obviously something you’d catch that Dj at your favorite nightclub wearing, but for the casual user I will say that they are a bit bulky to just wear out…

Reviews January 22, 2016

IllumiBowl Takes the Guesswork out of Nighttime Bathroom Visits

Have you found that it’s pretty jarring to deal with bright overhead bathroom lights when you get up in the middle of the night to relieve yourself? Bright lights can wreck our sleep ability and cause health issues, it’s proven, but you still need to be able to see where you’re going and what you’re doing.

Reviews January 22, 2016

The Ventev Desktop Charginghub s500 Is Ready for All Your Charging Needs

Many of us now have a phone or two, a tablet, smartwatch and other devices that need to get charged on a daily basis. Sure, you can use a straight powerstrip, but that gets cumbersome. Ventev has a fantastic solution, the $59.99 desktop charginghub s500, that now has a permanent place on the night table next to my bed.

Reviews January 21, 2016

ECOXGEAR EcoCarbon Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker + Flashlight: Water Tight and Just Right for the Outdoors

We’ve reviewed several waterproof portable speakers in the past year, and I have to admit that this is a product category that excites me. I no longer need to think twice about whether it’s safe to bring my Bluetooth speaker to the beach, pool, or anywhere, really.

Reviews January 21, 2016

Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual-Layered Drop Protection

We’ve looked at the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 1 case. (Read the review.) It’s thin and light, and it offers just enough protection. If, however, you still want thin and light but need a bit more protection, you’ll want to check out the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual Layered Drop Protection for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.

Reviews January 20, 2016

Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S Review: One Classy Hard Case

If you are looking for a hard shell case that has a bit more class than your typical hard shell case, look no further than the Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S. This case takes a shell-style case and dresses it up with a sheet of quality Beyzacases leather floating on the back. And at just over $30 it’s a bargain!

Reviews January 20, 2016

Carry Your Gear the Right Way with Incase’s City Compact Bag

I’m a huge fan of Incase products, so when they sent over their Incase City Compact, I was very excited, especially with the big convention, CES coming up right around the corner. Designed to be light and compact, the City Compact by Incase is actually all of that and more.

Reviews January 19, 2016

The SanDisk 200GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card: A Tiny Marvel

One of the things I’ve never liked about iPhones and iPads has been Apple’s refusal to add a memory card slot. No removable battery? Fine. A closed ecosystem with curated apps? Fine. No ability to expand my phone or tablet’s memory without paying exorbitant upgrade prices? Not so fine. That’s where Android and Windows devices have a definite advantage.

Reviews January 19, 2016

Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 Offers Lightweight Protection

Incipio has released a line of cases offering five different levels of protection. Each case looks good and reflects the thought and care that went into creating their design. And with each number you get a bit more protection. This time out, we will look at the two lightest cases in the lineup; the Level 1 and the Level 2. [PERFORMANCE] SERIES LEVEL 1 The Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 offers lightweight drop protection for your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. For $24.99 the case gives you the lightest protection in the series. In this case lightest not only refers…

Reviews January 19, 2016

BEYZACASES Natural ID Slim for iPhone 6S

I’m not a huge fan of sleeve-style cases for the iPhone, preferring to have more protection surrounding my phone at all times. Still, there’s something about having a naked phone that is protected when not in use that is appealing. The Beyzacases Natural ID Slim is a great option if you are looking for a protective leather sleeve.

Health and Fitness, Reviews January 17, 2016

Jam Transit Micro Sport Buds: Wireless Buds That Work Out

If you like to listen to music while working out, but you don’t like to be wired to your mobile device, then you should invest in a pair of wireless fitness-focused earbuds. But which ones? We’ve covered more than a few on Gear Diary, and the latest under our lens are the Jam Transit Micro Sport Buds.

Reviews January 15, 2016

The Etymotic Bean Quiet Sound Amplifier, Because You Shouldn’t Have to Keep Saying “What?”

Is the phrase “I’m sorry, what did you say?” a common part of your day? It is for me. My hearing is…questionable, or, as my wife put it, “It’s not normal to be 34 and need the closed captioning.” The good folks at Etymotic have clearly experienced this too, and that’s where the Bean Quiet Sound Amplifier can shine.

News & Features, Reviews January 15, 2016

Grill Indoors This Winter with the Kenyon Revolution!

When the summer faded away last year, I wondered to myself how I would go without my grilled veggies and meats now that I could no longer grill outdoors. I’ve tried many options in the past, from George Foreman Grills, to even stovetop grill pans for $20 on Groupon that honestly do not work. So when Kenyon sent over their Revolution Grill, I knew that I had a product that would make the neighbors in my building jealous now that the outdoor grill has been shut up for the winter. Let’s start by saying this: The Kenyon Revolution Grill gets…

Reviews January 13, 2016

Kristall Liquid Screen Protection for Small Devices Is Clear, Invisible Safety for Your Smartphone Screen

There’s no question the screen is the most vulnerable part of your smartphone. Gorilla Glass helps but if you really want to protect your phone you need something more. Usually, I turn to glass screen protectors, but the nanotechnology of the Kristall Liquid Screen Protection has me rethinking that. You can’t see the protection but it is there.

Reviews January 13, 2016

Thermos Connected Hydration Bottle with Smart Lid- Does Anyone NEED a Smart Water Bottle?

Do I really need an app-enabled water bottle? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself since Judie and I each received a Thermos Connected Hydration Bottle with Smart Lid at CES. This looks like a regular water bottle, but it’s Bluetooth-enabled and monitors your water intake over the course of a day. Is this something worth purchasing? You decide.

Outdoors, Reviews January 12, 2016

Scosche boomBottle H2O Takes Your Music to the Outdoors!

I spend a lot of time outdoors, hunting, fishing, grilling, and taking the kids to the pool. Of course, most outdoor activities are better with music, so there is always a Bluetooth speaker around. The Scosche boomBottle H2O ($109.99) has now given me great audio without the worry. The speaker is water proof, rugged, and perfect for the outdoors!

Reviews January 11, 2016

Ditto Gives You Discreet Notifications Without Getting in the Way

Judie and I received Huawei Mate 8 smartphones at CES 2016. The phablet is amazing but won’t work with our Apple Watches. We also picked up the amazing Withings Activité Steel Fitness Watch. It’s a great tracker but doesn’t do notifications. Fortunately, the Ditto notifier fills in that gap in a manner that is both inexpensive and discrete.

Reviews January 11, 2016

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1040 with AtmosCheerFX Review

Some friends of mine have frequently watched movies and football games in their backyard by setting up a projector. A few, like I have, used a projector as decoration or set pieces. This is thanks to the Epson Home Cinema 1040 and AtmosCheerFX. Next year, you can be the life of the party!

Reviews January 11, 2016

Avia Stride Activity Tracker Review

CES is now over and activity trackers and other wearables were all the rage at the show this year. With Under Armour, Casio, and others releasing devices, it looks like almost everyone has a tracker now. Avia, who I know more for sneakers than electronics even has one, and they sent me an Avia Stride; I am underwhelmed.

Crowdfunding, Events, Reviews January 10, 2016

Boomstick Lets Crappy Headphones Sound Better

Sitting on the kitchen table when I returned from CES were a pair of nondescript black earbuds. You know, the free type that reinforce the notion that you get what you pay for. “What are these?” I asked. “I used them for a conference call today,” said Raina. They were the perfect test earbuds for the new Boomstick headphone accessory. I’ll admit it. My work with Gear Diary has spoiled me. I’ve heard $1500 headphones from HARMAN that use the latest technology and were tuned by none other than Quincy Jones. I’ve reviewed Blue’s first foray into the headphone market….

Reviews January 10, 2016

The SKEYE Hexa Drone is a Hex of a Good Time!

The SKEYE Hexa Drone is the latest flying gadget from our friends at TRNDlabs. Forgoing the typical four-propeller design, the Hexa Drone has a six-propeller array that’s completely ready to go straight out of the box. The additional two propellers give the drone more stability in the air. The SKEYE Hexa Drone comes ready to fly for $59!