Reviews

AncestryDNA Test – What Will It Tell Me About My Ancestors?

  Genealogy is more than just a hobby for me, it’s something I tend to get a bit obsessive about. I’ve been curating my family’s tree for over ten years, building upon my maternal grandmother and uncle’s research before me. The latest tool in my arsenal will hopefully be the AncestryDNA test, which I recently completed and sent in for evaluation.


Want Better Comfort and Fit With Your Apple Earpods? Try Acoustibuds

The thing that has made products like Yurbuds successful is the way they rethink the design of in-ear monitors so they feel more secure, offer more comfortable and stay put. The flanges on the tips make all the difference. Acoustibuds take the same approach but do so with a BYOEB (Bring Your Own Earbud) model and cost under $15.


First Impressions of the HTC One M8

Over the weekend I marched into my local Verizon store and snapped up the new HTC One M8. It’s been a few years since I used Android, but the look and feel of the One were calling my name. We’ll have a full review soon, but since this phone is so new, I wanted to share a few first impressions!


Secur Dynamo Spotlight Lantern Review

Hopefully the use of emergency lighting is reserved for camping and outdoor activities, but sometimes inclement weather and other events leave us in the dark. Either way, having lighting options with multiple charging possibilities can help keep us safe and comfortable. The Secur Dynamo Spotlight Lantern is a $35 product that will bring light and help charge your devices.


Grab and Go with the SuperTooth Disco4

We reviewed the Supertooth Disco and were blown away by the unique look and amazing sound. (Read the review.) We reviewed its update a year later, as well as the Disco Twin that offers left and right speakers. Now the company is back with the SuperTooth Disco4. It offers NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, a unique design, and a mind-blowing price.


From Plastic Bottle to Awesome Bag, the Bluelounge Eco-Friendly Backpack

Bluelounge does a great job of creating innovative products that are both useful and impressive; their line of bags is no exception. The Bluelounge Eco-Friendly Backpack is made from post-consumer PET plastic bottles. In the hands of Bluelounge waste becomes a practical and unusual backpack for under $160. Here’s a look…


Harman Kardon CL On-Ear Headphones

Judie recently reviewed the Harman Kardon SOHO on-ear headphones. She was impressed. These on-ear headphones are, to a certain degree, an update and replacement for the Harman Kardon CL on-ear headphones. The CLs aren’t a new product but they still offer terrific comfort and great sound. And these $199 headphones can be found at a steep discount here on Amazon.


Grain Audio IEHP Wooden In Ear Headphones

The other day we took a high-level look at Grain Audio’s history and products. I came away from my interview in possession of two of their initial products. One of those products, the Grain Audio IEHP Wooden In Ear Headphones were out of the box in minutes. I’ve been using the $99 headphones since then.  


Zumba Fitness World Party Review for Nintendo Wii U

Zumba Fitness World Party continues the popular dance/fitness game series from Majesco. This excitable experience involves an included fitness belt (neon green and black) and uses a Wii remote (required to play). Zumba Fitness World Party has amazing gameplay and exercise opportunities. Move to over 40 new songs amid seven worldwide locations that anchor over 40 classes and 14 outstanding instructors.



Use an 11″ MacBook air? Check out the booq Viper hardcase 11

If you have an 11″ MacBook air or Chromebook, you likely take it with you more often than not. That means you need a way to keep it safe and protected. The MBA is, after all, a pricey laptop.The booq Viper hardcase case 11 is a refined but inexpensive way to protect your air; it is just $45!


Element Case Solace Chinese New Year Edition for iPhone 5/5S Review

Legend says that long ago, Buddha asked all the animals to gather with him on the new year. Only twelve came, and to honor them Buddha named a year for each. January 31st ushered in the year of the Horse, an event which is commemorated by the Element Case Solace Chinese New Year Edition for iPhone 5/5S.


Put 2TB in Your Pocket with the Seagate Backup Plus Slim Portable Drive

The other day we took a look at a massive 4TB Seagate portable hard drive. That’s a tremendous amount of mobile storage capacity, and it’s possibly overkill for many. Today we’re taking a look at a far thinner drive, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim Portable Drive. It’s slimmer, but it still offers plenty of storage – 2TB to be exact.  


Kinivo M2 2.1 Bluetooth Speaker System Pumps Out Awesome Sound on a Budget

For about 30 minutes, I’ve been sitting here trying to start writing my review of the $119.99 Kinivo M2 Bluetooth 2.1 speaker system.  Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on your point of view — I’ve been enjoying the sound pumping out of the speakers way too much to do much of anything but bop my head.


Toshiba TransMemory Pro 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive

When I think back on how much I spent on small amounts of slow flash storage just a few years ago, I cannot help but shake my head. Who could have imagined there would be flash drives offering 128GB of USB 3.0 storage? That, however, is exactly what you get with the new Toshiba TransMemory Pro USB 3.0 Flash Drive.


South Park: The Stick of Truth Review for PlayStation 3

In South Park: The Stick of Truth, players explore the small Colorado town, engage in turned-based fighting, and encounter endless characters. Almost every conceivable element from the animated television series has been transferred over to this video game adaptation. In fact, developers have created an authentic simulation microcosm of the show where any player (fan or not) can visit any time.


Phosphor Touch Time Is a “Smarter” Watch

Phosphor launched a line of watches using an E-Ink display some time ago. Now they have released their brand new Phosphor Touch Time. This new line used an LCD display, sports a touchscreen and “smartwatch-like” apps. No, this is not a smart watch, but it is a smarter watch. Lets take a look at this $159 item.


iBatzz Battstation Optimus 20400 Extended Battery: Enough Power to Share

It’s become a running joke that I always have to one-up my friend Helena when comparing our extended batteries at tech events. While I am certainly not consciously competing over which of us can carry the biggest battery, there is truth to the fact that I prefer larger extended batteries; the new iBatzz Battstation Optimus 20400 certainly fits this bill.


GE X450 Camera Lets You Put Your Photography on a Budget

General Electric is not known for its photographic equipment they have actually been producing some decent inexpensive options. No, these cameras aren’t as compact as your smartphone, and they aren’t as powerful as the offerings from Sony, Canon, or Nikon, but the GE cameras do get the job. Their most recent entry is the GE X450 camera. Let’s take a look.


The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad mini Is Almost Awesome

I’m a huge fan of Logitech’s various keyboard cases and covers for the iPad, and because I am seriously considering putting my iPad Air up on eBay, I decided to check out the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad mini. I hoped it would be a great productivity tool as my iPad mini becomes even more central to my workflow.