Reviews

Lensbaby Spark Lets You Take Fun Pics on the Go

Want to use you camera to take fun pictures on the go? The Lensbaby Spark may be just what you need. The Lensbaby Spark is one of the more unusual camera accessories I have used since I began covering camera accessories. The lens runs $80 and is available for both Canon and Nikon mounts. For your $80, you get a “selective-focus” “tilt-shift” lens that shoots at f/5.6 with a fixed focal length of 50mm. If you are not quite sure what that means, you are not alone. And while, in most cases, I might take the attitude of “if you…


Lifeproof is Your iOS Device’s Best Travel Companion

While Elana, Judie, Kevin and I have been down here in Aruba this week both my iPhone 5 and my 4th generation iPod touch have been well-protected in Lifeproof cases. The cases do a great job of protecting your device from bumps, bruises and… water. And while I didn’t want to dump my iPhone 5 in the Caribbean, I did take my touch with me when we went snorkeling. Not only did it work well, but it worked well enough that I am completely and totally impressed and, next time, I WILL trust my iPhone to the Lifeproof case. From…


Mophie Juice Pack for Samsung Galaxy SIII Hands-On Review

If there is one constant in life, it is that portable electronics don’t ever have enough battery life. With each new product we get new features that beg for more power, so regardless of what the manufacturers do to extend battery life … our usage always seems to keep up! Enter Mophie, a company that has had great success making iPhone battery cases for several years. Now they are branching out with their first non-iPhone case, for the hot-selling Samsung Galaxy SIII. Mophie sent me one to check out – let’s take a look! The Hype: Get the most out…


Accell DisplayPort/Mini DisplayPort to DVI-D Dual-Link Adapter Review

The older I get the more changes happen to laptops over the years.  It seems like the 15 pin VGA port has been around forever.  That’s why I was surprised that my current laptop does not have a standard VGA port.  This makes it difficult for this laptop to work with many projectors in my workplace.  That’s why I jumped at a chance to check out this adapter when they offered a loaner unit. Some of the key features of this adapter are: Convert to a Mini DisplayPort Connector Using the Enclosed Adapter Up to 10.8Gbps Throughput Over 4 Lanes (330MHz total…


Fisheye + Wide Angle (+Macro) + 2X + 9X + 12X Telephoto Lens Combo for iPhone 5

In June of 2011 I reviewed the multi-lens combo kit from USBFever.com for the iPhone4. Then I said that while the kit will not replace your D-SLR and a case full of lenses it is very useful and perfect for the consummate iPhoneographer. I just finished testing the new iPhone5 combo lens kit and I reaffirm those findings with additional good news. In my previous review I recommended throwing away the 8x lens once you receive your kit. Seems someone was listening as that piece has now been replaced with a 9x telephoto lens attachment that is on par with…


Bodyguardz Sentinel and Armor Carbon Fiber Protection for iPad mini Part 1 of 2

I love my iPad mini and I’m honestly a bit surprised. Sure, I was looking forward to having a smaller, lighter iPad option but I really expected the mini to be something that augmented my 9.7″ iPad. Instead, it has effectively replaced it for everything except watching videos. I love reading on it. I find it more than fast enough for productivity. And, quite honestly, when I’m using it I really don’t sense it being substantially smaller. It isn’t and that’s the key. It is thinner and lighter but the screen isn’t THAT much smaller. (Oh, and yes, I do miss…


Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale Taste Test

Hello again! Kevin here with another Beer Diary taste. Last night I was drinking Balashi, Aruba’s national beer but before we left on vacation I picked out and drank a popular and widely available (including our regular grocery in San Angelo, TX)  brew from Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado to share. Did I mention The Great American Brew Festival that took place in Denver last October? We were there and it was awesome. Oskar’s was there too. Let’s have a look: The Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery Lyons Colorado The Beer: Dale’s Pale Ale Color: Reddish orange Head: Excellent head retention with good…


Redrum Dead Diary HD for iPad Review

 Integrate a cool story in a solid gameplay mechanic and I’m hooked. And Hidden Object Puzzle games are the perfect vehicle for a mystery story – you have a scenario laid out, uncover clues gradually while viewing specific scenes from the story, and generally uncover the entire story and solve the mystery. All wrapped up neatly in a two to four hour long game! The story centers around Rose, a young girl who can see and interact with dead people who were killed unjustly. She describes them as her friends, and her insistence on their reality lands her in an…


Samsung Galaxy Note II from U.S. Cellular Review and Video Hands-On

This is the PDA you would have DIED for in 2002. Last year Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note, which was dubbed a ‘phablet’ – hybrid phone and tablet. To the surprise of many the Galaxy Note sold well, particularly in Asia where the larger screen and stylus allowed for drawing larger characters more easily. Now they are back with the Galaxy Note II, and the folks at US Cellular were kind enough to send me one to test out – let’s take a look! The Hype: With a large, high-definition screen, an intuitive and precise S Pen™, blazing-fast quad-core processor,…


Atari Celebrates 40 Years of Pong with Free Pong World for iOS Review

I have always loved that picture of my brother and me playing Pong at our aunt’s house one Thanksgiving back in the 70s. For those of us born in the 60s, Pong represented a revolution – a video game system that we could hook to our TV. By the time the 80s were in full swing Pong was an anachronism, yet there is something fun about the simplicity of the gameplay, the challenge of the head-to-head fun. Now you can get a revamped Pong game made as part of the PONG Indie Developer Challenge for free in celebration of the…


Oberon Design Large Smartphone Sleeve Review

It wasn’t so long ago that I reviewed the Oberon Design cellphone sleeve, and while that case was perfect for the iPhone and other similarly sized mobile devices, it isn’t quite big enough for all of the larger-screened mobile devices that are now so popular. I’ve got the new Nokia Lumia 920, which has a 4.5″ screen and measures 5.13″ tall x 2.79″ wide x 0.42″ thick; it is simply too large for the original sleeve. Luckily, I was soon to receive the new Oberon Design Large Smartphone Sleeve. This larger sleeve measures 6.25″ tall x 4″ wide; these measurements…


ZAGGsparq 6000 Portable Power Station Review

CES 2013 is coming up fast, which means we are already thinking about the gear that will help us best cover the show. This year I expect Judie’s and my iPad minis will play a big role. I’ll also be using my Canon T3i to grab better photos and video than I have previously. And Carly, Carly will be getting her first taste of the gadget-craziness that is the Consumer Electronics Show. Each year Judie and I have talked through what gear would best help us keep our gadgets charged and, each year, we have found ourselves running on vapors…


Think Tank Photo CityWalker 20 Camera Messenger Review

I’m a fan of messenger-style gear bags. I find them to be comfortable, flexible and, well, I like the way they look. My appreciation of messenger bags extends to camera bags as well. And when a camera messenger bag can easily convert into a standard gear messenger, I’m interested. Think Tank Photos new CityWalker is just that kind of messenger back. The company was kind enough to send one for review, and I have to say I think it is one of my favorites. The bag is light, well-built, feature-rich, and it looks great. Let’s hear what Think Tank has…


Audyssey Wireless Speakers Review

Hi, Captain Obvious here with a thought that is… well, obvious. Today’s totally obvious thought? No matter how good tech gets, there will always be pros and cons to any and every device. This holds for computers, it holds for tablets, and it holds for audio systems; let’s focus on audio system. I LOVE my Sonos system. It works perfectly for me, thanks to its connection with my home WiFi network and the terrific Sonos app that works on any and all my devices. And since I subscribe to Spotify, I can have all my music anywhere there is a…


Eemov Nano Stabilizer Arm Review

Smartphone cameras and camcorder abilities have improved by leaps and bounds over the last few years, and that means that more and more they are becoming our go-to devices to record precious memories and important events. Where you used to see someone carrying anything from a point and shoot to a full DSLR, you now see people whipping out their iPhones or Android devices (and sometimes even iPads!) As a result, the camera accessories people used to use with their dedicated cameras are now being reinvented as smartphone compatible. I had the opportunity to review one such device, the Eemov…


Hunter’s Universal Internet Thermostat Review

Every now and then I review a product that I quickly realize I’m not only going to continue using after the review but will likely purchase more for use elsewhere. That is the case with Hunter’s Universal Internet Thermostat. The thermostat is simple to install, uncomplicated to set up, and it works phenomenally well. In fact, just this morning, Elana said to me, “so before I even got out of bed, I used the iPhone application to make sure the temperature was going up in the kitchen and living room.” That’s enough for me to want to continue using it and…


Sena Magia Wallet for iPhone 5 Review

We’ve been looking at a number of the cases Sena offers for the iPhone 5. This time out we are looking at the Sena Magia Wallet for iPhone 5. This wallet-style case protects your phone, holds a number of cards, and does so in as simple and stylish manner as I have seen. Let’s take a look. From Sena: Give your Apple iPhone 5 the sleek and versatile look it deserves . The Magia Wallet’s modern innovation clasps your smartphone in place and engulfs it with handcrafted premium leather. Features: Seamless luxurious slim design Magia Tape adhesive securely holds your…


Build-A-Lot 4 Power Source HD for iPad Review

Type of app: Time Management Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version, here); available in the App Store Developer: HipSoft / G5 Entertainment Description: Make your cities grow and glow in this energetic hit! You already know how to construct homes, malls and restaurants, right? Now it’s time to invest in green energy! Build solar towers, wind farms and even nuclear power plants to make your cities sustainable and prosperous for generations. Watch out for blackouts, though, as building too fast can result in a system overload. So take it slow, plan ahead and manage your energy resources carefully. Be ready…


ecbc Javelin Daypack Review

A must have for every gear junky is a good gear bag. I have been carrying the Everki Titan Backpack for quite a while. I love the bag, but since I am not using a laptop anymore, it is just too large. I actually quit carrying a bag at all of late because of the over kill for my needs. All I carry now is a tablet, but also have some odds and ends that need to travel with me, just not as much as I did when I was using a laptop. A smaller, lighter gear bag is definitely…


Reveal the Maze Pro for iPhone Review

Type of app: Maze / puzzle game Platform/where to buy: iPhone; available in the App Store Developer: Yigit Turkeri Description: Have you ever been in a real maze? Forget about all of the other maze games that you have seen before. We invite you to a real maze experience. While increasing your field of view with 13 different items and trying to get to the exit, avoid harmful items and earn points by collecting coins as much as possible. With the suggestions you will make on our website, you decide the concepts of the new maps. • 108 levels in…


Flipside STRATA Wallet Review

I’ve been a fan of Flipside Wallet’s products since I first saw, and later reviewed, the Flipside 2X Wallet. (Read the post.) Sure, the Flipside Wallet 2X looks a bit unusual, but I really like it. I like the fact that it keeps my wallet organized; I like the fact that my credit cards are shielded from crooks who might use RFID-readers to steal my information; and I like the fact that the rigid design means I can’t keep adding more and more stuff to my wallet. Yes, until I got the Flipside Wallet 2X, I suffered from “wallet-overstuff”, but…