Reviews

MiLi Power iBox 8000mAh Battery Charger Case for iPad 2 review

MiLi Power iBox 8000mAh Battery Charger Case for iPad 2 review

Just before CES last year Judie and I both purchased a 7″ Samsung Galaxy Tab in order to blog on the fly. At the time both of us were already pretty heavily invested in iOS but the first generation iPad’s lack of a camera made it problematic for blogging. Add in the fact that, at the time, iPad blogging apps were rather limited in functionality and you begin to see the problem we faced. Unlike the iPad, the Tab had a decent enough camera and blogging from it worked rather well. As such, it solved many of the issues and…

Chivel iPhone 4S Clear and Black Bumper Review

Chivel iPhone 4S Clear and Black Bumper Review

My iPhone 4S has mostly lived in a Speck Fitted case since it was purchased. While I like it, I am always on the lookout for other options. Ideally, I wanted something that would offer some protection and grip, but still showcase the industrial style of the 4S. While bopping around Amazon one day, I came across a listing for a clear bumper with a silicon trim by a company called Chivel. It was only $2.99, so it seemed like the perfect way to try out a more minimal bumper style case. Is this an amazing price for a great case…

Jabra 900 Series Wireless Headset review

Jabra 900 Series Wireless Headset review

Back in July we took a look at the uber-cool Sennheiser OfficeRunner Headset. It comes with a base that was designed by someone with a keen aesthetic sense and it sounds great. In fact, I’ve been using it at the office ever since. It does, however, offer a few significant downsides. It takes up a bit of desk space, has a few too many cumbersome wires and it is pricey! The one we reviewed included the handset lifter and was close to $400. (The unit alone is $299.95 in our Amazon Affiliate store.) Jabra has also released a line of…

PC Game (Non) Review: Rage

Game Diary, Reviews

PC Game (Non) Review: Rage

I had planned on reviewing the shooter Rage from id software back in early October – I really did. I had it pre-ordered on Steam, loaded it up when it was released and went to play it that night and … nothing. It simply didn’t work … well, that isn’t completely true. It would seem to want to start, but fail miserably, in spite of rebooting, checking drivers, and so on. A quick check on the Steam forums – and gaming forums in general – revealed that I wasn’t alone. How long have PC gamers had to deal with messy…

Music Diary Review: Dave Chisholm - Calligraphy

Music Diary, News & Features, Reviews

Music Diary Review: Dave Chisholm – Calligraphy

Dave Chisholm – Calligraphy I reviewed Dave Chisholm’s ‘Radioactive’ nearly a year and a half ago, noting: The thing I love about the ‘new big band’ music like Chisholm’s is that it combines small ensemble open-ness and intercommunication and large group harmonic structure and depth of composition. The title track is a great example – The opening uses the full effect of the large group to build the dramatic effect then breaks out to allow a nice collaborative improvisation until the main theme takes over. In fact, regardless of the size of my portable iTunes Library (I was restricting myself…

Sena Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 Video Review

Sena Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 Video Review

Last year Travis reviewed Sena’s Keyboard Folio for the original iPad. (You can read it here.) Here’s what he found: The keyboard is not the best, but it is fully functional and simple to use. Having a keyboard does make it far easier to write long posts, articles or homework assignments on the iPad. There are people who have resisted jumping into the iPad world simply because they need to enter large amounts of text and find the onscreen keyboard too limiting. The Sena Keyboard Folio for iPad solves that issue and brings that functionality to the iPad in a…

Speck MightyVault for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Video Review

Speck MightyVault for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Video Review

klutz (klts) n. Slang 1. A clumsy person. [Yiddish klots, from Middle High German kloz, block, lump, from Old High German.] Are you a klutz? Have you dropped your iPhone more than once? Do you need more iPhone-protection than the average person? If you answered any or all of these questions affirmatively you may need Speck’s new MightVault case for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. At under $50 the MightVault provides a great deal of protection while still offering a distinctly Speck-style appearance. Here’s a closer look. From Speck: Are you that tough on your phone? Well, MightyVault is…

2012 Honda Civic Si: It Wasn't Broke, but They Fixed It Anyway

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2012 Honda Civic Si: It Wasn’t Broke, but They Fixed It Anyway

It wasn’t broke, so why did Honda (try to) fix it? That is a question many have had for Honda after they released the 2012 Civic earlier this year. As with the rest of the model lineup, the sporty Si was made over for 2012, enhancing a low, sleek athletic appearance with a long windshield rake, one that raises some criticism due to the design and construction challenges because of it. Honda continues to employ the split-level instrument panel in the new model and as such some folks will continue to admire it while others are polarized away from that…

ePillow Tablet Pillow review

ePillow Tablet Pillow review

Every now and then we are invited to review something that just looks… well… ridiculous but we end up agreeing to take a look anyway. When the “ridiculous review item” first arrives and we open the box our first impressions are, for the most part, confirmed. Yes, more often than not the product is silly, looks like a bad joke and poses a bit of a challenge with regard to actually writing the review. Every now and then however, once we actually start using the item we discover that our first AND second impressions were actually wrong! Sure, the item…

The ivee Flex Personal Assistant Video Review

The ivee Flex Personal Assistant Video Review

This isn’t the first time we’ve looked at an alarm clock that not only speaks the time but understands when YOU speak. No, two years ago we reviewed the Moshi Travel Alarm Clock, and before that we took a look at the bedside version of it. Despite some limitations both worked fairly well. Yes, voice commands were limited, but once you learned HOW to speak to the clocks they did respond properly most of the time. Fast forward two years, and a new batch of voice-controlled alarm clocks are hitting the market. They come from a company called ivee and…

If You're Gonna Get Bombed Anyway, Try the 'Bombs Away' Shot Glasses from ConvenientGadgets.com

Reviews, Yum Log

If You’re Gonna Get Bombed Anyway, Try the ‘Bombs Away’ Shot Glasses from ConvenientGadgets.com

So does anybody actually still do shots anymore? In my younger day, I might have tipped a few back, and I do see the young folks dropping a Jägerbomb every now and then at my local watering hole. But for the most part, I like to sip my drinks rather than snapping my head back and pouring one down my gullet. However, if you are in the holiday spirit for some holiday spirits and want to maximize the efficiency of your consumption, then perhaps a set of Bombs Away Shot Glasses from ConvenientGadgets.com is just the ticket. Made from sturdy…

Sena Sarach LeatherSkin for iPhone 4S Video Review

Sena Sarach LeatherSkin for iPhone 4S Video Review

Over the past few days we’ve looked at a number of Sena cases for the iPhone 4S. We began with the most “complicated”, the Hampton Wallet. Next we looked at another case-wallet combination but this one, the WalletSlim, was a bit simpler. This third video review brings us the least complicated case yet but don’t let that fool you, the Sena Sarach LeatherSkin may be simple but it is a beautiful case that stands out from the crowd of “me too” iPhone cases. Here’s a look… From Sena: The Sarach LeatherSkin case is a part of the unique Sarach Designer…

Sena WalletSlim for iPhone 4S Video Review

Sena WalletSlim for iPhone 4S Video Review

The other day we reviewed Sena’s gorgeous Hampton Wallet for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The case completely protects the iPhone and doubles as a highly functional wallet with three card slots and an additional space behind them for stowing receipts or a few dollars. In day-to-day use, however, the case can be a tiny bit cumbersome since it requires you to unsnap the cover to access the screen. It also can be challenging to use the iPhone with one hand. That doesn’t mean it isn’t an awesome case. It IS but it might not be the right case…

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1580 review

Tekkeon TekCharge MP1580 review

We’ve seen and reviewed a lot of different external backup batteries for mobile devices. Many of them will be coming to CES next month in the hopes that, for once, we won’t be scrambling to recharge our gear. One of the batteries that will be coming along is the Tekkeon TekCharge MP1580 but calling it an external battery is actually not quite accurate. No, the MP1580 can be thought of as a rechargeable battery charger that can double as an external battery. That means it serves a double function when you are on the go. Priced at under $25 it…

Joy Factory Klick Desk Stand for iPad 2 Review

Joy Factory Klick Desk Stand for iPad 2 Review

The other day Bryan (who we are THRILLED to have writing for Gear Diary now!!) wrote an interesting piece entitled Where’s My “Made for Android”? In it he reflected on the fact that there are so many different accessories available for iOS devices but a relative few for Android-running phones and tablets. Of course this is, in part, due to the fact that iOS devices are few in number and their specs are tightly controlled by Apple while Android is all over the place (go ahead, shoot your flaming arrows but you KNOW it is true!). That doesn’t change the…

Speck FabShell for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Video Review

Speck FabShell for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S Video Review

We’ve recently taken a look at a number of Speck’s offerings for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S but I saved my personal favorite for last. The Speck FabShell is a low profile case that protects the back, sides, top and bottom of the iPhone but leaves the screen fully accessible The addition of fabric not only on the back but on the sides and bottom makes it a case that looks… and feels unique. Let’s check out this new style from Speck. Speck on the FabShell: Custom patterns, extra protection and a super-slim fit are what make this…

JLab b-Flex X-Bass USB Laptop Speaker Review

JLab b-Flex X-Bass USB Laptop Speaker Review

I practically live on my MacBook Pro. All of my Gear Diary posts are done using it, most all of my internet browsing and I even use it full time at work instead of my supplied Windows machine. Some would say I love this computer since it is with me everywhere I go. There is one problem with the MacBook Pro. The speaker is terrible! It is too small and provides thin, weak audio quality. The machine is so beautiful, it is a shame that the audio quality is so poor. I have tried several options to improve the audio,…

Eskuché 33i and Control-i Headphones Review

Eskuché 33i and Control-i Headphones Review

Back in November we brought a pair of on-ear headphones to your attention that look great, sound good and don’t break the bank. At under $70 for each pair eskuché’s 33i and Control-i headphones are worth considering if you’ve been looking for a pair of on-ear headphones that include an in-line mic. We’ve had both of them here for the past few weeks and have used them to listen to a variety of music. In this lightening review we will take a quick look at both, give you some of the upsides and some of the potential downsides and then…

Speck CandyShell Flip for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

Speck CandyShell Flip for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

If you dock your iPhone you have discovered the challenge of finding the right case, one that provides enough protection but also fits into the charge/sync dock or speaker dock you use. Speck took a decidedly different approach to solving this issue with their CandyShell Flip by making it possible to protect your iPhone in a thick, shock absorbing CandyShell case AND charge/sync/dock without having to ever remove the case. It is a simple but effective design and may be the ideal case for you. Let’s take a look… From Speck: Dock your iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 without removing…

Gear VS Gear: The JawBone JamBox Faces Off Against the Spar Zephyr 300

Gear VS Gear: The JawBone JamBox Faces Off Against the Spar Zephyr 300

The JawBone JamBox is one impressive device. It is a Bluetooth speaker, a speakerphone and one of the best gadgets of 2011! At $199 it isn’t inexpensive but it is a quality device that is well worth the money. Spar’s Zephyr line of speakers looks to step into the fray with the JamBox and one up it by including a backup battery that can charge your device on the go. They even got Wired to run a piece entitled “Like a JamBox, Only More Generous” despite the author never having heard one. So how do the Zephyr’s (which cost between…

The Arctic E461-BM Earphones Review

The Arctic E461-BM Earphones Review

I have reviewed a number of earphone solutions in just about every price range; yes, I do have a problem. If it were up to me, I would try all earphones with the goal of finding the perfect fit and sound. Earphones are an interesting product because you can find them anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. One has to be cautious when formulating an opinion on them and make sure they are comparing apples to apples. A pair of $250 earphones should be superior to a $35 set, logically. That is not to say that…

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