Reviews

Sena Sarach LeatherSkin for iPhone 4S Video Review

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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

Reviews

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…

Speck CandyShell View for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

Reviews

Speck CandyShell View for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

I had two different students come in to see me the other day. Both had brand new iPhones. Both iPhones were in the same style of case although in different colors. Yes, both students had opted to buy Speck’s CandyShell case to protect their new iPhone. The CandyShell line has been a huge hit for Speck and, as a result, the company is continuing to expand the line. They sent a few different samples over and we will be taking some video looks at them. First up, the Speck CandyShell View for iPhone 4/4S. From Speck: This clever twist on our…

Speck CandyShell Card for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

Reviews

Speck CandyShell Card for iPhone 4/4S Video Review

The other day we reviewed Sena’s gorgeous Hampton Wallet for iPhone 4/4S. It is a luxurious leather case that doubles as a wallet and is a pleasure to hold and to use. Yesterday, however, I found myself a tiny bit frustrated by having to open the cover each time I wanted to access my phone. I also found that, when using the case, one handed iPhone manipulation is impossible. I still love the case but it did make me wonder what the same approach would be like if it did not have the cover. Let me introduce you to Speck’s…

Sena Hampton Wallet for iPhone 4/4S Review

Reviews

Sena Hampton Wallet for iPhone 4/4S Review

I left my house yesterday and headed into the office. I was in the car. My iPhone was in the car. My wallet, however, was on the kitchen table. Oops. Yes, I NEVER leave home without my iPhone but, time and again, I seem to forget my wallet. That is a bit of a problem but one that is easily solved by using a wallet that is also an iPhone case. We’ve looked at a few previously, but many had a fatal flaw in that they lacked a camera cutout. In addition, we’ve also previously debated the question of whether…

Star Wars The Old Republic Launches, My Hands-On Thoughts

Game Diary, Reviews

Star Wars The Old Republic Launches, My Hands-On Thoughts

One of the most highly anticipated games of the year launched today – STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™ from LucasArts and Bioware. The game is in the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) genre, and has been compared to the hugely popular World of Warcraft in terms of style, though obviously in a very different setting. Here is the press release: EA, BioWare and LucasArts usher in a Force in online games as STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™ goes live today From Midnight Store Openings to the Opening Bell of the NASDAQ, Gamers and Star Wars™ Fans Celebrate the…

The Beyzacases Downtown Series Folio Case for iPad 2

Reviews

The Beyzacases Downtown Series Folio Case for iPad 2

I’ve always thought there was a certain “something” about a leather folio that made its carrier appear to be smartly pulled together. Maybe it’s that a folio limits its owner to only the absolutely essential “stuff” — all organized and safely zippered up.   Whether it’s true or not, folios create an appearance of maximum efficiency with minimal clutter; I like that.  And now that our documents, presentations, pictures, music, movies, receipts — and just about every other thing possibly imagined — can be carried digitally, my image of the pulled together professional has become even more narrow. Ask me which person…

Give Your Amazon Kindle Touch a BodyGuard

Reviews

Give Your Amazon Kindle Touch a BodyGuard

A few weeks ago we took a look at the BodyGuardz Armor Carbon Fiber for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. While it doesn’t guard from drops or bumps, the Armor does protect the entire back of my iPad from scratches. I like that and now use my iPad sans case more often than ever. On Cyber Monday the company offered some steep discounts on other products so I ordered a few, including a pre-order for protecting the Amazon Kindle touch. It came in the other day and I just put it on my Kindle. Here’s quick look. From Boduguardz: BodyGuardz…

HTC EVO Design 4G for Sprint Review

Reviews

HTC EVO Design 4G for Sprint Review

As smartphones continue their march into the mainstream the challenge of choosing the right phone for you grows ever-more challenging. This challenge is compounded by the fact that so many of HTC’s phones seems to be a slight variation on the same theme over and over and over again. (The same holds true for Samsung’s phones which all offer slight changes in screen size, features etc while remaining largely the same.) As Judie wrote in her review of the HTC Rhyme a few weeks ago, I like items that have their own personality and that aren’t similar to every one else’s, but…

Native Union MM 03i Bluetooth iPhone Accessory Review

Reviews

Native Union MM 03i Bluetooth iPhone Accessory Review

Point 1: As much as I love my iPhone using it as a phone isn’t all that comfortable. As a result, even when I’m not on the go, I will often use a headset, wired or Bluetooth, when using my iPhone for a call. In other words, if I use my iPhone a headset is a must. Point 2: iOS 5 .0 isn’t giving me the battery life that I am used to and need. That may change with the next iOS update but for the time being it is an issue with which I need to deal. That means…

Shredder Guitar Synthesizer for iPad Review

Reviews

Shredder Guitar Synthesizer for iPad Review

I remember seeing my first guitar synthesizer vividly – it was the late 70’s in Junior High and the instrument was a fragile and finicky Arp Avatar that allowed a special pickup on a standard guitar to play through the synth. Later I had the chance to actually play with an early Roland GR-300 that Pat Metheny famously used on his Offramp album. Of course, now that the iPad houses full-on studios more powerful than those recording most pop music in the 80’s, it makes sense we now have a guitar synth app! Let’s take a quick look! The Hype:…