Another IFA is in the books, and the following are the products we thought demanded special attention; one or more of them might just make your life healthier, easier, more productive, or more fun! After scouring the announcements and choosing the products for our Best of IFA 2022 list, all I have to say is, “what a time to be alive!”
We’ve reviewed several products from EcoFlow, with more to come. Today they’ve introduced a new portable power station that promises industry-leading charging speeds. The EcoFlow DELTA 2 is an ideal backup solution and will fit nicely in the brand’s ecosystem. This next edition of the DELTA Portable Power Station looks like an exciting new product.
On the 9-hour flight from DFW to LHR Monday, I had a young child sitting next to me on the plane. Flipping through the available movies, I realized that the few that caught my interest might be too violent and slightly inappropriate for the little guy sitting next to me, so I read instead. However, if I had had the Lenovo Glasses T1, I could have privately enjoyed any movie I wanted without worrying about whether the action or images were appropriate for my seatmate.
Lenovo has done some great stuff when it comes to taking tablets to the next level; the new Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) and its elevated cousin, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen), promise to continue that trend.
As much as I appreciate and enjoy using the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4’s expansive 16″ display, traveling with such an unwieldy laptop isn’t always easy, much less ideal. The X1 Extreme is almost impossible to use in tighter spaces (i.e., airline economy seats); a 14″ or smaller travel laptop makes more sense. Still, I struggle to recreate the same productivity I enjoy on the X1 Extreme when using something smaller for all but the most basic tasks. The just-announced Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold appears to be my perfect solution. Check this out.
It used to be the height of high-tech setups to have more than one monitor. But monitor technology is always improving, and LG is leaping forward with their UltraGear OLED Curved Monitor and UltraFine Ergo AI displays!
Another Mobile World Congress is in the books, and it was great to be able to attend in person for the first time since 2019! Seriously great. MWC is always heavy on new smartphone releases, and this year was no exception. Even so, there were plenty of other remarkable devices touting worthy upgrades or making their debuts. So with that, I give you Gear Diary’s Best of MWC 2022.
Qualcomm announced their new Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 computer platform at the Snapdragon Summit in December. PCs with the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 computer platform promise to be always on and always connected, so their users can work anywhere without sacrificing productivity, connectivity, collaboration, or security. The first computer to employ this new technology is Lenovo’s new ThinkPad X13s Gen 1!
The new MediaTek Dimensity 8100 and Dimensity 8000 system-on-chips (SoCs) have just been announced. Borrowing the advanced technology from their flagship Dimensity 9000 platform, the new chips promise to “bring flagship-level technology – connectivity, displays, gaming, multimedia, and imaging features – to premium 5G smartphones.”
If you’re still thinking of TCL as the television people, you need to expand your expectations. They’ve been putting out impressive budget-friendly Android phones for a few years now, and they’re adding 5G and refreshed cameras, as well as updates to their NXTPAPER tablet line. Plus, they’ve shown off some proof of concepts that indicate they’re not done innovating yet!
The world is slowly opening back up, but whether you’re working in the office, at home, or from your local diner, you still need to ensure that your computer can keep up with you! Luckily, Lenovo has been busy, and they’ve got an exciting slate of upgrades sure to capture your eye and make your gaming binge-watching productivity soar!
One of the most visually stunning and spec-loaded flagship smartphones released last year was the OPPO Find X3 Pro, and the just-announced OPPO Find X5 Pro promises to be a worthy successor. The Find X5 Pro boasts a clean and modern style, flagship specifications, a huge battery, and top-of-the-line cameras that include enhanced Hasselblad Natural Color Calibration and Master Filters.
Realme became its own brand, independent of OPPO in 2018; since then, the Chinese company has become a force in its own right. Currently listed as a top-5 smartphone vendor in 30 global markets and six regions, part of realme’s success has come from its firm commitment to make well-designed, aesthetically pleasing smartphones that have competitive features rarely found in similarly-priced devices. The latest models in their lineup are the just-announced realme 9 Pro+ and realme 9 Pro; realme has sent them in for us to check out, so here’s a hands-on look at both devices.
Zek and I had planned on being in Las Vegas to cover CES while Dan held down the fort from home until the coronavirus yet again derailed our best-laid plans. Long story short, Zek and I didn’t travel to Las Vegas. Even so, we wanted to work together, so we traveled, just to the opposite coast. Here is the CES 2022 gear that Zek, Dan, and I used.
After spending countless hours scouring the latest press releases, sitting through virtual embargoed showcases on new products, planning to be in Vegas, and once again having to attend virtually, we’ve found that the best-laid plans don’t always work out. Even so, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most innovative and exciting tech that came out of CES while trying to stay away from products that won’t ship or become available in 2022. So, without further ado, we present Gear Diary’s Best of CES 2022 Awards!
If there’s one thing you can count on at CES, it’s that Dell and Alienware will come out swinging with an impressive lineup of computers in both their consumer and gaming lines. This year is no exception, so whether you’re heading into 2022 thinking it’s time to up your laptop game, upgrade your monitors, or finally get that gaming setup you need to beat the neighbor’s kid in Fortnite, you’re set with Dell and Alienware’s bold and exciting new devices! Anyone who knows even the slightest bit about gaming knows of Alienware. They’re extending their dominance in the space with…
Likely, you don’t give much thought to the amount of polyurethane foam in our everyday lives. Everything from our beds to chairs to cars and airplanes is stuffed full of PU foam. It’s not recyclable, and when it hits the end of its life, we just dump it in a landfill. But there may be a better option soon available with the reusable Piana Technology E/Smart Fiber.
CES 2022 may not have been the CES we were all hoping for, but it still brought much news. Often lost in the “big” announcements is the work of accessory companies who make our devices even better. Scosche had lots of new products to share, including two new Scosche MagicMount solutions for car use and power solutions for every situation.
With two kids, I know how imperative phone protection is. Preventing accidental drops is one way to keep them from cracking. The grip-less cell accessory, HANDL, has launched its new Apple MagSafe compatible magHANDL series.
Last year at CES, John Deere showcased how technology and sustainability drive modern farming, but this year they took things to a whole new level. Building upon 20 years of self-driving technology that still required a farmer to supervise what was happening from the tractor, the John Deere Autonomous Tractor is now a reality. This futuristic tractor will not require human supervision in the cab, freeing up time and helping farmers work more efficiently.
Smart home technology is everywhere these days, and Moen is making it clear that they are the leaders in smart water technology. The Moen Smart Faucet with Motion Control has new touchless technology to control the water’s temperature and flow with simple hand motions or voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Moen Smart Water Network is a whole-home ecosystem of products that, when working together, provide complete control over the water in one’s home.