Apple iPad Gear

DecalGirl Nokia Lumia 900 Skin Kit Review

I go through stages where I don’t want a protective case on my gear, but when I got the Nokia Lumia 900, I knew right away that there was no way I’d put that phone in a case. Why not? Well, let’s start with the 900’s size. The cases that I saw at the AT&T store, even the simplest bumper style, looked as though they would make the phone even wider; while the full-size cases looked as if they would make the phone much too thick. The Lumia 900 has such a beautiful polycarbonate body that I didn’t want to…


Belkin YourType Folio and Keyboard for The New iPad and iPad 2 Review

I have a love/hate relationship with iPad keyboard cases. On the one hand I love the idea. I take my iPad with me pretty much everywhere and I use it constantly. I use it so much in fact, that my iPad NEVER makes it through the day on a single charge. It is, more than anything else my workhorse device. And since it is so central to my work-flow, the speed and ease of use of a keyboard is central to my saving time. The soft keyboard works fine and I am rather fast with it, but a physical keyboard…


LunaTik Touch Pen, the Evolution of the Stylus: Kickstart This!

The LunaTik Touch Pen is the second product from the team that brought us the very first Kickstarter project I backed- TikTok and LunaTik Multi-Touch Watch Kits for use with the iPod nano. That project was funded back in November of 2010 and was a home run for the company and for the “wear your iPod nano like a watch” market. Project Title: LunaTik Touch Pen: The Evolution of the Stylus Status: Funded Closing Date for Funding: Friday, February 10, 2012 URL of the Project: Find it here. From the Creatives: HELLO AGAIN!: Thank you for checking out our LunaTik…


The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad 2 and the New iPad Review

I had a first generation iPad.  It was an amazingly useful and functional device for me  I loved the unit, but it wasn’t the thinnest. I rarely tried to carry my iPad with a keyboard, because once I put the iPad and a keyboard into my backpack I might was well have been carrying a laptop! When the iPad 2 came out, there were a number of keyboard “covers” that were also released. This system worked well for the iPad 2 since it was so much thinner than the first generation iPad. Still not much could be done for the…


Brydge + iPad: Kickstart This!

The Brydge is a Kickstarter Project that Judie came across. It is a keyboard, case, speaker in one that effectively turns the iPad into a laptop. The funding goal was $90,000 and they have thus far raised over $460,000 in pledges with 30 days to go. Here’s the rundown.   Project Title: Brydge + iPad: Do more. Status: In Progress Closing Date for Funding: Monday Jun 4, 2012 URL of the Project: Find it here. From the Creatives: Is it just us, or does it feel like the options for iPad keyboards and accessories are excessive in quantity, yet lacking in…


CrazyOnDigital Rotating Stand iPad Case Review

When I finally joined the ranks of the iPad masses, the first thing I did was start researching cases. While I was peripherally aware of the general price points for cases, I was surprised at how expensive many of them were! I began to wonder if this was because demand drove up prices, or if you really do get what you paid for. When CrazyOnDigital offered me the chance to review their 360 Degree Folio Case, which retails for $49.99, but sells on Amazon for the jaw-dropping price of $15.99, I was excited to give it a shot! The case…


JustMobile AluCube Mini Review

There are some products that just make sense from the minute you see them. Within seconds you know what the product is all about and it is instantly clear why the product exists. This is not one of those products. No, the JustMobile AluCube Mini is one of those products that looks like nothing more than a money grab- a way to get a little more cash from people who like JustMobile’s design sense. In fact, you can almost imagine the design team sitting in a room saying “We need one more product this year… We need it to be…


Mother’s Day is Almost Here, and You Know that Mom Loves Her Gear!

Still debating what you should get the woman who loved you first for Mother’s Day? Look no further; we are here to help … Eers PCS-150 Eers PCS-150 are “high-end headphones with a special twist”. Carly reviewed these amazing headphones and loved them. The music-loving parent will too. Here’s what they offer… Custom-fitted earphones in only 4 Minutes! Single driver, dynamic speaker Single button in-line microphone compatible with all mobile devices Crisp, detailed sound Excellent Frequency response with hard driving bass Safe and Comfortable SonoFit™ Fitting Process. Custom-fitted shape creates Sound Isolation “Acoustic Seal” Secure fit so earphones do not…


Aranez Swivel New iPad 3 Leather Case Review

This is not the first time we have had the opportunity to look at one of the gorgeous leather cases offered by Aranez. We reviewed their Kangaroo Leather case for the iPad 2 (read it here) along with as their great-looking Mirage case for the iPhone 4 (read it here). We’ve always been impressed with their design, commitment to creating products that look good and work well, and their overall approach as they vie for market-share in the ever-more crowded world of iOS cases and accessories. This time out is no exception. Their new Aranez Swivel New iPad 3 Leather…


The WaterField Indy iPad Bag Review

I’m not going to get into all the obvious movie allusions I could make about the WaterField Indy iPad Bag; suffice it to say, the bag has rugged appeal with just enough refinement, and even when brand new, it looks like something that might have been handed down to you from a favorite uncle. That’s actually a selling point, I think. Measuring 10.3″ wide x 12″ tall  x 1″ deep, the Indy weighs 17 ounces empty. It is composed of tumbled and distressed leather, which comes complete with scratches, imperfections, and other miscellaneous markings; this means that from the beginning,…


Mobile Blogging in 2012; What a Difference!

I am headed into the city for a meeting on behalf of Gear Diary, and after I’m done, Elana and I are grabbing a quick dinner in Manhattan before we have a fund-raiser for an organization that supports services for those who are hearing-impaired. Were I going into the city for a full day of events in the past, I would have had to bring my MacBook air, my Canon G11, and some additional equipment that works with them in order to quickly write-up whatever I could in order to get it up on the site as quickly as possible….


Wrapsol Ultra Hybrid Wet/Dry Combination Film Protection Kit Review

There are a number of protective films for the iPad from which to choose. We’ve written quite a bit about Bodyguardz, Zagg and ClearCoat, but if you are in the market for this kind of protection, there is another film worth considering — Wrapsol. I’ve used Wrapsol’s products before and had a mixed experience with the application process; this time out however, everything went smoothly, and the result… well the result is excellent protection! Let’s take a look at the Wrapsol Ultra Hybrid, and why you might want to consider it for your new iPad! From the company: Wrapsol makes the…


DEEP BASS Active Control Headphone Amplifier for iOS Devices Review

Last week we took a look at the latest iOS app from SRS labs. The app takes the audio coming from the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and enhances it in remarkable ways. The main downside with the app is that in order to get the audio enhancement you need to use the app for your music. Try to listen to music from any other source, for example Spotify, and you are out of luck. There is, however, a way to enhance ANY audio coming from your iOS device and it comes in the form of a new audio adapter…


Want Better Sound From Your iPad? Foco-ize It! Kickstarter Project

I love my new iPad but I’m not a huge fan of the sound coming from it. Honestly, it is a bit too anemic for my taste. Sure, it gets the job done, but it could be so much better. And, in fact, it can be. Need proof? Just play something on your iPad and then cup your hand behind the speaker with the open part of your hand pointing toward you. The difference is… Amazing. By simply redirecting the sound that would otherwise go FROM you toward to the sound increases in both volume and quality. That’s the idea…


Your Tablet Needs to Clean Up Its Act, Qmadix Smudge Free Can Help

Your tablet is dirty. Dirty, smudged and a mess. That’s what happens when grubby fingers are constant tapping, poking and sliding around on it. Seriously, it’s a bit gross. That’s where the Qmadix Smudge-Free Dry-Foam Cleaning Kit comes in. The kit is formulated to safely clean your device from smudges, dirt, grime and makeup. Our dry foam formula utilizes smudge-resistant properties that help minimize the transfer of most smudges.Smudge-Free is safe for mobile devices, computer monitors, televisions (Plasma, LCD and LED), E-readers, tablets, keyboards, household electronics and more. Each kit includes a 3oz can of cleaning foam and two 10″…


Pre-Order the Sena Florence Portfolio for iPad and Save

I love Sena’s cases, and one of my favorites is their Florence for the iPad. It took some refinement to get it just right, but they did get it “just right”, and it has been one of my all time favorite iPad cases. Sadly, I can no longer use it as that is the case my wife Elana chose for HER iPad; the good news is that there is a new version of the Florence on the way. And, of course, it would not be a problem regardless, since I am more than happy to feed Elana’s gadget needs in…


AViiQ’s Ready Clips Let You Charge and Sync Without the Mess

There is no way around it, if you use a mobile device you need to have a charge/sync cable handy. The only problem is, most cables are far linger than you usually need and, if you have more than one in a bag, they quickly become a jumble of spaghetti. That’s where AViiQ’s new Ready Clips come in. Ready Clips are small, bendable, clipable cables that go anywhere, stay mess-free and do the job. At just 19.99 to $29.99 (2 miniUSB Ready Clips are $19.99 while the 2 Apple connectors are the full $29.99) they are the perfect stocking stuffer……


Turn Your Mobile Device into an Awesome Desk-Phone with Native Union’s Curve Twin

Thanks to services like Line2, my iPad makes for a great phone. Seriously, so long as I have a good data connection, the tablet offers a huge screen for dialing and an excellent noise-canceling microphone for making speakerphone calls. But what if I want to use my iPad, or my iPhone, or my iPod touch or, shockingly, a device running an OS other than iOS as a VoIP phone AND have the calls be private? That’s where Native Union’s amusingly functional line of handsets come in. Many of the designs simply connect to the 3.5mm headphone jack on my handsets…


Plantronics BackBeat GO, the No Compromise Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

This past Tuesday I had the opportunity to spend some time with representatives from Plantronics as they revealed their latest product — the Plantronics BackBeat GO. The Plantronics BackBeat GO offer “Great sound in a small package”. They speak the truth. The BackBeat GO are small, light and they sound great. Plantronics isn’t new to the world of stereo Bluetooth headsets. They have long offered the $79.99 BackBeat 903+ headset. The 903+ headset is designed for workouts and other activities. It is sweat-proof, has a stable wrap-around the ear design and is a very nice product. The company sent me home…


Tom Bihn Ristretto (New Version) review

  There are a few companies that consistently impress me with the design, functionality and quality of their laptop and iPad bags. Tom Bihn is one of them and, with the recent release of the updated Ristretto bag for iPad, 11″ MacBook air and 13″ MBA they have, yet again, proven why they are such a great company. For the past few months my “go to” bag has been the Skooba Design V.3 Tablet Messenger. It is a great bag that I continue to use and enjoy. It holds my devices in “landscape” and, as I note in the review,…


Just Mobile Highway Car Adapter for iPad and iPhone review

How much can you actually say about an in-car charger? I mean, seriously, so long as it plugs into your power adapter and can charge your device you are good to go right? Maybe, but as with so many things, when the tool you are using for a task is well-conceived and beautifully executed and when the object in question is made from high quality materials and does exactly what is promised, it is something abut which to take note. That is the case with the Just Mobile Highway in-car charger. I’m using it in my new car and it’s…