Apple iPhone Gear | Gear Diary

News & Features, Reviews January 26, 2016

The iPocket Drive Could Give Your iPhone Some Added Storage

Let’s face is, if you have an iPhone, chances are you’ve come across a friend with an Android device who brags on and on (cough Judie) about how their devices have external memory that is a MUST. Well what would you say if I told you that there’s a portable USB flash drive for your iDevice that can do the same thing? The iPocket Drive is essentially an external hard drive for your photos and media. Since Apple has a firm hatred towards external memory, the best option we have in terms of external storage is expandable memory. Essentially doing…

Reviews January 25, 2016

Incipio [Performance] Series Level 4 Dual Layered Drop Protection For iPhone 6/6S

We’ve looked at the Incipio Performance Series Levels 1, 2, and 3 cases. We looked at the Level 3 Folio too. Now its time to look at the big boys in the new Incipio lineup. The first heavy-duty protection case worthy of mention is the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 4 Dual Layered Drop Protection for iPhone 6S, at $44.99.

Reviews January 25, 2016

Incipio [Performance] Series Level 3 Folio Superior Drop Protection with Storage for iPhone 6 and 6S

We recently looked at the Incipio Performance Series Levels 1,2, and 3 cases. The company also offered the Level 3 as a folio-style case. If you want good protection, the ability to carry a card or three, and love a folio-style case, the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 3 Folio Superior Drop Protection with Storage for iPhone 6s is for you!

News & Features January 24, 2016

Scosche boomBOTTLE+ Bluetooth Speaker Is Ready for Anything!

The original Scosche boomBOTTLE impressed me. A Bluetooth speaker built for use indoors and out, it pumped out excellent sound in every direction. And it had the added benefit of fitting into a bike’s water bottle cage! Now Scosche has released the Scosche boomBOTTLE+. It keeps a similar design and is a worthy update to an already-impressive Bluetooth speakers.

News & Features January 22, 2016

Incipio [Performance] Series Level 3 Dual Layered Drop Protection For iPhone 6/6S

We looked at the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 1 and 2 cases the other day. They offer thin, light protection for your iPhone 6. For those who want a balance of more protection without too much bulk, there is the middle-ground of the series: the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 3 Dual Layered Drop Protection For iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.

Reviews January 22, 2016

The Ventev Desktop Charginghub s500 Is Ready for All Your Charging Needs

Many of us now have a phone or two, a tablet, smartwatch and other devices that need to get charged on a daily basis. Sure, you can use a straight powerstrip, but that gets cumbersome. Ventev has a fantastic solution, the $59.99 desktop charginghub s500, that now has a permanent place on the night table next to my bed.

Reviews January 21, 2016

ECOXGEAR EcoCarbon Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker + Flashlight: Water Tight and Just Right for the Outdoors

We’ve reviewed several waterproof portable speakers in the past year, and I have to admit that this is a product category that excites me. I no longer need to think twice about whether it’s safe to bring my Bluetooth speaker to the beach, pool, or anywhere, really.

News & Features January 21, 2016

SureCall EZ 4G 5-Band Cellular Signal Booster for Home Gives Your Signal a Boost!

I spent ten years living in a relatively rural area of New Jersey. Cell reception was terrible. Even now I find that I often have just a bar or two when in my new apartment. That’s where the SureCall EZ 4G 5-Band Cellular Signal Booster enters. It sets up in seconds and makes weak signals a thing of the past.

Reviews January 21, 2016

Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual-Layered Drop Protection

We’ve looked at the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 1 case. (Read the review.) It’s thin and light, and it offers just enough protection. If, however, you still want thin and light but need a bit more protection, you’ll want to check out the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual Layered Drop Protection for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.

Reviews January 20, 2016

Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S Review: One Classy Hard Case

If you are looking for a hard shell case that has a bit more class than your typical hard shell case, look no further than the Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S. This case takes a shell-style case and dresses it up with a sheet of quality Beyzacases leather floating on the back. And at just over $30 it’s a bargain!

Reviews January 19, 2016

Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 Offers Lightweight Protection

Incipio has released a line of cases offering five different levels of protection. Each case looks good and reflects the thought and care that went into creating their design. And with each number you get a bit more protection. This time out, we will look at the two lightest cases in the lineup; the Level 1 and the Level 2. [PERFORMANCE] SERIES LEVEL 1 The Incipio [PERFORMANCE] Series Levels 1 offers lightweight drop protection for your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. For $24.99 the case gives you the lightest protection in the series. In this case lightest not only refers…

Reviews January 19, 2016

BEYZACASES Natural ID Slim for iPhone 6S

I’m not a huge fan of sleeve-style cases for the iPhone, preferring to have more protection surrounding my phone at all times. Still, there’s something about having a naked phone that is protected when not in use that is appealing. The Beyzacases Natural ID Slim is a great option if you are looking for a protective leather sleeve.

News & Features January 15, 2016

The Go Puck Battery Pack Charged My iPhone During CES

While in Las Vegas for CES, traveling from booth to booth, there was one thing I went without quite often: Battery Life. Luckily I was able to stumble upon the Go Puck Booth who supplied me with a stylish, wearable power solution in their Go Puck 5x; it not only kept me going but actually looked quite nice on my badge as well.

News & Features January 15, 2016

Phaz Prepares Their Headphones for Apple’s Rumored Axing of the Headphone Jack

Last week at CES I had the opportunity to test out a pair of headphones that are truly ahead of the curve when it comes to audio. With Apple likely to remove the headphone jack from their devices, Phaz Music announced the industry’s first-ever universal headphones in the Phaz Music P5 Headphones. The Phaz P5 Digital Headphones will be the first versions available on the market, but they are truly innovative as they will be the first on the market to pull digital audio content directly from the MicroUSB/iOS Lightning cable on your smartphone. Essentially, the Phaz headphones will simply plug…

Reviews January 13, 2016

Kristall Liquid Screen Protection for Small Devices Is Clear, Invisible Safety for Your Smartphone Screen

There’s no question the screen is the most vulnerable part of your smartphone. Gorilla Glass helps but if you really want to protect your phone you need something more. Usually, I turn to glass screen protectors, but the nanotechnology of the Kristall Liquid Screen Protection has me rethinking that. You can’t see the protection but it is there.

Reviews January 11, 2016

Ditto Gives You Discreet Notifications Without Getting in the Way

Judie and I received Huawei Mate 8 smartphones at CES 2016. The phablet is amazing but won’t work with our Apple Watches. We also picked up the amazing Withings Activité Steel Fitness Watch. It’s a great tracker but doesn’t do notifications. Fortunately, the Ditto notifier fills in that gap in a manner that is both inexpensive and discrete.

News & Features January 7, 2016

The Bezalel Latitude Is the Most Innovative Case for Your iPhone

One thing that I’ve always wanted as an iPhone user is the ability to charge my device wirelessly. Lets be honest my fellow Apple device users.. we envy certain Android devices that have this capability. That’s where BEZALEL comes into play. The Bezalel Latitude is a one of a kind gadget. if you’re familiar with battery cases, you probably dread having to use a micro-USB cable to charge your device, and always wondered “why not just include a lightning cable charging option in the first place?” A problem that had yet to have a solution finally receives one with the…

Reviews January 5, 2016

Blue Lola Sealed Over-Ear High Fidelity Headphones: Experience Music the Way It Was Meant to Be Heard

Last year Dan and I took a look at the Blue Mo-Fi Headphones, and to this day, they are still among my favorites. At $349, the Mo-Fi might be a bit out of grasp for the casual audiophile, though. If you don’t necessarily need the built-in amplifier the Mo-Fi sports, then you should consider the comparably built, less expensive Lola. Included in the box are the Lola headphones, a soft travel case, an almost 4-foot long flat tangle-free audio cable with Apple iPhone/iPad controls and microphone, an (insanely long) flat 10-foot audio cable, and a 3.5mm-to-1/4 inch adaptor. If you…

Reviews January 4, 2016

Lander Neve Lighting to USB Cable + Travel Case: Handy for More Than One Reason

If you got an iPhone or iPad over the holidays, you’ll soon need more than the original cable that came in your box. Why? Because those flimsy white cables are notorious for fraying and falling apart. When you’re ready to buy a more substantial cable, take a look at the new Lander Neve.

Reviews January 3, 2016

The Just Mobile AluPlug Is Fancier Than Most USB Wall Chargers

In the grand scheme of things, USB wall chargers probably don’t rate too highly on your list of “things that should be pretty”, but it’s nice when one comes along that not only looks good, it also does a fab job of quickly charging your USB powered gear; that’s the Just Mobile AluPlug.

Reviews January 2, 2016

The Lander Powell Apple iPhone 6 /6S Plus Case + Travel Case Review

When you think of protective iPhone cases, you probably imagine something bulky and cumbersome, like Otterbox and other similar styles. But if you want serious protection that doesn’t add a lot of bulk or weight to your incredibly thin iPhone 6/S Plus, you need look no further than the Lander Powell. Before we jump into the case review, let’s talk about the package. At first glance, it seems a bit much for what should be a simple iPhone case … But upon further examination, you’ll find that the packaging is actually a reusable, somewhat waterproof two-piece rubber travel box; the paper wrapper…