Misc Gear

808’s Performer Bluetooth Headphones Are Best Used With It’s Cable

It’s always fun being able to review Bluetooth headphones over here at Gear Diary, so it was exciting to be able to review 808’s Over-The-Ear Audio Performer BT Bluetooth Headphones.   I will be the first to say this…I hate cords. Wearing a sling bag daily to and from work, I really despise having to pull my phone out of my pocket to change a tune or check a notification. Yes, first-world problems. The 808 Audio Performer BT’s are able to be used wirelessly for those of us who enjoy being cable free, or if you just have to have…


Intocircuit’s 15000mAh Dual External Battery’s LED Screen Sells Itself

For only $39.99 at Amazon, the Intocircuit 2nd Gen 15000mAH Smart LED External Battery offers you not only an extension to your draining smartphone or tablet, but the full speed charging, dual USB output offers up the ability to charge an iPhone 5s seven times, a Samsung Galaxy s5 more than four times, or an iPhone 6 Plus twice. When you need that extra 20-30% to keep you going, this is one that for sure will keep you going.   When I first opened the box for the Intocircuit, it reminded me of more of a remote than a battery…



LucidBrake Is Donating 20% of Smart Bike Break Sales to Help Fight HIV/AIDS

LucidBrake, the creators of the first smart wireless bike brake light announced today that they will be giving 20% of all pre-order sales of their LucidBrake wireless bike break light for HIV/AIDs awareness and research. Starting today, and finishing up in July, LucidBrake will donate 20% of every pre-order to AIDS/Lifecycle: Ride to End AIDS, the annual seven day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money and awareness of HIV/AIDS, which is held on May31st until June 6th this year. LucidBrake, the press-on wireless biking brake light, successfully completed their Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns earlier this…


Dlodlo Announces the World’s Lightest Virtual Reality Glasses

Dlodlo, the world’s leader in Virtual Reality products announced earlier this week their Dlodlo VR Glasses, the world’s lightest portable Virtual Reality Glasses.   Upon first glance, the VR glasses aren’t what you’d expect out of a Judge Dredd movie. The fashionably designed, wireless, and super lightweight glasses are not only portable and comfortable (unlike their competitors), they actually do everything accurately. The 4 ounce glasses are four times lighter than standard VR headsets, and with the highest full HD 2k+ resolution, and the largest 110 degree field of view, the Virtual Reality glasses are a visual feast of stereoscopic…


AltspaceVR Launches Social Virtual Reality Platform in Public Beta

AltspaceVR is a social virtual reality platform that allows users to experience anything on the Internet with other users, no matter where they are through virtual reality. Within AltspaceVR, people can connect in virtual shared spaces and communicate verbally and with natural body language, just like you would in real life. Anyone can join the beta starting today!





Listen Up!: Car Audio, Part II

In the first part of this series on Car Audio I discussed basic terminology and history of radios in the automobile. This part takes a look at the types of music sources, and the music itself, that we play in our vehicles. Regardless of what type of car stereo equipment you employ in your vehicle, it all begins with music.


The Basics: Car Audio, Part I

Music in the mobile environment is more than just an accessory or option to drivers, and for many it is a necessity. Every new vehicle I test usually arrives with a premium audio system, and I love putting the stereo systems through their paces almost as much as the vehicles themselves. But car audio can be more, much more.



Hit the Hardware Store for Carseat Toting Needs!

We recently took a vacation and after some debate decided it was safer to bring our own carseat rather than rent one of dubious quality along with our car. You can buy special carts to transport car seats, but a friend of ours filled us in on a much cheaper and more versatile tip: a hand truck!


Stratos Card Becomes the First All-in-One Connected Card to Ship

The Stratos Card has officially become the first all-in-one credit card solution to ship. The industry’s first membership-based connected card combines credit, debit, membership, gift, and other magnetic stripe cards into one digital device. The Stratos Card offers bank-level security and contains a proprietary Dual Stripe technology to ensure universal acceptance. Stratos Card membership starts at $95 per year.


Inateck HB4008 Portable USB3.0 Hub For (Work) Life in the Fast Lane

Too many peripherals and not enough USB ports. Sound familiar? That is what I had been facing in my home computer station on a daily basis with my iMac, until Inateck sent me its new Portable USB3.0 Hub, which has an integrated SD card reader. This device works with PCs, laptops, Tablet PCs and Ultrabooks, and it works great.



Your Kid Can Bring Wall-E To Life AND Learn At The Same Time With Codie

If you’re a parent that is looking to future proof your kids for a job in programming, Hungarian startup Codie has launched a crowdfund campaign for CODIE, a toy that teaches logical and critical thinking to kids. Geared for kids between the ages of 8 to 12, Codie teaches kids how to code while building their problem-solving skills. Using Indiegogo they have already reached over half of their $70,000 target with this gadget for children. Codie is a laser-cut wood robot that you’d expect in a Toy Story movie, that can be guided by children through an iOS app (Android…


Stikey Is the Multi-Tool for Your SmartPhone

I watch a lot of movies and television on my phone. Even more so, my phone sits at my desk at work flat, and sometimes it’d hard to actually see when a notification comes in. So when I saw a KickStarter for Stikey, a new portable stand and keyring for your keys, I was amused.


Synology Announces New DS1515 and RS815 Network Attached Storage Devices

On Tuesday, Synology announced the launch of two new NAS systems: the DS1515 for home and business and the rack mount RS815 for businesses. The DS1515 is a 5-bay system with a quad-core processor and the RS815 sports 4 bays and is only 12” deep. The DS1515 and the RS815 are available now for $649.99 and $599.99 respectively.


Is Graze Worth the Price for Healthy Snacks?

I explored  Nature Box as a way of having healthy snacks on hand. Working from home helps in that I choose what’s on hand. Graze is another healthy snacks service like Nature Box, except the default is single serving packages.  Is the service worth it?  The answer is … it depends.