Smartphones & Gear

See Spot Run, See Spot Jump, See the Soundfreaq Sound Spot Rock Out

It’s good to know the days of all portable Bluetooth speakers being little, black boxes is coming to an end. Leading the way is the Soundfreaq Sound Spot. This small, $69 speaker packs big sound, good battery life and it looks great in any one of its many colors. Mix and match Sound Spots for a great looking sound.



Android 4.4 for Verizon Moto X Is Now Official

I am amazed that the Moto X on Verizon is the first non-Nexus devices to get Android 4.4, as confirmed by The Verge and Droid Life. The update should be appearing on your Moto X as of today. This update does not include the Google Experience Launcher, which is exclusive to the Nexus 5.


FLOTE Your Tablet for Better Viewing and More Functionality

If you have been searching for a better way to keep your tablet or eReader positioned in the optimal location for comfort and ease-of-use the FLOTE may be just the thing. The $299 FLOTE, which comes in a desktop or freestanding model, may be pricey but it is a solidly built, great-looking way to hold your tablet exactly where you want.


The JawboneUP24 means No More Remembering to Sync

I love the way my JawBone UP tracks my steps and my sleep, reminds me to get moving and functions as my alarm clock. I HATED needing to plug it into my iPhone to sync data and, thankfully, my new Jawbone UP24 fixes that. The UP24 syncs wirelessly and offers real-time updates and notifications. All that for just $20 more!


HTC One Max Android Phablet Unboxed and Examined

I like my HTC One; it has turned out to be the best Android phone I’ve ever owned or used, but I do wish that it had a larger screen and a better camera. When I heard there was an HTC One Max coming out, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Larger screen? Better Camera? Yes and no, but …


Charge It All On the Go with the Anker 5V / 5A 5-Port Wall Charger

The Anker 5-Port Wall Charger will be coming in quite handy during my upcoming travels. Instead of needing to carry multiple wall adapters this small rectangle of electronics will let me take just one adapter but still charge up to five different devices at a time. Best of all the $45.99 accessory is currently just $19.99 in our Amazon Store.


New Trent PowerPak Xtreme External Battery Pack Review

It’s hard to beat the 20,000mAh external battery Judie just reviewed, so I’m not even going to try. Still, while the $59.99 Trent PowerPak Xtreme External Battery Pack offers “just” 12,000 mAh of battery power (“JUST”!! lol), it comes in a rugged shell that built to withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it. And it is under $60.


Boomerang NFC Speaker Is a Home Theater On the Go

The Boomerang NFC Speaker is a crescent-shaped wireless audio dock that “offers a portable home-theater for your mobile device or tablet”. NFC technology makes pairing simple and the unique “Expansion Sleeve Design” lets it work with numerous devices. Available in two sizes, the large Boomerang ($79.99) has two 6W speakers, while the mini Boomerang ($59.99) has two 4W speakers; both arrive in mid-December.


Jabra Readies Rox Wireless Headphones

The Jabra Revo Wireless headphones continue to impress me and have a place in my gear bag most days. Now Jabra is rolling out the Jabra Rox Wireless in-ear wireless headphones. They let you “Go wireless and give up the wires without giving up great sound”. With simple NFC pairing, a rugged design and more they look great. Coming soon.


Star Wars: Tiny Death Star Puts You in Charge of an 8-Bit Death Star in this Tiny Tower Remake

Developer NimbleBit has teamed up with Disney and LucasArts to bring you Star Wars: Tiny Death Star, where you take the helm of the Death Star in order to build, develop, and prepare the planet-sized Death Star.  The gameplay is extremely similar to NimbleBit’s Tiny Tower.  It’s available for free on the App Store, Google Play, and Windows Store. You hire outer space “bitizens” in order to build the commercial and residential floors of the Death Star.  Like many freemium games, Star Wars: Tiny Death Star employs the use of premium currency that help speed up certain in-game actions.  On…


The STM Cape Helps the 2013 Nexus 7 Stand Up and Stay Slim

Since the 2013 Nexus 7 has been out for a while, cases for it have started to become easier to find. I have been using the Waterfield Slip Case; one issue with that is how the device is naked when you remove it from the case to use it. The STM Cape does not have this issue, and it has a stand!


Lowepro Streamline 250 Lets You Take “Just Enough”

If you want to travel light, but still need to carry your compact camera, 10″ tablet, smartphone and a few accessories, then you might want to check out the Lowepro StreamLine 250. It’s an everyday bag from one of the leaders in camera bags and backpacks. Light and inexpensive, the $44.99 bag carries a surprising amount of gear!


Pelican ProGear Protector Series Will Toughen Up Your Samsung Galaxy S4

If you want serious protection for your Samsung Galaxy S4, then you’ll want to check out the upcoming Pelican ProGear Protector Galaxy S4 case. This $39.95 case offers serious protection thanks to a tough chamfer design on the outside and a soft elastomeric lining on the inside. It meets military testing specs to survive a six-foot drop!


iLuv FlightFit Props and Protects the GALAXY Note 3

The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is an engineering marvel. Packed with features, its stylus is more than a mere gimmick. Still, like far too many Samsung products, it feels cheap. That’s where the iLuv FlightFit comes in. For under $30 it promises to protect your Note 3 even as it props it up for easy viewing. Pre-order yours.


Google Voice Cuts Off Third Party Apps

Are you still using Google Voice? Better hope it’s an official Google Voice app, because third-party access is being yanked later this year. Most users won’t be affected, unless, of course, you use Windows Phone … then you will definitely lose Google Voice early next year!



Kingston’s MobileLite Wireless Review – The Perfect Travel Companion

The Kingston MobileLite Wireless is a very interesting and handy gadget.  With it, you’re able to read and write files to an SD card as well as a USB thumb drive, right from your phone with Kingston’s companion app.  You can also use the MobileLite Wireless as a backup battery to charge your phone.  Kingston’s MobileLite Wireless retails for $49.99.


Once Again … THIS Is The REAL Samsung In Action

Samsung is many things – they are an innovative chip maker, excellent device maker, massive company with their hands in nearly everything. Samsung is one of the “chaebol” – family-run conglomerates that dominate South Korean society. They are also a company that has a proven willing to do nearly anything to succeed – and today we learn their latest shameful tactic.


The Griffin PowerDock 5 Keeps You and Your Gear In Charge

Are you, like me, finding the gadgets in your house multiplying? Our home now has an iPad mini, iPhones, an iPod touch, an iPod nano, Kindles and assorted review samples. All need charging and Griffin’s PowerDock 5 promises to be the one-stop charging solution. For just under $100 you can charge 5 devices at once! How awesome is that?


G5 Entertainment Launches Special Enquiry Detail on Windows Store

I love the Special Enquiry Detail series and have reviewed both games on multiple platforms – and they are just solid experiences that do not diminish with time. Now the original Special Enquiry Detail game has launched on the Windows store for Windows 8.1 and RT for x86, x64 and ARM. The game is definitely worth checking out!