Belkin, one of our favorite accessory companies, is showing off a host of new products at CES 2018. Among them are new wireless charging offerings, a new power bank and a power delivery wall charging collection. They all arrive this spring and summer. Here’s a quick rundown of some of what they will have on hand.
Readers who have read my reviews here at Gear Diary or over on my site know that I travel. A lot. The bulk of my career has seen me travel to every lower 48 state and to many other destinations around the globe.
Like most households, as I look around, there are devices everywhere that need charging. In my house, that means one iPad, an iPad Mini, an iPhone SE, a Google Pixel XL, a Yoga Book tablet, a Nexus 6P and three different portable battery packs.
One of the things I love about my new MacBook Pro is the fact that it uses a USB-C charging port. That means I can now charge my laptop on the go along with my iPhone and Table. The $129.99 myCharge AdventureUltra makes that possible, but it goes one step further by adding a built-in AC power port.
If you’ve got a tablet or phone that uses USB Type-C, then you’ll be glad to know that the myCharge HubPlus C is out and ready to charge your new LG, Samsung, Huawei, BlackBerry, Pixel, or other devices that take Type-C. But if you have an older device, too, it’s okay; the HubPlus C has both Type-C and microUSB built-in.
Are you tired of smearing your phone or tablet screen with finger grease every time you tap on it? Do you usually have a ballpoint pen on you? If so, why not combine something you already always carry with something you’ll also enjoy using? Take a look at the Just Mobile AluPen Twist L or S; the ballpoint pen stylus.
One of the things that I used do when packing to go overseas was to make sure that I had my collection of plug adapters and a bulky international power strip ready to go; these days I just make sure that I have the Oneadaptr Twist+ World Adapter DUO.
It’s not enough that SanDisk has managed to stuff 256GB into a microSD card, they’ve also managed to make apps run from it faster. Check out the new256GB SanDisk Ultra MicroSD with A1 App Performance.
Have an iPad Pro? If so, then you probably carry it with you almost all the time. But where do you stow its Pencil? And what do you do with the cable and charger? If you’ve been letting those things rattle around loose in your bag, then you’ll want to check out these beautiful and functional WaterField Atelier Leather Accessories.
While at IFA, I managed to drop my phone not once, but three times — face-down. This chipped the glass protector I was using to the point that I was worried I might cut myself on it, so I removed it. I’m trying something new now, the CrystalTech Nano 2.0 Liquid Screen Protector.
I’ve just returned from IFA, and one of the most invaluable tools that I brought with me was the Jackery Titan 20,100mAh portable battery. Used with the Jackery Jewel Lightning Cable that I recently reviewed, I was never without power and I could go days without recharging the battery pack.
I’ve been a fan of Android since the beginning. While the phone experience has been solid lately, the tablet experience hasn’t been. While I thought it was ok, it really wasn’t. Jide has gone a long way to help this out with their version of Android, titled RemixOS with the Jide Ultra Tablet. It’s a winner.
If you are in the middle of an adventure, the last thing you want to do is worry about whether your phone, which is probably serving as your navigation device and camera, will run out of juice. The Lander Cascade Universal Power Bank is a ready and able adventure companion.
I have always been an iPad guy, but unfortunately have become priced out of the lineup. With kids and a mortgage, I just cannot afford the technology. I jumped at the chance to review the RCA Mercury Pro seven inch tablet which retails for only $79.99. Is this super affordable tablet worth looking at for a casual user?
Let’s say that you go to a foreign country, and you’ll need data. What do you do? You could find a cell provider and buy a local SIM, but that takes time and requires registering with your passport. At best, you’ll get a local SIM with a hard data cap, or you could arrive prepared with a Skyroam Global WiFi Hotspot.
I am a bit of a size snob when it comes to portable batteries; if there is an option to get it, I want the largest mAh available. Nothing gives me more comfort when I’ve got a 20-hour international journey than knowing I have enough battery power to keep all of my portable devices charged during the trip.
I have a new favorite bag for days when I travel light. If I only have my iPhone, headphones, an external battery, and either my 13″ MacBook Pro or iPad Pro with the ZAGG Slimbook I am currently reviewing, I take my gear along in the KNOMO Kinsale Soft Leather Messenger Bag. Its as gorgeous as it is simple!
One of my issues with many messenger bags and backpacks is that, even before you put anything into them, they weigh a ton. Then, after you stow your gear inside, they feel like you are carrying a bag of bricks. Ouch! Not so with the Moshi Aerio! This bag is featherlight but ready for a day of serious productivity.
Just when I thought that I’d seen almost everything with regard to high-end headphones, along come the Torque t402v Premium Customizable On-Ear and Over-Ear Headphones to show me that I know nothing, Jon Snow.
I’ve made no secret of my love for everything Waterfield. One of my favorite bags from them is also one of their newest: the Waterfield Field Muzetto. Made from waxed, cotton canvas and full-grain, distressed leather, it takes the Muzetto design that I love and gives it an entirely new look and feel. And it comes in three different sizes!
The Bluelounge Mika Universal Table Stand is simplicity at its best. The stand is universal so it works with most every tablet and many light, thin laptops. It is, as the company notes, “simple and timeless, it can be used for the device you carry today, and tomorrow. And at $29.95, the Mika makes a great gift this holiday season! What’s new is that Mika is now available in white with light grey details. Until now it was only available in aluminium with black details. This new version offers a nice aesthetic option. “That drawer filled with old accessories and…