Work Gear

Accell Powramid Power Center and USB Charging Station Review

Surge protectors are not the most interesting of accessories. At the same time they are an important part of getting your gear up, running and protected. Most of the time power strips with surge protection come in a straight line of outlets, but that is not the case with the Powramid Power Center and USB Charging Station from Accell. It has a most unusual shape, and it is designed for today’s multi-device setups. Let’s take a look. First and foremost, the Powramid Power Center and USB Charging Station has room for six different plugs to connect at the same time….


Satechi LED Desk Lamp Review – See What You Are Working On

It has been some time since I felt the need for a task light while working at my desk or at our kitchen island. The reason for that is quite simple, my house was renovated by my father-in-law, and he has a thing about putting tons of lights in any room has designs and rebuilds. Still, there are times when I really could use some easily directed light. That was the reason I took an interest in the Satechi LED Desk Lamp. This didn’t look like any desk light I had ever used, and it is not. No, the Satechi…


Jabra Motion Bluetooth Headset Review

The Jabra Motion Bluetooth Headset is the latest and greatest Bluetooth headset from one of the true pioneers in wireless accessories. Using it for this review made me remember my very first Bluetooth headset; it also came from Jabra and, like the Jabra Motion Bluetooth Headset, it also wrapped around my ear with the microphone extending toward my mouth. This first Bluetooth headset required a dongle connected to the phone’s 3.5mm headphone jack. Why? Because my Motorola flip phone didn’t have Bluetooth built into it! Yes, it was the dark ages, and in order to get Bluetooth functionality I had…


Just Mobile Gum Max Duo Video Review

External batteries are a necessity when using a smartphone, and it stands to reason that the bigger the battery the more time you can spend away from a plug. When we went to CES 2013 in January, Judie, Carly and I brought multiple external batteries. For the first CES ever, we didn’t run out of fuel or go running for a plug half way through the day. Among my battery “arsenal” were a few of Just Mobile’s Gum series of backup batteries. I loved the look, feel and build of them, but I didn’t love only being able to charge one…


Targus iNotebook Productivity Tablet Review

We saw the Targus iNotebook at CES last month. It is an intriguing device, and Targus was kind enough to send an iNotebook for review. Before we get into the review though, let me step back and give a bit of history. As I have previously noted here on the site, my best experience with Windows came in the form of using a Windows Tablet PC. It was a terrific productivity tool that allowed me to use one computer for both typing and capturing hand written notes. I also did some voice recognition on it, but that tended to have…


Jabra SPEAK 510 UC Review: Conference Calls Anywhere & Anytime

I find myself doing far less talking on the phone these days. That is part of the reason I’ve pretty much dropped my use of landlines. At home and work I only use my cell phones or, at times, I use Line2 or Skype on my tablet or computer. I honestly cannot remember the last time I picked up my desk phone in the office. People pretty much all know to reach me on my cellphone. Period. And while my iPad serves as a decent speakerphone and my MacBook Pro with retina display has dual array microphones, they aren’t terrific…


Targus iNotebook Shines at CES 2013

While at CES, we spent some time visiting with Targus. Among the new items they were showing off was the $179.99 iNotebook, which “seamlessly transmits your handwritten notes to your iPad using the included sensor and pen.” If it sounds too good to be true, then you might want to check out this quick demo of Judie writing on paper and seeing the text rendered on the iPad in real-time. The iNotebook wirelessly transfers handwritten notes and sketches to an iPad using Bluetooth technology. It requires no special paper and is compatible with standard A5 and 8” x 5” notepads. That…


Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review

If you are looking for a serious briefcase that is tough, carries a ton, and has plenty of organizational pockets — but nimbly avoids the pitfall of looking like the stuffy, square briefcase your father carried — then you’ll want to check out the Tom Bihn Zephyr. The Zephyr is built with the quality we have come to know and expect from Tom Bihn. Materials are stellar; the design takes into account the varied ways people use their bags, and the build-quality is second to none. Oh, and as is always the case with Tom Bihn bags, the Zephyr is…


Monitor2Go and iPad 3, a Gear Diary Video Look

A year and a half ago, I had the opportunity to review an incredibly useful mobile device that quickly and easily doubles your screen real-estate. The FieldMonitorPro is a large screen that, right out of the box, extends your computer to give you additional screen space or allows someone/s to look at your computer screen without having to crowd in next to you. It is terrific for on-the-go demonstrations. While reviewing the device, I was covering an Apple keynote and found my MacBook air to be too small for watching the video, checking feeds, and writing the post. I pulled…


Livescribe Sky Smartpen Review: One New Feature Makes a World of Difference

It has been a while since I have written about my Livescribe smartpen, but that doesn’t mean I rely on it any less. In fact, my experience has actually the opposite. My Livescribe smartpen is so much a part of my workflow that I simply take it for granted. If you aren’t familiar with the Livescribe smartpen system, let me offer a simple description. The Livescribe smartpen is a large pen with a traditional ink cartridge in its tip; it that takes writing to an entirely new level, thanks to the inclusion of a small camera sensor that also sits in…


According to New Study, Pay Gap Starts As Women Enter the Workplace

How depressing. For years, women have had to deal with getting paid less than men. And quite often the justification was that women were more likely to leave the workplace to have families and potentially not return – so the training and management grooming money would be wasted, and better spent on a man. And while much of that blatantly sexist thinking has been removed from the workplace, the reality of the pay gap remains. This doesn’t make sense, since more and more women are choosing careers first, delaying building families for years, and entering the workplace just as qualified…


The netTALK DUO WiFi Review

It occurred to me the other day that the last time I used a “standard” phone was… well, actually, I can’t remember. Yes, Elana and I went “all cell” some time back and we haven’t looked back (except when the microcell went down Friday and I couldn’t make calls). Instead of a landline, when I make voice calls these days I use my iPhone or I use my iPad and Line2. We do have an Ooma Telo system here at home but we haven’t felt the need to plug it in. Still, when I was offered the chance to review…


Putting Down the iPad; Nexus 7 in Real Life

Recently I wrote a lengthy comment/review on the Skooba Weekender bag Dan reviewed last July. During that review, I mentioned that I am a road warrior and generally spend at least one or more nights out of town 40+ weeks of the year. A few weeks ago was one of those rare times where I was working in my NYC office all week. Being in the office allowed me an opportunity to spend some quality time using the Google Nexus tablet I had purchased some time ago. In the past, I’ve made an attempt at using the original Samsung Galaxy Tab,…


Ten One Design Magnus for iPad Review

Ten One Design has a relatively small portfolio of products, but each is designed with a great deal of thought. Today we’re going to take a look at one of their newer and more unusual products – the Magnus for iPad. The Magnus is a stand for the second or third generation iPad that seeks to make its mark by… well… not making its mark. In other words, this is an iPad stand that seeks to be as minimalistic as possible while still being quite useful. Did they succeed? Let’s take a look and then give one away! From Ten…


Traveling Light with the Sena Florence Portfolio; I Reviewed It, and I Still Use It

I had a few meetings the other day, and as I was heading out for them, I was struck by how little I was actually bringing with me. I was further struck by the fact that despite how little I was bringing with me for the day, I STILL had everything I needed. Yes, everything I needed for my meetings was held in my Timbuk2 X-small Quickie for Tablets 2011, and I had tons of room left over. (The 2012 version is here.) In fact, there was almost nothing actually IN the bag. So what did I bring with me?…


Seidio Desktop Charging Cradle/Dock for EVO 4G LTE, HTC One S and X Review

If you have a HTC EVO 4G LTE, HTC One S or HTC One X this sync/charge dock and cradle is for you. Seidio’s newest dock, the Desktop Charging Cradle/Dock lets you easily dock your smartphone in landscape and, for example, become a bedside alarm clock. Here’s a quick look and then your chance to win the review sample. From Seidio: Our newest Desktop Cradle combines familiar elements from our classic Innodock Jr. and convenient Desktop Cradle. The matte finish on this Desktop Cradle provides elegance to your desk or nightstand, while the sleek LED light indicates that the cradle…


Rokform Rokstand v1 Desktop Stand Review

There are iPhone and iPad stands, and then THERE ARE iPad and iPhone stands! ApexCarbon was kind enough to send us a RockForm RockStand for review and giveaway and it is, in a word, impressive. Yes, this desktop stand is more than a stand for your iOS device. It is an attention-grabbing sculpture, a conversation starter and, in a word, a piece of art. It is sure to quickly become a favorite. Perhaps best of all, it is also a highly functional stand. Let’s take a look and then… give it away!!!! From Rokform: The Rokform Rokstand v1 Desktop Stand…


Lowepro Urban Photo Sling 150 Review

If all you need to bring with you is your DSLR camera, a few accessories and an iPad you certainly don’t want to carry some big, heavy, and bulky bag. At the same time, carrying your camera and your iPad means that you have some rather expensive equipment along with you for the day so you DO want it protected. One option is the Urban Photo Sling from Lowepro. This sling style bag comes in two sizes – the 150 and the 250 – and I’ve been using the 150, the smaller of the two, for the last few weeks. As…


Griffin Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer for Touchscreens, Review

We’ve seen a number of different styli for the iPad and other touchscreen tablets. Most recently we did a video review of the LunaTik Touch Pen. (Read and watch it here) Unlike initial tablet styli that were… styli, the Touch Pen doubles as both a stylus and an ink pen. Better still, it switches from one to the other with the click of a button. We liked it… a lot. This time out we are looking at a stylus with value-added thanks to Griffin. Their Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer for Touchscreens gives you a stylus, an ink pen…


Bento 4 for iPad Lets You Cut the Cord and Become a DataBase Power-User

The next generation of iPad is here, and it has nothing to do with the hardware or the OS. No, the next generation of the iPad is coming into view, thanks to the apps that run on it. Not only are they becoming more powerful but, at the same time, they are increasingly reducing their reliance on “host” desktops and laptops. This process of “cutting the cord” is moving iPads out of the realm of  add-on device that supports and extends your computer into one that stands on its own. A great example of this is Bento 4. Bento for…


iLuv iMM377 MobiAir Bluetooth Stereo Speaker Dock for Smartphones review

I would be hard-pressed to recommend purchasing a dock that includes an iPhone or iPod adapter right now. The reason is quite simple. The next generation of the iPhone is only four months away and all indications point toward it having a new dock connector to replace the ubiquitous 30 pin connection. With such a significant change on the way it makes no sense for someone to purchase a dock that will, at a minimum, require the purchase and use of an adapter come the fall. Instead, I would encourage anyone looking for speakers to use with their mobile device…