This weekend I happened to catch an episode of some Discovery Channel, or maybe it was a Science Channel program showcasing D3O being used in impact resistant vests for stuntmen. The segment began by showing the orange goop, and I recalled enjoying seeing it up close last spring at CTIA. It was quite the coincidence that the following day, I received a package in the mail from Tech21, with some of their latest goodies. I was anxious to see if the Impact Band for iPhone 5 could make me as happy as the Impact Mesh for iPhone 4/4S. Before I go any further, I must admit I'm not completely sold on bumper...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

I'm going to plunge in with my favorite and least favorite feature of the Snugg case for iPad Mini. Then I'll get to the middle. I absolutely love the elastic strap on the back. Every tablet case should have this feature. You can put your hand through the strap and hold your tablet comfortably in portrait view. Slide your hand in a little further, and wrap your fingers over the edge to hold it in landscape. Either way, you'll have a firm grip on your iPad, and won't have to worry about how much of the bezel you're touching. I like the idea of a stylus holder on a case. Unfortunately,...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

Some time ago, my friend Wyatt LeCadre posted a great review on the BookBook for iPhone 4. I really wanted one for myself. But I wasn't willing to forgo the camera opening, which was missing in the iPhone 4 case. So I got the Little Black Book case instead. I liked the Little Black Book case, but it was like cheating on your partner - every time I opened it, I was thinking of the BookBook. I was thrilled to discover that TwelveSouth corrected this oversight with the iPhone 5 case. The cutout is nice and big, and does not interfere with photos at all, or cause any kind of halo effect. As...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

There are times when we need to use earbuds. It's one of those facts of life we try to ignore when possible, but can't avoid forever. Our friends at Digital Innovations have come up with a great solution to this age old problem. Looks pretty clever, doesn't it? Let's take a closer look. A simple product, with simple packaging, the Nest is available online for $9.99 at places like Buy.com. I was actually able to remove the Nest without resorting to industrial scissors to cut open the plastic - always a plus in my book! Once your earbuds are securely wound into the Nest, you have a flexible...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

I've recently had the opportunity to look at a new battery case for the iPhone 4/4S. This newcomer from Ontrion, is a nice alternative in a crowded market at only $39.99. One of the features I liked best about the iBatterycase is that it charges your iPhone and itself via a micro USB port at the bottom of the case. You can charge it alone, of course, but as long as it's charging, if your iPhone is in it, it will charge as well. There seems to be two ideologies when it comes to using battery cases. The first holds that you should allow your battery to drain almost completely, and then turn on your...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

Last December, I bought myself an Otterbox Defender for my iPad 2. You never heard about it because I was really disappointed. It just wasn't up to the normal high standards we've all come to expect from Otterbox. Fortunately, it didn't take long for them to redeem themselves, and they released a new model to go with the New iPad, which (as luck would have it), also fits the iPad 2. The current Defender case is simply brilliant. My only complaint is the added weight, but there has to be some small sacrifice for the protection it offers. The Defender comes in 3 pieces: a back plate, frame...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

Back at CTIA, I had the pleasure of looking at a new product, the Tablet Claw.  Of course, a perfunctory look at a gadget on someone else's tablet is not the same as getting to spend some time with it on your own. So I was pleased to finally get a chance to get my hands on one for a review. The Tablet Claw is designed to fit 10" tablets. It works with iPads, ASUS EE Transformer, Samsung Galaxy and the 7 in. Kindle Fire. As you can see from the photos, I used it with the iPad 2. It comes with an extra set of thin rubber inserts so that you can also use it on the slightly thicker 1st or 3rd generation...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

  The FlyGrip is a great little gadget that makes holding your cellphone or e-reader more comfortable. Available in 8 colors and 3 sizes, it goes with everything and everyone. Simply take the adhesive backing off the FlyGrip, and attach to the bottom of your phone or e-reader. The FlyGrip pivots back and forth so that you can get your fingers under without pinching. The hard plastic is smooth and quite comfortable.     Mostly, it allows you to hold your device with one hand, and still access the entire screen. It's great for taking photos! If you wanted to, you could...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

In the world of technology, fancier is not necessarily better. That being said, little things can sometimes make big differences. When I go places, I tend to stick my phone in my pants pocket. This means that if I go someplace noisy, I’m likely to miss phone calls because I don’t hear my phone ring. Unfortunately, I don’t like wearing a Bluetooth headset constantly, either. The Azeca AMZ02 solves this problem for me in a unique way. This headset attaches to your collar, sleeve, or other clothes with a spring-loaded clip. The clip opens fairly wide, so it can attach to a fairly thick...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

Over the years, I've tried numerous Bluetooth headsets for making phone calls and listening to music. Of all those that I've tried, Plantronics devices have often made the list of my favorites. I first saw the BackBeat Go headset at CTIA, and was immediately interested in trying them. I've used other stereo Bluetooth headsets that had rigid plastic that went around the back of the neck.  I have a small head, though, so these always stuck out and ended up being annoying and uncomfortable, because I couldn’t lean my head back. Instead of being rigid, the BackBeat Go is made of a flexible,...


 QuickView | Read Full Article