A few weeks back I finally broke down and got a MiFi.  Yeah, you’ve certainly read plenty about the  mobile hotspot device.  I got to put the MiFi to the test over the last few weeks.  While I own a separate 3G aircard, and have tethered my BlackBerry using Tetherberry to frequently to surf when a good (free ) wireless hotspot was not available, I have to say…the MiFi is all that! In fact, I hear Judie’s got one on the way — so you know it’s good.

So, what do I like about it?  During my week-long trip last week the MiFi proved itself to be the best gear in my bag. That is no exaggeration.  I had the MiFi in my bag and was able to connect and stay on top of work (and posts!) no matter where I was.  Venture out of the hotel?  No problem.  I wasn’t scouring for a coffee shop or checking for an open (and unsecure) network.  I was able to enjoy some sight-seeing one afternoon and still able to respond to critical emails — while enjoying a break and taking in the scenery of the San Francisco bay.  Back at the conference, when many attendees were lamenting the constant drops from the WiFi provided by the hotel (that they had to pay for, no less) — I was able to help a few fellow participants by letting them hop on my MiFi connection.

Since up to 5 device connections can be used simultaneously, the MiFi was able to get a few other people out of a bind.  Plus, when my other carrier data connection (cough) was a bit spotty in areas, I found using the MiFi as my hotspot provided a steady, fast, and reliable way to ensure I was always online via my laptop, Bold, or iPhone.  Sure, there’s a 5GB cap (and the service is not cheap with the $60 monthly service fee …plus taxes) — but the MiFi has certainly replaced my 3G aircard.    Being able to just throw it in a bag (or my jacket pocket) and surf or respond to email from any location was, really, pure bliss.  If the MiFi started running out of juice — I would get about 4 or so hours out of it before needing to recharge — I would simply plug it up to my laptop via the micro-USB cable.  Sure, I couldn’t share the connection if it was plugged in to the laptop, but the MiFi would charge and let me surf in tethering mode.

This MiFi is definitely a keeper

I posted its review yesterday, and today I’ve got two Callpod Fueltank DUOs to share. How can you get yours? Read on…

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It never fails – no matter what precautions I take, I still need more juice for my various gadgets. Whether it’s my iPhone showing the red battery meter of doom, or a “battery is low” ping on my Bluetooth Headset, there is nothing more aggravating that realizing that I’ll need to make a charging pitstop soon; being able to quickly recharge on the go is much more preferable.

When I was on my recent trip to New York, I found that even the Mophie Air wasn’t enough to keep my iPhone going on the day we traveled to DC, and that’s why I found myself eye-balling a packaged Callpod Fueltank DUO in a local Best Buy. No one could tell me how many mAhs it held and it wasn’t marked on the box, so I held off on buying one.

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It seems as if finding the perfect Bluetooth headset has become a never-ending quest for me; it’s not just about finding one that keeps me from sounding like a fish in a barrel anymore, it’s also about finding one that fits my ear without making me look like a telephone operator or worse – a borg.  Just to make things really difficult, so many headsets seem to fall into one of two camps: ridiculously complicated and over-featured or utterly simplistic and featureless.

Finding a headset that strikes a balance between sound, comfort and features has become my mission, and the latest contender is the Plantronics Discovery 975.

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Beyza makes come of the most gorgeous leather cases I have seen or used. The leather is top grade, the designs are sleek yet functional and the craftsmanship is superb.

Among their sleekest designs in the SlimLine series of cases. There are 28 different choices for the iPhone 3GS alone!

As they explain…

BeyzaCases SlimLine Series Leather Cases would be the right choice for you if you want to carry your case in your pocket. Artful design of SlimLine cases allow you to place your device in your pocket very easily and with comfort. Your device will be in full protection while in your pocket or bag. The advantages of having a non-belt clipped SlimLine are the carrying options.

You can see that slim and padded design is really eye-catching. Unique design with quality leather will make you feel the joy of having a beautiful BeyzaCases SlimLine Leather Case.

Looking for a new iPhone case for yourself or as a gift? Have a Blackberry fan who needs a new case? Beyza is definitely worth a look. Visit their site HERE.

If you never know where to place your mobile phone, digital music player or GPS, but you need them to be upright and visible, USB Fever has got a sticky stand that might fit your needs. The Smart Stand is supposed to work both on your desktop and dashboard; it uses “sticky” blades to adhere to both the base surface and the back of your device, so in addition to creating a surface that will grab and hold your electronics. Due to the stickiness of the blades, it will also likely grab and hold any floating lint or dust that might be in your office or auto.

The good news is that you can wash the sticky blades as often as necessary to clean them, but those with pets in the area where this might be used can likely already envision the ramifications.

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Have you ever experienced the sinking feeling at hearing the sound of a phone cracking as it hits the pavement? One solution is to wrap your phone in an OtterBox protective case. They make them for iPods, iPhones, BlackBerries, Nokia, Palm, HP, HTC and now Samsung Instinct S30. The cases are designed to protect your phone from what happens when it meets Mr. Pavement at 5 or 10 mph. The Samsung Instinct S30 case uses a soft silicone inside a hard shell to absorb the shock of sudden impacts from drop. Available now for $34.95 from Otter Box and worth it.

OtterBox Samsung Instinct S30 Commuter Case – $34.95

I love innovative solutions that let you charge portable electronics at home and on the go without having to deal with a scrambled assortment of cords, adapters etc. The newest comes from Technocel.

Their new PowerPak replace an assortment of chargers and cords with a single universal solution that safely powers USB devices when at home, in the car, and anywhere else you might roam. Then, if you find your device running low on power the PowerPak’s built-in battery reserve can be used when outlets aren’t available. Now that’s what I call a useful combo.

The PowerPak will be available November 1, 2009 for an MSRP of $49.99 on Technocel.com.

Full Press Release Follows…

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Larry reviewed GelaSkins last month and there were literally hundreds of designs.  Now there are an infinite number, as you can design your own artwork to put on your iPhone, Laptop, iPod or any other device that GelaSkins supports.  Prices range from $14.95 to $29.95 on GelaSkins.com.

We’ve mentioned WildCharge – the company that allows you to use inductive charging with nearly any mobile phone or other power hungry gadget – before on Gear Diary, but tonight I realized we hadn’t given any coverage to Powermat, another company with a similar premise (but a better looking design).

What premise would that be? Why the one that says plugging your devices in to charge them is so passé; the idea that all you should have to do is lay your gadget on a mat to charge it, even if the trade-off is having to keep your phone in a special case so that you don’t have to fumble with cables. Using this system is definitely a convenience thing, but if you’ve ever fumbled in the dark to stick a charger jack into the bottom of your device only to have to turn on a light in frustration, or if you are tired of traveling with multiple cables, then you might appreciate this way of doing things.

Let’s peek at the company’s offerings, shall we?

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I get asked an awful lot to name my favorite mobile device.  My answer is usually the same.  Well, I like this device for these things, or another device for those other things, but favorite device really depends upon what you want to do.  I never found a device which was perfect for all things.  Until now.

Today, I am ready to name my favorite mobile device, and it is probably not what you expect.  This one does not have a screen or a keyboard.  It does not make phone calls.  It does not access the Internet.  What it does is provide you with instant access to everything…from every device.  That is why the Mifi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is my new favorite device.  Let’s take a closer look.

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I have really been enjoying the experience of using the Blackberry Bold over the last few weeks. It is a fantastic device for e-mail and IM;and the integration with Google voice, while not as good as you’ll find on a device running Android, is quite good. I cannot see giving up my iPhone, but I am glad to have the opportunity to use both devices in parallel. While I have not gotten into the practice of surrounding myself with accessories for the device in the way that I have with my iPhone, I have discovered a few key accessories that enhance my experience of using the Bold.

Two of my favorites come from Case-Mate. One adds a tremendous amount of battery life the device, while the other merely enhances its appearance. Let’s take a look at both.

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Agent 18 makes some really unique cases for the iPhone.  They launched a new line of cases for the iPhone 3G and 3Gs this fall and we reviewed several of them.

If you were thinking about adding one of the new cases to your collection now might just be the time.

For a limited time, when your purchase an Agent18 case for the iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPod Classic  you can add a StandHear travel stand for the special discounted price of $15.  The StandHear is the perfect stand for holding your Apple device while viewing videos.  Its handy headphone splitter makes it possible for  two people to easily listen to the same content.

You can view all the combo deals right on the Agent 18 web site.

OtterBox has always been one of my favorite case manufacturers.  I use their Defender Series case for my iPhone 3GS religiously.  My review of it was the very first article I wrote for Gear Diary.  There’s no denying the Defender Series is a bulky case.  While it provides an unparalleled level of protection for your device it also increases the overall size of your phone substantially.

I realize the Defender series isn’t for everyone and OtterBox does as well.  For this reason the company has just recently released two new cases, under their new Commuter line.  The cases, the Commuter and the Commuter TL, provide the sort of protection you’d expect from an OtterBox case in a much slimmer profile.

OtterBox was kind enough to send both Dan and myself review-keeper samples of each case. In this review we’ll both give our comments.

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One of the most important accessories I carry day in and day out is the Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 3G and 3GS. ($79.95) It is light, doubles as a protective case, and its 1200 mAh battery adds up to 270 hours of standby time, for 4.5 hours of talk time (on 3G) and more. It is a great accessory to keep around, especially on days such as today, when I will be out and about for the next 12 to 14 hours. There is, however, one problem with the case/battery- it adds just enough bulk and weight but I don’t always want to carry it in my pocket the way I would the iPhone in something like the Agent18 SlimShield.

That is where Mophie’s new Hip Holster 6000 for Mophie Juice Pack comes in rather handy. I was recently sent a review sample, so let’s take a look –

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