Gear Diary » Mobile Phone Gear

Seidio Charging Vault Review

Travis Ehrlich — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

I deal with the same battery scenario at least twice a week. When we have game nights, I go hours without a chance to charge my iPhone. There is no charging port in our buses and really never anywhere in a gym or field for me to charge during the games. Of course road games are extra tough since I listen to music or podcasts during the trip to and from our opponent. That is a lot of use with no power and usually a late night. Take this past Friday for example. We left the school at 1:45 in the afternoon and I walked into my house at 1:30am. All of that time

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Belkin Portable Power Pack 1000 Cell Phone Charger Review

Michael Anderson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:00:24 +0000

One of the biggest problems with our ever-growing love of smartphones ... is that everything we do with them seems to consume more and more battery. As a result we are always struggling with the battery life of our smartphones. As a result we keep chargers in our offices, our cars, and so on. But what about when you are on the go and don't have access to a wall plug - or are in an airport where everyone is huddled around the few remaining outlets? Belkin seeks to solve this with the Portable Power Pack 1000 - let's see how it works! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Wilson Electronics New Sleek 4G LTE Universal Cellular Signal Booster Rocks!

Judie Stanford — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:01:57 +0000

I'm a big fan of Wilson Electronics Cellular signal boosters, and I got to spend a little bit of time Joe Banos (their CEO) checking out their new 4G LTE Universal Cellular Signal Booster and learning about what's going on in the booster market. Joe sees 2012 as the year that carriers will acknowledge that customers want better signals on their mobile devices by embracing cellular signal boosting technology. Verizon is the first carrier to get fully on board, and Joe said another carrier is expected to do the same in the next few weeks. Wilson has just released a universal cradle that will take care of mobile users on all carriers, but specifically those Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Stomps Out from the Jungle at CES 2012

Michael Anderson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:45:42 +0000

Corning Gorilla Glass has become synonymous with tough, scratch resistant screens that will withstand even some challenging drops that would have destroyed earlier phones. But it is not indestructible, and recently some challengers have come along - and competition is always a good thing. Next week at CES, Corning is set to unveil the next generation of its strengthened glass product in sizes for smartphones as well as larger formats:

A key feature of Corning's CES exposure will be the introduction of Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2, the next generation of the popular, damage-resistant cover glass for consumer electronic devices. CES attendees can engage with Corning experts and technologies featuring the latest applications and

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Announcing: San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium

Dan Cohen — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:45:37 +0000

This post brought to you by Snapdragon by Qualcomm. All opinions are 100% mine.

photo courtesy of ChargersGab

When I was a kid I saw some great concerts at the Garden State Arts Center about an hour south from where I lived. Alas, the Garden State Arts Center is no longer there. The physical space is there, the set up for concerts is there, and bands still play throughout the summer there, but the Garden State Art Center is now called the PNC Bank Arts Center. Yes, in 1996 the bank purchased the naming rights to it, and it has carried the new name ever since. It's not uncommon to see major physical locations such as stadiums and theaters carrying company names these days, but I have to imagine that making the change is a complex, and pricey proposition. So imagine if a stadium was renamed ... but for only ten days. That's what's happening at the home of Judie's husband Kevin's beloved San Diego Chargers this holiday season. Yes, for a ten day period this holiday season the QUALCOMM Stadium will be renamed the Snapdragon stadium; after the ten days have passed the name will revert back. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Griffin and Third Man Records Put a Spin on Your iPhone 4S with a Case Custom Cut from a 7” Vinyl Record

Chris Chamberlain — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:45:27 +0000

My hometown of Nashville, TN is full of stars, and not just the country music kind. It's a little-known secret that lots of actors and musicians from other genres choose to live in the area because, in general, we Nashvillagers pretty much leave them alone when we see them out in public. Nicole Kidman shops all the time at my local Whole Foods and can dine in peace at the food bar with no fear of autograph hounds. Peter Frampton has become a gentleman farmer in a Nashville suburb, and ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit moved here from Columbus, OH to escape the ravenous Ohio State fans. One of the Black Keys just bought a house about Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Oona Is One Versatile Smartphone Stand

Judie Stanford — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:30:23 +0000

One of the things that has always bothered me about using any phone other than one of the more popular current models is that accessories are not always easy to find. Sure, you can always find a few ugly cases and screen protectors for just about any model out there, but what about docks and automobile mounting solutions? Not everyone has an iPhone, but to see so many of the accessories that come out you'd think that wasn't the case. For $29.99, you can solve that problem with the Oona (not to be confused with Ooma, heh). Take a look ... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Amplicom Induction Neckloop (NL100) Review

Judie Stanford — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:00:14 +0000

photos by Kevin

My mother has sensorineural hearing loss, and she has worn hearing aids in each ear ever since she was 36. My husband has hearing loss from working with loud machinery, and although he doesn't wear hearing aids, he misses some tones and quiet speech is sometimes garbled. My friend Angie's daughter caught a virus several years ago that wasn't treated quickly enough; the result was that she went profoundly deaf in both ears and has since been fitted with two Cochlear Implants. My point is that hearing loss and forms of deafness are much more common than you might think. According to Gaudelet University, "the world's only university in which Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

ZAGGsmartbud Review Redux

Dan Cohen — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:00:02 +0000

Back in February of 2010 I reviewed the ZAGGsmartbuds. At the time, this was my conclusion

So are the ZAGGsmartbuds worth their $79.99 price? Absolutely. They are comfortable to wear for extended periods, sound very good and, thanks to the Hangin’ Tight system, have what is probably the best cable-management system I have used. At under $80 I would say that they are not only worth their price tag but that they are a good deal to boot! The ZAGGsmartbuds have an MSRP of $79.99 and are available directly from ZAGG. And right now ZAGG is including a free dual USB car charger with purchases of over $40. What I Like: Love

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A Cardboard Radio and MP3 Speaker Review? Yes!

Douglas Moran — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:00:04 +0000

Let's face it: it's not every day that you get a cardboard box in the mail, open it, remove all the wrapping paper and bubble wrap to reveal . . . another cardboard box. But that's what happened to your intrepid reporter, friends. Yup; it's the review of the Convenient Gadgets Cardboard Radio! What did I think of it? Well, read on, read on! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Mobile Edge Has Got Your Back If You Are Worried About Privacy

Judie Stanford — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:30:58 +0000

Are you feeling a bit spooked by all the recent stories about how our mobile phones are transmitting our GPS data, who we are talking to, and other possibly sensitive information? Here is one solution that might help: buy a bag that has a wireless security shield. What that means is that when your phone is placed in the pocket -- even if it is turned on and otherwise fully functioning, no data, calls or GPS will be able to come or go.

Wireless Security Shield™
In an effort to help provide ultimate security for your Bluetooth enabled Cell

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Quirky is Giving Away $5 Gift Certificates and a Chance to Win a $500 Gift Card

Judie Stanford — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:45:18 +0000

Quirky, the "socially developed product" manufacturer that allows people with great ideas to submit them and watch their products get made, is trying to garner support for its Facebook page. What better way to do so than to reward all of those who like their page with a $5 gift certificate off Quirky products and a chance to win a $500 gift card? In case you are wondering what types of goodies you can find at Quirky, wonder no more; here are a few...

Head over to Quirky's Facebook page and get Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

SCOTTEVEST Puffer Jacket Review and Special Gear Diary/NGD Discount Code

Dan Cohen — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:00:08 +0000

I love when SCOTTEVEST comes out with a new men's product, and I have the opportunity to do an early review; I love it even more when we get to review the new product and do something unique with it like, say, save YOU 10% off the purchase. I'm a bit of an SeV fan, and was one even before I came to Gear Diary. Barely a day passes that I am not wearing at least one thing that came from SeV. My wife Elana is quite used to it, and she has been quite impressed with the direction the company's designs have gone recently. That's why I thought I would mix things up a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Otterbox Releases New Cases for HTC Rezound & HTC Rhyme

Douglas Moran — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:15:51 +0000

Now, I don't have any Otterbox cases myself; I'm more into smaller and lighter cases, and when I go for the heavier case it's usually either a Mili or (more often) Mophie, with the extra battery power. But that's just me; I have heard from lots of folks that they love their Otterbox case and the safety it gives them. The first case I got for my boy Joseph's iPhone was an Otterbox, because I knew he would be dropping that durn thing left and right, and we needed the protection. [The first case we got for Kev's oldest's iPhone was an Otterbox, too ~ Judie] Heck, I think I saw an iPhone in an Otterbox case Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Get the Jump on Black Friday with 20% Off Griffin Technology until 11/30

Chris Chamberlain — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:15:48 +0000

Griffin Technology is a favorite among many of us here at Gear Diary for their selection of accessories for iPods, iPads, iPhones and many other of your mobile devices. A quick search of the Gear Diary archives shows a multitude of products that have already been featured and reviewed on the site, including the Beacon Universal Remote for iOS which Dan put in the running for “iOS Accessory of the Year”. The Beacon has dropped in price by $10 since Dan first reviewed it, and now there's an even sweeter deal available for Gear Diary readers. Just use the promo code "THANKS20" when you check out to receive 20% off every product on the site until Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

USBFever’s New Releases Include a Retro Telephone Handset for Your iDevice

Douglas Moran — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:15:10 +0000

Although I'm the official Old Fart of the Gear Diary team, even I am not old enough to remember when phones looked like the picture above. Yeah, sure, I'm old enough to have grown up when houses had one phone and it was frequently attached to the kitchen wall; when "Please get the phone!" was a common cry, because there wasn't a phone in every room (or every pocket) and phone answering machines (and software) hadn't been invented yet. Yes, I'm oooooooold. But I ain't that old, kids. But still, I like this kind of retro stuff. Would I use it? I dunno, honestly, but I do like that it's out there. I'm not much Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Yoobao Power Bank 4400mAh External Battery review

Dan Cohen — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:00:53 +0000

We recently looked at the Yoobao Power Bank battery. It's a beast and has a huge capacity that can keep your device or devices going all day long. That Power Bank isn't the only capacity that the company is offering, however. They also offered this smaller 4400 mA hour battery and, while it is smaller, it has the same great features. In fact, when the power in my home went out again the other day this battery stepped in and saved the day. Let's take a look at it. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Yoobao Power Bank 11,200 mAh Battery Review

Dan Cohen — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:00:44 +0000

Welcome to another edition of "What's Coming to CES 2012". In our last episodes we visited with two PowerBags (I'll carry the messenger and Kevin will carry the backpack) and Mission Workshop Sanction waterproof rucksack that Francis will bring along for the ride. The PowerBags will give us a total of 12,000mAh of device-charging goodness. That's good… but it is not good enough. Thankfully we'll have a few additional external batteries with us. One example, we will bring along this 11,200 mAh battery from Yoobao. Despite its relatively small size and weight, it is a beast in the energy department. And the lovely white makes it perfect for Judie to take along. Here's a look… From Yoobao:

Weighs at only 8.9oz, Yoobao Sunrise packs 11,200 mAh battery in a small package, enough to charge your iPad/tablet, iPhone, mobile phones and more. Perfect for everyday use, longer trips and emergency situations.

Features:

Highest quality Li-Pol battery with capacity of 11,200mAh (iPad 2 battery is rated as ~7,500mAh) Dual USB outputs to charger 2 devices at the same time Give your smartphone up to 90 hours of extra talk, internet, and video time, so you can truly enjoy what your phone can offer 2.1A output to charge your iPad or tablet efficiently Compatible with iPad 1/2, iPhone 4/4S, 3Gs/3G, and iPod touch Compatible with all cell phones with micro USB connection, such as Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc. Compatible with e-readers, such as Kindle, Nook, etc. Compatible with gaming devices, such as Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, etc.

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Microfiber Touchscreen Wipes Are Just What You Need!

Douglas Moran — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:15:58 +0000

I think touch screens are a beautiful thing. I have wondered for years and years why touch screens weren't used more widely, and am very happy to see that you can now find them friggin' everywhere. But of course, that has some down sides, one of which is: the durn things gets really, really dirty. Some manufacturers have worked hard (and with a decent degree of success, I might add) on making the situation better, but the bottom line is that I still need to carry around a screen wipey thing in my pocket all the time. And Kimtech is well aware of that need, which is why they want you to know about their dry Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

ZAGGkeys FLEX Bluetooth Keyboard for iOS and Android review

Dan Cohen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:30:39 +0000

My experience with keyboards for the iPad has been rather mixed. Some keyboards and keyboard cases have worked fairly well but none have been comfortable enough and portable enough for me to carry all the time. Moreover, most of the keyboard cases I have tried have just been too bulky for daily use. After all, what is the point of having the super-thin iPad 2 if you are going to then toss it into a thick, bulky case? The keyboards that have come closest to my wanting to carry and use them each day have been the offerings from ZAGG. For example, while I didn't love the case that comes with the ZAGGfolio I Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Using a Touchscreen Device in the Cold? Thumbs Dogs Are for You!

Dan Cohen — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:00:10 +0000

BRRRRRRR!!!!! It's cold out! (Okay, not so much since it is going to be 66 degrees and sunny today in NJ.) Still, we've already been hit with winter weather, and there is more to come in the next months. That's a problem for any of us who use touchscreen devices. Sure, there are gloves that are designed to work with touchscreens, but they tend to be a bit pricy and the styles offered tend to be limited. Besides, most of us in the northeast already have more than a few pair of gloves around.Why buy more when you don't have to? That's where Thumb Dogs come in. Thumb Dogs let you turn pretty much any pair of gloves into a pair of touchscreen compatible gloves. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

PDAir Releases Aluminum Metal Case for Motorola Droid Bionic XT875

Douglas Moran — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:15:41 +0000

I've mentioned it many times: PDAir cranks out a simply amazing quantity of cases on a regular basis. HTC or Motorola or Apple or Toshiba or you-name-it comes up with something new and BOOM! PDAir is right there with a case. I never know whether to shake my head in admiration, or weariness. I mean, how do they keep up? But keep up they do, and today's info is on their new aluminum metal case for the Motorola Droid Bionic XT875. Do you have one? Well, PDAir has a case for you, pal. Available for an MSRP of $29.99 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

QuickLook: Qmadix USB Dual Mobile Charging Hub 4.2amp

Dan Cohen — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:30:37 +0000

I like to be able to charge my iPhone and iPad on the go. After all, I constantly rely on both and, at least for now, iOS 5.0 is killing my battery life. That means I have wall chargers around my house, at the house and, of course, I always have a charger in my car. I've used a number of car chargers over the past few years and the new Qmadix USB Dual Mobile Charging Hub 4.2amp has me pretty impressed. From Qmadix:

The Qmadix USB Twin Tablet Charging Kit 4.2 gives you maximum power on the go when

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Republic Wireless $19 Per Month Cell Service Open for Signups

Michael Anderson — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:30:32 +0000

Every now and then you hear about something - the $100 laptop, the $35 tablet, the $19 smartphone plan - that seem to good to be true. And in some ways they are - there are limitations and compromises and caveats. In terms of the $19 smartphone plan, this week Republic Wireless unveiled their rumored plan - and it is both good and bad. The system is based on controlling the hardware - you need to use one of their special LG Optimus phones - and shifting much of the 'heavy lifting' to WiFi. So if you need the latest phone or are constantly on 3G with no WiFi in sight, or Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Woman Who Has (Almost) Everything

Judie Stanford — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:00:24 +0000

Is it even possible to have everything? Of course not. But it is possible to have a happy home, well-balanced kids, a loving spouse, and the proper tools to keep things running smoothly or to at least enable an occasional escape when everything gets crazy. The Holiday season has officially begun, and we have a few gift suggestions that can help take the stress out of finding something special for the women we love. Happy Shopping! =)

Keurig Mini Plus Personal Brewer

Whether she likes tea, coffee or hot cocoa, she'll be able to brew up a fresh cup with a minimum of effort. And with brewers available in red, black, platinum, green and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

CellHandle: Never Drop Your Phone Again!

Douglas Moran — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:30:59 +0000

One of the reasons we were hesitant to buy my son Joseph an expensive cell phone was because, well, he drops stuff a lot. It's not a matter of carelessness, exactly; it's just in his nature to sort of lose track of what he's holding and then, CLONK!, there it goes, onto the floor (or sidewalk, or car seat, or rug, or whatever). Which is fine with a $20 bullet-proof cell phone, but not so okay with a multi-hundred-dollar smartphone. The folks at ScottPaulTech think they have a solution with their new CellHandle. If I'm reading this info right, you attach their CellHandle to the back of your phone (or iPod), slip your finger or hand Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Bluetooth Headset Review: Jabra SUPREME

Dan Cohen — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:00:32 +0000

I have been using one specific Bluetooth headset in my car for the past year or so, but I lost it a few weeks back. Okay, I didn't exactly "lose" it but, rather, my wife Elana took it. I was thrilled to have her take the headset because: A. She's my wife, and I like her to have stuff she wants B. She's my wife, and I wanted her to have and use a headset so she would be safer on the road C. I knew I had a headset on the way that would be just as comfortable and sound just as good one she took ;-) It recently Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Mobile Device Accessory Review: Juice Pack Powerstation

Dan Cohen — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:00:01 +0000

It seems silly to refer to an external battery as "good-looking", but mophie's new juice pack power station is one good-looking battery. It is sleek, solid and feels great thanks to the combination of polished metal and soft touch material. And with a footprint that is a bit smaller than an iPhone, this 4000mAh battery is simple to carry around all the time. From mophie:

juice pack powerstation: This powerful 4000mAh external battery can charge virtually any USB device in the world including the iPhone and iPad. With completely reengineered battery and electronics, the powerstation can charge your device

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SanDisk Announces and Makes Available 64GB Extreme Pro SDXC and microSDXC Cards; I WANT!

Judie Stanford — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:30:23 +0000

Holy cow ... we have been hearing about them eventually being available for some time, and now they are here! SanDisk has just sent notice that they have 64GB microSDXC and 64GB SDXC cards available for purchase now. Yes, you are going to pay an arm and a leg for them, but their prices don't come anywhere near some of the ridiculous sums many of us have paid in the past! [Like the 5GB PCMCIA drive that I paid over $500 for back in 2002! Oy.] If you are a photographer, then you'll want to take a look at the 64GB SDXC; this card Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Epson Expands Mobile Printing Offerings with a Free New iPrint Android App

Dan Cohen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:15:06 +0000

As more and more people use their smartphones and tablets in place of more traditional laptops and desktops the need to be able to print directly from the handheld devices continues to grow. Just this weekend my father-in-law asked me if I could set him up with a way for him to print directly from his iPad. And this from the guy who just a short while ago had US check his email for him! Well Epson has just announced a new iPrint app that lets you print directly from Android smartphones. With the free app

Android smartphone users can print directly from their Android device to any wireless Epson all-in-one printers within their wireless

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