Hardware Reviews

Review: DMAI Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) Sit & Playview I always cringe when I see a parent hand an expensive tablet or phone to a child. Not only does the phone seem at risk, I’m never sure if the screen time is meant for learning or just distraction. DMAI …

Review: JBL Flip 5 What we like With the $119 list Flip 5 JBL delivers a hardy little speaker. The camo covering on our review unit reinforced the overall rugged design, as well as the fun side of the Flip line. The IPX 7 water rating means no worries about …

Review: Jabra Speak 510 The Jabra Speak 510 has transformed a weekly ritual. Since the beginning of the pandemic lock-in, my family has connected every Saturday night with my sister-in-law and her family in Southern California for dinner. I use an Apple 12.9 inch iPad Pro mounted into an iKlip …

I have a few cable clip organizers stuck on various surfaces around my home, including a glass-topped nightstand and the footing of my monitor stand. I want to place more of them around because they work. Most of my charging cables, however, hang out around my desk, a nice piece …

In January 2020 I attended CES. One of the products that most impressed me was the Lingolet One, a kind of universal translator extender for smartphones. I had high hopes for a lot of travel in 2020 post-CES, but then COVID-19 hit and I haven’t let me home office since …

Review: JBL Charge 4 $179.95 JBL makes bigger speakers, like the Boombox 2 and the Xtreme 2, but for most people, the JBL Charge 4 will prove speaker enough for more listening experiences. At 8.66 x 3.74 x 3.66 and a little over 2 lbs the Charge 4 won’t be …

Satechi Slim Type-C Multi-Port Adapter V2 $69.99 I evaluate USB-C hubs against two broad criteria: fit and function. The Satechi Slim Type-C Multi-Port Adapter V2, with its short cable, fits most USB-C devices well, even the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (though it does leave the hub dangling a bit).  At about …

Review: Tranya Rimor True Wireless Earbuds We recommend Tranya Rimor True Wireless Earbuds as a solid investment for those who seek a good listening experience from the most compact of travel companions. When I first received a review request for the Tranya Rimor True Wireless Earbuds I was taken back to …

Review: JBL Clip 3 $69.95 The JBL Clip 3 fills the space with sound, takes calls, clips onto almost anything, and sinks to the bottom of a pool without damage. What more can you ask for in a wet hot summer companion? As the summer heats up, even in quarantine, …

Review: Solo RE:MOVE Duffle The Solo RE:MOVE hits a number of must-have check marks with functional features, light-weight design, a roller-bag strap—and each bag is made from 16 recycled PET bottles. UBN655-10 from Solo on Vimeo. What we like The Solo RE:MOVE Duffle bag won’t be mistaken for high-end designer luggage, …