By Todd Bernhard
The touchscreen interface is great for many things, but sometimes games need a physical joystick, buttons, or other controllers. That's why Nintendo has been able to hang around. If you're feeling a little jealous of Nintendo Switch owners then the GoPlay Sidekick ($59.95) from Kanex can iPads and iPhones a better gaming platform.
By Todd Bernhard
There are a lot of Bluetooth trackers out there, but the Pixie Finder (starting at $29.99) from Pixie has an interesting twist. Pixie has added Augmented Reality to the process of finding your missing gadgets. To accomplish this, one of the trackers needs to be attached to your iPhone or iPhone case. To Pixie's credit, the company gives away a custom case with your order.
By Todd Bernhard
Apple makes some nice things, and it charges for them accordingly. The company also reminds me of Henry Ford who sold the Model T stating that you could have it in any color you want, as long as it's black. While Apple has colorful computers and phones, it still only sells many of its accessories in glossy white. Case in point, the $69 USB-C Multiport Adapter.
By Todd Bernhard
There are a lot of high-end headphones vying for your disposable income, but many of them rely on celebrity endorsements and branding to justify their high price. Not so with the FIIL IICON Wireless Over-Ear Headphones ($349) from FIIL. These luxury headphones feature a beautiful design with a novel and elegant touch interface on the earpiece itself. There is also a companion app to help with audio adjustments and burn-in.
By Todd Bernhard
Remember Jim Clark? He was a founder of Silicon Graphics, Netscape, WebMD, and Shutterfly to name a few. His latest venture is named CommandScape and it is a suite of smart products and services for commercial buildings and larger homes. The product suite includes video surveillance, lighting, security, and more.
By Todd Bernhard
There's a lot to like about the Deadbolt 02 ($199) from igloohome, especially once you get it installed. I particularly liked the "magical" way you can enter, just by holding your hand over the touchscreen, as long as you have your phone nearby. The sleek device uses Bluetooth 4.0 to recognize that you are close by, and then unlocks the deadbolt when your hand is placed in the right spot. This could be great for entering with groceries, etc.
By Todd Bernhard
If you regularly need to carry a MacBook (or similar-sized laptop) along with an iPad, you need a backpack or messenger bag or briefcase that can handle them all. The Venturo Backpack Sling ($119.95) from Moshi is a hybrid backpack and briefcase that can accommodate a tablet, laptop, and a lot more.
By Todd Bernhard
Sure, your iPhone has a flashlight, but it's not always the right tool for the job. The E.LUMEN ($24.99) from Renogy is the right tool for many jobs. It has a very strong flashlight that has three modes: full, partial, and strobe. It has a 2,000mAh battery that can be recharged via the solar panels on the side and charge just about any USB device (only a microUSB cable is provided, which is the other way the flashlight can be charged.)
By Todd Bernhard
I had the opportunity to try a pre-release version of the PowerJoy 30C ($44) from Innergie. The PowerJoy should ship soon and is a smart solution to a real problem. As Apple and other vendors transition to USB-C, most users still have a wide variety of devices that charge using a traditional USB cable. Instead of traveling with and using multiple charging bricks, the PowerJoy is one device with two charging ports, one for USB-C and one for traditional USB.
By Todd Bernhard
I had the opportunity to check out both the Endo ($44.99) and WCKD1 ($74.99)Bluetooth headphones from Wicked Audio. The Endo is an on-ear set of headphones and the WCKD1 is an in-ear earbud version. They have a lot of similarities, so choosing one depends on whether you prefer wireless Bluetooth headphones or Bluetooth earbuds.