Todd Bernhard

Protect Your Privacy with a Camera Cover for Your iPhone

By Todd Bernhard

I go to a lot of trade shows, not just technology ones like the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas but also the NY Toy Fair, hoping to find smartphone-related gadgets that would be of interest to iPhone Life readers. That's how I discovered BLOCKERZ Camera Covers ($13.99) from Zorbitz. They are a wholesaler but you can find their products at Amazon, Urban Outfitters, and other retailers. They gave me a sample to try and it turns out, it's not just for iPhones.

Review: Control this Robotic Vacuum with Alexa or an iOS App

By Todd Bernhard

While others may have more name recognition, Ecovacs is a strong contender with nearly a dozen different models to meet the needs of specific customers. They sent me their most popular model, the DEEBOT 500 ($259.95), to try. For me, with primarily hardwood flooring, it works well. This particular model travels somewhat at random, stopping at walls and other obstacles and changing direction, but Ecovacs has more advanced models that can be programed via the app based on your floor layout.

Nex202 Wired Earbuds Review

By Todd Bernhard

There's a lot to like in the NEX202 Dual Drivers In-Ear Headphones (starting at $47.99) that RevoNext sent me to try. They have an elegant, twisted cable, which is a good point to remind readers that these are wired earbuds. The earpieces are built well with a metal housing and rugged-looking Torx (star) screws to keep the gadgetry in place. There are rubber cord protectors for ear comfort and to prevent fraying. They include different size ear tips and are sold in a couple of variety of matte finish colors, black or gray, and with or without microphone ($2 extra for the microphone.) And they sound great thanks to dual dynamic drivers.

Review: Choetech All-In-One Charger for Apple Watch, iPhone, AirPods & More

By Todd Bernhard

Just when you think there's no way to innovate when building a charging dock, along comes the Wireless Charging Station ($92.99) from Choetech. This thing has everything; an integrated Apple Watch charging port, a Lightning port, and a Qi wireless charging pad. If that weren't enough, there's a USB port on the back so you can add your own cable, for another Apple Lightning item or a USB-C or microUSB device. All of this could generate heat, so the charger has two cooling fans that expel heat from the bottom.

Review: Can the AU Stream Earbuds Set Themselves Apart from the AirPods?

By Todd Bernhard

The folks at Ausounds just announced, and sent me, their new AU Stream ANC ($149.95). The design clearly emulates the Apple AirPods, but that's a good thing. Apple has had several generations of the AirPods by now, yet they still have some deficiencies. And that's where the AU-Stream ANC can shine. They sound, look, and feel great, but so does the Apple version. So here are some differentiators.

Wireless Charger Review: FuseChicken Gravity Touch

By Todd Bernhard

I am a big fan of Qi-based wireless charging and I have a wide variety of chargers from a bunch of different companies spread throughout my home and office. But I think I may have found the best versions around. In fact, Apple doesn't have an offering of its own, as the AirPower failed to be delivered, so Fuse Chicken has stepped in. The company sent me a review unit of its Gravity Touch wireless charging base (starting at $39.95).

Review: Sporty Aramid-Fiber Car Mount with Qi Wireless Charging

By Todd Bernhard

I've adopted wireless charging throughout my home and am always looking for the ideal Qi charger for the car. The MagMount Qi ($44.99) that Pitaka sent me to review is a leading contender. First, it's quite compact compared to many other competing models, so it won't obstruct too much of your dash or vents. And it has a built-in cooling fan so it won't overheat. The charger's surface uses aramid fiber plus a chrome exterior so it will look right at home in any sports car.

Review: Protect Your Data with This Hardware Encrypted Portable Drive

By Todd Bernhard

Security and privacy is in the news, as it should be based on recent breaches, so SecureData has a way to help you keep your private stuff private. The company sells a variety of hard drives in capacities from 1 TB using a mechanical hard disk drive (HDD) all the way up to an 8 TB solid state disk (SSD) although they get expensive at that size. SecureData sent me their SecureDrive BT (starting at $285) to try.

Pivo Review: Action-Tracking Phone Mount Lets You Take Magical Movies & Photos

By Todd Bernhard

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January 2019, I got a sneak peak at the Pivo Tracking Photography Mount ($179). The Pivo is a slick automatic phone or camera mount that can rotate via Bluetooth controller. The free companion app allows the mount to automatically track a user by face or action. I was really impressed, and now that the Pivo is real and I've tested a sample unit, I can finally vouch for it. 

Review: A Bluetooth Tracker Specifically for Hunters, Hikers & Other Outdoor Enthusiasts

By Todd Bernhard

There are a bunch of Bluetooth trackers out there to help you find your purse, or backpack, or keys; but the folks at Breadcrumb have found an underserved niche: outdoor enthusiasts. If you want to find your favorite hunting spot or you're a hiker looking for your base camp, you might want to check out their Bluetooth Location Marker ($39.99). Breadcrumb sent me the marker to try. It has a lot of unique features.

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