By Todd Bernhard
Moshi always makes impressive, well-designed gadgets; but the IonSlim 10K ($99.95) in particular packs a lot of power into a slim aluminum shell, reminiscent of anything coming out of Apple these days. As Apple is now shipping devices that charge via USB-C as well as Lighting USB-A cables, there is a need for a portable battery pack like the IonSlim 10K.
By Todd Bernhard
Amazon Alexa is great; I have a device in every room of my house. But that doesn't mean each device has to be from Amazon. The iLive Concierge Wireless Speaker with Amazon Alexa ($65) has earned a nice place right between Amazon's low-end and high-end speakers, and it adds a twist. When Amazon got rid of the Tap, it also stopped selling any kind of Alexa device that was battery operated. I find that too limiting.
By Todd Bernhard
When Apple introduced Touch ID, it created a quandry for touchscreen gloves. If you did away with a short passcode, in favor of the fingerprint reader, then it became a nuisance to wear gloves, even if they had capacitive fingers to work on a smartphone. Now, with Face ID, touchscreen gloves are more practical, and Mujjo offers a wide selection of Touchscreen Gloves (starting at $24.13).
By Todd Bernhard
My kids are crazy for PopSockets ($10–$15) and I understand the appeal, especially now that the company has come out with a car vent mount option ($15). You have likely already seen these on the back of someone's phone. You attach the adhesive back of the PopSocket to the back your iPhone case and then can pop it open and use it as a stand for your device or a means to get a better grip on your iPhone.
By Todd Bernhard
One of the coolest gadgets I saw CES, according to myself, my friends, and my family, was the Pionears Wireless Earbuds ($69.99) from Origaudio. At first glance, it looks like an oversized Zippo lighter (about the size of a deck of playing cards), but it's really a charging case for two remarkably tiny earbuds. And the lid snaps open and closed (thanks to magnets) just like a lighter, but for a much healthier use case! The storage case itself has a 4,400mAh battery; and what is really cool is that it slips into a charging dock with integrated A/C wall plugs, so no cables are needed.
By Todd Bernhard
There are a lot of plastic mounts vying to hold your expensive phone or tablet, but why settle when there are well-made mounting solutions like the Steelie Mount and Stand accessories (starting at $19.99) from Nite-Ize?
By Todd Bernhard
Some of the best gadgets at CES had no batteries, screens, or buttons. Case in point, the Easy Wrapper ($16.88 and up) from Japan Hobby Tool. At first glance, it looks like a regular cleaning chamois, but upon further inspection, it becomes clear the Easy Wrapper has a different purpose.
By Todd Bernhard
Apple may be moving to facial recognition, but I still like Touch ID. And if you like fingerprint identification, and wish more devices in your life supported it, check out the Tapplock One ($99). I saw it at CES and had the opportunity to test it out.
By Todd Bernhard
Some of the most interesting items I've found at shows like the CES have no electronics component to them. At CES 2018, I saw one such item. The ChargeGuardZ ($9.99) is a clever gadget that routes a cable, such as a Lightning cable or headphone cable, in such a way that prevents fraying of the ends. In the case of earbuds, you can also wrap the wire around the outside of the ChargeGuardZ to prevent it from getting tangled.
By Todd Bernhard
If you find earbuds uncomfortable but don't want big bulky headphones, the Trekz Air ($179.99) from AfterShokz are a great solution. The company takes an innovative approach to transmitting sound. Instead of earbuds sitting in your ears or ear cups covering them, the AfterShokz use bone conduction technology to send audio through your temples leaving your ears open to hear ambient sounds. This is great for joggers and bicyclists.