Reviews

We are all doing more videoconferencing these days, so the Avantree Aria Me ($149.99) arrived at the perfect time. This is a desktop-oriented headphone for the office that can also travel well. It's ideal for the office because of the clever charging stand that is included. The headphones rest on the stand and charge, giving you one less thing to worry about. When traveling, you can use the microUSB cable to charge the headphones directly. I would have preferred USB-C, similar to Apple's iPad Pro, so there would be one less type of cable to carry.

One of the most interesting new iOS accessories shown at last year's Consumer Electronics Show was Scosche's BaseLynx Modular Kit Pro Charging System ($209.96). Unlike so many other charging platforms on the market, BaseLynx is a modular system that allows you to specifically tailor the charging configuration to your device needs. Does this approach make sense from both a functional and economical point of view? Read on to find out.

The folks at iOttie have been on the forefront of using colorful fabrics to accessorize their accessories. They provided me with a review unit of their iON Wireless Go Power Bank ($49.95) to try, and sure enough, it is as stylish as it is useful. It is a portable battery pack for iPhones that is just smaller than an iPhone SE or iPhone 8 but twice as thick.  The first thing you notice is the attractive woven fabric (red or grey) that covers the surface. It looks nice on your coffee table and the cloth won't scratch your naked iPhone, although there is a rubber pad where the integrated Qi charging coil is.

I previously reviewed the SecureDrive from SecureData and found it to offer impressive security and high-speed SSD storage, but I also felt it was expensive. The folks at SecureData sent me their lower-cost USB flash drive model which starts at a much more affordable price. The SecureUSB BT (starting at $119) comes with less capacity, 16 GB, but the company offers 32 and 64 GB options. Sure, they are more expensive than traditional thumb drives but they have some serious security built-in.

Any set of wireless earbuds is going to be compared to Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro. Fortunately, the AU-Stream Hybrid ANC Earbuds ($189.95) that Ausounds sent me to try have a lot of distinctions to make them a worthwhile competitor. First, they are compact enough to fit entirely in the ear with no microphone stalk extending towards the mouth of the user. That marginally impacts the quality of the speaker's voice, but it isn't too much of an issue since the primary focus is on listening not talking.

It was inevitable. Eve Systems, a company that has reimagined itself from an Apple Mac accessory company to a HomeKit automation powerhouse, has created a sprawling line of diverse products. These range from automated power strips that monitor your electrical use and temperature sensors that report indoor air quality. They further extend to a smart outdoor water controller that tracks water usage and even an indoor water detector that can be used to set off a cascade of automation events such as notifying you of a leak and, in turn, communicating with an Eve smart plug to deactivate the electrical pumping source of the water. And yet with all that HomeKit goodness, Eve didn't jump on the home video monitoring camera bandwagon, until now. Did Eve's drop dead simple HomeKit integration and stable quality make it into its first home security product?  Read on to find out.

Moshi makes some of the most inspired accessories for Apple equipment. The company sent a review unit of the Avanti C USB Type-C Headphones ($199.95) and it is somehow futuristic and retro at the same time. Just looking at the headphones reminds me of an aviator from the 1950s or even the headphones I used as an aspiring DJ in the 1970s and 1980s. While even more expensive headphones rely on plastic these days, the Avanti headphones use stainless steel for the headband and adjustment knobs that help you find the right fit. They pair the steel with leatherette to protect your head and hair and ears. 

You probably know that OtterBox makes some of the most rugged cases available for smartphones and tablets. You might even know that the company also make coolers and other outdoor accessories that are just as rugged. But you may not know that OtterBox also makes wireless charging power banks. The company sent me a review unit of the OtterSpot Wireless Charging System ($99.95) and it could be a game changer.

Young, old, or in-between, safety should come first and that's the idea behind the Silent Beacon Panic Button ($99.99) that the company Silent Beacon showed off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and gave me a review unit to try. Like many iPhone owners, I already have an Apple Watch and so do my family members. But the watch does so many things and the Emergency SOS feature is just one of them. The Silent Beacon is meant to do one thing, call for help, and it does it well, better than the Apple Watch in fact.

Scosche has come a long way since I originally began reviewing its audio products nearly a dozen years ago. Since then, the company has branched out to a variety of mobile lifestyle accessories including a variety of chargers, fitness monitors, phone mounts and even dashcams. One of the company's more recent entries into its catalog is the MagicGrip Window/Dash Mount ($69.95) that can be affixed to a car dashboard or window. What makes it unique is not just that it can wirelessly charge your iPhone while seated in the mount, but it also has a neat almost sci-fi approach to gripping your iPhone in the process. Read on to find out if this standout feature is worth the mount's nearly seventy dollar price tag.

Like many Americans, I have a dog and I want to train and reward her, and keep her fit. While I can work from home, that's not the case for everyone, so I was intrigued by the Pet Fitness Robot ($149) from Varram. I saw their booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year and they gave me the review unit to try with my dog. My seven-pound Shih-Tzu Yorkie mix is usually distrusting of robotic toys, like my Sphero BB-8, but once she saw that this toy also distributes snacks, she came around.

I have reviewed stylus after stylus from Adonit, but it makes more than styluses as I discovered when the company sent me a review unit of its V-Grip ($34.99). This is not a stylus, but a selfie stick with something more. Yes, it expands to over two feet, using a telescoping metal rod. And it has a squeeze grip that secures your iPhone in place. But Adonit added a Bluetooth shutter button that, when paired with your iPhone, can act as a remote control trigger.

Apple is making the iPad Pro look like a regular computer more and more every day. But if you are still using a computer and wish you could share your computer's accessories with your iPad Pro, you might need an accessory like the Access Pro ($199.95) from IOGear, I tried a review unit and it does what it promises. It acts as a KVM (keyboard, video, monitor) Switch, letting you share a keyboard, mouse and 4K UHD 3840x2160 at 30 Hz monitor among two devices. The Access Pro supports Windows, Mac or iPad Pro with USB-C.

It's wise to have a screen protector, and they days, an anti-microbial option is ideal. The folks at Zagg, under their InvisibleShield brand, sent me a review unit of the Glass Elite Screen Protectors (starting at $39.99). They actually have several screen protector options, depending on your needs, including Anti-Glare, Privacy, VisionGuard (Blue Light Filter) and, as mentioned, Anti-Microbial, all with tempered glass for shatter and scratch protection.

I have a special place in my heart for Jabra, as the company made the first Bluetooth earpiece I ever owned about a decade ago. So I'm always interested in their latest model. I saw them at CES and was able to pick up a review unit of the Elite Active 75t ($199.99). First, it looks great, and is sold in assorted colors including black, black with copper, navy blue, mint green, and sienna. If you want to stand apart from the boring, white-AirPod-wearing crowd, these will help. They fit snuggly in the ear and have adjustable tips to help stay in during workouts for active users, hence the name.

Like many readers, working from home is my new norm. And that means acquiring the right teleconferencing equipment. Additionally, podcasters, hardcore gamers, streamers, and YouTube influencers all need a quality microphone. That means a USB-based digital microphone and not analog. And you might want one that accommodates different type of conversations (conference room, one-on-one interviews, and solo broadcasting.) For years, I've been using the microphones from Blue, like the Snowball and Yeti. Recently, Logitech, which owns Blue, let me try its higher-end model, the Yeti X ($169.99). 

Remember when Apple announced, and then later cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat? The concept was straightforward, simply have a flat surface upon which to lay your Apple iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch on, and have those devices recharge wirelessly. Apple shelved AirPower due to potential heating and uniform power concerns. Unsurprisingly, that hasn't stopped Apple third-party accessory companies from attempting to emulate the anticipated all-in-one wireless charging mat. Indeed, the Vissles-W 3-in-1 wireless charging pad ($45) even appears at first glance to be nearly identical to the Apple AirPower mat design. However, upon closer inspection, it isn't quite what Apple originally had in mind. Read on to find out why.

As popular as Apple's AirPods are, there are openings where other vendors can fill in the gaps. For starters, enough with the white plastic. I had the opportunity to try ATH-CK3TW In-Ear Wireless Headphones ($99) by Audio Technica at the Consumer Electronics Show. Immediately, you see the dark teal blue color and know these are not your standard earbuds. They are also sold in black or white for those who prefer more mundane color choices.

If you alternate between listening to music and podcasts or web conferences, there's a pair of headphones for that. ONANOFF sent me a review unit of its Fokus headphones ($49.99) to try. The name is appropriate, as at the flick of a button, you can switch between music and voice modes, to emphasize bass sound or spoken words, alternatively. Additionally, they are covered in stylish gray fabric on the earcups, exterior, and headband. I found them quite comfortable to wear for a long time, in part due to the fabric, but also because the earcups go around my ears instead of resting on them.

Pages