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.
Reviews
Review: Podcast-friendly Fokus Headphones from ONANOFF
By Todd Bernhard
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.
Kickstarter Review: iVANKY Docking Station for MacBook Pro
By Todd Bernhard
I am always on the lookout for the ideal docking station for my MacBook Pro. I just upgraded from the 15-inch to the 16-inch MacBook Pro and decided it would be a good time to go all out and have two 4K monitors as well. That might have required two different docking stations as it's rare to find one that supports two 4K screens at the same time, but the folks at iVANKY came through with their iVANKY Docking Station (starting at $119). It's on Kickstarter, so the price will go up, but it's still quite attractive and it is a real product, as iVANKY sent me a review unit to try.
Review: SkyB Apple Watch Cases Aim to Up Your Watch's Style Factor
By Todd Bernhard
My family of four currently has three Apple Watches, and that could grow to four. It becomes increasingly important to be able to identify which watch belongs to whom. There are plenty of junky plastic Apple Watch cases out there, so I was skeptical when I saw the Apple Watch Cases (starting at $49) from SkyB at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. SkyB let me try a review unit with one of my Apple Watches and holding it made all the difference.
Review: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 Earbuds
By Todd Bernhard
Sennheiser is a well-respected headphone and earbud maker, and I've used its wired headphones in the past. So I was happy for the opportunity to try the Momentum True Wireless 2 Earbuds ($299.95) when Sennheiser offered a review unit to test. The Momentum True Wireless earbuds deliver impressive sound thanks to the built-in equalizer and are still remarkably small. Despite the size, they still manage to offer 7 hours of use and 28 total with the charging case.
Review: The Impressive Smart Keybox 3 from Igloohome
By Todd Bernhard
The folks at Igloohome have been making smart door locks and lockboxes for a while, and they keep getting better. They sent me their latest, the Smart Keybox 3 ($189) to review and it improves over version 2 in multiple ways. This is not a door lock; it is a lockbox that hangs on a doorknob or gate. The circular keypad is used to unlock the lockbox using a PIN. You can also use the companion app to unlock the box via Bluetooth or generate more PIN codes for construction workers, cleaners, and other folks. It could also be helpful for Airbnb guests or keeping motorboat keys near the pier or a storage shed, etc.
Review: Eggtronic's Wireless iPhone Chargers Are Made to Last
By Todd Bernhard
In this era of cheap, plastic disposable gadgets, it was nice to see the Wireless Charging Stone ($69.90) Eggtronic sent me to review. This is a serious, made-to-last Qi charger. Sure there are lots of wireless iPhone chargers to choose from, but only Eggtronic offers ones made out of actual stone: marble, travertine, and lava.
Review: Personalized Leather iPhone Cases from Michael Louis
By Todd Bernhard
When the folks at Michael Louis sent me a Personalized Embossed Leather Cases ($74) to review I thought I was getting special treatment. A leather case with my initials stamped in silver on the back? Pretty cool. Then I realized they offer free personalization to everyone, when ordering online! You can specify up to six characters and even choose emojis and the color. This is a nice touch and will certainly set your phone apart in a crowd.
One of my favorite takeaways from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is finding gadgets that have no batteries or circuitry of any kind but exist to enhance our use of electronic gadgets. One example is the JURA ANCHOR carabiner for AirPods & AirPods Pro (starting at $24.99). It's not an AirPods case but it adds a carabiner key chain through some clever magic. The carabiner has a Lightning connector that has no electronics, instead it acts as an anchor that supports up to 15 times the weight of the AirPods case. You plug the JURA into the Lightning port, again with no electronics, and the molded connector keeps it in place. Then you can use the carabiner on the other end to attach your AirPods to a backpack, keychain, etc.
Review: Logitech Brings Wireless Charging to Mice
By Todd Bernhard
I am spoiled by wireless charging. I want everything to charge simply by putting it down on a flat surface. For example, my remote control, toaster, blender, etc. In fact, I did see a blender that charges wirelessly at the Consumer Electronics Show. Clearly wireless charging will be available for more than just smartphones and AirPods, And now wireless charging is available for gaming mice. Logitech sent me the Powerplay Wireless Charging System Mousepad ($119.99) to try.
I travel a lot and am always looking for the ideal battery pack, and the Mophie Powerstation Plus XL Wireless ($99.95) comes close. The company sent me a review unit to try. There are a few features that set this charging battery apart from the rest. First, it charges via Lightning. This means iPhone owners can carry one less cable. In fact, the second differentiator is that it has a Lightning cable built-in, so you can charge your iPad (not Pro) or iPhone. But you would still need a separate standalone Lightning cable and wall plug to recharge the Powerstation.
Smart Home Security: Minimize the Hassle, Maximize Safety & Privacy
By David Averbach
In 1982, researchers at Carnegie Mellon connected a Coca-Cola vending machine to the internet and created the world’s first smart appliance. The “smart vending machine” could report its inventory and whether or not the drinks were cold. It wasn’t until the rise of smartphones, however, that the so-called internet of things (IoT) became ubiquitous. By the end of last year, there were eight billion IoT devices and that number is projected to grow to 41 billion by 2027, according to Business Insider’s Internet of Things 2020 report.
Review: Nomad Base Station Charging Pad Now Has USB-C Power Delivery
By Todd Bernhard
I love when a product I've reviewed in the past gets better, and even the folks at Nomad found room for improvement in their high-quality, high-end Base Station. After I visited them at CES, Nomad sent me the updated Base Station Apple Watch Edition ($149.95) and the upgrade hits all the right high notes.
Review: Affordable Trackeroo AirPods Case Accommodates Most Trackers
By Todd Bernhard
If you're worried about losing your expensive AirPods you will want to connect a Bluetooth tracker to the AirPods case, but there's no practical way to do so. Fortunately, the folks at Trackeroo have developed the simple but brilliant Trackeroo AirPods Case (starting at $6.95). Trackeroo gave me a case to try, but at that price, the company probably paid more for postage sending it to me! It's truly a bargain given that it could save you $150 on a lost set of AirPods!
Review: Air Omni Multi-Device Charger for Your Nightstand
By Todd Bernhard
Over the past dozen or so years, I have reviewed hundreds if not thousands of products. One of my favorite aspects of this is when a product I previously reviewed gets better and I get a chance to cover the newer version. I also appreciate multi-function devices. I have so many gadgets already so the more functions a single device can perform, the better, as long as there are no compromises. This is the case with Pitaka's Air Omni (starting at $119). While it is available on Kickstarter, and I hesitate to recommend crowdfunded projects because of the uncertainty, Pitaka is a well-established, longtime Apple accessory maker and this product is real, as Pitaka sent me a review unit to try.
Review: Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit
By Mike Riley
With the continued success of YouTube, Twitch, and other user-generated-content video-streaming services, an opportunity for anyone with a captivating presence and good communication skills is available. But just like the days of the California Gold Rush, those with better tools often (but not always) have a better chance to strike it rich. In today's internet streaming boom, those better tools equate to the high-quality camera optics, noise-free audio recording, and exceptional lighting necessary to capture those captivating mobile moments. Joby has assembled a package equivalent to the prospector's mule, shovel, and pan. Will the compilation of equipment the company assembled into a single kit, aptly called the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit ($199.95), help deliver vlogging gold? Read on to find out.
Review: Moshi's SnapTo Wireless Charger with a Magnetic Twist
By Todd Bernhard
I'm always looking for the perfect wireless charging accessory, and with so many gadgets to charge, one thing I look for is the smallest footprint possible. Fortunately, Moshi sent me the SnapTo Magnetic Wireless Charger $49.95) to try, and it offers something impressive, no footprint. That's because it uses a combination of magnets to keep your phone in contact with the rubberized charging pad, plus an optional swiveling wall-mount that attaches via the included 3M adhesive strips.
I know the latest iPhones are water-resistant thanks to their IP68 rating, but I don't trust them. Besides, if you're on the lake or ocean and your phone ends up in the water, it won't float! Fortunately, I found the H2O Proof Floating Phone Holder (starting at $9.99) from WOW Watersports. These are the same folks who made the waterproof floating speaker I reviewed.
Review: Nomad's Quality, Rugged Leather AirPods Pro Case
By Todd Bernhard
If you own the high-end $250 AirPods Pro, you probably have an affinity for quality accessories. That makes the Rugged Case for AirPods Pro ($34.95) from Nomad an attractive companion as it adds fashion, luxury, and protection at an attractive price.
At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I met up with the inventor of the SpiiderGriip Phone Grip ($19.99) and had a chance to try the company's alternative to a PopSocket. There are several advantages the SpiiderGriip has that make it much more robust and reliable for active users than the PopSocket, such as a pop-out handle to insert one or two fingers in. The video demonstration shows rock climbers and weight lifters taking selfies with ease while running through their activities.