Review
OnePlus 5T: The good and the bad
There are hundreds of reviews on the internet explaining the specifications and showing performance tests. I won't rehash any of that information. Instead, I will provide my personal opinion on the phone. My opinion is based on a short usage window thanks to a friend that lent me the device. This will be a short, easy to read review that can help you make a purchasing decision (if you are on the fence). The OnePlus 5T Screen The OnePlus 5T moved to an 18:9 (tall and narrow display).
Swiss+Tech Utili-Key 6-in-1 Keychain Multi-Tool
You can't use what you don't have and yesterday I wrote about my favorite keychain attachedUSB key. Today I want to share with you my favorite keychain multi-tool. The Swiss+Tech Utili-Key is a very portable, keychain attached multi-tool that: Flat Screwdriver Phillips Screwdriver Micro-Sized Screwdriver Straight Blade Knife Serrated Blade Knife Bottle Opener Demand a little more and you can graduate to its slightly more capable older brother the Utili-Key XT 8-In-1. Which has:
PicBackMan helps protect your pictures
Of everything I have on my home PC, nothing is more important than my pictures and I am sure many of you are in the same boat. In a previous article, I spoke about the 3-2-1 backup strategy to protect your irreplaceable files. So how do you "easily backup your digital treasures" onto multiple online services? Enter PicBackMan. It is a simple program that can help backup your social network pictures (locally) and at the same time backup your local pictures to one or more online services.
Joby GripTight GorillaPod Stand for iphone or Android smartphones
If you haven't read my review of the Joby GorillaMobile for iPhone 4 then go ahead and take a quick look here. Eversince I discovered the concept of iphoneography, I fell in love. The idea of using your smartphone, the only device that is always with you, to capture the important moments in life is fantastic. First I chose my iPhone camera apps, 645 PRO and Camera+. Then I downloaded iPhoto, Perfectly Clear and SnapSeed to retouch my images. To get tack sharp images, there was one more element missing….
Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone 4 /4s review
The best camera is the one you have with you and in most cases, that is my iPhone. This convenience first motivated me to start taking more pictures with it and I was hooked. Before my iphoneography journey, I always wanted the best dSLR with the most megapixels. After all, wasn’t that what photography was about? Wrong! Real photography isn’t about capturing the most realistic highest quality image. Real photography is about capturing a fleeting moment. It is about immortalizing an emotion so it can be revisited over and over.
A fantastic $60 headphone amp
If you are wondering why you may need a headphone amplifier (amp) then take a look at my previous blog entry here. After buying a decent pair of headphones, a headphone amp is the next best investment if you want to get the best possible sound quality out of your media player (e.g. iphone, Android, ipad, Cowon media player or other). Chu Moy headphone amp The Chu Moy (CMoy) headphone amp is an extremely popular do-it-yourself headphone amplifier project that can be fun and easily customized to your equipments specifications.
Review of the Etymotic HF3 in ear monitor headphone
Over the last 15 years, I've spent a considerable amount of time living in airports and airplanes. Because of this, I am always searching for the next gadget or technology that will make my trip easier or more enjoyable. The first gadget that most travelers buy is a quality pair of noise canceling headphones. My first active noise canceling headphones were to Sennheiser PCX-250 then I graduated to one of the first Bose Quiet Comfort's . Although these devices performed extremely well, they had some negative factors that motivated me to look elsewhere.
Real world test and review of the Monster Turbine In Ear headphone
This is a quick review of the Monster Turbine In Ear Monitor headphone. Like them or hate them, most people know the Monster brand. I have always thought their cables are extremely overpriced so I had glossed over testing their Turbine IEM headphones. But since they are so popular, I thought it was time I get them a fair shake and here it is. Build They are called Turbine because they kind of look like jet engines (or at least that is my guess).
Do I need an amplifier for my headphones?
Most of us listen to music while on the go through headphones and some type of portable music player (smartphone, music player, etc). In order to keep component costs low and extent battery life, most of these devices have very small built-in underpowered amplifiers. These small mediocre amps are acceptable when using the cheap $1 manufacturer provided headphones but the minute you step up to something a little more sophisticated, you start losing clarify degraded audio definition and detail higher noise poor channel separation Just a couple of years ago, headphone amps where the exclusive domain of professionals and demanding audiophiles.
Real world test and review of the Bose QuietComfort 15 (QC15)
Having spent a good chunk of my time in airplanes, I am always looking for the next great invention that will make my travelling life a little easier or more pleasant. Noise reducing headphones and In Ear Monitors fit into the second category by reducing the annoyance of that crying child in the next row or the constant annoying low hum of the airplanes engines. I have a tried a tone of different earphones that I will be reviewing in future write-ups but this one is dedicated to the Bose QuietComfort 15 earphones.
Long term testing and review of ZAGGsmartbuds
My last review of Zagg was for their InvisibleShield screen protector here. I loved the product but hated the hyper inflated cost of shipping on the replacements. Today I will be reviewing their ZAGGsmarbud earphones. I have been testing these for the last 6 months and wanted to share my opinion. For the record, I purchased these myself for this opinion is completely unbiased. Packaging The earphones come in a triangular easy to open box. Within this pyramid, you find the earphones, a small zippered carry pouch and 5 eartips.
Dell Voice (Follow-up)
On February 10, I wrote about a free VOIP telephone service being offered by Dell to Canadian consumers. While travelling (Europe and Asia), I tested it to call home and had mixed results. 1 out of 5 times the call quality was very good, 2 out of 5 times the call qulity was OK and the other 2 times it was unusable. After everyone of the Dell Voice tests, I tested call quality with Skype and it consistently offered a cleaner more enjoyable call.
WANDERLITE DAYPACK (Follow-up)
I posted my review about the Wanderlite daypack bagpack on February 8 here. If you haven't read it, I recommend you check it out. As promised, I took the Wanderlite with me and wanted to see if I would use it while travelling. I am happy to report that the bag was useful. First it packs real small and light, which makes it the ideal secondary bag for a onebag (carry-on only) traveler. It easily fit into the Red Oxx Airboss' middle compartment along with my shoes, bathroom kit and socks/underwear.
Wanderlite daypack review - A light packable backpack
As many of you already know, I am preparing for a 2 week business trip to China and will be reviewing some of the products I will be taking with me. In a later post, I will talk about my main luggage (the Red Oxx Air Boss) but in addition to that, I will be carrying with me a “special” backpack made by the fine folks at Barefoot (called the Wanderlite Packable Daypacks). The Wanderlite is a very affordable ($US 27) packable backpack that can be rolled up into a tidy little package, making it very easy to pack.
How to travel light with only a carry-on
Travelling is usually an amazing adventure full of wonderful memories and experiences you will cherish for life. Only one thing stands in the way of your trip: air travel. Airlines seem to be charging more for less and nothing seems to exemplify this better than checked in luggage fees. Many airlines now charge fees from the first check-in bag. Add to that the fact that your luggage gets treated like a football, subject to theft by shady baggage handlers, usually takes 20-30 minutes to find its way on the conveyor belt and sometimes sent to the wrong destination.