Andy Chen

My son recently started taking up running as a school sport, and that also includes the occasional team run in the Presidio in San Francisco. Some portions are shared by cars, so I started looking around at reflectors. Here are some by Portland Reflector, from- wait for it- Portland, OR. I was sent two different… Read More

“Oh cool” was my son’s reaction when he saw this… thing.  What is this thing?  It’s called the Pod Light from Mychanic, a unique take on the work light that goes almost anywhere.   Sphere is 3.5” in diameter Base is 2.25” in diameter Sphere + Base is 4.5” tall 250 lumens Weight: .6 lbs… Read More

I don’t take my blood pressure on a regular basis, but maybe I should.  I have EMT training so I own a manual sphygmomanometer (“blood pressure cuff”) as well as a tabletop automatic and a portable. The Koogeek BP2, however, looked so small and sleek, I knew I had to give it a try. The… Read More

I used to have one of these infrared thermometers, but it’s since gone missing.  I suspect it was stolen in the Great Garage Robbery of 2015.  I recently had a chance to test out another infrared thermometer, but with not one laser, but two!  Let’s check out this laser-y goodness. Specifications : ● Temperature: -50°C~550°C… Read More

I’ve got quite a few flashlights, but I don’t really have a portable “floodlight” when I need to light up a large area.  This time I got to try out something different. It’s not quite a flashlight, and it’s not really a camping lantern.  It’s the Loftek 15W Portable Floodlight. Specification Includes: 1xUSB cable, 1x… Read More

In 2014 I had a chance to review the cylindrical Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speaker.  At the time, it was a uniquely shaped speaker paired with a 360-degree sound.  There have been other versions of this speaker such as the Boom 2 and the Megaboom, but the squat, softball-sized Wonderboom caught my eye.  Let’s take a look… Read More

You can never have too may power outlets!  Instead of the typical outlet strip, I get to try out the APC Essential SurgeArrest 6, which sits over your existing wall outlet, giving you not only 6 AC outlets but 2 USB charging ports, too. Specifications: Nominal Operating Voltage: 120VAC, 50-60 Hz Maximum Amperage: 15A Joule Rating… Read More

I seem to switch my everyday carry bag about once a year.  In early 2017, I decided to make a switch from shoulder bag to backpack. I work in an office and drive to work, so I don’t need to carry that much.  Still, I like to pack light yet be prepared. My trusty backpack… Read More

I’ve been seeing more of these supersized USB portable batteries that include AC outlets.  I was recently given the chance to test the Suaoki Powerhouse portable “generator”.  I had never heard of Suaoki, so I was naturally curious.  What was this thing that looked like a silver and black lunchbox? Battery: Lithium-Ion, 20,000 mAh, 11.1V… Read More

I’ve been staying away from keyboards for a while, since I haven’t really found anything new that caught my eye- until now: A slim, metal-bodied keyboard that looks like something from Apple, yet can pair with four devices and features backlit keys. What’s in the box: Micro USB cable User Manual Pouch Kanex MultiSync Premium… Read More

In 2011, I reviewed the AntLion ModMic, a boom microphone that you attach to your own headphones.  The latest version is the ModMic 5, which now includes a mute switch, selectable omni/cardioid pattern, and more.  How does it sound?  Let’s find out. The latest ModMic comes in a much more polished package vs. the paper… Read More

  The dash cam market is a crowded place.  It’s so crowded, I’ve kind of given up on searching for “the best”.  Recently, Waylens released a dash cam called the Horizon that not only boasts excellent image quality but gives the driver the option to overlay vehicle information such as speed, RPM, GPS and more, all… Read More

Despite the power-hungry gadget count in my home, I don’t have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).  I just never got around to it.  Power outages aren’t very common where I live.  However, my son has been doing a lot of writing for homework on the computer, and it would be a shame to lose his… Read More

I knew a co-worker who swore by those misshapen “ergonomic” keyboards.  I never quite understood them until I saw the Kinesis Advantage keyboard about 10 years ago in person.  I was intrigued by the dual concave shape and layout.  I finally got to try the latest version, the Advantage2. For those who are familiar with… Read More