Andy Jacobs

Let’s all face the truths that smartphones are expensive, somewhat delicate, and some of us who use them on a daily basis can put them through varying amounts of abuse. I happen to be one such user. I’m not particularly clumsy or careless with my iPhone 6 Plus; quite the opposite, in fact. However, some… Read More

I like notebooks. Even in this increasingly digital world, in which we use apps on phones and tablets to record notes to ourselves and share them with others instantly, I find a traditional notebook to be useful. From anything to jotting a quick reminder to making to-do lists to keeping a journal, an old-school paper notebook… Read More

You have them. I have them. What do we all have? Personal portable devices of course.  Millions of them are out there, and the more feature-rich they become, the more power they require. But because these devices are intended to be portable, we can’t always use them near a power outlet. Hence the boom in portable batteries… Read More

I’ve always been a fan of notebooks. They are great for keeping in one place all of your jotting, journaling, doodling, to-do listings, thought capturing, inventing and on and on. I’ve tried several different notebooks over the years, and my favorite had always been the venerable Moleskine. But I’m also a fan of the crowdfunding site… Read More

Since I began participating in (and actually completing) GORUCK Challenges back in 2014, I’ve thought a lot more about headlamps than I ever thought I’d think about headlamps. I have one that I have worn for thirteen GORUCK events and for tasks around the house, and it has performed fairly well for me, but it’s starting to… Read More

With the success of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it’s cool to be a Rebel again (like it ever wasn’t). And although he didn’t appear in Rogue One, Han Solo is certainly one of the most popular Rebels, so who wouldn’t want to imitate him? Prometheus Design Werx must agree, because they’ve released the Solo… Read More

If you’ve been a patron of The Gadgeteer for some time, you may likely surmise that I’ve been on a quest to identify a pair of Bluetooth wireless headphones that will perform well for me in a variety of situations, but mainly for use during heavy exercise. After evaluating a variety of similar products, all of which basically… Read More

A while back, I posted a news item about the Magpul DAKA Pouch. Made in the U.S.A. from polymer-infused, chemical-resistant, non-hygroscopic (will not absorb moisture) textiles with an anti-slip texture that are impenetrably RF-welded on all seams, the DAKA Pouch is one of the toughest gear carrying items you may ever find.  Not content with… Read More

When Julie asked us to create EDC update posts, I initially thought I’d just include the handful of items that I carry on my person at all times.  But then I thought, “Nah.  Not my style.  My style is to go overboard.”  Thus behold, all of my current EDC items.  Incidentally, the EDC items I carry… Read More

The night my wife purchased her iPhone 6 Plus a few years ago, she also wanted a case to protect her investment. Among the many iPhone cases in the Apple Store that night, the tech21 Impactology case was her choice. Although it was the color that initially caught her eye, she also liked that it seemed… Read More

I’m an EDC (Everyday Carry) user. You know, those little tools, tech and other items that you use regularly to help with tasks throughout your day. However, EDC often consists of several items that you have no good way to organize while carrying. There are many pouch-type cases out there, but often these provide just… Read More

Need a USB flash drive but the everyday ones just aren’t tough enough for you? GorillaDrive might be your new data storage best friend. It’s crush- and water-resistant and includes a metal lanyard loop. Plus, it looks tough. Gadget on! Specs Host Interface: Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 (USB2.0/1.1), UHCI (Universal Host Controller Interface) Supported Operating… Read More

Welcome to the next chapter in my ongoing quest to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones that I can use while working out. I’ve tried a few pairs of wired Bluetooth earbuds with limited success, but for a while now, I’ve had my eye on the latest version, the completely wireless style. The QCY Q29… Read More

Several months back, in August 2016, I reviewed the Optoma NuForce BE6 Bluetooth wireless headphones. Not long after that review was posted here, Julie let me know that Optoma had already released an updated version of the NuForce BE6, called the  NuForce BE6i. Overall I’d been happy with the NuForce BE6, with the exception of some issues… Read More