James Garriss

James is a systems engineer, has been married for 30 years, and has a pair of energetic toy poodles. His favorite gadgets are those that solve problems around the house and yard.

OUPES Exodus 1500 Power Station review – Prep for spring storms

oupes exodus 1500 1

REVIEW – It seems like two or three times a year we lose power.  Thunderstorms, hurricanes, or high winds knock down trees and power lines, and suddenly everything in the house is off.  When these sorts of events happen, it would be nice to have some way to keep the computers, refrigerators, and other important

OUPES Exodus 1500 Power Station review – Prep for spring storms Read More

The InfinaCore P3 Pro combines a power bank with a USB charger into one travel-ready gadget.

infinacore p3pro 1

REVIEW – When we travel to large cities, like Washington DC or Atlanta here in the States or like London or Paris in Europe, we typically bring a small army of gadgets that need power, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Kindle Paperwhites. Our phones need charging during the day as we are out sightseeing,

The InfinaCore P3 Pro combines a power bank with a USB charger into one travel-ready gadget. Read More

How effective is Apple Intelligence at identifying house plants?

apple intel plants 1

ARTICLE – AI is all the rage these days, and Apple is one among many companies touting how their newest gadgets are using it.  In a recent iPhone User Guide, Apple says, “On all iPhone 16 models, you can use visual intelligence with Camera Control to quickly learn more about the places and objects around

How effective is Apple Intelligence at identifying house plants? Read More

VTOMAN FlashSpeed 300 Power Station review

vtoman 300 1

REVIEW – Power stations are convenient gadgets for providing extra power any time I’m off the grid for a while, whether camping, picnicking, or whatever.  Smaller ones, like the FlashSpeed 300, can easily recharge phones and computers or provide power for lights and fans.  Rated at 300 watts, this power station is limited in what

VTOMAN FlashSpeed 300 Power Station review Read More

Is a physical keyboard the accessory that your iPhone needs?

clicks iphone16 1

NEWS – Back in the day, the Blackberry was the master of the mobile phone world and was perhaps best known for their physical keyboards. These days, neither are part of our smartphone experience, but what if the keyboards should be? Digital keyboards consume a third of our screens, often obscuring the very forms into

Is a physical keyboard the accessory that your iPhone needs? Read More

Flexbar brings touch bar functionality to Windows and Mac

flexbar 6

KICKSTARTER NEWS – I use a MacBook Pro for my work computer.  Back in the day, it came with a Touch Bar, a touch-sensitive strip above the keyboard that allowed me to interact with my applications in different ways.  I wasn’t really a fan and didn’t use it much, but maybe there’s a better way

Flexbar brings touch bar functionality to Windows and Mac Read More

Speras EST Plus tactical flashlight review

speras estplus 1

REVIEW – Tactical flashlights are known for being brighter and more durable than regular flashlights.  Though often used by law enforcement and military personnel, they are also great choices for the rest of us.  Whether I am looking for a lost dog, dealing with a power outage, or investigating unexpected noises in the back yard,

Speras EST Plus tactical flashlight review Read More