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
REVIEW – Ever bent over to pick up something heavy and felt that jarring pull in your lower back, and when you straighten up, it hurts like crazy? I certainly have, and the older I get, the more often it happens. The only thing that fixes a pulled muscle like this is time, but often
Bob and Brad Back Massager with Heat review Read More
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,
REVIEW – Hurricane Helene left us without power for a couple of days. When we lose power, there are two primary things that we want: to recharge our cell phones and keep the refrigerator running. Any size power station can do the former, but it takes a larger one to do the later. Of course,
Oupes Exodus 1200 Power Station review Read More
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
REVIEW – Hurricane Helene passed through town last fall and left us without any power. At times like this, it’s important to have a backup source of power for things like running a fan, turning on the TV to get local news, or recharging anything with a battery. I’m testing out a medium-sized power station,
VTOMAN FlashSpeed 600 Power Station review Read More
REVIEW – No matter how much storage space I have at my house, it always seems like I need more. This is true inside my house, in my garage, and in my back yard. To help out with my storage problem, I am reviewing a pair of deck boxes from East Oak for my back
East Oak Deck Box review Read More
REVIEW – As soon as Apple released the Mac mini M4, I ordered the Pro version. It’s an insanely powerful computer that should last me for years. Although it has a pair of USB-C ports on the front and three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back, I need more ports. I’ve been using CableTime’s 10-in-1
Qwiizlab Aluminum Stand Hub for the Mac mini M4 review Read More
NEWS – Last fall Apple released the newest iteration of their Mac mini desktop computer.  It’s an insanely power computer in a super slick form factor, available with low-cost versions or extra powerful versions.  (I got the extra powerful one.)  If you’re thinking about picking one up, it may be that you have a moment
New computer with an old look Read More
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
ARTICLE – Recently I was watching a How Ridiculous video on YouTube. If you’re not familiar with this channel, it’s three guys from Australia who video stunts that are, well, ridiculous. As you might expect, they often record their escapades with a slew of GoPro cameras. In a recent video, they mentioned how they configure
How to configure many GoPros at once Read More
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
REVIEW – Funwhole has been on a tear lately, recently releasing a wide variety of building block sets with lights. In my personal opinion, they are the #1 competitor to LEGO, and they continue to release great sets in a variety of themes. One of the newest sets in their Steampunk series is the City
Funwhole Steampunk City Bridge review Read More
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
REVIEW – Winter is fast approaching, which means I’ll be outside less and inside more. I should have more time for building fun while listening to the sounds of Christmas music. Funwhole’s newest box of building blocks, the Ski Lodge, is the perfect seasonal set to spent a couple afternoons constructing away. What is it?
Funwhole Ski Lodge Building Block review Read More
REVIEW – My wife and I love to hike, and we spend a many a day traipsing about the foothills of the Appalachians. Sometimes our daughter and son-in-law hike with us, and last year they had their first child. This makes hiking more challenging, because the places we like to go are not amenable to
Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier review Read More
REVIEW – Some of the reviews here on The Gadgeteer include videos, and one of the harder parts of creating a good video is capturing clear sound. To improve the sound quality in my own videos, I’m testing out the Fulaim X5M, a new wireless microphone system. What is it? The Fulaim X5M is a
Fulaim X5M Wireless Microphone review Read More
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
REVIEW – I recently purchased an iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the first thing that I always buy for a new phone is a new case. I typically go with simple cases, those that cover the back and sides, and I usually buy whatever is cheap on Amazon. Since this particular Apple offering is egregiously
Otterbox Defender Series Pro XT iPhone 16 Case review Read More
NEWS – Matter, the connectivity standard for smart devices for the home, has recently been upgraded to version 1.4.  Every six months or so the Connectivity Standards Alliance releases a new version with support for more IoT devices.  Version 1.3 brought support for a variety of home appliances, things like dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, and
Matter is now at version 1.4 Read More