Joe Porletto

Joe became a Maker at the age of ten after piecing together a Sinclair ZX80 that his grandfather had given him. The bug bit him hard and he’s been tinkering, building, deconstructing and generally creating gadgetry mayhem ever since. Joe lives in Seattle with Addy, his rescue pitty, and Chino, his blind kitty.

LumiTool F20 20W Fiber Laser Engraver review – A unique design for an innovative and compact laser!

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REVIEW – One of the biggest problems I often encounter as a maker/tinkerer is finding room on my workbench for the latest new tools. Case in point, my current laser engraver, the TwoTrees TS2, which I reviewed back in January 2023, is great, but it takes up pretty much all of my workspace whenever I […]

LumiTool F20 20W Fiber Laser Engraver review – A unique design for an innovative and compact laser! Read More

New York Comic Con 2023 video trip report – Bringing pop culture fun to the fans!

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ARTICLE – Once again, costumed and body-painted heroes, villains, and all characters in between descended on New York City for the annual New York Comic Con. The crowds and enthusiasm were both at pre-pandemic levels, and most of the big players, like Marvel, had returned. Notably absent, though, was DC, not seen at NYCC since

New York Comic Con 2023 video trip report – Bringing pop culture fun to the fans! Read More

Vivid-Pix Memory Station review – Scan all the things!

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REVIEW – As a proud Gen Xer, I still have an inordinate amount of memories stored on “old media”. Over the years, I’ve painstakingly converted VCR tapes to MP4s, CDs, and records to MP3s, and scanned countless photos, all with varying degrees of success. Despite my background as a digital artist, photo scanning, in particular,

Vivid-Pix Memory Station review – Scan all the things! Read More

Godox Virso S M2 2.4GHz Wireless Microphone System review – Record three subjects at once with this innovative mic set!

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REVIEW – One aspect of my amateur video making that always seems to fall a bit short is the audio. The internal microphones on smartphones and cameras are never quite good enough to capture the full range of sound, resulting in videos that never reach professional quality. However, after testing the Godox Virso S M2

Godox Virso S M2 2.4GHz Wireless Microphone System review – Record three subjects at once with this innovative mic set! Read More

Cololight Colo Play Desktop Controller review – A cool accessory for gamers, cyberpunks, and everyday users alike!

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REVIEW – The more time I spend at my desk, whether for work or play, the more I appreciate stylish accessories that not only look cool but also add functionality to my setup. Whether it’s a sleek new mouse with tons of extra buttons or a retro-looking mechanical keyboard with extended media controls, as long as

Cololight Colo Play Desktop Controller review – A cool accessory for gamers, cyberpunks, and everyday users alike! Read More

JOBY Wavo Air Wireless Lav Microphone Kit review – A colorful mic kit for creators on a budget!

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REVIEW – As I prepare to cover this year’s New York Comic Con, as I do every year for The Gadgeteer, I’m making a concerted effort to up my presentation game. Last year, my trusty cameraman and I added the Zhiyun Crane M2S Camera Stabilizer to our kit, which I reviewed in June 2022, and

JOBY Wavo Air Wireless Lav Microphone Kit review – A colorful mic kit for creators on a budget! Read More

Oneisall Pet Grooming Kit & Vacuum review – Keep your pup looking fabulous and your home fur-free!

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REVIEW – One of the great things about my adorable canine companion, Addy, is that, as a short-haired breed, she saves me a lot on grooming expenses. However, my mom’s pup, Rosey, a Chow mix, always seems to be in need of a good trimming. Relief from the never-ending and costly grooming appointments finally arrived

Oneisall Pet Grooming Kit & Vacuum review – Keep your pup looking fabulous and your home fur-free! Read More

Zero Breeze Mark 2 Plus Portable AC review – Powerful on-the-go cooling to help you beat the heat!

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REVIEW – With deadly heat waves occurring across the U.S. and other countries around the world, many people are desperate to find ways to stay cool. While air conditioners work great at cooling things down, they are large, power-hungry devices that lack portability. Enter the Zero Breeze Mark 2, a portable AC unit that, when

Zero Breeze Mark 2 Plus Portable AC review – Powerful on-the-go cooling to help you beat the heat! Read More

BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station & PV350 350W Solar Panel review – The pinnacle of portable power!

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REVIEW – As the focus on renewable energy becomes more urgent and mainstream, the technology of products like portable power stations and solar panels has advanced dramatically. Loud, expensive, pollution-spewing gas generators that annoy campsite neighbors and fellow beachgoers are now being replaced by silent, solar-powered portable power stations like the Bluetti AC200MAX, which I

BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station & PV350 350W Solar Panel review – The pinnacle of portable power! Read More

Bolton Velocity Off-Road Vehicle Cellular Signal Booster review – Reach out and touch someone from the middle of nowhere!

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REVIEW – The further I travel from civilization on my solo Overlanding adventures, the more I realize the importance of staying connected. It turns out though, remote places with beautiful scenic views often don’t get reliable cell service. Luckily, I was offered the chance to review a cell signal booster specifically designed for the Offroading/Overlanding

Bolton Velocity Off-Road Vehicle Cellular Signal Booster review – Reach out and touch someone from the middle of nowhere! Read More

EcoFlow Glacier 3-in-1 portable refrigerator review – Keep things ice-cold on the go!

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REVIEW – As camping season approaches, I’ve been looking for ways to stay out in the wilderness a bit longer. So, I’m dipping my toes into yet another expensive hobby, overlanding. Overlanding is all about exploring remote and rugged areas using off-road vehicles for extended periods of time. To that end, I’ve been researching portable

EcoFlow Glacier 3-in-1 portable refrigerator review – Keep things ice-cold on the go! Read More

XULU XR1 Max Mini PC Launches on Kickstarter – A Compact Computing Powerhouse!

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CROWDFUNDING NEWS –  It seems like large, over-the-top PC builds are all the rage today. But, for every neon-lit, liquid-cooled, monster tower computer, there’s a PC building enthusiast running out of desk space. For those of us looking to save some room on our desktops, the XULU XR1 Max Mini PC is making its debut

XULU XR1 Max Mini PC Launches on Kickstarter – A Compact Computing Powerhouse! Read More

Autonomous ErgoChair Pro office chair review – Work from home in style and supportive comfort!

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REVIEW – Hybrid work has its perks, like sharing a workspace with my pup and attending meetings in comfy pajama pants. However, when it comes to having the best equipment to do my job, my tiny home office pales in comparison to what’s available on my employer’s sprawling tech campus. One thing I definitely miss

Autonomous ErgoChair Pro office chair review – Work from home in style and supportive comfort! Read More

Elephant Robotics myCobot 280 Robotic Arm review – A cool robotic arm that costs an arm (and a leg)!

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REVIEW – In my ongoing quest for a robotic companion to reside on my desk, I have found few worthy contenders. While the ClicBot (reviewed in June 2022) and the Petoi Bittle (reviewed in November 2022) came close, neither of them quite fit the bill. Taking my search to the next level, I have been

Elephant Robotics myCobot 280 Robotic Arm review – A cool robotic arm that costs an arm (and a leg)! Read More

Able Carry Daily Plus Backpack review – Style meets durability in a great everyday pack!

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REVIEW – Ever since I bought my GORUCK GR1 in 2015, I haven’t looked twice at another backpack, at least not until I picked up a GORUCK Bullet seven years later. Between those two sturdy GORUCKs, I never thought I would need or want another pack. However, after some time with the Able Carry Daily

Able Carry Daily Plus Backpack review – Style meets durability in a great everyday pack! Read More

Gerber Bushcraft Hatchet review – How much wood could this wood-chopper chop?

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REVIEW – With spring fast approaching it’ll soon be time to break out the camping gear and head for the great outdoors. While I’ve gravitated towards “glamping” in recent years, I still enjoy roughing it on occasion. Since a good fire is essential to the experience I’m always on the lookout for tools that make

Gerber Bushcraft Hatchet review – How much wood could this wood-chopper chop? Read More

Road Angel Halo Pro Dashcam review – Keep 2K Eyes on the Road!

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REVIEW – Having just invested way too much money in a new vehicle, I am a bit anxious about any harm coming to it. To help alleviate my anxiety, I started looking for a dashcam that could record what happens while I am on the road but also remain unobtrusive and protect my precious gas

Road Angel Halo Pro Dashcam review – Keep 2K Eyes on the Road! Read More

Xinfrared T2 Pro Thermal Monocular review – See what’s hot and what’s not!

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REVIEW – Whether you’re tracking game in the woods, scouting hotspots in a building, or pretending to be the Predator stalking your dog in your tiny apartment, seeing in the dark is pretty cool. While advanced thermal imaging devices can cost thousands of dollars, you can enjoy Predator Vision for a lot less if you’re

Xinfrared T2 Pro Thermal Monocular review – See what’s hot and what’s not! Read More

Fiido T1 Pro Utility Electric Bike review – Get your (electric) motor running!

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REVIEW – With gas prices constantly in flux and a recession looming in the background it’s wise to start considering alternative modes of transportation. While all the coolest electric cars remain well out of my price range the newest crop of electric bikes is becoming increasingly attractive. Boasting improved power and range compared to previous

Fiido T1 Pro Utility Electric Bike review – Get your (electric) motor running! Read More

GL-iNET Beryl AX GL-MT3000 Travel Router review – Stay cyber safe with this powerful device!

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REVIEW – Security, both physical and cyber, is always top of mind for me when traveling. This is primarily because I am a paranoid New Yorker but also due to the fact that I work for a software company that is laser focused on cybersecurity. At this point in time, it’s no longer a question

GL-iNET Beryl AX GL-MT3000 Travel Router review – Stay cyber safe with this powerful device! Read More