Lex Strickland

As a child I usually disassembled Christmas toys by lunchtime. I'm fascinated by cellphones, fountain pens, knives, flashlights, Chromebooks, and Chromeboxes. I play drums, workout, throw boomerangs, shoot paper targets and bike. I try to fit in my retirement when I have time.

Can an app make a mediocre smartwatch great?

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NEWS – Notify for Smartwatches can elevate no-name smartwatches to a new level. I just reviewed two smartwatches back to back and both were brand names you probably don’t know. Those reviews will appear soon.  The major problem with both watches was zero customize-ability to the vibrations they deliver. If you don’t notice one, single, […]

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Strap this Game Boy-ish smartwatch on your wrist!

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CROWDFUNDING NEWS – A high tech retro gaming watch is on Kickstarter. The overachiever developer, Jason Rogers, crossed paths with the developer of the Pebble Watch, thought, planned and is about to produce a retro gaming watch with smartwatch features.  This guy was a naval submarine officer, and has degrees in physics, nuclear engineering, computer

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KOSPET TANK X1 Smartwatch review – Smarter than his older brother?

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REVIEW – The KOSPET TANK X1 smartwatch was offered for review and the brand was familiar to me. I reviewed a KOSPET watch in 2021 and after the review I promptly took it to electronic recycling with no regrets. I was interested to see if KOSPET had matured as a fitness tracker manufacturer. Other reviews

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5.11 Maxgrip Trainer Shoe comparison review – In, out, and back in my comfort zone

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REVIEW – The 5.11 Maxgrip Trainer Shoe is one durable shoe. If you’re looking for a pillowy, marshmallowy feel, you’ll need to keep shopping, but while those features may be great for running shoes, I look for stability, foot protection and support for a gym, hiking, or camping shoe. I think the Maxgrip Trainers would

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Blackview Tab 70 Android tablet review – Great price via compromise

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REVIEW – I had high hopes, but the Blackview Tab 70 Wifi Android tablet frankly needs work. Read on to see my trials and travails and maybe at this price point you could still find a use for one. What is it? The Blackview Tab 70 Wifi is a 10” tablet computer with an OS

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What do you trust, a weather radio or weather apps? This website tells you!

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NEWS – Our phones are among our most important gadgets. Most of us have at least one weather app onboard. Some of us may have a half-dozen. (Guilty as charged.) We’ve reviewed several weather radios here but they only broadcast from one source. Some degree (ha) of weather watching matters to most of us. When

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Outdoor Edge Pivot knife review – For boot, belt or neck

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REVIEW – The Outdoor Edge Pivot Knife is a ‘neck knife’ or ‘boot knife’. I’ve heard this style referred to as a ‘LDK’ or ‘last ditch knife’. Enough quote marks for one review. The Pivot knife is versatile enough to be carried in all those ways, or even in a pocket with the belt clip

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Outdoor Edge Razor VX2 knife review – From skeptic to enthusiast in a day

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REVIEW – I was initially skeptical about the Outdoor Edge Razor VX2 Knife but in no time I became impressed with it. A knife with a replaceable blade? How safe is that? How secure can the blade be? Based on no facts at all, I was concerned the knife would be a hardware-store-grade, kitschy knife

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iWALK PowerSquid Portable Charger review – Power in your palm

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REVIEW – The iWALK PowerSquid Portable Charger contains three commonly used cables in a package that won’t break the back or bank. If you run your phone to empty, the PowerSquid can fully charge it. If you’re a ‘top-offer’ like me, you can get several charges out of this little power pack. What is it?

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Onyx BOOX Page 7” eReader review – A small eReader with tablet features

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REVIEW – The BOOX Page 7” eReader is about the size of some other small e-readers but it packs more under the hood than you’d expect at a glance. The Boox Page is actually a small, gray-scale, tablet computer. It’s running on Android 11 and comes with Google Play Store pre-installed. The Page comes ready

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Your Chromebook just got a life extension – Thanks Google!

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NEWS – Last month, I wrote an article about steering clear of several Chromebooks due to them being past their official end of life (no new updates). I’m happy to report that Google has now decided to support Chromebooks made in 2018 and later, for ten years. The Auto Update Expiration policy webpage has changed

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CAKRA Tactical EDC Emergency Whistle review – Did I blow it with this review?

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REVIEW – The CAKRA Tactical EDC Emergency Whistle. I certainly blew it this time. (When my wife was out or while on my bike, as needed.) The Cakra Tactical EDC Emergency Whistle may fill a gap in our emergency kits. If you’re a camper or hiker, do you already carry a non-electronic, physical device for

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Lumos Ultra Fly bike helmet review – Become a human firefly with this cool helmet

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REVIEW – The Lumos Ultra Fly Helmet with Firefly Light did its pre-launch validation campaign on Prelaunch.com that gave invaluable insights including market interest, user preferences, and feedback with a Prelaunch score of 69 which indicated that the product is primed for success. Now the pre-ordering is underway on their website. Production is in the

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