Smythe Richbourg

A gadget nerd from childhood, Smythe has always been drawn to solving everyday problems with clever tools. An Apple fan since his Mac Plus in 1987, he's usually pretty current with devices. Sometimes, however, he still misses his Newton 2100 MessagePad.

Grace Digital 3play Bluetooth Audio Receiver review

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We’ve all had it happen – that shiny new gadget of yesteryear (or yestermonth, in many cases!) suddenly can’t use the all new and shiny cutting edge things that all your friends are raving about. How can I play my music from across the room since my stereo doesn’t have Bluetooth?

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Avantek 20,000 mAh Battery Pack review

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I saw the above cartoon on Twitter a month or so back. It shows the symbols all Gadgeteers fear: No wifi, the “waiting” pinwheel from your phone’s weak processor, the flashing red battery icon, and, of course, No Cell Service. While service coverage will vary depending on geography and location, and the processing power of your

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Grain Audio OEHP.01 Headphones review

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The magic of natural materials is never lost on a true gadgeteer. While silicon, glass and aluminum (the most common building blocks of our current most popular gadgets) are natural, we also like to ensconce them in other natural materials – leather, wool felt, and wood. The individual uniquenesses that each of these bring inspires

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Bienna QY7 Bluetooth Wireless Sport Earphones review

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Ah, the freedom of wireless sound! Bluetooth has freed us from the tyranny of wires connecting our keyboards, mice, and the sound coming into and going out from our various devices. I truly love speakers that I can use with my phone or iPad out on the deck or in the den. In the last

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Carte Blanche BLOC charging dock review

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Oops, they did it again. The nice people at Apple, with their new products and popularity, are inspiring an entire ecosystem to sprout up around Watch accessories. We’ve reviewed several here, and I’m sure that trend will continue. This latest charging stand that I was sent comes from Boostcase, and is a rather formidable presence.

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The last flask you’ll ever need

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There’s a new Kickstarter campaign for something we’ve not seen a lot of on The Gadgeteer – a thermal flask. It’s called the Kole, and is handmade from stainless steel and oak. It can hold 2.4 ounces, and hold hot espresso (4 shots!) or cool whiskey, unaffected by the atmosphere in your pocket, bike bag,

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OpTech Smart Sling review

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Back when our belts were bristling like Batman’s utility belt and fanny packs were seen constantly, I read a humorous piece about how we male geeks carry our gear. The author was proposing that we have to have a popular, masculine person start using something before it becomes socially acceptable. No one really carried a

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Satechi CD-NT Universal CD car mount and SCH-121 Cup Holder Mount reviews

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We Gadgeteers carry our phones everywhere. Even using wearable tech, we still want a phone with us, especially when we’re driving. The GPS/Mapping apps and constant connectivity your phone gives you can be the difference between sitting at a confusing intersection, trying to unfold that stupid gas station map and breezing through, confident of your

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Samson Go Mic Direct microphone review

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If you’re using your computer for any sort of sound input, you’ve probably already decided the built-in microphone is useless after more than the occasional snippet. If you’re doing voiceover for video or Skyping/FaceTiming for any kind of podcast or hangout, you need a better mic. Samson Electronics makes a full range of audio products,

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Urban Armor Aviator iPhone 5/5s case review

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Ah, the quandry of cases. Designers keep making phones and tablets thinner and lighter, and it sometimes seems that case manufacturers seek to make up for this by making cases stiffer, heavier, and bulkier. With my currently active phone, I started out without a case. It was the first phone I didn’t immediately entomb in

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Epson Perfection V19 scanner review

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Capturing images has changed dramatically since 2007 when the iPhone brought in the expectation of having a really capable camera with you at all times. With the miniaturization of smaller image capture sensors, scanners, as well as phones, have gradually increased in processing power to the level that every office of any size will have

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RAVPower 15W Foldable Solar Charger review

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Most of us Gadgeteers either spend some time daily in places with power (for sleep, if nothing else) or have battery back-up devices that we can use to recharge our devices. But sometimes, whether we’re out on a job site, or biking, or camping for long periods, we may be “off the grid” electrically, even

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