Reviews - The Gadgeteer

iHome iD9 Portable Rechargeable Stereo Speaker System for iPad/iPhone/iPod Review

For people like me who hate earphones and have trouble finding a pair comfortable enough to wear for long periods, Apple’s recent inclusion of speakers on their iOS devices has been very welcome. However, those speakers are tiny, and they can’t produce room-filling sound. There are a variety of external speakers on the market that […]

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HTC Arrive Windows Phone 7 Review

By Craig Froehle / March 29, 2011 / Reviews / Windows Phone / 18 Comments

The HTC Arrive is the second landscape QWERTY slider to run Windows Phone 7 (the first was the LG Quantum), but HTC’s first try at this combination of form-factor and OS. It’s also the first CDMA Windows Phone 7 device, so this phone has a lot of “firsts” going for it.

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Aluratek Bump Portable Mini Speaker Review

By Bill Henderson / March 28, 2011 / Reviews / Audio, Video, TV, iOS, Speaker / Leave a Comment

For every expensive audio component out there, there are countless cheaper alternatives; some good, some not-so-good. Aluratek makes and markets all kinds of affordable tech from eBook readers to internet radios. The Bump portable mini speaker is just what the name Implies, a speaker you can take with you in your backpack for those times

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Monsoon Multimedia Vulkano Flow Review

By John Schettino / March 25, 2011 / Reviews / Android, Audio, Video, TV, iOS, Video Streaming / 24 Comments

The Monsoon Multimedia Vulkano Flow is the latest version of the Vulkano product line, and represents a simplification of the feature set to focus on “place shifting” (streaming) of live television while greatly simplifying the setup of the device and software. I reviewed a pre-release version of the Flow, so there may be very minor

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EveryList iOS app Review

By Andy Simmons / March 24, 2011 / Reviews / Apps, iOS, Organization / Leave a Comment

The iPhone is far from lacking when it comes to “to-do” list apps, so much so that the only ways for new apps in this genre to distinguish themselves are with unique functionality or a unique interface. The former is relatively difficult (there is only so much one can change about a to-do list app

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NuForce Icon uDAC-2 Headphone Amp/DAC Review

By Bill Henderson / March 24, 2011 / Reviews / Amplifier, Audio, Video, TV, DAC, Headphones, iOS / 9 Comments

I have mentioned in the last few reviews that I am now reviewing headphones using the NuForce uDAC-2 USB amp/DAC plugged into my new iMac, when I am not using my iPod. There’s a really good reason for this. The iMac audio output sounds like … well, let’s just say it sounds bad. Really, really

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Ultimate Ears 7 Pro Custom In-Ear Monitors Review

By Dave Rees / March 23, 2011 / Reviews / Audio, Video, TV, Earphones / 11 Comments

Decades ago, I use to be a pretty good musician with a decent enough ear. Although, I was never a true audiophile by any stretch of the imagination. By the time I purchased my first iPod I was relatively satisfied with the stock earbuds that Apple included with their revolutionary device. But my time here

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ElementCase Vapor Pro case for iPhone 4 Review

By Andy Simmons / March 22, 2011 / Reviews / iOS, iPhone Case / 20 Comments

Six months ago, I gladly tackled the task of reviewing one of the first machined aluminum cases for the iPhone 4, the Vapor case from ElementCase. I found it lacking, and since that time, I’ve reviewed several other machined aluminum iPhone 4 cases, each with its own advantages and problems. ElementCase has recently added a

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Mobile Stand for Tablet PC Review

By Jackie Cheng / March 20, 2011 / Reviews / iOS, iPad stand / 5 Comments

Got a tablet PC, Xoom or an iPad? Then this stand is right for you! I got this stand from Deal Extreme which has since been sold out. But this stand is an exact clone of TwelveSouth’s Compass Stand for the iPad. I will be writing this review as an item purchased from Deal Extreme.

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Rolleiflex MiniDigi AF 5.0 Digital Classic Camera from Minox Review

By Janet Cloninger / March 18, 2011 / Reviews / Camera, Camera gear / 7 Comments

When I was very young, I remember playing with an old camera that belonged to my mother. I didn’t know it then, but it was an Imperial Reflex 620 Duo lens camera – just like the one purportedly used by Marina to take those famous pictures of Lee Harvey Oswald. That Imperial camera was a

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StarTech SATA 4-Bay Hard Drive Docking Station Review

By James Goforth / March 17, 2011 / Reviews / Computer Gear, Hard Drive / Leave a Comment

Have you ever needed a convenient way to clone several hard drives at once? Last weekend one of my computer hard drive started having a lot of problems, I contemplated buying a new computer, but I am in the process of building a sweet gaming computer and as we all know it takes time and

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Apple iPad 2 Review

By Janet Cloninger / March 16, 2011 / Reviews / iOS / 29 Comments

I received the original Apple iPad on release day last year, thanks to Julie’s very generous gift. I love that iPad even more than my beloved green Handspring Visor Deluxe from years ago, and it was that little Visor that first introduced me to my equally beloved ebooks. I’ve used that iPad for everything: email,

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Technocel PowerPak XT Review

By Mark Adkins / March 15, 2011 / Reviews / Batteries and Chargers, Gear, Travel Gear / 1 Comment

One thing a good mobile warrior needs is a way to extend the battery life of their mobile devices. As we depend on our cell phones and smart phones more, a dying battery – which used to just be a nuisance – can become a real concern. Technocel has added a ‘universal charging solution’, the

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NewerTech Pad Protector for iPad Review

By Smythe Richbourg / March 14, 2011 / Reviews / Cases and Covers, iOS, iPad / 3 Comments

Ten months into the iPad Era, we have a pretty good idea of what we want in a case: tilted typing mode, highly angled video mode, and secure coverage of the screen during transport. The venerable memory and Mac upgrade maker Newer Technology has entered the market with their Pad Protector, and it easily checks

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STM Revolution Medium Laptop Backpack Review

By Andy Jacobs / March 14, 2011 / Reviews / Backpack, Laptop bag, Laptops and Gear / 3 Comments

We Gadgeteers have a, shall we say…fondness.. for our gadgets, am I right? Rhetorical question ’round these parts. Some cling to a mere handy handful of essential EDC, others find a BSA-like array necessary for preparedness. Some commute via public transportation through vast, sprawling urban metropoli for a day at the grind, others trek stoically

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BenchMade 1210 Pen Series Review

By Dave Rees / March 13, 2011 / Reviews / Gear, Pens / 4 Comments

Several years ago, I reviewed the stainless steel BenchMade 1100 pen that I love and continue to use to this day. It is half medieval dagger, half fine writing instrument. The 1100 looks so weapon-like, I am afraid to take it with me through airport security screening; worried that some overeager TSA agent would confiscate

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Cooler Master StrikeForce 19 USB 3.0 Laptop Cooler Review

By Elizabeth Daugherty / March 12, 2011 / Reviews / Gaming Gear, Laptops and Gear, USB 3.0 / Leave a Comment

I’m not a gamer. I don’t even play one on TV. But I know what happens when your laptop’s processor gets cooked because the fans that come with it either don’t cool the device enough or just wear out. It’s this Need For Speed, and gamers survive on it as much as they do Skittles

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Keyport Revisited

By Jackie Cheng / March 11, 2011 / Reviews / Gear, Keychain / 2 Comments

It has been 5 months since my review of the Keyport. Since then, I’ve been in contact with one of their representatives who has kept me in the loop with new colors and products. Keyport recently sent me a few new items to review.

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Gunnar Optiks Phenom Gaming Eyeglasses Review

By Raul Sanchez / March 10, 2011 / Reviews / Gaming Gear, Health and fitness, monitor / 10 Comments

If you’re like me who sits in front of a computer monitor for long hours, in my case two monitors side by side next to a TV monitor editing music videos, PayPerView programs and PSA/TV commercials, your eyes tend to become strained from the effects of staring at the monitor. But never fear, there is

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Arkon Universal Tablet Stand Review

By Janet Cloninger / March 10, 2011 / Reviews / Android, iOS, Stand for tablets / 6 Comments

iPads are wonderful devices. You can work or play on an iPad, at least until your hands get tired of holding it. There are a lot of stands available for iPads, all with their own pluses and minuses. (The biggest minus for some of those stands is the exorbitant price!) Many of you reading this

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