Android - The Gadgeteer

Who needs an expensive digital projector when you can use a cardboard smartphone projector

By Julie Strietelmeier / November 16, 2014 / News / Android, Audio, Video, TV, iOS, Smartphone accessory, Windows Phone / 4 Comments

Here’s a low tech alternative to the expensive hi-tech problem of viewing movies on your smartphone. Instead of crowding around your phone’s screen, project the image on a wall using the Smartphone Projector. This DIY kit is made of sturdy cardboard and a comes with a glass lens that will magnify the image on the […]

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Motorola DROID TURBO review

By Julie Strietelmeier / November 10, 2014 / Reviews / Android, Smartphone / 10 Comments

It’s the time of year that I always look forward to… No, it’s not the gorgeous autumn foliage that I like, it’s not Thanksgiving dinner or Black Friday deals either. It’s the time when many new smartphones roll out. A few weeks ago it was the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus from Apple and now

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Microsoft’s Universal Mobile Keyboard works with most any mobile device

By Janet Cloninger / November 10, 2014 / Uncategorized / Android, Bluetooth keyboard, iOS / Leave a Comment

Microsoft is offering some pretty cool looking Universal Mobile Keyboards that work with Apple, Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets. The cover protects the keyboard when not in use, and opening the cover wakes the keyboard – and closing it sleeps the keyboard, of course. The cover detaches and has a built-in stand to support

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KeyShair lets you share your desktop or laptop’s keyboard and mouse with your smartphone

By Julie Strietelmeier / November 9, 2014 / News / Android, Bluetooth, iOS, Keyboard, Mouse / 3 Comments

How would you like to use a full sized keyboard and mouse to interact with your smartphone and tablet without having to carry a set of peripherals with you? You can with the KeyShair from IOGear. Just plug the KeyShair USB adapter into a desktop or laptop computer (PC or Mac), run the built in app

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Verykool SL5000 Android smartphone review

By Liz Rodriguez / November 5, 2014 / Reviews / Android, Smartphone / Leave a Comment

The Verykool SL5000 is an affordable alternative to other Android smartphones in the market right now. I snapped up this little guy to see how it compares to my Nexus 5 and other Android phones that I’ve used in the past. It packs quite a feature set for an unlocked phone at good price, so let’s

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Gigaflash Mobile iSmile Selfie Remote review

By Mark Rosengarten / November 3, 2014 / Reviews / Android, Camera gear, Crowdfunded, iOS, Photography / 6 Comments

Whether you like it or not, the selfie is here to stay. Capturing yourself in the moment is an extremely popular form of self-expression these days. Heck, I used to turn my film camera around and point it towards myself and take what I hoped would be a usable shot. Even some new phones are

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iHealth Align is a tiny glucometer that plugs into your smartphone

By Julie Strietelmeier / November 1, 2014 / News / Android, Health and fitness, iOS / 11 Comments

I’m a diabetic who has been able to keep my condition under control through diet and exercise. I was diagnosed 10 years ago and since that time I’ve become pretty lax on checking my blood sugar levels as regularly as I should. Ok I’ll be honest, I’m lucky if I check my blood sugar once

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The AARP RealPad may give your older family members what they need in a tablet

By Janet Cloninger / October 31, 2014 / News / Android, Android tablet, Tablets, Ultra Portables / Leave a Comment

This new RealPad from AARP probably isn’t a lot different from many other 7.9″ Android tablets on the market, but it has one advantage over them. The fact that AARP is endorsing them and has some of their services set up as apps on the tablet may be enough to give tech-fearful people the confidence to think

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Amazon Fire TV is now on a Stick, and Amazon Prime members can save 50%

By Janet Cloninger / October 28, 2014 / News / Amazon, Android, Audio, Video, TV, Streaming video / 1 Comment

If you had your interest piqued by the Amazon Fire TV that was released earlier this year, but you didn’t want to pay $100 for it, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is for you. It’s only $39, but Amazon Prime members get it for only $19 if they order before 6:00 a.m. (PT) October 29, 2014.

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iPega wants you to get touchy feely with your Bluetooth iOS and Android gaming controller

By Julie Strietelmeier / October 27, 2014 / News / Android, Game controllers, iOS / Leave a Comment

If you enjoy playing games on your smartphone, the iPega Bluetooth Controller with Touchpad adds a traditional gaming controller to your mobile device for added fun and play-ability. The iPega which does not require any special drivers, is compatible with Android and iOS devices and features a built-in 2 inch touch pad. A special telescopic

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Would you pay $20 for a gadget that cleans smudges and fingerprints off your touchscreen?

By Julie Strietelmeier / October 15, 2014 / News / Android, iOS, screen cleaner, Tablets, Ultra Portables / 8 Comments

If you own a smartphone or a tablet it’s almost a sure thing that you have smudges and fingerprints on the touchscreen. Most of us rub the device on our pant leg or grab a tissue to polish off the nasty smears. If that way of dealing with this issue is just too mediocre for

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Why I traded my Samsung Galaxy S4 for the iPhone 6 Plus: a history

By Mark Rosengarten / October 12, 2014 / Articles / Android, iOS, iPhone 6 Plus / 43 Comments

I have owned portable computing devices worn on the hip since I got my HP 200LX in 1994. I remember going to Circuit City the day the first Palm Pilot was released to grab one. Afterwards I drove up to Woodstock to meet a friend and hike up Overlook Mountain in the Catskills after a

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Kindle Fire HDX bundle at a special price

By Janet Cloninger / September 27, 2014 / News / Android, Android tablet, Kindle Fire, Tablets, Ultra Portables / 1 Comment

QVC’s Today’s Special Value is Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX bundled with a Belkin case and an Amazon multi-tip Kindle stylus. The 7″ Kindle Fire HDX has a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, Adreno 330 graphics processor, 7″ anti-glare HD color display with 1920 X 1200 resolution and an advanced polarizing filter, unlimited Cloud storage for

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Just in time for holiday shopping: Amazon announces the Fire HD Kids Edition tablet

By Janet Cloninger / September 23, 2014 / News / Android, Kid Gadgets, tablets, Tablets, Ultra Portables / 2 Comments

This isn’t some tablet-like toy that will disappoint your kids. The Fire HD Kids Edition tablet is the latest-generation Fire HD tablet, wrapped in a kid-proof case. Amazon is so sure of the protective abilities of this case that they’ll replace the tablet for free if the kid manages to break it. The Fire HD

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You’ll need to solemnly swear you are up to no good if you use this Marauder’s Map case

By Janet Cloninger / September 19, 2014 / News / Android, Cases and Covers, Harry Potter, iOS, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung / 2 Comments

Fans of Harry Potter are sure to find the Marauder’s Map case of interest. The BeanBeanCase shop at Etsy offers this case in sizes to fit: iPhone 5/5s, iPhone 5C, iPhone 4/4S, Moto X, Samsung Note 3, Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, and S5, and even the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The case

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Aukey Luna wireless charging dock review

By Julie Strietelmeier / September 17, 2014 / Reviews / Android, Batteries and Chargers, Qi / 5 Comments

Ever since I bought a Qi wireless charger for my Samsung Galaxy S3, I’ve become a Qi snob. I even hacked my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to add that capability to it. Now if a smartphone doesn’t have the ability to charge wirelessly, I’m not interested in using it as my primary device. Qi charging is so

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Julie’s gadget diary – I have a new appreciation for screen protectors

By Julie Strietelmeier / September 10, 2014 / Articles / Android, gadget diary, tempered glass screen protector / 27 Comments

Unlike some people, I don’t coddle my smartphones. I almost never use a case and the same can be said for screen protection. I’ve been carrying my phone in the cargo pocket of my pants or my bag for years and have been lucky that I have not to have any mishaps involving drops. With Gorilla

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Martian Watches Notifier smart watch review

By Janet Cloninger / September 9, 2014 / Reviews / Android, Bluetooth, iOS, Smartwatch, Watches and Clocks / 3 Comments

Last year, I reviewed the Martian Watches G2G smart watch, and I loved it. Not only did that watch display information about incoming calls, emails, text messages, and other notifications, it had a Bluetooth speakerphone built in. I loved the vintage styling of the G2G, and I loved that I could replace the watch

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