Gadget Corner | AAII: The American Association of Individual Investors

Articles belonging to ‘Gadget Corner’

iBattz BattStation Tough Dual Pro 7200/8400/12000 mAh

Saturday, March 23, 2013 by CI Staff
Rugged, water-resistant power bank for USB devices

ZAGGkeys PROplus Keyboard for iPad 2, 3 and 4

Saturday, March 16, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
Detachable, backlit Bluetooth keyboard for the iPad.

Eton FRX3 Safety Radio

Saturday, March 9, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
Multi-powered, multi-function, device-charging, weather alert radio and flashlight.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Saturday, March 2, 2013 by Joe Lan
The Samsung Galaxy Note II continues to push the boundaries of “phablets,” or phones with very large screen sizes.

Swissvoice ePure Mobile Bluetooth Station (BH01u)

Saturday, February 23, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
A Bluetooth handset and speakers for making calls and listening to audio.

Plantronics BackBeat GO

Saturday, February 16, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
Featherweight Bluetooth stereo headset for taking calls and listening to audio.

STM Axis & Blazer Laptop Sleeves

Saturday, February 9, 2013 by AAII Staff
Stylish yet functional laptop sleeves in a variety of sizes.

iBattz Mojo Hi5 Power Bank Case for iPhone 5

Saturday, February 2, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
A snap-on battery case for iPhone 5.

Philips Wake-up Light Operated by iPhone App (HF3550)

Saturday, January 26, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
Sunrise simulation wake-up light with gentle alarm options and iPhone/iPod control.

Motorola Talkabout MS350R Two-Way Radios

Saturday, January 19, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
Rugged, waterproof two-way radio with 35-mile range.

Skooba Laptop Weekender V.3

Saturday, January 12, 2013 by Joe Lan
A medium-sized hybrid laptop and carry-on bag.

Phiaton PS 210 BTNC Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 & Noise Cancelling Earphones with Microphone

Saturday, January 5, 2013 by Wayne A. Thorp
Wireless “half in-ear” noise cancelling headphones for audio and hands-free calling.

Qlocktwo Classic & Qlocktwo Touch

Saturday, December 22, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
An analog wall and desk clock that puts time in words.

Swingbyte

Saturday, December 15, 2012 by Joe Lan
A tool to help improve your golf swing.

LG TONE+ Bluetooth Headset (HBS730)

Saturday, December 8, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
A wireless stereo headset with enhanced audio and noise reduction.

Samsung Galaxy Note

Saturday, December 1, 2012 by Joe Lan
The Samsung Galaxy Note is designed to be a hybrid between a phone and a tablet, aptly nicknamed by many in the industry as a “phablet.”

Genius Traveler 9010LS Wireless Laser Mouse

Saturday, November 17, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
The Genius Traveler 9010LS Wireless Laser Mouse works on virtually any surface and uses AA or AAA batteries.

Golla SLR Camera Bag M Don

Saturday, November 10, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
A padded shoulder bag for your digital camera, tablet and accessories.

AViiQ Portable Charging Station with Cable Rack System Nylon Series

Saturday, November 3, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Organize your cables and charge multiple devices simultaneously.

November 2012 by Joe Lan
The Samsung Galaxy Note is a unique offering from Samsung. Although it is classified as a phone, it is really designed to be a hybrid between a phone and a tablet, aptly nicknamed by many in the industry as a “phablet.”

Samsung DV300F

Saturday, October 27, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
A digital point-and-shoot camera with a front-facing LCD and Wi-Fi integration.

Samsung Galaxy S III

Saturday, October 20, 2012 by Joe Lan
Samsung's third phone from its Galaxy series gives the iPhone a run for its money.

olloclip for iPhone 4/4S

Saturday, October 13, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
A three-in-one lens system for your iPhone 4/4S.

SEIDO Desktop Charging Cradle

Saturday, October 6, 2012 by Charles Rotblut
The SEIDIO Desktop Charging Cradle for USB smartphones does exactly what it is designed to do.

SpareOne Emergency Phone

Saturday, September 29, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
AA battery-powered emergency mobile phone.

TravelPro Crew 9 20-inch Expandable Business Plus Rollaboard

Saturday, September 22, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Rolling carry-on with a special laptop compartment.

Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Earphones With Mic

Saturday, September 15, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Wireless “half in-ear” headphones for music and hands-free calling.

Crux360 for iPad 2 and iPad 3

Saturday, September 8, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Hard shell keyboard case for iPad 2 and iPad 3.

PowerSkin for iPhone 4/4s

Saturday, September 1, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
One-piece silicone rubber case with a built-in battery.

booq Cobra brief L

Saturday, August 25, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Mid-sized briefcase-style laptop bag.

BodyMedia FIT CORE Armband + Activity Manager

Saturday, August 18, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Monitor your daily metabolic and lifestyle data to reach your activity and weight goals.

V-MODA Crossfade M-80 Shadow On-Ear Headphones

Saturday, August 11, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Stylish on-ear headphones built to military specifications

Cellink I—Mobile Charger and Card Reader for iPhone/iPad

Saturday, August 4, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
All-in-one backup battery, USB charger, data transfer & sync cable, and card reader.

Otterbox Defender iPhone 4/4S Case

Saturday, July 28, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
High-impact polycarbonate protection for your smartphone.

Asus Zenbook UX31E

Saturday, July 21, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Windows 7 Ultrabook

Satechi 10000 mAh Portable Energy Station

Saturday, July 14, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Dual-USB battery charger pack for iPad, iPhone, or any other USB-powered smartphone or tablet.

HP Folio 13-1020us

Saturday, July 7, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Windows 7 Ultrabook

Braven 600 Bluetooth Speaker

Saturday, June 30, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Portable, wireless speaker with speakerphone functionality and device charging capabilities.

Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook

Saturday, June 23, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Windows 7 Ultrabook

SuperTooth Crystal Bluetooth Speakerphone

Saturday, June 16, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Sleek, compact hands-free kit for making calls and listening to GPS directions while in the car.

Lenovo IdeaPad U300s

Saturday, June 9, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Windows 7 Ultrabook.

Plantronics Voyager PRO HD

Saturday, June 2, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Bluetooth headset that knows when you are wearing it.

iRobot Roomba 780 Vacuum Cleaning Robot

Saturday, May 26, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Programmable vacuuming robot.

Satechi ST-69BTS Audio Cube Bluetooth Speaker

Saturday, May 19, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Exceptional audio quality in a compact, wireless package.

Griffin Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer

Saturday, May 12, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Write, tap and point with this all-in-one tool.

mophie juice pack plus—iPhone 4 & 4S Battery Case

Saturday, May 5, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Ergonomically designed hard-shell case that extends the battery life of your iPhone.

Head-to-Head: Toshiba USB Mobile Monitor Versus AOC Portable USB Monitor

Saturday, April 28, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
A direct comparison of two portable USB monitors.

Yurbuds Ironman Inspire Pro—Dry Mic Earphones

Saturday, April 21, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Sweat-proof, water-resistant earphones with three-button control and mic.

Incase Travel Kit Plus

Saturday, April 14, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Perfect carrying case for your tablet, power cords and Bluetooth keyboard.

Bracketron Mushroom GreenZero Wall Travel Charger

Saturday, April 7, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Portable USB charger with automatic shutoff and zero idle power.

booq Mamba catch S

Saturday, March 31, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Laptop shoulder bag with oodles of pockets fits 13-inch laptops.

Toshiba Portege Z830-S8301

Saturday, March 24, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Slim, stylish and speedy Ultrabook.

Zoom Q3HD Handy Video Recorder

Saturday, March 17, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Pocket-sized recorder delivers stereo sound and high-definition video.

Verbatim Easy Riser Bluetooth Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse

Saturday, March 10, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Ultra-slim, adjustable Bluetooth mouse for Macs and PCs.

MEElectronics Air-Fi AF32 Stereo Bluetooth Wireless Headphone With Built-in Microphone

Saturday, March 3, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Wireless headset-style headphones with built-in audio and call controls.

Verbatim Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard

Saturday, February 25, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
The Verbatim Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard leads us to ask the question “is there such a thing as too portable?”

Kingston Wi-Drive

Saturday, February 18, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Wireless flash storage device for iOS, Android & Kindle Fire

Bose Bluetooth Headset Series 2

Saturday, February 11, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Bluetooth headset offers excellent A2DP sound quality but falls a bit short when making calls.

Logitech Quickcam Orbit AF

Saturday, February 4, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
HD webcam with motorized tracking.

Jawbone Jambox

Saturday, January 28, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
The Jambox uses the “core analog acoustics” of the foxL, with a modified enclosure. Head-to-head, the two deliver a very similar listening experience. In the end, the biggest difference is in design and visual appeal.

Monster Cable Products Outlets to Go Power Strip With 4 Outlets

Saturday, January 21, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Portable power strip.

Scosche IDR656md Premium Increased Dynamic Range Earphones With TapLINE III Control Technology

Saturday, January 14, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Noise-isolating earphones with inline three-button remote and mic for iPod, iPhone and iPad

Netgear NeoTV Streaming Player (NTV200)

Saturday, January 7, 2012 by Wayne A. Thorp
Stream online content to your TV.

Apple iPod touch (2011)

Saturday, December 24, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Several weeks ago, I reviewed the new Apple iPod nano, which had been updated for 2011. Around that time, Apple released a “new” iPod touch, which, like the nano, saw changes to the user experience but not to the physical device. I was given a new iPod touch to review after having used a second-generation touch for a few years. My experience confirms that the iPod touch is the best portable media player I have ever used.

ZAGGfolio for iPad 2 Keyboard Case

Saturday, December 17, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
All-in-one multi-function keyboard and case for Apple iPad 2.

Maxell AirStash

Saturday, December 10, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Wireless file sharing and media streaming for mobile devices.

MEElectronics A151 Balanced Armature In-Ear Headphone

Saturday, December 3, 2011 by Charles Rotblut
The MEElectronics A151 Balanced Armature In-Ear Headphones emit clear sound with good isolation. The earbuds are well constructed and comfortable.

AluPen + AluCube

Saturday, November 19, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Chunky, pencil-shaped stylus for iPad, iPhone or iPod touch and upright stylus stand.

iPod nano—6th Generation; Version 1.2 Software

Saturday, November 12, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Apple has redesigned the user interface, improved built-in fitness features and lowered the price on its mid-range media player.

Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage

Saturday, November 5, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Update to my review of October 8, 2011, addressing the dropped connection issue. Mobile wireless storage that allows you to take your media library with you and wirelessly stream music, videos, photos and documents to your iPad, Android tablet or smartphone.

Roku 2 XS Streaming Player

Saturday, October 29, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Internet TV platform streaming nearly 300 channels of video and audio entertainment and games.

Etymotic mc3 Headset + Earphones

Saturday, October 22, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Noise-isolating headset + earphones with iPod, iPhone and iPad control functionality.

Kensington KeyFolio Pro Performance Keyboard Case for iPad 2

Saturday, October 15, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Bluetooth keyboard and case for iPad 2.

Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage

Saturday, October 8, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Mobile wireless storage that allows you to take your media library with you and wirelessly stream music, videos, photos and documents to your iPad, Android tablet or smartphone.

Livescribe Echo Smartpen

Saturday, October 1, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Capture handwritten notes and audio with this digital document management system.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1” Wi-Fi Tablet

Saturday, September 24, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Android tablet that is giving the iPad 2 a run for its money.

Innoband HomePlug AV Wireless N Starter Kit

Saturday, September 17, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Extend your home networking and wireless coverage through your existing power lines.

JVC Everio GZ-HM860 HD Camcorder

Saturday, September 10, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Full HD camcorder that also takes 11-megapixel photos.

BearExtender PC Wi-Fi USB Receiver

Saturday, September 3, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Wi-Fi USB receiver that extends the range of USB and built-in Wi-Fi products.

soundmatters foxL v2.2 Bluetooth Speaker

Saturday, August 27, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Portable speaker offering a wireless Bluetooth connection.

Eye-Fi Pro X2 Wireless Memory Card

Saturday, August 20, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Memory card with Wi-Fi access for instant photo and video uploading.

Magellan eXplorist 610 GPS Receiver

Saturday, August 13, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Back in April I reviewed the Magellan Roadmate 9055 GPS navigation system. With its large display and short battery life, the Roadmate 9055 isn’t designed for excursions outside of the car. For those looking for true portable GPS capabilities designed for outdoor enthusiasts, Magellan has its eXplorist family of dedicated outdoor GPS receivers. The company recently gave me one of their 610 models to review. The 610 is at the higher end of the eXplorist product line, sporting a three-inch color touch screen, 3.2-megapixel camera, three-axis electronic compass and barometric altimeter. Furthermore, the 610 comes preloaded with topographical maps and supports geo-caching.

Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Convertible Tablet

Saturday, August 6, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
In this column I have reviewed a couple of convertible tablet PCs—basically, lightweight laptops with screens that swivel around to convert into a tablet. My past experience hasn’t been overly positive: The computers are usually woefully underpowered, and having used an iPad for a few years, the tablet usually does not live up to what I have come to expect. So it was with some trepidation that I decided to take a look at the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 tablet. Using the review model that was loaned to me for the last couple of months has restored my faith that you can have a workhorse PC and tablet in one package.

Kodak Playsport Video Camera Model Zx3

Saturday, July 30, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Last year I reviewed the Kodak Zi8, an impressive pocket-sized video camera that offers HD video recording. Recently, I had a chance to review another Kodak video camera—the Playsport Zx3. This camera, which was loaned to me for the review, is another HD video camera that fits in your pocket, and this one is waterproof down to 10 feet.

BlueAnt Sense Bluetooth Speakerphone

Saturday, July 23, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Hands-free cell phone operation has been become an important issue over the last few years, as states and municipalities have enacted laws to cut down on the number of distracted drivers. As a result, a flood of devices have come to market allowing drivers to dial, answer and end cell phone calls without taking their eyes off the road.

Otterbox Motorola XOOM Defender Series Case

Saturday, July 16, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
A few months ago I purchased a Motorola XOOM tablet to allow me to review Android-based apps. After spending several hundred dollars on such a delicate piece of technology, I started looking for a case to protect my investment. The first one I tried was the Otterbox Defender, which was given to me by the company. This two-piece case has one layer of hi-impact polycarbonate and another of silicone. The case gives you access to the XOOM’s various ports and plugs and still allows you to operate the camera without any obstruction. This protection, however, does come at a price—it ups the total weight of the case and tablet by a third. So it comes down to protection versus weight. For me, protection wins out.

Fujifilm FinePix XP30

Saturday, July 9, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
As point-and-shoot digital cameras have become more of a commodity product, manufacturers are trying to come up with ways to differentiate from the competition. Fujifilm claims to be the first to offer a water-, shock- and freezeproof digital camera with built-in GPS—the FinePix XP30. This 14.2-megapixel camera also sports a 2.7-inch LCD screen, 5x optical zoom and 720-pixel high-definition video recording. For the last couple of weeks I have been testing a review model loaned to me by the company. While the promise of such a rugged camera is intriguing, for me the proof is in the picture quality. Suffice to say, I wasn’t blown away.

Lexmark Platinum Pro905

Saturday, July 2, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Print, copy, scan and fax with this all-in-one printer.

Logitech Wireless Trackball M570

Saturday, June 25, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Most people don’t spend a lot of time pondering their computer mouse. This is evident as the “cheapness” of the standard mice that come with new PCs seems to be reaching ever-greater heights. I suppose that as long as the mouse works, that is enough for most users. I admit, however, that I am not a typical PC user (AAII’s IT department can attest to that). Furthermore, I am part of the minority of people who prefer a trackball to a traditional mouse. This has been the case since I got my first laptop 17 years ago when I was a sophomore in college. Over these last 17 years, all but one of the trackballs I have used have been from Logitech. For the last several months I have been using Logitech’s latest trackball offering, the Wireless Trackball M570. While it is difficult to improve on such a mature design, I have been pleased with what I have seen.

i.Sound Keyboard Portfolio for iPad

Saturday, June 18, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
The i.Sound Keyboard Portfolio is the only portfolio on the market specifically designed to carry both the Apple Wireless Keyboard and the iPad. That functionality alone makes this portfolio extremely useful and desirable. That is a good thing, since its stability as a viewing stand leaves a lot to be desired.

Apple Wireless Keyboard

Saturday, June 11, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
I have been using an iPad for a couple of years now and have become rather adept at typing with the on-screen keyboard. While this is functional for Web browsing or typing emails, nothing can replace a real keyboard for typing articles or product reviews (at least for me). So I recently broke down and purchased an Apple Wireless Keyboard.

Breffo Spiderpodium Grip and Docking Station

Saturday, June 4, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Every once in a while you come across a piece of gadgetry that is amazingly “low tech,” yet incredibly practical and useful. Such is the case with the Spiderpodium from Breffo. This unique gadget grip and docking station for smartphones, GPS devices and other handheld devices offers a number of solutions in the office or when travelling. The Spiderpodium I have been testing was given to me by the company.

Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote

Saturday, May 28, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Finally, there seems to be a remote that is truly universal—the Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote, which was given to me by the company. This remote is about as advanced as you can get, allowing you to control up to 15 different components. However, with all its bells and whistles, it is still incredibly easy to set up and operate.

Plantronics Voyager PRO+ Bluetooth headset

Saturday, May 21, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
The Voyager PRO+ headset offers excellent noise-canceling capabilities and also allows you to stream audio from Advanced Audio Distribution–enabled (A2DP) devices. Best of all, the Voyager PRO+’s comfort fit allows you to wear it for hours without any trouble.

MEElectronics SP51P Sound Preference In-Ear Headphones With Microphone

Saturday, May 14, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
The MEElectronics SP51P headphones come with interchangeable tuning ports, which allow users to adjust the sound to fit their tastes. In addition, the SP51P model sports an in-line microphone and remote for hands-free talking for iPhones and many other mobile phones.

i.Sound Power View Pro

Saturday, May 7, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Charging and viewing dock for Apple iPad, iPod and iPhone.

Magellan Roadmate 9055

Saturday, April 30, 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
GPS Navigator with seven-inch wide video graphics array (WVGA) display.

Mercury Extreme Pro SSD

April 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Ultra high–performance solid-state drive (SSD).

Livio Radio Featuring Pandora

March 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Access your personal Pandora radio account and over 20,000 Internet radio stations without the need for a computer.

MEElectronics M9-SL Hi-Fi Sound-Isolating In-Ear Headphones

February 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp

Jensen JiPS-250i Rocker Docking Station for iPad, iPod and iPhone

January 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
Ever since the iPad was introduced in 2010, a flood of accessories have come to market to help users get the most from this piece of technology. However, one niche that seems to have gone under-served is speaker systems.

Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag

January 2011 by Wayne A. Thorp
A roomy, TSA-approved messenger/laptop bag.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910

December 2010 by Wayne A. Thorp
The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 offers high-quality audio and video in an easy-to-use package.

Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset

December 2010 by Wayne A. Thorp
The Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth headset uses Jabra’s Noise Blackout Extreme noise cancellation technology to help you be heard in the noisiest of environments.

Incase Convertible Book Jacket

November 2010 by Wayne A. Thorp
One of the first things most new iPad owners should do is find a case for their new investment. Luckily (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at things) you have a number of options from which to choose. I have been using Incase’s Convertible Book Jacket for the last couple of months. Of all the cases I have used thus far for my iPad, this is by far my favorite.