The ASUS WL-330NUL is a nifty little device that offers travelers a little more flexibility with their network setup. It's a miniature, super-light 802.11n router that can easily fit in your pocket or bag (it's about the size of my thumb). To keep things as simple as possible, it has just one ethernet port, one flip-out USB jack, and a power connector.…
The Karma WiFi Hotspot is a "social" 4G hotspot that allows you to openly share your connection with the people around you in order to earn free data (hence the "Karma" in the title). I can see how this would worry people who are sensitive to security issues, but hey, I think it's an interesting idea. Up to eight devices can connect…
If you're wanting to shoot a fancy-pants app video review or anything else that requires a few panning shots, there are all kinds of ways to rig up a functional dolly system. If you happen to own a GorillaPod SLR-Zoom tripod, then I'd recommend picking up a set of Cinetics miniSkates. These three wheels attach to the "feet" of the GorillaPod, allowing…
If you're the proud owner of an iPhone 5/5s-compatible Mophie Juice Pack (and you should be, because they're awesome) then you should also look into getting a Juice Pack Dock. It bypasses the Lightning connector, using a special dock connector built into the bottom of the Juice Pack. And just like plugging the Juice Pack directly into a power outlet, the dock…
FiftyThree has just made another leap into the world of physical goods with a gadget called Pencil. Pencil is essentially an iPad stylus, but one with special features designed for use with their popular sketching app, Paper. Simply touch the stylus tip to the screen while Paper is open, and it will automatically pair via Bluetooth. From there, the app will be…
News about an upcoming product simply called Coin spread through the internet like wildfire yesterday, but one more mention won't hurt. Coin aims to let you condense all those credit cards in your wallet into a single, digital device that swipes like any normal card would. All you have to do is open the Coin app on your smartphone, swipe a card…
While going paperless is easier than ever, scanning more personal things like photos, albums and notebooks isn't as easy as it should be. The folks at Doxie have set out to change that with their new Doxie Flip Mobile Scanner. Unlike the Doxie One and Doxie Go, the Flip is flatbed scanner. Unlike traditional flatbed scanners, the Doxie Flip is small and…
The battery life on my iPad 4 is fairly respectable, but not so amazing that it can last through even a one-day road trip when one of us is reading ebooks in the passenger seat. We also use my iPhone 4s to play podcasts during these drives, which of course can suck the battery dry in a matter of hours. This is…
The Garmin Head-Up Display is an interesting little gadget. It mounts on your car's dashboard and pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth, then projects a HUD interface onto a transparent piece of film you apply to your windshield. This display gives you information about your drive, including turn-by-turn navigation (with an indicator to let you know what lane to be in), current…
If the FuelBand isn't your thing, the other powerhouse in personal fitness tracking — Fitbit — has also updated their wrist-based offering. The Fitbit Force is a revised version of the Flex, which took Fitbit's step and sleep tracking to an all-new level. The Force adds better support for counting stairs, but the headlining feature (for me, at least) is the inclusion of a…
Nike's refreshed its FuelBand for the holidays. The new FuelBand SE has a similar LED grid display and still syncs Nike "Fuel" — not actual steps — to your iPhone over Bluetooth. This year, however, that Bluetooth connection has been updated to version 4.0, taking much less energy. The new bands can be ordered with a splash of color and is available in…
For nearly two years, the Dropcam HD has been a very popular remote-viewable security camera for your home. Its new successor, the Dropcam Pro, ups the ante with an all-glass lens and a 130-degree field of view (compared with the HD's 107-degree FOV and a lens that was partly plastic). The Pro model also has a new sensor that captures twice the…
I just stumbled across an interesting product concept called Nymi. It's essentially a wristband that authenticates you via your unique cardiac rhythm every time you put it on, and you can use it throughout the day to unlock your car, sign into your various devices, and make purchases. Of course, this assumes you live in a world full of stuff that's compatible…
The Around Clock ($50) is a clever little timepiece that turns itself throughout the day, using a stationary red line rather than clock hands to tell you the time. It runs on a single AA battery and is operated by a standard quartz clock. It's not exactly fancy, but it'll add a little flair to your workspace.
While the iPhone 5 shoots great video, it's a tad ... fragile. I wouldn't ever use my phone to film anything all that exciting. The GoPro HERO3 was born for extreme situations, however. It comes with a waterproof case. It's can take fall from 197 feet. The whole thing can be re-built easily if damaged. It can capture video in 1080p 30fps,…
I'm a big fan of my Kindle. I upgraded to the Paperwhite last year, and while I still miss the physical page-turn buttons, the backlit screen is really handy. I can easily read in bed without bothering my wife. Today, Amazon has announced a new Paperwhite. Available for pre-order starting at $119, the new Kindle promises better contrast, thanks to a re-worked…
While brushed aluminum is all the rage right now, it wasn't all that long ago that most Apple products were built with transparent plastics. I, for one, miss this look, and now the guys at Twelve South are bringing it back with the GhostStand. The Ghoststand is a $35 notebook stand that elevates any MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or MacBook Pro…
There are a lot of fitness bands and trackers on the market, and the Withings Pulse Wireless Activity Tracker takes some of the best features on the market and bundles them in a nice, neat package. Designed to clip on your belt or pocket like the Fitbit One, it has a screen like the Fitbit Zip. The Pulse tracks steps and sleep,…
Microsoft's had a line of ergonomic keyboards for a while, and they've announced a new one: the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop. I used its predecessor, the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, but didn't like how wide it was. My mouse was too far to the right, which caused pain in my shoulder. The new keyboard is much narrower, having ditched the keypad.…
When I first heard about the iGrill, I wasn't all that impressed with the idea. Why would I need my iPhone to know about what was going on in my Weber Grill. Then I got sent one as a review unit, and man, it's pretty cool. Sure there are some great regular thermometers on the market, but the iGrill is smart. Powered…