Author: Jon Walters

Be the party, Bring the Fun When it comes to backpacks, you can choose a boring mass-produced bag, or you can have a truly unique experience. I have used a variety of hiking/camping bags, water bladder bags, book bags, tech bags, solar charging bags, battery backup bags, and have enjoyed several of the features of each bag. Like Tony Stark choosing one of the suits from the Hall of Armor, different bags may provide advantages in some environments, while a few may excel in others. Thus, I was truly excited to hear about a Kickstarter campaign that featured the waterproof,…

Enjoy a bit of style while you Game, Work, and Play. I grew up alongside the Xennials through the ’80s and ’90s. During this time, my mother worked several jobs, learned several skills, and promoted typing as one of those “must-have skills.” By the time I took typing in middle school, I was already well ahead of many of my peers. In fact, my mother sublet my skills throughout late middle/early high school to complete dictation. I was able to earn a little extra coin, while also enhancing my skill at keyboarding. Since that time, I have developed a…

BUY FROM AMAZON Enjoy extra eyes on the road with the AUKEY DRO2 1080P Dual Dash Cam. Whether you need a dashcam or not may be a rather personal decision. A quick Google search found “5 reasons you don’t need a dashcam” and “10 reasons why you need a dashcam for your car.” As a funny aside, the 5 reasons not to have one were sarcastic and quite silly. The main benefits to the device can be summarized in the moneyshake article “Advantages and Disadvantages of a Dash Cam.” The main benefit of having a dashcam is to serve as…

Bring the Party with you. From toilet paper shortages to bicycle shortages to component shortages to online product limitations to school shutdowns to a variety of mandates, there is no doubt that COVID has forced some changes upon each of us. As a family, we loved to go to movie theaters, go out to eat, jump at the local trampoline park, and window shop at the mall. Despite the limitations upon our previous family life, we have grown/expanded in our bonds and have enjoyed more family time through a variety of creative activities. Thankfully, we were lucky enough to have…

BUY FROM AMAZON App integrated cube will teach you to solve the classic children’s puzzle. As a child of the early 80s, I grew up like many of the Xennials. We played outside, played with physical toys, games, and puzzles, and lacked modern smartphones and tech. Around the age of ten, I received a little cube puzzle and immediately wanted to learn to solve it. The perfectionist in me did not even want to mess it up. Alas, someone got to it, mixed it up, and I knew that I had to learn to solve the puzzle. I toiled, played,…

BUY FROM AMAZON Our First Gaming Mouse, gaming on a budget. I think one of the best parts of being a father is watching children’s excitement as they learn and grow. My 9-year-old son recently started a typing class in school and absolutely fell in love with his keyboard. As an Apple-centric family, we have several iPads with keyboards but no stand-alone keyboards or mouses. He asked if we could get a “gaming” keyboard and mouse to learn how to use the computer peripherals and improve his typing. Luckily, the Delux M625Plus mouse provided all of the features that a…

BUY FROM AMAZON Treat yourself to a little luxury and carry your AirTags in Style. If you have ever misplaced your keys, your remote, or anything of importance, then you likely understand the power of tracking devices. I have been a fan of trackers since at least 2017, utilizing several varieties of Tile, Chipolo, Cube, Mynt, and Wistiki, etc. The overarching goal of each of these devices was quite similar: 1. Attach to a device. 2. Lose device. 3. App-linked device would ring the device. 4. Find the device. A few of the devices had a bonus feature that would…

BUY FROM AMAZON Powerful, pocketable,and Practical The Tranya T10 Wireless Earbuds arrived in a petite yet classy 3 15/16 inches square by 1 5/8 inches thick retail package. The clean, sterile, white backdrop served as the perfect canvas for the cover features. The silver Tranya name and logo were displayed along the top left, 12 mm Driver within a silver border was displayed along the top right, and T10 Game Mode Normal/Bass Boosted Mode was present along the bottom of the panel. Despite the contrasting silver-on-white color scheme, the panel’s main focus was the image of the black Tranya earbuds…

BUY FROM AMAZON Charge Fast, Live More with the Mini USB-C expansion Dock When I purchased my MacBook Pro 15″ 2018, I was excited about the four thunderbolt ports. Like many newer devices, the flagship Apple laptop attempted to leave the older USB-A tech behind. Unfortunately, many people quickly discovered that companies still relied upon the USB-A format for power and data transfer. Additionally, monitors, printers, and other peripherals still utilize a variety of connection ports. Without any USB-A ports, display ports, HDMI ports, etc., users needed to purchase a variety of USB-C cable dongles to satisfy their needs. Luckily,…

This band is like a Tuxedo Shirt, Formal yet ready to Party. When making purchases, I love to research to find the best deals, the best features, and the best price/cost. Additionally, I love the feeling of obtaining something new. However, I am cursed with a terrible sense of buyer’s remorse. I, like many others, grew up craving opulence but was faced with the reality of too much month and not enough money. Thus, budget/bargain deals became my reality. As I moved into adulthood, grew a family, and settled into my career, I allowed for some degree of grandeur. I…

Declutter your desk with a classy Headphones Holder from König & Meyer The König and Meyer Kopfhörerhalter Headphone holder arrived in a 4 1/4 inches wide by 3 3/8 inches tall by four inches thick retail box. The main and back panels provided the K&M (Stands For Music) name/logo along the top of the panel, the Kopfhörerhalter name to the left, a Made In Germany logo/5-year warranty along the bottom left, and an attractive image of the headphone holder toward the bottom right. I liked the patchwork green triangles along the top left corner and the fade to white color…

Broski Lety Active Noise Cancelling Headphone provide comfort and premium sound without a hefty price tag. Enjoy a 20-hour long battery life, 200 hours of standby time, comfortable leather padding at the ear cups and skull apex, and quality accessories.

BUY FROM AMAZON Charge your devices via USB-A, AC, or Wireless. It is rather frustrating to find certain outlets overburdened, when some outlets and even some rooms remain underutilized. This became my reality throughout my college dorm room days and progressed to both my home and work offices. I regularly felt like I was playing a losing game of power cord Tetris. I utilized extension cords, surge protectors, power strips, and battery backups to try to keep all of my gear powered up. Unfortunately, it seemed that just a few outlets did all of the charging. For those instances, a…

BUY FROM AMAZON Actively cancel natures distractions and enter musical bliss. The Edifier TWS NB2 Pro arrived in a classy 4 15/16 inches wide by 5 inches tall by 2 5/8 inches thick retail hanging package. The off-white cover panel provided a copper/gold Edifier name along the top of the panel, a futuristic, slightly raised, glossy image of the in-ear wireless Bluetooth earbuds along the middle, and a copper/gold TWS NB2 Pro product name. Along the bottom of the panel, you will find eight labeled product icons: Hybrid ANC, Dual-mic Noise Cancellation, spatial Audio, Quick Charge, AA Audio Decoding, Role,…

Enjoy up to 120W power from a powerful yet palmable desktop charger. When I attended college in the early 2000s, it was not uncommon to find a few overburdened outlets with chained power strips and others without a single plug. As society adopted more technology, the need for open charging sources expanded. Unfortunately, most devices were designed to use oversized chargers. As USB charging technology became more commonplace and charging tech shrunk, multi-port chargers and HUBS were developed. Thanks to the technology, individuals could charge multiple devices on a single output port instead of using a single outlet to power…

BUY FROM AMAZON PORTABLE EMERGENCY JUMPSTARTER/FLASHLIGHT/POWERBANK If you have ever returned to a vehicle to find a depleted battery, then you know how difficult it can be to find someone to give you a jumpstart. Maybe your kids left a dome light on, perhaps the battery has aged, or perhaps there is an energy vampire. Either way, a dead battery will not provide adequate power for the starter to do its job. You may choose to carry your own cables, subscribe to AAA, or call for roadside assistance. What if there was a better option? What if there was a…

BUY FROM AMAZON Bullet shaped alarm clock speaker Since antiquity, man has looked for ingenious methods to keep and awaken from sleep at certain times. In Ancient Greece, Ctesibus invented a pebble-dropping device that dropped onto a gong to tell time (https://greekreporter.com/2021/05/11/ancient-greek-inventions-used-today/ ). Inventors continued to dabble with technology, and in 1787 an American named Levi Hutchins created a way to awaken himself daily at 4am to get to work. In 1847 a Frenchman named Antoine Redier patented an adjustable mechanical alarm clock to help with similar issues (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/a-2000year-history-of-alarm-clocks). Industrious cities used Knocker-uppers, a subscription service that knocked on your…

BUY FROM AMAZON Better Sound, Better Life When it comes to portable sound, I want a comfortable pair of in-ear earbuds that will not break the bank. I have tried dozens of brands, tested various features, and continue to feel amazed at how much cheaper the tech has gotten over the last few years. I feel that the lines are quickly blurring between budget brands and higher fidelity offerings. Companies like Earfün try to offer as many features as possible without offending those of us without unlimited resources. The Earfün Free 2 earbuds arrived in a 4 1/4 inches…

Keep your gear energized with the tangle-resistant braided cable from KickPOWER. I cannot wait for the day that there is a universal charging option. Until that time, I carry USB-A, USB-C, and USB-micro cables within my BUBM organizer. Many devices ship with woefully inadequate charging cables. Sometimes the cables suffer from poor craftsmanship but often they simply lack adequate length or tangle easily. Instead of relying upon the subpar gear, I like to utilize trusted/reliable gear. If you are looking for a well-constructed, durable, lengthy USB-A to micro charging cable to keep your gear powered, look to KickPOWER. The KickPOWER…

Braided charging cables with added reach If you are tired of having a short cord, of having to sit too close to the power outlet/desk, or tired of sitting awkwardly at your local Starbucks to keep your gear charged, consider adding some freedom to your tech. Sometimes a 1M cable will suffice, and other times not. I have recently reviewed several offerings from KickPOWER and truly enjoyed their 3 Ft Lightning Cable, Type-C Cable, and the dual-port USB-A QC 3.0 /USB-C PD Quick Charger. Each of the robust cables provided a sturdy connection and allowed my devices to charge at…

Worlds First MagSafe TWS Earphones. Comfortable fit, quality sound! When you want to listen to music, you can reach for the trendy name brand product or you can do a little research to find a quality brand at a fair price and save yourself some money. I have never been an audiophile and likely will never be a card-carrying member of that club. I tend to be an Apple brand loyalist and have purchased the AirPods Pro for use with my MacBook Pro 15″, iPad Pro 11″, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. I have grown fond of earbuds and have…

Kick up the power to keep your gear in the game. The Power Delivery (PD) Quick Charger (QC) 3.0 20W charging brick arrived in a style similar to the recently reviewed KickPOWER Type-C and Lightning Cables. You will find the light blue/back title along the top of the cover panel and Fast charger PD Power Delivery/QC 3.0 Quick Charger just beneath the title. Beneath this section, you will find a light-blue accent border and a black background with a slightly raised, glossy image of the PD QC3.0 Fast Charger. Along the bottom left of the panel, you will find a…

BUY FROM AMAZON A premium wallet to meet your modern needs The definition of a purse (small bag for holding money) has had different meanings throughout geographical regions and with time. In America, we may refer to the above as a wallet, whereas England and Western Europe might describe it as a Purse. What we see as a purse is often seen as a Handbag in many regions of the world (larger bag that holds more items than money). As a lover of history, I am always curious about why things are the way they are and about when certain…

Lightning Cable for your everyday needs. As a father of four (two and six-year-old daughters and nine and twelve-year-old sons) and a Cub Scout Cubmaster of approximately forty kids, I wish I could say that I packed light. Unfortunately, like a recent meme, I laughed much too hard at “ME AT HOME: using the same few things daily… ME PACKING FOR VACATION: I wonder if I’ll need 4 French Horns or 5,” I am guilty of overpacking. This past week, I volunteered for our local Scout Reservation Scout Camp and realized I wanted to do better. Thanks to Kick Power,…

Give your gear the Kick it needs with the KickPOWER Type-C cable. I know I am not alone in the desire for USB-A to go the way of the floppy disk. When the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro traded up for the superior USB-C standard, I excitedly hoped the iPhone and AirPods/AirPods Pro would soon follow suit. Unfortunately, they have not yet made the transition. Thus, many of us must carry a USB-A to USB-micro, USB-A to Lightning, USB-A to USB-C, and USB-C to USB-C cables. When I travel for work or leisure, I carry a pair of each of…

BUY FROM AMAZON Reduce your E-Waste footprint with a rechargeable tech for your Xbox One/Series X Controller Growing up in Southern California in the ’80s and ’90’s, recycling and water management were everyday activities. Our family sorted recyclable items into appropriate bins and kept our used single-use batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, C, D, etc.) in another bin to recycle later. As I moved to Indiana and ultimately to Kentucky, recycling was nowhere near as prominent. I was rather aghast when I saw people throwing away all sorts of recyclables: aluminum cans, plastic bottles/items, and batteries. Interestingly, California is the only…

BUY FROM AMAZON Expanded Opportunities Through Thunderbolt The IOGEAR QUANTUM Dual Mode Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro arrived in a classy 9 1/4 inches wide by 5 3/4 inches tall by 3 1/4 inches thick white and neon-green retail package. The main panel listed the neon-green QUANTUM name along the top left, the black-font IOGEAR company name along the top right, and “Dual Mode Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro” information just beneath the product name. Along the bottom edge of the cover, you will find four icons that detailed: 1. Thunderbolt. 2. Dual 4K Monitors, 3. 60W Power, 40 Gbps data transfer. …

BUY FROM AMAZON Enhanced grip and easy to deploy hands-free viewing experience If you have not yet perused my review of the Stand & Grip Case from Clckr, I would highly encourage you to give it a quick read. I love my iPhone and often gravitate toward the Catalyst Waterproof cases. When I reviewed the Clckr case, I realized that I loved all of the features of the catalyst case but missed the stand features of the Clckr device. Luckily, the company creates just a device to give me the best of both worlds. The Stand & Grip Case from…

BUY FROM AMAZON Can you Say Dance Party on a budget? I have had many friends who have installed LED light strips for a variety of purposes. For example, a few have added accent lighting to art, to their stairs, and many have added lights behind their television. I wanted to add some backlight to my daughter’s television and found an amazing, easy tp install, option. The Militisto LED STRIP LIGHT arrived in an 8 inches wide by 8 inches tall by 2 1/2 inches tall blue cardboard box. Unlike the vibrantly colored picture found on the website, the cover…

BUY FROM AMAZON Grip it, Protect it, Rest it, Enjoy it. It is rather amazing to think that there was no iPhone before June of 2007. Next, think about the cost difference between the original base 4GB iPhone at $499 and the >$1000 iPhone 12 Pro Max of today. iPhones became more than a simple telephone, adding a gaming platform, music platform, photography system, navigation system, video entertainment system, social media system, etc. Interestingly, many now have a phone/tablet as their main and sometimes only television as well. With such an expensive handheld portable, on-the-go entertainment device, it has become…