I’m always on the lookout for tech gifts that are especially good buys,  Here’s a few that fit that category, with many great for travelers, as well. I’ve used them all and can recommend each one as a particularly good value. In fact, they were easy to compile by looking at my Amazon purchases over […]

With the greater use of storing our credit cards on our phones, we need to carry less in our wallets. That’s led a number of start up companies to come up with new wallet designs. They vary from simple elastic straps to aluminum plates where you sandwich cards in-between. For the last several years I’ve […]

First appeared at Techpinions I’ve been wondering whether some of the major high-tech companies among the FAANG gang, don’t know when to stop their “continuous improvement,” a term revered by the Japanese in the 90s when they continually improved their products. My observation is we are seeing “continuous degradation” instead. It seems these companies might […]

I spent nearly two hours at two Apple stores this week. My 3-yr old 12″ MacBook had a catastrophic failure and needed a repair, as it wouldn’t boot up. I pulled out of storage my older 2012 MacBookPro to use as a backup, and discovered that also had a problem – it wouldn’t take a […]

I’ve reviewed or used pretty much every major carry-on wheeled suitcase over the years, since I always avoid checking my bags, even on my many flights to Asia. I used a Tumi roller board soft-sided ballistic nylon 22-inch suitcase for many years; at the time it was one of the costliest, but best-designed products of […]

Apple’s new 12.9-inch iPad, positioned as a replacement for computers, fails to deliver on that promise. In spite of the big rollout and promises by Apple CEO Tim Cook. Early reviews say that it misses that mark by a lot. A fully equipped iPad  Pro with a 12.9-inch display, a keyboard, pencil and adequate memory, costs […]

Wallet cases have recently become more popular for phones. These are cases with a front flap that also has a few pockets to carry credit cards. It’s a result of several factors. More use earphones such as the AirPods to make calls, so the need to hold a phone to your ear is reduced. Also, […]

I’ve rented hundreds of cars over the years, mostly from the major companies, including Avis, Hertz and National, but my worst experience with a car failure occurred this week. I picked up a rental car from Avis at Boston Logan. I’m a preferred member, but got a better rate via Costco than directly with my […]

I’m constantly amazed how Apple is able to create such excitement around its product launches. Invitations are extended to the press and celebrities from around the world. These people spend thousands to travel to Cupertino, CA, a bedroom town in Silicon Valley. They blog about it for weeks in advance while analysts speculate about what […]

Let’s talk about computer keyboards, something that should be one of the most constants in our computing work, and a subject that you think would be settled by now. Keyboards are a basic necessity for writing, emailing and doing most everything we create on a computer. Computer companies got keyboards just about perfect decades ago, […]

It’s September and that means new phones are on their way from Apple. The company will be bringing out a new line late this month and, if the past is any indication, expect to see all sorts of aimless coverage in the media. For some reason, when Apple introduces its new phones, it fills up […]

You may think that an unlocked phone will let you easily change carriers, but it’s not so simple. In fact, there are far fewer phones that work on multiple networks than there should be. The only phones I know that works on all 4 networks are Apple’s unlocked models only available from Apple. But even […]

Smartphones have matured to a point where it’s difficult to keep track of new models and the differences between their predecessors and their competition. While there are two main competitors for all practical purposes, Apple and Samsung, sometimes another model comes along that betters its competition. In this case it’s LG’s latest phone, the LG […]

Technology has benefit us with time saving products but has also encumbered our lives with annoyances that interrupt us, scam us and have aggravated us to no end. Think of all of the robocalls and the cascade of unwanted emails that are smothering us daily. If there was an argument for our government and corporations […]

(Originally appeared on www.techpinions.com) The new bestseller about Theranos, Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, is a must-read for anyone in the tech world, particularly those in Silicon Valley. Not only is it disturbing in its own right, but it’s a reflection on Silicon Valley and not in a positive way. How could its founder, Elizabeth […]

What’s the best notebook for traveling? I’ve always had an affinity for thin and light notebook computers. Maybe it was because of all the international business traveling I’ve done for the past several decades. I used to use Thinkpads, but eventually migrated to MacBooks when Microsoft Windows software became buggy, complex and failed to address […]

Como Audio’s Kickstarter campaign for it’s new product, SpeakEasy™ is coming to an end this week. Before it does, I highly recommend you give it a look. SpeakEasy is a true hi-fidelity music system with exceptional sound quality, stunning design, and multiple source options, including Bluetooth, Spotify, Tidal, and Internet & FM radio. Most exciting is the addition of […]

Check out the new Wine Art map of Paso Robles at my other site, www.wine-maps.com. It’s the third in a series of hand painted and drawn wine maps using watercolor and India ink printed using fade-resistant inks on heavy stock, suitable for framing.  

Waterfield makes some the best business bags and wallets for the price and quality. What’s more, they’re made in San Francisco by hand and not in some distant factory in China. By selling direct, you’re getting a great product at about half of what you’d pay elsewhere. But, you’ll be hard pressed to find a […]

Originally seen at Techpinions While recently shopping at Costco, I strolled by the notebook computer aisle displaying all Windows machines, and stopped in my tracks.  I was struck by how sleek and compact some of the new Windows machines had become, particularly the Lenovo X1 Carbon with its matte black carbon enclosure and the Dell […]