Author Archives: Phil Baker

As a frequent traveler that hates to check luggage, I’m always intrigued by the latest carryon designs. I’ve been trying a new rolling luggage model from a company called ecbc. While it’s the same size as a normal roller bag, 22”x14”x 9”, and looks quite similar, it’s design it unique and very clever.  It’s especially […]

The problem with developing products with such great attention to detail, is when the the details are taken away, there’s more reason to complain. And it’s apparent that Apple is taking many things away from us these days, from features to products to ports. Apple just announced that the AirPort Wireless Router is being discontinued. […]

Written for PJ MediaAfter a 4-year hiatus, Apple just rolled out their new MacBook Pro notebook line to a decidedly mixed reception. Its new line consists of 13-inch and 15-inch versions in a slightly smaller and lighter forms, weighing 3 and 4 pounds respectively. Touch Bar, available as a $300 option on the 13-inch and standard on the 15-inch, is […]

 Fujitsu, a leader in document imaging scanners, today announced new software integrations to its ScanSnap Cloud feature. Debuted in June 2016, ScanSnap Cloud supports seamless integrations with popular cloud services, and has now added four new software vendors to its portfolio including Box, LedgerDocs, Rocket Matter and Shoeboxed. ScanSnap Cloud is a free feature that enables ScanSnap customers to deliver scanned data directly to […]

CarJoJo.com is a new Internet site that gives new car buyers access to the ENTIRE inventory of over 3.5 million new cars for sale in the US. It’s designed to makes new car buying easier and less expensive than ANY other other car site, according to the company. CarJoJo works for the buyer, (not the dealer) and […]

Check out Indiegogo for the only wrist watch that synchronizes the natural rhythms of the sun and the moon with HRS:MIN:SEC. It comes from a friend of mine in San Diego, Bjorn Kartomten, that has spent years designing and building some of the most unique, practical and ingenious timepieces that do things no other watches do. […]

House of Marley, a leading lifestyle brand of eco-conscious audio devices, today announced three new audio devices  including the Voyage BT, the brand’s first set of Bluetooth® in-ear headphones, and two Bluetooth speakers, the Get Together Mini and Riddim BT. Each device features House of Marley’s eco-conscious REWIND™ and REGRIND™ materials. “With this launch, we’ve expanded […]

Those involved in the design and manufacturing of hardware products understand that one of the most important parts of the process is testing. That’s the point when all of the assumptions that have been made need to be validated. And the only way to do that is to build hundreds or thousands of units and […]

Crazier Eights: Camelot, a fantasy card game, debuted on Kickstarter on Tuesday, October 11. A simple, yet interesting game, can be enjoyed by both serious fantasy game players and those unfamiliar with fantasy card games. Each of the fifty-three cards has unique beautiful art. It’s designed for players ages 13 and up, and generally takes […]

Last week I returned to San Diego from Europe and looked for an Uber or Lyft at the San Diego Airport. But they were relegated to a far off location, so my wife and I grabbed a cab with all the baggage we had. The 24 mile ride took about 35 minutes and when we […]

  When Samsung began recalling their new Galaxy Note 7 phones, due to many of them exploding and catching fire, it took them almost 2 weeks to notify the US Government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission. Samsung tried a voluntary recall rather than reporting it to the CPSC. That was their first mistake. The law required […]

A new water bottle is on Kickstarter that promises to improve your health. It’s value based on the premise that the water you are drinking is likely not safe. Recent research from Harvard (2016) found that “unsafe levels of toxic chemicals have been found in drinking water for 6 million Americans across 33 states.”   is the first smart […]

For many years, the concept of a 3D printer was a futuristic dream seen only in cinemas and on TV. When it finally came to fruition however, the size and price of the first-generation 3D printers made it impossible to be used at home by the mainstream consumer, putting the dreams of creatives everywhere permanently […]

Thomas J. Thias is a Chevy sales person with Sundance Chevrolet  in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and is passionate about the Chevy Volt. I met him on line while researching my purchase of a new car. I want to introduce him to my readers, because he’s a great resource for those considering purchasing an electric or hybrid […]

An announcement from AT&T AT&T* unveiled today Project AirGig, a transformative technology from AT&T Labs that could one day deliver low-cost, multi-gigabit wireless internet speeds using power lines.  This technology will be easier to deploy than fiber, can run over license-free spectrum and can deliver ultra-fast wireless connectivity to any home or handheld wireless device. We designed Project AirGig literally […]

PonoPlayer: $399 $$$ Conceived by Neil Young, designed by Charles Hansen and Ayre Acoustics, and made possible by Kickstarter funding of $6.2 million—which is $6.2 million more than has been raised by anyone offering to create a digital player of no greater resolution than the Compact Disc—the Toblerone-shaped and unambiguously yellow PonoPlayer has an internal […]

Epson FastFoto FF-640 Scans up to One Photo per Second, Restores Faded Photos, Organizes Collections, and Saves to Cloud Epson America, Inc. today introduced the FastFoto™ FF-640 high-speed photo scanning system poised to change the way people preserve and share the billions of photos tucked away in attics, basements, garages, and closets. An innovative alternative to flatbed […]

All eyes will be on Apple in early September as they introduce their new iPhone 7 series. It’s expected they will introduce the product at an event in the first week and have them available for purchase in the last week of the month. Why is there so much interest? Because Apple is one of […]

These are simply the finest camera and accessory bags available. FOGG bags are handmade in France by Nigel Fogg and bee berman (written just as you see it). They are coveted by Leica users and now have grown in size and utility to carry iPads and notebook computers. Each bag is made from durable, lightweight, […]