Category Archives: Uncategorized

If you are discerning about the coffee you drink and grind your own beans, you may want to consider roasting your own coffee beans at home.  When a friend first suggested it to me, I dismissed it, since I can buy freshly roasted beans from a number of local coffee shops.  But I took the […]

Two weeks ago I reviewed security cameras and the Ring video doorbell, all products in the category called Internet of Things (IoT) that connect to the cloud through your WiFi network. While they provide useful benefits, they can also bring some risks. That became evident for many of those using a Nest connected thermostat, one of […]

Leica Camera has unveiled its first camera designed specifically for outdoor and underwater photography – the Leica X-U (Typ 113). Incorporating a fixed focal length Leica Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH. lens (equivalent to 35mm) with underwater protection filter, and a large APS-C CMOS sensor, this fully waterproofed member of the Leica X family delivers images […]

One of my hobbies is pen and ink drawing and water color painting. In my struggles to make copies of my pieces for friends, I’ve been experimenting with a variety of techniques and devices.  Photo copies are generally the most inexpensive way to print in large format. Large color prints can cost just a few […]

San Francisco manufacturer and designer, WaterField Designs, has introduced the Staad Attache´ with a padded compartment for the iPad Pro or Apple 13-inch laptops. Constructed of ballistic nylon, waxed canvas and full-grain leather in classic, muted colors, the Staad Attache´ bridges the gap between the casual messenger bag and formal briefcase for style-conscious professionals. Cost is […]

Kodak has announced plans to launch a Super 8 cine camera using analogue and digital technology. The new camera, called cleverly “Kodak Super 8 Camera,” will record its movies on normal Super 8 film cartridges while using a digital LCD display as its viewfinder. Super 8 film was originally a low quality amateur product that can’t compare to the convenience or quality […]

Yes, this had to happen, as silly as it may seem. A UK technology start-up has “unleashed” PitPat, a wearable activity monitor for dogs, at CES. The press release says, “Designed and manufactured in the UK, PitPat gives owners a fun and engaging way to ensure that their dog gets the exercise it needs by tracking […]

Here’s my take on some of the more interesting and significant products for 2015. Apple Watch – The eagerly-anticipated Apple Watch finally arrived, and once again showed Apple’s unrivaled skills in design and integration of software and hardware. While not a must-have, it’s a useful tool for helping us do small tasks. It’s significant because […]

As someone that likes to grill outdoors, I’ve become enamored with my Big Green Egg (BGE), a ceramic egg-shaped BBQ grill that can both cook steaks at 700 degreesF as well as slowly cook a brisket for 4 or 5 hours at 275F. The BGE’s main attributes are its ability to cook in its enclosed […]

As popular as the iPhone 6 is, it has one huge weakness, one of the shortest battery lives of any  smart phone. That’s because Apple has prioritized thinness over run time. As an iPhone 6 user, it’s hard to get through the day without needing to charge my phone. Often the battery is dead by 2 […]

The end of Thanksgiving signals the onslaught of email requests from PR firms for meetings with companies exhibiting at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas during the first week of January. From these emails I’ve received just over the past two days, it looks like there will be some highly unusual products. I thought it […]

I reviewed Ring, a combination doorbell, camera and intercom, a few weeks ago, and ran into problems with the installation. After discussions with the customer support people, the unit was replaced, and now is working properly. The previous unit caused the doorbell to ring or buzz on its own. The cause is uncertain, but might have been […]

I read with a combination of interest, sympathy and a little bit of “not surprised” when it was reported that Coolest, the company that had the second most successful Kickstarter campaign ever, was struggling to meet its promises. In spite of raising over $13 million for its all-in-one picnic cooler, it failed to meet its […]

This review is not a cruel joke, appearing at Thanksgiving time. It’s about a subject that many of us struggle with, particularly frequent travelers that eat out and are away from home so often. I’m constantly battling weight gain, and like to say I’ve lost over 100 pounds through the years, the same 10 or […]

I’ve been closely involved with the design and development of the Pono hi-resolution music player over the past four years. It’s been a labor of love that began with a noble goal from rockstar legend Neil Young: Bring the same high quality music to music lovers that artists hear in the studio.  The goal has […]

By Larry Reich Will this be a digital XMAS for Santa and the children of the world? According to Walmart, don’t expect much. They claim there are no hot digital products this Christmas, and predicting lower to flat sales this quarter (as it was the last quarter for digital products at Walmart). But yes, Virginia, there […]

In my search for a leather wallet case for my iPhone 6 Plus I found this one to be one of the best available. It’s made of leather, unlike many others that are “leather-like”, and has worked very well over the few weeks of use. The phone snaps into a plastic shell and the pockets […]

Ken Rockwell, a photographer that has a hugely popular photo blog, compares the camera on an Apple iPhone 6s Plus to four high quality cameras, the Canon 5DS, a Sony A7R II, the Canon EOS M3, and a Fujifilm X100T. His results are very surprising, and his article is well worth the read. Check it out […]