Category: Gadgets

With dozens of gadgets being released every month, it’s getting harder and harder to sort through the noise, and find the good ones. In this section, you can count on reviews of hot, innovative gadgets, and coverage of gadgets that actually matter. Examples include Google Glass, a fire-based charging station, and a backpack with built-in batteries.

Arduino Uno

Arduino Uno | Best Holiday Gifts of 2014

Here’s a holiday review of the Arduino Uno, and a basic guide to buying and using one. Building things is satisfying. It just feels great to turn on a device you’ve designed and assembled yourself, and watch it work. If you’re looking to give someone that type of satisfaction as a holiday gift this year, you might want to consider getting your special someone an Arduino...

15 Last Minute Gadget Gifts That Nerds Really Want

So you forgot to get your resident nerd a holiday gift. No big deal. I’ll make sure that your favorite nerd is satisfied. Trust in my giftpicking expertise, and your nerdy husband, wife, child, mother or father will be very happy. The Best News For Gift Procrastinators Until this Wednesday (the 18th), you can still have any gift shipped to your door by Christmastime,...

chromecast chrome

Google Chromecast Review And Field Test

Google’s Chromecast has taught manufacturers a hard lesson: People aren’t yet ready to replace TV. They’re looking for a device to augment it, and they’re looking for a device that doesn’t cost them a fortune – I have to say that Google’s Chromecast does a fantastic job of this, although it has a few bugs to be worked out. Note: I apologize (or do...

Review: Oyster – the Netflix of books

Recently I reached out to a young company called Oyster, about demoing their new service. Their website boldly claims “Read unlimited books. Just $9.95 a month”, so being a reader, I was naturally excited about the prospects of not having to pay $10 a month to read a couple of books. Unfortunately Oyster faces the same flaw that every content-driven startup faces. They can’t...

Why Would Anybody Need The NEST Protect? And is it safe?

NEST, famous for their smart thermostats (of which I have two) today  unveiled a reimagined, web-enabled smoke alarm, and while it’s certainly cool-looking, it left me wondering, “What’s the point?” Why would anyone need a $130 smoke detector (link to where it’s sold)? Is it really worth it? And remember, this is coming from the guy with the health-tracking wristband, iPhone cleaning tie, and...