Being an audiophile, the quality of the sound coming out of my headphones is of the upmost importance. While I know there are brands that provide better quality than Apple when it comes to wireless earphones, they just don’t look as sleek or work as easy with my phone the way AirPods do. So I, just like many others, have tried to find a solution to make AirPods improve in sound quality…and I finally found that solution!
Read more5 Best Wireless Chargers You Can Buy Now
Yes, I know wireless charging isn’t necessarily new, it's been around for a while, but up until 2018 this long awaited feature has not been available on the majority of devices in the market. With Apple’s upcoming new iPhone launch and Samsung's push to adopt wireless charging, the market that was once overlooked by many, will be getting a major increase in demand in the months to come.
Here are five of the best wireless chargers out on the market right now!
Read moreIntroducing Tile's New Slim Bluetooth Tracker
Recently Tile released the Tile Slim, a compact and slim tracker with a minuscule thickness of 2.4mm, thats practically only the size of two credit cards stacked together! Tile Slim's small size makes it easy to throw into your wallet.
Read moreLuxury Apple Watch Bands
Before I start today, I wanted to wish all of you guys a Happy New Year & apologize for slacking off during the holidays on the blog! I took the season to disconnect and put my Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & website on the back-burner & concentrate solely on being present in the moment with friends & family! New Year, new start I say! So get ready for an exciting year & promise you this will be the best one yet on the site!
So over the holidays I saw a bunch of my friends either receive or gift themselves an Apple Watch. It really is no secret between my friends & I how much I’ve loved my watch since it launched last April, but my one gripe has always been its complete lack of individuality & pizazz. I know there are a multitude of colors & materials to choose from, but it really is hard to set yourself apart from the rest because chances are someone you know already has the same band.
Because of this dilemma I set out to find a unique & luxurious band that would make me proud to sport my Apple Watch while at an event or dinner out on the town. I stumbled upon The Strap Smith a couple of months ago and immediately fell in love. Creating custom leather watch straps from authentic leather handbags from the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton & Goyard, it was easy to see that this was my solution to my gadget conundrum.
Ultimately I chose a white LV Azur band with off white thread & a custom buckle. I was truly impressed how each band is hand made & stitched, meaning that the utmost attention to detail was used to create it. I highly recommend The Strap Smith to anyone out there looking for a unique & handmade band for their Apple Watch.
LuxBox, a Modern and Luxurious Case
What I have always loved about my iPhone is the aesthetic look to it. iPhones set themselves apart from other smartphones out there because of their design, so why would we cover them up with a bulky case? This has been my dilemma for years! No matter what case I chose, I always was bothered by how it masked my phones design & quite frankly made it look like a cheap plastic device. For the first time ever, I've personally been using a case that not only accentuates my phones design, but adds a personal, luxurious & modern look to it.
For the past week I've been sporting a LuxBox case by theWTFactory on my phone. As the name implies, the case is truly a luxury accessory. Made in two luxurious material options, walnut wood veneer or 100% wool, this lightweight case just asks to be touched. What I enjoy most about the LuxBox case is how it adds minimal size to my phone while maintaining security. Usually a case with a thin rim equals low protection, but this case extends 1mm beyond the screen to protect the face of your phone in case of a drop.
With a year long warranty, this case is a no brainer as the best solution to protect your iPhone. The LuxBox is the ultimate case in my opinion as it adds that special modern luxury style that we all love. Let me know in the comments below what you think of this amazing case!
Best Apple Watch Accessories to Extend Battery Life
DODOcase Charging Stand / wipowerband Battery Extender
Reserve Strap Charging Strap / Native Union Dock
If you're like me then you've probably been checking incessantly your Apple order status over & over since the pre-order of the new Apple Watch was made available. Maybe it is a first world problem, but I get anxiety every single time I check! Fruitlessly always hoping for an update that says I'll be getting it sooner rather than later!
While nothing really is going to speed up the process, at least we can hold off our inner geeks by looking ahead for the best accessories to have ready when that long awaited shipment comes in. Above I have rounded up the best accessories out there for the Apple Watch every techie should have.
Personally 18 hours worth of charge won't cut it, thats why I was excited to see some sleek & stylish ways to extend that charge further. I know I look forward to seeing the sexy DODOcase charging stand on my side-table.
So tell me, did you order the Apple Watch or will you wait for the next version? If so let me know in the comments below what style you picked!
Top Gadget Gifts Below $50
If you have a lot of techies in your family, but not a lot of dough, don't worry! There are plenty of affordable & exciting products out there to pick up for that won't break the bank. Tech gadgets always make for a great gift because nowadays people are always on some sort of device. The following five items are the best gift worthy items all below $50.
The first item on my list is a personal favorite, the iPad Mini Bluetooth Accessory Kit. Packed with bluetooth enabled headphones, a keyboard, two styluses & a bevy of other accessories, this kit is perfect for that writer in the family that is always on the go. Music is always playing in my home, but sometimes when I'm out at a beach or park, the speakers in my phone just doesn't cut it, if you have someone in your family like me, then the Philips Portable Bluetooth Speaker is perfect. Don't let the compact design fool you, this speaker packs a punch! Sony's Over-the-Ear Headband Headset for Smartphones is the perfect headphone to use daily on your walks to work or when your at the gym. With smartphone integration to take calls & music playback controls, this over-the-ear headphone is more than just a listening device. The Belkin WeMo Switch will definitely make anyone who owns it feel like their home is straight from the jetsons. Plug-in device into the Belkin socket you wish you control from the touch of your smartphone. My favorite use for it is setting it up with my Jawbone UP24 band to automatically turn on the lights when I wake up. Last on my list is the Google Chromecast. While I love my Apple TV, the Chromecast is easy to fit in your pocket & have the power to stream content at your disposal at anytime.
Essential, High-Quality Technology Guide
Like it or not in this modern age, technology rules our world. It makes life a lot easier in many different ways; from helping us achieve a perfect body, to monitoring our homes, technology has penetrated every facet of our lives. I can easily say that I've been a techie geek ever since I can remember, I must have been the only 6th grader I knew who kept track of his assignments on a Palm Pilot (remember those!?).
If you're anything like me, then you have to know what the hottest gadgets of the moment are at all times. The following list is a compilation of some of the most essential, highest-quality gadgets out there. From wearables to improvements on everyday items, here are the top picks of the best of the best tech out there.
JAWBONE UP24
The Jawbone UP band has long been my preffered fitness tracker out there. The UP24 is the latest incarnation of Jawbone's fitness band, adding bluetooth connectivity making it even easier to talk to your smartphone. From tracking your fitness activities, logging your nutritional intake for the day to even monitoring your sleep patterns, the Jawbone UP24 Band is the best fitness band out there.
Alpine iLX-007
Ever since Apple announced its CarPlay technology, I've been obsessed with having my car's system integrate with my iPhone. Up until now, the only way you've been able to experience it first hand was purchasing a new Ferrari FF. While I still await BMW to integrate it into its line of vehicles so I can use it in my own car, the next best solution is the new Alpine iLX-007 aftermarket receiver. The iLX-007 streamlines the CarPlay features into you car, regardless of what make or model of vehicle you own.
Sony QX100
Everywhere you look, someone is taking a picture with their smartphones to share on their various social media channels. While most smartphones take decent quality pictures, we have lost the sophistication & expertise of actual cameras to capture these memorable moments. The Sony DSCQX100 is best of both worlds, a Carl Zeiss lens on a portable lens so compact that it snaps onto the back of your smartphone (Apple or Android). With Wi-fi connectivity built into the lens, all your pictures are immediately saved onto your phone to share away with your friends.
Anova Precision Cooker
Never has cooking been so easy! You may have seen precision cookers on shows like Top Chef or Iron Chef & imagined that you could never master the art of it, but with the Anova Precision Cooker all it takes is a pot, some water, the Anova device & your smart phone to cook perfectly prepared meals. With the tap of a few buttons, your smartphone tells the Anova what temperature & how long to cook your food, making every meal you make cooked uniformly throughout.
BRUVELO Smart, WiFI Pour-Over Coffee Brewer
You can never compare a good coffee prepared by a barista at your favorite coffee shop to the cup of joe you prepare at home. There is a reason why they have a fancy name as their job title, they know what they're doing. The BRUVELO Pour-Over Coffee Brewer takes all the hard work of making the perfect cup of coffee & puts all control in your smartphone. BRUVELO filters & manages the temperature of the water, even weighs & grinds your grounds & even adjusts to whatever flavor profile of coffee you want. For anyone wanting a fine crafted cup of coffee at home, this is the perfect must-have.
Drop-Proof iPhone Cases
It always happens when you least expect it, that terrifying slow-motion fall of your iPhone from your hands or lap. It doesn't take much for those delicate screens to shatter into a million pieces. Without a doubt almost everyone has experienced it before. If you're like me, then you're probably on you millionth iPhone. Since 2007 I've probably had more appointments with an Apple Genius at the Apple Store than to my dermatologist. It's time to finally get my iPhone protected.
I've always avoided using cases, I would make up excuses as for why I didn't need or want one; they're too bulky, they are ugly or they just weren't right for me. With iPhones reaching a greater availability throughout service providers and being used from everyone from toddlers to grandparents, the market and variability of cases has ballooned over the years. Now there seems to be a perfect case for anyones style, and best of all they work great in keeping those screens in tact. Check out the following picks for some great cases to protect your phone. Especially take note of the Tech21 Impact Mesh Case which I've seen a demo where they threw an iPhone 5sS repeatedly against the ground with zero scratches or marks, leaving it just as perfect as it was out of the box!
Tech21 Impact Mesh Case / Gucci GG Bio-Plastic Cover
ElementCase Solace Au Case / Moshi iGlaze Case
SXSW Must-Have Survival Guide
SXSW has got to be my favorite festival in the country. The way that media/technology/film/music is all brought together in Austin Texas truly makes it an event that you cannot miss and must experience at least once in your life. Starting in 1987, SXSW has grown into a worldwide phenomenon that grows each year and improves as the years pass by.
Every SXSW veteran will tell you that you MUST BE prepared for a week full of walking around in the Texas 'spring' which most resembles summer for non-Texas residents. Because of this you must be prepared to endure the festival and maximize your fun without suffering because you forgot that extra charger or wearing the wrong clothes. Don't get caught at this years SXSW without these following 'must-haves.'
The Perfect Festival Wear
It's pretty important to wear something that will be comfortable enough to spend the day walking around downtown Austin in. While being comfortable is good, there is no reason to be a slacker and wear any form of activewear while out and about. Solid color jeans like these Slim-Straight Raw Selvedge by Frank and Oak are a perfect wash to match anything. The weather will most likely be hot so wear a fabric that is conducive for warmer weather, like this James Perse Classic V-Neck that literally feels like that perfect broken in T you love the most. Make sure to pack some comfy shoes, like these Jack Purcell leather sneakers by Converse because you will be on your feet all day.
Must Have Technology
If you're not from Austin, most likely you'll need some advice on where to go and what places are worth checking out. Austin based application, Localeur, solves this problem and brings local inside knowledge on the best food/scenes/spots to check out while you're in town. As you travel around Austin, you're most likely going to fall into the problem of your cell phone battery constantly dying on you because of how much use it will get checking in to places, pulling up maps etc. The Mophie Space Pack solves this problem and even includes extra storage to save all of the countless videos and pictures you're sure to take on your trip to Austin. Last but not least, make sure you download the Uber app for your device as driving anywhere downtown in Austin will not only cost you an arm and a leg, but will be a bigger hassle than what it's worth. Use Uber to pinpoint your location and grab a ride throughout the city and not have to worry about drinking and driving after hitting up all of the fun parties going on in the city.