Review

The Cellink I is the emergency battery boost your iPhone might need

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

There are those days when your on-board iPhone battery cannot handle the stress of a working day. Typically, I get around 4.5 hours of usage between charges, which on a busy news day, leaves me bumming a power cord around the office. Mobile battery backups and chargers are a great way to extend battery life if your cubical neighbor forgot to bring in the cable you always borrow. Cellink I by Cell Drive is a pocket sized – let's call it a snack portion – of battery boost to keep you reading, tweeting, posting, or blogging until you get home...

An iPad user reviews the Nexus 7

Sébastien Page ∙ August 11, 2012

A review for an Android device is probably the last thing you'd expect to read on iDB. For those of you who are paying attention though, you probably noticed Jeff's review of the device a couple weeks ago, and now that I've been using the Nexus 7 for a about two weeks myself, I'd like to share my thoughts with you.

Of course iDB is an Apple-focused blog. Of course we are biased towards the iPad and just about everything iOS, but when a device like the Nexus 7 comes out, we feel that we owe it to ourselves and to our readers to have a look at it. After all, it's good to have a point of comparison, especially if we are going to look down on Android as we often do here.

Now that we have the housekeeping stuff out of the way, let's dig into this brief and honest review of the Nexus 7. Does it live up to the hype? Is Android better than iOS? Can the Nexus 7 replace my iPad? A few questions and more that will be answered in the next paragraphs…

Rokform v3 Bike Mount rules the trails [review and giveaway]

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated December 28, 2016

As a CES design award nominee, Rokform never ceases to impress with their array of iPhone and iPad accessories. If you happened to miss our Rokbed v3 Custom Case review and giveaway, you didn't know Rokform has an extensive list of useful items designed to enhance the overall functionality of the v3 cases.

The Rokbed v3 Bike Mount Kit works seamlessly with the included Rokbed v3 case and keeps your iPhone front and center while hitting the trails. Thanks to our friends at Rokform, we've been able to test our own and give you a chance to win a case and mount too...

The Time Command Mini adds app-enhanced flare to the alarm dock

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

There is a lot of competition out there in the dock world and many of them simply play music, charge your iDevice, and get in the way due to their bulky form factors. Stem Innovation is here to challenge the status quo with their Time Command Mini, which is not only a dock, but also an extension of your iDevice, thanks to the timecommand companion app...

The InVogue iPad stand is the perfect accessory for couch potatoes

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Hitting the ground in early 2000, LapWorks, Inc. began making portable products for notebook computers. Over the last decade, the company has made items for major hardware companies, including privately labelled products for Targus. LapWorks then began making products for the iPad in 2010 and now offers a wide assortment of hardware accessories, of which the InVogue iPad Stand is a proud member.

There are plenty of evenings when my wife or I enjoy a movie on our iPad. As a hardware reviewer, there are plenty of iPad cases and stands around the house made specifically for that situation, but none of them are hands or lap-free. By that, I mean, the iPad must be held/rested on my lap or nearby table. Those who do not invest in fancy accessories are just holding it in their hands, and what a shame it is!

Everyone has experienced the burning shoulder syndrome that is caused by trying to hold the iPad at the perfect viewing angle while taking in their favorite Netflix movie. The InVogue iPad Stand is the prescription only LapWorks can fill...

My thoughts on Nexus 7

Jeff Benjamin ∙ July 24, 2012

The Nexus 7 is now available to the masses, and I just received mine yesterday. It's a good device, but it's not without its fair share of issues. The device is a small 7 inch tablet that features solid design, but it lacks the elegance of the iPad. For $199, I think that pretty much goes without saying. Actually, something strange happened with my Nexus 7 order - I received a 16GB Nexus 7, instead of the 8GB version that I ordered. Is this Google's way of kissing up to a known Apple guy? Who knows, but you won't find me complaining about it.

Since you've probably heard a million different opinions about the Nexus 7 already, I'm going to keep this short and concise. First of all, let's talk about the good...

Cellhelmet, an iPhone case that comes with a replacement guarantee

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated October 20, 2017

There are many, many cell phone case manufactures around the globe offering a plethora of iPhone protection, however, there may only be one company offering to replace your iPhone if damaged using their case. Enter CellPig's "Cellhelmet," a case manufactured in the USA.

A start-up in Pennsylvania tried many different types of iPhone cases that offer substantial protection but were troubled by the bulk of such a case. Putting their heads together, they decided on a trim, yet protective thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) unit that offered quality protection, but was guaranteed to do its job, or, the iPhone repair is on them!

Doodle puts an end to meeting scheduling nightmares

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Among a myriad of things I despise, trying to plan a meeting with several busy people is a nightmare. All of the back-and-forth emails about who is in town, or not, or who can meet after lunch, before lunch, catch me after the staff meeting... Yikes!

Doodle has simplified my meeting life and taken the challenges out of scheduling a friendly gathering. Their web based services saved many headaches in the office and, now, Doodle's updated iOS app moves simplicity to both iPad and iPhone...

Rokbed v3, the most versatile iPhone case [review & giveaway]

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated December 28, 2016

Thinking of an iPhone case as just that - a case - is antiquated. Rokform, a 2012 CES design award nominee, has taken mobile accessories to the next level with a system of connected accessories, for your accessory. The system begins with the Rokbed v3 case for iPhone and expands from an attachable bottle opener to a camera stand.

With this review, we are excited to offer you the chance to win a Rokbed v3 Custom from Rokform! Check out the details below...

AViiQ Ready Clips brings tangle proof USB cables for your iPhone

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Simply, I hate tangled cables. The most worthless item in your bag is a knotted-up bunch of charging cables and, if you've really got a bird's nest, it can take forever to untangle. Thankfully, everyone at AViiQ shares the common tangled-disaster-pain that ravages the world of technology and decided to do something about it. Ready Clips are here as the antidote and they fit quite nicely in a travel bag...

BookBook Volume 2 is redefined for the new iPad

Jim Gresham ∙ July 10, 2012

Reformation. Few companies can break their products down to the stitching and take an honest look at what works, and what doesn’t. Count Twelve South in with the fine, and few, Apple accessory companies mastering the feat of self evaluation and introspection. The new BookBook is the final result of personally positive criticism. After deconstructing the BookBook, Twelve South has redefined one of their most popular products.

A company dedicated solely to producing Apple accessories, Twelve South designs a limited number of new accessories per year to ensure perfection of each. With what little time they have after garnering worldwide acclaim in Kiplinger's, Twelve South evaluates the capabilities of their existing products and strives to further enhance them...

My experience with Uber

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Two weeks ago, I ventured up to Chicago to try Uber for the first time. Uber, of course, is the personal driving service which allows you to use your mobile phone to request a private driver. It started in San Francisco a little over two years ago, and has since then made its way to the Windy City and various other locales.

Hearing nothing but positive things about the service, I was anxious to head to the nearest city with Uber availability. Fortunately, that city is Chicago, a place that I have grown to love over the past few years.

And as it turns out, Uber is an absolute perfect match for Chicago. Passengers love it, but what’s even more interesting is that the drivers themselves seem even more ecstatic about the rapidly growing service...