August may be all about the kiddies and their back to school adventures, but while you're stocking up on binders and pencils, don't forget about all of the brand new gadget gear that is just hitting store shelves. From cell phones and geeky shows to fancy schmancy alarm clocks, here are five new devices and accessories that you may want to get up close and personal with.
When buying something online, I almost always gravitate toward websites that provide me with customer reviews, like Amazon, Zappos, Overstock, etc.
It makes me feel just a little bit more secure that I'll like my purchase. But that doesn't mean I don't take each review with a grain of salt, especially since too many reviews can be overwhelming, and now I have another reason to be wary; the gadget accessories giant Belkin has been accused of paying for positive reviews of its products on Amazon.
If that's true of the retailer, then I'll experience another shock of suspicion; not only can I not trust actual reviewers because we might have different opinions, but I can't trust reviews at all because they might be fakes? Oy.
What's your opinion of online reviews, before and after the Belkin scandal?
You've had a "whoopsie" moment before, right? When you nearly drop your computer as you go from one place to the next with it? Yeah, you've been there. The thing I like most about this Belkin Pocket PC Case that I spotted at MacWorld last year isn't the fact that it's protected from those exact moments by being fully enclosed in a padded microfiber shell, or that you can carry it around by the pocket on top as well as stuff your peripherals inside, or that it comes in either gunmetal gray, bright green, or vibrant orange, and just so happens to fit a 15-inch laptop perfectly.
Nope, my favorite thing about this case is that now, all three colors come in at less than $25 dollars each — a big price dip from last year's price of $50. Additionally, the microfiber shell is heat resistant, so you won't burn your legs while you type away on the couch, and your precious lappy won't overheat. I actually bought one after seeing it at MacWorld, and can attest that these babies are worth the price!
You've probably already been back to school for a few weeks now, but it's never too late to update your wardrobe, and this (of course) includes your gadget wardrobe!
What kind of a friend would I be if I let you walk around campus with last year's laptop bag or DS case? Psh. Not a good one, indeed. Check out my slideshow of some of the coolest and essential back-to-school goods. . . and I'm not talking about No. 2 pencils.
It has only been three days since Apple's Let's Rock event where Steve Jobs announced all the new Apple goodies, and before we can say "Apple's New Nano" ten times, Belkin has already whipped up a slew of new cases for the iPod Nano 4G, the iPod Touch 2G, and the iPod Classic 2G. From sport armbands, to silicone sleeves and even mother earth friendly cases, they've got a ton to choose from. You can expect to see these cases in stores across the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia come mid-September.
By the time Autumn rolls around, I'm always ready for new colors, fresh designs, and ingenious pieces of new tech. Belkin is already gearing up for the arrival of Fall with colorful new laptop accessories including totes and sleeves as well as fun and functional mice. . . all which are very affordable.
Check out my slideshow to see what else Belkin has in store for us this Fall!
My alter ego must be an audiophile, because when I saw Belkin's new portable mixing board called the Tune Studio at Macworld, I totally geeked out. A full-on, four-channel mixer that records right onto iPod classics, second and third gen Nanos, and fifth generation iPods to capture jam sessions, podcasts, and of course, tinkerings from the garage in 16 bit, 44kHz quality.
To demo the mixer, Belkin recorded a live band earlier in the day via Tune Studio. From the playback, my ears couldn't even tell that it wasn't a professional studio recording! I was impressed to say the least. Believe it or not, it seems really simple to use: Plug in up to four different sound sources, attach your iPod and computer, pump out some tunes and you'll end up with some pretty impressive high-quality digital recordings. High-quality jamming by band mates, however, is not guaranteed.
When I first saw Belkin's new laptop hideaway on the Internet, I couldn't help but think. . . meh, as it didn't look overly exciting. But when I got the chance to check it out in person at CES, my opinion quickly changed. With this sturdy little caddy, you can keep your laptop in a handy upright position alongside magazines or a book. And let me tell you, this case can even withstand the weight of a hardcover book without falling over. The hideaway is set to go on sale this month and will be priced at $50. Would this be something you would use? Or would you rather stick with your everyday laptop bag?
Let the gadgets for '08 roll in! So far so good for Belkin who has just unveiled an innovative and inexpensive iPod accessory—the RockStar. Available this March and only costing $20, the RockStar comes with six ports (one input and five outputs) so you and your friends can share audio from each iPod (or other mp3 players) simultaneously. This star-shaped minijack hub which was featured on iLounge, is guaranteed to be a teenager's best friend!
