Review: VisionTek 5 Device Charging Station

Intro

It's no secret that I have a metric crap-ton of devices that I use on a daily basis: iPhones, tablets, kindles, and even more kindles. Let's not forget that my wife also has her devices and between the both of us we have all the wall sockets under seize. If a guest wanted to charge something than they were just SOL. This is where the VisionTek 5 Device Charging Station comes in and helps rectify this a little.

Design

It's a very simple concept, it's simply a slotted piece of plastic that holds all your devices and then stores the power brick underneath. There are cutouts for cables to be routed to each slot and one for the power brick's cable as well. This works quite well, however, my biggest gripe is you have to remove the bottom piece for any cable management. This wouldn't be such a big deal except this was probably one of the most frustrating and aggravating things I had to accomplish that day, and I have 4 kids 8 and under! I don't own multiples of every charging cable so I am constantly adding and removing cables like this. If you use this, make sure you have a dedicated cable for the slots you want, cuz you ain't getting it back.

Charging

This is the best part of this whole product, it has 5 charging ports with a combined total amperage of 8 amps. If you only have one or two plugged in, they will operate at 3A! That's some crazy fast charging (think tablets and iPhone 7 Plus')! I like that the power brick has a modular cable instead of being coupled with the brick. This thing charges like a boss.

Conclusion 

Truth be told, the plastic holder is simply not very good, but the power brick is stellar and I use it out of the plastic casing and is my go-to charger at my bedside. I think if the plastic lid were easier to manage and there was a grippier substance in each slot then I would probably end up using that more, but the inconvenience of having to remove the lid is simply too much effort, hence why I use it without the casing. It's a shame because the power brick is among my top favorite charging bricks, 3A for the win!

Review: Trianium Artisan Series Aluminum Back Plate iPhone 6 Plus Case - Silver

This is a great looking case at the cost of some protection. The case fits on real easily but stays in place solid, but it still easy to remove if you desire. The first thing you'll notice is that one of the design choices was the partially expose the corners, it looks really cool, but I worry that it could still dent the corners if dropped just right. This could be a concern for some, but look at the attached pictures and you can decide for yourself.

 

I would like to note that the finish is pretty slippery so it's more likely it could slip out of your hands. So if you just need a case that looks really good and need minimal protection (mostly scratches) than this is a good case, but if you're worried about dropping it then I would look for something that offers a little more protection and bulk.

Review: Sport Armband, Trianium ArmTrek Armband

This is a good armband case. The Velcro is plenty strong and holds well during activity. I also liked how it was comfortable and did not get in the way while working out. I was able to fit the phone in the armband with a slim case on it. I will also not that my phone has a tempered glass screen protector and worked fine through the armband window. You only have access to the headphone port which honestly is all you really need for physical activity anyways. There are no side cutouts for the volume and power buttons and you would not be able to charge the phone while in the arm band since there is not charge port access. This may or may not be a problem for some.

Pros:
+ Comfortable.
+ Windows doesn't hamper use.
+ Secure during physical activity.
+ Easy headphone access.

Cons:
- No lightning port access.
- Power and volume buttons difficult to access.

Review: OSOMount Vent Luxe

I will first start out by saying that I'm not usually a fan of the vent mounts, typically because vents can vary and I haven't had much luck getting them to stay in position.

 
The OSOMount is the best vent mount I have tried. Here's a summary of pros/cons:

Pros
+ Stiff clip for mounting on vent (moves less)
+ Open big for easy use on iPhone 6s Plus
+ Large grips so phone stays in place.

Cons
- Ball joint could be stiffer, tends to wobble a little.
- Spring was weaker than I was hoping and could be stronger, but still works well enough to hold phone in place worry free.

In summary, this is about the best vent mount you'll find. The mount itself is good quality and has a good, solid clip mount and great grip. The only thing I would change is a tighter spring and a stiffer ball joints. If you're in the market for a vent mount I would recommend this.

News: iOS 8.1.1 OTA Download Available

Just checked my iPhone today and noticed an update to iOS to version 8.1.1. Release notes show improvements for iPhone 4s and iPad 2 performance and stability.

This release includes bug fixes, increased stability and performance improvements for iPad 2 and iPhone 4s.

 To update, go to Settings > General > Software Update to check.

How To: Tether your iPhone via Wi-Fi or USB.

Welcome to my first how-to guide! This is a question I get quite frequently amongst my iPhone toting friends and family. "How do I use my phones data (or internet) on my computer, laptop, or tablet?" This is was is commonly known as tethering, or simply using another device's data to connect to the internet on another device. I would say about 50% of my friends and family know that this option even exists. This guide assumes that tethering is part of your smartphone plan, if you are not sure you can contact your wireless provider. It also assumes you are using iOS 8 (check Settings > General > About > Version) as well.

1. On the iPhone you wish to tether the data from and set up as a hotspot, go to Settings (that gear that I have in the lower right corner of my homepage, your's may be on a different page depending on how your's is set up). Then select "Personal Hotspot"

2. Tap on "Wi-Fi Password" to set your password. You'll need to remember this for when you connect your other device to the iPhone.

3. Set the slider under "Personal Hotspot" to the "On" or green position.

4. If you do not have Bluetooth enabled, you will get this pop-up. You do not have to use Bluetooth to tether, it's simply another option. If you didn't have it turned on before, you probably don't want it enabled again since it is an additional battery drain so I usually just tap the "Wi-Fi and USB Only" option. (Note, no matter which option you tap, you'll still be able to tether no problem.)

5. USB Tether - This is the simplest option assuming there is a USB slot available on your device. Simply plug your iPhone into your laptop or computer and it should be connected and ready to go.

6. Wi-Fi Tether - At this juncture, your iPhone is already broadcasting a hotspot signal that can be seen by any Wi-Fi enabled device. On your device, connect to the iPhone the same as you would any other Wi-Fi device. It will usually have the name like this "Matthew's iPhone" or however your phone was set up.

7. Once you have a successful connection, your iPhone will show a blue bar at the top[ showing how many devices are connected.

Now you are connected to the internet through your iPhone! But remember, you are using your phone's data so monitor your use. Please leave your comments and questions below!

REVIEW: iPhone 5S / 5 Case Ultra Hybrid

Let me start off by saying I had never heard of SpiGen before I bought this case, and like you, was looking at the reviews to decide if this was the case for me.

I have been through many iPhone cases in my day and can never seem to be content with every point listed above. I have been searching for a long time for a case that would meet these requirements without compromises.

Form and Function
I'm going clump these to together here because they are usually mutually exclusive, but not the case here (no pun intended). I wanted to be able to show off the iPhone's original beauty while still being able to keep it reasonably protected. While it's not bullet-proof, the SpiGen has a clear and thick TPU on the back that shows off it's original beauty while keeping it away from the elements, scratches, and smudges. It covers the key components and performs wells. The outside band is a nice TPU that covers the power and volume buttons. I must admit, it feels nice and natural and keep those protected. SpiGen hit a home-run here with maintaining what I feel is the best balance between looks and durability. I can also add I have dropped it about three times and the case has done it's job perfectly.

Look and Feel
The thicker TPU feels great in the hand, not too grippy but not a bar of soap either. It maintains the original thin feel of the iPhone and adds minimal bulk. This way key for my search of the perfect iPhone case and SpiGen nailed it here.

Clear back to show iPhones natural beauty while still having excellent protection.

Function
I am able to access all buttons and functions of the hardware without a hitch, I must add though that my studio headphone have a larger audio plug mount and the TPU around the headphone jack is just a tad small for it. With that said, all my other earphones, including the Apple ones, have no problem.

Value
These cost a fraction of other cases you can buy in the store or online. Simply put, SpiGen offers up the best vlaue and bang for your buck.

Conclusion
Is it the most durable case out there? No. Is it the most colorful or is it going to turn lots of heads? Not really. But what is is, it's my perfect iPhone case that gives me the minimalist look without compromising the key durability functions while maintaining a thin profile. I have already recommended friends and family use this case as well and they have loved it too.

I will likely buy more SpiGen products in the future as their products have been stellar quality and will likely become a favorite in the future for other users such as myself.

Hope this review helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Upcoming Reviews...

Adonit Jot Script Evernote Edition

Let's just say I am really excited to try this one and will be getting it in a few days. I also want to point out that I will be reviewing this on the iPad mini with retina display (which I haven't found a review that does yet). Should be interesting to compare with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 I had for a while.

Tech Armor Premium Ballistic Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 5s and 5c

My wife's iPhone 5 will be the perfect candidate for this particular review. The phone is in and out of her purse all the time with small hands trying to grab the phone and play games and watch movies on a daily basis.