“Review” collection
Discover rigorous, hands-on evaluations and real-world testing of the latest consumer electronics and household tools. These “Dad Approved” assessments provide factual, objective insights into device durability, performance, and value to help you make informed purchasing decisions.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →August 14, 2013
Head-to-Head: 4 iPhone 5 Battery Cases Reviewed – Mophie, Belkin, MyCharge & XPAL Power
Smartphones these days are big battery consumers. The larger the screen and the more active you are, the more you rely on having a big, hefty battery. There are many smartphones that allow you to simply swap out a used battery with a fully-charged one. The Apple iPhone, unfortunately, is not one where you can easily change a battery on…
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August 12, 2013
This Car Is “Hot” – Review of 2013 Mercedes CLS 63 AMG “4-Door” Coupe
When I test drove the 2013 Mercedes CLS 63 AMG coupe (which has 4 doors by the way), the San Francisco Bay Area was going through a bit of a heat wave with temperatures hovering over 100 degrees. While the meteorologists think it was due to a pressure system hovering over the area, I had another theory - it was…
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July 31, 2013
CrashPlan Online Backups Keep Your Digital Life #WorryFree!
Are you backing up your computer? How often do you do it? Do you do it manually or automatically? Have you ever thought about the possibility of hitting the power button on your computer and suddenly it not starting up? What would you do if that happened? What if you couldn't access all of your home movies or photos, or…
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July 29, 2013
Review: Inky – An Email Client with a Refreshing New Approach to Filtering & Management
Despite all efforts by Social Media, text messaging and other communication protocols, email is not going away. And, it seems to be growing instead of shrinking. The good think is, email service providers like Google (Gmail) and Microsoft (Outlook.com) seem to be trying to keep up with the times and integrating "intelligent" features within their web-based clients. Things like smart…
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July 9, 2013
Going “Topless” in the 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL Convertible
As luck would have it, the week that I received the 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL Convertible, the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area weather took a turn for the worse. From sunny hot skies to dark, dreary, drizzly weather, I was cursed to not be able to fully go "topless" in this fun-to-drive Infiniti coupe. I was able to enjoy a…
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June 24, 2013
Wirelessly Control & Shoot your Canon or Nikon DSLR Remotely – iUSBportCamera Review
It seems like everyone is becoming a "professional" photographer, especially now that the technology-to-price ratio of DSLR cameras is getting truly amazing. While taking a photo really depends though on the mind's eye, the technology of the camera as a tool to capture that moment in time has made those moments even better. And there are accessories now for your…
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June 15, 2013
The Remote to Rule All Remotes – Logitech Harmony Ultimate
I'm not sure how much further Logitech can go with their Harmony universal remote line. With the new Logitech Harmony Ultimate out (which is a great Father's Day gift, by the way), I'm really curious what the next generation Harmony remote would bring. I'm thinking that it will have some sort of mind reading integration or something because the new…
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June 3, 2013
Multiple Uses Make the LG 23ET83 Touchscreen Monitor a Winner in HighTechDad’s Home
My family always seems to get excited when a new piece of technology arrives…well, at least I do. My goal has always been to see how technology can be best integrated into the family lifestyle. And then I share the experience. When I received the LG 23ET83 touchscreen monitor a few weeks ago, at first I struggled to figure out…
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May 31, 2013
Staples Provides Tools for the Next Great American Novel
A few weeks ago, I was asked if I wanted to get some products from Staples to write about. Sure, I said, thinking it would be a box of paper or a crate of paper clips or an assortment of binders. Traditionally, when I thought about Staples, visions of boring office supplies came to mind. How wrong I was. While…
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May 28, 2013
Capture, Store and Use the Sun’s Power Easily with GoalZero Solar Products
I love solar energy. And I guess my dog loves it as well - basking in it to stay warm. The sun is seemingly a limitless source of power. It only needs to be harnessed. With the proper equipment, you can be ready for just about any situation, a camping trip, an emergency or a way to simply save on…
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May 17, 2013
Remote, Programmatic Home Automation at its Best – the Belkin WeMo
Home Automation and Remote Controls are cool. Really cool. Think back to the days of The Clapper (which you can still buy, by the way). Clap on, clap off. We have come a long way though. Now we have Internet-connected gadgets, gizmos, appliances and devices, hopefully all designed to make our lives easier, safer or simply better. The Belkin WeMo…
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May 15, 2013
Using the Sun to Power your Gadgets & Light the Way – WAKAWAKA POWER
If you look up into the sky, assuming it's sunny and daytime, you will see a vast energy source that is incredibly untapped - the sun. Solar power technologies have been evolving a break-neck speeds and the size and costs have been reduced dramatically to the point where you can throw a solar panel, charger and battery into your backpack…
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