iblazr is the phone flash accessory I didn't know I needed

Next up we have the iblazr, a unique accessory for the smart phone camera junky, in the form of a 4 LED flash for Android and iOS devices. The thumb sized flash plugs into a phone or tablet via 33.5mm jack, includes it's own internal battery, and has multiple light modes for those low light shots and videos. The four powerful LEDs are topped with 70-degree optics to provide enough light for just about any situation. Features aside, it's time to see how this simple beast performs.

The iblazr was more functional than I was expecting as it could be used as a laptop lamp by way of a flexible charger or audio extension cable and a light source for personal camera from the included cold shoe mount. I was worried about the battery life due to the small stature, but the internal battery outlasts my phone. The iblazr is easy to use with a push of the button and additional presses for various steady light levels. Using the flash requires use of the iblazr app, which is on par with the iOS 7 camera app, unfortunately after upgrading to iOS 8, it does not offer the same features but offers a lot more lighting than the LED flash on the phone.

I enjoyed the iblazr for its' portability and night shots it was able to capture, but was ultimately surprised by the functionality it provided. My only complaint is the app required to use the flash function, but after a week of use it was quickly overlooked by the amount of time I used for the steady lighting and the multiple light levels. I have a soft spot for phone camera accessories, such as the iblazr and lenses for the capabilities they are able to provide to the devices most of us cannot be without. The iblazr is available now in white or black for $49.99 and aluminum for $69.99.

Turn your phone or tablet into the ultimate universal remote with blumoo

Similar to the previously reviewed Rocki, we have another device that takes one perfectly good thing and allows it to do something it wasn’t intended for. This time around, we have blumoo, a small and inconspicuous device that turns a phone or tablet into a universal remote that is compatible with more than 200,000 different devices. The blumoo uses a Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connection, infrared, and is compatible with both apple and android devices. So after spending a half hour setting up my devices on the app, I figure it high time to get to the experience.

Out of the box, the blumoo is small, sexy, and does not skimp on build quality. On top of the fast and easy setup, sometimes it took a couple tries to get a component synced, but once all was set up on the app, it turned catching up on my TV shows into a new experience. This is mainly because on top of being a universal remote, blumoo also doubles as a media manager of sorts. In the setup, I was prompted to select my cable provider, and then was able to view the channel guide, setup alerts for shows, and receive suggestions on similar shows to check out. I have reviewed a similar device from griffin which had some signal issues due to the need of line of sight, this does not have that limitation and I was actually able to control my stereo from my patio.

In the end, there was only one device which I was not able to get working which was a TV in which I recently purchased, but other than that, I had my receiver, TV, apple TV, and Playstation 3 setup to use from my iPad Mini. I preferred the use on a tablet over the small screen on the phone, especially to view and navigate the guide and set up push notifications. If you have plethora of remotes and are looking for an intuitive and unique way to consolidate the clutter, the blumoo is available now for the price of $129.99.

Misfit's activity tracker Shine, your business professional fitness tracking device

To go with the UberBuds, insinuating to get my ass out of a chair, Misfit has provided me with their personal fitness tracker that is unlike anything like it. We have seen a surge of activity and fitness trackers over the last year and some work incredibly and others fizzle out quickly, the Shine looks like it has what it takes to be a big contender in the market with stand out features like Aircraft-grade aluminum, a halo of 12 LED lights, and extensive activity/sleep level tracking. Toting a Chic design, this little watch/sensor is also built to be seen and there are a number of accessories to help do so, one of which includes a leather watch band(purchased separately). In terms of it’s tracking abilities, the Shine captures and syncs all steps, distance, and calories burned to your iPhone or Android device whether walking, bicycling, or swimming.

What I liked about the Shine was that it did not look like an activity tracker, it was something small enough to be stored away and not noticable or on your wrist to go with most any suit. As a watch entheusiast, Misfit’s device is a standout as it displays the time when double tapped along with showing daily proress on the halo of 12 LED's on the face. The tracker is built to take a beating, with no glass to worry about breaking and it is also waterproof so it can be worn swimming. The data which is synced to the phone, my iPhone in this situation displayed current progress, past statistics, awards, and the ability to show off your achievements with others sporting Shine. Rechargeable this device is not, but uses a long lasting watch battery and the face will indicate when it is time to replace the battery and includes a tool for easy replacement.

The Misfit Shine is an elegant multipurpose device, regardless to if you choose to wear it on your wrist, neck, shoe, lapel, or pocket. Syncing is incredibly fast and easy while also being durable knowing it can face impact and elements without breakage. My only issue was keeping it clean as any time I bumped it against my desk or countertops I would have to clean marks from it and be sure not to leave water spots. I particularly enjoyed the unique way that the time is displayed and then my daily status to let me know how much time to focus at the end of my day to reach my goal. The Sport Band was sent with the Shine activity tracker and while I felt it was a bit narrow, it was comfortable, light, and went with me everywhere. The Misfit Shine is available now in grey, jet, topaz, and champagne colors for the price of $119.95.

Zepp Labs refreshes their golf companion with GolfSense 3

I had previously reviewed the GolfSense, which came to us by Zepp Labs, and was just about everything a tech junkie golf fan could ask for. The revamped GolfSense 3 comes to the table packing a handful of new features and it appears the interface has been refreshed. Also looking at the image, the interface has been refreshed to look similar to the upcoming iOS software update. Below are some of the features that set the old apart from the new.

 

SwingScore - Evaluate the quality of each swing based on your personal goals.

Dashboard – Easily identify what you’re doing well and what you need to work on.

Lab Reports – Analyze and track your trends for each hitting session. These reports can be shared via email, Facebook and Twitter.

Focus Screens – Isolate a single aspect of your swing to focus your practice.

Club head and Hand speed - See estimated club head and hand speed at the point of impact to work on timing.

Backswing Position - GolfSense provides the golfer with an exact club shaft angle measurement at the top of their backswing.

Plane Comparison - Instantly compare how closely aligned the backswing and downswing planes are. Golfers can work to achieve their ideal swing plane by finding what works best for their swing goals.

Wrist Release Speed - A key component of the swing is wrist release, or how fast the golfer’s hands move the club through the ball impact zone. GolfSense delivers actual speed measurements to help improve speed.