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.

Polk goes to the next gen with the 4 Shot headset

We have the first headset specifically designed for the next gen consoles, specifically the Xbox One from Polk Audio and the cans in hand are the 4 Shot High Performance Wireless Gaming Headphone System. The 4 Shots are just what the console was lacking if you are like most gamers that share space with roommates or family members and easily allows the high performance sound that Polk is known for without the clutter of numerous cables to the console for power and sound. Now that this tailored headset for the Xbox One are out of the package and ready to go, let's see how they perform.

This headset is incredibly easy to set up and use out of the box and to my amazement usage is not limited to the Xbox One. This headset was made to be used with not only the new Xbox but also tablets, phones, and while not advertised, it works with the PlayStation 4. The sound is great providing clarity and range but the real high point of this headset has got to be how comfortable they are. The 4 Shot's comfort comes from the over ear fit and leatherette wrapped plush ear pads topped with pivoting cups to make sure they snugly fit for short or long gaming sessions without pain or discomfort over time. Lastly, in the packaging are a couple different cables based on what you are using the headset with, but in order to use with the Xbox One, I had to use the included headset adapter that plugs into the controller after a quick update to place the audio control in my hands unlike when using with Sony's next gen console.

During my time with the 4 Shot's there were some nuances, the first being the retractable near field microphone, which was a clever way to mute and use during online play, but the mic did not do well at picking up speech unless I yelled and it still sounded distant. Polk is aware of this and included a boom mic to make online chat functional but also makes the retractable mic pretty much useless. The other issue would be that the headset is considered wireless, but not exactly what you would expect as it does require a cable connection to the controller, but at least now you don't have cables running across the living room to the console.

When all is said and done, I had a great time with Polk's 4 Shot headset, whether using with my phone, tablet, or next generation consoles as they do a damn fine job at bringing sound as it was intended to your ear holes without waking roommates or family members. On top of using at home, I actually used them as my primary headphones with my phone at my desk or watching Netflix from my phone and the experience was great with loud clear sound to hear games, movies, and shows as intended all without an additional power source. The 4 Shot is available now in three different colors for the price of $159.95.

Snow Lizard helps get through CES with SLPower 2.4

This next accessory comes to us at the greatest opportunity, Consumer Electronics Show, a conventional floor that is known to drain a battery mysteriously fast. Snow Lizard has provided me with their pocket sized portable power pack which is toting 2400 mAh of power to recharge a phone or tablet via the single USB output. The battery pack is just smaller than most smartphones out there and there is an LED indicator on the front to indicate when to recharge. It is time to see how it held up on the battery sucking show floor.

Unlike a lot of battery packs that come in a variety of shapes and bulky not friendly to pocket sizes, the SLPower is close to the size of my phone so when both are in my pocket it does not add much bulk and provided more power than power cases. The amount of power was enough for quick boosts to my battery on the show floor to provide a substantial charge to get back to my room and recharge. The little battery pack did this for three days before it was time to recharge, and the 4 LED’s on the front make it easy to determine when to charge, unlike having to memorize certain colors or flashing patterns to know how much charge is remaining.

The size of the SLPower 2.4 is my favorite feature as it is easy to charge and carry without discomfort or taking up a lot of space in my laptop bag. The awkward part is stuffing a full length cable in my pocket but the purchase of a short lightning cable would resolve this. The ability to charge either phone, tablet, or even my point and click digital camera were a lifesaver at two separate occasions. Snow Lizard’s SLPower 2.4 is available now for the price of $39.99.

eleMount kickstarter is stylish mount for iPhone/iPad

Hot on the heels of Bracketron’s NanoTek Stand review, I have received word of eleMount. Elemount is a universal mount that is designed with CNC machined aluminum and built to mount your phone safely to your desk, car, tripod and more. Made to fit with the apple styling by use of aluminum, the eleMount is also made for function as it allows for full 365 degree viewing angles by ball and socket joint, portability without leaving marks or residue behind, and a ¼” threading to mount to tripods and other camera accessories. The eleMount Kickstarter can be found here, priced at $59 for early bird backers and as you can see,  they are well past meeting their goal with plenty of time to go.