Summer of Tech: Accessory Giveaway

To Celebrate the Start of Summer I am going to be holding a Summer of Tech Accessory Giveaway on my YouTube Channel!

I will be giving away 3 items in the course of 3 videos:

A M-Edge Trip Jacket

     -Pink with Orange Details

     -For Kindle 4, Kindle Touch, or Kobo Touch

A Merkury Innovations iPad Sleeve

     -Fits all models of iPad

An Incase 13" Macbook/Macbook Pro Sleeve 

     -Magenta/Raspberry Color

What do you have to do to win?

Leave a comment about what your favorite summer gadget is and why! 

Only one entry per user per items, please don’t spam the comments. But you can enter to win each item, however, you will only be picked once to win an item!

Also, you must be subscribed to my channel and like the video!

Once the Video’s each reach 500 views, I will randomly pick 1 winner for each video/item and contact the user in a private message.

This means if you want me to pick a winner sooner rather than later you will need to share the videos as much as you can! If you tweet the link make sure to tweet @misstrenchcoat as well so I can see the tweet and reply and retweet it!

Who is eligible to win?

Anyone with a US mailing address because I am sending the items out via USPS. Sorry to anyone outside of the US but as you may already know its a little more complicated to ship outside the US and I don’t want to mess anyone up with customs fees or anything else that would make this giveaway more complicated than it needs be.

Who has provided the items?

I purchased these items myself with my own money and I am running this giveaway myself as a thank you to my viewers!

Great Tech Finds for $5

Yesterday I went shopping at two of my favorite stores; Ikea and Five Below! If you have ever shopped at either of these stores, you may already know that they are a great place to find the most random accessories for a great price and yesterday, that is what I found.

First, Ikea. They have a new section called Ikea Family where they include a collection of travel accessories like bags, briefcases, backpacks and luggage that are a sturdy quality for a low price. Browsing the area I found an assortment of travel bags at various sizes and colors, so I picked up this hot pink little travel zip bag from the Upptacka series that was only $3.99 ($3.19 with my Ikea Family card). I think this will be a great tech accessory bag for all my chords, cables, chargers and small peripherals while I travel this summer for mini vacays and getaways!

Next, I made my way to Five Below. I consider this store a Mecca for random tech accessories like cases, extra cables, sleeves and an array of other useful items that compliment my MacBook, iPad, iPods, and Blackberry. Best part is, I find something different every time I go to the store. This trip, I found a very cute neoprene iPad case for summer in navy blue and white chevron/zebra print with a hot pink lining. This case even has a separate front zippered compartment for extras which I found very cool for just $5.00!

Now, I don't just browse the tech area when I go to this store because useful items can be hiding at any corner, and I found my next set of items in the tween clothing section. These cute bags are actually bikini bags for you to store your wet swimsuit after you have changed out of it, but practically, they are a cute waterproof clutch. So, I picked up three; one for me, my mom and my sister (mine is the nerdy owl on top)! These bags are a great size that can fit an iPad, iPod, ebook reader, or any other tech item you may need at the beach or by the pool, as well as your keys, cash, and ID. Plus, they come in an infinite variety of cute styles for just $5.00 each!

So, if you happen to be lucky enough to live by one or both of these great stores, I suggest you make a trip if you are looking for some inexpensive tech accessories for your summer of fun ahead! Happy shopping and let me know what you find!

 

Random Weekend Haul

 

Last weekend I made this haul video, and I thought I should share it on my blog as well. Not really a tech post but still fun! Enjoy!

 

Unboxing & Haul: Lo-fi Cameras (TLR, Holga & Lomokino)

Photojojo Rangefinder: The Most Hipster iPhone Case Ever

I read somewhere that iPhones have overtaken traditional cameras as the preferred method of image capture and with ever increasing iPhone camera specs and awesome apps like Instagram, its really no wonder. Why carry around a dedicated camera when your phone and a few apps can create a variety of lens effects that rival any point and shoot? So of course Photojojo has taken that to the next level with this ultra vintage looking iPhone Rangefinder case. 

Although you can buy the casing alone for that vintage camera look, this is actually a functional case as well. With the additional magnetic iPhone camera lens kit you have the option to turn your iPhone into a "complete phoneography system."

Carry your phone around in a vintage camera case or slung around your neck with a strap for extra hipster authenticity.

Honestly though, this case really makes me want to buy an iPhone 4(s). That $99 price tag for the complete set is such a small price to pay for the ultimate vintage feel.

What's in Your Little Black Bag?

A few weeks ago, I heard of an online monthly subscription service called Little Black Bag that really caught my attention. I'm already a fan of Shoedazzle, which I love because it has great accessories and an ever expanding line of new items, but ultimately its not as unique as one would expect. Little Black Bag is a completely new social buying website. Based loosely on the Japanese craze "Lucky Bag Sale" where a price is set for a bag whose contents are promised to be valued greater than the purchase price, LBB combines designer accessories with online swapping. Let me just quickly run through how it works. First, like many online personalized accessory websites, you take a style quiz to determine your personal style profile. Next, you are taken to an online gallery of 100-200 items of various value that have been chosen to fit your style profile. You then are asked to choose any one item you see to add to your bag, but at this point you can also "love items" to keep track of others you may also be interested in. With that one item in your bag which is guaranteed to be yours, one to three other items are added to your bag automatically based on your personal style so that the value of the overall bag is $100-$125. At this point you cannot see what the items are, but it does tell you how many items have been added and what category they fall under (make-up, jewelry, etc). So, you head to check out to pay. LBB offers two options, either a monthly subscription price of $49.95 or a one-time buy price of $59.95. Monthly subscribers have the option to opt out on a month if they do not want to participate, and there is no contract, you can cancel your subscription at any time. Once you have paid for your bag, you can now see the other items added to your bag. If you like everything you see and are completely satisfied, you can then hit "Ship to me" and you will receive your LBB in a matter of days. If you are not satisfied with the contents of your bag, well, that's where the social aspect of this site begins. You can then start swapping items in your bag for up to seven days until you are ready to have the items ship. It's important to note, if you choose the swapping option, you do not have to wait an additional seven days for your bag to ship, you can spend a few hours or a few days swapping items until you're satisfied and ship your bag at any point, but after seven days, what you have in your bag will be shipped to you, so you need to make your time count. 

What does swapping entail? Well, swapping works two ways. Immediately upon check out if you choose to delay shipping your items so you have time to swap, you will probably immediately receive offers from other users who want to offer you something of theirs for something in your bag. It's up to you if you want to take their offers, but you get these notifications immediately because when you or someone else has an item they are looking to acquire and an item (or items) they are willing to swap, the notification goes out to everyone who has the item desired. Now, you may have noticed I said items above, because you do not have to make a one for one swap. You can offer more than one item in your bag to swap for another item and the value of your item does not matter. You can offer a swap between items of differing costs, although if you really want something good you should be prepared to make a good offer or expect to be rejected. You can get a leg up on swapping by watching the news feed on the site to see what is in people's bags, what they are swapping and the hot items of the day.

Now, the system is not perfect, and if you have items in your bag that you do not like, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to swap for items you like, which is why it is important to choose that first item carefully and make sure it is something you feel is worth the full price of the bag because you may not get anything else you like. Before I tried out the site, I read through some reviews where people did not like what they ended up with, but I also found some others where people were able to trade and get what they wanted. Personally, I think there is definitely some strategy behind the social swapping aspect of this site and I could totally imagine that there are some people out there who are so good at watching the feed and seeing what is in people's bags that they end up with exactly the items they want each and every time. It really makes me think of that story about the guy who traded a paper clip for a house using Craigslist. Now, perhaps that is an extreme example, especially since you have only seven days to swap, but I think if you're smart about this site you could end up with a bag full of wonderful items, but you definitely need to play the game if you want to win!

I made a video unboxing and haul detailing my experience on Little Black Bag for the first time, so please check it out if you want to see what was in my bag, what I swapped and what I ended up with!

The Missing Links 4.14.12

This week, the tech world was abuzz with news that Facebook had acquired Instagram after it had announced it had reached 40 million users after its release for Android. With all the commentary surrounding this epic move, you may have missed these little gems.

• Take a look at this odd little gadget, and once you realize what it's for and why you need it, you may find it hard to resist... And you may not want to touch your phone again until it arrives!
  
• I suffer from dry, bloodshot eyes after spending the day working at my computer. If you're like me, than this article on how to keep your eyes healthy in the digital age is a must read.
  
• I will admit, I am usually obsessed with the latest and greatest gadget to help make the most of my iPad, but this kick starter project designed to amplify your iPads speaker is a little odd. Take a look and see for yourself.
  
• For a fellow productivity nut, you may be surprised to know the top five time wasters at work. Its quite an eye opener and may help you reorganize your time to be more productive.
  
• In case you were wondering why it was exactly that Instagram was worth 1 BILLION DOLLARS (Dr. Evil voice), here is an explanation. Nevertheless, it still seems like a plot for a bad spy film to me.
  
• And to just top off the Facebook stories, here is a surprising little tid bit you may want to print out and save at work just in case. Who knew allowing employees to play on Facebook was good for productivity? Still, I wonder if the study was funded by Zuck himself.
  

Happy Reading!

{Image via Flickr}

 

Paper: A Beautiful Experience

Paper's simple, yet stunning interface mimics the feeling of your private journal perfectly.

The other day I tweeted "is it possible for a productivity/creativity app to make you more of both?"

Writing is a breeze in Paper, and the variety of pens helps create a unique page that can be color coded, highlighted, and more.

This has been the question lingering in my mind for quite some time now ever since I downloaded the new app Paper by FiftyThree. The app is a seamless mix of productivity, creativity, and note-taking. The variety of pens for the app give the user the ability to express themselves in a seemingly endless number of ways. From sketching to notetaking, drawing to idea mapping, Paper brings the best of creativity to a productivity app. With Paper the user has complete control over their experience, able to transform the app to fit different day to day needs in a way no previous app has been able to. It is as if the full potential of the iPad has been reached with Paper as the app itself seems to disappear under the stroke of the users' finger, opening up the creative channel of the user themselves. Personally, I have never found an app geared towards productivity and creativity that allows me to work in what I consider to be my own natural mode. The thing other great apps like Penultimate lack is truly the ability to mix media. Allowing the user to switch from a true drawing experience to a true writing experience to a true painting experience, all while allowing handwritten notes in a variety of styles. And the beautiful interface doesn't hurt either!

With Paper I am easily able to sketch out ideas in a beautiful and expressive way.

The app itself of course is not without some flaws. There is the issue of the apps rigidity when it comes to manipulating the Moleskine-like journals, (for example one cannot reorder pages of a journal or transfer pages from one to another) and also some issues with the sharing capabilities of the app that are sub par for today's app standards. The app is also missing some great functions like text input and image uploads that could open the app up to scrap booking functionality. All this, however, does not detract from the creative genius of the app as a whole. This app has made my own personal brainstorming sessions even more successful and creative then I could have originally imagined. Perhaps it was my own creativity laying in wait for me, or perhaps it was the app's ability to open up and take in my ideas that forced them out. Either way I am sketching and brainstorming and notetaking in creative ways I have never before experienced on my iPad. As someone who has multiple unused productivity apps downloaded to their iPad, it is interesting that I have found myself continually coming back day after day, hour after hour to Paper.

 

What's in My BAG?

I just finished uploading a fun little video where I discuss what is in my bag! I hope to have a picture soon as well to follow up, but I thought it would be nice to make a video this time around. Enjoy!

Here is my full review of the new DODOcase Essentials case for iPad 2 & 3!

Become a "TV Hacker" in 3 seconds.

Your watching your favorite TV show or movie, when suddenly the bad guy is 60 seconds away from blowing up the moon. There is only one thing your hero can do - hack into the mainframe of the villain and shut it down before its too late. They frantically type away, spitting out lines of code at 80 words-per-minute in an attempt to thwart this evil plot.

20 seconds left, and the impatience of the cast around the hero causes outbursts of "Dammit, dammit! I'm almost through the firewall!"

10 seconds. Your hero is in, writing the final lines of code to deactivate the moon-blower-upper. Beads of sweat drip from their brow.

3 seconds, 2..... Your hero hits enter, flawlessly executing the program with no debugging to save the day once again.

So the question is, do you want to be just like your hero in the show? Just go to www.hackertyper.com and start typing, soon enough and with enough practice you will be able to be just like your favorite actor or actress when they do it on the set.

High End Tech

Love my new DODOcase Essentials, but I wish the magnet sleep/wake function worked. Alas, I will let you know what I hear back from the DODOcase team, and for now I will tend to my library.

 

 

DODODCASE Essentials Unboxing

My new DODOCASE Essentials for iPad 3 arrived today and I did a quick unboxing video to share with everyone since I know so many people have been buzzing about this case online. I am really loving it so far, but I have one major issue. I was under the impression from the DODOCASE.com website that the Essentials case came with a magnetic strip that activated the iPad's sleep/wake function, however, I think I am missing that magnet because mine is not working :( I left a message for DODOCASE on their Facebook page so hopefully they will let me know if this was a feature or not. I should have a full review of the case soon, but in the meantime, here is the unboxing... enjoy!

iPad 3 Video Test

I made this quick little video highlighting my love for my Bowers & Wilkins P5 headphones. The video was shot on my iPad 3 and editing on iMovie on my iPad as well, enjoy!

Backyard Home Office

Lately I have been obsessing a lot about the idea of a backyard home office, also known as a detached home office. For someone who works from home, I think it achieves the balance of convenience and professionalism because you are still working from home, but you are physically outside of your house so I think it gives that "at the office" mentality. In some scenes the extra space can be used for far more than an office and even function as a retreat in your own backyard. Either way I want one, but of course that would mean I would need to get myself a home and a backyard first. Well, we can file this under future plans! Below are some amazing backyard home offices I found from around the web. They are all so unique and peaceful, I would find it hard to pick just one.

Angry Birds: Space - an in-depth review

Not even kidding, just buy it. Seriously stop reading this review and download the game now. Your still reading, why aren't you downloading it? GET IT ALREADY!!!

Okay, okay - you want a real review, got it.
I happened to browse the app store today to see that the newest installment of Angry Birds has been released. Now, I haven't played Angry Birds since the original, and I have avoided the updated games Seasons, Rio, and whatever else they might have come up with. I really didn't like Angry Birds too much anymore, it was old and boring. That was before Space.

Maybe it has something to do with my weird taste in games where anything involving space and orbits makes me happy, but Angry Birds: Space has quickly become my favorite game on my iPhone. It takes the classic game play of flinging birds out of a slingshot and updates it to a whole new game play. Now your birds rocket out, effected by the weightlessness of space, and the pull of gravity due to planets. A helpful guide shows where your bird will fly and how it will be pulled by the new forces. Birds will orbit around planets, taking out pigs on all sides, Black bombing birds will asteroids in weightless space to rocket off in an array of directions depending on where you detonate. There is so much more that I haven't even touched on, but trust me, the whole game is amazing! This game has completely re-worked the universe of Angry Birds and the game play associated with it. I am only on level 1-18 and I am hooked.

So why haven't you bought it yet???

The Commander and the Dodocase

Well, I am not saying that the Dodocase is the Presidents iPad case of choice, however, this visual evidence is quiet persuasive. Yes, President Obama totes his white iPad 2 in a classic Dodocase, which begs the question, what color is the interior lining? Inquiring minds must know!

{Image via HuffPost}

iPad 3 Camera Test

In order to test out the quality of the iPad 3's iSight camera, the other day I went around the house taking random pictures. Some of them, I ended up making minor adjustments to in the new iPhoto app, which I have to say from the short time I was in the app editing the photos it was very easy to use and surprisingly full featured. So here are the pictures I shot, which I think came out very nicely. Overall I am pleased with the quality of the photos, but what do you think?

New Masthead!

I just revamped my masthead as you may notice above. It needed an upgrade and so did the desk itself. I don't even use my iPod Touch very much anymore, so I replaced it with some iPad 3's for a much more up to date look. I also changed the idea board a little by replacing an apple logo with a new logo that Cousy made for me a while back. I love elephants and so a pink elephant will be my official blog logo. I guess that means I'm the pink elephant in the room, but I am okay with that!

Let me know what you think!

iPad 3 Unboxing Video

As promised, here is my unboxing and initial thoughts video. Enjoy!