Gadget Guru: A new way to protect electronics in style
You might not think toast, wood and portable electronic gadgets have something in common, but sure enough they do.
A company named Toast designs and manufactures wood-themed protective covers for just about every portable gadget. After installing them devices such as smartphones, gaming consoles, tablets and laptops, you can have a device with an old-school or modern look, depending on your preferences.
Regardless of the cellphone or smartphone I’ve used over the years, I have always strived to find the thinnest so the device wouldn’t bulk up. The wood toast cover adds a mere 1/32nd of an inch of thickness. A leather version adds 0.059 inches.
Toast sticks to the device with a removable 3M adhesive backing that doesn’t leave permanent damage or residue behind.
After testing Toast on my iPhone and MacBook Air, I was impressed with the look, feel, ease of installation and durability. Each piece is custom-made in the U.S., and text can be added for personalization.
Along with the fashion statement Toast makes, it also protects from bumps, scratches and dirt.
Prices vary depending on the device.
More information: toastmade.com
Wireless earbuds
I reviewed the Sol Republic Amps earbuds a few years ago and thought they were excellent. The Amps Air earbuds ($149.99) add a dimension to the great sound with wireless freedom.
Cutting the cord is common in the tech world and with iPhones setting the standard with no true headphone port, wireless is the only way to go.
Bluetooth makes the sound happen in earbuds that fit comfortably – four different ear-tip sizes are included to ensure a secure fit – and produce awesome sound.
My first choice for testing sound devices is with classic rock, which typically is bass heavy. The Amps Airs handled it well at any volume, and that was also the case when switching to blues and big band music channels.
Like any Bluetooth headset, charging is required. Users get three hours of audio before a recharge is needed. The Amps Air come with a hard cover power case, which doubles as a charging station with its internal 2200mAh battery.
There’s also a USB port built into the case for charging a phone. Users get about 15 charges for the earbuds before the case needs a charge.
The earbuds are water-resistant and have a multi-function button for controlling music and a built-in microphone for hands-free calls. They are available in jet black, rose gold, rich teal and deep blue.
More: solrepublic.com
Smartphone cameras
Olloclip, which makes a lens system to improve smartphone cameras, announced compatibility with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The lenses include wide angle, telephoto and macro.
Moreover, the company expects to have an announcement soon about a lens system for the iPhone X.
The multi-lens system with precision-coated ground glass optics is portable, goes on and off with ease and is versatile for still images or video.
More: olloclip.com
Contact Gregg Ellman at greggellman@mac.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greggellman
This story was originally published October 25, 2017 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Gadget Guru: A new way to protect electronics in style."