“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 17, 2012
Shaving Body Hair BELOW the Neck Line, Wait, What?! – Norelco Bodygroom Pro
I have reviewed and tested a few shavers in my time, and I sort of view a shaver as a commodity. My face simply cannot handle razor blades, so I always go with an electric shaver. I have been shaving this way for years. Well, recently I was approached by the Norelco team to write a review of a shaver…
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August 9, 2012
A Plush, Propping Pillow for your iPad
I have seen many different types of cases for iPads out there and most of the ones that I have reviewed are for "out in the world" use cases, meaning they provide hard case protection (and some even include Bluetooth keyboards). But then I got to spend some time with the CushPad, which is a large, bulky, pillow-like "case" that…
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August 8, 2012
The Anatomy of my Targus Conquer Plus Blogger Backpack
Have you ever wondered what type of equipment bloggers carry around with them? I do. And I'm always intrigued by the cases or packs that they use. Mainly because I want to figure out what I need in my own case to be a prepared blogger. For several years, I used a custom-made backpack that I hand-selected the materials for.…
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July 30, 2012
Getting Rugged in the 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X SUV
For 7 days, my family and I went off-roading in the 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4x SUV way up deep into the mountains with no signs of humanity for miles. Well, actually we didn't, we only drove over to Monterrey, CA, but in my mind, I imagined taking the Xterra up into the mountains using the 4x4 the entire time. We…
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July 20, 2012
Dropcam HD is the Ultimate Home Monitoring Webcam Now with HD Video, Night Vision & 2-Way Audio
Almost two years ago, I reviewed a new wireless webcam that I felt was a clear winner, especially for families - the Dropcam. It was by far the easiest to set up and use, wireless web-connected video streaming camera that I had used. Over the past 2 years, I used it pretty much every day. It allowed me to have…
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July 18, 2012
Technology & Style Drive the 2012 Ford Edge Limited Edition
I have been test driving Fords for a few years now and I see an evolution happening. Not only are the autos becoming more stylish, the technology driving them is evolving. I remember first testing out the Ford Sync (when it was known more as Microsoft Sync) in the 2010 Ford Flex. Now, Ford has kept the innovation engine running…
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June 27, 2012
Review of the 2012 Nissan Juke – A “Peppy” Crossover from Nissan
The 2012 Nissan Juke is a pretty unique car. It has a crossover styling and Nissan bills it as "the bold urban sport crossover." And they aren't kidding. The Juke is very distinctive when it drives by. I remember first reading about the Juke and how it was targeted towards 20-30 year old males. Well, I can tell you that…
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June 14, 2012
Burn Note Lets You Create Single-Use, Disposable, Mission Impossible-esque Messages…And It Works!
We all know how cool those self-destruct messages in Mission Impossible is - "this message will self-destruct in 5 seconds" - and then the device playing the message bursts into flames or explodes or melts or something neat like that. Well, you can get that same type of message destruction, but without all of the smoke and fire with Burn…
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June 12, 2012
Looking for a First Car for your Teenager? The 2012 Kia Rio SX Might Be A Good One!
Most of the cars that I have reviewed to me seem to be more geared towards the established business person with some disposable income and possibly a family (especially with some of the larger SUVs or crossovers). These cars tend to be more expensive in many ways, from initial cost to the gasoline that they consumer (lower gas mileage). This…
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June 11, 2012
HighTechDad’s Father’s Day 2012 Reviewed Gift Buying Guide
Rev up those Father's Day gift engines, it's that time of year again! Yeah, I'm a bit late in getting together my list of products that you might want to consider for your dad for Father's Day, but you will still have a few days to get those gifts (or write up a nice IOU card). Anyway, this is a…
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June 6, 2012
Powerless Cooling Technology in your Bed? Check Out Sleep Number’s In Balance Bedding Solutions
If I told you that my bed was now high-tech, would you believe me? I would think that you would as there are all sorts of devices and electric beds that adjust firmness or contour. But what if I told you that the technology doesn't require any electricity or batteries. You might be a bit more intrigued, wouldn't you. So…
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June 5, 2012
Playing the ECO Game in the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid – Saving the Environment, One Road Trip at a Time
I've reviewed a pretty good handful of automobiles now and there seems to be something common about all of them, they didn't really have that good gas mileage. Some even made me embarrassed to drive down the street in, because I knew that they were gas hogs. So, I must say that I was really happy when Kia asked me…
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