“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 →April 25, 2011
10 Days in a Lincoln MKX – A Crossover SUV with an Almost Perfect Blend of Technology and Luxury
It seems that I have started sort of an annual tradition every Spring Break. For the past two years, Ford Motors has graciously lent me a car to enjoy with my family during our vacation. Each year thus far, we have driven from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back again. And each year, the car that we used has…
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April 20, 2011
iMovie & the iPad 2 = Fun Afternoon Creativity With the Kids
What do you get when you put together 2 kids, a dad, some stuffed animals, an iPad 2, iMovie and a bunch of pent up creativity? Well, I found out this past weekend as my kids and I created an entire movie (albeit short) in just a few hours using only an iPad 2 and iMovie on it for the…
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April 18, 2011
“It’s Like Walking on Springy Marshmallows” – New Sneakers from Crocs: Bowen & Hover Lace Ups
Footwear isn't exactly very techy, so why am I writing about it? Well for starters, I don't always write about tech. There are other things in life too, or so I'm told. Supposedly you have to sleep, eat, get dressed, shower, work, get exercise, laugh and do some other non-tech related things...right?! Let's rewind a bit to the "get dressed"…
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April 14, 2011
A Perfect Internet-Based Phone Service for Your Home Office or Second Line for your Kids – Ooma VoIP
Talking on the phone has become easier and easier. With unlimited calling now from both land lines as well as cell phones, many people simply don't worry about talking on a phone for a long period of time. Some people are even completely switching out their home phone with a cell phone. Personally, I'm not quite there yet. Yes, we…
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March 22, 2011
Is Your Life Fragmented? Mine Is! But My Hard Drive ISN’T with the new Diskeeper 2011
Just yesterday I was thinking how nice it would be to be able to split myself into multiple fragments, each part commissioned to do something else. One would go to work, one would help get my kids to school, one would catch up on all of the "honey do" items around the house, one would spend time with my wife…
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March 21, 2011
Epson’s Top of the Line WorkForce 840 All-in-One Inkjet Printer – Value & Performance in One Package
About 4 months ago, I did a review of the Epson WorkForce 635 which I was quite impressed with, and before that, I had a some experience with the WorkForce 610 which I believed to be a nice entry-level inkjet printer for families or a small business. I really like the WorkForce 635 and am (still) pretty amazed by the…
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March 2, 2011
The MicroVision SHOWWX+ Laser Pico Projector is Small, Easy to Use & I’m Giving One Away!
I have only reviewed a couple of pico projectors but that is enough to convince me how great having such a small, portable form factor is. Pico projectors are a very similar to those projectors you find in conference rooms or schools, but much, much smaller and with less light output. But what you may be lacking in light projection,…
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February 22, 2011
Maintain Movie Star Quality Stubble with the “i-Stubble” by Conair for Men
Ever wonder how so many movie stars are able to keep a great looking face full of stubble day after day? Well, they probably have an expensive barber that follows them where ever they go. If you want to do it yourself, you need to use a groomer or beard trimmer and spend time carefully trimming your stubble down to…
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February 13, 2011
4-Way iPad Keyboard Case Review: Sena Keyboard Folio, Kensington KeyFolio, ZAGGmate & tyPad
For many people, the iPad is fine the way it is...as just a tablet. However, for me, I needed something that was more than just a tablet but less than a laptop or even a netbook. That sweet spot requires one key thing...literally, a physical keyboard. So, why would anyone want to lug around a keyboard? I actually know quite…
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January 31, 2011
MacWorld 2011 – Sort of a Yawner with a Few Moments of Wakefulness
I have been going to the MacWorld Expo for many years now and I'm really sad to see it losing much of its excitement. When Apple was there, showcasing new products and innovations, there was a vibrancy and energy. Ever since Apple pulled out of the Expo, I feel that it has been going downhill. Apple provided the weight to…
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January 24, 2011
Congrats Sony, You Have a Winner with the NEX-5 Digital Camera
At CES 2011, I was introduced to a fantastic digital camera made by Sony. It's the NEX-5 and while it is not exactly a Digital SLR camera (I did mistakenly call it that in my video below), it is perhaps the smallest digital camera that has a detachable and interchangeable lens. I have used a few small digital cameras in…
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January 21, 2011
How To Automatically Set Up your Mac’s Work Environment Based on WiFi Location Detection – AirPort Location
There is a lot of great free software out there that provides tremendous value. Smart programmers always want to showcase their talents and I love the fact that there is a never ending stream of interesting applications coming from the developer community. I won't even start to mention some of the free Mac apps that I use that help me…
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