“Hardware” collection
Explore the physical components and high-performance peripherals that power the modern digital environment. This category features rigorous testing of computing hardware, advanced power solutions, and durable equipment built for demanding tech enthusiasts.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →January 5, 2012
Custom Cases for Gadgets like Kindle Touch or Macbook Air, Hand-Crafted by Rickshaw Bagworks
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a local San Francisco business to see their craft in action. The company is Rickshaw Bagworks and they built, based on my choice of color and material, one of the best blogger backpacks that I have owned. My full review from back in 2009 goes into the details of materials…
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January 3, 2012
The “Power” Behind the New 2013 Ford Escape
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Ford folks at a San Francisco 49er game. There I got to see a preview of the new 2013 Ford Escape, which is billed as a "smart utility vehicle." I didn't actually get to test drive it, but I did have a chance to test out a new,…
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December 22, 2011
A Quest for the Holidays – The 2012 Nissan Quest
I sit in a darkened cafe. About a block away, packs of people are streaming into the San Francisco Opera House as part of a holiday tradition that goes back decades. Dressed up with kids in tow, they are off to see the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker. I have seen the Nutcracker ever since I was a small child. It…
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December 20, 2011
Ultra Giveaway! Win an Ultrabook from Some #UltrabookDads!
I'm going to keep this short and sweet since I have already written a bit about Ultrabooks and I'm going to be talking about them more in the coming weeks. So let's cut to the chase...Jeff Sass (who is a partner in crime on the Cast of Dads podcast as well as a fellow Intel Advisor) and I have been testing…
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December 20, 2011
I’ve Become an Ultrabook Dad!
I'm a dad who loves gadgets. That's part of the reason why I have this site is so that I can share this love and hopefully provide insights and understanding into the complex world of consumer electronics. While I normally go by the nom de plume of "HighTechDad", I have a new name that I'm going to assign to myself…
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December 14, 2011
Training Wheels without Training Wheels – The Gyrowheel
I'm a bit of a slacker daddy. My kids seemed to be the only ones on the block who were last to learn how to ride their bikes. Chalk it up to me either being a bit lazy or them being extremely busy with a bunch of other activities (ballet, gymnastics, piano, acting, dance and oh yeah, school). Regardless of…
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December 5, 2011
Norelco’s Mustache Trimmer & SensoTouch 3D Shaver “Shaves the Day” After Movember
For the month of November, I grew facial hair. I wasn't trying to make my wife upset nor prevent my kids from kissing me because I was too scruffy. It was to have a public show of support for Movember. Movember is a movement that was created to raise awareness of various male cancers like prostate or testicular cancer during…
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November 14, 2011
Count ‘Em – 22 Pockets in a Lightweight Vest – Scott E Vest
I'm writing much of this review on an airplane right now. And I'm wearing a Scott E Vest (SEV) Classic Men's Travel Vest. Just a few minutes ago, I lost my free drink ticket in one of the 22 pockets in the SEV lightweight vest. I did manage to find it a few minutes later, buried deep in one of…
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October 28, 2011
How To Fix Applications Crashing After Upgrading to Apple iOS5 on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
The upgrade to Apple's iOS 5 is a few weeks behind us now and most people are up and running on it. And, now the iPhone 4S is out in the market and more people are migrating over from older iPhones to the new iPhone 4S. I haven't heard of too many issues as part of the upgrade process, though…
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October 17, 2011
iOS 5 Tips: Cell Data for Purchases, Custom Vibrations and Hourly Weather
Last week I talked about a few new tidbits and tricks in Apple's new version of its mobile operating system, iOS 5 (enable Emoji keyboard, get the camera button to appear in the lock screen and how to launch the new built-in dictionary). I have 3 more pretty cool little tips and tricks this time around, namely: cellular data for…
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October 14, 2011
iOS 5 Tip: How to Launch the New Built-in Dictionary on the iPhone or iPad
I keep uncovering lots of little surprises in Apple's new iOS 5 software released this week for the iPhone & iPad. Yesterday, it was the activation of the camera button on the iPhone's lock screen. This one is just as useful and is extremely helpful. Included in the OS is now a full-fledged dictionary (that even looks like the dictionary…
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October 13, 2011
iOS 5 Tip: How To Activate the Camera Button on the Lock Screen on your iPhone
With iOS 5 for the iPhone launching yesterday, there are a flurry of new features that are coming to light. There has been plenty of coverage of these but I thought that I would pick a couple that are particularly cool or helpful and briefly discuss them. One of these is the camera button on the lock screen. Of all of…
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