Smokin' Sound - Skullcandy Smokin' Buds with Mic Review

Skullcandy the name has become a beacon of quality meets cool in the earbuds and headphones market, but can the Smokin’ buds stand up to a weeks worth of music and talk use and my standards? Well let’s find out.

I have come to need to a hands free solution due to my day job as medical transport courier and of course phone calls come and go from website related business or loved ones wanting to reach me for random things.

So I went on a quest to a local Best Buy and looked at my options and for $29.99 Skullcandy was the best deal, and when compared to the Apple brand and some of the other companies these were also the coolest looking set with a color I preferred.

Well after opening the box I was treated to a set of ear buds with a lenghty cable, extra buds for different size ears and a hard plastic carry case that snaps shut and stores the ear buds in a safe and dry manner.

The soft plastic material the cable is covered in gives it a really cool feel and well the long cable does make it easy to put your device in your pocket and just be on the go, but at the same time the long cable can get in the way so usually running it under your shirt will make it easier to walk around and go about your day.

The sound is clear both on music and voice and the ear buds are quite comfortable and with the right buds used they will stay inserted without fail, the microphone has a good pick up but it can at some points get away from your face and lose the pick up, so a good solution would be to make it adjustable height for better use.

Overall the earbuds are worth the asking price and more, I would recommend picking these up if you would like to have some great earbuds for music and for handsfree talk.

by

Erick Castillo

Extra Juice of the Apple - PowerShadow i4 Battery Case & Charge/Sync Dock for iPhone 4/4S

The iPhone is one of the greatest advancements in technology of recent decades, and with the advancements new ways of using your phone have come up, for example I use it as my camera and camcorder at events like San Diego Comic Con and sometimes to capture performances when at comedy clubs. Sadly by doing so I drain the battery of my device quicker than you can say “where’s the outlet?”

Of course many companies have come out with charging alternatives, extra life batteries, solar chargers, wireless chargers and so on. 

The PowerShadow i4 by Spyder is an extra life battery that attaches itself like a phone case onto the device, but also comes with a charging dock that allows for easy drop and charge ability. 

The case and charger have a rubber satin finish wich to me is always a plus since it feels like a higher quality device, the case still allows for access to the device buttons and ports. it also comes with a full body charging station that comes with the same rubber satin finish, what makes it stand out the most is that the helps maximize the battery life and also comes with the option of turning the battery on and off. 

The battery does add some body width to the phone but with the 8 hours of extra life it adds it is a small sacrafice made for the convinience, on top of that with the price point not many battery cases out there come bundeled with the charging station, so great value and great product, I will personally be using this at San Diego Comic Con 2012 to help aliviate some of the drain and strain on my device.

www.spyderstyle.com

Get your own

Features
Includes convenient Charge/Sync Dock. Certified “Made for iPhone.” (1) Fits both AT&T and Verizon iPhones. Adds minimal size and weight. 2000 mAh capacity provides up to:   - 8 hours of extra talk on 3G   - 11 hours of video   - 44 hours of music Retains full access to all of your iPhone’s controls, ports, inputs and outputs. Battery level indicator. Recharge and sync without removing your iPhone from the i4 case. On/Off button lets you control when power is delivered to your iPhone. Impact-resistant polycarbonate body with satin rubber finish. Optional in-car charger. One-year warranty.
Technical Specs
Dimensions:   5.01” x 2.4” x 0.79”;   (mm) 127.3 x 61 x 20 Capacity: 2000 mAh (2) Weight: 2.6 oz; 73.7 g Battery type: A-Grade Lithium-Ion Polymer by Erick Castillo

Smart, Sexy, and Safe - Solo Smart iPad Cover

Covers for the iPad are all over the place with different colors, designs, functions, and all kinds of levels when it comes to protection. iSkin is a company that has been around from the start of the mobile device era, and with that experience comes a different way of looking at what the user and the device need for the best value, protection, and style in order to continue proving why they have been around for so long.

The Solo Smart iPad cover has a great slim design that does not really add much to the body except style with color choices to match every taste a user may have.

When it comes to functionality it has a lot to speak of, with proper protection covers on the charging port, head phone jack, and volume buttons so that dust and moisture do not enter the areas, made from a new generation of flexible thermo-polymer that makes it easy to grip the iPad and also gives it a gummy like texture that feels comfortable.

But what makes the Solo Smart stand out the most is the CoverLock Locking system that locks the Apple Smart Cover into the case itself, meaning that you can literally have your cover stay on secured and will not come unsecured unintentionally. So as demonstrated on their site you can hold on to the iPad via the Smart Cover and it will not come undone and add the protection of the case this is one the best cases on the market for all these reasons and on top of that the name brand of quality that is iSkin.

by

Erick Castillo

Japanese Inspired Funk - iSkin Happy Friends iPhone 4 Case

Ever since I received my iPhone 4S for Christmas I have been on a mad search to find the ‘perfect’ case for it.  I have tried a few, but the one that I really like is the aura Happy Friends Edition by iSkins. The case was designed by a Brazilian artist by the name of Cako Martin.  Cako is one of today’s young artists whose ideas and pop illustrations are memorable due to the bright colors and the street style look to his art.  He draws his inspiration from the every day chaos of life from walking in a park to staying at home watching the latest YouTube video.  His work has been published in England, Brazil, Germany, and the USA.

One of the reasons that I like this case so much is the art style of Cako.  Due to the fact that it was a Japanese inspired design Cako’s style reminds me of the Toki Doki style.  The actual case itself is made of a light weight poly carbonate material and the design is printed on canvas.  The Ultra slim fit design of the case provides a very low profile protection.  I like this because who wants their phone case to be thicker that their actual phone.  The case gently hugs your entire device but you still have easy access to the ports and can control all of the buttons with ease.  Another cool feature is that the case will actually enhance your grip on the phone.  It sets my mind at ease to know that it has that feature.  One of the other cases from another company that I tried had a thick rubber cover over the audio output jack and because of that you had to take the entire case off to use the output jack.  With this case you don’t have to worry about that.  All in all this is a great case to have…and it looks good too.

by

Cara Castillo 

Year of the Dragon in Style - iSkin Limited Edition Aura Dragon Case

Occupying the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion.

This is one of the many definitions I have found of the Dragon when it comes to the Zodiac, and seing how we are talking about a product from iSkin it seems like a perfect fit to have them together. The company has released a limited edition Aura case with the Dragon lazer engraved into an aircraft-style aluminum.

The case is dock friendly, slim, light weght, and it’s a simple snap on design, the colors bounce off the case, and the design itself is breath taking. The case is worth getting not just for the amazing art that it has but also that it comes with the great functionality that iSkin offers, overall I say all Dragons from the Chinese Zodiac needs this case, and anyone who loves Dragons in general should be hunting this down while they are still available. 

Visit iSkin

by

Erick Castillo

New Look Same Great Results - LensPen Product Make Over

These five LensPen models – Original™, DigiKlear^®, MiniPro^®,MicroPro™ and FilterKlear™ – feature a stylish new design and state-of-the-art packaging. A completely new look, but with the same unmatched features that have made LensPen an optics necessity, not just an accessory. 

Well we got our hands on each one of these new pens, and to no surprise to anyone here at Disciplined Monkey Studios they are fantastic, the new look includes a new feel to the pens, the more astecthic curve feels a lot better when you grip it compared to the originals.

The new look also includes color coding for those of us who carry more than one type of pen for all the different devices we use on the field, and with the change one would think that the product would change in some way but thankfully the same great solution stays in the pens with 500+ cleanings on eah one it’s still a photographers and touch screen users best friend to have at hand.
 

There has never been a better time to get yourself a replacement pen or for those of you who are starting to get into photography get your first one now.

by

Erick Castillo

New Positions for the iPhone - iKlik Review

This simple piece of plastic is for making your Iphone 4S a viewing station. It has 5 different angles it can be postioned so you have a lot of choices in how you want to use it. It comes with little feet pads to put it in postition and hold the body in place more comfortably and be less slick proof. 

The stand is sturdy and holds your Iphone in place if you aren’t too rough with it. I like that you can have it tilted just a little to almost completely flat depending on how you feel like using it that day. It moves pretty easy, but not loose enough that it will move on you while you are watching a video.. or if you go to pause or play something.

It is just plastic so Im guessing if you are too rough with it, the shelf life will be much shorter then if you treat it like its can break. It’s a nice cheap contraption if you want to be able to place your Iphone next to you  and watch youtube or make calls while you blog, play on facebook, game or check email.

by

Traci Goodwin

Recycling that Saves and Protects - GreenSmart Bag Reviews

I love companies that can take old materials and create a whole new product that is functional and stylish at the same time, better yet if the company also helps conserve and protect nature with the aide of the sales from said products.

Well GreenSmart does all those things and more, I was lucky enough to see some of their products at CES first hand and I have been doing a test run on the Green Puku Messenger bag picture here. 

For example this bag is made from 30 recycled plastic bottles, with a large pocket that can hold a laptop that measures up to 15.4”, plenty of pockets, zipper pocket on top and a smaller zipper pocket on the front it has a lot of storage without being a bulky bag.

A big part of what makes these bags so impressive is the process used to make the fabric, bottles turned into chips, spun into yarn, then woven into fabric and sewn into bags.

And that’s not all they do to help protect and conserve our resources, in fact the bags are named after animals and the proceeds helps the organizations that help protect the animals in the wild. 

For example this bag is named after the Puku is an antelope found in the wet grasslands of Southern Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. When scared, they repeat a shrill whistle sound. Puku are crepuscular, as they are active in the early morning and late afternoon. 

Another one of the products that we tried out was the MacBook 15/15” Laptop Markhor, a slim laptop case with a strap, pretty basic in design but it has enough space for your basic laptop needs.

And so if you would like to do something good for the environment, help endangered species, and have some cool gear go ahead and check out GreenSmart Bags, they are worth the money and good karma.

GreenSmart

Now for your chance to win a MacBook 15/15” Laptop Markhor of your own!

Get on twitter and follow both @Dmonkeystudios and @beGreenSmart then post the following:

Follow @DMonkeyStudios and @beGreenSmart for a chance to win MacBook 15/15” Markhor Case, click the link for rules http://t.co/GcnuVGlP

Participants must follow both to qualify, must be a US Resident in order to win, only 1 case available and only 1 winner will be determined. Tweet must dated between February 13th 2012 and February 24th 2012 to qualify. Winner will be contacted via twitter.

by

Erick Castillo

Livio Radio Bluetooth Internet Radio Car Kit: LVC02A - Review

FM Transmitters come in all shapes and sizes, in fact some offer clear signals and sound, others come with USB chargers built in and finally others simply offer easy to use set up. Well wouldn’t be great if someone came up with a solution for all users and make it a wireless option as well?

Well here we are thanks to Livio Radio and their Bluetooth Internet Radio Car Kit LVC02A we have all those features and more, does it stand up too tech geek standards and still maintains an easy to use interface for the average consumer? Well let’s get to the main features and options it offers.

Well as the name of the product states it is a bluetooth interface device, meaning you can pair it to a mobile device or tablet as long as bluetooth is available. So the initial pairing is quite simple, it really all depends on your device, Apple users have an easy set up and as far as Android or Windows Mobile it will all depend on the software version of the OS.

The device offers a few extra features that make it a premium device, for one it comes with a USB charging port t keep your device battery alive especially when using bluetooth data transfer to get the music going. 

Another great feature is the hands free calling with the noise-cancelling mic, it makes so much easier to take calls on the road and have your music will pause and will take the call, once you are done you just go back to it with the push of a button, it also has a redial on the last call made or received so again simply makes things easier for you on the road.

There is an optional free app that you can download on the Apple App store and the Android Market Place, it’s called “Livio Car Internet Radio” which works great much like Pandora and other music apps out there, the biggest difference is that you can choose the type of music you want to listen to. 

Overall the device offers a great wireless transmission option for those that don’t have an Aux connection in the car stereo and offers an additional solution to bluetooth headsets with the noise cancelling mic and all, the device is very much recommended buy from for it’s simple yet feature full experience.

by

Erick Castillo

Bone Conducted Harmony - AfterShokz Review

Every once in a while you come across technology that just makes everyone you show it too go “Wow!” This is one of those times.

I took a little longer to review this particular pair of headphones because I wanted to get some more insight and mostly reaction from people I know, in all honesty I was blown away by how these headphones work and hence I wanted to make sure I was not the only one that thought they were simply amazing.

What makes these headphones stand out the most is the fact that they do not sit on your ears at all, in fact they sit by your ears but they conduct the music or noise via your cheekbones. There is seriously nothing sitting on, in, or over your ears when they are playing, with a rechargeable battery via a USB connector it makes it impossible to resist maxing out the volume on these.

One of the best parts of using these headphones is when you max out the volume on the player and the headphones you start to feel some vibration on your cheekbones and it becomes quite relaxing when it does it. Other features include water and sweat resistant build, a water resistant pouch to carry them in, and of course the USB connector.

Overall these are comfortable, easy to use, and are just top quality technology that makes it so fun to use and to show everyone you know.

by

Erick Castillo