Tag Archives: Teague Loughman

Scantastic for iPhone Review

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imageScantastic is an exciting, new addition to a long line to the Scanner-Apps-for-iPhone World. Recently released to the App Store on December 24th, Scantastic is a clean, super-fast, user friendly iPhone application that allows for simple one-tap scanning of all your receipts, documents, essays, you name it — Scantastic will scan it. 

Scantastic is feature-packed with several different useful “tweaks”:

  1. simply tap the gorgeously designed app icon
  2. scan your document in less than 2 seconds!
  3. “threshold filtering” transforms your document into a simple, clean, black and white PDF. This is my favorite feature of Scantastic, as it makes your document look professionally scanned.
  4. After scanning, you simply shoot your new PDF off in a quick email or share it on social media, etc.

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The effort and design that went into creating Scantastic is truly incredible! All of the text and font choices are clear and easily readable! The dark/bright colors are very eye-alluring! As you can see from the screenshots, the UI is simply spectacular.

The design is almost so iOS 7 it feels iOS 8!

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Scantastic truly has all the bells & whistles. It will go above and beyond all your scanning needs – and what’s the best part? It’s all in your pocket! Scantastic is a powerful tool for global students and online classroom demands, as well as today’s business professional.

I strongly recommend reading more about and purchasing Scantastic for $1.99 on the Apple App Store.

Review: NOMAD’s ChargeCard & ChargeKey

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In the ever-evolving, technology-run world that we live in today, running out of battery is a big worry for most people. But fear no more, NOMAD has got you covered.

NOMAD Goods recently announced their two new products, the ChargeCard & ChargeKey. Both of which are super small USB chargers that will make sure you are never without a charging cord for your smartphone or tablet.

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The ChargeCard is a credit card-inspired USB charger that is thin enough to fit inside your wallet. The ingenious slide-out-USB design allows for easy access to a charging cord no matter where you are.

The ChargeKey, being the most recent addition to the NOMAD line of products, is shaped exactly how you would picture it, like a key. The key-inspired design can conveniently attach to a key ring, which makes the ChargeKey ultra-portable, coming in at just 2.5 inches long. Another key feature of the ChargeKey is it’s ability to effortlessly bend up or down to fit any charging position’s needs.

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One thing that I felt was lacking when using the ChargeCard or ChargeKey to charge your smartphone, it is very awkward and nearly unable to use the phone while plugged in due to the compact design of the ChargeCard/ChargeKey. Perhaps this will be fixed in the coming versions by adding a cord that can extend to allow for more comfortable usability while charging.

Overall, both the ChargeKey and the ChargeCard are terrifically designed and innovated accessories that change the way you think about and charge your phone. I found myself not even needing to bring charging cables on long trips, as I just used ChargeCard or ChargeKey whenever I needed to, wherever I needed to.

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Just coming in at $25 for each, the ChargeCard or ChargeKey will perfectly compliment your iPhone or other USB-enabled smartphone. You can read more about and also purchase the ChargeCard or ChargeKey at NOMAD’s website here.

Quick Review: Peel Super Thin Case for iPhone 5S

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The Peel Super Thin Case for iPhone is exactly what it says it’s going to be: a simple, thin, and branding-free iPhone case that showcases the incredible design of the iPhone 5S.

The Peel Case weighs in at just 0.35mm thick, which is perfect for people who love to have the “naked” feel on their beloved Apple smartphone.

The Peel case ships in three different color variations that resemble that of the iPhone 5S – Black, Gold, & White. I reviewed the Gold version of the case, and I would definitely recommend the Gold color option to everyone who wanted to purchase the champagne-gold iPhone 5S, but due to low stock & high demand, were not able to get acquire one. The gold finish on the Peel Super Thin Case definitely satisfies my champagne/gold smartphone woes, as it makes my new Black / Slate Grey iPhone 5S look more like the Gold iPhone that I thought I really wanted.

As far as protection for your iPhone goes using the Peel case, I would not say that protection is it’s strongest selling-point, however protection was not #1 on the priority list when designing this product.

The Peel Case for iPhone 5S is an excellent case for people who love to use (and show off!) a “naked”-feeling iPhone 5S, and the complete branding-free, see-through, and thin design of the Peel Super Thin Case definitely add to it’s appeal. However, if your protection needs for your iPhone 5S are a little higher than setting it down on tables or the occasional drop, I would recommend looking at a bit heavier/bulkier cases to protect your iPhone.

The Peel Super Thin Case for iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, & 4/S are available on Peel’s website for an amazing deal of just $20.

Make sure to check out my gallery below for more pictures of the Peel Super Thin Case for iPhone 5S in Gold!

Review: CalypsoCrystal Dune CrystalDock

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Calypso Crystal is a company that is all about luxury, style, and cutting edge. The CrystalDock definitely shows all of the above mentioned qualities and much, much more. However, can it compete with the technology powered iHome docks? Is it really worth the extra money?

All of these questions and more will be answered in my review of the Dune CrystalDock by Calypso Crystal.

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The Dune CrystalDock is all about elegance, luxury, and simplicity, from how the dock is made precisely hand-cut to create asymmetric waves, and then polished to achieve a crystalline shine that sparkles in the sunlight, to the way the dock can be used, as a charging station for your iPhone 4, 4S, 3GS, or 3G.

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The Dune CrystalDock does not yet support the iPhone 5 and it’s new Lightning charger design, but CalypsoCrystal has announced that they are working on a iPhone 5/Lightning version that will be coming out soon.

The lines carved into the Dune CrystalDock are incredibly detailed and very alluring to the eye. The crystal used in the Dune is of very high quality, and is sleek and luxurious enough to be found in a office or library, yet simple enough to be used on a kitchen counter to charge your iPhone. The dock is extremely sophisticated and would complement any executive’s desk or bedside table.

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I appreciate how sleek and functional the dock is as well, with a well-thought-out slot in the back of the Dune for your charging Apple iPhone charging cable, as well as it only weighing in at just 350 grams, it is light, yet portable enough to carry with you wherever you go.

I highly recommend purchasing the Calypso Crystal Dune CrystalDock for the iPhone 4/3 models as it is luxurious, yet sophisticated. You can read more about and purchase the CrystalDock or any other of Calypso Crystal’s incredible products on their ****website. The CrystalDock starts at $119 and the most expensive is $349.

Make sure to check out my gallery below for more awesome HD shots of the Dune CrystalDock.

Review: Peel Super Thin Case for iPhone 5

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The design on the iPhone 5 is incredible, with the sleek lines, the different color temperatures, and the anodized aluminum, who would want to cover their phone up with a case?

A case does come in handy though, when you accidentally drop your iPhone, however, and that’s where Peel’s new iPhone 5 cases come in to play!

Peel’s iPhone 5 cases come in two different colors, each designed to complement your iPhone; black and white. The iPhone 5 case is 0.35mm thick, and when you are using your iPhone, you hardly feel any case on it at all (and that’s the best part!)

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As for protecting your iPhone 5, the Peel case does an incredible job for such a thin case. I dropped my iPhone 5 down the steps, (oh, the things I do for reviews – LOL!) and the case held up surprisingly well with not a single scratch on my iPhone 5, which is pretty unbelievable.

Another feature that I really like about the new Peel case for iPhone 5 is the fact that every single Peel case comes “unbranded” meaning there is no logo or company marks on this case. What that means is that you get a thin, mostly transparent iPhone case, so you can enjoy the full beauty and fun of an iPhone 5 without having the “baggage” of a clunky case on your precious smartphone.

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 Overall, the Peel iPhone 5 case is definitely going to be staying as my “go-to” iPhone case for a long time because of the protection, thinness, and top-quality products used when making this case.

You can read more about, or purchase the Peel iPhone 5 case here!

Review: LifeProof frē for iPhone 5

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When I reviewed the iPhone 5, I couldn’t stop talking about the new innovative design and larger screen size. That said, the iPhone 5 (like any other iPhone) is very easy to break or smash, so you need to invest in researching and buying for a good case. Enter, the new LifeProof frē case for iPhone 5.

Like the original LifeProof case for the iPhone 4/4S (my review here), the new LifeProof frē protects your precious iPhone from all sorts of weather/danger hazards like water,dirt,snow,dust, and shock. The frë also boasts a brand new thinner design, coming in at 0.5” thin & 5.4” long, as well as a much-needed audio sound enhancement for the speakers.

Can the frē live up to its predecessor and still be used on your iPhone? How does it compare to Otterbox’s Armor series of cases? Is it really worth $79.99 for an iPhone case? All of these questions and more will be answered in my review of the LifeProof frē iPhone 5 case.

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As soon as you take a look at the new LifeProof frē, the first thing that will catch your eye is the new contemporary design. LifeProof totally went back to the drawing board and thought up a slew of fresh new takes on the frē case, starting with the back of the iPhone accessory with a clear back window that allows the Apple logo to be displayed in all of its glory.

The frē for iPhone 5 has completely re-engineered speakers to deliver maximum acoustic output and sound quality. From booming, deep bass to pin-dropping whispers, the new Sound Enhancement System on the frē works and sounds a million times better than its precursor case for iPhone 4/4S.

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As for protecting your iPhone, you can’t get any better than the frē. LifeProof tests all of their LifeProof line accessories to be up to standard with all military specifications (Military Standard 810F-516), which keeps the case strong and durable under any stressful conditions.

I have fervently tested the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 Case with multitude of different trials and experiments, from dropping the frē from varying heights, to going for a swim with my iPhone, the frē case has passed all of my testings with flying colors (something that is not easy to do).

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Overall, I would highly recommend the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 case to anyone that uses their iPhone in places where it can become easily broken or damaged, like working in construction or fishermen. The LifeProof frē can also be used for people like me, who want to have the best protection for their precious investment of an iPhone 5.

Compared to Otterbox’s $100 Armor Series, the $79.99 LifeProof frē completely outshines the Armor Series cases in design, functionality, as well as customer support. Plus, who doesn’t love saving money?!

The LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 is the perfect case for protecting your fifth-generation iPhone from all sorts of possible danger, while still maintaining the phone’s sleek design and form factor. You can read more about the LifeProof frē for iPhone 5 on LifeProof’s website and purchase the accessory here.

Review: Apple iPad Mini

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The iPad Mini – a device that has been rumored since the original iPad was announced in 2010 – is finally here. With it, comes some new features and tricks like the newly updated 7.9 inch display, Apple’s A5 chip, and the 5 megapixel back camera, to name a few.

Can this new iPad beat out the Kindle Fire HD or the Google Nexus 7?

How is the new iPad Mini compared to the iPad?

Which iPad should I get?

All of these questions will be answered and more in my review of the Apple iPad Mini.

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Hardware

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The iPad Mini is available in 2 color options, White & Silver or Black & Slate and it comes in 3 storage options: 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB. I reviewed the Black & Slate 64GB model.

The iPad Mini screams through web-browsing, playing games, & checking your emails. I experienced no lag at all, which is very impressive, especially with the new, smaller form-factor. The Apple-made A5 chip is the same processor that’s used in the iPhone 4S & iPad 2, which allows the Mini to cruise through everyday tasks, but for hard-core gamers, I would recommend checking out Apple’s new iPad with Retina Display.

The cameras on the iPad Mini are perfect for FaceTiming with friends and family, with the front-facing camera having a 1.2 MP sensor with HD video recording capabilities and the back camera having 5 MP and 1080p HD video recording. If your into taking and sharing pictures for Instagram or Facebook, it might be better to use your iPhone or smartphone as the iPad Mini’s back camera is considerably weaker than the iPhone 5’s 8 MP camera.

Apple created the iPad Mini mainly for people who are constantly on the go, plus the younger set too! The new display size is definitely more portable coming in at 7.9 inches compared to the iPad’s 9.7 inch Retina display. The iPad Mini’s display may not be “Retina” like it’s sister, the iPad, but because of the smaller display size, text & pictures look very sharp and crisp on the Mini’s display.

Software

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Apple’s iOS software has kept getting better and better each year. Now with the release of iOS 6 this past fall, it is even better. iOS is all based on simplicity and functionality, while still keeping a beautiful user interface.

The iPad Mini comes with Siri, Apple’s new personal assistant, which allows you to ask anything from where to go for dinner or what the score was of the New York Jets latest game, all by talker to “her”. Sometimes Siri isn’t always on par though, and every so often she misunderstands a word or statement, but it’s easy to correct by tapping on the text that you entered and editing using the on-screen keyboard. In most of my testing however, Siri always handled my requests readily with few mistakes.

Also coming pre-loaded on the iPad Mini is FaceTime capabilities, Apple Maps, and iMessage, which adds more great features to the iPad Mini.

FaceTime is a great way to connect with friends and family using the front-facing camera. FaceTime works wherever there’s Wifi available and it uses the front and back facing cameras. Using the app is very simple, and after a few clicks, you’ll be talking with friends and loved ones in no time.

Apple Maps has received a lot of bad coverage in the media over leading users to the wrong addresses or places, but Apple has released a PR announcement saying that they know this is something to work on, and they are putting a lot of effort into making this a better feature in iOS 6. In my testing, all of my Maps navigations correctly led me to the right locations.

iMessage is another way to connect with friends and family over Wifi. You can iMessage anyone that has an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, once you set up your Apple ID your good to go!

Overall

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Overall, the iPad Mini is great for people on the go, or for students who need to write notes and read textbooks. The iPad Mini is super-fast, crystal-clear, and has over 275,000 iPad apps on the App Store at your fingertips. If you are a hard-core gamer or are a professional photographer who might need better graphics or the Retina Display, then I suggest looking at a regular iPad.

The iPad Mini is available from Apple.com starting at $329 USD.

Review: Dock Artisan Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker & Redwood iPhone 4/4S Dock

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I’ve always been intrigued by combining old & new products together, so when I stumbled upon Dock Artisan’s website, I was very interested!

Dock Artisan is a small audio company based out of Murphys, California that creates beautiful iPhone and iPad docks out of re-claimed wood. All of their docks and speaker systems are truly a work of art.

The Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System

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Dock Artisan’s Bamboo Bluetooth speaker is an incredible piece of technology merging together bamboo with high-tech Bluetooth technology to allow audio streaming on your Bluetooth-compatible tablet or phone anywhere, anytime.

The construction and materials used in the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker are of very high quality and in my week of rigorous testing, I hadn’t noticed any scratches or dents, which is pretty impressive considering all of my tests.

The bamboo wood used in the Bluetooth Speaker is California locally grown bamboo, which adds a unique touch to each speaker system, meaning no two speakers are alike.

Pairing the dock with Bluetooth was very simple, just turn on your speaker and Bluetooth on your phone or tablet, and you’ll be connected in no time! The Bamboo Speaker System can stream audio wirelessly up to 30-feet, which isn’t bad for a Bluetooth speaker system.

The quality of the music being streamed from my phone was on and off. It works great if you leave the iPhone very close to the speaker unit, but as you begin to your phone away, the quality of the audio noticeably decreases.

Overall, the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System from Dock Artisan is a very solid product and it truly is a work of art. That said, the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker doesn’t compare to the newer, cheaper Bluetooth speakers available on the market today in terms of sound quality.

I would recommend the Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System to anyone that loves to listen to music and wants to have a beautiful piece of art that can stream that music wirelessly. The Bamboo Bluetooth Speaker System is available from Dock Artisan’s website starting at $250 USD.

The Redwood iPhone 4 Dock

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The Redwood iPhone 4 Dock from Dock Artisan is, as you can expect from my previous review, of very high quality materials and style. The wood used in this Redwood iPhone dock is from Sierra Nevada Mountains. Every year, storms come through these mountains and blow over trees and break their limbs, Dock Artisan gives these trees new life through these exquisite iPhone docks and speakers.

The sound quality on the Redwood iPhone Dock is crystal clear and I didn’t have any problems with the device. Bass came out very deep and all notes played true, which is pretty incredible coming from these famous trees!

The dock can be controlled via remote control, but the best feature about this dock is that once fully charged, music can be played cordless for up to 8 hours, a nice feature for people who are on the go!

Overall, the Redwood iPhone 4/4S Dock is a beautiful piece of art just like the iPhone itself. With the exceptional design, crystal-clear sound quality, and the ease of use on the go, I would recommend this dock to people who have a keen eye for design, but still seek functionality in their mobile products.

You can read more about and purchase the Redwood iPhone 4/4S dock for $200 USD on Dock Artisan’s site here.

Quick Review: Motorola DROID RAZR HD for Verizon Wireless

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TeagueLoughman.com

TeagueLoughman.com

The Motorola DROID RAZR HD is one of Motorola’s newest flagship Android smartphones for Verizon Wireless, and it sure is meant to be one. The RAZR HD boasts a huge 4.7 inch crystal-clear display, rapid-shot capable 8 megapixel camera, and 1080p HD capable video camera, specs that keep every other smartphone out on the market on their toes.

Can this RAZR HD beat out the iPhone 5? Who should get a RAZR HD? Would you rather have an iPhone 5 or RAZR HD for Christmas? You’ll find out the answers to all of these questions and more in my review of the Motorola DROID RAZR HD!

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Highlights

The DROID RAZR HD has a 1.5 dual-core processor and has 16 GB of onboard memory pre-loaded with the option of upgrading to a 32 GB  SD card. In my testing, I experienced ZERO lag time in closing apps, or swiping through the home screens, which is very surprising because I didn’t have such luck with Droid X (2010), which would lag constantly.

Another feature that is unique to the DROID RAZR HD is the huge 4.7 inch HD screen, which makes playing games and watching movies a pure delight! Compared to my iPhone 5, this screen put it to shame. However, because of the huge screen real-estate and the brightness of the display, I found that the battery wouldn’t last as long as my iPhone (more on that to come).

The camera on the RAZR HD is very adequate to me, but it makes up for it in the HD video recording. In my picture testing, the photos taken on the RAZR HD would look very bland and neutral, the videos recorded on the RAZR HD came out with tons of color and came without lag or pauses, which is incredible for a smartphone camera.

Lowlights

I couldn’t find a lot of bad in the RAZR HD, but my main point is that the battery does not last longer than a good 7 hours, which is fine for a student or someone who’s at their office a lot and a constantly near an outlet, but for people who travel a lot; I would recommend getting an extended battery.

In my testing, I would normally turn the phone on at 8 AM and I would hit the “20% remaining” mark around 1:00 PM. So if you are constantly on your phone making calls or checking your email/twitter like I am, you might want to look into buying an extended battery or another battery pack.

Overall

Overall, the DROID RAZR HD is a great smartphone for students and business people, but not might be as useful for people who travel a lot as they will find themselves out of battery fairly quickly. The extra-large bright screen, amazing HD video recording, and absolutely NO LAG, are all key components in the super-smart-phone.

You can read more about & purchase the Motorola DROID RAZR HD from Verizon Wireless on VZ’s website.

Review: Touchfire Keyboard for iPad

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Touchfire started out as a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is a crowd-funding Web site that enables people to help bring promising new products to life. Touchfire ended up raising over $200,000, which is incredible!

The Touchfire keyboard is made from a high-performance silicone rubber, which makes it very easy to clean (rinse in sink), and it is very easy to store. Touchfire uses the magnets in the iPad 2, 3, & 4 to automatically align in place, and on the iPad 1, the non-slip bottom keeps it in place.

So is this new keyboard easier to type with? Can it replace the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard as your go-to keyboard for your iPad? All of these questions will be answered in my review of the Touchfire Keyboard for iPad!

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Quality

The materials used in Touchfire are of very high quality. In my 2 weeks of testing, the Touchfire showed no signs of scratches or tears, which is very impressive considering my iPad goes everywhere with me and I use it 24/7.

How it works

The Touchfire aligns automatically using the iPad’s magnets that are used to attach with the Apple Smart Cover. This is a brilliant feature, because you won’t have to worry about the Touchfire moving or shifting during typing as the magnets hold it in place very strongly. On the iPad 1, the Touchfire sticks on to the iPad using the non-slip button on the bottom of the Touchfire. I don’t have an iPad 1 on hand to test this with, but here’s a video from Touchfire demonstrating how this works.

Usability

Typing with the Touchfire keyboard on the iPad was a breeze. The Touchfire adds tactile feedback to the typing experience on the iPad, which makes it very much like a computer keyboard, and is definitely more easy than typing on the iPad without the Touchfire installed. With the tactile feedback of the Touchfire, I found that I was making less typing errors than normal, which saved a lot of time from having to go back and correct my mistake as I would have to do normally.

Cleaning

The Touchfire can be easily washed by running the keyboard under tap water & drying it with a towel and this is something that I found myself doing a lot of during my two weeks of testing. The Touchfire can get really dirty, very quickly. It accumulates tons of hair, dust, & other particles because of the sticky rubber keyboard. I would find myself washing the Touchfire keyboard every 2-3 days of use, which isn’t bad considering all the typing and work I had done on my iPad in the last few weeks.

Overall

Overall, the Touchfire is an excellent addition to any iPad. It allows you to type faster, decreases errors in your typing, and it is lighter & easier to travel with than a big, bulky Apple Keyboard. If you travel a lot, or write long emails, stories, or notes on your iPad and you don’t want the hassle of bringing along a bluetooth keyboard, and if you don’t mind washing the keyboard every 2-3 days, this is the product for you.

You can read more about and purchase the Touchfire Keyboard for iPad here.