It's nice to see Sony still making weirdly specific high-end gadgets such as the TX800 [Sony.com; Amazon has it in white], even if $240 is a lot of sticker shock for a voice recorder. It's tiny, about 4cm-square, and comes with a corresponding remote control. The fit and finish are clearly in a league above the spy-gadget junk moldering in my drawer; it's in the same lineup as the bigger, cheaper UX560 that's the de rigeur voice recorder among reporters who are too fancy to sully their pockets with something by Olympus. There's built-in storage, iOS and Android management apps and AI noise reduction, but two sharp limitations that give me pause: it requires proprietary Sony headphones to monitor locally, and doesn't broadcast the audio to the remote.
A tiny spy-gadget audio recorder that isn't junk
Microsoft Surface Duo reviews
Microsoft's Surface Duo is a clamshell device about the size of a pocket notebook. Open it up and there are two facing touchscreens. Is it any good? The Verge's Dieter Bohn says the hardware design is excellent, but it's buggy and far too expensive at $1400. The feel of opening this device like a book… READ THE REST
Reviewers of AmazonBasics gear complain of dangerous items
A CNN investigation into the AmazonBasics lineup of inexpensive yet seemingly good-enough electronics gear found dozens of products that melted, exploded or started fires: "Dozens of AmazonBasics product are flagged as dangerous, but many are still being sold." consumers have raised serious safety concerns about AmazonBasics items in complaints to government regulators and in reviews… READ THE REST
The Decision Maker
Are you facing a difficult decision? A binary one? The Decision Maker is for you. A pendulum forced by the power of magnetism to oscillate between signs marked "YES" and "NO" until coming to settle on one of them, the Decision Maker is a simple and surprisingly time-consuming way to put your future in the… READ THE REST
Bamboo isn't just for pandas. Check out these 40% bamboo sheet sets at under $35
When was the last time there was a new addition to your bed sheet rotation? Has there been a new set of sheets on your bed in the last 18 to 24 months? For many, the answer is probably no. And while you might be surprised to hear it, you're actually supposed to be turning over… READ THE REST
This portable Global Drone sports a 4K camera and great flight features for under $100
Not too long ago, buying a flying drone for under $100 all but guaranteed you'd be back in the market for one soon — at that price point, they were often all but definitely going to disappoint. But the market has changed. Now, you can not only find some quality drones that don't break the century… READ THE REST
Save up to 70 percent on flashlights and other outdoor lighting tools for the summer
With the days heating up and summer excursions beginning to fill everyone's schedules, the outside world is beckoning once again. But let's not forget — the wilderness is called the wilderness for a reason, and if you aren't careful or adequately prepared, the wilds can get pretty scary pretty darn quick. Preparedness doesn't get any… READ THE REST