You are here: Gotta Be Mobile » Review
Tag: Review

iPhone cases are a dime a dozen, but now and then I see one that stands out. Enter the Gasket iPhone case from id America. The id America Gasket case is a brushed aluminum iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S case that looks absolutely stunning. The machined case is inspired by the head gasket you’d find inside a [...]

There are dozens of accessory and case makers in the world attempting to solve the problem of protecting your precious iPad or Android tablet from the pitfalls of modern life.
Some solve this by wrapping it in armor or gel or just mounting it to a stable surface, never to move.
Some solve this by wrapping the tablet in balls.

The Samsung Stratosphere on Verizon makes the 4G LTE a real option for the numerous smartphone owners who need a physical keyboard. While these phones are falling away as thinner smartphones gain popularity, many users still want a physical keyboard. The Stratosphere doesn’t boast the latest specs, like a dual core processor, but the ability [...]

The Nokia Lumia 710 may look like it’s all business from the front, dominated by a large 3.7-inch touchscreen, but around back it’s all play thanks to optional customizable rear back battery covers that adds fun, pizzazz, and a little bit of color to an otherwise sleek all-black or all-white phone. As Nokia’s more mid-range [...]

These days, pretty much all of my gadgets charge over USB. This means my nightstand and office outlets are covered with bulky, unsightly USB adapters. So I jumped at the chance to review the new Power2U AC/USB outlet. This new outlet from NewerTech is an easy to install wall outlet that adds two USB charging [...]

Those of us with Android phones are well used to not having many accessories designed specifically to work with our devices. Speaker docks in particular. Philips’ Fidelio line of speakers for iPhone, iPod and the iPad offered really great sound plus playback and clock/alarm capabilities in a compact form factor. Long did I wish for [...]
![Livescribe Echo Smartpen Syncs Handwritten Notes with Audio Recording [Review]](http://cdn.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0150-150x150.jpg)
Some gadgets seems really cool when you hear about the concept, but after actually using them you realize that tech has already passed it by. Sadly, I think that’s the case with the Livescribe’s Echo Smartpen for all but a small group of people. The pen records your handwritten notes and audio helping you keep [...]

Once a dominant player in the phone industry, through a series of mis-steps Nokia had ceded the U.S. smartphone market to Apple, various phone-makers who are using the Google Android operating system, and Research in Motion, which itself is struggling to keep pace in the competitive market. Nokia didn’t want to play ball with carriers [...]
![MacSpeech Scribe & Dragon Recorder: Dictation Through an iPhone [Review]](http://cdn.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/dragon_recorder6-150x150.jpg)
Dictating on the go with a headset can be problematic, since most headsets don’t fit well in to a compact computer bag. Thankfully Nuance created Dragon Recorder, which works along with Dragon MacSpeech Scribe to make mobile dictation easy enough that I actually enjoy doing so. I’ve previously reviewed Dragon Dictate for Mac, which works, [...]
![Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Review: A Perfect Living Room Companion (Video) [Updated]](http://cdn.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-71-150x150.jpg)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus retains its seven-inch display from the first generation Galaxy Tab. Now, upgraded with a dual-core Exynos processor, Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system, and a number of enhancements thanks to the TouchWiz user interface and some preloaded apps, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus refines on the experience that the Galaxy [...]

The HTC EVO Design 4G goes back to basic black with a stunning design, great user experience through Android 2.3 Gingerbread and the latest HTC Sense 3.0. Priced at a modest $99 on a two-year contract, the EVO Design will not only compete for pocket space of those looking for mid-range smartphone, but also for [...]

The Toshiba Portege z830 is a new Ultrabook that will be on store shelves soon. The Portege z830 packs a lot into a very small package, and we have the first hands on with the z830 outside of a controlled trade show floor. The first thing that will strike you is the size of the [...]

When Motorola had proudly showcased the Atrix 4G earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Motorola Atrix received accolades for the features that it packs. Being among the first 4G (HSPA+) devices with a high resolution 960 X 640 qHD display, the Atrix was deemed the most powerful smartphone in the world thanks [...]

iAudition 2.o records audio on your iPhone. It then allows you to quickly edit the resulting file and either send it via email or post it to an FTP server as an MP3 file, which makes it a great tool for mobile recording. The makers claim it’s the first app that will send MP3 files [...]

Amazon’s new $79 Kindle 4 brings reading eBooks to a lot more people thanks to a nice smaller design and a great price. The upgrade cuts a few features like audio and a physical keyboard in order to hit that price and slim it down. Most people won’t miss them. The smaller, lightweight design makes [...]
![ThinkPad Tablet Review [Editor's Choice] – Built For Business](http://cdn.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/ThinkPadTablet40-150x150.jpg)
Almost as soon as tablets became the hot new thing in consumer electronics, corporations and small business users wanted in on the action, too. While the form factor makes for a sweet portable computing experience, deploying tablets isn’t always feasible due to security concerns and basic usability issues. It’s no surprise that Lenovo would create [...]

With smartphones now possessing better image sensors and some even boasting enhanced optics, we wanted to test out the Motorola Droid Bionic’s prowess at recording 1080p HD videos on a recent trip. I was out in Houston, Texas at HP’s campus and as luck would have it, the SD card on my JVC HD camcorder [...]

The Pantech Breakout is Verizon’s answer to the critics who complain that 4G LTE devices are too expensive. The Breakout doesn’t have the high end specs of the Droid Bionic, but it does bring several firsts to the 4G lineup. The Breakout is the first budget 4G LTE smartphone with a price of $99, it is the first 4″ [...]
![Vogel’s RingO System Mounts iPad to Wall or Car Headrest [Review]](http://cdn.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/Mount-cover-pops-off-if-you-dont-squeeze-releasesIMG_18691-150x150.jpg)
The Vogel’s Ringo iPad 2 Mounting system will put your iPad “anywhere” with a special case that has a round hole in the back fit for the company’s various Ringo mounting solutions. The whole system allows you to use your iPad hands free in home and business locations as well as on the road, where [...]

The HTC ThunderBolt is an impressive phone, as long as it is powered on when you want to use it. I detailed all the reasons I bought it earlier this year, but I failed to take into account the horrible battery life that it has become known for. How bad is battery life on the [...]

There’s no denying that the BlackBerry Bold 9930 is Research in Motion’s best BlackBerry smartphone to date, combining the favorite and capacious keyboard of the historic Bold 9000 series with a modern and elegant design, glass touchscreen, optical trackpad, stainless steel band, and beautiful angles that make the design both modern and classic in the [...]

Usually, when a new Droid phone is rumored to be headed to shelves, people are beside themselves. Case in point, the Motorola Droid Bionic. Yet, when the Motorola Droid 3 began leaking out, there was far less interest than there had been for previous Droid devices. Why? Well, for one, Verizon completely overshadowed the launch [...]

The IdeaPad K1 is Lenovo’s first entrant into the increasingly crowded Android tablet market. After using it for a couple of hours I wanted to share my first impressions of the device. The IdeaPad K1 is one of two Lenovo Android tablets. The IdeaPad K1 is designed for consumers, while the ThinkPad Android Tablet is [...]

My favorite Twitter app is TweetCaster Pro on the Android platform. I’ve been an iOS user for a couple of years and only recently switched my phone, and found this gem in the Amazon App Store. I’m not sure why I never thought to look for it in the Apple App Store, but today I did [...]

I reviewed the iHome iDM12 Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker earlier this spring. The iDM12 provides good truly wireless sound for hours thanks to a battery recharged through your USB port. It connects to your Bluetooth enabled audio device like a smartphone or computer filling a small room with sound. The charging cable also includes an auxiliary stereo jack [...]

If you’re a fan of the pirate genre and are still smarting over this summer’s hollow and forced Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, we have the perfect antidote. Sid Meier’s Pirates! from 2K Games is one of the best games to arrive on the iPad. While it may not quite sport the cutting-edge [...]

Apple’s computers have had the best out-of-box experience for several years. The experience is now even better with the introduction of the new MacBook Air models and OSX Lion. As someone that’s purchased more than a dozen Macs, I’m used to the unboxing experience. If you haven’t bought a Mac in a while (if ever) [...]

Apple claims that the 11″ MacBook Air can run for up to five hours on a single charge. Once again, Apple’s battery life claims are accurate and perhaps a bit conservative. It’s hard to take most PC manufacturers’ battery life claims seriously. The problem is that manufacturers often advertise battery benchmark results that don’t reflect [...]

The latest MacBook Air models went on sale today at Apple retail stores. With the demise of the white MacBook, the 11″ MacBook Air is now the most affordable notebook available. I skipped the first generation of MacBook Airs due to their lackluster performance and sky-high prices.But Apple made me a believer in the MacBook [...]

With last week’s launch of the Spotify music subscription service in the US, American listeners now have the option of joining their European pals in an all-you-can-eat musical smorgasbord. After spending some time with a Premium subscription, we have to say that this is a buffet that many music lovers won’t want to miss. Service [...]

As our smartphones continue to become more “smart” and less “phone,” we all still need to make calls sometimes. However, the carriers’ rates for voice minutes can be a little overwhelming (especially when added to data and texting plans). With today’s data speeds, VoIP is a legit option for many people who want to avoid [...]

Developer Infinite Dreams offers up its game Sky Force for free today in both the Apple App Store and the Android Market. If you like vintage style graphics and scrolling shooters you’ll find this a fun game worth your shot. I like those kinds of games, and so do my kids, so I snapped it up [...]

More of us using our smart phones in the car for GPS navigation, or just listening to our music. The Bracketron Universal USB Power Dock ($29.95) helps: it keeps your phone or other devices right there, easily accessible, and also provides a USB and DC charging port. Unfortunately this accessory is a great idea that [...]

The quest for a good Android alternative to the iPad led me to the Acer Iconia Tab A500. The comparable size and lower price tag of $449 made this a compelling option. I really wanted to like it, but despite some compelling traits I cannot recommend it because of frustrating weaknesses. Since Apple is so far ahead [...]

The HP TouchPad is a new Tablet from HP which runs the Palm WebOS software that HP hopes will deliver a solid iPad alternative. The first HP TouchPad reviews have gone live and according to early reviewers, while the TouchPad is able to nail some things, the total package isn’t ready to take on the [...]