Darphynia's Diary

Image courtesy of AfterShokz.com Some of my favorite companies were at CES this year, and one of them is AfterShokz .  You can read all about my first experience here .  AfterShokz combines the safety of bone conduction with lightweight headsets that allows the user to run, walk, and do just about anything, all while hearing his/her surroundings.  Since some models connect via Bluetooth, there are no wires to worry about, and your ears won't get sore from buds or heavy headsets.  If you prefer a wired device, they also carry wired models .

There are so many gadgets out there that it can be difficult to decide what to take, especially when we travel.  What items do I need to take?  Which cables will I need?  How will I pack them?  How much room will they take up?  These are a few items I like to take whether I am flying or driving to my destination. 1.  Macbook Air + Charger   ($899.00 and up) Image courtesy of apple.com I am so glad that I was able to purchase the MacBook Air.  It was awhile ago (mine is the 2011... I think), but it still runs as well as the day I purchased it.  I chose it for several reasons.  It has everything I need program-wise with ample storage.  Another big selling point was the weight.  It weighs next to nothing (~3lbs.), so I carry it with ease.  Since I have neck and back problems, it is difficult to carry weight.  If you are in the market for one, I suggest that you look at the r efurbished section first.  A...

I was debating whether to make this a tech post or wellness post.  In this case, the two go hand-in-hand, so I chose wellness. Image courtesy of aftershokz.com AfterShokz has created a line of amazing headphones...well, unconventional "headphones", that utilize military-grade bone conduction technology .  Have you ever wished there was a way you could listen to music, and still be tuned in to your surroundings?  AfterShokz has the answer, and they come in three forms.  Before I get into their products, how many of you workout at night?  Even though I have never felt unsafe, there are inherent dangers when walking, jogging, etc. in the dark.  You forget to wear reflectors, have your headphones/earbuds on or in, and SPLAT!  You've become the next news story in your town, not to mention "one with the street".  Or, you're walking around, talking on your phone, and smack into the person walking towards you because you weren't paying attention.....

The final day of CES, which is a shortened day, was spent between the Sands and the LVCC, saying our “goodbyes” to everyone. We also learned that Android had a pin event . Various booths were giving out limited Android pins, and it reminded me of when I used to trade at Disneyland (now, I'm just a collector. . . and no, I'm not ashamed to admit that). Had we known about the trading, we would have paid more attention. There was an app associated that allowed the user to mark which pins were obtained and where others could be found. There were 45 pins in total, and we only got about 4 or 5. . . it, literally, would have taken an entire day just to collect them all. I feel like I need to complete the collection...hopefully they have it again next year. Were you able to get any? If you were, which ones? We also saw a kiosk called SAMPLEit , which allows consumers to purchase sample-sized bath, beauty, fragrance, snack, detergent, and hair products for around $1.00-$2.0...