Todd Bernhard

Author Details

Todd Bernhard's picture

Author Details

Todd Bernhard

Todd Bernhard is a bestselling (6+ million downloads) award-winning (AARP, About.com, BestAppEver.com, Digital Hollywood, and Verizon) developer and founder of NoTie.NET, an app developer specializing in Talking Ringtone apps including AutoRingtone. And his profile photo is of the last known sighting of Mr. Bernhard wearing a tie, circa 2007!

An iPhone is almost always attached to his hip or in his pocket, but over the years, Mr. Bernhard has owned an Apple Newton, a Motorola Marco, an HP 95LX, a Compaq iPaq, a Palm Treo, and a Nokia e62. In addition to writing for iPhone Life, Mr. Bernhard has written for its sister publications, PocketPC Magazine and The HP Palmtop Paper.

If you're like me, and most Apple users, you probably have multiple iOS devices. But even if you and your household have a mixed environment of Android and Apple gear, the Udoq (starting at $124.80) universal docking system has you covered. This beautiful, award-winning, aircraft-grade aluminum docking station hides away charging cables so there's just one cable running to the A/C outlet. Speaking of aircraft, it even looks a bit like an airplane wing.

If you like PopSockets but wish there was a larger version for iPads and other tablets, there is good news from Safetray Products. The G-Hold iPad Holder ($29.95) is similar to a PopSocket, but it is larger and it can be more easily repositioned because it uses Micro Suction not adhesive. Safetray, as its name suggests, is known for similar adapters to help waitstaff keep a grip on serving trays; so this is right up the company's alley.

One of the coolest gadgets I saw CES, according to myself, my friends, and my family, was the Pionears Wireless Earbuds ($69.99) from Origaudio. At first glance, it looks like an oversized Zippo lighter (about the size of a deck of playing cards), but it's really a charging case for two remarkably tiny earbuds. And the lid snaps open and closed (thanks to magnets) just like a lighter, but for a much healthier use case! The storage case itself has a 4,400mAh battery; and what is really cool is that it slips into a charging dock with integrated A/C wall plugs, so no cables are needed.

I reviewed the earlier version of Nomad's USB Hub, and I liked it then, but since then, Apple introduced phones with Qi-based wireless charging, so I had to use a third-party charging pad next to my Nomad hub. RECENTLY, I was able to try the USB Hub - Wireless ($79.95) from Nomad, which was announced at CES and will become available to the public soon.

Why have speakers for your Mac or PC and separate ones for your wireless devices? Logitech has an interesting alternative with the MX Sound ($99.99). The beautiful speakers can plug in to your computer using the 3.5mm input jack, while also being paired with not one but two Bluetooth devices. This means you could connect an iPhone and an iPad to the same high quality speaker and alternate use between the devices.

I was expecting a more outrageous design for a speaker named Outcry Extreme ($54.99) from a brand named Wicked Audio, but that's what you get for making snap judgments. In reality, the Outcry Extreme looks like a high-end speaker from Sonos, but it's a fraction of the price. There is one styling cue that is subtle, but it's there. The Wicked Audio logo is embossed in the metal grill, if you're looking for it. 

Perhaps the best smart accessory you can get for your smart home, if you have a dog or cat, is the SmartFeeder ($119.99–$149) from Petnet.io. I have a dog that I love, but my wife and I work and our kids are at school, so it's nice to know that our dog can be fed regularly. Additionally, we try to be precise about how much we feed our dog, and the Petnet.io app lets us choose the exact amount of dry dog food. The app is elegant and simple and I found it easy to set up the app and the online account, as well as the hardware.

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