iCaddy... Reviewed!

This one is for the parents looking for a portable cradle solution for their kids (or themselves).

This is the first review for the new format... which will allow for things to be segmented for those of you looking for specific information for a product. Enjoy!

If the iCaddy looks familiar, that's because it was revealed at CES & Toy Fair as they gear up for several major retailers in the USA & Canada.

The iCaddy we received is a bit on the... pretty side, but outside of the Molly Rosner options, they're also going to have licensed options representing Mossy Oak, Marvel, etc. Currently, there are 13 different themes to choose from (including a Skull design... and one with a Hawaii vibe).

Fun fact: This was created by a 7-year-old girl who started with nothing more than cardboard and toilet paper rolls to keep her tablet propped up. Great ideas usually emerged as solutions to problems... so that's cool. Her big brother took it from there and based on her design, the iCaddy was born.

The iCaddy is simple enough to use. It's a cradle that allows for you to position your phone, tablet, and even the Nintendo Switch in position so that they don't require you to prop them against something (or use that Nintendo Switch kickstand). That's a plus because you don't want to hold your device all the type, and this could be used to watch tutorials on cooking... video chats, and whatever else. Yeah you can kick back and watch a movie, but get the most out of it.

When running low on juice, the 2600 mAh Lithium-Ion power bank is just one plug away to get you charged back up. The plug that comes with this device is a micro USB... but that doesn't stop you from connecting a USB type-c. The storage compartment has enough space to place the USB cord along with the headphones... which are also a nice plus because parents don't always want to listen to what they're kids are tuning into (there are parents having nightmares about Baby Shark).

The included earbuds are 20 - 20,000hz, with an impedance of 320hm, and a sensitivity level of 104dB. They aren't the best headphones in the world, but they're included.

The iCaddy feels sturdy enough to take a few minor bumps, but... I'd be wary about dropping this on the floor (especially if it isn't carpeted). It just feels like it would crack... especially in the cradle arm that holds your device. This product is made of Food-Grade ABS Plastic.

The headphones are protected with metal around the sensitive areas, like the jack. I'd suggest Bluetooth headphones if parents want to protect the investment. Not because of the included headphones, but they're corded. I just see some kids jumping up from their chair and the cord tugging... causing the device and the iCaddy to hit the floor.

The iCaddy is totally portable, and you're able to just close it and place it in a bag or your pocket (if you have one big enough). The power bank adds to the portability because you don't have to sit near a plug outlet. 

You can place the iCaddy on just about any surface and enjoy yourself. That said... in a future version of this product... I'd suggest grips on the base because this will slide on a tilted surface. Believe me... I tried.

The iCaddy comes in at $24.99 retail, which is... okay. The sweet spot for me would be $20 without the grips on the base. Overall, iCaddy is a pretty cool product. It's a cradle... but it gives one of the pluses of a docking station (via the power bank), portability, and... space to store the included earbuds. 

Usability 5

Durability 3

Portability 5

Price 4

4.25 out of 5 Cool Points

Check out the iCaddy for yourself at ShopiCaddy.com

Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

This product was provided to us for review.

eniTAB360 Universal Tablet Holder... reviewed!

Got a tablet? Need a versatile holder without it being a high priced first-party accessory? This review is for you. 

One of the reasons I give props to this tablet holder right off the bat is the ability to connect it to any tablet... you don't have to worry about a case that can house a certain size tablet because it connects to the back of any you have. I know that prompts the question... "Can it hold big and small tablets?", and I have to say that it does... based on which size you buy. The small one can hold tablets up to 8.5" and the larger one can hold tablets 8.5" and larger (I'm not talking about Wacom Cintiq 27" tablets... think portable ones like iPads).

This universal tablet stand adjusts without having to detach or retighten anything, and since it's not as bulky as it could be... you can keep it attached to your tablet inside a protective travel case. There is actually a Filofax case that has a reserved sleeve for the kickstand, which makes sense as the maker of the attachment.

The thing that attaches the holder to your tablet is a micro-suction technology (silicone based polymer) that holds quite well from my experience, and since you're able to spin this thing 360 degrees it'd better. Going back to the grip, no need to worry about it being stuck to your tablet forever more... because it comes off and left no marks. The package actually comes with this little removal card if you desire to take it off, so no need to buy it over again if you switch tablets.

This tablet holder also includes a friction hinge and grips on the kickstand... so no need to worry about the eniTAB360 sending your tablet sliding. I know it can rotate and also tilt your tablet, but one thing I'd prefer is the ability to lock it in place. I know the sides of tablets are flat and that works, but a plus would be the ability to lock it in place for those not so conventional placements.

eniTAB360 comes in a pretty good retail box that should keep it protected in shipping, and the overall attachment is lightweight and durable. One thing I'd change about this attachment is the $19.99 retail price tag, which isn't super steep, but the sweet spot would be $14.99 to me... and $9.99 would be a steal.

Overall, the eniTAB360 allows you to bypass the more expensive and/or bulky tablet holders... while still maintaining quality, durability, and portability. I didn't feel like I was carrying anything extra around because it's attached directly to the back of the tablet without adding extra unnecessary weight. So if I want to watch some movies on a plane, play a game, read an eBook, etc... nothing else is needed to accommodate me (except my headphones).

Product Design 5

Product Quality 5

Functionality 5

Accessories 5

Price 4

4.75 out of 5 Cool Points

 Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

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This product was sent to SDGT Entertainment by the Filofax company.

This is for the Manga Fans: Attack on Titan

Get your hands on some Attack on Titan manga action... now!

 Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!

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Solo Rival... reviewed!

Before I jump into the specifics of the review, I just want to give a shout out to Matt from Solo's brand communications team for taking the time to reach out. Instead of simply sending a backpack to SDGT, he wanted to find out what my needs were... when it comes to a backpack. From there... he decided the best fit for me is the Solo Rival you see below, so I just wanted to put that out there.

I knew the backpack was coming, but I can't lie... I was excited when it arrived. So join me via the visuals you see here as I open this thing up.

Now that we've got the packaging out of the way... let's jump in.

What you see here is one of Solo’s newest backpacks called the Solo Rival (specifically the ACV700 model).

They have a new Solo Everyday Max backpack… but this one is more in line with what I need.

Feels... sexy. :p

It looks and feels like it was designed with premium quality in mind. The polyester body feels great… along with the cooling air mesh you see lining the inner shoulder straps and back padding… and it even has a reflective strip for visibility. So you should be seen if you have to set out on foot, bike, horseback or whatever else requiring a driver to see you strutting your stuff down the road. A little something extra to protect yourself as you protect your tech.

The Solo Rival has 6 compartments… which includes a fully padded one that can fit up to 17.3" laptops and two hard shell pockets for side storage. These side pockets are a nice size... I can literally slide a game controller into them with no oomph behind it. I have other backpacks but i'd have to put the controller(s) in the main compartment with my laptop and headphones. Considering the fact that I absolutely hate when things scrub up against my laptop... the space this backpack has is a plus.

The Solo Rival is good for work or play, whether that be locally, a work convention or even a game event. I put this backpack to use recently when my wife gave birth (new dad in the house!). I tossed a few days of clothing inside, my laptop, game controller, Bluetooth headphones, documents, snacks... and was ready to go with room to spare.

I wasn't going to bring a wired gaming headset because I needed to be ready for action often, but a fold-able gaming headset would be able to fit into one of the two side pockets with no problem.

For tablet owners... you have a sleeve built into one of the compartments for an extra layer of safety, as well as a compartment for stationary (I'm sure fellow artists can appreciate this). While I could say that's something of a basic i'd expect, it's not in all backpacks... so its appreciated. Another nifty little feature is the headphone port that allows you to run your wired headphones to your phone in the designated pocket of the backpack. I don't care to hold my phone all the time so this works especially when I have wired headphones on deck.

As you see by these images... you can fit quite a bit of stuff in this bag, which is perfect for game events like E3 that have a lot of great freebies and buys so you aren't stuck holding bags in your hands.

Two of my favorite features when it comes to the backpack are the top compartment... which reminds me of a standard pocket on my pants and the chest strap. These may seem like little things, but when i'm traveling, things like that top compartment would come in handy for change and other things I need to quickly access without having to do a full unzip. Also at the airport when I need to empty my pockets, that compartment is in a great place to store items so I can just flow. 

When it comes to the chest strap... I really enjoy having these options on backpacks because it makes a world of difference in balancing it out while on your back. Some of you may have carried book bags at school and had to deal with the sagging that required you to constantly pull the bag back up... or you had to hold it in that place in order to maintain comfort. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now, so I appreciate it when chest straps are available.



Two more things you may like about this backpack are it's warranty... and the price.

This bad boy comes with a 5 year warranty. Yeah... Solo's not playing around. I've seen a 1 year warranty on some, while others have none (that cost more)... so I thought this was pretty awesome.

Speaking of cost, the Solo Rival retails for $79.99 and goes the extra mile in comparison to others I've come across at this price point. So you're getting a pretty good deal regarding quality, comfort and usability.

One thing I don't like about this backpack though... is the neck area. While it's not horrible, Solo made great design decisions that should've also included areas on the straps that contour around the neck for increased comfort. It's not a deal breaker at all (many backpacks are lack this)... but who knows, maybe that will be ushered into a newer model of the Solo Rival.



Design: 4
Quality: 5
Comfort:4
Price: 5

Usability: 5 

I rate the Solo Rival a 4.5 out of 5. So if you want to get your hands (or should I say your "back"?) on this backpack, it should work out quite well for you and your needs.

Thank you so much for checking out this review... and for more info on the Solo Rival backpack, go to: http://solo.net/active-17-3-backpack/

From the source: Square-Enix - Heavenstrike Rivals... FREE!

Are you ready for more Square-Enix action for your mobile device? Here it is!

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HEAVENSTRIKE RIVALS OFFERS MORE FUN FROM FINAL FANTASY IV

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 18, 2016) – Square Enix, Inc. today announced that the highly-rated, multiplayer tactical RPG game HEAVENSTRIKE RIVALS ® now offers more characters and quests from its ongoing collaboration with FINAL FANTASY® IV. Marking the first raid event, the update to HEAVENSTRIKE RIVALS features FINAL FANTASY IVcharacters Golbez and Rubicante.  Players can join forces to defeat these strong opponents, and have a chance at obtaining Rubicante a reward.  This event will run until February 22. Running concurrently with the raid event, a separate story quest gives players a chance to obtain the power character Yang from FINAL FANTASY IV.  This is an original story and will introduce an all-new battle map created especially for the event, which will run until February 24. Finally, a separate “gacha” event features Rydia and Rosa, from FINAL FANTASY IV, for players to obtain. For a limited time, players will also have the chance to obtain characters Cecil, Golbez, Kain and Edge from the previous FINAL FANTASY IV collaboration events. About Heavenstrike Rivals  In HEAVENSTRIKE RIVALS, players enter a war-torn world on the brink of extinction and embark on an epic adventure full of simple yet highly immersive tactical battles. The once-prosperous aerial kingdom of Lunnain lies in tatters, assaulted from above by the Fallen - ruthless monsters of nightmare who seek only complete destruction. But the people will not take their fate lying down, and their strike back at the heavens starts now. Developed as a brand new IP for mobile platforms, SQUARE ENIX® has worked with UK based developers MEDIATONIC Ltd., (Amateur Surgeon) to create the game and bring the world to life. The project has had a collaborative approach, with Japan-based Yumiru Corporation supporting development and, keeping it in the SQUARE ENIX family, the game also features characters designed by Ryoma Ito (FINAL FANTASY TACTICS® ADVANCE) and music by Ryo Yamazaki (FINAL FANTASY XIV). In HEAVENSTRIKE RIVALS, players must fight their way to the top of the game’s leader boards for heavenly global domination.

For more game news & reviews... stay tuned to: www.SdgtStudio.blogspot.com

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