John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged electronics · everything

Esquire

The 2026 Esquire Gadget Awards

This is Esquire's annual "Best Tech Gadgets" roundup of 91 products, presented as a guide for readers at every level of tech enthusiasm, from the eager early adopter to the cautious skeptic. Each entry gets a short, opinionated verdict from editors and testers, with the picks spanning phones, home appliances, audio, wellness devices, gaming gear, outdoor equipment, and knives. Its distinctive angle is the framing: a meditation on how quickly technology has become constant and unavoidable, paired with a pitch for choosing the products that actually make daily life better.

Permalink technologyreviewselectronicsgadgets

How-To Geek

The Boox Palma 3 eReader now has pen support—and it's not alone

Boox has refreshed its eReader lineup with three Android 16 devices: the Palma 3, a sturdier and pen-compatible successor to its pocket model at $320, plus the 10.3-inch Note Air6 C ($580, or $657 with a keyboard folio) aimed at meetings and note-taking, and the 8.52-inch Note Mini C ($550) for commuters who want color. The piece is a product rundown rather than an argument, but its useful takeaway is the price-and-size tradeoff: the Palma 3 undercuts its predecessor by $60, and the choice among the larger models mostly comes down to screen size and whether you want to type. It also notes the Picco isn't expected until November, so anyone wanting a pocket reader should weigh the wait.

Permalink electronicsgadgets

How-To Geek

Why a used $25 Kindle beats any Raspberry Pi display you can buy today

A How-To Geek piece argues that a used, jailbroken Kindle (often under $25) can beat an official Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 as a Pi dashboard screen for slow-changing information. Its case rests on the Kindle's battery-powered, Wi-Fi-connected E-Ink design, which can be placed anywhere and stays readable in sunlight, and on the Kindle's ability to run its own fetch script, so one Pi could serve several units. The author concedes that the official display remains the better choice for color, touch, video, or fast refresh.

Permalink diyelectronicsraspberry pigadgets

Gear Patrol

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: ESR Geo Digital iPad Pencil for iPad 2018-2026, Find My, Easy Shortcuts | Work with Apple Find My, for iPad (A16) 11/10/9/8 Gen & Air 13/11 & Pro 12.9/13/11 & Mini 7/6/5, Black (No Wireless Charging) : Office Products

Amazon.com: ESR Geo Digital iPad Pencil for iPad 2018-2026, Find My, Easy Shortcuts | Work with Apple Find My, for iPad (A16) 11/10/9/8 Gen & Air 13/11 & Pro 12.9/13/11 & Mini 7/6/5, Black (No Wireless Charging) : Office Products

Permalink accessoriesappleelectronicsgadgets

remarkable.com

reMarkable Paper Pure

Product marketing page for the reMarkable Paper Pure, a distraction-free E Ink writing tablet pitched as an antidote to notification-heavy screens: no buzzes or pop-ups, a matte glass surface mimicking real paper, up to three weeks of battery life, and repairable, partly recycled hardware. It leans on a cited internal study claiming handwriting on the device reduces stress and boosts focus versus working on a PC, and positions the optional "Connect" subscription as the bridge for syncing notes to AI-assisted tools on a laptop. Worth keeping as a reference for the device's actual feature set and claims before a purchase decision.

Permalink productivitytechnologygeare-ink

fosiaudio.com

Fosi Audio Merak CD Player

This is a product listing for an all-in-one desktop CD transport built around the SC6137D/CS43131/TPA6120 chipset combo, pairing a precision servo mechanism with an integrated DAC and headphone amp. Worth keeping for the spec sheet: it rips CDs to USB or plays USB drives directly, outputs via headphone jack, line, and optical, and posts respectable measured numbers (121–124dB SNR, sub-0.002% THD+N). Useful as a reference if shopping for a compact CD-to-digital/headphone-amp combo unit rather than a pure transport.

Permalink gearaudioelectronics

leak-hifi.co.uk

TruStream

This is a product page for the LEAK TruStream network streamer/DAC, built around Silent Angel's streaming platform and an ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M reference DAC, supporting Spotify/TIDAL/Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, AirPlay 2 and hi-res formats up to PCM 768kHz/DSD512. It's worth keeping mainly for the full spec sheet (I/O options including balanced XLR, coaxial/optical digital out, USB audio, headphone amp specs) and the framing of the unit as a complete source component styled to match LEAK's Stereo 130/230 amplifiers rather than a bare digital transport.

Permalink technologyaudiofurniturestreaming

www.zdnet.com

I changed 13 settings on my TV to dramatically improve its performance - here's how

Modern smart TVs function as full computers with operating systems and internet connections, requiring optimization beyond basic use. The article provides thirteen practical adjustments—from disabling motion smoothing and switching to filmmaker picture modes, to clearing cache, updating software, and disabling tracking features—that can significantly improve picture quality, performance, security, and privacy. For best results, the author recommends using external streaming devices like Roku, enabling wired Ethernet connections, and periodically cold-booting the TV, while noting that privacy controls and accessibility features can be enabled with minimal trade-offs to functionality.

Permalink technologyperformanceprivacysmart home

www.gearpatrol.com

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Review: Spatial Audio Joins the Party

Bose's new QuietComfort Ultra over-ear headphones offer incremental improvements rather than major innovations, excelling in comfort, noise cancellation, and battery life while introducing a spatial audio feature called "Immersive Audio" that enhances the listening experience without being transformative. The review concludes that they're a solid choice for anyone needing new noise-canceling headphones, though existing Bose users won't find compelling reasons to upgrade, and competitors like Sony's WH-1000XM5 offer similarly compelling alternatives at lower prices.

Permalink audioreviewselectronics

michaelbluejay.com

Battery Christmas Lights: How to convert Xmas lights to run on batteries/DC (regular or LED)

Running Christmas lights off batteries requires using DC power instead of the AC power from wall outlets, and the key to making this practical is switching to LED lights, which use 80-90% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs and can provide roughly 10 times longer battery life. The article outlines three approaches—buying pre-wired DC light sets, using an inverter to convert DC to AC power, or rewiring existing lights yourself—and provides detailed guidance on calculating power consumption, selecting appropriate batteries (with 12V battery packs recommended for convenience), and physically wiring lights for battery operation. With LED lights and proper battery selection, even modest battery packs like a 2200mAh unit can deliver dozens of hours of runtime, making it feasible to decorate bicycles and other locations without access to electrical outlets.

Permalink diychristmaselectronics