Category Archives: product reviews

June 20, 2013 · 1:56 pm

Video on Instagram… Vinekiller?

Well, well, well. Bless their little monopolistic hearts, facebook has just blown up Vine with video for instagram. And as much as I want to say it sucks… I can’t.

Quick run-through:

iOS and Android – Good move but I personally don’t care. But it is huge.
15 seconds vs 6 – Don’t care that much, this is like bar mitzvah videos to me, sometimes less is more. Brands will love it. Little 15 second spots all over town… great opp.
Editing – This is big. Not sure why it is not in their bullet screen above; this is a big feature. The Vine purists will say that capturing it in one take is the artform – it keeps it fresh, it keeps it real. I get that, but really? Bullshit, everyone likes to edit.
13 custom filters – Yum and they had to do it. And filters by frame can be beautiful, or really tacky depending whose hands they are in like anything else. I admit I love filters but as an artist I am in that crowd that wears the #nofilter hashtag proudly whenever I can. Because, you know, ‘I went to art school, yo.” (and yes, I am way to old too say ‘yo’)
Cover frame – lovely, I like that I can pick the frame for the feed. And brands… this is huge for you.
Cinema – OMG, I actually can’t say anything bad about stabilization. (Seriously, who doesn’t aspire to stability? What? That is not what it means?) There is no need to take a Dramamine when watching these vids, they are crisp and beautiful (with only a moderate amount of drinking while shooting, I am assuming).

I am still a huge fan of looping and think it is what makes Vine so cool when used correctly, so I am not sure not including it was wise. But I am not sure if Vine will survive this. On the other hand, Vine is the new frontier and the younguns’ are getting sick of the facebook clutter.

What are your thoughts?

2 Comments

Filed under carry a camera, communities, current events, design, facebook, home video, photography, product reviews, technology

Tagged as Android, appstore, current events, facebook, instagram, IOS, news, sharing, social media, social networks, technology, video, video for instagram, vine

October 23, 2011 · 10:48 pm

Kind of

This little pack of gum could come in really handy. Dealing with someone who is treating you like crap? Well then just hand them a pack of ‘You’re kind of a dick’ gum.

I love gum with a message. This should not be confused with the I Heart My Penis gum, which would most probably be given to you by a guy who could use a pack of Your kind of a dick. And you could also hand it to anyone who responded yes when you offered him a piece of Does this gum make my ass look big?

The way I look at it, you could answer almost any question with a pack of gun. Well almost.

6 Comments

Filed under absurdities, humor, product reviews

May 18, 2011 · 10:44 pm

Can Glass Cleaner Bring You Happiness?

I am not sure where to start with this one. First, I am thinking that I should not use this product because it is a ‘Limited Edition’ and it might become a collector’s item and be worth something in the future.

Really? Limited edition glass cleaner?

But what blows me away is that this bottle of windex is making the claim that happiness is just a spray away (exclamation point). What makes me mad is that they left the word ‘is’ out in front of ‘just’ so it reads:

Happiness

just a spray away!

No comma, no ‘is’, just a really poorly written sentence.

So how did this product happen. Product manager walks in the room and says I think I know how to spread happiness to consumers across the land. And since this is such a huge claim, let’s make it a limited edition.

Because, you know, it’s hard to sustain happiness.

Ridiculous! (but not going to lie, I really like the crystal rain smell and I am sort of happy when the glass table is clean)

7 Comments

Filed under absurdities, marketing, product reviews, products

Tagged as glass cleaner, product marketing, windex, windex happiness

October 27, 2010 · 11:49 pm

Booty Pop – When baby don’t have back

Yes folks, now you too can have that perfect booty. With Booty Pop. What are these, you ask? Well, they are the panties that make your booty pop.

And we want our booty pop because…

Oh right, I am not the demographic.

As they say on the website “Lose that boring backside. Get a Booty-licious booty in an instant?” Oh dear lord. Then what happens when he falls for your big ole backside and you slide those suckers off and he finds the only thing in your panties is that boring backside. So, these are actually butt falsies? What next?

These were found in the Bed Bath & Beyond sale rack. Thinking maybe the BBB shopper out looking for some cookware or maybe a bathroom hutch is not in the market for Booty Pop panties. But hey, you never know.

Makes a nice impulse buy item.

9 Comments

Filed under absurdities, body image, humor, product reviews, products

Tagged as bed bath beyond, bootilicious, booty, booty pop, products, shopping

September 27, 2010 · 10:48 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday – philosophy(.com)

philosphy. Ok this product line had me at hello. Or should I say they had me at birthday girl. Here is a line of cosmetics that has ME written all over it. A lover of fine design and deep thoughts with a side of nostalgia and well… Philosphy; I am slain by this company.

Forget about the fact that the actual products are fabulous, the positioning of this brand has sold me even if it was dreck (which it is most certainly not) Their product names are all in lowercase (if you have ever received a social email from you that is how I write)

If I were asked to come up with a product line this would have been it. So needless to say I am a little bummed that I did not. Every item is named thoughtfully with a little story to tell and a lesson to learn:

amazing grace: “life is a classroom. we are both student and teacher. each day is a test…”

soul owner: “let’s review your only true assets. you own your values, your integrity, your thoughts, your words, your actions and therefore your destiny…”

Hey, these are some pretty heady thoughts for a shower gel and an exfoliating foot cream.

A big thank you to Dr. Judy for buying me this gift. I will leave you with what is written on the outside of the birthday girl kit; something i read at my birthday dinner and choked us all up a bit. Hey, you know how a table of menopausal women can get.

“philosophy: be grateful to have been given one more day, let alone one more year. remember to dance in your nightgown, sing in the shower, ride a bike, fly a kite and take an occasional “wind bath” in your bare skin. give those you love big kisses, huge hugs, and the words “i love you” often and always. nurture your body rather than starve your soul with fad dieting (this one was my fave!) spend time with the old and the weary to better appreciate your life. on your birthday, call your mother and father wherever they are to thank them for all that they have done for you, even if you think they haven’t done enough. watch the movie “life is beautiful” at least once a year. remember that you are not guaranteed tomorrow and that today is as good as it gets. thank G-d for every “thing,” every “day,” every moment.”™

Of course the ™ at the end did ruin it a bit, but hey, you have to protect the intellectual property.

So, to the makers of philosophy, you rock. And get yourself on OpenSky soon, you are a perfect fit.

3 Comments

Filed under companies, holidays, product reviews, products, Time to Cry Tuesdays

Tagged as Beauty, Brand, Cosmetics, health, Philosophy, philosphy.com, shopping

May 16, 2010 · 10:52 pm

Stuff I Like (vol. 1 iGo Green Charger)

Ok, I don’t usually do this but since I called this post vol. 1 there is a good chance I may do it again. Or it might end at volume 1 and that will be it. I have never done product reviews and something tells me you guys don’t come here to talk about stuff you probably don’t need or want to buy.

But I am pretty sure everyone I know might want one of these. The iGo green charger rocks my geeky world.

Full disclosure, I got this in a swag bag at a great blogger brand event today, so no I did not buy it. But I will buy them for Gary and the kids so I will never have to hear those dreaded words when traveling again:

Damn, I forgot to charge my phone! (and then the temper tantrum that follows)

The cool thing about this charger is that when you plug it in to charge your phone it also charges an internal battery. You unplug it, take it with you and you can charge your phone later on without an outlet. Yes, that’s right, no running around searching for ‘juice’, kiddies. And that’s not all, it has 2 ports to charge more than one device at a time, has all sorts of changeable heads for different devices AND doesn’t just charge phones. You can charge your camera, GPS and bluetooth with this sucker.

Seriously, I love this. And the green factor is a nice touch. iGo has a whole line of chargers that are worth looking at.

A big thanks to Silicon Valley Moms Group (I write at 50-something moms blog in case you are blind and don’t see the bold following line at the end of all my posts), Bitdefender and their new Bitmoms community, and all the other brands who attended for a fabulous brand/blogger event. I learned so much from both the brands and the bloggers. And of course thank you to iGo for the charger.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.