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| By Stefan Blitz |
Here at FOG! HQ lots of cool stuff comes in, giving us the opportunity to check out some merchandise. Here’s our thoughts on some of the latest stuff that’s passed through our rigorous testing.
I spend minimum of twelve hours every day looking at a screen of some kind. Whether it’s working; researching, editing or writing to reading or watching some sort of video.
Lately, I find myself watching Netflix on my iPhone 6 Plus as I fall asleep. On more than several occasions I’ve dropped my phone, hitting myself in the face.
Which is just one reason why The Book Seat is a perfect accessory.
Able to hold a physical book, tablet or phone, the malleable cushion weighs next to nothing, yet is able to easily hold and balance whatever you want for a hands free experience.
Without the need for a flat surface, The Book Seat has easily become something that I use every day and it’s versatility is fairly limitless.
It also comes in a number of colors and print patterns and also has a handle and small pocket (perfect for reading glasses if you wear them).
With so many gadgets out there, it’s refreshing that The Book Seat exists. It’s pretty basic, but in my opinion, a must have.
(sample provided by The Book Seat)
Another sign that I’m getting old?
The image on this “retro” X-Men shirt is from the era that I grew up reading the comic.
This awesome 60% cotton 40% polyester, 100% soft and comfortable shirt features art by John Byrne and the classic line-up of Cyclops, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Storm and Colossus.
How classic? These are the characters from Days of Future Past, The Dark Phoenix Saga, The Proteus Saga, Demon, Murderworld and many more!
In the words of the characters themselves:
“Mein Gott!”, “Goddess!”, “Cripes, bub!”, “Lenin’s Ghost!”, “To me, my X-Men!”
What are you waiting for? Get your Danger Room on!
(Sample provided by SuperHeroStuff)
I’m always excited to check out new gadgets that can be used with my phone, so I was pretty excited to take a look at this attachment designed to, “turn your smartphone into a miniature boombox. Place your MP3 player or smartphone into the mini boombox and hear your favorite music amplified instantly”
Here’s the thing, it doesn’t really do that.
I tried it using both an iPhone 6 Plus and an iPhone 4S and discovered in both instances, the sound doesn’t really get any louder.
Using the Touch Mini Boombox Speaker does add a certain amount of bass to the music, but the volume doesn’t really increase.
It’s also cumbersome to use this with a phone that has even the thinnest of cases on them. Taking a phone out of a case to use an attachment doesn’t strike me personally as the most helpful of gadgets. All in all, a disappointment.
(sample provided for review)
The interesting thing about licensing is that you never really understand how images are selected.
This Superman Clear Sticker Pack is a perfect example, as it mixes contemporary graphics with art as varied as the classic licensed work of José Luis García-López and the barrel-chested work by Wayne Boring.
It’s definitely an odd mix, but if you’re looking for a classic piece such as the full figured Superman, arms akimbo by Boring for the front of your laptop, look no further.
And it’s under four dollar price tag makes it a must have for young fans as well.
You know how you can tell if it’s really Superman?
Red underwear.
(Sample provided by SuperHeroStuff)
Take perfect panoramic shots with your Smartphone! The pod’s smooth wind up mechanism is timed at around 25 seconds for optimum image quality. Simply fit your Phone within the clamp and wind up the pod to create awe-inspiring panoramic images at the first attempt, every time!
Attach the pod to the included tripod or set it on a flat surface, place your phone within the clamp and then release.
Another dud, folks.
In the description it sounds pretty useful. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of their phone’s panoramic features and take some pretty amazing pictures? Here’s the thing, the product itself feels fairly cheap (light plastic) and weighs next to nothing. The result?
There’s no way it could hold my phone up straight to take an image. Despite how I clipped it in, it wouldn’t stay stationary throughout the pod’s rotation. Even the included tripod was too light to hold the phone in an upright and stationary position. Not recommended.
(sample provided for review)
From painter Sam Gilbey comes the single most impressive portrait since the Mona Lisa.
Capturing the strength and energy of Brian Blessed in his role as Prince Vultan in 1980’s Flash Gordon, this high quality giclée digital print on 230gsm matte paper should be the centerpiece in any cinegeek’s art collection.
The artwork is simply magnificent.
As a huge fan of the film, this print captures the color and energy as well as the over the top performances that make Flash Gordon one of the greatest films ever made.
Just looking at this image you can hear Blessed’s deep and rich voice as Vultan as he leads his Hawkmen into battle against Ming the Merciless.
(sample provided by Firebox)
Batman Classic TV Series Batman and Robin Banks
Holy must have! Ever since merchandise from the classic series started getting a release last year, it’s been a challenge to get something that is both a great looking display piece for the the office or home, as well as being geared toward a limited budget.
Diamond Select has solved that problem with the release of these amazing looking banks. Designed by Barry Bradfield and sculpted by Jean St. Jean, these impeccably painted representations of Adam West and Burt Ward as the Dynamic Duo are truly amazing.
Capturing not only the likeness of the actors, but also their body language.
West’s Batman is ready to throw his Batarang and Ward’s Robin has his fists clenched, ready to convey his enthusiasm for whatever news Batman or Commissioner Gordon have to share.
Both banks are 8 inches tall (perfect for a shelf) and feature a slot on the back and an access door on the bottom. Available for less than twenty three dollars suggested retail, these Bat-collectibles are truly a must have for the Bat-fan that isn’t prepared to drop hundreds of dollars for a neat display piece in their collection.
(sample provided by Diamond Select)
Whether you’re a longtime fan of the comic, or a new fan following the awesome TV show, this Reverse Flash shirt taps into the speed force with a heaping of awesome.
Like the enigmatic Dr. Harrison Wells or one of the notorious Zoom family, this shirt might be the perfect complement to wear when traveling through time to wreck havoc on the life of Barry Allen, the fastest man alive, aka The Flash!
It’s 100% cotton, super comfortable and comes as is (that means no ring to store it in).
And any killing of any members of the Allen family (including Nora or Henry) is strictly prohibited, as well as is any disruption of the space-time continuum.
(Sample provided by SuperHeroStuff)
In the past few weeks, we’ve had over three feet of snow. Today the temperature with the wind chill is hitting negative 20. In other words, it’s cold as hell right now, which is why these gloves are absolutely essential.
First, they’re Isotoner, which is a pretty solid guarantee that they’re going to keep your digits warm. They’re 90% Acrylic, 8% Nylon, 2% Other fibers and feature a genuine suede trim.
Second, they feature conductive thread on thumbs, index and middle fingers which conveys electrical impulse to the touchscreen. In other words you can swipe with your gloves on.
A must have for anyone who has spends every night watching for weather induced parking bans and school cancellations.
(sample provided by Firebox)
My computer bag is my lifeline to my workday. From extra cables, portable batteries and extension cords, it’s got something to assist me in virtually every work situation.
Which is why this tool seemed like it would be an essential addition. Unfortunately it works better in concept than execution.
In addition to the ballpoint pen, it features a hole puncher, a stainless steel file, a short cutting blade, a flat screwdriver, a wire sleeve remover/small nail remover, an ear pick, a long cutting blade, a tweezer, a Philips screwdriver, and a stainless steel fork saw.
Unfortunately, this tool doesn’t deliver the way that I had hoped. The biggest problem is that it’s just too flimsy. It’s incredibly light and the blades don’t feel particularly secure when they are being used. It’s a tremendous idea, but I have a hard time using this without feeling that it’s not particularly safe.
(sample provided by Firebox)
Grids & Guides: 3 Notepads for Visual Thinkers
Sketch, catalog, plot, thumbnail, dream, and develop with these three distinctive, colorful tablets. Each pad in this new format features handy scientific resources—from precise measurements to Pythagoras’s constant to the golden ratio—to spark creative thinking or aid in the design process. Whether used for list making, letter writing, imaginative doodling, or visualizing designs, this collection of portable graph-paper pads is an essential tool for right-brainers and left-brainers alike.
If you tend to doodle out your ideas as well as write them, this set will exceed your expectations and give you a tremendous starting point and idea generator. It keeps you thinking outside the box.
(Sample provided by Princeton Architectural Press)
Uncanny X-Men #141 Cover T-Shirt
If you saw the movie, you didn’t see what is widely considered to be one of the very best stories in the history of comics, this shirt depicts the cover to the first issue of the Days of Future Past storyline. A dystopic possible future showing an older Wolverine and Kate (formerly Kitty Pryde) in a Sentinel’s spotlight against a wall depicting a poster of former allies killed as a result of anti-Mutant legislation passed by Senator Kelly.
Drawn by John Byrne and Terry Austin this iconic image is a reminder of how awesome the X-Men used to be.
Snikt!
(Sample provided by SuperHeroStuff)
From artist Andy Fairhurst comes a stunning print of the greatest movie of all time, Jaws.
This image shows Quint’s ship, The Orca, as it hunts the shark, with Chief Brody filling the water with chum attempting to attract the shark and Matt Hooper standing on the roof of the cabin looking into the sea; all of them unaware that the shark is heading right toward them.
You can almost smell the salt water and hear the gulls in the air while John Williams’ iconic score fades in.
This high quality giclée digital print on 230gsm matte paper is available in several sizes.
So, pop that can of Narragansett beer, inform the Mayor that the beaches are closed and bask in the glory of this beautiful print of a truly perfect movie. And for that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.
(sample provided by Firebox)
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