James J. Garriss

Contributor at The Gadgeteer

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Articles

DaggerHeart - A new RPG from Matt Mercer

2 weeks ago | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss

NEWS – Anyone who’s into role-playing has heard about Critical Role, the professional voice actors who live-streamed D&D sessions. Matt Mercer, the group’s front man, has created an alternative RPG titled DaggerHeart. It’s still in a fantasy setting, but its goal is to simplify the rules and focus more on storytelling. It adds two mechanics to the game known as Hope and Fear that get at a character’s emotions, making them a bit more real.
If your computer from the 80s was better, here's a case just for you

3 weeks ago | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss

NEWS – Last year SilverStone, the computer parts distributor, released the FLP01, a retro home theater computer case. This year, they are at it again with the FP02, a retro tower computer case that looks like the 80s have returned. It comes in an oh-so-very-boring beige color and includes three 5.25 inch bays, a mechanical lock that prevents the power from being cut off, and a turbo button that changes the fan speed.
OUPES Exodus 2400 power station review - Great for DIYers!

1 month ago | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss

REVIEW – Sometimes I need power in a place where I don’t have any power. As an example, I recently decided to add some shelves to my shed, but I don’t have any electrical outlets there to power my tools. To solve problems like this, I am testing the OUPES Exodus 2400, a power station large enough to bring portable power wherever it’s required. ⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)Price: $749.00Where to buy: OUPESWhat is it?
Chrome Sylvan Sneaker review

1 month ago | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss

REVIEW – As a teleworker, I tend to wear slip-on loafers around the house. When I head out to do some shopping, get a bite to eat, or take my wife on a date, I prefer to up my game a bit and wear something more comfortable and more stylish. In this review, I’m taking the Chrome Sylvan sneaker for a walk to see how it performs. ⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)Price: $120.00Where to buy: ChromeWhat is it? The Chrome Sylvan is an “urban low top lace-up” sneaker.
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 Keyboard review

1 month ago | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss

REVIEW – Though I dabble in mobile gaming on my iPad Pro, my favorite gaming platform is still my Windows 10 gaming computer with games that I purchase from Steam. There are so many choices, Steam has great sales, and many indie games these days are surprisingly good. I’ve had my current gaming keyboard for a long time, so I’ve been looking to upgrade to something newer. In this review, I’m testing a new gaming keyboard in the SteelSeries Apex line, the Pro TKL Gen 3.
Lacorsa Grand Prix Game review

1 month ago | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss

REVIEW – Although the most popular motorsport here in America is NASCAR, the most popular in the world is Formula 1; thus, it’s not surprising that there are over 20 games about racing on Board Game Geek with “Grand Prix” in their title. In this review I’m playtesting Lacorsa Grand Prix, a simple game that focuses on one tactical aspect of Formula 1 racing. ⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)Price: $49.00Where to buy: LacorsaWhat is it?
Oupes Exodus 1500 Power Station review - Prep for spring storms

2 months ago | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss

REVIEW – It seems like two or three times a year we lose power. Thunderstorms, hurricanes, or high winds knock down trees and power lines, and suddenly everything in the house is off. When these sorts of events happen, it would be nice to have some way to keep the computers, refrigerators, and other important gadgets and appliances running, at least for a while. To that end, I am testing a power station and solar panel combo from Oupes.
Bob and Brad Back Massager with Heat review

Mar 28, 2025 | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss |JAMES JAMES

REVIEW – Ever bent over to pick up something heavy and felt that jarring pull in your lower back, and when you straighten up, it hurts like crazy? I certainly have, and the older I get, the more often it happens. The only thing that fixes a pulled muscle like this is time, but often a good massage or some heat can help mitigate the symptoms. For moments like these, I am testing a new heated back massager from Bob and Brad.
The InfinaCore P3 Pro combines a power bank with a USB charger into one travel-ready gadget.

Mar 19, 2025 | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss |JAMES JAMES

REVIEW – When we travel to large cities, like Washington DC or Atlanta here in the States or like London or Paris in Europe, we typically bring a small army of gadgets that need power, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Kindle Paperwhites. Our phones need charging during the day as we are out sightseeing, and everything needs charging in the evening as we wind down in our hotel room. For the former, we normally carry around a power bank, and for the later a USB charger.
Oupes Exodus 1200 Power Station review

Feb 12, 2025 | the-gadgeteer.com | James J. Garriss |JAMES JAMES

REVIEW – Hurricane Helene left us without power for a couple of days. When we lose power, there are two primary things that we want: to recharge our cell phones and keep the refrigerator running. Any size power station can do the former, but it takes a larger one to do the later. Of course, the bigger the battery, the longer it can supply power, and having the ability to recharge with solar panels can extend that time even further.