Accessory Genie: The Perfect Road Trip Companion

I've always found the idea of going on a cross country road trip to be both intriguing and intimidating at the same time. Intriguing because of all the sites I would see and adventures I would get to experience that I wouldn't be able to otherwise.

Unfortunately, a part of me can't get over the minor detail of having to sit in a car for three weeks straight. Sure, the first few hours, or even days of road games could keep me entertained. But there are only so many games of "I Spy" a person can play a week.

When my college roommate told me she was going on a road trip to celebrate her college graduation, I admired her for wanting to do something I'm pretty sure I could never do. So as a graduation gift, I decided to put together a road trip entertainment kit for her to take on her three-week adventure.

Aside from the usual miniature versions of board games, a comfy neck pillow, a grocery store gift card, and a Snuggie, I decided to include a couple electrical products from Accessory Genie I was sure would come in handy.

The first was the FlexSmart X2 Wireless Bluetooth FM Transmitter. With its flexible neck, the FlexSmart X2 can easily plug into most DC outlets and wirelessly connect to and play audio from any Bluetooth enabled audio player, including smartphones, mp3 players, and tablets. In addition to playing clear music from a Bluetooth device without having to connect to it any wires, the FlexSmart X2 also has a useful hands-free calling feature that would especially come in handy on a road trip.

Another product I added into her basket was the ReVIVE Series GoCharge, a great universal charger that can charge small devices like smartphones and MP3 players through AC power, DC power, or the internal rechargeable battery. Its compact and lightweight design makes it a great single charger for the road, even being able to charge two devices at the same time through a USB cable.

After making this fun gift basket for her to take along on her road trip, I felt the urge to go on one myself. Despite my anxieties, I know with good company and entertaining and useful devices like these, a road trip may be bearable, and maybe even fun!

Visit AccessoryGenie.com to check out these and many other exciting devices and accessories!

Happy trails!

-Jinni

Accessory Genie Grants Your Graduation Gift Wishes

It's that time of year again. When graduates are released into the world along with their hopes and dreams of furthering educations, getting full-time jobs, or continuing contemplations on what the next move will be.

With so many friends and family of different sizes and ages graduating this year, I had no idea where to start when buying graduation gifts. Of course, I couldn't buy my friend who was graduating from law school the same gift I would buy my little cousin who was making the transition from junior high to high school.

After a few weeks passed and I had yet to buy a single graduation gift, I decided to look through new Accessory Genie products and see if I could find gifts that at least a couple of the grads-to-be would like. An hour later, I had crossed off all the names from my list of graduates.

Buying Fernando, my cousin who recently graduated from law school, a gift was easy. He had planned a post-graduation vacation to Greece almost a year ago, and was ecstatic to take his DSLR camera along and take amazing photos to share with the family upon his return. I decided to make the trip all the more memorable by buying him a USA Gear Deluxe DSLR Camera Bag. The case is great for photographers like my cousin who are always traveling and on-the-go. With protective features like thick foam padding and a waterproof hard-shell bottom, he would be able to comfortably take his camera on excursions and tours knowing it was well protected.

 My friend Evie, who is graduating with a Bachelor's degree, was also easy to shop for. She was offered a job as a teacher at a local elementary school, and for the first time in a long time, will have to get out of bed early in the morning. The GOgroove Sense couldn't have been more perfect for her! This iPod and iPhone docking station also works as a clock radio, and has a variety of features to make early mornings a lot easier to wake up to.

The GOgroove SoundClip turned out be the perfect gift for Janae, my little cousin who is graduating from high school next month. Since she is going off to college in the fall, the USB speakers that clip on to any LCD computer screen were the perfect accessory for the laptop her parents were planning on buying as a gift. These speakers are great for enhancing sound from laptops and netbooks, making watching movies and videos, and listening to music from a laptop a much more enjoyable experience.

Needless to say, those who have already graduated and received their gifts were more than happy with what they received. And as graduation season continues, I look forward to seeing the excited faces of my friends and family.

If you're looking for a graduation gift, or you're a recent grad interested in treating yourself, use the GRAD2011 code at checkout from Accessory Genie and receive 10% off your purchase!
Congratulations, Class of 2011! And I wish you the best of luck on your future ventures!
-Jinni

Summer Fun with Accessory Genie Gadgets

With Memorial Day around the corner, the kickoff to summer is fast approaching. If you're anything like me, you already have a continuously growing list of activities for the summer, like going to the beach, bike riding, or just hanging out with friends and family from dawn to dusk.
At Accessory Genie, we've got the products to make your summer activities that much more enjoyable!

Planning on doing some bike riding? You should definitely check out our USA GEAR Handlebar Device Mount, a bike mount designed to enhance your bike riding experience. The mount quickly and easily attaches to anything with handlebars, including bicycles, scooters, ATVs and more. You can place your smartphone, GPS system, MP3 player, or any other entertainment and navigation devices inside the tightly-sealed, waterproof case; a transparent window and integrated headphone port allow you to use see and listen to your device while it is safely stored in the mount case.

Once you have arrived at your destination--whether to the beach, a picnic, or a campsite--you can use a portable speaker system, like the GOgroove Panda Pal, to connect your MP3 player or smartphone to and listen to music from high-quality speakers without worrying about finding outlets to connect to.

The Panda Pal is powered through USB or by three AAA batteries allowing you to take the Panda Pal virtually anywhere! This compact portable speaker is easy to travel with and connects with MP3 palyers, iPods, iPhones, laptops, netbooks, tablets, smartphones, or any other media player with a 3.5mm audio port. The GOgroove Panda Pal is the ideal portable speaker system, delivering impressive sound from a cute and playful speaker that fits in the palm of your hand!

After a long day of hanging out with friends and family, iPhone 4 owners may feel like their phone could use an extra charge before heading out for the night. When plugging your phone into an AC or DC outlet isn't an option, we have the solution for you! The new enerG4 Rechargeable Extended Battery Case, specially designed for the iPhone 4, protects your phone while offering extended battery life. That's 40 extra hours of listening to music, 14 hours of talking on the phone, and 10 hours of web browsing or watching videos.

For those of you with Android and BlackBerry phones, Accessory Genie will soon be carrying extended smartphone batteries with compatible cases, allowing you to spend less time charging your phone and more time enjoying the beautiful summer.

These fun and innovative gadgets are sure to make your summer adventures all the more fun and unforgettable! To check out more electronic devices, gadgets and accessories that will enhance your summer adventures, visit www.AccessoryGenie.com.

And don't forget the sunscreen!

-Jinni

The Powerful Speaker Dock That's WAY Better Than a Gift Card

Everyone has that one person in their lives that is impossible to shop for. You know, the one that you give gift cards or money to every year on their birthday because you really have no idea what to get them.

For me, that person is my friend Mindy, who has an interesting concept of what "cute" means. Mindy prides herself in filling her life with the most unique and quirky items she can find. Every item she owns, from her jewelry to her furniture, is unusual and eccentric, and somehow works for her. Even her dog, the friendliest mutant Chihuahua with the meanest overbite, perfectly blends into her wacky world.

When her birthday came around this year, I decided to put in the extra effort it would take to buy her a gift that was as fun and unique as everything she owns. I knew this would take time, so I started my search early. Before I knew it, her birthday was in a week and I had yet to find her the perfect gift.

And then I found the GOgroove BoomBUDDY, a one-of-a-kind speaker and charging dock for Apple iPod and iPhones. What first attracted me to this far-out speaker dock was its obvious unique design. I loved that the BoomBUDDY's sunglasses were really speakers! Adding to its fun and playful characteristics, the power and volume levels are controlled with the turn of its "nose." In addition, the amber-colored LED nose lights up when turned on.

I knew the speaker dock definitely had potential, but a cute face was not enough to sell me. So I asked around and read reviews, and discovered that the BoomBUDDY delivered amazing sound quality, especially with the 4-inch subwoofer, located at the BoomBUDDY's "feet."

The BoomBUDDY is also very versatile. Although the 30-pin dock is specifically designed to charge, dock, and play audio from Apple iPod and iPhone models, users can use the AUX-in port to play audio from other players including MP3 players, smartphones, desktop computers, laptops, netbooks, tablets, and other audio-playing devices.

Needless to say, Mindy was very excited to receive an actual gift from me as opposed to the usual envelope. And she loved her BoomBUDDY so much that she plugged it in and hooked up her iPhone immediately, using it to play music for the duration of her birthday party! And I'm not sure if it's Mindy's influence, if the BoomBUDDY was that great, or a little of both, but I loved it so much that I decided to buy one for myself!

You can get a BoomBUDDY for yourself (or that hard to shop for friend) at Accessory Genie. For more information on the GOgroove BoomBUDDY Charging Dock and Speaker System, and Accessory Genie, visit www.accessorygenie.com.

-Jinni

Like us on Facebook and Enter to Win a Panda Pal Portable Speaker System

If you are as in love with the Panda Pal as we are, get excited about what we have in store for you!

Through the Accessory Genie Facebook Fan Page, we recently launched the Panda Pal Giveaway, where one lucky winner will get a GOgroove Panda Pal Portable Speaker System for FREE!

To enter, simply visit our Fan Page (www.facebook.com/accessorygenie) and Like us, if you are not our Fan already, of course. A short and sweet entry form will appear for you to quickly fill out. And thats it! You have officially entered the Panda Pal Giveaway!

If you dont know what a Panda Pal is, you don't know what you have been missing! The Panda Pal Portable Speaker System is one of Accessory Genie's most popular speaker systems, having surprisingly powerful sound quality in a panda shaped speaker that fits in the palm of your hand.
A versatile portable speaker, the Panda Pal easily connects to any audio playing device with its 3.5mm cable, including mp3 players, laptops, netbooks, tablets, smartphones and other audio players. This innovative speaker system can also be powered through a USB cable or by three AAA batteries, making it a great option for portable sound or for desktop speakers.

Despite its friendly and miniature appearance, the Panda Pal delivers outstanding sound quality through its powerful speakers. "The Panda Pal is definitely one of our most popular products," says Todd A., Director of Marketing at Accessory Genie. "It's a great speaker system for kids, or for the kid in you."

An added bonus to entering the Panda Pal Giveaway is that as our Facebook Fan, you'll have access to the latest news in the tech world. In addition, you'll be the first to know about the latest products, accessories and gadgets available at AccessoryGenie.com, receive exclusive promotions, deals and offers from Accessory Genie, and interact with other tech loving fans like yourself!

If you simply cannot wait a couple months to find out if you've won your very own Panda Pal, we have the solution! As our Facebook Fan, you get 10% OFF your next AccessoryGenie.com purchase! Once you Like us, click on the Offer tab and you'll get a code to use at checkout on any AccessoryGenie.com purchase you make, including the Panda Pal!

Panda Pal Giveaway entrants have until Monday, June 20, 2011 at 11:59 PM (PST) to qualify for the Panda Pal Portable Speaker System Giveaway. A winner will be picked at random and notified via email on Tuesday, June 21, 2011.

No purchase is necessary to enter. Entrants must be at least 18 years old and have Internet access, a valid e-mail address, and become a fan of the Accessory Genie Facebook page. Complete sweepstakes rules are available at http://www.accessorygenie.com/contest&action=rules.html.

For more information on the GOGroove Panda Pal PortableSpeaker System Giveaway and to enter to win, visit the Accessory Genie Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/accessorygenie. For more information on the GOgroove Panda Pal and other Accessory Genie products, visit www.AccessoryGenie.com.

Good luck!

-Jinni

Go Green with Accessory Genie

A common misconception about "going green" is that it has to be a drastic, life-altering change made over night. But the truth is that if we all take little steps to living a greener life, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprints and contribute to maintaining and saving our planet.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 39% of all the energy used in the United States is used to generate electricity. When we use energy more efficiently, we can reduce the amount of fuel used to produce energy, therefore reducing the amount of polluting emissions in our atmosphere.

One way to cut down on your electricity use is to replace your regular light bulbs with energy efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs. According to trehugger.com, an LED light bulb can reduce energy consumption by 80-90%. Although they are initially more expensive than incandescent or CFL light bulbs, LED lights save you money in the long run, lasting around 100,000 hours, which adds up to over 11 years! If every American replaced one light bulb with an LED bulb, 2.5 million homes could be lit from the energy saved. Using dimmable LED light bulbs can also help reduce the amount of energy in use because it allows you to control and only use the amount of light you need.

Using a solar charger to power up your small electronic products can also reduce the amount of energy you use. The ReVIVE Series Solar ReStore is a great option when considering a solar charger, providing a full charge to most Smartphones, mp3 players, and other small USB powered devices. A quality that makes this solar charger a popular choice is that it can also charge your products through regular AC and DC outlets.

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is by replacing single-use alkaline batteries with rechargeable batteries. According to the EPA, Americans use about 3 billion batteries a year to power electronic like radios, toys, phones, cameras, and other devices found around the house. Unfortunately, of those 3 billion, 180,000 tons are improperly disposed of. Batteries contain heavy toxic metals that can contaminate the earth and water when not disposed of properly. Rechargeable NiMH batteries, like our truCELL batteries, are designed to have an extended run time and replace hundreds of single-use batteries a year.

Of course, there are many other habits you can pick up to reduce your energy consumption, like making sure to turn off all of the lights, radios, televisions, and any other electronics that are not in use when you leave a room, even if you'll only be gone for a few moments.

Also, electronics that stay plugged in when not in use, like kitchen appliances and electronic chargers, use up energy even though they are turned off. Make it a point to unplug these electronics when they are not in use. Or plug all electronics into a power strip and simply turn off the power strip when you don't need it anymore.

By using simple tricks like these to reduce your energy consumption, not only are you contributing to a healthier planet, but you are also saving yourself money.

For more information on LED lights, solar charges, rechargeable batteries, and other energy efficient products, visit http://www.accessorygenie.com/.

-Jinni

These Are A Few Of Our Favorite Things

Accessory Genie employees all have one characteristic in common: restraint.

Restraint because day after day, we get the opportunity to witness how useful, fun, and innovative our products are and we have to remember to control ourselves and avoid spending the entirety of our paychecks on Accessory Genie products.

I know we all feel the same way, so I decided to go around the office and ask my co-workers what their favorite Accessory Genie products are and why.

Max's story was one of the most interesting. Luck was not on his side when he decided to take his new car out for a ride through the mountains. His clutch blew out, leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a dead cell phone battery. Luckily, Max had purchased his Solar ReStore earlier that week and had it in the car for an upcoming camping trip. "I was able to charge my dead cell phone with the sun and call for help," he says. "If it hadn't been for my Solar ReStore, I would've ended up hiking down the road another mile to reach a call box and then hike up the hill to get back to my car."

Our Panda Pal is another product that is extremely popular because of its versatility, cute appearance and unexpected powerful performance. Aaron originally bought the Panda Pal for his wife and was so blown away by the sound quality that he bought himself one the next day! "Cuteness aside, this speaker is serious business, especially for its size. Plus there is something to be said about having Rammstein blasting at full volume and full clarity through this Panda speaker." Aaron also bought his father-in-law two Panda Pals, who connects it to his Evo Shift 4G at the racetrack and uses NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile to listen to the race, driver radio chatter, and watch in-car video of the race while he's at the track.

Aaron also bought the GoCharge USB Battery Pack with the intention of using it to charge his HTC Evo Shift 4G and his Nook Color, but he finds himself using it more to power his Panda Pal speaker. "I have run the Panda Pal at top volume for 6-8 hours at a time using the GoCharge, and have yet to run it out of juice. Plus I can charge either my cell phone or my Nook Color at the same time."

Todd prefers the great sound and isolation his AUDIOHM ear buds provide. "I use them daily for listening to Graphic Audio novels and they bring the narrator and actors voices to life. The sound isolation is great and they block out most of the background noise so I can concentrate on the story," he explains.

Alex's favorite product is the Flexsmart X2, our very popular wireless Bluetooth FM transmitter. "The sound quality and clarity that this transmitter produces is just incredible. And it's nice not to have to take the time to connect my iPhone to any wires just so I can listen to music," Alex says. He especially likes it because of the auto-tune feature, which he says is great when you're driving long distance because it makes it so easy to find the best station to connect with.

With so many great products being flaunted in front of us on a daily basis, how could we not treat ourselves to a product or two?! What's your favorite Accessory Genie product?

And don't forget to Like us on Facebook and get 10% off your next AccessoryGenie.com purchase!

-Jinni