July 2008

The Naneu Pro Adventure K3L Camera and Gear Bag Review

I don’t travel as much as I used to for work.  But I still remember traveling enough to know what a pain it has become.  With extra security measures and fees, flying hardly seems worth it anymore.  Now, when I used to travel a lot, I would frequently have a backpack with all of my necessities and gadgets, and also a separate camera bag with my photography and video gear.  This worked fine at the time, but anymore it would create several problems.  First, I have considerably more photography gear now than I used to (not to mention nicer and…


The Experience – Online Dating

You’re cinematic razor sharp, A welcome arrow through the heart, Under your skin feels like home, Electric shocks on aching bones, Give me a chance to hold on, Give me a chance to hold on, Give me a chance to hold on, Just give me something to hold on, to… – “You’re All I Have”, by Snow Patrol I told you all about my experiences with eHarmony and Yahoo in the last installment, and now it’s time to share some pearls of wisdom and experiences from some of Gear Diary’s brave readers regarding their own online dating processes. These are folks…


Zibra cuts the Wrap Rage and helps you Open It!

Seems like these days every little item you purchase in the store is wrapped in one of those “adult-proof” blister packs. You know the ones, heavy gauge plastic with laser-sealed edges that even the craftiest shoplifters – and consumers – cannot open.


Getting Integrated: Fujitsu’s P8010 with 3G

I am a huge fan of mobile broadband. Since getting on the bandwagon last year, I can’t imagine not having my datacard with me to get online for work, uni or general surfing when out. I started out using my phone tethered via either Bluetooth or USB, which worked ok but wasn’t overly fast, was slightly unreliable and when using Bluetooth resulted in a dead battery after about 90mins. More recently I switched to using a Novatel Merlin XU870 HSDPA datacard which is fabulous. Uber fast connections at the coffee shop, on the train, or (when the cable is out)…


Review: Verizon Wireless Palm Centro

Whether you believe it or not; I, the super duper Linux geek, have never used a smartphone…until now.  Yes, during the writing of this review was the first time I have everbeen able to use a smartphone for an extended period of time.  Yes, the Centro was covered by Gear Diary when Sprint brought it out and when AT&T brought it out, but here’s my take on the Centro, written as a first time smartphone user.


HTC Diamond Review Part 3 – The Verdict Is In

The Diamond has been with me now for about two weeks and I have reached a verdict: Fail. I had very high hopes for the Diamond; I wanted it to wipe the smile off Apple’s face, and be a proper competitor to the unstoppable iPhone. But alas it isn’t. It has too many flaws to be a competitor, and to be honest it has too many flaws full stop. Performance for me is the big one. As I said in my Part 2 instalment, the Diamond is sluggish and unresponsive doing pretty much anything, be it using TouchFLO 3D or…


Temporarily tattoo emergency or contact info onto your kids – the one thing they can’t lose

File this under “Why didn’t I think of it first”….identity and emergency contact labels that you apply to your children as temporary tattoos. As anyone with younger children knows – they lose just about EVERYTHING. Including any type of stick on label or card that you put on their shirt or (shudder) in their backpack. Enter the Eyedentity Label. This interesting new product allows you to create up to 4 lines of text which is then used to create a tattoo for your child. These are the tattoos that you apply with vegetable oil (parents who’ve used these types of…


Deskinacar and Accessories Review

Lee from Deskinacar.com had gone through a lot to get his products to me for review.  Anyone setting up an e-commerce site knows the  headaches involved, but Lee also had to deal with Mother Nature’s wrath: Lee’s fulfillment center was struck by a tornado, its roof was torn off, and Lee lost a third of his inventory.  Sometimes it makes you want to give up if you’re the one suffering from this type of adversity; thankfully, Lee hung in there and I can bring this review of Deskinacar to you. Lee actually sent me much more than the desk in…


Designer Sleeves Review

How often have you taken your laptop to work, but then had to go to a meeting where you wanted to bring your laptop but not its full-size bag?  Sleeve cases are a awesome item that allow you to keep your laptop protected, but let you leave the bulk at your desk.  I was sent a new Designer Sleeve in the Cars pattern to check out… As you can see, it’s very brightly colored.  The sleeve is made of neoprene like material; it is a bit squishy and provides some protection, but I still wouldn’t want to drop my laptop…


The Amazon Kindle Review

I love reading; always have. I remember the joy of checking out books from the library when I was a child: the thrill of finding a book that could transport me to other worlds and situations…and the sorrow when the time eventually came to return “my” book. It was as if I had separation anxiety when it was time to return a title I had really enjoyed. What if I wanted to read it again later? What if I couldn’t remember the title or author? I decided early on that book ownership was key. With that goal in mind, I…


Review: mStation 2.1 Stereo Tower

When I was a young child my family living room was dominated by a large piece of wooden furniture at least 3 1/2 feet high and 6-9 feet long. Inside was the “Hi-Fi” as my parents’ referred to it. It consisted of three sections. The first section contained the turntable, the second the amplifier (It used VACUUM TUBES!!) and the third a large speaker and storage for some of the many albums my parents owned. Unfortunately, only two of those albums, Meet The Beatles and Simon and Garfukle’s Greatest Hits, held any interest for me. It was big, bulky and…


Review: Proporta Gadget Bag – Asus Eee PC

When Asus brought out the Eee PC, they did think to include a case.  The neoprene case holds just the Eee PC itself, but if you need to carry the Eee PC and a few things, you’ll need something else. Enter the Proporta Gadget Bag. As you can see, it’s barely as wide as the Eee PC itself.  This case is the most ideal carrying solution that I have found for the Eee PC 701.  It is lightweight, very durable, and each compartment is padded so you won’t have to worry about bumps damaging your Eee or anything else.


Navigon 2100 Max Review: For Those Times When You Know Where You Are Going, but Just Need Some Help Getting There.

Can you folks believe that it is July already?  Here we are deep in the heart of summer vacation season.  You probably have places to go (or come home from) and Navigon aims to get you there and back again.  Their latest GPS, the 2100 Max is the perfect portable navigation system for the intrepid traveler.  Let’s take a closer look. Overview and Unboxing: Before we start talking about the features in this one, let’s just take a look at what you get.  The first thing I noticed was how much smaller this model was than the 7100, which I…


Review: Ted Baker Charging Kit from Proporta

I actually received Proporta’s Ted Baker Charging Kit by mistake when asking Proporta for the Gadget Bag.  I offered to review it for them, and they accepted! 😀  So, what makes this charging kit special?  Let’s take a look. According to Wikipedia, Ted Baker is a clothing store in the UK; they are known for applying twists to their products.  I have never been to the UK, but on the Ted Baker website I learned that they are a designer clothing company, and the wikipedia entry reveals that they have been coming to this side of the pond as well. …


Review: SmartShield Sunscreen and Insect Repellant

Have you ever had a bug problem and a problem with the sun at the same time?  This happens often when you’re on a camping trip or at an amusement park.  In the past, you had to slather on sunscreen and then spray some insect repellent.  It was a messy and goopy process, and sometimes you would still be swarmed by bugs or burnt to a crisp; not any more. SmartShield isn’t the first combination sunscreen and insect repellent, but it’s one of the best smelling ones I have tried.  I have used Sawyer’s SunBlock with insect repellent, and while…


First Drive: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

GM is rolling out the third two-mode hybrid fullsize SUV later this summer. We got a first drive in the new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid recently as the automaker visited with members of the automotive media at the Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas. In addition to the new hybrid model, Cadillac representatives also showed their newest Platinum Escalade sporting one of the best-looking grilles of any fullsize SUV on the road today. The hybrid models use the same powertrain we first saw in the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Hybrids. It features a 6.0-liter gasoline V-8 engine mated…