May 2010

USB Flash Drive Cufflinks- What The Well-Dressed Geek Is Wearing These Days

OK, these are too cool. They look like nice, rather simple cufflinks, but they are much more than that thanks to a hidden surprise. That surprise? Each cufflink offers 2GB of storage. Pop off the top of either, plug it into a USB port and… Bam… Access whatever you have stored on them as you would with any USB flash drive. The cufflinks come in three finishes- silver, gunmetal and gold plated. They are available for pre-order now and begin shipping tomorrow (May 26th). Such techie fashion won’t come cheap however, as the cufflinks cost $199 a pair. Engraving costs…

Game Diary, Reviews

Bloons TD Lite for iPhone/Touch App Review

Working at a school allows me to see many different fads and phenomena. Sometimes it is a certain clothing style, a catch phrase, a certain style of purse or shoes etc… This year the craze seems to be a certain flash game. The game is available on an educational website that is actually not blocked by the filter at our school. There is a huge number of games to play but one has become the default for almost everyone. Bloons Tower Defense is not only played by the students in spare moments in the computer lab, but the coaching staff…

Editorials

Wait … YOU Had The App Made … and it is Just for ME, to Give ME Free Stuff?!?!

A long time ago I signed up on the Verve Music site in order to gain access to some ‘exclusive’ John Coltrane content. Since 2003 I have gotten more or less weekly emails from them, generally throw-aways promoting whomever was new, but with some occasional gems. Fairly typical for a music publisher and nothing obnoxious enough to make me unsubscribe. The last several months, however, have been a nearly daily stream of emails related to American Idol Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee and her latest recording “Unbroken”. Verve has been absolutely punishing my inbox with pseudo-personalized emails pushing me to…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

Despite Early Issues, 2010 Toyota Prius Best Yet

(All photos courtesy Toyota) Toyota Prius is the ubiquitous hybrid. And yes, I did have to look that word up. The 2010 model is the third generation Prius to hit U.S. soil and this new midsize model bring better fuel economy, enhanced performance and modern styling to the platform. It is roomier, quieter and equipped with all of the latest technology including offering a moonroof complete with solar panels, four driving modes, Intelligent Parking Assist and steering wheel touch controls that display on the instrument panel. “The Prius has evolved with our customers over the past 10 years and is…

eBooks, Reviews

Simply Audiobooks Review

Audiobooks are expensive. If you’re an audiobook addict, you could easily find yourself blowing some major cash trying to keep up with books on your commute. Sure, there’s the library, but then you run the risk of late fees. And services like Audible.com are pricey, and may not be compatible with your chosen phone or mp3 player. Enter Simply Audiobooks. Essentially, it’s a Netflix-style service for audiobooks. You can check out several books at a time and keep as many as you want queued up. Is it the perfect solution for audiobook fans? Read on and find out! When you…

Reviews

SportBoard for iPad Review

As a coach, it is exciting seeing possibilities new technologies are bringing to the profession. In the past I have reviewed a few iPhone apps that have performed a task, but were definitely limited in their abilities. After the iPad was announced, there was even a discussion about using the iPad to coach basketball on my favorite basketball forum Texas Basketball Coaches or TBC. Even non-tech savvy coaches instantly saw the possibilities of the new device. SportBoard for the iPad allows coaches to use the device to draw basketball plays just like you would on a dry erase clipboard. Draw…

Reviews

Fabrix Cases Magic Sleeve for iPad Review

I’ve been enjoying using my iPad in its naked form. Truth be told I do have it wrapped safely in a full body Clear Coat protectant skin but it’s as close to naked as I’m willing to go. That being said pouch style cases seem to work best for me. I definitely need something to protect the iPad when I’m carrying it around but want something that allows me to keep the device as sleek as possible when I’m using it. Zippered pouches are nice but they require some work when I need the device. The Fabrix Magic Sleeve is…

Game Diary, Reviews

Borderlands: PC/XBOX360/PS3 Game Review

Late last October Gearbox software launched a game called Borderlands. I played it quite a bit at launch, and since then there have been a few DLC add-ons and other attempts by the developers to keep the game fresh in the minds of the typically short-attention-span target audience for this sort of game. As I was revisiting the games of 2009 I thought it would be worthwhile to give this one another go. The Hype: A sci-fi/action RPG from acclaimed developer Gearbox, Borderlands combines the best in first-person action gaming with elements of a traditional role-playing game (RPG). The excitement…

News, Vehicles & Gear

iPhone Calls Shotgun With New Safe Driver App

Here is an app that caught my interest as soon as I saw the e-mail. Worry is probably the leading cause of stress for many parents and vehicle fleet managers alike. Dangerous Decisions has released an Apple iPhone app designed to monitor driving conditions in a vehicle and it is available as a basic free download or in a pro version that carries a one-time price of $24.99. No sooner did I hit the sentence in the press release with the link to the download site than I put the free version on my iPhone and went out for a…

News

Lapworks iPad Recliner Brings LaZBoy Goodness to Your Workspace

The iPad simply begs to be held in a propped position, whether it’s being used as an extra computer monitor, as a cookbook in the kitchen, with a Bluetooth keyboard as an impromptu netbook replacement, or in any o dozens of other scenarios. Those who agree will want to pay attention to the latest offering from Lapworks … the iPad Recliner. What sets it apart from all the other iPad docks? The iPad Recliner is unique because it is one of the few iPad stands that has dozens of incline positions to choose from. The majority of the iPad stands…

News

5 Ways iPad is Better Than Netbook … and 5 Ways it is Worse

Prior to the release of the iPad, there were a multitude of articles – some touting 15 ways the iPad was better than a netbook, and others talking about the 42 ways the netbook was better than the iPad, and so on. As my Netbook Gamer series indicates, I am a netbook lover. I am also a proud iPad owner, and have had a few weeks using them both to look at the strengths and weaknesses of each. So here are 5 ways I feel each is better than the other … and I leave it to you to decide…

News

Larry and Dan Are Back With Gear Chat #10- Jailbreak!!

Larry and Dan are back after a few week break. In this podcast they focus on jailbreaking their iPhone, iPod touches and iPads, highlight a few iPad and iPhone apps, touch on some items making news and offer a few tips and tricks. Some of the jailbreak apps we are enjoying… Activator Backgrounder FullForce Infiniboard Infinidock Categories Also in this podcast- iPad apps FlickPad and NotesToStore. You can download from iTunes…

Reviews

Gowalla vs. Foursquare: Which One Is Right For You?

I got hooked on Foursquare, the social networking iPhone OS application that allows you to “check-in” at the places you visit, by Judie back at CES. Judie, Dan and I had a fun time battling for mayorships of various locations in Las Vegas. I’ve been a frequent user of the app. since then too. But a worthy competitor to Foursquare has emerged, so worthy in fact that I find myself using Gowalla more. Both Gowalla and Foursquare are iPhone OS applications that operate on the same basic principal. Using your device’s built in GPS the applications locate you and show…

eBooks, Editorials

Who Needs an eBook Editor?

(I want to live here.) Welcome to yet another State of the eBook! First of all, the results of last week’s poll are in. Apparently, most of you are bigger ebook fans, with the vast majority voting for “eBooks first!/What’s a paper book?” Guess it isn’t TOO surprising, considering the subject of this column… This week, the big ebook news was that Barnes and Noble debuted “PubIt!”, their self-publishing arm. This brings them into direct competition with Amazon, as well as smaller companies Smashwords and Feedbooks, plus the vanity paper book publishers looking to break into the ebook markets. Basically,…

Editorials

C25K Week 2: Get On The Bus

There’s nothing like peer pressure to get you motivated. Last week I told you that after hearing my plan to start the C25K program and write about it for the site both Judie and Dan eagerly joined in too. Dan’s still on the sidelines with his wrist injury but Judie and I are plugging along, despite Judie battling illness and getting ready for her wedding! Well after seeing my week one article even more members of the Gear Diary staff decided they wanted in on the fun as well. Starting this week with week one of the C25K were Travis,…

Reviews

Sound ID 510 Bluetooth Headset and EarPrint iPhone App- Available June 6, but We Already Have a Review

I previously reviewed Sound ID’s last two headsets, the Sound ID 300 and the Sound ID 400. Both headsets were among the most comfortable and best sounding Bluetooth headsets I have used and both packed some nice features into rather small device. Well this morning Sound ID announced their next generation Bluetooth headset, and it is rather impressive. The headset packs in A2DP Technology, advanced noise reduction, multi-point technology and… get this… an iPhone app that works with the headset. The new headset, the Sound ID 510 will be available in black from AT&T (available in the store and online)…

Reviews

M-Edge Latitude Jacket for Apple iPad – iPad Case Review

My in-laws are currently in China touring for the next two weeks. For gear they took a point and shoot camera my mother-in-law’s new Kindle (well new to her thanks to judie) and… an iPad. Now this may not sound like a big deal to you but trust me… it is. You see, my father-in-law doesn’t even check his own email messages. Elana does. and when I got my iPad my father-in-law rolled his eyes and gave me a look that said, “Yet another Apple product Dan? You know there is a twelve-step program for that.” I proceeded to tell…

Reviews

Review: M-Edge Leisure Jacket For iPad

Finding the iPad case that is right for me has proven to be a difficult task. There are so many options and styles, finding the perfect option is truly an exercise in trial and error. I thought I would give the iPad Leisure Jacket by M-Edge a try since it is compact and provides a lot of protection from the environment. The product has left me with mixed results. Kind of an interesting idea that does not work. Features * The Leisure Jacket provides superior protection against sand, dirt, and moisture by utilizing a read-through, clear vinyl cover. * Protective…

Reviews

Gear Diary Deal or Dud #4: Original Space Bag

I’m back with another episode of Gear Diary’s Deal or Dud? This month I take a look at the Original Space Bag. Several years ago these bags were all the rage. You loaded them full of your most bulkiest sweaters, blankets and other items that you used seasonally, sucked all the air out to compress and them and then stored them neatly under your bed. In my continuing quest to create more closet space in my own home I snatched up a new version of the space bag. The Original Space Bag promises to triple your closet space. The one…

News

JAVOedge Releases iPad SleeveCases In Three Styles

JAVOedge has just released a series of iPad sleeves and they look great. The three styles, the Poppy Sleeve Case, the Kyoto Sleeve Case, and the Fiber Sleeve Cases are all “animal-friendly” (ie non-leather) with the Poppy Sleeve available in “sunny yellow”, “sky blue”, and “tangerine red”. As the company puts it, “The Sleeve Cases are nice enough to carry alone and show off.” They aren’t kidding. All three look both stylish and functional, offering good protection for your iPad while also making it simple to access it whenever you choose. Let’s take a quick look at each. The JAVOedge…

eBooks, News

More Kindle for Android Details!

The lucky guys at Android Central got their hands on a demo of Kindle for Android, and it looks amazing. If you watch the video, there’s a brief force close (oops!), and a demo of some of the settings. Highlights for me were the ability to change the background colors and a brightness slider; when you’re dealing with a bright, high-resolution screen, being able to adjust how you view an ebook is a must. After watching the video, this makes me want Kindle for Android now! Summer can’t come soon enough…note to Amazon: I’ll be traveling in June and July,…

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