September 2013

Exploring the World of Gothic II Gold – a Retro Romp Review

I was surprised I never did a netbook gamer review of Gothic II Gold. Why surprised? Because it is in my ‘Top 5’ games, and I have played yearly since 2003. It is a huge, open-world, story-based fantasy RPG full of Orcs, Goblins, Mages, dragons and an intriguing plot. The game remains amazing to play and one of my favorites. Type of app: Role-playing (RPG) game Platform/where to buy: PC; available in the GoG.com Store Developer: Piranha Bytes Description: What’s cool about it: – Includes Gothic II and the expansion pack Night of the Raven – A great variety of…

Vehicles & Gear

GM Debuts All-New 2015 Full-size SUVs

General Motors has finally taken the wraps off its next-generation full-size SUVs as they introduce the all-new 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and 2015 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL in a trio of events Thursday. Designed to demonstrate the automaker’s leadership in the segment, the new models show off new styling, new technologies and new powertrains. While GM held separate events on each coast to introduce its newest Chevrolet and GMC full-size SUV models, they brought the family together for a global family launch party in Dallas, Texas, not 20 miles from the Arlington Assembly Plant where they will be…

Game Diary, Reviews

The Island: Castaway 2 HD for iPad Review

The Island: Castaway was a surprisingly fun blend of strategy and simulation, and the sequel takes you back to the island before the original castaways landed. You need to uncover a mystery as you learn loads of skills and recipes. It is better and more fun than the original, providing hours of fun and tons of new things to do! Type of app: Simulation game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Awem / G5 Entertainment Description: The Island: Castaway 2 has loads of content, including: – A huge, colorful island to…

Game Diary, Reviews

Disney Infinity Review on PlayStation 3 – Imaginative and Addictive Fun

Disney Infinity synergizes action figures and video games in fun, creative ways with limitless options, future expansions/collaborations, and creative gameplay. The game expands interactivity by “syncing” physical pieces with the video game. The Hype Introducing Disney Infinity, a unique toy based video game where a spark of imagination unlocks the freedom to play with some of your favorite Disney and Disney/Pixar characters in their respective worlds like never before. Game features include: extreme game customization and character mingling in ‘Toy Box’ mode, the inclusion of everything needed for initial play including the base peripheral and three initial character figures, multiple virtual…

Game Diary, News

Legend of Dungeon Launches for Mac/PC/Linux on Steam Today!

I wrote about the Kickstarter and early development of Legend of Dungeon, noting the title made me roll my eyes – but the trailer made me smile! I called it “a classic, lo-fi dungeon-crawling, rogue-like, real-time, beat-em-up, co-op romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously?” I’ve played some and it is fun, and now it’s available on Steam for $9.99! Here is the basic description: As you journey deep into the dungeon, you will find weapons, items, and long forgotten magic.. ..if you’re lucky, it might help you to fight off the droves of mysterious creatures you will encounter. There…

Gear Bits

Didn’t You Say That You Wanted a Super Awesome Martian Smart Watch?

Dan and I met with Martian Watch while at CES, and it was one of our Top CES Picks. A smart watch that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, the Martian Watch doesn’t have its own operating system, rather it connects to your smartphone and uses voice control. If you are intrigued, you can now buy one! Get yours here.

Reviews

Rechargeable BlueFlame Slingshot Bluetooth Speaker Review – It Goes Anywhere!

BlueFlame has quite the repertoire of stylish accessories for you mobile needs. One such clever device is their Slingshot wireless, water-resistant speaker. At about $119, this speaker system packs a lot of sound in a small package and can fit into other BlueFlame Slings. Simply pop the speaker unit proper out of one Sling and slip into another. The BlueFlame Slingshot is a compact, portable Bluetooth speaker that permits users to stream audio from a mobile device of choice while also permitting the reception of cell phone calls with its built-in microphone. Boasting increased bass response and improved sound quality…

Music Diary, News

WiFi2HiFi 2 Lands on the iTunes App Store September 17th

Just to be honest, my initial exposure to WiFi2HiFi was anything but positive. I had won a copy in a website contest, but actually getting the company deliver took more than a month. But the app itself was pretty cool and provided useful functionality, and now they have released a new upgraded version, cleverly called WiFi2HiFi 2. So what IS WiFi2HiFi? Well, the concept is simple. You load an app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. You install the ‘master’ app on your Mac. You pair the two, and then your iOS device shows up as a ‘device’ for…

Music Diary

Dream Theater Self-Titled Album Available for Pre-Order!

Although jazz is my favored genre, I love great musicians who show a love for their instrument and craft. Dream Theater is a prog-metal band with some of the best musicians in all of rock. Mike Petrucci and Jordan Rudess have won countless awards on their instruments over the years, and the new album sounds extremely promising! I had a friend who was into the early ‘speed metal’ scene in the early 80s, which required stamina as much as skill. Bands like Dream Theater took that to the next level by incorporating epic soundscapes and structures that derived from the…

Gear Bits

Jimmy Fallon Spoofs “Breaking Bad”

Are you watching this season of “Breaking Bad”? If not, you’re missing out on some great television. But if you are all caught up, and you need something to brighten your life before the resolution to last Sunday’s cliffhanger, check out this cameo-filled spoof called “Joking Bad” from Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Warning: Multi-season spoilers are spoofed. Via Slate

Reviews

Twelve South GhostStand Review – a Hauntingly Awesome MacBook Accessory

If you are in the market for a laptop stand and don’t want something that is simply utilitarian, then the Twelve South GhostStand may be just the thing for you. Made from clear lucite, the GhostStand makes it look as if your laptop is floating. Best of all, the GhostStand is just $34.99. Get one! Like all Twelve South products the GhostStand comes in a heavy gift box-looking package. The box includes tips on various ways you can reuse the box. I’m not sure if people actually make use of these tips, but it is good to see a company…

Gear Bits

Element Case Atom S4 Case Giveaway

As promised in the Gear Diary Newsletter, we are giving away awesome review sample cases. First up is the Element Case Atom S4 Judie recently reviewed. It has an MSRP of $54.95. Read the review, leave a comment then tweet the URL and “@geardiary @dmcohen @elementCASE”. We will announce the winner tomorrow night when we launch the next case giveaway.

Editorials

Reading the Tea Leaves on the 5c Launch

Why did Apple release the iPhone 5c? Was it to create a cheaper iPhone? Attract a different audience? Offer some diversity to the product line? And whatever combination of reasons might have been behind the move, why does it seem like there's a high expectation of failure? The specter of Apple's stumbles in the PC market and the rise of Android weigh heavily on the 5C/5S release. It's not a secret that many people were disappointed with the launch. Analysts and journalists who predicted a cheaper iPhone are pulling their hair out, and Apple-focused blogs are running in circles trying…

Music Diary, Reviews

Mary Halvorson Septet ‘Illusionary Sea’ – Same Great Music, Larger Setting

When you name an artist as one of your favorite emerging guitarists and composers, and remarking each release has improved upon the last, it sets a high standard for any new release. And while ‘Illusionary Sea’ doesn’t topple ‘Bending Bridges’ as my favorite, it’s a solid album with excellent compositions and great musicianship, and a great addition to her catalog. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: Firehouse 12 Records Artist: Mary Halvorson Septet Description: From the artist: At the end of 2011, Mary Halvorson had finished writing two albums’ worth of quintet music and decided she was ready for a…

Reviews

Keizus Quadropod + Clamp Review – a New Way to Hold Your Smartphone

As smartphone photography has gotten better and better, it has become increasingly clear that the right accessories will help take things to an entirely new level. The Quadropod + Clamp is a tripod-like stand and mount. Easy to use and flexible enough to hold your smartphone or tablet in pretty much any position, it is just $39.95. As you can see the Keizus Quadropod + Clamp is going up against the likes of the Joby Gorillapod line. It offers some significant differences, such as the quad legs rather than the tripod legs, and it makes deciding which small camera and…

Reviews

Mindshift Gear Contact Sheet Review – a Clean Photography Surface Anywhere

Mindshift Gear, an offshoot of ThinkTank Photo, is now offering the Contact Sheet. This multi-purpose photography accessory is specifically for photographers working in wet or dirty settings. In seconds the sheet extends to 3.5′ by 5′, and it provides a neat and clean surface for photographer’s gear or themselves. Just $39.99 you can find it here. The Contact Sheet is a great example of “the right tool for the right job”. This isn’t a “can’t live without” product, but it has already come in handy for me — and I’m not even a professional photographer, and I don’t work in…

Game Diary, Gear Bits

Download GRID2 Demolition Derby Mode for Free

Codemasters rocks the game racing world again with a free Demolition Derby Mode download for GRID 2. It’s available for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3 versions of the game … and it is very cheap compared to the Mono edition. Enjoy GRID 2 Demolition Derby mode in single-player, split-screen, and in up to twelve player online races.This mode features the Jupiter Eagle Ray Mk 5 Demo Derby car and the Detroit Demolition Derby Stadium with two track setups. Players can create crossover jumps for extra excitement. The Xbox version (via Xbox Live) and PC version (via Steam) debuted last week while the PS3 version…

Crowdfunding, Gear Bits

Phonebloks – Groundbreaking Smartphone Idea, Pipe Dream, or Both?

Phonebloks is a conceptual solution to a very real problem. Electronic waste is a big concern, as today’s electronics are not built to last. Phonebloks is a concept that uses interchangeable “bloks” that can be switched out when it either fails or you’re in the mood for an upgrade. But can this seemingly simple idea really be produced? With this design, you can theoretically just swap in and out any number of components from the camera, processor, gyroscope, memory, WiFi, even the screen and replace them wherever you’d like on the base. Sounds like an incredibly simple way to fully…

Game Diary, Reviews

Supermarket Management 2 for the iPad Brings More Time Management Fun!

Despite initial reservations I have come to love games like SuperMarket Management 2 in the time management genre. As you make progress things get more difficult and you need to balance more tasks, difficult customers, shifting priorities, combined items, and more – all while timing gets more critical! One great thing – if you like the demo you’ll love the game! Type of app: Time Management game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Playful Age / G5 Entertainment Description: Supermarket Management 2 has loads of content, including: ? 49 challenging levels…

Gear Bits

KMI Launches QuNeo Rogue Indiegogo Campaign!

I loved the KMI QuNeo, so I am excited for the QuNeo Rogue. The Rogue is a new Indiegogo project for an integrated wireless connection kit and long lasting battery for QuNeo that allows you to leave your cables behind! With 12 hours of battery and a 50-200 meter wireless range, QuNeo Rogue have you ready to groove! A few details: • Rogue is an accessory for the QuNeo that supplies long-lasting battery power and an incredibly robust wireless connection to a computer. • Rogue attaches quickly and easily to the bottom of your QuNeo with low-profile velcro. • Battery…

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