2008

Fixing the Empty Wireless Cone on My MacBook Air

There has been an issue which has been bugging me for the last couple of days, and tonight Mitchell and I found a solution. I thought I had better post about it, as I’ll bet that others have run into the same… When I bought the MacBook Air I restored it to the MacBook Pro backup copy I had stored on Time Machine, and the restore went without a hitch…but for one exception: I had an empty wireless cone in my menu bar. Instead of showing a wireless signal indicated by bars, the cone was completely empty – even when…

Reviews

Vamoose! Tobacco Odor Eliminator Review

I was twittering one night and Judie mentioned that she had this product to test. Only problem is that the product claims to remove cigarette and tobacco odors and she doesn’t know any smokers. Lucky girl. Much to my eternal shame, I told her that my beautiful, intelligent teenage daughter has decided she is a smoker. The really great part is that the wretched child thought it was a secret even though everything she owned absolutely reeked of cigarette odors. At first she tried to tell me it was from hanging around friends that smoked. She thinks I am stupid….

Editorials, Gear Bits

Goodbye Blackberry, It’s Not Me – It’s You – Here Are 10 Reasons I Left

On Friday I transferred my Blackberry phone number from T-Mobile over to my Apple iPhone, effectively terminating my contract with T-Mobile and ending a 15+ year practice of taking a Blackberry with me everywhere I went. In January I’d purchased an iPhone (“just to try it out”). Like many iPhone owners, I’d been hauling two phones with me. The Blackberry was my main email phone. The iPhone the web browser, Twitter client, music/video player, and picture taker phone. During the past week I was out at the Sage Software Insights Reseller Conference where they’d asked me to speak about Social…

Reviews

NewTech Accessories for the iPhone Review

If you like saving money, or in the case of Apple iPhone replacement accessories hate paying full retail prices, there’s a company that will keep some change in your pocket. Newer Technology has been around since the 1980’s selling Macintosh memory products. Today they have a line of five accessory products for the iPhone and iPod. • Bass Response Earbuds – with noise reduction and sound quality enhancer. • Hands-Free Mic & Earbud – provides hands-free communication while driving. • iPhone Mic Extender Cable – mic extender for hands-free use. • iPhone Headphone Jack Adapter – links to headphone connectors….

Events

The Last Day of Mobius Seattle 2008: AKA the Spectacular MacBook Pro Meltdown

When I arrived at the conference area to grab breakfast before entering, Tim McAfee was there to greet us, handing out my Flickr t-shirts. I was hoping for a medium, but some of the other guys had already beat me to them; he made it up to me by giving me two larges. Ha! After getting set up and then eating my food, I settled in with the others to listen to the first presentation on the Microsoft Zune. Creative Strategies Presentation Ben from Creative Strategies started a two hour discussion with the question “How is technology going to better…

Editorials

The Forgotten Mission of the OLPC

This is definitely a moment in OLPC’s history of big changes as views are conflicting on what the mission should really be about. This week, we have two important announcements: Microsoft is officially pushing Windows XP into the XO and Sugar Labs is no longer dedicated to the XO but will now offer the possibilities of building a “learning ecosystem” on all platforms. XP XO Is the XO sporting windows a good or bad thing? This is such a trivial question and so besides the point that we need to look at the real issues with OLPC. OLPC and Microsoft…

Reviews

HTC Shift Review Part 3: The Finale

About a week ago I sent the Shift review unit back, so I figured it’s time to tie up my thoughts on this controversial device. Prior to receiving the Shift, I read several reviews of the device, and they all seemed to sing the same tune: it was too slow and too expensive. In my experience only one of these was the case. In the current market, with competition from low-cost ultra-portables like the ASUS Eee and the HP Mini Note 2133, the Shift is too expensive. Sure it has features that the other two don’t have, like a convertible…

Reviews

Flamingo Music Wired Earphones Review” They Only Look out of This World

Some of you may know that I am sort of the headphones and headset guy around here. I have reviewed quite a number of both consumer based, as well as, higher end headphones, earphones, headsets, and pretty much anything else that can pump audio and music directly into your brain. We’ve looked at in-the-ear, out-of-the-ear, over-the-ear, even around-the-ear. Frankly, I thought I had seen it all…the good, the bad, and even some of the ugly. Then I came across the Flamingo Music Earphones, a new wired music solution which, frankly, stopped me in my tracks. Their EarClick system, which allows…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

HHR+SS=One hot little Chevy

Another SS model from Chevy? What’s so special about this one? Given the vehicles with the SS badge slapped on the fender in recent years, our less-than-overwhelming enthusiasm is deserved. And the lack of fanfare over the release of the SS edition HHR should be punishable by law (and just might be in some states).

Reviews

LapLogic Aerogel Extreme – Keepin’ It Cool

If you have a laptop built in the last couple of years, then odds are good that you’ve experienced the heat, maybe even the burn, of having the laptop sit on your lap. Many of the newest laptops get extremely hot, even with internal fans trying to keep the heat down. LapLogic is offering a cooling solution called the Laplogic Aerogel Extreme that is made with Aerogel (from a company called Aspen) that promises to offer you a more pleasant, cooler, computing experience.

Gear Bits

Unboxing the HTC Advantage 7510

This is going to be a much quicker unboxing than I usually like to do, mainly because it is almost 3am Texas time, and I have to be up in 5 hours to get ready for the next Mobius session. Anyway! After our dinner tonight, Matt Miller, Ed Hardy, Joel Evans and I met up in Matt’s suite to geek out with our new HTC Advantage 7510s. I managed to capture the unboxing photos, which I wanted to take and post before I really started using the device tomorrow… This picture of Matt is specifically for Mike Cane. 😉

Reviews

Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte Review

When I asked Nokia if I could review their 8800 Arte handset, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Some dumb phone that just looked a bit pretty, form and no function, a celebrity only famous for being rich? I’m certainly not the target of a phone like this. I like my mobile devices to be able to do everything. Surf the web, get emails, keep my calendar, mind my address book, and keep everything in sync with everything else. These are things that typically flumix a Series 40 phone. I was all set to be disappointed with the 8800…

Reviews

Nikon Coolpix S600 Review: It’s Not About the Megapixels

I think every family must have a hobby which all (or at least most) members of the family enjoy. Such common interests are what tie them together (and gives you something to talk about at family picnics). For my family, growing up, that common interest was photography. We all played around with both video and still photos, but the true love was probably still photos. Back then, we used to devise intricate plans for turning the basement into a darkroom (we never did). Of course, that love of photography has carried me into the digital world, where I am happy…

Reviews

The KICKER iKICK iK500 Stereo System Review

Back in the late 80s, when every spare dime I had went into car stereo components, I bought my first KICKER product. It was a subwoofer speaker box which fit perfectly into the space behind the seats in my silver Alfa Romeo. Never mind that it took up valuable cargo space; I still had a trunk, and I got a free back-massage every time I turned on my stereo. When I sold that car, I was able to unplug a few wires and easily remove my rear speaker system; that box was eventually transferred into several more vehicles before I…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is based on the iconic FJ40 that was sold here in the U.S. between 1960 and 1983. Designer Jin Kim took on the daunting task of creating an exciting vehicle poised between RAV4 and 4Runner that appealed to a younger, more active consumer. Kim’s approach is described as “industrial modern” meaning a tool-like combination of ruggedness and functionality with an honest look and modern surfaces.

Reviews

The Maximo Products iMetal iPhone Headsets Review

As anyone who owns an iPhone can tell you, a slight problem becomes apparent when you want to replace the stock stereo headset, namely that the iPhone’s headphone jack is deeply recessed, and the average 3.5mm plug simply can’t fit inside without trimming the rubber shielding the plug. When you are considering dropping some serious coin on a headset, the idea of butchering it simply doesn’t appeal; that’s when a model made specifically for the iPhone is the only “right” choice.

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

Lexus LS 600h L – Luxury hybrid or hybrid luxury?

All I can say about the new 2008 LS 600h L luxury hybrid sedan from Lexus is, “Wow!” But, I still have to fill the rest of this review so I will elaborate a bit.

Reviews

Review: Smart for Life Weight Loss Cookies

For those who don’t know, a year and a half ago I weighed a lot more than I do now. It was at that time when I went in for my regular physical at my doctor’s office, and it was at that time when I was told I would have to start taking medicine to keep my blood pressure down. This was nothing serious, but it scared me. I was 36 and I had High Blood Pressure. I was bound and determined to make a real life change: I decided to not let food rule my life anymore. So I…

Reviews

Review: Hyundai PC / Notebook Angled Mini high-powered Microphone from USB Fever

Are you sick and tired of people complaining that they can’t hear you during Skype phone calls? Have people been telling you that you sound like you’re in a tin can? If so, then maybe this little microphone is for you.

Reviews

The Kensington Contour Balance Notebook Case Review

During Jerry’s and my meeting with Kensington during CES, I had ample opportunity to admire their new Contour Balance line. As described on their site: With lightweight microfiber materials, sleek organization, Contour features to minimize strain, concealed pockets and DropShield® notebook padding for protection, these cases doesn’t compromise form for function and style. One of my wistful complaints at the time was that a bag was not available to fit my 17″ Toshiba. While there still isn’t a bag large enough for “value-sized” laptops, it no longer matters quite so much to me since I now own a 15″ MacBook…

Reviews

Review: USB 4-Port Hub with Thermometer and Clock

Are you the type of person who always asks what time it is? Do you have a clock on your desk even though you have a clock staring you right in the face every time you look at your computer? Do you always wonder why your office is so darn cold? Do you need a USB hub? Well if all of these apply, then the USB Fever USB 4-Port Hub with Thermometer and Clock is for you!

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