2008

Blackberry Bold 9000 Review

Reviews

Blackberry Bold 9000 Review

Not too long ago I bought the Nokia E71, since it was pretty much everything I wanted in a smartphone. Excellent keyboard, excellent signal, excellent battery life, and a stable platform. Since I bought it I’ve been very happy with it, and I didn’t think anything would be able to topple it for me. Until now. Off the bat, I would like to let you know that the Bold is my first Blackberry. I’ve very briefly played with several Blackberry’s before, but I’ve never used one in depth or as my primary phone. While I may be a Blackberry virgin,…

Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer Review

Reviews

Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer Review

I’ve got a thing for notebook bags and over the years I have collected quite a few. This was, however, my first experience with a Tom Bihn bag and boy am I impressed. This is among the first of the new, TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) approved notebook bags that do not require removal of the device while winding your way through  the security checkpoint gauntlet. The new TSA rules allow a notebook to remain in its case as long as there is an unobstructed view for the x-ray machine. That means there can be nothing blocking the notebook and that…

Griffin WindowSeat for iPhone & Touch Review

Reviews

Griffin WindowSeat for iPhone & Touch Review

When I’m driving in the car typically my iPhone sits loosely on my seat. This means that when I take a sharp turn suddenly my phone slides all the way across the seat — sometimes on the the floor. So I was interested to see how Griffin’s WindowSeat would work to keep my iPhone firmly in sight – and in place in the car.

Griffin Aircurve boosts your iPhone audio without power

Reviews

Griffin Aircurve boosts your iPhone audio without power

I’ve been testing the new Griffin Aircurve with my iPhone for the past week. My primary alarm clock each morning is my iPhone which I’ve set to wake me at the same time each weekday. Usually I just leave it flat on my nightstand. Sometimes I plug it into a power cable and other times I forget. Here’s a new product from Griffin that does three things – (1) Acts as a stand — (2) Amplifies the iPhone sound and (3) allows for powering your iPhone through your charging cable. How well does it work?

StarTech USBVGA Dock Review

Reviews

StarTech USBVGA Dock Review

I’ve been a portable computer advocate for YEARS.  In fact, until my most recent job, every computer that I’ve used for work AND personal use over the last 12 years has been a laptop.  Personally, aside from a cost perspective and justification, I don’t know why corporations continue to buy desktop computers.  Laptop/portable computers tend to make a workforce more productive, and more efficient. When I got my MacBook Pro in 2006, the one big problem that I thought I saw with it was the lack of a docking station for it.  While its nice that its pretty much a…

HBI DreamKeeper 400 Review

Reviews

HBI DreamKeeper 400 Review

When this device came to us via press release, I of course felt obligated to check it out since I have Sleep Apnea and issues getting sleep.  Does the DreamKeeper 400 keep its promise of increased deep sleep and 78 percent longer sleeping time?  Let’s find out.

Waterfield's Suede Jacket Sleeve for MacBook Review

Reviews

Waterfield’s Suede Jacket Sleeve for MacBook Review

So you got your new MacBook (gorgeous isn’t it?) and you really want to carry it with you everywhere. You could throw it into a large, super protective notebook case. The problem is, but that would just weigh you down after Apple was kind enough to shave half a pound from it. You could carry it in a highly protective laptop sleeve, such as the one that I use from Waterfield. It works great and offers a fair amount of protection. But what if you want to carry a work briefcase and don’t feel like having two different cases? What…

The Ford Rouge Factory Tour: Featuring the 2009 F-150

Events, Vehicles & Gear

The Ford Rouge Factory Tour: Featuring the 2009 F-150

Last week I had the opportunity to not only take the all new 2009 F-150 for several grueling test drives, I also got to see its creation from the frame up. Grinding Gears editor David Goodspeed and I met with other journalists at the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Our day started at the Henry Ford Rouge Factory Tour…

Hauppauge HD PVR Model 1212 Review

Reviews

Hauppauge HD PVR Model 1212 Review

Would you like to record video from HDTV without having any DRM(Digital Rights Management)?  If so, the Hauppauge HD PVR may be for you. Similar in size to the Mac Mini, the HD PVR is a small and light box.  In the front, you have a SVideo, Composite Video, Left and Right Audio for connectors.

Study say's Sharpies can be reused over and over in surgeries without risk of infection - still unsafe to leave inside patient

Gear Bits

Study say’s Sharpies can be reused over and over in surgeries without risk of infection – still unsafe to leave inside patient

I just spotted this story over at physorg.org which describes an interesting study. These days it’s standard surgical practice to outline the area being operated on with a magic marker (typically a Sharpie). When I had hernia repair surgery (an impressive hernia according to my doctor) I recall the surgical assistant asking me to take a Sharpie and outline the area. I also briefly think I remember a lot of laughter and some flashbulbs, though I’m not sure if that was the effects of the anesthesia or some practical jokers in the operating room. Apparently these Sharpies are used once…

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS550: The four-door sport coupe

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS550: The four-door sport coupe

Coupe: Stylish, sporty two-door presentation by automakers, designed to energize sales and attract drivers passionate about the motoring experience. Saloon (sedan): Usually upright, boxy styling on four-door platform, rarely evoking enthusiasm or excitement, suitable for family transportation. CLS550: unique synthesis of the two.

Face-Off Frenzy PowerBand Hockey Review

Reviews

Face-Off Frenzy PowerBand Hockey Review

As a child who grew up through the arcade era, one popular game we played a lot of was Air Hockey.  That was a game that required a big table, power and lots of quarters.  Imagine playing Air Hockey in your home without even needing power?  Enter Face-Off Frenzy Powerband Hockey.

Waterfield iPod Suede Jacket Review

Reviews

Waterfield iPod Suede Jacket Review

Apple got it right with the second generation iPod Touch. The device is sleek, thin and feels great in the hand. It works fantastically well as a touchscreen iPod, as a video and gaming device and as a mobile internet device. The addition of a physical volume control was much needed and, even though the speaker is a bit on the weak and tinny side, it is a great addition to the device. Sure, I wish Apple had added GPS and Bluetooth, but that doesn’t keep me from being extremely happy with this slick device. The new iPod Touch does…

Wednesday Walkaround: Most capable 2009 Ford F-150

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

Wednesday Walkaround: Most capable 2009 Ford F-150

OK, granted it is now Friday, but we could not bring you the entire story of the all-new Ford F-150 before today due to embargo restrictions. The GearDiary team of Judie Lipsett and David Goodspeed spent two days in Michigan for a first-hand, full-tilt experience with the latest version of the world’s best-selling vehicle.

Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Review

Reviews

Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Review

Yes, the BlackBerry Bold and Touch Pro reviews are coming, but the Mini 9 showed up on my desk two days ago and I just had to post my thoughts on it, since it’s the first “netbook” I’ve really used since I sold off my Eee PC, and I could instantly tell what I thought of it. Out of the box the Dell looks great. With its glossy black lid and compact dimensions, it’s absolutely fabulous to carry it around. This morning I left home early so I could go to the coffee shop for a little while before work,…

The Jabra JX20 PURA Titanium Edition Bluetooth Headset Review

Reviews

The Jabra JX20 PURA Titanium Edition Bluetooth Headset Review

You know how there can be certain products that you see people using all of the time, or that maybe you’ve even used yourself for a while, but you just don’t really “get” them? Well, that’s been my relationship with Bluetooth headsets, or “ear roaches” as Kerry calls them. Sure, I have used and reviewed many of the best models available, and some of them worked so well, fit so comfortably, filtered out background noise so wondrously, or looked so tiny that I thought I might have actually found one I could live with. But in the end, I have…

OnCourse Navigator 8 Review

Reviews

OnCourse Navigator 8 Review

I’ve been reviewing GPS-related items (receivers, software, PNAs) for several years now and, about a year and a half ago, I reviewed OnCourse Navigator 6 (sold in Europe as iGo 2006).  I felt that OCN 6 was one of the best PDA-based navigation programs I had ever used, despite the fact it had fairly complicated menus and map quirks that were typical of TeleAtlas (the supplier of map data to iGo/OCN, Tom Tom, and others) map data in North America. Now fast forward to today, nearly 2 years after the original iGo 2006 release (the software that OCN 6 is based on), and OCN 8 (iGo…

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Speaker Review

Reviews

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Speaker Review

My wife calls it the silver bullet.  I think from behind, it looks like a twisted alien face, staring out at you.  In reality, however, it is one of the most unique speakers I have ever used.  Modeled after the Zeppelin flying machine, if this speaker sounds half as good as it looks, then I think we will have a real winner here.  Hit the jump and listen along…

The Sprint HTC Touch Diamond Review

Reviews

The Sprint HTC Touch Diamond Review

You might remember that when I attended the Seattle Mobius in May, I was given the European version of the HTC Touch Diamond, which for network reasons I opted to have sent to Mitchell in Australia. The Diamond version he received and reviewed was at first glance nearly identical to the Sprint version I’ll be covering today, with the exception of their back sides. During his testing period, Mitchell found that he liked the small size of the device, the multitude of radios packed in that small package (HSDPA, WiFi, BT, GPS and FM), the sharpness of the 2.8″ VGA…

TravelRest Pillow Review

Reviews

TravelRest Pillow Review

I just recently got back from a business trip to Reston, VA.  Along with me I had meant to take the pillow I’m reviewing today, but for some reason it did not make it into my bag.  Fortunately for me, my flight wasn’t that long. When I go to Tennessee for my holiday in the Smokies, I fully intend to make sure that the TravelRest Pillow is in my bag. This is what the TravelRest Pillow looks like when it’s not in use.  Unlike most of those horseshoe shaped pillows, the TravelRest is inflatable.  When you’re not using it, the…