May 2010

Flip Video Slide HD – Review

I like Flip’s products a great deal. I bought the original Flip and loved it. I loved the on-board software that let you edit and share videos as soon as you plugged it into a computer. And because the software was on the device it didn’t matter what computer I plugged into. I then got to review the Flip Mino and the Flip HD Ultra. Each got better and better. Then came the iPhone 3GS. It shot video. No, it wasn’t HiDef video but it did the job and, thanks to an assortment of apps and the ability to upload…

Game Diary, Reviews

Greed – Black Border PC Game Review

Game reviewers play so many games across various platforms and genres that it is often easy to forget one important detail – we all got started with a love of games and a passion stoked by games we loved playing to the point that we began sharing our thoughts with others in written form. So when the sci-fi shooter action-RPG Greed – Black Border came along, it was right up my alley as a PC shooter and RPG fan … so I had already pre-ordered it even before the review version came along. That adds some benefits as you’ll see…

News

The 20 Richest Comic Book Characters of All Time

Most everyone immediately thinks of Bruce Wayne / Batman when they think of wealthy comic book heroes, but a new list at Ranker.com tells a different tale, looking at the Top 20 wealthiest comic book characters. It is amazing how some of these characters manage to run multinational corporations, have illustrious love lives, and still keep cities safe from crime! Heck, most of us have a hard enough time balancing work and family while finding a few spare minutes for fun … but I guess that is why THEY are superheroes and WE are not! Looking at the list we…

News

iPad App Expedition Let’s The Apple VGA Out Adapter Actually Do Something Useful

Leave it to developers to start filling in the gaps left by Apple. Until now the VGA dongle that Apple happily sells at an overpriced rate has been a bit crippled. That will start to change and the first taste of that is comes in the form of Expedition – The VGA Out Web Browser. The app costs $4.99 in the iTunes App Store but promises it is… the first VGA out web browser for the iPad. Expedition uses the VGA out iPad accessory to display the web content you see on the iPad screen to an external display TV/LCD/projector. Expedition…

News

Epson Introduces Stylus NX420… First Wireless-N All-In-One Under $100

I have been happily using an Epson all-in-one printer since I reviewed one for the site last year. The printer does everything I need and much more. Best of all it does it quickly and accurately, and it’s relatively easy to use despite the huge number of functions available through it. It is intended for a small office, and so it hasn’t gotten the wear and tear that others might put on it, but over a year later it’s working other than ever. In fact, it fit what my dad needed so I set it up for him when he…

eBooks, Reviews

Disney Princess & the Frog Digital iPad Book Review

There’s no denying that the iPad is a revolutionary device. What it can do and they way it goes about doing it is just amazing. However, to my disappointment application developers have not been quick to release programs for the iPad that take advantage of everything the device has to offer. There are a few applications currently in the iTunes App Store that do though, and when you load one of these onto your device you immediate just get it. Such is the case with Disney Publishing’s newest digital interactive book. Recently released in the iTunes App Store, Princess and…

Reviews

Review: High Sierra Cirque 30 Daypack

One of my favorite activities during the spring and summer months is to go hiking. I don’t mean just for a afternoon hike, but all day. Just pack a lunch, thermos full of coffee and a bagel and head out the door for a long hike in the woods. Of course you have to make sure that you have a jacket, some raingear, sun block, a hat, water and maybe even a tent and bedroll for a quick overnight in the woods. Some daypacks barely have enough room for this kind of activity and if you are a scout leader…

Reviews

Knocking Live Video for iPhone App Review

This weekend, my brother Sam asked me if I had that app that you knock on somebody’s phone and then can see what their camera sees. When I told him I did not, he was excited to actually have an app recommendation for me. I was also surprised to find out the app did not require the 3GS. The app actually creates a live stream to another iPhone using the built-in camera. Now this Blue Plate recommendation is sort of a mixed review and your mileage may vary. We quickly tested the app both ways with fairly good results. …

Reviews

The Lexar USB JumpDrive Secure II Plus Review

Can you ever have enough memory? These days the answer always seems to be ‘no’. Whether for our computers, our smartphones, external backup drives, camcorders, cameras, digital music players, laptops, netbooks, digital picture frames, or any other device that is meant to hold data, the need for more memory continues to be never-ending. But we don’t just need more memory, we need ways to keep the stored data secure. Which brings us to the Lexar JumpDrive Secure II Plus, a USB flash drive available in denominations from 2GB all the way to 64GB which has built-in 256-bit AES encryption; I…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

Ford F-150 expanded portfolio: Harley and Raptor

If it seems like reviews of certain brands seem to come in waves it is because I get the vehicles by brand in waves. There are five companies regionally located here in north Texas that rep for the major automakers. A couple of them only handle families of brands, i.e. the Ford office delivers Ford/Lincoln/Mercury product and the agency working for Toyota only brings Toyota/Lexus/Scion models. As I have been on the rotation schedule with Ford recently, my columns seem to be leaning heavily with Ford headlines. And here is another. This spring saw the arrival of a pair of…

How to Do It Yourself!

The Advantage of Being a Pack Rat

I tend to hang onto odds and ends from gadgets. My justification is always “you never know when you might need a cable/case/obscure memory card format/box”. And 9 times out of 10, I forget about all that stuff until it’s time for spring cleaning. But sometimes it really comes in handy. I never threw out my Kindle 1 case even after I replaced it with a M-Edge one, since I figured it might be useful someday. Last week I was reading a few books on my Camangi Webstation, and it just highlighted how much I hated the simple slipcover that…

Reviews

iPad Camera Connection Kit Review

Unlike many of Apple’s devices, the iPad has seen a host of accessories released along with it. In the past Apple has relied mostly on its third party manufacturers to create cases and other peripherals for the iPhone, iPod etc. For the iPad Apple is offering a case, a power adapter, a dock, a keyboard dock, a display adapter and the camera connection kit, the last which we’re going to look at today. Right about now you’re probably asking yourself, “what do I need the camera connection kit for?” And I did the same thing as I stood in the…

Music Diary, News

1000 Jazz Albums You Should Hear Before You Die

OK, so who is crazy enough to put together THAT sort of list? Apparently the folks at Groove Notes! The image I highlighted was of Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s 1967 recording The Inflated Tear. This is my favorite recording of his, mixing free jazz elements, traditional hard-bop, and soul-flavored pop elements he’d later explore on Blacknuss and Volunteer Slavery. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t feel bad, because while it was a big hit for a non-mainstream jazz recording it wasn’t exactly setting the charts on fire – as stated in AllAboutJazz, “Roland Kirk won over the masses with this…

Events, Vehicles & Gear

Chevrolet celebrates diamond anniversary of Suburban

I attended an event today at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington, Texas, that gave me cause for deeper reflection. Chevy is celebrating the 75th year of the Suburban model. A single product with three-quarters of a century lineage – now that is something. It got me to wondering: In this modern era of “here today, gone tomorrow” and disposable lifestyles what new products would be able to survive 75 years. Sure, brands can live long lives, and of course basic concepts, but what about the individual nameplate, the singular moniker. Probably few things within our reach at this…

eBooks, Editorials

Buyer Beware – MyPadMedia

It sounds great…”Unlimited books and comics for your iPad!” But what is MyPadMedia? Well, it is a site that promises the holy grail to readers: pay them $50 ONCE, and the floodgates open for unlimited books. What books? Well, you need to pay to play, my friends. There’s a testimonial that claims to have read “the whole twilight series”, but if you want more you need to pony up some serious dough, sight unseen. From all appearances, it is a huge scam. Red flag #1: no searchable listings. Pay up, but they won’t tell you what you’re paying for! Red…

Reviews

Speck CandyShell for Apple iPad – Review

The good folks at Speck are rolling out a multitude of ways for you to protect your iPad in style. The latest Speck case I’ve had a chance to try out is the Speck CandyShell for iPad. The CandyShell retails for $49.95 and offers… “Hard Shell. Soft Center. Looks Sweet.” Let’s take a look… From Speck… Our award-winning CandyShell just got bigger! This iPad case has a thin, hard-shell coating with soft rubbery interior lining, bezel, & button covers. The flip-back panel for dockability is the sort of Spexy little detail that makes CandyShell the tastiest, most functional iPad case…

Reviews

Twitter for Android Review and Comparison

Twitter released their “official” Android app on Friday afternoon, and I’ve been using it for a few days. Is it enough to unseat my current favorite (Touiteur), or even match up Twidroid and Seesmic? Read on to find out. Let’s start with the basics. Twitter offers the usual complement of “check for new tweets at x intervals”, and notifications appear in the status bar. You can set for an LED flash as well as an audible alert. All that works great, although the LED flash seems to be a bit buggy. The big downside is that when you are notified…

News

40 Ways People Still Use Floppy Disks

Last week Dan relayed the announcement by Sony that they were killing off floppy disk production in his article So Long 3.5? Floppy… We Hardly Remember You Anyhow…, and we all had a good chuckle. But for some folks, using a floppy is part of their daily reality. The BBC brings us a light look at folks still using floppy disks. But while many focus on silly things such as: 15. I buy about 100,000 floppies per year as I have a business that makes them into drinks mats, fridge magnets and toast racks. Ken Pork, London The reality is…

eBooks, Editorials

Numbers Take on the eBook Fiction Section

(image courtesy Readymade) It’s time for another “State of the eBook”! This time there’s some quickie news, and then an examination of numbers. What’s for real, and what’s a smokescreen? More on that in a bit. Kindle: -The Kindle app for PC has been updated! Apparently, it adds a few interface improvements. Hopefully, the next step is going to be releasing some new Kindle apps (cough, Android, cough). -In addition, it looks like Amazon will be offering commissions to affiliates for Kindle books. B&N nook: -The nook may/may not have outsold the Kindle in the first quarter. The actual results…

Game Diary, Reviews

Dragon Age: Origins Mac Game Review

Not too long ago I did a review of Dragon Age: Origins, looking at the PC and console versions. Back when I was first playing the PC version the Mac version was announced and released, and I started playing – knowing that I would come back to provide a review on the port at a later time. The Hype: From BioWare, the makers of Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Baldur’s Gate comes Dragon Age: Origins. An epic tale of violence, lust, and betrayal, Dragon Age: Origins is a single player role-playing game (RPG) set in…

News

Jailbreak Your iPad, and Suddenly VOiP Apps Make Sense

Jailbreak At Your Own Risk. We Are NOT Recommending It. We just did it ourselves and are telling you about it. A jailbreak that works on the current iPhone and iPad was released this morning. Larry gave Judie & me the heads-up that he was jailbreaking his iPhone; it took four seconds. I jumped in and jailbroke my iPad 3G. Judie is about to do her iPad, too. (The things we do for you on this site … 😉 ) We quickly got to work employing Categories to reduce the number of Springboard pages. Larry did some other mods,…

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