August 2010

HeyTell for iPhone/Touch App Review

One feature not present in the iPhone world is push to talk technology. We have all seen the commercials where a cell phone is used like a walkie talkie. Even though I have never been sure about if I would use the feature, it would be nice to have the option. It just seems easier in certain situations to basically voice MMS rather than make a call. Little did I know this feature was available for the iPhone in the App Store and for free! HeyTell is a voice messaging application that lets the user instantly talk with and…

News

Vimeo Adds Ability to Embed Video in iPad-Friendly HTML5 Format

About a year and a half ago I took of my community’s website and rebuilt it from the ground up using the excellent program RapidWeaver. I wanted to create a site that was more flexible, could become an educational resource rather than just share facts and was easily updated in order to ensure that it was always relevant to my community. I also wanted to be able to share as many pictures and as much video as possible. The site was even built in such a way that when you go to it from an iPhone you are automatically redirected…

Editorials

Microsoft’s “PC vs. Mac” Site: What on Earth Are They Thinking?

Mac vs. PC ad still courtesy Chiat/Day One of the things that’s wonderful about writing for Gear Diary is the diverse mix of folks involved in the endeavor. You got your PC folks… you got your Appleheads… and you got your LINUX fans (well fan… Joel) and so on. We’ve got gaming folks; hard-core gadget nerds; exercise mavens; and gear heads (“petrol heads” to you “Top Gear” fans). You have folks who are into fashion and making sure their high-end handbag matches their Oberon iPad case, and people who get help from their partner when matching shirts with pants for…

Reviews

iPad Accessory Review- InnoPocket HexaPose Stand for Apple iPad

So you love the look of your iMac… and you need a stand for your iPad… and you like it when things match… has InnoPocket got an iPad stand for you! The HexaPose Stand for the Apple iPad looks like a cute little Apple iMac that can hold your iPad in either landscape or portrait for handsfree use. And when paired with Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard… it is so darn cute… but it is functional too. Let’s take a look. From InnoPocket- InnoPocket HexaPose iPad Stand is made of solid aluminum and tough polycarbonate with a chic design tailor-made for the…

Reviews

Cocoon Innovations GRID-IT! Organizer Review

A while back, I reviewed an excellent Cocoon Innovations netbook case with an integrated GRID-IT! Organizer, a feature that I really loved. However, I wished I could have one for bags I already owned because I really liked the way it kept all my items secured in one place. Now, my greatest wish has come true–an individual GRID-IT! organizer! The GRID-IT! is a unique, flexible organizer that basically allows you to secure the smallest of items, like pens or earbuds, or larger items, like phones or chargers, using a series of stretchy elastic straps in what they call an “object…

Editorials, News

Looking Back at the ‘Girl Quits Job’ Hoax … OOOH the Irony!

Like everyone else, I got a million links to the article at The Chive and even started a serious post about it before it was revealed as a fake, which I noted here. In the serious story I was writing, I refused to use the word ‘girl’, as a I think a young professional person of the female gender should be referred to as a ‘woman’. I was dismayed about the treatment of her by a boss who treated her in a sexist and demeaning fashion, which struck a personal nerve with me as I have a 22 year old…

News

Welcome to the Land Where 21st Century Technology Meets 17th Century Morals

Sometimes it is hard to believe some of the stereotypes and discrimination that persist all over the world. From the soccer player who was fired for refusing to fast to … well, THIS story! I am not intending to say this in a ‘look at how everyone else is backwards’ sort of way, as I could easily drum up 1000 links to sexist / racist / ageist / weightist / religiously intolerant / etc links directly related to day-to-day life in North America. In fact, that is part of my point – in this day and age when knowledge is…

News

Everybody Wants a Meme … BrainResidue ‘Reviews’ the KFC Skinwich

If ANYONE really doubted that you could simply post something claiming to be a review and get some credible follows, here is the latest: the KFC Skinwich! A site called Brainresidue has a story saying that KFC is testing out the new sandwich at a few locations. Here is the description. KFC is testing a new sandwich: The Skinwich. 5 layers of fried chicken skin, lumped on a bun and topped with white american cheese and bacon. It’s only available at a handful of KFCs (for now). One happened to be right near our office, so I walked over. They…

News

Homemade iPad Case from a Gear Diary Reader!

One of our loyal Gear Diary readers dropped me an email today sharing the homemade iPad cases she’s selling on Etsy. Sure, you can hit up one of the big case makers for a slipcover, but if you’re looking to support a fellow geek, this could be a fun option! As Dan pointed out, iPad cases come in all styles, from leather to metal to plastic snap ons and thin vinyl skins. And now with sites like Etsy, you can even get something homemade and custom designed just for you! Yasemin’s Etsy page can be found here, the iPad case…

Editorials

I Reviewed It and Still Use It, the Dan-Edition

We were having a conversation among the site’s editors last week with regard to items that we reviewed. It’s one thing to use an item for a few days or a week or two (which is the average) and quite another thing to use it for a month or two or three. There are times when an item looks great in the initial review but then there are some issues that arise with it down the line. Of course, if there’s any radical change in our perception of an item after using it for a while we will update the…

Reviews

Review: Bluw’s Mini Mixer

I have always wanted the ability to have 2 devices connected to my headphones or speakers at the same time. In the past, you literally had to have a DJ setup or a stereo and neither is very portable. Bluw has a Mini Mixer that is just a tiny bit bigger than an iPod and is just as pocket-able. Now you can mix that funky music almost anywhere. The mini mixer comes with 3 cables which are all double ended 1/8 inch stereo headphone plugs. Plug 2 cables into 2 mp3 players or phones with the other end being plugged into the mixer. The mixer has a…

News

This Sports Illustrated and HTC Contest Is Sure to Raise Eyebrows and Elicit Smiles

If you are an active social networker with accounts on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc, and if you have a following that would appreciate seeing your complete coverage of everything that goes on at the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Photo Shoot, then you’ll want to pay attention to the following: HTC and Sports Illustrated have teamed up to sponsor the Behind the Tan Lines contest, where one (very) lucky individual will have the opportunity to cover the 2011 SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot. The winner will get to share their own unique interpretation of what goes on behind the tan lines by stepping into…

News

TwelveSouth’s BookBook Adds Some Unique Leathery Goodness to Your Apple iPad

Perhaps you’d like the iPad to blend in with your collection of fine vintage books, or maybe you just miss the feel of a solid leather hardback binding when reading the classics; either way TwelveSouth has an intriguing new iPad case which should satisfy your leather-lust. Introducing the new BookBook, a handmade leather case available in one of two hardback colors: brown with a black spine (Black) or vibrant brown with a red spine (Red). No two covers are alike, and the cover can even function as a stand for landscape-oriented viewing. The hardback cover and spine provide impact protection,…

Editorials

I Love Froyo Except for a Few Bugs!

I’ve had the Froyo update for my Motorola Droid for a few days now, and overall I’m impressed. There have been some minor UI tweaks, and the speed seems slightly improved, though I think some of this might be in my head. Still, I think it brings the Android experience up to a slightly more refined level, and that’s definitely a good thing. However, there are a few bugs and oddities I’m noticing as I use it. I’m not sure if this is Droid-specific, general Froyo bugs, or some combination of weirdness from my phone and the various apps. None…

eBooks, Editorials

Blockbuster: A Canary in the Media Coal Mine?

underlying image courtesy TheBridgemaker.com I was in New York yesterday visiting a friend who just moved to the area. During a tour of his neighborhood, we stopped to see if there were any good deals at a Blockbuster Video that was closing. It sparked a discussion of Blockbuster’s business model and why they were struggling for survival. My friend was surprised to hear that Blockbuster may end up in bankruptcy, and he commented that it seemed like they had kept up well against Netflix with their online DVD rental service. I pointed out that it had turned out to be…

Editorials

Verizon, Why Are You Asking for Email Passwords?

I recently purchased a Droid 2 on Verizon to replace my aging G1 on T-Mobile. Overall, the experience was good, and my number ported quickly and the phone was already working properly by the time I walked out of the store. However, one thing about the experience concerned me. The Verizon rep was going to set up the e-mail on the phone for me, and she asked for my Google credentials. While at face value that may seem like a considerate or helpful gesture, it’s really not something Verizon should be requesting. Like anyone else, I have e-mail in my…

Reviews

Review: Arctic Sound S11 Speakers And Arctic Power C1 Solar Charger

Arctic Sound calls it “the combination of this summer.” Basically, two ultra portable laptop speakers coupled with a solar power source make any summer trip in the sun complete with your favorite tunes. I absolutely love my MacBook Pro, but the speakers are far from useful in my eyes. This leaves me with a constant search for audio solutions. I have tried many combinations, some with good sound but no portability and others being portable with just ok sound. The S111 speakers are tiny making them easy to carry and the addition of the C1 Mobile makes them usable without…

Editorials, Music Diary, News

Getting Married in Seattle? Contact This Guy!

By now it is pretty clear that I am quite fond of the Jason Parker Quartet, their music is wonderful, their business model exemplary, and Jason’s insights on his website and approach to music really shine a path for all other struggling artists to follow in this modern era. Way back in high school my rock and fusion groups had some paying gigs at clubs and colleges and events, and each sort of performance had different requirements and expectations on our part and the part of the audience. Fast forward several years to my own wedding, and my wife and…

Editorials

Bad Economy Means Employers Treat Job Seekers Like Crap … But Watch the Backlash!

Allison Green of the website Ask the Manager provides some great info for job hunters and those who need general help about all sorts of things that happen in the usual office environment. It remains in my ‘jobs’ link folder in FireFox and I try to stop by weekly … though as I become more and more settled in my present job I am less inclined to surf job sites. It has been nearly 2.5 years since I took my present job, which came about 6 months after being laid off and then working for just over 3 months in…

Reviews

iPad Accessory Review: monCarbone HoverCoat Carbon Fiber Shell

A few weeks ago we posted the news that a new series of carbon fiber shells were coming to market for the iPad and iPhone. The shells, called HoverCoat, come from monCarbone and are available for pre-order now. The iPad shells have an MSRP of $89.99. Is a shell that only protects the back and sides — but does nothing to protect the screen — worth close to $100??? Read on to find out. From The Company: Carbon fiber is the ideal material to appeal to high?end users in the electronic accessories market, according to monCarbone. The precision engineering of…

News

Google Voice Actions Adds Yet Another Competitor to the Rapidly Emerging Field of Voice as Interface

Last week Microsoft made a huge deal about the voice control that will be part of WindowsPhone 7. I watched the demo video and wasn’t impressed at all. As I posted last weekend, I am still perplexed as to why Microsoft wouldn’t just turn to Nuance and license their time-proven and excellent technology in order to ensure a level of voice control, and voice-to-text transcription that will work perfectly from the start. Now Google has jumped into the ring as well. Their new Voice Action feature is part of a new version of the Voice Search application for Android phones….

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