June 2011

iPad 2 Case Review: The Joy Factory SmartGrip2

We have already taken a look at some of the iPad 2 cases that are now being released that work with Apple’s Smart Covers. The other day Jamie reviewed a case that picks up where Apple’s screen protection leaves off. Here’s another example of a case that lets you also use the Smart Cover you may already own. This one comes from The Joy Factory. We reviewed their SmartSuit2 and loved it. (I’m still using it as one of my two “daily drivers”.) The company also offers the SmartGrip2. It is a simple case that hugs the back and sides…

News

The eBookpocalypse Is Cancelled!

Engadget reported this morning that Apple quietly changed the app store submission rules, and they’ve loosened up the in-app purchase requirements. It looks like apps and services that offer subscriptions and book content will be able to skirt around having to use Apple’s purchasing system (and the 30% cut to Apple that it includes). Here’s how they rephrased the agreement: 11.13 Apps that link to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, such as a “buy” button that goes to a web site to purchase a digital book, will be rejected 11.14 Apps can read…

Reviews

iPad 2 Case Review: Seidio Active Case for the iPad 2

I tend to be partial to folio-style cases for my iPad 2, but there is something to be said for some of the more unusual “rugged” cases that offer complete protection AND a removable screen cover. That’s where the Seidio Active case for the iPad 2 comes in. When closed, the case offers complete protection AND it brings along the added benefit that the screen cover can serve double-duty as a multi-angle stand. I’ve been checking one out for the past few days; let’s take a look at it. From Seidio: Created for those that have and want to maintain…

Editorials

Apple iOS 5.0: Some Thoughts on Why It Won’t Kill Zinio

I spent a good bit of time this week thinking about Apple’s announcements this past Monday. Much of what will be coming in version 5.0 of iOS is impressive. There are a number of areas where Apple clearly took plays from Android’s playbook (Notifications anyone?) as well as from numerous independent developers. I’m not surprised and, as an end-user, I’m quite pleased. I’m running iOS 5.0 Beta on a few devices, but am going to respect the beta-user agreement and NOT go into any detail. I will say, however, that the new notification system is fantastic and does a great…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2011 Lincoln MKX More Than a Fancy Ford

Across the board, Ford and Lincoln engineers have been working to stay at the front of the technological field in their vehicles and most of that emphasis has been in the implementation of MyFord and MyLincoln technology packaging recently. At the same time, much of the fleet has been getting minor (and in some cases, major) cosmetic surgery and powertrain upgrades. The 2011 Lincoln MKX midsize crossover we tested recently is an example of one of those getting a little of both. Outside we see the new “face” of Lincoln while inside the vehicle impresses both aesthetically and ergonomically. In…

Music Diary

Music Diary Notes: Pat Metheny Unveils Album of Solo Cover Songs

Image courtesy of Ted Kurkland Associates Considering most of my recent coverage of Pat Metheny has been about his behemoth technical undertaking with his Orchestrion, this new project seems like quite an about-face. Whereas the Orchestrion project (I also reviewed the Orchestrion Live performance I saw) was about creating an automated orchestra that would respond live to his commands, his new recording ‘What’s It All About’ is an intimate set of solo acoustic guitar recordings made in his home studio. This isn’t the first such recording for Metheny – back in 2003 he used his newly created ‘Baritone Guitar’ with…

Editorials

The Dangers of Rewriting History

This past week Sarah Palin was in Boston, and she was asked to recount the midnight ride of Paul Revere. When I initially saw the video two things came to my mind: first how much of history has ‘changed’ since I learned it as a kid, and second how obviously caught off-guard she was by what looked like a ‘gotcha’ question in spite of being at the Old North Church … one of the key sites in the tale of Paul Revere. I would have dismissed this as yet another instance of Palin demonstrating how she lacks substantive knowledge of…

How to Do It Yourself!

Using Technology to Train for My First Triathlon

I am currently in the final weeks training for my first triathlon here in DC on June 19th. The race lengths are an 800m swim, 20k bike ride, and 7.5k run, mostly along the National Mall. (Here are more detailed maps of the swim, bike, and run routes.) What makes this race particularly challenging for me is that when I began my training on March 19th, it was four weeks after I had hernia surgery, I couldn’t jog for more than 60 seconds without getting out of breath, had never swam freestyle in my life and couldn’t hold my form…

News

Google’s Brilliant Tribute to Les Paul, Instrumental Inventor

Mitchell Oke left me a message asking if I had seen Google yet this morning. Of course, he left it last night, since he is hours ahead of me in Australia. I took a look, and he is correct … it’s brilliant. From the Google Blog: The electric guitar brings back memories for me of exchanging riffs with friends and wearing out cassette tapes as I meticulously learned songs. Today, we’re attempting to recreate that experience with a doodle celebrating the birthday of musician and inventor Les Paul. For the next 24 hours on the Google homepage, you’ll find an…

Music Diary

Pop Goes the Music Diary: Same as it Ever Was

Last week Coldplay released a new single called “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall”. Amazon had it as a ‘free single of the day’, and Rdio also featured it. My kids and wife have some Coldplay in their collection, so I figured I would give it a spin. I started streaming it in the kitchen while my older son was having a snack, and within a few seconds my younger son appeared from upstairs and said ‘is that Coldplay’? We barely made it through the songs, since it was as my younger son described it ‘utterly generic pop trash that sounds…

Music Diary

Music Diary Songs of Note: The Sidewinder

The history of music is littered with great artists who carry the moniker ‘died way too young’. Too often that death is self-inflicted and due to … well, mostly drugs. But there are plenty who succumbed to illness, or lost to tragedy. Lee Morgan is such an artist. I never thought of Lee Morgan as being that young, as he had a career that started strong in the late 1950s and continued until his death at 33 in 1972. He was 18 when he broke out as an already-established vituoso side-man and released his first solo recordings. He produced a…

News

How Does Blue Improve a Yeti? You make him a Pro!

A year and a half ago I was able to review the Blue Yeti with Larry. I love the Blue Yeti and use it every Wednesday when I record the Linux Link Tech Show as well as the occasional episode of Hacker Public Radio. It’s almost a perfect product. However, there’s one thing missing that makes the Yeti less of a perfect device for a professional. That is an XLR output. Blue has changed that Yeti of a Microphone and made him a pro by adding a XLR output on the bottom allowing you to plug the Yeti Pro into…

eBooks

eBooks Working Their Way into High School Curriculums!

eBooks have been an ongoing experiment in higher education since the first Kindle was released. There have been previous attempts to replace bulky textbooks with Kindle DXs and iPads, but nothing has really stuck. However, two school districts are giving ebooks another shot, one using NOOKs and the other iPads. I am incredibly jealous of the iPad school, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out why! First up, a school in Pennsylvania is issuing kids NOOKs loaded with their summer reading titles. I’m guessing these are probably NOOK WiFIs, but it’s a great idea. Kids don’t have to…

Music Diary, News

Music Diary Notes: NYC Concert to Support Japan

This year seems to be filled with more than its share of tragedy, making it is too easy to forget how difficult rebuilding is for those impacted by devastating events a couple of months later. Fortunately the Consulate Generals of Germany and Japan have teamed up to sponsor a concert to benefit the people of Japan. Featured in the concert is Ayako Shirasaki, whose most recent recording I reviewed here. Here is some info: The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Consulate General of Japan invite you to a concert for the victims of the Great…

Editorials

Adventures in Customer Service: Barnes and Noble

It’s been quite a while since Barnes and Noble made me happy, I’ll admit. My bias is simple: shortly after they bought out eReader and deployed their own version of the eReader app–basically just a slight modification of the existing eReader app, with a few quite-nice enhancements (progress bar with chapter markers; in-app access to wikipedia)–I was a happy camper. Not only could I easily side-load my existing library of eReader PDB books, but it was a sweet app with a familiar interface that I liked quite a bit more than the Kindle app. (iBooks didn’t exist as yet.) Then…

Music Diary

Music Diary Notes: Grab Loads of Peter Frampton Concerts from Wolfgang’s Vault!

If you are of a certain age, you recall Peter Frampton’s live record ‘Frampton Comes Alive’ exploding onto the scene in 1976. He had been releasign solo albums for a few years, but the live recordings of his songs brought his energy and the quality of the songs to new light. Hits such ‘Baby I Love Your Way’ and ‘Do You Feel Like We Do’ cemented his place in rock history, and remain staples of classic rock radio stations. This week Wolfgang’s Vault is featuring all of their Peter Frampton concerts for purchase at great prices – $5 for high…

Reviews

Otterbox Commuter for NOOKcolor Review

So you’ve picked up a shiny new NOOKcolor, and you need a good case for it. Something sturdy that can withstand your day-to-day abuse. Luckily for the hardcore gadget abusers among us all, Otterbox has a Commuter Case for the NOOKcolor. Does it live up to the Otterbox name, and is it worthy of being slapped on your precious eReader? Read on to find out! Like all the cases in the Commuter series, the NOOK version comes with three parts; a screen protector, a fitted silicon case, and a plastic shell that fits around the outside. While it does add…

Reviews

Analog Game Review: IcoSoKu

It seems like almost everything many of us use today is digital or electronic. I do not read books from paper anymore or play card games with physical cards. Almost any type of game or activity can be replicated with our digital devices. Puzzle games and brainteasers are some of my favorite time wasters and I have many on my iPhone. What about actual physical games? You remember, the puzzles you actually hold in your hand and move to solve. I recently tried IcoSoKu from Recent Toys to challenge my mind and bring me back to the days of analog…

Editorials, Music Diary

Music Diary Notes: Quick Look at iTunes Match & iCloud In Context

At the WWDC Keynote, Apple talked quite a bit about Mac OS X Lion, iOS 5, and iCloud. Of the three, iCloud was the least known and newest reveal. Here is a bit about iCloud: iCloud is so much more than a hard drive in the sky. It’s the effortless way to access just about everything on all your devices. iCloud stores your content so it’s always accessible from your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or PC.* It gives you instant access to your music, apps, latest photos, and more. And it keeps your email, contacts, and calendars up to…

eBooks, Reviews

First Impressions: nook Simple Touch Reader

It is perhaps somewhat ironic that I have been reading eBooks of some sort or other on handheld devices for over 20 years, and yet have never owned a dedicated eReader. It is even more ironic that while I live in a house with two nook eReaders (wife and younger son), I have spent very little time with the devices. I attribute the former to my desire to always stay on the cutting edge of technology coupled with the relative newness of dedicated readers; the latter I attribute to a desire to allow others to learn and discover for themselves….

Reviews

iPhone Gear Review: Third Rail System

It is no secret that mobile power has become a huge issue for most of us. IOS, Android, Blackberry…we may all argue about whose is better, but the bottom line is that we all need extra power for our devices at one point or another. My job takes me on the road several nights a week — without charging possibilities — so this is a big issue for me all of the time. I have numerous external batteries and even a solar-powered charger that I carry with me in my gear bag and in my athletic bags. One problem I…

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