2011

GD Quickie: Vintage Swedish Army Belts Ready to Do Battle With the Bulge

Gear Bits, News & Features

GD Quickie: Vintage Swedish Army Belts Ready to Do Battle With the Bulge

In a world of “new and improved” sometimes the best things are “old and broken in”. I mean seriously, if you compare the build quality of the appliances we put into our first house almost 20 years ago with the ones we installed in our current home 6 years ago it quickly becomes apparent that older things are sometimes far more durable. That goes for some clothing too. That’s where Inventory Magazines treasure trove of old Swedish Army belts comes in. As they explain, The perfect belt always seems to elude us, well some of us. One member of our…

Mark Levinson Helps Lexus Celebrate Launch of CT200h

News & Features, Vehicles & Gear

Mark Levinson Helps Lexus Celebrate Launch of CT200h

The automotive audio industry has been a busy and competitive business segment for several decades. What began on the west coast in the 1970s spread to the rest of North America in the ‘80s and from there to the OEM side for automakers around the turn of the millennium. Entering its 10th year with luxury brand Lexus, Harman and Mark Levinson recently celebrated their latest partnership for high-end mobile audio with the release of the new Lexus CT200h hybrid sport wagon.

Music Diary Quickie: Jason Parker Quintet - Jay Z Mashup!

Music Diary

Music Diary Quickie: Jason Parker Quintet – Jay Z Mashup!

Given how much I talked about Jason Parker since discovering his music & intriguing business model early in 2010, it is not surprising that I’ve been eagerly anticipating more news on his Nick Drake project. Well, now we have more … but it wasn’t what I expected! Jason works with a rapper/remixer named Spekulation, and as he notes here had sent him early cuts of stuff from the upcoming Nick Drake project for feedback. Spekulation, as Parker says: cut up our take of “Day Is Done” with Jay-Z’s “Can’t Knock The Hustle”, and lo and behold it was magic! Spek…

iPad Game Review: Frogs vs Storks

Game Diary, Reviews

iPad Game Review: Frogs vs Storks

Sometimes there is nothing more pleasant than a casual game to pass the time. And while it seemed that all of the casual games have migrated to either Nintendo systems or Apple’s iPad and iPhone, there are still companies providing solid casual entertainment for the PC and Mac gamer. And more and more companies are providing casual games for the PC as well as iOS devices. One such game is Frogs vs. Storks, which is available for the PC, Mac and iOS devices. The Hype: Evil storks have invaded the pond!! But the frogs are putting up quite a fight!!…

TokyoFlash Kisai Sensai Pure Watch Review

Reviews

TokyoFlash Kisai Sensai Pure Watch Review

The other day I reviewed TokyoFlash’s  Console watch. (We will also be giving it away soon!) Today I have the opportunity to review another watch from TokyoFlash-  the Kisai Sensai Pure.  The Kisai Sensai Pure watch is not only unique in its design and features multicolored LED’s for telling the time. It looks more than a bit unusual and I like that! The face of the Sensai Pure has 3 different sets of LED’s and each has its own purpose.  Like the Kisai Console, the Sensai Pure’s face is totally dark until you press the button to activate it.  Unlike the Kisai Console,…

Beauty is Skin Deep and Some Retouching Away

News & Features

Beauty is Skin Deep and Some Retouching Away

You know the saying that “beauty is only skin deep”? Well it is not quite accurate. More fitting might be, “Don’t believe everything you see.” Why? Because Photoshop or some other method of retouching images can have a lot to do with how things looks and the distance between “the final image” and “reality” can be great. How great you ask? Well, the above picture actually looked like this before it was “worked over”. Now don’t get me wrong, the woman in the second picture is far from unattractive but from picture number two to picture number one is a…

Remembering Borders...

Editorials

Remembering Borders…

It’s official-Borders has filed for bankruptcy. They’re going through Chapter 11, which means they have the opportunity to renegotiate debts and restructure the company. Whether or not it works, the company that emerges from this process isn’t going to be the same Borders. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if it helps them survive long-term, but it does make me mourn the Borders I knew and loved. I’ve talked about this a few times before, but I worked for Borders on and off in college and in management after college. If you walked up to me seven years ago and…

With the Apples Rotting Maybe It's Time to Back Up Your Apps

Editorials, How to Do It Yourself!

With the Apples Rotting Maybe It’s Time to Back Up Your Apps

Talk about a one-sided love affair! Many of us, consumers that is, love Apple but does Apple love us in return? Heck no. Apple loves market share and money. Yes, once again the company that once called on us to “Think Different” is using its new moniker, “We’re Apple, we don’t care, we don’t have to… And by the way that will cost you 30%”. Truth be told it is a little (LOT) frustrating. And dumb. Just as Apple’s momentum seemed unstoppable they are on the verge or being their own worst enemy… And ours. We’re here to help. This…

iPad Game Review: Treasure Seekers II: The Enchanted Canvases

Game Diary, Reviews

iPad Game Review: Treasure Seekers II: The Enchanted Canvases

Given how much I enjoyed the Mystery of the Crystal Portal games, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review Treasure Seekers II: The Enchanted Canvases. Like the Crystal Portal games, Treasure Seekers is a hidden object game with a story that keeps you engaged as you go along. But aside from that, how is the game? The Hype: Help Nelly find and save her brother from a mysterious Romanian castle! Dive into the castle’s magical pictures and discover the secrets of the Philosophers’ Stone. Use your Hidden Object skills in Treasure Seekers: The Enchanted Canvases to break the…

Twelve South Introduces the MagicWand for Magic Trackpad and Wireless Keyboard

News & Features

Twelve South Introduces the MagicWand for Magic Trackpad and Wireless Keyboard

Twelve South makes some great Mac products. They make the Compass iPad stand and the BookBook iPad case, along with a host of other Mac accessories. Well today they are rolling out a new product that seamlessly connects Apple’s Magic Trackpad to the Apple Wireless Keyboard to create one, easy to use, accessory. Judie recently reviewed a somewhat similar item, the BulletTrain Express (she loves it!), but while that created an arrangement similar to what you will find on an Apple notebook, the MagicWand creates on long keyboard/trackpad combination. As the company explains, What is MagicWand? It’s a cool little…

Apple's 30% Toll on App Store Content

News & Features

Apple’s 30% Toll on App Store Content

Rumors have been rumbling since the Sony Reader app was rejected that Apple was planning on making changes to subscriptions and in-app purchases. Today, Apple fired the first shot across the bow with a press release making it clear that all subscription options must be offered as an option through iTunes (complete with a 30% cut to Apple). Engadget is reporting that Rhapsody has already weighed in with their response, and it’s a big fat no. According to Rhapsody, 30% is simply too high to be sustainable. What’s really interesting is that in their press release Rhapsody explains they are…

TokyoFlash Kisai Console Watch Review

Reviews

TokyoFlash Kisai Console Watch Review

I have always admired Tokyoflash watches from afar. They have a look about them that just appeals to the geek in me.  That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when Tokyoflash was able to send me one of the newest designs fresh from their site, the Kisai Console Watch. The first thing you will notice about the Kisai Console is that it’s face is entirely dark most of the time.  The magic of the Kisai Console only happens once you press the button.  Then the entire face lights up and certain lights flash to indicate the time. To tell the time, you just…

Drink Clean Water, Become a Solid Citizen with the Revolve Tap Water Filter Bottle

News & Features

Drink Clean Water, Become a Solid Citizen with the Revolve Tap Water Filter Bottle

For the longest time I was a bad resident of Planet Earth. Yes, on any given day I might go through three, four, five or even six plastic water bottles. What a waste. What a complete and total waste. Some time ago I finally went out and I got an insulated, reusable water bottle. Now I don’t add to the growing number of bottles in landfills AND, because it is insulated, my water stays cold all day. Well it looks like my insulated water bottle is about to see a lot less use thanks to the Revolve Tap Water Filter…

MWC: Hands-On with HTC's Newest Devices

Events

MWC: Hands-On with HTC’s Newest Devices

Helena and I were able to spend some time at the HTC VIP lounge this afternoon, time that was well spent fondling the six devices introduced by HTC earlier today. Of course the one that most captivated us was the 7″ Flyer, HTC’s new tablet device. It will be shipping with Gingerbread instead of the newer Honeycomb, which seemed odd given that all of the other tablets and the majority of new phones we’ve seen have featured the newer version of Android. If it means that we can get our hands on it sooner (and that there might be a…

Deal With SWAGG for Deals, Gifts and a Lighter Wallet

Reviews

Deal With SWAGG for Deals, Gifts and a Lighter Wallet

Sometime ago I moved most of my credit cards over to an application that is stored on my iPhone and my iPad. The application is highly secured and encrypted, and it allows me to have all of my credit card information with me all the time without having to carry the credit cards themselves. I love using the app, and I see myself doing this more and more. This thing is, my credit cards aren’t the only cards that I carry. I also carry an assortment of different store cards and gift cards. For example, I was recently given a…

iOS App Update of Note: Kindle for iOS Gets Page Numbers and More...

News & Features

iOS App Update of Note: Kindle for iOS Gets Page Numbers and More…

I led a book group last week and, as always, I used my iPad for both reading the book and for sharing my thoughts about it. It worked great except for one thing; because there were no page numbers in the Kindle app I wasn’t able to refer to specific places in the book with ease. It was more than a bit frustrating. Well, Amazon just began to address that by releasing an update to their Kindle application for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The update brings a host of new features; among them, the addition of real page…

Amazon Video on Demand Comes to the Rescue!

News & Features

Amazon Video on Demand Comes to the Rescue!

I’ll be honest — I am not always on top of ordering gifts ahead of time. Even when I have a plan, or am told exactly what to purchase, I somehow always push it to the last minute. Luckily for me, I was ordering Sarah “Big Love: Season 4” for Valentine’s Day, and Amazon comes through like a champ by offering free “video on demand” rentals with purchase! See, without it I would have been without part of Sarah’s Valentine’s day present (bad Carly!) But thanks to the free rentals, we were able to start watching the show even though…

Music Diary Notes: Grammy Awards, Esperanza Spalding, and More ... !

Music Diary

Music Diary Notes: Grammy Awards, Esperanza Spalding, and More … !

Photo courtesy of JAE C. HONG of the Associated Press The Grammy Awards, like most self-congratulatory industry events across the various media, are an interesting study in how they like to ‘tell a story’ framed by performances, themes, and the awards they give out. There is a mix of artists having major sweeps of categories, some years the awards are spread around, and there is even the occasional ‘surprise’ – which generally means the difference between two similar sounding pop stars from the same label and management team. Make no mistake on my opinion – I believe the ‘Awards’ at…