2012

Twelve South HiRise for MacBook Review

At present my only computer is a 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display. I love it. Similarly, Elana’s only computer is an 11″ MacBook air. She loves it. When Elana works on her MBA, she always does so with the computer sitting atop the Rain Design mStand for MacBook I reviewed back in December of 2010. After a full two years of use, it still looks brand new. (Read the review.) Elana loves the fact that the stand lets her raise the screen closer to eye level. And, thanks to a keyboard and mouse, she effectively has a desktop that…

News

How Memory Prices Have Changed Through the Years

When Dan and I were discussing the iPad Mini, one item of contention for both of us was that while others (Amazon Kindle Fire HD, for example) have moved to a $50 differential from 16GB to 32GB, Apple has held steady with the $100 increment. I stated that my understanding was that at $50 Amazon was getting at least $28 (probably more like $38) … meaning that for Apple there is at least $78 more profit in the 32GB version and $156 more profit in the 64GB version. Dan asked me what changes have happened in memory pricing since the…

Reviews

JBL Micro 2 Rechargeable Portable Speaker Review

Your iPhone’s speaker stinks, and so does your iPad’s; even the iPad mini’s stereo speakers, a first for an iOS device, are crappy. And your Android devices? They don’t really do much better. Yes, for a quick YouTube video or conversation the speaker on your mobile device is certainly adequate but it’s not going to win any audiophile prizes. And while you could keep a larger speaker such as the JawBone in your gear bag, that takes up space and adds weight. That’s where this diminutive speaker from JBL comes in. The JBL Micro 2 is small, light, and can…

Reviews

Extreme Road Trip 2 for iPhone Review

When I game on my iPhone, it must be a quick experience that can be played in short period of times without the need to beat long levels. I particularly enjoy games that utilize a well-built physics engine and include some speed and destruction. While recently searching the App Store, I found a category of recommendations that are utilized for use on the iPhone 5. I chose to take a look at Road Trip 2 and have been addicted ever since! Let’s take a quick look. Your gas pedal is stuck AGAIN! Do stunts to get nitro boost and SLAM…

Reviews

Belkin Car Charger with Lightning Connector for iPhone 5 Review

Those of us who use Apple’s mobile products have entered into a transitional period. The devices we had prior to this fall all use the company’s 30-pin dock connector but, as you likely know, all of their new products use a much smaller, and thankfully reversible, connector. If you have old cables, it means you either need to buy new ones or get one of Apple’s pricey adapters if you want to charge on the go. Thankfully Belkin has been first to step in and release new products that use the updated connector. They sent me one of their Car…

Vehicles & Gear

Grinding Gears Garage tests the 2013 GMC Terrain Denali

Crossover utility vehicles are to the new millennium what minivans were to the late ‘80s and early ‘90s – all the rage. It seems, however, that many of their designs blend together, especially when friends get together and try to describe one they don’t know the name or brand of. “It’s that one with the round face and kind of rounded roofline, you know, the one that looks like an over-inflated sport hatchback…” or something like that. GMC’s latest – the Terrain – sought to step apart from that confusing landscape. The GMC Terrain is another core ingredient to GM’s…

Reviews

SMS STREET by 50 DJ Over-the-Ear Headphones Review

Back in June we reviewed the SMS Audio Street by 50 Wired Headphones. (Read the review.) I was impressed by both the comfort and the sound. I summarized them with “What I Like: Well-made; Stay in the ear nicely; In-line controller; Flat, tangle-free cable; Sound great”. Since then SMS Audio has greatly expanded their offerings which now include their SMS STREET by 50 DJ over-the-ear headphones. They are big, bold and make a statement. I’ve been using a pair for the last few weeks, so let’s take a look. I’m usually a fan of in-ear or on-ear headphones more than…

Reviews

Epson Expression Premium XP-800 Small-in-One Printer Review

I haven’t been all too interested in printers for the last year and a half or so. The reason for this is quite simple — I have been making a concerted effort to be as “paperless” as possible. Thanks to my iPhone, iPad and the various apps that are now available for them, there is little I actually NEED to print. And on those rare occasions when I DO need something printed out … I just send an email to my assistant and ask her to print it using her laser printer. The result? I don’t have or need a…

Gear Bits

Samsung Ships More Galaxy SIII Phones in Q3 Than Apple Sells of the iPhone 4S

Yes, I am going upfront to call out the distinction that Samsung and Apple use different terminologies that reflect their distinct focus – Samsung is a handset supplier as just part of their massive and diverse business, Apple has the iPhone and iOS ecosystem at the core of their entire operation. So when Samsung talks about ‘sales’ it is really ‘shipments’ – how many have left their factory; for Apple sold means sold. This week we heard about how Samsung shipped more Galaxy S3 units than Apple did iPhone 4S in Q3. Three things to get out of the way:…

Music Diary, Reviews

iRig Keys iOS/USB Keyboard Controller Review

Keyboard controllers are not a new concept – soon after MIDI became a standard, sound modules were released that allowed you to access the sounds of a synthesizer without all of the other hardware bulk or expense. It also allowed for keyboards offering a robust piano-like feel, or guitar-like portability – all while bringing along the great sounds offered by the hot synths of the day. As we have gotten to the point where it is possible to make high quality music with an entire suite of software synths, the need for external keyboards and sound modules has declined to…

Game Diary, Reviews

Masters of Mystery Crime of Fashion for Android Review

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game Platform/where to buy: Android; available in the Google Play Store Developer: Big Blue Bubble / G5 Entertainment Description: The brutal murder of a famous designer shakes the high-stakes world of New York fashion. Join Detective Carrie Chase and use interactive forensic tools to explore crime scenes and find evidence. Follow the twists and turns in the case , crack the crime and stop a serial killer in Masters of Mystery: Crime of Fashion. 500 Objects to find with 4 unique interactive tools 25 Stunning locations in 3 chapters 6 Fascinating puzzles…

Reviews

XtremeMac Microshield Fade Case for iPhone 5 Review

As someone who loves simple cases that protect your device without adding too much weight or bulk, I’ve found that XtremeMac’s Microshield Fade Case for iPhone 5 does a great job of being simple while still retaining interest. When the case is on the phone, you barely know it is there. At the same time, the gradient transition from translucent to opaque when you travel down the iPhone is visually striking. Let’s take a look and then give two away. From XtremeMac: Protect your new iPhone 5 device with this sophisticated and stylish Microshield Fade case by XtremeMac. Capturing the…

Gear Bits, Music Diary

Check Out an Entire ‘Jazz Goes to College’ Episode from the Stan Getz Quartet

Jazz Goes to College was the name of a Dave Brubeck album based on music played at various colleges, but was later a BBC series that apparently brought in jazz artists for full sets in a live setting. I was checking out an audio-only concert of Gary Burton from 1976 when I saw a link to this 1966 set and had to check it out. When I looked into the video I couldn’t find much on the series (even the BBC site lists only this episode!), but over at JazzOnline they had more info and even some context from Gary…

Gear Bits

No Voice or Text Overages for Hurricane Sandy Victims on Verizon Wireless

One of the side effects of hurricane Sandy here in New Jersey were widespread power outages. As a result, phone lines that ran through cable went offline, people didn’t have easy access to Facebook or email, and even voice calls over cell phones became very spotty. The only quasi-reliable way to get a message to family and friends was texting. This led to a problem: people with capped text and voice plans were getting nastygrams from their cell companies informing them they were close to or over their limits. Not a great situation to be in when you have no…

News

Blue’s Spark Digital Now Available

As I have quickly learned while trying to shoot videos for the site and record audio for an interactive iBook I am creating, having a high quality microphone can make all the difference. Blue’s Spark Digital is “the world’s first studio-grade condenser microphone to offer both USB and iPad connectivity”. We’ve reviewed a number of the company’s various microphone offerings but none have been quite as impressive as this one. As the company explains, Expanding on the professional and sound of Blue’s Spark XLR studio microphone, Spark Digital features the same studio-grade condenser capsule and hand-tuned components for high-fidelity recording…

Reviews

Skyfall Film Review

The longest-running film franchise of all time celebrates their 50th Anniversary in style with Skyfall, the twenty-third installment in the James Bond film series. Daniel Craig marks his third performance as James Bond (a.k.a. Agent 007) as Ben Wishaw debuts as gadget guru Q (a.k.a. Quartermaster). Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) helms this film and all the underlying themes amid Audiences get a great mix of surprises, new elements, and familiar fundamentals like the exotic international locations, overt sexual overtones and, of course, the gear, which for Bond personally is surprisingly simple. Unique weapons like a stinging…

Gear Bits, News

Check Out the Intense Trailer for World War Z!

Have you read Max Brooks’ excellent ‘point of view’ zombie book ‘World War Z:An Oral History of the Zombie War’? If so then perhaps you – like me – have been concerned that the movie version would be a mediocre ‘reimagining’ sort of like the butchering of Asimov’s ‘I, Robot’. But based on the new trailer, it looks like the way that the book has been adapted will bring much of what made it good to the screen, but in a way that serves the need for a hero-based narrative. Plus, the zombie hordes look thrilling! Here is the plot…

Reviews

ViewSonic’s VSD220 21.5” Display Review

When I was at a Pepcom Holiday Event a few weeks ago, one particular item caught my eye — ViewSonic’s VSD220 21.5” display. You see, this isn’t any old display. No, this is a display and a huge Android tablet in one. That’s right, the VSD220 (sexy name right?) comes with Android Ice Cream Sandwich baked into it. That means you get a 21″ monitor and “computer-free computing” in a single device, one that can either sit on a desk or hang on a wall. I was impressed, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the reality of actually using it…

News

Angry Birds Star Wars is EVERYWHERE!!!

In case you didn’t hear, Angry Birds Star Wars releases today. For many who are tired of BOTH Angry Birds and Star Wars this represents a black hole of interest. But for everyone else, Rovio has made sure that they have made the game as widely available as possible to maximize sales while people are interested. Versions are out for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Kindle Fire HD specific versions, Mac, PC and Windows Phone 8 (WP7.5 support coming later). Angry Birds Star Wars for iPhone and iPod Touch (Apple, $0.99) Angry Birds Star Wars HD for iPad (Apple,…

Game Diary, Reviews

Epic Adventures Cursed Onboard HD for iPad Review

Epic Adventures: Cursed Onboard is a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game for the iPad and iPhone; it is available in the Apple App Store, and its developer is Urchin Games / G5 Entertainment. Description: Unravel the mystery of Jangada, a long lost ship stranded in the Amazon Jungle. A great ship called Jangada set sail in the 1970s but was never seen again. The fate of the crew remains shrouded in mystery and whoever tries to reveal it vanishes forever. Embark on a dangerous trip to the Amazon Jungle, search eerie locations, find hidden objects and solve intriguing puzzles….

Health and Fitness, Reviews

Standapp Review

Type of app: Fitness Platform/where to buy: iOS App Store Developer: Lyonel Douge Description: Desk job? Sit too long and often? Did you know sitting can be deadly in the long run? Standapp helps combat “Sitting Disease”. Price: Free Major features: Standapp aims to help you not sit so much. Sitting is bad for our bodies for a number of health reasons, but it’s not always practical to have a standing desk. I know in my office I sit in a cube farm, and it would look awfully weird if I was standing and looming over the top of all…

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