January 2013

Low Emission Vehicles are Great but Style Still Matters

We are here at the North American International Auto Show and wandering the floor. There are some cool concept cars we’ve seen and some nice 2014 models that look great. There are also an abundance of small, highly economical cars on display. Here are a few examples. And as we have seen more and more of these small, low emissions vehicles I’m left wondering… Does lower emissions have to also have to mean less style and taste?


New Acura NSX Revealed

It is sexy. It is sleek. It comes in all wheel drive and two-wheel drive. And there is even a Hybrid option. The new Acura NSX was just revealed here at the North American International Auto Show. And it is a beast … in a good way. You can learn more about the Acura NSX by clicking here.


Sites That Make Pr0n ‘Safe for Work’ or Accessible for the Blind

One of the worst kept secrets of the internet age is that with all of the money flying around, plenty is being spent on online pornography. Time did a deconstruction of the notion that porn ‘has larger revenues than Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, Apple and Netflix combined’, noting: While $2.8 billion is nothing to sneeze at, porn is hardly the golden goose many assume it to be. CNBC suggested in a recent report that the porn industry “stands at a precipice as it heads into 2012,” with “revenue from films … shrinking, due to piracy and an abundance of…


Titanium Fishing Gear from Fortitude

Fishing record holder Dave Lamoureux has launched Fortitude Fishing Gear. The line is the first to be entirely constructed from titanium to help guarantee longevity and reduce failures. The line, which ranges in cost from $28 to $490 included reels, poles, guides, gaffs, harpoons and more. Dave opted to use titanium because it is stronger, lighter than traditional materials. on addition, it won’t rust or pit over time. Moreover, the poles in the new line are modular and let you snap on different butts and reel seats to better match the targeted fish during a specific outing. You can learn…


Ford’s Press Conference During the North American International Auto Show

As part of #FordNAIAS, we are at the Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit for the Ford Press Conference. The North American International Auto Show started yesterday in the Cobo Center. (We’ll be spending time there later today.) We’ll be sharing images from the Press Conference below and adding details throughout the day. Bill Ford began the Press Conference addressing the fact that Ford had a great year and, as we approach the 150th year of Henry Ford’s birthday they expect an even better year in 2013. “In 2012 we saw growth in nearly every aspect of our business.” And this…


Adobe Mistakenly Gives Away CS2 Suite, Then Makes It Legit!

If you are looking to use the state of the art digital editing suite from around 2005, you are now in luck! Last week Adobe shut down the activation servers for their Creative Suite 2 (CS2), but wanted customers of the older version to continue to be able to make use of the software. So they assigned a generic serial number and listed it along the download links for the files for Mac and PC. Immediately some blogs hopped on the ‘giveaway’. Turns out it was a mistake, not an intentional ‘giveaway’. Here is the explanation: Effective December 13, Adobe…


iHealth Brings Out Monitoring Tools for Your iBaby

My friends with kids all marvel at how instinctively their children grasp iOS. They seem to easily master the touch interface and love playing games. The folks at iBaby have a few ideas to get your child started early on integrating smartphones into their lives … even in utero! The HeartSense won’t be out for a few months, but the video monitors are available now. The price and features are in line with other video monitors, but being able to control and watch them on your iPhone brings the experience to a whole new level! It makes me wonder what’s…


Cadillac Struts its EREV Stuff in New ELR

Cadillac has taken the wraps off its new ELR extended range electric vehicle that is based on the Chevy Volt architecture today. ELR is the production version of the Converj Concept that made the rounds a few years back. “ELR is an unprecedented combination of luxury, advanced engineering and progressive design in a coupe that is both sporty and environmentally friendly,” said Bob Ferguson, Cadillac global vice president. “This is a pivotal moment in Cadillac’s history, as we continue our product-driven expansion.” Cadillac says the ELR will deliver at least 300 miles of total range from its battery pack/gasoline generator…


NAIAS Gallery, Day One

Day one of the 2013 North American International Auto Show has come to a close, and it is time for a quick rest before day two gets fired up with another round of rollouts, debuts, and premieres. Here is a gallery of the bedazzlement that the opening day offered from automakers such as Jeep, Chevrolet, Lincoln, Volkswagen, Hyundai, MINI, Bentley, Honda, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, Infiniti, and Maserati.


The Leap Motion Controller Is a Tiny Gadget Poised to Change Computing

The Leap Motion Controller is small but powerful. It has yet to ship but, if it works as advertised, it will change computing forever. That’s not hyperbole. I mean, seriously, the Leap promises to let you scroll by simply waving your hands, use your finger as a gun while playing a first person shooter or draw by waving a pencil IN FRONT of the screen while never actually touching it… how cool is that? Sure, it looks and sounds a bit like Microsoft Kinect on speed, but that’s not a bad thing. Here’s how the company describes their invention. For…


Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500 Named Car/Truck of the Year at NAIAS

Kicking things off on the first day of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit were the announcements of Car and Truck of the Year. This year’s honors went to the Ram 1500 for top truck/utility, and the Cadillac ATS was named North American Car of the Year for 2013. The winners were selected by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from the US and Canada, and the awards were handed out during opening ceremonies at the auto show earlier today. To be eligible, vehicles must be all new or substantially changed for the model year being voted on….


Adidas miCoach Game Review on PlayStation 3

Looking to stay in shape after the holidays? Adidas miCoach connects fitness fanatics to professional trainers in multiple sports and existing Adidas media. The Hype Why leave your house when you can train with the pros right in your own living room? Take your fitness training to the next level, train with word-famous athletes, receive feedback in real-time and get the results you want with Adidas miCoach. Hook up your PlayStation Move and get ready for personal training like you’ve never experienced before. Automatically share your progress via miCoach.com Training Games: Move around your living room with fun sport-related games…


Ford Cars – When You Absolutely, Positively Need to Get Away #FordNAIAS

We spent this morning at the Ford Rouge Factory. While there, we learned more about the history of the Ford Plant, and we walked through and observed the actual factory floor where they were making the F150 truck. (They build sixty every hour!) It was impressive. On the way out, there was a display of a few classic Fords. There was the original Mustang and the original Thunderbird (gorgeous!!!); they had the original Model A as well. And then there was the beefy (by the standards of its day) V8 … and along with the V8, were two letters from…


Cygnett Cases Shows off Their Booth at CES 2013

We love Cygnett Cases at Gear Diary. They offer a tremendous number of unique styles in a variety of price ranges, and it’s always a treat to see their newest designs. While at CES 2013, we were lucky enough to swing by their booth and get a tour of the highlights on deck for 2013! Some of the graffiti-inspired cases were especially cool looking. I like a case with a pop of color, and having that sort of unusual artwork really makes the cases stand out! You can browse all of Cygnett’s various offerings on their website. Let us know…


A Night at the Henry Ford Museum #FordNAIAS

I’m here in Detroit with David Goodspeed (boy, does that man know his cars!), thanks to Ford, who brought us out to Motor City for the North American International Auto Show as part of #FordNAIAS. We spent this evening  at the Henry Ford Museum, and we were given the opportunity to simply wander the museum on our own. It was nothing short of amazing. As our friend Paul Strauss of The Awesomer put it, it felt as if we were in a sequel to the film Night at the Museum.  The Henry Ford Museum truly is an awesome place. If you…


The Return of the Corvette Stingray and the New Lincoln MKC Concept at NAIAS

Big news coming out of Detroit a day ahead of the auto show with a couple real head turners making early appearances to get the juices flowing. The biggest is the return of the Corvette Stingray as Chevrolet releases the 2014 Corvette to the world, paying homage to a true classic. In other news, the new Lincoln Motor Company has released images and information on a new entry luxury crossover concept dubbed MKC. 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray The new car will feature the most powerful standard Corvette engine yet at some 450hp and 450 lb. ft. of torque. Chevy says…


TrackingPoint Presents the World’s First Precision Guided Rifle Technology

As many of you know, I am an avid hunter and outdoorsman. I hunt not only for the sport of it, but also because it is a way to feed my family. I hunt with a compound bow as well as a rifle, both with different goals. With my bow, the goal is to get the game as close as possible enabling a 20-30 yard shot. Conversely, I prefer to shoot at longer ranges with my rifle. Usually 200 yards and up, and to facilitate this I use a scope with a ballistic drop reticle. Basically, there are dots under…


Gear Diary’s First Ever CES Top Picks!

You may have noticed over the years that, unlike many other sites, we don’t give stars or other quantitative scores to the items we review. The reason for this is quite simple: while there may be quantitative aspects to a device review — an example being a laptop that claims to get ten hours of battery life and only gets two hours in real world use deserves a low rating — there is also a highly subjective aspect to any and all electronics. Case in point, I’m not an overly enthusiastic fan of Android. I have had the chance to review…


Luvvitt Booth Tour at CES 2013

You may not know the name Luvvitt, but you should. They make affordable, attractive iPhone, iPad, and Samsung cases, plus they’ve branched out into Bluetooth keyboards for the iPad and iPad Mini. I’ve used their Dolce back cover for my iPad 3, and even though I have tested other cases I always come back to the Luvvitt for its simplicity, durability, and style. So when I was walking the floor at CES and saw their booth, I had to stop by and learn more about them — and I am thrilled I did! Their cases are stylish and affordable, and…


Magellan Explorist 510, A Gear Diary Outdoors Review

  For anyone who enjoys the outdoors it is important to know your location, where you are going and where you have been. Whether hiking or hunting, it is too easy to get caught up in the scenery or tracking an animal and lose your bearings. Each rock or tree begins to look familiar and next thing you know, you have been walking in circles. Luckily, modern technology allows us to use some wonderful tools to keep us from getting lost or to remember our amazing trails we have discovered. I recently was able to obtain the Magellan Explorist 510…


Indie Project ‘Kentucky Route Zero’ Brings Magical Realism to Games

Indie developer Cardboard Computer has just released ACT I of their IGF-nominated  five-part game series. Entitled ‘Kentucky Route Zero,’ the work is being described as a ‘magical realist adventure game.’ The project was awarded finalist status at the Independent Games Festival, and looks to become a promising piece of modern art. As far as gameplay is concerned, players will be treated to classic point-and-click adventure-style puzzles. Imagine a fusion of ‘Monkey Island’ with elements similar to those found in “Like Water For Chocolate” or “Love In The Time Of Cholera.” As described by the studio themselves, the game will be…