February 2013

Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House Strong Place Review

OK, so I am a sucker for any new release featuring guitarist Mary Halvorson. Already a fan of Ingrid Laubrock from 2012’s Camino Cielo Echo from the Tom Rainey trio (yes, also with Mary Halvorson), this was an instant-buy for me. And while the band members were all familiar to me, this was clearly Laubrock’s effort, featuring her compositions and arrangements and a tremendous sense of personal style. So let’s take a look at Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House ‘Strong Place’: Musical Genre: Avant Garde Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Music Store Artist: Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House Description: Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House is an ensemble led…

Game Diary, News

PlayStation 4 Console Announced – Will ‘Radically Customize Technology’

Sony announced the PlayStation 4 will be released for the holidays 2013. This announcement event was held in New York. Presenters included Andrew House, president and group chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. then Mark Cerny, PS4 lead architect; and finally David Perry, co-founder of Gaikai. Sony’s current console, the PlayStation 3, was released in 2006. Cerny mentioned that Sony began seriously envisioning the PlayStation 4 (PS4) in 2008 and wants to “radically customize technology”. The PS4 will feature an enhanced GPU, a x86 processor with eight CPU cores, and 8GB of RAM memory. PS 4 games will be…

News

FCC Cellular Signal Boosters Certification Specifications Adopted Today

I’ve made no secret of the fact that if it weren’t for the Wilson Electronics AG Pro 75 Celluar Signal Booster, mobile phone service at my house would be pitiful; we would have likely had to incur the (possibly substantial) expense of putting in a landline. I live outside a rural community and in the middle of a ranch; you could argue that poor signal is the price Kev and I must pay for being able to enjoy the great outdoors, and perhaps you would be right. But what about people like Dan, who live in the middle of an urban…

Events, News

Oscar Weekend!

The Academy Awards…I mean the Oscars are here. Get ready for a film filled Oscar weekend! The 85th Oscars ceremony occurs this Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood televised live on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m., PT / 8:30 p.m., ET. Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy) will host as the stars squirm in their seats as viewers celebrate an exciting year in film. Nominees will be sitting much closer to the stage as producers plan a Hollywood musical theme based on the recent resurgence in the past decade beginning with Chicago plus several surprises. Here are my…

Reviews

HEX Cabana Messenger Bag Review

We’ve looked at a lot of messenger bags over the years but we have never seen one quite like the HEX Cabana Messenger Bag. The HEX Cabana Messenger Bag looks like a simple cloth messenger bag made from a striped cloth that offers interest without overwhelming the eye. It is a simple cloth messenger bag made from a striped cloth that offers interest without overwhelming the eye but it has a trick up its sleeve behind its front flap. You see, the HEX Cabana Messenger Bag was made with the iPad-lover in mind. It not only lets you carry a…

Game Diary, Gear Bits

Indie Game Anodyne Will Satisfy Your Old-School Zelda Nostalgia

Anodyne, a new downloadable title, is the closest you’ll to come to playing an SNES-era sequel to A Link To The Past. The game was developed by a team of just two developers, and (not to spoil the full review) is pretty damn good. At its core, the title stands as a magnificent tribute to Nintendo’s flagship adventure series. If you’ve got any latent nostalgia you’re looking to blow off, Anodyne was made for you. If you’ve got a PC, Mac, or Linux set-up (read: any computer), you can download this beautiful, stylistic work for a mere $10 USD. Even…

Reviews

Trina Turk MacBook Case Review – Bright & Cheerful Protection

I’ve been guilty of playing it safe bland by keeping my mobile devices inside black, brown, and beige accessories … not that there’s anything wrong with that. But every now and then I do like to carry something that pops a bit more, and that’s where the Trina Turk for M-Edge MacBook Case comes in. For those who didn’t know, Trina Turk is a California designer who is known for splashy graphic designs that are heavily influenced by her appreciation for the 1960s and ’70s era. Trina opened her first retail boutique in 2002, and now she has seven; you can also find…

News, Reviews

Kogan Agora Smart TV HDMI Dongle Review

The Smart TV age is among us, and while many new TVs are being equipped with “smart” features, it doesn’t help you if you already have an excellent HDTV in your living room. This is where devices like the Kogan Agora Smart TV Dongle step in. Featuring an HDMI connector on one end, a USB on the other, microSD and USB port on the side, the dongle is meant to bring your TV up to speed with streaming media and web surfing on the big screen. Included in the box is the Smart TV dongle, a short HDMI extension, IR…

Reviews

Chrome Niko Camera Pack Takes Your Gear on the Go

I received a review sample of the Chrome Niko Camera Pack backpack a few weeks ago, andI’ve been using it on and off since them. I loved the fact that the backpack came with a handwritten note that encouraged me to “be hard on the bag”. Always one to take direction well (okay not really) I have been doing just that. How has the bag done? Let’s just say I’m impressed by everything this backpack has to offer right down to the durability. Yes, it is one tough pack, and Chrome’s “365 To Life warranty” reflects that fact. (You can…

News

Best Buy to Keep Price Matching Policy Permanently

Over the holiday shopping season, Best Buy had announced that they would price match not only to local brick and mortar stores, but also to online retailers including Amazon, NewEgg, TigerDirect and Buy.com (now Rakuten.) However they have now announced that they will retain this price matching policy permanently in an attempt to stop the practice of “showrooming.” “Showrooming” is when consumers visit a brick and mortar store to check out items, especially electronics, and then leave the brick and mortar store and make their purchase online instead, seeking less expensive prices on the same items. To help consumers…

Editorials

Have Electric Cars Become Practical Yet?

One of the things I have been thinking about since the eruption of the Tesla/New York Times feud, is whether electric cars are truly practical yet for the average family. I’m not talking about a $100,000 Tesla S, or taking a road trip up the Mid-Atlantic coast in the middle of a harsh winter; I’m talking about for local driving, commutes around town, etc. Can electric cars fit into a real life scenario well, or are there just too many drawbacks? For me, the biggest issue is the range. Even if it’s just tooling around town, the miles can add up…

News

New HTC One Becomes HTC’s Flagship Android Device

This morning, HTC introduced its latest flagship device, the New HTC One. This is not to be confused with the HTC One that was introduced at Mobile World Congress last year, as this is the New New HTC One. All kidding aside, the New HTC One looks to be an impressive bit of kit. It will have a 4.7” 1080p screen, a zero-gap aluminum unibody, and new HTC innovations including BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe and HTC BoomSound. The New HTC One will have a 1.7GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600, quad-core processor, 2GB RAM and either 32GB or 64GB ROM; it will run Android Jelly Bean. The capper is…

Health and Fitness

Losing Weight Will Make Me Run Faster – The Monday Mile

Despite running for about 24 years now, it is only in the last year that I have become a ‘RUNNER’. And in doing so I have discovered the nearly obsessive relationship between runners and their weight. Because I was losing weight at the time, I had concerns about running and eating to prepare for half- and full-marathons while losing weight. Searches turned up loads of resources that basically said the same thing – Losing Weight Will Make Me Run Faster. You don’t have to go too far to find these articles – look here, here, here, here, or here. And these…

Reviews

Mapi Cases Soli for iPad mini Delivers Classy Protection

We’ve looked at a few of Mapi Cases’ offerings in the past weeks. I reviewed the Mapi Case Perga for iPad mini. (Read the review.) Carly reviewed the company’s Orion for iPhone 4S. (Read the review.) And, most recently, Carly reviewed the Mapi Cases Sia Leather iPad Sleeve. (Read the review.) Each case received high marks from us. This time out we are taking a look at the Mapi Cases Sol for iPad mini. Will the company go four for four with this latest case? Read on to find out. Gorgeous leather, classic styling and the luxury that is only…

Reviews

Orbino miniPadova Review; a Most Exquisite Leather iPad mini Case

I wasn’t sure if the iPad mini was going to be able to replace my 3rd generation iPad, so I initially held off on any major accessory purchases. But within only a few days of owning one, I realized that because of the mini’s smaller size and lighter weight, I was carrying it with me everywhere. That wasn’t something I could have said about the iPads I’d previously owned, and that’s when I knew it was time to seriously think about accessories and how to best equip my mini. As I began my hunt, it seemed obvious that I should…

Reviews

Graft Concept Leverage i5 for iPhone 5

I recently received the Graft Concept Leverage i5 for iPhone 5 that I had preordered some time ago. I waited patiently for the case to arrive and, now that it has, I can honestly say it was worth the wait. The Graft Concept Leverage i5 for iPhone 5 is easy to put on and remove from the iPhone, offers decent protection and, thanks to the unusual methods of securing the case on the phone, it is unique. It is not, however, without its shortcomings. Lets take a closer look on video and then discuss my one area of concern. As…

Health and Fitness, Reviews

Merrell Bare Access 2 Review

I sing the praises of minimalist shoes every chance I get. They’re great at strengthening your legs and feet, but it can be harder on your body at first and requires some adjustment. Merrell recognizes this, and their M-Connect line isn’t just for super minimal shoes. The Merrell Bare Access 2 shoes give you the qualities of a minimalist shoe, but it has a slightly thicker sole to make it easier on your feet in the transition. Does it walk that line between just enough shoe and too much shoe? Read on to find out! In many ways, this shoe…

Reviews

Toast Wooden iPhone Cover Review

It’s easy to find a case that makes your iPhone stick out in a crowd. There are colors and styles for all tastes. But what if you like a more minimal look to your phone? How do you make it stand out without resorting to adding bulk? Adding skins to the iPhone is one way to do it, but if you want your iPhone to look truly unique, then you need something more special. I saw Toast’s gorgeous display of wooden etched back covers for the iPhone and iPad at CES, and when the opportunity came I jumped on the…

Reviews

StarTech Cables Review – Sync and Charge Intelligently

Smartphones gobble power, and because of that, it’s nearly impossible to get through a longer than usual day without sneaking in a top-off somewhere. Carrying around the same cable that you use to charge your phone at home is possible, but the chances of it getting lost or damaged grow exponentially depending upon the number of places in which it is being used. Why take the chance of losing the cable that came with your smartphone, when for a reasonable amount you can pick a spare cable that adds even more flexibility and functionality to your device? That seems to…

Reviews

Targus iNotebook Productivity Tablet Review

We saw the Targus iNotebook at CES last month. It is an intriguing device, and Targus was kind enough to send an iNotebook for review. Before we get into the review though, let me step back and give a bit of history. As I have previously noted here on the site, my best experience with Windows came in the form of using a Windows Tablet PC. It was a terrific productivity tool that allowed me to use one computer for both typing and capturing hand written notes. I also did some voice recognition on it, but that tended to have…

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