February 2013

Fleetwood Mac Rumours 35th Anniversary Edition Review

When it comes to the iconic albums of the 1970s, people think of names like Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk, and more. But in the late 70s, there was one album that was everywhere to the point that it seemed like a greatest hits collection: the legendary Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. With estimated sales of more than 40 million copies, Rumours is on the top 10 all-time best-selling album list … but unlike many other top-selling 70s albums, it is still a great collection of songs. For the 35th anniversary, the band has released a few new versions including remastered…

Editorials

Microsoft Surface and Windows RT: Playing in the Windows 8 Sandbox

A Little History… A while back I took the plunge and made the shift from an iPhone to a Windows phone, first with a Nokia 900 and later with a 920. It was an interesting exercise. I learned a lot, discovered some new ways of working, and learned to make some compromises. I even learned that some things I thought were “critical” to my daily functioning really weren’t so critical, after all. True, I am heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem for apps and movies, but music is pretty much DRM free these days. Books are still problematic no matter…

How to Do It Yourself!

How to Remove Gum from a Smartphone Screen

I am the go-to person among my friends and family with smartphone troubleshooting questions. Last night was definitely a first, though, as someone (who has requested to remain anonymous) managed to stick their iPhone in a pocket with a piece of used chewing gum. The result was a sticky mess all over the iPhone screen, but with some quick searching and a common household solvent, I figured out how to remove the gum from the screen safely! Apparently this isn’t as uncommon as it seems, as there was a whole discussion thread on the Apple support forums about it. Consensus…

Health and Fitness, Outdoors

Hypothermia Warning Signs – The Monday Mile

Over the last week I have heard a few stories about runners getting into a bit of trouble with the elements, and reflecting on how hard it is to interpret hypothermia warning signs … when you are the one who has gotten into trouble. One veteran runner had a ‘stomach emergency’ mid-run which led to too much exposure, and the inability to get warm. Fortunately there was a nearby gym where he stopped and called his wife to collect him. He noticed that he had a hard time operating his phone, and while driving home she remarked that the scary…

Reviews

Mapi Cases Sia Leather iPad Sleeve Review

We have covered a few Mapi cases here at Gear Diary, and every time we’ve been impressed with their quality leather, craftsmanship, and style. Mapi offered me the chance to review their Mapi Cases Sia Leather iPad Sleeve, a leather sleeve with carry handles for the full size iPad. Is this a compact but professional way to transport your iPad? Read on for my full review to find out! The Mapi Cases Sia Leather iPad Sleeve (pronounced See-ah) is incredibly well made. I don’t often gush about style, but this sleeve is absolutely beautiful. There’s a very small MAPI logo on the front flap,…

Editorials, Outdoors

Smartphone Cameras Change Everything: Winter Storm Nemo vs Blizzard of ’78

This week marked the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of ’78, and as a result we have seen some of the iconic images from that storm on web sites and social media. I have a few pictures that I’ll share here. The other day it was snowing – pretty snow floating to the ground and coating everything. I snapped a picture with my smartphone camera that went to our photo stream, and my wife saw it and remarked that it was a pretty shot … and that is likely the only attention it will ever get. And as snow started…

Reviews

Incipio Stanley Foreman iPhone 5 Case Review

Ruggedized iPhone 5 cases are all the rage, and Incipio has jumped into the market with their Stanley line of rugged iPhone 5 cases. Incipio was kind enough to send three of the cases along for review, and in this series of video reviews we’ll take a look at each of them. Make sure to watch each of the videos in the series since we will be giving all of the review samples away. The first case up is the Incipio Stanley Foreman for the iPhone 5. This case offers good protection without adding too much bulk to the otherwise…

How to Do It Yourself!

How to Maximize Do Not Disturb on iOS

I admit, I did not make much use of the “Do Not Disturb” setting on my iPhone when it first appeared. But Apple’s commercials for the Do Not Disturb on iOS feature with the Williams sisters playing ping pong caught Sarah’s attention, and she insisted I learn how to maximize the setting. Apparently my iPad and iPhone echoing each other with emails, news, and text messages all night was starting to get on her nerves. Imagine that! So I had to learn quickly how to set up Do Not Disturb, before my iOS devices were banished from the room! Do Not…

Reviews

Twelve South SurfacePad for iPhone 5 Review

I’m a huge fan of Twelve South’s products and have said as much numerous times. That is why I am always excited to see this small, Mac/iOS-only company release a new product. Their offerings are limited, but they are always interesting. Just the other day they announced their latest creation, the Twelve South SurfacePad for iPhone 5. The question is this: is their latest product also their greatest? As you can see from the video, there is a lot to like about the Twelve South SurfacePad. This is especially so if you tend to gravitate toward minimalist cases or to carrying…

Editorials

USPS Saturday Service Cut: The Revolution Will Not Be Sitting in Your Saturday Mailbox

For as long as anyone alive can remember, the mail has come on Saturday. Since 1863 the mail service has offered delivery six days a week, through rain, snow, sleet or hail! Well, that last bit has softened, and we have already missed one day this winter since our local carrier couldn’t get into our neighborhood safely. But in the same way the post office itself is open on Saturday to get out letters or mail back those Netflix DVDs, delivery came on the weekend which gave you a chance to grab a movie from Netflix or a game from…

Editorials

Bar Mitzvah VINvite – Technology Meets Tradition as Bar Mitzvah Invitations Get Streamed

Back in the fall of 2009, Judie wrote a post entitled Technology Meets Tradition: And a Kindle Shall Lead Them. It discussed my use of a Kindle DX on the bimah (pulpit) during the Jewish High Holy Days. Some thought my use of an eBook reader was a bit odd, but for me it was simply a matter of my replacing one book (dead tree) with another more modern version. In addition, as someone on the progressive side of my tradition, I am not bound by the traditional restrictions regarding the use of electronics on the Sabbath or holidays. From…

Health and Fitness, Reviews

Getting Fit with MyFitnessPal and GAIN Fitness

I have a confession: I am out of shape. Up until this past fall, I was doing great. I was running consistently, eating right, everything was great. But we sold our house, temporarily moved in with my parents, and are buying another house, all while juggling everything else in life. It’s been more than a little overwhelming, and I feel like I need to refocus and tune up before I lose any more fitness (or gain any more weight!) Running is always a reliable triple threat for me; I lose weight, feel stronger, and get mentally clearer. But my stressful…

Game Diary, How to Do It Yourself!

Game Play Puts Game Boy Games on iPhone 5 Without Jailbreaking

Have you ever longed for the days of your childhood you spent with your eyes glued to the black and grey screen of the Nintendo Game Boy? Did you pride yourself on beating Super Mario Land? I know I did. I don’t know how many countless AA batteries I drained with that handheld. Now, with Game Play, you can relive those glory days on your iPhone 5 without jailbreaking your device. Typically, Apple has frowned upon emulation apps in the App Store. Though recently, Gridlee, a thinly veiled MAME emulator within a game, has made its way on to the…

Reviews

V??? llc CNC Machined Aluminum Wallet is the Anti-Wallet of Wallets

We’ve looked at a few wallets over the years. We’ve reviewed the Flipside Wallet 2X, the Flipside STRATA, and we reviewed a host of iPhone cases that double as wallets such as this one, and this one, and this one. Today we are going to take a look at yet another wallet from V??? llc. More accurately, today we are going to take a look at an anti-wallet from V??? llc. (“Anti-wallet” is my description not theirs. Read on to find out why I am referring to it as such.) V??? llc recently launched a line of compact CNC machined aluminum…

Game Diary, Reviews

Need for Speed Most Wanted: Video Game Review for PlayStation 3

This open world, action racing game from Electronic Arts is set in the booming metropolis area of Fairhaven – a fictional environment containing several different environments. The Hype The open-world action in Need for Speed Most Wanted gives you the freedom to drive anywhere, discover hidden gameplay, meet up with your friends or just hang out and toy with law enforcement. Lose the cops … your way. Hit jumps and shortcuts, switch cars, lie low or head for terrain that plays to your vehicle’s unique strengths. Hit the gas and fight your way past cops and rivals using pure driving…

Reviews

Jabra SPEAK 510 UC Review: Conference Calls Anywhere & Anytime

I find myself doing far less talking on the phone these days. That is part of the reason I’ve pretty much dropped my use of landlines. At home and work I only use my cell phones or, at times, I use Line2 or Skype on my tablet or computer. I honestly cannot remember the last time I picked up my desk phone in the office. People pretty much all know to reach me on my cellphone. Period. And while my iPad serves as a decent speakerphone and my MacBook Pro with retina display has dual array microphones, they aren’t terrific…

Editorials

2013, A Windows “Upgrade” Odyssey – Part One Preparation & Installation

When Windows 8 was first coming out, I knew I wouldn’t like the Metro IU very much on a desktop computer and so I never even considered “upgrading” my desktop. A surprising set of circumstances brought me a Windows 8 tablet, and that was my first experience hands-on with the new OS. I can say that on a tablet computer with very limited memory, that the Metro UI is actually fun, and is not entirely dissimilar to iOS or Android tablets. The added benefit of actually running a full version of Windows 8 in the desktop mode however, is amazing!…

Game Diary, News

Super Stickman Golf 2 – Gear Diary’s Sneak Preview

What does Super Stickman Golf 2 and The Godfather: Part II have in common? If you guessed that they’re both sequels, well yes, that’s true, but there’s something even better! They are both sequels that are greater than their predecessors. Is it a little too early to call, since SSG2 is only in beta testing? Probably, however the game is already so polished that you can tell how well it’s going to do. There are many great additions to the original gameplay that it still feels like the same game you loved, yet it also feels like a sequel. Noodlecake…

Game Diary, Reviews

Totem Tribe Gold for Mac Review

Type of app: Real-time Strategy (RTS) game Platform/where to buy: Mac (Also for iPad and iPhone.); available in the Mac App Store Developer: Enkord / G5 Entertainment Description: In this game you are trying to help Aruku, a chief of the Hawk tribe, restore peace and lead her tribe to a better future. Features: ? 32 Locations ? 22 Quests and mini-games ? 20 artifacts to locate and preserve ? Real-time strategy and adventure game ? Game Center Support Major features: Totem Tribe Gold is actually a bulked up version of a casual PC game released back in 2009. The…

Events, Vehicles & Gear

2014 Kia Forte Test Drive: Compact Sedan with Full-Size Amenities

I live in a part of the country where one is likely to feel out of place if not driving an SUV or a pickup truck, and I like driving a big SUV. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy taking the 2014 Kia Forte out for a test drive while recently attending the Kia First Drive event in Scottsdale, however, because there’s just something *fun* about sitting lower to the road and really feeling what’s going on that can’t be duplicated when riding in a jacked-up rig. Kia gave me ample opportunity to experience that sensation during my ~115 test drive…

Events, Vehicles & Gear

2014 Kia Sorento Test Drive: Mid-Size SUV Loaded with Luxuries

Last week I joined a group of bloggers and traditional press in Scottsdale, Arizona for a chance to take a test drive and learn more about the 2014 Kia Sorento (SUV) and Forte (4 door sedan) models. I should probably admit that other than knowing a few people who own or have owned Kia vehicles, I haven’t had much personal experience with the auto brand — unless you count taking a few hair-raising test rides in the Optima Hybrid Carly reviewed last summer! But I digress. So here are some things you might not have known about Kia: Safety is a priority for them, and every…

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