May 2013

Sony NEX-6 Smart Remote Control in 90 Seconds

I upgraded my camera to the Sony NEX-6 today, and I am already loving it. At $899 for the body and lens kit, the NEX-6 is pricey. But for the size, speed, and image quality — it really can’t be beat. One of the new features on both the NEX-5r and the NEX-6 is built-in WiFi. This lets you add apps to your camera and do such things as send images from the camera directly to your smartphone or tablet. Another app-powered feature is the Smart Remote Control. This feature allows you to use your smartphone or tablet as a…

Health and Fitness

Budd Coates Teaches ‘Running On Air’ – The Monday Mile

I remember being about 20 miles into my first marathon, and the pacer making a very big deal about breathing deeply and in general watching our breathing closely. Even then this was not news – after getting myself into ‘fuel trouble’ on my first half-marathon, I started to pay attention to a whole bunch of running-related things such as nutrition, hydration, tapering, and breathing. Someone had mentioned to me that one of the best ways to manage breathing was to pace it so you are breathing in and out in sync with steps, and that you should spend more time…

Reviews

Kinivo BTX350 Digital Wireless Speaker Review

I’m a big fan of Bluetooth enabled, wireless speakers in this age of cell phones, tablets, and computers. We’re always on the go, always have our mobile phones with us, and therefore, many of us carry our music collections with us as well. Even if you don’t carry your MP3 collection on your cell phone, most of our phones can use Pandora, Spotify, or any number of mobile music apps. The market is ripe for great sounding, decently priced Bluetooth speakers. Unfortunately, the Kinivo BTX350 does not meet that first criterion.

Reviews

Toddy Screensters Clean Your Screen with Character

If you own any device with a touchscreen, then you know all too well how quickly and easily they get dirt and grease and all sorts of crud all over them. I tend to have a small microfiber wipe with me in my car and my laptop bag at all times, and a couple of my jackets have them on the inside pockets. But for those looking to wipe their screens with a bit more ‘character’ than a simple square microfiber wipe, Toddy introduced Screensters. They sent me a couple to try out, so let’s take a look!

Gear Bits

My Roku 3 Remote Saves the Day!

Gadgets have become packed with more and more features, many of which we end up forgetting about or just never use. When the Roku 3 was announced, we had an internal discussion at Gear Diary about how the headphone jack in the remote was a useless feature — who would hook up headphones to a remote to watch TV, when they could just plug headphones into a tablet and have the same private viewing experience? We use our Roku 3 all the time but never gave the headphone jack a thought, until today when I stumbled upon a situation where…

Reviews

Toast Real Wood Cover for iPad mini Review Redux

I reviewed Toast’s wood back for the iPad mini back in March. (Read the review.) It went on easily and looked good. Unfortunately a key shortcoming led me to remove it shortly after posting the review. My summary comments on the iPad mini cover say it all… What I Like: Three different wood options; Option to have a plain back or one of a number of interesting designs; Ability to customize the case; Easy to apply but hard to remove; Terrific attention to detail What Needs Improvement: Top and bottom of the iPad’s back remain exposed Here’s the original video…

Game Diary

Summer 2013 Handheld Console Video Game Guide

Handheld game systems are great on long summer car trips or on the beach, so grab a quality arsenal before you head out the door for warmer weather fun. Recently released exclusive Nintendo 3DS games generating some heat include LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins, Rayman Origins, Heroes of Ruin, Angry Birds Trilogy and Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone! Keep connectivity in mind when playing great mainstays like Mario Kart 7, New Super Mario Bros. 2, and Skylanders. More recommendations include Super Mario 3D Land, Paper Mario Sticker Star, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon – an…

Reviews

LifeProof fr? and Arm Band for iPhone 5 Review

When I began doing Couch to 5K again (something I need to do yet again tomorrow because I let too much time pass between runs) I needed a way to carry my iPhone. After all, during a run my phone is not only my music source but it is also my “trainer”… Walk 10 minutes, run half a mile, slow, fast etc. When I did the program the first time I had an iPhone 4S that fit into my iPhone 4 armband. Now that I’m using an iPhone 5 that armband no longer worked. So I went in search of…

Reviews

Geneva Sound System Model XS Review

Geneva Sound markets the Geneva Sound System Model XS as “the world’s first portable audio system with true Hi-Fi sound”. That’s a pretty daring claim to make and one that can easily be dismissed as a good bit of hyperbole. Does this Bluetooth speaker whose design is inspired by the classic travel clock, truly sound like something much bigger and more expensive? We couldn’t wait to get out hands on one and find out. We did get one for review, and were immediately impressed by the sturdy leather-like clamshell case. It really does look like the travel alarm clocks of…

Reviews

Samsung Galaxy S 4 Android Review

The never-ending battle for king of the smartphones has never been more interesting, with the Samsung Galaxy S 4 leading the charge. Looking much like its very successful predecessor, Samsung is banking on its new-found brand swagger to convince people its latest is indeed the greatest. The Galaxy S line has seen a level of success only felt on the smartphone scene by Apple with the iPhone, and the new Galaxy S 4 has done little to rock the boat. It has, however, packed the cargo hold full of stuff.

Reviews

Moxtra for iOS Review – Moving Mountains of Info into Manageable Folders

I use my iPad for just about everything — notes, pictures, writing posts, browsing the web, etc. In many ways it is how I aggregate every bit of content I need, like, or want to reference. The iPad does all this for me on the hardware side, and I’ve been testing an app called Moxtra that does this for photos, documents, notes, and audio files. It can be standalone like a scrapbook or collaborative. How does it work, and how well does it work? Read on to find out! Moxtra organizes your content into “binders”, rather than folders or categories,…

Reviews

JVC HA-MR77X DJ-style Over-the-Ear Headphones Review

A few months ago we brought word that JVC had upgraded their headphone line. The new versions of their headphones feature a rugged styling, a high-gloss finish and durable construction. The company is using heavy-duty Neodymium driver units and Extreme Deep Bass Ports to fill out the sound offered by the headphones. In addition, the company added a one button remote and microphone compatible with iPhone, blackberry and android devices to three of the models. The inline single-button remote lets you play, stop and skip tracks. It also lets you answer phone calls. They sent us a pair of the…

News

Is Your Laptop As Flexible as Lenovo’s Yoga11S Convertible Ultrabook?

Lenovo’s Yoga 11S Ultrabook convertible laptop captured a good bit of attention at CES 2013. Now it is available directly from Lenovo or for pre-order at Best Buy. If you are not familiar with the Yoga 11S Ultrabook convertible it is a thin, 11.6” ultrabook that will ship with a Core i3, i5 or i7 third generation Intel processor. That means those purchasing the Yoga 11S can configure the machine that will best serve their needs. What makes the Yoga 11S special is its ability to quickly and easily convert into four different modes. That means the device can serve…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Acura RDX Graduates with Honors

Almost as if being handed its diploma and told to get a job, Acura has shed the frat-boy “hoodie” of the first-generation RDX crossover for a suit and tie on model year 2013. Gone is the chiseled styling and the (much beloved) spunky turbo four with Acura opting instead for more mainstream body lines and a smooth V-6 engine. RDX has been (barely) surviving in the shadows of the likes of the Lexus RX and BMW X3 and it appears Acura is tired of playing second (or fourth or fifth) fiddle to the segment leaders and is copying pages out…

News

Timbuk2 Aviator Travel Backpack

Timbuk2 has a brand new bag that is ready to go with you on your next adventure. The Timbuk2 Aviator Travel Backpack is a soft sided bag and backpack in one. Carry it like a suitcase, or wear it like a backpack — the choice is yours. And because the Aviator Travel Backpack comes from Timbuk2, you know it works well when serving either purpose! The bag/pack weighs just 4.4 pounds empty, and it offers a whopping 28.5L capacity. The Timbuk2 Aviator Travel Backpack features a laptop pocket that fits up to a 17” MacBook Pro and quickly and easily converts from a…

News

At $1250, These Shure Earphones Sure Better Sound Good!

Shure’s new SE846 Sound Isolating Earphones are a pricey proposition. Shipping in June, they will have a price tag of $1250. That makes them more than a bit pricey. For that price however you get a Quad High-Definition MicroDriver with a three-way system configuration for dedicated low, mid, and high frequency distribution. The SE846 feature a patent-pending design includes a groundbreaking low-pass filter, a true subwoofer that enables deep low-end performance without sacrificing clarity or detail. Sound quality, noise isolation, and a design that includes an optimized nozzle angle that’s designed to rest comfortably in the ear, combine to make the…

Music Diary, Reviews

IK Multimedia iKlip Studio for iPad Mini Review

Just about a year ago, I reviewed the original iKlip Studio. It was a simple and short review, and for good reason – the iKlip was simplistic and direct in design, solid in build and materials, and well executed. Back at CES 2013, IK Multimedia announced they were building an iKlip for the iPad Mini. Today they have released it, so let’s see how it compares! Description Here are some of the features: Sturdy, durable, lightweight, shock-resistant thermoplastic construction holds your iPad securely without scratching or marring it Rubber foot-pads grip the desktop and prevent unwanted sliding Flexible orientation allows…

Editorials

Brick and Mortar Stores Aren’t Enough, You Also Need Customer Service

This morning on the news, I heard a report of a retailer who has thus far been an online presence only. Now they are opening a brick and mortar store because they understand that customers like to see, touch and compare the actual products. Fortuitously, an experience I just had at Best Buy served as a reminder that bricks and mortar are just the beginning. What really makes the difference is… customer service. That was what was lacking during my recent shopping experience at Best Buy, and it is why Amazon.com got the sale. I went into Best Buy to…

Crowdfunding, News

Stor-More Key Safe Brings New Twist On Leaving Keys

It is common practice for people to leave a key or garage door opener hidden somewhere near their house. Maybe this just happens while on a trip so someone can feed the pets and water the plants, or maybe there is always one hidden. Either situation brings plenty of security issues. Whether the keys are under the door mat or hidden under a rock, someone could get access to the keys and burglarize or vandalize your home; I refuse to hide keys at my house for that very reason. A recent Crowd Supply project strives to solve this issue with…

Crowdfunding

Phoenix International Communications Working to Bring Android Apps to HP Touchpad Via Kickstarter

The background behind the hopes and aspirations of WebOS, HP’s acquisition of the Palm portfolio, the dreadful August 2011 cancellation and subsequent fire sales of the HP WebOS Touchpad tablet are well-known in the tech world. There were a lot of unhappy folk who truly enjoyed the WebOS experience, but one of the critical factors contributing to the lukewarm reception of the Touchpad was the scarcity of familiar apps that Apple and Android boasted. Tech-savvy users could unlock the system to enable developer mode and install add-ons like Preware, or more impressively, configure the Touchpad to dual-boot to Android. This…

News

Mophie Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 5 Packs a Bigger Whallop

If you have an iPhone 5, then you already know that there are times when the battery can be just a little bit lacking. Mophie has long been one of our preferred ways to keep our iPhones going, and with this latest addition to their power arsenal — the mophie juice pack plus — things just got a little bit better for us iPhone users. How so? It packs enough juice to double the iPhone 5’s battery life with one charge, and there is no need to slip your phone in and out of its case to charge, because the mophie juice…

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