June 2013

Booq Boa Squeeze Graphite Backpack Review – Looks Cool, Gets the Job Done

I was on a train headed to Washington DC last year and saw someone getting off the train wearing a most unusual backpack. Instead of a square or sack-shaped backpack this one was curved. Moreover it was entirely black… my favorite. I sped up to get a closer look and was not surprised to discover it was made by booq. A bit more research when I got to my hotel revealed it was the booq Boa squeeze. I almost bought one at the time but never followed through. Then we got word that a new version, the booq Boa Squeeze…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Buick Encore is the new ‘Cute-Ute’ on the Block

Buick is celebrating its 110th birthday. A quick trip down memory lane brings back such iconic models as Century, Roadmaster, Skylark, Riviera and Regal. The new era of Buick features a new Regal as well as a LaCrosse, an Enclave, and now – an Encore. Yes, Buick’s newest member of the fold is also its smallest, entering the staid brand into the subcompact crossover market with a new American entry with global DNA. The 2013 Buick Encore is built in GM’s Korean theater but is designed to appeal to consumers who may still be hesitant to venture over to “that…

Health and Fitness, Reviews

Georgetown Dry Pannier from Detours Bike Bags Review – Keeps the Elements at Bay

I like to try to ride my bike whenever I can in an effort to burn off some of the extra pounds that I put on in my gig as a food writer. I have a Litespeed Titanium road bike that I ride for fitness, but it’s not very practical for in town use, especially since I use Speedplay pedal clips that make it almost impossible to walk in the specialized shoes when you’re not on the bike. So for just getting around town or riding to the YMCA and back (where I then go to a spin class ……

Reviews

Spigen SGP Ultra Fit for the Samsung GALAXY S4 Review – Puts Your S4 On a Diet

If you are looking for a case that will give a bit of scratch protection to your Samsung GALAXY S4 while adding as little bulk and weight as possible, then you will want to check out the Spigen SGP Ultra Fit for the Samsung GALAXY S4. On Amazon for under $10, this case is just about as minimalist a case as you are going to find. No, it is not for the accident-prone S4 owner but those who tend to be careful with their smartphones and want a bit of extra protection will likely be quite happy! As you can…

VitaSound Personal Audio Enhancer PAE 300-012

Reviews

VitaSound Personal Audio Enhancer PAE-300 Review – Hearing Help Where It Is Most Needed

There are several people in my family who have hearing troubles, some more severe than others. For instance, my mom started having degenerative hearing loss when she was in her early 20s, and for as long as I can remember she has worn hearing aids. My daughter, Sarah, has always had problems with certain tones; she has trouble discerning what people are saying if they don’t speak clearly or if they mumble, and she has used the closed caption setting on her TV to watch movies since she was 15 or so. I’ve had Sarah’s hearing tested, and although it’s…

Reviews

Phiaton Bridge MS500 Headphones Review – They Offer Style, Comfort and Excellent Sound

Sexy and stylish are the only way I can describe the Phiaton Bridge MS500 headphones. That came as a surprise, considering I have been impressed with the sound of previous Phiaton headphones I’ve reviewed, but I would not have described any of them as particularly stylish. (The Moderna MS200 did come close.) The Bridge MS500 headphones bring style to the Phiaton lineup even as they bring a premium price tag of $299. Does high style merge with great sound when it comes to the company’s marque headphones offerings? Read on to find out.

Health and Fitness, Reviews

First Impressions of the Merrell Vapor Glove Minimal Running Shoes

Carly did a great job reviewing Merrell’s philosophy of running shoes and some of their line-up earlier this year. This week the company sent me a pair of their most recent addition – the minimalist Vapor Glove. These are Merrell’s lightest shoes at a specified 5 oz per shoe (my scale in the video has them at 6oz … I blame the lousy scale), and have an ultra-light, breathable barefoot construction that puts barely anything between you and the ground. I decided to do a quick hands-on video while in the midst of my first run using the shoes –…

Reviews

Eye-Fi Mobi Memory Card Review – Your Camera Wants One Now!

One of the big selling points of the Sony NEX-6 I recently purchased was the built-in WiFi that allows for wireless on-the-go transfers from the camera to an iOS device. (Yeah, I like the small size, awesome picture quality and interchangeable lenses too but this WiFi thing really caught my eye!) Fortunately you don’t need to go out and buy a new camera in order to get wireless on-the-go transfers of images from your camera to you mobile device. Eye-Fi’s new mobi SD card lets anyone add the functionality to just about any camera. And with an 8GB card running…

Game Diary, Reviews

Red Crow Mysteries Legion Brings Another Great Hidden Object Mystery to the Mac

When I reviewed Red Crow Mysteries: Legion for the iPad, I was thrilled to check it out because I had enjoyed the games I had played by developer Cateia Games, including Where Angels Cry and Fate of the Pharoah. Each of these had compelling gameplay and interesting stories, so I assumed that would carry over to Red Crow Mysteries: Legion – and I was right! Let’s see how the port to the Mac went!

Reviews

SETA Smartphone Stand Review

When I first set eyes on the SETA Smartphone Stand, I was initially underwhelmed. Not knowing anything about the product before receiving the review sample, I saw the simple stand thought, “What’s the big deal?” Then, I did my research and realized that this stand is more than just something to lean your smartphone against. Once I peeled off the plastic protective cover and placed my phone on the pad, I was instantly impressed. The SETA Smartphone Stand may be one of the best smartphone stands on the market.

Game Diary, Reviews

Pilot Brothers 2 HD for iPad Review – Hit that Hint Button!

I have to confess that I didn’t really ‘get’ the original Pilot Brothers game, but by the end I enjoyed myself and was able to recommend the game to others. I still never really followed what was going on, or the reasoning behind the different capabilities for each brother, but the charm of the presentation and the overall fun and challenge won me over. Now that Pilot Brothers 2 is out, will I enjoy it as much?

Editorials, Game Diary

Microsoft Was Right with Their DRM and Online Approach

I just wrote about how Microsoft has done an about-face on much of the online-requirements and DRM associated with the upcoming Xbox One. The timing of their announcement was ironic, as I was about to write a post saying that in reality Microsoft was absolutely right in what they were doing with DRM, and that everyone is just getting wrapped up in ‘internet outrage’ that would pass, and they would buy the Xbox One come holiday time. Wait … WHAT?!?

Reviews

Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard Strikes All the Right Keys

I have been using Apple’s Bluetooth Keyboard pretty consistently ever since I made the move to Mac. I have used one with my various iMacs, and I also use one at home with my laptop, since I elevate the computer on one of a number of stands and use a separate keyboard and mouse. This arrangement is not only better ergonomically and puts less strain on my neck, but it also keeps the computer off the desk or countertop surface just in case something spills (I started doing this after I dumped an entire glass of Crystal Light into my…

Reviews

The Stinger Portable Bug Zapper Review – Swat and Fry Annoying Flying Pests

We’ve been enjoying a wetter than usual summer in my part of Texas, and although the rain has been extremely welcome due to the drought we’ve been dealing with for the past two-years, our warm climate has coupled with the rain to create a bug population explosion of unwelcome proportions. This might not be too big of a deal, if we could just keep those unwelcome critters outside, but alas. Our home has clear glass doors, and the bugs have been so bad that if we have a light on inside the house at night, whatever door or window is closest to…

Editorials, Game Diary

Why I Want a $60 Game for My iPad … and Why You Should Too

Way back in 2009, I was lamenting the insulting cheapness of App Store games, and also the destructive ‘race for the bottom’ in terms of mobile game pricing. At the time we were seeing big game companies struggle due to the large budgets of ‘AAA’ games requiring massive sales volumes, and that dictating choices made in terms of franchises to pursue and so on. Over the last few years, Indie games have exploded, and they have shown that for a much smaller budget a game can still deliver a high-quality experience. And yet on the iPad we are still getting an…

Editorials, Game Diary

Microsoft Does a 180 on Xbox One DRM, but At What Cost?

There are two elements to every pitch – the idea and the delivery. There is also the context of the surrounding world at the time of the pitch, the mind frame of those receiving the pitch, and the competitiveness of the landscape. That said, there is fairly widespread agreement that Microsoft got everything wrong with the initial introduction and E3 pitch for its upcoming Xbox One console. It was so bad that Sony ‘won’ simply by not being Microsoft, and Nintendo got loads of attention by declaring ‘we’re all about games’ – something that ended up sounding all but revolutionary…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Hyundai Azera Is Just So ‘Buicky’

While large sedans are not garnering the most sales in automobile showrooms these days they are a segment sought after by a very loyal and respected buying demographic. And automakers are working harder than ever to not only address the needs of repeat customers but attract new wallets and pocketbooks into their showrooms by freshening these model lines. Case in point is the new Azera from Hyundai. Azera has been around for a few years, but the automaker gave it a complete makeover last year and now boasts it has the shortest lifespan on dealer’s lots of all its competitors…

Game Diary, News

Beamdog Loses Rights to Publish Baldur’s Gate as Legal Issues Proceed

I love Baldur’s Gate and feel that Overhaul Games did a great job with the ‘Enhanced Edition’, but sadly today we have learned that what feels like an eternal struggle around the publishing rights around Baldur’s Gate and Dungeon & Dragons has erupted again and has resulted in the game being removed from the App Store and other places that had it for sale. Here is the official word from company president Trent Oster: Dear Friends of Baldur’s Gate, We recently removed Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition from sale on Beamdog and the Apple App Store. We’ve taken this step at…

Music Diary

Five Reasons Why Pop Music Really Was Better 40, 30, and 20 Years Ago!

Everyone knows the story ‘things (music/movies/TV/books) were better in THE GOOD OLD DAYS’. Whatever THE GOOD OLD DAYS means! Anyway, it is ‘common knowledge’, or is it? I had seen a ‘best albums of 1973’ list that counted down their ten best albums from 40 years ago, and then last weekend — while listening to Slacker’s “80s 90s and Now” channel — we heard songs from U2’s War (1983), The Police Synchronicity (1983) and The Cranberries (1993). So I wondered, what would be the likelihood of a song with a rhythmic and harmonic structure like Synchronicity ending up on Top…

Reviews

Scosche RH1056md Headphones Review – They Will Rock Your World

To say that I have been impressed with the Scosche RH1056MD Reference Grade On Ear Headphones with tapLINE Remote and Microphone would be an understatement. It is not that these are the best sounding or most comfortable over-the-ear headphones on the market; they aren’t. But they do look good, fit and sound quite good, and for under $150, they are an excellent value. The RH1056MD reference headphones, which ship with an abundant collection of accessories that add even more value to an already impressive package, have 40mm drivers and are designed with a custom blend of mylar, precision wound copper…

News

Shutter Release Grip and Remote Shutter Release Make iPhone Photography Even Better

While I do own a decent DSLR and love to use it, the best camera you can use is the one in your hand. Most of you have heard that phrase, and it is true. Obviously no image can be captured if there is no camera to see it. These days almost everyone has a camera with them in the form of their cell phone; I have an iPhone 5, and I have become pretty proficient at creating amazing images using it. From understanding controls to a great post image workflow, the iPhone can take some pretty stunning pics. With…

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