TrackingPoint XS2 Unboxing Goodness

I have been following the TrackingPoint smart rifle system and their releases. The mixture of technology and amazing weapon technology is mind-blowing to me. TrackingPoint has released an unboxing video of the XS2 Smart Rifle. The rifle itself is amazing in its own right, but it even comes complete with an iPad mini. Check out the video for all of the cool features. TrackingPoint Super Gun Technology Enables 3,100 Yard Shot Consistency TrackingPoint Releases Precision Guided Firearm iOS Simulator App TrackingPoint Presents The World’s First Precision Guided Rifle Technology

Gear Bits

What’s Round, Covered In Wool, and Promises Awesome Sound? The Brand New Libratone Loop

I loved the Libratone Zipp I reviewed, and Elana still uses it daily. Now Libratone is introducing the Loop. This $499.95 wireless speaker packs AirPlay, DNLA, and Libratone’s PlayDirect when WiFi isn’t available. Set on the floor, a table, or hung on the wall it promises a great look and sound great. Features: Works wirelessly with iPad, iPhone and Android or Mac/PC, enabling awesome sound through AirPlay or DNLA Can be used without a Wi-Fi network router through Libratone’s patented PlayDirect™ technology Streams wirelessly from Internet radio stations and services such as Pandora and Spotify, as well as integrating with…

Reviews

GemShell for iPhone 5C Offers Protection That Won’t Hide Your Phone

Speck’s GemShell for iPhone 5C is a “Crystal-clear, protective iPhone 5C case that shows off the brilliant design of your iPhone”. This case is less than $30, offers good drop and scratch protection, and lets the color of the iPhone 5C shine through. If you want protection that doesn’t hide your phone this case may be for you. Get it. The Speck GemShell is a simple idea that fits perfectly with the approach Apple has taken with the iPhone 5C. By stressing the fun and colorful aspects of the device, Apple has helped avoid having too much focus on the…

News

Why the LA Schools iPad Fiasco Was Self-Inflicted

iPads are cropping up everywhere, from homes to work and even in school settings. But can an iPad truly be secured to the satisfaction of a conscientious IT department? One expert says no, and a high-profile example may prove him correct. The city of Los Angeles has been planning to roll out iPads to their students, but it backfired slightly for them this past week. They initially rolled out the iPads with web restrictions, and within a few days many of the schools realized they underestimated the ability of children to circumvent technological roadblocks. All the students had to do…

Reviews

Gorilla Band Will Have Your Child Swinging from the Vines

Gorilla Band is for kids. Completely, unapologetically for kids. Like my 5-year old. Who adores this app. Gorilla Band, by the folks at Wasabi (who provided us with a copy to review), is an interactive children’s book for iOS and Android devices. The main storyline, aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 7, is about gorillas who play instruments and form a band. The gorillas don’t like the classical music they’re being taught – they want to play rock ‘n’ roll, of course. Fortunately, their music teacher welcomes their interests. The story begins with two gorillas who don’t like…

Editorials

Does It Bother You That the NSA Is Probably Tracking Your Social Connections?

Online privacy is an illusion; anything you wouldn’t want your boss, friends, relatives, present or future significant others (or anyone else important to you) to see should never be posted, texted, emailed, tweeted, or liked. And now it appears that our own government is the party most interested in our social connections and interactions. How bothered should we be? I began writing reviews on the internet in 1999, and at that time I accepted that a certain loss of privacy came with the territory. I have lived my online life as transparently as possible, because I believed that I had nothing…

Reviews

ZAGGsparq 3100 Review – Charge Devices at Home and On the Go

There are some mobile accessories that are no-brainers, belonging in any gadget bag. The ZAGGsparq’s 3100 is close to being one of them; the only caveat being its price at just under $70. The ZAGGsparq’s 3100 replaces your wall adapter, but it also doubles as a portable backup battery; it’s one device that serves two important functions. Designed for moderate to heavy mobile device users, the ZAGGsparq 3100 provides up to two charges for all your favorite gadgets. Built-in prongs allow the ZAGGsparq 3100 to double as a wall charger, eliminating the need for a spare charging cord. At CES 2013 the…

Gear Bits

Clean Up Your Desktop with Dropbox 2.4’s “Save Screenshot” Feature

I take a lot of screenshots when writing Gear Diary posts. Historically they have ben a disorganized mess that increasingly cluttered my desktop. Thankfully, Dropbox 2.4 offers a new feature that automatically saves screenshots to one’s Dropbox folder. That neatly puts all my screenshots in a single place and makes sharing them easier than ever. Get Dropbox 2.4. To activate this new feature, download Dropbox 2.4, launch it, got the preferences, and then select “Share screenshots using Dropbox.” It is that simple. But there is more. Dropbox 2.4 also introduces: Move to Dropbox: A context menu item that will show…

Game Diary, Reviews

Cognition Episode 3 The Oracle Review – The Best Of This Chilling Series Yet!

After the first Cognition episode I praised the game but complained about the accents; the second episode had me spouting high praise for the game while still noting an issue with accents. But after completing the third episode all I can say is WHO CARES about the accents, this series is so good I just can’t wait for the conclusion! Type of app: Adventure Game Platform/where to buy: Mac or PC; full season pass with soundtracks available in the Phoenix Online Studios Store Developer: Phoenix Online Studios LLC Description: Here are some of the features: – Play as Erica Reed,…

Reviews

Lowepro Urban Reporter 150- Tablet-Loving Photographers Rejoice!

Lowepro just announced there new line of Urban Reporter Camera Messenger bags. The line includes the Urban Reporter 150, Urban Reporter 250 and the Urban Reporter 350 and prices range from $119.99 to $159.99. The Urban Reporter 150 is the perfect bag for the photographer who wants to grab a tablet and travel light. Check it out. We reviewed the Urban Reporter 250 and were impressed. The bag is light, has great style, offers a good amount of flexibility and makes carrying a 13″ laptop, camera gear and accessories an absolute pleasure. For those who want to travel a bit…

Gear Bits

Own a Smartphone? Order a Wet Smartphone Emergency Kit NOW!

If you own a smartphone, then you NEED one of these. The DRY-ALL Wet Smartphone Emergency Kit saved Elana’s iPhone 4S when it went into the sink. Now it’s doing the same for her iPhone 5C. (Or at least we hope it is.) Smartphones cost hundreds of dollars to replace, and that makes keeping one of these Emergency Kits on hand no-brainer. You can get one for$31 at our Amazon Affiliate Store.

Music Diary, Reviews

The Sachal Studios Orchestra – ‘Jazz and All That: In Memory of Dave Brubeck’ CD Review

Tribute albums always make me cringe, because I have heard way too many that either feel indulgent or like a cash-in. But more and more I am hearing tributes that are smart and thoughtful and pay real tribute to great artists. ‘Jazz and All That’ is such a tribute, going far beyond just being a Dave Brubeck tribute album. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes or Amazon. Artist: The Sachal Studios Orchestra Description: From the artist: Sachal Jazz Ensemble, master musicians from Pakistan who incorporate ancient instruments, such as sitar, sarod, tabla, and dholak into the sounds and rhythms…

Game Diary

Xbox From the Cloud? Microsoft is Working on it

“The cloud” is a popular concept. We have terabytes upon terabytes of data stored in “the cloud,” which is really just a data farm of servers in the middle of nowhere. It’s a great way to keep personal files available wherever you are. What if you could stream Xbox games from the cloud? Word is, Microsoft is working on it. It appears that Microsoft is beginning to build it’s own cloud gaming service. Microsoft has begun internal testing of their service and showed it off in an internal meeting. The Verge tells us that the folks at Microsoft were streaming…

Reviews

Lowepro Urban Reporter 250 Camera Messenger – For the Street-Smart Photographer

When Lowepro told me they had a brand new line of camera bags on the way, I was excited. The new line — the Lowepro Urban Reporter Camera Messenger Bags — consist of the Urban Reporter 150, 250, and 350. Priced from $119.99 to $159.99, they are a great option for someone looking to carry their gear in style. The first thing you notice when you pick up an Urban Reporter is the fact that it doesn’t look like a traditional camera bag. That’s pretty much the idea, since this is a bag you’ll be carrying with you on the…

News

PhotoPresenter Is Airplay Mirroring That Leaves YOU In Control of the Content!

My iPhone photo library is a random mix of pictures for work, home, Gear Diary and so on. When I am showing things to colleagues, I really don’t need to skip past silly pictures of my kids dressed up for ‘Spirit Week’ or a screenshot from the latest G5 game. Enter PhotoPresenter, keeping me in charge of what others see. Here is the idea behind the app: “Bastian, our video guru, recently hosted a Boinx workshop. During his presentation, he decided to put together a slideshow that showcased people using Boinx’s iStopMotion. All of the media was located on his…

Crowdfunding

Padcaster Launches iPad Mini Kickstarter Campaign Releases Padcaster 2.0!

The original Padcaster demonstrated once again that dismissing the iPad as a media creation device is wrong-headed – it allowed iPad owners to attach their tablet to a tripod and then use lights, lenses, external microphones and more. Now they have launched a new Kickstarter to help fund the creation of an iPad Mini version! Why are they seeking funding now? Well, they only introduced the Padcaster in April and started selling it in June so it is just starting to get rolling through production. As they note: “The Original Padcaster is already in production, having been funded almost entirely…

News

Check Out Breathometer On Shark Tank Tonight (9/27)!

We can debate whether it’s a good idea to base a decision about driving on a smartphone app and accessory, it’s better than just saying ‘I feel fine’ and getting behind the wheel. Breathometer is a device that plugs into your smartphone and measures your blood alcohol concentration quickly and easily. And the product will be on Shark Tank 9/27! Here is the description: Small enough to fit on a key chain, Breathometer, which is officially registered with the FDA, plugs into a smartphone audio jack, and together with a mobile app, transforms it into a sleek, portable and accurate…

Game Diary, Reviews

Grand Theft Auto V Review on PlayStation 3

Grand Theft Auto V continues improvement in open world environments where crime is king and characters expand with a three main character scenario that allows character to switch among them. Rockstar Games expands existing gameplay into show-stopping events with more role-playing opportunities as main and supporting characters cross paths while players can take main routes or choose tangents any time. The Hype Los Santos: a sprawling sun-soaked metropolis full of self-help gurus, starlets and fading celebrities, once the envy of the Western world, now struggling to stay afloat in an era of economic uncertainty and cheap reality TV. Amidst the…

Game Diary, Reviews

Avadon 2 Reminds Me of Bop-It 2; Do It The Same … but BETTER!

While my full review will have to wait for the release in November, I have been playing the preview of Avadon 2 from Spiderweb Software on the Mac, and now that the window has opened to release public preview impressions … I can tell you I am impressed. Everything good about Avadon remains good, and everything lacking is better. Type of app: Turn-Based Role Playing Game (RPG) Platforms: Mac & PC, with iPad version coming later. Developer: Spiderweb Software Overview: As a Hand of Avadon, the Black Fortress, you once held unlimited power. Your word was law. Your homeland was…

Gear Bits

Now That Was Fast- iOS 7 Updated… Again

Apple has been getting pretty bashed over the fact that their TouchID security on the iPhone 5S has already been by-passed. It is enough of an issue that some Apple employees have clearly been pulling all-nighters. iOS 7.0.2 adds security back to the phone… for the next five minutes. Plus it lets you use Greek for Passcode. Thank goodness!

News

Apple Quietly Innovates with Updated iMacs

We get so used to Apple introducing products with over-the-top hype and fanfare, so it is always a refreshing surprise when we discover that Apple has … um, refreshed one of its product lines. Yesterday Apple released an update to the iMac line, with upgraded processors, new graphics, next generation Wi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage options. Faster Processors: the new 4th generation Haswell Intel Core processors are faster with lower power consumption. The standard configurations offer quad-core i5 processors, but optional builds include quad-core i7, which allows hyper-threading for 8 virtual cores. Updated Graphics: even at the bottom end…

September 2013