2013 | Gear Diary

Valve’s SteamOS Announced for Computer Gaming in the Living Room

Today, Valve announced its SteamOS, which is built for computer gamers who want to bring their gaming experience into the living room. The free Linux-powered operating system will have a user interface that was built for use on a big screen HDTV and for viewing from the couch. Valve tells us to stay tuned for a release date, soon. One of the highlighted features of SteamOS is its in-home streaming, which promises to be able to stream any of your games from any computer in your house to your HDTV over your home network. This means that you will not…

Reviews

Apple iPhone 5s Review: Speed, Shades, and Scanners

The iPhone 5s is here, and thanks to the ever increasing amount of prerelease leaks, it arrives with even less surprises than past generations. Sharing the same chassis and design as the iPhone 5, the 5s focuses on improving performance, while introducing the completely revamped iOS 7 and new features like True Tone flash, slow motion video capture and TouchID. Front and centre is the 4-inch “Retina” display, with a 1136×640 resolution at 326dpi under a Gorilla Glass cover with an oleophobic coating. Despite not pushing the competition on size, pixel density or outright resolution, it is still a fantastic…

Gear Bits

More Than a PR Gimmick, Apple Sells a Record 9 Million iPhone 5s and 5c In Opening Weekend

When the news came of ‘record lines’ at Apple’s NYC store, it felt like a contrived move for headlines – and it probably was. But while that seemed like a desperation move, Apple’s press release today is a triumph of the continued consumer demand for the iPhone. The iPhone 5c and 5s sold over 9 million units in the opening weekend! In the press release, Apple highlights a few interesting numbers from the last several days: – The 9 million sales are just the iPhone 5s and 5c, and happened in spite of constrained supply, particularly of the coveted Gold 5s….

Gear Bits

Superhot Becomes Fastest Game to Be Greenlit on Steam

In non-Grand Theft Auto V related gaming news, a new browser-based shooting game is creating some buzz. Superhot is a first-person shooter where time only moves when you do. Therefore, if you’re standing still, time moves extremely slowly. This brings a very cool sneaking aspect into the game. Superhot has been greenlit for addition to Steam by the Steam community. Be on the lookout for upcoming news as to Superhot’s release, but in the meantime, check out the trailer below and click this link to play the short teaser game now! Superhot has become the fastest game ever to be…

Reviews

Droid MAXX by Motorola Phone Review – Maximum Advantages/Options

The Droid MAXX by Motorola lives up to its name with maximum screen size and considerable battery life. The MAXX (Android from Verizon) officially released this past August; it features a nice rounded design protected with DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber material, and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass for the 5-inch HD multi-touch screen which also vibrates with user interaction. The MAXX’s style is sleek and durable. The striations on the outer case and chin accentuate the large panel screen. The dimensions are 5.41 (H) x 2.80 (W) x 0.33 (D) inches (137.5 x 71.2 x 8.5 mm), and users can really feel the weight is 5.89…

Gear Bits

Simple Graphic Informs Us About Exactly Who is Confusing Fantasy and Reality!

Every time there’s a tragic school shooting or mass killing, we hear about video games. We hear that they’re ‘killing trainers’ and need to be regulated and controlled because they are dangerous and poisoning the minds of our youth. Studies show all violent media consumption desensitizes us, but that is very different than making us killers, as the image shows. Image Source – QuickMeme

Game Diary, Reviews

Project X Zone Review for Nintendo 3DS

Project X Zone combines popular fighting game franchises from Capcom, SEGA, and Namco Bandai into an Nintendo 3DS exclusive game with frantic action, unique character dialogue and special interactions. The Hype When a rift in time and space suddenly appears, a doorway to various universes is opened allowing both heroes and villains from different worlds to cross paths. Players will be able to take control of a huge selection of paired heroes including favorites such as Jin and Xiaoyu (Tekken), Toma and Cyrille (Shining Force EXA), or X and Zero (Mega Man X) to discover the cause of the rift and…

Reviews

Kohler Moxie Showerhead + Wireless Speaker Review – Stream Music & News While You Shower

Is it time to replace your leaky old showerhead and bring your bathroom into the 21st century? Then you should check out the Kohler Moxie Showerhead + Wireless Speaker. This clever design includes a removable Bluetooth speaker that magnetically inserts into the middle of a 2.5 gpm showerhead with 60 nozzles; its style will look great in any bathroom’s decor. When I was offered the chance to review the Kohler Moxie, there were two things that immediately went through my mind: the first was that I needed to replace the leaking showerhead in our master bathroom anyway, and the second…

Gear Bits

It’s Not Your Imagination – Every Other Phone Has a Laggy Response Compared to iPhone

Laggy Android touchscreen response has been covered so much it’s practically a meme; we’ve heard with each device and OS version they’ve solved it ‘this time for sure’. But here is the blunt and simple reality – the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 is even slower to respond than the iPhone 4S, let alone the iPhone 5 or the newest devices! And before Windows Phone folks start feeling smug, the Nokia Lumia 928 from Verizon falls in just behind the Galaxy S4. Check out all the results here.

Reviews

SmartWallit Review – Time to Upgrade Your Billfold

SmartWallit is a new gadget that helps you keep track of not only your spending, but also the location of your wallet. This intelligent accessory has many functions, including a spending log, loss prevention, and a way to find your lost phone or wallet. You can order the SmartWallit from Amazon for $60 plus shipping. I was very excited to get my hands on this neat little device and stick it in my wallet. Unfortunately, the SmartWallit was a little bigger than I thought it would be. Like 90% of the guys I know, I stick my wallet in my…

Music Diary, Reviews

WiFi2Hifi 2 Brings New Capabilities to Remote Music Player App – But Is It Enough?

I thought I had done a review of the original WiFi2HiFi, but I’d actually just complained about the ordeal getting the copy I’d won in a website giveaway. But the app itself was good enough that when the new version was announced I was interested in trying it. My experience was not very good, with unexplained lost connections and dropouts. Type of app: Wireless audio app Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Clever & Son AG Description: Using the WiFi2HiFi application any iOS device in reach can tune in to the music you’re listening to on…

Gear Bits

Neat NeatConnect Direct-to-the-Cloud Touchscreen Scanner First Look

I went hands-on time with Neat’s new NeatConnect Direct-to-the-Cloud Touchscreen Scanner this evening. It really does, “Introduce a whole new way to get organized!” The NeatConnect sends scans straight to NeatCloud, Skydrive, Evernote, Box, Dropbox and Google Drive without a computer.. You can also send to email, an SD card or to Neat’s Desktop Software. Shipping in October for $499. We can’t wait to spend more time with it! Find the Full Press Release here.

Gear Bits

JBL Spark Wireless Stereo Speaker System First Look

The JBL Spark Wireless Stereo Speaker System is one of the funnest (yeah I know it is not a word) speakers we’ve seen. Offering “legendary JBL sound in a funky, fun shape” it has two high-performance 40 mm JBL drivers and offers wireless Bluetooth streaming from your smartphone or table. Just $129 each! Check it out.

Gear Bits

Grand Theft Auto V Generates More than $800 Million, Which is a LOT of Money

You might have heard of the Grand Theft Auto games, which are either the cause of all evil or just a video game depending on your perspective. The fifth entry (or 7th counting Vice City and San Andreas) was just released – and has already sold over $800 million during its first 24 hours of retail and digital sales. Wow. By comparison, GTA4 sold 3.6 million copies for $310 million on launch day – 2K games isn’t telling how many units of GTA5 were sold. And in the UK GTA5 replaced Call of Duty: Black Ops as the fastest selling…

Gear Bits

Google Completes QuickOffice Assimilation, and It’s Now Free

In June of 2012, Google picked up Quick Office and for the longest time, didn’t do anything with it. Today Google has pushed out a brand new version of Quick Office completing the assimilation of this office suite. They have added the ability to save work to Google Drive as well; it’s also now free to download for all. Google has made some significant changes to the mobile office suite they picked up over a year ago. Namely, a brand new look for the application and the ability to use your Google Drive storage. You can also view Google Drive…

Reviews

Griffin PowerDock 5 Review – an Efficient Charging Station + Storage for Five Devices

Anyone who owns a smartphone and tablet knows that charging can become a juggling act between cables and plugs. Multiply those devices by a couple of owners, and suddenly a better storage and charging solution becomes a necessity; that’s where the Griffin PowerDock 5 Charging Station comes in. It efficiently stores, charges, and organizes up to five of different devices.

Gear Bits

Facebook Lets You Set Your Language to ‘Pirate’ for Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and once again Facebook is getting on the action. Last year they introduced the option to change your language to ‘Pirate’ – and they have brought back the option this year! Go to Settings, then Account Settings, and Language. Once you’re done and ready to go back, access ‘Ye Ship’s Rigging’ to change!

Gear Bits

Check Out the Trailer for the Upcoming Dungeon Defense Game ‘Evil Master Overlord’!

I love the under-served genre of dungeon defense games, such as the 90’s Dungeon Keeper games. In these games rather than playing the dungeon-raiding hero you are the master of the dungeon, warding off adventurers! A great looking new entry to the genre ‘Evil Master Overlord’ is coming to iOS and Android soon. Check out the trailer! From the developers: Evil Master Overlord (EMO) is an exciting dungeon defense game with a recognizable tile-matching puzzle style mechanic that will soon be available on the iOS and Android platforms. It will appeal to gamers who cannot get enough of the dungeon…

Game Diary, Reviews

Arcane Legends Brings Action-RPG Hack’n’Slash Excellence to iOS and Android!

While the PC world is full of free-to-play action-RPG games with plenty of loot and quests and things to kill. But getting a solid entry for your iOS or Android device is harder: Spacetime Studios pioneered with ‘Pocket Legends’, then a year ago introduced ‘Arcane Legends’. The ‘Realm of Shadows’ expansion recently launched, and the game is an absolute blast! Type of app: Multiplayer Online Fantasy Role-Playing Game Platform/where to buy: iPad; available in the iTunes App Store and on Google Play for Android. Developer: Spacetime Studios Description: Arcane Legends has loads of content, including: + Free to play forever…

News & Features

Want to Be Kind to Your Ears? Check Out JBL’s New Synchros Headphones

Last night JBL and Harman International formally introduced their new JBL Synchros line of headphones in a rather unusual way. They had the amazing performer Trixie Whitley offer up a small, intimate concert with Trixie, her keyboardist, and all in attendance wearing the new flagship S700 headphones. The sound was amazing, and the music was too. Here’s a look … Here’s a bit of Trixie performing in the S700 headphones and then some details on each … JBL Synchros S700 are the top of the Synchros line. These premium powered over-ear stereo headphones are “built for those who know…

Gear Bits

Unintended Reveal of New iPhone Speed Test: Samsung Galaxy S4 Is Slower Than iPhone 5!

We all know both the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4 are excellent phones. But since the iPhone 5 is now ‘obsolete’ and the S4 is just a few months old, it might surprise you that in ‘real world’ tests the iPhone 5 is considerably faster than the S4. The tests were intended for the iPhone 5s, which is insanely fast. You can see all results here, but I do realize that these sorts of tests are seldom an indication of exactly the experience someone will have. For some it is all about app-switching, others are data-throttled, and so on. Personally…