2013

WiFi2HiFi 2 Lands on the iTunes App Store September 17th

Just to be honest, my initial exposure to WiFi2HiFi was anything but positive. I had won a copy in a website contest, but actually getting the company deliver took more than a month. But the app itself was pretty cool and provided useful functionality, and now they have released a new upgraded version, cleverly called WiFi2HiFi 2. So what IS WiFi2HiFi? Well, the concept is simple. You load an app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. You install the ‘master’ app on your Mac. You pair the two, and then your iOS device shows up as a ‘device’ for…

Music Diary

Dream Theater Self-Titled Album Available for Pre-Order!

Although jazz is my favored genre, I love great musicians who show a love for their instrument and craft. Dream Theater is a prog-metal band with some of the best musicians in all of rock. Mike Petrucci and Jordan Rudess have won countless awards on their instruments over the years, and the new album sounds extremely promising! I had a friend who was into the early ‘speed metal’ scene in the early 80s, which required stamina as much as skill. Bands like Dream Theater took that to the next level by incorporating epic soundscapes and structures that derived from the…

Gear Bits

Jimmy Fallon Spoofs “Breaking Bad”

Are you watching this season of “Breaking Bad”? If not, you’re missing out on some great television. But if you are all caught up, and you need something to brighten your life before the resolution to last Sunday’s cliffhanger, check out this cameo-filled spoof called “Joking Bad” from Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Warning: Multi-season spoilers are spoofed. Via Slate

Reviews

Twelve South GhostStand Review – a Hauntingly Awesome MacBook Accessory

If you are in the market for a laptop stand and don’t want something that is simply utilitarian, then the Twelve South GhostStand may be just the thing for you. Made from clear lucite, the GhostStand makes it look as if your laptop is floating. Best of all, the GhostStand is just $34.99. Get one! Like all Twelve South products the GhostStand comes in a heavy gift box-looking package. The box includes tips on various ways you can reuse the box. I’m not sure if people actually make use of these tips, but it is good to see a company…

Gear Bits

Element Case Atom S4 Case Giveaway

As promised in the Gear Diary Newsletter, we are giving away awesome review sample cases. First up is the Element Case Atom S4 Judie recently reviewed. It has an MSRP of $54.95. Read the review, leave a comment then tweet the URL and “@geardiary @dmcohen @elementCASE”. We will announce the winner tomorrow night when we launch the next case giveaway.

Editorials

Reading the Tea Leaves on the 5c Launch

Why did Apple release the iPhone 5c? Was it to create a cheaper iPhone? Attract a different audience? Offer some diversity to the product line? And whatever combination of reasons might have been behind the move, why does it seem like there's a high expectation of failure? The specter of Apple's stumbles in the PC market and the rise of Android weigh heavily on the 5C/5S release. It's not a secret that many people were disappointed with the launch. Analysts and journalists who predicted a cheaper iPhone are pulling their hair out, and Apple-focused blogs are running in circles trying…

Music Diary, Reviews

Mary Halvorson Septet ‘Illusionary Sea’ – Same Great Music, Larger Setting

When you name an artist as one of your favorite emerging guitarists and composers, and remarking each release has improved upon the last, it sets a high standard for any new release. And while ‘Illusionary Sea’ doesn’t topple ‘Bending Bridges’ as my favorite, it’s a solid album with excellent compositions and great musicianship, and a great addition to her catalog. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: Firehouse 12 Records Artist: Mary Halvorson Septet Description: From the artist: At the end of 2011, Mary Halvorson had finished writing two albums’ worth of quintet music and decided she was ready for a…

Reviews

Keizus Quadropod + Clamp Review – a New Way to Hold Your Smartphone

As smartphone photography has gotten better and better, it has become increasingly clear that the right accessories will help take things to an entirely new level. The Quadropod + Clamp is a tripod-like stand and mount. Easy to use and flexible enough to hold your smartphone or tablet in pretty much any position, it is just $39.95. As you can see the Keizus Quadropod + Clamp is going up against the likes of the Joby Gorillapod line. It offers some significant differences, such as the quad legs rather than the tripod legs, and it makes deciding which small camera and…

Reviews

Mindshift Gear Contact Sheet Review – a Clean Photography Surface Anywhere

Mindshift Gear, an offshoot of ThinkTank Photo, is now offering the Contact Sheet. This multi-purpose photography accessory is specifically for photographers working in wet or dirty settings. In seconds the sheet extends to 3.5′ by 5′, and it provides a neat and clean surface for photographer’s gear or themselves. Just $39.99 you can find it here. The Contact Sheet is a great example of “the right tool for the right job”. This isn’t a “can’t live without” product, but it has already come in handy for me — and I’m not even a professional photographer, and I don’t work in…

Game Diary, Gear Bits

Download GRID2 Demolition Derby Mode for Free

Codemasters rocks the game racing world again with a free Demolition Derby Mode download for GRID 2. It’s available for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3 versions of the game … and it is very cheap compared to the Mono edition. Enjoy GRID 2 Demolition Derby mode in single-player, split-screen, and in up to twelve player online races.This mode features the Jupiter Eagle Ray Mk 5 Demo Derby car and the Detroit Demolition Derby Stadium with two track setups. Players can create crossover jumps for extra excitement. The Xbox version (via Xbox Live) and PC version (via Steam) debuted last week while the PS3 version…

Crowdfunding, Gear Bits

Phonebloks – Groundbreaking Smartphone Idea, Pipe Dream, or Both?

Phonebloks is a conceptual solution to a very real problem. Electronic waste is a big concern, as today’s electronics are not built to last. Phonebloks is a concept that uses interchangeable “bloks” that can be switched out when it either fails or you’re in the mood for an upgrade. But can this seemingly simple idea really be produced? With this design, you can theoretically just swap in and out any number of components from the camera, processor, gyroscope, memory, WiFi, even the screen and replace them wherever you’d like on the base. Sounds like an incredibly simple way to fully…

Game Diary, Reviews

Supermarket Management 2 for the iPad Brings More Time Management Fun!

Despite initial reservations I have come to love games like SuperMarket Management 2 in the time management genre. As you make progress things get more difficult and you need to balance more tasks, difficult customers, shifting priorities, combined items, and more – all while timing gets more critical! One great thing – if you like the demo you’ll love the game! Type of app: Time Management game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Playful Age / G5 Entertainment Description: Supermarket Management 2 has loads of content, including: ? 49 challenging levels…

Gear Bits

KMI Launches QuNeo Rogue Indiegogo Campaign!

I loved the KMI QuNeo, so I am excited for the QuNeo Rogue. The Rogue is a new Indiegogo project for an integrated wireless connection kit and long lasting battery for QuNeo that allows you to leave your cables behind! With 12 hours of battery and a 50-200 meter wireless range, QuNeo Rogue have you ready to groove! A few details: • Rogue is an accessory for the QuNeo that supplies long-lasting battery power and an incredibly robust wireless connection to a computer. • Rogue attaches quickly and easily to the bottom of your QuNeo with low-profile velcro. • Battery…

Reviews

Supertooth Disco Twin Speakers Review

Supertooth Disco Twin Bluetooth Speakers have a rich, deep sound, great battery life, and a sleek design. Looking for a powerful and portable system? The Supertooth Disco Twin set is only $199 and worth every penny. I owe the world of music an apology. See, for years I’ve blown off having good speakers around, because I hardly listen to music outside of my car. And my hearing isn’t the best, so I’ve always felt like I didn’t need decent speakers around. But now I’m testing the Supertooth Twin Speakers, and from the moment I fired them up to review I…

Health and Fitness

5 Things I’d Rather Do Than ‘Boston Qualify’ – The Monday Mile

Today registration for the Boston Marathon opens. Qualifying for Boston is an aspiration or goal for most long distance runners. While some debate if it’s ‘the best’, it is the most coveted and prestigious – and hardest to get into. But there are things more important to me than getting a BQ – I’ll list five. Naturally there are many people – thousands every year, in fact – who are fast enough to qualify for Boston. But as I have engaged the running community it seems nearly every running blog involves someone who has Boston as an eventual goal. I…

Gear Bits

Spectacular Even in Death – Jeweled Skeletons of the Catacomb Saints

What do you do when you’ve got a catacomb full of purported martyrs’ skeletons, and you want to remind the faithful of the heavenly treasures awaiting them? You bedazzle those bones with jewels, and then display the results in shrines! And when skeptics question the skeletons’ provenance and the gaudy display, you hide them away until someone comes along and writes a book … This all goes back to 1578, when thousands of skeletons were found in the Roman catacombs; the remains were assumed to be early Christian martyrs, and so they were packed up and sent to “many Catholic churches…

News & Features

Think Tank Photo Releases MY 2ND BRAIN Laptop Bag and Accessory Line

Think Tank Photo had taken its expertise in creating fantastic camera bags and applied it to a new line of bags and accessories for people using Apple Devices. MY 2ND BRAIN is a series of bags for tablets and laptops. Powerhouse is a line of accessory pouches. The MY 2ND BRAIN bags start at $74.75 for the tablet version and goes up to $99.75 for the MacBook Pro bag. Each bag comes in Black, Harbor Blue, and Mist Green and features: Easily accessible iPhone mobile digital device pocket with plush lining and earbud pouch Front pocket with plush pouch for…

Gear Bits

PUC Bringings MIDI-Over-WiFi Project to Indiegogo

You want to make music with your iPad but being tethered to your keyboard is dragging you down, despair no longer – PUC has arrived! PUC connects to MIDI gear with a cable, then to your iOS device wirelessly. Once connected, apps don’t know the difference! Head to Indiegogo to support this project with a special $69 level ending 9/11!

Events, News & Features

Apple’s September Event – Here’s the Latest

Apple’s September Event will arrive shortly. As it unfolds we will share as much of the news and as many images as possible. We’ll add some commentary along the way, but we invite and encourage you to comment on this post once the news starts to roll in. To get the latest news starting at 1pm EST, just refresh your browser. Photo Credit via The Verge The Event began with a welcome and a focus on the iTunes Festival. (I’ve watched a few concerts and they are pretty great!) Apple Retail Update: Big moves outside the US. More stores. Enlarged…

Gear Bits

For ‘909 Day’, Rebirth on Sale for $9 for 9 Days!

Roland’s TR-909 is a synthesizer classic, and one of the driving sounds in the current electronic and techno genres. Propellerhead’s 1996 Rebirth software models two Roland TB-303 synthesizers, a TR-808, and a TR-909 all at once, and was released on iPad in 2010. For the next 9 days it is on sale for $9 to celebrate 909 day! Here is Mumbance showing off some of the amazing power of the TR-909 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XCxiPKrdXkI

Vehicles & Gear

All-New 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is Just Plain Good

‘New from hood to hitch.’ What a way to begin a marketing campaign but that is how Chevrolet leads in for the 2014 Silverado 1500 pickup, a truck they claim to be stronger, smarter and more capable than any before it thanks to new engines, new styling, new interiors and revised steering, suspension and brakes. These 55 words pretty much sum up all one needs to know about the 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup, but what fun would it be if I did not wane on for another 600 or so words going into a bit more detail on all…

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