2013

JBL OnBeat Rumble Review- Huge Sound That Will Impress

If you are in the market for a speaker dock that offers a Lightening connector and wireless connectivity and you want big… no… huge sound you’ll want to check out the JBL OnBeat Rumble. The OnBear Rumble is a large speaker dock that serves up even bigger sound. At $399 it is a pricey, but impressive, offering. Check it out. The JBL OnBeat Rumble loudspeaker dock is a Lightning connector dock that also allows you to wirelessly stream audio over Bluetooth with HARMAN TrueStream connection technology. The speakers built-in subwoofer delivers huge sound and, thanks to the, free JBL MusicFlow…


Check Out the Trailer for Godfire: Rise of Prometheus? from Vivid Games!

Games like Infinity Blade offer gorgeous graphics, but the lack of control over movement limits possibilities and immersion. Godfire: Rise of Prometheus takes gorgeous graphics and advanced gameplay and a story set in Greek Mythology and look to set mobile gaming with an iOS and Android release in early 2014! Today they released a great-looking pre-Alpha video. Check out the trailer and follow the game on Facebook or Twitter!


GoG.com Kicks Off 5th Birthday Celebration With ‘Pick 5 for 80% Off” Sale!

GoG.com is kicking off their 5th birthday celebration, and as always we get great deals on games! The first sale is ‘Pick 5 Games & Save 80%’. It is pretty simple – choose five games from a great list of 25 games, and you will have then all for around $10. What are you waiting for?!? Head to GoG.com now! Also, they have added System Shock 2 as their one-day ‘Gem Promo’ – so it is $2.49, which is a complete steal for one of the best games in the history of gaming!


Orbino Padova mini for iPad mini Review Redux

  When it became clear Judie was going all-in with the iPad mini she dropped over $200 on an Orbino Padova mini leather case. I thought she was nuts to spend that much… until I saw it. The case is gorgeous and I absolutely love the review sample Orbino was kind enough to send over for a second-look review.   Let’s first take a look at the images Judie shot of her Padova mini and then take a look at it on camera. So that’s the Orbino Padova mini leather case Judie has been using for almost a year. I…


The Knork Lets You Set the Table With Just One Utensil

Knives beware! Thanks to the Knork you can now set the table with just one utensil. The Knork is a special fork whose curved side isn’t sharp like a knife but, thanks to a specific curve built into its design, will cut straight through most foods. Will a Knork let you retire the rest of your cutlery? Check it out. via theKitchn


Sony Introduces New Playstation Vita Models in Color

Coming just a couple of weeks after the $199 price drop, Sony introduced a new PCH-2000 Playstation Vita model. The new version comes in a variety of colors, 15% lighter and 20% thinner, adds an hour to battery life, has USB charging, 1GB internal storage, and switches to a LCD screen. US Pricing & availability not announced, but $199 likely. The colors include pink, black, blue, grey, lime green, and yellow; Sony is also introducing special edition Gundam Breaker, God Eater and Otomate models. The current model will be getting a special ‘Play!’ Game Pack as Sony has done with…


JUICIES+ Lightning and Micro USB Power Cables Looking for Funding on Kickstarter Now

The folks at Juicies may have come up with a way to improve upon Apple’s lightening cables as well as the typical Micro USB cable. The JUICIES+ cable is made of anodized aluminum, wrapped in a tangle-free woven cable, and is a foot longer than the typical power cables. A $20 Kickstarter pledge lands you one power cable of the future. Project Title:  JUICIES+ for iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phones Status:  Currently Funding Closing Date for Funding:  11/1/13 URL of the Project:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/laudowicz/juicies-for-iphone-android-blackberry-and-windows Product Overview: JUICIES+ incorporate a few great cable designs that I’ve been looking for in a…


Chemical Attacks in Syria Continue a Tragic 1700 Year Tradition

The apparent use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Assad is not the first such occurrence in the region. In 256 C.E. the Roman fort known as Dura-Europas fell to a Sasanian Persian siege. Traces of yellow sulfur crystals and pitch near the bodies of 19 Roman soldiers now suggest they were deliberate gassed. A sad history is now being replayed.


GearTag Helps Ensure You Never Lose Track of Your Gear Again

GearTag, now funding on Kickstarter, is a neat way to keep track of your gear.  These small wireless tags can be clipped to a purse, tucked into a wallet, or attached to your keyring.  From your smartphone or computer, you can ‘page’ your tag or view it’s last known location.  Reserve yours for a $30 pledge. GearTags use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to communicate with your smartphone.  This uses little battery life while also giving you a range of 100 yards.  Each GearTag has it’s own unique QR code printed on one side, like a fingerprint.  If the tag…


Technogel Offers Better Sleep at a Steep Cost

Are you having a hard time finding the right pillow? Technogel thinks they have the right answer with their high-tech pillows, designed to keep you cool and support your body for a more restful sleep. The catch? They’re $169…each. Ouch, but if they work, it’s worth it, right? What sets Technogel apart is their technology. The pillows stay cooler than memory foam, and their density means they spread support better than foam as well. The idea is that the ergonomics and design make for a better night’s sleep than on ordinary pillows and memory foam, and a better night’s sleep is…


Short Film from NPR Highlights the Impact of Smartphones on Cultural Norms

When was the last time you were together with a group of adults (or teens) and not a single moment was interrupted by checking a smartphone, taking a picture, uploading to Vine or something else? As you think about that, check out this video and watch it from the perspective of Charlene deGuzman, the creator of the film. What do you think – has this become a problem? Source: NPR


Hidden Linux of the Week is Android

In the Linux community, the term “Year of the Linux Desktop” has been bandied about for over 12 years. See, I use Linux every day and I bet you do too. This is especially true if you carry an Android device. Yes Android uses the Linux and is in the hands of millions. The year of the Linux desktop is here. History Android was started in 2003 by Andy Rubin as Android Inc. Originally Android was being developed to run on cameras but they quickly realized that would be a limited market. So they started developing it for Smartphones. Money…


The Ikea Ottoman Standing Desk- DIY For $39

Neccessity truly is the mother of invention. I threw out my back. Still, I have tons of writing I need to do. I do have an Ergotron Standing Desk but I wanted to be in my kitchen with the doors and windows open. Enter my “mobile standing desk”… an Ikea Poang ottoman set atop our island. Works like a charm.


Would You Use an Amazon Phone?

The latest rumor from The Verge about Amazon’s mythical phone is that it will be free, or nearly free, even if you don’t have a phone contract. Is this enough to get people over the hump of Amazon’s legendary tracking and into their waiting arms of Amazon Prime and the Amazon App Store? Personally, I’m on the fence. I see two sides to this. On the one hand, this could be a very compelling extra phone or backup phone. For free, or nearly free, it makes for a good “what-if” device to keep in a drawer, or use as a…


New Kindle Paperwhite eBook Readers Are Better Than Ever

Read anywhere, anytime with Amazon’s new kindle paperwhite. The new paperwhite is faster brighter and more responsive than ever. It features smart lookup, better searching/scroll features and it is more sensitive to your touch. Plus its great display just got even better. And it is just $119 with Special Offers. The 3G version starts at just $179. Preorder here.


Case Logic Reflexion DSLR and iPad Backpack Review

Case Logic’s Reflexion DSLR and iPad Backpack stands out thanks to its “split-pack opening” design and a zipper tha runs around the middle like a jagged belt. It opens and allows the top half of the pack folds down and out of the way. This leaves the camera and tablet compartment open and accessible. Check out the $99.99 pack. As you can see this is a rather unusual camera backpack. The Case Logic Reflexion DSLR and iPad Backpack lets you carry a camera, a few accessories, a tablet and some additional gear in something that looks cool and will cost you…


5 Things About Apple That Drive Me Crazy!

With a 37-year history, Apple’s story is intertwined with the personal computer and consumer electronics. It has loads of melodrama, huge personalities, and sweeping highs and lows. Right now we’re entering ‘new iPhone’ season with expectations and rumors running rampant – but instead of speculating on new products I’m shaking my head and gritting my teeth about Apple in general. In my head I have been bouncing around all of the Apple-related press of recent months. From the ongoing legal battles with Samsung to the ITC banning veto to the DOJ anti-trust action to seeing same-day articles confirming that the…


Run-n-Read Helps Out With The ‘Reading On Treadmill’ Issue

Do you use a treadmill or elliptical system for exercise? Do you read while on it? If so, you’ve probably encountered eye-strain as you were moving and trying to focus on the stationary e-device text. Run-n-Read from Weartrons seeks crowdsource funding to deal with this issue by tracking motion and repositioning text to keep it stable in your visual field. Run-n-Read uses a combination of hardware and software to stabilize text. The hardware tracks your head motion relative to the screen and text, and the software runs on your iOS or Android device to shift the text position in real…


Skull Shaver Keeps Your Noggin Clean

Looking to shave your head and avoid nicks and cuts? Check out the Skull Shaver. This redesigned electric razor lets you shave without shaving cream, get to the back of the head with ease and do it all without turning your scalp into a bloody mess. They are currently seeking funding on Indiegogo. Check it out here.


Matthew Finck-Jonathon Ball Project ‘Its Not That Far’ CD Review

The word ‘synergy’ is often thrown at any attempt to work together. True collaboration is much rarer, and results in a whole greater than the sum of parts. And that describes my feelings about ‘It’s Not That Far’ from the Matthew Finck-Jonathon Ball Project. Two great musicians with a solid band and great guest makes some magical music. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Artist: Matthew Finck-Jonathon Ball Project Description: From the artist: Matthew Finck, guitar, and Jonathan Ball, tenor saxophone, with their new album “It’s Not That Far,” continue the vast and varied range of collaborations between their…


Twin Moons Brings Fun and Choices in Casual Gaming to the Mac

I thoroughly enjoyed the iPad release of Twin Moons from Cateia Games and G5 Entertainment, so when they announced a Mac version of the replayable hidden-object adventure game I knew I had to check it out. Now after playing I enjoy the game even more and highly recommend getting it for either Mac or iOS! Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game Platform/where to buy: iPad; available in the Mac App Store (Also available for iPad & iPhone) Developer: Cateia Games / G5 Entertainment Description: Twin Moons has loads of content, including: – 31 creepy and enigmatic locations…