2013 | Gear Diary

RIP Jazz-Rock Pioneer and Legend George Duke at 67

Aside from the major jazz releases I try to cover, I also collect other new music and try to do ‘overview’ reviews of several albums when possible. I had one in progress, and the ‘highlight’ release for the set was DreamWeaver from George Duke. The album was released three weeks ago on July 16th, and it is one of the best recordings of the year, as well as one of my favorites from Duke. Dreamweaver mixes mainstream jazz, funk, pop and fusion elements in a very tender and intimate way, and showcases Duke’s vocal, compositional and most of all his…

Crowdfunding, Game Diary, News & Features

Larian Studios Releases Launch Trailer for Dragon Commander

Once again, I have cool news about Larian Studios, the creators of one of my all-time favorite games — Divine Divinity. In early April I talked about the Divinity: Original Sin Kickstarter, and a couple of weeks later noted the addition of a tier that also gave you a digital copy of Larian’s RTS (real-time strategy) game Divinity Dragon Commander. Well, today is the release date for Divinity Dragon Commander, and Larian Studios has published a launch trailer. Rather than some bland cinematic, this trailer actually shows you the purpose of different elements of the game, how you play and…

Gear Bits

BBC Reveals the 12th Doctor Who … What Do You Think?

This past weekend, we took a half hour away from the normal chaos in our house to tune into BBC America at 1700 hours GTM (i.e. 2PM EST). Doctor Who is a show I watched as a kid in the mid-70s, and Tom Baker will always be ‘my Doctor’. My younger son is a much bigger fan than me; he’s grown up loving the David Tennant and Matt Smith incarnations, and more recently working back in time. As you would expect during a 30 minute announcement show, the first 25 were all about retrospective and chatting up Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith….

Editorials

Do You Still Miss Google Reader?

It’s been over a month, and I still miss Google Reader. I’ve found a mostly-good replacement in using Mr. Reader on my iPad, NextGen Reader on my Lumia, and Feedly Cloud on a computer, but it’s not the same thing. My work PC can’t open Feedly Cloud, so I browse my RSS feeds while hunched over my iPad. Meanwhile, despite the long lead time between Google Reader’s announced shutdown and its actual end, it seems like Reader replacements are still half-baked and trying to find their way … which makes me fear for the future of RSS in general! By…

News & Features

Three Great Bluetooth Speakers for Your Son or Daughter’s College Dorm Room

If your son or daughter is headed off to college no doubt he or she wants a way to listen to some tunes while studying (or not studying as the case may be). Over the past months we’ve seen a host of decent bluetooth speakers and many would be great for a college dorm. Three that recently came to us for review stand out as excellent options. They are the Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600 for PC/Mac computer, tablet and smartphone, the Soundfreaq Sound Step with Lightning Connector and the iLuv Mo ‘Beats HD High Definition Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker with Viewing…

Reviews

Blue Microphone Nessie USB Microphone Review – Plug & Play with No Need for Post-Production Manipulation

A few months ago, we reviewed the Spark Digital from Blue Microphone. It impressed me with its design, features and quality. (I also really liked the way it looks.) The Spark Digital has an MSRP of just under $200. That’s not a bad price, but it also puts it a bit out of reach of most consumers looking for a budget speaker. That’s why the Nessie from Blue Microphone intrigued me. Judie and I first saw it at CES 2013, and we were impressed with the design, the quality, the onboard technology and, perhaps most of all, the price. The…

Health and Fitness

The Amazing World of 2012 Running Statistics – The Monday Mile

Each year since 1995, Running USA has documented the ‘state of running’ in terms of road races. They have looked at the total number of finishers of official races, as well as how those numbers are distributed by race, age, and gender. For every one of the last 20 years except 2003, there have been new records set in every aspect of road races as covered by Running USA. They released the numbers for 2012 last week, and as that was my first year of participating in road races I was intrigued to see the numbers. Here are a few…

Gear Bits

Keep a (Free) Sharp Lookout for Boats with PocketMariner’s Boat Watch iOS App

When my family and I went out to visit family in northern Washington, we were treated to the sight of many boats and ships sailing across Puget Sound and surrounding waterways, something of a novelty for us Midwestern landlubbers. In fact, we were able to take advantage of the ferry system at Mukilteo (and lunch at Ivar’s right next to the ferry landing) to help get us to our destination. During this same visit, I was semi-press-ganged into rowing on the Erica with the Old Anacortes Rowing and Sailing Society, and let me tell you, being in a small wooden…

Vehicles & Gear

Ford Mustang Still Nifty at Nearly 50

Before I had time to unpack from my trip to Dearborn, Michigan to experience Ford’s 2014 product lineup (the one without any Mustang representation), I got a phone call from the local PR office for Big Blue Oval asking if they could deliver a shiny new 2014 Pony car for the week. Uh, yeah… Ford’s Mustang sports car first appeared as the Mustang 1 Concept in 1962. April 17, 2014 will mark the 50th birthday of the iconic production sport coupe, and Ford has begun a “Mustang Countdown” online with a weekly video series that kicked off with a look…

Game Diary, Reviews

Deadpool Review on PlayStation 3

In Deadpool, the “merc(enary) with a mouth” gets his own third person action shooter/action game and goes up another number to break the “fourth wall” into several video game genres and various jokes/references. The Hype Some of you may know me as the Merc with the Mouth. And it’s time to get mouthy. Prepare to get Deadpooled – That’s right, $#*! just got real! Couple things I’d like to get off my chest: I’m a mercenary for hire with an accelerated healing factor. I like to run my mouth. Some say I’m unstable but I’m very stable. (Yep, totally stable)…

Reviews

Waterfield Suede Jacket Sleeve for the 2013 Nexus 7 Review

If you have one of the new Google Nexus 7 2013 tablets, then you know how small and light the device is. You also low that it has a gorgeous screen that is fantastic for reading and equally good for viewing video. And while you’ll want to bring the tablet pretty much everywhere, you’ll also want — no, you’ll need — to keep it as protected as possible. As we brought word last week, Waterfield is already offering a number of sleeves and cases for the latest Nexus device. We were sent a few for review, and we thought we…

News & Features

Check Out Dan’s eBay Review of the Onkyo TX-NR609 A/V Receiver and Then Enter to Win Big!

The other day, Dan brought word about my reviews of the Samsung GALAXY S4 and the Barnes & Noble NOOK Simple Touch with Glow Light. Both reviews were written as part of the eBay Influencers program and are currently live on eBay’s Digital Digest. You can read the S4 review here and the Nook review here. Dan is also part of the eBay Influencers program, and he just published a review of the Onkyo TX-NR609 A/V Receiver. If you are a regular Gear Diary reader, then you know that Dan has covered — and continues to cover — numerous portable…

Crowdfunding, Reviews

Capture Camera Clip v2 Review – Carry Your Camera and Never Miss a Shot

The Capture Camera Clip v2 camera clip is one of the more unusual camera accessories we have had a chance to review. An update to Peak Design’s original Capture Camera Clip, the Capture Camera Clip v2 lets you keep your DSLR close by — on your belt or backpack strap. And while this might not look like the best way to carry and hold your camera it actually works well. Currently in the initial funding period over on Kickstarter, the initial goal of raising $100,000 has been eclipsed five times over, and there are still three weeks left before the…

News & Features, Reviews

Justin Case Rechargeable iPad Battery Case Review

Power, power every where, And my battery levels did shrink; Power, power, every where, Nor any electricity to drink. With apologies to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, how often have you been going about your days busily using your iPad, only to discover the battery is getting low, and it’s just not convenient or possible to plug it into a wall charger? Are there times when you are jetting across the land for business and want to work on those reports or just unwind on the flight and play a few games like one of the Alchemy Mystery variants, but you have…

Editorials, Game Diary, Reviews

Hands-On with the Realms of Arkania Remake – Just Say ‘Nein’!

Every now and then a game comes along that is so special that you just have to pre-order it, to offer up money to make sure it happens … and then when it arrives it is such a bug-filled and unfinished mess that it is hard to even contemplate how someone ‘released’ it. Such is the case with Realms of Arkania – not the original game, which is an absolute classic released by Sir-Tech in 1993 (translated from German). I am talking about the just-released remake. Here is the description: A legend reborn as Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny…

Reviews

Logitech Z600 Bluetooth Speakers Review- Multiple-Personalities Never Sounded So Good

Logitech’s new Z600 Bluetooth Speakers are proof the company can not only put out excellent sounding speakers but they can put out excellent sounding speakers that look great AND come in at a surprisingly reasonable price. The speakers, which are available for preorder, have an MSRP of $149.99 and have impressed me more than I expected they would. Let’s take a look at them on video and then dig a little more deeply into some of the specifics. It should be clear from the video that I am really impressed with the speakers. And when I take into consideration the…

Gear Bits, News & Features

Will You Pay Apple for More iCloud Storage When Your MobileMe Bonus Expires?

When iCloud launched and MobileMe was mercifully bludgeoned, those of us fool enough to have paid for the service were rewarded for our stupidity with an extra 20GB of free iCloud storage for a limited time. That time was extended once, but is now set to expire at the end of September according to emails that went out this week. Here is the message from Apple on their support site. Former MobileMe members received a complimentary storage plan after moving to iCloud between October 12, 2011, and August 1, 2012. On September 30, 2013, the complimentary iCloud storage plans will…

News & Features

Check Out Judie’s eBay Influencer Review of the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight Then Enter to Win Great Prizes

The other day Judie posted her eBay Influencer review of the Samsung GALAXY S4. It is a great look at the powerhouse S4 and it also include a way you can enter to win awesome prizes. Now Judie has followed up with an eBay Influencer Review of the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. She concludes her review noting that, “Whether you are considering an eReader for use when traveling, sitting by the pool, or for pleasure reading, the Nook Simple Touch is an excellent choice.” And while that is a nice endorsement in and of itself it…

Vehicles & Gear

Thirty Years and 10 Million Cars Later, Toyota Camry Still Number One

There are certain words that are almost never used in automotive reviews of the best-selling sedan in America, the Toyota Camry. Those words include sexy, sporty, dynamic, titillating or fun. Apparently no one cares, especially consumers as Camry has led sedan sales here in the States for 14 out of the past 15 years and this past month Toyota sold its 10 millionth model since introducing Camry here some 30 years ago. Not bad Camry, not bad. In May of 1988, Toyota brought production of the car to its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky and in 2006 it began producing hybrid…

News & Features

Pebble Adds Email Notifications For iOS Devices

I have become quite dependent on my Pebble smart watch. Being able to see my messages without looking at my phone is actually extremely convenient. When I am in front of a class teaching, on the field coaching or even driving, the watch makes it super easy to glance at my watch when I get a message. It only takes a second and I never skip a beat in what currently is going on. Really, the only reason I like to check is to just make sure it is not an important message from my wife or anything dealing with…

Google Nexus 7 Still Made for Watching Movies

Gear Bits, News & Features

3 Reasons I Almost Bought a Nexus 7 2 … and 5 Reasons I Held Back

Over the last few years it has become somewhat of a mantra – a new 7″ Android tablet comes out, I buy it and quickly lose interest, sell it off for a minor loss, and repeat. I have gone from Samsung Galaxy Tab to HTC Flyer to Acer Iconia to Kindle Fire to Nexus 7 to Fire HD … but it all pretty much stopped with the iPad Mini. With the Mini I found the perfect intersection of a size I knew would work and the functionality I need. Still … I kept contemplating new Android tablets as I heard…