2013

Learn About Wireless Audio From One of the Experts

Wireless audio has gone from simple convenience to serious audio experience over the last few years thanks to Play-fi, AirPlay and, of course, Bluetooth. Honestly, at this point I wouldn’t even consider an audio system that didn’t offer the ability to cut the cords and go wireless. But while it used to be the case that you had to choose between the convenience of wireless audio and the quality of the music you can enjoy that is far from the case these days. Wireless audio is here to stay and, best of all, it is getting better and better. It…


Lowepro DSLR Video Fastpack 150 AW Review- Perfect Size, Great Price

Over the past year we’ve reviewed a number of different camera bags from Lowepro. We’ve looked at everything from small sling bags to large backpacks and I have been consistently impressed by the design, build quality and price point of each. When I was heading to CES 2013 I knew I needed a large pack that would allow me to carry my 15″ MacBook Pro along with my Canon T3i and numerous accessories. I went on the hunt for the right bag and ended up with the Lowepro DSLR Video Fastpack 250AW. It’s a phenomenal bag but is a little…


Goal Zero Helps You Do ‘Real’ Camping Without Giving Up Your Gadgets!

My wife and I love to go camping … our boys, not so much. And when I say camping, I am not referring to an RV with TV and microwave and air conditioning! I mean a tent. One of my memories from tenting with our boys last fall was the ‘tech huddle’ in the public bathroom. There were four outlets, and all of the teens would go hang out to charge up their stuff in the evenings. So I was intrigued when I saw the Goal Zero Katabatic solar powered tent over at Wired. The tent is being sold through…


Start Your Child on the Right Geek Path with The Star Trek Enterprise

  When Sarah was pregnant with our son, we received two pieces of advice from nearly every parent we knew: get lots of sleep while we still could, and go see as many movies as possible before the little person arrives. This advice is the only reason Sarah relented and agreed to see “Star Trek: Into Darkness” with me. And while she found it less than exhilarating, our unborn child LOVED it. Yes, he spent the entire movie kicking and moving. Now, it might have been the vibrations from all the explosions, but I prefer to believe the little one…


Seidio’s Ledger Cover now Available for Galaxy S4 and HTC One

Seidio has announced a new fashionable way to protect your Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One device, the Ledger.  This clam shell case offers a sleek and stylish way to protect your Android device from drops and scratches as well as spying eyes.  The nice thing about the “book” style of case is that while your phone is sitting on the table, not being used, the cover protects your screen from being read by others when you receive notifications.  The Ledger also protects your phone from all angles, leaving no fragile area exposed. The Ledger is crafted from Italian Polyurethane…


Alchemy Mysteries: Prague Legends HD for iPad Review

Sometimes a title tells you all you need to know about a game – in the case of G5’s Alchemy Mysteries: Prague Legends, we know it is a casual game because of G5, that it is a mystery involving alchemy, that it looks back into history and that it takes place in Prague. We quickly also learn that the game centers around an orphan named Eva who returns to Prague to claim an inheritance and hopefully learn more about her past and her real family. But just after entering the house strange and mysterious things occur! Let’s take a look!…


FX Photo Studio For iPhone/iPad Free Until August 5th

It is often said that the best camera is the one in your hand. This is true and our mobile devices have become the main photography tools for most people. Most modern cell phones and tablets have fantastic cameras and chipsets, but there often is something missing to make them the perfect shot. My favorite aspect of using my iPhone for photos is the ability to immediately edit and enhance images on the fly. I take pride in my ability to make my phone pics look great and use my iPad to edit images from my DSLR. With the use…


TokyoFlash Introduces the Kisai Neutron Motion Sensor LED Watch

While in recent years the only watches I seem to wear are GPS watches, I have always loved distinctive ways of displaying time. Way back in the early 80s I was on a team that programmed an early LED communications device that scrolled the time, temperature and messages in a major hallway at my university. So when I saw the Kisai Neutron I was intrigued. Basically it is a thin and sleek watch that displays the time using large numbers on a bright and distinct scrolling LED panel. More than that, the Kisai Neutron has motion sensor technology, so if…


STM Cable Wrap Review Redux- Like a Protective Burrito for Your Cables and Accessories

These days it isn’t that we just carry our phones, tablets and laptops but we also carry the small cables and accessories that help us get the most from our electronics. And while you can just throw all those cables and adapters into your gear bag, keeping the safe and organized can help save precious time and frustration. After all, Murphy’s Law says the adapter you need will be the one at the very bottom of your bag. That’s where the STM’s Cable Wrap comes in. The simple, nylon accessory makes it easy to organize your cables and small adapters…


Droidscape: Basilica Brings Fun Tactical Escapism to iPhone and iPad

Imagine a futuristic world of a new Dark Age where the only hope for humanity is locked away in a massive labyrinth of a space station called the Basilica. In order to free him you need to help a robot named Bishop 7 navigate the space station. It is a puzzle game with a bunch of twists – read on to find out what I thought! Type of app: Sci-Fi Action Puzzle game Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Kyttaro Games Description: -Sleek, versatile slider controls! – Or play with HeadTwister, our experimental head-tracking technology!…


Virtual City Playground Keeps Chugging Along with Massive Update for iPad and iPhone!

I love the Virtual City games including the free social version Virtual City Playground, as I noted in my review of the Android version. In the review I noted that the game took all of the fun of Virtual City and brought it to a free ‘playground’ mode that allowed you to just have fun. Of course, for G5 the big thing is monetization, and they have been very successful trading ease of upgrading and building things for small amounts of real-world cash. It is the classic example of eventually paying $20 for a game that you wouldn’t pay $5…


Crumpler Noose Camera Wrist Strap Video Review

One of the things I discovered when I began using the Sony NEX-6 instead of the Canon T3i was that while a neck strap was great with the larger Canon camera, it didn’t work nearly as well with the smaller CSC. At the same time, while I didn’t want to use a neck strap, I also wanted the security of using something with it. After all, the last thing I want to do is drop such a pricey piece of kit. I quickly went in search of a good wrist strap to use with it, and that’s when I stumbled…


M-Edge Has Your New Nexus 7 Covered

It’s that classic dilemma – you want to be an early adopter and buy that newly released phone/tablet/laptop/media player, but you also want to protect it in a stylish manner. Nothing deflates one’s pride at carrying around the latest tablet faster than pulling it out of last year’s case. I mean, sheesh, one must have standards, right? Luckily for you, M-Edge completely understands, and, anticipating the new Google Nexus 7, has introduced the Stealth for the updated tablet. The Stealth is a leather folio-style case, designed to be slim and lightweight. It has a magnetic closure and uses M-Edge’s GripTrack…


My Day at the 2014 Toyota Tundra and 4Runner Preview Event

As I mentioned in a brief post the other day, last week I had the opportunity to travel to south-western Pennsylvania to stay at the Nemocolin Woodlands Resort and see, and drive, the 2014 Toyota Tundra and 2014 Toyota 4Runner. The resort was amazing and served as a terrific backdrop for getting to know the new Tundra and 4Runner. What follows is a brief description of our day along with some details on two lines of trucks that — spoiler alert — impressed the heck out of me. A bit of background. On farms throughout America, pickup trucks are like a member…


Protect Your 2013 Nexus 7 the Waterfield Way!

I broke down and ordered one of the second generation Nexus 7 tablets the other day. As much as I love my iPad, I really wanted to see what the latest generation of Google’s tablet has to offer. Knowing it is on the way, I wanted to make sure I had a good way to carry and protect it. Thankfully our friends at Waterfield have some great cases that will keep the new Nexus 7 pristine when on the go. Let’s take a quick look at just a few of the cases that are sized perfectly for the slightly smaller…


Nvidia Shield Lands in Stores Tomorrow!

Way back at CES 2013 in January Nvidia announced the Shield, a high-performance gaming and entertainment portable system based around the powerful Tegra 4 processor system. Well, the system hits stores on August 1st, and is already seeing some positive early buzz. Some of the features include: • The ultimate gaming and entertainment portable – powered by Tegra 4 • Ready for Android gaming – compatible with 100+ games on Google Play • Capable of streaming your PC games over Wi-Fi – to play anywhere in the house • Featuring a console-grade game controller, 5-inch retina-quality multi-touch display, custom-tuned bass reflex…


BioShock Infinite Clash in the Clouds Expansion Pack Releases

Today 2K and Irrational Games released the first expansion (a.k.a. downloadable content (DLC)) pack for BioShock Infinite – BioShock Infinite: Clash in the Clouds on the PlayStation 3 ($4.99), Xbox 360 (400 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live), and PC ($4.99). Gear, Tears, Vigors, Sky-Lines, and weapons will help players conquer four new areas  including the Museum, Emporia Arcade, and Duke and Dimwith Theater. BioShock Infinite: Clash in the Clouds is set in a unique arena shooter format with the main character Booker DeWitt and his companion Elizabeth as the playable characters. Players can also unlock exclusive content including voxophones, kinetoscopes,…


What’s a Fair Wage for Fast Food Workers?

What did your first job pay? I vaguely remember my first “real” job (i.e., not babysitting) at Borders during summer break from college, where I was thrilled to be making $6.25ish per hour. Fast forward to when I worked as a supervisor for Borders, post-college, with a degree, where I started at $8.75 an hour. Even with roommates, it was tough to stretch that every two weeks. So I have a lot of sympathy for the current fast food workers’ strike, where they’re fighting for a raise, specifically to a significant level above the current average rate of $7.25 per…


Skooba Design Skooba Satchel V.3 Mini Review – A Small Bag That Means Business

When I moved to using my 15” MacBook Pro with retina display as my only computer last year, I found I needed a properly sized bag in which to carry it. My initial plan was to only carry an iPad, but that quickly disappeared as I found myself increasingly in need of a full computer and all of its power. I went on a hunt, and I found a number of terrific options. They have served me well for the last year or so, but now that I am back using two different laptops; my 15″ computer is my desktop…


Blue Goji Fitness Game Company Launches – Cardio Exercise Experience Through Immersive Gameplay

Blue Goji has begun and aims to combine fitness and gaming into a brand new platform where working out is more fun by adding interactivity using various tech devices, especially mobile and tablet devices. The Blue Goji fitness game platform will function with tablets and smartphones (Android and iOS) on cardio equipment such as treadmills, stationary bicycles, and elliptical machines. The Android/iOS first platform will release near the 2013 holiday season. The formation of this new interactive fitness company was announced on July 29, 2013. This company looks to use their Goji Play game system and other interactive methods to “transform the cardio…


The (Elevation) Map Is a Lie – The Monday Mile

This weekend I completed the inaugural running of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Marathon. The race takes place on the Pine Creek Gorge just outside of Wellsboro, PA. As noted, this was the first running of the race, which always means watching organizers work out the bugs in the system in real-time. I had gotten a couple of obscure comments from one of the leaders of a local running club group on Facebook, so I was watching what happened over the course of the pre-race and race-day events. It was a race and a weekend that left me conflicted in many…