2013

Chrome Bravo Night Backpack Lets You Safely Carry Your Gear

I have been really impressed with the various Chrome backpacks we have reviewed over the last year or so, and I’m excited about this new offering – the Chrome Bravo Night. The $180 backpack is described as the company’s “ultimate urban roll top backpack”. During the day the backpack is a sharp-looking black bag that carries all your gear. At night a special 3M reflective panel changes its appearance while also making things a bit safer for anyone walking down the street in the dark. Each of the Chrome backpacks we have reviewed has been impressive with regard to both…

Editorials, Reviews

Over-the-Ear Headphone Shootout – A GearFest Video

Last week Judie and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with a few pair of the over-the-ear headphones I have reviewed over the past year. With prices ranging from just $149.99 all the way up to $379.95, these headphones cover a good deal of ground. Moreover, one pair offer active noise cancellation while another can be used in either wired or wireless modes. In other words, these headphones don’t all sit nicely in a single product category. At the same time, if you are in the market for new headphones then you are likely going to purchase…

Dave Liebman & Michael Stephans - Lineage

Music Diary, Reviews

Jazz Legends Dave Liebman and Michael Stephans Explore Their Rock History on ‘Lineage’

Dave Liebman & Michael Stephans – Lineage The legacy of Miles Davis continues to loom large over the music world – Kenny Garrett has been prominant as a solo artist as well as with Pat Metheny’s Unity Band, and veterans like Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Jack Dejohnette, Keith Jarrett and and others are still major players. Then there is reedman Dave Liebman, arguably the last featured saxophone player before Garrett, as Miles moved away from the sax and towards the guitar for most of the 70s and through the late-80s. Dave Liebman has made major contributions to jazz through the…

Reviews

Lowepro DryZone Duffle 20L Review – For the Adventure Photographer in You

A regular old camera bag is fine for regular old photography, but what if you are headed out on an adventure? What if you are taking your camera and gear somewhere where there is water, ice and other environmental hazards just waiting to claim your camera’s last shot? That’s where Lowepro’s new DryZone line of camera bags comes in. The DryZone line consists of the DryZone Backpack 40L, The DryZone Duffle 20L and the DryZone 200. And while the Backpack 40L and Duffle 20L are IPX6-rated the Backpack 40L ups the game and offers an IPX7 rating making it “the world’s…

Reviews

TRÜ-FIT HD Anti-Glare Screen Protector Review – Stress Dissipation at Its Best

While Gorilla Glass is amazingly strong and scratch-resistent, it is not impervious – and for the price we pay for smartphones, it makes sense to protect them as much as possible. Screen protectors have been around since the earliest touch-screen devices in the early 90s, and while they are not the necessity they were back then, having something to protect your precious screen from damage is still a good idea. The folks at TRÜ have a new solution – the TRÜ-FIT. Description TRÜ FIT delivers a stress-free screen protector application in just a few easy steps. This elegantly designed package…

Game Diary, Gear Bits

Titanfall Game Preview Video

The sci-fi, first-person shooter (FPS) game Titanfall is one of several highly anticipated Xbox ONE games releasing next year, and it will mark game developer Respawn Entertainment’s first game release. The studio’s founders,Vincent Zampella and Jason West, previously developed the highly popular Call of Duty game series. Respawn is slowly releasing more details about Titanfall and Electronic Arts will be publishing this game, which will also release on Xbox 360 and PC. The action packed preview video features footsoldiers/pilots and mechs/titans. Titanfall will have single player and multiplayer game modes and include team-based objectives. The impressive physics and action include some…

Crowdfunding, Game Diary

Black Forest Games is Back with their Project Ravensdale Kickstarter

We are now getting to the point where we know we can trust developers we are seeing on Kickstarter – because they have delivered already! One such developer is Black Forest Games, who last year had a successful project with the multi-platform hit Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams. They have just launched a new Kickstarter project – Project Ravensdale, a side-scrolling platform shooter that looks simply amazing! Project Title: Project Ravensdale Status: Active Closing Date for Funding: Friday Aug 16, 7:59pm EDT. URL of the Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/project-giana/project-ravensdale From the developer: Here are some key features: Ravensdale is based on classic arcade…

Game Diary, Reviews

Twin Moons HD Review – Brings Player Choice and a Polished Experience to the iPad

I had expressed enthusiasm for the team of Cateia Games and G5 Entertainment in the past due to games such as Where Angels Cry, so when I saw that they were teaming up again for Twin Moons, I knew I would have to check it out. Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Cateia Games / G5 Entertainment Description: Twin Moons has loads of content, including: – 51 creepy and enigmatic locations – 20 challenging mini-games to master – 18 achievements to earn…

Reviews

AT&T FinderCodes Electronics Lost & Found Kit Review – Lose (and Find) Yourself

FinderCodes is a QR-code based lost and found system that can be used with just about anything to which you can attach a sticker. The folks at FinderCodes — which is now a brand partner with AT&T, as you’ll notice from the logo on the box in the photo above — were kind enough to provide Gear Diary with a sample kit, which contained stickers and tags of several different sizes, as well as a set of instructions. The tags also came with a couple of small rings, so they can be easily attached to a set of keys or a…

News & Features

The ChargeCard USB Charger for iPhone and Android Review

If you own a mobile phone, then you inevitably have needed to charge it when away from your desk or car. USB ports seem to be everywhere anymore, but not everyone wants to carry a loose Lightning or MicroUSB cable with them; the ChargeCard fits in your wallet or makeup bag, and it makes carrying an extra charger easy to do. Just stick it in and forget about it … until you need it. Originally a Kickstarter project started in July 2012, the ChargeCard raised almost $162K after asking for $50K. Obviously there were plenty of people other than me who…

Music Diary, News & Features

‘Learn To Play 80’s Metal’ with Danny Gill on the New Lick Library Release!

For the majority of the 1980s I was in high school and college and joined the work force a couple of year before the decade ended. During that decade I started out as a jazz and rock bassist, honed my skills on that instrument before branching out to learning piano and guitar as well as MIDI studio and music production skills. My leanings and love have always been jazz-centric … but sometimes it is just a blast to drop a heavy beat, a simple harmony, and pull out my solid-body guitar ans just plain shred! If that sounds appealing to…

Editorials, Events

Bluetooth Speaker Shootout- GearFest 2013

At GearFest 2013, Judie, Mike, Carly, and I sat down with a number of Bluetooth speakers to do a blind test listening to two pieces of music Travis had put together. (Thanks for jumping in to help us Coach!) With Mike’s wife Lisa helping us out (and offering up a few dance moves at the beginning of the video), we listened to six different Bluetooth speakers that have previously been reviewed here on the site. The speakers included: The JBL FLIP (Read the review) The MiPow Boom (Read the review) The Jabra Solemate (Read the review.) The Braven 600 (Check…

Game Diary, News & Features

Special Nintendo eShop Credit with Shin Megami Tensei IV/Fire Emblem Awakening Purchase

RPG game fans rejoice! Today ATLUS’ Shin Megami Tensei IV releases exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS system, which Nintendo is now celebrating along with their Fire Emblem Awakening game in a special $30 Nintendo eShop credit offer. Purchase then register both games on one Club Nintendo account (free to sign up) to receive a $30 credit for use in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS. This offer ends on August 31 and is available in the U.S. and Canada. Promotion requirements apply. This first-of-its-kind offer includes purchases of the retail and digital purchases of these games for eligibility. Both games have…

News & Features

Astronomy-Class 100X Telescope and Back Case for iPhone 5

A few weeks ago, we experienced a “super moon.” This is where the moon is full while at the closest proximity to the earth. My boys have a beginner telescope so we spent most of the evening in the back yard looking at the moon and discussing all of the markings and features. We were even able to see the rings of Saturn which surprised me using that particular telescope. While we took turns admiring the majesty of the moon, my oldest said, “Dad, I wish you could hook your iPhone up to the telescope and take a picture.” Following…

Reviews

zBoost DataBlast Review – Improve Data Speeds in the Home or Office

I currently am fortunate to have decent AT&T 4G service despite living in a primarily rural area. My service is not perfect, but I do get average speeds compared to spots just a few miles away. My dad, for example lives about 20 miles away and struggles to get data most of the time. The bad thing about connection problems for country folks is there is no real-time table for new towers and improved coverage. There can also be an issue with certain buildings not getting service in an otherwise good service area. Even though I have good service at…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport an ‘Odd Duck’

An “odd duck” of sorts showed up in my driveway recently courtesy Mitsubishi media fleet – a 2013 Outlander Sport crossover utility vehicle. Odd as the automaker has already released an all-new 2014 Outlander but apparently the Sport variant will live on in the previous form for a while longer. We last looked at the Mitsubishi crossover in 2011 when we took delivery of the GT model during a freak winter storm here in North Texas. This time around for our time in the Outlander we got the exact opposite from Mother Nature – Texas heatwave. I have to say…

Editorials

Checking Out the Latest and Greatest Smartphones – GearFest GearChat 2013

During GearFest 2013 Carly, Mike, Judie, and I — the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary — sat down to take a look at the current lineup of super phones on each of the major platforms. We laid out a dozen or so different smartphones and talked about some of our likes and dislikes. Among the phones discussed are the iPhone 5, the Samsung GALAXY S4, the Samsung GALAXY S4 Active, the HTC One, the Nokia Lumia 928, the Nokia Lumia 920, the LG Optimus G, the HTC One X, the Google Play HTC One, and the Blackberry Z10. We then turned…

Health and Fitness

Make the Most of the Runs that Matter – The Monday Mile

Recently I calculated my mileage for the first half of 2013, and came up just over 1400 miles (1411.2 to be precise). Looking at the breakdown, that consists of a median run distance of 7.5 miles (not a normal distribution), and an average of 6.5 runs per week. My frequent work travel this year has resulted in more than 45 ‘double days’, which pushes the ‘runs per week’ number up. I have run on four pairs of shoes, with ~200 miles on my old Nike Free Run 3’s before I retired those and put ~750 on my ‘new’ orange Nike…

News & Features

Have You Had to Exchange Your iPhone 5 for Warranty Issues?

A couple weeks ago, I realized that my iPhone had stopped taking clear photos. Shots that I would ordinarily have taken and expected to be good were now coming out fuzzy and unfocussed. It was pretty obvious that my iPhone 5’s camera had a problem, but it wasn’t clear why. Knowing that I’d be joining him and the other editors at his lake house for GearFest soon — and knowing that I didn’t have a nearby Apple store — Dan told me to send him my iPhone, and he’d take it to the Apple Store for them to check out….

Outdoors, Reviews

Porter the Dog v iPhone 5, Thanks to the LifeProof LifeJacket!

The LifeProof case for the iPhone 5 is a terrific way to keep your phone safe from life’s bumps, bruises and mishaps. In addition to all the other protection it offers, the LifeProof case is waterproof. That means you can dump it in the toilet or leave it in the rain and feel confident it will still work. But what if, for example, you are spending time at a lake and don’t want to worry about your phone getting wet? Moreover, what if you want your iPhone safe from water damage AND able to float? That’s where LifeProof’s LifeJacket comes…

Gear Bits

SPIbelt Makes Their Kids Pouches Insulin Friendly

I think I enthuse about SPIbelt almost as much as I enthuse about RoadID. SPIbelts are small low-profile waist packs that are ideal for running, hiking, and other activities where you need to keep your phone, a granola bar, or some other small items close to your person. They are an American company that consistently improves and refines their product based on the feedback from users, and their latest refinement shows they pay close attention to how parents and children use SPIbelts! SPIbelts are very popular with kids who have medical needs such as diabetes. It’s much more attractive and…

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