2013

The Ham Radio ARRL Repeater Directory for Android Review

A while back I reviewed an app for finding Amateur Radio repeaters called Repeater Book. In that review, I fondly remembered leafing through the Repeater Book that the American Radio Relay League (or ARRL) printed for years upon years. I have not bought one of those in some time, and I think the ARRL noticed that a lot of other hams haven’t either. At Dayton, the ARRL showed a new product that doesn’t replace the Repeater Book of old, but rather takes it and puts in on your phone in a similar way to the Repeater Book app I previously…

News & Features

Mood O’ Clock App Lets You Choose the Right Mood to Wake You Up

As far as waking up in the morning, my wife and I are polar opposites. Whereas I’m nearly an “instant-on” waking up, my wife…not so much. Perhaps what she needs is Stereomood’s Mood O’Clock app to help set the right mood when she wakes up. Mood O’Clock is a clock/alarm application for iOS and Android devices that allows users to not just set a wake-up time, but set the mood for waking up. There are eleven alarm mood types to choose from, from “dreamy” to “sexy and furious”. Within each mood setting is a selection of themed tunes and a…

Reviews

Spigen SGP Ultra Thin Air Transparency Case for Samsung GALAXY S4 Review

If you are looking for simple protection for you Samsung GALAXY S4 smartphone that won’t add much bulk or weight to the device you will want to check out Spigen SGP’s Ultra Thin Air. The Ultra Thin Air is exactly what the name would suggest — a simple, super-thin, super-light snap on case that protects the back, sides and corners of the Samsung GALAXY S4. Here’s a video look… As you can see in the video, this is the Crystal Clear Transparency version of the Spigen SGP Ultra Thin Air Transparency for Samsung GALAXY S4. The case itself is made from…

Editorials, Game Diary

PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One, Round 2

After getting a good look at the PlayStation 4 plus more information and a better view of the Xbox One at E3, consumers can make more informed decisions leading up to the upcoming holiday release of both next-gen consoles. The biggest element, as usual, is price with the PS4 coming in at $399 – $100 less than Xbox One. Sony has learned from the past when the PlayStation 3 was originally priced at $599— $100 higher than Xbox 360. Microsoft has usually hit the price points well avoiding these issues that Sony (PS3) and Nintendo (3DS) endured. Now, our favorite here…

Editorials

WWDC iOS 7 Announcement from an Android User’s Point of View

Even though I am not a regular iOS user, I still watched the 2013 WWDC keynote as much of the Gear Diary team did. The blogosphere as a whole has had a lot to say about the similarities of some iOS features. It’s undeniable that Apple has drawn from Android, WebOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10 here, but unlike some Android users, I am not mad at all. In fact, if I were Google, I would take it as a complement. Apple recognized that they didn’t have some of the features that Android did, and they figured out how to make…

News & Features

Moxtra Updates with an Android App, Google Drive, and More!

I reviewed Moxtra about a month ago, and was very impressed with this digital binder/scrapbook app. It loos great and makes it easy to organize and collaborate on all sorts of projects. At the time, my biggest complaint was that I couldn’t easily get documents and web clips to Moxtra without stopping in Dropbox or Box first. Moxtra was just updated to add Google Drive, and a web browser for clipping, plus an Android app! I took a quick look at the update; does it impress as much as the original?

Reviews

Satechi Dual Sonic Speakers Add Good Laptop Sound for a Good Price

When Apple first announced the MacBook Pro with retina display a year ago, they made a big deal out of the fact that the 15″ laptop powerhouse would not only ship with the best screen ever, but that it also sported the best speakers they had ever put in a laptop. Having had my MBPr for almost a year, I can without hesitation, say that IF that is the case, then it simply means that all previous Apple laptops had particularly crappy speakers. Yes, I’ve been using my 15″ MacBook Pro with retina display for a year, and I have been…

News & Features

Own Summer with a Monster Water Cannon and Tripod

The summer heat is upon us, and it is time to play outdoors. A favorite activity for my boys and me is to have water gun fights. Of course, we only have two guns that are worth using, so I always get stuck with a small, useless water weapon. Getting stuck with the smaller water gun not only means that I cannot deliver enough spray to get anyone wet, but I also have to refill more often. In fact, my boys think it is really funny to attack and soak me when I am filling up my tiny water gun. The…

Game Diary, Reviews

Sky Gamblers Storm Raiders Review

Throughout my career as a student and teacher, World War II has always been my favorite subject to study. I have looked at the war through all sides’ eyes and studies all aspects of the weaponry. The advancement of the air war has always intrigued me, and in my opinion it is what brought WWII into modern warfare. From fast fighter planes to huge bombers, the world was forever changed by the idea of air superiority. During college, I spent a lot of time writing papers and studying planes from the USAF, RAF and German Luftwaffe. When I saw Sky…

Reviews

Oberon Design Laptop Messenger Bag 13″ Review – One Leather and Canvas Bag to Rule Them All

I have long admired the exquisite leather offerings by Oberon Design; their embossed journal covers, Kindle and iPad cases, and their smartphone sleeves are handcrafted, gorgeous, functional and protective. Even so, I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical when I read that they were going to offer a laptop bag. Plenty of other high-end accessory companies have tried to make this leap, and plenty of them have left me feeling unimpressed. I needn’t have worried. Like everything else they have made, the Oberon Design Laptop Messenger Bag is handmade by artisans, and it is composed of quality materials; it…

Reviews

2Day Tasks App for Windows Phone Review

When I made the switch to Windows Phone, I had to start replacing my various “go-to” apps. Chief among them was a decent lightweight to-do manager. Something more robust than, say, “Reminders” on the iPhone, but it didn’t need to be a full-blown Getting Things Done organization system. I poked around Windowsphone.com, and noticed 2Day had a number of positive reviews. This has quickly become my favorite new productivity app; it is simple to use, with tons of customizable task options. Read on to learn more! 2Day follows the Windows Phone “Metro” interface, meaning you can swipe back and forth…

News & Features

Lowepro Transit Series Offer City Style for Your Camera Gear

Lowpro’s recently announced their new Transit Series of camera bags. This “design-forward” line is comprised of the Transit Sling 250 AW and Backpack 350 AW. Both bags feature fast-access, front to back rotation for rapid camera retrieval and UltraFlex™ fit system for endless organization options. The UltraFlex system is particularly interesting. The best way to understand what it offers is to see it in action. Both bags look great, are packed with features and are priced nicely. (The Transit Sling 250 AW is under $100 and the Transit Backpack 350 AW is under $120.) Which bag is right for you…

Game Diary, News & Features

Microsoft Presentation Summary – E3 2013

Microsoft revealed the release date and price for the Xbox One at this year’s presentation at E3- November 2013 and $499. The Xbox One Day One Edition is now on sale on Amazon and GameStop (all as special bundles with games). Microsoft has hit the price points well so far while avoiding snafus like Nintendo (3DS) and Sony, which originally priced the PlayStation at $599…$100 higher than the Xbox 360. The special editions and different bundles might offset any sticker shock. Xbox One hardware will not be compatible with Xbox 360 games. The “always on” Internet connection status will be…

Editorials, Music Diary

Who Wins and Who Loses with Apple’s iTunes Radio Announcement?

At the WWDC keynote, Apple announced the revamped music player app for iOS 7 and along with it iTunes Radio. While you can check out the press release for the full details, suffice to say that this is more of an ‘internet radio’ like Pandora than an ‘on demand’ service such as Spotify. Obviously there is more to it than that, and there is still a great deal for us to learn. But for now let’s take a look at how everything works, and I will predict some winners and losers!

Gear Bits, How to Do It Yourself!

Clean Up iTunes with ‘Show EXACT Duplicate Items’ Command

If you are like me, and you have been dumping music into iTunes for over a decade across multiple computers and mobile devices, chances are you have imported the same music more than once. And perhaps you did it once from CD and another time from a backup after altering MP3 tags (I used to love having song numbers preceding the title). However it happened, chances are that you have duplicate music spread out in your iTunes library. In theory iTunes has a ‘Show Duplicate Items’ menu selection under the View menu. I say ‘in theory’ because what gets labelled…

Reviews

Innoio and Texas Instruments Partner for SmartBeam Pico Projector

In Brief: The SmartBeam Pico Projector from Innoio is one of the latest handheld projectors powered by Texas Instruments DLP Pico technology. At 45mm on each side the SmartBeam is tiny. And yes, despite its small size the projector puts out 35 lumens at a resolution of 640 by 480. That means the small projector can push out the equivalent of a 60” screen. This isn’t going to be one of my typical reviews. While I could go through the general description of the Innocube SmartBeam and then hit up the specs that really would not do it justice. Instead…

Events, Game Diary, News & Features

Sony 2013 E3 Presentation Summary – Winning?

All eyes were on Sony last night to see how they would counter Microsoft’s earlier presentation, particularly regarding the new PlayStation 4 console versus the Xbox One. Sony began their presentation with the usual pomp and circumstance to get the crowd pumped up then concentrated on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita (125 games and counting since its launch). Game announcements for the PlayStation Vita, the “companion for PS4”, included a remaster God of War HD 1 & 2, Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2, Flower, Dead Nation. Other upcoming PlayStation Vita titles include:

Events, Game Diary, News & Features

Here Come the E3 2013 Games!

Now to concentrate on the main content at the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) – the games! Microsoft has plenty of new Xbox One launch games coming before the end of the year including Ryse, the racing sequel Forza Motorsport 5 and Quantum Break, a sci-fi action game that will release at the same time as the television series. Sony will have their PlayStation 4 launch games in full force including the racing game sequel Gran Turismo 6, action shooter Killzone: Shadow Fall (set 30 years after Killzone 3), the action adventure filled Knack featuring an advanced robot as the…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Offers Best of All Worlds

I’d been looking forward to driving the new Ford Fusion since attending its global launch event in Detroit at the 2012 Auto Show there. Ford was taking a huge leap of faith in completely making over a vehicle that was already well received and fairly popular with consumers. Enter the 2013 Ford Fusion and its myriad powertrain offerings and modern styling, not to mention sales figures, and it is clear the gamble is paying off.

Events, Game Diary, News & Features

Nintendo Presentation Summary at E3 2013 – Overshadowed by Xbox and PlayStation?

Nintendo concentrated on boosting their game library, especially for the Wii U console and handheld 3DS console, in their annual E3 presentation (pre-recorded) this year (they still have their regular large display area). Players can get their own taste of E3 by taking advantage of Nintendo’s partnership with Best Buy. Select stores will off advanced playable demo versions of Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze on Wednesday, June 12 at 4-8 p.m. local times and 1-5 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 15.

Game Diary, Reviews

Remember Me Review on PlayStation 3

Set in 2084, this third person action fantasy game has an extraordinary narrative as players rebuild the life of a female protagonist named Nilin in Neo-Paris amid a world where memories are the ultimate commodity. The Hype Speculative, stunning vision of our future – Discover Neo-Paris 2084, where augmented reality and memory digitization have taken control of people’s lives. Play as Nilin, an elite memory hunter with a clouded past – Become the most wanted memory hunter in Neo-Paris and experience the power to break into people’s minds to steal their memories. Memory Remix – This innovative new gameplay mechanic…

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