2013 | Gear Diary

The Bluths Are Back on May 26th with More Arrested Development!

I have made no secret of the fact that I am a huge “Arrested Development” fan. I have watched every episode multiple times, own them all on DVD, and I keep them in my Netflix queue. This may seem like overkill, but you can never run the risk that connectivity may separate you from the Bluth Family. While Fox cut Arrested Development short, Netflix resurrected it, and the official date is here: May 26th! Netflix is working really hard to break free from just streaming licensed content, and Arrested Development is their second original content show after “House of Cards”….

Outdoors

Is It Time to Go Solar?

My World Geography class was discussing Africa last week, and the subject of electricity seemed to interest them. There are parts of Africa that are not connected to an electrical grid, so alternate forms of power are a must. A student found an article explaining that 80% of Kenyans do not have electrical service and that they primarily light their homes with kerosene lamps. Long story short, a start up company is now offering solar setups that can run a small house with a pay-as-you-go model to be affordable to the rural residents. Read the article here. My students were impressed…

News & Features

HTC First Puts Facebook First with Their Facebook Centric Android Phone

How much do you love Facebook? As we used to say when I was in elementary school, “do you LOVE IT love it? Or do you just love it?” Well, for those of you who LOVE IT love it, HTC has just announced the First, which is “the first and only smartphone built to feature Facebook Home.” The HTC First is also the first (and only) phone to come with Instagram pre-loaded, but that’s a little less exciting when you consider that it’s a free download that should only take seconds to do, anyway … unless they mean that it is integrated more…

Music Diary

Lick Library Launches Two Blues Guitar DVD Courses for Beginners

The folks at Lick Library have made a name for themselves with their polished, detailed, useful instructional courses. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, and no matter what style of music you play, chances are they have something for you. Now they are back with a new set of introductory courses, as Lick Library launches two blues guitar DVD courses for beginners! The courses are taught by Danny Gill, a guitarist, composer and instructor of considerable renown. Gill brings loads of experience, but also an effective sense of communication with players of any skill or experience level. Acoustic…

Editorials

iTunes, the Cloud, and Forced New purchase Downloads

As more and more information storage moves into “the cloud” — that is to say, you aren’t necessarily storing all those movies, TV shows, books, and whatever else locally on your system, but pulling them in from the Internet at need instead, using other people’s storage instead of your own hardware — it’s interesting to me watching various companies adapt. Amazon has of course been out in front with their AWS service. But Apple has also done at least a workmanlike job as well, slowly adding services so that now, if you like you can store a bunch of your…

Music Diary, Reviews

Hiromi Trio Project ‘Move’ Review

I have already covered other works from Hiromi Uehara over the past few years, including her 2011 release ‘Voice’. That was a great record that featured the same trio as on Move, with bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Phillips. It would be easy to call this recording ‘more of the same’ or evolutionary, but is that a fair description? To find out, let’s take a journey with the Hiromi Trio Project ‘Move’. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Music Store Artist: Hiromi Trio Project Description: During the recording of Voice, Hiromi connected with Jackson and Phillips in a…

News & Features

Facebook Phone Event, What Do You Think?

Facebook is kind enough to be streaming their media event today. That means we can follow along with the news as it is shared from the comfort of our own homes. You can check it out here or simply refresh your browser as we’ll be updating this post as the news is shared. “We’re going to talk about the Facebook phone or more accurately how you can turn your Android phone into a Facebook phone.” “We spend our lives sharing and connecting.” Instead of starting with apps and then connecting what happens it we flip that around and our phones…

Game Diary, Reviews

The Ultimate Bioshock Infinite Review for PC and PS3

Ask any gamer and they know ‘that game’ – the one that is supposed to be ‘genre transcendent’, combining excellence in gameplay, technical aspects, gear, freedom of choice and action, story, immersion, multiple platforms, cinematic qualities, and so on. And while there are many games that have claimed to bring it all together, in 2007 Bioshock was perhaps the first one to truly manage the feat reasonably well. It was not the greatest shooter, nor did it have the best sense of freedom of choice, but it brought excellence in all areas to bear in a way that kept gamers…

Gear Bits

RokForm RokShield V3 for iPad mini First Look

We met with RokForm at CES 2013 and were impressed by the products they had in the pipeline. In particular I was taken with the wide array of products they planned to release during 2013 for the iPhone, iPad and iPad mini. The RokForm RokShield v3 Case Kit for iPad Mini was the real standout to my mind offering a terrific combination of style, function and protection. The case ships with an “easy-stick RMS” (remote mounting system and a 6 position KickStand for viewing, typing and browsing the web. The features of the case include Six-sided protection High impact polycarbonate…

Editorials

Google Sees Android OS Distribution Shift as it Changes Accounting Methods

Every month Google releases a report that details the distribution of the various Android operating system versions. These reports have long been used to see how slowly or quickly various versions are adopted and fade away. For as long as I could remember the accounting method used was simply having a device touched by Google Play, such as for an update or other communication that showed it was an active device. Starting this month that has changed and unsurprisingly Google sees Android OS distribution shift as it changes accounting methods. If you ask ‘what is the purpose’ of these monthly…

Game Diary

Disney Kills Off LucasArts, Here Are Their Five Best Games

Game development studios, like any other company, are subject to the whims of their corporate masters. So when Disney bought LucasFilms and LucasArts last year I thought there were two potential outcomes – either rebirth or death. I just didn’t see them letting the studio continue to languish. And while it is a sad day, the reality is that LucasArts has been largely a publishing and licensing house for a number of years. But they remain the source of many of my favorite games, so as Disney kills off LucasArts, here are their five best games! For more specific details,…

Crowdfunding, Game Diary

Gaming Foot Controller for PC Launches Kickstarter Campaign

When you think about gaming controllers there is the keyboard & mouse and traditional console controller that immediately spring to mind. Then you might think about the Wii and Kinect motion controllers, or perhaps driving controllers or flight sticks for specialized games. Everything based on hands – but what about your feet? That is exactly what the folks at StinkyBoard were thinking and now their gaming foot controller for PC launches Kickstarter campaign! Project Title: Stinky Board foot controller for PC Status: Active Closing Date for Funding: May 2, 2013 URL of the Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/289858283/stinky-the-gaming-footboard-step-up-your-game From the developer: The Stinky…

Gear Bits, News & Features

40 Years Ago We Emerged From the Desert of Disconnect

The Jewish festival of Passover ended earlier this week and with it members of the Jewish community returned to eating leavened products known as chametz in Hebrew. (Most people I know end the holiday with the Jewish delicacy known as pizza.) According to tradition the Exodus from Egypt introduced a 40 year period when the Israelites wandered in the Sinai desert. (Three cheers for living in an era of GPS!) Having spent a few weeks hiking and camping in the Sinai I can only begin to imagine what 40 years (were the story historically accurate) must have been like. I…

Reviews

Kogan Agora Mini 8 Android Tablet Review

With compact tablets like the Asus Nexus 7 and the iPad mini rapidly gaining popularity over larger 10″ models, Kogan has updated their range of slates with a new Agora Mini 8″ model. Kogan’s big claim to fame (as often is the case with Kogan products) is first and foremost its low price: AU$119 for the 8GB model, and AU$129 for the 16GB model. This significantly undercuts the 16GB iPad mini’s AU$369 starting price, as well as being almost half the cost of an Asus Nexus 7 (16GB, AU$249). Previous tablet entries have proven the adage “you get what you…

News & Features

Rampant Games Has a Birthday Bash and We Get Free Stuff

Rampant Games is the creator of the excellent humor-tinged indie RPG rayed Knights: The Skull of S’makh-Daon. Jay Barnson is the ‘Rampant Coyote’ and is the guy behind the entire operation. He just celebrated his birthday, and to celebrate Rampant Games has a birthday bash and we get free stuff! There are a few ways to get deals to celebrate Jay’s birthday. First off, if you already have Frayed Knights, you should definitely pick up the free strategy guide! Next, for the next two weeks you can get Frayed Knights for 50% off. There is no special code or coupon,…

News & Features

Introducing The Mood Simple Shell iPhone 5 Case

I am sure we have all had or seen the old mood ring. You know the ring that changed colors and could show others how you were feeling. If you do not remember the rings, surely you wore a hyper color t-shirt back in the late 80’s. For those wondering where these stylish technologies have gone, you are in luck. What better way to show your colors than on the back of an iPhone 5? Grantwood Technology is now shipping the Mood Simple Shell case for the iPhone 5 which will react to the temperature of your skin and change…

Vehicles & Gear

Ford Adds More ‘Sport’ to the 2013 Ford Explorer SUV

Ford “reinvented” its popular Explorer sport ute for the 2011 model year, shedding its frame-based roots for a unibody platform shared with the likes of Taurus and Flex. For 2013, Ford is adding the option of the twin-turbo V-6 EcoBoost engine in the midsize ute – calling the new model Explorer Sport. To add more of a sporty nature in the new Explorer Sport, engineers beefed up the platform rigidity to allow for the added power while also enhancing ride and lateral stability. A new crossmember was added underneath the transmission tunnel area and the front strut tower supports were…

News & Features

LifeProof Launches Total Water Protection Program for iPhone and iPad

I got my hands on a LifeProof case for the iPhone shortly after the line launched. I was impressed by how great the LifeProof case was at keeping my smartphone safe. In fact, shortly after I got the LifeProof case I was in a T-Mobile store buying a hotspot sim card. Someone asked me if it was one of those new LifeProof cases. I threw my iPhone across the store and while it was in mid air I said, “I certainly hope so.” I was THAT confident the phone would be fine. It was. At the time, however, I was…

News & Features

Pelican ProGear Cases for the iPhone 5 Now Shipping

Judie and I spent time at the Pelican Booth during CES 2013 back in January. While there we saw their assortment of heavy-duty coolers, their line of Pelican ProGear backpacks and their upcoming Pelican ProGear Cases for the iPhone 5. The Pelican ProGear Cases are now shipping and offer a great addition to the growing number of tough cases available for Apple’s current smartphone offering. The first of the Pelican ProGear Cases for the iPhone 5 is the Pelican ProGear Vault. The ProGear Vault is super-tough and adds great protection from the elements. In addition it offers “insulating elastomeric shock…

News & Features

PhotoCal with Event for iOS Puts Photos in Timely Context

Yunasoft Inc.’s PhotoCal for iOS Remember those peanut butter and chocolate “Two great tastes that taste great together” commercials of yore? I wonder if Yunasoft had that in mind when they created PhotoCal with Event for iOS. By combining the date and time users have taken pictures using their iOS device with events existing in their calendar, PhotoCal puts images and events in an easy-to-use calendar layout that makes locating and arranging photos as easy as pie. Best of all, PhotoCal autoarranges the images and inserts them into the day they were downloaded/taken, right down to the minute the pictures…

Game Diary, Reviews

Hidden Wonders of the Depths HD for iPad Review

In the world of casual gaming, the dominant game type os Hidden Object adventures, followed by Match 3 games. Match 3 games have come a long way since Bejeweled, with RPGs such as Puzzle Quest being the most obvious example of taking the standard format in a new direction. G5 has just released a new game based on Match 3 gameplay, but it offers much more than that. So let’s take a look at Hidden Wonders of the Depths HD for iPad! Type of app: Match-3 Puzzle game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here); available in the iTunes…