2013

monCarbone iPhone 5 Peak Case in Luminous Silver

MonCarbone Peak iPhone 5 Case Review

I went through a phase where I wanted my iPhone 5 to be as naked as possible. While I was going through that phase, I managed to drop my iPhone 5 and put a healthy dent in its top edge. You didn’t know that I was known for being a klutz and a butterfingers? Well, I am … famous for it, in fact. Thankfully my phone’s screen didn’t shatter, but what was I thinking?! Yeah, it was great that the front and back glass of my iPhone were covered by a Bodyguardz skin, but my corners were completely exposed ……

Gear Bits

I’ve Got Super Bowl Rings on the Brain!

I heard a story about Super Bowl Rings the other day … one about the time that Robert Kraft (the New England Patriot’s owner) met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and somehow or another Kraft wound up unintentionally giving Putin the Super Bowl Ring he was wearing! Evidently Kraft had removed his ring to better show it to Putin, and the Russian president took his handing it over to mean that Kraft was giving it to him. Kraft evidently decided on the spot that letting Putin keep his ring (one of three that the Patriots have won) was the right thing to do, but I can only…

Reviews

Keep the Conversation Going Anywhere Anytime with the Voyager Legend UC

I reviewed the Plantronics Voyager Legend back in September. It was a fantastic upgrade to the Plantronics Voyager (a longtime favorite of both Elana and me) in most every way. It features 7 hours of talk time, 11 days of standby time, Bluetooth 3.0, wideband audio; A2DP streaming and much more. The available battery case, which both protects and charges the headset was a welcome accessory. My conclusion at the time? “It is, by far, the best Bluetooth headset I have reviewed. And the fact that it is under $100 is rather amazing to me.” You can read the full…

Editorials

The Image That Helped NewEgg Crush a Patent Troll

The idea of a ‘patent troll’ has gotten taken way out of context in the past few years, with the Apple-Samsung cases being used by some to state that Apple is a patent troll. But while it could be debated that some of their patents are overly vague, or that they are over-zealous at prosecuting others, they are anything BUT a patent troll – because the patents in question were created based on an actual product that THEY made! A patent troll is someone who doesn’t really create anything, but instead files patents against holes in existing IP where new…

News & Features

Getting a BlackBerry Z10? Case-Mate is Ready to Help You Protect It

I am shocked (SHOCKED!!) by how much I am liking the new BlackBerry Z10 tht I was given at the BlackBerry Experience this past Wednesday. It feels great in the hand, is fast and the BlackBerry Hub integrates all my messaging in a way that is surprisingly convenient. Honestly, except for the lack of a few key apps, I have not yet found anything specific that I actually do not like. In addition to my positive first impressions of the BlackBerry 10 OS and the actual hardware, I am impressed that BlackBerry isn’t being cheap when it comes to accessories….

Game Diary, Gear Bits, News & Features

Get Ready for the Next Chapter with the Star Trek Into Darkness App for iOS or Android

Are you excited for the Star Trek: Into Darkness film opening on May 17th of this year? The teaser trailers have been intriguing and suggested an intensity beyond what the first ‘reboot’ showed us a few years ago. To help fans get ready, a new app for the movie is available for iOS or Android, boasting interactivity with content and a constant release of new material as the movie gets closer to release. In fact, the first ‘surprise’ will unlock during the second quarter of the ‘big game’ (since they can’t say Super Bowl) on Sunday February 3rd. Here are…

eBooks, Editorials

Why Barnes and Noble’s Store Shutdowns Are Not The Real Danger Sign

In the Harry Potter books, Voldemort’s symbol appears above the houses of wizards who have been marked for death. Lately, it seems like Barnes and Noble’s stores have the Dark Mark over them. No matter what the company says or does, the news is always greeted with the same reaction: DOOM! The latest round of “B&N WILL DIE” is due to comments from the company that they plan to downsize their stores from almost 700 to closer to 450 in about ten years. Is this the beginning of the end, or a natural and planned contraction? Will there be a…

Gear Bits

Everything You Need to Know About Electrostatic Discharge in One Funny Video

Having worked with electronics through instruments companies or the semiconductor industry most of my professional career, I am keenly aware of the potential impact of a minor static shock on electronics. Static is more technically called ‘electrostatic discharge’ or ESD. From my very first job I was introduced to the concept of grounding straps, anti-stat mats, and on and on. For a great reference on the topic, check out this old magazine article on the impact of ESD on electronics. When I was learning, there were documents on the impact that talked about the technical impacts of how current and…

Game Diary, Reviews

Art Mogul HD for iPad Review

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version here); available in the App Store Developer: Funzai! / G5 Entertainment Description: Art Mogul has loads of content, including: • 430 Pictures worth a thousand words • 21 Hidden object scenes • 7 Exciting cities to visit: San-Francisco, New York, London, Paris, Saint-Petersburg, Shanghai, and Tokyo • 40 Achievements to earn • 3 Art Museums to buy Major features: Art Mogul puts you in the role of an art collector seeking to maximize your collection and your profits, traveling the world visiting galleries; getting the…

Reviews

AKG K551 Over-the-Ear Headphone Review

Last summer I had the opportunity to review a pair of over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones from Harman Kardon. (Read the review.) I came away incredibly impressed by the sound, the build quality and the comfort. Judie read my review and was also impressed. She asked if she could try them out; I sent them to Texas, and they haven’t been seen since. 🙂 We were both impressed by just about every aspect of Harman Kardon’s Bluetooth (BT) over-ear stereo headphones. It turns out that Harmon Kardon is just one of the brands under which Harman offers headphones and other audio accessories….

Health and Fitness

Super Bowl Snackin’ – Plenty of Healthy Choices or Guilty Indulgences

Even though my family aren’t huge football fans (and lost our reason to care about the game itself two weeks ago), we enjoy using the Super Bowl as an excuse to have an ‘appetizer fest’. Our spread runs the gamut from fresh veggies to Buffalo wings with everything in between – so there are opportunities for healthy choices and decidedly UNhealthy choices. At the top we have a ‘one serving’ image of chips and seven-layer dip, which is part of the latest ‘This Is One Serving’ series from Greatist looking at Super Bowl snacks. Those guides are always an eye-opening…

Events, News & Features

PlayStation February 20 Announcement for PS4?

There is nothing like a frenzy filled Friday. I received an email from PlayStation Network titled “Be the first to know” this morning sent just after midnight. The email lists an announcement on February 20, 2013 at 6 p.m. EST. as while as links to “Learn More” and their official Twitter and Facebook. Based on current general PlayStation knowledge, the most exciting would be a new console (e.g. “PlayStation 4”). Looks like Sony might not be waiting until June’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to make the initial announcement. Sony, a Japanese based company, also has information on their official blog….

Music Diary, News & Features, Reviews

Joe Lovano Us Five ‘Cross Culture’ Music Review

I have a huge library of jazz music stretching back nearly a century, and including representation from nearly every major (and most minor) figures of the art form. But like any other genre fan, there are artists I am ‘supposed’ to like that I have never connected with. I am also a rock music fan since my childhood, but never connected with much of the Rolling Stones (except for a few years in the late 60s) and Led Zepplin. In terms of recent jazz history, two leading instrumentalists are Joe Lovano and Brad Mehldau – and I have never really…

Reviews

Crock-Pot Recipe App Review

Type of app: Cookbook Platform/where to buy: iOS Developer: Publications International Description: More than 250 Crock Pot recipes plus free bonus recipes each month Price: $3.99 in the App Store Major features: The app lets you search for recipes, add favorites to your recipe box, create shopping lists and meal plans. It also has a voice activated step by step option, letting you call out “next” and “back” as you follow the recipe, keeping your dirty hands away from your iPad! There’s also a store that sells extra recipe packs if you want more variety than the base 250 recipes…

News & Features

SurfacePad for iPhone is TwelveSouth’s Newest Offering

TwelveSouth has just introduced their latest offering, an iPhone case that is “not a case”. The SurfacePad for iPhone is a thin, book-style case that they describe as the very first iPhone accessory that is designed for people who want a case but prefer to use no case. The SurfacePad is made from super-thin Napa leather. It weighs under an ounce. The company makes it clear that this is not a case for the person who is looking for serious drop protection or water sports. (If that is what you want consider getting a LifeProof case.) The TwelveSouth SurfacePad is, however,…

Game Diary, News & Features

Zombie Road Trip Released Yesterday and Super Stickman Golf 2 Coming Soon

Noodlecake Studios, the guys who brought you the original Super Stickman Golf, released Spokko‘s new project, Zombie Road Trip to the App Store and Google Play store yesterday. Zombie Road Trip is very similar to the endless driving game Extreme Road Trip and Extreme Road Trip 2, except that it adds a whole new layer of awesome on top of the existing genre. I was a big fan of the Extreme Road Trip games, so I was happy to take Zombie Road Trip for a test drive. You find yourself driving, pedal to the metal, in order to escape a…

News & Features

30 Rock Ends This Thursday; Top Ten Reasons I’ll Miss It!

There are very few sitcoms that can pull off that razor edge of satire and surrealism without teetering into live action cartoon territory. Even fewer can make characters both ridiculous and relatable all at once, but for seven seasons “30 Rock” has managed to nail the satire and the characters. And Thursday, January 31, is, sadly, the series finale. If you’ve never watched 30 Rock, head over to Netflix immediately to rectify that. Need more motivation than just “It’s that great show with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin”? Here are my top ten reasons why you’re missing out if you…

Events

BlackBerry Q10 Hands On

Did I speak too soon when just yesterday, for probably the umpteenth time, I said that BlackBerry was dead? The jury is still out on that one, but perhaps I’ll be issuing an apology in the coming months — and make no mistake about it, that would be one apology that I would be happy to make. While I am in Scottsdale covering a Kia event, Dan was in NYC this morning at the BlackBerry event. He had a chance after the press conference to get some hands-on time with the just announced BlackBerry Q10, and he came away impressed….

Game Diary, Reviews

Lost Souls The Enchanted Paintings for Mac Review

Imagine receiving a mysterious package with a pleasant painting inside that your child finds captivating. He asks to hang it in his room, but then the next day you awake to find you child gone. It is the nightmare for any parent, and it is the opening scene of the newly released Lost Souls: Enchanted Paintings HD from G5 Entertainment. The mother’s name is Bella, and she doesn’t just discover her child gone, but instead that he is now the image in the mysterious painting! So now Bella needs to enter the painting in order to get her son back….

Gear Bits

Activating and Using Parental Controls in iOS

It never ceases to amaze me how easily small children can grasp how to use an iPhone or iPad. This past weekend I watched my 18 month old nephew play with an iPhone, and he already knew how to flip through pictures (and stop and admire the ones of himself, of course.) But all this computer savvy from young kids means parents need to be careful that their kids aren’t accidentally buying apps. Or, you know, browsing the NSFW videos on Vine. A few minutes with the Restrictions options in iOS can save quite a few headaches later! First, head…

Gear Bits, News & Features

PowerCup Car Charger Handles Your Devices on the Road

As our mobile environments are becoming more and more connected these days we struggle to accommodate the plethora of devices some of us carry with us and even use while on the road or stuck in traffic. Enter the PowerCup Car Charger and Tablet holder from USBFever.com. Here is a device that anchors in a center console cupholder and expands power functionality inside the vehicle by offering two cigarette lighter-style sockets and two 5V USB ports for charging mobile devices. A short flexible stalk leads to an expandable holder for your Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab. Of course, neither…

« 1 … 73 74 75 76 77 … 85 »