September 2014

JunoPower Kaebo Lightning Cable Review: Guaranteed to Last

I’ve mentioned that Kev recently upgraded his iPhone 4S and moved to an iPhone 6, which ultimately meant a cable upgrading crisis at my house. All of Kev’s 30-pin cables had to be upgraded to Lightning, which brought him nosing around my stockpile, so I was scrambling. Fortunately, I had the JunoPower Kaebo Lightning Cable in my queue. Fancy, right?


Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD Puts Your Laptop on Your Desktop

If, like me, you use an Apple MacBook Pro as your laptop and desktop, then Belkin’s new Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD is for you. At $299.99, this device is a pricey but powerful docking solution for Macs and PCs; even so, its two Thunderbolt 2 ports are just the beginning of its connectivity.


Dragon Age Inquisition’s Unique Character Creation Tool

Dragon Age Inquisition will feature a unique character creation tool (male and female) when the game officially releases on November 18. Dragon Age Inquisition is the next-generation RPG from BioWare set in an epic, dark fantasy world where players are empowered to shape and drive their experience with tough choices that allow them to experience moments based on those decisions.


Velvetwire Powerslayer Blu: A Beautifully Intelligent Charger

Imagine charging your device and when done, automatically turning off power to prevent overcharging and protect battery life. What if the charger looked stylish and wasn’t an ugly block? How would you like an app that allowed you to see and monitor information about the level of charge your device was receiving?  With the Velvetwire Powerslayer Blu, it’s possible. At its heart, the Powerslayer is an extremely intelligent charger that rapidly charges both phones and tablets. It is UL certified with built-in surge protection, and continuous temperature monitoring. Built in microprocessor control “protects against overcharging and eliminates wasted power by turning off automatically when charging is…



2015 Hyundai Sonata Midsize Sedan Is Livin’ Large

It is hard to believe the Hyundai Sonata has entered its seventh-generation. Seems like just yesterday we were all struggling to figure out how to pronounce the brand’s name; here it is 2014,  and the Korean automaker is launching an all-new version of its now very popular midsize sedan that is larger, quieter, smoother and more advanced than ever.


Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Super Heroes Sizzle in Sales

Since the September 23rd launch, Disney Infinity Marvel Super Heroes figures, starter packs, and play-set adventures have literally been flying off the store shelves for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, and iOS. Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Spider-Man are all represented in this second coming of the popular hybrid toy / video game.


AT&T Doubles 15 GB and Higher Shared Data Plans

This weekend AT&T trotted out a  promotion effective  September 28, 2014 through October 31, 2014 offering to double some data allotments. Users must be on a 15 GB or higher AT&T Mobile Value plan, and existing users may have to call AT&T to have their plan upgraded. In some cases  the plan may not appear online for existing users.


2015 Kia Soul EV: 100 Miles of Electric Vehicle Style

Did you know that when you drive an electric vehicle, random people will wave at you, like you’re a member of some special club? It’s true. I leaned that the other day while driving the 2015 Kia Soul EV. I also figured out that while electric vehicles are getting much more attainable, they still aren’t a realistic choice for me. I haven’t had a lot of experience with electric cars. I live in West Texas after all, and our infrastructure is simply not yet ready for vehicles which — with the exception of the $71,000 Tesla — typically only get 100 miles or less per charge. The other reason I haven’t seriously considered Electric…


Consumer Reports Takes On ‘BendGate’ with Science … Finds NO #BendGate

By now anyone who follows technology – and many who don’t – has heard about #BendGate, the term coined after a video showed how easy it was to bend and distort the iPhone 6/6+. Honestly, I wasn’t surprised – they are incredibly thin and light with an elongated aspect ratio. But is #bendgate REAL? Consumer Reports took a scientific look!


KNeoWORLD Arcade – Stimulating Workouts to Exercise Your Brain

Brain Training games gained popularity with the Nintendo DS and ‘Brain Age’, and have remained popular for two simple reasons – they work, and they’re fun! But after playing games that feel a little too close to taking a test, it is nice to step back and immerse yourself in something more game-like. That is where KNeoWORLD comes in!


2015 Kia Sedona: A Multipurpose Vehicle for People Who Hate Minivans

I’ve never seen myself as a minivan type of person, but I have always considered myself practical. What will allow me to haul my family from Point A to Point B safely, comfortably, stylishly, and perhaps most importantly — without feeling like I’m driving a land barge? The 2015 Kia Sedona is a multi-purpose vehicle that easily accomplishes that goal. I recently spent an afternoon driving a loaded Kia Sedona SXL through some of the twisty Southern California hills near Dana Point. While I may not be the typical Minivan customer, I left thinking that driving a Kia Sedona was a much more attractive option than…


Defense Grid 2 Now Available for PS4, XBOX One, PC, Mac, and Linux!

Back in 2008, Hidden Path Entertainment released Defense Grid: The Awakening, which catapulted the popularity of the resurgent ‘tower defense’ genre into the mainstream. In 2012 they launched a Kickstarter project to help fund the sequel, and this week it arrived! Defense Grid 2 is available on PlayStation®4 and Xbox® One and Steam (PC, Mac, Linux).


iRig Pads from IK Multimedia Now Shipping for $149.99!

IK Multimedia has their hands in all areas of music creation technology, so it is no surprise that they have now announced iRig Pads, a portable groove controller for iOS, Mac and PC. iRig Pads offers full MIDI controller capability so it can be used with a variety of apps, and is now shipping for $149.99!


Pill Terminator Says “Hasta La Vista” to Old Medicines

I had knee surgery last week. I am fine, but part of the recovery included a prescription for Vicodin. My one year old thought the Vicodin bottle was an awesome rattle, so now that I am finished with the pain pills I have disposed of them safely using the Pill Terminator!


Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Review on Nintendo 3DS

This competent and entertaining crossover adventure puzzle game is actually more of a collaborative experience, instead of the rivalry game implied in the title (Layton & Phoenix is more accurate). Professor Hershel Layton and his young protégé Luke Triton team up with Phoenix Wright and his legal assistant Maya Fey; Phoenix and Maya inject some nice humor into the game.


Element Case Designs for the iPhone 6 Are Here

We were excited to receive an email earlier today announcing that Element Case, one of our all-time favorite case manufacturers, was releasing their first Element Case for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases today. The first two offerings are the Element Case ION Case for iPhone 6 and the Element Case Soft-Tec Wallet 6 and 6 Plus. They both look great.


Top 10 Reasons I Switched from the 5.7″ Galaxy Note 3 back to the iPhone 5

A few weeks ago I bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on a great deal, and wanted to see if it would be possible to use it to replace my iPhone AND iPad, much as I would try to do with an iPhone 6+. As usual I went ‘all in’ with my attempt – and failed. Here is why! Until getting the iPhone 5 in 2012 I had been an Android-only phone user, and had sampled pretty much every new 7″ Android tablet since the Samsung Galaxy Tab. I had a huge library of Android content between Google…


2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Bi-Fuel is Cookin’ with Gas

Following the makeover of its light duty pickup models, Chevrolet has given its Heavy Duty lineup of trucks a thorough overhaul as well. Featuring all-new exterior styling and all-new cabs and interiors, the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD get the latest technology and powertrains offered by the automaker including a bi-fuel option burning gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG).


Smart Sizzors Are Like a Swiss Army Kitchen Knife

If you’re like me, you probably don’t treat that pair of scissors in your kitchen junk drawer very well. At best, you keep an extra set that you abuse by cutting wire, chicken bones, blister pack or heavy cardboard boxes, and they just continue to get duller and duller over time. With Smart Sizzors, now you’ll only need one pair!


Out of Juice? Pocket Jump Charges Dead Car and Phone Batteries!

This is a first for me; we’ve covered plenty of external battery packs on Gear Diary, but never one that was able to serve as both “an emergency vehicle jump-starter and portable power bank”, which is exactly what the Viatek’s new Pocket Jump does. You can back on Kickstarter for as low as $40 or get two for $70.