As most have probably already learned, there is very little sport in sport utility vehicles. Generally they lean much heavier to the utility side of the equation. Unless you are the new Volvo XC60 R-Design with Polestar package and that is exactly what Volvo recently sent us. Sport…Utility…Vee-hickle – a midsize luxury SUV with a real emphasis on sport.
I was a big fan of the CONTOUR ROAM2 Action Camera. It was simple to use, simple to mount and took great video. Sadly the company suddenly closed its doors last summer. I was bummed because I really do love using the review sample. Now the company has relaunched and is once again offering their great CONTOUR POV Action Cameras.
The Ford Focus was just named the best-selling car in the world according to Polk new vehicle registration data from IHS Automotive, so what better way for the automaker to celebrate than change it? Ford recently debuted the new hatch and the next Focus sedan will bow at the New York International Auto Show next week.
Yesterday Facebook announced the conscious uncoupling of their messaging feature from its core app. Some exceptions exist – such as if you use Paper (both of you) or some third world variant of their app. However this announcement started me thinking. Disbanding Facebook Messenger from the Facebook app as a whole is a completely absolutely brilliant move. Here’s why.
This year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety started a new crash test, the “small overlap test“. Effectively, this tests what happens when a front corner hits an obstacle, like a light pole or tree. Many, many cars have failed this test, but the videos of the Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9 may scare you away from driving all day! Check out the CX-9 crash test: And here’s the Honda Pilot test: Scary, right? Drive safely out there, and you can see how various cars have performed in these tests at the IIHS site. Via Jalopnik
My dislike for the United States Postal Service is at an all-time high. An iPad I sold on eBay vanished after I sent it. I get that packages get lost by USPS. It is what happened since (or more appropriately, what has not happened since) that is making me nuts. This tip at least let me speak to a human-being.
I was impressed by the Skooba Design iPad/Tablet Courier V.3. (Read our review.) The $89.95 bag is Skooba Design’s first north/south bag, is a great way to carry your tablet, a keyboard and a few extras. It offers great organization and will last a lifetime. I had one major complaint and with Rev2 of the bag it has been addressed.
When Chevrolet introduced its new Silverado pickup model for 2014, GMC was also celebrating a new truck along with 111 years in the truck business. Sierra is GMC’s pickup line, and Denali is the range-topping package that recently arrived for us to test. The 2014 GMC Sierra Denali is their most powerful, most advanced and most refined truck yet.
We reviewed the Sir Lancelot’s Armor Holy Grail Tempered Glass Screen Protector and announced it was shipping and widely available. We also had one black and one white screen protector for the iPhone 5S away. Well, the winners have been picked and they are… I have one of these screen protectors on my iPhone 5S and love it. I finally got a screen protector on my iPhone without bubbles and, unless you are looking for it, you can’t even tell it is there. We are thrilled that two more iPhones are going to be protected by these great accessories. Winners…
The Nyne Bass Bluetooth Speaker is a wireless, 20-Watt portable that’s designed for outdoor use. It’s powered by Bluetooth 4.0, has NFC pairing capabilities, and it has a built-in 10-hour rechargeable battery which can serve as a power bank for smaller devices; the Nyne Bass can also be used as a speakerphone. You can purchase yours for $149.95.
If you are looking for a thin, minimalist case that offers decent protection and doesn’t look like every other minimalist case, then the X-Doria Rapt for iPhone 5C is for you. This case is under $25, comes in three different color combinations, and it does a good job of keeping your iPhone 5C pristine.
Dan took a look at the Toshiba Transmemory Pro USB drive recently, and after he’d finished with it I had the chance to test out its security features. You can partition and secure parts of the drive to keep private files on it, which is great in theory; the execution, however, left quite a bit to be desired.
Being an outdoorsman can be taxing on the gear I use. Everything I carry is subject to being dropped and knocked around, as well as the elements. I usually go through several lights a year due to them breaking or getting wet. Rayovac may solve this issue with the Virtually Indestructible LED Spotlight. Can the $39.99 spotlight hold up?
In anticipation of Game of Thrones Season 4 tonight on HBO, Kev and I rewatched Season 3. Last night, after the season finale, we noticed this gem on HBOGo — a 25 minute recap of season 3’s high points. If you are a fan of the show, but you’re fuzzy on last season’s details, it’s time to catch up!
Smartphones are great, and for many people they replace quite a few things, from alarm clocks and day planners to cameras and GPS. But sometimes you need something more than just your phone, and the MyTask case aims to make that easier than cramming the pockets on your cargo pants. Need a pen or spoke wrench? This case has you covered.
If you work in extreme conditions, have a toddler, or have concerns that your iPad might be crushed or cracked due to general klutziness or negligence, then it probably makes sense that you keep yours in a bulky plastic exoskeleton. But if you prefer something protective yet visually appealing and refined, then the Beyzacases Executive S is worth considering.
The Microsoft Store is showing this contract-free AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020 for $499. Compare to AT&T with a $609 no-contract cost. The phone is lauded by most for its 41 megapixel camera and 4.5″ PureMotion display. Windows Phone is a mobile operating system in progress, but this is a great deal if your main concern is beautiful photos.
If you love the look, feel and smell of leather, want a way to protect your iPhone 5S, and want to leave your wallet at home, then the Beyzacases PocketBook for iPhone 5S may be for you. It holds up to 12 different cards, some cash, and a few others items inside while offering an exterior slot for your phone.
Bluetooth keyboards are a dime a dozen; we’ve covered scores of them here at Gear Diary. Most are variations on the same old keyboard, but the Kanex Multi-Sync Bluetooth Keyboard falls into the “how did I live without this” category very quickly. Do you have an iPad and a Mac or PC? Then you need this keyboard.
I will have to confess that I missed playing the original Paranormal Agency when it first came out, and wasn’t a huge fan when I played it, finding it lacking compared to other genre games. However the sequel delivers a tense and engaging experience that is on par with some of the best games in the genre!
Outdoor Technology, makers of the Turtle Shell 2.0 rugged Bluetooth speaker, which I gave a glowing review, have gone to Kickstarter to fund their next big product, the BIG Turtle Shell. This new speaker is a much larger version of their original, with a very similar design; it also includes a built-in power bank.