Microsoft Announces Permanent Store Closures
In an announcement that may surprise a few (and impact fewer), Microsoft announced today that it will be closing all retail stores.
2020
Always Wanted a Nomad Case for Your iPad Pro? Well You’re in Luck
Nomad is well known for its Horween Leather phone cases, but for years fans of the popular brand have wanted their Horween leather cases for their tablets as well. Starting this week, you can pre-order one.
Oura’s Black Masks Have Arrived, and They Support a Great Cause
If you’ve read my article about the Oura Air Mask, you know it’s been my everyday mask whenever I leave the house. It’s super comfortable, washable, and protects against all of the elements of COVID-19. And they now have a new color for the mask associated with a fantastic cause.
Visualizing the COVID-19 Death Toll, and Why It’s Not the Flu
At Gear Diary, we like our readers. We think you’re awesome people, and not just because, for some strange reason, you put up with our eclectic ramblings. So we’d like to please, please, please remind you to keep safe this summer and continue to take COVID-19 seriously.
The 15.6″ Lepow Portable Monitor Is a WFH Must-Have
Back in March, when I was told that I would be working from home for the foreseeable future, I knew that I was going to need a monitor to get work done. The issue is that most larger monitors and displays cost a fortune, or have been sold out for months. Then I discovered the Lepow Portable Monitor.
Acer Releases a Full Slate of Notebooks, Chromebooks, Desktops, and More!
Stressed about social distancing, confused about lockdowns, and generally feeling like the world has gone topsy turvy? You need some good old fashioned geeky retail therapy, and the good folks at Acer have your back with a slew of new computers to tempt your wallet and distract you from 24-hour news — or help you stream it faster. Your choice.
Amazfit T-Rex Review: An Affordable and Tough Smartwatch
Since moving to Android, I have been searching for an excellent smartwatch solution. Battery life has been an annoyance in most smartwatches I have tried; charging every night gets kind of old. I recently had the opportunity to try out the Amazfit T-Rex, and some of my concerns have been addressed with an affordable watch.
TCL 10L and 10 Pro Go On Sale, and They Pick up Some Updates
TCL has made a big splash with its new TCL 10 Pro and 10L phones, putting top quality screens and hardware into budget-friendly devices. They’re proving they are serious about this new market by rolling out a new maintenance release, tweaking some features, and even sweetening those already low prices with some carrier deals!
Lenovo Leverages Internet of Things to Help Offices with COVID-19
Lenovo is all about giving companies the tools to be productive, and that includes keeping people safe when they get back to work. They’re rolling out what they call Think IoT Back to Work Solutions. Basically, Lenovo will deliver an ecosystem of hardware and software that makes it safer to return to the office in the new COVID-19 world.
Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI versus Ecovacs T5: Which Is Better for Your Home?
Ecovacs is known to have the world’s most advanced robot vacuums, always innovating with cleaning robotics, cleaning your home fast, all the while avoiding the common items that may (or may not) be reached by your standard vacuum. But their latest products, the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI and the Deebot Ozmo T5 plan on setting a new standard in AI-driven floor cleaning leaving only one question — Which one is the one for your home and wallet?
Pitaka MagEZ Aramid Cases for the Pixel 4 Series and OnePlus 8 Series Are Here, and They Are Fab
I’ve been a fan of Pitaka’s insanely thin yet protective Aramid cases since I first received one to try on my iPhone 7 Plus. I used them on every iPhone I owned until I switched to the Pixel 3 XL, when I was disappointed to learn that Pitaka wouldn’t have a case for my phone. When I moved to the 4 XL, there still wasn’t a case available, but that’s no longer true.
Steinberg Brings Cubasis 3 Audio Workstation to Android Devices
Back in 2012, Steinberg released Cubasis, a fully-featured DAW (digital audio workstation) for iPad with plug-ins, full audio, MIDI recording and editing, and many other professional features. Having used Cubasis on iPad quite a bit through the years, I have always loved how they were able to pack so many features into a mobile platform. Last year’s Cubasis 3 took things to another level, making the iPad version a true mobile DAW. And now Steinberg has brought the acclaimed full-featured mobile studio to Android.
Lenovo Goes for Power and Portability with New ThinkPad Mobile Workstations
It honestly looks like Lenovo’s design teams just never sleep. They’re constantly updating their lineups to make them faster, thinner, stronger, and the new updated Lenovo ThinkPad P Series Mobile Workstations are the latest to get refreshed. They’re even going peak late-90’s with a ThinkPad X1 Extreme (only counts if you hear it in a raspy pro wrestler voice).
Ford Brings Back the Mustang Mach 1 for 2021
After a 17-year hiatus, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 fastback coupe is back to make its world premiere. The track-ready 480 horsepower limited-edition Mach 1 will come in either a six-speed manual transmission from Ford Performance or 10-speed automatic transmission.
Qualcomm Brings 5G to the Masses with Their New Snapdragon Chips!
It seems like we’ve been talking about it forever, but 5G is finally picking up steam and being rolled out on a massive scale. The true test of any new connectivity feature, whether it is wifi, Bluetooth, NFC, or 5G, is when it leaps from flagship feature to everyday option, and Qualcomm is taking 5G much closer with their new Snapdragon 690.
AIAIAI Audio’s TMA-2HD Are Customizable Modular Headphones
If you think about it, a pair of headphones are all essentially made up of the same few parts with different companies providing their take on each while the formula remains the same. AIAIAI have taken this to the next logical setup by making the whole process user-configurable. The TMA-2HD are high-end headphones that are one combination of these components, but nothing stops you from changing components yourself after the fact – making them incredibly versatile.
Lenovo and Verizon Leap into the Future with the Flex 5G 2-in-1
If there’s one thing the COVID-19 lockdown has taught us (besides washing your hands, not breathing close to others, and listening to science), it’s that connectivity matters now more than ever. The new reality of working outside the office regularly couldn’t have happened 15 years ago. Lenovo and Verizon are taking that connectivity to the next level with their Lenovo Flex 5G PC.
HTC Vive Cosmos Elite Virtual Reality Headset Makes for a Great Escape
I have never wanted to “get away” more than the months spanning the COVID-19 pandemic, where my family was being extremely cautious and avoided public places. What a better way to escape than through virtual reality? The HTC Vive Cosmos Elite was an extremely welcome break from the monotony thanks to the immersive experience. The kit retails for $899.
Hoop Cam Plus Is an Excellent Security Camera That Moves to Your Touch
Home security cameras are quickly becoming a commodity these days, and they all follow the same basic formula – the more you pay, the more you get. The Hoop Cam Plus seemingly breaks that mold by offering a very affordable camera that is attractive, easy to both operate, and setup that even includes panning and tilt in its feature list. The Hoop Cam Plus has no right to be this good for this price, and I’ve been impressed with how good it truly has been.
Bioshock Infinite for Nintendo Switch Is a Must-Play for Shooter Fans
Nearly seven years ago, we reviewed the PC & PS3 release of Bioshock Infinite. While there were a few niggles with the game, we saw it as a great entry into an already classic series. Now the game (along with the entire Bioshock collection) has been ported to the Nintendo Switch, so let’s see how it looks and plays in 2020!
Happily Running Makes Great Masks for Running … and for Life!
As someone who runs outside every morning, and also someone in an essential job that required me to go into a facility every day, finding a mask that promotes safety while also being comfortable has been a key. I have plenty of surgical masks and homemade masks, all of which work well in general – but for running I really needed something safe, lightweight, and comfortable. The best thing I have found so far are the masks from HappilyRunning.com, which I wholeheartedly recommend.