Articles by Dan Cohen

Why the Vere Sandal Company Kickstarter Project Needs a Kick in the Pants

Editorials

Why the Vere Sandal Company Kickstarter Project Needs a Kick in the Pants

UPDATED WITH A DIRECT RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY Kickstarter is a great way to help new businesses get moving, and in the process get your hands on new products early. Judie and I have both backed numerous Kickstarter projects over the past few years, and we’ve been quite pleased with the process; until now, that is. The Vere Sandal Company has been my first encounter with a Kickstarter project that just didn’t pan out properly. It’s a long tale that goes back over a year, and it is so disappointing that even if they were to supply the sandals they promised…

Apple's Achilles Heel Revealed

Gear Bits

Apple’s Achilles Heel Revealed

If you have wondered if Apple has an Achilles’ heel you might want to check out a new post over on Gizmodo. It makes clear that there is one and if goes by the name “expectations”. People have come to expect SO much from Apple each and every time they release a new device that there is Simply No Way, Apple can keep pace. That seems to be the case with the Gizmodo crew’s initial reaction to the new iPad. There doesn’t seem to be anything that is making them go “wow”. It is also interesting to see Gizmodo’s behind…

GoFlex Satellite Drive Firmware Update Arriving March 19th

News & Features

GoFlex Satellite Drive Firmware Update Arriving March 19th

At CES this past January, Judie and I had a chance to meet with Seagate and see their new and updated offerings. We saw, and later reviewed, their GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter. It is now a key part of my iMac setup. We also learned about a coming update to the GoFlex Satellite drive we had reviewed previously. As we wrote at the time, We were glad to see that an update is on the way, and that it will bring some needed improvements. Among them … – The update will double the battery life. That is a big deal since…

How Much Better is the New iPad's Screen? Evernote has the Answer

News & Features

How Much Better is the New iPad’s Screen? Evernote has the Answer

As is always the case with a new iOS device update, we are seeing a slew of app updates being released in the iTunes App Store. In fact, this morning I had 29 updates waiting! That’s a lot… but not surprising. Evernote was among the updates and it makes clear just HOW sharp the new iPad’s retina display is. I mean, seriously, look at the picture at the top of this post and tell me that isn’t an amazing difference. (Of course, the iPad 2 screen is on the left and the new Retina Display is on the right.) Fact…

Off-Broadway Becomes iBroadway in 'Rated P, for Parenthood'

Gear Bits

Off-Broadway Becomes iBroadway in ‘Rated P, for Parenthood’

Elana and I spent this evening in Manhattan. We had a bite to eat and then got to see the new Off-Broadway show Rated P for Parenthood. Rated P, was written by Sandy Rustin, made its initial debut at the South Orange Performing Arts Center just down the street from my synagogue. (Disclosure: I know Sandy and she is a fantastic writer and comedian.) It has now moved to its new home at the WestSide Theater and is getting rave reviews. The reason for the rave reviews is quite simply the fact that it… is… awesome! The hour and a…

Phiaton PS 20 BT Stereo BT Headset Bring Advanced Technology

News & Features

Phiaton PS 20 BT Stereo BT Headset Bring Advanced Technology

Phiaton’s PS 20 BT Stereo Headset may look like any other pair of Bluetooth headphones but they pack in a huge amount of new technology that makes them stand out fro the crowd. The PS 20 BTs have Bluetooth 3.0 capability and use the 2.4GHz frequency for things such as pairing and taking phone calls but for activities that use heavier data they switch to Wi-Fi (802.11). That, for example, allows “more information to be sent to your listening device, providing drastically improved sound quality”.

Kanex AirBlue Portable Bluetooth Music Receiver Review

Reviews

Kanex AirBlue Portable Bluetooth Music Receiver Review

Update: This contest is now closed, and the winner has been announced on Facebook. Thank you for playing, and keep an eye out for more Gear Diary giveaways! =) Whether it is via AirPlay or through my Sonos system, I’m into wireless music these days. I love not having to physically dock a device in order to get the music flowing. More than that, I love being able to keep my device with me and then, regardless of where I am in the house, change the track or the volume. The problem is that the least expensive Sonos speaker component…

Intel Ultrabook Temptations, Random Video Series of the Day

News & Features

Intel Ultrabook Temptations, Random Video Series of the Day

Judie and I had the chance to use the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook before it was even out. We live blogged, edited images and video and came away pretty impressed with Intel’s move into the “ultralight, ultraportable but still affordable” space. Now Intel is kicking things up with a series of amusing video ads. I’ll say one thing about them… they sure kept my attention! And here’s one more.

Boinx Software iStopMotion Now Optimized for the New iPad

News & Features

Boinx Software iStopMotion Now Optimized for the New iPad

The new iPad lands tomorrow and, among other updates, it has a real camera instead of the nonsense offered on the iPad 2. Yes, the 5MP shooter on the back should take good pictures now and, as a result, an entire new world of iPad image manipulation will be opened. Sure, you will still look like a dork while using a tablet to snap pictures but at least you’ll get decent pictures in the process! One of the first apps updated to take serious advantage of the new iPad’s camera is iStopMotion for iPad 1.2 from Boinx Software. Optimized for the…

BodyGuardz is Ready for the New Third-Generation iPad, Are You?

News & Features

BodyGuardz is Ready for the New Third-Generation iPad, Are You?

We’re big fans of BodyGuardz and their various device-protective offerings. I used their skins to protect my iPod touch, my Kindle and even my iPhone. And I’m happy to see that they have jumped on protecting the millions upon millions of new iPad’s that will be arriving this Friday. Let’s take a quick look at a few of them.

Slim One Keyboard for iPhone and Mac Review

Reviews

Slim One Keyboard for iPhone and Mac Review

One of my students asked to interview me the other day. He’s writing a school paper on why Apple is so successful, and his mother suggested that with my “Apple obsession” I might be a good person with whom to speak. She’s actually right, since I am, in many ways, the poster child for what Apple has done during the past few years. You see, I never thought I would use a Mac. In fact, when I met Elana she was in art school and was using a Mac. It was only when her computer died that I convinced her…

You and Your iPad Can Travel Light with BlueLounge's Bonobo Series iPad Sling

News & Features

You and Your iPad Can Travel Light with BlueLounge’s Bonobo Series iPad Sling

BlueLounge’s new Bonobo Series iPad Sling looks like a great way for you and your iPad to travel light. As the company explains, Our new iPad Sling stylishly accommodates your everyday necessities. Ultra-light, modern, and sleek the iPad Sling features a padded main compartment, a zippered exterior pocket, easy-snap magnetic closures, and a comfortable cross-body fit. It’s the ideal accessory for commuting to the office, or simply to the coffee shop. For all iPads.

"Would You Believe…" It Is That Close?

Gear Bits

“Would You Believe…” It Is That Close?

The very first time Maxwell smart’s “Would You Believe…??” made an appearance on the Classic TV show Get Smart, it was in reference to Smart being tortured after being captured by the enemy. He says, “The most fiendish torture ever devices by man- the water torture. A drop of water on the forehead every minute for 300 gallons… Would you believe it?” (Reply, “That’s pretty hard to believe.”) “Would you believe a quart?… What if they came by once a day with a glass of water and an eye-dropper?” Well, Apple has its own form of torture and this is…

I'm Feeling iOS Growing Pains, How About You?

Editorials

I’m Feeling iOS Growing Pains, How About You?

This post is completely and totally anecdotal but I thought it was worth sharing my experience thus far with iOS 5.1 and see if anyone else is seeing what I am seeing. I recently upgraded all of my iOS devices to Apple’s new iOS 5.1 operating system. While it isn’t as bad as the initial upgrade to iOS 2.0 (that operating system continually crashed and Apple scrambled to get out an update) this update has some significant issues that are appearing.

Save Big for 72 Hours on Skooba Designs V.3 Collection

News & Features

Save Big for 72 Hours on Skooba Designs V.3 Collection

Back in November we reviewed Skooba Designs’ new V.3 Tablet Messenger. I liked it a lot and wrote this: What I Like: Small and light; lots of well-organized pockets; Special slot for your tablet; Grab and go handle; interior tablet access without opening the flap; Funky closure method for the flap What Needs Improvement: The blue highlights make it a bit less professional-looking You can read the full review here and find out more details here on the product page. That’s not the reason for this post however. No, the reason for this post is that Skooba Designs is running…

Tom Bihn Updates Their Ristretto Bag

News & Features

Tom Bihn Updates Their Ristretto Bag

I love when a company has a really good product but looks for ways to make it even better, and that’s exactly what Tom Bihn did with their Ristretto bag. We’ve reviewed the bag in a number of different sizes. You can read our review of the Ristretto, the Ristretto for iPad, and the review of the Ristretto for MacBook Air. The new Ristretto has a number of key improvements. We have a review sample on the way, but I wanted to run down the key changes in advance of that.

Built In the USA, a Kickstarter Story

Editorials

Built In the USA, a Kickstarter Story

“It costs too much to manufacture in the USA.” That’s what you year over and over again, it is why everyone from Apple to specialty clothing manufacturers may design their wares in the US but ultimately decide to do the actual manufacturing outside the USA (often in China). It is also why FedEx is apparently “unavailable” to many companies as their planes fly some sort of Apple product into the US in record number.

DBEST London Duo Bluetooth Rechargeable Mini-Speaker Set Review

Reviews

DBEST London Duo Bluetooth Rechargeable Mini-Speaker Set Review

The other day we looked at one of two DBest speaker sets I have been using for the past week and a half. Here’s what DBest has to say about their products: The most important thing in music are not the lyrics, but the way of receiving. The way music is transferred determines how much we like our music. To be short: the better the quality of our speakers, the better we can enjoy music! DBest speakers provide premium sound quality that is considered the finest in the world. This way they can give you maximum pleasure listening to your…