Articles by Judie Lipsett Stanford

Is That a Cthulhu on Your Face?

Gear Bits

Is That a Cthulhu on Your Face?

This knit hat bears the uncanny likeness to one who should need no introduction, to H. P. Lovecraft fans, at least: Cthulhu. His very existence may be outside our realm of understanding, but this scary cross of octopus, dragon and  human caricature is sure to bring second looks wherever he is seen. Has Cthulhu awoken and decided that it’s time to rule the Earth again? If so, then we mere mortals had better be very, very afraid … “la, ia, Cthulhu fhtagn!” A comfortable, soft beanie with loads of curly tentacles! Perfect as a ski hat, keeps the whole face warm! Made in soft wool-acrylic…

The Wilson Electronics AG Pro 75 Was Worth the Upgrade

Reviews

The Wilson Electronics AG Pro 75 Was Worth the Upgrade

It’s no secret that if you live or work in an area that isn’t in the middle of a strong cellular coverage zone, your mobile phone signal is going to suffer. That’s one of the things I knew I would have to deal with when I moved to the ranch, but I wasn’t about to let it be the deciding factor.

The 4moms Origami Stroller Makes All Others Look Lame

News & Features

The 4moms Origami Stroller Makes All Others Look Lame

If you were a new parent even just five years ago, you’ll have noticed that the gadgets and gear aimed at this market have gotten significantly better and much more savvy to a new parent’s needs. Whether you’re using FaceTime on your iPad to communicate with your kids when at work or teaching them to read using an interactive eBook, parent’s today are enjoying gear that was only imagined when I was raising my daughter back in the early 90s. Back then, I thought having a state of the art baby monitor meant being able to clip a walkie-talkie to my pocket,…

The CalypsoPad Cradles Your iPhone in Buttery Leather

News & Features

The CalypsoPad Cradles Your iPhone in Buttery Leather

If you hate putting your iPad in a case, but seeing it lay on a table completely naked (and vulnerable!) while charging makes you feel skeevy, then have I got a solution for you! Say hello to the gorgeous new CalypsoPad, a handmade iPhone desk accessory. Made of the finest premium Italian leather, the CalypsoPad manages to combine form and function; I like that there is a molded area to hold the iPhone, and the magnetic latch on the cable means it will be simple to remove the phone with cable when needed. Available in “Owami Peak” (beige) and “Karoo Slopes” (black with…

What Do You Do When the Internet Is Down?

Gear Bits

What Do You Do When the Internet Is Down?

I’m not going to lie — this looks more like the way I behave than I’d care to admit; okay, minus the crying in the mirror part. My family can tell you that when I am trying to edit or write and the internet goes down, I am an absolute pain in the butt to be around; grumpy and moody and prone to random curse word outbursts. It’s not pretty. I’m almost as bad when our WiMax internet service is hiccuping and slower than usual. Anymore, I try to leave and go on a long hike when this happens, but sometimes ……

Lenovo Recalls Many of Their M70z and M90z Think Centre All-in-One Computers

News & Features

Lenovo Recalls Many of Their M70z and M90z Think Centre All-in-One Computers

Did you purchase a Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z or M90z All-in-One Computer? Or did you win one of the three that we gave away here on Gear Diary? If so, then you’ll want to pay attention to this recall notice. There are 16,000 M70z and M90z units affected, and the recall is focusing on the power supplies specifically because they can overheat and become a fire hazard! There have been two (world-wide) reports of this happening, and Lenovo is asking that people immediately stop using their desktops until they know for sure whether or not it is one of the affected…

Should We Stay or Will We Go with Windows Phone?

Editorials

Should We Stay or Will We Go with Windows Phone?

Dan: This is the fourth and final part of our look at Windows Phone and the HTC Titan. In Considering the Move from an iPhone 4S to Windows Phone Titan, we talked a bit about the operating system and its history. In Comparing the iPhone 4s Hardware to the HTC Titan and Dipping into the Windows Phone User Interface, we addressed the user interface and some of Windows Phone’s key features. In Checking Out Windows Phone Speed, Apps, Camera, Music Player and Games, we looked more closely at the applications that we are using as well as the camera and a few additional aspects of the…

Wood Boring Worms Look Like Tiny Evil Aliens

Gear Bits

Wood Boring Worms Look Like Tiny Evil Aliens

Kev was splitting wood today, when he stopped to bring me something he’d found. To back up for a moment, if you have a wood-burning stove then you may have noticed how certain woods — in this case, mesquite — can have these weird “tunnels” bored through them.  I had never given what caused them a second thought … until today.

Intel and Visa Look to Make Cash a Thing of the Past

Events, News & Features

Intel and Visa Look to Make Cash a Thing of the Past

Intel is talking NFC here in Barcelona, and it looks more and more like 2012 will see the breakout of mobile pay via smartphones. In fact, Visa also took to the stage with Intel’s Paul Otellini to discuss a multi-year alliance that will result in Visa PayWave contact-less payment system being part of a variety of Intel powered phones. We’ve discussed whether or not we would want our smartphones to serve as our wallets on the site, but it is looking more and more like this is inevitable. And, thanks to Intel’s work with Visa it looks like it will…

Intel Goes Mobile at MWC in Barcelona

Events, News & Features

Intel Goes Mobile at MWC in Barcelona

While the focus has been on Intel’s partnership with various companies on the creation of the new Ultrabook category of laptops here at MWC they are talking about a very different kind of partnership. This time, they are talking about new partnerships that will grow their presence in the exploding worldwide smartphone market. Just one example of this is the Intel/Orange partnership that will see the release of an Intel phone in France and the UK this summer. ZTE will use processors in their smartphones and, India’s Lava will release the XOLO X900 in partnership with Intel as well. Let’s…

Create.Work.Inspire., a Creative Destination Brought to You by Dell and Intel

Events

Create.Work.Inspire., a Creative Destination Brought to You by Dell and Intel

Dan and I are at Dell and Intel’s third “Create.Work.Inspire” event! This time the XPS 13 Ultrabook™ is a key player in the creation of a music video!  Find more info here. If you’re in the NYC area, come by and see Dan and me as we live blog and watch the event unfold. UPDATED February, 26, 2012: A Conversation with Mindy Seegal Abovitz, creator and editor of Tom Tom Magazine. UPDATED with Behind the Scenes at the Creation of the Suzan’s Ha Ha Ha Video Using the Dell XPS 13 CHECK OUT THE END OF THE POST.

Dell and Intel Use the XPS 13 Ultrabook to Create. Work. Inspire., and We'll Be There!

Events

Dell and Intel Use the XPS 13 Ultrabook to Create. Work. Inspire., and We’ll Be There!

  This Thursday Dell and Intel head back to NYC for their third “Create.Work.Inspire” event; Dan and I will be there! This time the XPS 13 Ultrabook™ will be a key player in the creation of a music video.  Find more info here. If you’ll be in the NYC area, come by and see Dan and me as we live blog and watch the event unfold. The Create. Work. Inspire event will be going on February 23rd-24th from 9AM to 9PM, followed by an RSVP event on February 25th from 1PM to 9PM. Want to go? You can! Or you…

iFrogz Boost Near Field Audio Amplifying Speaker, One of Dan's CES Faves, Is Available Now!

News & Features

iFrogz Boost Near Field Audio Amplifying Speaker, One of Dan’s CES Faves, Is Available Now!

When we were at CES, Dan couldn’t wait to show me the pre-release iFrogz Boost Near Field Audio Amplifying Speaker that he had scored, and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. This little box didn’t need to connect to a mobile phone to produce a much bigger sound; you could simply place any phone on the box, and it would pump up the volume so that it could actually be enjoyed! See what I mean in this video Dan shot … The iFrogz Boost speaker allows users to amplify their device’s sound by simply placing their smartphone, or other…

Synthetik Park's Wall Aquarium Is Eye-Level Gorgeous

Gear Bits

Synthetik Park’s Wall Aquarium Is Eye-Level Gorgeous

Watch how my thought process goes … 1. We have a Beta fish named Brad; he lives in a goldfish bowl that sits on our credenza, and every chance she gets, our cat Avah likes to drink water from his bowl. She’s not trying to eat Brad, or at least we haven’t seen her try, but she seems to love his fish flavored water. This bothers me, because she has been known to lap his water down to less than half a bowl when we have been away. 2. In order to really see Brad I have to bend down,…

La Plata Time Rings Are a Low-Tech Puzzle for these High-Tech Times

Gear Bits

La Plata Time Rings Are a Low-Tech Puzzle for these High-Tech Times

You can only sling so many angry birds at chortling pigs before your mind goes numb and you want something … different. Sometimes the simplest things can captivate the imagination; a case in point would be this lovely low-tech and natural puzzle made from a slice of cypress. The puzzle is made from the wood of Cypress trees, that died naturally and it does keep me wondering about the history of the tree and its surroundings. Unfortunately I didn’t find this object too near to the region of the Patagonian Andes lakes, where it actually comes from. I simply never been there,…

Checking Out Windows Phone Speed, Apps, Camera, Music Player and Games

Editorials

Checking Out Windows Phone Speed, Apps, Camera, Music Player and Games

Judie: Our saga began when Dan and I received HTC Titans at a Microsoft sponsored dinner while attending CES; it’s hard to believe that on the 11th it will have been one month ago. You can catch up on our previous posts before starting with this one by clicking the following links: Considering the Move from an iPhone 4S to Windows Phone Titan Comparing the iPhone 4s Hardware to the HTC Titan and Dipping into the Windows Phone User Interface In that month, my iPhone has never left my gadget drawer. Although I can think of a few times I…

iPhone Backs from The Brooklyn Bakery Store Will Make You Swoon

Gear Bits

iPhone Backs from The Brooklyn Bakery Store Will Make You Swoon

If you hate putting your iPhone in a case, but you still want it to look unique and interesting, then you might want to consider one of the imaginative adhesive leather backs from The Brooklyn Bakery Store. Made to resemble natural and unnatural skins, these leather objects of art will really make your iPhone stand out.

Get a Grip on Alder & Co's Maple Salad Hands

Gear Bits

Get a Grip on Alder & Co’s Maple Salad Hands

I think that we can all agree that sometimes it’s the little things which make a meal special, and these solid Vermont maple ‘Salad Hands’ by Alder and Co. look like they could instigate a few appreciative comments from around the dinner table. For $34, they can handle your greens. Alder & Co. — Maple Salad Hands.

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFA

Events, Vehicles & Gear

At the Las Vegas Speedway with a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport and an LFA

This is not the car I was driving when I won my title 😉 How did you  spend your Saturday? I spent it behind the wheel of a 2013 Lexus GS 350 F, ultimately winning the title of “Fastest Woman in Vegas” while driving on a closed course at Las Vegas Speedway. The GS350 really impressed me because it was the best of both words — fast and sleek like a sports car, but large enough for a family and totally decked out.