Articles by Gear Diary Staff

News & Features December 8, 2012

Augmented Reality is Tech You Should Know About

Anyone who refers to Augmented Reality as a ‘new’ technology hasn’t done their research. The past twenty years have been littered with entertainment gimmicks that loosely use the technology. That being said, modern innovations are providing the framework with which to more fully integrate this type of tech into our daily lives. While creations bordering on the concepts of augmented reality have been around since the sixties, it wasn’t until 1990 that a Boeing researcher coined the term as we understand it today. For those in the dark, augmented reality refers to a blurring of the lines between what’s real…

Gear Bits December 8, 2012

Google’s Project Glass is Tech You Should Know About

What does ‘Augmented Reality‘ mean to you? It’s been a huge buzzword in certain tech circles this year, but what’s the big deal? If you’re like me, the negative associations are endless. You remember laser tag. You remember watching those awful 3D films with the red/blue lenses when you were little. Maybe you even remember Nintendo’s Virtual Boy console from back in the day. In any case, you’d be hard pressed to find an example of augmented reality that wasn’t a gimmick. Which leads us to Google’s latest project, the incredible Google Glass. Project Glass is one of the company’s…

Game Diary, Music Diary, News & Features December 7, 2012

Video Game Soundtrack Nominated for Grammy Award

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. That’s the nomination that was just received by Austin Wintory, the composer for Thatgamecompany’s excellent PS3 game Journey. Let me be clear, this is history being made, as this represents the first time that a video game soundtrack has been nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award. While the aforementioned category is usually reserved for film scores, it appears that interactive media is also eligible, and that this could become a landmark year for the industry. This revelatory announcement comes in the wake of MoMA’s recent video game acquisition. Despite the ongoing argument over the validity…

Events, Game Diary, News & Features December 6, 2012

Are Video Games Art? MoMA Answers with New Exhibit

It’s the question everyone’s asking nowadays: can video games be considered art? Should they be? While it’s been over two years since film-critic Roger Ebert blew up the debate with his now-famous commentary, the fight rages on. This time, it’s New York’s Museum of Modern Art that’s taking a side. In the past, curators and critics alike have been hesitant to put a label on gaming. Pundits of established artistic disciplines were the worst offenders, often heard dismissing the industry in favor of their own respective fields. Ebert’s notorious quote that “video games can never be art” unleashed what has…

Reviews, Yum Log December 5, 2012

Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale Taste Test

Hello again! Kevin here with another Beer Diary taste. Last night I was drinking Balashi, Aruba’s national beer but before we left on vacation I picked out and drank a popular and widely available (including our regular grocery in San Angelo, TX) brew from Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado to share. Did I mention The Great American Brew Festival that took place in Denver last October? We were there and it was awesome. Oskar’s was there too. Let’s have a look: The Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery Lyons Colorado The Beer: Dale’s Pale Ale Color: Reddish orange Head: Excellent head retention with good…

Gear Bits, News & Features December 2, 2012

New Sleek, Functional Designs From Tablet-Case Creator ‘Solid Gray’

I probably won’t be the first to admit that we don’t need anymore tablet or phone cases. There are already thousands of competitive products available in this category, many of them priced very reasonably. Walking into Best Buy, Verizon, or even Five Below becomes a sensory assault of competing, well-designed cases. As you know, the editors here at Gear Diary are prepared to handpick the best and most interesting products for inclusion on the site. So check out the latest from Netherlands-based design firm Solid Gray. While the studio’s earlier productions focused on creating unique, functional backpacks, it’s newest creation…

Game Diary, News & Features November 29, 2012

Battlefield 3 Expansion Pack Aftermath Releases

Battlefield 3: Aftermath, the fourth expansion pack which features a four new maps (Azadi Palace, Epicenter, Markaz Monolith, and Talah Market), three new vehicles (Barsuk, Phoenix, and Rhino) plus modified military and civilian vehicles. Players can also enjoy the new “XBOW” crossbow weapon, and a new “scavenger” mode where players search for weapons while starting with only a pistol. New assignments, dogtags, achievements, and trophies are also included. PlayStation 3 premium members can get this expansion pack now (associated Battlefield 3 game copy required) while it release for Xbox 360 and PC premium players on December 4. Players without premium…

Reviews November 25, 2012

iPhone 5 Shell Holster Combo Review

Aside from something ridiculously expensive like the offerings from Vaja (which are beautiful and I love, but: money!), I am constantly looking for a good case for my iPhone. I like a slim case, but with some protection. I like having a bezel in front of the screen, so that I can lay it face down at need. I also like cases with a little additional functionality — one with card slots, for example, or one with a built-in stand. And last, I like them to have a good feel to them; I carry my iPhone literally everywhere, and if the…

Reviews November 24, 2012

Native Union’s POP Bluetooth Headset Review

Every once in a while there comes an invention whose imagery at one point in its evolution becomes universally iconic. The telephone, particularly the style of handset that started appearing in the US around the mid 1920s with the advent of the Western Electric B1 (also known as the Model 102), is one such item. How ubiquitous? Turn on your cell phone or fire up Skype. See that call icon? The image of a telephone is synonymous with voice communications, and the people at Native Union have created a series of handsets, the POP Phone, to reintroduce the “retro” phone…

Reviews November 9, 2012

Skyfall Film Review

The longest-running film franchise of all time celebrates their 50th Anniversary in style with Skyfall, the twenty-third installment in the James Bond film series. Daniel Craig marks his third performance as James Bond (a.k.a. Agent 007) as Ben Wishaw debuts as gadget guru Q (a.k.a. Quartermaster). Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) helms this film and all the underlying themes amid Audiences get a great mix of surprises, new elements, and familiar fundamentals like the exotic international locations, overt sexual overtones and, of course, the gear, which for Bond personally is surprisingly simple. Unique weapons like a stinging…

News & Features November 6, 2012

Slacker App for Windows 8 Launched and Will Livestream ABC Election 2012 Coverage

For those individuals like me who have just started using the latest Microsoft OS incarnation that is Windows 8 on their PCs, Slacker announced the official launch of their music service supporting Windows 8. The free Slacker app is designed such that it takes advantage of the new tiling and UI aspects of Windows 8, multitasking, and even the Share charm feature. In Windows 8, apps like Slacker don’t flip to the “old” Windows 7-style desktop but are integrated into the Windows 8 UI, providing a fluid, seamless experience, particularly if you’ve set up Windows 8 with a Microsoft Live…

Game Diary, Reviews November 4, 2012

Wreck-It Ralph Film Review

Set in the video game realm, the fast-paced animated adventure-comedy Wreck-It Ralph has touching emotions that succeed where Toy Story started – entertaining audiences while making them care about inanimate objects as strong characters within engaging environments. John C. Reilly voices the main character Wreck-It Ralph, an original character with echoes of Donkey Kong and Hulk who has become tired of his bad guy role in the classic “Fix-it Felix” arcade game. As the game celebrates their 30th year in existence, Ralph takes life-changing steps that take audiences further into the video game realm where electric outlets and cords provide…

Game Diary November 2, 2012

Nintendo Wii U – Will You Be Getting One?

The Nintendo Wii U media blitz has kicked into high gear now. The official Wii U Facebook page! The special incentives like the deluxe digital promotion! The countdown to November 18! Are you hooked? Thinking about buying? Here are the facts: This new Wii U next generation, high definition game console will release on November 18, 2012 in two versions: A white colored basic set (8 GB internal storage), Wii U GamePad controller, GamePad stylus, sensor bar, console AC adapter, GamePad AC adapter, and HDMI cable for $299.99. A black colored deluxe set (32 GB storage), Wii U GamePad…

Editorials October 29, 2012

Keeping Trick or Treaters Away from Your Home while Scaring Your Kids in the Days of Yore!

What you see before you, gentle reader, is an instrument of torture, a 33 1/2 RPM record euphemistically titled “The language and music of the Wolves – narrated by Robert Redford”, circa 1971. Ostensibly a product of environmental awareness and respect for Nature, it was an excellent tool for acquainting modern America with wolves, which had been nearly hunted to extinction in the lower 48 states. Robert Redford explains and enlightens listeners about the wolf and its habits, raising awareness of the plight of these magnificent creatures. This is all well and good, except for one problem: there is a Side…

News & Features October 29, 2012

DomeSkin Bumps Up to iPhone 5

With the announcement of any new device come the announcements of matching accessories. And if the device in question is a new iPhone, then you get a LOT more accessory announcements, given the popularity of that handset. Skins for iPhones (and other devices) are nothing new, of course, but the announcement Gear Diary received from DomeSkin caught my attention because it sounded like a different design concept. Most skins are intended to be as flat and thin as possible, so as to protect a device from scratches without adding bulk. If it suits the consumer, the skin may also add…

Editorials, Game Diary October 26, 2012

Two Longest Running TV Shows Dedicated to Video Games to End

Enjoy watching “X-Play” and “Attack of the Show” while you can because the cable channel G4 will cancel them by the end of 2012. “X-Play, which began airing on April 28, 2003, and now airs on Weeknights at 6:30 p.m. EST with new episodes from Monday through Wednesday, and “Attack of the Show,” which began on March 28, 2005, and is now airing live on weeknights at 7 p.m. EST, will only have original episodes until the end of this year.

Game Diary, Gear Bits October 24, 2012

Wreck-It Ralph Promo Videos Cover Video Game History

Got game? Take a walk through video game history with the latest promotional videos for Disney’s upcoming animated feature film Wreck-It Ralph. 1982 Litwak’s Arcade Commercial featuring the Original Fix-It Felix, Jr. Game 1997 Litwak’s Arcade Commercial featuring Sugar Rush Speedway 2012 Litwak’s Arcade Commercial featuring Hero’s Duty You can also check out fully playable browser-based versions of the Hero’s Duty and Sugar Rush games on the new official film site. The Wreck-It Ralph video game will release on October 30, 2012 on Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS. Ralph will also be a playable character in the upcoming…

News & Features October 24, 2012

AhnLab Introduces the V3 Click, the First-to-Market Personal Security Device for PCs

Viruses, trojans and spyware. These are the perennial pests of modern computing and the bane of system administrators and IT personnel everywhere, not to mention the end users themselves! When I first heard about USB flash drives being used to infect PCs a few years back, I wondered: if a USB device can infect a system, can a USB device protect a system? Apparently some engineers at AhnLab wondered the same thing too, because AhnLab has released the industry’s first Personal Security Device for PCs, the V3 Click Home Desktop Edition unit than runs from a PC’s USB port. This…

Game Diary, Reviews October 23, 2012

Dishonored for PlayStation 3 Video Game Review

This engrossing first-person shooter game Dishonored, published by Bethesda Softworks and developed by Arkane Studios, has great originality, a stellar voice character cast, and various ways to victory including several non-lethal options. The Hype Improvise and Innovate: Approach each assassination with your own style of play Use shadow and sound to your advantage to make your way silently through levels unseen by foes, or attack enemies head-on as they respond to your aggressiveness. Action with Meaning: The world of Dishonored reacts to how you play. Move like a ghost and resist corruption, or show no mercy and leave a path…

News & Features October 16, 2012

Use Protection with Heat Sensitive Rub & Reveal…Now for iPhone 5

All right, all right, have a chuckle. Get your sophomoric locker room humor out of your system. Take a deep breath. Better? Okay, for those able to stop channeling Beavis and Butthead, anokimobi has recently introduced their Heat Sensitive Rub and Reveal cases for the iPhone 5. The heat-sensitive cases are the first of their kind on the market using a special heat-sensitive ink imprinted on the case. When friction or other heat source (I would not recommend an open flame of any kind) is applied, the special ink alters its form and reveals a hidden image underneath. Simply slip…

Game Diary, Gear Bits October 14, 2012

Happy Anniversary Atari 2600!

It’s a milestone year for me as a media writer. Born in the same year Atari was founded (June 1972), we both turn 40 this year and my all-time favorite game console, the Atari 2600 (a.k.a. the Atari Video Computer System (VCS)) just turned 35 years old this past Sunday on October 14. We still have it. It does not work, but our entire honors it like a valued piece on our personal museum. It was our opportunity to bring the video game arcade home. The paddle controller. The orange buttons. The signature “bleep/bloop” sounds. More than 400 games including…

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