Articles by Gear Diary Staff

Reviews, Yum Log October 6, 2012

Widmer Brothers Nelson Imperial IPA Review

Hi. My name is Kevin, and I like beer…a lot! Other things I like: Judie (well, actually, I love her), my kids (I love them too), Otis (my dawg), fresh air, wide open spaces, rain and… did I mention? Beer! I developed a taste for the stuff (beer that is) during college. At the time, it probably wasn’t as much a taste thing as it was a social thing, if you catch my drift. I have plenty of vintage stories about Colorado’s 3:2 beer (swill), and escapades with cheap beer bought in bulk with my buddies. After some time my…

Editorials October 5, 2012

My Journey to the Dark Side…er, Apple is Complete

A long time ago, in a service provider far, far away, I had joined the ranks of mobile phone users, sporting a Motorola Razr V3m back when it was de rigueur for mobile types. For a time I was content, and as technology evolved I migrated my mobile phones, ever searching for the trifecta of ease of use, reliability and variety of peripherals. Here is a representation of all the major phones I’ve owned and heavily used over the past seven years or so. Certainly a lot less than some Gear Diary members or readers out there, but a variety nonetheless….

Reviews October 4, 2012

Bond 50 Review on Blu-ray

For 50 years, Ian Fleming’s James Bond character has emulated style, bravado, special skills, and, most of all, the best gadget gear in the world. The recently released Bond 50 home video collection (Blu-ray and DVD) offers all 22 Bond films* and one bonus disc in one package complete with over 130 hours of bonus features. *Special note – 1983’s Never Say Never Again and 1967’s Casino Royale are not included in this special set. You Only Live Twice (1967), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Octopussy (1983), A View…

Game Diary, Reviews October 1, 2012

Grand Theft Auto III PlayStation Store Release Review

The classic 2001 PlayStation 2 video game Grand Theft Auto III (rated M) was recently released in the PlayStation Store and must be experienced by all mature gamers. Grand Theft Auto III – From the days of the PlayStation 2, this downloadable game allows you to play the classic original on compatible PlayStation game systems. Mob bosses need favors, crooked cops need help, the street gangs want you dead; so to compensate you’ll have to rob, steal, and kill in order to stay alive. Developed by DMA Design, GTA3 is the first installment of the series to utilize a fully…

News & Features September 27, 2012

Your Mobile Devices are a Germ Haven, So It’s ionSwipes to the Rescue!

One of the most useful sensory and interactive instruments in the human body are our hands and fingers. They help us easily manipulate our mobile devices, allowing us to communicate and plug into the virtual world around us. Ironically, hands and fingers are a double-edged sword, for in addition to allowing us to communicate virtually via our various electronic devices, they quietly and efficiently spread germs via physical handling of these devices. Germs. That catch-all layman word covering bacteria, viruses, protozoa and some fungi. The stuff that gives Howie Mandel heebie-jeebies. In fiction, the cooties that annihilated wayard Martians,…

Reviews September 27, 2012

Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue Special Edition Review for Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS

Finding Nemo fans can experience their favorite fish in 3D in theaters and in the palm of their hands on the Nintendo 3DS with regular viewing and comparable gameplay on the Nintendo DS. The Hype Inspired by the beloved original Disney•Pixar animated film “Finding Nemo” returning to the big screen—for the first time ever in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™, the Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue Special Edition video game puts the journey of a lifetime in your hands as you help Nemo and his friends find their way home. Enjoy more than 30 engaging action-oriented mini-games, with your…

Editorials, Health and Fitness September 24, 2012

“Weight of the Nation” Documentary Series Challenges Obesity on DVD

Film documentaries can weigh heavy on our hearts with stark, realistic presentation on prevalent issues in our lives. In the Emmy nominated 2012 documentary film series The Weight of the Nation, filmmakers present individual testimonials, interviews, stories, and day-in-the-life footage through many perspectives on our obesity epidemic. Individual health narratives, economic factors, health care system, food industries, and genetic history/biological consequences from unhealthy diets provide the evidence and support that a multidimensional solution is essential to stop the “obesity epidemic” in our nation. Part 1, titled Consequences, contains many personal stories including a landmark study in a small Louisiana town….

Game Diary, Gear Bits September 21, 2012

iOS Hit “Subway Surfers” Launches on Android

Need a new game to waste all your time at work? Here you go. Meet Subway Surfers, a colorful, free-to-play, action game. The iOS version, developed by Kiloo Games, has garnered over 25 million players. Now it’s time for Android users to get in on the fun. Did I mention it’s free? At its core, Subway Surfers is an infinite-runner with a graffiti-inspired look and cartoon aesthetic. The gameplay revolves around switching between three train-tracks while avoiding obstacles and collecting coins. You swipe the touch screen to jump, roll, and switch between tracks. It might sound boring, but like…

News & Features September 15, 2012

Otterbox on Track to Keep Your Soon-to-be Shipped Shiny iPhone 5 Protected!

Otterbox takes device protection seriously, and their cases reflect a company passionate about doing just that, unsurprising since their About Us page lists “work hard/play hard” as part of the company culture. Now that the Apple iPhone 5 has been announced, Otterbox has just released for pre-order two cases: the Defender and Commuter Series, with the Reflex and Prefix cases not quite available, but coming soon. These cases, most of which offer several color combinations to choose from, should be ideal for owners who want to keep their iPhones very safe but also easily useable, treading the fine line between…

News & Features September 12, 2012

Pogoplug – My Own Private Cloud With 1TB Online Backup

I am always on the lookout for simple and secure backup solutions and good methods for syncing personal files across multiple devices. I use Dropbox and Google Drive, but have always liked the idea of my own personal cloud solution for more confidential information. I have been using The free Tonido program on my home Mac, iPad, iPhone and Google Nexus 7 for a few months, and it has worked quite well. I have not purchased the Tonido Plug, but had been considering it for a few weeks until Pogoplug announced a great deal on the Pogoplug Classic device and storage….

Gear Bits, News & Features, Outdoors September 11, 2012

Emergency Cell-Phone Lasts 10 Hours On A Single ‘AA’ Battery

Picture yourself stranded alone during a hurricane. The rain pelts the windows with oppressive vigor. A howling wind lifts lawn chairs off the patio. You reach into your pocket and grab your smart-phone. You’ve never been more desperate to check your twitter feed, but the battery’s already down to 5%. Four minutes later, that one tough level of Angry Birds: Space finally kills the phone. Out of nowhere, an enormous tree branch crashes through the living room window. You try to call for help, but you left your charger in the hotel room back in Atlanta. What’s the solution? XPAL…

Editorials September 7, 2012

Putting Down the iPad; Nexus 7 in Real Life

Recently I wrote a lengthy comment/review on the Skooba Weekender bag Dan reviewed last July. During that review, I mentioned that I am a road warrior and generally spend at least one or more nights out of town 40+ weeks of the year. A few weeks ago was one of those rare times where I was working in my NYC office all week. Being in the office allowed me an opportunity to spend some quality time using the Google Nexus tablet I had purchased some time ago. In the past, I’ve made an attempt at using the original Samsung Galaxy Tab,…

News & Features September 2, 2012

CVS Mobile App Update Brings Same-Day Photo Printing

Since last year when Walgreens (the pharmacy closest to my house) and my company’s health insurance provider failed to reach an agreement on prescription medication prices, I’ve found myself in a CVS pharmacy a lot more frequently. And you know, they’re pretty good places. I haven’t used them for much other than pharmacy purposes and picking up the odd item or two, but given the improvements they’ve just made to their mobile app, I may just start using them for photo printing. CVS’ updated mobile app will allow customers to print photos directly from their smartphone camera or their CVSphoto.com…

Game Diary, Reviews September 2, 2012

Madden NFL 13 Review for PlayStation Vita

Football fans can now “win on the road” with the best portable Madden NFL football video game yet. Last year Madden debuted on the Nintendo 3DS with Madden NFL Football and now this year Madden NFL 13 debuts on the PlayStation Vita. Madden NFL 13 on the handheld PlayStation Vita console offers a nice broadcast style presentation, familiar game modes, simple controls/functions, and special action exclusive only on the Vita console. The Hype Madden NFL 13 debuts on the PlayStation Vita, delivering the ultimate NFL experience on a handheld. Become an NFL Superstar or build the league’s next Dynasty utilizing…

News & Features August 29, 2012

Help Combat the Spread of West Nile Virus Mosquito Vectors with Acase’s InaTrap

When my wife and I were married, 13 years ago today, we had plenty of birds flocking to our feeders, including blue jays and an occasional crow or two. A few years later I began to notice significantly fewer of these members of the Corvidae bird family, a harbinger of the West Nile virus insidiously creeping westward. These birds are a reservoir species for the West Nile virus, and are quickly killed off by the virus. The nasty little critters that are the primary vectors of the virus are mosquitoes, and when a human is bitten by a mosquito infected…

Game Diary, Reviews August 24, 2012

Madden NFL 13 Review for PlayStation 3

Electronic Arts expands their annual U.S. pro football video game with several new features while raising the replay value to new levels in their latest football simulation game Madden NFL 13. The Hype Developed around the powerful, all-new Infinity game engine, Madden NFL 13 delivers a more engrossing, complete and realistic gridiron experience than any game before it. Key game features include: graphical presentation reminiscent of national television broadcasts, gameplay improvements such as a new pass-ready system, improved play action, and the all-new read and react defensive AI system, Madden social/play functionality, multiplayer support online and offline, and the ability…

News & Features August 24, 2012

Tell Time with the Help of a Nuclear Watch and Watch Tritium Decay in Action

Imagine a college party with around 100 quadrillion (a one hundred with fifteen zeroes behind it) students binge drinking, with all exceedingly inebriated. Ignoring the noise and mayhem for a moment, imagine a quarter billion of them getting sick every second for the next 25 years or so. However, instead of the usual stomach material, the students, all members of the Tritium fraternity, are emitting beta particles that hit the windows of their apartment and cause the windows to glow green. The formerly stick students settle down and feel much more stable afterwards, with no apparent hangover (but are no…

Crowdfunding, eBooks, Reviews August 21, 2012

Seven Poets and the Assassin’s Secret Is a New Kind of Novel

When I heard about the iOS app Seven Poets and the Assassin’s Secret, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. It is a unique, real-time serialized novel centered around a fictional terrorist attack on the Olympic Stadium in London during the closing ceremony. Content runs from August through October, when real-time serialization will end. Seven Poets tells the story of seven children who are able to escape the terrorists and their struggles to survive in a new and different world. The app, which features in-app purchases for each new portion of the story, went live at the beginning of August and…

Reviews August 20, 2012

JetPens.com’s Kaweco AC Sport Carbon Fountain Pen Review

In a world obsessed with texting and emails, it’s so very refreshing for me to be able to put away my electronic devices and use something that doesn’t require electricity to convey thought. Oh there are No. 2 pencils, mass-produced and disposable pens galore that I’ve used over the course of my lifetime, but for me the ultimate tool for fine writing is the venerable fountain pen. Directly descended from the first simple cut reed pens and bird feather quills that gave way to metal tipped dip pens, reliable fountain pens began emerging in the mid-nineteenth century and became the…

Game Diary, Reviews August 20, 2012

New Super Mario Bros. 2 Review for Nintendo 3DS

Mario has the golden touch among six new main worlds and three special worlds with extra challenges, score sharing, and downloadable course packs as the famous platform video game series continues in New Super Mario Bros. 2.

News & Features, Travel August 20, 2012

SteriPEN, a Handy Tool in a Variety of Models for Water Purification on the Go

Quite a few years back when I was in high school, I enrolled in a “primitive” two-week hiking trip to the Smoky Mountains/Shining Rock Wilderness area with a group called Wilderness Southeast. It was quite an education for a young greenhorn like myself far from civilization…hiking boots, heavy backpacks and open to the elements (no tents), and no food except what we carried and rehydrated with water from mountain streams. Water…that was key, you see, because back in those days we used chlorine tablets to sterilize the water…and most of you who ever spent time in a swimming pool know…

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