Articles by Travis Ehrlich

It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt: Using Gear for the Bad

Imagine this situation. The phone rings with the caller id displaying your significant other. You gladly answer the phone but the voice on the other line sounds strange. The caller id never lies, so you believe it is who the phone says it is. A horrible, sinking feeling comes over you as the caller confesses to cheating with your best friend, complete with gory details. Your life is instantly falling apart with feeling of rage, sadness and confusion overwhelming you as the caller laughs and hangs up. Later, the complete conversation is found for all to see on Facebook with…

Game Diary, Reviews

muBlip for iPhone Review

This week was time for something new for the Blue Plate. I wanted something entertaining, yet entirely different. My search brought me to muBlip. It caught my eye since it was a memory game that used musical principles. As a musician, I enjoy games with a music theme but as a guitarist I have never been into guitar hero type games. muBlip uses beeps and soothing music combined with shapes to deliver an entertaining and addictive game. Let’s take a look. muBlip is a memory game that combines musical beats and shapes. Music from para9 and Duchess Says set the…

News & Features

Speck Introduces CandyShell Wrap for iPad

Any of you who own an iPad know there are two main issues. Protection and how to hold it. Of course we want to carry the gorgeous device with us, but all of that screen real estate leaves plenty of room for mishaps and broken glass. There are probably thousands of options for both protection as well as stands, but few combines both. The problem with all of these options is finding good quality and well thought design. As you have seen with many of our reviews, the Gear Diary Team and editors love the design and quality of Speck…

Reviews

iPad App Review: Interruption

I usually only get to use my iPad at home when I have a WiFi connection. My first order of business is to check all of my news feeds, from Mac and tech blogs to actual world news. My number one problem with most readers is they are just too messy for me. There are several popular apps that have corrected that problem, but I just cannot get into using them. I have a lot of feeds I check and it just seems overwhelming most days. The developer of The Chalkpad contacted me about Interruption and it looked promising. Let’s…

News & Features

Arctic Releases Land Rider 300 RC Racing Car Series

Arctic has developed into a company who primarily made cooling solutions for computers to a company who releases high quality products of everything from speakers and keyboards to now hobby items. I have reviewed many items from Arctic and have yet to find something that was not high quality while staying affordable. Their newest line of RC toys. As you can see in a post here, the first offerings were all service related vehicles. They are now announcing a new line of Land Riders for those with faster tastes. Take a look at the full release and product line. These…

Game Diary, Reviews

Over the Rainbow for iPhone/Touch Review

When I play games on iOS devices, I usually prefer puzzle style games. I noticed Over The Rainbow was on sale for free so I figured it could not hurt to download and give it a try. Despite the cute, childish theme and design, it was quite fun for an old football coach. As you will see, the game is super easy to play, but becomes challenging and addictive as you work through the levels. Let’s take a look! Over The Rainbow puts the player as a cute water droplet that is dropped from a rain cloud. The goal is…

News & Features

PocketLabworks To Release iRiffPort Taking Mobile Guitar To The Next Level

I have several iPhone/iPad to guitar interface hardware products. All of them work well and allow players to use their IOS device to plug in a guitar and add effects. The products are awesome for practice, but the sound quality probably is not good enough for recording or true performances. PocketLabworks is planning on releasing some hardware designed to improve the audio quality while using an IOS device for the guitar. About iRiffPortTM 24 bit Digital Audio Guitar Interface for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad PocketAmp and PocketGK work with several adaptors listed on our website. However, iRiffPort offers the…

Events, News & Features

iGrill Wins 6th Annual Bluetooth SIG Best of CES 2011 Awards – Best New Product

I know most of you are stuck inside looking out at the snow. If you like to BBQ, your pit is probably frozen in a drift of snow right now. One thing great about living in Texas is the fact that I can BBQ almost anytime of the year. In fact, last night I grilled steaks and Brats. Maybe that is why Texas has the best BBQ! As a dedicated griller, the idea of joining two of my favorite hobbies, the barbecue pit and my IOS devices sounds like an amazing idea. The iGrill does just that, allowing all of…

News & Features

New Mobile App Transforms Guitar Players into a Rock Prodigy

I cannot describe how exciting it is to see the advancements for guitar players on IOS devices. Changes are coming so fast, they are difficult to keep up with. My good friend Travis has recently picked up the guitar and I am assisting in his learning. His iPhone is playing a vital role in his guitar education. Rock Prodigy is one of the newest methods of honing your skills. Using your actual guitar, the app will even score your playing making each song better knowing what mistakes were made. I hope to take a good look at the app very…

Game Diary, Reviews

Discovery Channel Cannon Challenge for iPhone/Touch Review

My good friend and combat hero, Travis and I were watching the Military Channel yesterday when we saw a commercial for a new version of the Cannon Challenge game. Before purchasing, we decided to download and play the older, free version of the game. Travis is a full iPhone and soon to be Mac convert so I like to send plenty of ideas for apps and games. Discovery Channel Cannon Challenge is the perfect game considering we were watching similar subject matter. Let’s take a quick look. Cannon Challenge allows players to take control of their very own NLOS cannon. …

Reviews

Review: GlowCrazy Glow-In-The-Dark Fun

Despite being a gear geek, I still want my kids to have activities for inside that are not on a television or video game system. In their life, most of what they know come either of those ways. We do play with Lego toys, slot car tracks and board games, but those get old to the boys. What we need is something unique that seems magic. Enter GlowCrazy which happens to be both unique and does seem like magic. The good folks at GlowCrazy sent me and my boys a sample for review. My boys play hard and are self…

Events, News & Features

Video Exclusive: ioSafe Rugged Portable Hard Drive Given a Hard Time!

We just posted the release of ioSafe’s newest hard drive product right here. Just like last year, Dan, Judie and Larry were able to see the ioSafe perform in person. Last year, the demo showed how well their products stand up to fire which was right up Larry’s alley. This year they dragged one behind a van then shot it! To make it even better, the Gear Diary editors get to take the shots!!! Of course, I am saying Judie and Kevin took the best shots since they are fellow Texans and all. Watch the video and I promise you…

News & Features

Astraware and Digital Eel launch Weird Worlds: Return To Infinite Space on the iPad

Along with all of the gadgets at CES, some new games are also being released this week. Astraware has just released a new iPad game, Weird Worlds: Return To Infinite Space. This is the iPad take on the Mac/PC game of the same name. The iPad seems like a great platform to engage in space combat. Here is the complete release from Astraware. Watch soon for a full review. Astraware and Digital Eel launch Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space on the iPad Staffordshire, UK – January 5th 2011 – Astraware® is excited to announce it’s going to be a…

Reviews

ToonCamera for iPhone/Touch Review

The iPhone 4 has a really good camera and it shoots HD video. I have come to be pretty dependent on the phone as a camera device as well as my only video device. I have collected quite an array of camera and video apps. In fact, I have started my third folder full of photography apps. One problem with these apps is that they rarely qualify in price for the Blue Plate Special. I recently came across ToonCamera which happens to be a simple, yet fun app for both video and photos. Let’s take a look. ToonCamera is exactly…

Reviews

iPad Accessory Review: EFO iPad Bluetooth Keyboard with Folding Case

One of my favorite gadgets of not only this year, but also all time is the iPad. The hardware is elegant and the technology is amazing and cutting edge. There are some limitations or concessions that must be made using the iPad instead of a conventional computer. One of the main changes is the use of the software keyboard. We have all learned to use software keyboards and I actually prefer them on a phone. The iPad is somewhat different since it is able to be used for tasks commonly performed on a laptop or desktop computer. Several options are…

Game Diary, Reviews

Wingnuts MotoChaser for iPhone/Touch Review

We are coming back from my first layoff of the Blue Plate Special since the series began. Last week the football team I coach for in Texas played for and won the State Championship. The week was so hectic that I just could not get around to finding apps or writing for that matter. We have this week off for a much needed Christmas break so I already decided this week’s selection would be a game. The players and coaches all need some down time to relax and reflect on winning our school’s first state championship. The selection this week…

Reviews

Review: BodyGuardz Dry Apply Protector For iPhone 4

Let’s face it, today’s devices are expensive and beautiful. Unfortunately their function and uses makes it difficult to keep them looking as shiny as they were right out of the box. It is always so disheartening when the dreaded scratch shows up on the beautiful screen of a device. There are many ways to protect these works of beauty and a leading product is the clear protector. They provide scratch protection while not adding bulk or changing the appearance. There are many brands and kinds of clear protectors, but BodyGuardz has proven to be one of the leaders in the…

Game Diary, Reviews

Dizzypad-Frog Jump Fun for iPhone/Touch Review

It seems that most of my Blue Plate Specials as well as other games I purchase are puzzle games. When I am not playing puzzle games, they are often racing or shooting games and almost always contain insane graphics and loud explosions. Very seldom does a cute game catch my eye. I saw that Dizzypad was on sale for free and thought it looked interesting, so I downloaded. To my surprise, I was instantly hooked. Let’s take a look. Escape into your own tranquil pond to see how far you can jump your dizzy frog from pad to spinning pad….

Reviews

App Update: Amplitube 2 For iPhone

I recently reviewed the Amplitube application along with the iRig hardware. Check out the full review here. The Amplitube app is a robust guitar effects studio used on IOS devices. Version 2 has just been released and adds some exciting functionality to an already great app. The ability to use my iPhone or iPad while playing the guitar has been a wonderful experience. I can play privately in my home without annoying my family with the loud music and am totally mobile. If I wanted to play silently in the past, I had to connect headphones to my amplifier which…

Game Diary, Reviews

Flight Control for iPhone/Touch Review

The addition of GameCenter on my iPhone has definitely sold me on several games. Casual and puzzle games seem to be much more enjoyable when I get to compare my friend’s scores and talk a little trash (or hear some). It seems like the most enjoyable of these games are puzzle style games that can be open ended. The latest games my friends and I have been locking horns with is Flight Control. The game is super addictive and will become surprisingly competitive. Flight Control is a line drawing game that is simple to play, but will prove to be…

Reviews

Review: Monsoon Vulkano Deluxe Pro

I spent a large portion of the summer building a nice deck just outside my back door. Once it was finished we would sit out there under the bright Texas stars and I would tell my wife I needed a way to watch sports out there. My WiFi is full strength on the deck, but I could rarely watch live sporting events. If only I could watch on my iPad or iPhone or even laptop. Enter the Monsoon Vulkano to grant my wish! The Vulkano sports technology for TV placeshifting, digital video recording, internet video playback, universal plug and play…

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