Travis Ehrlich | Gear Diary

Blue Plate Special Silly Edition: Flip/Bubble Text for iPhone and iPad.

We all use our iPhones and iPads for many daily tasks. Besides gaming, most of these tasks have become quite practical and serious. Sometimes it is fun to just be silly for no good reason with your i device so this week I am bringing you the Silly Edition of the Blue Plate. This app really has no great value other than it is just kind of fun. If you ever get bored with the default text the iPhone allows then it is time to try Flip/Bubble Text for iPhone and iPad. Basically, the app allows users to type anything…

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Review: Arctic Hub 4 Port USB Hub

USB devices have become the standard for geeks and technophobes alike. If you plan on using modern technology, you are almost guaranteed to be utilizing USB ports for many devices. Of course, none of my computers come with enough hubs, so I must find other ways to plug all my gear in. I have tried many expandable USB hubs with varying success. One problem I have had is the size as well as space for plugs. I have one hub that has three spots on both sides equaling six. There are very few cords or drives that will plug in…

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Review: Philips Multimedia Speakers 2.0. Cute But Party Hard!

I remember a day when listening to music meant a stereo was in the room with you. Since today out music is completely mobile, the old fashion stereo unit is almost extinct. I find myself listening to a computer or my iPhone. I have learned that a nice pair of powered speakers is all that is needed to listen to music or even watch streaming television and movies. I actually prefer powered computer speakers around the house to iPhone dock stereos. I recently received the Philips Multimedia Speakers 2.0 to try with my computer as well as around the house…

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Review: Splash ID for iPad

Think about how much information we use on the internet that cannot be avoided, but could be devastating if it landed into the hands of a hacker. I know I have many log ins and passwords that I keep track of. Some of these are to sites that allow for automatic purchasing or may even contain valuable financial information. Then there are bank and credit card accounts and other important information. With all of these different pieces of information, it is hard to keep up with and even harder to keep safe. Consider Splash ID a safe for all of…

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Friendly-Facebook Browser for iPad Review

My iPad is the first gadget I have owned that seems to constantly grow and change the more I use it. At least once a week I find a new use and grow ever more dependent on my magical little device. I still use my MacBook Pro for most of my writing and heavy computer use, but the iPad is my main media consumption and gaming device. As many of you know, IOS apps are fantastic with the added real estate, and many companies and websites are utilizing the UI and space. With all of the goodness, there is still…

Game Diary, Reviews

Hoggy for iPhone/Touch Review

It seems that my weekly trip through the app store looking for cheap gems has brought yet another addicting game. I mean, even I need a short break from Angry Birds! Apple’s latest event stated that the iPod Touch is the number one portable gaming device. The numbers are not in front of me, but I will argue that my iPhone has become a wonderful gaming option. My sons play on my wife’s iPhone a lot more than they play with their DSi anymore. Well, I have now added Hoggy to my list of fun on the IOS platform. Lets…

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Review: PocketAmp For iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

An exciting new thing is happening in the world of IOS devices! App developers are beginning to utilize the power and UI of Apple products and turning them into electric guitar effects and outputs. I have never hid my love for playing the guitar, and the fact that we can now combine that love with my tech and gadget addiction makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I recently reviewed two hardware adapters that allow the guitar to be played through an iPhone or iPad, and each come with application solutions for the guitar. You can read them…

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Review: Beat The Heat With The Arctic Breeze Pro And Arctic Breeze Mobile

I am not sure where you live, but here in South Texas the heat has been brutal lately! We began football season with 2-a-day workouts on August 2 so I have spent countless hours outside in the scorching sun and heat. In fact, last Tuesday the temperature was 104 degrees with high humidity at 4:00 when we hit the field for practice. At this rate, most of us Texans are looking for any way to cool off. Being a geek means gadgets are always a possibility to alleviate the miserable feeling of being too dang hot. I recently checked out…

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Alarm Clock Pro For iPhone/Touch Review

It is truly amazing how dependent I have become to my iPhone. There seem to be an endless number of tools no longer needed because of the abilities of this little device and the number keeps growing. When I first started using an iPhone, I decided to set an alarm for the morning and abandon my old alarm clock. In fact, the alarm clock I used was a gift from my younger brother when I went off to college back when I was 18 years old. The clock was nothing fancy, but it always worked and I had used it…

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Graffiti Ball for iPhone/Touch Review

I was browsing the App Store for possible Blue Plate Specials and I was hankering for something different. Maybe with the stress of a new football season and the start of school, I just needed something new. I came across Graffiti Ball while looking at some other applications from Backflip Studios, creators of some fine free games. Actually, the icon caught my eye and the name sounded pretty different so I decided to give it a whirl. Turns out, I became addicted fairly quickly to the fun physics game. Lets take a look. Graffiti Ball uses an interesting style combined…

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Review: AmpKit And AmpKit LiNK Turns The iPhone Into A Rockin’ Machine

Agile Partners, my favorite guitar app developers, has teamed up with Peavey Electronics to bring an all in one solution that turns the iPhone into a full functioning guitar studio. Peavey, who has been making quality guitar hardware for many years, has provided the hardware interface. In fact, I have a Peavey amp sitting next to me here in my office/guitar room. Agile Partners, who has revolutionized the guitar app for the iPhone, is providing the software solution. Together, this brings a full effects and amp studio with recording capabilities straight from the iPhone. No amplifiers or batteries needed. Simply…

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Review: BodyGuardz Premium Scratch-Proof Transparent Film For iPhone 4

You placed an order and patiently waited. Now that iPhone 4 is in your hands, you are scared to actually use it and risk scratching the beautiful screen or the cool new glass back. Adding a case will help, but it will also cover up some of that gorgeous Apple design and make the device larger than intended. Even with the case, the precious screen is still vulnerable. Luckily, BodyGuardz have a scratch-proof film to protect virtually any device. So what is BodyGuardz? BodyGuardz are transparent skins custom designed to perfectly fit many devices. The material is used on automobiles…

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HeyTell for iPhone/Touch App Review

One feature not present in the iPhone world is push to talk technology. We have all seen the commercials where a cell phone is used like a walkie talkie. Even though I have never been sure about if I would use the feature, it would be nice to have the option. It just seems easier in certain situations to basically voice MMS rather than make a call. Little did I know this feature was available for the iPhone in the App Store and for free! HeyTell is a voice messaging application that lets the user instantly talk with and…

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Review: Arctic Sound S11 Speakers And Arctic Power C1 Solar Charger

Arctic Sound calls it “the combination of this summer.” Basically, two ultra portable laptop speakers coupled with a solar power source make any summer trip in the sun complete with your favorite tunes. I absolutely love my MacBook Pro, but the speakers are far from useful in my eyes. This leaves me with a constant search for audio solutions. I have tried many combinations, some with good sound but no portability and others being portable with just ok sound. The S111 speakers are tiny making them easy to carry and the addition of the C1 Mobile makes them usable without…

Game Diary, Reviews

QRANK for iPhone/Touch App Review

I am currently back hard at work. We have begun football season and are in the middle of 2-a-day workouts which takes pretty close to every waking hour of the coaches. With that said, many of my usual daily entertainment is left behind for things like eating and showering because the loss of free time. QRANK has stepped in to the rescue. It is a daily short quiz that includes current events and common knowledge subjects. The quiz is entertaining, challenging and only takes a few minutes to complete. Open QRANK each day to complete the daily quiz and compare…

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iPad App Review: The Chalkpad

I am a huge fan of diagramming applications. As a coach, I spend countless hours diagramming. X’s and O’s are much more than people think. Not only do we draw plays and defenses to explain to our athletes, but they are used heavily in planning. Football is a game of leverage and numbers. As a defensive coordinator, it is my job to devise a plan to out leverage the offense and get at least one unblocked defender to the point of attack according to the tendencies I have. The way these theories are tested is through diagramming. I spend hours…

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OpenAppMkt for iPhone App Review

Remember back in the day when the iPhone did not have an App Store? I actually joined the iPhone party in the modern era with thousands of native apps to choose from. In those early days, the only way to utilize the phone beyond the provided Apple apps was through Web Apps. Because of the thousands of app possibilities, I have not previously had much of an experience with these types of apps. Actually, I never even knew how to find Web Apps for my phone. Well it seems that developing Web Apps for IOS 4 can bring some pretty…

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X Games 16 Mobile App for iPhone/Touch Review

It is no secret that I am a sports nut. It is how I make a living and sports have been a daily part of my life for many years. Most of these sports are the usual, football, basketball, baseball/softball. I played these sports, I coach these sports and I am a fan of these sports. One thing people do not know about me is that I was a skater in the mid to late 80s. My buddy had a 12 foot half-pipe and we skated everyday. In fact, I made the varsity baseball team as a freshman and my…

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Arctic Sound P311 Stereo Bluetooth Headphone Review

The iPhone added stereo Bluetooth capability some time ago, but I have yet to try it. Finding quality with affordable prices can sometimes be difficult, so I never looked very far. There are times when wireless stereo headphones can come in pretty handy, so I was excited to test out the Arctic Sound P311 headphones. Most mornings I workout early in the morning long before the rest of the family wakes up. Speakers are not really an option to avoid waking the crew, so I always use headphones. Some of the exercises allow me to hold my iPhone in my…

Game Diary, Reviews

Omino for iPhone/Touch App Review

Games are advancing at a blistering rate and the iPhone has become a wonderful platform for today’s video games. Most new games are all about reality and 3D graphics. When I try to explain Atari or NES games to my son, he thinks it is crazy nothing was 3D and totally realistic. The joy of playing 16 bit games while I was in Jr. High School cannot be explained. With power-ups and level bosses, our idea of video games completely transformed into what would become modern-day gaming. I still remember sitting up all night during the summer with my buddies…

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MyJobChart Web Site Review: A Fun Way To Track Kids’ Chores

Anyone who is a parent knows the struggle of keeping your wonderful kiddos on top of their chores. As the father of two young and arguably crazy boys, it seems that we could spend the entire day cleaning up their messes. There are many strategies to getting the younglings to take care of their chores and I think I have tried them all. The problem in my house is not getting the kids to help out but more of them cleaning up then dragging out a different room full of toys five minutes later. They seem to not mind helping…

Articles by Travis Ehrlich