One Company Says It Can Create Clean Water from the Sun
It’s easy to take clean water for granted — we just walk to the tap, turn it on and are rewarded with cool, clean, drinkable water. That isn’t the case for everyone in the world, though.
Editorials
Your Fitbit Alone Won’t Help You Lose Weight
Fitness trackers are one of those gadgets that sound really great on paper; they will motivate you to move by telling you how sloth-like you are! Some people swear by them. Others think they’re a gadget destined for the fad junk drawer. Unfortunately, even if they have staying power as a trend, a new study indicates they probably aren’t helping you lose weight!
With New Update, the Amazon Tap Is FINALLY Actually Worth Owning
My family is pretty invested in Amazon’s ecosystem – Kindle readers, Kindle Fire tablets, Fire TV on our main TV, and Echo devices throughout. Perhaps my LEAST favorite of all the Alexa devices has been the Amazon Tap – but now that has been corrected.
Finally – A Keurig for Beer
Beer is getting smarter, there’s no denying it. First commercial taprooms introduced network-aware tap systems, then came pour-your-own tasting bars that charge by the ounce.
Two Dots Offers an Important Lesson in Civics and Being Inclusive
Raina and I love the game Two Dots. It is one of the best time-sucks out there with new levels appearing on a regular basis. Today, though, Two Dots stood tall for fairness and equality and celebrated the American ideals represented by the Statue of Liberty. Too many have forgotten that we are a nation of immigrants; Two Dots reminds us
An Interview with Jonathan Levine, CEO and Founder of Master & Dynamic
I recently interviewed Jonathan Levine, the founder and CEO of the New York-based premium audio brand Master & Dynamic, about his company and their products. We’ve become big fans of the brand since their 2014 launch, and it was winderful to have a moment to talk to Jonathan about the company.
The Trailer for the “Santa Clarita Diet” Shows Why Netflix Wins Streaming
Streaming video is where everyone wants to be, and the newest entry is a modern take on portraying a hungry zombie, desperate to return to its old life and consuming the living as a poor substitute for true life force. Yes, Apple Music is entering the video business. Oh, and Netflix has a cool new show with Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant!
Lyft is Out of Touch with the Suburban Driver
The cofounders of Lyft have an op-ed on Medium today suggesting that carpooling is the way to end traffic in America. They have some interesting ideas, and the plan they propose makes a great deal of sense in cities. Unfortunately, they seem to think because it might work for LA, it will work for everywhere, and that’s a terrible idea.
Protect Yourself and Opt Out of FamilyTreeNow.com Now
I am an amateur genealogist, and as such, I’m used to using sites to try to find missing relatives and other connections. With that said, there is one site out there that calls itself a genealogy site, but it is basically a stalker enabler of the highest order: FamilyTreeNow.com. Try searching your name on there, go on … I’ll wait.
Buyer Beware if You’re Being Offered Private Stocks
I am on the email marketing list for a niche product. It’s out of my price range right now, but I have enjoyed learning more about the company. Tonight I received an email from them that was technically legal but morally dubious: they were offering the chance to buy private shares of their company.
6 Tech Hacks for Winter
Winter is coming. Actually, it’s already here. It’s that time of year when traveling is a hassle and the warmth of your blanket makes leaving your bed in the morning feel like a mission to Mars. Depending on where you live, winter can be a devastating few months. Luckily for you, there are a ton of new tech gadgets that can help you hack your way through winter and make it a thoroughly enjoyable time of the year. MyDeal Wireless Bluetooth Beanie Hat Headset Have you ever tried listening to music outside during the winter? The headphone-beanie combination is never…
Hand Liberation’s ‘The Butt Case’ Pitch Is a Swing and a Miss
We see some very odd product pitches here at Gear Diary. Every once in a while, we get one that is odd all by itself, but then the marketing material just zooms it right past ludicrous speed to plaid…and that’s where the Hand Liberation folks landed with The Butt Case.
ONvocal Introduces the First Pair of Headphones Compatible with Amazon’s Alexa
Let’s face it, the Amazon Echo has won 2016. It’s the most sought after gadget this year, and with its compatibility to virtually everything, it’ll be a surprise not to see it in every home soon. As a result, companies are making it a mission to make their gadgets Alexa compatible.
Juicies+ Cables Appear to Be (Yet Another) Overpriced Kickstarter Vaporware
Kickstarter is an interesting marketplace. On the one hand, it sometimes produces truly interesting products, but it also attracts companies who interpret Kickstarter success as an excuse to shoot for the moon (cough, Pebble, cough), as well as companies that see Kickstarter as a source of easy money, with no intention of delivering exactly as promised. Juicies cables are rapidly looking like the latter.
Supergirl Soars in Embracing a Beautiful Coming Out Story
Just about every person who identifies as anything other than straight has their “story”. We all have that moment where the niggle in the back of our head, the one said “something is different” finally turned into a full-blown realization. It’s something I’ve personally never seen expressed well in television … until Supergirl.
Pebble’s Death Is No One’s Fault but Their Own
Pebble, once the crown jewel of Kickstarter, has officially folded as a viable company. They have sold some assets to Fitbit, and are in the process of refunding any outstanding Kickstarter orders. This is a sad day, since Pebble was an early smartwatch pioneer, and made some excellent watches.
Everyone Should Watch This Video About High Schoolers
At the risk of sounding like click bait, don’t read the rest of this post until you’ve watched the video below.
Accessorize Your Echo Dot
Amazon’s Echo and they latest Echo Dot have taken off with them becoming mainstream as of late. The Black Friday special on the 2nd Generation Dot being only $39.99 is what triggered me to finally order one. After you get the Dot, it’s time to accessorize as it’s virtually made to be a hub for your smart home.
Will Apple’s Downfall Be the Battle for Your Home?
Quick, what’s the most interesting innovation to go mainstream this year? You can make an argument for a number of ideas, but it’s pretty clear from the ad blitz that home automation, especially from Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home, are at the forefront of ideas that have gone from tech-y to everyday. Surprisingly, Apple appears to be letting that business slide right by them, which is an ominous sign for a so-called innovator.
Hammacher Schlemmer: Come for the Egyptian Cotton Robes, Stay for the Multimillion Dollar Amusement Park
For some odd reason, the folks at Hammacher Schlemmer seem to think my household is the ideal market for their catalog. We’re not sure why, but I look forward to the excellent insanity that arrives each year, and this year my friends at Hammacher Schlemmer have simply outdone themselves.
The Moon Ring Pushes Humor to the Cruel End
In the book “Stranger in a Strange Land”, one of the characters finally grasps laughter when he realizes humor is just laughing at someone else’s suffering. The logical, if painful, end to that theory has been realized in “The Moon Ring”.