Reviews | Gear Diary

Might & Magic Clash of Heroes for iPad Review

I remember when Might & Magic Clash of Heroes for the Nintendo DS arrived. It was an oddity of a game in that I was immediately prepared to hate – a new game for a new platform by a new developer in a totally unrelated genre with a familiar name; I was like most fans of the original feeling that it was likely someone was trying to cash in by attaching a familiar name to a mediocre game. So imagine my surprise when I called Might & Magic Clash of Heroes ‘one of the best DS games of 2009’ in a…

Reviews

Incipio Stanley Technician Case for iPhone 5 Review

When I purchase a case for my phone, the most important quality for me is durability — how well the case will protect my phone. I’ve had my fair share of phone accidents including drop kicking my iPhone under my car, knocking it out the window, and accidentally leaving it on the floor for my dog to mistake as a chew toy. The Incipio Stanley Technician Case for iPhone 5 is a rugged case that has a rigid plextonium frame (not quite sure what that is, but it sounds tough), impact resistant semi-rigid NGP soft shell core (also sounds good), and…

Reviews

Trina Turk iPhone 5 Case Review – Fashionable & Fun Protection

When we were walking the aisles at CES, there was one booth that stood out like a bright sunflower in a field of hay; that booth belonged to M-Edge, and the items that caught my eye were their new mobile accessories designed by Trina Turk. I love the fact that Trina Turk is designing such eye-popping cases for the iPhone 5 and other Apple devices; pictures just don’t do the bright colors and pleasing textures justice. The Trina Turk iPhone 5 case by M-Edge is a dual layer system that couples a brightly colored protective soft silicone inner case with a hard plastic outer…

Reviews

Kaufmann Mercantile EDC (Everyday Carry) – MacGyver Approved

I was a big fan of the show MacGyver when I was younger. It was amazing to watch as week after week MacGyver would find himself locked in a Siberian prison or similarly nasty situation and save himself and others by turning a dinner tray, a toothpick, a paperclip and some string into a hang glider. Okay, maybe he wasn’t THAT good but he was impressive in his ability to take ordinary objects and turn them into the tools he needed. No doubt there were more than a few times when MacGyver would have benefited from having the Kaufmann Mercantile ECD…

Reviews

Picashare Picasa Sync iOS App Review

I hate synching my devices to computers. It’s much simpler to use iCloud and Photostream than it is to fire up the beast that is iTunes these days. In an all-iOS environment, this works great. But if I have a number of photos that need to be edited in Picasa, it’s a pain to download what I need from Photostream or email them back and forth to myself. Picashare for iOS can upload photos to Picasa and Google+, but does it really make life that much easier? Read on for the full review! Picashare is pretty simple. Log in with…

Reviews

Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5 Review

I truly wish smartphone battery technology would improve to the point that companies like mophie would not be needed. Unfortunately for us- and fortunately for companies like mophie- I don’t see that happening any time soon. That’s why there is a huge potential market for the new mophie juice pack helium. The mophie juice pack helium is 13% thinner than any of the company’s previous iPhone battery cases and adds 1500mAh of additional battery to the current generation power-sucking iPhone. The company was kind enough to send one for review. Let’s take a look and see if this $79.95 battery…

Music Diary, Reviews

Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House Strong Place Review

OK, so I am a sucker for any new release featuring guitarist Mary Halvorson. Already a fan of Ingrid Laubrock from 2012’s Camino Cielo Echo from the Tom Rainey trio (yes, also with Mary Halvorson), this was an instant-buy for me. And while the band members were all familiar to me, this was clearly Laubrock’s effort, featuring her compositions and arrangements and a tremendous sense of personal style. So let’s take a look at Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House ‘Strong Place’: Musical Genre: Avant Garde Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Music Store Artist: Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House Description: Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House is an ensemble led…

Reviews

HEX Cabana Messenger Bag Review

We’ve looked at a lot of messenger bags over the years but we have never seen one quite like the HEX Cabana Messenger Bag. The HEX Cabana Messenger Bag looks like a simple cloth messenger bag made from a striped cloth that offers interest without overwhelming the eye. It is a simple cloth messenger bag made from a striped cloth that offers interest without overwhelming the eye but it has a trick up its sleeve behind its front flap. You see, the HEX Cabana Messenger Bag was made with the iPad-lover in mind. It not only lets you carry a…

Reviews

Trina Turk MacBook Case Review – Bright & Cheerful Protection

I’ve been guilty of playing it safe bland by keeping my mobile devices inside black, brown, and beige accessories … not that there’s anything wrong with that. But every now and then I do like to carry something that pops a bit more, and that’s where the Trina Turk for M-Edge MacBook Case comes in. For those who didn’t know, Trina Turk is a California designer who is known for splashy graphic designs that are heavily influenced by her appreciation for the 1960s and ’70s era. Trina opened her first retail boutique in 2002, and now she has seven; you can also find…

News & Features, Reviews

Kogan Agora Smart TV HDMI Dongle Review

The Smart TV age is among us, and while many new TVs are being equipped with “smart” features, it doesn’t help you if you already have an excellent HDTV in your living room. This is where devices like the Kogan Agora Smart TV Dongle step in. Featuring an HDMI connector on one end, a USB on the other, microSD and USB port on the side, the dongle is meant to bring your TV up to speed with streaming media and web surfing on the big screen. Included in the box is the Smart TV dongle, a short HDMI extension, IR…

Reviews

Chrome Niko Camera Pack Takes Your Gear on the Go

I received a review sample of the Chrome Niko Camera Pack backpack a few weeks ago, andI’ve been using it on and off since them. I loved the fact that the backpack came with a handwritten note that encouraged me to “be hard on the bag”. Always one to take direction well (okay not really) I have been doing just that. How has the bag done? Let’s just say I’m impressed by everything this backpack has to offer right down to the durability. Yes, it is one tough pack, and Chrome’s “365 To Life warranty” reflects that fact. (You can…

Reviews

Mapi Cases Soli for iPad mini Delivers Classy Protection

We’ve looked at a few of Mapi Cases’ offerings in the past weeks. I reviewed the Mapi Case Perga for iPad mini. (Read the review.) Carly reviewed the company’s Orion for iPhone 4S. (Read the review.) And, most recently, Carly reviewed the Mapi Cases Sia Leather iPad Sleeve. (Read the review.) Each case received high marks from us. This time out we are taking a look at the Mapi Cases Sol for iPad mini. Will the company go four for four with this latest case? Read on to find out. Gorgeous leather, classic styling and the luxury that is only…

Reviews

Orbino miniPadova Review; a Most Exquisite Leather iPad mini Case

I wasn’t sure if the iPad mini was going to be able to replace my 3rd generation iPad, so I initially held off on any major accessory purchases. But within only a few days of owning one, I realized that because of the mini’s smaller size and lighter weight, I was carrying it with me everywhere. That wasn’t something I could have said about the iPads I’d previously owned, and that’s when I knew it was time to seriously think about accessories and how to best equip my mini. As I began my hunt, it seemed obvious that I should…

Reviews

Shot Note Pad and App Helps Save Your Notes and Memories

If you take notes with a pen and paper and incorporate those notes into your digital life, the Shot Note Pad and iOS app may be just the thing. Each Shot Note Pad looks like a standard writing tablet, but when used in conjunction with the free app the pads make it easy to capture your notes, drawings and diagrams in digital form. I’ve been trying the Shot Note Pad and app out for a few weeks, and I think they are a decent way to merge traditional and digital workflows. Let’s take a look. The Shot Note Pad looks like any inexpensive standard paper,…

Reviews

Graft Concept Leverage i5 for iPhone 5

I recently received the Graft Concept Leverage i5 for iPhone 5 that I had preordered some time ago. I waited patiently for the case to arrive and, now that it has, I can honestly say it was worth the wait. The Graft Concept Leverage i5 for iPhone 5 is easy to put on and remove from the iPhone, offers decent protection and, thanks to the unusual methods of securing the case on the phone, it is unique. It is not, however, without its shortcomings. Lets take a closer look on video and then discuss my one area of concern. As…

Health and Fitness, Reviews

Merrell Bare Access 2 Review

I sing the praises of minimalist shoes every chance I get. They’re great at strengthening your legs and feet, but it can be harder on your body at first and requires some adjustment. Merrell recognizes this, and their M-Connect line isn’t just for super minimal shoes. The Merrell Bare Access 2 shoes give you the qualities of a minimalist shoe, but it has a slightly thicker sole to make it easier on your feet in the transition. Does it walk that line between just enough shoe and too much shoe? Read on to find out! In many ways, this shoe…

Reviews

Toast Wooden iPhone Cover Review

It’s easy to find a case that makes your iPhone stick out in a crowd. There are colors and styles for all tastes. But what if you like a more minimal look to your phone? How do you make it stand out without resorting to adding bulk? Adding skins to the iPhone is one way to do it, but if you want your iPhone to look truly unique, then you need something more special. I saw Toast’s gorgeous display of wooden etched back covers for the iPhone and iPad at CES, and when the opportunity came I jumped on the…

Reviews

StarTech Cables Review – Sync and Charge Intelligently

Smartphones gobble power, and because of that, it’s nearly impossible to get through a longer than usual day without sneaking in a top-off somewhere. Carrying around the same cable that you use to charge your phone at home is possible, but the chances of it getting lost or damaged grow exponentially depending upon the number of places in which it is being used. Why take the chance of losing the cable that came with your smartphone, when for a reasonable amount you can pick a spare cable that adds even more flexibility and functionality to your device? That seems to…

Reviews

Targus iNotebook Productivity Tablet Review

We saw the Targus iNotebook at CES last month. It is an intriguing device, and Targus was kind enough to send an iNotebook for review. Before we get into the review though, let me step back and give a bit of history. As I have previously noted here on the site, my best experience with Windows came in the form of using a Windows Tablet PC. It was a terrific productivity tool that allowed me to use one computer for both typing and capturing hand written notes. I also did some voice recognition on it, but that tended to have…

Game Diary, Reviews

Neverwinter Nights 2 Mysteries of Westgate – a Retro Romp Review

Type of app: RPG adventure pack Platform/where to buy: PC; available at GoG.com Developer: Ossian Studios (full game published by Atari) Just over a year ago I looked at the Mac App Store release of Neverwinter Nights 2, which included only the core game without expansions. And while we still don’t have the expansions for the Mac, recently fans of the game got an unexpected treat – a DRM-free release of NWN2 Complete on GoG.com! Included in this is the single official third-party ‘adventure pack’ for the game, Neverwinter Nights 2 ‘Mysteries of Westgate’ from Ossian Studios. To celebrate the…

Music Diary, Reviews

iLectric Piano Review – Get Classic Electric Keyboards

It doesn’t take an astute listener to realize that ‘retro is in’. At the recent NAMM show, we saw names such as Korg, Moog and Prophet right out of the late 70s, and all of them were producing analog synths. But before the synth became the keyboard mainstay, loads of classic recordings were made with funky Fender Rhodes and swirling Wurlitzer electric pianos. Now IK Multimedia allows you to get classic electric keyboards with iLectric. Let’s take a look! Type of app: Audio app Platform/where to buy: iPad; available in the App Store Developer: IK Multimedia Description: iLectric Piano offers…