Reviews

Pelican ProGear S100 Sport Elite Backpack Video Review

If you are looking for serious protection for your laptop, and you want to carry a tablet, and you need a backpack that can hold all your gear, you will want to take a look at the Pelican ProGear S100 Elite Backpack. The ProGear S100 is a beast and that’s a good thing. In fact, it almost came with me as a mainstay of my CES 2013 gear after I was sent one for review*. Let’s take a closer look at this backpack that packs ultimate laptop protection. The Pelican ProGear S100 Sport Elite Laptop Backpack stands out because of…


Nighthawk Bluetooth Microphone Combo System Overview

As we prepare to head off to CES 2013, we are taking the time to think through the gear we are bringing along. One piece of unplanned kit that will be making the trip to Las Vegas comes from BlueWi, a subsidiary of The Earphone Connection. The Nighthawk Bluetooth Microphone Combo is a Bluetooth adapter system that has been used by law enforcement, but it is now making its way into the consumer market thanks to its sturdy build and flexible convenience. The company describes the Nighthawk Bluetooth Microphone Combo as “the ideal tool to meet the demands of the…


Letterpress Word Game for iOS

Type of app: Word game Platform/where to buy: iOS, universal for iPad and iPhone Developer: atebits Price: Free, $.99 upgrade for unlimited games and themes Major features: Use the jumbled letters to create words, and compete for credit for each tile used. Words cannot be reused, and once every tile is claimed, the person who has used more tiles wins. Challenge friends via iOS Game Center. Ease of use/Overall performance: This is a very fun game and a great alternative to word games like Words with Friends. It forces you to be creative, since you can’t reuse words and you…


ProClip iPad Mini Mount System Review; Be Safer on the Road in 2013 with ProClip

From now until 2013, we’re going to take a look at some New Year’s Resolutions and a Gear Diary way to help you keep them. New Year Resolution: Drive More Safely Okay, let’s get this out-of-the-way upfront – the safest place for your phone while driving is in your pocket or bag. That helps ensure that it won’t become a distraction while you fly down the road at 65 miles an hour. If you aren’t going to keep your phone out of the way, however, you’d best have a secure place to keep it lest it become a projectile during…


TmTeam Gen. L. Case for iPhone 5 Review

TmTeam’s Gen. L. Case, made from genuine Turkish leather, is more of a protective pouch than a typical iPhone case.  The design is simple; the pouch resembles an eyeglass case but has a tab that weaves from inside the case to the outside.  When the phone is in the case, pull the tab, which causes the nylon strap on the inside to become taut and raises the phone for removal.  The tab remains on the outside of the case and has a magnet to help keep the phone in place.  Note:  The printed leather case’s tab is magnetic while the…


AT&T LG Optimus G Android Phone Review

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with Android for some time; I’m not sure exactly when it started, but I think that it was around the time that I realized that just because an app was available, it didn’t mean I could necessarily install it on my phone. Lockdowns by carriers and various hardware limitations made Android apps non-universal across the platform, and that was a hard concept for me to accept. The very nature of Android being an open platform meant that the OS could be made to run on some rather unimpressive hardware, but it didn’t always run smoothly or offer a…


In 2013 Take Better Notes and Be More Organized

From now until 2013, we’re going to take a look at some New Year’s Resolutions and a Gear Diary way to help you keep them. New Year Resolution: Take Better Notes, Be More Organized and Use Less Paper I am loving my Livescribe Sky Smartpen. The Livescribe Sky finally lets me get all the benefits of a Livescribe Smartpen without having to physically plug the pen into a computer to electronically recreate and share notes. (Here’s my review of the Sky Smartpen.) There are, however, times when I don’t want to carry and use the large, rechargeable smartpen- times when…


Mophie Juice Pack Pro for iPhone 4/S Review

Tough on your iPhone 4/S? Prone to drops and breaks, and your slim case just isn’t cutting it? Want longer power for your iPhone? If you said yes to any of these questions, you might want to consider taking a gander at the Mophie Juice Pack Pro. Designed to exceed the U.S. military’s MIL-STD 810G specifications, barring any full submersion in liquid, the Mophie Juice Pack Pro will keep your iPhone safe and secure under most conditions. While lacking complete immersion protection, the case will protect your device from rain and splashes, sand and dust, vibration and shocks, as well as drops…


Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review

If you are looking for a serious briefcase that is tough, carries a ton, and has plenty of organizational pockets — but nimbly avoids the pitfall of looking like the stuffy, square briefcase your father carried — then you’ll want to check out the Tom Bihn Zephyr. The Zephyr is built with the quality we have come to know and expect from Tom Bihn. Materials are stellar; the design takes into account the varied ways people use their bags, and the build-quality is second to none. Oh, and as is always the case with Tom Bihn bags, the Zephyr is…


Camera FX for iPhone Review

These days it seems as if pretty much every mobile device has a camera; phones, tablets, laptops — almost anyone on the go can now take a picture when and where they want. While these small cameras are pretty good, a little software help can make them great. There are many offerings for iOS users at many price points; you do not necessarily have to spend a lot to get good results. Camera FX falls into the ‘cheaper with results’ category. Lets take a quick look. Camera FX is designed to present a DSLR like user experience. You can see…


Nintendo Wii U Game System Review

The Nintendo Wii U ushers in a new wave of “next generation” video game console systems with expanded functions and convenient backward-compatible functions stemming from a sleek rectangular console and portable GamePad with screen. The Wii U had an original launch window between March 2012 and December 2012 and eventually debuted on November 18, 2012, so gamers experienced a predictable pre-order frenzy for the holiday season. The impressive high-definition graphics make a winning combination with Nintendo’s vibrantly colorful games while the lightweight GamePad with separate screen offers great gameplay/viewing options. The Wii U is currently available in the following two…


Aranez Flip iPhone 5 Leather Case Review

Stacey just did a review of the Aranez Aquila iPhone 5 Leather Case. (Read it here.) She liked it. Mike reviewed the Aranez Book Samsung Galaxy S3 Leather Case. (Read Mike’s review.) He liked it too! Let’s go for the trifecta and look at the Aranez Flip iPhone 5 Leather Case. More accurately, let’s let my father-in-law Mark go on camera and talk about it. Mark Down South… WAY Down South When last my father-in-law (aka Gear Diary’s Grumpy Old Man) appeared on the site, he was discussing why he was finally taking the leap and getting an iPhone 5….


Green Jelly for iPhone and iPad Review

Type of app: Physics/Puzzle game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version here); available in the App Store Developer: MaxNick / G5 Entertainment Description: ? 60 Levels in three locations: Cake, Chocolate and Waffles ? Over 10 types of objects for physics-based interaction ? 20 Funny achievements to share with friends ? Cute graphics and amusing sounds ? Updates with new levels to keep you entertained ? Game Center Support ? New iPad Retina Display Support Major features: Green Jelly is a physics-based game in which you play as a green jelly candy seeking to collect up all of the candy,…


Speck WanderFolio Luxe for iPad Review

Truth be told, I’ve always been a fan of Speck’s product design, though I haven’t owned any of their products for any of my devices.  So I was very excited when I got the opportunity to review their WanderFolio Luxe iPad case. The WanderFolio Luxe is made with top-grain leather and has pockets for your travel needs, like passports, cash, cards, etc.  It also has the always nice magnetic sleep/wake function that we all like to see on our iPad cases.  Speaking of magnets, there is also a magnetic latch that keeps your iPad closed.  Speck calls this a “smooth-close”…


Save Money on Talk, Text, and Data in 2012 with Republic Wireless

From now until 2013, we’re going to take a look at some New Year’s Resolutions and a Gear Diary way to help you keep them. First up… New Year Resolution: Spend Less on Cellular in 2013 republic wireless offers one single handset. If you want more choices you need to go somewhere else. republic wireless offers a handset with just a 3.7″ screen. If you want something larger go somewhere else. republic wireless offers a handset running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. If you want something newer go somewhere else. While it might seem that republic wireless is the worst cellular option…


Aranez Aquila iPhone 5 Leather Case Review

The first thing I did when I received the Aquila iPhone 5 Leather Case by Aranez, was sniff it for that real leather smell.  My nose (and the case’s specifications) confirmed that this case is made from genuine cow leather. This case is extremely lightweight, yet feels sturdy enough to protect your iPhone 5 from minor drops and bangs.   The right side of the case that holds the phone in place is a thin piece of molded plastic, which does its job of securely holding the phone.   On the left, the case has two slots dedicated to holding credit…


Incipio Stashback for iPhone 5 Review

This is the third of three Incipio iPhone 5 case reviews. This time out we are looking at the STASHBACK Dockable Credit Card Case. This case looks like a simple shell style iPhone 5 case but it doubles as a wallet. Better yet, it is not apparent to anyone looking at the case that it holds credit cards, ID or cash. That’s a great benefit if you want to go out for the day carrying just your iPhone. Let’s face it, we all left the house without our wallet at some time or another (some people even go to the…


LifeProof fr? for iPhone 5 Review – Helps Keep Your iPhone Safe and Secure

I was blown away earlier this month when I went snorkeling and used my 4th generation iPod touch as my underwater camera. I expected the LifeProof case I put on would keep it dry, and it did. What I didn’t expect was how amazing the video I shot with it underwater would be. I mean, take a look at this footage shot underwater with an iPod touch!! And if that is the quality you can get with a last generation iPod touch, then just imagine how amazing the images and videos would be if taken with an iPhone 5! Fortunately LifeProof…


Incipio Stowaway for iPhone 5 Video Review

This is the second of three Incipio iPhone five case reviews we have going up. The first case was a simple slider case that didn’t offer much excitement. This time out we’re taking a look at the Incipio Stowaway for iPhone 5. It is a far more compelling case thanks to two unique features hidden away in its seemingly simple design. First, this case can also function as a wallet. It will hold three credit or ID cards. Second, the door of the “wallet” can double as a stand for viewing the iPhone in landscape. Here’s a look. Features: Rigid…


Byook Enhanced eBooks Review

Various developers have been trying since the original iPad to make enhanced and video eBooks a success. There seems to be this impression that books+tablet+video=profit! Yet plain old eBooks have managed to hold their ground quite nicely, leaving the question of whether there’s really a market for a book with video, music, and other bells and whistles. Byook think they can add to the eBook reading experience, and I had the opportunity to test a few of their titles and experience the multimedia eBook for myself! My first Byook was Sherlock Holmes “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”. The Byook…


Incipio EDGE PRO for iPhone 5 Video Review

Incipio has released a wide range of different cases for the iPhone 5. A few months ago we reviewed a number of them. Now we’ve got a look at three more. First up, is the Incipio EDGE PRO Co-molded Hard-Shell Slider Case. This is a simple slider case with a unique design. Here’s a look.   Rigid Plextonium™ shell with impact resistant core Superior Protection Two-part sliding design for easy docking Access to all controls Here’s a video look with additional images in the gallery below. What’s Inside: (1) Clear Screen Protector Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Applicator Card I’m not overly…