Gear Bits

Gate 8 Luggage Takes (Some of) the Hassle Out of Travel

I just finished a month of travel where I logged over 22,000 miles of flying time. It made clear that having the right gear makes all the difference. Gate 8 Luggage hopes to be that kind of gear. Their “flight-ready” and their $200 Trifold Cabin Bag holds two suits, shoes and other accessories as well as your laptop or tablet.


Lotus Waterproof Case for iPhone 4S/5/5S for only $12!

Do you sweat bullets taking your iPhone to the beach? Freak that shoveling snow could be deadly to your precious device? If you’re willing to roll the dice on a generic waterproof case, Eversave has the Lotus Waterproof case for the iPhone 4S or 5/5S for only $12! Worth a try at that price.


Element Case Announces Their New Soft-Tec iPhone 5/5s Wallet

The new Element Case White Soft-Tec iPhone 5/5s Wallet wraps the iPhone 5/5s in white Tech Grip and grey synthetic suede. The $49 wallet features slots so you carry essentials like credit cards and a license. As fans of Element Case’s offerings we can’t wait to go hands-on with this case! Just $49.95.


Avadon 2: The Corruptions Lands on iPad February 28th!

Spiderweb Software is ready to roll out their latest RPG, Avadon 2: The Corruption, to iPad devices on Feb 28, 2014. Avadon 2 is the fourth full-length RPG Spiderweb has ported to iOS and each has done exceptionally well, delivering the full depth and quality of their Windows and Mac versions to the touch screen.





Bing’s “Women of 2013” Commercial Impresses and Educates

We were watching the glitz and glamor of the Golden Globes tonight (don’t judge us) when a commercial aired that stood in stark contrast to the superficiality of red carpets. It was Bing’s “Women of 2013” commercial, and it was a beautiful love letter to the strong women of 2013. Want to learn more about the women featured in the video? Microsoft has more details and resources on all of them on a special Bing site.


Parrot Introduces the Parrot Jumping Sumo – An Insectoid Jumping Robot

Sumo wrestlers aren’t known for their nimbleness, but you might rethink that when you take a look at Parrot’s new Jumping Sumo spy gadget/robot/toy.  The Parrot Jumping Sumo is a WiFi enabled robot with a built-in camera, gyroscope, and accelerometer, which make it easy to pilot from your smartphone or tablet.  Learn more about Parrot’s Jumping Sumo at Parrot’s website.


Epson Moverio BT-200 Smart Glasses powered by Wikitude SDK at CES 2014

There has been some truly incredible technology at this year’s CES so far, and another example is the launch of the Epson Moverio BT-200 Smart Glasses powered by Wikitude SDK. The BT-200 is a set of binocular wearable display technology projecting transparent items over real-life objects. The augmented reality technology is also capable of advanced image recognition and geo-aware services. Here is what they are saying: “The Epson Moverio BT-200 smart glasses offer consumers crystal clear video as well as access to incredible new augmented reality experiences and relevant information according to their personal interests and needs. Leveraging Epson’s leadership…


ClockOne E-Ink Wall Clock Puts Time on a Diet

With apologies to Jim Croce, “If I could put time on a diet…” I would end up with ClockOne… an E-Ink wall clock that weighs less than 3.5 pounds and is just 4mm thick. Seriously thin, ClockOne is big on time and makes quite the statement. Its expected MSRP of $499 does too. Here are the facts: What are the dimensions of ClockONE? 1000mm wide x 350mm tall x 4mm thin What is the weight of ClockONE? 1.5 Kilograms (3.3 pounds) What type of battery does ClockONE use? One CR2450 button battery What is the battery life of ClockONE? One…


GoG.com Celebrates 5 Successful Years with Retrospective Video

Has it REALLY been FIVE years since GoG.com opened up to the public? Actually it’s been longer – it was mid-November 2008 when I bought Fallout 1 & 2 and fully embraced the site and its model and began amassing what has become a 200+ game collection on the site. Because they have great games, fair prices, and no DRM. Here is what I said back then: (they) wanted to make a site that would charge a reasonable amount and give gamers older games that were out of circulation in a convenient, DRM-free package that you can download forever. I…


TP-Link Debuts its 300Mbps Wireless Range Extender Powerline Edition at CES 2014

TP-Link has debuted its new 300Mbps Wireless Range Extender Powerline Edition, which improves upon traditional wireless signals by creating a stable connection through your home’s existing electrical wiring.  With the TL-WPA4220KIT, you’re able to access your network via WiFi as well as wired Ethernet without wiring your house with Ethernet cable.  Read more about it at TP-Link’s website.


Lynx Brings Gas Grills into the Modern Age with its Smart Grill Concept

When’s the last time you heard of a truly innovative gas grill?  Lynx has just announced a concept that will bring the outdoor kitchen into the modern age.  Using smartphone integration and voice commands, Lynx’s Smart Grill can automatically cook your food using pre-programmed recipes created by master grillers.  Read more about it at Lynx’s website.


3D-Printed Instruments Hit Some Sharp Notes

When our buddy Paul Strauss, aka TheAwesomer, told me he just heard a band playing instruments that were all created on 3D-Printers while walking the floor at CES 2014 I was a skeptic. Instruments that were printed? I thought he was pulling my leg. Then I heard them and (cue up the Monkeys…), I’m a Believer.


CES Innovations Honorees and the Gear Diary Connection

It is always cool to see which products win CES Innovation Honors. It is even cooler to see products we have covered from companies with whom we work among them. Judie and I spent time yesterday checking a few out. Here are some CES Innovations Honorees we have have previously shared with you.


JoyTunes Brings Real Music Learning With Piano Dust Buster and Piano Mania Apps

For most people ‘playing the piano’ is one of their bucket list items. For many kids – and parents – it means expensive lessons and disruptive trips to teachers, and often a non-stop battle to practice! JoyTunes seeks to make piano learning more fun with their Piano Dust Buster and Piano Mania apps for iPhone and iPad! According to JoyTunes: JoyTune’s Piano Mania and Piano Dust Buster 2.0 mobile apps teach users to play the piano through exciting game-like lessons that only take a few minutes each day. The unique program is so effective that kids can transition their skills…


Want to Love Windows 8? Try a Samsung Ultrabook!

I owe Microsoft Windows 8 an apology. See, when I first tested it, I thought it was dreadful. But I’ve become more comfortable with the Metro interface between my trusty Lumia 928 and using a Surface RT, and it is starting to grow on me. What really changed my mind, though, is the Samsung Ultrabook I have been testing for review!


Ford Announces Four New SYNC Apps at CES

At CES in Las Vegas today, Ford Motors announced four new apps for SYNC’s AppLink.  Now, you’ll be able to order Dominos, monitor on your home’s security system with ADT, play music automatically based on your mood with HABU, or find the nearest parking spot with Parkopedia and pay for it with Parkmobile.  Click each link to find out more. Ford also announced that they will be hosting a developers conference in June, 2014 to focus on bringing new apps into your car.  It sounds like Ford is making a push to drastically improve their in-car SYNC interface and bring…


JVC Announces Rugged Line of Everything-Proof Everio Camcorders

JVC announced a couple new Everio camcorders that combine the features of GoPro-type action cameras with full-featured camcorders.  The GZ-R70 and GZ-R10 both feature JVC’s “Quad-Proof” structure which is water resistance to a depth of 5m, has the ability to withstand a drop from 1.5m, is dust proof, and freeze proof to 14°F. These action cam’s on steroids go beyond your typical smartphone or action camera by including 40x optical zoom, 2.5 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, audio that zooms with the image, and compatibility with third party editing software.  The GX-R70 and the GZ-R10 are differentiated by internal memory…


IUI Design is Launching the Bass Jumper Water Resistant Speaker at CES 2014

While CES is taking place in the warmth of Las Vegas, much of the nation is gripped by record-breaking cold, snow, and wind. IUI Design is launching the Bass Jumper water resistant speaker at CES to let you rock on despite the elements! It is ready for anything with IPX5 water resistance, carabineer for portability, and a 10 hour battery! Here is what they say: “With an emphasis on portability, the Bass Jumper is packaged with a carabiner clip so users can bring along and share their music on any adventure,” commented Al Fortino, Director of Business Development, iUi Design….