News & Features


Auvi-Q is a Chatty Epi Pen Solution

Food allergies are stressful, but when you have an allergy that could lead to a severe reaction requiring epinephrin, they’re extremely scary. Remembering all the steps to administer medicine to yourself or someone you care for can be tough, which is why the Auvi-Q, a talking injector, is such a brilliant idea.



Ford EPA Mileage Ratings Revised (Again)

I was going to bring readers yet another review this morning, but instead wanted to update information presented in a recent piece about some Ford vehicles we tested. Apparently Ford has had to revise EPA mileage ratings for some of its vehicles again — including 2014 model year Fiestas and 2013 and 2014 model year hybrids and plug-in hybrids.


Amazon Launches Prime Music Streaming Service!

Last month Carly noted some of the reasons that Prime Music as rumored – limited selection, older titles – made sense in the context of the other Prime offerings. Well, overnight Amazon introduced Prime with access to a million songs and hundreds of curated playlists. The depth and breadth are limited, but it provides a decent entry point.




Sony E3 2014 – “It’s All About the Games!”

At Sony E3 2014, the concentration was apparent from the beginning – games! “After all guys,” Shawn Layden, the new head of PlayStation America said near the end of the presentation, “it’s all about the games, isn’t it?” Some serious gear and service announcement where also made including a “glacial white” 500 GB PlayStation 4 bundle including the upcoming sci-fi space shooter Destiny from developer Bungie (HALO) and publisher Activision will release on September 9.



Microsoft E3 2014 – Presentation Summary

Microsoft E3 2014 brought some serious game to consumers! Microsoft devoted this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) presentation (a.k.a. global media briefing) to games, while taking pride in their recent Xbox One console price drop to $399 (without the Kinect sensor). Exclusive Xbox One games were plentiful while HALO fans can look forward to several games by year’s end.


Replace Your Pebble Steel Strap with Gorgeous Natural Leather

If you’ve got a Pebble Steel, then you know that the bands that ship with it are not awesome; due to the Pebble’s odd lugs, finding replacement straps is tricky. The Pebble watch is awesome, and it deserves a better strap. I am extremely glad to have found an Etsy seller who makes a gorgeous natural leather Pebble Steel strap.


Barnes and Noble Teams with Samsung for New Nooks

Looks like Barnes and Noble has hit upon a new way to keep their NOOK business relevant, while still getting out of the costly hardware space — they’re partnering with Samsung to make NOOK branded Galaxy Tablets! This looks like a win for everyone. B&N will continue to sell tablets, and Samsung has a new avenue to showcase their products.


Stinger, Because the Best Bugs Are the Dead Ones

We recently received almost 5″ of rain at our house, and although we desperately needed it, the tradeoff was made in bugs, bug, and more bugs! No problem, though, as I had recently received a package from Stinger. Inside were their No Touch Fly Trap and their On-the-Go Zapper Racket. Bugs beware; I am now on the prowl!


Will iOS 8 Lure You Back to the iPhone?

After Apple’s iOS 8 preview at WWDC, I posed the following query to the Gear Diary Team: Carly: So for everyone who has used iOS and been using Android, or for those who have used both platforms…does iOS 8 make you want to jump back to iOS full time? Personally I think this looks like an awesome upgrade.



Temple Run Series Hits One Billion Downloads

Temple Run was one of those unlikely successes – a simple ‘endless runner’ game that has you continuously running and trying to collect as many coins as possible before dying. It was the simplicity and easy charm that made the game quick to pick up and hard to put down. Now the game has passed 1 BILLION downloads!



E3 2014 Overview/Company Presentation Schedule

E3 2014 will bring more details about the highly anticipated new games for Sony’s PlayStation 4 console and Microsoft’s Xbox One console, while Nintendo looks towards the future and bolster their game library. We will also gear up for some exciting services, virtual reality games, the used game market, and independent sleeper hits.



Why Amazon Prime Music Makes Sense

Buzzfeed is reporting that Amazon is planning on expanding their Prime offerings to include music as well as books, movies, and free shipping. This has been speculated before, and the terms (no music newer than 6 months) fits with the backlist strategy of the rest of Prime. It also shows who Amazon Prime is truly aimed at: digital dilettantes.