News & Features

News & Features July 19, 2013

Snow Lizard Introduces the Rugged, Waterproof and Battery-Boosting SLXtreme for iPhone 5 and iPad

For most, precious few moments are spent enjoying the pristine thin beauty of a new iPhone before stuffing it in a case. That was part of the deal when we got the phones for our kids – always in a case. And one great thing about the iPhone is that innovative case-makers have an amazing array of products. With ski season approaching, I was thrilled to see the new SLXtreme series launched for the iPhone 5 and iPad. Why specifically ski season? Our younger son is on the ski team, which means bus rides, cold temperatures and long days. And…

News & Features July 19, 2013

Rayovac Redefines Mobile Charging Category with 2-Hour Power

As smartphones advance it seems there are fewer and fewer things to complain about – they are fast, responsive, thin and light, feature-filled, and the batteries … ok, so there is still one thing to complain about. Because with new features and more powerful chips, advances in battery technology have merely managed to maintain the status quo. So what do we do? Many have battery cases which are phone specific, and I also have a few external battery packs I can connect with a cable to my phone. These are great solutions, but can run into a fair amount of…

News & Features July 19, 2013

Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600 Promise Big Sound from Small Towers

I didn’t think I would see the day when I wanted to return to having a pair of computer speakers, but a new computer and Logitech’s new Bluetooth Speakers Z600 may change all that. Yes, now that I once again have a MacBook air my MacBook Pro will likely become more of a desktop computer than anything else. Suddenly I want good desktop speakers again. The timing is perfect since Logitech’s new Bluetooth Speakers Z600 are about to hit the market. Tall and thin, the stereo speakers are designed to look good when sitting next to today’s stylish computers. And…

News & Features July 19, 2013

HTC One mini Packs the One’s Power into a Smaller Package

It has been a long time since I saw Judie as enamored with a phone as she is with her HTC One. The phone is sleek, powerful, and it shows that one needs not compromise when looking for an Android handset these days. Now HTC has, as expected, pulled the curtain back on the HTC One’s smaller sibling, the HTC One mini. The HTC One mini, is a compact — but not small — version of the HTC One, and it brings everything that has made the HTC One stand out in an ever-more crowded marketplace. The HTC One mini…

News & Features July 18, 2013

Amazing Paper Sleeves for iPad mini & kindle

If you own an iPad Mini, you might already have it in a case or perhaps have a SmartCover for your Mini or some type of protection. But many with a Kindle simply toss it in their bag or backpack, and even the SmartCover does little to protect the body of the Mini. There are numerous cases and sleeves you can use for your device, but the folks at t&m have a new idea. That idea? Amazing Paper Sleeves. These are described as ‘Pulp Art’, and are made of solid cardboard. They serve the purpose of “protect(ing) mobile devices against…

News & Features July 18, 2013

Chrome Bravo Night Backpack Lets You Safely Carry Your Gear

I have been really impressed with the various Chrome backpacks we have reviewed over the last year or so, and I’m excited about this new offering – the Chrome Bravo Night. The $180 backpack is described as the company’s “ultimate urban roll top backpack”. During the day the backpack is a sharp-looking black bag that carries all your gear. At night a special 3M reflective panel changes its appearance while also making things a bit safer for anyone walking down the street in the dark. Each of the Chrome backpacks we have reviewed has been impressive with regard to both…

News & Features July 16, 2013

The ChargeCard USB Charger for iPhone and Android Review

If you own a mobile phone, then you inevitably have needed to charge it when away from your desk or car. USB ports seem to be everywhere anymore, but not everyone wants to carry a loose Lightning or MicroUSB cable with them; the ChargeCard fits in your wallet or makeup bag, and it makes carrying an extra charger easy to do. Just stick it in and forget about it … until you need it. Originally a Kickstarter project started in July 2012, the ChargeCard raised almost $162K after asking for $50K. Obviously there were plenty of people other than me who…

Music Diary, News & Features July 16, 2013

‘Learn To Play 80’s Metal’ with Danny Gill on the New Lick Library Release!

For the majority of the 1980s I was in high school and college and joined the work force a couple of year before the decade ended. During that decade I started out as a jazz and rock bassist, honed my skills on that instrument before branching out to learning piano and guitar as well as MIDI studio and music production skills. My leanings and love have always been jazz-centric … but sometimes it is just a blast to drop a heavy beat, a simple harmony, and pull out my solid-body guitar ans just plain shred! If that sounds appealing to…

Game Diary, News & Features July 16, 2013

Special Nintendo eShop Credit with Shin Megami Tensei IV/Fire Emblem Awakening Purchase

RPG game fans rejoice! Today ATLUS’ Shin Megami Tensei IV releases exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS system, which Nintendo is now celebrating along with their Fire Emblem Awakening game in a special $30 Nintendo eShop credit offer. Purchase then register both games on one Club Nintendo account (free to sign up) to receive a $30 credit for use in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS. This offer ends on August 31 and is available in the U.S. and Canada. Promotion requirements apply. This first-of-its-kind offer includes purchases of the retail and digital purchases of these games for eligibility. Both games have…

News & Features July 16, 2013

Astronomy-Class 100X Telescope and Back Case for iPhone 5

A few weeks ago, we experienced a “super moon.” This is where the moon is full while at the closest proximity to the earth. My boys have a beginner telescope so we spent most of the evening in the back yard looking at the moon and discussing all of the markings and features. We were even able to see the rings of Saturn which surprised me using that particular telescope. While we took turns admiring the majesty of the moon, my oldest said, “Dad, I wish you could hook your iPhone up to the telescope and take a picture.” Following…

News & Features July 15, 2013

Have You Had to Exchange Your iPhone 5 for Warranty Issues?

A couple weeks ago, I realized that my iPhone had stopped taking clear photos. Shots that I would ordinarily have taken and expected to be good were now coming out fuzzy and unfocussed. It was pretty obvious that my iPhone 5’s camera had a problem, but it wasn’t clear why. Knowing that I’d be joining him and the other editors at his lake house for GearFest soon — and knowing that I didn’t have a nearby Apple store — Dan told me to send him my iPhone, and he’d take it to the Apple Store for them to check out….

News & Features July 13, 2013

On-Ear Headphone Shootout – Which Wins for Comfort and Sound?

Dan and I are taking advantage of our time together at GearFest, our annual editors’ gathering, by doing a blind test of which on-ear headphones we think feel and sounded the best. What we have available to try are four different pairs of headphones that Dan had reviewed — the BlueAnt EMBRACE Stereo Headphones ($199.99), the Jabra Revo Wireless Headphones ($249), the Phiaton PS300 NC Premium Noise Cancelling Headphones ($299), and the Monster Tuxedo DNA Headphones ($229.95). I was the first guinea pig in the chair. The rules were no peeking, and not to touch the headphones other than for minor adjustments. You can…

News & Features July 12, 2013

Amped Wireless High Power Wireless-N 600mW Gigabit Dual Band Repeater Review

I’m writing this review from Dan’s lake house in Pennsylvania, where Gearfest 2013 is about to kick off. That bit of geographic detail is important for two reasons. First, when I arrived here yesterday, it was the first time in weeks that I had reliable internet service, as I recounted in this post, I’ve been battling the rural Texas connectivity fight and losing badly. No internet has meant very little posting. More to the point in this review, no internet has meant that I had no way to test out the Amped Wireless repeater I’d been sent to review. After all,…

News & Features July 8, 2013

Skooba Design Introduces New Mini Checkpoint-Friendly Bag for Subcompact Laptops

If you travel a great deal, then you know that small things can make a huge difference during a journey. For example, getting through security quickly can mean the difference between starting a trip stressed out or feeling relatively relaxed. That’s where Checkpoint-Friendly bags come in handy. These bags allow you to move through the security screening without having to go through the hassle of pulling your laptop out of your bag and laying it in a separate bin. And while remove-screen-replace may not SOUND like a big deal, each item with which you need to deal during the chaos…

News & Features July 7, 2013

What a More Realistic Barbie Doll Might Look Like

Take a look at the modern Barbie doll that Nickolay Lamm of MyDeals.com created; she’s the one on the right, in case you couldn’t tell. It’s been said before that if a human being had Barbie’s proportions, she would be about 5’9″ tall with a 39″ bust, and an 18″ waist. That living doll would have 33″ hips, she’d wear a size 3 shoe, and she would weigh 110 pounds. Those measurements are not at all realistic if you are a human being rather than a product made of molded plastic body parts.

News & Features July 4, 2013

Wilson Electronics’ 21st Century Tech Survival Kit

Wilson Electronics recently featured their electronic/technology products in a specially packaged “21st Century Survival Kit”. Gear Diary has tried Wilson Electronic products before, especially in emergency situations, and I recently tried out the six items in this well-chosen package – a great guide as you shape your own emergency tech kit. This 21st Century Survival Kit considers communication and sustenance ranging from minor snafus to major disasters to help yourself and others while communicating vital information to first responders. “We began thinking about what has changed in technology and society, and how that would affect what we would want to…

News & Features July 3, 2013

NHTSA Release New Traffic Safety Facebook Game

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants you to stay safe this holiday weekend and looks to reach a wide audience with their traffic safety messages through their new Memory-type game “Buzzed. Busted. Broke.” now on Facebook. Players choose a difficulty (easy, medium, or hard), then click panels on a board to match pairs and win. The game is a new twist on the familiar photo match game — except in this version, all the images are related to buzzed driving, which gets players thinking about possible scenarios involving alcohol intoxication and drunk driving. THe NHTSA collaborated with Play…

Crowdfunding, News & Features July 2, 2013

Introducing the Perfect Pitch Golf Mat – Portable Practice for Perfect Shots

When I was in college, I had a roommate that worked at a golf course, so naturally we played a lot. Between student specials and free golf after he got off work, I played around three or four rounds of golf a week. Playing golf is often a great method to keep your frustration and anger levels down. There are so many skills needed for a variety of situations, and most players spend their entire lives chasing the perfect round. For young players, hitting off the tee is about all they work on. You have to impress everyone with that…

News & Features July 1, 2013

Monster iSport Freedom Bluetooth Headphones are The Perfect Wireless Workout Companion

While in New York for a CE Week event last week, I had a chance to spend some time at the Monster headphones booth. While there, I saw the Monster Inspiration Active Noise-Canceling Headphones which Judie had reviewed and loved. (Read the review.) The White Tuxedo Monster DNA Headphones I reviewed were also on display. (Read my review.) There were also a pair of strikingly bright headphones that caught my eye; these were the upcoming iSport Freedom headphones. The iSport Freedom headphones are Monster’s first-ever on-ear wireless headphones. The iSport Freedom headphones are water-resistant, anti-microbial and sweat proof. Inside the…

News & Features July 1, 2013

Start Dipping Your Cookies in Milk the Civilized Way with the Dipr

Surely one of the best known images representing the simple pleasures of childhood must be dipping cookies in milk. My sister and her friends were avid practitioners of the art, but I never took a shining to the practice myself. The whole dipping one’s cookie and often fingers into milk just seemed messy and uncivilized, just too reminiscent of early teething toddlers sticking formerly useful household objects into their gooey, slavering maws. The horror! Thankfully, the march of civilization continues, and with that march has emerged the Dipr, the first utensil specifically designed to allow for tidy dipping, eating and enjoying…

Game Diary, News & Features June 28, 2013

‘The Shadow Sun’ iOS RPG Hits Beta, Will Release This Summer

I have previously written about the upcoming epic action-RPG from Ossian Studios ‘The Shadow Sun’. Ossian developed the best ‘Premium Module’ for the original Neverwinter Nights, one that introduced the concept of a personal citadel amongst other things. They also produced the only ‘Adventure Pack’ for Neverwinter Nights 2, and are now seeking to produce the first original true-RPG experience for the iPad that will appeal to hardcore gamers and more casual players alike. ‘The Shadow Sun’ has been delayed for some time to focus on the iPad experience and other details, but Ossian has now announced that the game…

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