News & Features

eMusic Merges With eBook Distributor K-NFB to Form Media Content ‘One Stop Shop’

It was only a matter of time – most sites not named iTunes/Pandora/Amazon/Spotify have either closed or been bought out over the past few years … and frankly since it seemed that eMusic was unable to increase subscription volumes no matter what they did, I assumed they would eventually fold. Instead, today we learn that eMusic Merges With eBook Distributor K-NFB to form media content ‘One Stop Shop’. The basic idea is that you will be able to get your digital music, ebook and audio book needs met in one place. eMusic has been around since 1998 and had long…

News & Features

Blackberry Z10 Cases from Case-Mate First Look

BlackBerry’s Hail Mary pass — aka the Blackberry 10 Z10 smartphone — is close to release. I was impressed with the sample I was given at the official release event, and am looking forward to hearing what Judie, who currently has her hands on our Z10, thinks about the phone. The BB Z10 feels solid enough, but I suspect that as with the iPhone, owners are quickly going to want to protect the Z10’s large touchscreen in a case. Case-Mate was quick to announce some Blackberry Z10 Cases, and they sent two along so we could give them a try. If you are…

News & Features

A Bevy of Cases for the Samsung GALAXY S4 Announced

One way to predict whether or not a new device is going to be a hit is to look at how many cases and other assorted accessories are announced in the hours following the launch. For example, each time a new iDevice is announced Judie and I get dozens of emails with each company making sure we know they have something to add style and protection to the device. If such a barometer is accurate the Samsung GALAXY S4 that was announced Thursday evening is going to be a huge hit. Yes, in the day and a half since we…

News & Features

Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4.2.2- A Rant in Two Parts

Verizon Galaxy Nexus users who don’t like to install custom ROMS on their devices are a lonely bunch, and are, too often, stuck with the version of Android that came with the original phone. In fact, until recently Verizon Galaxy Nexus users were still forced to use Android 4.1.1 or risk installing a custom (hacked) ROM. A test release of an update for the Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus recently leaked. I gave it a try and thought I might share my impressions. My Number 1 Favorite New Feature: Photo Sphere The 4.2 version I installed updated the camera…

Events, News & Features

We’ll Be Covering the Samsung GALAXY S4 Reveal Live This Evening

Despite what Apple might want you to believe Android has matured into an impressive mobile operating system and Samsung is on a roll. Over the past few weeks I’ve had a chance to spend some serious time with the Samsung GALAXY Note 2 and the Samsung GAXAXY Note 10.1 with Verizon 4G (that review is coming soon). I have to admit I’m impressed by what the current version of Android offers when paired with Samsung’s hardware. No, I’m still not a fan of the plastic bodies Samsung is opting to use but the actual experience of using their devices is…

Music Diary, News & Features

Fretlights Offers World’s Easiest Guitar to Play

For many people, playing a musical instrument is an unrealized wish. They wished they had taken something up in their youth, but fear it is now too late. But that is just not true – not only can you still pursue traditional lessons as an adult, there are specific methods for learning methods that maximize enjoyment with minimum time investment. And then there is the Fretlights system from Optek Music Systems, and what they are calling the ‘World’s Easiest Guitar to Play’. The system is simple – lights under the fretboard guide you to play the correct notes, helping you…

News & Features

Merrell’s Four Fundamentals of Fitness with Tim Ferriss

Earlier this year I reviewed Merrell’s M-Connect line of shoes and was blown away by the comfortable but minimal fit. Merrell has really committed to making great minimalist footwear, and that commitment doesn’t end when you slap on the shoes. They want to know that you’re really getting good use out of your shoes, and enjoying yourself fully. That’s why they’ve teamed with Tim Ferriss, the self-proclaimed “human guinea pig” and author of The 4-Hour Work Week, The 4-Hour Body, and The 4-Hour Chef to offer up the four fundamentals of fitness. Yes, Tim Ferriss apparently likes when things come…

Editorials, Events, Gear Bits, News & Features

SXSWi New York Times Talk on Gated Content

In which Doug attends a talk by New York Times reporter David Carr (above) on gated content at South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) One of the talks that I had really been looking forward to at South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi)–as a contributor to an online site as I am–was David Carr’s talk, “Gates of Heaven, Gates of Hell”,on how media was adapting to the internet, and specifically about the NY Times’ experiences with pay walls, online advertising, and the like. If you’ve been online for a while and followed the business news regarding making online sites pay, you know…

News & Features

Twelve South BookArc for iPad Now Works with iPad mini

The other day we were leaving the house and Elana said, “Aren’t you missing something?” “No, what?” I replied. “You mean you aren’t bringing your iPad mini with you?” It made me laugh but she is actually right. In the months since I got the iPad mini it is my most carried and used device, surpassing even my MacBook Pro with retina display and my iPhone 5. When I’m out it is the device I am most prone to grab if I am doing anything more than checking email on my iPhone. And if I am at home my iPad…

News & Features

Pelican ProGear S130 Sport Elite Laptop/Camera Backpack Now Available

Before CES 2013 I reviewed the Pelican ProGear S100 Elite Backpack. It is a serious backpack for people who need serious protection for their laptop, tablet and assorted gear in the go. Now the company has released their Pelican ProGear S130 Sport Elite Laptop/Camera backpack. The Pelican ProGear S130 Sport Elite Laptop/Camera Backpack features the same basic design as the ProGear S130 Sport Elite but offers the addition of a protective divider pack for cameras in addition to the built-in watertight and crushproof case for laptops. If you bring your photographic lab with you on the go this backpack may…

Events, News & Features

Audience earSmart Sets New Voice Quality Standard

I find myself using my smartphone less and less for voice calls and more and more for other types of electronic communication. I’m not nearly as bad as Judie, however, who rarely gets on the phone for actual calls. Still, there are times when we do need to use our smartphones as phones and having the best possible audio quality is important. While attending Mobile World Congress Judie saw the Audience earSmart ES325 Advanced Voice Processor. She was impressed. The earSmart is the first Advanced Voice Processor that has innovations such as the ability to have simultaneous three-microphone processing, optimization…

News & Features, Outdoors

Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon Dual Lense Action Camera Gives You Eyes in the Back of Your Head

We’ve all seen those first-person action videos of guys and gals flying down the slopes, jumping out of planes, or slashing through the whitewater on their kayaks. These videos are entertaining and provide the viewer a peek at exactly how it would look if you were risking your own neck out there, without all the danger and adrenaline. The problem with these videos, however, is that you can only capture one angle on the action, unless the camera is behind held in hand. Oregon Scientific is looking to change this with their new Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon camera, the world’s…

News & Features

SpotLite 2.0 Helps You Keep Your Eye on Spot

My dog Porter is generally a good dog, but he has his moments of being a bit bratty. Mostly we joke he thinks he’s a person, and every once in a blue moon he catches his reflection, remembers he’s actually a dog, and misbehaves accordingly. We don’t have him microchipped, in part because he’s a rescue who was shot with BB’s as a puppy, and the idea of inserting more metal into him, even a microchip, breaks our hearts a little bit. But we do watch him like hawks when he’s not leashed outside, especially in the backyard, since you…

News & Features

Roku Releases the Roku 3

After what seemed like an eternity Roku has released a brand new streaming box today. The Roku 3 finally does away with all connections for old standard definition TV’s in this iteration making the box HD only. It has HDMI, Ethernet, USB and a power port and that’s it. The new box has beefed up hardware and improved searching on the device itself. Roku promises that the user interface on the Roku 3 is the most responsive they have designed as well. One last bit of news for the new Roku 3 is that the wireless remote now includes a…

News & Features, Outdoors

TrackingPoint Releases Precision Guided Firearm iOS Simulator App

We first broke news of TrackingPoint and their Precision Guided Firearm system during this year’s CES. The system is a custom-built rifle and scope combination that makes long-range shooting much more accurate. Using the XactSystem, shooters tag, track and hit their target with pinpoint accuracy. TrackingPoint has just released Precision Hunter Lite which allows iOS users to experience their revolutionary technology. The free application is basically a first person shooter that replicates the Precision Guided Firearm experience. Using the head’s up display, users practice utilizing the XactSystem to successfully make ethical shots at extreme distances. Users choose their quarry then…

News & Features

Early Thoughts on Ubuntu Touch

At lunch today I was able to load up a version of Ubuntu’s touch based OS on my Asus EeePad Transformer, because I had come across a post on the infamous XDA forums from a hacker who has actually gotten this to work. Well … it works in that it boots! 🙂 So I decided to try it, just to get an idea of how good or bad it might be. I am actually a little surprised at how much of Ubuntu Touch works, but I’m even more surprised by how much of it doesn’t. Keep in mind that it’s a developer…

News & Features

Ham Radio to be Featured in Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing on ABC

I’ve watched Last Man Standing all season this year and am really enjoying the series in its second year. One of the reasons I was attracted to it was that the character Tim Allen plays, Mike Baxter, is an Amateur Radio Operator. He has been given the tongue in cheek call sign KA0XTT. The “XTT” stands for Ex Tim Taylor. Icom America has provided radios for his shack at his workplace, a fictional store called Outdoor Man which is styled very much like outdoor stores like Cabela’s. So far, the radios have only been props at Outdoor Man but that is about to change. In…

News & Features, Vehicles & Gear

US Postal Service Delivers Muscle Cars Forever

The US Postal Service recently announced the release of a new set of commemorative Forever stamps celebrating five iconic muscle cars from America’s motoring past. The five vehicles being honored – 1966 Pontiac GTO, 1967 Shelby GT-500, 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, and 1970 Chevelle SS – all represent America’s adventurous spirit of the muscle car era as these vehicles rumbled and roared their way into the hearts and minds of driving enthusiasts. Artwork for the stamps was created by Tom Fritz, who said he based his work on photographs of the iconic cars, using bright-colored oil…

News & Features

Polaris eBike Makes You Go WHOOSH!

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of commuting by bike. It’s not practical for my job, unfortunately, but it just sounds very appealing to combine exercise with commuting — plus it’s far cheaper than using a car. I have a few issues with using a bike as a main vehicle, though: One, I would constantly worry about being sweaty, and two, I am a very poky bike rider. Even on a fully tuned up bike, there are children on tricycles who would zip past me! If I were in a position to seriously try biking every day work, though,…

News & Features

Papertrell Aims to Turn Reference Books into Apps

In general, I tend to shy away from the “app-ification” of eBooks. If it’s a book, I want to just sit down and read it. I like eBooks, but I don’t need unnecessary videos, music, etc. However, the exception is reference books, cookbooks, and anything else where it’s not a linear process to read from point A to point B. These books do very well as apps, and the work to create them is often more complex than just digitizing text. Papertrell is the company that works behind the scenes to take a regular book and turn into a reference…

Events, News & Features

Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0 Up Close and Personal

Today was Day Two of Mobile World Congress, and Judie has been busy walking, talking and seeing all the new wares being rolled out in Barcelona. Along the way she got some hands-on time with the Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0. We brought word of the Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0 the other day, and it looks rather compelling. It offers a 1280 by 800 pixel resolution, runs on a Squad-core Samsung Exynos processor and has a full 2GB of RAM. The device will come in 16GB and 32GB variants but both will offer expansion via a microSD slot. A 5MP…

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