News & Features

Musicalight LED Sleeve for Learning Chords and Songs on the Guitar

In a strikingly odd development, we had news of TWO Kickstarter campaigns centered around parsing guitar tablature and delivering it via light-up fretboard overlay to aid with learning music. I wrote about Tabber earlier, now we have the Musicalight LED Sleeve! This is the problem they hope to solve: Let’s face it: learning to play any instrument is difficult. Most of us have probably started and quit learning an instrument at some point in our lives. With guitar in particular, it can be frustrating learning chords and finger positioning. We learned to play the guitar by staring at tabs, placing…


Tabber Is an Awesome LED Guitar Teaching Sleeve Kickstarter Project!

Apparently interactive guitar training is ‘a thing’, as evidenced by the number of iOS apps designed around teaching you the guitar as a game, and now projects like Tabber that seek to ease your way into learning guitar by putting everything you need right under your fingers. According to the Kickstarter page: Tabber is an open-source LED guitar teacher. Tabber creates a whole new field of visual learning for your guitar. We put the notes that you need to play, when you need to play them right on the neck of the guitar. Our LED light sleeve can be placed…


Native Union’s Curve Twin Handset Perfect for Multi-Device Professionals

We’ve previously reviewed a number of products from Native Union, and we have been impressed by the design and utility of them. That’s why Judie and I made sure to set aside time to visit the Native Union booth at CES. We are glad we did, because a couple of the items that were in the pipeline for 2012 really impressed us. One of them, the $59.99 Curve Twin, is finally available and for those of us who use multiple mobile devices; it promises to be a great accessory. As the Press Release notes, Universally appealing to anyone who uses…


Apple Updates iMovie to Work on Original iPad!

One of the frustrations when iMovie was initially released was that it worked on the iPad 2 but not the original iPad. This was due to the intention of using it with the camera for video-on-the-fly and the hardware capabilities and memory limitations of the original iPad. Now Apple has quietly updated iMovie for iOS so that it will run on the original iPad. Of course there is always a ‘but’ … and in this case it is iMovie Trailers. While you’re able to edit video with ease, you don’t have access to the app’s new Movie Trailers feature. For that,…


Joe Walsh Announced Upcoming Album, Releases First Song for Free!

If you are a fan of rock music from the 70s or 80s, the name Joe Walsh is immediately familiar – his time with the James Gang and the Eagles as well as his solo career produced a number of hits. His work as a sideman cemented him as a legend on the guitar. He is the force behind hits like James Gang’s ‘Funk #49’ (trust me, you know it), Eagle’s ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ and ‘In the City’, and his own ‘Rocky Mountain Way’ and ‘Life’s Been Good’ amongst many others. Walsh has a knack for delivering sardonic…


The Who Launch Fan-Made Work as the OFFICIAL Video for ‘5:15’

Late last year in conjunction with the massive release of the wonderfully remastered Quadrophenia in a ‘Super Deluxe Edition’, the group asked fans to create a short film for the song ‘5:15’. The goal was to come up with a video that “does for the track what the Quadrophenia film did for the album.” Recently we heard that the winner was chosen, and now we have the video to match. The winner was created by Jeff Rodenberg, who won $2000 for his winning effort, as well as the chance to work with Universal Music Group’s marketing team to finalize the…


Katy Perry Plays Rapper in N*ggas In Paris

The thought of Katy Perry singing in general doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in me – she has about a 6 note range, requires all-too-obvious auto-tuning, and in live performances is a poster child for pre-recorded tracks. As for her rhythm … Well, she really can’t dance and certainly can’t sing and dance simultaneously. So again, not a lot of confidence there. Let us just say she is at her best walking around the stage singing along with a pre-recorded track in a way-too-short and way-too-tight dress. So how is it that I just watched her doing a cover of Jay…


Feeling Blue? Element Case’s Vapor COMP Epiphany is for You

It is no secret we are huge fans of Element Case’s products. From their Joule iPad stand, to the Vapor Pro iPhone stand, to the upcoming Vapor Dock, the company’s products all have style and refinement that enhances the experience of using your iPhone or iPad. The Vapor COMP Epiphany iPhone Case is no exception, and a limited number are now available. The Vapor COMP Epiphany features styling of a timeless classic with a durable powder coated frame in Epiphany Blue and a crystal clear polycarbonate cap that has been back painted with white acrylic urethane paint. You have your…


Bodyguardz mykase Turns my iPhone into a Gear Diary Phone

Back in January we posted a look at Bodyguardz new mykase for iPhone 4S. The case allows you to protect your iPhone while changing the look to fit your mood thanks to an innovative swappable back plate. Here’s the video look at it in action. Well the mykase is even more customizable than that. You see, the company now allows you to purchase one-of-a-kind custom back plates that you can make yourself right on their website. The customization engine is easy to use and walks you through the process step by step. You can upload a favorite image, adjust it to…


Einstein’s Life Goes Digital!

I was fascinated by Albert Einstein as a kid. I didn’t really grasp the details of his work, and to this day my grasp of physics is a bit shaky, but I still thought he was awesome. Call it nerd hero-worship. Learning more about what made him so awesome involves learning more about the man behind the math, and that’s why I am excited that the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is digitizing his correspondence and creating a portal where you can read and browse their archives. It’s certainly cheaper to read it online than hop a flight to Israel to…


Yoga Is In the Bag with Hot Dog Yoga’s New Rollpack

Getting the right tool to do the job properly was something I learned the hard way, the first time I did the “Couch to 5K” program. The same goes for pretty much any activity, and that includes yoga. Yoga doesn’t require a lot of equipment, but you do want to have your mat with you, along with water, some snacks (Elana has taught me that it is crucial to eat immediately after working out so the “snacks” aspect is key), and a few other assorted items. One could use a regular gym bag, but that means you’d have to carry…


Walmart Will Offer to ‘Upgrade’ Your DVD to Ultraviolet Cloud Movies for $2 on April 16th

Have you ever thought: I wish I was able to get digital versions of my DVD movies? I mean, without using HandBrake and feeling like the movie industry is going to have you star in their next ‘You wouldn’t steal a car …’ promo? If you are concerned about the legality making a digital copy of a movie, you are not alone. Recent rulings seem to indicate a reversal in prior findings that came down to ‘it is legal to have a digital copy, but not to make one’. The new ruling says that being lawful owner of the disk…


GoFlex Satellite Drive Firmware Update Arriving March 19th

At CES this past January, Judie and I had a chance to meet with Seagate and see their new and updated offerings. We saw, and later reviewed, their GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter. It is now a key part of my iMac setup. We also learned about a coming update to the GoFlex Satellite drive we had reviewed previously. As we wrote at the time, We were glad to see that an update is on the way, and that it will bring some needed improvements. Among them … – The update will double the battery life. That is a big deal since…


Marvel Comics Bridges the Digital-Paper Divide

I admit I don’t follow comics terribly closely, but I do keep one eye on Marvel Comics. They have my favorite superheroes (Spiderman and the X-Men) and I’ve consistently enjoyed their comics when I’ve had the opportunity to read them. I’ve noticed they’ve tried to keep up with the changing eBook world, and they’ve offered e-Comics through apps and ebook programs for a while. But they’ve made a giant leap forward in their embracing of digital content this week, one that eBook fans have begged publishers to try forever! Yes, Marvel is trying to bridge the digital and paper gap…


Don’t Worry … There are PLENTY of New iPad Specific Apps Available!

Do you remember when the iPad first came out and there were basically no apps made specifically for it? Even a bit later we were writing about the issue, wondering where the iPad specific apps were? Of course, now it has gotten to the point where if you see an app that claims to support the iPad app you’ll be surprised if you find an iPhone app with 1x/2x mode. Some were concerned that the new iPad would launch with only the Apple specific apps and a couple of showcase apps like Sky Gamblers that were shown off last week…


How Much Better is the New iPad’s Screen? Evernote has the Answer

As is always the case with a new iOS device update, we are seeing a slew of app updates being released in the iTunes App Store. In fact, this morning I had 29 updates waiting! That’s a lot… but not surprising. Evernote was among the updates and it makes clear just HOW sharp the new iPad’s retina display is. I mean, seriously, look at the picture at the top of this post and tell me that isn’t an amazing difference. (Of course, the iPad 2 screen is on the left and the new Retina Display is on the right.) Fact…


Phiaton PS 20 BT Stereo BT Headset Bring Advanced Technology

Phiaton’s PS 20 BT Stereo Headset may look like any other pair of Bluetooth headphones but they pack in a huge amount of new technology that makes them stand out fro the crowd. The PS 20 BTs have Bluetooth 3.0 capability and use the 2.4GHz frequency for things such as pairing and taking phone calls but for activities that use heavier data they switch to Wi-Fi (802.11). That, for example, allows “more information to be sent to your listening device, providing drastically improved sound quality”.



The 4moms Origami Stroller Makes All Others Look Lame

If you were a new parent even just five years ago, you’ll have noticed that the gadgets and gear aimed at this market have gotten significantly better and much more savvy to a new parent’s needs. Whether you’re using FaceTime on your iPad to communicate with your kids when at work or teaching them to read using an interactive eBook, parent’s today are enjoying gear that was only imagined when I was raising my daughter back in the early 90s. Back then, I thought having a state of the art baby monitor meant being able to clip a walkie-talkie to my pocket,…


Intel Ultrabook Temptations, Random Video Series of the Day

Judie and I had the chance to use the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook before it was even out. We live blogged, edited images and video and came away pretty impressed with Intel’s move into the “ultralight, ultraportable but still affordable” space. Now Intel is kicking things up with a series of amusing video ads. I’ll say one thing about them… they sure kept my attention! And here’s one more.


The CalypsoPad Cradles Your iPhone in Buttery Leather

If you hate putting your iPad in a case, but seeing it lay on a table completely naked (and vulnerable!) while charging makes you feel skeevy, then have I got a solution for you! Say hello to the gorgeous new CalypsoPad, a handmade iPhone desk accessory. Made of the finest premium Italian leather, the CalypsoPad manages to combine form and function; I like that there is a molded area to hold the iPhone, and the magnetic latch on the cable means it will be simple to remove the phone with cable when needed. Available in “Owami Peak” (beige) and “Karoo Slopes” (black with…