News & Features

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…


Learn Music With the Artists Using Jammit’s Unique Layered Approach!

When I was first learning to play guitar and bass, picking up songs meant rewinding a tape over and over again or manually repositioning the needle. Then you would have to pick out the part you were learning in a typically heavily layered production. With the digital age you can at least manipulate the playback to only hear the sections you want and repeat at will … but the rest gets tricky. Enter Jammit. Jammit is a service that provides you with everything you need to learn a song – sheet music with full professional transcriptions, tablature as well as…


Boinx Software iStopMotion Now Optimized for the New iPad

The new iPad lands tomorrow and, among other updates, it has a real camera instead of the nonsense offered on the iPad 2. Yes, the 5MP shooter on the back should take good pictures now and, as a result, an entire new world of iPad image manipulation will be opened. Sure, you will still look like a dork while using a tablet to snap pictures but at least you’ll get decent pictures in the process! One of the first apps updated to take serious advantage of the new iPad’s camera is iStopMotion for iPad 1.2 from Boinx Software. Optimized for the…


Prepare for The Hunger Games With the Book Trailer for … The Hunger Pains!

If your family is like mine, everyone has read the Hunger Games trilogy and is anticipating the film release next week. Perhaps you have even re-read the first book more recently to refresh your memory (though you also likely skipped the last book to leave the memory of THAT rushed mess out of your mind), but were you aware that the Harvard Lampoon had just released a parody book? Released just a few weeks ago, my son got it for his birthday and both my boys have already torn through it and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you have checked out…


BodyGuardz is Ready for the New Third-Generation iPad, Are You?

We’re big fans of BodyGuardz and their various device-protective offerings. I used their skins to protect my iPod touch, my Kindle and even my iPhone. And I’m happy to see that they have jumped on protecting the millions upon millions of new iPad’s that will be arriving this Friday. Let’s take a quick look at a few of them.


NASA 5 Rocket Launches in 5 Minutes (Late) Tonight

Last night was unseasonably warm (still above 70F after sunset), and as I looked into the clear night sky I could see planets visible amongst the stars. If I was to stay up well past midnight I might catch sight of five rockets in the night sky, fired one minute apart by NASA. Here are some details: NASA is scheduled to launch five suborbital sounding rockets in just over five minutes March 15 from the Wallops Facility in Virginia as part of a study of the upper level jet stream. Based on the approved range schedule, the launch window for…


The End of a 244-Year Era As Encyclopedia Britannica Goes Out of Print!

For anyone under the age of 30, the concept of needing a set of encyclopedias in your home is at best archaic. I remember consulting the books as a regular part of doing homework in social studies and geography classes in particular, but also to feed curiosity for dinosaurs, biology, space, physics and more. Well, Britannica has just announced that they will not be producing a 2012 edition and that the 2010 version will be their last print volume. Britannica president Jorge Cauz said the move is a natural part of his company’s evolution. “Everyone will want to call this…