News & Features | Gear Diary

News & Features June 23, 2011

ARCHOS Unveils Fastest Tablets with G9 Tablet Range

Archos pulled a bit of a stunner today with the announcement of new tablets that feature a huge amount of both raw speed and storage capacity. The speed comes from OMAP 4 processors with an ARM® Cortex™ dual-core A9 running at an impressive 1.5 GHz. The large storage comes from a Seagate Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with 250GB of capacity. According to the release: The 8” ARCHOS 80 G9 and 10” ARCHOS 101 G9 are powered by AndroidTM 3.1 “Honeycomb,’’* the latest Android version. ARCHOS G9 tablets come with Google’s full suite of mobile applications and Android MarketTM, giving users…

News & Features June 22, 2011

Random Cool Technology: Charge Your Cell Phone Battery By Typing!

Yesterday my cell phone battery was dead just after lunch – poor signal combined with heavy use killed it quickly. That is a tale all-too familiar to many. But imagine if walking could help recharge your devices, or typing on your phone screen? That is exactly the technology being described in the new edition of the technical journal Advanced Functional Materials. Here are some details: This ANU article quotes lead co-author Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran from RMIT: This is the first time we have been able to say that applying a particular amount of pressure will create specific values of voltage…

News & Features June 21, 2011

Coming Soon: Lenovo’s Video Docking Station with DisplayLink Technology

After a brief flirtation with using a Mac Mini desktop system in addition to my 13″ MacBook Air, I’m back to “laptop-only living”; it works well thanks to high-resolution screens, great battery life and enough power to handle just about anything that is thrown at it. One of the things that make laptop-only living easier is a good docking station that makes it possible to connect and disconnect peripherals with ease. This is especially the case with laptops like the MBA which only have two USB ports. Well, we got word that Lenovo is once again employing DisplayLink’s technology, and…

News & Features June 21, 2011

Pre-Order MyPadLife iPad 2 Case From Kickstarter

If you are among the many people who now take their iPad almost anywhere, you probably have the same problem that I do. How do I use it when I get there? Whether it be in the gym or kitchen, there are few cases that allow the iPad to just be used in all situations. Saad Alam had the same problem and decided to do something about it. He created the MyPadLife case for the iPad 2 to make his device more versatile. If you head over to Kickstarter you can watch a video about the idea, read more information…

News & Features June 20, 2011

Shine a Light on It with iShuttr

Okay, we all know and recognize that the cameras built into our phones are not the best around. Could we do better with a dedicated point-and-shoot? Sure. How about a full-blown SLR? Yeah, of course, stupid question. But the reality is that we use the cameras that are included with our phones because they are convenient. We don’t have to carry extra crap with us; they’re just there, a constant, comforting presence. The best camera you have is the one you have with you. There, I said it. But, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be made better than they…

News & Features June 19, 2011

Unboxing and Hands-On: VAIO S-Series ‘Charged and Ready’ Program

I have owned Sony products that I bought myself for more than 30 years, starting with the original Walkman, and consisting of audio/video (cassette, CD, and DVD), televisions (tube and flat panel), computers, gaming systems, and more. My wife bought a cute VAIO last year with a 13.3″ screen, a Core i5 processor, and a really nice pink finish. The point is – in spite of how much I beat up Sony for a variety of reasons, I am a loyal customer for one huge reason – they make great stuff. So when I had the opportunity to evaluate their…

News & Features June 18, 2011

Random Cool Video: Astronaut’s View of Earth in Real Time

Technology is cool. The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo has just unveiled a massive 10 million pixel globe that shows you the view of the earth as if you were looking from space. But it gets better – you can interact and learn from touchscreens located all around the globe! Here is some more info: A new, gigantic Japanese globe unveiled in Tokyo features 10,362 OLED panels that show constantly updated satellite images of Earth. The nearly 20-foot-in-diameter globe, called Geo-Cosmos, displays Earth’s current appearance in more than 10 million pixels, an incredibly high resolution that…

News & Features June 17, 2011

One Vancouver Couple Chose to Make Love, Not War!

Image from Rich Lam/Getty Images I wrote about the awful riots in Vancouver following their team’s loss in the Stanley Cup finals (to my team, Yay!), but at least there is some sort of silver lining in what has become one of the most iconic images from the fracas – the ‘kissing couple’. It was highlighted through Twitter: @buzzfeed You forgot one of the best ones – Vancouverites who know to make love, not war: http://ow.ly/5jf9o That pointed to this image, from Rich Lam of Getty Images. Initially there was some concern that this was TOO perfect, so it must…

News & Features June 17, 2011

Watch Review: Phosphor E Ink Digital Hour Clock Watch with Black Leather Band

Judie likes her loud, statement-making watches. (And she can, of course, pull it off!) There’s the Black Phosphor Appear she recently got. And there is the blinged-out version she reviewed in full. Me, I’m a bit more of a subtle guy (at least in this one regard.) That’s why I was excited to take a look at one of Phosphor’s “simpler” E-ink watches. This E Ink Digital Hour Clock Watch with Black Leather Band is a simple timepiece that looks great and is exceptionally comfortable to wear. From Phosphor: You’ve never seen a digital watch quite like this before. Its…

News & Features June 17, 2011

Nielson Study Shows How Teens Interact with Media

It is amazing to look at the image above and realize that reflects the top TV shows the year that seniors graduating high school this month were born! Many of the shows – certainly Seinfeld, Rosanne, Frasier and Home Improvement – are classics easily found in syndication now. The X-Files also launched that year, bringing with it nearly a decade of conspiracies and unrealized sexual tension between the main characters. Jurassic Park Stomped through theaters, and ‘A Whole New World’ from Aladdin ruled the airwaves. 1993 was also the year that the Mosaic web browser launched, and the internet as…

News & Features June 16, 2011

LinkedIn Explains Why They Don’t Allow SD Card Installs

Although ‘business social’ site LinkedIn started off slower and with seemingly less traction than Twitter, a recent study showed that LinkedIn is now considered the most important social media network, with 60% of respondents saying that having a LinkedIn account is more important than any other social network. Since so many business users of social media carry smartphones, it seems that one necessary element in any strategy is to have a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android devices. As many have found, implementing a full-featured interface for sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn is daunting, as is keeping user…

News & Features June 15, 2011

Last Minute Father’s Day Selections from Dan, on WBAP Dallas

Just in case you weren’t one of the million’s of people who heard it this morning, Dan was on WBAP‘s morning show talking with Brian Estridge about Father’s Day gift ideas. They liked him and his suggestions so much that they played the interview twice! =) Here’s a tally of the things Dan talked about: • Yurbuds • ROKU • Evernote • Livescribe Echo • Sonos • Apple iPad 2 You’ll have to listen to Dan’s interview to hear why he recommended each! Dan on WBAP

News & Features June 14, 2011

Big News from Monster and Earth Wind & Fire

Last night the folks at Monster Cable were kind enough to invite Gear Diary to a special event held in San Antonio at the amazing Bjorn’s store. Monster brought in the legendary members of Earth Wind & Fire for a meet and greet with a special announcement: Verdine, Phillip and Ralph are celebrating 40 years of making music together as the band, and they have teamed up with Monster for a special product coming out soon. The band members were interviewed by Bjorn about their history and the formation of the band. It was a great experience to listen to…

News & Features June 13, 2011

Using YouTube to Fight a Traffic Ticket!

If you’ve been to New York City recently (or many major cities, actually), you may have noticed they’ve started offering bike lanes, a move that is supposed to alleviate traffic and be safer for riders, drivers, and pedestrians. Of course, that’s all in theory, as one peeved cyclist has demonstrated in a very awesome video. Apparently, he was ticketed for not riding in the bicycle lane, despite his protests that nothing was being done about the cars, trucks, and construction equipment blocking it. Rather than just write a letter, he created a video showing what his ride would be like…

News & Features June 10, 2011

The eBookpocalypse Is Cancelled!

Engadget reported this morning that Apple quietly changed the app store submission rules, and they’ve loosened up the in-app purchase requirements. It looks like apps and services that offer subscriptions and book content will be able to skirt around having to use Apple’s purchasing system (and the 30% cut to Apple that it includes). Here’s how they rephrased the agreement: 11.13 Apps that link to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, such as a “buy” button that goes to a web site to purchase a digital book, will be rejected 11.14 Apps can read…

News & Features June 9, 2011

Google’s Brilliant Tribute to Les Paul, Instrumental Inventor

Mitchell Oke left me a message asking if I had seen Google yet this morning. Of course, he left it last night, since he is hours ahead of me in Australia. I took a look, and he is correct … it’s brilliant. From the Google Blog: The electric guitar brings back memories for me of exchanging riffs with friends and wearing out cassette tapes as I meticulously learned songs. Today, we’re attempting to recreate that experience with a doodle celebrating the birthday of musician and inventor Les Paul. For the next 24 hours on the Google homepage, you’ll find an…

News & Features June 8, 2011

How Does Blue Improve a Yeti? You make him a Pro!

A year and a half ago I was able to review the Blue Yeti with Larry. I love the Blue Yeti and use it every Wednesday when I record the Linux Link Tech Show as well as the occasional episode of Hacker Public Radio. It’s almost a perfect product. However, there’s one thing missing that makes the Yeti less of a perfect device for a professional. That is an XLR output. Blue has changed that Yeti of a Microphone and made him a pro by adding a XLR output on the bottom allowing you to plug the Yeti Pro into…

Music Diary, News & Features June 8, 2011

Music Diary Notes: NYC Concert to Support Japan

This year seems to be filled with more than its share of tragedy, making it is too easy to forget how difficult rebuilding is for those impacted by devastating events a couple of months later. Fortunately the Consulate Generals of Germany and Japan have teamed up to sponsor a concert to benefit the people of Japan. Featured in the concert is Ayako Shirasaki, whose most recent recording I reviewed here. Here is some info: The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Consulate General of Japan invite you to a concert for the victims of the Great…

Gear Bits, News & Features June 5, 2011

Mac App Quick Look: unDock Brings Fast Drive unDocking for Mac

One of the things that bugs me about Mac OS X is the need to physically undock a drive before removing it. I understand the reasons, but it doesn’t make it less annoying and it does not mean I don’t forget to do so sometimes. (And each time I forget I receive the “you forgot to undock the drive you shmuck, and it can do damage!” warning.) unDock doesn’t make drive undocking automatic, but it does make it possible to remove all drives at once. As the app’s description explains, Time machine is wonderful, but it makes a mobile Mac…

eBooks, News & Features June 5, 2011

Borders eBookstore Moving to Kobo

If you’re one of the five people who purchased eBooks through Borders, I strongly recommend you log into your account and follow their instructions to port your library to Kobo. Teleread is reporting that Borders is no longer operating their own eBookstore, and any attempts at logging in or purchasing will lead you to instructions on how to move to Kobo instead. This should be fairly seamless since Kobo was doing all the behind the scenes work on Borders eBookstore. Any Borders eBooks you might have should work fine in Kobo’s desktop and smartphone applications, and of course, those books…

Music Diary, News & Features June 3, 2011

Music Diary Notes:Watch Wynton Marsalis Live on UStream Today!

They say that music is the international language (actually, in Better Off Dead we learn that ‘love’ is that language), crossing borders and languages and cultures with its ability to transcend the spoken word. This afternoon two titans of the jazz music genre – Wynton Marsalis and Igor Butman – will join forces in a concert that will be streamed LIVE from Ukraine! Here are the details: America’s cultural ambassador, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will join Russia’s premier jazz musician, saxophonist Igor Butman in a concert that reaches across time and geopolitical borders. Jazz — America’s model for collaboration and improvisation–…