News & Features

Random Useless Stuff: Teva Grey Ant Stilettos

News & Features

Random Useless Stuff: Teva Grey Ant Stilettos

Having a wife who loves shoes and who also loves the outdoors, I have frequently been confronted with her looking for shoes that are functional but look good. I really don’t think this is remotely what she had in mind! In fact, my wife, her sister, and our 22 year-old niece pretty much called these the stupidest things they’d ever seen! Here is the description: NEW HIGH (M)ART WORLD EXCLUSIVE! Teva, leader in the sport sandal industry is known for their innovation of performance products and advanced technologies in the footwear industry teamed up with Grey Ant, the two collide…

Sony Giving the Japanese eReader Market Another Crack

eBooks, News & Features

Sony Giving the Japanese eReader Market Another Crack

Looks like Sony is turning close to home for a chance to revive their eBook devices. After basically dropping the Japanese market for Readers, Sony thinks they will not only blow the doors off their sales but they also think they’re going to dominate the Japanese ebook market! Granted, the ubiquitous Kindle has not yet made it to Japan, which gives Sony an additional advantage, but will they really succeed? This is ambitious for a company that could have owned the American ebook market given their head start, but has essentially stood frozen while Amazon and B&N swooped in and…

R.I.P. Irving Kershner, Director of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

News & Features

R.I.P. Irving Kershner, Director of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

In the aftermath of the massive success of George Lucas’ Star Wars in 1977, it was somewhat surprising that for the sequel he chose not to direct it himself, but instead sought out an old mentor and respected director in Irving Kershner. As was remembered recently, it was for a couple of reasons: the motivation was because “if the second one worked, then he could make more. If the second one didn’t work, then that would be the end of Star Wars”, and the reason to choose Kershnerwas “because [he] knows everything a Hollywood director is supposed to know but…

R.I.P.: Comedy Film Legend Leslie Nielson Dead at 84 ... You Can Stop Calling Him Shirley

News & Features

R.I.P.: Comedy Film Legend Leslie Nielson Dead at 84 … You Can Stop Calling Him Shirley

When you think of Leslie Nielson, it is hard to imagine that at one point he was looked at as a serious actor in leading roles and a ladies man. Yet in the late 1950’s he was tall, handsome and charismatic, and got lead roles in films such as 1956’s Forbidden Planet pictured at the top. But through the years he never blossomed into the mega-star that some expected, as his serious on-screen personas couldn’t compete with other actors, and no one got a look at his comedic side until 1980. His image now is the one cemented by his…

Gear Chat: Rotation LockGate. Seriously??

News & Features

Gear Chat: Rotation LockGate. Seriously??

The other morning I read a post by Warner Crocker about his being upset over the change in the iPad’s screen rotation control between the original version of iOS on the device and the new version 4.2.1. Warner referred to it as a “boneheaded move”, and he went on to write this: Where Apple got stupid is in changing the screen rotation control from the hardware switch on the device’s side to one that is now only accessible from the multi-tasking dock. I use my iPad mostly in portrait mode but there are some Apps that work better in landscape…

Happy Thanksgiving from Gear Diary!

News & Features

Happy Thanksgiving from Gear Diary!

Thanksgiving is a great time to take a break and recognize all of the things in our lives which are going right … the things we have to be thankful for. Once we start thinking about the things in life that are good, it doesn’t take long before we realize that there is much to celebrate. So have a virtual turkey dinner with us on this Thanksgiving, as we celebrate the good things and enjoy the day! We hope that all of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving today have a huge list of things that are going “right”, as well…

SmirkAbout Skins Will Bring a Smile to Your Face

News & Features

SmirkAbout Skins Will Bring a Smile to Your Face

I recall seeing an interview with Penn Gillette one time during which they happened to show his laptop, which was covered with stickers.  All sorts of stickers.  It was garish, but yet it fascinated me in a way because it was so individual in appearance. While I usually just use a clear, protective skin on my devices (’cause I’m just boring that way), I appreciate decorative skins that allow the owner to really show off their personality and distinguish their gadget from all of the others around them.  SmirkAbout, an Australian company, is one of the newer companies putting out…

Gear Review: VTech LS6245 DECT 6.0 Touch-Sensitive Bluetooth Cordless Phone System

News & Features

Gear Review: VTech LS6245 DECT 6.0 Touch-Sensitive Bluetooth Cordless Phone System

A home telephone is just a home telephone right? Of course not. That hasn’t been the case for years. While we used to rent our telephones from “Ma Bell” and could have our phone in any color and style so long as we liked black rotary phones we now have a wide range of options with regard to both look and functionality. Most recently many people have even gone so far as to get rid of their home phone entirely and rely only on their cell phone. We happen to have two lines coming into our house but both use…

iPad Accessory News: ELEMENTS by Revena Product Line Looks Awesome and Flexible

News & Features

iPad Accessory News: ELEMENTS by Revena Product Line Looks Awesome and Flexible

I’ve had the chance to review a host of different ways to use your iPad hands free on a desk or attach it to a wall but the new ELEMENTS line from Revena looks to stand out from the pack thanks to its style and flexibility. As the company explains, This new system allows iPad users to experience and utilize their iPad in any room of their home, their garage, workshop, auto, plane, train, office, soccer field…. the options are endless! And this DOES indeed look to be the case. It starts with the AXIS, “an iPad case with a…

iPad Accessory- InnoPocket AluPose Metal iPad

News & Features

iPad Accessory- InnoPocket AluPose Metal iPad

The hot gift this holiday season?? Why the iPad of course. That is a good thing for Apple who are solidly on track for world domination at this point. It is also a good thing for the many companies who create iPad accessories. It is pretty amazing to think about the fact that there are SO many accessories now available for a device that did not exist at this time last year. Among the most useful iPad accessories you can get is one of the number iPad stands that are now available. You can pay a lot for a heavy,…

Netflix Unveils $7.99 Stream-Only Plan, Raises Prices on All Others!

News & Features

Netflix Unveils $7.99 Stream-Only Plan, Raises Prices on All Others!

My family dropped our $15 Netflix plan early this spring due to lack of use, but when offered a free month to come back, we jumped at the lowest-priced plan. Since then, the only thing we got in the mail from Netflix was a Wii disk … and even that is of no use anymore! So when I heard that Netflix was bringing a ‘streaming only’ plan to the US, I knew I’d sign up immediately. Today that plan arrived, with a $7.99 monthly rate (same as Hulu+). I got an added incentive to change plans quickly – Netflix simultaneously…

Wrap-A-Nap Lets You Sleep Anywhere, and I Do Mean Anywhere

News & Features

Wrap-A-Nap Lets You Sleep Anywhere, and I Do Mean Anywhere

I have long admired people who could nap anywhere, even when they weren’t sick and half-doped up on cough syrup. My problem is that if the room is too lighted, too noisy, too cold or too hot, or if I am thinking about all the other things I need to be doing, it doesn’t matter how sleepy I am, a nap isn’t happening. But let’s say that I am able to overcome all of that, perhaps because I’m the passenger on the world’s longest car ride … there is no comfortable position to get into, because no matter how far…

Fone Sitter Makes Sure Grandma Hung up the Phone!

News & Features

Fone Sitter Makes Sure Grandma Hung up the Phone!

My dad gave me a ride home from work last night. During the drive, he went to call his mother (my grandmother) and her line was busy. So he tried her cell phone. No answer. This went on for a good ten minutes; we’d chat, he’d try both numbers, we’d chat again. Finally, he started to get really nervous, and he called my uncle to go check on her. As it turns out, she was just fine. Her phone was just off the hook. Again. She doesn’t keep her cell phone near her, and she can’t hear the faint, indignant…

Don't Want The TSA Checking Out Your "Stuff"? This Underwear is for You!

News & Features

Don’t Want The TSA Checking Out Your “Stuff”? This Underwear is for You!

SCOTTEVEST recently released, and we reviewed, new travel boxers that have a pocket built-in. Forget the pocket… they are just plain comfortable. Now there’s a new line of undergarments available. No, they aren’t for the tech-lover or the frequent traveler but rather these bras and underwear are intended to keep prying TSA eyes from checking out your “stuff”. Yes, lead-free, radiation shielding underwear is now available for this individuals who are outraged by the naked-body scanners the TSA is now using. Here’s the detail directly from the company… Rocky Flats Gear ™ is the US manufacture of a revolutionary flexible,…

Tu Hablas Espanol? Dragon Dictation for iPhone Does!

News & Features

Tu Hablas Espanol? Dragon Dictation for iPhone Does!

It has been a while since we covered one of my most-used iPhone and iPad apps but there is some great news about Dragon Dictation that is worth sharing. First off, a big congrats to Nuance on the inclusion of the Dragon Dictation app in the iTunes “Hall of Fame”. That’s right, out of the hundreds of thousand apps in the App store Dragon Dictation was selected as one of the 50 to be included by Apple in the iTunes Hall of Fame. Personally I could not agree more. In fact, I would easily put it in the top dozen…

Speck Product's A-Line Bag for Netbooks May Be the Best Looking Gear Bag Yet!

News & Features

Speck Product’s A-Line Bag for Netbooks May Be the Best Looking Gear Bag Yet!

This is going to sound jaded and awful, but I am going to say it anyway: One of the absolute best things about being a product reviewer is that sometimes companies surprise you with packages containing items you didn’t know existed and you certainly didn’t expect to receive … and that you can’t wait to try out. But on the other hand, one of the absolute worst things about being a product reviewer is that sometimes companies surprise you with packages containing items you didn’t know existed and you certainly didn’t expect to receive … and you don’t necessarily even…

Proof of How Deeply Tablets Have Already Penetrated...

News & Features

Proof of How Deeply Tablets Have Already Penetrated…

My friend David just pointed me toward some of the best proof of just how deeply tablets have already penetrated. (Or should I say… TABLET… singular) Take a look at this shot form the New York Times homepage… see something funny? Yes, as David pointed out the text says TAP not CLICK. TAP as in on an iPad… TAP as in TAP using the Livescribe Paper Tablet. TAP as in… I don’t need no stinking mouse…

Abernathy Road, for a Different Type of Phone Case

News & Features

Abernathy Road, for a Different Type of Phone Case

It’s pretty easy to find rubber, plastic and lesser-grade leather cases for most phones, but when looking for an accessory that makes a statement, one that would make a fantastic gift for yourself or a loved one, the choices immediately narrow. While searching for a unique leather belt, I stumbled across Abernathy Road, a Nashville Tennessee business which offers items “for the Road Less Traveled.  Ranch, Range, and Roughwear for those looking to find their own way, pave their own path, follow their own direction.” While I have indeed found the belt that I’m going to purchase, I have also found…

Urbanears Tanto Proves that Music is Colorblind

News & Features

Urbanears Tanto Proves that Music is Colorblind

… or maybe it just proves that you will need to be to wear them. 😉 What do you get when you mix a little bit of Paul Smith with a pinch of United Colors of Benetton and add just a dash of The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Why, you get the technicolor limited edition Urbanears Tanto headphones, of course. Priced at $47, so that the kids and young-at-heart who will covet them might actually be able to afford them, the Tantos are available today at the “exclusive Wired Pop Up Store event in NYC” (on 692 Broadway),  or at WiredStore.com….

Prepping for iOS 4.2 Means... IPad App Updates Galore

News & Features

Prepping for iOS 4.2 Means… IPad App Updates Galore

A major update to iOS always means new goodies at the core of the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. It also means lots and lots and lots of app updates. Sure, sometimes the updates just make the app optimized to take advantage of the new OS’s functionality but for many it is also seen as an opportunity for developers to bump up features. Here are just a few of the many that showed up on our iPads. First up is BlogPress. A recent update to version 2.0 made this universal app (it works great on all three iOS devices) a…

Are We Seeing the Politicization of EVERYTHING?!?

Editorials, News & Features

Are We Seeing the Politicization of EVERYTHING?!?

It seems like the role of the internet ‘mob mind’ as political force has been everywhere lately, from Carly’s brilliant post on the power of the social internet, to the follow-up on TechCrunch showing the likely death of Cooks Source, to the pressure mounted on the TSA scanning systems (aka: Door 1: porn scanner, Door 2: sexual assault, Door 3: exit from airport) showing up as protests over the systems have ‘gone viral’ and entered into congressional hearings. I am not going anywhere so serious with this … This image is not from some Tea Party web site, not from…