News & Features

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…

iPod touch Accessory News- Speck Releases ‘CANDYSHELL GRIP’ Gaming Case for iPod touch

News & Features

iPod touch Accessory News- Speck Releases ‘CANDYSHELL GRIP’ Gaming Case for iPod touch

Speck has been releasing some great cases for the current generation of iOS devices. Their latest creation is the CandyShell Grip. The CandyShell Grip is “the first case that seamlessly integrates comfortable, finger-friendly gaming grips into the sleek protection and style of the award-winning hard shell, soft center CandyShell case”. As Bryan Hynecek, Lead Designer at Speck explains, “Anyone can make a big bulky gaming case, but we set out to create a case ideal for people that love gaming that would also look and work just as well as their everyday case. The new iPod touch is amazingly thin,…

Music Forte Goes Digital With Sheet Music!

News & Features

Music Forte Goes Digital With Sheet Music!

If you have a child who has had music lessons over the last decade, then chances are at some point or other you have paid for something from Music Forte – either yourself or through your school or music instructor. The process is simple – you find what you need, order it and get the high quality print sent to you. Over the same time, many internet sites have sprung up that allow you to buy sheet music and download it immediately in PDF or other forms. Some of these sites are great, while others you are pretty sure are…

AUTUM Releases "Straight Jacket" Leather Sleeve for Apple iPad and MacBook Air.

News & Features

AUTUM Releases “Straight Jacket” Leather Sleeve for Apple iPad and MacBook Air.

When it comes to protecting your precious gadgets you can’t beat simple, beautiful, well-constructed leather-goods. That’s exactly what AUTUM is offering with the Straight Jacket, their new line of premium leather sleeves for the iPad and the MacBook Air. As the company web site explains, We found ourselves searching for a leather sleeve deserving of the content it would be holding. Our relentless journey through the interwebs proved fruitless and we took it upon ourselves to build a sleek, minimal alternative to the plethora of cases out there. Custom fitted for iPad & Macbook Air. The Straight Jacket features- Domestically…

LostBookSales Lets You Flaunt Your Book Non-Purchase

eBooks, News & Features

LostBookSales Lets You Flaunt Your Book Non-Purchase

Lost sales are a tough thing to measure. It’s easy to track what’s actually sold, but when someone opts NOT to purchase something it’s much harder to measure. Retail stores can approximate this by measuring foot traffic in and out against sales, but how do you measure this if you’re selling online? It’s become a huge point of contention in ebooks, where the agency model and battles over digital rights means there is a critical mass of angry readers with no way to express their displeasure…until now! LostBookSales is a simple website with a fantastic premise: you submit a book…

Hulu Plus Launches... Open to All With Subscriptions Costing Just $7.99 a Month

News & Features

Hulu Plus Launches… Open to All With Subscriptions Costing Just $7.99 a Month

I’ve been subscribing to Hulu Plus during its closed preview period for the last few months. I first received an invitation and signed up only to let the subscription expire a few weeks later. I re-upped shortly there-after because I really loved the way the service let me access many of my favorite shows on the iPad. At the time the service ran $9.99 per month. It seemed reasonable for the amount of content I was getting although I did dislike having to watch commercials AND pay for the subscription. Well Hulu Plus has just opened its gates to anyone who wants…

Reminder: Don't Forget About Veterans on November 12th

News & Features

Reminder: Don’t Forget About Veterans on November 12th

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day across the US, and everywhere you went there were special events, giveaways, speeches, and so on to commemorate the event. And that is a very good thing – I remember well the era when individual soldiers were lumped with politicians and others in terms of getting blamed for Vietnam and everything else that was wrong with the country throughout the 1970’s. And while I have significant concerns about many of the restrictions to our freedoms and ability to dissent in our post-9/11 reality, I think it is a wonderful change for the good in our country…

Gear Games News: Nintendo (tries to) Trademark "It's On Like Donkey Kong"

News & Features

Gear Games News: Nintendo (tries to) Trademark “It’s On Like Donkey Kong”

I am not sure what I would file this email I got today under … corporate hubris? Trying to cash in on a decade old saying? Misguided legalistic idiocy? I’m just really not sure – please help me out in the comments! Anyway, today we get word that Nintendo has filed a trademark claim on a phrase they didn’t make up, didn’t attempt to control, and have let enter the popular lexicon for nearly two decades … because it uses one of their trademarked properties. Here is the email I got this morning: Nintendo Files Official Trademark for Catchphrase ‘It’s…

iPad Bluetooth Keyboard With Folding Leather Protective Case Released

News & Features

iPad Bluetooth Keyboard With Folding Leather Protective Case Released

I love my iPad, but have yet to use it for heavy work, including writing my Gear Diary posts.  Typing on the MacBook is just so much faster because of its full-size keyboard.  Later today I will post a review for a credit card size Bluetooth keyboard that works with the iPhone and iPad.  Although that keyboard works really well, I have a hard time using a phone sized qwerty keyboard.  The same company, EFO has recently released an iPad case that contains a full size Bluetooth keyboard.  Now, you can easily carry your iPad, flip it open and type…

No Picture

News & Features

Cervantes Mobile Releases Portable Bluetooth keyboard for iPhone, iPad and Android devices

Cervantes Mobile has released a new portable bluetooth keyboard designed specifically for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The Jorno keyboard… …folds down to a compact size to easily fit in your pocket or bag, and includes a detachable cradle to hold your device in either portrait or landscape orientation. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to pair the keyboard to your mobile device and position the keyboard anywhere you like. The keyboard is also rigid when unfolded, allowing placement in your lap. With the Jorno Bluetooth Keyboard, you can write emails, take notes and enjoy an efficient, portable way to type…

Joby Introduces Gorillamobile Tri-Pod for iPhone 4

News & Features

Joby Introduces Gorillamobile Tri-Pod for iPhone 4

I’ve been extremely impressed with the every-growing line of products from Joby. The very first Gorillamobile tri-pod I reviewed here on the site still finds use on a regular basis. Now Joby has released a new Gorillamobile designed specifically for the iPhone 4. The new Gorillamobile… combines the protection of a durable, always-on bumper case with the hands-free positioning capabilities of a JOBY tripod. The bumper case design celebrates the sleek form of the iPhone and is equipped with a rail system that easily slides on and off the tripod stand in portrait or landscape orientation. No matter what position…

Don't Believe Me? Bing It!

News & Features

Don’t Believe Me? Bing It!

It’s not like you could possibly miss it, but if you were watching  last night’s Hawaii Five-0 episode, then you likely saw the scene where … oh heck, just watch! Chin Ho Kelly challenges Kono Kalakaua to perform the search while they are looking at a sculpture, when she reaches into her bag and pulls out the LG Optimus 7 — the first time I have seen one in the wild, even if only on TV. Larry has pointed out Apple’s movie and television product placements, and it looks like Microsoft is taking a page from their book; the one…

New Grisham Novel Gets an eBook Boost!

eBooks, News & Features

New Grisham Novel Gets an eBook Boost!

Publishers have struggled mightily with where ebooks fall in their lineups. There’s no clear progression like hardcover to paperback to the mass market. eBooks sort of sneak in and gum up the works, causing some publishers to think the answer is to hold back on ebook releases to give the hardcover a chance to thrive. The result has been nasty letters from customers, one-star reviews on Amazon for books that aren’t in eBook form on release day, and general bitterness from consumers. Not the environment to foster bestsellers. Of course, more publishers should be looking to emulate Random House. They’ve…

Gear Must-Have: Gadget Genie Moisture Removal System

News & Features

Gear Must-Have: Gadget Genie Moisture Removal System

Judie knows gadgets. She’s been blogging for years and has tried out hundred and hundreds of different items and accessories. Many of them get “ooos and ahhs” from her, but rarely have I seen a product draw such immediate enthusiasm as this one. No, this product received an “OMG Great Idea!!! I need some to keep on hand!!” What product caught her eye in such a big way? Is it a phone? Nope. Is it a tablet? Nope. Is it a new computer? Nope. So what is it? It is a bag. And no, it is not one of her…

Release: i-tab Portable Guitar Tab Player Updated

News & Features

Release: i-tab Portable Guitar Tab Player Updated

Technology has been wonderful for musicians, especially guitarists.  I know purists think using guitar tableture is cheating, but those of us who are without formal training, tabs are how we learn new songs.  Many years ago when we were poor college students, my wife found a huge folder of tabs I had printed and put them by category in a big binder for me so I could easily find any songs I wanted to play.  Many devices, including the iPhone and iPad, allow players to read tabs, but sometimes it is difficult to read them or scroll through the song. …

Ancestry.com's Family Tree Maker for Mac Released, Thrilling Genealogy Buffs Like Me

News & Features

Ancestry.com’s Family Tree Maker for Mac Released, Thrilling Genealogy Buffs Like Me

For me, genealogy has been as much a passion as it was a hobby; my maternal grandmother and my uncle started researching their Meador and Bridwell lines years ago, and when I became an adult I picked up where they had left off, expanding the search for my father’s family, the Lipsetts and Hublers, as well. Over the years I have spent countless hours online and in libraries researching and amassing a huge collection of data; I have truly enjoyed discovering information, pictures and stories that have helped me learn more about my ancestors’ lives. Genealogy has given names in…

Tekkeon Releases myPower, the First iPhone 4 Extended Battery Case with Swappable Batteries

News & Features

Tekkeon Releases myPower, the First iPhone 4 Extended Battery Case with Swappable Batteries

Using an extended battery which also serves as an iPhone case is a great way to keep your phone going all day, and it’s nothing new. But Tekkeon is introducing a new twist — swappable battery packs available in either 1200 mAh (the Ultra Slim) or 2200 mAh (the Ultra Power). So here’s how it works: the myPower Extended Battery Case comes with an Ultra Slim extended battery, and you can order extra batteries in either the Slim or the Power size; rather than remove the case when its extended battery loses its charge, you just swap out the depleted…

Apple, Competition, and Silly Statistics

News & Features

Apple, Competition, and Silly Statistics

The Wall Street Journal this morning reported Apple has 95% of the tablet market. Amazing, in the face of virtually no competition! Also, Apple has 99.9% of the “electronics starting with i” market. But they aren’t the only ones with big marketshares in questionably competitive areas… -Toyota has 85% of the market for “sudden, unexpected, OH CRAP, 0 to 60” cars. -Snapple has 100% of the “greatest stuff on earth” market (tm Dan) -Gear Diary has 100% of the market for blogs named Gear Diary! -Coca Cola has 100% of the “secret formula cola” market. -Google has 93% of the…

Speck Introduces Two New Bags for Netbooks and iPad

News & Features

Speck Introduces Two New Bags for Netbooks and iPad

Speck has introduced two new bags for taking your netbook (up to 10″) or iPad on the go. The CorePack-10 and the PortPack-10 both feature Speck’s excellent design and high quality construction. Each has an MSRP of $49.95 and are available now. Here’s a quick first look at both. We have review units of each and will have a thorough Gear Diary look in the next few days. CorePack for Netbooks and iPad Open up CorePack FLY 10’s butterfly design and it instantly becomes a portable work surface. The butterfly feature is also airport security checkpoint friendly, allowing you to…

The "i-hotake" Makes Holding & Taking Your iPad Easy

News & Features

The “i-hotake” Makes Holding & Taking Your iPad Easy

Here’s an intriguing new way to protect and carry your iPad; the “i-hotake” (a play on “hold & take”) appears to be a pretty-thick protective plastic bumper case with handles on each end. Made for kids? Made for klutzy adults? We’re not exactly sure and they aren’t telling. Cutouts for syncing, speakers and other ports are in their proper places, so if nothing else — when your iPad is in this you can use it a mini breakfast in bed tray. 😉 i-hotake site (MSRP $39.99)

Election Day Reminder - Find Your Polling Place Easily With Google

News & Features

Election Day Reminder – Find Your Polling Place Easily With Google

Across the United States today hopefully millions of folks will be out voting for their local, state and federal representatives. There are tons of important issues and races at stake, as well as the balance of power in Congress. I’m sure there are local issues in your areas as well. Google is making things easy – simply type vote into your search bar / web page and you are brought to this page. From there you simply enter your home address and you will get a Google Map page showing the directions to your polling place, and on the left…