News & Features | Gear Diary

News & Features August 2, 2016

Samsung SERIF TV: Art You Can Watch in Your Home

Samsung has collaborated with the Parisian design duo of Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec to create the SERIF TV; in the process, they have re-envisioned not only “how the TV looks but also how it functions.” From top to bottom, inside and out, the Bouroullec Brothers re-imagined every aspect, from its minimal yet solid exterior form to its refined user interface and even its simplified remote control. The Samsung SERIF TV is just as beautiful to watch as it is to experience, with the best picture quality available in a 40” TV. The SERIF TV draws inspiration from typography: from the…

News & Features August 1, 2016

Best Buy Caters to the Geek Crowd with a Wedding Registry!

The first thing most people do when they get a wedding invitation (besides RSVPing) is checking the couple’s registry. Are they looking for household items? Maybe new appliances? Those are the usual items, but Best Buy thinks there’s more to it, and is now offering a wedding registry service!

News & Features July 31, 2016

The Best Movie Trailers from San Diego’s Comic Con 2016: Which Movies Will You Want to See?

Comic Con 2016 in San Diego is over, and one of the best things to come out of it (beyond all of the amazing cosplay) are the newest previews for some of the upcoming movies and television shows. I’m probably most excited about Snowden, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Wonder Woman — oh, and King Arthur.

News & Features July 30, 2016

Head Back to School with a New Acer Chromebook or Convertible Notebook

If you or someone you love is headed back to school, then you’re likely looking for affordable laptop options. Acer has a selection of Chromebooks and Convertible Notebooks that might fit the bill!

News & Features July 28, 2016

As You Prepare for Back to School, Don’t Forget Hope Paige’s Medical ID Bracelets

If you have a child with food allergies or another medical condition, having an easy to find medical ID bracelet is imperative, especially once they go back to school. Hope Paige‘s medical ID bracelets are cute enough that even the most picky child will find something they’d be happy to wear.

News & Features July 27, 2016

Upthere Wants to Make Cloud Storage More Streamlined

I made a nasty discovery a while back: my iPhone was out of space, and the culprit was Dropbox! I had only three documents downloaded and stored on my phone, but Dropbox was somehow using over 9GB! After a delete and reinstall, the problem was fixed for a while — and then it happened again. Now I’m looking at Upthere.

News & Features July 22, 2016

Up to 40% off All Moto Mods for the New Moto Z Droids from Verizon

If you have your eye on one of the new Moto Z or Moto Z Force Droids, then you likely already know that they will be compatible with Moto Mods — a line of magnetically attached accessories that turn an already great phone into a super phone!

Crowdfunding, Game Diary, News & Features July 22, 2016

“Legend of Dungeon” Developer Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for “Upsilon Circuit”

I love quirky fun games with a great sense of humor, such as “Frayed Knights” or “Legend of Dungeon”. The developer of the latter game, Robot Loves Kitty, has launched a crowd-funding campaign for their next game Upsilon Circuit: Death is Forever and Viewers Rule! Here is what the company says about this unique game: “Upsilon Circuit is a Video Game Show that takes place in an online Action RPG that only eight people, in the whole world, can play. Oh, and once a player dies they can never play again. Ever. Upsilon Circuit will be exclusively live streamed during…

Crowdfunding, News & Features July 21, 2016

The BloomSky Next-Gen SKY2 and STORM: A Community-Based Smart Weather Camera Station

I run a cattle ranch in West Texas; most of our community’s livelihood relies upon the weather, so when we ask each other “how much rain did you get?”, it’s not just idle chit-chat. Having an accurate way to measure what’s happening with the weather at all times is important, and that’s why I’m excited about the BloomSky weather station system.

News & Features July 21, 2016

The Insta360 Nano Brings 360-Degree Photos and Video to the Masses

360-degree photos and video are all the rage right now, what with Facebook and Youtube embracing the technology. The Insta360 Nano is looking to capitalize on the craze, with its super portable, iPhone compatible design. It can shoot 360-degree photos and even live-stream high definition virtual reality video right to Facebook or Youtube. Get yours now on Amazon for $199.

News & Features July 20, 2016

Ztylus Pencil Case Makes Apple Pencil More Pen and Pencily

I bought the smaller Apple iPad Pro for one primary purpose: I wanted to be able to use the Apple Pencil to create handwritten notes. But the Pencil is so long and thin that it gets uncomfortable. With this Ztylus Pencil Case that problem is solved. It’s an inexpensive iPad Pro accessory I know I’ll love.

News & Features July 20, 2016

Styr Labs Tries for a True Fitness Ecosystem with Activity Tracking, Smart Scales, and Custom Vitamins!

Every company that’s remotely related to computing wants a piece of the fitness wearables business. There is a lot of data to be gleaned from activity levels, weight, and what we eat, and everyone thinks their solution is the one that will guide consumers to better health. Styr Labs has a creative plan that brings together activity tracking, weight management, and supplements, truly hitting the trifecta of hot trends in the fitness world! Their system comes in a few different combinations; you can buy the fitness tracker/vitamins starter kit for $68, or the scale/protein starter kit for $78. It looks like there’s…

Crowdfunding, News & Features July 20, 2016

A Pair of Earphones Are Going to Change How You Feel About Wearables

While some of you are out there soaking up the sun, on your run outdoors, some of us need a little bit more motivation other than Pokemon Go to get going; that’s where LifeBEAM has you covered. LifeBEAM announced a Kickstarter campaign that only has a few days remaining onn their ‘first of its kind’ AI personal trainer, the Vi.

News & Features July 19, 2016

The Withings Thermo: A Fast, Non-Invasive, and Accurate Temporal Thermometer

Taking a temperature when you or a loved one is sick usually involves sticking a thermometer into one orifice or another. That’s not very fun for the person who is ill. Today, Withings, part of the Nokia family, is announcing their new Thermo — the first Wi-Fi-connected temporal thermometer — which we first saw at CES 2016.

News & Features July 15, 2016

Board Up Your Windows, Sharknado 4 Is Coming!

Ah, summer. Long days, warm nights, and storms full of razor sharp teeth…yes, Sharknado is back again! You may recall that the last segment opened with President Mark Cuban, Vice President Anne Coulter, and Ian Ziering fighting sharks at the White House, and ended with David Hasselhoff on the moon and a shark about to land on Tara Reid. If possible, the next segment looks even crazier!

News & Features July 14, 2016

Nintendo Makes Everyone’s Dreams Come True with the Mini NES Console!

I was never allowed to have video games as a kid. My parents felt there were better uses of our time, so my brother and I were always super excited to visit friends who had video game consoles, ESPECIALLY Nintendo. Super Mario was the greatest, and his appeal was only increased by how verboten he was. Nintendo has finally answered my childhood dreams, though, and they’re releasing a modernized version of the original Nintendo Entertainment System console, complete with 30 classic games! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! For real, Nintendo is releasing a modern NES, and they’re throwing in everything…

News & Features July 13, 2016

The New Alcatel Idol 4S: Bundled with VR and Ready for Action!

Alcatel unveiled their unlocked and value-packed IDOL 4S at MWC earlier this year; it’s the follow-up to their IDOL 3 which was largely considered one of the best smartphone values of 2015. What sets the IDOL 4 apart from its predecessor is a whole new level of features and accessories.

News & Features July 13, 2016

ZTE’s VR-Friendly Axon 7 Smartphone Taking Preorders Today

Seems as if the wait for the Axon 7 is finally over! ZTE has announced the official start of their pre-orders for the Axon 7 in the U.S. today!

Crowdfunding, News & Features July 12, 2016

Titanium Runner’s Anywhere Knife, Aka TRAK, Looks to Keep You Safe on Your Runs!

I don’t go out on nearly as many early morning runs these days as I would like, but when I did I always clipped pepper spray to my waistband. Honestly, I’m not sure what I would have done if I needed it, but it made me feel better to have it on hand. Over at Kickstarter, the folks behind TRAK think they have a simpler solution using a small portable knife!

News & Features July 12, 2016

Zepp Introduces the Smart Bat: Get Accurate Game Readings from Swings

I have used Zepp products during softball practice with my athletes for a couple of years. The ability to break down a player’s swing from speed to bat paths is a wonderful teaching tool. Zepp has now introduced the Smart Bat which uses all of the features of the mounted sensor but integrated seamlessly in a wooden bat.

News & Features July 11, 2016

Huawei MateBook Is Available Today, Do You Want One?

Are you interested in one of the sleekest Windows 10 hybrids available? Look no further than the Huawei MateBook. Available in gold or gray, this tablet borders on being one of the most beautiful we’ve seen; accessories make it one of the most versatile.