News & Features

LifeBEAM Teams up with UnderArmour and JBL!

I tested the LifeBEAM hat last spring and was quite impressed with the accuracy of their heart rate monitor. They’re expanding their market beyond hats and helmets, putting their heart rate tech into wireless headphones powered by Under Armour and JBL!




Lightroom for Android Receives HUGE Update

If you’re an Android user and are a fan of Photoshop, but you’ve just been waiting for features that iOS received first (like the ability to shoot RAW images to reach your device), you’re in luck because the update now includes Lightroom, and is available for all Android devices! For the photographer in us all, if you care about your photos enough to capture, organize, edit, and share them directly from your smartphone or tablet, you’re in luck because Lightroom is currently the FIRST and only way to get yourself an end-to-end mobile photography experience that before could only be taken advantage…


FREETEL Announces Their Latest Smartphone at MWC 16′

There’s more than just Samsung and LG giving out news here at Mobile World Congress as Japan-Based Freetel has introduced their REI smartphone! The smartphone itself sports an aluminum back cover that will not only sport a diamond cut aluminum edge, but will be available in four color choices. Using the Android 6.0 operating system, the REI (which means beautiful, elegant, and wise), is the latest edition of smartphones from the brand. And with features like dual 13 megapixel PDAF rear cameras and an 8 megapixel front camera, the 5.2”-inch smartphone comes complete with a 1080 X 1920 Full HD…


Pre-Orders for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Start Today!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past 24 hours, you might have heard that Samsung unveiled their newest Galaxy phones here at Mobile World Congress 2016. We at Gear Diary had an opportunity to check out both of the unique smartphones hands on! Both devices, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge both feature an enhanced design, with a higher quality camera on top of refined software functionality. But they didn’t stop there, as they also introduced the Gear 360, their 360-degree camera that allows the user to feel fully immersed in spherical video and images….




Lenovo Shines with Travel Ready Convertible Laptops and a Detachable Tablet

Today Lenovo is introducing two new convertible Windows 10 PCs, the YOGA 51o and the YOGA 710, along with the affordable ideapad MIIX 310 a 2-in-1 detachable tablet. All of the new devices sport better battery life, versatility, and portability. YOGA 510 14″ and 15″ The YOGA 510 14″ and 15″ boast more than 50% improved battery life. The 510 has a new design, lighter weight, and it delivers up to 8.5 hours battery life. Similar to the YOGA 710, the new YOGA 5101 delivers a smooth transition between laptop, stand, tent, and tablet modes. Lighter than before at only…




ALCATEL Announces Their IDOL 4 Series!

With Mobile World Congress 2016 gearing up this week, ALCATEL is announcing their IDOL 4 series today. Attempting to capitalize on the success of the IDOL 3, the IDOL 4, and IDOL 4s smartphones, they are introducing new features such as the new Boom Key and a unique augmented multimedia experience. “The IDOL 4 series marks another milestone in ALCATEL innovation,” said Dan Dery, Chief Marketing Officer at ALCATEL. “The Boom Key boom-ifies everything, from the sound to photos to gaming. Something we’re really excited about, and something I’m eager to show my friends is that we’ve augmented IDOL 4’s multimedia…



Native Union Wants to Pair Your Phone to Its Dock!

A personal favorite company of mine, Native Union announced today their minimalistic charging line, with a host of new colors! Native Union finally announced that their popular DOCK SERIES for the Apple Watch as well as for the iPhone and iPad will now be available in a midnight blue with gold brushed metal, or a stone color with rose gold brushed metals. These new colors will completely round out the finishes to your Apple Watch or smart device when it needs to be docked to charge. Fabien Nauroy, Head of Design at Native Union comments: “Customers love our charging docks…


MiPow PlayBulb Comet Shines Hidden Light Wherever You Want

The MiPow PlayBulb Sphere lets you take your smart light with you. The MiPow PlayBulb Color lets your smart light also rock your tunes. The PlayBulb Comet applies the same smart lighting approach to strip lighting that can bring light under your cabinets, behind your television or, for that matter, pretty much anywhere you want. And setup is a breeze!


I’m JK, and I’m a Gear Addict

As the new kid on Gear Diary, let me introduce myself and explain why I’m so excited to be here. My name is James Kendrick and I’m thrilled to be the newest member of the Gear Diary family. I’ve been covering mobile tech since before tech sites existed, and I’m a self-proclaimed gadget addict.


Synology Launches Its First WiFi Router, the RT1900ac Today

Synology Inc., manufacturer of award-winning Network Attached Storage devices (NAS), has launched its first router, the RT1900ac, in the US. The 802.11ac WiFi router broadcasts both 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals for combined data transfer speeds of up to 1900mbps. Boasting a slew of software features, the RT1900ac is perfect for home or office and comes with an MSRP of $149.99.



Facebook Messenger Groups Introduce Valentine Picture Presents

Everyone loves a present, right?  So how about a nice photo wrapped in a bow and red heart paper? You can send your Facebook friends just a present if you are in a Facebook Messenger Group with them. To send the wrapped image, simply click the heart/arrow icon in the lower right corner of your chat display window. Then select an image and send.


Facebook Showing Realtime NHL Scoreboard for Check-ins

I don’t think this is new. But I do think it’s pretty cool. Facebook last night showed a realtime updated score for the Kings/Rangers game that my sister was watching at New York’s Madison Square Garden.  At first I thought it was just a static score – which would have been interesting by itself. Then I went back to check the status update and noticed that not only had the score changed but the current time left for play was also updated. It appears this may have started, at least in a test version, around the time of the last…


How to “Brick” Any 64-bit iOS Device in 6 Easy Steps!

The folks on Reddit have uncovered what appears to be a flaw in the iOS code which will render any 64-bit iOS device (32 bit reportedly unaffected) unusable until the battery power is removed. This flaw occurs when the internal clock of the device is manually changed back to 1970 and then the device is rebooted.