Gear Bits


Get Origin Offers Dragon Age: Origins Game for Free!

Dragon Age: Origins is now free on PC from the Origin game distribution service from Electronic Arts through the special “On the House” program. Dragon Age: Origins is a role-playing action video game originally released in 2009 and reviewed by us here. Be aware that you’ll need an internet connection to access the online services and features.


Roku Rolls Out Screen Mirroring for Android Devices

We love our Roku and use it constantly. It’s about to get far better, though, with a new screen mirroring feature! Android phones running KitKat will be able to beam the screen onto the TV, which will be handy for slideshows and game nights! Look for a full write-up after our Roku gets the update. Via Android Central


The Sims 4 Releasing Free Content Until the End of 2014

Maxis and Electronic Arts will release free content for their latest installment of their popular life simulation game series, The Sims 4. Players just log in EA’s gaming service Origin then enjoy updates the rest of the year including the recently released special Star Wars costume set and Halloween items with pool coming in November.


Kanex GoBuddy+: the Bottle Opener Keyring We’ll All Want

If you usually carry a bottle opener keyring, as so many of us do, then you could be getting so much more utility out of that doodad. A Kanex GoBuddy+ adds an emergency sync and charge cable with either a lightning port or microUSB connector, and yes — a bottle opener. Pretty nifty, right? It will charge your device, open your cold beverage, and attach via included carabiner clip to your keys. The Kanex GoBuddy+ is $24.95 for the Lightning version and $19.95 for the microUSB version; both come with that bottle opener keyring.


Dragon Age Inquisition’s Unique Character Creation Tool

Dragon Age Inquisition will feature a unique character creation tool (male and female) when the game officially releases on November 18. Dragon Age Inquisition is the next-generation RPG from BioWare set in an epic, dark fantasy world where players are empowered to shape and drive their experience with tough choices that allow them to experience moments based on those decisions.


Out of Juice? Pocket Jump Charges Dead Car and Phone Batteries!

This is a first for me; we’ve covered plenty of external battery packs on Gear Diary, but never one that was able to serve as both “an emergency vehicle jump-starter and portable power bank”, which is exactly what the Viatek’s new Pocket Jump does. You can back on Kickstarter for as low as $40 or get two for $70.



Verizon Wireless Offers Free iPhone 6 Deal

Verizon Wireless is offering the newly announced iPhone 6 (16GB version) free to customers who turn in their existing iPhone and sign a two-year agreement with them. In this Verizon Wireless iPhone 6 deal, participants have to trade in their functional iPhone models 4, 4S, 5, 5S or 5C.


Elio Motors Dreams and Fun Facts About Our Next Rides

A Facebook post by Judie last night sparked renewed interest in the cars we pre-ordered from Elio Motors last January. Our upcoming vehicles get an amazing 84 MPG, top speeds of 100 MPH, and cost just $6800. In fact, since Judie and I each went all-in and put down a non-refundable $1000 deposit, our Elios will be just $5300!


2017 Cadillac Drives Technology and Itself

A lot of intelligent and connected vehicle news coming out of Detroit this week, as automakers take part in the Intelligent Transport System World Congress. General Motors CEO Mary Barra led things off with her keynote address boasting new technologies arriving on an all-new 2017 Cadillac model that will include advanced driver assist dubbed “Super Cruise” and new vehicle-to-vehicle technologies.


DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket Returns to Gaming Consoles

The DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket gaming console package is back on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Xbox One! This service celebrates 20 years with a return to consoles, which began on the consoles like the PlayStation 3 three years ago. Last year’s users got service access codes (e.g. on PC) when purchasing Madden NFL 25.


Yes Man Sunnies – Handmade Bamboo Sunglasses on Kickstarter

Yes Man Watches, has been previously successful on Kickstarter by raising 217% of their goal on their first Kickstarter campaign.  Now, the Yes Man brand is back with some sick-looking handmade bamboo sunglasses.  These gorgeous polarized sunglasses made from bamboo and plastic can now be pre-ordered by pledging at least $30 at the Yes Man Sunnies Kickstarter campaign.


How Asurion Rescued Us After a Watery Disaster

Last week I mentioned that Sarah’s iPhone 5C had briefly and tragically became a water table toy. While it did miraculously boot up, the speakers tended to drift in and out of functionality, and we feared there might be further issues down the road, so we initiated an insurance replacement, and discovered Asurion‘s excellent customer service!


Record Breaking “The Simpsons” Marathon Begins August 21

Watch The Simpsons marathon over 12 days on the FXX television channel starting Thursday August 21 at 10 a.m. EST.That’s all 25 seasons, or 522 episodes plus the 2007 film (after episode 400) consecutively. Beginning on Sept. 2, FXX will also have eight-episode mini-marathons at 4 p.m. EST leading into each new episode of the upcoming 26th season on Fox.


Betting on an IPhone’s Survival

Our son has a water activity table that he LOVES. Every toy gets a dunk in the water table, and today that included Sarah’s iPhone 5C. We currently have it in a bag of rice, so we will see. The Gear Diary team is pretty pessimistic, with most putting the odds of survival at 20/80 or 30/70. What’s your bet?   How discouraging were my “nay-saying friends”? Read onto see their comments on Sarah’s iPhone Disaster: Travis Ehrlich 20/80. Survival/finished. Carly Zektzer What about the likelood the phone works but the speakers are fried? Travis Ehrlich Plausible. In still going…


Best Buy Gets Bested by Improv Everywhere

What happens when 80 people, all dress the same as Best Buy employees– you know, a blue polo and kahki pants– and go into a Best Buy megastore in New York City? That’s what the Improv Everywhere Project wanted to know. So they gathered 80 willing participants, made sure they were all wearing the same thing and sent them into Best Buy one by one.


Sony Adds Blu-ray 3D Support in PS4 Update

As expected after their announcement at E3, Sony has added Blu-ray 3D support to their latest PlayStation 4 system software update (1.75). Officially released on July 29, it’s the first prominent update on the PS4 console since April’s ShareFactory. Other new feature updates include new automatic download settings for featured content from the PlayStation®Store (with power ON or in standby) and better video playback sound quality. Are you excited about Blu-ray 3D? Have you downloaded the update and tried it? Do tell!


Bluetooth SSSSSpeaker is a Quirky Collapsible Crowd Pleaser

The quirky, collapsible Bluetooth speaker known as the SSSSSpeaker has been designed by aiia, a Ukrainian design firm and is looking for funding on Kickstarter right at this very moment. It is designed to fit in your pocket and is easy to take along everywhere you go. Check out the Kickstarter campaign to pledge your support today!


The Golden Notebook Nails Why Paper beats eBook

We are on vacation in Woodstock, NY, and the local bookstore had a very entertaining comic in the window. If the picture isn’t clear, it shows a 90lb weakling getting stronger from reading the complete works of Plato in hardcover, then smacking for using an ebook reader on the beach. Certainly one advantage to hardcover!  


Ultimate Ears UE Boom Limited Edition Announced

The Ultimate Ears UE Boom is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers we have had the opportunity to review. (Read my review.) Perhaps the most compelling aspect of it – besides the great sound, battery life and superb build quality – is the fact that ultimate ears has continually found ways to update the speaker since it was first released.