Reviews

Useful Things: The Plasma Bulb Night-Light Review

Useful Things: The Plasma Bulb Night-Light Review

In the 1980s, the coolest accessory you could have in your bedroom wasn’t a lava lamp, it was a plasma globe. I can still remember ogling one at the Service Merchandise store in San Angelo; they cost $199, and I had to save up for several months before I could purchase mine. Before seeing my first globe, I didn’t know anything about plasma; that in “the world of physics it’s also known as the fourth state of matter, and is the closest we can get to “seeing” electricity.” [source] I didn’t know that the “plasma lamp was invented by Nikola…

iPhone 4 Case Review: Shark Eye Rugged iPhone 4 Case

iPhone 4 Case Review: Shark Eye Rugged iPhone 4 Case

The Shark Eye case for the iPhone 4 may look like just another rugged iPhone case but it is far from it. You see, the Shark Eye case has a built in screen shield that swings out of the way when you need to use your phone and goes back into position protecting the screen when you don’t. From the Company: SharkEye Cases are the best rugged iPhone cases to keep your iPhone and your life up and running. Meticulously engineered to protect your iPhone from serious drops, slips, scratches, pressure and from the same challenges you face everyday with…

iPad Accessory Review: Prop 'n Go All-In-One

iPad Accessory Review: Prop ‘n Go All-In-One

Here’s an iPad accessory that took me a bit by surprise. When I first took a quick look at it I figured this thing would be a bit silly: interesting but silly. Then the thing came and my first thought was “This thing is a big pillow with an iPad stand sewn to the top of it”. Then I used it for a few days and thought, “Okay, this thing gets a good review.” 🙂 What is “this thing”? It is the Prop ‘n Go from Padded Spaces and it is a well conceived, nicely executed, off-the-beaten-path accessory for anyone…

Android WiFi Tablet Review: The HTC Flyer and HTC Scribe Digital Pen

Android WiFi Tablet Review: The HTC Flyer and HTC Scribe Digital Pen

Judie: When I attended Mobile World Congress earlier this year, there was one device which stood out for me above all others — the HTC Flyer. The Flyer is an aluminum-bodied 7″ Android tablet; my introduction to it came while I was still carrying a Samsung Galaxy Tab daily, and I could not get over how much better the Flyer looked and how much more solidly built it felt. It was positively Apple-esque, and that is not a bad thing. Couple that with the matching aluminum digital pen which suddenly made note-taking and doodling seem like some long-lost table feature…

iPad 2 Case Review: The Joy Factory SmartGrip2

iPad 2 Case Review: The Joy Factory SmartGrip2

We have already taken a look at some of the iPad 2 cases that are now being released that work with Apple’s Smart Covers. The other day Jamie reviewed a case that picks up where Apple’s screen protection leaves off. Here’s another example of a case that lets you also use the Smart Cover you may already own. This one comes from The Joy Factory. We reviewed their SmartSuit2 and loved it. (I’m still using it as one of my two “daily drivers”.) The company also offers the SmartGrip2. It is a simple case that hugs the back and sides…

iPad 2 Case Review: Seidio Active Case for the iPad 2

iPad 2 Case Review: Seidio Active Case for the iPad 2

I tend to be partial to folio-style cases for my iPad 2, but there is something to be said for some of the more unusual “rugged” cases that offer complete protection AND a removable screen cover. That’s where the Seidio Active case for the iPad 2 comes in. When closed, the case offers complete protection AND it brings along the added benefit that the screen cover can serve double-duty as a multi-angle stand. I’ve been checking one out for the past few days; let’s take a look at it. From Seidio: Created for those that have and want to maintain…

2011 Lincoln MKX More Than a Fancy Ford

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2011 Lincoln MKX More Than a Fancy Ford

Across the board, Ford and Lincoln engineers have been working to stay at the front of the technological field in their vehicles and most of that emphasis has been in the implementation of MyFord and MyLincoln technology packaging recently. At the same time, much of the fleet has been getting minor (and in some cases, major) cosmetic surgery and powertrain upgrades. The 2011 Lincoln MKX midsize crossover we tested recently is an example of one of those getting a little of both. Outside we see the new “face” of Lincoln while inside the vehicle impresses both aesthetically and ergonomically. In…

Otterbox Commuter for NOOKcolor Review

Otterbox Commuter for NOOKcolor Review

So you’ve picked up a shiny new NOOKcolor, and you need a good case for it. Something sturdy that can withstand your day-to-day abuse. Luckily for the hardcore gadget abusers among us all, Otterbox has a Commuter Case for the NOOKcolor. Does it live up to the Otterbox name, and is it worthy of being slapped on your precious eReader? Read on to find out! Like all the cases in the Commuter series, the NOOK version comes with three parts; a screen protector, a fitted silicon case, and a plastic shell that fits around the outside. While it does add…

Analog Game Review: IcoSoKu

Analog Game Review: IcoSoKu

It seems like almost everything many of us use today is digital or electronic. I do not read books from paper anymore or play card games with physical cards. Almost any type of game or activity can be replicated with our digital devices. Puzzle games and brainteasers are some of my favorite time wasters and I have many on my iPhone. What about actual physical games? You remember, the puzzles you actually hold in your hand and move to solve. I recently tried IcoSoKu from Recent Toys to challenge my mind and bring me back to the days of analog…

First Impressions: nook Simple Touch Reader

eBooks, Reviews

First Impressions: nook Simple Touch Reader

It is perhaps somewhat ironic that I have been reading eBooks of some sort or other on handheld devices for over 20 years, and yet have never owned a dedicated eReader. It is even more ironic that while I live in a house with two nook eReaders (wife and younger son), I have spent very little time with the devices. I attribute the former to my desire to always stay on the cutting edge of technology coupled with the relative newness of dedicated readers; the latter I attribute to a desire to allow others to learn and discover for themselves….

iPhone Gear Review: Third Rail System

iPhone Gear Review: Third Rail System

It is no secret that mobile power has become a huge issue for most of us. IOS, Android, Blackberry…we may all argue about whose is better, but the bottom line is that we all need extra power for our devices at one point or another. My job takes me on the road several nights a week — without charging possibilities — so this is a big issue for me all of the time. I have numerous external batteries and even a solar-powered charger that I carry with me in my gear bag and in my athletic bags. One problem I…

Smart Cover Enhancer iPad 2 Case Review

Smart Cover Enhancer iPad 2 Case Review

When the iPad 2 came out I happily purchased the Smart Cover. Over time I’ve developed an appreciation for its screen protection and stand functionality, but I can’t accept having absolutely no protection for the back. So, I went shopping. My goal was to find something that would: be a perfect fit, protect the device, work nicely with the Smart Cover, and not add too much bulk or weight. Those requirements led me to XGear’s Smart Cover Enhancer, one of the many available back covers (more reviews forthcoming!). The Enhancer snaps on and grips the iPad securely: no gaps…

Vertu Constellation Quest Review - Vertu's First QWERTY Smartphone

Vertu Constellation Quest Review – Vertu’s First QWERTY Smartphone

Last October we posted about the then upcoming Vertu Constellation Quest, Vertu’s first QWERTY keyboard phone, a phone which compared to all of their previous models was a veritable smartphone. Half-jokingly (or perhaps presciently), Larry stated that it might be my next phone, and when we were in Vegas for CES this January, I stopped by the Vertu boutique, so I could see one in person. I thought it was lovely; I asked for a catalog, I fantasized about putting one on my American Express for a minute or two … and then I stepped away from the boutique and…

Mac Accessory Review: Magic Connector for Apple's Trackpad and Bluetooth Keyboard

Mac Accessory Review: Magic Connector for Apple’s Trackpad and Bluetooth Keyboard

Elana and I are both using our MacBook Air’s as our primary computers and could not be happier. (She has an 11″ and I have a 13″.) Both of us have Rain Design’s mStand and love the simple, elegant way it raises the laptop up so that the screen is at perfect eye-level. And we both use a Bluetooth keyboard and pointing device. Elana uses Apple’s MagicMouse, and I use a Magic Trackpad. That’s where the issue comes in. Having the trackpad and keyboard separate from one another doesn’t work all too well at times. If I move the keyboard…

USBFever Wide Angle + (Macro) + Fish Eye + 2X + 8X + 12X Telephoto Lens Combo for iPhone 4G

USBFever Wide Angle + (Macro) + Fish Eye + 2X + 8X + 12X Telephoto Lens Combo for iPhone 4G

The world of photography with the iPhone, or iPhoneography, is a growing phenomenon and photography related apps are emerging faster than most can keep up. Most of these apps do little for enhancing the initial photography experience in that none allow for optical manipulation of the scene, merely digital. Enter USBFever.com and their Wide Angle + (Macro) + Fish Eye + 2X + 8X + 12X Telephoto Lens Combo for iPhone 4G.

iPad 2 Case Review: Booqpad iPad 2 Agenda

iPad 2 Case Review: Booqpad iPad 2 Agenda

So you love your iPad 2 but just aren’t read to go completely paperless. What to do? Well, you COULD carry your iPad and a separate notepad OR you could grab Booq’s new Booqpad for iPad 2. Yes, the Booqpad is a great example of “old-school meets new world”. It brings your iPad together with a writing tablet and even throws in spots for business cards, a few separate notes and a pen. It is one of the more unique designs we have seen when it comes to iPad 2 cases so lets take a closer look. From Booq: The…

2011 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn: All Hat AND the Rodeo

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2011 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn: All Hat AND the Rodeo

Ram Truck Brand managers first rolled out their new Laramie Longhorn package at the State Fair of Texas just in time for the annual Red River Rivalry between UT and OU. They followed that with a victory at the Texas Truck Rodeo and a fold-out spread in this year’s SI Swimsuit Edition. Recently a Laramie Longhorn-laden Ram 3500 Heavy Duty dually landed in my driveway for a week for me to opine. First let me express my disappointment at Ram as there was no lovely leather leggings in the rear seat area as shown on pages 2 and 3. (Must…

iPad 2 Case Review: The Joy Factory's SmartSuit2

iPad 2 Case Review: The Joy Factory’s SmartSuit2

The iPad 2 is slimmer than the original iPad. It is lighter than the original iPad. It has two cameras so you can Facetime or shoot video. All of those were nice upgrades from the first iPad but none of them are the BEST feature of the iPad 2. No, the BEST feature, in my humble opinion, is the smart Sleep/Awake functionality. Within days of getting the iPad 2 I had forgotten that I even needed to use the home button to turn on the iPad. Now I simply put the cover over the screen and BAM! – it goes…

iPhone 4 Case Review: e13ctron's s4 Case for iPhone 4

iPhone 4 Case Review: e13ctron’s s4 Case for iPhone 4

I absolutely loved the original version of e13ctron’s s4 for iPhone 4. It was a sleek aluminum case that protected the iPhone, didn’t add too terribly much weight and had a beveled shape in strategic areas that just felt great in the hand. Yes, I loved the case and I used it… For a day. I was a bit heartbroken when I quickly discovered that the all aluminum case wreaked havoc on my signal strength. The case was specially designed with a gasket insert that kept the metal case away from contact with the iPhone and was, theoretically, supposed to…

iPad Accessory Review: The Joy Factory's PowerBullet-X

iPad Accessory Review: The Joy Factory’s PowerBullet-X

My brother-in-law Robert recently ordered an iPad. I never thought I would see the day when that would happen but order he did. The same goes for my friend Michael. He too finally hit the “Order” button and came into the new post-pc era. I predict that Robert and Michael will find themselves using their iPads even more than they expect. That means they’ll need some key accessories. Chief among them, a way to charge the iPad in the car. As you are likely aware, the iPad requires a 10W power source. That means you cannot use many, or all…

Shooting Gear Review: X-Rest by Montie Gear

Shooting Gear Review: X-Rest by Montie Gear

Here at Gear Diary, we write about a huge variety of products and services. One area that we rarely touch on is the hobby of shooting. Living in South Texas and being a country boy means that I have done my fair share of shooting. I love to hunt, despite rarely getting the chance and I love to shoot targets. To be able to shoot well, you must practice. It just so happens one of my best buddies is a gunsmith and NRA registered 600 and 1000 yard F-Class shooter and 1000 yard bench rest shooter. He has a target…

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