Reviews

Torchlight Free on GoG.com

Reviews

The Netbook Gamer: Torchlight (2009, RPG)

One comment I received when I started the Netbook Gamer series was that it was as much a ‘Retroscpectives of My Favorite Games’ series as anything else … and to an extent that is true (though the next entry will be a game I never played before). The problem is that Netbooks are not designed pumping out pixels in a way that is needed for modern games. However, every once in a while something comes along that works – and when I started playing Torchlight and saw a ‘Netbook Mode’ under visual options I was thrilled. So is the game…

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ProCamera Basic for iPhone Review

One of the lacking points of the iPhone is often the camera.  Even though there have been improvements made with the 3GS camera, it is still lacking.  Many apps are available to change the camera UI, edit photos or improve the experience.  I have used many of these apps with mixed results.  One problem with the camera is getting clear shots without blur from shaking.  Lets face it, holding the small phone still enough to get a great shot is not like bracing yourself with a nicely weighted DSLR.  ProCamera Basic proves to address some of the basic photo taking…

Pelican i1015 iPhone and iPod touch case Review

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Pelican i1015 iPhone and iPod touch case Review

Allow me to set the scene. You’re sitting on the beach in a faraway tropical location sipping on a fancy frozen drink, while listening to tunes streaming from your iPod touch which is resting gently on your towel. Looks good right? That is until the family of six comes marching by with a horde of beach toys, chairs, karts, umbrellas etc. kicking sand all over your precious Apple product along the way. Pelican has been in the business of protecting gizmos and gadgets for over 20 years. Their heavy-duty cases our industry known as ones that offer the maximum amount…

4iThumbs Tactile Keyboard for iPhone

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4iThumbs Tactile Keyboard for iPhone

photo courtesy of cultofmac.com The idea is pretty clever:  You take a thin clear plastic layer, much like a screen saver, and give it a few “bumps” to force your finger into the correct locations, and you will make typing on the iPhone a better experience. 4iThumbs has done just that.  They released their Tactile Keyboard for iPhone to help you in typing better and faster on the iPhone without obscuring your vision of what’s on the screen.   Does it work?   Read on…

Reason to jailbreak #89: Infinidock

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Reason to jailbreak #89: Infinidock

Still looking for a reason to jailbreak?  Infinidock is an incredibly helpful utility for the iPhone OS.  In my opinion it might just be the most useful add-on application released for the iPhone to date. The concept is quite simple.  Infinidock  allows you to place any number of icons (up to 10) in your dock. And then turns your dock into its very own springboard allowing you to swipe and scroll through the various icons. You may also, in the settings, configure, the number of icons you see on your dock by default. For example, if you place 10 icons…

DVD Box Set Review: Complete Fawlty Towers Collection

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DVD Box Set Review: Complete Fawlty Towers Collection

… or was that WA RTY TOWELS … or perhaps WATERY FOWLS … or maybe even FLAY OTTERS? Whatever the sign outside said, you knew that once inside the lobby you were in for some hilarious and cringe-worthy shenanigans with Basil Fawlty and the rest of the gang! Now you can enjoy all twelve episodes in a three-disk collection that also includes gobs of extras!

Griffin Elevator Review

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Griffin Elevator Review

Surviving marathon sessions working on your computer is all about comfort.  Putting yourself in the proper viewing and reaching position goes along way towards keeping your body feeling good. Ergonomics! According to Griffin Technology, Healthycomputing.com, the premier source for office ergonomics, recommends positioning the top of your screen level with your eyes and sitting at least an arm’s length distance from the screen. Both of these key ergonomic standards are made possible using The Griffin Elevator with an external keyboard.

2010 Ram Heavy Duty

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2010 Ram Heavy Duty

As the automotive industry prepares for the 2010 North American International Auto Show I thought I would lead my ‘teen’ reviews with the vehicle that garnered truck of the year honors, the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty. Notice I did not say “Dodge Ram” as the vehicle brand. Chrysler has chosen to spin its truck division apart from the Dodge world and simply call it “Ram.”

Nexus One First Impressions

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Nexus One First Impressions

After having seen the Nexus One in the flesh prior to it being launched, I knew that I would have to order one as soon as it officially launched. As soon as the online store went live during the presentation, I placed an order for the unlocked version, as my T-Mobile family plan doesn’t qualify for the subsidized version. Read on for more thoughts on the ordering and delivery process, some unboxing photos, and some initial thoughts on the Nexus One hardware and Android 2.1. The Ordering Process The Google launch event was not quite a rock star event like…

Mr. Puzzle Genius 3D Puzzle for iPhone / iPod Touch

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Mr. Puzzle Genius 3D Puzzle for iPhone / iPod Touch

It’s no mystery that I’m a fan of casual gaming.  So I was excited when recently I was given a copy of Mr. Puzzle Genius 3D Puzzle for iPhone.  This game looked like it might be a real challenge with possibly lasting play value. So did it hold up to the hype? Let’s take a look…

Staying Motivated: Learning a Language on a Budget, Week Six

How to Do It Yourself!, Reviews

Staying Motivated: Learning a Language on a Budget, Week Six

photo credit: woodleywonderworks So you’ve been at this language learning thing for a while now and you find yourself losing interest – or getting too busy – or whatever the case may be!   Now a few days or even weeks have gone by and you need to get yourself back into studying again.  One of the most important things in learning a language is to keep working at it and using it.  If you don’t, you will start to lose what you’ve learned already.  So how do you keep yourself motivated?   How do you keep things interesting?   This week, I’ll…

Gift Box for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

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Gift Box for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

Are you ever out running errands or shopping, see an item in a store, and think, “hey, that would make a great gift for ______ …?”  It definitely happens to me.  The problem is that I pretty quickly forget about that great idea and when the intended recipient’s birthday or Christmas rolls around, I’m in a cold sweat, trying to figure out what to get them. Just before Christmas, Zicron Software released Gift Box, an iPhone application intended to help folks like me stay organized at birthday and holiday times.  Zicron Software is still pretty new to the world of…

MyDeskFriend Pingo Review

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MyDeskFriend Pingo Review

I have a confession to make.  I like penguins.  Part of this is I am a Linux user and Tux, the Linux mascot, is a penguin.  The other part is they are so darn cute.  That’s why I decided to take a look when Arimaz offered to send a sample of MyDeskFriend AKA Pingo. Part Tamagotchi, part Facebook app, part Tux Droid and all cute.  That about sums up this tiny robot that fits in your hand.  MyDeskFriend comes with a little USB docking station, Pingo the Penguin and a little rubber visor that Pingo wears.

Jabra HALO Bluetooth Headphones Review

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Jabra HALO Bluetooth Headphones Review

Jabra None of the previous Bluetooth headphones that I have had the chance to use have really felt “right”. Many of them were either just like two enormous earbuds in each ear tethered to each other with a wire behind my head, or were too large to chuck in my slender laptop bag that I carted to uni everyday. The idea of cutting the cord between my head and my pocket was a good one, but there were just too many drawbacks. That’s until I tried the Jabra Halo, which has brought me that much closer to wireless freedom. The…

DXTop Home Replacement Review

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DXTop Home Replacement Review

I just bought my Droid a few weeks ago, and I’ve been testing various programs and getting acquainted with Android 2.0. In the stock configuration, 2.0 only has 3 “home screens” for widgets and quick app access. A few quick scans around various Android forums, and I found out about one “home replacement” program that seemed to add a lot of functionality in addition to an extra home screen: DXTop.

Scottevest Cotton Hoodie Review

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Scottevest Cotton Hoodie Review

The Cotton Hoodie from Scottevest has an MSRP of $70 and is available now. Now I know what you’re thinking — $70 is a little bit expensive for a cotton hoodie. And, in most cases you’re absolutely correct. A quick Google search for the garment yields a host of various offerings that are, for the most part significantly less than $70. Then again, those hoodies aren’t from Scottevest. Those hoodies don’t combine comfort with the kind of organizational system SEV is known for. So yes, this particular garment comes at a slight premium cost-wise but what you get for that…

PhatNotes for iPhone & iPod Touch Review

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PhatNotes for iPhone & iPod Touch Review

When I still regularly used a Windows Mobile device, PhatNotes by PhatWare was typically one of the first programs that I installed on a new device.  I now use an iPhone much of the time rather than Windows Mobile.  I’ve tried several notes programs for the iPhone, and while many of them are quite good, none have quite hit the mark for me.  I like being able to group notes of similar topics, and being able to synchronize easily with desktop software is handy also.  So, when PhatWare offered Gear Diary a chance to examine their newly released version of…

Contour reCharge Universal Review

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Contour reCharge Universal Review

With all the restrictions on what you can and can not carry on airplane flying around, there’s one thing that seems certain.  The less you pack the better of you’ll be.  As I get my gear bag ready for CES 2010 I’m faced with a mountain of charging cables that I’ll need to stuff into my bag. One thing that will help is the Contour reCharge Universal.  The reCharge Universal is a home charger and car charger in one which allows you to simultaneously charge two devices via a USB  cable.  The reCharge comes with an iPhone/iPod cable, but it…

Review: Trane XL800 Programmable Thermostat & a Giveaway

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Review: Trane XL800 Programmable Thermostat & a Giveaway

When I had my house built in 1998, one thing I wanted but could not afford at the time was a programmable thermostat.  Thankfully, Trane was kind enough to send one that I probably would not have considered, the Trane XL800. The first thing I had to do was install the thermostat.  To do so, I had to turn off my HVAC system — which mean going into the depths of my garage and flipping the breakers.  Then I went back inside, removed the existing thermostat and replaced it with the programmable thermostat.  Make sure to pull the little plastic strip out…

Throwboy Pillows Review: For the true Fan-Boy

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Throwboy Pillows Review: For the true Fan-Boy

Are you an Apple fan-boy?  Are you all Apple, all the the time?  If you are then you probably think that Apple’s icons are part of what make’s their operating system so nice to look at. Now you can look at your Apple’s icons, dare I even say you can snuggle with them, when you’re away from your computer. How? Throwboy makes handmade pillows usually in the shape of Mac related icons.  The pillows are available in two sets.  There’s the icon collection, chat  collection and they also make an individual RSS pillow. This holiday season I received the full…

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AppVault Pro For iPhone/Touch Review

AppVault Pro was released December 29 by C3 Software.  The vault contains 25 applications for the price of one.  Yes, there have been similar applications containing several smaller apps but often times those apps have a lower quality from a standalone app.  After spending the day with AppVault Pro I have to say this is a well polished app with some very good content.  Check out what is included for the one low price after the break.