Reviews

Reviews July 21, 2013

Trident Aegis Case for the Nokia Lumia 928 Review – Bubble Wrap for Your Mobile Phone

I am loving my new Lumia 928. Windows Phone is slick, and I am enjoying the phone just as much as I did the day I bought it. However, the operating system isn’t the only thing that’s slick — the polycarbonate casing is very slippery, and I am very accident prone. Luckily for me, Trident cases released their Aegis line for the 928, and I quickly jumped on the case as a way to give my Lumia some solid protection against my personal chaotic field. Is it a good balance of protection and style? Does it make an already…

Sao Paulo Underground - Beija Flors Velho E Sujo

Music Diary, Reviews July 20, 2013

São Paulo Underground Brings Their Funky Jazz Beats to ‘Beija Flors Velho E Sujo’

When I first heard of Ray Mazurek it was as an up and coming hard bop trumpet player back in the 90s. Then I discovered his album Synthesthesia and later the sublime Sound Is. So when the folks at Cuneiform asked if I had an interest in checking out the latest released by his São Paulo Underground, I jumped at the opportunity! Description: In its latest incarnation, SPU is a power trio and a post-modern orchestra rolled into one, marked by glistening sonic textures, seductive eletronica beats, unabashedly beautiful melodies, an expansive improvisational palette and fiercely gleeful interplay. A potent…

Editorials, Reviews July 17, 2013

Over-the-Ear Headphone Shootout – A GearFest Video

Last week Judie and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with a few pair of the over-the-ear headphones I have reviewed over the past year. With prices ranging from just $149.99 all the way up to $379.95, these headphones cover a good deal of ground. Moreover, one pair offer active noise cancellation while another can be used in either wired or wireless modes. In other words, these headphones don’t all sit nicely in a single product category. At the same time, if you are in the market for new headphones then you are likely going to purchase…

Dave Liebman & Michael Stephans - Lineage

Music Diary, Reviews July 17, 2013

Jazz Legends Dave Liebman and Michael Stephans Explore Their Rock History on ‘Lineage’

Dave Liebman & Michael Stephans – Lineage The legacy of Miles Davis continues to loom large over the music world – Kenny Garrett has been prominant as a solo artist as well as with Pat Metheny’s Unity Band, and veterans like Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Jack Dejohnette, Keith Jarrett and and others are still major players. Then there is reedman Dave Liebman, arguably the last featured saxophone player before Garrett, as Miles moved away from the sax and towards the guitar for most of the 70s and through the late-80s. Dave Liebman has made major contributions to jazz through the…

Reviews July 17, 2013

Lowepro DryZone Duffle 20L Review – For the Adventure Photographer in You

A regular old camera bag is fine for regular old photography, but what if you are headed out on an adventure? What if you are taking your camera and gear somewhere where there is water, ice and other environmental hazards just waiting to claim your camera’s last shot? That’s where Lowepro’s new DryZone line of camera bags comes in. The DryZone line consists of the DryZone Backpack 40L, The DryZone Duffle 20L and the DryZone 200. And while the Backpack 40L and Duffle 20L are IPX6-rated the Backpack 40L ups the game and offers an IPX7 rating making it “the world’s…

Reviews July 17, 2013

TRÜ-FIT HD Anti-Glare Screen Protector Review – Stress Dissipation at Its Best

While Gorilla Glass is amazingly strong and scratch-resistent, it is not impervious – and for the price we pay for smartphones, it makes sense to protect them as much as possible. Screen protectors have been around since the earliest touch-screen devices in the early 90s, and while they are not the necessity they were back then, having something to protect your precious screen from damage is still a good idea. The folks at TRÜ have a new solution – the TRÜ-FIT. Description TRÜ FIT delivers a stress-free screen protector application in just a few easy steps. This elegantly designed package…

Game Diary, Reviews July 17, 2013

Twin Moons HD Review – Brings Player Choice and a Polished Experience to the iPad

I had expressed enthusiasm for the team of Cateia Games and G5 Entertainment in the past due to games such as Where Angels Cry, so when I saw that they were teaming up again for Twin Moons, I knew I would have to check it out. Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Cateia Games / G5 Entertainment Description: Twin Moons has loads of content, including: – 51 creepy and enigmatic locations – 20 challenging mini-games to master – 18 achievements to earn…

Reviews July 17, 2013

AT&T FinderCodes Electronics Lost & Found Kit Review – Lose (and Find) Yourself

FinderCodes is a QR-code based lost and found system that can be used with just about anything to which you can attach a sticker. The folks at FinderCodes — which is now a brand partner with AT&T, as you’ll notice from the logo on the box in the photo above — were kind enough to provide Gear Diary with a sample kit, which contained stickers and tags of several different sizes, as well as a set of instructions. The tags also came with a couple of small rings, so they can be easily attached to a set of keys or a…

Reviews July 15, 2013

zBoost DataBlast Review – Improve Data Speeds in the Home or Office

I currently am fortunate to have decent AT&T 4G service despite living in a primarily rural area. My service is not perfect, but I do get average speeds compared to spots just a few miles away. My dad, for example lives about 20 miles away and struggles to get data most of the time. The bad thing about connection problems for country folks is there is no real-time table for new towers and improved coverage. There can also be an issue with certain buildings not getting service in an otherwise good service area. Even though I have good service at…

Outdoors, Reviews July 14, 2013

Porter the Dog v iPhone 5, Thanks to the LifeProof LifeJacket!

The LifeProof case for the iPhone 5 is a terrific way to keep your phone safe from life’s bumps, bruises and mishaps. In addition to all the other protection it offers, the LifeProof case is waterproof. That means you can dump it in the toilet or leave it in the rain and feel confident it will still work. But what if, for example, you are spending time at a lake and don’t want to worry about your phone getting wet? Moreover, what if you want your iPhone safe from water damage AND able to float? That’s where LifeProof’s LifeJacket comes…

Reviews July 13, 2013

The Nest Earbud Holder Redux – I Wish I Had Thought of Them

We covered the Nest Earbud Protectors from Digital Innovations back in September of 2012. At the time I wasn’t all too interested in the product. It just looked like the kind of thing that would become one more piece of clutter in my gear cabinet. Turns out I was completely wrong, and these are actually a great product that, although a bit overpriced, are worth having if you use in-ear headphones on a regular basis. Digital Innovations, the company behind The Nest, describes their product as an earbud winder/headphone case that protects your earbud-style headphones or earphones from tangling and…

Jay Z's 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' Declared Platinum Already

Music Diary, Reviews July 12, 2013

Comparing Jay-Z’s ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’ to Kanye’s ‘Yeezus’ Makes Me Think of Cole Porter

Much as the pensioners romping around playing Quadrophenia to absurd ticket prices have long since forgotten their pledge to clear off before becoming caricatures of themselves, so does Jay-Z’s celebrating the 10th anniversary of his ‘final’ album by releasing yet another mediocre effort drip with so much irony. The contrast with Kanye West’s recent release, ‘Yeezus,’ is so stark that I was reminded of Cole Porter’s song ‘Night and Day’. It isn’t just that the focus of each release is different—one is pure crass corporate factory ‘product,’ and the other is finely crafted artistry—it is also that Yeezus is just…

Reviews July 12, 2013

JLAB Supra Headphones Review – High Dollar Features in a Budget Headphone

Since my time in the “reading lab” during elementary school, I have rarely worn over the ear style of headphones and thought it might be time to try. I have always preferred the mostly hidden in-ear buds over the larger, attention-getting over-ear headphones. Most of my athletes have moved to the latter for what I assume are style preferences, but they all assure me they are more comfortable and sound better. With that in mind, I wanted to give on-ear headphones a shot. I recently received a review pair of JLAB Supra headphones, and I have been using for a…

Reviews July 12, 2013

Tenba Discovery Photo/Tablet Daypack Mini Review

If you’re looking for a thin and light camera backpack that not only protects your gear, but also has enough room to let you carry your tablet or 11″ MacBook air, then you’ll want to check out the Tenba Discovery Mini Photo/Tablet Daypack. The Discovery Mini Photo/Tablet Daypack is a great way to take your camera gear on the road for the day but it also converts into a standard backpack in a matter of seconds. That flexibility, combined with the bag’s subtle but effective design and $109.95 pricetag combine to make a compelling way to carry your small DSLR…

Game Diary, Reviews July 12, 2013

Green Jelly Brings Gelatinous Gaming Goodness to the Mac!

When Green Jelly was released for the iPad and iPhone last December I enjoyed the physics-based game, and now it is available on the Mac! How does a very finger-friendly game translate? Let’s take a look! Type of app: Physics/Puzzle game Platform/where to buy: Mac; available in the Mac App Store Developer: MaxNick / G5 Entertainment Description: Green Jelly features include: ? 60 Levels in three locations: Cake, Chocolate and Waffles ? Over 10 types of objects for physics-based interaction ? 20 Funny achievements to share with friends ? Cute graphics and amusing sounds ? Updates with new levels to…

Reviews July 11, 2013

LifeProof Fre for the iPad mini Review- iPad Protection That Looks Great

If you are like me – or Judie – or Mike – your iPad mini is with you pretty much all the time. And while it is a rather solid device (Apple does happen to make some of the most refined and sturdy mobile devices on the market) the iPad mini is still a relatively delicate piece of electronics. Especially during the summer you are going to want to protect it and, until recently, your only way to get maximum protection was to put the tablet inside a big, heavy, bulky case. It’s no surprise that Lifeproof has fixed this…

Reviews July 11, 2013

Lowepro Transit Backpack 350 AW Review – Take Your Gear and GO!

Lowepro describes their Transit Backpack 350AW as “Designed to adapt to your carrying needs, this discreet camera backpack gives you fast access with no compromises.”. The backpack has an MSRP of just $119.99 and it packs in all of Lowepro’s best features. Let’s take a look at it on video, and I’ll then run down the specifics of this backpack to help you determine if this is the best camera backpack for your needs. Specifications: The bag is made from 600 D polyester, 300D honeycomb polyester and nylon webbing. It weighs just 2.4 pounds, and it has an interior camera…

Game Diary, Reviews July 10, 2013

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Review on PlayStation 3

The Metal Gear game series/franchise expands with the fast and furious katana action mix with gunplay and special mechs in the speedy epic Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The Hype METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE takes the renowned METAL GEAR franchise into exciting new territory by focusing on delivering an all-new action experience unlike anything that has come before. Combining world-class development teams at Kojima Productions and PlatinumGames, METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE brings two of the world’s most respected teams together with a common goal of providing players with a fresh synergetic experience that combines the best elements of pure action and epic…

Reviews July 9, 2013

BlackBerry Q10 Review – The Return of the QWERTY King

The candy bar QWERTY has been one of my favourite form factors since I first laid my hands on the Nokia E71. It helped that the E71 was super slim, solid and had amazing battery life, but the tactile keyboard held me back from switching for quite some time. Since those days a glass slab has been my device of choice, be it iPhone or more recently Android. It’s easy to see why, considering the ratio of consumption over creation they are typically used for. Intelligent keyboards like the brilliant SwiftKey for Android further bolster the argument that the hardware…

Reviews July 9, 2013

The JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand Review

I’ve long been a fan of JOBY’s various products. They tend to be simple, effective and well made. In fact, the very first GorillaPod tripod I reviewed is still going strong! For the past year or so, I have keeps a JOBY GripTight Micro Stand on my keychain. Just last week a person I was with said, “I wish we had brought a tripod…” I reached in my pocket, pulled out the GripTight Micro Stand and said, “Here, try this…” It worked perfectly. That’s the beauty of JOBY’s products- they solve simple problems in a variety of ways. Now the…

Reviews July 7, 2013

Mr Reader Helps Ease Google Reader Withdrawal

I don’t require much in an RSS reader, I just want a list of new items, broken up into folders. No need for fancy animations, layouts that look like magazines, or silly flipping transitions. My favorite RSS reader pre-Google Reader shutdown was FeeddlerPro, and I was heartbroken to leave it behind. But the developer for FeeddlerPro isn’t supporting Feedly, and since that’s become the simplest platform to keep my computer, Windows Phone, and iPad in sync, I needed a new app — one that wasn’t the Feedly app, because I really hate the Feedly iPad app’s style over substance approach….

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