Reviews

Kogan Agora Mini 8 Android Tablet Review

With compact tablets like the Asus Nexus 7 and the iPad mini rapidly gaining popularity over larger 10″ models, Kogan has updated their range of slates with a new Agora Mini 8″ model. Kogan’s big claim to fame (as often is the case with Kogan products) is first and foremost its low price: AU$119 for the 8GB model, and AU$129 for the 16GB model. This significantly undercuts the 16GB iPad mini’s AU$369 starting price, as well as being almost half the cost of an Asus Nexus 7 (16GB, AU$249). Previous tablet entries have proven the adage “you get what you…

Game Diary, Reviews

Hidden Wonders of the Depths HD for iPad Review

In the world of casual gaming, the dominant game type os Hidden Object adventures, followed by Match 3 games. Match 3 games have come a long way since Bejeweled, with RPGs such as Puzzle Quest being the most obvious example of taking the standard format in a new direction. G5 has just released a new game based on Match 3 gameplay, but it offers much more than that. So let’s take a look at Hidden Wonders of the Depths HD for iPad! Type of app: Match-3 Puzzle game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version available here); available in the iTunes…

Music Diary, Reviews

Chris Potter The Sirens Review

I have known about Chris Potter for years, but mostly as a sideman, playing with Paul Motian, Dave Holland and most recently as part of Pat Metheny’s Unity Band. At the same time I have also become more of a fan of his efforts as a leader – his ‘Follow the Red Line’ live album from 2007 remains a favorite, with Viva Las Vilnius being essential listening from the last decade. He has recorded with a variety of labels through the years, and has recently joined the historic ECM label, and has just released his debut for ECM. Let’s take…

Reviews

Clash of Clans for iOS Review

My latest and greatest addiction came from a source I never thought would put me on an iOS game; the bow hunting forum that I actively participate in had a post about joining the Texas Bow Hunters clan on Clash of Clans. Several of the members expressed their enjoyment of the game, so I thought maybe it was time to try it out. In a few short days, the game has become a huge addiction, and it turns out to be a lot of fun. Let’s take a quick look. Clash of Clans is a combat strategy game that requires…

Reviews

Noreve Tradition D for iPhone 5 Case Review

Noreve offers some of the most beautiful leather device cases available. Their Tradition D case for the Apple iPhone 5 is no exception. Made from “top quality handcrafted leather”, the Noreve Tradition D has a thermoplastic polymer inner structure to hold your iPhone in place while the leather provides a soft, classy look and feel. That means you get all the protection you want without fear of any signal interference. The Noreve Tradition D for iPhone 5 has an “easy-to-close” cover that stays shut without the need for a magnetic or snap closure. If you have used a case with…

Reviews

SmartStick TV Accessory Review

When we were shopping for an HDTV, I briefly considered whether we needed a “smart TV”. Eventually, I decided we probably didn’t, but I was very excited to take a look at the SmartStick TV accessory, as it turns my decidedly not-smart HDTV into a smart version running Android. Unfortunately, it isn’t without its drawbacks, and it has left me wondering if the benefits are worth the quirks. Read on to find out my take! Physically, the SmartStick is extremely compact. It’s just a little bit bigger than a stick of gum, and it uses HDMI to connect to the…

Reviews

Inventio HD 720P Video Sunglasses Review

A number of months ago I reviewed the PivotHead Video Sunglasses. (Read the review.) I used them in Aruba (watch the video) and then again in Cuba (watch the video). I really enjoyed using the glasses and was bummed when the time came to return the sample I was using. I sent them back and planned to shoot future video “the old-fashioned way”… with my iPhone. That’s when I was offered a pair of Inventio HD 720P Video Sunglasses to review. “Another pair of video sunglasses to review?” I thought, “Why not.” The Inventio HD 720P Video Sunglasses came a few…

Game Diary, Reviews

Runaway A Twist of Fate for iPad Review

Several years ago the point and click adventure genre had a resurgence on the PC, and it felt like I played and reviewed just about every one for a few different sites. One of the games I played was called Runaway: A Road Adventure, which centers around Brian Basco and Gina Timmons. The pair is back in the third entry originally released for PC in 2010, so lets take a look at Runaway A Twist of Fate for iPad. Type of app: Adventure game Platform/where to buy: Universal iPad/iPhone; available in the iTunes App Store Developer: Pendulo Studios / BulkyPix…

Reviews

RHA SA950i Wired Headphones Review

Hey everyone, listen up! See what I did there? Anyway, corny jokes aside, these headphones pump some serious tunes. The $60 RHA SA950i is a set of wired on-ear headphones that also include an in-line remote and microphone on the fabric braided cable. The Glasgow-based company has found a great balance between price point and sound quality with this set. The RHA SA950i wired headphones boast professional grade 40mm titanium coated mylar drivers, adjustable headband with padding, along with a detachable cable with in-line remote and microphone. These headphones deliver excellent sound quality through the 40mm titanium coated mylar speakers. …

Music Diary, Reviews

Pat Metheny Orchestrion Project Review

Pat Metheny is one of my favorite artists, and I am pretty much guaranteed to buy whatever he releases, and have been thrilled with the quality of work in recent years (he lost me for a while in the late 80s / early 90s). I truly enjoyed his Orchestrion release, and the live performance I took my family to see. Last year he released a DVD of the project which I enjoyed, and now we get the full set of music from the DVD. One could ask ‘where is the line crossing into over-milking a project’, and it is a…

Reviews

My Macbook Case MacBook Pro Rubberized Case Review

Currently, I’m sporting a brand new Lifeproof case for my iPhone 5 and a Smart Case cover for my iPad, but unfortunately, I’ve neglected by MacBook Pro…until now! When I first received a My Macbook Case MacBook Pro Rubberized Case, I was very pleased with the shade of blue and the overall look of the case. The packaging was very simplistic, as both the top and the bottom cases were wrapped in a thin plastic bag. Once I removed the plastic, I noticed that the case itself was extremely lightweight. While I was happy that the case would not add…

Events, Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

Chevy Volt at SXSWi Review

Chevy Volt, loaned to me for the week of South by Southwest Interactive for review purposes When it comes to car reviews, Gear Diary has some experienced people to check things out for you. But this time, neither our intrepid (and superlative) car reviewer David Goodspeed — and how excellent is that a name for a car reviewer, right? “Goodspeed”? Awesome! — nor our fearless lead editor, Judie (who has done car reviews before as well), could attend South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) this year. On the other hand, ol’ Doug lives in Austin. So I got the chance, for the…

Reviews, Yum Log

Travaso Fine Wine Decanters Make Something Good Even Better

Let’s talk about decanting. I think that most people who enjoy wine are familiar with the process of decanting, introducing air to a liquid by pouring it from one container into another. This serves two major purposes. First, if you’ve stored your wine correctly with the neck slightly below parallel to keep the cork wet so that it doesn’t dry out and crack (you do that, right?), then any sediment in the wine will settle into the wider bottom of the bottle. Thanks to the large dimple in the bottom of the bottle, called the “punt,” (see, you learn something…

Game Diary, Reviews

Psychic Chasms Games Review

Deep within the murky depths of alternative medicine lies the field of dream interpretation, the discipline of assigning poignant meaning to our subconscious, slumbering thoughts. Not only do professionals exist in this area, they claim grounding in Freudian psychology. A main tenet held by such specialists (as verified on LinkedIn), is that dreams, while often confusing and disparate, hold coherent meaning within their surreal borders. Analgesic Productions’ latest work, Anodyne, explores the nature of dreams in a similar way, but often forgets that abstraction isn’t as simple as ambiguity. At its humblest, Anodyne draws heavily from the top-down Zelda era of the nineties. The creators…

Reviews

Eton Blackout Buddy Should Be in Every Home

The television show Revolution made its return to Prime Time last night. When it first aired in the fall, the show about a world without power struck a bit too close to home; a few episodes into it, SuperStorm Sandy plunged much of the East Coast into darkness. I’m not sure if it was art imitating life, or life imitating art, but either way there was a good bit of irony in the juxtaposition of the two events. After spending that week without power, water or telephone, I’ve slowly been equipping the house with the items that will make the…

Reviews

PhoneSuit Lightplay Media Projector with Android Review, Part 1

This is part one of a two-part review of the PhoneSuit Lightplay Media Projector.In this post we’ll look at the actual hardware included in the PhoneSuit Lightplay Media Projector box. In the second post we’ll delve more deeply into the actual functionality of the PhoneSuit Lightplay Media Projector . About here and a half ago, Judie and I used the BenQ GP2 Projector. We were amazed that something so small and light could push out such a large, clear image. Watch our videos… Bringing the BenQ Joybee GP2 to Aruba? Why Not! Benq Joybee GP2 Saves the Day When Rain…

Reviews

Spotlite 2.0 GPS Pet Tracker Review

Pets are part of the family; we want them safe, happy, and healthy. Unfortunately, as anyone who has ever owned a dog can attest, you can’t really have a reasoned conversation with them about why it’s important to stay in the yard, why they shouldn’t go harass the neighbors, why there is no wandering near the street…and they certainly can’t call home if they do disobey those wishes and they get lost! Securus has a solution, the Spotlite 2.0, a GPS tracker that attaches to your pet’s collar and lets you track their location, receive alerts if they leave the…

Reviews

Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon Action Camera Review

If I had a dollar for every time I said “Dude, you had to have been there, that stunt was epic!,” I’d have, well, about $1, because let’s face it, I’m not very adventurous. However, if I were one of those adrenaline seekers, there would be only one camera on my wishlist. I recently had the opportunity to take the Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon action camera out for a spin. This unique camera has two, count ’em, two lenses. You’re able to film a first-person view as well as a secondary angle. Each lens shoots in 720p and has a…

Reviews

Spigen SGP Leinwand Leather Case for Apple iPad mini Review

The Spigen SGP Leinwand Leather Case for Apple iPad mini is the company’s high-end case for the iPad mini. Made from gorgeous full grain leather, it is constructed without any sewing, it is handmade, and it has a soft microfiber interior to keep your iPad mini safe and secure. The Spigen SGP Leinwand Leather Case for Apple iPad mini comes in three colors, and has an MSRP of under $75. Let’s take a close look at the case in both pictures and on video so you can decide if this is the best case for your iPad mini. The full…

Reviews

Newer Technology Power2U AC/USB Wall Outlet Review

Yesterday I posted the first in a series of posts on the “Aftermarket Smart Home”. In this series of posts we will look at some of the current offerings that let you add smart home functionality to your abode without hard-wiring permanent solutions into the walls. In this post we’ll look at an item that, while not a smart home product, does help your home become a bit “smarter”. This is especially important since anything that goes into an aftermarket smart home may not require hard-wiring, but it will require power. The focus of today’s review — the Newer Technology Power2U AC/USB…

Reviews

Twelve South BookArc for iPad and iPad Mini Video Review

Twelve South’s tagline is “We’re not just Mac friendly– we’re Mac only!”. They mean it. Each and every one of their products is designed to work with a specific product or family of products from Cupertino. That, in turn, means that each and every time Apple releases a new product line, you can expect to see new products added to Twelve South’s ever-growing portfolio. Case in point — the iPad mini. The release of the iPad mini meant the company began offering scaled-down versions of their iPad products. That’s why they released the BookBook for iPad mini, and it is why…

« 1 … 181 182 183 184 185 … 338 »