Reviews

Samsung Galaxy S III from U.S. Cellular Review and Video Hands-On

When it comes to the world of smartphones, there is Apple and Samsung and everyone else. As noted in the past, Samsung and Apple combined for more than 100% of all profits during the last quarter! Whereas Samsung used to be famous for pushing out numerous mid-line phones with different design schemes, over the past couple of years they have focused on delivering top-end devices that offer compelling features – and have essentially become the flagship Android brand. Late this summer Samsung launched their latest flagship, the Galaxy S III. The folks at US Cellular were kind enough to send…

Reviews

ThinkTank Photo Street Walker HardDrive Backpack Review

photos by Kevin Stanford We have already looked at a number of offerings from Think Tank Photo. We reviewed the ThinkTank Retrospective 7 Camera Bag. (Read the review.) We also reviewed the ThinkTank Photo StreetWalker Camera Backpack that has now taken up residence with Judie. (Read the review.) And finally we reviewed the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0. (Read the review.) As I was finishing this initial series of reviews I commented that I wish I had something that would carry all my gear AND my 15″ MacBook Pro Retina. A short time later the ThinkTank Photo Street Walker…

Reviews

FS-PRO Camera Sling Strap with F-1 Foldable Mounting Plate Review

We reviewed the Carry Speed DS-Slim Camera Sling Strap with D-1 Wide Platform Ballhead back in September. (Read the review.) I was impressed with the system. It was a HUGE improvement over the strap Canon included with my T3i. Still, I didn’t love the fact that, like so many other camera straps that attach to the bottom of a DSLR, it took over the tripod mount. That meant the connector needed to be removed whenever I wanted to mount the camera on a tripod, and while that wasn’t a deal-breaker it was an annoyance. Thankfully there was an easy solution….

Game Diary, Gear Bits, Reviews

Avernum 6 HD for iPad Review and Hands-On Video

Type of app: Role Playing Game (RPG) Platform/where to buy: iPad (no iPhone version); available in the App Store Developer: Spiderweb Games Description: Avernum 6 is an epic, indie fantasy role-playing adventure. It is optimized for the iPad and features an enormous world, a fascinating story, and 30+ hours of gameplay. Travel into the strange subterranean land of Avernum, full of dungeons, labyrinths, and constant warfare. A set of disasters threatens to destroy your homeland in a spasm of famine and warfare. Only you can help your people to get to safety before everything falls apart. As you wander the…

Reviews

iEraser Screen Cleaner Review

Nearly every device most of us use today involve some type of touch screen. Phones, tablets, GPS units…you name it and we are smudging the screens. In fact, laptops and desktop monitors somehow seem to get greasy after just a couple of days use. There is not a day that passes that a smudged up screen is not annoying me. Anyone who is a parent of young children like myself know that anytime a kid gets near one of the screens it seems to get grungy. Our devices seem to be magnets for fingerprints and smudges. I recently had the…

Game Diary, Reviews

Whisper of Fear The Cursed Doll HD for iPad Review

Whisper of Fear: The Cursed Doll is a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game. It is available for the iPhone and iPad, and you can get it in the Apple App store. The Developer isVogat / G5 Entertainment. Major features: By now you should know the drill – story-based intro, followed up with puzzles, finding items on location screens, and full-blown hidden object scenes. Whisper of Fear meets the ‘standard framework’ of a hidden object game, to be sure. But where it is distinctive is in the depth and connectedness of the game. Most games have areas you are ‘checking off’,…

Reviews

id America Cushi Dot Soft Foam Pad for iPhone 5 Review

all photos by Kevin Stanford What if I told you that you could stick a piece of 3D foam on the back of your iPhone, and that by doing so you could both protect your phone and make it a little bit more fun? Would you be interested? I was. Id America makes protective 3D skins for the iPhone 4, 4S and 5 called Cushi; they are available with colorful stripes, polka-dots, or an assortment of retro, cartoonish, and other graphic designs. I was sent one of the “Original” collection, a design appropriately called, Owl. I happen to like owls,…

Health and Fitness, Outdoors, Reviews

iBike POWERHOUSE Complete Cycling Fitness Plan

Through the years, I’ve reviewed several devices for iPhones and iPods that purport to be sturdy protective mounts for bicycle usage. Keeping in mind that there are inherent dangers in listening to music while you’re cycling, especially if you have to worry about dangling headphone wires, it’s important to make sure that safety is your first concern. The iBike POWERHOUSE ensures both the safety of your iPhone and your body with its well-designed mount for the 3 and 4 series iPhones. (No luck for you early iPhone 5 adopters yet.) Add in a software solution for exercise and cycling technique…

Reviews

Incipio feather SHINE for iPhone 5 Review

My favorite case is “no case”. Unfortunately, “no case” also means “no protection” and with a phone whose unlocked cost approaches $1000, that’s not an option. That’s why I’ve always been a fan of Incipio’s feather cases. They don’t offer a great deal of drop protection but they do help keep scratches at bay. Incipio offers the traditional feather for the iPhone 5 but they also have the feather SHINE for iPhone 5. Here’s a look… From Incipio: feather SHINE – The feather® Shine for iPhone 5 remains sleek while providing full access to your media functions. The feather® Shine…

Reviews, Yum Log

KeyShark Takes a Bite Out of That Bottle

The other day I received a KeyShark from the folks at Cranky Monkee for a review here at Gear Diary. The timing was perfect, as it arrived just before for my annual U of I football tailgate. So, what is a KeyShark you ask? And what does it have to do with football tailgating? Well, I’m glad you asked. A KeyShark is a lightweight, but strong, bottle opener that is designed to fit on your keychain. I have to say, though, that when it first arrived I was a little skeptical. It’s pretty darn small and pretty darn lightweight. It was…

Game Diary, Reviews

Zaxxon Escape for iOS/Android Review

Type of app: Action Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad or Android Developer: SegaDescription: It’s been thirty years since gamers first took on the evil robot Zaxxon, and Zaxxon Escape continues the story of what happened after his defeat. Players must escape a crumbling asteroid base by shooting, swiping, and tilting their spaceship through an ever-changing maze of corridors, guided only by their reflexes and handy powerups like auto-pilot and tractor beams. Find out if you have what it takes to survive the total destruction of Zaxxon. Major features: I was a huge fan of Zaxxon back in the early 80s (it…

Reviews

Incipio KICKSNAP Case for the iPhone 5

Incipio’s KICKSNAP Impact Resistant Case with Integrated Kickstand for the iPhone 5 is the second iPhone 5 case we are looking at from Incipio. This case has an MSRP of $34.99 and offers decent protection in a choice of a few different color patterns. From Incipio: A package deal with dual-injected materials, a low-profile NGP® core, a Plextonium™ frame, and a custom retractable, built-in Kickstand® for hands-free viewing, the KICKSNAP™ case is a well-made, sleek and functional solution. The case offers: Rigid Plextonium™ shell with impact resistant core Built-in Kickstand Excellent shock absorption Hands free viewing Here’s our video look at it……

Reviews

Incipio FREQUENCY Textured Impact Resistant Case for the iPhone 5 Video Review

Incipio’s FREQUENCY Textured Impact Resistant Case for the iPhone 5 may not look like much but it offers amazing protection in a light and easy-to-hold case. And it has a great price too! From Incipio: This next level case by Incipio employs the impact resistant NGP® soft shell construction to provide full-coverage protection for the iPhone 5 and incorporates a design reminiscent of the post-analog, digital FREQUENCY™ waves. The case features: Excellent shock absorption Easy wrap around design Tear and stretch resistant Will not fade Here’s our video look… The FREQUENCY Textured Impact Resistant Case comes in a range of colors…

Reviews

Incipio Faxion for iPhone 5 Video Review

Incipio has announced a number of cases for the iPhone 5. This is the first in a series of quick-looks at each. This time out we have the Incipio Faxion. The cases simple but,as this diagram makes clear,there is a lot going on with it. The cases features: Rigid Plextonium™ shell with impact resistant core Excellent shock absorption Innovative hybrid design Superior Protection I like the case a lot. As you can see from the video, it offers a simple but effective means of providing your iPhone 5 complete protection, including a bit of lay on the table protection. And…

Reviews, Yum Log

Widmer Brothers Nelson Imperial IPA Review

Hi. My name is Kevin, and I like beer…a lot! Other things I like: Judie (well, actually, I love her), my kids (I love them too), Otis (my dawg), fresh air, wide open spaces, rain and… did I mention? Beer! I developed a taste for the stuff (beer that is) during college. At the time, it probably wasn’t as much a taste thing as it was a social thing, if you catch my drift. I have plenty of vintage stories about Colorado’s 3:2 beer (swill), and escapades with cheap beer bought in bulk with my buddies. After some time my…

Reviews

Jabra Solemate Bluetooth Speaker Review

I’ve had my Jawbone Jambox for well over a year, and I’ve loved it. It is small, easy to use, and it packs a punch! More recently I had the opportunity to review the Braven 600. It is about the same size, but it has a built-in battery that will also charge your mobile device even as it fills the space with music. Then there is the most recent entry into this category – the Jabra Solemate Bluetooth Portable Speaker. It costs $200, is a bit bigger than the other two speakers and, quite frankly, looks like it wants to…

Reviews

Mission Workshop R6 Arkiv Field Pack Video Review

We reviewed Mission Workshop’s Sanction Weatherproof Rucksack in November of 2011. (Read the review here.) This time out we are taking a look at the company’s R6 Arkiv Field Pack. The Mission Workshop Sanction Weatherproof Rucksack is one of the more unusual backpacks we have ever seen. In fact, it isn’t exactly a backpack. A more accurate way to describe the R6 Arkiv would be to refer to it as “backpackS”. You see, the R6 Arkiv is highly configurable and can be used in a variety of ways. Here’s our video look, the company’s description, and how you might end…

Reviews

Bond 50 Review on Blu-ray

For 50 years, Ian Fleming’s James Bond character has emulated style, bravado, special skills, and, most of all, the best gadget gear in the world. The recently released Bond 50 home video collection (Blu-ray and DVD) offers all 22 Bond films* and one bonus disc in one package complete with over 130 hours of bonus features. *Special note – 1983’s Never Say Never Again and 1967’s Casino Royale are not included in this special set. You Only Live Twice (1967), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Octopussy (1983), A View…

Reviews

Desktop Chair for iPad and MacBook air Review

We’ve looked at numerous iPad stands but few have been as simple and natural as this Desktop Chair from Moku Woodware. The Desktop Chair promises to “turn your laptop into a desktop”. Made from natural basswood, the Desktop Chair looks neat on its own and works well, except when it doesn’t. Let’s take a look. From Moku Woodware: While we enjoy the mobility of laptop, some of us still use desktops to work efficiently and comfortably. Hand made with fine natural basswood, Desktop Chair simply holds your Apple laptop and turns it into a desktop machine with an external display,…

Reviews

olloclip Review

The camera on the last two generations of iPhone is pretty amazing. The iPhone 4S upped the photographic game in a big way. And while the camera on the iPhone 5 doesn’t look that much better on paper, when you actually shoot with it, the improvements are clear. One of the best ways to get the most out of your iPhone camera is to use one of the many available after-market lens systems. We looked at one such system over the summer. (It comes from our newsletter underwriter USBFever and you can read the full post here.) Another, more compact,…

Game Diary, Reviews

Magician’s Handbook II Blacklore HD Review

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version here); available in the App Store Developer: BC Soft Games / G5 Entertainment Description: Two years have passed and your trip to the Cursed Valley is only a memory. The pages of the Magician’s Handbook remain blank and life has resumed to its natural course, until the day when a tiny fairy appears in your house pleading for help. The evil magician pirate, Blacklore, has captured all the magicians and fairies to use good magic for evil purposes. Search gorgeous, hand drawn locations, learn powerful…

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