Reviews

2011 Ford Explorer: The SUV for the 21st Century?

When an automaker has 96 percent name recognition in a vehicle, it is no wonder you keep that name the same despite changing the game. Ford has done that with the 2011 Explorer. The marque is third in consumer recognition behind the tying Mustang and F-series pickups and once sold upwards of 430,000 units in a single year for this popular sport utility vehicle. Waking up from dreaming of the good old days Ford found consumers are not drawn to the platform as they once were, no more moths to the flame so to speak. Today, Ford explains, buyers are…

Reviews

Tethering Data with Your Phone; How Much Is It Worth to You?

To tether or not to tether, what to do? There has been a long-standing debate and rather good argument over whether tethering your phone is legal, ethical, or financially worth it. Most platforms today have programs available that allow you to tether a wired or wireless device to you phone without buying another data plan. Most wireless carriers do offer tethering at an additional cost, but even then they limit you data speed and connection options. These days almost everyone that has a phone capable of tethering and has an additional device or two that could benefit from sharing their…

Reviews

Ingear Hybrid Shell iPhone 4 Case Review

Hybrid cases are amongst the most popular style for the iPhone 4. And I understand why. The combination of silicone and plastic that they provide offers the end user both grip and protection in what’s usually a pretty cool looking package. The Hybrid Shell case from ingear is no exception. The case, which offers maximum protection by providing a hard front frame along with a softer back is available in five different color options. The back portion of the case remains the same gray color no matter which you choose. But what does change is the frame. In addition to…

Reviews

Five Minutes Hands-On with the Archos 70 Android Tablet

Archos has been experimenting with Android for a while now. Dan did not like the Archos 5 and from what I have read from across the internet that was universal. A friend of mine purchased a Archos 70 to use as an adjunct to his Sprint Hero since he still has a year on contract. I was able to play with it for a few minutes, and what follows are some of the impressions I got while using it. The thing that most impressed me was how thin this thing is. It’s thinner than an iPad and a lot…

Reviews

iPad Accessory Review: Skadoosh Stand for Apple iPad

We’ve reviewed numerous iPad stands here on Gear Diary, but of all the stands I have personally had the chance to review, the oddly named Skadoosh Stand for iPad just might be the most substantial and flexible of them all. The Skadoosh has a unique design that is rather unique and, as a result — well lets put it this way — this is the first time I’m traveling since I got my iPad, where I had no second-guessing about iPad stand I wanted to bring along. To start with the conclusion, I like this stand so much, and am…

Reviews

iPad Accessory Review: Altec Lansing Octiv Stage iPad Speaker MP450

The saying goes that the cloths make the man. Along the same lines one could argue that apps and accessories make the iPad. Think about it… the iPad is a pretty remarkable device in and of itself but the “magical” experience truly takes off when Cupertino’s tablet is used in conjunction with some amazing apps and accessories. One of the key accessories for any iPad enthusiast is the iPad dock. The right dock can make it easier to watch video on the iPad, work on the iPad, charge and sync the iPad and much more. We’ve already had the opportunity…

Reviews

Ingear Slim Nylon iPad Case Review

Do you like to use your iPad in its out of the box, naked form factor? Or do you choose to protect your Apple tablet with something as slim as just a full body skin? Even if you answered yes to either of those questions you probably still want some sort of case to protect your device while transporting it though. The ingear Slim Nylon case for the iPad is just about the slimmest, sleekest, case I’ve seen. The Slim Nylon Case includes a screen protector and installation card. A rare but very welcomed addition with iPad cases. This horizontal…

Reviews

NOOKcolor First Impressions

What happens when a NOOK, an iPad and a Droid meet and have a three-way lovechild? NOOKcolor! Luckily for us (and all of you!), B&N has sent Gear Diary a NOOKcolor to review. Read on for my first impressions of this color eBook reader! My first thought when I opened the shipping box was, “Wow. B&N really took presentation seriously.” The NOOKcolor comes in a sturdy well-designed box, but instead of opening from the top or front, it opens from the bottom with a neat magnetic closure. Instead of being something you might open and toss away, it makes it…

Reviews

GloveTips Review: Make Any Pair Of Gloves Touch Screen Compatible

In the North East, during winter, using our touchscreen enabled devices outside becomes difficult. No, not because the screens don’t function well in cold temperatures. Because we are often times wearing gloves! Imagine the situation. Your iPhone is buried deep in your pocket. A call comes in. You fumble for your phone and try to “slide to unlock” with your gloved hand but the screen doesn’t recognize your finger’s movement. Sure you could take your glove off but do you really want to do that when it’s 20 degrees out? There’s got to be a better way right? We’ve all…

Game Diary, Reviews

PC Game Review: Call of Duty Black Ops

Since the second game in the series, Treyarch and Infinity Ward have alternated development duties for Call of Duty games: Infinity Ward did the excellent first two games as well as Modern Warfare 1 & 2. Treyarch, on the other hand, did the worst-in-franchise Call of Duty 3 and the underwhelming World at War … and has now returned for Call of Duty: Black Ops! Have they finally abandoned their bottom-feeder ways? Read on and find out! The Hype: Call of Duty: Black Ops is a first-person shooter with stealth and tactical play aspect that puts players in the role…

Reviews

Bright Night StrideLight Lighted Jacket Review

One of the best things about running is the simplicity. Get up, tie your shoes and go! That works when it’s summertime, but lately it seems I need to load down with more and more gear just to get out the door. Shoes, running tights, long-sleeved shirt, jacket, wool hat, gloves…and since I run early in the mornings, a headlamp too. I’ve been testing a new piece of gear for my runs, one that combines warmth AND safety…but how well does the Bright Night StrideLight Lighted Jacket hold up against my runs? Read on to find out! My first impression…

Reviews

Ingear Jazzy Case iPhone 4 Case Review

The Jazzy Case from ingear is a stylish TPU (thermoplastic) style case for the iPhone that combines a good amount of shock and impact protection along with a sophisticated pattern printed on the back. Roll all that into a price tag that’s under $15 and you’ve got another WIN from ingear. The Jazzy Case comes packaged with a front screen shield for your iPhone. It also includes a small cleaning cloth and a card to help you install the screen shield. The case is available in four color variations. Black: Blue: Pink: Orange: The TPU material allows the case to…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

Chevy Volt: Out of the Box

Buck fifty a day. According to the automaker, that is all it will cost you to operate your new Chevy Volt Extended Range Electric Vehicle when used in EV mode only. The car that GM is calling the “game-changer” is arriving in select markets this month. We spent some quality time with the Volt and its team members on a recent jaunt in the Texas Hill Country north and west of Austin. The event provided a few eye openers, some educational opportunities and at least one typical situation faced by drivers in semi-rural areas. Much has been written about Volt…

Reviews

App Update: Amplitube 2 For iPhone

I recently reviewed the Amplitube application along with the iRig hardware. Check out the full review here. The Amplitube app is a robust guitar effects studio used on IOS devices. Version 2 has just been released and adds some exciting functionality to an already great app. The ability to use my iPhone or iPad while playing the guitar has been a wonderful experience. I can play privately in my home without annoying my family with the loud music and am totally mobile. If I wanted to play silently in the past, I had to connect headphones to my amplifier which…

Reviews, Vehicles & Gear

2011 Ford Fiesta Walk-Thru Video

UPDATED! Now with Review! Here is a video I put together using my Nikon D-SLR camera shooting several thousand still images and combining them for a pseudo-motion video highlighting the all-new Ford Fiesta. How will automakers counter the predictions for five-dollar-a-gallon-gas this year? Ford wants you to celebrate – with a Fiesta! Yes, the car you simply could not get enough of during last season’s American Idol is in dealer showrooms giving consumers ample time to secure one as fuel prices begin the roller coaster ride back northward. While the nameplate is not new to our shores, this gen-forward Fiesta…

Game Diary, Reviews

PC Game Review: Star Wars The Force Unleashed II

Just like the natural universe, the Star Wars universe seems to keep expanding ever since the Big Bang of 1977. Some of the expansions – such as Splinter of the Mind’s Eye – have been trashed by the ‘canon’ of the films, while others like the Thrawn trilogy have spawned ideas and characters that have carried through into the movies, games, and even further into book releases through the years. Most recently the end of the prequels has thrown open the era of conflict between Episodes II and III (Clone Wars) and III and IV (Jedi Purge, Imperial Control), and…

Reviews

Review: Mobile Edge Sumo Messenger Bag

We’ve been looking for a good bag for my wife’s new laptop. Her new laptop would not fit into her old bag since she was using a netbook. When Mobile Edge’s Sumo Messenger Bag came up for review, I jumped at the chance. Will my wife be happy with this new bag? I was sent the Sumo Messenger bag in red. Chalk up one point for Mobile Edge picking a color my wife likes with red being a favorite! This bag has a ton of pockets on it. On the exterior there is one on the flap. two on the…

Reviews

Fusionwerkz RAW iPhone 4 Case Review

When Fusionwerkz reached out to us at Gear Diary to see if we’d be interested in reviewing their RAW case for the iPhone 4 I was admittedly a little hesitant. After our experience with the Element Vapor Case I was worried about how the RAW, which is also an all aluminum case, would affect the iPhone 4’s reception. The case arrived a few days ago and I’ve been using it ever since. The RAW is made completely in the USA and crafted from 6061 T4 aluminum. That’s “Greek” to me but I do know this – it’s super light weight…

Game Diary, Reviews

Flight Control for iPhone/Touch Review

The addition of GameCenter on my iPhone has definitely sold me on several games. Casual and puzzle games seem to be much more enjoyable when I get to compare my friend’s scores and talk a little trash (or hear some). It seems like the most enjoyable of these games are puzzle style games that can be open ended. The latest games my friends and I have been locking horns with is Flight Control. The game is super addictive and will become surprisingly competitive. Flight Control is a line drawing game that is simple to play, but will prove to be…

Music Diary, Reviews

Music Diary Review: eMusic Changes Pricing Structure in Face of Fourth Year with No Subscriber Growth

I have to admit – I USED eMusic more than once. And by ‘used’ I don’t just mean ‘make use of the service’ … I mean that I grabbed one of those ‘get 50 tracks free’ offers, canceled after the first month, and wait for the next email with another offer or 50 or 75 tracks for free. But a few months ago I had used up all of my free tracks, and had more I wanted to grab … so I let my membership charge persist. And again, and again this past month. Then a week or so ago…

Game Diary, Reviews

PC Game Review: Civilization V

Welcome back to the revenge of the sequels! The fall gaming season is always filled up with a myriad of games seeking to repeat the success of earlier franchise entries. Civilization V is definitely in line with that trend, attempting to capture sales based on the commercial and critical success of 2005’s Civilization IV while also taking the franchise in some new directions. So how did they do? Read on and find out! The Hype: Sid Meier’s Civilization V is the fifth offering in the multi-award winning Civilization turn-based PC strategy game series. As with earlier installments in the series,…

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