Reviews

The OtterBox Nokia N900 Commuter Series Case Review

When phones with sliding top halves first appeared, they presented unique challenges for accessory manufacturers. I can just imagine that some of them must have been scratching their heads — wondering how they were going to protect both halves of these devices, yet allow the keyboards to remain functional. After years of watching some of the more offbeat solutions come and go — like clear plastic covering the keyboard and odd straps holding the leather bits in place — many case-makers seem to have settled for offering pouches that will hold the phones when they aren’t being used, but many…


Dragon Age: Origins The Darkspawn Chronicles DLC: PC/XBOX360 Game Review

I have already detailed my feelings about the epic role-playing game Dragon Age: Origins, stating in my review that “not only do I love nearly every aspect of the game, I also love how after finishing it a couple of times I am thoroughly enjoying a new play-through as I contemplate my actions and consequences from the prior runs.” After such praise, it is a pretty easy guess that I am a lock to get any and all new content for the game. There have already been several add-ons released, from the initial Return to Ostagar DLC to the much…


Fbook Photos for iPad Review

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the iPad application Flickpad which offers a unique way to view your and your friend’s Facebook photos.  fbook Photos is another alternative for viewing pictures from your Facebook contacts. In order for fbook Photos to connect with your Facebook account you’ll be asked to give it access.  As long as you keep the “keep me logged in” box checked this only happens the first time you launch the application.  If you uncheck it you’ll be asked to log in each time. Once the application logs you in you’ll be presented with…


Half-Life 2 (FPS, 2010): Mac Game Review

If you ask any long-time Mac Gamer about the ‘ones that got away’, there are two games they will instantly cite: Marathon developer Bungie’s ‘Halo’, and Valve’s Half Life. Halo got a mediocre release for Mac & PC ages ago (and the even MORE mediocre Halo 2 came along later as an attempted Vista Trojan Horse), but the Half-Life franchise has eluded a Mac release … until now! We still await the release of the original, but for now Mac gamers can rejoice and enjoy the classic Half-Life 2! The Hype: By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of…


Feuerwear Scott Laptop Bag Review: Each Has a Story to Tell

Feur is the German word for “fire.”  Being a firefighter I’m sure it’s not surprising that I often visit various firefighting related blogs & web sites. During a recent visit to one I stumbled upon a link the Feuerwear web site. Feuerwear is a German company who takes out of service fire hose and turns it into bags, wallets and belts.  Since the hose they use to make their products was actually used in the field, each item they produce takes on its own individual look.  Fire hose often gets dragged through the elements and exposed to extreme heat and…


Avernum VI (2009 RPG): The Netbook Gamer

Something interesting about the games from Spiderweb Software: I have been fortunate enough to be on the beta-test teams for the last few iterations of both the Mac and PC releases of the Geneforge and Avernum games. This means having access to the code early, getting loads of play time in before release … and yet in all cases I find myself writing reviews months later. I attribute that to the difference between playing to test for issues, and playing as a gamer figuring out what I do or don’t like about the overall experience. So here I am in…


Portal (FPP, 2010) Mac Game Review

[GlaDOS voice] Hello and again welcome to the Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center. We hope your brief detention in the relaxation vault has been a pleasant one. Your specimen has been processed and we are now ready to begin the test proper. Before we start, however, keep in mind that although fun and learning are the primary goals of the enrichment center activities, serious injuries may occur. For your own safety, and the safety of others, please refrain from … [/GlaDOS voice] The Hype: Portal is a new single player game from Valve. Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories,…


Volvo C70 Rocks the ‘Wow’ Factor

All photos courtesy Volvo A Volvo with “wow” factor and, dare I say it, sex appeal? One does not normally associate the three-letter expression of excitement and surprise with a Volvo vehicle but the C70 hardtop convertible coupe is changing all that. Re-introduced a few years back and refreshed last year, the latest C70 is built on a smaller platform than its predecessor, sharing the global Ford/Mazda/Volvo small car underpinnings found in the Mazda3, European Focus and Volvo S40 and V50. This is my favorite compact platform and I enjoy the smooth, sporty driving experience it offers. This same experience…


RadTech Aero for iPad Review

RadTech‘s newest offering for the iPad is the Aero Case.  Made from thermoplastic polyurethane (which is just a fancy way of saying that stiffer silicone feeling material we’re all used to iPhone cases), the Aero comes in two color options, Bronze and Clear. RadTech describes the case as “a form-fitting and light-weight protective Apple iPad case. Colorful, rugged, stylish and durable for long-lasting protection of your iPad’s elegant finish. Skin-tight, zero-flex polyurethane material enhances your grip when carrying and handling, and provides excellent impact protection from bumps and drops. Made from washable and autoclavable thermoplastic polyurethane for years of tight-fitting…


Battizer Review: Charges your Batteries and Helps Save the Planet

If you’re like me and never replace your batteries until it’s too late, then this product might be for you. If you have kids, lots of remotes, RC cars or anything that takes AAA and AA batteries, then the Battizer could prove to be a great investment. My home theater remotes, thermostat batteries, and Wii controllers are the items which to die at the most inconvenient times., so instead of saving money by going to the Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s and buying a bulk pack of AAs, I usually run to the convenience store and spend $6 on a…


Glass Tower 2 for iPhone/Touch App Review

Many puzzle games involve items or shapes falling from the top of the screen that must be eliminated in some way.  Basically they are a take on Tetris which I loved to play back in my early high school days.  Every now and then one of these games is actually unique and fun.  I came across Glass Tower 2 on a random search of the app store and it turned out to be a great game. The game is free, but very limited with only 10 levels that may not be repeated.  Extra level packs are available for $.99 and…


CableJive dockXtender Review

Last summer I reviewed the CableJive Dock Extender cable.  This 30-pin male to female cable allowed iPhone and iPod Touch users who use a case to dock their devices without removing their case to do so.  Many dock accessories (clock radios, charge and sync docks, speakers) do not accommodate the iPhone or iPod Touch while it’s in a case. However, there was one problem with that version of the Dock Extender.  The connector plug was too large to fit inside some cases, perhaps most importantly the super-popular OtterBox Defender. Well, fast forward to today. CableJive has corrected the short coming…


Scosche flipSYNC USB 2.0 Charge and Sync Cable for iPod & iPhone – Review

A few weeks ago I was in my office and realized that I needed to charge my iPhone but did not have a sync/charging cable. Turns out I had brought it home for some reason and never brought it back. Fortunately I have moved a number of my colleagues over to the iPhone so I simply walked across the hall and briefly borrowed my associate’s cable. That will never happen again since the Scosche flipSYNC I pre-ordered a while back came last week. Let’s take a look. The flipSYNC is one of those simple ideas that Scosche is great about…


V-MODA Crossfade LP Review

When the press release came into the Gear Diary e-mail account about the release of V-MODA’s first over the ear styled headphones I jumped — literally jumped — at the chance to review them.  I had recently reviewed their Remix Ear Buds and was thrilled with them, so I was excited to see what they’d done next. The Crossfades were developed over a lengthy process of collaboration with professional musicians, producers and DJs.  V-MODA set out to create an over the ear style headphone that not only sounded great but looked equally so. By crafting the Crossfades from luxurious materials…


Buddy Runner for Android Review

I carry my Droid on every run so I have a phone with me. Since it’s already with me, I use it to track my pace and distance on my longer runs. There are a number of sports tracker apps in the Android marketplace but I keep going back to using one in particular, Buddy Runner. Buddy Runner is super simple. When you first start the app you are greeted by a simple landing page with a start button. Hit start, then hit the road (or trail)! If you like updates on how you are doing as you go, you…


Mophie JuicePack Air For iPod touch – Review

We love our Mophie juice pack airs for iPhone 3GS. In fact, when Judie, Larry and I were at CES in January they truly saved the day and kept us connected. I was recently sent one of the juice pack air’s for the current generation iPod touch and have been trying it out under a host of different use scenarios. The juice pack air for iPod touch “is a rechargeable Smart Battery concealed inside of a low-profile, light-weight, soft-touch case.” Let’s take a look… From Mophie- As the world’s thinnest rechargeable battery case, the mophie juice pack air™ is designed…


Review: Altec Lansing MIX iMT800 Dock for iPhone and iPod

I grew up in the 80’s.  The 80’s was the decade of big hair, hair bands, break dancing and boom boxes.  Never have I seen a dock for iPhone and iPod that brings back memories from the 80’s like the Altec Lansing MIX iMT800. The MIX has big boom box looks like no other dock I have seen.  In the 80’s, the middle portion of the boom box would have been dominated by a cassette deck.  Instead of a cassette deck, this one has port with a dock connector and an arm that slides up to take the iPhone or…


The Vaja ivolution Top for Apple iPad Review

It’s no secret that I have long enjoyed the Argentinean company Vaja‘s leather products, so when my birthday rolled around this year the Gear Diary Editors knew just what to do — they gifted me with the new Vaja ivolution Top for Apple iPad in my choice of colors. I chose the girly and bright Violet exterior with Rosa interior … The ivolution Top appears to basically be a combination of Vaja’s slightly less expensive ivolution Grip case ($100) and a matching and completely detachable top cover. As has been noted countless times before by me and many others, Vaja’s…


John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension – To The One Review

Apparently April was CD-release party month at the old-British guitar legends home! Hot on the heels of Jeff Beck’s Emotion & Commotion comes To The One from John McLaughlin. While McLaughlin might not carry the same name recognition as Beck outside of the jazz world, the impact of the contributions of the 68-year old McLaughlin rival if not exceed those of his younger country-mate. Another similarity is that neither of these greats have rested on their laurels, constantly pushing ahead. Yet there is always a common thread and respect for their own history and fan-base. Such is case with the…


Review: Keurig Elite Brewing System

As a geek and blogger, staying caffeinated is a specialty of mine.  One of my favorite things in the morning is coffee.  However, I am the only coffee drinker in my house.  Making a whole 10 cups when I am only going to drink 1 to 2 cups doesn’t make sense.  That’s where single cup brewing systems come in. I used to have a Black and Decker Home Cafe, but finding the pods it used started to become a problem.  I had heard of Keurig and my friend Linc swears by his so I decided to use some eBay sale proceeds to buy my…


Sirius XM for Android Arrives

Rejoice, satellite radio fans! Sirius XM is now available for Android. It comes with a 7-day trial if you are not already a satellite radio subscriber, and from my brief experience today I don’t plan on becoming a subscriber in the future. First of all, you need a great deal of patience to parse out the subscription options. Sirius doesn’t share what the options are for subscribers unless you log in as an existing customer, but they do assure you there’s a “discount” for internet listening (looks like it is $2.99 ON TOP OF your existing Sirius subscription). Of course,…