Reviews

Primo Battery Cube Review

It happens without fail at least once a week. I install a new piece of software on my phone or read a book on the Kindle app, or I get caught up in too many IM conversations…and I run my battery down mid-day with no access to a charger for several hours. Oops. Luckily, there are products like the Primo Cube to provide extra battery boosts. How well does the Cube do? Read on to find out! Physically, the Cube is tiny! I was shocked when I held it in my hand. It’s really small and incredibly pocketable. I was…


Book Review: Cooking for Geeks

I’ve long been the cook in our family.  My wife admittedly cannot cook and so she let’s me handle most of the cooking duties in the house.  Being a Geek, I have always had a love for science as well as cooking.  I always strive to find a better way not only to cook the things I love, but in everything I do.  Cooking for Geeks, by Jeff Porter is exactly the book for people who love to cook who are also geeks. The book has recipes, of course, but it fills you in on the whys behind almost every cooking…


Review: BodyGuardz Premium Scratch-Proof Transparent Film For iPhone 4

You placed an order and patiently waited.  Now that iPhone 4 is in your hands, you are scared to actually use it and risk scratching the beautiful screen or the cool new glass back.  Adding a case will help, but it will also cover up some of that gorgeous Apple design and make the device larger than intended.  Even with the case, the precious screen is still vulnerable.  Luckily, BodyGuardz have a scratch-proof film to protect virtually any device.  So what is BodyGuardz? BodyGuardz are transparent skins custom designed to perfectly fit many devices.  The material is used on automobiles…


The MoviePeg for iPad Review

There are a lot of stands currently available for the iPad. Many of them however, are both expensive and hard to carry. A while back I told you about the MoviePeg for the iPhone. This compact and easy to carry stand is not only inexpensive but small enough to be toted around almost anywhere. The new iPad version is now available in two distinct colors, black and a very limited edition orange and priced at only $19.95 it’s the perfect stand for every iPad owner. The iPad version of the MoviePeg consists of two similar pieces. On the back of…


iPhone Accessory Review- Ballistic HC Case for iPhone 4

Sometimes you want your iPhone as close to naked as possible. That’s what decals and protective skins are for. Sometimes you want it with “just enough” protection while keeping it as slim and light as possible. That’s what cases like the Incipio feather and Case-Mate Barely There are for. And sometimes you don’t care about the weight and the bulk. You just want your iPhone protected like a tank. Ballistic’s HC case for iPhone 4 is for those times. Let’s take a look. From the Company- This Ballistic HC Case is a MUST HAVE for your brand new iPhone 4….


PC/PSP Game Review: LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4

I was a huge fan of LEGO Star Wars when it came out back in 2005, and also of the Original Trilogy follow-up. These games brought interesting gameplay and whimsical storytelling to life in a way that captured the essence of their source material and a humor and lightness that made them eminently family friendly. That said, I have been decreasingly entertained as they rolled out the mediocre LEGO Batman and LEGO Indiana Jones and the dreadful LEGO Indiana Jones 2. Those games had a style and humor that felt forced and a gameplay that felt laborious. I love the…


The Vizit Mobile Network 10.4″ Touch Screen Photo Frame Review

The premise behind the Isabella Products Vizit 10.4″ Touch Screen Photo Frame is simple: You use it to “view and share photos with anyone, from anywhere, instantly over the mobile network.” The Vizit has a 10.4″ touchscreen and it can send or receive pictures over its 3G connection. Photos sent to the frame’s email address are stored in their original resolution at vizitme.com, scaled appropriately and sent to the frame for display. This eliminates the tedious task of swapping out memory cards, as well as makes it easier to keep photos updated via the cellular network. Since the Vizit experience is as…


Eruption to Evolution: 2011 Buick Regal

I was excited to see Buick resurrecting the Regal model this year. My first real experience with the badge dates to my car cruising years of the mid-1980s and the popular scene on Cooper Street in Arlington, Texas. Those were also my ear-shattering car stereo years where us early adopters were tearing out complete interiors to accommodate our rolling sound systems. I drove a 1983 Olds Cutlass and had been hearing about a fella out there in Arlington who drove a maroon Regal nicknamed “Eruption” as an homage to Eddie Van Halen.


HeyTell for iPhone/Touch App Review

  One feature not present in the iPhone world is push to talk technology.  We have all seen the commercials where a cell phone is used like a walkie talkie.  Even though I have never been sure about if I would use the feature, it would be nice to have the option.  It just seems easier in certain situations to basically voice MMS rather than make a call.  Little did I know this feature was available for the iPhone in the App Store and for free!  HeyTell is a voice messaging application that lets the user instantly talk with and…


iPad Accessory Review- InnoPocket HexaPose Stand for Apple iPad

So you love the look of your iMac… and you need a stand for your iPad… and you like it when things match… has InnoPocket got an iPad stand for you! The HexaPose Stand for the Apple iPad looks like a cute little Apple iMac that can hold your iPad in either landscape or portrait for handsfree use. And when paired with Apple’s Bluetooth keyboard… it is so darn cute… but it is functional too. Let’s take a look. From InnoPocket- InnoPocket HexaPose iPad Stand is made of solid aluminum and tough polycarbonate with a chic design tailor-made for the…


Cocoon Innovations GRID-IT! Organizer Review

A while back, I reviewed an excellent Cocoon Innovations netbook case with an integrated GRID-IT! Organizer, a feature that I really loved. However, I wished I could have one for bags I already owned because I really liked the way it kept all my items secured in one place. Now, my greatest wish has come true–an individual GRID-IT! organizer! The GRID-IT! is a unique, flexible organizer that basically allows you to secure the smallest of items, like pens or earbuds, or larger items, like phones or chargers, using a series of stretchy elastic straps in what they call an “object…


Review: Bluw’s Mini Mixer

I have always wanted the ability to have 2 devices connected to my headphones or speakers at the same time.  In the past, you literally had to have a DJ setup or a stereo and neither is very portable.  Bluw has a Mini Mixer that is just a tiny bit bigger than an iPod and is just as pocket-able.  Now you can mix that funky music almost anywhere. The mini mixer comes with 3 cables which are all double ended 1/8 inch stereo headphone plugs.  Plug 2 cables into 2 mp3 players or phones with the other end being plugged into the mixer.  The mixer has a…


Review: Arctic Sound S11 Speakers And Arctic Power C1 Solar Charger

Arctic Sound calls it “the combination of this summer.”  Basically, two ultra portable laptop speakers coupled with a solar power source make any summer trip in the sun complete with your favorite tunes.  I absolutely love my MacBook Pro, but the speakers are far from useful in my eyes.  This leaves me with a constant search for audio solutions.  I have tried many combinations, some with good sound but no portability and others being portable with just ok sound.  The S111 speakers are tiny making them easy to carry and the addition of the C1 Mobile makes them usable without…


iPad Accessory Review: monCarbone HoverCoat Carbon Fiber Shell

A few weeks ago we posted the news that a new series of carbon fiber shells were coming to market for the iPad and iPhone. The shells, called HoverCoat, come from monCarbone and are available for pre-order now. The iPad shells have an MSRP of $89.99. Is a shell that only protects the back and sides — but does nothing to protect the screen — worth close to $100??? Read on to find out. From The Company: Carbon fiber is the ideal material to appeal to high?end users in the electronic accessories market, according to monCarbone. The precision engineering of…


Switch Easy Colors for iPhone 4 Review

Silicone Cases are very popular.  Not only because they are generally in-expensive but because they also come in a ton of colors.  In addition they make a great “throw-away” case.  Everyone needs a “throw-away” case.  What’s a “throw-away” case you ask?  It’s a case that you always have on hand in case of emergency.  One that’s usually cheap and therefore one that you really don’t care all that much about.  Leave it in your gear bag or in your glove box.  If you find your self in need of a case for your iPhone 4 it’ll be there waiting. Priced…


Music Diary Reviews: Corporate Boardroom Edition

Over the last few months I have done short reviews on more than 30 CD’s in two articles here and here. As I mentioned before, the response has been amazing! I continue to get emails and more unsolicited (but always welcome) invites to listen to music. But I also have been called out as an elitist. Because I love jazz and modern classical music and tend to prefer rather esoteric styles in those genres, and because I have always had a fondness for highly skilled artists who polish their technical abilities to better serve their craft, I am often seen…


DS Game Review: Puzzle Quest 2

The original Puzzle Quest was a revelation, what I called “Casual Meets Hardcore and Loves It!” back in 2007. The game featured a solid RPG story and progression mechanic with an enhanced ‘match 3’ puzzle mechanic for the combat system. It was smart, fun and tremendously addictive! The follow-up, which I reviewed here, was “a decent game, it just pales in comparison to the original.” Now we get the ‘true’ sequel – does it live up to expectations? Read on and find out! The Hype: Puzzle Quest 2 marks the return of the world’s leading puzzle adventure series and its…


iPad Accessory Review: the River Garden Oberon Design iPad Cover

Of all the cases that I tried when I was using the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX, there was one brand that always stood out — not only because their Kindle covers were functional, but because they were also absolutely gorgeous. Of course I am talking about the cases made by  Oberon Design, the California based company which is well known for their leather folios and journals … and now for their eReader covers. When I eventually let go of both Kindles because Kevin and I had purchased iPads, I knew that as soon as an Oberon style iPad Cover was…


QRANK for iPhone/Touch App Review

I am currently back hard at work.  We have begun football season and are in the middle of 2-a-day workouts which takes pretty close to every waking hour of the coaches.  With that said, many of my usual daily entertainment is left behind for things like eating and showering because the loss of free time.  QRANK has stepped in to the rescue.  It is a daily short quiz that includes current events and common knowledge subjects.  The quiz is entertaining, challenging and only takes a few minutes to complete. Open QRANK each day to complete the daily quiz and compare…


iPad App Review: The Chalkpad

I am a huge fan of diagramming applications.  As a coach, I spend countless hours diagramming.  X’s and O’s are much more than people think.  Not only do we draw plays and defenses to explain to our athletes, but they are used heavily in planning.  Football is a game of leverage and numbers.  As a defensive coordinator, it is my job to devise a plan to out leverage the offense and get at least one unblocked defender to the point of attack according to the tendencies I have.  The way these theories are tested is through diagramming.  I spend hours…


Home Tech Accessory Review- IDAPT i4 Charging Station

I have way too many devices that need to be charged on a regular basis. There’s my iPhone, my iPod touch, my LiveScribe Echo smartpen, an assortment of Bluetooth headsets, the Motorola headset I use for running and more. The result is a jumble of wall chargers and a tangle of cables that is annoying, collects dust and just looks terrible. That’s why I was excited to check out IDAPT’s latest Universal charger, the IDAPT i4. The i4 looks similar to the i3 but with one significant, and useful change, it now has a USB port on the side that…