Losing a Cell Phone and Finding Honest People

Losing a Cell Phone and Finding Honest People

“Uh…I can’t find my phone…” is not something anyone wants to discover. It’s especially upsetting when you’re in the airport at 5:3o in the morning and your wife just realized she left her smartphone somewhere between the car and the gate. Uh-oh… That was us on Friday morning. It was not good, since we were flying to Florida and already through security, and neither of us was sure where Sarah had left her Incredible. I tried calling it on the off-chance it was in her jacket pocket, but it rang and rang and went to voicemail. Then we brainstormed and…


Random Cool Video: Someone at ‘Secret Life’ Lost the Thread …

When the show ‘Secret Life of the American Teenager’ debuted in the summer of 2008, it presented viewers with an intriguing scenario: a 15-year old incoming high school freshman got pregnant her first time having sex when she was at summer band camp, being seduced by an older boy who had a ‘bad boy’ reputation. The show’s first season addressed how everyone involved, from family and friends to the girl and boy, dealt with the issues of teen sex and pregnancy. For my wife and I, it was a great way to share a ‘question raising’ experience with our tween…


iPhone 4 Accessory Review: The Element Case Vapor Pro Limited Edition

We were pretty harsh when we reviewed Element Case’s Vapor for the iPhone 4; although all three of us absolutely loved the case’s form factor, we were appalled by the way that it slayed our iPhones’ signals. I even went so far as to scientifically test and verify the Vapor’s negative impact on the iPhone’s cellular antenna reception while attending an event at ETS-Lindgren. Fortunately the folks at Element Case were able to handle a bit of constructive criticism. and they reached out to us when their newest case, the Vapor Pro Limited Edition was available. Would the Vapor Pro…


The Phosphor Appear Watch Review

I have two watches that I wear; my everyday watch is a stainless and gold ladies Rolex Datejust (that I would greatly love to trade in for the midsize version), and the other is a gold David Yurman that I wear on dressier occasions. I’ve seen plenty of other watches that have caught my eye for whatever reason, but it has been years since I saw a watch — any watch — that actually turned my head; that’s exactly what the Phosphor Watches’ Appear did. This is a much bigger and definitely flashier style watch than my others, but it…


Review: Warpia StreamHD Streams Video from Your PC to the Big(ger) Screen

The modern computer is an amazing thing. It is a work device, a communication device, a jukebox, and a video machine. I don’t know about you, but I probably watch just as many shows through either iTunes or Hulu or Netflix as I do on my HDTV these days. Yes, a huge amount of video entertainment comes through our computers now. The real challenge is getting that video, and the accompanying audio, seamlessly pushed over to a large television for enjoyment. Apple is making a huge play in this area with their AirPlay technology, but that requires you to use…


iPad 2 Case Review: DODOcase BOOKback for iPad 2

I’m really loving the iPad 2. The reduced thickness combined with the small drop in weight makes a huge difference when carrying and using it. I’m also liking the leather SmartCover I got along with the iPad. It really is remarkable how one little accessory can make such a huge difference in the use-ability of a device. At the same time, however, I don’t like the way Apple’s ingenious cover leaves the back of the iPad exposed. After all, I enjoy using devices that are in pristine condition, not to mention there’s a lower resale value when gadgets show wear….


Gear Diary Rave: Gomadic

I’ve been a fan of Gomadic chargers for several years. Like many of the other Gear Diary writers, I like to switch devices frequently, but replacing desk chargers, car chargers, sync cables, etc., for each gadget gets to be pretty expensive pretty quickly. With Gomadic’s “tip exchange” technology, you keep the same charging cable, but change the tip at the end where it connects to the device.  Here’s how they describe their products: Don’t lug around cords for all of your devices. Buy one Gomadic cable, from retractable USBs to double car chargers and you’re set for years. Simply buy…


Sampling the YouTube Way

Here’s an amazing example of what you can do it you scour YouTube, have some decent video editing skills and a lot of time. This video was made entirely of YouTube videos that Ophir Kutiel, aka ‘Kutiman’, found on the net. He took a little of this and a little of that and, in the end, created what you see below — a FrankenVideo. It is pretty amazing and worth a couple of minutes. Via TechCrunch


Random Cool Image: Figure Out the Movie Titles!

Do you love math? Love movies? Love puzzles? Well, time to shake those cobwebs out of your brains and figure out what movies each of these mathematical images represents! Can you figure them all out? Make your guesses in the comments! Source: geeks.thedailywh.at via BuzzFeed


Going Bananas for Banana TV

Apple’s AirPlay is getting a lot of use in our home these days. I have a number of Airport Express units around the house and each is attached to a set of speakers. With them I can now start music playing anywhere I want from any iOS device by simply starting the music and selecting that room’s AirPort Express from the AirPlay menu. It is simple, it is quick and it makes great use of our WiFi network. That’s why I jumped at the chance to buy the new program, Banana TV. What is Banana TV, and why am I…


New Report: Technology is Ruining Our Sleep

Image courtesy of Corbis Images According to a new Reuters study “the national penchant for watching television every evening before going to sleep, playing video games late into the night or checking emails and text messages before turning off the lights could be interfering with the nation’s sleep habits.” I know this will come as hilarious irony given my recent take on how obnoxious technology has made us, but this is something I am terrible about. On my bedside table I always have my Alienware laptop, Nintendo DSi, and Sony PSP, and I also generally bring my iPad upstairs with…


Ways to Help Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Victims: Jawbone & John Zorn Relief Efforts

Everyone shares the pain and difficulty of the people of Japan dealing with the horrible tragedy, and many of us look for ways to help out in whatever way possible. Judie wrote about some ways to help, I mentioned some here and here and here and here, and more ideas keep pouring in every day! Here are a couple more of the latest! First off, Jawbone – whose Icon bluetooth headset I use every day – is providing $50 for every Red Dot JAMBOX bought between now and April 15th. But you need to purchase it on Jawbone.com for the…


Review: BlueAnt T1 Rugged Bluetooth Headset

As our world grows more mobile, the importance of being able to go hands free and pay attention to what we are doing also grows. Not only is texting or emailing and driving dangerous, but we are discovering that driving and using a handset for any use can be disastrous. With this said, the market if flooded with hands free devices from headphones to bluetooth solutions. I have attempted to use some of the bottom tiered products with limited success. When someone calls, I still tend to pick up my phone to see who is calling and I also have…


Power Support Air Jacket for iPhone 4 Review

I have a new favorite case for my iPhone 4. Actually, I have two new favorite cases for my iPhone . And no, neither of them are the Hello Kitty iPhone cases that are depicted above. (Those cases are of the same design as my “new faves” and we will be giving them away so read on.) My new favorite iPhone cases come from Power Support. Judie met the folks from Power Support while she was in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress and was impressed by their story and their products. Upon her return she reached out to them and…


Review: TuneLink Auto Direct Connect Audio Solution for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Every now and then you come across a device or an accessory that does exactly what you want it to do or solves a problem you have been looking to solve. That is the case with the TuneLink Auto. I have been looking for something like this for quite a while without much success. The TuneLink auto not only does what I was hoping, but goes a good many steps further. I was about to buy one when the company was kind enough to put a review sample in the mail. Let’s take a look at this awesome new gadget…


Why the eBook World Makes Me Nuts

Image taken from the Wayback Machine In the beginning, there was Peanut Press . . . Seriously, though; as you’ve probably noticed from Carly’s great postings, the eBook industry is . . . well, the polite way to put it is, “In flux.”  The less-polite way to put it is, “A big friggin’ mess.”  The same book cannot be read on different eReaders; paperbacks are cheaper than eBooks; eBooks are being delayed to give hardcover books a chance to sell more; books can be summarily deleted from your library without notice; and on and on.  It’s enough to drive you…


Tweet Like a Pro, Chip Chick Shows You How

Twitter, so young and unassuming not long ago, is all grown up. Now it has millions of followers, has help start revolutions, has kept people in touch during disasters and more. Yup, Twitter is no longer just about “OMG, I just had the most delicious ribs at Outback Steakhouse”. Yes, Twitter has matured and so have the apps that let you use it. There are lots and lots of offerings out there but which are best? Our friend Zara from ChipChick has some great suggestions. Some, like TweetDeck are likely familiar while others, such as twunfollow and Twistory may be…


iDisplay Review: Gives You Second Monitor Capability on Your iPad (and iPhone)

All images courtesy of Shape Services A couple of months ago, Shape Services–the makers of IM+ and IM+ Pro for the iPad and iPhone (which I will also be reviewing)–let me test out their iDisplay program.  The idea behind iDisplay is simple:  why not turn your iPad or iPhone into a second monitor?  How did it work out in practice?  Read on. I tested this app with my  Lenovo T-61, which has an Intel Core Duo 2 Ghz/777 Mhz, with 2Gb of RAM, running Windows XP SP 3.  Being a work laptop, it also has considerable security software running, which…


How to Get Zinio “Unofficially” Working on Your Android Device

If you’re like me, and you have been waiting for the official Zinio app for Android, then you’re going to have to wait a bit longer. I like to harass Zinio every once in a while on twitter about the Android app, and they usually tell me that it’s being worked on and to be patient. That’s all fine and well, but in the meantime, since I don’t have an apple device it’s really not worth buying any subscriptions because I have nothing to read them with. Some of the members of the XDA forums found that unacceptable, so they…


Music Diary Notes: The Jazz Session Crosses One Million Downloads!

I have made my love for the Jazz Session well known in my music reviews – Jason Crane does a great job of finding lesser known folks from a broad spectrum of jazz styles and getting them to open up and talk about all sorts of stuff. He also integrates music into the interview in a way that allows you not only to hear the tunes but get inside what is happening. Over the last few years Jason has interviewed more than a hundred jazz musicians, and now his show has passed 1 million downloads! Here are the basics about…


Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track Fights for Respect

Rodney Dangerfield based an entire stand-up career on it, singer Aretha Franklin had a big hit with it and the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe demands it: Respect. Two things might help them out here. First, get your marketing department to begin plastering every new action film with the car and second, spin a performance division off from the main corporate umbrella and give it a brand name consumers can easily pronounce. Sure, I had read the glossy newsrack reviews pitting the new Korean coupe against the latest Detroit had to offer but did not really take them seriously until I…