Smartphones & Gear

Reviews March 30, 2010

BugMe for iPhone Review: It Does (But in a Good Way)

It’s times like this that are hard to write a lead-in for a review. Anyone who has been interested in handheld gadgets since the days of the original Palm devices are going to recognize the name BugMe! So, it’s hard not to start off by talking about how much I liked BugMe! back in the days when I used a Palm, and how pleased I was when Electric Pocket finally released it for Windows Mobile, and now the iPhone, blah, blah, blah… So, let’s presume that you, the reader, are not someone who has been using handhelds for the past…

News & Features March 29, 2010

Windows Phone 7 Coming to the HTC HD2, From Russia with Love

As Judie, Clinton and I put the finishing touches on a three-way review of the most impressive Windows Mobile 6.5 device today, the Russians have been busy trying to give us what Microsoft won’t: Windows Phone 7. Due to its button design falling outside the requirements of Windows Phone 7, the HD2 was destined to live out its life in the increasingly dull world of Windows Mobile. Things may be about to change with photos and videos demoing a version of Windows Phone 7 running on an HTC HD2, in almost all it’s glory. At this point it’s a tad…

Editorials March 25, 2010

Dear AT&T, I’m Going To Purchase One of Your New Microcells, but Let’s Not Act As If You’re Doing Me Any Favors, Okay?

AT&T’s Microcell. You get great reception. AT&T gets to double dip. As you may have read elsewhere on the web AT&T is rolling out Microcells that will solve many of the reception issues people have at home. That is, assuming they already have a highspeed Internet connection. You see, the Microcell will allow you to connect to your high-speed Internet service and then have your iPhone or any other AT&T cell phone jump on the data connection from your cable company and route calls through it. This will, in turn, improve your cell reception because you won’t be using AT&T’s…

Reviews March 18, 2010

StarHunt for iPhone OS Review

I play a lot of hunt and find type games on my iPhone 3Gs. Many of them look and run the same. You use the pinch and zoom function of the iPhone OS to move around the screen searching for a items in a list. While this can be incredibly fun it can be difficult to find the sometimes tiny items amongst the various screens. StarHunt takes the point and click adventure genre to a whole different level with stunning 3-D graphics, quick rendering and over 1,000 detailed still frame images. You task is to explore a house which contains…

News & Features March 18, 2010

HTC Answers Apple: “We will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation”

photo credit: recompose I know I wasn’t the only person who watched in bemused disbelief when news came out early this month that Apple was suing HTC, arguably one of the world’s most innovative smartphone hardware manufacturers, for infringing upon 20 of their patents. Almost immediately, Engadget had a list of every claim where Apple was crying foul, and they were kind enough to translate the jargon-filled legal lingo so that those of us without law degrees could understand that Apple was suing over items ranging from HTC’s use of “List Scrolling And Document Translation, Scaling, And Rotation On A…

How to Do It Yourself! March 12, 2010

Flip AT&T’s Control over the Backflip

If you bought a Moto Backflip, you probably noticed the odd use of Yahoo Search over Google, and the incredible amount of AT&T bloatware included on the device. Unfortunately, short of rooting it there’s not much you can do about either of those, but AT&T did something far worse to the Backflip that you WILL want to change. Every other Android phone offers an option to install apps from outside the marketplace. Sometimes it is a beta (like the Swype keyboard beta), other times it is things like PDANet, a tethering utility, that isn’t sold through the marketplace. If you…

Reviews March 10, 2010

Ringo Pro for Android Review

I have to be honest and admit that I’ve never really been one to play around with custom ringtones for individual contacts. I just look at the screen to see who is calling and decide at that point whether or not to answer. So when Electric Pocket recently asked Gear Diary if we would like to take a look at Ringo Pro for Android, I’ll have to admit that I was a little slow to raise my hand. Now that I’ve had a little time to play around with it, I’m finding it a little fun.

Reviews March 9, 2010

Newsy App for Android Review: All the latest news right to your mobile

Newsy takes a different approach to delivering the latest news content over the net. Their unique method of compiling the same news story from many different sources gives you all angles and aspects of each story through various news agencies. The site has an easy to use interface and it is simple to search out the story you are looking for. Overall the site is quite impressive, the news delivery is great and the site is free to subscribe to. Lets take a look at the mobile app offered through the Android Marketplace.

Reviews March 8, 2010

Poynt for iPhone OS Review

Back in June, Jason took at look at the Poynt application for the Blackberry OS. He called it a “staple” on his Blackberry and one of the best applications available. Well Poynt is back, this time with a release for the iPhone OS. The free application hit the iTunes App Store early last week, and I’ve had some time to play with the all-in-one location based search powerhouse. Has Poynt become a staple on my iPhone like it did on Jason’s Blackberry? Read on to find out.

Reviews March 7, 2010

Ten Things We Like About the HTC Google Nexus One, and Five Things We Don’t

Judie: When Dan, Larry, and I attended Digital Experience, a product showcase at CES, there was one particular device that caught our immediate attention. Unlike all of the other gadgets and electronic items we saw on display and which were currently available for purchase, the HTC Google Nexus One was the one that we gathered around, drooled over, and all immediately made plans to order. Dan and I purchased ours as soon as we got back to our rooms that evening to be delivered FedEx overnight to my hotel in Las Vegas by Friday afternoon. Our experience would later become…

Reviews March 5, 2010

Clear Coat Review: the Clear Choice for Maximum Protection

There are plenty of choices when it comes to screen and body protection for your electronic devices and I think I’ve tried them all. Clear Coat might just be the best of the bunch. What is Clear Coat? Here’s how the company describes it. Simply put, Clear-Coat is the only protection you’ll need for your devices. Forget those awkward, ugly cases! Clear-Coat keeps your device scratch-free without adding bulk or changing the look of your device. Clear-Coat is meticulously designed in-house, and then custom cut for every device. So an iPhone Clear-Coat fits the iPhone perfectly, and a Blackberry Clear-Coat…

News & Features March 4, 2010

SKTools Updated to 4.5.1.4!

SKTools, a popular system maintenance suite for Windows Mobile, has been updated to version 4.5.1.4. This update brings a new tool to SKTools, File Explorer. The newly implemented tool brings lots of functionality features such as Copy, Move, Rename and Delete as file operations, preview for certain file types, change attributes, create shortcuts, etc. Here’s the list of the latest changes: TuneUP!: added tweak “Enable/Disable Call Record menu item” (WM6.5+) “File Explorer”: set/clear file attributes for current item extendent tweaks definitions file format 4.4 -> 4.5 compatibility fixes I have been using SKTools for as long as I could remember,…

Reviews March 3, 2010

Navigon MobileNavigator for Windows Phones Review

A few years back, I was a big fan of OnCourse Navigator version 5 running on Windows Mobile PDAs. The interesting things here is that OCN5 was really just the name for the North American release of Navigon MobileNavigator. And although OCN 5 wasn’t terribly stable, it was one of the best-looking navigators out there at the time. So then they disappeared from the North American market. OCN 6 was actually a rebadged iGo 6, not a Navigon product anymore. So now, on the heels of a successful iPhone product, Navigon have reentered the market with MobileNavigator for Windows Phones. So where did they go? What happened? More important,…

Reviews March 3, 2010

IM+ Lite for BlackBerry Review

An ongoing problem these days is simply how to keep up with everything and everyone? You’ve got email, Twitter, Facebook, Instant Messaging (or IM’ing as the kids simply abbreviate it these days). Don’t forget SMS texting. Unless you’re out on Mount Kilimanjaro you better get used to the expectation of being connected — and reachable — by at least ten different communication methods. And they’ll all be used before you even get a phone call. With this onslaught of communication overload, how are you going to manage? Are you going to ball up in the fetal position and cry yourself…

Reviews February 28, 2010

Dacha Works Module SmartCase for iPhone 3G and 3Gs Review

Often times case manufacturers work hard at creating cases that look great but in doing so sacrifice how the cases feels when held in your hand. Ergonomics play a key role in keeping you comfortable while sitting at your desk, on your computer. The Module SmartCase from Dacha Works seeks to create the same level of comfort for your hand while it’s using your iPhone. Dacha Works claims the Module SmartCase is the first all-purpose iPhone case to proactively augment the iPhone form factor to greatly improve the user experience. How did it work out for me? Click on through…

Reviews February 25, 2010

PDAir’s Aluminum Case Increases the Droid’s Geek Factor Review

After several years of mobile device designs trending toward smooth, curving lines and symmetrical shapes, the Motorola Droid stands out. Sure, you’ll see lots of non-geeks carrying it, but from the angular design of the device itself to the style of the commercials Verizon developed to sell it, it’s clear that the Droid is intended to appeal to the technologically inclined. So, how does one take a geeky device like the Droid and amp the geek factor? You slap a metal case on it, that’s how.

Reviews February 23, 2010

Sena Leatherskin for Blackberry Bold 9700 – Review

Yesterday I reviewed one of Sena’s iPhone pouches –the Corsa Pouch. The company was kind enough to send one of their BlackBerry Bold 9700 cases, the Leatherskin, for review as well. This case takes a more traditional approach to protecting the smartphone — it wraps around the back, sides and part of the front of the phone giving protection to everything except the screen and the keyboard. Like everything else from the company the fit and finish are excellent and the leather is top quality. Let’s take a look.

eBooks, Reviews February 23, 2010

Kindle for BlackBerry Review

Since last week’s official release of the Kindle App for BlackBerry, I’ve been putting it through its paces — and, quite honestly, comparing it to the other Kindle mobile app. You know, the one for the iPhone. How does the BlackBerry version stack up? Is it good enough on its own merits to catch a quick read when you don’t have your dedicated eReader with you? Can it substitute a full-size eReader? Most importantly, are you be willing to read an entire eBook from your ‘Berry? Don’t let that image above fool you, the screens on newer BlackBerry smartphones are…

Reviews February 22, 2010

Samsung Jitterbug J Mobile Phone Review

Sometimes you need a phone that just does the basics. Just calling and possibly texting. You also want the phone to be easy and, if possible, you would like the service plan to be very understandable and affordable. The Jitterbug J and Jitterbug’s service may be just what you are looking for. I was sent a 30 day loan of a Jitterbug J in red with the American Heart Association Go Red for Women’s heart health logo’s emblazoned on the box. Jitterbug has donated $500,000 dollars for Go Red for Women, which is definitely a worthy cause.

Reviews February 18, 2010

Whoomp! Review: Boost Apple’s Ear Buds for Even Less

It’s not a big secret. The ear buds Apple provides with all of its iPods & iPhones aren’t great. Okay I was being kind, they suck! They do a decent job of providing sound but they often fit poorly. Apple used to provide the ear buds along with two sets of those foam covers which help keep the buds seated in your ear but they stopped doing so. While traveling last week I came across the Whoomp Ear Bud Enhancers by Comply. The Whoomps claim to better the fit of your iPod or iPhone ear buds along with offering a…

Reviews February 17, 2010

Trexta Racing Series Case for iPhone Review: makes me go vroom vroom

Snap on back covers are a popular category in the over-crowded iPhone case market. These simple to put on cases mostly protect the back of the iPhone and keep the phone’s profile slim. Trexta has been making accessories for wireless devices for over ten years but just recently began doing so for Apple devices. Their racing series case, which is made from genuine leather, is inspired by elements straight from the speedway. Since snap on back covers for the iPhone are available in so many variations it’s important that when companies release new versions they offer something different. Does the…

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