Smartphones & Gear

Lightroom for Android Receives HUGE Update

News & Features

Lightroom for Android Receives HUGE Update

If you’re an Android user and are a fan of Photoshop, but you’ve just been waiting for features that iOS received first (like the ability to shoot RAW images to reach your device), you’re in luck because the update now includes Lightroom, and is available for all Android devices! For the photographer in us all, if you care about your photos enough to capture, organize, edit, and share them directly from your smartphone or tablet, you’re in luck because Lightroom is currently the FIRST and only way to get yourself an end-to-end mobile photography experience that before could only be taken advantage…

FREETEL Announces Their Latest Smartphone at MWC 16'

Events, News & Features

FREETEL Announces Their Latest Smartphone at MWC 16′

There’s more than just Samsung and LG giving out news here at Mobile World Congress as Japan-Based Freetel has introduced their REI smartphone! The smartphone itself sports an aluminum back cover that will not only sport a diamond cut aluminum edge, but will be available in four color choices. Using the Android 6.0 operating system, the REI (which means beautiful, elegant, and wise), is the latest edition of smartphones from the brand. And with features like dual 13 megapixel PDAF rear cameras and an 8 megapixel front camera, the 5.2”-inch smartphone comes complete with a 1080 X 1920 Full HD…

Pre-Orders for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Start Today!

Events, News & Features

Pre-Orders for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Start Today!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past 24 hours, you might have heard that Samsung unveiled their newest Galaxy phones here at Mobile World Congress 2016. We at Gear Diary had an opportunity to check out both of the unique smartphones hands on! Both devices, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge both feature an enhanced design, with a higher quality camera on top of refined software functionality. But they didn’t stop there, as they also introduced the Gear 360, their 360-degree camera that allows the user to feel fully immersed in spherical video and images….

ALCATEL Announces Their IDOL 4 Series!

Events, News & Features

ALCATEL Announces Their IDOL 4 Series!

With Mobile World Congress 2016 gearing up this week, ALCATEL is announcing their IDOL 4 series today. Attempting to capitalize on the success of the IDOL 3, the IDOL 4, and IDOL 4s smartphones, they are introducing new features such as the new Boom Key and a unique augmented multimedia experience. “The IDOL 4 series marks another milestone in ALCATEL innovation,” said Dan Dery, Chief Marketing Officer at ALCATEL. “The Boom Key boom-ifies everything, from the sound to photos to gaming. Something we’re really excited about, and something I’m eager to show my friends is that we’ve augmented IDOL 4’s multimedia…

Native Union Wants to Pair Your Phone to Its Dock!

News & Features

Native Union Wants to Pair Your Phone to Its Dock!

A personal favorite company of mine, Native Union announced today their minimalistic charging line, with a host of new colors! Native Union finally announced that their popular DOCK SERIES for the Apple Watch as well as for the iPhone and iPad will now be available in a midnight blue with gold brushed metal, or a stone color with rose gold brushed metals. These new colors will completely round out the finishes to your Apple Watch or smart device when it needs to be docked to charge. Fabien Nauroy, Head of Design at Native Union comments: “Customers love our charging docks…

What's the Point of Those Sticky Card Holders for Your Phone?

Editorials

What’s the Point of Those Sticky Card Holders for Your Phone?

In the last year or so, I’ve noticed smartphone/tablet adjacent accessories have become big giveaway items. Instead of a crappy free pen, you get a crappy free pen with a rubber capacitive stylus tip on one end. Yay? At least pens are useful…the sticky card holder I received today is just weird, ugly, and useless.

IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2 Brings out the Inner Composer!

News & Features

IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2 Brings out the Inner Composer!

IK Multimedia released a product recently that will prove to bring out your inner composer. Miroslav Philharmonik 2 brings a concert hall full of musicians and allows them to be directed and composed on your computer. The virtual orchestra utilizes over 2700 instruments sampled in high-definition audio. Read on to get more information and check back soon for the review!

Tiltcard Fits in Your Wallet but Holds Up Your Phone

Reviews

Tiltcard Fits in Your Wallet but Holds Up Your Phone

It’s easy to find a tablet case with a built in stand, but most phone cases with kickstands tend to be pretty bulky. Tiltcard offers a better solution than choosing between a bulky case and propping your phone up against an assortment of objects by offering a collapsible stand that fits in your wallet.

A Quick Look at the Honor 5X and Its Android Skin

Reviews

A Quick Look at the Honor 5X and Its Android Skin

We will be doing a full review of the Honor 5X soon; it’s a phone with the build quality of a flagship at budget pricing. But the Honor EMUI skin has gotten a lot of criticism, and it may not be as bad as first reaction seems. It’s easy to judge the EMUI apps and enhancements negatively if you’re a fan of plain, stock Android. But this is a phone aimed at people who aren’t looking for a flagship; Honor is a subsidiary of Huawei, and if you want a flagship, they make the Nexus 6P or the Huawei Mate…

The Withings Aura Connected Clock + Sleep Sensor Accessory Review

Reviews

The Withings Aura Connected Clock + Sleep Sensor Accessory Review

Sleep and I have a sometimes erratic relationship. Some nights I deal with insomnia, and I might sleep 4 or 5 hours at best; other nights I’ll need to catch up on sleep so badly that I’ll pass out for 12 or more hours. Ideally, I should get 8 hours sleep per night. Obviously, what I’ve been doing isn’t ideal.

No Picture

News & Features

BlackBerry Priv Now Available on T-Mobile for $719 or $30/mo

T-Mobile is now offering the Android-based BlackBerry Priv for $719 or $30/month for 24 months. Hailed as the (possible) savior of BlackBerry, this qwerty keyboard device has drawn mixed reviews. The keyboard has been welcomed by fat-thumbers. An excess of heat from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and creaking body panels has been mentioned as negatives by a few purchasers. The Priv is available in the U.S. at AT&T and T-Mobile.

No Picture

News & Features

Scosche boomBOTTLE+ Bluetooth Speaker Is Ready for Anything!

The original Scosche boomBOTTLE impressed me. A Bluetooth speaker built for use indoors and out, it pumped out excellent sound in every direction. And it had the added benefit of fitting into a bike’s water bottle cage! Now Scosche has released the Scosche boomBOTTLE+. It keeps a similar design and is a worthy update to an already-impressive Bluetooth speakers.

Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual-Layered Drop Protection

Reviews

Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual-Layered Drop Protection

We’ve looked at the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 1 case. (Read the review.) It’s thin and light, and it offers just enough protection. If, however, you still want thin and light but need a bit more protection, you’ll want to check out the Incipio [Performance] Series Level 2 Dual Layered Drop Protection for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.

Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S Review: One Classy Hard Case

Reviews

Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S Review: One Classy Hard Case

If you are looking for a hard shell case that has a bit more class than your typical hard shell case, look no further than the Beyzacases Maly for iPhone 6S. This case takes a shell-style case and dresses it up with a sheet of quality Beyzacases leather floating on the back. And at just over $30 it’s a bargain!

The SanDisk 200GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card: A Tiny Marvel

Reviews

The SanDisk 200GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card: A Tiny Marvel

One of the things I’ve never liked about iPhones and iPads has been Apple’s refusal to add a memory card slot. No removable battery? Fine. A closed ecosystem with curated apps? Fine. No ability to expand my phone or tablet’s memory without paying exorbitant upgrade prices? Not so fine. That’s where Android and Windows devices have a definite advantage.