Productivity | Gear Diary

Fluidstance Slope Desk Whiteboard Review: This Is A Surprisingly Simple, Yet Extremely Handy Tool At Work!

Chaotic is probably the best way to describe my work desk on a good day. That includes several notebooks with varying degrees of usage and not much rhyme or reason. Several months ago, I started seeing a new desktop whiteboard from a company called Fluidstance that looked intriguing, and recently they approached Gear Diary with an invitation to check out the Fluidstance Slope Desk Whiteboard. Having already done some research into their product, I jumped at the chance to check it out further.

Reviews

Acer C202i Portable LED Projector Takes the Big Screen Anywhere

This past week I was scheduled to lead a book discussion. It was a deep and complex work we were going to discuss, and I decided it would be best to have some visual aids. Thankfully, I had the new Acer C202i portable projector in hand for the review. It was simple to use and worked fabulously well!

Travel

On Vacation and on the Clock: 8 Productivity Apps to Take on the Road

Some people go on vacation to unplug. For those who run a small business, however, there’s no disconnecting – and that means you need to take your business on the road with you if you plan to get away.

Reviews

Logitech’s K400 Plus Wireless Touch Keyboard Is Perfect for the Living Room

Coming from a guy who uses a Home Theater PC (HTPC) daily in both his living room and bedroom, the Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard k400 Plus is THE perfect keyboard for PC-to-TV use. It’s lightweight, easy to use, has a built-in touchpad for mouse control, and exceptional battery life. The k400 Plus can be purchased from Logitech for $39.99.

News & Features

Adonit Jot Script Evernote Edition – Exceptional Virtual Handwriting

I recently had a chance to check out the Adonit Jot Script Evernote Edition, an advanced stylus designed for iOS. Its Pixelpoint tip is the most precise tip on the market, and it provides an almost pen and paper feel. It takes AAA batteries and is compatible with all iOS devices, although the iPad is probably best for writing.

How to Do It Yourself!

How to Manage Your Google Account Access from Beyond the Grave

It may seem a bit macabre to imagine what will happen with regard to your Google account access when you die, but honestly, wouldn’t you rather make the decision about who gets access or what happens to your data while you are still completely in charge of your facilities? Yeah, I thought so. Here’s how to set that up.

Editorials, News & Features

Google Maps Attempts to Bring Back 80’s Nostalgia with PacMan

Sometimes April Fool’s jokes can be a good thing, and Google is serving up a special treat by allowing us all to play popular arcade game PacMan on Google Maps. Back in 2010, Google did something a little bit similar by creating a Pac-man Doodle, but this year’s opening to the month of April is just pure awesome.

Reviews

ZAGG Pocket is a Smartphone and Tablet Keyboard for People on the Go

Between my iPhone 6 Plus and my iPad, I am finding myself using my MacBook less and less, and while I am pretty good at typing on the screen having a keyboard with me is a huge productivity boost. The ZAGG Pocket Keyboard is a great way to do just that. Best of all, it folds up and is tiny!

Gear Bits

Evernote for Apple Watch Is Confirmed for Launch in April

Soon after Tim Cook left the stage, popular and Apple Essentials favorite Evernote announced that they are currently developing an app for the Apple Watch. The company has said “An app on a watch doesn’t replace an app on the phone, it complements it. That’s how Apple Watch is designed, and it’s exactly what Evernote for Apple Watch is all about”.

Gear Bits, News & Features

Zagg Introduces the Pocket Keyboard for Smartphones

When I see something cool in an email or RSS feed, I check to see if it was covered by Gear Diary and I just missed it! Today I got a pre-order email for the Zagg Pocket Keyboard, a great mobile physical keyboard without the usual compromises, I was interested and saw we had done a YouTube preview!

News & Features

Upcoming Tweak iOS Blocks to Make Homescreens Multitask

iOS Blocks is an upcoming jailbreak tweak that will reinvent the way you think of widgets and your productivity on your jailbroken iPhone devices. Created by developers Matchstic, Gabriele, Aesign and TechofOu, iOS Blocks so far is the ability to use your home screen to see more information about any particular app using a pinch gesture. I can already see this, coupled with tweaks like Velox, being reasons why I NEVER put my device down for long. Just the Music app block alone will be a reason for me to stop having to open that app just to do particular…

Events, News & Features

HP Announces the HP Spectre x360, Its Most Premium and Versatile PC!

Last week Judie reviewed the Dell XPS 13, touting the reduced size and enhanced performance. Now HP is introducing the Spectre x360, which has a 13.3″ screen in an ultra-compact housing that features a fully rotating hinge so you can use the x360 as a tablet, tablet-on-stand and as as high performance ultrabook at a great price!

Editorials

Tablet Market Shrank in 2014, Here are Some Possible Reasons Why

Last week we learned iPad sales declined … again. It was another sign of a shift in the tablet market different from the smartphone market. Now we hear from the IDC that the broader tablet market shrank with both Apple and Samsung along with ASUS and Amazon taking large hits and only Lenovo and ‘others’ gaining share. We asked ‘why’?

Crowdfunding

Esington Glass Makes Hourglass Timers into Productive Artwork

Do you have trouble focusing on tasks that need to be done? Did you try setting reminders and timers, only to get distracted by your phone, a call, your DVR, or facebook? Hit up Kickstarter, and check out Esington Glass; it’s a fancy hourglass timer that wants to keep you on task!

Events, News & Features

Dell Updates Latitude Portfolio with New Processors and Technology!

Last week I mentioned some of Dell’s exciting highlights from CES. I overlooked some more in-depth details specific to how the Latitude line-up has broadened its appeal and updated all of the systems in the product portfolio. The changes made impact the Latitude 13 7000 Series 2-in-1, Latitude 7000 Series, Latitude 5000 Series and Latitude 3000 Series.

Reviews

Jabra EVOLVE 80 Headset Is All Work and All Play

There are more knowledge workers than ever trying to be productive in ever-smaller spaces. Distractions are everywhere, and their impact is tremendous. The new Jabra EVOLVE line of headsets was designed for just this scenario. We were sent a pair of the Jabra EVOLVE 80 Headset for review, and we are truly impressed with what the company has done here.

Reviews

ZAGG Rugged Folio Keyboard Case for the iPad Air

When I first pulled the Zagg Rugged Folio Keyboard Case for the iPad Air out of its box I was unimpressed. It is thick. It is heavy. It is bulky. It takes the thin, light iPad Air and makes it totally unAiry. Then I started using it. It is thick, heavy and bulky but it is also pretty great.

News & Features

Get Your Samsung Galaxy Note Edge on November 14th!

One of the coolest new devices I saw while at IFA was undoubtedly the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. It had a beveled edge on the right side of the main screen which displayed received messages, email, calendar, and other notifications. The Note Edge takes the best qualities of the new Galaxy Note 4, but adds an extra wow feature! The beveled screen will display scrollable messages, “extending the screen with room to do and see more. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge screen gives access to email, Internet, apps, notifications, news and more without interrupting the content on the main screen.” Users will be able to…

News & Features

Thoughts on the Nexus 9

Last year’s Nexus 7 is a great device, but it does have some limitations. Namely, the 16:9 screen is not optimized for work as it’s really short when in landscape mode. The Nexus 9 no longer has this issue, as it has a 4:3 formatted screen just like the iPad.

Reviews

The HP ElitePad 1000 G2 Tablet and Expansion Jacket with Battery Review

One of my favorite things about Windows 8.1 is the touch aspect built into the OS that makes laptop and/or tablet — 2in1 — computing possible. When using Windows 8.1 laptops, I’ve wondered if I’d be able to manage without a dedicated keyboard. Testing the HP ElitePad 1000 G2 for the past month has allowed me to decide.

Reviews

Knomo Knomad Mini Portable Organizer Review

If you use a small tablet such as the iPad mini or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and want to travel light, the Knomo Knomad Mini Portable Organizer is for you. This classy organizer will not only keep your tablet safe and protected while in transit but it will also let you carry just enough other productivity “goodies.”