Ilium Software, makers of eWallet, ListPro and other way cool apps is celebrating a major milestone. Tomorrow, Saturday 02-Jun-07, the company officially turns 10.  10!  Sheesh! has it really been that long??

Anyway, they’ve got something really awesome planned, BUT I can’t exactly say what yet. Suffice it to say, that its going to be huge…AND awesome, just like Ilium Software.  If you’re interested in all the details, you can find them here.

While my little 1.5 x 2.0 x 0.7″ Bluetooth GPS amazes me with how compact it is, but this new product takes it to a whole new level. This new Bluetooth GPS is small enough to fit on a key ring, yet boasts a 20 channel receiver, 10hrs battery life and Bluetooth 2.0.

For anyone using their Pocket PC or Smartphone device as a navigation system, a tiny Bluetooth GPS is a great way to do it. With it attached to your keys, you can always be sure to have it on hand

For now I will just stick to having a 4GB USB on my keyring

[via Engadget]

I ran across this earlier today and I had to share – and this should make Kerry’s day!

Meet Nathan Sawaya. He is a Lego Artist. He’s not a Lego Builder. He is a Lego Artist. What is the difference you ask? Ah, well take a look at some of his work and you will understand exactly what I mean!

Continue Reading

On the short list of accessories that Windows Mobile device owners need is a case. Cases not only protect your device but often put that device in a convenient and easy-to-access location (like your hip). In the not-to-distant past, most devices shipped with, at a minimum, a neoprene or vinyl slip case of some type. Unfortunately this has changed in recent years and now is more of an exception than a rule.

A relative newcomer to providing cases for Windows Mobile devices is BeyzaCASES. The company, based in Istanbul, Turkey, provides a wide range of leather cases designed to custom fit a variety of Windows Mobile devices. They have been making cases for other companies to rebrand and sell for years, but in 2004 began selling cases under their own marquee. A few weeks ago BeyzaCASES sent me two cases to review, both designed for my O2 XDA Zinc. While these cases are technically universal cases – they will fit a variety of similarly sized devices – I have to say I am quite impressed with the cases. Not only do they fit nicely around my device but they look stylish and elegant.

As Judie will attest, I am a huge Louis Vuitton fan (yeah, I’m a guy… got a problem with that?) so anytime I get something that comes with a dustcover my interest is already peaked! That is exactly what you get when you open up the box of your BeyzaCASES case. Inside the box is a small drawstring dustcover which contains your leather case. Open up the dustcover and you’ll find the case is a supple, smooth leather with a rich aroma.

Figure 1: The BeyzaCASES Box

Continue Reading

When we received the press release for this latest product for adventure seekers, everyone here at Gear Diary looked at it with visions of hospital stays and broken necks. I looked at the Swissbikeboard a little differently. I thought, I love bike riding…and I have been known to love skateboarding. Put the two together, and is this really all that complicated? Well, Swissbike, a leader in the new category of multifunctional recreational products, recently announced the answer to all of my questions (some of which I had not even realized I asked) with the Bikeboard Offroad and Bikeboard Street. Easy to assemble (uh-oh, I’ve heard that before) and ride (I’ve heard that before too), the Offroad and Street versions of Swissbikeboard provide expert maneuverability and mobility both on even and uneven terrain. What does all of this mean? It means Doug can’t wait to give it a try. It also means that Doug had better make sure his health insurance is up to date.

Continue Reading

Ashley Dunn has just posted an in-depth review of the Vaja 15 Messenger Bag, and her review – coupled with Jason’s pictures – is enough to make me want to say the phrase “Caterina Ruby Wine with Caterina Dark Citron” repeatedly; well…that and “yum!”

photo courtesy of Pocket PC Thoughts

Like me, Ashley has found that the Vaja bag doesn’t only function very well as a laptop carrier, it also makes a great everyday messenger bag. About it she says, “While I’m not using it as a laptop bag, rather as a shoulder bag, it serves its purpose well. I carry my wallet, phone and Pocket PC, along with a few assorted goodies in my bag. Some may think it’s a bit big for just those few things, but it serves as a great multi-purpose bag as I also tuck my lunch and water bottle in with the regular bits, and it saves me the hassle of having to carry multiple bags, plus it looks good too. And lest anyone think that this is a bag only for women, Vaja offers an assortment of manly colour combinations that will please just about anyone.”

Continue Reading

Clinton Fitch has just posted his latest review, this time over the Proporta O2 XDA Atom Proporta Aluminum Leather Case & Aluminum Case. Clinton says, “The UK based company Proporta recently sent me two cases to try and review and I must say, I’m quite impressed! Not only are these cases well made but they fit my device – in this case an O2 XDA Atom – perfectly.”

Continue Reading

PhoneDaily has some interesting shots of a Chinese iPhone. While I am personally skeptical  about the success of the real iPhone, the Chinese apparently like the design.

Click on thumbnail for a larger image

I’m not sure exactly what OS is being used here; I have not yet seen an actual iPhone.

The site itself is all in Chinese but there are more pictures there to look at. Thanks to Xavier F. Catino for the heads up on this!

Just in case you are still wondering what to get dad for Father’s Day, SCOTTEVEST can help!

Their 50% sale is going on until June 10, and you can pick up all sorts of things from a 237D jacket for $69.99, to a Microfleece Pullover for $19.99, to a pair of comfy Lounge Pants for $49.99, to…well, there are lots of choices – go look!.

Just because it is warm weather now doesn’t mean it won’t be cold again soon! This would be a great opportunity to get the jacket you wish you had last winter in time for next! See all the details here.

Big news from Jeff Hawkins and Palm, Inc. today.

Watch this.

Your comments?

Today is day five of my IvyBlock trial and so far I am utterly rashless and unitchified.

Normally, even despite my best efforts to cover myself from head to toe in old pants, long-sleeved shirts, ragg socks, hiking boots, a bandanna, a floppy grumpy old man hat and a burka when I’m working around poison ivy, invariably some urishiol oil manages to penetrate the perimeter and give me a couple of weeks of itchy discomfort. The IvyBlock website swears that scratching doesn’t spread the rash, but usually I end up with outbreaks in all the places that I can’t reach or shouldn’t scratch in polite company.

But not this year! I didn’t go out of my way to cover every inch of exposed skin before I headed out into the woods to do battle with Mother Nature. Instead, I applied IvyBlock to all the same places I would spread sunblock if I was headed out fishing. You know, the “farmer’s tan” area. Following the directions on the bottle, I waited at least 15 minutes after application before I risked exposure to the poison ivy (and before I went back in water after eating. Thanks, Mom.)

Continue Reading

Two days ahead of schedule, Mastersoft Mobile Solutions has released its much anticipated brain trainer for Pocket PC / Windows Mobile Professional. Brain School features 20 completely different fun and addictive puzzles, each with 5 different levels of difficulty. The puzzles are divided into four years of learning, and include a number of innovative mini-games that have never been seen before (inlcuding math puzzles using Roman numbers).

Playing daily can help improve your memory, spatial awareness, logical thinking, analytical reasoning, numeracy, concentration and may offset the effects of brain aging.

Can you graduate? Very easy to play. A challenge to complete! Available now for $19.95. Future formats will follow, including Smartphone, Nokia, and UMPC.

Watch for my review coming soon on Gear Diary.

Pocket PC Thoughts is running a fun new competition for a $75 Amazon Gift Certificate, a microlight, and another surprise item that Jason hasn’t thought of yet. All you have to do is send in a photo that you think is cute that includes a Windows Mobile device. The above picture was the inspiration for the contest, and you have got to admit it is pretty damned cute! I’ve taken a few pictures with my devices that I think aren’t bad, but that one definitely takes the cake!

Jason will pick 3 finalists for everyone to vote on. The contest only runs till June 8th so get in quick!

When I�m sitting down with friends discussing what�s on their iPod, I�m surprised to see a newly acquired iPod shopworn with scratches not only on the metal backside, but the screen as well. With the 30GB or 80GB video iPod starting at $349.00 USD, most forget to purchase the extra accessories that will protect an investment not only from normal wear and tear, but sticky soft drink spills and drops (oops).

Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) offers a variety of cases and clips for the iPod.

Set that Diet soft drink down far away from your iPod and take a look at two of DLO�s latest products for the video iPod.

The DLO VideoShell SE…

and the DLO Jam Jacket with cord management…

Above photos courtesy of DLO
Continue Reading

Pocket-Lint is reporting on a HTC launch event on June 5th which HTC says “will be a major announcement” for the company which “heralds a new mobile experience that will change the way we use and control our phones”.

Smartphone Thoughts proposes that it may be some competitor to the iPhone, which seems about right considering how close the iPhone is to release.

In any case, all will be reveled soon…