For a limited time Amazon has the highly rated Andrea Bocelli MP3 album Amore on special for only $1.99. First released in 1986 this album was Bocelli’s eighteenth, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts. Featured are the songs “Can’t Help Falling in Love” which is an Elvis remake and a duet, “Somos Novios (It’s Impossible)” with Christina Aguilera. Amore includes: 1. Amapola. 2. Besame Mucho. 3. Les Feuilles Mortes. 4. Mi Manchi (Italian)- featuring Kenny G. 5. Somos Novios (Spanish)(It’s Impossible) – Duet with Christina Aguilera. 6. Solamente Una Vez (You Belong To My Heart-Latin American). 8. Pero Te Extra No. 9. Canzoni Stonate – (Italian) Featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and vocals. 10. L’Appuntamento (Italian). 11. Cuando Me Enamoro Quando M’Innamoro Quando M’Innamoro (A Man who needs… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Not being the type that can leave well enough alone, I installed Windows 7 to my Wind as planned on 1/18/09. Windows 7 is interesting. I’m still exploring… However, after I installed 7, I really wanted to see if I could put OSX back on.  Having the dual boot is really cool; and the dual boot with Windows 7..?  Oh yeah.  I’d be the king of my local Geekdom.  I had to try…   The following is not sanctioned by Gear Diary, and is an advanced piece of hackery.   However, once you master dual booting XP and OSX, I found this to be a bit easier. The only hard part, per se, is repairing the boot loader, and honestly, with the tool I found, its very easy.  Anyone with a Wind can do this… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Here’s a great deal on the older model of Slacker’s 8GB music player for only $80 (includes free shipping). Slacker is a music service similar to Pandora. You chose “stations” which are based upon themes – Jazz, Rock, Pop, The 80s, etc. You can also create your own stations using the Slacker web site and subscribe to popular artist channels. The device includes Wi-Fi through which it automatically refreshes up to 40 different stations of your choosing. When you’re away from a Wi-Fi signal you’ll listen to the music stored on the player. You can use the Slacker web site to establish favorite stations as well as add in artists that you want to hear more of (and those you’d like to… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Wayne has given the Peek email device a bit of coverage in the past, and when a tweet from Michael Gartenberg came through, I thought it worth mentioning: for 44 hours Peek is offering an Inauguration Day special of $44 for one of their mobile email devices, or for FREE if you live at a 1600 address. You’ll still have to pay the $19.99 / month service charge, but it’s not a bad way to get the device if you’ve had your eye on it. Peek’s Inauguration Day Special Continue reading on Gear Diary …

No it’s not a big stick, but it is a lithium polymer battery that charges off of your laptop’s USB port.  My Ted Baker Charging Kit does this as well, but the Powerstick looks like it’s a little smaller than the Ted Baker — at least in width.  This will charge any device that can charge from a USB port. The Ecosol Powerstick is available at Best Buy for $59.99.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

LED lights are all the rage now, and every company that can make one has made one.  So now you have to find something unique about them to make it worth buying a particular one.  With that said, Altus Lumen’s new PAD-L light is the world’s first sustainable LED light.  At the end of its life, it is over 75 percent recyclable.  Plus this one also has a optional solar cell so you can put it on top of your pack to recharge during the day. The PAD-L is now available and it retails for $39.90 on the Altus Lumen website Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Web site Neowin.net is reporting that Microsoft will unveil three new mobile web services next month at Mobile World Conference in Barcelona. According to the site the offerings will include: “SkyBox” is a service for users to sync a phones information with the web. Microsoft will be offering automatic backup and restore services, access and management of phone data and provide easy communication and sharing with others. The service will also allow syncing of contacts, email/SMS, calendar items and pictures into the cloud, similar to Apple’s MobileMe. The difference from Apple’s offering is Microsoft could be set to offer this out to non Windows Mobile devices. “SkyLine” will be aimed at small businesses. Offering similar functionality to SkyBox, businesses will be able to Continue reading on Gear Diary …

A few members of online discussion forums are chiming in that T-Mobile may be offering T-Mobile Android based G1 phones at $159 (after contract and rebate). In addition they’re reporting that T-Mobile is offering a $34.99 data only plan that does not require them to purchase a companion monthly voice plan (which starts at an additional $39/mo). For now it looks as if these deals are of the “call and beg” variety though people reportedly were told by carrier representatives that a more permanent $20 price drop is imminent on the G1. Still not word on whether a pay per day plan similar to the Sidekick may be forthcoming. More and More Continue reading on Gear Diary …

This year Santa was good to the Schulz household. He delivered a couple of iPod Touch devices that my twin 9 year olds use for practicing speling (courtesy WordsWorth), drilling on their math facts and sending email to their family. The one accessory that I knew we needed right away to protect these expensive devices was a case. I’m using an OtterBox Impact on my iPhone and I like it so much that I ordered one for my daughter Lauren’s Touch. When I asked her how she liked it, she had this to say: My case is very protective. What I like about it is it’s easy to grip. Also it is very thin so it still fits in your pocket and it is easy to take off when you want to clean the Touch. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I saw a newsletter and a post on ZDnet regarding Steve Jobs and his health today. Mr. Jobs is considering a liver transplant, something that could add years of life expectancy for him. Mr. Jobs was quoted in Bloomberg last week; and then was reached by phone later saying, “Why don’t you guys leave me alone — why is this important?” Jobs said. Mr. Jobs said he will not be providing any additional comments on his health.  However, I can say this for myself, and maybe for some others here at Gear Diary: You as a person are important to us, Mr. Jobs.  Your vision is driving a lot of computer improvements right now in both the hardware and software industries.  Everyone wants to be like… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Bring those images of Kindergarten rushing back into your head with this 1 oz bottle of Play-Doh cologne. Packaged in a spray bottle you can enjoy the smells from your youth without the nasty tell tale dried Pay-Doh residue. This fragrance is sure to bring a smile to arts and craft teachers everywhere. The scent has been specially mixed by scientists who’ve spent hours sniffing canisters of Play-Doh in order to mix just the right aroma. If Play-Doh doesn’t do it for you, check out these other interesting scents which include: Crayon, Bubble Gum, Dirt, and Whiskey Tobacco. Play-Doh Cologne Spray – $19.99 Continue reading on Gear Diary …

This is just a short note, kids to let you know where I am with my Wind after this weekend’s article.  I’ve completely blown the box, so XP is OFF the Wind.  I took a couple of hours and put Windows 7 on it, and find it very interesting. I’m not completely sold on it yet, as its very Vista like, and I’ve really just got Vista Ultimate working the way I want it to on my MBP. However, I’m playing with it; and yes, there is indeed a great deal to like about Win7 that you’re going to hear a great many people talk about in the weeks and months to come.  But, this wasn’t really what I was wanting to get to with this quick, little post. … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

For those times when you don’t want to carry a full sized laptop bag, Speck has introduced a simple and fasionable solution: the TuckPack Notebook Sleeve. Created to hold and protect up to a 13″ laptop, the TuckPack can be carried in a variety of ways: as a messenger style laptop bag with its included shoulder strap attached, as a folio when the strap is removed and the sleeve is tucked under the arm, or as a laptop sleeve when the strap is removed and the TuckPack is placed in a larger bag or backpack. Available in either “speakeasy black pinstripe” or “coffeehouse brown plaid”, it should be pretty obvious which version I received… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

This Pocket Wireless Touchpad (200 dpi) includes Media Controls (player open, volume, track, play, stop, pause). These features are integrated into the thin handheld remote and connect to your laptop via 2.4 GHZ Bluetooth. Control your PC based media center with built in media controls, laser pointer and standard mouse button support including scrolling. Uses 2.4 – 2.48 GHz Bluetooth Class II to let you wander up to 23 feet away from your computer without losing contact. Both Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Mac operating systems are supported though your computer must have Bluetooth to use this device. This ultimate road warrior touchpad controller conveniently recharges via USB or by docking in a PCMCIA slot. ThinkGeek Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Over the past few months, I’ve seen a lot of people talk about netbook computers and how hackable they are. Sites like JKontheRun, The Gadgeteer, and even Gear Diary have all posted articles on hacking this particular netbook.  While none of these sites recommends hacking ANY device, it does go a long way to  showing everyone just how versatile this device truly, truly is. Honestly, I wasn’t really interested in any kind of netbook computer until Dan posted his article on the creation of a “hackintosh,” or non-Apple PC running OSX.  Before then, I really didn’t seen any real value or have any interest in using something that, at the time, I thought was underpowered, limited in functionality and versatility, and, well, way smaller than my 15.4″ MacBook Pro.  I just didn’t see the point… Until Dan’s article, that is. Please note that this is an ADVANCED piece of work. You also need to understand that no one at Gear Diary sanctions or recommends this. You shouldn’t do any of this without understanding that you do all of this at your own risk. Continue reading on Gear Diary …