Do you have friends or co-workers who are always making off with your pen? Here’s an inexpensive way to “teach them a lesson”. And if they’re wearing a pacemaker they’re really going to get a big surprise. The pen’s sold as a “practical joke” – but right underneath the instructions “press clicker to shock” is the somewhat disturbing warning “may interfere with electrical devices such as pacemakers”. The manufacturer closes out by stating how you “will have absolute pleasure zapping your colleagues and friends with an electric shock”. Alternate Use: While they’re bringing your pacemaker wearing co-worker to the hospital – help yourself to all the office supplies in their desk. Shock-You-Friend Electric Shock Ball Pen (“Practical Joke”) – $2… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

There’s was a huge uproar the past few days over the newly updated Facebook terms of service. In a nutshell they tried to amend their terms to include new provisions that essentially allowed them to keep your personal data on whatever retention policy that they liked. In addition other sites had pointed out a more disturbing clause that seemed to rub salt into the newly opened wounds. “We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change or delete portions of these terms at any time without further notice,” According to those newly rescinded terms, Facebook didn’t even have to notify you in the future if it changed the terms of service! Now it seems that Facebook could have really opened themselves… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I saw today that Apple has updated firmware available for its 13″ MacBooks, whether unibody or White.  If you’re the owner of an effected machine, you should take a quick stroll over to their EFI & Firmware page and grab the updates.  Also, this is a GREAT resource to bookmark and check back on every now again.  While your particular Mac may not be effected today, its very possible that it could have an EFI or firmware upgrade waiting for it.  You should go here, and then follow the instructions to determine your EFI and firmware versions and then download and install any appropriate updates.  Keeping current is good.  Please make certain that you follow all instructions regarding updating EFI or firmware, as you’re… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’ve been on the local hunt here in Connecticut for another inexpensive i425 to put onto cellular provider Boost Mobile. As you may know, Sprint owns Boost and runs them as a separate company. Boost uses the older Nextel iDen network and therefore the phones are locked to the slower iDen data pipes. One of the unique features of Boost (and Nextel) is the built in walkie talkie providing unlimited mobile to mobile calling and favored by construction workers and thugs everywhere. The i9 from Motorola is a new phone expected by the end of February 2009 that suddenly blurs the lines between what has previously been thought of as cheap prepaid handsets and the more modern post-paid handsets.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

If you’re like me, then you have your life in your PDA. If that’s the case, and you don’t have an application to keep your sensative data safe, you’re going to be in trouble.  Our very own Clinton Fitch has pulled together a very informative review of Spb Wallet over at his site.  Says Brother Fitch: When it comes to Wallet applications, the question is not necessarily if you need one but which one to get.  Most people have dozens of usernames and passwords, PINs and various other bits of personal and important information.  While its great to have this on your PC, having it on your Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Discussion forums are buzzing with speculation that T-Mobile is about to respond to the $49 unlimited Boost Mobile voice plans. If the information is correct (and it’s very possible that this is nothing but wishful hoaxing or a retention plan someone lucked into) expect a $49 unlimited voice plan with everything but messaging and data. There may be a family plan for $89 plus $39/ea additional line. Recent news has implied that T-Mobile is bearing the brunt subscribers defecting for the new Boost $49 unlimited plan. The deal killer for me? Data is still a $24.99 add-on. The full rumor follows.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Quickoffice for Android has been announced and is currently available for download. Unfortunately the current version ($7.99 in the Android Market) is view only for DOC and XLS (Word/Excel). The Quickoffice web site shows icons for PPT and TXT so I’m making an educated guess that viewers for Powerpoint and PDF may not be too far behind. No word on when you’ll actually be able to edit the documents. Included in the release is a file manager to navigate folders, rename, delete, sort and view file properties. Quickoffice for Android via PhoneScoop and Matt Miller/ZDNET Continue reading on Gear Diary …

This 5 in 1 iPhone kitchen timer is a great idea for any of you that cook with more than just the microwave. Set a timer for each burner – plus the oven – and you can individually track the remaining minutes/hours left for that item to cook. One of the more frustrating things about cooking is trying to juggle the individual cooking times that each item requires. Worry no more! On the face of the iPhone display is a spot for each burner. When you add an item that you want to time – simply count up the minutes in increments of either 5 or 1. You may want to place your iPhone on airplane mode so an… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Today has been a long day starting with the early morning wakeup, drive to San Angelo, and then flights to Dallas and then to New York. The reason for all the fuss is that I am one of approximately twenty bloggers who have been invited to attend several Vivienne Tam events happening during New York’s Fashion Week. Obviously this is all tied in with the HP Vivienne Tam Mini Note that I have been sporting lately. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Broadband networking. Its something that EVERYONE wants in their home…in every home across America… heck, in every home across the world. The biggest problem with getting broadband in your home is not necessarily availability (though that is an issue), but piping the signal though your home.   … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m a big fan of the Weather Underground web site. Each morning and several times during the day I receive their emailed weather forecasts. It’s one of the few online sites that I gladly renew my paid membership with each year. When I’m traveling I’ll also use the site to setup temporary email alerts for pending storms that might arrive in the area where I’m going to be staying. Each time the National Weather Service issues a storm warning, watch or public information statement I am sent an email that alerts me to the news. There’s also a handy mobile site that can be viewed on your phone at http://m.wund.com/ . Here’s a deal that you may want to get in on… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

A new service is available for AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers that makes it easy to manage those annoying calls that come through as “Blocked” (which I don’t find problematic – I just never answer them). Punch a few numbers into your phone, press send and from that point on whenever you get a call that does not have the phone number displayed you can reject it (typically by pressing END on your phone). The call will be routed to Trapcall which deciphers the incoming phone number (and for an extra fee – the name) and routes it back to you with the caller’s number. The service also allows you to receive transcribed voice mail messages in your email as well as to… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One of the things that has been most significant since I made the move to using Apple’s products almost exclusively, is the fact that I have become very spoiled. I now want and expect electronics that not only work well, but also have a high degree of polished aesthetics, so that when I use the devices, they not only function well; but they also look and feel great while I use them. This is certainly the case with my iPhone and iPod Touch which continually amaze me; to a slightly lesser, but no less profound degree, this is also the case with my iMac and MacBook.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Does the subject of report cards dredge up memories of the sealed envelope you dutifully (or perhaps not so dutifully) toted home to your parents? It took a while for schools to catch on and now I think most of these are mailed out directly instead of being left in the hands of the subjects who are being reported on. Here’s a fun dry-erase report card that will allow your office buddies to rate each other on work avoidance – thus wasting even more time in the day. Easy to ace subjects like “Aimless Roaming” and “Rewriting To-Do List” make for easy marks that most of your co-workers may not be so thrilled to receive . For extra drama tack… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The news that Nokia is going to pre-load Skype to their N97 model due in June 2009 might be a salvo across the bow of phone carriers everywhere. Apple started the “hands off our platform” when they released the iPhone without a smidgeon of AT&T branding (though they did apparently bow to restrictions by refusing to authorize some applications). Now Nokia is following suit with an announcement that starting with the N97 that goes on sale in June, Skype will be embedded into the OS. The Skype service allows for instant messaging and making unlimited voice phone calls using only your phone data plan. Using a service called SkypeOut you can make calls to non-Skype landlines as well as other… Continue reading on Gear Diary …