This quirky shaped mug looks normal when empty but when filled gives the appearance of an upside down beer bottle. This might just be the perfect quirky party gift. Yes, it’s surely a bit pricy for a single glass but considering that it’s hand-blown and precisely crafted and, according to their web site – unexpectedly classy. What’s next – brown paper bag mug shaped mug? Hopside Down Beer Glass – $19.99 Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Heidi Klum shows off the Barbie Bug Volkswagen Helps Barbie® Celebrate Fifty Years with a Customized New Beetle convertible, Fully Equipped with Rhinestones, Sparkling Pink Paint and Motorized Vanity in Trunk… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Note: My friend Mark Chinsky has authored some popular articles for Gear Diary such as this LED Light Bulb review and the AeroGarden Pro 100. His day job is consulting on ERP accounting software where I know he’s an avid FileMaker Pro user so I’ve asked him to look at the upgrade that was recently released and provide some thoughts. What follows is his review and impressions of the new features in FileMaker Pro 10 In the beginning of the year FileMaker Inc, released FileMaker Pro Version 10.0 I’ve been using FileMaker almost since it’s original release back in the 1980’s. It originally started as a product written by Apple, and was later spun out into Claris Software which was Apples arm for software so as to not appear to be competing directly with 3rd party developers. Claris eventually killed off their products with the exception of FileMaker, which was by far the most successful, and the new company was named FileMaker Inc.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

With all of the hullabaloo over the Amazon Kindle 2‘s recent release, one might think that there were no other eBook readers on the market; not so! Those who eschew DRM protection and who can do without the convenience of an online content store (I’m thinking of Amazon‘s and Sony‘s, specifically) should pay particular attention to the Ectaco jetBook, a reading device capable of handling .txt, .pdf, .fb2, .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, and MP3 file formats. According to literature I picked up at CES, EPUB format is expected in Q1 2009*. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Sad news for Sirius radio fans who hoped to listen to Sirius on their iPhone. The still in testing uSirius StarPlayr for iPhone is now on the “discontinued” list before even getting started. This notice posted on their web site indicates it is “in our best interests to discontinue the StarPlayr project”. Can Sirius really have enough money left to sue these guys? To all of our fans and customers: NiceMac has decided it is in our best interests to discontinue the StarPlayr project. NiceMac will be issuing refunds for purchasers of StarPlayr for Windows Mobile on a first come first serve basis until corporate funds have been exhausted. To request a refund simply copy and paste your StarPlayr for Windows Mobile PayPal receipt via Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Here’s a USB extension cord that could come in handy for integrating a computer into your kitchen or office. Increasingly accessories are USB powered and connected. This means if you’re connecting a hub and peripherals that you need to be within the traditional arms reach of your computer. This USB cord extends the reach over 100 feet so you now can have that glowing USB powered Hello Kitty coffee warmer on your kitchen counter where it belongs! USB 100 foot extension Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One thing I like to do when cleaning house is listen to podcasts or music.  I don’t have much of a stereo system in my home, and I wouldn’t want to make to have the whole household suffer from me listening to the latest from one of my many Linux podcasts.  So most of the time I have earbuds or headphones on while working around the house.  Sometimes, it’s just not convenient to wear the headphones, so I need a small speaker. With that in mind, when I saw the Neek Speaker I couldn’t help but wonder if it would really be able to produce enough sound? Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Just like nearly every business on earth, we’re constantly on the lookout for ways to save money during this economic depression. Recently I’ve been reading about a new device called Ooma. It carries no monthly fee (though you do pay extra for features such as second line, conferencing, enhanced voicemail and screening). In my office I use Vonage unlimited VOIP (voice over IP) to make unlimited outgoing calls for $65 per month. Voice over IP is a technology that allows for making regular voice calls via your landline phone using an Internet connection. Last week I installed Ooma so I can test whether the service could replace my outgoing Vonage voice line.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Quite honestly when I started reviewing this T-Mobile BlackBerry 8220 a month ago there were a few people who laughed at the phone. They’d heard the build quality was so-so and told me the first time I jostled the phone it’d disintegrate in my hand. I’d read a few online remarks downplaying the overall screen quality. Imagine my surprise when I completely fell in love with this affordable BlackBerry.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I was listening to the Linux Cranks (NSFW), and heard about this absolutely cool netbook that is now available f0r preorder. Taking a page from Open Moko, the Touch Book is completely open device.  You can go to the Always Innovating website and download everything you need to build your own Touch Book. The Touch Book is similar to HP’s tc1100 tablet, in that the base unit detaches from the keyboard allowing it to be used like a tablet.  The back of the base unit is also magnetized. Ever had a EVDO or other USB dongle you always wanted to keep connected?  Well the Touch Book has a internal USB… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Applications that allow you to transfer files from your Mac or PC to your iPhone or iPod Touch and back again aren’t unusual these days. There are many currently available, and a number are quite good. File Magic comes a little bit late to the game, but it’s clear that the folks at SplashData took their time to think through how to best manage this task; they have come up with one of, if not the best, solutions.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Anyone who knows me, knows that I listen to a lot of podcasts and music.  I also do the majority of my listening while wearing headphones.  That means that I’ll go through at least 1-2 pairs of headphones per year – sometimes more, as I usually wear them when riding to work in the mornings and evenings on the bus on my daily commute.  So when Altec Lansing introduced their new cloth covered headphones, my ears were in for a treat. By cloth covered, what I mean is the headphone cables are all covered in a cloth weave,  What this means is you have a durable, tangle free earbud experience; you won’t spend 5 minutes detangling these buds.  When the earphones cable looks tangled, you can  just take one end, give the cable a shake, and all the kinks and tangles will shake out.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Thinking about buying a BlackBerry Storm? My sister Lynn recently traded in her BlackBerry Pearl for a Storm. I asked if she’d give her un-filtered feedback for those of our readers who might be in a similar situation: Well, after much deliberation, I decided to give the Storm a try. I have had the Pearl for almost a year and the keyboard was driving me crazy. Although I was getting used to it, I was envious of how quickly my kids could text and be onto their 3rd message before I’m done with my 1st. Don’t get me wrong—I liked the Pearl a lot—it just took some getting used to. Also, I found my Pearl freezing up frequently the last month or two.So, against Wayne’s better advice, I tried the Storm. … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

This garden hose reel holds 100 feet of hose (not included). What’s a bit interesting about the reel is you don’t have to hand crank the hose to get it back on the reel. Instead the cranking works by water pressure. Flip a switch and the water flows another direction (it looks as if it may come out the side) to turn the reel for you. At $24.99 it’s probably worth a look if even to just impress your nosey neighbor with your garden skills and let the kids take turns making the reel spin around. PS – This is a Woot! deal which means it’s good only for the next 24 hours. Woot! Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset is on sale for the low price of $50 plus $6 shipping. That’s about $15 cheaper than the last time we noticed a deal on this particular headset. Judie reviewed the 925 in July and like what she saw – especially the ability to pair with two phones simultaneously. By way of comparison – Amazon’s price on this same item (Retail Packaged) is around $75 – so if you’re in the market for a Plantronics 925 this is your chance to save $25. Plantronics 925 Bluetooth Headset Continue reading on Gear Diary …