Folks who prefer to carry their iPhone 3G in a case, but also want to keep it handy in the car will like this item.  USB Fever has released a leather case for the iPhone 3G that will connect directly to a vehicle mount.  According to USB Fever’s website, the case is made of high grade leather and features a mounting latch that is integrated directly into the back of the case.  This unique feature means that if you typically carry your iPhone in a case, you won’t need to remove it in order to use a vehicle mount. Note that a mounting bracket does not come with the case, but USB Fever offers separate brackets for windshields, air vents, and Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The Sungale ID800WT might make you spend more time staring at your walls. This 8″ Wi-Fi picture frame has the picture display capabilities that we’ve come to expect from most frames. What it adds is a lot of nifty items that you might otherwise use a computer to view. The frame can display weather by zip code, real-time stock quotes, RSS feeds, IP Radio, Picasa images, Gmail alerts, local traffic conditions – and more. Screen resolution is 800×600 and internal memory is 512MB which can be expanded by use of SD/MMC/MS/XD and CF. Sungale ID800WT Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It doesn’t seem like all that long ago when a 23″ monitor such as this Samsung 2333SW from GearSponsor LogicBuy would have run into the thousand dollar range. Bigger is (almost) always better and as some of us get older (and our eyes age) these larger monitors become not only a “nice to have” but a “need to have”. Those happy with their current monitor could use this one to create a dual monitor system. The resolution of 1920 x 1080 is full HD and the 23″ wide screen supports aspect ratio control meaning you’ll not have to put up with the rubber band look that other monitors create as they stretch images to fill a bigger screen. The… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Based on the various carrier sites that have started to mistakenly display hints of an iPhone 32 GB model, it seems all but certain that a beefed up iPhone model will be arriving before years’ end. The latest site to slip appears to be AT&T who are running an “upgrade your BlackBerry” promotion that allows users to submit any phone model they own (this is where the iPhone 32GB displays) in trade for a BlackBerry. It’s tough to say how valid this is since a 32GB iPhone in 3G is slated to trade at $355 which might be above the speculated (but uncertain) $299 retail price. More Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m rather proud of myself for converting a relatively cheap Acer Aspire One D150 from Windows XP Home to Windows 7 (preview). I’ve been hearing a lot about Windows 7 and that it just might be the operating system that Microsoft “got right”. The real push to do this came from my friend Mark who walked me through the setup. Now this morning he’s sent me a link to a collection of great Windows 7 tips. For example the list shows how to setup your computer so that people (in my case – the kids) cannot change your settings or load programs. There are a total of 70 tips and while you may know some of the information… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I love Waterfield’s cases. They are well built, have nice style and, most importantly, are super functional. I use one of their cases with my MacBook, and have one for my HP2140. Fortunately for all Kindle fans, they offer a nice selection of cases for the Kindle 1, Kindle 2 and will have some for the Kindle DX shortly after it is released this summer. I’ve used the Waterfield Travel Case for a while now and find it to be “typical Waterfield”. That’s a good thing. Let’s take a look.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Fatwallet.com, one of the best sites on the web to learn about bargains, has launched a top deals section on their site. The current deal is also labeled “This is the last hot deal you’ll ever need” — it’s a Do-it-Yourself Casket Kit from Amazon.com. Although they don’t recommend it, you could save some more and assemble this entirely without glue or nails provided the object inside was less than 200 lbs. Fatwallet Top 10 Deals Continue reading on Gear Diary …

[begin rant] Why does everything have to be about money?  Why is someone always looking to get something for nothing?  Free this, free that, promotional item here, promotional item there. Has capitalism ruined the beauty of some of the things that are free on the internet? I do video reviews on YouTube.  Earlier this week I posted a chat video I recorded, about some of the things which were bothering me about YouTube reviews. I haven’t been doing video reviews long, and I have small following so far.  And that’s fine.  I do it because I enjoy it.  I do it for fun. If you manage to obtain a certain status on YouTube (based on the number of people who subscribe to your channel and the number of times your videos have been viewed), you can apply to join YouTube’s partners program. If you’re accepted, some of your videos then feature advertisements which you make money from.  The ones from Google are just horrid.  They have nothing to do with the topic of the video and often times block the viewer from seeing content on the screen.  I don’t ever plan on becoming a partner no matter what status I [...]

My gear is undergoing a bit of a transition right now. Chief among the changes, I will be selling my iPhone 3G (which is brand new thanks to Apple’s willingness to replace it after a crack appeared) and using an old iPhone “Classic” until the new hardware is released this summer. In order to get the new old iPhone working again I had to jailbreak it. After a couple of tries (more than a couple since it kept failing for some reason) the deed was done. Since I now had a jailbroken iPhone I figured the time was right to play around a bit. That’s when I discovered what a create combination Qik and the iPhone make and I truly got a taste of what it will be like to have a better camera AND native, Apple supported video in just a few months.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Who says “bling” is dead?  According to Karl Lagerfeld it is.  The fashion icon recently declared: “Bling is over. I call it ‘the New Modesty’.” Do you disagree?  Do you “bedazzle” everything you can get your hands on?  Did you get giddy when saw the images of the Goldstriker all 24ct gold iPhone 3G, but your checkbook just wouldn’t allow it? If so, then here’s another more affordable, yet equally as gaudy option to consider. Hong Kong based Audrey Charm has introduced Swarovski decor frames for the iPhone 3G, iPod touch (2nd Generation), and iPod nano (4th Generation). Made from 100% genuine Swarovski crystals. with  silver, gold, or… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Seidio, a distributor of cases and accessories for mobile devices, have recently introduced a new line of cases for the BlackBerry called the Innocase 360. What’s unique about this is that they add screen and key protection. I have a version for my BlackBerry 8900 and just spotted this review on the new BlackBerry Bold Innocase 360. I’m a big fan of reviews done by end users and posted in message forums like BlackBerry Forums. This one is done by user Airpoppoff and gives a nice overview with lots of pictures. The main issue (which I’ve seen on my BlackBerry 8900 Innocase 360) is that the backlit keys are dimmed when the case is used. Read the full review for more… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Earlier this week I wrote an Gear Diary entry about my experience over the last two years with Key-Port. I mentioned in the article that I had asked Key-Port to return my keys to me and later that day I heard from a Key-Port representative who assured me they’d send them back. I heard from a few “doubters” including our own Wayne Schulz who half jokingly, I think, wondered if I’d really ever see my keys again and if I did get them back what condition would they be in. Just yesterday, only three days after I spoke to the Key-Port representative I received a Federal Express tracking number. Then today Federal… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have Zagg screen shields on almost every device I own. They are simple to put on. Easy to take off. High quality. You can buy cheaper ones if you look (they’ll all claim to be as good as Zagg ). Why buy imitation when the real thing is 50% off through May 27? Zagg Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Since the launch of the iTunes App Store, Tap Tap Revenge has been one of the more popular games for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Tapulous, the developer of Tap Tap Revenge 2 has just recently launched its latest offering in the Tap Tap line up, Tap Tap Revenge:  Dave Matthews. One of the USA’s most popular bands, the Dave Matthews band is known for its more popular hits Ants Marching, Everyday, Crash Into Me and more. The game is jammed packed full of features some of which include different modes of play (head to head, turn based, two player), stunning graphics, split screen mode and challenge mode.  The game comes with… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

As I’ve been working the last few days with a smaller laptop NetBook than my regular MacBook Pro 15″ – I’ve seen the benefits of lighter and smaller. GearSponsor LogicBuy checks in today with a compact laptop for your consideration. While big screens are great on the desktop – when you’re out and about (think airline seat with 400lb bald guy in front of you reclining his seat to your belt buckle) the smaller the footprint the better. This 13.3-in 2GHZ Core 2 Duo may just fit the bill for those looking for a powerful combination of memory (4GB) , processor and storage (320 GB hard disk). Shipping is free and you can re-configure the laptop any way you like. HP Pavilion Continue reading on Gear Diary …