Google has an update for Google Maps on Android phones that may not show up in your update list. Unlike past Android software updates for the T-Mobile G1 or HTC Magic, the new Google Maps release won’t be automatically pushed to your phone over the next few days. Instead, the upgrade is available for download in the Android Market.  To get it, just search for maps on the marketplace. In this update, there are a few slick new features including voice searching , improved Google Latitude features – including an experimental feature called updates that lets you communicate with friends and post updates about the location you’re at. If you’re friends have the latest Google Maps for Android they’ll be able to view your updates and add to them. There’s also transit information for 250 cities and walking directions.  … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Yesterday Engadget and Joystiq reported on the possibility that Sony would reveal a PSP App Store at the upcoming GamesCon in Cologne in August. The thought is that in conjunction with the upcoming ‘download-only’ PSP Go, they would take advantage of owners being locked into the PSN Store by introducing small and cheap apps and games similar to what Apple has in the iTunes App Store.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Mapquest has finally come to the iPhone.   Utilizing Navteq maps, the new Mapquest 4 Mobile also offers the ability to show detailed driving directions, use multiple waypoints (stops),  save routes and maps, as well as quickly bring up points of interest like gas stations or restaurants.  It will even show you the traffic levels in your map area! I’ve been playing with it for the past day and so far, the only limitations I’ve found are that it doesn’t offer a satellite view like Google Maps does, and it’s address entry isn’t as intuitive as that found in Google Maps. That said, it’s advanced routing capabilities, traffic, and Navteq maps are a welcome addition to the iPhone. … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Opera, maker of the Opera web browser, has just announced Opera Unite – a feature that turns your web browser into a web server with one click. It’s hard to categorize, but the description makes it sound like a mash up of P2P, social networking, file transfer, internet relay chat, instant messaging and cloud-based technologies. Which, I think, basically means that they want to run the internet off of your computer.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

At Apple’s WWDC last week the scheduled release date for the new iPhone 3G S was announced to be Friday June 19th. There has been much confusion over the last week around what the best method seems to be to obtain the new phone. You could “reserve” one online to pick up at an Apple Store on launch day, you could pre-pay for a phone on AT&T.com and pick up your phone on launch day and of course you could just choose to roll the dice and show up to either of the two stores on launch day, get in line and hope you get a phone. The one method, which I haven’t mentioned, though… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The iPhone Dev. team, the folks responsible for bringing you all those extra hacking goodies that you can use on your iPhone (unlocking, jailbreaking etc.) have made a major announcement. They haven’t announced that they think the soon to be released iPhone 3.0 software is unlock-able (meaning you’d be able to use the new iPhone 3G S or and updated 3G on carrier’s other than AT&T) they’ve announced that they know it’s unlockable and that they’ve already done so before the software update has even been released. To prove this point the Dev. team plans to demonstrate their unlock tool, code named, yellowsn0w, tonight over the internet. There isn’t much more detail than that… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One feature that is often missing in smartphone camera applications is the ability to rename — or automatically name — photos directly on the device. Sure, most smartphones are simply not going to completely replace point-and-shoot or D/SLR cameras; but, when you just want a quick photo to capture the moment, you will probably reach for your smartphone and use the standard 1.3 to 3.0MP camera. Then, once you take the photos, you have to go back and sift through all of those “IMG000XX” files, transfer them to your computer, and then manually rename each photo. It is not a very efficient or enjoyable process. ShapeServices continue their line of impressive mobile applications with the Mobiola Photo Renamer utility. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Bump for the iPhone & iPod Touch has a lot going for it.  It happens to have the honor of being the 1 Billionth iPhone App downloaded.   It  is F-R-E-E.   The application actually makes what used to be a chore of swapping contact information with friends and colleages — gasp! — fun, and easy. I know, I know.  It’s not Tap Tap Revenge Fun.  It won’t entertain you like Peggle will, either.  Bump will, however, help you rid yourself of of a pocket full of business cards and keep you from manually typing in numerous fields of emails, phone numbers, and addresses.  How?  Just  bump hands (or fist bump, if you are so inclined) with another iPhone user who has Bump installed and Voila!  You’ve exchanged contact info.  This app could liven up your next convention, for sure … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

DataViz, makers of the popular Documents To Go software for viewing and editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, has just released DTG for the iPhone. It’s available in two flavors: a standard version and a version that supports Exchange email attachments. Both versions feature: Viewing, creation, and editing of Word documents Viewing of Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and iWork files 2-way file synchronization using the included desktop application (over wi-fi) Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Have you beaten BrickBreaker?  Tired of Texas Hold ‘Em?  Well Astraware, the popular mobile game makers for Palm, Windows Mobile, iPhone, and Symbian have just released their Solitaire game pack for BlackBerry, featuring 12 different card games in one bundle. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Ok; so I know being with a CDMA carrier such as Sprint I have handicapped my insatiable need for new equipment, that is unless I am a Palm fanboy. But come on, enough is enough already…right? The guys over at Crackberry.com have posted this picture of two T-Mobile branded BlackBerry 8520′s(aka Gemini), yes the one with the pretty optical trackball…wait is it really a “trackball” if there is no ball? I guess that is a discussion in and of itself!  They have also posted a review of the BlackBerry 8520 here. So, while T-Mobile has the Gemini and Curve 8900, AT&T has Bold, Verizon has the Storm and soon to… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

How do you get notified when new email arrives? Pop up window? Subtle chime? Old fashioned AOL ‘You’ve Got Mail’ alert? Whatever you’re doing now, imagine replacing it with a flashing box that looks like an envelope!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Wow!  Where was this when I was in high school?  One of the cool things about being so involved with computers and technology is watching the pace of change.  Dan mentioned that the other day with his look at an old 32 MB card vs his 32 GB iPhone. This change is most apparent in how we keep finding new and improved solutions for old problems.  And the oldest, biggest problem for me is losing data. Almost as long as I have had a computer, I have managed to find new and creative ways to lose my data.  As a result, I have grown extremely interested in the available tools for restoring that lost data.  While online backups are nice, it is still online, and as Toodledo’s recent problems showed, that has its downfalls as well.  What I needed was a fast and easy way to backup my data and physically store it in my house.  What I needed all along was the SeaGate Replica.  Like I said, where was this when I was in high school.  Hit the jump for a closer look. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Do you have a Palm Pre? Would you like to tether it to your laptop? It was only a matter of time before instructions would be posted on the web. At least one site seems to have received a ruler slap on the knuckles for daring to mention Pre tethering. Now another’s popped up and their instructions are most definitely not for the everyday user. But if you’ve got guts (and root access to your Palm Pre) – head to isyougeekedup and check out their Palm Pre Bluetooth tethering trick. Basically, you setup an SSH tunnel to the Pre, which supports running as a SOCKS proxy. You then configure your browser to point to this proxy and BAM, you’re tethering away. First, you must Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Last month while searching for some media player software for Linux, I came across a program called Elisa.   Elisa was a full screen media player similar to Apple’s Front Row.  It had an interface that looked a lot like Apple’s Front Row, with a twist.  I installed it on both my Eee PC 701 and initially on my 1000HE and would use it whenever I wanted some music playing in the background. Flash forward to today.  The Elisa project has revamped itself and renamed itself into the media center called Moovida.  It is available for both Linux and WindowsXP/Vista with a Mac OS X version planned.  They totally changed it’s look and added some really cool features that I will use every day. Above is the new Moovida interface.  This interface works well with a trackpad, mouse or the keyboard.  … Continue reading on Gear Diary …