Belkin has announced a pretty awesome sounding product coming this fall.  The TuneCast Auto Live FM transmitter for iPhone is a GPS-enabled FM transmitter that automatically finds the best FM station based on where you are.  It uses the GPS to determine your location and then, using the ClearScan Live iPhone application, tunes to the right frequency for the clearest FM transmission.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Watch Ray Ozzie on video (2:41) answer a question about Google Wave during a Q&A at the Churchill CLub. According to the Father of Lotus Notes: Open Source is bad, open data formats good, open protocols good. Unbelievably he starts the whole response off with an argument that Google Wave is “Anti-Web” and Microsoft Live Mesh Good. Watch Ray Ozzie explain and chuckle as he asks the audience (insert cricket chirps) who has used Microsoft Live Mesh. Google is Anti-Web? That’s a new one on me. Ray’s other prominent statement that “Complexity is the enemy in the eccos of the web” is funny – coming from the Daddy of Lotus Notes (no slouch in the complexity department). Check the video above and read the full CNET story. Ozzie on Google Continue reading on Gear Diary …

As a recent Netbook purchaser I can tell you that Netbook computers are great for anyone who primarily works via the web. The last few days I’ve connected via Windows Remote Desktop Connection to two of my clients to work on their computers, streamed Slacker Radio in the morning, watched movies, browsed the Internet from bed and let my kids play Club Penguin until their fingertips bleed. All of this from a Wi-Fi connected Netbook that cost barely over $300 and is ultra light to carry. These tiny (10″ screen) and cheap Wi-Fi equipped machines are great for taking anyplace you may not want to venture with a bigger, heavier and more expensive full laptop. Admittedly, you cannot edit Photo Shop… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Here’s one heck of a good deal on an HP2140. PCMall has a huge discount on the gorgeous HP2140 and includes a slipcase and an extra GB of RAM INSTALLED to boot. I am enjoying mine (with just 1GB RAM) and, for anyone looking to get a small, light but durable netbook, can’t recommend it highly enough. Sure you have to put up with XP Home Edition, but for $299 who can complain? Grab it HERE. Note- This post promted me to update my HP2140 to 2GB of RAM. I should have done it sooner. No surprise but… it is MUCH more responsive with the extra RAM!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m a huge fan of OtterBox cases.  In my line of work my OtterBox Defender Series case has become as essential to me as my turnout gear.  My review of the case was even my first ever post here on Gear Diary. If your Dad is hard on his electronic devices, and you’re looking for a great gift for this upcoming Father’s Day, an OtterBox case might just be what your looking for. Your Dad always protects you.  Now give him a little protection of his own. OtterBox has three series of cases to choose from. Their newest line, the Impact series is not your regular silicone case.  It’s a heavy… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

We often do initial reviews of hardware here on the site. It’s fun, it’s exciting, and, as gadget lovers, we enjoy bringing to all of you our thoughts on the newest technology. At the same time, what really matters about a product aren’t just the initial impressions or even the first review, but rather how things work in the long run and whether an item we really like during a review is something we still use a number of months later. Along those lines I thought we might go back and take a second look at item that both Wayne and I reviewed a few months back. That item — the CellRanger USB cell reception booster. The website for the CellRanger states – Wherever life takes you… Maximize your wireless signal.  The CellRanger line (edit) of personal space wireless signal enhancing products are designed to easily and affordably help you stay in touch. In his review Wayne had this to say – As an in-car booster I found that this is a very compact and useful signal booster that resulted in at least two to three bars of increased signal to my iPhone 3G. In my second look I had [...]

RIM has acquired Dash Navagation for an undisclosed amount of money/stock.  This is thanks to Boy Genius Report, PhoneScoop and Engadget. To refresh everyone’s memory, Dash is the company who makes the cellular connected GPS that Wayne loved to hate and that I kind of liked.  Hopefully some of the software that they used will make it into the Blackberry. One interesting tidbit is that Dash used Openmoko to power it’s device.  So could RIM bring Openmoko back from the dead?… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

How cool does this 10 finger multi-touch from 3M look? It’s a demonstration that Nan Palmero taped while attending SID Display Week 2009 (Society for Information Display) Week in San Antonio TX. The SDK includes a 19-inch LCD display that developers can use to create their touch applications. Support for flick, gestures and 10 independent finger touch is all part of this next generation tool which promises to work with Windows 7 as well as other operating system like Linux. 3M via Nan Palmero Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’ve just noticed (though this certainly could have been the case for some time) that Amazon is offering three models of discounted Netbooks with embedded 3G mobile broadband connectivity. The discounts on the models are at least $300 provided that you also subscribed to the pricey (typically $60+/mo) wireless broadband service of either AT&T or Verizon.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The nation’s leading wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless, has announced that starting June 19th they will begin offering the Blackbery Pearl Flip 8230. The only flip style Blackberry RIM makes, the device is 3G capable and sports a 2 megapixel camera with flash.  The device features Blackerry’s SureType text entry system and a micro SD slot for added memory. The 8230 is slated to sell for $129.99, after a $70 rebate.   The price requires a new 2 year service agreement. You can see the full specifications for the Blackberry Pearl Flip 8230 here. You can read the press release for the release of the 8230 here Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Looking to hear every detail as you strive for Independence in Empire: Total War or struggle for survival together with teammates in Left4Dead? Able Planet is here to help. They have introduced their PS500MM True Fidelity Multimedia headphones, which feature high quality audio as well as an integrated microphone so you can issue orders to your squad mates in Call of Duty: World at War while listening to the chaos exploding around you. Take a look at the headset: Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Have an eye out for a new 14.1″ laptop? Well, first of all put your eye back in….then look at this GearSponsor deal HP Pavilion dv4t with 3GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, free shipping and Vista Premium. Colors are either Espresso Black, or Moonlight White. Use coupon code NB4878 to get the price down to $649 which is a $150 instant discount. Expires 6/4/09. After having taken more airline trips in the last six months than I should – let me say that the guy in front of you absolutely will recline his seat (and bald head ) to your chin – making a smaller 14.1″ laptop screen not a nice to have but a must have. LogicBuy Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It’s arguably the toughest requirement one faces when signing up for new cell phone service.  The 2 year contract.  You sign on the dotted line and you’re locked in to your new service provider for 730 days. In a somewhat retro move, Alltel wireless has just announced that as of June 5th they plan to replace their standard 2 year contract requirement with a 1 year only required commitment. That’s not even the best part of the announcement though.  Even though you’ll only have to sign a one year agreement, Alltel plans to still offer their line up of cellular handsets at the 2 year contract discount price. This change will surely offer… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

No, the picture above is not an iPhone rather it’s the Palm Pre which Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal just reviewed. And in his review posted on WSJ.COM late last night, reviewer and legendary technology columnist Walt Mossberg all but confirms a new iPhone with “lots of added features” will be announced at next week’s Apple event. While this it’s hardly shocking that a new iPhone will be announced, this is the first time that anyone who “most likely probably” has access to early devices seems to confirm such a launch. WSJ Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Once again Gear Diary gets to celebrate two team member’s virtual birthday parties in a row; for you see today is not only the day that Russell Brand, Freddy Fender, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Angelina Jolie, and Julie Strietelmeier were born, it is also  Christopher Gavula‘s special day! Please join me in wishing Christopher a very Happy Birthday! Continue reading on Gear Diary …