One of the things I most like to do when lazing by the pool is rotate like a chicken on a spit. How else am I going to get some color on my otherwise pasty white blogger’s skin? Of course I always bring along reading material to help pass my time spent cooking, but I’ve never been able to figure out a comfortable way to read while lying on my tummy. The Ostrich 3 in 1 is a solution which appears to have borrowed a key design element from a masseuse’s table; the end result is a brilliant lounge chair that allows you to comfortably tan your back. The chair features “5 back positions, a 3-position foot rest, hardwood arms with carry handle, cup holder, and shoulder carry… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Comfortwipe is not only a $19 toilet paper extender for people who can’t reach behind themselves to take care of business – it’s also perhaps the perfect ex-spouse gift. And to think the commercial say’s this is the biggest improvement to toilet paper since the 1880′s. Yuk.. I wish I could say this was a joke… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It seems like it has been around forever yet it has been a mere 5 years since Gmail hit the scene.  Today the Official Google Blog announced that Google Apps have finally been relieved of the Beta tag! I love Gmail. For me, Gmail hasn’t needed the beta moniker for quite some time. It’s my only mail client for all my personal accounts and makes managing the flood of mail I get on a daily basis so much easier.   I applaud Google for making this milestone even if it took them a while.  Thank you Google! Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Yes, I’m showing you the backside, but that’s the part that sets the Oregon Scientific +ECO Clima Control apart from the droves of other personal weather stations. You can use the solar powered +ECO Clima Control to “monitor the current temperature and humidity in up to four locations within the home and outdoors, using remote wireless temperature and humidity sensors.” The +ECO Clima Control’s rechargeable battery will operate for up to three months on an 8-hour charge, and other features include: * Future weather forecast with graphical icons: Sunny, Partly Cloudy, Cloudy, Rainy and Snowy * Radio-controlled clock and calendar (that’s the fancy way of saying it’s an atomic clock) * LED backlight and mold alert alarm Mold alert alarm? Really?! How exactly does that work?… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Today seems to be the day for projects to finally come out of beta testing!  Although it’s been in testing for ever and ever, VLC 1.0.0, the open-source video framework/player is finally out! The cross-platform video player supports more formats and codecs than ever before, including some new HD codecs. If you have never checked it out before, now would be a good time to take a look.  Oh, and by the way, it’s still free! Check it out at the VideoLAN Project website Continue reading on Gear Diary …

In any language you use, the App Store is a hit. Just a year after it first went live the iTunes App Store continues to transform mobile computing. Now no device can be taken seriously if it doesn’t have an Application Store. Now “There’s An App For That” is fully part of the lexicon. Now we continue to spend $.99 here and $1.99 there only to be shocked at just how many apps we have bought at the end of the month. Yes, despite all the crApp in the App Store, regardless of Apple’s continuing issues with the approval process and even with the on-going whimsical rejections decisions, we all see that in just one year the App Store has taken its place in the technology history books. So as the App Store turns one, we want to know…… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

From the developer: Flex your brain muscles in this challenging test of IQ games and puzzles. Take on over 20 different brain benders that test your perception, memory, and auditory skills. Challenging or frustrating? You decide as you prove your mental prowess. Easy to pick up and with a smooth climb in difficulty over 5 challenging levels, Mind Games 2 offers hours of compelling gameplay. See if you have what it takes to reach “Genius” level. Mind Games 2 is not just a fun game – it’s a daily workout for the brain. Feel virtuous as you play.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Apparently Apple didn’t get the memo that we are in the midst of the most challenging recession in a generation. How else can you explain the fact that the iPhone 3GS gave AT&T its best day EVER? Apple sold more than a million units during its first weekend even though the phone was only released in eight countries! And as if that weren’t enough there’s this…… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

If there’s one thing that bugs me about the iPhone it’s the lack of proper notifications for new e-mail messages.  Sure you get a little sound clip or a quick vibration when a new message arrives but that’s about it.  If you happen to miss the alert you have to actually wake the phone up and slide the unlock slider to check your mail icon for any new badge alerts.  Why there’s no default alert for mail like there is for text messages (you get a brief look at the subject/sender on the lock screen with SMS messages) I don’t know. However, thankfully Prowl seeks to solve that annoying issue.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

… and it is STILL free! According to a post on the Ilium Software blog, the company has made some minor tweaks and bug fixes and added a new icon to the utility. I have used this since it originally came out, and all of the screens I have posted here at Gear Diary come from it, and I have successfully tried the new version without the issue noted in the comment on the Ilium web site. Download the utility here. Source: Ilium Software via PocketPCThoughts Continue reading on Gear Diary …

My fingers are crossed that this 99 cent application from Tiverias will be approved for the iPhone App Store. The program does little except issue push notifications (Techcrunch say’s they appear within 30 seconds) to let you know you have a new Gmail email message. The lack of push Gmail on the iPhone is one of my biggest pet peeves about the device. Other phones like the Palm Pre and BlackBerry have no problems supporting Gmail push. Let’s hope that Apple approves this application (expected to cost .99) soon so iPhone users can put the lack of Gmail push email behind us. More Continue reading on Gear Diary …

In the market for a 2.47 lb laptop? Try this Lenovo ThinkPad X200 for size. With a 12.1″ WXGA + LED widescreen it offers several options including up to 4GB DDR 3, a 64GB SSD and next generation ThinkPad Roll cage chassis. This GearSponsor deal is on sale now for $411 instant discount plus stack on a coupon code good for 15% savings and “out the door” configuration could cost as little as $1,070. Coupon expires on 7/13/09. ThinkPad X200 Continue reading on Gear Diary …

While away on vacation I’ve been watching the series Sanctuary thanks to Netflix streaming and my Roku box. It’s a scifi show that, once you suspend your belief system (and a good portion of your intellect ) is rather fun. Along the way they have made one major tech goof, but later redeemed themselves more than a bit. Last night the show almost lost me when one character ended a cell phone call on a bridge. The problem was… she was using an iPod Touch. Note to the show’s technical advisors– iPod Touch’s are great for calls but only when you have wifi and a headset for voip. On a bridge holding the device to your ear… not so much. Tonight they redeemed themselves when they showed EXCELLENT taste in computers.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

If you’ve got a Sam’s Club membership, then you already know about the deals that can be had if you’re willing to buy in bulk.  Members also know that they can’t walk into one anymore without being dazzled by a display of nicely priced big screen TVs and computers. Kevin and I bought our 55″ Vizio there for a steal, and you never know what other deals you’ll find when you visit one. Now Sam’s has found a way to save its members even more money; they have started an internet auction site “enabled by eBay technology” where members can bid upon a mishmash of items – everything from a SmartyKat Jumbo Scratch Roll to the 50″ Philips TV pictured above.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

When we did the Kindle2 review, one of the few things that Dan, Doug and Kerry griped about was the device’s pasty white front. I didn’t really mind the slightly off-white color, but when I purchased the Kindle DX I decided it needed a bit of personalization. Since I don’t yet have a case for the oversized ereader, I thought it would be fun to give it dash of protective color; I purchased a DecalGirl skin.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …