By now most everyone is aware that Apple pulled two apps that make using the iPhone with Google Voice awesome. GV Dialer and VoiceCentral are no more. (If you already own them they WILL continue to work… make a backup of your copy!) It is the latest round of idiocy in the on-going attempt by Apple and AT&T to maximize profits by keeping competition as far away as possible. It will, ultimately, blow up in both their faces.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Like many (or most) of you reading this I get a ton of information from my RSS feeds. Since I use a notebook and a desktop, an iPhone and an iPod touch I don’t just need a decent RSS reader… I need a SYSTEM. I need something that allows me to use them all interchangeably with one device able to update the information on ALL the devices. Until now, however, there didn’t seem to be the right system. I’m happy to say that all that changed last week when I started to use EventBox.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Take $20 off this OEM AT&T iPhone / iPhone 3G / 3GS car charger. Not only does it have a connector for charging your iPhone (any model) but there’s also a USB jack for an additional cable which allows you to charge a second USB device at the same time. Price is $9.99 plus $5.99 shipping at Newegg. AT&T USB Car Charger Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I follow Joe Born(@joeborn) and Neuros Technology(@neurostech) on twitter and I read his blog and generally love Neuros Technology as a company.  They stand behind their products.  They also run open source software on their devices and have quite a community behind their products.  I also own a OSD and one of their original products, a MP3 player.  I still use both on a regular basis.  Well, imagine my excitement seeing Joe’s tweet regarding the OSD 3: “..it’s probably two years off, but this time Texas Instruments is involved early: discussion of the OSD3: http://bit.ly/Qt5sl” Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Yesterday Apple removed both GV Mobile and VoiceCentral from the App Store. These two applications work on the iPhone to make using the free Google Voice service easier. Both programs allow users to seamlessly place and receive calls via Google Voice. They accomplish this in a way that makes your outgoing calls appear to come from your Google Voice account. In addition users were able to send and receive SMS text messages through Google Voice while avoiding the need to purchase a messaging package from AT&T. According to several online reports, Apple removed the application because it duplicated existing functionality. The GV Mobile application had been available since April 24, 2009 which seems to lend credibility to some theories that AT&T’s… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

This morning I was reading about Amanda Bonnen. She’s a Twitter user who sent a tweet on May 12 from her public Twitter account that in part stated her management company, Horizon Realty, “thinks it’s okay” to sleep in a moldy apartment. She was subsequently sued for defamation over her message. Assuming that this suit both goes forward and is successful – could this bring an end to the freewheeling atmosphere of Twitter where just writing anything seems fair game? This could be a much bigger issue than it seems. Just think of how many times we let loose with a Twitter message berating a company for poor customer service. Would Twitter enjoy the popularity that it now experiences if users became concerned… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

What’s better than a bundle of Mac applications at a tremendously reduced price? One application for free just for signing up to get notifications on the deal! That’s right, the MacBundleBox is getting ready to launch their next bundle. Better still, if you sign up to get updates from them you’ll get a copy of Koingo software’s $19.95 Amnesia for free. Amnesia is a great way to not only uninstall applications completely but to take a snapshot of the application’s setup before you do just in case you need to reinstall. The… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

We looked at the Latosta light laptop stand back in February and pronounced it “a steal” at only $9.95. This simple stand props up the back of your laptop so that cooler air can flow under the chassis and reach air vents that might be otherwise obstructed. The folks at LaTosta just sent us an email to say that their stands are still the same $9.95 but now available in multiple colors to match your laptop. New colors include: Black, Blue, Gold, Green, Rust, Pink, Purple and Cranberry. LaTosta Light Laptop Stand Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Are you constantly swapping SIM cards between your iPhone 3G/3GS and another GSM based phone? The iPhone has an opening for your card at the top of the phone though removing it requires a special tool. If you lose the tool then you’ve virtually no chance of removing the SIM. Instead consider this $2.99 SIM Eject Tool that also has a rubber tip to make it easy to store the eject tool in your iPhone 3G/3GS headphone jack so that it’s not easily lost. Compatible with the iPhone 3G/3GS — there is an iPhone only model available here. SIM Eject Tool for iPhone 3G/3GS – $2.99 Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Today is a pretty cool day for Windows Mobile developers. Today Microsoft has begun accepting submissions to the all new Windows Marketplace! Starting today, registered developers and ISVs can upload their application, game or widget to the platform and Microsoft will begin the certification process of them according to their published process, policies and guidelines. They are certifying applications on a First In, First Out basis. The certification process takes about 10 business days but you can always check the status of your application online. If for some reason your application does not get certified you will get a detailed explanation of why so you can try it again. The good news is that Microsoft has published all of the guidelines and policies as well as the tool set… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The hallmark of a great ‘casual’ game is that it takes elements from existing game types, wraps them around a new or innovative gameplay twist, and turns it all into something that feels fresh. It is how games like Plants vs. Zombies or Puzzle Quest take the existing gameplay from the Tower Defense and Match 3 genres respectively and turn them into engaging and addictive games that feel completely original. Today I look at another game that looks to join ranks with those by taking a fresh approach to another well-worn genre: platform games as re-imagined by developer Jonathon Blow in the game Braid. Braid originally came out for XBOX Live Arcade in August of last year, and was released for the PC in mid-April and the Mac at the beginning of June. The occasion of the Mac release finally pushed me to grab a copy!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Amazon has the 60 minute Flip Mino recorder on sale for only $129. This represents a savings of about $30 over the normal price. Included is an AC charger, 2GB of on-board memory, 2x digital zoom and USB connecting arm for easy upload of video. While the iPhone 3GS has grabbed the spotlight with its new mobile video capabilities I still find occasions where I prefer to use a standalone video camera such as when I’m at the beach or having other people use the camera. Need more capacity? The 120 min version is only $50 more. Flip via Gearsponsor Logicbuy Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It’s inevitable…you’re sitting on your couch, relaxing with your tivo and your xbox…when you realize you need to <gasp> go outside! But what is the weather like? How will you know whether to wear your crocs or your docs? You could get up and go outside, but that takes effort. Luckily for you, Epocware has the excellent utility Handy Weather so you can check the weather from your Symbian phone before you have to leave the couch.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have been a fan of Agent18′s cases since first reviewing one for JAMM last summer. I find them to be well designed and stylish. I also love the fact that they use post-consumer plastic bottles and recycled paper in producing and packaging their products. Agent 18 recently came out with a new series of cases that fit the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Each of the new cases includes both a screen film AND a simple, but functional, table stand. (Note to iPhone accessory companies… ALL cases should include both of these!) Let’s take a look at some of the new cases…… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

RIM today announced the BlackBerry 8520 which is yet another variation on the BlackBerry form factor. This device will be the first to replace the trackball with a touchpad. Instead of having to constantly wipe the trackball on your pants to clean it – you’ll now be able to swipe a finger across a touch pad. While this seems like a step up – I’m puzzled that the camera is only 2 MP. This device is a low end BlackBerry that’s expected to be free on certain carriers. Just in case you’re not aware – better more full featured BlackBerry devices like this just release BlackBerry Tour on Verizon sport a 3.2 MP camera (a must have) and can be had online… Continue reading on Gear Diary …