SPB Software makes quite a few great apps for Windows Mobile, including SPB Mobile Shell and SBP Pocket Plus, two of my favorites.  Their latest release is an updated and renamed version of their news reader, now known as SPB News 2.0, but formerly known as SPB Insight.  SPB News features several new features and is a free update for users of SPB Insight 1.x. The new features in SPB News include a new touch-oriented user interface, left/right gestures for quick switching between article, automatic/scheduled updates, and smart scrolling in article, in addition to bug fixes and stability/performance improvements. SPB News 2.0 works with Windows Mobile 5 and above. It is available for $19.95… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

For whatever reason none of the big names in Twitter clients have released their updated versions that support push notification for Twitter. However, several solutions have emerged over the past few weeks to solve this issue. I recently took at look at Boxcar which is an add on to your existing Twitter client to enable push and then I looked at TwitBit which was the first full fledged Twitter client for the iPhone to support push. Now comes Simply Tweet, from Motion Obj, which has thrown its hat into the ring of new full Twitter clients with push notification for the iPhone.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

These halloween costumes inflate and can be worn by anyone ranging in size from 4.5′ to 6′ tall. Imagine the stares of the PTO moms as you guide your kids through the elementary school hallways riding your inflatable horsey or bull. These cool costumes will surely impress and drive your kids straight over to the neighbors who they’ll beg to take them trick or treating instead of you. Inflatable Bull and Horse costume – $32.80 – $41.01… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I must admit that it’s been a while since I’ve been microwave oven shopping. The last time I bought a tabletop Microwave I seem to remember a mid to high $100 price range. That’s why this $29 (normally $59) price for a name brand GE Microwave seems like such a good deal. This is only a 700W oven but it will probably do the trick for college dorms. After all does anyone use these things for much more than popcorn and leftover warmups? Save yourself the shipping fees and stop by your local store to pick one up (check inventory availability online at the Lowes site). Lowes via SD Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Think that image looks sweet? Wait until you read the specs! According to the press release “MAINGEAR Computers, award-winning builders of high performance custom computers for PC gamers and enthusiasts, is proud to announce the world’s most powerful desktop replacement notebook, the eX-L 18. Featuring dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M graphics processing units (GPUs) with NVIDIA SLI technology, the eX-L 18 brings your games and multimedia to life with brilliant 3D graphics and movies in 1080p HD resolution. With powerful Intel Core 2 mobile processors, eX-L 18 delivers breakthrough multi-core performance and dual-channel DDR3 memory.” … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’ma huge fan of the iPhone’s touchscreen keyboard. It works well for me and, in fact, I prefer it over a physical keyboard. For others, however, tapping way at the screen may not be the preferred mode of data entry. One of the options for alternative text input comes from a company that is familiar to anyone who has ever used a tabletpc or Windows Mobile device. PhatWare has brought their handwriting recognition to OS iPhone in a big way and, just today, annouonced a new WritePad Professional Edition. The new product not only combines three previous apps, WritePad Affairs, WritePad Notes, and WritePad Events, into a single app that allows you to input text by writing on the screen but it also allows you to take and save voicenotes. WritePad Professional Edition is just $9.99 and is available HERE. The full release after the jump. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Earlier today, and at Larry’s suggestion (he kept telling me about these awesome apps!) I jailbroke my iPhone 3GS. With him walking me through the process, it was nothing short of simple! The first jailbreak app I loaded, “Categories”, came HIGHLY recommended. It lets you create folders of organized app icons. The result is a far more organized iPhone home screen and the ability to launch apps in a far more finger-friendly manner than scrolling through 8 different screens usually requires. As I organized the folders I was a bit surprised which folder had the most apps… that folder… “Camera”. Fact is, there are a host of apps that take the iPhone’s camera to new heights. Here are some of Larry’s and my favorites. Auto Stitch Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The Split Stick USB drive is the sixth product to be developed by Quirky, the online community where users get to submit ideas for products and each week Quirky gets together to select one idea for development. Here’s how Quirky works.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Photo courtesy of Ontario Library Association Recently I reviewed the Dakim Brain System for senior citizens; but what if you (or your loved ones) cannot afford the monthly costs or the high up-front cost? There are a few ways to make a regular PC seem friendlier, and I know from my experiences helping my grandmother that while they may be goofy, they do help, and that’s what matters.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Patrick, from Just Another iPhone blog, sent along a link to his review of the Real Miracles Application for the iPhone OS. We all know the iTunes App Store is jammed packed full of applications.  Some are plain fun, others help us be more productive. There aren’t many that when used actually help someone else. This is one of those rare apps. No the app doesn’t feature a game, or some funny, cute character.  What it does is simply make it easy to donate to a good cause – the Children’s Miracle Network, which is a non-profit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals. Head over the Just Another iPhone Blog to… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I recently started a series on how products change over the years. Based on this next post perhaps it’s time to do an article on the Rubik’s cube. This weekend TV retailer QVC will be premiering the The Rubik’s Touch Cube.  The puzzle will be available for order for the very first time during the channel’s “Christmas In July” segment. Fans of the iconic Rubik’s Cube will now be able to experience the new game play of the Rubik’s TouchCube’s touch sensor technology. Want  to be one of the first gamer’s to own one of these hi-tech toys? Head to the Rubik’s Touch Cube home page for more details… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

In the market for a desktop computer system? How about a 750 GB HP Pavilion Elite e9180t with a Core i7-920 2.66 GHZ; big 22″ HDMI LCD Monitor; 8GB DDR3 RAM; DVD+/-RW; Vista 64-bit and 15-in-1 Card Reader. Gearsponsor Logicbuy offers up a 200 use coupon that scores $150 off the base normal price (and it stacks on top of any existing discounts that you’re able to wrangle). HP Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Since launch, purchasing a Palm Pre has only been possible by venturing into a Sprint store or visiting any of the various retail outlets (Best Buy, Radio Shack, Walmart) that carry the phone. Looks as if buying a Pre is now a little easier. Just this morning I’ve noticed that the Palm Pre is available for orders (both new and upgrade) directly on the Sprint web site. Previously Sprint had offered the phone via telesales but it had not been available for online ordering. The price is still $299.99 (2-yr contract) less a $100 mail-in rebate. Sprint Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Want to pump up the volume? Check out the new vertical Hi-Fi system iLuv has just shown off. The iMM9400 is being touted as a modern looking audio system and supports playing music from the  iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPhone and iPod via the universal iPhone/iPod dock adapters or it’ll play MP3 and WMA file via the built in SD card slot and USB port. Some of the iMM9400′s other features include:  AM/Radio with 40 programable presets, 4 CD player, iPhone friendly remote control, wall mounting kit and many more. The iMM9400 will be available in August 2009 at the… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Mosiaca is an iPhone application that lets you take panoramic like images on your iPhone and then upload them to the web where they can be shared with your friends and family. The finished images, called Mosaics are created by taking several pictures in a sequence and then overlapping them to create an interactive panoramic style image. How does Mosiaca stack up against the other photography apps of its type I’ve tried? Click through to find out.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …