Need a new iPhone or iPod case for back to school?  Or maybe a bag for your laptop? This weekend only you can save 30% off your order at the Agent 18 web site. Agent 18 makes some really fun and high quality accessories for the iPhone and iPod. We’ve reviewed quite a few of them here at Gear Diary and they’ve always done well. Use the coupon “SchoolDays” at checkout and you’ll get 30% off everything you purchase. Sale ends 8/31 so act now… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

There’s a new version of the BlackBerry Storm rumored for October 2009 but if having the latest and greatest model is less important than saving some money then hop into Amazonwireless because they’re now featuring the BlackBerry Storm for free with a new 2 year service agreement. Amazon Wireless Continue reading on Gear Diary …

There are quite a few iPhone application review sites available one the web.  These sites usually focus on the “hot” applications, the popular ones from the big name developers. What about those strange applications that are sometimes unseen by the average iPhone user? We’ve all scratched our heads at one time or another at the various “odd” applications which make their way into the iTunes App Store. Dan and I even made a video about a few of them and posted it here. Krapps takes it a whole lot further. Krapps.com is a web site dedicated not to the insanely popular iPhone apps but rather those odd ball… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

A few of us here on Gear Diary have jailbroken our iPhones.  I’ve personally always had my iPhone jailbroken and can not imagine using the phone any other way. Lost in all the hype around the release of Apple’s new operating system Snow Leopard yesterday was the iPhone Dev’s Team jailbreaking tool code named “Redsn0w” and whether or not it would be compatible with the new OS. Good news is, it indeed is.  The Dev Team released the following statement on their blog. Snow Leopard, the OS released for Mac on Friday, poses no new wrinkles for the redsn0w jailbreak or ultrsn0w unlock. We’re glad to see Apple joining in on the “snow” theme Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The Xbox 360 has recently received a round of pricing cuts from various retailers. There are now several ways to save from $30 to $100 on your Xbox 360 purchase depending upon where you shop. Here’s a wrap-up of the various sites that our GearSponsor Logicbuy has noticed offering deals on the Xbox: Amazon XBOX 360 Pro 60GB + FREE Game of your choice $300 $250 XBOX 360 Elite 120GB (Fall 2009) + Live Gold card $400 $300 XBOX 360 Elite 120GB + Halo 3/Fable 2 $400 $300 XBOX 360 Elite 120GB (Holiday 08) + 2 games $400 $300 XBOX 360 Arcade + 5 Arcade games $200 $170 Dell Home with 15% Coupon & Price drop XBOX 360 Elite 120GB $299.99 $255 XBOX 360 Pro 60GB $249.99 $212.49 More Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Early this week I told you about the first “Cash for Clunkers” copy cat program which toy retailer Toys R Us would be rolling out. The Cash for Clunkers program allows consumers to trade in their old beat up car, or in the case of Toys R Us, their baby products, in exchange for a credit or discount towards the purchase of a new one. Now it seems the federal government has its own copy cat Cash for Clunkers program in the works. Word is the government has about 300 million dollars ear marked for a Cash for Clunkers program dedicated for home appliances. They key is the consumer… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m still blown away by the current version of Yelp’s iPhone app and its mystical, magical Augmented Reality easter egg. For those playing along at home, Augmented Reality is the killer feature that lets a device overlay real-time data so that, for instance, my iPhone’s GPS would locate me and the app would show me every coffee shop in the area. Augmented Reality wasn’t supposed to hit the iPhone until OS 3.1 was released but those tricky Yelp-sters snuck it in any how. Thanks to them it is there for the taking… just shake your iPhone 3 times (HARD) and the new functionality, called Monocle, gives you a whole new pespective on your surroundings. Well, there is an interesting read over over on TechCrunch in which guest writer Matt Galligan questions whether Yelp sneaking the easter egg in will backfire and lead Apple tighten up (and slow down) their app review process further still. He makes a good thoughtful argument. Maybe he is right but I can’t help but wonder if Apple didn’t bring this on themselves. … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Larry and I have both had the opportunity to try out an early release of ShapeServices’ upcoming update to iPhone messaging app IM+. The biggest feature in the next version? The ability to have voice messages transcribed for you within the app itself, for just $.99 a month. It is a neat trick and a taste of things to come. Let’s take a look… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Want a case for your iPhone 3G or 3GS that’s truly your own? Watch this un-boxing video for a peek at what I’ll be reviewing soon. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Buying a laptop case has always been a challenge for a very simple reason: very few laptops share the same external dimensions. This is a problem that goes back to my first two portables – the Compaq LTE and Mac Portable, which were vastly different in size and configuration. As a result, many of us who have depended on laptops for years have an odd collection of ill-fitting bags scattered in our storage areas. Some were included with laptops, others we bought to fit whatever laptop seemed like it would be the center of our lives for years to some. Some bags – specifically backpack and messenger bags – can serve a variety of uses, but when dealing with smaller laptops, having the perfect fit and the smallest footprint possible is critical. Casecrown looks to serve the newest class of portables – netbooks – with perfect fit bags that look great, provide the best possible protection and also the smallest size.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Newsy has a report posted offering different perspectives on Google Voice v. Apple. I understand that it is not cut and dry, and that it is a complex issue; but it is one that I suspect Apple will ultimately lose. My biggest issue these days is Apple approving an app and then either removing or changing it AFTER people have bought it. If they are going to do that, then they should have a system to AUTOMATICALLY reimburse people who bought it in good faith. Who is in the right? Who is in the wrong? Who will win in the end? What do you think?… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Today is day seventeen of HP and Microsoft’s ‘Back to School and Better Together’ Giveaway, which means that Studenomics will begin theirs. Up for grabs is a computer combo containing an HP dv6, an HP Mini 110 and Syncables software – which allows you to keep the larger laptop at home but carry the smaller netbook (synced and carrying all of your data!) when on the go. The Winner will also get a customized Studenomics Timbuk2 bag to carry their loot! … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’ve never been able to solve those damned Rubik’s Cube puzzles. Seems that every time I’ve tried there’s some smartass looking over my shoulder saying “here let me have a try”. Then in under 2 minutes they have the whole puzzle solved. Next time I’m presented with this request I’m handing over this Triple Conjoined Magic IQ Cube. It’s three times the fun and should slow down Mr or Mrs Smarty Pants and their show off cube solving skills. Triple Conjoined Magic IQ Cube – $16.33… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

My good friend and blogging buddy Mike Temporale has got a really good review of the AT&T Samsung Jack over at Mobile Jaw that you really need to take a look at.  The Samsung Jack was originally thought to be called the Blackjack 3, before it was officially announced and released on AT&T, here in the States. Says Brother Temporale in his review: It may not be called BlackJack, but the new Samsung Jack is the third release in the popular BlackJack series of smartphones. The original BlackJack and BlackJack II devices both reached the million plus sales mark.  Can Samsung repeat that success with this new phone? If first impressions are any indication, then the new Jack should easily live Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It’s Back To School Time! That means one thing – Back To School Shopping. But not everyone is made of money or has older kids that need all the top of the line stuff that Time Magazine seems to think is needed in their Back to School Tech List for Wealthy Spoiled Students. Those of us with younger kids know that the one annual essential item is a backpack. Honestly I don’t know how my kids aren’t both walking like hunchbacks with all the papers, books and bottles of water they pack into theirs. The ugly secret of backpacks is they’re usually only good for one season (I’ve found this true even with the expensive LL Bean models). So… Continue reading on Gear Diary …