The dog days of summer are upon us.  School has started up, the work grind continues to well, grind along, and the tech news keeps a coming at a frantic pace.    Last week saw quite a bit of action.  Microsoft announced a curious mobile strategy -  Windows Mobile 6.5 will compete with Android, while Windows Mobile 7 will go head to head with the iPhone.  Given the direction and fragmentation of the platform, some wonder whether Windows Mobile could soon be  dead if there are not significant improvements — and fast. RIM shifted into gear with a webstore front for their BlackBerry App World,  an enhanced Google Mail Plugin, and a Google Apps Connector for their BlackBerry Enterprise Servers.   There was plenty of App goodness for iPhone lovers:  Qik was updated to allow 3G uploading (but, alas, still missing live streaming);  Judie showed us that you can still get the fun and instant gratification of a Poloroid with your iPhone; and Christopher Gavula hit the road to see whether Navigon’s GPS application would reign supreme. But, that’s not all.  Take a look at some of last week’s highlights to see what the Gear Diary team’s been up to…… Continue reading on [...]

Last week the ‘net was hopping (and joking) about the news that RIM was talking up a web browser that would be able to handle full Flash and Silverlight.  I mean, seriously, when your device locks up due to java  memory leaks multitasking when running your current apps, the news came across as, well, a someday-maybe wishful thinking announcement.   Who wants to use Flash or Silverlight if it is going to cause your phone to reboot? Today, with the official announcement that RIM has acquired Torch Mobile, things just got a little bit clearer as to the  direction the boys in Waterloo, Canada want to take with BlackBerry. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

In the market for an ultra light laptop? This Lenovo ThinkPad X301 may be what you’re looking for. With a $687 instant discount plus a 20% stackable coupon, free 128GB SSD upgrade the deal is tough to beat. According to GearSponsor Logicbuy – the laptop features 13.3 inch display, light 3 pound frame and skinny 1 inch width. Shipping is free and the free upgrade also scores you a 6-cell battery. Use coupon code USPTHINKSAVINGS at checkout (stated expiration is 8/24/09). ThinkPad X301 – $1,583 Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Today is day thirteen of HP and Microsoft’s ‘Back to School and Better Together’ Giveaway, which means that Green Panda Treehouse 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 Green Panda Treehouse Timbuk2 bag to carry their loot! … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The iPhone has continually proven it’s worth as a game platform. Many games ported from other platforms have done well while the iPhone interface has given a rise to totally new ideas. Some of these ideas are so inventive, putting the game down becomes next to impossible! Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor is imaginative, beautiful and addictive!! Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Flip, the company which makes those tiny little point and shoot video cameras, is running a back to school special. Order any Flip camera from the Flip web site from now until August 30th, and you can save $10 and get free shipping by using the promo code:  FLIP10. The promotion says the Flip camera’s are perfect for class, sharing and fun.  I agree with the sharing and fun part but am not convinced your teachers would want you using them in the middle of class. Flip has really been slashing prices lately.  Just a few days ago Dan posted on the 60 minute… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Here’s an interesting bit of news. Apparently Nokia is slated to unveil a wirelessly connected 2.7 lb mini-laptop. This Atom processor based computer will sport a 10.1-inch display as well as integrated 3G wireless and a hot-swappable SIM card. Early reports are that it will have Windows 7, integrated A-GPS (assisted GPS) and a copy of Ovi Maps, HDMI video output, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a claimed 12 hour battery life. No word yet on whether applications for this mini-laptop will have to be submitted to App store committee or if you’ll be able to load them directly to the device (that was a joke). Nokia via Engadget Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The Apple Store is down as of 7:30 am EST. Could this mark an early release of the Mac OS X Snow Leopard upgrade (officially due September 2009 but possibly shipping earlier)? Hard to say why they’d need to take down the store just to load the Snow Leopard SKU into an active database. The product itself has had an Apple product page for some time already. It’s fun to speculate on these things and wouldn’t it be exciting if there was the sudden appearance of a new tablet or two instead of a relatively mundane OS update? UPDATE: Site is back up and as expected the addition was a pre-order for Snow Leopard at $29 with delivery on… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m a big fan of NBC’s Chris Matthews Show. I catch HardBall on MSNBC during the week whenever possible and I TiVo The Chris Matthews Show on Sunday. I’m home doing some writing today so I got to watch the live broadcast just now. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the future of the news and the way in which electronic media will play a role. A few notes I took during the program. (Taken on my iPhone, by the way!) San Francisco and Boston may soon be without their own daily paper, and others are in a continuing free fall. There is plenty of news available on the net, but it comes with its own pitfalls. First, there is the question of fact-checking. Just because it is on the net it doesn’t mean it is true. (Duh!) The problem is, to have real reporters and real editors who take the time to fact-check requires paid employees. Are we so used to getting our news media for free on the net that we simply won’t buy it?… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Ever since I graduated from college with a degree in Journalism, I have tried to keep track of which newspapers have the best writing.  Consistently near the top of that list has been The New York Times (for the record, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, CNN, and the AP Newswire round out my personal top five).  So, I was pretty excited to find the New York Times app on my Palm Pre.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Today is day twelve of HP and Microsoft’s ‘Back to School and Better Together’ Giveaway, which means that OSNN 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 OSNN Timbuk2 bag to carry their loot! … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It’s me, your friendly neighborhood convergence guy back again.  When I saw the press release for the XPower1 come across the wire I jumped at it, because, well you know, I love convergence. The XPower1 is a charge and sync cable for your iPod or iPhone which includes an integrated rechargeable 2500mA Lithium-ion battery. When you’re near your computer or an electrical outlet simply plug the XPower1 in and use it to both charge and sync your device.  While you’re doing so it’ll also juice up the built in battery so when you’re away from a power source it’ll be fueled up and ready to recharge. The built in battery promises an additional 4.5… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Welcome back to the GearGames weekly video game release feature here at Gear Diary! If you own a console … or a DS … or a PSP … prepare to be exhausted this week, as we are really starting to gear up towards the fall with some bigger releases, this week getting the hotly anticipated Batman: Arkham Asylum from developer RockSteady on the PS3 & XBOX360. The reviews so fair are nothing short of stellar, with some already declaring this a clear entry in the race for ‘Game of the Year’ for 2009!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Kuyi Mobile, a newly established Philippines-based independent game development company, recently released their flagship game, Card Drop. This new game, Card Drop, offers something different from all other card games. Besides trying to win like a regular card game, you would want to gain as many points as possible by building a tall stack of cards or by having lots of combos! Check out the press release for full details:… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Remember, “Where In The World is Carmen San Diego?” Well there is a new game coming to an iPhone near you — it’s called “Where In The World Is Judie Sandiego?“. In order to play you need an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS and the application “Hey Where Are You?” Then you need a weekend when Judie and Kevin are on the way home from an out-of-town wedding. (No, don’t get all excited, they didn’t get hitched — not yet anyhow… but Judie’s daughter  did! (Congratulations  Judie!) Once you’ve got the requirements lined up- the iPhone, the app and the travelers- this is how you play…… Continue reading on Gear Diary …