Lets face it, wires are often inconvenient. They look bad, can be a pain and,  at times, are more trouble then they are worth. Even still, at times it is nice to be able to connect your notebook or handheld device to external speakers with more punch and better sound.

That’s where Bluetooth comes in. As more and more mainstream devices adopt bluetooth technology the playing field for device accessories is changing. And one of the best uses of Bluetooth? Wireless speakers!

Wireless speakers are a great option with laptops and other bluetooth-enabled devices. They let you cut the cord without cutting the sound. Creative has a new offering in this area and they look good!

Their new Inspire S2 Wireless Speaker System is currently out in the UK and, hopefully, will be on the way to this side of the pond. If they do… I want!

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My wife will tell you that I forget absolutely everything! But she’s my wife so she’s allowed to exaggerate, and the truth is I do forget stuff…as I am sure many of you do too!  I have gotten a little better now that I have my BlackBerry and the calendar and Notes apps, but creating calendars is very tedious and the notes don’t alert me. So what do I do now…BugMe! That’s what. Electric Pocket has just released the BugMe! app for BlackBerry phones, I had the chance to review it over the last week.

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My review of the ioSafe external hard drive was probably the most fun I’ve had here at Gear Diary.  The product’s performance made a lot of us at Gear Diary say “wow.”

Now the company’s CEO has made me say “wow” again.

An August 30th fire near Highway 49 in Auburn California caused ioSafe’s CEO, Rob Moore  to take notice, mostly because his home was very close to it.  63 homes were destroyed in the blaze the covered more than 340 acres, and although Moore’s house, which was just 1/4 mile from the flames, was spared, he and his family were forced to evacuate the area.

Now ioSafe is giving back.  The company which makes the world’s first water and fire resistant external drive has offered to donate a brand new ioSafe drive to each of the victims of the 49 fire.

Moore says “if people can protect themselves before a disaster, this is an easy way to protect things that insurance can’t get back for you.”

You can read more about the company’s plan to help here.

I have used and reviewed a number of different device cases from Otterbox. They are always impressive cases that provide significant protection for delicate electronics. They do exactly what they say and then some. In fact, I have even submerged a device wrapped in one of their Armor cases in a glass of water to test it! I don’t recommend doing it, but when I did the case protected my iPod Nano perfectly!! Yup, Otterbox cases are the best thing going, but (and there’s always a but) they aren’t the most stylish of cases.

Well… they weren’t…

With the company’s new Commuter Cases all that is changing. I have been using the Commuter Case for Blackberry Bold; it provides great protection from bumps and bruises, and it looks good. No really, it looks good!

Let’s take a look…

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Tomorrow is the day … I just got notice that my PSP Go! will be arriving in the morning, and since tomorrow sits right in between my wife’s and my older son’s birthday, it means I can play for a little a bit without being the worst husband/father in the world!

Yet I can’t say I’m overly excited – I have posted several times about the ways Sony have disincentivized buyers repeatedly: high price, no pack-ins, no UMD transfer, and so on. Worse yet, I’ve been playing the PSN download version Gran Turismo PSP, a game that was in development when the original PSP was launched (!), and comparing notes to someone playing the UMD version and there seems to be little boost moving away from the disc-based media in terms of load-speed. And, sadly, while I wasn’t enamored with the game, because I have the PSN version I’m stuck with it forever – a major downside of digital downloads is that they are yours forever!

So what about everyone else?

- Do you plan to buy a PSP Go! ?
- Do you currently own a PSP?
- Were you waiting for the PSP Go! and now decided to get a PSP-3000?

We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions!

And naturally I’ll be back with opinions on the PSP Go! and the new games and features at the PSN Store!

Withings, a company out of France, is now offering the world’s first WiFi scale in the U.S.

The scale is less than 1 inch thick, and features integration with the Withings secure website. Oh, and you can even access the information via an iPhone application. So you can see the effect of all those burritos from the comfort of your iPhone!

The Withings WiFi scale is available at the Withings site or at Amazon.com for $159.00.

So have you gone wireless yet?  In what seems to be a rapidly growing market, Tenqa has entered with their own line of wireless stereo Bluetooth products. They are offering their HP-109 model headphones ($59.99), and 2 different speaker systems – the SP-99 ($79,99) and the SP-109 (89.99).

The devices all have a range of 33 feet. The headphones are utilizing a behind-the-head design to make it easier for people who are exercising/running and includes a build-in mic and supports hands-free calling.

Their systems are compatible with equipment that supports the A2DP Bluetooth profile and you can find them for sale on Amazon.com.

Truphone just launched a brand new version of their Android application, giving it a completely new user interface.  Truphone 2.0 will be a native app on your Android handset, ensuring that it will run significantly faster while providing easier account management.

So what can you do using Truphone?  The main feature is that it lets you take advantage of low-cost VoIP calling.  The application works by making a local GSM call to the Truphone gateway, from where the call is then routed over the Truphone network.   You can also make voice calls to your Skype and Google Talk contacts, and exchange instant messages from MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, Skype, Google Talk, and even Twitter — all within the Android Truphone application.

Keep in mind that operator roaming charges will apply if you are abroad (so to avoid any wireless bill shock, don’t plan on using the Truphone app to call home if you’re travelling overseas ).

The refreshed Truphone 2.0 app is available Free from the Android Market or directly from Truphone.   Truphone applications are also available for Apple iPhone, Apple iPod Touch, Blackberry and Nokia devices.

We are all feeling the financial pinch!    Blue Plate Special is a weekly review of bargain apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Nothing over $.99.

From the developer:

Playing pool is so 2008.

Meet Gene Pool. Your goal is to keep your organism healthy by merging genes of the same color. Merged genes grow in size and will eventually disappear. Only energized cells can merge with other cells. How? By bouncing them up against walls ofcourse!

*Gene Pool is your ideal travel companion.
*Relaxing music. Zen style. Why hurry?
*Win all possible achievements
*Submit and retrieve localized scores
*Uses Weave Connect technology developed by Sticky Studios
*Improve your score with multiple wall-bounces and great accuracy.
*Destroy viruses that attack your largest genes

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I buy a lot of applications. I buy a lot of applications for my Mac. I buy a lot of applications for my iPhone. And now that I’m also using a Windows tablet once again—there are a few applications I need to be purchase for that as well.

I don’t have an issue with paying for an application. I understand that this is how most developers make their living. That creating these apps isn’t a hobby for them, it’s a business; although even if it were a hobby, the developers would still deserve to be paid. I do, however, resent feeling that I’m being taken advantage of, and increasingly that’s the feeling I’m getting.

I’m feeling nickled and dimed when it comes to Mac applications, and I’m feeling nickeled and dimed when it comes to some iPhone applications as well; I don’t like it at all.

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If you are in the market for a new laptop, you should definitely check out the new Toshiba Satellite T100 Series.  This ultra-thin line of laptops measures less than one-inch thick and comes equipped with Windows 7 installed.  These laptops aregeared for anyone who wants full-featured performance, mobility, as well as long-lasting (up to 9 full hours!) battery life.

OK, what about affordability?  The Toshiba Satelite T115 starts at $499.99 MSRP, and the Toshiba Satellite T135 starts at $599.99.  Both models will be available starting October 22nd at major retailers, e-tailers as well as straight from Toshiba via toshibadirect.com.

Check out more photos and the full specs after the jump!

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SPB’s Mobile Shell is one of my favorite Windows Mobile programs and one of the first things that I load on any new device. It’s like a launcher program on steroids, integrating contacts, weather information, and utilities into customizable screens.  SPB just announced the release of their latest version of Mobile Shell, version 3.5.  Among the updates in the new release are:

*–New widgets for tasks, a picture frame, Facebook status, Twitter status, birthdays reminders, four instant wireless switches (WiFi, Bluetooth, Flight Mode, and Phone Switch), internet search, operator’s name, date, and alarm

*–Updated to the contacts, wireless manager, and weather widgets 3D email and SMS viewer

*–Streamlined background change (with cropping and easy to view local gallery)

*–Current weather conditions (in addition to forecast) Improved 3D carousel design (e. g. added reflections)

*–Widget skin selection with preview and new skins for most widgets

*–Widget-based Professional home screen

*–Option to have only one home screen (lifestyle or professional)

*–Option to change the number of screens in lifestyle or professional layouts

*–Weather in Agenda view

*–Tactile feedback on tap-and-hold

*–Option to choose the default tab for Contacts and Launcher

*–Improved design of most dialogs (popup menus, settings, etc.)

*–Category filter in the contact list

*–Improved widget edit mode (widget can be dragged to other pages, recycle bin for easy delete etc.)

*–Color themes support on Windows Mobile 6.5

*–Integration with SPB Weather and SPB Traveler via widgets

*–Improved “Choose Shortcut” dialog box with similar look to SPB Menu

Mobile Shell 3.5 is available at SPB’s website for $29.95 ($14.97 if upgrading from version 2) or you can get it for 15% off at the Gear Diary Store, with the code GDFallTweets.

If you are looking for a new skin or armband for that shiny new iPod Touch, why not get a quality case AND support Breast Cancer Research. Belkin yesterday announced the release of the DualFit and Grip for the Cure!

Maintaining the fight against breast cancer, Belkinintroduces new designs of its pink-ribbon cases for the iPod Touch. For each DualFit and Grip case for iPod Touch sold, Belkin will donate $2.50 to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure (with a minimum guaranteed donation of $100,000).

DualFit for the Cure-$29.99

Grip for the Cure–$29.99

These are an update to the old style and make for a great gift idea for those in the fight or who have beaten this disease. Be sure to check them out, they support a great cause and are very functional. Both will be available mid-October directly from the manufacturers website for $29.99.

Kysoh.com has released the new Tux Droid 2.0.  Tux Droid is essentially a Open Source Nabaztag that looks like Tux the Penguin (Tux was originally designed as the Linux mascot by Larry Ewing).  The Tux Droid is wirelessly connected to your computer via its cute fish shaped dongle, which  has a striking resemblance to Tux himself.  What does Tux do?  He’ll do a little dance whenever you get an E-mail, Twitter message or a Facebook messag; he also has a text-to-speech engine, and by interacting with Tux Droid, you can also complete certain tasks on your computer.  If you aren’t right next to him to interact with him, you can use Tux Droid’s remote control.

In the spirit of Linux, Tux Droid is a Open Source device; all of the source code is available for Tux Droid, which means if he doesn’t do something you would like right now, you have the power to change that.

Just head on over to kysoh.com and take a look.  Strangely enough, Tux Droid works on Windows as well as any Linux distro with a 2.4 kernel or better.  Tux Droid is available at ThinkGeek.com and Kysoh.com for $149.99.

Loving that new shuffle with VoiceOver? Dictating all your emails instead of typing them? You may not think about it, but many of those improvements and technological bounds come from a specific area of research; accessibility for people with disabilities.

Businessweek has a great article about how voiceover, Apple’s love it or hate it system in the new Shuffles, comes from accessibility designs in Mac OS X. Further, there is an argument that many businesses can learn from the innovations needed to create “universal access” for specific disabilities, and turn it into features that can make the experience better for every user.

It is a great read, and helps put in perspective how much we can all learn from technology and from the different ways we all use it!

Via Businessweek