We purchased the WiLife surveillance system about 2 years ago for extra security at the house.  In terms of a system, if it works for you, it is one of the least expensive and difficult to install ways to get real time video surveillance both as a traditional DVR as well as Internet Access. On Halloween, we got more than we bargained for!  Read On… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Welcome back to the GearGames weekly video game release feature here at Gear Diary! Anyone who is a fan of role-playing games (RPG) is very excited for this week as perhaps the biggest RPG release of the year (we can debate whether Risen is bigger in the comments) – Dragon Age: Origins. The folks who have brought us the Baldur’s Gate series, Neverwinter Nights games, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, Jade Empire and more are back – with the ‘spiritual successor’ to Baldur’s Gate. I am rushing to finish everything else on my plate so I can be ready for this one on Tuesday. Recently it was announced that the PS3 version was un-delayed, which is nice since it means everyone gets it this week!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

For almost two and a half years I have been using my iPhone each and every day. The improvements from the first generation iPhone with OS iPhone 1.0 until now, when my iPhone 3GS runs iPhone OS 3.0 has been significant. But it has also been gradual enough that it is easy to take the incredible functionality it offers for granted. I mean, who can even remember using an iPhone that was entirely dependent on **gasp** web apps?? Yes, using my iPhone for everything from browsing the web to writing posts on the go has become as natural as putting on my shoes in the morning. Yet every now and then there is some small thing that happens where my iPhone is so useful that I am reminded just how amazing this device is. In fact, just today I was twice reminded that…… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m still trying to figure out how I’ll best be served by Google Wave; right now it seems like a huge disorganized chatroom. If you haven’t yet had a chance to get in on the action, and you want to know what all the web-hoopla is about, I have 18 invites to share. Want in? Leave a comment and I’ll give invites to the first 18 who reply. If you have some extra invites that you’d like to share, you are welcome to do so as well. Update: Dan has 15 spare invites; once mine are gone, we can keep on giving! Update: We… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

George Hotz, aka Geohot, the iPhone developer responsible for bringing you the blackra1n jailreaking tool has issued a public service announcement. First off, he was everyone to know that he’s found an exploit in the current 05.11.77 baseband, which is found on phones running the current iPhone OS, version 3.1.2, that allows the phone to be unlocked.  The new tool, named blacksn0w, will be released on November 4th. Second he issued a reminder.  All the tools he’s created, including the ones that allow the iPhone to be jailbroken and the one that will allow the iPhone to be unlocked are free.  There are several company’s who are offering to unlock and or jailbreak iPhones for a fee.  Geohot even goes as far as to say he’s… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One of my big complaints about cell phones and mobile devices generally is that the batteries are never able to adequately handle all of the advanced features which tend to be included.  The Palm Pre is a perfect example of this, with its WebOS interface, and always connected email (not to mention Internet, Wifi, 3G, and Bluetooth).  Generally, if I do not have a charger handy, then I am going to lose my phone before my day ends.  Add to that equation the fact that I love to go camping overnight, and the battery is quickly unveiled as typically inadequate.   So, I was pretty excited to hear that Kanex released a high capacity battery.  They sent me one to check out (and keep) and I thought I would share my impressions with all of you. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Yeah, you may have spent all week painstakingly crafting your Balloon Boy costume, but you have nothing on these two guys from Tampa, FL.  Reko Rivera and John Savio made what is believed to be the world’s very first “working” iPhone cosutumes, featuring a 42″ display and 1.5 hours of battery life.  Their 85 lb costumes feature  changing displays that feature a variety of apps displayed directly from their actual iPhones via USB connection, and a runtime of 4.5 hours before needing to be charged overnight. [Mobility Minded]… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I love MacHeist- it is an online game with a virtual community of players, it is a great way to get applications for free and, at the end, it always offers a fantastic bundle of Mac application for pennies on the dollar. Thanks to MacHeist I have gotten and use application like LittleSnapper, Picturesque, WireTap Studio, World of Goo (LOVE IT!), AppZapper, 1Password and more. Looking back on the first three MacHeists I now realize that many of my favorite applications came through their bundles. Even better, in the past (and hopefully this time as well) 25% of sales was given to charity. Well, a new MacHeist… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Did you just buy a shiny new Touch Pro 2? Or maybe you snapped up an Imagio or a Pure? (Or any other HTC Windows Mobile devices) If you did, you’ll be happy to know that Sprite Mobile has you covered.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …