While I have not yet received the update to the Android Market which enables Carrier Billing in addition to using Google Checkout (with a gmail.com only account), I did notice something different in the Android Market when I accessed it today.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

If you are looking for portable power you want a Quad-Core notebook. And if you want a Quad-Core notebook our GearSponsor has some deals worth checking out. Since choice is good, LogicBUY has put together a roundup of Quad-Core notebook deals. On the list you’ll find notebooks from Toshiba, Asus, HP Dell and Lenovo. Prices start at just $899 and screen range in size from 15 to 18.4″. If you are in the market for a new notebook and want to save up to $500 you want to visit the site to see what GearDeals are available. LogicRoundup: Quad Core i7 Laptops via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(underlying image courtesy of Londontown) “Attention all K-Mart Borders shoppers! Jealous of Barnes and Noble’s eBook Store? Come back in 2010, because Borders will be launching a Shortcovers Kobo Books co-branded store! How will we be different than those “other” ebook stores? Well, we’ll be available on multiple platforms, not like the Kindle (if you ignore the iPhone/PC/upcoming Mac and Blackberry platforms), or Barnes and Noble (if you ignore the iPhone/PC/Mac/Blackberry versions), or eReader/Fictionwise (ok, we can’t compete with them for sheer devices supported). And we’ll have dedicated eBook Readers too, though we don’t have any details yet. But don’t worry Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Last night I went ahead and ordered the Kindle 2 for my Christmas present.  However when I got the tracking number Wednesday morning, I noticed an oddity.  In the above picture, notice that it says it was delivered on October 18, 2008 in Indiana.  Luckily, I think it’s at the UPS depot in Obetz, OH and on it’s way to me sometime tomorrow.  Anyone else notice tracking weirdness this holiday season??… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It all started innocently enough. Thomas was traveling in Thailand. He emailed Judie and Dan and asked- “You think I should get Larry a ‘Hello Kitty’ iPhone case?“ But here’s the thing… HE ASKED JUDIE AND DAN! You think we would just leave it at that? (If you answered “Yes.” you don’t know us very well.) It took off from there. Thomas bought a bunch of odd iPhone cases, Dan created a company called “Case Distribution International” and set up a gmail account for it. The three of us  wrote Larry a letter that read- Mr. Larry, We have seen your YouTube videos and were hoping you would be interested in working with us. We are a small company that is trying to break into the crowded iPhone case market. We are specialize in low-cost, interesting case designs. We have a few cases we are starting with and will then expand. We will also launch website in next weeks. We would like to send them to you in the coming days and hope you will choose to review them. If you are interested please send mailing address and we will ship. Please let us know when they have been posted. Sincerely [...]

Do you have a GPS in your car? I do, and sometimes it gets to be too much in traffic; between stop and go, lights, construction, and the sound of my GPS droning away, it can become a bit overwhelming. I’ve even been known to threaten to throw the yappy thing out the window a few times, when it all becomes too much. According to a Tech.view column in the Economist, it might not be me. Apparently we can only process so much information at once, and beyond that the brain simply cannot take it all in clearly. So as GPS gets more and more complicated, we may not be able to take full… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Another day, another Direct2Drive Holiday Deal! Now in time for Christmas they are back – they are featuring a game a day for now until Christmas! Deals so far have been great, and it just keeps rolling today! Game #16 is Section 8. Here is the announcement Tweet: D2D’s 24 Days of Christmas – Day 16 – Section 8 is 75% OFF – now just $12.50! http://bit.ly/5w5ISJ This special includes the original game released earlier this year for a solid 75% off – $12.50 rather than $49.95! But be quick – this deal ends at noon EST on December 17th! Source… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Agile Partners, creators of some wonderful music apps, have just significantly updated their beat mixing application Star6.  I recently reviewed two of their apps for guitarists that have become some of my most use apps.  Check out the reviews for Guitar ToolKit and Tab ToolKit. Star6 is a music mixer that utilizes the accelerometer and touch interface to create a truly unique musical experience.  I am a musician, but have never done hip hop style beat mixes, so I was unsure if the app would even work in my hands.  As you will see, it is quite easy to use! Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(Click on image above to view slideshow) When General Motors held its annual media drive regional program for new product, we thought it odd there was no mention of Cadillac, especially given the fact the luxury marque was launching two all-new vehicles this fall. Those questions were put to rest this week during a unique event dubbed “Cadillac’s Culinary Christmas Media Tour” – a fun, food-filled afternoon of progressive dining with some of the area’s top cuisine masters and driving the latest offerings from the automaker.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Ranking as one of the most popular apps on Android phones since its launch in September 2008, ShopSavvy became available on the iPhone on November 17, 2009.  In less than a month, hundreds of thousands of iPhone users have downloaded the application which allows the user to scan bar codes and obtain competitive pricing informaiton.  More than 1 million ShopSavvy users scanned more than 18 million products on Black Friday weekend alone (Nov. 27-29). Big in Japan, a Dallas-based idea factory for mobile applications, has announced that ShopSavvy 1.1 for iPhone is now available as a free download at Apple’s iTunes Store.  … Continue reading on Gear Diary …

NORAD partnership provides location information for subscribers; Santa’s sleigh gets fitted with OnStar technology DETROIT –Santa Claus is getting a technology upgrade this Christmas season. This Christmas Eve for the first time, OnStar subscribers will have the ability to follow Santa’s journey around the world using their OnStar system thanks to a new partnership with The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Starting at 6:00 a.m. EST on December 24, drivers with an active OnStar subscription will be able to press the blue OnStar button in their vehicles and request a “Santa Update.” From there, an OnStar advisor will share Santa’s whereabouts based on location information provided by NORAD. The advisors will receive a new update from NORAD every hour and will be able to inform subscribers of Santa’s location through 5 a.m. EST on December 25.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Elagato Software, makers of EyeTV, the software which allows for streaming of your home TV over you iPhone, have released a substantial update to their desktop client. The most important feature to iPhone users allows for the viewing of live and recorded television over a 3G connection.  Previously EyeTV, and all the other live TV streaming applications (HAVA, Slingbox, etc.) only worked over a WiFi connection. The method for watching live TV over 3G involves using Safari to navigate to a special web site, https://live3g.eyetv.com/, where you then enter your EyeTV log in credentials.  Then in a few short moments your TV appears. I just tested it all out and it worked… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Stephen Covey is proving one of the habits of highly successful people is playing hardball; he’s struck a deal with Amazon to make them the exclusive providers of his eBooks, in exchange for at least 50% of the sales revenue. Amazon will also be promoting his books heavily. What does this mean for publishers, authors, and the concept of royalties in the digital age? We convened a Gear Diary chat session to hash it all out!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

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. Anyone who drives in the city knows the frustrations of a busy intersection.  How great would it be to get rid of the stop light and control the traffic on your own?  Take control over a busy intersection from above with the addictive game Traffic Rush.  The game is currently the top ranked free app in iTunes and will provide some traffic relieving fun for the passing gamer. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

We’re all feeling the crunch of the economy these days.  Shape Services, a developer of some really popular iPhone applications wants to help with that and they’ve done it by slashing prices on some of their most popular iPhone applications. Their popular messaging applicaiton, IM+, is available now for $2.99 (former price – $9.99) – click here. RDM+, a mobile desktop application is now  $3.99 (former price – $19.99) – click here. IM+ Skype, which enables Skype chat on the iPhone is now only $0.99 (former price – $4.99) – click here. VR+, an advanced voice recorder… Continue reading on Gear Diary …