There’s so many great devices being released at CES this week, and every techhead is in the throes  of major gadget lust. So many new, exciting toys, so little time.. At the same time, it’s good to be reminded there are small ways we can make a difference even in our gadget buying. Monster Cable has released new headphones  that come in  (PRODUCT)RED edition! This means a portion of the proceeds goes to help fight AIDS! So before you plunk down your hard earned cash for some non-special headphones, check out Monster’s versions…stylish, endorsed by several artists (like Lady Gaga and Dr. Dre!), and being a rampant consumer will actually help bring some good to the world! More information, including pricing and the press release, after the break.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have been at CES this week on behalf of another web site.  As I have been here, I have noticed that one of the biggest themes is 3-D.  We have 3-D televisions, 3-D movies, make your own 3-D movies, 3-D on your laptop…Its the “I want my 3-D TV!” CES. I was talking to a friend of mine who has been in the broadcasting industry for many years and he pointed me to a video that makes be second guess having 3-D in my home. So, do you still want 3-D TV?… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

iLive, makers of audio devices for the iPhone and iPod is launching no less than a ton of new products in 2010.  Two that caught my eye today at CES 2010 are this Bar Speaker with built in iPod Dock and CD player: iLive bar speakers that can turn a flat screen TV into a home theater experience for less than $200. iLive, the No. 1* sound bar company in the U.S., is introducing the iLive iTDP610B, an iPhone bar speaker with a built-in DVD player that converts DVDs to 1080p for playback and features TruSurround Technology for enhanced audio. It also features a motorized door that opens to reveal the iPhone dock and to load and unload a DVD and closes to conceal them for a sleek flush look. It is available in two sizes, 32-inch or 37-inch, for $199.99. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Blue Mic is readying the release of a new version of their popular “Mikey” iPhone and iPod external microphone. The mic plugs into the bottom of the device and features a swivel dock connector which can even double as a cradle for the iPod Nano. It features three gain settings as well as USB pass through which means you won’t have to remove it to charge your device. The all-new Mikey is the perfect tool for mobile recording. Featuring two custom-tuned Blue capsules for stereo recording, a line-input, USB pass through and a stylish updated 230-degree rotating design. Mikey’s three gain settings allow for a versatile recording experience for everything from a loud concert Continue reading on Gear Diary …

TruPhone has upgraded their Android application to enable Wi-Fi calling.  The Android version joins TruPhone’s support of a wide variety of VoIP-compatible devices from BlackBerry, Nokia, and the iPhone. Full details for Truphone’s Android client follows.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The Wrap 920 AR offers us the first sunglasses inspired augmented reality experience.  Imagine walking through a house playing a video game against digital characters?  That’s the general idea of the Wrap 920 AR.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Image from Spring Design's Website Borders eBook store powered by Kobo will be the book store for Spring Design’s Alex eReader. “Our agreement with Spring Design represents another step in our digital strategy, which continues to focus on offering book lovers-including our more than 35 million Borders Rewards loyalty program members-high quality content on the device of their choosing,” said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall. “We look forward to bringing a world class eBook experience to Alex users.” Plus in the same press release, they said the price will now be $359 instead of $399 as first reported earlier.  Their website also got a hefty update since this morning.   I wish… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

After having seen the Nexus One in the flesh prior to it being launched, I knew that I would have to order one as soon as it officially launched. As soon as the online store went live during the presentation, I placed an order for the unlocked version, as my T-Mobile family plan doesn’t qualify for the subsidized version. Read on for more thoughts on the ordering and delivery process, some unboxing photos, and some initial thoughts on the Nexus One hardware and Android 2.1.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

OK, Judie – I hope you are drinking your Diet Coke from a bottle out at CES! Spotted at Consumerist, a report from ScienceDirect shows that more than 48% of soda fountains contain coliform bacteria. The study was released in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, and you can check out the abstract here.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m not much of an audiophile, really; when pressed, yes, I can hear the difference between music over high-quality headphones and those cheap-o $10 jobs from radio shack, but it’s not something that I really think about unless, say, the whole upper register is being muffled completely, or something. But the folks at Sennheiser think about it all the time, and they know that there are plenty of people out there who are not like me.  And so they have come out with a new set of high-end earphones which are, as they put it, for “Audiophiles, discerning listeners and trend-setters.” Their new collection includes  the MX 980 classic earphone; CX 980 ear-canal phone (available with different sized ear adapters); and the OMX 980, which all have a MSRP between US $259.95 and US $339.95.  Sennheiser is also adding a number of earphones available for an MSRP of between $19.95 and $69.95 as well. So if you are in any of those three categories, either audiophile, discerning listener, or trend-setter (or perhaps all three!), perhaps you should check out the new earphones from Sennheiser, available sometime this month.  Full press release follows after the jump.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

While the Gear Diary team is loading us up with tons of drool-worthy items we would all LOVE to buy this year, Yahoo! Finance comes along with a list of 10 things NOT to shop for this year. These are not the typical ‘dangerous toys’ lists, but more the sort of ‘please tell me you didn’t buy a BetaMax in 1981′ sort of thing.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Just as we previewed last month, some new and improved features have now been released for Poynt.  The screenshot above comes directly from my 9700 and shows the new carousel user interface, live weather background based on your GPS location, as well as a direct option to search for service stations closest to you with the lowest gas prices.  The app retains all the goodness users have come to expect — like being able to search, map, add locations to your BlackBerry contact list,email directions, and even purchase movie tickets directly within Poynt. These upgrades keep Poynt at the head of the pack for location-based searching for the BlackBerry Platform. Sadly Continue reading on Gear Diary …

OK, so this is one that has me – a heavy gamer and netbook lover – absolutely frothing with excitement, but most NORMAL people probably saying “huh? they want me to pay nearly $1000 for a netbook with a 2 hour battery life”? Well, sort of, but there is much more than meets the eye to this intriguing little beast introduced today at CES!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(Photo courtesy The Register) Because you don’t already spend enough on pricey iPhone accessories, how about a $1,200 unit for your car? Is the lure of having Pandora on your dashboard screen worth it?… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Since Judie’s initial preview of the HD2 in November, we’ve been waiting patiently (ok, not so patiently, but we’ve been waiting) on the official word on this phone hitting the U.S.  If there’s an upcoming phone that can give off some Windows hotness, it’s the HD2. Now we know that it’s going to be exclusive to T-Mobile and greet consumers this Spring (yeah, I know…So. Far. Away). Available this spring, the ultra-slim HTC HD2 features a 4.3” capacitive touchscreen, a super fast 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, and HTC Sense. Designed with you in mind, HTC Sense puts people at the center by providing all information you deem relevant at your fingertips. Customizable home screens, a robust contacts list, and an intuitive proximity sensor are just some of the ways the HTC HD2 provides a more simple and natural experience. Full Details Follow — as does a long, cold winter with no HD2 at my side. Continue reading on Gear Diary …