If you didnt see the posted invites about Google’s press conference today it read like this: With the launch of the first Android-powered device just over a year ago, we’ve seen how a powerful, open platform can spur mobile product innovation. And this is just the beginning of what’s possible. Please join us in Mountain View on January 5, for an Android press gathering. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Seriously… We didn’t make this up. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have a confession to make.  I like penguins.  Part of this is I am a Linux user and Tux, the Linux mascot, is a penguin.  The other part is they are so darn cute.  That’s why I decided to take a look when Arimaz offered to send a sample of MyDeskFriend AKA Pingo. Part Tamagotchi, part Facebook app, part Tux Droid and all cute.  That about sums up this tiny robot that fits in your hand.  MyDeskFriend comes with a little USB docking station, Pingo the Penguin and a little rubber visor that Pingo wears.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Cool-er eBook Readers have been the underdogs of the ebook world. They make a stylish product, with a well stocked eBookstore as a tie-in, but they just don’t have the same name recognition that the Kindle, the nook or the Sony Reader seem to command.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The march of applications to Android continues, as GOGII’s textPlus has landed in the marketplace as well. textPlus lets you organize group text messaging as well as individual texts. This is perfect if you have friends you have not yet assimilated into the wonders of smartphones, and therefore email is out, but texting is king. If this app sounds familiar, it is because it first launched on the iPhone, and is now expanding to more platforms. Group texting is only one part of the feature list; coming soon will be the ability to send messages from a textPlus address instead of your phone number (great if you don’t have a texting plan)! Check out the demo video, and then hit the jump for the press release and more information on this great app!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Our GearSponsor has tracked down a deal on the ultra-light 11.6-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X100e. The X100e weighs in at a less than 3 lbs. It sports a full-size, spill-resistant keyboard, a multitouch touchpad, up to 4GB RAM, up to 320GB Hard Drive, optional Bluetooth, WWAN and 802.11n WiFi. It is available now starting at $584 but with $135 instant savings that drops to just $449. It includes FREE shipping. NEW! Lenovo ThinkPad X100e 11.6-inch LED-backlit Laptop via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(image courtesy Incredimazing) Torrentfreaks/Freakbits have helpfully put together their list of the most pirated books of 2009. Is it as bad as publishers fear? Has the NY Times bestseller list up and made itself freely available to the masses? Is it digital publishing Armageddon????… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Photo courtesy of PC Mag Lenovo is kicking it into overdrive this week with tons of announcements and leaks of upcoming products. Their CES booth should be quite active if all these releases are available eye candy at the show. One of their new models announced is a Hybrid Tablet/ULV Notebook called the U1 Hybrid. This little clamshell packs 2 machines in 1, with the ability to pick your poison for which you want to use. The U1 tablet is an 11.6″ LED backlit slate that runs on a Snapdragon ARM CPU, and Skylight Linux for an OS. When the slate is docked in the mothership, you have a Core 2 Duo U4100 running the show and Windows 7 bringing it all together. Other specs of the machine are a 128GB SSD, 4GB Ram, eSata, 3 USB, HDMI, Ethernet and Card Reader. The slate should give you about 8 hours runtime or 6 hours while docked. Both are completely independent of each other apart from the screen, the Notebook obviously requires the slate as a screen to operate. The whole package seems like a new direction for people on the go. You get the option to pick a slate or fully [...]

We keep adding gadgets and continue looking for ways to carry and store these devices.  Cocoon Innovations are showing some really cool new products this week in Vegas at CES.  Here is a short preview of what they are offering.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’ve got no word yet on how they sound, or whether it’s even practical, but Klipsch has come out with a way to wirelessly stream music to a dimmable LED bulb which also functions as a speaker. Their aptly named LightSpeaker screws into an existing light fixture, and when you attach a digital music player to the included transmitter, sound ensues. You can “connect two different music sources to the setup and separate the different music to play in two different zones.  For example, if you’re throwing a party, you can play certain playlist on your iPod in the kitchen and have a Pandora station on your laptop play in the living room.” All right everyone; would you like to have music streaming from your light fixtures? Maybe? Read on…… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(image courtesy Mariana Castellana Isaza) I am a huge Mario Kart fan, but I am terrible without the Wii wheel. My hand-eye coordination (or lack thereof) requires me to have the comfortable, familiar shape as I “drive” my kart. The regular wheel is a bit boring, though. Apparently dreamGEAR thought so too, and they’re partnering with NASCAR to create a more realistic wheel controller for Wii and PS3. The press release is below, though there is no mention of whether they’ll be pairing the wheel with a nice cold Budweiser for a truly realistic and refreshing experience. dreamGEAR is presenting the wheel at CES, and it will be available soon! Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The water cooler is common place in most offices.  It serves it purpose, but rarely adds style.  In fact, they are quite unsightly with the giant water bottle sticking out of the top.  Not really an item most people want decorating their home Primo has redesigned the old version of the water cooler making it more attractive and usable for home use.  Learn more after the break. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I am a gamer as well as a guitarist.  Believe it or not, I have never played Guitar Hero!  I have watched people play but it annoys me that most of the songs I can actually play on a real guitar.  I choose not to play partly because I am annoyed at people who act like they can play the guitar but do not even know a chord and also it scares me that I may ruin some of my real skill.  Yes, I am a Guitar Hero curmudgeon who thinks people’s time would better be spent learning to play a real guitar.  If only there was a controller that allowed for real guitar playing… The You Rock Guitar from Inspired Instruments Inc. will be shown at CES and solves my Guitar Hero dilemma.  Find out more and see a video of it at work after the break.  It truly is an amazing product!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

So you say you get a crick in your neck because your beautiful plasma-screen TV is hanging on the wall like a nice piece of art, but your couch is in the totally wrong location for it?  You’re frustrated because you can tilt, move, and adjust your computer screen, but not that durn TV?  You want something that holds your TV to the wall and looks like Peter Weller as Robocop when it moves?… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m a case dork, I admit it.  I’ve tried Belkin and Vaja and Beyza and the Mophie juice pack and heaven only knows what others.  I’ve gone for skins, rubber, leather, plastic, ones with batteries, ones with flaps, pouches, belt-mounted and loose.  Hell, even ones that convert from flapped to non-flapped.  When you find yourself sending email to both Vaja and Rivet because you want the clip type of one on the case of the other, you’re really geeking out.  I mean, I really need to get a life. So as if I don’t have enough trouble choosing–and they’re already going to send me some samples of their U-Diamond cases to review!–Uniea decided that I… Continue reading on Gear Diary …