We’ve previously reviewed SplashData’s password protection program, SplashID, in various formats and generally given it favorable ratings (here, here, and here).  I’ve used it as my standard password protection program for a while now.  When I recently acquired a Motorola Droid, in addition to checking out some new, great programs for the Android operating system, I also wanted to see which of my standard programs were available for Android. SplashID, which is also available for iPhone, Windows Mobile, Palm, Series 60, and BlackBerry, is SplashData’s first Android application.  The Android version shares a lot with the other platforms, so anyone already familiar with SplashID from using it on another device will find it comfortable to use.  The basic SplashID features, functions, and encryption process remains a constant among the platforms, so we’ll focus on the specifics of the Android version, which lie largely in the menus and appearance of the program. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Going green and buying electronics usually don’t mesh very well.  Thinksound set out to create great sounding headphones that were also friendly to the environment too.  Not an easy task to say the least, but one the company took very seriously. Thinksound‘s lineup currently consists of two eco-friendly headphones.  The company was kind enough to send me both to review. Does being “green” mean you have to sacrifice sound quality? Click on through to find out, but here’s a hint, in a word, nope….… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Having done some traveling during December, you start to get used to the accompanying rumble associated with it, be it from passengers waiting for a plane or the sound of an engine a few feet from your ear.  The best way to completely drown the world out is with a decent pair of headphones, and if you couple those with noise canceling you are onto a winner. While noise-canceling headphones have typically been a pricey proposition, these new ‘phones from AblePlanet come in at just $129.99, and seem to be pretty good value.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I am reviewing the booq Taipan Lift ($89.95 – $99.95) by using it during my quick trip to San Francisco for TeleNav’s Waypoint. It is a briefcase style laptop bag which, to be quite honest, isn’t my preference. (I tend to like messenger bags and backpacks.) Having just gone through airport security, however, I am totally sold on this bag for travel. There are, in fact, three specific design aspects of it that have already come in rather handy. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I love rugby. I played it in college, and again for a few years as an adult. If you’ve never played, imagine American football merged with soccer. Rugby is extremely fast paced, with lots of hits and action. Part of that fast pace means sometimes you’re left scrambling trying to follow the game. O2 and Cineworld are riding the 3D craze with a new way to change that; they’re airing England’s national rugby games in theaters in 3D! From the Guardian UK‘s review, it seems like it was overall a huge success: The international game has long been a geometric business, a quest for the patch of space. The players are basically cuboid. They look alarmingly solid in 3D, at least when they’re standing still Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’ve tried just about every GPS application for the iPhone. I have to say that there hasn’t been a single one that I would consider a “fail”. That doesn’t, however, mean, that some don’t stand out over the others. The one that currently stands out for me — and one that I actually use on a day-to-day basis — is AT&T Navigator. My first experience with it was poor but since then it has worked flawlessly for me. It is fast, it is accurate and it has received numerous updates (most recently last night) that continue to add useful features like music integration, night view and the ability to set a new destination handsfree. For the sake of disclosure I should note that I am on a one-year review subscription of the service. But the fact is, I have access to four different GPS programs on my iPhone and AT&T Navigator is the one that I use day-to-day. The service does have its downsides. Unlike standalone GPS applications that are one time purchases, AT&T Navigator requires a monthly subscription. At the same time, however, that also means the maps on it are always up to date. In addition, it means [...]

It was a little over a week ago that I returned to using the iPhone of full-time. I’m pretty happy with the decision and I’m enjoying having it as the sole device I rely upon. I am still carrying my Blackberry Bold with me but haven’t really used it for more than a few seconds. One of the things I’ve discovered since returning to the iPhone full time is that typing on it seems to be far easier and more accurate than ever for me. I’m not sure why this is so, but it definitely is the case and I’m not complaining. It makes inputting… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(image courtesy Motherinchief) I mentioned in my post about Macmillan, Hachette and HarperCollins pushing new agency model pricing on Amazon that there are alternatives outside the Kindle store. Since these aren’t as easy as just “flip on your wireless and go”, I thought I would give a quick rundown on a few of these options, along with how you can have them on your Kindle (or ebook reader of your choice).… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

So you’ve bought an Android tablet, but it doesn’t come with the official marketplace. The manufacturer has a less than stellar collection of apps in a lackluster “app store”, and you’re looking enviously at your friends with their Android phones and their awesome app collections. Luckily for you, there’s more out there than just the official marketplace. As I mentioned when I talked about speeding up your Camangi with an alternate launcher, you can directly install an APK, or app file, right onto your device. You do not need an app store to act as a middleman.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I currently use a basket to hold my Wii Remotes and Nunchucks.  It generally works just fine, but then I have nowhere to put my games but on the same shelf as my DVDs. That will change with the Wii Pedestal Base, which has space for the controller, accessories and frequently used games. It is made from clear acrylic and is only $24.95 from newpcgadgets.com Continue reading on Gear Diary …

First, Macmillan slapped Amazon around and demanded new pricing. Now, Hachette and Harper Collins are joining the bandwagon, meaning three of the six major publishers have now started pushing for “agency models”, which will allow them to set the prices, rather than Amazon. So what does this mean for consumers? Well, for starters, it looks like a done deal that we will be saying good-bye to $9.99 pricing on most new eBooks. With the publishers in control of pricing, figure something in line with what the iBooks app will be offering, roughly $12.99-$14.99. The bigger issue is that every store “converted” to this new model means there will be virtually no price competition. Amazon, Apple, and (with time, I’m sure)Sony, Kobo, and  Barnes and Noble will all match, because the publisher is choosing the pricing, and these stores all want to sell books.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One of our favorite iPhone case manufacturers has released some new designs to some of their popular cases. Speck Products previewed new patterns and colors of both their popular Candy Shell case and their Fitted Cases at CES 2010, and all the new patterns are now available for order. The Fitted case features a soft fabric back and plastic frame.  It sells for $29.95. The Candy Shell is a hybrid style case with a soft inner core surrounded by a hard plastic exterior shell.  It sells for $34.95. The new models are now available for order from the Speck Products Web site. Click on through to see all the new stuff and then head to the Speck web site to order.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m one of those odd weirdos who reads his eBooks not on a Nook, or a Kindle, or on the desktop, but on my handheld.  I first started reading eBooks with my (late lamented) Tapwave Zodiac, and have subsequently read them on an HTC Universal and now on my iPhone.  So I haven’t exactly kept up with what’s happening in various desktop reader software.  (Carly keeps y’all updated on advances in the eBook reader device arena.)… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Not the kind of shredding your surfer friends talk about! If you managed to get through Neal Stephenson’s Cryptonomicon without turning into a paranoid about the government or big business or even that nosy 16 year-old hacker next door who’s been eyeing your shredded documents bag that you leave out for the trash, you’re a better person than I.  (Or at least less paranoid.)  But if you’re serious about personal information security, you must know that those backup CDs can be read by anyone motivated enough, even if you’ve reformatted them to (as you might think) blank them out. So what to do?  Why, shred the durn DVDs and CDs, of course!  And to help you in your cause, Aleratec is offering a selection of shredders, including a new one that really does a job on those dangerous plastic disks for an MSRP of $74.99.  So if Neal Stephenson has made you paranoid, too–or even if you were just paranoid about this stuff to begin with–you might want to surf on over to the Aleratec site and check them out. Full info after the jump.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

We saw a lot of neat stuff at CES last month. One of the most interesting, at least to my mind, was a small hand-held scanner from PlanOn. At just about 9 inches long and a tiny bit thicker than an iPhone, the DocuPen X05 isn’t cheap… but it’s pretty impressive nonetheless. The company sent me a loaner unit, and I’ve been using it for the past week or so. Despite some frustrations when I initially tried to get it set up, I have been more than a bit “wowed” by this little gadget. Let’s take a look. Continue reading on Gear Diary …