As we enter a new decade in 2010, it is worth taking a look back at the last decade and what has been happening in the PC role playing game genre (and no, we won’t debate whether or not 2010 actually starts the new decade). Certainly the 2000′s have been a decade of change for PC gaming in general, as the decade started with the PC as the only real place for shooters and large open-area games, went through a perceived crisis in the middle of the decade based on a large impact from piracy and DRM and the advent of consoles that could handle previously PC-dominated genres, and has ended with PC gaming making a… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Owning and buying a home is hard. And while it’s easy for people to share tons of opinions, they generally fall short with specific help. Luckily, O’Reilly Books have a “Missing Manual” to help guide you through the whole agonizing process. And O’Reilly offers their books in a bundled way that more publishers should try; you can buy the book  itself for $21.95, or you can add in an extra $3.00 and buy the book/ebook bundle for $24.95! I believe O’Reilly’s ebooks are all DRM-free as well, so you can keep the ebook as a handy reference on any device you choose. Though thunking your Kindle down for emphasis doesn’t have the same effect on an underwriter… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Big news out of Borders HQ today; Kobo and Borders are still moving forwards with their partnership, and now you can pre-order the Kobo Reader before it’s big USA splashdown. The Kobo Reader has been available in Canada for about two weeks, and the reviews have overall been positive. Now, it’s not terribly fancy, with only Bluetooth on board (no WiFi or 3G), but it clocks in at a very wallet friendly $149.99, with Adobe Digital Editions ePUB and PDF support. They’re also throwing in 100 classics to kick off the collection. This has the potential to be a game-changer. It’s a simple reader at a great price, and it has the backing… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Android has certainly grown up quite a bit since it’s original inception on the G1.   The platform has already surpassed 50,000 applications available in Android Market (still trailing behind Apple’s juggernaut of an App Store, but already beating other established platforms — like BlackBerry’s mere 6,000 apps).   Since there are Android devices available on just about every wireless carrier, there’s no shortage of consumers interested in picking up a smartphone sporting Google’s operating system. The biggest challenge, though, has been incorporating Android into the enterprise.  Business users want to use the sleek and very capable devices for work and play.  One of the biggest roadblocks to date has simply been the lack… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

When I first got my iPhone, I did a lot of case reviews.  And at that time, it seemed to me that PDair must have, I dunno, 3000 designers locked in a cellar somewhere, coming up with new case designs.  It was amazing how many designs they cranked out. Well, now PDair has turned their attention to the iPad, and it appears that they’re doing the same thing.  The latest addition to their stable is a silicone case, currently available in black for an MSRP of $25.00.  If you’re still needing some iPad case goodness, perhaps you should check it out. Full information below. PDair luxury silicone case is perfectly clear, you Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One common knock against the Kindle–and other eInk eBook readers–is that it is not backlit.  Proponents of the ol’ glowing screen model of eBooks maintain that hey, they can read books in the dark!  Who cares if your stupid eInk viewer is “easier on the eyes;” how the heck am I going to read anything on it in a dark room when my wife wants to go to sleep? Well, Belkin has an answer for you:  a Kindle book light!  (Along with some new cases to boot.)  The Kindle book light operates like a regular booklight, but since there are no pages, covers, dust jackets, and whatever to get in the way, it’s a… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One of the first things I did after getting my iPad was purchase a screen protector, but it wasn’t long after that before I started thinking about whether I might need a case or not. On the one hand, a case would mean better corner and screen protection in the event of a fall; on the other hand, it would also mean extra weight and bulk added to my otherwise almost perfectly sized device. I liked the idea of a protective layer between the back of my iPad and any surface that I might lay it upon, which is why the NewerTech NuGuard Leather Hard Shell appealed to me when I was approached about reviewing… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

My running career hasn’t been a long one. I started running back in the summer of 2007 as part of an effort shed a few pounds. After a few runs I was hooked and made a promise to myself. I was 37 at the time, and I pledged that I’d run the NYC Marathon the year I turned 40; at the time I planned to make it my first marathon. Anyone who knows me knows that when I start something I go all all in. I know only one speed. So it didn’t come a surprise to my friends or family when I ran my first marathon, the Flying Pig Marathon, in May of 2008, after only having starting running a short 8 months previous. I finished with what I… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

When getting a new device, I always like to protect it from scratches, both front and back.  Screens have become a lot more durable on high-priced devices, but even so, I get nervous.  Further, some of these devices have high-gloss screens that can be hard to read because they are highly reflective and show fingerprints and smudges easily. ZAGG has been in the business of protecting mobile devices for several years now and have released a new version of their well-known InvisibleSHIELD for the iPad.  The InvisibleSHIELD is available in two versions: front (screen) protection only and all-body protection.  ZAGG was good enough to send us… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The iPad makes you want to use Bluetooth more than ever. The reason is simple. Like the iPhone and the iPod touch it is great for carrying a lot of music, podcasts or audiobooks on the go. Like the iPhone and the iPod touch its capacity is amazing. Unlike the iPhone and iPod touch, however, you can’t easily stick the device in a speaker dock or plug in headphones and put it in your pocket.  Because of its size Bluetooth MAKES SENSE with the iPad in ways it never did before. Imagine this. You walk into your office, tap the iPad and a speaker somewhere in the room starts pumping out some tunes. You walk… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Our Gear Sponsor often has amazing deals in great items. Sometimes you’ll save 10% on a notebook. Other times you’ll save 20% on a gaming console. A few weeks back I saved 30% on a new Sony camera that also shoots Hi-Def video. And every now and then the day’s Gear Deal will save a full 100% of the normal price of an item bringing the cost down to $0.00. That’s the case today. 1and1.com is currently offering 1-year .com domain name registration for FREE with “no strings attached”. Also includes an email account with the registration and private sign-up and domain transfer is also free. 1&1: .com domain name (1-year Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Nashville, Tennessee was recently devastated by flooding.   Many families have been displaced as their homes and possessions were literally submerged under water or completely washed away.  The disaster is one  that has hit especially hard for me  since I grew up in Tennessee, and still have  family and friends living throughout the state.    While local communities in the area have certainly come together to help those impacted,  I know many people– like myself — would also like to contribute in some small way. That’s where the American Red Cross comes in.   The organization is helping  to shelter and feed those impacted by disaster (just like they did after the earthquake in Haiti).  While each of us as individuals may not be able to do everything to help, coming together and doing something as simple as sending a text to ’90999′ and inputting ‘REDCROSS’ will provide a $10 donation (charged to your wireless bill).  Multiply that $10 by thousands of givers and you can imagine the ripple effect.   A very simple action suddenly helps make a huge difference in someone’s life. The American Red Cross’s ‘Text 2 Help‘ disaster relief fund is set up to assist disaster victims across the country.  [...]

Our buds at USBFever have let us know about a couple of new products that they are offering: a USB to 1080p HDTV Sharing Cable, which allows you to pipe Video or Pictures from your computer to your HDTV (with USB Host / OTG interface), available for an MSRP of $23.99 an iPad / iPhone / iPad / Notebook / PDA Stand / Riser, a very compact and foldable pair of stands suitable for use with MacBook, MacBookAir, Windows-based laptop PCs and various other devices., available for an MSRP of $11.99. Go on over to USB Fever for additional details. Full information below. Cable Introductions Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Have you ever been shopping at Amazon.com, have exactly what you need, but then realize that it you could only find something for $4 you would get free shipping? I know I have … and typically end up over-spending as a result! But now with FillerItem.com all you need to do is figure out how much you need to add to make free shipping, enter that amount into the search box, and you will get a rather massive list of possible items. For example, I was looking at the excellent Picross 3D, which is $19.96, meaning I needed $5.04 in added stuff to fill out my $25 and get free shipping. Checking on… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

For those of us outside the US, the pricing for the Apple iPad has been a waiting game, pushed back even further by the delay in launching the device in international markets. Tonight Apple lifted the lid on their pricing for the Australian market, and initial estimates have so far proven fairly accurate, with the official prices looking to be slightly lower than expected. All six models will be available on May 28th, with pre-orders beginning May 10th. The range starts at AU$629 for the 16GB WiFi iPad, stretching to AU$1049 for the 64GB WiFi+3G model. 16GB WiFi – AU$629 16GB WiFi+3G – AU$799 32GB WiFi – AU$759 32GB WiFi+3G – Continue reading on Gear Diary …