The problem with the world of online games is that there are simply so many options that it is often hard to know what is worth playing! Many former subscription-only MMORPGs have adopted free-to-play models in order to attract and retain a larger audience, as they have found the casual market quite lucrative. First unveiled back in 2007, Quake Live is a massively multiplayer first-person shooter (MMOFPS) based on id’s Quake III Arena game that runs in a web browser (IE, FireFox or Safari) on a variety of OS versions of Windows, Mac OS and Linux. Quake Live has been in an open beta since early 2009 – heck, it has been… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It’s an interesting dilemma: the readers of this site tend to love their gadgets, but at the same time want to be respectful of the environment.  All of our electronic tools, toys – whatever you want to call them – use resources in their manufacturing, may contain toxic materials that are harmful if not disposed of properly, and require energy to operate.  If you’re like me, you mitigate some of your less environmentally friendly hobbies by making up for them in other ways (I use an electric lawnmower, for crying out loud). With an eye toward balancing our interest in technology with our interest in the environment, we’re starting a new Gear Diary series focusing… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have written about the upcoming Two Worlds II before here and here, and each time commented on how the original game had loads of promise but fell flat in many area – especially in the writing and dialogue voice acting. Two Worlds II was originally supposed to arrive in mid-September, but that has been pushed back to October. Now the entire question of whether the game will be released at all has come into question! Here are some details from an article at Gamerzines that features highlights from a registration-required article at GameIndustry.biz: Bailiffs are threatening to seize stock of Two Worlds II from publisher SouthPeak before the title Continue reading on Gear Diary …

For me, and many other football fans it’s become a sure sign that summer is coming to a close.  The end of summer marks the beginning of Football pre-season and along with it the release of the popular gaming title Madden Football.  The 2011 version of the game is now available in the iTunes App Store for download to your iOS device. In addition to the iPhone/iPod Touch version of the game EA Sports has also released an HD version for the iPad. The game features four different game-play modes including head to head.  You can take on rivals over Bluetooth or play against your iDevice in a solo game.  With… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

As a Systems Administrator I spend of a lot of time building and distributing workstation images. After the initial build is completed and tested the worst part of it all (for me at least) is the distribution to all the machines that need it. There has been cases where I had a few hundred machines, and then sometimes it’s as little as 12-15. Either way, my favorite methods of imaging machines are the ones that are the most hands off. I’ve been through my share of software solutions that work very well, but the worst part is all the setup that’s required and the amount of times you have to touch the machine to get it going… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Most of us remember the day when the only way to talk on the phone was in the kitchen with the corded rotary phone with the 12 foot tangled cord.  Those days from the not so distant past seem like a lifetime ago!  The thought of being wireless or not having bills were silly dreams.  Never mention the idea of streaming video during a call!  That was only seen in sci-fi and futuristic movies.  You know, the stuff Michael J. Fox might use someday.  netTalk is announcing a free videophone application that allows their users chat and stream video live.  Does this mean the future Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Most of us spend a lot of time on the road.  Whether it be dropping kids off on their various activities or commuting to work, Americans love their cars and the freedom of driving.  Along with all of this driving comes some dangers and issues.  Driving while tired, fuel economy, there are many issues we must concern ourselves with.  On top of that, the teenager is ready to drive and take off with all of these issues and we are not there to watch over them.  Lemur Monitors released three awesome auto accessories that will assist in gas economy and safety. Full Release: Mount Pearl, NL – August 5, 2010 – Continue reading on Gear Diary …

When I was shopping for my first HDTV a friend gave me some good advice. What was it? Simple, buy the biggest HDTV your budget can afford and the space will allow. Some may not agree with this approach but personally I was glad to follow it. As a result we ended up with a HDTV that was a good bit larger than I had planned. Now that we have had it for over a year and a half it feels like the right size and anything smaller would have been a mistake. My point? You might think the HDTV that is today’s Gear Deal is bigger than you want but this 55″ HDTV from… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(this and all images courtesy Birthday Shoes) It’s no secret we’re all big fans of Vibram Five Fingers around here. Of course, the biggest fangirl is Judie, who now owns KSOs, Bikilas, AND Sprints. Looks like all of our wallets will be a bit lighter in 2011, as Vibram announced some seriously sweet shoes at the Outdoor Retailer conference! (Birthday Shoes Bikila LS Info) First up are the Bikila LS, basically a Bikila (Vibram’s running shoe) with laces. Helpful if velcroing your feet into your shoes makes you feel five, or if you have issues with getting your toes to… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The Speck GeoMetric case for the iPhone is the first case I’ve come across with a textured, dimensional pattern which offers a very unique feel in your hand. Made from the ever-popular TPU (themorplastic polyurethane) the case soft and flexible but stays form fitting just enough the hug the lines of the iPhone perfectly. The GeoMetric is currently available in one color, what Speck calls “DeathRock Black.” Someday I’ll have to ask Speck who comes up with the interesting names they choose for their colors. Speck doesn’t include a screen shield with the GeoMetric. If you desire screen protection their Shield View for the iPhone 4 should be available soon… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Yesterday we took a look at Sena’s Argyle for iPhone 4. Today we’ll take a look at another of their pouch-style cases- the Sena Serach Ultraslim for iPhone 4. If you use your iPhone with just a Clear-Coat type film on it (or nothing at all) this might be just the right protection for those times you toss your iPhone in a pocket or briefcase. It is slim, good looking and highly protective of the delicate device. Let’s take a look. From Sena- The Sarach UltraSlim case is a part Continue reading on Gear Diary …

“But, what are they?” As if to corner the market on producing the most polarizing vehicles for the 2010 model year, Honda and its luxury division Acura have each released a new vehicle that almost forces consumers to scratch their heads faster than the heartbreak of psoriasis. No definitive term has surfaced yet to identify the niche segment the new Accord Crosstour from Honda and ZDX from Acura occupy yet automotive history has seen similar units before. When I first gazed my attention to these marriages of sedan and crossover utility vehicle I was served with an image circa 1981-82 from my memory archives – the AMC Eagle SX/4.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

This has been a sore spot with me for some time. We keep hearing about these potentially wonderful Android tablets, and what ends up appearing is something underpowered, with a poor resolution screen and underwhelming built in software. Augen’s tablet was the darling of the internet world for a few weeks, since it was cheap, being sold at KMart, and promised Google Marketplace! Of course, like all things that sound too good to be true, the Augen tablet didn’t live up to the hype. It was slow, the resistive screen was unimpressive, and Google Marketplace didn’t work. Augen kept promising it would be fixed in the next software update, but apparently “fixed” means “We sort of… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Last week I reported on the start of GamersGate’s 4 week Summer Sale. Week #1 was full-up with RPG goodness, and week 2 promises even more great games, this time in the action genre! Here are some samples: Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition – 60% OFF – $15.98 Borderlands – 66% OFF – $10.18 Painkiller Pandemonium – 75% OFF – $7.48 Red Faction Guerrilla – 75% OFF – $4.96 Saints Row 2 – 75% OFF – $7.48 Unreal Tournament 3 Black – 75% OFF – $4.98 Last week I had to post a second time because the folks at… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(image courtesy Online Organizing) I pity whoever had to sit down and do all the work, but the Google Books project has calculated there’s something in the range of 129,864,880 books. They must be fairly certain if they felt comfortable nailing it down (as opposed to just rounding and saying 129,000,000+, since I for one am not quibbling over a few thousand). It’s sort of an awe-inspiring number! Personally, this means I really need to get cracking if I want to read as many as possible. Sadly, unless I find the fountain of youth, it’s unlikely I’ll get through them all. At a book a day, it would take me 355,794.19 years. That’s also assuming we’re… Continue reading on Gear Diary …