There’s simply no denying the many applications which the iPad can be used for.  From the kitchen to the lab to the office and the bedroom.  What’s often missing though is a good way to safely hold or secure the device while performing these tasks.  In the kitchen, for example, I often use the Epicurious application for recipes.  But even when using a case that has a built-in stand I find the angle just isn’t perfect.  Not to mention the worry that comes along with placing my iPad on the counter when cooking.  Spills and the iPad just don’t mix. This cabinet mount from Griffin Technology seeks to solve this… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Yesterday Microsoft launched Windows Phone 7, the ground-up reboot of the failed Windows Mobile platform. By all accounts the hardware and software look solid and intriguing, with reports of great performance and an interface built around a quick look at lots of information rather than being largely app-centric like iOS and Android. Of course, only time will tell how it will all shake out. In the mean time, Microsoft has released two advertising spots for the new phone OS, one called ‘Really?’ and the other ‘Season of the Witch’. Each of the ads is focused around the tag line: It’s time for a phone that saves us from our phones. Before I say any more… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Image courtesy of PDFTiger If you ever wanted to make or covert PDF files, but didn’t want to pony up for Adobe, then here’s your chance. PDFTiger is offering up their PDF conversion software for FREE. You pay nothing, no rebates, credit card info, hidden costs, email chains, or free vacations when you attend a seminar. Just click the link and download the software. Make sure you register with the code given on the main page, or you will only have limited functionality until you do so. The registration is included here at the bottom of the post. You really nothing to lose by checking it out. I tested it to be sure it… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Airline luggage fees have been on my mind this week ever since I spoke to Scott Jordan about his dealing’s with Delta Sky magazine. (Heck, Scott even announced a new product, the Carry-On Coat to take things to the next level.) The fees for bags and extra weight keep growing and the free allotments keep diminishing. In a travel environment like this it is more important than ever to make sure your luggage doesn’t go over the weight limit. A new product makes it easier than ever. The Balanzza Mini, the lightest digital scale in the market, weighs less than one-third of a pound, features a large LCD and helps consumers avoid… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The world looked on when all 33 Chilean miners were brought to the surface safely there was much to celebrate. The world looked on and, for once, it was all good news. How often does THAT happen??? Then I was checking my Twitter feed and I saw this Tweet from Travis… It made me laugh. Then this morning I read on 9to5 Mac (image from there also) that Steve Jobs gave each of the miners an iPod. This was a nice gesture, but I think they would have been even more appreciated during the… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Amazon appears to have reached phase two in their sinister brilliant “rule the ebook world” plot. Phase one was to blanket every major smartphone platform with Kindle apps, plus lower the price of the Kindle to impulse territory. Phase two is to make it so easy to find and use Kindle books that it’s work to use anything else. That’s clearly the motivation behind their newest plan, where Verizon Android handsets are going to be pre-loaded with the Kindle app. Make it easy for the biggest selection of the best Android handsets in the US to use your app, and you seal up that much more marketshare. Kobo has been striking similar deals with HTC and Samsung… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

We’ve covered a lot of customized phones over the years.  From gold-plated to diamond encrusted, to just brands like Vertu and more.  But this customized 32 GB iPhone 4 from Stuart Hughes tops them all, and then some. Ringing in at a cool 8 million (you read right) dollars it features a bezel which is handmade from rose gold with approximately 500 individual flawless diamonds, which total over 100 ct.  The back plate of the phone is crafted from rose gold and the Apple logo features additional diamonds as well. Topping it all off is the iPhone 4′s home button, which is made from platinum and features a single 7.4ct pink diamond. The… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

At 1.25″ the 7.5 lbs ENVY 17 looks great and features a brushed aluminum chassis in carbon relic (metal). The laptop powerhouse is powered by a Core i5 or a Quad Core i7 processors. It also includes 1 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port, an optional Blu-ray disk, dual hard drive bays with an SSD option available, a backlit keyboard, a TrueVision HD webcam, a Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer, a mini DisplayPort, an HDMI port, Beats Audio and an optional, high-resolution, Full HD 17.3 HD+ LED (1920 x 1080) display. Here’s a picture of it in action that reveals just how impressive this computer is. The fully customizable 17.3″ HP ENVY… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Francis: Monday’s press conference marked the official announcement of Microsoft’s highly anticipated Windows Phone 7. Microsoft has officially been tooting their own horn in the past months about their new phone OS and hardware, claiming that this is the new vision of Microsoft Mobile devices. Judie: If you are one of the few who haven’t yet watched Steve Allen and company present Windows Phone 7, we’ve posted it here, or you can read the press conference transcript here. [iframe http://www.microsoft.com:80/presspass/silverlightApps/videoplayer3/standalone.aspx?contentID=wp7_unveil01&src=/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/channel.xml 640 360] The dust is finally… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

We are all feeling the financial pinch!    Blue Plate Special is a weekly review of bargain apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Nothing over $.99. I recently took my oldest son fishing with a buddy and his daughter.  This was not his first time fishing, but it was definitely our most fruitful adventure.  The kids were catching perch and bass as fast as we could get the bait wet and they were having a blast.  Luckily, we hooked onto a couple of larger bass and Peyton had to learn to fight and real a fish that could… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Sandisk has long produced the Fuze line of mp3 players and while they aren’t nearly as popular as Apple’s products, they do indeed have a following within certain communities.  Since Sandisk has long had compatibility with open codecs such as Ogg Vorbis , the Linux and Open Source community loves them.  Many of my friends have them and I purchased the last generation Fuze for my wife.  I was impressed with what Sandisk had done with the device as well as with its price.  Sandisk was nice enough to send me the new Fuze+ to review.  Did it improve upon the older device or did it take a step backward?  We’ll find out. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The addition of zoom functionality to the iPhone’s camera was welcomed when it was finally released. Although it’s now possible to zoom in on your subject when shooting pictures with the iPhone’s camera the distance you can close is somewhat limited. This 6X telescope with case for the iPhone 4 from USBfever.com solves that problem big time. With a 6 times zoom you’ll be able to shoot subjects that you can barely see with your naked eye.  It’s literally like sticking a pair of binoculars on the end of your iPhone. Inside the box you’ll find the case, lens, cleaning cloth and a neck strap to carry the lens on… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I really don’t know much about those sock puppets featured in the new Kia Sportage commercials and I am no expert in marketing but I do know a good thing when I see one, and the completely new-for-2011 Sportage compact CUV is a good thing. I recognize the Kia marketing team’s efforts and believe they have done wonders for the brand. That is not to take away from designers and engineers at the automaker, though, far from it. A clever commercial or two on national television is still not going to insure corporate success if the product does not stand up to consumer scrutiny. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have heaped tons of praise on failed developer Troika Games – ‘flawed brilliance’ is the best possible label for them. I have done retrospectives for their first game Arcanum, and their third and final game Bloodlines. The one I haven’t done yet was Temple of Elemental Evil, and that is only because with my CD copy I was unable to get it working properly without resorting to techniques resembling Necromancy, Blood Magic, or the Dark Side of the Force, depending on your particular RPG penchant. So I quit trying and left ToEE in the list with Wizardry VIII and (to a much lesser extent) Wizards & Warriors as games I wanted to replay… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

How many of you out there have old computers sitting somewhere in storage because you don’t have somewhere to throw them?  I’ve got one PC in my basement.  The traditional tower computer is made from a variety of plastic components that come d-day (destroy-day) end up clogging our landfills. Recompute is a Full Life Cycle Designed desktop computer that addresses sustainability during manufacturing, usage and disposal stages of its life. The project originated as a student thesis work in Industrial Design at the University of Houston. Recompute uses only three major electronic components: A motherboard with processor & memory, power supply, and a hard drive.  Wireless adapters and external hard drives can be plugged and unplugged… Continue reading on Gear Diary …