Since the advent of the web there have been sites like ‘Santa Trackers’ and ‘Naughty or Nice’ tests that would tell you about your behavior based on answering some questions. And since these were aimed at kids they would never ask anything that would allow a truly evil path. But what would happen if someone were to analyze your Facebook history for the past year? If you head to Honda’s Facebook site, you can start the ‘NaughtyOrNice-a-Tron’, which will dig through everything you’ve done on Facebook this year and then spit out an answer about how you have behaved. It seems like innocent fun, but then after I clicked… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

If you read any of the articles on Google Books, it seems the one reason everyone scrapes up that makes Google Books better than Amazon is reading on the web. Of course, Amazon moves quicker than Usain Bolt, so they’ve already announced “Kindle for the Web”. Specifically, it allows any site to sell Kindle books, plus you’ll be able to read those books without installing any software. It’s all very exciting, except that Kobo’s been offering it for the last year! It’s a bit amusing that pundits have been screeching about how Google has this big leg up, when it’s not a new feature to the ebook world. Sampling books online is a great feature, but… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Now speaking personally, I don’t use those Lt. Uhura ear-plug Bluetooth headsets.  I’ve got nothing against them; I mostly use my BT headphones for listening to music and audio books and podcasts, and so don’t really have a need for a one-eared headset, if you see what I mean.  But I do very much admire the design of some of the new generation of headsets–I’m glad to see that we’ve gone past the “form follows function” stage, and are adding a little style and interest to something that could all-too-easily be utilitarian. A good example of this principle is the Jabra Stone 2.  And in the category of “Doug likes to tell you about free… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’ve mentioned before that I quite like the Speck product line.  I waited extra to get a Speck case for my iPhone 4, and I’ve been quite happy with it.  I think they have solid cases with interesting looks and designs, and are always worth a look-see whenever I’m thinking I need a new case. Speck has just come out with a new flip-back style CandyShell case for the iPhone.  This case has a flippy-flap kinda thing on it to allow you to keep your precious gadget safe, but also dock it at need.  It looks like another winner from Speck, so if you’re the docking kind, and looking for a solution, you should surf… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

We covered this Gear Deal the other day but it is worth mentioning again since it is still available but is expiring soon. In other words, if this deal that our Gear Sponsor has found on a 42″ Sharp HDTV looks good to you GRAB IT NOW! It will be gone before you know it. The Sharp LC-42SB48UT is a 42″ 1080p LCD HDTV. It features full HD 1080p resolution, has 4 HDMI inputs, provides a 6 ms Pixel Response Time, and more. Best of all… this isn’t some no-name TV… no, this HDTV is from Sharp The TV is normally $949 but with this Gear Deal you will get $480 off. That brings… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One of my “must-have” iPad apps is LogMeIn Ignition. At $29.99 the app is one of the priciest on my iPad but it is also one of the apps I use on a pretty much daily basis. Ignition lets you- …control your PC or Mac from anywhere, with a simple touch on your iPad or iPhone. So you’ll be able to go anywhere without worrying about leaving anything behind. All your information is always just a touch away. Sure there are other apps that let you access your desktop remotely but, having tried them all, LogMeIn Ignition stands heads and shoulders above the rest. And for the next two days you can get it for… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Image courtesy of Engadget There has been some sporadic PSP news this week, but not until it all piled up was it worth mentioning. Some would say that there is little related to the PSP that is news-worthy at all … and I think that is part of the point. Either way, the PSP remains one of two major traditional console-style handheld game systems, and one of two systems from industry giant Sony … and on that alone is worth tracking. So here goes! Gamers Abandon PSP & DS for Smartphones This is pretty much one of those ‘no, really?’ statements based on the numbers I have been writing about here for… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

If you have heard of Corning Incorporated, it might have been for CorningWare, Corelle or Pyrex dishes in the past; perhaps for the glass on that big screen TV; or even as the ones behind Verizon’s FTTH (Fiber to the Home) initiative; or possibly you knew it was behind the catalytic converter in your car; or maybe you know about Gorilla Glass in so many phones and tablets. But you probably don’t think of Corning as a laser company. Yet one of the big ‘cool tech’ stories from last year, the Microvision SHOWWX projector that was going to offer the ability to simply hook up to your iPhone and do a corporate… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I reviewed the JAVOedge Axis case for the iPad back in July of this year. The case, which allows the user to view their iPad’s screen in either the portrait or the landscape position, is still one of the more unique designs on the market. The newly released Editor Axis Case builds on the original design and adds a few welcomed changes as well. The Editor Axis case is made from a synthetic leather that’s pebbled. In addition to looking good the pebbled texture offers a nice feel and added grip. It features a magnetic closure flap that secures the top flap shut when you’re transporting your iPad. I did find the flap… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Just the other day I was reading about “National Opt Out Day” (which was a major fizzle), and wondering if, should I have the bad luck to be thumbed out of line for the groping pat down, would I have the nerve to object.  And thinking that, jeez, getting through the airport these days–especially in the heavy Christmas travel season–really is a pain in the tuckus, isn’t it? Well, Skooba would like to make it a slightly smaller pain in the tuckus, with their new set of checkpoint-friendly travel bags.  And to help entice you during the holiday buying season, until 12/12 (that’s Sunday for those of you scoring at home), you… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

When an automaker has 96 percent name recognition in a vehicle, it is no wonder you keep that name the same despite changing the game. Ford has done that with the 2011 Explorer. The marque is third in consumer recognition behind the tying Mustang and F-series pickups and once sold upwards of 430,000 units in a single year for this popular sport utility vehicle. Waking up from dreaming of the good old days Ford found consumers are not drawn to the platform as they once were, no more moths to the flame so to speak. Today, Ford explains, buyers are repulsed by… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Image courtesy of Tokyoflash The amount of new watches being put out by Tokyoflash this holiday season is pretty spectacular. They must have their elves working overtime there to get us the latest and greatest designs in ultimate geek apparel. In the past two weeks, 4 different watches were announced and now we have a 5th design called the Kisai Satellite. The Satellite is similar to the RPM in that it is the second user submitted design to emerge from the concept blog. From looks alone I have to say the Satellite is one of my favorite designs from Tokyoflash. It almost reminds me of the wrist computer the Predator has that he used to… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Used to be, when you did something with your Dad, it was working on your pinewood derby racer together, or handing him the vise grips while he worked on the furnace, or holding the ladder while he cleaned the gutters out, or some durn thing.  It was Guy Bonding Time. Well this is the 21st Century, the age of the nerd, baby!  And now bonding time means, “Did you already run a compile on that new game code, Junior?  I have some new mods to put into the next rev.”  That’s right, developing software together! ASnd now the fruits of this nerdly collaboration for the iPhone are yours for the asking (well, for the… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

At the end of last week I was thinking that either Valve was done with Steam sales for the year or they were cooking up one last massive onslaught! Turns out I was wrong on both counts – they have just kicked off a two week long ‘Treasure Hunt’ with two massive prizes and loads of great prizes along the way! Also, I take a look at the latest moves from online gaming system OnLive. Steam Treasure Hunt Leave it to Steam! Everyone else is having one sale or a giveaway or just doing fun stuff or some alternating combination of these, and they pop out a combined sale and giveaway that… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have been geeking all over the upcoming movie TRON: Legacy and the Daft Punk soundtrack released today. And that as is it should be. Yet I haven’t mentioned the video game being released alongside the movie, TRON: Evolution. And really, that doesn’t make any sense. After all, if you asked me to name my favorite arcade games of the 80′s, both TRON and Discs of TRON would be in my Top 10 (with Discs of TRON and Sinistar my top 2!), and I professed my love for the 2003 story-driven FPS TRON 2.0 here. So now it is time to correct the situation and give some… Continue reading on Gear Diary …