A new little app called iCarBlackBox caught my eye this week. It was introduced by a company of the same name and the press release from its spokesperson even included a YouTube video link. Now, besides the fact that the movie clip includes what appears to be bootlegged copyrighted crash scenes, the information provided delivers some of the bad news about this product. First, one must activate the app on the smartphone each time you prepare to hit the road. And the only thing that will be recorded on video is what is in view of the lens. If you want to record rear-enders as well, then a second smartphone in the rear glass will… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Johan with ProClip’s new MultiStand for iPad One of the friends we got to hang out with at CES was Johan van Mierlo of MobilityMinded. Johan spent the better part of one evening explaining to me why I NEED to get a Windows Phone 7 handset. Truth be told, it was the first time I had seen and used one up close and I WAS impressed. The platform, while not yet mature, has a lot to offer and feels quite solid. Well Johan has written up a post listing, Our Wish List for the Windows Phone 7 Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Hard as it was to believe last fall, we learned that Duke Nukem Forever was actually going to see the light of day, and supposedly in 2011. Today 2k Games announced this … but last night GameInformer got the jump on them, including a quote from Duke’s ‘savior’ Randy Pitchford: “Somehow the guys at Game Informer magazine discovered Duke Nukem Forever’s launch date before I did,” joked Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software and executive producer of Duke Nukem Forever. “But I cannot imagine any better video game news source team than Game Informer to reveal the moment of truth for the most inconceivable, incorrigible and inspiring turn around story in the Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I know that there are tens of thousands of new iPad owners since early this morning for each and every new iPad app or accessory will bring a sense of wonder. And for good reason. There are so many applications and so many accessories available for the iPad and so many of them have their own unique way of bringing more functionality to the wonder device. We’ve reviewed a lot of iPad cases here on the site so there are many from which to choose but this particular case surprised me. While it has familiar features, it has a unique design and is made of the material that I have not encountered being used… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One of the companies that I had a chance to speak with briefly at CES was BlueAnt. The company has recently released a slew of new products. Among them are some Bluetooth headsets and speakerphones. There is the S4 Speakerphone… The new S3 Compact… The Q2 Smart Bluetooth headest… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Big Fish Games is a great source for casual games for the Mac or PC, and many of their games are now coming to iOS devices as well. One of their best is Hidden Mysteries: Buckingham Palace, a hidden object game in the I Spy style (as opposed to games like Mystery of the Crystal Portal). The game was runner-up Best Travel Adventure Game for in 2008! Here is the description: In Hidden Mysteries ™: Buckingham Palace you must peel back the curtains on one of the grandest buildings in the western world to look for treasure and uncover its deepest secrets. Learn fun facts about several royal locations while you search Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Even though I think the names of the various Android devices have gotten a bit silly (look at this one!  and don’t blame PDAir; they’re just making the cases!), and even though I currently use an iPhone, I am glad to see the competition.  Without competition, the tech sector will die a slow, lingering death.  And I want my devices to get better, not die, don’t you? And on that note, allow me to bring you some of PDAir’s new cases for the Samsung Google Nexus S GT-i9020T (see what I mean about the names?). They have a buncha new cases for you, and the only way to find out if they’re the right ones… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I’m not really big on adventure games most of the time, honestly–unless you consider Myst an adventure game, I guess.  I have been sucked in recently by a game called “Treasure Island: The Golden Bug” on my iPad, though, and it has helped me see some of the appeal. In that same general vein, Coladia–who have produced their own Treasure Island–”Destination: Treasure Island”– as well “Secret of the Lost Cavern” and “Return to Mysterious Island” (all in HD)–is adding “The Secrets of Da Vinci HD” to their iPad gaming line.  Coladia describes the game as “a major investigation and thrilling mystical quest into the heart of the Renaissance.”  I’m more of a steampunk/Sherlock Holmes… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Having just spent a week out of the country lamenting the fact that the WiFi here is, at best, hit or miss, I am now a big proponent of owning an unlocked GSM world-phone. Think about it… Instead of relying on local WiFi or paying your normal carrier some exorbitant fee for the “right” to use your phone abroad (have you LOOKED at what AT&T wants to charge for overseas data???) you simply get to your destination, pop in a local sim card and you are good to go. The approach makes a lot of sense but since this won’t be your primary phone you certainly don’t want to pay a lot for it. That’s… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

One thing I have a ton of are USB keys or thumb drives as you might call them  However, there is one that I don’t have.  That would be the new Luxury USB key manufactured by LaCie and designed by silver manufacturer Christofle that goes by the name Galet. Just in time for Valentine’s day, LaCie announces a stylish new way to store and access your digital files with the Galet, a hand-crafted, silver-plated USB key. LaCie joined forces with Christofle, a French luxury brand specializing in silver, to change the definition of personal technology. The Galet USB key not only functions as a 4GB mobile storage solution, but also as an elegant accessory, bringing convenience and luxury to your Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Tonight on The Office our friends at Kobo snuck in a great bit of product placement! I won’t spoil the whole scene, but it’s very amusing and manages to add in a pitch about how many books the Kobo Reader can hold! We’re working on getting a screenshot, but until then head over to the official Office site to catch the episode online!… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I love my Livescribe Smartpen and really don’t know what I would do without it at this point. The company has increased the capacity of the newest version of the pen, the Echo, but, to be honest, most people can get away with one with less on-board storage. If you are one of them we have some good news for you. The 2GB version of the Livescribe Pulse (the prior generation of the hardware) is now available for just $99.99. If you have been considering getting a smartpen this just might make your decision a bit easier. For more information or to order one visit the Livescribe site Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It has been a while since I have used a desktop computer, and even longer since I used a desktop computer running Windows. Truth be told, the last time I had the opportunity to use a Windows desktop computer it was not the most pleasing experience. Yes, it was in the days of Vista, and despite decent hardware I felt like the computer was more trouble than it was worth. With that in mind, when I had the opportunity to review the ThinkCentre M75e Small Form Factor computer from Lenovo, I was initially a bit conflicted. On the one hand, I am probably not the best person to review a Windows desktop thanks to my history… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

The TikTok Multi-Touch Watch Band that took-off on Kickstarter.com is now shipping. The goal was to raise $15,00 in pre-production pledges and, in the end, they raised over $940,000. With that kind of money and press it would have been kinda rotten if the actual product was … well, rotten. Well mine came today and it is anything but. This band actually makes the iPod nano look and feel LIKE a watch. It is easy to pop the mp3 player in, and it doesn’t feel all that bulky. Continue reading on Gear Diary …

There are plenty of companies that make extended batteries for iPhones; after all the iPhone’s battery life is notoriously bad, especially when running WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G at the same time. Everyone who owns an iPhone becomes a master of battery management by necessity, and after their first bad experience of having a low battery at a critical time, many will invest in at least one extended battery or extra charging cable. One of the most unobtrusive ways to maintain a charge is to keep the iPhone in an extended battery case, and while there are plenty of extended battery cases on the market to choose from, the Tekkeon myPower for iPhone 4 Continue reading on Gear Diary …