On February 11, Nokia and Microsoft made a major announcement that Nokia would be adopting Windows Phone as its primary smartphone strategy which meant they would be building hardware that would run the Windows Phone Operating System. This was huge news for both Nokia and for Microsoft, and now things are finally starting to happen. Early today, Nokia World 2011 kicked off in London. First up was the introduction of four “Asha” or “Hope” models aimed at consumers in developing countries that want smartphones but don’t have a lot of money. Nokia’s goal is to help a billion extra people who who don’t currently have access connect to the internet using phones that look… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Never one to shy away from any opportunity to put their games on sale, Gameloft announced they are having a Halloween game sale. They are featuring 6 games for iPhone and iPad, and 3 games for the half-dozen Android phones actually ‘compatible’ with their stuff! Here are the details from their blog: We decided to celebrate Halloween the only way it should be: with a scary contest and terrifying sales! This year all we have for you is treats, so be ready to celebrate during one full week! For your first treat participate in our Trick or Treat contest and get a chance to win an iPad 2 or a Samsung Galaxy Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I have to make a quick trip up to Boston to see a few people. I was hoping to take the train but the schedule just doesn’t work. The same was true for flights. As a result, I’ll be driving to Boston shortly and then, later tonight, making my way back home. The trip is long enough on its own without my taking any wrong turns so I want/need a good GPS program. I looked at all my options and decided to go with TeleNav’s offering. The app now comes with voice-guidance and, thanks to competition in the GPS app market… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Love the look, ease of use and small footprint of an all-in-one desktop? If so, today’s Gear Deal is for you. Our Gear Sponsor has pointed us toward the 23″ Lenovo IdeaCentre B520 1080p All-in-One Multi-touch PC. The IdeaCentre B520 is powered by Intel’s 2011 2nd Generation Core i3 / i5 / i7 “Sandy Bridge” CPUs. There are a variety of deals on a host of configurations and you can get the computer for prices as low as $879.20. Better still, the computer will even ship for free. Details, this hot deal and other configurations can all be found here on the deal page. Gear Deal: Lenovo IdeaCentre B520 23″ 1080p All-in-one Multi-touch Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I recently reviewed Stand O’Food 3, the fun time management game from G5 Entertainment. I also noted that G5 planned to give the original Stand O’Food away for free for a limited time if enough people ‘Liked’ the page on Facebook. Guess what?!? Here’s what: Stand O’Food for iPhone, fan-favorite mix of strategy and puzzle, is going free through October 30, 2011. About the game: Stand O’Food is an original, fast-paced restaurant challenge with millions of players worldwide. Feed a host of hungry patrons before they leave in a huff! Slap together burgers and cook up some bacon as quickly as you can! But Continue reading on Gear Diary …

While it seems too often lately the ‘free app of the day’ at the Amazon Appstore has been a mediocre $0.99 game that is of questionable value even for free, there are still gems like THIS that roll along! This $15 app is perhaps the best office suite available for your Android device! Here is the description: Just in case you need to bring the office home with you, OfficeSuite Pro is a complete feature-rich mobile office. When you can’t get it done between nine to five, OfficeSuite Pro makes your job as efficient and painless as possible. Full-Featured Office This office productivity suite has everything you need from mobile Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Are you concerned kids toys coddle them too much? They’re all bright colors and happy people, but what’s the world REALLY like? Playmobil doesn’t want kids to just assume the world is all animal nurseries and magic princess castles-there’s a serious side too. So serious, in fact, that they want kids to play Security Checkpoint, just like mom and dad do at the airport! No, this isn’t a joke. It’s a real Playmobil set. Before you buy, though, be sure to check the reviews: 3.0 out of 5 stars Great lesson for the kids!, September 9, 2005 By loosenut (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Playmobil Security Check Continue reading on Gear Diary …

There is no denying that our kids are growing up in a constantly changing digital world. My two boys have developed the same connection with gadgets and digital devices as I have, only at a much younger age. I have been careful when turning them loose with my devices but often let them play with the iPad or iPhone, and they love it. Since they could barely walk, they have been able to use our IOS devices easily and without much instruction. While most of us remember the first time we used a TRS 80 or Apple IIe in school, today’s children won’t even remember a time without a touch screen and tablets. I… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

A phone as awesome as the iPhone 4S ought to have a case that is equally awesome. Right? So when I knew my iPhone 4S was on the way, I reached out to Element Case to see what they recommended. The response? The company’s Vapor Comp would be just the thing! We’ve had a chance to check our Element Case’s offerings before but the Vapor Comp offered something new. It LOOKS like the Vapor we previously reviewed, but it has an entire non-metallic side that ensures the best signal strength possible. It also has a new bumper-type insert running along the inside of the metal frame to provide even more protection… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Sarah and I didn’t have a landline for a long time. If people needed to reach us, they could call our cell phones. However, when we switched cable providers this summer, we found it was one of those “it’s cheaper to get the phone+WiFi+cable” bundle. Great, but we weren’t about to give away the new phone number to anyone, since people knew to reach us on our cell phone numbers or my Google Voice number. But it was handy to have a dedicated handset…that’s where the ObiTalk Obi110 comes in. First, the ObiTalk service does a great deal more than just Google Voice. A LOT more. But let’s start with my primary use, and… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I doubt anyone would question that young people use social media more than anyone else – nor would there be surprise that college-age students are at the vanguard of usage. But what about their schools? Are old-guard schools adapting to using the internet in novel ways, or simply using it to advertise events? A new infographic from ‘Best Education Sites’ looks deep into these questions and more! Here is the infographic, but head to the main site for more details and resources. It is fascinating stuff! Created by: Best Education Sites Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I remember hearing The Smiths back in college when they had first come out, but since I was already deep into my avant-garde jazz I never paid all that much attention to them aside from noting the catchy jangly tunes. Later when my (future) wife and I started dating, I discovered that she was a big fan of The Smiths and had a bunch of their stuff on tape. Fast forward twenty-something years and we still listen to those same tapes and vinyl and a few digital songs I bought years ago and occasionally come across songs on Slacker. But a month or so ago my wife had ‘November Spawned a Monster’… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Fall is upon us, but there are still plenty of great days left for grilling while tailgating at the game or barbecuing at home! If you want to extend your summer and bring a little bit of head-banging to your grill, then look no further than the BBQ Guitar Spatula and the BBQ Rockin’ Fork available from GAMA-GO. Both the spatula and fork are full-size heavy stainless steel utensils, and they can be had for $20 each. As an aside, they will go perfectly with the Roast My Weenie grill tool that Wayne posted about some time ago.   &nbsp… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

If you like gaming today’s deal is for you. Yes, our Gear Sponsor has a deal on the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 console game special edition Xbox. The bundle includes a customized Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Console, 2 Modern Warfare 3 Wireless Controllers, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Game, 320GB Hard Drive, avatar items, Wired Headset, and more. This is a pre-ordered deal only. With it you get –- a Xbox 360 320GB Console Modern Warfare 3 Bundle (model no. S4K-00024) and a $30 eGift Card for just $399.99. It even comes with free shipping. The game releases on November 8, 2011. Details and ordering can be found Continue reading on Gear Diary …

My wallet is too fat. I can’t speak for women, but a ton of guys I know suffer from Fat Wallet Syndrome.  It’s almost unavoidable–credit cards, health insurance cards, dental insurance cards, AAA cards, money, ATM receipts, it goes on and on.  Heck, once you add family pictures into the mix, you have one fat friggin’ wallet, even when you don’t have any money.  And heaven help me if I ever actually kept it in my pocket–instant sciatic nightmare. Sam Anna wants to help, with their new “unpickpocketable” wallet with the option to attach it through a belt loop.  Sam Anna says: Back pain afflicts 27 million adults in the U.S. each year and many Continue reading on Gear Diary …