Another day, another free game on the Amazon Appstore for Android! Today it is the classic Bejeweled 2, one of the all-time leading ‘time sink’ games, now on Android … and for FREE! Here is the description: Gem Matching Puzzle Fun Bejeweled is back! The casual game that became a phenomenon a few years ago on the Web returns with this engaging sequel from the folks at PopCap Games. As you may know by now, Bejeweled is an immensely popular matching puzzle game with a great interface and addicting gameplay. Bejeweled 2 is simple, relaxing, and fun: The object of the game is to line up at least three identical gems in a Continue reading on Gear Diary …

  One of the best purchases I’ve made in recent months is the JawBone JamBox. Thomas got one over a year ago and almost convinced me to join him at the time. I didn’t and now know that I should have trusted him. The device is small, well-made, sounds great and has the added benefit of a built-in microphone so you can use it as a speakerphone too. I love it! So how could a competitor try to one up the device? We got word today on one such attempts and, truth be told, it looks great. The device, devices actually, come from SPAR (www.SPAR.com) and is called the ZEPHYR. The ZEPHYR comes… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

There’s not much to say, other than that owning this ceramic mug would be an absolute pleasure. Imagine the envious looks you would get in the office if this were sitting on your desk; imagine the fun you could have if you left this mug sitting on the break room counter, only to came back 10 minutes later to find different things sitting in between its lips. A stapler? Why not. Some rubber bands? Okay. Hey — not my sandwich! You can get your Face Mug at Uncommon Goods for $18. Order me one too, while you’re at it … pretty please. =)   &nbsp… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Image courtesy of TheBlackberryFix.com Now I am not a fan of voice-guided GPS navigation.  We’ve had that in our Van since 2000, and while Sami just loves it–her sense of direction is atrocious–I find it distracting and irritating.  So when first Garmin, and then various Smartphone apps became available, I was always in the minority wondering, “Yo, what’s the big deal?” But the fact of the matter is that it is a big deal for a lot of people.  I’m not selfish or self-absorbed enough to think that hey, just because I don’t like ‘em, no one needs ‘em.  No!  I’m broad-minded, baby!  And now Blackberry, via their Blackberry BetaZone, is offering version 3.0… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

SCOTTEVEST has long offered men’s hoodies, and although there were some styles that I liked more than others, there was no getting around the fact that they were and have always been cut for boxier bodies. Until now. Scott and Laura Jordan have just introduced the Women’s SeV Chloe Hoodie, which has obviously been made with a woman’s body in mind. What does that mean exactly? Well, for starters, there is a bit of tapering in the midsection; it’s not enough to squeeze you in two, and it’s not so much that it would make you look lumpy when carrying a few items in the hidden pockets SeV garments are known for, but it is enough that if one of your guy friends put it on he’d notice. There is just enough tapering to flatter a femme figure. Along with the black (Magic) version, the Chloe also comes in a most decidedly feminine color combination called Kiss, which the SeV site calls gray, but I think looks like a purplely-mocha with fuchsia trim. I was recently sent a Chloe hoodie in Kiss, and I have spent the last few days trying it out.  Could this be my new go-to hoodie? Read on to find out! The Hype The hoodie is [...]

Last week I noted that Atari was releasing two Dungeons & Dragons video game compilations, including some of the greatest games ever released. Here is a bit of what I said: Atari and Hasbro finally settled their Dungeons & Dragons squabbles earlier this year … unfortunately too late to help those who wanted to create additional content for games like Neverwinter Nights 2. But at least one good thing has come of it – Atari is releasing two awesome Dungeons & Dragons compilation packs called the Master Collection and Neverwinter Nights Complete. They contain some of the absolute best RPGs ever released! What I did NOT realize was that they would also… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I know you don’t want to think about it.  Maybe (like me) you’re Jewish, and it wearies you.  Maybe you’re some other non-Christian.  Maybe the commercialism drives you crazy, like Charlie Brown in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.  Maybe going to the store in the last two months of the year gives you the heebie-jeebies.  I know.  I sympathize.  Really I do. But let’s face it, gang:  it’s the holiday shopping season.  The time when you spend bucket loads of money.  So it’s enjoyable for me to be able to say, yo, here’s a chance to win some stuff for free.  Griffin is sponsoring a contest with lots o’ prizes, built around their various “appPowered” products.  You… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

In my family, it is family lore that “Doug remembers stuff”.  This isn’t necessarily a good thing–Doug often gets blamed when he forgets stuff (as we all do once in a while)–but in the main, I really appreciate having an unusually good memory.  For one thing, it means you win a lot of arguments with your Mom.  Ahem. But not everyone is so luck, and for those, the company with the most awesome name I have seen in a while–HAPPYneuron–is offering a new iPad app to help you improve your memory.  Your brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise, right?  MemTrax wants to help you do that.  The HAPPYneuron folks say In recognition Continue reading on Gear Diary …

It’s not often I do book reviews.  In fact, I’ve only done one other book review, and that was for Cooking for Geeks which wrapped my love of tech with my love of food.  In that book, there was a chef who shared recipes via Twitter.  In this book, by Don R. Crawley, we take sharing on Twitter to a new subject: Linux. The full title of the book is Tweeting Linux: 140 Linux Configuration Commands Explained in 140 Characters or less.  This book explores one of the things that, once you go beyond just installing Linux, you come to realize is invaluable — and that is the command line.   Yes I said the command line.  What is… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Pssst! Were you aware that Amazon is doing a Black Friday ‘buy one get one at 50% off ‘ sale on many popular video game titles? Well they are. Included are gaming titles like the phenomenal best-seller Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3; make note that the sale only applies to the games on this page’s list*. To Receive the Promotion:1. Add two games, referenced below, to your Shopping Cart via the “Add to Shopping Cart” button. 2. When you’re finished shopping on our site, click the… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I recently reviewed the unique Ribbz protective case for iPhone 4/4S and was impressed with the protection it provides without adding much bulk. (Click here to read the entire review of the white Ribbz case.) The company was generous enough to send an extra case, this one in red, for us to give away to a lucky reader. I could not make myself go all in with a true test until the case took a big drop on accident. When I am driving, I have a terrible habit of laying my phone in my lap so when getting out of the vehicle, the phone is often sent flying onto the pavement below Continue reading on Gear Diary …

(Maybe Agatha could help? [Girl Genius by Phil Foglio, all rights reserved]) Looking for information on science?  You have to be careful; there’s a lot of dangerous mis-information out there.  You probably don’t want to listen to this guy, even if he does have a master’s degree (“IN SCIENCE!”): And I think it goes without saying you don’t want to trust this dude, either: But where should you go?  Who should you ask?  It’s confusing!  But worry no more!  Bill Nye, The Science Guy, is here to help! Launching  November 16th at the Toshiba Innovation Facebook page (facebook.com/ToshibaInnovation).  Check it out, before you get blinded . . . by SCIENCE!  I’ll let them tell it, since I’ve wasted enough of your time today already: Could a new Facebook App be the answer to many of those age-old questions about science? Bill Nye the Science Guy says yes it can – and he’s teaming up with Toshiba and The Planetary Society to do just that! The new Bill Nye: Consider the Following on Toshiba Vision Facebook app, launching  November 16th at the Toshiba Innovation Facebook page (facebook.com/ToshibaInnovation), lets visitors use a fun app to submit any science question they would like [...]

From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: Is there a lover of leather in your life? If so, here are five gifts with which you can’t go wrong. The Orbino Padova 2 Crocodile iPad 2 Case: Yeah, at $689.00 this iPad 2 case is a splurge but it is handcrafted from Crocodile and is a stunner. Judie has one and loves it. Here’s a video of the case. Gorgeous isn’t it? If that is too rich for you, then you can go with a Padova for iPad 2 made from standard leather. It costs $209.00 and is also a gorgeous case you or a loved one will use proudly… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

Some weeks, USBFever cranks out so much stuff, it’s hard to keep up; other weeks, not so much.    Which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to their web site and check stuff out; the sheer plethora of stuff is worth it, in and of itself.  But this week, we’ve got a short list, including the above-displayed case for the iPad 2. And without further ado, the list of USBFever releases for this week is: Wireless AV Output (to TV) for iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch 4 eggshell Pearl for iPhone 4S / 4 Stand type Leather Skin Hard Case for iPad 2 &nbsp… Continue reading on Gear Diary …

I loved reviewing Gear4′s UnityRemote and continue to use and enjoy it. Now they have come up with a new “appcessory” called PocketLoops. PocketLoops is a “portable music creation studio for iPhone and iPod touch”. As the company explains, An innovative platform for the musically-minded, PocketLoops is a powerful tool that combines app-based software with advanced hardware, allowing musicians to build their own loops, remix them into full tracks and share them with friends. The hardware is $79.99. The app that turns the hardware into an “appcessory” is available from the iTunes App Store. You can learn more here on the Gear4 website.… Continue reading on Gear Diary …