Gear Diary » Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 mGifts Organizes Your Last-Minute Shopping Frenzyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/mgifts-organizes-your-last-minute-shopping-frenzy/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/mgifts-organizes-your-last-minute-shopping-frenzy/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:15:03 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174891

Let's say that you're the type of individual who likes to wait until the last minute to do your holiday shopping (in other words, there's a strong chance you're a guy). Or maybe for you, it's just not the holiday season unless you find yourself in a crowded shopping mall, just a few days before Christmas, surrounded by grouchy, inconsiderate fellow shoppers. In these situations, you need to be ready, organized, and have a plan. Otherwise, you're sure to leave out a favorite aunt or niece, in which case you had better just slink into the background and hide behind the punch bowl before all heck breaks loose at your family holiday gathering. Well, save Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/mgifts-organizes-your-last-minute-shopping-frenzy/feed/ 0 Review: mSecure 3.0 Password Protectionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/14/review-msecure-3-0-password-protection/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/14/review-msecure-3-0-password-protection/#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:00:43 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=163978

I have been using the same password protection program for quite a few years. I've thought about switching on a number of occasions, but it's always is too much of a hassle, or the software that interests me isn't available on enough platforms. So when I was recently offered an opportunity to review mSeven Software's mSecure 3.0 I was at least a little ambivalent about it. However, I figured it certainly wouldn't hurt to review the software; I would just create some dummy data, load it on a test device, put it through its paces, do a brief write up, and be done. I was surprised, though, to find that I actually liked mSecure Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/14/review-msecure-3-0-password-protection/feed/ 0 Quick Impressions: Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket Speedshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/07/quick-impressions-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-speeds/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/07/quick-impressions-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-speeds/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:30:25 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=167543 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/07/quick-impressions-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-speeds/feed/ 0 AT&T Lets Us Down Againhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/att-lets-us-down-again/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/att-lets-us-down-again/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:30:31 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=164735

Ah, AT&T. So, I'm sitting here staring at my shiny new iPhone 4S. It's unusable right now, thanks to AT&T's lack of preparedness. They've had several years to figure out how to handle the spike in the load on their servers that accompanies the launch of a new iPhone model. Yet they still manage to hack up a hairball when it comes time to process orders and activate phones. Apparently, I'm not the only one, either. Several blogs are reporting AT&T customers are experiencing widespread problems with activations. When AT&T carried the iPhone exclusively, I could at least understand that they may have felt that they could get away with inconveniencing their customers. If Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/att-lets-us-down-again/feed/ 0 mSecure 3.0 Puts a Blowfish in the Cloudhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/msecure-3-0-puts-a-blowfish-in-the-cloud/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/msecure-3-0-puts-a-blowfish-in-the-cloud/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:15:59 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=160357
Largely because I tend to switch devices and platforms regularly, I keep coming back to the same password manager - who for now shall remain nameless - because it is available for Blackberry, Android, and iOS devices, as well as having desktop applications for both Windows and Mac OSX. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing software from my perspective, but it works well enough. Syncing my mobile devices does require that I sync with the same computer, but I can't sync between computers. Cloud syncing isn't an option.
I may have to consider switching now, however, as mSeven Software’s mSecure 3.0 ups the ante by combining software that works across multiple platforms with cloud syncing capabilities. mSecure 3.0
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/msecure-3-0-puts-a-blowfish-in-the-cloud/feed/ 0 WritePad Expands Its Vocabularyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/14/writepad-expands-its-vocabulary/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/14/writepad-expands-its-vocabulary/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:30:26 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=159914

I've written about WritePad in the past, noting how useful it was for taking notes on the iPad. I've actually used it quite a bit in meetings at work and folks are usually blown away by its ability to capture my handwriting and convert it into text. One of the critical elements of successful handwriting recognition is the dictionary used by the program; no matter how good your handwriting is, if WritePad cannot find a word to match it, you're out of luck. PhatWare, the makers of WritePad, recently released an update that enhances the software's dictionary. The update now allows users to import new words to the dictionary from the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/14/writepad-expands-its-vocabulary/feed/ 0 Todo Comes to the Machttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/24/todo-comes-to-the-mac/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/24/todo-comes-to-the-mac/#comments Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:30:36 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=153742

  For a pretty fair while I was using Toodledo to manage my tasks. I was never all that crazy about their native application for iOS, so after doing a little scouting around, I settled on Appigo’s Todo app. It was aesthetically pleasing, it had good features, and I liked it. Sometimes, though, I wished there was a companion way to manage all of those to do items natively on my laptop. Sure, that cloud stuff is nice and all, but it doesn't fit every situation or every need. I must not have been the only person thinking that way, because now Appigo has brought a version of Todo to the Mac. According to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/24/todo-comes-to-the-mac/feed/ 0 Shine a Light on It with iShuttrhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/20/shine-a-light-on-it-with-ishuttr/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/20/shine-a-light-on-it-with-ishuttr/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:15:41 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=150116

Okay, we all know and recognize that the cameras built into our phones are not the best around. Could we do better with a dedicated point-and-shoot? Sure. How about a full-blown SLR? Yeah, of course, stupid question. But the reality is that we use the cameras that are included with our phones because they are convenient. We don’t have to carry extra crap with us; they’re just there, a constant, comforting presence. The best camera you have is the one you have with you. There, I said it. But, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be made better than they are just stock out of the box. Hence, iShuttr, a new start-up that has Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/20/shine-a-light-on-it-with-ishuttr/feed/ 0 Giveacar.co.uk Helps You, uh, Walk off into the Sunsethttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/19/giveacar-co-uk-helps-you-uh-walk-off-into-the-sunset/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/19/giveacar-co-uk-helps-you-uh-walk-off-into-the-sunset/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 19:30:48 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=145547

We here at Gear Diary thought we’d make you aware of a way to rid yourself of technology; automotive technology, that is. Old, unwanted automotive technology, of course. (You don’t really think a site called GEAR DIARY is going to encourage you to dump your technology and go all monk-like, do you?) If you have a car you are not using (or which is no longer usable), but aren’t sure of how best to dispose of it, Giveacar.co.uk (oh, yeah, and you need to be in the UK, did I mention that?) will help you dispose of your old or damaged car with the proceeds going to charity.  Aside from that whole doing-a-good-thing vibe Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/19/giveacar-co-uk-helps-you-uh-walk-off-into-the-sunset/feed/ 0 MLB At Bat 2011 Review Featured at AlliOSNewshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/07/mlb-at-bat-2011-review-featured-at-alliosnews/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/07/mlb-at-bat-2011-review-featured-at-alliosnews/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:45:16 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=138941

Our friend Clinton Fitch of ClintonFitch.com and AlliOSNews is a big baseball fan. And big fans need robust apps like MLB At Bat 2011 for iPad.  It was actually one of Clinton’s past reviews of this app that caused me to purchase it last year and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Now, as you read his review, you’ll need to bear in mind that he’s a Rangers fan and cut him some slack anyway. Sure, he thinks that his purchasing MLB At Bat 2010 was behind the Rangers' success last year, but that’s just being superstitious. Good thing that we fans of Chicago’s north siders are completely unaffected by superstitions Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/07/mlb-at-bat-2011-review-featured-at-alliosnews/feed/ 2 NewerTech Helps You Tear Apart Your iPhone Properlyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/04/newertech-helps-you-tear-apart-your-iphone-properly/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/04/newertech-helps-you-tear-apart-your-iphone-properly/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:00:23 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=138455

I’m not really one of those guys who likes to take apart my electronics to change, alter, or fix things. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things around my house on which I like to work, but electronics, no. So, I’m somewhat in awe of the folks who are willing to do such things. And if you’re inclined to mess around with the internals of your iPhone 4, then you may want to consider NewerTech’s new kit for dissassmbling your iPhone without marring it. The NewerTech 7 pc. Toolkit for iPhone 4 includes the following tools for easy DIY iPhone 4 servicing:
  • 5-point magnetized driver to access Apple proprietary designed TS1
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/04/newertech-helps-you-tear-apart-your-iphone-properly/feed/ 1 Gear Diary Rave: Gomadichttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/22/gear-diary-rave-gomadic/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/22/gear-diary-rave-gomadic/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:15:38 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=130016

I've been a fan of Gomadic chargers for several years. Like many of the other Gear Diary writers, I like to switch devices frequently, but replacing desk chargers, car chargers, sync cables, etc., for each gadget gets to be pretty expensive pretty quickly. With Gomadic's "tip exchange" technology, you keep the same charging cable, but change the tip at the end where it connects to the device.  Here's how they describe their products:
Don’t lug around cords for all of your devices. Buy one Gomadic cable, from retractable USBs to double car chargers and you’re set for years. Simply buy a new tip with each new device or upgrade and you’re ready to roll
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/22/gear-diary-rave-gomadic/feed/ 0 Sonos Gets Controlled by an Androidhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/15/sonos-gets-controlled-by-an-android/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/15/sonos-gets-controlled-by-an-android/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:30:58 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=135139

Those folks at Sonos just keep making it harder for me to resist purchasing one of their systems.  They release an iPhone app to remotely control their systems?  Okay, fine, but I switched to primarily using an Android device these days.  So, what do they go and do now?  They release an Android controller app, of course.  For free, nonetheless.  Geez. Oh, yeah, and they added a new feature to the controller: music voice search.  Now you can find any artist, album, or track using voice commands.  With the Sonos Controller for Android, you can choose the music and control the volume in as many rooms as you like (or, at least as many Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/15/sonos-gets-controlled-by-an-android/feed/ 1 Review: WritePad for Android has the Write Stuffhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/13/review-writepad-for-android-has-the-write-stuff/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/13/review-writepad-for-android-has-the-write-stuff/#comments Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:00:49 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=129694

[Sigh]  I miss Graffiti. I was pretty fast writing with Graffiti on my old Palm devices. I've never been very speedy typing with my thumbs. I carried a BlackBerry for years because that is what my employer supported, but I never was all that fast (or accurate) typing with a thumb keyboard.  The BlackBerry keyboards were great, but, you see, I'm just not all that coordinated. Of course, more recently voice recognition has gotten much better and is now being deployed for mobile devices - and I love it - but still, there are situations in which you just aren't free to dictate your emails out loud. A while back, I wrote a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/13/review-writepad-for-android-has-the-write-stuff/feed/ 4 Review: HanDBase for Androidhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/23/review-handbase-for-android/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/23/review-handbase-for-android/#comments Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:00:21 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=121266

HanDBase is one of those mobile app titles that anyone who has been around mobile devices for a while will surely recognize. HanDBase, by DDH Software, was introduced for Palm OS initially, eventually migrating to Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, iOS, and now Android. While I don't use database programs extensively, I have used one program or another for a long while to track media collections or other forms of inventories.

If you're new to HanDBase, it is a relational database program with cross-platform availability, including Mac and PC desktop versions with a sync conduit.  The desktop software has the ability to import either comma separated or tab delimited files, which are then stored as

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/23/review-handbase-for-android/feed/ 6 Ilium Software Launches eWallet GO! – Their First App for WP7http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/10/ilium-software-launches-ewallet-go-their-first-app-for-wp7/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/10/ilium-software-launches-ewallet-go-their-first-app-for-wp7/#comments Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:00:12 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=126383

Well established mobile software companies are slowly rolling out apps for Windows Phone 7.  Ilium Software, a long-standing mobile software company, has just released its first WP7 app, eWallet GO! (the ! is theirs - not [necessarily] an indication of my excitement). eWallet is a secure information manager (password protector, etc.) that has been around for quite a few years, expanding to new platforms as they are introduced.  It's an old favorite of many - I myself have used eWallet on several different platforms in the past. eWallet GO! offers over 30 card templates, ranging from credit cards to website passwords to contact information. Your information is protected by 256-bit AES encryption Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/10/ilium-software-launches-ewallet-go-their-first-app-for-wp7/feed/ 1 Vision Objects Makes Their CES Debuthttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/08/vision-objects-makes-their-ces-debut/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/08/vision-objects-makes-their-ces-debut/#comments Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:45:13 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=126149

Vision Objects has been developing and refining handwriting recognition technology since 1998, with their software being partnered with some well known products, such as the Livescribe pen series so well loved by several Gear Diary writers (including yours truly).  Despite being well known for their handwriting recognition prowess, which is available in different forms for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Android, Symbian, and Windows Mobile, this is the first year that Vision Objects set up shop at CES. To coincide with its first CES appearance, Vision Objects is introducing several new products.  As described by their press release:
  • MyScript Studio 1.2 - a notes management and form application featuring new functionalities
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/08/vision-objects-makes-their-ces-debut/feed/ 6 How Many Bloggers Does It Take to Screw in an Archerfish Solo?http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/06/how-many-bloggers-does-it-take-to-screw-in-an-archerfish-solo/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/06/how-many-bloggers-does-it-take-to-screw-in-an-archerfish-solo/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:30:37 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=125618

“Installing Archerfish Solo is now as easy as screwing in a light bulb – literally.”  Okay, now we’re talking... a product tag line that promises something I can handle.  No drills, hammers, screwdrivers, or circular saws. The Archerfish Solo is advertised as "thinking camera" featuring "built-in Homeland Security technology" that allows it to interpret what it sees, so it only shows you what you want to see - those types of activities that made you install a security camera in the first place - rather than making you weed through hours of uneventful video. Cernium Corporation, makers of the Archerfish Solo, is showing off its latest product at CES. The Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/06/how-many-bloggers-does-it-take-to-screw-in-an-archerfish-solo/feed/ 0 Edmunds Drives an Apple (iPhone, Touch, or iPad)http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/28/edmunds-drives-an-apple-iphone-touch-or-ipad/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/28/edmunds-drives-an-apple-iphone-touch-or-ipad/#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:15:32 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=123338

I first gained access to the internet in the 90s, but it was - as you might expect - rather basic at the time.  One of the first sites that actually made the internet seem like more than an interesting novelty to me was Edmunds.com, which started in 1995.  Here we go... a site that I could actually USE for something; a service that was provided online and not just someone's homemade website with poorly chosen wallpaper that was inevitably disappointing once I was done waiting for it to download ONE. PAINFUL. IMAGE. AT. A. TIME. Well, Edmunds is still around today, of course, and they recently announced that they were making Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/28/edmunds-drives-an-apple-iphone-touch-or-ipad/feed/ 2 SplashID KeySafe Unlocks Your Cold, Security-Obsessed Hearthttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/12/splashid-keysafe-unlocks-your-cold-security-obsessed-heart/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/12/splashid-keysafe-unlocks-your-cold-security-obsessed-heart/#comments Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:30:25 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=120591

Well, now, what do we have here?  Generally a software company, SplashData has now taken one of their best known software products and merged it with a hardware product.  The SplashID Key Safe is a 2 GB USB drive made to fit on your keychain, but featuring a portable version of SplashData's well-known password protection program, SplashID.  We've reviewed various incarnations of SplashID on this site a number of times in the past and we've always had good impressions of it.  I've always liked SplashID because it's available for so many different platforms. The Key Safe includes many of the features of the desktop version of SplashID, such as:
  • The same
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/12/splashid-keysafe-unlocks-your-cold-security-obsessed-heart/feed/ 1 Now Your iPhone Nags You More Specificallyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/04/now-your-iphone-nags-you-more-specifically/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/04/now-your-iphone-nags-you-more-specifically/#comments Sat, 04 Dec 2010 13:00:02 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=119765

Electric Pocket seems to be on an updating roll.  Earlier this week, Doug posted about the new universal version of Electric Pocket's BugMe! app for iPhone and iPad. Now, it seems that another one of their iOS apps, Nag, has also received an update.   A few weeks back I did a quick review of Nag and liked it for its simplicity. Now, Nag has been updated to include a feature that adds a new customization option.  With the update, users can now change the alarm message and add text to remind you specifically why you're being nagged.   Nice! You can get Nag here in Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/04/now-your-iphone-nags-you-more-specifically/feed/ 1 SmirkAbout Skins Will Bring a Smile to Your Facehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/24/smirkabout-skins-will-bring-a-smile-to-your-face/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/24/smirkabout-skins-will-bring-a-smile-to-your-face/#comments Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:00:44 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=118785

I recall seeing an interview with Penn Gillette one time during which they happened to show his laptop, which was covered with stickers.  All sorts of stickers.  It was garish, but yet it fascinated me in a way because it was so individual in appearance. While I usually just use a clear, protective skin on my devices ('cause I'm just boring that way), I appreciate decorative skins that allow the owner to really show off their personality and distinguish their gadget from all of the others around them.  SmirkAbout, an Australian company, is one of the newer companies putting out interesting designs.  Their skins, which are non-adhesive, are available for over 500 devices, including Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/24/smirkabout-skins-will-bring-a-smile-to-your-face/feed/ 0 Gear Diary Giveaway: ListMonger for iPhone [Updated]http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/01/gear-diary-giveaway-listmonger-for-iphone/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/01/gear-diary-giveaway-listmonger-for-iphone/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:11:58 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=115979

Last week I reviewed ListMonger for the iPhone, which I found to be a great task manager with a lot of features, but that is still quite easy to use.  The developer, Paul, has been gracious enough to provide Gear Diary with an extra copy of ListMonger to give away.   If you think that you're in need of better list making tools, here's what you need to do to be eligible to win:  Just tell us in the comments below how you think ListMonger is going to save you from a desperate state of disorganization.  We'll pick a random comment and send the winner a code to redeem a copy of ListMonger. There Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/01/gear-diary-giveaway-listmonger-for-iphone/feed/ 11 Review: ListMonger for iPhonehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/22/review-listmonger-for-iphone/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/22/review-listmonger-for-iphone/#comments Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:00:31 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=109614

I recently received an email from Paul at Inspiretis, an iPhone app developer.  Having seen one of my reviews in which I confessed my obsession with list making, Paul offered to send me a review copy of his new iPhone app, ListMonger. I downloaded the app and I've been playing with it for about a month.  To be frank, I really like ListMonger.  It packs a bunch of features into a few basic, easy to use screens.  Among the features are:
  • Nested lists - and not just at one level. I only tried it for three levels (a list with a list with a list), but it just seemed to keep
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/22/review-listmonger-for-iphone/feed/ 0 SpookyTones Helps Your iPhone Get Its Ghoul Onhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/18/spookytones-helps-your-iphone-get-its-ghoul-on/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/18/spookytones-helps-your-iphone-get-its-ghoul-on/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:15:29 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=114072

If you are a fan of both Halloween and customized ringtones for your mobile devices, then what we have here is a bit of convergence for you.  If you want to "spookify" your iPhone a bit, point your broom toward Electric Pocket's space in the iTunes App Store and check out SpookyTones, a Halloween version of its MailTones app.

SpookyTones allows you to assign distinct, frightening tones to your contacts, and then, rather than the traditional, boring email alert, your iPhone cackles, thumps, or rattles its chains.  Prefer giving the ghouls the silent treatment?  SpookyTones will also let you set certain contacts to silent, so you're not frightened by the boss' emails again. In Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/18/spookytones-helps-your-iphone-get-its-ghoul-on/feed/ 1 Because Being a Nag Isn’t Always a Bad Thing…http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/05/because-being-a-nag-isnt-always-a-bad-thing/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/05/because-being-a-nag-isnt-always-a-bad-thing/#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:45:03 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=112261 Poor "Nag." The word almost always has a negative connotation. Think about it: can you recall a recent conversation in which you've heard "nag" used as a verb and not had it mean something unpleasant? Well, Electric Pocket's new iOS app might just cast "nag" in an entirely new light. Just the other day, our friends over at Electric Pocket, makers of BugMe! and BookLover, sent us a note announcing their latest iPhone app, appropriately titled "Nag." It's a simple app that nags you at a time of your choosing. Seems simple enough, and it is. I downloaded the app, grabbed a magazine, and headed out into the backyard. Now, I knew I had

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/05/because-being-a-nag-isnt-always-a-bad-thing/feed/ 4 Naked iPad? No, Speck SeeThru!http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/29/naked-ipad-no-speck-seethru/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/29/naked-ipad-no-speck-seethru/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:30:29 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=111615

I suspect most folks will agree that the iPad is a nice looking device.  So why would you want to cover it up and obscure all that aluminum and glass beauty?  I mean, would you put a rubberized case on the Picasso in Daley Plaza?  No, I don't think so.  With this in mind, the folks at Speck must have said, "hey, let's cover the iPad, but not cover the iPad." So, voila!  Here's the Speck SeeThru.  According to Speck, the SeeThru features:

One-piece flexible hard case for a seamless look, feel and functionality Rubberized front edge and button covers for grip and protection Raised traction detail on back for

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/29/naked-ipad-no-speck-seethru/feed/ 1 Mini Review: Leather Wallet Case for Dell Streakhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/20/mini-review-leather-wallet-case-for-dell-streak/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/20/mini-review-leather-wallet-case-for-dell-streak/#comments Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:59:05 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=109609

One of the downsides of being an early adopter is the lack of good accessories for your new device.  When the Streak was released, Dell seized the opportunity to fill in the gap and issued their own leather wallet case for the Streak.  Given the limited options available so far, I purchased Dell's Leather Wallet Case to protect my Streak when we recently went on a family vacation.  While the simple cloth bag that comes with the Streak is okay when I'm carrying the Streak in a dedicated pocket in my briefcase, I needed something with a little more strength to it when throwing it into my travel bag for vacation. Featuring a leather exterior Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/20/mini-review-leather-wallet-case-for-dell-streak/feed/ 5 Dell Streak: Why I’m Keeping It / Why I Returned Ithttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/31/dell-streak-why-i%e2%80%99m-keeping-it-why-i-returned-it/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/31/dell-streak-why-i%e2%80%99m-keeping-it-why-i-returned-it/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:00:59 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=106575 The Dell Streak seems to be securing a reputation as one of those devices that you either love or... well, maybe not hate, but which leaves you unimpressed. Two of us here on the Gear Diary team ordered Dell Streaks, but we’ve had different reactions to the Android-based device with the unusual form factor.  Dan and I both ordered a Streak, but Dan’s is already back in Dell’s inventory.  Mine is staying put for the moment. Now, bear in mind that Dan is an admitted Apple fanboy, and I’m a... oh, heck, I don’t know what I am... I love my Apple products, but I’m getting a little bored with them, so when the super-sized Streak came along Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/31/dell-streak-why-i%e2%80%99m-keeping-it-why-i-returned-it/feed/ 4 Yahoo! Mail Updated for iPad Using HTML5http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/20/yahoo-mail-updated-for-ipad-using-html5/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/20/yahoo-mail-updated-for-ipad-using-html5/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:40:27 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=106214  

I've had a Yahoo! Mail account since before Google became a verb - or a noun, for that matter - and I still use it for certain purposes, so when Yahoo! recently announced improvements to the service, it caught my attention.  Available starting this week, Yahoo! has given iPad users of their Mail service a shot in the arm with a new, HTML5-driven mobile web interface.  Yahoo! released a similar update for iPhone compatibility around the beginning of July, so it only makes sense that the iPhone's bigger sibling is getting similar treatment. As part of the update, Yahoo! promises:
·         Faster and more reliable: If you’re offline, Yahoo! Mail uses local caching capabilities to help you
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/20/yahoo-mail-updated-for-ipad-using-html5/feed/ 4