Gear Diary » Announcements & News http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:20:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 WinX DVD Platinum Edition Valentine’s Day Giveaway!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/winx-dvd-platinum-edition-valentines-day-giveaway/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/winx-dvd-platinum-edition-valentines-day-giveaway/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:15:39 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183571

Never one to pass up the chance for passing up the chance for a giveaway to help promote their products! So through tomorrow you can get WinX DVD Ripper Platinum for Windows or Mac OS for FREE! Here is the description:
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum is a Windows-based DVD ripper software capable of ripping both DVD disc and DVD ISO image to mainstream videos, such as rip DVD to AVI, DVD to MP4, H.264, MPEG, WMV, MOV, FLV, 3GP, etc. It can also help users faultlessly convert DVD (including encrypted DVD) to iPhone/4S, iPad/3, iPod, Apple TV, Android, HTC, Samsung, XOOM, Galaxy Tab, PSP, etc. This program brings you No.1 fast DVD
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/winx-dvd-platinum-edition-valentines-day-giveaway/feed/ 0 G5 Games Gives Us ‘Fix It Up World Tour’ as a Valentine’s Day Gift!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/g5-games-gives-us-fix-it-up-world-tour-as-a-valentines-day-gift/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/g5-games-gives-us-fix-it-up-world-tour-as-a-valentines-day-gift/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:15:51 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183616

Is there any better way to show someone you love them than with a free time management game for the iPhone and iPad? OK, so there are many, but that doesn't mean that this isn't awesome! Today only G5 is giving away the fun Fix It Up World Tour for both iPhone and iPad! Here is the description:
Go global in this fantastic strategy adventure! In this sequel to “Fix-it-up: Kate’s Adventure”, you must help Kate expand her car-repair empire around the world! Build car-repair shops anywhere from snowy Canada to steaming African jungles. Buy cars, fix them and paint them to make your business prosperous. Earn your fortune in
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/g5-games-gives-us-fix-it-up-world-tour-as-a-valentines-day-gift/feed/ 0 Gear Games February 12 – 18, Featuring Jagged Alliance Back in Actionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/gear-games-february-12-18-featuring-jagged-alliance-back-in-action/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/gear-games-february-12-18-featuring-jagged-alliance-back-in-action/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:45:58 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183556

Welcome back to the GearGames weekly video game release feature here at Gear Diary! After a few weeks off as the holidays more or less killed releases, we are starting to see a few new games. The three big games this week are Jagged Alliance - Back in Action and ... oh yeah, that Playstation Vita thing. This week brings the special early adopters bundle, and a bunch of games are hitting stores as well. Early looks are no surprise - great hardware, extremely locked down transfer options, and pretty crappy PSP game compatibility. Jagged Alliance is one of the great franchises, and although it is also getting a re-make as a shooter, strategy fans are more excited for this great looking strategy game reboot. We might not be getting a true turn-based game - this is the classic 'Real-Time with Pause', but it is still a fun addition to the franchise and much better than many feared. There are a few others worth checking this week - read on to find out! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/gear-games-february-12-18-featuring-jagged-alliance-back-in-action/feed/ 0 The Grammy’s Again Raise the Question: WHY Did I Stay up So Late for this Crap?http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/the-grammys-again-raise-the-question-why-did-i-stay-up-so-late-for-this-crap/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/the-grammys-again-raise-the-question-why-did-i-stay-up-so-late-for-this-crap/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:15:04 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183526

YOU MUST READ THIS POST! IT IS GOING TO BE HISTORIC! EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT! I swear that every time I heard that last night during the Grammy Awards, I was certain of one thing - mediocrity was the best thing to hope for. If 'everyone would be talking', it would be like Nicki Minaj's terrible performance that might signal her 15 minutes has played out with her singular stylistic droppings getting tiresome. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/the-grammys-again-raise-the-question-why-did-i-stay-up-so-late-for-this-crap/feed/ 0 Brinno PeepHole Viewer and Camera Provides New Tech for Home Securityhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/brinno-peephole-viewer-and-camera-provides-new-tech-for-home-security/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/brinno-peephole-viewer-and-camera-provides-new-tech-for-home-security/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:15:12 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183480

So someone knocks on the door, right?  You want to see who the heck it is, without giving away the fact that, well, you're checking them out.  (This isn't an issue at my house--there's simply too much glass around the door to hide.)  Maybe you even have one of those fisheye lens peephole viewer things.  Which is okay, I guess, but this is the digital age, and maybe you can do better, don't you think? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/brinno-peephole-viewer-and-camera-provides-new-tech-for-home-security/feed/ 0 Find Partners with SinglesAroundMe Apphttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/find-partners-with-singlesaroundme-app/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/find-partners-with-singlesaroundme-app/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:36 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183365

Once you graduate college or high school and start moseying out into the real world, you start to notice: finding dates is hard.  You are no longer surrounded by potential partners just your own age; you're surrounded by, well, everybody.  Including old pharts like yours truly.  So how do you find a partner? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/find-partners-with-singlesaroundme-app/feed/ 0 Need Your Kids’ Health Records? Find ‘em Online!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/need-your-kids-health-records-find-em-online/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/need-your-kids-health-records-find-em-online/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:00:10 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183463

In my dreams, the way it works is this:  you have a card that you carry, which contains all your medical record information (encrypted, of course).  You back up this information on your system at home, and when you go into a new doctor's office, instead of spending 15 minutes filling out a whole bunch of forms that are identical to the forms you've filled out before, you just hand them your card, they zip it through a card reader, you enter your PIN code, and bango, they have the info.  No need for forms, and you have access to your medical records whenever you need them.  In my dreams. But some people are at least making some decent first steps in that kind of direction.  Like MotherKnows: Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/need-your-kids-health-records-find-em-online/feed/ 0 RIP Whitney Houston, One of the Truly Great Voices of Popular Musichttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/rip-whitney-houston-one-of-the-truly-great-voices-of-popular-music/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/rip-whitney-houston-one-of-the-truly-great-voices-of-popular-music/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:30:20 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183443

Yesterday we heard about the death of Whitney Houston, one of the all-time best selling female vocalists. She was extremely popular from the mid-80's through the 90's, but more than that she brought to the stage a voice that ranks her among the great all-time vocalists in popular music. Here is a bit from the news item:
Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48. Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown. At her peak, Houston the golden girl of the music industry. From the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world's best-selling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen. Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale." She had the he perfect voice, and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise. She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston. But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanor and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.
She was criticized for as she said 'not being black enough', 'too pop', and so on. Her marriage to rapper Bobby Brown seemed to send her into a spiral that she never escaped. Her voice degraded, her appearance showed years of 'hard living', and she became erratic. Her recent attempts at a comeback were more sad to watch than anything else, as it was more of a reminder of how she had squandered a truly great talent through years of drug abuse. And I always felt bad for her daughter through the years. But as we mourn her passing, I would rather focus on all of the great happiness and joy she brought to the world through the years. So let's go! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/rip-whitney-houston-one-of-the-truly-great-voices-of-popular-music/feed/ 2 Depth Hunter Game for PCshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/depth-hunter-game-for-pcs/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/depth-hunter-game-for-pcs/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:15:14 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183437 When I was in College--back before the most recent ice age--computer graphics were juuuuust really getting started.  If you look at the graphics of "Project Genesis" in Star Trek II, you'll see what was, for then, the top-of-the-line:  graphics that were programmed in UNIX on a big ol' VAX, and then run out on a Cray SuperComputer.  I mean, that was smokin' for 1982.  Really! Nowadays?  Now, PC are powerful enough that you can render complicated underwater scenes . . . in games.  You young whippersnappers don't know how good you have it! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/depth-hunter-game-for-pcs/feed/ 0 Tiny Bang Story HD for iPadhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/tiny-bang-story-hd-for-ipad/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/tiny-bang-story-hd-for-ipad/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:45:06 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183386 Puzzle games are some of my favorites, particularly puzzle games that have an anachronistic, steampunk, Myst-like sensibility.  Good ones are few and far between, unfortunately, and it's not like Broderbund is  cranking out iOS ports of the various Myst sequels in HD anyway, if you know what I mean.  So when I see game in this category, it does intrigue me: Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/tiny-bang-story-hd-for-ipad/feed/ 0 Nexon’s “KartRider Dash” Speeds Its Way to Facebookhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/nexons-kartrider-dash-speeds-its-way-to-facebook/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/nexons-kartrider-dash-speeds-its-way-to-facebook/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:00:37 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183372

I don't know why, but I find goofy racing games addicting.  Mario Karts, MicroQuad (on my lost, lamented Tapwave Zodiac), CroMag Rally, Sonic Racing . . . I just like 'em.  I don't like those realistic ones, where you get to zoom around in the latest Bugatti or Königsegg or Aston Martin--I like the goofy cartoony ones.  Don't ask me why. Not unlike KartRider Rush: Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/nexons-kartrider-dash-speeds-its-way-to-facebook/feed/ 0 Demo for Indie-RPG Driftmoon Released!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/demo-for-indie-rpg-driftmoon-released/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/demo-for-indie-rpg-driftmoon-released/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:30:40 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183379

As I have said many times, while the mainstream gaming market seems largely bereft of creativity as they churn out sequel after sequel and pretty much every game becomes a cover shooter with a few RPG-lite skill trees, the indie game market is full of excellent games. One of the most highly anticipated games of 2012 for RPG fans is the indie game Driftmoon, and today they have released a demo for the game. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/demo-for-indie-rpg-driftmoon-released/feed/ 0 Announcing the Winners of ‘The Darkness’ XBOX360 Download Giveaway!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/announcing-the-winners-of-the-darkness-xbox360-download-giveaway/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/announcing-the-winners-of-the-darkness-xbox360-download-giveaway/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:00:02 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183291

OK - thanks to all that entered to win one of the TWO FULL GAME CODES for the XBOX360 version of the original Darkness game! Now that the contest is over, I have randomized the valid entries thanks to Random.org and ...

The winners are .....

Isiah 59

Doug

You have 24 hours to send your email contact information to contests@geardiary.com and your game code will be sent via email.

Thanks again to the great folks at 2k Games, the developers of The Darkness and everyone who entered. Be sure to head to 'Embrace the Darkness' Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/announcing-the-winners-of-the-darkness-xbox360-download-giveaway/feed/ 0 There’s an App for That, the Adele Versionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/theres-an-app-for-that-the-adele-version/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/theres-an-app-for-that-the-adele-version/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:04 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183302 As Mike recently pointed out, Adele is a phenomena who popularity exploded this year because… she has a great voice and the songs are great! She's had a rough time lately however thanks to throat surgery and a silent recovery. After a polyp was removed Adele was told not to speak for a month. According to an upcoming interview on 60 Minutes, Adele, who loves to talk, found the silence more difficult than the actual surgery. Fortunately for her she lives in the era of smartphone apps. As she explained,
I had an application on my phone that you type the words into it and then it speaks it.
But there's more. You see, most text-to-speach apps offer G-rated language and Adele is a self-professed potty-mouth. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/theres-an-app-for-that-the-adele-version/feed/ 0 A Real Time With Bill Maher Oops Momenthttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/a-real-time-with-bill-maher-oops-moment/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/a-real-time-with-bill-maher-oops-moment/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:38:39 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183287 20120210-223509.jpg

Tonight on Bill Maher's Real Time program on HBO he did a cute shtick with Siri and Valentines Day. (The bit talked about gifts for certain kinds of favors and the cynical aspects of the V-Day and was a bit amusing.) Apparently Maher doesn't actually use an iPhone because...

20120210-223729.jpg

It was upside down. (Just look at where the print is.) "Siri, is everything alright?" "Bill, would you please stop holding me upside down? I'm getting dizzy." Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/a-real-time-with-bill-maher-oops-moment/feed/ 3 AT&T Set to Double Their Upgrade Fee to $36?http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/att-set-to-double-their-upgrade-fee-to-36/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/att-set-to-double-their-upgrade-fee-to-36/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:15:18 +0000 Bryan Eley http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183255

AT&T is reportedly slated to increase their device upgrade costs from $18 to $36 this coming Sunday, February 12.
Because the overall costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased, effective Sunday, February 12, 2012, AT&T will change its upgrade fee from $18 to $36
Just my luck. I'm due for an upgrade, and I've been chomping at the bit to try a Windows phone, as evidenced by Dan and Judie's saga of their HTC Titan usage. Speaking for myself, it's just unfortunate that by the time I want to try out the Titan II or the Nokia 900 I'll be paying a lot more than I anticipated. In a message to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/att-set-to-double-their-upgrade-fee-to-36/feed/ 0 Check Out this Awesome Recreation of the Original Star Tours Disney Ride!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/check-out-this-awesome-recreation-of-the-original-star-tours-disney-ride/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/check-out-this-awesome-recreation-of-the-original-star-tours-disney-ride/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:45:39 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183060

Have you ever taken a ride on Star Tours at Disney? The first time we went as a family in 2001 was on a Star Wars Weekend, and taking the Star Tours ride was a major part of the fun for all of us. We rode it again the other two trips we made, and it possesses great memories, although it is clear that it is time for a revamp. This year the ride gets that revamp - but an independent film maker has recreated the entire ride in a 2D and 3D video experience! Here are some details:
In time to help celebrate Star Tours’ 25th anniversary at Disneyland, independent filmmaker Gregory Noacco
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/check-out-this-awesome-recreation-of-the-original-star-tours-disney-ride/feed/ 0 Gakai Allows You To Check Out The Darkness II or Other Games from Your PC NOW!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/gakai-allows-you-to-check-out-the-darkness-ii-or-other-games-from-your-pc-now/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/gakai-allows-you-to-check-out-the-darkness-ii-or-other-games-from-your-pc-now/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:30:17 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182956

I have already written about The Darkness II which launched this week on PC and XBOX360, which I am already starting to play for review. But if you are looking to get a taste of the demo and only have a PC ... you can head to Gakai to try it out! Gakai is a cloud streaming game service - similar to OnLive. However, whereas to play OnLive you need a client and there are speed tests performed ... with Gakai the game just plays. Here are some details:
Gaikai Inc., the innovative cloud gaming service, announced today that a free playable demo of 2K Games’ highly anticipated first-person shooter, The Darkness™
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/gakai-allows-you-to-check-out-the-darkness-ii-or-other-games-from-your-pc-now/feed/ 2 FBI Releases File on Steve Jobshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/fbi-releases-file-on-steve-jobs/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/fbi-releases-file-on-steve-jobs/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:30:05 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183170 Steve Jobs passed away several months ago now, and the burst of news at the event, followed by the (just days later) release of Jobs' biography by Walter Isaacson, has pretty much abated.  So what possible news could Jobs be making now, from beyond the grave? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/fbi-releases-file-on-steve-jobs/feed/ 0 Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace 3D Hits Theaters Today … Are You Going?http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-3d-hits-theaters-today-are-you-going/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-3d-hits-theaters-today-are-you-going/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:20:51 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183183

I am an unapologetic Star Wars fanboy - my wife and I pulled our kids out of school an hour early back in 2005 to hit an early matinee of 'Revenge of the Sith', and we saw 'Attack of the Clones' in normal and IMAX formats, and of course we own all of the movies on VHS and DVD (we skipped the 'dead man walking' Blu-Ray technology) and watch them on at least an annual basis. We covered the initial announcement of Star Wars returning to theaters in 3D, and after all of the trailers and press releases I questioned the basic value of the 3D releases. Now Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-3d-hits-theaters-today-are-you-going/feed/ 1 Pocket Legends and Star Legends Pass 100 Million Play Sessions!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/pocket-legends-and-star-legends-pass-100-million-play-sessions/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/pocket-legends-and-star-legends-pass-100-million-play-sessions/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:55 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183059

I have featured news from Space Time Studios, makers of several free-to-play MMORPG games, several times. Why? Two reasons - they seem to have loads of great giveaways and I love to feature those. And second but most importantly - their games are FUN, play through your browser and work on almost any computer! The reason for the giveaways is clear - they want people to check out their games, because free-to-play games make money by drawing people in to play and get involved. But unless the game is good, people will play something else - which makes this new milestone an amazing success! Pocket Legends and Star Legends: The Blackstar Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/pocket-legends-and-star-legends-pass-100-million-play-sessions/feed/ 0 Vinyl Re-Visions: The Art Ensemble of Chicago – Reese and the Smooth Ones (Jazz, 1969)http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vinyl-re-visions-the-art-ensemble-of-chicago-reese-and-the-smooth-ones-jazz-1969/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vinyl-re-visions-the-art-ensemble-of-chicago-reese-and-the-smooth-ones-jazz-1969/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:38 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=176030 Art Ensemble Of Chicago - Reese And The Smooth Ones

When I first thought about doing a 'Vinyl Revisions' series, there were three records that came to mind: Anthony Braxton's Five Pieces 1975, Steve Lacy's The Wire, and this record. As mentioned in a comment on my Braxton review, that music was compiled in 2008 on the Complete Arista Recordings as a digital release. This record was briefly available in 2002 on Get Back Records as a CD release but has otherwise been out of print - even though Amazon claims a 2009 re-release on vinyl, it has been 'out of stock' every time I have checked. I missed out on grabbing the CD - I saw it, waited a bit and then ... it was gone. So the versions in my collection are digitized from vinyl ... but as I started writing this I discovered something ... the album is available on iTunes for $9.99! Let's take a look: Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vinyl-re-visions-the-art-ensemble-of-chicago-reese-and-the-smooth-ones-jazz-1969/feed/ 0 Vonage’s New Mobile App is Easy to Use, and It Saves You Moneyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vonages-new-mobile-app-is-easy-to-use-and-it-saves-you-money/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vonages-new-mobile-app-is-easy-to-use-and-it-saves-you-money/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:05 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182876 This is a sponsored post, all opinions here-in are mine. IMG 1765

Make Calls, Save Money

As crazy as it sounds, there are still people in the world who use their iPhones and Android handsets to …  make voice calls. I know, Crazy! Right? If you are one of them, and, especially, if you travel internationally, the cost of those calls can add up quickly. Vonage has been around for quite some time, but they've just released a new iPhone and Android calling application that is pretty impressive.  I'm already using it for calls when I'm in a WiFi network; although the app works over 3G, over WiFi the calls are fantastic and they don't use any of my data plan. I had a chance to speak with the Vonage mobile app team yesterday, and as soon as the call was over I downloaded the app. I'm impressed. The app is easy to use, loads quickly, and the quality of the calls is excellent. Let's run down what stands out in this app, and then walk through the process of actually setting it up so you can see just how easy it is to use ... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vonages-new-mobile-app-is-easy-to-use-and-it-saves-you-money/feed/ 0 Music Diary Notes: Reflections on the Music Industry in 2011http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/music-diary-notes-reflections-on-the-music-industry-in-2011/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/music-diary-notes-reflections-on-the-music-industry-in-2011/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:59:02 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=178878

Over the last couple of weeks details about the music industry results for 2011 have been trickling in, and at this point I figured it was time to share a few interesting (to me, anyway) tidbits ... and then discuss them in more detail. Here's one of the points that I think is really important that also really makes me smile: I am enjoying watching the industry rush to get behind Adele (or more to the point, jump on her bandwagon), while in reality they were never rooting for her. Her album didn't have huge marketing, and took off thanks to a curious method you might have heard about: airplay and listener feedback. People liked her song and voice and bought and requested the song, which got it played more and more and more. Completely organic - labels love the money but hate the lack of control. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/music-diary-notes-reflections-on-the-music-industry-in-2011/feed/ 0 Sony Finds One Last Way to Screw US PSP Ownershttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/sony-finds-one-last-way-to-screw-us-psp-owners/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/sony-finds-one-last-way-to-screw-us-psp-owners/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:52 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182895

They say that if you want to learn something about a person take a look at how they treat people they DON'T have to be nice to - you know, anyone from kids to animals to waiters and store clerks. If a person treats them poorly without reason they are, quite simply, a lousy person. And you can only expect to receive the same down the line. On the other hand, if they treat you AND others well, you have a partner you can count on. I can hear you saying 'what is it NOW, Anderson? What are you griping about this time?' Well, I'm talking about Sony. Anyone who has a PSP Go remembers how, right up until the release of the Go, Sony was teasing the possibility of some form of 'UMD transfer program' that would allow users to get some value out of existing UMD games by trading them in or somehow 'swapping' them for a digital version. And, in fact, EU and Japanese gamers who had existing PSN accounts with registered PSPs got a set of three digital games. US gamers got ... nuthin'. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/sony-finds-one-last-way-to-screw-us-psp-owners/feed/ 0 10 Artists Who Never Got a Grammy And a Presentation We Won’t See This Yearhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/10-artists-who-never-got-a-grammy-and-a-presentation-we-wont-see-this-year/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/10-artists-who-never-got-a-grammy-and-a-presentation-we-wont-see-this-year/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182999

Before the Grammy Awards last year I highlighted performances by Miles Davis and the double-genre performance by Wynton Marsalis that took more than 10 minutes and would be impossible today ... if those categories still even existed. The Grammy Awards are now all about corporate self-congratulation, highlighting the few artists who sell all the records and those who get rich on their backs. Last year there was outrage when Justin Beiber had "his" best new artist award 'stolen' by the amazingly talented Esperanza Spalding (of course, ANYONE in the category was/is more talented than Beiber, but that is beside the point) and an industry vet railed about how people like Eminem and Beiber paid for those awards. He went on to say that it was the duty of the Grammy awards to just shut up and hand out awards to top-selling artists. Huh?? Apparently he never heard of The Beach Boys, The Who or Led Zepplin.   USA Today has a great list of acts that never won a Grammy award. Aside from those acts, Buddy Holly, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Marley, Diana Ross, Chuck Berry, or The Kinks. Most of those acts had many chances for recognition but were never honored. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/10-artists-who-never-got-a-grammy-and-a-presentation-we-wont-see-this-year/feed/ 0 FingerLabs Pounds the Beat with Awesome DM1 iPad Update!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/fingerlabs-pounds-the-beat-with-awesome-dm1-ipad-update/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/fingerlabs-pounds-the-beat-with-awesome-dm1-ipad-update/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:45:05 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182713

The sophistication of music production tools for the iPad is simply staggering. I can do more on my iPad than my entire multi-thousand dollar mini-studio from the 90's could ever hope to accomplish! It has gotten to the point where a solid app that lacks a few features - MIDI in, AudioCopy, etc - will get passed over by musicians. Such is the case of DM1, and excellently designed and implemented drum machine and sequencer. It has loads of great programming flexibility and features - but lacking the aforementioned features kept it off of many folks iPads. Now with the 2.0 update FingerLab seeks to remedy that - and based on a few minutes playing around this morning I would say they have succeeded! Here is their description of the update: Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/fingerlabs-pounds-the-beat-with-awesome-dm1-ipad-update/feed/ 0 Mystery of the Crystal Portal for the Kindle Fire Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/mystery-of-the-crystal-portal-for-the-kindle-fire-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/mystery-of-the-crystal-portal-for-the-kindle-fire-review/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:00:42 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182768

I had bought and enjoyed Mystery of the Crystal Portal for my iPad and also loved the PSP version in spite of some issues with having to pan around the scene, so I was excited to try out the Kindle Fire version. It had been a while since I played, so it felt fresh as I had forgotten most of the game. Let's take a loot at hwo the experience translates to the Kindle Fire! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/mystery-of-the-crystal-portal-for-the-kindle-fire-review/feed/ 0 PhatWare Brings PhatPad to Android!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/phatware-brings-phatpad-to-android/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/phatware-brings-phatpad-to-android/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:15:11 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182879

If you have been around PDAs since the Windows CE days, you know that one of the earliest and best app makers was PhatWare, bringing Calligrapher, PhatPad and other apps to a variety of platforms for nearly 15 years. Now they make the next leap, bringing PhatPad to Android - and making the files compatible between iOS, Android and the older Windows Mobile devices as well! Here are some of the details:
PhatWare today announces the launch of PhatPad for Android, a note-taking and collaboration app featuring PhatWare’s proven handwriting recognition technology. PhatPad, which has already gained a significant following among iPad users, now will turn an Android Tablet or Smartphone into an
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/phatware-brings-phatpad-to-android/feed/ 0 Google Finally Releases Chrome (Beta) for Androidhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/google-finally-releases-chrome-beta-for-android/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/google-finally-releases-chrome-beta-for-android/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:45:32 +0000 Thomas R. Hall http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182738 My favorite browser, regardless of platform, is Google Chrome and I wondered how long it would take for Google to release Chrome for Android. Well, the wait is finally over. Sort of. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/google-finally-releases-chrome-beta-for-android/feed/ 0