Some people like shoes while others like jackets. Me… I’ve always had a thing for notebook cases. There is something about the combination of function and style that draws me to a new case when I see one. So when the opportunity to take a look at Rivet’s new Vertical Leather Bag came up I jumped. It looked nice and, perhaps more importantly, it looked DIFFERENT from the other bags available.

Let’s take a look…

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My relationship with the new fullsize GM hybrids continues to be a love/hate one. I love the fuel savings and cleaner emissions delivered by these “green beasts,” but I hate that consumers still cannot get an SUV for less than 50 grand. I also hate the acceleration/deceleration whine produced by the transmission/generator unit while operating in electric mode at low speeds, but then, this is the tradeoff for new technology.

The good news is, these new trucks see a 40 percent fuel economy improvement in city driving thanks to GMs two-mode hybrid powertrain. Continue Reading

Phatware has been making handwriting recognition and note taking software for [what were called at the time] pocket PCs and smartphones since 1997.  I’ve used PhatPad on my Windows Mobile devices for quite a few years now, and it’s often one of the first things that I install when I get a new device.  When they announced their first products for the iPhone at the end of May, Phatware offered Gear Diary an opportunity to review their first three programs: WritePad Notes, WritePad Affairs, and WritePad Events.  All three programs feature PhatWare’s handwriting recognition software for the iPhone, WritePad.

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It’s been a while since I reviewed the JayBird JB-200 Bluetooth headphones.  In that time, Jaybird has expanded their line from simply Bluetooth audio, and they have introduced two new sets of earbuds.  Today I am reviewing one of those, the Jaybird Tiger Eyes Earbuds.

These are like the Altec Lansing BackBeat Pros that I just reviewed; they are the in-ear style.  They are a little smaller than the BackBeat headphones, and they are not as noticeable as the BackBeat headphones when you wear them.  One other difference from the BackBeat Pro is that these have a microphone and a handy in-line volume control.  They are more like the Altec Lansing Backbeat Plus Mobile UHS206 headphones I reviewed a few months ago, just with the added volume control. Continue Reading

You want to look like a DJ?  You don’t like the colors typical DJ style headphones come in?  Well, check out these headphones from 2XL.

These are a classic design that has been around for a long time.  When I was little, these were the only kind of headphones available.   Continue Reading

I do not have a green thumb, but through much trial and error over the years I have compiled a list of plants I can keep alive. I have also learned that there are some, that when I see them seemingly thriving and beckoning to me at the store…no matter how good they look, I should just keep on walking.

When dealing with indoor plants, I know that I do best with ones that can handle diffused light and weekly watering; since I love blooming flowers, I tend to buy orchids.

Outdoor plants must be able to handle direct sun, intense summer heat and watering every other day; I do very well with cacti and yucca.

For the last couple of years, my mother has purchased hibiscus plants at Sam’s when they did their annual display. She’ll keep them for a week or so, and when they start looking awful, she’ll ask me to take them and see if I can do anything to help them. The first thing I do is repot them, because they are usually root-bound. Once that’s done, all I can do is sit back and hope that I am watering them enough (but not too much) and giving them enough sun (but not too much).

Inevitably, they die.

This year, when mom gave her sad hibiscus plant to me, I was armed and ready with a tool that I had spotted at CES: the EasyBloom Plant Sensor, a device which the manufacturer states can determine which plants will thrive in a specific spot in your yard or home, diagnose an ailing plant so you can bring it back to health, and access detailed plant information on over 5000+ plants on the EasyBloom website.

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Who ever thought I would be using a belt-driven turntable in 2009? And yet, that’s what I did over the weekend. Sure, we all know DJs love vinyl, but me, the typical end-user? What gives?

Well it turns out there are a host of treasures to be found if you “go retro”. LPs stored in the attic are just waiting to be broken out once again. And if you don’t have any disks left you can just go to your local record store where your favorite music can be had for a song. (Ha, music… song… get it???)

If you DO have records, however, you need something with which to play them. That’s where the Stanton T.55 Belt-Driven Turntable comes in. It takes the “old” technology of vinyl records and delicate needle and merges it with “new” technology such as USB out so the output can be captured by your computer. I checked it out over the weekend and was rather impressed. What follows are the specs and a video look at this merger of modern and classic technology.

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From the developer:
You wake up alone on an unknown beach – your boat and entire fleet missing… It’s the beginning of an epic odyssey to find out just what game the gods are playing with you, King Argos. Your fate now lies in their hands. Battle like the fierce Spartan warrior you are to avoid a tragic death as you journey from the Oracle’s Island, Atlantis and finally to the depths of the Underworld. You will fight the most phenomenal monsters from mythology, defy Cerberus and the Cyclops, and challenge the gods themselves! It’s your chance to write your own legend… if you can survive this mythic adventure.

Features

• A full 3D experience: move in 3 dimensions in superb and varied 3D environments.

• iPhone-specific controls: unleash the hero’s special powers by performing touch screen move combos.

• 8 different levels to explore: the mysterious Atlantis, the depths of the Underworld, and more.

• Face legions of enemies and the most impressive mythical creatures such as the Cyclops or Cerberus.

• Fabulous equipment and 5 mythic weapons to upgrade: draw your mythic swords, ax, and bow!

• Fight, explore, solve puzzles – more than a basic hack’n’slash: a real odyssey.

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As noted in my original article when the game was released, Myst is a classic adventure game released for the Mac in 1993 that was the best-selling PC game for a very long time until the arrival of the Sims franchise. Aside from being the ‘killer app’ that was largely responsible for the CD-ROM drive gaining traction in the marketplace. Since the initial Mac release and follow-up PC release, the game was re-released on the PC as a fully 3D game, got a series of sequels and even a (failed) online game, and more recently been released for the DS & PSP handhelds. The version for the iPhone / iPod Touch was released just over a month ago, so how does it compare?

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Just as the right side dish can make or break the meal, the right accessory can take a good device and make it even better. Something as simple as a case or an external battery can be the difference between a nice device and a truly great one; between a device that is usable and one that is a pleasure. Accessories have the power to remedy shortcomings, increase usability and, in some cases, save the day or a trip to the repair shop.

This post is the first in a series of device accessory posts that begin with the question…

You Want Fries With That?

Today we’ll take a look at a few netbook accessories from our friends at Kensington.

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Altec Lansing has come out with another set of headphones in their BackBeat line; the Backbeat Pro headphones are their take on musician grade headphones.

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One of the challenges with any MacBook or notebook PC is cooling. While these devices are made to be a bit more heat tolerant than their desktop tower counterparts, they still can overheat which can cause damage or diminish performance. Getting air flowing through the cooling fans and vents on your MacBook or notebook is they key to avoiding potential disaster and the team at Just Mobile have come up with a sleek, stylish and amazingly simple solution for MacBook users. The CB-200 Cooling Bar is an solid, all aluminum bar that you rest the back of your MacBook onto. This lifts it about an inch from your desk surface, providing plenty of space for the cooling fans and vent to work properly. Although designed with the MacBook in mind, the CB-200 works well with any notebook PC as well and it has a hidden benefit that Mac and PC users alike can benefit from while using it.

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You may remember our recent coverage of the Mediafly service that syncs media content — specifically podcasts for now — to a wide range of devices.  Well, Mediafly is wasting no time.  Their goal is to launch on multiple smartphones throughout 2009, and then hit even more home stereo/video equipment in 2010 so you can have your media content synced and shared on just about any consumer device out there.  The fact that Mediafly is device-agnostic is exciting in that your content goes with you, regardless of what device you may use or decide to uopgrade to in the future.

Now Mediafly has released mobile applications for two popular smartphone platforms — a brand new beta for BlackBerry, and an upgrade to their iPhone application that gives you a faster channel refresh and improved user interface.  Without further adieu, let’s jump right in and take a look at what BlackBerry and iPhone users can look forward to with Mediafly.

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Spb is a name most users of Windows Mobile know well. From their Mobile Shell to Weather and Wallet and a host of other useful and entertaining utilities, these guys have done well by the Windows Mobile community over the years. Their latest release is a simple but challenging and fun game for Windows Mobile and Android – Spb Geo Game. This game is clearly in the ‘edutainment’ market, as it asks some challenging questions but makes it fun along the way. The game has two main modes – World Flags and World Capitals – and provides plenty of challenges through its’ multiple choice interface.

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The Motorola Rival A455 is one of the newest phones to be added to the Verizon Wireless handset lineup.

This messaging workhorse gives you instant access to IM style texting, emoticons, a slide out keyboard, and an on screen touch pad right out of the box.

I had the opportunity to use the A455 over the last two weeks, and here are my thoughts on this multimedia powerhouse.

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