Gear Diary » Reviews

The Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth Headset Review

Judie Lipsett — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:00:48 +0000

It seems as if finding the perfect Bluetooth headset has become a never-ending quest for me; it’s not just about finding one that keeps me from sounding like a fish in a barrel anymore, it’s also about finding one that fits my ear without making me look like a telephone operator or worse – a borg. Just to make things really difficult, so many headsets seem to fall into one of two camps: ridiculously complicated and over-featured or utterly simplistic and featureless.

Finding a headset that strikes a balance between sound, comfort and features has become my mission, and the latest contender is the Plantronics Discovery 975.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Headsets, Judie Lipsett, Mobile Phone Gear, Reviews

Review: Kanex High Capacity Battery for the T-Mobile G1

Joel McLaughlin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:32:59 +0000

After using the G1 for about three months, I came to one conclusion. The battery life just sucks. You can’t get through a day with light use and if you are a heavy user, like myself, you will need to charge before you even get halfway through a day. The Kanex High Capacity Battery for the G1 solves this and gives a heavy G1 user like myself all day battery life.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Android Devices, Joel McLaughlin, Mobile Phones, Reviews, T-Mobile

Boost Mobile i9 is thin, solid and dependable

Wayne Schulz — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:49:51 +0000

I stopped into my local Best Buy this afternoon and was amazed at the great selection of prepaid cellular phones. As recently as a year ago the prepaid phone aisle was limited to cheap plastic throwaways. Fast forward to now, and the shelves are lined with current model BlackBerry and Motorola phones available on no contract prepaid plans. Boost Mobile has been one of the leaders in selling affordable prepaid phones that don’t make you ashamed to use them in public. Last week we looked at the i465 (great texting device and solid call quality). This week we’re looking at the Boost Mobile i9. It’s essentially a Motorola Razr fitted with the walkie talkie feature that Boost is known for. What’s amazing about this phone is that it’s one of the thinnest flip phones that Boost has ever offered. … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Mobile Phones, Motorola, Prepaid Cellular, Reviews, Wayne Schulz

Thrustmaster Sports Pack – Review

Dan Cohen — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:42:37 +0000

I love the Wii I received for my birthday last year. I never cease to be amazing by its motion-sensing controls and the remarkable flexibility of the system.

I’m not a golfer in real life but on the Wii… love it.

I’m not a tennis player in real life… but in my den I sure am, thanks to the Wii.

Yes, with the Wii I can fight dragons, play tennis and then, minutes later start a workout routine. Until now, however, I used the Wii Remote and imagined it was a golf club, a tennis racket or a sword. Thanks to Thrustmaster’s Sports Pack however I no longer need to use such a degree of imagination.

For all the sport fanatics out there, the Sports Pack+ NW, compatible with Wii MotionPlus™*, is just for you. This multi-accessory pack is designed for use with the majority of sports games available for Wii™… … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Console Gaming, Dan Cohen, Reviews, Sports and Fitness

Review: HTC’s Sprint Hero, The “Other” Android Device

Dan Cohen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:30:26 +0000

To watch the commercials for the Verizon Droid, being released tomorrow morning, one might get the impression that this is the very first android handset to be released. It certainly has garnered more attention and excitement and previous devices, but there are already a number of android handsets on the market that are actually quite good. I recently had a chance to spend a week with Sprint’s version of the HTC hero, and I found myself more than a bit impressed. So with that in mind, I thought we might take a good look at a fantastic Android device that’s been on the market for a number of months already.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Android Devices, Dan Cohen, HTC, Mobile Phones, Reviews, Sprint / Nextel

WaterField Zune HD Suede Case is thin, versatile and convenient

Wayne Schulz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:42:48 +0000

I’m a big fan of getting outside and walking. I find that listening to music or podcasts helps to pass the time, so like most people with MP3 players I always take my iPhone or Zune HD with me. I have recently started carrying my Zune HD because I love Zune Pass, which provides for nearly unlimited music downloads and automatically creates artist mixes – even from music I don’t own. WaterField’s new suede jacket is the perfect fit for my Zune HD. It’s thin enough to act as a shield and fits inside other WaterField cases. … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Digital Music Player Gear, Microsoft Zune, Reviews, Wayne Schulz

Review: Tuxdroid the Open Source Robot

Joel McLaughlin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:42:42 +0000

I have often wanted to buy one of those Ambient Devices Judie blogged about a few weeks ago. I’ve also wanted a Nabaztag as well, since they are cute and can do some really cool stuff like play mp3 files or provide e-mail alerts. I don’t want either anymore, thanks to kysoh.com who sent me a Tuxdroid that is not only very cute, but is also based on open source software. … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Joel McLaughlin, Linux, Reviews, Toys (Any Age)

Enlighten, Case-Mate’s Gorgeous New Lighted Kindle2 Cover

Judie Lipsett — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:30 +0000

One of the things that I love about the Kindle – its eInk screen – is also one of the things that makes using the Kindle a bit difficult when lighting is poor. It seems silly in a way to complain about not being able to read a book in the dark, because it certainly isn’t something anyone could do with the dead tree version, but there are a couple of reasons I think it chafes more than expected when people read from non-backlit devices.

I think many who use eReaders have also experienced reading on other mobile devices, which generally use color-capable LCD screens and are easy to read from in even the worst light. It seems only natural then, that when we pick up an electronic device meant to read books from – that it should also be in color, or at the very least backlit. But of course, they aren’t.

I’ve just received a brand new Case-Mate Kindle2 cover which not only wraps the eReader in a fine leather hardback cover, it also has an amazing integrated lighting system. The Case-Mate Enlighten won’t be available until mid-December, but I wanted to go ahead and give my impressions on this most remarkable wrap.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Amazon Kindle Gear, eReaders, Judie Lipsett, Reviews

Blue Plate Special: Skee-Ball For iPhone/Touch

Travis Ehrlich — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:24:15 +0000

This entry is part 12 of 12 in the series Blue Plate Specials

We are all feeling the financial pinch! Blue Plate Special is a weekly review of bargain apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Nothing over $.99.

I recently took my oldest son and a few of his buddies to Incredible Pizza in San Antonio for his 5th birthday. We started with the pizza of course, but the boys could hardly contain themselves just staring into the game room. Once I let them hit the games, we headed straight for the skee-ball. They decided tickets were what they were after so they could get some wax lips and parachute men, you know the good stuff. I can think of no better way to earn tickets in a game room than play skee-ball. The game has been one of my favorites since I was my son’s age.

Now Skee-Ball is available for the iPhone and you will see after the break, it is just as addictive!!

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple iPhone and Touch Applications, Reviews, Travis Ehrlich

Review: Real Deer Hunting for iPhone OS

Larry Greenberg — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:34:41 +0000

Sunstorm Games developed the very first deer hunting game back in 1997. I can remember playing the game on one of my Motorola flip phones, using the phone’s center navigation pad to move and the OK button to fire.

Times have certainly changed. The iPhone has brought cell phone games to a whole new level. Real Deer Hunting, Sunstorm’s latest title, is described as a game that “boasts realistic deer behavior, outstanding graphics and the most immersive hunting experience.”

Does the game’s revival live up to the iPhone experience? Read on to find out.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple iPhone and Touch Applications, Larry Greenberg, Reviews

Business Card Reader from Shape Services – instant business card recognition for your iPhone for $5.99

Wayne Schulz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:30:21 +0000

Shape Services released an iPhone and iPod Touch application over the weekend that they claim will help convert the mountain of business cards you’ve collected into names in your iPhone address book. The description of the application says it will “import contact information right from business card to your iPhone contacts! Just take a photo of a business card and a New Contact is added!”. So how well does this $5.99 program work in real life? … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple iPhone and Touch Applications, Reviews, Wayne Schulz

Review: Voiis Stereo Wireless Music Gateway

Jeff Frantz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:38:22 +0000

Stereo Bluetooth is a great innovation for the freedom it grants from cables. I was quite pleased when Apple finally added stereo Bluetooth functionality to the iPhone. Not that being connected to a headphone cable is a huge problem, but it’s nice to be able to set my iPhone on my desk while listening to music, and still be able to move around my office without needing to pick up the iPhone and carry it with me if I’m just moving a few steps to get something off a shelf.

Mobile Action understands the appeal of eliminating wires. Their new Voiis Stereo Wireless Music Gateway adds stereo Bluetooth capabilities to home stereo and computer systems. It has both transmitting and receiving capabilities, so you can use it to stream music from your home stereo to a pair of Bluetooth headphones, or you can use it to receive music streamed from a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as an iPhone, and play it over your home system without needing a dock.

The folks at Mobile Action were kind enough to send us a review unit. Keep reading for our evaluation.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Audio Visual Gear, Bluetooth, Jeff Frantz, Miscellaneous Gear

Moshi Voice Response Alarm Clock – Review

Dan Cohen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:30:35 +0000

This is one of those products that kind of snuck up on me. It looked like it was one of those electronic curiosities that catches your eye, leads to an impulse buy and then, within a week, is in a box collecting dust.

As it turns out the Moshi Voice Response Alarm Clock works quite well, is remarkably useful and the review unit I was sent can will remain on my night table once this review is done.

Lets take a look at this unusual, and useful, clock. A video demo follows…

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Clocks, Dan Cohen, Home Tech

Review: Kanex High Capacity Battery for the Palm Pre

Doug Goldring — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:08:11 +0000

One of my big complaints about cell phones and mobile devices generally is that the batteries are never able to adequately handle all of the advanced features which tend to be included. The Palm Pre is a perfect example of this, with its WebOS interface, and always connected email (not to mention Internet, Wifi, 3G, and Bluetooth). Generally, if I do not have a charger handy, then I am going to lose my phone before my day ends. Add to that equation the fact that I love to go camping overnight, and the battery is quickly unveiled as typically inadequate. So, I was pretty excited to hear that Kanex released a high capacity battery. They sent me one to check out (and keep) and I thought I would share my impressions with all of you.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Palm Device Accesories

2010 Kia Soul built to rock and roll

David Goodspeed — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:08:27 +0000

Apparently, funky is going mainstream in the auto industry.

What began as a unique phenomena over at a little startup division of Toyota has now spread across other Asian automaker model lines. Nissan challenged the squared Scion with a Cube and now Kia has put their heart and “Soul” into the mix.

(Sorry, had to work the pun in somewhere.)

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Automobiles, David Goodspeed, Grinding Gears, Reviews

Review: HyperMac External Battery

Larry Greenberg — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:57:43 +0000

Every once and a while a product comes along that really catches my eye. Such was the case when I spotted an advertisement for the HyperMac external battery in a tech. magazine last month. The HyperMac is currently the only external battery available for use with Apple’s line of Mac Book computers. And with the new unibody Mac Book Pro and its built in battery the HyperMac might just be a must have for the true road warrior.

Hyper Shop, the company behind the HyperMac, was kind enough to send me a HyperMac 150Wh battery for review. I’ve put it to the test and am ready to share my thoughts.

Does the HyperMac live up to my expectations? Read on to find out.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple MacBook Laptop Gear, Apple MacBook Laptops, Larry Greenberg, Reviews

Mailtones Redux – Now For Blackberry Too!

Dan Cohen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:34:50 +0000

I reviewed Mailtones for the iPhone a few weeks back and really like it. The app allows you to assign different sounds to various contacts so that you know who has emailed without even looking at your phone. Now every time Judie emails my phone cheers. Every time Larry emails a fire alarm goes off. And every time my assistant emails there is the sound of impending doom. I love it!

Now Mailtones has rolled out a version for the Blackberry. What do I think??

I LIKE!!

… [visit site to read more]

Blackberry For iPhone Users – Lesson 1: Themes

Tags: BlackBerry Software, Dan Cohen

Boost Mobile i465 brings easier text messaging

Wayne Schulz — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:35:12 +0000

One of Boost’s unique features, in addition to traditional voice and text messaging, is the ability to connect subscribers using a walkie talkie type connection (formerly known as Direct Connect) accessed by pushing a button on the side of the Boost phone.

When the phone’s button is pushed you connect almost instantly to another walkie talkie capable phone without any need to dial (other than the unique walkie talkie number of the person you’re calling which is different than their phone number). These phones can also connect to Sprint/Nextel phones, participate in group chats and work locally as well as nationwide. … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Motorola, Prepaid Cellular, Reviews, Sprint / Nextel, Wayne Schulz

Apple TV Software version 3.0 video walk through

Larry Greenberg — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:45:40 +0000

Apple has released a major update to its Apple TV software. The hardware did not change but the new 3.0 software version has been given a full makeover.

With a totally redesigned start page, internet radio, support for iTunes LPs and more the new software version, although not the new hardware many people were hoping for, at least gives Apple TV users something new to play with.

Here’s a brief video walk through of the new 3.0 software.

visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple, Larry Greenberg, Movies and Streaming Video

Review: Sleek Audio SA1, an Altogether Different Audio Experience

Judie Lipsett — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:15:10 +0000

Here’s the dilemma: you’re listening to your favorite music, and outside noises are not only bleeding in, they are making your music less clear. Most people would turn up the volume to block the unwanted noise and amplify their audio. The only problem is that in the process, they might also be causing irreparable hearing loss. Then there’s the matter of bass and treble – sometimes your left ear needs more bass and your right more treble, and that’s not exactly something you can set on an equalizer. How do you handle that?

Sleek Audio, a two year old company that was started by the father and son audiologist team Mark and Jason Krywko, may have the answer; but first a bit of background. Sleek Audio “began when Mark found himself dissatisfied with the sound signature of the dozens of different earphones he had tried over the years, so as a 30 year veteran of the audio and custom hearing aid industries, he decided to build his own.”

It took Mark and Jason three years to develop exactly what they wanted, and then they introduced the SA6 acoustically customizable earphone. What set the SA6 apart from other earphones was that it was the world’s first to be acoustically customizable (more on that in a bit), and it could “go from wired, to wireless and back again.” The SA6 introduced another feature that I hadn’t seen before – a detachable and interchangeable cable… and they also came with a price tag that might intimidate the average user – $249.99. Granted, a die-hard audiophile probably wouldn’t blink when hearing that price, but it might be a lot to swallow for the listener who just wants something that blows away what came with his digital music player.

So how can the budget minded audioholic get great sound along with at least some of the features that made the SA6 such a revolutionary earphone? Say hello to the relatively budget-priced Sleek Audio SA1 earphone, not that you would ever be able to tell just by looking or listening.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Audio Visual Gear, Judie Lipsett, Reviews, Wired Headsets and Earphones

Gear Diary » Reviews

The Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth Headset Review

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Review: Kanex High Capacity Battery for the T-Mobile G1

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Boost Mobile i9 is thin, solid and dependable

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Thrustmaster Sports Pack – Review

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Review: HTC’s Sprint Hero, The “Other” Android Device

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WaterField Zune HD Suede Case is thin, versatile and convenient

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Review: Tuxdroid the Open Source Robot

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Enlighten, Case-Mate’s Gorgeous New Lighted Kindle2 Cover

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Blue Plate Special: Skee-Ball For iPhone/Touch

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Review: Real Deer Hunting for iPhone OS

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Business Card Reader from Shape Services – instant business card recognition for your iPhone for $5.99

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Review: Voiis Stereo Wireless Music Gateway

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Moshi Voice Response Alarm Clock – Review

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Review: Kanex High Capacity Battery for the Palm Pre

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2010 Kia Soul built to rock and roll

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Review: HyperMac External Battery

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Mailtones Redux – Now For Blackberry Too!

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Boost Mobile i465 brings easier text messaging

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Apple TV Software version 3.0 video walk through

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Review: Sleek Audio SA1, an Altogether Different Audio Experience

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