Gear Diary » About MY Gear 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 Checking Out Windows Phone Speed, Apps, Camera, Music Player and Gameshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/checking-out-windows-phone-speed-apps-camera-music-player-and-games/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/checking-out-windows-phone-speed-apps-camera-music-player-and-games/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:00:51 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179112

Judie: Our saga began when Dan and I received HTC Titans at a Microsoft sponsored dinner while attending CES; it's hard to believe that on the 11th it will have been one month ago. You can catch up on our previous posts before starting with this one by clicking the following links: Considering the Move from an iPhone 4S to Windows Phone Titan Comparing the iPhone 4s Hardware to the HTC Titan and Dipping into the Windows Phone User Interface In that month, my iPhone has never left my gadget drawer. Although I can think of a few times I wished I had it -- mainly when writing up a cool accessory I had just discovered that was 'iPhone only' or when feeling the absence of a favorite app -- not once have I missed it enough to retrieve it from the drawer. That's better than I can say for any other phone running any other operating system that I have tried in the past ... but I'm not sure if I'm ready to list the 4S on eBay just yet! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/checking-out-windows-phone-speed-apps-camera-music-player-and-games/feed/ 14 Comparing the iPhone 4s Hardware to the HTC Titan and Dipping into the Windows Phone User Interfacehttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/comparing-the-iphone-4s-hardware-to-the-htc-titan-and-dipping-into-the-windows-phone-user-interface/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/comparing-the-iphone-4s-hardware-to-the-htc-titan-and-dipping-into-the-windows-phone-user-interface/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:00:31 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181747

There's a dramatic difference between 4.7" and 3.5"!

Judie: For those of you who missed it, in our last article, Dan and I talked about the circumstances behind how we -- two iPhone 4S users -- each came into possession of an HTC Titan [you can click here to read it]. We also gave some of our initial thoughts about the operating system and why we might have been hesitant to make the change. In this installment, we dig in further into what we like and don't like about the Titan specifically when it's compared to the iPhone. Because our Windows Phone experience is occurring on the Titan, the hardware is directly influencing how we perceive everything ... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/comparing-the-iphone-4s-hardware-to-the-htc-titan-and-dipping-into-the-windows-phone-user-interface/feed/ 15 Life on iOS, 4 Months Laterhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/29/life-on-ios-4-months-later/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/29/life-on-ios-4-months-later/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:00:51 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180587

(yes, I am very obsessive about keeping all my apps neatly in folders.)

Recently Thomas commented that he had re-read my "Farewell, Android" post, and he wanted to know if I felt the same way since buying my 4s back in October. At the risk of ruining the surprise, the short answer is "Heck yea!" But that would make this a rather short follow-up, so read on for how life on iOS has treated me and whether I miss anything from my robot-loving days! The impetus for my initial decision to move to iOS was frustration with Android's fragmentation and how poorly my Droid aged. Nothing from Android in the last few months has made me regret that decision. The Galaxy Nexus is nice, but huge, and Motorola's DROID offerings have the shelf life of a carton of milk. Plus nothing HTC has pumped out on the Android side has been particularly intriguing. However, the iPhone hardware still feels solid, and I don't feel like the 3.5in screen is a limitation. So I don't feel like toting an iPhone has left me out in the cold as far as anything exciting! More importantly, and universally, let's talk software. Yes, I complained I missed the back button, but I've adjusted. I do find the homescreen-centric UI to be a bit limiting sometimes, but I get around it by using the home button double click and flipping through my most used apps. Most importantly, the apps I've encountered on iOS just seem more well-developed and fully baked than their Android counterparts. I feel more productive on iOS than on Android, and that says a lot. I did everything on my Droid, from email to calendar to writing Gear Diary posts and editing photos, but all of it is so much easier on iOS that it just blows me away. In some cases comes down to app quality while in other cases it is a matter of stability. Either way it makes me happy! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/29/life-on-ios-4-months-later/feed/ 6 Old Cables to the Rescue!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/old-cables-to-the-rescue/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/old-cables-to-the-rescue/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:26 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180745 20120126-105826.jpg I wrote yesterday about my first impressions of the Case-Mate Phantom for the iPhone 4s, and I pointed out that it was new and therefore in the "new accessory honeymoon phase". Last night I discovered a potential issue, but luckily for me, the legacy of the original iPhone came to the rescue! See, the original iPhone had a very recessed headphone jack. It fit normal 3.5in headphones, but only if they had a very slim plug design. Anything not supermodel-skinny didn't fit. Of course accessory manufacturers stepped right up, and when I had my original iPhone I used a $10 Belkin adapter to connect my tiny headphone port to my normal size headphones. So how did the original iPhone's Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/old-cables-to-the-rescue/feed/ 0 What’s Coming to CES 2012 with Judie and Dan?http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/08/whats-coming-to-ces-2012/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/08/whats-coming-to-ces-2012/#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:15:55 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177620 Well, it is that time of year again. That means CES and our annual “What’s Coming to CES” post. Last year was a bit tricky for me as I was doing CES as part of a SCOTTEVEST No Baggage Challenge for Charity. That meant any and everything I brought needed to be on my person. It was a challenge but it was also rather fun. It didn't hurt that, due to a mess up by the hotel I ended up with a suite with a washer and dryer but it doesn't change the fact that everything I brought fit into my SeV clothing. (You can see videos of it here and here and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/08/whats-coming-to-ces-2012/feed/ 1 Antenna + Roku HD + Netflix = $90 Savings Per Monthhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/19/antenna-roku-hd-netflix-90-savings-per-month/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/19/antenna-roku-hd-netflix-90-savings-per-month/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:15:27 +0000 Matthew Hall http://www.geardiary.com/?p=173092

I hate bills.  I also hate paying for things I can get for free. I was at Thomas' house last year just hanging out. We were watching a movie on his Roku box, and I realized that the little box was giving him everything that I watch on TV except for local channels. That was the beginning of my quest to get rid of my cable bill. At first I searched the web and found that all you need is an antenna to pick up local television stations. I could remember back to my childhood, and how we had an antenna that was pointed toward Indianapolis so we would get about 10 channels; that is Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/19/antenna-roku-hd-netflix-90-savings-per-month/feed/ 5 Starbucks + K-Cups = Coffee Nirvanahttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/05/starbucks-k-cups-coffee-nirvana/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/05/starbucks-k-cups-coffee-nirvana/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:00:20 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=172856 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/05/starbucks-k-cups-coffee-nirvana/feed/ 3 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 A Day in the Life: Using a Bluetooth Headset as a Remote Recording Device for Lectureshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/02/a-day-in-the-life-using-a-bluetooth-headset-as-a-remote-recording-device-for-lectures/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/02/a-day-in-the-life-using-a-bluetooth-headset-as-a-remote-recording-device-for-lectures/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:00:58 +0000 Matthew Hall http://www.geardiary.com/?p=166518

I have been teaching for the past few years and have found that recording my lectures is helpful for students that are sick or that need assistance due to attention deficit issues. Many of the programs to record lectures are costly, so I set out to see if I could use my MacBook and a Bluetooth headset to accomplish the task. I found that not only can I, but that it works remarkably well. The Bluetooth Device: The Bluetooth device I opted for is the Jabra BT3030 Bluetooth Stereo Headset [affiliate link]. Not only is it a good headset, but it can Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/02/a-day-in-the-life-using-a-bluetooth-headset-as-a-remote-recording-device-for-lectures/feed/ 3 How a $91 Metal Detector Saved the Day!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/31/how-a-91-metal-detector-saved-the-day/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/31/how-a-91-metal-detector-saved-the-day/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:30:23 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=166544

I got a text message from my husband, Kevin, on Tuesday last week, saying that he had lost his wedding ring while working at the ranch. He'd been digging post holes to rebuild a section of fence that had been damaged during our April Fool's Day fire, and while he was on his knees flinging the final few rocks from inside the hole, his platinum wedding band had flown off. The rock he threw hit a tree about 15 feet away, and he figured that the ring had taken a similar trajectory. Kev had already spent two hours searching, part of it on his hands and knees. The area where he had been working is composed of what we refer Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/31/how-a-91-metal-detector-saved-the-day/feed/ 0 PowerBags to the Rescuehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/29/powerbags-to-the-rescue/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/29/powerbags-to-the-rescue/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:33:24 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=166510 20111029-183018.jpg Yesterday we reviewed the PowerBag Messenger, a messenger bag that carries a 6000mAh battery and has internal cabling that makes charging an iOS device, or one that has a mini or microUSB connection simple. Today I got home and shot a video of the backpack version of the PowerBag for the second part in the review. Little did I know how handy both bags would be just hours later. 20111029-182620.jpg You see, the October Surprise dumped a fair bit of snow on the ground today. That, combined with the fact that the trees still had leaves on them that caught more snow than usual, has resulted in downed Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/29/powerbags-to-the-rescue/feed/ 0 Gear Bag Review: PowerBag Messengerhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/28/gear-bag-review-powerbag-messenger/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/28/gear-bag-review-powerbag-messenger/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:00:48 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=166405 CES is coming up, and this year we will have the biggest Gear Diary team covering the event ever. Even though CES is more than two months off, it isn't too early to start thinking about the ins and outs of the week. As we have mentioned previously, one of the biggest challenges at CES is keeping cameras, phones and video recorders charged and usable. The days are long and the tools we use to cover CES are in use from early morning until late at night. Battery cases and external batteries help a great deal but, this year, we'll have yet another way to keep our devices charged thanks to PowerBag. PowerBags come Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/28/gear-bag-review-powerbag-messenger/feed/ 0 Farewell, Androidhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/20/farewell-android/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/20/farewell-android/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:00:18 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=165070

(image courtesy ThinkG33k)

As regular readers of Gear Diary may know, I used an original Droid for almost two years. In fact, up until a few months ago, I was totally convinced my next phone would be an Android device. But Android and I had a falling out, and I picked up an iPhone 4s on Friday. Why? And is the learning curve tough? Read on for my thoughts! First, there's the "why". A few things dragged me away from my little robot friends. One, Android is becoming increasingly fractured. It seems as though the only way to guarantee timely updates and continued support is to pick up a Nexus device. Otherwise Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/20/farewell-android/feed/ 14 Which iPhone 4S to Buy?http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/06/which-iphone-4s-to-buy/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/06/which-iphone-4s-to-buy/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:22:27 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=163734 It is a strange irony that is not lost on any of us. The iPhone 4S is announced mid-day on Tuesday, word of Steve Job's death comes the following evening, and the new iPhone starts pre-orders start at 12:01 AM PST. No doubt some people will suggest it should be delayed. I never had the honor of meeting Jobs, but my guess is he wouldn't even dignify that with a response, well -- maybe a two-word email like "Plans stays..." but not an actual response. So which iPhone 4S to get? What Color? This is an issue of personal taste, but I find black devices tend to stay looking fresh longer. And if you do find Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/06/which-iphone-4s-to-buy/feed/ 15 FlipsideKick Expansion Accessory for the Flipside 2X Wallethttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/01/flipsidekick-expansion-accessory-for-the-flipside-2x-wallet/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/01/flipsidekick-expansion-accessory-for-the-flipside-2x-wallet/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:45:46 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=162949 A few weeks ago we were out to dinner with some friends. When the time cam to pay, Laurence reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Without thinking I said, "Where did you learn about the Flipside 2X Wallet?" To which he replied, "Uhm, I think some guy named Dan reviewed it on Gear Diary a year ago." Okay that was dumb of me but it is good to know my friends read the site. And I do love my FlipSide wallet. In fact, since yesterday I love it even more. Yes, my Flipside Wallet got some extra storage thanks to the new FlipsideKick. The $9.99 add-on is money well Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/01/flipsidekick-expansion-accessory-for-the-flipside-2x-wallet/feed/ 0 Things That Make You Go “Hmmm”: iPads on Airplanes Editionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/things-that-make-you-go-hmmm-ipads-on-airplanes-edition/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/things-that-make-you-go-hmmm-ipads-on-airplanes-edition/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:45:48 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=160861 20110917-044532.jpg I just landed in Boston on my way to Martha's Vineyard for a wedding tomorrow. Of course I brought my iPad with me. (It's how I took this picture and wrote this post during a flight that was shorter than the time it took for me to get to the airport and through security.) It was a 38 minute flight. For the first ten minutes I could not use the iPad. For the last ten minutes I was told to turn it off as well. That left 18 minutes or so that the iPad was "legit" and usable. This has never made all that much sense to me. While I understand them asking us to put devices in airplane mode so the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/things-that-make-you-go-hmmm-ipads-on-airplanes-edition/feed/ 7 I Reviewed It and Still Use It: Flipside 2X Wallet Edition (News, Too!!)http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/02/i-reviewed-it-and-still-use-it-flipside-2x-wallet-edition-news-too/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/02/i-reviewed-it-and-still-use-it-flipside-2x-wallet-edition-news-too/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:15:13 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=159031 We reviewed the Flipside 2X wallet last fall. It is an unusual wallet that is made from hard plastic, offers limited storage and has RFID shielding so the evil people trying to steal your information right from your credit cards without even touching them. Safari Our conclusion? What I Like: Keeps you organized; keeps cards in place until you want them; opens with the tap of a button; cards slide out easily; prevents “wallet creep”; offers RFID theft protect What Needs Improvement: Nothing really comes to mind other than the fact that it would be great if they offered Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/02/i-reviewed-it-and-still-use-it-flipside-2x-wallet-edition-news-too/feed/ 0 Amazon Kindle Books I Found for Free Todayhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/amazon-kindle-books-i-found-for-free-today/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/amazon-kindle-books-i-found-for-free-today/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:15:31 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=156726

I try to scan through Amazon at least once a week, looking for all the free Kindle books offered. I've managed to collect hundreds of titles by doing so, and in the process I have discovered some really fantastic authors that I might not have found otherwise. Sure, I have found some turkeys along the way, but hey -- the price was right! =) This morning there were quite a few decent-sounding titles and synopses, so I thought it might be a good idea to share them with you all; some are short stories and some are full length novels -- I usually find a pretty mixed bag. Keep in mind that as of the time I compiled Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/amazon-kindle-books-i-found-for-free-today/feed/ 0 Soft-Touch Cases and Suntan Lotion Do Not Mix: A Gear Diary PSAhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/30/soft-touch-cases-and-suntan-lotion-do-not-mix-a-gear-diary-psa/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/30/soft-touch-cases-and-suntan-lotion-do-not-mix-a-gear-diary-psa/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 17:00:28 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=155236 I love a minimalist iPhone case with a soft touch feel. among my favorites are the Feather cases from Incipio. I have one for my iPhone 4 and I also bought one for my iPad 2. They look and feel great. Here's what Incipio has to say about them:
Measuring less than 1mm in thickness, the feather® for iPhone 4 is a slim, form-fitting case that offers low-profile protection. Don't like feeling the added bulk of a traditional case? Go lightweight and sexy with the feather®. With the largest variety of color selections to choose from, the feather® is the most diverse and colorful carrying case solution. Choose from a rich and ever-expanding pallette that
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/30/soft-touch-cases-and-suntan-lotion-do-not-mix-a-gear-diary-psa/feed/ 0 The Circle of Technological Life, or, RIP Kindle 1http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/08/the-circle-of-technological-life-or-rip-kindle-1/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/08/the-circle-of-technological-life-or-rip-kindle-1/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:00:54 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=152545 (while not actually our bedroom, a pretty close approximation)

This is the conversation that used to go on in my house a few years ago: Me: Hey Sarah, would you like me to buy you a Kindle? Sarah: No, I don't need one, look, I have all these books piled up on my nightstand. This is the conversation that went on earlier this year: Me: Hey Sarah, would you like me to buy you a Kindle? Sarah: No, I don't need one, but can I borrow your old Kindle once in a while? This was the conversation a few weeks ago: Sarah: Hey, I looked at all those Kindle Summer Deals...can you Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/08/the-circle-of-technological-life-or-rip-kindle-1/feed/ 2 Using Technology to Train for My First Triathlonhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/09/using-technology-to-train-for-my-first-triathlon/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/09/using-technology-to-train-for-my-first-triathlon/#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:00:50 +0000 Brian Hollar http://www.geardiary.com/?p=147254

I am currently in the final weeks training for my first triathlon here in DC on June 19th.  The race lengths are an 800m swim, 20k bike ride, and 7.5k run, mostly along the National Mall.  (Here are more detailed maps of the swim, bike, and run routes.)  What makes this race particularly challenging for me is that when I began my training on March 19th, it was four weeks after I had hernia surgery, I couldn't jog for more than 60 seconds without getting out of breath, had never swam freestyle in my life and couldn't hold my form even once across the pool.  I am now up to 5-mile runs Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/09/using-technology-to-train-for-my-first-triathlon/feed/ 1 Adventures in Cloud Computing Brought to Me by WildBluehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/18/adventures-in-cloud-computing-brought-to-me-by-wildblue/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/18/adventures-in-cloud-computing-brought-to-me-by-wildblue/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 19:00:03 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=145305

image courtesy of toothpaste for dinner

Cloud computing. It is here. It is powerful. It is growing. It is a good thing? Had you asked me a week ago my answer would have been a resounding "Yes!" A week later, I'm not sure sure. Read on if you care to join me in my wireless nightmare ... For many years, Dial-Up was the only way most people could get online reliably, and the two main sources of internet access seemed to be AOL and to a lesser degree, MSN; because I wanted to be different, I went with MSN, and I thought it was great because Dial-Up was all Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/18/adventures-in-cloud-computing-brought-to-me-by-wildblue/feed/ 5 2000 Posts and Counting: A 2001 a Gear Odysseyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/09/2000-posts-and-counting-a-2001-a-gear-odyssey/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/09/2000-posts-and-counting-a-2001-a-gear-odyssey/#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 14:20:56 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=143922 (Huge thanks to Mike for the idea and the title) Last night I posted my 2000th post on Gear Diary. Yes, since I joined the writing staff of the site in July of 2008 I have written 2000 posts. (With this one 2001.) My very first post was a review of the mStation 2.1 Stereo Tower. My second post was a brief revisit to the Beyza Thinvelope for MacBook Air, a case Judie had previously reviewed. My next posts were of iPod and iPhone cases as well as a review of an external battery for the iPhone. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/09/2000-posts-and-counting-a-2001-a-gear-odyssey/feed/ 1 Geocachers: A Secret Society Stalking Your Streetshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/03/geocachers-a-secret-society-stalking-your-streets/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/03/geocachers-a-secret-society-stalking-your-streets/#comments Tue, 03 May 2011 18:00:46 +0000 Gary Bunker http://www.geardiary.com/?p=142472 Gary holding ammo can

There's a secret society stalking your streets, peering behind bushes and rummaging through parks. They work in the dead of night, or boldly move at high noon. These stealthy denizens are known to leave suspicious packages around public parks and quiet neighborhoods, and yet nobody tries to stop them. Using the latest in GPS and smartphone technology, they track hundreds of locations in nearly ever county of the USA. Their secret stashes are tracked on cryptic websites, and they've even made inroads into Canada and Europe. Their nefarious websites include listings for thousands of mobile treasures or "hitchhikers" which are shuffled from location to location. Nobody tries to stop them because they're playing "geek Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/03/geocachers-a-secret-society-stalking-your-streets/feed/ 4 You Know You’re a Geek When …http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/29/you-know-youre-a-geek-when/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/29/you-know-youre-a-geek-when/#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:15:59 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=141822 We are in Massachusetts for three nights for a friend's wedding...yet somehow a weekend trip required a MacBook, a netbook, a Kindle 3 and a NOOKcolor. Oh, and not pictured: an HTC Incredible and my Motorola Droid. When I met Sarah she didn't even have a smartphone; apparently geekery is contagious! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/29/you-know-youre-a-geek-when/feed/ 0 I Reviewed It and I Still Use It: The “Thank You Ergotron” Editionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/21/i-reviewed-it-and-i-still-use-it-the-thank-you-ergotron-edition/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/21/i-reviewed-it-and-i-still-use-it-the-thank-you-ergotron-edition/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:30:17 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=140621 NewImage

I reviewed the Ergotron Sit–Stand Desk last September. This work-station modification allows you to work at your desk in either a sitting or standing position merely by lifting the entire assemblage up or down. It is truly an impressive piece of equipment, and at close to $400 certainly not inexpensive. My review concluded with:

So do I like this? YES! If I had not been sent a review unit would I be buying one? YES again. Having the option to work either sitting or standing and to quickly move between the two is great. Having a unit as well-built and stable as this is even better. I am VERY

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/21/i-reviewed-it-and-i-still-use-it-the-thank-you-ergotron-edition/feed/ 0 I Just Got the Black Phosphor Appear, and I Love It!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/05/i-just-got-the-black-phosphor-appear-and-i-love-it/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/05/i-just-got-the-black-phosphor-appear-and-i-love-it/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:45:50 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=138726

Last month I reviewed the new Phosphor Appear watch in the women's red with a Swarovski crystal embedded dial, and I thought it was a little bit too blingy for every day. Since I mentioned that I was going to order the men's black with a plain black bezel, I thought I would post a picture so you could see the difference.

It's still a bright and attention-getting watch, but it is not quite as blinding now. I think it is perfect! =)

The Phosphor Appeal starts Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/05/i-just-got-the-black-phosphor-appear-and-i-love-it/feed/ 2 Droid Does: Smartphone Monogamyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/24/droid-does-smartphone-monogamy/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/24/droid-does-smartphone-monogamy/#comments Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:00:41 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=128733

I bought my Motorola Droid in December of 2009. 2009 was a very busy year for me with smartphones; I started with an original iPhone, then became frustrated with the notification system and jumped ship to Windows Mobile. That lasted only a few months before I jumped ship AGAIN, to a Nokia E71x. I didn't love Symbian, so I jumped yet again to Windows Mobile Smartphone, which lasted all of two minutes before I went back to the iPhone again. Finally, a combination of factors led me to switching to Verizon from AT&T, and I switched to my Droid...the last smartphone switch I've made in over a year. So what led me to smartphone monogamy? Well, Android Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/24/droid-does-smartphone-monogamy/feed/ 5 Gear Diary 2010 Gear of the Year and Predictions for 2011http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/02/gear-diary-2010-gear-of-the-year-and-predictions-for-2011/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/02/gear-diary-2010-gear-of-the-year-and-predictions-for-2011/#comments Sun, 02 Jan 2011 21:00:52 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=124256

The past year has seen interesting developments in the gear we all use: the term iOS replaced iPhone OS as the OS that started on iPhone was also on the new iPad when it took the world and Gear Diary writers by storm, Android phones blossomed and became real competitors to the iPhone, and the iPad got its first real competition in the Samsung Galaxy Tab just a few months before 2010 drew to a close.  While there's much more that happened in the past year, I thought let's ask the following questions of the Gear Diary Team. 1. What was your favorite gear in 2010 and why? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/02/gear-diary-2010-gear-of-the-year-and-predictions-for-2011/feed/ 5 How ‘Just a Big iPod’ Changed Our Computing Lives!http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/how-just-a-big-ipod-changed-our-computing-lives/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/how-just-a-big-ipod-changed-our-computing-lives/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:00:30 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=117605

For the second time in two days I was giving a technical talk: one at night in a public setting, the other to a project team at work. In both cases I needed to note some questions, discussions, take contact info and jot down some ‘to do’ tasks and follow ups. It was only when someone said something in each case that I even realized – all I brought with me was my iPad. It has been nearly 8 months since the release of the iPad, and I cannot imagine going anywhere without it. Through numerous discussions I know that many of the other Gear Diary folks feel the same way Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/how-just-a-big-ipod-changed-our-computing-lives/feed/ 11