Gear Diary » Home Tech

Brinno PeepHole Viewer and Camera Provides New Tech for Home Security

Douglas Moran — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:15:12 +0000

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 ...

Twelve South Does it Again with HoverBar for Mac and iPad 2

Dan Cohen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:52:39 +0000

If you use a Mac and an iPad, then Twelve South's new HoverBar is for you. It lets you use your iPad 2 an adjustable arm that floats iPad 2 next to an iMac or Apple display, allowing you to use iPad as a secondary, touchscreen computer.

[It] turns iPad into the ultimate sidecar for an iMac or Apple display, presenting more ways to use iPad more often. Connect HoverBar to your Mac, snap iPad 2 into the secure clip and you now have one powerful dual-computer work setup. Having iPad floating next to your Mac allows you to monitor your Twitter stream, stocks and local weather -- or run FaceTime on your iPad while you email, edit a file, or cut a video on your Mac.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Get Going with Blu-Ray for Under $50

Dan Cohen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:40:06 +0000

Today's Gear Deal will get you up and running with Blu-Ray for just $49.99. That's right, LG's BD611 Blu-ray Disc Player is normally $119.99 but our Gear Sponsor found savings that knock a full $70 off the price. Add in the fact that it will ship for free and it can be on the way to you for under $50. The unit features full HD 1080p, the "sound of Blu-ray technology along with USB 2.0 Media Playback" and Up-Scaling to "deliver exceptional image quality from standard DVDs". Get details and ordering information here on the deal page. Gear Deal: Get Going with Blu-Ray for Under $50 via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

OS X Moves Yet Another Step Closer to iOS

Dan Cohen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:00:48 +0000

If you still weren't convinced that Apple's desktop/laptop Mac OS X operating system and their mobile operating system iOS were moving closer and closer to one another here's yet one more example. If you have a Mac go to software update and download the Airport Utility update. Once you do you'll be greeted with a utility that will be rather familiar if you have used the recently release iOS Airport Utility. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iGrill + Omaha Steaks’ Steak Time App = Meat Magic

Chris Chamberlain — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:00:28 +0000

Now far be it from me to tell a man (or a woman for that matter) how to use their BBQ grill. Like politics and religion, grilling is a topic where advice is rarely appreciated or even more rarely followed. I'm sure you're great at cooking a steak over charcoal or gas, and I wouldn't tell you to your face if I thought otherwise. A. because you're feeding me and B. because you probably have fire and sharp BBQ tools within arm's reach. Maybe you're one of those people who can judge a steak's doneness by comparing the surface of the meat to the firmness of the fleshy part of your thumb pad. Good for you then. (Please, oh please, don't cut into a steak while it's still on the grill to check whether it's cooked enough. Meat must rest after cooking or you'll just let all the good juices out!) But as techy types, gadget enthusiasts should strive to introduce some rigor into their grilling methods and cook to exact internal temperatures whenever possible. For example, I like my steak to come off the grill at precisely 122 degrees and allow it to come up to a beautiful pink medium-rare while it's resting. You are letting it rest, right? If we can employ some cool new iPhone technology to help out with these methods, so much the better. Enter the iGrill Bluetooth® cooking thermometer from www.igrillinc.com and the free accompanying “Steak Time” app from Omaha Steaks. So shoo the dog out of the kitchen and put your steak on a high counter to bring it to room temperature while we investigate these fun kitchen tools. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Swingline Stack and Shred 80X Handsfree Cross-Cut Shredder Review

Dan Cohen — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:00:04 +0000

Who in the world would get excited about a shredder? ME, that's who. So when Judie posted a review of the SwingLine Cross-Cut Shredder last year I took note. You see, as bad as Judie and Kevin's stack of "waiting to be shredded documents" was, Elana's and mine is worse. How much worse? Let me put it this way. In Judie's review she began with the following,

This is my husband's and my pile of things that needed to be shredded. It started in a drawer, was moved to a shelf, and eventually ended up in a bag under our bed. What's in it? Everything from those "convenience" checks that credit card companies seem to think we can't live without, to credit card applications that simply need a signature and mail back to be approved, to health insurance settlement statements, all those bits of paper that have numbers, names, addresses and other information that gets scribbled down when we are trying to be efficient.

If I were writing that paragraph it might be something like this,

This is my wife's and my pile of things that needed to be shredded: it started in a drawer, was moved to a shelf, eventually ended up in a bag under our bed and now is filling an entire room.

The situation is really bad… and potentially embarrassing. It is SO BAD in fact, that I won't be including a picture here. But trust me, our "to be shredded pile" needs help. All of those things piled up in our house for the same reason they gathered in Judie's, and perhaps your home. Identity theft is real and you can't simply throw documents with your personal information in the garbage anymore. No, you need a good shredder, and that means something that not only slices the page but also cross-cuts the page so that the data on it is all but impossible to put back together. That's where Swingline's Stack and Shred 80X Handsfree Cross-Cut Shredder has the potential to step in and save the day. It offers the security we need and is probably the easiest I have ever seen. Let's take a look. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Samsung 55″ 3D 1080p LED HDTV and Blu-ray Player and 4 Pair of 3D glasses

Dan Cohen — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:55:40 +0000

Big, bold and impressive. That's the only way to describe Samsung's top of the line UN55D8000 55" 3D 1080p LED 240Hz HDTV. And with today's Gear Deal you'll get it bundled with a Samsung BD-D5500 Blu-ray Player and 2 extra pair of 3D glasses (that makes for a total of four pair). The Samsung UN55D8000

features edge-lit LED backlighting with Micro-precision dimming Plus for enhanced image quality (higher contrast, darker blacks and eliminates "blooming"). It also features 3D ready, Internet TV (apps such as FaceBook, YouTube, BlockBuster, Flickr, Amazon on Demand, Skype), 4 HDMI versopm 1.4 inputs, 2 USB ports, ethernet, and wrapped in a slim .9" panel in black design.

As noted, two pair of Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

A Visit with Gear4, and a Look at Their Current and Upcoming Prodcuts

Dan Cohen — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:00:27 +0000

Judie and I had a chance to visit with Gear4 in their suite at the Wynn. We've seen some of the company's products in the past, but I don't think that either of us realized how extensive their portfolio is. And it is going to get even larger in 2012. Needless to say, we came away impressed. Here's a rundown on the company and their current lineup ... Gear4 wants to "make things that are simple, enhance your life and are a pleasure to use." While all of that is highly subjective from what we saw they are doing everything possible to be true to their mission. Their docks look good, appear easy to use and, best of all, they sound excellent. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Samsung 55″ 3D 1080p LED HDTV, Samsung 3D Blu-ray Disc Player, Samsung Active 3D Battery Glasses Bundle

Dan Cohen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:30:50 +0000

You want 3D? Well today's Gear Deal will get you some awesome 3D AND save you money in the process. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Pyramid Distribution Brings Us the iGoGo TV and Android-Based TV-Box

Michael Anderson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:45:39 +0000

Today we heard about a cool new set-top box for your HDTV from Pyramid Distribution, called the iGoGo TV. The iGoGo is an Android-powered box that brings a robust 'smart TV' experience to your home. Because it is based on standard Android 2.3, it means you will be able to run tons of the same Android apps you already know and love. Featuring wired and wireless networking, support for 1920x1080p full HD, 4GB built-in memory expandable to 32GB by micro SD, support for USB hard drives for unlimited storage, and more. The iGoGo also includes a 2MP webcam with microphone, so you can use Skype to chat with folks anywhere around the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Wilson Electronics New Sleek 4G LTE Universal Cellular Signal Booster Rocks!

Judie Stanford — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:01:57 +0000

I'm a big fan of Wilson Electronics Cellular signal boosters, and I got to spend a little bit of time Joe Banos (their CEO) checking out their new 4G LTE Universal Cellular Signal Booster and learning about what's going on in the booster market. Joe sees 2012 as the year that carriers will acknowledge that customers want better signals on their mobile devices by embracing cellular signal boosting technology. Verizon is the first carrier to get fully on board, and Joe said another carrier is expected to do the same in the next few weeks. Wilson has just released a universal cradle that will take care of mobile users on all carriers, but specifically those Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Samsung CES 2012 Press Conference: Pushing Boundaries

Dan Cohen — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:17:51 +0000

Samsung's Press Conference brought news of some great evolutionary products. We waited in line for hours just to hear what Samsung had to share. It was worth the wait. Here's a look...

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Withings Introduces the World’s First Internet Connected Baby and Toddler Scale

Judie Stanford — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:15:18 +0000

Kev and I have a Withings WiFi connected scale and blood-pressure cuff. My favorite feature of both is that our results are automatically exported to both a password-protected personal page on the Withings site as well as an app on our iPhone or iPad. We are able to monitor our own numbers and when the mood strikes -- peek at each others. Withings has just introduced a brilliant product with the same capabilities that should make every new parent happy -- their Smart Baby Scale.

By using the Withings Smart Baby Scale, parents can access their child’s weight readings from any connected device, such as an Internet-connected computer or an iPad

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

CES 2012: More Tablets That Will Fail… If They Even Get Released

Dan Cohen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:17 +0000

My first stop at CES Unveiled was QOOQ, a French company that is planning to release the "first tablet specifically designed for the kitchen". Last year saw hundreds of tablets announced. Only a small percentage actually got released and even fewer had any success. So one might think companies would stop staking their future on new tablets with unique OSes right? WRONG.

The tablet is nice enough looking and has rubber feet, a build in stand and can be wiped clean if it becomes dirty. Does it run Android? Nope. It runs its own Linux OS. It has streamed cooks showing you how to make dishes step by step. It has audio Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The SodaStream Home Soda Maker Overview and Review

Dan Cohen — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:00:03 +0000

Early this week preparations for CES went into high gear. I commented to the GD team that during the week a staple of my diet tends to be either sugar-free Red Bull or FiveHour Energy and that, upon arrival, I may buy a case of each. I also made an offhand comment that a box of FiveHour Energy is rather pricey. Bryan chimed in that he has a SodaStream and one of the available mixes is an energy concentrate. It would, he noted, be far more economical. Two days later I joined the ranks of the SodaStream users. Funny thing is, Elana had mentioned possibly getting one for her parents Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Blacktop 360 Portable Griddle/Grill/Fryer Review

Chris Chamberlain — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:00:39 +0000

When you first see the Blacktop 360 Portable Griddle/Grill/Fryer, it's hard not to think it's a gimmicky product. I mean it just screams "As Seen on TV" thanks to its claim to be the Swiss Army Knife of your tailgating needs with a propane grill top, a griddle for frying or warming and even a 20 oz. fryer basket. But upon further inspection, darned if it doesn't live up to its motto, "Tailgating Turned up to 11." Let's take a closer look. First of all, if you order one of these via mail order, be prepared to tip the Fed Ex guy if he has to carry this big old box up any steps. Weighing in at 37 lbs., you'll be very pleased that the Blacktop 360 comes with a handy carry bag that is big enough to hold the grill and all the tools and accessories that come with it. Inside that box is the griddle/grill which has three separate burners which total 24,000 BTUs and a cooking surface of 452 inches. I know that sounds like a lot of area, but most of the cooking space is arranged in a circle around the deep fryer and is divided into and infrared grilling area, a griddle and a warming plate. Organizing a lot of food on the Blacktop 360 does require the skills of a good suburban dad packing the truck of the Family Truckster before a three week vacation. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Drobo Data Storage System Review

Dan Cohen — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:00:07 +0000

Last fall I applied for and received a grant that will allow my synagogue to build a new technology lab. Within the next few months we will have a number of iMac desktop computers and a host of iPads being used by our kids and adults alike. In fact, I'm working on a special tutorial program for students becoming bar and bat mitzvah that will run on the iPad. It uses the awesome iOS application MentalCase. More on that at a later date. When I found out we were getting the grant, I reached out to a number of companies with whom we work for some assistance. Both Kensington and Zagg were fantastic about Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Setting Up a Sonos Home Audio System

Dan Cohen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:00:34 +0000

My biggest personal tech find of 2011 has to be the Sonos home audio system. I got a review loaner and bought one within a day. I was that impressed with it and continue to love it. You can read the the initial review here and read the review of the new, smaller PLAY:3 here. During the inaugural Gear Fest last summer I had Carly film a quick walkthrough of setting the Sonos system up. It never made it into a post... until now.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The ivee Flex Personal Assistant Video Review

Dan Cohen — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:00:03 +0000

This isn't the first time we've looked at an alarm clock that not only speaks the time but understands when YOU speak. No, two years ago we reviewed the Moshi Travel Alarm Clock, and before that we took a look at the bedside version of it. Despite some limitations both worked fairly well. Yes, voice commands were limited, but once you learned HOW to speak to the clocks they did respond properly most of the time. Fast forward two years, and a new batch of voice-controlled alarm clocks are hitting the market. They come from a company called ivee and are now referred to as "personal assistants". ivee claims they Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

If You’re Gonna Get Bombed Anyway, Try the ‘Bombs Away’ Shot Glasses from ConvenientGadgets.com

Chris Chamberlain — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:00:14 +0000

So does anybody actually still do shots anymore? In my younger day, I might have tipped a few back, and I do see the young folks dropping a Jägerbomb every now and then at my local watering hole. But for the most part, I like to sip my drinks rather than snapping my head back and pouring one down my gullet. However, if you are in the holiday spirit for some holiday spirits and want to maximize the efficiency of your consumption, then perhaps a set of Bombs Away Shot Glasses from ConvenientGadgets.com is just the ticket. Made from sturdy double-walled borosilicate glass, which is apparently the same material used to make scientific lab equipment, these shooters are attractive enough right out of the box. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Joy Factory Klick Desk Stand for iPad 2 Review

Dan Cohen — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:00:38 +0000

The other day Bryan (who we are THRILLED to have writing for Gear Diary now!!) wrote an interesting piece entitled Where's My "Made for Android"? In it he reflected on the fact that there are so many different accessories available for iOS devices but a relative few for Android-running phones and tablets. Of course this is, in part, due to the fact that iOS devices are few in number and their specs are tightly controlled by Apple while Android is all over the place (go ahead, shoot your flaming arrows but you KNOW it is true!). That doesn't change the central point- if you use an Android device your options are limited but if you Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Panasonic DMP-BD755 Blu-ray Player plus HDMI Cable

Dan Cohen — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:50:19 +0000

Today's Gear Deal brings us the Panasonic DMP-BD755 Blu-ray Player and a free HDMI Cable. Normally $99.99 our Gear Sponsor has found it for just $64.99 plus free shipping. Details here. Gear Deal: Panasonic DMP-BD755 Blu-ray Player plus HDMI Cable via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Orb Audio Mini-T Amplifier (and Much More!) Review

Michael Anderson — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:10 +0000

In terms of audio systems for small spaces, home users are not too demanding: they simply want something that sounds fantastic, looks great, is incredibly small, and is affordable. That might sound like a simple enough goal, but the subset of companies able to meet all of those requirements is incredibly small. Orb Audio recently launched the Mini-T Amplifier as well as compact systems that provide complete solutions for desktop or home speaker systems. Do they make the grade? Read on and find out! The Hype: The Mini-T is based on legendary T-Class amplifier technology, known for its audiophile sound quality and low harmonic distortion (just .04%). Like Orb's speakers, the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Element Case Deal of the Day: Save on the Joule Chroma iPad Stand

Dan Cohen — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:19:08 +0000

We love Element Case's Joule iPad Stand. It is gorgeous. It is functional. It is cool. And, today only, it is on sale. Here's our review of it. And here is the company's decryption of the Joule:

The Joule iPad stand has a three position tilt foot that is magnetically attached for quick and easy angle adjustment. In any of three positions, the carefully designed geometry ensures that it won't tip over when engaging the iPad's touch screen display. The Joule Chroma is CNC machined from a solid chunk of aircraft grade aluminum and bead blasted before anodizing to give it a matte finish. Its simple shape and vibrant anodized color scheme is sure to steal

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Kammock Roo, a Kickstarter Project Quick Look

Dan Cohen — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:00:13 +0000

Gear Diary is a big fan of Kickstarter, and we have supported a number of different projects in the last year or so. One of them was the Kammock Roo, a new take on the hammock. The project was fully funded and our "rewards" came a few weeks ago. Judie is waiting to give the two she bought as gifts, but I brought mine with me on vacation. Here's a quick video overview and some pictures. Here's Judie and her ever-present Diet Coke… a video look follows after the break. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Starbucks + K-Cups = Coffee Nirvana

Dan Cohen — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:00:20 +0000

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Tiny Homes for People Who Know That Less Can Be More

Judie Stanford — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:30:16 +0000

When I lived in San Angelo, I had a home that was almost 3,000 square feet including the garage apartment. My daughter and I were the only two people living there, and on more than one occasion I remarked that the only rooms we really needed were the kitchen, our bedrooms and my office - which also served as a den. When I moved to Eldorado, I finally had an opportunity to downsize. It takes a bit of discipline to weed through your belongings and live in a space that is more than half of what you were used to, but the benefits in so many areas become immediately evident: you have less room, so you own and store less "stuff"; heating and cooling bills are reduced; mortgage (or rent) payments are reduced; there is less area to keep clean; and with less space to sprawl out in, the space you do have is (hopefully) more efficiently used. Our current home is slightly under 1350 square feet. Since it is just my husband Kevin and I that are there full time, this is still even more room than we actually need. Our home only starts to feel truly "tight" on the holidays -- when Kev's girls are here, my daughter and her family are here, and we have all of our other immediate and extended family members over for the big holiday meals; even so, we have managed to find places for as many as 11 to sleep -- no comment on how comfortable it was, though. I'm fascinated with the whole "Tiny Home" movement that seems to have sprung up in recent years; whether it is because of the current economy, because people want to recycle and reuse, or because people are just finally ready to downsize, businesses such as Tumbleweed Tiny House Company and Tiny Texas Houses seem to be booming. I thought it would be fun to post pictures of some of these miniature cottages, and I would love to hear your reaction. Could you imagine downsizing from a full-size home to a tiny home? Would you ever even want to? Take a look at the gallery and let me know what you think ... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Doxie Mini Paper Scanner Gets a Makeover

Douglas Moran — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:15:10 +0000

Aren't scanners supposed to be these big, clunky things that require a bunch of software to install, lot's of room on your desktop, and bright lights, whirring noised, and grinding sounds that alarm the crap out of you when all's you want to do is scan a lousy sheet of paper? Isn't that the way it's all supposed to be. Apparent doesn't think so; they have this wee tiny scanner that does all that with no muss, no fuss, and on pretty much any platform you can think of. With engineers working on nanotubes for building materials, and nanobots being designed for everything from medicine to tech, it's the age of the small, and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Bedol Water-Powered Clock Review

Carly Z — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:00:59 +0000

Alarm clocks are a pretty straightforward gadget. They tell the time, they wake you up when you'd rather be sleeping, and they're slowly being replaced with cell phones. But while regular alarm clocks have become a bit boring, there's a whole subset of funky/interesting variations (remember potato clocks when you were a kid?) Bedol has a really neat, eco-friendly twist on the regular alarm clock with their Water-Powered Clock. Is it a cool new twist on the basic wake-up call, or a gimmick of form over function? Read on to find out! The main gimmick of the Bedol Water Clock is that it runs on water Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Stupid Gift of the Day: Santa Claus Drink Dispenser

Dan Cohen — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:15:24 +0000

Yes, I'm not sure how appetizing your favorite drink will be when served from this dispenser but one thing is certain -- it will get a laugh (pity or otherwise). As the product description explains:

Santa Claus makes everything so much more festive and joyous, even when he's pouring Liquor for you! Well, he sure has a weird way of helping you to a little drink. He never stops delivering gifts to you with an overly generous helping hand. When you feel the spirit of the season, call on Santa. When you're feeling like a scrooge, call on Santa. When you just need something truly bizarre in your life, call on Santa. The only thing that's gonna be

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...