Gear Diary » Apple iPad Gear

Sena Messenger Bag for Tablets Video Review

Dan Cohen — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:00:33 +0000

I carry my iPad with me pretty much all the time. And, increasingly I find myself carrying ONLY my iPad and my smartphone during the day. I don't carry my laptop. I don't carry a pen or even my Livescribe Echo SmartPen. I don't even carry an external keyboard for the iPad. And if I am going to go light I might as well carry a small, light bag. I've been on the hunt for something small and light that also had some style to it. So when I saw the Messenger Bag for Tablets on Sena's website I took note. But I had some questions about it. Would it be TOO small? Would it be too heavy? Would the silver plate on the front be too big and "blingy"? Would it look too much like a murse? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Giveaway- Win One of Two Bodyguardz Discount Codes

Dan Cohen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:59:11 +0000

Bodyguardz offers some slick options for using and/or enhancing your various mobile products. Sure they offer their BodyGuardz UltraTough Clear Skins but they also offer a line of BodyGuardz armor skins (my favorites!), cases and even their own brand of earphones, the earjax. (I have a pair of the earwax that I bought on CyberMonday and they are great!) Well, Bodyguardz has been kind enough to provide two discount codes for use on their site and, this weekend, we'll be giving them away. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iPhone Backs from The Brooklyn Bakery Store Will Make You Swoon

Judie Stanford — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:15:08 +0000

If you hate putting your iPhone in a case, but you still want it to look unique and interesting, then you might want to consider one of the imaginative adhesive leather backs from The Brooklyn Bakery Store. Made to resemble natural and unnatural skins, these leather objects of art will really make your iPhone stand out. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GuitarJack Version 2 for iPhone and iPad Review

Travis Ehrlich — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:02 +0000

iOS devices are becoming increasingly more versatile and even specialized if chosen to be. I am blown away by the uses for my devices with my guitars. From tuners to chord libraries and tabletures to effects pedals. There are numerous hardware interfaces available for iPhones and iPads allowing users to connect an electric guitar and output the sounds. I am sure some savvy musicians are even finding a way to use their iOS devices to record records and even use during live performances. For me, I love the ability to be mobile and easily practice my guitar with headphones so I do not disturb my wife and kids. The GuitarJack from

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 ...

Tunewear has released the Security Locker for iPad 2.

Douglas Moran — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:30:41 +0000

When you look at an iPad, one of the first things that comes to mind (after, "Cool! Want!") is, "How awesome when you have to do portable stuff!" In fact, if you go into your local Apple store you will see a bunch of the Apple concierges trotting around with their iPads, checking people in, looking up product stock information, getting prices, and a whole bunch of other things. I have been waiting for the iPad to achieve greater market penetration in the Enterprise area (which, if you're not in the tech biz world, mean, "Them really big customers like General Motors or The New York Stock Exchange"). As we get more networked, people--especially IT people, but really anyone--need a more portable computing solution. I can't tell you the number of times at my previous company where I saw people carting around their laptops, lid open, balanced on one arm. Man did they need an iPad! So the question is, if you're carting your iPad around a lot, how do you keep it secure, how do you hang on to it more easily? How do you insure it doesn't get stolen? SecurityLocker for the iPad thinks they have an answer: Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Review: Arkon iPad Table Mount

Douglas Moran — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:55:04 +0000

I love my iPad; I mean, I really love it. If I could figure out a way to get it to completely replace my laptop, I would do it. I use it to watch movies, read books, follow my Twitter feed, and lots of other things. As a nerd-- and this is no exaggeration-- it's the kind of device I've been waiting for most of my nerdy, computer-geek life. It does have some issues, though, one of which is that, after a while, you do get tired of holding the durn thing up. It's not that it's so heavy but, like reading a book on the beach, eventually your hands get fatigued and you feel the need for a break. Sure, it's okay to rest the iPad on your stomach while reading but that doesn't work well when you are, for example, watching movies and TV shows. Sometimes, you just want to clamp the iPad in place and relax while using it hands-free. Arkon has just the accessory to make this happen. The Tablet Table Mount is a universal tablet holder that is designed to work with many different tablets. Of course, I only have an iPad 1 so that's what I used to run it through its paces. What did I think? Read on! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Adonit JotStudio App Designed With Hardware in Mind

Dan Cohen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:00:22 +0000

Adonit's Jot and Jot Pro Stylus for the iPad is an unusual animal. We reviewed it here and had this to say

What sets the Jot and the Jot Pro apart from the crowd is the disk at the top. Rather than having a relatively wide rubber tip for darting or writing the Jot and Jot Pro have a ballpoint tip that then attaches to a clear disk. The ball-point tip gives you accuracy while the disk protects the screen from scratches. It looks rather odd and does take a few minutes of adjustment but, after that, it REALLY WORKS!! It is an impressive combination from a company that clearly pays attention to how people use their tablet and what details, like the threaded back so you don’t lose the cap, are important. In all my initial experience with the Jot and Jot Pro is entirely positive. We’ll see how it stands up to daily use but, for now, I highly recommend this tablet accessory.

Now the company has released an app specially designed to work with the Jot and Jot Pro stylii. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Kingston Wi-Drive Review

Carly Z — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:17 +0000

There are some smartphone accessories that make you go "huh? Who would buy this?" And then sometimes there are ideas so smart you think, "Wow! Why didn't anyone do this sooner?" Finally, there's the "GREAT idea, poor execution" accessory. The Kingston Wi-Drive fits into one of these categories, but you will have to read to the end to find out which one! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Shootout! Touchscreen-Friendly Gloves – iTouch Touchscreen Gloves vs. Agloves

Dan Cohen — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:23 +0000

Cold weather and touchscreen don't go together. More accurately, they did not go together until now. Yes, if you use an iPhone, Android device, Windows Phone or tablet there are now a host of touchscreen-friendly glove options on the market. We take a look at two such offerings in this video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From iTouch Touchscreen 3 in 1 Gloves:

Stay Warm and Stay Connected: iTouchTM Touchscreen Gloves with conductive yarn in the fingertips allow you to use your iPod, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, eReader Touch and other touchscreen devices without having to take your gloves off in the cold weather

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Kidz Gear Launches Kids’ Headphones Made Especially for Apple Devices

Douglas Moran — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:18:49 +0000

My daughter Maggie, getting gear for her isn't that hard; she's fine with the default iPhone ear buds. She's also not much of an audiophile; if it's pink, she's fine with it--I got her a pair of iHome rechargeable speakers for her iPhone, for example, and she loves them not because of the sound, but because they're pink. Such is the life of a parent. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Mackie Brings 16-Channel iPad Powered Mixer to NAMM

Michael Anderson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:30:48 +0000

Each year when I check out the news from NAMM I look at cool new stuff as well as what is happening with companies I already known and love. Mackie Designs is one of those companies. For a long time they were a mixer-only company, and about 20 years ago when I was transitioning from trying to use my Tascam Portastudio as a pseudo-mixer into having a real home studio, the Mackie 1202 provided everything I need in a well made, high quality package at a budget price - and it is still going strong today for myself and my son! At Winter NAMM they introduced a great looking new mixer based around Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Tired of Boxy Bluetooth Speakers? Check Out These Q-i-sound Speakers From iharmonix

Dan Cohen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:45:59 +0000

The Q-i-sound Bluetooth speakers from Qmadix leave the square, boring speakers that are so common in the dust. Available in black or white, they have an unusual shape that is sure to grab attention. Each speaker has its own rechargeable lithium polymer battery that charges in 3 ½ hours and gives up to eight hours of playtime. Standby time is up to 10 days. As the company puts it

Ultra portable speakers offer music lovers a great listening experience, as well as microphones for clear phone communication

It is also worth nothing that, once paired the speakers can be separated by up to 15 feet. A

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 ...

JawBone JamBox: Out Since 2010 but Still Awesome- A Gear Diary Video Look

Dan Cohen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:00:01 +0000

The JawBone JamBox was released in November of 2010. Yes, that's almost a year and half ago... ancient by today's tech standards. So you might be wondering why we're covering it NOW. The reason is simple: although it was released almost a year and a half ago the JamBox is still the best portable Bluetooth speaker on the market and, thanks to updates and additional apps for it the speaker just keeps getting better and better. Thomas was quick to buy one when it was first released but I held back and only got one a few months ago. I wish I hadn't waited because it really is an incredible little device. I like it so much in fact that I purchased one for Elana to use when she is training clients. Oh, and there is another reason we shot the video now... it was the first time since I got JamBox-ified that Thomas and I were together. So here's a quick video of Thomas and me talking about the device and why it's become one of our favorite gadgets. Yes November of 2010 was quite a while ago but this is one piece of gear that isn't even close to becoming long in the tooth. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Ten One Design Magnus Leaves Us Saying, “I Wish I Had Thought of That!”

Dan Cohen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:15:41 +0000

Ten One Design makes some great iPad and iPhone accessories around. That's not hyperbole. The company isn't prone to releasing dozens of products at a time but, instead, they move slowly and only add something to the catalogue after a great deal of thought with regard to how people actually USE their devices. Here's another example! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

IK Multimedia presents iKlip Studio Desktop Stand for iPad

Michael Anderson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:30:02 +0000

This week is the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) trade show, and as such a number of new products are coming out. Of particular interest are products that integrate highly functional musical capabilities and our everyday mobile products. Since that is what IK Multimedia does, I was not surprised to see some cool announcements from them again this week! After announcing the iRig Pre microphone interface, now IK is back with the iKlip Studio, a fully adjustable stand designed to help musicians. Here is some more info:

IK Multimedia is proud to announce iKlip™ Studio, the adjustable iPad desktop stand designed specifically for musicians. iKlip Studio holds the iPad firmly on studio

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Thomas Takes On the Wrapsol Non-Slip Grip Pad

Dan Cohen — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:50 +0000

Every now and then you come across a product that, despite liking the company that produces it, you cannot help but wonder, "Why?" That's certainly the case with the Wrapsol non-slip grip pad. The product is designed for large tablets and adheres to the back of a tablet. From there its sole purpose is to allow the tablet to stay in position more easily when rested on, for example, your thigh. Don't get us wrong…. the product actually works as promised but we cannot help but think it is an idea searching for an application. I don't know of anyone who has ever been using their iPad and thought, "I wish I could have this stick to my thigh or arm without my having to hold it…" And then there is the biggest issue with it: even if it did fill a real need the product is not something you can remove and reuse. That means once you attach it to your tablet you cannot use a case.

Wrapsol Grip Pad Features:
Non-slip tactilla™ material
100% Polyurethane
Micro-textured finish
8.25 x 3.75-inch material size for Apple iPad 2 and similar size devices
Installs in an instant
Made in USA
MSRP $14.95

We used it a bit and came away scratching our heads. That did not, however, prevent us from creating a video look and having a little fun so without further ado we present to you "Thomas and the Tablet"... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

First Look at the myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000

Thomas R. Hall — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:59:22 +0000

Things are winding down at CES 2012, which was nice for Francis and me, as we were able to walk around more freely due to less traffic and spend more quality time with some vendors. Luckily for us, we were able to stop by and visit our friends from myCharge and PowerBag. We have reviewed the PowerBag Messenger and PowerBag Backpack in the past, and Dan mentioned how useful a PowerBag can be. They also have a great brand called myCharge, which is a set of portable batteries for recharging mobile devices, including iOS and Android devices.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The team at myCharge was nice enough to provide Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Best of CES Innovations 2012: Smart office Phone by invoxia

Douglas Moran — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:04 +0000

So you know how it goes: you march into a conference room with a bunch of your co-workers, and there in the middle of the table is the Spaceship Honeycomb--a multi pronged conference phone that looks sorta spaceagey and cool, the vocal quality of which is . . . never all that great, no matter how many extra pods you attach to it and spread throughout the room. And in this age of iPhones, FaceTime, Skype, and loads of other audio conferencing tools, you probably sit there and wonder, "What the heck?" Invoxia thinks they have an answer--they've developed a high-end conference phone that contains a port for your iPhone, lots of speakers and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Jill-e Designs Shows Off Stylish E-GO Leather Tablet Tote for iPad 2

Bryan Eley — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:30:35 +0000

You may not be able to deny that Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter movie series has style, but you too can be stylish sporting Jill-e Designs's new E-GO Leather Tablet Tote for the iPad 2. You can be a technophile, but there's no excuse not to look spiffy as well!

The E-GO Leather Tablet Tote features:
Top quality, weather-resistant, all leather construction
Adjustable leather strap to carry cross-body or on shoulder
Messenger bag styling with secure snap enclosure
Protective padded interior with stylish fabric lining
Protective pocket for tablet or e-reader
Additional interior space for notepad, wallet, glasses and keys
Spacious, easy access front pocket

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

YurBuds Ironman Pro Earbuds Stay In… Even If You Do Backflips!

Dan Cohen — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:49:21 +0000

Here at CES last year I was introduced to a new earbud company. YurBuds was offering their Inspire earbuds. The bright red earpieces stood out and promised a degree of comfort and "stay-putt-edness" that is in great demand among people who listen to music while doing a strenuous activity. I was skeptical but ended up impressed by their sound. Elana, who hates in-ear headphones, tried them on and within minutes co-opted the pair the company had given me for review. (The company kindly replaced mine.) A year later Elana's YurBuds are going strong and she continues to evangelize for them every chance she gets.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Apparently she is not alone. The company had a fantastic 2011 that saw tremendous growth and a significant expansion of the offerings. Among them are the Inspire Pro headphones. The build upon the original version in some significant ways and take good headphones and make them great. Once again the company was kind enough to provide a pair for review (I expect to lose these to her as well) so lets take a quick look at what is new. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Here’s an Original Use for the BenQ GP2

Judie Stanford — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:22:55 +0000

While visiting with Texas Instruments DLP PICO, we discovered that they had a familiar product -- the BenQ GP2 -- set up to do something we thought was pretty mind blowing ...

Click here to view the embedded video.

So you set an iPhone in the BenQ's cradle, and then you can use another iPhone or an iPod touch (connected by WiFi) as a gaming remote control, with the action being displayed on the wall for everyone to see. That's a pretty cool and offbeat use for what might otherwise seem like a very straightforward piece of equipment. What do Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Hub Innovations Offers A New Take on Smartphone and Tablet Stands

Dan Cohen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:19 +0000

If you are looking for a smartphone or tablet stand that isn't a "me too" accessory Hub Innovations may have the right one for you. The comany's PRIZM stand is a universal travel stand for smartphones, tablets, notepads, books and more. It is

a sleek architectural masterpiece, made from aluminum alloys and precious metals. Comprised of two identical parts, no thicker than a pencil, this stand slides together and creates the most versatile stand on the market. Available in two sizes, this universal stand can hold anything from iPads and tablets, books and notepads to smartphones and MP3 players. This low-profile stand comes in several anodized colors: green, blue, pink, purple, red, yellow and black as well as premium metals like 14k gold

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Suggestions and Winner: What iPad App to Use When You Want to… Take Notes

Dan Cohen — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:00:43 +0000

We asked… "What iPad App to Use When You Want to… Take Notes" and you answered with a host of good suggestions. Among them: Audionote, Notebooks, Evernote, Noteshelf, Awesome Note, PhatPad, Simplenote and WriteRoom. I've personally used each of them and any single one is a good choice. And while I tend to either use Evernote or the iOS Note app (now that Siri makes it amazingly powerful when used with the iPhone and iCloud moves the notes to the iPad in seconds) any of them would be a good choice. But the comment that really caught our eye and was a great example of one reader helping out countless others came from Mike Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

MiLi Power iBox 8000mAh Battery Charger Case for iPad 2 review

Dan Cohen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:00:55 +0000

Just before CES last year Judie and I both purchased a 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab in order to blog on the fly. At the time both of us were already pretty heavily invested in iOS but the first generation iPad's lack of a camera made it problematic for blogging. Add in the fact that, at the time, iPad blogging apps were rather limited in functionality and you begin to see the problem we faced. Unlike the iPad, the Tab had a decent enough camera and blogging from it worked rather well. As such, it solved many of the issues and was the right tool for our time in Vegas. (You can, of course, draw Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

What iPad App to Use When You Want to…

Dan Cohen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:00:01 +0000

One of the great things about writing on Gear Diary is that we don't make our living as writers and journalists. No, all of us have other professions and we do this because we are passionate about tech. It means we love to tinker, try the newest gadget or app and share our experiences with you. That translates to an entirely different kind of enthusiasm and we hope it comes through. That, in turn, translates to make of us have a ridiculous number of different apps.Another great thing about writing for Gear Diary is… all of you. While the site consciously seeks to avoid jargon and assume no prior knowledge about all-thing-tech we have the good

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Sena Keyboard Folio for iPad 2 Video Review

Dan Cohen — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:00:41 +0000

Last year Travis reviewed Sena's Keyboard Folio for the original iPad. (You can read it here.) Here's what he found:

The keyboard is not the best, but it is fully functional and simple to use. Having a keyboard does make it far easier to write long posts, articles or homework assignments on the iPad. There are people who have resisted jumping into the iPad world simply because they need to enter large amounts of text and find the onscreen keyboard too limiting. The Sena Keyboard Folio for iPad solves that issue and brings that functionality to the iPad in a sleek, elegant package. If you are a fan of fine leather and

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

ePillow Tablet Pillow review

Dan Cohen — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:00:14 +0000

Every now and then we are invited to review something that just looks… well… ridiculous but we end up agreeing to take a look anyway. When the "ridiculous review item" first arrives and we open the box our first impressions are, for the most part, confirmed. Yes, more often than not the product is silly, looks like a bad joke and poses a bit of a challenge with regard to actually writing the review. Every now and then however, once we actually start using the item we discover that our first AND second impressions were actually wrong! Sure, the item still looks silly but it actually works well. That was my experience with the ePillow. I'm not fully sure why I agreed to review it since the pictures didn't impress me but I'm actually glad I did. I've used it to watch some movies on my iPad this weekend and I actually found it quite useful. Seriously! 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 ...