Gear Diary » Apple Mac http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:30:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Twelve South Does it Again with HoverBar for Mac and iPad 2http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/twelve-south-does-it-again-with-hoverbar-for-mac-and-ipad-2/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/twelve-south-does-it-again-with-hoverbar-for-mac-and-ipad-2/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:52:39 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182680 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 ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/twelve-south-does-it-again-with-hoverbar-for-mac-and-ipad-2/feed/ 0 Gear Chat 2012- We’re Back!!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/06/gear-chat-2012-were-back/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/06/gear-chat-2012-were-back/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:50:56 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182430 It has been over a year but Gear Chat is back and we're talking tech. In this first episode Thomas and I talk about the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Series 7 Slate tablet and what configuration of Apple computing products is best. Future episodes will include Gaming and eBook segments and much more. We also want to hear from you! What content do you want covered? What questions do you have? Would you like us to do the podcast as a live, call-in conversation? We want to know. Happy listening and, as always, thanks for sharing via Twitter and Facebook.
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Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/06/gear-chat-2012-were-back/feed/ 1 How My MacBook Pro Avoided the Trash, Part 3: Replacing the Fanhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-3-replacing-the-fan/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-3-replacing-the-fan/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:57 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180661

In part 2 of this series, I took the fan out of my 13" MacBook Pro, cleaned it and lightly lubricated it. For about a day, the fan noise was almost non-existent and the heating issue was mildly approved. Unfortunately, the noise quickly returned along with the hot CPU. This problem had to be fixed one way or another or I was going to have to throw the computer out of the window since it had become painfully slow and buggy. The next plan was to buy a new fan and replace the loud, failing original. I also decided to double the RAM from 4 to 8 gigs since the back would already

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-3-replacing-the-fan/feed/ 0 How My MacBook Pro Avoided the Trash, Part 2: Cleaning the Fanhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/13/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-2-cleaning-the-fan/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/13/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-2-cleaning-the-fan/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:06 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=178787

In part 1 of this 3 part series, I discovered that my computer was not acting happy due to a fan issue. Catch up with the post here to follow my MacBook adventure. One goal of this project is to avoid the Apple Store and keep the cost down as low as possible. The fan noise is definitely out of control, the machine is running hot and it has become super slow. My next plan of action is to open up the case to clean and lubricate the fan. I took a few photos to explain how to open the machine, take out the fan and clean and lubricate. Remember, this is purely for

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/13/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-2-cleaning-the-fan/feed/ 0 How My MacBook Pro Avoided The Trash, Part 1: The Diagnosishttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-1-the-diagnosis/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-1-the-diagnosis/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:00:31 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177035

I pretty much live on my Mid 2009 13" MacBook Pro. The computer literally goes everywhere I go, and it contains most everything I need for work and home life. The past few months, my amazing little machine has developed some annoying problems. First, the fan started making a loud noise. At first I thought that it was running too fast, but after adding iStat Pro to my Dashboard, I quickly found the fan to be running at normal speeds with extra noise. Soon after the loud fan issue came the heat. My CPU was regularly running a temperature up to 90+ degrees. When this would occur, the machine was almost unusable. It seemed the noisy fan just could not keep up with the temperatures. I know the MacBook is getting to be a bit old when looking at computer years, but I love this computer and cannot afford to replace it. In fact, the computer was a family gift to me upon graduating with my Masters degree. Fixing the MacBook will be a three-part series of my adventure from start to finish. DISCLAIMER: ALL OF WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ WAS DONE AT MY OWN RISK! IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THE SAME, YOU WILL VOID ANY APPLE WARRANTY FOR THAT MACHINE. NEITHER GEAR DIARY NOR I ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT RESULTS FROM YOU DOING THE SAME. (ALTHOUGH IF YOU DO AND, AS A RESULT YOU FIX YOUR FAN WE WILL HAPPILY TAKE CREDIT) :-)
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS POST IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION, BUT RATHER IT IS SIMPLY A RECOLLECTION OF HOW I SAVED MY OWN LAPTOP.

My adventure began with a week-long search of forums and websites for easy fixes for the fan issue. It seems the issue is common for fans to go out or become noisy and various fixes are posted across the web. This is an account of my journey through diagnosis and home repair. My goal is to begin simple and free and work up until my MacBook is like new again.

This post recalls diagnosing the problem and possible plans of action.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/how-my-macbook-pro-avoided-the-trash-part-1-the-diagnosis/feed/ 0 Black Friday Giveaway #1http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-giveaway-1/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-giveaway-1/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:30:26 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171072 It's Black Friday and that means you can save some cash on things you want for yourself or to give to family and friends. Discounts are good but you know what is better? FREE! And we're giving away some awesome stuff today absolutely free. All you need to do is enter. This item has a value of $34.99. What is it and how can you win? Read on! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-giveaway-1/feed/ 9 Gear Deal: Creative Sound Blaster Wireless for iTunes with Wireless Receiverhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/gear-deal-creative-sound-blaster-wireless-for-itunes-with-wireless-receiver/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/gear-deal-creative-sound-blaster-wireless-for-itunes-with-wireless-receiver/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:15:56 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=164673 Today's Gear Deal is something we have not previously highlighted as a deal. With Creative Labs' Sound Blaster Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver Bundle you simply plug the device into a USB port, and you can stream your iTunes music wirelessly to powered speakers. It requires no cables or network configuration and comes bundled with a remote control. Moreover, thanks to the fact that it uses uncompressed Xtreme Fidelity enhanced music the sound is great. Finally, with the remote control you can play, pause and skip through your music from the comfort of your couch. Usually $119.99 our Gear Sponsor has tracked it down for just $69.99. It will even ship for free. Details Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/gear-deal-creative-sound-blaster-wireless-for-itunes-with-wireless-receiver/feed/ 0 iCloud Quick-Tip- Get Your Contacts Into iCloudhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/12/icloud-quick-tip-get-your-contacts-into-icloud/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/12/icloud-quick-tip-get-your-contacts-into-icloud/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:15:45 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=164333 iOS 5.0 and iCloud go live later today. With them come a host of opportunities to have all of your Macs and iDevices works together flawlessly. (Or at least we hope flawlessly since the initial MobileMe rollout was a disaster.) One issue that came up for me was the desire to get away from using Gmail as my address book and move all my contacts to iCloud. The reason for this is rather simple -- I want one set of address book data and I cannot stand the anemic way Google handles things in this regard. There are numerous way to do this but I thought I would walk you through the method I just Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/12/icloud-quick-tip-get-your-contacts-into-icloud/feed/ 0 OS X Lion Quick Tip: Reorder Windows in Mission Controlhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/09/os-x-lion-quick-tip-reorder-windows-in-mission-control/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/09/os-x-lion-quick-tip-reorder-windows-in-mission-control/#comments Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:00:27 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=163945   UPDATE (With apologies): Turns out this is only in the current Lion Beta, something I never would have imagined. Thanks to Rodney for pointing it out. We'll let you know when it makes its way into a full release since it is quite useful! The more I use OS X Lion the more I like the features it brought to the Mac and, although it can be a bit inconsistent, I am really learning to appreciate fullscreen apps. I'm liking Mission Control more and more too. The only issue I have had has been the fact that when I have a lot of applications in fullscreen mode it can take a good bit Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/09/os-x-lion-quick-tip-reorder-windows-in-mission-control/feed/ 5 Change is in the Air, and it is Not Just the Coming of Fallhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/08/change-is-in-the-air-and-it-is-not-just-the-coming-of-fall/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/08/change-is-in-the-air-and-it-is-not-just-the-coming-of-fall/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:00:27 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=159316

  Let's face it, the iPad is eating everyone else's lunch and that not only goes for other tablets but for traditional computers as well. MG Siegler has a rather interesting and excellent post over on TechCrunch the other day that makes this point rather well. In it he argues that the iPad represents a Clear and Present Danger to the traditional PC market. The reason? Unlike those of us who write for a living (whether as bloggers or... say... clergy) and need something that we can use to write hundreds or thousands of words, the vast majority of people can use an iPad (he is careful to point out that Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/08/change-is-in-the-air-and-it-is-not-just-the-coming-of-fall/feed/ 4 Not Everyone is Ready to “Think Different” or Even to “Think Smart”http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/not-everyone-is-ready-to-think-different-or-even-to-think-smart/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/not-everyone-is-ready-to-think-different-or-even-to-think-smart/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:30:21 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=158319

There's an old story about three blind men. One grabbed an elephant's trunk and thought it was a snake. One grabbed a leg and thought it was a tree trunk. Another grabbed… Oh you get the idea. The bottom line is, when you look at only one piece of anything you are not going to see clearly… Or correctly. Yet time and again decisions get made upon this small-picture limited-think. Here's yet another example. A post over on Cult of Mac today offers the following.  
Here’s an idea: let’s cut Apple in half. Sure, the company is the most profitable on the planet and grabs more headlines than the U.S. President. The trouble, according
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/not-everyone-is-ready-to-think-different-or-even-to-think-smart/feed/ 2 Big News From Evernote: Purchases Skitch, New Apps and More…http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/19/big-news-from-evernote-purchases-skitch-new-apps-and-more/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/19/big-news-from-evernote-purchases-skitch-new-apps-and-more/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:15:22 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=157670 Evernote is in the midst of their "first-ever Evernote Trunk Conference" and had some big news to share. Skitch Evernote Blogcast As the above "Skitched" image indicates Evernote bought the image app/service Skitch and is making the app completely free. As they explain
We love Skitch so much that we decided to buy the company. Skitch is an amazing Mac application that’s changed the way people capture, annotate and share images. Chief Skitchers, Cris Pearson and Keith Lang are moving from Australia and joining Evernote to lead a significantly expanded Skitch team focused on supercharging the product.
Evernote goes on to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/19/big-news-from-evernote-purchases-skitch-new-apps-and-more/feed/ 0 Apple Moving into HDTV Market? Here’s a Great First Stephttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/15/apple-moving-into-hdtv-market-heres-a-great-first-step/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/15/apple-moving-into-hdtv-market-heres-a-great-first-step/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:15:45 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=157198 Last night I was a bit under the weather. I went in search of something to watch and came upon the new Starz/BBC series Strike Back on my iPad's browser. A few taps of the screen and it was playing on my large Samsung HDTV. It was just another reminder of the way in which Apple's technology can create a seamless ecosystem for work and entertainment. Then today Cult of Mac published a post entitled Could Apple Enter Sub-$1K Premium TV Market With A Real iTV? Reeder In it they write
News that high-end TVs are nearing the sub $1,000
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/15/apple-moving-into-hdtv-market-heres-a-great-first-step/feed/ 0 Bongiovi Acoustics DPS (Digital Power Station) for iOS Rocks Your Worldhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/bongiovi-acoustics-dps-digital-power-station-for-ios-rocks-your-world/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/bongiovi-acoustics-dps-digital-power-station-for-ios-rocks-your-world/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:15:03 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=156669 Want richer bass, higher clarity and an all around enhanced audio experience? Bongiovi Acoustics: Bongiovi DPS (Digital Power Station) technology has it. The technology is currently available in iHome dock stations and select Toyota models and, for the first time, Bongiovi's technology is available as an iOS app. The technology "re-masters your compressed digital audio files at the source and then, using device specific profiles, optimizes the output for your listening device (headphone, speaker, earbud, etc)." I tried the iOS app and was rather impressed with the enhanced audio pumped out by my iPod touch and my iPad. Photo 1 As the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/bongiovi-acoustics-dps-digital-power-station-for-ios-rocks-your-world/feed/ 0 Mac OS X Lion in Everyday Life: Defaults and Compatibilityhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/27/mac-os-x-lion-in-everyday-life-defaults-and-compatibility/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/27/mac-os-x-lion-in-everyday-life-defaults-and-compatibility/#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:40:29 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154441

Last week Apple release Mac OS X 'Lion' with more than a million folks upgrading on the first day, and immediately we reported a couple of compatibility issues. I noted LiveScribe and Dan noted Sonos - both recommended holding off upgrading until compatibility issues have been resolved. We have also noted that the Neat Company has updated their software to be Lion compatible, but that seems to be fairly rare. But in general the news is about issues - and mainly compatibility problems. Some others include Adobe products, Microsoft Office, Freeverse Games, FileMaker, MindJet, Steam, and many others. MacWorld has Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/27/mac-os-x-lion-in-everyday-life-defaults-and-compatibility/feed/ 10 MacBook Air 11″ (rev Summer 2011) First Impressionshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/22/macbook-air-11-rev-summer-2011-first-impressions/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/22/macbook-air-11-rev-summer-2011-first-impressions/#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:00:26 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154469 For the last few months I have been using a 13" MacBook Air as my primary computer. It works beautifully. It is thin, light, and more than speedy enough for my needs. In addition, since the screen resolution is the same as the 15" MacBook Pro I used briefly a few years ago I don't feel like I'm compromising because of the size. All of that noted, however, there was part of me that, for these last months, had my eyes straying to (lusting for?) a different laptop. Yes, back in January Elana got an 11" MacBook Air and I have thought about getting one (again since I owned one briefly when they were Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/22/macbook-air-11-rev-summer-2011-first-impressions/feed/ 2 Sonos Issues Mac OS X ‘Lion’ Compatibility Warning – Don’t Upgrade Yet!!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/21/sonos-issues-mac-os-x-%e2%80%98lion%e2%80%99-compatibility-warning-%e2%80%93-don%e2%80%99t-upgrade-yet/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/21/sonos-issues-mac-os-x-%e2%80%98lion%e2%80%99-compatibility-warning-%e2%80%93-don%e2%80%99t-upgrade-yet/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:30:05 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154253 Yesterday Michael brought word that Livescribe's Mac desktop software is not currently compatible with Mac OS X Lion. In other words, if you rely on Livescribe don't upgrade to OS X Lion. This isn't a surprise or even an issue since there are always small bumps along the way whenever new operating systems come out.  Issues emerge and, within a short period of time, are resolved. This time is no different. I just got word that the same holds true for Sonos' Mac Controller. It too is not currently compatible with Mac OS X Lion. I've been using Lion for a few weeks now and love it but had not noticed this issue Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/21/sonos-issues-mac-os-x-%e2%80%98lion%e2%80%99-compatibility-warning-%e2%80%93-don%e2%80%99t-upgrade-yet/feed/ 0 Waterfield’s New MacBook Air Smart Case Let’s You Carry Your MBA with Style and Protectionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/waterfields-new-macbook-air-smart-case-lets-you-carry-your-mba-with-style-and-protection/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/waterfields-new-macbook-air-smart-case-lets-you-carry-your-mba-with-style-and-protection/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:32:28 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154128 Apple announced the new MacBook Airs this morning and Waterfield has a new design that will make protecting it on the go simple and stylish. The new Waterfield Smart Case for MacBook Air is a simple but effective sleeve for both the 11" and 13" MBA. It features the company's excellent build-quality along with a style that belies its hardcore protective features. Among those features: a plastic insert that shields both sides and the bottom of the MBA and a snug fit that will keep the laptop from sliding out. In addition there is a mesh pocket that expands if you need to carry something but sits flat when empty. I've used the Smart Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/waterfields-new-macbook-air-smart-case-lets-you-carry-your-mba-with-style-and-protection/feed/ 1 Livescribe Issues Mac OS X ‘Lion’ Compatibility Warning – Don’t Upgrade Yet!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/livescribe-issues-mac-os-x-lion-compatibility-warning-dont-upgrade-yet/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/livescribe-issues-mac-os-x-lion-compatibility-warning-dont-upgrade-yet/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:45:07 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154114

If you depend on Livescribe Desktop on your Mac from day to day, they have some advice: don't upgrade to Lion ... yet! Here is what they are saying:
Livescribe Software Notice Regarding Mac OS X Lion The current version of Livescribe Desktop 2.7.2 is not completely compatible with Apple’s new Mac OS upgrade (Lion) that will be available to the public this month. We are working hard to complete an update to the Livescribe Desktop that will address this issue and plan to have it available for customers within the next few weeks. Until this software update is available, we recommend that you do not upgrade your
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/livescribe-issues-mac-os-x-lion-compatibility-warning-dont-upgrade-yet/feed/ 3 New Gear Daily Deal: 50% off eyetv 250 plus and Turbo.264 HD Softwarehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/15/new-gear-daily-deal-50-off-eyetv-250-plus-and-turbo-264-hd-software/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/15/new-gear-daily-deal-50-off-eyetv-250-plus-and-turbo-264-hd-software/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 00:30:29 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=144949

EYETV 250 PLUS and TURBO.264 VIDEO CONVERTER FOR YOUR MAC

I'm a huge fan of EYETV's Mac hardware for recording TV and viewing later on your computer OR iPad (with the EYETV app). I recently checked out the company's Turbo.264 HD software and am also impressed. I paid full price for my eyetv 250 plus but with this New Gear Daily Deal via OrderBorder you can get it for half the price AND if comes with the Turbo.264 HD software! Yes, with this deal you "GET 2 products, EYETV 250 PLUS and TURBO.264 VIDEO CONVERTER FOR YOUR MAC, for a great discount" Here are the details:
ABOUT
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/15/new-gear-daily-deal-50-off-eyetv-250-plus-and-turbo-264-hd-software/feed/ 0 GD Quickie: Apple Updates iMac All-In-One With FaceTime HD, Thunderbolt and morehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/03/gd-quickie-apple-updates-imac-all-in-one-with-facetime-hd-thunderbolt-and-more/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/03/gd-quickie-apple-updates-imac-all-in-one-with-facetime-hd-thunderbolt-and-more/#comments Tue, 03 May 2011 13:45:19 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=142772 As expected Apple introduced new iMacs this morning. While they look the same they have some nice upgrades under the hood. Among the changes are quad-core processors across the line, graphics that are up to 3x faster, Thunderbolt for super-fast data transfer, and a FaceTime HD camera. The 21.5" model starts at $1,199.00 with the 27" starting at $500 more. The upper end of the "ready to ship" models line has a 3.1 GHz Quad-Core and costs $1999.99. If I wasn't so pleased using my 13" MacBook Air I would be pretty tempted right now. Must... Resist Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/03/gd-quickie-apple-updates-imac-all-in-one-with-facetime-hd-thunderbolt-and-more/feed/ 3 Cool MacBook Accessories: Silva Bamboo MacBook Casehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/22/cool-macbook-accessories-silva-bamboo-macbook-case/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/22/cool-macbook-accessories-silva-bamboo-macbook-case/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:45:35 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=140807

This Silva Bamboo MacBook Case looks pretty darn awesome. It is super slim and, as a result, doesn't seem to add too much size to your MacBook. In fact it pretty much looks like what a bamboo MacBook would look like. The case is handmade of raw bamboo that is milled-out To make room for the laptop. The result is a case that is apparently a perfectly fit for the Mac. Oh, and if you are worried about the wood scratching the computer don't! The inside is lined with soft wool felt. The case is finished off with a leather handle and the wood is hand-rubbed Tung oil finish. Such luxury Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/22/cool-macbook-accessories-silva-bamboo-macbook-case/feed/ 0 GD Quickie: What a Difference Some RAM Makeshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/07/gd-quickie-what-a-difference-some-ram-makes/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/07/gd-quickie-what-a-difference-some-ram-makes/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:39:21 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=139034 La Vanille Crocodile Farm Creative Commons License photo credit: Joachim S. Müller

Last week I trashed my MacBook Air. It was a sad day and within hours the computer was with Apple and on its way to be repaired. I went two days using only my iPad and it worked fine but, as expected, I discovered there were a few things that really required the use of Mac OS X. (One biggee is posting to Gear Diary since, after a few years of apps, there still isn't a decent app for posting text, links AND pictures to WordPress.) I broke Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/07/gd-quickie-what-a-difference-some-ram-makes/feed/ 0 Twelve South Introduces the MagicWand for Magic Trackpad and Wireless Keyboardhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/16/twelve-south-introduces-the-magicwand-for-magic-trackpad-and-wireless-keyboard/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/16/twelve-south-introduces-the-magicwand-for-magic-trackpad-and-wireless-keyboard/#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:45:49 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=132327 Twelve South makes some great Mac products. They make the Compass iPad stand and the BookBook iPad case, along with a host of other Mac accessories. Well today they are rolling out a new product that seamlessly connects Apple's Magic Trackpad to the Apple Wireless Keyboard to create one, easy to use, accessory. Judie recently reviewed a somewhat similar item, the BulletTrain Express (she loves it!), but while that created an arrangement similar to what you will find on an Apple notebook, the MagicWand creates on long keyboard/trackpad combination. Safari As the company explains,
What is
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/16/twelve-south-introduces-the-magicwand-for-magic-trackpad-and-wireless-keyboard/feed/ 3 GD Quickie: the BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform; Thankfully Someone Was Listeninghttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/21/the-bullettrain-express-keyboard-platform-thankfully-someone-was-listening/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/21/the-bullettrain-express-keyboard-platform-thankfully-someone-was-listening/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:00:53 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=128349

I have been using a Mac laptop of some kind for a relatively short amount of time -- only since March 2008, but since then there has always been a MacBook nearby, whether it was the 15" MacBook Pro, a first generation MacBook Air, a second generation MacBook Air, a 17" MacBook Pro, or more recently an 11" MacBook Air. I've been pretty vocal stating my opinion that Mac makes some of the best hardware available, even if I am pretty agnostic about whether their operating system is better than Windows or not. Beyond the all metal bodies and slimmer than usual bodies, one of the things that sets Mac laptops apart from all others is their Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/21/the-bullettrain-express-keyboard-platform-thankfully-someone-was-listening/feed/ 2 Apple’s First Computer Sells for $210,000http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/23/apples-first-computer-sells-for-210000/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/23/apples-first-computer-sells-for-210000/#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:10:58 +0000 LarryGreenberg http://www.geardiary.com/?p=118679 Today in London England an Apple I, one of only 200 of the first ever Apple computers made, sold at auction for a whopping $210,000.  The computer came packed in its original box and included a signed letter from Steve Jobs. When it was first introduced back in 1976 the Apple I sold for $666.66.  Like most Apple products it had a rather short life span and was discontinued in 1977. Today's Apple I went to Italian businessman and private collector Marco Boglione, who made his offer over the phone.  Boglione's brother, who was in attendance at the auction, said his brother held a true love for computers and this purchase was Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/23/apples-first-computer-sells-for-210000/feed/ 1 Get iSkysoft Giveaway App for Fun Halloween Digital Lifehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/31/get-iskysoft-giveaway-app-for-fun-halloween-digital-life/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/31/get-iskysoft-giveaway-app-for-fun-halloween-digital-life/#comments Sun, 31 Oct 2010 13:00:59 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=115783

Ah, Halloween!  When people let out their freak flags fly proudly, dressing in costumes that make statements that, let's face it, they probably wouldn't be caught dead making the rest of the time. It's kind of amazed me how Halloween has grown as I've gotten older.  Now it is infiltrating  parts of Europe (pronounced "alowine" in France, apparently), and even Japan enough to include in animes:

Click here to view the embedded video.

iSkysoft hasn't missed the popularity.  They're offering some cool Halloween promotions for you lucky Gear Diary readers.  Surf on over to their web site for the lowdown. Full info from iSkysoft:
To celebrate Halloween, we specially select  some applications that bring people fun Halloween digital life and offer them  for FREE or of BIG discount. We are really impressed by your expertise in Mac.
iSkysoft Halloween Promotion Includes:
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/31/get-iskysoft-giveaway-app-for-fun-halloween-digital-life/feed/ 4 Apple Goes Back to the Mac… News From Apple’s Special Mac Eventhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/20/apple-goes-back-to-the-mac-news-from-apples-special-mac-event/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/20/apple-goes-back-to-the-mac-news-from-apples-special-mac-event/#comments Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:35:07 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=114410 Apple is holding their Back to the Mac Special Event after announcing it just one week prior. One week's notice, and the blogosphere is all abuzz with excitement. It is pretty amazing that Apple can pull off such things and time after time grab so much attention, but it especially makes sense this time around. Not only is Apple on a roll with its most profitable quarter behind them and a runaway hit with the iPad, but after so much time and energy spent on iOS devices, Mac enthusiasts have been clamoring to see Cupertino shift its focus back to OS X and the machines that run it. Well that's what Apple is delivering Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/20/apple-goes-back-to-the-mac-news-from-apples-special-mac-event/feed/ 18 Larry and Dan Serve Up Gear Chat #15http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/21/larry-and-dan-serve-up-gear-chat-15/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/21/larry-and-dan-serve-up-gear-chat-15/#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:00:32 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=106378
In Gear Chat #15 Larry and Dan talk about their experience with the Magic Trackpad (one kept it, one sent it back), chat about the current Apple hardware rumors and more...
Elements app for Dropbox ($4.99)  Get it HERE.
Fastever ($1.99) Get it HERE.
TextExpander Touch ($4.99) Get it HERE.
Train Conductor 2 ($.99) Get it HERE.
Intro Music- Lean On Me- Sounds From the Ground Solarstone’s Chill Out Remix… (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chillout-a-nettwerk-escape/id258464413)
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/21/larry-and-dan-serve-up-gear-chat-15/feed/ 5 Microsoft’s “PC vs. Mac” Site: What on Earth Are They Thinking?http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/17/microsofts-pc-vs-mac-site-what-on-earth-are-they-thinking/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/17/microsofts-pc-vs-mac-site-what-on-earth-are-they-thinking/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:00:25 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=104920

Mac vs. PC ad still courtesy Chiat/Day

One of the things that's wonderful about writing for Gear Diary is the diverse  mix of folks involved in the endeavor.  You got your PC folks... you got your Appleheads... and you got your LINUX fans (well fan... Joel) and so on. We've got gaming folks; hard-core gadget nerds; exercise mavens; and gear heads ("petrol heads" to you "Top Gear" fans). You have folks who are into fashion and making sure their high-end handbag matches their Oberon iPad case, and people who get help from their partner when matching shirts with pants for an outing (that would be your humble reviewer here). Me, I'm a UNIX Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/17/microsofts-pc-vs-mac-site-what-on-earth-are-they-thinking/feed/ 6