Gear Diary » Miscellaneous Gear http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:15:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Get a Grip on Alder & Co’s Maple Salad Handshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/get-a-grip-on-alder-cos-maple-salad-hands/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/get-a-grip-on-alder-cos-maple-salad-hands/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:05:02 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182670

I think that we can all agree that sometimes it's the little things which make a meal special, and these solid Vermont maple 'Salad Hands' by Alder and Co. look like they could instigate a few appreciative comments from around the dinner table. For $34, they can handle your greens. alder-and-co-maple-salad-hands-2 alder-and-co-maple-salad-hands alder-and-co-maple-salad-hands-3 Alder & Co. — Maple Salad Hands Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/get-a-grip-on-alder-cos-maple-salad-hands/feed/ 0 SleepTracker Announces New SleepTracker Analyticshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/sleeptracker-announces-new-sleeptracker-analytics/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/sleeptracker-announces-new-sleeptracker-analytics/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:20:54 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182517 You know what sucks?  Yes, that too; but what I was thinking of was when you're sleeping, I mean really deep in there, having an awesome dream, the kind in vivid technicolor with an awesome soundtrack, and maybe costarring Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson, with a guest cameo by your deceased Dad playing an ass-kickin' Navy Seal (well, he was in the Navy!), and whammo! the alarm goes off!  Now you're never going to know whether Bruce Willis, with your Dad's help, managed to save Halle Barry!  Damn! Well, as you might expect, there's tech help.  What is that, you ask?  Well . . . Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/sleeptracker-announces-new-sleeptracker-analytics/feed/ 0 iGrill + Omaha Steaks’ Steak Time App = Meat Magichttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/igrill-omaha-steaks-steak-time-app-meat-magic/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/igrill-omaha-steaks-steak-time-app-meat-magic/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:00:28 +0000 Chris Chamberlain http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179968

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 ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/igrill-omaha-steaks-steak-time-app-meat-magic/feed/ 1 Swingline Stack and Shred 80X Handsfree Cross-Cut Shredder Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/swingline-stack-and-shred-80x-handsfree-cross-cut-shredder-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/swingline-stack-and-shred-80x-handsfree-cross-cut-shredder-review/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:00:04 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181080 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 ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/swingline-stack-and-shred-80x-handsfree-cross-cut-shredder-review/feed/ 0 JumpFromPaper Makes Real Life Feel Like a Cartoon with Seriously Ridiculous Bagshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/jumpfrompaper-makes-real-life-feel-like-a-cartoon-with-seriously-ridiculous-bags/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/jumpfrompaper-makes-real-life-feel-like-a-cartoon-with-seriously-ridiculous-bags/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:30:41 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181002

I loved the way "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988) and "Cool World" (1992) mixed cartoon elements into a real-world backdrop. I enjoyed the same effect as a kid, watching older Disney movies such as Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Song of the South. There's just something quirky and irresistible about imagining a world where cartoons can come to life; anything can happen! Evidently the minds behind JumpFromPaper feel the same. Created by Taipei-based design duo, Chay Su and Rika Lin, JumpFromPaper is a bag company that has produced a line of travel, camera, laptop and general gear bags which look like props from a cartoon.
One cozy afternoon, the two girls were chatting, when they got to sketching their dream designer handbag. A surprising idea popped up – “How amazing it would be if a two-dimensional hand-drawn illustration could come to life as a real bag!” They explored every possibility, rendering fantasy handbags in perspective, and giving birth to JumpFromPaper™. Cartoon-like outlines and bright and cheerful colors add a brisk yet funky flavor. And despite the slim appearance, each JumpFromPaper™ bag has a roomy interior to accommodate personal belongings and even a laptop.
This is one of my favorites, the "Cheese" camera bag ...

  Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/jumpfrompaper-makes-real-life-feel-like-a-cartoon-with-seriously-ridiculous-bags/feed/ 3 The Phosphor Appear Rose Gold Crystal Watch with Clear Nylon Bracelet Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/23/the-phosphor-appear-rose-gold-crystal-watch-with-clear-nylon-bracelet-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/23/the-phosphor-appear-rose-gold-crystal-watch-with-clear-nylon-bracelet-review/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:30:45 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179987

I reviewed the red Phosphor Appear last year, and I had so much fun with it that I bought one in black. Recently Phosphor began combining their popular Appear watches with nylon bracelet wristbands, and the result has been a bit of a transformation. Before, the Appear relied upon a leather wristband that had to be bucked -- in my case on the last hole; now there is a lightweight and fashionable bracelet which can be sized (by removing individual links) to perfectly fit even the smallest wrists.
The bracelet Appear features a modern, fashionable resin band finished with a
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/23/the-phosphor-appear-rose-gold-crystal-watch-with-clear-nylon-bracelet-review/feed/ 5 Some of the Most Amazing Ukeleles Come from Celentano Woodworkshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/07/some-of-the-most-amazing-ukeleles-come-from-celentano-woodworks/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/07/some-of-the-most-amazing-ukeleles-come-from-celentano-woodworks/#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:00:45 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177531 yes, that's a ukelele!

I don't play the ukelele, but I do remember a couple of days spent learning how to tune one back in third grade music class; "My dog has feas", anyone? When I think of the ukelele, this is one of the first images that pops into my head ...

umbrella drinks, anyone?  via NY Daily News

Click here to view the embedded video.

Followed by this one ... Oh Myyyyyy!  =P

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have no intention of picking up a new hobby, even if Eddie Vedder has deemed the ukelele cool enough to release an entire album full of Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/07/some-of-the-most-amazing-ukeleles-come-from-celentano-woodworks/feed/ 1 Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Stomps Out from the Jungle at CES 2012http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/06/corning-gorilla-glass-2-stomps-out-from-the-jungle-at-ces-2012/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/06/corning-gorilla-glass-2-stomps-out-from-the-jungle-at-ces-2012/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:45:42 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177389

Corning Gorilla Glass has become synonymous with tough, scratch resistant screens that will withstand even some challenging drops that would have destroyed earlier phones. But it is not indestructible, and recently some challengers have come along - and competition is always a good thing. Next week at CES, Corning is set to unveil the next generation of its strengthened glass product in sizes for smartphones as well as larger formats:
A key feature of Corning's CES exposure will be the introduction of Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2, the next generation of the popular, damage-resistant cover glass for consumer electronic devices. CES attendees can engage with Corning experts and technologies featuring the latest applications and
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/06/corning-gorilla-glass-2-stomps-out-from-the-jungle-at-ces-2012/feed/ 0 Blacktop 360 Portable Griddle/Grill/Fryer Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/blacktop-360-portable-griddlegrillfryer-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/blacktop-360-portable-griddlegrillfryer-review/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:00:39 +0000 Chris Chamberlain http://www.geardiary.com/?p=176892 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 ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/05/blacktop-360-portable-griddlegrillfryer-review/feed/ 0 Disassemble Your Tech Gear with the iFixit Pro Tech Base Toolkithttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/03/disassemble-your-tech-gear-with-the-ifixit-pro-tech-base-toolkit/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/03/disassemble-your-tech-gear-with-the-ifixit-pro-tech-base-toolkit/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:00:02 +0000 Bryan Eley http://www.geardiary.com/?p=176885

 I have a confession to make. I love to take things apart. Back when I was a kid I had a super-sweet Milton Bradley Star Bird toy, an early electronic noisemaker with revving engines and laser blasts. In the course of kid play, something inside broke loose and rattled around, driving me nuts. Spaceships off to do ground assault ought not to have a broken piece giving away their stealth attack so I, being young and adventuresome, decided to put my Star Bird in space dock (Dad’s table vice grip) and haul out a trusty Sears Philips screwdriver and effect repairs. I was successful, and so launched my interest in taking gizmos apart. More recently, with Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/03/disassemble-your-tech-gear-with-the-ifixit-pro-tech-base-toolkit/feed/ 1 Why You NEED a Front-Facing Smartphone Camerahttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/why-you-need-a-front-facing-smartphone-camera/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/why-you-need-a-front-facing-smartphone-camera/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:15:43 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174485

I discovered this week the ultimate reason for a front-facing camera. No, it wasn't for a Skype call, or Facetime, or to take a profile picture for a website. See, I was sitting at my desk, eating an everything bagel for lunch, when I had a business associate drop in unexpectedly. Great, except I'd just been eating a bagel full of seeds, and I didn't want to embarrass myself with a big old poppy seed in my teeth. And the bathrooms in my office are in the hallway past the lobby, so I couldn't escape to check. My solution? I fired up my iPhone camera, switched to front view, checked to make sure I was presentable Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/why-you-need-a-front-facing-smartphone-camera/feed/ 9 The Orb Audio Mini-T Amplifier (and Much More!) Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/16/the-orb-audio-mini-t-amplifier-and-much-more-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/16/the-orb-audio-mini-t-amplifier-and-much-more-review/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:10 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=168914

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 ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/16/the-orb-audio-mini-t-amplifier-and-much-more-review/feed/ 0 SCOTTEVEST Camp Shirt reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/scottevest-camp-shirt-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/scottevest-camp-shirt-review/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:46 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174139 When I was getting ready for last week's vacation, I knew I needed a few more shirts to lounge around in. T-shirts are great, but when you are going out to dinner or stopping by a local hotspot for fried fish, french fries, fried plantains and beer (seriously the place was AWESOME), you want something a little nicer. I have had my eye on the new SCOTTEVEST Camp Shirt for some time, so before our recent trip to Aruba I went ahead and ordered myself two of them. I have a new favorite warm-weather shirt! IPhoto The SeV Hype:
You'll
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/scottevest-camp-shirt-review/feed/ 0 Meet the Mutewatchhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/meet-the-mutewatch/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/meet-the-mutewatch/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:30:35 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174316

Are you someone who is not ready to give up your wristwatch in favor of simply checking the time on your mobile phone? I don't blame you if you aren't; I'm not either. As a result I'm always looking at watches, considering ones I might wear and balancing function and geek factor against the watch's looks. The Mutewatch is a design I recently found that looks cool, is simple enough to operate, and adds the function of timers and alarms. The use of "swiping" is cool to see on a watch, and for $259, it's not too outrageous. Take a look ...

Meet the Mutewatch from Mutewatch

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/meet-the-mutewatch/feed/ 0 Parker Ingenuity Collection Introduces 5th Technology for the Best of Both Worldshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/parker-ingenuity-collection-introduces-5th-technology-for-the-best-of-both-worlds/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/parker-ingenuity-collection-introduces-5th-technology-for-the-best-of-both-worlds/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:30:01 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174200 Parker Pens. All opinions are 100% mine.
Photos of Parker Pen
An innovative new writing system is set to revolutionize the look and feel of putting pen to paper. Parker aims to gain a new generations interest in fine writing by creating a one of a kind pen that is as beautiful as it is to look at. The innovation consists of a cutting edge refill tip and an engraved metallic hood that, together, constitute the newest technology in pens.
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/15/parker-ingenuity-collection-introduces-5th-technology-for-the-best-of-both-worlds/feed/ 0 Heard of “Must-See TV”? Well, Meet “Must-See GD!”http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/12/heard-of-must-see-tv-well-meet-must-see-gd/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/12/heard-of-must-see-tv-well-meet-must-see-gd/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:37:39 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=173884 The BenQ Joybee GP2 Mini Projector Judie has been making videos for (the same videos that you can win money for voting for) is pretty amazing. I had a chance to play with it a bit last week and am amazed. At first I really didn't think it did such a great job of projecting video on the wall, but then I realized… you need to actually focus the thing. Once I did… wow! My in-laws have  one of those expensive ceiling projection television units in their media room, and this small, portable thing actually stands up to it quite nicely. Add in the fact that you can dock an iPhone, or connect Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/12/heard-of-must-see-tv-well-meet-must-see-gd/feed/ 2 Jawbone Offers Refunds to All UP Ownershttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/09/jawbone-offers-refunds-to-all-up-owners/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/09/jawbone-offers-refunds-to-all-up-owners/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:45:44 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=173459

Did you buy a Jawbone UP? I did, and I have been largely disappointed, but I haven't completely given up on it. Evidently a lot of people are very unhappy with them, and amazingly enough Jawbone has stepped up and offered a full refund to all UP owners who want one, even those who don't have their original packaging or receipt, as well as those who don't necessarily want to return them. This arrived in registered UP users' email today:
UPDATE FROM THE CEO
The UP™ No Questions Asked Guarantee
To the UP Community:Earlier this year, we unveiled Jawbone's vision to help people live a healthier life
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/09/jawbone-offers-refunds-to-all-up-owners/feed/ 0 Phosphor Introduces Four New Blinging Appear Bracelet Watcheshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/07/phosphor-introduces-four-new-blinging-appear-watches/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/07/phosphor-introduces-four-new-blinging-appear-watches/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:15:12 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=173099

  Those of you who held out on buying a Phosphor Appear watch because the leather strap didn't appeal will be pleased to know that there is a new Appear Bracelet watch available. There are four women’s watch and band combinations: pink with a pink band, amber with a clear band, amber with a white band, and black with a black band. As you'll recall, the Phosphor Appear is the watch that features the cool crystal flipping display feature that makes the time or seconds appear in a mechanized manner similar to those flipping train station signs. You can buy the new Phosphor Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/07/phosphor-introduces-four-new-blinging-appear-watches/feed/ 0 Kammock Roo, a Kickstarter Project Quick Lookhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/07/kammock-a-kickstarter-project-quick-look/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/07/kammock-a-kickstarter-project-quick-look/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:00:13 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=173230 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. IPhoto Here's Judie and her ever-present Diet Coke… a video look follows after the break. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/07/kammock-a-kickstarter-project-quick-look/feed/ 0 The Amplicom Induction Neckloop (NL100) Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/06/the-amplicom-induction-neckloop-nl100-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/06/the-amplicom-induction-neckloop-nl100-review/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:00:14 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=152903 photos by Kevin

My mother has sensorineural hearing loss, and she has worn hearing aids in each ear ever since she was 36. My husband has hearing loss from working with loud machinery, and although he doesn't wear hearing aids, he misses some tones and quiet speech is sometimes garbled. My friend Angie's daughter caught a virus several years ago that wasn't treated quickly enough; the result was that she went profoundly deaf in both ears and has since been fitted with two Cochlear Implants. My point is that hearing loss and forms of deafness are much more common than you might think. According to Gaudelet University, "the world's only university in which Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/06/the-amplicom-induction-neckloop-nl100-review/feed/ 0 Something Huge Coming Up With BenQ, and I Need Your Help to Win!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/03/something-huge-coming-up-with-benq-and-i-need-your-help-to-win/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/03/something-huge-coming-up-with-benq-and-i-need-your-help-to-win/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:43:42 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=172677  

Gear Diary has been selected to compete in a BenQ contest that starts Monday December 5th, and I am personally asking all of you to vote for us, or rather -- for me, because I am going to be filming a series of videos that will be submitted for voting.  I'm a little nervous about it, because this is a contest unlike any we've ever done. What's in it for you?
VOTE & WIN! BenQ has hand-selected technology and lifestyle influencers to compete for YOUR votes with videos. Every week, starting Dec. 5, 2011 - Jan 8, 2012, these top influencers and bloggers will post videos showcasing BenQ’s newest, innovative
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/03/something-huge-coming-up-with-benq-and-i-need-your-help-to-win/feed/ 7 The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Lola Puffer Jacket Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/the-scottevest-womens-lola-puffer-jacket-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/the-scottevest-womens-lola-puffer-jacket-review/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:00:18 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=172247

I have a new favorite jacket, and it's not only warm, it's a stunner; say hello to the SCOTTEVEST Lola Puffer jacket. Composed of a quilted 100% nylon shell and stuffed with 100% fluffy polyester, the Lola is soft, extremely warm (without being too heavy), and it cuts the wind on those mind-numbingly chilly days without making you feel sweaty if you are still wearing it after the afternoon warms things up. The Lola comes in three colors -- Sparkle (which is a light grey), Rhapsody (a deep blue), and Fluff (a lovely white).All three jackets have a contrasting bright yellow fabric tape with a flashy silver metal zipper and zipper pull running up the middle; bright yellow fabric tape is also at the cuffs. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/the-scottevest-womens-lola-puffer-jacket-review/feed/ 8 Quirky is Giving Away $5 Gift Certificates and a Chance to Win a $500 Gift Cardhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/quirky-is-giving-away-5-gift-certificates-and-a-chance-to-win-a-500-gift-card/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/quirky-is-giving-away-5-gift-certificates-and-a-chance-to-win-a-500-gift-card/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:45:18 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=172222

  Quirky, the "socially developed product" manufacturer that allows people with great ideas to submit them and watch their products get made, is trying to garner support for its Facebook page. What better way to do so than to reward all of those who like their page with a $5 gift certificate off Quirky products and a chance to win a $500 gift card? In case you are wondering what types of goodies you can find at Quirky, wonder no more; here are a few...

Head over to Quirky's Facebook page and get Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/quirky-is-giving-away-5-gift-certificates-and-a-chance-to-win-a-500-gift-card/feed/ 0 Digital Innovations AllTerrain Wired 3-Button Mouse Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/digital-innovations-allterrain-wired-3-button-mouse-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/digital-innovations-allterrain-wired-3-button-mouse-review/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:00:29 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170809

Mice seem to be ubiquitous.  Everyone has one.  Not many people even consider buying one that didn't come with their computer while some are fanatical about the mice they use.  I tend to be one of the former.  As long as it has a scroll wheel I am usually happy, but now I have a new favorite wired mouse in the Digital Innovations AllTerrain Wired 3-Button Mouse. What makes this mouse All Terrain?  Well anyone who has used an optical mouse and tried to use it on a glass surfaces knows that they usually will not work on glass table top or glass blotter like you find in a hotel room.   The Digital Innovations AllTerrain Wired 3-Button Mouse Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/digital-innovations-allterrain-wired-3-button-mouse-review/feed/ 0 Doxie Mini Paper Scanner Gets a Makeoverhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/29/doxie-mini-paper-scanner-gets-a-makeover/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/29/doxie-mini-paper-scanner-gets-a-makeover/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:15:10 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171736

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 ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/29/doxie-mini-paper-scanner-gets-a-makeover/feed/ 0 Bedol Water-Powered Clock Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/26/bedol-water-powered-clock-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/26/bedol-water-powered-clock-review/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:00:59 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171276 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 ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/26/bedol-water-powered-clock-review/feed/ 0 Swipe Apparel Announces New Clothing Linehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/swipe-apparel-announces-new-clothing-line/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/swipe-apparel-announces-new-clothing-line/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:15:54 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170739 So I was visiting my good friend and fellow nerd Chris when he needed to wipe off the screen of his Android phone.  I reached into my pocket to get out my handy microfiber cloth--I have, like, half a dozen or so--but he waved me off and used his shirt instead. I would use my shirt, too, but I find that it doesn't do as good a job as my microfiber cloths.  But Swipe Apparel figured that out, and offers a full line of clothing that is good for wiping off your screen.  Cool, huh?  So if you're OCD isn't bad enough to force you to carry a cloth in all your pockets like I do Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/swipe-apparel-announces-new-clothing-line/feed/ 0 Happy 40th Birthday to the Microprocessorhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/happy-40th-birthday-to-the-microprocessor/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/happy-40th-birthday-to-the-microprocessor/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:40 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=169870

Today seemingly everything we use - from computers to smartphones to dumb-phones to tablets to land-line phones to TVs to DVD players to car stereos to cars themselves to microwave ovens to conventional ovens to newer furnaces and on and on and on ...are powered and controlled by a microprocessor. Last week marked the official launch of the first commercial processor, the Intel 4004.
Intel has been making a little bit of a PR fuss about the 40th anniversary of the microprocessor. And they are entitled to. The Intel 4004 was the first customer-programmable chip. Of course if you look at it's capabilities today they are laughably minimal, and even looking at the chip
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/happy-40th-birthday-to-the-microprocessor/feed/ 0 Get a Free iGrill Apron with Purchase of iGrill (& Free Shipping!)http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/get-a-free-igrill-apron-with-purchase-of-igrill-with-free-shipping/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/get-a-free-igrill-apron-with-purchase-of-igrill-with-free-shipping/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:15:00 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170762 One of the very tastiest Thanksgiving dinners I ever had was when "the guys" got together and decided to throw ourselves a big holiday feed.  One of us was an actual restaurant cook, and he took charge of the turkey which, believe it or not, he cooked out on the grill.  I don't know how he did it, and honestly I didn't want to know at the time; all I knew is that it turned out great. Now, I'm not much of a grilling kind of guy, but let's face it:  I'm very much in the minority.  So if you're a member of the majority who does grill, you want to read on about this giveaway Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/get-a-free-igrill-apron-with-purchase-of-igrill-with-free-shipping/feed/ 3 Soyntec’s Keyboard Open for Business 24 Hours a Dayhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/soyntecs-keyboard-open-for-business-24-hours-a-day/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/soyntecs-keyboard-open-for-business-24-hours-a-day/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:15:50 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170692 Are you a nerdy nerd who likes to work in dark rooms?  Do you have the color values on your screen reversed, so that it's light letters on a dark background?  Do you curse the fact that Lenovo laptops have a down-light, but their keyboards aren't lighted? Well, maybe the new Soyntec keyboard is something you're looking for.  All its keys are backlit so that you can use it in the dark.  When you wake up in the middle of the night because your brain has finally solved that bug that's been driving you crazy for the last three weeks, hey, your work area will be ready even if your eyes can't handle you turning on Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/soyntecs-keyboard-open-for-business-24-hours-a-day/feed/ 0