Gear Diary » Mother’s Day http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 A Quick Peek at the Aligata Nude Beauty Medium Travel Baghttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/09/a-quick-peek-at-the-aligata-nude-beauty-medium-travel-bag/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/09/a-quick-peek-at-the-aligata-nude-beauty-medium-travel-bag/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:13 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=168151  

It wasn't too long ago that I reviewed the Aligata Nude Beauty Big Weekend Bag, and they have just sent their newest offering -- the Nude Beauty Medium Travel Bag. I'll have a full review up after I've had some time to actually USE the bag and change its color from the nearly white Nude Beauty to a natural honey patina. But in the meantime, I just had to tell you all about it because it is something that I know would be an appreciated holiday gift for your special someone ...

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/09/a-quick-peek-at-the-aligata-nude-beauty-medium-travel-bag/feed/ 0 Android Phone Review: The HTC Rhymehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/08/android-phone-review-the-htc-rhyme/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/08/android-phone-review-the-htc-rhyme/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:00:43 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=166055 photos by Kevin

I like items that have their own personality and that aren't similar to every one else's, but lately it seems like all of the HTC Android phones that I have been posting about have been basically the same phone -- albeit with different features or screen sizes. Has it seemed that way to you? Whether it's been the Vivid, or the Rezound or all the EVO iterations, there are traits that most HTC Android phones seem to share: they are rectangular, they have four capacitive buttons on the bottom of the screen, there is a noticeable speaker grill at the top of the screen, they are predominantly black, they are trying to out-compete each other (and other brands) in screen size, they are trying to out-compete each other (and other brands) in processor speeds ... it's like  a massive nuclear arms race, but all of the weapons look the same! I understand building brand recognition,  but for some time it has seemed that HTC has been specifically marketing to masculine sensibilities, i.e. -- bigger, faster, stronger, harder, rawrrrr! I'm not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing, but I don't think that there is anything wrong with keeping a phone at a comfortable size for holding, recognizing that some people don't want to have such a personal device that looks like every other one out there, or making a phone that is a bit more convenient to use right out of the box. HTC actually has a history of offering phones that came in more feminine colors (remember the HTC Star Trek?), but I can't think of a single time that they pulled out all the stops and made a phone with the direct intent of going after the female side of the market. And then along came the Rhyme. If you could have been a fly on the wall the evening after I had posted the HTC Rhyme announcement ... oh my! I was looking forward to checking out the Rhyme because its specs looked pretty good, and I've been a bit bored with all of the HTC devices that look exactly the same. Carly was bothered by the fact that the Rhyme might be a sub-par Android device that had been prettied up and marketed specifically to women (ala the pink Palm Centro in early 2008), which would have totally offended me, too ...  if I had felt that was the case. But once we sorted out the specs (and basically discussed it to death), we came to the conclusion that the Rhyme might not be a sow's ear disguised as a silk purse. Of course, I still needed to use one in real life to make a final determination.

Obviously geared toward women and men who don't mind a deep splash of color, the Rhyme flaunts its plumness and comes with accessories that I haven't seen accompany ANY mobile phones since ... well, ever. So for pure colorful cheekiness and complementary accessories out of the box, the Rhyme was already on my "not too shabby" list.

Specifications

Size: 119 x 60.8 x 10.85 mm (4.68 x 2.39 x 0.43 inches) Weight:130 grams (4.58 ounces) with battery Display: 3.7-inch touch screen with 480 x 800 resolution Screen: 94mm (3.7") CPU Processing Speed: 1 GHz (Qualcomm MSM 8655) Storage: Total storage: 4 GB; Available storage:up to 1 GB; RAM:768 MB; Expansion slot: microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible) [comes with an 8GB microSD card] Connectivity: 3.5 mm stereo audio jack; Bluetooth® 3.0 with FTP/OPP for file transfer, A2DP for wireless stereo headsets, and PBAP for phonebook access from the car kit; Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n; DLNA for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to your TV or computer; ANT+ to connect with sport and fitness sensors Sensors:Ambient light sensor, G-Sensor, Digital compass, Proximity sensor Power & Battery: Battery type:Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery; Capacity:1600 mAh; Talk time: Up to 480 minutes for WCDMA, Up to 620 minutes for GSM; Standby time1:Up to 340 hours for WCDMA, Up to 295 hours for GSM (The above are subject to network and phone usage.) Platform: Android™ Gingerbread with HTC Sense™ 3.5 Interface Network: HSPA/WCDMA:Europe/Asia: 850/900/2100 MHz; Upload speed of up to 5.76 Mbps and download speed of up to 14.4 Mbps; Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; (Band frequency, HSPA availability, and data speed are operator dependent.) Camera: 5 megapixel color camera with auto focus and LED flash; 720p HD video recording; VGA front-facing camera Location: Internal GPS antenna Multimedia: Audio supported formats: Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 9); Recording: .amr, .m4a, .aac; Video supported formats:; Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv (Windows Media Video 9), .avi (MP4 ASP and MP3), .xvid (MP4 ASP and MP3); Recording: .3gp, .mp4 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/08/android-phone-review-the-htc-rhyme/feed/ 2 Personalized iPhone Cases from iStylizehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/23/personalized-iphone-cases-from-istylize/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/23/personalized-iphone-cases-from-istylize/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:15:41 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=165626

When my coworker was preordering his new iPhone 4S, we had a debate about colors. I was firmly on the side of black, and he said he was considering white because it stood out a bit more, and since most people have black iPhones, it eliminated that moment of "is this your phone or my phone" that happens when everyone has their iPhones on the table at the same time. Of course, you can solve this with a case, but who wants the same boring cases that everyone else picks up at the Apple store? Instead, you could snag an iStylize case from ErinCondren.com that has your name or initials right in the design! No Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/23/personalized-iphone-cases-from-istylize/feed/ 0 The Skooba Design Cable Stable Mini Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/the-skooba-design-cable-stable-mini-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/the-skooba-design-cable-stable-mini-review/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:15:39 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=158247

Even with so many devices going toward the microUSB "standard", I can't help but travel with a minimum of three different types of cables -- and sometimes more than that. My phone uses microUSB, my iPad has its own Apple connector, and my camera is miniUSB. When packing, I also need to bring along the battery chargers for my camera and MacBook Air, along with a few other miscellaneous doo-dads. You may recall that I reviewed the Skooba Design Cable Stable DLX early last year; while I have found it to be an excellent solution when I need to bring along the whole 'kit and kaboodle', there are times when I have wished that it Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/the-skooba-design-cable-stable-mini-review/feed/ 0 On This Mother’s Day …http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/08/on-this-mothers-day/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/08/on-this-mothers-day/#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 12:56:48 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=143432 Mom, my brother Mark & me September 1970, in Camp Kue, Okinawa

Sometimes it is hard to imagine the fact that our mothers had a whole different life before they became parents ... but they did! My mom, Sarah Kate, was born to parents who were both from pioneer Texas families. Mom grew up riding horses on her family's ranch. She traveled the western United States with her mother and brother, exploring national monuments and state parks. She had pen pals in foreign countries, some of whom she corresponded with for years. She grew up watching and learning from strong women like her mother, grandmother, and great-aunt.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/08/on-this-mothers-day/feed/ 5 iWatchz Straps Make Mom’s iPod Nano a Fashionable Watchhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/25/iwatchz-straps-make-moms-ipod-nano-a-fashionable-watch/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/25/iwatchz-straps-make-moms-ipod-nano-a-fashionable-watch/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:15:59 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=141055

One of the coolest things about the 6th generation Apple iPod nano is how it can be attached to a strap, transforming it into a watch with benefits. Dan has covered many of the available straps here previously, but these by iWatchz look so fun and colorful that they are worth mentioning for anyone who is looking for a colorful Mother's Day surprise, a gift for a grad, or simply a cool way to wear their own nano. iWatchz is introducing their new alligator print Timepiece Collection and the Carbon Collection, but I still think their colored rubber ones are the cutest. With prices from $24.99 to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/25/iwatchz-straps-make-moms-ipod-nano-a-fashionable-watch/feed/ 1 Skooba Design’s Easter Special: 40% Off the Harmony Collectionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/22/skooba-designs-easter-special-40-off-the-harmony-collection/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/22/skooba-designs-easter-special-40-off-the-harmony-collection/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:45:58 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=140829

The ad above says it all -- you can save 40% on Skooba Design's Harmony Collection, thanks to the bonus 10% they are tacking onto an already good 30%-off deal; even better, you get free shipping on orders over $50. Carly will have a review on the Harmony 15 Tote early next week, but in the meantime -- enjoy fantastic savings by using the EXTRA10 code at checkout when purchasing from the Harmony Collection. =) Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/22/skooba-designs-easter-special-40-off-the-harmony-collection/feed/ 0 Review: DYMO LabelManager PnPhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/31/review-dymo-labelmanager-pnp/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/31/review-dymo-labelmanager-pnp/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:00:48 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=137956 Labels. We get them when we are young. Sometimes we earn them. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes they are flattering. Often they are not. Labels. Once they are there, they are difficult to shake. Oh, wait, this isn't about that kind of label is it? No, this is about those labels that you print up and then attach to items you want easily identified. For example if you are sorting the various cables that go with the various gadgets you have collected over the years labels help you know what is inside each box without even opening it. Or if you have five different wall adapters for a wide assortment of electronics you can put labels Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/31/review-dymo-labelmanager-pnp/feed/ 0 The Swingline Stack-and-Shred Has Arrived!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/01/the-swingline-stack-and-shred-has-arrived/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/01/the-swingline-stack-and-shred-has-arrived/#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:55:13 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=134081

Not that you needed any further proof that I was a dork, I mean geek, but I found myself unnaturally excited when FedEx dropped off this package earlier today. Inside is the SwingLine Stack & Shred, a crosscut shredder that allows you to feed up to 100 sheets of paper at a time by lifting the lid on the front and laying the items to shred inside the tray.
Stack, Shut and Go. The Swingline Stack-and-Shred technology is built for busy executives, small and home office users and anyone who wants an easy and efficient way to personally shred. It does the work so users can multitask like they mean it. Just lift
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/03/01/the-swingline-stack-and-shred-has-arrived/feed/ 5 The Keurig Mini Plus Personal Brewer Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/27/the-keurig-mini-plus-personal-brewer-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/27/the-keurig-mini-plus-personal-brewer-review/#comments Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:00:51 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=130221

Given the long hours I spend editing and writing, there are a few things that I need to have available at all times: a good desktop or laptop computer, a decent camera for taking pictures, a comfortable chair, and an ever flowing source of caffeine. The refrigerator behind me takes care of my Diet Cokes, I have a canister of dark-chocolate covered coffee beans on the counter, and lately I've been using the Keurig Mini Plus Personal Brewer system to handle my coffee and tea requirements. As the company explains:
· The Keurig brewing system offers a coffee house quality cup of coffee for just a fraction of the cost with the convenience of
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/27/the-keurig-mini-plus-personal-brewer-review/feed/ 14 The Aligata iPhone Leather Sleeve Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/21/the-aligata-iphone-leather-sleeve-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/21/the-aligata-iphone-leather-sleeve-review/#comments Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:00:25 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=130330

Uncomplicated good looks, even contrasting stitching, and leather which will only get more beautiful over time as it is used ... these are what you'll get when you purchase an iPhone leather sleeve from Aligata. Don't be fooled by the name, though; the iPhone Leather Sleeve will also fit other similarly sized phones and devices. Because he knows how much I like this combination, Tom from Aligata sent me a nude beauty sleeve with yellow stitching. This particular type leather usually comes with white stitching, but for a fee (and a little bit of prior-to-ordering discussion) you can specify other thread colors. There are also four other types of leather Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/21/the-aligata-iphone-leather-sleeve-review/feed/ 3 Evouni Gadget Accessories Stylish and Chichttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/09/evouni-gadget-accessories-stylish-and-chic/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/09/evouni-gadget-accessories-stylish-and-chic/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:00:09 +0000 David Goodspeed http://www.geardiary.com/?p=130890 Gadget accessory company Evouni (I will leave the pronunciation up to you) sent GearDiary.com a few items recently, three of which made it into my hands. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/09/evouni-gadget-accessories-stylish-and-chic/feed/ 0 The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/05/the-scottevest-womens-trench-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/05/the-scottevest-womens-trench-review/#comments Sun, 06 Feb 2011 05:00:58 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=127864 You see that big ol' grin on my face? Simply put, it's because I've finally found the perfect trench coat!

When done correctly, a woman's trench coat is the perfect jacket. A trench keeps its wearer warm, but it isn't too heavy; trench coats are belted, so the woman wearing one gains an instant hourglass figure -- whether she has one or not! The right trench coat can add instant sophistication to even the most basic outfit; but best of all, a well-cut trench coat can hide a multitude of figure flaws while taking an outfit from day to night. Scott Jordan let us know last October that SCOTTEVEST would be coming out with Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/05/the-scottevest-womens-trench-review/feed/ 29 Star Wars: Frames for the True Fanshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/05/star-wars-frames-for-the-true-fans/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/05/star-wars-frames-for-the-true-fans/#comments Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:45:10 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=130475

Possibly just in time for Valentine's day, but definitely in time for graduation or late spring and summer birthdays, comes the ultimate gift for any Star Wars aficionado: Star Wars: Frames. Imagine if you will, George Lucas sitting in his office with every Star Wars movie at his disposal. Imagine him sorting through millions of individual frames as he picks and chooses his favorites; every battle, every character's emotion, every iconic scene laid out in front of him. The result of his selection process would ultimately become Star Wars: Frames, an 1,138 copies limited edition. Each set comes in an art deco-inspired wooden box, each includes a certificate personally signed by Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/02/05/star-wars-frames-for-the-true-fans/feed/ 3 Mobile Phone Accessory Review: the Oberon Design Cell Phone Sleevehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/30/mobile-phone-accessory-review-the-oberon-design-cell-phone-sleeve/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/30/mobile-phone-accessory-review-the-oberon-design-cell-phone-sleeve/#comments Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:00:04 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=123399

It's not very often that I can get excited about a universally fitting mobile phone sleeve, mainly because most of the ones I've reviewed in the past were pretty utilitarian. But when I received an email from Oberon Design, the company responsible for some of my favorite Kindle2, Kindle DX and iPad cases ever, asking if I'd like to review their new cell phone sleeve, I was happy to oblige.
Our cell phone sleeve is offered in twelve cropped versions of our most popular designs and accommodates many different smart phones and regular cell phones.
As in the past, the Oberon item arrived wrapped Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/30/mobile-phone-accessory-review-the-oberon-design-cell-phone-sleeve/feed/ 5 Review: NOOKcolor by Barnes and Noblehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/15/review-nookcolor-by-barnes-and-noble/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/15/review-nookcolor-by-barnes-and-noble/#comments Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:09 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=121625

[Ed. note - If you haven't already, please read part one of this review: First Impressions: NOOKcolor] It’s not often that I start a review with a conclusion, but it’s going to be hard to review the NOOKcolor without stating this up front: It’s an absolutely incredible reading device. I was skeptical that a color, LCD device would be a decent reading experience, and admittedly I still personally prefer eInk, but B&N did a fantastic job making reading front and center on the NOOKcolor. How did they do it, and what could be improved for next time? Read on for my thoughts! As I said in my “first impressions” post, the hardware Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/15/review-nookcolor-by-barnes-and-noble/feed/ 10 Review: Neuros Control Tablet 1002http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/14/review-neuros-control-tablet-1002/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/14/review-neuros-control-tablet-1002/#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:00:31 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=119013

Joe Born at Neuros Technology has always been a supporter of Linux and Open Source technology since I've known him.  Well Joe came up with a great idea.  How about using a cheap Android Tablet to control the Neuros Link?  Sounds like a good idea, but did it work? The Control Tablet 1002 is very similar to the Eken M002 tablet.  In face, it will run the same builds of Android that the Eken M002 will. Let's take a look at the specs: • Slatedroid firmware based off of Google Android OS 1.6 • VIA MW8505 350-400MHz • 128MB DDR2 • 2GB NAND FLASH, support most TF card up to 32GB • Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/14/review-neuros-control-tablet-1002/feed/ 0 Gear Gadget Review- The PHOSPHOR World Time Curved E Ink Watch with Black Polyurethane Bandhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/09/gear-gadget-review-the-phosphor-world-time-curved-e-ink-watch-with-black-polyurethane-band/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/09/gear-gadget-review-the-phosphor-world-time-curved-e-ink-watch-with-black-polyurethane-band/#comments Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:00:54 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=120940 Let's face it, thanks to cellphones and iPods, wrist watches have, for many, been relegated to the role of fashion accessory. Sure, they still tell time the way they always have but almost all of us have a cellphone with us constantly and even the most rudimentary phone has a clock built into it. The result? For many of us watches are jewelry. That does not, however, mean watches can't be bold, interesting and desirable. They can be and, with their line of E Ink watches, PHOSPHOR is out to show just how big, bold and technologically savvy a watch can be. That's right, PHOSPHOR's watches use the same e Ink technology found in the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/09/gear-gadget-review-the-phosphor-world-time-curved-e-ink-watch-with-black-polyurethane-band/feed/ 0 New MacBook Air Skins – GelaSkinshttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/08/new-macbook-air-skins-gelaskins/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/08/new-macbook-air-skins-gelaskins/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:15:45 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=120741

You can protect your MacBook Air (or MBA, as we call 'em around here) with your standard covers and protections--leather, nylon, whatever.  Or you could give it a nice, arty sheen with one of the new set of MBA skins from GelaSkins. Now look:  when it comes to art (or ahht, as my dear departed Granny would say), I'm pretty much a lunkhead.  I like Maxfield Parrish; I like Monet; I like DeGasse, but after that, I'm clueless.  But even clueless me can recognize the beauty in some of these offerings.  You should surf over and give them a look yourself, because for about an MSRP of $30, adding a little Beauty to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/08/new-macbook-air-skins-gelaskins/feed/ 1 Be the Band with an Old School Synth Style Tshirt from ThinkGeekhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/be-the-band-with-an-old-school-synth-style-tshirt-from-thinkgeek/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/be-the-band-with-an-old-school-synth-style-tshirt-from-thinkgeek/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:15:01 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=119688

When I graduated from high school, several of the PTAs in San Angelo banded together to do a Project Graduation party ... one where we could go and  have fun, win prizes and (theoretically at least) be alcohol-free for the night. One of the events they held which drew the largest audience by far was an air guitar contest. Now bear in mind that I graduated in 1985, so this was before the days of Rockband -- my friends were truly standing there, jamming on imaginary guitars -- and it was beyond funny, yet also kind of impressive. For some reason these ThinkGeek shirts brought back that memory ... I mean, can't you just Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/01/be-the-band-with-an-old-school-synth-style-tshirt-from-thinkgeek/feed/ 0 iPad Accessory Review: AUTUM Straight Jacket for Apple iPadhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/29/ipad-accessory-review-autum-straight-jacket-for-apple-ipad/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/29/ipad-accessory-review-autum-straight-jacket-for-apple-ipad/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:00:38 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=119039 Let's face it, you can tell a lot about a designer's aesthetics within seconds of looking at a single product they have designed. That being the case, it is clear that the designers over at AUTUM, a company I had never before heard of, have AMAZING taste. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Judie recently reviewed a leather iPad pouch and was rather impressed. It is beautiful, heavy-duty, rugged leather that, to paraphrase her, holds the iPad in the same manner that a holster hold a gun ... and there you have the difference between the frames of reference a Texan will use as compared to someone from New Jersey! The double row of Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/29/ipad-accessory-review-autum-straight-jacket-for-apple-ipad/feed/ 2 The Kobo WiFi eReader Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/29/the-kobo-wifi-ereader-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/29/the-kobo-wifi-ereader-review/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:00:01 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=119156

Earlier this fall we had the opportunity to review the original Kobo Reader, a simple ebook reader sold through Kobo and Borders. They recently updated the original design to include WiFi connectivity, and the good folks at Kobo sent a unit over for review!

In many ways the WiFi Reader is just like it's unconnected sibling; the reading experience is essentially the same. I don't have an original Kobo Reader handy, but from what I remember the menus look similar. Two changes did jump out at me. One, there's a dictionary option now, powered by Miriam-Webster, and the second is that the "display" button was Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/29/the-kobo-wifi-ereader-review/feed/ 7 DODOcase Announces Their Second Product- A DODOcase for Kindlehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/18/dodocase-announces-their-second-product-a-dodocase-for-kindle/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/18/dodocase-announces-their-second-product-a-dodocase-for-kindle/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:36:11 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=117963 DODOcase caught many of our eyes a few months back when they brought traditional bookbinding techniques to the creation of an iPad case. The cases are highly functional AND bring some nostalgia along for the ride. Well, DODcase has just announced their next case and it is for... the Kindle 3. Here's what they have to say about it...
Made from black faux leather and constructed using traditional bookbinding techniques, DODOcase exterior covers bring the look of a book back to the Kindle. An elastic strap keeps your Kindle sealed tight when you are on the go. We take luxury and the environment seriously so we make the DODOcase interior from the highest quality
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/18/dodocase-announces-their-second-product-a-dodocase-for-kindle/feed/ 1 The Aluratek Libre Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/16/the-aluratek-libre-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/16/the-aluratek-libre-review/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:00:49 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=117252

Talk ebook readers, and everyone thinks Kindle or NOOK. But there's a whole subset of hardware out there for people who aren't interested in connected readers, and just want a simple device that handles multiple formats. That's where an ebook reader like the Aluratek Libre comes in handy.

The Libre is physically very similar to the Jetbook Lite we looked at last spring. It has the same slider along the left side for page turns, along with page turn buttons on the bottom. There's a d-pad and navigation buttons along the right side, plus a T-9 keyboard along the right edge. Unlike the Jetbook Lite Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/16/the-aluratek-libre-review/feed/ 3 Wrap Your Gift in a Prank Pack and Keep the Recipient Guessing!http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/10/wrap-your-gift-in-a-prank-pack-and-keep-the-recipient-guessing/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/10/wrap-your-gift-in-a-prank-pack-and-keep-the-recipient-guessing/#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:15:09 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=117085

Giving wrapped gifts in the box they came in is so lame; not only does the recipient immediately know what they are getting, but where's the fun in it? Better to put their present in a box that will have them looking at you like you've lost your mind; use a Prank Pack and watch as relief and laughter follow when their gift box is finally opened and they see their real present. ;-)

The holidays are coming, but this would be a fun gag for birthdays, graduations and anniversaries as well. $20 gets you three Prank Pack Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/10/wrap-your-gift-in-a-prank-pack-and-keep-the-recipient-guessing/feed/ 6 MacBook Air Case- Waterfield’s Suede Jacket Sleeve for 11″ and 13″ MacBook Airhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/04/macbook-air-case-waterfields-suede-jacket-sleeve-for-11-and-13-macbook-air/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/04/macbook-air-case-waterfields-suede-jacket-sleeve-for-11-and-13-macbook-air/#comments Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:00:36 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=116488 My MacBook Air finally arrived. (I HATE delayed gratification even if it is just a week!) It is awesome. Small, thin, light but speedy. I love it. Were this seven months ago I would be bringing it everywhere. Since we are AiP (After iPad), however, I don't see it going everywhere with me but I DO see taking it to CES in January and on other work/site-related trips. For those occasions I want something that can protect my precious Air while not adding too much bulk and weight. Waterfield has a great option for doing just that- the Suede Jacket Sleeve for MacBook Air. Waterfield’s new Suede Jacket Sleeve for both sizes of the Apple MacBook Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/04/macbook-air-case-waterfields-suede-jacket-sleeve-for-11-and-13-macbook-air/feed/ 2 Review: JAVOedge Charcoal Flip Style Case for Amazon Kindle 3rd Generationhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/02/review-javoedge-charcoal-flip-style-case-for-amazon-kindle-3rd-generation/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/02/review-javoedge-charcoal-flip-style-case-for-amazon-kindle-3rd-generation/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:47:40 +0000 LarryGreenberg http://www.geardiary.com/?p=116186 I'm a big fan of the Amazon Kindle 3. It's become a permanent fixture on my bedside table and I use it almost religiously each night before bed. Amazon's current version of their e-reader is slim and small. So much so that I think a case actually compliments it. Like the iPod Touch I sometimes find when devices are too slim they become hard to use. While I haven't tested a ton of Kindle 3 cases I have been using JAVOedge's newest offering over the last two weeks and have been quite pleased with the result. The Charcoal Flip Style Case comes in two color variations, Stone and Dusk. It features a inner sleeve Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/02/review-javoedge-charcoal-flip-style-case-for-amazon-kindle-3rd-generation/feed/ 8 icanstandit iPad Standhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/01/icanstandit-ipad-stand/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/01/icanstandit-ipad-stand/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:30:21 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=115823

Traveling back and forth between Austin and San Jose like I do, I'm constantly on the lookout for things to make my life easier.  And with my iPad, I want a stand that is compact, portable, preferably adjustable, lets me stand up my iPad in multiple positions, and doesn't cause confusion at the X-Ray line.  (Alas, though I love my 12 South Compass stand, it does fall down in this last category.) A new entry into this category is the icanstandit stand.  Specifically designed for portability, it gives you a solid, low-cost (MSRP $19.95) option.  Surf on over to the icanstanit site and give it a look see, should you be in the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/01/icanstandit-ipad-stand/feed/ 2 Review: Kobo Readerhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/07/review-kobo-reader/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/07/review-kobo-reader/#comments Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:00:02 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=112446

In the ebook world, the Kindle and nook are the 100 lbs. gorillas. Everyone uses them as the yardstick; does an ereader offer the same features, does it have a store affiliation, is the screen as sharp, etc. At the same time, there's still something to be said for simple ebook readers. No bells and whistles, just a thin device and your books. The Kobo Reader aims to fill that gap, with sleek looks, a low price, and basic features. Does it fit the bill, or should you pass in favor of its flashier competitors? Read on for my full review to find out! Hardware: The hardware on the Kobo Reader is very familiar. It's the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/10/07/review-kobo-reader/feed/ 1 iPad Case Review – TwelveSouth BookBook for iPadhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/30/ipad-case-review-twelvesouth-bookbook-for-ipad/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/30/ipad-case-review-twelvesouth-bookbook-for-ipad/#comments Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:00:46 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=111828 Here are a few of my books... in this picture alone there are over 100 different books. 16 of them are of the dead-tree variety. The rest are in the Kindle app on my iPad. Yup, that's my iPad right in the middle of the picture. It is sitting safe, hidden and secure in its new BookBook for iPad. The BookBook for iPad is one of the offerings from TwelveSouth. TwelveSouth is the company behind my favorite iPad travel stand, the Compass. (Reviewed here on the site.) While the Compass had a lean modern look to it, the BookBook goes total vintage. It has the look and feel of an Old World Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/30/ipad-case-review-twelvesouth-bookbook-for-ipad/feed/ 4