Gear Diary » Reviews 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 The Incipio Stowaway for iPhone 4 and 4S Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/the-incipio-stowaway-for-iphone-4-and-4s-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/the-incipio-stowaway-for-iphone-4-and-4s-review/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:45 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183605 While questions remain about the security of Google Wallet (can you say "hackable??" I knew you could!!), the search for the perfect "iPhone case as wallet" continues. We've looked at a number of them and all had their positive attributes. Sadly, all were also hampered by some significant flaws. Has the Incipio Stowaway made the right design decisions? Is this the perfect everyday iPhone case as wallet? Let's take a closer look. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/the-incipio-stowaway-for-iphone-4-and-4s-review/feed/ 0 Where Can The Case-Mate Phantom Travel? Just About Anywhere!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/where-can-the-case-mate-phantom-travel-just-about-anywhere/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/where-can-the-case-mate-phantom-travel-just-about-anywhere/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:02 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183581

I have just returned from a weeklong cruise along Costa Rica and Panama, and of course my trusty iPhone came with me. It was safely swaddled in a Case-Mate Phantom Case, which I've had for a few weeks. My intention was to write-up the full review when I returned, but as the trip played out this review took on a bit of a different turn, so read on for more! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/14/where-can-the-case-mate-phantom-travel-just-about-anywhere/feed/ 0 Sena Messenger Bag for Tablets Video Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/sena-messenger-bag-for-tablets-video-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/sena-messenger-bag-for-tablets-video-review/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:00:33 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183455 I carry my iPad with me pretty much all the time. And, increasingly I find myself carrying ONLY my iPad and my smartphone during the day. I don't carry my laptop. I don't carry a pen or even my Livescribe Echo SmartPen. I don't even carry an external keyboard for the iPad. And if I am going to go light I might as well carry a small, light bag. I've been on the hunt for something small and light that also had some style to it. So when I saw the Messenger Bag for Tablets on Sena's website I took note. But I had some questions about it. Would it be TOO small? Would it be too heavy? Would the silver plate on the front be too big and "blingy"? Would it look too much like a murse? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/sena-messenger-bag-for-tablets-video-review/feed/ 1 Virtual City for the Kindle Fire Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/virtual-city-for-the-kindle-fire-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/virtual-city-for-the-kindle-fire-review/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:00:37 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182543

A while agoI reviewed the iPhone and iPad versions of Virtual City, noting that my only real complaint was the lack of a sandbox mode - and the high initial price of the iPad version (which has been lowered). The game already took advantage of the high resolution Retina display which made it shine on the iPad, so my assumption was that there would be a minimal difference in the move to the Kindle Fire. Turns out I was right ... and wrong. Read on to find out what I mean. The Hype: Build a city of your dream - a residential paradise or an industrial center. Build dwelling Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/12/virtual-city-for-the-kindle-fire-review/feed/ 0 Journey Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/journey-greatest-hits-volume-2-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/journey-greatest-hits-volume-2-review/#comments Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:00:01 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183048 Journey - Greatest Hits, Volume 2

When you look at some of the best 'greatest hits' collections, it is hard to think about augmenting them by going back to the same well a second time. The Beatles 62-66 and 67-70 are complete enough that a second set would feel superfluous, the same is true with the Rolling Stones Hot Rocks, The Eagle's Greatest Hits and so on. Journey's Greatest Hits is one of the top-selling collections of all time, posting more than 25 million albums sold through the years. Now we get Volume 2 of the greatest hits, encompassing basically the same years - which raises the basic question of whether there is enough material to make a whole new collection. Let's take a look. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/11/journey-greatest-hits-volume-2-review/feed/ 0 Special Enquity Detail – The Hand that Feeds for Kindle Fire Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/special-enquity-detail-the-hand-that-feeds-for-kindle-fire-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/special-enquity-detail-the-hand-that-feeds-for-kindle-fire-review/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:00:41 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182548

Mix together a crime-drama mystery, puzzles, hidden objects, and tons of twists and turns and intrigue ... and you have the makings of one of the most compelling casual games made this year. The name of that game is "Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds" from G5 Entertainment, and I reviewed the iPad release earlier this year. Now it is available for Android! Let's take a look and see how the port stands up to the original release! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/special-enquity-detail-the-hand-that-feeds-for-kindle-fire-review/feed/ 0 Vinyl Re-Visions: The Art Ensemble of Chicago – Reese and the Smooth Ones (Jazz, 1969)http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vinyl-re-visions-the-art-ensemble-of-chicago-reese-and-the-smooth-ones-jazz-1969/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vinyl-re-visions-the-art-ensemble-of-chicago-reese-and-the-smooth-ones-jazz-1969/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:38 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=176030 Art Ensemble Of Chicago - Reese And The Smooth Ones

When I first thought about doing a 'Vinyl Revisions' series, there were three records that came to mind: Anthony Braxton's Five Pieces 1975, Steve Lacy's The Wire, and this record. As mentioned in a comment on my Braxton review, that music was compiled in 2008 on the Complete Arista Recordings as a digital release. This record was briefly available in 2002 on Get Back Records as a CD release but has otherwise been out of print - even though Amazon claims a 2009 re-release on vinyl, it has been 'out of stock' every time I have checked. I missed out on grabbing the CD - I saw it, waited a bit and then ... it was gone. So the versions in my collection are digitized from vinyl ... but as I started writing this I discovered something ... the album is available on iTunes for $9.99! Let's take a look: Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/10/vinyl-re-visions-the-art-ensemble-of-chicago-reese-and-the-smooth-ones-jazz-1969/feed/ 0 Adobe Premiere Elements 10 & Photoshop Elements 10 Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/adobe-premiere-elements-10-photoshop-elements-10-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/adobe-premiere-elements-10-photoshop-elements-10-review/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:00:56 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=167445

If you use a Mac, then you probably use iPhoto for basic image editing and iMovie for basic video editing. But what if you use a PC? The tools included there are not nearly as capable, friendly or integrated. And what if you want to go further than the basic editing capabilities of the iTools? That is where Adobe Premiere Elements 10 & Photoshop Elements 10 come in - offering integrated photo and video editing and production tools for both OS X and Windows 7. The folks at Adobe sent me a review copy, so let's take a look! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/adobe-premiere-elements-10-photoshop-elements-10-review/feed/ 1 ‘Godzilla’ Terrorizes City Streets: Mothra and Rodan Flee in Fearhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/godzilla-terrorizes-city-streets-mothra-and-rodan-flee-in-fear/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/godzilla-terrorizes-city-streets-mothra-and-rodan-flee-in-fear/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:02 +0000 David Goodspeed http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182961

Images: Author

Quick, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say “Godzilla?” For most it is the star of childhood monster movies that feature horrible voice-dubbing. For the true auto enthusiast it means one thing – Nissan GT-R. I took delivery of a 2012 GT-R for Super Bowl weekend and despite a few little things, this is one SUPER car. GT-R is the North American version of the Skyline GT-R, Nissan’s answer to the likes of Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and ZR-1. The 2012 model GT-R generates a modest 530 horsepower and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/godzilla-terrorizes-city-streets-mothra-and-rodan-flee-in-fear/feed/ 0 Supermarket Mania 2 for the Kindle Fire Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/supermarket-mania-2-for-the-kindle-fire-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/supermarket-mania-2-for-the-kindle-fire-review/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:43 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182542

I loved the PC version of SuperMarket Mania 2, and now that it is available for iPhone and iPad I wanted to take another look and see how it would work as a port! Read on and find out how they did! The Hype: Nikki and her friends are back in Supermarket Mania 2! Help her uncle Ross manage and run his chain of grocery stores on the other side of the country. Keep the supermarket shelves stocked up, floors clean and customers coming as you work on improving the stores and increasing profits. It's not all peachy though, as the evil Assistant Torg and his robotic Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/09/supermarket-mania-2-for-the-kindle-fire-review/feed/ 0 Mystery of the Crystal Portal for the Kindle Fire Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/mystery-of-the-crystal-portal-for-the-kindle-fire-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/mystery-of-the-crystal-portal-for-the-kindle-fire-review/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:00:42 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182768

I had bought and enjoyed Mystery of the Crystal Portal for my iPad and also loved the PSP version in spite of some issues with having to pan around the scene, so I was excited to try out the Kindle Fire version. It had been a while since I played, so it felt fresh as I had forgotten most of the game. Let's take a loot at hwo the experience translates to the Kindle Fire! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/08/mystery-of-the-crystal-portal-for-the-kindle-fire-review/feed/ 0 The Cenoire Eluo Sonic Toothbrush Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/the-cenoire-eluo-sonic-toothbrush-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/the-cenoire-eluo-sonic-toothbrush-review/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:21 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182598 Your teeth are precious. And as tough as they are, they actually need to a good bit of attention if you want them hanging around. Brushing and flossing are a must. Water picks are good too. And while it is easy to get into a healthy routine when you are home, it can be much tougher when you travel or are out and about for a 14 hour work day. That's where Cenoire's Eluo Sonic Toothbrush comes in. The Eluo is easy to carry, simple to use and, believe it or not, even looks kind of neat. Here's a look. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/the-cenoire-eluo-sonic-toothbrush-review/feed/ 0 XIII Lost Identity iPad Game Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/xiii-lost-identity-ipad-game-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/xiii-lost-identity-ipad-game-review/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:00:34 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182447

Almost two years ago I did a review of the 2003 PC game called 'XIII', which took a French intrigue-filled graphic novel and brought it to life in a unique graphical style. Late last year the game made the jump to the iOS platform as a hidden object adventure. Let's see how it did! The Hype: Imagine waking up to discover you’ve led several different lives. Based on the comic book series by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance. A man suffering from amnesia is found washed up on a beach by an elderly couple. He has to unravel who he is and where he has come from, the only clue to his identity being the numerals “XIII” tattooed on his neck. You are XIII, a man with a host of enemies and who faces danger at every turn as he goes in search of his past. Pursued by mysterious strangers and wanted for the assassination of the President of the United States of America, his life becomes a whirl of conspiracy and intrigue. Pay close attention to everything around you, because it will no doubt be your only chance to piece together XIII’s enigmatic past. Use your inventory to escape from the most hazardous of situations. Are you ready for an adventure unfolding at breakneck speed? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/xiii-lost-identity-ipad-game-review/feed/ 1 DONKEY.BAS Game Review and Giveaway, the Granddaddy of PC Games Comes to iOShttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/donkey-bas-game-review-and-giveaway-the-granddaddy-of-pc-games-comes-to-ios/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/donkey-bas-game-review-and-giveaway-the-granddaddy-of-pc-games-comes-to-ios/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:00:02 +0000 Bryan Eley http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182529

Well, it could be "grandmother of PC games" for all I know.  My biology background didn't include methodology for determining software sex identity and their gender bits look the same to me. XVision has released DONKEY.BAS for iOS 5.0+ mobile devices, based on one of the original IBM PC DOS games written by Bill Gates and Neil Konzen. Yes, that Bill Gates. The concept is simple:  The player is driving down the road in what appears to be a late 1940s race car, destination unknown.  Suddenly, up ahead, a donkey appears in your lane.  What to do!? Change lanes before it's too late!  Read on to see my review of the game plus a chance for a reader to win a copy of the game! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/07/donkey-bas-game-review-and-giveaway-the-granddaddy-of-pc-games-comes-to-ios/feed/ 0 Seidio Charging Vault Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/06/seidio-charging-vault-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/06/seidio-charging-vault-review/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182322

I deal with the same battery scenario at least twice a week. When we have game nights, I go hours without a chance to charge my iPhone. There is no charging port in our buses and really never anywhere in a gym or field for me to charge during the games. Of course road games are extra tough since I listen to music or podcasts during the trip to and from our opponent. That is a lot of use with no power and usually a late night. Take this past Friday for example. We left the school at 1:45 in the afternoon and I walked into my house at 1:30am. All of that time

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/06/seidio-charging-vault-review/feed/ 0 Hands on With G5 Games Navigator for Kindle Fire!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/04/hands-on-with-g5-games-navigator-for-kindle-fire/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/04/hands-on-with-g5-games-navigator-for-kindle-fire/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:00:19 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=182174

Late last year G5 Games released a 'Game Navigator' for iPhone and iPad, and has since integrated part of it into all of their games. That familiar interface where you see a number of recommended games, the most recent release, and the game you are starting all at once, has become an integral part of every G5 game - which is a testament to how well this app works. Let's take a look! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/04/hands-on-with-g5-games-navigator-for-kindle-fire/feed/ 0 Movie/Book Retrospective: The Accidental Touristhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/04/moviebook-retrospective-the-accidental-tourist/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/04/moviebook-retrospective-the-accidental-tourist/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179255

I have said before that I have been reading much more since getting my Nook Touch last June, which has really been wonderful. The Nook Touch in my Oberon case is just a thing of beauty to hold and behold. It has allowed me to catch new books like Robopocalypse and recent releases like The Art of Racing in the Rain, re-read almost my entire Kurt Vonnegut collection, get ready for The Hunger Games, and grab books I always meant to read but had long forgotten - like The Accidental Tourist. Whenever a movie is made from a book, the comparisons are made and are generally unflattering - sometimes the movie is better (Godfather) but most times the movie is significantly lacking (pretty much everything else). There are a few examples where both are excellent - the recent movie The Help is a great example of something you should both read AND see. But recently I have fallen in love with another book/movie combo: The Accidental Tourist. Let's take a quick look at both versions! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/04/moviebook-retrospective-the-accidental-tourist/feed/ 1 Royal Trouble: Hidden Adventure iPad Game Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/03/royal-trouble-hidden-adventure-ipad-game-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/03/royal-trouble-hidden-adventure-ipad-game-review/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181923

Even after reading the description of Royal Trouble I wasn't sure exactly what to expect in terms of gameplay - and frankly I was nervous that I was getting burnt out on hidden object games after Spirit of Wandering (though 'Letters from Nowhere 2' tells me otherwise). Fortunately this is an entirely different sort of casual adventure game - and an absolute blast that you simply MUST try! Let's take a look! The Hype: In this critically acclaimed adventure quest, help two charming royal heirs escape from a secluded island! Princess Loreen and Prince Nathaniel find themselves locked in a dungeon without any idea of how they got there. She is bright Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/03/royal-trouble-hidden-adventure-ipad-game-review/feed/ 0 Kingston Wi-Drive Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/02/kingston-wi-drive-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/02/kingston-wi-drive-review/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:17 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181741

There are some smartphone accessories that make you go "huh? Who would buy this?" And then sometimes there are ideas so smart you think, "Wow! Why didn't anyone do this sooner?" Finally, there's the "GREAT idea, poor execution" accessory. The Kingston Wi-Drive fits into one of these categories, but you will have to read to the end to find out which one! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/02/kingston-wi-drive-review/feed/ 4 2012 Toyota Yaris Marks Forward Progress for Automakerhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/2012-toyota-yaris-marks-forward-progress-for-automaker/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/2012-toyota-yaris-marks-forward-progress-for-automaker/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:22 +0000 David Goodspeed http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181763

Images: Toyota

Toyota is working feverishly to recover from a few setbacks in global production last year. Mother Nature wreaked havoc on the automaker in the Asia-Pacific regions in 2011, and at a time when Toyota was releasing new or redesigned product. One such re-launch is the 2012 Yaris. Toyota has found that 70 percent of new car buyers in the subcompact segment prefer the liftback (hatchback) body styling. It is because of this that the Yaris sedan is gone from the lineup with 2012 models arriving in base LE three-door or, as in the case of our recent tester, a five-door SE model. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/01/2012-toyota-yaris-marks-forward-progress-for-automaker/feed/ 0 Game Gear Review: Hyperkin Supaboy Portable Pocket SNES Consolehttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/31/game-gear-review-hyperkin-supaboy-portable-pocket-snes-console/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/31/game-gear-review-hyperkin-supaboy-portable-pocket-snes-console/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:36 +0000 Michael Siebenaler http://www.geardiary.com/?p=164636 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/31/game-gear-review-hyperkin-supaboy-portable-pocket-snes-console/feed/ 1 Montie Gear Precision Gun Rest Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/montie-gear-precision-gun-rest-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/montie-gear-precision-gun-rest-review/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:28 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180736

As a South Texas Country Boy, I am an avid rifle and bow hunter, fisherman, camper and all around outdoorsman. Technology and gadgets have come to play a huge role in the outdoors lifestyle, and we hope to bring more reviews and news of this type of gear in the near future. When you see the Camo Gear Diary logo, you know it is Country Boy approved!

As an avid shooter and hunter, I love to spend time at my friend, Travis's place sighting in rifles or just working on accuracy. A while back I reviewed the X-Rest from Montie Gear and liked how light and portable the rest was. I recently had the opportunity to take Montie's newer rest back to the range for some shooting enjoyment. The Travis's, or Travii as my wife calls us, decided we were going to work on shooting at the 300 yard mark; we were shooting his customized .223.

Read on to see how the rest fared ...

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/montie-gear-precision-gun-rest-review/feed/ 0 Plantronics GameCom 780 Dolby 7.1 Gaming Headset Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/plantronics-gamecom-780-dolby-7-1-gaming-headset-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/plantronics-gamecom-780-dolby-7-1-gaming-headset-review/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:05 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180935

Most modern games come with some use of stereo sound, and games with higher budgets make use of Dolby Surround Sound to provide realistic experiences of being surrounded and FEELING the impact of what is going on around you. If you are using a pair of Apple earbuds in your gaming laptop ... you are really missing out. I recently looked at another set of Dolby enhanced headphones, but to truly get the experience you needed entirely too many cables. Now we have a new headset from Plantronics that offers Dolby 7.1 surround ... but only requires a USB connection! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/plantronics-gamecom-780-dolby-7-1-gaming-headset-review/feed/ 0 Belkin Portable Power Pack 1000 Cell Phone Charger Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/29/belkin-portable-power-pack-1000-cell-phone-charger-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/29/belkin-portable-power-pack-1000-cell-phone-charger-review/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:00:24 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181150

One of the biggest problems with our ever-growing love of smartphones ... is that everything we do with them seems to consume more and more battery. As a result we are always struggling with the battery life of our smartphones. As a result we keep chargers in our offices, our cars, and so on. But what about when you are on the go and don't have access to a wall plug - or are in an airport where everyone is huddled around the few remaining outlets? Belkin seeks to solve this with the Portable Power Pack 1000 - let's see how it works! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/29/belkin-portable-power-pack-1000-cell-phone-charger-review/feed/ 0 iRig MIDI Interface and Recorder Software Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/irig-midi-interface-and-recorder-software-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/irig-midi-interface-and-recorder-software-review/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:40 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180941

The folks at IK Multimedia have been at the forefront of developing great hardware and software tools for iOS devices ever since that capability was introduced. I have been a big fan of their products since iRig and Amplitude launched, so when I was offered a chance to review their new Sample Tank product I jumped. But wait - this isn't about Sample Tank! I know - as part of that evaluation they also sent me their iRig Midi interface and software, and it is was so awesome I just had to post a quick video hands on! The Hype: iRig MIDI is an ultra-compact standard Core MIDI interface for iOS that connects Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/irig-midi-interface-and-recorder-software-review/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 Spirit of Wandering – the Legend, HD iPad Game Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/spirit-of-wandering-the-legend-hd-ipad-game-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/spirit-of-wandering-the-legend-hd-ipad-game-review/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:57 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180324

I was still warm in the afterglow of the awesome iOS game 'Letters from Nowhere' from G5 Games when I started another hidden object game from G5 Games called Spirit of Wandering. Given the innovative style of the former game, I really didn't expect Spirit of Wandering - a stock standard hidden object adventure - to live up. Let's see how it did! The Hype: Sail the seas with a pirate captain in search of her missing love in this adventurous, hidden-object quest! After an attack by the Flying Dutchman, the crew of the Spirit of Wandering and captain’s companion, Jack, were imprisoned in the spirit world. Use powerful tools such as Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/27/spirit-of-wandering-the-legend-hd-ipad-game-review/feed/ 0 iTunes App Store App Review; PDF Forms Impresses!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/itunes-app-store-app-review-pdf-forms-impresses/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/itunes-app-store-app-review-pdf-forms-impresses/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:00:20 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180785 We've come a long way since Thomas published his amazing post How To View PDF Files on an iPad. Now you can't just view them but you can edit and manipulate them too. There are a few options in the iTunes App Store for editing PDFs and a new one was just announced. PDF Forms lets you sign a document, add text, highlight text, surround text and images and more. This was just going to be a news post until I actually tried the app. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/26/itunes-app-store-app-review-pdf-forms-impresses/feed/ 0 GD Quickie: Margaritaville Online releases on iPad and Facebookhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/25/gd-quickie-margaritaville-online-releases-on-ipad-and-facebook/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/25/gd-quickie-margaritaville-online-releases-on-ipad-and-facebook/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:00:31 +0000 Michael Siebenaler http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180507 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/25/gd-quickie-margaritaville-online-releases-on-ipad-and-facebook/feed/ 0