Gear Diary » Security and Privacy 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 Brinno PeepHole Viewer and Camera Provides New Tech for Home Securityhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/brinno-peephole-viewer-and-camera-provides-new-tech-for-home-security/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/brinno-peephole-viewer-and-camera-provides-new-tech-for-home-security/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:15:12 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=183480

So someone knocks on the door, right?  You want to see who the heck it is, without giving away the fact that, well, you're checking them out.  (This isn't an issue at my house--there's simply too much glass around the door to hide.)  Maybe you even have one of those fisheye lens peephole viewer things.  Which is okay, I guess, but this is the digital age, and maybe you can do better, don't you think? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/02/13/brinno-peephole-viewer-and-camera-provides-new-tech-for-home-security/feed/ 0 Sunday, January 29th is Data Privacy Dayhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/sunday-january-29th-is-data-privacy-day/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/sunday-january-29th-is-data-privacy-day/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:30:29 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181236 For a computer nerd, I'm pretty bad about data privacy and data security.  I had just pretty much decided years ago that I'm hosed; my data is going to be compromised, and it's only a matter of when, and by who. I do my best with passwords and opening email and such, but I'm resigned.  But that absolutely doesn't mean that I don't support the fine work done in the area of data privacy, data security, and electronic civil rights (not to mention being safe from online predators) by such organizations as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the National Cyber Security Alliance.  Quite the contrary; I very much want to be proven wrong, and I support their goals in trying to assure that my data and yours is private and secure. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/sunday-january-29th-is-data-privacy-day/feed/ 0 CrashPlan Releases Mobile App Update for Improved Securityhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/crashplan-releases-mobile-app-update-for-improved-security/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/crashplan-releases-mobile-app-update-for-improved-security/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:40:37 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180990 You know how it goes:  doing backups is a pain in the tuckus, and so you put it off, or you don't do it regularly, or some such.  And then . . . the blue screen of death!  Or the Genius Bar guy utters those fateful words, "You'll have to do a full restore."  Or your IT person says, "We're going to have to reimage your disk."  Panic! Code 42 software wants to help you with their CrashPlan software:
Code 42 Software Inc., developers of award-winning onsite, offsite and online backup solutions for consumers, businesses and the enterprise, today announced updates and new security enhancements to the CrashPlan and CrashPlan PRO mobile apps. The latest version adds support
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/crashplan-releases-mobile-app-update-for-improved-security/feed/ 0 Google’s New Motto: ‘We Do What We Must Because We Can’http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/25/googles-new-motto-we-do-what-we-must-because-we-can/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/25/googles-new-motto-we-do-what-we-must-because-we-can/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:15:49 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180534

The title is a Portal reference ... if you haven't played, you should. I'll provide a video at the end for context. The basic theme is that Aperture Science (Google) does what it 'must' (cruel human experimentation in the name of science) because it 'can' (no one can stop them). But also realize that it is presented humorously in-game, and I don't intent it seriously here. Today we learn that Google is going to be combining all of the login and account data across every service we access with the same credentials. Yawn, right? Well, not exactly Orwellian, but not innocent either. Here are some details from the Washington Post:
The
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/25/googles-new-motto-we-do-what-we-must-because-we-can/feed/ 0 Apparently Password Sharing is ‘a Thing’ with Teens!http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/22/apparently-password-sharing-is-a-thing-with-teens/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/22/apparently-password-sharing-is-a-thing-with-teens/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:00:06 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179745

Things like split heart necklaces for shared love used to be common, or swapping high school or college rings, or a shirt or other things. Apparently the new sign of trust, love and commitment is ... sharing online passwords. According to the New York Times article:
The digital era has given rise to a more intimate custom. It has become fashionable for young people to express their affection for each other by sharing their passwords to e-mail, Facebook and other accounts. Boyfriends and girlfriends sometimes even create identical passwords, and let each other read their private e-mails and texts. They say they know such digital entanglements are risky, because a souring relationship
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/22/apparently-password-sharing-is-a-thing-with-teens/feed/ 0 At Least NOW We Know Who the TRUE Enemies of Freedom Are!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/at-least-now-we-know-who-the-true-enemies-of-freedom-are/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/at-least-now-we-know-who-the-true-enemies-of-freedom-are/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:00:41 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174963

Image courtesy WTOP

We interrupt my seemingly weekly rant on our ever-encroaching police state to remind you that there are plenty of normal everyday people lurking around looking to circumscribe public discourse and force their bizarre conspiratorial views on others. Those people live on this crazy place called 'Facebook' ... and here is the latest example of just how crazy they are! Apparently Pepsi in the Middle East and Africa has recently come out with a new design, and a soldier leaving Iraq saw the can and made some wild paranoid conspiratorial leap that Pepsi was 'celebrating' the 9/11 attacks. Here is my problem - for some Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/at-least-now-we-know-who-the-true-enemies-of-freedom-are/feed/ 5 Infographic: Just How Dangerous IS Pepper Spray?http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/infographic-just-how-dangerous-is-pepper-spray/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/infographic-just-how-dangerous-is-pepper-spray/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:15:50 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174628

If you watch FOX News, aside from being statistically underinformed about actual events (and I suppose OVER-informed about ... something?), you would think that the pepper spray that has gained notoriety from the spate of 'police state' actions this fall is simply a 'food product'. But how many food products do YOU know that Amnesty International labels as 'cruel, inhuman and tantamount to torture'? I didn't think so ... anyway, here is an interesting look at the new cologne being applied to 'smelly protestors' everywhere ... Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/infographic-just-how-dangerous-is-pepper-spray/feed/ 4 Celebrate Bill of Rights Day on December 15 and Help Guarantee that Our Freedoms Endurehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/celebrate-bill-of-rights-day-on-december-15-and-help-guarantee-that-our-freedoms-endure/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/celebrate-bill-of-rights-day-on-december-15-and-help-guarantee-that-our-freedoms-endure/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:15:43 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=172410 If you follow the news at all, you'll know that lately--like, since 9/11 especially, but definitely in the last few weeks during the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations around the country--it seems like our Constitutional rights, enshrined in the Bill of Rights, are being abrogated left and right.  Warrantless wiretaps; illegal and invasive searches for the crime of just wanting to get on an airplane; American citizens being killed with no due process; peaceful protesters being physically abused, tear-gassed, and pepper-sprayed; our mobile phones being monitored down to our very keystrokes . . . it's not a good time for the Bill of Rights. All the more reason then to take note of Bill of Rights day Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/celebrate-bill-of-rights-day-on-december-15-and-help-guarantee-that-our-freedoms-endure/feed/ 0 Mobile Edge Has Got Your Back If You Are Worried About Privacyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/mobile-edge-has-got-your-back-if-you-are-worried-about-privacy/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/mobile-edge-has-got-your-back-if-you-are-worried-about-privacy/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:30:58 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171931

Are you feeling a bit spooked by all the recent stories about how our mobile phones are transmitting our GPS data, who we are talking to, and other possibly sensitive information? Here is one solution that might help: buy a bag that has a wireless security shield.  What that means is that when your phone is placed in the pocket -- even if it is turned on and otherwise fully functioning, no data, calls or GPS will be able to come or go.

Wireless Security Shield™

In an effort to help provide ultimate security for your Bluetooth enabled Cell
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/01/mobile-edge-has-got-your-back-if-you-are-worried-about-privacy/feed/ 0 Get the $9.95 PC Security Guide eBook FREE for a Limited Timehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/get-the-9-95-pc-security-guide-ebook-free-for-a-limited-time/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/get-the-9-95-pc-security-guide-ebook-free-for-a-limited-time/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:31:05 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=172166

We've got another free book for you: regularly $9.99, for one week you can get the PC Security Guide for FREE.
Receive Your Complimentary eBook NOW! "PC Security Guide (eBook) - Limited Time Offer" Access Your Complimentary Copy Today. This $9.95 Value eBook Expires 12/6/2011. Each of us is now faced with the daunting task of protecting ourselves and our families in the virtual worlds we travel. To make the job a bit easier, the editors of the Windows Secrets Newsletter have compiled some of the best security stories from their archives. The PC Security Guide is a concise eBook that provides simple and straight forward advice for secure computing. It's designed
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/get-the-9-95-pc-security-guide-ebook-free-for-a-limited-time/feed/ 0 A Reminder That Our Only Freedoms Are the Ones We Fight Forhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/a-reminder-that-our-only-freedoms-are-the-ones-we-fight-for/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/a-reminder-that-our-only-freedoms-are-the-ones-we-fight-for/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:15:53 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171885

I doubt that anyone would seriously debate that we have lost significant freedoms in this country over the last decade, though it is generally presented with a caveat that what has changed was needed for enhanced security. Sometimes this is true, other times it is for the appearance of greater security, and other times it is simply an authoritarian power grab. Which is why this story is so awesome! Last week I heard about the high school girl had gone to a 'Youth in Government' program event and had tweeted:
Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot
Although she actually didn't speak out at the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/a-reminder-that-our-only-freedoms-are-the-ones-we-fight-for/feed/ 6 Malls Will Test Cell Phone Shopper-Tracking Starting on Black Fridayhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/malls-will-test-cell-phone-shopper-tracking-starting-on-black-friday/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/malls-will-test-cell-phone-shopper-tracking-starting-on-black-friday/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:45:06 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170714

You are wandering around the mall on Friday, heading from the Gap to FYE to Macy's to Hickory Farms to Best Buy, not necessarily thinking about anything but getting as many great deals to justify braving the crowds as possible. But thanks to FootPath Technology, your cell phone will be pinging in with its location, and the mall will be able to mine data about traffic patterns, which stores got the most visitors, correlations between stores and more! Sound a bit invasive? Well, if you are in one of the malls testing this out, your only option is to turn off your cell phone! According to an article in the Chicago Tribune Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/malls-will-test-cell-phone-shopper-tracking-starting-on-black-friday/feed/ 0 Protecting Your Business Backbone with Symantichttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/protecting-your-business-backbone-with-symantic/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/protecting-your-business-backbone-with-symantic/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:45:25 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171023 Norton Small Business by Symantec. All opinions are 100% mine.
New Message-494
The back bone's connected to the neck bone, the neck bone's connected to the head bone. Small business' the backbone of the economy, technology's the backbone of small business. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones... All silly children's songs aside, small business owners know that technology is the backbone of all they do. Yes, in a recent survey of small business owners, nearly one in three respondents (28%) identified technology as one of their top business priorities. Unfortunately Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/23/protecting-your-business-backbone-with-symantic/feed/ 0 A Look at Our Growing Police State from Four Angleshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/22/a-look-at-our-growing-police-state-from-four-angles/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/22/a-look-at-our-growing-police-state-from-four-angles/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:00:44 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170571

Image courtesy HuffPo

I grew up in a time when you respected authorities, but didn't place blind trust in them. The government was still reeling from Watergate and Vietnam, which led many to instantly question anything said by those in power. The downside was that soldiers returning from Vietnam who were themselves victims of a draft were lumped in and treated poorly (my kids have a hard time connecting with the treatment of Rambo, but I remember it all too well from people in my town growing up). When Ronald Reagan took office, a new wave of pride and feeling of positivity in being an American replaced the so-called 'malaise' of the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/22/a-look-at-our-growing-police-state-from-four-angles/feed/ 4 PSA: If You Are a Verizon Wireless Customer, Check Your Privacy Settings!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/17/psa-if-you-are-a-verizon-wireless-customer-check-your-privacy-settings/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/17/psa-if-you-are-a-verizon-wireless-customer-check-your-privacy-settings/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:15:50 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=169794

Whenever a wireless carrier discusses your private information, you can be sure of one thing: they are trying to squeeze more money out of you by leveraging your information, but know that if they don't give you an opt-out they will have regulators breathing down their necks. So ... this week we get an email from Verizon Wireless. What information are they storing?
Mobile Usage Information: • Addresses of websites you visit when using our wireless service. These data strings (or URLs) may include search terms you have used • Location of your device ("Location Information") • App and device feature usage Consumer Information: • Information about your use of Verizon products
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/17/psa-if-you-are-a-verizon-wireless-customer-check-your-privacy-settings/feed/ 1 Amazon: It May Be Easy, but It’s a Riskhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/17/amazon-it-may-be-easy-but-its-a-risk/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/17/amazon-it-may-be-easy-but-its-a-risk/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:30:58 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=169675

Now that Amazon is shipping the Kindle Fire, I got to thinking: what if you gift the Fire or any other Kindle?  Well, if you do, make sure you do what Laptopmag.com says in their post and keep YOUR Kindle account safe.  After I read this, I did some more thinking: What if someone stole your shiny new Kindle off of your porch? If this happens, then that thief has access to ALL of your books and can purchase books on your account.  This is bad.  This is very bad.  Gear Diary's own Michael Anderson and Dan Cohen are both trying out the Kindle Fire, and both commented in our Yammer on how easy the setup is.  However Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/17/amazon-it-may-be-easy-but-its-a-risk/feed/ 5 Gear Games News: Steam Forums Hacked, Personal Info Compromised … More Detailshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/11/gear-games-news-steam-forums-hacked-personal-info-compromised-more-details/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/11/gear-games-news-steam-forums-hacked-personal-info-compromised-more-details/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:30:35 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=168407

For PC gamers, Steam is a nexus - great games, easy installation, achievements and social features, screenshots and video sharing, and lively user forums. Which means, like everything else, hackers have targeted it to show that they are misguided morons. News had been floating around for the last week that the Steam user forums had been hacked, and now we have full confirmation. Head to the main page to see more, but here are the details.
Dear Steam Users and Steam Forum Users: Our Steam forums were defaced on the evening of Sunday, November 6. We began investigating and found that the intrusion goes beyond the Steam forums. We learned
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/11/gear-games-news-steam-forums-hacked-personal-info-compromised-more-details/feed/ 1 iSafe Bags Announces Waist Pack with Built-in Personal Security Alarmhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/19/isafe-bags-announces-waist-pack-with-built-in-personal-security-alarm/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/19/isafe-bags-announces-waist-pack-with-built-in-personal-security-alarm/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:15:58 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=165160 I'll tell you right up front:  I always have mixed feelings about these kinds of products.  Alarms, surveillance, locks, codes, keys; I just wish we lived in a world where we didn't need this kind of stuff, don't you?  And no, though I'm the official old fart of GD, even I don't remember a time when we could just leave our front doors unlocked.  Ah, the downsides of the modern world! My feelings aside, that doesn't change the fact that bags like this have a lot of fans, and can be durn useful in a number of--well, let's just say "iffy situations".  If you're concerned about said situations, you could do a lot worse than to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/19/isafe-bags-announces-waist-pack-with-built-in-personal-security-alarm/feed/ 3 How to Catch Someone Stealing Your New iPhone 4Shttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/how-to-catch-someone-stealing-your-new-iphone4gs/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/how-to-catch-someone-stealing-your-new-iphone4gs/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:22:05 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=164744 Got a problem with thievery?  Is weird-ass stuff happening around your desk when you're not there?  Or are you simply someone who takes the "better safe than sorry" approach, and would like to keep a friendly eye on what happens around your workspace when you're out and about? Well our pals at Gadgets and Gear (Hi, Jason!) have sent us a pointer to a cool new device that they're offering:  iGotcha.  It's a charger for your iPhone, yup, but it also contains a hidden camera.  A spy-lover's two-fer!  You can check it out at Gadgets and Gear; available for an MSRP of $395.00.
Show Press Release (1 More Words)
This new ingenious small covert hidden camera video recording system is
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/14/how-to-catch-someone-stealing-your-new-iphone4gs/feed/ 1 mSecure 3.0 Puts a Blowfish in the Cloudhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/msecure-3-0-puts-a-blowfish-in-the-cloud/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/msecure-3-0-puts-a-blowfish-in-the-cloud/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:15:59 +0000 Jeff Frantz http://www.geardiary.com/?p=160357
Largely because I tend to switch devices and platforms regularly, I keep coming back to the same password manager - who for now shall remain nameless - because it is available for Blackberry, Android, and iOS devices, as well as having desktop applications for both Windows and Mac OSX. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing software from my perspective, but it works well enough. Syncing my mobile devices does require that I sync with the same computer, but I can't sync between computers. Cloud syncing isn't an option.
I may have to consider switching now, however, as mSeven Software’s mSecure 3.0 ups the ante by combining software that works across multiple platforms with cloud syncing capabilities. mSecure 3.0
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/17/msecure-3-0-puts-a-blowfish-in-the-cloud/feed/ 0 Kensington Announces Some Great New Accessorieshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/16/kensington-announces-some-great-new-accessories/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/16/kensington-announces-some-great-new-accessories/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:30:35 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=160513 When we go to CES one of our favorite "stops" is the Kensington suite where we get to see what new items they are cooking up. There's always something notable. Last night I had an additional chance to see what's new at the company and the answer is- a whole lot. I saw a few notable items that can extend your mobile experience and we are looking forward to getting our hands on them for review. For the time being, though, lets take a look from afar. IMG 5704 1 The first new accessory is the BungeeAir. Imagine Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/16/kensington-announces-some-great-new-accessories/feed/ 0 VIPRE’s Anti-Virus PC Software: Lightweight, Fast and We Have a Free Subscription to Give Away!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/25/vipres-anti-virus-pc-software-lightweight-fast-and-we-have-a-free-subscription-to-give-away/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/25/vipres-anti-virus-pc-software-lightweight-fast-and-we-have-a-free-subscription-to-give-away/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:15:12 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=158238 Sunbelt Software. All opinions are 100% mine.

Viruses are a fact of life in our digital age. They have plagued and they continue to plague Windows computers, and we are starting to see them spread to other platforms. It is a fine balancing act to maintain: on the one hand you want to protect your computer from the unscrupulous programmers who want to do harm to you and your computers or, worse yet, grab your personal data. On the other hand, you don't want to use some anti-virus software that is going to slow your computer to a crawl Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/25/vipres-anti-virus-pc-software-lightweight-fast-and-we-have-a-free-subscription-to-give-away/feed/ 2 Invasion of the Super-Cookies!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/18/invasion-of-the-super-cookies/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/18/invasion-of-the-super-cookies/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:30:55 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=157620

A few weeks ago it came to light that Spotify was using a special type of tracking cookie. Of course, once caught with their hand in ... um, the cookie jar (sorry!), Spotify said they would suspend the use of the Kissmetrics cookie technology. But as Digital Music News notes, it is a bit late for the tens of millions of users worldwide who have used Spotify already!
Spotify is already managing this like a crisis. According to research just published by researchers at UC Berkeley, Spotify has been using a cookie that cannot be deleted, still tracks if the user blocks cookies, and even operates in browser stealth mode. In fact, if
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/18/invasion-of-the-super-cookies/feed/ 3 Nixle Launches “Nixle Connect” to Provide a Conduit for Governmental Infohttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/16/nixle-launches-nixle-connect-to-provide-a-conduit-for-governmental-info/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/16/nixle-launches-nixle-connect-to-provide-a-conduit-for-governmental-info/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:15:24 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=157179 Okay, I know what you're thinking:  just what I need, yet another way for the government to poke it's nose into my life!  Isn't enough that they're stripping us naked (virtually) at airports, running weird telephone taps without permission, and everything else they're doing in the name of the Global War on Terror? This isn't that.  Really.  The new company Nixle is providing a way for folks like the police, fire departments, and such to make important information available to the public, and on a national and local level.  This isn't intrusiveness; this is a helpful move in that whole "well-informed citizen" idea that Thomas Jefferson was so fond of.  So I'm thinking that, at the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/16/nixle-launches-nixle-connect-to-provide-a-conduit-for-governmental-info/feed/ 1 Lorex LIVE SENSE Gives Parents (and Grandparents) Peace of Mindhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/lorex-live-sense-gives-parents-and-grandparents-peace-of-mind/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/lorex-live-sense-gives-parents-and-grandparents-peace-of-mind/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:20 +0000 David Goodspeed http://www.geardiary.com/?p=156694 Lorex LIVE SENSE monitoring Baby J Photos: Author

Having never been blessed with children of my own, I never quite got a grasp of everything new parents had to worry about nor how extensive their “to-do” list was … until last Christmas when we got word of the impending arrival of my wife’s first grandchild. Fast forward to July 26, and Baby J arrives in fine fashion. In no time I begin hearing “I can’t wait until we can start babysitting him over here.” What? The baby is coming here? “I’m not ready.” “The house isn’t ready.” “Where did the time go?” The very next day Gear Diary Team Members find an inquiry in their mailboxes Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/11/lorex-live-sense-gives-parents-and-grandparents-peace-of-mind/feed/ 0 Gear Games Rant: Ubisoft & Blizzard Confirm the Day of the Single Player Game is Overhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/02/gear-games-rant-ubisoft-blizzard-confirm-the-day-of-the-single-player-game-is-over/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/02/gear-games-rant-ubisoft-blizzard-confirm-the-day-of-the-single-player-game-is-over/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:45:55 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=155604

The piracy-vs-DRM debate has been raging for years, but a couple of years ago Ubisoft introduced a new DRM system that required a constant online connection even when playing traditional offline, single-player games. In my review for The Settlers 7 (one of the first games with that DRM system), I said:
the last decade has brought a nearly constant onslaught of new and even more draconian DRM (digital rights management) – from serial numbers to SecuROM to StarForce, each has done more to thwart paying customers from playing games while doing little to stop pirates from stealing games. Sites such as Steam mitigate this by registering a game to your account and letting
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/02/gear-games-rant-ubisoft-blizzard-confirm-the-day-of-the-single-player-game-is-over/feed/ 5 GreatCall Safety Survey Reveals Americans’ Risky Businesshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/27/greatcall-safety-survey-reveals-americans-risky-business/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/27/greatcall-safety-survey-reveals-americans-risky-business/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:15:51 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=151195 I believe that it was Mark Twain who preferred using the term "horse sense" instead of "common sense."  When asked why he responded (probably apocryphally) that if sense was common, then everyone would have it, whereas a horse knows what to eat and what to leave alone, a skill few humans possess Which is something you can see in its full flower in the results of GreatCall's "Safety Survey", wherein they find that, indeed, horse sense is hardly common amongst human being.  If we had horse sense, would we leave our doors unlocked at night, or job through scary areas, or not be sure what constitutes an "emergency"?  No, probably not. But take a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/27/greatcall-safety-survey-reveals-americans-risky-business/feed/ 0 Gear Diary Review: Logitech Alert Makes Your iPad a Home Security Solutionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/25/gear-diary-review-logitech-alert-makes-your-ipad-a-home-security-solution/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/25/gear-diary-review-logitech-alert-makes-your-ipad-a-home-security-solution/#comments Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:00:56 +0000 Jason Reese http://www.geardiary.com/?p=150650

Now  that summer is here, you're probably gearing up to enjoy some much-needed vacation time.   Before packing up and hitting the road, one thing none of us likes to stop and really think about is how to keep watch over our home or business while away.   Luckily, Logitech has come to the rescue with an easy and portable solution that doesn't require us to own a private jet to maintain digital home security.

Does it do the trick?  Can Logitech Al turn an iPad into your private watch dog?  Let's jump right in and see.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/25/gear-diary-review-logitech-alert-makes-your-ipad-a-home-security-solution/feed/ 13 Vivint Adds Security and Automation to a 1970s Era Deckhouse, Part Two: Installationhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/17/vivint-adds-security-and-automation-to-a-1970s-era-deckhouse-part-two-installation/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/17/vivint-adds-security-and-automation-to-a-1970s-era-deckhouse-part-two-installation/#comments Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:00:27 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=149628 A few weeks ago I wrote about the fact that we were going to be adding an alarm system and a nice degree of home automation to our residence in New Jersey thanks to Vivint. Well, process is all but done and I thought in this second post we would take a look at what the installation process actually entailed. I set up a standard installation appointment with the company and was pleased to find out that, unlike so many companies, the guys actually showed up exactly when they said they would. And they were awesome. They explained what was going to be happening over the next few hours and then had a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/17/vivint-adds-security-and-automation-to-a-1970s-era-deckhouse-part-two-installation/feed/ 0 Gear Games Update: PlayStation Store Welcome Back Programhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/04/gear-games-update-playstation-store-welcome-back-program/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/04/gear-games-update-playstation-store-welcome-back-program/#comments Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:45:57 +0000 Michael Siebenaler http://www.geardiary.com/?p=147785 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/04/gear-games-update-playstation-store-welcome-back-program/feed/ 0