Gear Diary

Wondering if your iPhone can be Jailbroken? Consult the Matrix

Larry Greenberg — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:21 +0000

I get the question asked of me quite often.

It usually goes something like this.

“Larry, can I jailbreak my iPhone?”

To which I reply “well that depends.”

That enters us in to a discussion on the software and base band running on the person’s phone, the different methods used to jailbreak and so forth.

Today I stumbled upon a really nice web site which should assist not only me but anyone wondering if they can jailbreak their iPhone.

visit site to read more]

GearDeal- $300 Off Coupon For HP ENVY

Dan Cohen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:30:46 +0000

Our GearSponsor is hitting us with a GearDeal on the HP ENVY once again and the more I see of HP’s powerhouse the more I like it. To refresh your memory, the HP ENVY is 1″ thick, weighs .18 pounds, is powered by either a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, and has 1 GB of discrete graphics.

The base unit includes a 15.6″ … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Deals, GearSponsor, HP, Laptops

Need Medicine? Diet Coke? A new Mouse? How about going to Walgreen’s!

Joel McLaughlin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:26 +0000

Earlier this afternoon I was at Walgreen’s, which for those who aren’t aware’t, is a drug and convenience store. I was waiting on a prescription to get filled. With some time to kill, I looked around the store for some entertainment. I started to marvel at the sheer amount of tech that can be had at what’s a “drug-store.”

In the above pic, you have some mice , a Ethernet Cable and a headset. These are just some of the things I have seen at Walgreens. These items I have kind of grown to expect seeing but I was even more surprised at how much more technology products Walgreens had.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Home Tech, Offbeat, USB Devices

What Does TeleNav’s GPS Data Say About You, Me and Everyone Else??

Dan Cohen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:04 +0000

Wal-Mart is Nation’s Most Searched for Destination While on the Road

Residents of Maryland are Nation’s most frequent users of GPS navigation

Those are just two of the GPS-related tidbits drawn from data released today by TeleNav, one of the largest navigation services providers. TeleNav has over 13 million subscribers and the just released usage data (collected anonymously of course) offers some insight into how TeleNav’s customers are using the evermore ubiquitous GPS in their phones, cars and standalone devices.

For example, an analysis of December 2009 searches by TeleNav customers showed Wal-Mart topping the list U.S. businesses TeleNav customers requested directions for. The close runner-up was… Starbucks. (Thereby suggesting that as soon as people had shopped at Wal-Mart to save money they blew everything they saved on overpriced coffee drinks???)

Next up were Target and Best Buy in that order. (As in… went to Wal-Mart. They didn’t have what I needed. I was ‘draggin a bit so I got a mocha-frappa-jeepersthisisoverpriced-achinno. Then I went to Target. They didn’t have it so I headed to Best Buy. Price wasn’t as good but the product was in stock.)

Bank of America came in at number five. (Coming after Wal-Mat, Starbucks, Target and Best Buy… too easy… come up with your own cheeky comment.)

Geographically, Los Angeles is “the city where most GPS searches occurred in 2009″. (Hey, no surprise, Nobody walks in LA.) Dallas/Ft. Worth came in second, followed by Chicago, Houston and Atlanta. (New York is not in the top five… then again, while the cabbies are maniacs they actually DO know where they are going.)

The data even gives some insight into the food choices of TeleNav’s customers. When it comes to “casual food” they prefer pizza, Chinese food, burgers, American food and Mexican food, respectively. (I wonder where “gym” and “Jenny Craig” came in on the list of “past time destinations”?)

As Sal Dhanani, co-founder and vice president, products and marketing for TeleNav explains,

Every month our users are conducting millions of searches while using GPS navigation applications. This data provides a very interesting look into the locations people across the country are searching for while on the road. In addition to searches, our customers are relying on our products to complete millions of trips each month. The data we’ve collected from these trips has helped us identify the features that are most relied on by our users and provides an intriguing look into how GPS usage differs across the country.

The full release, with all sorts of additional interesting tidbits, follows.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: GPS, Navigation Software, Offbeat

The Tablet Wars Heat Up With Leaked Images and Specs For Dell Streak

Dan Cohen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:30:40 +0000

Timing is everything in the world of tech. Just days before CES, Apple stole some of the buzz by sending out invites to their late January 2010 press event. Then, right before Mac World, Apple announced the iPad. Now, just days before iPad pre-ordering begins images- and specs- for Dell’s upcoming tablet have appeared. And while I’m still all about the … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple iPad, Dell, Web Tablets

Review- Super Notebook Stand – Monitor Combi

Travis Ehrlich — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:00:55 +0000

My man cave/guitar room/sports memorabilia room/computer room is not the largest room in the house. Last summer we decided to replace a large computer desk with a small one on wheels. My only problem with new table was finding a place for everything. I liked the smaller footprint, but needed a way to organize my desk while making it still look good. One morning on my summer break I headed out the shop and built a small shelf out of some scrap wood. I painted it black and slapped a couple of Apple stickers on it and had me a custom monitor stand. This worked ok for a few months, but it was just some wood slapped together and painted black.

As fate would have it, USB Fever provided me with the Super Notebook Stand-Monitor Combi to review. The stand is a non-homemade version of the product I was wanting in the summer. The stand not only lifts my monitor up to create space, it holds many desktop items and solves the problem I had from downsizing my desk. See what all the Monitor Combi offers and how well it worked for me after the break.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Desktop Gear, Home Tech, Miscellaneous Gear, Reviews

Review: Newsy App for Android, all the latest news right to your mobile

Francis Scardino — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:09 +0000

Newsy takes a different approach to delivering the latest news content over the net. Their unique method of compiling the same news story from many different sources gives you all angles and aspects of each story through various news agencies. The site has an easy to use interface and it is simple to search out the story you are looking for. Overall the site is quite impressive, the news delivery is great and the site is free to subscribe to. Lets take a look at the mobile app offered through the Android Marketplace.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Android Software, Reviews

Be.ez LA robe 11.6″ Netbook Case Review

Allistair Lee — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:08:51 +0000

Be.ez (be easy), a French brand that designs stylish accessories for the mobile lifestyle, announced a new addition to their popular line of protection sleeves for netbooks – LA robe Netbook 11.6. This netbook sleeve is nicely made with a very thick shock absorbing material, and it’s available in 2 different colors — Black & White and Red Kiss.

So, how good is this sleeve in doing its job, protecting your precious netbook? Read on to find out!

Features:-

Low Resilience Polyurethane (LRPu) Technology
Robe protection Thickness 5MM
Trendy, Unique Design
Inner Lip for maximum protection
Stand alone or in your bag
No more scratches for your Netbook

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Netbook Gear, Reviews

Appspy.com – Track iPhone Apps and Save

Larry Greenberg — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:30:35 +0000

If there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s wasting money. It’s happened to me too many times to count. I buy at hot new application for my iPhone in the iTunes App Store, the day it gets released and then a few weeks later see a tweet that the same application I purchased is now available for half what I paid or worse, it’s free.

There are a few applications for the iPhone that allow you to track when apps go on sale or become free, but that means I’ve got to load yet another application onto my … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone and Touch Applications, Cool Sites, Deals

The Two Things It Would Take For Me To Support UbiSoft’s New (draconian) PC Game DRM

Michael Anderson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:00:59 +0000

Comic courtesy of Penny Arcade

I have already talked about the new DRM system Ubisoft has implemented in their games starting with Assassin’s Creed 2 – basically even for single player offline games you need to be constantly connected to the internet or the game boots you out and you lose all progress since the last checkpoint. While I bristle at the thought of such a system, I do accept that publishers need to find a way to protect their property from improper use and outright theft. I started writing this with a few quick ideas about how to make that system actually work a bit better, but so much has happened in the last few days that I need to talk about those first.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Games & Gaming, PC Gaming

Microsoft Gives Senior Citizens the Gift of Those Newfangled Interwebs

Carly Z — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:34 +0000

Businessweek recently ran a story about a side of Microsoft we do not hear nearly enough about. Apparently they have been working with various cities to bring computers to senior citizens. With the dependence on computers today, it has become tough for homebound elderly people to remain connected to society without them. Microsoft is pushing ways to make it easy for these people to have computers, internet connections and email without it being overwhelming and impossible.

New York City is piloting this program in Queens, but Microsoft has already successfully been running it in Miami. What is really incredible is that this program is not just “here’s a Windows 7 PC, have fun.” This program is taking into account the special issues that come with working with the elderly, such as eyesight problems and unfamiliarity with computer navigation.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Accessibility, Microsoft, Senior Tech

M-Edge Jumps Into The Ring With A Full Suite Of iPad Accessories

Dan Cohen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:00:49 +0000

M-Edge makes some great cases. I have seen their Kindle cases up-close and have been rather impressed with the design, materials and quality. Now they are jumping into the iPad ring with a host of different designs. As expected they look great. What is particularly striking is that if you go to the M-Edge web site you will see all of the other devices they support. ALL OF THEM ARE EBOOK READERS. Even as people debate whether or not the iPad is in direct competition with dedicated eReader like the Kindle and the nook it is clear that accessory companies like M-Edge sure see them swimming in the same pond.

Among the more interesting cases M-Edge has on the way are the Flip Jacket that “flips open vertically and utilizes a four-point mounting system to secure the device”, the Executive Jacket which “includes a fashionable and smart wraparound closure strap and utilizes a four point mounting system for exceptional device security” and the Platform Jacket which “employs an easel-style design that allows for hands-free usability”.

In all M-Edge has announced 13 different iPad carrying solutions. We look forward to reviewing many of them starting on April 3rd. Images and the full release follow.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Announcements & News, Apple iPad Accessories

Dear Tivo: It’s not me, it’s you.

Carly Z — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:07 +0000

Tivo and I have been together a long time. Almost four years, which in the electronic world is practically a lifetime. Sadly, Tivo has begun showing signs of dementia; mainly, stuttering and freezing occasionally, and insisting on attempting to record from every HD channel FIOS offers, despite our distinct lack of an HDTV. Constantly playing whack a mole with removing HD channels from the lineup settings is not my idea of a good time, nor is it fun when I come home from a long weekend and discover Tivo has helpfully recorded the Verizon screensaver instead of actual TV.

So it’s time to start researching alternatives. My cable is through Verizon FIOS, and for one DVR they want $14.95 a month. Tivo is currently $12.95 a month, so the difference is minimal. It really comes down to features and the cost of the digital video recorder itself. Verizon’s is rented through my service, and Tivo is an up-front sunk cost.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: About MY Gear, Home Tech, Movies and Streaming Video

PeePoo Bag- A Great Invention In Need Of A Better Name. Can You Help?

Dan Cohen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:27 +0000

Poverty is nothing to joke about. And there is no doubt that there is too much suffering in the world. People are hungry, thirsty and fighting disease. And the lack of proper sanitation in much of the world doesn’t help the situation. That’s where the Peepoo comes in. The PeePoo allows people to sanitarily dispose of their excrement without the need for water AND it converts the … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Green Tech, Offbeat

GearDeal- Dell Inspiron 15 15.6″ Dual-core Laptop PLUS Dell Mini 10v

Dan Cohen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:14 +0000

The 15.6-inch Dell Inspiron 15 doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. Sure it has a 2.2GHz Dual-core processor, 3GB RAM, a 250 GB hard drive and Windows 7 Premium, but it isn’t all that exciting. Or is it? After all, did you ever imagine you could get a computer like this for the meager $399 our GearSponsor has tracked down. That’s … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Deals, GearSponsor, Laptops, Netbooks

Aluratek Cinecam HD DV Camcorder- Review

Dan Cohen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:11 +0000

all photos are thumbnails; please click to enlarge

I am doing more than ever before by way of shooting video these days. No, I’m not like Larry with his 3000 You Tube subscribers, but I am taking some video pretty much every day. In part, this is the result of the iPhone having a “decent enough” video recorder. More than that though, I have come to appreciate that there is nothing like video when it comes to sharing an experience or review with the world.

The iPhone is great. It allows you to shoot and then edit video on the fly. At CES it was often less than a minute between shooting something and it appearing on the site. Still, all that flexibility still doesn’t make up or the fact that the QUALITY of the video is only decent. I also have a Flip Mino video camera. It’s a standard definition version, so it’s not nearly as good or crisp as the new high definition ones, but it does the job. It has the advantage of including onboard storage that pops up as soon as you plug the camera into a computer’s USB port. Between the iPhone and the Flip, I have two okay ways to shoot video. Okay, but not ideal.

What I’ve really need is a pocketable high-definition camera. The problem with that? Price. Most high-definition cameras are relatively expensive, and I’m not inclined to pick one up when I’ve got “good enough” already. That was the reason I was so interested in seeing a new high-definition video from Aluratek while we were in Las Vegas for CES. The camera is small, pocketable, shoots video in high definition, and, better still, it can be found on Amazon for under $120. That’s right, you read it correctly the camera can be purchased from Amazon right now for under $120.

But for your $120 do you get your money’s worth? Let’s take a look.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Digital Cameras and Video Recorders, Reviews

Review: Poynt for iPhone OS

Larry Greenberg — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:00:44 +0000

Back in June, Jason took at look at the Poynt application for the Blackberry OS. He called it a “staple” on his Blackberry and one of the best applications available.

Well Poynt is back, this time with a release for the iPhone OS. The free application hit the iTunes App Store early last week, and I’ve had some time to play with the all-in-one location based search powerhouse.

Has Poynt become a staple on my iPhone like it did on Jason’s Blackberry?

Read on to find out.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone and Touch Applications, blackberry, BlackBerry Software, GPS, Reviews

I KNEW I Deleted My Bootcamp Partition for a Reason! (Steam Confirmed for Mac OS X)

Michael Anderson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:30:41 +0000

Image courtesy of Joystiq

I wrote about the speculation of a Mac OS X Steam release here. Now we have confirmation in the form of GameInformer article scans at PalGN showing that Steam is indeed coming to OS X, and that … [visit site to read more]

Tags: Announcements & News, Games & Gaming

Manage Your Agenda On Android

Carly Z — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:00:44 +0000

The built-in Android calendar is ok, but has a few major limitations. One, the default calendar widget is awful. It’s small and doesn’t really share much beyond the upcoming appointment. Two, there is no task integration, so if you plot out your day based on tasks and appointments you have to move back and forth between two programs. While there’s no solution for a better native calendar app, there is a way to turn a portion of your homescreen into a Super Agenda view. All you need are two apps and some space on your homescreen.

First, you need one of two compatible task programs, Astrid or GTasks. Astrid syncs with Remember the Milk, GTasks syncs with, well, Google Tasks. Personally, I prefer GTasks, but Astrid is also an excellent task program. Both are free, but if you need serious task management I suggest Astrid. It offers tags, alarms, goal dates, final deadlines, and is generally a very powerful option. GTasks is a bit simpler, with just an area for notes and a deadline. No alarms or categories. For me, I prefer to keep all my calendar and tasks grouped in Google, but it is great to have options.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Android Software, Reviews

2011 Ford Super Duty the answer to the $64,000 question

David Goodspeed — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:00:16 +0000

(All photos by the author)

Didn’t Ford just give us a new Super Duty, like, two years ago?

Yes they did. So why a complete makeover for this segment?

The government.

Yes, lawmakers in our nation’s capitol have mandated stricter emissions guidelines for the (diesel-powered) heavy duty pickup segment for 2010 and automakers have hit the end of their “grace periods.”

Ford (with GM to soon follow and Chrysler did theirs last year) gave its Super Duty pickup line not only a pair of totally new engines and transmission, but decided to address the entire vehicle with this model makeover. The result? The baddest big boy toy to date from the big blue oval.

… [visit site to read more]

Tags: Automobiles, Reviews

Gear Diary

Wondering if your iPhone can be Jailbroken? Consult the Matrix

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GearDeal- $300 Off Coupon For HP ENVY

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Need Medicine? Diet Coke? A new Mouse? How about going to Walgreen’s!

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What Does TeleNav’s GPS Data Say About You, Me and Everyone Else??

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The Tablet Wars Heat Up With Leaked Images and Specs For Dell Streak

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Review- Super Notebook Stand – Monitor Combi

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Review: Newsy App for Android, all the latest news right to your mobile

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Be.ez LA robe 11.6″ Netbook Case Review

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Appspy.com – Track iPhone Apps and Save

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The Two Things It Would Take For Me To Support UbiSoft’s New (draconian) PC Game DRM

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Microsoft Gives Senior Citizens the Gift of Those Newfangled Interwebs

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M-Edge Jumps Into The Ring With A Full Suite Of iPad Accessories

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Dear Tivo: It’s not me, it’s you.

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PeePoo Bag- A Great Invention In Need Of A Better Name. Can You Help?

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GearDeal- Dell Inspiron 15 15.6″ Dual-core Laptop PLUS Dell Mini 10v

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Aluratek Cinecam HD DV Camcorder- Review

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Review: Poynt for iPhone OS

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I KNEW I Deleted My Bootcamp Partition for a Reason! (Steam Confirmed for Mac OS X)

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Manage Your Agenda On Android

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2011 Ford Super Duty the answer to the $64,000 question

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