Reviews
Review: 2TB G-Drive External Hard Drive
4 Comments
by Matt Burns on November 30, 2009

g-driveThe G-Drive external hard drive line has been out for a bit now. But the latest model is loaded with the Hitachi 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive, which means I had to check it out. Let’s just say, this boy is big, bad, and fast. Read More

Beta Test: AVC LiveLine IP Camera
3 Comments
by Doug Aamoth on September 2, 2009

LiveLine

Advanced Video Communications may have a winner on its hands with the internet-connected LiveLine video camera. Simple setup, a low $10-per-month access fee, and a fairly straightforward user experience make the LiveLine worth a closer look.

Early beta testers got a free camera, which AVC claims to be a $299 value. And while the company has sold out of all its initial freebies, it’s currently restocking its inventory. The actual selling price of the system once it’s out of beta will likely dictate the overall popularity of the product.

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by Dave Freeman on August 14, 2009

Of all the watches that I’ve reviewed this week, the Raven Diablo has to be my favorite. The styling really works for me. It’s not as traditional as the Atlas or the Millenia, but it’s also not as far out there as the Centurion. I like the silver accent points, and the carbon fiber layer really makes it work for me. Like the other watches from Stuhrling, this one is made from surgical steel, and a real sense of quality about it.

by Dave Freeman on August 13, 2009

The Stuhrling Millenia XT uses the same movement at the Centurion, but that’s where the similarities end. Where the Centurion was blocky, square and sharp edged, the Millenia has a very graceful curve, an almost elegant feel to it. Obviously based off of the classic “tank” style timepieces of the 1920’s, the Millenia brings that concept up to date in a big way.

by Dave Freeman on August 11, 2009

When Stuhrling first contacted us to do a review, they sent a Centurion. When it arrived, I’ll admit, the design threw me off for a bit. The unique font, the extremely sharp and square case – this didn’t reflect the type of watch I typically wear. To be fair, I didn’t care for it all that much. I was determined to give the watch a fair chance however, and wore it on a daily basis for a while, just to collect some opinions.

by Dave Freeman on August 10, 2009

This week we have a special treat for you, we were sent four of Stuhrling’s most popular watches for review, and we’re going to be doing a week long feature on their products. While you might not have heard from Stuhrling before, you should have. Their products are extremely well built and fashionably designed, but still designed for the more, shall we say, frugal buyer like myself.

Come back tomorrow, and we’ll start our week long roundup with the Stuhrling Centurion.

Review: Touchatag RFID System
34 Comments
by John Biggs on August 6, 2009

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You always remember your first time, right? That heady rush, the embarrassment that turns into passion, that sense that this, this moment right now, is what you’re living for. You could stay this way forever or die today – it didn’t matter. I think Bryan Adams said it best when he wrote:

I got my first real RFID sensing smartcard reader
Bought it on the Internet
Coded ’til my fingers bled
It was summer of ‘69

I just experienced that rush with the Touchatag and I’m ready to shout it from the rooftops: “Look out, world! I am using near-field technology to trigger actions on my Mac or PC using simple, web-based software and a small piece of fairly well-made hardware.”

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BBG reviews the Sigma DP2
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by John Biggs on July 2, 2009

My favorite blogger after Jimmy Fallon, Joel Johnson, posted a video of himself fondling the Sigma DP2, a camera I would very much like to fondle myself. That came out wrong.
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by Doug Aamoth on June 28, 2009

Free fun, thy name is Lemonade Tycoon. I downloaded EA Mobile’s free Lemonade Tycoon to my iPod touch yesterday and spent the better part of the afternoon creating my own beverage empire, one fresh squeezed glass at a time.

Review: Logitech G19 keyboard
14 Comments
by Devin Coldewey on June 10, 2009

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The keyboard everyone in the world drooled over for months and months is out there on the market. It’s got its own LCD screen, it looks slick as hell, and it costs a mint. You know you want it, but should you really buy it?
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Review: DirectFix’s iPhone LCD Repair Kit
7 Comments
by Guest Author on June 8, 2009

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By Brian Bray

John Biggs graciously gave his sister, my wife, an unlocked 3G iPhone for Christmas. My son, just over a year at the time, quickly realized this new piece of tech was competition for his Mom’s attention, so he sent it sailing off of our kitchen countertops onto a hard tile floor. The result was a short hairline fracture that turned into a long hairline fracture which then morphed into the blob shown here which completely obscures the iPod icon along with both the ‘m’ and ‘n’ buttons on the keyboard.

This series of events led me to directfix.com which supplies replacement parts for the iPhone as well as other phones, PDA’s, and portable gaming consoles. Directfix.com supplied me with a replacement LCD, 2 case opener tools, 2 small philips screwdrivers, and a replacement touch panel. The replacement LCD is listed for $49.99 on their website and the touch panel is listed for $39.99 and the tools are included in the cost. For $169.99 you have the option to buy the replacement LCD and touch panel already assembled with the home button, ear piece, case frame, and seals. The pre-assembled option is more expensive but should greatly reduce the amount of time and skill required for the replacement. This review will only cover replacing the LCD and touch panel.
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by Dave Freeman on May 13, 2009

Nextel phones are notoriously ugly. The company has never worried much about the appearance of their phones, since they were mainly intended for the construction site. They were instead more concerned about a phone that was almost mil-spec in its toughness. The good news (at least for Nextel subscribers) is that they are starting to move away from this brick phone style design, and more towards a sleeker, sexier look.

Review: Seagate Replica PC backup
8 Comments
by Peter Ha on April 27, 2009

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Step 1. Plug in Replica (Multi-PC 500GB or Single PC 250GB).
Step 2. Click yes to all the licensing stuff and terms of service BS.
Step 3. Walk away.
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Review: Altec Lansing inMotion MAX
5 Comments
by John Biggs on April 10, 2009

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I’ve had the inMotion MAX for a few months now and I didn’t open it because I was worried it would be just another iPod dock. I was wrong. The Altec Lansing inMotion MAX is more feature rich, offers comparable if not better sound, and is more compact than other docks I’ve used in the past few years, including my Bose SoundDock Portable.

The inMotion is a completely portable iPod dock with built-in battery and a collapsable front tray and rear foot. It works with
almost every iPod including the iPhone. It supports aux-in devices via a mini-jack and also includes an FM tuner. It costs $200.

Before you attack my earlier comparison, I’m coming at this in the same way the average consumer would with the understanding that there are great iPod docks (like the Tannoy), good ones (like these and the Bose), and bad ones. These are in the mid-range and that’s fine for most folks.
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Review: iVO-Sound 4GB portable media player
7 Comments
by Doug Aamoth on March 24, 2009

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Short Version: A good, solid, cheap PMP with decent battery life and built-in speaker.

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by Peter Ha on March 20, 2009

The term Locavore is one that I’m not very familiar with – and to be honest, I was under the impression that throwing out a blanket term like “eating organic” was good enough. The whole organic movement hit the mainstream as I was making an exodus from the west coast, so concrete and constant car honking have muddled my green/hippie roots.

The thought of going to a farmer’s market or even grocery shopping in an actual store makes me cringe a little bit when I can order groceries online and have them delivered. But Buster McLeod’s Locavore iPhone app has me thinking twice about what I’m putting into my body. I mean, I don’t think Panda Express or any other fast food slinging joint is healthy or tasty like Greg does (Editor’s Greg’s Note: It is true. I do loves me some Panda.), but I probably don’t buy things that are local either and that’s just as bad.

So what exactly is Locavore you ask? According to the iPhone app’s description a “Locavore is someone who eats food grown or produced locally or within a certain radius.” In other words, a locavore tries to purchase and consume only locally grown foods with the idea that they tastes better and are better for you.

by Dave Freeman on February 23, 2009

A camera strap is just one of those things; you have to have the “right one” that works for you, or you’ll go crazy. I bought a new Nikon not too long ago, and during a trip to the San Francisco Zoo discovered that what was a minor irritation, turned into a major pain in the neck with extended wear (pun intended). By the end of the 2 hour walk-through the strap had rubbed my neck almost raw, and I was definitely ready to try something different.

by Doug Aamoth on January 29, 2009

FyreTV is a set top box that streams on-demand video (perhaps not the kind of video you’re thinking of) for $9.95 per month. The box itself is free and the monthly fee gets you 100 credits good for between 50 and 100 minutes of video (the kind of video only grown-ups should watch).

Review: Philips Streamium NP1100 network music player
by Doug Aamoth on December 16, 2008

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Quick Version: In a world chock full of streaming music devices, the Philips Streamium NP1100 blends into the crowd as a straightforward, easy-to-use network device.

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Buying Guide: Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero World Tour?
21 Comments
by Doug Aamoth on December 9, 2008

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Short Version: As music games go, both Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour are impressive, fun, and either would make a great addition to any gamer’s lineup. But which one is best for you?

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