GeekSugar

The Radiance Jacket Keeps You Warm and Charges Your iPod

GeekSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:50:05 -0700

Yesterday, FitSugar brought a fun product over to my desk - this cute bomber style ski jacket. At first glance I thought it was just a jacket, but little did I know that this Radiance Jacket from Mountain Hardwear is outfitted with all the necessary gear to heat up the jacket and to charge your gadgets, you know. . . for those long ski runs in the Swiss Alps. The way it works is the jacket needs a high-tech Ardica power system to perform all of its geeky functions.

The padded heater goes into the back of the jacket (I'm not gonna lie, she is a bit heavy), and the tiny square Moshi power system connects to the USB port which is accessible from the lower left pocket in the jacket. With the heater, you can get up to nine hours of heat on its lowest setting and three when it's on high. When charged up, the Moshi power unit can connect to a variety of devices, thanks to its handy adapters, and at the end of the day, you can just directly plug it into the wall to recharge it for another day. FitSugar took the jacket for a test drive, so you can see what she thought of it by reading her full review here.

To see my overall thoughts about the jacket, just read more.

You know I appreciate a teched-out jacket as much as the next geek, but I just don't know if it's worth the additional $150 for the high-tech features (the base price of the coat is $230 and for the additional gadget gear, you have to pay $150 on top of the original price). Also, the insulated jacket feels nice and airy, and well, lightweight, until you slip in the big battery powered energy pack. I'll give it an A+ for its geeky coolness factor, but I can't say I'd want to invest so much money in something I may not get a lot of wear out of.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box Game Review

GeekSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:33:00 -0700

The next time you're going on a trip and you need something skill-testing and fun to play while in the car or on a plane, I urge you to check out Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box ($30) for the Nintendo DS (OK, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for playing it right before bed). Being one of those people who loves mini-games and brainteasers (Rhythm Heaven and Brain Age 2 being two of my favorite games), I knew I had to take Professor Layton for a test drive when I found out it has 150 puzzles to solve.

When you first turn on the game, you can't help but think it's designed for a child and wonder if the mini games are actually going to be challenging to solve. But before long, you instantly get hooked on the illustrated storyline that involves a murder mystery that needs to be solved by renowned puzzle-solver Professor Layton and his apprentice, Luke.

The two embark on a journey, which is filled with logic puzzles and riddles, and you can even access more brainteasers via your DS and DSi's WiFi connection (one available each week for the next 32 weeks).

To continue reading my review and to watch a fun commercial for the game just read more.

When playing Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box the actual puzzles seem to get more challenging as the game progresses, but what's great is that there isn't a time limit on the puzzles (so you can really take your time trying to solve them) and you can access hint coins for puzzle clues if you really get stumped. I also love the fact that the game will continue regardless if you can't solve a mini game along the way.

Overall, the game itself is challenging, riveting (love the actual storyline), the animated characters are adorable, and the puzzles keep me coming back for more.

Testing Out the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach

GeekSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:50:45 -0700

In my opinion, achieving a sense of general well-being includes three vital components: incorporating a balanced and nutritious diet into your lifestyle, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep. Not surprisingly, most people are lacking in one or all of these areas, which is why I am thrilled to tell you about this new device that acts as your personal sleep coach - because we all know if we don't get enough sleep, diet and exercise tend to be the last things on our minds.

Based on academic articles within sleep science and designed in conjunction with sleep scientists, the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach is a four-part system which includes a headband, a bedside display, an interactive website, and a seven-step sleep fitness program. Its purpose is to measure your sleep patterns and give you tools to help improve your sleep by educating you on how you're actually sleeping. It's not some magical sleep doctor in a box, but it is pretty cool.

To keep reading about my first few experiences with Zeo and to see some more photos of the device, just read more.

If you're already thinking, "Huh?" let me explain. The way it works is you wear the wireless headband to bed, and with its sensor technology, your sleep patterns will be tracked and transmitted to your bedside Zeo clock. You can see me wearing the headband below - it's really not that bad once you get used to it, just make sure on your first night you're really tired and it's the weekend so you can slowly adjust!

After a night of wearing the headband (it fell off my first night, although I learned I could pull my ponytail right through the back strap), you can read the bedside display to see a sleep graph which summarizes your pattern of sleep phases each night (like total amount of REM, and light, and deep sleep, which is broken down into hours, minutes, and percentages), and your ZQ score. I think the best part of this entire trial run was the excitement of waking up to read the graph - and check out my ZQ score, naturally! It's funny because my highest score (usually around 110) would be on the weekends (they say your ZQ can range from 0-120). The fact that I was completely tuckered out from the week before, and relaxed because it was the weekend, made for some ideal sleeping conditions.

Zeo also comes with a SD memory card that will load all of the info from your headband onto it (when you dock your headband), which you can then upload onto your computer to your web-based personal sleep account. The Zeo's seven-step fitness program will then analyze your sleep patterns and lifestyle (like exercise, diet, stress, and environment), and recommend techniques, tools, and tips to address the issues that may be affecting your sleep. The program is intended to be completed within eight to 12 weeks.

The Zeo also includes a neat feature called the SmartWake Alarm which will look for a moment when you transition into and out of REM sleep when the brain is highly active. Therefore Zeo may wake you as early as half an hour before your set wake-up time, but it will never wake you up later than your actual alarm time. Because the Zeo costs $399, you'll be happy to know that this is one fancy schmancy alarm clock. Even if you're not using the headband, the alarm clock itself includes settings to adjust its brightness, and it offers relaxing alarm sounds to make the wake-up process a little less startling.

Overall, I give the Zeo a nice four out of five stars. As I said, it's not some magical sleep doctor that's going to cure insomniacs or people with major snoring issues, but it is going to educate you on your sleep style and give you some helpful suggestions for improving your sleep. Note to self: no more gadgets in the bedroom!

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First Impressions of the HTC Snap

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:04:24 -0700

The HTC Snap has been in stores since the beginning of June, but I wanted to wait until I got my hands on one to give you a run down on its features. At first glance, the HTC Snap has a BlackBerry look to it, more so a BlackBerry Bold than a BlackBerry Curve . . . but when you pick it up, you can definitely tell it isn't a BlackBerry.

If you're a Windows Mobile fan, this bad boy runs Win Mo 6.1, so you can easily sync up your contacts, calendar, and email. And with the one touch access keys, you can get to your camera, messages, and the Internet quickly and effortlessly. Other useful features include a two megapixel camera, a microSD card slot for additional storage, and GPS functionality. I also want to point out that it offers a full QWERTY keyboard with keys that are a tad on the bigger side for those who find BlackBerry's to be difficult to type on.

Thumbs down goes to the fact that it doesn't have WiFi or a regular headphone jack.

You can currently pick one up from Sprint for $150 (give or take your contract situation), or if you're with T-Mobile or Verizon, have a peek at the T-Mobile Dash 3G or the Verizon HTC Ozone, which are basically the same device as the Snap.

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Sidekick LX Review: Takes Me Back to Simpler Times

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:33:41 -0700

When HipTop launched the Sidekick II back in 2004, I was 100 percent on board. It was the first phone I bought that let me browse the Internet, check my mail, chat over IM, take pictures and video, and text, all in one easy-to-use device. I wore that phone out and still think fondly of it today. Sure it was kind of a monster truck compared to other phones on the market, but I considered it an accessory, not just a phone.

Reviewing the Sidekick LX took me back to those eye-opening times when I first discovered that I don't have to carry five different gadgets with me, and could always (always) stay connected.

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Although I haven't had a Sidekick since, I can spot a lot of fond similarities between the II and the LX. This could be considered good or bad, depending on how you look at it. Find out what I mean when you read more.

Both the LX and my old II have all the basics: instant messaging, text, camera, email and web browsing. What more could you ask for, right? Well, my old Sidekick II didn't have a music player (but you could hack your way to a few tunes if I recall correctly), and wasn't very speedy, so adding the music capabilities and the 3G connectivity really kicks this model up a few notches. The purple "orchid" color option was really rich and beautiful (something I didn't have with my pearly white II), and you can customize it further with additional skins. It still has the same trusty interface, with the scroll wheel and rotating top screen.

Thankfully, T-Mobile has reduced the size of the phone since the old days, and this model is much slimmer and lighter than I remember. But that's pretty much where it ends. The Sidekick hasn't made any huge overhauls since earlier models besides the addition of color, size and speed, and a timely Twitter app. Overall, the phone is still fun, easy to use, and contains all the things you need to stay connected, which is all you can ask for in a reliable mobile device.

The T-Mobile Sidekick LX is available now online and in stores for $200.

Hands On With the Canon T1i (Now With More Photo Tips!)

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:45:23 -0700

I finally got some time over the weekend to play around with the Canon T1i and the verdict stands: it's amazing! Not only are the pictures crisp and clear, but overall, the camera is a joy to use. I bought an inexpensive camera bag from Best Buy last week to protect it while en route to various places in the city, and quickly realized how light the T1i really is - a few times I panicked because I wasn't sure the camera was actually in the bag! Needless to say, my heart got a few good workouts in.

I even tagged along with PetSugar to the Ugliest Dog Contest to put the T1i through some trials, and I'd have to say the pictures turned out really well, even if the dogs were really ugly! While out and about over the weekend, I also remembered a few tips that I forgot since getting my first DSLR. Find out what they are and check out the rest of the photos from my weekend with the T1i when you read more.

Read the manual: Although I'm familiar with SLR settings, it's always good to really get to know your camera from the inside out. That way, you'll never miss an opportunity to use a cool feature.
Pick up a UV filter: You're going to be spending a lot of money on your camera, and even more when you start buying extra lenses. Pick up a UV filter to protect your lens from sun damage. Think of it as sunscreen for your expensive camera parts!
Brace yourself: This rule doesn't only apply to SLR photography - use your arms and brace them up against your body for steadier shots. Don't point your elbows out to the sides (as demonstrated in this photo), as this may create movement and thus blurry photos if you aren't super steady on your own.
Assume the position: When you're done snapping your photo and are carrying your camera over your shoulder, make sure you always point your lens inward and toward your body. This protects the lens from bumping into any objects and saves you tons of money in repairs or replacement lenses.

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The New Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive

GeekSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:33:28 -0700

Looks may be deceiving, but don't be fooled: I promise this is a sexier and sleeker version of the eGo drive I reviewed last year.

This much lighter, third generation, 320GB drive offers built-in antivirus software and an impressive rugged aluminum exterior that can withstand a 1.3 meter drop, which you know as well as I do is very important when you're lugging around a device that holds your important data.

Online, this puppy will cost you around $95, which is pretty affordable, considering I've heard of similar devices going for upwards of $150.

After a few months of use, I had some issues with my first eGo drive, so I was pleased to hear Iomega is offering a three-year warranty on the third gen drives. What really irks me, though, is that these drives are primarily built for PCs, not Macs. The included USB cord comes with a cord to plug into your drive and two attached USB cords to plug into your laptop. On many Macs, there are two USB ports (on opposite sides of the laptop), so plugging in both cords is practically impossible. Although your drive may be able to run with only one USB cord plugged in, it isn't sufficient power to experience the high-speed data transfer rates. And sadly, a powered USB bus isn't included, even though there is an auxiliary power port for it. So if you really want to use it on your Mac, you'd have to invest in one.

This is the midnight blue version, but it is also available in red, silver, and black. With the noteworthy upgrades from the last eGo, I think this eGo is worthy of four stars.

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A Whole New World: My Fave Things About the iPhone 3.0 OS

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:56:05 -0700

Since downloading the iPhone's new 3.0 OS, I've had a chance to try out pretty much everything and decide what I love and what I like (so far, nothing to hate).

I will say this: the copious changes are like having a whole new iPhone - I definitely felt like I had a new device, the experience is so different. What do I like the most? To see my favorites, just read more.

Spotlight: I have to say, Spotlight is definitely my favorite thing to have on the iPhone, as simple as it is. It's probably because I keep swiping my main screen to the right and accidentally going into the search, so that does take some getting used to. I'm still impressed, though, that Spotlight searches everything: apps, contacts, songs, and video. I like it best for apps since I've downloaded so many and they're not organized in any fashion at all.
Email Search: Sense a trend? I'm a simple girl. Having gotten used to Google and Gmail, I simply need to be able to search efficiently and get extremely frustrated when I can't. But the new search changes all that - before, if you wanted to use Gmail's great search function, you had to sign in to your account from Safari, which was such a hassle, I just wouldn't use search unless it was an emergency. Now that the mail app has search, I can finally hunt for stuff in my mail without going anywhere. But beware: this is not Gmail search. You can't search your chat records like you can in Gmail, but you do have access to your entire inbox. And it's pretty freakin' fast.
Find My iPhone: The one feature I hope I never have to use! Since I have MobileMe, I get to use Find My iPhone and tested out pushing a message on my phone. Take that, would-be thieves!
MMS: Not having the multimedia messaging functionality was the one thing that drove me nuts. It wasn't even that I loved being able to receive MMS, but getting a message saying I had one and could check it only online with some crazy username and password just meant that I never ever saw those videos or photos. I'm still looking forward to it though - soon, please, AT&T?
Copy/Paste: Sure, I'm psyched to get copy/paste, but it's not an everyday feature that I need like search. But still, knowing I can cut, copy, and paste is certainly comforting.

Of course, there are a ton more new features - an improved camera, Voice Memos, a landscape keyboard, but the above features have already made a big difference for me. What's your favorite thing about OS 3.0?

Putting the Palm Pre to the geeksugar Test

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:44:03 -0700

It's about time, right?! For the geeksugar Palm Pre review, that is. Better late than never in my opinion, so without further adieu, let's get the Pre party started.

I've had the past week to use and abuse this device and if you were anti-Palm before, it's safe to say they've come a long way since the Centro. The Pre is flashy, sexy, and perfectly fit in the palm of my hand. With its nice glossy black exterior, it tends to be fingerprint-prone, but if you switch the back plate with the plain black touchstone compatible back, you should be good to go.

The flip out QWERTY keyboard comes in handy for typing emails and texting (the Pre has copy and paste!), but keys are somewhat small so I tended to use my fingernails for precision. When the keyboard is flipped out, you'll find a nice mirror on the back of the Pre - a mirror that's big enough for quick food in the teeth checks or makeup touch-ups. The Pre's 3.2-megapixel built-in camera takes crystal clear pics, and with the big bright flash, you can take night shots no problem. Also, with Palm's stellar image processing, you can take photos continuously (like a regular camera) since there isn't a shutter lag.

To check out more photos of the Palm Pre, to see what else I thought and to watch a video of it in action read more.

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The screen on the Pre is comparable to the T-Mobile G1's, the iPhone's and the BlackBerry Bold's screen. Color is vibrant and video viewing is impeccable. As you'll see in my video after the jump, scrolling through applications with webOS is similar to the iPhone, but the touchscreen sensitivity isn't always 100 percent accurate. Sometimes it would take me two or three tries before I could launch an app, but it wasn't something that happened every time. What I absolutely loved was the ability to use a slow swipe for the cool Quick Launcher and you can scroll up to discard windows when you were finished with them. No fiddling with small x boxes to close something, just swipe up and it's gone (again, something you'll see me using a lot in the video!). Left swiping acts as your "back" button and web pages, tools, and apps are easily draggable and droppable. Features like texting, placing calls, emailing, etc., were similar to the iPhone. Overall, applications were fairly intuitive, if not easier to use than those on the iPhone. Now for my gripes.

The Cons:

I happened to drop the Palm Pre outside (on cement) and my heart stopped when it was unresponsive. Fortunately, a quick touch of the power button and it was back in action. But, this occurred again (I'm a klutz!) and the same thing happened. Whenever I drop my BlackBerry or iPhone, although a little banged up, they never shut off (or need to be restarted). Also, I noticed that the track for the keyboard was a little off when I tried to flip it out. The phone still works, but on a durability level, I don't know how long it would sustain a few too many falls.
The new iPhone 3G S has video functionality, the Pre sadly does not.
Apple just announced that they might put their foot down on Palm Media Sync, which transfers pics, videos, and tunes to your Pre from iTunes. This would be a major thumbs down for Pre owners.
One Pre accessory I was really excited about using was the touchstone charging device. Except when I got my hands on it, I was saddened to see that it wasn't wireless. And the Pre needed to be placed on it in a very precise manner to actually pick up a charge. Not as sexy as I originally thought, that is for sure.

I'm just skimming the surface on this one, but overall this smartphone deserves four stars for design, sleek interface, ease of use, and camera quality. Hopefully a software upgrade will fix some of my issues with the phone.

Flip Video Announces New FlipShare Video Sharing Software

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:25:44 -0700

The best thing I learned in kindergarten was that sharing is caring, and that's still one of my major tenets. It's one for Flip Video too - the company whose simple, portable video cameras made it easy to capture video is now making it just as easy to share the videos you make with your camera with new FlipShare software, just announced today.

FlipShare allows you to easily upload videos to websites like YouTube and MySpace, email them to friends, and sets you up with your own Flip Channel, where you can watch videos on the go. Speaking of on the go, there's also a new free FlipShare iPhone app.

I was lucky enough to test out the new FlipShare software and give it a hands-on review, so to see how I got going with the new one-click sharing, just read more.

I tried out FlipShare with the help of a Flip UltraHD, and opened up the new software (starting today, all camcorders will be shipped with this new version of software on the camera, and current users can download it from the Flip website). After I installed FlipShare, my videos automatically uploaded into the application. From there, I could edit my videos or send them with one click to my YouTube account or newly-created Flip Channel (note: It looks like you can only use videos in FlipShare that you're uploading directly from the camera, rather than existing videos on your camera).

Everything is pretty intuitive, with sharing options located in the title bar, and though I had to take a minute to link my FlipShare account with my YouTube account and set up my Flip Channel, from then on, everything truly was "one-click." I put up a video on YouTube. I emailed my mother a video. I made a movie into a greeting card. I sent it to my channel. Did I mention I did all these steps within a few minutes?!

Once you have videos in the FlipShare application, pretty much everything is drag and drop. You can also create DVDs from this application, so it kind of functions like iPhoto, but with features specifically tailored to a Flip Video camera. I am positive that I could give the least tech-savvy person in my family a Flip, and they'd be able to navigate this software with ease.

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