http://joeygadget.com "Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gadget in your hand?" Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:45:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en According to the Xbox 360 DVD Drive Database, it appears Xbox 360s outfitted with the much-anticipated Jasper chipset have finally started showing up in stores and at online retailers. The key things to look for when buying a new Xbox 360 with the Jasper chipset is a manufacturing date (MFR) as ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/09/29/jasper-equipped-xbox-360s-arrive-manufacturing-date-lot-and-team-details-revealed/ The Pogo Stylus is an aluminum stick with a small and fuzzy hairdo on one end that can be used in lieu of your fingertip to interact with iPhone and iPod touch screens. The stylus comes with a slide-on holder to keep the stick close at hand yet isn't exactly comfortable to ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/09/27/30-second-review-pogo-stylus-for-iphoneipod-touch-for-the-fingernail-challenged/ The title of this post is actually gentler than my initial title idea: "Objects are shittier than they appear." And let me tell you, the More-Thing Ultra Slim Silicone Case is a piece of shit. It's as flimsy and formless as a pair of stretched-out, decades-old Fruit of the Loom ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/09/25/one-minute-review-more-thing-ultra-slim-silicone-case-for-iphone-3g-is-as-flimsy-and-useless-as-a-used-condom/ Since every gadget site on earth already spread the news that the iPhone 2.1 firmware update is now available to download and install there's nothing more to say on that front in general. But I do have a weird 2.1 update quirk to share. After downloading and installing the update and restarting ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/09/12/iphone-21-update-and-my-first-bug-apple-iphone-bluetooth-headset-travel-cable-isnt-compatiblethen-is/ Though I'm an iPhone 3G owner, I'm still a fan of Palm's Access-based Palm smartphones like the Centro - so much so it would be my smartphone of choice if I wasn't using the iPhone. As such, I'd be really pleased about Palm's release of Facebook for Palm smartphones. When ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/09/12/facebook-for-palm-smartphones-arrives/ One thing that bugs me about the iPhone's email program is the inability to rearrange the order of email accounts to my liking. Unfortunately there's no "Edit" button like Phone Favorites to drag names up or down to reorder them. But there is a way to reorder your email accounts to your ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/09/03/how-to-reorder-iphone-mail-accounts-to-your-liking/ I've sung the praises of Zagg's Invisible Shield screen protector for iPhone and most recently, for the iPhone 3G. Invisible Shield provides a nice touch and slightly watery effect that's pleasant view, and most important of all it hides those ugly fingerprint smears. In my recent review of the new ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/09/01/iphone-3g-protection-match-made-in-heaven-invisible-shield-and-griffin-elan-form/ You know there's trouble ahead when a review starts with "I wanted to love this product." I did want to love the The Kangaroom Bamboo Laptop Stand and Charging Station, but, overall, I don't. The love list: It's bamboo, and beautiful to the touch. It's reasonably wide, with room enough for my ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/27/one-minute-review-the-kangaroom-bamboo-laptop-stand-and-charging-station/ Brother unveiled the C-Combo line of high-tech sewing and embroidery machines that come tricked out with a LCD touch screens and PC connectivity. The company says it got its inspiration for the new-tech needlers by shows like "Project Runway," and cites a study by the Home Sewing Association that the art ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/18/scissor-sisters-brother-sewing-machines-go-high-tech-with-touch-screen-and-pc-connection/ In my quest to find the perfect Bluetooth headset I recently tried the Jawbone 2 but was less than satisfied with the results. Remembering the things I liked about Apple's iPhone Bluetooth Headset that I owned (and promptly lost), I decided to buy another one. What I like most is ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/15/one-minute-review-apple-iphone-bluetooth-headset-sounds-better-second-time-around/ The Wall Street Journal today reports sales of iPhone and iPod touch apps via Apple's iTunes Music Store hit $30-million last month, and wiley Chairman and CEO Steve Jobs publically acknowledge his company does in fact have to power to hit a "kill switch" to zap on users' devices applications ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/11/iphone-apps-hit-30-million-jobs-confirms-apples-power-to-hit-kill-switch/ Two things to do with wireless audio. First, a number of iPhone users reported 2.0 devices paired with Bluetooth headsets worked fine on calls but they were unable to listen to visual voicemail messages via the headset, forcing them to dial in to their voicemail and listen to it the ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/08/iphone-201-visual-voicemail-headset-problem-still-cant-hear-you-now-jawbone-2-retry-sounds-no-better/ Last year I wrote about the Invisible Shield screen protector for my original iPhone. As many point out the iPhone, iPod touch and new iPhone 3G's hardened glass surface is scratch resistant. But it's not smear resistant, and that's the real reason I dig the Invisible Shield. So I was thrilled ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/06/one-minute-review-invisible-shield-for-iphone-3g-third-times-a-charm/ In my post for Salon's Machinist column I wrote that eReader for the iPhone (and iPod touch) is a dream-come-true for me. I'm pleased to see that FictionWise is sticking to its words to offer frequent updates and improvements to the program. The first update offers the following enhancements: eReader for iPhone and ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/05/ereader-11-update-for-iphone-widens-your-virtual-bookshelf/ This will take less than a minute. The Griffin PowerDock 2 allows you to charge two iPod or iPhone devices at the same time. That's the good news - if that's all you want. The bad news is there's no USB connection. Deal-breaker for me because I want to charge ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/05/one-minute-review-griffin-powerdock-2-brainless-powerplay/ A few days ago I wrote a post for Salon about programs to protect smartphones from viruses and malware, this story about Linux-based cellphones in today's New York Times takes the conversation in a new and interesting direction. To wit: Regarding security, the new phones will be able to identify their owners. ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/04/linux-based-cellphones-promise-better-personal-security/ Ten off-the-cuff comments about the iPhone 3G after three weeks of day to day use, in order of brain-dump relevance: 1. Applications: The single most important improvement over the original, opening up the already amazing device to all manner of multiple-personality possibilities. My personal favorite is eReader, and others include PayPal ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/04/ten-iphone-3g-impressions-good-bad-and-ugly-features-faults-and-bugs/ On Friday I filed my last post as guest blogger for Salon's Machinist column (complete list below). Special thanks to readers for taking time to comment - especially those who left very kind words for my final post. So long! How I spent (two weeks of) my summer ... http://joeygadget.com/2008/08/03/guest-blogger-posts-for-salons-machinist-column/ Had a great conversation with Craig Crossman on his show Computer America. Tune in by clicking on Craig's pic and logo. Thanks, Craig! http://joeygadget.com/2008/07/13/guest-spot-on-computer-america-with-craig-crossman/ On Fox Business News: New iPhone, Big Deal? (July 11, 2008) Joe Hutsko, Courtney Friel and Aline Yu talk about the new iPhone. http://joeygadget.com/2008/07/13/on-fox-business-news-new-iphone-big-deal/