Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

The world's first Android 4.0 Smart TV

After fizzling out with its initial release, Google TV is expected to make a resurgence this year at CES thanks to updated software and the renewed support of TV manufacturers. Lenovo’s 55-inch, LED backlit, IdeaTV K91 does include a touch of Google on the software side, but it’s a customized version of Android 4.0 (a.k.a [...]

Thin It to Win It

Acer has kicked off what’s sure to be an avalanche of Ultrabook announcements at this year’s CES with the Aspire S5. As of the time of writing this article, the 13.3-inch S5 holds the title for “thinnest Ultrabook”, measuring 15mm at its thickest point and weighing just under 3 pounds. That svelte physique, encased in [...]

Hipster Grill Guard

Is your biking habit leaving its mark in the form of mud speckles on your designer jeans, or god forbid, dulling your neon yellow paint job on your custom fixie? Bike accessory maker Full-Windsor created the Quickfix Bicycle Mudguard to stop these road condition annoyances from cramping your two-wheelin style. The origami-inspired plastic fenders can [...]

Boxed-Up Box Office

Newbies in the display game rarely succeed given the variety of entrenched brands already doing well in the space. BryteWerks hopes to become an exception with their soon to be released Model One Cube, which takes a slightly more literal approach to the concept of a home theater in a box. Inside the sleek black [...]

Claim in Style

Our ever-tasteful friends at Cool Hunting brought this new travel accessory from one of our favorite notebook brands to our attention. Much to our pleasure, these 3.75 x 2.25 pay direct homage to the company’s classic hard cover journals and feature rounded edges along with a matching elastic closure. Available in four color ways, the [...]

Clothes that keep up

Nonetheless Garments is a new Chicago clothing brand dedicated to creating stylish menswear that can also withstand the fluctuating weather conditions of commuting. The magic all starts with using advanced materials like Polartec NeoShell, which has twice the airflow of comparable waterproof materials, without looking like it was shorn from a Paratrooper. Like any good [...]

Audiophile AirPlay

Did you lust after Widealab’s Aurender S10 music server, only to have your heart crushed by its $6,800 price tag? Pioneer’s newly announced N-50 and N-30 streamers might be just the substitute for those with more humble budgets and who couldn’t care less about internal storage. The N-50 ($699) is the higher-end model and features [...]

The DODOcase has been a favorite accessory for iPad users looking to add an old school literary feel to their cutting edge gadget. While this isn’t the first collaboration by DODO that we’ve seen, this iteration created in partnership with eco-conscious upstart Vicarious by Nature still deserves a mention since it does a fine job [...]

Breaking Better

The latest addition to Stanley’s FuBar line of demolition tools features an overhauled design that combines the prying power of a typical crowbar with the cutting skills of a chisel. One end of the 14-inch steel-and-carbon bar sports a prying hook and nail puller we all know and love. The bottom half, however, replaces the [...]

Less plugs, same play

Roku’s current streaming accessories were already carnie hand friendly, but their new streaming stick manages to pack the same functionality into an even smaller dongle. The goal of the product is to make any TV with an MHL-enabled HDMI port into a smart TV. For those a little rusty on their jargon, Mobile-High-Definition link (or [...]

Mowing down Motown

The Detroit Auto Show has hosted plenty of firsts over the years — like the unveiling of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 1992. So it’s no surprise to learn that the 2012 show is still mowing new trails as the launch site for Craftsman’s new CTX-series of lawn tractors. Yes folks, you read that correctly. [...]

Just because you prefer not to ruin your best shoes in foul weather, doesn’t mean you have to settle for clunky footwear. Swims Helmut lace up boot combines the looks and comfort of a modern desert boot, with 3M Scotch Guard high density nylon uppers and a hydro guard lining for water protection. Available in [...]

The wrong kind of touchy-feely

Contagion is a germophobe’s worst nightmare. Director Steven Soderbergh and his usual team tackle a well-worn niche, ploughed by titles like Outbreak, to create a pandemic horror story that will leave most viewers running to stockpile Purell and hesitant to enter airports. Much of its success comes from a grounded depiction of how the world’s [...]

Pool hall meets dining hall

Short of procuring a magical wardrobe with a bridge to a pool playing dimension, the Fusiontable is an ideal solution for satisfying a billiards craving without wasting living space. Measuring 53″ x 91″ and standing 30″, the table is sized perfectly for six, ships with matching benches and is customizable in a variety of colors [...]

Data Decadence

Jetsetting is a nightmare for untethered internet junkies — particularly when papa corporation isn’t footing the tab. Sure, most U.S. wireless carriers can keep the data flowing, but at their rates, careless users will lose their shirts faster than a night of craps at the Bellagio by just checking email. Frugal types may go through [...]