Gear Patrol

We can’t all be members of the Bel Air Circuit. For those scorned by the secret society, there’s Prima Cinema ($35,000). Designed in California and built in the U.S.A., Prima Cinema is a combination system/service that delivers Hollywood’s latest creations directly to your own private screening parties, simultaneous to their theatrical release. The system comprises…

We’ve all got one. Maybe it’s you: The mediaphile in the family who’s impossible to shop for because he has it all and he’s seen it all — twice. His TV? Projected. His surround sound? 9.2. His wardrobe? Needs work. His love of movies and music has been fueled in the past by those enabling…

Dropping a beloved L-Series lens is akin to a photographer’s very own “fiscal cliff”. Sometimes, though, your on-the-go shooting style demands more than an iPhone and insta-edit. For bold times like these, the Kata Revolver 8 PI Camera Bag ($250) gives serious shooters with a bundle of gear the upper hand against gravity’s nasty game…

Seems like you can customize just about anything these days. From kicks to cars, people want to be their own clever, intellectual, trendy (or not), unique snowflake — just like everyone else. Which is why we’re shocked someone didn’t think of the Dodo Case Customizer Tool ($80+) sooner. Fueling your one-off narcissism, Dodo Case enables…

The Pioneer DJM2000nexus Mixer ($2,999) is in many ways just a slight tweak of the already outstanding DJM2000 released in the spring of 2010, refreshed to match the brand’s advanced CDJ 2000nexus turntables. The most notable changes found in this nexus version are two additional Beat Slice and Sync Master functions that expand on Pioneer’s…

Every six months or so, a smartphone arrives that raises the bar for the entire industry. HTC’s newly announced Droid DNA is by far the most advanced device available to date: it’s the first mobile phone capable of supporting full HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) on its 5-inch Gorilla Glass 2 super LCD 3 display….

Sony has struggled to create a successful smartphone in a U.S. Android handset market stuffed tighter than Oddjob in a dinner jacket. Its latest Xperia TL flagship, however, is the first compelling device we’ve seen from the lauded Japanese electronic giant, thanks to a spec list that can finally stand toe to toe with other…

For our last Hunting eBay post (for now), I’ve turned the focus to cameras. When it comes to photography gear, eBay is packed with listings — occasionally even leaving you wondering where to begin. But even if you’re the type who likes to dig around eBay for store-beating deals on DSLR kits and lenses (free…

Indoor lighting technology is on the move, and the more we see, the more we’re impressed. Philips has just announced their new Hue LED Light Bulbs ($200+) and taken one more step toward the awesome, terrifying Ray Bradbury world of utter automation. Needless to say, we’re pleased. Each $59 bulb ($200 for three bulbs and…

The Nexus 7 was a beachhead for the Nexus brand in the tablet market and took direct aim at Amazon’s Kindle Fire. The newly unveiled Nexus 10 ($399+) hopes to succeed where other larger Android tablets have failed in finally creating a legitimate Android competitor to Apple’s iPad dynasty. Screens have been the primary battle…

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus was announced a little over a year ago, and right on queue, Google has officially shared its latest pure-Android flagship device, simply dubbed the Nexus 4 ($299+). As the slew of early leaks suggested, the LG handset touts plenty of impressive hardware specs — and we’re not talking about that Gorilla…

Few cameras make the transition from digital to film quite as fulfilling as the Belair X 6-12 ($245). This Lomographic high flyer is the world’s first 6 x 12 auto exposure, medium-format camera. Yep, you read that right: medium-format. Lomography and its cult following have been extremely popular in the alternative photography crowd for decades,…

It doesn’t feel like that long ago when adding aftermarket amplifiers, separates, and elephantine subwoofers (remember the Bazooka?) seemed like the right thing to do to your car. We’ve come a long way since then; and when we checked in with the families and friends at the office, not one could even recall the last…

If being heckled by your friends for using AOL makes you think you should get with the times, well, you’re right. But Alto, AOL’s rebooted attempt at relevance in today’s email provider market, looks to be downright useful. The formerly ubiquitous provider describes their newest web-based mail client as the result of frustration with “the…

The iMac has dominated the all-in-one desktop market for years despite only receiving incremental updates in recent memory. The New Apple iMac ($1,300+) finally represents the next step in desktop design, proving once again that thin is definitely still in. Specifically, the new form factor is 80% skinnier than the last model and weighs 8…

Steve Jobs had a lot to say about the market for 7-inch tablets back in October 2010: in his eyes, it boiled down to a conflict of hardware and software. “Apple’s done extensive user-testing on touch interfaces over many years, and we really understand this stuff… there are clear limits of how close you can…

After flipping the middle finger to the rest of the laptop market with the MacBook Pro Retina last summer, it was only a matter of time before Apple’s Midas touch turned to the smaller 13-inch companion. The new Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina ($1,699+) has received the same innovations: a smaller body, a retina display…

The Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam ($200) is specifically designed for the serious narcissist video web blogger (we will never, ever use the word ‘vlogger’ — don’t say we haven’t got any dignity) and, while it only works alongside Apple products, the additional HD video options it introduces add a sense of professional quality to your…

The JVC Black Sapphire HDTV ($1,350) may have the surname of an exotic dancer, but when your brand reputation is worth less than a busy night at the club, you need to go bold or go home. While competing manufacturers duel over pixel counts and apps, JVC’s new JLE55SP4000 120Hz 1080p 3D TV is focused…

While other major camera manufacturers play catch up in the action cam game, GoPro is breaking new ground with the GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition ($399). It’s 30% smaller and 25% lighter than the already tiny GoPro HD Hero 2, measuring a mere 20mm thick when removed from its compatible plastic armor, which was also…

Joey Roth’s desktop speakers ($495) made a splash with both the audio and design set thanks to their ceramic construction and striking silhouette. Now he’s released a matching companion subwoofer ($695+), expanding the system’s frequency response down to 40Hz. Just like the speakers, the Joey Roth subwoofer is crafted from simple, refined materials including stainless…

After years of chest beating about disrupting the DVR market with stop-gap hardware, Boxee has finally taken off the gloves with the Boxee TV. Like traditional DVRs, the new set-top box is built around recording live TV via its two integrated TV tuners from both over-the-air HD broadcasts and unencrypted basic cable channels. Unlike that…

While iDevices flipped the consumer audio industry ass over tea kettle in a brush of a click wheel, the audiophile world stubbornly weathered the storm for years, hoping the digital compression nightmare might just vanish away in time. The introduction of the McIntosh McAire hints that convenience is gaining ground with the stuffy, stubborn niche…

Since 2008, Slingbox has served as media middleman for TV-addicted travelers. Capitalizing on under-used, over-priced cable service was great at first, but standard definition streaming is something not even the lowest rent smartphones do anymore. The Slingbox 350 and 500 ($180+) give you your fix in full 1080p HD. The Slingbox 350 ($180) is the…

Portability should be the first priority for any working DJ, but for the rare few who prefer to worship beats in anonymity and seclusion (or have enough cash for a second setup), Bad Habits Made to Order DJ Consoles ($1,374) are as good a temple as any. Each custom console is inspired by the set…

If you’ve been following our Sharp Shooter series, you’ve already learned about the fundamentals of DSLR photography along with tips to better capture the area you live in, even at night. But how about when you’re camera’s accompanying something like a vacation — or better yet, an adventure? In this fourth installation, we’ve lined up…

Like a central command for your household’s voracious DVR consumption, DirecTV Genie is the latest golden nugget in the satellite-is-better-than-cable arsenal. And it’s aptly named too, this digital succubus of TV shows, with 5 (yes, five) tuners capable of devouring and recording up to 6 programs, simultaneously. That means the Genie can hoover Mad Men,…

Lino Manfrotto was an Italian photojournalist in the late ’60s who hated lugging cumbersome lights and poles on location and at his studio. From desperation comes inspiration, as they say, and today Manfrotto is known in the industry as producing some of the toughest and lightest photo and film gear essentials. Equipment matters, and Manfrotto…

Lenovo’s family of convertible devices, with names like Yoga and Twist, remind us of that gymnast/cheerleader/yoga instructor/circus performer we dated years back. Unlike that experience, where the novelty quickly wore off, the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist ($849+) proves useful for both work AND play. A serious productivity Ultrabook with passable multimedia hardware, the Twist’s screen turns…

Windows 8 is coming, and if Microsoft has its way, PC users will be transitioning seamlessly back and forth between their desktop and tablets like they’re in some kind of Ridley Scott daydream; that is, as long as they own the right accessories. For those unfamiliar with Windows 8, the traditional desktop experience you know…