The Wirecutter: What’s Important in the New Windows

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

A lot of tech was released this month from some pretty significant companies: Apple and Google both took their turn. But neither of what they opted to unleash was as confusing as what came out of Microsoft: Windows 8 with it’s various iterations, the company’s first attempt at a tablet–Surface RT–which runs Windows 8, but doesn’t, and Windows Phone 8, which doesn’t run Windows 8 at all but implies the new OS in its name.

Over at The Wirecutter, we took a few paragraphs to cut through the marketing and tell you what you really need to know about what Microsoft’s got going on. For my part in all of this, I spent a week tinkering with Surface RT. It’s a beautiful piece of hardware, in both form and function. But the software, what there is of it, is still a bag of hurt.

Why not take a read? It’ll only take up a few minutes of your time.

Oh Hai: I’m in Men’s Journal

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

I’m happy to announce that’ll I’ll be doing some freelance work for a new client from time to time: Men’s Journal. You’ll find my first job of work for them in the magazine’s November 2012 issue. It’s a head-to-head throw down of some of the best two-slice and four-slice toasters around. Which one gets my vote? You’ll have to buy the magazine to find out.

Unless of course, they decide to publish the piece online. If that happens, you’ll find a link to it here.

Review: Filson Original Briefcase

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

Filson has been making bags and clothing since 1897, so they know what they’re doing. Their $225 Original Briefcase is material proof of this: It’s tough as nails and functional as hell.

If you’re aching to hear more about my experiences with this well made bag, head over to The Wirecutter.

Review: GoRuck GR1 Backpack

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

Recently, I took part in a huge round up of computer bags, backpacks and satchels for The Wirecutter and fell in love with GoRuck’s GR1 backpack.

I’m pretty fussy when it comes to bags, and typically find something the design of them that makes me feel kind of aggravated–except with this particular bag. GoRuck sent me one for review. I was so impressed with the GR1 that I bought it instead of sending it back.

Why?

Head on over to The Wirecutter for my full review and find out.

The Wirecutter: Favorite External Drive

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

My update of the best external desktop hard drive went live on at The Wirecutter last week, but I’m only getting around to mentioning it now. The latest pick looks very much the same as my last pick, but well… it’s not. It’s the Seagate Backup Plus Desk: Same Seagate looks, new Seagate taste. The company has shuttered it’s venerable Goflex line of hardware and started down the road with this new moniker. The latest iteration of the drive offers some decent social media integration, automatic back up software and most intriguingly of all, both are decent enough that you might actually want to use them.

Go figure right?

You can read my full review of the hardware here.

Mac|Life: A Leap Forward

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

We might not have our flying cares or entire day’s nutrition in pill form just yet, but damned if we’re not just a few months away from Minority Report style computing.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with the CEO of Leap Motion about the company’s amazing gesture based interface system. While the feature is um… featured in the September issue of Mac|Life, you can read it online right now over at the magazine’s site.

The Wirecutter: Best Cheap Rain Jacket

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

It’s hard to go wrong with the Marmot PreCip jacket. light, packable, waterproof and breathable, it’ll keep you dry in all but the most torrential of storms. What’s so great about it? You can read my review of the PreCip at The Wirecutter to find out.

The Wirecutter: Great Air Conditioners

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

After 15.5 hours or research and roughly six hours of writing and editing my latest story for The Wirecutter, I feel confident in saying that I now know a lot about keeping your home cool and dry even during the most oppressive summer days. If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, I detail two great AC units for you: One that’s perfect for keeping say, a bedroom cooled, and the other that’ll chill a modestly sized living room. If neither of these suit your needs, I’ve also put together a handy buying guide that’ll ensure you wind up with the Goldilocks of air conditioners. Not underpowered. Not overpowered. Just right.

Interested? Of course you are. Head on over to The Wirecutter and give my 3000 word air conditioning opus a good once-over. Just reading it will lower your core temperature, I swear.

The Business of Play: iOS games move from the tablet to the arcade

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

There’s no doubt that iOS is the biggest thing to happen to portable gaming since the invention of the thumb war. To capitalize on the popularity of iPhone and iPad hits like Infinity Blade and Fruit Ninja, a Montreal-based company has embiggened them, using hardware that leverages Microsoft’s PixelSense technology, and thrown them into an arcade setting. They’ve labelled the resulting product Touch FX, and you can read all about it here.

The Wirecutter: One Heck of a Headlamp

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Seamus Bellamy

Stumbling around with a flashlight in the dark sucks. Having both hands free and seeing where you’re going because you were smart enough to buy a headlamp? That’s a win.

I spent eight hours playing with over 20 different headlamps, so that I could tell you that the Black Diamond Spot is the one you want to buy.

But for why, you ask in your best Zoidberg voice?

Head on over to The Wirecutter and find out.

Author. Journalist. Curmudgeon.

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