Gotta Have Gadget

In an effort to “Thank” our men and woman who serve “Behind the Badge”, I am donating my column to the publication entitled, “Beyond the Badge”.

Beyond The Badge is the official publication of the New England Police Benevolent Association. This publication is distributed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine to our members, advertisers, legislators and to various public entities, as well as shopping centers and private businesses. We have a readership of over 125,000 and we will be expanding our current 24 page format and we will be expanding to the state of Rhode Island as well. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are traveling and need to take some beverages with you, Burton makes the perfect cooler!  The Burton Lil Buddy Cooler Bag can hold a 12-pack of your favorite beverage and has built-in speakers to connect to your MP3 player.  No need to pack a separate bottle opener, as Burton has incorporated the bottle opener into the zipper.  Read the rest of this entry »

One of the staples of summer fun is a barbecue!  The first gadget for a great barbecue has to be your grill.  The Master Forge Four-Burner Split-LTD Gas Grill is the grill that will give you everything you need for a great BBQ.  Available at Lowes, this Master Forge Grill has opened an entirely new area of grilling for me.  Like any guy, I proclaim my deck and grill to be man land.  What makes this Master Forge grill unique is the 13,000 BTU Sear Burner.  Searing food browns the surface over intense heat that will open up new flavors to you BBQ.  Ill be the first to admit I had no idea what to do with the sear burner, but after the first steak on the grill, I was sold.  Read the rest of this entry »

If you are a fan of John Daly, you have probably seen his clothing style.  I have raised a lot of eyebrows at work, on the golf course, heck pretty much anywhere I go wearing my Loudmouth Golf clothing.  For those who know me, I am loud no matter where I go.  Now I have the pants and shirts to match my loud style.  You gotta have game to pull off wearing your Loudmouth Golf gear.  Read the rest of this entry »

Finding time to play a round of golf is often difficult.  The iRobot Roomba® takes the daunting task of vacuuming off your hands giving you more time to play a quick 9.  You can actually schedule the Roomba® 560 to clean while you are on the third hole!  The Roomba® can clean up to four rooms on a single charge.  A nice feature of the Roomba® is when the battery is running low, it will return to the base unit to recharge.  Once it is done recharging, the Roomba® returns to where it left off finishing the job.  The Roomba® can cover virtually any surface including easy transitioning from carpet to hardwood floors.  Virtual Walls keep the Roomba® from going where you dont want it to go, for example place a virtual wall in front of a door and the Roomba® will not enter that specific room.  The compact design of the Roomba® allows it to clean under beds and other hard places to reach.  To see all the features of the iRobot Roomba® go to www.irobot.com.

If dad struggles with his long iron shots, Adams Golf has the answer.  The IDEA a7 hybrid can replace dads current 3-iron, 4-iron or any low club that he struggles with.  Available in 17, 19, 22 and 25-degree lofts a hybrid is far easier to hit than standard long irons.  The width of the sole allows you to get maximum contact from any lie on the course.  I will admit it took me far longer to hop on the hybrid bandwagon, but once I did, I was hooked.  The Adams Golf a7 hybrid 3-iron certainly has a place in my bag, since it is the number 1 hybrid on tour!  I get increased distance with maximum forgiveness and carry something I could never get from my standard 3-iron.  I no longer dread standing over a 215-yard shot where I have to carry a water hazard or bunker.  When you find that kind of confidence in a club like the a7 hybrid, there is always room in your bag.  Giving dad the Adams IDEA a7 hybrid will help his game instantly.  Check them out online at www.adamsgolf.com.

Another great present for mothers or fathers day!  Does your mom or dad love to watch golf?  What do they do when they are not home?  With the Samsung Mythic, and AT&T Mobile TV service, they can watch sporting events or any of their favorite programs from CNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile, FOX, MTV, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and more!  The Samsung Mythic is all mom & dad will need from a smart phone and then some.  Read the rest of this entry »

At a time where computers are getting smaller and smaller, you know mom deserves something bigger and better.  The Gateway NV7901u notebook gives mom the power and size she needs!  Netbooks might be great to log onto the web and check e-mail, but if mom wants to create home movies, or photoshop, some of her favorite pictures, mom will need a powerful laptop!  The Gateway NV7901u notebook has a 17.3 inch widescreen ultrabright high definition display with an impressive 1600×900 resolution.  Plus, it has ATI Mobility Radeon HD5650 graphics, so mom can see videos, graphics and photos that look truly incredible.  The i5-430 Intel®Core processor and 4096mb dual-channel ram will give her the power and speed she needs to edit movies, watch DVDs or play her favorite games.  Read the rest of this entry »

Before you start reading this paragraph I already know what you are thinking, “Mike this is your biggest stretch ever, a field hockey stick?Ahhh, there is a method to my madness!  My son isnt a golfer (I know, it kills me!), and my daughter hasnt shown much interest.  However, she has shown interest in field hockey!  Think about it, field hockey is basically the same as golf; smack the ball as hard as you can down the field with a stick.  Now that my daughter has shown an interest in a golf like sport, I think the transition to the fairway maybe a little easier!  Last month I told you about the STX Envision TR putter (www.stxgolf.com).  When it arrived, my daughter told me about the great Field Hockey Sticks STX makes as well.  Like the Envision TR Putter, that comment started the ball rolling!  Come to find out, purchasing a field hockey stick is almost as complicated as buying a new set of irons!  STX manufactures wooden and composite field hockey sticks.  Like golf, height and position plays into getting the best equipment.  When all was said and done, under the Conrad Christmas tree was the STX S2.0 Composite Field Hockey Stick.  I can tell you my daughter was just as excited as I get when new clubs arrive!!  She was the one that told me about the STX patented weight and design, as well as the flatter edges that allow for better sweep hits.  I will tell you my sister was a big field hockey player and now wins long drive contest in almost every tournament she plays in!  My hope is my daughters love of field hockey will soon translate to the golf course as well.  So if your daughter isnt into golf just yet, check out field hockey and STX field hockey sticks.  You can find them online at www.stx.com.

Here is a gift mom and dad can share!  The iLuv iMM183 Dual Dock Alarm Clock will keep their relationship strong as there will never be a fight to see who gets to charge their iPod using the iLuv iMM183!  Why you may ask?  The dual dock in dual dock  alarm clock is not only because there are two alarm settings, but there are two iPod docking stations which both charge your iPod or iPhone at once!  Once you choose which one to listen too, the sound from the iMM183 is impressive!  There are some other features which I think are pretty cool.  You can setup the iMM183 for NOAA alerts.  I walked into my room the other day and saw there were flash flood warnings for my area in New Hampshire.  If you have an iPhone, you can receive a call while docked!  Simply hit the answer button and the call will be on speaker phone utilizing the iPhone microphone and the iLuv speaker system.  While listening to your favorite tunes, the remote control allows you to easily navigate through your favorite playlist.  Whether (yes that was a pun) you use the iLuv iMM183 as an alarm clock, weather alert or an additional docking station, the iLuv is perfect gift for mom & dad.  For all the features and other great iLuv products, check them out on-line at www.i-luv.com.

Callaway has the perfect gifts for mom & dad!  For Dad, try the Callaway Diablo Edge Driver!  There is nothing better than giving Dad extra yardage from his drive.  The nice thing about the Callaway Diablo Edge Driver is dad doesnt need to change his swing.  The Diablo Edge Driver uses a fused 4-piece titanium design which gives dad a huge sweet spot and optimal ball flight.  The design also reduces drag up to 8% over typical 460cc driver heads which will increase his club speed.  I was extremely impressed with the consistency and accuracy of the Diablo Edge and believe Callaway has will help your dad hit longer, straighter drives this year.  Check out the Callaway Diablo Edge online at www.callawaygolf.com.

Callaway has great gifts for mom!  If mom is jealous of all the time Dad spends on the course, perhaps its time for her to take up the game of golf!  Callaway make the perfect starter set to give mom the freedom of the fairways.  The Callaway Solaire starter set comes in a 9 or 14 piece set.  What is perfect about this set is it includes everything mom will need!  It comes with a stylish cart bag which includes a 10-way divider top, soft line valuables pocket, built in shoe compartment and two removable accessory pouches.  Of course what good is a bag without the clubs?  Callaway includes a great mix of woods, hybrid irons, traditional irons and a putter.  My moms who tested these clubs love the selection Callaway included in the Solaire set.  The Solaire set makes it extremely easy for mom to take up the game of golf.  The mix of hybrid and standard irons will give mom the confidence to hit both long and short shots.  Making it simple for mom to take up the game will help her enjoy the game of golf as it was meant to be enjoyed by all.  Choose which Solaire set will be better for mom at www.callawaygolf.com.

If you havent played XBox360 in surround sound, you are truly missing out!  Some new games from EA that have just been released would be perfect!  Battlefield: Bad Company 2 had me hooked from the start.  I like the story line of tracking down a weapon and a few bad guys.  There are plenty of twists and turns that keep you involved in the story.  The B Company treks across the world, from the jungles of South America to the frigid border of Russia in a fight against this world-dominating threat.  There are plenty of different weapons throughout the campaign to help you achieve your goals.  Personally I like the silenced weapons where I can snipe out the enemy and work my way silently through the campaign.  If you are into sports games, check out FIFA 10 World Cup South Africa.  This is far different from when I played FIFA soccer years ago.  I will admit, it is a little like when I played years ago, because I am still getting plenty of yellow and red cards from the refs!  I guess that is why I was never very good in soccer.  That is why I love sports games from EA Sports because I am so much better on XBox360 than I was playing any high school sports!  When it comes to the best games for the XBox360, my first stop is at www.ea.com!  Sports, action, first player, multiplayer, driving, SIMS and anything else you can think of are available through Electronic Arts!  I have been a HUGE fan of EA for a long time, and year after year the games keep getting better.

Only seven letters in the alphabet separates i from p.  However when it comes to 1080i and 1080p the difference is huge!  What I am talking about is high definition television.  I thought I had it good with a 60 inch 1080i high definition tv in my living room.  That was until the LG SL90 LED HDTV showed up at my door.  Honestly, I cannot believe how great this picture looks.  The picture seems to jump off the screen.  I love seeing changes in technology and LG Electronics seems to lead the way!  One nice thing about the LG SL90 is LG has given you plenty of opportunity to get the best out of all your inputs.  There are a total of four HDMI inputs giving you plenty of room for a blu-ray player, gaming system, HD-DVR or satellite receiver.  The hidden speakers add to the sleek design which will fit in any room in the house.  Mounting options make it easy to wall mount, or place on a table top.  To truly see LG Electronics leading the way, visit their website at www.lge.com.

With all that cool apparel there is just one more thing you need, sunglasses of course!  The sun can be blinding off white snow or ice, so sunglasses are just as important in the winter as they are in the summer.  The Arnette Defy are perfect for protection and durability.  High impact, scratch resistant, polycarbonate polarized lenses makes these the hottest glasses in the coolest temperatures.  Arnettes Defy sunglasses include a hard shelled travel case and metal hinges to make these frames last.  Available in various styles for men and women, pick out the best pair to match your fashion style at www.arnette.com.

Now that you have the board and boots, you need some bindings to make the perfect combination.  The 2010 Burton Cartel GMP (Green Mountain Project) are just those bindings!  Burton has set the standard for freestyle bindings!  There is a reason pro snowboarders and amateur riders have made the Cartel one of the most popular choices for bindings.  New in 2010 is the FullBED baseplate padding which gives boarders reduces impact and better comfort and feel.  What I like about these bindings is the various adjustments I can make for a more comfortable and secure fit.  The GMP product line also features eco-friendly waterproof/breathable laminations and DWR coatings.  Read the rest of this entry »

Certainly you need the best board to hit the slopes, but just as important are the boots!  Ride FUL Snowboard Boots are just what you are looking for in a boot.  Comfort, style, support, lightweight and durable, makes the Ride FUL boots the perfect snowboard boot for this season.  SuperFabric and direct inject binding rub protection makes the Ride FUL tough and built to last.  Another nice feature is the sole of the boot which features a heel gelpod for impact support, and ice picks for better grip on the board.  The most important factor for a snowboard boot, of course is comfort.  The Ride FUL not only performs great, but gives you the comfort to ride all day.  To find a boot to match your riding style, give www.ridesnowboards.com/boots a good kick!

The best way to spend a day or week in the winter is up on a mountain snowboarding!  If you like free styling, glade running or all around boarding, Rome SDS has the right board for you!  The Rome Slash is the perfect board if you like to mix up your day and hit all the trails.  A triax laminate lets this board turn easily at slower speeds, but its still responsive off jumps and holds its edge when youre moving fast.  A carbon reverse-v stringer in the nose and tail help with response too.  Romes signature impact edges are extra thick to prevent damage when hitting the rails or grazing a tree.  In addition, Rome uses proprietary impact plates below the bindings to make the board 2.5x stronger than traditional wood core boards.  I wish I could truly test out all those features; however I am just not that good on the slopes and really didnt want to visit the local emergency room.  Thankfully my 15 year old son is that good, and could test out all the features.  To choose the best board for your riding style, visit Rome on-line at www.romesnowboards.com.

Sitting by the fire with that special someone enjoying a nice glass of wine can be very romantic.  You dont want to ruin that moment with wine that isnt properly chilled!  The Sharper Image® has the perfect product, the Adjustable Temperature Control Wine Chiller.  Thats right; The Sharper Image® is back!  Technically, they never went anywhere, but once the stores closed I thought they were gone.  I was ecstatic to see The Sharper Image® is on-line and still offer cool products that always drew me into the stores!  The Temperature Control Wine Chiller makes it easy to chill your wine to the proper temperature with over 70 preset wine varieties so with a simple selection your wine will reach the proper serving temperature.  If the moment should call for champagne, the wine chiller will chill your bubbly to the proper serving temperature too!  For all the coolest gadgets, the only place to shop is www.sharperimage.com!

How many times have you turned your digital camera around to take a picture of you and a friend only to have that picture be of your forehead, or missed completely and out of focus?  Samsung has the answer to all your bad self pictures!  The Samsung TL225 digital camera has dual LCD screens.  The traditional behind the camera screen and a smaller LCD screen on the front of the camera.  Now you can actually give up guessing when you turn your camera around and make some great memories.  While the front LCD screen helps with self pictures, the rear LCD panel is a touch screen which helps keep you organized with simple navigation.  The touch screen also helps with Samsungs Smart Auto Feature.  With a push of an on-screen menu button, your camera is optimized for the setting you select.  With 12.2 megapixels and the ability to record High Definition Video, the Samsung TL225 provides everything you need in a neat, compact, stylish camera.  As there are far too many features to mention here, you have to visit www.samsung.com!

To ease the pain of being away from home, check out the Aluratek WiFi/Wireless Internet Radio.  The Aluratek Internet Radio can bring 11,000+  radio station with you from anywhere in the world.  Being able to listen to your favorite radio station will keep you up to date with news and information from your hometown.  Team up the Aluratek Internet Radio with the Altec Lancing Expressionist Plus speaker system and you have yourself one great sounding system.
The Altec Lancing Expressionist Plus speaker system can also hook up to your iPod, computer or any other portable device giving you great sounding audio.  Visit www.aluratek.com for information on the Aluratek WiFi/Wireless Internet Radio or www.alteclancing.com for information on great sounding speaker systems.

If you are looking for a great carry bag, you have to look to Sun Mountain Sports.  The Sun Mountain Four 5 carry bag weighs only 4.5 pounds.  It features 8 pockets which includes a velour-lined pocket to hold your valuables.  Of course it has the Sun Mountain patented roller bottom and Y-Spring activator to firmly stand your bag when off your shoulder.  The Four 5 bag also includes an individual club divider system with full length driver protection.  If you happen to find yourself playing golf in the rain, check out the Sun Mountain RainFlex® outerwear.  Not only is the RainFlex® great for playing golf, but I use mine for any outdoor activity in the rain.  Ive used the RainFlex® jacket and pants at NASCAR events, watching my niece play field hockey and even when you go to watch the PGA tour.  For all Sun Mountain has to offer, visit their website at www.sunmountain.com.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to back up your computer.  As a matter of fact half way through this article, my regular laptop died.  Fortunately I had the Hitachi Global Storage Technologies SimpleTOUGH portable USB drive.  Right before I start to write this article, I backed-up my files and even did an easy file transfer just in case.  I was so happy I did because the laptop continued to randomly shut off.  Not only was it annoying, but I would lose several paragraphs I wrote.  So I connected the SimpleTOUGH via the USB cable to the new laptop, and all my files, settings, pictures and music was transferred.  Read the rest of this entry »

If you are a golfer who travels a lot, or know of a golfer who travels a lot, you really need to look at the Club Glove Train Reaction Luggage System.  If you have traveled even once with your golf clubs, you know what a pain it can be lugging your clubs and bag through the airport.  The Club Glove Train Reaction luggage system is three pieces of luggage that easily locks together to help you transport your clubs, travel bag and a computer case.  No longer do you have to try to balance your luggage on your golf bag, with the Club Glove Train Reaction system, 100 pounds of gear glides behind you as you stroll through the airport.  View the video of PGA Tour Player John Malinger as he utilizes this system as he gets ready for a three day tournament.  The video and more information on the Club Glove Train Reaction system can be viewed on-line at www.clubglove.com.

Philips makes some great gifts that are perfect for the holiday season.  In keeping with the iPod touch/iPhone theme earlier, the Philips DC315 docking system would be a great gift for the business executive on your holiday list.  What is cool about this system is you can dock your iPod touch or iPhone, connect the system to your PC via a USB cable and synchronize your contacts, to-do list and calendar.  All that with the ability to accept calls via your Bluetooth connection and an audio system that sounds great, all while charging your iPod touch or iPhone.  Read the rest of this entry »