Who says you need a laptop for extra storage when traveling? Just take your Samsung Galaxy Tab and this storage adapter and you are set. It works with SD cards and external hard drive too (I haven’t tested that). I bought it from Amazon.com for $11

I heard it is normal that sometimes you will get a bad lens. It happens even with Nikon and Canon who are known for producing high quality lenses. I don’t know how they test lenses but that’s a pretty bad QA/QC if you ask me considering that lenses are not cheap. So I contemplated for a while if I should return it to Amazon or send it in to Sigma for a warranty repair. I know it’s a new lens and I should just return it and get a hassle free replacement from Amazon but the problem is, I might get another bad copy. Everything I read about Sigma’s service is excellent and even exceed the lens quality after they work on it. I thought about calling them up. Well, actually I did but the bad news is the turnaround time is at least 2-4 weeks for the lens to be repaired. I couldn’t wait that long because I need the lens next week. So I decided to just return it to Amazon and keep doing it until I get a good copy.

I got my replacement lens today, thanks to Amazon’s exceptional customer service! Tested it right away and I am a very very happy man! Focus was spot on and pictures look very sharp. For sure this time I will do a thorough testing before I take it to Disneyland next week.

Here’s a sample picture I took with my new lens, f/5.6 @ ISO-3200. That is the old Sigma lens that I’m returning to Amazon.

We gave this to her as a new year’s gift. This is the only thing she asked for. It’s her first kick scooter so we are all excited for her. This is the Style N’ Ride Scooter made by Radio Flyer. I was gonna get her the three-wheel version but I don’t think she needs the help of an extra wheel. Right out of the box, she got on it and looks like she’s been riding a scooter for a long time. She knew what to do right off the bat without any assistance.

Picked up the bike today at GoRide Bicycles in Redwood City. I like this store. Service is great and the staff are friendly. We were originally looking to get her a Cannondale Synapse and also got her fitted on a Trek Madone but ended up on this awesome bike. I ordered a Cannondale Synapse online last week because of a good deal but when it came in, the frame was severely damaged from shipping so I had to send it back. Then we tried her on a Madone 4.5 WSD, size 50cm at Summit Cycles. It’s a nice bike but the Synapse was nicer, lighter and looks better on her so we skipped it. Then today I called GoRide to see if they have a CAAD10 women’s bike in size 51cm. Unfortunately there’s none left. I looked at the geometry of the men’s (or universal) 50cm and it’s pretty close to the women’s 51cm, about .5cm diff on the top tube and reach. Fyi, the men’s 50cm is actually larger than the women’s 51cm. So we went to the store, got her fitted on the bike and it’s perfect for her!

If you haven’t ridden a 2011 or 2012 CAAD10 before, you should go ride one and believe me, it will change your perspective on carbon fiber frames. These bikes are super light. The frame itself weighs 1150 grams which is lighter than most of the carbon fiber frames out there. Heck, it even feels lighter than my Specialized SL2 with upgraded Ksyrium SL wheels! We weighed the bike at the store and it was 18.6 lbs without pedals. You can’t go wrong with CAAD10. It’s an aluminum bike with the lightness and stiffness of a carbon fiber frame. The BB30 is also a nice feature on this bike. I can’t wait to test ride it tomorrow on the hills… oh did I say “I,” I mean her

Just arrived. Here’s my new Kinetic Rock And Roll Trainer by Kurt. Also purchased the Turntable Riser Ring to allow the front wheel to steer. We are getting ready for winter. No more excuses

My daddy says Apple and Steve Jobs is scared of this tablet because it kills iPads.

Finally got the perfect tent for our family of four – Eureka Sunrise 9. I love the dome design. Screen window on all sides. Good ventilation – 2 in roof and 1 with high/low on the door. It has plenty of storage and very roomy inside. Our king bed fits just fine with more room for our stuff. Not to mention, Eureka is one of the best out there when it comes to camping tents and they stand behind their products. The materials they use are heavy duty and will last for many years. I also like the supplied 11mm fiberglass frames. I love this tent! Can’t wait to go camping in it.

Features:

• 2 pole square dome tent
• Durable fiberglass frame, clips, and ring and pin/rod pocket assembly
• High/Low door vents top and bottom to aid air circulation
• 2 mesh roof vents provide excellent ventilation
• Fly is hooded on all four sides to maximize air flow for all weather venting
• 4 large zippered windows allow the option of excellent visibility and air flow or privacy
• Includes hanging tiered storage shelf, 2 built in water bottle holders, corner floor organizer, and wall organizer with mirror
• Heavy duty 210D poly oxford floor

Specs:

• Seasons: 3
• Sleeps: 4-5
• Floor Size: 9′ x 9′
• Pack Size: 7.5″ x 28.5″
• Center Height: 6′
• Weight: 16 lbs 14 oz
• Wall: 75D polyester taffeta, 1200mm
• Fly: 75D StormShield polyester, 1200mm
• Floor: 210D polyester oxford
• Mesh: 40D no-see-um

Just got my Garmin Edge 500 in the mail. The Edge model is designed specifically for cycling and better overall. Can’t wait to use it.

To be tested under the heat of the sun in Laguna Seca on tomorrow’s Sea Otter Classic races. The belt and the bag is pretty solid and very well made.

The gears:
Pro Speed Belt v2.0 – to hold the lens bags

LC 75 Pop Down – this will holster my 80-200mm lens

LC 15 – for the 35mm prime or the 18-200mm

Just picked it up today. It’s a women specific bike in stunning purple color. It’s only 18.5 lbs. Pretty light for a beginner bike.

She’s already tested it to the hill I used to go for warming up. Hmmm…

“Think…k”

Yes! I just received my new camera strap that will replace my old LowePro neck strap. Just in time for the car show tonight. I originally stumbled upon this R-Strap back in October 2010. The RS-7 is the latest strap by BlackRapid that features an ergonomically designed shoulder pad and a more secure d-ring. We’ll see how it performs at the car show with my Nikon D90 (with a battery grip) and my 18-200mm lens. It’s not the lightest setup to be hauling around. Hopefully the RS-7 will spare me tonight from neck pain.

I have three options – repair the loose wire, replace the cable (yes it can be done and the cable is available on ebay) or cough up the cost for a new power adapter. Unfortunately, I opted for the latter. But fortunately a non-OEM (of course it’s from China, where else!) version is available on Ebay for a much lesser price. Compare a price tag of $80 for an Apple brand to a non-OEM one for $21 with the shipping included. I know with that low price, you’d think twice before making a purchase. Specially with the apple fan boys (definitely NOT ME), who like to overspend with anything that has the Apple name on it. I’m a guy who likes to venture out so I don’t mind investing $21 to test a product.

I’ve been using the Ebay power adapter for two weeks now and no complaint so far. It looks and works just like the OEM version except that it’s a lot cheaper. Well, actually there’s just one minor difference. The little knob where the AC cord and wall adapter slides onto is metal on the Apple brand while it is plastic on the Ebay one. Oh and one more, the Ebay adapter doesn’t have the big apple logo engraved on it, which is fine by me.

So $80 vs $21, of course I’d go for the less expensive one unless Steve Jobs can convince me that the apple brand is really worth that much.

The most awaited, award winning and exclusive simulation racing game on PS3, the Gran Turismo 5 will be released on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. It is the most advanced Gran Turismo yet, featuring unrivaled graphics and a true-to-life driving feel.

I was going to line up on the eve of the release date but it’s already damn cold and wet outside. I just pre-ordered my copy from Amazon, which guarantees a delivery date on the 24th. With this order, I am also going to get an in-game Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Stealth Model bonus car. Some stores like GameStop offers the Joey Logano’s # 20 car and McLaren F1 Stealth Model as the bonus items if you pre-order from them. No matter where you shop, these stores will guarantee a release delivery date. My total from Amazon came out to $59.99 plus $0.99 for the release-date delivery shipping and handling. I hope they’ll still give me the lesser price of $54.99 that they had the other day :/

I am already excited and I can’t wait to play this game and race side by side with my friends again!

Here are some key features of the GT5:

• 1,000 Vehicles – 170 Premium new models, including hybrids and EVs, and 830 kinds of standard models similar to those seen in previous games.

• Plenty of Courses – Rip it up in more than 20 courses, more than 60 layouts.
• New Physics – The in-game physics system simulation is brand new to the series, and allows for greater realism and damage.
• Arcade Mode – Allows for single race functionality and 2-player battle.
• GT Mode Features – World Map, My Garage, Car Dealer, Tuning Shop, Car Washes/Oil Change, Race Championship (Series system, point system), License Test.
• Online Features – 16-player support, Open Lobby, Text / Voice Chat, Private rooms, Online Photo Album, Online Replay Album, YouTube replay output.
• Photo Mode – Photo Drive and Photo stage.
• Gran Turismo TV – Video output to a PSP or PSP Go, Progressive Download, Improved user interface, continuous play for videos.
• Sound Features – Custom soundtracks pulled from your PS3 hard-drive; Dolby Digital 5.1 and 7.1.

After weeks of product comparison and contemplation, my wife and I decided to pull the trigger on the Croozer 535, a 3-in-1 bicycle trailer. It seems like the market for bicycle trailer is very small. So you will either get something good or worthless. Anything in between is still questionable. I’m not saying you have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a good one. But you have to be careful in your selection because some manufacturers claim a bunch of features on their trailer but don’t work in the real world.

When we decided on a bicycle trailer, we said that we would require a few things from it. First, it must accommodate two kids without them being cramped inside. It should be able to attach to our bikes without any hassle, unlike the old one that we got for $5 from a garage sale. I know it’s only $5 but it works except for the trailer arm. The trailer should also be able to handle rough terrains when used as a trailer and a jogger. That means, the trailer must come with a front jogger wheel. We also wanted to ditch our bulky tandem stroller so the trailer must be able to convert and function as a stroller. Since it’s going to be used as a stroller most of the time, it should look like one and not as a trailer. It should be easy to fold and load in the van.

I know that we are asking a lot from our wish list above. But guess what, there are actually a couple of bicycle trailers that feature what we wanted. When we were looking for a trailer, there are only four brands that we considered as they were the most popular ones and most reviewed. They were the Burley, which is the Britax of bicycle trailers, Chariot, Schwinn and InStep. The Burley D’Lite is the most expensive one but it’s built to last. The Schwinn Joyrider is the first that we considered buying because it almost has all the features that we need except that it doesn’t come with the jogger wheel and I wasn’t too excited about the overall look and design. Then the InStep trailers, which are the most affordable ones and they’re not bad looking either. But  the saying you get what you pay for holds true with this brand. There are some bad reviews specially when converting to a stroller. I think the InStep is the best bang for your buck if you just wanted a bicycle trailer.

While reviewing the Schwinn Joyrider, I saw the Croozer 535. They offer the same features but the Croozer has a better built and design. It comes with a jogger wheel which is perfect for my wife when she wants to run. The separate bucket seat is also nice so my two kids will have their own space inside the trailer. There are not too many reviews and videos but I was sold on the demo video from Croozer Designs. It has everything that we were looking for and it looks very nice on the video.

So the bicycle trailer was delivered in our door on Friday. I was happy to see it because I didn’t expect it will get here on time for the long holiday weekend. It comes in a big box like a regular bicycle would. The only things that needed assembly were the front bumpers, the wheels and the handlebar. I didn’t even need to read the included manual to assemble the whole thing. A phillips screwdriver, a small hex wrench and allen wrench are needed to attach the front bumper and two reflector lights. The rest are installed via the lockable pins. My favorite is the side wheels which are easily attached and detached by pushing a button, no need for skewers! My only gripe is the handlebar which is a pain to attach. They made it look easy on the video though so I’m guessing I might have gotten a bad one. After the assembly, my 2 1/2 year old daughter jumped inside and settled her self on one of the buckets. She likes it. There’s plenty of room for her. Then my wife seated our 10 month old and they both looked comfy inside. I only tried pushing the stroller inside our house and it seems smooth and easy to push. Folding is easy but storing it in the garage or the van is too much hassle just like any other bicycle trailer because you have to take of the wheels (or you can just leave it if you have plenty of room).

Overall, my wife and I are very happy so far with our purchase but the real test is when we bring it in the park/trail. From how it stands, with all its lightweight aluminum materials and durable fabric, I have no doubt that it will perform as it was advertised.

Yet again, I pulled the trigger today on a Santa Cruz Superlight mountain bike. I got it from Sun Bike Shop in Milpitas and I have to give two thumbs up for my first purchase experience with them.  I was initially just going to replace my frame but since my wife needed a bike anyway, I decided to get a kitted one. I’d like to think that I got a good deal on this bike considering that most of the local bike shops don’t even carry them all the time and Santa Cruz takes a long time fulfilling orders for them. This bike I bought is built with the “R xc” kit (a manufacturer spec) so the components were upgraded. In addition to that, the fork was also upgraded to a Fox 32 F-120R instead of the RockShox Tora Air. The best upgrade was the rear shock. The original kit only came with Fox Float R and they upgraded it to Fox Float RP23 with 3 ProPedal positions and an on/off switch. I didn’t care about the rear shock before but reading the reviews and advantages of the RP23 over the R, I told them to keep it on the bike. If I didn’t get the RP23 now and decided to upgrade to it in the future, it’s going to cost me at least $400 for a new one.

Originally, I wanted to get a small frame because of my height but after test riding the medium, I thought it was the perfect fit for me. The reach is longer and I don’t feel cramped compared to the small one. The stand over height is not bad and the medium is only about half inch difference from what I currently ride. In fact, the Santa Cruz site says that the medium will fit a 5’5″ to 5’10 person.

This Saturday will be my first trail experience with this bike so I hope I’ll get my money’s worth

I was waiting for the Nexus but it’s still MIA (and I’m glad it’s not available yet). Verizon is still courting Steve Jobs for the iPhone and I definitely would not wait on that. Then the smartphone god blessed us with the new Droid Incredible. If you haven’t heard or been living in the cave, today is the day where you can pre-order the Droid Incredible from Verizon. Pre-orders will be delivered on April 29 and so you know (or so Verizon says), it is in limited quantity. I paid for mine for only $199.01 including tax and discounts. Here’s the rundown:

Original price of the phone: $529.99
Special price with 2-year contract: $299.99
New Every Two Plan Discount: $100.00
Online Discount: $50.00
Subtotal: $149.99

CA Tax: $49.02 (based on the original price)
Total price of the phone: $199.01

Go to Engadget for a very nice review of the Droid Incredible. Once I get my hands on mine, I’ll also post my own review. For now, I just wanted to say that there are three things that made me jumped on the Incredible. First is the the company that makes it – HTC is known for making high quality mobile devices. Second, the Incredible is equipped with 8 megapixels camera, which I highly desire for my photo blogging. Not only that, this camera is supposedly more responsive and does auto focus very well.  And last but not the least, HTC’s very own next generation Sense UI that makes the Droid 2.1 OS experience better and more complete.

Oh and one last thing, did I already mention that the Droid Incredible is superior to the Motorola Droid, the Nexus One, the Palm Pre and (yes you, you too can’t escape) the iPhone