I have been using the Flip Video Ultra for about 2 weeks now and I only have positive things to report. This device has turned into something I take with me everywhere I go, just like my cellphone and keys. I’ve been able to capture rare moments with friends and family, as well as events such as the July 4th fireworks.

There aren’t many cameras that are targeted for the general consumer, but the Flip Video Ultra looks like it’s the one to beat.

Continue reading after the jump for the entire review!

When the iPhone 2.0 firmware was released, I eagerly downloaded and updated my iPhone. The App Store is probably the main reason of why I’ve been excited about it all this time. There are a lot of free applicataions that are quite useful, but there are also a lot of apps (both free and paid) that suck. I don’t blame it for being new and fresh with the things that are being offered, but I have no doubt that in due time improvements in the apps will be made.

Lately, I’ve been playing around with a bunch of different applications such as Shazam, Last.fm, Twitterific, vSNAX Videos, and more. I’ll be posting mini-reviews of the applications that I like, and the improvements that can be made in them.

I haven’t paid for any applications yet since there isn’t much to lure me in at the moment. One thing that I am really looking forward to (that I will purchase) is language learning software. On top of dictionaries and translators, which should be cheap or free, I’d like to see well developed apps that can teach me Russian, Cantonese, Spanish, and other languages. On top of all that…a bunch of cool games would be nice, too!

Times is an RSS Reader application with a unique approach at how news/blog feeds are presented to you. Dustin MacDonald, known for creating the popular Wallet application is the man behind this cool application.

The first thing you will learn about Times is that it’s very well thought out. The animation and transition effects throughout the application look very pleasing, and makes it a fun application to use. From the perspective of a traditional RSS Reader, your subscribed websites would generally be grouped into one section, while the article feeds would be displayed in a window right next to it. Times takes the approach that aggregates your feeds into a newspaper-like design.

You have the ability to create categories for the different types of websites you subscribe to right next to the ones that already exist. Times comes with a big list of popular websites/blogs you may want to follow, but you can definitely add new feeds and remove existing ones at your command. If you’re an existing user of an RSS Reader, you can import your .opml feeds directly into Times so you don’t waste time creating new feeds for everything. Continue reading after the jump…

After an unreasonably long wait (about 1.5 weeks), my silver iPod Shuffle finally arrived and I love it! I’ve heard so many great stories about it and its awesome audio quality and tiny form factor. I primarily bought this for the gym but I know I’d be carrying it around anyway, albeit having an iPhone.

The battery life on this little thing is great, and the built in clip is probably the best feature of it - other than playing music and sounding great. I thought that I’d fuss over the lack of an LCD screen, but I realized how much I don’t even care. The only songs that go on here are the ones that I’d listen to all the time, and not have to nitpick to find a song that I like. I didn’t believe it when I read that the shuffle had a better bass response than the other iPods up until now. That’s a nice one-up for me.

I have yet to have any problems with the 12 hour battery life, and the 1GB storage capacity is more than enough to last me through many hours at the gym. I was strongly leaning towards an iPod Nano but I decided that I didn’t need the screen, and I didn’t have the nerve to buy extra accessories to strap it onto my arm, or whatever. iPod Nano Arm Band = Not so awesome. iPod Shuffle Clip = Awesome!

I went to the MoMa (Museum of Modern Art) for the first time a couple of days ago, and it was great! I spent most of my time on the 3rd floor where all the photography and architecture & design areas were. Naturally, I was impressed, so when it was time to leave, I spent a few more minutes in the design store where I chose to purchase this book over the others.

Everything from the Post-it note to the Condom is covered in this book. With short historical descriptions of how each product came about, you learn about the fact that almost everything we use on a daily basis today was invented within the last century. If you’re ever in the need of starting a conversation, you’ll get plenty of ideas from this book. Everybody loves interesting facts - why else did the Snapple Facts under the caps become such a success?

Featuring 100 different items, this book is definitely something every designer and non-designer should own for the reason that you learn to appreciate it all in a whole new way. Come on, who wouldn’t want to know that the amount of wire used to make Slinkys since 1943 could wrap around the earth 126 times (and growing)? More after the jump…