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As a tech Dad, I was very interested in what the new Equmen shirt from www.Equmen.com was all about.  Ok, I have to admit, the ability of the design to help shrink the mid-section a bit was a large factor in wanting to try out the latest in shirt tech but I was greatly surprised at the actual science behind it.

I received the Equmen shirt for review about a week and a half ago to give myself time to test the proposed benefits.  Before ordering, however, they have a sizing chart on their site that I had to use.  So after mapping my height and weight, they were able to determine the size that I needed.  As skeptical as I was as to the size they had chosen for me, I obliged.  Since I have started a steady exercise regimen, I decided to first try it out at the gym.  I slipped on the Equmen singlet undershirt…well, I say slipped on (It was a little bit of a challenge to begin with since the shirt is designed to be a tight fit).  I then put on my normal workout shirt and headed to the gym.  As you can see by some of the graphics below, the shirt is designed to not just be form-fitting, it is also designed to align your core and improve your posture.  This can be noted by examining the shirt more closely to see that there are bands of fabric that are actually part of the shirt design  that help to pull those shoulders back along with core compression along they belly-line.

As I mentioned, I’ve been working out solid for about 7 weeks now with about 3 days off here and there so I know where my problem areas are at the gym and that is definitely with posture.  Occasionally while I am on the elliptical machine I will glance in the mirror beside me and notice that I am hunching over the machine unknowingly.  Since I have been wearing the Equmen to the gym, I have noticed that I no longer need to correct myself because each time I would look over, my shoulders were pulled back and I felt more at ease with my workout and the back tension problems I had had in the past seem to have been cleared up as well.  This also helps at the office where I sometimes wear the Equmen under my dress shirts.  It is definitely different when wearing the Equmen for 9 hours straight as compared to 1 hour stints at the gym but the benefits are still apparent.  By different, I mean that I notice throughout the day that I am more at ease with enhanced posture but I never really think about the shirt at all.  Although with its wicking technology, it is nice to experience that coolness every once and a while.

Granted that the benefits to me are rather apparent, there is also a vanity factor that comes into play.  It does a great job of smoothing over those love handles and generally cinching up the belly a bit.  It makes those dress shirts pop with that slimming effect that it is able to deliver dutifully.  Am I impressed?  Yes.

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A couple of week ago, I took a 2010 Camaro LT Coupe to the wedding of a lovely young New Jersey couple of Italian descent.

Scoff if you want, but I need my opposable driving thumbs, so make IROC jokes on your own time… But to answer your next question, yes, the band played Living on a Prayer at the reception.

Actually, Bon Jovi provides a solid rallying cry for General Motors these days, especially considering we all share in the auto giant’s ownership. It was a fair debate as to whether taxpayers should prop up GM, but now that it’s the plan, shouldn’t we want the company to succeed? Rooting for GM’s failure is rooting for our own failure and that doesn’t add up. So everybody now, “We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for…rebuilding a vital American car brand. Let’s give it a shot! Oh-Woah….”

Besides, there’s a silver ice metallic lining amidst all of GM’s turmoil.

The new Camaro.

Good things come in small-engine pony packages. It’s been seven years since the last Camaro, and it is well worth the time and effort the good folks at Chevrolet put into it. It’s a big step up/step back from the T-Top versions favored by the jean-short-and-ribbed-tank-wearing, Busch-drinking, Whitesnake-loving, passenger-seat-impregnating gearheads of so many heavy metal days gone by.

The designers harkened back to the 1967-69 glory years of the original Camaro models, (the GM seat belt insignias and the twin instrument pods, for example) paired with powerhouse modern technology. The biggest letdown I had was driving the 3.6L V6 and not the SS version with its 6.2L V8 and 426hp, but it still mashed. The basic V6 puts out 304hp, which the authoritative Edmunds.com notes is an upgrade in the Cadillac CTS,  for some $15K less. The test version I drove came with an option-heavy price tag of $31,485, which is still a hell of a price for 3,719 lbs. of power. The crowded byways didn’t allow for a whole lot of redlining the RPMs, but I can at least vouch for the 0-60 in 6 seconds. The engine roar is guttural and the solid suspension keeps the Camaro from rattling around like a tiny sports car, so it’s possible to consider it an everyday vehicle. Keep in mind though, that with its long hood, short boot, rear spoiler and 20” wheels (sold as an option, but an absolute necessity in the land of the Goomba), the Camaro won’t go unnoticed. Five different drivers flagged us down, including a self-described “BMW guy” who was considering a switch.

Plus, it even gets a respectable 17/29 mpg, so it’s patriotic and a good bargain. The Camaro is our baby, and we need all vehicles born in the U.S.A. to be healthy.

Out on the pothole-encrusted Jersey thunder roads, we turned the station knob–cleverly displayed digitally like an old radio tuner—to XM’s E Street Radio station. In part, because the Boss and the Camaro go together like boardwalks and funnel cakes, but also because we feared being in violation of a lesser-known Garden State statute.

The wedding was near a river, but on this afternoon there were flowers, dresses, walks down the aisle, and wedding day smiles galore, including one from the valet at the Venetian who took the keys with an approving, “Good evening, sir. Excellent choice of car.” And I’m going to go out on a limb and say a New Jersey car-parker at a ritzy reception hall knows from muscle cars.

There are a couple of minor design glitches, the backseats are more than a little tight and the headlamps don’t quite fit into the front grille scheme, but there’s nothing that should keep the Camaro from becoming a hit. Even sitting in traffic after midnight was pleasant enough with an open sunroof, and the soothing blue ambient lighting (the streaks on the inside of the doors are nice touch) to take the macho edge off.

As my wife dozed off with a post-wedding champagne smile, I wished we could take the Camaro out, let ‘er fly through the night, drive until sunrise and feel the romance for the iconic American muscle car all over again.

Not possible. So as we made our way through the Holland Tunnel, I let the Bard of New Jersey live out the fantasy for me.

“I met her on the strip three years ago, In a Camaro with this dude from L.A.

I blew that Camaro off my back and drove that little girl away…” –-Racing in the Street, Bruce Springsteen.

Patrick J. Sauer is a contributing editor at Inc., where he writes the “Drives” column, and has contributed to ESPN.com, Popular Science, Fast Company, Details and 23/6, the Huffington Post comedy blog. A native of Montana, Sauer now lives in New York City and usually takes the subway.

The Navigon 8100T is a dashboard-mounted GPS unit with a 4.8 inch touchscreen display. You can affix the unit to your windshield via the included mount that has tiny contacts for powering the unit when it is docked in the mount. After a couple of tries, it is easy to clip and unclip the unit from the mount which is handy since not everyone wants to leave their GPS in full-view or likes to take it with them when needed. The touchscreen was not as responsive as I had hoped but most of this was taken care of with a quick calibration of the touchscreen.

Entering an address is easy with the large screen but a QWERTY keyboard would be a nice addition. There is also the option to enter an address by voice but you will need for it to be pretty quiet in the vehicle in order for this option to work correctly. I entered an address with relative ease by myself but with a carload of kids, touchscreen entry is the way to go.

The Navigon shines in its lane assistance, letting you know which exact lane that you need to be in in order to make your exit without confusion. The Reality-View was a nice addition as far as eye-candy is concerned although the ability to view the streets during this mode was diminished. Lane-Assist is a very handy feature as well that gives you more of a visual indicator as to which lane that you should be in during exits or merges. Real-time traffic updates are free with this unit where it gleans the information from respective FM bands. The POI database seems to be quite large and displayed the appropriate icons for the eateries around town. It would be nice to be able to touch the icon on the screen and get the necessary information about the restaurant in question but the information is still available thorough the menu system.

The Bluetooth function was a nice addition which allowed me to route calls through the device. Once I was able to pair it with my iPhone, it was easy to dial my contacts and receive calls with ease. All in all, this is a decent entry into the Premium GPS arena and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

UPDATED: Navigon cites a “difficult economic environment” and “aggressive pricing” as reasons its leaving the North American GPS market, reports GPS Business News. Its Chicago office will remain open, albeit with significant reductions, to support current customers. 05/05/09

Those quick trips into town can sometimes turn into a journey. Don’t become a statistic from battery drainage. We’ve all had it happen when our phones die at the most inopportune time. If you have an iPhone, you’re in luck. The new Incase Power Slider can give you that boost you need to get your Twitter fix, Facebook posting, dinner reservations and weather report without hitting empty. This new case from Incase doubles the battery life of your iPhone without adding unnecessary bulk. It also includes the ability to charge and sync your iPhone while it is still in the case. However, with this feature, I have mixed reviews. While it does double the battery life, the syncing function can sometimes be hit or miss. In cases if a miss, a quick reboot seemed to always correct the problem of not syncing with iTunes. This is not that big of a deal for me because I am not always needing to sync my library to my iPhone.

A 5 light indicator on the back of the case shows you your charge level so that you have a good idea of how much charge you have left with the Incase battery. The case itself is made of a rubberized material to reduce slipping and should be protective enough against the occasional bang here or there. There are other chargers on the market at the time of this post that provide extended battery life but they do not protect the whole phone as much as the Incase Power Slider.

Designer Sleeves are a great way to accentuate your individuality. These laptop bags are made of neoprene which provides natural moisture, shock and scratch protection. They utilize a process called Subliprene for manufacturing that allows them to print any design in full color which provides a high-level of detail and durability.

If you have ever felt wet-suit material, then you will have a good idea of what their cases feel like. This gives this laptop case a natural layer of protection and it’s form-fitting design seems like a second skin for your laptop. They have a large pocket on the outside that may seem small at first glance but the flexibility of the material will allow for you to easily pack in your charger. Additional pockets on the inside are great for paperwork, business cards, etc.

The design above is called “Blue Flowers” but they have around 54 different selections to choose from. Since the design is printed right onto the neoprene, it will never crack or peel and the colors are just as vibrant as they seem on their website if not more so.

I placed the case into the ultimate test environment with my 12 year-old daughter who takes her tablet PC to school everyday. Her previous case was made of harsh material that was not flexible with velcro closures all around. She liked the smooth soft feel and being able to fill it up with everything that she needs for her day of school. But more importantly, the glimmer of individuality was showcased because this stood out in the sea of pink, black and green cases that float through the halls of academia. She got quite a few compliments at school and absolutely loves it. I really like the case as well, although “Blue Flowers” is probably not my cup of tea, with all of the choices on their site AND the future prospects of adding your own design, the possibilities are endless.

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With all of those gadgets in the family vehicle, batteries are a necessity. So why not power your power-thirsty devices with a new “Green” alternative from Fuji? The new EnviroMax batteries are Cadmium, Mercury and PVC free which may be disposed of in most landfills when depleted. There are currently, two types to choose from: Digital Alkaline for your digital products like cameras, MP3 players and remotes and Super Alkaline for flashlights, toys and radios. The packaging is environmentally friendly as well since it is made of recycled paper and P.E.T. plastic.

Battery life is comparable to other batteries on the market and the price-point is said to be non-premium so chances are they will be roughly the same price. Since some people may throw their discarded batteries into the trash which makes its way to the nearby landfill, it’s nice to know there is an alternative on the market to make it a little more bearable…and every little bit helps.

iHome has a vast foray of plugin/docking options for the iPod line of products. I recently received their newest item that has just become available this week. The Travel Alarm Clock for iPod is a compact powerhouse for taking your tunes on-the-go. Sure, the iPhone has built-in speakers but the sound is small if you really want to Read the full story

You know that you’ve either come close to dropping your iPhone or you’ve actually dropped it. In that split-second, you can see your iLife flash before your eyes. Most cases on the market are created for the everyday to prevent scratches to the exterior with the occasional bang, here or there. The OtterBox Defender case for the iPhone 3G was created to take that protection to the next level and is a great addition to your road warrior toolbox.

The OtterBox Defender case contains several levels of protection: 1) A transparent film to protect the screen that is built-in to the case (no need to apply your own separately) 2) A polycarbonite hard case 3)Followed by a protective silicone outer-shell that wraps up the unit nicely. Installing the iPhone into the case was a relatively painless procedure and for those of you who are more visual, they have an instructional video on their site. The first step was to remove the protective silicone exterior and then pop apart the polycarbonite case by releasing 3 clips. Next, all that I needed to do was to reverse the procedure after inserting the iPhone 3G. OtterBox information states that the case will “provide some added protection against drop, bump and dust”. As a test, I hesitantly (and I do mean hesitantly) dropped my phone from hip height onto the hardwood floor. There was, of course, not a scratch on the case, much less the iPhone but more importantly the iPhone powered on! Whew!!!

All ports are accessible with the case: the sync/charge port, the audio port and the silent/ringer switch. Controls such as the volume control and power buttons are accessible as reversed-dimples that work through the case. Filters are installed over the earpiece as well as the speakers to protect the iPhone and internal casing from dust which is a nice addition and does not hinder the sound quality at all.

Included with the OtterBox is a beltclip that can hold the case securely. The attached swivel-clip does double-duty as a clip and also as a stand for the iPhone to allow you to watch videos in landscape mode hands-free.

The case does add some bulk to your iPhone so if you are looking to be fashionable, you may want to look elsewhere. If you’re looking for the perfect travel companion for your iPhone and expect some inclement weather or lead an active lifestyle then you need look no further in protection for your iPhone. Some people may say “But I already have a case”. I may view cases differently than others in that just as I would dress for an occasion, I would do the same for my phone. If I am going to be doing some major catch-up throughout the day on my iPhone, I may use an extended battery case. In a more formal venue, I’d use my leather case. If I were to go out for a jog or biking, I’d definitely have my iPhone dressed to the nines by going out in the OtterBox Defender case.

Priced at $49.95 MSRP on the Otterbox website.

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Dell just released their branded Wasabi ZINK (zero-ink) printer. It relies on special multi-layered paper (yellow, magenta and cyan) and a special heating element to target the pixel color of each dot. Therefore, the unit never needs ink. It can communicate via Bluetooth or a Pictbridge connected camera. This will allow you the ability to send prints to the printer via your Bluetooth enabled cellphone (sorry, iPhone users…the iPhone is currently not supported). Each 2″ x 3″ print can be used as a sticker as well to placed wherever you want. Because of its small and portable size, it makes a great addition to add to the glovebox. Snap a few pics of the kids with your Blackberry and tag their lunches with their photos on the way to school (it’s also a great way to spice up their locker). Priced at $99, it’s a nice toy to have if you’re looking for photos-on-the-go.