Archive for the ‘You Asked For It’ Category
Yes…we really do read your emails; and it seems that with the holiday season upon us, many of you wanted to know what our favorite gadget of the year was. While it may be hard to choose one favorite gadget for the entire year, finding our favorite piece of gear for the Summer was an easy call–and since it also makes a great holiday gift, we figured this was the perfect time to share. So what is it—a phone? A tablet? A video game console? Not even close. As we’ve told you before, sometimes the best gear takes a simple idea, and executes it brilliantly and beautifully–and that’s exactly what the Fiji Frozen Concoction Maker from Margaritaville does. So sit back, relax, and grab a small paper umbrella, as we tell you why the Fiji Frozen Concoction Maker may be the one appliance you never knew you couldn’t live without… +Continue Reading
We’ve received such a great response to our pieces on NZXT and NVIDIA (as well as our own Juan Carlos Bagnell’s Gear Diary), that we’ve decided to do a whole new gaming-rig build from the ground up; and to help us get some of the best components available, we turned to the folks at Asus. In case you’re not familiar with Asus, they not only make fantastic components, they also manage to maintain incredibly competitive prices. So whether you’re looking for an over clocked graphics card, motherboard, Blu-Ray burner or sound card, Asus has everything you need–and that’s just the beginning. Asus also has a complete line of laptops and desktops with specs and prices that will surprise you–and we’ll be sharing those as well. So make sure you check back over the coming weeks as we not only show you how easy and affordable it is to build your own computer, but also make you more familiar with a company you’re going to be hearing a lot about in the future: Asus.
Let’s make something perfectly clear: Siri is no pushover.
The Siri wants what the Siri wants…and clearly, it’s not me.
This may sting for a while.
Click past the jump to see what it’s like to be rejected. By a phone.
+Continue Reading
We all knew Siri was smart; what we didn’t know was how sensitive she was. (Yes, I know…I called Siri a “she;” but since Apple went through all of the trouble of not only humanizing their software, but also putting a female voice to it, is it really that much of a reach? But I digress…) Sure, any software can be programmed to blurt out a response based on particular input, but Siri actually tries to spare your feelings before dishing out the truth–and even her truth won’t crush your spirit. At least she didn’t say “I just want to be friends.”
Click past the jump to see how Siri responded when put on the spot regarding her feelings for me…
+Continue Reading
The newly announced iPhone 4S now has an official release date: October 14th, for the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Australia (22 additional countries will get it on October 28th)–and pre-orders will start on October 7th . As far as pricing goes, the 16GB version will sell for $199, the 32GB for $299, and the first 64GB iPhone will sell for $399 (all, of course, on contract). Additionally, Apple announced that an 8GB version of the standard iPhone 4 for will be available for $99, and the 8GB 3GS will now be free on contract.
We all like a good deal. Who doesn’t?
Not only do we get a buzz just from buying something, there’s a special sense of victory from buying something and getting a great deal on it.
There’s no set formula for a good deal; you can’t say 15% off is “just ok” and 20% is “great”, nothing that objective.
However, when one sees a solid current piece of tech drop in price from $400 to $100 overnight, the reaction from us geeks can be rabid.
So began my Friday night… +Continue Reading
A couple of weeks ago we told you about the impending 3DS price drop; we also told you that Nintendo had a little something special up its sleeve for early adopters. Nintendo’s 3DS Ambassador Program gives those who paid full price for the console access to 20 free Nintendo games–some of which will only be available to 3DS owners. The only catch? You must log on to the eShop on your 3DS console before midnight (Eastern time) on Thursdayday in order to become eligible for the free games. Our friends at Nintendo were kind enough to provide us with some details:
First, it is important to note that just because a consumer purchases a Nintendo 3DS before the deadline, it does not automatically make them an Ambassador. Nintendo 3DS owners MUST visit the Nintendo eShop at least once before the 11:59 p.m. Eastern deadline on Aug. 11 to be automatically enrolled in the Ambassador program and be eligible for the 20 free games. Even if they bought their Nintendo 3DS on launch day and have their receipt, they will be out of luck if they don’t visit the Nintendo eShop.
Other than that, there’s nothing to do and no further registration process. As soon as they visit, the Nintendo 3DS is automatically registered. And if you sell your system after that, the games go with the system.
As for what the Ambassadors will receive, the NES games will be the titles first available to them. However, the next set of games, which will be Gameboy Advance titles, will only be available to the Ambassadors, meaning that is the only way to receive these games. Essentially, these games are made available exclusively to members of the Ambassador program.
After reading my piece on the Mamba Catch, you may get the idea that we’re pretty big fans of what Booq has been doing with their laptop and gadget bags; to put it simply, if you’re looking for the best combination of quality, design and price, no other bag manufacturer even comes close. But as I mentioned in that earlier article, when it comes to a gear or laptop bag, how one feels about it is incredibly subjective–what works for me, may not necessarily work for you. So after reading your emails asking us to share a bigger bag, we went right back to the fine folks at Booq and asked them if they had something that could accommodate a larger laptop, as well as more gear–and guess what? They had one. And guess what? It’s brilliant. Read on, and find out what makes the Booq Boa Flow the full-size gadget bag you’ll never take a trip without…
+Continue Reading
Great news from Samsung Mobile today…
When the 10.1 Galaxy Tab was released last month, we all knew that Samsung planned on releasing a software update that would include a brand new TouchWiz user interface, as well as a brand new Media Hub experience and access to Amazon’s cloud-based music service. Though there’s still no word on when the software will officially be available for download, Samsung is hosting an event in New York City that will allow the public to update their software in person! After a media event, (during which Samsung will give the press some hands-on time with the new software) those bringing their 10.1 Galaxy Tab between the hours of 1 and 6pm can have the new software downloaded to their device. The process takes up to 10 minutes and will wipe all personal data from your Tab–so make sure you have everything backed up before you partake. For those not lucky enough to be in attendance, fear not–we’re sure that the software will be available to the rest of us not too long after.
Sure, a 24″ 3D display and glasses made specifically for the Playstation 3 is cool–but the biggest news out of Sony’s E3 Press conference had to be that the artist formerly known as “NGP” finally has a name…and a price. Sony’s new uber handheld has been dubbed the PS Vita (or PlayStation Vita). With its 5″ OLED display, quad core processor, dual analog sticks, front and rear-facing cameras, touchscreen and rear touchpad, the biggest question (after “what will it be called?”) had to be how much a handheld packed with this much tech would cost–and the answer may surprise you. The Wi-Fi only model will retail for a surprisingly reasonable $249; the 3G model (through AT&T) will ring in at a mere $299. Though not a 3D system, most felt that Sony would have a hard time keeping the Vita close to Nintendo’s $249 price for the 3DS; the fact that they were able to equal that price bodes well for sales when the Vita hits shelves later this year. We’ll be going hands-on with the Vita at E3 this year, so make sure to check back for our full report…you can also check out the Sony’s press release after the jump.
+Continue Reading
For those of us that love gadgets, (and I proudly count myself among those that do) there’s only one consistent downside to traveling with multiple pieces of gear: having to charge them. It used to be that a portable charger with a rechargeable battery would get you through the day–but what happens when you want to charge your iPhone and iPod at the same time? Taking that one step further, what if one of the things you’re looking to recharge is an iPad or Galaxy Tab? The average portable charger can only handle one device at a time and simply doesn’t have the power, nor the 2.1 Amp output, necessary to charge todays Tablets. Thankfully, Scosche’s goBAT II is no average portable charger…
+Continue Reading
Remember when we first told you about the TRYX during CES? Back in January, the folks at Casio were kind enough to show us an early prototype-not a fully functional prototype, but more than enough to whet our appetites and show us the potential this hybrid camera had. The trouble with most hybrid cameras (cameras that shoot both stills and video) is that they usually perform one task much better than the other, making them more suited to a specific task, while the second task gets the “well yeah…it can do that too if you really need it to” treatment. So when Casio sent us the final production version of the TRYX, the natural question became: “Was this truly a camera that would satisfy as both a still shooter and HD camcorder, or just another Jack of all trades, and master of none?” Read on, and discover why the Casio TRYX may finally be the only camera you need to carry…
+Continue Reading
Android App of the Week – Sentinel 3: Homeworld
Android App of the Week – 3D BioBall
Bite The Bullet – DoDonPachi Resurrection: Deluxe Edition Review
