When GlideTV arrived on the scene last month it garnered all sorts of press thanks to its cool design and what appeared to be ease of use factor.  If you haven’t heard, it’s a remote/mouse targeted at the home theater PC crowd, you know, the folks that prefer to watch their media on their computer rather than pay the money hungry cable companies.  Or you could be like me and do both.

Right out of the box I noticed how light weight the GlideTV remote is.  Front and center is your standard mouse touchpad – similar to those found on laptops – which is surrounded by 8 buttons.  Beyond that there is a designated GlideTV button that fires up their custom software, a power button (it controls the PC power), volume control, search button (opens up GlideTV’s search which can be designated to Hulu, Google, etc) and media player controls (play, pause, etc).   The 8 surrounding buttons each do something different in their respective applications, so a little trial and error will help you figure that out.

But, before you get started with the GlideTV you’ll first need to designate a profile for either Mac, PC or PS3.  In my case I selected Mac, which increased its functionally exponentially – before that I was struggling to even get it to work.

After that, you’ll need to determine if you want the touchpad to be in Absolute mode or Relative Mode.  Absolute Mode places the mouse cursor in correspondence with where you place your finger on the touch pad.  So if you touch the top left corner of the touch pad the mouse will appear there.  Personally, I prefer Relative Mode since this is more analogous to my laptop and as I discovered much easier to use out of the box.

There are myriad of controls for each respective function, so I suggest firing up their online User Guide to figure out what you need or as I suggested before just go ‘trial and error’, though you might miss out on some functionality, such as the ability to scroll up/down in web pages by sliding your finger up and down in the right most section of the touchpad (left and right scrolling is accomplished by sliding your finger left and right at the bottom most portion).

What makes the GlideTV remote unique, beyond it’s design, is the included software.  It’s currently in an Alpha mode, but for someone like me who doesn’t really use their PC as a home theater PC all that much it was a God send.  You’ll need to download it from GlideTV.com as they want you to have the latest version – it’s not included in the box.  Functionality wise it’s very straightforward.  As previously mentioned, you just need to hit the GlideTV button on the remote to activate the software, but you will need to launch the program first, by ‘hand’, for this to work.

Within the application you’re presented with four options: Applications, Website, Search the Internet and Settings.  The application section can be modified to add more applications, but by default the popular ones exist such as Boxee, Safari, iTunes, Front Row, Desktop Hulu and some others.  If you don’t have the applications, such as Desktop Hulu, the app will download it for you upon initial launch.  Accessing the application is equivalent to pointing and clicking with your touchpad, but once it is fired up the GlideTV does it stuff.  In the event you decided to search the net or surf the web, the GlideTV does include a virtual keyboard.  I don’t recommend this activity since typing in words one mouse point at a time can be beyond cumbersome.

I’m into Hulu so I tested that out.  While I won’t go into all the controls I can say that they’re all intuitive and worked perfectly.  I also launched Front Row, Apple’s proprietary media program and the control were intuitive as ever, but nothing leaps and bounds over Apple’s Remote; in other words don’t get the GlideTV to replace just the Apple Remote Front Row experience.

Battery life is a bit tough to gauge since the GlideTV remote shuts off automatically after one hour of use.  Additionally, it will go into standby mode after 10 seconds of inactivity which lessens its power consumption.  The remote indicates that it is powered up by flashing the power button about every 2 seconds.  If you’re concerned about accidentally waking the remote from off mode by hitting a button, you can lock the remote’s keys by holding down the Power and Search buttons for 3 seconds – you do the same to unlock the device.  This is ideal when you’ll traveling with the GlideTV, or at least that’s what the manufacturer says.

I ran into very few problems with the GlideTV.  It is a bit difficult to tell when the device is powered down, but since it includes a no brainer charging base you just need replace it after use.  Surprisingly, the charging base does not double as a receiver.  Instead a USB dongle is provided and required for use.  I suppose this is convenient if you’d like to charge your GlideTV via an AC outlet (you can also plug the charger in via USB), especially since many people today set their computers to sleep mode when not in use, which doesn’t provide any power to the USB ports.  Nonetheless, I would have liked to have the charging dock do double duty as a receiver as well.

I should note that I did test the GlideTV out on a last generation Mac Mini running Mac OS X 10.6.1 with 1GB of RAM and it was riddled with problems.  The mouse was unresponsive and would often lag, only receiving commands 1 or 2 seconds after entering them.  The distance was no more than 12 feet to the Mac Mini and since I subsequently did an equitable distance test on my Macbook Pro (non Unibody), I can negate that as an issue.  Nonetheless, the GlideTV did work flawlessly on my computer, which runs a 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2GB of DDR2 RAM.  What the problem was I don’t know, but if you have a Mac Mini and don’t have any problems we’d love to hear.

So at this point I can’t really say anything overwhelming bad, or anything bad for that matter about the GlideTV.  But in this day and age, especially with the economy in the slump that it is, it does come down to bang for you buck.  Sure, you can use this thing with your PS3 or Home Theater PC, but at $149, that’s asking an awful lot, especially when for half that money the same can be accomplished by purchasing a wireless keyboard/mouse combo.  Of course, you won’t have the same slick design, small form factor and ease of use.  So if GlideTV can drop the price well below $100 it could be the must have remote for the Hulu watching, Boxee using web TV crowd.

You can purchase the GlideTV for $149 here

Pros:

• Slick design
• Ease of use (software and device)
• One handed operation
• Decent battery life

Cons:

• Expensive
• No keyboard

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Doubling as a hacky-sack, the MovieWedge is a convenient way to view media horizontally on your iPhone or iPod touch.  The MovieWedge is lightweight and portable beanbag-esque cushion that supports your iPhone for prime viewing.

Embracing a brutally simple design aesthetic, the MovieWedge can effectively adapt to most any surrounding.  Capable of changing shape to a small degree, the MovieWedge can easily fit in where ever you need it.  From a stiff but moving airplane tray table, to your bed or your grassy backyard, the MovieWedge is unlike any iPhone stand you have used before.

The MovieWedge is pretty durable due to its impressionable footbag design.  I can see at some point down the line it becoming a bit worn or frayed from general wear and tear but with any amount of TLC, the MovieWedge should last for years.

For only $10, the MovieWedge is a great gift idea for this coming holiday season for anybody that owns an iPhone, iPod Touch, or any PMP or smart phone that displays media horizontally.

The only thing I didn’t like was the made in China tag dangling off of the MovieWedge.  I would have liked to have seen the logo embroidered on the cushion itself but it’s not a huge sticking point.

Any consumer would be happy with what the MovieWedge provides for the price and anyone looking for an iPhone stand/pillow should look no further.

It can also be used to clean the screen of your iPhone no problem!

Pros:

• Cheap
• Versatile
• Lightweight and durable

Cons;

• None

Buy it here for $10!

**Update**

Since the posting of this review, news has come in about a new tag that is now attached to the MovieWedge.  While still not embroidered, the new tag looks much nicer than the previous one.  See Pic below.

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Every time you fly in a commercial jet plane, a blackbox records everything the plane does. In case of an accident, recovering this blackbox lets authorities determine what the plane was doing up to the time of the accident.

With the DRS 1100 you can add similar blackbox features to your car. The DRS 1100 consists of a video recorder with a Secure Digital (SD) card reader (and an included 4GB SD card), a mounting bracket, and a lengthy power cord for plugging the unit into a cigarette lighter.

The idea is that you fix the mounting bracket to your windshield using its adhesive backing, attach the video recorder to the mounting bracket, and plug the power cord into the cigarette lighter and video recorder.

To allow you to mount the recorder on the windshield or dashboard, the camera lens swivels up or down, allowing you to aim the lens forward no matter what odd position you mount the device. When you’ve mounted the device, you’re ready to start driving.

The moment the video recorder detects a sudden impact such as rapid deceleration from braking or a jolt from getting hit (or running into an object), the video recorder automatically kicks in and starts recording video footage, approximate car speed, and GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates on to its SD card.

Pop this SD card out, plug it into any Windows PC, and run the X-Driven program that lets you access and view the saved video footage. Now you can view data that shows the speed of the car and location, which can help clarify exactly what happened at the scene of an accident.

Rather than wait for a car crash to start the video recorder, you can also press an On button to start the video recorder manually. This can be useful to track where a vehicle has been and how fast it might have gone. Anyone in charge of commercial vehicles (or teenagers borrowing the family car) can appreciate having this information available to review at a later date. This lets you verify not only where the driver went, but how fast and whether he (or she) drove carefully or recklessly.

The included 4GB SD card can hold a surprising amount of video, but you could easily substitute a much larger SD card if you wish, up to 16GB. The video camera isn’t top of the line (just 1.3 megapixel), which captures VGA (640×480), QVGA (320×240), or Mega (1280×960) video resolution. Such a variety of video resolutions lets you capture the quality you like best.

Now here are the drawbacks. According to the manual, turning on the unit and waiting a few minutes will allow the device to start capturing GPS coordinates, but my unit never managed to do so, even after 20 minutes of driving around.

Beyond this flaw, which might have been limited to my particular unit, another problem is that you need to use the company’s X-Driven software to view the recorder data, which gets stored as a proprietary .ub1 format. Unfortunately, the X-Driven program only runs on Windows so if you’re using Linux or a Macintosh, you can’t use the X-Driven program and thus you can’t view any recorded data from the recorder.

While useful and interesting, the DRS 1100 is definitely not a must-have product, but more of a gee-whiz product. Still, if you don’t mind spending $299, the DRS 1100 can be invaluable when you need it the most. With its ability to capture video immediately during and after an accident, the device can capture crucial video evidence to protect you legally.

Leave the device running continuously may not always be practical due to the storage space long video recording sessions would gobble up, but doing so could also help you prove your case in court if stopped by a police officer for running a stop sign or traffic light. With video evidence supporting your case, you could spare yourself a traffic ticket and higher insurance rates, which could make the device pay for itself.

Ultimately, the DRS 1100 is a luxury item, but an extremely useful and desirable one. After seeing the DRS 1100 in action, you may want one just for the novelty, but also because you recognize its potential for capturing video footage when you might need it the most. You might never need the DRS 1100, but you’ll certainly want one.

Pro:

• Captures decent-quality video at various resolutions
• Captures GPS coordinates
• Automatically turns on when jolted during a car accident

Cons:

• Requires Windows, can’t view recorded data using Mac OS X or Linux
• GPS coordinates didn’t seem to work on my unit
• Recorder stores video in files only readable by the X-Driven program

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Neil Poulton is known for some jaw dropping industrial design, so when they once again teamed up with Lacie to bring us the Sound² Speakers I was more than pleased with outcome, aesthetically speaking of course. But, as they say, you can’t judge a book by its cover.  So do the LaCie Sound² Speakers live up to all their meant to be?

Place these speakers next to any computer or on any desktop and you’ll sure to adhere some European cache.  Aesthetically the rounded speaker design complemented my desktop’s rather square facade – square desk, square monitor, square laptop – you get the point. The bottom of the speakers are fitted with two rubber feet to prevent them from rolling around. One small jostle though and they tend to overcome their rubber threshold and go into a roll; I almost dropped mine onto my floor a few times.

On the back of the control speaker – the one with the amp – there is a volume knob that reminds me of a truck driver’s steering wheel or a salad spinner. Turn on the speakers and a hidden LED emits a blue hue from inside. The range of the turning circle of the volume knob is pretty short as are the speaker’s amplitude, but more on that later.

Since the LaCie Sound² Speakers lack a sub, one speakers plugs into the other and the master speaker plugs into the computer or MP3 player. As for inputs you’ve got your choice of 3.5mm headphone jack (they’ve included a cord) or USB. While the 3.5mm headphone jack is a nice option for iPhone’s and player’s alike, using the USB port produced more normalized audio that didn’t distort as much and sounded more balanced overall. If you so opt you can power the LaCie Sound² Speakers off the USB plug alone, but adding the external AC adapter results in much more power (i.e. volume).

And this is where the review goes a bit south. The LaCie Sound² Speakers lack significant amplitude. Sure there only 30 watts, but I’ve used other 30 watt speakers before and they were louder and sounded better. At high volumes the the Sound² speakers tend to distort and lack the bass and fidelity for any music genre. At lower volumes, though, they’re relatively dynamic and can probably best be described or suited for those in an office environment – you know, where you can’t crank your tunes.

Oh and another thing: the AC plug is short, like awkward short. Anyone who has plans to place these on a desktop will have to strategically place them close to an AC outlet. While I appreciate the built in USB plug, a removable version would be nice to help me declutter my already rats nest of a desktop.

At $100 I can hardly recommend the LaCie Sound² Speakers as a resolve to your desktop audio needs. Aesthetically they score some big points but at the end of the day they’re all looks and no brawn.

Pros:

• Cool design
• Volume knob doubles as a cord spindle

Cons:

• Just ok sound quality
• Poor frequency range – no bass
• Tend to roll off the table if slightly jostled

You can grab them from here for $83 before shipping.Similar Posts:

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When the Joby GorillaPod hit the scene some time ago, it amazed consumers worldwide with its tenacious approach to all things tripod related.  Capable of countless angles and poses, the Joby GorillaPod is a must buy for anyone that owns a digital camera or camcorder.

Lightweight and easy to use, the Joby GorillaPod can quickly mold itself to your surroundings allowing for some really creative photo and video ideas.  With your camera connected, you can detach it at a moments notice thanks to the GorillaPods’ locking clip.  To get an idea of the GorillaPod’s reach, it will fit around your standard pole size but isn’t long enough to stretch around a tree.  It works best when attached to something that you can weave its legs around like a chain link fence or a lamp.

The only design features I wish I could change would have been to make it a bit heavier.  I had some trouble keeping it secure on my bike and it would have been easier with some more weight added.  It also didn’t do that well holding up a heavier SLR (see pic below).

What could also help would be some velcro tethering strips so you could tie it in to whatever your trying to connect it with.  All I wanted to do was wrap it around my dog, but it just wouldn’t stay put.

The Joby GorillaPod is super durable, though.  It folds up really tight and looks like it could withstand quite the beating.  The rubber feet also give the GorillaPod great traction on a variety of surfaces from glass to finished wood and plastic.

Anybody that’s in the market for their first digital camera needs to buy this inexpensively awesome tripod as you will not be disappointed.  Also worth mentioning is that Joby has a bunch of other GorillaPods out there that are worth checking out.  This is the standard original one.

Pros:

• Cheap
• Fun
• Unique

Cons:

• Needs tethers for for aggressive fastening
• could be a bit heavier

Buy it now for $12.50!Similar Posts:

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In a land where product names have nothing to do with anything, Yubz reigns supreme.  Put the word Magnum next to Yubz and now you’re onto something.

The Yubz Magnum is a wireless speaker that will connect to any BlueTooth device.  The Magnum is capable of playing music as well as acting as a hands-free loudspeaker for your cell phone.

Resembling a “pleather” meat log of sorts, the Yubz Magnum is a cylindrical device with speakers on both ends.  It feels really nice actually, and is soft and lightweight.

Taking power wirelessly through 4 AA batteries or a USB wall charger, the Magnum will also accept devices through its 1/8″ input.  That means it is ready for a host of scenarios making it accessible to those un-hip to BlueTooth or wireless styles.

Setting my iPhone up to “discover” the Magnum was quick and easy and I was playing tunes wirelessly as soon as I put in the AA batteries.  Even when the iPhone 3G shut off, the music was still playing and the 30 foot range between the two allowed me to put my phone in my pocket and walk around my house.  Very cool.

What is not very cool is the barely legible button markings on the Magnum.  It’s really, really difficult to tell what the buttons read.  Even with my glasses on with a light shining down I could barely distinguish the volume buttons from the…?  Yeah it’s that bad.

In regards to the sound, the Magnum was decent.  It could go pretty loud but was heavily distorted when it got there.  Due to the way the speakers are angled, it presents an interesting stereo field, but not one that’s unlikeable.  I didn’t mind the distortion too much actually, and you can really tell that the Yubz meat log is working its little ass of to bang out some tunes for you.

The loudspeaker feature was more novelty than anything else and while it works fine I probably never really use it just for that.  That basically means that I never use it to make a call but would take a call through it if I was already playing music.

The Magnum comes with a handy carrying case that lets you use it while on the go.  It has a shoulder strap and also what appears to be bike handlebar attachment straps.  Or you can wear it around your forearm.  What I didn’t like about that case was that it was hard to align the input jacks with with the cords because the holes are so small and everything is so black it’s difficult to see what you are doing.

Despite some flaws in design and performance the Yubz Magnum still finds itself in a good place among other similar gadgets.  The loudness and the wireless BlueTooth connectivity should attract consumers far and wide as this is a great item for the beach, campsite, or any other place you need loud music.  The BlueTooth feature should also allow groups with multiple iPhone users to connect back and forth and compliment each other on how tech they are.  Just stock up on some rechargeable AA batteries and you are good to go.

I like this product much better than the eWoo eFizz iPod Dock I reviewed a while back, and the Yubz is a lot cheaper.  Just for the record, my buddy Naiche’ has a Gen 1 iPhone and could not connect to the Yubz Magnum.  I’ll also mention that this does not work wirelessly with the “I Am T-Pain” App unfortunately.

Pros:

• Loud
• Easy to connect (iPhone 3G)
• Competitive price

Cons:

• Distortion
• Illegible buttons
• Carrying case could be easier to use

Buy the Yubz Magnum here for $65!Similar Posts:

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Style.  The all time most over used word in the hip-hop language.  It’s also my favorite word and I don’t really even like hip-hop.  Need For Speed Shift is all about Style.  Your style.  Leaving behind the concepts found in the last several iterations of the Need For Speed franchise, Shift comes away as a much more focused and exciting racing game.

Anyone familiar with the series will no doubt be impressed with what has been done with Shift and happily accept the new direction the game has taken.  Gone are the open world Midnight Club style races in favor of a good old fashioned racing game with some modern flair to boot.

Plot/Story/Set-up

Reminding me a lot of CodeMaster’s Toca RaceDriver 3 for the original Xbox, the story is your basic rise to the top of the heap scenario with an unseen coach/manager guy chatting in your ear about different race events and such.  In a meat and potatoes sort of way I really liked the non-existent story approach by Slightly Mad Studios, as it allowed me to imagine my racing destiny and stay concentrated on my cars and the upcoming events.

That’s not to say that the unimaginative will have nothing to think about.  There are plenty of cut scenes to help you feel engaged and the sense of achievement can often be staggering.  Checklist and complete-ist freaks will have a ton to do and even novice and beginner players new to the series will find it easy to pick up an play.

Graphics:

Everything about Shift visually is very competent.  While not as pretty as other high profile racers such as Forza 3 or GT5, it does look nice at all times and runs smoothly race after race.  Car models and damaging are accurate and all the tracks look believable.  Nothing about the graphics ever really pop on screen but it really doesn’t take anything away from the experience.

Car customization is moderately deep, letting you apply your favorite colors and styles to the cars in your garage.  I felt like a lot of the menus and icons looked stock and Slightly Mad could have taken some more time with the presentation.  One could also apply that last statement to the fact that perhaps they weren’t going for a super polished presentation so they could deliver a solid and robust racing experience.  I agree.  My qualms with the presentation, while they could have been nicer on the eyes, have no bearing on the gameplay whatsoever.

The physics felt wonky when it came to high speed collision as cars would just pop up in the air like they weighed nothing.  Other than that, the weight distribution was accurate but not precise.

Sound

Loud and blaring. In a good way.  You get a great deal of immersion with the sound design and it pays to crank the volume.  Screeching tires, colliding bumpers, and the overall sound of speed are captured to the extreme in Shift.

On the flip side the music supervisor on Shift must have had IBS when choosing the tracks.  A bunch of them are really annoying and what makes it worse is the start/stop nature in which they are presented.  It makes it feel like a game from generations past in the way it will play a song for one screen and then abruptly change so it can play different music for a loading screen only to change again when it reaches the next screen.

I can deal with bad music in a video game and have been doing so for a long time, but the inconsistent switching back and forth drove me (pun intended) crazy.  Sort of like a baby crying on an airplane.  I could deal with it better if I was prepared for it.  Overall, the sound design is quality with the music being not so much.

Gameplay:

Back to what I was talking so adamantly about at the beginning of the review. Styles.  The whole point to Need For Speed Shift is about what style of driver you are.  Are you and aggressive or precision driver?  Most of the time you end up being both.  At the end of each race the game judges you on the tactics you deployed on the race track.  Clean laps with earn you precision points while banging into another car will earn you aggression points and so forth.

I really liked this aspect about Shift as it really allowed the game to progress and keep you interested.  During each race there is a bar at the top of the screen that tallies your points as you earn them and they help you earn stars.

Stars is another novel thing about Shift that is a basic idea but it works well given the scenario.  Each race has a certain amount of stars that you can earn through points and the more stars you achieve the farther you progress in the game.  There are four tiers in the game that each represent car and event classes.  The goal is to gain enough stars to qualify in the final event and win the championship.

Easier said than done.  The difficulty in Shift is actually quite hard.  Veteran racers may have no problem completing all the events but casual players such as myself will find the curve quite steep.  I could hardly control any car in the tier 3 category.

What almost made it harder for me was the sense of speed achieved in Shift.  Once you get past 100mph you literally start to get scared as one false move will totally wreck you car.  The in-car view which I’m normally not a fan of, is done here with absolute detail and gloss.  The sense of space and depth is widely developed and I recommend anybody who normally likes the behind-the-car view to give it a try.

I will say this.  Just when you think you have learned how to control your car, enter a drifting event.  The drifting events are so hard and the physics feel so lopsided that I could not bare to play them at all.  Screw that.  It is so frustratingly difficult, it made me want to pass a stone in a way that’s not paying it forward.  Ugh!

Car handling is highly customizable and Shift explains everything via the voice of your manager to help out those who don’t know about gear ratios and downforce and other aspects of car tuning.

To round up this section, the gameplay sans the drifting fiasco, is the most compelling part to Shift.  Once you start roaring around the track everything else falls to the wayside and your attention will be undivided.

Multiplayer:

The Multiplayer portion of Need for Speed is pretty basic in its offerings, but there’s always someone to race against.  I usually got tooled on pretty hard. There aren’t many modes to choose from but with rank races you get awarded points that are applied to your single player campaign.

While it’s always fun to play online, the only games that seemed to be available were the ones hosted by the die-hard gamers that had maxed out to level 50 and using only tier 4 cars.  I never found a race that took it down a couple notches to say tier 2.

Furthermore, it was too easy for online opponents to smash you off the road to the point of spinning out, thus making it impossible for you to catch up.  The only way I ended up winning anything was when I came in last place but there were only 3 racers in the event so I was awarded 3rd place cash bonuses.

The multiplayer could have been given some different modes like league play or tournaments, or even borrowed some modes from the single player game such as eliminator.

Replay Value:

There is a ton to do here.  Those who love to complete everything will vastly enjoy the sheer amount of content available in this game.  Events galore, you could really spend a lot of time getting all the stars.

You never really have a problem buying the cars you want due to the fact that you can keep racing easy events to stock up on cash which is cool and it allows you to try out a bunch of cars.  All the tuning an customization options available in Shift, you can really get deep with it and fully pimp out a car in each class.

Final Endings:

Though it would have been nicer to see more cars and more tracks, one can’t deny the progress the franchise has made.  The music is whack and the multiplayer could have been more fun, but the single player campaign is compelling enough to warrant a purchase from race fans of novice and veteran skill level alike.

Those looking for a very accessible racer “need” to look no further.  Shift, while not perfect, fires on enough cylinders to keep it in race next to high profile racers this fall and should not be overlooked.

Pros:

• Easy to pick up and play
• Robust single player campaign
• Fun and exciting

Cons:

• Drifting events are lame
• Music doesn’t work well with loading screens
• Multiplayer lacking in modes

Buy Need for Speed Shift here for $57!Similar Posts:

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Talk about a party favor.  I mean who doesn’t like to trip?  Having recently experienced CornField Electronics’ Trip Glasses, I’m very glad there is not one part of me that is epileptic.  The packaging makes note of some sort of meditation that can occur when you wear the glasses but I don’t believe that malarky one bit.  Perhaps if your definition of meditation is in fact hallucination, then maybe.

To explain it bluntly, the Trip Glasses are less like glasses and more like a kaleidoscope of blunt force trauma to your senses.  Some people who tried it had mixed results, but I can honestly say that I could trigger my inner shroom no problem. 

Back to what these things are.  I suppose you could call them a personal light show.  They are really easy to use and are great to have around when partying, hitting the bong, or stuffing LSD into open wounds with a shovel.

All you do is put the glasses and earphones on and hit the start button.  The light show sequence lasts for 14 minutes and there is no off button.  The best way I described how to use the glasses to those who tried it was to gently close your eyes and try and look through your eyelids.

I couldn’t last all that long before I had to remove them, but it didn’t matter.  I’d say if you like that type of artwork where you have to stare at the pixelated image until an object appears, than the Trip Glasses will definitely work for you.  I felt like I could really control the patterns I was seeing and it was crazy.  Hippies will love this thing no doubt!

What didn’t really help was the droning brain freeze noise that oozed out of the attached earphones.  That’s not to say that you couldn’t listen to your own jam band music while using the Trip Glasses and the earphones are removable as well.

Over the course of the 14 minute sequence the lights inside the glasses change without warning and you’re instantly teleported to all new trip zone.  Using them in the late afternoon into the early evening they looked really sweet in the dark as the wearer resembled Satan, or some other type of evil being to say the least.

What more can I say about these things?  If you like to trip out or know someone who does the Trip Glasses are a real one of a kind “legal” way to trip.  I wouldn’t recommend wearing these all day or putting them on someone who’s sleeping but like anything else, moderation is the best approach.

Priced at $40, some of you will say “hey, that’s about the price of a bag of weed”, but these Trip Glasses will last way longer.  End result is that you should take a week off the weed and buy these glasses.  Jerry thanks you.

Pros:

• Visually trip out immediately
• Great for parties and times of inebriation
• Legal

Cons:

• Don’t use them for too long
• Sounds could have been cooler
• Not suited for everybody

Buy the Trip Glasses here for $40!!!Similar Posts:

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I love my iPhone.  It seems like it can do it all.  Plug in your computer to your home’s stereo or a set of powered speakers and you can even control your music right from the ‘remote’ app.  But what is one to do if your iPhone is the source of music.  Enter the iJet, an RF infused remote that works through walls at up to 150 feet.

Setting up and using the iJet is a no brainer process.  Just plug the dongle portion into the iPhone’s (or iPod’s) serial port and you’re good to go.  You’ll be able to control the iPhone’s headphone volume, skip/rewind (and scan) tracks and play/pause your music all from the palm sized remote.  The dongle even has a pass through serial port so you can charge your iPhone while using the iJet and not concern yourself with battery life.

The remote also features an LED indicator light, belt clip with holster and a keychain/string pass through.  Word is that the remote is water resistant, but my gut tells me you shouldn’t jump in the pool or bath tub with it, although I’m sure it would be fine for heavy perspiration during a run or jog.  And because they know you’re going to be using your iPhone or iPod directly with a stereo they’ve include an RCA to headphone jack cord to make setup all the easier.

Like so many of Apple’s products, the iJet does have its shortcomings.  There’s no instruction on how to replace the remote’s battery when it dies, though it’s supposedly good for up to 5 years of use.  Also I didn’t like how my iPhone’s screen illuminated every time I inputted a command from the iJet remote, but that’s probably more iPhone than iJet – it’s worth noting if you’re overly concerned about your phone’s battery life, though.

Update: You can replace the battery yourself, here’s how: At the lower left corner of the remote, you will see a slot to place a coin. Using a quarter, insert the edge into the slot and turn the coin in either direction until you see the two sections unsnap.  Be careful not to let the quarter press down on the circuit board.  Once the face is removed you will see a small Phillips screw near the middle of the circuit board. Using the correct sized driver (screw head can become mis-shaped if incorrect driver is used) CAREFULLY turn the screw counterclockwise. There are several small components on the board, so please be careful not to damage any components.  Once the screw is removed CAREFULLY remove the circuit board. You will see two small coin sized 3 Volt Lithium batteries (Model # CR2025). Replace each battery making sure that the top battery is facing positive side up (+), and the bottom battery is facing negative (-) side up. Once batteries are replaced, follow steps in reverse to close unit.

The dongle portion of the iJet system does draw power from the iPod or iPhone to operate.  While battery life should be rather moot in this particular instance, you can rest peacefully knowing that after 20 minutes of inactivity (remote or music) the dongle goes into ‘low power mode’ to conserve juice.

At the end of the day I found the iJet to be very useful.  The most applicable of scenarios for me was the car.  The last thing I need is to get a ticket for switching a song on my iPhone while driving, which could easily be mistaken for texting or talking on the device, both of which are illegal in California.  The device does include a lifetime warranty, so hopefully that covers battery replacement.  The remote’s operation isn’t as responsive as controlling the music or volume directly from the iPhone, but that should be expected as it is sending a wireless command.  The small size of both the dongle and remote are of some concern since they could easily be misplaced, but I’d rather that then an over sized and bulky accessory.  What the iJet lacks in overall pizazz is made up in ease of use, affordability and functionality.

Pros:

• Super simple setup and use
• Lifetime warranty
• RF, so works through walls

Cons:

• Remote battery isn’t replaceable
• No car kit for steering wheel

Available here and here.Similar Posts:

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Nowadays, saving energy is quickly becoming common sense as opposed to forward thinking.  More and more tech consumers are aware of vampire power and and there are plenty of products out there to combat this unnecessary use of energy.

Having recently been introduced to the TrickleStar products, I have found them to be easy to use as well as being relatively easy on the wallet.  What I can say right away is that you are not going to see a noticeable difference in your electric bill.  Not unless you are using a ton of them.  You’d really have to have your whole residence outfitted in order to see your bill go down.

Now that’s not to say that every little bit doesn’t count for something.  I’m sure it does work to prevent vampire power, you just have to have faith and believe in the product.  To help with that faith, the TrickleStar PC Energy Saver and Switch look very consumer friendly using a brilliant white glossy plastic and an attractive logo.

To explain what the TrickleStar PC Energy Saver and switch does is quite basic.  It limits the amount of stand-by power your computer and peripherals draw from the wall outlet when not in use.  When you power down or put to sleep your Mac or PC, the energy saver is activated.  Without the switch, the energy saver is automatically set into use upon shut-down, whereas you have manual control when you have the switch integrated with in the set-up.  I really have no idea why this wasn’t one product, but I’ll save that for gripe time.

The set-up process is really easy as well.  All you do is plug the energy saver into the wall and then plug the power strip containing your PC/Mac and all its peripherals (Scanner, Printer, USB Hubs) into the female end.  From there you plug the USB end into any port that reaches your computer.  The switch is the middle man between you computer and the energy saver and uses female and male USB plugs to make that connections.  Super easy.

I have a MacBook laptop so I am often using my computer away from my hard drives, USB hubs, and iPhone dock.  The TrickleStar PC Energy Saver and Switch worked perfect for this.  All I had to do was flip the switch and my whole surge protector  and hard drives were shut down.  The switch itself denotes power through a bright green LED.  For more permanent set-ups, the Energy Save plug is mountable and the Switch has a peel adhesive.

Simple as that, my only problem with these products is that they are not one product.  There’s really no need for this and it is much more practical to power your gear down manually, especially when using several chained hard drives.

Beyond that, the TrickleStar products work as advertised and will cost under $30 for the pair.  If you are looking for a way to assure yourself that your computer set-up is not wasting energy I strongly suggest you give these products a try.

Pros:

• Easy Set-Up
• Attractive Aesthetic
• Saves Energy

Cons:

• Products should be combined as one package
• No real way to prove it works without the help of MythBusters

Buy the TrickleStar PC Energy Saver Plug Here For $17!

Buy the Trickle Star PC Switch Here For $10!Similar Posts:

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4Bugs 200 is a picture hunt game from Root9 Media.  I had previously reviewed their Yeti Sports game and I’m here today to talk about Bugs4.  Sort of a weird name for a picture hunt game, the Bugs are merely the character that you represent when playing by yourself or in multiplayer.  You end up seeing them a bunch during scoring screens and they always look pretty happy regardless of how bad you are at the game.

I was pretty bad at this game.  Its set-up is brutally simple and intuitive but the pictures are really, really hard.  I’m not that attuned to this type of game but I don’t think I even cleared one level, I found it that difficult.

Each round consists of you finding the 4 differences between the two photos as a timer counts down.  Pressing the wrong area shortens your time.  So hard!  Attention to detail was a trait I thought I had, but this game makes me seriously question that.  I’m sure the designers had some good laughs in photoshop making the smallest possible adjustments to the pictures so that are just barely noticeable.

Features included localized and online leader boards as well as FaceBook integration.  Two players could take turns playing on on one screen and as you can see from the above picture that neither my dog or myself could score any points.  The picture below demonstrates that every so often the game will throw you a bone as the 4 differences aren’t as hard as the bulk of the 200 photos.

For $1, 4Bugs 200 is a well designed game but you really need to be good at this sort of game or you’ll get quickly frustrated.  The interface is simple and effective and for the dudes there are some sexy female pics thrown in there for good measure (pun intended).

A free version is available to see how good or bad you are before you commit to the full version.  Both free and paid versions are available now in addition to some specialty 4Bugs games like World Tour and Octoberfest when you search 4Bugs in the App Store.  You’ve been warned!

Pros:

• Intuitive Interface
• Happy Bug Avatars
• Online Leaderboards and FaceBook

Cons:

• Really, Really Difficult Photos

Buy it here for $1Similar Posts:

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EZ Grill, easy review.  So even though America is wholly embracing this green revolution for the most part, throwing stuff away is still a huge part of our culture.  To add to this national pastime comes the EZ Grill, a portable and disposable solution for those looking to grill on the go.

The whole set-up of the grill is painfully simple in the “why didn’t I think out that” way.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the idea didn’t originate from some serial griller’s DIY project.

The EZ Grill has four parts.  It takes an aluminum foil pan with primed charcoal dipped in mineral oil with an ignition cloth inside, and covers it with a metal grate.  That’s it.  EZ really can’t be spelled in any other way in this case.

I brought the EZ Grill on a rafting trip down the Clackamas River in Oregon, outside of Portland.  We used it to cook shrimp and chicken kabobs and they tasted great.  The only thing I can say is that like any other grill you have to give the charcoals enough time to get appropriately hot before you try a cook food over them.

The grill itself is designed to last up to an hour and a half of total charcoal burn time.  We used ours for about an hour.  What would make this grill better would be if it was somehow totally biodegradable.  I know that the makers of EZ grill have gone to great lengths to eco-friendly as possible but some effort still must be had to dispose of the EZ Grill properly.  We did manage to find a trash can alongside the river but not everyone will be as responsible as we were.

At a really low price I can recommend this grill for anyone who doesn’t own a small gas or charcoal grill.  This would work well for small one night camping trips or other type scenarios such as tailgaiting.

EZ Grill is now available at your local retailer and you can also purchase them in bulk at EZ Grill’s Website.

Pros:

• It’s an easy grill
• Long burn time
• Eco-Friendly
• Cheap

Cons:

• Not Biodegradable

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Finding the perfect iPod speaker system can be a daunting task at best.  With so many choices to choose from and seemingly hundreds of new brands emerging all over the place, it can end up being quite the process.  What most docks have forgotten however, is old media.  While some of us may have totally abandoned CD’s, there are probably more than a handful of us that still use them here and there, depending on the scenario.  I actually still use CD’s when taking a shower using and old CD player boombox I’ve had for over a decade stuffed on a shelf in my bathroom.

The JVC UX-LP5 is one of the only shelftop iPod dock systems I’ve seen that also has a CD embedded within.  This by itself is a huge selling point for this product that shouldn’t be missed for those of you using both MP3’s and CD’s.

The JVC UX-LP5 keeps it easy straight out of the box as all the major features and inputs are right on the face of the system.  The iPod dock flips up and stows away when not in use and the aux input and headphone jacks are accessible and right in front of your eyes.

The whole system looks really attractive as well with a sleek and futuristic twist using some neon blue accents to highlight the clear and black plastic.  Each speaker uses a sharp chrome ring to bring out contrast between the speaker itself and its container

The whole system is really lightweight and moving it about and adjusting the speakers is no problem at all.  One thing you will notice is that this system picks up a ton of smudges and dust.  If you’re like me and have OCD when it comes to clean and shiny gear, you might want to keep a micro-fiber cloth at arms reach at all times.

When speaking of the sound of the system, the JVC UX-LP5 is really loud at 70 watts but ends up being a little dull and muddy.  Even with the two JVC proprietary sound boosters (Sound Turbo and HBS), the sound ends up being a bit too lopsided.  Crank up the bass and it sounds too muddled.  Turn up the treble and it ends up being too shrill.

There never seemed to be a good balance that could be reached no matter how hard I tweaked the settings.  Regardless of the shortcomings in the audio department, this system can really crank and would be absolutely perfect in households that entertain and party.

The remote was very robust and contained a plethora of options including:  Sleep, dimmer, sound settings, and more.  The thing is, is that many of these functions aren’t accessible on the system itself, so you be amiss if you lost the remote.

I did experience some weird issues when testing out the UX-LP5.  Often times the indexing of my iPod got all screwed up and I would be looking at one song but hearing a totally different one.  Other times the UX-LP5 didn’t seem to know how to handle what input in which it was assigned.  Slow to switch over from CD to iPod, it would just start playing music regardless of where in the menu my iPod was.

All in all, the best parts about the UX-LP5 is the volume capacity and the CD player, which is also capable of playing MP3’s and WMA’s.  The sound is nothing special but that’s just a sticking point given what the system can do for your household.  For under $150, this shelf or desktop system has some great things going for it.

Pros:

• Looks Killer
• Ready For Parties
• CD Player

Cons:

• Lackluster Sound
• Weird iPod Interface Issues
• Lose The Remote And Lose Features

Buy it here for $142!Similar Posts:

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I’m an avid bike rider and attend the good old gym on a regular basis. One thing I’ve long failed to do is keep track of my workouts – I don’t even have a little black book to record my mileage or ’sets’ completed. Enter the Garmin Forerunner 310XT.

The Forerunner 310XT is Garmin’s first fully fledged GPS watch to offer not only a myriad of workout and tracking options, but is waterproof up to 50m. Aesthetically it’s a bit on the large side, but that lends itself to a reasonably large screen, all things relative of course. The wrist band is finished in bright orange, so there’s no mistaking this thing for anything but a workout watch, although I’m relatively confident that runners and triathlon nuts could get away with wearing it year round, though they might be a bit hampered by its 20 hour battery life.

And despite that sounding like a short battery life I assure you it’s not, especially if you use the Forerunner 310XT specifically for your workouts. To streamline the charging process Garmin has included a clothespin like charger that grasps the 310XT at two contact points, making charging the device a snap (pardon the pun).

Function wise the 310XT really delivers. It’s waterproof, so Triathloners will like its ability to go from the water, to the bike (there’s an optional bike mount) to the run. If you so chose you can even set it up to transition in between these sports and keep track of your time in between each transition so you don’t cheat your stats. I primarily used the 310XT while biking and lifting weights and despite it being largely designed for running, swimming and biking it still was a great compliment to my muscle building routine.

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT can track calories, heart rate (strap included – works wirelessly) distance, speed, cadence (optional bike attachment needed) and pace. It can set you back to a desired location or race you against a virtual opponent using stored info about your previous workouts.

And the features don’t end there. Included is a USB stick that wirelessly connects the 310XT to your computer when placed within a close proximity. You’ll need to fire up the included software and register for a Garmin Connect account, but once you’ve done that you’re work out info is automatically uploaded to the web where you can view graphs and charts; all the stuff that could potentially make you into a super human athlete.

Much like many of today’s cell phones the 310XT is equipped with a vibrator alert that can also be paired with audible alerts. This is ideal for those of you that like to exercise with headphones on and would like to stay aware of your lap or pace alerts, or just don’t want to disturb fellow athletes.

For each sport you have the option of going with a standard screen, or if you so chose you can add more or less data fields depending on your goals and what info you want to be able to view at a glance. For weight lifting I opted for time of day, timer, heart rate and calories burned. For cycling, though, I modified the screen to display distance, speed, timer and heart rate. Again, it’s all customizable with up to 4 data fields per screen and the option for multiple screens that can be cycled through at the push of a button.

Turning on the screen’s backlight is as simple as clicking the power button – hold it down and it turns the device on or off.  Holding the ‘mode’ and up arrow locks the keys.  These are just a few of the intuitive controls found on the 310XT, which is a good example of how easy it is to use the device. It took me a bit of time to become familiar with all its options and menus, but depending on your workouts and goals you’ll find the ones you need to use after just a few uses. I didn’t try my hand at the interval training, which allows you to set goals, such as distance and time, and although I’m sure these functions are useful for the hard core cardio trainer, I’m just not cut from that cloth.

Downloading the data from the 310XT computer doesn’t happen at a blazing speed, but if done regularly it shouldn’t take more than a minute or two. I left my data stored in the watch for a few weeks and the initial sink took sometime. Not only can you view your data but you can explore fellow Forerunner’s workouts, such as the location and distance of their runs or bike rides. You’re able to search by location and if you so choose you can download their workouts to the 310XT for a virtual opponent. This is a brilliant piece of social engineering and really makes the $350 investment in the device all the more worth it. If that’s not enough to satisfy your insatiable thirst for data, you can also view your total workouts by week or view them in a calendar.

Look, I could pretty much go on all day and after using the Garmin Forerunner 310XT for well over 4 weeks I don’t even begin to feel as if I’ve scratched the surface of the device’s full potential. The price tag is a bit steep ($350), but the sheer amount of use and utility you’ll get out of this GPS infused device will easily pay for itself. It’s one thing to track your workouts by writing them down in a log book, but it’s a whole new planet of physical exercise and well being when you can create, collaborate and track everything with one simple device that requires little to no manual input. My only gripe with the 310XT is that the software kept asking me to install the plug into my computer, but that was more a result of Safari’s lack of compatibility than anything else.

Do your body a favor, especially if you’re an avid biker or triathonler and pick up a Forerunner 310XT.

Pros:

• Tracks your workouts without manual input
• Solid build and design
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Software plugin not compatible with Safari
• Somewhat limited battery life

You can grab one at Amazon for $320 or for $375 wth a heart rate monitor.Similar Posts:

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During my quest for the ultimate earphone I have had the chance to review several pairs from companies I had not previously heard of.  Being pleasantly surprised on many an occasion, The Cresyn C750E’s are just that. Having a solid sound and a comfortable fit, I am compelled to recommend these earphones to anyone looking for a great package at the $100 price range.

Judging today’s current batch of earphones you are not only looking at sound but you are also grading how they fit and what features they flaunt.  I can say right off the bat that the Cresyn C750E’s possess all of the above.  Embracing a sturdy fit and competent sound reproduction in a lightweight and compact package, the Cresyn C750E’s easily rank as some of the better earphones I’ve used all year.

In comparison to other earphones I’ve unboxed, the Cresyn C750E’s was pretty basic.  Three sizes of inserts and a nice feeling carrying case.  That’s it.  Not that the Cresyn C750E’s needed anything else anyway.

Besides what I mentioned earlier in regards to what I liked about the Cresyn C750E’s, I also really liked the shaped of the earphone.  While the majority of the time they fit great, they would sometimes need adjusting.  The beam shape of the Cresyn C750E’s really help you readjust them on the fly and without looking, you could grasp them and instantly know their orientation.  I have ran into earphones in the past where it was more difficult to adjust them because you couldn’t tell how they were fitting in your ear without looking in a mirror.

The C750E’s featured a sturdy clip that slid up and down the cord with ease and really helped pull slack off of the weight of the earphones.  Not that they were heavy or anything but another anchor point always helps.  Other than that the earphones don’t have any other standout features.

In the area of sound, the Cresyn C750E’s have a lot going for them.  They’re nothing that will blow your mind but will compete bravely with anything you can throw their way.  They never distorted when I cranked the volume and were never too harsh on my ears regardless of the bit rates my MP3’s were running at.

They could have used a bit more gradual bass in my opinion but the whole mix felt generally pretty balanced and I enjoyed my overall listening experience.  Through my main testing grounds of riding my bike and going to the gym the Cresyn C750E’s performed well under those parameters and they didn’t get in the way whatsoever.

All in all, Cresyn is a company that I will now recognize and be able to speak highly of the C750E’s as a great pair of earphones.  Most of my earphone reviews are usually not this glowing and it’s nice to not really have to gripe about anything.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Awesome Sound
• Easily Adjustable

Cons:

• Might Be A Bit Pricey For Some

Buy Them Here For $106!Similar Posts:

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Do you love magic?  Do you have an iPhone?  If so, get yourself over to the iTunes app store and plunk down $2.99 for what might be one of the more novel and original applications to hit the iPhone.  Called Rising Card, the application is based off the classic and popular trick performed by hundreds of magicians around the world.  It works like this: the magician tells you to think of a card and say it aloud.  The magician then magically makes your card slip out from the deck using what appears to be a set of invisible strings.

*Warning: Spoiler alert ahead*

Now you, the every day joe, can perform this trick on unsuspecting relatives, friends or complete strangers.  Upon initial launch of the app you’re presented with a set of instructions explaining how it works.  I found these a bit overwhelming so you might want to opt for the video tutorial, which requires a WiFi or 3G connection.  After the initial launch you have the option to officially launch the application, which will hide the instructions unless you hold down the ’settings’ button presesnted on the fake screen.

Fake screen you say?  Yup. The Rising Card iPhone app uses a fake screen to make your subject think you have yet to launch the application, but more on that in a sec.  One you fire up the app you’ll have to perform a secret move to fully launch- you swipe down on the screen with two fingers.  What will appear to be the app shutting down is in fact the fake screen launching. Each ‘application’ in the fake screen represents a card number while the 4 favorite buttons represent a suit.  So, while your mark says the card aloud you punch the card’s info in accordingly.  In order to truly dupe them into thinking you haven’t done anything underhanded, you’ll want to choose the suit first and then with a flick of a finger swipe left or right on the appropriate card.  This will give the appearance as if you haven’t launched an application yet, but be careful not to let them see you select the suit, otherwise they might get suspicious.  After that hand them the iPhone and tell them to launch the application, which unbeknownst to them is already running.  Then they just need to shake the phone to reveal their card.

While I did enjoy the application I did receive some skepticism from fellow techies.  They weren’t all that convinced that the app holds all that much allure since the mark has to say their card aloud.  Also, the app does require some knowledge of how the iPhone works otherwise the least suspecting could be the most skeptical – the faux screen is what sells it and if they’re not familiar with the iPhone’s app environment they might just assume that you punched something in.  Still, nothing beats the fake screen move and if the ‘pledge’ is presented correctly I truly think you’ll have some people begging you for the answer.

Read
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By now we all know what a behemoth the Madden franchise is and the impact it has had on sports gaming in general.  Some cherish it and some loathe it, but it’s the only licensed NFL game available, so play it you must.

I remember a time when football gaming was competitive.  Visual Concepts and Sega had released ESPN NFL 2K5 for $20 and EA Sports must have been straight spun.  But alas, no more.

Soon after that I read in utter dismay that EA had monopolized football gaming through an exclusive and costly NFL license.  In the years that followed, all the Madden reviews that I read couldn’t help but mention that EA was just dialing in their biggest and most lucrative franchise and that the series never really stepped it up from year to year.

While I agreed with these reviewers whole heartedly, I never stopped playing Madden.  It was firmly lodged in my gaming subconscious from the days of the early 90’s on the Sega Genesis to the late 90’s on the Sega Saturn to every other console after that.  I would never abandon it.  I loved NFL 2K5 for the strides the developers took to give EA a run for their money in regards to gameplay, presentation, and fun-factor.  But by no means was there ever a “bad” year of Madden, and it was often just a case of misallocated focus.  But, in the end, it was never the best it could be.

With that said, Madden 2010 is by far the most impressive rendition of football gaming EA Sports has created in years, but one can only hope and wait for what will someday be a truly complete and epic John Madden NFL Football experience.  Fingers crossed right?

**Before I get started on my review of Madden 10 I just want to note that I have been playing on an 2005 Xbox 360 that has already seen the three red lights.**

Presentation:

Receiving a positive and fresh overhaul this year, the whole look and feel of Madden NFL 2010 has a TV style sheen to it.  Each game information about the stadium is given and there are some animated tie-ins that show tailgating, consumerism, and social banter.  The in-game advertising is present once again but it would have been nice to have more of a variety instead of the same brands we’ve seen for years.  And I’m not talking about Snickers.

I would have liked to see some major networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, EPSN, NFL Network) involved in the process with each game being broadcast by the corresponding network with all the appropriate graphic, such as that stupid FOX football robot dancing around (never gonna happen).  Now that’s what should be the future of Madden, right? I swear I just cursed myself.

There could even be the specific announcers for each network.  While this review is traveling down a wish list path already, I can’t help but think about all the possibilities.  If EA truly wanted to champion an all great version of Madden NFL Football they wouldn’t have to make one every year.  They could release roster updates and other downloads, and a perfect game of Madden wouldn’t require you to buy one every year.  Would you pay $100 for a Madden NFL game that lasted you 3 or more years?  Not that EA would ever do this (-$$$), but it’s not a bad idea to ponder from a non-technical/financial standpoint.

At the end of the day – let’s make that day be Sunday – the TV-style presentation is truly evident and a nice leap in the 2010 version.   But with EA’s big slogan of the year being, “If It Happens On Sunday, Then You’ll See It In The Game”, what happens if I see it on Monday Night Football?

Graphics:

What you’d expect for the most part. Madden 10 doesn’t look all that different from years previous.  Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing, but you won’t really be taken aback by anything that’s happening on the screen.  The animations have been touched up this year in addition to the inclusion of the new “Pro-Tak” system that allows for up to 9 man gang tackles to occur.  Some of the momentum animations are a bit puzzling in terms of aesthetic, but you’ll get used to it.

Player models look standard and solid as always with some minor improvements like animated quarterback hand towels thrown in to spruce up the realism.  I would have liked to have seen some more attention given to the field and how it changes over the course of the game.  Divots, chunks of torn up turf flying off the back of the offensive line’s cleats or stuck in a players facemask are all absent.  Plus I’ve yet to see a field that has a partial baseball diamond on it.

Wind is another gripe.  While is has it’s apparent effect on the ball during field goal attempts, you can’t tell it’s there during regular game play.  I hope I’m not complaining about the impossible here, but hopefully my comments can be taken as constructive criticism at the very least.  Rippling jerseys, trash on the field, crowd reactions, or even bellowing gusts from the blimps POV are all ways to convey a windy football game and these too are absent.

In terms of the instant replay feature, I noticed that the resolution on manual replays had dropped significantly, as I remember them looking better in past Maddens.  While I’m on the topic of instant replays I really don’t understand what EA’s problem is.  First of all the frequency of replays is weak and second it never shows an instant replay right after a touchdown is scored.  **Note: Madden just received an update over Xbox Live and I just saw my first two replays after a touchdown** Doesn’t that happen all day long on Sunday?  Isn’t that the time we want to see a nice angled replay the most?

To add insult to injury when I attempt to run a manual replay often times it doesn’t even finish playing out.  Just before the ball carrier crosses the plane of the endzone the replay is halted.  WTF EA?!  You’ll also notice that this happens during the highlights at halftime or post game as well.  It’s super annoying and takes away from the feeling of achievement and satisfaction after a great touchdown is scored. One last thing about replays is that it also seems like it can’t make up it’s mind.  It will flash the NFL logo indicating that it’s about to show a replay, then it immediately flashes the logo again and there is no replay.  Easily my greatest disgust with this game, but I’ll stop now.

Frame rate issues were in abundance on my old machine and it was bothersome to say the least.  It seemed to happen the most at kickoff.

Sound:

Another aspect of Madden 2010 that isn’t going to win any (sound design) awards, but is fairly competent in its own right.  From the blaring hum of the crowd and stadium announcer one-liners to the on field chatter from the players and coaches I can’t really think of anything missing.  Except for creativity that is.

Madden was one of the first games I can remember that used licensed music and some bands have even blown up (Good Charlotte blah) due to the exposure.  This year’s collection is really quite good.  There’s a bunch of late 90’s jams in there from Korn, Rage, Helmet, Public Enemy, as well as some awesome new stuff including Set Your Goals.

The Dolby Surround Component could be a bit stronger in terms of variety.  There should be more of a 360 degree sense of immersion attached to whatever player you are controlling.  For example, you are a halfback running down the left side of the field .  On the right you should hear the offensive and defensive lines clashing and fading in volume as you run further away as well as oncoming defenders and blockers trying to catch up to you.  On the left you should hear the sideline team and staff, either for or against shouting and jeering.  And while all this is happening you should hear 360 degrees of crowd noise.  I know that this is a review, but I can’t help but use this platform to get some of my ideas out!

IGN’s review blatantly disliked the on-field commentary, but I didn’t really think it was any better or worse than subsequent Madden’s.  I like Cris Collinsworth a bit less now, but I’m always going to talk shit back to the TV no matter what.  Other than that it was noticeably fragmented and spliced at parts which you’d think would have been fixed by this stage in the game but…

GamePlay:

As always, a staple of the Madden experience has been about the gameplay.  That is no different this year.  You can tailor the speed of the game to your liking, which is a nice feature to see what works for you as a slower game will give you a bit more time to decide what move you want to pull off before the tackle animation takes over.  The spin move is far less effective this year leaving the side-to-side juke and forward press on the right analog to put your head down as the best offensive moves.  The stiff arm works well, but timing is key and you have to really anticipate the approaching tackler.

No longer does momentum carry you out of bounds on a screen pass (except for the AI).  It’s totally fixed and makes those type of plays useful again.  Sometimes while catching the ball, the animation takes over to an unrealistic effect but it usually works out in your favor so I can’t complain about that.

The right analog has also been added to quarterback controls to help you evade sacks in the pocket.  It’s really awesome that that has been implemented, but I just can’t seem to remember it’s there.

Also included this year are errant passes from quarterbacks who get hit in the pocket.  This opens up for some realistic-ish interceptions and odd catches by the offense.  EA has also included a button mashing fight for the fumbled football feature that’s cool and unexpected when you witness it for the first time.  Reminds me of the days when controllers had turbo buttons.

Other than that, everything you’d expect is intact and the game plays great.  Solid gameplay is synonymous with Madden and this year it’s definitely no different.  It’s just as fun as always and the randomness and unexpectedness of pro football really makes every game different.

Replay Value:

There are literally tons to do here.  Between franchise on and offline, superstar mode, online co-op, practice and Madden Moments, there’s no way you are going to exhaust this game anytime soon.  Franchise mode is really deep as per usual and you could spend hours on end just noodling around your off-season.

Online co-op is a bit janky due to some camera angle constraints, but is a fun alternative to playing with close friends (you can play with random strangers).  It’s great that the online franchise companion iPhone app has finally arrived but I can’t seem to access the app with my Xbox Live Gamertag so I can’t really tell you how it is.

Beyond that, you will definitely get a bang for your buck with this year’s Madden and something you’ll easily be playing into 2010.

Final Endings

Through all my gripings and delusional wish list manifesto-isms, Madden NFL 2010 is the best football game we can play on this generation of consoles.  Is it the best EA can do?  No.

EA still has a long way to go in my opinion to create the definitive football gaming experience, but I haven’t given up hope by any means.  I really think that other developers deserve a shot at the NFL license as it will only make football games better for the consumer.  Hopefully some of my ideas are taken into consideration and thanks for reading!

Oh, one final thing.  The Madden shop is ridiculous and exemplifies what is wrong with American sports.  Allowing you to buy upgrades and boosts for teams and players in specific games is like sanctioned steroids.  That’s why the New York Yankees will always be one of the best teams because they have the most money to BUY the best players.  Where’s the sport in that?

Pros:

• Pick up and play- What you’ve come to expect from a Madden game
• Online Franchise Mode
• Great replay value

Cons:

• Lame instant replays
• Sound design could use some creative improvements
• No real surprises-What you’ve come to expect from a Madden game

Buy it here for $58!Similar Posts:

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Going to the gym can be such a drag.  It’s like going to work, only shorter, smells worse and costs you money as opposing to earning it.  So what’s one to do when it comes to at home fitness.  Well, if you have ever remained awake beyond the hours of 1am and onward, then you probably pretty familiar with the endless array of get in shape quick exercise tools.  I think it all started back in the mid 90s with that stupid ab crunch machine that was crafted of a few pieces of plastic and a rubber band, or perhaps that sea saw like bike that used your own body weight to shed those unwanted pounds.  So the inevitable question comes to mind?  What’s a guy like me  to do whose in his early 30s who wants to maintain his physique but not attend the always cumbersome gym on a daily basis?  Enter the Perfect Push Up and Pull Up.

Now before you throw your skepticism blanket down consider that push ups and pull ups have been the corner stone of muscle building since time began.  Which means that these two products have immediate credence no matter how apprehensive you are.  But unlike most late night infomercial exercise equipment, the manufacture makes no quibbles about get in shape quick schemes with these products.  Nope, you’ll need to dedicate yourself and really try if you want the Perfect Push Up and Pull Up to make a difference.  After all, the push up and pull up are not only the corner stone of muscle building, but tend to be a pretty big indicator of one’s muscle strength.

The Perfect Pull Up out of the box looks over whelming and requires installation.  But as I’ve already alluded to, these products will require dedication. So anyone looking for a quick out of the box all in one fitness solution I suggest you head to your local grocery store and walk the candy aisle until you break a sweat.  In actuality, the Perfect Pull Up is very easy to install.   You simply just screw in 4 pieces of metal to your door’s outer frame (not inner, that’s where the door closes).  The manufacture provides a guide to help you determine where to drill the screw holes and from there you’ll just need to punch in the screws.  I found the guide to be bit cumbersome and inaccurate (paper bends and folds) so I suggest placing the actual pieces on the door after making your marks to see how things will really line up.  After the 4 anchor pieces have been installed you just need to hang the actual bar, center the pull up piece and tighten the hex screws.  Because some door widths vary slightly, the pull up bar can be adjusted accordingly to insure that you have a snug fit.  Again, you’ll want to make sure you install the pieces on the outside part of your door, that way your door can still close, which is an absolute for someone like me who has it installed on their bedroom door (chicken brown cow).

Once it’s installed you’ll just want to insure everything is in place and make sure it won’t snap while you’re in the middle of a pull up.  To do this, I suggest just slowing adding weight to the bar by raising your feet off the ground inch by inch until you’re confident it will hold.  Don’t tug or swing on the bar since it’s not designed for this kind of activity and could break it.

Included with the Perfect Pull Up are two handles.  These handles are designed to hang on the pull up bar and rotate as you do a pull up, hence the Perefect Pull Up.  My immediate criticism, and this is more a product of my height (I’m 6′ 1″) and size of my apartment (9′ ceilings) is that using the handles, which ultimately lower you about 8″, make it difficult not to touch the ground with your feet while doing a pull up.  As a result, I have to bend my knees at 90 degrees and be cognizant of my leg placement during exercise.  In a larger abode, or if you’re shorter you probably won’t find this a problem, though.

The handles are the key to the Perfect Pull Up, so it’s an interesting movement.  First things first, the whole process is a bit more comfortable and second to that more natural than the standard fixed pull up or chin up.  If you so chose, you don’t have to rotate the handles, but after you’ve experienced the alternative to your childhood exercise I think you’re gonna like what you find.  Instead of feeling the exercise in just your back or arms, you’ll feel it in both since the rotation requires you to use both sets of muscles and more.

The best part about the Perfect Pull Up is that it’s not just limited to pull ups.  It actually rotates down on a set of hinges (the 2 lower pieces you install) and enables to perform rows as well as an Australian Pull Up, which has you hanging from the bar with your back hovering inches above the ground.  Both of these exercises incorporate your other back muscles that the pull up doesn’t accomplish.  Thus providing an all around workout.  And, believe it or not, I actually enjoyed the Australian Pull Up since the handles, which allow rotation, make it easier to concentrate on the back muscles.  I know this may sound too good to be true, but try doing the same exercise at the gym without the handles and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

And it doesn’t stop there.  Included in the package (if you so opt) are a set of Ab Straps.  I don’t think I need to go into any explanation, but they’re a perfect compliment to the system and actually get you more bang for your buck, so I suggest purchasing them either with or after the fact.

Some things to consider: you’ll want to do the pull ups on the same side that the system is installed otherwise you might hit your head.  Also, some people might find it a little cramped, but after sometime you’ll become adjusted, unless of course you’re an extremely broad shouldered person.

Last, and most certainly not least, is the Perfect Push Up.  Unlike the Perfect Pull Up, the Perfect Push Up requires no setup and can be used right out of the box.  Included in my package was a push up counter, which is just simple a counter that when depressed by your chest tells you how many push ups you’ve completed.  My suggestion: don’t bother with the counter unless you can’t count and you want to rob yourself of a complete push up – the height of the counter prevents you from reaching a deep push up.

Build quality wise the Perfect Push Up is extremely solid.  The handles rotate on an axis and the bottoms are finished in rubber, allowing them to be used on kitchen floors and other slippery like surfaces.  I used them on carpet and despite my floor having some padding to it, they were stable as could be, providing no give and insuring that my wrists didn’t give way or bend.  The handles themselves are finished in rubber padding and provide a comfortable grip.

So does it work?  There’s no doubt in my mind that a good old fashion push up still builds muscle, but not to the same degree as the Perfect Push Up.  Because the Perfect Push Up not only provides appropriate wrist support – the handles allow your wrists to remain straight – it also rotates which engages your inner pectoral as well as your back and believe it or not your core.  As a result, I was able to achieve a more all around workout that exhausted me faster than performing normal push ups.  When using the Perfect Push Up, though, you’ll need to make sure you really squeeze at the top of your push up and keep your back straight.  Because of the added height from the floor, I found it easy to cheat and let my back sag, which doesn’t engage the core as much.

I’m a bit disappointed that I wasn’t provided with the Perfect Dip Bar, but maybe I’ll ask them to send that piece over and amend my review once I’ve got a chance to try it out.  I’m not sure if I’d want to dedicated my workouts solely to the Perfect Push Up and Pull Up, but after using it for well over 4 weeks time at 20 minute intervals I’ve convinced it’s a great supplement for the days you can’t make it to the gym.  And that’s not to say you can’t use it as a stand alone exercise tool, but given my attention span, or lack there of, I’m convinced I’d be bored with doing the same exercises within weeks.

Pros:

• Easy to use and install
• Fold out exercise pamphlet guide included
• Well built

Cons:

• Pull bar with handles too low to ground
• Hinges can get caught and rub off door frame paint
• Push up counter prevents push up

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Finding a good armband for your MP3 player can be a tricky thing.  Does it stay fastened to your arm without sliding?  Does it get in the way of what your doing?  I have tried a couple of arm bands in my day and I always ended up going with an around the hip accessory (tucked into my waistband) just because it worked better for what I was doing.

ArmPocket is an Eco-Friendly company that makes a variety of quality and utilitarian armbands for your Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.  To say it right now, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is the best arm band I have used yet and I highly advise you to check it out if you are looking for a competent and fairly priced exercise accessory.

Let’s start with features.  Assuming that you don’t have any other storage on your person, the ArmPocket Sport 20 has got you covered.  In the main chamber there are two elastic slots for an ID and credit card and it is big enough to hold an energy bar or gel in addition to your MP3 player no problem.  On the outside there is also a small loop to hold a keyring.

In the looks department, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is not very elegant but its form factor is what is visually apparent and oddly enough, the brand logo actually resembles the bottom portion of the Under Armor logo.

A reflective strip wraps around the face of the armband to add an element of safety but you should still wear other shiny gear if you are planning on being out at night or other low light scenarios.  The transparent plastic that allows you access to your iPod’s controls is heavy duty but requires a concerted effort at times to register your touch.  Not a performance problem whatsoever but you do have to look at what your doing and won’t really be able to access the controls haphazardly.  Being that the Sport 20 is capable of holding so many things, it does look a tad bulky but never really got in the way of anything is was doing during my time at the gym or riding my bike.

In terms of build and construction, the ArmPocket Sport 20 is testament to quality and ruggedness.  The entire armband is made of recycled PET fabric (yarn fabric made from plastic bottles) and natural bamboo giving the Sport 20 a tight textured weave with great solid feel to it.  The zippers and the strap/band are sturdy as ever and look to last for quite a while.

When riding my bike and working out at the gym the Sport 20 never slipped on me.  Sometimes it felt like it was going to but it never did.  The band itself felt especially secure and comfortable thanks to the ergonomic memory foam, and reminded me of getting my blood pressure taken at the doctor’s office.  While boasting moisture protection, the Sport 20 was also quite capable of fending off water.  Not to say that it’s submersible, but the texture of the Sport 20 could totally work well in rainy conditions.

What I really liked about the Sport 20 was the fact that it could easily be worn upside down.  Depending on the way you like your earphone cord to dangle or the way you want to view your iPod/iPhone, the Sport 20 exudes accessibility regardless of vertical orientation.

My only gripe comes when I need to remove my iPod Touch or earphones.  It could have been a bit more easy to do.  The rubberized earphone input area is tough to get the jack through, especially if it’s a horizontal one.  If you are looking to evade this hole entirely, you will also find it tough to zip the ArmPocket up fully without the headphones poking out the top.

Other than that, if you are looking for a sport armband for your iPhone or iPod Touch you owe it to yourself to check out the ArmPocket Sport 20.  It is an absolutely quality product that should give you many years wear and tear.  Coupled with the company’s green and recycling efforts it makes you a smart consumer as well.

Pros:

• Super comfortable
• Steady non-slip grip
• Plenty of room for other things besides MP3 player

Cons:

• Can be bulky and protruding
• Earphone input area is a bit tough to navigate
• Controlling iPod/iPhone can require a hard touch

Buy one here for $29.95!

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Computer speakers are another one of those gadgets/accessories where there are literally countless options for you to choose from.  Most everyone who has a desktop or laptop computer can greatly improve the sound of their set-up with one of these after-market speaker kits.

Hercules has been around for a while now but they have yet to make any huge waves here in the US.  Hopefully this review will help!  The XPS 2.1 50 speaker system sports some versatile features out of the box, and for it’s price range (around $60), it sounds really nice.

Compact and sleek. the aesthetic of the XPS is complimented by orange (and not even close to my favorite color) rings around the speakers and volume/power knob.  The front of the speakers is covered in glossy black while the rest of the system (sub woofer included) is draped in a black matte finish.

Construction and build wise, the XPS didn’t feel all that sturdy as all the units in the system seem overly lightweight for some reason.  Simply put, the XPS speakers could be easily knocked over by a flailing limb holding a coffee mug, or the base of each speaker could be broken off if not aware of how frail the connection was between the two during storage or travel.

When it came to the sound performance, I was rather impressed with what the Hercules XPS brought to the table.  Despite the small speaker size, the XPS was capable of some significant banging.  It actually got pretty loud.  The speakers suffered from some mild distortion at higher volume levels but they did a great job of entertaining friends from around a 30-40 foot radius.  The XPS system handled my MP3 collection with precision and ease and sounded competent across multiple genres including metal and hip-hop. The sub woofer gave the bass depth that the speakers lacked and they blended very smooth together to create a quality mix that I was pleased with.

I liked how the XPS system had input jacks on the “right” speaker for headphones and an AUX IN for an iPod or PSP making it very travel worthy (if you’ve got the room), and accessible to multiple scenarios.  It worked great when friends came over with iPhones with different music libraries as they could easily plug right in.

I didn’t really run into many problems while reviewing the Hercules XPS 2.1 50 Speaker System.  The only thing I came across was a scratchy loose connection of the volume knob.  It was a bit annoying at first but after a week or so it disappeared.

I hope that my high remarks in regards to this system helps consumers navigate through the sea of comparable products to find the right one for them.  By no means is this product stellar but it provides a great listening and user experience for the price.  I am interested in reviewing other products by Hercules to see if they hold the same level of quality.

Pros:

• Good sound for size and price
• Attractive design and aesthetic
• Versatile features (Aux-In)

Cons:

• Slightly shoddy construction and build
• Mild distortion at peak volumes

Buy it here for $63!

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