NuTouch Gloves

Sometimes you just have to put on the gloves to get the job done. Newer Technology has a pair that just may be right for your cold hands and your tablet. Don’t smudge that screen and catch the review after the break.

The NuTouch Gloves are a simple charcoal color pair of gloves designed to keep your hands warm while using your tablet or other touch screen device. The gloves are 52% Cotton, 24% Rayon, 14% Conductive Fiber, 10% Spandex. This gives them the the right material to keep your hands warm, stretch a little, and the Conductive Fiber on each finger tip for working with that touch screen device.

First I was curious as to how well they keep your hands warm. A tricky test when your in sunny San Diego, CA. Nevertheless, I devised a plan to use my refrigerator and freezer. First I put on the glove and stuck my hand in the fridge for 10 minutes and I noticed no chill in any finger or the hand. Pretty good for mildly cold weather, but what about colder weather. I then stuck the other hand in the freezer with the other glove on, of course, and after 10 minutes I could feel a slight chill even though the fan was blowing that cold air right at my hand. Still not bad at all for a snug fitting pair of gloves.

And the moment you’ve all been waiting for the test with a touch. I put on both gloves, picked up my HP Touchpad and for the next hour I surfed the web, played games, and even did some typing. The results were spot on with no issues navigating, swiping, or gesturing. I’m amazed how well they work, it’s almost like having a stylus on each finger. If your tired of cold hands while using your touch screen device-I suggest you give NuTouch Gloves a try! MSRP is $19.99.

Mass Effect 3 Preview

This past week I was one of the first to play Mass Effect 3 in Las Vegas. We were only allowed to play a short section, but it shows a lot about the quality of the game. It is also worth noting that the game is still in development so a few things may change and be improved upon.

Commander Shepard returns with many familiar faces on both sides of the line. As for the story, I can’t say much. However, if you played the first two games you may like to know that Shepard and Mordin do find a female Krogan, whose race was reduces to just males due to a bio-engineered disease. Just a tease!

That was the goal of the mission we played. Rescue this female Krogan which took us through a few areas fighting mech and a larger boss mech. The graphics were amazingly detailed and way better than Mass Effect 2. Sound effects and vocals were spot on and the controls were friendly and familiar.

What’s new? Kinect voice commands allow us to open doors, research items, switch weapons, control your squad, in game conversations and perform attacks all with a simple voice command. This actually makes playing the game more fluid as you don’t have to pause the game to pick an ability. It works very well and I was a little skeptical about talking to the game. But after a few minutes it just seemed normal and even more fun.

Mass Effect 3 is looking great, I am very excited with what I have experience and I am even more so looking forward to the final release. It cannot come soon enough! Bioware is set to release another top notch Mass Effect game this march.

Blue Microphones at CES 2012

We had the pleasure of stopping by Blue Microphones Booth at CES 2012 to take a look at their new products. They did have quite a bit displayed including the Snowball and Yeti microphones that we have used and found to be of excellent quality.

First up is the Tiki, a small portable microphone solution for communications or recording. I must say this looks pretty sweet at about the size of a USB drive and no cables needed. It has noise cancellation technology, which mimic human hearing, to filter out unwanted noise. In Speech Mode it will soft mute the mic when you stop speaking allowing you to type or continue another task without extra noise being picked up. Start talking again and your being picked up once again.

Tiki also features a Natural Recording Mode which is designed for podcasters and musicians. It effectively turns off the advanced features you would use in Speech Mode to provide you with CD quality recording. The Tiki looks awesome and has a great potential in this diverse audio market.

 

One of the better mics out there just got the digital treatment. The Spark Digital features both USB and iPad connections for a greater flexibility. It still has all the great features of the original Spark.

And for the road warrior, the Mikey Digital provides high quality audio recording on your iOS device. This is great for just about everything and even works when recording video. It also features a 3.5mm jack for inputs like your guitar.

Blue continues to innovate and produce exceptional products and these new mics look to be the same. The Mikey Digital set to sell for $99, the Spark Digital for $199 and the Tiki for $59.

Security Matters

Security on your computer has become crucial in today’s high tech world. I see enough computers with viruses, Trojans, and hijacks each week that I wonder why so many people are not proactive in trying to prevent these infections. Based on my experience and that of my colleagues in the PC repair field, it seems over ninety percent of the infected machines we see have either one of the free anti-virus products or none at all.

Is there something wrong with a free anti-virus program? Yes and no. Why I would rather see someone use one of these as a last resort (if circumstances prevent them from purchasing a better product) than to go without any protection. However, keep in mind these free anti-virus protects are not full featured, updated regularly, or feature support. They also tend to focus solely on preventing viruses while ignoring other types on malware.

Let’s say you have a solid paid security suite installed and you still get an infection. Yes, this does happen. This is mostly due to holes and backdoors in software that was not updated. That’s right, if you don’t update Windows and your software- your computer may be at risk. It’s a lot of work, but with the right tools it can be almost painless.

First you need world class protection against all types of malware. Eset Smart Security fits that need perfectly and is frankly the best security suite you can buy. Not only does it protect your system from infection from those nasty files but it can also block unwanted programs. As a bonus it will also keep tabs on Windows Update and remind you if any updates need to installed. Norton and McAfee, while not as effective as Eset, also make very good security software.

Now that you have security software and you are keeping Windows updated, what about all the other software installed on your system? Secunia has a few options for you. From the home user to corporations they have a solution to help you keep your software up to date. If you work in a corporate or business, please visit www.secunia.com for more information on the products they offer for you. As for the home user who is using their computer for personal use, Secunia PSI is the right one for you.

Secunia PSI is free in a none commercial system. Once installed it scans your system and alerts you if any detected program is not updated. It also provides a link to download the patch or updater. Another great featuring in the latest release is auto updating. It can auto update a few applications without user interaction. One warning, there is an infinite number of application software titles you can install and there is no way Secunia PSI can recognize every single one. So be cautious, check the scan results to see if any program is missing and if so, manually check for updates and manually add it to Secunia PSI.

By following this steps along with careful internet browsing habits you can eliminate almost all chances of becoming infected. Granted, just as the flu shot does not guarantee you cannot get the flu- there is no way to completing prevent an infection on any computer. It may only be a small chance, but there is always a chance of infection.

So remember, buy a solid Internet Security suite and keep it updated. I recommend Eset Smart Security. Next be sure to keep Windows and your software up to date. Eset will remind you if Windows needs an update and Secunia PSI can help you keep your software up to date. Visit www.eset.com and www.secunia.com for more information.  

NuScribe

 

With the rise of touch screen devices we often find a few inconveniences. First those ugly fingerprints and smudges. Secondly would be accuracy. We have all been there, replying to text message or trying to type when we keep getting the wrong letter. Maybe we want to watch a movie or view a picture only to see those darn smudges? Enter Newer Technology whose latest product would definitely seem aimed at these. NuScribe is a 2-in-1 stylus and pen for your touch screen devices. It comes in silver or pink and MSRP is $19.99, although it can currently be found at OWC for $10.00. Sounds like another stylus, right? So what’s the difference and how does it perform?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has a nice light weight feel and writes well on paper after a simple twist of the barrel. It is approximately the same size as a standard ballpoint pen. At the top of the stylus is where our fun begins as you can see the soft rubber nib. I must say I like the simple and yet eloquent design.

Performances, yes plural. The first device I tested on was my Asus Eee PC convertible Netbook which I have running the developer preview version of Windows 8. I start navigating around windows and then the internet and found it to be spot on accurate. Next I tapped the Start Menu followed by tapping the search bar. This allowed me to bring up the stylus input panel and I was able to write the word ‘paint’ very easily. With Paint ready and waiting to be tapped into play I launch it and drew a small sketch(below). Not being a graphics artists, I must admit I can’t draw very well. Despite my skills I was able to come up with this little bit of art very easily using NuScribe. Not bad at all, this worked extremely well.Next I fired up my HP Touchpad and started browsing the internet and moving through Apps with relative ease. I did have to apply a bit more pressure in some cases. Next was Angry Birds. Wow, that was fun! The responsiveness and accuracy was spot on. Looks like that’s two devices it works great on!

Moving along to my iPod Touch I did the exact test as I performed on the HP Touchpad. Guess What? The results were very much the same. The only problem I ran into was while playing Angry Birds I would sometimes move the stylus down past the screen while aim and lose control. Not a fault of the stylus, just an observation. I suppose that would be three devices that work well with it.

Shall I test one more? I think so! I grabbed my HTC Surround Windows Phone 7. Navigating through apps, e-mail and the hubs works beautifully. Angry Birds worked well with only a little more pressure needed. Shuffle Party also worked very well. That makes four devices that work very, very well with NuScribe.

NuScribe has exceeded my expectations in performance on all my devices. It’s light and feels great while writing and while using as a Stylus. It does have an almost cheap feel to it, but other than the pocket clip and where the two parts of the barrel meet-it seems pretty solid. I wouldn’t want to try and put too much force on it. It would also appear that the ink is not replaceable for the pen function. Despite the aforementioned, I found NuScribe to eloquently designed and functions great with all sorts of Touch Screen devices, from phones, tablets, and convertible computers. I’m impressed. Enough Said!

RAAM’S Shadow

 

Gears of War fans rejoice this Christmas as we get more campaign action! I think the Gears of War website sums of the general statement of what to expect.

 

“Set in the chaos of post-Emergence Day Sera, RAAM’s Shadow drops players into a new team of Gears known as Zeta Squad, as they attempt to evacuate Ilima City and protect the citizens against a Locust Kryllstorm. Taking on the infamous Locust leader General RAAM from the original Gears of War, Zeta features the familiar faces of Michael Barrick (from Gears of War comics fame), Lt. Minh Young Kim (Gears of War), Tai Kaliso (Gears of War 2), and introduces a new female comrade, Alicia Valera.

In addition to fighting as a new squad of Gears, players will step into the boots of RAAM himself and do the unthinkable: storm a human stronghold from the perspective of one of the series’ most legendary bosses.” - http://gearsofwar.xbox.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sounds fun right? Well you would be correct! I just finished this little over 3 hour escapade down memory lane along with new sights and well yeah sights! This brings back memories of playing the first Gears especially with the Kryll. It feels like your back playing the old school Gears of War and yet it has all the updated elements of the latest-giving us a truly emerged experience. While I don’t want to spoil the plot and story arcs, I must say it was pleasantly surprising to run into one character, whom I shall not name for spoiler sake, before he joins the COG and this shows us why I picks up the Lancer. Also on the fun side is playing as RAAM! Wow, it’s like your darn near invincible (Sorry Stark) and tearing through COG defenses and their stronghold like a stroll through the park. Seriously, you don’t move that fast as RAAM and you only have the Kryll as a long range weapon and a gnarly looking knife to impale those that get close! And that last chapter gets to be very dark and I’m not just talking about the ambience! This is worth downloading for 1200 MS Points. And let’s not forget you get the option of standard campaign or Arcade with just yourself or up 4 player co op.

Wait! That’s not all? We also get more achievements worth another 250g. Six new multiplayer characters that are featured in the campaign and a chocolate weapon skin pack. Yummy! And for the multiplayer madness the Gear’s team has their ongoing 12 days of Gearsmas with special playlists and events along with some giveaways. Check out all the details at http://epicgames.com/community/2011/12/twelve-days-of-gearsmas-giveaways-day-three/

Xbox Companion

 

Windows Phone 7 users got a nice treat with the launch of the new Xbox Companion App. It’s a pretty simple app that allows us to view some content, play it on the Xbox 360 and we can also use it to navigate the dashboard. I think that is very useful, especially if I’m going to watch a movie instead of playing a game.

It’s free on the marketplace and easy to get setup and ready to use. First download the app, then go to the Console Settings on your Xbox 360 and tell it the companion is available. That’s it! The app will log on and you can use it any time your Xbox 360 is turned on with you logged in.

We have a few screens that we swipe our finger to get to. The main screen is the home screen which shows us the game we are playing and or recent games. We can get more info on the games here and also update our beacon. Under the info for that game you can swipe to the left to give us the friends screen and like the same screen on the Xbox 360 dashboard, it shows who’s playing. Swipe again to view your achievements for the title and tapping each achievement icon shows more detail. This can be helpful if you need to view your achievements real quick to determine what your missing.

If we then tap the button in the lower left that looks like a house, we get transported back to the home screen and swiping left get’s us to the featured screen. A great way to browse for the latest content available with all the info needed right there. There is also an option to search via Bing for content. But then again, my favorite feature is the little button in the lower right. Tap it to bring up a directional pad with the A button directly below and below the A is you X Y B button. This let’s us tap away on the phone and move about the dashboard on the big screen.

While it may seem to come up short on features, the Xbox Companion does indeed do a great job of showing us content, achievements, and giving us some control. Yes, this is a worthy app for users of both Xbox 360 and WP7!

Press Shuffle and Play

 

Shuffle Party is the latest free game from Microsoft Studios available on the Windows Phone 7 App Marketplace. It is based around the old school Shuffle Board game that it real life I have only seen in a couple of Trailer Parks. Shuffle Board is a challenging game and likewise so is this Shuffle Party and this time they mix thing up a bit.

The first thing that you should know is that is uses Bing ads and the logical side of my brain says this is to compensate for being a free game. As for the game itself it is comprised four game modes from bowling to challenge mode and then our classic shuffleboard in either single our two player mode. Bowling is straight forward bowling with a puck instead of a ball. All rules from bowling seem to apply. So give it a go and get that strike or three! Next in Challenge mode you must go through several stages trying to earn enough points to continue. Again with four pucks you must rack up as many points by gathering coins and landing that puck in either the five, ten, or fifteen point area. With three stages each featuring eleven levels that get increasing harder with more and more obstacles. It’s fun but frustrating. And the the classic Shuffleboard where we must simply land our four pucks in the point zones and try for a high score.

As we progress we earn in game money that we can spend in the Pro Shop. Here we can buy and change the appearance of the puck, table, pins, or frames. To purchase them all is going to take a lot of gameplay, but for those achievement hunters out there-I’m sure your up to the challenge. The achievements come from all game modes except the two player option. The hardest of the bunch is to get three stars on all the challenge levels. The stars are based on your score, 45 points equals 3 stars. Most you should achieve simply by playing but others like the Hanger will require some skill. While playing Shuffleboard hang a puck off the end of the table. Also getting a score of over 175 in bowling with get you another 5g. Not too shabby on the achievement side.

Gameplay, it’s what really matters. Each mode plays the same. Move the puck left or right then angle it and use your finger to slide it down the table. Sounds easy right? Yes and No. The game does work on that basic principal, but I found that it often mistook the force at which I swiped my finger on screen. This made it difficult, but not impossible to play. There really isn’t much more to it. While I do see this as a fun challenging game, it is also frustrating too. Be warned but go get this freebie and have a little fun.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

"The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword". Just another Zelda game with more confusing puzzle dungeons all tying together the same story from all the previous Zelda games, right? Actually, you couldn't be more wrong. "Skyward Sword" is Nintendo's Ace in the Hole, and is exactly how they plan to bring a whole new hand to the table. Let's begin with the aspect that had the fans clamoring since it was first announced; the Motion Control. If you've ever played any Wii game that was dependent on the motion of the player, and was disappointed in the end ('Red Steel' instantly comes to mind), then fans rejoice at the mastery of the motion control in LoZ: SS. All that you could imagine you would want to do in a submersive game such as the Zelda franchise, is instantly possible in this gaming masterpiece. From directional slashes, jabs, and shield blocks, to finishing blows and the signature sword spin attack. It's all at your fingertips to turn Link's fighting moves into your own concoction of maneuvers, and honestly, it's mindblowing how smooth it is with the Wii Motion Plus. Moving on to the dungeons, they are laid out to start off as easier at the beginning, then progressively getting harder as the game progresses. They force you the think outside of the normal video game cliches in terms of puzzles, but that's to be expected from any Zelda game. So what makes the dungeons and levels here any different from the other games in the series? Three words: The Silent Realm. Meant to make you feel the stresses of being detected by an enemy, and think in a different way you already were, which was more-than-likely the "run up and slash the crap out of any nearby enemies" tactic. Link is item-less throughout the 'Trial', and there are Guardians strewn throughout the familiar landscape that want you dead. Thinking back to "Twilight Princess", the tear container makes a triumphant return in "Skyward Sword". If you have ever played any stealth games, then you will instantly understand what you need to do in these 'Trials'. The catch is to actually do it. New items and more unique characters that you will come to know in the world of Zelda await anyone willing enough to take on the challenges of the Hero. With cellshaded graphics reminiscent of "Wind Waker" in place to offset the dark nature of the game, and a story line set to predate the events of all other Zelda games, this addition to the already sterling series is a must-have for any Zelda fan's collection. My Final Verdict? 10 out of 10.