TheDigitalBlast

Finally, a reason to play my PS3 again.

2009-07-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Yes it's been a while but between all the work, gaming goodness and triathlon traning I've been a little distracted. However, nothing like San Diego ComicCon to put a geek's head back in the right place.

And the two big announcements for me were the debut of Mavel Ultimate Alliance 2 (here's the rocking trailer) and the new downloadable Marvel character skins for "Little Big Planet". I know the LBP might not be a big deal to most but I think its one of the FEW games worth turning on the George Foreman Grill (aka PS3) for. SO above and beyond the fact that you get TONS of hours of gameplay and then replay values out of LBP, you can now skinn out your sack people with all your favorite Marvel characters. You mean I can build my new avengers or Fantastic Four Sack team? I'm in! AND if the characters have any "comic book actions" while you navigate through the levels and solve puzzles I might just lose my mind.

Two words...

2009-05-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

HOLY SH*T!
Shooting has started for "Iron Man 2" and here's the 1st official photo. Now those of you familiar with the comic book should recognize the setting because this is the "hub" where Tony Stark controls and monitors all the Iron Man armors.

Although the film won't release until May 7th 2010, you can look for updates at Marvel , not just for Iron Man but all the Marvel movie properties, or you can hop on Twitter and follow Jon Favreau as he gives updates about what's going on and work with the actors from the shooting locations.

SA-weet!!!

Really, who needs multiplayer?!

2009-01-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Let me preface this by saying I'm talking about console games. I rarely if ever game on my PC anymore so this rant is directed at my console brethren.

Okay, I know most people love 'em some multiplayer and I'm happy to admit that I on occasion find it enjoyable (especially when I can play with other adults instead of a room full of 13 years olds cussing and talking trash) but when I head to my local store to plunck down $59.99 on a game I expect to get an in-depth single-player campaign that'll keep my attention. Too often it seems the focus is on the multiplayer. Really, how much hype was there about the single player content of Halo 3 or Gears of War 2? Worse than that is the Xbox 360 achievements and soon to be PS3 Trophies associated with the games. I mean some are flat ridiculous! Gears of War's "Kill 10,000 people in Versus Ranked Matches" anyone? Really? I mean really? Who in the sweet mother of God even has the time to accomplish this? Not to mention how repetitive multiplayer gets. How much Capture the Flag or Deathmatch can you play before it gets boring?! Although I must give Gears of War 2 credit for giving me the option of playing "multiplayer" with bots.

I understand it ties into revenue streams. Downloadable content in the form of new multi-player maps is easy to do and a quick way to continue generating money on a game title. However, some games are just plain great and don't NEED multiplayer; God of War, Devil May Cry, Assassin's Creed, Marvel Ultimate Alliance just to name a few great stand alone-no multiplayer games.

But, remember the good old PC gaming days (before there was multiplayer) when the games we loved to play had expansion packs to buy or download every few months? What happened to that? Why has that practically disappeared? There are a few games that are experimenting with single player DLC. "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" and "Mass Effect" have offered single player DLC and the content was pretty darn good. Maybe its catching on since its been announced that we'll see single player DLC for Fable II and Fallout 3.

Developers please give us single player DLC. Come on, is it just me?

It's not easy being green.

2009-01-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so its the beginning of a new year and we've all decided to be better members of the planet. Right...right?

Well, you might not have decided to recycle your own waste or anything but a simple change in the bulbs you use in your house can make a TON of difference. Believe it or not, only about 10 percent of the power consumed is given off as light in traditional incandescent bulbs, the the other 90 percent is wasted, normally given off as heat. How did we not learn this in Science class?! On the other hand, a compact fluorescent light(CFL), uses power to excite the electrons in gas (mercury vapor) and can be up to six times more efficient. Even with that kind of good science behind it few are making the switch. Why? Partly because of the harsh glare. Well fret no more, the lighting industry is getting hip to our issues and is making a variety of bulbs with different coating in order to "tune" the color of light emitted and give us "soft, medium and hard" lighting just like with incandescents. The way to tell CFL lights about is to read the package and see the degrees in Kelvin listed, That number will let you find the perfect CFL for desired effect. Use the guide below (totally swiped from Wired Magazine) the next time you're buying lights at the hardware super store.

Living Room/Dining Room
You want warmer CFLs where you're entertaining guests. The yellow and red tints cast in the 2,700 to 3,000 K range make skin tones and clothing look softer and more inviting. Cooler, bluish bulbs will cause guests to look harsh and plastic, overpowering even the thickest beer goggles.

Study/Workshop
Go with cooler Kelvins for task lighting: The iris contracts in response to a bluish-green tint, making it easier to focus on stuff close up. Stick to the low end of cool (3,500 K) if you do a lot of reading; go high (4,100 K) for detail work like building model airplanes or painting the armor on your Warhammer miniatures.

Bedroom
Though a cooler bulb will help your bedtime reading, you might want to sacrifice Melville for Jackie Collins and go for something warm — around 2,700 K. You know, for business time. A few CFLs are available in dimmer and 3-step varieties, so you can cue up the Barry White and turn the lights down.

Bathroom
A CFL isn't the best option in the WC: Its lifespan, normally about 10 times that of an incandescent, is cut short when it's turned on and off frequently. So keep an extra incandescent around — or brush your teeth in the dark.

Backyard
Tiki torches are great for BBQ ambiance but foul the air with particulates. Go CFL and make up for some of the energy it took to produce that burger. You'll want warmth (so your food looks good) and brightness, so stick to the upper end of the warm range (3,000 K) to have your steak and see it, too.

And boom goes the dynamite! With CFLs you can get great lighting, save money AND be more green.

Kratos is coming...and he's bringing hell with him!

2008-12-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

Ah, one of the best game properties of the last few years is making its debut on PS3. Our favorite Greek Kratos is getting his first installment of God of War on a next gen console. Yes, his twisted blade wielding-ness is coming to PS3 for the third game in the trilogy. The trailer, cinematics and gamepley, looks simply amazing. Hell, David Jaffe couldn't stop raving about the game and he's no longer even associated with the title. Thanks the Gods that I FINALLY have a reason to own a PS3 for something other than a Blu-Ray DVD player!!! Enjoy.

Playstation's Merging and the new Xbox Live Experience.

2008-11-22T09:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, for starters I'm really trying to figure out this new Playstation ID merging thing.

I don't understand how this is so cool right now?! How in the world is it supposed to be cooler than my Xbox Live GamerCard?
Put your gamertag here too.

Oh and speaking of Xflop Live and it's New User Experience...the jury is SO still out. It's like the Wii's Mii comunity but with tons of more windows. I thought the whole purpose of the original "Blade" menus and their success was due to their simplicity. Yeah, simple is not the word to use in the layers upon layers of windows/blocks in the "new" Xbox Live interface. Am I missing something?

The End is near! Well, EndWar is at least.

2008-11-14T20:36:00.000-08:00

(Personal disclaimer: While I love EndWar and all that the game is, I would be remiss by not mentioning that I worked on it. That's right, look in the credits and you'll see yours truly as the Military Authenticity Advisor. Part of the reason I wanted to work on the game is in part due to the fact I knew it was gonna be great and I'd like to think I helped a little in making the finished product so good .had a little hand in that. However, I must exercise due diligence and come clean with the fact that I work on it when writing a review. I can't even tell you how stoked I was when my copies of the game, see below, arrived. Man, thank goodness I got that out of the way now back to blogging.)
Okay, so there are lots of games that try to put you in the role of a military Commander. None however have ever made it this easy! With Tom Clancy's EndWar the way you command your troops and move around the battlefield is by donning a headset and issuing voice commands just like real soldiers. The ease of which you command your forces guarantees that RTS games have made the leap from PC to their new console homes! Add in the stunning visuals, diverse environments and cinematic-like presentation and its like you're right in the thick of battle.
The game leaps you to a near future in which the world is fought over by three distinct factions. The story and factions are notional and based in a World War III-like future. The United States, Russia, and a European Union have each become superpowers. The US plans to send a military capability to space in order to lead the arms race. But terrorists swoop in and destroy the station before lift-off. This becomes the events that sets off global war. You pick up your desired faction and fight a number of battles around the globe based on their view. To keep you in the mind of global warfare you'll get updates from your commander and the media as to how the fight is going.

Although the game play and capability is similar across the factions the look (down to the finest deetail) of vehicles/aircraft, personnel and voices differ. Infantry comprises riflemen and engineers, tanks and artillery are your armored advantage; the sky is ruled by gunships and transports move troops around and give you an anti-air threat. The vantage point from each units camera is amazing! You'll see rounds zinging by, artillery impacts, burning hulks and even aircraft blown out of the sky.
Issuing commands to those units couldn't be simpler. You hold the trigger button and speak a preset command into the microphone. You can attack, bring reinforcements and switch camera views by voice alone and that unique control mechanism is the biggest draw of the game letting you closely follow and command your units into the fight. Allowing you concentrate on the battle and not on the buttons (that is SO a tagline).

The campaign takes you through a series of battles that help you save the world and there's online capability that lets you fight other budding Pattons or Rommels online. The game is slick, easy to control and most importantly FUN to play. No wonder it was named "Strategy Game of the Year" at E3!!! Run out and get your copy today. Now I've got to get back to controlling my armies, Dutch out.

Texting on my 360 controller? You better believe it.

2008-11-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to get a post up about the keyboard attachment for the Xbox 360 controller for a while. I don't know about you guys but it seems that practically the only time I chat with friends is while I'm playing games and that damn on screen keyboard sucks!
Just snap on the texting keyboard and now you can chat on Xbox Live easily with dedicated keys for letters and characters (it has your standard QWERTY layout like we're all accustomed to on our phones and blackberrys). The buttons are backlit so when you have the lights down and you're getting your pants scared off by BioSchock you can still carry on a conversation. No worries about losing the headphone jack because there's one on the keyboard and it even comes with and extra headset. Which, to be honest was a big selling point for me since I broke my last one after a particularly bad round of Halo 3 multiplayer.

This won't just be for Xbox Live though, because Microsoft has added Windows Live Messenger so you can chat with anyone on Live Messenger so your not just stuck with chatting up your Xbox buddies. So great functionality, easy to use and it only costs $29.99? Now that's the perfect stocking stuffer!

Nerdgasm alert!

2008-10-31T17:54:00.000-07:00

It just gets better and better! With the success of Ironman we get news this week that Robert Downey Jr. has a four picture deal with Marvel that will now include appearances in the soon to start filming "Avengers" movies.
Now that's not a surprise considering the movie starring our favorite shellhead portrayed by Mr. Downey Jr has grossed over $578 million worldwide to date (that number grows everyday with DVD sales). The sequel got a green light and will start shooting soon with the new addition of Don Cheadle in the role of LTC "Rhodey" Rhodes. Who by the way Marvel Studios said will also appear in the "Avengers" movie. Luckily for us we continue to get John Favreau at the directing helm for the the Ironman sequel and although he won't direct, he'll executive produce the "Avengers" movie. That should bode well for continuity and the artistic vision of our beloved comic book heroes.

The plot for the Ironman sequel has yet to be released but Marvel did say that the "Avengers" movie "...will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they've ever faced". Considering how big the Marvel Universe is that could mean anyone in the 40+ years of the comic book!

Mark your calendars kids 'cause the sequel to "Iron Man" will be released in theatres on May 7, 2010 and "The Avengers" will be released July 15, 2011. I can't wait!

The Portable Projector for Road Warriors

2008-10-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

We live in a time that everything dealing with a company, start up or program (read money) hinges on a successful presentation. Too often the projector or laptop you're supposed to use either wasn't checked to make sure everything is in working order or it stops working at the most inopportune time. Making you look like an idiot or worse, blowing the pitch.

That's why the prepared road warrior plans for everything and is self sustaining for such presentations. The problem has always been that a "travel projector" was always heavy and was way too expensive. Well, Toshiba just added their TDP-FF1AU (not a sexy name I know) into the mix.
Weighing in at at a scant 1.7 pounds with its rechargeable battery, the projector offers SVGA 800x600 pixel resolution, 400 lux of brightness, a 1500:1 contrast ratio (read the projected image is sharp and warm) and turns on and off with a click of a button (no time wasting warm-ups and cool-downs). So its light and powerful but its also affordable, the TDP-FF1AU goes for $699 which also gets you a remote control, a 23-inch folding screen, an AC adapter and its own carrying bag. Talk about bang for the buck! This is a must have for the upwardly mobile and "mobile" professional.

Now you AND you're PSP knows where you are. Well, at least your PSP will.

2008-10-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

Now that we live in the age of dual, tri and quad-use gadgets it was only a matter of time until we saw someone add capability to our favorite gaming device the PSP.
Well the folks at Play-Asia (and wouldn't you know it was going to be an Asian company? Damned smart people and their robot babies) have come up with an add on devices and software that gives the PSP a GPS capability. The James Bond like gadget comes in at 45mm x 41mm x 17mm and slots into the top of the PSP. But to some, even more important is the minuscule $60 price tag. The device will have application in games like: Minna no Golf-jou, a golf game that will be pre-programmed with a number of courses allowing the player to see how many yards he or she is from the hole and Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops which will have a minigame requiring players to hunt down real-life locations. But the really cool stuff comes in more typical GPS software that allow the PSP to be used as a navigation device or even an astronomy tool.

Talk about a nerdgasm! You and your Cosplay honey are out in the woods navigating your domain by the stars and the glow of your PSP's screen. Ah, nerd love.

The new PC you can throw in your pocket.

2008-09-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is the year 2008 afterall and even though we don't have flying cars that fold into briefcases ( a la the Jetsons) we have finally gotten a PC that fits in our pocket. The fit-PC Slim is touted as the "smallest, most energy efficient PC available". At a mere 4.3 x 3.9 x 1.2 inches, drawing a lowly 6 watts of power, and weighing a miniscule 13 ounces it just might be!

The fit-PC Slim has has 3 USB ports, two of them in front. The ports allow you to easily connect keyboard and mouse, thumb drive, camera external hard disk or DVD/CD-ROM so there's no need for a hub. With integrated 802.11 b/g wireless, 512MB RAM and 60 GB hard drive, it might not replace your desktop but it'll certainly fit the bill as your "Road Warrior" machine. And at $335 for the Windows XP equipped machine it becomes a computer anyone can afford. Check it out at their website.

Back to work!

2008-09-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

I don't even know if you can count this as a hiatus, guess it was more of an extended vacation but what could I do. I was sidetracked by the Tour de France, (followed by my realization that I needed to get back on my bike), followed by the Olympics (and a desire to start swimming), sprinkled in with some time on the Xbox 360, too much time on Facebook and lots and lots of SpaceMonkeys and there's the time lost!

But that's all old hat. I'll continue to focus on the above while still doing my blogging duty. By the way, thanks so much for all the friendly reminders that I needed to get back to the "Blast".

So we got some catching up to do. Let's start with all the new goodness for the Xbox 360...

1) Announced at E3, Microsoft is partnering with Netflix to give users a "direct to console" download capability that would tap into the Netflix library of 10,000 new video titles (which covers both movies and TV episodes). With that content being upconverted through your Xbox 360 and shown on that sweet big screen you have, there's never a need to go to a movie theater again. Oh yeah there's an added twist to Xbox Live users who have a Netflix account can watch streaming movies with up to seven other online friends and the same time. So now you and your clan will be able to recite lines from "Hackers" at the same time!

2) Microsoft is gonna revamp its interface (now that should be interesting considering the "blade" menus were so ground breaking).

3) Bill Gates's crew is also gonna sell the 20-gigabyte Xbox 360 for about $300 (a $50 price cut) and will offer a 60-gigabyte version at the $350 price point.

4) 360 owners will have the ability to create their own avatars (animated versions of you) to represent the user in the Xbox live-O'Sphere. Upon closer inspection, they look a little similar to the "Mii Avatars" on the Wii. Hey if its a good idea, why not steal it?

5) And lest we not forget that the 360 is a gaming console afterall! There's a host of new games slotted for the console not the least of which is an updated Viva Pinata (if you haven't tried this game yet, go pick it up new for $20 play it-love it-and lose the next 3 weeks of your life!), and of course high def,ultra-violent, third-person shooter games, like "Gears of War 2" and "Fallout 3."

Summer might be coming to a close but the fall and winter are starting to look mighty fine!

Yes its been too long..

2008-07-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

But what can I say, the Tour de France is on (and yes I watch the coverage every time it comes on) and I'm now a Facebook addict.

I'll get back to blogging here very soon (prolly this weekend, I have a ton of stuff to talk about).

A terrible loss...

2008-07-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to post about this since it happened but just couldn't bring myself to do it until now. It is with great sadness that I have to say one of my favorite comic book artists of all time, Michael Turner, lost his battle with cancer on the 27th of June.
Believe it or not he singlehandedly got me back to reading comics when I passed by a local comic shop and noticed a poster for his cover to "Civil War #3" hanging in the window. That image to me was just iconic. There's the well known Spidey with Ironman/Tony Stark upgrades "standing" on Captain America's shield. To me that piece of art summarized the whole story arc that was "Civil War". If you haven't read it or know what I'm talking about, stop by your local book store and pick up or ask for the "Civil War: Trade Paperback". Its so worth the $20.

A short 14 years ago Michael first got into the comic book industry by working for Top Cow comics. He started as background artist and then moved up to create and launch the Witchblade comic. Yes, there was a show on TBS of the same name and it was based on the comic. The show was alright at best but the comic was great. He then created another new title named "Fathom" about a beautiful marine biologist who comes into contact with an underwater species of people. That artwork is stunning and Fathom could be one of the sexiest comic chracters ever. In 2002 Turner went on to start Aspen Comics, his own comic book company. One of the titles in their "portfolio" of books is "Iron and the Maiden" which I absoutely love.
Although I never got a chance to meet him in person, I was lucky enough to pick up a certified signed comic book of his and its one of the prizes of my collection. His art was fantastic. The women are gorgeous and powerful and the men…well they look like what comic book heroes are supposed to look like. His artwork and vision were so distinctive. Once you see some of his work, you'll be able to pick out from 100 other artists on the comic book stand. I, as am sure the whole industry, will truly miss his work.

It might not be a flying car but the future is getting closer.

2008-06-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

The future was supposed to be fantastic. Movies like The Fifth Element and Blade Runner promised us flying cars, androids and living billboards that stretched the width and height of the skyscrapers down town. Well...no androids yet (or even robots that do more than vacuum our houses), no flying cars (although there's "work" being done that you can see here), we're at least going to get the billboard buildings.
Sonny Astani, a 55 year old real estate mogul, is working to turn downtown LA 2009 into the 2019 LA from Blade Runner. The real estate mogul who already owns thousands of Southern California apartments is bringing his vision (and more importantly his money) to transform the sides of two adjacent 14 story condos in downtown LA into the living billboards portrayed in the opening sequence of the Ridley Scott classic. Astani, a self proclaimed fan of the movie is creating the billboards by installing hundreds of rows of LEDs. The LEDs, spaced about 6 inches apart and running from floor to ceiling on the windows, will allow occupants to enjoy an unobstructed view of the City of Angels but when the buildings are seen from from a distance (now here's where our flying car would come in handy) the lights will merge into an image (think pixels on your computer screen but way bigger). Sure, some would argue that there's no reason to see a Nike Ad from miles away, but why not? You can make a building as stylish as you like but when its all said and done it still looks like a building. And now that we live in the era of Amber Alerts and Terrorist Threat colors, what better way to get the message out so all can see? Now if we could just get computer chips and an Internet connection in our heads...

I am Spider-Man...

2008-06-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

Don't worry, I'm not running around my neighborhood in a home made spider suit or trying to make spider webbing in my basement with a chemistry set (but now that I say it out loud it does sound do-able). I'm talking about the new Spider-Man game from Activision. We're finally getting a game that let's us be Spider Man with all his comic book capabilities. Just check out the video below to see our beloved Spidey in action in "Spider-Man: Web of Shadows".

It makes me feel funny, like when I used to climb the rope in gym class. You can find out more about the game here. It should release in December of this year. Can you say "perfect Christmas gift"?

Finally, a reason to play the PS3!

2008-06-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

Don't feel bad for my PS3. It gets used just not played. The media capability of playing almost any media file from a USB port and see it upconverted to HD has been a joy. Hey, its the only place to watch my downloaded Battlestar Galactica episodes. Really, you're not watching this show? EVERYONE is watching this show, but I digress. Of course Blu-Ray DVDs are the cat's meow too! But, back to the PS3. I have found the collection of PS3 games thus far rather under-whelming. Especially considering that there are very few exclusive to one console titles anymore. So I can play the same game on my Xbox 360 but I also get those crack-like addictive accomplishments. Yes finishing a game is great but getting the "unlocked achievements" notice at the bottom of the screen with the accompanying sound while playing a game is sheer gaming delight.
Well, now that Sony seems to be in catch-up rather than lead the way mode they've developed their own "in game Trophies" for us achievement whores. The Version 2.40 Firmware update for our PS3's will gives us access to said "in game trophies". How that's gonna work I have no idea and it must be for future games right? I mean how would they back'code these "trophies" into already released titles? Version 2.40 will also bring an updated version of the Cross Media Bar (that Sony refers to as the XMB) that'll also be accessible during gameplay. So you'll be able to e-mail, chat and play tunes while deep into gameplay. That's right boys and girls...just like the Xbox 360 lets us do now.

But imitation is the greatest form of flattery. And at at the end of the day aren't we all winners in this? Aren't we? It better get here soon cause I'm getting tired of my expensive George Foreman looking grill Blu-Ray DVD player!

In what can only be described as buyer's remorse...

2008-06-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, it was just a couple of weeks ago I was all excited and ranting about my cool Tony Stark LG VX9800 TV cell phone and now its gone. Yes, 80% of the reason I bought it was because it was Tony Stark's phone (Ironman movie, duh) and 20% was for the cool flip landscape screen for TV and video. But...we're not getting the Verizon TV network in my area until late '08 or early '09 and I still had to use a numeric keypad for texting/e-mailing (so 2003). So I had to march back to Verizon and get a new phone. And its so cool I can hardly stand it!

I present to you the Samsung SCH-u940 or "Glyde" as its known here in the US. This is a touchscreen phone from Samsung that's supposed to be competition with the iPhone. Or at least it gives Verizon subscribers an iPhone-like phone. Similar to the LG env2 and Voyager phones with a landscape screen and touchscreen capability but is smaller in size.

The Glyde is simple yet very good looking and stylish and you never get used to the "wow" factor of sliding the screen up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. There are only a few buttons on the side of the phone's case (volume, camera and power) and the on-board 2 mega-pixel camera (not great but good enough) is located on the back. The buttons on the keyboard are small but I have small hands so it works for me (but fat fingered people beware!). And if you thought the screen on the LG VX9400 was cool, you'll fall in love with the huge 2.75" WVGA (240x440 pixel) bright and crisp display on the Glyde. The phone also gives you the option of having a haptic response when using the touchscreen function (feels like your pressing buttons for those that can't deal with the "dead feel" of a touch screen). You can still use the phone in portrait mode (with the screen closed) to dial numbers and text but the joy comes in sliding that screen out and letting your fingers do the walking. So you get all the standard phone functions as well, the ability to play video and music (made easier by the micro SD card slot), access to all the Verizon mobile content and the web of course. Web pages load in their full size so looking around a page can seem awkward but hey you're using a cell phone for surfing!

Overall the phone is slick, stylish and does what it promises. All that and you get battery life even with the bluetooth on. The phone even comes with a PC cable and software to put content on your phone. Thank god for once I don't have to buy an accessory to get the most out of my phone (other phone makers take note). With a new plan or upgrade the phone'll set you back around $199 but if you're a Verizon customer its worth every penny.

The best place to stick your plugs.

2008-06-09T04:40:00.000-07:00

Too often we focus on all the new sexy gadgets without ever giving any thought as to where we'll plug in all their power cords. And it seems that the smaller 3-pronged plug is being replaced now with larger plugs that include small transformers (keeping the gadgets smaller) that take up the space of two outlets. There've been a couple of power strips that have addressed the larger plug issue but could only accommodate one or two of the larger plugs.

The folks over at ezGear have the answer to our prayers with the ezSpace UFO.
The UFO has a slanted design that inverts the plugs and cords upwards thus maximizing space saving. You can plug the UFO directly into a wall or configure it as an extension cord. You can also get them with surge protection (a definite must have to protect those high speed gadgets). The rat's nest of cables and daisy-chained power strips behind my entertainment center and under my computer desks have been replaced with the neat and tidy UFO (and I'm less concerned with a fire breaking out back where I can't see it. So you get a better protected, less cluttered way of taking care of all those plugs and it'll only cost you $30? That's why I have 3.

I'm a guitar God!!

2008-05-31T11:04:00.001-07:00

Well an "air guitar" God at least. Look, I want to rock at Guitar Hero or Rock Band like everyone else seems to but I just don't have the skills. And don't give me the "you just need practice" or "everyone eventually gets it" line. I suck, no really I'm terrible at those games. I have no idea why that is but I cannot get the hang of the guitars. But throwing down a wicked air guitar solo to my favorite Metal song (yeah, I listen to a little Metal...don't judge me) I can do.

Finally there's something for people like me. The brilliant minds at Guitar Hero have put out the "Guitar Hero Air Rocker".
This sweet setup gets you this a full on Metal-Rocker belt buckle, a belt worn mini-amp and two picks. "Playing" the picks in the air (just like strumming a real axe) in front of the buckle is what gets your jam on (think of the buckle as your Xbox and the picks as the actual guitar). Jamming the picks in front of the buckle makes the amp belt out one of 10 different guitar riffs. Oh yeah, bring on the bourbon and the strippers! The riffs match the action so a little Clapton slow hand gives one riff while some Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue, hello!) action will put out a more fevered riff. Or you can jam to my favorite, Ironman.

So for around $30 you get a portable guitar rocking station, long hair and Gene Simmons tongue notwithstanding, that'll let you rock out anywhere. You may lose your dignity but you'll throw out some sweet licks!!

Can't remember your password? No problem.

2008-05-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here at the Digital Blast I get to see and try out all manner of tech. Some high end, some low, some with a huge learning curve and others anyone can use right out of the box. The RoboForm2Go fits the latter to a "T". I mean face it, we all belong to tens if not hundreds of websites that require a login and password and we all travel (whether to a friends house or across the country) where we're using someone else's computer. Of great concern has always been "leaving behind" our sensitive information. In some cases that's forced some of us to never use computers other than our own. Well now we have a new option in the RoboForm2Go USB stick.
The device is quite easy to use. A master password gets you into the device and the software remembers all the others. Then the RoboForm2Go carries all your passwords, contacts, and bookmarks for you to use on any computer. Once you pull the drive everything is contained on the device and there is no trace of the aforementioned on the computer. You can feel safe that it works because its based on the award winning RoboForm Password Manager and Form Filler. Not to mention the data is encrypted using AES, RC6 and Blowfish to keep your data hacker-safe. This is the perfect device for any student or person on the go that uses public computers or frequents Internet Cafes and the like. You can pick up this dandy little device (with software) and it also comes with a USB extension cord. Just go over to RoboForm to learn more and pick one up for yourself using your credit card, eCHECK or even PayPal. How's that for easy?! For the price its the perfect gift for you, business people or the student in your life and makes a great stocking stuff (Christmas will be here before you know it!).

I take carry all sorts of gadgets with me when I leave the house but I NEVER forget to carry my RoboForm2Go.

It's the coolest phone ever!

2008-05-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

I finally had to go out and get a new phone. Partly because I lost my pone(my personal one i haven't seen in like months and can't find it anywhere), partly because my contract was up and partly I needed a shot of cool tech-gadgetry. But I had lost my pone so I had to get a new one right? Right?.

The problem of course is that there are so many new shiny models to choose from now. I needed to figure out which one was the best for me. Notice I said best for me and not the "best". Too often I see people get the latest phone with all the cool applications and then NEVER use any of them. I'm no different. THer's no need to buy a Ferrari when a Corvette will do. Case in point, the iPhone. Yes I like it, and yes it has some cool features but the cost of the pone and plan aren't worth it. Add in that I'm an existing Verizon customer (can you hear me now) and my choices narrowed a bit. I need a phone that I can surf the net, check e-mail, text, watch video, snap photos, listen to music and oh yeah...make phone calls.

So with the above needs and a healthy dose of Ironman the movie and seeing all the tech our friend Tony Stark was using in the film I decided to get his Verizon LG VX9400.

This LG is a beauty in silver and black. The thing that stands out right away is the brilliant 2.2 inch screen that swivels 90 degrees out to the left to let you watch video in the proper 16x9 landscape perspective. The navigation buttons are big and easy to use with the screen closed. With voice recognition for stored phone numbers, there's no need to "open" the phone to dial. For new numbers however, you'll need to flip the screen out to dial. You can leave the screen out (which is a little clunky) or fold it down to continue your chatting. The phone itself has a weighty feel to it. Too often I find that phones feel light and "plastic-y", not the case with the VX9400. The phone also has a flash enabled 1.3 mega pixel camera that can be used for both picture taking (with a resolution of 1280x960 for images, not too shabby) and recording video (1 minute to be attached in messages or as large as your card, the VX9400 accommodates 4GB Micro SD, for stored video).

Of course you have access to the normal suite of Verizon's VCast programming but this little gem can also access Verizon's new wireless mobile television service. That's right my friends, live TV right on your phone. How's that for cool? The phone has blue tooth allowing it to connect to almost any phone/stereo headset. By the way, the music player function on the phone is great and the sounds with headphones is awesome. I've stopped carrying my ipod with me and just listen to this now. But back to the blue tooth, it allows me to connect the device wirelessly to my computer so I can drag and drop music and video files. I think the only drawback is the lack of QWERTY keyboard. I would've accepted the phone a little bigger so I could "type" normally.

But really, that's my only complaint! And it only took me a few minutes to get back in the flow of number typing again. The phone will set you back up to $300 depending on where you buy it but if you're already a Verizon customer it could be as cheap as $100. And...the mobile TV service isn't available everywhere yet but when there's plenty of 3rd Party software out there for putting video on this phone, who needs it?
You've got to get this phone. Then you can be as cool as Ironman and me!

I didn't like Ironman….I LOVED IT!!!

2008-05-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've said it before but THIS is the movie I'VE been waiting for. I've had a nerd-on for the Ironman comic book my whole life and I'm surprised that the world couldn't hear my nerd-gasm when I went to go see it the first time the day it opened (yes I said first time, I worked hard to add to the $104 million take of opening weekend).

The movie was a little updated from the comic book (the original story did come out in 1968 after all) but its still relevant. Quick take: Stark, a wealthy playboy CEO and genius of his father's weapons biz is taking hostage while showing his wares in Afghanistan. While watching soldiers die to protect him and then dealing with captivity he eventually comes home with a heavy heart and decides he wants to do the right thing. He's still making weapons and dealing death, just not for sale to governments, he's gonna destroy the bad guys that are using his weapons. His answer to all this, build a super suit, Ironman (cue the gadget porn and nerd-gasms).
The movie is a thrill ride from beginning to end that has as many laughs as "ooh's and ah's". Robert Downey Jr. was meant to play the womanizing, spoiled, wunderkind who finds a heart of gold Tony Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow is sexy AND funny as Pepper Potts and the surprise to me was Jeff Bridges as the dark business partner who goes bad. I have yet in all my years seen a movie more than once in a theater….until now and this will be the first movie I buy on Blu-Ray the day it comes out. Oh yeah, and it was announced today that we'll see a sequel in 2010 and an Avengers movie in 2012 (p.s. stay until after the credits).

Of course I ran out and bought the videogame too but I'll have to post a review about that later, I gotta get to work!

What a great week to be a geek!

2008-05-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

Coming off of the trials and tribulations of medical emergencies over the last two weeks this week provides the best way for a geek to "bounce back". Tuesday we got GTA IV and yes I've been playing it into the wee hours every night since its release (its one of the few titles I've ever picked up the day it was released). First impressions? The environment is HUGE. I spent hours just jacking cars and beating up people. The graphics are okay, they still have the GTA "feel" but this ain't Assassin's Creed or anything. And it was surprised by how dark (the actual color not the theme) the game is. I had to go into the control panel and brighten it up. So far so good though and it looks to be worth every penny of my $60. I'm excited to try out the multiplayer action too. That should be a very interesting spin on the whole "thuggery in a sandbox" idea.
On Friday we get the Ironman movie and I can't even begin to express my excitement for this film. This is MY Spiderman or Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. Tony Stark (who is Ironman) has been my favorite comic book character all my life and I've been waiting for this movie. The reviews have been great as well so I'll have tons to post after I either see it at the midnight showing tonight or the first Matinee tomorrow. Not to mention we also get the Ironman movie tie in video game tomorrow for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii. The videogame by the way which by all accounts and reviews may be the best movie tie in game yet and great on its own! Oh yeah, there's also Ironman movie trading cards (yup, just like your old baseball cards) featuring autograph cards of the cast, scenes from the movie and even Ironman Armor costume/prop cards. My head is going to explode from sheer Ironman goodness!

And the best day of the year if you're a comic book fan? Why free comic book day of course!! This Saturday, May 3, is Free Comic Book Day at your local comic shop. I know most wouldn't buy a comic book out of the blue but how can you resist free? And there's tons of them. I think there were a total of 30 last year. This year's free X-MEN comic features a brand new story by Mike Carey and Greg Land, or you can get MARVEL ADVENTURES: IRON MAN which will guest star the Hulk and Spider-Man. Pure comic goodness. If you have no idea where your local comic shop is you can click on the Comic Shop Locator button at Marvel.com or call toll-free at 1-888-COMIC BOOK.

Now I'm off to get Ironman toys from my local Burger King!