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Month: August 2018

  • YouBionic Robot Arm: 3D-Printable Future of Prosthetics?

    YouBionic Robot Arm: 3D-Printable Future of Prosthetics?

    If you’re a fan of sci-fi or cyberpunk fiction, you’ve likely imagined the future as one full of robot arms and cool high-tech augmentations. As technology has become more and more awesome, this comes ever closer to being a reality. One company that is working hard to help people with their robotics is YouBionic. They’ve created a 3D-printable robot arm that has human-like actuation and movement! The fingers grip and close in realistic, practical ways. Could this be the future of prosthetics?

    YouBionic Technology

    The ambitious robotics company has promised the arm will be 3D-printable. That makes it much, much more accessible than most comparable devices. The arm functions in most ways just like a human hand. It grips, it turns, and it can even rotate on the wrist. As of now, it’s controllable via a remote. It also has a mirroring function, where it can mirror the actions of the wearer’s hand. This could be useful for individuals with one hand, as they could have the prosthetic mirror the action of their hand while trying to carry or manipulate objects.

    The functionality YouBionic is most interested in bringing to bear, however, is electric signal control. That would allow for a user without one or both arms to control the prosthetics with signals from their brain. That would make the prosthetic essentially an extension of the user’s body and could revolutionize prosthetics.

    Availability

    While technology like this has been in the works for some time at various companies, this is the first with accessibility in mind. Similar technologies have been prohibitively expensive, and not mass-produced for consumers. Individuals in need of such prosthetics have largely been unable to access them. YouBionic’s prosthetic, however, will be 3D-printable, and thus widely available. This is a huge deal for those who could benefit from a better quality of life with such prosthetics!

    With movement this precise, the promise of controlling it with one’s mind is amazing. For individuals who might not have access to such fine motor controls, this is a game changer. Activities like typing, making food and driving that people take for granted could open up for such people. If that’s not an awesome application of technology, I don’t know what is!

    Photo Credit: YouTube

  • Top Ten DC Stories that Could Save the DCEU

    Top Ten DC Stories that Could Save the DCEU

    The DCEU isn’t doing so hot with critics, although it manages to impress audiences. However, the recently-unveiled Shazam shows a side of DC that has been sorely missing from the big screen: humor. Zach Snyder’s half-baked attempts to create dark, edgy films on par with Christopher Nolan largely missed the nuance and subtleties of the fabled director. As such, films he helmed or executive produced have been heavy, boring and generally trying to hard to be taken seriously. Here are ten DC Stories that could save the DCEU from its dark, boring history and bring it into fresher, brighter territory.

    Ten DC Stories that Could Save the DCEU

    Kingdom Come

    Photo Credit: Nerdist

    The first major event that could help restore faith in the DCEU would be Kingdom Come. The comic was expertly illustrated by Alex Ross, his photorealistic style lending weight to the proceedings. The premise of this story is that a number of dark, edgy new vigilantes have taken the mantle from the older, more measured superheroes. This tale was largely a response to the dark heroes that had become the norm following Watchmen and comics like it. Frank Miller’s work, in particular, had a profound effect on DC and weighed many heroes down with dark and gritty tales. Kingdom Come, in movie form, could allow for a self-correcting commentary on the nature of heroes and villains in the DCEU.

    The New Gods

    Photo Credit: Syfy

    Created by Jack Kirby to give the DC Universe its own unique mythology, the New Gods are epic and larger than life. A New Gods film based on some of the more epic Forever People tales penned by Kirby would be a great way to introduce audiences to DC’s cosmic characters.  The deadliest force in the DC Universe, the powerful and dangerous Darkseid, is directly related to the titanic New Gods, hailing from the planet Apokolips.

    If they were to follow this track, DC could follow a Kingdom Come film with a flashback New Gods film to set up Darkseid. This would keep the hype rolling for future Justice League films and lend legitimacy to the DCEU’s cosmic threats.

    JLA: Tower of Babel

    Photo Credit: DC

    Following a Kingdom Come film to establish a new tone and status quo, a soft reset of the Justice League could be just what the DCEU needs. This famous Justice League tale follows the villain Ra’s al Ghul’s attempt to destroy the League using intel stolen from Batman. This is the origin of the conceit that Batman has a plan to defeat all of the League members. Perhaps this story would work better as a subplot in a different JLA tale, like the next entry on this list. However, we feel this story is likely strong enough to stand on its own merits and help us get a good feel for what kind of person Batman is.

    JLA: Rock of Ages

    Photo Credit: Comics Bulletin

    A natural conclusion to the arc that starts with Kingdom Come redefining the DCEU would be Rock of Ages. A Justice League tale that is as renowned as they come, this is a whirling sci-fi epic. The League faces off against the likes of Lex Luthor and Darkseid in this time-traveling, space-hopping romp. Seeing a massive conflict with Darkseid to cap off the first wave of DC films would be similar to Thanos’ awesome debut in the third Avengers film. This one is a no-brainer for the DCEU!

    Flashpoint Paradox

    Photo Credit: DC Animated Movie Wiki

    The first entries on this list all assumed a linear path from a Kingdom Come-style reimagining of the universe. Another potential reimagining, one that could bring some major changes to the DC film universe, would be the Flashpoint Paradox. In the comics, the Flashpoint Paradox is a seminal Flash story that resulted in the creation of a new reality. That reality was referred to as the New 52, and it was a pretty major relaunch for DC.

    Such a move could allow for a pretty major recasting of several characters that are in need of new actors. We would like to see characters like Batman, Joker, Lex Luthor and Alfred recast to fall more in line with their comics counterparts. It could also wash away the sub-par aspects of this universe’s Superman, bringing him more in line with the version we know and love.

    Crisis on Infinite Earths

    Photo Credit: DC Database

    Another option, rather than using Flashpoint to reset the world, could be Crisis on Infinite Earths. This massive tale concerns the Anti-Monitor as it attempts to destroy all of reality. It largely succeeds, leaving but one Earth and simplifying the heck out of the DC Universe. A huge number of parallel dimensions are destroyed, streamlining the types of stories told in the comics from that point forward. It’s likely this story would be merged with a Flashpoint-like tale, allowing DC to re-sculpt and simplify their film universe.

    All-Star Superman

    Photo Credit: ComicsVerse

    The Flashpoint or Crisis route would make All-Star Superman a natural fit for the DCEU. Grant Morrison’s iconic tale follows a dying Superman, exposed to far too much solar radiation. Superman attempts to make the world a better place before his time runs out. Such a farewell to the Henry Cavill superman would allow him to be a symbol of hope He could then be replaced in a new reality by a more positive, traditional Superman for later stories.

    Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters

    Photo Credit: Comic Book Realm

    Green Arrow is one of DC’s coolest characters, and he deserves his own place on the big screen. His best story, by far, is the Longbow Hunters arc. A serious and weighty tale, it features Ollie at his very best. Green Lantern and Black Cat oppose street-level threats like drug dealers and gang members, as well as dangerous assassins. This would serve as a great way to introduce audiences to the street-level aspects of the DCEU. It would also be a great way to bring Green Arrow in after his successful TV series.

    Batman: The Long Halloween

    Photo Credit: Den of Geek

    One of the best Batman tales ever told, the Long Halloween stands toe-to-toe with Knightfall and the Court of Owls. Long Halloween is a story about a younger, less-experienced Batman attempting to stop a serial killer who strikes on holiday. The story was incredibly well-received in its original run. It would work well as an introduction to a younger, more heroic Batman. This would be an excellent way to follow up on a cosmic reset of the DCEU, redefining Batman as a hero. Instead of, y’know, a scowling bully.

    Blackest Night

    Photo Credit: Comic Book Herald

    Blackest Night would be a great way to bring Hal Jordan into the DCEU. Nekron, a force of pure death, brings a legion of undead heroes to Earth. They’re animated by the Black Lantern rings, and they’re a huge threat to all life on the planet. In order to repel him, the heroes of Earth all band together. They join with the Lantern Corps to weather Nekron’s attack in an epic clash.

    This story would allow for a deeper exploration of the Lantern mythos. It could also serve as an awesome crossover, Justice League-style film. It might even wash the taste of the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern from the mouths of disappointed fans. Well, if it’s done right, that is!

  • TOP TIRE BRANDS OUT THERE

    TOP TIRE BRANDS OUT THERE

    Do you have the highest rated tires on your car? Did you know that a new set of tires can improve your cars MPG, performance and safety? Don’t you deserve the safest, highest rated tires for your car?

    If you are shopping for new tires for your car, it’s worth it to look around a bit to get the best prices for the best quality tires you can afford. New tires on your car can even help you get better mileage, and will perform better in inclement weather, like thunderstorms with intense rain or snow. Here are five of the highest rated tires you can buy for your car, sedan or SUV.

    These tires are all considered to be “all season” tires that can be used year-round.

    Goodyear

    Goodyear leads the industry with their “Goodyear Eagle LS-2 ROF” which sell for about $230 per tire. They are especially quiet on the road and have a tread that will stand up to rain and snowy conditions. You don’t have to worry about hydroplaning with these tires, because they are specifically made to combat these wet, slick conditions. They even have special “run on flat” technology that will allow you to coast on your flat tire for a short distance, even going as fast as 50 mph.

    The Continental

    The Continental tire company makes a “True Contact” ($130) tire for all weather driving that is rated highly by consumer testing companies. These tires have a special “multi-directional” grip that help it to be quiet on the road. They also promise that lower rolling resistance will improve the gas mileage your car gets on the road. Plus, when you buy a full set of Continental tires they will give you free towing for up to three years if you get a flat tire anywhere around the country. That’s a nice incentive to buy their tires.

    Michelin

    Michelin is another highly rated tire company that makes many different models of tires depending on what you need. Their “Energy Saver LX4” ($193) tire is one that would be a top choice. This is one of their original model tires and is still one of their best sellers today. You have to trust the Michelin Man right?

    Hankook

    Hankook”Optimo H727″ ($220) is the brand’s highest rated tire. These tires are made with special grooves, and hundreds of “sipes” that grip the road for an especially safe ride. You can count on these in severe weather to get you to your destination without incident. Plus, their “converging lateral slots” help to make the ride quiet, tamping down road noises. Keep in mind as well, that the price given for each tire model is the price of just one tire, and you will need four of them. It is a worthwhile investment because it truly makes your car safer in severe weather to have quality, highly rated tires on your vehicle. Now is the perfect time to get a new set of tires for your automobile, before something goes wrong with your old worn ones.


  • Android Pie Available Now on Pixel Phones

    Android Pie Available Now on Pixel Phones

    Android P, now officially named Android Pie, is available now on Google’s own Pixel phones. It will be rolled out to other phones near the end of the year, or maybe early in 2019. In any event, the Android OS powers around 90% of all smartphones on Earth, so any updates to it will affect a huge portion of the population. Today, we’re looking at the new features and characteristics you’ll find in the newest Android OS.

    Notch Support

    This one’s a big more of an under-the-surface upgrade, but you’ll notice it if your phone has a notch at the top. The top notch, popularized by Apple’s phenomenal iPhone X, is a divisive design feature, but it’s here to stay. The support for notches is baked into the new Android OS, allowing apps to be made with a few different notch styles in mind. These easy designs will make the apps cleaner, clearer and have less information lost by the notch placement. Win-win!

    Gesture Control

    In another iPhone X-inspired upgrade, Android Pie allows for gesture controls. This is likely to preempt the removal of a home button from various upcoming Android phones. Home buttons are likely to go the way of the headphone jack: eliminated for space. Home buttons take up valuable front-space, taking away from full-screen displays that run edge-to-edge.

    Android Pie: The AI Operating System

    AI is the future of smartphones. Android Pie is leaning into this future with several functions that will help make your phone more efficient and save your battery. The first of these is “slices” of apps appearing when you need information. For instance, if you’re looking for movie showtimes, Android will show you slices of the Fandango app for ticket prices and showtimes without opening the app itself. This saves you time and saves your phone’s battery.

    Another functionality that is AI-powered coming to the Android OS is app suggestions. These suggestions follow your trends for when and where you open different apps. By intelligently spinning up apps you often use before you need them, the OS will be more efficient, battery-saving and modern. What’s not to love?

    Availability

    Android Pie is available on Google Pixel smartphones now. It will be rolled out to other smartphones that use Android over the next few months. Stay posted for updates, we’ll bring them to you as more information is made available!

  • 10 Marvel Stories that Need to Be Brought to the MCU

    10 Marvel Stories that Need to Be Brought to the MCU

    As the MCU captures the hearts and minds of movie fans all over the world, fans of Marvel comics couldn’t be happier. What’s even better than reading your favorite character’s comic book? Why, watching them kick butt on the big screen! Now that Marvel has even gotten the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four, we’re more excited than ever to see what kinds of stories they’re looking to bring to the big screen. With that in mind, we’re looking at the ten Marvel stories that need to be brought to the MCU!

    10 Marvel Stories that Need to Be Brought to the MCU

    World War Hulk

    Photo Credit: Comic Vine

    Thor: Ragnarok gave us a great glimpse into the cosmic potential of the Incredible Hulk. Banner’s green alter ego is a huge force in the Marvel Universe, and it shows in the World War Hulk arc. The arc’s name is pretty self-explanatory: Hulk leads a force of aliens to Earth. A huge war erupts, involving all the superheroes on Earth. It’s downright awesome, and we’d love to see the Hulk smashing through all of his Avenger pals. Korg and Meek even appeared in Ragnarok, and they both act as supporting characters in the comic arc of World War Hulk.

    Secret Invasion

    Photo Credit: Comic Book

    As it turns out, the villainous Skrull race is really good at shape-shifting and masquerading as your friends. The Secret Invasion arc told of an invasion of Earth by the Skrull that no one even noticed. How could they? Anyone could be a Skrull! 2019’s Captain Marvel film is set to feature the Skrull as antagonists, which may set up for a future Avengers film to adapt the story to the big screen. What better way to follow up the bombastic Thanos than a subtle, intrigue-filled conflict with the Skrull?

    Sinister Six

    Photo Credit: Spider-Bob’s

    No one in the Marvel Universe has a rogues’ gallery as deep and interesting as Spider-Man. Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio and Sandman formed the original Sinister Six to try to kill Spidey. In the MCU, we’d love to see a variation on this story after Spidey hurts some more feelings among his existing enemies. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is a delight, and we’re honestly just excited to see him on the big screen some more. Seeing him pushed to his limits as he overcomes villain after villain would be an awesome way to grow his character.

    House of M

    Photo Credit: CBR

    Scarlett Witch is very, very powerful. It’s a little absurd just how strong she gets as the comics go along. Look no further than the tale House of M to see just how deep her well of powers runs. Wanda decides through a complex series of scenarios that there aren’t enough mutants in the world, and they’re all treated too poorly. She rewrites reality with mutants on the top of the food chain, resulting in a society that is racist to non-mutant individuals. Wolverine, however, has some memory of the world as it was, and helps lead a group of heroes to set things right.

    This would be an excellent tale to explore the nature of mutant-kind. It might even be a good way to introduce them to the universe, having Wanda create them as part of an alternate reality. The events of the film could merge the “real” world with the House of M world, thus explaining why there haven’t been any mutants in the MCU yet.

    Original Sin

    Photo Credit: Hollywood Reporter

    Something of a noir-style gumshoe tale, Original Sin is a “whodunnit” story with a cosmic setting. The tale follows several superheroes who are seeking to solve the murder of Uatu the Watcher. The tale is intriguing, engrossing and entertaining, showing off the best parts of Marvel’s cosmic storytelling. In the MCU, this story would likely work best as a standalone film crossover, likely leaning heavily on the Guardians of the Galaxy to lend it levity. It would also be a great send-off for Nick Fury, but we don’t want to spoil too much about this excellent tale.

    Secret Wars

    Photo Credit: Nerdist

    Secret Wars is another tale that would be an excellent way to introduce the Fantastic Four and X-Men to the MCU. The more recent Secret Wars, the 2015 event, would be a particularly excellent bridge for the new heroes to appear in the universe. The event has a collision of multiple universes result in the creation of a patchwork world called “Battleworld.” Battleworld is home to every hero from across the Marvel multiverse, all of whom fight and struggle against one another for supremacy. A story in this vein would be delightful to see on the big screen. It could even allow for a reset of the status quo some time down the road, in case the MCU gets too convoluted.

    Born Again

    Photo Credit: ThoughtCo
    While Frank Miller’s politics are repulsive, and his sexism is overt and problematic, he did write a pretty solid Daredevil tale called Born Again. The bones of a really good story are here, hinting that at one point in time Miller may have been a competent storyteller. The arc has Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, systematically tear down Matt Murdock after discovering the lawyer is Daredevil. Once the Man without Fear has nothing left, he gets back up and proves himself as the Defender of Hell’s Kitchen. The comic’s tone influenced the Netflix series, so a season based on it is quite likely. As the show has been stellar so far, we’re excited to see what they could do with this classic story.

    Galactus

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    Fox didn’t do Galactus right, so we’re very hyped that Marvel has the rights to the Fantastic Four back. The Silver Surfer and Galactus are a fascinating, excellent part of the Marvel mythos. After the Fantastic Four are introduced into the MCU, they could face Galactus. Having them tested by fighting the Eater of Worlds would be an excellent chance to show off just how awesome they are. Marvel’s First Family deserves a decent movie, and this is one way to do it!

    Annihilation

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    The epic cosmic crossover event Annihilation would make an incredible follow-up for the Infinity War story. This event tells the story of Annihilus, a dangerous alien hellbent on the destruction of the Galaxy. He arrives with the Annihilation Wave, a legion of soldiers loyal to him. This story is unique in that all the action takes place far from Earth, and it relaunching Marvel’s cosmic heroes. As the Guardians of the Galaxy have proven, cosmic Marvel translates very well to film. We’d love to see the introduction of heroes like Nova and Adam Warlock through an Annihilation film.

    Avengers vs X-Men

    Photo Credit: Marvel

    An immutable law of comic books holds that any two sufficiently awesome groups of superheroes have to fight when they first meet. This extends to the MCU. When the X-Men get their proper introduction in the MCU, they need to follow that with a brawl. A knock-down, drag-out brawl with the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Because that’s the rule. The X-Men are awesome, the Avengers are awesome, and they need to battle to show off just how cool they both are. The comic event was huge, exciting and adrenaline-pumping, and it would translate beautifully to the silver screen.

  • FCC Rules with Google on Fiber Anti-Competition Rules

    FCC Rules with Google on Fiber Anti-Competition Rules

    In an odd development that shows that the FCC is uncertain of the types of policy it wants to enforce, they’ve ruled in favor of Google in a recent turn of events. The rule is called One Touch Make Ready, and it’s a bit of a complex issue, especially given the FCC’s stance on Net Neutrality. The main aspect of OTMR rules holds that broadband providers who are adding new lines to utility poles can move competitors wires themselves to make room for their lines. This encourages competition, as previously telecom companies were in no hurry to roll their trucks out to move their wires for their competitors.

    FCC Rules in Favor of Google

    This OTMR ruling is beneficial for Google, who have been slowly rolling out their fiber broadband network to various cities. They encountered a significant slowdown when competitors like Comcast and AT&T proved very slow in making room for them on utility poles. While this foot-dragging is certainly in poor spirit, it’s understandable. If you were in charge of a business, would you be in any hurry to accommodate your competition? As such, rules allowing newcomers to simply move the existing lines themselves make sense from the stance of anti-competition.

    Mixed Signals

    The FCC last year voted to take away Obama-era protections for broadband internet. The Net Neutrality vote is called the “Restoring Internet Freedom Order,” an ironic (and erroneous) name. Under the previous definition, Title II protections extended to broadband internet. This meant providers had access to all utility poles for broadband. However, since Pai led the gutting of these protections and defined broadband internet as not being telecommunications (no, seriously) these protections no longer apply.

    This ruling, then, is in seeming opposition of that ruling. Why would the FCC act pro-competition now when they were so anti-consumer a few short months ago? That said, we don’t want to give you the wrong idea. In broad strokes, this promotes competition, which is good for consumers. If this marks the start of a change of character for Pai’s FCC, then all the better. That said, one worries when the other shoe will drop. After all, we’re dealing someone who was recently quite eager to gut Obama-era protections.

  • Hottest Video Games for Holiday 2018

    Hottest Video Games for Holiday 2018

    The holiday season is often replete with the year’s biggest games, and 2018 will be no exception. This holiday season is shaping up to be a real doozy for fans of all the major game consoles! The biggest names are showing up in force this year. To help you keep all the big names straight, we’ve got your rundown of the hottest video games for holiday 2018!

    Hottest Video Games for Holiday 2018

    10. Spyro: Reignited Trilogy

    Photo Credit: Windows Central

    No longer content to just pump out paint-by-numbers Skylanders games, Activision is bringing Spyro back to the games that made him! We’re as ecstatic as you for the purple dragon’s return to 3D adventure gaming! This package contains the first three Play Station entries in the Spyro series, now with a gorgeous HD facelift. We’re quite excited to relive Spyro’s first adventures! Spyro: Reignited Trilogy drops September 21st.

    9. Fallout 76

    Photo Credit: CNET

    A bit of an odd entry in the Fallout series, 76 is an online, multiplayer spinoff of the main series. Every character in the game world is controlled by players, and the focus is on building bases. This is an interesting departure from the epic, single-player-only Fallout series. We’re cautiously optimistic regarding this unusual experiment. Hopefully Bethesda brings the goods when 76 drops November 14th!

    8. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

    Photo Credit: IGN

    Assassin’s Creed was circling the drain before Origins injected some much-needed life into the franchise. While Origins is far from perfect, it’s a good bit more original and fun than many of its predecessors. Odyssey’s Greek setting is intriguing, to say the least, and has us interested to see how the game shapes up.

    Confirmed to be reappearing are naval battles, which was the highlight of the excellent Assassin’s Creed 4, itself an odd outlier in the otherwise blasé series. Also confirmed for this game are heightened RPG elements and the ability to pursue relationships. For when you’re not out, you know, assassinating people. AC: Odyssey drops October 5th.

    7. Mega Man 11

    Photo Credit: Capcom

    Sure, there’ve been literally dozens of Mega Man games, and sure, we’ve seen a lot of this before. But if you’re telling me you’re skipping any of the Blue Bomber’s main series entries you’re deluding yourself. You’re going to get this one and play it until your thumbs are sore, because it’s main series Mega Man. Jokes aside, we’re excited for the storied series to return to form and bring white-knuckle platforming action to bear. Mega Man 11 hits on October 2nd.

    6. Marvel’s Spider Man

    Photo Credit: PlayStation

    While Marvel continues to dominate Hollywood with the MCU, Sony’s looking to replicate that success with their exclusive Spider-Man game. Marvel’s Spider-Man seeks to put you in the web-slingers shoes as he swings through the city, stopping criminals and generally just saving the day.

    Compared by many to Rocksteady’s exemplary Batman: Arkham series, this game is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated of the year. If you’re looking forward to getting to be your favorite superhero, you won’t have to wait long! Marvel’s Spider-Man releases on September 7th.

    5. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

    Photo Credit: wccftech

    Monster Hunter: World is a tremendously amazing, modernized take on the franchise. It commits only one unforgivable sin: it isn’t on the Nintendo Switch. All is forgiven, however, as an updated remaster of Monster Hunter Generations, called Ultimate, is coming for Switch on August 28th.

    If that’s not enough to get you excited to hunt some monsters, you must not own a Switch! If you don’t, some of the upcoming games on this list are going to make you wish you did!

    4. Pokemon: Let’s Go

    Photo Credit: US Gamer

    Case in point? An adorable, brightly-colored romp through the world of Kanto with your Pokemon friends is coming November 16th. Pokemon: Let’s Go comes in two flavors, one Pikachu and one Eevee. The game functions as an updated retelling of the events of the first Pokemon game and incorporates the catching system from Pokemon Go.

    As a bridge between casual fans of Go and more hardcore, main-series fans, Let’s Go seeks act as an on-ramp for Go’s millions of players. Pokemon Go has a ton of players who have never touched a main Pokemon entry, and Nintendo is seeking to fix that with these new games. Get ready to go on the greatest adventure in video games all over again!

    3. Super Mario Party

    Photo Credit: Nintendo

    It’s been a while since a proper Mario Party landed. The last few entries in the series incorporated an unusual cart system that saw all players gaining and losing ground as a group. This largely defeated the point of the Mario Party franchise, which is meant to be a competitive, head-to-head board game. Thankfully, Super Mario Party represents a return to form for the series.

    A staple of late-night parties and college dorms the world over, Mario Party is one of the best reasons to own a Nintendo system. The new entry will also incorporate a two-Switch game mode where minigames will jump between the two systems. Whether that’s used for increasing the size of the game board, hiding information from other players or whatever else depends on the minigame. Super Mario Party lands October 5th!

    2. Red Dead Redemption 2

    Photo Credit: Polygon

    A sequel to one of the very best video games of all time, Red Dead Redemption 2 has big boots to fill. It’s technically a prequel, exploring the life and adventures of protagonist Arthur Morgan with the Dutch Van Der Linde gang, some of the antagonists of the previous entry. This game is Rockstar’s first since GTAV shattered world records and will be their final entry into the current console generation.

    Expectations are high, but Rockstar has yet to underperform when it comes to their storied franchises. We’re downright ecstatic to see what the studio has in store for the gaming world. We’ll find out when the game releases on October 26th! Truly, nothing feels cooler than being a badass cowboy in the Old West.

    1. Super Smash Bros Ultimate

    Photo Credit: IGN

    Well, nothing except beating the hell out of your friends at Smash Bros. This new entry in the series comes four years after the previous game, Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. Super Smash Bros Ultimate will include every single character from the previous games in the franchise, including the DLC characters and guest characters. Other reappearing features are assist-trophies and Final Smash finishing moves.

    We’re incredibly excited to see the game in a finished state. Nintendo is even bringing support for GameCube controllers for this entry in the series, meaning you’ll control it in the same manner as the originals! The best part is, we’re seeing it this year! That’s right, Smash Ultimate releases December 7th.

  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.


  • Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

    The Great

    • Slamtastic Screen
    • Instalike worthy camera
    • Adequate long battery
    • Interesting new S-Pen tricks
    • All the Specs needed

    The Conclusion

    The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true!

    I’m sure we all remember the note 7 scandle, but that is all history for the Galaxy Note brand. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

    Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

    How does it look and feel

    It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

    The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

    No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

    We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

    Sounds and Stuff

    The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

    The Biggest Difference

    The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

    Quick Speck Look

    • Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
    • Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
    • Architecture 64 bit
    • Ram 6 GB
    • Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
    • Display Type Super AMOLED
    • Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
    • Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
    • Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel

    The Final Thought

    The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone.


  • iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    iPhone XS, XS Max and XR Breakdown

    There has been months of speculation and hype about new iPhone X models rumored to be coming. “Today, we’re going to take iPhone X to the next level,” CEO Tim Cook said during the presentation and unveiling of new iPhone models.

    The iPhone X released last year was a total rethinking of the iPhone with features like Face ID and a edge to edge screen. Anticipation was high among iPhone fans and the day is finally here, and we have all the recaps.  Apple finally took the wraps off its new iPhones, including the iPhone Xs Max, its largest iPhone ever. With 3 new phone announcements, let’s take a look at what makes them different and sort through all the new details and features.

    iPhone Xs and Xs Max

    First off Apple  introduced the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs, which also has an OLED screen. The iPhone Xs is made of surgical-grade steel, is covered in new glass and comes in gold, silver and space gray. With the new A12 chip, more on this later, it allows the storage to be increased to 512 gb. The Xs will have 3 size options, 64gb, 256, or 512gb. The smaller 64gb is cutting a little close these days but 256gb should still be more than enough for 99% of the users out there.

    The iPhone XS will also incorporate more real-world machine learning for features such as augmented reality and FaceTime. The iOS upgrade will also open the door for Siri shortcuts, which users can customize.  For all the Instagram photographers out there the back camera has a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and 12-megapixel telephoto camera, along with improvements to flash. For the selfie lovers the front camera will feature 7 megapixels.

    Both devices are identical with only one difference, the iPhone Xs is 5.8 inches, the iPhone Xs max is 6.5 inches. There also have been improvements to the overall strength of the glass screen, which is a great improvement for those of us with butter fingers.

    The iPhone XR

    Alongside with the Xs models Apple also revealed it’s midrange iPhone model, the XR.  The XR is the  bargain model that will be more affordable with most of the same features as the Xs. The iPhone XR has an LCD display called liquid retina and it features a 6.1-inch screen. It’s the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, but with a larger screen because of it’s edge to edge screen.  The iPhone XR will also feature Face ID, and include the A12 Bionic chip like the XS. The big difference among these phones is the back camera: a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera for the XR. The front camera will feature the same true depth features as the XS.

    On battery life, XR will offer an hour and a half more on one charge than the iPhone 8 Plus. Specs-wise, the XR is notable for matching many of the specs of the new XS, but one notable omission is 3D Touch, which  isn’t available with XR model. 

    While the 6.1-inch display seems large, the reduced bezels above and below the display  will make the XR slightly smaller than a traditional “Plus” iPhone and only slightly larger than the 5.8-inch iPhone XS. The iPhone XR will be available in a variety of colors including black, white, blue, coral, yellow and red.

    Pricing

    The iPhone XR will come in three sizes: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, and start at $749. Pre-orders arrive October 19, and ships October 26. XS available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB starting at $999. The XS Max will start at $1,099. Both Xs models are available for pre-order immediately with shipping to begin on September 21st.