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  • Which is the Best Cooler for Summer 2018?

    Which is the Best Cooler for Summer 2018?

    It’s that time of year when cookouts and pool parties are common every weekend. If you’re looking to throw a party outside, make sure your cooler is able to withstand the heat! You’re probably wondering which the best cooler for your drinks is this summer. Well, look no farther: we’ve got a few of our favorites rounded up for you right here! Stay frosty!

    Igloo MaxCold Cooler

    The best budget choice on our list, the Igloo MaxCold only runs $45! It has all the features you want from a good cooler, including a top latch and a drain spout. While it’s not exactly a looker, with a relatively cheap appearance, it’s sturdy and dependable. You can sit on it, drag it around and toss it in the hatchback and it’ll do just fine. It also outperforms pretty much every cooler in its price range! The only ones that are better than this Igloo cost $300, so this is a great value!

    Orca Classic Cooler

    Orca’s entry on the list is a fantastic option for those who want a durable cooler. The Orca Classic is roto-molded, meaning the mold is rotated as its poured. This results in much higher durability and insulation, making it a high-quality pick. It sports slightly more capacity than the Yeti, but the two have the exact same price tag. However, the Yeti performs a bit better at keeping your drinks cold in direct sunlight. The Orca, however, has a lifetime warranty, while the Yeti’s is only 5 years.

    The Best Cooler for Summer: Yeti Tundra 45

    The most well-known name in drink insulation is Yeti, and for good reason. Yeti’s products always overperform, and if you live in especially hot areas, you know how good Yeti is. If you’re looking to head to the beach or throw a pool party, you’ll want to bring the Yeti Tundra 45. This cooler runs $300, the same as the Orca. However, the Yeti offers better insulation than the Orca at the expense of a bit of interior volume. If you’re looking for the very best cooler, though, this is it: it’s not even a competition. The Tundra blows away the competition, and still costs the same as the Orca. The choice between the two is pretty clear!

  • Finney Phone: Cryptocurrency-Centric Phone

    Finney Phone: Cryptocurrency-Centric Phone

    Sirin Labs, the company behind this odd new phone, is aiming to make cryptocurrency commonplace. How will they do so? With the Finney Phone, or so they hope. While adoption of the odd new style of currency has been less than enthusiastic by the public, Sirin aims to change that. Many consider cryptocurrency an unusual, hard-to-understand technology that resembles a Ponzi scheme. Sirin wants their phone to be for the average Joe as well as the Bitcoin Billionaire. How will they do that?

    Sirin Labs’ Goal

    The company’s co-CEO, Zvika Landau, had this to say about the phone. “Most people are afraid of cryptocurrencies, and don’t know where to start. The user experience we want is one that is so simple, you won’t need to understand how blockchain technology works, you won’t need to understand how to sign a transaction, or what happens in the background at the time.”

    This makes sense, if they’re looking to incorporate a mass-market. Many are wary of cryptocurrency, unsure if it’s safe and unwilling to bet their money on it. Younger people, especially, are generally leery of sinking their money into platforms they fear are unstable. It’s mirrored in most millennials lack of interest in the stock market. Sirin aims to hold a number of events and seminars to help people get started.

    Finney Phone: Cold Storage Wallet for Crypto

    The Finney Phone has a second screen built into the phone. That screen is the display of your crypto wallet: it’s completely isolated from your phone. What that means is, the crypto tokens stored on your phone are safe and secure behind a layer of security. Without the authentication key from your phone’s crypto screen, your coins can’t even be used.

    The other feature that Sirin hopes will set the Finney Phone apart is the token conversion built into the phone. The phone will start by hosting Sirin’s own SRN coin, which can be converted into whatever your coin of choice is afterwards. However, it seems that Sirin is more interested in its cryptocurrency taking off than its phone: the phone is simply a means to and end. If people are more comfortable with cryptocurrency, it makes the crypto market more stable.

    The Risks

    The risks associated with cryptocurrency aren’t cured by this one phone, though. As it stands, cryptocurrency is still very young, and largely unproven. There is no central agency to ensure security, and there is no way to use the currency in normal transactions. You can’t go into a grocery store and buy your weekly groceries with Bitcoins, and a phone won’t change that. As it stands, cryptocurrency is used for investing in online endeavors and purchasing things of dubious legality. That’s hardly a glowing review, but we’ll withhold judgment until we see the phone in action.

    The Finney Phone is set to release in November and will retail for $1,000. We’ll see how fast people are to adopt the odd handset then.

  • The Ten Best Game Boy Advance Games

    The Ten Best Game Boy Advance Games

    To gamers in their mid- to late- twenties, the Game Boy Advance was a big deal in our childhood. The GBA was a 32-bit system, and many considered it to be a golden era for handheld gaming. In much the way that the Super Nintendo revolutionized home console gaming, the GBA was a renaissance of those same design principals. Many genres were represented in the fantastic library of games, but RPGs and side-scrolling platformers were foremost among them. In the interest of reigniting that old spark of nostalgia, let’s count down the ten greatest Game Boy Advance games of all time.

    Metroid: Fusion

    Photo Credit: Nintendo

    We’re kicking things off with the game that brought the Metroid series out of a ten-year slumber (alongside Metroid Prime). While Metroid Prime proved to be a bit more traditional, narratively, Fusion took the franchise into some interesting places. The mechanics were largely an evolution of what had been seen in Super Metroid a decade earlier, with some new twists. The storyline, however, saw Samus gaining autonomy back after being under the thumb of the Federation. An all-around excellent and cinematic title, Fusion was a welcome return to form for the bounty hunter.

    WarioWare Inc: Mega Microgame$!

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    Frenetic, fast-paced and ridiculous, Mega Microgames was the first entry in the WarioWare series. The player is faced with a rapid-fire series of ridiculous vignettes that they have to complete in a matter of seconds. Hilarious, reflex-based and irreverent, the game constantly moves the player from one ridiculous setting to the next. The series’ trademark humor is on display is this excellent entry, bringing constant fun and laughs.

    Advance Wars

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    The quirky, charming world of Advance Wars was first introduced to American audiences in 2001. This turn-based military strategy game has a cute art style, tight mechanics and a robust suite of game modes. The game proved popular with Americans, surprising Nintendo and prompting them to release a number of sequels. While none ever quite lived up to the sales and reception of the original, Advance Wars remains a fan-favorite game. There’s something about out-maneuvering your opponent and winning on the grand scale that’s just so satisfying!

    Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga

    Photo Credit: Polygon

    Without a doubt, Mario and Luigi is one of the funniest video games ever released. If you play this game, you will laugh. The villains are delightful, the gameplay is well-tuned, and the world is inviting. Everything about this game tells you that loving attention to detail went into making it. The active-time battle system from sister series Paper Mario appears here, as well, and is just as fun. The active-time inputs make the combat more engaging that traditional RPGs, allowing you to add your own flair to the battles. While the series has spawned many sequels, the original remains the golden standard.

    Fire Emblem

    Photo Credit: Emuparadise

    The second entry on this list from Intelligent Systems, Fire Emblem is something of a medieval version of Advance Wars. Similarly, while it was the seventh entry in the series, the GBA game was the first American release for the long-running franchise. The GBA version was released largely due to increased interest in Fire Emblem drummed up by the fighting game Super Smash Bros Melee, in which characters from Fire Emblem appear. For its part, though, Fire Emblem is an excellent tactical turn-based RPG. Characters who die stay dead in these games, meaning every battle has deeply personal stakes. Friendships grow, relationships blossom and fighters level up, so losing someone is always a heavy blow to sustain.

    Metroid: Zero Mission

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    After the ten-year drought of Metroid games, fans of the series received an embarrassment of riches. After the superb Metroid Prime and Fusion, this brilliant re-imagining of the first game blew everyone away. Zero Mission is the quintessential Metroid game, featuring a huge, maze-like labyrinth, unlockable powers and endless ambiance. The oppressive halls and dangerous locales become killing fields for Samus as she upgrades her suit and masters her powers. The game remains a fan-favorite for speed runs and is a testament to how much of a renaissance this era was for 32-bit games.

    Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    The second game released in the long-running Kingdom Hearts franchise, Chain of Memories used a unique card-battle system for combat. As a fusion of the series’ trademark action-RPG combat and deck-building, Chain of Memories was a deeply fascinating Game Boy experience. Featuring a deep, conspiratorial tale centering around a shadowy “Organization,” the game pleasantly flips to reveal a deep “B-Side” after the credits roll. After defeating the main antagonists as Sora, players can play through another story as Riku, the series’ secondary protagonist and one of the villains from the first game. Packed full of content, animated with loving care and deeper than many AAA games of the era, Chain of Memories is a tour de force for Square.

    Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    Somehow, Game Boy Advance Games managed to keep outdoing themselves time and again. After the excellent Symphony of the Night, many believed there would never be another Castlevania to live up to that pedigree. They were wrong. Aria of Sorrow is one of the greatest games in the series, introducing the setting to a new era in time: the future. The protagonist, Soma, is a likable and badass kid with the power to trap enemy souls and use their powers. The world map is non-linear, and progression is RPG-like and satisfying. The boss fights are intense and challenging, and the enemy designs are genuinely scary and unsettling. I daresay this is the finest Castlevania game, and more evidence of what a rare system the GBA was.

    Golden Sun

    Photo Credit: Pinterest

    Golden Sun is that rare game that seeks to emulate a great and outdoes it. Camelot, the studio behind this masterpiece, wanted to deliver an experience like the original Final Fantasy. And, certainly, Golden Sun wears that inspiration proudly. It features four warriors who seek to purify four lighthouses to save the world. However, it also features great puzzles, a deep story and genuinely engaging characters. Its sequels are also excellent, which is rare for games from this era. An epic scope, some incredible summoning animations and genuinely intense boss battles make this one of the finest turn-based RPGs ever made.

    The Best of All Game Boy Advance Games: The Legend of Zelda: the Minish Cap

    Photo Credit: Nintendo

    The finest of all Game Boy Advance games, Minish Cap follows in the example of excellent handheld Zelda adventures set by games like Link’s Awakening. Oddly, this entry was developed by Capcom, not Nintendo, but it’s still a fantastic core series title. Following the backstory of Four Swords antagonist Vaati, this adventure takes place in a distant past. Link find an odd talking hat that allows him to shrink and see the world from a new perspective. In his tiny size, normal enemies like Chu Chu Jellies become full-scale dungeon bosses. Brimming with charm and featuring a delightful world to explore, Minish Cap encompasses everything that makes Zelda game so damn fun.

  • Locked or Unlocked Smartphone: Which is Right for You?

    Locked or Unlocked Smartphone: Which is Right for You?

    The history of phone carriers has been pretty cut-and-dry. If you want a new phone, you go through a carrier. Carriers dictate which phones you can and can’t get, and you usually have to lock into a contract with them to get the phone. Typically, once that contract is up, you can’t really do much with the phone, as it’s locked in with the old carrier. However, in recent years, a new trend in phones is emerging. Lately, it’s much more appealing to many customers to buy unlocked versions of the phones they want. An unlocked smartphone is one that doesn’t require you use a specific carrier and can opt to use whichever you want. What are some of the pros and cons of using an unlocked smartphone, and how you can get one!

    How to Get an Unlocked Smartphone

    One of the simplest ways to get an unlocked phone is just to go through the phone’s manufacturer. If you want an unlocked iPhone X, for instance, you can get one from Apple. The same goes for Google Pixel and Huawei, to name a few. Another way to get an unlocked phone would be to buy one from a distributor, like Amazon or Best Buy. After buying one, you’ll have to get a carrier SIM card to use it.  Typically, it costs the same to buy an unlocked phone as it does to buy a locked one. That said, resale on an unlocked phone is usually higher, as it can be used on any carrier.

    All four major carriers (AT&T, Spring, T-Mobile and Verizon) have “bring your own phone” plans, but not every phone works on every network. Check the carrier you’d like to use and make sure you can use the phone you want on it!

    Pros to Using an Unlocked Phone

    The pros for having an unlocked phone are numerous. The most obvious, of course, is that you can use them on any network. This means that you can swap your SIM card for another one on the fly when you travel, letting you avoid exorbitant international charges. Additionally, you can pick from a much wider selection of phones when you’re buying unlocked. You’re not stuck with what specific carriers have available, so you can get whatever phone you like!

    Cons to Unlocked Phones

    Typically, when you buy an unlocked phone, you pay full MSRP for it. Carrier often offer incentives for going through them and signing contracts. Financing is usually available for unlocked phones, but you still can usually find some considerable discounts when going for a locked phone. Make sure to do your research on the individual phone you’re looking at to make sure you get the best deal!

  • Former Apple Employee Stole Trade Secrets Related to Self-Driving Cars

    Former Apple Employee Stole Trade Secrets Related to Self-Driving Cars

    Corporate espionage is nothing new, but the amount of it generated by self-driving cars is drastic. Just a few weeks ago, Tesla sued an employee for disclosing trade secrets to unknown parties. Now, federal agents have charge Xiaolang Zhang, a former Apple employee, with stealing trade secrets from Apple. Zhang is accused of stealing technical documents and hardware from Apple.

    Zhang’s Attempted Flight

    Zhang had been working for Apple since 2015, specializing in self-driving cars. His specialty was circuit boards that analyzed sensor data, according to the FBI. However, in April, Zhang told his department head that he was quitting to move to China to be close to his mother. The supervisor found Zhang’s explanation flimsy, and his demeanor suspicious. As such, an investigation was launched: Zhang’s recent download of tons of confidential technical documents came to light. Zhang had stored the technical documents on his wife’s laptop, and then stole a few circuit boards and a server from Apple.

    Federal authorities apprehended Zhang at the San Jose airport on June 7th. He had just purchased a ticket to China. His federal charges mean he can’t leave the country, thus stopping his attempted espionage in its tracks. It’s quite likely that this information breach would have led to a significant breakthrough for a Chinese company if Zhang’s flight had been successful.

    Why Is There So Much Espionage Around Self-Driving Cars?

    While self-driving cars haven’t make too big of a splash at mass-market yet, they’re set to do so in the very near future. In the next few years, we’ll likely see more advanced self-driving technology become widely available. However, the technology is complex and difficult to program and implement. As such, any company that manages to be first to market with it will reap tremendous benefits.

    Less scrupulous companies seem convinced that their best way to do this will be to steal trade secrets and rush a project to completion. Thankfully, in this instance, the espionage was stopped before the damage was done. It is currently unclear what company Zhang was stealing the information for.

  • SmartHome Automation and the 5 Gadgets you Need

    SmartHome Automation and the 5 Gadgets you Need

    We all have dreamed of the day when in George Jetson style all the devices in your life could connect to the internet. No im  just talking about computers and smartphones, but everything: clocks, speakers, lights, door bells, cameras, windows, window blinds, hot water heaters, appliances, cooking utensils. All of it.  Then we need those devices to communicate to each other, send you information, and take your commands. It’s not science fiction or a crazy 60’s cartoon,  it’s the Internet of Things (IoT) and SmartHome Automation, and it’s glorious.

    SmartHome Automation is exactly what it sounds like: digitally enabling everything from window shades to pet feeders—with a simple push of a button or a shout of your voice. Some activities, like setting up a lamp to turn on and off at your whim, are really cheap and easy. Then we have things like advanced surveillance cameras that are a bit trickier and require a more serious investment of time and money.

    Lets take a Look at some of the latest and greatest in home automation.

    1. iCamera Keep Pro

    The iCamera Keep Pro from iSmartAlarm ($199.99) is a full-featured home security camera that not only works as a standalone device, but can be incorporated into an iSmartAlarm DIY security system. The camera is full of useful features including a powerful 1080p image sensor, motion and sound detection, mechanical pan and tilt, time-lapse and event-triggered video recording, and a motion-tracking feature that allows the camera to follow a person around the room. Throw in free cloud storage, an SD card slot for local storage, and support for IFTTT integration, and you’ve got a killer indoor security cam.

    2.Phillips HUE

    One thing that you might want to do as soon as you decide to make your home a smart home is switch out the light bulbs – something easier said than done considering how many different options out there. Of them all, however, we think the best smart light bulbs are Philips Hue range of smart bulbs.

    If you opt for Philips Hue bulbs, you will need to get the Philips Bridge, which is kind of like a hub for your lights. The advantage, however, is reliability, and the fact that the system is compatible with a range of different standards and home control systems including Apple HomeKit, Nest and Samsung SmartThings.

    3. iHome ISP5 Control Smart Plug

    While there are great smart replacements for many devices, a much simpler option is simply using connected plugs in your power outlets. Doing so will give any device that plugs into a power outlet basic smart features like the ability to turn the device on and off, or the ability to monitor the device’s power usage.

    There are quite a few smart plugs out there (seriously, so many), but the best is the iHome ISP5 Control Smart Plug. It’s Wi-Fi enabled, and works with HomeKit, Nest and Wink – so it should play nice with your other smart home devices.

    4. The Wink Hub 2

    One device to rule them all, the Wink Hub 2 works with devices that use Z-Wave, Zigbee, Lutron Clear Connect, Kidde, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It is also for the future. That includes just about everything in the smart home spectrum, from Philips Hue lighting and the Netgear Arlo camera, to Google Home. It’s the most reliable, widely supported hub we’ve tested.

    5.Haiku Home L Series 52-inch Indoor/Outdoor WiFi Enabled White Ceiling Fan with LED Light

    This smart ceiling fan is compatible with Alexa for a fully voice-controlled cooling system. It has been specially tested to ensure that it won’t rattle, click, or wobble and features an integrated LED light. Easily control settings via the included remote or mobile app. Add in a smart Thermostat and just tell your house what temperature it should be. Nice.

     

    The Final SmartHome Automation Thought

    We have gone over and over this a dozen times, SmartHome Automation functionality is the kitchen remodel of the 21st century. All these devices are relatively inexpensive but can really boost the value of your home. Besides the value they can great increase your enjoyment by making your life easier and much more relaxing. Try not to relax with the Hues orange glow light setting after supper, I dare you.

  • Tech Throwback: The IBM PC Personal Computer

    Tech Throwback: The IBM PC Personal Computer

    I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. Im going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today we have The Original IBM PC.

    IBM Personal Computer, also known as the IBM PC . While it wasn’t the first computer that didn’t have to be housed in a separate room. It was the first to be built and consecrated by Big Blue itself, legitimizing the whole concept. It was created by a team of engineers and designers in Boca Raton, Florida, in the early 1980s. The rest, as you know, is history.

     

    International Business Machines (IBM), one of the world’s largest companies was up to something and we all just knew it.  In the late 1970s the new personal computer industry was dominated by the Commodore PET, Atari 8-bit family, Apple II, Tandy Corporation’s TRS-80, and various CP/M machines. With $150 million in sales by 1979 and projected annual growth of more than 40% in the early 1980s, the microcomputer market was large enough for IBM’s attention.

    In 1980 and 1981 rumors spread of an IBM personal computer, perhaps a miniaturized version of the IBM System/370. The IBM Personal Computer (“PC”) was not as powerful as many of the other personal computers it was competing against at the time of its release. The simplest configuration has only 16K on-board RAM and uses an audio cassette to load and save data – the floppy drive was optional, and a hard drive was not supported.

    A basic system for home use attaches to an audio tape cassette player and a television set (that means no floppy drives or video monitor) sold for approximately $1,565. PC-DOS, the operating system, was not available on cassette, so this basic system is only capable of running the Microsoft BASIC programming language, which is built-in and included with every PC.

    Powering Back Up the IBM PC

    Im not sure what I was expecting. I remember being bored using my Dads and it didn’t really do anything cool. That didn’t stop me from entering any number of absurd command in the command prompt. I spent the next 15 mins repeating this childhood obsession. C:>Cancel School, C:> Where are my shoes?, C:> PRINT Money. C:> Make Robot. That was fun..

    Now its on to Leather goddess of Phobos. It was the only game I could remember and Im not sure why my parents let me play it. Its been a long time since i played one of these text adventure games. They seem to be gaining some hipster popularity back after Ready Player One. I forgot how tedious and boring not to mention for the spelling impaired annoying. But Basic, there is always Basica. This I still enjoy, creating and problem solving on a high level for a basic out put.

     

    The Final Thought

    I learned a lot about progress in my time with the IBM PC, both in 1986 and now. Its fascinating to see how far we have come in a very short amount of time. The IBM wasn’t the best option for a PC at the time, it lacked some of the innovations The Commador and HP’s had. This IBM PC’s success sparked my generations programmers to get us here. This is the computer all us kids got our hands on and that makes it special.

  • New Galaxy Watch and What We Know

    New Galaxy Watch and What We Know

    The Samsung Gear was lackluster and not a commercial hit. The adoption in comparison is dismal to the iWatch’s success. Samsung is looking to change that with its next Galaxy Watch. While its name, its OS, and its features are pretty much still in flux, which, at the very least, makes it sound a bit more exciting.

    What We Know

    Very little Im afraid. There have not been alot of details released yet. Lets start with what we know. It will be round for starters, they will not be adapting to Apples square face. Bixby will be a huge and integral part of this watch.Although Bixby has been out for more than a year now, Samsung’s homegrown AI assistant has not descended on any of the current smartwatches. That will change with the Galaxy Watch. Oh yeah,  Presumably we also have a name, ,A registered trademark on “Galaxy Watch” has been leaked.

    Its Safe To Assume

    While we don’t have any confirmation its safe to assume the next line in the Galaxy Watch will be a big upgrade from previous models. For it to compete with the legendary and most popular watch on the planted, the iWatch, it will have to be something special. Look for vast strides in the ai and voice control aspect. Bixby will do things Siri just cant and hasn’t even though of yet. It will be much easier to use and that in turn will give this the commercial appeal all of android is been lacking since the dawn of time, or 2010.

    What Would Be Cool in the Galaxy Watch

    This is the part of these articles I like the most. This is where we get to throw in all the stuff my little heart could desire in a new Galaxy Watch. What do I want, I want battery. Battery Life, I can not stress this enough. A watch I  don’t have to worry about charging for a week. Use that cool Rolex kinetic energy technology they have been using since the beginning of watches to recharge my smartwatch. A big face, 52-54mm. Make is glorious and a true fashion and status statement, like a watch should be. Holograms? ummm yes please. a bit better speaker, just to make taking a phone call on your watch actually viable. Last but not least, lets change Bixby to Sam. Sam, short for Samsung seems like a friendly guy I would like to chat with. The name is also very gender neutral and could easily pair with a nice female voice.  Plus we get the added feeling of being Dick Tracy and talking to Sam back at the station.

    The Final Thought

    Whats left to say? Well plenty. We will have more solid info when these details emerge. My industry sources tell me look for a Note release in late Aug for this new Galaxy Watch.

  • Apple Music Control Update for Sonos Speakers

    Apple Music Control Update for Sonos Speakers

    Finally. Finally, Finally. Up until now when using our Sonos Speakers you had to use the Sonos app to control the music. The app was not as intuitive, extensive or as viable as the iTunes music app built in to you phone. You had to create your playlist through the Sonos app and it was clunky and not very easy not to mention you couldn’t load existing playlist in. Well now out troubles are over. Sonos has announced the AirPlay 2 has arrived. This makes compatible Sonos speakers the first third-party AirPlay 2 speakers to hit the market, and support is being added retroactively through a free software update.

     

    Whats This Mean Really For Your Sonos Speakers

    Yes, this means you can use Sonos speakers to play audio from iTunes on the Mac and all iPhone and iPad apps including Music, TV, YouTube, and Netflix. Sonos speakers can also be used for multi-room audio playback with HomePod and Apple TV, and Siri can control Apple Music and Podcasts playback from iPhone, iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV. Great right?

    We are told AirPlay 2 works with the newest Sonos speakers (recognizable by their touch controls instead of hardware buttons) which includes Sonos Beam, Sonos Playbase, Sonos One, and the second-gen Sonos Play:5. Sonos customers can update compatible speakers through the software update section of the Sonos controller app today. For iOS users, start by updating the Sonos controller app in the App Store, then look for the new software update within the Sonos app for compatible speakers.

    The Final Thought

    While I got very excited for this at first. I soon realized all my Sonos Speakers are not going to be compatible. Tear. I have been hesitant to grab the Homepod because of my existing 4 speaker Sonos system. Now a change may soon be in order.  I like the group playlist functionality of Sonos that you cant get really get anywhere else. When I throw a dignified cocktail party everyone can sync in and que up songs or add to the party’s playlist. This adds a social element I have truly come to enjoy. Now I have convinced myself, my Sonos system will get a overhaul.

  • Sonic Mania Plus Gives Extra Life to Best Sonic Game in Years

    Sonic Mania Plus Gives Extra Life to Best Sonic Game in Years

    Last year’s Sonic Mania blew the doors off the losing streak Sega’s blue mascot has been on for decades. With the exception of a few middling-to-okay platformers, Sonic has been struggling to find his identity in a world without Sega consoles. However, the fan-led development of Sonic Mania has brought the character back to his roots. A year later, and it’s still one of the best things to ever happen to the series. What’s more, Sega has promised a beefed-up re-release later this month. The re-release, titled Sonic Mania Plus, introduces some new content and will be available digitally and physically.

    Sonic Mania Plus: Fresh Content for a Fresh Game

    The new Plus version of the game includes some interesting new content. First, the new Encore game mode remixes a number of the world from the base game. These remixes range from feeling like entirely new levels to some minor tweaks. For the most part, the minor changes are excuses to show off the powers of the new characters. Mighty the Armadillo and Jay the Flying Squirrel join the cast, each bringing their own special abilities. Mighty can ground-pound to damage enemies or open hidden passages. Jay can fly at high speeds, but is hard to control, much like the cape from Super Mario Bros 3. Both new characters are playable in the base game as well as Encore mode!

    Pricing and Release

    Sonic Mania Plus will be launching on July 17th in two forms: one physical, and the other digital. The physical copy will be $30 and comes with an art book. This is great for gamers who prefer to have hard-copies of their games, ensuring they aren’t tied to servers or updates to be playable. For those who already own a digital copy of the original Mania, though, the update is only $5. That brings the total to $25 overall for those who just want the digital copy of the game.

    In either event, this is a great deal. If you haven’t tried the game yet, we recommend the physical copy. The gorgeous box art and art book, coupled with the bonus of owning the game, are worth five more bucks. Alternatively, if you own the game already, spending five dollars to get the new characters and remixed single-player is a no-brainer. Either way, you have to check out this new release!