Monthly Archives: January 2012
ASUS K53E Laptop Review
After I recently enrolled in college classes, I quickly found that I needed a laptop to survive. So I did something I rarely do, especially with technology. I gathered what money I could, and went to the store only knowing what type of technology I wanted to buy, as opposed to having the specific brand and item already researched and selected. My search landed me at a local Bestbuy, I walked over the laptop section and found my new notebook: The ASUS K53E.
The K53E is a budget priced, user friendly laptop. So to start let’s go over the basic specs. It includes a 15.6” screen at a resolution of 1366 x 768. In addition, is has a VGA webcam, an HDMI port, 4 usb ports and the standard audio ports. Inside it has an Intel core i3 processor @ 2.3 GHz, 4 Gbs of RAM and includes the 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium. Not exactly mind blowing specs but definitely enough to work with.
In general I use my ASUS K53E for regular everyday applications like word processing, internet browsing, and basic multimedia. I have had no problems with the laptop so far. It has handled my school assignments well. For one class I have to run a virtual copy of Microsoft Office, while the virtual program itself is frustrating, it has ran very well. I have been able to run multiple different programs at once without any hiccups. The battery usually lasts me about 5 hours of normal use, and that is without changing any settings to get the most life out of it. I have been able to get everything I hoped for in this laptop.
On the hardware side, it has been great as well. The trackpad is easy to use and responsive. Typing on the keyboard is comfortable and efficient. I haven’t used the webcam much yet, but it has been decent. Pictures and video from it are not the best looking but definitely good enough. The speakers are actually pretty good, for built a built in set. However, I am picky with audio so I usually have the laptop hooked up to my sound system in my room.
I was actually worried a little, I hate purchasing technology without first researching it. However, this laptop has been wonderful. It is definitely low end, but that is expected at a price of $450. For a last minute, budget priced, no time to search around purchase I am very satisfied. Hopefully you aren’t expecting a review score, grade or number though. That won’t be happening.
Droid Razr Maxx Has The Best Battery of Any LTE Phone
LTE Battery Chart
One drawback to adopting 4G LTE technology is the atrocious battery life handsets suffer. If you’re always on the go, some smartphones are lucky to last a user through lunch. Technology is improving, though, and hopefully its turned a corner for good. Laptop Magazine performed tests on Motorola’s latest handset, the Droid Razr Maxx, and found that the device lasted 8 hours and 25 minutes – and that’s during continuous LTE Web surfing. The same test saw the Galaxy Nexus register only 3 hours and 40 minutes of use.
The chart above only shows Verizon handsets; Laptop Mag did similar tests for AT&T offerings and found they didn’t even come close to the Droid Maxx.
We were a little perturbed at the rate of which these handsets (Droid Razr, Droid Razr Maxx) hit the market. There was only a few month gap, meaning the poor saps who were early adopters are stuck with half the battery life. Still, we can’t help but be impressed with the Maxx’s 3,300 mAh battery performance. Hopefully 4G LTE will no longer be the achilles of smartphones everywhere. The Droid Razr Maxx is proof that hurdle can be cleared.
Mass Effect 3 Has A Multiplayer Trailer!
Mass Effect 3 coming to three major systems March 6!
Mass Effect 3′s Multiplayer Gets a Trailer!
Here is the trailer!
Mass Effect 3 will have a cooperative multiplayer element. The mode is called “Galaxy at War,” and what players team up and do within it will actually affect the outcome of the single player campaign. Completing the missions will supposedly give players higher odds of attaining a perfect ending for the game.
It’s not mandatory, but it looks like skipping the multiplayer mode entirely will affect your single player experience. I’m not sure how to feel about that.
You’ll play brand new characters here, as no one from the campaign is playable. Although, as the trailer above shows, at least Commander Shepard will make a cameo in the multiplayer mode.
BioWare’s Patrick Weekes, Senior Writer for Mass Effect 3, wrote up a blog post to accompany the multiplayer trailer. In it, he takes time to lay out a step by step gameplan for playing with a Vanguard on your team. Having one in your party, according to Weekes, dramatically changes the way battle scenarios should be played.
It’s an interesting read that sheds some light on the tactical nature of the multiplayer experience in Mass Effect 3.
You’ll be able to try the multiplayer side of this game when the title’s demo launches on February 14th. Mass Effect 3 will officially drop for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC platforms on March 6th, 2012.
Street Fighter X Tekken Announces Pac-Man & Mega Man (sort of) for PS3 / Vita
Well fighting game fans, you’ve been asking for it since the release of Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The only problem is you should have been more specific. Two new characters were announced yesterday for the upcoming Street Fighter X Tekken game, Pac-Man from the Namco side and Mega Man from the Capcom side. Good deal right? Well some seem to be not so happy as this is not the Mega Man they had in mind. This is the original, 1987 box art Mega Man and that seems to have angered a few people. I for one am happy to see this mildly overweight version of the Blue Bomber make a comeback. These two characters join Cole from Infamous and the Playstation mascots Kuro and Toro all as exclusive characters for the PS3 and Vita.
For the official release trailer check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MFkGo-hsCY&feature=colike
Gargamel 2012 Lucky Bag Pictures are Here!
Gargamel Lucky Bag 2012
The Lucky Bag finally arrived! We were so excited and definitely not disappointed by the results.
In the bag we got we had a large black guts clear Deathra, a Large GID Hedoran, a small unpainted red Smogun, a painted Mibora, an unpainted small Huijili, a painted Hobo, and clear blue micro Zag, Sleeping Killer, and Angel Bird. We’ve seen some other incredible figures, but are definitely satisfied with our figures. What did you get? Anything unusual? we also love the large Zagoran this year, the paint is awesome. Kind of wish we got it, but what would we trade? So hard to choose from all of these great figures, the only answer is to get another Lucky Bag. It is getting increasing harder though now with the closing of Red Hot Robot.
We just recently learned, and let you know, that Lulubell Toy Bodega opened up in Mesa, Arizona in our Huck Gee post, but they do not carry Gargamel or Super7. We find that hard to believe since they are both such a large part of the kaiju Japanese vinyl market, but at least we have our figures in hand and that’s all that we care about right now. Thank you Super7!!!
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- Black Guts Deathra Gargamel Lucky Bag 2012
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- Gargamel Lucky Bag 2012
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- Hedoran Lucky Bag 2012
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- Huijili Gargamel Lucky Bag 2012
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- Miborah Gargamel Lucky Bag 2012
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- Micro Killer, Zagoran, & Angel Bird Lucky Bag 2012
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- Painted Hobo Gargamel Lucky Bag 2012
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- Smogun Lucky Bag 2012
Xbox Live Getting Rid of Point Cards, Going to Real Currency
Xbox live points getting transferred to currency?
Microsoft may be preparing to discontinue its virtual currency system by the end of the year, according to Inside Mobile Apps. The software giant is reportedly looking to phase out Microsoft Points in favor of real money transactions. After the switch, customers with existing Microsoft Points balances will have them converted into their local currency.
Microsoft is said to have already warned mobile developers to plan their upcoming downloadable content and in-app purchases in accordance with the change. The move isn’t all that surprising; Microsoft has been gradually introducing cash purchases for its full Xbox Live games instead of using the points system, which many have seen as confusing and unnecessary. Microsoft Points are currently used to purchase games and media content on Xbox Live, the Zune Marketplace and Windows Phone, however the system isn’t used universally, with certain features using real money transactions and others using points. Microsoft declined to comment on the story.
What do you think is better? Prepaid or Pay as you go? Let us hear your ideas!
Mass Effect 3 Is Much Easier to Understand
Will you be understanding this new game?
If you played Mass Effect 2 without playing Mass Effect 1 (like me), then you’ll be able to attest to the fact that certain moments in the game simply didn’t make sense. For me, and playing the second without playing the first came down to a matter of free time, reading story summaries and fan wikis didn’t account for every plot detail referenced throughout the sequel’s campaign.
Of course, I never once complained about the references to the original. It was my fault for skipping the first, and I fully welcomed BioWare‘s decision to reward players that completed Mass Effect in its proper order.
For Mass Effect 3, however, BioWare aims to eliminate this problem for brand new gamers. Nick Clifford, who’s responsible for Product Marketing on Mass Effect 3, spoke with IGN about handling new players with the third beat in this trilogy:
“In all honesty, we didn’t do a really good job of new player orientation…If you didn’t play the first game then 2 was pretty jarring for the first half hour…
…If I’m a new player and some guy walks up to me and is like ‘Ohhhh Shepard! Remember that one time?’ I would be like ‘No. I don’t remember that one time’…So we wanted to make sure that there aren’t those moments that the player is like, ‘Who is this? What’s going on? What are they talking about?’”
According to IGN, BioWare will accomplish that by including a “story so far narrative” in the game for those that play without previous Mass Effect save files; they don’t detail the feature much more beyond that.
I will say this: having played the sequel without playing the original, I can’t possibly fathom jumping into the trilogy at its conclusion. So much happens between the first two games that starting off with the third doesn’t make much sense. If money and time are your enemies, then maybe I can see doing it. Otherwise? Play the games.
Mass Effect 3 drops for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on March 6th, 2012.
Minecraft Officially Being Released by Lego
Lego has picked up the hit beta Minecraft
When Minecraft was first released, there was a rumor that Lego could officially be picking up the game and releasing it. LEGO CUUSOO is a project the block creation company has been working with for a short while now.
Essentially, the LEGO fan community pitches ideas, gains supporters and then has their potential sets reviewed by LEGO. Should a set meet and beat every qualification in each stage, it will be officially made and supported by LEGO.
Mojang created their idea page, showed it off to fans and gained the support they needed. From there, it was all up to LEGO.
Well, here’s what LEGO posted on the official page today:
“Happy New Year! Since the Minecraft™ project reached 10,000 supporters on LEGO CUUSOO, many of you have been eagerly awaiting our update. Until now, the project has been in the LEGO Review—a stage before product development begins where a LEGO Jury evaluates the idea’s feasibility as a product and makes a decision.
We’re happy to announce that the Minecraft project on LEGO CUUSOO has passed the LEGO review and we are now developing a concept that celebrates the best aspects of building with the LEGO system and in Minecraft and we can’t wait to show it to you—but we aren’t ready just yet. These things take time, so we appreciate your patience. More details are to come.”
The LEGO Minecraft set of our dreams is coming, my nerd brothers and sisters. Come, join me as I stand in line in front of my local toy store. What’s that you say? I’ll be able to buy it online once its officially released? Well, fine, but I’ll keep standing here as a way to show my support. Yes. Nerd support.
We imagine once this does actually go on sale, it’ll move quickly. When that happens, we’ll be sure to share the news with you…after we buy our set. Sorry.
Custom Fit Ear Buds, Professional or Do-It-Yourself……..
Sculpted Eers
I remember this first time I checked out my friends Ipod. Needless to say I was amazed and what really caught my attention was the dynamic range offered up by those tiny little ear buds. Now imagine my dismay when as soon as I let go of the ear buds, they promptly dropped out of my ears. I’ve tried everything, I’ve run the wire behind my ear and put them in upside down, I’ve held my ear open from the top and tried to shove them in, I’ve tried every trick, every brand and every style of in ear ear-phones…they won’t stay in!
Therefore I have been relegated to over-the-ear headphones. But since I’m neither a professional athlete nor a night club DJ, I feel a little goofy wearing them out of the house. So I got a little excited as I was perusing through all the new gadgets that were displayed at this years CES and I came across Sculpted Eers. Finally, the answer to my earbud nightmare! Here’s the problem, they aren’t cheap. So I was even more excited when I ran across this webpage DIY Custom Fit Ear Buds. There a couple of other DIY sites that have similar projects. So if you have funky ears like me and don’t mind looking like you have chewing gum in you ear…give it a shot.
DIY ear buds
Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3DS Exclusive!
Limited Edition "Snake Skin" for 3DS Exclusivly in Japan
If Nintendo’s existing selection of Nintendo 3DS colors simply aren’t interesting enough for you, check out this limited edition snakeskin console that has been created to celebrate the launch of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. The device will launch in Japan on February 3, but you’ll have to be incredibly lucky to get your hands on one.
You can’t just walk into your local game store to pick up one of these; Konami will be raffling them off and you’ll have to actually win the opportunity to purchase one. The console will be part of a bundle that sells for approx. $298 and includes the new Metal Gear Solid game, in addition to two plastic ring-binders. That’s right, two folders that are decorated with MGS characters!
Furthermore, the deal won’t be leaving Japan, so those of us in the U.S. and Europe have little chance to bag one of these portables for ourselves, unless we happen to find them on eBay at some point. Though I’m assuming the folders are more likely to be sold on than the console.
What do you think of the limited edition Nintendo 3DS? Are you disappointed it’s not going to be available outside of Japan?