When we were shopping for an HDTV, I briefly considered whether we needed a “smart TV”. Eventually I decided we probably didn’t, but I was very excited to take a look at the SmartStick TV accessory, as it turns my decidedly not-smart HDTV into a smart version running Android. Unfortunately, it isn’t without its drawbacks, [...]
Roku Releases the Roku 3
After what seemed like an eternity Roku has released a brand new streaming box today. The Roku 3 finally does away with all connections for old standard definition TV’s in this iteration making the box HD only. It has HDMI, Ethernet, USB and a power port and that’s it. The new box has beefed up [...]
WeVideo Android Video Editing App Now Available
Android video editing app WeVideo Despite being in high tech for my entire career (aside from a 3-month stint as a security guard back before I got my first tech job–don’t even ask), one of the things that has continued to truly amaze me about the advancements in electronics in the last 5-10 years is [...]
Cablevision vs FiOS – Choosing Bundled Cable Options
We are finally getting close to moving into our new home, and of course my number one priority is getting the Internet up and running. There are two choices for our area, Cablevision or Verizon FiOS, and both are relatively similar. We had both at our old house, so we are fairly familiar with the [...]
Oscar Weekend!
The Academy Awards…I mean the Oscars are here. Get ready for a film filled Oscar weekend! The 85th Oscars ceremony occurs this Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood televised live on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m., PT / 8:30 p.m., ET. Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy) will host as the stars squirm [...]
MoviePass Android App Available
Movie fans get their own golden reward as the Academy Awards (a.k.a. Oscars) quickly approach. A special service called MoviePass has expanded to Android mobile device users. This theatrical movie subscription service, which began as an iOS app, offers unlimited tickets at nationwide movie theaters (2D shows only) beginning at $30 a month. The MoviePass [...]
A Good Day to Die Hard Film Review
Twenty-five years after the original 1988 Die Hard film, this series continually delivers great action and excitement featuring its famous “Yippee Kay Hay” hero who’s at the wrong place at the wrong time. References including Ronald Reagan and cowboys are meant to pay homage to the film series, but only remind audiences how the plot [...]
The Sonos PLAYBAR Soundbar Brings Big Sound to Your Home Theater
As expected, Sonos has just introduced their new Playbar Soundbar and, yes, as a huge Sonos fan I ordered one. You might recall that I first ordered my Sonos system a mere hours after receiving a loaner review sample. I hooked up the Sonos system, downloaded the iOS app, turned it on and was blown [...]
Wreck-It Ralph Early Digital Release
Why wait until March to see Wreck-It Ralph? Today Walt Disney Animation Studios begins the early release of Wreck-It Ralph on HD Digital and HD Digital 3D. The 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack, 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, SD Digital and On-Demand will release on March 5, 2013. Bonus features on the physical home video versions [...]
Bar Mitzvah VINvite – Technology Meets Tradition as Bar Mitzvah Invitations Get Streamed
Back in the fall of 2009, Judie wrote a post entitled Technology Meets Tradition: And a Kindle Shall Lead Them. It discussed my use of a Kindle DX on the bimah (pulpit) during the Jewish High Holy Days. Some thought my use of an eBook reader was a bit odd, but for me it was [...]
30 Rock Ends This Thursday; Top Ten Reasons I’ll Miss It!
There are very few sitcoms that can pull off that razor edge of satire and surrealism without teetering into live action cartoon territory. Even fewer can make characters both ridiculous and relatable all at once, but for seven seasons “30 Rock” has managed to nail the satire and the characters. And Thursday, January 31, is, [...]
Updated Star Trek The Next Generation Blooper Reel Video on YouTube!
A couple of weeks ago I posted about a 10 minute ‘gag reel’ for Star Trek: The Next Generation … and naturally within minutes of the post going live the video was pulled. Well, eagle-eyed Joel noted that the video is up again! I checked it out, and it is now a 2.5 minute quick-cut [...]
Braven BRV-1 Speaker Encounters the Water Torture Test
We’ve reviewed the Braven 600 previously and, yesterday, we spent some hands-on time with the BRV-1. The speaker is rugged, water-resistant, and “built for the outdoors”. 10 hours of playtime thanks to the 1200mAh battery means you’ll get plant of time to listen to tunes on the 5W speakers. And because the BRV-1 is “protected [...]
Reality Show “Chained To My Ex” Looks at the Struggles of Life Together After Divorce
As anyone who has been married for more than a couple of years (or perhaps months … or weeks … or days) can tell you, marriage is not easy. Aside from all of the issues related to cohabitation, you also have to consider that suddenly there are joint liability issues and financial sharing and so [...]
2012 Was the Year YouTube Went Professional
In previous years the ‘top 10′ lists of most viewed YouTube clips would always contain amateur videos such as ‘Charli Bit My Finger’, cat videos, and so on … but this past year saw YouTube move fully to a professional video channel, reflecting the mainstream adoption of internet video as a primary source of entertainment. [...]






















