August 2013

Craig Hartley – Books on Tape Vol. 1 CD Review

Innovating in a crowded space is never easy, but there is always room for a talented artist to create an impression even within an established genre. That is exactly what Craig Hartley does with his ‘Books on Tape Vol. 1’ piano trio recording. Great compositions, improvisation and playing; my favorite piano trio yet this year. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Artist: Craig Hartley Description: From the artist: This album represents an interpretation of some of my musical and life experiences translated into song. included in the liner notes are brief descriptions of my thoughts and inspirations for each…

Game Diary, News

EA Offers ‘Great Game Guarantee’ Refund System on Origin

Imagine you bought the recent Realms of Arkania game, and within an hour you were horrified at the bugginess. Steam and GoG.com are good about refunds in these cases – but what if it was an acclaimed game like Skyrim, and you just couldn’t connect? Tougher sell for a refund – so now EA’s Origin has a ‘Great Game Guarantee’. The ‘Great Game Guarantee’ is fairly simple in theory: you can return EA full game downloads (PC or Mac) purchased on Origin for a full refund–within 24 hours after you first launch the game, within seven days from when you…

Music Diary, Reviews

Keith McMillen QuNeo 3D Pad Controller Review

Being a Kickstarter darling has its ups and downs. QuNeo earned more than 10 times its funding goal of $15,000 then struggled through manufacturing problems, partner changes, and delays before finally launching. The end result shows that being patient and steadfast paid off with a product that is iPad compatible, high quality, affordable, and totally musical! Description QuNeo is the next generation of pad controller. As small as an iPad and more powerful than any other MIDI controller you’ve ever played, QuNeo makes beats, launches clips, remixes and reinvents your musical world. 44 pads, sliders, rotaries & switches Pressure, velocity…

Gear Bits

New Need for Speed Rivals Features Announced

Check out two new features in the upcoming Need for Speed Rivals racing video game coming to PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on Nov. 19 and eventually the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Check out the preview video here. Get into gear! Electronic Arts revealed two new features in the upcoming Need For Speed: Rivals racing video game – personalization (returning) and a revised career progression – both built into the AllDrive gameplay features, which meshes all the game modes together so players can quickly jump among different gaming experiences. In Need For Speed: Rivals players will enjoy these two features on either side of…

Gear Bits

Trailer for Hotly Anticipates Indie RPG ‘Eschalon Book III’ Arrives!

Back in 2007 I called Eschalon Book 1 the ‘Indie Game of the Year’. In 2010, Book II arrived and was even better, so the final chapter is hotly anticipated by RPG fans – and the trailer has arrived. Enjoy the video, knowing the game will launch in time for the holidays.

News

When to Use the Command Line and When to Stick to a GUI

Back in the early days of computing there was DOS, and DOS used what we call a command line. A command line or shell is a text interface for interacting with your computer. Today graphical interfaces rule the day, but the command line is still useful … in fact, sometimes it might even be better. Read on for more on how to improve your computing life with the good ol’ command line. When I bought my first IBM compatible PC, as we called them back in the day, DOS was the only way to interact with the PC. We launched programs…

Reviews

Epson XP-410 Multi-Function Printer Review – Small But Does It All

If you need a small multi-function printer that has a tiny footprint and a budget price, then you will want to check out the Epson XP-410. Good quality prints, WiFi, and printing from iPhones, iPads, and Android devices — thanks to integration with AirPrint and Google Cloud Print — are just the beginning. And it is priced under $100. It may be an increasingly paperless world, but there are still times when you need to print or scan a document. Epson offers a terrific range of multi-function printers at a wide range of prices. My current go-to printer is the…

Gear Bits

Get the Book “Notes to a Software Team Leader” for Free

There’s no better price than free, and that’s how much you’ll currently pay for the book “Notes to a Software Team Leader”. Targeted to anyone with a leadership role in the software business, this book is normally $25. If people look to you for technical guidance, then this book may help makes it easier for you to help. Get it here.

Gear Bits

Save on the Handpresso Wild Hybrid Espresso Machine

Nothing’s better than a cup of fresh espresso to start your day. And if you are on the go there’s no reason to compromise. Handpresso’s Wild Hybrid lets you enjoy fresh espresso anywhere. Combine hot water with Handpresso’s ESE pods or your own ground coffee and let the Wild Hybrid do the rest. Normally $129.99, get it here for $109.00.

Editorials

Why Does Google Hate Windows Phone?

Whether or not you’re a fan of Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system, there’s one issue both fans and detractors both recognize: there is a definite lack of Google support in the apps. It’s not just the lack of Google Maps, but also the lack of a Gmail app, a Google+ app, and worst of all, no official YouTube app. That last one has been the subject of a fair amount of drama as of late, with Microsoft creating an app, getting it blocked by Google, collaborating with Google, releasing a new YouTube app, and getting it blocked again. So what’s…

Game Diary, News

Official PlayStation 4 Console Release Date Announced

Set your calendar for November 15! Sony announces the North American release date for their newest console just in time for the holidays. Let the pre-order frenzy begin!

News

Plantronics Gaming Throws Down with Their New RIG Headset

Plantronics has a message to gamers: “If you’re into your games AND your mobile devices, we’ve got the headset for you!” The RIG headset and mixer audio system let you play interactive video games, take calls, and listen to music from your smartphone or tablet. It’s the first member of the RIG family of gaming devices, and it is coming this fall for $129.

Editorials

Barnes and Noble Continues Their Confused Path

I’ll admit that I’ve done my fair share of kicking Barnes and Noble. I think they’ve let themselves be run in two contradictory directions (being a digital company versus being a bookstore) for too long, and their half-hearted attempts to bridge the two were too promotional and short-term to make a real difference. At this point, though, criticizing B&N feels almost mean — when so much is going so wrong, is it really helpful to pile on and point out how much worse things really look? What’s looking so scary? Well, for starters, it looks like the company has no…

Gear Bits

Nixon Luxe Heritage Watch Collection Arrives This October

Smartwatches may be all the rage and news that an Android Smartwatch is on the way will only add to the hype. Still, a gorgeous timepiece made from leather and chrome will always have its place. Nixon’s Luxe Heritage Collection fits the bill and arrives just in time for Halloween. Priced from $125-$900, you can Check them out here. via The Awesomer

Gear Bits

The Secret Society Launches for Kindle Fire & Android, Gets Massive Update!

I reviewed The Secret Society for iPad, noting how it balanced ‘play’ versus ‘pay’ elements. It recently arrived for Android and Kindle Fire with massive updates, and while it feels cramped on my Galaxy S3, on Kindle Fire HD it is perfect (at stealing reading time)! If you have a tablet and haven’t played, check it out free on iOS, Kindle or Android. Here is the trailer:

Reviews

ECOROX Waterproof Speaker Review – Use It On or In the Water

Like the elusive Loch ness monster, the search for a Bluetooth speaker that is fully waterproof and actually sounds decent has endured, but an actual sighting has long-eluded those seeking to capture it in the flesh. Finally however ECOXGEAR’s ECOROX waterproof speaker has reared its head. It is waterproof and it sounds good. ECOXGEAR describes their ECOROX speaker as “a unique portable audio system combining Bluetooth, Lithium Ion Battery and Waterproof Technologies”. It has an MSRP of just under $130 and, thanks to its rugged design, looks the part of a speaker built for the outdoors. The ECOROX is shock resistant,…

Music Diary, Reviews

The O’Farrill Brothers – Sensing Flight CD Review

The O’Farrill Brothers remind me of seeing Harrison / Blanchard in New York City and buying their debut CD ‘Nascence’ – there are interesting songs, a certain rawness and rough edges, an abundance of talent, and apparent influences on display. And like ‘Nascence’, I expect greater and more mature work in the future, but that doesn’t diminish this fun and intriguing recording! Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Artist: The O’Farrill Brothers Description: The O Farrill Brothers display their astonishing instrumental hard bop virtuosity and a distinctive, coherent ensemble sound with a musical maturity well beyond their young years. Features…

News

Windows Phone and Gmail Finally Learn to Play Better

Thanks to the latest Windows Phone update, Windows Phone finally syncs properly with Gmail — bringing along all of your shared calendars and properly formatted emails. No more shredded MIME-reformatted emails! One of the common objections to Windows Phone is the lack of Google services integration. There are some obvious areas where there’s a large Google-shaped hole (the drama around the official/not official/official youtube app is an excellent example), but the biggest sticking point for me as a user of both has been the Gmail experience. However, the latest Windows Phone update has completely revamped how Gmail syncs with Windows Phone…

Gear Bits

How Many New iPhones Can We Expect to See in September?

Mike Philbin just sent in a tip that on Amazon he “can see cases for upcoming iPhone 5C, but also mention of iPhone mini. The page also mentions that the case will not fit the iPhone 5S. We are going to see 3 new iPhones on September 10th?” Good question, Mike! One that I don’t have the answer for, but I suppose that at this point … anything is possible. =P What do you all think? Will there be a 5S (the more expensive and more highly specc’d iPhone 5 successor), a 5C (the “cheap” iPhone 5), and a smaller sized iPhone…

Gear Bits

The Bureau XCOM Declassified

The XCOM universe expanded to include one of 2012’s best PC games and one of 2013’s best iPad games. This week it expands further with a cold war look at a secret agency in The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. The image shows it’s loaded up in Steam waiting for me to get started playing – look for my review next week! For now, check out the launch trailer!

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