Today was the day millions of Xbox One owners were waiting for: the release of Titanfall. All this waiting, only to get home to find that the always-reliable Xbox Live has let them down. Although it’s not as big of a deal as some Twitter reactions say, it really brings into question the legitimacy of always-online games.
When I reviewed the Synology DS213j, I was impressed with not only the physical device, but also Synology’s Disk Management software called DiskStation Manager AKA DSM. Today, Synology released DSM version 5.0 which includes a revamped user experience, overall performance boosts, optimized multimedia and mobile experiences, and more. Check out the full list of features at Synology’s website.
Loop Attachment’s Mummy case for iPhone 5/5s is not just another slim, low profile silicone iPhone case. Along with it’s eye-catching design, it has room for secure card storage in the straps on the back, improved grip over many silicone cases and a great no-snag texture so that it doesn’t get caught in your pants pocket. It retails for $24.95.
Because I know you all follow my posts like a kid following an ice cream truck, you’ll probably remember my review of the AL13 aluminum iPhone case by designed by m. Now, designed by m is back, funding on Kickstarter with its second version of the AL13. Designed by m boasts that the AL13 v2 will have ZERO signal loss.
The amphiro a1 is a digital meter that displays the water and energy usage in real-time during your shower. It installs easily and does not need any batteries; it also grades your shower from A+ through G-, and sometimes makes you feel guilty for your long, steamy shower. It retails for $89.
With a new smartphone announcement comes the inevitable stream of new smartphone accessories. Such is the case with the new Samsung Galaxy S5 introduction at Mobile World Conference. Proporta, a British accessory purveyor has announced a new line of Galaxy S5 accessories, featuring collaborations with Quiksilver and Barbour. Check out Proporta’s full line of Galaxy S5 accessories at their website.
So here’s a sweet deal for those of you looking to purchase an Xbox One. Microsoft is now offering an Xbox One Titanfall bundle, which includes the Xbox One, a digital download of Titanfall, and a month of Xbox Live; all for the price of your standard Xbox One. This almost makes me wish I wasn’t an early adopter. Almost.
At Mobile World Conference, The Eye Tribe, a Danish motion tracking firm has announced the beta release of the world’s first affordable eye motion tracking software development kit. With this technology, you could potentially control your smartphone just by looking at it. Affordable eye tracking brings with it a load of future possibilities. For more, check out the video below.
Just because everyone looks at UPS or FedEx as the big boys of shipping, doesn’t mean that DHL has to take it lying down. To that end, DHL decided to “prank” fellow shippers UPS and TNT by printing “DHL is Faster” on temperature-sensitive paper and glued them to large boxes and had UPS and TNT deliver them to hard-to-reach addresses.
Titanfall’s developer, Respawn, held a media event last week in London, but there was an embargo on all video and impressions that expired yesterday. You can guess what happened yesterday as TONS of videos and commentary showing footage from this weekend’s beta build flooded the interwebs. Past the break, you’ll find a few choice links for your viewing pleasure.
Audiovox’s inSite Separation Alarm is just that, a device that alerts you when the tag has been separated from your smartphone by a certain distance. This super slim device can fit in your wallet or more easily, on your keys. The inSite might be perfect for those who are always leaving their valuables behind. The inSite sells for $29.99.
Respawn has just opened up Titanfall Beta testing signups on the PC and Xbox One; apologies to those with an Xbox 360. Titanfall’s website says that seats in the Beta are limited and if chosen, you’ll be emailed with further information “no later than 11:59 PM PST on Feb 17th.” Sign up at Titanfall’s website for a chance to play!
Outdoor Technology sells products for people who like to enjoy being in the great outdoors. I had a chance to review the Turtle Shell 2.0, a totally rugged Bluetooth speaker and was very impressed. This water-resistant, dust-proof speaker is a great way to bring your tunes along wherever you go; it retails for $129.95.
Are you excited for Titanfall to be released on Xbox One and PC on March 11th? So am I! I cannot legally say whether or not I took part in the Alpha test, but there is a Beta test on the way! Respawn tweeted today that Beta test details will be announced sometime early next week, so stay tuned!
I love my digital media, so I built my own Home Theater PC that streams all of my movies and TV shows to my HDTV. So, a Network Attached Storage system is perfect for me. The Thecus N2310 is an entry-level NAS with two Hard Drive bays, RAID support and a slew of other features. It retails for $159.
Candy Crush Saga developer King made waves recently by trademarking the word “candy” in Europe. Yes, it’s just as ridiculous as it sounds. Several European game developers have banded together in a protest of sorts called Candy Jam, in which they are writing games involving the word “candy” for two weeks. You can read more about it here.
An item came across my desk recently that I’m really looking forward to testing, the Thecus N2310 Network Attached Storage system. It’s got two hard drive bays, features RAID support, built-in FTP and BitTorrent clients, and is supposed to take only 5 minutes to set up. Plus, it’s competitively priced at $159. Stay tuned for my full review.
I woke up to a very exciting email this morning, as it appears that Respawn and EA are opening up the highly anticipated Titanfall to a limited public Alpha test on the Xbox One console. The email invited me to apply to Alpha test Titanfall using my EA Origin account. You can apply for the Alpha yourself at Titanfall’s website.
Yes Man Watches has raised over $8,000, over 50% of its goal in the first day of Kickstarter funding. The neat thing about these watches is the innovative latch design that gives you tons of fitting options and doesn’t poke holes in the beautiful leather. The watch face design is clean as well. Check out their Kickstarter campaign to pledge.
At CES, Sharp unveiled their Universal Player, the first ever WiSA-Compliant universal player. The Sharp Universal Player is the first component to push uncompressed sound at 24-bit/96kHz and video at 1080p, all wirelessly. Sharp’s Universal Player can wirelessly transmit sound to up to 8 wireless speakers. The $4,000 component ships Spring, 2014; you can read more here.
Sumo wrestlers aren’t known for their nimbleness, but you might rethink that when you take a look at Parrot’s new Jumping Sumo spy gadget/robot/toy. The Parrot Jumping Sumo is a WiFi enabled robot with a built-in camera, gyroscope, and accelerometer, which make it easy to pilot from your smartphone or tablet. Learn more about Parrot’s Jumping Sumo at Parrot’s website.