Just when you thought you’d seen it all, another “interesting” crowdsourced project comes to light. I’m all for being prepared–I keep a roadside emergency kit in my car–but sometimes you can take it just a bit too far. That might be the case with the Peacekeeper Mini, a combination flashlight and pepper spray with bluetooth/GPS “crowd alert” technology.
These days, remote start and keyless entry systems for cars are pretty standard, whether they’re standard features offered by the manufacturer or dealer, or something added with aftermarket accessories. Viper has taken that convenience one step further. Their new SmartKey VSK100 allows your iOS smartphone to be your car key, no app launch or passcode entry required.
Like many other mid-level restaurants these days, Chili’s is attempting to redefine itself to avoid becoming almost irrelevant–just witness what has happened to Olive Garden and Red Lobster in the last year. With remodeled restaurants, plenty of fresh new menu items, aggressive couponing and promotions, and now touchscreen tabletop kiosks, Chili’s is looking to engage tech-savvy customers and enhance sales.
The Heartbleed Security Issue is here. I tried out the Leap Motion controller last year; it’s a “hands free” device (small box) the connects to Mac and PC computers with accompanying software where hand gestures look to replace the traditional computer mouse during interactions. This service recently sent me the following notice regarding the Heartbleed Security Issue:
Smartphones are great, and for many people they replace quite a few things, from alarm clocks and day planners to cameras and GPS. But sometimes you need something more than just your phone, and the MyTask case aims to make that easier than cramming the pockets on your cargo pants. Need a pen or spoke wrench? This case has you covered.
Zumba Fitness World Party continues the popular dance/fitness game series from Majesco. This excitable experience involves an included fitness belt (neon green and black) and uses a Wii remote (required to play). Zumba Fitness World Party has amazing gameplay and exercise opportunities. Move to over 40 new songs amid seven worldwide locations that anchor over 40 classes and 14 outstanding instructors.
Skydive: Proximity Flight offers a unique skydiving sport/simulator experience using classic controllers or Kinect where players get an expanded movement range compare to real life. TopWare Interactive AG and Gaijin Entertainment used real skydiving pros in the game creation and offer freestyle, trick, route flight and adrenaline race modes plus leaderboard functions and multiplayer for $6.99 (Xbox Live exclusive).
In South Park: The Stick of Truth, players explore the small Colorado town, engage in turned-based fighting, and encounter endless characters. Almost every conceivable element from the animated television series has been transferred over to this video game adaptation. In fact, developers have created an authentic simulation microcosm of the show where any player (fan or not) can visit any time.
The iHealth BP5 Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor (electronic sphygmomanometer) measures your maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) blood pressure in a convenient system using a sleeved monitor shell device and free mobile phone app named iHealth MyVitals.
Aksys Games has released 999: The Novel on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad for $4.99. Kotaro Uchikoshi wrote this mind-bending, interactive thriller, based on the hit 2010 Nintendo DS game Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors or 999, where readers can track their chosen path and can actually go back to take a different route if needed.
The Yoshi Edition Nintendo 3DS XL system hatches in stores on March 14 along with the new latest game series installment Yoshi’s New Island, which debuts on the 3DS. In the game, Yoshi throws various eggs that he lays including Mega Eggdozers and helps young Mario save Luigi. The system MSRP is $199.99 and the game MSRP is $39.99.
Bravely Default, a Nintendo 3DS exclusive game, brings a quality Japanese role-playing game (RPG) to North America. A character foursome seeks special crystals to save their land of Luxendarc. Along the way, players can experience several special side quests, augmented reality functionality, extensive job/ability system, unique brave (unleash)/default (store) combat and amazing collaborative capabilities using online and StreetPass networking.
Buffalo Wild Wings® (BW3) and NTN Buzztime are teaming up to give customers a deeper dining experience with seven-inch BEOND computer tablets. Guests of all ages will get the BW3 Buzztime BEOND tablet at their table by the end of 2015. This “all-in-one” interactive offering will eventually be coming to all North American BW3 restaurant locations and approximately 500 locations by the end of this year.
NBA Live 14 brings the basketball game series back to the court with impressive graphics, detailed player controls, and familiar EA Sports enhancements. Players get a wide range of experiences ranging from the extensive Dynasty levels to the special buzzbeater Moments (one is five seconds long).
First and Third Person shooter fans can enjoy a video game paradise with two new downloadable content (DLC) packs. First up, the Call of Duty®: Ghosts Onslaught DLC, already available on Xbox One and Xbox 360, releases for PC, PS4 and PS3. The available Season Pass offers a nice advantage for a price break where players get Onslaught and the upcoming Devastation, Invasion and Nemesis DLC packs.
rePLAY: Symphony of Heroes premieres in North America with a unique video game music concert series, executive produced by Jason Michael Paul. Specially chosen video game musical scores combine with professional theatrics, visuals and orchestral arrangements in this upcoming tour.The first show will take place at St. Petersburg’s Mahaffey Theater on April 19.
Oscar weekend 2014! Movies are one of my biggest media passions. Film have taught me so much and the Oscars are always an exciting time for me. Gravity is my pick for picture this year and is wonderfully mimicked in the above photo from artist Michael Breach (@baristart). Look for the rest of his great works to release here on Oscar Sunday in honor of the awards ceremony! One film always seems to win in all their nominations (The Matrix, Usual Suspects, Ed Wood, and the record-holder The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). This year there will be two!… The Great…
The new Guardians of the Galaxy preview from Marvel Studios (August 1, 2014) shows a good peek of the characters Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora, Drax, and Peter Quill / Star Lord. I wanted more story details, but police seem to focus on Quill after he grabs a special orb near the beginning of the preview. What are your impressions?
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games has been out since late 2013 all over the world, but don’t feel bad that you are just getting it now. This game has great all ages fun for any time of the year. Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games helps players warm up their winter with Olympic fever! SEGA Sports Japan teamed up with Nintendo for this only video game version of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, which is available exclusively on physical disc or download through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Wii U…
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is a definite addition for next-gen console game libraries thanks to a strong narrative, poignant character development, and enhanced connections with Lara Croft’s gear, motivations, and background. A promising start that showcases the original 2013 Tomb Raider game from Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics that hopefully brings many more high quality installments in the near future.
I like watches. It’s not as if I have a large collection of them, and it wasn’t until the last few years that I actually started taking an interest in fine time pieces. Before that, it was all about the functions … the gadget part of them, in other words.