Poetic Leather T Prime Case

I love my Asus Transformer Prime, and the keyboard docking station (~$116).  A good case is a must for me as well, so I was very happy to get, and highly recommend, the Poetic(TM) ASUS Transformer Prime TF201 Leather Keyboard Portfolio Stand Case Cover for TF201 (AMAZON PURCHASE LINK).

While it has 1 or 2 drawbacks, it’s one of the best cases I’ve ever reviewed, for my needs this case was perfect and the price is all the way down to $17.95 on Amazon.  This soft “leather’ish” case can be separated for “tablet-only” useage, but it’s best when used in tandem with the eee Pad docked to the keyboard.

By the way, the Mobile Keyboad Docking station sure is nice to have and it changes the way I use my tablet!  It’s a must have if it fits your budget.

THE GOOD:

• Price now $17.95
• Nice soft feel. Not sure if it’s “real leather”, but it sure feels nice
• Provide padding and protection for your tablet and dock
• Holes are in the right places, so you can access both cameras,flashes, and data/power ports respectively
• Easy, Simple, and Fast setup and removal when necessary
• If separated from the Keyboard Dock, the tablet only portion of the case doubles as a stand.

THE BAD:

• When closed up, this case adds significant bulk and thickness..
• The Mobile Keyboard Dock accessory is nice to have, but an expensive add-on ( $116 )

** IMPORTANT LINKS, MORE INFO, PRICING AND REVIEWS FOR THIS POETIC TRANSFORMER PRIME CASE**

• 17 More Pictures of this Best Transformer Prime Case by Poetic.
• The Poetic Transformer Prime Leather Keyboard Portfolio case on Amazon Purchase and Reviews Link (~$17.95)
• The Asus Transformer Prime TF201 Mobile Keyboard Dock  Amazon Purchase and Reviews  (~$116)
• The Asus 32GB eee Pad Transformer Prime Android Tablet Pricing and Amazon Reviews   (~$116)

Here is my video review of this best transformer prime case accessory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA5TyHiRaf4

Ford Sync Powered by Microsoft

The Ford Sync system is a wonderful head unit and navigation system for a vehicle.  It is a quite powerful system, and many of the features are easily performed simply by using your voice.  In this article I’m going to walk you through a cool capability, finding local businesses  using the “Business Search” commands.  I actually do use this functionality on occasion and it’s a lot faster and safer than pulling over on the road.  In my case my Sync system is in a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.

Remember, to use the advance “Services” functionality, you MUST first register at www.syncmyride.com  ( have your VIN Ready )

– KNOWN CITY STATE, KNOWN BUSINESS NAME

1. SAY: “SERVICES”
2. SAY: “BUSINESS SEARCH”
3. SAY: “Renton Washington”
4. SAY: “Cedar River Animal Hospital”
5. SAY: “Directions”  ( sends address to your nav system )

– SEARCH NEAR ME: KNOWN BUSINESS NAME

1. SAY: “SERVICES”
2. SAY: “BUSINESS SEARCH”
3. SAY: “Search Near Me”
4. SAY: “The Keg Steakhouse”
5. SAY: “ONE” for the first option it offers you(closest)
6. SAY: “CONNECT ME” ( dials phone number from your car )

– SEARCH NEAR ME: FIND A GAS STATION

1. SAY: “SERVICES”
2. SAY: “BUSINESS SEARCH”
3. SAY: “Search Near Me”
4. SAY: “Gas Stations” ( searching by Type of Business )
5. SAY: “ONE” for the first option it offers you(closest)
• SAY: “Text me the info” ( send address to your phone via text)
• SAY: “Driving Directions” ( sends address to your nav system )

OTHER OPTIONS / INFO:

• “Search Near Me”  ( finds locations near you if unknown )
• “connect me” dials phone number.
• “text me the info” Send you a txt message to your phone with Link & Phone to your location ( good for forwarding to friends )
• It remembers your last search.. you’d say: “Last Search” if you need to remember the last search you did.
• If you’re low on gas, the nav will auto populate nearest fuel stations on your screen.

This is easy and convienient, it has come in handy for me a handful of times already!

Here is the video showing you How To use Business Search Services in my Ford Sync(Lincoln)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTttL0FFwHg

MORE FORD SYNC TIPS AND TRICKS:

How To Send Maps To Sync from Google or Mapquest
How to Upload Custom Images to Ford Sync

Assumed step #1 is that already you have your own music on your PS3 or Xbox.  For the absolute BEST results I recommend that organize your own tracks into a playlist so you don’t play out your own favorites.

While I add every picture here and it may seem long, it’s not, it just takes a few minutes and I HIGHLY recommend customizing your EA Experience by adding your own beats.   You are rewarded with a Trophy/Achievement.

1. Select Customise Fifa / My Music & Chants
   

   Step1: select customise FIFA

2. Select CUSTOM MUSIC & CHANTS
   

   Step 2: Choose CUSTOM MUSIC&CHANTS

3. Select Edit Menu & Favourite Team Audio
   

   Step 3: Select Edit Menu And Fav Tm Audio

4. Select Arena & Menus under Game Event
   

   Step 4: Arena & Menus A good place to try this out

5. This is where you can select a single song from your console or a playlist(best) if you are setup with a custom playlist.  I chose a single Track for the purpose of this article.
   

   Step 5 Decide on 1 track or a playlist

6. Now you can see your own music, select the track(or playlist) that you’d like to play when generally in the arena, or even pre-game Pro Ranked Matches.
   

   Step 6 pick your track or playlist

7. The next option is to decide to apply your music selection to all events, or just the selected events. If you followed my pic, just select the single event so you can get a feel for where your custom FIFA music will be played, you can add more later.
   

   Step 7: apply to EVERYTHING or just the Arena

8. Earn yourself a Bronze Trophy “Sweet Music” as an extra bonus.
   

   8: enjoy your trophy / achievement

9. Once you’ve selected you track, it will take you back to the menu where you could apply your custom music to more events if desired.  I find the “Arena & Menus” good enough, but feel free to customize even more from here..
   

   Review your changes. BOOYA ! So much better..

Since you’re obviously an EA Sports fan, you may want to read our NCAA College Football recruiting bible parts 1,2 and 3. Booya !

Logging in to Skype on my HTC HD7

Good news for the WP7 owners ( or to-be owners ) out there, Microsoft has finally launched their Skype App.  You can download the free Skype app right now at this link… http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/c3f8e570-68b3-4d6a-bdbb-c0a3f4360a51  I think this is great, and while this is the first release, I believe Microsoft will polish it up over time for all the current and future WP7 owners out there.

The #1 complaint I’ve seen so far is that the app does not use a background agent, and I agree this is bad.  Basically means, the only way to rock Skype(at the time of this article) is to have it actively open, Major Whammy YIKES!!

I’m not the world’s biggest Skype user, but it absolutely comes in clutch from time to time.  I use all the big 3 devices, Android, iPhone(iPad), and WP7, along with Mac and Windows so I am spoiled enough to the point that I expect apps like Skype to be available on whatever device I plan to use that day.

So, I’ve given you the link to the free app,  and here are some more screenshots I took on my own HTC HD7 while installing and prepping skype for my own useage.

What do YOU think about this news, and the app itself ?

What do you think about WP7?

I’ve owned and used one for over a year, and while I now am using the Samsung Galaxy S2 on TMobile, I have no beef with WP7.  I just enjoy switching up devices a lot.  It helps me write this blog :)

Skype WP7 Pin to Start

Make sure to check out more of my articles, reviews and videos on Windows Phone 7 Here…

8th Shrine Beat my score, 2:20

Here you go, the **SPOILER** for Sega Total War Battle’s “The Eighth Shrine” experience level for the iPad.  Dang man, this was nasty and I am very happy to now share my solution with you.. However, you can use what you learned in “The Valley of the Seven Shrines” to get past this challenge.  A great bonus for you is 300 Bonus Points to improve your economy and military efficiency, very helpful for the challenging Levels ahead.  Sega Total War Battles is a Real Time Strategy game for you iPad and iPhone. ( Certainly a best experience is had on the iPad3 Retina Display )

***  CLICK HERE LISTEN TO MY AUDIO PODCAST WALKTHRU AS YOU DESTROY THIS LEVEL HERE ! ***

** GO BACK TO THE 7th Shrine to Maximize your score, or for nostalgia **

OK, LET’S PROCEED TO THE EIGHTH SHRINE SOLUTION:

4 shrines on the right, 4 shrines on the left.   Start in the Center using my guide, build the Main Town Center, then proceed to the right side.

Lay The Town Center, and then 2 Trading Posts Left and Right

For the RIGHT SIDE, just use a similar solution to the Seven Shrines but push everything further out to the right, the last shrine is on the very edge.  On the left side, because of that damn tree I had to get creative.  I was able to finally get that 8th shrine by adding a second Lumber Yard, and I assure you things are packed in tight every rotation counts, kinda like Tetris in a way.

Everything gets pushed to the Right Edge for 8th Shrine

On the LEFT SIDE, you will grow to hate that damn tree. So we’ll just work around it.  I tried many many different variations, but I was always one hexagon off due to less space. However,  for my final solution, I had to add an additional LUMBER YARD!  With the added space from starting further over to the right, you can now add your 2nd lumber yard, and bury 2 more shrines behind the tree.  Once I tried this approach, my solution came swiftly.

Add a 2nd Lumber Yard, Bury 2 Shrines to the Left of the Tree

Well, there you go now you can spend your 300 Experience Points, Improve your Army and move on to more challenging Levels.

Please check out more of our work, and leave a comment if this was helpful for you !  We’re on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more.   http://www.booyagadget.com/booya-communications

Look, I like the game a lot, it has beautiful graphics, Game Center enabled, and an intriguing story, but this is not a review.  This is a total spoiler to help you pass the puzzle level : “Valley of the 7 Shrines” which is a bit of a PITA when you first start playing.  The game has a handful of “Experience Levels” that you can beat ( optionally ) to increase your economy.  You can also purchase, via in-app spending, but let me just walk you through solving this.  I haven’t yet completed “The Eighth Shrine” yet, but when I do I’ll post  the solution as well.

Because of the size of the screen, I must give you the solution in 2 parts.  LEFT, and RIGHT.  Once I screen captured my own solution, I was able to solve the puzzle in 1:53 for a score of 2,087. Don’t get too cocky though if you used my solution :)

This article and spoiler is super hot on our stats, If you find this helpful, please consider subscribing to our blog, or youtube, or liking us on Facebook/Twitter!  You can select your favorite social media on or comms page.  ( thanks, booya! )

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST SEGA TOTAL WAR BATTLES WALKTHRU HERE. ( same info just my talking you through it )

CLICK HERE WHEN YOU’RE READY, YOU CAN NOW VIEW MY SOLUTION FOR “The Eighth Shrine” NOW AVAILABLE!  BOOYA !

CAN YOU BEAT MY SCORE ?  THIS IS YOUR TARGET 1:53

7 SHRINES LEFT SIDE SOLUTION(3 Shrines)

iPad Seven Shrines LEFT SIDE 3 Shrines

7 SHRINES RIGHT SIDE SOLUTION(4 Shrines)

iPad Seven Shrines RIGHT SIDE SOLUTION 4 Shrines

Simple Connections Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem

Based on my research, a lot of people simply never realized they could easily buy their own cable or DSL modem.  Comcast certainly does not spontaneously promote this because I assume their rental equipment is an additional profit center.  I only purchased my own router about 3-4 months ago. But just like my rented modem, I haven’t touched my Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem since installation!  From now on, I’m just saving money and you can too with a little elbow grease.

There is no magical power to the standard equipment Comcast/Xfinity pushes on you.  My main recommendation, however, is that you do obtain equipment that maximizes your account features, and I strongly recommend that it resides on the COMCAST APPROVED MODEM LIST: http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/.

This is not an  attack on Comcast.  I quite like their internet service.  Booya Gadget is my hobby because I love tech, but by day I’m a technology professional and internet is very important to my financial well being.  I tell you that so you understand my perspective.   I do NOT, however, like Comcast’s cable TV offerings though, but that’s another article.

FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE ON RENTING YOUR EQUIPMENT

• You Pay Approximately $7 per month
• $84 Rental Fees Per Year
• $420 Rental Fees over 5 Years
• The  Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem I purchased cost $75 with free ( amazon prime member) shipping
• Remember, I’ve been with Comcast for well over 10 years, but this basic principle applies to “most” Internet Service Providers.. Just “Google it” if you’re not with Comcast.

 

My internet Speed with Sb6120 , click to test yours!

No More Speaker Cables LG Soundbar LSB316

I’ve now owned the LG LSB316 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer for about 12 months at the time of this article and I’m extremely happy with this product.  I purchased this from my local BestBuy which I regret now because of significant price drops in recent months, bad for me, great for you!  I acquired this product for some very specific reasons which I will cover below but know that if you’re shopping for home audio sound bars this is a solid choice both in my opinion and the opinion of most Amazon reviewers as well as indicated by a 3.9/5 star average.  Checking some pricing today, expect somewhere around $270-$300.

LG SOUND BAR AMAZON PURCHASE AND REVIEWS LINK
View All 27 Pictures during my Unbox and Setup

SUCCESSFUL MISSION: WHY I BOUGHT THE LG LSB316

This year I’m in some kind of strange “get rid of crap” phase.  This includes ditching massive home audio speakers, expensive receivers, and the many tentacle-like power, audio, and other related speaker cables that come with a fancy-dancy setup.  No longer do I need the huge tower speakers and large space hogging gadgets, besides, smaller and more powerful is the trend of the times.  Another key feature I wanted was easy Bluetooth audio connectivity to my home audio system.   And ultimately, I tend not to enjoy TV only speakers and prefer just a little more than standard TV speakers can offer.  Remember, this also gets rid of tens of feet of speaker cables!   This sound bar system nailed all my desires.

LG LSB316 Sound Bar Replaces All This Crap

MOST IMPORTANTLY:  AUDIO QUALITY

It should be no surprise, that this device will not win you any audio competitions, but it also won’t break your bank.  For my needs it is perfect and exactly what I was looking for, an upgrade over TV speakers in a small footprint.  Initially I was skeptical of the wireless subwoofer, but it is actually a pretty nice little sub and I would never rock the sound bar without it.  The wireless connectivity also works very well.  My subwoofer is about 12 feet away from my TV, totally separated.  This is a nice feature because it allows me to kind of secretly store away my Sub and clear even more clutter and cables from around my TV.  I consider the audio quality overall, for TV,Movies, and Music “pretty good”.  If you’re a total audiophile, then maybe you should consider a higher end system but for the average consumer out there I believe you’ll be pleased.  If you’re the type, you could certainly throw a nice party and play DJ from your pocket!  I really enjoy listening to my music through this device.

Right Side Speaker Closeup. Speakers are exposed.

LG SOUND BAR AMAZON PURCHASE AND REVIEWS LINK
View All 27 Pictures during my Unbox and Setup

MY FAVORITE FEATURE: EASY BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY

If you’ve followed us much at Booya you know I own and test a lot of different gadgets.  I had 100% Bluetooth streaming success with all my toys, including Windows Phone 7, Android Tab and Phone, iPhone and iPad.  To connect your device, set the input mode of the LG LSB316 Sound Bar into Bluetooth Mode and it is “always listening” and ready for your device to connect.  Not all is perfect though.  I found I had to “play around” a little to connect my Windows Laptop and MacbookPro  via bluetooth, and when listening to a movie via Bluetooth from my Asus Transformer Prime, I sometimes experience a slight lag.  I think the best experience is to pump music from your mobile devices, or of course simply to play the output from your Television.  I’ve actually reviewed other Products and solutions,  like this Sony 2 Way Bluetooth adapter, but that product is now obsolete in my house and goes to the Craigslist gadget graveyard because of this LG Sound Bar!

Paired via Bluetooth with 1 of my gadgets

Here is the Video Review for even more helpful information !

WATCH THE VIDEO DEMO HERE-> LG Sound Bar Unbox and Review HERE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68pZ7kRefmg

IMPORTANT FINAL THOUGHTS, OTHER FEATURES AND 27 ADDITIONAL PICS!

• Make sure you see all 27 of my pics associated with this LG Sound Bar review here at Booya Flickr.
• Read Other Reviews, and Purchase options at Amazon
• This device has 1 aux input, 2 optical inputs, and USB inputs if you have other gadgets you need to plugin.
• Grab all your big ass towers, untangle your speaker wires, and decommission your huge receiver. Sell them to a friend or Craigslist and subsidize your own purchase !
• If selling is not an option, please consider your local electronics recycling location or donate your old equipment to Goodwill or similar.
• If you match this device to an LG TV, you’ll get additional benefits of synchronized controllers.  ( my TV is Samsung so I don’t get this benefit )
• Some people have complained that the marketing stickers are a PITA to remove…
• If you want to hear this device before purchase:  Go to Bestbuy, listen to this and similar Sound Bars, then buy on Amazon for the low price.  ( Sorry Bestbuy, but it’s happening anyways )
• There are a handful of options in the $300 price range, no matter what, I would urge you to consider a sound bar that has built in Bluetooth. Eventually you’ll want to have it !
• If your budget doesn’t allow this type of purchase but you really want Bluetooth connectivity, you can also use less expensive gadgets like this Sony 2 Way Bluetooth Adapter.

Amazon Kindle Fire Logo

Although I am already the proud owner of a Motorola Xoom, I couldn’t resist the urge to pick up Amazon’s new entry into the high tech tablet market, the Kindle Fire. So far, I am very satisfied and while I give the Fire a solid “thumbs up”, this device is not for everyone.

However, at a price tag of $199 I am certain a lot of people will use this device to gain entry into the wonderful world of tablets at a lesser price than I did. Before continuing on, you should know that not only am I a fan of the Kindle Fire, but I put my money where my mouth is and bought 2 more for my family this holiday season. A wonderful gift for the tech-savvy and heavy reader in your social circle too.

BUY A KINDLE FIRE FOR YOURSELF OR AS A GIFT TODAY FROM AMAZON

THE FIRE WANTS YOU IN BED WITH AMAZON
There is no doubt that the Kindle Fire rewards you for being “in bed” with Amazon’s products and services. This is one of the sneaky ”gotcha’s” with this product. If you are already in the cloud and ahead of the curve with online video, apps, and music then it’s important realize where your media is held. If it’s with google music/books then you may want to consider a more generic Android Tablet. If you already use Amazon’s cloud services, or you’re open to starting with the acquisition of a Fire then you will be happy.

I use many cloud services and Amazon is one of them, and I’m also an Amazon Prime member which adds even more goodness to the Kindle Fire. My Fire came pre-registered to link to my Amazon account ( yours will too ) so once I turned it on for the first time, it recognized me, and ALL my media and apps stored with Amazon. It was slick and a pleasant surprise. My music was ready to listen to, and my T.V. shows I purchased ( like Walking Dead ) were ready to watch immediately.

SIMPLICITY
One key thing I think new owners will love about the Fire is its simplicity. There’s really just 1 main home screen that allows you to access all the features with a simple button press.  Newsstand, Books, Video, Music, Video, Documents,  Apps and the web are all the options you have to choose from. I was expecting a couple phone calls asking for setup help from my Mom when she received my Kindle Fire gift in the mail, but the questions never came. In fact, the only thing I got was a smart-mouthed call offering to give ME HELP setting up my own Fire :)

Kindle Fire Home Screen landscape

When I talk to iPad owners, they all rave about the simplicity, and “intuitiveness” of their iPads. I am anticipating a similar reaction from Kindle Fire owners. I believe it’s hard to “mess anything up” on this device. From the home screen, just press the activity you’d like to do, and it works. At such a low price point, I think many owners will be new to tablet use and they will find the ease of use relieving. As I like to say, this device is: SIMPLE, FAST, EASY. My real-life test using my mom as a guinea pig has proven this theory to be correct. She was up and running without much interaction from me at all.

BOOKS AND PERIODICALS
It’s been a whle since I’ve done any heavy reading, so naturally I felt compelled to do some kindle-book shopping. I was really impressed spending some time in the Amazon Kindle eBook store. I was most happy at the amount of great books at great deals on their site. I splurged on a couple books over $9.99 but most of the purchases I made were $2.99 or less. And as an Amazon Prime member, you can even “rent” books for FREE! Since acquiring this tablet about a week ago, I’ve already consumed 3 books ( Zombie Fallout Series ) and I can’t wait to read more.

Also pretty sweet is the viewing ability for Periodicals. I purchased this month’s Maxim Magazine, and a copy of a recent Seattle Times.  This is great for the traveler that loves magazine reading and normally purchases a copy at the Airport for reading on the Plane. Now, Fire owners can simply subscribe at a great monthly price, or electronic copies of their favorite newspaper or magazine for a good price and zero trunk space.

A key thing to remember is that the Kindle App is well developed and is available on all major devices from Apple, Android, and even Windows Phone 7( I am a WP7 Owner and love it ). I LOVE having access to all my books on any device or pc in the world ! It even saves your reading progress from device to device. If you hate buying gifts like I do, then you’ll be very happy to know that it is EASY to give books as a gift as well. My mom mentioned a couple books she was interested in, so I bought them for her in about 2 minutes. Amazon sends your recipient an email, and in a couple clicks, your family/friend/spouse or significant other will be able to easily consume books you’ve sent them as gifts. Then you won’t be known as Ebenezer Scrooge like I am during the holidays. One thing about readers, is man they LOVE TO READ and you have a perpetual “HIT” gift every year or occasion.

Kindle Fire Review: A Few of my Books

MUSIC AND VIDEO
MultiMedia is where you will need to get active if you want to enjoy music and video on your Kindle Fire. Yes, you can load your own movie and music files to your Kindle, but remember it has limited storage(~6+ GB Useable).  A single movie can take up anywhere between 1/2 a GB up to 2GB in my experience.

At $199, the Kindle Fire does leave out some desireable options. Multimedia content is most affected by the lack of BlueTooth. Yes, I can run a wire out, but I prefer wireless communication like I enjoy on ALL of my other gadgets. This doesn’t stop you from simply plugging in headphones but it’s not as cool.

With (no) bluetooth being mentioned, this device shines for those that have signed up for Amazon’s Cloud Music Service(Read more Here). From your home screen, just press “MUSIC” and you’re taken to your offline and online library. If you really don’t want to upload your music to the cloud, then you can plug in your Fire via USB and manually move files to your device, but honestly, I’d recommend just uploading them and give the FREE 5GB Amazon cloud service a spin.

Video and Movie files are a different matter that is affected again by your personal preferences. I do use Amazon’s Instant Video service and occasionally rent T.V. shows. Another beauty of owning a Kindle Fire and using Amazon services. Again, I just pressed the “VIDEO” tab and I had all my rented shows and movies ready to watch. Again, you can also transfer your own (Mp4) files to your Fire via USB, but to watch the movies you must use the “GALLERY” app which adds a step plus it requires some video conversion savvy which is a totally different article(I use DVD Catalyst).
And last but not least, media streaming apps like Hulu Plus, Pandora and Netflix work very well but some must be downloaded (FREE) from the Amazon App Store.

Amazon Instant Video Ready to rock on my Fire

APPS FROM THE AMAZON ANDROID APPSTORE ( AND 3rd Party )
The Fire has you somewhat locked into using THEIR appstore, and while you can CRACK/HACK/ROOT your Kindle to enable Google’s Android Market and other tricks, it is not something I’m willing to do.  A not so difficult task is to install 3rd party apps(or apk files).  I was able to successfully install my beloved NESOID(nintendo emulator) application and copy game files to my device in minutes.  The beauty of this device is its simplicity, so you’re at your own risk if you choose to hack your device. But if you’re willing to hack your device via Root, then I’m wondering if a Kindle is the right gadget for you or if you’d be better off purchasing full featured tablets like the Xoom or Samsung Galaxy tab.

With that said, Amazon’s appstore is a decent alternative. If you have purchased a lot of apps from Google, then you’ll be a little frustrated at not having them or being forced to purchase them again for the Kindle Fire. In General, the Amazon App Store has most of what you will need or want, with a few onesy-twosy apps not being available.

We’ve already reviewed Amazon’s App Store ( read here ) but one thing I love about it, is that they have a DAILY FREE APP. Definitely worth a visit and is something I’ve raved about in the past. If the Google Market is an “A”, then I give the Amazon Appstore a “B”.

The Fire knows apps you've already purchased. Appstore

PHYSICAL TRAITS AND BATTERY
I have found that I like the 7″ screen on the fire. I think it feels like a paperback book size which will feel comfortable in readers hands, unless you’re a full size hardback book snob. Some people have complained about the weight, but I find it’s certainly hold-able for reasonable periods of time. Ultimately, I would recommend purchasing a case WITH A STAND for the best user experience(pick up a screen protectorwhile you’re at it). Another “funky” thing is a bad placement of the only physical button on this device, the Power Button. It’s located on the bottom of the Fire and it is a bad spot because I guarantee at some point you will press that button on accident. The good news, is that the Fire will ask: “Do you want to shutdown” instead of rudely powering down on a single press. Not a huge deal, but at least 1 engineer should be fired. Put the damn button on TOP of the device next time please.

I’m also satified with the battery life. You can expect a good 6-10 hrs when in book mode. One thing I know is that the battery life on this Fire smokes(pun intended) the life of the battery on my Android Samsung Galaxy S2! Assigning battery performance a rating, I’d call it:  ”above average”.

The audio speakers on this device are average at best. Located on the top of the tablet, they’re small and don’t pack much of a punch. They certainly get the job done, but if I really want to clearly hear music or audio from a movie, I’ll choose to plugin headphones. Again, this is the type of feature that doesn’t get royal treatment on a $199 device.

Playing Nintendo with Nesoid on my Fire

RECOMMENDED–> VIEW ALL 40 PICTURES FROM THIS REVIEW ON BOOYA FLICKR

THE GOOD:

• The $199 price tag is very very interesting
• Awesome integration with Amazon’s Cloud Music, Movie, and App Services
• Easy to give books as gifts for the readers in your family
• Kindle is an App and available on nearly every single Tech-Gadget Device out there ( your media stays with you! )
• Easy setup out of the box
• Whisper Sync makes it EASY to download books you’ve purchased on another system or gadget
• Awesome deals on books and a great variety in the very mature Amazon eBook store.
• I love the “Newsstand”.. never again will I purchase a hardcopy of a magazine or newspaper.
• .99 Daily Deals on Books.  ( I opted to have these deals sent to me daily via email and love it )

THE BAD:

• No Google Android Market without hacking the Fire
• Terrible power button placement
• No “fancy” features like: Camera, GPS, SD Card slot, bluetooth audio
• Small Storage allotment 6gb can get used fast especially if you have a lot of music or movies.
• No optional SD Card for additional memory is a slap in gadget lover’s faces.
• Without hacking,  no google Android Market,  installing 3rd party apps is a more advanced option but doable.
• So Far, I’m not impressed with the “Silk” Browser, it’s just an average browser.
• A quick “how to get started” guide would be nice in the box. ( all help is digital )

OVERALL / SUMMARY
At a $199 price tag, and a family full of readers I could not resist splurging a little for a family tech-upgrade. The price, simplicity, and strength behind Amazon this was an easy holiday purchase for me this year. As with many gadgets, the sexiness of this device really comes down to the end-users needs. If you need all the bells and whistles, then I’d save up some more money and buy a full fledged tablet. But if you like the features I’ve described in this article and want to save fairly big $$ then a Kindle Fire is a great choice for yourself or a gift for a friend. In just a week I have read 3 books and my library is at about 21 books that I can’t wait to read! The Kindle Fire doesn’t do “EVERYTHING”, but it does a “HELL OF A LOT” very well and at a price you can’t ignore… To quote Eddie Griswold, “This is truly the gift that Keeps On Givin’ the Whole Year Round!”

Yes, the Kindle Fire gets a BOOYA !  An excellent purchase for the right person at a great price.  Never again will I purchase another physical book. ( unless it’s a unique situation )

RELEVANT LINKS I RECOMMEND

• BUY A KINDLE FIRE FOR YOURSELF OR AS A GIFT TODAY FROM AMAZON
• READ ALL OUR ANDROID ARTICLES
• CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE, FLICKR, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER PAGES for a buttload more of gadget content
• VIEW ALL 40 PICTURES FROM THIS REVIEW ON BOOYA FLICKR

How about some 2 player RBI baseball ?

Here are the quick steps to setup Multiplayer Nesoid using 2 Androids….

STEP 1:  GATHER THE DROIDS

• Now that you have 2 Androids with Nesoid installed, Connect both to your Router’s Wi-Fi in your home or office.  In my case I tested with a Motorola Xoom and myTouch 3g Slide
• Fire up Nesoid on both devices.  Select and start the same game on both. I tested this with RBI Baseball one of my favorite 8 Bit NES games.

STEP 2: SET UP WI-FI SERVER USING “NET-PLAY”

• Decide which Droid you want to “host” the multiplayer session.  This will be the “Wi-Fi Server” and must go first.  In my case I used my Xoom to host the session.  With Nesoid running a game, press the Menu Button then  MORE / Net-Play / Wi-Fi (Server).   This will set your host Android into host mode and provide you with the I.P. Address and port that you’ll need for your client.  The host will wait indefinitely until a client connects or you hit the back key.  The default port is 5369, and there is no need to change this.

Setup 1 of your Androids as "Wi-Fi Server" Easy.

STEP 3: SET UP WI-FI CLIENT USING “NET-PLAY”

• On your other Android running the same game, hit  Menu Button then  MORE / Net-Play / Wi-Fi (Client).  This will bring up a new window that prompts you to enter the I.P. Address of your Android that is hosting the game.  Enter the I.P. Address of the server, and leave the default port to 5369.

Setup your 2nd droid as client and connect to the nesoid server. Voila

Once you’re connected, not much special happens.  On the server Android, the “waiting for connection” screen simply disappears.  At this point, you are setup for multiplayer 8 bit NES gaming and it does work well.  Overall, I would call this functionality “pretty cool”.   The biggest issue will be a laggy setup but I had very little issues connecting the 2 devices.  Between Nesoid and Snesoid, Nesoid’s Net-Play worked the best by far.   The ideal setup would be two tablets with 3.1 Honeycomb both with a PS3 or Xbox controller and 1 device plugged into HDMI for damn close to an NES console experience!

WATCH THE VIDEO DEMO HERE-> How to Play Multiplayer Nesoid Nintendo on Android HERE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi5YM51pFoo

INTERESTING NOTES / OTHER TESTS / FAQ

• There is an option to play Multiplayer using Bluetooth client-server setup.  I found that this works, but was way too laggy.
• If you have a Xoom or other tablet, you can still switch to HDMI out and use a PS3 orXBox 360 controller to play against your friend.
• I was able to connect with Booya TRJ over the internet ( Seattle to Portland ) using port forwarding.  But this was too laggy.  The same goes for playing over a 3g network.  You can try it for yourself, if you know how to do port forwarding ( port 5369 ) but I am certain you will find the lag unplayable.
• If you notice anything “funky” or out of sync, then on your “server” nesoid droid hit the menu button then “SYNC”
• Here are more pictures of this Nesoid Multiplayer on our Flickr Page

Let me know if somehow you got this to work with NESOID using 2 controllers…

Sending Maps for Nav to my 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid All the Time.

For example, the last 3 places I used this feature on were: 1) to get my windows tinted in Seattle, 2) to visit a friend’s new house,  3) to drop off gadgets at a local electronics recycling center.  I will cover what are basically 3 steps.  It will take a few minutes to first get setup, but you will love this feature in the long run.

Step 1 is to Register your car (vin) and phone at SyncMyRide.com

STEP 1:  Register your phone, vehicle, and address at SyncMyRide.com(HERE)

• At this site you will need to input your cell phone number, vehicle VIN, and home address
• If you want to utilize other features offered by “Sync Services” this would be a good time to do it.  Stuff like local sports, and other news updates can be customized for your vehicle.   Full account customization is not needed if you only want to send maps to your Car.

STEP 2:  Locate your desired address on Google Maps or Mapquest and “SEND TO CAR”

• Either manually or from an email / Evite etc locate your address or location using Google Maps or Mapquest.
• In Google Maps:  Click the “SEND” Icon which looks like an envelope or you can select MORE / SEND. Enter your vehicle type and cell Number.
• In Mapquest:  Click “SEND TO”  then “SYNC”  and enter your cell number
• You CANNOT customize the route, you can only send the address to your vehicle’s Sync Navigation where the route will be calculated.
• While it works on phones and tablets in addition to laptops/desktops, so far I have found that you MUST USE THE FULL/CLASSIC web page, to enable the “SEND TO” functionality.  You CANNOT USE THE MOBILE version of Google or Mapquest. ( unless I’m missing something )

From Google Maps, just hit "SEND TO" and link to your phone. VOILA!

STEP 3:  Head out to your ride: Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury and say: “SERVICES”

• With your phone in hand and bluetooth enabled, head out to your hot ride. Fire up the ride, and make sure the phone connects via bluetooth.
• Press the Voice Command button on your steering wheel and say:  ”SERVICES”
• Your vehicle will connect with your phone and literally make a phone call to Sync-Services.
• Once connected the magic voice in the sky will tell you that: “Google Maps(or Mapquest)  has sent you a destination would you like to download?”  Say: “YES”
• Wait for the magical system to complete the navigation download. Once the map is completely downloaded, you’ll have the chance to set it as your destination.
• Drive to your party/restaurant/store/service/appointment in style with turn by turn voice navigation ! Totally Booya!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO WALKTHRU ON THIS CLUTCH, BUT EASY PROCESS. Props to Microsoft Sync for this Navigation Trick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImkLvGNVV5I

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• 8 Picture set of this project at Booya Flickr: HERE
• Google Maps Instructions on sending to Sync
• Mapquest Sending to Sync FAQ
• *** NEW VIDEO APRIL 2012  HERE:  How To:  Find Businesses using voice control !  I walk you through a few samples.

HERE’S MY LATEST FORD SYNC TUTORIAL AS MENTIONED:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTttL0FFwHg

Super Secret Netflix APK works with Xoom and myTouch!

People ask me all the time: “which should I get”, and I say: “you can’t go wrong”.  In my opinion it really depends on what type of phone you have, because having an Android phone and Apple Tablet is  a waste of money in my opinion.  I say this, because with both Apple and Droid, many apps are able to be purchased once, and installed twice!  I typically recommend sticking with the brand you have for phone, unless you are unhappy.  With that said, I also chose an Android Tablet.  The #1 response I get from Apple owners on why they love their iPad is that “it’s more intuitive”.   My thought is that, “I’m more intuitive than the average user” and therefore don’t need an intuitive device, I need a device that is flexible and will do whatever I want it to do.   Flash is also a MAJOR whammy for iPad(2) tablets.  The lack of flash does make me a little ill to my stomach.

iPad owners Shut the F* Up about Netflix Please

With that said, I would be proud to own both tablets, and I’m close to doing so, but I’m trying to behave with my gadget purchases !  But it’s also important that I have enough gadgets to be able to intelligently speak about topics I write about.  I really do love both tablets, and honestly, I just wanted to write the funny title for this article to announce that my Xoom and myTouch are both rocking Netflix.

Netflix APK Streaming Android Xoom myTouch 3g Slide

Download our copy of the APK HERE for VIP ( registered site users ) netflix apk works on xoom and tablets (48)
Registered users will be eligible to receive an email when we create new articles only.. ( ok to opt-out anytime )

I originally found these links via the Android Police and my Forum Android Central.

DROID DEVICES OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED  ( Plus we know my Xoom, Samsung Galaxy, myTouch 3g Slide also work )

Currently Netflix playback is supported on the following devices:

• Casio G’zOne Commando C771 with Android 2.2
• HTC Droid Incredible
• HTC Droid Incredible 2
• HTC EVO
• HTC EVO 3D
• HTC G2
• HTC Thunderbolt
• Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet
• LG Revolution
• Motorola Atrix
• Motorola Droid
• Motorola Droid X
• Motorola Droid X2
• Motorola Droid 2
• Motorola Droid 3
• Samsung Droid Charge
• Samsung Epic 4G
• Samsung Galaxy S
• Samsung Galaxy S 4G
• Samsung Fascinate
• Samsung Nexus S
• Samsung Nexus S 4G

View more of our Xoom Articles View All Android Articles

Custom WSU Logo in my Lincoln MKZ. Looks Great!

PHOTO REQUIREMENTS:

• Images must be JPEG ( .jpeg, .jpe, .jpg )
• Images can be up to 1.5MB in size
• You can store up to 32 Images

Full Dash Sample using 2 custom images on Home Screen

EASY STEPS TO ADD CUSTOM IMAGES TO FORD/LINCOLN MyTOUCH

1. Search the web or your personal photos for up to 32 JPEG images ( I recommend making a folder on your PC to store all your choices )
2. Using your PC or MAC computer, BURN THE IMAGES onto a CD-R disc
3. In your vehicle, turn on the Ford/Lincoln myTouch nav system and press the HOME SCREEN button in the bottom left of your screen
4. Insert the CD-R that has your custom pics ( the system will indicate it is reading the disc )
5. In the Lower Right or Left of the screen press the “right arrow” image until you get to the default image, and literally press the image.
6. The screen will now change to show all available images.  PRESS THE ADD Button which will open the images on your CD-R
7. PRESS ADD ALL, This will cycle through your custom pics and load them to the myTouch Hard Drive
8. Once loaded, hit the BACK command on the bottom right of the screen and select the image you’d like to use
9. To use images on both the left and the right simply hit the RIGHT ARRROW’s again on the home screen to cycle through your available options.

Enjoy your own custom images on your fancy Ford / Lincoln myTouch nav system powered by Microsoft.

View a bunch more pictures of this process on our Flickr Page HERE

HERE IS A VIDEO TUTORIAL ON ADDING CUSTOM IMAGES TO MYTOUCH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOTy3fXjIVs

32 GB of fresh new media storage...YES!

Update HTJ85B also includes an interesting “Zoom” feature to help enjoy mobile applications that were not intended for tablets. Once installed, you will receive a pop-up message on your screen describing how to use the new zoom feature. In general, it appears at the bottom-right of your screen in the task bar and gives you a couple options if you stumble on an application that looks like crap. I think it’s a nice touch, but nowhere near as valuable as SD Card support.

Purchase Micro SD Cards from Amazon (HERE)

Micro SD Space Holder now Obsolete

Many Xoom owners have been patiently awaiting this update including myself.   I have a 32 GB model Wifi-Only Xoom, and although I still have plenty of GB Storage left, I have been holding off totally loading it with media.  Since I use both Google Music, and Amazon Cloud MP3, I previously I loaded only about  500 of my favorite mp3-songs.. But now my entire 18GB iTunes library is being moved, as well as a crapload of 700MB – 1GB awesome movies.   The only other consideration will be to add large rom files for Nintendo 64 and Playstation emulator apps that previously got de-prioritized.  Now I can fit more than Final Fantasy on my tablet!

HOW TO ADD THE SD CARD TO YOUR XOOM

• The Micro SD Card slot is located on top of your Motorola Xoom, I simply used my fingernail to easily to pry open the SD Card slot .
• Once you remove the storage casing, push down on the small Micro SD protective fake.  This will pop it up, remove the sucker.
• Now put your shiny new 4,8,16,32, or 64 GB Micro SD card in.  Easy as that!
• Re install the casing, go to your system settings, and marvel at all the new storage you have.
• Load the storage with a butt-load of media files and enjoy the hell out of your Xoom Tablet running Honeycomb 3.2

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• More Pictures of Honeycomb 3.2 HTJ85B and SD Card Install
• Google Music, and Amazon Cloud MP3 on your Xoom or Droid
• Optimize Movies for your Xoom with Handbrake for Free
• Purchase Micro SD Cards from Amazon (HERE)
• ALL OUR XOOM ARTICLES,REVIEWS, AND HOW TOs

DIFFICULTY

While it may seem simple during the first few levels, further advancement into the 20 levels start to require a lot of strategy so don’t get too cocky.  The first few levels are defintely tutorial based and grids are laid out for you, allowing you to quickly get accustomed to the game, but a few levels in, your brain better be ready to design your own choke-points, handle a variety of land, shielded, and air based bad-guys, and capitalize on your strengths to exploit alien weaknesses.  Because this is a multiple platform game, there is a buttload of videos to help you through tough levels on youtube. Unless you are an all-star tower defense gamer, it is very likely you will at least need some help on level 20.  It took me tens of attempts to finally beat level 20 and thus the entire game.

Nice Choke-Point Die Aliens!

GRAPHICS

I use the 15″ variety Macbook Pro and the graphics look fantastic.  There are several levels of ZOOM you can use but I definitely use the Zoom-OUT the most so I can see the entire grid. This is definitely the way I play 95% of the time.  Zooming in doesn’t really serve much of a purpose in my opinion.  If I had to rate the graphics I’d give it an 8/10 strong but certainly not “totally amazing”.

SOUND AND STORY

I enjoy the story of Defense Grid, and definitely became attached to my “computer friend” that basically narrates the entire experience.  Deep in the game, he evens offers to buy me a beer, “if he could”!   The story definitely gives you a feeling of purpose in gameplay which I find as a great bonus to any game.  In general, the sound, and effects are good, but the game takes a major knock as the sound actually cuts out on occasion.  This is not just me and my setup, reading the reviews you will find others that go through the same sound cut-out bugs..  It is a moderate impact bug, but doesn’t take away from my declaration of this game being the top Tower-Defense grid game for MacBook Pro.

Levels go up, so does required Strategy!

THE BAD / KNOCKS

By far, what this game needs most is a map editor, user creations, or at least an update for more than 20 levels.  Defense Grid is screaming for more levels, and the newly popular share-create-play type setup.  I would personally create levels, and I believe it’s doable.  The other main knock as mentioned earlier is the bug with sound being totally cutout from time to time.  The other downside, is that this is the most expensive tower defense game, but I think you get what you pay for at $16.99 USD especially when compared to the competition.

SUMMARY

This game has been around for a long time on many systems and it is damn popular.  If you hate tower defense games, then this may not be your cup of tea, but if you want to try something new that you know is loved by most of its owners ( including myself ) then definitely give Defense Grid a shot.  When you get to level 20 let me know how you do, it took me a LONG TIME to figure it out!   Not only did I like it the first time around, but I give this game a high replayability score because I can’t stop playing my favorite levels over and over.  I just get a kick out of trying new strategies or the “challenge levels”.  My favorite challenge is the Walkers Level, where you face 99 waves of “walkers”  perfect for setting up nasty defense and just flat out destroying alien jive turkeys.  This game is a favorite of mine and highly recommended!

View More Pics at Flickr Macbook Pro Defense Grid HERE.

I’m giving you a lot of information below, so please feel free to ask me any questions here, or on any other of our social media pages, I’d love to help, because I know you will like this device.  ~Booya Cuz

Everything I own connects to this even PC and Macbook Pro!

USEAGE OPTIONS / IDEAS

The way I use the Sony Bluetooth adapter, is mainly for music and audio streaming from video on my devices.  For example, I use it to listen to music stored directly on my toys, or even Pandora, Zune, and Google Music.  So, for music only you’re covered!  I have a lot of devices, more than most, and I’m confident that musically you will be satisfied.  Another cool way you can use this is to watch video on your iPad or Tablet, and stream the audio straight to your home stereo!  I definitely do this a lot as well and you can too once your sweet little bluetooth adapter arrives in the mail!  I use this not only for my Xoom tablet, and smart phones, but it also works with my Macbook Pro and PC as well.  I hope I’m helping you use your imagination, but I think a majority of purchasers will use this for music streaming.   Yet another option would be to connect this to your TV and stream the audio FROM your TV TO a set of Bluetooth Headphones for late night movie watching with a sleeping spouse.. So many options.

Your $500+ device on your home stereo! I own it.

Remember, this fancy little device is actually a 2 Way transmitter !  That means it can both SEND AND RECEIVE audio signals via bluetooth.

LIKE IT ?  HERE ARE 2 PURCHASE OPTIONS SO YOU CAN BUY IT NOW.

• Buy it on Amazon ( I bought mine on Amazon, read the 100+ comments for your own perspective )
• Buy it Now on Ebay
• CABLE TO BUY FROM ADAPTER TO HOME STEREO
• View 10 More photos on our Flickr page

THE GOOD AND BAD

• GOOD:  Connect a plethora of devices to your home stereo. Throw a kick-ass party using your phone, or enjoy video sound in style.
• GOOD:  Although pricey, this is one of the lower cost methods to wireless stream audio to(or from) your home stereo system!
• BAD:     A little Expensive. Expect $45 – $55
• BAD:     If you have multiple devices, you have to re-sync each time.  Works with multiple devices, but requires a little extra elbow grease since you’ll have to do the below instructions if you flip-flop back and forth.  If you only have 1 device, this is not a problem..

My Xoom ( your iPad ) after connecting to the HWS-BTA2W

HOW TO CONNECT YOUR DEVICE

1. Connect your HWSBTA2 to your home stereo with a stereo jack->analog(red,white)
2. Plug in the HWSBTA2W Sony Bluetooth Adapter, turn it on – press and hold the “ID SET button” for about 8 seconds’ish. This will set the adapter into discovery mode.
3. Grab yer device, turn on its Bluetooth and ensure it is ready to discover new devices!
4. Once both devices are on and ready to talk, your phone/tablet/pc will find the Sony adapter.
5. Your device will ask for the super-secret-magic password which is “OOOO”  (  4-Zeroes )
6. BAM !  Now your audio will stream from your device to your home stereo! ( make sure your input settings set on your home stereo )

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO REVIEW ON YOUTUBE OF THIS SWEET LIL DEVICE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeH5iGvNBMw

** UPDATE ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT **

My friends at Android Central shared another purchase option with me.  While I haven’t tested it, it certainly seems to be another option, a little cheaper and potentially more uses:
Plantronics UPP260 Plantronics Pulsar 260 Stereo

See the thread at Android Central Xoom forum here.

READY ?  HERE ARE 2 PURCHASE OPTIONS SO YOU CAN RESEARCH OR BUY IT NOW.

• Buy it on Amazon ( I bought mine on Amazon, read the 100+ comments for your own perspective )
• Buy it Now on Ebay
• CABLE TO BUY FROM ADAPTER TO HOME STEREO
• View 10 More photos on our Flickr page

WHY I WROTE THIS HOW TO / REVIEW

The reason I’m writing this article is because it is NOT straightforward on how to set it up, so I want to help you capitalize on yet another cool feature for your hip T.V.   It’s not tough, and it is totally worth a few minutes setup so this easy, short article should help you tap into the Amazon video streaming service capabilities that this T.V. does very well and I am using it like crazy right now.  This article is definitely aimed #1 at people that own a Samsung smart T.V. with internet like my 6500 model, and #2 customers that have or are interested in Amazon Instant Video ( VOD ).

Dual Survivor Season 2 Looks Great on my Samsung

WHY AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO?

The reason you might like Amazon Instant Video is that it is simply another online / cloud video option.  As a user and power tester of mostly every online video service is, I would certainly urge you to at least consider if this service is right for you.  Amazon video’s strength to set it apart from Netflix, Vudu, Hulu and Google is NEW / RECENT Television programming.  For my testing over the past week, I have purchased and streamed High Def “I Am Number Four“, and also a bunch of NEW survival T.V. shows.  A new favorite of mine, Dual Survivor Season 2 happens to be the test subject for this article, but I also got hooked on “Out of the Wild“.  Both with Movies and TV shows, I am really happy with my T.V. streaming Amazon Instant Video.

HOW TO GET IT SETUP ON YOUR SAMSUNG TV EASY

The main “funky & confusing” thing about the Amazon service on your TV is that it does NOT have it’s own App selection on your Samsung Internet menu.  It is actually part of the Yahoo! Widget..  This is the biggest catch. Once setup, you will always select the Yahoo App to get to Amazon Instant Video.

1. Open your internet menu on your Samsung TV, and open the Yahoo! app which is featured on your T.V.
2. Once in Yahoo, open the “Widget Gallery”, Select Featured, and then Amazon Instant Video, then “Add Widget to My Profile”
3. Now Amazon will be in your Yahoo Widget, select it and then you will need to “LINK” your TV to your Amazon Account.
4. Fire up the Amazon app, FROM the Yahoo widget, this will give you a 4 digit code.  In step 5 You will Enter that code online ! Easy.
5. To link your TV to your Amazon Account visit the Amazon “Register Your Device Page” from an internet browser and select your Device!  IT will then ask you for the  4 digit code which is staring at you on your Samsung.
6. Now, enjoy your existing library, or try out a few purchases on Amazon Instant Video.  BOOYA !

Register online and on your TV, Voila !

Suprise Bonus #1: Signing up with my fancy TV got me a $5 bonus, which is essentially a FREE high Def movie rental ! ( just like Vudu :) )

Suprise Bonus #2:  If you happen to already have Amazon Prime Membership, you already get FREE Amazon video streaming included with your membership.  Only downside, is that I don’t think the free videos are that cool, but Free is Free …

I roll Wirelessly with my XBox 360 Controller!

MY METHOD WITH THE WIRELESS XBOX USB RECEIVER

What’s different about my method is that my controller connection is wireless. As you should know, Microsoft’s XBox does NOT use bluetooth. That’s why you can’t connect a bluetooth headset like you can with the PS3 !  I purchased the XBox wireless receiver years ago so I could use my controller for PC games.  The reason this approach is unique, and the reason I recommend it is because you can use this device multipurpose.  For your Xoom ( or other Android 3.1+ tablet ) AND your PC or Mac !  Get the point?  I was amazed when I plugged in the wireless receiver, pushed the connection button on both it and the XBox controller and BAM they sync’d fast and I was using this setup totally quick.   I was expecting a long night of screwing around with hardware, but the magic happened easily and in only a few minutes.  I have both XBox and a PS3, but I know many of our readers don’t so I definitely felt it was important to test every controller I could get my Booya hands on.   And I hope it makes you happy because it works great !

OTG Converter with the XBox Wireless Receiver. Pretty sweet

THE EXACT PRODUCT I HAVE –>Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows

THE “OTG CABLE” AND COMPATIBLE GAMES(Emulators)

This costs a few bucks and works great for my XBox 360 Controller to drive the Xoom
EBAY: micro USB to USB Female Cable USB-OTG N900

At the time of this article, this setup only works for select games like Cordy ( Android Market ) and mainly ALL the old-school gaming emulators.  Yes, because you can map controller configurations, this works for Nintendo Emulators(like Nesoid), Super Nintendo(Snes9X), Playstation 1(FPSE), and even Atari( Ataroid ).

Much of this ability comes from the Android 3.1 Update for your Android Tablet.  So, while this entire article is focused on the Motorola Xoom, I am confident that it will work on other tablets!  So far, I can use a WiiMote, Ps3 controller, and XBox 360 Controller to drive my beloved tablet.  It actually is a very good experience.   If you’re reading this now with a tablet and are new to Booya Gadget, I also don’t hide that I love my Stylus when using my Xoom for “normal activity”.

No Wires. Plug in the receiver to your Xoom, Connect and VOILA!

If you noticed, this is a short article.. That’s because this is an easy project !  Get the OTA cable for  a few bucks(long international shipping time), buy the Wireless XBox Receiver( totally multi purpose), and install your favorite emulators from the Android Market ( or apk searches off google ) and the last step is to open your emulator and MAP YOUR KEYS when your PS3 Controller is plugged in.  Booya!

VIEW A FEW MORE PICS OF THIS XBOX-ANDROID PROJECT ON OUR FLICKR PAGE HERE

Video Demonstration and Walkthru using the Microsoft XBox 360 Controller on my Xoom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Omyv6YzBmA

Check out more of our XBox 360 Articles Here

Checkout more of our Android / Xoom Articles Here

Get the OTG Cable and this works Great! Easy.

THE “OTG CABLE” AND COMPATIBLE GAMES(Emulators)

This costs a few bucks and works great for my PS3 Controller to drive the Xoom
EBAY: micro USB to USB Female Cable USB-OTG N900

At the time of this article, this setup only works for select games like Cordy ( Android Market ) and mainly ALL the old-school gaming emulators.  Yes, because you can map controller configurations, this works for Nintendo Emulators(like Nesoid), Super Nintendo(Snes9X), Playstation 1(FPSE), and even Atari( Ataroid ).

Much of this ability comes from the Android 3.1 Update for your Android Tablet.  So, while this entire article is focused on the Motorola Xoom, I am confident that it will work on other tablets!  So far, I can use a WiiMote, Ps3 controller, and XBox 360 Controller to drive my beloved tablet.  I assure this works great.   If you’re reading this now with a tablet and are new to Booya Gadget, I’ve actually written a bunch of articles/reviews/and other how to’s for the Xoom if you want to see more!

If you noticed, this is a short article.. That’s because this is an easy project !  Get the OTA cable for  a few bucks, install your favorite emulators from the Android Market ( or apk searches off google ) and the last step is to open your emulator and MAP YOUR KEYS when your PS3 Controller is plugged in.  Booya!

VIEW A FEW MORE PICS OF THIS PROJECT ON OUR FLICKR PAGE HERE

Video Demonstration and Walkthru using the Playstation Controller on my Xoom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy-kTDZrDfI

If you want to learn a lot about your Xoom or other Android device, I also recommend a visit to Android Central where I hang out a lot.

T

TV Remote, And game pad for Samsung TV Games!

DOWNLOAD THE SAMSUNG REMOTE APP FOR iPHONE HERE

HOW TO SET IT UP

I do use this app often, and I’m totally satisfied.  I really had to do nothing to set this up.  Your TV MUST be on the same home network.  In my case I have a DLink DIR 655 router, but I’m convinced it will work on any reasonable setup if you have a router, and your TV is using the Samsung WiFi adapter or even hardwired.  To make it extra clear, your iPhone must be on WiFi as well.  When you fire it up, the app will kick in to Auto Discovery Mode and recognize your TV.  After that, it just takes a little time to get used to.  If you are “booya minded” then you won’t mind taking a peek at the Manual that is already provided within the app itself.   Make sure to read the supported televisions in the app description !

View More Pics of the iPhone Samsung remote app at Booya Flickr Here.

iPhone Remote App Found my TV

This is a great FREE app, and it’s worth a test drive and a little bit of your time.   As a tech blogger, you should not be surprised that I have a buttload of smart phones and devices, so my iPhone is kind of an extra remote just laying around for whenever I need it.  I really enjoy my iPhone and the functionality of this app with my beloved Samsung 6500 LED LCD 46″ Television !

Video Demonstration of my iPhone 3g as a Remote Control for my Samsung 6500 TV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0EMztNFIi4

Yes, Booya has 3 stars on ALL Angry Birds Chrome. You can too !

Here are all the video walkthrus for Angry Birds on Google Chrome. The “Dimension Levels”. This article will help you through:

Angry Birds Chrome: 4-4 3 Stars
Angry Birds Chrome: 4-5 3 Stars
Angry Birds Chrome: 4-6 3 Stars
Angry Birds Chrome: 4-7 3 Stars

Hopefully by now you have already downloaded the new (FREE) Angry Birds from Google Chrome’s app store.  It is worth a download of the Google Chrome Browser if you don’t have it already, and yet another new avenue to play one of the best games on Android, Xoom, iPhone and iPad: Angry Birds.  If you are hungry for some new levels, then prepare to be satisfied !  A nice extra touch is that I’m even playing Chrome Dimensions on my Macbook Pro after having downloaded Chrome.  Totally easy to setup, get new Angry Birds levels for FREE, and enjoy some new challenges.

Angry Birds Chrome: 4-4 3 Stars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKCgmji7N00

Angry Birds Chrome: 4-5 3 Stars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMl7KC1Ntzo

Angry Birds Chrome: 4-6 3 Stars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLjAvN7B2is

Angry Birds Chrome: 4-7 3 Stars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdhnyGoec50

Check out more of our walkthrus:

• Cargo Bridge on Google Chrome
• X Construction Review and Spoiler forLevels 1-10
• X Construction Levels 11-14
• Angry Birds Chrome Dimensions 4-1, 4-2, 4-3
• LA Noire Teaser video, and Review PS3 and XBox 360

L.A. NOIRE LOGO

LA Noire is a unique crime/action/puzzle/thriller/mystery and adventure game mixed all into one and based ( very accurately ) in 1940′s Los Angeles. High level is that you are Cole Phelps ( Aaron Staton IMDB ) a WWII Marine come home to be a cop!    It is made by the popular Rockstar Games, and you can definitely tell as the game certainly has a few similiarities to their other smash hits Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.  To get you in my frame of mind, for some reason I just have never liked GTA, but I loved Red Dead Redemption, and I “really enjoyed” LA Noire !

I think what I like about games like this is becoming attached to the characters, caring about the story, being curious about the back story, and feeling like I have an overall important purpose.    I just beat the game tonight so while it’s fresh in my head I’m going to share my opinions and impressions with you about this game with mostly no spoilers. I don’t give games formal ratings much, but if forced, I would give this a “SOLID  B”, and I had a great time playing it and would definitely recommend for gamers that appreciate this genre!  A quick note before I deep dive is that upon beating the game I did receive the “Moth to a Flame”  trophy/achievement for completing all the Arson Cases.

Vacationing in the Westlake Tar Pits

KNEE-JERK IMPRESSIONS (3)

1.  The first thing I will say about LA Noire is that this is not a game for little kids.  A majority of the content of this game is absolutely for grown-folk.  Yes, we are talking  murder, violence, dead bodies, FULL female body shots ( albeit corpses) but “bush  and breasts”  nonetheless, foul language, and even a handful of racism( used solely to simulate 1940′s racial tension).  I’m not a parent, I am “grown folk” so I actually really appreciate the non-mario style play.  On some of these cases, if your Grandma walked in and saw the screen, it could make for an awkward conversation.. I’m serious.

2.  Something I want to clear up right now, is that this game is NOT Heavy Rain.  It has a few ballparks similarities, but the gameplay and overall experiences were very different between the two games.  Heavy Rain was an amazing “Experience”, like playing your own virtual reality game, totally different STILL than any other game I’ve played.  There are some tense moments in LA Noire, but nothing as tense as Heavy Rain!

3.  If you spend the time, you will beat this game, and it doesn’t take a lot of hours depending on how hard you go.  In general, the game will guide you through the main difficult decisions, locations, and “clue trails”.  I prefer this, because there are plenty of side quests, hidden cars, and other objects to keep you busy.  So I like that it steers me where it wants me to go, yet also allows me to delay the main story with plenty of alternative objectives to keep the game going !

LA Noire Hidden Car Phantom Corsair MY FAVORITE!

GRAPHICS

I don’t like to talk about graphics much, because now-a-days I consider the graphics of most new releases really good and this game is no different.  The game boasts a new digital facial re-creation technology and all I can say is that these people look real.  The cars look awesome, the buildings impressive and the hot german chick Elsa Lichtman ( Erika Heynatz PHOTO ) is totally hot in the game and real life. I would definitely take her for a ride on my motorcycle.  A tiny spoiler is that I recognized Matthew Parkman(that chubby psychic dude from Heroes) immediately.  He sneaks in for one of the cases and you can tell it is him easily !  So, this should be no secret, the graphics are “very damn good” in every aspect.

STUFF I DIDN’T LIKE

As you can probably tell, I had a great experience playing LA Noir.  A few things bugged me about the game.  First was the reliance on the subtle audio clips.  After a while, and early on, it gets hard to even hear the noises.  I have a decent audio setup, and while playing this game, I had to CRANK THE VOLUME to ensure I heard the audio clues.  Otherwise you could miss important clues, or waste time walking around looking for a tiny matchbook.   The main issue is not that sounds are important, it’s that the important sounds mix in too much with the music and other unrelated sound effects.  I would almost prefer an airhorn to a sometimes barely audible “chime”…  It will make sense to you when you get this game.

A second thing that bugged me during my game and on my way to beating L.A. Noire is that I got tired of picking up junk clues.  Useless beer bottles, and that “diablo” liquor bottle just got annoying after a while.  I think just a few less totally useless clues that you have to grab, rotate around, and then learn you wasted your time would better.

Thirdly, really dark games bug me sometimes.  This game is very realistic and while not “excessively dark”, I found that some scenes/areas/buildings were difficult to navigate, hunt bad guys, drive, and find clues on occasion.  I don’t mind a dark scene, but I don’t like to waste time simply trying to find a phone that I can see on a mini map or a pair of boots in a corner.  I think this could be tweaked with some gamma settings in the options menu ARGH!

Be Patient and go Slow crossing dangerous heights

L.A. NOIRE TOP 10 GENERAL TIPS

• Music / Audio cues are very important. Pay attention early on when they teach you the significance of noises and music clips!
• People are friggin liars and hold information a lot !
• People’s faces are normally VERY accurate.  Watch their face and mannerisms closely when questioning a witness or suspect.
• Grab a few hidden cars..  No major strategic advantage, it’s just more fun to drive some of these awesome 40′s cars.
• Use your reality TV Skills.  Think like a TV Cop!  Find evidence for motive, opportunity, and the weapon before charging criminals.
• You *should* know when someone is lying.  You will have the evidence to prove it.  Don’t accuse them of lying if you don’t have evidence.
• For maximum game effectiveness, just pick up LA Noire and play.  Don’t read tutorials or walkthru’s. Go Raw-Dog :)
• Find, read, and watch the backstory when you find Newspapers !!
• Mix in some side quests EARLY.  These help you gain experience, which gives you “intuition” boosts! Very helpful all game long..
• Don’t give up when tailing suspects on foot or by vehicle.  Sometimes it’s tricky, but you will improve and it’s more real gameplay.

SUMMARY / OVERALL

Yes I recommend L.A. Noire, it’s worth it.  A fun, and unique crime thriller but it is for adults, probably not too appropriate in the hands of a 12 year old.  This game can be beat in only a few hard-play-days if you get hooked, but with plenty of side-quests it will last long enough.  If you go really quickly through the game, then you can just go trophy/achievement hunting and then go trade the game back in.  If you’ve played the game already, leave a comment below I really want to talk to someone about it !

Check out one of my favorite cut scenes from very late in the game. It’s a light spoiler, but only if you know what’s going on which you don’t yet ! I think it’s safe to watch, won’t ruin anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrwANKvl1U

Sony PS Vita Booya Gadget (1)

• Uncharted: Golden Abyss
• LittleBigPlanet
• Ruin
• Little Deviants
• Hot Shots Golf
• Reality Fighters
• Hustle Kings
• Modnation Racers
• Wipeout
• Super Stardust Delta

This is exciting news for the handheld community and I have to admit I am very excited for this product to hit the shelves.  With the rapidly growing tablet market and everyone carrying smartphones the true gamer in me was worried about the health of  hard core handheld gaming.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Angry Birds, but truth be told deeper titles like Kingdom Hearts are where my true gaming love resides.  Keeping the true portable gaming model alive means that the heavy hitter developers can keep bringing us expansive story-driven titles like the Uncharted Series.

The ability to cross-platform titles with my PS3 has always been a high priority for me as a handheld and console gamer.  I have always wanted my portable Sony console to be an extension of my home console.  Sony announced that the PS Vita will be able to cross-platform with some PS3 titles.  Wipeout will be one of those titles that supports this feature.  Be sure to grab up your Free Copy of Wipeout HD Fury for your PS3 from the Welcome Back Program if you haven’t already bought this high speed racer.

The handheld also supports “party chat,” which will enable gamers to chat with their Playstation friends across the network, regardless of which game they each are playing.

After the dust settled the news that brought joy to my heart was the price structure.  With $600 tablets becoming the norm and the fiasco of the price point of the PS3, I feared that Sony would cripple their latest handheld with a high price.  However, they delivered in my opinion with an affordable price and two very nice options.

WiFi only at $249 is a good price and a great option for a gamer like myself.  I am not going to change my carrier to get a PS Vita and I actually have no interest in a 3G gaming only handheld.  Keeping the price under 300 bucks makes this a day one purchase for me and keeps me excited for this release later this year.

You can pre-order today at Amazon - PlayStation Vita – WiFi

UPDATE: June 2011: New Tutorial to take you through 3 stars on: 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, and 4-7.  BOOYA!

So here’s a short video with some music provided courtesy of “The Swaybacks” walking you through 3 Star performances the first 3 levels of “Chrome Dimension” levels ! They are actually quite tricky to get 3 stars on, took me a while.  And this video should really help you save some time !

3 Stars on Angry Birds Chrome 4-1,   Angry Birds Chrome 4-2 and Angry Birds Chrome 4-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgWFdlJ_L_o

Check out more of our walkthrus:

• Cargo Bridge
• X Construction Review and Spoiler forLevels 1-10
• X Construction Levels 11-14

Google Music is simply a new tool that you UPLOAD YOUR MUSIC files to the magical cloud in the sky, and have access to it anytime, anywhere you have internet access either on your Android device, or a web browser..  Let me be explicit, you have to have the song on your PC to send it up, so if you don’t have a nice digital mp3 collection then this may not be sexy to you yet.  If you don’t have a digital MP3 library, I highly recommend you catch up to 2011, damn near everything I own is digital now.  I HATE having discs laying around, movies or CD’s..

Google Music Online Interface. Smokes Amazon Mp3 Cloud Web Interface

I tend to always throw my hat in the ring for Google Beta products, the last time it was for our Google Voice review, this time it was Google Music Beta where you can request your own invite if you’re impatient for a formal release.  We’ve already written about Amazon Cloud MP3, and to me these are very similar services.  Hold a gun to my head, and I’ll choose Google over Amazon Mp3 but in the end they’re all really similar.

Most important right off the bat, is that Google Music allows a 20,000 song upload limit. If you have more than that, then you are friggin LOCO !  That is a crapload of music.  I’m a tech-nerd, and have about 5,300 songs including audio books.  That is plenty of music and will literally fill DAYS of music play so if you have more than that, you must be in some kind of 90th percentile.  I also question your ability to manage over 5,000 songs.. anyways..

UPLOADING with MUSIC MANAGER

Depending on how much music you have it *may* take a crapload of time. Just in case you don’t know, uploading on the internet is WAY slower than downloading so don’t expect the same experience as you do with normal web surfing.  I literally set up my Google Music Manager, and went to bed.  If you have hundreds of songs only, then this shouldn’t be too bad of an experience, but if you’re in the thousands, then just be patient.  However, a very nice user experience is that you can indeed use Google Music Beta WHILE your music is uploading.  So you can basically test right away.  If you happen to be a little more hardcore, all my iTunes library is stored on my FreeNAS server and this worked just the same.

Point Google Music Manager to your Tool or Folder with Music

Basically, you point the music manager to a folder of your choice.  Just like Amazon MP3 Cloud,  this can be a bit sketchy.  If you have a LOT of music, like over 2,000 songs at least, then you may want to just create a test folder.  If you have under 1,000 songs then just plug this sucker in and you may have an easier experience than I did uploading a big-ass library of music.

FREEBIES

In fact, when you sign up, Google let’s you pick a handful of songs by Genre.  A nice touch, especially if you have no music ready for upload.  Just another way to try out there services yourself.. For me, I selected what I normally would by genre, but this is not the selling factor of this service, just a nice touch.  Maybe you get lucky and one of their freebies is right in your wheelhouse.  For me, all it did was screw up my collection by adding genre’s I don’t use.  I would never complain getting free stuff, but for example, I had to go change their free music genre from “RAP / HIP HOP” to “RAP” because it added an extra genre on my screen.  Picky, but I run a tight musical ship.

Free Songs by Genre

DEVICES / SOFTWARE

I certainly don’t have every Android O.S. device, but I do have a myTouch 3g Slide and Motorola Xoom.  Within seconds of signing up and getting setup online, my Google Music player on my WiFi Xoom definitely knew that I was in the Music Beta, as did my Slide.  In fact, I’ve been hammering BOTH devices with G Music the past several days.  As a “can I break it test”, I was able to play music simultaneously on my Slide, Xoom, and even the Web Player.  A fun, corny test, but interesting nonetheless.  This means your wife could stream via the phone at a friends house, and you could use the Browser to stream at home during poker night and both enjoy a shared library…  A stretch, but a successful test nonetheless.

A nice feature, ( expected ), is the desktop widget provided with Google Music.   Nothing fancy, especially on the myTouch, but you can very easily place a GMB music on your desktop and drive your tunes. I did it all the time in my test drive.

Google Music worked great on Xoom and myTouch 3g Slide

THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

I had a little notepad file that I used to gather my tangible impressions over the past few days.. Here are the results!

THE BAD

• 1,000 song limit for playlists ( Very annoying when I have a genre with 1,200 songs, WTF should I do ? Manally do it ? )
• Cannot rate thumbs up / down from Droid Player ( I REALLY HATE THIS )
• Long time to upload, but worth it
• Fine Tuning must happen on website
• Locked the Hell out of my Xoom a couple times
• Choppy when multi tasking on several occasions
• Tough to stop an upload if your music is not organized well

THE GOOD

• 20,000 song limit ( that is a LOT of music )
• One Click Create a playlist based on a song
• Easy to edit song information ( like changing genre,or album info manually ) online, for fine tuning ( easier than Amazon Mp3 )
• Easily store desired songs for trips etc..  Stores your most recent library if you don’t have internet connection
• Bluetooth to home stereo and car works great
• Auto Playlists based on songs that you give a “THUMBS UP” to ( BUT, you can’t thumbs up on the device )
• Album Covers look nice
• Pleasant viewing Landscape or Portrait mode on your device
• Multiple devices, worked same on myTouch 3g Slide and Android Xoom
• Nice little Widgets for your Droid Home Screen / Desktop

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View All My Photos of my Google Music Xoom Install and Setup Process at Booya Flickr Now:

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SUMMARY / OVERALL

This is a cool service supported by Google muscle.  I read a lot of other reviews where people had bad experiences, I had a predictable experience, and this was no emergency although I was eager to spend some time and share an article with you.  I was expecting just what I got, because we had already done a deep dive on Amazon MP3 Cloud.  It had a VERY similar feel to it.  Google Music is NOT a must have for non music lovers, or if you just have very little music.  For me, and most of BooyaGadget.com it’s a must have.   I care very little about any “privacy” concerns.  If Al Qaeda hacked my account, what are they going to do ? Listen to my Wiz Khalifa songs? Go ahead..  It’s just a convenient service that I will personally use, but if you find yourself wondering if you’re missing out, then you’re probably not.  Stick with Pandora and Jango which are really good alternatives to this kind of service.  There are a handful of improvements to be made, and to me this is simply a backup service and alternative listening source for my music.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ? BOOYA !