Networking Audio Video

Netflix to Release Dramatic "House of Cards"

2013-01-28T15:05:00Z

Back in November 2012, Netflix was finishing up its latest original series "House of Cards" starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. The political thriller promises greed, sex and corruption, all qualities we love in a dramatic series. Look for its debut February 1.

This is not the first original fare as the streaming movie service also created "Lilyhammer" last year with E Street Band rocker Steven Van Zandt portraying an ex-gangster.

Via Netflix House of Cards

Facebook Searches While Myspace Does Tunes

2013-01-21T15:41:00Z

Facebook's new Graph Search was unveiled last week as they hope to keep their billion users to stick around. The people, place and thing service will help find information from friends and other user profiles. While most analysts seem to like the idea, this is something that will take some time for full implementation and acceptance.

Meanwhile, for those who eagerly awaited a rebirth of Myspace, the time is nigh. Out in beta for awhile, the new version is welcoming old and new users alike as it is a separate site. The site is heavily into music, including an audio player pinned to the screen. By the way, you will have to download Chrome to access the site.

Via Myspace

HAPIfork Shines at CES

2013-01-14T15:16:00Z

One of the stars of this year's CES turned out to be a utensil. The HAPIfork will track your eating habits with plenty of annoying alerts if you eat too quickly. It knows how many time you bring food to your mouth (fork servings,) how long it took to eat your meal and how many "fork servings" per minute you take. Go online and plan how to improve your overly chunky self with sleep, exercise and diet. You can pre-order now to be the first on your block to get one at a price of $99.99.

Via HAPIlabs

Freakin' Friday! Capturing Cable TV

2013-01-11T15:23:00Z

It is not often we take time out to pay attention to the little things. Like why cable has become excellent at producing TV series and leaving the "big" networks in the lurch. But 'tis time to give it its due.

Like millions of others, we got quickly hooked on Homeland. We appreciated Damages until it got too damaged, found Boss almost too mean and think that Breaking Bad was brilliant in that it knew when to make a gracious exit. There are almost too many players in Boardwalk Empire but ya gotta love Buschemi. And we chuckled when we discovered that Honey Boo Boo was tolerable if you could accept her misuse of that poor pig.

Which brings us to American Horror Story. Knowing it was a Ryan Murphy production tempted us and we soon became hooked. While the second season threw us off at first, we kept watching and received a pleasant surprise by Episode 10. Watching Jessica Lange, Pepper (Naomi Grossman) and almost the entire cast rock out to "The Name Game" makes you realize you have experienced an out-of-Glee-moment.

The one sad note is the soon-to-be cancellation of a daytime talk show and the man that tied them all together, Anderson Cooper, but then, he isn't on cable. So tune in to Netflix, Amazon or Hulu and catch up with some of cable's best.

Via Cable TV Series

Turn Pix to Comic Strips

2013-01-09T15:13:00Z

What else can you do with those better left forgotten pictures from the night before at your neighborhood bar? You can slip them into the Comic Strip Picture Frame, add a speech bubble and compose a clever comment. The 8.5 x 10.75" frame comes with 45 reusable stickers and pen to make fun of yourself or one of your buds who still cannot remember that night.

Via Digital Picture Frames

eFun to Unveil Nextbook 7GP

2013-01-07T15:56:00Z

eFun has a new tablet to add to their Google Play Series that will debut at this year's CES. The Nextbook 7GP has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 1024 x 600 display resolution, 8GB storage and runs Android 4.1. At the budget price of $129.99, it comes with preloaded with Gmail, Chrome, Google Maps, as well as the Barnes & Noble Nook Store access. A visit to the Goggle Play store means hours of fun with apps and games. As per usual, we expect that the older model will come down in price once the latest 7" tablet is out.

Via Marketwire

Freakin' Friday! LG New Google TVs

2013-01-04T15:07:00Z

LG will be unveiling their latest Google TV at next month's CES. The GA6400 and GA7900 series utilizes their Magic Qwerty Remote to work with Voice Search and PrimeTime quick guide. There are more goodies as well. New Home Dashboards use "cards" like folders that display apps, other content and even real-time news and weather information. The OnLive app is pre-installed for gamers and WiFi makes it easy to connect to YouTube, Android smartphones and tablets. And of course it is 3D friendly.

What that means is that the current line of LG's HDTVs, including their 47G2 47" Cinema 3D LED-LCD HDTV is marked down for those who want to save some coinage. It comes with Google TV, Six Pairs of 3D Glasses and is now available for less than $1,00.

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Via Akihabara News

Seventeen Million Activations on Xmas

2013-01-02T15:31:00Z

It was certainly a very merry, electronic Xmas. According to a recent Flurry Study, 17.4 million activations took place on December 25 for iOS and Android devices. This was up an incredible 332% increase from the daily December average and more than doubled from last year's total. More tablets were activated on that date than phones and iPads dominated the category. The
KindleFire HD did well, too. Check out the entire survey for more details.

Via Flurry

BlackDiamond3 Speaker With Eye-Catching Lighting

2012-12-31T15:53:00Z

Acase's BlackDiamond3 Speaker is a great way to bring in your own private New Years. Compatible with many Apple, HTC and Samsung Galaxy devices, the 5 x 4.7 x 5.1" Brilliant Wireless Speaker has a top half with LED lighting in up to 16,000,000 colors that syncs with the music in 3 different modes. The bottom contains two stereo speakers, equalizer and bass tube. A remote controls both the audio and video at a range of up to 10m via Bluetooth. The BWS package includes a 2-in-1 mini-USB/3.5mm to USB cable and a AC-to-USB Power adapter.

Via Acase BlackDiamond

Freakin' Friday! RCA 32-Inch HDTV

2012-12-28T16:56:00Z

December is a good month to purchase HDTVs since the price tends to go up closer to the Super Bowl. RCA is featuring a 32" LCD with built-in DVD Player and 3000:1 contrast. It features a 1366 x 768 tuner mode, 2 HDMI connections ATSC/NTSC compatibility and runs on 2 AA batteries (included.) All that for less than $300.00.

Via HDTV Deals

New Years Ball Drop App

2012-12-26T15:27:00Z

Now that we have told you about the NORAD Santa Tracker apps, we figured you should know that there are also free apps from the official Time Square Ball Drop for Android and iPhone. You get access to the midnight event and all the trimmings - music, photos, celebrity appearances and users can submit photos of their own celebration. Favorites will go on the humongous Toshiba Vision sign in Times Square.

Via Times Square Ball App

Track Santa Via NORAD

2012-12-24T15:16:00Z

Every year we look forward to the Santa Tracker and every year it improves. The traditional NORAD event starts Christmas Eve and if you hit the site now you will notice the countdown. Although there are some $1.99 apps out there with the same idea and activities for kids, NORAD has free ones for Apple, Windows, Android and Google. And of course they now have Facebook and Twitter pages that you can also find via their site.

Via NORAD

Freakin' Friday! Sony Cassette Players Discontinued

2012-12-21T15:14:00Z

We have an older version of one of these Sony Standard Cassette Players for over a decade and it is still running. And although we have mostly moved on to digital, we still occasionally drag it out. It seems that as of next month, Sony will be discontinuing several models of their TCMs, so this is your last chance to scoop one of these puppies up super-cheap. It has some great features for a portable cassette player including speed variance, voice activation recording, built-in mic and headphone jack.

Via Akihabara News

Bose QC15 Delivers Excellent Sound

2012-12-19T15:45:00Z

If you have ever heard Bose in action, then you already know the fine sound that can come out of one of their players. They also manufacture headphones and their QuietComfort 15 is top of the line in terms of noise cancelling and fine acoustics. Designed for iPhone/iPad/touch, an optional Mobile Communications Kit makes them usable with other cellies. Features include an in-line, hands-free, detachable remote and microphone and it comes with an audio cable, airline adapter and carrying case. The QC15 needs a AAA battery (not included) for about 35 hours of play.

Via Bose Headphones

iPhone Google Maps Finally Available

2012-12-18T15:05:00Z

Google Maps for iPhones have finally become a reality. Apple's maps were so bad that even Tim Cook suggested users get Google apps and dismissed the exec in charge of mobile operations. This mapping offers street level photography, 3D views and public transit directions and listings. What it does not have is some of the mapping that Android does, like mall and building listings.

Google itself had some news last week that those who were searching for porn would have to be more specific because of the algorithms they use. As SNL's Seth Myers commented, those users are probably very ok with that.

Via iTunes

Hit Up Fab for the Unique

2012-12-17T15:33:00Z

If you are looking for unique holiday gifts, hang out at Fab.com that not only carries unique items but includes designer clothing, kitchen furnishings, vintage pieces and various gadgets. Sign in via Facebook and add an app to your iPhone/iPad to see what new items are trending and being offered on a limited basis. The site has gone from one million users to 10 million in less than 2 years and almost half of their holiday items are sold via mobile electronics. You get free shipping on purchases more than $75.

Via Fab

Freakin' Friday! UG007 PC Dongle

2012-12-14T15:22:00Z

Sometimes tiny is a good thing. The UG007 is a mini-PC with a Dual Core CPU and runs Android 4.1. It has 8GB internal storage that can hold up to 32GB with SD card. Hook it up to your TV via HDMI and you've got game, well apps anyway. Its Bluetooth keyboard may be small but certainly easier than most smartphone keyboards. Compatible with most file types, the dongle comes with a charger, HDMI and USB cable and is also available in white.

Via UG007 Dongle

Virgin U.S. Partners With YouTube

2012-12-13T15:11:00Z

Beginning December 15, flyers on Virgin American will have the luxury of unlimited cute kitten and baby videos on Channel 11 when they fly. YouTube has partnered with the airlines on U.S. and Mexican flights. Not only can you laugh at other people's expense, you get access to web series such as "Blue", "Crash Course" and "H+." Watching original content is certainly a pleasant alternative than watching another family-friendly comedy. New shows and series will be added about every 2 months.

Via Variety

Zynga Releases Mobile 3D Party Play

2012-12-12T15:00:00Z

Party Place is Zynga's first venture into the 3D mobile gaming world. With it, any dud can turn into the best of party animals. Available on iTunes and Google Play, the game started off a movie and morphed into a game that allow players to design their characters, then dance, play music or even do battle with other partygoers. We guess the freebie is one way of not having to be the designated driver for the weekend.

Via Google Play

Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is Family Friendly

2012-12-11T15:42:00Z

Amazon has yet another service to hook you into their cyber clutches. FreeTime Unlimited provides Kindle users with ebooks, games, movies, TV shows and Android apps for the entire family. For $6.99 monthly, an entire family gets access to unlimited access to ad-free content while individuals pay only $2.99. The family friendly subscription includes age appropriate, child friendly offerings from the likes of PBS, Nickelodeon, DC Comics and Disney. If you are planning to purchase a Fire or Fire HD this holiday season, you get a 1-month free trial to the service.

Via FreeTime Unlimited

Windows Users Prefer Version 7

2012-12-10T15:31:00Z

We have a tendency here to avoid major changes. While we love the latest in technology, we are often reticent to update systems or tools. So we didn't jump on that bandwagon to Windows 8. It seems that not so many have according to a survey from Forumswindows8.com. The results clearly show that their 50,000 members prefer 7 over 8 by about 2 to one.

It often takes a while for a new version of something to catch on. We didn't want to give up XP until we absolutely had to make that switch. So this is our justification for now until the early bugs and complaints work themselves out. That way we take that $39.99 upgrade fee and buy a new electronic toy. What do you think?

Via Windows 8 Forum

Freakin' Friday! Microsoft Surface Pro

2012-12-07T15:36:00Z

Now that the Surface RT seems to be moving along nicely, Microsoft plans to release its Surface Pro tablet in January 2013. It will run the full version of Windows 8 so it can access the full range of apps. The tablet will be bundled with a Surface pen and is compatible with optional Touch or Type covers. The 64GB model will retail for $899.00 while a 128GB version starts at $999.00. Both have an Intel Core i5 processor and 1080p HD display.

Via Microsoft Surface Pro

Tubalr - Super Music App

2012-12-06T15:19:00Z

Most music services cost too much, are too complicated or involves too much angst. So we were really impressed with Tubalr, a free app that makes it easy to find your tunes commercial free. While it draws its music from YouTube, the main screen has a search box that you can input your fave artist and there is also a "similar" button to find others that you might relate to. Watch videos, make playlists and share with friends. You can register for a free account or you can simply use it as an online radio station. Easy, peasy.

Via Tubalr

NAV Monthly Round Up - November 2012

2012-12-05T19:07:14Z

A bit late but still valid, check out our monthly round up for last minute holiday ideas.

Application

Find Your Phone With Signal Flare

Audio Devices

Need Cash? EcoATM

Audio Streaming

iPad and iPad mini to Finally Arrive

Freakin' Friday

Game Consoles

Wii U Has Finally Arrived

Gaming

Networking

Peripherals

Elecom iPad Case/Keyboard

Smartphones

Need Cash? EcoATM

Speaker Systems

Freakin' Friday! Beats Pill Speaker

Speakers

JBL Speaker Docks for Latest Apple Devices

Steals and Deals

Freakin' Friday! Black Friday Comes Early

Storage

LaCie PetiteKey USB Drives

Tablets

Freakin' Friday! LeapPad 2

USB Devices

LaCie PetiteKey USB Drives

Video Streaming

Wireless Speakers

e-Readers

Amazon Prime Goes Up Against Netflix, Hulu

iPad

iPhone Streaming

iPod Streaming

Shop With Easy Apps

2012-12-05T15:51:00Z

Amazon's free Shopping App lets you search view and shop for those on your gift lists. Available for Android, iPad/iPhone/iPod touch and Windows phone, you get access to lightning deals, one click ordering, package tracing and of course price comparison. Each year we get more reticent about going out to the mall or dealing with humans when shopping by internet is just so much easier.

Via Amazon Shopping Apps

AT&T Still Consumer Loser

2012-12-04T15:45:00Z

It's time for Consumer Report's yearly carrier comparison and, as per usual, AT&T was rated the worst in terms of customer service. However, they did win in the area of best 4G LTE service so if you tend not to care about happy service reps, this might be acceptable.

Verizon took the top spot for assistance and voice and data service. Sprint and T-Mobile is somewhere in the middle but we find that this kind of survey really doesn't account for brand loyalty. You can read the entire report online or in the January 2013 issue which is out now.

Via Consumer Reports

Latest iMac Released

2012-12-03T15:32:00Z

Apple released their new 21.5" iMac last week that comes with a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M at a starting price of $1,299. Go for one with a 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics and it will set you back $1,499. Both ship in December, just in time to fulfill your own holiday wish list.

Via Apple

Freakin' Friday! LeapPad 2

2012-11-30T15:14:00Z

Last year LeapFrog's LeapPad managed to capture the Toy of the Year Award so you know that the LeapPad 2 will be one of the hotter devices this holiday season. The improvements include a higher resolution, front and back cameras, video recorder, a faster processor, longer battery life and back compatible with games from the first generation. The tablet is recommended for ages 4 - 9 and can be used with stylus or small fingers. Available in both green and pink, the package includes 5 built-in apps, an app of your own choosing and a Cartoon Director app for making movies. Special bundles and accessories are also available.

Via LeapPad

Snooze Turns iPhone Into Alarm Clock

2012-11-29T15:01:00Z

Almost every company is coming out with docks for iPhone and Distilunion is no exception. Recently reaching its goal on Kickstarter, the Snooze holds an iPhone 4, 4S or 5 in landscape mode while it is still housed in its case and has a non-stick bottom and scratch-free surface. The device comes with a free Snooze Alarm App and it only takes a smack on its top to get in those extra minutes of sleep. Choose between a basic Snooze for $39.99 or one with a charger for $49.99.

Via Distilunion

Wii U Has Finally Arrived

2012-11-28T15:44:00Z

The long awaited Nintendo Wii U has arrived with its 6.2" touchscreen GamePad controller. The console has 8GB storage and already there are more than thirty games available. The Basic white Set comes with AC adapters and HDMI cable while the black Deluxe U Set also includes the Nintendo Land game, 32 GB storage, 2 stands and a charging cradle.

Via Nintendo Wii