Taingerine

Nvidia announces new console, codenamed Project Shield

2013-01-07T12:02:00.001-08:00

Nvidia, who I am sure you are mostly familiar with for their high-end graphics card and mobile processors, have announced something radical in their usual product line, a dangerously brand new console. Introducing the Nvidia project Shield. The controller is also the console, packing inside Nvidias brand new Tegra 4. The chip will help power the 5-inch 720p "retinal" multitouch display and the incredible sound system. The controller layout looks to be a hybrid that of both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. The Shield will run on the Android OS, most likely Jellybean. It has a battery life of up to 5-10 hours gaming and up to 24 hours for viewing HD movies. One other feature of the Shield is its ability to connect to your PC and stream games to back to the console. There are requirements to streaming though, you need to have a PC equipped with Nvidia Geforce GTX GPU. If you do have PC with that GPU, you can access titles from the STEAM games library right from the comfort of your couch.

No pricing yet for this monster but expect for it to ship sometime around Q2 of 2013.

<Source: gdgt>

Fitbits new product, the Flex, to track your Fitness

2013-01-07T11:40:00.001-08:00

I made a New Years resolution to get fit and workout at least 4 times a week. Let me be real, I probably won't manage to keep up that resolution for more than 3 months, that's an honest prediction. Now don't get me wrong, I am not trying to set myself up for fail and would love any sort of daily reminder to help motivate me. Is there something that could help me track my progress and motivate me, something gadgety and geeky, something that I could wear everyday. Something like the Fitbit? Turns out there is. Introducing the Fitbit Flex wristband.

The Flex is Fitbit's third product in line with their two other products, health monitors. Flex is a fitness tracker in the form of a wristband. There have been numerous wristband that are meant to help pump you up or track your workouts, such as the Jawbone Up or the Nike Fuelband, but each product are quite different. The Flex can track calories, steps taken, and distance covered. The wristband is also waterproof, so it's safe if you happen to trip and fall into a pool of water. The Flex will take the data and through bluetooth, send it automatically to a personalized website where you can then see your progress. The calorie counter is a bit more counterproductive since you have to manually enter it through the website or through the mobile app. It could also monitor your sleeping habits, but this too needs to be manually logged in through the website or app, unlike the Jawbone Up which actually knows when you are sleeping. The website is an extension of the product and actually allows you to add blood pressure, and weight. You could also track other exercises such as bicycling or swimming, since the Flex won't be able to track them accurately. The Flex wristband can last up to 7 days on a single charge which isn't too bad (thats 1 charge per week). The device is intended to be worn everyday hoping to motivate users reach their fitness goals through data tracking. The wristband also has a light that will illuminate when the users hit each 20% increment towards an intended fitness goal.

The Flex wristband looks to be a slightly cheaper alternative to several fitness wristband on the market now. It would be great to have a run with this product and see how it fares with the Jawbone Up. The product already looks great and comes in fantastic colors. If you are interested, you could pre-order it for $100, otherwise it will be released sometime this spring.

<Source: Engadget>

Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S 4 revealed?

2013-01-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sammobile, a site dedicated to Samsung mobile products, have claimed to have received an image of what appears to be the next Samsung Galaxy S IV from an insider of the company. There are some notable design elements that can been seen from the rumored design. If you take a look at the screen, you could see that it sits nearly edge-to-edge, whereas the S III has about couple mm of space between the edge to the screen. And the main home button is clearly removed in the image which suggests that Samsung might be gearing towards a touch-based button for the Home function. The insider did not reveal any specifications but there are rumored specs of the device. The S IV is rumored to have 4.99" SuperAMOLED Full HD display (1089 x 1920), compared to the Galaxy S 3's 4.8" HD SuperAMOLED (1280 x 720, 306ppi). The S 4's rear camera is also said to be jacked up to 13 MP, a 4MP increase from the previous iteration. Of course the processor would be have to be bumped up too, with the device said to pack a 2.0GHZ Exynos 5450 Quad Core CPU with 2GB of memory. That is impressive if true. With all this said, the image is no indication that the final product will look like what you see above. The image of the Galaxy S 4 could be a render or a fake, no one knows for sure. One thing is for certain though, the S 4 exist and will be out sometime this year.

I have also included a side-by-side comparison of the rumored Galaxy S 4 and the Galaxy S III below. Stay tune for any updates or rumor.

<Source: Sammobile>

Guide to installing Cyanogenmod 10.1 on Samsung Tab 2 10.1

2013-01-06T16:22:00.003-08:00

So you own a Samsung Tab 2 10.1 (model GT-P5113 or GT-P5110) and want to install Cyanogenmod 10.1. Why you might ask? So you can have a stock android 4.2.1 OS the way google intended.

The 10.1 release from Cyanogenmod isn't a perfect build and will have bugs, but if you still want to tinker with your device and open up its full potential, then this guide is for you.

**Doing any rooting and installing any ROM will void your warranty and I am not liable for whatever may happen to your device. You are doing so at your own risk.**

Here are the requirements:

Windows XP or higher OS or Mac with Windows Bootcamp

Rooted Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Model GT-P5113 or GT-P5110) running ICS 4.0.4

Clockworkmod-Recovery

Odin v3.x

Cyanogenmod 10.1

Google Apps for 10.x

Steps if you do not have Clockworkmod-recovery installed:

1. Download Odin v3.7 HERE and install it. Extract all the files into a same folder.

2. Download Clockwork Mod recovery HERE. Make sure you download the correct Clockworkmod-recovery for your Device and model (you should see the model number on the back of the device).

3. Go to Settings then to Developer Options and Select USB debugging. Unplug USB from Device. Enter download mode on device by powering down. Then hold power and the UP volume button. Select Continue.

4. Run Odin v3.7 and attach the USB from the device to the computer. If Odin detects the device, you will see a COM port box turn Blue (or yellow in older versions).

5. Click on PDA and select the Clockmod-recovery file you downloaded.

6. Click start which will now flash device.

7. If completed, the COM port box will turn green and say PASS. It will auto-reboot.

8. Turn off USB debugging.

Installing Cyanogenmod 10.1 ROM:

1. Download Cyanogenmod 10.1 ROM HERE (this works for both GT-P5113 and GT-P5110 model) and Google Apps HERE. Select the 10.1.X version or according to the Cyanogenmod version you have.

2. Don't extract these zip files but copy them to the root of the devices external SD card.

3. Power down your device.

4. Enter Recovery mode by holding both the Power button and the volume button nearest to the power button. Once you see the Samsung logo flash on, you can let go of the button.

5. Using the volume button, Scroll to "Install ZIP from SD card". Choose "ZIP from external SD card". Select the Cyanogen 10.1 ZIP files and begin flashing it. After its complete, Select the Google App ZIP file and begin flashing it.

6. Once that is completed, scroll back to the main recovery screen and select "wipe data/factory reset"

7. Reboot your device and now you should see the Cyanogenmod loading Logo appear after the Samsung logo.

You have now successfully flashed your device to run Cyanogenmod 4.2.1 Jellybean (or whatever other ROM you installed). You can check to see if a new Cyanogen build is released by clicking HERE

This guide was compiled thanks to the amazing coders from the XDA developer forum. Check out the link HERE

Source XDA developers

Impressions: Cyanogenmod Jellybean 4.2.1 on Samsung Tab 2 10.1

2013-01-06T16:12:00.001-08:00

We bought my dad, who isn't tech savvy, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (model GT-P5113). He was in the market for a new laptop so he could view his foreign streaming channels and check emails. Thats all he does on his computer. Being nosy and curious, I checked out the Tab 2 so see how well it performed. The Tab 2 came preinstalled with Android 4.0.4 ICS. It is an interesting device but after the release of the Google Nexus devices, I felt like it had some features I didn't want. What I didn't like about the Tab 2 is Samsung's UI and preinstalled apps, though tablet touch wiz is not that bad of an UI. I just prefer a stock OS; Nexus OS running stock Jellybean 4.2.1 was perfect. That's what I wanted for ~~my Tab 2~~ my dad's Tab 2. Luckily, the tablet can be rooted and installed with a custom rom.

The process to root and install a custom rom should not take a somewhat experienced rooter more than 15 minutes to complete. It took me 2 days 2 hour (granted, most of the time I raged quitted from mere frustration). I installed the cyanogenmod 10.1 rom which is based on stock Jellybean 4.2.1. The moment I loaded up the Tablet and the cyanogenmod load screen came on, that was the happiest I have ever been sadly enough. The custom rom installed correctly and the Tab 2 was running stock Jellybean 4.2.1.

Cyanogenmod 10.1 is not a perfect Jellybean 4.2.1 rom. There will be bugs and kinks. So how does the Cyanogenmod 10.1 rom fare on the Tab 2 10.1?

Without Samsung's UI, it runs a lot smoother. Almost buttery smooth. The removal of bloatware from Samsung helps tidy up the main screen and application drawer. I tested the wifi and the touch keyboard to make sure it works. Older versions of Cyanogenmod have rendered the touch keyboard useless requiring an external keyboard. The Wifi connected to my router just fine and the keyboard was functional. I did not notice any improvements to the front facing and back camera. Camera function and speed is just slightly faster compared to android 4.0.4 ICS. Some notable exclusions of function was that Google Voice search will not work. Since this is not an official 4.2 update from Google, they probably restricted access of their sever so that google voice won't be able to connect. I was not able to test the built in IR since I did not re-install Samsung's media app or any media app from the Play store.

Overall, this build from the Cyanogen Community is pretty stable. There are a few bugs and some features that aren't supported. I can say that this build is very useable as a daily. If you want to install this build on your Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, you can check out my guide HERE

Rumor: iPhone 5S about to become colorful?

2013-01-04T02:49:00.003-08:00

It's about that time when numerous Apple rumors start making their way to the masses. One popular rumor is in regards to next iPhone, presumed to be called the iPhone 5s (if they follow their past naming traditions). According to Bgr, Brian White, a Topeka Capitals Market Analyst, has somehow gotten the scoop on the next iPhone from Apple's suppliers. He claims that the next iPhone will be fundamentally changed compared to earlier models. He also predicts that the next iPhone will come in 5 different flavors: White/Silver, Black/Slate, Yellow, Blue, and Pink. If this is true, this will be the first time in iPhone history where a different color palette will be used alongside then typical white and black. The new iPod touch, which is like a little brother to the iphone, has already started this trend so why not the next iPhone. In addition to the array of colors, White also believes that Apple will release the phone in multiple screen sizes, similar to what Samsung is doing with its Galaxy handsets. If both of these rumors are true, it shows that Apple is starting to really stray from tradition with their phone line. It will be interesting to see how it will all turn out when we arrive closer to the rumored release date of the next iteration of the iPhone in May/June 2013. As for now, it's all speculation.

<Source: BGR ; Image Source: Forbes>

Leaving to France in 10 Hr. Waking up at 4am not the business.

2011-08-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

Alright folks, I am leaving to France tomorrow morning in the sickeningly early morning of 6 am Pacific time. It's cool to be jealous, I know I am. Damn that future me, already kicking back in Paris. Hate his ass.
I hope to mix in their culture, dine the cuisine, and see what entertains them. I want to revel in Frence Cinema. Some of the most genius Animated movies are French films like The Triplets of Belleville. Great film for those who love animation. Yep, I am going to pursue French Entertainment all in two weeks and I hope to report back what I learn. So for now, Bon Voyage!

Image Courtesy of Travel Tourism

Copped myself a Sony HDR-XR160 camcorder for $549, is it worth it?

2011-08-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

REVIEW

I leave for France tomorrow and I thought how awesome would it be to make a vacation video in HD while there. My previous camcorder is a bulky Sony Digital camcorder. Bought in 2004, it did the job but now with High def TV's and the ability to upload HD clips on to site such as Youtube, it was time for a much needed upgrade.

I did a lot of research. A crap ton of research, mind you. It wasn't easy figuring out what features made a camera vastly superior to another. I knew what I wanted: HD recording in 1080i or 1080p with 60p, steady correction, recording in low light conditions, and realistic colors. What I found was the Sony HDR-XR160, a mid-level HD camcorder with all the bells and whistle, and then some. Click the jump to read more.

My first impression of this camcorder is that it is very sleek. The black glossy finish is nice and in direct sunlight, it shares a certain feature of those sucky vampires we love to hate, it 'sparkles'. Oooh! Whatever, it looks rad. Holding it, the camera is fairly lightweight and feels durable. The viewfinder screen is touch control. It lacks a physical viewfinder, so you'll be peering your recorded subjects on screen only. There is clever built in USB cord attached to the handle of the camcorder. It has wide lens capability so you get those nice cinematic shots if you please.

I know, shut up already and tell us how the camera quality is like. After tinkering with the settings a bit, I can say that the picture quality is pretty good when shot outdoors in sunlight. You can have the camera automatically adjust optimal settings. Scenes are a bit brighter in auto mode. I tried recording some flowers in my front yard and the colors were a bit off. Colors seemed a bit muted and had a brightness to it. I hope I can mess with the settings to get close to true colors as the camera could. You can actually see when recording in the dark. Just slightly grainy but it looks great. Now celebrities and pseudo-celebrities, *cough* Paris Hilton *cough*, have no reason to release grainy sex-tapes in the dark. It's pointless if you can't see shit, gawd.

The camcorder also boast a meaty 160GB internal hard drive. NO, it's not enough for all the clips I'm planning on recording of super cute ass puppies. It'll have to do though. You can also add more storage via an SD card or Sony's lame propriety card, the Memory Stick Duo 2. Annoyingly, I have a Memory Stick Duo and it was too long and wide to fit the hole. Yeah that's what she said. You also get 5.1 Surround sound which is pretty kick ass.

What sucks is that the camera doesn't have a shoe, which is an area on the camera for attachments such as external microphone or flash. Also, there isn't any built in flash.

Overall, this camcorder sits pretty high for a mid-level camcorder. It has great features like face recognition, 42X digital zoom, 3.3 MP stills, 5.1 Surround sound, and 160GB built in storage. It can do better with color match detection and I wish it had a shoe for attachment. I give this camera a 8/10.

You can find it for $549.99 at certain locations or here: Sony HDR-XR160 High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black)

The collectors Edition of Catherine comes with many goodies

2011-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Those opting to purchase Atlus new game Catherine might actually want to hold out for the Collectors Edition instead which is called "Love is Over". This version comes with some snazzy items like an art book, soundtrack, and t-shirt. They even packaged Vincents signature underwear in here. The pillow case is a bit much for me though. I can't even imagine what my girlfriend would say if she saw this pillowcase in my little ole' room. Good luck explaining that to your girlfriends, mothers, or friends, guys. Kinda borderline creepy/nerdy but hey, it has Catherine sprawled all over it. Remember to wash it people.

This "Love is Over" edition will cost ya $80 and will be out July 26th for the PS3 and Xbox 360. I previewed the demo for Xbox 360 here. Here is a little trailer for Catherine below:

The Weird but Highly Engrossing game called Catherine

2011-07-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

Atlus is known for making odd games that usually blends a mixture of genres. My last Atlus game was Persona 3 which fused RPG elements with a dating/life sim. Odd as it is, the game was incredible. After I sold my PS2, I had no way to replay Persona 3 and I was a bit devastated. I waited and hoped that Atlus would release a new game for the Xbox 360 as a nod to my PS2 nostalgia. And they finally have.B

Catherine is their new game and it's their most oddest title to date. Yeah it's weird as hell yet it has that Atlus style all over it. I heard about this game from various game site and made sure I kept it under my radar. Just recently a demo for Catherine was released in the Xbox marketplace and I snapped it up right away. The first thing I noticed about the game was that Art direction and anime cutscene were similar to Atlus past game. Story events play out in the cut scene and in the in-game sequences. During the start of the demo, we are treated to a cutscene depicting a newscast breaking a story about a number young males being found disfigured and dead. As we cut to main story, we play as the main protagonist named Vincent. He's just your ordinary 30 something year old guy who wants a no commitment relationship with his girlfriend, Katherine. When they meet, she hints about them getting married but Vincent is reluctant to. After a few cutscene having Vincent alone at a bar, he knocks out and we enter his dream world and this is where things gets crazy.

We see Vincent in nothing but his chonnies standing on blocks that stack up high. The atmosphere is dark and brooding and it appears he's in a nightmare. Suddenly you hear a screech and a menacing creature lurking at the bottom of the blocks quickly climbs upward attempting to kill Vincent. This is the games action sequences which plays as a puzzle game. Once we are granted control of Vincent, we are told to move Vincent up the blocks. He can pull blocks and push blocks to make paths to climb. He can also hang on to the blocks and move from each visible side. There is a lot of elements to the puzzle game but it seems very simple and from the few deaths I caused for Vincent so far, it can get challenging real fast.
After the first puzzle sequence, we find Vincent alone at the bar and thus we he meets a mysterious but tantalizing young women named Catherine (yeah thats Catherine with a C). She quickly introduces herself and find a seat near him. The next morning, Vincent wakes up to find that he and Catherine spent the night together at his house. I can imagine things will only get more interesting from here.

I am definitely looking forward to this game when it releases for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on July 26.

Netflix Price Change!!

2011-07-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

Netflix has just announced a change to their pricing structure. If you want to rent one dvd at a time unlimitedly per month, it will net you $7.99 and come sans streaming service. Another streaming-only service will also come at the same price. You can bundle unlimited dvd and streaming for $15.98 per month. Netflix's price change might be brought about by their expansion plans and pursuit to acquire new content which would demand much more money from Netflix.

So yes, this price change does suck. I'm more content with the streaming-only service because I find waiting for a dvd arrival to be a pain (even though netflix's dvd delivery system has made dvd renting much more convenient). Before, I would hang on to a dvd for the longest time before returning it. If I wanted to watch a new movie right away without waiting for the arrival of the next dvd in my queue, then I turn to Redbox. I actually dreamed of a streaming-only Netflix that offers more incredible content and new movies. Netflix better deliver after setting up this new pricing scheme.

In the end, this price change is likely to affect the more frequent dvd renting/streaming people and I'm afraid some might not stick around to see the price change take effect.

Old members will not be grandfathered into the new pricing plan. Instead, their new subscription rates won't take effect until September 1st. New members will be ushered into the new subscription models immediately.

Netflix Blog

Source: : Hacking Netflix

10-minute Gameplay for Bioshock Infinite

2011-07-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Here is an amazing gameplay trailer for Bioshock Infinite taken from E3 2011.

and a second brand new trailer showing 15 minutes of gameplay. This trailer shows the protagonist alongside the character Elizabeth who you are sworn to protect. It gives a glimpse into the aerial perspective and the rail mechanic. View it below

Judging from this trailer alone, I can already hear my wallet burning away what's left of my money. Damn it to those must buy video games.

J.K. Rowling's new Project: Pottermore

2011-07-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling has a new project up her sleeve. Before news of this new project came around, I prayed and prayed that she had in the works a new novel based on the Potter World. Turns out it's not a new novel at all. Instead she shed some insight to her new project called Pottermore. Partnering with Sony, J.K. Rowling is developing a site dedicated for fans which is like a Authentic Harry Potter Encyclopedia with input from Rowling and from the fans of Harry Potter. It is intriguing of course to see what the site has to offer. Anyone starved for any written material from the author of Harry Potter will find Pottermore delightful. Currently the website only has a video of Mrs. Rowling talking a bit about Pottermore which I posted below and an email sign up. As more information turns up, I will make sure to keep you informed.

Sign up for Pottermore here

Anyone Down For a Harry Potter Movie Marathon IN theatre?

2011-07-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yes you read right, all eight Harry Potter Movies playing back to back on the big silver screen, split over 2 days of course. Cinemark wanted to celebrate the last installment to the Harry Potter movie franchise by giving movie goers the ability to re-watch each movie back to back leading up til the Death Hallows part 2. Showings of the first four movies will begin on July 13th and the final four movies the following day, July 14th. Best part is that you pay just one set price. Not all theaters will be running this promotion so please check the Cinemark website here to see if your city is listed.

Dang two days to dress in kick-ass wizard attire, hell yes... nah, I'm just joshing all of ya'll about dressing up, or am I.

My friends living in Sacramento, here are the theaters that will be participating in the Harry Potter Movie Marathon:

Roseville - Century Roseville 14 & XD
Sacramento - Century 16 Greenback Lane & XD
Sacramento - Century Stadium 14

Make sure you buy you ticket soon Potter fans.

RedBox Movie of the Week: I Love You Phillip Morris

2011-07-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

No Idea what movies to rent from Redbox? Well my 'RedBox Movie of the Week' can help.

Jim Carry in his most amusing role yet in this Drama/ Comedy. So if you don't mind Jim Carry playing a flamboyant man along side Ewan McGregor then this movie should be a great watch. Rotten Tomatoes gave it %71 rating.

Taken from the movie site at Phllip Morris Movie, here goes the sypnosis:
"I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS is the improbable but true story of a spectacularly charismatic conman’s journey from small-town businessman to flamboyant white-collar criminal, who repeatedly finds himself in trouble with the law and on the lam, brilliantly escaping from the Texas prison system on four separate occasions – all in the name of love."

Find it on Redbox here. The ratings shown on RedBox is from viewers not realizing that Jim Carry plays a gay guy in this movie. That shouldn't have any effect on the movie in my opinion. It is Rated R.

Image Source: Courtesy of movie I Love You Phillip Morris

Dont Be Afraid of the Dark: Guillermo Del Toro's next horror project

2011-07-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

Guillermo Del Toro is a visual genius and an amazing storyteller. Each of his movies that he directed or produced, he leaves his signature mark through character design or story, and it shows. Pan's Labyrinth, I feel, embodies all aspect of Guillermo. It is a work of art and it is distinctively his own. If you compare the monsters from this movie to another film of his, Hell Boy, you can see the designs of the creatures sharing stark similarities.
Guillermo has been readying his new US horror movie, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. From production pictures that I have seen so far, it follows in the same footstep as Pan's Labyrinth. Katie Holmes is casted as the girlfriend of Alex (played by Guy Pearce). Bailee Madison plays as Sally, Alex's young daughter, who arrives in Rhode Island to live with her father and his girlfriend in his 19th century Mansion that he is restoring. As she explores the mansion, she comes across a hidden basement that hasn't been opened for nearly a century. Opening the basement, Sally unleashes evil creatures that dwelled inside. Now it is up to Sally to try to convince her dad that their house now is host to these dark creatures.
I'm a huge fan of Haunted House horror movies and this movie seems to be that. After seeing the trailer for this movie, I instantly thought Pan's Labyrinth and I can't be more excited. For starters, we follow the story of a young girl and then the creatures resembles Guilermo's past creature design. It's a dark fantasy mixed with horror and mystery.
I believe that horror movies shouldn't just be cheap scares, but it should be able to leave a long lasting feeling of being afraid. There should be horror movies that are considered art house films (like A Tale of Two Sisters) or even be critically acclaimed. Although this movie won't be either, it should still fill the empty void of fantasy horror.

Here's a trailer of Don't Be Afraid of the Dark:

And new Images from the Movie:

Anime Expo 2011

2011-07-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

Although I'm not that big into Japanese Animation like I was many years ago, I always wanted to attend an Anime Expo Convention. Its geeky and nerdy, but it looks pretty damn fun. Anime Expo is being hosted from July 1-4 at the L.A. Convention Center. The big draw is that everyone gets to Cosplay which is dressing up like a character from a series or video game. Let you inner fandom free here. Theres game, shows, panels, and merchandise. If you do go, make sure you bring a wad of cash. Well maybe next year I'll get a chance to go.

You can check out Anime Expo 2011 here

I'd love to see some cosplay so if you have any Anime Expo 2011 cosplay picture, you can send them to my email here or send a link on a comment and I'll post the best ones.

Image Source: LA Weekly at link

Transformers 3: The Dark of The Moon

2011-07-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

Explosions. Destruction. Adrenaline.
Another Michael Bay movie is out and it's the third sequel to the Transformers series, The Dark of the Moon. I just came back from this super action packed movie and I must say it is LONG. There is no shortage of action scenes in this two hour and fifty minute movie. Those expecting Megan Fox to sex up the screens will be sad to see her missing in this movie. Instead Victoria Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is the new love interest of Shia Labeouf's character. Michael Bay made sure to show that his latest transformer had every bit of fan service in it compared to his previous movies, starting with a scene showing a close up of Rosie's amazing booty as she makes her way up the stairs, all in the first 20 minutes. So yeah, Michael pretty much has 'everything' in this movie: Explosions, Robots, cheesy humor, and a super hottie.
I opted for the digital showing instead of the 3-D digital version. Personally, I'm not a big fan of 3-D movies in theaters. Most movies are converted from standard version to 3-D and the transition actually ruins the movie. 3D also takes away the realism of the movie, making the CGI look horrible. So I rather not pay that extra 3 dollars for something that isn't necessary for the enjoyment of a movie.
The CGI in this movie is incredible and the Autobots and Deceptacon look realistic. Michael Bay really stepped up in improving the technology in the movie. It looks great. The most epic scene in the movie is *spoiler, but not really since this scene is shown in trailers* when the snake-like Deceptacon wrapped itself around this tall skyscraper building and tore it down. Explosions are more intense. Buildings, Cars, and city are all destroyed beautifully.
The story, a slight step down from the first movie, is a continuing saga, picking up from where the last Transformers: The Rise of the Fallen has left off. Optimus Prime and the Autobot crew are now working for the CIA helping fix the turmoil of man. With the Autobots busy, the Deceptacon are busy planning something huge. And huge it is. There is some small plot lines that really don't work but none of that actually affects the overall story.
Summer Action flicks can't get any bigger than this. Although the movie is long, it is pretty enjoyable and does out-do the Rise of the Fallen (but not the first Transformers).
*Side note: My girlfriend pointed it out and I think it's pretty funny. Near the end of the movie, pay attention to Rosie's shoe. Yeah, she made it through all that with those on.*

Image Courtesy: Courtesy of Michael Bay and Transformers: The Dark of the Moon

WoW Starter Edition is now Free to Play until reaching level 20

2011-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Blizzard has finally done it, they made World of Warcraft free to play, well sort of. The first 20 levels are free to play. You can still continue playing the game after reaching level 20 but you will not be able to level up. So basically, it is a great way for newbies to get suckered in. I use to play WoW but I quit after playing for about a year (only totaling 3 months of game time). It was enjoyable when I started out but I started to get bored thereafter. Nothing against this game but mmorpg (massive multiplayer online role playing game) aren't really my thing.

Although millions of people are still subscribed to World of Warcraft, Blizzard most likely felt threatened by new MMO's out like Rift. Then there's the upcoming MMO like Star Wars The Old Republic Online and Guild Wars 2, a non-subscription MMO.

So for all those who haven't tasted WoW or never played an MMORPG, you can check out the link here:

Play WoW Free

I am sure there are people craving for something to play during the summer.

And here is a trailer for Guild Wars 2, just becaue I feel like sharing it.

Image Source: Courtesy of Blizzard

Teaser Trailer for Pixar's next masterpiece: Brave.

2011-06-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

Pixar Animation is a rare studio in that a majority of their movies receive high acclaim. Their movies are very original and caters to people of all ages. Their latest movies continue the trend with Toy Story 3 and Cars 2. Although Toys 3 was phenomenal and Cars 2 is entertaining, I am sure some people are left wondering when Pixar will release a new Original movie. As much as I want to see a sequel to The Incredibles or Monster Inc., I'm really looking forward to Pixar's next great offering that isn't a sequel. Now here it is, Pixar teases us with a teaser trailer for their new movie Brave:

At first look, the movie seems to be drawing a more mature feel to it while still keeping that fairy tale feel. I can't say much until I see the official trailer. I want to know what your reactions are to this teaser so please leave a comment below about what you think.

Brave is expected to release next summer on June 22, 2012.

I will definitely try to keep you updated on this movie once I get more information.

Got My Harry Potter: Deathly Hallow Part II midnight showing ticket. Yeah

2011-06-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Living Social, you are a money saver. They recently had a deal where you can purchase 2 tickets for 9 bucks through Fandango. Harry Potter was on the top of my "Must Watch List" for this summer so I had to buy tickets for the midnight showing. Compared to the Half Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part 2 was really exceptional. The movie adaptation followed the first half of the 7th Harry Potter novel quite closely. Since I am a sucker for great movie adaptations, I knew that the next Harry Potter movie is a must see.

As for what Living Social is, it is similar to Groupon, where you purchase items at a fraction of the original cost. They have a lot of Restaurant deals based on the city you live in. Generally these deals go by fast and is in limited quantities. One fine print is that you must use the purchased deal all in one visit and no refund will be given.

I'll make sure to post up amazing deals if I find any.

City Dwellers having trouble with parking? Try iOS App: Park Place

2011-06-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

I visited San Francisco in California just recently and I have to say, it is not the city I would want to live in. Why you ask. Traffic is a bitch but parking is even more of a pain in ass. Cramped streets littered with cars, and limited parking spaces. It is a huge city but parking and driving around looking for parking is very time consuming and not great on gas. Then when you park in an unfamiliar street, you run the risk of "losing" your car. I told my friends that I just recently downloaded an app that might help with all that. Of course, the reaction I got was: "Jesus, you're such dork" and "of course you would have an app". I rarely ever get praises for being so tech savvy especially when it comes to my apple products.

The app in question is the Park Place app for iOS on IPhone. People living or even visiting large cities will find this app somewhat useful. The app isn't a necessity but it will make searching for parking a tad more convenient. So far the supported cities include: Balimore, Boston, Philidelphia, San Francsico, Seattle, and Washington D.C., with more coming in the future. The app has a feature that allows you to search for parking facilities and compare rates. Once you find a few, the app will list the facilities as open or closed parking. I didn't use this feature yet but I was able to mark my location.

On the bottom of the screen, there is an icon called "Parked At". I thought this one was incredibly useful. Since I couldn't find any close street parking, I ended parking about 2 miles from my destination. I clicked on the "tap to add location" and it pinpointed my location. Then I clicked on "tap to add photo" to add a picture of the area where my car was parked (my picture wasn't helpful since the only thing seen is my friends mooning me). Then If I wanted to, I could set a countdown timer in case I was pressed on time. After 9 hours later, we happily stumbled back to my car worry free. I hate San Francisco less now.

1 More Show I must Add to my watch list: The Big C

2011-06-24T23:54:00.000-07:00

Showtime just keeps pumping out AAA dramas like Dexter, Californication, and Nurse Jackie to name a few. Their new show The Big C is turning out to be another contender for a great Drama. The series follows a suburban mom who is diagnosed with cancer who, instead of giving up on life, tries to make the very best of her illness and finding seeing the bright side of it all. The story sounds kinda meh right, but seriously, I heard this show is pretty legit. She uses humor to cope with cancer and she is funny as hell. How awesome is that? The pilot drew in astounding numbers for a Showtime Original series. That is saying a lot, mind you. Season 2 premiers June 27th so watch season 1 first ya'll.

Here is a trailer for season 1 lucky folks:

You can buy season 1 here:

Image Source: Image Courtesy of Showtime and The Big C

TEAM Fortress 2 is now Free to Play!

2011-06-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

Well Valve has finally given people who missed out on their Orange Box exclusive game: Team Fortress 2 an opportunity to jump in. Team Fortress 2 is now free to play (f2p) on steam. This is still the same first person team based game and no features were dropped to make the game f2p. Valve does offer Micro transaction on in-game items used to customize your characters but no purchase is necessary since most items can be obtained during gameplay. Check it out if you haven't already.

Available for Mac or PC. Get it here: Team Fortress 2 Download

Image Source: Courtesy of Valve and Team Fortress 2
Link Source: http://www.teamfortress.com/freetoplay/

X-men: First Class gives me hope for the X-men saga.

2011-06-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

I love comic book adaptations as much as the next guy but I haven't been too thrilled with the few movies that have been released thus far. Strictly my opinion, the X-Men trilogy and the Wolverine Origin movie have fell way below my expectation. I was upset to see the live action X-Men movie come out this way. I mean the movies were decent but not incredible.

Almost 2 years after Wolverine Origins, they finally done it: First Class was exceptional. The movie begins with the young Erik and Xavier realizing that they are special and not the only one who carries these special gifts. Erik has the ability to levitate and distort metal objects with his mind but does so with the help of his inner rage. Charles Xavier is pursuing his Ph.D in the field of gene mutation. He is gifted with the ability to enter a person's mind and read, speak, or even erase their memories. He happens upon a chance encounter with Erik after saving his life and immediately there is a strong connection between them.

The movie focuses on the chemistry between Erik and Charles and reveals why they have such a strong bond and conflicting differences. I thought this was what made the movie so great. It is the characters and the emotions they exert. A movie of this magnitude doesn't need special effects or crazy explosions to be great, just raw powerful performances. I can honestly say that I am really hoping that there is a X-men: Second Class or X-Men: Magneto Origin stemming from this movie. Cheers if you will be seeing this movie in the near future.

Image source: Courtesy of X-Men: First Class Movie