The Game & Gadget Grader

Call of Duty Black Ops III Review

2015-11-23T15:30:00.000-06:00

You by now have read all of the reviews for Call of Duty Black Ops 3. We won't act like we are the only one you have read. So with that being said, to save us all time, lets be efficient here.

In a vacuum, BO3 is an exciting, action-packed shooter that looks like Michael Bay on cocaine. Is that good or bad? Well lets explore.

If you played BO2, then you have played BO3. Many of the same mechanics are here with additions of more futuristic mind-control and chaos creating abilities. Parkour is taken to another level as well.

I, for one, do not like the futuristic warfare. Its hard to follow any story in the campaign, the abilities are hard to keep up with because every button does something and playing online multiplayer is like a quick twitch battle that is very difficult for casual players to adopt. Loved Medal of Honor first, then thought Call of Duty Big Red One was superior all the way up until World at War. Since then, the futuristic stuff is not my favorite. That is of course an opinion, but why you are here.

This iteration of Call of Duty is, for the first time, meant to be played with others, multiplayer competitive and cooperative. Online multiplayer modes have been the calling card of COD all along but emphasis has been put on cooperative campaign and zombies mode (which is back). If you plan to play this alone, save the online competitive multiplayer, maybe you won't like this. The campaign is very dull, grinding and story is hard to follow. It doesn't feel that way when you're rolling four deep with your buddies, turning robots into walking fireballs and making human combatants vomit up their breakfast with your techno-magic abilities. But when you're playing solo, it's a chore, hard to explain really, but the repetition of levels and sounds of gunfire weigh on you.

There are two missions that break the mold for a bit. One sees you bounce back and forth between dogfighting in a jet and battling enemies on foot while the other plays up the games big novelty and has you hack into someone's mind and fighting the memories of a long-past battle. Other than that, run here, shoot that, in a frantic pace that doesn't let you take in much of the atmosphere that Treyarch creates. The missions are too dark, unclear and disordered. Also, why do you go to this room after each mission? Just get me to the next mission and let me play with loadouts and other stuff during the load screen.

Multiplayer is mainly unchanged with the exceptions of the addition of the abilities mentioned above. If you are playing on a PS3 or X360, thats all you get because it was announced before launch that The Black Ops 3 PS3 and Xbox 360 versions will feature Multiplayer and Zombies gameplay only, not Campaign. They said that "the ambitious scope of the 1-4 player coop Campaign design of the PS4, Xbox One and PC versions could not be faithfully recreated on old generation hardware." So, there you go.

With some early bugs, like all games, the multiplayer had its loading issues and many issues finding games to join. Most of that seems cleared up now. Multiplayer is still fun but again, unless you are a quick twitch freak on the controller, the COD community has gotten really good online and you might need to catch up.

The game feels forced. Almost like what many people say about sports video games. Another year, same game with different jerseys. In this case, same game, different tech. Didn't really win us over. But had some fun.

GRADE:

C+

Klipsch R6i On-Ear Headphones Review

2015-11-16T17:52:00.003-06:00

The Klipsch Reference R6i On-Ear Headphones are excellent headphones across the board. Very basic looking and without many bells and whistles. But sound is the name of the game and that is where they excel. For this review, I used these headphones on a long-weekend cross-country trip on planes and cars.

Lets talk fit first. They compact but sturdy, and fit easily into my carry-on bag (a large purse). The headphones come with a lightweight carrying pouch, which keeps the cable organized more than anything else. I wore them the majority of my four-hour flights with no discomfort.

The earpieces are comfortable and lightweight and they're nice and soft but firm enough that they do a nice job isolating you from exterior sounds. The headband has supportive padding at the top as well, it helps hold a fit and help with wear endurance.

I listened to Top 40 and Country music on my iPhone and the songs sounded great. Even on a low to medium volume level, the headphones did a good job of blocking out the conversation next to me on my flight. I used the cord controller buttons with no problems. Same as most headsets, volume controls and a play/pause/track control middle button.

Now on to the sound quality. What a very nice, crisp sound along with a great low-end. Not overly bassy, which is a breath of fresh air in the world of headphones these days. They are an all around headphone with a low-end, through the mid-range and a nice clear high-end.

What is the best part of these headphones is that they are only $100. While not being flashy, if you are an audio-phile, these are one to consider.

GRADE: A

Jabra Sport Pace Bluetooth Headphones Review

2015-11-02T17:34:00.001-06:00

Jabra has expanded their audio portfolio over the last few years. From BT headsets for solely phone usage to on-ear styled audiophile-directed, headphones, Jabra has a product for seemingly everyone.

Now a push toward sport headphones had the Sport Pace headphones on our ears. Here are our thoughts.

Sound is mid tone focused. It's warm and covers the range of most music really well. It's not an on-ear full sounding experience but for an in-ear BT device, I think it's a really good one.

Sports talk radio to bass-heavy rap music, the Pace BT headphones handled it all. Phone calls sounded good too. The mic was clear and controls easy to understand and interact with while moving around.

The polarizing issue with headsets in this build is not audio quality but fit and comfort. And on the Pace, we enjoyed some great comfort. The plastic outer piece is bulky, but doesn't feel heavy on your ears. The in ear portion fit nicely with two other size options available. Everything feels strong and we'll built. And as opposed to the solely in ear brethren, the over the ear Paces fit and feel snug.

At $100, these are well priced for what they do/sound like.

GRADE

B+

Security Man CarCam-SDE (II) Review

2015-10-08T20:41:00.000-05:00

You may never need it and hopefully you don't. Not the best category for a product to be in, but that is what you are dealing with in the SecurityMan CARCAM-SDE and SDEII. They are dash cams that record your trip to the store in hopes of proving you were not responsible for any wrong doing when that car pulled out in front of you.

The SecurityMan Carcam-SD will protect you by recording unpredictable incidents while you drive.

The recorded video clips or photos can provide information to the insurance company about the weather, traffic, road condition, or activities of the driver during the occurrence of an accident.

The Carcam-SDEs can be set to record automatically as soon as the ignition is on, as long as they are powered with the included car charger. Without the dedicated power the internal battery will hold about an hour long charge.

The camera is what seems to be an old Sony Cybershot point and shoot camera (based on its sounds and file format, AVI) that shoots up to 1080p and 30 frames a second.

Nothing earth shattering in terms of quality but to get the job done and you off the hook, it will work. It is equipped with an impact sensing recording feature which automatically locks the recorded files whenever impact occurs.

This feature keeps them from being overwritten by the system. This is NOT something we have tested for obvious reasons but seems to be a huge part of what makes the SDEs very appealing. This works by setting a recording length of :30, 1 minute, 3 minutes or continuous (until micro SD card, which is not included, is full), the file will rewrite itself until an impact finalizes and locks that file so its not overwritten.

The included suction cup is quite hardy and seems very strong on the windshield. Again the battery holds an hour of charge but the included car charger at 10 feet is long enough to get to your cigarette lighter port.

According to SecurityMan the SDEs will record up to 226/149 total minutes (at 480P/1080P) on a 32GB micro SD. The SDEs can also shoot 720p, which might help you achieve a mix of quality and length of recording. The microSD card or even the camera are easy to plug into your computer to grab those files and forward to your insurance agent. Its tough to review something that we aren't sure if it works the way it should and I am not slamming into find out. For the cost it seems like it should work. This is not a GoPro, design, build and quality are not there. Most people will think that way because its a small HD camera. But its meant to film you driving, thats all. And for that it seems to do the job.

GRADE:
B+

Macally USB Hubs Review

2015-10-01T21:19:00.000-05:00

Macally has recently rolled out two new USB 3.0 hubs to add functionality to your computers. Specifically designed for Apple laptops (sheerly in color and looks with the anodized aluminum housing), these two will actually work on any desktop and notebook computer with available USB 3.0 or 2.0 port. One gives you four additional USB ports while the other adds 3 USB 3.0 ports and a Gigabit Ethernet port to your computer.

They may be a little bulky for traveling with but for the new Retina display MacBook Pros that don't have an ethernet connection, the Hub with the gigabit ethernet port is a nice companion to your laptop. And with USB speeds up to 5 Gb/s, using 3.0, not to shabby either.

Grain Audio IEHP

2015-09-23T16:14:00.000-05:00

Wood, its not just for making coffee tables anymore. Its long been used for surround sound systems and shelf speakers. Now it seems to be the future of high quality sound and Kickstarter created a new player in the high-end audio game.

I was skeptical at first of how wood could make that much of a difference. It makes physics sense that a stronger material could make the sound hold and hit more natural tones. Words like "rich", "powerful", and "encapsulating" don't begin to explain the sound that these simply designed (not to say the science behind them was simple...) in-ear headphones produce.
Grain Audio, a start up that used crowd funding on Kickstarter, decided that wood was the answer. We agree.

The simplistic design, using grey to both change up from the traditional black or white or a flashy third option, simple controls and Walnut wood finish give it a look that might initially make it hard for your friends to tell what your wearing. But don't you want to be the first one wearing Grain rather than the next one with Beats?

The fit is nice and snug without creating a bunch of pressure in your ear. With four different tip sizes, you should be able to find a solution with what comes in the box. The in-line mic and audio controls work great on iOS devices and have limited abilities with Androids. Only the volume doesn't function for our Galaxy S5. The mic is a good one, nothing to go crazy over but it works. The inline controls are very responsive and give good feedback when pressed.

All of that is window dressing, the magic is when they go in your ears. Mid tones are like we have never heard in ear buds and ear buds at this price range ($100). Bass is so well mixed and strong with the IEHPs, the drivers do an incredible job of balancing all of the sounds that your tunes make.

They are great all around as well. Spoken word, bass heavy, acoustic, all sorts of music tested very well for our bass loving ears. Vibration and shoddy construction weren't found here like in many ear buds. Its good to see someone put a lot of investment in ear buds that can handle music of all kinds.

If you like natural, rich sound in ear bud form and find incredible value these have with their $100 price tag, support Grain Audio and grab a set of these.

GRADE: A

Jabra Storm Review

2015-08-20T20:06:00.000-05:00

Not snug, but thats ok. That's the name of the game for the Jabra Storm. But once you get this headset on, it does some things you wouldn't expect. Let us explain.

Jabra boasts the storm as a sound reducing, light weight and battery packed BT headset that will change what you think is possible in a headset. Our experience went from "oh cool design" to "why wont this fit on my ear" to "cant believe you and I can hear this well."

Initially we felt the design was a throwback to some previous Jabras like the Motion or even the Stone series. Over and behind/under the ear was a little bit of a struggle with our ears. Having some issues with fit and placement was very frustrating, but only for a short time. Once we got a handle on that, we noticed that the in ear piece didn't slide into our ears the way we would want and rather sort of hovered.

Thinking this could become and issue in blocking out sound, paired with the fact the headset's mic didn't come out from under our ears like the images that Jabra produces, we didn't have high expectations anymore. Maybe my ears are too big.

After having the Storm on for a few hour-plus long phone calls, we truly appreciated the design and the feel/comfort it provided. Audio we will get to in a second but we didn't have any "wearing it fatigue" that we have experienced in other headsets.

On the top edge of headset, you will find a rubber grommet where the microUSB port is found for charging the device. Moving along the plastic trim, the volume rocker is placed. Build quality on the buttons are great, and it provides a good feedback when pressed.

Working along the trim, users will find the power switch and indicator icons.

Lastly, at the edge of the microphone extension is where the call answer/reject button. The same button could also be used to activate voice commands by holding it for a second.

Sound quality is where we have some complaints. Because the speaker piece more or less floats over our ears, the audio volume on the caller side is a little lower than we would want. Can't say its an issue in quiet/moderate settings but when it was louder we strained just a little.

We could tell that Jabra's HD Voice feature was doing its work to clean up and amplify as best it could. Jabra's Advanced Noise Blackout and dual microphones helped reduce background noise and it is highly recommended that you use the special wind sock to cover the microphone and block wind noise.

Playing with the volume rocker also fidgeted the headset out of its placement and played into our "fit" issue.

As for battery life, Jabra rated the Storm with a 10 hours of talk time and that matches what we tested. With average length phone calls and number of calls per day (say 3-5 at 30 minutes a pop) we managed to get about 4 days out of it before needing to plug it in to charge. It takes approximately 2 hours for the headset to be fully charged.

GRADE: B

Macally 5200mAh Portable Battery Charger Review

2015-08-03T12:17:00.000-05:00

Being a traveler, city walker, vacationer, I am always in need of a great portable battery charger for my devices. Macally has really grown since we started reviewing them on the site's creation in 2009. So for their first foray into the external power market, we took a look at the 5200mAh Portable Battery Charger (MBP52L) with Lightning and Micro USB connections.

Lets talk about design first as the white pack is 4.5” X 3” X .8”, which makes it fit great in almost all bags/backpacks. The outershell is plastic with a silver belt running along the sides and a shortish Lightning connection (1.6") from one side and a longer Micro USB (5") from another. The device receives a charge from the only input, another Micro USB that allows it to charge from the included cable. You will also find an on/off button and battery indicator. It has stood up to several trips and seems to be another well built piece from Macally.

Now, how about the charge? In total, the MBP52L outputs 2.1 amps. That power was able to charge our iPad Mini from 0 to 80% in one hour and 20 minutes. We also saw that the Micro-USB would charge a Samsung GS4 from 0 to 78% in an hour and a half on average.

This battery is not meant to replace the dedicated wall charger and the ability to wait for it to charge fully. But this device is more than an emergency charge, its meant for lengthy travel and will give you the charge you need over and over again. In another plus, it doesn't run so hot that its uncomfortable to handle. The one negative is recharging the battery itself, which for us has taken several hours, four on average to recharge fully. So make sure its full before you leave the house.

Price: $90 on Macally site, but you can find it much cheaper on Amazon.

PROS:

+ Size makes easy to travel with

+ Output charges device quickly

+ Price on other sites makes it a value

CONS:

- Takes a while to charge itself

GRADE:

SteelSeries Flux Pro Ear Bud Review

2015-07-16T13:42:00.000-05:00

We just reviewed the "little brothers," if its ok to call them that. So now onto the star of SteelSeries' in-ear offerings, the Flux Pros, what they are calling the "most accurate headset SteelSeries has ever produced." Ok, lets take a look.

Starting with the most important part, the noise making side of the earbuds, the speakers. The Flux Pros feature a dynamic driver called an armature driver. According to SteelSeries, this means the driver can be made to be very small and it also means that it can be tuned very precisely. This is what will make this set start apart from the others.

The flat frequency line means that software tuning (from an iPod, iTunes, etc...) will create exactly the sound you want with amazing accuracy. It gets bass when we wanted it to, and was great with spoken word when we made those changes. Truly a chameleon in your ear, a chameleon with a 15 – 22000 Hz frequency response range.

Now onto the bad, maybe not bad, but just weird. In an effort to do something different, SS tells you that for maximum comfort and fit, the Flux In-ear Pro has been designed to be worn over the ear. Not sure why but they claim it creates a better seal. I am not a fan of this, it makes unnecessary contact with the top of my ear, I mean come on, we have always worn them that way. SteelSeries says you can wear them down, or the more traditional way by inverting the directions, meaning wear the left in the right ear and vice versa. Better but why the change in the first place...

The Flux Pros come with multiple ear tips, small, medium and large as well as including a memory foam tip called the Complys, these are the nicest one we tried and do really help create that passive cancelation block inside of your ear to keep good sounds in and bad sounds out.

Another part of the buds that are changeable is the input tips which allow you to swap so that you can use your headset with not only your favorite mobile devices and Mac computers, but also with your PC. The mobile device end has a single 3-pole 3.5mm jack and the PC cable with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 3.5mm microphone jack. Once again the mic is pretty good for both calls or in gaming.

And just like the Fluxes, the Pros include a carrying case you protect your set. This one is a little larger and is meant to carry the ear and input tips as well as the ear buds themselves. The flat, tangle-free cabling on the Pros also helps keep them from turning into a giant mess in the case.

Another issue we had is that because these are for gaming, the casual multi-use fan is left wanting more again. With no track controls on the in-line mic, just start, stop and call controls, these are still not dynamic enough to replace all of your headphone needs. SteelSeries left something to be desired there.

Getting past the weird way in which are are supposed to wear them and the lack of music-friendly controls, these sound great. They are perfect for exactly what SteelSeries wants you to use them for, we are just asking too much I guess. If you are looking for a portable ear bud meant for gaming that works on multiple devices for $129.99, here you go.

PROS:

+ Flat sound allows you to be in control

+ Nice included cases and tips

+ Great passive noise canceling with memory foam tips

CONS:

- No track controls

- Wear them upside down!?!

GRADE:

Slingbox M1 Review

2015-06-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

Without rehashing our old review to hit a word count, we will do this... Here is our review of the Slingbox 500 that we did two years ago. That will give you a better idea of what we think about the tech behind the Sling name, in this review of the M1, we will talk about what is better and new to the Sling family.

Firstly, Sling knew some stiff competition was on the way from cable service providers like Comcast and Time Warner offering similar apps to stream live TV or channels themselves doing the same. Sling's answer, lets make the M1 more affordable. At $150, its half as much as the 500, which is still available at $299.99 $300. It's also cheaper than the Sling 350, thats a step in the right direction considering there is no difference other than the lack of an HDMI input/output, which is no longer viable because of copyright control through HDMI.

The biggest reason to get this device is if you have a great sports package or love sports and are on the move. While it does still have a higher upfront cost than competing products, it can also stream content that no other device can -- namely, live sports and any other content you've already paid for through your cable subscription. If you're a big sports fan or a frequent traveler, this could be a worthwhile purchase.

I have two now, one back at the parents house to see my favorite teams, one in my living room to watch the DVR or, well, anything else I want. Having multiple is a luxury that Sling has now provided us, can't be mad about having that much access to the world of TV!

Setup is actually even easier than the 350 and 500, mostly because there is no remote, its all setup online. That makes it nicer to troubleshoot on the road. WiFi is a breeze to connect, you can use the WPS button as well to make it even quicker.

Let's go back to that HDMI point from earlier and get into that move. So removing HDMI on the M1 isn't a big deal, its actually a positive. HDMI signals are normally encrypted and even if Sling licensed the content, there might be some costs or other strings to that deal. Yes HDMI can handle 1080p, but since no major network broadcasts outputs 1080p, who cares, red-blue-green it is.

The big change on the software front is that the web-based video client/portal/player is gone in favor of a downloadable desktop application. Pros and cons to that, really based on your use. That same app controls the Sling and trouble-shooting abilities, so in our eyes, its a plus. The desktop app is the only free one again. iOS, Andriod and Windows 8 apps are still going to set you back $15. Could do without that for sure, one day maybe.

Sling has a quality adaptive bit-rate controller that will do the best it can to keep the stream from dropping. Basically, it will drop the quality of the stream if there is a change in connection strength. You will see this mostly while moving, using your cell phone or other mobile device. On WiFi, it rocks and will push almost 4k Kbps, thats quite good.

There have been many challengers to this novel idea of taking your TV on the go. But you will need a bunch of separate apps to fulfill just part of what the Sling can offer. Live sports is a huge driver to the decision of going Sling. We still highly recommend having one and at $150, its easier to do so. The reality is that even 10 years after Sling Media was founded, the primary limitation in video streaming is content licensing; as it happens, the Slingbox isn't bound by such things. Sling is standing up and seemingly capable of fending off new tech and time.

PROS:
+ Cheapest Sling yet
+ Still streams all of your content
+ Live sports on the go

CONS:
- Doesn't "Cut the Cord"
- Still requires a subscription to cable service

GRADE:
A

Macally Lightning to USB Cable

2015-03-17T09:59:00.000-05:00

Its a cable, but aren't they the most important thing in the world when you need them? Macally saw a need for a long Lightning cable on the market and made multiple lengths of them. Here is a closer look

Really the questions you need to ask yourself are, do I need a longer iPhone 5 or new iPad sync or charge cable and do I have $25 to spare? If you answered yes to either (preferably both) of those questions then take a look at Macally's black 6 footer or even the 10 footer. They are all well built, provides a different look than the traditional white Apple accessories and solves your length issue. Macally also offers a three foot option.

Its double the length of the out of the box cable from Apple and cant be purchased here: http://www.macally.com/EN/?page_id=8500. We have had some great success with it, traveling, winding it up and further testing its durability. We recommend it if you need more (length) out of your Lightning cable.

Jabra Supreme Bluetooth Headset Review

2015-02-12T10:15:00.000-06:00

We love our bluetooth reviews. So many of them and so many with this company. Jabra rolled out the SUPREME, touting it as the first Bluetooth mono headset to allow you to enjoy exceptional Active Noise Cancellation technology. I'm not sure how exactly they figured that would work, considering one of your ears is still not covered, but oh well, on to the review.

Lets do a quick fire of the features and capabilities, sometimes we are too long winded...

Connect two BT devices at once
A2DP streaming of media from device
HD voice so you sound clear to your callee
Make and answer calls just using your voice, also tells you who is calling
Jabra Voice Guidance
24mm speaker and noise canceling makes it easier for you to hear, I guess

Ok, we will deal with the speaker now. The issue we often have with BT headsets is that they are not ever loud enough. Maybe we are deaf, maybe they just aren't loud enough. The SUPREME boasts a, active noise canceling system that will remove frequencies and boost the sound to overcome the environment around you. Problem is, your other ear is still exposed to the sound. We can tell the noise canceling is working because we isolated the sound from the side we wore the headset and it is noticeably tougher to hear it. Not crazy loud sounds, but conversations and light music was able to be whisked away. Busy streets and construction and other sounds that fill your "off ear" there is still no answer for. And as long as BTs are in one ear (which we hope is always the case) this will forever be the problem.

Call quality was great, most higher-end BTs nowadays have the microphone thing figured out. It also helps that the patented Flip-Boom arm gets close to your talking hole. That flipping arm is also the on and off switch, simply unfold the arm to switch ON and fold to switch OFF and store the headset.

It looks the part of SUPREME as well. Sleekness with a tad bit of size but that size allows for larger buttons that are out of the way. That faux leather look also adds to the high-browness of the headset. It also delivers custom comfort for all ears, by letting you adjust the headset to achieve the best fit and placement according to your needs. There is an included flexible ear hook is easily adjustable and its on-the-ear shape sits securely in place. I wear glasses, and most of the time the hook on the bluetooth headsets are big and get in the way, but this one is fine and is even textured so it doesn't slip and slide all around.

The "connect" button is big and easy to find. And because of its size the other buttons aren't going to get in your way or hit at the wrong time. Charging is easy using USB or AC outlet. The lights on the unit clearly show when it's charged/charging and hooked up or looking for a pairing device. Battery life says six hours, but we have gone a week with moderate use and no end in sight. We are hearing about two weeks between charges for moderate-heavy use.

GRADE: B+

Macally Lightning Keyboard Review

2015-01-03T11:00:00.000-06:00

iPads are replacing laptops, iPhones are replacing laptops. Why have a 13 inch plus weighty device when a tablet or phone will do the things you need? Well that is why peripherals are becoming so big in the iOS market and adjust with what users want from their iPads, etc... So lets jump into this look at a full-sized and full-functioned keyboard from Macally.

We used an iPad Mini for this review but know that because the IKEYLT has a Lightning connector, it will work with iPhones and iPods that have that connection as well.

For us the key for functionality with the iPad is a portable keyboard that can even incorporate into a case so you have little to carry. This doesn't do that, so throwing that wish out of the window, maybe we needed to reconsider our hopes for a keyboard. The Macally full-sized keyboard is about 12.25” wide, 4.5” deep and 0.6” tall. The keyboard’s extra size, makes it easier to make the transition from a normal sized-keyboard to this one but it also makes portability a factor. But it shouldn't make you run because this keyboard boasts more functionality than even Apple's own keyboards, because of its size.

Here is what that extra space gets you: All of the Apple Wireless Keyboard’s keys plus dedicated undo, redo, Euro, Pound and Yen characters, plus .com, .net, .org. and .biz keys.

Macally also threw in a camera aperture-based button that takes a screenshot. All of that plus the typical Home, Lock, Photos app and media control buttons. Yes, these keys aren't necessarily needed but most people will see them as a welcome addition.

Because of its size, we were typing on it like a pro in no time, and in fitting fashion. We actually penned this review with it... Fitting right? The feedback is great, no crunchiness so far, instead a great firm click.

Joining the 37 inch Lightning cable are two small feet that flip out to give you a tad more height. One of the concerns people could have is the power draw from the device as most other devices have on-board batteries and can stand on their own. This Macally offering needs a connection to the device its operating. We haven't a power draw issue, it seemed to be unnoticeable.

The price is lower than pretty much all other iOS keyboards and its size isn't an issue. Be really think that if you can get over the lack of portability, this might be the best option for you.

PROS:
+ Great build
+ Price
+ Lightning connection
+ Extra keys

CONS:
- Size
- Lightning connection

GRADE:

A-

TYLT Zumo Portable Battery Pack

2014-11-28T20:32:00.000-06:00

Its about the size, not the capacity for the Zumo from TYLT. For $40, the 1500 mAh Zumo only weighs 2.4 ounces. But is there a bang for the buck?

Lets start with design. Its simple and small. Fitting in the palm of your hands, it wont take up much space in your bag, purse or pocket. The four green lights on the front indicate charge in increments of 25%. We reviewed the micro USB option (there is a 30 pin Apple device option for a tad more money ($50)) which has the micro USB output or discharge on one side and the traditional-sized USB to charge the device.

Those cables are embedded into the device and flex/extend out of the side. The glossy top will, based on where you place it during transit, scratch/scuff up. Not a huge issue, just a notice.

Now, how does it work? With only 1500 mAh capacity, it was ok. But I will give it this, it does discharge fairly quick. Although it is only a small amount of juice, it charges your devices quickly. BUT, the big but, is it wont charge your newer, larger battery devices, all of the way. My Samsung Galaxy S4 only would get 60%-70% of a charge.

That is great, but not full. Understanding that TYLT offers larger options, like the PowerPlant (5,200 mAh battery). But the portability here is more of the sale, not the capacity. But at $40, it is priced well as a basic emergency/ it sure would be nice if I had some power, option.

We would find a 30 minute discharge and two hour charge timing. You also get a carabineer and USB extension cable to
make travel and charging easier.

Here is the video from TYLT:

PROS:
+ Travels well, size and durability wise
+ Well priced at $40
+ Charges from any USB port
+ Holds charge for a year (still testing)

CONS:
- Not future proof, batteries will get bigger
- Doesn't charge newer devices all of the way

GRADE:

Jabra Motion Bluetooth Review

2014-10-08T22:35:00.000-05:00

It looks like quite a piece of technology. Well thats because it is, a big, feature-packed bluetooth headset. Let's make this one efficient, shall we.

Is it worth the price is the big question here. At $130 bucks, does it do more and do better than other sets below that price point? Simple answer is no, but if you are a tech-head and want more from your headset, and are willing to pay for it, this is right up your alley.

Lets start with the controls. It has physical controls for receiving and ending calls, audio volume and mute. The microphone itself is on a flip-boom which doubles as a power switch for the whole device. Like many other headsets it features a swiveling ear piece and is adjustable to fit your ears and can be worn on both left and right ears.

Those are the physical features, but how about the tech-side of this beast. Its called the Motion for a reason, mainly being that it has motion and environment-sensitive noise canceling. That means the set is supposed to adjust its volume to drown out external sounds so you can better hear your conversation. Car tests and noisy street walking were no match for the sound suppression tech that the Motion sports.

The motion part also comes in when you are receiving a call and pick up the headset (if it wasn't already on), it will answer the call as you pick it up and put it on.

Jabra also packed voice controls into the Motion. These controls do the obvious, answer, etc, but you can now also access Apple's Siri voice control on iPhones with the headset, huge plus because that has been previously not possible with other headsets.

For you business users, you can also add extras like a USB Bluetooth adapter to allow you to connect to PCs and support for Unified Communications (UC) which will be attractive to corporate users.

We always have issues with fit of BT headsets, that is the big negative here. The set is so big, its hard to conform to our heads. Its adjustable yes, but a stable fit is tricky to achieve. If you wear glasses like I do, the Motion and the arm of your glasses compete for space and stability atop your ear.

However, we're all different shapes and sizes so our advice here is clear. Try before you buy. The Motion isn't poorly designed, it's adjustable and it may fit you very nicely.

Battery life is also good. Much will depend on usage. But Jabra claims seven hours talk time and that seems realistic.

GRADE: A

Macally Macbook Keyboard Protective Cover

2014-09-06T19:43:00.000-05:00

The idea here is safety. Keep your Macbook protected from accidental spills and unwanted dust, keep it clean and dry. This silicon keyboard cover is completely washable (take off your laptop first, of course) and fits the 13″ MacBook Air, 13″ & 15″ MacBookPro, MacBookPro with Retina display, Apple Bluetooth Keyboards and iMac wired compact keyboards.

We tested the black and clear options but Macally also offers a blue and pink cover to give you a little more personalization. The cover fits right over the existing keyboard and fits snug in place. Its easy to remove and wash but the issues we are having now is the keys take a little extra force to hit. This makes us miss a letter or two as we type, slowing us down a tad. We have noticed that it is getting a bit better with time but its something to keep an eye on.

Overall, for 15 bucks it seems like a nice, stylish buffer between liquid, dust and crumbs and a sticky, dirty or destroyed computer. I will not be testing if it really keeps liquid at bay but it seems like it would buy you a few seconds to make a save. This will BY NO MEANS, save you from all water, coffee or pop spills.

PROS:
+ Add a little style to your MBP
+ Protects

CONS:
- Fight some tougher keying in the early stages

GRADE:
B+

NBA 2k14 Review

2014-02-25T19:35:00.000-06:00

It is probably the best looking PS4 launch title out there, but does NBA 2k14 have the substance to make to make you play again and again? Lets take a look.

Start with the look, it is amazing. The most graphically advanced game we have ever seen. Play models are off the charts realistic and game presentation and those graphics make the game look like real life, something said many times, but this time for real. Even legendary players from classic teams have been recreated in such detail.

Beyond graphics, the animations and player interactions are improved. Basketball is a game of continues motion and variances in that motion, so now to see how smoothly they are in and out of animations is truly incredible. Every spin and cross over puts you on the spot to defend, everything is faster and true to the NBA game.

New this year on the in-game gameplay side is the addition of Points of Emphasis options that allow you to pick general offensive and defensive styles at any time. It is a much faster way of changing a gameplan to shut down the perimeter or feed the post.

The immersive MyCareer is back and gets a refresh with some new moments and scenes from being drafted to interacting with your agent. Your character still has that generic voice that doesn’t quite fit any face, and for all the fancy new presentation, post-game press conference questions and pre-draft interviews are virtually identical to those in 2K13 and 2K12. Your character with talk crap to the opposition and will even see him drive to the stadium in his car. Its all part of the goal to make you feel like an NBA player, but the presentation here needs some work.

The worst part is actually quite weird, because the real NBA players and coaches can’t speak at all. Voice capturing every NBAer would be tough but at least have something because while you chat to teammates, they stand staring at you with no emotion or response, just a subtitle like this is NES. Come on man!

The artist formerly known as Association, now My GM has been given a presentation overhaul too, and you can now choose a specialization when you start. This allows you a leg up on some GM-y things like negotiations and chemistry.My Team is back and as you know we always love card-based collecting sports modes so this is right in line with Madden's Ultimate Team, one of our favorites. My Team also features Tournaments that will allow you to win rare player cards and more.

NBA 2k14 also seems extremely difficult compared to any other sports game that we have played. We are well-seasoned players in almost every genre but for some reason we found it extremely hard to win games, even on the lower difficulties. This is our biggest beef with NBA2k14. Some people go online to forums and say that once we spend actual money for the games virtual currency (which almost every title has now, from Candy Crush to NBA 2k14) and buy players for the various modes, it will ease up. Ridiculous to think, but I went 1-14 in MyTeam. Granted they were entry-level players and cards, but on the second lowest difficulty level, and against the 76ers... WHAT?

Overall, the game looks great and maybe I need to practice. But after all, its the only basketball game there is... period. So monopoly or not, its still a great offering from the 2k bunch.

GRADE:

B+

Jabra Style Bluetooth Headset Review

2013-12-29T09:44:00.001-06:00

The Jabra Style was reviewed by pairing with the Samsung Galaxy S4, which handled all of the "noise making."

First lets start with style, the sleek black and silver combo is very common in bluetooth devices, but the brushed look with few buttons makes this one more approachable to users. One of those buttons is a slide switch for on/off. A welcomed addition because of my hate for the push button/hold down button olympics that are turning some other headsets on and off. I always use the included over-ear gel piece for that extra-secure feeling, this one was also plenty comfortable.

Also, like most blueteeth, it charges with a mirco-USB cable, which by now you have a ton of. That is great because the included cable isn't quite long enough. But you might not need a cable around all of the time because we got about full 2 days of intense use before needing to recharge. And it only takes 2 hours to fully recharge the headset.

Now on to how it works. With many included features the Style has a lot of bang for the bucks. For example, to name a few, there is Auto Volume Adjustment, which automatically adjusts headset audio to your environment so calls are heard clearly. The Style also streams all media from your device. So music, GPS directions, games, etc... all make their way back to the Style from your phone. The music was good, but why would you do that in one ear...?

With devices moving away from Bluetooth and toward NFC and other connections, the Style is NFC ready, but only if your devices are. Bluetooth pairing was fast and easy though, complete with the help of voice prompts from the Style itself. And then finally, a cool feature that may save the day, but Jabra's Assist App will geo-tag the last place that the headset was turned on, with hopes that it will provide location of your car, etc.

The audio is great, both from the mic and from the speaker. There was a little cross-body interference, which means when the phone was in our right pocket and the headset on our left ear, that distance and path created some issues. Even with the device and Style on the same side, the distance created issues occasionally. Probably the biggest issue, but when that isn't the case, the audio quality was superb.

At $50, the feature-filled Jabra is a lot like others in this class. And seems to be priced right. Some small issues, interference being the biggest, could keep users away.

PROS:
+ Looks good
+ Comfort (for us, this could easily, like always, be a negative)
+ Voice feedback helps you pair and gives battery info
+ Will work with any micro-USB cable
+ Sound quality

CONS:
- Audio interference when in pockets
- No dedicated charger

GRADE:

Madden 25 Review

2013-10-20T21:10:00.003-05:00

Madden 14 25 is the anniversary celebration of a quarter century of football video gaming. It’s been a great generation of sports games. Have consoles limited the growth of this franchise. Graphics are at already unbelievable levels, games like Madden have features and modes for days. How do you advance the franchise that has changed gaming and sports games forever? Slowly, I guess. I don't have the solution or ideas so its not fair to hit EA too hard for this, and I was never one to say "its the same game with roster updates," but the last two games are so similar it makes me think.

Is EA waiting to go graphically to another stratosphere with the 4th gen systems? Did a split release (one for PS3 and PS4) hurt in anyway? We will see soon but this release was kinda blah. I love the game play still, but this 25 didn't build on anything.

The one thing EA has been working on more and more recently is the in-game presentation, visuals, and sound. They are all are stronger than ever. Pre-game featurettes, play by play from Nantz and Sims and in game cut aways all increase the broadcast feel of the game. Less repetition in player movements and broadcast stories keep it fresh. But TD dances are overly canned and forced.

But how it actually feels to play it, and Madden 25 takes its already-great formula and improves on it with the second year of the Infinity Engine. It creates a level of connection with the players you are controlling that makes the experience as rewarding as it’s ever been. As a ball carrier, not only can you juke or spin, but there is now a precision feature that allows you to time these moves perfectly and enhance their effectiveness. Its hard to tell what the precision modifier is doing sometimes, but the ability to juke with the left stick is a big add and allows for smoother movement and sharper cuts.

The newest mode, Connected Franchise, is like a combo of Be A Pro and Franchise where players can choose to be a single player, the coach of a team, or the big shot owner of the franchise. With each of those choices comes a set of goals, tasks and responsibilities.

If you choose player, you can create your own player, be a current NFL player or even play as a legendary player and attempt to rewrite their career in the modern era. As a coach, you control the entire team in games and have all of the options that have come in standard franchise modes. Finally, as an owner you get control of franchise operation and income generation. While the games will still be user controlled just like in coach mode, owners can make changes to the prices of tickets and in-stadium amenities, control the payroll and the staff, deal with the media and the public, oversee changes or complete renovations to stadiums, or uproot and relocate the team to one of 17 locations.

Two big downsides to the game, the menus and music. The pre game menus look nice, yes. But the are slow to load and clunky to navigate. As for the music, the same three-four songs play in every game and stadium and the menus have a NFL Films sounding song that plays over and over. Madden was always known for the soundtrack, so where is it?

I don't know what to think about this year's Madden. The O-line finally blocks well, but the game doesn't have big changes. Are big changes actually bad. What am I looking for out of the game anyway? Do the next gen releases put the game back on track with big advancements? Will those just be graphically? Is the game too perfect, EA has known that for a while, that they don't change it? All I know is that it still works and is still the best sports game and the best sports franchise ever.

PROS:
+ Fluid, impressive gameplay
+ Improved blocking schemes and AI
+ Beautiful graphically

+ No big change to the game

CONS:
- Laggy menus and sub-menus

- In-game Music

- No big change to the game

GRADE:

NCAA Football 14 Review

2013-07-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

EA's Football leadoff hitter, NCAA 14 was released with some new excitement and features but an old marketing push. Does the stale "Play the way your favorite team plays" mantra hold up the best and only college football game around? Lets see.

For those without a lot of time to read all of this, short answer is no. The NCAA franchise may get the features of last years Madden, in this case the Infinity Engine, but with another year to prefect it, NCAA boasts a finer tuned engine experience than Madden 13

The traditional game modes are back. Dynasty, Road To Glory, where you take a created player from high school into the Heisman running and your normal season mode. Dynasty has been blessed with a few improvements. '14 has gotten rid of calling and pitching recruits on your school and rather you are given points that you are supposed to assign and adjust as you go. All of your moves as a coach earns XP, which you use you better certain parts of your game. This is part of the EA focus with sports games that is more of a RPG feel but isn't overbearing and cumbersome.

The biggest add in the modes department is the highly-addictive Ultimate Team, which makes its debut for NCAA Football. My FAVORITE mode from Madden, NHL and FIFA is finally in the college ranks and my love of college athletics and interest in "where did he play college ball" makes this version even more life siphoning. Its a card based almost fantasy football like game where you collect players, stadiums, jerseys, etc.. to build your, well, Ultimate Team.

Inking deals with former athletes to add them, as professionals, really gives the game some credibility. Seeing those former college players back in their alum mater's colors is really cool and makes the game a sort of history lesson for NFL fans.

One issue I have noticed on UT is when you are bidding on players. Say you have 1000 coins, bid 800 on a player, when you are outbid the game doesn't give you your 800 back fast enough to get back into the bidding. Rather it tells you that the 200 coins you have left aren't enough, when in fact you should have all 1000 back. Quite frustrating.

The biggest gameplay addition is the Infinity Engine, which feels amazing now that EA has had another year to play with it after the launch of Madden 13. It is the reason you will play many game. Everything feels new and different. Each scenario and play has many variables involved, speed, size and strength. Each hit is different, each catch too. But not every interaction is perfect. Sometimes the forgetable AI put our defenders my defenders way out of position on big plays. With all of that, EA is smart to put Madden out a few weeks later, this game shows its flaws quickly.

Another gameplay addition, or rather focus is that of improvements to the read and option part of play calling and execution. This time around there a tag placed on the defensive player that you will react against and read to run the play correctly, just being a real QB.

Presentation wise, they added a up-tempo player intro, thats all. The broadcast is still blah, stadium noise is still toned down. The pageantry of the college game is muffled. That is really all that this game has to set it apart from Madden, the colors, chants, passion for your team, its all still really missing from the presentation. I know its difficult to do with unlicensed athletes and "QB #7" but mention stand outs more in the play by play, don't have players disappear from the sidelines. More emotion from the sidelines would be great too.

Its still a strong game but will never pass the hype of Madden. Maybe it is never meant to, maybe its a weaker appetizer that keeps your interest long enough and then disappoints you enough to make you drop another $60 on Madden a few weeks later. Amateur athletes may make the game harder to market. With all of the hub-bub about CLC and the NCAA name being used or not used in future NCAA games, we are concerned to see how that plays out but there was no effect on this release. Maybe this is the last of NCAA Football from EA. Maybe thats ok too. Oh and maybe add some FCS teams... that might help, right?

PROS:
+ Ultimate Team has arrived
+ Options are fun to run now, not scary as hell
+ Infinity Engine is nice

CONS:
- Presentation is blah

GRADE:
B-

Jabra Clipper Review

2013-07-16T09:19:00.000-05:00

We had a run on great products and great reviews.... Screeching halt. I really tried to like the Jabra Clipper, but it just didn't make sense to me, and frankly, didn't really work as it should. This Bluetooth wireless headphone, not sure what to call it, so I'll go with "thing," had great potential but let me down.

DESIGN:
Its the size of a flash drive, and that's good. The size and look of this thing had me excited about the possibilities. A metal belt clip wrapped with a rubbery outer layer.

The buttons, if you look above, are pretty simple. The middle bump serves as on/off and play/pause while the up and down control volume and tracks. Much different from other track controls we have seen before, the Clipper requires you to press and hold up or down to change tracks and tap those buttons to control volume. Different, but it was okay.

On the right shoulder is the 3.5mm headphone jack and on the left shoulder is the charger port for a mico USB. There is also a microphone on the front above the controls that will basically turn any headset into a wireless bluetooth headset capable of making and receiving calls.

Now for the issues. The jaws on this thing are almost impossible to open, making it tough to slide onto a belt or pants. I mean, really hard. Also, in an attempt to get them open one time, I tried a little too hard and separated the rubber from the metal, it won't fit back the same.

The included headphones sound nice and actually fit well, but they are incredibly short, for no apparent reason.

The build quality just doesn't seem like Jabra. They make some great stuff, this seems like they had their step brother handle this one. Actually, during this review, I was messing around with the Clipper and twirling it in my hands and the little lip/door that covered the charge slot popped off. Odd.

HOW DID IT WORK?:
Well, terribly. For starters, this thing will NOT get loud enough. Supplied headphones, other expensive cans, home theaters, it just restricts the volume for some reason. Huge downfall in my eyes because, like the Backbeats 903+, I wanted to use these to do yard work, including cutting the grass. I could barely hear the songs over the lawn mower. That's an issue.

Another reason I was excited about this product was being to use my own headphones and have the source device elsewhere. Nope, not here. The conductivity range of this unit is awful. I was this to allow me to place my iPod or Blackberry safety away from the mower blades or just out of the way, doesn't work.

With the 3rd Gen iPod Touch placed on a table and the Clipper attached to my shirt, (using the included headphones whose cable was way too short) I took three steps and then started to experience signal loss. That is about five feet. Not even close to the 33 feet that Jabra claims. So then I put the iPod in my pocket, thinking it would solve the issue. No, with the iPod in my pocket and the Clipper on my shirt, chest area, the iPod would still cut out if I turned a certain way.

With the iPod in one hand and the Clipper in the other, the thing would even cut out with my arms extended to their full wingspan (I'm 6-4). It just flat out doesn't work. At that point, you might as well just plug it in to the iPod or Blackberry.

The sound, when it did work, was pretty good actually. The issue is that that hardly happens with out the connection dropping.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?:
Clipper
Headphones
AC Power supply

MSRP:
$49.99

PROS:
+ Its small
+ You can use your headphones
+ Sound, when it does work, is pretty true

CONS:
- Won't get loud enough for me
- Build quality leaves a lot to be desired
- Cuts out at about five feet, making it almost worthless

GRADE:

D-

I realize that this becomes the lowest graded item yet, but I was really disappointed by the Clipper. I have found a semi-redeeming use for it though. I connect my iPod to it, then use my AUX jack in my car to connect to the Clipper, which gives me wireless playback of my iPod in my car. Kinda cool, but not worth the price or hassle.

SteelSeries Flux Ear Bud Review

2013-06-03T13:12:00.000-05:00

We love headphones here on the Game & Gadget Grader. They are fun to review because they can be polarizing based on your preferences. So after reading our other headphone reviews, you know what we like around here. SteelSeries sent us the Flux and Flux Pros (review coming) for review. We haven't had ear buds in a little while, so its nice to review these because they are some of the most dynamic and well-priced in-ears we have tried.

The Fluxs are made for all forms of entertainment on all mobile devices, from gaming to phone calls the SteelSeries Flux In-Ear Headset delivers. Using passive noise-canceling by achieving a tight and comfortable, sealed-fit with the three included tip sizes.

Blocking out the outside noise lets the 6mm dynamic drivers do their work to produce a nice flat sound. You may wonder why flat is a good thing. Well a flat sound out of the box means that EQs on your devices won't have to fight the headset to make changes in bass and treble but rather will react as you ask. Meaning these will be a good choice for ANYONE because they can customize the sound output.

The 6mm drivers, which are a little smaller than some others on the market are advertised to hit a frequency response range of 20 – 20000 Hz. Everything we tried, spoken word sports talk radio to hip-hop music sounded great and responded well with the FLUX.

A flat tangle-free cable will keep from wasting your time untangling wires after putting these in your pocket. An in-line mic and play/pause controller is also a good addition. We just miss the track control functionality here, it would be nice buy the button is just for answering and ending calls and playing and pausing music on IOS devices.

The microphone is decent, sounds good to the person on the other side, serviceable but the tech in small mics has come a long way and now they all seem to be great these days.

Also included is a velvet-y carrying case to keep everything together. These are our new favorite on-the-go headset because of the dual functionality, tangle-free cable and sound. Great for workouts because of the longer cable and easy to put away size. Plus for just $49.99, they are priced well too.

PROS:

+ Passive noise-canceling

+ Tangle-free cable

+ Flat sound profile

+ Price

CONS:

- No in-line track controls

MSRP:

$49.99

GRADE:

Macally Miniaturized Stylus Review

2013-05-16T18:34:00.000-05:00

When I first got the Miniaturized Stylus with Earphone Plug from Macally, I was extremely excited. Being a girl, I love how this stylus’s center is made up of tiny, sparkly crystals. This stylus is way different from any of the other styluses I have seen, which are more commonly geared toward men. I also loved the portability factor that it offered.

I love to stick my iPad in my purse, but I always lose the stylus I stick in there with it. With this stylus though, this problem is no more. It has a clip that you can plug into your headphone jack, that way there is no scrambling around to find it in a hurry.
The only thing I do not like about this stylus is the fact that they choose to make the attachment from the actual stylus to the headphone jack a rubber spring.

The real problem is that when carrying around my iPad mini or iPhone with it attached the stylus hangs really low off of it. It also likes to swing pretty severely and occasionally gets stuck on nearby items, especially when pulling my iPad out of my purse.

Attaching it to the headphone jack also will keep dust and dirt out.

My only other minor complaint is that it is impractical to use this stylus with anything other than a smart phone while it is still attached to your headphone jack. Even with my iPad mini it doesn’t reach down far enough for comfortable use. Overall I still love this stylus.

MSRP:

$9.99

PROS: + Adorable, fun, girly design
+ Lightweight and Portable
+ Convenient headphone jack storage for on the go use

CONS:
- The rubber spring attachment cord occasionally gets caught on things

GRADE: A-

Call of Duty Black Ops II Review

2013-01-06T22:10:00.002-06:00

Ahh, the most successful entertainment release ever... CODBOpsII or just Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

I am a know Battlefield fan, believing that BF as a franchise is developing more over each release. Could that be because there have been fewer games released. Call of Duty seems to launch one of their two series every holiday season. But this isn't a comparison so lets throw BF out of this. On to COD.

Like most COD reviews, because the way the game as developed, we will break this into three parts. Overall, Campaign and Multiplayer.
OVERALL:

Graphics and sounds are just like all other Call of Duties. Excellent. The guns sound so unique and on point. Granted I have never heard ANY of the guns used in BOII, they seem real to life in recoil and sound. It all adds to the feel of the game.

As mentioned graphics continue to excel. The campaign takes you through some vast areas and the landscapes look beautiful. Call of Duty was always superior in this department, but it hasn't really pushed the envelope and gotten better. The graphics and looks were mastered a few games ago and it seems like complacency has taken over, or the theory that "when something is not broke, don't fix it."

CAMPAIGN:
Taking a page out of Ubisoft's Tom Clancy: Ghost Recon Future Soldier, BOII goes into the not too distant future of 2025. You welcome back some big characters from BOI to make sense of the time frame and happenings between the two titles. BUT, the story felt jumpy because it literally did, sending you between flashback missions during the Cold War and back to 2025. A lot to keep track of because fathers and sons are involved, people grow up, have nicknames, made my head spin at some points.

It was an intriguing story if you could figure out who was who and why they hated each other. The campaign had its fair share of twists and surprises but the most welcome addition was the non-linear way in which it could unfurl. The game was the same as all other CODs, except that you now have the ability to dictate how the ending plays out based on decisions you have made. Do one thing and it changes the outlook of the whole game. Kill this guy, or don't, side with them or not, it all plays into the ending. I believe their are six different outcomes.

Character acting was quite good. Making the story feel more approachable and real. Another constant in the franchise.

MULTIPLAYER:
Here is where I think Call of Duty Black Ops II both makes its money and continues to not make changes. But the billions of dollars say don't touch it. But when will gamers? And how do you make the best multiplayer experience better? I don't have the answer, I just know it feels old and played out after a while.
If you have played a Call of Duty multiplayer game...ever, then you have played BOII. There are new guns, there are new modes, zombies is slightly better with the addition of a huge sprawling map called Tranzit, but its the same.

Some changes include toning down perks and adding some more diverse score streak rewards. My favorite was the Dragon Fire flying sentry gun that you can remotely control. Notice I said score streak and not kill. Another change.

The Create a Class system has been much improved from the original Call of Duty Series. This time, each perk, weapon and equipment is one point, and you can't have more than ten "items" at any point. So attachments, the weapon itself, grenades, etc. all count against that ten. Forcing you to be creative and make changes based on game mode and map.

Sniping is more difficult to do because the make up of the maps and weaponry. Not a fan of that because that was one of my favorite things to do.

Treyarch has revamped the Prestige System, there are 10 prestiges and 55 levels. They have worked hard to create almost like what I call the "slot machine payoff theory" of gaming. Give gamers rewards, collectables, badges and other things to separate themselves from other gamers. Each kill has points pop up on the screen, at the end of matches you unlock this, achieve this, etc. Its slightly addictive but it runs its course pretty quickly for me.

The whole thing for me was just kinda "blah." Nothing stood out but the COD franchise is an unstoppable force.

PROS:

+ Another addition into the "can't go wrong" formula

+ Voice acting, graphics and sounds

+ Some small additions to multiplayer

+ Non-liner facet to campaign

CONS:

- Has it gotten stale

- Some small additions to multiplayer

GRADE:

B+

Slingbox 500 Review

2012-12-27T21:42:00.003-06:00

I always wanted to have my TV on the go. Slingbox seemed like it was going to be the solution for many years, but not so fast. Many service providers starting getting into the act as well. Add in HBO GO and similar apps, paired with Slingbox heading into hibernation and everyone thought they were done. But after nearly four years without a new device, Sling Media hits us with this, the Slingbox 500. Lets take a look.

Front View

First lets talk about what the 500, like the other Slingboxes, is meant to accomplish. The Slingbox takes what ever video your send to it (video game console, TV set top box, DVD player, computer, really whatever) and more or less broadcasts it over the web for you to enjoy using web browsers or mobile apps. The latter making it more impressive and appealing.

Lets start with the setup. Simply put, its simple! The in-box instructions were simple and straight forward. After we made our desired connections using the included hdmi, component and composite cables, (Slingbox recommends using both due to the copy protection on many cable boxes, that can cause issues in playback) we plugged it into the wall and like magic the Slingbox startup menu showed up on our TV.

After walking through the easy-to-follow steps to create an account, set up the wi-fi, sources and info about the TV service we use, the 500 was ready to use. Start to finish, maybe ten minutes from making the connections to using the device.

This was the biggest fear of mine, the setup taking too long or being unapproachable. We have set up and used many devices from cameras to computers, scanners to speakers, so we have done this before. But we feel this is easy to use, even for people who aren't computer or tech savvy.

We just mentioned the two huge additions to the 500 over the little brother Slingbox 350, which was also just released. The 500 has hdmi connectivity and wi-fi. Wi-fi allowed us to connect to our Directv box even with the router in another room.

Now on to the other important stuff. How did it work? Just like the setup, it was awesome! Basically the rule here for those that still might be confused is, what ever is available on your TV (or which ever device you are connected to) is available through the 500.

Included zap2it Interactive Guide

So in our case, which ever channels and services such as DVR or pay-per-view or even on-demand content, is available on-the-go through your Slingbox. This is because the Slingbox is merely acting as a broadcast point that takes what ever is on our set top box and sending it to our devices. Its the controls on the players that really makes everything work.

Watching Directv on the web app with on-screen remote

During the setup, you would have answered what model is your device, hence the Directv remote you see in the pictures. That shows up on the web-version of the player and all of the buttons are clickable just like your actual remote. There are even keyboard shortcuts for all of the buttons to make it easier.

With a little bit of a delay, the buttons change channels, pull up the guide and access the DVR, it even can turn on and off the physical device so if you are on the road you do not have to worry about leaving it on for extended periods or forgetting to turn it on all together.

Smaller Sized Player with Remote

Because of that, we add this. Its not necessarily a negative but while watching on Slingbox, the TV it is connected to is under your control. This means that anyone watching back at home is forced to watch the same program. Not a huge issue normally but it may come up.

As mentioned, we tested the 500 on the web player and the iPhone (4s) app. We have no complaints about either. The controls on the web player are easier to manage because of the size advantage compared to a phone, but everything you need is there. You have the ability to change the quality of the stream based on your connection speed. When the iPhone fell into 3G we pulled it back to SQ or standard quality to insure the video would continue to play at the expense of quality. The web player, based on connection, would pump out HD quality with bitrates near 1,000.

One more thing to add, or in this case, go back to. We mentioned the remote during the setup, but this is a strong indication that maybe Slingbox wants to get back into the mix and become a major player for many years. Slingbox is no longer just a place-shifter, meaning it just throws your TV signal from one place to another, the box is going to be upgraded to provide access to content stored on a USB-attached drive, as well as content from other sources. Maybe this is where an outside party like Netflix, YouTube or Hulu comes in. But as of now you can use the SlingProjector to view photos from iOS and Android devices on your TV with video to come.

Ok, at $299 it's kinda pricey. Tack on $15 a piece for each app between iOS and Android and it gets even more so. But the ease of use and dependability makes our Slingbox experience a good one.

PROS:

+ Easy to setup and use

+ hdmi and wi-fi make it future friendly

+ Apps (although expensive) allow you to use all over with different devices

CONS:

- Pricey

- Quality based on connection (no way around this but if you have a bad connection, this won't make your day)

- Other services push to make this tech extinct

GRADE: