Mastering a Marvel-ous Game

I've always been a big fan of Marvel characters and remember watching Saturday morning cartoons with The Hulk, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and others when I was a kid. If you're also a Marvel fan, I would highly recommend playing Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects.

With this creation by EA Games, you can experience what it feels like to be in the shoes of a super hero by playing a number of characters such as Spider-Man, Wolverine or Iron Man. The game is a fighter type, but unfortunately not the easiest to master. I picked up the controller and figured it out fairly quickly, but it took at least a good hour to fully learn the controls and acquire a good grasp of the game. You can play it single player mode on your own, or multiplayer on the Xbox (Xbox Live) and Playstation 2 (with a network adapter card). The single player mode pulls you into the storyline, and the multiplayer mode takes you into head-to-head battles with other opponents online.

As you're playing, the characters seem to move the same way they would in a comic book. The attacks, movements and powers have an authentic feel to them, which makes it really feel like you're wandering through a comic book. The characters fly all over your screen, swing on webs, throw cars and other large objects at each other, just as you would expect in a comic book. Every time you beat a level, you can choose up to four different characters’ paths, which gives you good variations. Once you’ve exhausted a story path, then you can switch characters. Each character has a good and an evil manifestation, depending on whether or not they were susceptible to an alien mind control technology.

A fun part of the game is the ability to unlock hundreds of fun collectible rewards. This includes playable characters, collectible cards, animated comic books and several short videos.

You know the graphics are top quality when the behind the scenes prestigious group that created Marvel Nemesis include Hollywood and comic book industry stars such as renowned illustrator Jae Lee (Spider-man, Uncanny X-men, Captain America) and movie character designer Paul Catling (Spider-Man, The Punisher, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects is rated T for Teen and is available for the Xbox, Playstation2, PSP, Nintendo GameCube or Nintendo DS for $49.99 each at CompUSA or GameStop.

Sony BRAVIA: Redefining Television

I recently went shopping for a new television and wanted to make sure I bought a good one that would last awhile, yet look good mounted on the wall in my living room. I wish the BRAVIA line, one of Sony’s latest creations, was available at the time.

Sony recently introduced a new sub-brand for its line of high definition LCD televisions called BRAVIA (Best Resolution Audio Video Integrated Architecture). What makes it different from a “normal” LCD television is that it has three key advances: a larger color gamut, higher refresh rates and the ability for your television to automatically adjust to ambient light conditions. That’s definitely what I need. There are many times when the sun is shining into the living room or the light is just too bright, and I would love to have that function.

The brightness of the BRAVIA line is possible because of Sony’s Wide Color Cold Compact Florescent Light (WCG-CCFL). It displays a color gamut almost 40% larger than a conventional CCFL display. This larger gamut allows BRAVIA televisions to reproduce the colors of real life more faithfully using spectrum phosphors to achieve the deeper reds, vivid greens and cleaner blues, closer to what your eye would normally see.

Sony makes two different types of BRAVIA, the S-Series and the XBR Group. Both use the seventh generation Sony LCD panel, which is produced from the world’s biggest mother glass to efficiently create large high quality panels. Each also has a one mega pixel Patterned Vertically Aligned (PVA) high definition display (1366 x 768, two segments per sub-pixel) and offers a 178-degree viewing angle, fast response times and an excellent contrast ratio. There’s also a freeze function that allows you to freeze one screen while the other continues showing your program.

With its design for maximum versatility, the BRAVIA line features a comprehensive range of input interfaces, including High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). HDMI is the first industry supported, uncompressed all digital audio/video interface. An unfortunate drawback is that there are no DVI ports.

The BRAVIA line is definitely a winner, but quite pricey at prices ranging from about $2,000 to $3,500 at Shirokiya, Pure Digital Hawaii, www.sony.com or any other authorized Sony dealer.

Clicking With A Smart Mouse

When I’m on my computer, I’m really picky about the mouse I’m using. The buttons have to be configured just right otherwise I start to get annoyed with it. With the advancements of mice over the years, I’ve come to expect more and more out of a mouse, or for that matter, any product I use. Well, Logitech recently announced its fall mouse lineup, of which includes the MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse (nicknamed “The World’s First Smart Mouse).

The mouse is capable of two-way communication and knows if your computer is on or off. The MX610 saves power and automatically turns on when your computer turns on, sleeps when it sleeps and turns off when it powers down. It can sense if there’s wireless interference and will automatically change channels to establish the most secure connection. There are also indicator lights that let you know when its (AA) batteries need to be changed, when you receive an e-mail or when an instant message comes in. The average battery life expectancy is about three months with regular use.

The wireless range of the mouse is 2.4 GHz, which allows you to use it up to 30 feet away. That’s about five-times stronger than a conventional wireless mouse, which usually has a 27 MHz range (approximately six feet away). The buttons on the mouse allow you to do all sorts of neat things such as control the volume of your computer, scroll both horizontally and vertically with its special Tilt Wheel Plus Zoom, or use the forward and back buttons for web browsing. The performance laser tracking lets you use the MX610 flawlessly on surfaces where normal optical mice normally will not work, plus it feels good ergonomically in your hand.

The long wireless range gives you flexibility if you’re waiting for an instant message or e-mail to come in, and you don’t want to sit there and stare at your computer screen. Just take the mouse with you to the couch or kitchen to get that snack. Keep in mind the e-mail function works with Microsoft Outlook and the instant messaging works with Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Instant Messenger after the Logitech SetPoint software is installed. After you install SetPoint, you can customize your mouse to your likings.

The MX610 would almost give Apple a run for its money with the Mighty Mouse, but unfortunately it’s not fully compatible with a Mac. It can function with a Mac, but not all the features of the mouse are work with OSX. Hopefully there will be Mac compatible software available soon.

The Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse comes with a five-year warranty and full product support. It is currently available for $59.99 at www.logitech.com.

Stylish Swedish Relief

I honestly don’t really care if my computer peripherals physically match the furniture around me. As long as they look decent and perform to my standards, I’m happy. For those with more discriminating taste in the way your peripherals look, Swedx is for you.

Swedx is a Swedish company that’s on a mission to bring kinder, gentler-looking technology to your home or office. ) Plastic casing is out and wood is in. You can choose between three types of wood: sapele (rich, dark wood, similar to mahogany), beech (honey blonde with a satin finish) or ash (very light wood with a pronounced dark grain. The products are not just retrofitted or wooden bezel that covers an ordinary monitor. The electronics are built into the wood. It’s kind of how televisions and radios were back in the day.

The LCD flatscreen televisions and computer monitors feature electronics by Samsung and Swedish styling by Swedx, drawing on Sweden’s rich history of woodworking. They are available in various sizes from 15 to 32 inches. Also available are eye-pleasing keyboards and mice. The prices aren’t as exorbitant as you might think. In fact, they’re almost the same prices as normal plastic peripherals. The LCD monitors range from $387 to $521, the LCD or HDTV televisions from $434 to $3577, the keyboards from $35 to $41, the mice (corded or wireless) $17 to $26, and the speakers are $83.

Swedx first introduced its product line in 2002, and seems to have hit it off with those who have become tired of plastic and want something stylish at their desks or environment-friendly folks. Swedx’s products have been described as “more human” since each product is unique because of the use of real timber. Ergonomics is kept top-of-mind when manufacturing these products. They’re perfect for the smallest of desks, giving you ample space to let your tired arms rest on the desk. In addition to the thin designs, the monitors all have a tilt mechanism, which allows perfect angle viewing. The bottom line is that Swedx is aiming to bring personal feelings, warm materials and natural colors into our technology world. I guess it’s basically to help us feel less intimidated by technology (if you happen to be scared of it).

Go wooden with Swedx at www.swedx.com.

The Impossibly Small iPod nano

Okay, I admit, and if you haven’t noticed by now, I’m a collector of iPods. I own three already, including the shuffle, the mini and “the brick “(as some of you may remember). In case you’re wondering what I do with all those iPods, each has a purpose. The shuffle I use for running/exercise, the mini is hooked into my car and I use “the brick” for file backups. Well, Apple came out with a new head-turning iPod design that I could not refuse. With a bright color screen and small, compact size, I had to add this one to my collection too.

The iPod nano is 62% smaller than the iPod mini, and if I wanted to, I can discreetly fit it into the front pocket of my jeans without it being noticeable. It takes everything you love about other iPods, shrinks it, and shrinks it again, and only weighs 1.5 ounces. That’s less than a single CD case. The dimensions are 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.27 inches, or think of it as being five dimes long and two pennies wide. Yes, it’s very small, and very cool! Although it doesn’t have an FM tuner or voice recorder built-in, the 1.5-inch color screen gives it a nice eye candy interface. As with my other iPods, it has excellent sound quality and charges and syncs via USB (1.1 and 2.0).

With the nano’s bright color screen, you can view the photos downloaded from your computer (holds up to 25,000) and view the full-color album art of the song you’re currently playing. You can also sync your contacts, calendars and to-do lists. The battery will last you 14 hours, and it takes an hour and a half to charge it 80% or three hours for the full charge. The easy-to-use click wheel makes it simple to navigate the menus, fast forward, rewind, play pause or control the volume.

I guess you can kind of think of the iPod nano as a hybrid of the iPod shuffle, iPod mini and the full-sized color iPods. I think it’s supposed to replace the now discontinued iPod mini. It comes standard with earbud headphones, a USB cable and a dock adapter. Of course, an array of other accessories are out there, including colorful armbands ($29), lanyard headphones ($39), set of five tubes (to change the color of your nano - $29), a dock for convenient syncing and charging ($29), and more.

The iPod nano is available in black and white 2GB (500 songs) and 4GB (1,000 songs) models. The 2GB is $199 and the 4GB is $249 at the Apple Store Ala Moana or online at www.apple.com.

If you’re wondering what purpose this fourth iPod will serve for me, well, I don’t know yet, but it’s too cool not to have.

Get Ready to Rock With Motorola’s ROKR

If you’ve been keeping abreast in the world of technology, you know that the word “convergence” has been hot lately. I’m not a big fan of these types of gadgets unless they’re really good. I believe a camera should be a camera, a phone should be a phone, or an mp3 player should be an mp3 player. If you mix everything together, the end result may not be a quality product.

Well, Apple, Cingular and Motorola recently partnered together to create the first mobile phone with iTunes, and the outcome? It’s no substitute for an iPod, but the Motorola ROKR definitely has the word “convergence” written all across it. I thought it could be interesting. . .talk about a do-it-all gadget. You can listen to music while browsing the Internet, sending and receiving messages and while taking pictures. You don’t need to worry about calls coming in because you can easily pause the music when you need to take a call.

As a phone, it’s nothing exceptional, but, it what really makes it unique is the ability to actually play music. The phone is equipped with a single button on the face of the phone that takes you straight to an iTunes screen that looks similar to a color iPod. There you’ll find playlists, artists, albums, shuffle songs and now playing entries. You can easily navigate using the small four-position joystick-like button located in the middle of the phone. With this you can also adjust the volume and it acts as an iPod’s previous and next buttons.

You can load up to 100 songs on the phone using a USB cable and listen to your music with either the ROKR’s built-in “surround sound” speakers (with rhythm lights) or headphones. As with the iPod nano, the ROKR’s color screen displays the album art of the song you’re currently playing. It also gives you up to 6.5 hours of talk time, a camera with a zoom and flash, video recording and playback. As with many of the newer phones out there, all the standard features are on it: Bluetooth capable, address book, calendar, instant messaging, e-mail, customizable ring tones, etc. In addition, it uses at 512MB flash memory card to store your music.

A couple of drawbacks with the ROKR are that it takes a long time to transfer music on it, and that it doesn’t have that extreme “wow” factor I’ve come to expect from Apple. But, if you’re not picky, and want to save money on buying separate devices, this could be for you.

The Motorola ROKR comes pre-installed with iTunes and includes stereo headphones and a USB cable. It is exclusively available for $249.99 at your nearest Cingular store, or www.cingular.com.

A Vacuum Cleaner That Never Loses Suction

Ever since I bought a Dyson vacuum cleaner, the animals in the house have made a new enemy I call “The Purple Monster.” From the very first time I used my Dyson DC07 Animal vacuum, my cats hissed at it and darted outside to hide from it. Since that day, they’ve hated it and even vomit on it from time to time. Despite that, I’m pleased to see how much cat hair it picks up off the carpet. The first time I vacuumed, the cat hair must have literally filled up half of the collection canister, and this is two minutes AFTER I vacuumed with my old vacuum cleaner.

There are various Dyson models available, but all of them have one thing in common. They all use Dyson’s patented Root Cyclone technology that enables the ability to maintain constant suction. Other vacuum cleaners clog and leave dust behind since they rely on a bag or filter to hold back the dust. This is what causes loss of suction and leaves all that dust and animal hair in your house.

Other bagless vacuums exist, however they’re not the same. Believe me, I tried different ones over the years, and this is the best vacuum I ever owned. The Root Cyclone technology causes high volumes of air to spin extremely fast through individual cyclones, creating 100,000G of centrifugal force. All the dirt and debris are tossed to the outer edges of the collection canister. Sometimes I entertain myself by watching all that stuff collect and the cat hair and feathers spin around the canister. It picks up so much stuff that I empty my canister probably once every two weeks.

Each Dyson model may have its own special feature, but for the most part each one comes with a quick-draw hose, automatic carpet height adjustment and a lifetime HEPA filter, which makes it perfect for allergy sufferers. The latest Dyson creation is The Ball. It’s Dyson’s solution to the still, inefficiency of the back-and-forth movement that makes vacuuming a chore. The Ball technology replaces the traditional rigid two wheels on the base of the machine and allows you to twist and turn the vacuum effortlessly around furniture and low-lying obstacles.

The price ranges from $399.99 to $699.99. It all depends what your needs are. It may seem a bit pricey for a vacuum cleaner, but it’s definitely worth it. I’m hooked on my Dyson, and will never go back to using one with a bag.

A Flashback To The Past

As a child of the ‘80s, I remember my good ol’ Atari Game Console. Growing up, I can recall playing Pac-Man, Centipede and Space Invaders, my favorite video games at the time. I think we still have the old Atari lying around somewhere collecting dust, but I won’t trouble myself to go look for it since Atari launched its latest product.

Atari put its new Flashback 2 Classic Game Console on store shelves October 4th this week. With plug-and-play games being all the rage these days, the Flashback 2 is here, and is modeled after the Atari 2600. It’s the ultimate re-creation of the classic gaming experience. You may have seen the first Atari Flashback Classic Game Console that came out at the end of 2004. That one came with 20 built-in games, but the Flashback 2 has doubled that to 40 games. It includes the popular games such as Pong, Asteroids and Centipede, in addition to other arcade classics that have never before been released for the home console. The Flashback 2 features the same wood grain paneling and look of the Atari 2600, including two classic joysticks, vintage controls and the multi-player capability.

With both Flashback consoles, you can relive the 1980s video game revolution and go back in time with the retro games that started it all. Unlike some re-issues of retro games, the Flashback games are not emulated versions. Each one of the games’ schematics was re-created to work together on a single chip.

If you still have your old Atari controllers, those are compatible with both Flashbacks. Even if you have the original Atari 2600 trackball or paddle controllers, those will also work. Likewise, the new Flashback joysticks will function with the vintage Atari consoles.

If you’re geeky enough, there is a hackable chip available to install. You can solder on a cartridge port to play original old Atari games with your old cartridges. This hack also allows you to hardwire it to your PC to make it into a handheld device. On top of that, look for the two “secret games” you can unlock. The hint is to go to the main menu and do a combination of joystick movements to indicate a special year in Atari’s history. Sorry, that’s all I know about it, but if you fiddle with it, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

The Atari Flashback is available for $30 at Best Buy or your nearest CompUSA.