Armored Core 4

Last summer SEGA came out with the hit mech (robot) game Chromehounds. It was a popular Click Chick story, commented about for months after I wrote it. Now there’s a new mech game out that hit the shelves last week. Also by SEGA, Armored Core 4 is the newest addition to the mech-based franchise of the game developer FromSoftware.

Armored Core 4 is a huge improvement from the previous Armored Core games, especially in the graphics. This is the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed franchise and it reinvigorates the brand by offering you an all-new storyline, new environments, and online capabilities that feature multiple play modes and supports up to eight players battling it out simultaneously. With over 35 missions, it enables you to fully customize and bring into battle the next generation of mechs, called Nexts. You can fly through canyons and cities using the new Quick Boost and Over Boost features. Additionally, the Primal Armor, an all-new defense shield, adjusts its strength according to specific battle conditions, giving you a defensive advantage against your enemies.

The storyline follows an explosion in population growth, chronic food and energy shortages bringing the world closer to terminal condition. Cities were reduced to bombed-out husks by unchecked terrorism, and in response a handful of mechanized arms manufacturers, complete with private armies, expanded in scale and rose to power. This began the Dismantlement War. The world’s nations were eventually unable to withstand the onslaught of the Companies’ advanced weaponry, and a new breed of Armored Core (AC) mechs were born. The global economy was destroyed and the new Pax Economica emerged from the Companies. Five years into the Pax Economica consolidated the military power and the public’s pervasive apathy still managed to hold chaos until you as lone Raven decided to take matters into your own hands.


One of my favorite key features of the game is the fact that you can customize your mech. The simple, but deep AC assembly allows you to assemble your mech step-by-step with an easy assembly process. This new schematic design system offers you no-hassle management of AC settings so you can express yourself with a whole new degree of freedom. Other key features include the Overed Boost (yield higher speeds), Unparalleled Power And Quick Response (immediate button response and partial automation control), Engagement In Realistic And Diverse World, Variety of Challenging Enemies, Realistic And Compelling Battlefields, The Power of Kojima Technology (Kojima particles released from a special emitter shaped into Primal Armor), Quick Boost (emergency evasion, lunging at attacks, sharp turns) and a New, Streamlined Design System (tuning and saved schematics that can be traded between players).

Overall, the combat seems to be faster-paced than previous Armored Cores. The missions are very short, which could be considered good or bad. I personally like the shorter missions because I can play a little, walk away and do something else, then come back to it. However, this will probably disappoint diehard fans because of its lack of complexity.

Armored Core 4 is rated T for Teen (ages 13+) and you can find it at your nearest CompUSA (www.compusa.com), GameStop (www.gamestop.com) or Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) for $59.99. It is available for the Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and playable as a standalone for one to two players or up to eight players online.

A Little Zap! To Portable Energy

If you’re out and about toting around your electronics frequently, you know how important it is to keep them charged up. Last summer I wrote about the Turbo Charge device that can power your cell phone on a single AA battery. Thanks to Terrence Iwamoto at Mr. Ink Plus, I found something that can do more than just a cell phone.

The Zap! RX4- AA Universal Battery Charger gives you excellent backup emergency power for your digital toys, and you’re almost never out of juice with it. This little thing holds four AA batteries and will power just about anything. With it, most cell phones, digital cameras, camcorders, mp3 /CD/DVD players and Bluetooth devices will never die on you. Supported brands include: Blackberry, Canon, Casio, Fuji, JVC, Kodak, Lenovo, Minolta, Motorola, Nikon, Nokia, Olympus, Palm, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung, Sharp, Shinco and Sony.

Another option with the RX4-AA is that it can be used as a portable AA battery charger with either an AC adapter or a USB port on your computer. The package includes the RX-4-AA, four AA rechargeable batteries, and an array of connectors for just about every device you can think of, and a handy carrying pouch to slip into your purse or pocket. Additionally, it is worldwide compatible with a 110V or 220V AC adapter. Find it at Mr. Ink Plus for $29.95 (located at 670 Auahi Street near CompUSA or at 94-370 Pupupani Street in Waipahu).

If you’re a more of an iPod-focused individual, as with Turbo Charge, the iTurbo allows you to have a more compact option using a single AA battery. Note this is another item I dug up at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year, and I can say it’s deemed a “Made for iPod” product. It is compatible with the iPod mini, iPod nano, iPod with scroll wheel, iPod color and iPod video.

As with the RX4-AA, iTurbo isn’t meant to replace your regular charger, but meant to be used as a portable charger for emergencies when you’re away from home or far from an electrical outlet. The iTurbo’s playtime depends on the model of your iPod, but on a nano, it can provide about nine hours of listening time. Once the bright blue light on the iTurbo dies out, you know it’s time to replace that AA battery. It has an on/off feature by twisting the bottom of unit, and the blue light will go off. Using this on/off feature will help you preserve the battery life.

I’ll say having at least one of these devices is a must. The RX4-AA is for those of you that want portability for multiple devices, and the iTurbo (or Turbo Charge for your cell phone) is probably the way to go if you want something small to give you power in a dire situation, or just to have to make it a part of your natural disaster emergency kit.

Mr. Ink Plus in will soon carry the iTurbo for $29.95, but if you can’t find it there, you can buy it online at www.iturbocharge.com (online special price $24.95). It includes one iTurbo, one adapter and one AA battery, and you have the option to choose white or black. Mr. Ink Plus also sells the Turbo Charge for your cell phone for $19.95.

God Of War II: The End Begins

The latest video game to grace my living room is God of War II: The End Begins, developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA). It was released last week, and it’s another game title I saw revealed at last year’s 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), and I’m glad to finally play the full version.

God of War II is the sequel to God of War (2005) and made exclusively for the PlayStation 2. It played just fine with no bugs on my PlayStation 3, but I’ll tell you upfront that this is no game for the keiki. The gameplay is fairly violent and takes you back to the fierce world of Greek mythology where you as Kratos, the vicious ex-Spartan warrior, was left atop your godly throne as the new God of War. In God of War II, you must journey to the far reaches of the earth and defeat untold horrors and alter fate, which no mortal or god has ever done.

The game sets an epic stage for a devastating mythological war to end all wars. Armed with deadly blades and blistering rage, you’re aided by new breathtaking magic and brutal combat moves. The journey will take you through vividly striking environments where you’ll be faced with a labyrinth of challenging puzzles and mini-games intricately woven into the story. The violence will come to life in gory detail as you (Kratos) encounter new mythical characters and competes in epic boss battles in your quest.

Use your favorite combo attacks from the first God of War along with new moves and magic. It took me awhile to figure out, but you can use your acquired magic using the directional buttons, and then executing your move/combo required to unleash it. Certain magics are useful only for specific parts of the game, and it’s based on nature’s elements, including utilizing the power of wind or ice.

New characters added on include the Cyclops, Cerebus, and my favorite Flying Gryphon, along with numerous more challenging enemies and bosses. Each encounter seems to come at the right time, and the same goes for the puzzles. Everything just falls into place as you solve intelligent, challenging and complicated puzzles with brutal elements intricately woven into the story. As far as exploring goes, you’ll continue your previous experiences in the dark world of Greek mythology and test your agility through more levels while traversing treacherous and brutal terrain.

God of War II is probably one of the last great action adventure games you’ll see for the PlayStation 2. Heck, this game is even better than some other titles I’ve seen for the next gen PlayStation 3. If you’re a fan of the first God of War, into Greek mythology, or just plain enjoy lots of action/gore, this is a must-have game.

God of War II: The End Begins is single-player, rated M for Mature (ages 17+) and will cost you $49.99 at your nearest GameStop (www.gamestop.com), CompUSA (www.compusa.com) or Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com). It comes with an extra bonus DVD with over two hours of behind-the-scenes content Keep your eyes open for a God of War game for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld system to be released soon.

Additionally, a God of War II soundtrack is available for $9.99 on iTunes (www.itunes.com), Sony Connect (www.connect.com) or at various retailers. It features a mix of orchestral, electronica and hard rock music, which is accented in the game.

Cool Barcode Scanner

Call me strange, but I always thought it would be cool to have my own barcode scanner. Those who know me very well know why . . . I’m always organizing things and keeping track of stuff, even if I don’t realize I’m doing it. A barcode scanner is a perfect tool to enhance this tendency of mine. I never really seriously thought about buying one until I saw the IntelliScanner mini at MacWorld. With this little thing I can now keep an accurate account of my video game/DVD collection and contents of my refrigerator/pantry without a second thought. The best thing about it is that it’s so small that I can carry it around with me on my keychain and put it right in my purse.

This IntelliScanner mini may be tiny, but it’s everything you need to organize, track and share information on just about anything - your DVDs, video games, books, comics, groceries, wine, or anything that has a barcode. When I first placed my hands on it, I scanned everything in site (that had a barcode). Then my husband got a hold of it, and it was all over . . . he was completely addicted, and our entire refrigerator was inventoried in less than five minutes, then he took it to work and scanned the contents of his office. Not to mention he even tried to scan our parrot, but that obviously didn’t work.

Anyway, once you’re done with scanning, you use IntelliScanner’s Express Software Package to keep track of your stuff. It includes Media Collector/Collection, Wine Collector, Kitchen Companion, Home Assets, Auction Automator and Comic Collector.

The Media Collector/Collection 2.0 makes organizing your media fast and easy with autofill. One click provides you with detailed product information and artwork (box art) that allows you browse, organize and share your collections. Even if you have international DVDs/CDs or super-old books, Collection 2.0 will support it. There’s an automatic link with the Library of Congress for those ancient books of yours. If you want to lend something out without a second thought, the program keeps track of your borrowers and your items’ status. You can assign due dates for each item to diligently keep track of where your goods are, and its SQL database engine makes your searches/queries simple to obtain all the information you’re looking for.

For you wine fanatics, the Wine Collector helps you automatically identify the name, variety, winery, country, type, region and more with just one scan. The Kitchen Companion might be the most practical. It has access to a web-enabled database of over 300,000 grocery items to give you advanced quantity tracking, consumption history, physical location or nutrition information. With it you can make your shopping lists – scan barcodes as you throw things away so you know what needs to be purchased, or manage your nutrition or catalog recipes. You can also print out categorized shopping lists and send it to your iPod, Palm or cell phone.

Home Assets helps you track everything in your home, especially helpful for tax use. You can inventory your entire house, electronics, television, etc. You can even add pictures of your items to the software so you know exactly what you’re viewing in the database. If you’re looking to sell any of your items, the Auction Automator allows you to scan it in (i.e. DVD, CD, book, etc.) and post it online from the program.

I’m not a huge comic book person, but I know many of you out there are avid collectors. The Comic Collector (available in April) has automatic issue identification, accessing a web-enabled database of over 250,000 issues that provides you with the title, date, detailed credits (writer, penciler, inker, editor and cover credits), character features and cover picture.

Other useful IntelliScanner software you can purchase includes Auction Automator, Inventory (for businesses - $149), xTagger (create your own barcode tag images - $79) and Daneizo Lending Management (comprehensive library and lending management software $1599).

The portable IntelliScanner mini bundle is $299. A little pricey, but if you’re going to use this all the time like I do, it’s worth it. For a slightly cheaper option, you can buy the corded IntelliScanner Express bundle for $199. Check out www.intelliscanner.com to purchase these and for more information.

Note the IntelliScanner has a one year limited warranty and includes a USB cable, IntelliScanner Asset Tags (starter 10-pack) and an IntelliScanner On-The-Go Card. Its software works with both Mac (OS X) and Windows-based PCs.

Parallels Opens Windows For Mac Users

If you’ve been following my columns, you may remember about a year ago I wrote a story on Apple’s Boot Camp, a program that allows you to smoothly run Microsoft Windows on your Intel Mac. Boot Camp is still a great program, but you need to restart your computer every time you want to use the Windows side. I found something even better that will run Windows within your OS X with no lag time and no need to reboot. I’ve seen various emulator programs before but Parallels Desktop for Mac is now my top choice.

Yet another item I found at this year’s MacWorld, Parallels Desktop for Mac (Update Release Candidate), was named the “Best in Show.” It’s the best solution out there for running Windows within OS X. In other words, you can have what’s equivalent to a stand-alone computer running within your Mac. Easily run your favorite Mac and Windows applications at the same time without rebooting your machine.

Installing Parallels is the same as installing any one of your other programs. Before you begin, make sure you have a Parallels activation key and a Windows install disk along with a valid serial number to use (any Windows from version 3.1 to Vista). You then go through the built-in Installation Assistant tool and it walks you through the entire install process. The next step is setting up your virtual machine (VM). It’s very simple to do with the setup wizard, as you kick back and wait for your new Windows VM to install and configure itself.

Once you have everything set, you’re ready to experience Parallels. One of the first and best features that I tried out is running Windows applications without actually seeing the Windows operating system. When you switch to the Coherence mode, your Windows desktop disappears, yet you can use your Windows applications running directly on your Mac desktop. You can add any Windows application shortcut to your Mac application dock. Choose to show or hide the Windows task bar - even if it’s hidden, you can access the Windows Start Menu by clicking the Parallels icon in the dock.

Other features include a “plug and play” USB 2.0 support and full-feature virtual CD/DVD drive. The USB 2.0 support allows you to access your USB devices such as an external hard drive, printer, scanner, etc. at their native speeds. Your iSight camera or built-in camera on your MacBook/MacBook Pro are also fully supported in the VMs. No complicated setup is required to make your USB devices work, but sorry, it looks like firewire isn’t supported. As for the CD/DVD drive, you can burn your CD/DVDs directly in your VM, and play your copy-protected CD/DVDs as you would on a regular PC.

If you’re set on using Boot Camp, Parallels gives you the ability to run your entire Boot Camp installation directly in a Parallels VM without any manual configurations or complex setup. Additionally, the Transporter feature gives you the ability to move your entire existing PC, including all its settings, applications, files and profiles directly to a Parallels VM. It provides a good security blanket for those of you who are switching from Windows to Mac, and just learning your Mac.

You may wonder how all this works. Parallels simply uses your Mac’s Intel chip’s virtualization technology (VT), so there’s no slow down. In a nutshell that means that your Intel CPU acts as if it were several different CPUs, which in turn allows other operating systems to run fast on your machine. That means in addition to Windows, you could run any operating system within your Intel-chip Mac at decent speeds with no worries. Not to mention you can seamlessly connect to any network with either operating system using the same network connection.

If you’re a Mac-user that heavily uses PC programs often, Parallels is for you. You can download a free 15-day trial of it at www.parallels.com. If you should decide to purchase it, it will cost you $79.99. Other Parallels products available include Parallels Workstation, Parallels Compressor Server and Parallels Compressor Workstation.

Broadband On The Go

Mobile broadband cards are nothing new (by tech standards), but I’ve had my eyes glued on the EX720 card for awhile. This appeals to me personally because it’s small and I knew it would work on my Mac!

The Merlin EX720 was launched by Novatel Wireless through Sprint last month, and was finally made available to the general public. It offers you the ability to take high speed Internet around with you anywhere using your laptop computer. The EX720 is extremely small, weighing in at only 1.4 ounces. It is designed to plug into the newer laptops that have an express card slot versus a PCMCIA card slot.

With its Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A capability, the EX720 gives you faster average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second (mbps) and average upload speeds of 350 – 500 kbps. Location-based software is built into the card as well. It allows you to find nearby locations, such as restaurants, gas stations, banks, etc. without having to input your current location. You can perform this “locate and search” that plots your current location on a map and then searches for nearby points of interest. You can also enter your own custom point of interest query.

If you’re worried about the secure-ness of your connection as far as sending personal information (credit card numbers, etc.), you’re protected. The card uses CDMA wireless technology authentication and identification system for top-notch security. The Mobile Identification Number (MIN) and Electronic Serial Number (ESN), together with CDMA spread spectrum technology make it virtually impossible for unauthorized users to capture and decipher messages and your other sensitive information.

In addition to the EX720, other available broadband cards are the Novatel Wireless Merlin U720, Novatel Wireless Merlin S720, Pantech Wireless PX-500 and the Sierra Wireless Aircard 595. The EX720 is compatible with Windows 2000/XP/Vista or Mac OS 10.4 or higher, and it is power efficient using only 3.3 volts to operate. It would take a long time to drain your laptop’s battery. Additionally, for your convenience you don’t need a client to connect online. The network adapter support allows for “Always On,” Auto-Connect, faster connection time and Intelligent Data Traffic Routing.

This mobile broadband is tremendously useful for me, and would be for you too if you’re always on the go. If you’re strictly a go back and forth to work type of person, this probably is not for you, but still cool to have if you want to do Internet while you’re out and about.

The EX720 sells for $179.99 for the card, plus a $59.99 per month charge for an unlimited connection plan on Sprint’s network. To purchase the EX720 or any other data card of your own, contact Norma Parks from Sprint Hawaii at 847-9022. To see Sprint’s complete line of the aforementioned broadband cards, visit www.sprint.com.

MacBook & iPod Cases

I bring you more news from my journey to MacWorld . . . some of you probably think this is so boring, but I saw countless types of cases there. Just about anything you can think of to fit your iPods and Mac notebooks. To satisfy the load of you asking me what the best cases are, and where to buy them, this is for you.

MacBook / MacBook Pro Cases
As far as cases go, Speck had my favorite collection there at MacWorld, especially since they had one that would fit perfectly around my MacBook Pro. I was able to acquire the MacWorld 2007 15” limited edition SeeThru blue case (shown in picture), and I can’t tell you enough how much I love that thing! It completely protects my MacBook Pro from scratches, and everyone keeps asking me where to buy one (not to mention that my husband is jealous of my pretty blue case).

It’s a two-piece protective hard shell made out of polycarbonate plastic that you snap onto your computer. It has all the pukas in the right places for your network/peripheral connections, 74 slots for ventilation to minimize thermal insulation, and rubber feet on the bottom to prevent slipping on slick surfaces. You can buy these cases in black, clear or red for the 15-inch MacBook Pro or in clear, red or blue for the 13-inch MacBook. It will cost you $49.95 from www.speckproducts.com or at your closest Apple Store (www.apple.com).


iPod Cases
iPod cases are a toughie. There are so many to choose from that it’s difficult to suggest to you what to purchase. After walking around a crowded show floor for a few hours, and being exhausted, everything looks the same. But, as a kid at heart I’m such a sucker for stuffed animals, so these “little dude” (as I like to call them) iPod cases were calling my name as my husband was trying to pull me away from them. Pod Pack Designs makes these exclusively for the iPod nano with a zippered pouch in the back for you to stash your earphones (or keys) along with a clasp for you to hook it onto your purse or belt. You can find the dudes on www.podpackdesigns.com for $12.00.

Then for the conventional iPod cases, Speck has good picks ranging from ones that go around your arm to the tough ones made out of sturdy plastic. To view Speck’s entire selection, log onto their website mentioned above. As with the MacBook cases, you can purchase their iPod line at your closest Apple Store or on the website.

Mophie had nice sturdy cases too, but the thing that really caught my attention about their booth is the fact that it turned into a live “creation lab.” The 30,000 MacWorld attendees were invited to create a product that best fit their needs, but instead of just one idea, three items won. For those with a second-generation iPod shuffle, the Bevy is a keychain - bottle opener case that you can also wrap your headphone cord around. It will be available later this month for $15.00. The Schlep (available April 2007, $30.00) is for those of you planning to buy an iPhone. or already have an iPod video. Along with your beloved gadget, It holds your money, credit cards and attaches to any shoulder strap. Lastly, the Montage is a digital picture frame, alarm clock, stereo system and you can watch your widescreen videos. It will work for the second-generation iPod nanos and fifth-generation iPod videos (no price or date announced yet). Check out the entire selection at www.mophie.com.


Finally, I have to mention Marware. The first iPod case I ever owned was made by Marware. It was an armband for the very first generation iPod, also known as my brick (or as someone commented once as I was running – a nice heart monitor). Anyway, as one of the pioneers in iPod cases, Marware has a decent selection. Check it out at www.marware.com.

Whether you’re looking for something cute or something practical, there’s a perfect iPod case for everyone.

A Remote Control Monster

When I first saw Monster’s newest universal remote control, I knew right away that I just had to try it out. I’m a huge fan of all-in-one remotes so that my coffee table and living aren’t smothered with a million remote controls for every little device that I own. The clutter would kill me! I currently use the Logitech’s Harmony 880, but the next solution is Monster’s MCC AVL300-S. It was featured at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show and was picked as an honoree for the Best of Innovations Awards 2007 (Home Theater Accessories category).

As much as I love my 880, the AVL300 is definitely a step-up since it can control the lights, and it’s infrared (IR) capable. It sends RF (radio frequency) and IR (infrared) signals simultaneously, giving it the ability to reach your electronics from almost anywhere in your house. The OmniLink RF to IR bridge makes this all possible by translating RF signals into IR signals. RF signals can travel through walls, cabinets and doors so you don’t really have to point this remote directly at your gadgets.

The OmniLink is included with the AVL300 and it’s a little box that’s about the size of a small wallet. It has four IR outputs you, and the IR emitters are dual so you can setup eight components. You can use the remote without this OmniLink, but instead of ignoring it, you should take full advantage of what it has to offer. As a side note, I did not experience any RF interference in my house.

When I first received the AVL300, I had bad luck because it was defective. I couldn’t update it to the latest 4.7 firmware and I kept getting frozen screens with lines down the middle. Despite that, the folks at Monster were wonderful and quickly sent another one out. With the working replacement in-hand, I had no problem updating the firmware and programming it to the various gadgets living in my house. I was surprised with the first AVL300 I received, and I’m almost certain the mishap was a fluke because these remotes are made by Harmony. Personally, those are the best ones you can buy on the market (with my beloved 880 in mind) so don’t let my misfortune turn you away.


To the non-techie, the AVL300 may seem intimidating, but don’t let it be. It’s extremely easy to setup. The first thing you should do is make sure it’s charged up. The included charging cradle is conveniently shaped in a way that you can use your remote even while it’s charging. You can then plug it into your computer and follow the very user-friendly step-by-step, web-based instructions on what to do and what you’re trying to add to your remote. For testing purposes, I added on my TV, PVR and Xbox 360. I also plugged in and configured my in-wall remote dimmer module for one of our lamps. The lamp plugs right into this white module and you plug it into the electrical outlet. Ah, it’s nice to simultaneously control the TV and the light while I’m planted on the couch.

If you want to go above and beyond what you really need to do, once you have your remote properly configured, you have different options to tailor it to your needs. You can change the layout of the screens and match each button to each function you want. Add on channel logos of your favorites to be creative, or customize the buttons for one-touch complex commands (send complex macro commands to multiple audio and video components with one touch).

If you have a larger house, or multiple components to control, this remote is definitely for you. The nice bright color LCD screen and high-tech looking design gives it an added appeal. If you don’t have much in your home (electronically speaking), then it would definitely be a bit much for you.

You can buy Monster’s MCC AVL300-S remote for $499.95 at Circuit City (www.circuitcity.com). I know it’s pricey, and probably the most expensive one on the market, but you can’t beat combining all your remotes into this better one with its added features. Additionally, the remote dimmers, switches and light stations range in price from $99.95 to $149.95.

Watch Your iPod On Your TV

With this year’s MacWorld still fresh on my mind, I remember the most unique and coolest docking station there . . . Digitlal Lifestyle Outiftters’ (DLO) second generation HomeDock Deluxe. It lets you scroll through and watch your iPod from your television. Especially if you have a good speaker system hooked up to your TV, this takes your iPod to a whole new level.

HomeDock Deluxe the world’s first iPod dock that lets you watch and select your iPod menus from your TV screen. It will change the way you experience your iPod and music. It’s an all-in-one digital entertainment solution that links any dockable click-wheel iPod to your TV or stereo system. It’s more than a regular dock as it brings your iPod’s music, movies, television shows and pictures to big-screen life.

The HomeDock is ready to go right out of the box with no wireless or other home network devices required. As you’re sitting there lounging on the couch you can enjoy your entire iPod library using the included 18-button full-feature remote control. Its interface keeps in-sync with your iPod’s cool, clean style, showing off new themes and screensavers to fit your taste. It will display the current song playing and the progress at the top of the screen, while letting you select another song from the listings below. The song names and titles are very visible from anywhere in the room.

In addition to the themes and screen savers, second generation upgrades includes multi-language support, an auxiliary port for plugging in a ‘visitng’ mp3 player, the My Jukebox feature that lets you select songs to build a party playlist on-the-fly, providing you the clearest viewing of your content, and most notably the on-screen album art. For you digital snobs, a key important addition is the S-video cable, which gives you the clearest viewing of your video content.

There are two distinct modes you use with the HomeDock. The On-Screen Navigation Mode is used for music interface on your TV, and the iPod Mode will play your videos or photo slideshows directly from your iPod. Switching modes is as simple as a single push of a button. My favorite is of course the iPod Mode because that’s how I can utilize it to the fullest.

For testing purposes I watched one of my episodes of Battlestar Galactica off my iPod Video, and it looked great. I was satisfied with the quality of it playing on my TV because it looked almost exactly like I was watching a regular show or movie. This is definitely a must-have if you have lots of video content on your iPod. It’s perfect if you have the iPod Video, but may not be so worth it if your iPod is not video capable.

DLO’s second generation HomeDock Deluxe will be available later this month for $149.99, and as with the original HomeDock Deluxe, you can buy it at any iPod retailer, such as your closest Apple Store (www.apple.com), but for now you can pre-order it at www.dlo.com.