New AT&T and T-Mobile Phones for the Holidays November 19, 2009
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in Cell Phones.Tags: Android, att, Blackberry, Blackberry Bold, Blackberry Curve, Cell Phones, google, holidays, lg, samsung, t-mobile
add a comment

So Verizon has announced their loaded holiday phone lineup a few days ago, but what about AT&T and T-Mobile? For sure they got some new phones ready to spend some holiday cheer with right? Of course they do, and we’re talking some really nice ones– like new BlackBerrys, and even a new Samsung Behold 2 and LG Shine 2. What you waiting for, hit the link and get to it!
Zune HD Gets Some New Games and Apps… For FREE November 13, 2009
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in Mp3 players and iPods.Tags: apps, ipod touch, microsoft, Video Games, zune, zune hd
add a comment

Project Gotham Racing on the Zune HD (Pic from Kotaku)
Remember back in our Zune HD review where we mentioned how the Zune HD will be getting some new free games and apps, like the hit Xbox 360 game Project Gotham Racing? Microsoft released a whole bunch of new games for the Zune HD including
- PGR: Ferrari Edition (which is like it’s Xbox sibling, giving you 12 Ferrari cars to race all over New York, London or Tokyo either in a 33 level Career mode or in online races aginst up to 3 other cars)
- Lucky Lanes Bowling, a bowling game where you can play either against the computer or up to 4 friends
- Piano app which simulates a virtual piano
- Vans Sk8: Pool Service, a skateboarding game where you aim to do the best tricks in 10 different events
- Checkers
- Audiosurf Tilt, a game where you pick a song from your music library on your Zune and then try to collect the colored blocks and avoid speed bumps along a custom roller coaster made for each song. Microsoft also said today that they soon will also have apps for Facebook and Twitter.
Yes, this is nowhere near the 100,000+ apps in the iTunes App Store, but Microsoft does deserve some credit– creating what looks to be some quality apps (specifically the PGR and Audiosurf games) that look to take full use of the high powered Nvidia Tegra chip inside the Zune to give some solid games all for the unbeatable price of FREE (though you do have to look at a brief ad while the game loads, something I’m more than happy to deal with if it means quality, free apps).
Now if only they’d open up a real App Store and give developers a chance to fully tap into that high powered Tegra chip (I mean check out this video of PGR and Audiosurf on the Zune from Engadget, who they say looked as sharp as a PSP game!), and we’d be all set.
Anyone out there with a Zune HD, you like your new games?
Full info on the apps can be found on the Zune site here.
Project Natal’s Price Tag $84? November 11, 2009
Posted by Zev Rosenbaum in Rumors, Video Games.Tags: microsoft, project natal, Rumors, technology, Video Games, xbox 360
add a comment

If you read our round-up posts on E3 last June, you noticed a new way to play video games on your Xbox 360 called Project Natal. Basically, Project Natal allows the player to be the controller, something that PlayStation attempted since the days of the PS2 with PlayStation Eye, but it didn’t pan out too well for them. Today reports were coming out that Microsoft was showing Natal off to some UK game publishers and they let a possible price tag slip. What is the price of this sick looking device? Try an awesome $84, that could possibly go down to $50 as Microsoft is trying to push this to be a must have or “impulse buy” for everyone. Oh, and they also let slip a possible release date of November of next year.
For a full overview of everything that is the awesome Project Natal, see our post here.
Of course these are just rumors for now (and don’t worry, we’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear more), but what you think of Natal possibly being so cheap when it comes out? If it is, you running out on day one and picking it up? Sound off in the comments.
Info from Joystiq
Eliminate – iPhone Game Review November 11, 2009
Posted by Chaim Gartenberg in First Look/Reviews, Mp3 players and iPods, Video Games.Tags: app store, eliminate, fps, gaming, iPhone, ipod touch, Multiplayer
add a comment

Not to be confused with Halo.
And, once again, I return to that wonderful gaming platform, the iPhone/iTouch. That’s right readers, another iGame review. This time, I’m talking about Eliminate Pro, the new online 4-player FPS that just came out. Also, its free. Kinda.
First off, what is Eliminate? As previously mentioned, its a iPhone first-person shooter. The quality of the game is way up there – some of the nicest graphics on the iPhone, especially considering that it’s running online with 4 players. There are 5 maps and a total of 6 weapons, 5 of which need to be unlocked, as do a variety of armor types. Weapon and armor attributes, like rate of fire and speed are also upgradable. You play up to four players online, with a matchmaking system based on skill ratings to provide as fair a match as possible. Private games are also available, which is nice for when you want to play some people you actually know. There is also an offline mode, but it’s somewhat limited, allowing you to play against 3 computer opponents, but it doesn’t allow much customization.
Gameplay is awesome – the maps are pretty small, so the action is pretty frantic, and fun. A variety of powerups, including heath regeneration, invisibility, superspeed, damage increase, and the always fun jet pack are scattered around the maps, adding to the chaos. Controls work well, with your left thumb working movement, and right thumb aiming, with tap to fire. Those used to playing console first person shooters should easily adapt.
So, I mentioned before you need to unlock and upgrade things. And you do that through credits, which you earn through playing games online. And thats where the monetary aspect of the game comes it. The game itself, as I said, is free. But unless you have “energy” while playing, you won’t earn any credits, which are used to unlock weapons, armor, and upgrades. You’re given a free energy recharge every four hours for about 3 games or so, but after that, if you want to play AND earn credits to upgrade (you CAN still play for fun), you need to buy energy through the in-app purchasing system. Personally, I can understand why they run the system this way, since its the only way to support the game and keep it free, but I can’t say I’m a fan of the nickel and diming.
However, even without energy, the game is still fun, and that’s what counts in the end. And since it’s well, free, I suppose I can’t really argue against it. Check it out on iTunes here. (Note: iTunes Link)
New Blackberry, Chocolate, Android, and Other Phones Come to Verizon November 7, 2009
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in Cell Phones.Tags: Android, Blackberry, Blackberry Curve, Cell Phones, droid, droid eris, google, htc, lg, verizon, verizon wireless
add a comment

Wow– we thought Verizon would slow up on the new products for a little bit after it just announced and released one the biggest phones of the year last week, the Motorola Droid. But we were dead wrong (I mean the Droid just launched yesterday!). The other day, Verizon took the wraps off 4 new phones for the holiday and there seems to be something for everyone. We’re talking new BlackBerry Curve, new LG Chocolate phone, new Samsung phone specially designed to withstand being dropped or spilled upon, and another Android phone– the HTC Droid Eris (Verizon’s version of the HTC Hero).
While none of these are as powerful as the Motorola Droid, there is still some sick stuff here that you’d definitely want to know about– so what you waiting for, hit the more link and get to it!
Dropbox – Free Storage, Anywhere November 2, 2009
Posted by Chaim Gartenberg in Computers, First Look/Reviews.Tags: dropbox, linux, mac, sync, windows
add a comment
The coolest box ever.
There are a few apps on my computer that get the honor of running full time – things like iTunes, Tweetie…. and Dropbox. As the name somewhat implies, Dropbox is free online storage– 2 GB, to be exact. After a brief sign up on the site, you now own your personal Dropbox which you can upload to and download from via the Web, as well as add and delete files.
But perhaps the coolest part is their desktop app. Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, it’s basically a folder as well as a mini-app which syncs all info when opened. Simple, really. And, being a folder, it acts like a folder – easy to use.
This synchronization is the highlight purpose of Dropbox. Personally, I use it to keep certain files available to me everywhere – a few of my favorite songs, a couple important school notes, some of my pictures – the stuff I want to have at my fingertips at all times. Dropbox shines in this regard – because of the whole folder system. Add an mp3 to my Dropbox on my Mac, and I can get it from my Window’s netbook on the go. Need to go over those notes on my way to school? There’s an iPhone/iTouch app, so you’re covered there too. At school, and need that important essay you wrote? Just use the website. It’s pretty awesome. Also, there’s the ability to make a file Public – so you can pass a download link to your friends if they need a file from you. And again, it’s all free.
You start with 2 GB and can upgrade that to up to 3 GB by referring people. The Desktop apps are free, iPhone app’s free – its pretty sweet, and highly recommended.
Now, those of you who DESPERATELY need more then the 2-3 GB? You can upgrade to 50 or 100 GB at $10 or $20 a month respectively – if, say, you need to have your whole computer with you everywhere.
So – interested? Check out Dropbox here. (iPhone App here [Note - iTunes Link])
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Single Player Version – Part 2 November 1, 2009
Posted by Zev Rosenbaum in First Look/Reviews, Video Games.Tags: Active Cinematics, ps3, review, Single player, technology, uncharted, uncharted 2 Among Thieves, Video Games
1 comment so far

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the most anticipated titles of the year and the sequel to the critically acclaimed Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, which was one of the launch titles for the PS3. We will be reviewing the single player and multiplayer separately. Read on for the review of the single player and some first thoughts to see if we think this is a game worth getting. (more…)
Review: Need for Speed Shift (Xbox 360) November 1, 2009
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in First Look/Reviews, Video Games.Tags: ea, electronic arts, need for speed, need for speed shift, racing, Reviews, Video Games, xbox 360
add a comment

A couple of weeks ago we wrote a little preview post on EA’s upcoming successor to their hit Need for Speed racing franchise: Need for Speed Shift. Over the past couple weeks, we got a chance to review the game, and as far as adding this racing game to your holiday wish list, we gotta say– one of the best racing games we’ve ever played. It really is a great racing game. Read on for a full review.