An iPod Touch for a Gift

You may ask, "why would I give an iPod Touch to someone"? Well, that's a good question.  There are many great reasons.  The first thing to consider is who would want such a device.  The answer is pretty much any adult or teen.

The iPod is much, much more than an MP3 music player.  Because you can access WiFi connections, including those at libraries or coffee shops, you could use the iPod for accessing the internet.  An iPod provides you with a clear, easy to read screen, which allows you to pull up maps, coupons, local information, travel information and anything else that can be pulled up on a laptop, that is mobile device-friendly.

Many people would love to drive up to a coffee shop, buy their favorite mocha, and access the internet to see what's playing at a movie theatre.  But they don't want to have to drag out their laptop and start it up.  Nor do they want to pay for an expensive data plan for their cell phone.  Enter the iPod!

You just reach into your pocket, pull out the iPod, access the coffee shop's free WiFi and look up the info.  Simple!

A 64 Gb drive will hold and display a full library of music, images and video.  It is huge! 

Apple iPod touch 64 GB

You could also download a ton of fun and informative apps to make your iPod even more handy.

The other great thing is that they use the Apple iPod operating system, so you know it would be easy to use.

All in all, this makes for a great gift!

The Popularity of Toy Story 3

You can't deny it.  The Toy Story movie has captured the hearts of many kids and kids-at-heart.  Toy Story 3 is showing this by holding at the top of the list of DVDs for weeks so far. 

So, if you are looking for surefire winner of a DVD then look no further than Toy Story 3.  Available in DVD and Blu-Ray.

PlayStation Move Shooting Attachments

There is a growing list of cool shooting attachments and addons for the Sony PlayStation Move! Christmas will be all about the Move and First Person Shooter (FPS) games this year.

It really just depends upon what style of gun you prefer. And, of course, the type of character and weapon that you are playing in the game.

I will highlight all of the current attachments and let you decide which is best for you (or the person in which you are buying it).

Listed first are the Move Hand Guns.  There are currently 6 from which to choose.  The more rugged, realistic ones are the most popular, namely the Move Special Ops and Precision 3 guns. 

PlayStation Move Hand Guns (Pistols)

I really like the look of the Precision Shot 3 and Special Ops Shooter Guns best. 

They look quite a bit alike, don't they?  I believe that they are made for one or the other and rebranded.

Either way, I'm sure you won't care what it has for a name, as long as it works.

PlayStation Move Rifles

Again, the more rugged and realistic looking tend to be the most popular.

The Submachine Gun looks most interesting, as it incorporates the Move Motion Controller into the hand grip.  Plus it has a scope and a better shoulder rest.





Yes, this should be a fun Christmas and I'm sure the recipient of the attachment will have a blast!

PS3 Move Games You Can Play Today

The PlayStation Move 

is released today in North America!

But what can you play today?  Well, the good news is that there are plenty of fun Move games available already. 

In shops Now!

Sports Champions

This is the main game for PlayStation Move.  It is also the favorite, when previewed at the gaming conventions. This is the game Sony is hoping will bring the Nintendo Wii Sports to its knees.  Or atleast be just as fun.


It has quite an assortment of fun sports all rolled up into one fun video game.





Kung Fu Rider 


This is that bizarre game where you play as one of two characters which go around on a cart or something and kick stuff.  Yay!

** More PlayStation Move Games **

 Start The Party! 


Over 20 fun mini-games and challenges.  It's geared toward the whole family.  Most reviewers feel it was not ready for prime time.  I suggest holding off on this one.







Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 


The already popular game is ready for the PlayStation Move.  All those golfers out there should jump on this one! 








EyePet





The Eyepet is a continuation of the already very popular little furball.  This should be a great game for the youngster in your house. 

You can do such exciting things as modify fur length, color and pattern and choose from over 250 unique outfits.





Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest 

I personally look forward to this game.  The Move should be perfect for sword play and shooting arrows, among other things.

Get this game for the teen in your family!






There are plenty of games being released for the PlayStation Move.  Games for every age and interest. 

A Solar Battery Charger

A solar battery charger may seem a little too geeky, but it could be a lifesaver.

Besides, it's just plain cool!  A Folding Solar Panel Charger by Powerfilm is the best deal I have found.  And believe me, I have looked!

As a long distance cyclist and avid camper, I can honestly say that one of these could come in very handy.  The AA/USB charger will charge the more commonly used battery size and small USB powered devices, such as a smart phone.

Legos are Always a Great Christmas Present

I have a warm memories of building and playing with Legos when I was a kid.  They just keep evolving and getting better.  You can make functional robots, furniture, and even Lego games.  The fun, to me, is coming up with a clever design and seeing how it turns out.



One of the newest Lego products is a Shave a Sheep.   

Look at their goofy eyes!

Here is more about it:

Who will get the most wool from their sheep? Shear wool whenever you can - the other players will try to steal it from you or send the scary wolf your way! Grow, swap and scare your way to victory in this fast, fun and unpredictable game. For 2 to 4 players.

• Includes 1 buildable LEGO Dice
• Rule booklet and building instructions included
• 117 LEGO pieces

In North America it is known as Wild Wool.



One new set of Lego kits that are sure to be a hit this Christmas are those based upon Toy Story 3.
    

The brand new Western Train Chase, the Woody and Buzz Rescue, and the Dump Truck Rescue look very fun!

Number One Smart Phone for Christmas 2010 is the Motorola Droid

The Droid will likely be the number one smart phone of 2010.  It has outpaced the iPhone in US sales and it will likely continue this pace through Christmas and beyond.

It is a great gift choice as an upgrade or for a first-time smart phone recipient.  You really can't go wrong with  a Droid or Droid 2.

Along with a Droid it's also worth it to pick up some combo packs of cases, a screen protector, and chargers. You can save a LOT of money buy buying them via Amazon, especially as a combo pack.

Great info on the latest toys and gadgets for Christmas, birthdays, or whatever!

Nintendo DS | Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends

A very popular Nintendo DS game for 2010 continues to be the Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends video game.  This is a Great game for long flights or road trips and gets the kids thinking about cooking tasty foods. 

The player uses the stylus (pen) or finger to chop vegetables, slice meat, flip food into pans, and arrange items on the plate. 

Highlights:

• Very easy to learn.
• Use the stylus as your ultimate cooking utensil to chop, grate, slice, stir, spread, sprinkle, roll, and much more in 150 different mini-games.
• Create 80 new recipes including: macaroons, lobster, chili dogs, escargot, California rolls, seafood salad, shark fin soup,meatloaf, ice cream, bananas foster and many more!
• Improved graphics and real-time effects make you feel like you're actually cooking.
• Recipes progress from simple to complex, from small to large and so do the expectations.
• If you friends think your dish is delicious you'll unlock another new friend.
• Earn bronze, silver and gold medals from Mama based on the quality of your cooking.
• Keep a diary of your best creations and add earned seals to dress it up and share with your in-game friends.

Amazon and ToysRUs lists the Nintendo DS game Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends as being a top-rated game.  ToysRUs visitors have given it an impressive 5 out of 5 star rating and lists it as a Top Pick.  Amazon users have rated it at 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  It has an ESRB rating of Everyone.  









If you want the followup video game too, check out Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop, which is also exceptionally popular.  It includes improved graphics and an audible Mama!

UFC Endorsed Action Figures for Your MMA Fan!

If you have a fan in your family or a friend with a hankering for MMA action figures, then you now have a really cool toy that you could get them.  The Jakks Pacific has teamed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to create fully articulating, 7 inch action figures.  They have produced several series, and will continue to do so, of the current and past MMA stars.


The list includes Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson, BJ Penn, and many, many more.



There is even a realistic 40-piece Octagon cage built to scale, so the fan can practice their favorite moves.




They will be very popular this Christmas!

A Fantastic Gift for the Snorkler in Your Family!

An Underwater Digital Camera Swim Mask would be a fantastic gift for anybody that will be going snorkeling on an upcoming vacation.   This is a Liquid Image Explorer Series 5 MP Digital Camera Swim Mask and is one of the only swim masks available that actually has a waterproof digital camera built into it. 

It has a big advantage over normal, similarly-priced underwater cameras in that the Swim Mask allows you to enjoy snorkeling, swimming, while keeping your hands free for wading and exploring.  This is especially advantageous for those swimming in shallow coral areas that require you to be careful with what you touch. 

Giant sea turtle on the Great Barrier Reef.

The swim mask includes 5 Mega Pixel camera built in that is designed to work to depths of up to 15 feet. The tempered glass window is easy to see through and has integrated crosshairs that allow you to line up the photo with precision. Just like a camera the swim mask has a shutter button that allows you take shoot pictures or videos. The LED inside the mask allows you to see which mode you are in.

Whether just swimming around the backyard pool, snorkeling in some exotic locale or spending time in your backyard pool this is one fun and exciting camera-swim mask.

This bundle includes:

• Zeikos Classic Camera Bag Size 10.65X6.75X7.5IN.
• AAA Alkaline Batteries 4 Pack
• 1/2.5 5.0 Mega Pixels CMOS Sensor
• Image Resolution 2560x1920
• 20fps@ VGA. No software required to download files.
• SD Micro 2GB Secure Digital Card, USB 2.0 Interface

Take fascinating underwater photos with this cool Underwater Digital Camera Swim Mask!

Save Someone from Getting Lost, Give Them a Garmin GPS Navigator

I own the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator model that I own and I LOVE it!  It is at the top of the Most Wished For in Electronics at Amazon. 

 

It has saved me from getting lost on my adventures many times.  It has also saved me the cost of wasted gasoline, which these days means a lot.

It's a great backup to incorrect information from Mapquest or Google Maps. 

I really like the speech recognition that lets you control your GPS with your voice - allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel and your attention on the road ahead.  It's even Bluetooth compatible, with a built-in microphone and speaker. 



In addition having this wonderful GPS, I picked up some very nice accessories.  There are two that work well in my situation.  One is a Garmin Portable Friction Mount and the other is and a Protective Hard Case.  That's about all you would need for it. 

Apple iPod Touch

It is obvious that the Apple iPod Touch would be among the top gifts for 2010.  It is one of the most wished for gifts on Amazon right now.  It has over 1500 reviews with an average review of four out of five.  That is impressive for any technology!

After playing with the iPod Touch 3G for a while now, I can honestly say that I did not notice a big difference when compared to an older iPod Touch Second Generation that I reviewed.  However, you probably will only notice it being faster with processor-heavy applications, since video and music playback is already fast enough with a 2G iPod Touch.

However, not long ago Apple released the iPhone 4.0 OS which brought many new features to the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Some features, like Multitasking, are only available for iPod third generation or higher.

The things that I love about it are it is one really slick, light and small device.

• It sports a fantastic touch screen
• The BEST web browser on a portable device
• Amazing video and music playback
• 64Gb Flash based MP3 player

The fact that is a 64 Gb means that it will have room to grow.  And grow it will.  There are over 200,000 apps and games available from the Apple App Store. 

If you are going to buy one of the most popular gifts for yourself or a loved one, buy the 64 Gb version of the iPod Touch!

Just in Time for Christmas 2010; The PlayStation Move!

Sony Entertainment is set to release the PlayStation Move movement-sensing system just as the Christmas shopping season takes shape.  And in case you're wondering, you can pre-order the PlayStation Move now.  The Move will include Blu-ray powered HD display for ultra crisp detail, dual controllers, and a fancy processor.  It is compatible with the current PlayStation 3 (PS3), so there is probably no need to buy another PlayStation system.

It will compete with the much older and well established Nintendo Wii, and with the Microsoft Kinect movement-sensing systems.

Honestly, I'm much more excited about the new PlayStation Move games. I think it will offer more and be the better gaming system.

The PlayStation Move Starter Bundle

Most people should buy the Starter Pack (bundle), assuming that the person already has a PS3, which usually includes The Eye, both controllers, and the Sports Champions game.

Courtesy of Sony Entertainment

Sports Champions is rated E, for everyone.  It includes Archery (as seen to left), Disc Golf, Gladiator Duel, Beach Volleyball, Table Tennis and Bocce.

As pre-orders for the Starter Pack and the Sports Champions are among the top buys at Amazon.com, we can expect that it will continue to grow in popularity as the shopping season moves along.

Another great thing about the PlayStation Move is that there are already a huge assortment of games set to release, beginning in September.  Also, there are a huge number of producers of PS3 Move gaming accessories as well, including the already very popular Arc Blaster Gun.   

List of PlayStation Move Games Coming in Time for Christmas 2010

September 2010
Brunswick Pro Bowling (Crave)
Eye Pet
Kung Fu Rider
Start the Party!
echochrome 2 (PSN)
Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition (Capcom)
R.U.S.E. (Ubisoft)
Sports Champions
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 11 (Electronic Arts)
Time Crisis: Razing Storm (Bandai Namco)
Toy Story 3: The Video Game (Disney Interactive Studios)
The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest (WB Games Inc.)
Tumble (PSN)


October 2010
Heavy Rain
High Velocity Bowling (PSN)

Hustle Kings
Kung Fu LIVE (Virtual Air Guitar Company)
NBA® 2K11 (2K Sports)
PAIN (PSN)
TV Superstars
The Fight: Lights Out
The Shoot


November 2010
Deadliest Catch: Sea of Chaos (Crave)
Disney Tron Evolution the Video Game (Disney Interactive Studios)
LittleBigPlanet 2SingStar Dance
Sly Collection

Fall 2010
Beat Sketcher (PSN)
John Daly’s ProStroke Golf (OG International)
Racquet Sports (Ubisoft)
SOCOM 4