Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Day Zero Edition (Xbox 360)

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – power changes everything The power of the next generation of advanced soldier. The power of a gripping performance from Kevin Spacey. The power of all-new exoskeleton gameplay mechanics. Power changes everything. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare delivers an inspired new era of Call of Duty. Published by Activision and developed for consoles and PC by Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare delivers a breathtaking new vision for the blockbuster franchise, jolting players forward in a groundbreaking experience that s ripped from the headlines of tomorrow, envisioning a future where both technology and tactics have evolved to usher in a new era of combat for the franchise. Delivers a stunning vision of the future Set in the year 2054, a private military corporation (PMC) has emerged with the power to rescue humanity from a devastated world struggling to rebuild after a global attack on its military and infrastructure. You are the advanced soldi
http://bit.ly/1sE2LZs

Titanfall (Xbox 360)

Crafted by one of the co-creators of Call of Duty and other key developers behind the Call of Duty franchise, Titanfall is among the most highly anticipated games of 2014, having been shrouded in mystery for nearly three years. The visionaries at Respawn have drawn inspiration from their proven experience in first-person action gaming, and are building on that pedigree by taking a new approach to game design and creating an all-new universe with Titanfall. The Frontier Welcome to the edge of civilisation In Titanfall, many generations of humanity live in the deepest reaches of explored space. This vast region is known as the Frontier. It contains many well-known and inhabited solar systems, but many more worlds remain uncharted. Most people will never travel this far away from normal civilisation; but for pioneers, explorers, mercenaries, outlaws, and soldiers the Frontier offers both adventure and opportunity. The IMC: Blisk, Spyglass, and Graves. The factions The IMC The Interstella
http://bit.ly/1Aa2luA

Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes Movie Review

A quick montage at the beginning of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes fills us in on what has happened since Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Three years have gone by for us in the audience, and about a decade for the assorted primates on the screen. James Franco and millions of other people are dead, victims of a lethal virus and the usual apocalypse-causing disease of hubris. After a period of violence and chaos, the survivors have cobbled together a reasonably stable society in the ruins of San Francisco, with Gary Oldman in charge.

But this is not ‘Dusk of the Planet of the Humans’. The spectacle of yet another desperate population, huddled together in the wake of catastrophe to await the next zombie, alien, robot or monster attack, would be unlikely to inspire much excitement. The real interest lies across the battered Golden Gate Bridge, in Marin County, where our evolutionary cousins, under the benevolent guidance of an upright-walking chimpanzee named Caesar, have built their own civilization. In contrast to the bedraggled human colony, the ape encampment is a thriving city-state with distinctive wooden architecture, domesticated horses, a sophisticated (mostly signed) language and an educational system overseen by Maurice, the gentle, copper-furred orangutan who gave the first movie an extra fillip of soul.

Cast:Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Karin Konoval, Nick Thurston , Judy Greer, Toby Kebbell and Kodi Smit-McPhee 
Music: Michael Giacchino 
Director: Matt Reeves 
Writer: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver 

The sylvan, simian Athens in the Muir Woods is a remarkable achievement and an important part of what makes Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Matt Reeves from a script by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver and Mark Bomback, the best of this summer’s large-scale, big-studio franchise movies. Granted, this isn’t a very high bar to clear: “better than Transformers 4” barely counts as praise, even with an exclamation mark. But unlike that toy-smashing extravaganza – and unlike 2014’s visitations from the Spider-Man, X-Men and Godzilla money trains – Dawn is more than a bunch of occasionally thrilling action sequences, emotional gut punches and throwaway jokes arranged in predictable sequence. It is technically impressive and viscerally exciting, for sure, but it also gives you a lot to think, and even to care, about.

Starting with the apes themselves. In the final credits, Andy Serkis receives top billing for his performance as Caesar, a role that continues to redefine screen acting in the digital age. His facial expressions and body language are so evocatively and precisely rendered that it is impossible to say where his art ends and the exquisite artifice of Weta Digital, the special-effects company, begins. The same is true of the other main ape performers: Karin Konoval (Maurice); Nick Thurston (Caesar’s son Blue Eyes); Judy Greer (Caesar’s wife, Cornelia); and especially Toby Kebbell as Koba, Caesar’s lieutenant and eventual nemesis.

Koba, a survivor of scientific experiments, bears the physical and moral scars of human cruelty. When the apes encounter a scouting party from the city (led by Jason Clarke and Keri Russell), Koba is quick to sound the alarm. The humans, about to run out of fuel, want to restore an abandoned hydroelectric station in ape territory, and they ask Caesar for help. Koba warns that people are a violent, duplicitous, predatory species that should be fought if it can’t be avoided.

Caesar, who saw the generous, tender side of humanity when he was hanging out with Franco and Freida Pinto, is willing to give our kind the benefit of the doubt. There is plenty of evidence – both in the movie and beyond it – to support Koba’s view, but the film comes down squarely, and maybe a little too squishily, on the side of tolerance and cooperation. The ape and human societies are parallel primitive patriarchies (women nurture and worry, while men lead and fight, a disappointing but hardly surprising failure of imagination on the filmmakers’ part), and they are threatened by symmetrical schisms. As Koba opposes Caesar, so does Malcolm (Clarke’s character) find himself increasingly at odds with Dreyfus (Oldman), who sees the apes as a mortal threat to be confronted with maximum brutality.

The arguments – in essence, about whether the boundaries of solidarity should stay within the tribe or extend beyond it – give Dawn of the Planet of the Apes a nice allegorical heft. The old movies, which blew the minds and troubled the sleep of many children in the ’60s and ’70s (including young Bobby Draper in Season 6 of Mad Men), arrived at a time of racial conflict, ecological anxiety and a general sense of social breakdown. Since then, cinematic technology has evolved from rubber masks to digital sculpture, and our fears and aspirations have mutated, too, making Planet of the Apes a less abstract, more hauntingly immediate story.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes [Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray]

List Price: £29.99

Current Price: £18.00

Price Disclaimer

And while Rise found room for exuberance in the shadow of catastrophe – partly because it seemed so justifiably excited by its own ingenuity – Dawn, its title notwithstanding, paints a darker, scarier picture of the future. It also has a grave, brooding beauty, intensified by Michael Giacchino’s wild and subtle score and by the deep, verdant shadows of Michael Seresin’s cinematography. Reeves has a fine sense of visual detail and also of the eloquence of nonverbal exchanges between characters, digitally enhanced and otherwise. (Russell and Kodi Smit-McPhee, as her adolescent son, do especially graceful work in limited roles.) The film is full of small, memorable moments and crowded with distinctive personalities on both sides of the ape-human divide.

In other words, it’s a satisfying movie and an example – a dispiritingly rare one these days – of what mainstream Hollywood filmmaking can still achieve. That we have progressed from Rise only as far asDawn suggests many future sequels, which may, in this case, be a source of hope as well as dread, provided that civilization doesn’t collapse in the meantime.

Movie Review by A. O. Scott, The New York Times [read more]

Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes Movie Review

Sonic Generations (Xbox 360)

Sonic Generations is the highly anticipated video game title to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog s 20th Anniversary. Delivering the definitive gaming experience for Sonic fans old and new, Sonic Generations sees Sonic the Hedgehog playable as both the much loved classic 1991 character, and the modern day video game hero he has become in this exciting new fast paced adventure. Set across three defining eras from 20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog video game history, the instantly recognisable environments of Sonic Generations have been re-built in stunning HD and are now playable in both classic side scrolling 2D from 1991, as well as modern 3D style found in Sonic s most recent adventures. Each incarnation of Sonic in Sonic Generations comes complete with his trademark special move, Spin Dash and Spin Attack for Classic Sonic, and Homing Attack and Sonic Boost for Modern Sonic. An innovative new interactive menu system allows for complete immersion in Sonic s universe with favourite character
http://bit.ly/1F8VTDB

GRAND THEFT AUTO SAN ANDREAS PC

Five years ago Carl Johnson escaped from the pressures of life in Los Santos, San Andreas a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs and corruption, where film stars and millionaires do their best to avoid the dealers and gangbangers. Now, it s the early 90 s. Carl s got to go home. His mother has been murdered, his family has fallen apart and his childhood friends are all heading towards disaster. On his return to the neighbourhood, a couple of corrupt cops frame him for homicide. CJ is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets. Minimum System Requirements: 1GHz Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon Processor. 512MB Ram. 64MB Video Card with DirectX9 compatible drivers (Windows 2000 & XP, Vista Basic). 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 6 Video Card (Vista Premium/business/ultimate). 8X Speed DVD-ROM Drive. 3.6GB of free hard disk space for a minimal install. DirectX9 compatible stereo sound card.
http://bit.ly/1Atea0r

Need for Speed Most Wanted (Xbox 360)

Prepare yourself for thrills and spills in the latest instalment in the Need for Speed video game series, developed by Criterion. Most Wanted boasts many finely crafted features so that you can race through an intriguing open world, take on your rivals and leave the rulebook behind as you tear through Fairhaven City. Drive a series of vehicles or master the vehicle of your choice and you can compete against the 10 best cars in the game. Modification is also possible, whether you decide to reinforce your chassis, add track tires or protect your car from the powerful impact of collisions. To be Most Wanted, you ll need to outrun the cops, outdrive your friends, and outsmart your rivals. With a relentless police force gunning to take you down, you ll need to make split second decisions. Use the open world to your advantage to find hiding spots, hit jumps and earn new vehicles to keep you one step ahead. In true Criterion Games fashion, your friends are at the heart of your experience. In
http://bit.ly/1uIinbE

Civilization Beyond Earth (PC DVD)

A new science-fiction-themed entry into the award winning Civilization series. Set in the future, global events have destabilized the world leading to a collapse of modern society, a new world order and an uncertain future for humanity. As the human race struggles to recover, the re-developed nations focus their resources on deep space travel to chart a new beginning for mankind. As part of an expedition sent to find a home beyond Earth, you will write the next chapter for humanity as you lead your people into a new frontier and create a new civilization in space. Explore and colonize an alien planet, research new technologies, amass mighty armies, build incredible Wonders and shape the face of your new world. As you embark on your journey you must make critical decisions. From your choice of sponsor and the make-up of your colony, to the ultimate path you choose for your civilization, every decision opens up new possibilities. Features: Seed the Adventure: Establish your cultural ide
http://bit.ly/1HtGJN9

Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360)

Los Santos: a sprawling sun-soaked metropolis full of self-help gurus, starlets, and fading celebrities, once the envy of the Western world, now struggling to stay afloat in an era of economic uncertainty and cheap reality TV. Amidst the turmoil, three very different criminals plot their own chances of survival and success: Franklin, a former street gangster, now looking for real opportunities and serious money; Michael, a professional ex-con whose retirement is a lot less rosy than he hoped it would be; and Trevor, a violent maniac driven by the next big score. Running out of options, the crew risks everything in a series of daring and dangerous heists that could set them up for life. The biggest, most dynamic and most diverse open world ever created, Grand Theft Auto V blends storytelling and gameplay in new ways as players repeatedly jump in and out of the lives of the game s three lead characters, playing all sides of the game s interwoven story. All the classic hallmarks of the g
http://bit.ly/1BRRFUx

Lifeless Planet (PC DVD)

Lifeless Planet is a new 3D PC action adventure and puts players in the moon-boots of a volunteer astronaut on a one-way mission to a life-bearing planet far outside our solar system. But after a rough landing, the promise of a new Earth soon fades with the discovery that the planet he was to explore is now barren and inhospitable. Alone in this wasteland, his fellow astronauts missing and his oxygen tank leaking, the astronaut s situation turns desperate. He begins to explore the planet for his missing crew members, only to discover a deeper mystery: an abandoned Soviet-era laboratory. Was his mission a hoax? Is this really an extra-solar planet or has he been shuttled to a lonely region of Siberia as part of a deceptive propaganda stunt? Soon his quest for answers becomes a fight for survival as he learns this land is not as lifeless as it first appeared, when a mysterious young woman saves him from a strange and deadly phenomenon. Is she a hallucination? Is she really an ally? And
http://bit.ly/1t8eQjY

Crysis 3 (PC DVD)

In Crysis 3 the hunted becomes the hunter! Crysis 3 advances the state of the art with unparalleled visuals and dynamic shooter gameplay. Players take on the role of Prophet as he returns to New York, only to discover that the city has been encased in a Nanodome created by the corrupt Cell Corporation. The New York City Liberty Dome is a veritable urban rainforest teeming with overgrown trees, dense swamplands and raging rivers. Within the Liberty Dome, seven distinct and treacherous environments become known as the Seven Wonders. This dangerous new world demands advanced weapons and tactics. Prophet will utilize a lethal composite bow, an enhanced Nanosuit and devastating alien tech to become the deadliest hunter on the planet. Set in 2047, Prophet is on a revenge mission after uncovering the truth behind Cell Corporation s motives for building the quarantined Nanodomes. The citizens were told that the giant citywide structures were resurrected to protect the population and to cleans
http://bit.ly/1uMRuoy

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind – Game of the Year Edition (PC DVD)

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition includes Morrowind plus all of the content from the Bloodmoon and Tribunal expansions. The original Mod Construction Set is not included in this package. An epic, open-ended single-player RPG, Morrowind allows you to create and play any kind of character imaginable. You can choose to follow the main storyline and find the source of the evil blight that plagues the land, or set off on your own to explore strange locations and develop your character based on their actions throughout the game. Featuring stunning 3D graphics, open-ended gameplay, and an incredible level of detail and interactivity, Morrowind offers a gameplay experience like no other. In Tribunal, you journey to the capital city of Morrowind, called Mournhold, to meet the other two god-kings of Morrowind, Almalexia and Sotha Sil. Your journey will lead you to the Clockwork City of Sotha Sil and massive, epic-sized dungeons, where strange and deadly creatures await
http://bit.ly/1BNsGlc

Angels and Despair – 5 Game Pack (PC DVD)

Contains 5 shadowy hidden object adventures! Dark Angels: Masquerade of Shadows Save the human race from demonic forces. The Saint: Abyss of Despair Solve the horrifying supernatural mystery and save the life of an innocent child! Deadly Voltage: Rise of the Invincible Can you stop a mysterious force from a parallel universe from taking over the world. Secrets: Alien Town Enter into Forbidden and discover a mystifying maelstrom of unexplained phenomena. Motor Town: Soul of the Machine Hidden in the eerie depths of is a stunning mystery.
http://bit.ly/1uP8nij

Minds and Mystery – 5 Game Pack (PC DVD)

Contains 5 mysterious hidden object adventures! Alex Hunter: Lord of the Mind Can you solve the mystery behind the missing professor. The Fog When a strange dark figure causes a terrible accident, it s up to you to find the truth. Cruel Games. Red Riding Hood Will this seek-and-find adventure have a fairytale ending? Gourmania 3: Zoo Zoom Dig in with and enjoy the fine hidden object cuisine experience. Shtriga: Summer Camp Capture the spirit of a dead witch before she claims another victim.
http://bit.ly/1qlOqQn

Dragon Age Inquisition (PC DVD)

http://bit.ly/1xL6WkV

Super Smash Bros (Wii U)

In Super Smash Bros. multiplayer games, characters from all Nintendo universes meet up in Nintendo locales to duke it out. Bring together any combination of characters and revel in the ensuing chaos that we have come to associate with the game. An action-packed fighting game, Super Smash Bros.features a ridiculous number of characters that have appeared on Nintendo platforms, from Mario to Link to Pikachu to the Wii Fit Trainer! As they square off in famous locales drawn from the rich history of Nintendo, literally anything can happen in Super Smash Bros. and usually does. With limitless customising options, items and weapons that boggle the mind and a wealth of modes, Super Smash Bros. has truly infinite replayability. Use your chosen character’s unique attacks and special moves to damage your opponent, then hit ‘em with a smash attack to send them flying off the stage! The higher your opponent’s damage – represented as a percentage – the farther they’ll fly when launched
http://bit.ly/1uEyKHH

Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo Wii U)

Four players + three dimensions = Super Mario fun! Work together with your friends or compete for the crown in the first multiplayer 3D Mario game for the Wii U console. In the Super Mario 3D World game, players can choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad. Whether you like to play alone or with friends, there is plenty about the game that makes it a fantastic family purchase. Super Mario 3D World has support for up to four players. You may be familiar with the series or a total newcomer, but whichever category you fall into you can t fail to have fun. The game also features great new options like the cat transformation ability, which lets you climb walls and attack enemies with your kitty claws. Features of Super Mario 3D World Each character has unique abilities and play styles. For example, Princess Peach glides over gaps, while Luigi has his trademark extra-high jump. The new cat transformation allows players to run on all fours, pounce on enemies, attack in midair,
http://bit.ly/1q8FgXl

New Super Mario Bros U (Wii U)

New Super Mario Bros. U is a multiplayer Platforming adventure that provides a new take on a classic Nintendo franchise that will delight players of all ages and experience levels. A Wii U launch title, New Super Mario Bros. U offers a new way to experience Mario fun like never before. Game features include: support for up to five players, the new Boost Mode and Challenge Mode, unique uses for Miis, and new block elements that can be used as navigation aids. New Ways to Play and Share Your Mario Fun New Super Mario Bros. U is a new, side-scrolling adventure featuring Mario, Luigi, Toad and your Mii character. Now s your chance to step inside the Mushroom Kingdom and explore new worlds, new power-ups and new ways to play. Up to five players* can jump into the fun, with up to four people using Wii Remote controllers and one on the Wii U GamePad. The experience is different, depending on which controller is used. Key Game Features The Wii U GamePad controller offers a new way to experien
http://bit.ly/1yJFUcP

Your Kit Lens is An Excellent Lens

As the saying goes, quality lenses are a lot more important than good bodies when it comes to investing in camera gear. They last longer, retain their value more, and have more utility overall than, say, buying the latest DSLR that will become obsolete in 3 to 5 years. But if you are into photography for the first time, you’ll likely buy an entry level camera that comes bundled with an inferior, even crappy, kit lens. Or is it?

Do you really need quality gear to take good pictures? Spend thousands of dollars on red/golden rings lenses?

It is no surprise that people often hold camera manufacturer’s kit lens in low regard. They used to be plagued with issues like lack of sharpness, aberrations, chromatic fringing not to mention a gimmicky build quality with slow, noisy autofocus. However, these times have long gone and the kit lens has long evolved ever since then.

Nowadays, modern kit lenses have mostly addressed these numerous issues and have made them strong choices for the beginner (but also advanced) photographer.

Where the kit lens excels

First of all, the sharpness and resolution of all modern kit lenses are nothing short of excellent. Even on large 24MP APS-C sensors, these small lenses will outresolve the image sensors despite what some critics may say.

No, it can’t compare with a L lens, but for a piece of glass that costs merely $150-200, it performs admirably well.

Most of the kit lenses today also include aspherical elements to reduce aberrations, and nearly all of them come integrated with vibration reduction, allowing anyone to shoot at 1/20, even 1/10th of a second with steady hands in dark light.

What might surprise a lot of you is that kit lenses might be actually sharper than dedicated ultra-wide lenses, since they don’t have a retrofocus design. Here’s a comparison if you don’t believe me.

Also, the wide-angle focal range included with kit lenses is hugely useful. A 18-55mm lens should really be only used at its widest angle, 18mm. This focal length is more than wide enough for most uses, including landscape photography. Unless you are always shooting landscapes, there really isn’t any reason to consider something else for the job.

In fact, since excellent sharpness is one of the key factors of the modern kit lens, just about any kind of work that isn’t reliant on bokeh and depth of field can be done handsomely with it — things like architecture or even street photography. And yes, it can be used as a short telephoto in a pinch, but with a slow minimum aperture and (the lack of) bokeh it really isn’t a viable solution. More on that later.

Boats at Blue Hour. Taken with a 18-55mm kit lens.

Another thing worth considering is that the minimal focusing distance of these lenses are amazing. They can’t do 1:1 macro, but 25 centimeters minimal focusing distance (i.e. your lens can focus from infinity to 25 centimeters in front of your sensor) is better than 75% of the lenses out there in the market and will allow any beginner to at least experiment with macro photography.

Adding extesnion tubes/close-up filters will allow you magnify even more, while using a reversing ring can allow you to do 1:1 macro at nearly no cost!

And finally, people often ignore weight when buying lenses. While the features of a pro lens are certainly better than those of a kit lens, you’ll pay for that not only in price, but also in weight. Heavy lenses are not only bulky, but they also make all but the heaviest pro DSLRs unbalanced and heavily front-weighted, which makes the camera awkward to operate.

Packing less and less heavier means walking and seeing, and enjoying photography more, and a lens that weights a mere 200g is basically nothing.

Where the kit lens falls short

The kit lens today has long evolved from the cheap placeholders from the past, but even though its improvements are impressive, the kit lens still has some flaws.

To start off, build quality obviously isn’t the best. The whole lens is made out of plastic (no, metal mirrorless lenses are not really considered “kit” lenses in my opinion) except for the glass and the electronics.

Even the mount is made out of plastic, and although it is (almost) never going to fall apart, you probably have already thought about it before. The whole plastic feels wobbly and looks cheap, but heck, for $150 it’s pretty decent. And it isn’t totally bad either, since plastic and cheaper parts means a lighter lens.

Also, the aperture of these lenses are only half-decent. A maximal aperture of f/3.5-5.6 is not that bad, but it is still below standard for most good zooms and a whole level below fast primes. If you are shooting landscapes or architecture, this shouldn’t matter at all.

But as I’ve mentioned earlier, don’t expect to shoot portraits or get silky smooth bokeh with a 18-55mm lens, it simply won’t happen. Investing in an inexpensive 50mm f/1.8 lens is probably one of the best photography investments you can make for portraits (and photography in general).

Note : Some people may criticize the limited focal length of the kit lens, but I really think that it is one of its core strengths. 18-200mm walkarounds might be convenient, but not only are their image quality often worse than kit lenses, but they are bulky and encourage bad photo habits (precisely because they are just so convenient!).

Another example of how well a kit lens can perform with the right technique and skills. Lake Morraine, Alberta, Canada

The bottom line

Kit lenses are, despite their shortcomings, excellent lenses with amazing capabilities if used well. If you think that you’ve outgrown this lens (I haven’t yet myself and still use it on occasions!), don’t buy another zoom yet. Instead, consider investing in prime lenses. 50mm, 85mm, 35mm, or pretty much any focal length.

Seriously, with a prime and a standard zoom, you’re all set for 95% of the potential photographic tasks out there. The rest is up to you.

Remember: it’s the photographer who makes the picture, not the camera!

About the author: Wei Xi Luo is a photographer based in Montreal, Quebec. He is the blogger behind Photograph IO. This article originally appeared here and a Follow-up on here

Your Kit Lens is An Excellent Lens

Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition (Nintendo Wii U)

Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and is set in Arkham City, the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Featuring an incredible Rogues Gallery of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals including Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze and many others, the game allows players to genuinely experience what it feels like to be The Dark Knight delivering justice on the streets of Gotham City. PRODUCT FEATURES: Battle Armored Tech Mode (B.A.T. Mode) A new upgraded battle suit for both Batman and Catwoman gives players an additional power-up by allowing them to build up kinetic energy during combat. When activated, Batman enters B.A.T. mode, whereby he doles out more damage and has a heighted sense of enemy locations. Wii U New Controller Functionality The new controller’s touch screen allows players to truly be The World’s Greatest Detective wi
http://bit.ly/1tdwTZX

Sports Connection (Nintendo Wii U)

First Multi-sports game for Wii U featuring the most popular sports worldwide; in a genre known for selling exceptionally well during the launch of a new console. Sports Connection is a fun new way to connect with family and friends and play the most popular sports from a new perspective. Sports Connection is being developed specifically for Nintendo’s Wii U system to take full advantage of Nintendo’s New Controller. Play solo, team up in co-op to experience new gameplay possibilities, or compete in multiplayer to take full advantage of Nintendo’s New Controller. Key Feature Play six of the most popular sports Soccer, Football, Baseball, Tennis, Golf, and Karting Touch controls Use the New Controller to control a blitz in football to sack the quarterback or score a curled free kick in soccer! Play with Wii MotionPlus using real sports gestures! Swing with precision in golf or hit a home run in baseball. Play both on your TV and New Controller Drive your kart to victory competing
http://bit.ly/1tdwpTC

Yoshi’s Woolly World (Nintendo Wii U)

Embark on a new Yoshi adventure in a world made from yarn, cloth and textiles. Explore the world by using yarn to weave wool platforms and warp pipes to reach new areas, and gleefully unravel its secrets and puzzles by pulling yarn walls apart. Add a little color to Yoshi s life with a spectrum of yarn balls. Then team up with a friend to have a ball together in this wild and woolly world. Features Players tangle, pull and stitch yarn to explore Yoshi s world in creative new ways. Yoshi has never been more adorable than as a toy knit from yarn. His entire environment is made from materials like felt, yarn, cloth and cotton, creating a gorgeous HD world that looks good enough to touch. Instead of eggs, Yoshi tosses yarn balls at enemies. He can incapacitate a Piranha Plant by muzzling it with a piece of colored string. Or he can even use the yarn to knit together background elements. Gobble friends and turn them into eggs. Then toss them into hard-to-reach heights and secret depths to
http://bit.ly/1xxbVEd

Funky Barn (Nintendo Wii U)

Funky Barn Game Wii U is not your ordinary farm It s your farm and it s like no farm you ve seen before! Slap on your straw hat and grubbiest coveralls and take hold of your Wii U GamePad it s time to get your hands dirty! Devote yourself to your own slice of lush countryside and take up the challenge of creating a beautiful farmland full of animals, crops, trees and more then develop it into the craziest, most offbeat farm imaginable, overflowing with the whackiest contraptions and goofiest gizmos you and your animals have ever seen! This is not your ordinary farm It s your farm and it s like no farm you ve seen before! Key Features: Use the WiiU GamePad in all-new ways! Touch, shake, tilt, even speak to manage your farm, or go old-school with button-and-stick Get Hands-on with your Animals! Without a doubt, the stars of this quirky, offbeat farm simulation are the animals, each one unique and alive with personality! Take the time to pay individual attention to your animals and reap
http://bit.ly/1xxbauQ

Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games: Sochi 2014 (Nintendo Wii U)

Join Mario, Sonic, and the rest of your favourite characters as they team up and compete in events at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Experience realistic events from the Winter Games, including curling, skiing, figure skating pairs, and snowboard slopestyle, which made its Olympic Games debut in Sochi, Russia. In addition to these realistic events, the game also includes Dream Events set in the worlds of Sonic and Mario that let players perform dynamic moves not possible in real life. For example, experience the adrenaline rush of Winter Sports Champion Race, a mixed event that combines skiing, snowboarding, skating, and bobsleigh in a single race. The Wii U GamePad controller and the first use of Wii Remote Plus functionality in the series offers greater depth of control and intuitive game play that immerses players in each event.
http://bit.ly/1xxabuF

Noke Bluetooth Padlock Pairs With Your iPhone [Video]

Noke is a Bluetooth padlock that pairs with your iPhone and lets you easily share access to your possessions. The padlock by FŪZ Designs was just successfully funded on Kickstarter.

Once you’ve downloaded our iOS or Android app, Noke automatically finds and pairs to your Bluetooth 4.0 enabled smartphone. You can name your Noke and even give it a photo if you like. That’s it.

To unlock Noke, simply press the shank. Noke wakes up and searches for your phone or a shared phone. If the phone is within 10 feet, Noke will instantly unlock so you can be on your way. No need to launch an app or remove your phone from your pocket or purse.

Noke can also be outfitted with a custom chain and bike mount that lets you securely attach it to your seat post.

In case you forget your phone or your battery dies, Noke lets you create a custom access code that can be used to unlock the padlock. To enter the code you press down the shackle.

When it’s time to replace your Noke’s battery, you will receive a notification through the app. To replace the battery, you just unlock Noke and twist off the back cover. The battery can also be replaced while the Noke is locked by inserting a small pin.

The padlock has already surpassed its $100,000 goal in just a day. You can pledge $59 to get one of the first ones at the link below.

 

Source: Kickstarter.com
Via: iClarified.com

 

Noke Bluetooth Padlock Pairs With Your iPhone [Video]

Sony DVPSR170 DVD Player Review

The Sony DVPSR170 is a top branded DVD player, giving you quality sound and vision for less.

CRISP AND SHARP PICTURE QUALITY

Using a 12 bit video DAC, the Sony DVPSR170 offers a superb picture quality with deep blacks and natural colour. Added to this, Custom Picture Mode and Picture Sharpness control ensure you not only get a crisp picture quality but also get to adapt the picture to your exact requirements.

FLEXIBLE DISC PLAYBACK

The Sony DVP-SR170 is also a flexible performer when it comes to playback. In addition to being able to play SVCD, DVD+R DL and pretty much any other blank disc format you care to throw at it, this Sony DVD player will also play the popular Xivd format. It also offers Text information on CD playback.

COMPACT ENOUGH FOR ALMOST ANY SPACE

With dimensions of just 270 x 207 x 39, this cute and compact Sony DVD player takes up very little space. Featuring Sony’s typically slick styling, it also looks a world apart from the very basic “supermarket specials” more usually available at this price.

Ideal for a second room or when space is tight, this top value Sony DVD player brings quality for less.

Sony DVPSR170 DVD Player Review

Transcendence: movie review

HAL has come a long way.

First, we had Scarlett Johansson as a human-like operating system. Now, Johnny Depp has been uploaded. If the singularity — when artificial intelligence surpasses human smarts — is indeed coming, at least it has decent taste in movie star avatars.

First-time director Wally Pfister’s Transcendence isn’t so much the “Him” to Spike Jonze’s Her as it’s a more dystopian vision of the meeting of human consciousness and computer intelligence. It turns out that when computers get sophisticated, worse things can happen than Joaquin Phoenix getting his feelings hurt.

But whereas Her was playful and personal about familiar futuristic concepts, Transcendence is clunky and lifeless. It’s like the movie version of a paranoid TED talk.

Cast:Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara

Director: Wally Pfister

Writer: Jack Paglen

In the early scenes of Transcendence, Dr. Will Caster (a disappointingly sleepy Depp) is a TED-style master of the universe, speaking confidently in front of large video screens to eager listeners about neurology and artificial intelligence. But there are also protesters to his potentially all-powerful invention: the Physically Independent Neural Network (PINN), an early artificial intelligence propelled by a room full of computers that Caster believes could, among other things, cure cancer.

An assassination attempt with a radiation-laced bullet leaves Caster with weeks to live. Desperate to keep his mind alive, his loyal, sycophantic wife and fellow researcher Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) uploads Caster’s brain to a PC with PINN hardware. Helping her is their good friend and colleague Max (Paul Bettany, serving as narrator).

But as anyone with an iPhone knows, software updates can be tragic. The transfer is finished just as Caster dies. Soon enough, the screen flickers to life, first with a few typed words and then seemingly Caster’s full personality, in voice and pixel form.

Alert to their plan, anti-tech activists (led by Kate Mara) are simultaneously descending. In the chaos, Max begins to realize they’ve created a high-speed Frankenstein — an epiphany lost on the mourning Evelyn, who flees after uploading Caster to the Internet. He immediately spreads across the Web (he calls Evelyn on her phone) and begins seeking more computing power.

It takes a long time for Transcendence to build to this moment, when perhaps it should have begun here in the first place. But it feels like a suddenly intriguing crossroads. Where will this terrifyingly digital Depp go?

Transcendence [Blu-ray]

Current Price: £11.72

Price Disclaimer

If you answered: to a desert town to build an underground data center for development of radical tissue regeneration techniques, guarded by a creepy army of network-connected, superhuman zombies — then your algorithms are more advanced than mine.

Yet the urgency and intelligence of Transcendence isn’t artificial. It feels sincerely animated by the frightful questions it poses about computing power and interconnectedness.

Pfister, making his directorial debut after years as a cinematographer often teamed with director Christopher Nolan (a Transcendence producer), doesn’t exhibit a sure hand with dialogue or a feel for the rhythm of his narrative. Neither does the film have the distinctive form of his prior photography work, most notably The Dark Knight. (In imagery, Transcendence pales in comparison to the sumptuous sci-fi of the recent Under the Skin.)

But, as in Nolan’s Inception, Pfister, working from a script by first-time screenwriter Jack Paglen, shows an instinct to drive the genre elements toward a more personal story. Transcendence ultimately hinges on the relationship of Caster and Evelyn. The excellent Hall, looking a bit confused by what she’s gotten herself into, does her best to emotionally ground Pfister’s increasingly unfocused and heavy-handed story.

Just as in science, noble intentions can lead talented artistic minds astray, too.

Read more movie review By [JAKE COYLE]

Transcendence: movie review

Logitech X100 Mobile Speaker Review

X100 Mobile Speaker

The Go Anywhere Portable Speaker that Delivers Rocking Sound

The Logitech X100 Mobile Wireless Speaker is simple and intuitive, and you can wirelessly stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device up to 10m (30ft) away*. The wireless speaker can keep going for up to 5 hours** with the long-life battery.

Works With

Compatible with popular smartphones and tablets. Some functions may not be supported depending upon your phone, tablet and/or application.

Rocking Sound

Crystal-clear sound from a very compact speaker. Pump up the volume and enjoy.

Connect and Play

The Logitech X100 Mobile Wireless Speaker is easy to connect and use.

Wirelessly stream music from your Bluetooth-enabled device from up to 10m (30ft) away.

Manage phone calls and volume control from your mobile phone.

Take it Anywhere

A portable speaker that’s ideal for life on the go. Take it on the road or relax and listen at home.

Design

Available in 5 bold colours — green, orange, grey, red and yellow — the X100’s design is sure to turn heads.

Up To 5-hour Battery Life

Enjoy up to 5 hours of continuous rocking sound without recharging.

Built-in lithium-ion battery.

Convenient micro-USB charging.

Logitech X100 Mobile Speaker Review

Best Selling PS4 Games for August 2014

0

SHARES

FacebookTwitter

25 best Selling PS4 games for the month of August 2014. Click individual games to check review and price.

 

 

0

SHARES

FacebookTwitter

Best Selling PS4 Games for August 2014

Watch Taylor Swift in her new music video "Shake It Off"

On Monday, Taylor Swift, the artist formerly (slightly) known as country, released the video for “Shake It Off,” the first single from her forthcoming pop (!) album, “1989.” The backlash was instantaneous.

The video features Swift “dancing” alongside professional dancers from a number of genres. She stands at the barre with a group of Swan Lake ballerinas, jumps up and down among breakdancers, emotes in the middle of contemporary dancers and, at one point, crawls underneath a line of Daisy Dukes-wearing twerkers.

 

Watch Taylor Swift in her new music video "Shake It Off"

Paul Bissonnette ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

 

 

Paul Bissonnette ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Best Selling Kindle Books for August 2014

Found 50 best selling Amazon Kindle ebooks for you. The are from the best selling list and most of them have 5 star reviews. Click the book cover for more details and review. Enjoy reading.

Best Selling Kindle Books for August 2014