Is That A Rocket In Your Pocket? No, it’s a Luna Projector [TECH REVIEW]

Photo courtesy of Anapanda on Flickr. Click pic to see original.

Let’s get real — any company putting out an MP3 player hasn’t got much of a chance with Apple looming over them. So sneak it in the back door by touting what an i-device can’t do — double as a video projector.

Sceptre may make HDTVs but it’s the Luna pocket projector we want. And not because “MP3 Player” is part of the name, but because what you got on that inserted 2GB micro-SD card will end up projected on a nearby wall. That’s courtesy of a built-in video player syncing with one of those mini-LED projection engines outputting a 640×480 resolution from up to 99-inches away, with an image of up to 50-inches (that’s a bit more than 4 feet for those without calculator-like minds or apps). Just expect your thumb to develop calluses from turning that knurled focus ring.

Front / Side Views of the Luna. Click pic to visit official website.

You can project still video, as in pictures, with a photo viewer as well.  And while you get three different colored face plates (Sceptre calls them skin protectors), those keeping this under-an-inch thick, 2.8 ounce pocket projector au natural shouldn’t hope for a black model. Luna is, to paraphrase Henry Ford, available in any color as long as its white (apparently Sceptre didn’t have the problems Apple did with the color, or with playing AVI, BMP or WMA either). But you’ll have more than enough $$ left for buying any color protective case you want since you can get hold of this tech for well under two bills. And if you must do music, expect the batteries to last a lot longer than the 5 hours “projected” for use with the LED light source.

Features:

• MP3 Player, Video, Photo Viewer
• Maximum Resolution: 640 x 480
• 2GB Micro SD Card
• Projection Distance up to 99″
• Playing Time: 5 Hr MP3, 1 Hr Video

MSRP: $199.99

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE!

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How To Make An Action Movie Dudes Will Love [VIDEOS]

We all love action movies, especially when the big screen is filled with huge explosions and people being blown to smithereens. You’d think with all the action movies released over the years that screenwriters, directors and movie studios would have gotten the message by now: don’t mess with the classic formula. But they don’t seem to get it; instead opting to change what doesn’t need changing. So, in the interest of helping out these doofuses, here are the 6 steps to making an action movie that guys will love.

1. Have A Clear-Cut Plot

No twists and turns where a good guy becomes a bad guy become a…whatever. Move in a straight-forward (and violent) line from the problem to the solution without 15 other subplots distracting us.

2. Feature A LOT of Kick-Ass Weapons

You got to have weapons. Lots and lots of them. All sizes, all shapes. And none of that “Sci-Fi” laser crap coming out the barrel either — the real deal where gunpowder ignites and proves Newton’s third law.

3. Keep Dialogue To Awesome One-Liners

Forget long-winded explanations — this ain’t Shakespeare!  The hero needs to cruise through the film spitting out one-liners faster than bullets from his gun.

4. Crank Up The Michael Bay (READ: Explosions!)

Remember that explosions can’t be too big, too often or too loud. And that there doesn’t really need to be much of an excuse for piling them on.

5. Cast Hot Chicks

Doesn’t matter whether they’re the lead or secondary character or part of the crowd scene. There’s no excuse for ordinary females in an action film — for that you can have real life and not pay admission. And their clothes should look painted on, dig?

6. Go Light On The EMO

Yes we know that emotions run high when lives are on the line and all that stands between light and darkness is the hero. But save the touchy-feely stuff for the chick flicks; nobody wants or needs to watch a guy getting in touch with his feminine side here. Remember how well that went down with Superman Returns? Don’t do that.

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5 Alternatives To The iPad [TABLETS]

Apple’s iPad paved the way for tablets, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck being a sheep whose eyes never wander past the “i”.  The apps will come in due time so in the meantime, focus on the hardware, which handles Flash just fine using Android as the OS. Stick it to Steve Jobs and check out these 5 alternatives to Apple taking a bite out of your wallet.

Motorola Xoom

For starters, the 10” screen is high-resolution on the outside while inside there’s a dual-core 1GHz processor to make things zip along rather than lag. Wi-Fi or with cellular 3G is on you. But either model gets up to 32GB of memory and the dual camera treatment comes with enough megapixels to look good for stills or HD video recording and playback.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

A 7” screen lightens the carry load, but still gives you enough real estate to ease those aching smartphone eyes. Wi-Fi or 3G model, your choice. As is front/rear cameras (1.3/3 megapixel) and an LED flash. HD recording and playback, plus audio/video support for a whole passel of formats, not just a few. 1GHz processor and 16GB internal memory supplemented by a micro-SD card to hit 32.

BlackBerry Playbook

If you’re a BlackBerry fan, then the Playbook’s 7” display will tap into your email, calendar, address book and task list. High-resolution screen and four-finger multi-touch support enables all sorts of gestures as the 1GHz dual-core processor goes about its business. Micro-USB and HDMI ports and up to 64GB memory. Dual cameras for picture and video shooting in up to 1080p (3/5 megapixel). Stereo mics to add to the stereo speakers. Available in Wi-Fi only or with multi-flavors of cellular (LTE, HSPA+).

Viewsonic gTablet

A 10” multi-touch screen so enough real estate to see what’s what as the 1GHz dual core processor keeps everything flowing down the river. Wi-Fi, 16GB internal memory, but kick in a micro-SDHC card to take you to 32GB. Mini-USB to do what you’d expect (optional HDMI dock). 1GHz dual processor, front-mounted 1.3 megapixel camera for chatting, extensive format support and 1080p HD video quality viewing.

Archos 7 Home Tablet

Seven-inch screen and 8GB internal memory combines with format support for a wide array of video and audio file types. Built-in Wi-Fi, sure, but also a USB port that takes a mouse or keyboard or mass storage device. Most likely you’ll be using the micro-SDHC slot to load in pictures when it’s slideshow time.

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The 8 Best Booze Apps For The iPhone & Android

As we all know, there’s an app for that. Whether it’s discovering new music, finding the best local eateries, or shooting perturbed poultry with a slingshot towards poorly made architecture, apps have become a way of life for many mobile users. But, let’s be honest, what’s a phone gonna do when we’re looking to get our buzz on. Drinking is too important to leave to chance so check out these apps that can help in ways that a booze addled brain can only dream of.

Beer! (Apple-Android)

Tracks the beers you’re drinking so that, while you may not remember, the app will be able to remind you what you thought of it. You can even take a photo to accompany your thoughts and share those thoughts with an online beer-loving community. That’s social networking at its finest.

Beer Pong Classic (Apple-Android)

You know the game, you love the game, you suck at the game. At least here no one will know how you’re doing unless you decide to share. 3D graphics and it’s all flipping you fingers at a screen so what’s not to like?

iBeer (Apple-Android)

Turn your smartphone into a glass of frosty brew. Pour in the beer and then drink it down — but  you never actually get any, it’s just like real life. Those who balk at such things can go for the milk or soda version, but real men can handle “drinking” while answering or making calls. And those who live large can get the iBeer Keg for their iPad!

Drink Fit (Apple-Android)

Does the need to know the nutritional level of that glass of beer or wine plague you? If so, this app will go down smooth. It lists over 1600+ drinks and provides all the details as to what the liquid is doing to your insides at a glance.

Beer Goggles (Apple)

We’ve all worn ‘em and wished we hadn’t later. Now you can simulate the pleasure-turned-pain of seeing through beer goggles on your iPhone. Check out the 3D graphic babes and rate them — then see if you’ve matched the details or gone hog wild. Only problem is if you’re wasted enough to be wearing those goggles, you probably lack the dexterity to tap a touch-screen.

Free Booze (Apple)

Every minute of the day, somewhere in New York or Chicago, there’s free booze flowing. This app will help you find that art event or grand opening  or special deal at a bar or restaurant that trades an empty wallet for a filled glass. Maps lead the way — being dressed appropriately is up to you.

iRate Beer Lite (Apple)

No it’s not about angry beer, but about rating beers and sharing it with other drinkers online. Great way to get a feel for a beer you’d like to try, but don’t want to chug down your throat “cold.”

*Mixologist Drink Recipes (Apple-Android)

If you can’t find the drink you want, make the drink you want. A solid database with thousands of entries to get you from point A to B. Instructions to keep the process moving smoothly. Even additions like bartender terminology (so you won’t sound stupid) and a bar/liquor location guide using maps and GPS.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FUN BEER APPS!

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Get Heard With The Go Mic Portable Microphone

Having some dinky little microphone hidden inside a computer or cell might be convenient, but with garage bands to record and Skype calls and Podcasts to make, how can you settle for that? You can’t  – so that where Go Mic comes in. It might be small, but this portable USB condenser microphone’s got serious chops.

As in a frequency response of 20Hz – 18kHz and an audio resolution of 16-bit/44.1kHz. That makes for some pro audio results and because it easily sets up for the kind of sound you’re looking to record; be that omnidirectional for everywhere, unidirectional to pick up sounds coming from in front, or bidirectional to take it from in front/behind while ignoring the sides. And added  to the high-end electronics are dual LEDs for setting a proper recording level and an onboard headphone amplifier so you can listen to what’s been recorded directly from the mike.

It looks a bit old school too but with a twist – since its blunt rectangular shape swivels out of the hard case till needed. And starting Go Mic up for the first time just means popping it into a Mac or PC to auto install the needed drivers and give you what’s needed for control. The manual details how to use it in most situations, so you don’t have to try and figure it all out by yourself at the worst possible time, and there’s even a zipper pouch tossed in along with some other accessories.

And all this for $59 bucks? Damn, I’m getting one right now.

Available from SamsonTech.com

Zen Meets Pop with Electronic Pioneers KRAFTWERK

Say hello to Kraftwerks – no, make that go back to 1974 and say hello there. Four decades of electronic sound comes as a CD box set bursting with remastered versions of eight albums that turned  pop and dance music into computerized electronic minimalism. How’s that for Dusseldorf Zen?

These electro-pioneers are as fresh today as ever – so of course the CD is joined by Vinyl releases just like back in the day (record player not included.  treat yourself to one of those ION players with a USB connection to the computer?).  Of Course,  you can also go for the digital downloads if you prefer.

And in case you didn’t know, folks like David Bowie, Dr Dre, LCD Soundsytem and Portishead are among those who’ve been influenced by these guys.

All the Kling Klang studio masters have been updated using the latest studio technology so there’s no embarrassment. Except maybe if you’ve never listened to one of their albums – check out RADIO-ACTIVITY for synthetic Gregorian chants, COMPUTER WORLD with its liquid beatscapes or TECHNO POP (originally called Electric Cafe) for its machine pop, 360 degree view of the multi-channel, multi-lingual musically diverse global village. Or any of the rest of the catalog spanning 35 years of experimentation and electro-delights.

So here’s your chance to snag  a collector’s editions brimming with artwork and the kind of attention to detail that music packaging the music industry has ignored for 30 years.
Learn more about Electronic Pioneers Kraftwerk at www.kraftwerk.com

Shower With Britney Spears & Christina Aguilera

Excuse me, I'm going to shower with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and all Five Spice Girls . . .well, maybe not Scary.

Want to be one up on Michael Phelps? Then don’t ditch that iPod before you dive in – wear an MP3 player that’s waterproof so you can take the tunes with you. But how are you going to hear anything but muffled noise with your ears being splashed? By not trying to blow sound into them from a pair of earphones. Instead the SwiMP3.1G uses bone-conduction tech to deliver sound vibrations directly from the cheek bone into the inner ear. So that what you’re hearing comes through clear. And with stereo high-fidelity.

Now the folks making this guy know what they’re doing – they provide select training equipment for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team after all. That’s why they’re smart enough to know you have to keep the player small and sleek, and the controls all together in one easy-to-use panel with On/Off, Volume, Next/Previous track, Pause and Shuffle functions.

Easy to use too – just clip it to your swim goggles after filling up the 1 Gigabyte of memory with MP3 or WMA audio  from a Mac or PC (that’s over 200 songs). USB charges her up, and the 10+ hours insures that you’ll run out of steam long before it runs out of juice.

So who knows – maybe listening to some rousing tunes can speed up your game so you’re swimming like Phelps. Only slower.

www.finisinc.com

Up Your Cool with the Hercules DJ Control Steel

C’mon, admit it – you think you’re good enough to call the shots on the tunes being played. So forget about waiting for DJ Hero and pressing colored tabs and go the real route. Show those songs who’s boss with a digital dual mixing deck complete with all the bells and whistles. And about as advanced and portable as you could ask for.  Read more

Bose Keeps Quiet with QuietComfort 15 Noise-Cancelling Headphones

When it ain’t broke, you don’t fix it. And when you’ve got noise-canceling headphones that take their job seriously, why bother updating them? So you don’t  – instead you drop another QuietComfort sibling onto the line and reduce even more noise across even more frequencies bothering your ears.  And you call it “QC15.” Read more

Project Yourself with Nikon’s Coolpix S1000pj

Forget about cell phones trying to be cameras. Instead, how about a camera that tries – and succeeds – at being a movie projector? Well, that’s exactly what Nikon is delivering with the new Coolpix S1000pj. Before we get into the projector part, let me first point out that this slick photo snapper includes a 5X wide angle zoom lens, 5-way VR image stabilizer and 12.1 megapixels. Read more

Get Smarter The Easy Way with The Manga Guide to Physics

Fans of Japanese comics (or Manga) know that nothing is sacred: golf stories get as big a play as romance or giant robots saving Tokyo from disaster. So what better way to learn about the laws of the Universe than with The Manga Guide to Physics. And what better language to have it in than Japanese (the answer for us Americans is: English). Read more

Get Driven: iPhone Gaming Steering Wheel

If I was here, talking about some steering wheel peripheral to use with your Wii or Xbox  360 you’d sneer, sure, nothing impressive about that. But how about a nearly full sized replica of a racing car steering wheel to use with your iPhone or Touch?  Get your attention? It got mine.

Aptly named the STEERING WHEEL, the  it holds your  iPhone or iPod Touch, for use while playing racing apps. Of which there are plenty – heck, every action/adventure game developer knows it only gets better if you include cars. No batteries or wires neither, just pop the Apple device into the center of the wheel using one of 4 inserts supplied (iPhone/3G-GS/Touch/Touch 2nd gen), then bring up a racing game and steer to your heart’s content. As in twisting and turning the wheel like a maniac ‘cause the iPhone/Touch’s secured so it won’t fall out.  That’s what you get with the Basic model. Read more

Pump It Up With The Buckshot Wii Shotgun

Remember when Nintendo shied away from having any accessory that appeared violent or dangerous? Those days get blown away – literally – when you load a shooting game into your Wii and snatch hold of the Buckshot. Come on, how can you not go all Terminator 2 when you’ve got a pump action shotgun working? And with rubber grips to insure an easy caress and non-slip hold is a perfect cure to sweaty palms. This sure beats shooting at things with a Wii controller or some puny, hollow handgun.

So whether it’s Zombies or ducks or soldiers or civilians (nah, don’t shoot the civvies…), nothing beats the adrenaline rush of blowing them away with a pump action preceding a pull of the trigger.

Tech alert spoiler – it’s got a controller inside that works similar to the Wii’s Nunchuck. But it’s so much more a testosterone adventure having the trigger take care of the “A” button, and using the pump action to reload (accessing the “B” button).

And for those who can’t wrap their heads about the Buckshot coming in fire-engine red, there’s also a classic black edition. But who cares what color it comes in? Just as long as you can wrap your finger around the trigger, is what I say.

Buckshot Wii Shotgun available at Innexinc.com