Registration and sign-up for the service are quick and easy. Cybersynchs asks for such staples as your name and e-mail address before asking what type of phone you have, along with your carrier. I specified a Windows Mobile device, stated I was on Verizon, then entered my phone number. Within seconds, a confirmation e-mail had been sent to my address, complete with my mobile ID number needed to activate the program. Upon activating my account, the service sent a text with a web-link to download the mobile application. This installed quickly, allowing me to select what information I wanted to sync with their online service and how often. I chose just contacts and photographs and sent it along its way.

The initial syncing process, unfortunately, did not go as quickly as the rest of the set-up. CyberSynchs spent a good 10 minutes uploading my contacts to the Internet and was troubled when a text message came in from a friend. Once this process was out of the way, however, the program encourage me to log-in to their website. Here’s where the real body of CyberSynchs is, and what could have been a confusing and boring interface was rendered colorful and easy-to-use by their developers. As you can see from the screenshot, different buttons on the left hand side of the page allow the user to sort through the various uploaded content. The buttons open up small windows, which can be moved throughout the screen with some simple drag and drop functions. Overall, CyberSynchs offers a great way to back-up your mobile content without devoting much thought to it. Although it’s still in beta, the system has excellent design and should be gaining a reputation as a mobile app in the near future!

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The Lego Castle series is one of the longest-running themes in the Lego kingdom, and with good reason as well.  In 1978, Lego first introduced the castle pieces, with bricks designed especially for the ramparts, towers, and dungeons. Along with the building bricks, pieces shaped like medieval war machines were included, featuring siege equipment and elements of the fantastical, such as dragons and trolls.  Under this wide thematic Umbrella, Lego introduced a number of different Lego Series, bearing names such as the Forestmen and the Black Knights.  For 2010, Lego is preparing to unveil the latest entry, the Kingdoms series.

Unlike the last few Castles, the new Kingdoms series will move away from some of the fantasy elements that had been present since the early 1990s.  Instead of trolls, dwarves, and dragons, there will be a focus on traditional medieval building, with plenty of castles and knights to go around.  The King’s Castle piece in particular looks impressive, with stone-grey blocks building a set of two towers and a drawbridge.  A catapult affixed to the tower will be able to shoot projectiles at any encroaching armies. While the set won’t be out until June or July of this year, there is certainly plenty of potential for fun with these castles.

If you simply can’t wait til this summer, there are still plenty of Lego Castle options available from the 2009 run.  There’s some great fantasy pieces as well, with the Troll’s Mountain Fortress and Troll Battleship having some excellent designs with lots of unique pieces included.  If you’re looking for a great toy for your kids or grandkids, it’s hard to top a good Lego castle. Make sure to find a set with a solid number of pieces, usually more than 500, and let imagination do the rest.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/billward/3393269071

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The Asus Eee PC T91 represents a combination of netbook and touch-screen technology, and it comes running Windows XP Home, meaning that it’s free from many of the bugs that have plagued Vista.  At just 9 inches, the screen is slightly smaller than what has become the norm for other PC netbooks, but this turns out to be an asset for this Asus.  The smaller design makes the computer light and portable. The screen itself boasts some solid touch-screen technology, meaning you can operate the computer both with a traditional mouse and keyboard as well as your finger.

If you are suspicious that Windows XP would be difficult to operate on a small touch-screen, you’d be correct.  Luckily, the folks at Asus created their own interface, called Touch Gate.  This application allows you to swivel the screen on top of the keyboard, creating your own little tablet computer, and then operate a series of applications with some easy finger swipes.  The included applications have some neat tricks, especially the Internet Explorer app, although it would have been nice to have similar functionality with other web browsers.  With finger swipes and slides, you can easily navigate within the app and to other applications as well.

While the Asus packs a punch, and is affordable at only $450, there are a few drawbacks to the unit that are perhaps explained by the price.  The diminutive Intel Atom 1.33 Ghz processor feels slow compared to other computers, and the included hard-drive only boasts 16 gb of storage space, hardly enough for a serious user.  Asus has also included an additional 16 gb of space on an auxiliary card, which can be fitted to an SD card slot on the side of the machine.  This makes the unit far more serviceable.  For a first-generation product, the Asus Eee PC T91 has great promise, and manages to intuitively fuse netbook and tablet PC capabilities. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a PC iPad alternative.

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Without a doubt, the Apple iPad is not a true laptop computer or tablet. This fact is what a lot of consumers and reviewers have trouble realizing. Think about the iPad as something different, a revolutionary entity of its own, and your perspectives may pull a complete 180. Don’t expect to run spreadsheets or presentations, and don’t expect to meet your graphic design and programming needs. If that’s what you want, then get a tablet, desktop, laptop. No pun intended: you can’t compare Apples to organges.

At first, I hopped on the bandwagon of iPad critics. When I get a computer, I expect a computer. When I started thinking about the iPad as an iPad, I grew to love the idea. Here are my reasons why:

(1)  Even the most ultra-thin computers are too bulky, heavy, and cumbersome for me. When I’m at the airport, and I want to check my email, taking out a computer, plugging it in, and connecting to the Internet is just too much effort. I have a back injury, and I’d rather have something more portable for the quick and basic functions to keep me connected on the go.

(2) I love to ready trashy magazines while doing cardio workouts at the gym. Unfortunately, I read pretty quickly, and I go through magazines fast. I tried using my iPhone at the gym, but I found that the screen is too small for comfortable reading. With the iPad, I can download as much content as I want ahead of time. I can also catch up on what’s going on in the world by downloading video clips. Even if I don’t want to pay $30 a month for 3G Internet, I’ll still get all the information I need to keep myself connected when I’m disconnected.

(2.5) I’ll never feel bored, and with an iPad, I’ll always have an opportunity to keep learning. I love to read, and I’m always trying to learn more and more and more. With the iPad, I don’t have to worry about carrying around a bunch of books, especially if I’m only looking for light reading.

(3) I like the iPad’s simplicity. I use my iPhone to browse the web almost every day, and I don’t miss Flash at all. In fact, I was running Linux on my laptop for about a year, and I was too lazy to install Flash for the first six months. I didn’t even miss it on my computer, which I use for hours a day. Flash is pretty, but it’s resource heavy, and when I’m on the go, I just want my information to load quickly. I’m not a huge gamer, and if I want to play games, I’ll use my desktop or laptop (which now runs a Flash plugin).

(4) I like to share photos, but looking at pictures on a mobile phone is terrible. I like to give presentations in both personal and professional settings, and I actually think that an iPad is a great way to share visuals and switch things out. Remember the old school technique of passing around a book or picture or handout? I think that the iPad’s a great way to supplement a small, professional group presentation with a visual aid. I mean, everyone’s on their smartphones anyway…

The right decision is different for everyone, and for a lot of people, the iPad might be a total waste of money. I have an opposite perspective, and I am more than excited for this new product to come out. I’m also not, by any means, a member of the Apple fan club. My next laptop is going to be a PC.

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Years ago, my friends and I used to make up of online dating as a resource for people who are socially awkward and “undatable.” Now, that perspective has pulled a complete 180. I think that online dating is a great option for busy people. Now that I’m working, I realize how tough it can be to meet people and explore new social circles. When I’m not working, commuting, and running errands, I’m sleeping or working out. Even though I’m lucky enough to be in a happy relationship, I can completely empathize with people who are looking to meet new people and find romance.

This New York Times article inspired me to check out OkCupid to see what it’s all about. I love learning about new technology, and I learned that the site was developed by mathematicians from Harvard. Show me some demographic information, statistics, and sociological studies, and I’m instantly interested. (OkCupid has conducted some brief statistical studies on the dating habits of its users. Check out the NYTimes article to read about studies related to race and gender if you’re interested).

My brief experience browsing the website has been quite pleasant. I’ve seen a couple strange profiles, but the majority of people seem pretty cool. I’ve seen profiles for musicians, lawyers, grad students, writers, and all around interesting people. It’s like Facebook and social networking for strangers who are unable to find romance outside of their long hours at work.

As much as I support online dating, I find myself hesitant to share personal information online, especially on a dating site. Even in real life, I don’t want my friends, family, and coworkers to know what’s up with my dating life. Upload a picture for my real-life community to find? That’s a little weird for me. As a private person, I have second thoughts and extreme reservations about online dating communities. Of course, I worry about my safety, but above all, I don’t want my dating to hit close to home.

Scenario 1: While browsing OkCupid, I found a friend of mine’s profile…that she probably would not have wanted anyone to find. I later searched her OkCupid name in Google, and I found her listed on some pretty embarrassing websites…with photos.  Whoops. That’s too much information that I never needed to know.

Scenario 2: A while back, a coworker was telling me about a story about an elected government employee who signed up for an online dating site. Apparently, this individual found out that she/he was a perfect match with someone a few floors down in the office. How weird. I would never want details from my dating life to become office gossip! I guess that a computerized matchmaker is not foolproof. Nothing compares with the human eye when you decide who you don’t want to date…

So, what happens to privacy when online dating hits a little too close to home? Is your personal life something better left offline?

Image Source: .flickr.com/photos/23905174@N00/206132907

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Garmin arguably makes some of the best GPS navigation units, and the Nuvi 1390t is in my opinion, the best of their bunch. With an innovative touch-screen interface, extensive battery life, and an extensive host of additional features, it has the ability to get you where you need to go, and fast.

The basic premise of a GPS navigation unit is simple: plug in a destination, and the GPS uplink provides you with maps and directions to reach your destination. Obviously though, a high-end unit like the 1390t has a host of additional features. First and foremost, there are a number of ways you can locate your destination. If you know the address by memory, simply punch it into the device on the easy-to-use touchscreen and you’re on your way.

This is where the device has some tricks up its sleeve. If you’re not sure of the address, you can search for the location by a variety of criteria. While using the device in the Los Angeles area, a search of an In-N-Out Burger brings up the locations of the nearest burger stands (much like a search on Google Maps would do). However, say if you’re craving a burger, but are unsure of what type, the Nuvi 1390t has categories for browsing. It’s a great asset on road trips, if you’re looking for a place to eat but are unsure of any particular location.

There are also some features especially handy for tourists. Other categories for browsing are filled with gas stations, lodging, emergency services, and even points of interest. While using the device, the points of interest feature had some great suggestions, with everything from hiking trails to football stadiums programmed in the device. There were some discrepancies when searching for local businesses that had shut down. Overall, the device performed excellently while searching for a variety of locales.

The Garmin Nuvi 1390t is a great choice for a GPS unit, aside from a few annoyances. Once or twice during testing, the device shut off for no reason. Additionally, the Nuvi sometimes suggests routes that require you to venture off the beaten path under the guise that they are more time-efficient. While this can be a great feature for the highly impatient, leaving the freeways to drive on unfamiliar streets can be disorienting and at times downright annoying. Other than these two minor complaints, the device is one of the best available GPS units on the market, and at a price of $239.00, it is a great deal.

Check out Garmin Nuvi 1390 deals at Smarter.

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The Windup Girl from Amazon.com: $16.47

If u haven’t read any cyberpunk before, it’s really beautiful–a small niche in Science Fiction, Cyberpunk literature imagines the future of our society as digital technology further influences. I consider it far better than Science Fiction, because it isn’t obsessed with the future of space. It’s obsessed with the future of the Internet and technology, and how that is going to ruin humanity, or make it better beyond our wildest imaginations, etc. But, always in a very dark and twisty way. Instead of making up their own outer-space language, Cyberpunk novels often talk about code and computer programming, like the Matrix.

Find Cyberpunk novels at Smarter.com.

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We used the PS500MM headset from Able Planet on a variety of apps and with a few different systems. The short summary is the headset works adequately in the mids and provides a clear sound but probably won’t compare if you’re seeking a set of dedicated high fidelity phones.

We used them for gaming with Call of Duty and Ghost Recon and to watch a few movies. They worked well, but one design option we would have liked to see is a fully covered ear piece, which we find to be more comfortable if we’re gaming for any length of time. As for movie viewing, again, the clear sound Able Planet is known for, but about halfway through our ears were getting a little sore.

The mic was another concern. Communication was easy and clear, but it didn’t swivel nicely, rather we had to bend it around to adjust or move it out of the way. Our thought is that the harsh bending might hurt the innards at some point and the mic could possibly cease to function, however, it must be said this did not happen over the weeks we had it under daily use, about a couple hours each time, and it’s still working fine.

Summary: Adequate for short-term usage and mid-range sound.

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Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an action role-playing game, with a loaded story that takes place in a massive, mysterious world.  This world contains gigantic dungeons, treacherous opponents and hundreds of challenging quests.  The enemies are very intelligent, adapt in number and challenge gamers in heroic single and multiplayer battles for up to four players.  Sacred 2 is actually the prequel to Sacred.

In the game, there are two campaign path choices: Light and Shadow.  The player will select the path they want to follow at the beginning of the game, and this choice determines the ultimate goal of their character.  Throughout the game, the paths intersect at different points.  In one path you may be asked to help defend a town, while in the other you may be asked to destroy it.

Difficulty:  This game can be pretty difficult at first, but it takes some getting used to.  Learning the best way to kill your enemy can be challenging.  The fighting in this game is not very accurate.  Sometimes you are forced to use your secret power when it is not really necessary.

Graphics:  I wasn’t blown away by the graphics in this game.  Sacred 2 is meant to be detailed throughout the game, but I found some levels distracting.  The regions in this game do bring you into a new realm but it is a little too much.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel provides many unique items that can be gathered in this mystical world.  A deep reward system further enables advancements in character, attributes and character-specific fighting styles.  Cooperative multiplayer game play ensures players will enjoy the game alone or with friends.  There are five unique multiplayer modes that offer a refreshing gaming experience.

To enhance the gaming experience, I definitely recommend playing those online.  I feel that this is the way Sacred 2 is supposed to be played.

If you have plenty of time on your hands, you will adore this game.  There are plenty of dungeons and caves to inspect as well as vast variety of regions from deserts to rainforests.  If you get distracted easily this may not be the game for you.  Some missions are a little too long.  The pace of the game can be unpredictable at times as well.  But if you liked Sacred you will love Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is rated M for Mature

Find Sacred 2: Falled Angel for Xbox 360 at Smarter.com.

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Even though Terminator Salvation is the same name as the movie that opened in May, it is a completely different story.  Terminator Salvation is set in Los Angeles in the year 2016, and takes place between the events of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and The Terminator and follows John Connor and his team, consisting of Angie Salter, Barnes and Blair Williams.

Difficulty:  This game wasn’t too challenging.  It was also very predictable at times.  There was no fear factor in this game.  The enemies are often easy to kill if you know just how to kill them.  There are also plenty of places to duck-and-cover, which makes it easier to avoid the enemy if you have to.

Graphics:  Even though the setting in this game doesn’t feel like 2016, they definitely portray a war-torn Los Angeles that has been destroyed by the battle between the humans and the machines.  The graphics are impressive and do get you in the mood for metal.

The multi-player part of the game isn’t as fun as other games.  I just recommend playing single player mode.  The game also has a quick pace and an interesting story line if you are a fan of he Terminator movies.

If you like shooting and blowing up things in a war-torn city, you will definitely enjoy this game.  The different levels in the game do get repetitive and you seem to be fighting “spiders” also known as T-7-T which are eight legged machines and Aerostats, which are robatic wasp-like creatures on a constant basis.  The occasional endo-skeleton or T-600 from the Terminator movies that we all know and love is also thrown in at times.

There are also no medic packs in this game.  Your life is only restored when you finish a battle or mission.

There are a variety of weapons in this game.  My personal favorite is the rocket launcher which is used throughout the game and will blow up anything in your way.  The other weapons used in Terminator Salvation are grenades, grenade launchers, pipe bombs, machine guns, shotguns and an M4 assault rifle.  You will need these to battle the T-600’s who won’ go down easily.

Overall, I recommend Terminator Salvation for those who love third person shooter games.  The game was never distracting and was beaten pretty quickly.  So, if you are a fan of the movies, you will be a fan of the game.

*Terminator Salvation is rated T for Teen.

Find Terminator Salvation for Xbox 360 at Smarter.com.

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