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.

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.

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.

LG W2353V-PF 23′ HD 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor: $229.99

The LG W2353V flat screen monitor definitely fits that category.  I’ve been using this for about a week now and the slim 23-inch screen has no dead pixels, excellent image quality and fast response times.

This monitor is part of LG’s W53 SMART Series, which incorporates the eyestrain-reducing SMART technologies like reading ambient lighting or viewed content and then adjusting for it. The package features other intuitive adjustments including Cinema Mode, which eliminates distractions by blacking out everything but the video clip, Eye-Fine Timer, which reminds users to take a break periodically, and Proximity Sensor, which detects when a user’s hand is near and lights up the touch-panel making them easy to find.

The auto bright feature intuitively adjusts for your room’s lighting so there’s no need to change the brightness during night use.  Awesome for gaming, the LG W2353V works well with PS3 and Xbox 360, when those fast response times are needed most.

Easy to set up, the LG W2353V is impressive right out of the box.   The stylish and lightweight design immediately upgraded my desktop.  Touch-sensitive buttons add to the sleek appearance and make for an easy switch to HDMI or DVI.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with the DVI cable, but that was easy enough to substitute with stuff I had here.

Even after a few hours of staring at the screen, when I usually want to walk away and look at anything but a computer, I find myself easily entranced.  The text looks sharp and the color is beautifully displayed on this non-glare screen, especially in 1080p.

Specs:

• Flat screen 23”
• 2ms
• Full HD 1080p Resolution
• 50,000:1 Digital Fine Contrast Ratio
• 300 cd/m2 Brightness
• 170º/160º Viewing Angle
• 16:9 Widescreen Format
• SMART Package

Embrace the dark.

What more would you expect from a man feared by all and who flourishes in the darkness.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, stars none other than Riddick, the most ruthless and feared criminal in the universe. Picking up from the latest installment, Escape from Butcher Bay, Riddick now finds himself captured aboard the Dark Athena, a mercenary ship that is determined to finish him off once and for all.

• Difficulty: Overall, I didn’t find the game too challenging, which led me to get bored more quickly then I would have liked. The most challenging aspect I found was at times, trying to find a vent to jump into to take me to the next level. Killing the enemy didn’t prove too hard when you’ve got Riddick’s moves down.

• Graphics:  The remastered version of “Escape from Butcher Bay” is like night and day. They’ve really stepped it up in quality. Overall, the game was good. Despite it being too dark for my taste in most levels, but what can you expect from a man who’s supposed to see in the dark. Also if you’re looking for a game that is detailed with it’s fighting techniques, you’ll like this. This game is packed full of graphic ways to execute your enemies.

• If you’re looking to challenge online opponents, you’ll enjoy its multiplayer option. You’ll experience new game modes not experienced in this game or Butcher Bay.

• In Dark Athena, you’re pretty much getting a 2-for-1 deal. Along with the new Riddick, you’ll also get a new version and remastered The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.

• I wasn’t all that impressed by the pace of the game. I know that Riddick is supposed to be all stealthy and work his way through the ship undetected, but sometimes I found my ADD catching up with me, hoping to find some action soon. But I will say that when I did find some, it was fun having Riddick go off in his berserker mode or sneaking up behind the clueless drones.

Overall, I’d say this game was good. Despite the slow pace and sometimes lack of action, I have no complaints. So if you’re looking for a fun game, that isn’t too challenging, I’d recommend trying out The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.

To find The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena for your console on Smarter.com, click here.

Being a motorcycle rider since the ripe old age of 5, I’ve ridden and owned everything from Honda 2 and 4-stroke dirt bikes to Italian exotics including most recently a 2006 Ducati Monster S4R. I have Amsoil in my blood and L-twins in my heart, needless to say I was anxious to try out the Scala Rider Q2 Headset given to me to test by our resident Smarter Blogs ‘Sports’ and ‘Gadgets’ blogger Nick. I’ve never owned a motorcycle headset (though I do admit to the occasional ‘iPod-headphones-under-the-helmet-trick’), so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this setup and as it turns out I was very pleasantly surprised.

When you open the packaging of the Scala Rider Q2 you get an immediate feel for the product quality. The packaging itself consists of a black jacquard woven, almost carbon fiber-like box which flips open to reveal two interlocking trays with all the gear you need to stay in touch with your riding partner, a passenger and/or the rest of the world using your cellphone via Bluetooth.

It’s obvious these guys spent quite a few hours in R&D ensuring the headset was durable enough to work in bad weather, stand up in high wind and have an ease-of-use you’d expect with other Bluetooth enabled devices built seemingly for the ‘iPhone generation’. My only real gripe with the headset is the volume up/down buttons on the control unit. With gloves on, the buttons can be a little tough to activate, but certainly not enough to keep me from purchasing this headset.

What I liked:

·         The rubberized control unit, helmet locking clips and general look-and-feel of the product.

·         The instructions were clear and concise, once you figure out the use of the ‘Control’ button, it’s very simple.

·         It has a built in FM radio!

·         Bluetooth connectivity to my Apple iPhone 3G, excellent feature and very handy.

·         The two headset units in the package come already paired to be able to talk to one another, one less thing to think about.

What I didn’t like:

·         Volume up/down buttons were hard to push at times.

·         No digital or analog readout for the FM radio. Having a FM radio is great, but in a place like LA, you could spend 10 minutes pushing the ‘Up’ button trying to get to 98.7FM.

If you’re a street or dirt rider in the market for an in-helmet communications system, I’d give these guys a look. As a guy who has ridden for over 25 years, chewed up a lot of dirt, pounded a lot of pavement and done my fair share of playing hide-and-seek with BLM Rangers, this is a welcome and much needed addition to any rider’s gear bag.

Scala Rider Q2 Multiset with Bluetooth on Smarter.com >>

Guns, bombs, explosions and a whole lot of blood.

That can pretty much sum of Call of Duty: World at War. I was happy to get the game and play it over the holidays, and needless to say, I was pretty impressed. Also, I’m not a hard sell, as if there is a ton of explosions, I’m pretty much satisfied. Just give me an Uzi to mow down the enemy with, and I can stay happy for hours.

Let me point out some of the features that I liked or found interesting about COD: World at War:

• I like how this game went back to its WWII roots, where you can jump between fighting the Japanese empire as a U.S. Marine or go to Europe and take on the Nazis as a Russian soldier. Although it doesn’t take you to the major battlegrounds such as Normandy and D-Day, it only helps enhance your playing experience by exposing you to new battlefields.
• With COD: World at War, there is a new multiplayer feature, where now you don’t have to die alone. Play in a split screen mode and let your friends get mowed down beside you. You can either play a co-op campaign mode or duke it out with up to four players online.
• I like how this game kept me on my toes. The enemies in this game seemed more ruthless than usual. From lying down in the bushes, ready to ambush you to hiding in the treetops picking you off one-by-one, it made for a much more challenging experience. Although I hated it when the Japanese would come at me with their bayonets, it did keep me alert.
• And of course you can’t be disappointed with the detail of the graphics. They’re second to none.

I really don’t have anything bad to say about this game. Although during some levels, it seemed a bit too easy at times, there were also some levels that seemed impossible, so it balances out. But if you’re looking for a war game that will get your adrenaline pumping, I recommend you check out Call of Duty: World at War. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

To check this game out on Smarter.com, click here.

So I received a pair of Able Planet NC200 headphones the other day, and I would have to say, I’m a bit impressed. I’ve always been more partial to the Bose headphones for their design and quality, but for the price ($49.99 at Amazon), you can’t beat these.

Look and Feel:

I like the feel and the look of these headphones. They’re not too bulky and fit very comfortable on my head and around my ears. And if you have a big noggin’, they’re adjustable and even the earmuffs rotate for extra comfort. And with it’s easy carrying case, these things fold up and are easy to store and carry anywhere.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Quality:

From the sturdy exterior, to the clear sound quality, I like them. The slick black color, makes it neutral and allows it to go with nearly everything. Although the noise-canceling aspect is a bit sub par, the quality is still clear, although I would want slightly more bass to come out of these.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Noise-Canceling:

This is the the only real issue I had with the NC200. For headphones specifically designed to block out noise, it doesn’t do that great of a job. Sure, they do cover up your ears and lock in all the sound, but when I can hear myself type and snap my fingers while I’m typing, they’re really not doing that great of a job.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Overall:

For the price and what you’re getting, I recommend those looking for an affordable pair of noise-canceling headphones. Although the noise-canceling feature could be better, it makes up for them in everything else. From the clarity to how comfortable they feel, the Able Planet NC200 are a good fit for their price.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

To find the Able Planet NC200 on Smarter.com, click here.

Here is a review sent in from one of our readers.

In it he talks about the recent Ooma purchase that he made, which is a calling device that will allow him to have clearer international phone calls.

Thanks for contributing Harry.

Read his article below.

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