Gadgets Blog

Nintendo Wii Remote: From: $35.99

One of the best things about the Wii is its wide appeal across age groups.  Adding a whole new level to family game night, the wireless, motion-sensitive remote has fast become a household standard enjoyed by kids and their parents alike.

One of the most versatile designs for interactive game play on the recent market with its many applications, it can be used as a bat, sword, steering wheel, drumstick, tennis racket, etc.  Equipped with Bluetooth technology, it puts you right in the middle of the action where you belong from as far as 30 feet from the Wii console.

The only drawback, if it can be called one, is the need to exchange back and shoulder rubs after a night of highly competitive play.  With this remote, there’s no sitting on the couch as you must perform the motions to play.  And, don’t forget the wrist straps!  You definitely don’t want to get carried away during an intense competition and send your remote flying across the room.

But, if something should happen to your remote or you’re just looking to get another one, you can find them for affordable prices at Smarter.com.  Get four for a complete set and connect for maximum multi-player enjoyment.

*Get it at Newegg and get free shipping on select items and a free gift with select purchases.

Find Nintendo Wii controllers and more deals on gaming accessories at Smarter.com.

There was this little get-together called E3 going on this week… you may have heard of it.

It’s a small thing really, only thousands of gaming and computer entertainment peeps gather at the L.A. Convention Center for a few days of gaming and announcements and all around showing off.  And yes, we love it.  Please, show us more!

Tons of news so here’s a few highlights:

Project Natal — Hands-free, wire-free, motion-sensitive control for your Xbox. Competition for the Wii-style controller, only there’s no controller, ergo nothing to be thrown at the screen by mistake (those Wii wrist straps aren’t just for decoration). Check out the video on CNET. No release date was given yet. Let’s hope for soon.

Facebook, Netflix & Twitter — Because connecting from my desktop, laptop, cell phone, etc., aren’t enough.  Coming to Xbox Live service.  Link your FB page to your gamer account and update your status to things like “Johnny is kicking ass and taking names” and “shooting zombies in the face” from your Xbox.  Browse through your movie queue and oh yeah, that annoying “tweet” thing too.  However, this could mean a whole new level to Twitter parties.

Halo 3:ODST and Beatles Rockband — Coming soon to a living room near you. Oh, and a skateboard-shaped controller for Tony Hawk:Ride.  Half-pipe not included.

A Multi-Platform Crysis 2 — Not just for PCs anymore. Whoohoo for multi-platform, the great equalizer.  Scheduled to be released on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Sony’s PSP GO – Nice little upgrade to its PSP3000, it’s smaller, lighter and has the trick slide-up screen.  16GB of built-in flash memory, no UMD drive, no touch screen.  Will be available October 1 for $249.

Nintendo Vitality Sensor — Uhhh… say what now?  I love Wii, but just not sure how this will up the game play.  That said, it is a cute gamey gadget that reads your pulse from your finger, so maybe after a few rounds of Wii tennis or boxing you can take a reading and calculate the calories you’ve burned?

New Super Mario Games — A 2D four-person co-op for the Wii, and a follow-up to Super Mario Galaxy with 3D gaming.  In all fairness, I haven’t played Super Mario Bros. in, I don’t know, years?  So this could be enough to pique my interest once again.

Left 4 Dead 2 — Riding the success of the first edition, Valve is smart to be quickly on top of the sequel.  Scheduled for this November, a zombie uprising in New Orleans?  Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Okay, seriously, this list could go on for miles.  The designers and producers are working hard to wow us and we love them for it.  Keep it coming, lads (and ladies).

Shop more Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation, and Xbox consoles, games and accessories at Smarter.

Sources: E3, G4, CNET

Dude. This is just cool.

Microsoft gives us Project Natal, a hands-free, wire-free, motion-sensitive control for your Xbox.  Competition for the Wii-style controller, only there’s no controller for this webcam-based system, ergo nothing to be thrown at the screen by mistake (those Wii wrist straps aren’t just for decoration).

Check out the video on CNET.

You are the controller.

Step in front of the “dashboard” and the system instantly recognizes you and signs you in using a facial recognition tech that hasn’t been seen on a consumer product before.  Definitely aiming to get you off the couch and into the action; to kick a ball you kick your foot, to hit the ball you swing your arm, the player moves freely in real 3D space and the avatar does it on screen.   It also accepts commands by voice. Can’t wait to try it! Unfortunately, no release date was given yet.  Let’s hope for soon.

To which Nintendo replied, they plan to release Super Mario Bros 28.

Just kidding.  Nintendo’s up to bat tomorrow so we’ll see what awesome surprises they have in store for us.

Sources: E3, G4, CNET

This week in gadget blogs and news from around the Net:

• Russian laptop sale causes huge brawl - Gizmodo
• Build your own papercraft Millenium Falcon - Technabob
• Ford announces self-parking cars - Engadget
• iPods turned into iPod speakers - Ubergizmo
• Mini Bluetooth retro handset - OhGizmo!

And this week in the Smarter Gadgets Blog we talked about:

• Fujifilm Deal: Get a Free 1 GB SD Card with Purchase
• Real Life Superheroes: Are there Real Batmans Out There?
• Last Dell Deal of 2008: Save 50% off XPS M2010
• Gut Buster! Nintendo Wii Makes Baby Laugh
• Happy New Year from the Smarter Gadgets Blog!!!
  

This week in gadget blogs and news from around the Net:

• Mazda Kiyora Looks Cool and Recycles Rain Water for Drinking - Gizmodo
• An Artist’s Take on a Sound Wave - New York Times
  
• Bling Bling! $60,000 Diamond Covered iPod Ear Phone Cover - Engadget
• Lomo Split Camera Will Have You Seeing Double - Technabob
• WiiDiva Will Have You Playing the Wii in Style - Talismoon
• New Xbox 360 Bundles for the Holidays - OhGizmo!
• Sandal USB - Ubergizmo
  
• Clamshell Cell Phone Watch - Machines that Go Bing
• Behold: The Disappearing Pool table - Ballerhouse

YouTube - Watch 

And this week in the Smarter Gadgets Blog we talked about:

• 6ave.com Coupon: Save on a Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Player 
• Cool Things: Cool MiniMotel Lets You Camp Out at the Airport
• Newegg Coupon: Save on a 37-Inch ViewSonic HDTV
• Will the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic be the iPhone Killer?
  

A quick recap of gadget news and blogs around the Net:

• All-in-one washing machine and toilet. Do all your cleaning in one….sitting - Gizmodo
• Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro Get Upgrades - The Gadget Blog
• The ultimate Xbox 360 arcade controller - Technabob
• PS3 gets a steel color with Metal Gear Solid 4 launch - Kotaku
• Rockit coaster at Universal Studios, Orlando to tape your ride - Engadget
  

And in Smarter Gadgets we talked about:

• Facebook to Launch an Instant Messaging Service
  
• Sony Deal: Save $400 off a 52″ Sony Bravia HDTV
• Refurbished Apple iPhones on Sale at AT&T for Cheap
• Wii Games Deal: Buy 1Wii Game, Get 1 $20 off at Toys R Us
• What Happens When the Alarm Goes Off at the Gas Station

The only issue I have with video games these days is the price. I understand that if you want great entertainment and fun, you have to splurge a little, but for the little guys out there, $60 goes a long ways. But I guess sometimes you just have to suck it up and not let the kids eat for week.

Right now at Toys R Us, they are having a great deal where when you buy one Nintendo Wii game at full price, you get another for $20 off. And they aren’t just on the crappy games either.

For instance you can get:

Super Smash Brothers Brawl - click here

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - click here

To take advantage of this Wii video games deal at Toys R Us, click here.

I think that by just reading the title, you can guess what you’re about to see.

But it’s the reactions from all three of the kids that is priceless. Note to self: when swinging the Nintendo Wii Bat, grip tightly.

Source: MySpace

A quick recap of gadget news and blogs around the Net:

• Enter to win an iPod Touch - Shiny Shiny
• Let the force be with you - Camy Light Sword Wii Remote - Engadget
• Goodyear does more than tires, introduces GPS - Gizmodo
• Callpod Bluetooth headsets allow conference calls - Callpod
• Thermochromatic toilet seat lets us know if someone was on the can - OhGizmo!

And in Smarter Gadgets we talked about:

• Demonic Dismembered Baby Head Theremin Creeps Me Out
• Micro Stainless Steel Digital Camcorder: $149.99
• Dell Inspiron 1525 Released and Available Today

It was a slow week because of the holidays, but here is what happened in news and sports blogs around the Net:

• Napster takes an annoying 30 minutes to cancel account - Boing Boing
• A guard for your car bumper? It exists and it’s called the Bumper Badger - Coolest Gadgets
• A Shark Gun for your Nintendo Wii - Kotaku
• Expect LCD TV prices to fall dramatically in 2008 - Ubergizmo
• Amazon.com’s Best of 2007 List - Business Wire
• T-Mobile to waive activation fee for new customers until 12/31/07 - Gizmodo
• Bluetooth headset stops a robbery in-process - United Press International
• Kid opens a Playstation 3 from EB Games on Christmas, gets a phone book - Engadget via Fox News

Watch the clip here

And in Smarter Gadgets we talked about:

• Save $200 on a Dell Inspiron Notebook
• Uniden MaxTrax GPS to include Radar Detector