Gadgets Blog

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

• Griffin ClearBoost, boosts iPhone signal strength - iLounge and CrunchGear
• Your love is real, only if Facebook says so - CNN
• Verizon to spit out $9.36 billion for 4G network by 2010 - Gizmodo via Verizon Investor Relations
• Bling out your 360. Xbox 360 now comes in chrome - Technabob
• Start shooting in 3-D - Ubergizmo
• Pregnancy test gets digital - Cutie Gadget
• Recycle! Kids make viper out of old keys from keyboard - MAKE

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

• Toshiba Deal: Take $150 0ff Any Customized Satellite Laptop
• Apple to Release a New iPhone, the iMartian
• Dell Savings: Save 25% on Dell Inspiron Laptops $999 and Up
• MIT Creates Nexi Bot. Doomsday Inches Closer

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

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

• Bluetooth purCushion pillow allows you to talk in your sleep - Reg Hardware
• Cow Manure turned into Renewable Energy - Reuters
• G-Fi Wireless GPS Accessory for the iPhone - G-Fi
• Phone has a built-in Bluetooth headset - Yanko Design
• Silver Satin PS3 and Xbox 360 Arcade available in Japan - Engadget
• Apple and Kleiner Perkins launching a $100 million iFund for iPhone developers - ValleyWag
• IMing coming to the iPhone with AIM - Gizmodo via live.gizmodo.com
  

And in Smarter Gadgets we talked about:

• Save 20% off Dell XPS 630 Desktops $1699 and Up
• Martian Skiers Cause Avalanches on Mars
• Save $300 0ff HP Pavilion Notebooks Priced $1,199 and Over
• Death Star Hotel Coming Soon. Prepare for the End
  

It looks like Time Magazine has come up with their own list of the Top 10 Video Games of 2007.

Here is what they have come up with and where on Smarter.com you can find them:

1. Halo 3
   Platform: Xbox 360
   Find it on Smarter.com.
2. The Orange Box
   Platform: Xbox 360, PC, PS3
   Find it on Smarter.com.
3. Rock Band
   Platform: Xbox 360, PS2, PS3
   Find it on Smarter.com.
4. Super Mario Galaxy
   Platform: Nintendo Wii
   Find it on Smarter.com.
5. BioShock
   Platform: Xbox 360, PC
   Find it on Smarter.com.
6. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
   Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Nintendo DS
   Find it on Smarter.com.
7. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
   Platform: Nintendo DS
   Find it on Smarter.com.
8. Mass Effect
   Platform: Xbox 360
   Find it on Smarter.com.
9. Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
   Platform: Xbox 360
   Find it on Smarter.com.
10. God of War 2
    Platform: PS2
    Find it on Smarter.com.

Source: Time Magazine.

For all you gamers out there, you may want to take a look at this deal.

Right now at Game Stop you can save 15% off any used video game in their store using our coupon code. This is an on-going offer and it’s easy to use.

Just enter in the code PPLAY15 during checkout and you’ll save instantly.

For instance, if you’re a fan of the popular Halo series, then maybe you’d like to pick up Halo 3 for your Xbox 360 priced at $54.99 BEFORE the discount.

Click here to go to Game Stop.

To see Halo 3 on Smarter.com, click here.

So Microsoft released some newer models of the Xbox 360 with the heatsink feature that allows it to survive longer and not burn up as quickly.

Well to see if you’re screwed or not, here’s a little tip I got from Kotaku to see if you got the heatsink or not.

So first, grab your digital camera and put it on top of an overturned Xbox 360 like in the photo.

Then snap a picture, if you see your DVD drive like you do in step three of the picture to the right, sorry pal, it looks like you got jacked. But if you can’t see it, then it looks like you got lucky and your chances of having a longer lasting 360 are good.

Source: Kotaku

For all you Halo nerds out there, don’t scream into your headsets when you read this.

Coming in September, Microsoft plans to release a Halo 3 Special Edition Xbox 360. Yes, just for you guys they have made it green with gold trim and countless other Halo accessories.

But guess what it doesn’t come with?

Halo 3!

Yeah. I know. Why go through all this and not include the game? I wish I could tell you, but even I don’t have all the answers.

To see what the new console will include, click here.

A day after the Playstation 3 dropped the prices on their consoles, a rumor floating around is saying that Microsoft might drop the prices of their Xbox 360.

According to the site Gamasutra.com, they say that Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter expects Microsoft to announce a price reduction to their gaming console either tonight at the E3 Media Summit or soon thereafter. He says to help compete with the newly reduced PS 3 and the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft will drop the price of their consoles $50-$70.

Now this is all speculation, so don’t get too excited, but the chances are good that they will drop their price since they did not meet their 12 million units shipped goal. With them already trailing second to the Wii and with the PS 3 more affordable, they almost have to drop their price if they want to keep their numbers moving up.

Stayed tuned and we’ll keep you updated if anything new happens.

Source: Gamasutra.com

Ever wish you could tell if your gaming system was going to explode after playing Halo for 12 hours straight.

Well, lucky for you, XCMLive has come out with new cases for the Xbox 360 that change color to help show you how hot the system is getting.

For instance, if you’re system lights up orange, it means you’re playing at a calm 29 degrees Celsius. And if the temperature rises above 48 degrees Celsius, it’ll start blinking red and by that time you better jump behind your bean bag for cover.

To read the full article, go to Maxconsole.net.

I hope Microsoft isn’t playing with my emotions. I’ve been wanting a new gaming system for months, but can’t rack up that much dough.

But according to bloggingstocks.com, the core Xbox 360’s price is supposed to drop down to $199 to compete with the popular Nintendo Wii. Although Microsoft has done fairly well selling about 174,000 units, it only trails the Wii in sales. They think that by reducing the price to below the Wii, they can sell more units.

But as of today, it is still a rumor. Nothing has been written in stone, but keep a look out for price reductions and keep checking back here for updates.