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There are times when I wonder why kids nowadays play so much video games on their consoles and computers. It seems that more and more people pass the time enjoying all sorts of electronic games. Well, after a busy and stressful day at the office, I am beginning to understand why most people need a diversion. These games, whether simple or complicated, helps the mind relax and temporarily rest from whatever problems it has encountered.

What I find more challenging are games that allow me to interactively compete with friends or other players. It is so much fun to find out how your hand-eye coordination or your IQ fares against other players. I recently discovered GameVance.com where I get to play free games of various categories that are absolutely addictive. Whenever I am stuck on some idea at work, I play either Tiki Bubbles or Code Breaker during my breaks to relax. There are over 1000 free online games at GameVance.com that I haven’t even tried most of them. At home, I also play a little more and challenge friends before I retire for the night. Nothing like a good ‘ol puzzle to calm the mind before I sleep.

Aside from the enjoyment, I’m also hoping that I get to be one of the lucky winners of their daily prizes. GameVance.com offers daily prizes to players such as $200 gift cards, iPods, PSPs, digital cameras, and many more. I’ve got my eye on that gift card and I’m crossing my fingers that I’m going to be the lucky one soon. It will be the extra funds that I need to buy the new laptop I have been saving up for.

Once, my Mom found me playing Tiki Bubbles and I let her have a go at the game. I think she now plays more than me. So, don’t allow your brain to become idle. Try out some of the wicked games at GameVance.com and I am certain you will be hooked just like me.

For decades, scientists have been trying to harness the power of the sun as an alternative energy source. Harvesting solar power was not the problem though. It was creating solar cells that could be less bulky than a bus that was complicated. Much of their success in producing portable solar cells during the early years involved gadgets that required minimal power to operate such as calculators or digital wristwatches.

At the turn of the 21st century, the geeks in the lab gowns that make those cool gadgets finally made more ground with solar energy. Of course, they haven’t gone so far as to create a solar-powered IPhone or PSP. They did come pretty close though. In an age where some of what we have in our bags or backpacks need recharging regularly, they have finally made one of the most useful innovations of the decade — solar-powered bags that can charge your cellphones, PSPs, IPods, or even laptops. Cool huh? Now, there is no need to panic when your cellphone starts making that beeping noise before it finally takes its last breath. Just plug it into your bag and you’re safe till you get to another power outlet. I love geeks!

Recent IPhone news over at MacRumors  reported the new features of the latest IPhone OS 3.0 beta.  Most of these are related to music and the podcast.   Here are some of the important ones:

• Variable scrubbing speed during iPod playback th.at will allow fine tuning of navigation within a track.
• Variable playback speed for podcasts.
• Tap a single icon to rewind podcast playback by 30 seconds.
• Additional data for podcasts saved on iPhone that display run time, time left, and publication date.

Other features include the ability to close all open Safari windows, battery percentage indicators, push notifications preferences, and expanded data detectors.

Ashton Kutcher finally grabs the crown as of King of Twitter after edging out CNN as he became the first to pass the million mark in followers Friday morning. He previously trailed behind CNN but made a rally the past days with friends campaigning for him.

However, Oprah is expected to challenge his throne as the big neophyte. She gained more than 130,000 followers in less than one day. Twitter is currently the newest technological sensation with visitors and members increasing exponentially over time. In the past four months, searches increased more than 5,559 percent over the same period last year. Keep on tweeting!

In the 21st century, one of the most entertaining activities that have come out of technology is massively mulitplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG). These are basically games played through the internet where you interact with other gamers online through your characters. It has revolved into a whole different world all their own with millions playing interactively worldwide.

The most famous of all the MMORPG in the market is the World of Warcraft (WOW), the fourth in a series of the Warcraft MMORPG released by Blizzard Entertainment. It currently has 11.5 million subscribers and holds the Guinness World of Records for the most popular MMORPG in the world holding 62% of the market.

Due to its popularity, it is now possible to purchase pre-played accounts from players who have decided to retire from the game. This means you don’t have to subscribe to the game and play for hours to improve your character’s level and abilities. If you don’t prefer shortcuts and want to sweat it out, you can also subscribe and create your own character and start from scratch.

The leader in retailing of wow accounts is BuyMMOAccounts.com with hundreds of accounts for sale over a wide range of prices and levels. You can buy wow accounts or game cards directly from their website securely with your credit card or a Paypal account. The best thing about BuyMMOAccounts is that your purchase is 100% guaranteed. If for any reason, the account you purchased is disabled or encounters any problems, BuyMMOAccounts will do everything in its power to reopen your account. If they are unable to reopen the account, you will be compensated with a store credit for the full amount of your purchase. At the moment, they have had 98% success in restoring compromised accounts. Visit the site now and immerse yourself in a whole different world of fight and magic.

In the past years, the Nintendo Wii undoubtedly won the console wars over competitors Sony PS3 and the Microsoft XBox 360. Many believe the triumph was largely attributed to games that caters to the entire family while its competitors have hard-core gamers as their target audience.

Nevertheless, after 16 months, the Wii may be slipping as the PS3 overtook sales for the first time in March 2009. With the hardware problems of the XBox 360, it may appear that the competition now has come down only between 2 video consoles. The Wii’s slip may be due to the quality of games available for the console. Developers have continuously encountered problems with the Wii’s configuration. This leaves the PS3 at the type of the industry with its wide variety of quality games.

I have always believed the PS3 to be the stronger console with its blue ray playing abilities and astounding game collection. In the end, is Sony still the King of the Consoles? The ball is in Nintendo’s court. We’ll have to wait and see how they deliver against this challenge.

Following the success of Twilight, the movie, fans now eagerly await the second in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson reprise their roles as Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, the star-crossed lovers in Twilight. For those who are unaware of the Twilight saga, Edward Cullen is a vampire who inadvertently falls in love with a human, Bella Swan. The story revolves around the unusual relationship between these 2 teenagers. Meyer’s novels have become a hit worldwide which consequently did the same thing for the movie, Twilight, shown last year. New Moon is scheduled for release on November 20, 2009.

Probably the most anticipated character in New Moon is Jane, a high-ranking guard in the Volturi clan, the ruling clan in the vampire world. The character will be played by no less than Dakota Fanning. I can’t wait to see how she portrays Jane, the vampire guard who has the power to inflict excruciating pain to anyone without even touching them.

While many anxiously await the official trailer, some fans can’t seem to have the patience and took it upon themselves to make one. Here is one of the better trailers I have seen in the web. This is not an official trailer, but it is just as good.

If there we were all asked to make a list of things we can’t leave home without, it is likely that a mobile phone would be on the top of the list. Some people do believe that a mobile phone has partly become the cause of that more people now spend less time enjoying life and more time doing work. Then again, its convenience and benefits are probably outweighed only by the computer.

The importance of the cell phone is now unquestionable that the market is now flooded with brands with numerous features that have grown thoughout the years. Other than functionality, it has now become a fashion statement. It is the same reason some dress their own mobile phones just as much as they take care of it. The newer brand that is currently making waves and matching the panache of the rest of the cell phone brands is Samsung. The newest models that have come out are equipped with the most advanced technology available. Moreover, Samsung has also come out with the necessary accessories to support their mobile phones.

A Samsung Cell Phone Battery can be easily available in many electronic stores. This is considered an important accessory if you want to make your phone functional over a number of years.  It is also important to protect your cell phone from environmental factors since it is intended for actual use outside the home.  You can also find various types and designs of Samsung Cell Phone Cases to protect your phone from outside elements.  With a good case, your cell phone will look good even over time.

For the fashionista, Samsung Faceplates are available to match your taste, your clothes, or even your mood.  These are even good to make your phone look good as new.  Mobile phones are now part of our personality and get up just as clothes are part of our life.   So, why not allow it to reflect who we are?

We live in the age of technology where electronic gadgets now rule our world. How many times have you felt crippled after leaving your mobile phone at home? Did you ever feel the urge to just cry when you realized your laptop is broken? We are indeed slaves of the electronic world and would be totally helpless without these gadgets. Among all these inventions, the mobile phone is probably the most useful. This led to the emergence of numerous cellular phone brands with almost limitless capabilities. The features of mobile phones at the moment is so advanced, we wouldn’t be surprised one day if it starts delivering food straight into our hands.

One of the brands that has made leaps and bounds in the mobile phone industry is Samsung. Samsung has come out with models just as technologically-advanced as the older brands. The Samsung Behold is one of the newer models with touch screen features acclaimed as one of the most responsive in the industry. There are also Samsung Behold Accessories to provide support to this unique gadget.

Another model with a touch-screen interface is the Samsung Eternity. It’s almost similar to the Behold and Samsung Eternity Accessories are likewise available to enhance the unit. But if you want something with more connectivity, go with the Samsung Epix. It has the same touch-screen interface but now includes Wi-Fi and a separate QWERTY keyboard for those who feel uncomfortable using the screen keyboard. Just like the rest, there are a number of Samsung Epix Accessories that can help protect and improve your mobile phone experience.

If touchscreen is now the interface of the future, Samsung is definitely capitalizing on this to emerge as one of the best in the industry.

Seems like every new mobile phone coming out in the market is either mediocre at best or trying to be an IPhone. Now, we have the Palm Pre, another multimedia smartphone with a multi-touch screen and a user interface that is almost identical to the IPhone.

Let’s not sell it short though. Palm integrated some innovations on the Pre like the webOS which is a Linux-based operating system developed by the company. Unlike the IPhone, it is a slider which provides a separate QWERTY keyboard underneath the screen which allows for easier input. But what will make the Pre stand out is its wireless charging — the first ever on a smartphone. It will be called the “Touchstone” which utilizes electromagnetic induction through the use of a wireless charging dock. For this to work, a special Palm Pre wireless charging back cover is also necessary.

Palm expects launch around June 2009 but has not released any indicative price tag on this new toy.

The war on game consoles may just go a notch higher with Palo Alto’s entry into the market. Palo Alto’s new system, OnLive, is poised to enter the market as the new console to contend with because of cheaper cost and easier access for gamers.

Unlike popular game consoles such as the Wii, PS3, and XBox 360, OnLive streams top-end games to your television or computer. It is a small set-up box that can be plugged to your TV/PC and a broadband connection. It will provide players the same top-end games with no install time, no download wait, and the ability for continuous upgrade. With upgrading mainly software-based, you may never be stuck with obsolete hardware again. It even offers a replay feature which you can record and send to your friends.
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My kids were given a Brain Age game for their Nintendo DS a few years ago and I was thrilled. Finally, a game that can make them smarter. However, researchers at the University of Rennes, Brittany claim that the game not only failed to improve the abilities of 10 year olds, but even worsened their memory. Really?

According to Alain Lieury, research lead and professor of cognitive psychology, the Nintendo DS is a technological jewel but it is charlatanism to claim that it is a scientific test. Their tests and studies proved that those who were placed under the Brain Age group performed 17% worse in memorization while those in the pencil and paper group had a 33% improvement. He claims that Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, the game’s developer, is one of a long list of dream merchants.

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Activision announced in the recent CES convention that sales of their popular Guitar Hero III have surpassed US$1 billion, the first ever video game to reach that mark. As a matter of fact, the company announced a year ago that their Guitar Hero franchise as a whole have already surpassed the US$1-billion mark. These include all versions of the game released since 2005.

However, Guitar Hero III sales are more astounding considering that it was able to accomplish the feat all its own in under years. Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith warns other media sectors that video games are poised to eclipse other segments of the entertainment industry.

Nevertheless, recording artists whose music was featured in the video games have also enjoyed a substantial increase in download sales. Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Game was a big success for the rock band. Moreover, the games success have also driven the sales of actual guitars.

I guess the Mario Brothers will have to learn to play the guitar real soon.

Here’s good news for techies and IPhone junkies. Apple just released its 2.2 Firmware update and other goodies for the IPhone.  Also available is Google Street View and over the air Podcast downloads from iTunes.  Google Street View shows public transit and walking directions plus the ability to share your location via email.

Aside from bug fixes and Safari enhancements, the ability to toggle auto-text correction was added as an additional feature.  Another big update are podcast downloads.  Here are more shots courtesy of Engadget.

In the 20th century, nothing provides more cheer to kids than video games on high tech video consoles. The video game console market is controlled and dominated by only 3 players, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. For more than 5 years, these 3 giants have been engaged in the console wars. In the past 5 years, it has been Sony winning the console wars with the Playstation and the Playstation 2. In 2006, the console giants launched another full-scale war with their new consoles — the Sony Playstation 3, the Microsoft XBox 360, and the Nintendo Wii. This time, Nintendo has emerged the winner with the highest worldwide sales that has reached 34.55 million as of September 2008.

What makes the Wii better than its competitors? The Wii is a the game console that can be enjoyed and played by the entire family together. While the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 were both targeted for hardcore gamers, the Wii features games that will make the family have fun. Another distinguishing feature that sets it apart from its competitors is its wireless controller (the Wii Remote) that can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect movement in three dimensions. Father and son can play a game of tennis together and controlling the game would mean holding the remote and swinging your arms to simulate a real tennis swing in coordination with the character on the monitor. When I got my kids a Wii, it came with the Nintendo Wii Sports where we played tennis, baseball, bowling, and a lot more. It is probably the only game console that allows its players to exercise.

And because the Wii has been known to provide its players exercise, one of its bestselling games that was launched this year was the Wii Fit. The game was so in demand that it had become difficult to find one in the market. Same as the Wii, people were willing to pay a fortune to be able to get their hands on one. I have found it to be the best fitness tool so far. It comes with a Wii Balance Board that measures a user’s weight and center of gravity. The software then calculates the user’s body mass index and it includes activities like yoga, push-ups, and other exercises to keep you fit and strong.

Millions of people can’t be wrong about the Wii. Why not get one for the entire family and enjoy hours of fun together this holiday season? It would be the perfect gift for the kids. As a matter of fact, it has become the perfect tool for me and the kids to bond together.

Since I already got my kids a Wii, I’m planning on getting them a Nintendo DS this Christmas, Nintendo’s handheld game device. And like the Wii, it will definitely provide them hours of fun and entertainment. Check out price comparisons online and make sure you get a good deal on your Nintendo products.