Here’s to the new year! Stick around we’ve got some great stuff happening at WhatsLeet.com just around the bend.

They don’t work right, its hard to understand how to sync them properly, or the device itself just isn’t reliable. All these reasons are still clouding people’s willingness to commit to this wireless technology. But, rest assured its getting much, much better. With better Bluetooth technology, and better cell phone support, now is the right time to make a commitment to buy a hands-free headset.

While, of course there will always be those doubters who say “I don’t really need this,” or “It looks stupid,” there are those who will say “I can’t live without it.” My guess is that the doubters or unbelievers haven’t really been graced with a good enough device, or simply haven’t used it enough to appreciate the convenience in having a hands free gadget.

What makes a good Bluetooth headset? Here are the most important factors:

So sleek! Plantronics Discovery 925

Comfort: Whats the point in having something danging on your ear all day if it isn’t comfortable? Buying from a store allows you to try out the headset to see if its right for you. Companies do their best to make the most comfortable device to fit your ear — lets get it straight that not everyone’s ear is ideal. My ears are slightly bigger so I need a device that either doesn’t go around it and snugly fits inside of my hearing tunnel, or I need a device that comes with adjustable or changeable earpieces. Most devices do come with such help, but its important that you can use the device and comfortable with it.

Voice Quality: This factor is just as important as comfort. The question I asked earlier applies to comfort as well: What is the point in having something dangling in your ear all day if you can’t understand the person speaking at the other end? Some products are made better than others, and some people will require more volume and clarity in their headset. If you are an audiophile and can’t stand any sort of static, you’ll have to go with the more expensive gadget that has a better quality earphone and more clarity when the person on the other end of the phone call is speaking. Or on the other hand, if you happen to be able to pick out someones voice from a little bit of static, then its not going to bother you if you don’t get something that’s as clear, you’ll settle for a less expensive device.

Miscellaneous: Most devices today have a battery life of 5 hours talk time, and 5-7 days standby time, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not getting a device that’s rated lower than this. They are more easily connected to a phone — simply turn it on, your phone will recognize the device and display it, you connect it, and you’re done. You can walk around without your phone, as long as the phone is less than about 33 feet away, the maximum range for most headsets and phones to stay connected without losing connection. Some headsets allow it to be connected to 2 devices simultaneously. If you’ve got two cell phones, lets say a regular phone and a business phone, you can use your headset for both at the same time. You’ll have to make sure the headset has this feature, however.

As I said earlier, now is the time to buy a headset. They are getting to the point where its a necessity, it gets the phone out of your hands and its so easy to maintain. Here are some popular devices:

• Plantronics Discovery 925
• Aliph Jawbone 2 Bluetooth Headset
• Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth Headset
• Amazon.com Headset Listing

This video was featured on YouTube… very festive!

Happy Holidays from us at WhatsLeet.com. Enjoy!

How much space is it capable of? Toshiba is working on a whopping 512-gigabyte SSD, ‘ more than my current laptops hard drive! This technology is very significant; because of its massive amount of space and its minuscule size there are plenty of applications for it.

For one, my laptops hard drive is probably a source of weight, as it has a mechanical arm, it spins, makes noise, etc. An SSD would eliminate a lot of that excess. On top of that, its so small, we can probably have more than one. At 512gb, space at that point is ever expansive, 1Tb or 2Tb of space is easily achievable.

Another cool thing about SSD technology is that it has very long life-span. Toshiba has estimated that your SSD will last up to 1 million hours, or about a hundred years; not bad. Hard drives, due to their mechanical nature, can last a couple of years (its very varied however), certainly not forever.

Like I usually say, with everything good comes some downside. SSD will be very expensive as it is an expanding technology, and its new. For a few years, it will cost a couple hundred dollars to have an SSD over a normal hard drive. But, once its cheap enough for a majority of people, we could see a phasing out of traditional hard drives!

Alright, so I’m planning on being trapped inside of my house today, on account of up to 9-inches of snow is on the way. I know this web site focuses on entertainment and gadgets (meaning movies and games, etc.) but there is a time to take it easy from reporting the stuff and do something fun. Today is that day.

Without adieu, here is my list of things to entertain you on a snow day.

1. Play Guitar Hero/Rock Band… On Expert

I know you usually only play for a couple of hours a week, probably with your friends. But today is the day you should attempt that hardcore song on Guitar Hero on expert difficulty. Not only should you do that, but you should get good at it. This could wind up taking your whole day (but who cares, you’re snowed in anyway!), just make sure you remember to eat some food at some point.

2. Watch a Complete Box Set of DVDs

The Ultimate Bond Collection

Last holiday season you got a shit-ton of box sets such as the entire Rocky Balboa series, Kung Fu movies, James Bond series, Star Wars trilogies, the list is long. Those box sets prove to be very handy in cold times like these. Pick your favorite box set, turn your DVD player on, surround sound, television, everything you need to get really comfortable. Now, start the movie, and don’t move — this is an all-day marathon. You’re only allowed to move to put in a new DVD. No pee-breaks (just kidding).

Need some more movies? Check out Amazon Boxed Set listing for some new stuff!

3. Read a Book

I haven’t read a book in years, but lets say I will today because of the fancy weather outside. Its snowing very hard, it’s relaxing. A good way to complement the relaxation is by reading a good book. Pick one out of that library of books that you have (c’mon, you have books, right?) and read it all the way through. We’ll make this less hardcore than our #3 suggestion so you’re allowed to take pee-breaks this time. Yes, we’ll allow game guides. Hey, if you have one of those Amazon Kindles, you’re probably reading a few books today!

4. Reach the Highest Multiplayer Level

Games such as Call of Duty and Halo 3 have some things in common when you play them online — leaderboards and levels. Get to the top by playing all day. You probably won’t, but its a good way to pass the day along nicely! Reach level 65 in Call of Duty, or 50 in Halo 3, or any other game that has a top. You’ll get there, just keep playing and don’t get too mad at the game. Seriously, its not good for your blood pressure.

5. Go Outside

How fun!

What fun is it if you stay inside all day when there is fresh powder on the ground? Go outside and mess up the snow by making a snowman, snowboarding, skiing, have a snowball fight. Who knew there was so much you can do with the stuff! Its always fun, no matter how old you are. I recommend going outside the most. Then, when you’re ready to come inside you can have some hot chocolate and then pop in one of your DVDs, or video games. How perfect!

6. Bake Something

Then eat it! Its as easy as that. If you know how to bake, I suggest making cookies or brownies on your snow day. They are warm, and delicious. You can enjoy them during your movies as well! Who knew DVDs were so convenient. Anyway, just remember to send me some in return for this great service I call WhatsLeet.com.

Enjoy your day, whether or not you were fortunate enough to have snow this weekend — these suggestions are always good. Stay safe, too.

Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman

X-Men is one of those science-fiction genre setters, the series has made a home in comics, books, and more recently feature films. X-Men, gene-altered mutants created by comic book writer Stan Lee, each have special abilities. This new movie, X-Men Origins takes on a story from the point of view of one of the greatest comic book characters ever seen, the exciting Wolverine.

Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, has animal-like abilities such as keen senses, physical endurance, awesome retracting bone claws, and is able to quickly heal himself from any wounds or disease. In X-Men Origins he is pit up against Victor Creed (Sabretooth) and shows the beginning of the opposing nature between the two characters. Wolverine seeks revenge after he hinds out that his girlfriend was murdered by Sabretooth.

The previous X-Men movies were fantastic, filled action and CG, and phenominal characters that you must watch as each of them have their own powers. This movie, focusing on Wolverine and his enemy, is going to be nothing short of action packed.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine comes out May 1st 2009. Want some more information? Check out Marvel.com for the latest updates on the movie. But first, this trailer will knock your socks off:

Heavy Rain, a new game by French developer Quantic Dream, looks at gaming in a different light. With a clear correlation with movies, video games have story and a plot where the player gets to control the action. However, there is often little emotion involved with playing as a character, because you aren’t forced to make decisions or think about what you’re supposed to do - all games have a clear beginning and ending, and clear objectives. Heavy Rain tries to fix this.

Coined a film noir thriller game, you play through the game by making decisions and watching consequences of actions unfold in front of you as you play the main character. Rather than having cutscenes, the game will change the story based on your actions, where players engage in emotion because they are changing the story with each decision that they make. The game, contrary to most others out now, is focused on interactive storytelling.

Aimed at an adult audience, Heavy Rain will put you on an emotional rollercoaster. The developer wants players to think about killing a character in a game, and watching its consequences in the rest of the story. Most games only focus on mindlessly killing off hoards of enemies and having nothing else to think about.

This type of game seems on key with the way games are headed. It is hard for developers to invoke emotion in video games as well as make them actively fun to play. As the gaming generation gets older, they strive for different games, so its safe to say this really could be a game headed the right way.

What also makes Heavy Rain awesome is its graphics (as usual). Life-like graphics, and realistic characters and animations help give this game a movie-like feel. Check out this gameplay trailer:

Heavy Rain is set to come out in 2009 on the Playstation 3. Be sure to check it out, I can say it is a game that could be made or break because it is different than what gamers expect (e.g. a mindless shooter). If its done right, which developer Quantic Dream has a good record for (Omicron and Fahrenheit), the game will be killer.

People have been asking this question for the past 3 years: which console should I get? Is it the Sony Playstation 3, the Microsoft Xbox 360, or is it in fact the Nintendo Wii? How can I decide, there’re so many choices and I just can’t wait any longer!

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered from head to toe. First up, the Nintendo Wii.

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is the ultimate console for family-friendly gaming. Built by Nintendo, the mother of the most recognized gaming characters to date. With a Nintendo Wii you’ll recognize Mario, Wario, Yoshi, Link, and an insane amount of other characters that have made their way to other Nintendo games.

The Nintendo Wii is feature packed with wireless, motion-sensing controllers and an easy-to-use interface. This console makes its fame by providing the most kid and family friendly video games available to you. You won’t find too many “hardcore” games that are gruesome or violent on the Wii, and if you do there are plenty of parental controls that will help you in determining whether or not a game is appropriate for your child to play.

One of the best features of the Wii is its wireless controllers. Unlike the other two main consoles (which I cover below!), the wireless controllers also use motion-sensing technology. A small infrared bar is placed on top of your television or somewhere nearby, that senses where the Wii controller is pointing in relation to the screen. There are also sensors in the controller that know whether its downside-up or upside-down, or shaking, and essentially moving in any direction. This capability make it really awesome to play some of the Wii-exclusive motion-controlled games.

Wii-motes!

The Wii’s controllers allow the console to have some really fun interactive games that have never been played in your living room. Bowling, baseball, golf, even racing games can be played using the motion-sensing controllers. Here is a great video of the Wii controllers in action. There are plenty of peripherals that will make the gaming experience unlike any other.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Wii is its price. The games are cheaper than its competitors, and the console itself is among the cheapest available. The cost of owning a Nintendo Wii is also much lower than others; you won’t need to replace it, and it uses much less energy while in use.

At a starting price of $249, it’s a great price along with its games. It comes with 2 controllers, and the necessary gadgets to make the system work. You’ll probably want to buy the add-on “nun chucks” that some games may use.

With every great thing there is a downside. It’s cheap, but most of the great games come with “attachments” to the controller. These will likely get lost, break, and you’ll probably need a box to put them all in! Peripherals will line your walls. On top of that, the Wii does not play DVD movies, so you’ll need to make room for it next to your regular DVD player because it isn’t going to replace it anytime soon.

Other media options are also lacking. You won’t be able to download movies, or watch Netflix like you can on the Xbox 360. Better yet, while the Xbox 360 and Playstation have downloadable video game content, the Wii does not have such an option. You’re stuck with the same Rock Band songs that came with the game from day one, while the other consoles already have over 200 added songs for the same game (granted you must pay for them).

Another thing the Wii is facing is its limitation of technology. Its graphics processor limits games, and theres only so much Wii bowling you can do. The last top-selling game is Wii Fit, and most people couldn’t get it because there just weren’t enough, let alone the fact that other games on the Wii just aren’t really quite as good as Nintendo’s own such as Mario Party, or Super Smash Brothers.

Great things about the Wii:

• Price: $249.99, check out Amazon.com’s Wii Store for some great online deals.
• Tons of fun and interactivity
• Wireless capabilities
• Great game selection
• Limitless peripherals to make your games feel more “real.”

Next we’ll take a look at the Microsoft Xbox 360.

Following Nintendo and Microsoft, Sony has now introduced gamers to a new virtual world on their Playstation 3 console with its “Home” platform. “Home” is a virtual world much like the very popular Second Life game where you register and create a digital representation of yourself (or anyone else I guess) and interact with other players from around the world.

This platform is much like what Nintendo and Microsoft currently have set up. You get to create an avatar to look like yourself, or it can be a completely made up person. This avatar is then placed in an environment with other players. You can interact with people through text messages, or by voice chat if you have a Bluetooth headset that works with the Playstation 3.

The area where Sony takes things to another level is that it gives players an environment that you can walk around and explore. Neither the Xbox 360, nor the Nintendo Wii allows you to interact with anything or even has any type of virtual world… let alone actually watch as your avatar interacts with others online. “Home” builds on what both of these online experiences has and utilizes a much more immersed world to go along with your digital representation.

Who put this ad here?

To top it off, “Home” is free. Microsoft’s Xbox Live service costs around $50/year to use, and you are only allowed one identity, or “gamertag” per account. Granted the money goes to a bunch of services such as dedicated servers and statistics, free is what gamers like the most. Anyone could attest to this.

Oh but hold on, how could this be free? Well, “Home” is ad supported. Much like the real world (Neo), there will be ads sprawled around the virtual world. You can also drop into a Diesel store, and buy some clothes for your avatar. One more idea to point out, is that Sony is hoping to sell you game content, and other stuff along with your avatars. New shirts, shoes, maybe a nice jacket because its cold in the virtual world — these items can cost you some real hard cash. Just like the Xbox 360’s themes and gamerpics, you’ll want to give up your money.

In the end, Playstation “Home” looks promising, and extremely addicting. Allowing real-world interaction with other players gives the Playstation some much needed social options. Without this platform, many Playstation gamers had to rely on getting in a game with someone that could become your friend at some point. Now, you’ll actually get to meet people just as you would if you were to go outside your home… wait…

On another note, “Home” will offer gamers a way to also do some awesome virtual things. You’ll be able to have a house, go out bowling with your friends or go to the movie theater to watch the latest Blu-Ray releases (at a price, of course). A whole bunch of things, too many to name, will be extended to the Playstation gamer. “Home” is limitless. Are the Xbox fanboys jealous yet?

All PS3 owners will be able to beta test “Home” today, and begin falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole (another Matrix reference). Keep updated by checking out the official Playstation Blog.

What Is the Amazon Kindle?

This gadget knows one thing, and only one thing: It is a device that allows its users to purchase books, magazines, newspapers, and blogs, and easily read them. It is a mobile library of 190,000 books (as boasted by Amazon) that is competitively unmatched by other devices.

Back in the 90’s there was a craze about eBooks. If you had bought one of these simple display devices, you had to buy an electronic version of your favorite books, and sync it up to your computer (after downloading and installing drivers) for your eBook device. If anybody knows hassles, the mother of hassles was syncing anything to a computer - it used to be slow and probably screwed something else up as well. After hopefully getting through that stage, you then had the device to bring around with you to read your book anywhere. Back then the eBooks were heavy, the battery life wasn’t great, and it wasn’t as convenient as people had hoped. At this point, I’d rather just carry my paper-version books.

The Amazon Kindle revisits the eBook-era with a ton of punch and an execution that the past had never dreamed of. Taking a look at some of its features, the Kindle lacks nothing. It is in no way short on features:

• New Releases and Best Sellers are $9.99. You save about 50% from buying a paper version of the same book online or in a store.
• Wireless delivery: The Amazon Kindle uses Sprint EVDO-technology, the same Internet connection cell-phones use, so you don’t need to search for WiFi hot spots.
• Wireless Purchase and Download: Using the same wireless connection, you can also purchase books, wherever there is wireless service, through an online Kindle store, and download them without having to even sync the device to a computer.
• Holds over 200 books at any time with only 256mb memory. You can register and download a book purchase on up to six Kindle devices (provided they belong to same Amazon.com account) as many times as you need.
• Upgradeable memory through an SD-card input. You can have up to 4Gb of memory. Estimating, you can probably hold well over a thousand books on 4Gb. I don’t think anyone will ever fill this device up.
• Can also store documents, and pictures such as Word, and Excel documents, and JPG and GIF pictures (among others, too).
• Audiobooks are also available through Audible.com and wirelessly available to the Kindle.
• Not a typical display: The device uses E-Ink technology thats difficult to explain, but it uses natural light to reflect white just like paper would. Downside here, you still need a light source to read!
• Battery lasts for up to a week of usage because the E-Ink technology uses very little power.
• 190,000+ books to download. You can download a book as many times as you want to your Kindle. So… if you ever do run out of room, you can delete a book and always re-download it later.
• “QWERTY” keyboard allows you to easily search through the books, online store, use its dictionary application, among a lot of other uses.

Amazon’s Kindle has so many features it would be too much to read about. The technology behind this device is all there, available to any avid reader for a fantastic experience. The device itself is thin, and lightweight. Its easier to carry this than it is to carry a bulky book, unlike older eBook devices.

With everything good, there must be some downside, right? One of my gripes with the Amazon Kindle is its more expensive price of $359.00. If I didn’t know any better, this price automatically turns off many people, such as myself. Personally, I’d rather buy another Xbox 360 for a price like this.

If you’re clearly an avid reader, or if you’re just attracted to this product and simply have to have it, the Kindle is aimed at you. While I personally can’t justify the high price, I am jealous that I don’t have one! If the price ever falls below $180, maybe I will justify the purchase. Until then, I’ll hold off on this.

Today a lot of gadgets go too far in terms of reaching a plethora of features such as wireless television or playing games on tiny cell phones, etc. Does anyone really need a 134-widget multi-tool, honestly? The Amazon Kindle, in contrast, focuses on its main service while giving users a plethora of supplemental tools that don’t make it a ridiculous, over-bloated gadget that you’ll stuff in your closet, or lose. You’ll want to use everything this gadget has to offer while you are reading your books, or looking for new books to read (especially since it has a nice, ergonomic “QWERTY” keyboard).

The Amazon Kindle is a gadget that other companies should look at. They designed a phenomenal user experience and smashing product that others should follow suit. The fantastic service this product does to its users is what we want to see in other devices, which is why we are giving it our very first “Leet Gadget of 08″ award. Its very prestigious.

Whats on your wish list?

Simply take a second to leave a comment below and tell us whats on your wish list! We want to know what YOU think are the gadgets and things to be looking for this holiday season.

Mmm...

What’s on my list?

My list is quite extensive… no, not really. This holiday season is tough for me, because the things I want most are also things I am in need of. Every few years I get an urge to hold back on wishing for the latest gadgets, and actually wish for more constructive gifts - socks, underwear, Xbox 360.

Its true. My Xbox 360 has hit a point where, I just want to get one of the new ones. I paid the price for staying in line on day one when it released three years ago. My Xbox 360 has been replaced once already, however my current machine has problems loading discs and opening its disc tray. Not fun, folks.

What else is on my list? A new iPod Touch would be lovely. Or even that new Blackberry Storm. I’ll accept anything, really. Just send your gifts to 30 Twenty-Fifth… just kidding.

Seriously, what is on your list?

Jason's Avatar

WhatsLeet.com is pleased to introduce our new team addition, Jason (d00m), a contributor from Arizona. He has been reading WhatsLeet.com for a couple of months (since we’ve started) and soon became interested in helping us out. Jason believes in reporting only the best stuff out there, and he’s here to help us capture more of the things we like to hear about: entertainment and gadgets. I know everyone is curious as to who Jason is, so we’ve set up a small interview. We both hope you enjoy it!

Hello Jason, welcome aboard! We’d like to know more about you. To start off, tell us where your from and what your interested in:

Answer: Hello! Well as I’m sure you all know, my name is Jason and I will be writing as much as I can for WhatsLeet.com. I am from California but am currently living in Arizona (awesome, I know…). I am a huge music buff and have been playing guitar and piano for quite some time now. I even give music lessons at a local academy. I am also into drawing, photography, and painting.

Awesome. What’s your favorite movie and why?

Answer: Oh man… That’s a tough question. I really don’t have one single favorite but rather, a few that I absolutely love. The first one being “A Clock Work Orange”. I started with the book which proceeded to grab me, beat me up, and rape me. I loved it. It immediately got me interested in the film which I later found out was directed by Kubrick. Of course, the movie was straight gold and It’s been a classic of my own ever since. Some other films that I really enjoy are “The Shining”, “The Sting”, and “The Exorcist”.

What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen, and why?

Answer: Hmm I guess it would have to be “The Quick and the Undead”. The acting, dialog, props, sets, camera work, everything was horrible.

Do you have any hidden talents?

Answer: Well, not hidden but I can play the guitar and draw fairly well.

If you could be on any game show, what would it be?

Answer: Figure It Out! With Summer Sanders.

Coke or Pepsi?

Answer: Coke.

Good answer.

Hope you enjoyed this little interview, but most importantly enjoy d00m’s informative writing on WhatsLeet.com. Be sure to check out his posts as well as subscribe to our RSS feeds to stay up to date on the latest and greatest entertainment and gadgetry!

Riddick looks intriguing

Not too long ago (in a galaxy far far… never mind) there was a movie by the name of “The Chronicles of Riddick.” In the movie Richard Riddick, played by Vin Diesel, trys to elude capture by bounty hunters and the likes of others who want him dead. As with most movies trend today, the movie had also caught on for a video game adapted version where the Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (for PC and Xbox) was born into existence.

The game faired very well compared to other heaping failures (Fight Club game? How about E.T.?) and has prompted Atari to come up with a sequel game that also looks great (and we hope it had better be, for the sake of Atari). The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Athena once again stars Vin Diesel as Riddick, and puts you on aboard the Dark Athena, a prisoner ship, and its bloodthirsty Captain Revas. The game uses a lot of content you may recognize from the previous game, but most importantly it is spankin new for current-generation consoles, and will also have multiplayer features.

Here is a juicy sweet trailer of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Athena, set to come out during the second quarter of 2009 for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC.

LCD vs. Plasma

It’s that time of year again when shoppers flock to stores looking for gifts and discounts so they can fill their house with the latest and greatest. The holiday season is the time for stores to make money, and for you to save some money. Most importantly this is a time to finally get in touch with this high-definition movement that has been taking place the past 2 years. Since HD-DVD was killed, Blu-Ray has prevailed; it is now safe to get that flat screen TV you’ve been eying at in your neighbor’s house, and complement it with a new Blu-Ray player (keep checking back for our HD holiday guide!)

Another important note is that the FCC will stop broadcasting television analog signals next February and switch to all-digital. This means if your television works through antenna, it won’t once the switch is made. Many people are looking to upgrade their television along with their receiver, so we figured it would be a good idea to come out with our Holiday Guide #1: LCD or Plasma!

Right now there are two kinds of televisions on the market that are paving the way for innovation and advancement in the market; LCD and Plasma. So, which one should you get?

First, let’s look at some of the pros and cons.

LCD Pros

• Low power usage
• Zero flicker
• Produces a very sharp, crisp image (when in native resolution)
• Superior brightness

LCD Cons

• Poor viewing angles (watching the TV from an angle)
• Has lower contrast than Plasma TVs
• Older models can have latency which can blur images (fixed in newer models)
• Cost more than plasma
• Smaller sizes

Plasma Pros

• Great viewing angles
• Great contrast
• Great color
• Bigger sizes, you won’t find an LCD over 46-inches.

Plasma Cons

• High power use.
• Can have images “burned” into the screen from prolonged
• Not suitable for close viewing
• Will not last as long as an LCD
• Weighs more than an LCD
• Usually cost less than LCD

Next, you must address what the TV will primarily be used for. Gamers usually tend to purchase LCD TVs because Plasma TVs can have images burned into the screen if a single image is left on for too long. Burned images could be anywhere from that video game HUD to the network television logo displayed at the bottom of the screen. LCD TVs also have more models available that can produce 1080p (that’s the highest resolution currently available).

Size matters! Currently, LCD TVs only reach 46-inches but, I’ve seen plasma screens all the way up to 63-inches. So if it’s size your after, plasma is the way to go for anything above 45-inches.

Price matters too! LCD’s tend to cost more than plasma but now is the time to take advantage of those holiday sales and discounts. They can make an expensive television much more lucrative.

Ambilight Technology

Jointly, both types of televisions can be mounted on a wall with ease and will add that “cool factor” to any room. Some models even have sidelights (ambilight) which change with the primary color of whatever is being displayed on the TV. It adds some cool ambiance to the room, and makes your television sort of disappear into the wall. Now that’s classy!

There are also different things to decide when looking at the differences between 720i, p, g, h, abc’s. Who really knows what all those letters and numbers mean? What’s Leet has you covered, check out our other television guide geared at saving on budget and HD formats!

And finally, I leave with a San Fransisco Channel 4 News Report on LCD vs. Plasma TVs.

There you have it, the basic differences and advantages between LCD and Plasma TVs. Take your time with the decision because a TV isn’t something to buy on impulse, but don’t wait too long or all the holiday sales might end! On a personal note, I own an LCD TV and love it! Happy holidays.

Halo Trilogy Soundtrack

I am a huge fan of the Halo soundtrack. Since Halo: Combat Evolved and continuing on to Halo 3, the in-game soundtrack has been superb in comparison to most other games. No other game developer had gone as far as Bungie has to create original music that immerses gamers into the action of the game. The each of the games in the Halo trilogy have unique sounds and feelings.

Coming tomorrow, December 2nd, the Halo Trilogy - The Complete Original Soundtracks will be available in retail stores. Directed by Bungie’s Martin O’Donnel, co-composed by Michael Salvatori, and released under Nile Rodger’s Sumthing Else Music Works, the complete soundtracks will consist of 5-discs, original music from each game including one extra DVD with footage of Halo Wars:

• Disc 1 – Halo: Combat Evolved Original Soundtrack
• Disc 2 – Halo 2 Original Soundtrack Volume Two
• Disc 3 – Halo Wars Bonus DVD
• Disc 4 – Halo 3 Original Soundtrack.
• Disc 5 – Halo 3 Original Soundtrack (cont’d)

The bonus DVD includes 4 preview tracks from the upcoming Halo Wars game by Ensemble Studios, a behind the scenes look at recording sessions, and “Five Long Years” opening cinematic of the Halo Wars campaign.

The soundtrack will sell for about $30 at retail shops. You can get a digital download of the soundtracks at SumthingDigital.com, or check out Amazon.com to get your copy. Here’s a small sample from the Halo 2 soundtrack, “Ghosts of Reach.”

If you’re a big fan of the Halo series, this soundtrack is definitely worth having in your collection. Alternatively, if you know someone else who is a fan, this could be a great gift for someone!

The Nikon D90

Photography has been a popular hobby for many ever since it was created back in the late 1830s. Since then, the field has seen many new inventions and improvements that were created in order to make your life a little bit easier. However, never before has the photography enthusiast seen such large strides which are being taken by Nikon and their new D90 model.

The Nikon D90 boasts 12.3-megapixel image quality and the ability to shoot video in a cinematic 24fps mode. The D90 is the only piece of equipment you will need to passionately embrace photography. Best of all, the D90 provides you with professional results without the professional cost.

Since the Nikon D90 is relatively new, the price tag will remain steady until next quarter. The Official Nikon USA website states that a brand new Nikon D90 starts at $999.95.

Current Nikon D90 Features (from Nikon USA):

• 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS imaging sensor
• Continuous shooting as fast as 4.5 frames-per-second
• World’s first D-SLR with an HD movie mode
• Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200
• 3-inch super-density 920,000-dot color LCD monitor
• Built-in image sensor cleaning
• 11-point AF system with Face Priority
• One-button Live View
• Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II with Scene Recognition System
• Comprehensive exposure control
• Auto Active D-Lighting
• Durable, high precision shutter
• In-Camera Image Editing
• GPS geo-tagging

Even though the D90 is in the higher price range for your average budget, it’s a great investment for the future and will likely not be surpassed completely by competition for quite some time. Plus, Nikon offers many accessories to enhance the usability of your camera.

In comparison, I’ve looked at the equally popular, yet less expensive, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi which starts at $799.99. Specifics wise, the only measurable difference is that the EOS has a loss .1 megapixels and doesn’t have the ability to film in 24fps. If film isn’t important to you, then the only real comparison of usability is if your preference fancys Nikon or Canon cameras. Both are great and will deliver quality results.

Finally, I leave you with video review featuring professional photographer, Chase Jarvis, testing out the D90.

And no, Arnold Schwarzenegger is not in this one. He is too busy playing governor in California. Terminator 3 was good, but lacked anything really memorable. The movie was pure entertainment with little emotion — even when faced with the end of mankind, there was no connection at all with anything other then a “cool” factor. My guess, this movie will be similar. The world is supposed to have ended by now, I think…

Terminator is a sweet action movie, however. There is plenty of stunts, CG, and the movie’s characters are very in-depth which is hard for some action movies. The previous Terminator movies focused a lot about John Connor, and his motives, as well as his involvement with the future of mankind. If you haven’t seen the previous movies, you might be slightly lost with Salvation. Wait and find out, there will be plenty more information once the movie nears its release.

The official web site is at Sonypictures.net; the production has also been keeping a blog of the movie production. Read the blog at TerminatorSalvation.Warnerbros.com.