Not only does "Best In Show" actor Jane Lynch make us want to run out and order the first season of "Glee," she and Microsoft's "More Fun Time" campaign can sell us an Xbox 360 in a heartbeat. Here's to you, Jane and Microsoft, and we grant you a NAVi Award.
It's that time again. Drag out that dusty wallet/purse and feed our economy. And while others freak out after losing their car at the mall or wait for Black Friday deals, we are shopping online which, in our opinion, can be just as inexpensive as the real world, especially when you consider gas, tax, obnoxious salespeople on commission and the fear factor when someone beats you to that last copy of Band Hero at Wally World. We have found audio and video goodies, gifts for kids, as well as gifts to fit every budget, even if yours is small. So without further ado...
Over $100.00 Ultimate Wish List
Yoostar literally lets you perform with their Entertainment System. Act in a movie, TV episode or NBA game by replacing an actor or adding yourself to a screen. It comes with webcam, greenscreen, stand, remote and software. Yoostar will only work with PC although a Mac version is on the way.
HP's DreamScreen 100 puts every other digital frame to shame. Simplified remote, buttons and screens makes for easy access to music, photos and videos. Built-in WiFi connects you to your existing network for content on your PC or through the Interweb to access radio, weather, news and more.
The Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player with 3.2" color LCD is as ultimate as it gets. Not only does it hold 30,000 songs, 25,000 photos, or 375 hours of video, it has the unique distinction of being able to tag songs you hear on FM radio that you might want to purchase. Play games, share with other Zunes and thumb your nose at those Apple folks.
To be fair, Apple fanatics would love a new iPod classic 160 GB that has up to 36 hours of music or 6 hrs. of video playback and a 2.5" color LCD with LED backlight.
How kewl is the Nikon Coolpix S60 10MP Digital Camera with touchscreen? Even more so when it comes with an accessory kit with a 4GB memory card, carrying case, cleaning kit, screen protectors, tripod, spare battery and free prints with a promo code # on your invoice.
Under $50.00
The Next Generation Remote Control Extender not only looks unique, it turns any IR remote into RF by simply installing its battery transmitter and works up to 100 ft. away. No company knows film like Polaroid and their PoGo Instant Digital Mobile
Printer lives up to their reputation. You get 2 x 3" borderless images from your camera or cell phone that are dry to the touch, water and smudge resistant.
We know someone who signed up for a checking account so that he could get a free portable DVD player. Technology is so advanced now that almost anyone can afford one, like the Philips Portable DVD Player with 7" LCD display and 2 hour playback. AC and car adapters, and AV cables are included as is the built-in rechargeable battery. Nothing says you are the life of the party like this Memorex's portable Karaoke Home Entertainment System. It includes a CD player, echo control for those off key and a 2 digit LED display. Practice enough and you may be Oprah's next $250,000 winner.
Under $20.00
Speck's ToughSkin Rubberized Case is compatible with 80/120/160 GB iPod classic 6G and is built for those that are on the clumsy side. It also comes with a belt clip. Sony's RM-VL 600 Universal Learning Remote can handle up to 8 different inputs, is pre-programmed for most brands and has an easy one-touch control.
If you know somebody with a Flip Camcorder, we can't say enough about how grateful they would be if you got them a Tripod. Adjustable, it comes with interchangeable rubber feet.
The Motorola H350 Headset works with any Bluetooth-equipped phone up to 30 ft. away. Considering cell phone usage while driving is a no-no these days, this would be a simple hint in the guise of a gift. No gift list is complete without at least one I-Dog and our pick is the inexpensive Dance. Plug him into your iPod or MP3 player and he plays your music through his speakers and does a doggy dance. He obeys certain verbal commands and his lights move to the beat.
Under $10.00
The Iluv i203PUR Lightweight Earphones for iPod come in various colors but we kind of lean towards the purple ones. Lightweight earclips are included for those on the go and inline volume control makes them easy to adjust.
iFrogz Luxe Case in blue and black fits iPhone 3G and 3GS, is soft to the touch and allows full access to all controls and functions. The Universal iPod USB Charger Kit works with most iPods and includes a car charger and a retractable 31.5" coil cable.
INSTEN's Folding Stereo Speaker supports all iPods and other musical devices with a 3.5mm plug. The aluminum speaker folds up when not in use and are great for traveling. Nothing says portable as well as this Kinamax USB 3D Optical Scroll Wheel Mouse. With an ergonomic design, it has a retractable cable and comes with its own mouse pad.
A/V players
It's difficult to compete with the top of the line SanDisk Sansa Fuze. The player holds 4GB of media (expandable with SD slot,) which translates into up to 1,000 tunes. It also has FM radio with 40 presets and built in microphone.
Sony fans will appreciate their latest Walkman Video that holds over 1,800 songs or 30 hrs. of video on its 8GB. Its 2" TFT color display is LED backlit and the player supports most audio formats. Coby's MP305-4G combines an MP3 player, FM radio, and USB flash drive with the company's usual affordable price.
One of the most creative MP3 players we have found is the Jada Interactive Playaz . The little guy has built-in speakers, and audio output for additional speakers and gets down to whatever tune is playing.
For Kids
This is not to say that you can't share, for we have found that any time we buy something for our own kids, we dig them as much as they do. Nintendo's DS Lite Limited Edition Bundle comes with Super Mario. With advanced touchscreen, mic port and WiFi connection, watch them clean their rooms for the next month at least. The Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition will probably sell out quickly now that the movie is out.
We had to include something from Sesame Street as they recently celebrated their 40th birthday. The Silly Sounds Remote resembles Cookie Monster but press any of the number buttons and Elmo speaks or it makes a silly sound. The light flashes as well and when your kidlet wants to quit, he issues a time out phrase to keep her/him playing.
Vtech's V.Smile TV Learning System is one of the hottest toys this season. Connect to your TV, pop in a Smartridge and your child can play games as well as learn. The included joystick works for left and right-handed users and games can be found for various age groups.
We personally recommend anything by Leapfrog, one of the best series of learning tools we purchased for our own kids. The Tag Reading System is almost a juvenile version of the Smartpen. With over 20 books available, touching with it makes the words speak and the pictures sing. Parents can connect to keep tabs on their kids.
And if you want a toy for yourself, give the Mindflex Game to your kids and, when they tire of it, take custody. The device features a cushion of air that a ball rests on and brain waves literally can be trained to move it up and down or through hurdles, hoops and other obstacles.
Ucreate Music allows kids of any age to become a DJ. An online library holds tracks special effects and filters and finished compositions can be shared online. Ucreate also comes in a Games & Artimation version for those who lean in another direction.
It's easy to get carried away when money isn't a major factor, but for most of us, that's the way it is. We hope we have made it a bit simpler. NAV hopes you have a great holiday this year no matter how you celebrate it!
Freakin' Friday! Energizer Official Battery of Rock Band
In a most bizarre cross promotion, Energizer, MTV and Harmonix have teamed to create a contest for rock bands. Entrants can create a band profile with the Energizer Rock Band "Advance Into Overdrive application on Facebook. Then they must beg buds to vote for them and the "most creative, interactive, entertaining, and fan driven page" wins. Here's the kicker. The first prize is being able to rock out for 20 straight hours at the NY Times Square MTV store on Nov .13 and will be streamed on Energizer's site. This is supposedly because their Advanced Lithium batteries can go 20 hours longer than their MAX standard alkalines.
Not only will this push batteries, it is also meant to promote the new in-game feature 'Battle of the Bands' that will allow players to compete against others online. Okay, but couldn't they just have given out coupons or free samples?
The memory of The Beatles lives on with the release of their Rock Band this week, as it is practically a historic account of their rise to fame from the beginning at the Cavern Club in 1963. It's hard to believe that it has been almost 50 years since their appearance on the music scene that practically changed the course of music. Abbey Road, Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band will also be downloadable in the month to come.
Available for Wii, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, Rock Band is available as a standalone, Guitar Bundle and Limited Edition with bass, drums, mic and stand.
A remastered digital Boxed Set that comes with a DVD of 13 mini-documentaries is also available for those who just want to listen and/or watch.
No doubt you heard of the DSi's coming out party, but we have rarely seen so much hype so fast to push the new Nintendo gaming system. Available in either black or blue, there is a purchasing limit to 3 units at a time. What makes the portable gaming system so "in"? Not only can you play DSi and many DS games on it, it features two cameras with 11 customized lenses, can browse wirelessly, let you play with others and can access music in the AAC format using a standard SD Card.
Not only does the DSi have its own site, plenty of gamesand accessories are already available.
Zeebo claims that it has reinvented the game console. Plug it into your TV and it is good to go with self-explanatory user interface and some games already loaded. Even better, it automatically connects to the ZeeboNet Wireless Network for buying and downloading new games in minutes. Based on a on Qualcomm BREW platform and MSM chipset to make it more affordable, it also is energy efficient by consuming only 1W power. The system has a 640 x 480 screen resolution, a full-featured controller, expansion ports and multiplayer capability.
The starting MSRP of the Zeebo is $199.99 although there may be a $50.00 price reduction later this year. By making it inexpensive and only needing downloadable games, we can certainly see the system going global.
Can't afford a $250.00 Wii? How about the Jakks Pacific Ultimotion as an alternative? The system comes with bowling, golf, tennis, baseball and football controllers. Play is similar to the Wii, and for less than $50.00, you may not get as extensive a selection of games, but this could be a viable solution for couch potato kids.
Woo Hoo, it finally happened! The Xbox 360 has finally fallen below the $200 mark. According to CNET news:
One of the the biggest selling points of Nintendo's Wii video game console since its launch nearly two years ago has been that it was the lowest-priced of the trio of next-generation machines that also includes Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.
To date, the Wii costs $249, while the lowest-priced Xbox, the so-called "Arcade," retails currently for $279. An 80GB PS3 sells for $400.
But Microsoft said Wednesday that it will drop the price of the Arcade on Friday to $199, breaking through what some have said is the all-important psychological price level of $200. At that price, industry observers say, the market opens up to mass levels of consumers.
Microsoft will also drop the price of its 60 GB Xbox to $299
We bet you just bought an Xbox 360 last week? Oh well, they're getting so cheap you can buy one for the bedroom now.
Review: Earforce X4 Xbox 360 Wireless Surround Sound Headset
We here at NAV are huge wireless headphone fans. One thing we've noticed is that most standard wireless headphones just don't cut it when gaming. We've been eyeing the Earforce X4 Xbox 360 Wireless Surround Sound Headset ever since it came out and now Gizmodo has a decent review. The review states:
It should be noted that these "surround sound" headphones are really transposing a 5.1 channel signal into two stereo speakers, but the results are excellent all the same. In Call of Duty 4, I could track a helicopter's proximity to me perfectly (with exception of just behind my head). And in Project Gotham Racing 4, cars whizzed by ears with aggressive speed.
As for the chatting, it's a complete pleasure in the X4s. Not only do both sides of the conversation benefit from improved audio clarity, but you hear your own voice mixed in with the game audio. This audio loop is to help keep you from shouting, and I think it works in practice. Plus, the mic's wire is supported by a pliable but durable metal skin--it feels 100x better than the stock 360 headset mic, like production-level gear.
$200 seems like a lot to drop on a pair of wireless headphones but if you take your gaming seriously, you might want to start saving your nickels.
You can also check out this video on the Earforce X4:
Sony to Deliver Free Streaming Music Videos to the PS3
It seems almost everyday there's something new coming out that turns the PS3 into a full-fledged media server. Sony has announced free music videos for the PS3. According to the press release:
Leipzig Games Convention, 20th August 2008: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced today that VidZone™, the online destination for music videos, will deliver their free streaming music video service to PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™). The trial service is scheduled for launch in early 2009 for Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and is sure to be a hit with music lovers everywhere. VidZones service allows PS3 owners to watch the best new music videos for free on their PS3 or streamed to their PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) via Remote Play.
VidZone is one of Europes leading online music video services, streaming a full playlist of videos from hip-hop to punk and heavy metal to classics. Music lovers can build their own playlists and personalise their VidZone experience to be whatever they choose. All these features and more will be included in the PS3 service, including the option to download songs, music videos and ringtones to a mobile phone for a small charge.
SCEE will be launching a comprehensive film, TV and music download service at a later date.
Hmmm..Play games or watch music videos? Decisions suck!
Man, I love the Madden football series, as I know most gamers do! There's been a lot of excitment about the new Madden NFL 09 and we've found a 8 minute in-depth video review of the features and gameplay.
Overall the graphics look a lot like Madden 08 but there's quite a few new featrues mentioned in the review that you may want to check out. We know it just came out a few days ago but If you've gotten Madden 09 yet, drop us a comment and let us know what you think.
Madden NFL 09 Xbox at Amazon Madden NFL 09 PS3 at Amazon Madden NFL 09 PS2 at Amazon Madden NFL 09 Wii at Amazon
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NAVi Award Winner - Jane Lynch and Xbox 360
HP's 
The 
To be fair, Apple fanatics would love a new 
How kewl is the 
The Next Generation 
We know someone who signed up for a checking account so that he could get a free portable DVD player. Technology is so advanced now that almost anyone can afford one, like the 
Speck's 
The Motorola 
iFrogz 
INSTEN's 
It's difficult to compete with the top of the line 
One of the most creative MP3 players we have found is the 
This is not to say that you can't share, for we have found that any time we buy something for our own kids, we dig them as much as they do. Nintendo's 
Vtech's 
And if you want a toy for yourself, give the 
