Toronto Thumbs

Cool Gadgets
The Fretlight Guitar

ZOMG! Check out the fretboard!

Once in a while, I feel compelled to write about a cool gadget that I found. I may or may not have said gadget in my possession which means that these types of posts are me just yammering on about something cool I found. However, I would ask that you humour me, because the interwebz is full of awesome…

When I started playing Rocksmith, I became curious about other methods of learning how to play the guitar and came upon the Fretlight. While Rocksmith relies on the tones generated (and processed by the console through the RealTone cable), the Fretlight is a little more integrated with the software. Built into the guitar is a second jack with an 8-pin plug-to-USB cable (for interfacing with the computer). The Fretlight software lights LEDs built into the neck of the guitar: single notes, chords, bends, slides – it’s all displayed on the neck and it’s freaking cool.

The software allows you to completely control the tempo of the notes, allowing you to teach yourself how to play the guitar in a slightly different way than other learning software (and games).

Check it out. »

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Holiday Ideas
Alienware Aurora

I have been sitting with essentially the same system for about two years now. A decent Q6600 and a nice motherboard and 8 gigs of RAM have only really needed a topping up by a GTX 460 (768M) to keep up with the current stock of games. Of course, this means that I am not playing at the maximum settings – which makes me cry sometimes. Then, I find out about the machine that I’m about to address, and the word seppuku dances across my mind. Thanks, Alienware!

As I have mentioned in print and in person, gamers are tough to buy for due to the fact that they probably already have the latest hardware. Of course, this is not entirely accurate. What I should have said is that gamers probably already have the latest hardware that they can afford. Most of my friends that are gamers are not really rolling in money; so what happens if someone were to come into some cash from grandparents or find a hidden bundle of cash under their mattress? Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the Alienware Aurora*.

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Holiday Ideas
SteelSeries DESMO

Gamers can be a tough bunch to buy for. Unless you really know the person well, choosing a game that they might like is a questionable venture – especially when you factor in the likely possibility that they have bought the game already. Hardware is also a tough choice, as most bleeding-edge gamers will already own whatever you think they might want. Steelseries has an answer for that, though: the DESMO.

A while back, I reviewed the SteelSeries Scope, a set of eyeglasses promising to reduce eyestrain, thus improving one’s gaming experience. By the end of the reviewing process, any doubts I had about the effectiveness of this product were cast aside; I have been using them in my first-person-shooter adventures ever since. Not content to sit on their laurels, SteelSeries (and their intrepid partner GUNNAR Optiks) created the DESMO, a new set of digital eyewear that seems to promise an even better experience than the Scope.

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Review
SteelSeries Sensei Pro Gaming Mouse

In the world of PC gaming, there is probably no better controller than your mouse. First-person-shooter nuts and real-time-strategy aficionados alike will tell you that the flexibility and speed of a mouse will always be better than any other type of console-esque controller. In short, if your game requires pointing, you need to turn to a mouse. Many companies have been making mice for a long time; two names that pop into mind are Microsoft and Logitech – many mice on the market are by these two giants (or are 3rd party re-brands*).

Gamers have more options than this, though (even though, to be fair, Logitech does make some good gaming mice). Razr and SteelSeries are other well-known makers of both well-constructed and well-designed gaming mice. Usually, these mice are specifically created for a particular genre – with unique layouts for customized play meant to aid the user in their battle against control inefficiency. Now, SteelSeries raises the bar like never before with their latest product: the SteelSeries Sensei Pro Grade Gaming Mouse.

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Posted in Gadgets, PC, Reviews | 1 Comment »

Toys
The Fisher Price Apptivity Case

As humanity marches on, our technology grows increasingly advanced. I know that from personal experience it is hard to keep kids away from shiny gadgets; especially the iPod. Each version of the iPod Touch has a better display than the last version, making it an attractive target for young kids – especially babies – given the brightness and clarity of the images on the screen. So what’s a techie parent to do? Fisher Price has come up with an answer in the form of the Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case.

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Toys
Kre-O Transformers: Bumblebee (and a Contest)

This is another post for those of you that like to get your holiday shopping done early; or maybe you just like buying cool toys (we don’t judge*). In any case, this is a pretty neat set that I had a lot of fun putting together, taking apart, and putting together again!

I haven’t played with LEGO in a long time; not the LEGO that I grew up with, anyway. Recently, I have been using Duplo more than anything else, trying to teach my kiddo that it is okay to build things that aren’t shown on the box – not that there is anything wrong with sticking to the plan, of course. Modern building sets are much different than they used to be. On one hand, they have such highly specialized pieces**; going free-form is challenging in a good way – working around the super-specialized pieces can really help to stretch your noodle. On the other hand, there are a lot of tie-ins to movies and such with recognizable vehicles – it is just a different level of fun! Since the big dog’s patent ran out, other folks have moved in to fill in the gaps – and that’s where Hasbro’s Kre-O comes in.

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Posted in Awesome, Contests, Gadgets, Holiday Hints, News Bytes, Toys | 2 Comments »

Toy Story
Hot Wheels Video Racer

Click the pic to watch some test footage of this car!

While the Holidays are still a ways off, we thought that we would start tossing out some ideas to our readers before the real rush sets in. You will see some articles over the next while about some neat toys that we have been playing with lately.

I’m not sure if miniature cars held the same position of prestige in memories of your childhood like they do in mine. Back then, die-cast dinky cars were the best thing going; along with LEGO, you could pretty much create almost anywhere in the world. Once you had fun with those, there we’re the track sets that let you play with the concept of the inclined plane in loop-the-loopy ways.

Fast forward to the now, where cars are no longer made out of metal. How do you recapture the glory of the old days? Well, Hot Wheels may have hit upon the solution: recapture by capturing!

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Review
Sony Playstation 3 Wireless Stereo Headset

As a rule, Sony Playstation accessories (and Sony products in general) are well-designed and very functional. Their bluetooth headset, for instance, is a great way to stay in the game with voice chat (and the unit can be paired with your mobile phone). Sony returns to its sonic roots and applies their knowledge to the gaming sphere with the new Sony Playstation 3 Wireless Stereo Headset; it is consistent with the quality and performance that you would expect from Sony.

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Review
SteelSeries Spectrum 7XB Headset

I was quite pleased with the SteelSeries 5H-V2 MOH headset that I reviewed not too long ago. The unit had great sound and a high degree of comfort – perfect for use on my PC. However, not all of my gaming is done on a PC; I tend to partake in a fair amount of console-based entertainment

My home entertainment system is a fair distance from my couch (over twelve feet) and while a wired solution is decent, it introduces clutter and a tripping hazard. I wondered if there was a wireless solution available that was comparable to the 5H-V2 in terms of quality and comfort; apparently there is: the SteelSeries’ Spectrum 7XB Headset.

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Review
SteelSeries 5H-V2: Medal of Honor (Limited Edition)

It used to be the stability of your network connection that would determine your online first-person-shooter success; lag was an unforgiving enemy, and a poor connection would leave you wondering how you went from sprinting between cover to lying on the ground with a large hole in your noggin. Nowadays, it is safe to say that it is the rare bird that has a poor internet connection. Advantages are now bestowed by better graphics cards (increased visual detail), better audio cards (allowing you to pinpoint sound more accurately), more precise gaming input devices (headshots) and yes, even better headphones.

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