Free App Deals – Drop the Chicken, Blonde vs Brunette Racing, & Bowling Ninja
Drop the Chicken – (Universal App) - Your mission is to help Chuck get to each nest while eating all the bugs along the way. Drag the acrobatic tools into place and then click the switch and watch Chuck bounce, slide and float around the levels. Use balloons, fans, conveyors, mouse holes, elastic bands, chick magnets and springs in your effort to get all the bugs! Think before you drop and be sure to avoid the bombs, saws and other obstacles.
Blonde vs Brunette Racing – (Universal App) - Ready for crazy rides and races? Play BvB Racing, the two player battle of all time!
Bowling Ninja – (Universal App) - Tappi Bear, the enemies are coming again! Donuts can’t satisfy those Ninja Bears this time! Your only weapon is……a Bowling Ball??
First Impressions – Sony NEX-5N
If you read my last post yesterday, you know that I just recently purchased a Sony NEX-5N camera. I ordered it on Wednesday of this week and got it today via FedEX. (On a side note, love Amazon Prime). Upon receiving the package, I was quite surprised at the size of it. I imagined that the box would be a lot bigger than it was. Upon opening the box, you’ll see that everything is neatly packaged within the box. The instructions and included software will be the first things you see, which is standard for all digital cameras. Flipping over the cardboard separation, you’ll see that the camera and accessories are underneath and also separated by cardboard.
The Sony NEX-5N accessories include a camera strap, battery, battery charger, external flash add-on, USB cable, and a lens hood. I was surprised by the lens hood attachment as I did not know it came with one and none of the reviews I read mentioned it coming with one. It was certainly a welcomed bonus. The camera itself is wrapped in an anti-static white bag and the lens and body already come attached together along with the lens cap. The only thing that is disappointing about this is that the package does not include a lens rear cap or a cap for the body if you wanted to store each separately. These are optional “accessories” you would need to purchase.
One of the first things I did was inspect the body and lens just to make sure everything was in good order and in good cosmetic condition. I wasn’t able to turn on the NEX-5N yet due to the fact that the battery does not come charged and I have to wait about 3 hours for it to charge up. This is the first time I’ve run into a piece of electronics where the battery didn’t at least come partially charged. It’s not a big deal but this just means I have to wait longer to play with the camera. I’d say it’s similar to receiving the keys to a Bugatti Veyron, but not being able to drive it because you have to walk 5 miles to get gas and then walk back to fill her up.
Since I wasn’t able to play with any of the camera’s functions yet, I examined the camera itself first. The first thing you’ll probably notice about the camera is how light it is, yet how solid it feels in your hands due to the mainly all magnesium construction. The body is matte black and has a real nice stealthy look to it. On the back of the camera, the NEX-5N features an articulating touch screen LCD panel. Most articulating screen I’ve seen are either hinged on the side or the bottom and usually feel a bit flimsy. The Sony screen however only articulates for tilting the screen upwards and downwards. The hinge system they use seems really strong and built to last as it’s also made entirely out of metal and hinged in 3 spots instead of 1.
The lens attached to the body is a Sony made, E18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens. Unlike traditional DSLR lenses that are mainly plastic and rubber, this lens is made entirely out of metal (I don’t know what kind) and has a really nice industrial look to it. Because of this, it too feels very solid in your hands. When combined with the body, the fit is so exceptional that it almost feels as if the body and lens are one piece. Very impressive indeed. As you can see from the image, I attached the lens hood to it just to see how it would look.
I do like the contrast between the matte black body and brushed silver lens which is one of the reasons I got it in this color combination. I’ve seen the silver bodied NEX-5N and just didn’t like how everything blended together.
Overall, I am very impressed with the whole presentation of the NEX-5N, its build quality, and the solid feeling this thing has in my hands. It’s a fairly small camera when compared to other in it’s class, so people with large hands might not like it, but for me, it fits perfectly in mine and the weight of it terrific. As soon as this battery finishes charging, I’ll be able to dig into the camera software a bit and then over the weekend, take some sample images to see if the image quality really is as good as everyone says it is.
My Two Week Mission – Finding the Perfect Camera
Photographing kids is one of the most pleasurable things to do as a parent as we love showing off pictures of them to all our friends and family. On the other hand, those with kids know that photographing them is probably one of the hardest things to do, especially babies and toddlers. The problem is that they never want to hold still long enough for you to photograph them properly. I’ve run into the problem where normal point-and-shoot cameras can no longer do the job as most of the images I capture consist of clear backgrounds and what appears to be a child that is blurred beyond recognition. Don’t even get me started on low-light photography either as that’s even more of a mess.
Since my wife and I just had our 2nd child not to long ago, we’ve come to discover that she will just not hold still for photos so a majority of all her photos are blurry unless we were lucky enough to catch her sleeping. Because of this, I’ve been on the hunt for either a new DSLR or the newer mirrorless style cameras. It’s a tough decision finding a camera of this nature because there are so many good choices out there. You have cameras like the Nikon D3100 and Canon T3 for entry level DSLRs or the slightly mid level Nikon 5100 and Canon T3i. It’s even tougher when you get into the mirrorless category as there are so many more cameras in that category like the Olympus PEN series, the Panasonic Lumix, Nikon 1 series, and the Sony NEX series.
It’s been a rough 2 week search for the perfect camera and I’ve even gone as far as borrow an older Nikon D5000 to get a feel for using a DSLR. I’ve used old school film SLR’s in the past in my younger days and using a DSLR was like second nature. I found that shooting with these was super fast and I was able to get the type of shots I’ve been looking for but couldn’t get with a point-and-shoot. After using it for about a week, I came this close to buying a Nikon D3100, except for one thing that kept me from pulling the trigger – the bulk. Don’t get me wrong, the camera feels great in your hands but DSLRs are just so hard to transport on a daily basis.
Lately, a lot of these camera sites have been raving about the new mirrorless style cameras that employ DSLR sized sensors. Basically they have all the advantages of traditional DSLRs but in a much smaller package with more compact interchangeable lenses. The main cameras in this category I was looking at were the Olympus E-PM1, the Nikon J1, and the Sony NEX-5N. Each are very different in nature, yet similar in what they are trying to accomplish. These are small bodied cameras with DSLR styled interchangeable lenses. Each of these has their own strengths and weaknesses, but after looking at what each had to offer, I finally settled on the Sony NEX-5N.
Based on reviews, the Sony NEX-5N produced some of the best photos in the bunch with little to no noise and has an ISO range of 100-25600 which is almost unheard of. One of the main factors in my choice is that it seemed to take really great low-light level images and is able to capture 10 FPS which is really fast. Another factor was the build quality and feature set on this camera. Unlike the DSLRs I was looking at, the Sony NEX-5N is build mainly out of magnesium alloy and feels quite solid in your hands. There’s an industrial retroness to the camera too that modern DSLRs don’t have.
I could go on and on about this camera but instead, I’ll be breaking down my review of this camera into sections as I use it. This is going to be one of those long term things and I don’t want to just throw up a quicky review. In the meantime, check out the images below of what the Sony NEX-5N looks like.
The Lytro Just Might Be the Most Interesting Camera I’ve Ever Seen
If you’ve never heard of the Lytro, don’t fret because before today, neither had I. I won’t go into specifics as I recommend you check out their website to get all the technical details of the camera itself but to briefly summarize the product, the Lytro basically allows you to freeze a moment in time and be able to view everything that frame has to offer. Unlike a conventional camera that only allows you to view whatever you are focused on, the Lytro captures an entire light field of information. It’s hard to explain in words what this does so instead, I’ve attached an image from their website that exemplifies what the Lytro can do.
As you can see, the Lytro is able to focus on any portion of the image as if you had taken multiple images of it, but in actually, you have only taken 1 picture. It’s pretty amazing what it does. It does all this without the use of auto-focus which also means that you’ll be able to snap images almost instantly without having to worry about whether or not the subject is focused or not. The images are saved in a proprietary format however that allows you to focus the images after the fact. Using special software, you’ll be able to upload these images to your favorite social networks as well as export them to a more friendly jpeg format if need be.
The Lytro is available to preorder right now on their site for $399 or $499 depending on the amount of storage space you opt for. If you’re in the market for a new camera and want something very different from what you currently have, I highly suggest you check out the Lytro.
[via Lytro]
Free App Deals – Death Rally, My Paper Plane 3, & Rope’n'Fly 2
Death Rally – (Universal App) - Brought to you by REMEDY, renowned developer of MAX PAYNE and ALAN WAKE! LOAD YOUR GUNS, START YOUR ENGINES… IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY, LITERALLY! This is no Sunday Drive. This is DEATH RALLY.
My Paper Plane – (Universal App) - Take to the sky with retina display graphics, original music and easy, ultra accurate tilt controls. Breeze through the game on easier levels or attempt to earn your place among the best on the harder ones with online achievements and leaderboards.
Rope’n'Fly 2 - Use your ropes to swing an destructible ragdoll from on skyscraper to the others. You have full control over your ropes, touch on a tower to throw your rope there, touch once again to release it and use your acceleration to fly through the sky. Touch again once you come too near to the ground before your break into smithereens.
Free App Deals – Flick Soccer, Robber Rabbits, & Bacteria Killer
Flick Soccer & Flick Soccer HD – Get your Football fix with the most addictive arcade freekick game. This season there will be a new champion walking away with the title!
Robber Rabbits & Robber Rabbits HD – Robber Rabbits is an addictive puzzle game featuring 48 tricky physics-based levels in a Christmas setting, full of shooting experiments and fun! Carrot ice cream is hanging high above on platforms swaying about, shoot it with your guns and snag the prize in the bag as it falls to the ground. Make sure to collect all the carrots and as many Christmas treasures as possible, while hunting for an ice cream! But beware: broken light bulbs, blowing fans, and other interactive objects make sure this is no easy task. Bang, bang!
Bacteria Killer – (Universal App) – Bacteria Killer is a classic minigame, in which you are playing as a doctor to kill the bacteria with different capsules.Match four or more colors either horizontally or vertically to delete them. Each level is completed when all of the bacterias have been defeated.
Bert and Ernie Recording for TomTom GPS [Video]
Here’s another one of those funny Tom Tom behind the scenes recording sessions. This time it’s with Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. Like the previous Star Wars related recordings, this one is just as funny and they even throw in a little Star Wars reference for the fans.
Ernie – Engage Hyperdrive
Bert – Hyperdrive???
Check out the video in all its entirety above.
[via Youtube]
Unofficial Tom Tom R2-D2 Recording Fail
Remember when Tom Tom did those videos showing off their behind the scenes recordings with Star Wars characters? The official voices that came out were those of Darth Vader and Yoda but I’ve always wondered what would have been like if they did it with R2-D2. Well, now I know because someone on Youtube actually made a spoof of those promos and features R2-D2 in the recording booth. It’s actually quite funny with bits and pieces cut from the other 2 official videos. It’s a fairly old video from 2010 but I don’t remember ever seeing it. Still funny nonetheless.
[via YouTube]
Pulse Profiles: Gaming, Fatherhood, and Pulse
Guess who’s featured in the Pulse blogs this week? Me. Not sure why they’d want to interview me but they did. Basically they ask me questions about what I did, about this website, as well as how I use Pulse on a daily basis and why. They go into other questions but I won’t spoil it for you guys who might actually want to read it. I don’t really find myself that interesting but other people do I guess. haha.
You can check out the entire interview on their blog here. Also if you aren’t using it, you should be. Pulse is one of my favorite news readers on the iPad/iPhone and is the only one I really use daily to check up on blogs and news quickly.
Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Stormtrooper Figures by Kenner
Let’s be honest here, the most iconic figures in the Star Wars universe aren’t the Jedi or and of the rebels in the Rebel Alliance. It’s the Stormtroopers. Not even Darth Vader comes close to the loyal following these soldiers of the Empire command. There’s just something about their “panda” armor and that helmet that really appeals to fans of the Star Wars franchise. Some people even cosplay as Stormtroopers, but for the rest of us who can’t afford to acquire the armor, we can only dream…or purchase these 3.75″ Stormtrooper action figures made by Kenner.
These figures are part of the Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back line of vintage figures that are currently out in stores. They are roughly around $8.99 depending on where you get them from but can run higher than that due to their limited availability in most cases. They are a bit hard to find at the stores, but not impossible. Unlike old Star Wars figures that I grew up with as a child, these are fully articulated and highly poseable. They include 2 classic Stormtropper weapons and include every detail you would expect on a Stormtrooper. The finish on them vary from figure to figure so some might look a bit better than others but it’s very minute.
If you’re a Star Wars fan, this is definitely something you want to add to your collection whether opened or not. I own 3 now and opened one so that I could actually play with it. The above image is the result of one of my various photoshoots with it.
Free App Deals – Nostalgio, Adding Apples HD, & Qubica HD
Nostalgio – (Universal App) - With Nostalgio you can freely express your creativity and make a professionally looking photo collage in minutes. With a large variety of premade frame templates, thoroughly selected border styles, effects and other editing options you have nothing left but to produce a masterpiece!
Adding Apples HD – (iPad Only) - Adding Apples is a fun learning experience with appealing and interactive 3D graphics. This new software is highly intuitive and with many elements to explore, discover and learn! The natural and logical interaction will help your child to develop a solid understanding of basic mathematics.
Qubica HD – (iPad Only) - Experience a fascinating symbiosis of innovative block games and magical gameplay! Qubica offers a thrilling new way of gaming.
TGWK’s Review – Temple Run v1.4.1 (iOS)
If you’re searching for a new casual game that will help pass the time, Temple Run by developers Imangi Studios might just be what you’re looking for. It’s one of those endless running type games except that instead of being a 2D game that runs from side to side, its a 3D experience that will get you swiping and tilting like a mad man. In the game, you play as an adventurer who just stole a priceless idol from the temple. You are being chased by a band of killer monkey creatures and most run for your life. Avoid obstacles and traps while collecting coins and see how far you can run. Randomly generated maps each time you play means Temple Run will keep you busy for hours.
Free App Deals – Tiny Brush, Doodle Fit, & Cover Orange
Tiny Brush - The pretty brushes compete by painting each other and performing the little battles shooting the paintballs. And they attack each other moving busily to snatch the flags. Anybody can enjoy “Tiny Brush” easily any time and show up the characters of his or her own to the people by growing up and decorating them with the unique costumes through the level up. You can have a match against all users worldwide through the game center. Be the world best among the users of “Tiny Brush” around the world with the variety of items.
Doodle Fit – (Universal App) - The task in Doodle Fit is simple: fit the given sets of blocks into the given shapes. Drag the blocks into positions in search for the layout that covers the whole shape. A level is complete when all blocks have been used and there is no more space free in the shape.
Cover Orange - Drag the various objects at your disposal to create barriers that will protect the oranges from the acid rain. Use your skill and ingenuity to achieve the maximum population survival rate. Vitamin ‘C’ollateral damage is not an option.
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