The Wii Boxing Experience

Over the last weekend, I fought with my friend of more than 15 years. We have never fought so ferociously in the past 15 years and come to think of it, we never quarrelled too. I was knocked down flat in two out of the three rounds of boxing. How did it all start? It all started from a birthday celebration for our mutual friend. Everything went great; the food and the drink, the catching up session, the small jokes. I would say we had lots of fun. The wife of the birthday boy then said to us that they had a surprise for us at their place that night. None of us think too much of it. I have totally forgotten about it. Never thought that surprise would cause a ferocious fight between one of my best friends and I.

After the dinner, we moved over to their place. Nothing much happened during the journey until we reached their home. I was told to hide the small cake we bought for the birthday boy and to give him a surprise later that night. Talking about the impromptu action, I did quite a bad job hiding the cake; I believed that the birthday boy had seen the cake when he was passing by the TV console. When I was hiding the cake, I saw a familiar tiny white box. Could it be? No doubt about it, that is a Nintendo's Wii console. So that was it! That was the surprise the wife of the birthday boy was talking about.

When we made ourselves comfortable in their home, the rest started to explore the Wii console. Within a few minutes, the birthday boy had everything ready and he was giving us a short guided tour of the Wii. The navigation seems pretty easy and straightforward. The birthday boy was showing us a few games - tennis, bowling, golf and boxing and one of my friends suggested to start off with tennis. I saw the birthday boy brought out the game controller and started to give some instructions on how to play the game.

On first look, the game controller looked a little complicated. However, there wasn't much button to press in the game of tennis. I saw the birthday boy holding the game controller with one hand and then secure the game controller on his wrist with a strap that you can find in most digital camera. He was saying something like, "You have to use the strap to secure the game controller or it might just fly off from your hand." I was thinking at that point, "You must be kidding us! The controller could fly off the hand? We are not playing a 'real' game of tennis here."

The graphic of the game wasn't particularly attractive, unlike those superb graphics that you can find in most computer games these days. However, the action is as real as the actual tennis game, minus off the running around the court. The swings to hit the ball were real and according to my friend who was playing it, you have to swing almost as hard like you are hitting the ball in the real game. Not only that, the timing of the swing must be exact too; if you swing too early or too late, you would miss the ball. Just after a few swings, my friend started to complain that he was getting hot and sweating. The game ended with my friend and the birthday boy slightly exhausted.

They moved off to the next game, which was boxing. The wife of the birthday boy excitedly said to us that boxing was the only game that she always won aganist her husband. My memories of boxing game were one where I only had to use my fingers to control the action. However, in the Wii's boxing game, you have to hold the game controller in one hand and another piece of controller in the other hand - almost like you are wearing the boxing gloves. Round one started and both my friend and the birthday boy started punching each other virtually. Just after one round, I could see sweats trickling down the necks of my friends. They were virtually punching in the air and there they were sweating? You read me right. I was a little skeptical too.

The next match was between my friend and I. I held the two controllers in my hand and stood ready for action. Round one started and both of us were experimenting a little on how the game worked. We were soon punching ferociously at each other virtually. And then I understood why they were sweating earlier on. If you were punching as hard and as deeply involved in the game as if you were really boxing, you would be sweating too. To stimulate the hit, there would be a slight vibration by the game controller. What was the result? I was knocked down flat in two rounds out of the three rounds game and I was exhausted.

Before you thought it was over like I did, you would get aching arms and back for the next few days. What a Wii workout!

iPhone May Not Be Worth The Money

Before release, everyone anticipated the iPhone with restlessness, and then with great reviews under its belt, the gadget became the center of attention in today's high-tech universe. What's funny to me is that everyone's pointing out only the upsides of the iPhone (probably because they want to sell it to you). I believe the iPhone is very neat, but is it worth the money or a rip-off? That's what I'm here to tell you.

One major downside and complaint of the Apple iPhone is its battery's life. Because of the high-tech features such as multi-touch technology, revolutionary sensors, and nearly the same operating system as in the Mac, the battery is drained easily. Truth is Apple released the iPhone before creating a top-tier battery.

iPhone exclusively using AT&T's Edge is yet another major complaint. The data network is sluggish compared to other more developed networks today. Apple has claimed this feature isn't a major drawback, well, because the gadget had been designed to be notorious about receiving broadband connection via Wi-Fi Hotspots. Simply, the network is slower than what you're used to with your computer.

The iPhone doesn't support the sophisticated 3G technology for no particular reason. It's a mystery. MMS functions aren't even provided in the iPhone. Nor are voice dialing or recording. This means that it's only a dual-band mobile phone.

Tackling messaging, there is no instant messaging. Therefore, you'll have to stick to plain and simple e-mails. This can be a drag in the business setting. And what makes matters worse, you can't copy and paste important data.

The iPhone doesn't have a memory slot at all. Apple claims there is sufficient built in memory, yet consumers today expect to have the feature of external memory. Therefore, Bluetooth capabilities are weak an do not support file transfers or A2DP. Again I ask, what use does the iPhone have for businesspeople?

Okay. I'm being a little harsh. The Apple iPhone is still the best handheld phone on the market, but that doesn't mean there's not room for improvement. It's possible Apple is saving the upgrades for the next addition of the iPhone.

The iPhone has revolutionary features as said previously. We've never seen anything like it, but is it in comparison worth the money? If you need the best there is then possibly. It's a nice toy but may not be as valuable as priced.

The gadget's value also depends on what you'll be using it for. If you're a businessman, you might want to stick to your current PDA until the Apple iPhone is upgraded. If you're looking for the most high-tech, hottest toy on the market that you can use to surf the internet anywhere (for entertainment purposes) it may be worth the investment for you.

Apple did quite well with the iPhone. Note that this article is only about the downsides. Of course, there are many perks you should know before deciding whether to get the iPhone.

Wait! Did I mention you're stuck with a two-year contract if you buy the iPhone?

About the Author: Jason Parker is an electronics enthusiast (more like electronics “obsessiveist”) and author of the website http://WhatFeaturesTheiPhoneHas.com where you'll learn about the iPhone's high-tech features.

Sony Ericsson K950i – Worth More Than Just A Memory

The Sony Ericsson K950i is a new breed of phone, plain and simple. It effectively moves away from the accepted standard of features that its predecessors have set and, as a result, has taken it to a new level and is in a class of its own. It has a host of features that people of every age could make use of, with some notable absentees that may put users off. Technologically, it is one of Sony Ericsson’s better phones and is well worth considering if you are on the look out for a new phone.

Before you even pick the K950i up, it looks amazing. At 15mm thick, the phone is extremely practical, However, not everything follow suit where size is concerned. The screen, for example, is a fantastic 2.6 inches, is crystal clear and shows up colours very crisply. It also happens to be a touch screen and comes complete with stylus for ease of navigation. The buttons are quite small so the ability to touch your way to a menu on the screen proves to be a major plus point.

It has to be said that the K950i has a long list of features. It has all the usual features, such as Bluetooth and FM radio, but others go above and beyond the call of duty. The MP3 player is of a high quality in itself, but also has add ons that makes it infinitely easier to use. The jog wheel on the side of the phone can allow you to find a song much quicker than you could using a scroll button. Track ID is also present so you can find out unknown song details from a few bars.

If that doesn’t float your boat, maybe the handwriting recognition feature will. Simply write using the stylus and the K950i will translate it into text, if your writing resembles printed lettering that is. Then there’s the conference call facility, the top of the range web browser or the exceptional organizer functions. The list goes on.

The K950i particularly stand out from the crowd because of the memory and battery power though. You get an incredible 4GB of memory and 7 plus hours call time. The K950i has more stamina than most other phones, which makes it easier to use if you tend to travel a lot or want a low maintenance phone. The memory is perfect for song storage. Despite all of the other features, I think most users will appreciate these the most.

Most phone models have a few faults that any reviewer can pick on, but I can find very few with the K950i. The main problems with the Sony Ericsson K950i are not actually present in the phone, but rather what it lacks. It has no camera and no capability for video conferencing; the two features that are probably most in demand at the minute. This severely lets the phone down.

The Sony Ericsson K950i is an exceptional phone, but lacks the complete package. Add a camera and it would do, but the fact it is missing degrades the phone slightly. However, the memory and battery are nothing to be sneezed at and should give two excellent reason as to why you should choose this phone.

About the Author: Alistair Masterson, if you're a sucker for the cheapest deals, take a look at http://www.FreeLineRentalMobiles.co.uk. You'll find the Sony Ericsson W950i alongside the best mobile deals available anywhere.

iPhone: Apple Reinventing the Phone

This morning I was informed by my friend that Apple will be having their own phone. This is truly something that is exciting. The first iPod, which was first introduced in 2001 did not just change the way we listen to music, it changes the entire music industry. At his keynote address on Tuesday, Steve Jobs revealed three revolutionary products; a wide screen iPod with a touch control, a revolutionary phone and a breakthrough internet communication device. These are not three separate devices, this is one device -- iPhone.

The mobile phone market will soon deal with a new competitor as Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Tuesday revealed the iPhone, a new touch-screen phone that plays music, video, surfs the internet and takes picture.

If you are a fan of Apple or have been following its news closely, you would have already heard of the much-rumored iPod cell phone. On Tuesday, Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs revealed his new touch-screen mobile iPhone at Macworld Conference & Expo 2007 with a keynote address from San Francisco's Moscone West.

In his keynote speech at Macworld, Jobs said, "Apple is going to reinvent the phone. After today, nobody is going to look at these (other mobile phones) the same way again." Jobs also announced that Apple would drop "Computer" from its name and would now be known simply as Apple Inc.

If you are considering to get an iPhone for yourself or someone, you will have to wait a little longer. The iPhone is expected to come out in the United States in June, Europe in late 2007 and Asia in 2008.

What you can expect

Jobs added that the iPhone uses a new multitouch technology, which does away with the traditional keyboard found on most PDAs and replaces it with a screen upon which various buttons will appear for different functions such as its built-in iPod, phone and Web surfing.

Not only that, the Apple iPhone is a widescreen iPod that features touch screen controls that allow you to enjoy all your content, including audiobooks, music, TV shows, and movies. It features an amazing 3.5-inch diagonal screen and only 11.6 millimeters in thickness. Apple said that the phone will have a 2-megapixel camera, instant text-messaging capacity, iTunes sync and a visual voice-mail system, which will allow users to read a list of people who called.

The Apple iPhone also comes with Google Inc.'s search engine and maps, as well as Yahoo Inc.'s search engine and email application.

At the keynote, Jobs demostrated the phone by pulling up the nearest Starbucks Corp. store on Google Maps, then prank-calling the coffee shop and ordering 4,000 lattes, before hanging up -- to the roar of the crowd.

Apple said that the phone will come in two version. A phone with 4 gigabytes of storage will cost $499; the 8GB model will cost $599. Both with a 2 year contract with cingular.

Apple said that it aims to sell 10 million iPhones in 2008, which would equate to about 1% market share.

Read the stories of this amazing guy behind Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, who once lost everything in his life but never stop dreaming. He mentioned in one of his stories in the commencement at Stanford University, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

You can read the 3 stories at: http://www.symphonyoflove.net/blog/?p=38, http://www.symphonyoflove.net/blog/?p=41 and http://www.symphonyoflove.net/blog/?p=43

For those of you who want to view the keynote address and the introduction of the iPhone, you can catch it at: http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/j47d52oo/event/

Nintendo Wii's Elebits Is Ele-fun

I had the opportunity to pick up this game yesterday and figure I could whip a quick review of it. I try to have the whole family perform the reviews, but since I was the only one to really get into this quirky game, I better just go ahead and complete the review myself.

The game play is unique from other console type games; you are required to use both the Wii-mote and the nunchuck. The Wii-mote is your zapper gun and the nunchuck is you movement. You can walk in all directions using the nunchuck and stretch up and crouch down using your Z button on the nunchuck. Your zapper is your tool to catch the little Elebits. You just simply point and click your zapper to catch the Elebits as well as move items around. The environment (house rooms) is completely movable; if you see an object then eventually with enough strength you will be able to move the objects.

You can stack chairs on top of couches on top of the dinning room table if you like. Keeping the objective in mind, which is to catch as many Elebits as you can in a certain amount of time or with out breaking to many objects or without making to much noise. The Elebits represent watts or power, the more you collect the more you can do. As you collect the Elebits different appliances become available to turn on, which in turn will release more of the little creatures. Overall the game play is very good. Please keep in mind that the game is in the first person point of view and that puts a lot of strain on your eyeballs and may even make some people (my wife) sick to their stomachs due to the fast movements of your field of view.

The graphics on this game are better then we have seen from the Wii thus far and although they are still very cartoon oriented, though they work perfectly in this odd game. The sound on this game is hard to judge, but for one they didn’t stick in my mind nor did they annoy me. I would have to say that at least they had some voice over work done for the story line, unlike Zelda which is all text based.

Fun Factor on this title is excellent, I played through a few levels and had to go back and play more later in the evening. I eventually stopped playing around midnight last night and I awoke with Elebits dancing in my head. I left off at what would be the first boss of the game and that round was pretty tough. The Boss multiplies at first into 3 ghosts, when you zap the 3
ghost the boss turns into 5 smaller ghosts and then 10 mini ghosts. The ghosts can be really difficult to see at times and one hint I’ll give you is to look up in the rafters of the level, they like to hide up there.

This game is entirely innovative and I am sure there will be sequels released in the future and hope the Elebits become another Nintendo household name. Who would guess that little hiding Elebits would be such a big hit. I have never played anything similar to this game and it is only showing a bit of what the Nintendo Wii has to offer. Elebits is probably now my favorite Wii game. My library is not huge, but Elebits is the 5th Wii title that I have purchased.

Since I have only made it to the 7th or 8th level I really can’t put a number on the difficulty level of this game, but I did have to play the first boss at least 4 times without beating him. The first thing I am going to do when I get home is to put that ghost in his place.

I think this is an excellent game for the Nintendo Wii and I would highly recommend it. I rate this game as a solid 8.3 and it should be in every Wii owners collection.

About The Author: Robert Lyttle. Nintendo supporter since 1/10/1985. To view other articles, reviews, video, etc. please visit my Family site http://www.wiitod.com

Bluetooth Headsets: Overview

It seems that every day, virtual movers and shakers are introducing new products and systems to make our lives a little bit easier. Bluetooth technology is one of the biggest advances to hit the market. Bluetooth wireless technology makes it easy and convenient for users to enjoy wire-free, short-range communication between devices. It is a globally available standard that connects portable computers, mobile phones, MP3 players and even cars, all without wires. People who use Bluetooth technology enjoy communication without any ties, so it only makes sense to have the right wireless headsets.

Manufacturers have found that it's not easy to create a really good wireless headset for Bluetooth. On the contrary, it is much more difficult that designing wired models. Bluetooth headsets can never be as small or as light as wired headsets, simply because the battery and extra functions must be included all in one unit. This extra size impacts how the headset mounts on or around the users' ears.

There are two main styles of Bluetooth headsets. The more comfortable, yet less secure models are held into place with a loop around the ear. Others are "earbud" styles that are placed directly inside the opening of the ear. More secure, but certainly less comfortable.

When you are shopping for Bluetooth headsets, take the following points into consideration:

Cost
This is an obvious issue. Prices range from the affordable to the truly lavish, so you might have to shop around to compare prices before you choose.

Ergonomics
Comfort should be your primary consideration, as users typically spend a great deal of time with Bluetooth headsets.
- Check to see if the device can be removed and replaced from your ear quickly and conveniently
- Make sure that the control buttons on the headset are easy to use
- If you wear glasses, be sure that the device can be used while you are wearing eyeglasses, or sunglasses
- Some calls can take a long time. Make sure that your Bluetooth headset will be comfortable after an extended period of time
- Try wearing the device in both ears. You may want to switch side to side for comfort or convenience
- Compare Bluetooth headsets to see which are the lightest. Weight is a very important consideration, as you don't want the device to cause discomfort or fall off
- See if the headsets come with a carry case. You'll need to store or transport it when not in use

Ease of use
Some gadgets meant to make our lives easier, only cause frustration.
- Commands and controls should be easy to use and remember
- Be sure that the volume level is easy to adjust. If you're on a call that lasts from your office to the subway station, you'll need to be able to adjust the volume quickly and easily
- You're shopping for Bluetooth headsets to enjoy the latest in instant communications, so make sure that the headset you choose turns on quickly
- Make sure that a support number is provided to call if you need guidance or if you have a problem with the device
- Check the manual. It should be well written and easy to understand

Features
Not all Bluetooth headsets are created equally. There are a variety of features that may or may not be included in the one you choose.
- Ask about the battery. Know the type of battery, how much talk time it can hold, and how to tell if it's fully charged or losing charge
- Don't assume that the Bluetooth headsets you choose can be paired with every one of your wireless devices. Check and verify this before you buy
- Does the headset carry a good warranty? Who will you call for service if you have a problem?
- Check the sound quality for receiving and sending audio
- How is the range? The headset won't be much good to you if the range keeps you tied to your home or office

There are other important capabilities to consider in comparing Bluetooth headsets. Voice tags, transfer calls, three-way calling, last number redial, call reject, link to other phones and mute options are all convenient features. Check to see how it looks on you. You might not want a headset that is large and obvious, or you may prefer a model that stands out.

While technology changes our lives, it also shapes our lives. Using Bluetooth headsets gives us the freedom to stay connected without being tied down.

About The Author: Linda Miller contributes articles to several popular web sites, especially http://nugoz.com and http://wetid.com

Microsoft Zune Hits The Streets

Zune is upon us, and if you weren't aware of it you are among the few that the Microsoft marketing machine has missed. Run a Google search on the name, and the first six results listed are all websites - or more accurately, domain names - produced by Microsoft and containing their promotional material.

Zune is the Microsoft MP3 player, available on the market for just a few weeks now. It has a thirty gigabyte hard drive, a three inch square video LCD and costs two hundred and fifty bucks. There are a couple of features that the iPod doesn't have: the Zune has some "preloaded" music on it from contemporary artists; it also has wireless transfer capability so that one Zune can ship music or photos to another Zune over a short distance. Overall, however, it's fair to say that, in its current format, the Zune does not represent a significant improvement over the iPod, or a compelling reason to pick it up if you already have an iPod.

Microsoft would have you see it a little differently. They are casting the Zune player as the first in a series of products to be released under its Zune brand. "Designed around the principles of sharing, discovery and community, Zune will create new ways for consumers to connect and share entertainment experience.. .With Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections. "

Along with the media player the Microsoft Zune music store has sprung to life and at the same price as the iPod music mart - ninety nine cents per. Currently, they have two million tunes available compared to Apple's 3.2 million. Early Microsoft press releases hype song sales from labels "DTS, EMI Music's Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings , Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records." Presumably some of that preloaded music comes from artists on these labels.

Much has been written about the recent deal signed by Microsoft and Universal Music Group. That agreement has Microsoft paying Universal $1 per Zune sold - and it is a landmark deal because it gives the music company a share in the sale of the hardware. Apparently Microsoft felt compelled to develop an inside arrangement with a major music company because of its late start in the business. For its part, Universal's CEO says, "We felt that any business that's built on the bedrock of music we should share in..."

Apple has no such arrangement in its contracts with recording companies; those are straight revenue sharing deals. There is a good deal of concern that this deal will presage a new degree of control by the music companies over hardware manufacturers, not to mention a fee structure.

According to Universal CEO Doug Morris: "We were very early in working with Steve (Jobs) on the launch of the iPod and he's been a very good partner and done a lot for the industry...We have a current contract with him and at the end of that I'm sure we'll negotiate." Morris' company accounts for nearly one in three CDs sold in the United States.

The notion behind this agreement is that music companies lose a lot of sales to digital piracy - through peer-to-peer sharing on the Internet and through simple transfer of music from one iPod to another. Indeed, one of the features on the Zune player is that any song transferred to it from another Zune will "expire" after three plays. That should pump up business for the Zune music store; however it also gives the Zune wireless feature a mercenary look.

About The Author: Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients understand how a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.