Andy TaylorLeave a commentTTR Website

New Survey Indicates Kids want Laptops this Holiday Season!

A New Survey from E-Tailer Ebates. Com has found that the top requested item for the holidays from the kids this year is a new Laptop! Kevin H. Johnson, CEO of Ebates. “It’s interesting to see how the older kids want a laptop while the younger kids generally would prefer a smartphone or tablet. No matter which one parents plan to buy, between our coupons and cash back, we can save shoppers more than 20% on laptop and tablet purchases,” said Johnson.

In the Survey it was found that Boys and Girls ages 16-18 would like to have a laptop while Boys 13-15 would like the latest iPhone and Girls in the same age demographic would rather have clothes! Even though the push for new tablet sales on television and other media, only the Boy’s Aged 8-9 were wishing for a 10″ tablet. Whatever happened to the Electric Train Set…

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Ebates from October 17-24, 2012 among 1,121 8-18 year olds.

This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

Andy TaylorLeave a commentActivision, Call of Duty, Computer Games, TTR Website

Call of Duty Black Ops II

I received a copy of Call of Duty Black Ops II yesterday from Activision, actually the good folks sent me the Xbox360 Hardened Edition which includes a ton of extras for those chomping at the bit for more Call of Duty.

We also received the PC version which is available as a Steam Download. I’m still one of those that likes to have the title on DVD and for the television segment on KMSB Fox 11 always great to show the Box! Either way, I fired up the title last night and while I had a little confusion getting into the game, specifically to play the Zombie version of the game but eventually got in to play the campaign which featured a well produced story line. The game play is fluid and the characters are unlike I have seen before in detail! I completed a couple of missions which included calling in Air Support as well as firing big guns off a boat.

I would recommend the Hardened Edition for those fans of the Call of Duty series. The Box set includes a Collectible Limited Edition Game Case with special artwork, Limited Edition Challenge coins, Access to Nuke town Zombies game which puts you in a 1950’s Era Nuclear ravaged neighborhood and the Official Soundtrack by Jack Wall with the theme from Trent Reznor.

The game play is fun and action filled but certainly not geared at the “Young Un’s” with expletives peppered in throughout the game.

Checkout the Trailer for Call of Duty Black Ops II

Andy TaylorLeave a commentComputers, software, TechtalkRadio, ,

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Today (Feb 29th, 2012)

The idea to put out Microsoft Windows 8 before the end of the year really shouldn’t be thought as a way to make a few bucks before the predicted Apocalypse but a way to keep the profits rolling in for the software developer.

Honestly, I thought I might just be using Windows 7 till the end of of time. I had finally moved off Windows XP with a brief stop in VistaVille to a great experience with Windows 7 X64. The sturdy Operating System has served well and honestly will continue to do so for I am sure years to come. Will Consumers feel the same? Will they take the plunge and try out something else that looks again like a new interface to learn? This is certainly the question Microsoft would like to see answered with today’s Consumer Preview “beta” rollout and launch in Barcelona Spain. Spain? Why not Seattle?

Word of Caution, while TechtalkRadio has not looked at the technical preview which was made available for developers last September, I would always recommend not installing the Consumer Preview on a production machine, meaning a system you use day to day and is imperative to your operations. The goal of the Consumer Preview is not to give you free software or let you taste the sweetness like a candy at See’s sampled by the lady in the white dress, its purpose is to see how the software interacts with various hardware and software conditions.

If you want to try it out, you should be able to download an ISO of the Windows 8 Preview but also remember , over time this will time out and you will be required to purchase or go back to that copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7!! For more information on this Consumer Preview, Check out http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/home

Andy TaylorLeave a commentTTR Website

TechtalkRadio Comes to RadioExiles

Photo of Andy Taylor
Andy Taylor - TechtalkRadio Host

(Tucson, Az) TechtalkRadio begins production this week for a RadioExiles weekly version of the latest in Tech and Gadget News in short form for Podcast. The new TechtalkRadio Radio Exiles Show will be available for Free Download at RadioExiles.com on Thursdays.

The TechtalkRadio show created by Andy Taylor and Mike O’Brien has had homes on KPSI Palm Springs, KTKT Tucson, KJLL Tucson and Clear Channels KNST Tucson and also featured as a regular weekly segment on Broadcast Television with the KOLD TV Morning News.

Over the years various show host have joined Andy Taylor for a lighter look at the world of computers, technology and the Internet on the weekly broadcast and internet webcast of the show in what usually amounts to an hour or two of technology. The current show webcast on Saturday Mornings with Slick, Justin and Broadway and features a version of webcast which airs in Grafton West Virginia on WLMN Radio.

According to show creator Andy Taylor, “the Radio Exiles version of TechtalkRadio will still look at gadgets but also provide links and fun sites that can get lost in the muddle of all the news that is available” His show is hoping to make it a fun experience while learning about some cool sites and tricks to use on both the PC and Mac. “Not having to stick to a clock timed one hour format will allow me to share the most relevant information in a shorter time span.”

Don’t let the name fool you, TechtalkRadio is not just for Techies. The show is for anybody who loves the gadgets.