RayvenLeave a commentTTR Website, , , ,

Happy Caturday Everyone!

Ok, that phrase was used what?? In the 2006’s? Anyhow, welcome back to a new year and a new collection tech related reviews!

There’s no doubt that there are a plethora of cat toys and trinkets at ThinkGeek.com . From automatic cat feeders and automatic lazer toys, to treat mazes and wearable digital cameras, there is a company that stands out above the rest. The “Catit Senses” brand offers a variety of linkable feline fun that will get your little kitty purring in no time.

Here is the finished product. Very sturdy and simple.
Here is the finished product. Very sturdy and simple.

I recently received the “ Catit Senses Massage Center” to review. The box was very simple and all of the information was on the outside. It has a gum stimulator on the top that the cats can chew on (instead of your computer wires and cables) and some ridges on the outside for them to rub against and scratch themselves. I was kind of surprised there wasn’t a scratching post part which would’ve fit nicely at the base, but they added comb-like brushes there instead.

It was very simple to put together, just a matter of snapping the top onto the white base, and setting the rubber no-skid mat on the bottom. It came with a small cup of catnip to sprinkle on it as well. Now to get the cat to check it out!

I set the Catit Senses Massage Center out in the walking path of El Capḯtan Negro, our feline friend, to see what he would do. At first he circled it a few times just checking things out. I thought about the catnip aspect, so I added some to the gum stimulator cup and around the base to see if that would get him to explore. He immediately went for the gum stimulator and chewed it a couple gnaws and that was the extent of that. He walked over to the counter where the box was ant began rubbing his cheeks onto the corner of the box! I immediately thought of my grandmother “ Those kids would rather play with the package than the expensive toy inside!” she used to say when we were young geeks.

The next day, I relocated the Catit Senses Massage Center to the floor figuring maybe location change would suffice. I also added the rest of the catnip around the massage center thinking that more is better. He walked over to it after a while, rubbed his cheek on the nubs at the top, then walked away and I’m sad to report has not played with it since. “How in the world am I going to review a product that my cat isn’t interested in?”, I thought.

El Capitan Negro testing out the gum stimulator feature

A few hours later, I put it outside thinking that the playful stray cats outside would enjoy the feeling of a massage. Nothing… not a one of them even sniffed at it. I don’t know if it were because it scared them or they just plain weren’t interested. I figured if any of them would play with it would’ve been the smaller stray cats because they always play with leaves, sticks, etc. Nope.

So basically, my review is this: it was not effective with my cat nor stray cats. The product, however seemed to me very well made and user friendly. I wish I would’ve got El Capitan to use it more. Maybe in the future I will have an update. Let us know if you have tried other cat toys like this and what worked for you. Happy Caturday!

Andy TaylorLeave a commentTTR Website, Websites, , , ,

One of those Ideas that will Raise some Eyebrows?

I am sure this has to be one of those ideas that has come along that will raise some eyebrows and cause a few groups to come forward and lay claims of the objectifying of Women for having scantilly clad (Usually means wearing anything from a two piece to a fig leaf but in this case, bikinis) women giving us DIY people a chance watch and learn.

http://www.eyehandy is a site that has launched with Videos featuring Models or maybe experts in their field giving viewers a hands off demo of how to do everything from regripping golf clubs to how to replace a kitchen faucet. While at first glance it could easily be assumed this site would be geared at Males but could the braintrust behind this also have the idea some women may watch and pick up tips from somebody who will explain the process in easy to understand terms.

This is probably one of those ideas some may wonder why they didn’t think of it first but the idea has existed in advertising for years. Do you really think those Victoria Secrets Ads are for Women to pick out the finest in Silk undergarments? The music in the Videos and pacing reminds me of those workout videos from the late 70’s early 80’s which I am not sure had men or even women working out alongside. If advertisers jump on board with products featured to help these experts create or build, could it be product placement at its finest?

The founder of EyeHandy is 26 year old Alex Merrimen who lives out in Las Vegas and with Mukundh Pandian create the content and manage the site. Merriman in the About Us on the Company Website stated that he wanted to creat videos with a “more informative teaching approach”

Whether informative or good clean fun, the site is sure to not only have some traffic over the next few weeks to view the current 15 videos in rotation. I myself am waiting for the How to Sew a Button Video, that is something I truly need to learn. For more information, Check out http://www.eyehandy.com

Andy TaylorLeave a commentTTR Website, , , , , ,

Unlimited means Unlimited

Photo of Andy Taylor
Andy Taylor - TechtalkRadio Host
Andy Taylor of TechtalkRadio talked with Emmy Anderson of Sprint today to discuss the Simply Everything and Everything Data Plans from the Mobile Provider. An Announcement last week had many pondering the effects of Verizon backing away from Unlimited Plans to metered services. Some had wondered if Sprint might follow suit however the unlimited service plans have been succesful marketing for the company competing for a strong foothold while not offering an Apple iOS enabled device.

What Sprint has going for the company is great customer service and a variety of handsets that have won favorites in the Android Class of Smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy Epic has been noted for great features on screen as well as a slide out keyboard for those that like the push to key devices.

In our Discussion Emmy lays out the reason for the continuing of the Everything Options and devices that are offered from Sprint.

To Listen to the Interview please visit the website http://www.techtalkradio.com/hardware/sprint.html

Rayven4 CommentsTTR Website, , , , ,

Exercise. That 4 Letter Word!

Yes, I said it. Exercise. I know, I know. It’s a nasty word! Before anyone jumps to conclusions or gets upset I wanted to let you all in on a little secret. With new technologies like Wii, PSMove, and Xbox Kinect, we now have the option of getting an extremely beneficial workout at the same time as playing video games.

Working Up a Sweat

Back in the early days of the PlayStation2 I actually lost about 35 lbs using the Dance Pad with Dance Dance Revolution and got a pretty nifty little benefit of cardio endurance during my marathon trainings. Most of the time I didn’t even realize I was working out because it was so much fun dancing to the beats and trying to remember the combos to score extra points.

Then, came the Wii with motion controls. When I had a FirstGen Wii, I loved playing games like Wii Sports and Wii Dance. I never did get a chance to experience the Wii Fit but I heard it is pretty fun. There are many more options to choose from now. EA Sports just released Zumba Fitness and some other really awesome games like Football Trainer and likewise there are many versions of Just Dance as well. Unfortunately, I had to “donate” my Wii to someone else, but was lucky to have kept my Ps3, a feat I am proud of to this day.

This brings me to the purpose of this blog. I recently had been released from the doctor to work out again and wanted to do something different than I had done before. It’s boring going to the TV and popping in a DVD or watching Fit TV to get a boring exercise routine out of the way just to say I did it. Blechhh!

Like many, I don’t like using my gym at the clubhouse here either because people are gross and leave many things unclean. I also don’t have confidence enough to walk in to a local gym with Barbie and Ken doing their 5 mile hill climbs and 30 mile recumbent bike rides when I am walking briskly for 1 mile and feel like, “I am going to DIE!”

I found a solution. It’s completely awesome and so much fun. The game is called EA Sports Active 2. It’s a second version, similar to the EA Sports Active that was previously only released on the Wii a few years ago.  This newer version however is available for all 3 platforms and uses Kinect for Xbox360. The cost is about $99.99 but I’ve seen it around the web for as low as $69.99.  Pretty cheap considering the average gym membership is about $50.00 or more plus a personal trainer is going to cost you extra.

EA Sports Active 2 Personal Trainer Box

This game lets you personalize an avatar. Mine happens to be a bit curvy and has some junk in the trunk. Exactly my type of avatar! I don’t want to work out as Kim Kardashian if I don’t look like her. Maybe one day! Ha!

After you personalize your avatar, you create personal goals, and make a workout calendar for yourself. I began working out 4 days a week with 3 rest days as recommended by the game. I also chose the 9 week workout plan. It starts you off at a beginner level and then presses you through workouts at 3 interval phases throughout the program. You get to choose your own personal trainer. Mine is a motivating dude who lets me know when I’m doing a strength training move incorrectly by saying politely, “Stay still and make it count!” To which I usually reply, “Shut Up I hate you. No More Reverse Crunches!” Only because the game really makes you work hard but really it is truly fun. It’s definitely challenging for sure.

3 Phases of Fitness with Active 2

EA Sports Active 2 mixes cardio, boxing, kickboxing, step aerobics and strength training exercises all together.  There are really entertaining  exercises like Soccer Block, Bike Riding, Rail Sliding, and Basketball Shooting. We had a friend over on Thanksgiving when I got the game and he is an ex personal trainer at a well known gym. He did the exercises to try the game out for us for about 30 minutes and he was sweating. He said, “This game is way better than any of the other games I have played. It’s more real and makes you move.”

How does it track your movements? With the game comes three censors and a USB drive. There are two arm bands and one leg band. One of the arm bands has a censor on it to track your pulse and the other two are for motion censing. Now the first time I played, it was a bit awkward and the leg band kept slipping off my leg but I think because I didn’t have it tight enough was the problem. It also comes with a resistance band to help with the strength exercises like curl arm presses and reverse flys. It works pretty great at toning. I am already showing a bit of tone in my arms especially and my legs too from all the squats they have. The USB stick keeps track of your progress so that if you want to switch consoles or take it to a friend’s house to work out together you can travel and keep your progress on your stick. It’s pretty rad.

EA Sports Active 2 Equipment for Ps3

Your progress is kept daily. The games contains fitness goals, nutrition logs, tracks calories burned, fitness levels attained, weight loss and heart rates achieved. It’s rather thorough I’d say. You can also create custom workout groups to workout with friends and watch each other’s progress. Unfortunately, you cannot use cross platform groups. A friend of mine purchased Wii version of the game and created a group and I tried to join on my Ps3 version and we could not. However, we did make an online group on the EA Sports Active 2 website and were able to track each other’s progress that way.  I like to track my progress on facebook using the Ps3 feature of posting my achievements on my facebook profile page via Ps3. It’s motivating for me.

As far as the game goes, if you are looking to workout but you hate gyms or monotonous workout videos, give EA Sports Active 2 a try. Similarly, if you have a Wii, try out the Football Trainer that just came out this month. I would be interested in hearing if anyone gets it going and how they like it. It’s really a blast and the health benefits are already showing for me after only 4 weeks of training. Run out and grab your copy!  Happy Fitness New Year!

Sprinting
Andy Taylor2 CommentsEntertainment, TechtalkRadio, TTR Website, video games, , , , ,

Call to Service – Call of Duty Black Ops

It would appear that the long awaited title Call of Duty Black Ops is exceeding sales figures of the last year sequel release to Call Of Duty Modern Warfare. COD Black Ops, I will call it that because something seem wrong about calling it COD BO. It’s far from Stinky and the sales of the game released this week have exceeded about 5.6 million copies. With a little under a couple of months left for the holidays to wrap up, Call Of Duty Black Ops will no doubt be a continued Best Seller of both Concole and PC titles. Even with strong competition from Fable III and Fallout New Vegas as well as a variety of Bond titles, the first week indications have been tremendous.

At the launch party for Call of Duty Black Ops, the CEO of Activision Blizzard Bobby Kotick announced the donation of One Million dollars, a portion of the sales from the new title, to go to the Call of Duty Endowment which provides job training and placement for returning veterans of any branch of military service. While the estimates of joblessness for the Veterans is bleak, this endowment continues to educate and inform the American people on efforts within thier own communities and globaly to help our servicement.

The Star studded launch party included Scrubs star Zack Braff and Basketball legend Kobe Bryant who was featured in one of the most creative commercials for a Video Game title to ever air. The Call of Duty Black Ops TV Spot also features an appearance by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. Activision Blizzard has shared some of the footage from the Launch party which was help November 4th in Santa Monica California, although we didn’t get to see any of the concert footage from Metallica! Check the video out and find how you can help spread the word about the Endowment and learn of ways you can help out from your very home!

–Andy