Review

If there was any doubt that this would be the year that smartwatches and other wearable technology hits the mainstream, look no further than Best Buy, where you’ll find best-sellers like the Pebble smartwatch alongside the latest generation of Samsung’s wearable tech –the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. Soon some new entries will be joining these: the Cookoo and Cogito. Choice is good and these new models offer a new take on the traditional smartwatch form factor as well as a more affordable option for those who want to take the plunge into wearable technology without a large investment. I just spent a week with a Cookoo smartwatch and you can read my review here.  

  I recently got my hands on the Acer Aspire S7 Ultrabook and was impressed the moment I took it out of the box, and continued to feel that way as I ran it through its paces. It is a beautiful machine with a stunning display, very speedy performance, all in a very thin and light form factor. It is no wonder they call it the “professional edition” as the design of the S7 Ultrabook is very sophisticated. This machine is an able competitor that is worthy of very serious consideration for your next computer.

I was really looking forward to getting my hands on the new Linksys WRT 1900AC wireless router. It’s not just the buzz that’s built up since it wowed attendees at CES 2014 or the black and blue shout to the iconic Linksys WRT54G —the best-selling wireless router of all time. My own wireless network is at a crossroads. As high definition streaming video and a swarm of mobile devices combine with Wi-Fi dead zones to overpower what was once a pretty robust network, I was anxious to find out if the latest generation of Wi-Fi routers could provide the power to make things feel snappy once again. After swapping out my existing router for the Linksys WRT 1900AC review unit, I can say that thanks to the killer performance of this retro-styled rig, Wi-Fi Nirvana is once again within reach.

Hauppauge has time and again created some of the most versatile personal recording devices, and the HD PVR Rocket aims to do that yet again.  This lightweight yet powerful device allows you to do things some of its competition can’t, such as record with push buttons off the device, record to devices without the use of a PC and even plug in a microphone for realtime commentary recording!  Come check out a review of this helpful device after the jump.

“Welcome to the Future” is how Trials Fusion greets you as you begin another chapter of the world’s most beloved trial bike game.  Featuring over 50 levels of hops, jumps and (for the first time) stunts, Trials Fusion attempts to jumpstart the franchise in an all new way for the future.  But how does this stack up with the last couple games?  I turn to a longtime series fan and prominent member of the Trials community for his input as we review Trials Fusion, now available at your local Best Buy and BestBuy.ca

Wi-Fi is the greatest thing since sliced bread —so long as everything is working the way it should. No ethernet cables strung all around the house (I remember those days) and the ability to use a Wi-Fi enabled device anywhere. At least that’s the promise. The reality is many homes have zones where Wi-Fi is dead or very slow. Building materials like concrete, ceramic and metal can block Wi-Fi signals and decorative items like glass mirrors can deflect them. While one approach to improving Wi-Fi coverage for your home or small business is to install a newer, more powerful router, you can often get just as much of an improvement for a lot less money and fuss by installing a range extender. In this review, I look at the latest such device from D-Link, the DAP-1520 Wireless AC Dual Band Range Extender.

Logitech has been a long time leader in providing excellent universal remote controls. They provide such a wide range of universal remotes that you are sure to find the ideal remote for your entertainment system and budget. At the top end of their line is the Harmony Ultimate, which has amazing capabilities – in fact more than the average person will likely need. Logitech just introduced welcome additions to their lineup with the Harmony Ultimate One and the Harmony Smart Keyboard. They are both priced much more favourably than the Harmony Ultimate but have everything you will likely need. I got a chance to test them both so here is my full report.

The NX30 represents Samsung’s big play to convince DSLR users to take mirroless cameras seriously. And with a long and impressive list of features, on the inside and out, this camera looks like anopther nail in the coffin of the DSLR category.   Today, photographer Justin Morrison gives us his thoughts on the NX30.

When I was a child, I wanted to be a dentist despite the fact that I hated going to one. A friend of mine wanted to be a fire truck. Not a fire fighter. The truck. Something just about all of us wanted to do at one point or another, however, was go live at Disneyland, Disney World or somewhere in the world of Disneyana. We’ve since grown up and realized this isn’t actually possible, however, Disney Magical World aims to take our old dreams and ambitions and turn them into something. Disney Magical World answers the question of what life might look like if you DID, in fact, live with your friends and favorite Disney characters in the town of Castleton. Is it the stuff of dreams, or a huge nightmare?  Come take a look at this unique title.