With the not so successful runs of the Nintendo Wii (launched 2006) and Wii U (launched 2012), many people were beginning to question Nintendo's place in the consoles race. Consumers started to question whether or not Nintendo could keep up with Microsoft's XBOX or Sony's Playstation line-ups. Now, fast forward a few years to 2017, we have the launch of Nintendo's latest "console"; The Switch. And, it looks like Nintendo is ready to go toe-to-toe with the giants, once again. But, is the excitement over Nintendo's latest product justified? Nintendo Switch: Build Quality The Nintendo Switch definitely doesn't follow in its predecessors' footsteps when it comes to build quality. The Wii and Wii U, in my opinion, felt cheap. They felt like toys that could easily be broken, if handled just a little too firmly. The Switch, however, has a nice solid feel to it. It is lightweight, but doesn't feel flimsy. Even with the Joy-Con controllers connected to the tablet. Once the controllers slide into place, they are securely locked in. Nintendo Switch: Display The Switch comes with a 6.2" capacitive touch screen, with a resolution of 1280X720. For some people this aspect of the Switch was a bit of a let down. However, I've had no issues with this resolution. When it comes to gameplay on the Switch offers sharp image quality and vibrant colors. Nintendo Switch: Battery Life The Nintendo Switch has a 4310mAh lithium-ion battery. Nintendo says you will get anywhere between two and a half to six and a half hours of screen-on time. While playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild I've been getting a little over three hours of play time. It is estimated that it takes the Switch three hours to fully charge, while plugged into the dock. Apart from the tablet, the Joy-Con controllers are estimated to run for about twenty hours on a single charge. Now, I have not used the Joy-Cons on a single charge longer than the few hours that the tablet lasts. So I cannot confirm this. Nintendo Switch: Controls The Joy-Con controllers are, in all honesty, surprisingly comfortable to use. when I first saw the controllers, I thought they were going to be too small to use comfortably. I was expecting to use the controller grip, whenever i had the Switch connected to my TV. This turned out not to be the case. Using the Joy-Cons separately, while playing with the Switch docked is easily my favorite way to play. The Joy-Con grip is very lightweight, and fairly comfortable in the hand. For a more traditional gaming experience, the Joy-Con grip is a great way to start off, but the Switch Pro Controller is probably recommended for longer gameplay. Nintendo Switch: Titles
For many people, there was one big downside to the Nintendo Switch. The number of launch titles. The Nintendo Switch launched with around nine titles (a big step-down from the 32 that launched with the Wii U). I never saw this as an issue, because I figured a majority of my time would be spent getting lost in the Zelda game. However, now that the Switch has been out for a few weeks, there are now 24 games. And, the library is still growing. At the time this was written, the next major title set to come out is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The game is going to launch on April 28th, 2017. There are also several other games set to come out, before then. For example, Lego City Undercover will be released on April 4th and Puyo Puyo Tetris on April 25th. With an ever-growing library, I don't see the selection of Switch games being an issue. There will also be lots of big titles scheduled to launching this Holiday season. From Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, and NBA 2K18. You can also expect to see Minecraft, Dragonball Xenoverse 2, FIFA and much more on the Switch, in the future. Nintendo Switch: The Verdict The Nintendo Switch is a solidly built piece of hardware. It has solid controls, and a great display (even with the "low" 720 resolution). The gameplay is very enjoyable and extremely diverse, with the console and portable styled game modes. I have really enjoyed playing on my Switch. I've probably enjoyed the Switch more than I've enjoyed playing on my other game systems lately. The portability factor is a huge plus, for me. I would definitely recommend at least checking out the Nintendo Switch. I believe it is a great console, all around. There will probably be some things that will take some getting used to, like the feel of the controls. Have any of you tried out the Nintendo Switch? How do you like it?
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What is the one thing we all look for in a pair of headphones? Sound quality. We want a pair of headphones that deliver rich, vibrant sound. For the past week now, I have been using the Koss Porta Pro Limited Edition. And, I have to tell you. I was genuinly surprised by these lightweight on-ear headphones. What Are They? The Koss Porta Pros are a small ultra-portable pair of headphones with a retro style to them. The first thing I thought when I saw these headphones, was that they would be perfect for Star-Lord ('Guardians of the Galaxy'). That is what the style of these headphones seemed to emulate. They are small, compact, durable and offer a retro, minimalistic design. With these Limited Edition Porta Pros, you get the headphones (with an inline mic, play/pause button and volume control), a hardshell case, and a carrying pouch. How Do They Sound? Now, the Porta Pro heaphones aren't just pretty to look at. The sound quality, as I said earlier, is the most important aspect of a pair of headphones. When it comes to this department, the Porta Pros definitely take it to a whole new level. I was immediately surprised by the sound packed into these compact headphones. The Porta Pro headphones offer a deep, rich sound. They offer a great balance between the highs, mids, and lows. The Porta Pros offer an amazing listening experience that you can take anywhere. THE DOWNSIDE? Overall, the Koss Porta Pro are a great pair of headphones. I would even give them the title of my favorite pair of headphones (dethroning my Sol Republic Master Tracks). BUT, there is one [small] thing that I don't like about these headphones. The cable. First of all the cable, the cable is non-removable. Which, honestly wouldn't be a big deal if it wasn't so thin. The cable feels fragile, and could potentially break easily. The Conclusion
Like I said, the cable is my only issue with these headphones. Aside from that, I love them. They are beautiful, they are extremely comfortable, they are portable, and they sound great! Have you tried the Koss Porta Pro? If so, what do YOU think about them? If not, will you? I think you should. About a week ago, I downloaded a new game on my phone. The game in question? Marvel Mighty Heroes, made by the developers over at DeNA. If that name sounds familiar, its probably due to their recent mentions in the media. DeNA are the developers that will be working with Nintendo, to help bring their famous characters to the mobile app market.
Marvel Mighty Heroes Marvel Mighty heroes, in my opinion is a very well rounded and fun game to play. The graphics are very animated and look like the developers were going for a "cartoon" look rather than realistic and detailed (like INJUSTICE: Gods Among Us). Personally, I think that the graphics are great on this game. They are-although animated-detailed and look incredible, compared to many other games on mobile devices. In terms of the user experience, this game interacts, similarly to games like DC's INJUSTICE and Marvel's CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS. The gameplay experience is very similar to that of the iOS exclusive Vain Glory, or the PC favorite League of Legends. Gameplay is extremely easy to learn. The simple tap to move and auto fire capability make this an easy, but still fun, game for many to enjoy. Marvel Mighty Heroes, in my opinion, is a great game. It runs very smooth, and is constantly receiving updates, for both bug fixes and adding new characters. I definitely think its worth checking out. This review is going to be a bit different...for me. This is going to be my first app review. I hope it helps, I am going to break this review into three different parts; Installation & Setup, Features, Gameplay & Final Thoughts. Okay, let's get into it.
Installation & Setup The process of installing GBA4iOS 2.0 is extremely simple. The first thing you will need to do is go to GBA4iOSapp.com, you will need to start the download on the current date. As soon as your download begins, you simply go to your iOS devices settings and change your date back to February 18th, 2014 or earlier. Once your download finishes, just open up the app and then you can change your date back to the current date. After you have installed the app, can begin installing games. Simply press the "+" in the top right corner of your screen and begin searching for ROMs. GBA4iOS 2.0 is only compatible with iOS 7.0 and higher. Features -Redesigned for iOS 7 -GBA4iOS 2.0 offers a more sleek, updated look to match the iOS 7 update. -Support for iPad -Compatible with Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Color games The update to GBA4iOS now allows it to support GBA and GBC games. I am currently not sure if it also supports classic Gameboy games. I will be sure to update, when I find new information. -iOS 7 controllers supported This has to be one of my favorite features in GBA4iOS. My only issue with the previous version, was that holding my phone in portrait mode the buttons feel mashed together and in landscape mode the controller skin took up too much space and the gameplay "screen" seemed too small. With the added support of MFi controller, I am able to connect my MOGA Ace Power controller and play for long periods of time without having my fingers feel crammed together. -Event Distribution I'll be honest, when I first read this feature I wasn't to sure about what it meant. It is, however, self explanatory. From time to time Riley Testut (the genius Developer behind GBA4iOS), will enable certain events for Pokemon games; such as the abilities to obtain special items or receive rare Pokemon. While some events do have time limits, it seems like occasionally there will be events distributed, that have no expiration date. If you would like to insure that you stay up to date on new events and all thing GBA4iOS, follow Riley Testut on Twitter @rileytestut. -Cheats I have not tried using any cheats at this time, but I will be sure to update once I try it. GBA games on GBA4iOS support GameShark v3, Action Replay, and Code Breaker cheats. GBC games support GameShark and Game Genie cheats. -Dropbox Sync (extremely useful) This feature is extremely useful. It works easily and seamlessly with GBA4iOS. I have found the Dropbox Sync feature helpful for when I've had to delete the app and reinstall later, or I accidentally delete one of my games; I don't have start all over again (perfect for Pokemon). -Sustain button (perfect when playing Pokemon) This feature, though extremely simple in terms of it application, is definitely a great addition. I have found myself mainly using this feature while playing Pokemon (is anyone seeing a pattern here?). This feature basically holds down one button of your choosing. For example, while playing Pokemon Emerald I have it set to hold down "B", so the trainer is constantly running. This does make it a bit easier when using the touchscreen controls. -Custom Controller skins Another great feature added to GBA4iOS is the ability to download and even create different controller skins. To download more skins, you simply go to GBA4iOSkins and there you can go through several different style categories and choose whichever ones you would like to download and they are added to your skin library, in the GBA4iOS app. Gameplay After you have installed your ROMs and have them stored in GBA4iOS, starting to play them is extremely easy. You just choose the game and it starts up just like the original handheld console. Playing games on the updated version GBA4iOS is much better than the previous version. In the previous version, there used to be some games that would tend to crash or sometimes even, not load. In the updated version I have not had any issues with any of the same games that had issues before. My favorite games to play on GBA4iOS are; Pokemon Emerald, Dr. Mario, Donkey Kong, and Galaga (through Namco Museum). Currently, I am only playing those games because those have been the ones that work the best with my MOGA controller. This is due to the fact that there does seem to be some delay, in the response between the controller and the game. These small "issues" don't worry me at all. This is due to the fact that another feature has been added to GBA4iOS. That feature is, the ability to add future updates to GBA4iOS. The first updated version of GBA4iOS was released in February, with the 2.0 version; currently (April 2014) GBA4iOS is on version 2.0.2. I think that the team that developed GBA4iOS 2.0 is full some amazing talent. I can't wait for future updates and new features. The KICK by Rift Labs. Ever heard of it? It is-in my opinion- one of the best gadgets for anyone looking to add some extra flare to their photos.
I would like to thank Rift Labs for sending out a KICK light for review. OVERVIEW The KICK is a portable photo/video light. However, the KICK is not your average light. It is packed with an unbelievable-considering the size-amount of features. To help you control all of these features, there is a free downloadable app on the App Store and the Google Play Store. Features on the KICK • Ultra compact and lightweight – high output • Adjustable brightness and color temperature • Full color spectrum • Digital color technology – no filters/gels • Sampling of light … • … from an existing image or video • … or directly from the world around you • Animated light and built-in video effects • Multiple KICKs may be linked via WiFi • … and remote controlled via iOS or Android app • Works with any camera device • Handheld or mounted on a tripod The KICK light is roughly the size of a smartphone, being about half an inch shorter than the iPhone 5c. it is also the same thickness (excluding the convenience mount). REVIEW I was very excited to get my hands on the KICK light. It is a product that I have been wanting to test out for some time now. I have to tell you guys, the KICK is extremely fun to use. I am still figuring out more ways to use the light and will be sure to keep sharing them with you guys. When I first opened the KICK the first thing I noticed was how light it is. The light comes in at about 5oz. Not only is the KICK lightweight and portable, it is also very durable. It does not feel cheap or flimsy in any way at all; it feels like a very high quality product. The KICK light has very well powered built-in battery. It took about 4 hours to charge, after it came out of the box. I've had the KICK for about 2 weeks, and the battery is still running off of the same charge. The process of connecting the KICK to your phone, it can't even be considered a process. The light connects to your phone through a Wi-Fi signal. It's as easy as connecting to a wireless internet signal, no password required. One of my favorite features of the KICK Light is the convenience mount. The mount is perfect for one handed use. It fits the iPhone 4, 4s, 5, 5s, and 5c. The KICK includes an inlay to fit the iPhone 5 and 5s. The mount allows you to have both the light and iPhone in one hand, while still allowing you to use your phone's camera. This is also a great feature to allow you to mount your phone, thanks to the KICK's standard tripod mount. When it comes to using the app, it is an amazing user experience. It is purely a camera app with added controls for the KICK light. The KICK app works for taking photos as well as videos. There are no compromises when it comes to using the KICK app versus your standard camera app. The controls on the app are easy to use and the layout is very simple and easy to learn. The one and only thing I would have preferred would be an included case or sleeve. Some form of protection while traveling with the light. The accessories included with the KICK are; a USB charging cable, and an inlay for the iPhone 5/5s. I think that some sort of traveling case would be a great addition to the KICK Light. Other than the desire for a travel case, the KICK Light is a perfect addition to any tech setup. I have been very happy while using it. It also seems like I'm not the only one. How others are using the KICK It is interesting to see how others are using the KICK Light. Whether it's to create stunning art using light and motion, or using the light to enhance an already amazing shot. Who/What is the KICK Light for? I know some of you are probably wondering, "what is the purpose of the KICK Light?" I know I wondered that when I first saw it. "Is it a tool for Professional photographers, for hobbyist photographers?" I think the best answer was given by Morten Hjerde: "It is not designed for professional use and it is not a general purpose white light. It is great for adding drama, for experimenting with color and with video. We made it because we wanted a creative tool. People are creating all sorts of wild and wonderful images with it." |
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