The Apple TV, is it worth buying?

     I know, I have not blogged very much, not for the last two weeks. That is because I did not come across anything interesting to share. Until know, the Apple TV 2nd Generation. Well, what is the Apple TV? It is a device you connect to your TV to play music, watch youtube, and things like that. You can connect to flickr, netflix, itunes, etc. In order to control it, you can use a remote or an apple product such as the iphone, ipod, or ipad. The design is based on the Mac OS X front row application which is very cool, allowing you to play movies, listen to music, view photos, and more. The remote is similar to the one that comes with it. The apple TV is not very expensive, at just $99. However, when I looked further into the apple TV, i realized that it is not worth buying. It is just like a device to use the front row application on your TV, consisting of things which you can rent. However, there is not enough content, and you cannot purchase any of the content you wish to view. It is basically just something to allow you to watch youtube and things like that on a bigger screen. Things like viewing photos and watching your own videos can already be done on most TVs, and you would not need the Apple TV. However, if your TV cannot do these functions, you should get the Apple TV since it has such a small pricetag. However, if you have a wii, xbox, or something else allowing you to watch Netflix instantly, you do not need this device.

Click Here for the original source of this image.

Siri: Your personal assistant

       I realize I just did a blog about an apple application, but then I realized I haven't blogged about Siri yet. If you have an iphone, you MUST get Siri, a digital personal assistant.

      Well, what does it do? Siri helps you in all aspects of life. For example, it can help you find restaurants, like many other apps. Nothing special about that. It can help you find Movies, but you can just go on Safari, so that isn't special either. However, on Siri, you can get help for anything from things like Events and nearest gas stations to booking Taxis, finding weather, and checking flight statuses. You can even find reviews! Furthermore, you can either ask questions such as "When is the next Linkin Park Concert?" After this, it will allow you to view where it is, and even let you book a ticket. You can do this for many things, such as reserving a seat at a popular restaurant, or finding rated PG movies at the local AMC. You can even access things like Twiter!

   How is this different from many other apps? First off, it is easy to use. You can use the awesome voice recognition function and say your question, you can select it through a few categories, or you can type it. This app was absolutely free when I purchased it, and I believe it still is. Even though it is free, it is better than all the apps that cost money, as explained above. Many people find speech recognition frustrating. There are two solutions to this. First, you can type your questions or click on a few categories and it will make your question. Second, you can go to 'Help' and figure out what to ask.

    I know this was a long blog, but it is definitely worth getting, and I felt I needed this much space to tell you that. :P Go to http://siri.com/ for their website where you can see more information about this AWESOME application. Many websites claim that this is one of few apps that will really "show off" your device to friends, and others claim it is one of the proud few who really make life easier. The video below is from here.



OTHER COOL APPS!!
1. Fastmall
2. Appshopper
3. ESPN Scorecenter
4. Netflix (only if you have an account)
5. Tonepad

CHECK THESE OUT!!!! ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE FREE!!!!

Let's Golf!

     I scrolled down my blog and noticed I haven't done any reviews for any iPad apps. So, here is one: Let's Golf by Gameloft. Gameloft is known mostly for their other games such as Brothers in Arms, Real Soccer, and much more. But, Let's Golf deserves to be one of the elite games. I do understand there is a Let's Golf! 2, but I have not had a chance to review it yet. If anyone would like me to review it, shoot me an email at alanyguo@gmail.com., and I will be happy to do it.

     Let's Golf, as the title suggests, is a golfing game that requires strategy and concentration. You must determine where you would like to hit the ball, the amount of power, curve, and more. And, in the beginning, you must select which player to use, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Putting requires a lot of focus, looking at the wind and the slope. It is very realistic. Like in real life, you can hit it into the rough, green, fringe, rocks, water, or out of bounds. The graphics improve to the quality of the game, allowing for an easy feel. The game has versions for the ipod touch/iphone and the iPad. On the iPad, it comes in HD. Something I think could be improved upon is the players. I think it can be more realistic by allowing for a choice of real golfers, such as Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, and make them into an animated figure. In addition to this, it can take each real golfer's strength and weaknesses. Plus, there should be a larger variety of maps, allowing for the game to change from the maps it has right now. The tournament mode could be better, but it already is great. To add to it, there should be fans, TV reporters and things like that. A store should be added where you can buy better clubs, apparel, or golf balls. I know you can unlock apparel and golf balls, but a store would improve to the depth of the game. Overall, this game is very addicting and fun to play with a friend. Click here for the link to the photo below.
My rating: 8.6/10

3D TVs... the future of television?

       Many events, such as the Fifa world cup, are now being shown in 3D, if you own a 3D TV. So, today, I will review a 3D TV, one which I think is a great buy, the Samsung UN55C9000 LED 3D TV. This TV has an amazing 55 inch display screen, which comes ready for 3D television. It is extremely thin. You can connect the TV to internet too! One thing that I was completely amazed by was the remote. Yes, the remote doesn't matter for most TVs. However, this one has a touch screen remote that looks a lot like an apple iphone. You can access many things , and it can be used up to 30 feet away, which can come in handy a lot. Its LED backlit LCD screen allows for a fantastic display which you can use to do anythings, from things like watching the NBA finals or the NFL season opener to things like the last episode of "Glee" or another season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars". No matter what you are watching, this TV allows for a great experience. The Burger King motto, "Have it your way", should be used for this TV, rather than the fast food restaurant, for with this, you really can have it your way. One downside is its large pricetag, ranging from $3000-$4000, depending on the site/store you go to.  If you click here, it will take you to the source of the photos shown below. 

Is this TV not amazing? Just look at the remote and the thinness of it, and it will wow anybody. 

Best Compact Digital Camera: Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

       Hi guys! I am so sorry for my inconsistent blogging. Today I will review what I think is the best small and compact digital camera for a good price. The Cannon PowerShot SX210 IS is a great point and shoot camera, sturdily built, easy to use, great HD video, and much more. One of the best things about this is that it can make good, high-quality HD videos while still fitting into your pocket. In addition, the quality for both pictures and videos will be fantastic due to its image stabilizer and other things that help camera shake, lighting, and more. It can use a SDXC video card, which has many advantages. One of them is that it gives you maximum memory for your camera. This camera has a 14.1mp sensor and an amazing 14x optical zoom. Images can be taken with stunning clarity and videos can be HD. It has a variety of scene modes and flash modes to fit your location and preferences. This Canon camera has a 230,000 pixel adjustable LCD monitor, which allows for easy viewing on the go. It has a rechargeable battery and weight 215 grams with it. The camera sells for about $300 and is very stylish, coming in multiple colors. Most of these stats are just facts. The big picture is that this camera provides high quality photos and videos which its 14x zoom can be applied. It looks nice and is easy to use, even if you are an amateur photographer. It is stylish, compact, but also professional. To sum it up, this camera is something you want to buy if your old camera is not what you want it to be. Below is a photo of these amazing cameras. This will take you to the original photo.
  

Nintendo DS or PSP?

       I am very sorry that I have not blogged in almost a week, I have been very busy. So, today I will compare whether to but the Nintedo DS or the Playstation Portable (PSP).

     First, the Nintendo DS. Soon, there will be a Nintendo 3DS, which apparently allows you to play video games without any special 3D glasses, but still get the 3-Dimensional effect. It is scheduled to launch in March of 2011, and many eager customers will be waiting to buy this device. It was unveiled at an exposition for video games It consists of two screens and flips open. I will not describe this that much since most people know what a Nintendo DS looks like. A downside is that it doesn't have the best graphics, but it is easy to interact with other gamers. Some of the main games include characters such as Mario, Sonic, and pokemon. It has a nice touchscreen function and can waste a lot of time.
My Rating: 8.1/10

    The old PSP is kind of like a huge but sleeker ipod touch in a way. The new PSP, the PSP go system, has a screen that slides up to reveal the buttons. It has buttons and controls similar to the playstation 2 and 3 (both are by Sony), and has fantastic graphics. The games are more for older kids, unlike the DS which has many pokemon and Mario games. The controls are simple and is a great game for older kids to play. This is a great game for kids ages 10+, and can be enjoyed even if you are an adult. Overall, this game console is awesome and is in my opinion the best handheld game system invented.
My rating:8.7/10

    Most of you know what these look like, so I won't include pictures today. Thanks for reading Alan's Awesome Blog and expect a post soon! Bye!

Free Ipod touch/Iphone Game: NinJump and Fastball 2

      Today I will be reviewing two free ipod touch/ iphone games available on the app store, NinJump and Fastball 2. If you would like to see more free apps, technology dude's blog has a few. You can find his link on the right hand side.

      First off, NinJump. This game is a game where you progress moving upwards, just like Doodle Jump. You run up along one of the two sides and can jump between them. When you jump across, you also attack monsters who are trying to kill you. Some monsters include ninjas with throwing stars or dynamite, birds, squirrel-like creatures, and other ninjas. When you kill three of the same monsters in a row, you get a boost similar to the propeller hat or the jetpack in Doodle Jump. You fly up for a while, than land back on the wall and continue running. Like Doodle Jump, it is very addicting, simple, and leaves you coming back for more. It is a great way to waste time. There is no doubt in my mind that everybody who owns something compatible for this game should get it.
My Rating: 8.7/10


  


     Next, Fastball 2. This game makes you guide a little red ball through each level. You must collect stars and jump over obstacles. Sometimes, there are things that make you speed up until a designated point. Also, there are signs that make you change directions, and areas that bounce you up very high like a trampoline. Sometimes levels are in the night, but sometimes they are in the daylight. Like Ninjump, it is very simple game but also addicting and great for killing time. Overall, this is definitely a game you want on your ipod touch or your iphone.
My Rating: 8.4/10

(These photos are all screenshots taken from my iphone.) 

Hewlett Packard (HP) Everyday Laptops

        The laptop that I use to do my blogging and other everyday things is a HP G71-340US Notebook. However, I will talk about all HP everyday laptops. One thing that separates this from the other laptops is that it is great for entertainment. You can obtain sports scores, watch DVDs, watch pictures, and much more from Windows Media Center. Also, many of them have fairly large screens. For example, my computer screen is 17.3 inches large. In addition, the processor, digital media reader, Media Accelerator, are all extremely fast and work well. In addition, they have a sleek design and the new ones run and Windows 7 with a great intel duo core. It is compatible with most applications and most have quite a bit of memory. All the laptops nowadays are Energy Star qualified, so by buying one of these laptops, you are doing your part by being green. These laptops are not too expensive, and prices range from about $380-$580.  This might seem expensive, but compared to the apple Macbooks which start at a thousand dollars, the price really is not bad. Plus, they are often on sale and Staples and Office Depot, so you might want to wait for a sale. The battery life on these laptops are not the best, but aren't bad either. It is easy to use and overall a great laptop.
My rating: 8.3/10

    Today I will only be reviewing one laptop, but will likely have more within the next few weeks, so check for more if you are deciding which laptop to buy! Or, shoot me an email to alanyguo@gmail.com! View a photo of an HP laptop below!


(picture from: http://www.ilaptopcomputers.com/hp-laptop-for-everyday-computing/)

Best Smartphone

    Just like the shooting games, there are a lot of good smartphones. However, I have eliminated it down to three  phones. The iphone 4, Droid Incredible, and the Nexus One.

   First the Nexus One. Google's smartphone, the Nexus One, is a great smartphone for all types of people. It runs on the Android 2.1 system, so it is quite fast. This is the main thing that is great about this phone. The software and hardware both are way above average. Plus, it has a great noise cancellation software which is very impressive. In addition, it has a very nice design, and the battery is fantastic. However, this phone is not the best smartphone in the world, just another Android phone. However, it is a very good Android phone, but I do not recommend you to purchase this phone for it is overpriced. I am not saying it is a bad phone, it is just not the best one.  

My rating: 8.4/10.

(picture from: http://androidspin.com/tag/nexus-one/)

   Next, it is everyone's favorite phone, the iphone 4. Living in Cupertino, apple is my next door neighbor. So, I had a chance to play with the iphone 4 a lot. In fact, my family owns one or two of these guys. The main thing that desperate this phone from this rest is the wide selection of applications to use. Plus, the design is sleek, it runs quick, there are two cameras (one in the front and one in the back), you can video chat with facetime, multitasking, voice control, a sleek design, and many other small things. One major thing is that it has a great retina display, which in simple is very high resolution display with very dense pixels. This phone easily has the clearest screen that anyone has seen on a phone. Obviously, I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

My rating: 9.6/10   

(picture from: http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/06/07/apple-announces-iphone-4/)

    Finally, the Droid Incredible. This HTC phone is a very fast phone, similar to the other two phones listed. However, one bad thing about it is that it doesn't have the best battery life. Since this phone and the Nexus One are both android phones, they are relatively similar. The touch response, color, and more are both identical. However, the Droid Incredible, as well as a few other HTC phones do not have the best display screen. However, it has one of the best cameras, with 8 megapixels. It has great speakers, and great networking. This phone is easily the best Android phone you can get right now.

My rating: 9.2/10

(picture from: http://www.unwiredview.com/2010/08/16/verizon-htc-droid-incredible-to-get-android-2-2-froyo-on-wednesday/)

     All in all, these are all great phones. The iphone 4 and the Droid Incredible are better than the Nexus One. Between the Droid and the iPhone, I would prefer the iphone since it has more features, better display, and  more application. However, the Droid Incredible is still a great phone, which when choosing a smartphone, you should definitely consider. 

       

Change of Plans

      Recently, John Siano, owner of joannesiano.blogspot.com, gave me some advice to only blog about one topic. However, I like technology, gaming, and sports. I have decided to blog about technology and gaming, but also include a sports post when there are important events, such as the NBA playoffs or the Olympics. If you would like me to continue blogging about sports, please shoot me an email at alanyguo@gmail.com. Thanks!

FIBA World FINALS

     Hey guys, I know I've done a lot of basketball posts, so this one will be short. USA won the finals match 81-64 behind 21 year old Kevin Durant's great three point shooting, free throws, and inside shooting. This win confirms a spot for the USA in the Summer Olympics 2012 in London. As many might have guessed, Kevin Durant has been named MVP of this tournament. In the bronze medal match, Lithuania beat Serbia 99-88 in a great game. There is a lot more to talk about, but this is all for this post since I know I've been blogging about basketball way too much. Thanks for Reading!!!

Update on FIBA basketball world championship

    Today, team USA pulled a win over Lithuania, confirming their spot in the finals match against either host country Turkey or Serbia. Kevin Durant was on fire, scoring 38 points. 24 of those were scored in the first half. Lithuania, entering this match, was undefeated with a record of 7-0. The final score was 89-74. Now, Team USA is one win away from winning their first gold medal since 1994. The Lithuanians shot 11/28 from three point land, while USA shot 8/25. USA gained many points of turnovers from Team Lithuania, fast break points, second chance points, and points in the paint. Much of the praise goes to the coach of the young and undersized American team, Mike Krzyzewski, head coach of the 2008 Men's Olympic team and also head coach of Duke University. This year, he led Duke to a championship, and recently received offers from the NBA that would have made him the highest paid NBA coach. However, he refused, saying he would stay with Duke until he retired. You can see a picture of him below.  Well, that's all for today. Thanks for reading!

(picture from: http://www.townandstate.net/2010/02/duke-coach-mike-krzyzewski-laughs-at.html)

Red Dead Redemption

         Red Dead Redemption is a game similar to Grand Theft Auto, but in the wild west. The storyline is better than Grand Theft Auto, and the characters are realistic. The graphics are very good compared to other games. You can choose to be a bad guy who kills people and then rides away on his horse, or you can be a good person who helps people. There are many fun missions within this game. In addition, you can play with up to 16 players online and be together on a team and do things like robbing banks. Swearing is pretty common, and is advised for gamers above the age of 14, though ages 12 and up would be okay too. In addition to being like Grand Theft Auto, it is also similar to Call of Duty, but in the wild west without two teams. Instead, it is you and maybe your accomplices against the others. It is very realistic all the way to the point where you might lose your horse if it wanders away. Wild animals such as coyotes and snakes could be dangerous to you. Hunting is also in this game, and you can obtain their fur, meat, and other valuables. Plus, the things you do are based on your decisions in the game and what you want to be.
My Rating 8.8/10

(picture from: http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/57148/red-dead-redemption/articles/71695/red-dead-redemption-legends-and-killers-dlc-impressions/)

Football Post!

       Today was the opening game of the NFL. The game was the Vikings vs Saints. The Saints won the last Super Bowl and have star players like Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, and Pierre Thomas. The Vikings have the very old Brett Favre, one of the best running backs in Adrian Peterson, and other good players like Percy Harvin. The final score was 14-9, Saints. The Saints scored twice, with D. Henderson catching a pass and Pierre Thomas running in a short run to score. The Vikings made a field goal and scored when Brett Favre threw a nice ball to Shiancoe to score. It was a great match-up, except that the Vikings didn't use their star running back enough. However, it was a great game to watch.

(picture from: http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/tag/_/name/deuce-mcallister)



        Of course, I like to include some video games in my post. Since this post is on football, I will talk about Madden 11. This game features Drew Brees on the cover, and came out August 10, 2010. This game is supposedly "Simpler, Quicker, Deeper". What I noticed was that it was a lot quicker when calling plays. It is called "GameFlow" and can double the total game time from previous versions. The new player ratings are pretty accurate based on how each person performed in the last season and how he will perform in the next. They also added some small things like better lighting, a new kick meter, and a few more touches to polish off the game. The game is very expensive, selling for $59.99. I find this a little bit too expensive, and suggest gamers to either buy used or wait for the price to drop a little bit. This game compared to last year is similar in gameplay, controls, etc. However, the main difference is that it is much quicker to play. Overall, a pretty good games that is okay for casual gamers and a recommended game for football fans or hardcore gamers.
My Rating: 7.8/10

(picture from: http://www.neoseeker.com/news/14683-raptr-madden-11-demo-to-retail-game-converts-drop-50-percent/)

What really is the best shooting game?

       Out of all the shooter games around, I've eliminated it down to three games: the Halo series, the Call of Duty series, and the Gears of Wars series.

      Let's start with Gears of War. The new version, Gears of War 3, comes out in April, 2011. In this game, you play as the humans in an epic battle against the Locust. You must fight to save the human race. I think this game is quite fun, because of the ability to use many weapons that have not been invented in real life. Plus, you can play multiplayer in many different modes of play. However, it isn't as fun as other shooters in a variety of ways. It is not as realistic as Call of Duty, and it isn't as creative as Halo.
My Rating: 7.7/10

(picture from: http://www.primotechnology.com/2008/05/10/first-gears-of-war-2-gameplay-footage-debuts/)

    Now let us move on to the Halo series. The newest version of Halo, Halo Reach, is set to come out September 14, 2010. This is in less than a week! Many people are excited to play the latest game of the Halo series. Halo is a very fun game that you can play single player, co-op, or multiplayer. Halo is a very futuristic and unrealistic game. Halo Reach is set in the year 2552. Like Gears of War, you play as the humans in a long war against the enemies, called the Covenant. Reach itself is a colony that is the human's main base after many other colonies have fallen. Halo, since it is set to the future, is very creative but unrealistic. It consists of cool things like the gravity hammer and many cool vehicles. Overall, I feel this game is better than Gears of War by  a little bit.
My Rating: 8.4/10

(picture from: http://www.mlgpro.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250718)

    Finally, we get to Call of Duty. The newest game of the series, Call of Duty Black Ops, is set to come out on November 9, 2010. Call of Duty is the most realistic of the three games. There are weapons like the AK-47, Mini Uzi, Intervention, rpg-7, and the newly introduced crossbow. In addition, you have grenades, melee, and other realistic things in your arsenal of ways to kill. There are a variety of different settings: towns, snowy places, deserts, mountains, etc. You fight with humans and against humans, so it is very realistic. Black Ops is set to the Cold War era. Many other Call of duty games have been set to the time period of real life wars. Many come from World War 2, although Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is set in the very near future. Although this game is mainly a first-person shooter, there are times when you get to control a helicopter, plane, or land vehicle. The campaign mode in this is definitely better than Halo and Gears of War, and requires more strategy. This game is similar to Gears of War, but better.
My rating: 9.2/10.


(picture from: http://www.techmagnews.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-multiplayer-gameplay-details-announced-w-trailer.html)





   Out of the top two, Halo and Call of Duty, both are great games. I would prefer Call of Duty because it is a lot more realistic since you are fighting against humans and in the current/past time eras. However, Halo is also a great game, and you fight for survival of mankind against other creatures. In a way, it is kind of like the first colonies in the United States, fighting against the British. However, it is more interesting since it is set in to future. Both Halo and Call of Duty are fun, but I would prefer Call of Duty due to the fact that it is more realistic.

Thanks for Reading!

FIBA World Championship, NBA 2K11, and NBA Elite 11

           As some of you may know, Spain lost to Serbia in the FIBA world championship (basketball). They were the reigning world champions, but they won't medal this time. The final score was 92-89. Serbia shot a long three in the final seconds of the game to take the lead. However, Spain is without their star player Pau Gasol and couldn't come back to win the game. Ok, Enough about Spain and Serbia.

          Now, on to team USA. They will face Russia next on their quest to a gold medal. For those of you who don't know, USA has not won the FIBA World Championship since 1994. Already, most of the very good teams have been elliminated, most recently Spain and Brazil. Team USA's next very difficult challenges (assuming the beat their next opponents), would be Argentina. Other then them, USA is easily the best team and would win the gold medal without much effort.

       Ok. Video Games time!!!! Coming out in the next month are the two best basketball video games: NBA 2k11 and NBA Elite 11. In the past, the NBA 2k series has been a lot better. However, this year, NBA elite 11 has new controls which allows you to control the hands and feet of the player you are controlling. Last year, the name was NBA live 10. But, due to their newer controls, they changed the name to ELITE. NBA 2k11 is also very good. They had much better graphics in the past. Plus, they have a way to update each player's stats, so you don't have to go out and buy the game each year. In 10 years, Kobe Bryant won't be in NBA 2k11, but he will still be a great player in NBA Elite 11. Each player in NBA 2k11 is almost the same as in real life: dribbling style, speed, even their tattoos! The animation in the past has also been much better. However, both games come out around the same time, and then critics will be the ones to judge which one is better. Below are pictures from either game. NBA 2k11 is on the bottom and NBA Elite 11 is on the top. Judge which one is better!

(picture from: http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2010/06/03/nba-elite-11-announced-for-xbox-360-and-ps3.htm)

      








(picture from: http://dimemag.com/2010/08/new-nba-2k11-screens-surface-in-developer-insight-diary/)


Since this is my first blog, it might be a little bit boring. Please tell me how I can Improve!