Amazon Kindle Fire Logo

Although I am already the proud owner of a Motorola Xoom, I couldn’t resist the urge to pick up Amazon’s new entry into the high tech tablet market, the Kindle Fire. So far, I am very satisfied and while I give the Fire a solid “thumbs up”, this device is not for everyone.

However, at a price tag of $199 I am certain a lot of people will use this device to gain entry into the wonderful world of tablets at a lesser price than I did. Before continuing on, you should know that not only am I a fan of the Kindle Fire, but I put my money where my mouth is and bought 2 more for my family this holiday season. A wonderful gift for the tech-savvy and heavy reader in your social circle too.

BUY A KINDLE FIRE FOR YOURSELF OR AS A GIFT TODAY FROM AMAZON

THE FIRE WANTS YOU IN BED WITH AMAZON
There is no doubt that the Kindle Fire rewards you for being “in bed” with Amazon’s products and services. This is one of the sneaky ”gotcha’s” with this product. If you are already in the cloud and ahead of the curve with online video, apps, and music then it’s important realize where your media is held. If it’s with google music/books then you may want to consider a more generic Android Tablet. If you already use Amazon’s cloud services, or you’re open to starting with the acquisition of a Fire then you will be happy.

I use many cloud services and Amazon is one of them, and I’m also an Amazon Prime member which adds even more goodness to the Kindle Fire. My Fire came pre-registered to link to my Amazon account ( yours will too ) so once I turned it on for the first time, it recognized me, and ALL my media and apps stored with Amazon. It was slick and a pleasant surprise. My music was ready to listen to, and my T.V. shows I purchased ( like Walking Dead ) were ready to watch immediately.

SIMPLICITY
One key thing I think new owners will love about the Fire is its simplicity. There’s really just 1 main home screen that allows you to access all the features with a simple button press.  Newsstand, Books, Video, Music, Video, Documents,  Apps and the web are all the options you have to choose from. I was expecting a couple phone calls asking for setup help from my Mom when she received my Kindle Fire gift in the mail, but the questions never came. In fact, the only thing I got was a smart-mouthed call offering to give ME HELP setting up my own Fire :)

Kindle Fire Home Screen landscape

When I talk to iPad owners, they all rave about the simplicity, and “intuitiveness” of their iPads. I am anticipating a similar reaction from Kindle Fire owners. I believe it’s hard to “mess anything up” on this device. From the home screen, just press the activity you’d like to do, and it works. At such a low price point, I think many owners will be new to tablet use and they will find the ease of use relieving. As I like to say, this device is: SIMPLE, FAST, EASY. My real-life test using my mom as a guinea pig has proven this theory to be correct. She was up and running without much interaction from me at all.

BOOKS AND PERIODICALS
It’s been a whle since I’ve done any heavy reading, so naturally I felt compelled to do some kindle-book shopping. I was really impressed spending some time in the Amazon Kindle eBook store. I was most happy at the amount of great books at great deals on their site. I splurged on a couple books over $9.99 but most of the purchases I made were $2.99 or less. And as an Amazon Prime member, you can even “rent” books for FREE! Since acquiring this tablet about a week ago, I’ve already consumed 3 books ( Zombie Fallout Series ) and I can’t wait to read more.

Also pretty sweet is the viewing ability for Periodicals. I purchased this month’s Maxim Magazine, and a copy of a recent Seattle Times.  This is great for the traveler that loves magazine reading and normally purchases a copy at the Airport for reading on the Plane. Now, Fire owners can simply subscribe at a great monthly price, or electronic copies of their favorite newspaper or magazine for a good price and zero trunk space.

A key thing to remember is that the Kindle App is well developed and is available on all major devices from Apple, Android, and even Windows Phone 7( I am a WP7 Owner and love it ). I LOVE having access to all my books on any device or pc in the world ! It even saves your reading progress from device to device. If you hate buying gifts like I do, then you’ll be very happy to know that it is EASY to give books as a gift as well. My mom mentioned a couple books she was interested in, so I bought them for her in about 2 minutes. Amazon sends your recipient an email, and in a couple clicks, your family/friend/spouse or significant other will be able to easily consume books you’ve sent them as gifts. Then you won’t be known as Ebenezer Scrooge like I am during the holidays. One thing about readers, is man they LOVE TO READ and you have a perpetual “HIT” gift every year or occasion.

Kindle Fire Review: A Few of my Books

MUSIC AND VIDEO
MultiMedia is where you will need to get active if you want to enjoy music and video on your Kindle Fire. Yes, you can load your own movie and music files to your Kindle, but remember it has limited storage(~6+ GB Useable).  A single movie can take up anywhere between 1/2 a GB up to 2GB in my experience.

At $199, the Kindle Fire does leave out some desireable options. Multimedia content is most affected by the lack of BlueTooth. Yes, I can run a wire out, but I prefer wireless communication like I enjoy on ALL of my other gadgets. This doesn’t stop you from simply plugging in headphones but it’s not as cool.

With (no) bluetooth being mentioned, this device shines for those that have signed up for Amazon’s Cloud Music Service(Read more Here). From your home screen, just press “MUSIC” and you’re taken to your offline and online library. If you really don’t want to upload your music to the cloud, then you can plug in your Fire via USB and manually move files to your device, but honestly, I’d recommend just uploading them and give the FREE 5GB Amazon cloud service a spin.

Video and Movie files are a different matter that is affected again by your personal preferences. I do use Amazon’s Instant Video service and occasionally rent T.V. shows. Another beauty of owning a Kindle Fire and using Amazon services. Again, I just pressed the “VIDEO” tab and I had all my rented shows and movies ready to watch. Again, you can also transfer your own (Mp4) files to your Fire via USB, but to watch the movies you must use the “GALLERY” app which adds a step plus it requires some video conversion savvy which is a totally different article(I use DVD Catalyst).
And last but not least, media streaming apps like Hulu Plus, Pandora and Netflix work very well but some must be downloaded (FREE) from the Amazon App Store.

Amazon Instant Video Ready to rock on my Fire

APPS FROM THE AMAZON ANDROID APPSTORE ( AND 3rd Party )
The Fire has you somewhat locked into using THEIR appstore, and while you can CRACK/HACK/ROOT your Kindle to enable Google’s Android Market and other tricks, it is not something I’m willing to do.  A not so difficult task is to install 3rd party apps(or apk files).  I was able to successfully install my beloved NESOID(nintendo emulator) application and copy game files to my device in minutes.  The beauty of this device is its simplicity, so you’re at your own risk if you choose to hack your device. But if you’re willing to hack your device via Root, then I’m wondering if a Kindle is the right gadget for you or if you’d be better off purchasing full featured tablets like the Xoom or Samsung Galaxy tab.

With that said, Amazon’s appstore is a decent alternative. If you have purchased a lot of apps from Google, then you’ll be a little frustrated at not having them or being forced to purchase them again for the Kindle Fire. In General, the Amazon App Store has most of what you will need or want, with a few onesy-twosy apps not being available.

We’ve already reviewed Amazon’s App Store ( read here ) but one thing I love about it, is that they have a DAILY FREE APP. Definitely worth a visit and is something I’ve raved about in the past. If the Google Market is an “A”, then I give the Amazon Appstore a “B”.

The Fire knows apps you've already purchased. Appstore

PHYSICAL TRAITS AND BATTERY
I have found that I like the 7″ screen on the fire. I think it feels like a paperback book size which will feel comfortable in readers hands, unless you’re a full size hardback book snob. Some people have complained about the weight, but I find it’s certainly hold-able for reasonable periods of time. Ultimately, I would recommend purchasing a case WITH A STAND for the best user experience(pick up a screen protectorwhile you’re at it). Another “funky” thing is a bad placement of the only physical button on this device, the Power Button. It’s located on the bottom of the Fire and it is a bad spot because I guarantee at some point you will press that button on accident. The good news, is that the Fire will ask: “Do you want to shutdown” instead of rudely powering down on a single press. Not a huge deal, but at least 1 engineer should be fired. Put the damn button on TOP of the device next time please.

I’m also satified with the battery life. You can expect a good 6-10 hrs when in book mode. One thing I know is that the battery life on this Fire smokes(pun intended) the life of the battery on my Android Samsung Galaxy S2! Assigning battery performance a rating, I’d call it:  ”above average”.

The audio speakers on this device are average at best. Located on the top of the tablet, they’re small and don’t pack much of a punch. They certainly get the job done, but if I really want to clearly hear music or audio from a movie, I’ll choose to plugin headphones. Again, this is the type of feature that doesn’t get royal treatment on a $199 device.

Playing Nintendo with Nesoid on my Fire

RECOMMENDED–> VIEW ALL 40 PICTURES FROM THIS REVIEW ON BOOYA FLICKR

THE GOOD:

• The $199 price tag is very very interesting
• Awesome integration with Amazon’s Cloud Music, Movie, and App Services
• Easy to give books as gifts for the readers in your family
• Kindle is an App and available on nearly every single Tech-Gadget Device out there ( your media stays with you! )
• Easy setup out of the box
• Whisper Sync makes it EASY to download books you’ve purchased on another system or gadget
• Awesome deals on books and a great variety in the very mature Amazon eBook store.
• I love the “Newsstand”.. never again will I purchase a hardcopy of a magazine or newspaper.
• .99 Daily Deals on Books.  ( I opted to have these deals sent to me daily via email and love it )

THE BAD:

• No Google Android Market without hacking the Fire
• Terrible power button placement
• No “fancy” features like: Camera, GPS, SD Card slot, bluetooth audio
• Small Storage allotment 6gb can get used fast especially if you have a lot of music or movies.
• No optional SD Card for additional memory is a slap in gadget lover’s faces.
• Without hacking,  no google Android Market,  installing 3rd party apps is a more advanced option but doable.
• So Far, I’m not impressed with the “Silk” Browser, it’s just an average browser.
• A quick “how to get started” guide would be nice in the box. ( all help is digital )

OVERALL / SUMMARY
At a $199 price tag, and a family full of readers I could not resist splurging a little for a family tech-upgrade. The price, simplicity, and strength behind Amazon this was an easy holiday purchase for me this year. As with many gadgets, the sexiness of this device really comes down to the end-users needs. If you need all the bells and whistles, then I’d save up some more money and buy a full fledged tablet. But if you like the features I’ve described in this article and want to save fairly big $$ then a Kindle Fire is a great choice for yourself or a gift for a friend. In just a week I have read 3 books and my library is at about 21 books that I can’t wait to read! The Kindle Fire doesn’t do “EVERYTHING”, but it does a “HELL OF A LOT” very well and at a price you can’t ignore… To quote Eddie Griswold, “This is truly the gift that Keeps On Givin’ the Whole Year Round!”

Yes, the Kindle Fire gets a BOOYA !  An excellent purchase for the right person at a great price.  Never again will I purchase another physical book. ( unless it’s a unique situation )

RELEVANT LINKS I RECOMMEND

• BUY A KINDLE FIRE FOR YOURSELF OR AS A GIFT TODAY FROM AMAZON
• READ ALL OUR ANDROID ARTICLES
• CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE, FLICKR, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER PAGES for a buttload more of gadget content
• VIEW ALL 40 PICTURES FROM THIS REVIEW ON BOOYA FLICKR

How about some 2 player RBI baseball ?

Here are the quick steps to setup Multiplayer Nesoid using 2 Androids….

STEP 1:  GATHER THE DROIDS

• Now that you have 2 Androids with Nesoid installed, Connect both to your Router’s Wi-Fi in your home or office.  In my case I tested with a Motorola Xoom and myTouch 3g Slide
• Fire up Nesoid on both devices.  Select and start the same game on both. I tested this with RBI Baseball one of my favorite 8 Bit NES games.

STEP 2: SET UP WI-FI SERVER USING “NET-PLAY”

• Decide which Droid you want to “host” the multiplayer session.  This will be the “Wi-Fi Server” and must go first.  In my case I used my Xoom to host the session.  With Nesoid running a game, press the Menu Button then  MORE / Net-Play / Wi-Fi (Server).   This will set your host Android into host mode and provide you with the I.P. Address and port that you’ll need for your client.  The host will wait indefinitely until a client connects or you hit the back key.  The default port is 5369, and there is no need to change this.

Setup 1 of your Androids as "Wi-Fi Server" Easy.

STEP 3: SET UP WI-FI CLIENT USING “NET-PLAY”

• On your other Android running the same game, hit  Menu Button then  MORE / Net-Play / Wi-Fi (Client).  This will bring up a new window that prompts you to enter the I.P. Address of your Android that is hosting the game.  Enter the I.P. Address of the server, and leave the default port to 5369.

Setup your 2nd droid as client and connect to the nesoid server. Voila

Once you’re connected, not much special happens.  On the server Android, the “waiting for connection” screen simply disappears.  At this point, you are setup for multiplayer 8 bit NES gaming and it does work well.  Overall, I would call this functionality “pretty cool”.   The biggest issue will be a laggy setup but I had very little issues connecting the 2 devices.  Between Nesoid and Snesoid, Nesoid’s Net-Play worked the best by far.   The ideal setup would be two tablets with 3.1 Honeycomb both with a PS3 or Xbox controller and 1 device plugged into HDMI for damn close to an NES console experience!

WATCH THE VIDEO DEMO HERE-> How to Play Multiplayer Nesoid Nintendo on Android HERE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi5YM51pFoo

INTERESTING NOTES / OTHER TESTS / FAQ

• There is an option to play Multiplayer using Bluetooth client-server setup.  I found that this works, but was way too laggy.
• If you have a Xoom or other tablet, you can still switch to HDMI out and use a PS3 orXBox 360 controller to play against your friend.
• I was able to connect with Booya TRJ over the internet ( Seattle to Portland ) using port forwarding.  But this was too laggy.  The same goes for playing over a 3g network.  You can try it for yourself, if you know how to do port forwarding ( port 5369 ) but I am certain you will find the lag unplayable.
• If you notice anything “funky” or out of sync, then on your “server” nesoid droid hit the menu button then “SYNC”
• Here are more pictures of this Nesoid Multiplayer on our Flickr Page

Let me know if somehow you got this to work with NESOID using 2 controllers…

Sending Maps for Nav to my 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid All the Time.

For example, the last 3 places I used this feature on were: 1) to get my windows tinted in Seattle, 2) to visit a friend’s new house,  3) to drop off gadgets at a local electronics recycling center.  I will cover what are basically 3 steps.  It will take a few minutes to first get setup, but you will love this feature in the long run.

Step 1 is to Register your car (vin) and phone at SyncMyRide.com

STEP 1:  Register your phone, vehicle, and address at SyncMyRide.com(HERE)

• At this site you will need to input your cell phone number, vehicle VIN, and home address
• If you want to utilize other features offered by “Sync Services” this would be a good time to do it.  Stuff like local sports, and other news updates can be customized for your vehicle.   Full account customization is not needed if you only want to send maps to your Car.

STEP 2:  Locate your desired address on Google Maps or Mapquest and “SEND TO CAR”

• Either manually or from an email / Evite etc locate your address or location using Google Maps or Mapquest.
• In Google Maps:  Click the “SEND” Icon which looks like an envelope or you can select MORE / SEND. Enter your vehicle type and cell Number.
• In Mapquest:  Click “SEND TO”  then “SYNC”  and enter your cell number
• You CANNOT customize the route, you can only send the address to your vehicle’s Sync Navigation where the route will be calculated.
• While it works on phones and tablets in addition to laptops/desktops, so far I have found that you MUST USE THE FULL/CLASSIC web page, to enable the “SEND TO” functionality.  You CANNOT USE THE MOBILE version of Google or Mapquest. ( unless I’m missing something )

From Google Maps, just hit "SEND TO" and link to your phone. VOILA!

STEP 3:  Head out to your ride: Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury and say: “SERVICES”

• With your phone in hand and bluetooth enabled, head out to your hot ride. Fire up the ride, and make sure the phone connects via bluetooth.
• Press the Voice Command button on your steering wheel and say:  ”SERVICES”
• Your vehicle will connect with your phone and literally make a phone call to Sync-Services.
• Once connected the magic voice in the sky will tell you that: “Google Maps(or Mapquest)  has sent you a destination would you like to download?”  Say: “YES”
• Wait for the magical system to complete the navigation download. Once the map is completely downloaded, you’ll have the chance to set it as your destination.
• Drive to your party/restaurant/store/service/appointment in style with turn by turn voice navigation ! Totally Booya!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO WALKTHRU ON THIS CLUTCH, BUT EASY PROCESS. Props to Microsoft Sync for this Navigation Trick.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImkLvGNVV5I

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• 8 Picture set of this project at Booya Flickr: HERE
• Google Maps Instructions on sending to Sync
• Mapquest Sending to Sync FAQ

Super Secret Netflix APK works with Xoom and myTouch!

People ask me all the time: “which should I get”, and I say: “you can’t go wrong”.  In my opinion it really depends on what type of phone you have, because having an Android phone and Apple Tablet is  a waste of money in my opinion.  I say this, because with both Apple and Droid, many apps are able to be purchased once, and installed twice!  I typically recommend sticking with the brand you have for phone, unless you are unhappy.  With that said, I also chose an Android Tablet.  The #1 response I get from Apple owners on why they love their iPad is that “it’s more intuitive”.   My thought is that, “I’m more intuitive than the average user” and therefore don’t need an intuitive device, I need a device that is flexible and will do whatever I want it to do.   Flash is also a MAJOR whammy for iPad(2) tablets.  The lack of flash does make me a little ill to my stomach.

iPad owners Shut the F* Up about Netflix Please

With that said, I would be proud to own both tablets, and I’m close to doing so, but I’m trying to behave with my gadget purchases !  But it’s also important that I have enough gadgets to be able to intelligently speak about topics I write about.  I really do love both tablets, and honestly, I just wanted to write the funny title for this article to announce that my Xoom and myTouch are both rocking Netflix.

Netflix APK Streaming Android Xoom myTouch 3g Slide

Download our copy of the APK HERE for VIP ( registered site users ) netflix apk works on xoom and tablets (48)
Registered users will be eligible to receive an email when we create new articles only.. ( ok to opt-out anytime )

I originally found these links via the Android Police and my Forum Android Central.

DROID DEVICES OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED  ( Plus we know my Xoom, Samsung Galaxy, myTouch 3g Slide also work )

Currently Netflix playback is supported on the following devices:

• Casio G’zOne Commando C771 with Android 2.2
• HTC Droid Incredible
• HTC Droid Incredible 2
• HTC EVO
• HTC EVO 3D
• HTC G2
• HTC Thunderbolt
• Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet
• LG Revolution
• Motorola Atrix
• Motorola Droid
• Motorola Droid X
• Motorola Droid X2
• Motorola Droid 2
• Motorola Droid 3
• Samsung Droid Charge
• Samsung Epic 4G
• Samsung Galaxy S
• Samsung Galaxy S 4G
• Samsung Fascinate
• Samsung Nexus S
• Samsung Nexus S 4G

View more of our Xoom Articles View All Android Articles

Custom WSU Logo in my Lincoln MKZ. Looks Great!

PHOTO REQUIREMENTS:

• Images must be JPEG ( .jpeg, .jpe, .jpg )
• Images can be up to 1.5MB in size
• You can store up to 32 Images

Full Dash Sample using 2 custom images on Home Screen

EASY STEPS TO ADD CUSTOM IMAGES TO FORD/LINCOLN MyTOUCH

1. Search the web or your personal photos for up to 32 JPEG images ( I recommend making a folder on your PC to store all your choices )
2. Using your PC or MAC computer, BURN THE IMAGES onto a CD-R disc
3. In your vehicle, turn on the Ford/Lincoln myTouch nav system and press the HOME SCREEN button in the bottom left of your screen
4. Insert the CD-R that has your custom pics ( the system will indicate it is reading the disc )
5. In the Lower Right or Left of the screen press the “right arrow” image until you get to the default image, and literally press the image.
6. The screen will now change to show all available images.  PRESS THE ADD Button which will open the images on your CD-R
7. PRESS ADD ALL, This will cycle through your custom pics and load them to the myTouch Hard Drive
8. Once loaded, hit the BACK command on the bottom right of the screen and select the image you’d like to use
9. To use images on both the left and the right simply hit the RIGHT ARRROW’s again on the home screen to cycle through your available options.

Enjoy your own custom images on your fancy Ford / Lincoln myTouch nav system powered by Microsoft.

View a bunch more pictures of this process on our Flickr Page HERE

HERE IS A VIDEO TUTORIAL ON ADDING CUSTOM IMAGES TO MYTOUCH:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOTy3fXjIVs

32 GB of fresh new media storage...YES!

Update HTJ85B also includes an interesting “Zoom” feature to help enjoy mobile applications that were not intended for tablets. Once installed, you will receive a pop-up message on your screen describing how to use the new zoom feature. In general, it appears at the bottom-right of your screen in the task bar and gives you a couple options if you stumble on an application that looks like crap. I think it’s a nice touch, but nowhere near as valuable as SD Card support.

Purchase Micro SD Cards from Amazon (HERE)

Micro SD Space Holder now Obsolete

Many Xoom owners have been patiently awaiting this update including myself.   I have a 32 GB model Wifi-Only Xoom, and although I still have plenty of GB Storage left, I have been holding off totally loading it with media.  Since I use both Google Music, and Amazon Cloud MP3, I previously I loaded only about  500 of my favorite mp3-songs.. But now my entire 18GB iTunes library is being moved, as well as a crapload of 700MB – 1GB awesome movies.   The only other consideration will be to add large rom files for Nintendo 64 and Playstation emulator apps that previously got de-prioritized.  Now I can fit more than Final Fantasy on my tablet!

HOW TO ADD THE SD CARD TO YOUR XOOM

• The Micro SD Card slot is located on top of your Motorola Xoom, I simply used my fingernail to easily to pry open the SD Card slot .
• Once you remove the storage casing, push down on the small Micro SD protective fake.  This will pop it up, remove the sucker.
• Now put your shiny new 4,8,16,32, or 64 GB Micro SD card in.  Easy as that!
• Re install the casing, go to your system settings, and marvel at all the new storage you have.
• Load the storage with a butt-load of media files and enjoy the hell out of your Xoom Tablet running Honeycomb 3.2

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

• More Pictures of Honeycomb 3.2 HTJ85B and SD Card Install
• Google Music, and Amazon Cloud MP3 on your Xoom or Droid
• Optimize Movies for your Xoom with Handbrake for Free
• Purchase Micro SD Cards from Amazon (HERE)
• ALL OUR XOOM ARTICLES,REVIEWS, AND HOW TOs

DIFFICULTY

While it may seem simple during the first few levels, further advancement into the 20 levels start to require a lot of strategy so don’t get too cocky.  The first few levels are defintely tutorial based and grids are laid out for you, allowing you to quickly get accustomed to the game, but a few levels in, your brain better be ready to design your own choke-points, handle a variety of land, shielded, and air based bad-guys, and capitalize on your strengths to exploit alien weaknesses.  Because this is a multiple platform game, there is a buttload of videos to help you through tough levels on youtube. Unless you are an all-star tower defense gamer, it is very likely you will at least need some help on level 20.  It took me tens of attempts to finally beat level 20 and thus the entire game.

Nice Choke-Point Die Aliens!

GRAPHICS

I use the 15″ variety Macbook Pro and the graphics look fantastic.  There are several levels of ZOOM you can use but I definitely use the Zoom-OUT the most so I can see the entire grid. This is definitely the way I play 95% of the time.  Zooming in doesn’t really serve much of a purpose in my opinion.  If I had to rate the graphics I’d give it an 8/10 strong but certainly not “totally amazing”.

SOUND AND STORY

I enjoy the story of Defense Grid, and definitely became attached to my “computer friend” that basically narrates the entire experience.  Deep in the game, he evens offers to buy me a beer, “if he could”!   The story definitely gives you a feeling of purpose in gameplay which I find as a great bonus to any game.  In general, the sound, and effects are good, but the game takes a major knock as the sound actually cuts out on occasion.  This is not just me and my setup, reading the reviews you will find others that go through the same sound cut-out bugs..  It is a moderate impact bug, but doesn’t take away from my declaration of this game being the top Tower-Defense grid game for MacBook Pro.

Levels go up, so does required Strategy!

THE BAD / KNOCKS

By far, what this game needs most is a map editor, user creations, or at least an update for more than 20 levels.  Defense Grid is screaming for more levels, and the newly popular share-create-play type setup.  I would personally create levels, and I believe it’s doable.  The other main knock as mentioned earlier is the bug with sound being totally cutout from time to time.  The other downside, is that this is the most expensive tower defense game, but I think you get what you pay for at $16.99 USD especially when compared to the competition.

SUMMARY

This game has been around for a long time on many systems and it is damn popular.  If you hate tower defense games, then this may not be your cup of tea, but if you want to try something new that you know is loved by most of its owners ( including myself ) then definitely give Defense Grid a shot.  When you get to level 20 let me know how you do, it took me a LONG TIME to figure it out!   Not only did I like it the first time around, but I give this game a high replayability score because I can’t stop playing my favorite levels over and over.  I just get a kick out of trying new strategies or the “challenge levels”.  My favorite challenge is the Walkers Level, where you face 99 waves of “walkers”  perfect for setting up nasty defense and just flat out destroying alien jive turkeys.  This game is a favorite of mine and highly recommended!

View More Pics at Flickr Macbook Pro Defense Grid HERE.

I’m giving you a lot of information below, so please feel free to ask me any questions here, or on any other of our social media pages, I’d love to help, because I know you will like this device.  ~Booya Cuz

Everything I own connects to this even PC and Macbook Pro!

USEAGE OPTIONS / IDEAS

The way I use the Sony Bluetooth adapter, is mainly for music and audio streaming from video on my devices.  For example, I use it to listen to music stored directly on my toys, or even Pandora, Zune, and Google Music.  So, for music only you’re covered!  I have a lot of devices, more than most, and I’m confident that musically you will be satisfied.  Another cool way you can use this is to watch video on your iPad or Tablet, and stream the audio straight to your home stereo!  I definitely do this a lot as well and you can too once your sweet little bluetooth adapter arrives in the mail!  I use this not only for my Xoom tablet, and smart phones, but it also works with my Macbook Pro and PC as well.  I hope I’m helping you use your imagination, but I think a majority of purchasers will use this for music streaming.   Yet another option would be to connect this to your TV and stream the audio FROM your TV TO a set of Bluetooth Headphones for late night movie watching with a sleeping spouse.. So many options.

Your $500+ device on your home stereo! I own it.

Remember, this fancy little device is actually a 2 Way transmitter !  That means it can both SEND AND RECEIVE audio signals via bluetooth.

LIKE IT ?  HERE ARE 2 PURCHASE OPTIONS SO YOU CAN BUY IT NOW.

• Buy it on Amazon ( I bought mine on Amazon, read the 100+ comments for your own perspective )
• Buy it Now on Ebay
• CABLE TO BUY FROM ADAPTER TO HOME STEREO
• View 10 More photos on our Flickr page

THE GOOD AND BAD

• GOOD:  Connect a plethora of devices to your home stereo. Throw a kick-ass party using your phone, or enjoy video sound in style.
• GOOD:  Although pricey, this is one of the lower cost methods to wireless stream audio to(or from) your home stereo system!
• BAD:     A little Expensive. Expect $45 -- $55
• BAD:     If you have multiple devices, you have to re-sync each time.  Works with multiple devices, but requires a little extra elbow grease since you’ll have to do the below instructions if you flip-flop back and forth.  If you only have 1 device, this is not a problem..

My Xoom ( your iPad ) after connecting to the HWS-BTA2W

HOW TO CONNECT YOUR DEVICE

1. Connect your HWSBTA2 to your home stereo with a stereo jack->analog(red,white)
2. Plug in the HWSBTA2W Sony Bluetooth Adapter, turn it on -- press and hold the “ID SET button” for about 8 seconds’ish. This will set the adapter into discovery mode.
3. Grab yer device, turn on its Bluetooth and ensure it is ready to discover new devices!
4. Once both devices are on and ready to talk, your phone/tablet/pc will find the Sony adapter.
5. Your device will ask for the super-secret-magic password which is “OOOO”  (  4-Zeroes )
6. BAM !  Now your audio will stream from your device to your home stereo! ( make sure your input settings set on your home stereo )

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO REVIEW ON YOUTUBE OF THIS SWEET LIL DEVICE:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeH5iGvNBMw

** UPDATE ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT **

My friends at Android Central shared another purchase option with me.  While I haven’t tested it, it certainly seems to be another option, a little cheaper and potentially more uses:
Plantronics UPP260 Plantronics Pulsar 260 Stereo

See the thread at Android Central Xoom forum here.

READY ?  HERE ARE 2 PURCHASE OPTIONS SO YOU CAN RESEARCH OR BUY IT NOW.

• Buy it on Amazon ( I bought mine on Amazon, read the 100+ comments for your own perspective )
• Buy it Now on Ebay
• CABLE TO BUY FROM ADAPTER TO HOME STEREO
• View 10 More photos on our Flickr page

WHY I WROTE THIS HOW TO / REVIEW

The reason I’m writing this article is because it is NOT straightforward on how to set it up, so I want to help you capitalize on yet another cool feature for your hip T.V.   It’s not tough, and it is totally worth a few minutes setup so this easy, short article should help you tap into the Amazon video streaming service capabilities that this T.V. does very well and I am using it like crazy right now.  This article is definitely aimed #1 at people that own a Samsung smart T.V. with internet like my 6500 model, and #2 customers that have or are interested in Amazon Instant Video ( VOD ).

Dual Survivor Season 2 Looks Great on my Samsung

WHY AMAZON INSTANT VIDEO?

The reason you might like Amazon Instant Video is that it is simply another online / cloud video option.  As a user and power tester of mostly every online video service is, I would certainly urge you to at least consider if this service is right for you.  Amazon video’s strength to set it apart from Netflix, Vudu, Hulu and Google is NEW / RECENT Television programming.  For my testing over the past week, I have purchased and streamed High Def “I Am Number Four“, and also a bunch of NEW survival T.V. shows.  A new favorite of mine, Dual Survivor Season 2 happens to be the test subject for this article, but I also got hooked on “Out of the Wild“.  Both with Movies and TV shows, I am really happy with my T.V. streaming Amazon Instant Video.

HOW TO GET IT SETUP ON YOUR SAMSUNG TV EASY

The main “funky & confusing” thing about the Amazon service on your TV is that it does NOT have it’s own App selection on your Samsung Internet menu.  It is actually part of the Yahoo! Widget..  This is the biggest catch. Once setup, you will always select the Yahoo App to get to Amazon Instant Video.

1. Open your internet menu on your Samsung TV, and open the Yahoo! app which is featured on your T.V.
2. Once in Yahoo, open the “Widget Gallery”, Select Featured, and then Amazon Instant Video, then “Add Widget to My Profile”
3. Now Amazon will be in your Yahoo Widget, select it and then you will need to “LINK” your TV to your Amazon Account.
4. Fire up the Amazon app, FROM the Yahoo widget, this will give you a 4 digit code.  In step 5 You will Enter that code online ! Easy.
5. To link your TV to your Amazon Account visit the Amazon “Register Your Device Page” from an internet browser and select your Device!  IT will then ask you for the  4 digit code which is staring at you on your Samsung.
6. Now, enjoy your existing library, or try out a few purchases on Amazon Instant Video.  BOOYA !

Register online and on your TV, Voila !

Suprise Bonus #1: Signing up with my fancy TV got me a $5 bonus, which is essentially a FREE high Def movie rental ! ( just like Vudu :) )

Suprise Bonus #2:  If you happen to already have Amazon Prime Membership, you already get FREE Amazon video streaming included with your membership.  Only downside, is that I don’t think the free videos are that cool, but Free is Free …

I roll Wirelessly with my XBox 360 Controller!

MY METHOD WITH THE WIRELESS XBOX USB RECEIVER

What’s different about my method is that my controller connection is wireless. As you should know, Microsoft’s XBox does NOT use bluetooth. That’s why you can’t connect a bluetooth headset like you can with the PS3 !  I purchased the XBox wireless receiver years ago so I could use my controller for PC games.  The reason this approach is unique, and the reason I recommend it is because you can use this device multipurpose.  For your Xoom ( or other Android 3.1+ tablet ) AND your PC or Mac !  Get the point?  I was amazed when I plugged in the wireless receiver, pushed the connection button on both it and the XBox controller and BAM they sync’d fast and I was using this setup totally quick.   I was expecting a long night of screwing around with hardware, but the magic happened easily and in only a few minutes.  I have both XBox and a PS3, but I know many of our readers don’t so I definitely felt it was important to test every controller I could get my Booya hands on.   And I hope it makes you happy because it works great !

OTG Converter with the XBox Wireless Receiver. Pretty sweet

THE EXACT PRODUCT I HAVE -->Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows

THE “OTG CABLE” AND COMPATIBLE GAMES(Emulators)

This costs a few bucks and works great for my XBox 360 Controller to drive the Xoom
EBAY: micro USB to USB Female Cable USB-OTG N900

At the time of this article, this setup only works for select games like Cordy ( Android Market ) and mainly ALL the old-school gaming emulators.  Yes, because you can map controller configurations, this works for Nintendo Emulators(like Nesoid), Super Nintendo(Snes9X), Playstation 1(FPSE), and even Atari( Ataroid ).

Much of this ability comes from the Android 3.1 Update for your Android Tablet.  So, while this entire article is focused on the Motorola Xoom, I am confident that it will work on other tablets!  So far, I can use a WiiMote, Ps3 controller, and XBox 360 Controller to drive my beloved tablet.  It actually is a very good experience.   If you’re reading this now with a tablet and are new to Booya Gadget, I also don’t hide that I love my Stylus when using my Xoom for “normal activity”.

No Wires. Plug in the receiver to your Xoom, Connect and VOILA!

If you noticed, this is a short article.. That’s because this is an easy project !  Get the OTA cable for  a few bucks(long international shipping time), buy the Wireless XBox Receiver( totally multi purpose), and install your favorite emulators from the Android Market ( or apk searches off google ) and the last step is to open your emulator and MAP YOUR KEYS when your PS3 Controller is plugged in.  Booya!

VIEW A FEW MORE PICS OF THIS XBOX-ANDROID PROJECT ON OUR FLICKR PAGE HERE

Video Demonstration and Walkthru using the Microsoft XBox 360 Controller on my Xoom

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Omyv6YzBmA

Check out more of our XBox 360 Articles Here

Checkout more of our Android / Xoom Articles Here

Get the OTG Cable and this works Great! Easy.

THE “OTG CABLE” AND COMPATIBLE GAMES(Emulators)

This costs a few bucks and works great for my PS3 Controller to drive the Xoom
EBAY: micro USB to USB Female Cable USB-OTG N900

At the time of this article, this setup only works for select games like Cordy ( Android Market ) and mainly ALL the old-school gaming emulators.  Yes, because you can map controller configurations, this works for Nintendo Emulators(like Nesoid), Super Nintendo(Snes9X), Playstation 1(FPSE), and even Atari( Ataroid ).

Much of this ability comes from the Android 3.1 Update for your Android Tablet.  So, while this entire article is focused on the Motorola Xoom, I am confident that it will work on other tablets!  So far, I can use a WiiMote, Ps3 controller, and XBox 360 Controller to drive my beloved tablet.  I assure this works great.   If you’re reading this now with a tablet and are new to Booya Gadget, I’ve actually written a bunch of articles/reviews/and other how to’s for the Xoom if you want to see more!

If you noticed, this is a short article.. That’s because this is an easy project !  Get the OTA cable for  a few bucks, install your favorite emulators from the Android Market ( or apk searches off google ) and the last step is to open your emulator and MAP YOUR KEYS when your PS3 Controller is plugged in.  Booya!

VIEW A FEW MORE PICS OF THIS PROJECT ON OUR FLICKR PAGE HERE

Video Demonstration and Walkthru using the Playstation Controller on my Xoom

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy-kTDZrDfI

If you want to learn a lot about your Xoom or other Android device, I also recommend a visit to Android Central where I hang out a lot.

T

TV Remote, And game pad for Samsung TV Games!

DOWNLOAD THE SAMSUNG REMOTE APP FOR iPHONE HERE

HOW TO SET IT UP

I do use this app often, and I’m totally satisfied.  I really had to do nothing to set this up.  Your TV MUST be on the same home network.  In my case I have a DLink DIR 655 router, but I’m convinced it will work on any reasonable setup if you have a router, and your TV is using the Samsung WiFi adapter or even hardwired.  To make it extra clear, your iPhone must be on WiFi as well.  When you fire it up, the app will kick in to Auto Discovery Mode and recognize your TV.  After that, it just takes a little time to get used to.  If you are “booya minded” then you won’t mind taking a peek at the Manual that is already provided within the app itself.   Make sure to read the supported televisions in the app description !

View More Pics of the iPhone Samsung remote app at Booya Flickr Here.

iPhone Remote App Found my TV

This is a great FREE app, and it’s worth a test drive and a little bit of your time.   As a tech blogger, you should not be surprised that I have a buttload of smart phones and devices, so my iPhone is kind of an extra remote just laying around for whenever I need it.  I really enjoy my iPhone and the functionality of this app with my beloved Samsung 6500 LED LCD 46″ Television !

Video Demonstration of my iPhone 3g as a Remote Control for my Samsung 6500 TV

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0EMztNFIi4

Yes, Booya has 3 stars on ALL Angry Birds Chrome. You can too !

Here are all the video walkthrus for Angry Birds on Google Chrome. The “Dimension Levels”. This article will help you through:

Angry Birds Chrome: 4-4 3 Stars
Angry Birds Chrome: 4-5 3 Stars
Angry Birds Chrome: 4-6 3 Stars
Angry Birds Chrome: 4-7 3 Stars

Hopefully by now you have already downloaded the new (FREE) Angry Birds from Google Chrome’s app store.  It is worth a download of the Google Chrome Browser if you don’t have it already, and yet another new avenue to play one of the best games on Android, Xoom, iPhone and iPad: Angry Birds.  If you are hungry for some new levels, then prepare to be satisfied !  A nice extra touch is that I’m even playing Chrome Dimensions on my Macbook Pro after having downloaded Chrome.  Totally easy to setup, get new Angry Birds levels for FREE, and enjoy some new challenges.

Angry Birds Chrome: 4-4 3 Stars

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKCgmji7N00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMl7KC1Ntzo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLjAvN7B2is

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdhnyGoec50

Check out more of our walkthrus:

• Cargo Bridge on Google Chrome
• X Construction Review and Spoiler forLevels 1-10
• X Construction Levels 11-14
• Angry Birds Chrome Dimensions 4-1, 4-2, 4-3
• LA Noire Teaser video, and Review PS3 and XBox 360

L.A. NOIRE LOGO

LA Noire is a unique crime/action/puzzle/thriller/mystery and adventure game mixed all into one and based ( very accurately ) in 1940′s Los Angeles. High level is that you are Cole Phelps ( Aaron Staton IMDB ) a WWII Marine come home to be a cop!    It is made by the popular Rockstar Games, and you can definitely tell as the game certainly has a few similiarities to their other smash hits Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.  To get you in my frame of mind, for some reason I just have never liked GTA, but I loved Red Dead Redemption, and I “really enjoyed” LA Noire !

I think what I like about games like this is becoming attached to the characters, caring about the story, being curious about the back story, and feeling like I have an overall important purpose.    I just beat the game tonight so while it’s fresh in my head I’m going to share my opinions and impressions with you about this game with mostly no spoilers. I don’t give games formal ratings much, but if forced, I would give this a “SOLID  B”, and I had a great time playing it and would definitely recommend for gamers that appreciate this genre!  A quick note before I deep dive is that upon beating the game I did receive the “Moth to a Flame”  trophy/achievement for completing all the Arson Cases.

Vacationing in the Westlake Tar Pits

KNEE-JERK IMPRESSIONS (3)

1.  The first thing I will say about LA Noire is that this is not a game for little kids.  A majority of the content of this game is absolutely for grown-folk.  Yes, we are talking  murder, violence, dead bodies, FULL female body shots ( albeit corpses) but “bush  and breasts”  nonetheless, foul language, and even a handful of racism( used solely to simulate 1940′s racial tension).  I’m not a parent, I am “grown folk” so I actually really appreciate the non-mario style play.  On some of these cases, if your Grandma walked in and saw the screen, it could make for an awkward conversation.. I’m serious.

2.  Something I want to clear up right now, is that this game is NOT Heavy Rain.  It has a few ballparks similarities, but the gameplay and overall experiences were very different between the two games.  Heavy Rain was an amazing “Experience”, like playing your own virtual reality game, totally different STILL than any other game I’ve played.  There are some tense moments in LA Noire, but nothing as tense as Heavy Rain!

3.  If you spend the time, you will beat this game, and it doesn’t take a lot of hours depending on how hard you go.  In general, the game will guide you through the main difficult decisions, locations, and “clue trails”.  I prefer this, because there are plenty of side quests, hidden cars, and other objects to keep you busy.  So I like that it steers me where it wants me to go, yet also allows me to delay the main story with plenty of alternative objectives to keep the game going !

LA Noire Hidden Car Phantom Corsair MY FAVORITE!

GRAPHICS

I don’t like to talk about graphics much, because now-a-days I consider the graphics of most new releases really good and this game is no different.  The game boasts a new digital facial re-creation technology and all I can say is that these people look real.  The cars look awesome, the buildings impressive and the hot german chick Elsa Lichtman ( Erika Heynatz PHOTO ) is totally hot in the game and real life. I would definitely take her for a ride on my motorcycle.  A tiny spoiler is that I recognized Matthew Parkman(that chubby psychic dude from Heroes) immediately.  He sneaks in for one of the cases and you can tell it is him easily !  So, this should be no secret, the graphics are “very damn good” in every aspect.

STUFF I DIDN’T LIKE

As you can probably tell, I had a great experience playing LA Noir.  A few things bugged me about the game.  First was the reliance on the subtle audio clips.  After a while, and early on, it gets hard to even hear the noises.  I have a decent audio setup, and while playing this game, I had to CRANK THE VOLUME to ensure I heard the audio clues.  Otherwise you could miss important clues, or waste time walking around looking for a tiny matchbook.   The main issue is not that sounds are important, it’s that the important sounds mix in too much with the music and other unrelated sound effects.  I would almost prefer an airhorn to a sometimes barely audible “chime”…  It will make sense to you when you get this game.

A second thing that bugged me during my game and on my way to beating L.A. Noire is that I got tired of picking up junk clues.  Useless beer bottles, and that “diablo” liquor bottle just got annoying after a while.  I think just a few less totally useless clues that you have to grab, rotate around, and then learn you wasted your time would better.

Thirdly, really dark games bug me sometimes.  This game is very realistic and while not “excessively dark”, I found that some scenes/areas/buildings were difficult to navigate, hunt bad guys, drive, and find clues on occasion.  I don’t mind a dark scene, but I don’t like to waste time simply trying to find a phone that I can see on a mini map or a pair of boots in a corner.  I think this could be tweaked with some gamma settings in the options menu ARGH!

Be Patient and go Slow crossing dangerous heights

L.A. NOIRE TOP 10 GENERAL TIPS

• Music / Audio cues are very important. Pay attention early on when they teach you the significance of noises and music clips!
• People are friggin liars and hold information a lot !
• People’s faces are normally VERY accurate.  Watch their face and mannerisms closely when questioning a witness or suspect.
• Grab a few hidden cars..  No major strategic advantage, it’s just more fun to drive some of these awesome 40′s cars.
• Use your reality TV Skills.  Think like a TV Cop!  Find evidence for motive, opportunity, and the weapon before charging criminals.
• You *should* know when someone is lying.  You will have the evidence to prove it.  Don’t accuse them of lying if you don’t have evidence.
• For maximum game effectiveness, just pick up LA Noire and play.  Don’t read tutorials or walkthru’s. Go Raw-Dog :)
• Find, read, and watch the backstory when you find Newspapers !!
• Mix in some side quests EARLY.  These help you gain experience, which gives you “intuition” boosts! Very helpful all game long..
• Don’t give up when tailing suspects on foot or by vehicle.  Sometimes it’s tricky, but you will improve and it’s more real gameplay.

SUMMARY / OVERALL

Yes I recommend L.A. Noire, it’s worth it.  A fun, and unique crime thriller but it is for adults, probably not too appropriate in the hands of a 12 year old.  This game can be beat in only a few hard-play-days if you get hooked, but with plenty of side-quests it will last long enough.  If you go really quickly through the game, then you can just go trophy/achievement hunting and then go trade the game back in.  If you’ve played the game already, leave a comment below I really want to talk to someone about it !

Check out one of my favorite cut scenes from very late in the game. It’s a light spoiler, but only if you know what’s going on which you don’t yet ! I think it’s safe to watch, won’t ruin anything.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrwANKvl1U

Sony PS Vita Booya Gadget (1)

• Uncharted: Golden Abyss
• LittleBigPlanet
• Ruin
• Little Deviants
• Hot Shots Golf
• Reality Fighters
• Hustle Kings
• Modnation Racers
• Wipeout
• Super Stardust Delta

This is exciting news for the handheld community and I have to admit I am very excited for this product to hit the shelves.  With the rapidly growing tablet market and everyone carrying smartphones the true gamer in me was worried about the health of  hard core handheld gaming.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Angry Birds, but truth be told deeper titles like Kingdom Hearts are where my true gaming love resides.  Keeping the true portable gaming model alive means that the heavy hitter developers can keep bringing us expansive story-driven titles like the Uncharted Series.

The ability to cross-platform titles with my PS3 has always been a high priority for me as a handheld and console gamer.  I have always wanted my portable Sony console to be an extension of my home console.  Sony announced that the PS Vita will be able to cross-platform with some PS3 titles.  Wipeout will be one of those titles that supports this feature.  Be sure to grab up your Free Copy of Wipeout HD Fury for your PS3 from the Welcome Back Program if you haven’t already bought this high speed racer.

The handheld also supports “party chat,” which will enable gamers to chat with their Playstation friends across the network, regardless of which game they each are playing.

After the dust settled the news that brought joy to my heart was the price structure.  With $600 tablets becoming the norm and the fiasco of the price point of the PS3, I feared that Sony would cripple their latest handheld with a high price.  However, they delivered in my opinion with an affordable price and two very nice options.

WiFi only at $249 is a good price and a great option for a gamer like myself.  I am not going to change my carrier to get a PS Vita and I actually have no interest in a 3G gaming only handheld.  Keeping the price under 300 bucks makes this a day one purchase for me and keeps me excited for this release later this year.

You can pre-order today at Amazon - PlayStation Vita – WiFi

UPDATE: June 2011: New Tutorial to take you through 3 stars on: 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, and 4-7.  BOOYA!

So here’s a short video with some music provided courtesy of “The Swaybacks” walking you through 3 Star performances the first 3 levels of “Chrome Dimension” levels ! They are actually quite tricky to get 3 stars on, took me a while.  And this video should really help you save some time !

3 Stars on Angry Birds Chrome 4-1,   Angry Birds Chrome 4-2 and Angry Birds Chrome 4-3

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgWFdlJ_L_o

Check out more of our walkthrus:

• Cargo Bridge
• X Construction Review and Spoiler forLevels 1-10
• X Construction Levels 11-14

Google Music is simply a new tool that you UPLOAD YOUR MUSIC files to the magical cloud in the sky, and have access to it anytime, anywhere you have internet access either on your Android device, or a web browser..  Let me be explicit, you have to have the song on your PC to send it up, so if you don’t have a nice digital mp3 collection then this may not be sexy to you yet.  If you don’t have a digital MP3 library, I highly recommend you catch up to 2011, damn near everything I own is digital now.  I HATE having discs laying around, movies or CD’s..

Google Music Online Interface. Smokes Amazon Mp3 Cloud Web Interface

I tend to always throw my hat in the ring for Google Beta products, the last time it was for our Google Voice review, this time it was Google Music Beta where you can request your own invite if you’re impatient for a formal release.  We’ve already written about Amazon Cloud MP3, and to me these are very similar services.  Hold a gun to my head, and I’ll choose Google over Amazon Mp3 but in the end they’re all really similar.

Most important right off the bat, is that Google Music allows a 20,000 song upload limit. If you have more than that, then you are friggin LOCO !  That is a crapload of music.  I’m a tech-nerd, and have about 5,300 songs including audio books.  That is plenty of music and will literally fill DAYS of music play so if you have more than that, you must be in some kind of 90th percentile.  I also question your ability to manage over 5,000 songs.. anyways..

UPLOADING with MUSIC MANAGER

Depending on how much music you have it *may* take a crapload of time. Just in case you don’t know, uploading on the internet is WAY slower than downloading so don’t expect the same experience as you do with normal web surfing.  I literally set up my Google Music Manager, and went to bed.  If you have hundreds of songs only, then this shouldn’t be too bad of an experience, but if you’re in the thousands, then just be patient.  However, a very nice user experience is that you can indeed use Google Music Beta WHILE your music is uploading.  So you can basically test right away.  If you happen to be a little more hardcore, all my iTunes library is stored on my FreeNAS server and this worked just the same.

Point Google Music Manager to your Tool or Folder with Music

Basically, you point the music manager to a folder of your choice.  Just like Amazon MP3 Cloud,  this can be a bit sketchy.  If you have a LOT of music, like over 2,000 songs at least, then you may want to just create a test folder.  If you have under 1,000 songs then just plug this sucker in and you may have an easier experience than I did uploading a big-ass library of music.

FREEBIES

In fact, when you sign up, Google let’s you pick a handful of songs by Genre.  A nice touch, especially if you have no music ready for upload.  Just another way to try out there services yourself.. For me, I selected what I normally would by genre, but this is not the selling factor of this service, just a nice touch.  Maybe you get lucky and one of their freebies is right in your wheelhouse.  For me, all it did was screw up my collection by adding genre’s I don’t use.  I would never complain getting free stuff, but for example, I had to go change their free music genre from “RAP / HIP HOP” to “RAP” because it added an extra genre on my screen.  Picky, but I run a tight musical ship.

Free Songs by Genre

DEVICES / SOFTWARE

I certainly don’t have every Android O.S. device, but I do have a myTouch 3g Slide and Motorola Xoom.  Within seconds of signing up and getting setup online, my Google Music player on my WiFi Xoom definitely knew that I was in the Music Beta, as did my Slide.  In fact, I’ve been hammering BOTH devices with G Music the past several days.  As a “can I break it test”, I was able to play music simultaneously on my Slide, Xoom, and even the Web Player.  A fun, corny test, but interesting nonetheless.  This means your wife could stream via the phone at a friends house, and you could use the Browser to stream at home during poker night and both enjoy a shared library…  A stretch, but a successful test nonetheless.

A nice feature, ( expected ), is the desktop widget provided with Google Music.   Nothing fancy, especially on the myTouch, but you can very easily place a GMB music on your desktop and drive your tunes. I did it all the time in my test drive.

Google Music worked great on Xoom and myTouch 3g Slide

THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

I had a little notepad file that I used to gather my tangible impressions over the past few days.. Here are the results!

THE BAD

• 1,000 song limit for playlists ( Very annoying when I have a genre with 1,200 songs, WTF should I do ? Manally do it ? )
• Cannot rate thumbs up / down from Droid Player ( I REALLY HATE THIS )
• Long time to upload, but worth it
• Fine Tuning must happen on website
• Locked the Hell out of my Xoom a couple times
• Choppy when multi tasking on several occasions
• Tough to stop an upload if your music is not organized well

THE GOOD

• 20,000 song limit ( that is a LOT of music )
• One Click Create a playlist based on a song
• Easy to edit song information ( like changing genre,or album info manually ) online, for fine tuning ( easier than Amazon Mp3 )
• Easily store desired songs for trips etc..  Stores your most recent library if you don’t have internet connection
• Bluetooth to home stereo and car works great
• Auto Playlists based on songs that you give a “THUMBS UP” to ( BUT, you can’t thumbs up on the device )
• Album Covers look nice
• Pleasant viewing Landscape or Portrait mode on your device
• Multiple devices, worked same on myTouch 3g Slide and Android Xoom
• Nice little Widgets for your Droid Home Screen / Desktop

****************************************************************************

View All My Photos of my Google Music Xoom Install and Setup Process at Booya Flickr Now:

****************************************************************************

SUMMARY / OVERALL

This is a cool service supported by Google muscle.  I read a lot of other reviews where people had bad experiences, I had a predictable experience, and this was no emergency although I was eager to spend some time and share an article with you.  I was expecting just what I got, because we had already done a deep dive on Amazon MP3 Cloud.  It had a VERY similar feel to it.  Google Music is NOT a must have for non music lovers, or if you just have very little music.  For me, and most of BooyaGadget.com it’s a must have.   I care very little about any “privacy” concerns.  If Al Qaeda hacked my account, what are they going to do ? Listen to my Wiz Khalifa songs? Go ahead..  It’s just a convenient service that I will personally use, but if you find yourself wondering if you’re missing out, then you’re probably not.  Stick with Pandora and Jango which are really good alternatives to this kind of service.  There are a handful of improvements to be made, and to me this is simply a backup service and alternative listening source for my music.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ? BOOYA !

Yes, Easy to conference here's the proof. Totally Easy.

3 EASY STEPS :  How to 3-way Conference Call on Windows Phone 7

1. Make the first Call
2. After connected, press the DOWN ARROW key on the right of the screen and select ADD CALL
   • This will place your first caller on hold, and allow you to make another call.
3. Dial your second call friend / co-worker.
   • Once connected, press the DOWN ARROW KEY again and select MERGE CALL!

This also works to leave a harassing 2 person phone call on the 3rd member’s voicemail like we did for our test ! Total Success, but more importantly a nice trick to know for your phone, and friggin easy as all hell.  BOOYA !

PHOTO VISUALS

Make your First Call

After ADD CALL, Your 1st Buddy is on Hold Until you MERGE CALLS

Be sure to check out more of our Windows Phone 7 How To’s, Best Apps, and Game articles while you’re here !  Booya !

You should also grab RIGHT NOW the Free USA Today App for WP7 which I now am in love with.

Rave Reviews 5 stars across the board

I am a both a heavy user and constant seeker for great News apps for my devices, especially my HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7… USA TODAY just jumped up to #1 by far, hands down, no doubt, and zero hesitation!  Besides the fact that it is free and has raving reviews from every reviewer so far, I instantly pinned it to my home screen, and raced to the computer to make sure every WP7 user I know downloads this must-have app!

I am certainly no stranger to the USA Today app, as I have it on my Xoom and even  installed in my Chrome Apps.  But the implementation of this News app on my HTC HD7 is one of the best I’ve seen so far.  I feel bad for the independent developers who have leveraged their RSS feed for cheap apps, because the real deal is free, and it is, as we commonly say at Booya: “Badass”.  This is what I want to use for the morning cup of coffee..

The main feature lacking is a live tile, but with the overall quality of this app I just don’t mind.  If they added weather to the live tile, this replaces my weatherbug and Weather Channel apps immediately.  I wasn’t even going to write a WP7 article today until I found my new BFF  USA Today app, and I stopped everything else and wrote this for you !

MORE PICS: or our 11 full pics at Flickr

READ MORE Booya Gadget Windows Phone 7 Articles
Download the WP7 USA Today News App for Free Now

TOPICS

This app available for download now has most everything you can want in a news app starting with popular topics: News, Money, Sports, Life, Tech, Travel, Sports Scores and even a very nice weather integration reading your current location ( if you allow it ).   Snapshots ia also a newer feature I hadn’t seen before which is tiny tidbits of information, that allows you to vote on a variety of topics very easily and get just a little digestable taste of cool info.  For example:  I just voted on “Are you confident that you w’ll be able to retire when you want to?”..  Stuff like that.

Standard News Topics, you'll get what you want

WEATHER

The Weather reporting in this app is excellent. Even if you look closely at the above topics picture ( or our 11 full pics at Flickr ) you will see a slightly rainy backdrop.  Yes, it was raining like hell today in Seattle, and my USA Today app background reflected this.  As I’m finishing this, the app’s background has changed to a dark moon backdrop, a nice touch!   The app plays friendly with and utilizes AccuWeather.com to present the weather.  In the settings you can allow it to use your location for an easy custom presentation, I tend to do this always for a “best customer experience”.   They make it obvious they use AccuWeather, a respected weather provider.  It’s not just current conditions, they also provide Regional Radar Maps, and the highly desireable 5 day forecast for golfers and bbq lovers.

SPORTS

The sports category is well done, small pics, a blurb, and click to get the details.  I was pleasantly surprised to have a great listing of the scores of all major sports.  The downside here is they are JUST SCORES, no recap, but if you just need to know who won the big game, this gets the job done.   If they added a recap button then again, they would be making other sports apps totally obsolete.  1 step away here, but still very good.  If you’re hardcore sports fan, then keep your ESPN Score Center app handy for sure.

PHOTOS AND VIDEO

YES!  Even Multi-Media works great, there is a dedicated section for photos which is quite wonderful, and the videos stream very well.  There is no dedicated video section, but articles linking to video are easily clicked to watch the video, and it’s also easy to return to the remainder of the story.  I don’t know who the hell their developers are, but I am giving them a virtual HIGH-FIVE right now, because this app is a game changer.  As far as I’m concerned it sets the precendent for what I expect out of an a News or Utility app on Windows Phone 7..  #$%)  Awesome.

Video Links Play Instantly and Easy Return to the Article

This app has many more features, but it’s free, and it’s the best News app and arguably one of the best Windows Phone 7 News/Weather Utility apps implemented to date so just go download it right now and give Booya a Virtual High Five!  Let us know what else you want to know about WP7, or confirm with me in the comments that you LOVE this app as much as me !

• READ MORE Booya Gadget Windows Phone 7 Articles
• Download the WP7 USA Today News App for Free Now
• Highly Recommended: Read  Microsoft Launch of 6 weeks of new HOT games ( for real hot )

BOOYA !

• Step #1 – Package That Extension

In creating the extension I showed you how to “load unpacked extensions” and install your extension within your Chrome Browser.  However, this time we are going to “Pack extension” for delivery to you friends.  Click the wrench in your Google Chrome browser and scroll down to Tools, then click on Extensions.

A new tab will open up and you will see a list of all the extensions you have installed.  Click on “Pack extension” and a dialogue box will pop-up on the screen.  Browse for an “Extension Root Directory,” which is the folder that your extension is located in.  Select that folder and click OK to continue.  You can set a “Private Key” for you extension, which is basically a password.  This is an optional step, but if you do choose to set a password make sure you don’t forget it.  Once you are ready click OK and the extension will be packaged.  Chrome will create a .CRX file, this is your extension is a nicely wrapped package.

• Step #2 – Install That Extension

In our last tutorial, How To Create an Extension for Google Chrome, I had you do the install Unpacked.  This time, and for the sake of your non-technical friends we are going to install the extension packaged.  I am trying to drag this out for effect, but the reality is that installing an extension in Chrome is a simple as dragging the .CRX file into the browser where you have all of your Apps.  Chrome will ask you if you are sure the file is safe, click OK and the extension will install.

There you have it.  And just for reading I will share some of our Booya created Extensions, that really work like Web Apps.  If you are interested download our ESPN3 and Hulu Plus Apps.

Hulu Plus

ESPN Watch Icon

Each of these Apps will install under your Apps area within Google Chrome.  If you are having any trouble downloading the Apps, right click “Save As” and save the App to your computer so that you can manually drag it into your App area.  Otherwise Chrome will attempt to install the extension automatically and you may get an error message.   Enjoy!  Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!  Thanks for visiting Booya Gadget! Booya!

Google Chrome Web Store

So you have followed BooyaGadget’s tutorial on How To: Create Google Chrome Web Apps, but you have hit a roadblock. The problem is that you want to create an App for your favorite site, but you are not the owner. Well there is a work-around, it won’t be public, but it will work in your Browser and let’s be honest, Chrome Web Apps are just beautiful glorified bookmarks. That being said, I love them, and I use them everyday so I would like to have all my favorite sites right there with all my Google Chrome Web Apps.

The first thing you will need is your favorite website. In this tutorial I will use ESPN3.com, which is not present in the Google Chrome Web Store. This process will work for all your favorites and once you have done the process once, you will spend more time creating the icons.

• Step #1

Create a “Manifest” using notepad.  Similar to creating a Web App, you need to copy this code and save it as “manifest.json”

{“name”: “ESPN“,”
description”: “Watch Live Sports Online“,”
version”: “1.0″,”
icons”: {
“128″: “icon_espn.png”
},
“app”: {
“urls”: [
"http://www.espn3.com"
],
“launch”: {
“web_url”: “http://www.espn3.com”
}
},
“permissions”: [
"unlimitedStorage",
"notifications"
]
}

This extension is for ESPN3.com, but if you would like to make changes just edit the bold lines to fit your needs.   The icon must have the same name as the icon that you will create.  The icon must also be 128×128 to work for the extension.  Once you have finished this manifest place it into a folder named for your extension.  In this example I am going to place the manifest into a folder named ESPN3.

• Step #2

ESPN Watch Icon

Create an Icon for your extension.  As mentioned above the icon must be 128 x 128 and named exactly as you have called it out in the manifest.  Typically for commercial products that I am converting to extensions I will do a Google Search for an Icon.  Most companies now have created icons for the numerous Apps that are now floating around in all the different marketplaces.  Feel free to be creative and create one yourself if you like.  When you are finished place the icon in the same folder as your manifest, in this case ESPN3.

• Step #3

Installing your extension is very simple.  Click on the setting icon for Google Chrome and scroll down until you see Tools.  Under the Tools tab you will see Extensions.  This will open a new tab in Chrome and you will see a list of previously installed Extensions.

Click on “Load Unpacked Extension” and navigate to your created Folder.  Select the folder and click OK.  This will install your extension.

There it is, open a new tab and your new extension will be there waiting for you.  Click on it to give it a test drive and make sure that it is working properly.  Repeat this process for all your favorite websites that aren’t in the Chrome Web Store.  You can see from my screenshot that I have also created a Hulu Plus extension.  As I said before, you’ll spend more time tracking down or creating icons. Booya!

Don’t forget for all things Chrome, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or just subscribe here at BooyaGadget!

• Gameplay

Let’s face it…technology has a grip on the youth of our Nation.  The use of technology through smart phones, Facebook, Twitter, tablets, and computers has children facing a different kind of danger then we did growing up.  Bully Block, a new Android application by Spy Parent LLC, addresses a very serious and important issue in a simple innovative fashion.  Parents now have an opportunity to proactively address this concerning topic by protecting their children from the serious harm that can be inflicted by cyberbullying.

Bully Block at the Amazon Appstore ( $.99, 5 stars)

Bully Block at the Android Market ($1.29, 4.5 stars)

• The Facts

In a study done in February 2010 by the Cyberbullying Research Center, over 4000 students were randomly surveyed ages 10-18 from 37 different schools.  Many stats from this study stood out to me (you can read the entire article by True Care Awareness Online here), but the most significant one in my opinion is the fact that 20% of the students have been cyber-bullied in their lifetimes.  Astoundingly, 17% of them have been cyber-bullied within the last 30 days!  As a high school counselor at my day job I have seen firsthand the prevalence and impact cell phones have in schools.  Rumors, threats, harassment, and teasing are all very common in the school setting via cell phone; students no longer have to physically be present to harass someone.  At my school this year there have been two fights and several instances in which the administration had to call the police because of messages passed along via cell phone.  This does not include the countless minor conflicts and drama caused by rumors and gossip circulated by text message.

• WhyBully Block Can Help

Bully Block

Bully Block can instantly stop any type of harassment or cyberbullying through a cell phone.  Although this application is very simple to use there are several features that make it a functional method to immediately stop unwanted behavior.   I’ve now extensively used each of the features and I absolutely LOVE this application.  As a high school counselor I was very curious about Bully Block because I really wanted to see if it could be a resource for families I work with.  After reviewing the app…I would easily recommend Bully Block to parents of a student being bullied or harassed on their phone.  I will also recommend to my school administrators that we include Bully Block in our staff and parent training on cyberbullying.  Bully Block has a simple user-friendly interface, which in my opinion is critical, as a child should be able to pick it up and immediately utilize each feature to stop cyberbullying.

• How does it Work

The basic concept of Bully Block is simple; block people from calling and texting any cell phone equipped with the application…while being able to chronologically log, save, and share the information.  If someone is harassing you by sending text messages or calling your phone, you can block the number or their text and never have to deal with it on your phone again.  However, that’s not all Bully Block can do.  There are several ways the application collects data of events so you can report exactly what’s happening to police or school officials.  Let’s take a closer look:

Bully block has 5 options…each has a unique and useful role

The Bully Block List gives you a list of all the phone numbers you have blocked.  If you happen to accidentally block the wrong number you can easily “unblock” the number and continue to receive calls & text.  I blocked my wife’s number for example and did a few experiments; I was able to easily unblock the number through the Bully Block List afterward.  I was very impressed with the speedy and effective results.  We were just testing the app but I saw firsthand how frustrating it can be if you know your messages are not getting through to someone.  My wife had to double check and make sure I “unblocked” her number multiple times.

Bully Block SMS gives you the option to select any text message already on your phone.  Once you do so… you can block the numbers incoming calls or SMS messages.  Another amazing feature is you can auto respond to a SMS message (or phone call).  There is a dialogue box in which you can type in whatever message you want the bully/blocked caller to receive (“You have been Bully Blocked Buster”, or “the police are monitoring your text messages”).  The text sent from any blocked number does not come through on your phone (saving on your text totals); there is no notification so your child will no longer have to see any ugly messages.

Not only can you block SMS messages and send an auto response, you can also email (“Tell Someone”) or forward (i.e. to Mom’s phone) any SMS message you receive.  If you email or forward a detailed Bully Block message you will see the source of the call (phone number), the exact time and date, and the message from the bully/harasser.  This information, simply displayed and easily sent, could be extremely useful if you were to pursue legal action or choose to report to school officials.  In my opinion this is the most useful and impressive aspect of the application; Bully Block serves as a deterrent and a reporting device, while maximizing your child’s privacy.

3: Bully Block Calls

Bully block calls is exactly the same as the SMS block except you can access your call log and choose any number to block.  It will bring up your call log and you are able to document how often a bully/harasser was calling.  Again, very beneficial if you were attempting to get a restraining order or report the harassment.

Initially I thought Bully Capture might be able to record my phone conversation with a bully/harasser, but I was mistaken.  When I tried to record during a call the application was forced closed.  I contacted the developer and he informed me the intent of Bully Capture is NOT to record phone calls; it is to conceal the fact that you are recording someone you are in direct contact with.  In other words, if a bully comes up to you and begins making threats, you could activate Bully Capture and record the conversation, which can also be stored and shared via email.  Although I was disappointed that I couldn’t be my own secret service agent and record my phone conversation, Bully Capture has a useful purpose.  The application completely disappears (goes into stealth mode) once you begin recording, and you simply re-launch the app to stop the recording after the bully/harasser is gone.

5: Bully File

The last option is basically a running log of everything you decide to save.  Bully File will automatically log calls and text from numbers you have blocked.  You can also manually file phone calls, SMS text, and recordings in the Bully file.  This feature allows you to compile the evidence and then send a comprehensive and chronological account of the harassment.  As a high school counselor I have seen many instances in which families just don’t have enough proof to take action.  Bully Block allows families to get the proof they need to not only stop the harassment and bullying, but to make it much easier for police and school officials to address the issue.  Authorities won’t have to go through phone records and several different accounts; they can simply review an email containing an entire account of the harassment.  The one downside here is you are not able to delete anything in Bully File.  I spoke to the developer about this and he said they are in the process of creating a “cloud” system in which you would be able to upload and manage info.

• Alternative uses for Bully Block

Although I feel the most effective use of this application is to prevent cyberbullying, and the target audience here is likely parents of kids being bullied, there are certainly other possible uses.  One that instantly comes to mind is the ex-boyfriend/stalker for women.  The app could be used in the same way to report and prevent stalking and harassment.  You could use the app to stop telemarketers from calling you, sending an auto response like “you are being reported for your unauthorized telemarketing call”.   You could use Bully Block as a “out of office” type response when you know you will not be able to get to your phone (i.e. when you lounging on a beach in Hawaii).  Don’t feel like talking to Mom/Mother in Law for the next few days/weeks?  ;)  You could also use the app to send a friendly auto response to your buddy who sends 20 texts a day that you’re almost out of texts.  This could save you money as his texts don’t come through.  Obviously, many phones have these kinds of options, but I just wanted to show Bully Block has some versatility.

• Summary

If I had a child of cell phone carrying age (my son is not yet 2 so I am a little hesitant to give him a smart phone without Toddler Lock activated), I would equip the phone with Bully Block and train my son or daughter on how to use it.  Even if they have not been bullied or harassed, as we have seen by the statistics, there is a good chance they may be.  Bully Block can provide piece of mind for parents and children; knowing there is a way to combat the very serious and growing issue of cyberbullying.

At Booyagadget.com we pride ourselves in saving you time and helping you spend money wisely…in this case I feel we may also save you and your family from the damage a bully/harasser can cause.  Bully Block is Booya and High School Counselor approved…I would strongly recommend trying it out.

Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, or subscribe at BooyaGadget.com if you enjoyed the article…

360 Spin Earns Boost!

CONTROLS

This is a gyro / tilt steering game.  Meaning that there is no steering wheel “button”.  YOU drive by steering with your actual tablet / device like a car.  I caution you to get comfortable, or your shoulders will be on FIRE….  I highly recommend you rest your elbows on your knees if you’re looking at prolonged gameplay which is likely once you get a taste of this game.  You will hit the walls and wreck a lot at first, but after a handful of races you will start to finish in the top 3 which begins unlocking maps and new water crafts.

Oops...WIPEOUT !

GRAPHICS

Graphically, this game is BEAUTIFUL, and it has the water-based physics to match.  It really feels believable that you are truly racing a high speed Jet Ski.  After a big jump, you sink into the water a bit and slow down.  On turns you can ride a big wake to help cut corners and time.  Our video gameplay review shows the graphic quality best!  This game’s graphics and physics have a massive wow-factor I assure you.  I am willing to go as far as calling it console quality, because it is.  At the end our video I show you HDMI out to your TV ( like my Samsung 6500 ), so YES that works well also if you prefer a big screen.  But, a gyro steering game with a Micro-HDMI cable plugged in may result in a few unplugs which happened to me.

3 of the beginning water crafts.

RACING / FEATURES

Riptide GP reminds me of a mix between Wave Race 64 and Wipeout.  Overall, there are 3 main game modes, exhibition, Hot-Lap, and Championship mode.  I started off in exhibition mode which allowed me to unlock vehicles and new maps.  After spending my time getting better, you can then use your unlocked ( and way better ) vehicles to crush in Championship mode.  As I mentioned already, there is no multiplayer outside of comparing scores on Feint, so if this is a requirement you’ll have to overlook this or it may not be the game for you.

You do tricks to earn BOOST.  To enable the boost you just tap the meter on the right of the screen and ZOOM, off you go.  If you miss a jump, or do a trick too late, you WILL WIPEOUT.  It hurts your time, but just tap the screen and you’re back off and running.   Performing the tricks is easy enough, just swipe your thumbs on the bottom of the screen in particular ways and you can perform a variety of tricks.. Very cool.

More Gameplay Photos

Here are 28 more Photos of Riptide GP gameplay at Booya Flickr

Buy Riptide GP now at the Android Market for $7

Here is the best way to show you Riptide GP, a video gameplay review recorded from my Motorola Xoom NVidia Tegra 2 Tablet.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=81lbORqDrqY

TIPS:

• Like any Racing Games: Stay off the walls.
• Watch for time saving shortcuts, they also have more jumps in the shortcuts to give you an advantage.
• Use big waves in addition to ramps to perform tricks and valuable speed boost
• Play in Exhibition mode first to unlock new vehicles, they are way better than the stock 3 water crafts.
• Use your speed boost wisely.  Touching Boost rocks your entire meter, so be ready to GO FAST!
• Don’t force jumps and tricks.  If you’re not in full control, simply bypass a jump. Better to miss it than to wreck being too aggressive.
• Stay tight inside on big turns, the game gives you huge wakes to use, they make a big difference.

Check out more of our BEST APPS AND GAMES for Xoom and Android Here on Booya Gadget

This recommended and fair priced hardware accessory will show ANYTHING on your screen. That means photos, websites, Hulu, Netflix, iTunes, home Videos etc !   At the end of the article, we show a video with a full demonstration of this awesome MacBook accessory!  Even if you don’t think you need this, you should order it or pick it up from your local store.  For $18 it’s an awesome feature add for your expensive yuppy MacBook Pro, just like mine !  ALERT--> This product costs $30 at the Apple Store.. Check it yourself :)

Read many other raving reviews ( avg 4.5 on Amazon) and Buy it right now here--> Griffin Technology GC17096 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or DVI Video Display Converter

Griffin HDMI and DVI Video out for MacBook Pro

SETUP:

1. Plug in the cable to your MacBook Pro’s Mini Display Port
2. Plug an HDMI cable into the female business on the Griffin Converter and the other end into your TV or Monitor
3. On your MacBook, go to settings:  Display / and decide whether you want to Copy ( mirror ) your desktop or “Extend” it your call no wrong answer.
4. On your MacBook, go to settings: SOUNDS / OUTPUT  and select the HDMI TV that is now visible after plugging it in.
5. ROCK.

View all our photos from this Product Review at Booya Flickr’s MacBook, iPad, Apple Collection !

For HDMI Audio go to SETTINGS AUDIO OUTPUT Voila !

** Remember, if you only have DVI, you only get a VIDEO signal, so you’ll need to run additional cables or connect with bluetooth for audio.  HDMI, however carries both signals **

Here is a detailed video demonstration showing you EVERYTHING that you could ever want this must-have MacBook Pro accessory to do !

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vByAGTQERc

Read many other great reviews and Buy it right now: Griffin Technology GC17096 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI or DVI Video Display Converter

** Massive thanks goes to T-Spade for providing ALL the great music for this product demonstration for YOU ! **

You can buy T-Spade ( great west-coast rap ) at AMAZON or CDBaby right now !
T-Spade is also on Facebook !

If you are coming here and also own an iPad or iPad 2, I HIGHLY recommend the Arkon Folding Stand for iPad which we reviewed already, it is a massively popular topic on our site!  Read our Review for yourself ! ( $13 )