John Lentz Jr.'s blog

Face it – PC games often find themselves limited by their keyboard functionality. Keyboards are made for typing and web-surfing, not gaming. The Logitech G13 is an exception to this, and enjoyment of games predictably increases from behind it.

Ergonomically designed and having 25 programmable keys, the G13 excels at its sole use: gaming. Comfortable and convenient, (it even includes a 160-by-43-pixel GamePanel LCD that show you live updates from your game), it is sure to revolutionize your gaming experience.

Available in December for about $80, the G13 is not a bad choice for the gamer in your life.

For more information read the press release.

Ever since gaming became possible, its detractors have hurled the same criticism against those who partake: gaming is anti-social. Sony dissents. By changing their PlayStation Home product for the PS3 from a closed beta to an open party (as of December 11, 2008), it is now easier than ever for gamers to connect, communicate, and congregate.

PlayStation Home is a free application that is downloadable through Sony and accessible through the starting menu. Once inside, each user has the freedom to create his own avatar and explore the virtual landscape. Included in these landscapes are specific environments dedicated to specific games, as well as corporate sponsored games and spaces. Did I mention you can also create your own apartment in the community?

Like a visual message board, the PlayStation Home makes it easier to locate and converse with gamers around the world, not to mention all the multiplayer games that will undoubtedly be born through this virtual community. In addition to modern video games, community members can meet up to go bowling, play pool, or just shoot the breeze.

PlayStation Home makes obsolete one of the most voiced (and possibly strongest) criticisms against the video game lifestyle. In addition to this, it also facilitates the meeting of people with common interests in a customizable virtual reality. It is rare to be able to point to what “the next big thing” will be, but I have very high expectations for PlayStation Home.

Most people reading this blog are probably technologically sophisticated enough to have, at minimum, a cell phone, MP3 player (iPod), and possibly a PDA or handheld game console. Although the day is near that all of these will be merged into one unit, it will undoubtedly take time before everyone has upgraded to the new all-purpose unit. Given the current state of the economy, it might take quite a long time.

In the meantime, you need to be able to charge your multiple gadgets in the car as well as the home. As annoying as it is to have multiple chargers at home, it’s infeasible to do so in a vehicle. TUNEWEAR realized this and invented an all purpose car charger – the TUNEMAX. Stylish and compatible with any 12V outlet, the TUNEMAX boasts impressive compatibility as well as a self-resetting fuse to minimize accidents.

At 24.99, you can significantly reduce the clutter in your automobile without sacrificing functionality. Go to TUNEWEAR’s site for more information.

Moving can be a hassle. You expect to lose your bearings and familiarity with your old city, as well as your social networks, but you never anticipate all the little things that will be different – like the local news and radio stations, as well as your home stereo system. Tivoli Audio alleviates these last two inconveniences, however, by using its WiFi NetWorks global audio system, which can pull signals from Internet broadcasts without the use of a computer.

Live listening to local stations from areas far outside their range is now a reality. NetWorks can also pull music off of your PC in other parts of the house via a wireless Ethernet; you don’t have to move your computer or load songs onto CDs or MP3 players. Search by genre or call letters on the system, and you’re sure to find something you like, regardless of geographic location.

Read the press release for more information.

Japanese company Denon Electronics, known for its high-quality and upscale home entertainment products, recently announced the latest upgrade to its flagship line: the 'Universal' Blu-ray Audio/Video player, Model DVD-A1UDCI. This player (available in February 2009 for a retail price of $3800) complements Denon’s already excellent AVP-A1HDCI A/V Preamplifier and the POA-A1HDCI 10-channel Power Amplifier to provide the best home theater experience possible.

In addition to providing first-rate video quality, the Denon DVD-A1UDCI is also the world’s first DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD playback with native digital audio and fully balanced transmission of 2-channel analog sound in a universal Blu-ray player. While this may not mean much to the non-technophile, those who keep up in the market will be salivating.

I recently came across an article detailing all the devices made obsolete by the cellphone. The Samsung Omnia confirms the thrust of that article. Available for online pre-order at www.verizonwireless.com beginning tomorrow and in store pickup on December 8, the Samsung Omnia boasts an impressive array of features including full HTML Web browser with touch navigation, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, a 5.0 megapixel camera, MP3 playback, Bluetooth support, text, picture, and video message, and a host of other features.

Small, light, and not too hefty in price at $249 (post a $70 rebate), the Omnia is a good choice for a phone if your existing phone is out of date. Products like the Omnia and iPhone are blurring the line between MP3 players, cell phones, PDAs, cameras, and handheld computers. All the technology can be in your pocket just in time for Christmas!

For more information read the press release.

Known as the day that their accounting books go from red (the color of deficit) to black (the color of surplus), Black Friday is anxiously awaited by retailers all over the country. The day after Thanksgiving finds stores and malls opening in the wee hours of the morning, employees working long hours, and prices so low you’ll hope it’s sales and not deflation.

Nintendo is taking advantage of the color metaphor that goes on this time of year and is producing two new DS packages to fit under the tree. The Mario Red Nintendo DS bundle includes a red system emblazoned with a familiar M for Mario, and a copy of New Super Mario Bros. The Ice Blue Nintendo DS comes with a custom carrying case and the popular Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. Each bundle sells at an MSRP of $149.99.

Affordable and popular, the DS is sure to please your budget, entertainment craving, and now, your aesthetics as well.

Now that the Holiday season is quickly approaching, it’s time to start finding gifts for all of the loved ones. The Home Theater owner on your list might be pleasantly surprised when he finds the gift from you upgrades his already most prized room. With help from Infiniti, you can make this scenario a reality.

The Infinity TSS-500 Home Theater Loudspeaker System includes four wall-mountable satellite speakers, a wall-mountable center channel speaker, and a 100-watt powered subwoofer with premium-quality drivers and components to produce clear, richly detailed sound. Compact and elegant, the system is sure to delight any home theater owner.

Of course, any home theater owner is used to fighting through a jungle of wires every time he wants to reposition an item or install a new piece of equipment. Enter the Infinity PS210W Wireless Subwoofer. By making use of the 2.4 GHz frequency range, there is no need for cords or wires. This is sure to make life easier – and neater – for your favorite home theater owner.

Dubbed “Internet companions” by their creators, Dell’s Inspiron Minis are small laptops that can be used to surf the web, watch movies, listen to music, or play games. Designed for the traveler who doesn’t want to carry a lot, or the teenager who doesn’t need a lot and doesn’t want to spend a lot, the Minis previously suffered from a lack of personality. That is, until now. Mini owners who want to show off their individuality can now choose Cherry Red, Pretty Pink, or one of three images by urban artist and "designer toy" creator Tristan Eaton.

For more information read the press release.

For as long as the camera has been a household item, matriarchs and custodians of family memories have sought to preserve their precious family pictures for posterity, often through the scrapbook. Many homes throughout America likely have entire shelves dedicated to these photo albums, and, as fun as they may be to examine on a rainy day, are probably not an efficient use of space. Furthermore, a picture can only survive so much air exposure and so many handlings before it begins to deteriorate.

This is where Pandigital’s PhotoLink Photo Scanner becomes invaluable. Handheld and portable, this small scanner can take regular size (4”x6”) pictures and scan them directly onto a convenient flash media card. This card is compatible with digital photo frames, which allows a simple two step process for getting old family pictures out of scrapbooks and onto digital frames. If you want to be able to view and arrange your pictures in a more familiar way, the scanner also allows you to get those pictures onto a PC at a very high 1800x1200 resolution. This, of course, allows for online uploading and sharing of pictures without regards to geographic limitations through the wonders of the Internet.

At $100, the Pandigital Portable Scanner won’t break the bank, and is sure to make a good gift for the scrapbooker in your family.