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Unboxing Live 085: Third Rail Slim Case and Smart Battery for iPhone 4, iPhone 4S

Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Accessories, Apple, Cell Phones, Features, Videocasts

We show you the awesome Third Rail Slim Case and Smart Battery for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in this episode. The design of the Third Rail system is brilliant. The case itself protects the iPhone, but is super slim because of the fact that the battery is removable. When you need power, you just slide a Smart Battery into place, and your phone is charging. Even cooler, the Smart Battery can charge other USB devices on its own, not just iPhones. So if you have an Android device, a Kindle, or anything else, you can use the Smart Battery to charge it. The batteries are also stackable, and you can have up to 6 Smart Batteries giving power to a device, or being recharged, all at once. You can pick up a Third Rail Slim Case on Amazon for $74.

Big thank you to GoToMeeting and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! GoToMeeting with HDFaces provides rich, super-simple collaborative virtual meetings. As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like on the site.

Here's how to get the show:
[Download] - iPod-formatted H.264
[Download] - 720p HD
[Download] - 1080p MP4

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Unboxing Live 084: MediaDevil Magicwand iPad stylus

Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Accessories, Apple, Cell Phones, Features, Videocasts

We open up and demo the MediaDevil Magicwand capacitive touch screen stylus in this episode! Not many people find that they are in need of a stylus for their iOS, Android, and other devices, but we've definitely found that, in some instances, it's pretty convenient. The Magicwand lets you use your devices in the cold when you have gloves on, lets you sign documents with your signature, and have a removable lanyard that plugs into the headphone jack so that you don't lose it. Check out the video to see how it works, as we demo the product with an iPad 2. You can pick up the Magicwand on Amazon for $9.

Big thank you to MozyPro and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! MozyPro provides simple, automatic, and secure data backup. As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like on the site.

Here's how to get the show:
[Download] - iPod-formatted H.264
[Download] - 720p HD
[Download] - 1080p MP4

Mercedes-Benz improves the seat belt for the second time

Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Corporate News, Transportation

Mercedes-Benz has improved the seat belt again. If you haven’t been up to speed, the first improvement they made was placing motors on the B- and C-pillars of the car so that the seat belt can adjust tension. Now they’ve gone a step further to make buckling up easier. Future models will feature a buckle that lights up and out by about 3-inches extends when a passenger enters the vehicle. Once the belt is inserted, the buckle retracts back into position and the light fades.

Mercedes aims to put this into production as early as 2013.

Read More | Autoblog

Top 5 Hottest Hatchback Cars in the U.S.

Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Editorial, Features, Transportation

Ford Focus ST

Europe always seems to get the best of breed when it comes to cars. Regardless of the make or model, Europe takes delivery of vehicles we can only dream of over here in America. Here in the States we’re often left with slightly bland, dumbed down, and unappealing vehicle selection. Even Ford, an American company, offers vehicles in Europe that we can’t get here at home like the Ford Falcon and Focus RS, which we’ll zone in more later in the article.

Europeans have a knack for the ultimate driving experience, and one thing we noticed during a visit over the Atlantic during the summer was their love of hatchbacks. No, we're not talking about some hokey-puck cheap car that you'd find a teenager racing around town in. These vehicles are actually pretty awesome. We've put together our list of five hot hatches to look out for and consider if and when you’re in the market. Read on!

Click to continue reading Top 5 Hottest Hatchback Cars in the U.S.


Comic Book Jobs: Summer Camp

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials

Camp SequoiaAhhh. Summer camp. The fresh air. The great outdoors. The smell of... outdoor stuff.

If you like camp and comics and need a summer gig, Camp Sequoia in the Philadelphia area (Pottstown, 40 miles northwest of Philly) might answer your nature call.

They’re looking for counselors for the upcoming summer season, and in addition to skilled folks in the usual camp activities - Sports, Arts & Crafts, Martial Arts, Movie Making, Audio Production, Fishing, and Woodworking - they’re looking for a counselor who can teach Comic Book Design.

You’ll need the requisite experience, of course. Their staff of “younger teachers, undergraduate and graduate school students” all have experience instructing “in one of our activity areas and/or have experience working with kids.”

Read More | Camp Sequoia

My Name Is…Shazam!

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics, Marvel Comics

Whiz Comics 2As you may have already heard, DC Comics is changing the name of Captain Marvel, a superhero who dates from the 1940s.

He’ll now be officially called by his magic word: Shazam! That’s the word that changes poor red-shirted newsboy Billy Batson into the fully-grown Captain Marvel.

That’s the equivalent of changing the name of Superman to “Up, Up And Away!” but DC says it has to be done. There’s confusion in the marketplace since Marvel Comics also has a Captain Marvel of their own.

Marvel’s Captain Marvel was created after DC Comics sued the original Captain Marvel’s publishers (Fawcett) and drove them out of business, leaving a Captain Marvel void in comics. Years later, DC acquired the rights to the Fawcett Captain Marvel, which they could publish, but only under the Shazam! name so as not to compete with Marvel’s trademark. Are you following all of this or do you need a moment?


Bleeding Edge TV 429: Vonage Mobile review

Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Full Episodes, Cell Phones, CES, CES 2012, Features, Internet, Podcasts, Product Reviews, Software, Videocasts, Videos

We give you a look at Vonage Mobile and explain how you can win one of twenty $25 iTunes gift cards in this episode! Vonage Mobile allows you to make free phone calls to other users of the app (which is currently available for iOS and Android.) In addition, you can also send free text messages as well to other users of the app, cross platform. Even better, you can call any phone number, the rate is much lower than what your mobile carrier would charge, and is even 30% less than what Skype would charge you as well.

The app works over both Wi-Fi and cell service (3G and 4G) and it uses your existing contacts and address book, rather than requiring you to set up a new username, get a new phone number, etc. Even cooler, you don't need a Vonage account to pay for your calls - instead, you just add your minutes right from the App Store or Android Market! As we said, the video also explain how you can win one of the 20 $25 iTunes gift cards we will be giving away as well!

Big thank you to MozyPro and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! MozyPro provides simple, automatic, and secure data backup. As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like on the site.

Here's how to get the show:
[Download] - iPod-formatted H.264
[Download] - 720p HD
[Download] - 1080p MP4

Bleeding Edge TV 428: Ooma Telo free home phone service

Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Full Episodes, CES, CES 2012, Features, Household, Internet, Podcasts, Videocasts, Videos

We give you a look at Ooma in this episode. Ooma is a service that provides free phone calls within the United States. All you need to do is buy the Ooma Telo box and connect it to your home network, and you're up and running. Calls within the United States are then completely free. They also have the Ooma Telo handset, which almost acts like a smartphone for your home phone service, and a monthly Ooma Premier service that adds a ton of calling features to your package. You can pick up Ooma products on Amazon.

Big thank you to GoToMeeting and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! GoToMeeting provides rich, super-simple collaborative virtual meetings. As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like on the site.

Here's how to get the show:
[Download] - iPod-formatted H.264
[Download] - 720p HD
[Download] - 1080p MP4

Gary Friedrich & Ghost Rider

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Marvel Comics

Bullpen BulletinsThis made the rounds of Facebook all day the other day. It's a little snippet about Gary Friedrich, Ghost Rider and who created what.

I couldn't trace it back to the original poster, so I apologize for not giving him or her their deserved credit, especially in a post about credits!

One of the issues between Marvel Comics and Gary is the issue of Gary's credit as the sole creator of Ghost Rider.

While it may not be definitive, this is an excerpt from Marvel's own Bullpen Bulletins page in August 1972.

Marvel says of Ghost Rider: "...this GR is a mad, mod, mystic hero who straddles both the world of motorcycles - and the supernatural! (And that's some job of straddling!) It's by the titanic team of Groovy Gary Friedrich who dreamed the whole thing up, and Madcap Mike Ploog, whose own Werewolf by Night series is scheduled to gain its very own mag in a month or two!"

Daniel Best, who originally broke the story of Gary's fight with Marvel, has an update separating fact from rumor.

[Artwork: Bullpen Bulletins, © Marvel Comics]


Enter to win 1 of 20 $25 iTunes gift cards in our Vonage Mobile giveaway!

Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Announcements, Cell Phones, Features, Software

Vonage Mobile review

Vonage Mobile has launched, and we're giving away 20 iTunes gift cards to our readers to celebrate! In case you're unaware, Vonage Mobile allows you to make free phone calls to other users of the app (which is currently available for iOS and Android,) anywhere in the world. In addition, you can also send free text messages as well to other users of the app, cross platform, anywhere in the world. Even better, you can call any phone number, and if that other person doesn't have Vonage Mobile, then the rate is much lower than what your mobile carrier would charge, and is even 30% less than what Skype would charge you as well.

The app works over both Wi-Fi and cell service (3G and 4G) and it uses your existing contacts and address book, rather than requiring you to set up a new username, get a new phone number, etc. Even cooler, you don't need a Vonage account to pay for your calls - instead, you just add your minutes right from the App Store or Android Market!

So, how do you enter to win one of the $25 iTunes credits? We've got a few different ways for you to enter. You only need to enter once, but for each method of entry, you gain an additional entry in the contest. Here's how you enter:

That's it! Again, there is no requirement for you to perform all three methods of entry, but you do get a point for each entry that you do. At the end of the week, we'll choose twenty winners at random who followed the rules!

Click to continue reading Enter to win 1 of 20 $25 iTunes gift cards in our Vonage Mobile giveaway!


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