Super Mario 3D World

Disclosure: The below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

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Mario comes in many different iterations from his first 8 bit adventure through his 16 bit days and beyond.  His most recent is one of the most fun and social ways to play a Mario game that I can remember.  Mario’s latest foray is in a 3D interactive environment full of bad guys of all shapes and sizes.  The bigger the more fun to take down.

Family Video Game

Super Mario 3D World takes the familiar run and jump mechanics of 2D Mario puts them into a 3D environment AND throws in the fun of co-op with up to 4 players.  Players can pick between Mario, Luigi, Toad and for the long awaited return of Princess Peach.  Each player races to the end of the level, trying to collect more coins and rack up more point than the other players, sometimes working together, but at all times competing for those little gold coins.

The bad guys include fire flowers, turtles, and of course the big villain himself- Bowser.  While progressing through each level, the players are rewarded with access to the next leading up to a boss battle, with one, sometimes more big guys who have a trick or a pattern to them, that once figured out makes the battles a breeze but is always fun to figure out, especially with a room full of people.  The “Ah ha!”, moments are always entertaining.
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Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate

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Getting video to play on more then one device can be tricky for many.  This is especially true once you factor in tablets, PC’s, mac’s, apple phones, android phones and the myriad of other devices which play a specific format best and the rest secondary if at all.  The trick is the correct software.  One such option for this software is Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate.  This piece of software is easy to use and has the know how to convert just about any video to any format, just shy of black and white reel and VHS.  (Although I am sure it can be manipulated to do so- thus sayeth the hubby!)

There are a few key features which the Video Converter does which are most notable:

Convert 30X faster than other converters
Convert video to 158 formats
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Portable North Pole – Fun App for Kids

Disclosure: I am a Portable North Pole Christmas Magic Ambassador. I received compensation and complementary Portable North Pole products in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The clock is ticking on Christmas and its time to brign it up a notch with Portable North Pole.  But instead of the full Portable North Pole site, we are looking at the portable versions of Christmas fun.  Portable North Pole have bucked the tradition this year and released not one but two Christmas themed apps this year.  PNP Santa Sprint and PNP Portable North Pole 2013.

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First we will look at PNP Santa Sprint.  This is a game where the player moves a young Elf around various North Pole themed settings to collect items and restore Santa’s workshop.  After each level the big man himself, Santa tells a video story. The game is optimized for iPod 5th gen, iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and all higher versions.  The game retails for $2.99 as is available now on iTunes.

The Portable North Pole 2013 app is the mobile gateway to all things Portable North Pole, for parents and for kids.  Parents are able to create personalized personal video messages from Santa, personal phone call from Santa, and access to their PNP account.  Kids on the other hand have access to a whole other side os the app.  This includes a digital Advent calender, acess to your child’s personal video, a Christmas sleep countdown to the big day, and Christmas Radar to show you where Santa’s village is located.  The app retails on iTunes for $3.99.
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Pikmin 3 Video Game

The Nintendo Wii U has been getting some attention recently with the recent release of its competitors new additions to the market the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox One.  With such fierce competition Nintendo has to pull out the stops and release some stellar games for the Wii U.  One such game is Pikmin 3.  This game follows a space traveling group as they try to collect fruit to help their people and eh missing components of their space ship to actually get home.  Along the way they meet some friends and some foes.

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Pikmin are small plant based creatures who are incredibly loyal and incredibly useful on an alien world inhabited by a diverse and dangerous amount of bigger creatures, all of which seem to be hungry for Pikmin and space captains.  In order to overcome these adversaries team work is needed.  Their are various types of Pikmin which are each specialized in what they do best.  An example is grey rock Pikmin are tough and fight well but are not easy to throw to reach far away spots, while yellow electric Pikmin are great and conducting electricity and being thrown about but are not the best of fighters.  These are just two of the seven types of Pikmin.  Each a  cute little creature sporting either a leaf, bud or flower on their heads.
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SuperTooth HD

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SuperTooth HD is a wonderful device for those who drive and would still like to receive phone calls while still being safe.

It is a Bluetooth hands free speaker phone which connects to any phone with Bluetooth capabilities.  The phones supported range from top of the line smart phones to those not so smart phones, like mine.  The system works by connecting to your phone and delivering crisp clear call quality over a device that is about the size of a T V remote, 125 mm by 59 mm.  This little device carries two speakers to deliver loud clear sound that you’ll be amazed is coming from such a small unit.  It also has two microphones and two noise cancelers, all of which prove two is better then one.  Making for a speaker phone which will make you wonder how you got on without it.  It takes me approximately an hour every day to get to work then another hour to get home.  During this time it is a time to catch up with my wife and son and the SuperTooth makes this all the easier by minimizing the, “What?”, “I can’t hear you, hold on”, etc which will lead to less time spent distracted from the task at hand, driving.
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React Mobile Safety App

Have you ever stepped outside and realized its a bit darker and more ominous then you originally thought?

Maybe the quick walk over to your car after a long night at work, through a dark parking lot, where corners could hide any sort of savage criminal mind.  When these times occur, there is a new app available to help make you feel better and if need be, act as a life saving device.  Enter React Mobile.

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React Mobile is an app for iPhones and Andoid smart phones.  The way the app works is easy.  There are a few different ways to activate the app, one way is with SOS, this mode sends a text message and email to your contacts and emergency contacts while also prompting to dial 911.  In an emergency this can prove to be incredibly helpful.  Instead of being a victim lost to the streets everyone will know where you are.  There is also a “Follow Me” mode which sends updates with where you are to a  selected few in case something happens where you cant click the S.O.S. button.  Follow Me can also be used when trying to get someone to get to you in a crowded area, like a concert or live event.  This can be quite empowering for anyone who feels lurking eyes on them, or just wants an extra layer of safety while running in the morning or at night.  The app is also good for your loved ones.  I know it would make me feel better knowing my little guy had this on his phone, if he had one, when he is out and about.  I’d imagine a parent of a new driver would appreciate this as well as a parents of a child aged student.  A spouse of a late worker or someone with a night shift position.  The situations where React would come in handy are numerous and unfortunately more common then you’d hope.
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Tabeo e2 Tablet

Tablets are a revolutionary way to interface with technology, and kids need a way to get used to using them in a  way where it is both safe and educational.  Parents need to keep their phones and tablets safe from rugrats. Toys R Us has just the tablet to fit in new niche the Tabeo e2.  The e2 has all the specs needed to run the newest apps, 8GB of Flash memory, Jelly Bean 4.2, Dual core 1.0 Ghz CPU, Quad-core GPU and 1GB of RAM.  All this makes for a zippy tablet which is a breeze to use.

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One of the little oddities we ran into upon initial setup is, a wireless internet connection is needed to set up the parental settings.  Without this connection none of the apps can be run.  But once the connection is made setup is simple.  With a few steps and an email address.  What I really like about the tablet is its sleek slim design.
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Nintendo 2DS

 

Disclosure: The below was provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

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With every new console innovation, a bright shiny new technology is expected, but what if instead of adding something new, some components are improved.  This improvement has long been the norm for Nintendo.  First release a new innovative system, then tweak it, make it better, different and more accessible.  This is the idea behind the new Nintendo 2DS handheld system.  The handheld is based on the 3DS handheld but has tweaked a bit to have a lower price point, and more accessibility to children of all ages.  This in addition to a big design change gives players a new way to play their 3DS and DS games.

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The 2DS in comparison to the 3DS is now one solid unit, no hinge in the middle.  Also it has a more tablet-feel, with a slight tilt when put down, to rest easier on a hard surface and play in this manner.  The most remarkable characteristic of the unit is the removal of the 3D feature.  The 3DS has a slider which can increase the 3D experience or remove it completely to a 2D gaming experience.  This 2D experience is the way in which gameplay is featured on the 2DS.  You may be thinking so then why not just get a DS?  The reason is this unit could be called a DS2.  The 2DS can play most DS games as well as all 3DS games,with crisp sharp graphics and some incredibly fun games like Pokemon X and Y and Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds, the entertainment value is quite high.  With the reduction of 3D the price of the 2DS was also reduced, leading to a more wallet friendly way to get the newest system and games in the hands of you and your kids.
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