Amazon Kindle Fire vs. Apple iPad 2

There has been much controversy over the new tablet by Amazon that averages at just around $200. Many love it, many hate it, but how does it compare to the Apple iPad 2? There is of course the obvious price difference of $300, but is buying Apple worth the extra money? I believe that Amazon has produced a very promising tablet that the average consumer should have no problem spending money on. More details in the below video.

3 Things I Expect to See in the iPad 3! (UPDATE - WILL NOT BE RELEASED AT iWorld)

As we all know, Apple's iPad 3 is expected to be announced sometime early next year. Some sources say that it will be announced at iWorld, which is scheduled from the 26th to the 28th of January 2012. In this article, I am going to give my personal opinion on what I'd like to see from the new iPad. 

Better Cameras

I am sure that you will agree that both the front and rear facing camera's on the iPad 2 are not of the best quality, and with no flash, they are a big letdown. The cameras on the iPad 2 are both less than a megapixel each. I would like to see at least a 5-megapixel camera with flash on the rear and a 3-megapixel on the the front of the iPad 3.

Retina Display 

 Many believed that the iPad 2 would be getting the patented best-in-class Retina Display. But sadly, that wasn't to be. Personally, I think if Apple doesn't upgrade the display on the iPad 3 from 1024x768 PPI (Pixels Per Inch) to a 2048x1536 Retina Display, then there is a strong potential that some iPad users might switch to the Andriod platform.

Siri Intergration

With Apple's voice assistant Siri being a key feature on the iPhone 4S, then this is a must for the iPad 3. I am sure that Siri would be one of it's main features for the iPad 3, as well. It will be another great way to work your way around the iPad, by speaking to it! I would love to see Siri on the iPad 3.

What would you think we will see from the iPad 3? Comment below.

The Ultimate Geek's Wishlist for 2011

Today, I'm sharing with you the 5 things I think are the ultimate things to give a geek for the holidays in 2011.

If you are a geek or you know one, this list points to some of the best gifts for geeks that I know of.  Most of the things on this list are products that I would personally reccomend to friends, family and all of the geeks I know.  Enjoy :)

5. Minecraft

Minecraft is a first-person game that you can build in and the goal is to build as much as possible without getting killed by the creepers during the night.  The 3D gameplay is superb, and is definitely a game I would reccomend to most any geek out there.

Minecraft works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and needs a minimum of 1 GB of ram to work properly.

If you know another geek who doesn't have this (or if you've been wanting to it), now is the time to get it.  If you already have an account, you can buy "giftcodes" on the website to give to others for them to redeem with their Minecraft accounts, or if you're buying it for yourself, you can make a Minecraft account and order it straight on the website.

$26.95 [Minecraft.net]

4. Angry Birds Plush

 The Angry Birds Plush is something that for any geek who is an Angry Birds fan will love.  The material that it is made out of is very high-quality, and it hasn't fallen apart on me yet.  Very good to use for a variety of purposes and is good to have around.  It even has a good smell to it!  This is a wonderful thing to give as a side-gift to a geek for Christmas this year or even someone who just likes Angry Birds.

You can pick these up at your local Walmart if you are in a hurry, or on Amazon.com.

$15.99 [Amazon.com]

3. Blue Snowball

The Blue Snowball is a USB microphone that is perfect for many things from making YouTube videos, to recording vocals for a song.  It has 3 modes, although the one I'd best reccomend if you are making YouTube videos or podcasting with it is the #2 mode (these modes can be switched between with a switch on the back of the microphone).  The sound it records is crisp and very rich.  Also with the included stand, it should sit perfectly on most desks and should work with most computers.  I'd definitely reccomend this if you or another geek you know are in the market for a USB Microphone.  With the included stand, it should sit perfectly on most desks and should work with most computers. 

This is a lovely gift for any geek who is making YouTube videos or is into podcasting.  As a geek myself, I would reccomend this microphone as for the price and its functionality, it is one of the best USB microphones you can get.

If you want a full review of the Blue Snowball, you can read my review of the Blue Snowball on Fancy Show Tech.

$60.00 [Amazon.com]

2. Mac Mini

The Mac Mini is a small, and powerful Mac.  This is good for a home theather computer or if you're switching from PC to Mac and want a inexpensive, small, and powerful Mac to start your journey into the Mac ecosystem.  It should work for a good amount of internet browsing and basic movie and photo editing flawlessly. The Mac Mini also works well for a home media server/storage server. Be aware that this computer doesn't come with a display or mouse and keyboard and you will have to provide your own. 

This is a great gift for a geek who is switching/planning on switching from PC to Mac or who wants a side computer.  I'd definitely reccomend the Mac Mini this Christmas.

$599-999 [Apple.com]

1. MacBook Air

The grand finale of this list is the MacBook Air.  This powerful laptop is great for anything from checking email, to editing HD Video and PhotoShop.  I use one everyday and would reccomend this to any geek in the market for a ultra-portable laptop that also has sufficent enough specs to do most everyday tasks with ease.  It also is surprisingly somewhat-durable due to the unit's lack of moving parts.  I have (by accident before) dropped the MacBook Air while it was on and I was able to use it right after picking it up without any damage to the system. 

This is the laptop I would reccomend to anyone in the market for a portable and powerful laptop that could go with them anywhere.

$999-1,599 [Apple.com]

These are my top 5 geeky gifts for 2011.  The products featured on this list are ones that are of top build quality and I would reccomend to anyone who asked me personally.  If you are buying gifts for another geek (or maybe for yourself), these are the things I would most reccomend getting for a geek this Christmas.  If you have anything I didn't cover, or any thoughts on my picks, leave them in the comments below.

-Carmen

Tech Q&A: iPhone 4 vs. Android, My Favorite App & More

This video (the first of many) covers all questions I've received relating to the iPhone 4, including my thoughts on other smartphones, my favorite iOS app and more! Stay tuned as I cover more topics in future Q&A videos. Feel free to contribute your own question below or on Twitter using the hashtag #AskG5!



Thank you so much for watching, as always! What are YOUR answers to the same questions posed in this video?

Unboxing: Apple 60W MagSafe MacBook Pro AC Adapter

This is short, sweet and semi-artsy but it's always fun to unbox an Apple product. Here is my brand new L-shaped MagSafe charger for my 13" MacBook Pro. My original t-shaped one broke.



I love the new aluminum look! This adapter also feels much more secure in terms of ergonomics and magnetic connection with my MacBook Pro. Thank you so much for watching! Which Mac laptop are you using?