Tech Blog

TV numbers aren't shrinking.  It counteracts conventional wisdom, that tv should have it's revenue grow in an era of time shifting, PVRs, piracy and streaming. But it's true.

The reason?  Social.  You may watch tv on the big screen, but it's the second screen that is driving the numbers - and the conversation.

There's no denying Facebook's Timeline feature is controversial. In fact, recent online polls indicate 70 percent of users hate the new mandatory feature. That certainly isn't the reaction Facebook was looking for. Well here's a fun little website that can help ease your pain, allowing you to make a cool movie out of your own Timeline.

Definition 6 collaborated with Facebook on this creative tool. To use it all you have to do is go to the Timeline Movie Maker website sign in using your Facebook account and watch as it does the rest!

The financial woes for the video game industry deepened this past week with THQ announcing a $56 million loss for their financial quarter ending December 31, 2011.  This loss comes days after reports that THQ recently underwent a wave of layoffs, which affected their administrative and publishing departments.  While the news is pretty grim, if there is a silver lining here at all it's that rumours of THQ's demise has been greatly exaggerated.

A new study has shown that Twitter's pull is stronger than addiction to cigarettes or alcohol. 

How long can you last with your phone face down?

The Phone Stacking Game forces you to pay attention to the people you're with.

"We don't call you our customers, we call you our guests."  Those words spoken by 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling preceded the very first live demo of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning at PAX East, welcoming those in attendance into its epic world.  With just two days to go before the release of the game for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, the world of Amalur is about to visited by an influx of guests from across North America.

Last year marked the 25th Anniversary for The Legend of Zelda, a huge milestone for one of the most iconic franchises in the history of video games.  Yet despite year-long celebrations by Nintendo, it seems that even our green tunic-wearing hero couldn't match the selling power of a pudgy Italian plumber named Mario.

The PSVita is certainly shaping up to be the console for music fans. Launching on February 14th (a perfect Valentines gift, perhaps?) Lumines Electronic Symphony features 33 licensed tracks, including some amazing tracks like Aphex Twin's Windowlicker and Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.'s Bang Bang Bang.

Football’s biggest prize is up for grabs tomorrow in Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. The NFL’s championship tilt is always a reason to host or attend a party to watch the game and socialize. But tech-savvy fans might like sprucing up their home theatre and taking in more of the game through smartphone and tablet apps.

VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) services have steadily improved in quality and functionality. Home and business users have a number of options for cheap alternatives to their landlines. 

netTALK Duo is a full featured phone line that enables Free Local & Long Distance to US. and Canada. One year free service is included with the Duo. Which sells for $59.95 and is available at Future Shop in stores and online.

If you’re a regular visitor of Futureshop.ca as I am, you may have noticed a massive assortment of brand-name luggage pieces offered for sale online. No need to blink twice, the assortment and sale offers you’re seeing are true.

If you could only live with one social network, which would you choose? Facebook? Twitter? Google+? LinkedIn? Pinterest?

Despite filing public offerings and having an estimated value of $100B, Facebook showed it is not the powerhouse it thinks it is this week.

There have been a lot of titles released for the iOS platforms that, you know, should make us feel like it's a "serious" games platform. Something that's absolutely on the level with the DS, the PSP... maybe even the 3DS and the upcoming Vita. Titles like Infinity Blade, let's say. But for some reason I can't ever quite buy the narrative, and you know, I play tons of games on my iPod touch! Maybe it's that lack of buttons thing. I just can't see it. But... you know... Capcom releasing Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, really not that long after it was released on Nintendo DS, well, there's something to be said for that.

Yep, you read that right. Kinect! For Windows! Except... well, not quite yet for consumers, but there's a lot of promise in today's announcement that "any business" can now develop applications for Kinect in Windows. I mean... it could revolutionize human-computer interaction, right?

It's now official. Facebook is going public. 

While the initial $5B offering will just be for the well-to-do on Wall Street, when the FB stock goes on the market this May, we'll all get a chance to buy in.

The question is: will you?

After the release of the incredibly fun co-op platformer Rayman Origins, Ubisoft has now announced yet another Rayman game: Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc HD.  While technically not a "new release" the re-release of this 2003 fan favourite (doesn't time just fly?) will come as a pleasant surprise with totally revamped hi-def graphics.  Look for it on Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network on March 21, 2012!