GENTRY COLE

Refunds, refunds and more refunds. It’s like a broke college students heaven on earth. Getting a refund check for school twice a year is what most students look forward to and one of the only times they continuously call the business office.The refunds from USM are given back to students through the online account that the school has set up for them. During the fall semester, the refunds are distributed around September. When the New Year rolls around, they are distributed around February, just in time for Valentines Day and Spring Break. This is perfection in most students’ eyes. It’s just in time for bathing suit shopping and buying chocolates for your sweetie. Audrey Borchardt, a 19-year-old student at USM used her refund for her spring break preparations.

“I used my refund to buy like 3 new bathing suits and pay for my trip to Destin,” Audrey said.

“I even had extra left over to buy drinks and stuff with. Refunds are awesome,” she said.

I guess if I got a refund check twice a year, I’d be pretty excited about it, but there are some students, like myself that don’t receive refunds for different reasons. My parents are trying to save me from future debt, so they won’t let me take out loans. They just pay for my school along with a small scholarship I got from my community college.

“I don’t get a refund,” Allee d’Aquin, 18-year-old student at USM said.

“I wish I did, but I guess it’ll be good in the long run that I don’t,” she said.

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song Refill; Youtube Video.

(Source: Computerandvideogames.com)

Sony and Microsoft are always keeping up with the latest trends, if not setting the next “new” addiction. Lately, there’s been numerous amounts of rumors about what the next console from the two companies will look like and what new additions will be added to the games.There have been multiple rumors about the new look of the game console, but nothing has been confirmed as of right now. 

No matter your age, your athletic ability or your gender, everyone loves a good video game. Everyone also loves to have the newest of the new when it comes to technology. Sony and Microsoft love to serve their consumers with the top notch equipment to satisfy this vastly growing world. 

With the world being in such big demand for improvements constantly, S&M felt the need to improve every aspect of their new products. This includes the console, games AND a new remote that is unique, but resembles the Move controller

The new remote, the Hybrid Separable Motion Controller, is top of the line technology that will keep the video gamers satisfied until the next best thing emerges. The controller is a hand-held device that can separate into two halves. 

S&M have recently submitted their patent application for the controller. In the documents, it explains the uses of the device.Each half can be used independently or together, depending on what action the gamer is trying to achieve.

Motion controlled games are in high demand right now and prestigious companies such as Sony and Microsoft realize this. Needless to say, the “Motion in the ocean” isn’t going away any time soon.

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song It Takes Two; Youtube Video.

Apple has FINALLY got it together. I was starting to think they were purposely not producing enough iPhones just to get under America’s skin. Well, they proved me wrong. There are “plenty” of the new devices in multiple stores around the U.S. 

“Analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray said in a note to investors Thursday that Apple Stores have enough phones physically in stock that ‘consumers can walk into an Apple Store and walk out with a phone.’” (Source: CNN)

Apple claims that because of the popularity of the product, back in September they struggled with keeping companies supplied with the product. Like what? Okay, you KNOW that the majority of the world is in the “iPhone clan” so why wasn’t the company more prepared for this. Honestly, I feel they should’ve put more research into the supply and demand aspect of the new product.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that TONS of people are going to be lined up waiting anxiously to buy the newly shaped iPhone that has SO many more things to offer than the 4s…totally sarcastic by the way.

Anyways, they are totally prepared now, so they say. Since the new iPhone is atop every teenager, business man and hipster grandparent’s Christmas list, Apple has produced enough to distribute well beyond quota to all different carriers.

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song Sleigh Ride; Youtube Video.

(Source of picture: CultOfMac)

(Source: CNN Money)

Thanksgiving is a day the entire world gives thanks for everything they have. Thanksgiving falls on a thursday every year. However, the very next day on Black Friday, the entire world goes from thankful to chaotic and runs through stores like maniacs just to save a few dollars. After that, the internet blows up with savings and call it Cyber Monday. This year, the savings online started a few days early. Most big retailers like Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Macy’s post their deals online for the technology savvy people to get their shopping done with the click of a button. 

Cyber Monday starts early on Monday morning and goes until the company decides to take the deals down or until their “in demand” products are no longer in stock. Believe it or not, they go fast. You’ll be surprised at how many people are up waiting for the clock to strike a certain hour with their credit card numbers in hand and cyber shopping cart filled to the top. 

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song Come Monday; Youtube Video.

I’m so glad that the companies are continuously coming up with new gadgets for us power hungry Americans, but sometimes..it’s taken too far.

Vuzix has created a new device that’s not handheld or voice activated, its wearable. It resembles a bluetooth headset, but it’s much more absurd than that. The new device is called the Vuzix M100 Android Smart Glasses. Yes, you read that right. They are glasses, but technology equipped, right in front of your eyes..literally. 

Vuzix and Google both have similar devices they are created and neither have been released for the public to purchase; however, they are in competition right now to see who can deliver this “amazing” product to the world.

First off, they both look goofy. The Google Glass resembles the headset a child had to wear connected to their braces when they went to bed except on your eyes. It’s bulky. The Vuzix Glasses look like a long version of the ever-so outdated bluetooth headset device that used to be atop the trending must haves.

But wait, there’s more. The new product from Vuzix is everything you’ve ever wanted in a smart device. It has WIFI with 1GB of memory and bluetooth connectivity. It has a camera the can take videos and capture pictures. You can save all those action shots with the 8GB memory card that’s including in the device. 

Are you bad with directions? No need to worry because the Vuzix M100 is set up with a top of the line navigation system right before your eyes….The only problem is, the screen is a 16:9 widescreen. HOWEVER, it gives off the impression that you are looking into a 4-inch screen. WOW, problem solved…I’m being totally sarcastic by the way.

Anyways, if you get bored you can always browse the web. Yep, the device is web accessible. It also has SMS messages and hands-free calling. Whew, I was getting worried that they weren’t going to include messaging…in these glasses…worn over your face.

Like I said earlier, neither product has been released yet, but the Vuzix version is expected to be released in early 2013.  No price has been officially set yet, but hey… people who want this absurd product probably has no problem dropping a pretty penny on this “sleek new device.”

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song Sunglasses at Night; Youtube Video.

(Source of picture: Teczealots)

Have no fear gamers, Halo 4 is finally here. Microsoft has released the new version of Halo for the Xbox 360. I’ve never personally played the game, but have numerous friends who brag on how awesome it is. 

It might as well have been a red carpet event. In Londyn, they hosted a Halo 4 launch event where they even had people dress up as the fighting things from the video game.

People are raving about howth this is the biggest entertainment event of 2012. Okay, it might be more of the video game gurus raving, but people are still excited.

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song Halo; Youtube Video.

(Source of the picture: Geekwire)

If you can’t beat them join them; however, if you’re a huge company like Twitter, you can always just out-do them. That’s just what they’re doing. There’s been rumors that twitter is about to buy a company similar to instagram which will make its users able to add multiple kinds of filters to their photos prior to “tweeting” them.

Twitter has always been smitten with instagram’s abilities to make anyone pretty. So smitten that they wanted to buy the company. Facebook, however, overpowered them and won them over.

That won’t stop twitter. They have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. They’re planning on the instagram-like options for pictures. Also, there’s been rumors that they will have the ability to upload and edit videos straight to twitter without having to go through another source.

Twitter is already outshining Facebook in the popularity contest and is neck and neck with instagram. I believe that if they are able to buy the company, they’re a shoe-in for the most popular social network app. 

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song Photoshoot; Youtube Video.

(Source of the picture: BravuraMagazine)

Google is stepping up in the world. They reached an all new level with their new app store. They now have more than 700,000 app in the Google Play Store.

These apps are available for Androids. Way to go Google! They’re on the same playing field as Apple. They’ve got the same number of games, productivity tools, and other programs that are available for phones and tablets. I didn’t think anyone could do it, but they’ve actually made an impression. 

Google was made quite a dent in the technology world. It’s always been around as the search engine, but now they’re coming up with tablets, smartphones and tons of new apps in their play store. I am impressed.

The title of this blog is a play on words from the song Allstar; Youtube Video.

(Source of the picture: PocketNow)