Games Gadgets Toys

Following on from the USB VHS to PC Converter and the USB Negative scanner another product utilising Universal Series Bus (I never realised that is what USB stood for) technology is out on sale.  You can buy your very own USB Microscope from Amazon.co.uk, Firebox.com or IWantOneOfThose.com

Essentially, this is a 200x magnification microscope that is powered from your USB port on your desktop or laptop computer.  With a resolution of 1600 x 1200 this is a pretty handy piece of kit for a variety of tasks.  I can think of a multitude of uses for this gadget…

So, in no particular order, it can be used as: reading aid, model makers tool, jeweller’s tool, visual aid for electronics engineering, an aid for collectables magnification, computer parts examination, or even just to mess around with looking at the back of your hand more clearly.

Included with the USB Microscope is a software program that allows you to store up to 2GB of information online.  With the capability to record movies in AVI format and still images as JPG or BMP this is a multi-functioning little gizmo.  Other features are the variable magnification (from 20x to 200x), with full 1.3MP resolution, the ability to have widescreen imaging and the internal white LED that illuminates anything that you are examining.  I think I’ll have a good look in my ears to see how much wax needs syringing!!! Eurrgghh!  With the added ability to be used as a webcam and record features online chat is also possible.

Click here to go to Amazon.co.uk – Priced £40.09

Click here to go to Firebox.com – Priced £59.95

Click here to go to IWantOneOfThose.com – Priced £49.99

Gaming consoles are more popular than ever before, and the Nintendo Wii is one of the best selling, party due to the fact you can now get a free wii online at some sites. Leave it to Nintendo to create a system that literally changes the way video games are played. The accessories designed for this system make the playing experience fun, original, and highly entertaining.

One accessory that really makes the Nintendo Wii a very exciting gaming experience is the controller. Each system comes with a wiimote that detects movements in all directions. This means that the games are played as the player moves around. Thanks to the wiimote, long gone are the days of sitting around to play video games!

Also long gone are the bulky controllers and joysticks. Now, players can hold this special wiimote and move it around in order to go along with the game. Imagine playing a sports game: the moves on screen are determined by how the wiimote is moved around by the player.

Another great accessory for the Nintendo Wii is the Nunchuck! The Wii Nunchuck hooks up to the controller through a cable so that it can have the same movement sensors. This Nunchuck accessory gives the player even more capabilities and options for some games.

A great addition to the Nintendo Wii is the ability to play GameCube games in a new, renovated way. Players can also use their old GameCube controllers to play those games on the Wii. This is great news for anyone who loves Nintendo and enjoys playing all the top Nintendo games over the recent years.

Players who love shooting games will be glad know that with the Wii Zapper, which is a case that holds Wii remotes for the purpose of pointing and shooting. Shooting games are some of the most popular these days, so this gun is a great addition for those who enjoy such games.

More Wii accessories are set to come out soon. They’re inexpensive for the most part, and they make gaming very unique. They can all be used together to give players a fun and fulfilling gaming experience.

Nintendo Wii accessories can be ordered online, and they are sometimes found at retail stores and departments. It’s best if the players do research first and then shop around to find the best deals possible for these must have accessories.

I recently rekindled my passion for Monopoly over the Christmas holidays – undefeated champion…. Although it was from only a total of 2 games! The secret in my eyes is to get the Orange properties – 1 hotel on Bow Street and that’s £1000 big ones please!!

I was doing a bit of research on this classic game and was amazed to find out that it has been about now for over 70 years. I also stumbled upon this amazing official product currently available at Firebox.com – My Monopoly.

It is the official game made by Hasbro, but it is made exactly to your own specifications… So, you can re-name each property, station, utility and even the name of the game itself. Your game would be totally unique, and I think it would make a great gift for someone too. (You can buy a voucher from Firebox to allow the recipient to customise their own board!)

It takes a couple of weeks to build, but I think that is well worth the wait for your very own customised My Monopoly board. There is a warning though from both Hasbro and Firebox that foul language won’t be accepted!

The board itself can either be the traditional colours, or one of several themed boards such as: New Home, Wedding, Birthday and Christmas. The game is packaged for you in a tin which is labelled with your own personal message.

So no more Mayfair on my new board, as I’ve just renamed it Dan’s Palace!

Click here to visit Firebox.com to check out this amazing game - Priced £79.95.

Following hot on the heels of my review of the USB Negative Scanner, I bring to you the USB VHS Convertor.  Priced at just under £150.00

Now this gadget is something I really need, as I have loads of old VHS tapes cluttering up my wardrobe!  I won’t tell you what they all are, but let’s just say I was a closet trekkie about 10 years ago!  The USB VHS Converter could by the answer to saving me a lot of space!!

God knows how the VHS format won the war against Betamax – but they did, and after about 30 years the VHS tape is practically dead, buried and decomposing!  So, now you can resurrect them by bringing all your old tapes into the 21st Century with the this VHS to PC Converter.

The USB VHS Converter not only allows you to convert your old tapes into the digital format, it is also able be used as a normal VCR, with auto-tracking nonetheless!  The gizmo uses the EZ VHS Converter software, thus enabling you to play your new video files on your iPod, PSP, DVD and mobile phones.  It also allows videos to be saved from camcorders in 8mm format.

Unfortunately this version isn’t compatible with a Mac, and PC users need to ensure you either have Windows Xp or Vista for it to work.

Overall, I’m really excited about the USB VHS Converter.  It could be great for digitising your old home-movies, wedding videos, kids birthdays, old soaps etc.  Then, if you wanted it could easily be uploaded to Youtube or a social media site such as Facebook.

Click here to go to Firebox.com - priced £149.95

Click here to go to Iwantoneofthose.com - priced £149.00