It seems like over the past few years the cyber world has become a place where more and more people are socializing with old, current and new friends. Has it really been that long ago since we had to actually go outside and physically introduce ourselves to someone to make a new friend or meet a potential partner? People are now staying in the comfort of their own homes and meeting new friends from many walks of life all around the world.

According to a study by Online University, World of Warcraft is actually having a higher success rate for meeting singles than specifically designed online social dating sites such as Match.com and PlentyOfFish.com. Hmm, I guess the ladies nowadays are really digging the magic pudding with a +5 bonus of charisma from the dwarf village of Gimbly Gorf. As appealing as this may sound to some I just have a hard time with those undead mages. Maybe it’s the smell of rotting flesh, the open wounds, or the fact that they’re DEAD! It just doesn’t work for me. But if a green skinned orc with big tusks rocks your world then to each his own. I congratulate you for being able to look past the physical appearances which society obviously sells is the most important aspect of a person. On the flipside, could having this kind of access to so many people be harmful? Well I happen to know a woman who was a dedicated WOW gamer who left her husband and children for an elf that she met in a far off enchanted forest. So for a brief moment she entered the cyber world and packed her bags for the big move to Connecticut where real adventure awaited her.

There are many questions that pop up in regards to this interesting phenomenon. Does the ability to reach anyone anywhere without having to see them face to face diminish our ability to interact with people in person? Or could someone who is socially awkward or shy have a better chance at expressing themselves and letting everyone know who they are and what they as a person are really about?  What the cyber world offers us is the ability to be anyone we want. We can completely recreate ourselves. If I happen to be a Rock Star with a reputation of being badass but deep down I have a love for knitting and romantic comedies, I now have the means to shed my physical form and become a kind hearted romantic under the name of my choosing. At the same time however there are those who abuse this power. Many people create a lie and allow themselves to be consumed by it. They don’t want to leave the confines of their rooms for fear of the possibility of rejection by the real world. They create the person they wish that they could be but at what expense? Some find love, others find fame, some just find acceptance. In the end we just have to ask ourselves if what we have done is worth the price we are paying.

Any thoughts?

New technology can be a fun and beneficial thing. However there are three key elements that make it useful.You have the product, performance, and service. The last one ranking most important on a lot of people’s list.

Today I would like to talk about service from a personal standpoint. What good is the latest device, let’s say a cell phone, if obtaining even mediocre service is unavailable. My recent visit to the Sprint store in Fairfield, California once again left me frustrated. Upon my arrival I was asked to sign in at the front desk so that way I could be serviced in the order that I came. Sounds simple enough. Seeing that I was only the second name on the list I assumed I would be assisted in a timely manner. Holy shit was I wrong! It was past 45 minutes before I was called for my turn. I would be more understanding if they were short staffed but with seven employees on the floor wandering the store, five of which were laughing and texting each other…It’s hard to be understanding when they hold so little regard for the customers’ time. Now, I’m not an unreasonable man. I understand that sales and commissions are important to them. I also understand that they can have a bad day in the store. But of the countless times I have been there I have yet to stumble upon the mythological good day when things are running efficiently.

All in all, the simple attempt to make a billing correction took over an hour and a half. In the meantime the store had filled with other customers with their own issues that needed to be addressed. The looks on their faces alone confirmed that they felt the same way I did. What’s most appalling was the fact that they were only quick to help a customer when a new purchase was in order, while those of us not making a purchase aresegregated to the lowest caste. I guess for me the act that was the final cherry on the cake was when the gentleman who clearly did not give two and a half shits about my time or what service I received while in the store asked me to give him a top rating of a 5 when I received a service survey sometime inthe next several days from Sprint. So I smiled and said they’re number one in my book but in my head I was giving him my middle finger to show which number one he really was.

So while I don’t assume that this is the case in every Sprint store, I am definitely calling out the one in Fairfield California for their lackluster, incredibly sad customer service.

New technologies can be fun and beneficial for everyone. But as soon as you have a problem and need some tech support or customer service, I suggest, you talk to our thick accented friends from INDIA instead. For the same amount of time, at least you’ll be in the comfort of your own home!!!

If you have experienced similar headaches in your area, let us know.

It’s been a while since we’ve given away some prizes here at MRT. Who could forget the epic prizes our former chief’s kind heart gave away over the years. To say her shoes are big to fill is an understatement, but I’m committed to bringing the same fun you’ve enjoyed from us over the years. That said, it’s exciting to announce this next tidbit.

Last month, Myrealitytech and TrendOy! parnered together to give away an iPad 2 and a Kindle Fire to two lucky subscribers. Well, we’re doing it again!

For those not aware, TrendOy! is newest MUST-HAVE geeky app that has the tech world buzzing. TrendOY! helps you save time by informing you of one cool new gadget each day and helping you be a more informed consumer! Who doesn’t want that? We know you don’t have the time to read through entire stories while you commute to work or have 10 minutes to catch up on news in your lunch break. We’ve made it easier to follow stories with a new editorial model that will have you stay in the loop on what’s happening in technology, gaming and entertainment categories without being overwhelmed. We’ve reviewed countless apps here at MRT, and we love TrendOy! so much, we’re willing to partner with them on yet another exciting giveaway.

Enough with the chatter. You probably want to know what the contest details are. Well, it’s gotta be the simplest we’ve ever seen as far as any contest is concerned. Click on the official contest link below and get a chance for the swanky new iPad!

http://myrealitytech.trendoy.com/ (contest will open in a new page)

We’re already very excited about TrendOy!’s useability and overall value in our busy lives. While we endure the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, might as well try and win a shiny new iPad right?

 SWEET BONUS:

Don’t forget to “LIKE” TrendOy & MRT’s official Facebook Pages! We will be selecting two lucky ”likers” on April 25, 2012 to win the newest Blackberry Smartphones! One will be selected from Trendoy’s FB page, and another from MRT’s FB page. Go on, LIKE us! You can just hit the FB icon on the right side of our pages to find us, but here’s the link to TrendOy’s FB page as well.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TrendOY/155409274495828

Could this be the new Samsung Galaxy S III?

Remember when Samsung released the Galaxy S and it was just a thing of beauty?  The vibrant colors and crystal clear display. It was an amazing phone and a great improvement over Samsungs pathetic earlier attempt at a smartphone, the Instinct. A phone that I was so disappointed with that I took my Samsung Instinct out to the rifle range and blew it up with 2 lbs of tannerite. But that’s beside the point. We need to bring the focus back to the Galaxy S. It was a very impressive phone. So when Samsung announced the release of the Galaxy S 2, I thought to myself what could they possibly improve? Well, they made a sleeker sexier phone with more power. I have to say I wanted one bad but my first generation was still in good working order and I liked it. But now word is Samsung has done it again.

Sources say Samsung has officially come up with a design for the new Galaxy S 3 and that has got me very excited. Now I’m not sure what its going to look like but if it’s anything like its predecessors then I’m know it will blow our minds again. Can I get a hell yeah!?! What I have heard about this exciting addition to the Galaxy family is that Samsung finally did away with the plastic body which so many disapproved of. Sources say this third generation model will feature a ceramic body instead… woooo! This improvement on top of the already kick ass specs of the GS3 make it a worthy adversary.

Some of the other mouth watering rumors include features such as a 4.8 inch screen with glorious HD resolution, a quad-core processor,and a respectable 8MP camera. One thing we know for sure is that when Samsung designs a new product they design it to kick ass and look good while doing it. This phone is going to be a head turner folks. Guys listen up; women will want to give you their numbers just so it can seen being stored in this awesome machine. And ladies; well here is where your jealousy comes into play. All those guys who you think are checking you out… well it’s really the GS3 they’re all looking at wide-eyed. I’m sorry but that’s probably going to be the case. If you can handle that then by all means use this to your advantage. But with great power like this comes great responsibility. All in all the Galaxy S 3 is looking to be one hell of a phone and I for one cant wait for their estimated arrival in June to get my hands one.

And everyone wants the iPhone 5….

Dyson… Now there is a name everyone is familiar with. Who hasn’t seen their ridiculously expensive blade-less fan, used one or dreamed of owning one of their vacuums, or owns one of their fancy heaters? You can probably find one of their products in just about any upper middle-class household. They are, after all, known for top quality products with head turning design. So why stop at vacuums? How about….smartphones?

I’ve got to admit, it was a bit of a surprise to hear that James Dyson, the founder of the company mentioned to reporters that he is interested in breaking into the mobile phone market. James mentioned that if they did proceed with making mobile phones the technology would have to be interesting, the best of everything. For the rest of us that means it is going to be expensive. But when has that ever stopped us from buying other Dyson products? This isn’t exactly a vacuum though. It’s a phone, something we take with us everywhere we go. We need our phones to perform just as good if not better than they look. Can Dyson pull itoff? Who knows?

When it comes to cell phones, I for one am perfectly happy with my time tested Samsung Galaxy S. It’s going to take something of epic proportions to pull me away from that and I just don’t think the king of vacuums is up for the challenge. Besides, the mobile phone market has been oversaturated lately, and phones made with style in mind often become outdated upon release, becoming nothing more than old technology housed in beautiful casings (Vertu, Goldvish anyone?). On the other hand, I don’t see vacuums being outdated every three months. I admire ingenuity and effort, but somehow, I think it would be in Mr. Dyson’s best interest to just stick to the household products. I still can’t justify $1,100 for a single Bang & Olufson cordless phone. Perhaps Dyson can have something cheaper for the home without sacrificing design?

Normally, I care very little for what gets unveiled at the Mobile World Congress. Seriously, after watching Myrealitytech’s insanely boring coverage of it last year, I almost subscribed to CNET. Almost. However, sweet Jesus!… Nokia just showed off their 41-megapixel sensor on the new Nokia 808 PureView. Now that’s one hell of a way to get some attention at a trade show where everyone is peddling something new. I can already see the PR headline in my head. “PureView. Because 12 MP simply doesn’t capture enough details” Seriously though? 41 MP? I know that MP doesn’t really mean cake nowadays but 41? Details are great but detail like that would be deadly on that otherwise-harmless looking zit on your face.

The phone packs a punch in other areas as well. It’s sporting a 1.3GHz single-core chip, 16GB microSD, 512MB of RAM, 4in display, Carl Zeiss optics, 4x zoom ( personally, they could’ve gone 10x zoom), and it can also take 1080p video. For those who don’t remember, or those who only have the iPhone in their limited brain cells, Nokia had a wonderful camera phone not too long ago by the name of N8. Coincidentally, the sweet looking metal and glass beauty was a giveaway prize here at MRT as well. I’ll let you guess who won one over a year ago. hehehe….Oh but that only came with a puny 12 MP sensor. With all the new specs crammed into the Nokia 808 PureView, there is now another reason desperate professional photographers need to find real jobs. Because lets face it, with all the detail being captured, I feel bad for the people who have to slather on twice the spackle to cover up Lindsey Lohan’s gigantic facial craters. 

Right now this phone is only available in Europe where all the swanky people live. Availability in the U.S. is yet to be discussed. However, if you keep your fingers crossed, hopefully we will be seeing it over here in the not-too-distant-future. Of course by then, the 100MP phone would’ve already debuted in Japan or something, where I’m pretty sure their cell phones can already take photos of beings in Jupiter.

Highly Anticipated App Brings Image-editing Power of Photoshop to Apple iPad 2

At Mobile World Congress, Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced that Adobe Photoshop Touch is now available for iPad 2, via the iTunes App Store. Adobe Photoshop Touch offers core Photoshop features, as well as new capabilities for creating and sharing in an app custom-built for tablets. The app is a central component of Adobe Touch Apps, a family of six intuitive touch screen applications, inspired by Adobe Creative Suite software. iPad versions of the other Adobe Touch Apps are expected later this year.

Photoshop Touch gives users the ability to combine multiple photos into layered images, make essential edits and apply professional effects to create beautiful artwork, touch up photos, paint, lay out ideas and much more. The Scribble Selection Tool allows users to easily extract objects in an image by simply scribbling on what to keep, and then what to remove. With Refine Edge technology from Photoshop, even hard-to-select areas with soft edges are easily captured when making selections. Photoshop Touch helps users quickly find images and share creations through integration with Facebook and Google Image Search.

“People will be amazed with what they can create on the iPad using Photoshop Touch,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media Business Unit, Adobe. “Photoshop Touch combines the magic of Photoshop and its core features with the convenience of a tablet, bringing image-editing power to the fingertips of millions of people.”

“Adobe Photoshop Touch offers a huge convenience factor and boasts cool Photoshop features tailored for the iPad,” said Brian Yap, creative director, Boxing Clever. “Nearly all of the features I imagined being in Photoshop Touch are there, including the depth in layers, the extraction tools, and fade tool.”

“I love the organic process of working on the tablet. With Adobe Photoshop Touch, I have a new form of image creation with familiar tools but in a more relaxed work space, allowing me to rediscover image making through play rather than production,” Dan Marcolina, owner, Marcolina Design & Marcolina Slate. 

“My team and I put Photoshop Touch through the paces and it shines as a tool for on-the-go photo shoots,” said Tyler Stableford, photographer and director, Tyler Stableford Photography + Film. “Time is always critical when taking pictures during the golden hours of light. With a wireless connection, the art director and I can place photos, immediately as we take them, into a layer with the client’s artwork. This is really helpful when shooting catalog covers.” 

In addition to Photoshop Touch, Adobe expects to release the following touch apps for the iPad in the coming months: Adobe Collage for moodboards, Adobe Debut for presenting and reviewing creative work, Adobe Ideas for sketching, Adobe Kuler for exploring color themes, and Adobe Proto for website and mobile app prototyping.

Helpful Links:

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Bryan Yap

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Dan Marcolina

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Chris Georgenes

• Artist Project Deconstruction: Kyle Lambert

• Introducing Adobe Photoshop Touch on iPad 2 and Android

• Basic Retouching with Photoshop Touch

• Photoshop Touch Sky Replacement Tutorial

• Photoshop Touch Scribble Select Tool

• Photoshop Touch Paint Effect

• Photoshop Touch Add Effects

• Photoshop Touch Camera Fill

• Photoshop Touch Google Search

• Photoshop Touch Blend Modes

Pricing and Availability:

Adobe Photoshop Touch is available today in the iTunes App Store for US$9.99. Photoshop Touch is available in most geographies with English language support. The app will run on iPad 2 running on iOS5. For more information on Photoshop Touch, visit adobe products. Customers may submit feedback on the community powered feedback site, feedback photoshop. Users may also connect with the Photoshop Touch Team directly on Facebook, via Twitter or on the Photoshop blog. For Photoshop Touch how-to videos, visit adobe TV.

It’s been a while since we’ve given away some prizes here at MRT. Who could forget the epic prizes our former chief’s kind heart gave away over the years. To say her shoes are big to fill is an understatement, but I’m committed to bringing the same fun you’ve enjoyed from us over the years. That said, it’s exciting to announce this next tidbit.

Myrealitytech and TrendOy! are partnering together to give away some pretty swanky prizes.

For those not aware, TrendOy! is the up and coming geeky app that has the tech world buzzing. TrendOY! helps you save time by informing you of one cool new gadget each day and helping you be a more informed consumer! Who doesn’t want that? We know you don’t have the time to read through entire stories while you commute to work or have 10 minutes to catch up on news in your lunch break. We’ve made it easier to follow stories with a new editorial model that will have you stay in the loop on what’s happening in technology, gaming and entertainment categories without being overwhelmed. We’ve reviewed countless apps here at MRT, and we love TrendOy! so much, we’re willing to partner with them on this exciting giveaway.

Enough with the chatter. You probably want to know what the contest details are. Well, it’s gotta be the simplest we’ve ever seen as far as any contest is concerned. Click on the official contest link below and win something!

http://myrealitytech.trendoy.com/ (contest will open in a new page)

We’re already very excited about TrendOy!’s official launch on March 12. While we wait, might as well try and win a shiny new tablet right?

It was a ball rolling around in a circle on a table with a banner that said “Meet Sphero”….Naturally I clicked where it said Sphero at the top of the page to learn more about this device.  I then saw a close up image of Sphero with another banner saying “Part Robot. Part Ball. All Fun” I have to admit at this point I was more than just curious, I had to know what it was.

All of us who own smart phones and/or tablets know all about the fun games we can have on them.  However all these games take place onscreen. Orbotix, the company behind Sphero says you can now take the game out of the virtual world and bring it into ours. “Engage in the virtual world. Play in the real one…At Orbotix our goal is to continue to blend the real and virtual worlds to expand the boundaries of what we expect from technology. With our smart robots and innovative software we’re exploring and defining mixed-reality gaming—the next evolution of entertainment.” Sounds like a lot of what we’ve heard and seen before. Yet it’s still interesting enough to take a look at.

So what the heck is Sphero anyway? Apparently it’s the first robotic ball out there (I had no idea). That’s right, I said robotic ball. Sphero is designed to connect via Bluetooth and be controlled with our smart phones and tablets that operate on the Android and iOS systems.  However you tilt or swipe your screen translates into Sphero’s actions.

There is a note of caution that Orbotix posts stating “Sphero is a sophisticated electronic device, it is not intended for children under the age of thirteen. Do not change or modify Sphero except with approved accessories. Never abuse, kick, throw, hit, chew, crush, bounce,violently shake or excessively drop Sphero. Do not disassemble Sphero or expose to extreme environmental conditions.” From the looks of that statement, I had to remind myself that we’re talking about a ball and not an overemotional, hormonal pubescent teen on a major freakout. Either way, it sounds like Sphero’s a little sensitive, so be careful. Be nice to Sphero.

Now this sounds fun but I’m sure some of you are thinking what the hell you’re supposed to do with it?  Well, there are a number of apps that can be found in the Android Market as well as on iTunes such as Sphero, Sphero Golf, Sphero Draw N’ Drive, Sphero Drive, and Sphero Cam.  Apparently there is even a camera in Sphero that allows you to take pictures and videos while you control it. You can also customize the color of your Sphero to better suit your mood.  There are of course other apps that are still to come, like Sphero Chromo, and Sphero Space Fighter. Apparently, Orbotix wanted to make sure no less than a boatload of Sphero comes your way. Hey, that’s cool.

This sounds great and all but I wanted to know some of the more technical info. So here we go.

Sphero  is a ball controlled via Bluetooth connection to an Android or iOS device with about a 50ft range.
It can reach speeds of up to 3ft per second while keeping precise control.
The multi-colored LED claims to be capable of producing thousands of colors. Hooray color freaks! 
The internal guidance system includes accelerometer, compass, and gyro.
Inside construction: Orbotix Smart Robot  Outside Construction: Opaque high-impact polycarbonate shell
Dimensions:     size 74mm diameter, weight 168 grams
Induction charging (so nothing to plug)

Lipo Battery: drive time over 60 minutes at full speed. With a charge time approximately 180 minutes.

When purchasing a Sphero, prepare for a bit of a sticker shock.  The price tag with the cheapest method of shipping comes to $139.99.  That does seem a bit steep.  However, its not just a ball but an actual robot. In addition, some of the apps are also free. I expect more advanced ones for a premium.

Now it is up to you to decide if the $139.99 price tag is justifiable.  I’ll make sure to let you know what I think when I buy one (I’m interested to try it when the new iPad 3 comes out.)  Of course, the hours of fun and numerous conversations started might just be worth it.

So the next time you need a gift for the tech geek in your life or that fickle person who has everything. Just ask yourself…do they have a Sphero?

By: Edward Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Consumer Drive Delivers Faster, More Responsive Computing Experience and Extends the Life of Existing PCs

SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced a high-performance solid state drive (SSD) for the retail channel. The SanDisk Extreme SSD is up to 10 times faster than a 7,200 RPM hard disk drive, enabling computer users to quickly boot and shut down their systems, launch applications faster and reduce wait times. The drive is also more durable and power efficient, delivering a reliable computing experience while maximizing battery life.

Extreme Performance:

The SanDisk Extreme SSD can boot a PC in less than 16 seconds and quickly shut down the system, delivering a significantly improved user experience to desktop and notebook users. For gamers, the SanDisk Extreme SSD can launch applications in a fraction of the time and reduce in-game delays by generating environments faster during sequence transitions. This is particularly important during massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs).

“Computer wait times are becoming a thing of the past thanks to SSDs,” said Kent Perry, director, product marketing, SanDisk. “Our SanDisk Extreme SSD delivers virtually instant boot and shutdown times along with faster application launches. It’s a huge improvement to the computing experience.” 

The SanDisk Extreme SSD delivers up to 83,000 maximum random write Input-Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) and up to 44,000 random read IOPS. High sequential read performanceof up to 550 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) and up to 520MB/s sequential write speed deliver faster, more responsive computing.

Extreme Reliability:

The SanDisk Extreme SSD is more reliable and durable than a hard disk drive and is backed by SanDisk’s reputation for quality. The drive contains no moving parts, decreasing the risk of data loss due to shock and vibration, and its mean time between failure (MTBF) greatly exceeds that of hard disk drives, giving users peace of mind that it will retain their files for the long term.

Additional Benefits:

The SanDisk Extreme SSD consumes 30 percent less power than a hard disk drive while generating less heat and noise, making it an ideal solution for notebook users who want to maximize their battery life while computing on the go. The drive provides cost savings for IT departments or DIY enthusiasts who want to extend the life of their existing PCs without buying an entirely new system. The drive is easy to install—simply plug it into a computer’s SATA port.

Pricing and Availability:

The SanDisk Extreme SSD is available worldwide now in 120 gigabyte (GB) and 240GB capacities carrying MSRPs of $189.99 and $399.99 respectively. A 480GB version of the drive will ship later this year with an MSRP of $749.99.

Achieves up to 500/420 MB/s Sequential Read/Write Speeds; Available In A Variety of Capacities and Form Factors

The SanDisk X100 SSD is available in capacities up to 512GB and utilizes multi-level cell (MLC) technology, a SATA 6Gb/s high-performance interface, advanced multi-streaming features and tiered caching technology. The drive offers up to 500/420 megabyte per second (MB/sec) sequential read/write speeds, and enables a user to copy a 4GB high-definition movie in less than 10 seconds*. In addition to the standard 2.5 inch form factor, the X100 SSD also comes in mSATA and customized thin form factors to address the emerging ultra-thin laptop market. SanDisk offers a wide variety of configuration options, including standalone and dual drive caching solutions.

“With the introduction of the X100 SSD, SanDisk now offers OEMs a complete selection of SSD storage choices,” said Kevin Conley, senior vice president and general manager, client storage solutions, SanDisk. “From the smallest BGA form factors of the iSSD to the economical lower power U100, all the way up to the high performance and high capacity points of our new X100, SanDisk offers a solution to meet the needs of notebook, desktop and ultra-thin laptop manufacturers.”

The SanDisk X100 SSD achieves long-term reliability through robust, continual background error checking and advanced NAND recovery mechanisms. The drive is available now for sampling to PC manufacturers and production-volume shipments.

Specifications:

Performance

• Up to 500/420 MB/s sequential read/write speeds

Capacity

• 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

Form Factor

• Cased 2.5 inch 7mm or 9.5mm, mSATA and customized form factors

Interface

• SATA 6Gb/s

Power Consumption

• Active Power (Typical): 150mW (@ 3.3V)
• Standby Mode (Typical): 75mW (@ 3.3V)

Reliability

• MTBF up to two million hours

Target Platforms

• Ultrabook, notebook, and desktop computers

We’re definitely excited about these speeds. With Ultrabooks set to dominate this year, what are the chances that Sandisk might be in some of those fancy chassis?