HiTechMommy- Cat Schwartz

TODAY Show For The Holidays

I was on The TODAY Show this week showing off Hi Tech Holiday Gifts.  You can watch the video HERE, and you can read the web article I wrote HERE.   It was a good segment, although 3 of my items were cut due to time. The Mimoco USB Storage Bots, the super hot Dell XPS ONE all-in-one computer and Rock Band didn't quite make it. That's just the way it goes with live TV.  I did get to show off the Sony Book Reader, the Ceiva Digital Picture Frame, the Panasonic HD SD5 Video Camera, the Sony DVD Direct DVD burner, the Epson MovieMate 72, the Brookstone Digital Picture Frame Wallet and iPhone accessories from Kate Spade, ColorarePC and Incase.

That show is so much fun to be on because of the crew.  These people are the best of the best and are flawless at what they do. I'm talking about the producers, camera men, props guys, even the green room people are amazing.  They make you  feel like you're one of them when you're a guest and they treat everyone with respect.

After the show I met with the super bad ass head honcho over there, Marc Victor,  and it looks like I'll be headed to NY a few times a month to talk tech on the show.  My new title as  "The eBay Gadget and Toy Director"  allows me to get my hands on all kinds of gadgets and Marc wants me to pitch away.  If you have any good ideas please feel free send them my way. 

'08 is gonna be a good year!

-Cat Schwartz

Video Games!

 

Video Games are hot!.  Here are some suggestions of games that are super fun for everyone to play!

I can't stop thinking about the game Geometry Wars: Galaxies by Sierra Entertainment mode as well as the ability to link the  for the DS and the Wii.  In this game you go through cool looking galaxies and fight off attacks from different intruders.  Each level takes you through geometric looking grids and there's 60 new grids in this version of the game.  You'll find that they start appearing in your sleep...  It's so fun!  You can also play against friends with multilayer mode as well as hook the DS and the Wii together to unlock new content.

   

Next is a game that does a great job at utilizing the Wii's controller capability.  Soulcalibur Legends by Namco Bandai is a third person action adventure game, made exclusively for the Wii, which is so physical fun because it uses the controller to mimic weapon fighting and attack movements. It's really easy-to-pick-up-and-play for anyone in the family, including both hardcore and casual gamers so dad can play with his teenage son.  You actually feel like you're a hero when you're fighting your way through this beautiful looking game.

I grew up riding and caring for  horses and I wish I had the time and the money to continue.  Thanks to the Petz series of games by Ubisoft, I can virtually become a champion all over again! In the sceries you can choose from horses, cats, dogs, and now, dolphins then start taking care of the animals on your DS or Wii.  The Petz Wild Animals: Dolphinz has 30 different endangered marine life animals, such as killer whales and penguins,  teaching kids about the world under water.  In my stable I have 3 horses and I've named them after my horses back in the day, Christy, Lumpy, and Cali.

If you're looking for a game the whole family will know and love, Atari has turned the traditional game Jenga into a virtual experience on the Wii.  The game has the same tension building risk taking experience as you poke, pull, tap or twist the blocks trying to make sure the don't  come crashing down.  Because it's a video game there's a number of unique towers to choose from   like slippery ice, hot fiery blocks, heavy stones that all use the physics of the Wii controller to    alter game play and make it harder then the real game.

  So now you know what they want, but how are you going to get just the right game?  Game Crazy has created a 'Parent's Guide to Game Buying' brochure and online wish list to help parents/grandparents with video game shopping.  In it you'll find tips on getting games that align with their interests, buying the right game for the right system and choosing games that are content and skill-level appropriate.