Mafia Wars Halloween Loot items

Mafia Wars introduced a new set of limited loot items for the Halloween. These 8 items are inspired by different Zynga games like Farmville, Texas Holdem, YoVille, etc.

Try to complete all 8 before November 2 midnight:

WEAPON

ARMOR

VEHICLE

Of all the items, the most difficult to acquire is the Kraken and Laser Squirrel which seems to be fair considering they have the most powerful stats of the bunch.

The items aren’t giftable by the way so if you wish to complete all items, spend a lot of time at the mugging job.

Powerpak gives you an extra juice of battery on the go

The Technocel PowerPak is a portable charger that you can use at home or on the road. It can charge any device via USB (different tips are included) for that extra juice of battery power that you need.

It can also act as a go-between between your device and the wall socket. When plugged in an outlet, it will charge itself as well as another device connected to its USB socket.

When removed from a wall outlet, the PowerPak will store some charge that can be transferred to your device. They claim that it can provide up to 3 hours of talk time to your mobile phone. Just enough juice to last you till you get home.

The Technocel PowerPak will have an SRP of $49.99 and will be available this November.

Genius GHP-04DJ Hi-Fi Headphones for Pros

If you need a pair hi-fi headphones but don’t want to trade in your firstborn then you might want to take a look at the Genius GHP-04DJ headphones. The GHP-04DJ provides outstanding sound accuracy with its fine-tuned 40mm Neodymium unit drivers.

It features velvety bass drivers that deliver excellent sound quality perfect for true audiophiles and a high quality OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) cable with gold-plated 3.5mm and 6.3mm adaptor. Ask any audiophiles and they will tell you that gold-plated tips produces better sound quality than regular ones.

It is lightweight at 278g and has a cable length of 2.7m.

The Genius GHP-04DJ will only cost you P1,690.

Spruce up your Windows 7 with these new official themes

More people are switching to Windows 7 now that it is released. This includes those who purchased new desktop PC’s and laptops which already comes with Windows 7.

With the early success of Windows 7, Microsoft unleashed new themes that you can download for free to supplement the already gorgeous default themes and wallpapers it has.

I personally like the country themes (even if Philippines is not included) and the Zune characters.

Best Mafia Wars loots are in Moscow

Now with the Moscow expansion completed, we now have a better picture of what are the best loot items that you can earn from a job.

Forget about Gaff Hooks and Track Loaders. If you want the best, farm the following loots in Moscow:

ATTACK	DEFENSE
Weapon: Ubjica Assault Rifle	Weapon: Zmeya Carbon Blade
Episode 5 Chapter 2 | Vory	Episode 6 Chapter 2 | Mafiya
Stats: 43 ATK | 18 DEF	Stats: 28 ATK | 44 DEF
Armor: Shturmovik	Armor: Executive Overcoat
Episode 4 Chapter 2 | Vory	Episode 6 Chapter 1 | Both
Stats: 45 ATK | 28 DEF	Stats: 22 ATK | 45 DEF
Vehicle: Zoloto Sports Car	Vehicle: Konstantin Cargo Carrier
Episode 6 Chapter 3 | Both	Episode 6 Chapter 2 | Vory
Stats: 43 ATK | 22 DEF	Stats: 18 ATK | 44 DEF

Better hurry up with those rubles so you can reach episode 6. Please take note of which side you have to be on to get those loots.

Dyson’s bladeless fan is a thing from the future

There has no significant innovations in the world of electric fans ever since its inception. Not until Dyson introduced its bladeless fan they call the Dyson Air Multiplier.It’s quite complicated to explain how it can produce airflow that you can redirect. I don’t even understand their explanation but it goes like this:

Air is drawn into the base of the machine. The air is forced up into the loop amplifier and accelerated through the 1.3mm annular aperture, creating a jet of air that hugs the airfoil- shaped ramp. While exiting the loop amplifier, the jet pulls air from behind the fan into the airflow (inducement). At the same time, the surrounding air from the front and sides of the machine are forced into the air stream (entrainment), amplifying it 15 times. The result is a constant uninterrupted flow of cooling air.

So what advantage does a bladeless fan have over the traditional fans aside from being child-friendly? It eliminates “buffeting”, the on-off gush of air caused by blades chopping the air and creating an uneven airflow. You’ll get smooth and uninterrupted air every second if that’s a good thing for you.

Believe it folks. It’s real and it costs a whopping $299 for the 10-inch model.

Acer upgrades its AspireRevo Nettop

Acer recently announced an upgrade to its Mac mini-esque, extremely compact PC, the AspireRevo nettop. The new version, AspireRevo R3610-U9012, now comes in dual-core Atom 330 processor (1.6GHz) to go along with its integrated NVIDIA Ion Graphics chip.This ultra-sleek PC is the size of a book and can even be mounted behind an LCD monitor. Its NVIDIA Ion CUDA-supporting graphics processor can play 1080p HD movies. In fact, you can connect the AspireRevo via HDMI port to your television for some hi-def viewing.It also comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse in case you want to use your living room television as your monitor.

Leveraging the ultra-low-consumption processor, it saves power and meets Energy Star® guidelines.

Other specs include:

• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Intel® Atom™ 330 Processor (1.6GHz)
• Integrated NVIDIA® ION™ Graphics Solution
• 2GB DDR2 SDRAM Memory
• 160GB SATA Hard Drive(2)
• Six USB 2.0 Ports (Two Front, Four Back)
• HDMI Port, eSATA Port, VGA Port
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• 802.11b/g/Draft-N Wireless, Gigabit Ethernet
• Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

The AspireRevo R3610-U9012 will go for $329.99 and will make a nice gift to somebody who needs a new desktop PC.

[HotHardware]

CEIVA Pro 80 digital frame has WiFi connectivity

Digital frames really didn’t catch on to most consumers. After a few weeks of usage, people usually grow tired of updating photo contents on its memory card.

With the latest CEIVA digital frame, the Pro 80, they incorporated a WiFi connectivity feature via Media Server so that it can communicate with any PC in the network which is where you usually store your photos. Aside from that, you can also MMS photos taken from your mobile phone into the CEIVA Pro 80 (provided you’re a PicturePlan customer).

The CEIVA Pro 80 is an 8.5” x 10” digital frame with a high-res 8” display (640x480). It also comes with interchangeable black and wood-finish faceplates to suit any home or office setting.

CEIVA is offering a special holiday price for this digital frame bringing the price down to $147.99 (originally $179.99).

Genius Navigator 380, mouse and VOIP phone in one

It’s no secret these days that the cheapest way to talk to friends or relatives overseas is through the internet using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). A lot of services like Skype, GoogleTalk, etc.) are already available offering VOIP.

For all of you who do a lot of talking over the net via VOIP, you can avoid the clutter of having a separate hardware for your VOIP. The Genius Navigator 380 integrates mouse and internet functions while featuring  a 1200 dpi optical engine. There are seven buttons in Navigator 380 for the phone functions --- Phone on/off, List up/down, Volume up/down and OK for calling.

When you have an incoming phone call, the Navigator 380 rings as long as the PC speaker is ON. If the speaker is OFF, an LED light in the mouse blinks to let you know that someone is calling you.

But can you guess what the problem will be in having a phone and a mouse in one? Yup! How can you navigate around your desktop if you’re using the phone? But if you won’t be bothered by it then by all means get one.

SRP for the Genius Navigator 380 is Php850.

Turn your iPhone into a mirror with Ozaki iCoat Mirror

If you are looking for a screen protector for your iPhone or iPod Touch, you will typically have the choice of matte for anti-glare and anti-fingerprint or glossy for bright and crisp colors.

Now Ozaki, the makers of Apple accessories, has another type of screen protector. The Ozaki iCoat Mirror will not only protect your iPhone screen from scratches and fingerprints, it will also turn it into a mirror when the screen is turned off.

iCoat Mirror is made in special mirror design. It's clear, shiny and flashy. iCoat Mirror is made with highly transparent material, giving your iPhone amazing screen clarity.

Ozaki iCoat Mirror has an SRP of Php690.

Powermat wireless charger is the neatest charging solution

You know how you hate it when you have to charge a lot of devices at the same time. Wires and cords from your phone, mp3 player, gaming device, camera usually gets tangled and is quite a hassle to arrange afterwards.

Powermat aims to solve all of that. It’s a charging mat without any wires getting in the way. Just plop your device on it and it will charge it for you. There’s a wireless receiver included with 8 tips for your devices or you can buy slim case receiver for your device for a true wireless charging.

The Powermat is already available and costs $99.99 while the slim case receivers are around $40 each.

iCoat Privacy film for your iPhone

Do you often use your iPod Touch or iPhone in public and hate it when people can snoop on what you are doing? Try the iCoat Privacy film from Ozaki.

iCoat Privacy is a filter that prevents your iPhone screen from being viewed by others outside its 60-degree viewable angle. It is made of anti-smudge and anti-glare material that can also protect your screen without affecting its touch sensitivity.

It’s quite easy to install and already includes a residue-free adhesive for easy application. The iCoat Privacy will retail at Php870.

Item guide to lower bribe penalty in Mafia Wars Moscow

If you’re already in Moscow in Mafia Wars, you will notice how hard it is to earn money. Not only are the items expensive but you also have to deal with bribe penalties. Here’s a guide so you will know what items from Episodes 1 and 2 are still needed in Episodes 3 and 4 which is giving even high-ranking players difficulty completing:

• Dubina (3x Vory | 0x Mafiya)
• Pistolet Besshumnyj 0x
• Boevoy Nozh 12x (15x Mafiya)
• Tracksuit 24x
• Balaclava 18x
• Mototsykl 12x
• Taksi 0x
• Dvina 6x

So when you are done mastering episodes 1 and 2, you can sell back the items that are not needed in 3 and 4 to lower your bribe penalty.

Once you achieve level 3 mastery in Episode 3 these are the items you don’t need:

• 3x Dubina
• 12x Boevoy Nozh
• 6x Dvina
• 18x Balaclava
• 12x Mototsykl

Hopefully, selling the unneeded items will speed things up for you. It’s a reasonable risk to take even if you will need those items back in episodes 5 and 6.

Banana Shpeel, a new twist on Vaudeville

Banana Shpeel is the new vaudeville-based show from world renowned group of professional entertainers, Cirque de Soleil (Circus of the Sun).

I haven’t seen the Cirque yet although I’ve heard a lot of great things about their shows from friends and relatives who were fortunate enough to see one. I think it’s one of the shows that a person should try to see in his lifetime.

Cirque du Soleil is not your typical circus act nor a Broadway play or musical. Their shows are a mixture of circus styles from around the world and street entertainment with a central theme and storyline.

Banana Shpeel is their latest show show which revolves around the world of a cruel producer named Schemlky and Emmet, who’s an innocent actor auditioning for him. Then there’s also the hero and villain’s love interest named Katie as well as some absurd character including the Banana Man.

It is vaudeville with a twist with a blended choreography of tap, hip hop, eccentric dance and slapstick in the style of the Three Stooges. The show looks promising and is slated to start this November making its debut at the Chicago Theater.

Check out ther site to know more about the show, their schedule and where you can get tickes.

Dell’s slimy netbook

Dell is known for having funky designs on their laptops and they released this “oozified” version of their Inspiron Mini 10” netbook.

The Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition is just your standard Mini 10v which sports the all-too familiar specs of a typical netbook. Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 3-cell battery and usual port configuration.

If you want a slimy netbook, you can get this one for $329.

What are the best items/weapons in Mafia Wars?

If you’re wondering what the best attack and defense items in Mafia Wars you can trade for or get from a job, here it is. This list covers up to Episode 4 of Moscow and might change when later episodes go online.

Attack Items

Weapon – Canonazo
Stats: 42 ATK | 22 DEF
Job: Loot the National Museum (El Cacique Job Tier)

Read more »

Flash drive for that special someone

During the 80’s mixed tapes are part of a guy’s arsenal when they try to woo a girl. They’ll put all the cheesy songs on a tape and give it to their special someone. Then came the CD’s which can contain more than 14 songs.

These days, it’s time to turn it up a notch by using flash drives. Cowon made these cheesy flash drives that girls can proudly wear on their neck. These small, shiny and classy flash drives come in “Chrome Black” and “Glossy Gold” colors with a “Don’t Forget Me” text embossed.

You can choose from 2GB to 16GB to store your mixed mp3’s and even photos or whatever. Price ranges from USD16 for the 2GB up to USD64 for the 16GB.

[Cowon]

Boss links for Mafia Wars Moscow

Bosses in Mafia Wars Moscow will net you millions of rubles every time you complete them (that is if 10 mafia assists you). However, they are unavailable when you’re not done yet with all the jobs in a tier.

Even if they’re not visible, it doesn’t mean that they’re inactive. You can still do boss jobs for the money even if you still have unfinished jobs. Just use the following links:

Episode 1 - Confront Gang Leader Dmitri Leonov

Episode 2 - Take Down Party Boss Karpov

Episode 3 - Matyoryj Brigadir

Episode 4 - Matyoryj Avtoritet

Episode 5 - Matyoryj Vor

Episode 6 - Matyoryj Pahkan

TIP: If for some reason it wouldn't work for you, make sure you are in Moscow and on the right tier page.

So get those free money every 24 hours. It would be better if you have plenty of friends to help you out for quicker result.

I’ll update the list once other episodes become available.

Sony goes pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month

If you’re a pink-lover then check out these two gadgets Sony is offering for the month of October which is also Breast Cancer Awareness month.

There’s this two-tone pink Sony Vaio W netbook bundle which also includes a pink mouse and pink sleeves. Then there’s also a rose-colored Sony Reader Pocket Edition that comes with a gold clutch case.

The Vaio W bundle costs $499 and the Reader bundle is $199. Sony has said it will donate $110,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in conjunction with October sales for these bundles.

[Slashgear]

Philippine Bank Codes for Paypal Withdrawal

Paypal offers Filipinos a way to withdraw their online earning into their local bank account. You just need to know the 9-digit bank code it will ask for in the Withdraw funds to your bank account option.

Here’s the list of bank codes for our local banks:

Read more »

Give personalized greeting cards this Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner and it’s the time to send out Christmas cards once again to friends and families far away from home. E-cards just don’t cut it so why not try personalized holiday cards?

At 123Print, you can have your own personalized holiday cards created cheaply. Choose among their wide collection of templates and add your own text greeting and you can also add a photo of you or the family or an artwork your kid made.

The cards are printed on 110lb. paper and blank envelopes are included. Prices range from $7.16 to $8.96 per 10 cards depending on the style of card that you want. That’s as low as 27 cents each! I like!

Never Leave your USB Drive Behind

This is a guest post from Dean who’s one of our readers. He sent this helpful guide on how not to forget your USB drive plugged in your machine. Check it out.

Did you ever forget your USB Stick at your home, office or any other place before leaving when you need it most? Then here is a free tool for you which won’t let you forget Your USB Stick next time.

This free tool is a Vbscript called pcwUnstick, from PC WELT, a German computer magazine. The script opens a pop up window every time you try to shut down your computer and USB drive is still plugged in so that you don’t forget to take your USB Drive with you.

Read more »

Let ASUS O!Play introduce you to the world of media players

If you want to venture into the world of digital media players but don’t want to spend a lot, consider the ASUS O!Play which only sells for $99.99 from Amazon.

Here’s what you can get from ASUS O!Play:

• Hassle-free multimedia playback without file conversion
• Full 1080p high-definition video via HDMI output
• Simple and fast plug-and-play connectivity (eSATA, USB 2.0)
• High-speed Ethernet LAN connection for easy network streaming
• Bitstream or decode Dolby Digital and DTS Surround audio
• Sleek and compact design

It’s a whole lot better than the WDTV Mini which is $26 cheaper but with the ASUS O!Play, you can connect it to your LAN (wired) for video streaming. I like!

Transformer’s Ravage gets an overhaul

Remember Ravage? The Decepticon cassette tape popping out of Soundwave that turns into a wild cat (not sure if it’s a panther, puma, cougar,etc.)? Anyway, cassettes our outdated so Ravage gets a web 2.0 upgrade and is now a USB flash drive. This Ravage flash drive is a transformable toy that has a 2GB memory in it and will be available this month from Big Bad Toy Store for $42.99.

A bit expensive for a 2GB but it’s a novelty item as well for toy collectors.