The only disappointing part is that you cannot use the flash while taking an HDR photo.

Hit the jump for the full gallery / comparison photos.

For those that don’t know,

OneBigGame is a videogames industry charity initiative, probably best compared to the famous Live Aid charity initiative from the music industry: our mission is to bring together some of the most famous game designers and major development studios to create a number of unique games, specifically developed for OneBigGame, with all the proceeds going to children’s charities around the world.

That was probably the main thing that made me decide to download this game. That, and it’s only 4.99 US. It’s a casual game similar to Tetris, Lumines, and other games of that genre. One distinct difference would be that you can place your shapes anywhere in the game grid. As you create blocks you unlock more and more of the song for that level.

It is a casual game, so it’s got a bit of an addictive quality to it. There are a few different game modes. In the time mode you can select three,six, or nine minutes, but if you’re doing well you can gain more time to unlock the complete song. While testing I played the three minute mode the most. I found myself wanting to play just one more game many times.

There really isn’t much to say about the game it self. It’s something most of us have seen before, but it is done well. The songs are good and the game play is fun. It’s easily worth the 4.99 you’re paying it. And even if you don’t play it much or often, you can at least feel good that you’re helping out children’s charities.

Also if you’re thinking about updating a jailbroken device, keep in mind all you’re really getting is HDR photos from your camera, and the ability to upload HD video while on WiFi, and the gaming center.

If that’s enough to convince you, then download the update and let us know what you think!

I will be updating my iPhone 4 shortly, and will post my results with the update. Perhaps a video?

Nikon announced the addition of 3 new cameras to their already impressive line of digital imaging equipment.

The Nikon P7000 is being touted as a point-and-shoot with SLR quality imaging.

The Nikon S80 is yet another touch screen point-and-shoot from Nikon featuring an OLED touch screen, which could make this camera difficult to use depending on the implementation.

The Nikon S8100 is being described as a great camera for low-light, as well as high capture speeds.

Hit the jump for a full press release.

Nikon Canada Introduces Three New COOLPIX Models for Fall 2010,
Featuring High Performance, Speed and Tactile Operation

COOLPIX P7000 is the perfect complement for professional photographers,
with digital SLR performance in a compact body

COOLPIX S80 touch technology provides superior response and streamlines
user interface

COOLPIX S8100 produces perfect balance with backlit scene HDR and
advanced night landscape

Mississauga, ON, September 8, 2010 – Nikon Canada today introduced
three new COOLPIX cameras to its popular line of compact Style (S) and
Performance (P) digital cameras with the P7000, S80 and S8100.

“Our portfolio of compact digital cameras is designed to equip
photographers, at any level, with the features and functions they will
need for various shooting situations in a portable, compact body,” said
Gregory Flasch, National Advertising and Communications Manager at Nikon
Canada. “Whether users are interested in a slim, stylish design, or
digital SLR-like capabilities, these new additions to the Nikon COOLPIX
lineup offer users the look, feel and image quality to meet their
needs.”

COOLPIX P7000: The Best of Both Worlds with Expanded Creative Control

With advanced functions and features similar to those found in
Nikon’s line of award-winning and critically acclaimed digital
SLRs, the COOLPIX P7000 is the ultimate compact camera that’s ready to
take on almost any photo assignment. In a pro’s gadget bag or in the
hands of a spirited enthusiast, passionate photographers of all levels
will benefit from the P7000’s high performance, extensive manual
controls, stunning image quality and advanced shooting functions,
including the new Zoom Memory and User Setting options.

The 10.1-megapixel COOLPIX P7000 features a large 1/1.7” CCD sensor
coupled with a 7.1x Wide Angle Optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED Glass Lens for
consistently superior image quality that explodes with vivid colour and
sharpness frame after frame. Taking Nikon’s commitment to image
quality a step further, the P7000 adopts Nikon’s new EXPEED C2™ high
performance digital image processing engine to ensure high-quality
pictures with stunning colour and sharpness.

ISO sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 to 6400, (expandable to ISO 12,800
in low noise Night Mode), ensuring incredibly sharp, crisp images when
shooting in low-light conditions or photographing fast-moving subjects.
The P7000 also offers a variety of functions that enable superior
rendering when shooting at high sensitivities, including a Low Noise
Night Mode and a Noise Reduction Filter. The camera also features
Nikon’s 5-Way VR Image Stabilization System, which utilizes a
variety of tactics including optical lens shift to minimize the effect
of camera shake and help prevent blur while shooting handheld or in
low-light conditions.

Thoughtful engineering has led to the addition of features that will be
embraced by current digital SLR users. The Zoom Memory function allows
the camera’s 28-200mm (35mm equivalent) lens to be used in a way that
simulates use of a prime lens, ideal for shooting at a preferred angle
of view. The P7000 also adds controls and buttons for key features like
ISO, white balance, bracketing and exposure compensation. The new
innovative and independent Quick Menu dial ensures instant settings with
the comfort of analogue operation. Advanced users will also enjoy the
benefits of shooting NRW (RAW) files (both PC- and MAC compatible) for
creative freedom and macro abilities as close as 2cm.

While the image quality of the P7000 is nothing short of stellar, the
video capabilities are far beyond that of a typical compact camera. The
P7000 records HD video at 720p at 24 frames-per-second (fps) with
Optical Zoom and Autofocus control. A COOLPIX first, users can now
record audio with an external stereo microphone (sold separately) via
the microphone input. An accessory microphone or Nikon Speedlight can be
mounted on the P7000’s hot shoe.

The COOLPIX P7000 is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon
Canada Dealers in late September 2010 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested
Retail Price (MSRP) of $499.95.

The COOLPIX P7000 is available in black.

COOLPIX S80: Beautiful Photos and Brilliant Technology

Integrating stylish design with intuitive operation, the new COOLPIX
S80 is equipped with a bright 3.5-inch ultra high-resolution organic LED
(OLED) touch screen with enhanced interface for an easier, more
enjoyable user experience. Measuring approximately 98.8 x 62.6 x 16.5mm,
the super thin COOLPIX S80 can easily be slipped in any pocket or bag.

With its user-friendly interface, the COOLPIX S80 gives the
photographer easy touch control over the camera’s key functions for
smooth operation, including touch shutter shooting, zoom and playback.
To help users better compose their photos, the S80 employs tab-type
graphics to maximize screen space without cluttering it with icons.
When the camera is rotated for vertical shooting, display tabs and
controls automatically adjust to the new alignment.

The large 3.5-inch ultra high-resolution (819,000-dot) OLED touch
screen display delivers clear, rich image reproductions, bright vivid
colours and excellent contrast. With a wide viewing angle
(approximately 180 degrees), brightness control and an anti-reflection
coating, the S80’s touch screen display makes it easy to compose, view
and share photos and HD (720p) movies.

With the COOLPIX S80’s intuitive touch screen, creativity is at
users’ fingertips. The S80 lets users add their personal touch to
photos with the Paint function, giving them the ability to write or draw
on images during playback. The Retouch Menu lets users easily adjust
images in-camera by choosing from a wide range of functions, including
Colour Options, Soft Focus, Selective Colour, Cross Screen, Miniature
Effect and Fish-eye Effect, which emphasizes the centre of an image as
if shooting with a fish-eye lens. In playback mode, users can even add
moving stamps for an animated effect. In addition, the S80 features a
new rating function that allows users to rate their photos with up to
five stars and sort images according to their rating.

The S80 is equipped with a built-in slide show function, allowing users
to playback photos to pre-set music for an enjoyable sharing experience.
The COOLPIX S80 also features HD (720p) Movie with optical zoom and
stereo sound available during recording. An HDMI output enables easy
playback on an HDTV. Whether viewing photos from a recent vacation or
video from the last family gathering, the COOLPIX S80 makes it easy to
share life’s most important memories virtually anywhere.

The COOLPIX S80 features a 14.1-megapixel CCD sensor and 5x Wide-Angle
Optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED Glass lens (35-175mm, 35mm equivalent) to help
users capture beautiful landscapes and allow them to get close to the
action. The S80 helps reduce camera shake with a 5-Way Vibration
Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization System that includes Optical and
Hybrid VR, Motion Detection, ISO settings up to 6400 and Best Shot
Selector, which automatically takes up to 10 shots while the shutter
release button is pressed, and then selects and saves the sharpest
image. The S80 employs Nikon’s EXPEED C2™ image processing engine to
ensure outstanding image quality.

To further help users take better photos, the COOLPIX S80 includes 17
Scene Modes and the Easy Auto Mode, which automatically recognizes the
shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly for great
photos in any environment. For outstanding portraits, the S80 features
Nikon’s Smart Portrait System, which incorporates a series of
automatic functions including In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, improved
Face-Priority AF, Smile Timer, Blink Warning, Blink Proof and Skin
Softening to flatter even the most camera-shy subject.

The COOLPIX S80 is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon Canada
Dealers in mid-October 2010 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
(MSRP) of $349.95.

The COOLPIX S80 is available in red, blue and black.

COOLPIX S8100: Superior High Speed Blended with Exceptional Low-Light
Performance

The new COOLPIX S8100 offers a 12.1-megapixel backside illumination
CMOS sensor to provide consumers with enhanced performance for
high-speed shooting and low-light conditions. The S8100 also
incorporates Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED C2™ image processing engine,
which is customized to each COOLPIX model to further drive enhanced
performance, image quality and HD video.

To help capture moments that are gone in an instant, the COOLPIX S8100
features both high-speed shooting at five full resolution frames at up
to 10 frames-per-second (fps), and a pre-shooting cache that records up
to two shots before the shutter-release is fully pressed. For extremely
fast action shots, the S8100’s Sports Continuous mode records up to
approximately 120 fps. With Subject Tracking, the S8100 automatically
tracks a designated subject by activating autofocus (AF), enabling users
to capture the best moment confidently.

Staying true to the legacy of the Style Series, the S8100 empowers
users with serious performance and
image quality, while remaining stylish and compact. Equipped with a
10x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED Glass lens (30-300mm), the COOLPIX S8100
allows users to get close to the action, even when recording videos in
Full HD (1080p). For that family film producer, the S8100 features
one-touch recording, optical zoom and stereo sound recording while
filming for an enhanced user experience. Additionally, users can
perfect their movies in-camera with a new editing function or snap still
images while recording.

Advanced Technologies for Beautiful Nighttime Shots

The 12.1-megapixel backside illumination CMOS sensor enables
exceptional image quality even when shooting in low-light settings.
This CMOS sensor lends itself to enhanced shooting functions in dark
situations, including the advanced Night Portrait mode, which reproduces
night scenes and indoor portraits as users see them while reducing image
blur. The Night Portrait mode combines consecutive shots of the
background while the subject is taken using the flash, allowing
breathtaking night scenes to be easily captured during handheld shooting
and eliminating any subject movement. To further help deliver crisp,
sharp photos, the S8100 features a 4-Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image
Stabilization System with ISO settings up to 3200.

Other functions benefiting from the lower noise and exceptional image
quality of the new CMOS image sensor include an advanced Backlight
shooting function with an in-camera high dynamic range (HDR) function,
which merges images of the same scene to achieve a single image with a
broad range of tonal detail for a frame-worthy shot. Additionally, the
S8100’s advanced Night Landscape mode combines a series of five
consecutive shots taken at a fast shutter speed into a single image with
reduced noise when capturing handheld shots. From romantic candlelit
dinners to the bright lights of the city at night, the COOLPIX S8100
ensures that no low-light moment will be left in the dark

Creative Versatility

The COOLPIX S8100 helps unleash users’ photographic potential with
enhanced shooting and editing functions, including a new Mode Dial
conveniently placed next to the shutter-release button for quick and
easy access to shooting modes. The COOLPIX S8100 also features a
Creative Slider, which simplifies adjusting brightness, saturation and
colour tone in-camera. Other in-camera editing functions include Quick
Retouch and D-Lighting.

To further help the process of composing and sharing photos and movies,
the COOLPIX S8100 boasts a 3.0-inch ultra high resolution (921,000-dot)
Clear Colour Display with a wide viewing angle and anti-glare coating.
Additional must-have features in the S8100 include 17 Scene Modes,
including the Scene Auto Selector, which automatically recognizes the
shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly for great
photos in any environment. For outstanding portraits, the S8100
features Nikon’s Smart Portrait System, which incorporates a series of
automatic functions including In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, improved
Face-Priority AF, Blink Warning, Smile Timer and Skin Softening to
flatter even the most camera-shy subject.

The COOLPIX S8100 is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon
Canada Dealers in early October 2010 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested
Retail Price (MSRP) of $319.95.

The COOLPIX S8100 is available in red, champagne and black.

Exclusive Canadian Warranty

Nikon Canada offers an exclusive two-year warranty for all COOLPIX
digital cameras purchased from an Authorized Nikon Canada Dealer.
Consumer’s investment is protected by Nikon Canada’s warranties with
in-Canada service.

About Nikon

Nikon, At the Heart of the ImageTM, is the world leader in digital
imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally
recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance
for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment.
Nikon Canada distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras,
NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon COOLPIX®
compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR
cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational
optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon’s Exclusive EXPEED™
or EXPEED C2™ advanced digital image processing system technologies. All
Nikon Canada products are sold through a network of Authorized Nikon
Canada Dealers. For more information on Nikon Canada and its products
and services or to find an Authorized Nikon Dealer, visit www.nikon.ca.

What is Google TV?

What’s out there for Canadians?

Right now Canadians have a choice of similar devices that can essentially do the same job as the Google TV service (minus the search capabilities).

• Roku Player – http://www.roku.com/
• Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV
• The Boxee Box – http://www.boxee.tv/box (Coming November 2010)

Each of these devices have their ups and downs, good points and bad points, and are all fairly reasonably priced. I will be posting a look at the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV, and hopefully the Roku player and Boxee Box will get the hands on treatment as well!

Robert Kirkman by Gage Skidmore

Gather round little children. Today I will tell of one of the greatest comic book creators…OF ALL TIME! Ok, well at least of our generation. Ok, of the past decade. Ok, since last Tuesday.

Seriously though, if you’ve not heard of Robert Kirkman then I’m guessing you’ve been living under a rock. He’s responsible for some pretty awesome stuff. The Astounding Wolfman, Brit, Haunt(which he works on with Todd McFarlane, yes that Todd McFarlane), INVINCIBLE!!! and THE WALKING DEAD!!! Oh, and you can’t forget Science Dog, half man, half dog, all hero.

I was first introduced to Kirkman’s genius, that’s right I said genius, about 5 years ago. I picked up the first trade of Invincible from The Comic Book Shoppe, a store down the street from where I used to live that just happened to sell comics. I went home and read it from cover to cover. I have to admit that I wasn’t very impressed. It was well writen and the art was nice, but nothing special, or so I thought. Lucky for me, and even more so for you if you’ve yet to pick up Invincible or most of Kirkman’s other work, I got into the comic about a 2 years after it started. I went back and grab the next 2 trades. I had been told that you don’t really find out what the story is about until part way through book 3. All I’ll say, so as not to ruin anything for you if you’re still not reading Invincible, is I am so glad I kept reading. Invincible is one of the best comics being written right now, and the art Ryan Ottley and Cory Walker have done is just amazing. I’m sure that I’ll go into that in more detail in later articles.

After devouring everything that was left of Invincible I had to have more Kirkman. This lead me to The Walking Dead. A comic that is arguably the complete opposite of Invincible. The Walking Dead has little room for comedy or love stories or super heroes for that matter. In Invincible even when things don’t look like they’re going so well, I don’t really fear for the characters. With The Walking Dead I worry every time I open it up, and ask myself what horrible thing does Kirkman have in store for these poor people today. The Walking Dead is a book that has left me with the feeling of being punched in the gut countless times. Kirkman Holds nothing back here.

His writing is definitely something special, and it should be experienced by everyone.

This new series of drives are capable of using removable connectors to quickly and easily change the interface of the drive itself. The drive we have has a mini USB connector, a FireWire 800 connector, an eSATA connector and an Auto Backup connector.

Each connector can be connected or disconnected from the drive quickly and easily.

The drive itself has what looks like a slot to connect these different attachments to the drive as seen in the image gallery. Simply plug one of the connectors into the drive, and then into your PC interface, and you’re ready to rock and roll!

Hit the jump for the gallery, and more FreeAgent Go Flex Goodness!

The FreeAgent Go Flex is just as the name would suggest, flexible. Aside from all the different attachments you can use with your FreeAgent Go Flex, you are also able to dock this drive into a couple other rather cool devices.

The FreeAgent Go Flex Net allows you to dock your drive, connect it to the internet, and use it as a Network Attached Storage Device from anywhere in the world!

The FreeAgent Go Flex TV allows you to dock your drive, and watch all of your digital media right on your television. The Go Flex TV also allows you to stream web content and Netflx! But we here in Canada wouldn’t know anything about Netflix now would we?

Overall the Seagate FreeAgent Go Flex series of external drives and accessories are an excellent new take on external storage, and the ways we access it.

Seagate is always thinking outside the box in terms of new ways of accessing your storage and keeping it organized.

The next post in this series, we will take a look at the Seagate FreeAgent Go Flex Net and show you just how flexible these drives are!

I know there was a post from me here yesterday welcoming you to the new website, however I’ve had to make a decision that I am rather happy with.

As of today, this blog is now being hosted with HostGator.com and I could not be happier with the speed, reliability, and support that HostGator has shown both myself and my work.

That being said, welcome back to NerdyBlog.com! We have a lot of awesome stuff on the way, and I am sure you will all enjoy it as much as we do writing it!

New posts will start next week!