You can't blame anyone for the blurry or poorly framed selfies that you often capture because you might be scrubbing your thumb fishing for a virtual shutter button as the moment passes you by. For better selfies, consider some of these gadgets.

1. Halo/Hisy ($25, roughly Rs. 1,547)
This one is really simple. The Halo is a small plastic button that serves as a wireless shutter trigger for your phone's camera. Its only job is to trigger your phone's shutter when you click the button. One function, one result.The company makes an iPhone version called Hisy. You need to install its free camera app, Shutter Panorama, as neither Halo nor Hisy works with the regular camera app that comes with the phone.

Shutter Panorama doesn't have too many manual settings or special features. But the device does a good job in allowing me to place my phone in places other than your hand. It's more elegant than setting the camera's timer and running to get in the shot.

2. Kodak Pixpro SL25 ($300, roughly Rs. 18,500)
The Pixpro SL25 from Kodak is essentially a camera lens that mounts onto your phone, allowing for higher resolution than what your phone's camera can capture. The Pixpro communicates with your phone over Wi-Fi and lets you compose the image on the phone's screen. Once the photos are snapped using the shutter button on the Pixpro, the phone serves primarily to review and share the images to social media services.

The downside is you have a second device to carry around, which defeats the purpose of taking selfies on the fly.

The upside is image quality. The Pixpro shoots sharp 16 megapixel photos and full high-definition video at 1080p. This quality is common for rear cameras, but not the front ones for selfies. As a bonus, the Pixpro offers a zoom of up to 25 times, which is more helpful for regular shots than selfies. It's a real, optical zoom, not a software magnification phones typically use.The Pixpro has fold-out arms to attach to the phone, such that the two devices act as one. That, in itself, isn't different from using just the phone for selfies.

It has a wide-angle lens that fits plenty of action into the frame.

3. Satechi Smart Selfie Extension Arm Monopod ($50, roughly Rs. 3,100)
This telescoping monopod from Satechi helps get more than just yourself in the frame. Similar to the Kodak unit, this monopod has spring-loaded rubber pieces that grip the phone on its sides, holding it firmly in place. From there, you simply extend the telescoping device out to its full three feet and get lots of buddies or surroundings into the shot.What really helps is that a shutter button on the grip of the pole connects to your phone via Bluetooth, allowing you to snap the selfie without reaching up to the phone. 

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People keep forgetting their passwords all the time, but if there's one kind of password that no one bothers to remember it has to be the Wi-Fi password.Before you head down that path, here are a few tips to recover your saved Wi-Fi passwords.That is illegal and could land you into far more serious trouble than you probably realise. These steps are only for recovering your own Wi-Fi password, and are impossible if you haven't already got access to the network on one of your devices. If you have forgotten the password of your Wi-Fi network, follow these steps to recover it.








Windows

While you might come across several apps that claim to let you recover saved Wi-Fi passwords, you don't need any of those on Windows PCs. Even if you don't have administrator access on your PC, you can look up the Wi-Fi password by following these steps. Note that this method only works when the security is set to Personal - if you're connected to an Enterprise network, such as your office Wi-Fi, then this method will not show the password.

1. Using a PC that is connected to the Wi-Fi network in question, go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Centre. On Windows 8 computers, you can tapWindows key + C, click Search and look for Network and Sharing Center.

2. Click Change adapter settings on the left sidebar.

3. Right-click the Wi-Fi network you're using and click on Status.

4. Click Wireless properties.

5. Click the Security tab.

6. Now you will see the name of the Wi-Fi network and the hidden password. CheckShow characters to reveal the saved password.

Mac

You can find saved Wi-Fi passwords through the Keychain Access app on the Mac. Here's how.

1. Go to /Applications/Utilities.

2. Open Keychain Access. Go to the System keychain listed under the Keychains on the top left.

3. Search for the Wi-Fi network you are trying to find the password for, by typing the name of the network (SSID) in the search box in the top right corner, or by manually finding it in the list.

4. Double-click the name of the network and in the resultant box, check the Show password option.

4. Enter the user account password when prompted and you'll be shown the saved Wi-Fi password in clear-text.

Via the router
In case you don't have a Windows or Mac computer that has the Wi-Fi credentials saved, or if you're trying to do this with your phone or tablet, you can still try to find the saved Wi-Fi password through the router. Obviously this will only work if you're connected to the router's network - remember you can connect to the router with an Ethernet cable as well. Tablets and mobile phones can't proceed further unless they are already connected to the Wi-Fi network.

The steps will vary slightly with each router. Changing the wrong settings here may mess up the wireless network for everyone, so proceed at your own risk.

1. First, open your browser and go to the router's local address - this is usually http://192.168.1.1 - but the URL varies depending on the make of the router, so check the manual (or the official website) to find the correct address.

2. Enter the username and password. Again, this will vary by manufacturer, and you can and should change the passwords as well. By default though, on both MTNL and Airtel provided routers, both the username and password are "admin" without the quotes (other routers often have "password" without quotes as the default password) . You'll have to check with the router manufacturer or ISP if this combinations don't work.

3. Click Internet and then click Wireless. In some routers the Wireless option may be visible on the main screen.In this section you'll see the security type (WEP, WPA, etc.) and the key. Some routers may have these options under a Security tab.

The box next to the key field contains the password for the Wi-Fi network. On many routers this is in plain text, so you can just note it down.

If all these fail..
You might have to reset the router if nothing else works. Don't do this unless you just can't connect to the network using any device. Resetting the router is an extreme step and you will have to reconfigure the network to restore your Internet connection. Unless you know how to do that, we suggest that you contact your ISP for help in this process.

We cant give you  the step-by-step guide for this because it varies quite a bit depending on the make of the router. You must check the user manual for your router before attempting this. Each router has a reset switch. Some routers have a tiny button, while other routers have this button hidden in a tiny hole (that you can hit using a paper clip). This switch needs to be pressed for a few seconds for the router to reset. Flashing lights on the router will tell you that it has been reset. Once that is done, wait for it to reboot and reconfigure the network. The exact steps for this process will also vary depending on your ISP, which is why we recommend contacting your ISP if you need to reset your wireless router, unless you know exactly what you are doing.

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Rockstar is the latest to cram their years of hard work onto a single disc in their very own Rockstar Games Collection: Edition 1. The bundle will have all of Rockstar’s biggest critical hits of the current console cycle: Red Dead Redemption, L.A Noire, Midnight Club: Los Angeles and two chapters from the Grand Theft Auto IV side stories, The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. All four games will cost the typical retail price of $59.99.

Nothing is known about what could be included in a potential Edition 2, but this bundle will cover most of Rockstar’s essentials. What else is there? Would a bundle of The Bully, Max Payne 3, Table Tennis, and the remaining GTAIV content be worth your dollars?

These HD bundles are starting to get a little out of hand, but something about a $60 bundle containing four award winning games is just awesome.Could publishers have found a way to combat used games? The Rockstar Games Collection: Edition 1 will be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this coming November 6th. Another great thing I love about these HD bundles is how quickly they are released after being announced.

Source:technobuffalo

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Nintendo has finally announced the launch date and price for its Wii U console in North America. The gaming giant will break tradition and launch the Wii U in the US first and later in Japan.

Yesterday Nintendo has announced the launch date and price for the Wii U in Japan. The Wii U will hit store shelves in the U.S. on November 18 and on November 30 in the U.K.

The Basic Set will cost $299.99 (Rs. 16,500 approx.) and the Premium Set will cost $349.99 (Rs. 20,000).  The Basic set that costs $299 will contain the Wii U console, one GamePad, sensor bar, 8GB built-in storage and HDMI cable.

The $349 Premium Set, Wii U console, one GamePad, sensor bar, HDMI cable, charging stand, console stand, 32GB SSD and Nintendo Land game disc. The Premium set also comes with a Nintendo Network Premium Subscription, that lets gamers avail discountson contentpurchased online.

One surprise at Nintendo’s launch event was that Bayonetta 2 will be a Wii exclusive. You can take a look at the teaser trailer below:

Another surprise announcement that came from Nintendo was about the service TVii. The current gen consoles – Xbox 360 and the PS3 have the potential to be the center of your entertainment and media consumption. The Wii U– Nintendo’s idea for being the centerpiece of your home entertainment.

Video services such as Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, and YouTube will make an appearance in TVii. Other features of TVii include the capable of cross-platform search through both streaming-video services and live TV, providing second-screen information via the GamePad screen, and also the ability to controlling your DVR and other home theater components,something on the lines of a universal remote.

If you are wondering what games will be available for the system, Nintendo has said that over 50 games will be available during the launch window (November 18 to March 2013). The list of games is as follows:

• New Super Mario Bros. U
• Lego City: Undercover
• NintendoLand
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge
• Game &Wario
• Sing Party
• Pikmin 3
• Wii Fit U
• The Wonderful 101 (formerly Project P-100)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
• NBA 2K13
• Warriors Orochi 3: Hyper
• Tank! Tank! Tank!
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2
• Zombi U
• Rabbids Land
• Just Dance 4
• Marvel Avengers: Battle For Earth
• You Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
• Sports Connection
• Assassin's Creed III
• Rayman Legends
• Darksiders II
• Jeopardy!
• Wheel of Fortune
• Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
• Nano Assault Neo
• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
• Skylanders Giants
• Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
• Transformers Prime
• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• Game Party Champions
• Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
• Zumba Fitness Core
• Wipeout 3
• 007 Legends
• Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
• Trine 2: Director's Cut
• Toki Tori 2
• Funky Barn
• Ben 10: Omniverse
• Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
• Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
• Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
• Mass Effect 3
• FIFA Soccer 13
• Madden NFL 13
• Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
• Jett Tailfin

Some of the multiplatform games from the above list will be launched with Wii U exclusive content. For those of you that are interested can watch the Wii U event below:  

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Tablets are becoming a great way to get your gaming on compared with dedicated portable gaming devices and even consoles. Here are the best five gaming tablets.

Horn is one of the only truly graphically impressive games available on both iOS and Android.

(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET)

In the last month or so, I've taken to doing the majority of my gaming on the iPad as opposed to the Xbox 360. Yep, Hero Academy has me and so far, it has no plans to let go.
While I'm sure the pendulum will swing back in the console direction as the holidays approach, my habits speak to a larger trend of how tablets are slowly becoming great gaming devices. Thanks to their larger-than-a-phone's-but-way-smaller-than-a-TV's screens, tablets fill a unique and specific niche that no other device really can.
That, coupled with fact that processor speeds are fast as all get-out and are only getting faster, the gaming world may have been forever changed with the introduction of these devices.
If you're a gamer and interested in tablet gaming, you'll want to start here.

AMOLED and a faster-than-usual dual-core Exynos processor earns the Tab 7.7 a spot on the list.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
If you've never played a game like Dead Space or Riptide GP on a high-contrast, AMOLED screen, then you're missing out. Not to say that such an action should be at the top of your bucket list, but if portable gaming is a thing you're into (why else would you be reading this?), the Tab 7.7 makes for a great device to facilitate that. It's thin, light, and powerful, with the largest contrast ratio of any tablet on the list.

It's the quad-core processor, not the stylus, you should be excited about in this case.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Sure, the stylus is the reason most will even notice the Note 10.1 (well, the pen and perhaps James Franco's dreaminess), but it's the Exynos 4412 quad-core processor that makes this a gaming beast.

Small and cheap is sometimes a great gaming combination.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Nexus 7
The cheapest way to get quad-core power on a tablet, the Nexus 7 houses a Tegra 3 processor that delivers fast performance as well as Tegra 3-specific graphical effects at a high pixel density. Also, playing on a 7-inch screen as opposed to a honking 10-incher may be preferable to the finger-length-challenged of you out there.

For the serious tablet gamer who wants to go beyond "awesome graphics, bro!"

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700
This is the most powerful Android tablet available and the only one to house a 1.7GHz Tegra 3 as opposed to the 1.3GHz CPU other Tegra 3 tablets use. It also supports Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers, sports a high-resolution screen, and HDMI-out if the 10.1-inch screen ever becomes too small for you.

Sure, the performance is stellar, but it's the breadth and depth of available apps that's truly impressive.

Apple iPad
The iPad is the top dog in tablet gaming thanks to its performance (quad-core PowerVR), games support (many of the best games launch first on iOS versus Android or are completely exclusive), and the highest resolution of any tablet on the list, with tons of games supporting that resolution.

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Try these five helpful tips to help reduce or even prevent the discomfort caused by staring at your monitor all day.

If you spend hours a day in front of a computer screen (like me), and have experienced anything along the lines of: eyes burning, neck aching, vision blurring, or head throbbing, you might have a common problem known as eyestrain.
In medical terms it's called Computer Vision Syndrome, and it comes from a combination of your monitor's bright backlight, glare and staring at a screen for extended periods of time.
Quick fixes like ibuprofen and eye exercises will usually relieve eyestrain, but in my quest to resolve this issue, I went for a preventative approach.
After consulting trusty sources like the Mayo Clinic, I found that the following five tips were the most effective in preventing my Computer Vision Syndrome.

1. Adjust your monitor's position

A simple tweak to your monitor setup can go a long way in solving your eyestrain. For optimal comfort, your monitor should be 20-30 inches away from your eyes. Additionally, the top of your monitor should be at eye level, as you should be looking down at your work, not up. If you need to raise your monitor, consider using risers, or even a stack of old hardcover books.

2. Tweak the lighting

An office setting with too much artificial or natural light can create monitor glare that quickly tires your eyes. So, if you can, turn off any harsh fluorescent lights and position your computer so that any natural light is coming in on either side of your monitor. Light should never be directed behind or in front of your screen. Instead, use floor or desk lamps and position them on either side of your monitor so that they provide indirect lighting.

3. Use the 20-20-20 rule

Every 20 minutes, find an object about 20 feet away, and stare at it for 20 seconds. This trick from labnol.org is intended to exercise your eyes and give them a break from your monitor's bright backlight. If you need to, automate reminders for these breaks with programs like BreakTaker for Windows, or Time Out for Mac.

4.Try Gunnars glasses

Artificial light combined with natural light and your monitor's backlight puts unavoidable stress on your eyes. One solution to consider is Gunnar glasses. These specialized glasses, mostly aimed at gamers, are tinted yellow to offset the cool blue light your monitor produces. They also offer slight magnification, making it easier to read text (even for those who don't normally wear reading glasses.)
They'll set you back about $80, but from my experience, they make a big difference. The glasses come in several styles and custom prescription models.

5. Use a setup that's easy on the eyes

When your work materials and tools are splayed out in different areas of your desk, you force your eyes to constantly readjust for their various distances. Fix this by putting your keyboard directly in front of your monitor, and your reading materials adjacent to it using a copyholder.

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Fitness is the name of the game and since the inception of the Nintendo Wii, it has taken a toll on the gaming scenario in our living rooms.

Adidas and 505 Games have joined hands to bring the Adidas MiCoach video game to consoles. The game is available for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 but the catch is that the game requires the consoles motion control peripherals to work. The game claims to have a more technical, sports-training approach than other fitness games on the home console.

Gamers can access a variety of training plans according to their preferred sporting activity, track their workout progress, get coaching feedback and see improvements. The game features 18 of Adidas' different sports athletes including Kaka, Dwight Howard, Manuel Neuer, Jessica Ennis, Jose Mourinho, Ana Ivanovic, Will Genia and Eric Berry all of whom provide Masterclasses for their sport. Each of these athletes will give gamers “personal training”. The game offers a whopping 400 different exercises.

miCoach already has a smartphone app to keep track of peoples fitness regime. The game also has the ability to sync to the app and update it with the fitness activities undertaken by gamers in the game.

PS3 owners will be able to add a USB heart rate monitor with the game. The game will be available in India for the PS3 and Xbox 360 for Rs. 2,599 this month. Meanwhile, enjoy the trailer of the game below. 

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Will you upgrade to Windows 8? Will you get it on a new PC? On a tablet? Or do you plan to skip it as you may have skipped Vista? For those willing to dip their toes into the waters of Microsoft's drastic re-thinking of its flagship chunk of software, there are a number of options for how to actually get it. And in a poll on PCMag run back when Windows 8 Release Preview was launched, a surprising number of you want to start in with the new OS the moment it's available. For those eager beavers, along with anyone else wanting to move forward in the Windows world, we submit the following guide.

As of a couple days ago, we know exactly when you'll be able to get Windows 8—October 26. Windows head honcho Stephen Sinofsky made the announcement at Microsoft's annual sales announcement on July 18. This availability applies to both new PCs and tablets and to upgrade options.

Let's take a look at the different paths you can take to get to Windows 8 once that date rolls around, with the two primary options being upgrade versus new machine.

Upgrade
It looks like upgrade pricing will be a lot more aggressive than it has been for previous Windows generations. Not only has Apple set the tone with its cheap $29.99 upgrades for Mac OS X, but the pricing information that Microsoft has put out so far decidedly slants towards the inexpensive. In any case, both Apple and Microsoft are far more interested in having you buy a new computer rather than just updating your existing model. One columnist has even called the pricing known so far "fire sale prices."

So what will you pay for your Windows 8 upgrade? It depends on when you bought your current PC, whether you want the standard or Pro edition, and whether you opt for download or store purchase of upgrade discs. Though there had been speculation that Microsoft would move to the Apple system of download-only software installation, Windows 8 will be available at retail stores, as proven by a $69.99 DVD offer announced by Microsoft. The small table below summarizes the introductory upgrade pricing options we know about so far. Microsoft has said the prices are good till January 31, 2013.

Upgrade Conditions	Cost of Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro
You bought a Windows 7 PC after June 2, 2012	$14.99 download
You have any PC running Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7	$39.99 download or $69.99 packaged disc

One question that remains is whether Microsoft will offer a full, non-upgrade version at retail. Another is pricing difference between non-Pro and Pro Editions. We'd assume that with fewer features, the non-Pro Windows 8 upgrade will cost even less, and we can expect announcements on this as we move to the RTM (release to manufacturing—first week of August) and GA (general availability—October 26) stages of development.

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One final bit about availability (unfortunately without pricing details, yet) is that there will be System Builder editions of Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. This is for folks who aren't upgrading from an existing Windows installation, but rather taking it upon themselves to build their own PCs from component parts. This is a particularly popular endeavor among PC gamers.

Getting Windows 8 on a New Tablet
Apple offers its own tablet, the fairly well known iPad. Google offers its own (small) tablet, the Nexus 7. And when Windows 8 launches, Microsoft will have its own tablet, too. The Microsoft Surface is a 1.49 pound tablet featuring a 10.6-inch, 16:9 widescreen display and a cover that doubles as a keyboard. Models will be available with ARM-based Nvidia Tegra CPUs and Intel Core i5. The former will run Windows RT, the tablet edition of the operating system that doesn't run all legacy Windows programs. But the offers better battery life, and will presumably be cheaper.

On the subject of pricing, it would be hard to imagine Microsoft charging more than Apple does for the iPad, the Surface's main competitor. But rumors have come out that pricing for the ARM-based Surface will be in excess of $599, while the Intel-based version will cost more than $799, though the source of this information is dubious. Other rumors claim that the devices will be Wi-Fi only, and that battery life for the Windows RT model will be in the range of 7.5 hours. That's less than the iPad's 10 hours and 4G connectivity. One thing the Windows tablets will boast that the iPad doesn't is a full size USB port.

But Microsoft's own Surface will be far from your only Windows 8 tablet choice. Hardware vendors including Samsung, HP, Acer, Fujitsu, and Asus have all given some indication that they would be releasing Windows 8 tablets. Some will run ARM-based processors from Nvidia or Qualcomm, and others will be Intel-based. A good rundown of each vendor's purported offerings is here.

And here's a list of tablets announced at CES, Computex 2012, and the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference:

• Lenovo announced the Lenovo Yoga
• Acer announced the ICONIA W Series tablets.
• ASUS unveiled the Windows 8 Tablet 810, Windows RT Tablet 600.
• Samsung talked about two tablets including the Series 5 Hybrid and the Series 7 Hybrid. According to coverage from Computex 2012, the tablets are still in development stages and Samsung has offered few details on the device.
• Toshiba introduced a touchscreen Windows RT tablet.
• Fujitsu launched the STYLISTIC Q702 business hybrid tablet, with detachable keyboard

Whether you opt for a Surface or another alternative, you'll be presented with a similar choice: Do you want an ARM-based Windows RT tablet or an x86-based tablet. The former will get better battery life, while the latter will offer more traditional computing power, including the ability to run any desktop apps. That's important if you'll need to run existing Windows 7 apps.

Getting Windows 8 on a New PC
Whenever Microsoft launches a new operating system, PC makers line up to tout new machines that run the system software. Ultrabooks are all the rage in the PC world, and we can expect a raft of these to debut with Windows 8. Ultrabooks are the PC answer to Apple's MacBook Air ultraportables, and several have equaled the Air's thinness and light weight. When Microsoft last loaned Windows 8 machines to journalists for a test drive with Release Preview, the hardware was a Samsung Series 9, a most appealing computer that will likely be available with Windows 8 at GA.

And not only will there be laptops that resemble existing models available with Windows 8, but Intel CEO Paul Otellini also recently stated that over 40 new ultrabooks will feature touchscreens, letting their owners take advantage of Windows 8's manifold multitouch input abilities. According to Otellini, speaking in an Intel earnings call, a dozen of the new models will feature convertible swiveling screens, allowing them to transform into ad hoc tablets. Fujitsu recently announced one of these. Ultrabook prices are also set to drop significantly, too, with an Intel exec expecting a price of $699 for an entry-level ultrabook.

Here are the announced ultrabooks we know about:

• Acer announced the Aspire S7 Ultrabook.
• ASUS unveiled the new ASUS TAICHI—a dual-screen ultrabook and multi-touch tablet in one.
• MSI showed off the Ultrabook MSI Slider S20.
• Sony unveiled the Sony VAIO T Series Ultrabook.
• Toshiba introduced a Windows 8 Ultrabook and a touchscreen Windows RT clamshell PC.
• Fujitsu launched the LIFEBOOK T902 convertible tablet PC

Of course, Windows 8 won't be restricted to portable devices. At this year's Computex trade show in Taipei, Acer has already announced that it will sell a 27-inch all-in-on touchscreen PC designed for Windows 8. And at the same trade show, Microsoft Vice President Steven Guggenheimer showed all-in-one PCs from Samsung, Asus, and Lenovo, as well as the Acer model, which features a swiveling design.

Which Edition, Regular or Pro?
Microsoft has simplified the edition choices this time around, after widespread criticism that it offered too many choices (I thought choice was a good thing; who knew it would be so unpopular?). This time, there are really only two editions that upgraders need to be concerned about –Windows 8, and Windows 8 Pro. Pro will be a superset of Windows 8, and the main benefit for consumers is that it allows free installation of Windows Media Center, for the media center PC crowd. For businesses, Pro is a must, since it allows their staffs to join network domains. It will also include BitLocker encryption, file-system encryption, group-policy capability, remote desktop, Hyper-V (client virtualization), and the ability to boot from a virtual hard drive.

This time around, Microsoft is making its new operating system simpler to get than in past go-rounds. That applies to both Windows 8 upgraders and new PC purchases. And judging by what we know so far, pricing will be a lot more aggressive this time around than in past Windows releases. Offer its own computing device, the Surface tablet, is another first for Microsoft and Windows. But that hasn't stopped traditional PC makers like Dell, Lenovo, HP, and the rest from getting in on the action. So there will but lots of ways to get Window 8, and doing so will be easier than ever. Now the only question is whether significant numbers of consumers will line up to buy it.

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