I generally try to avoid using the term “best ever,” because whenever I do, something always seems to come along and top it. However, I think that now would be a good time to make an exception! So here goes nothing: Rock Band, from Harmonix, Pi Studios, EA, and MTV Games, could quite possibly be the greatest rhythm and music game yet created. The main reason I say it’s so good because the core gameplay remains strong on the Nintendo Wii, and that is what gives Rock Band its appeal.

Posted 7/26/08

A few years ago, if you wanted active noise-cancelling headphones or earphones, you had only a few choices. As travelers soon discovered, the combination of an iPod or laptop computer and some good headphones or earphones could help to balance the stresses of modern travel. We have tested a wide-variety of models, and found that two models from venerable audio manufacturer Audio-Technica consistently ranked among our favorites, and as such, the ATH-ANC7 headphones and their in-the-ear ATH-ANCR cousins represent that rare balance of great audio at an affordable price. 

Posted 7/25/08 

Arrrgh! Do ye love pirates? Are ye willing to walk the plank for “Captain” Jack Sparrow? Are ye a gunner, or a swordsman? Disney Brings the MMO gaming experience to The Pirates of the Caribbean. In this interview with Joe Shochet and Mike Goslin of Disney Online we discover what led them to create this great MMO for pirate gamers everywhere!  Recorded at the Consumer Electronic Show, in Las Vegas, in January 2008 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/07/08 (12:13)

Microsoft had an unenviable task in rewriting their productivity giant Microsoft Office 2008 to run as an Intel native application on the new generation of Intel Macs. Rewriting an specialized application used by a handful of people is one thing, but rewriting and rethinking the world’s most popular productivity suite, all the while maintaining backwards and forward compatibility with its cousin on the Windows side is a daunting task. In this interview with Microsoft’s Amanda Lefebvre & Eric Wilfrid, we learn how the new version stacks up. If you live and die by Microsoft Office, then this interview is for you!  Recorded at the MacWorld Conference, in San Francisco, in January 2008 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/04/08 (13:46)

Darryl "D.M.C." Matthews McDaniels is one of the pioneers of hip-hop music, and a founding member of Run-D.M.C., which began when he was a student at St. Johns University in NYC. In this interview we talk about the history of Run-D.M.C., the upheavals in his personal life, and his decision to partner with Beyond.FM a new music download service committed to higher royalties for their artists. With an entirely new generation of youth rediscovering D.M.C. through “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” you won’t want to miss this interview! Recorded at the Consumer Electronic Show, in Las Vegas, in January 2008 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/04/08 (18:44)

Are you confused by the racks of LCD and plasma TVs on sale at the store? Are the stories about plasma true? Does a LCD really save energy. Which type of set is better if the room is light? What’s best if you watch a lot of sports? Ken Lowe of Vizio answers those questions and more and how to buy a TV In the digital age. Recorded at the Consumer Electronic Show, in Las Vegas, in January 2008 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/04/08 (22:12)

Last year we wrote that creating your own printer profiles required equipment and a learning curve worthy of a MacArthur Fellowship. The past year has brought new products at affordable price points, and the introduction of the Spyder3 Studio from Datacolor has brings revised hardare, software, and capabilities. In this interview with David Tobie of Datacolor, we learn how they approached the challenge of producing professional profiles while keeping the Spyder3 Studio one of the most affordable solutions for photographers seeking control over color management. Recorded at the PhotoPlus Expo Conference, in New York, in October 2007 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/04/08 (9:55)

The RAW file format has given digital imaging many of the attributes of working with film, coupled with the flexibility of working with digital cameras. Despite the clear superiority of the RAW format, many photographers are still hesitant to adopt it as their format of choice. In this interview with Michael Tapes, inventor of the WhiBal light balancing tool, he explains why he created his new DVD “How To Shoot RAW Without Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.” So, if you have questions about shooting in RAW, or are worried that it’s too complicated, then listen to this interview! Recorded at the PhotoPlus Expo Conference, in New York, in October 2007 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/04/08 (20.33)

Few mediums exist as well on the printed page as does photography. The love affair between photographers and books has existed since Fox Talbot’s “The Pencil of Nature” and yet for most of that history, only a select few could hope to see their work in book form. The expense, complexity, and technical requirements necessary to reproduce photographic work, were the limiting factors. However all that changed with the advent of Direct To Plate (DTP) printing technology, which allows for one-off books with high quality and low cost. Many photographers are taking advantage of this and a new industry and creative outlet has been born. In this interview with Robin Goldberg of Blurb, we learn how Blurb came to be a favorite choice of photographers printing books of their work. Recorded at the PhotoPlus Expo Conference, in New York, in October 2007 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/04/08 (7.47)

Photographer David Saffir is well known to printing aficionados as one of the HP printing masters. I sat down with David to discuss his new book “Mastering Digital Color: A Photographer's and Artist's Guide to Controlling Color (Digital Process and Print)” which was recently published by Thomson. David discusses his epiphany of shooting with a Hasselblad digital back, and how working with that level of data changed his photography, and we discuss color spaces, approaches to printing, and more! Recorded at the PhotoPlus Expo Conference, in New York, in October 2007 by Harris Fogel. Posted 7/03/08 (18.48)