Author: Fred Smith

  • Excuse me while I..whip this (Wii) out..

    [Insert screams here.]

    I’ve never been much of a console gamer. The last console I owned was a Playstation, and I bought that a good three years after the PS2 came out. Before that I had owned an original NES, a Super NES, and an Nintendo 64 (all bought at least five years after they came out of course). Amazingly enough I’ve never considered myself a Nintendo fan until I just typed that out. My, the things we discover about ourselves.
    Self-discovery aside, last weekend I decided to cash in my PSP and library of PSP games (farewell Crisis Core!) to get a Wii. Suffice to say I’ve been late to the video game party all my life, but after this latest purchase I feel like I’m up to date (only two years late! Yes!). I finally own a current system. The joy! The glee! The expensive games! Admittedly I bought it mostly for Smash Bros and Wii Sports, but the fact that Guitar Hero 3 and Mario Galaxy were bundled with the system I bought was not..unpleasurable.
    The Wii isn’t a console for the hardcore gamer. Granted, it doesn’t need to be. After selling out for almost two years straight, the idea that the Wii is just a “fad” or a “trend” is less a theory and now more of a fanciful dream. Now that Nintendo has ironed out most of the kinks, the Wii is ensconced as the quintessential party system.

    Did I mention I bought it so I could bring it to parties and play with my girlfriend? Whoops, I think I just fell into a large demographic.

  • Adventures in Applecare: iPod Touch Dead Spot (Strike one)

    After two days at the factory, Apple has informed me that they could not reproduce my problem. I knew I should have included brightly colored stickers and instructions. Now I’m stuck driving two hours to my nearest Apple store and hopefully having them replace my iPod for me.

  • Adventures In Applecare: iPod Touch Dead Spot

    In previous episodes we’ve seen how our intrepid (Apple) customer service reps have battled malfunctioning iPod Nanos and Macbook Pros, overcoming obstacles to please their ever needy customers (Aaron and I). In this installment we’ll face them with a new problem. What happens when you take the touch out of an iPod Touch? Find out after the jump. (more…)

  • Hijinks Reviews: MPG

    Pros: Practical application with an easy to use interface.

    Cons: Lacking in the features department right now. We’re looking forward to 1.1.

    Developer: Catamount Software (www.catamount.com)

    Version Reviewed: 1.0.3

    Platform: iPhone and iPod Touch

    If you have a drivers license, you’re probably painfully aware of the price you pay every time you fill up your tank. Catamount Software can’t solve the world’s energy crisis, but they at least offer a way to keep track of it all. MPG is an app that allows you to keep track of your fuel and service expense for multiple vehicles. True to its name it keeps track of your miles per gallon and updates the number every time you fill up. More after the jump. (more…)

  • Show Notes for Episode 1

    I slacked off on posting the actual podcast until Aaron got fed up and stole my thunder. Anyhow, here’s the show notes that we stared at while we were talking about Hello Kitty and GTA IV. Be amazed at the amount of crap we can come up with with little to no material.

    Show Notes – 4/27/08 Hijinks Ep. 1

    Introductions
    Aaron – Apple Rumors and scuttlebutt.
    Dave – Entertainment: Sports, Movies.
    Fred – Video Games, Reviews

    Hijinks Inc Podcast: Why?
    Make you feel better about yourself. Because compared to us, you’re
    life is amazing.

    Hijinks Report (where we talk about stuff on the website)

    Fred: Crisis Core
    Aaron: Hijinks Repo
    Dave: Goal Line Blitz

    News
    Hello Kitty Laptops
    GTA IV

    Apple News
    3G iPhone Rumors
    iMac Revisions coming out Tuesday