Everyone realizes that upgrades to technology are a never ending process. Just as you invest a few thousand in a new television and sound system a “better” and “more advanced” system is released. You may feel like you are always trying to play catch-up to own the latest and greatest technology on the market, but your wallet will eventually start to scream if you keep buying new products.

Now there is a better solution–Future-Proof Your Technology With the Buy Back Program from Best Buy. According to Best Buy CEO Brian J. Dunn, the company is instituting a new buyback program for technology purchased from Best Buy. “You purchase the technology you want today, and [Best Buy will] buy it back at a set price when you’re ready to upgrade to something new. You’ll know upfront what your gear will be worth, and you can conveniently redeem your Buy Back at our stores and immediately receive a Best Buy Gift Card,” said Dunn (RewardZone Premier Silver E-mail, February 3, 2011).

According to the Best Buy’s web site, “We’ll help you keep your technology fresh by buying back your TV, mobile phone, laptop, netbook and/or tablet anytime within 2 years of the effective date (4 years for TVs), giving you a Best Buy gift card with a set value to use toward another purchase” (Future-Proof Your Technology with the Buy Back Program, Best Buy, February 5, 2010).

Is there a catch? Not really.

Step 1: You simply have to purchase the Buy Back program along with your new product (similar to purchasing an extended warranty plan).

Step 2: Keep your product in good, working condition with accessories and parts. You can’t buy a new TV and abuse it and then expect Best Buy to buy it back (Buy Back program rules will be provided with purchase). When you are ready for something new you can take your well cared for item back to Best Buy.

Step 3: Once you return your product you will receive a Best Buy gift card for the value of your product. Best Buy provides a calculator to help determine the pre-set value of your product.

Redemption Schedule and Value

Each product will have a different value, but if you return the product in a specified time period you can receive as much as 50% back (up to 6 months), 40% back (6-12 months), 30% back (12-18 months), 20% back (18-24 months), 10% back (24-48 months –TVs only), for your product in good working condition.

This program can provide you with many options as you purchase new equipment and adds to the advantages for shopping at Best Buy. It may help you save some money as you enjoy new products more quickly than before and get more Best Buy Reward Zone points. Just keep in mind that you have to take care of what you own in order for the program to work.

Do you have any questions or ideas about how to use this new program? Our readers would love to hear your opinions about the Best Buy, Buy Back Program.

It can be difficult to remember when to change your clocks when we are springing forward and falling back, but it actually happens at the same time every year. We “spring” forward one hour on the second Sunday in March (at 2 a.m.) and we “fall” back one hour on the first Sunday in November (at 2 a.m.). So in the spring we loose one hour of sleep and in the fall we gain an hour of sleep (or so we would like to think). This is in a nationwide effort to reduce energy consumption largely developed during World War I and World War II.

How to Remember to Change Your Clocks

Changing your clocks can be a difficult task especially if you have several throughout your home. I have missed it before and wound up at the store an hour before it opened wondering where everyone was. I have also missed it and started traveling early in the morning not realizing I had an extra hour I could have slept in. So how do we remember? Well, many electronic clocks have a built in system and changes the time for you. If you have a new clock, you may want to check the owner’s manual to determine if your clock has an automatic system. Mine did and I didn’t realize it. I set my clock back one hour, losing an hour of sleep, and then when I woke up the next morning I didn’t realize the clock had subsequently set the time back an additional hour! I was quite confused for several hours on what the real time was.

Simple ways to to help you remember include writing the change on a desk calendar, programing it in your messaging system on your computer, or telling those you live with about the upcoming time change to help remember together. Or you can purchase an alarm clock with an automatic system.

Types of Alarm Clocks

As I mentioned, my alarm clock automatically changes from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time and back. Sony makes several products that can do this. One is the Sony AM/FM Clock Radio with Apple iPod Dock that can be purchased at Best Buy for around $100. Other Sony products also have this feature. When you are buying a new alarm clock look for the “Automatic time set and daylight saving time functions” this will “Ensure your clock is set to the right time.” The clock shows a little “sun clock” during Daylight Saving Time (see picture below) and this disappears when the clock returns to Standard Time (this helps you to know that your clock has changed settings).

In addition to Sony products, Timex also includes this technology. The Timex Dual Alarm Clock Radio XBBU Redi-Set Automatic Time Setting System and Jumbo Display (or similar Timex products) is available at Walgreens, Meijer, and other retailers for about $25.

The clocks are programmed to change according to the current time standards. If the time standards change I suppose we will all need to buy new clocks!

Taking the time to change your clocks seems trivial, but with busy lives surrounding work and play, many people do not have the time to mess with resetting their clocks. The easiest way is to purchase a new alarm clock that automatically adjust with the Daylight Saving Time.

Do you have any helpful tricks on how to remember to spring forward and fall back? We would love to know how to remember, so please feel free to post a message.

In today’s environment there never seems to be time to do anything. So when things need to get done we need to take our valuable time and put it to good use. Don’t you hate it when you have something important to get done at work or home, or you finally get some time to relax in front of the computer and you can’t get on the internet or you get “that screen” on your Explorer window that say’s “cannot connect” click the “diagnose problem” button to troubleshoot. This problem seems to happen to me all the time especially when it rains. I know it’s a line problem either internally or external to my home, but I haven’t had the time to troubleshoot it further. There is a simple test that allows me to reset my internet connection without too much trouble and it’s exactly the first test the “diagnose problem” button does which is transparent to the user.

How to Find the Command Prompt and IP

All you need is an Internet Protocal (IP) address and the “ping” command.  Using the “ipconfig” command will help you find your computers IP address. If you are hooked up to a modem or router the IP address usually can be found on the unit, most likely on the bottom.  Depending on the operating system find the command prompt icon or type “cmd” in the “search,” “find,” or “run” option under the “start” windows option on the task bar. This will bring up the command prompt or Disk Operating System (DOS) prompt.

How to use the Ping Command

After the command prompt type “ping” followed by a space and the IP address that you are testing. The result will be either a reply from the IP with a time or a reply that say’s timed out. This command will send 4 packets and tell you if they were received or lost. Sometimes just using the “ping” command will reset your line and you can start surfing the web again.  You may have to run this test more than once to get your connection to reset. If not, further troubleshooting will be needed. If a self line test doesn’t work for me I will call my Internet Service Provider (ISP) and have them do a line test from their end. They always come back and say nothing was found wrong and all of the sudden my internet connection works better than ever.

Do you have any ideas, products, or recommendations for finding and using the “ping” command? We would love to hear from you. Also, if you are experiencing problems with the “ping” command please feel free to ask questions and we will try to provide a solution for you.

How to Play Lego Video Games with Your Children

Playing video games with your children or letting your children play video games is a subject that’s been up for debate over the past few years. I believe letting your children play video games strengthens their dexterity, memory, and problem solving skills. Where others believe video games are a cause for distraction and violence. Over the past 4 years I have played the Lego series of video games with my children and have watched them develop their dexterity, memory, and problem solving skills to exceed their peers. They have also learned how to follow directions, work as a team, and important teambuilding skills.

Why Did I Choose the Lego Video Games Series?

Legos are easy for children to relate to.  Most children start playing with the toys at the age of three and even younger with the large building blocks. As my kids played the Lego video games they were able to see the objects come to life just as they created them in their imaginations when they played with the toy. 

We started off with Lego Star Wars and instead of trying to complete the missions or tasks in the game each of my kids would play a game within the game. What they would do is when they saw another character in the game they would try to make friends with it no matter if it were friend or foe. If it was an enemy they would run away from the character pretending to play tag. If it was a friend they would pretend to have a party or take them around the world they discovered while playing the game. They opened up a new world to me by watching them be creative outside the video games structured environment. Providing them the freedom to imagine, then taking the time to teach them to follow and focus on the game objectives provided them with increased learning opportunities.

The second reason for choosing the Lego video games series is because of the popular titles the series offers.  Lego video game titles include Lego Star Wars, Batman, Indiana Jones, Rock Band, and Harry Potter. Each of these games has helped my children understand the movies at a basic level helping them to enjoy the movie when they see it for the first time as they get older.

The third reason is the lack of violence or a decreased amount of violence. The games still include hitting, shooting and other forms of aggression, but when these acts happen the character being hit falls apart into many little Lego pieces instead of the blood and gore found in other video games. This provides the parent with a prime time to teach children about pretend violence and to do this in real life really hurts people. These video games give parents the opportunity to teach real life situations at a level a child can understand (or at least repeated enough to drive a point).

Taking the time to play with your children is an important part of parenting. Involving children in activities to improve their dexterity, memory, and problem solving skills can help children to succeed in other situations such as school. Video games are a perfect choice to improve these skills even with young children. Just don’t forget to get off the couch and play physical games with your children as well creating a well rounded environment of mental and physical stimulation.

Do you have any comments or questions? We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment on your own experiences involving video games and your children.

How to Find Your Internet Protocol (IP) Address

There comes a day in everyone’s life when they are asked for their IP address whether at work or  talking with technical support troubleshooting something wrong with a computer. One of the first questions asked is, what IP address is being used? Typically the help desk has to walk people through step by step on how to get the IP address.  The IP address is something a user can do pretty quick and simple depending on what operating system they are using.

How to Find Your Internet Protocol (IP) Address using XP

In some desktop setups for Windows XP the DOS prompt or command prompt will appear on the task bar.  If it does not appear on the task bar then left click the Windows “Start” button also located on the task bar.  When the window expands there will be an icon labeled “Run”.  Left click “Run” and type in “cmd” short for command.  This will bring up the command prompt and then type “ipconfig”.  This will give you a list of information and in more particular the IP address. Look for the IP address usually located near the top of the information provided. Sometimes it may not simply say “IP Address” if you have a router it may say something like “IPv4 Address”.

How to Find Your Internet Protocol (IP) Address using Vista and Windows 7

Finding the IP using Vista and Windows 7 is almost the same as in XP.  The difference is instead of selecting the “Run” option under the Windows “Start” button found on the task bar type in “cmd” in the “search programs and files” box for Windows 7 and “start search” box for Vista.  Then select “cmd” after the search.  The command prompt will appear and then type “ipconfig”.

Do you have any ideas, products, or recommendations for finding and using ipconfig? We would love to hear from you. Also, if you are experiencing problems with ipconfig please feel free to ask questions and we will try to provide a solution for you.

Starting the Process for 20 Free Rock Band 2 Songs

If you are like me, anytime I get a new game I open up the box go right for the disk and never look at the manual.  If that is the case then you are missing the opportunity to get an extra 20 songs to play on Rock Band 2.

If you look on the back of the manual you will see this in bold face: BONUS DOWNLOADABLE TRACKS.

To start the process visit Rock Band’s bonus tracks web-site.  Once there you will be asked to enter your redemption code, which will be located where the x’s are in the middle of the Rock Band 2 back page as shown above.  After entering your redemption code enter an email address where you want receive a conformation email.

The next screen will ask you for some additional information.  When you finish entering your information click “send confirmation email”.

Next your confirmation email from the Rock Band 2 game registration should look like the below email.

If you didn’t request this action, please disregard this email.

Otherwise, click the link below to confirm this email address:

http://register.rockband.com/verify_email “Information Removed“

If you’re having problems clicking, you can also cut-and-paste the link into your browser’s address bar and hit ‘enter’.

Once you’re confirmed, you’re all set.

You might want to hold on to this email so that you have an easy way to get back to the Game Registration site. If you have any questions, please check out the Game Registration FAQ page at http://register.rockband.com/faq.html.

Thanks,
The Rock Band 2 Team

Once you click the verify email link, the Rock Band 2 Team will send you another email with your code for your 20 additional Rock Band 2 songs.

Thanks again for registering your copy of Rock Band 2. The 20 Bonus DLC tracks are now available for download!

Here’s your download code:

YYYYY-YYYYY-YYYYY-YYYYY-YYYYY

In order to redeem your code, please follow the instructions for your console (Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3). Please note that your download code will only work for the brand of console for which you purchased and registered Rock Band 2:

Xbox 360 users: go to Xbox Live Marketplace and select the Redeem Code option. Enter the code presented above to download your tracks.

PlayStation 3 users: select the PLAYSTATION Network option on the XMB (Xross Media Bar). Select the Account Management option, then select Redeem Codes. Enter the code presented above to download your tracks.

If you have any questions, please check out the Game Registration FAQ page at http://register.rockband.com/faq.html.

Thanks,
The Rock Band 2 Team

One of the most difficult steps to getting the 20 additional bonus tracks was trying to find out where to input the redemption code in the Xbox 360 marketplace.  I ended up putting the code at the same place I would as if I was redeeming or purchasing additional Xbox LIVE Points.

Enter the code from the second email after selecting the “Redeem Code” option.

You will then be asked to download the Rock Band 2 bonus tracks.  Before you download make sure you have 541 MB of drive space.  Select the “Download Now” option.

When the download finishes your 20 Rock Band 2 bonus tracks will be in your quick play menu.

Did this help you with the free downloads? We would love to hear from you. Please leave any comments or questions and we will try to help out.

Related Articles

How to Rock Band 2

The 20 Free Rock Band 2 DLC Set List is as follows:

The 88 – “Sons and Daughters”
Authority Zero – “No Regrets”
Between the Buried and Me – “Prequel To The Sequel”
The Cab – “Bounce”
The Chevelles – “Get It On”
The Cocktail Slippers – “Give It To Me”
Dealership – “Database Corrupted”
Endeverafter – “I Wanna Be Your Man”
The Ghost Hounds – “Ashes To Fire”
Hollywood Undead – “Young”
Kutless – “The Feeling”
The Len Price 3 “If I Ain’t Got You”
Lesley Roy – “I’m Gone, I’m Going”
Opiate for the Masses – “Burn You Down”
Semi-Precious Weapons – “Magnetic Baby”
Shaimus – “Like a Fool”
Thenewno2 – “Crazy Tuesday”
Tickle Me Pink – “The Time Is Wrong”
Underoath – “Desperate Times, Desperate Measures”
X Japan – “I.V.”

Addiction to Rock Band 2

I know this title may sound confusing, but I want to explain a mistake I made a while back about games like these.  I am a video game junkie.  I enjoy games such as Halo, Elder Scrolls series, BioShock, Mass Effect, and now that I have kids the Lego series (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman, Rock Band),  just to name a few.  So when Guitar Hero and Rock Band came about I was one of those gamers that said,  “There is no way I am getting mixed up in playing those games” … until now.

How it All Began

Recently, I decided to see a friend half way across the country because he wasn’t feeling well.  And that is all it took.  We stayed in for most of the trip and he convinced me to play a couple of songs from Guitar Hero.  Next, thing I know it was more than four hours later and my hands were starting to cramp because of all the songs we played through.  We played songs I had heard recently as well as songs I hadn’t heard for awhile.  My favorite songs, now classics, at least that is what they tell me on the radio, rediscovered once again.

Purchasing Rock Band 2

So, when I got back from my trip I immediately went out to Best Buy and bought the Rock Band 2 box set.  It includes the wireless drum set, wireless guitar, microphone (which I still haven’t used and probably never will), and the Rock Band 2 game.

Then I went out and bought the cymbals which include one or two, but the drum set can hold up to three.

Getting the Word Out about Rock Band 2

Why write a post about Rock Band 2?  The main reason is to tell other gamers who are like me that have written off Guitar Hero and Rock Band as a class of games that was beneath us “hard core gamers” that have dedicated our lives to first person shooters and Role Playing Games (RPG)s.  I’ve found after playing countless hours of first person shooters and RPGs that mixing in a little Guitar Hero and Rock Band allows me enough time away to refocus and enjoy gamming.  Oh, and did I mention, it is a great party game.

Apology to Guitar Hero and Rock Band Gamers

So, many apologizes for all the times I’ve bad mouthed those who have enjoyed this type of gaming.  It’s never too late to at least try and play Guitar Hero and Rock Band.  You may find out it’s a lot of fun, not to mention humbling after failing out trying to play past the harder setting.  It is also a great deal of fun watching your children try to keep rhythm to such great artist as KISS, Metallica, and AC/DC or dance to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Do you have additional ideas or comments to add about Guitar Hero or Rock Band? Please feel free to submit your comments and gamming ideas.

Understanding the Basic Differences of Samsung LED TVs

It seems lately that every time you look on the internet or watch a commercial there is a new TV ready to hit the market.  On top of that, as soon as a new model hits the market the prices of all the older models drop. The question use to be what type of TV should I buy?  Should I buy a DLP, projector, Plasma, LCD, or LED?  After some minor research I think it is more about the need and function of what you want your TV to do.

Regardless of what you decide to purchase you need to make sure you are purchasing a TV that fits your needs.  In my case my preference came down to buying a LED TV and in more particular a Samsung TV.  There are a handful of LED TVs to choose from other than a Samsung, but given the point in time I made the purchase, Samsung offered the best deal.

Samsung offers five Series of LEDs to choose from.  They are the 6000, 7000, 8000, 8500 series, although the 9000 series is not available to the public yet.  Besides the size of the screen in each series the differences comes down to a handful of specifications and bells and whistles the customer should take into consideration. The following will provide some of the specifics for each series. Knowing this information can help consumers decide, based on the size of their room, the location of the television, and how the TV will be used, which series is the right purchase.

Highlights of the Different Samsung LED TVs

Samsung 6000 Series 32”, 40”, 46”, 55” 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN40B6000VFXZA, UN46B6000VF, UN55B6000
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 3,000,000 : 1
InfoLink™ RSS Service: For more details visit Samsung’s InfoLink™ description.
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center: Connect a thumb drive or digital camera quickly and easily. User-friendly interface allows access to videos, a music playlist and pictures via the remote.

Samsung 7000, 7100 Series 40”, 46”, 55” 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN40B7000, UN46B7000, UN46B7100, UN55B7000, UN55B7100
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 3,000,000 : 1
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center
Internet@TV:

Samsung’s Benefits of using Internet@TV

–Access Internet content from Yahoo!®, Flickr®, and more while watching TV via easy-to-use TV widgets2.
–Add and delete the TV widgets of your choice in several easy steps.
–Enjoy the ever growing selection of content featuring information, video, photos, games, shopping, sports and more.

For further information refer to Samsung’s how to guide for setting up a network connection for wired, wireless, IDs, passwords and remote control.

Content Library™ (Flash):

Samsung’s Benefits of using Content Library Flash

–Content Library lets you easily access preloaded content.
–Additional contents can be downloaded from Samsung.com to a standard USB memory only.
–This additional content is played on TV using the USB.

For further information refer to Samsung’s how to guide for preloaded content and additional content.

DLNA™ Networking

According to the Digital Living Network Alliance “DLNA is a global collaboration of 245 of your most trusted brands, all working together to help you create the home entertainment environment you’ve always imagined.”  DLNA is promoting the sharing of digital media across personal computers, mobile devices, and other electronic products.

For further information reference Samsungs Guide to DLNA for their approach using their DLNA compatible TV products.

Samsung 8000 Series 46”, 55” 1080p / 240Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN46B8000, UN55B8000
Refresh Rate: 240 Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 5,000,000 : 1
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center
Internet@TV
Content Library™ (Flash)
DLNA™ Networking

Samsung 8500 Series 46″, 55″ 1080p / 240Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN468500, UN55B8500
Refresh Rate: 240Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio:  7,000,000 : 1
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center
Internet@TV
Content Library™ (Flash)
DLNA™ Networking

The biggest difference between the 6000, 7000, 8000 series when compared to the 8500 series is how they arrange their LEDs.  The 6000, 7000, 8000 series have their LEDs around the edge of the screen where the 8500 series has a full array of LEDs.  What this does is give the 8500 series more control of deeper blacks by turning off or dimming those LEDs in that area where deeper blacks are needed.

For more information on how local dimming works cnet gives a more in-depth review of  this function.

Samsung 9000 Series 46″, 55″ 1080p / 240Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers:  UN46B9000, UN55B9000
Refresh Rate:  240Hz

I am not sure when the 9000 series is due to release.  However some of the new features are the thickness of the screen which is a thick as a number 2 pencil, supports 3D with active shutter glasses, up-converts 2D programming to 3D, color touch screen remote, and lets you watch TV on your remote while another program is on the TV.  I will post more information about the 9000 series as it becomes available.

We would like to hear from you. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.