Bill Loguidice's Blog, page 86

Name your own price Battlestar Galactica comics from Humble Bundle

The Humble Comics Bundle: Battlestar Galactica presented by Dynamite Entertainment is here with a library of frakkin’ epic Battlestar Galactica comics! You’ll get both classic and new stories to enjoy, and best of all, it only costs a few cubits. The name-your-own-price bundle ends on September 6, 2017 at 11:00:00 PDT, so hurry!

This bundle is coming in hot. Dynamite Entertainment is here with a complete library of frakkin’ epic Battlestar Galactica comics! You’ll get both classic and new stories to enjoy, and best of all, it only costs a few cubits. Grab the bundle now – this hasn’t happened before, and probably won’t happen again.

Pay what you want. All together, these comics would cost over $239. Here at Humble Bundle, you choose the price and increase your contribution to upgrade your bundle! This bundle has a minimum $1 purchase.

Read them anywhere. These comics are available in multiple formats including CBZ, PDF, and ePub, so they work on your computer, e-readers, iPads, cell phones, and a wide array of mobile devices! Instructions and a list of recommended reading programs can be found here.

Support charity. Choose where the money goes – between the publisher, Dynamite Entertainment, and a charity of your choice via the PayPal Giving Fund. If you like what we do, you can leave us a Humble Tip too!

The post appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Name your own price Spooky Horror DRM-free and Steam Bundle – Humble Bundle

The Humble Spooky Horror Bundle is now live! Spookiness has no season in our hearts! Our undead buddies Frank and Barry have put together a new bundle for your… horror. Grab a bowl of cereal and settle in with the nearest friendly zombie to enjoy a night of games!

Name-your-own-price for up to eight amazing DRM-free and Steam games. The end date is September 15, 2017 at 11:00:00 PDT, so hurry!

The post appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: LOFTEK LED Cube Light and Seat

I admit it, I’m a fan of cube seats. They’re easy to store, quick to pull out, and can be used just about anywhere indoors. The LOFTEK LED Cube Light and Seat ups the ante on the traditional cube seat by not only lighting up, but also by being IP65-rated water and dust proof, meaning this can be used outdoors.

The box.

Inside the box.

The sturdy plastic housing, which can handle up to 300 pounds, shows off the four lighting modes with 16 RGB colors well. This is the 16″ cube, but it’s also available as a 16″ ball, 13″ stump, 12″ pyramid, 12″ cube, 12″ ball, 8″ cube, and 8″ ball.

The charging port is under the cube. It has a seal to maintain its water and dust proofing.

One of the color options.

Another color option.

Charging the cube is simple with the included AC adapter. On a full charge of its 2200mAh battery (about four hours), you can expect around six hours of battery life for white light and up to 12 hours for one of the RGB colors. The tiny, full-featured remote control makes selection of the lighting options simple.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 19, 2017 at 1:20pm PDT

My large family and I really like this product. It can stand up to our toddler, while offering extra seating options for everyone else. The fact that it’s rechargeable and water and dust resistant mean we won’t be afraid to make use of it outside either. While the price is a bit on the high side, the quality is definitely there. In fact, it comes with a full 12-month warranty, which can be extended by an additional six months if you register on the LOFTEK Website.

Pluses:

– Unique cube seat

– Water and dust proof

– Durable

Minuses:

– Price is a bit high

Summary:

A clever take on the traditional cube seat with a nifty, versatile feature-set.

Thanks to LOFTEK for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: LOFTEK LED Cube Light and Seat appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Single Player Sale – Save up to 85% on single-player games!

The Singleplayer Sale just launched in the Humble Store! The sale will be live through Friday, August 25 at 10 a.m. Pacific time, so click here before time runs out to save up to 85% off on some great titles.

The post Single Player Sale – Save up to 85% on single-player games! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: Rotibox Bluetooth Headband

It seems like there are as many Bluetooth headset variations as there are people in Finland (says the guy who recently got back from a vacation there). This particular variation, the Rotibox Bluetooth Headband, brings some much-needed practicality to the category.

The package.

Instead of having molded ear pieces or over-ear hooks, these headphones make use of a comfortable, stretchable band. Befitting a sporty headband like this, once you remove the electronics, it’s fully machine washable.

Of course, this form factor has other benefits beyond working out or other rigorous activities. For instance, these will also stay on and remain comfortable when laying down, although you won’t want to do so on the side of your head where the actual electronics are.

What you get.

In the package, you get the headband, microUSB charging cable, and instruction manual. You’ll get up to 6 hours of playtime on a full charge of about 2.5 hours thanks to the latest Bluetooth 4.1+EDR technology. I had no issues pairing this headset with my Apple iPhone 7 Plus.

Volume/Previous Song; Power On/Off, Play/Pause, Answer/Hang-up/Redial; and Volume/Next Song controls are on the right side of the headband.

The Rotibox headband is available in a range of colors and styles. I’m reviewing the green. It looks nice and sporty.

Charging.

In terms of sound quality, since you’re not inserting anything directly into your ear cavity, these definitely don’t sound as good as ones that do. Nevertheless, sound is clear with a modest amount of bass. While these are anything but high fidelity, they definitely get the job done. Calls were similarly clear, with no issues to report on either side of the conversation.

If you prize comfort and versatility, these unique Bluetooth headphones are well worth checking out.

Pluses:

– Does a good of staying in place

– Machine washable

– Clear sound, even at high volume levels

Minuses:

– Can’t lay your head down on the side comfortably

– Sound lacks a bit of punch

Summary:

If you’re looking for a sporty, versatile Bluetooth headset, the Rotiblox is a great value.

Thanks to Rotibox for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: Rotibox Bluetooth Headband appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Name your own price Transformers and G.I. Joe comics from Humble Bundle!

The Humble Comics Bundle: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe presented by IDW

Here’s the link! (End Date: August 30, 2017 at 11:00:00 PDT)

A Real Bundle Hero. Yo Joe! We’ve got a prime new bundle for you, and it’s more than meets the eye. This IDW spectacular features BOTH G.I. Joe and Transformers comics from our friends at IDW Publishing. You can even get volumes from the IDW Collection, which transform the comics into easy chronological order so you can catch up and roll out!

And now you know – and knowing is half the battle.

Pay what you want. All together, these comics would cost over $741. Here at Humble Bundle, you choose the price and increase your contribution to upgrade your bundle! This bundle has a minimum $1 purchase.

Read them anywhere. These comics are available in multiple formats including CBZ, PDF, and ePub, so they work on your computer, e-readers, iPads, cell phones, and a wide array of mobile devices! Instructions and a list of recommended reading programs can be found here.

Support charity. Choose where the money goes, between IDW Publishing and the Hasbro Children’s Fund via the Tides Foundation. If you like what we do, you can leave us a Humble Tip too!

The Humble Comics Bundle: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

The post appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: 3D MARS Wood-infused PLA 3D Printing Filament

In my continuing quest for unique, high quality PLA 3D printer filament, I was anxious to try the 3D MARS Wood-infused PLA 3D Printing Filament. It’s a large, 1.2KG/2.6 lbs. roll.

The box.

The filament.

As you expect from 3D MARS, the 12% Wood-infused PLA comes professionally packaged in a shrinkwrapped casing complete with dry pack (desiccant) inside a cardboard box. My test printer this time is a Flux Delta+. Since the roll didn’t fit in the printer’s chamber – which really can only accommodate rolls half the size – I used a Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder.

Loaded into my printer.

Another angle.

Using my digital calipers, I noted that the filament’s dimensional accuracy was to spec. My printer was able to handle the unusual PLA material without much issue, and my test object’s print quality proved excellent, despite a few rough spots. Even though it’s still mostly plastic, the filament does indeed feel like wood – and even smells a bit like it when printing – and the final output reflects those properties.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 14, 2017 at 6:53pm PDT

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 15, 2017 at 3:40am PDT

As usual, if you’re looking for good quality PLA, 3D MARS has a great, unique solution with their Wood-infused product.

Finished!

A closer look.

Pluses:

– Unique filament, but still works like standard PLA

– Dimensionally accurate

– Excellent output

Minuses:

– Large roll may not work with all 3D printers

– Unlike standard PLA, has a scent when printing

– May need a bit more sanding than usual for PLA for the best finish

Summary:

A unique, quality wood-like PLA filament.

Thanks to 3D MARS for the review unit.

The post Review: 3D MARS Wood-infused PLA 3D Printing Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: 3D MARS Black PLA 3D Printing Filament

As I continue my quest to test the quality of as many different types of PLA 3D printer filament as possible, today I’m taking a look at the 3D MARS Black PLA 3D Printing Filament. It’s a large, 1.2KG/2.6 lbs. roll.

The box.

Inside the box.

As you expect from 3D MARS, the Black PLA comes professionally packaged in a shrinkwrapped casing complete with dry pack (desiccant) inside a cardboard box.

Locked and loaded.

Usage was straightforward. I placed it on my Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder and used high quality default settings on my New Matter MOD-t. As you can see from the output, overall quality was excellent, even on my modest test printer.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 14, 2017 at 6:53pm PDT

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 15, 2017 at 3:40am PDT

Using my digital calipers, I noted that the filament’s dimensional accuracy was to spec. My printer was able to handle the material without issue, and the final object print quality proved superior, with a nice strong structure.

Finished!

The final Fortune Cat looks great.

As usual, if you’re looking for good quality PLA, 3D MARS has a great solution with their Black.

Pluses:

– Dimensionally accurate

– Excellent material strength

– Excellent output

Minuses:

– Large roll may not work with all 3D printers

Summary:

Accurate dimensions and excellent output in a large roll of Black PLA filament add up to an excellent value.

Thanks to 3D MARS for the review unit.

The post Review: 3D MARS Black PLA 3D Printing Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Name your own price PS3, PS4, and PlayStation Vita games out now from Humble Bundle!

The Humble 2K PlayStation Bundle

Here’s the link! (End date: August 29, 2017 at 11:00:00 PDT)

Dust off that controller! 2K and PlayStation teamed up for a bundle of PS3, PS4, and PlayStation Vita games.

Pay what you want. Normally, the total cost for these games is as much as $408. Here at Humble Bundle, though, you choose the price!

Redeem on PlayStation. These games are available on either PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.  Please check out the full system requirements here prior to purchasing.

Support charity. Choose where the money goes – between the developers, the charitable partner Covenant House, and, if you’d like you can leave us a Humble Tip too!

Name your own price PS3, PS4, and PlayStation Vita games out now from Humble Bundle!

The post appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: Tactink Clear PLA 1.75mm 3D Printer Filament

In my continuing quest for unique, high quality PLA 3D printer filament, I was anxious to try the Tactink Clear PLA 1.75mm 3D Printer Filament. It’s a large, 1KG/2.2 lbs. roll.

The box.

 

The contents.

Loaded and printing.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 12, 2017 at 11:24am PDT

As expected from Tactink, the Clear PLA comes professionally packaged in a shrinkwrapped casing complete with dry pack (desiccant) inside a cardboard box. You also get a second resealable storage bag for when you need to store any unused filament. My test printer is a Flux Delta+. Since the roll didn’t fit in the printer’s chamber, which really can only accommodate rolls half the size, I used a Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder.

Finished!

Using my digital calipers, I noted that the filament’s dimensional accuracy was to spec. My printer was able to handle the material without issue, and the final object print quality proved excellent, with a nice strong structure. The Clear proved to be translucent when printed thin and more crystalline when printed thick.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 13, 2017 at 5:34am PDT

As usual, if you’re looking for good quality PLA, Tactink has a great solution with their Clear.

This vase printed wonderfully.

Under different lighting.

Shining a light source through the filament really shows off its clear properties.

Another look.

Pluses:

– Dimensionally accurate

– Translucent when printed thin and crystalline when printed thick

– Excellent material strength

Minuses:

– Large roll may not work with all 3D printers

Summary:

Accurate dimensions, good optical properties, and reasonable pricing for a large roll of Clear PLA filament add up to an excellent purchase.

Thanks to Tactink for the review unit.

The post Review: Tactink Clear PLA 1.75mm 3D Printer Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.