Hello Earthlings,

On the bus ride to work each day I pass a little Minneapolis City Park, and today while riding past this park their sign made me do a double-take. The sign read “Earth Day postponed, cleanup now scheduled for May”. Obviously the sign was poorly worded, and due to the snow their planned event was being rescheduled.

This made me start thinking about Earth Day, and more to the point that taking care of the Earth shouldn’t just be for one day of the year. I know Best Buy feels the same way, and in-fact we are celebrating Earth Day by offering a $5 or more Best Buy gift card for anyone trading-in a qualifying device that powers on. This offer isn’t just for today, but is valid through this coming Saturday.

An even bigger way Best Buy tries to take care of our Earth is offering our customers the option to recycle just about any electronics at our stores. This program to date has recycled approximately 245 million pounds of Electronics, and approximately 220 million pounds of Appliances. As a company our goal is to recycle one billion pounds of consumer electronics by 2014.

We don’t just provide Earth friendly end-of-life solutions. We sell many Energy Star certified products, and the customers that purchased these products from us last year collectively saved $52 million dollars in energy costs. Right-now we have an offer of 5% off Energy Star certified major appliances when a Best Buy credit card is used to make the purchase.

So come on down to your local Best Buy to recycle, trade-in something you no longer use, or maybe it’s time for all new Energy Star certified appliances.

Happy Earth Day 2013!

I don’t know about you, but I spent the first part of this week sending text messages to my friends to ensure that our “Big Game” party is still a go.  In reality, I think we all do this just to find out on what dish or appetizers they are bringing.  I am always forced to make my guac that everyone seems to love (sorry, I can’t share my secrets at this time).  Then there is always that one family member or friend that is asked to bring the chips, due to their lack of culinary expertise.   

Anyways, I was chatting with Gina-BBY, about what she likes to do during big events and she said the following…    

I love bringing people together in my home and hosting a great party.  Typically, I like to start preparations at least a week in advance.  I start stocking up on all the ingredients I’m going to need to make some dazzling dishes.  I usually make lots of small appetizer size foods so that people can eat as we all gather around the television to watch the event.  I plan out a schedule of the foods I distribute over several hours.   

What I’ve found that works best is to start the night off with something light like veggies and dip.  For the dip, I usually mix a cup and a half of sour cream with some onion soup.  I mix it with a small handheld blender.  I add some pepper to help cut the salt in the onion soup.  It only takes a few minutes and my first course is done.

Then it is on to make my awesome artichoke dip.  I don’t use mayonnaise.  I prefer cream cheese based dip.  In my food processor, I mix sixteen ounces of artichoke bottoms and add a few quarters of artichokes for texture.  Then I add eight ounces of cream cheese.  I add salt and pepper and mix in some shredded parmesan cheeses.  Then I pop it all in the oven at 350 degrees for twenty-five minutes. 

After chatting with her, I may need to obtain her address and show up unannounced. 

I was flipping through this week’s ad and noticed the Ninja blender on page 23.  My wife and I put this blender on our wedding registry last August…  unfortunately, it didn’t get fulfilled so we are still looking to buy it.  There isn’t a better week to do it than this one, as you get a $10 Best Buy gift card with purchase.  We have been mulling the decision over for some time now and may head on in to our favorite Best Buy location before this deal is gone.  I could see us getting a lot of use out of the Ninja blender with the many dips and dishes we plan to make for this weekend’s festivities and beyond.

Lets get back to food!  What are some of your favorite recipes to make during big games or events?  Feel free to post them here and gather some ideas from others on what else you could make this weekend. 

Hey Everyone,

Anyone that paid attention to this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) you would have been once again impressed with the continued advances in technology. You would have seen things like bendable glass to a twenty inch tablet running a full version of Windows 8 with UltraHighDefinition (4K) resolution.

Not familiar with 4K resolution? Higher end videography equipment have recorded 4K content for quite some time now, and it was only natural that we would start to see display technology catch up. So what is 4K? It refers to the horizontal resolution of a captured video, or a display device. Simply put, around 4,000 pixels are recorded or displayed on the horizontal axis of a 4K device. In comparison a TV with a 1080p resolution has around 1,080 pixels on its horizontal axis. This means a 4K display would have approximately four times the resolution than a similar 1080p unit.

There were a number of 4K TVs announced at CES, and in fact prior to this show Sony already had their flagship TV, the 84 inch 4K TV model XBR-84X900, on the  market. This TV is simply amazing, and if you ever have a chance to check it out take it. Not only is this TVs screen the most realistic screen to date, this TV has a feature set that will certainly impress anyone.

This TV is of course a smart TV, and being a Sony can connect to Sony’s Entertainment Network. The TV also comes with two speakers that mount to the side. Each speaker provides a simulated 5.1 surround sound experience powered by 50 watts of power. The XBR-84X900 is a 3D capable TV using passive glasses, and with 4K resolution 3D becomes more amazing than ever. If you’re a gamer this TV is SimulView compatible, allowing you to play multiplayer games where each player has their own full screen experience, rather than the traditional split-screen format.

So I have to admit when I first read about 4K TVs I was skeptical given I wasn’t aware of any existing 4K content. Sony has taken this into consideration. They have a collection of ten movies that have been mastered to 4K resolution. In addition, with the help of the XCA8-4K chip, the Sony XBR-84X900 TV will convert HD and lower resolution content to 4K resolution.

I think the biggest obstacle for the average consumer will be the $24,999 price tag of this TV, but as with any new technology you pay for getting the latest and greatest. Once again this TV is simply breathtaking, and if you can afford it go for it. Magnolia Home Theater is currently selling the Sony XBR-84X900, and if you want to see a TV that will truly impress your friends and family come check it out.

As I said before, there were a number of 4K TVs announced at CES, and I fully expect this resolution to slowly work its way into being the next resolution in display technology. There should be many new options to come, and I would anticipate that available 4K content will catch up as more 4K display devices are put to the market.

Nike+ - SportWatch GPS Powered By TomTom with Sensor - Black/Anthracite

Model: 1JA0.017.01 | SKU: 5570883

This Nike+ SportWatch watch with sensor tracks your time, distance, pace, heart rate and the number of calories you've burned to help ensure a thorough workout. The built-in GPS is powered by TomTom to deliver accurate readings indoors and outdoors.

 4.1 Read reviews (10)

Sale: $149.99

Today we have guest blogger Ali talking fitness and some cool gadgets that can help you keep track of your runs! Here is a little bit about Ali, "I am a fitness blogger at MSPRun.com with an interest in technology, and using technology to improve overall health. I have worked for Best Buy for 5 years, ranging from various sales floor positions to corporate finance. I am currently training for my first marathon this January".

As the weather gets colder and the days shorter, it’s hard to stay motivated to go running: enter the Nike+ SportsWatch.

The Nike+ SportWatch watch with sensor tracks your time, distance, pace, heart rate and the number of calories you've burned to help ensure a thorough workout. The built-in GPS is powered by TomTom to deliver accurate readings indoors and outdoors.

The watch also includes access to the Nike+ community, where runners can compare training, share runs, and compete against each other in virtual races. The Nike+ software also keeps runners motivated by recognizing individual goals, and awarding them with unique online awards.

The Nike+ SportsWatch is available in 2 models: one with an indoor sensor http://bit.ly/VM2ZX7 and one that is GPS only http://bit.ly/SGvomB (the sensor can be purchased at a later time)

Don’t want to spend the time on the phone scheduling a Geek Squad service? No worries! You can now schedule in-home or in-store service from the comfort of your own keyboard or other personal device.  All in-home, in-store and Auto tech scheduling can be done right here on GeekSquad.com.

Following the simple steps located there, you should have your next appointment setup in no time.  Plus, if something important comes up at the last second, you can reschedule or modify almost any appointment you make.  However, I find it unlikely that anything will be more important than getting your technology back up and running, especially if it is your TV during football season.

In some instances you will be required to sign in using your existing Geek Squad/Best Buy profile or create a new profile if you don’t already have an account, which typically occurs when making an appointment for an in-home repair under one of our Geek Squad Protection Plans.

Welcome to the easiest way to schedule an appointment with our Geek Squad.

*Precinct, Geek Squad Solution Central and Autotech are only available in select locations at this time. If your city is not available, please check back soon.

It’s that time of the year again!  W-2s have been mailed, interest statements are on their way, and people all across the country are crunching numbers to ensure they receive the biggest tax refund possible.  To top it all off, BestBuy.com recently introduced a new option to help make preparing your own taxes a breeze: digital downloads of the latest tax preparation software.

Looking for someone to double-check your tax return?  No worries!  Most of these titles will do so for you, as well as import data from your W-2, 1099 and last year’s return.  Some titles, like H&R Block At Home Basic, even include live agent support in the event of an audit.

Prefer having a physical copy of any software you buy?  Disc-based versions of each title are available too.

http://bbyurl.us/TaxSoftware

Hey,

If a picture is worth a thousand words; what is a video worth? I think the honest answer is that it really depends. I would have to say that sometimes a still image can have more of an emotional impact than a video of the same subject, but deciding on a media really depends on what you are trying to convey.

It is often the case that a video can pass along much more information to your audience, and will have far greater usefulness to them. Try teaching someone to ski with a photograph, or try enjoying that concert of your favorite band by looking at that one great shot of them live. It just wouldn’t have nearly the same effect that a well edited video would have.

In years past you had to invest in a dedicated camcorder to record video footage, and when it came to easily editing and sharing your footage it was anything but an easy endeavor. Luckily almost any camera or phone can now record video, editing software is easier than ever to use, and there are many sites that make it extremely easy to share your creations. Did you know that 48 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every single minute, and there are 3 billion views per day?

I have always been much more drawn to the still image, but I will admit to trying my hand at video creation from time-to-time. A few years ago I made the difficult decision of changing my camera system from Nikon to Canon. I ended up purchasing the Canon 7D DSLR as my main body, and one of the great features of the 7D was the well thought out integration of video capture. Being that I was just about to take a trip to Yellowstone I took this as a great opportunity to try my hand at video once again.

In the end I did get a ton of great footage, but I quickly realized there is much more to producing a great video than merely capturing the raw footage. I found out that my five year old computer really hated the 24fps 1080p .MOV files. As soon as the play button was pressed my five year old desktop decided it was just too much, and forced into the decision of staring at a frozen screen or forcing the computer to shut-down.

I also quickly found out that, even though the video editing program I was using was fairly user friendly, there was quite a bit of knowledge I was missing to truthfully convey my experience at Yellowstone. Due to my difficulties I ended up leaving this footage until I had the knowledge and tools to do this great American treasure the justice it deserves.

Well I am happy to report that this footage will not be forgotten for long. In order to provide our customer’s the tools needed, to produce the best possible videos, we recently developed a partnership with New York Video School (NYVS). I quickly signed up, and am well on my way to finally putting all my footage of Yellowstone into one cohesive experience.

The NYVS has video lessons ranging from how to get started in producing high quality videos, how to tell a story, how to capture great footage, instructions on all the major video editing software, and in my case how to choose the right computer for video editing. They provide a place for each member to share their videos with other members, live lectures, links to different video contests, to job opportunities in the industry, and much more.

As with any school it isn’t free. You can sign up for their Basic membership, which lets you preview some lessons, create a profile, and check out all the benefits of NYVS. Once you are ready to really start learning you will need to sign up for the Plus membership, which they do provide a 7-Day free trial. Once the trial period is over to continue to progress in your learning it will cost $9.95 per month, or $79.95 for a year of access.

I can recommend that anyone wanting to improve their videos try out NYVS. I definitely see their lessons helping any mother wanting to have the very best videos of their family, someone looking to share the hottest videos on YouTube, or a person looking to work in the video production industry.

Happy Shooting!

I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions.  To me, a resolution is simply a promise you fully intend to break when it’s convenient…or one you can’t guarantee you’ll be able to keep.  This year, however, I went against better judgment and agreed to a joint resolution with a friend: I would serve as a guide in his personal struggle to lose weight.

Now, this guidance has taken several forms since 2012 began.  I’ve helped him construct some basic workout routines, I’ve suggested a few new recipes, and I’ve introduced him to the pros and cons of both free weights and machine-based exercises.  I refused to be an ever-present taskmaster when we made this agreement though, so I’ve suggested a few devices over the past month that may help him meet his goals.

The first gadget I recommended was a heart rate monitor.  Maintaining a steady heart rate is an important part of maximizing cardio workouts, so even the simplest model provides invaluable information.  Some heart rate monitors include built-in alarms as well, automatically notifying you when you reach the preset upper and lower limits of your target heart range.

Next, I suggested a personal training assistant.  Available as both stand-alone devices and smart phone apps, these gizmos often feature workouts designed by professional athletes and medical professionals.  Some also include unlockable rewards for completing individual programs and interactive tools for tracking your progress.  The Biggest Loser SLIMCOACH, for example, includes a 1-year membership to the MYTRACK online health community and provides access to nutrition planning and monitoring tools.

Last, but not least, I encouraged him to pick up an MP3 player.  Listening to your favorite tunes while working out is a great way to stay focused, and having access to your own personal music library sure beats listening to the deafening whirr of treadmills and elliptical machines at the gym.  Some MP3 players, like the Motorola MotoActv, even feature many of the same functions as a traditional heart rate monitor or personal training assistant.

What tools do you use to reach your fitness goals?

Today, Best Buy launched the Rocketboost Control App taking Rocketboost, Best Buy’s breakthrough wireless audio technology, to the next level.  The app lets users direct their audio from their PC or other Rocketboost-enabled audio source to any Rocketboost-enabled receiving device, including the Rocketfish Wireless Bookshelf Speakers and the Insignia Soundbar. What does this mean for you? Once you have the app installed, you can easily see your playlist on your iPod®, iPad®, iPhone® or PC and send it to various speakers throughout the home, controlling where, when and what you’re listening to with a swipe of your finger.

We sat down with Mark Kudla, senior product manager for Best Buy’s Exclusive Brands, to get details on the new app and what it means for your Rocketboost-enabled Insignia and Rocketfish products. Are you eager to give it a try? Download the Rocketboost Control App for free in the Apple App Store℠ and on Rocketboost.com.

In the Words of Mark:

Q:             Why did Rocketboost create the Control App?

A:              We’re always looking for ways to add functionality for consumers. As Rocketboost continues to expand its portfolio of wireless home audio products, we recognized a need to effectively manage all of these devices in the home for a seamless user experience. Just like a television remote control, the Rocketboost Control App gives users power over when, where and what audio they are listening to.

Q:             What does this scenario look like with examples of Rocketboost-enabled products?

A:              Most people who listen to music on home audio speakers are multitasking around the house. With the Rocketboost Control App, with just a few clicks on your phone you can control the audio playback wherever you are.  If you’re cleaning the house and listening to music in one room with your Rocketfish Bookshelf Speakers you can easily send the music to your Rocketfish Wireless Stereo Headphones as you finish cleaning room to room.  Or start a new playlist to the Rocketfish Indoor/Outdoor Speaker while you check on the steaks outside.

Q:             How does it work?

A:              Once users download the Rocketboost Control App for their specific device, they can access their playlists on their PC (iTunes or Windows Media Player library) to send the audio to their Rocketboost-enabled device of choice throughout their home. The app also allows access to audio content from all other Rocketboost Wireless Sender  devices – for example you can connect audio sources like your mp3 player, CD player or even TV to the Rocketboost Wireless Sender and then use the app to send the audio to any Rocketboost-enabled receiving device. 

For a full list of Rocketboost-enabled products, visit www.rocketboost.com. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comments below!

Hi Everyone,

So I have to admit I might have a problem. After my last post I did indeed create a photo book on Shutterfly. My problem is that I had so much fun creating this book I also ordered a Travel Mug, a Reusable Shopping Bag, Christmas cards, and a bunch of prints. It seems like I am on Shutterfly every night lately, putting together different items, and I can say that my wife is starting to wonder where I have been disappearing to.

Uploading my images was quick and easy, and once uploaded it was easy to drag-and-drop each image into my book. When putting my book together I quickly realized that there are so many options the sky really does seem to be the limit. As an Art Photographer I really like to see my work in book form, and I was very pleased with the quality of my first book.

Anyone that knows me is well aware of the fact that I love my coffee, and as a coffee drinker I can assure you that you can never have enough travel mugs. I got my travel mug a few days ago and am very happy with it. I can say that of all the items I ordered I was most surprised by how much I love the Reusable Shopping Bag; it is just fun having a bag with your photos on it. The prints were high quality photo prints, and were a very reasonable price.

I received all my items in a very reasonable time, but I should point out that if you want to make sure you receive your Shutterfly order before Christmas you should place it before 12/18. Shutterfly also has a number of discounts going on right now up to 50% off different gift ideas, and if you are in need of a last minute gift I can’t recommend Shutterfly enough.

To anyone that read my previous blog; I did finally order the Milk-bone “cookie” jar, you know the one my wife had been hinting at for years, but if I was a betting man I would guess that I will not be receiving this in time for Christmas. I can’t wait to give Missy the book I made for her, and if she is reading this “no you can’t open your presents early”. To all I wish the very best during this holiday season, and an even better New Year.

Happy Holiday!

Hey,

As is the case during every holiday season it’s December, and until last night had no gift ideas for my wife. Scratch that, my wife always wants puppies. I know this to be true at all times, but there is no way I was getting a third dog.

I am sitting at my desk last night, and due to all the buzz I had been hearing from our customers about Shutterfly, I decided to check them out. I have to say as soon as I made an account, and started looking at what they offer, I was sincerely impressed.

Not only do they make it easy to share your photos with family and friends, they also sell almost everything under the sun that you could think to put a picture on. This got me thinking about a gift request from my wife that has been going on for more than a year now.

Sometime last fall my wife put a corner from one of our dog’s Milk-bone dog treat boxes on my desk; she does this when she is trying to ask me for something without actually asking. The ripped-off corner of the box had a picture of a Milk-bone “cookie-jar” next to a bunch of small print. The small print states that you send them a photo of your dog(s), plus 2 UPCs, and a check for a specified amount, and they will put your dog(s) face on this “cookie jar” for you.

That fact that this still hasn’t been done is a point of contention in our household. If I had been able to just upload a photo to a website, and pay electronically, this would have been done the week I discovered this sitting on my desk. I know I know I still should have been able to do it by now and won’t make any excuses (in case my wife is reading this).

I also know that if at any time I had actually gotten this “cookie jar” ordered, and into the hands of my wife, it would have become her most prized possession instantly. No dog treats would have ever touched its hallowed tin walls, and its residing place would have become the shelf on top of our kitchen cupboards.

How does this relate to Shutterfly you might ask? While trying out their service I uploaded some photos of our dogs to start playing with things, and as soon as I started putting together a practice book with these images I knew this was a perfect gift for my wife for Christmas. Every other day she stops me to show me the cutest picture ever of one of our dogs (that I have seen a thousand times before), and I know an entire book dedicated to one or both of our dogs would mean the world to her.

It was super easy to edit and tweak my photo book. The sheer number of choices in format, backgrounds, colors, and text is impressive. I watched the video on how these books are made, and once again I came away feeling like purchasing one would be a great investment. I can see this offering being even more valuable for families with children, for wedding photos, or for that once in a life-time vacation.

I also found out that by no means is Shutterfly just a bookmaker. You can order prints from them in almost any size, design your own photo calendar, purchase cards or custom stationary, or get that kitchen apron you always wanted with the photo of your family on it. The list goes on and on, and to really delve into their offerings you should check out their site.

Sorry for the short and to the point blog, but I gotta go. Shutterfly’s got an offer today where you can save up to 50% on the order of a new photo book, which means I have to finish my wife’s Christmas present today. Missy (my wife) if you are reading this it is all a ruse to hide the fact that I finally ordered that Milk-bone “cookie-jar” you have wanted for years.

Happy shooting!

“The boy who lived.”  It’s hard to believe the entire series has come to an end. I will miss the tales of the midnight releases of the books and movies that were so unique and entertaining for people of all ages. I will miss everything that went along with the Harry Potter franchise. Children, teens and adults dressed up. Parents turned out to the book releases and film premieres with looks that said, “I’m-only-here-for-my-children,” (when we all know they wanted to be there, too). I received 20 “I LOVE SNAPE” texts from my sister whenever there was a book or movie release, general news about Alan Rickman and, sometimes, just because. 

Who remembers the very first book or movie release? I was 12 years old and trying desperately to figure out a plan for buying the first book. I discussed my plan with my mother, but she became irritated that I kept talking about how I was going to make sure I got the book. She finally told me to wait for my birthday, which was just around the corner. I remember the feeling of joy, knowing I was going to get the book as a gift. After all, I was pretty smart. I could put two-and-two together.

Now, looking back, I realize, as I grew up, so did the series. It became so much more than a magical fairytale about a fantasy land of witches and wizards with Harry, Ron and Hermione.  The characters transformed, matured and taught us about love, death and the power of good versus evil.  As Karina-BBY told me, we were always left with our jaws open! At every turn, we got to see surprising character developments, how and why they each became the person they did. Snape’s character development was particularly interesting to me. He remained so mysterious and you didn’t know what was going on with him, until the seventh book when his true motives and loyalties were finally revealed.

I thought the movies did a good job of extracting plotlines from the books to highlight the most relevant storylines and themes. Although some subplot was left out, most people who read the books and saw the movies would agree the movies not only stuck closely to the storyline, they were fantastic! I saw Part II of The Deathly Hallows in 3D and the effects only added to the magic. 

I already own all of the books and I’m really excited to finally own all of the movies. Best Buy is offering an exclusive release of the 3D version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2 combo packs, available now!  Each pack includes:

· 3D Blu-ray disc

· Standard DVD

· Standard Blu-ray disc  

· Code for digital copy

Pick up your copy today in store or online at BestBuy.com!

What is your favorite Harry Potter memory?

Spoiler Alert:  If you haven’t completed Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, you may not want to continue reading.  You have been warned.

At the conclusion of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, life for Ezio Auditore da Firenze seems to have found conclusion, yet Desmond Miles’ has spiraled out of control.  Ezio’s enemies have been dispatched, many through the dispatching of assassin’s he has trained during his renewal of the brotherhood of the Assassin’s order.

Desmond, on the other hand, has found the Apple, and found himself to be controlled by Juno, a mystic figure, one of “Those Who Came Before”.  While under her control, he stabbed Lucy in the abdomen with his hidden blade.  As she fell, so too did Desmond-into a coma.

We learn that Desmond is being put back into the animus, setting up the gameplay for Revelations, where we travel with Ezio back to Constantinople and the Assassin's stronghold of Masyaf, following the footsteps of his mentor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.  Single-player is said to be the weaving story of Altaïr, Ezio, and Desmond as their worlds collide and the truth behind the “Pieces of Eden” are revealed.

Multiplayer, first introduced in Brotherhood, is back, and has been modified and enhanced to reflect the new abilities and terrain of Revelations.  Ubisoft promises more customization in characters, abilities, kill sequences, and gameplay.  That’s a lot to offer, and I look forward to seeing if this amounts to a better overall experience.

While many of the popular games to come out recently have had a huge multiplayer following, Assassin’s Creed has always been first about a single-player storyline, blurring the lines between history, legend, and fiction into a very complex and compelling narrative. 

Before the Assassin’s Creed franchise I was relatively tame; limiting my killing to Nazi and other wartime enemies, aliens, bandits, and wild game.  Now I’m stealth, taking down with my hidden blades Templars and any who would seek to control others and corrupt justice.  Last year I built a brotherhood.  I look forward to the revelations to come.

This guy over to the side?  The Crusader.  You'll meet him in the single-player campaign.  If you pre-order your game from Best Buy, you'll also get him as a playable character in the multiplayer!   Pretty cool, right?

Pre-order your copy of Assassin's Creed:Revelations, or check and see if your store will be having a midnight release at the link below.

http://bbyurl.us/ACR

Join the conversation.  What do you most look forward to in the newest Assassin’s Creed iteration?

With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 nearly upon us, excitement is at its peak.  Gamers are stretching their thumbs getting ready for all-nighters.  Some are stocking up on rations as they don’t plan to leave their room until they’ve prestiged, at least once.  Some are brushing up on their headshots in Black Ops and working on their KDR (kill to death ratio).  And some brave souls are probably reading this on their smart phone because they’re already waiting at the store.

Modern Warfare 3 is one of the, if not THE, most anticipated titles of 2011.  Infinity Ward and Activision have yet again enhanced the award-winning gameplay of the Call of Duty series and aim to please one of the largest fan-bases in gaming.

There will be another action-jam-packed single player campaign that, if you’re like me, you will be playing through several times; first on Regular difficulty, then on Hardened, or maybe you’ll just skip to the unforgiving Veteran.  I haven’t wanted to play through an FPS’s story line this many times since Goldeneye 007… yeah I unlocked the invincibility cheat the legit way (that sounds like a conflicting moral system but oh well): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DuLFJ-i2KU

They have somehow refined the online multiplayer experience that has already brought game-changing innovations to the online shooter space.  I think the aspect I’m looking most forward to is the new “Pointstreak” system which was their answer to gamers that had a hard time getting large kill-streaks *cough* not me *cough*… excuse me.  You can now choose a “strike package” that works best for your play style whether it is Assault, Support, or Specialist.

Another feature they’ve carried on is Spec Ops.  I love this.  These are one-off objective-based missions that you can play by yourself, online, or co-op.  Think of them as special challenges, and if they are anything like they were in Black Ops, they are just that: challenging.  They’ve also added a “Survival Mode” were you fend off wave after wave of baddies until you can’t take it anymore.  There’s nothing better than sitting on a couch with your buddy, adrenaline pumping, calling out where enemies are, and kicking some AI butt.

If you can’t tell, I’m just a little amped up about this game.  And so are some of my teammates so I asked them to share some of their thoughts.  Please excuse Doug and Marti.  I don’t understand them.

---

Jesus-BBY wrote:

I cannot wait for my living room to shake with all the epic commotion! Modern Warfare always comes out around my B-day so, double whammy for this dude! 

 

Ryan-BBY wrote:

I’m looking forward to having 7 kills and 22 deaths on Team Deathmatch early Tuesday morning. 

 

Douglas-BBY wrote:

Do you mean Halo: Modern Warfare?...  I only know how to shoot aliens.”

 

Marti-BBY wrote:

You mean there’s a Modern Warfare 1 and 2? ;-)

 

Mariel-BBY wrote:

I’m just a girl with 46,590 gamerscore, living in the Call of Duty world.  My love for Call of Duty began with MW2. One of the best games I’ve ever played and I played it into the ground…1000/1000 GS doesn’t lie!  I went back and played MW1, WaW, Call of Duty 3, and Black Ops when it came out, but the MW games are my absolute favorite. I’m hoping MW3 will take the series to the next level with new modes of multiplayer, perks and gameplay. I can’t wait for the exciting new campaign with an over the top plotline and I will love every minute of it. If you’re as excited as I am, then I will see you on the battlefield! I’ll be the one shouting, “You just got pwned by a girl. FACE!” into my mic when I win…

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There’s still time to pre-order your copy at your local Best Buy store or on BestBuy.com here:

http://bbyurl.us/MW3

Also, visit that page to check if your local store is hosting a midnight opening (chances are good) or even an early in-store demo and all kinds of other Modern Warfare 3-themed goodies.

See you on the battlefield.

App Discovery Center

We have all been there.  Searching endlessly for apps, scouring through the app catalogs only to get frustrated and quit.  Now Best Buy is putting an end to all that!

We have always been here helping our customers find the latest and greatest in technology and services, and we are continuing that trend with the new Best Buy App Discovery Center, a new tool that we have developed to make app searching quick, easy, and painless.  With the help of Appolicious we have taken the iTunes and Android app catalogs, and with have come up with a super easy and awesome search tool that makes searching those tens of thousands of apps less confusing and much less time consuming.

Research has shown that most app downloads are a result of word of mouth recommendations, in fact 40% of all downloads are from recommendations.  We are giving our Blue Shirts the opportunity to voice their favorite app recommendations.  Just type in your zip code and get the best information from a source you can trust.  You can even take the recommendation of your favorite Blue Shirt in YOUR favorite store.  How cool is that?

Of course you can still search for the “hottest” apps or the top free downloads.  We even took searching to a new level with being able to type in a simple phrase such as, “How do I improve my golf swing?” and the Discovery Center does all the work for you. 

How does it work?  The Best Buy App Discovery Center has organized the app catalogs of Itunes and Android into more than 1,200 popular categories to let you find apps in a specific area of interest.  We use an exclusive algorithm based on social, user-generated and editorial signals that provides you with the best search results.  Plus with the addition of Blue Shirts picks the endless and tiresome searching is over!

Get started discovering your new favorite apps at, apps.bestbuy.com!

Nathan Drake is at it again folks.  In this newest installment to the Uncharted series entitled Drake’s Deception, the widely loved protagonist and treasure-hunter extraordinaire takes us on yet another action-packed ride. 

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception will not only put you on the edge of your seat but leave you grasping the edge of it, hanging on for dear life.  We’re talking oodles of explosions, gun fights, plot twists, and even a tug on your heart strings here and there.  You pay at the movies to see guys jump off of speeding vehicles and dangle from planes so why not take control of that action yourself and experience thrill and adventure in whole new way.

If you’re new to the Uncharted series, think Indiana Jones mixed with National Treasure, throw in bit of Tomb Raider and roll it up in a video game burrito.  The game plays from a third-person perspective and you control Nathan Drake to shoot bad guys, narrowly escape all kinds of peril, and climb… well pretty much anything.  But it doesn’t stop there, Uncharted 3 also has fully-fledged online multiplayer component that will keep you gaming through the cold winter months to come (this coming from a Minnesotan).

Its games like these that blur the lines between gaming and Hollywood.  This PlayStation 3 exclusive really takes full advantage of the console’s graphic processing prowess and has the potential to be one of the prettiest games you’ve seen on your HDTV yet.

Pick up your copy now at your local Best Buy store or order on BestBuy.com: http://bbyurl.us/UN3

See you on the sand dunes.

Hey Fellow Homeowners,

Have you ever left you home wondering if you turned the furnace down, shut off a particular light, or even locked a door? Well there is no longer a reason to wonder. With modern wireless technology companies are developing systems that not only allow you to monitor your home from anywhere, but also allow you to make changes to your home from any location.

One such system is the Schlage LiNK system; this system uses Z-Wave wireless technology to control almost anything in your home, and even includes a video camera for remote surveillance of your house. Once set up accessing your home system, and making changes from a computer or smartphone is a simple matter.

Z-Wave technology has been adopted by a number of manufacturer’s to allow for the wireless connection and control of almost anything in a home. Products with Z-Wave technology range from the Schlage LiNK lock system, a thermostat made by Trane, modules that let you remotely control floor lamps, to electric outlets that should be installed by an electrician.

Another nice feature of these systems is that due to them being wireless they don’t have to be installed all-at-once. This means you can add parts to your system as your needs/finances dictate. Once I’ve paid off the Logitech surveillance system I just purchased I will definitely be looking into the Schlage LiNK system as another way to not only protect my home, but control it wherever I am.



Holy Arkham City, Batman!  Hitting shelves today Batman: Arkham City effectively lunges forward the already-acclaimed Batman series brought to us by Rocksteady Studios. 

I for one have been in great anticipation of this title because of my unforgettable experience with the previous installment, Batman: Arkham Asylum.  Growing up a Batman fan and playing various other Batman games along the way, nothing compares to what Rocksteady accomplishes in these next-gen games.  I felt like I was in a comic book and taking on the role of that mysterious superhero I had always pretended to be.

There is a Hollywood movie-like suspense packed into these titles.  I recall moments in Arkham Asylum where I had wished I left the lights on.  Scarecrow managed to not only get into Batman’s head but somehow mine as well I guess… those eyes…

In terms of the user-interface/gameplay you can expect in Arkham City, the controls are easy enough for a little girl to play, although you might not want your little girl to play it (ESRB Rating: Teen).  However, mastering the mechanics, unlocking all the moves, finding Riddler challenges, and tons more content will keep you busy for quite some time.  Not to mention, if you pre-ordered with us, you’ll be playing as Robin with his own set of unique gadgets, special moves, and challenge maps.

The premise of Arkham City is you’re in an open-air prison filled with villains and criminals who govern themselves.  Sounds like a good time… if you’re Batman.  Some of the featured villains in Arkham City are:

The Joker
Two Face

Mr. Freeze
The Riddler

The Penguin
Hugo Strange

Pick up your copy of Batman: Arkham City today at your local Best Buy store or on BestBuy.com at http://bbyurl.us/BatmanAC!

Hey,

So I’ve learned the hard way that it is a bad idea to leave an extension ladder outside next to your home. Three weeks ago my wife and I got home from work to discover that we had been burglarized. As you can imagine, that night was a whirlwind of emotions; it left us feeling angry and vulnerable, and to be honest I am still upset that another person would do this to someone.

A few weekends prior to this event, I got our extension ladder out of the garage to use while cleaning out my homes gutters. After I was done cleaning the gutters I laid the ladder next to my house and forgot that I didn’t put it away. The thieves had originally attempted to enter the home through a window to our kitchen, but I assume were scared off by my two large Labrador Retrievers. They ended up using my extension ladder to get onto my back porch, and then broke in through a second story window.

They stole quite a bit of our stuff, and as a photographer I can say the most upsetting loss was that they stole my entire camera system. I can promise you that what’s upsetting is not so much what was stolen as it is the feeling of not being safe in your home. We looked into different security services, but to be honest we just couldn’t afford another $50 a month bill. The day before we were set to go back to work, my wife turns to me and asks if Best Buy sells surveillance equipment.

Knowing we were just getting into the Home Safety & Energy Management category, I was pretty confident we would have at least some options. What I found out was that we have much more than just a few options when it comes to home surveillance and monitoring. We carry everything from full-blown multi-camera surveillance systems to digital baby monitors.

After doing research on what system might work for our home, we decided to go with the Logitech Alert camera surveillance system. I ran up to the local store, made my purchase, and within a couple of hours my home was under camera surveillance 24/7. The Logitech Alert system has many features including mobile alert capability that will send you an email or text message when motion is detected by any camera in your system. This system also has remote viewing capability; I am actually watching my dogs asleep on the living room couch as I write this from my desk at work.

In no way is the Logitech Alert system your only option, and in fact there were a number of other options I considered before making my purchase. If you want to see what equipment is available for Home Safety &Energy Management, just take a look here on BestBuy.com. I still find it sad that because of someone else’s actions I am left feeling less than safe in my own home; however, I can assure you that having this system makes me feel a lot safer, and I only wish I had been more proactive in protecting my home.

p.s. On a side note, my dogs are the inadvertent benefactors of this system. After watching them just lie around on the couch all day ,they have seen a lot more visits to the dog park, and our walks last until they want to go home instead of when I want to go home.

Be Safe!

Hey,

SanDisk recently announced a new storage device called the Memory Vault, and as the name implies it’s designed to protect your images as if they were locked up in a bank. As a photographer I can say that guarding against the loss of my photographs is at the top of my priorities, and this seemed like just the type of device that would be right up my alley.

The Memory Vault comes in two different storage capacities of eight gigabytes or sixteen gigabytes, and SanDisk claims that it will protect your data for up to 100 years. Obviously they have not been testing this device for 100 years, and have come to this conclusion based upon exhaustive scientific testing. SanDisk states that this length of protection is made possible by the quality of the product, and the fact that this flash based storage device uses their proprietary Chronolock technology.

Their claim of data protection is backed up by a limited lifetime warranty, and this actually got me thinking about other uses for the product. I could actually see this being used as secure storage for PDFs of my most important paperwork (i.e. Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, etc…), and for me I would store my most important photos on the device.

When I first got to test one out I was pleasantly surprised with the weight of what is obviously a very well constructed storage device. I think I will stick with multiple external hard drives to store my vast image library, but when it comes to the images and paperwork I can’t live without the SanDisk Memory Vault is most certainly a great option.



Two Sundays ago we launched a slew of new services that benefit the gaming shopper and, can I say, these were much-needed.  These services really cover some common areas of concern that can come up for game hardware purchasers and I think they’ll be put to good use.  We’re adding a whole new level of confidence to video game shopping at Best Buy.

iOS 5

When iOS 5 launches on October 12th, 2011, it will bring over 200 additional features for compatible devices. Here are some of my favorites:

Notification Center
Instead of annoying pop up interruptions, all of your notifications will be located in a swipe down accessible menu. When a new notification comes in, you’ll get a quick preview at the top of the screen without disrupting your current interactions.

iMessage
Your device will now have a built in instant messaging service, to use between other iOS 5 devices. It will be similar to text messaging or other instant messaging clients but will be fast and unlimited. In addition to text you can send photos, videos, locations and contacts. This feature will work over any internet connections, including cellular data and Wi-Fi.

Camera
The iOS 5 camera app is focused on convenience and speed. You’ll be able to access the camera directly from the lock screen. No more failed attempts to snap a picture quick while mistyping in your unlock code.

Photos
You’ll now be able to crop, rotate and remove red-eye right in the photos app.

Safari
For users of iPad you’ll enjoy the new addition of tabbed browsing. Users of all devices will enjoy having a reading list for things you want to read later. In addition, Safari Reader will allow you to view web articles without all the clutter on the page.

iCloud
This new service in iOS 5 will be particularly useful for people with multiple iOS 5 compatible devices and for people who don’t have a syncing type account like Microsoft Exchange. It will automatically store your music, photos, documents, apps and more and push them to all your devices. Apple will provide 5GB of storage for free.



iPod
The iPod nano and iPod touch are now lower in price.

iPod nano
The iPod nano will start at $129 for 8GB and $149 for 16GB. It will include new software that has new user interface enhancements as well as fitness updates and new clocks. Click here to shop the new iPods on BestBuy.com.

iPod touch

The iPod touch will start at $199 for 8GB, $299 for 32GB and $399 for 64GB. They will ship with iOS 5 come in both black and white. The battery will last for up to 40 hours of music playback.

Apple® - iPod touch® 8GB* MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - Black

Apple® - iPod touch® 8GB* MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - White

Apple® - iPod touch® 32GB* MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - Black

Apple® - iPod touch® 32GB* MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - White

Apple® - iPod touch® 64GB* MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - Black

Apple® - iPod touch® 64GB* MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - White

If there is one thing for certain, NBA 2K12 will be released on 10/4!  At this time, we don’t know if the NBA will settle their collective bargaining agreement so fans can enjoy basketball live this year, but we do know that they can from the comfort of their favorite video game chair.  I haven’t got a chance to play this year’s installment yet; however, from the screenshots I have seen and previews I have read, it seems pretty amazing. 

Last year’s version of this game won all kinds of sports gaming awards.  There are a bunch of legends playable this year so you can really see who the best players of all time are.  I just hope Clyde “The Glide” Drexler is sporting a Trailblazers jersey.    I’ll be 100% honest that I haven’t been extremely interested in the “now day” NBA so this may actually be a title I will pick up!  Being able to use a bunch of old-school ballers’ will be so much fun and it will bring me back to the Jordan vs. Bird days on my NES. 

If you are thinking about pre-ordering NBA 2k12 in anticipation of it being released next week, don’t forget about our “50%* more trade-in value” on this title.

 

*In-store offer only- current promotion on 9/26/11

Visitors to the Dyson website recently have been greeted with a digital count of sorts.  Beginning at 0 and stopping at 72 with the date 15.9.2011 (It’s a British company, remember), visitors are left guessing what this new technology will be.  The wait is now over.  The countdown has been replaced with information on the Dyson Hot^™ fan heater.

This will no doubt be one of the hot (pun intended) items this fall.  In a week where Minnesota temperatures have gone from mid 80’s to mid 30’s, the timing couldn’t be better.

Dyson Air Multiplier Ceramic Heater - Iron/Blue

Model: 22159-01 | SKU: 2809717

Stay warm with this portable heater that features Air Multiplier technology and long-range heat projection to quickly heat up to 240 sq. ft. of space. Oscillation helps distribute warm air evenly throughout a room.

  Read reviews (0)

Sale: $399.99

The size of their table fan and shaped like their tower fan, the Dyson Hot^™, or AM04 fan heater, has everything that makes their fans great: no spinning blades, touch tilt, 90 degree oscillation, and a remote control that magnetically attaches to the top of the heater when not in use.

But what makes it a great heater? Heating elements heat the air that is drawn in through the base.  The oscillation allows the heated air to travel to all corners of the room faster.  Remember the digital readout on the website?  This heater has a precise temperature control with digital readout, allowing you to perfectly set the temperature of your room.    When your temperature is achieved, the heating unit will shut off, but the fan will continue to run, continually testing the air temperature.

Ever notice a burning smell using a traditional heater?  This is from the heating elements burning the dust that has collected on them.  You won’t have that with the Dyson Hot.  The heating elements never exceed 392° F versus the 752° F required to burn dust.

Dyson makes the claim that this will heat your room faster than any other space heater on the market.  Given their track record, I’m inclined to believe them.  Always aware of design as well as function, the heaters are introduced in the color schemes of silver/white and iron/blue. Look for the Dyson Hot^™ fan heater on BestBuy.com or at a Best Buy near you.

Have you ever left home for the day wondering if you left the lights on? Forgot to adjust the thermostat? Left the coffee pot on? Or even worse, forgot to lock a door? I know I have, but soon these worries will be a thing of the past. Someday our homes will be smart enough to automatically adjust to the changing environment (saving on energy costs), and all devices in the home will be connected to one network that can be controlled/monitored remotely.

Basically a Smart home allows anyone with access to the home’s network to control and monitor any device in the home from anywhere, and the home can be pre-programmed to change a setting under specified circumstances. For example, a Smart Home could be set to detect when a room is empty and automatically shut off the lights in that room.

A common technology used in Smart Homes is called Z-Wave wireless technology, and many of the products we sell to increase the IQ of your home comes with this technology. Z-Wave technology can control everything from a Trane Energy Management Thermostat to Schalge’s LiNK home lock system. Z-Wave has a very informative demo on their technology and, I have to admit, I was impressed.

So if you’re the proud owner of the average not-so-intelligent house. you might want to look into some home education, and not only make your house smarter but save money in the process.