Star Wars Day 2012 (May the fourth be with you) will be remembered for two things… The Avengers movie release in the US and the follow-up of Saber. For our Australian readers, Saber is a parody of the Axe body spray commercials which is eerily similar to our Lynx commercials. It’s basically the coolest Star Wars film since Star Wars Return of the Jedi and also stars Chewbacca!

[Clare] Well Thank you! Rileah came up with the idea almost immediately after we shot the first one, but we got so sidetracked with Team Unicorn that we didn’t have time to think about actually making it until recently…

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

Sydney, Australia – 28 May 2012 – The humble notebook is a marvelous feat of technology, compressing the power of a desktop PC into a portable form factor.  However, it can come at a cost with many notebooks suffering overheating issues with prolonged use.  As the processor heats up, it loses performance and, more importantly, can suffer permanent damage.

While there have been improvements with heat dissipation and Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processors that create less heat, the only sure-fire way to protect a notebook from being damaged is to pick up a cooling pad. Cooler Master, a leader in PC cooling solutions, today announces two new cooling pads to be released in Australia.  The Notepal A100 and NotePal I100 share a sense of style and sturdy build quality while delivering high performance due to their 140mm single fan design.

The differences between the two units come in their proposed use.  The A100 is designed to be used in the home or office in a fixed location.  The face of the unit is made from aluminium and has a duel arch system for efficient heat ejection and better cooling performance. It has fixed position legs for optimal viewing and typing angle with a non-slip bridge that will keep the notebook securely in place. Supporting laptops up to 15 inches, the A100 also has an on/off switch for the fan and, while USB powered, it also has a USB hub so you don’t lose valuable ports when powering the pad.

The NotePal I100 was created with portability in mind. With a 23mm ultra-thin design, it can easily slip into a notebook bag to take on the road.  With its black metallic grill, the I100 not only looks sophisticated but also delivers uncompromising cooling power using a 140mm fan and curved surface for excellent heat dispersion. The I100 supports notebooks up to 15.4 inches and has retractable legs with two height settings for customisable viewing and typing angles.

Both the A100 and I100 are designed for silent operation and low power consumption.  The A100 has a fan speed of 1400RPM with airflow of 46.8CFM while the I100 is rated at 1200RPM with 38CFM airflow. In the end, deciding between the two will come down to portability.  In fixed position usages, the A100 is the obvious choice but the convenience of the lightweight i100 cannot be matched.

Pricing and Availability
Manufacturer: Cooler Master
Product Name: Notepal A100
RRP AU$29.90  NZ$34.90
Product Name: Notepal I100
RRP AU$19.90  NZ$24.90
Website: http://www.coolermaster.com.au
Australian Distributors: Ingram Micro, Rectron, Australia IT, Direct Memory Access.
New Zealand Distributors: PB Technologies
Availability: Now

Coming this Spring, You are Invited to Attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry through this Exclusive Game on Kinect 

SYDNEY, Australia – May 28, 2012 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Eurocom will cast a spell among Harry Potter fans of all ages this Spring with the Harry Potter for Kinect videogame exclusively on Kinect™ for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Based on all eight Harry Potter films, Harry Potter for Kinect allows players to join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they embark on an unforgettable journey through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and beyond.  With Kinect’s scanning technology, for the first time ever in a Harry Potter game, players will be able to scan in their own face to create a unique witch or wizard to journey through the adventures of the film.

In addition, Kinect’s hands-free and voice recognition capabilities allow gamers to cast spells using physical manoeuvres and by calling out spell names, offering an extraordinary, immersive Harry Potter experience.

“Harry Potter for Kinect will engage Harry Potter fans old and new by bringing them into the wizarding world as truly active participants,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Kids and parents will enjoy recreating their favourite Harry Potter adventures, from flying a broomstick in a Quidditch match, to battling pixies and duelling other wizards.” 

Harry Potter for Kinect gives players the opportunity to experience some of the films’ most memorable moments, both as the relevant characters or as their own avatars, including visiting Ollivanders, choosing a house at Hogwarts, and confronting He Who Must Not Be Named in a climactic final battle.  Players who master their lessons can also take on their opponents in competitive mini-games, or join forces with family and friends in co-op gameplay.

SYDNEY, Australia — May 28^th, 2012 — SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today confirmed that much-loved Dreamcast™ classic Jet Set Radio will be coming to PlayStation®Vita Systems this winter, and will be playable for the first time at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, California.

Jet Set Radio is an updated version of the celebrated SEGA Dreamcast original, featuring upgraded HD visuals paired with the original funky soundtrack that rocked the ears of gamers worldwide in 2000. The PlayStation Vita’s unique features provide new ways for gamers to interact with the environments of Tokyo-to, from touch functionality that makes spraying graffiti more natural to Vita camera integration. Jet Set Radio for PlayStation Vita is a handheld version that loses nothing in the way of content or experience in comparison with its console and PC brethren.

“The fan reaction to our recent reveal of Jet Set Radio has been incredible!” said Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA. “As Jet Set Radio is focused on creativity, the touch capabilities of the PlayStation VITA are proving to be a perfect fit.”

Jet Set Radio will also be released on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®Network, and Windows PC Digital Download this winter. For more information on Jet Set Radio, please visit http://www.sega.com/

Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France 2012 , the definitive cycling simulation series, today unveiled 6 new screenshots, along with its official website where the game is presented in depth. Now’s the best time to discover the all the new features in the 2012 sequel, developed by Cyanide.

The variety of new features in Pro Cycling Manager 2012 will please both new players and hard-core fans of the famous series. More complete than ever with the arrival of a new Pro division, new teams (a total of 81) and new competitions. Pro Cycling Manager deepens its management options thanks to the new and eagerly awaited Season Planner, which allows players to train their team for the upcoming season. The Tour de France is the pinnacle of the 2012 season, which now offers more than 180 playable competitions!

Never before has cycling been this faithfully rendered. The game benefits from incredibly detailed rider models, as well as new scenery, race elements and environments. The refined AI opponents react and adopt realistic strategies within each stage and throughout the competition.

Exciting in solo, Pro Cycling Manager 2012 now offers a unique multiplayer system for the very first time! Players will challenge each other in a persistent universe with a competition schedule, where every victory counts. With the new card system, players will now be able to create their own personal dream-team, including modern day champions as well as legendary riders of cycling history.

– Visit the official website

Available to own on Blu-ray™ for $34.95RRP on DVD for $29.95RRP

Also available On Demand and To Download from July 4. 

The Man Of Steel comes face-to-face with powerful villains, daunting rivals and a society more interested in retribution than justice when a new, less-ethical breed of super hero arrives in Metropolis in Superman vs. The Elite, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new film arrives July 4, 2012 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray™ ($34.95 RRP) and DVD ($29.95 RRP), On Demand and for Download.

Melbourne, Australia, 28 May 2012 – Kogan today unveiled its aggressive entry into the Android 4.0 market with two brand new tablets priced at just $179 (8GB) and $199 (16GB).

The tablets feature Google’s latest Android OS, a bright 10” multi-touch screen and 8 hour battery life.

With a light, thin design, 2MP camera, HDMI output, and access to hundreds of thousands of apps, the Kogan Agora 10” Tablet powered by Ice Cream Sandwich is the best bang for buck in the world.

The Kogan Agora 10” tablet is designed in Melbourne, and available exclusively from www.kogan.com.

Ruslan Kogan said the new products are a showcase of the company’s goal to make the latest technology more affordable for everyone.

“In 2012, everyone wants to be connected through their favourite apps at all times. We’ve been working hard to bring the latest technology to everyone, not just those who can afford $800 for a gadget.

“We’ve listened to feedback from our first foray into Android tablets, which people said was priced exactly where they wanted it – a guilt-free way to get into tablet computing. However, Android 2.3 provided limitations that we’ve overcome with Android 4.0 ICS.

“While the new iPad is no doubt resolutionary, it does come with a comparatively hefty price tag. It’s also a closed system which which limits functionality. Our tablets gives people freedom through USB and microSD inputs.

“We want people to be able to experience a portable, powerful tablet and use the latest software for a fraction of the cost.

“With access to the brand new Google Play, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and video chat through Skype, more Australians will now be able to stay connected with their friends and the world using a highly versatile tablet,” Kogan said.

Kogan Agora 10” 8GB Tablet – Powered by Android ICS – $179:

http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/10-inch-tablet-pc-android-8gb/

Kogan Agora 10” 16GB Tablet – Powered by Android ICS – $199: http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/10-inch-tablet-pc-android-16gb/

Also, check out our Blu-ray review for THE ARTIST here!