Roku is rolling out the latest generation of media streaming boxes later this month, with a new, smaller form factor and more powerful graphics at the same price point as the last generation. With the release, the company is betting big on casual games becoming available on new Roku 2 devices, including Rovio’s Angry Birds.

Like its product release last year, the new generation of Roku boxes will have three distinct price points with products targeted at entry-level, intermediate and power users. The Roku 2 HD (), Roku 2 XD () and Roku 2 XS (0) will soon be available online and in channel partners’ retail stores in the coming weeks. Tech specs for all three are as expected after Roku’s next generation of devices leaked online due to an FCC filing, but this release isn’t about the technology under the hood as it is about the new opportunity it introduces through casual games that will soon be released on the platform.

While Roku is continuing its practice of having different price points for different users, most of the innovation and value comes at the high end. The startup has not only packaged Angry Birds with the Roku 2 XS, but it’s also included a game-changing remote control (no pun intended) with an accelerometer included. While only the top-of-the-line model comes with the new gaming remote, it will be available as a separate accessory for Roku users that want to buy it later.

That remote is what mostly makes Angry Birds playable on the device. It’s powered by Bluetooth, and it’s capable of working with all three models. Also contributing is a new processor built into Roku boxes that will enable the kind of casual games that will soon become a staple on the device.

In addition to the original Angry Birds title, Roku will soon release Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio. But that’s just the start of its casual games revolution: Roku has also struck a deal with Namco that will bring Pac-Man CE and Galaga to the platform, and has other similar deals in the works, according to Roku VP of Marketing Chuck Seiber.

The new devices aren’t just about gaming, though. New video and social networking applications are being released with the platform as well. That includes a new, just-released Facebook channel with higher-quality picture and video capabilities, as well as channels for Epix, Major League Soccer, AOL and FOX News.

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The freezing temperatures are really and truly with us at the moment. In fact it looks like being a cold spell to equal the last properly great one we had in the UK. That was 1963. It was so cold then for such a prolonged period of time that even my cautious and protective allowed us to stand on the frozen canal. That said; I think we are still a long way from there yet, and I would certainly advise NOT venturing on any ice that’s on top of water deep enough to come over your knees.

Back to business: if you can overlook the pun; our little firm is completely snowed under with orders for and enquiries about winter wiper blades. Many people are struggling with Wiper blades that have gone rigid to such an extent that they cannot flex to the shape of the windscreen any longer. Another problem is that the ice can really grip the rubber, and when the driver tries to free the windscreen wiper, they end up shredding the rubber; so making the wiperblade unuseable.

We specialise in Silicone Wiper Blades, and they really come into their own in tough conditions. They normally don’t cost any more than premium quality rubber wiper blades, but unlike rubber wiper blades, any decent brand of silicone wiper blades will come with a 12 month guarantee.

Silicone wiper blades have much better resistance to ice sticking to them than rubber wiper blades, so they seriously reduce the risk of burning out your wiper motor or breaking the windscreen wiper transmission system.

Additionally, silicone wiper blades remain flexible down to -60°C, so they continue to work even in the coldest of british conditions, this helps them to shake off any ice that manages to stick, and to follow the shape of the windscreen, so shifting the snow much more effectively.

In additions; silicone wiper blades are resistant to attack from the anti-freeze additives that we must use to keep our windshield washers flowing in freezing conditions.

In deep snow; I still advise removing the most of it with a brush before you start your wipers, because the increased weight of the snow could well damage your wiper motor or transmission. Doing this also avoids a build up of too much compacted snow at the end of the wiper blade’s sweep. When you get such a build up; it prevents the wiper from making its full sweep, and this puts extra strain on the wiper motor and the wiper transmission system. By not dealing with this issue you risk a burnt out wiper motor or wrecked wiper transmission system. Neither of these are cheap to repair on modern cars.

Even when I have silicone wiper blades fitted on my car, when it’s freezing; I just routinely lift my silicone wiper blades off the screen, and allow them to spring back. This ensures they are free and clear, and helps shake off any ice. I also knock off any excess snow, so that I know I’m not going to wreck the wiper motor or transmission system, and that’s it. Clearer vision, longer lasting wiper blades, and when we eventually, I can be sure that my silicone wiper blades won’t be attacked by the ozone or ultra violet in the sunshine, nor will they melt and stick to the windshield, even in the hottest conditions.

apple ipod touch 32Gb

The striking new design of the latest Apple iPod Touch 32Gb is definitely a looker. Apple has made it even thinner (and I thought it was already too thin before) complete with a beautiful chrome back. While the super thin design is certainly attractive, I’ve found it slightly difficult to keep it well-gripped in your hands. The usual chrome back looks great too, but it’s scratch-insistent. Sure, it’s incredibly straightforward to scratch it all up, even after the first few days.

For ages, the feature topping everyone’s wishlist for the iPod touch has been a camera. Check! It handles HD video too–bonus! Granted, its not the 5 megapixel camera that the iPhone 4 sports, but again, the new Apple iPod Touch 32Gb is thinner than ever, making it a miracle that we even got a camera in the first place, let alone two! Sure, Apple went the additional mile so we might make video calls with our iPhone toting buddies, through their FaceTime app. Brilliant! So, having not had any digital camera on the iPod touch before, and now having TWO cameras on it, we will not really complain can we? Nah.

I am going to have particulars on the quality both cameras later, however what excites me even moreso is the new much-increased decision display screen–dubbed “Retina show”. You could not assume much of it if you haven’t used an iPhone or iPod touch before, nor have an older mannequin close by to compare it to, however for those that have and/or do, the difference is clear! (pun intended)

Where this really comes in handy is in browsing the Web and reading non-mobile-formatted PDF e-books. Now, I can see issues a lot clearer on the default zoom degree (which shows the full width of a Internet page or doc). My vision isn’t spectacular by any means, I simply don’t mind seeing things smaller on the display screen. It allows me to see extra content with out having to scroll. Indeed, the Retina display was the #1 feature I never knew I wanted (until I saw it in the iPhone 4 that is).

Other newness includes: 15% larger battery, HD video recording and editing, built-in mic, wireless-n for nearly double the WiFi connection speed and distance, Game Center: Apple’s new social gaming platform (which seems to be Apple’s attempt to kill-off third party social gaming platforms like OpenFeint and Plus+), 3-axis gyroscope sensor, which complements the existing accelerometer sensor, both of which handle the rotating, swinging and other motion gestures of the device (previously, rotation were roughly calculated from accelerometer data), and new placement of the sleep/power button on the right (but still as difficult as ever to press).

Features nonetheless lacking embody: 512MB of reminiscence, vibration, 5 MP high quality digital camera + flash (iPhone apps now assist using LED flash as a flashlight, like Android does), magnetometer (compass), and the GPS. I’d happily trade the thinness of the latest iPod touch to have the GPS. WiFi based mostly location is often inaccurate, and the GPS doesn’t need a WiFi or mobile connection, it just must see the satellites in the sky.  This is Hottest Products for Gifts.

Sim cards are Free and very popular with mobile phone customers. One of the main advantages is that they provide a fast and easy route from contracts that cost the user on a regular basis. Pay as you go sims are the least restrictive choice for customers in payment terms, as there is no expectation at all to pay out every month. We’ll examine the options available:

Vodafone Sims Free

Vodafone provide undoubtably the most straightforward pay as you talk offer available across the country, very appropriately titled Vodafone Simply.

Vodafone Simply is quite simply (excuse the pun!) a flat rate free sim card opportunity for any mobile phone customer. The basic concept is fixed rate phone calls, so it doesn’t matter whether you call in the week, weekend, day or night. This is backed with fixed price texting.

As well as that, you can earn extras, such as Vodafone Text Unlimited, simply by adding credit each month above a threshold. There are also international calls at low rates, and free weekend call possibilities when credit is used during the week.

For more details on the Vodafone prepayment propostition, see free Vodafone sims.

T-Mobile Free Sims

T-Mobile, like Vodafone, offer a one-off package for all mobile usage patterns:

T-Mobile Pay As You Talk gives a tiered calls package, whereby it costs less when you have used your mobile for a couple of minutes each day. This is a fantastic option for customers requiring more call-time to cost less on a pay as you talk deal.

Messaging and voicemail are set cost per minute/message, as is picture messaging. T Mobile also offer internet options on Pay As You Talk, which is something the other companies do not so readily offer.

Orange Free Sim Cards

Orange offer 4 diverse packages to their pay as you talk offering – Dolphin, Canary, Racoon and Camel.

Dolphin is targeted at textaholics – with bonus texts available.

Canary is ideal for off peak calls (evenings and weekends).

Racoon is the option for on and off peak (all day) calls.

Camel provides cheaper international call and text pricing.

o2 Free Sims

o2, like Orange, offer several options depending on your call and text patterns:

Favourite Place gives bonus call time from a nominated location, for example your home address.

Talkalotmore is designed for off peak callers.

Text Anytime as the name suggests is ideal for texters.

o2 Unlimited at the time of press is the most popular option, with unlimited calls and texts to other o2 phones.

Your Country is the last option, perfect for phoning overseas.

It’s also worth considering sim only contracts if you are a regular phone user. Although it does still technically mean signing up for a contract, they can typically be ended after 30 days, and a month can cost as little as £10. In other words, if you top up by ten pounds or more a month this is likely to be the right option for your needs. All the major networks now offer packages of this nature, and there’s plenty of information available on the web.

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People love cars. And most people want bargains. Kicking the tires and talking down the price, people really love getting the best price on a car. Some of the best car deals around can be found when authorities offer impounded cars for sale. This is normally done via an auction. And if you play your cards right, you can end up with a steal (pun intended.).

How do these autos come to be there for these auctions? Police often acquire cars through taking them from criminals. Drug dealers, for instance, can lose everything they own if caught. That means a lot of cars, often very fancy cars, in the hands of the city or state who wants to sell them for a profit. Scoff laws also generate a lot of cars. The car is offered for sale when the fines reach a point that the owner can’t pay.

Often the cars are purchased by individuals who sell them for a profit. Or auto auctions might buy them and then sell them in turn to the highest bidder. It’s no matter. A smart buyer can get the car for a song when its up for auction. However, there are some things to consider. As the saying goes it’s “buyer beware.”

There’s usually no warranty offered with these autos. It’s a case of what you see is what you get. The term “as is” covers it. The seller can even engage in puffery in most states. That’s making non specific positive claims about the car such as “it’s a great deal” or “you’d be foolish not to want to drive home in this beauty.” There are even some tricky words involved in puffery such as “clean” or “in great condition.” The law says these aren’t warranties even though they sound like it. But they’re pretty meaningless.

The wise thing to do is go in with knowledge and expertise. Take a good look at the cars. If you’re not wise with cars, invite an expert to accompany you. Auctions offer test drives so use them. When it’s impounded cars for sale it can be a great deal. However, if great deals were easy to find everyone would have them.