AVS Gear Zippy BT-500 Compact Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard Review
Typing without a keyboard sucks. Whether you’re working on a smartphone with tactile keys like a Blackberry or a touch screen on an iPhone or iPad, typing anything at length can be a challenge when you’re working with small keys or sensitive touch pads. Add in a bad case of sausage fingers, and you can forget about typing anything over 50 to 100 words.
That’s why they make devices like the Zippy BT-500 Compact Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard from AVS Gear. This keyboard is deceptively efficient. It’s lightweight and tiny enough so you can lug it around easily. It weighs 320grams (with batteries) and it’s 225 mm long, 99 mm wide and 23.5 mm high. But despite its miniature form, it still feels sturdy. You feel like this thing can withstand a few drops on the ground and keep on ticking.
The keys occupy a small surface area, but they aren’t too close together and they actually have some decent resistance behind them. When you press the keys down, you can actually feel it, almost like an old school clicky keyboard. If you stroke the wrong key, you’ll now it right away. And you’re not going to accidently mistype O, P, K, comma, semicolon and period because you were targeting an “L.” Each key occupies its own clear space and the tactile give and take allows you to bang away at this thing with a pretty high degree of precision.
The Zippy BT-500 is a wireless device that utilizes Bluetooth 2.0 technology. It has a range of up to 10 meters, and you can connect the thing to up to six Bluetooth devices at once. The keyboard has a one-touch fast switch option that lets you cycle through different Bluetooth devices in seconds. It comes equipped with two AA batteries which should last the average user about two months.
If you’re an aggressive typist, you can pound the keys on this thing without thinking twice about it. There are little rubber stoppers on all four corners so you get some solid traction on whatever surface you type on. You can flip the switches in the back if you prefer some lean on your keyboard surface.
The Zippy BT-500 Compact Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard retails for $49.99. If you use your smartphone, iPad or other Bluetooth enabled device to type anything over 50-100 words, do yourself a favor and pick up the Zippy BT-500. It’s slightly bigger than your hand, but it’s a sturdy, compact package that’ll save you time and cure your smartphone sausage finger syndrome.
Apr 19th
Interview with “The Gunny” R. Lee Ermey
You know “The Gunny.” R. Lee Ermey has had over a 100 film and TV roles, everything from Apocalypse Now to Toy Story. You’ve seen him on Mail Call on the History Channel. He was the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket who pushed Vincent D’onofrio to the brink. The Gunny started out as an advisor on the film, but Stanley Kubrick liked him so much that he gave him the role of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
Before he became the quintessential drill sergeant character actor, Ronald Lee Ermey spent 11 years in the US Marine Corps. He served 14 months in Vietnam and did two tours in Okinawa. When his military career was cut short by injuries, Ermey posted up in the Philippines. He studied Criminology and Drama at the University of Manila, and he began appearing in films in the Philippines.
His role as a helicopter pilot in Apocalypse Now led to other acting and advisor roles. He served as a technical advisor on the film An Officer and a Gentleman, and he went on to appear in films like Fletch Lives, Toy Soldiers, Se7en, Mississippi Burning, both Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies and X-Men 3.
When The Gunny isn’t acting, doing voiceover work, teaching people about military history or showing up in Geico commercials, he finds ways to support the troops. The Gunny recently teamed up with WD-40 for the Drop and Give Me 40 promotion that supports three different troop charities. When you purchase Limited Edition WD-40® Collectible Series cans, the WD-40 company will donate 10 cents for every can purchased to the Armed Services YMCA, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Veterans Medical Research Foundation.
We spoke with The Gunny last week while he was on the deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. He gave us more details about the Drop and Give Me 40 promotion while he was drilling ROTC candidates. We also talked a little bit about Mail Call and working with Stanley Kubrick. Check out the video:
To learn more about the Drop and Give Me 40 campaign, visit supporttroops.wd40.com.
Apr 18th
Scream 4 Review
The first Scream flick was a good movie. You know it was. It infused horror films with a type of style and humor that was fresh and easy to consume. The film knew that it belonged to a greater catalog of horror films, and it made clever use of this knowledge. The first Scream paid homage to horror films of old, but it did so in a way that recognized and lampooned existing horror film formulas. The sequels got old, to be sure, but that original Scream movie seemed to hit all of the right notes.
The same is true with Scream 4. Seriously. It captured that old, self-aware, self-deprecating vibe of the first film, but it still brought an updated, fresh take to the whole franchise. Reboot jokes were commonplace. Scream 4 never took itself too seriously, but it still pushed all the right horror buttons without coming across as stale. It poked fun without turning tired. That’s not easy to do.
Let’s be clear, this isn’t some breakthrough film that’ll change the way movies are made. It’s just a fun trip down a familiar path. It had old stars and new faces, a smart intro and plenty of cameos. Add in some amusing death scenes, a good bit of intrigue and some serious plastic surgery, and you got 111 minutes of quality slash and laughs.
I didn’t have massive expectations for a fourth Scream film. How good could it be? We’ve seen it all before. So when AXE Shower hooked us up with tickets to the Scream 4 premiere at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, our expectations were minimal at best. Before the film started, Bob Weinstein said that if it were up to his brother, they would’ve made a bunch more of these films. We were skeptical. And the lively, supportive crowd likely played a factor, but after watching the thing, I wasn’t thinking about what didn’t work in this film. I was thinking about all the things that did work – the stuff that makes you happy you went to the movie theater.
The fourth Scream installment is not just watchable, it’s actually enjoyable. Were there things that could’ve been better? For damn sure. The acting with the younger crowd was lacking a bit. Did the movie force you to suspend some bit of critical judgment in favor of having a good time? Of course. You just gotta know what you’re getting into and have fun with it.
Bottom line, Scream 4 is unexpectedly entertaining, and well worth a visit to your local movie spot. I’m sure it’ll blow up this weekend.
Apr 12th
Champion Track Jacket Giveaway
The MANjr team is a big fan of track jackets. Nothing balances the fine line between sporty and comfy quite like a good tracky top. While we’re partial to Adidas and Puma, we’re an equally opportunity track jacket operation. So when Champion wanted to team up with us for a giveaway, we knew exactly what we wanted to select.
The Champion Double Dry Ultimate All-Weather Soft-Shell Men’s Jacket is a lightweight tracky that keeps you warm without weighing you down. The soft-shell is resistant to wind and water, so you can go for that track jacket look on a rainy day without worrying about getting all soaked. Stretchiness is built in to the whole package. You get the benefit of added freedom of motion and the inner stretch cuffs have thumb holes to keep your hands warm on chilly days.
Champion has been producing quality athletic apparel since 1919. They pioneered the hoodie and they have mesh shorts that’ll keep you cool and agile for any athletic activity. These guys also introduced the world’s first sports bra. Champion employs moisture-wicking technology in their Double Dry sportswear and in all their socks and underwear. If you need sporty gear that can double as comfy casual wear, Champion has the track record and innovative features you need to keep you relaxed and stylish.
So how to you win this Double Dry Ultimate All-Weather Soft-Shell Men’s Jacket? It’s simple. Just follow us on Twitter @MANjrcom or like fan of our Facebook page and leave us a comment telling us why you love track jackets. We’ll pick a winner at random next Thursday, April 14.
Good luck!
Apr 7th
Double Life – Born to Create Drama
This video is an advertisement for the Young Director Award. Pretty clever stuff:
Via: Shortlist
Apr 7th
Workaholics Premieres on Comedy Central Tonight
The show Workaholics will debut tonight on Comedy Central. Looking at the previews, the show seems like it could be pretty cool. It’s executive produced by Kevin Etten from Scrubs and stars Anders Holm, Blake Anderson and Adam DeVine. The show is semi-scripted and semi-improv. Here’s a clip to check out:
Apr 6th
Top 10 Useless Things in America
We got a lot of useless stuff in this country. Maybe it’s because we’re so prosperous and comfortable and so satiated with the necessities of life. Some people might argue that it’s our right as Americans to love useless shit. That’s a bunch of malarkey. At MANjr, we believe there’s an overabundance of worthless stuff out there that needs to go away. Here’s our list of the top 10 useless things in America today.
10. Blockbuster Video Stores
So Blockbuster filed for Chapter 11, got bought in an auction and they’re closing down stores left and right across the country. The company tried to waive late fees, but that didn’t stick. Their inventory sucks and they never have enough copies of the latest new release. Can we put this chain out of its misery already? With torrents, Red Box, OnDemand, Netflix and other online content streaming solutions, there’s really no reason to keep Blockbusters around. They destroyed the local video shop and it’s time these blue and gold dinosaur stores get phased out for good.
9. Segways
You lazy mother, get off that stupid Zamboni stick and walk around like a real person. You wanna ride a bike, that’s fine. You wanna rollerblade, cruise in a motorized wheelchair or ride a Moped? That’s totally acceptable. But don’t stand up on a $7,000 motorized doormat and have the nerve to wear a helmet. If you’re gonna stand, walk. If you gotta sit, make use of a century’s worth of available technology to get yourself from A to B.
8. Best Buy Employees
Have you ever tried to ask a Best Buy employee for assistance on anything? It’s the most depressing shit ever. These blue-shirted zombies would rather text on their phone and power walk across the aisles than provide you with even the smallest nugget of customer support. I don’t know how they train their people, but they’re doing it wrong. I get that quality customer service is a lost art, but it’s amazing how so many employees can be so useless. Why not have one security guard and 20 self-checkout stations and call it a day?
7. Roundabouts
Is there a stop sign shortage out there? Is the circular intersection really necessary? Roundabouts suck because most drivers on the road are already incredibly retarded. Why complicate things for them? People just don’t know what to do when they see these things. It’s just easy for everyone if you remove the planter in the middle of the street and create a proper intersection that inept American drivers can understand.
6. Handerpants
What’s this? Underpants for your hands? Well it’s about damn time. People buy a lot of stupid shit on TV. Shake weights, snuggies, pajama jeans are all pretty retarded, but who the hell has ever cried out for finger underwear? Are gloves that out of touch? As seen on TV products and anything that’s in SkyMall Magazine just isn’t worth it people.
Apr 6th
