My 10X goal: To single-handedly turn the label "tech geek" into a coveted social status. Let's be real: I want to make your new universal remote more exciting than Free Burrito Day at Bolocco.
I am a geek, and I'm proud. Unfortunately, I'm also a broke college student and I won't be reviewing anything new and expensive until my daily scratch card finally wins me more than five dollars.
Being broke is awful, but it has its perks. Over the past two years, I've learned how to stretch every dollar in order to quench my thirst for new technology. As my gift to you, I present three free, technological gems that are essential for sophomore Summer.
Netflix Subscription:
Kids, the video store is dead. The only advantage that my old video store has on Netflix is that my parents used to buy me candy if I didn't try to rent "The Land Before Time."
I didn't initially buy into the Netflix hype, but the new streaming options make the service the perfect companion for any movie lover. Sophomore Summer is about being outside and hanging with friends, but it is impossible to spend every moment active. With Netflix's instant streaming option, I can watch countless hours of movies and TV shows without leaving my room. It's perfect for lazy Sundays and weekend nights when you can't fall asleep. At only 10 bucks a month, it's a must have. It basically costs the same as renting a Dartmouth cable box for the summer
TetrisFriends.com:
If you have never heard of Tetris, you were either frozen for the past 30 years or the recent recipient of a lobotomy. Tetris is the first video game I remember playing I may or may not have learned how to play Tetris before I learned to tie my shoes. Tetrisfriends.com brings Tetris into the networking era. The website offers over eight different ways to play Tetris, including the classic version of the game without any bells or whistles.
The gem of the site is the Tetris Arena. Games in the area entail live, two to three-minute matches against up to five people. The battles are a fun, fast-paced, mini Tetris that keep you engaged for the entire time. Options that scramble your opponents' controls make every game unique. One game usually turns into 10 games and before I know it, I'm late for my 2A. The site is also perfect for that awkward time between your 10 and your 12 when you really have nothing to do.
Vuvuzela iPhone App:
The only thing more annoying than hearing thousands of blearing horns during every World Cup soccer match is hearing one of those blearing horns right next to you on a bus. It's annoying but surprisingly fun to play around with when you control the noise.
Don't get me wrong, I still seriously hate these horns. Every time I turn on a soccer game, my TV sounds like a herd of dying elephants. I know the horns are a South African tradition, but the tradition sucks. Not all traditions are meant to be sustained. Example: If my country had a tradition where a punch in the kidneys was the equivalent of a high five, I would respectfully ignore it and enjoy life without a dialysis machine.
The horns have to go, but you have to download this app. If enough people get this, we should all storm Parkhurst and repeatedly play the horn until they open the river again for swimming. Not even Mr. Miagi has enough patience to sit through three hours of buzzing.
