Category Archives: Holiday Gift Guide 2011
Giveaway!! Win A Copy of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s The Tiny Book Of Tiny Stories Volume 1 In Day 19 of Biff Bam Pop’s Holiday Gift Guide
Is there anything that Joseph Gordon-Levitt can’t do? Let’s face it, the former child actor star of 3rd Rock From The Sun has carved his own path, working on indie films such as (500) Days of Summer and main stream fair – he played Cobra Commander, of all things! Plus he was super cool in Christopher Nolan’s Inception, so much so that Nolan found a part for him in the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises (but I don’t know what it is yet, do you?).
Along with acting, Gordon-Levitt is also the founder and director of the company hitRECord, an opened ended domain for artist to collaborate with one another. There have been upwards of 10,000 contributions to the site since its inception (see what I did there), 67 of which have been collected into The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Volume 1. And believe, there is truth in advertising, as this is a tiny book, perfect as a stocking stuffer. On that note, you can order it online here, or we’ve got a copy for you to win, courtesy of our friends at HarperCollins.
How to enter the Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Volume 1 Holiday Gift Giveaway:
1) Post a comment below with your favourite book and why (must use valid email when commenting).
2) Bonus entry: Tweet us @BiffBamPop with your favourite book and why (you must be following@BiffBamPop on Twitter).
Winner Selection:
One winner will be selected from all entries received by December 20th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.
The winner will be announced December 21st, 2011 right here at Biff Bam Pop!
Biff Bam Pop’s Holiday Gift Guide Day 18 – iPad 2
If the geek on your holiday shopping list and is anything like me, they are basically crippled by their love of gadgets. There never seems to be enough disposable income to acquire all the toys, with all the functions, that a gadgeteer could want. Just when you think you’ve finally discovered the perfect device – the next version of it is released with EVEN MORE AMAZING STUFF!
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the tech-lover on your list, let’s take a look at what one of 2011’s best, and most popular, devices; the iPad 2, has to offer. While it may seem hard to believe, the iPad 2 is coasting into it’s first holiday shopping season on the market.
Let’s start by weighing the pros:
The Tech Specs. They’re impressive. The iPad 2 boasts a dual-core A5 chip, front and back facing cameras, HD video capture capabilities and a 10 hour battery life – all contained within a device weighing just over half a pound.
The Cool Factor. It’s freakin’ cool. And it’s super sexy. The user experience on the iPad is so seamless and intuitive. There is no adjustment to feel comfortable navigating around the iPad, the interface just works how you think it should. One of the biggest surprises is that the keyboard is the perfect size. There were no awkward touch-typing gaffs that are commonly associated with the iPhone.
It’s Size. It’s incredibly light and it fits in almost any size bag. If you pair it with an iMac or MacBook with iCloud, not only is it small, it’s incredibly mighty. Open your iPad 2 and almost everything you own is at the swipe of your fingertips.
There’s an app for that. Whether you want to make fart sounds, manage your budget, or do anything in between, there is an iPad app available to get you there. Many of which are less than $5 – if not free.
And now, some of the cons:
It does not replace a laptop. The Gorillaz may have recorded their album Plastic Beach on an iPad (first gen), but don’t let that fool you. The iPad 2 is not a laptop killer. It’s fantastic for a whole pile of stuff, but even with multitasking you still can’t have a browser and a word processing document open at the same time.
It’s not an e-reader. Or maybe it is. I guess that’s up to you. The light coming off of a computer screen is terrible for your eyes and the iPad’s screen is backlight just like the computer you’re on now. Unlike the Kindle, the iPad isn’t doing your eyes any favours even if you don’t mind the brightness of the screen.
You need the Smart Cover. It’s a stand! It’s a cover! It turns your iPad on and off when you open/close it! It’s also sold separately.
You will undoubtedly be a hero if you give your loved one an iPad 2 this holiday, but definitely consider what the person you’re shopping for wants to achieve with their new gadget. It’s the perfect solution for someone with a primary computer, who longs for a sexy and simplified version to compliment.
You can pick up the iPad 2 at Authorized Apple Re-Sellers, The Apple Store, and online. It starts at $519.
Biff Bam Pop’s Holiday Gift Guide Day 17, Part 2 – Doctor Who Series 6 on DVD and Blu-Ray
A caveat: this gift is for the Whovian on your list, and the Whovian alone. While some series of the reboot of Doctor Who can be seen without prior knowledge of the series, they are few and far between. Realistically, you can only start with series 1 or series 5. All you need to know for those two are that there’s this alien who’s called The Doctor, and he travels through space and time in a blue box. 2-4, plus the specials, all build off the first series, however, and this latest installment builds off series 5.
This is the second series with the eleventh Doctor, portrayed by Matt Smith, and it has some of the best episodes since the show started up again in 2005. Neil Gaiman even wrote an episode! (it’s fantastic, and in places you can hear Gaiman’s voice in the dialogue – not so much with the Doctor and his companions but with the rest of the cast) Admittedly, the series is not perfect, but it has a very captivating arc from the very first episode that permeates all thirteen episodes.
In short, how does The Doctor face a fixed point in time, his fixed point. From the first episode to the end the viewer continually asks themselves “How is he going to get out of this?”
The series arcs twice, too. This had to do with the way it aired on the BBC: it aired in two halves. It spirals towards an epic mid-season cliffhanger (and revelation, let me tell you), and then it heads back to the start. Yes, space and time isn’t fixed – wibbly, wobbly, timey-wimey (ok, so that was a 10th Doctor reference, but it still fits). The series is also very much about the Doctor and River; Amy and Rory (the Doctor’s current companions) are in more of a supportive role. Many series of Doctor Who deal with the Doctor and his relationship with his female companion, but this one is anomalous. Amy and Rory are important, and they’re by no means forgotten, but this series is about so much more than unspoken crushes.
The series is available on DVD and Blu-ray, the second of which I believe is a first for a Doctor Who series’ initial release. Exciting! Not only can the Doctor travel through time, but he can do it in high-definition.
So why recommend a series of television as a gift for which you must have prior knowledge? Because I refuse to admit for an instant that our readers are devoid of Doctor Who fans. The thought is ridiculous.
Biff Bam Pop’s Holiday Gift Guide Day 17 – Give The Gift of Game!
We all have that one friend, the one that is so hard to buy for because all they do is sit around and play video games. Well this year, why not give them exactly what they want by buying them a game from Steam!
Now I know that Steam is normally thought of as a way to get games for yourself, but you can give games to others just as easily! By “gifting” games, you can purchase the game on your own system and virtually send it to another Steam user. Just add the game to your cart as usual, and then simply select “Purchase as Gift”. It’s that easy! It’s all the fun of giving without the horrible wrapping jobs!
So many to choose from!
Think that they’ll enjoy slaying dragons in the mystical realm of Skyrim? Steam has it. Think they’ll want to become a feared assassin like Ezio in Assassins Creed: Revelations? Steam has it. Punch out the joker in Batman: Arkham City? Steam has that too! Even Modern Warfare 3!
They even have easy to read system requirements underneath each game that tells you (or the gift receiver) if you have the system requirements to actually play the game.
So this Christmas, instead of giving the gift of lame, give the gift of game! (pretty much an example of the gift of lame right there.)
Giveaway!!! Win A Frakin’ Copy of Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series on DVD in Day 16 of Biff Bam Pop’s Holiday Gift Guide
The greatest science fiction series in television history? So say well all! Well, at least a lot of us. There’s no question that the mid-2000′s reboot of Battlestar Galactica came with a lot baggage. What’s amazing is just well it blew up that baggage and created a timely and inventive mythos that resonated with both new fans and those sceptical devotees to Lorne Greene and Dirk Benedict.
Not only did the series come with spectacular storylines, covering everything from elections and terrorism to free will, it had a remarkable cast that consistently delivered the goods, from Edward James Olmos’ Adama and Mary McDonnell’s President Laura Roslin to Tricia Helfer’s sexy Six and Katee Sackhoff’s Starbuck. Compelling, moving and endlessly rewatchable, Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series is the perfect holiday gift for the sci-fi geek in your life.
You can order it online from amazon.ca here. Or you can enter our contest to win The Complete Series on DVD from us.
How to enter the Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series On DVD Holiday Gift Giveaway:
1) Post a comment below with your favourite BSG character and why (must use valid email when commenting).
2) Bonus entry: Tweet us @BiffBamPop with your favourite BSG character and why (you must be following@BiffBamPop on Twitter).
Winner Selection:
One winner will be selected from all entries received by December 18th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.
The winner will be announced December 19th, 2011 right here at Biff Bam Pop!
