Hasta La Gadget!

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Brady, who just wants to play NBA Jam, dammit. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“Hey, I used to be really into the homebrew and homemade software communities, but times changed and I fell out of the scene. Now I’d like to get back into it, and would love a new device that’ll let me play all of these old-school games without having to chop and change — letting me swap between titles like Mario Kart 64 and NBA Jam without any effort. There are so many new options, from buying an OUYA through to snagging a new PC, so what’s my best (and cheapest) bet? Plus, anything that can take a wireless controller is a big plus. Thanks!”

Well, we’re thinking that if you’re prepared to get your hands a little dirty, the OUYA can be turned into an Android-based emulator thanks to its hacking-friendly setup. If that’s a bit too rich for your bones, however, you can set up EmulationStation on a Raspberry Pi which will let you run a wide variety of consoles from the same piece of hardware. Still, let’s turn this question over to the Engadgeteers for them to share their experiences.

Filed under: Gaming

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Seth, who needs to replace his grandpa’s MSN TV2 box. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“Many years ago, I bought my grandfather an MSN TV2 box as his first exposure to the internet. We were worried that the gift would be a flop, but he loves it, and is now emailing his old friends and even has a Facebook profile. Of course, Microsoft will close the service a few days before his 91st birthday, so I’d like to know what would you suggest as a replacement? As antiquated as it was, it’s been rock solid from a reliability perspective and that’s going to be key to determine what we get him next.”

So, what’s it to be? What web technology have you adopted for your elderly relatives that you think Seth could use? Why not head down past the break and let us know.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Gingernut2K, who wants to talk about responsible parenting and not being too much of a snooper. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“I’ve always felt that talking to your kids and trusting them to be responsible is much better than trying to seal them in cotton wool. The problem? My daughter’s turning 14 and as she’s allowed to go out (under curfew) we think it’s time that she gets a phone, and she’s been saving up for a smartphone. Now, I trust her, but it’s not difficult to find adult material online, or even just be vulnerable to malicious messages from unscrupulous types. My question: is there a smartphone that’s both secure enough that I don’t have to worry, but also that I can access even if she passwords it? Man, writing that last sentence made me feel dirty.”

A tricky question, but one that’s well worth answering. We’re sure that plenty of you out there are parents who have struggled with a similar dilemma, so we’d love to hear what your solution was. Did you go for a carrier-based filtering plan like Verizon’s Family Safeguards or a software-based approach like phonesheriff? How do you talk about the internet to your kids and how can we encourage sensible internet use? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Filed under: Mobile

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from Diego, who wants to give his son the gateway drug into photography. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“I’m an amateur photographer, and my 10-year-old son has started to show an interest in what I do on weekends. I’ve shown him a thing or two on my DSLR and he wants to learn the basics, but I’d prefer it if he didn’t do it on my $1,500 rig. His birthday’s coming up, and I’d like to get him something that he can use for himself, that lets him customize ISO, white balance, aperture etc. Naturally, I was thinking of just a regular compact camera, but if you can suggest something else that won’t break the bank, I’ll gladly listen. Thanks!”

So, we turned this question over to one of our photo experts, who suggested that really, if you’ve got the budget for it, you might as well pick up a very old, very cheap DSLR. For instance, you can pick up an old Canon Rebel XT for around $200, and while it won’t be shiny and new, will let them play with features and settings beyond the average compact camera. But what do we know, eh? This is the part of the weekend where we poll our community for their sage wisdom, so have at it, chums.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is from William, who wants to make sure his new whip fits into all of the small spaces. If you’re looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“I’ve recently bought a new car and would like to install a reversing camera. Is it possible to install one that’ll relay to my Android tablet rather than buying a dedicated display? Many thanks!”

Well William, we were originally a little bit skeptical but we did find reports of at least one device that might solve your problem. Valeo produces the Wireless Vue, a WiFi reversing camera that hooks up to smartphones and tablets. So far, so good, right? Well, unfortunately while the product’s said to exist, we’ve not been able to find it available for sale either in the US or Thailand, where William is from. As such, this week’s Ask Engadget is a two-pronged encounter. Have any of you wonderful people seen a Valeo Wireless Vue on sale, and if not, is there anything else that can do the job?

Filed under: Cameras

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