In case you missed it (and we wouldn't be surprised if you did), Nintendo launched the Wii U this past Sunday, officially kicking off the next generation of video game consoles. Yet despite quick first day sales and a pre-Christmas launch, things aren't all smooth sailing for the video game giant.

First, there's the lackluster launch that took place on November 18. Instead of a much-hyped midnight launch like what games like Call of Duty: Black Ops II or Assassin's Creed III recently got, Canada's biggest dedicated video game retailer EB Games Canada opted to skip any late night sales. Customers had to pick them up when stores opened at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Early indications suggest that the console sold well on its first day on the market, selling out in many places across the U.S. which will likely only drive demand going into the holiday season.  But for those who did manage to get a Wii U home, the problems didn't end there: once set up, players were faced with a

Read More »from Wii U debuts with some issues, but its biggest obstacles are yet to come

While retailers are looking forward to increased foot traffic through their establishments in the coming months, they aren't thrilled at the increase in shoplifting that comes along with it. Some retailers are taking a different approach to theft prevention this year, and they're hoping to prove that they're no dummies.

Some retailers in the U.S. and Europe will be placing EyeSee mannequins on their store floors, which can do more than just creep out shoppers. The EyeSee is equipped with a camera in one eye that keeps watch for shoplifters.

And if that doesn't weird you out, try this on for size: the EyeSee is being used for market research, too, keeping track of shopper age, race and gender as well as how long shoppers spend around certain displays, CNET reports.

[ More Right Click: Oprah tweets love of Microsoft Surface tablet from her iPad ]

The facial-recognition software is developed by the Italian company behind the models, Almax SpA, and computer vision firm Kee Square. The

Read More »from EyeSee mannequins are watching you while you shop

We told you earlier this month how talk show queen Oprah Winfrey decided to feature the Microsoft Surface tablet as one of her 'Favourite Things' in the latest issue of her magazine. It looks like Oprah is continuing to extol its virtues — but just can't quit her love for Apple technology.

[ Related: Oprah picks the Microsoft Surface tablet as one of her 'Favourite Things' ]

On Sunday night, Oprah was sharing some of her handpicked holiday gift items using the hashtag #FavoriteThings. She included a glowing endorsement for the Microsoft Surface, saying that she'd already snapped up a dozen to hand out to some of her lucky acquaintances:

Gotta say love that SURFACE! Have bought 12 already for Christmas gifts. #FavoriteThings

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) November 19, 2012

There was just one problem: it was sent via Oprah's iPad.

As TechCrunch explains, there's likely a very good reason she sent her tweet out from Apple's tablet rather than her new Microsoft Surface. As it stands, there's no

Read More »from Oprah tweets love of Microsoft Surface tablet from her iPad

The Voice Communicating Ski Goggles (Hammacher Schlemmer)Some Canadians are already seeing snow on the ground, while others are just hoping for (or dreading) its imminent arrival. If you're a skier, that first layer of powder can't come soon enough.

For those skiers interested in stepping up their tech on the slopes this year, Hammacher Schlemmer has Voice Communicating Ski Goggles that could be just what you're looking for.

Using a Bluetooth transceiver, these goggles let the wearer communicate with up to six other skiers using the same devices within a 1,600-foot range. According to the product description, the bone conduction microphone built into the ski goggles' frame eliminates the problem of trying to shout into a microphone as the wind whooshes by.

The goggles charge through a USB connection, which provides up to 12 hours of talk time, and has a standard 1/8" headphone jack to accommodate whichever headphones you prefer.

While many skiers already use two-way radios to communicate, these goggles do provide one definite advantage: in

Read More »from Must-Have Monday: Making ski-hill communication a more high-tech affair

While every gamer's mother has probably told him or her at least once to put down the controller and get some exercise, there are plenty of reasons that gamers can give in return for why it isn't so bad that they're engaging in their favourite hobby.

And this isn't just new motion games, either: sure, standing up and moving will always be better than sitting in one position for hours, but traditional games can provide a wealth of health benefits, too.

For a quick list of how playing video games is helping you, check out this short video (and the great music by Desert Planet doesn't hurt, either):

If those ten facts aren't enough for you, consider this: just last week, medical professionals, game designers and business executives gathered for the second annual Games for Health Conference in Europe. Games were proposed as possible solutions for everything from treating Alzheimer's patients to helping people regulate their emotions.

Next time Mom suggests you need to do something good

Read More »from 10 ways video games can be good for your health

If you've been looking for a way to get to all the companies trying to reach you through Facebook without all your pesky friends getting in the way, has Facebook got a solution for you!

In actuality, Facebook isn't trying to block your friends. What the social media giant has done is added an option for users to just view posts from the Pages that they follow instead of from both friends and Pages.

For those who aren't familiar, Pages are created by companies, groups and organizations seeking to reach out to a fan base on Facebook. Previously, when someone "liked" something or someone, posts would appear in the user's news feed from whatever they liked. With Pages, companies can reach out to followers through text, photo, videos or promote special offers and events.

[ More Right Click: Jawbone attempts to overcome last year's catastrophe with Up 'lifestyle wristband' ]

This change is simply an added filter; it doesn't seem to add or take away any features from the news feed. Based on

Read More »from Facebook to have friend-free feeds, featuring only Pages

(AP Photo/Ubisoft)The recently released Assassin's Creed III by Ubisoft's Montreal studio seems to have gotten the Globe and Mail editors all in a tizzy. A recent editorial by the national newspaper asks "who's side" Ubisoft Montreal is really on, considering the game is intended to glorify the conquests of a Native American assassin as he participates in fictional events intended to take place during the American Revolutionary War.

The Globe editors take the game's creators to task for making the goal of the game to "hunt down the British redcoats" (their quotations, no citation included), suggesting that it "grotesquely twists the facts" to imply that a Native American assassin would rally to the aid of the colonials in their fight for American independence. The editors close with the suggestion that video games may be "the only place that Canadian young people are learning about the Revolutionary War," and that the heavily-skewed American perspective of the game could hurt their understanding of real

Read More »from Globe’s take on historically inaccurate Assassin’s Creed III sparks online free-for-all

A BlackBerry handset is displayed in Washington, December 15, 2011. (Reuters)RIM is seeking to build excitement ahead of its BlackBerry 10 launch on January 30^th, and this latest announcement that essentially lets BBM users make long distance calls for free might be a good start at getting people excited about the brand again.

In an announcement on Wednesday, RIM revealed that their new BBM Voice feature is available to test in beta, and will allow users to have voice chats through BBM. Currently, it only works on devices operating BlackBerry OS 6 or higher, ZDNet reports, but OS 5 will also be supported "at a later date."

"The new BBM Voice feature is for when you're travelling and you want to call home without worrying about phone charges," said RIM's vice president of BBM and social communities T.A. McCann in a statement.

[ Related: RIM to introduce new BlackBerry 10 devices on January 30 ]

The only catch is users will only be able to take advantage of this feature over a Wi-Fi connection, so don't expect to make long-distance calls for free if you aren't

Read More »from BBM Voice to give BlackBerry users free voice calling over Wi-Fi