What looks good hanging on a wall or between the pages of a sample book doesn't always look right when it's on your arm, shoulder, or bottom. For those looking to augment their body with permanent art, Tatmash let's you try out your design first by uploading a picture of your bare body part to their website and then applying a virtual tattoo to see how it might look. While the site has a fairly extensive collection of tattoo designs to look through and try, you can also upload your own and apply it using the same process. It also offers statistics as to which designs are the most popular, and such the least unique if you're wearing it. Dragon and tribal tattoos right now are getting the majority of attention, together making up almost a third of the designs being tried on. 

Canadian bookseller Indigo Books & Music Inc. made the big reveal today on their long-rumoured eBook reader device. While the Kobo eReader has a 6" screen and uses the same Electronic Ink display technology used by other eBook devices on the market, it will differ greatly in its fewer features and smaller price tag. At $149 the 221 gram device will allow users to simply read books and view illustrations. Unlike the higher-priced competition, there will be no options for listening to audiobooks, MP3s, or connecting to the internet through a wireless store. [More]

Starting this week Canada AM is introducing a new, regular feature where we will ask you to record and share videos on a particular topic. As this might lead many of you to share a video online for the very first time, our producers have asked me to help out by going over the basics and pointing out the easiest way to participate. 

We're asking you to upload your video to a trusted video-sharing community such as YouTube and then submit a link from your movie to us in an e-mail. This way your movie isn't being downloaded by anyone, our producers aren't having to download unknown and potentially dangerous files to their computers, and it makes it clear that your movie is meant for public consumption. We are, after all, a live, national television show. 

It is arguably the most intelligent of video game franchises. Now into its fifth release with Conviction coming this April 13th, the Splinter Cell series is a bold one willing to explore the American military and its foreign activities in uncertain terms, to express them visually with artistry over conformity, and to always give players several non-lethal options. Most game designers tell me that their job can be simplified as one where they give players interesting targets to shoot at. UbiSoft Montreal has focused instead on giving players interesting ways around their targets, so much so that you can play one of their games from start to finish and leave behind a trail of untouched ammunition clips instead of bodies. I myself finished Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory with just one kill (one moment where there wasn't a non-lethal option) and still found the 30+ hours riveting and compelling. 

While the games will always be fun to play, it's the continued presence of Toronto-born actor Michael Ironside as the voice of lead character Sam Fisher that inspires a great affection from fans. Michael my not realize it, but he's a pioneer in the industry. Most celebrity actors record their lines, collect their paychecks, and then instruct their publicists to hide their involvement as if they had just recorded a commercial for Suntory Whiskey in Japan. From the very beginning Michael has always been open about his role as Sam Fisher, willing to do interviews and even, quite famously, willing to rip up that paycheck unless the character is portrayed responsibly. He doesn't play video games himself, but doesn't look down on them as so many in a similar position do. For him Sam Fisher is no different an acting role than any other in film or television and must be explored with the same serious questions. Here he discusses some of those aspects which lead him to a fifth Splinter Cell, aptly subtitled "Conviction".

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What's the hype and what's the reality? There's always a catch, right? As the retail stores, television manufacturers, and movie studios begin their 3D blitz tomorrow as they sell their first sets in Canada, I offer up these five straight points for those seeking refuge from the marketing and who just want the down-and-dirty facts. [More]

Sony is now taking pre-orders for their 3D LCD televisions, expected to first ship to stores in June. The hope is to lure you away from Samsung's own 3D LED LCD sets, launching tomorrow, and Panasonic's 3D Plasma sets, launching in May with a special deal that includes a 3D-ready Blu-ray player for free (the BDP-S470). In total Sony is offering nine different televisions, all LCD HDTVs and ranging in price from $2,600 to $5,500 and in size from 40" up to 60". Sony's televisions will come in two series - the LX900 sets will be promoted as full, 3D televisions with built-in transmitters and two sets of 3D glasses included. The HX800 series will be promoted as "3D Ready", meaning that the televisions are themselves 3D, but lack the needed accessories, the transmitter and glasses to complete the experience. The 3D glasses are being sold separately for $150 each while the transmitter will sell for $70. A bundle, containing two pairs of glasses and a transmitter will be available for $350 [More]