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Judging from the gaming news coming out of this year's Consumer Electronics Show -- and fans' reaction to it -- console gaming, like PC computing, is a relic of a sunset era. Or at least that's what NVIDIA (NVDA) appears to be aiming for.

Most breakthroughs on display at CES introduced new ways to bring high-end games to mobile devices or TVs. For NVIDIA's Project Shield -- an all-in-one portable gaming platform that'll feel familiar to anyone who's played an Xbox -- that means playing Android games on a built-in display, streaming PC games from a connected computer on a Wi-Fi network, or navigating to online game distributor Valve and its Steam platform for downloading and playing titles purchased there.

• Valve teased the idea of a "Steam Box," a console substitute based on the Xi3 modular computer that brings your online library straight to your big screen. Investors might remember Xi3 for a near-miss funding campaign launched last year via Kickstarter.
• Sony (SNE) didn't say much about its PlayStation console, choosing instead to tout 3D gaming and Ultra HD television. Don't know Ultra HD? Get a bottle of Windex. Scrub the window looking out to your backyard. Admire the crystal-clear picture and then imagine replicating that -- bright colors and all -- on your big screen. Mix in 3D and you've got Sony's Personal 3D Viewer. Think of it as the classic red Fisher-Price View-Master updated for the 21st century.
• Startup Agawi, which has its own cloud gaming service aimed at smartphones, announced a partnership with chip maker Marvell Technology (MRVL) to bring games to smart TVs based on the Android OS. Between this deal and NVIDIA's Project Shield, CES has proven particularly fruitful for Google (GOOG), which had no formal presence at the event.
• But Microsoft had wins too, none bigger than the Razer's Edge tablet gaming platform. CNET named the new Windows 8 tablet its Best of Show for how it rapidly transforms from a handheld into a lightweight laptop and ultimately a mobile gaming console.

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Forget transforming your living room: There are a dozen or so automakers at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas proposing new technologies to transform your living room on the road: your car.

• Ford (F) introduced a new programming interface for its SYNC in-car control system. Coders that register get a kit for writing new dashboard or voice-controlled apps. In an interview, spokesman Gary Strumolo said that the kit also opens the possibility of creating apps that monitor a driver's health. One example: linking a glucose monitor to SYNC via wireless Bluetooth so that a diabetic doesn't go too long without taking needed medicine.
• General Motors (GM) introduced a developer program of its own with an emphasis on adding infotainment apps to a dashboard control system. As with Apple's famously rigorous iTunes screening program, GM must test and approve apps before they're allowed to access the system.
• Audi showed off an automated driving concept for navigating trafficked highways at speeds of up to 40 mph. A spokesperson said the system is planned for release before the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the carmaker already has a connected interface that uses a 3G network to sync between a "My Audi" app and the car. Google (GOOG) is a partner for onboard maps -- save a route in My Audi and the map automatically uploads to the car upon syncing. An Audi spokesperson said its connected car service is available as an option for all models.
• Hyundai (HYMTF) is catering to iPhone 5 owners. The carmaker said its Blue Link in-car system will allow drivers to access Apple's Siri voice control system for finding nearby restaurants, among other things, all without ever touching the phone.
• Fiat's (FIATY) Chrysler took home AOL Autos' Technology of the Year award for its Uconnect in-car infotainment system. It's feature-rich, to be sure, though I'm not nearly so certain as my colleagues that Uconnect's complex interface is worth naming Technology of the Year. Driving needs to be a seamless and safe experience, which means any add-on tech has to be accessible even as it's invisible. Think voice commands over crowded dashboard displays.

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The first thing you notice when you walk the floor at the Consumer Electronics Show is the lack of PCs.

Booth attendants turn to tablets to call up information about products or to take orders. At one demo at Qualcomm's (QCOM) booth -- CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs delivered the show-opening keynote Monday night -- a staffer used an iPad to demonstrate how software can recognize and add on-screen details about any real-world object.

Think "Minority Report" meets "The Jetsons." In this hyperconnected world in which data is an uttered sentence away ("Siri, where's the closest In-N-Out Burger?"), PCs are noticeably absent because they just aren't portable enough.

Companies know it, too, which is why so much of the news from the big names demonstrating wares at CES had everything to do with devices you'll hold in your hand or control via remote:

• Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) wants to give your portable device a second screen. At CES, the company best known for printers introduced a portable monitor that plugs into a USB port. It's a smart strategy: HP gets to overcome its own mobile shortcoming by introducing an add-on for others' devices that are already playing well in the mass market.
• iRobot (IRBT) bulked up its line of automated maids with the Looj gutter cleaner and the Mirra pool cleaner. Each robot is controlled wirelessly and handles the dirt and grime homeowners would rather not deal with by hand. And they do it with uncommon speed: The Mirra can filter 70 gallons of water a minute.
• Garmin (GRMN) introduced K2, an enhanced navigation system that takes over a vehicle's infotainment options. Its 10-inch display not only offers maps but also audio, connected notifications, and, while the vehicle is parked, access to your calendar, social media, and more. Forget ever having to be unplugged. (If, you know, that's your sort of thing.)
• Western Digital (WDC) made a bid to show that PCs aren't entirely uncool with a new hybrid disk drive that combines the standard magnetic disk platter found in most computers with solid-state storage that powers smartphones and tablets. Should it matter? Not really, since data is data, but for investors it's more circumstantial evidence that the world is tilting toward devices.
• And as if to prove it, Deutsche Telekom's (DTEGY) T-Mobile subsidiary announced a ridiculous $70 monthly no-contract mobile plan that includes unlimited voice, messaging, and data. Sprint Nextel (S) also offers unlimited data but it charges more. Expect smartphone users to flock to T-Mobile as a result. Not that they aren't already: Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray told CNET that T-Mobile's network is already serving 1.9 million iPhones and is adding 100,000 more every month. An impressive stat, to be sure, when you consider that T-Mobile's arrangement with Apple (AAPL) for selling the handset isn't yet live.

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1. Invest in proven titles. The most investable comics are those that have already proven profitable for early collectors. "The Walking Dead" is a great example. Older issues of the series keep rising in value because, as word of the show spreads, demand increases.
2. Rarity beats heat. The harder it is to find, the more likely it is you'll be able to command a premium price. That's why some collectors choose to focus on very old comics, including hard-to-find issues from the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, otherwise known as the Golden Age of Comics.
3. Avoid autographs. Now that comics have become a sort of alternative asset class, professionals have become stricter about what determines value. Autographs don't typically make the list. Why? Usually, because they can't be verified. Only a verified signature (which almost always means "purchased" through a professional organization such as CGC) will add much in the way of value, and even then that's only if the creator in question rarely signs for fans.
4. Buy first appearances. Some of the hottest comics right now feature first appearances of characters that are showing up on TV or in cinema. For example, "The Walking Dead" #19, which features the first appearance of katana-wielding Michonne, now sells for $250 if in near-mint condition. Iron Man #55, which introduces the extraterrestrial terrorist Thanos, who made a cameo appearance at the end of The Avengers, now comes with a $1,000 price tag.

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"Future introductions of I/O Boards that feature new components [and] connectors are expected to allow Xi3 Modular Computers to enjoy useful lives of 6-10 years instead of the standard 3-5 years of traditional PCs," the company said in its now-ended Kickstarter pitch.

Xi3 wasn't looking to trade equity for cash so much as goodies and high-end systems, but its try at financing a signature product via Kickstarter offers lessons for those thinking of taking advantage of the new rules put in place by the JOBS Act. CEO Jason Sullivan offered three pieces of advice in a recent interview.

1. Experiment! Sullivan says to think of crowdfunding as cheap research. In the case of Xi3's Modular Computer, the company promised early access to the machine, among other perks, in order to gauge interest.

"It's like a test market, only better. That's because the backers don't tell you they would buy -- they actually do buy through their pledge [or] backing," Sullivan says. "This means they have confirmed interest in your product, at a set price, along with your market assumptions ... all at the same time."

2. Spread your bets. Sullivan says one of his regrets is not looking beyond Kickstarter when deciding to launch the Modular Computer via a crowdfunded campaign. Indiegogo.com rates as a popular second choice, one Sullivan says might have brought benefits to Xi3 because it lacks the screening that can lead to delays in working with Kickstarter. (Two weeks in Xi3's case.)

Sullivan says, "According to Crowdfunding.org there are nearly 500 active crowdfunding services today. Is it possible that one platform will be better for a specific campaign than another? Even if the number of monthly visitors is lower -- even significantly lower -- than another platform? Perhaps so."

3. Get comfortable with discomfort. Sullivan calls crowdfunding "social creation," in that entrepreneurs and creators offer ideas, get feedback, and adjust, all before the product is delivered. Handling the inevitable back-and-forth with clients (provisional ones, at that) can be challenging.

"Crowdfunding is not for the faint of heart because it is very live and very real. So if your project is not put together well, the community will rightfully call you on it," Sullivan says.

And what of the money? How much should you try for? How many investors? Sullivan doesn't say, and maybe that's the point. Regulators may see crowdfunding as a way to diversify or increase access to capital, but for entrepreneurs like Sullivan, it's just another way to build a market.

What do you think of crowdfunding? Should investors to be turning to platforms such as Kickstarter to bet on new ideas? Make your voice heard by leaving a comment in the space below.

Motley Fool contributor Tim Beyers didn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article at the time of publication. The Motley Fool owns shares of Facebook and has bought calls on Facebook. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Facebook.

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Source: AOL DailyFinance

What do you think of these banks right now? Is there a better way for investors to play our national addiction to debt? Make your voice heard by leaving a comment in the space below.

Motley Fool contributor Tim Beyers didn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article at the time of publication. The Motley Fool owns shares of Citigroup, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended creating a write covered strangle position in American Express.

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The House of Mouse is about to get darker. Positive fan reactions to more violent superhero film interpretations, plus plans for a gruesome new video game, suggest grittier days ahead at Walt Disney (DIS).

There's a large fan base hungry for more comic book noir. Just look at the reaction to the new teaser reel for Marvel's blind comic-book crime fighter, Daredevil. There's violence throughout, even in the PG-13 version.

Director Joe Carnahan, whose film credits include The Grey as well as the big-screen adaptation The A-Team, promised to release two versions of his Daredevil promo, but only if his Twitter account grew to 6,000 followers. He got them in an hour.

There's Dough in Darkness

In the wake of Christopher Nolan's highly successful and noir-esque take on Batman, audiences might find a darker Daredevil appealing. The Dark Knight Rises has now earned more than $830 million at the worldwide box office for Time Warner (TWX), which produced the series via its Warner Bros. studio subsidiary.

However, for now, Carnahan's hopes for a big-screen reboot of 2003's Daredevil, which starred Ben Affleck in the title role, are dead. "Think my idea for a certain retro, red-suited, Serpico-styled superhero went up in smoke today kids," Carnahan wrote on Twitter.

What's interesting is that News Corp.'s (NWS) 20th Century Fox didn't pass on the project because of the content. "Time simply ran out," Carnahan wrote in a follow-up tweet Wednesday morning, which suggests the movie rights to the character will revert to Disney and Marvel Studios.

Frights for the whole family

You'd think Carnahan's vision for an R-rated Daredevil film wouldn't gain much traction at Disney or Marvel Studios, which has long maintained a desire to keep its superhero films rated PG-13 in order to attract the widest possible audience.

So far, the fun-for-the-whole-family strategy is working brilliantly. Marvel's The Avengers is as close as we've ever seen to a kid-friendly, popcorn action flick that also does justice to comic-book fans. More than $1.46 billion in global box-office sales later, it's probably fair to call that project a success. Disney has already booked writer-director Joss Whedon to develop the sequel.

And yet Disney and Marvel do have a darker side.

Witness the trailer for the forthcoming video game starring Deadpool, a mutant mercenary who has gained a following in the comics for mixing humor with bloodlust. The trailer is sure to appeal to fans familiar with his gruesome antics. Marvel joined with High Noon Studios and Activision Blizzard (ATVI) to produce the game.

Meanwhile, at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, actor Thomas Jane screened a fan film titled Dirty Laundry, featuring his interpretation of another of Marvel's more violent characters, the vigilante known as The Punisher. The bloody 10-minute promo has already attracted more than 2.4 million views on YouTube. Fans apparently would like Jane to reprise the role he played in 2004's The Punisher, which Lions Gate (LGF) produced. Marvel has since regained movie rights to the character.

Can Edgy Fare Attract Crowds?

Is fan appreciation enough? History shows that violent, R-rated features typically fail to draw the massive crowds needed to produce a blockbuster:

Maybe it doesn't matter now that digital technology has made filmmaking a more accessible art. Write a strong script, develop a rabid fan base, and get a project in production, and profits will follow. Carnahan clearly believes he has the right formula for a Daredevil reboot. Jane no doubt feels similarly about The Punisher.

Don't be surprised if Marvel and Disney reach out to one or both of them.

Motley Fool contributor Tim Beyers owned shares of Time Warner and Walt Disney at the time of publication. The Motley Fool owns shares of Activision Blizzard and Walt Disney. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Walt Disney and Activision Blizzard, and creating a synthetic long position in Activision Blizzard.

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I often have a hard time explaining to my kids why they should put some of their money in the bank.

My 9-year-old daughter -- the crafty genius of the family, really -- had me at one point when she asked how much she'd be paid for trusting the bank with her cash. The honest answer is that she'd get paid basically nothing.

That naturally led to her asking what the point was in putting her money in the bank, making it harder to get to, especially when she isn't already a spendthrift.

My answer was essentially what it had to be: because putting money away for later is a good habit. Rates will rise at some point and she'll be paid more. For now, let's just build the habit, I argued.

"But honey, you'll earn a whole 9¢ in interest!"

Let's be clear that I'm not talking about college savings in this article. My wife and I sock away some money in 529 accounts for each of our kids whenever we can. Instead, I'm talking about a savings account my daughter owns: a mechanism designed to help her save for stuff she'd like to have.

Therein lies the problem. Record-low interest rates make for laughable returns for the average savings account: The very best savings deal published by Bankrate (RATE) offered just 1.05% for balances above $25,000 as of this writing, and just 0.90% for other accounts.

Many big-name banks offer 0.10% or even less. Among the better-known names, American Express (AXP) and Discover Financial (DFS) offer accounts that pay 0.85% and 0.80%, respectively, Bankrate reports.

Banks aren't doing me -- or any parent -- a favor by offering my kids essentially nothing for their cash. Under the best of circumstances, my daughter's $100 would earn her just $0.09 per year -- nowhere near enough to buy anything matters to her or any kid.

But it's worse than that. Bankrate shows that most mortgages now cost about 3% annualized, which means the vast majority of institutions that pay well below 1% on deposits earn 3% or more on the funds they've borrowed to lend to others.



What's the Point?

Banks have a right to make money, of course, so that delta shouldn't surprise me or anyone else. Yet I have a hard time arguing that saving is a wonderful thing to do when I know from experience that there are plenty of other ways to earn more.

It wasn't always this way.

My parents opened a passbook savings account for me when I wasn't much older than my daughter is now. Double-digit interest rates were the norm then, transforming every $100 or so I stored away from income earned as a newspaper carrier into $10 or more for every year that I kept the cash squirreled away.

My problem wasn't a lack of savings options. My problem was that, in spite of the remarkable rates I was being offered, I too often chose to spend on fast food, movies, and comic books. Only one of those (i.e., the comics) still has any meaning or value to me.

I Fear for Her Future

That's why it matters to me that my daughter comes to appreciate savings as a habit now, while she's still young, in order to avoid growing up as a spendthrift who struggles with debt as I have.

Gallery: The Safest Banks You Can Trust

Motley Fool contributor Tim Beyers didn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article at the time of publication. The Motley Fool has created a bear call spread position in American Express. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended writing a covered strangle position in American Express.

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