I already own two 27-inch 1080p gaming monitors with decent refresh rates (Acer and ViewSonic), but they're several years old and due for an upgrade. I wouldn't have purchased an M9 monitor to replace either of them; the $899 price point is rather steep when a lower end monitor can easily get the job done. Still, the better colors, brightness and higher refresh rate on the M9 made a subtle difference when I gamed compared to the older models I already had. It's a welcome addition to my current gaming setup, especially when I play competitive modes.

The Xbox One X is a beast! It'll run games in native 4K! (Not like that sometimes-4K from the PlayStation 4 Pro.) It's basically everything we've ever wanted, spec-wise, from a video game console. That was clearer than ever at Gamescom this week, where Microsoft kicked things off with an over-long presentation that didn't give us many reasons to actually get excited for the One X. Let's start with the good: It's nice to see there there are more than 100 Xbox One X enhanced games on the horizon. While they won't all be available for the system's launch, the list is a good sign that developers are actually eager to take advantage of the new console's additional horsepower.

Technology has been good to 1-800-Flowers. The company has long pioneered new ways of retailing, a toll-free number, direct sales via the internet. So when, in 2009, it opened its online store on Facebook the company was expecting another tech-based success. Like many others they found Facebook was a tough sell. "We were one of the first to actually have a Facebook store, and we did have big expectations, but it turned out to be not very successful," recalled Jon Mandell, vice-president of marketing at the flower and gift seller.