302 Found

So the PS Vita has Flopped [updated]

2011-12-29T19:05:00.000-08:00

With 500k shipped and Sony able of only moving about 72k during its second week, it is the beginning of the end for portable gaming.

The next 3 months will decide the fate of the PS Vita.

[update]
Sales dropped further for the 3rd week, about 43k were sold. A price drop seems imminent.

[update]
What's the antonym of Vita in Latin?

1st week: 324,859
2nd week: 72,479
3rd week: 42,648
4th week: 42,915
5th week: 18,361
Total: 501,262

Why Did Google Develop Android?

2011-12-27T20:49:00.000-08:00

Google claims that it did so to promote an open web and as long no single platform dominates, whether Android comes at top or not it doesn't matter to them. They lied and here's why:

Let's assume Google doesn't want to monetize Android. Amazon and Baidu do worry them. Here's why: 1) No Android Marketplace 2) No Google Apps 3) In case of Baidu no Google search. Amazon and Baidu are riding on Android and then 'forking' it to undercut Google.

Let's assume Google doesn't care about dominating and only cares about people using its search engine. Explain why Google brags about activation numbers? If they make more money out of iOS (or even equal amount) why are they aggressively pushing Android and giving it away for free such that no one can develop a business case in creating a competing OS (Amazon and Baidu found a way around that). Android is to Google what Bing or XBox are to Microsoft. Remember how Microsoft got its Windows and Office monopoly? There is a longterm plan and Google wants to control everything, what better way to sell you ads than controlling the OS you use to access the web on a device that has all your personal info linked to Google services. Why no company is actively developing a desktop OS to compete with Microsoft except for Apple (Linux and others have less than 3%)? Microsoft thru back-room deals with OEMs made it cost prohibitive, and this is Google's game with Android.

One final thing to consider is Google's purchase of Motorola Mobility. If this doesn't have desire to dominate written all over it, I don't know what does.

The Pathetic State of Android Tablets

2011-12-26T19:30:00.000-08:00

We know that all Android tablets combined command 33% of the market, nothing to sneeze at, right? Wrong! This 33% is mostly made up of the Amazon Kindle Fire, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color and a variety of $100 and $200 tablets, most will never run Android 4.0 and in the case of the Fire and Nook are forks of Android that Google earns nothing from. Few vendors barely crossed the 1Million units mark, most of them didn't. Usually, I use Amazon.com hourly sales to gauge the success of a product in the market only because Amazon.com is one of the few (only?) sellers that provide such a detailed breakdown of sales. With tablets however you really can't clearly gauge the market since Amazon.com doesn't sell the iPad nor the Nook. With that in mind and knowing that the iPad command about 60% of the market, we examine Amazon.com's hourly sales.

First, we look at the tablet best sellers. The Kindle Fire is an obvious leader followed by the Coby Kyros and ASUS Transformer Prime. I've been following the hourly sales for a while, the latter two exchanged places back and forth but Kindle Fire remained supreme since hitting Amazon.com's virtual shelves. You might think ASUS is doing great, it is 2nd or 3rd after the Kindle Fire, but you'd be wrong!

Next, we examine the parent category, the best sellers in computers and accessories. Kindle Fire remains the best seller here, the Coby Kyros is at number 10 and the ASUS Transformer Prime is at number 12. The Apple TV at number 3 outsells both by a huge margin. Yes, Apple's hobby, the Apple TV outsells the best selling Android tablets. It gets worse.

The Kindle Fire remains the best seller in all electronics that Amazon.com sells. The Apple TV is at number 9. Where do the leading Android tablets fall on the top 100 electronics? They don't! The Apple Airport Extreme at 71 sells more than any Android tablet does on Amazon.com.

ASUS, Motorola and Samsung, to name a few. Mistakenly assumed that there was a tablet craze, like a smartphone craze but the truth is, people want the iPad. People are choosing the iPad, not over other tablets, but over netbooks. Tablets existed for 10 years and no one cared about them until the iPad. This is not a new market that Apple has created but a hit that people want. They assumed they could just copy the iPad, as they did with the iPhone and people will flock towards them, which obviously didn't happen in 2011. Samsung, the biggest of the Android cartels in 2011 -partly due to selling 5 different Android tablets- is at 5.6% and this won't be getting better. In fact, by the hourly sales on Amazon.com they seem to be falling further behind, as ASUS seems to be positioning itself as the sales leader among high-end Android tablets.

In 2012 it will only get worse for ASUS, Motorola and Samsung, among others. The tablet market, unlike the smartphone market, seems to have clearly divided itself between those who want an iPad and those who don't and the majority of those who don't are opting for no-name cheap $100 Android tablets and now with the advent of the Kindle Fire and Nook, it seems those two, carrying brand recognition will become the default Android tablets that happen to not run Google-sanctioned Android. The Kindle Fire and Nook are the unexpected Android-killers.

Google 201x =? Microsoft 199x

2011-11-18T05:25:00.001-08:00

Long long ago in a galaxy far far away... It was a different time then. It was thought to be the up and coming underdog. It was the proponent of open systems and no one thought of it as evil, yet. That was Microsoft. At that time, Microsoft was a much smaller player compared to the much larger Apple Computer. Funny how history repeats itself.

Microsoft had one trick that it played over and over. Licensing its software to hardware makers, not selling directly to consumers. Shrink-wrapped Windows sales are excessively low for an OS that dominates +90% of the market. The majority of Windows users get it pre-bundled with their hardware, very few consciously choose Windows. In many ways, Windows chooses the user and not the other way around.

Just like Microsoft, Google is a one-trick pony. Microsoft has Windows and Office. Google has its ad business and search. Both use their monopoly in one market to dominate another. Just like Microsoft, Google exists to stifle innovation. If it were any other company, Android would have bankrupted it, just as the XBox or Zune or Bing would have bankrupted Microsoft. Google is using its ad revenue to undercut other companies and kill them, the same way Microsoft uses its Windows and Office money to subsidize its failures just to get into a market, undercut them by offering a lesser quality product for near-free and crush their competitor and create yet another monopoly. That's exactly what Google is doing with Android. Google earns nothing from Android, they give it away to destroy others. The OEMs won't develop their own OS since they can get Android for free and those who dare to go against Google's will and develop their own will find themselves locked out of the market, unable to compete. By offering their lesser quality OS for near-free, they will kill all the good quality OSes that exist or might emerge. This was Google's goal.

Unfortunately for Google this isn't working as good as they hoped. Microsoft is collecting royalties on Android, rendering Android costly for hardware vendors. Also companies like Baidu and Amazon are using Android to compete against Google and cutting Google off of any profits that they might make. Android might stifle innovation as Google intended but it will also compete against itself, leaving Google with an expensive endeavor that can never be truly monetized and if we are lucky Google will slowly distance itself away from it.

Put a Fork in it

2011-11-09T11:21:00.000-08:00

Flurry: Is it Game Over for Nintendo DS and Sony PSP?

Flash on Mobile is Dead

2011-11-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

To all the Adobe shills and the Android retards where is your Flash now?

Steve Jobs famously opposed allowing Flash on iOS and wrote Thoughts on Flash to explain the position taken by Apple, which any sane person that desires an open web would share. It was only a matter of time before Flash dies but at one moment when scumbag Google endorse Flash in an unethical matter typical of a drug pusher, it seemed as if Flash would be forced upon the web for many years to come. Now however it is officially dead on mobile devices.

I applaud Microsoft for helping to kill Flash. Flash was dying but Microsoft's decision not to allow it on WP7 and W8MUI pretty much delivered the final blow.
Microsoft could have been a bunch of scumbags like Google and tried to push Flash but for once they did the honorable thing and copied Apple's position.

Thank you Microsoft.

Android is a Threat for The Future of Mobile OSes

2011-08-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

Android made software irrelevant. Google is giving away for free what costs millions to develop, effectively destroying the software market. Just look at the Android marketplace, thousands of ad-supported apps. Software has no value and thus no one is willing to pay for it. Very depressing for who wants to work in the software industry. No one talks about the quality of software anymore, which misses the point. Hardware is nothing without software, and Google is effectively destroying that. I won't assume malice. I won't accuse Google of intentionally trying to destroy the software industry and remove all value from software and forcing the smartphone market into a downward spiral. Google is oblivious to what they are doing. They are high on themselves. Simply, they are a bunch of morons.

Android succeeded in killing interest in mobile OS development, just as Windows did with desktop OS in the 1990s. So, in other words, the long term effect of Android's success will be sending the mobile OS world to another dark age, killing innovation and discouraging new competitors from entering the mobile OS market. Just this year, due to Android, we saw the demise of Symbian and MeeGo and even though HP won't admit it, webOS seems to be the next victim. What Android succeeded in doing is allowing lazy and non-innovative companies to enter the market and kill competition with their cheap handsets. Hardware is cheap, that is why it is always on sale, but developing an outstanding OS that takes effort. What we are witnessing right now is a repeat of the late 80s and early 90s. Major OS names fading into oblivion.

XP in the age of 8?

2011-08-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

Next year Microsoft will be releasing Windows 8, which despite the name isn't the 8th release of Windows. Windows 8 is a great leap forward and the first true remigration of Windows since Windows NT3.1, the first release of Windows NT. Windows NT3.1 was the first release of Windows to run on Alpha and MIPS as well as x86. But one thing could still hold back Microsoft's ambitions and that's Windows XP.

Four years after Vista, two years after Windows 7 and still, Windows XP the 10 year-old Windows is used by the majority (~40%) of Windows users, more than any other OS version. This was never the case before, when XP was released a very few were using Windows 3.x or older. In the 90s Microsoft was pushing a new release every 2 years or so, and this way they got people to update often, similar to what Apple does with Mac OS X today. A rapid release cycle where running a 5 year-old release means you are 2 releases behind.

So the domination of XP is Microsoft's fault. Microsoft's inability to get the next release of Windows on time in 2004, pushing it back by 3 years to 2007, resulted not only in a huge install base of XP that can be expensive to upgrade, but also in the lack of willingness to upgrade. Microsoft also botched the launch of Vista with a confusing upgrade policy. Whether Vista was good or not isn't the point, what matters here is Microsoft failed to migrate users to the new OS and Windows 7 while better received still is at about 30% usage share.

For how much longer will we be stuck by an OS designed in the late 90s? How much innovation was wasted because a lot feel they need to tend for the about 40% who still use outdated technology? Windows XP is the Internet Explorer 6 of OSes.

PSP near death, DS threatened

2011-04-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arstechnica

Flurry says that 40 percent of all consumer app sessions on iOS and Android were spent on games throughout 2010. As a result, the two platforms generated $800 million in game revenues—an increase from $500 million in 2009. It's important to note, however, that Flurry only tracked iOS game sales in 2009—the iPad and other tablets didn't exist during that time, nor did much of the Android gaming market. Still, even with Android in the mix, the company said that the "significant" majority of the combined gaming revenues were generated by iPhone games, so it's possible that Android and tablets are still only beginning to contribute to that slice of the pie. (Flurry also does not count PC games in its numbers—only console, portables, and iOS/Android.)

iOS, Android gobbling Nintendo's share of portable game market

Things to note:

Compared to 2008 - 2009, the biggest loser this time was the DS, the reasons are many but chief among them is the nearing launch of the 3DS.
The PSP only lost 2 percent, the remaining 9% is the PSP defense force and the PSP will probably stay at 9% until the launch of NGP.

iPad haters flopped?

2011-03-03T00:25:00.000-08:00

The Disappointment of the MacBook Pro Update

2011-03-02T06:12:00.000-08:00

All the way back in late 2010, the MacBook Air was launched as the next generation of MacBooks, fast forward to last month, and there is nothing MacBook Air-inspired in the updated MacBook Pro lineup. Where is the instant on, long lasting battery, and MacBook Air-like standard SSD storage? Maybe next year.

Sony is Evil

2011-02-09T06:04:00.001-08:00

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R: 80 6E 07 8F A1 52 97 90 CE 1A AE 02 BA DD 6F AA A6 AF 74 17
n: E1 3A 7E BC 3A CC EB 1C B5 6C C8 60 FC AB DB 6A 04 8C 55 E1
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Da: C5 B2 BF A1 A4 13 DD 16 F2 6D 31 C0 F2 ED 47 20 DC FB 06 70

The Next MacBook Air

2010-11-05T04:35:00.000-07:00

Last month Apple brought an all new MacBook Air which they dubbed as a marriage of iPad and MacBook, and in 1H 2011 Apple will bring a new iPad, most probably bringing much wanted features like FaceTime camera and improved hardware specs. After playing around with the 11-inch MacBook Air I realized it is a crossover product and could cut into the iPad's market.
The current top of line iPad is a 64GB, WiFi+3G iOS tablet priced at $829. The current low end MacBook Air is a 64GB, 11-inch, ultra-thin MacBook priced at $999.
There is a bit of overlap between the two. For an extra $170 you gain a full sized keyboard, larger screen, more processing power and Mac OS X, but you'll lose ease-of-use, portability, 3G connectivity and battery life. Apple products rarely overlap, add an Apple Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad and you are almost in MacBook Air territory, as an iPad owner I never bothered with an external keyboard. It might seem that the iPad is threatened by the MacBook Air, but it actually it is going to be the other way around.
It is easy to see how the iPad can run over the MacBook Air especially with the release of iOS 5 in the summer of next year -if Apple follows it's usual iOS update cycle- adding more necessary features. Hopefully, features like over the air updates are in the pipeline, this will enable even more people to use it without need of tethering it to a minicomputer or laptop. Apple could do it the other way around and bring the MacBook Air closer to iPad level in portability and battery life, but that would take longer for battery technology and ULV processors to make a thinner, lighter and longer lasting MacBook Air possible.
This is where Cortex A15 comes in. It will bridge the performance gap, allow Apple to grow iOS into a more featured OS. As an iPad owner my biggest complain remains Safari's insistence to reload all pages instead of storing them in cache, mainly due to being limited to 256MB of main memory. The Cortex A15 won't happen for 2011, though an internals update is certain and will go a long way into making the iPad a more capable multitasker.
Unlike the MacBook Air, the iPad has a clear upgrade path, as it is not trapped in the struggle between Intel and nVidia. It is safe to assume that updates for the MacBook Air will be few and far between, before it is obsoleted by a mature iPad.

6th gen iPod nano a flop?

2010-11-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

Apparently so. There aren't any sales figures yet, but the reaction has been tepid at best, hostile at times and judging by hourly sales figures from sites that provide such info, the new nano isn't doing so well..
One major failure of the nano is the loss of video playback, it was a big deal when Apple brought it into the 3rd gen nano in 2007, and judging by how some of my friends use their nano, it is an indispensable feature. To others was the loss of the click-wheel. So, here is how I believe Apple can fix the nano:

Volume +/-, Forward, Rewind and Pause/Play buttons.
Drop the price
Market it as the iPod shuffle
Bring back the 5th gen iPod nano with double the storage capacity

Eric Schmidt admires the iPad

2010-11-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

And so do I.

More expensive, smaller, less battery life than iPad and 5 months too late

2010-10-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

Starting at $599 and exclusive to Verizon's network from November 11. Running the not-ready-for-tablets Android 2.2 and sporting a too small 7-inch screen, the Samsung tablet is destined for failure. Seeing retarded companies like Samsung failing with their tablet effort and others, like LG and HP, delaying them indefinitely, shows just how much ahead of its time the iPad really is.

LG's "better-than-iPad" tablet delayed

2010-10-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Another one ~~bites the dust~~ delayed.

The many brands of Acer

2010-10-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

Acer
Gateway
Packard Bell
eMachines

What's the deal? Could it have something to do with how shitty the computers they make are?

Rockman DASH 3 is back!

2010-09-29T03:37:00.000-07:00

On the 3DS!

http://www.capcom.co.jp/rockman/dash3/

It has been years since Rockman DASH 2, one of my favorite games during the PS1 years, and like many I waited in vain for years for a sequel.

Then there was the interview in 2007 with Inafune about Rockman DASH 3

But now it is here and for real, and here is Keiji talking about it.

My life is now complete. Can't wait.

KDE 4.5 is good, no more Gnome for me

2010-09-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

KDE 4.5 is super smooth, only took the KDE team 2 years and a half. Is KDE perfect? No, then again my preferred environment is Mac OS X. But KDE is pretty damn good and I prefer it to the UI of Windows 7, though only slightly.
Gnome 2 is old and outdated, Gnome 3 wont be here until next year and I'm not liking the new Gnome shell destined for Gnome 3. I might like it when I dabble with it then, but not now. It looks too confusing and cluttered for me.

IE9 is Good, no Longer Evil

2010-09-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

IE9 beta has been released recently, played around with it, and other than some interesting UI choices that I don't agree with, I have nothing but praise for this release, it is obvious what my two UI complaints are, but UI is a choice and inconsequential.

To celebrate the greatness of IE9 I will never consider IE to be Evil as long as Microsoft puts continuous effort to improve it and keep it standards complaint.

Step Yo' Game Up!

2010-09-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

The recent attacks by Sony on iOS gaming testifies to how much Sony is frightened of the rise of the relatively new comer. Sony itself was a new comer and knows how a noob can beat a master. Unfortunately for Sony, they are also validating Apple's claims that iOS is a gaming platform and giving it air time. This is not like the Mac vs. PC ads where everyone knew what a Windows-running PC was. This free air time informs viewers that there is yet another serious gaming platform that Sony is scared of it.

Why wont Sony be scared? The PSP failed miserably against the DS and recently saw it sales drop further and market share dwindle. The rise of the iPod touch went hand in hand with the accelerated fall of the PSP. The PSP found itself between the best gaming handheld (DS) and the best handheld (iPod touch). Games were always a weak link for the PSP and the attach rate shows it. The attach rate for the PSP has always been lowest in the industry and it is only gonna get worse.

PS3 Trails Wii and 360 in Attach Rate, According to NPD | FileFront
Xbox 360 leads software attach rate – Even the Wii beats PS3 – GAMER.BLORGE

Some might try to downplay the iPod touch sales/market share for being bought by many as media player, but in truth so was the PSP, at least initially. Sony did imply in many ways that the PSP is the Walkman of the future. So a comparison against the iPod touch is fair.

Sony to launch ‘Walkman of the future’ to rival iPod | iLounge News

Death of the PSP

Apple iPhone and iPod touch Capture U.S. Video Game Market Share

Code:

Total Portable Sales: 2008= $2.25bil;      2009=$2.50bil
iPhone Game Sales:    2008=$0.12bil;       2009=$0.50bil
PSP Game Sales:       2008=$0.45bil;       2009=$0.28bil
DS Game Sales:        2008=$1.69bil;       2009=$1.75bil

Piracy is a huge part of why the PSP's attach rate and software sales are low. I don't justify piracy at all, but given that pirating DS games is easier yet lower, one can assume that many gamers don't perceive PSP games to be worthy of their asking price. I haven't pirated any PSP games, but compared to my DS library it is about 12:1.
PSP and DS Piracy Explained In Pictures // Siliconera

You can bet 2010 will be even bigger for iOS, it has become common to see +$5.00 on top, with many $9.99 games making it near the top.

Epic Citadel Demo on Apple Special event Sep 1, 2010

"FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The War of the Lions" E3 Trailer

"Secret of Mana" for iPhone E3 Trailer

iPod touch: 45 million sold so far

2010-09-06T07:54:00.001-07:00

AppleInsider | iPod touch represents 38% of iOS devices sold by Apple

Quote:

"It's become the number one portable game player in the world," Jobs said. "It's amazing. The iPod touch outsells Nintendo and Sony portable game players combined. It's been amazing."

Here's to hoping for more serious games on iOS

Atlus how about an SMT port for iOS, you can't let Square-Enix and Sega run with all the iOS RPG money

It took Apple 3 years to sell ~45 million, amazing!

Sega brings Phantasy Star II to iOS devices (Aug 26)

2010-08-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia:

Phantasy Star II (ファンタシースター II 還らざる時の終わりに Fantashī Sutā Tsū Kaerazaru Toki no Owari ni^?, lit. Phantasy Star II: The End of the Lost Age) is aconsole roleplaying game released in March 1989 for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan and in March 1990 for Sega Genesis in the U.S.

The battle system is turn-based, allowing the player to choose commands for up to four characters. Each of the eight characters has a different set of preferred weapons and armor, as well as techniques, suited to the character's job. The player must defeat enemies in the overworld and in dungeons to advance in the game.

A pleasant surprise, thank you Sega. I'm looking forward to this and DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu on August 26th.

Windows 95 - Imagine That

2010-08-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.guidebookgallery.org/ads/magazines/windows/win95-apple

Microsoft Office 2011 impresses

2010-08-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Office 2011 Features

Thanks Microsoft.

Vay is still the best iOS RPG in terms of controls

2010-08-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

So many great JRPGs have been released for the iOS, but in terms of controls Vay still remains the only one so far to get it right for the iOS, even though it isn't the best among them in terms of gameplay or storyline. While many others like Final Fantasy, Chaos Rings and Crimson Gem Saga try to render a D-pad or joystick on screen, Vay makes use of simple touch controls to navigate the map, you simply tap to where you wanna go, and double tap to run. You interact with objects by simply tapping on them when standing next to them. Why hasn't anyone else did the same simply beats me

Favorite iOS games August 2010

2010-08-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy II
Chaos Rings
Crimson Gem Saga
The War of Eustrath
Phoenix Wright
SimCity Deluxe
geoDefense
geoDefense Swarm
Fieldrunners
Vay
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Espgaluda II
Baseball Superstars 2010
iFighter
Ridge Racer Accelerated

Games looking forward to:

Secret of Mana
Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
DoDonPachi Resurrection

Games wanting on iOS:

Every DQ and FF title on NES and SNES

Crimson Gem Saga lands on the App Store

2010-08-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

I've been in Tokyo away from home (Sendai) since the 2nd and somehow I missed this piece of news from almost a week ago and the release of Crimson Gem Saga on the App Store.

I remember at one point being tempted to get a PSP for it, glad it landed on the App Store.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/crimson-gem-saga/id381217285?mt=8

Crimson Gem Saga is the latest of the RPG titles to hit the App Store this year, following Shining Force and The War of Estruth, and adding to the credential of the iOS being a serious gaming platform. It is no wonder the PSP is dying. Dead?
Now all I need is some SMT from Atlus and FFV and FFVI from SE.

Welcome to the Future

2010-07-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

President Obama takes the Volt for a test drive

Steve Ballmer hates the iPad

2010-07-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

"Apple has done an interesting job. They've sold more than I'd like them to sell. We think about that," he said. "So it's our job to say, we have got to make things happen. Just like we made things happen with netbooks, we have to do that with Slates."

"I don't think there is one size that fits all […] I've been to too many meetings with journalists who spent the first 10 minutes of the meeting setting up iPad to look like a laptop."

Microsoft caused the Gulf Oil Spill

2010-07-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

Tech worker testifies of 'blue screen of death' on oil rig's computer

SimCity Deluxe lands on the App Store

2010-07-29T17:24:00.001-07:00

SimCity Deluxe for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

Description
Build and manage your dream city with an updated SimCity™ experience for iPhone® & iPod touch®. Designed for dedicated and casual fans, let your inner urban planner run wild with easier controls, optimized performance, improved visuals, starter cities, and exciting new scenarios.

SimCity Deluxe for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

I've been waiting for this, I've been playing SimCity a lot lately, despite being designed for the smaller res iPhone and iPod touch it is more fun on the iPad.

Gotta buy me an iTunes card

Extensions in my Safari?

2010-07-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

Safari Extension Gallery

Extensions in Safari are now official with 5.0.1.

Safari Extensions use the latest HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript web technologies. And they’re digitally signed and sandboxed for improved security. You can install extensions with one click — no need to restart Safari.

Read that? requires no restart. So now we've got two browsers supporting extensions in a secure manner that can be installed and uninstalled and enabled and disabled without needing to restart the browsers.

Take that Firefox!

JR Tokai CEO to China: Our Maglev will play iPad to your toy

2010-07-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

‘‘[Shanghai's] can be compared to a toy for elementary schoolchildren, while our maglev train can be compared to an iPad,’’ the JR Tokai CEO

Reality check Yamada-san!!!

Shanghai's maglev train:

Operational
Has been in service for 8 years
Made by the Germans

JR Tokai's maglev:

Wont be here before 2027
The 10cms you boost about aren't realistic, but maybe they will be by 2027(??)
Will cost more than Shanghai's maglev

The iPad is:

NOT Japanese tech
Assembled in China

Long live XP

2010-07-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

No one can kill XP not even Microsoft.

Microsoft says 74 percent of work PCs still use Windows XP, extends downgrade rights until 2020

By 2020 Windows XP will be 20 years old!!!

Can Microsoft sell hardware?

2010-07-09T03:32:00.001-07:00

Short answer: No.
Long answer: No. Judging by their long history and most recent failure.

Microsoft hardware market failures:

MSN TV
Zune (all)
KIN
XBox (original)

XBox 360 is Microsoft's only hardware success, if the $1B RRoD fiasco can be considered a success, aside from the Microsoft branded keyboards and mouses it also sells.

KIN could have been saved:
What Microsoft should have done was release the KIN as a Zune HD Phone, that runs Zune HD apps - all 4 of them - and with a featurephone data plan.

Microsoft's ADD:
Microsoft's lack of focus is something I always wanted to discuss. If you look at their handset OSes/Devices: Zune HD, the now dead KIN, Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Phone 7; none of them run the same apps - the KIN doesn't run 3d party apps at all- the same OS or the same development platform. Sure they all run on a very similar kernel based off Windows CE, but what matters to developers and users is different enough to make them incompatible. The question is not why but who? who is the idiot in charge of all this? Why can't Microsoft execute the ideas they put forth and why so much wasted effort? Ballmer needs to be nailed to a wooden cross and set on fire!

Where's your Slate now?

2010-05-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

Remember that HP Slate demo running Windows 7?

Well, this Slate is no more.

HP bought Palm and it has been confirmed now that the Slate will run WebOS and not Windows 7. This means the Slate will be a lot like the iPad, running a mobile OS and not a desktop OS.

To all the Windows and Adobe shills out there, don't count your chickens until they've hatched. Microsoft lost a major partner, and Adobe still doesn't have Flash ready for WebOS. To everyone else, HP now has a more viable iPad competitor than a cut down PC running the not multitouch nor tablet friendly Adobe and Microsoft software.

Itanic is dying

2010-04-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

This was long overdue, but now it brings me great joy to announce that Itanic is dead. First, major GNU/Linux server distros dropped future support and now Windows Server. This leaves Intel with one partner HP, so Itanic will continue to exist as long as HP keeps selling Integrity servers, then again HP can switch to Xeon or Opteron.

No one can stop the x86 train, not even Intel.

Verdict: Dead.

Death of the PowerPC - official

2010-03-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

GNU/Linux Distros Silently Drop PowerPC

A Rift in the Space-Time Continuum

2010-03-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

What Happens When Apple Passes Microsoft In Value?

Quote:

Here’s the real problem for Microsoft though. If Apple does in fact pass Microsoft in market cap, I can see CEO Steve Ballmer losing it, and that could steal his focus away from what should still be considered his real enemy: Google. It is Google, after all, that is directly attacking the core Microsoft brands, Office and Windows, where the company makes practically all of its money. Google Apps and Chrome OS are meant to do two things: Kill Office and kill Windows.

Sure, Apple’s OS X competes with Windows, but Apple is clearly never going to license out its OS (after a disastrous attempt to do so in the 1990s when Steve Jobs was away), so its market share can only ever be as big as people buying expensive Apple machines. Apple simply cares more about profits and controlling the high end of the market, then going directly after Windows.

Death of the PSP

2010-03-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

Managed to decline in a growing market

Apple iPhone and iPod touch Capture U.S. Video Game Market Share

Code:

Total Portable Sales: 2008= $2.25bil;      2009=$2.50bil
iPhone Game Sales:    2008=$0.12bil;       2009=$0.50bil
PSP Game Sales:       2008=$0.45bil;       2009=$0.28bil
DS Game Sales:        2008=$1.69bil;       2009=$1.75bil

Here's why I think the iPhone OS gaming is growing at a huge pace:

iPod touch starts at $200 (no monthly fees)
Majority of games under $5
Games sell for a fraction of their PSP/DS price (Final Fantasy sells for $9 and GTA: Chinatown for $10)
No need to carry physical media (your games are always with you)
Thousands of sub $2 games for quick and casual gaming

The PSP dropped for obvious reasons:

The hardware sucks
Very few quality games (I only bought SMT Persona)

Chaos Rings - Epic JRPG for iPhone OS

2010-03-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

It seems I'll be getting me another iPhone this summer. Apple is gonna have me a customer for life.

The game is mind-blowingly epic, can't wait.

IE no longer evil? 999 the Inverse of the Beast

2010-03-16T11:01:00.001-07:00

Internet Explorer 9: A Fresh Start, With HTML5 - Internet Explorer 9 - Gizmodo
Platform Preview gives Web developers first taste of IE9

The good

Faster JavaScript performance
CSS3
HTML5
H.264
SVG
MP3 and AAC

The bad

55/100 on Acid 3 but Microsoft vowed to improve the score before official release
Still Windows only

The epic

DirectX for smoother graphics and better performance (GPU acceleration)

I'm amazed. If Microsoft keeps this up, I just might start to like them again.
Competition is good, we all win.

Mama and Papa are fighting and I'm confused

2010-03-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

As a committed Apple and Google fan the recent skirmish between the two has left me heartbroken with no idea who to side with.

Is this how it feels when your parents are fighting with you in the middle?

Apple’s Spat With Google Is Getting Personal

More than just an oversized iPod touch

2010-03-13T09:05:00.003-08:00

Microsoft's Vaporware vs. Apple's Lateware

2010-03-07T21:52:00.000-08:00

The iPad will launch one week late, the WiFi-only iPad has been pushed from late March to early April. I'm gonna assume similar delay for WiFi+3G iPad. Regardless I'd take something I can buy over vaporware any day. Which brings us to the courier.

Courier digital journal mockup demo

Make no mistake the demo is epic, I'd buy one today if it were on sale, but this being Microsoft and going by their history I'm gonna have to write it off as vaporware. Until Microsoft puts a release date and price tag on it, the Courier is moot in any discussion involving tablets and the iPad.

Microsoft Demos Game Across Windows Phone 7, Xbox 360, and Windows 7

2010-03-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

Ignores Zune HD

During the keynote presentation at TechEd Middle East in Dubai, Microsoft's Eric Rudder played the same Indiana Jones-ish game on a Windows computer, a Windows Phone 7 phone, and an Xbox 360. Gaming is about to get real ubiquitous.

Not only is the game itself playable on all three platforms, but the session is maintained when you move from device to device: if you're playing on your Xbox and have to run out the door, you'll be on the same level when you fire it up on your Windows Phone 7 Series phone. Basically, you'll never have an excuse not to be gaming.

http://gizmodo.com/5487232/microsoft-demos-game-across-windows-phone-7-xbox-360-and-windows-7

-------------------

I guess Microsoft is leaving the Zune HD to whither and die, just as it did with previous Zunes. I can't believe Microsoft isn't trying to take Zune gaming seriously

Chromium in my Firefox?

2010-03-06T01:01:00.000-08:00

The folks at Mozilla are making good use of FOSS and reusing all the good code out there instead of reinventing the wheel. Kudos to them for being humble and pragmatic instead of ego-driven.
This time, they are reusing portions of Chrome's multiprocess architecture, to run Flash and other plugin's out of process, or as Mozilla now calls it Out of Process Plugin (OOPP).

Maybe, just maybe I can like Firefox again.

Bugzilla - Electrolysis

Shut the fuck up!

2010-03-06T00:20:00.000-08:00

No one gives a fuck about your crappy shells. Shitty browsers I've never heard of or cared for. 4 of them are shells on top of Trident (IE's engine), 2 shells on top of Gecko (Firefox) and 1 duals Trident and Gecko.
Go fuck off! Anyone can put together a partially usable UI and then forwards everything to a renderer, doesn't make you special or worthy of the oxygen you breath.

We've got 5 major rendering engines: WebKit (Safari and Chrome), Gecko (Firefox), Trident (Internet Explorer), Presto (Opera) and KHTML (Konqueror). Konqueror is second fiddle and still in alpha stage on Windows with a port that requires all of KDE-base to be installed. NO surprise it wasn't mentioned.

Hacking a different shell on top of a rendering engine doesn't make you worthwhile of any notice, it is more than enough that Microsoft included you in the ballot. If I were Microsoft I would have limited it to Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera and Internet Explorer. So shut the fuck up! Instead of whining and complaining, how about innovating?

Ballot screen

Nitro in my Firefox??

2010-03-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

JaegerMonkey - MozillaWiki
JaegerMonkey – Fast JavaScript, Always! » Mystery Bail Theater

The beauty of FOSS.

The good folks at Mozilla are importing Nitro's assembler to speed up Firefox's JavaScript performance.

For those who don't know, Nitro is the JavaScript engine used in Apple's Safari 4.x.

No iWork for me until it supports ODF

2010-02-27T21:57:00.000-08:00

Not really, as I'll be getting iWork on the iPad.

Seriously Apple what the fuck? When will you get off your lazy ass and give me ODF support?

There's a HUGE chance that ODF, not OOXML, will be the dominant standard.

Front-page: iWork Feedback - Tell Apple You want ODF Support!

iPad please!

2010-02-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

1 month ago today Apple introduced to the world the revolutionary iPad, and I still don't have one! Every day I want an iPad more and more, as I envision how it'll fit in into my daily activities.

The wait is killing me!

The iPad is gorgeous, every time I go to http://www.apple.com/ipad I fall in love more and more.

So Steve Jobs, this is sincere, can you please bring us the iPad a month or two sooner.

Thanks.

Palm Heal Thyslef

2010-02-27T01:22:00.000-08:00

Wait! Palm, let me help. To heal thyself you need to know what the fuck is going on, and I went through the trouble to figure it out for you:

1. No worldwide release. Seriously WTF? How am I supposed to get quality games if webOS has ZERO market share in Japan?
The hardware sucks! Seriously, who wants a physical keyboard? I don't! Give me an all screen smartphone WITH NO PHYSICAL KEYBOARD, and you got yourself a 100% guaranteed customer.

Waiting for Kindle 3 or Nook 2

2010-02-22T04:41:00.000-08:00

Getting an iPad for ebooks aside, the fact of the matter remains, the only thing as good as real paper is an e-Ink display. I'm gonna divorce myself from physical books for four main reasons:

Cost
Weight
Environment
Shelf space

It'll be awesome if I can buy ebooks and use on any of the devices I own, Apple's of the open and industry standard ePub format, ignoring all other factors, was a major factor in leaning towards iPad vs. Kindle. Now ePubs purchased from Apple's iBooks store could be DRM-infected, but that's a decision left to the publisher, I hope many of them are sane enough not to enforce DRM down our throats.
This brings us to the elephant in the room, B&N's Nook, support ePub, runs on Android and features an e-Ink display and a color touch screen. Now first generation Nooks received lukewarm reception -mainly due to sluggish software-, but if Kindle 3 doesn't support ePub I know I'll be opting for the Nook 2, sluggish or not.

I just need to figure out where can I purchase DRM-free eBooks :\

Google is officially a conglomerate

2010-02-19T04:46:00.000-08:00

Google Gets US Approval To Buy and Sell Energy

First Google becomes an ISP, now Google becomes an energy trader.

Obviously a lot (Google haters) are saying that's it is one step towards Skynet. Google has the hardware, software, tubes, data centers, search algorithms and now it is power-independent.

I say more power to Google. I believe in big business (that innovates not stagnates), and Google is the best of them all. Google Energy might very well be the solution to all our energy problems.

Disclaimer: I love Google. I use their services by choice and love them.

OMG! Media.Vision! I love you! JRPG for iPhone!

2010-02-16T23:23:00.000-08:00

For the longest of times I've been wanting Media.Vision to give me Wild ARMs 6. Sometime last year I suspected that Media.Vision is prolly working on an iPhone game. It was really obvious they wanted developers with Objective-C, Cocoa and OpenGL experience.

I'm glad to say it is true!

I'm a huge Wild ARMs fan, played all of them and thoroughly enjoyed them all -except for XF which I didn't like much-.

Now most definitely this wont be a Wild ARMs game, the franchise is owned by SCE. But all I'm asking for is a quality JRPG for the iPhone.

Microsoft pulling another Zune?

2010-02-14T03:14:00.000-08:00

Back stabs its WinMo partners?

To be fair Google also did it with the Nexus One.

Ridge Racer Accelerated Review

2010-02-14T02:27:00.000-08:00

As a longtime Ridge Racer fan I was excited about this game. I paid for it and started it, and right away I felt at home. It had the right amount of vibe and nostalgia. After all I wasted many hours playing Ridge Racer Type 4 on the PS1. But soon my romance was shattered, Ridge Racer Accelerated fails on many key areas. For starters, no Campaign or Grand Prix mode, limited number of cars and tracks (supposedly there will be more DLC) and worst of all awful handling. No matter how much I try to calibrate it, it just doesn't feel right, sure I got a bit accustomed to it, but it is unnatural very unlike every other Ridge Racer game I've played. Then there is the framerate and Rage Racer era graphics, now I'm first to come in defense of gameplay over graphics, but this is sad the game is neither fast nor visually stunning; and we've seen what can be done on the iPhone, and Ridge Racer is not a complex game to begin with. With no saving grace except Reiko Nagase, nostalgia and an entertaining soundtrack, this game is a hard-sell for anyone even a Ridge Racer fan.

Screens:

Pros:

Reiko Nagase
Shuttleloop Highway from Ridge Racer Type 4
Reiko Nagase
A soundtrack that can never gets old
Reiko Nagase
Opening cut-scene featuring Reiko Nagase

Cons:

Only 5 unique tracks and no new track
Controls are spotty
Uncontrollably drifty
Feels slow
Only 27 cars
Engine noise louder than music, and can't be minimized/muted

Final verdict:
3/5

Last Rebellion; breakthrough PS3 title from NIS

2010-02-05T02:35:00.001-08:00

Last Rebellion Official website

Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) known for hit AAA Strategy RPG titles like Disgaea, La Pucelle:Tactics and Phantom Brave, now brings us Last Rebellion, which surprisingly is not an SRPG and can be only described as a breakthrough title for both NIS and JRPGs.

Last Rebellion - Debut Trailer

Quote:

Exploration is free-roaming, but in combat, the mechanics become turn-based. The battle system will allow the player to target specific body parts of an enemy, and the reaction will be realistic; hence, if you shoot out the legs of an opponent, his or her movement will be drastically reduced, while blows to the arms will weaken their attacks. By strategically striking key areas of the body, players can strip the enemy of their ability to fight. Players can switch back and forth between the two characters during battle. Since Nine and Aisha share a single turn, the player must strategically choose which character will execute their attacks first.

Last Rebellion - Gameplay

Ar Tonelico III huge disappointment!!!

2010-02-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

The art and design is epic, as it is always been with Gust's JRPGs, but the game looks action-y, not turn-based and no menus or anything of sorts.

Ar Tonelico was epic

Ar Tonelico II was OK, but not as good as the original

Ar Tonelico III makes me sad :(

I'm disappointed and not gonna buy it :(

If more JRPGs become action-y I'm gonna quit gaming :\

At least there's still Atelier Rorona.

Fuck you PSP

2010-02-03T13:59:00.001-08:00

So I was just playing SMT: Persona when it suddenly switched off on me

Called my friend who is a big PSP evangelist and asked him "isn't the green light next to Power supposed to turn red before it dies?". He told me "no! but you can check the battery life by clicking Home". I turned it back on, and clicked Home immediately before it switches off and yup, it was dry AFTER ONLY 4 HOURS OF GAMEPLAY! And I had it on the lowest brightness setting!!

Ignoring all the awful hissing noise it makes and long load times was painful enough!!!

FUCK YOU SONY
A really poor design decision on your part! Haven't you thought about us away from home for hours?

FUCK YOU PSP

WHAT A LAME EXCUSE FOR A PIECE OF SHIT HARDWARE

I get 4x the gameplay time on my DS Lite!

The PSP is totally not useful for us who play JRPGs and spend hours grinding.

Shame I really love SMT: Persona, and would continue to play it, but now I must charge my PSP

I guess I should get me an extra battery, and that what I will do. Good thing I can get them for like $30

BTW, the game is purely awesome! Highly recommended for anyone unlucky to have a PSP.

Google's Chromium Tablet

2010-02-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

Sexy and slick. Do want. Can we get a release date and price on this? Hopefully it wont be just a concept for long.

Tablet (The Chromium Projects)

Why I'm getting an iPad

2010-01-29T03:55:00.000-08:00

Runs iPhone OS apps
More portable than a MacBook Air
Pages
Larger screen than iPhone/iPod touch
Keyboard dock
Keynote
10 hours battery life and 1 month standby
3G
Numbers
$829 for WiFi+3G 64GB and last but not least iWork

A giant leap for iPhone gaming!

2010-01-21T11:11:00.000-08:00

Please S-E port all your NES and SNES JRPGs. I'll buy 'em all day 1!

You make 'em. I buy 'em!

2010-01-18T22:28:00.000-08:00

I'll sure come.

The Apple of the automotive industry

2010-01-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

An interview with Elon Musk Tesla's CEO

Tesla's new affordable luxury sedan - Video - Business News/

Cadillac XTS Concept

2010-01-12T02:24:00.000-08:00

NAIAS: Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

Understated luxury, just like how Cadillac should be. Forgot going after Mercedes or BMW, Cadillac should go after Audi. Leave polarizing and go after timeless. Not every luxury car needs to be in your-face or it wont be a luxury car. The XTS is a lot like the SIXTEEN in many ways, and not just the grille. It is sad to some GM (and Cadillac) fans miss the fact some luxury best be discreet. Keep in mind this is no snooze mobile, you wont confuse this for a Toyonda Camcord

Nokia: We will be on par with Apple & RIM in 2011

2010-01-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

Not enough EU!

2009-12-20T03:42:00.000-08:00

I believe Microsoft got off easy. Microsoft should have been forced to either:

Support Web-standards as does all major browsers <- IE still lacks proper PNG support!
Unbundle IE
Open source IE <- should be worth a few laughs

What would have been better is if Microsoft was split into two or more companies. Never in human history did an incompetent and evil company dominate abusively so much market share.
Plus the whole world, not only the EU, should get the ballot screen.

Chrome kills Firefox by extension(s)

2009-12-19T04:58:00.000-08:00

Google Chrome is not only overall better than Firefox, it now supports extensions (yes, including for blocking ads) and in a whole new and better way. Extensions are basically a web page, run as separate processes, and can be installed, uninstalled, enabled and disabled without restarting Chrome, they can also be killed from Chrome's task manager. What this means for you, Google and the extension developer, is extensions are instantly available after submission unless they use native code or access the file system. Google still retains a kill-switch for any extension that is found to be malicious, which as far as I'm concerned is a good thing.
So basically Google not only perfected a browser for Windows, Mac and Linux/X/GNU, but they also perfected extensions. I only wish I had Chrome on my iPhone.

iPhone wins Japan

2009-12-18T06:39:00.000-08:00

Via AppleInsider

The death of the PSP

2009-12-18T06:20:00.000-08:00

After its comeback year, and new hardware the PSP still languishes at the bottom of the hardware and software sales; for the simple reason of the hardware being severely flawed. It is time for Sony to admit defeat and pull out of the handheld market. Even the strength of the Playstation brand and the rabid fanboyism assoicated with it couldn't stop if from failing epically. Just imagine if the PSP hadn't relied on the Playstation's recognition and brain-dead fans to help with its sales, it would have suffered a greater sales disaster than the Atari Lynx.

Mozilla lies!

2009-12-18T03:25:00.000-08:00

Firefox Mobile doesn't have the fastest Javascript engine, and when developing for web why would I want Firefox Mobile instead of Safari Mobile? WebKit implements more standards than Gecko, and is constantly faster in all benchmarks.
Firefox sucks, and Firefox Mobile wont be any better.
Plus why wont I just use Safari instead of Firefox to access web apps? Firefox isn't gonna be faster than Safari in Javascript anytime soon. They also forgot that the iPhone already has web apps that can be accessed using Safari.

Zune HD a sales disaster!

2009-12-08T21:53:00.000-08:00

After so much hype and the initial influx of buyers Zune HD sales, predictably, has slowed to a near crawl. Sexy as the hardware maybe, I not-so-secretly do want one, several key weaknesses contributed to its early decline. Three of them, for me, are lack of Mac OS X support, lack of a usable browser and lack of apps. So the Zune HD, at best, is an iPod nano competitor.
Using publicaly available sales data from Amazon.com it becomes apparent how much of a disaster the Zune HD is. The 32GB is 16th in sales and the 16GB is 28th. The top 20 obviously are all iPods except for the Sansa Fuze at 11 and the 32GB Zune HD at 16.
Microsoft truly blew its chance to not just make a comeback but to also take on the handheld gaming world. Better for them to re-release the Zune HD with hardware buttons and focus it as a PSP competitor. They have no chance against either DS nor iPod touch.

Command and Conquer: Red Alert iPhone Impressions

2009-11-02T21:47:00.000-08:00

The game was released worldwide yesterday, and I downloaded first thing after coming from work. I was overly hyped and so had overly inflated expectations. For $9.99 it is the cheapest C&C title I've ever bought, and at ~65MB it is also the smallest.

The game is overly simplified, very few units and structures, maps are smaller (only 2-player), there is no ore gathering, in Skirmish you are given a refinery with unlimited supply.
Only 2 skirmish maps, 6 more for an extra $0.99, but the maps are nothing special, there will, eventually, be more extra content including the Imperial Army (Japan) campaign. Controls are simple and easy to figure out, but you are limited in what you can do. The campaign is simplistic and there no video cutscenes as we came to expect in Command and Conquer.

Gameplay is overall smooth on my iPhone 3G, but there is minor stuttering at times when scrolling, but not too obvious that it gets in the way. The game has stability issues and it crashed on my twice so far, but thankfully the game has autosave and you can start it and continue from where you were last interrupted.

Overall for an iPhone game it gets an A, EA has outdone themselves and I'm really impressed, but for a C&C game it could do better. Yet, it is a must buy for C&C fans who also happen to have an iPhone or iPod touch, and for iPhone or iPod touch owners who want something with more depth and replay value than the average iPhone OS game.

Final verdict: 5/5

Command and Conquer iPhone Finally!!

2009-11-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

Will be released tomorrow (I hope), which is today for some parts of the world where it has landed on the App Store. Will download sometime tomorrow after work and post impressions.
I can confirm it in New Zealand store.

Zune HD already a failure?

2009-10-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

Not a month has passed and it already dropped out of the top 5 best selling on Amazon, the 32GB model is in 10th place and the 16GB ranks much lower.

Again it seem as if Microsoft is two generations behind. They hadn't anticipated the App Store nor its success, and they didn't price the Zune HD competitively with the newer 3rd generation iPod touch, no 64GB Zune HD and no entry-level 8GB. If it were 2007, the Zune HD might of had a chance, but not in 2009!!

Need to wait for sales numbers to get a better idea how the Zune HD fared, but it seems to me Zune's 1% share of the PMP market is gonna drop even more!

Mind you, if Microsoft does release the Zune software for Mac OS X, I'll get me one, I am interested in the Zune HD.

Jasper's really good!

2009-10-10T04:46:00.001-07:00

I'm not a Microsoft fan, nor have I ever praised their products, even the ones I buy willingly, but this time it is different! I gotta give credit where credit is due!
Recently upgraded to an Elite, and got one of them Jasper X360s, and surprisingly it is really good.
Jasper runs cooler and quieter than any other X360 revision I, or my friends, have owned! It was quite the norm for the X360 to heat up and raise the room temperature a couple of degrees, now I'm amazed how cool it is even after hours of playtime! I keep checking by putting my hand behind the X360 fans -this is out of habit, I got used to the X360 overheating-, and every time find myself surprised the air blown isn't hot!
This should have been the launch model!

I don't know whether this Jasper will go trouble free or will die eventually, but the amount of improvement can't be ignored, and unlike the PS3, the X360 has games worth playing :-)

Now if they'll only do something about the noise the DVD drive makes, seen it in all X360's and is supposed to be normal, but still rather something quieter.

A slimmer X360 with slot load drive... I can dream...

A PSP I'd buy

2009-10-06T02:19:00.000-07:00

I always hated the PSP, and since I had SMT: Persona delivered I had a PSP game but no PSP! Now I have to buy a PSP, but don't want to!

Hated PSP for various reasons, to me it is the best example of how to not make a handheld. It's bulky, heavy, ugly, power hungry, lacks games and innovation. Sony fixed a number of them, but I kept away due to principle and lack of playable games.

PSP Go had me hoping for a better PSP, but it wasn't any better, in fact it was worst in some ways, and while I liked the idea of killing UMD, I wanted Sony to go with flash cartridges and not digital distribution only. There was also no way of transferring UMD purchases, which means my SMT: Persona is unplayable.

How to make a better PSP:

Start with the PSP-3000

1. Use flash cartridges while offering a supported way of transferring UMD games
2. Internal storage, for digitally downloaded games and storting existing UMD games
3. Replace screen with the smaller PSP Go screen
4. Shrink device's width and height while keeping buttons the same size
5. Add a second thumbstick
6. Go for broke and make the screen touch sensitive, preferably multitouch

PSP-3000

PSP-4000S (a quick mockup I made)

Didn't know the DSi was a PSP system?!

2009-10-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

It's obvious that the DSi is better, and Sony didn't even attempt to skew it in its favor.

As always it is about games and we know who's the winner here. (hint: not a PSP system)

Original Source: http://www.us.playstation.com/PSP/Systems/Compare

Zune HD weird layout

2009-09-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

Haiku R1 Alpha FINALLY!!!!!!

2009-09-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

First alpha release of Haiku is here, with an iso and an easy installer and everything! There's even a PDF reader, a port of Firefox 2.0, a media player and lots of other stuff. Perfect! I'm playing with it right now, will post pics and impressions later on!

It sure was fun reading all the comments regarding this release on /. with all the clever haiku written by /.ers

Didn't know Zune sales were this low!

2009-09-09T14:08:00.001-07:00

Only 1.1%!! that's pretty damn low!

Following tech sites and observing the number of posters in favor of the Zune, I always thought the Zune commanded a market share of 10-15%, but it seems that all was just rabid Zune fans faithfully defending and promoting the Zune or, probably more closer to the truth, the classical Microsoft astroturfing we all came to expect.

Schiller said what?!

2009-09-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Quoting Schiller as reported by Apple Insider:

Schiller comparing the Nintendo DS games are expensive ($30-40), no multitouch, no App Store, not like the iPod.

Game titles available:
DS: 3680
iPhone/touch: 21,178

DS games might be more expensive (and less in number) but they are more than worth the price and more better games than the shovel-ware that fills the App Store, I still game more on my DS than iPhone, and that's one reason I carry both with me.

The iPhone is great phone, media player and Internet communication device with the best mobile browser out there, but it has nothing on the DS when it comes to games!

Sadly, Schiller's (Apple's) comments shows how much they still don't get gaming :-(

Maybe it is too Zune?!

2009-09-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

News out that Microsoft is killing its lineup of Zune players except for the up and coming Zune HD. Damn! I was just about to buy me one!

Oh wait! They are still in stock everywhere, I have more than enough time not to get me one.

I always knew it was just a matter of time before Microsoft abandons its Zune customers, now it is Zune HD or nothing!

Maybe Microsoft doesn't get it but the iPod touch they are going after isn't the biggest seller in the iPod range and it is backpacking the iPhone's success which is actually a bigger seller (2x). Where's your ZunePhone Microsoft?

Oh Ballmer!

2009-08-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

Remember this?

Well... Eat it!

No one cares about Opera!

2009-08-05T00:06:00.000-07:00

This is just sad, specially giving all the press media and the EU's recent legislation.

http://mashable.com/2009/08/04/ie6-no-more/

Goes without saying!

2009-07-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

Redmond, Wash. – July 23, 2009 – Microsoft Corp. today announced revenue of $13.10 billion for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2009, a 17% decline from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $3.99 billion, $3.05 billion and $0.34 per share, which represented declines of 30%, 29% and 26%, respectively, when compared with the prior year period.
“Our business continued to be negatively impacted by weakness in the global PC and server markets,” said Chris Liddell, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “In light of that environment, it was an excellent achievement to deliver over $750 million of operational savings compared to the prior year quarter.”
The financial results for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2009, included the deferral of $276 million of revenue related to the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program that was announced on June 25, 2009. This revenue deferral reduced earnings per share by $0.02.

That's a lot of decline. I guess it is obvious which business model works best!

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

2009-07-23T00:58:00.000-07:00

New SMT is for DS!!!

Title: Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey
Platform: Nintendo DS
Release Date: Oct 8 2009 (Japan)

Info:
- Some other dimension has opened up in the South Pole
- The dimensional space is called "Schwarz Birth" or something
- The characters wear some scifi suit called Demonica Suits, and get upgraded applications along the way
- Top screen = first person as in past SMT games
- Botton screen = map + support info
- 300+ demons
- Negotiation systems, fusion, etc, are all in the game

I personally was expecting a PS3 and/or X360 title!!

Could this be the long awaited SMT4?
This is an interesting move from Atlus, reminiscent of Dragon Quest going from PS2 to DS.

References:
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey announced for Nintendo DS - Atlus U.S.A. Forums
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey - Atlus Online!
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Siliconera Atlus Teaser Site Reveals Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey?

Scans:

Market share? Irrelevant!

2009-07-21T22:18:00.000-07:00

Apple posted best non-holiday profits amidst all the global economical doom and gloom, while many reported that its market share dropped!

Proves that all you need to be profitable is outstanding management and outstanding products. Market share is completely irrelevant if you are selling at a loss or very thin margins.

CUPERTINO, California—July 21, 2009—Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2009 third quarter ended June 27, 2009. The Company posted revenue of $8.34 billion and a net quarterly profit of $1.23 billion, or $1.35 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $7.46 billion and net quarterly profit of $1.07 billion, or $1.19 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 36.3 percent, up from 34.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 44 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/07/21results.html

Could Media.Vision be prepping for an iPhone JRPG?

2009-07-21T03:40:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this a couple of months ago and forgot about it until now

Media.Vision seems to have interest in iPhone development and posted some job listings

Media.Vision Entertainment

Not sure what this means, hopefully an iPhone game

Media.Vision are the developers behind SCE's Wild ARMs JRPG series.

Can't be anything but SMT4

2009-07-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

A new teaser site is up at Atlus

http://new.atlusnet.jp/

The whole theme and feel screams Shin Megami Tensei 4. Please let it be so! It been so long since Nocturne!

Ballmer laughs off Chrome OS just like he laughed off the iPhone!

2009-07-15T01:54:00.000-07:00

Too soon Ballmer! too soon!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Microsoft-CEO-laughs-off-rb-3253791500.html?x=0&.v=4

Windows am doomed!

2009-07-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

With more people using computers to browse the interwebs, check emails, listen to music, watch the odd movie and play a simplastic game, the need for gigantic OSes is diminishing. People who use gigantic OSes and need them will always exist, but for a lot of people a simple and swift OS that can easily let them connect to the Internet is all they will ever need. Google will provide this, and any necessary services can be streamed via the tubes from Google's servers.

I personally do more of my stuff online, including work, I don't play PC games, and GCC (and maybe some IDE) is about as much as I'll ever need if I wanted to get my hands dirty.
My current desktop is a similar setup. I got Linux+X+GNU+Fluxbox+Chromium and that's all I need.

* I'm not predicting the demise of Windows. I just wanted a dramatic title. That is all!

Firefox 3.5RC2 impressions

2009-06-20T05:11:00.000-07:00

Slow...

I admit to being spoiled by Chromium. Been using the dev builds of Chromium for 4 months or so, and it is hard for me to use anything else.

http://build.chromium.org/buildbot/snapshots/

To give Mozilla credit Fx3.5RC2 is faster than Fx3.0 and much faster than IE8, but where is tab isolation? why allow one plugin/tab to bring down the browser?

Also for some reason it fails the RegExp test in the V8 Benchmark Suite when Fx3.6a and Fx3.0 pass it just fine.

http://v8.googlecode.com/svn/data/benchmarks/v4/run.html

Get the facts!

2009-06-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

Microsoft did it again and it fuckin' pisses me off!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/default.aspx

Fuck you and your fucking lies! Do you think we are that stupid? Microsoft believes as if we fell asleep on a nuclear reactor and are brains have melted and now we are nothing but meat with eyes!

IE8 is not fast and not standards complaint, PERIOD! It could be secure, customizable and easy to use but so is every other browser with varying degrees.

Stranger than fiction!

2009-06-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

Microsofties calling for boycotting Opera

http://www.jcxp.net/news.php?newsid=2801

Not even a science fiction writer can come up with something like that. Microsoft an abusive monopolist has been found guilty by at least two different governments of illegal bundling and OEM deals and now it is Opera's fault!

And Internet Explorer is a great browser..??

Funniest thing I've read all day!

What drug is he taking that's making him so delusional?

I want some...

Why Microsoft named their search engine 'Bing'?

2009-05-27T03:58:00.000-07:00

Bing Is Not Google

Tabs in tabs

2009-05-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

A solution to the many tabs problem..

A two level of tabs..

Inspired by chrome://browser/content/browser.xul

Each top level top will represent individual domains (or sites) and each will be its own sperate process.

Web pages opened from that domain, will open their individual tabs within the upper level tab.

A new website will launch a new process and create a new top level tab.

I make no claim to what's here. Most probably someone already suggested something similar.