Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Forever Geek

Forever Geek

The AT&T/Verizon/Apple Thing

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 03:35 AM PDT

Ever since the iPhone came out, there’s been talk about it moving over to Verizon. Speculation has been going rampant since day 1, and now there’s a new rumor about it coming back up to the surface, but this time it’s from the Wall Street Journal.

Apple Inc. plans to begin producing this year a new iPhone that could allow U.S. phone carriers other than AT&T Inc. to sell the iconic gadget, said people briefed by the company.

The new iPhone would work on a type of wireless network called CDMA, these people said. CDMA is used by Verizon Wireless, AT&T’s main competitor, as well as Sprint Nextel Corp. and a handful of cellular operators in countries including South Korea and Japan. The vast majority of carriers world-wide, including AT&T, use another technology called GSM.

With Apple developing a phone with CDMA capability, its exclusive U.S. arrangement with AT&T dating to 2007 appears set to end.

I’ve been hunting for this quote for a while now, but I haven’t been able to find it. I was under the impression that Apple and AT&T were stuck together until 2012. If it really is 2010, then come this summer, the iPhone may be Verizon bound.

So what does this mean if it is true?

First off, people will flock to Verizon in droves. I know I’m tired of dealing with AT&T and their crappy service, but they’d have to do some fancy things to lure me over for good. Like drop the price a bit, or offer to cover my ETF from AT&T. On the flip side, AT&T is going to have to really kiss some ass to keep people on their side. Cheaper plans, cheaper upgrades, and better service. If I had a dollar for every dropped call I’ve had with AT&T, I’d have 20 iPhones.

I do wonder though if this just makes Verizon that much more of an evil empire. I was never with them before because their plans were always $40 more for what I needed. Will they really be good to Apple’s fanbase, or will they be as evil as they’ve been in the past?

Of course, there could be another interesting twist here. Apple could open it up to everyone if they wanted to. Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon could all get the iPhone potentially. That levels the playing field and gives Apple a huge base. Would the networks be willing to give up exclusivity to have arguably the best device on the market? To know that they’ve got the same as their competitors and the only difference will be the service?

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to hear about Apple’s newest iPhone this summer.

What Are Your Top 5 Must-Have Add-Ons For WoW?

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 12:25 AM PDT

Ever since the game upgraded to Patch 3.3.3, I have been having problems logging on. Apparently, there has been a loading screen bug that hangs the game when you log in, every so often. But I think it is fixed now, after the maintenance last night (or morning).

But before I found out that there was a loading screen bug, I thought my add ons were the culprit for the slow loading time. Currently, I have the following add ons installed:

  • Atlasloot Enhanced
  • Auctioneer
  • Deadly Boss Mods
  • Decursive
  • GearScore
  • Mik Scrolling Battle Text
  • Omen Threat Meter
  • Rating Buster
  • Titan Panel
  • X-Perl Unit Frames

I was so annoyed the other day that I actually considered just uninstalling all my add ons, or maybe at least trim it down to let’s say, 5 add ons max. You wouldn’t believe how long it took me to decide which 5 add ons to keep!

The following would be my Top 5 Add ons for WoW:

  • Deadly Boss Mods – definitely a must if you are a serious and hard core raider. Deadly Boss Mods has come a long way since it also has warnings for 5 man dungeons now.
  • Decursive – if you are healer, or a class with a decursing ability (like mages), this is also a mandatory add on to have. From the name itself, it will make decursing a piece of cake.
  • Titan Panel – being the obsessive person that I am, Titan Panel helps me see all the information about my characters in a glance, from my money to the durability of my armor.
  • Omen Threat Meter – While this is a useless add on for a healer class, it is definitely a must for tanks and dps classes.
  • X-Perl Unit Frames – I definitely think it is a must to have a unit frame add on (especially for healers), and my choice would be X-Perl Unit Frames. I guess I like how it was designed since it makes it easier for me to see which people are getting damaged and those who are needing heals. There are however better unit frame add ons out there, like PitBull and Grid.

If WoW had an add on limit, what 5 add ons would you install?

No More Linux For PS3

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 07:45 PM PDT

Sony fanboys (fangirls) have always stood by their brand. This is a phenomenon that we can actually associate with other brands, but it seems to me that those who profess to be fans of Sony (especially the PlayStation series) are more hardcore than others. In a very recent move, though, Sony might end up alienating the very people that have made them strong in the first place.

The news is that Sony is releasing a patch that will remove the option to install another OS (LINUX!) on the PlayStation 3. If you bought your console prior to the age of the PS3 Slim, you would remember this option. If you're relatively new to the world of PS3, then the news will not matter to you.

Anyhow, it is not surprising at all that negative reactions are cropping up all over the place. For those leaning towards the geek side of things, that install other OS option is a BIG thing. Why is Sony making this move?

I couldn't find the reason behind it, but what's going to happen is this (courtesy of the PlayStation blog):

The next system software update for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system will be released on April 1, 2010 (JST), and will disable the "Install Other OS" feature that was available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models, launched in September 2009. This feature enabled users to install an operating system, but due to security concerns, Sony Computer Entertainment will remove the functionality through the 3.21 system software update.

In addition, disabling the "Other OS" feature will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.

I know what you're thinking: let's not upgrade! After all, no one's putting a gun to our head to upgrade, right? Think again. If you don't upgrade, you'll lose theses features:

• Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat
• Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later
• Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings)
• Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later

Oh Sony, what are you doing???

Hands on with the JVC FM1 and UW Ikelite Bundle

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 06:21 PM PDT

Last week I placed an order for a bundle deal by Ikelite. I had said that this was the best underwater video recording solution today. I still stand by it. The promo showcases a JVC Picsio FM1 compact video recorder with an Ikelite housing. Well, the wait is over and after making the trek to the supplier I finally brought this baby home.

With a little something extra. Tadah!

Turns out that underwater video LED lights are about 50% cheaper than strobe flash lights for stills. The epiphany forced me to bring one home for only USD $260. I had it engraved in my brain that I would have to spend over USD $600 for a decent light, but was bowled over with the amazing price. I mean yeah, it does make sense. All I’m buying essentially is a flash light.

By itself, the Picsio FM1 is at its best an above average compact video camera. Put up against Sony’s Bloggie and the Flip HD recorder, there are clear advantages in equity and features with the former. JVC’s FM1, released late in ‘09, comes with very basic features – USB charging, 8MP stills and 1080p HD recording. That’s it. Oh and count the auto focus modes for landscape and macro modes as the best boon, so you can record while switching focusing modes. Put together with the casing, I cannot stress the fact that you have a really affordable UW solution for video capture. The quality is seamless. No skips. The buttons are easy to operate and the index menu speaks apparent minimalism with just options to change the date and time, update the firmware, and format the SD / SDHC card.

For the LED light, I got the Pro V8 LED that uses 8 C cells. Pop the back, slide it back, and the UW housing reveals the slots for batteries. It’s that easy.

I really can’t wait to take this out. Any divers out there have the same set up? I’d really love to know what other solutions — cheap or $$$ — you’ve found for videos and photos. It’s no Hugyfot, but it is formidable!


5 comics inspired by the Large Hadron Collider

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 03:37 PM PDT

After twenty five years, 10 billion dollars, countless protests and arguments against it, today on March 30th 2010 the Large Hadron Collider at CERN made its first successful particles collision. Breaking previous records and heralding a new era in physics research.

The world was not annihilated, no black hole absorbed us and the Collider has started its way to maximum capacity to be reached in 2012. Scientists hope to prove amongst other the Higgs boson particle theory and to study dark matter. Basically the LHC will have to reveal some of the secrets of the universe since the Big Bang.

The controversial nature of the LHC has inspired some funny and insightful comics.

lhc1

When I first read about the LHC a couple years ago I too was doubtful about the safety of it. But again it’s easy to get scared of something you don’t comprehend fully. The first comic portrays this well. But to gain more knowledge we have to push boundaries.

All things considered I do hope the people at CERN are right about the tiny black holes expected to form at full capacity collision, that they will evaporate soon after creation. But besides that we are experiencing history being made. I mean humans are imitating the Big Bang here on earth, that is just mind boggling.


Would you pay $1m for Top10.com domain name?

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 06:15 AM PDT

I’m not one for playing the domain name game: any time I’ve even dabbled I’ve got it wrong, the chances of finding a few names worth a lot are pretty slim, and I don’t have the time or inclination to work with a lot of small names making a few bucks here and there.

Oh, if only I had owned Top10.com, which a British company has just bought for around $1m. Yes, that’s one million dollars.

Granted, it’s a pretty nifty name, and because the company who now owns it specialises in technology comparison websites, makes a lot of sense to own.

Potentially small change as well, given that the company turned over £9m last year and gets 1.5m visitors every month. Quite interesting that it’s a UK company, too, because I still think that us Brits are a bit behind the times compared to the US when it comes to the Net.

It’s still a fraction of what was paid for the likes of sex.com, business.com and casino.com, but not to be sniffed at either.
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