iPad Impressions

The Apple iPad. Everything you could want in a easy-to-use device with the standard Apple "amazing-ness".

An iPod, e-reader and netbook all rolled into one device that will include apps and have Wi-Fi internet access and, if you want it, the speed of 3G AT&T service (where available). Who honestly could ask for more? That's the question right.

Not exactly.

The question is why did it take so long for Apple to come out with it? I'm a nerd/geek and no one will deny that. I write this blog right? As a nerd, I always want the latest and greatest in technology. I like playing with new technology, utilizing as many features as I can and probably breaking something in the process. It's the breaking things that I enjoy because it lets me learn how the systems work and how to fix them.

With that general idea in mind, I've already got an iPod Touch, a BlackBerry, an Amazon Kindle and a home network that integrates with my Mac, Playstation 3 and my 6 year old Dell laptop. Why do I need a Kindle then? I already have all the features of the iPad spread across several devices and they all work great!

That's the unfortunate part of Apple iPad release. People have already purchased the devices that are combined in the iPad. But it actually makes logical sense.

I think the iPad is now going to be the replacement for when the rest of the devices go to that technology resting place in the sky (more preferably the recycling center). Why not have 1 device that does it all rather than 3 devices that tend to cause clutter both for yourself and the environment? You can just have your iPad and a plain old cell phone. Done.

Consider it for when your Kindle, Blackberry and iPod die.

Thoughts?

Watch-Movies.net...a great replacement for VideoHybrid and Stage6

I'm a college student on a budget. What student isn't (besides those with trust funds...congratulations!)? So when a new movie comes out on DVD that I've been waiting to see because: A) I didn't have the money to spend $9 in a theatre or B) The movie didn't look like it was worthy of my $9 but ended up being pretty good, I usually want to buy it but then I don't have the cash to buy it.

With new release DVD's starting at $20 and Blu-Ray at $30, it's pretty hard to justify spending that kind of cash on movie that I may end up detesting with a passion and never watch again. I could do this and when I happen to purchase a movie that I don't enjoy or that I know I will never watch again, I would just go to my local Video/Game trading place and get $2. Great deal huh? Spend $20, get $2 back. If every company ran on 10%, good bye corporate America!

My solution: I use free online services like VideoHybrid or Stage6 to select the first part of a movie and watch it. This way, I get a feel for the movie at less than perfect quality and if I like it then I can go out and purchase it. If I don't, I don't buy it. (Yes, I realize this goes against everything corporate America stands for.) With the recent news that VideoHybrid is being sued and Stage6 being shutdown for an increasing amount of work, I had to find a new site.

Well I have! Watch-Movies.net is a great site that offers several different directories for each movie they list and most are divided into sections for easy, better quality viewing than a full film version. This is a great film site and has a rating system. I've never viewed an entire film at this location, but it has definitely led me to purchase several DVD's and Blu-ray's.

I'm looking forward to the day when Netflix is available on PS3 as the people over at Kotaku are speculating! One can only hope!

Let me know your thoughts through links, subscribing and leaving comments.

Thanks and have a great day!

Holiday Guide 2007: Day 1: Next Gen Video Game Consoles

The holiday season is approaching incredibly fast as everyone dives deeper to finish up final projects for the year. I fall into this category as well. Final exams are in two weeks and semester papers and projects are coming due within a week.

In light of all of this, I've been doing my research for Christmas gifts for everyone around and with this, I've been reading a lot of gift guides through many of the major sites. There is one trend that I've noticed in most of the tech guides and that is that somewhere along the lines, the sites are sponsored in one way or another by certain companies and therefore they need to be in support of the companies that are supporting them! Considering I'm not sponsored by any company, I figured I would provide an unabashed tech guide for anyone looking to buy a tech gift for a loved one.

Today's focus is on the next generation of video games consoles. There are three and they each play to a major demographic of the video game playing world.

So here we go:

Nintendo Wii: Age range: 2-100 Price: $250 Availability: Scarce

-This is the most innovative game console to come out since the mainstream move to 3D games on the Nintendo 64. This console is great for kids and adults. I'm calling it the game system that "gets people off their butts and moving" because it really does that. In order to successfully play most of the games available for the Wii, the player must be able to use full dexterity of their arms and hands and sometimes their entire bodies! Players are given two "motion sensitive" controllers that they use to manipulate the characters in the game through motions with the controllers. This console does not have nearly the intensely realistic graphics as the next two consoles, but the innovative gameplay lets you have a more complete control of the video game characters. The audience for this game console is anyone from any age group with an experience level of beginner to expert in the world of gaming. The hardcore gamers may laugh at the simplicity of the games, but will be seduced into the intense gameplay and complex moves required in later, more difficult levels. Recommended game for the Wii: Super Mario Galaxy

Microsoft Xbox 360: Age range: 10-35 Price:$279-$399 Availability: Readily available

-This was the first next generation console to hit the market two years ago and has been through several ups and downs during those years. This year marked the "red circle of death" for the machine where a hardware failure caused Microsoft to completely revamp the machine for better components. This machine is intended for the more hardcore gamers that are into great graphics, backwards compatibility with their old Xbox games and a more online gamer based world in what is known as Xbox Live. This is a subscription service ($50 a year) that allows anyone with a broadband connection to play other gamers from across the world. The majority of the games are meant for more experienced gamers and do not play to the younger (or older) inexperienced crowd. The issue with this machine is based around the fact that you can start with a basic product ($279) that does not include anything but the machine and start to add on components like a hard drive ($100), an HD DVD player ($170), a wireless connection ($100) and several other components that total the machine out at more than $500 plus the subscription service for the Xbox Live. This makes for a very pricey machine that Microsoft doesn't advertise at the base level. Granted, you can buy a machine with a hard drive attached ($349-399) but you still will need to buy the HD DVD drive and wireless if you wish to have a machine comparable to the next console. Recommended game for the Xbox 360: Halo 3 (the Xbox 360 lifesaver)

Sony Playstation 3: Age range: 10-35 Price: $399-499 Availability: Readily available

-This machine has become the ultimate gaming machine for anyone that is a die hard gamer or looking to get into gaming. The included DVD/Blu-ray player, wireless connectivity, hard drive and overall processing power makes this machine great! When it was first released, the price and the lack of quality games knocked this system down, but with a recent price cut and the inclusion of some great new exclusive games, the Playstation 3 has become a must have for anyone looking to buy a next generation console. Not only does this system include everything that you will need to buy for the Xbox 360, but the online play is 100% FREE! Beginning in 2008, Sony has announced that they will be opening up an area for each called a Home that will enable people to create an online character and place of residence to interact with other gamers and show off their online accomplishments. The more expensive price tag is outweighed by the simple fact that the gamer is not required to pay subscription fees every year. One year of use makes this machine more cost effective compared to the gamer. The major issue with this machine is a lack of backwards compatibility with some original Playstation and Playstation 2 games. Otherwise, this is a must buy! Recommended games for the Playstation 3: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

This is just my opinion in regards to the next generation consoles but each has a point of interest for person you have in mind. Let me know what you think is the best!

Tomorrow's gift guide: Blu-ray vs. HD DVD

Have a great day!

Tech Fixes for 2007: My Complaints are Answered!

For the past year, I've been noticing a negative aspect on some of the more popular tech issues of the year. Depending on the company and the way they have been handling things, it seems as though my personal thoughts run along the same lines as the majority of consumers (duh!) as well as the research and development team for the companies and services in questions.

Today, I thought why not provide a synopsis of some of the better improvements from my past entries:

iPod Touch JailBreak: As the weeks pass with JailBreak on my iPod Touch, I'm becoming more and more impressed with this great hack. I've added tons of new features to my main menu and it seems as though the older application are being updated to accommodate the iPod Touch as well as the iPhone. This is slowly becoming one of my favorite computer applications and it's not even on my PC!

PlayStation 3/Xbox 360: Due to capitalism and a bunch of errors over the past year, both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are creating even better competition throughout. With the price drop by Playstation 3, I'm beginning to swing towards Sony's all in one package rather than Microsoft's buy and add on when you get the money.

Google: The Internet powerhouse is buying more companies and releasing better applications than I could have imagined. I'm digging deeper into the world of Google and finding that the innovation that is coming out of Google is one that will keep redefining the industry again and again. The problem is where is all the money going that this company is making in conjunction with the users that are helping to create the programs we love?

Yahoo: Yahoo is clawing it's way back into the world of the Internet again. The newly innovated search and a complete redo of their original mail that is very Outlook-esque and I love it! Nothing has really caught my eye in this regard and I have found Yahoo Mail to be even easier to use that Gmail. Nice Work Yahoo, now keep it up!

Linux: Not much needs to be said here. Linux is going mainstream and is becoming a non-nerd based operating system. With the addition of Ubuntu that creates an easy to use interface similar to the both Mac's OS X and Microsoft's Windows, Linux is easy on resources and the user as a whole. My suggestion: try Linux everyone!

These are but a few of the upgrades I've seen since originally posting on the companies and products at hand.

In light of the upcoming holiday season, this week is going to be devoted gift giving ideas for the techie in your family. Stay tuned!

Have a great day!