Apple Tech Support Since 1995
Archive for April, 2007
I love the way today’s game consoles change.
Apr 30th
In the past when you purchased a game console it worked exactly the same from the day you bought it to the day it died.
Starting with the PSP, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii that all changed. I had a PSP from launch day and the cool thing about it was you were able to download updates that not only fixed problems but added new features. Some new features were minor in scope to others then there’s the major feature like a web browser. That’s a significant addition to a console that didn’t ship with a web browser.
I’ve had my Xbox 360 from launch day and it has certainly has changed in the 16 months I’ve had it. Twice a year they update the Dashboard. The Dashboard is the hub of the 360, it gives you access to different parts of the system and has since included web access for TV and Movie downloads. Things that were not available when the console shipped. I believe we will soon have a web browser on the Xbox as well.
The ability to update consoles in this way makes them more like a computer. I mean that in the way you can update a computer and do new things that you couldn’t do before. This is very exciting because it’s one of the ways that computers keep from getting boring in the way they evolve and take over the aspects of other devices.
Think about all of the devices computers can now emulate and replace. TV, DVD player, CD player, radio, board games, puzzles and card games, older game consoles, letters, video conference, etc. Now think about how many of these things an Xbox 360 can do. All but a few, we are still waiting for Podcasts (that ones for you Major Nelson) and IP TV.
The entertainment of a game console is no longer limited to the games themselves.
“It’s in my purse” What does this mean to you?
Apr 29th
Have you ever ask a woman for something and she said “It’s in my purse?”
To me this means searching the house for her purse because you thought you knew where it was. Then looking for it in the regular drop zones.
Success, I’ve found the purse. But it’s empty because she’s changed purses again.
The taste of Coca-Cola Blak without the cost.
Apr 28th
If like me you tried Coca-Cola Blak and really liked it, then you will be interested to know that there is another product available with a near identical flavor at the fraction of the cost.
Diet Pepsi Jazz Caramel Cream. Yes this product from Pepsi is almost identical in flavor to Coca-Cola Blak.
Honestly, I prefer drinking from a cold glass bottle that Coca-Cola Blak comes in. Coca-Cola Blak also has a hint of coffee.
But if you’re not drinking them side by side I’m confident you won’t know the difference.
DRIVE, the great new TV show, Canceled. FOX I Hate You.
Apr 27th
OMG, they don’t even let shows grow an audience anymore. This show was really good and only going to get better.
It was actually an original idea with good acting and nice level of suspense. This show definitely was worth a full season.
But FOX canceled it after 4 shows aired. I really think something is wrong over at FOX.
24 which is the same boring show every year gets top billing but an original idea like Drive gets cut before it was given a chance.
And I’m sure that fact that this is another canceled FOX show isn’t lost on Nathan Fillion (reference to Firefly).
Can someone please fire the person at FOX that decided Drive should be canceled and hire someone that will let a show spread it’s wings.
PUT DRIVE BACK ON THE AIR AND GIVE IT A CHANCE
Xbox Controller Text Input Device (keyboard). The Real Reason
Apr 15th
As Microsoft announced the Spring Dashboard Update they also introduced the TID. Because one of the main features of the upcoming dashboard update is text messaging with Windows Live users. We all know what a pain it can be to input text using the controller alone. Now with the TID text entry will be easy.
But this is isn’t the real reason we are getting the TID. Yes, I know it ties in nicely with the Live IM network and it’s all very plausible. But there is a more valid reason for this device.
The upcoming Xbox Live Browser. They probably will not refer to it as a stripped down IE for good reason. Too many negative comments and references about spyware and viruses.
Very few people are going to get the TID because of text messaging. But shortly after the TID is in the market for sale the browser will be announced. The browser will probably be tied to the Fall Dashboard Update. Will you have to pay for the browser? I doubt it, but expect to be told about the $19.99 TID repeatedly.
Like many of you I will not get it for text messaging. But give me a browser and that thing is mine. YouTube on my TV here I come. And hopefully the Xbox Live Browser will have the newest version of Flash unlike the Wii Browser which is running Flash 7. I also expect the browser to not have every feature that my computers browsers have.
The Xbox and Live Network are extremely secure and I don’t want any damn browser that will change that. Neither does Microsoft.
So is Major Nelson sporting betas of the Xbox Live Browser on his Xbox? It’s quite possible but even he isn’t privy to everything. And if he does have it he has done a great job of not accidently spilling the beans.
SIDEBAR: The Spring Dashboard update is going to be awesome. Why you ask? Because of MPEG-4 and H.264 video support. As a Mac user I use Connect360 to play Music, Movies and Pictures on my 360. With the new Dashboard update and Connect360 Update I’ll be able to play 90% of the videos on my computer through the 360 without conversion. Good Times, Good Times.
Microsoft just introduced Silverlight, which is suppose to complete with Flash and QuickTime. They are positioning it as a Mac and PC plugin for your browser with superior video capabilities. With the pending release of streaming video on your Xbox360 it seams to me that Silverlight is the heart of that technology. Especially since it’s capable of 720p.
Xbox Live Streaming Video or IP TV will greatly increase the content available through your Xbox. I think it’s safe to say that Microsoft will use the Zune as a testbed for the technology and the upcoming Xbox handheld. Silverlight may even be the OS that runs the Xbox Handheld.
You Know You’re a RapidWeaver Addict When?
Apr 14th
You know you’re a RapidWeaver addict when you visit MacUpdate or VersionTracker and get excited when you see the word Rapid!!!
This happens to me regularly. I visit MacUpdate and see the word Rapid and get excited until I realize it has nothing to do with RapidWeaver.
I love the Themes and Plugins being developed for this application. I even buy the ones I don’t currently have a use for yet. Cause I want to play with them.
Prison Break Season 3 pulls a John Doe?
Apr 8th
In some of my previous articles I explain the similarities between an old show and a new show. In this article I explain the possibility that a new show is creating a plot twist that puts it on par with an old show.
You see, season 1 of Prison Break dealt with the escape. Season 2 dealt with the money, the truth and the run. At the end of Season 2 Lincoln is given a full pardon after the truth came out and the brothers have the money. So that wraps the show right? It’s over, they escaped, Lincoln is a free man and they have a ton of money to live happily ever after, right? Wrong.
Prison Break season 3 will take the show in a whole new direction. There were plenty of clues to the new direction.
Season 2, Episode 14 was named John Doe. A funny pun since Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) played the lead character on John Doe.
Another slight but significant clue is the secret agency the General works for. If you watched John Doe, then you know of the Phoenix Organization.
The Phoenix Organization had a character (Trenchcoat) that didn’t speak even though he could. Prison Break season 2 introduced a character (The General) that doesn’t speak even though he can.
The General works for a secret organization much like The Phoenix Organization that positions people in scenarios to see the resulting outcome.
I believe that Prison Break season 3 will also be more like LOST in the fact that every episode will be half what’s happening now and half what happened in the past. Every episode will have flashback elements. Why, you ask? Because we are going to find out that the General has been pulling strings since before Lincoln was targeted.
Much like LOST uses flashbacks to show us previous characters that have since died, Prison Break season 3 will flashback to the prison allowing dead characters to reprise their rolls as we find out the General’s involvement in character placement.
You may have noticed that T-Bag was directed to go to Panama, as well as the scene where Bullock got shot. T-Bag was a pawn to get the brothers to Panama. Who was pulling the strings? I believe it’s the General.
In the penultimate scene of the season finale, it became obvious that the only brother that is wanted or needed is Michael Scofield.
My biggest prediction is that the General targeted Michael Scofield from the very beginning. He may have chosen Michael because he verges on savant and knew his capability and his drive to break his brother out of prison. But for him to try as hard as he did, his brother, Lincoln Burrows, would have to be innocent. Does that mean that the General was part of the setup to frame Lincoln? Yes, I believe it does. But, I also believe that those people are unaware they are part of a much larger conspiracy.
I think season 3 will reveal the General’s involvement in many of the previous season’s scenarios that lead the brothers to where they are now.
Why? What purpose would the General have to drive Scofield to get put in prison then break out? It could simply be to find the strengths and weaknesses of the prison or the man. We may also find out that Michael Scofield is not an isolated case. There may be many other people being driven unknowingly by the General to accomplish similar tasks
