2007 March « Tech-Me – Blogging my thoughts on gadgets, techology and web based media

Archive for March, 2007

Game Over for PriSon3

March 31, 2007

It’s well known that prison isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. They get to watch premium TV and socialise within the confines of their surroundings. They might get to play games but not the PS3. That’s right, Sky TV as a reward for good behaviour as they’re rehabilitated back onto the streets. No wonder they want to reoffend. But the PS3 won’t be available for their next stay since John Reid dismissed the possibility. And it wasn’t because of the phenomenol cost or even the lack of titles. No, the reason the PS3 isn’t allowed is because it can be used to communicate using radio signals with the outside world. The wi-fi connectivity with PSPs only made matters worse. Oh well, they’ll have to make do with re-runs of Porridge on UKTV Gold.

prison ps3
chapmanmania

Posted in Gaming, PS3, Sony | Leave a Comment »

Take a Look at This

March 30, 2007

The world of biometrics is nothing new. Scanning with a fingerprint or in rarer occasions an eye is becoming an albeit slow development that could/should change the way we all log into the numerous computers, websites, ATMs etc… But if you really want to be sure that it can only be you that your computer will let in, why not try using a 3D camera to scan your beautiful face each and every time that you need to log on.

It might look like something that might be used to scan for bombs at an airport but its designed to recognise 40,000 ID points around your facial features. See, that big nose finally came in useful for making you stand out for the right reasons and that ungainly stuble shouldn’t stop it from identifying your glowing features. No definite release date other than it should land some time later in the year. Gonna need to remember those passwords for a while yet then.

Posted in Security, future | Leave a Comment »

iLaw

March 30, 2007

Surely you know by now that it’s illegal to drive whilst talking on your phone and to listen to your iPod. Well, for now at least, the latter isn’t true. But it soon might be. Considering that research has been carried out on just that by Drexel University with 12 participants. Yes, in their Nissan 240sx simulator they found out exactly how motorists behave with their iPod whilst driving. And here’s a concise review of their findings:
• Selecting a song or video on an iPod while driving significantly affected driver performance as measured by vehicle deviation from a lane’s center veering left or right.
• Selecting media also affected the driver’s speed. Drivers reduced speed while searching for tunes on their iPod.
• Watching videos significantly affected car-following speed.
So, they found out that the participants concentration was affected by changing tracks resulting in them going slower in the wrong lane. Is there really a point in this research? If people are looking down at the screen of their iPod, their eyes obviously aren’t where they should be (on the road!). Did anyone think that people would be able to manage just fine whilst looking at the device? But is this any different to fiddling with the radio as you go out of range of that quaint local station or re-programming the sat-nav as you realise you meant to enter Bristol as you’re heading toward Brussels? But my biggest question is why did they test people’s behaviour whilst watching videos on the iPod? Even the village idiot probably realises its not the best idea to watch a video whilst riding his bicycle.
So what does this research mean? Will there be a new law that you can’t use an iPod in the car? And if so would other media players be OK? All I know is that the drivers not meant to be able to see a video display in the front of the car whilst driving, but its becoming difficult to avoid when everything has a screen from the infrared heat imagers in SLKs to the sat-nav in the head unit. When the iPhone is launched and everyone is fiddling with that touch screen, road rage will probably go into overdrive.

Posted in Apple, iPod | Leave a Comment »

XBOX Elite

March 29, 2007

Black is Back

Probably one of the biggest will they won’t they’s since the launch of the 360; the Xbox 360 Elite (formerly codenamed Zephyr) has been officially the worst kept secret during its long development. And for those of you that still don’t believe what’s coming out of the rumour mill. Here it is (above) with a US release date of April 29.
The Elite will come in black and sit nicely above the current premium version with its HDMI port and 120GB HDD. That should be ample for Microsoft’s new IPTV service compared to the current paltry 20GB. The drive will be available separately for all those early adopters who’ve already had their console for up to a year. That 120GB HDD is also comfortably double the size of the PS3s whilst HDMI also helps it to match the quality. Microsoft have overlooked making it a complete, integrated, home entertainment rival for the PS3 without including the Microsoft favoured HD-DVD drive meaning that it’ll still have the ungainly add-on look. It won’t colour co-ordinate either since (at least to my knowledge) the HD-DVD drive is remaining white. The Elite will remain an exclusive unit as it will only be available until stocks run dry, then it’ll be back in that trusty off-white colour, retaining the HDMI port and capacious disk drive.
No integrated wi-fi either makes it no match for the all in one solution that is the PS3. Looks like Microsoft want to give their customers the choice as to whether they want a few games or the ability to playback HD-DVDs. Surely, the lack of HD-DVD means that games for the 360 will be limited to the comparatively small 8.5GB dual layered DVDs for games. That surely means more levels and better gameplay on the Sony format of choice, blu-ray.
Now, I think I better get back to that rumour mill. Some mighty big stuff have come out recently. Now, when’s the iPhone going to be launched?

xbox 360 elite
xbox zephyr
chapmanmania

Posted in Microsoft, XBOX 360 | Leave a Comment »

PS3 Comes Out on Top

March 29, 2007

The PS3 only hit the shelves less than a week ago in the UK but it can already claim victory over the 360.

You can still go into most stores and pick up a PS3 just a week after the much hyped launch last week. Is this because nobody wants one or is it because Sony got their act together and shipped enough PS3s for all who wanted them? The latter is more likely now since the latest statistics reveal that the PS3 outsold the 360 by more than double. That’s 165,000 compared to a meagre 70,000 for the 360 within the first two days. Incidentally, 165,000 in two days is the record for the most consoles purchased in such a small amount of time. With so many units available, why did so many camp out in Oxford Street’s Virgin Megastore? Well, they did get a Sony Bravia HDTV for their trouble. For £425, a games console, blu-ray spinner, a TV and a cab home, now that’s a bargain!
If there were more 360s available, maybe this would be completely different and Sony still have just over a years worth of titles and consoles to catch up to. Current games apparently don’t reflect the potential that the PS3 offers. But with the 360 elite just going official with an all important HDMI port and a more capacious hard drive, yet no integrated wi-fi or HD-DVD drive, the playing field leveled out a little. Add all the extras to the 360 and the price still isn’t that much under that of the PS3. The next generation of gaming is here. The time has come for the gaming big boys to fight it out for the cash of the humble gamer.

ps3 success

chapmanmania

Posted in Microsoft, PS3, Sony, XBOX 360 | Leave a Comment »

PS3 Smash Hit

March 21, 2007

OK, this is, I guess a topical follow up to my recent tech special on abusing technology. The newest thing featured there was an iPod nano. Here, I’m going to top that with a brand new, soon to be released in the UK, PS3. Just after the news that around 70% of old PS titles will play on the PS3. Not this one though. This is probably the first, consumer smashed up Playstation 3s. Probably not the actual first though since they’re obviously tested in case you happen to drop it, probably not hit it with a mallet though.

Posted in Online video, PS3, Sony | Leave a Comment »

A Space for Friends

March 21, 2007

It’s established that myspace is popular amongst people that want to be part of the next best thing but is it really a place for friends and meeting new people?
I think its nice that celebrities and movies are getting in on the myspace but they’re not looking for friends, they’re looking for an audience. Myspace is simply an engine to promote advertising whether that be for an independent artist trying to break into the music industry or a mainstream movie. Myspace has created talent such as the Artic Monkeys who’ve made it big and in the charts wuthout the help of the big shots in the music industry. This could have been disastarous for the Simon Cowell’s of the world but some companies have embraced the social networking platform and no longer audition wannabes until they’ve got at least 1000 friends on myspace. Already creating a fanbase without the expenditure. This is all well and good for launching independent artists into the charts without the months of endless airings on TV “talent” shows. Although I begin to draw the line when big movie studios have a website and a myspace. It feels tacky to me that they’re trying to mingle with their potential audience. For fans though, it probably couldn’t be better. Chatting with their soon to be idols via their myspace eliminates the need to get up close and personal. Well maybe not, but it does give them something that reaches beyond the comparatively flat promotions on official sites.
OK, so what don’t I like about myspace? Well, actually not a lot, but only if the pages are laid out and made readable. Or what’s the point? Too much control and the user’s potential to create a dump go together well. Some look really good, but often without the right design ideas, even the most “interesting” of pages looks undesirable – at least to me. It usually starts so well, then the background appears, and whatever text was there disappears behind the darkly coloured background image.
I also don’t appreciate music starting automatically when I visit their page. I want to be able to control what I listen to and when. Like I said before, it’s nice that celebrities want to mingle with their audience but who says it’s really them? Most of what I read seems to be from fans attempting to imitate what the character would say. And even if the celebrity created the page, who says it’s them replying to people, more likely an agent who is less busy drinking a latte to care.
If read as intended, i.e. a comical perspective from the character, it makes for a nice, brief visit, often comical too. I found one that was supposed to be by Victor Meldrew (despite the character being dead, he’s alive and well on myspace!) a very good attempt. “About me” was the theme tune lyrics (which are very fitting if you’re familiar with the show) and playing “Unbelievable” by EMF was admittedly a good choice that made me laugh. In contrast though, when someone obviously doesn’t like a celebrity, it is blatantly obvious. For example, I saw one about Philip Schofield which implied that he was a “pervert”. All a good laugh maybe, but couldn’t this be detrimental to people’s careers? Famous news items about rumours of celebrities doing illicit activities have damaged careers in the path. Could myspace do the same?
So, my opinion of “myspace” is generally a good one. My opinion of your myspace? Well, that’s a whole different story.

Posted in Myspace, Web | Leave a Comment »

To the Maximus

March 16, 2007

What’s all this then?

It’s been of mass rumour across the web for quite a bit of time now. I as well as many others have blogged about the cool factor that can definitely be associated with the ability to have 102, customisable, 32x32pixel, OLED buttons that can change depending on what you’re doing or for the language that you speak. After months of seeing humourous “delete” button shaped erasers that teased us all whilst devleopment of the proposed keyboard was being undertaken, press release shots of the Maximus have been unveiled.
All that time to make a keyboard?
Yes, it has taken a long time to make the keyboard, but it’s not just any old keyboard. It’s got to be the most innovative keyboard, dare I say, ever? Yes, it’s got to be, name another keyboard that beats this. And no, the iPhone’s touch screen isn’t considered as a keyboard.
How much?
Erm, I blogged about this when prices were first rumoured, that was around $1200. That’s now increased to around the $1500 mark. And, no matter how you try to convert that, it just ain’t the cost of a keyboard, more like the cost of a decent desktop PC. But the keyboard does look cool. And can you really put a price on cool? Well Art Lebedev seems to be able to. Don’t worry though, some smaller versions will be available for people with less disposable income than say, David Beckham. They’re available to preorder now.
But my Optimus Mini Three OLED colour drained
Yes, that’s right. Nasty that. And Art Lebedev have placed the keyboard with a 5 year life predicted life span. But surely, if you’re planning to get one of these, it won’t match your lifestyle in one year, let alone five. Technology changes at a rapid rate, so there will be something better to waste your money on before the luscious colour fades.

chapmanmania optimus maximus art lebedev

Posted in Computing, future | 1 Comment »

Let the Games Begin

March 16, 2007

Gamers have been reminded not to carry cash, to pack a mobile and use unmarked bags.

Why? Of course, it’s the launch of the PS3 next week. Will one be in your home by this time next week? Will the stocks sell out? Will you get yours on the day of launch despite coughing up a £50 deposit sometime last year?
These are all questions that must fill any true fan with fear as they walk the streets during the dead of night next Friday morning. As their hearts beat as they near the corner of the dark alley, a group of hoodies in the corner of their eye, every moment considering why they didn’t preorder from Amazon for a delivery. Although, I’m sure a little cash and a mobile phone would be the least of their fears as they cart off their console for its life under their TVs. Probably an added bonus for any thug. And, I’m sure that you can disguise the big, fat PS3 into that old Farmfoods bag under the stairs. Well I never said anything about it staying in the bag.
Gamers who make the trip to Virgin Megastore in London will be treated to entertainment and extra goodies as they ride out the wait inside the ground floor of the store from Wednesday. After the wait, I would imagine it would be quite a blow to have it snatched cruelly from their grasp. Let the game begin!

PS3 Launch

Posted in PS3, Sony | Leave a Comment »

Are you a Mac or a PC?

March 16, 2007

Why do so many people “hate” the Mac operating system? Is it too difficult to use? I don’t think so, in fact, it’s probably more intutive than Windows. If you’ve been a long term Windows user (like me) just do the complete opposite of what you would in Windows (e.g. to close, go to the left, not the right). Is it for the features, well this is less likely since a bunch of those exact features now exist in the latest offering from Windows. So, surely it must be the compatiblity, well maybe there is a point here, but this has, up to now been because developers see little point developing the application to run on an operating system used by fewer people. I say “up to now” because more and more people are considering jumping ship. Of course there are still the fanboys of each. And I would like to make clear that I’m not a fanboy of each. I can just see that the features have been clearly plagiarised. But Vista isn’t a copy of Mac OSX. You see, Mac has integrated search but it’s in the top right, whereas in Vista it is on the Start menu. Oh, but there is the integrated search in the top right of each window, a little Mac like, sure but Vista has a brand new feature with its flip 3D, right? Well, Mac does have Expose, which is completely different, they’re disorganised and separate like little scraps of paper around the screen. Mac has neat little widgets that you can leave lying around your desktop if you choose or drop them onto a dashboard. Vista has gadgets; little applications that can be placed on the desktop or attached to a sidebar. See Widget/Gadget, not the same thing. Actually, if anything, Vista probably copied more from the Google Desktop sidebar more so on this one.
See Apple and Windows remain as different as ever, some people are just so wrapped up arguing over this that they can’t see the subtle differences. But, what bothers me the most is Chess. No, I can’t win at it either but that’s not my point. You see, Mac OSX had a Chess game before Vista. Of course it’s not the exact same, there are differences between the two. Like in Vista, you can change the appearance of the board between porcelain, marble or wood. Sure, you can change the appearance of the board in Mac OSX too but to grass. See, grass couldn’t be more different to porcelain.
OK. Maybe Windows is a rip off, but as Gates has been proclaiming, Vista does have parental control features, it is a little more compatible (disputable since it took four attempts to get my printer to print – still doesn’t scan or copy) with software and has integrated media center. But why make the choice once? Using the free BootCamp released by Apple themselves or Parallels, you can make the choice everyday. Simply buy a Mac and a full version of the Windows of your choice and choose which to boot up (or switch between in the case of Parallels). See, good looks with optimum functionality. And, it was rumoured a few months back that graphics engines are being developed to allow ActiveX graphics on a Mac. Too bad that you won’t be able to easily add a little more RAM to your Mac Pro though.