Archive for December, 2008
December 27, 2008
When I got my iPod, I decided not to use the bundled Apple earphones. Instead favouring the Sony ones that I’d been using with my Walkman. When those died, I reluctantly tried and used the bundled Apple buds for at least a few months. They really are horrible, but I persisted whilst I was on the lookout for a decent replacement pair. I’d heard positive things said about the Sennheiser CX300s, and even though the CX400s had just launched I really didn’t want to pay the extra for an inline volume control and a little more bass.
Since then, I’ve had to replace them once, and am about to do the same again. My biggest problem with earphones is that they’re too bloody delicate (or I’m too rough with them) as the wires inside always breaks; leaving me with only a single ears worth of music.
I would choose another brand of earphones, but I feel that I’ve had my trials and tribulations with enough to know that the Sennheisers are the best sounding earphones I’ve ever tried. This next order being my third pair, I’m gonna try to look after them more, but that’s easier said than done.
Posted in Portable Media, iPod, music | 4 Comments »
December 24, 2008
With Woolworths going into administration, I thought I’d go and take some photos of one of the biggest Woolworths stores near me. However, temptation got the better of me, leading to me buying a bunch of DVDs and blu-rays (as low as £6!) for incredibly cheap prices. Although, admittedly I probably wouldn’t have bought them otherwise. With prices like that though, it’s hard to blame people for acting like vultures.
News also breaks today that Zavvi isn’t going to be around online anymore, and it’s too soon to predict the future of their brick and mortar stores although they will continue trading for the foreseeable future.
Posted in Home Entertainment, Shopping, future | 3 Comments »
December 22, 2008
Last year, I blogged about how Fopp, a High Street music retailer, was going out of business. 18months later, two more victims have emerged, as Woolworths and MFI are going into administration in the midst of an economical ‘downturn’. Now stores are attempting to pull in the customers with extravagant sales in an effort to get people spending in the runup to Christmas. Whilst people are still buying in stores, you might think that online sales would be booming; with added incentives such as free delivery. However, comScore revealed earlier this month that traffic to online, e-commerce sites is down compared to the same period last year. So it seems that the sales really are necessary as people are realising that they need to be cautious about spending with tighter budgets. Of course you could take a light hearted look at the econsomical crisis with a ‘Tight Git’ sealed wallet. Either way, the January sales look set to be a bargain hunter’s paradise.
Posted in Shopping, Web, future | Leave a Comment »
December 20, 2008
Posted in Apple, iPod | 1 Comment »
December 18, 2008
I’ve been meaning to transfer my blog over from Windows Live Spaces for ages now. Trouble is, there wasn’t a simple/quick way to do it, so I’ve spent a little time copying and pasting some of my archive over manually. It’s not done yet, as there’s still the whole of 2007 entries to be copied over. I’ll transfer them all over eventually, even if some are incredibly cringeworthy to read back I want to preserve them all together. It’s been kinda interesting for me to see how much my opinion’s changed over the past 2 years though.
I’m not going to delete the old archive on Windows Live Spaces, even after I’ve transferred them over to WordPress. However, I won’t be updating it anymore after this last post.
I’ve neglected blogging over the past few months, partly due to lack of any real inspiration and working on other projects. On the plus side, I do plan on blogging more frequently; so watch this space.
Posted in meta | Leave a Comment »
December 18, 2008
Just been reading about how Sky is planning on broadcasting in 3D. Ever since Beowulf came out in 3D in cinemas, using Real D digital projection, I wondered how long it would be before the technology could be adapted for home entertainment. The technology requires a new 3D compatible TV, but other than that, it works with existing technology. Theoretically then, the technology could be used with blu-ray in the future. The only downside is that currently you still need to wear glasses. Based on the Real D ones, they’re not as uncomfortable as the IMAX ones, but will make it difficult for anyone already wears glasses.
Posted in Home Entertainment, future, movies | 3 Comments »
December 17, 2008
I recently saw The Day the Earth Stood Still, which heavily features product placement for Microsoft Surface and Windows. Surface pops up every once in a while in movies, and unlike Vista can help to drive the narrative, even if only for it’s cool, interactive, aesthetic appeal. It somehow more seamlessly integrates into the narrative, helping to visualise what’s going on. Choosing to show Vista running on government PCs is odd considering it’s usually a much more sophisticated looking interface (probably running on Linux) that doesn’t degrade from the narrative; or is it just me that thinks seeing a glowing Vista badge on the back of a laptop sticks out like a sore thumb?
Product placement usually doesn’t come across well, unless it’s subtle and has an Apple logo. The recent Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, goes almost out of its way to emphasise the exact contents of Bond’s drink. Although perhaps like the Vesper drink in Casino Royale, was akin to what was described in Flemming’s novels. The gadgets that Q offered Bond in older movies used to be imaginative and awe inspiring; like the coating on the Aston Martin Vanquish to make it appear invisible. It’s still good advertising for Aston Martin, but isn’t there for the sake of it. Now, the abundance of normal, everyday Sony Ericsson phones, Cybershot cameras and Vaio laptops popping up in Bond movies is comparatively boring.
Posted in Computing, Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Sony Ericsson | 2 Comments »
