James Bond, we have arrived

Many people (me included) use our mobile phones to tell time. A watch has become more of an accessory rather than a tool.

LG has come out with the geekiest of gadgets: a wrist watch that doubles as a mobile phone. Kids of my generation and earlier have probably dreamed about this type of gadget at least once in their childhood. Even as grown-ups, the wrist watch phone still sounds awesome. Science fiction is finally becoming reality.

As for the phone itself, reviews state that it works well as a phone, and comes with a pretty good microphone and speaker. You can use a bluetooth headset in case you don't want to look like a pretentious douche talking to your wrist, and the phone even has 3G connectivity. Curiously, the phone also has a media player.

The major downside is that this phone has a very short battery life. 60 minutes of talk time is the standard test result. With bluetooth it's even less than that. The size of the phone is small for a phone, but it is pretty big for a watch. This is going to look awkward on people with wrists smaller than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I'm afraid I have to ask why a media player is necessary. Also, why not make a 2G model to save power? That way a camera would no longer be necessary, and it could make more room for a bigger battery or even kinetic charging.

Anyhoo, nice work. Now have fun pretending to be a secret agent.

Another Extreme Solution

Three Hong Kong reporters were beaten and arrested for dubious reasons in Xinjiang two weeks ago. The mistreatment and false accusations triggered protests and demands for clarification. Though I was angry and saddened by this incident, the first thing that came to mind was how to fight back.

As two of the detained reporters were getting beat up, the third reporter was able to record the incident with his camera. Unfortunately, the tape was confiscated during his detention. What to do?

Maybe the awesome TV show The Unit was still fresh in my mind, so I thought of covert operations. When reporters are in a sensitive area such as China, they should bring along a "covert reporter". This covert reporter will be outfitted with sophisticated spy glasses with a built in camera and microphone. If trouble arises, the covert reporter will spring into action and casually record the whole incident.

Regular TV stations can't officially release footage? I agree. The covert operation should stay secret. This covert operation must remain a secret for the sake of future missions. So instead of the TV station admitting it was their footage. First release it anonymously on a Chinese YouTube-esque website, then broadcast the video on the local news, claiming it was taken and uploaded by a random person on the scene. Let those violent keystone cops know that there's always someone watching.

Again, it's one of my bizzaro solutions to one of the world's troubles that will never happen. When you get beaten up and falsely accused of "inciting public disorder".

Back to Basics

I am for the most part a Firefox user when it comes to web browsing. My second choice is Google Chrome. However, there's always this rare (or outdated/poorly designed) site out there that requires me to dig out Internet Explorer once in a while.

I'm not entirely against IE. It's just that it is so damn slow. Both IE7 and especially IE8 run at snail speed. Is my computer too slow? Possibly. If that's the case, shouldn't the other browsers run slow as well?

I decided to downgrade all the way back to IE6. I remember first using the IE6 beta back in 2000. That's almost ten years ago. The downgrade process required me to delete the XP Service Pack 3, which took forever. I was left with a ten year old web browser that had none of the bells and whistles of Firefox or Chrome or Opera, but it ran smooth and fast. Though because of major security issues and Firefox superiority, I won't be using IE6 very much at all.

I appreciate new functions added to upgrade software, but I think developers should really make speed and usability more of a priority.

Physical Damage

WRC and NASCAR too? Gran Turismo is again looking to be the all-in-one racing game. This is one of those series that I will snap up without giving it any thought. GT has proven it's worth in my gaming library.

This time it looks like there will be car damage involved. Fans (and critics) of the series have been waiting ten years for this type of addition to the game. When I saw NASCAR involved, I couldn't imagine them not including damage as that's a big part of what makes NASCAR exciting.

The graphics, the amazingly inclusive and realistic drivable car encyclopedia, the variety (rally, oval, road race) make it a game I'm highly anticipating.

Moden view of video games

A couple months ago, there was a case of bickering between the so called "Kong Boys" and "Kong Girls". The whole issue has sort of died down now. The boys and girls have expressed their opinions and they have come up with their desired stereotypes. In essence, they have vented their anger towards those members of the opposite sex who embody the worst stereotypical "Kong" traits.

Personally, I agree with some of the accusations, disagree with others, and simply have to dismiss a majority of them because of the absurdity. What sort of annoyed me was how video games is always used as the number one sin that the "Kong Boys" commit. I agree that when people over-indulge or become addicted to video games, it is most definitely a bad thing. Yet, how is being addicted to video games any different from being addicted to television? Isn't staying up all night watching Lost or Gossip Girl the same as staying up all night to play World of Warcraft? Why are games given that extra evil stigma?

Toys

The unfortunate truth is, that video games are still considered to be toys (for kids) by most people. So video games = for kids, and TV shows = for adults. Would you rather spend a couple hours playing Guitar Hero rather than vegging out on the couch? Most of the stuff on TV is pretty immature and unproductive. With games becoming more advanced, challenging, and aesthetically pleasing, people should see that value in games is growing.

Everything in moderation

Every form of entertainment is healthy until you make it unhealthy. Addicted to WOW? That's bad. Addicted to infomercials? That's bad too! Yet, watching TV all night seems like a more "mature" thing to do. Gambling is healthy until you lose your kid's college tuition at the Venetian. The same goes for eating, shopping, working, dieting, and even exercise. It bothers me that video games are immediately vilified as something immature, when they are probably much more complex and rewarding than something like The Amazing Race season 13.

Video games aren't evil, and the people who play them are not losers. If you abuse games, then it's a whole other story.

As for the video... The discussion could have been interesting if the attention whorish, egotistical host, Cheng (鄭大班) didn't open his mouth every 30 seconds to interupt his guests. Cheng has obviously already made up his mind about video games and other forms of modern entertainment. I don't see the point of trying to explain it to him.

RE5 and Race

Resident Evil 5's issue of race has ballooned to internet wide proportions. Now every game journalist, podcaster, and forum junkie has had their say on the issue. The argument is about whether RE5 has been insensitive to race. Big, white anti-terror agent Chris Redfield goes to Africa to gun down a boatload of "infected" Africans. Read more about problems with RE5's imagery here, here, and here.

I can imagine what sort of problems people might see with RE5's imagery, but I'd be lying if I said I felt the same. The truth is that RE5 doesn't bother me at all. When I play the game, I feel it's just RE4 taking place in a place where the people happened to have dark colored skin.

Regarding RE5's controversy, Newsweek writer, N'gai Kroal said, "this imagery has history". He was referring to the issues mentioned above, and also how the Africans in the game were protrayed as savages. The game dehumanized them by making them mindless attackers, and with the lack of a background story.

In an attempt to try and put myself in the shoes of others and determine whether RE5's controversial imagery bothers me, I changed it up a bit. What if Chris Redfield went to a poor, remote village in China and started slaughtering "infected" Chinese people left and right? To take it even further, what if instead of being white, Redfield was Japanese? Would I be offended? No, but China's Fenqing (angry youth, or often times shit-youth) would be up in arms. A Japanese person going to China to slaughter Chinese people (even though they're infected "zombies")? Some people would certainly blow a fuse.

Some who downplay the questionable imagery claim that Resident Evil is "just a game". I do not agree with them. Video games aren't "just video games", as movies are never "just movies", and although many people still think video games are still toys and only for kids, those people are sorely mistaken. I don't think that RE5 is "just a game", but I do realize that I'm playing Resident Evil. The skin color of those zombies, and how they're relevant to history does not bother me. OK, perhaps I can see how it might bother some people. It is Capcom's fault for not being able to forsee this controversy.

I'm disappointed. Disappointed at Capcom for not being more sensitive in this day and age. We look at games of the past where these types of mistakes were made, and we can chuckle at that ignorance. Nowadays that type of ignorance appears to be unforgivable. I'm also disappointed at those who blindly label RE5 as racist, and those who blindly proclaim that RE5 is "just a game". Both sides should try to understand each other.

Is Resident Evil 5 insenstive? Yes. Offensive? No. Am I bothered by RE5? Other than not being able to run and shoot at the same time, the answer is no.

Get what you pay for

No plans for PS3 price drop, says Sony.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173503

If this is true, then kudos to Sony for sticking to their plan. I'm not a "fan" of either the PS3 or 360, but I feel that the PS3 is definitely built at a higher quality. For starters, it is quiet compared to the jet engine-esque noise the 360 makes when the disc drive is spinning. The 360 has been found to have fatal errors (just google Red Ring of Death) that are covered by the warranty. When the warranty is up, you're on your own. You can tell that Microsoft did a lot of cost saving even before this console hit stores. On the other hand, the PS3 is a console for adults, and it comes with an adult price (USD499-599).

You have to hand it to Microsoft for devising a business plan that was purposely designed to defeat the PS3. They knew Sony's gameplan and made a cheap machine with a lower price point to initially sell more units. Brilliant plan really, since the money is made from games. With more consoles in more households, the likelihood of someone choosing a 360 game over a PS3 game is high. PS3 in turn can play Blu-Ray DVDs. This will boost their unit sales, but will it make Blu-Ray DVD users buy more games?

No Tube for You

YouTube blocked in China? It was only a matter of time. Am I surprised this happened after promises of a more "open" internet? No. China makes few promises, and has a problem with keeping them. Lies and contradictions are common place. Its these contradictions and lack of clarity that drove away the faith I had in this country years ago. Not that I don't have well wishes for China. I really want to see China do well, but not in the way that most people consider to be "well". Responding to the YouTube blockage, China had this to say:

"Many people have a false impression that the Chinese government fears the Internet. In fact it is just the opposite," the official, Qin Gang, explains. "China's Internet is open enough, but also needs to be regulated by law in order to prevent the spread of harmful information and for national security."

Another "Chinaism", another disappointment.

(Read more here)

No to free publicity?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7933565.stm

Why does YouTube have to pay artists to post music videos? Can someone explain this to me? I guess there must be a reason. I'm all for artists getting paid, but isn't having your MV on YouTube the equivilant of free advertising? Artists and record companies should be thankful there's a medium such as YouTube to freely spread their product.

Since when did people start saying no to free advertising?

Build Quality

The stuff we buy just keeps getting worse.

I finally upgraded to a wireless keyboard and mouse at work. I chose this Microsoft combo because it was reasonably priced. I like Logitech's wireless stuff better, but I already had a set of that at home, and didn't want to spend anymore money.

I guess you really get what you pay for. This Microsoft set sucks. They keyboard is mediocre, but not really much worse than your average everyday keyboard. The mouse is really bottom of the barrel though in terms of quality. The optical mouse works on very few surfaces. It doesn't work on the mouse pad that I got for free from the store which I made this purchase, and it doesn't work on the old mouse pad that I was using. It only works if I put it directly on my desk. The battery life sucks compared to my Logitech wireless optical mouse at home, despite it turning itself off every couple minutes to save power.

Right now, I'm recharging the two AA batteries for the mouse, so I have reverted back to the trusty old Microsoft optical wired mouse I've been using for the past eight years. It is better in many respects. Not only does it feel better in your hand, the buttons have a better build quality, and it works on almost any surface. I don't understand how technology can move backwards, but apparently, that's what's happening to Microsoft.

From now on, I'm sticking with Logitech.

Cleaning up (one of) Bush's mess

Sometimes you there are things that simply make no sense. USD480,000,000 for a helicopter in this economy, and it takes a new President to put a stop to it.

Yes, money needed to be spent after 9/11, but this is beyond ridiculous. Radar jammer, OK. Shielding for electronic equipment (against an electromagnetic pulse), OK. Toilet and kitchen?! Uh... NO!

Americans living in excess brought them to where they are today. You'd like to imagine the government being smarter than that. Then you remember who ran the government in the past eight years and it all makes sense (or no sense).

Funny Friday

Bling It!

Click here for the tech stuff.  Tests have shown that Chrome is twice as fast as Firefox, and it appears to be the fastest browser available.  Has mighty Google done it again?  The browser feels great.  It has nearly everything Firefox 3 has.  It doesn't "hang" occasionally like FF does, and it is a lot faster (at least it feels that way since I haven't timed it myself).  Perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised that Google appears to be dominating another facet of my web experience.  The Google search engine, Gmail, Maps, Google Chat, Blogger, Reader, Picasa, and even YouTube, all suit my web lifestyle just right.  Minimalist, utilitarian, unobtrusive, efficient, are words I'd use to describe Google's most basic products.  They are taking over the world and perhaps they deserve to.  

Not Just Racing Buckets

Premier racing bucket and OEM car seat maker, Recaro, has seemingly snuck into the airline seat business.

In the past, airline seats had no visible branding. You assumed they were Airbus brand or Boeing brand seats. Now you can see the Recaro brand clearly labeled on the seats in certain Airbus planes. It is kind of like Prada putting their name on an LG phone, or Bose putting their stereos in Audi cars.

Overall, it's refreshing to see professional travel seat makers making seats for airplanes. So what's next? Herman Milliar designed seats in first class? Would be a great selling point if you ask me.

Monster Maker

Everyone knew that Nissan had their cross hairs on the Porsche 911 Turbo. Everyone knew the goal was to beat the Turbo. No one expected the GT-R to completely blow the 911 out of the water. Let's just say, there's no comparison. The heavier, front engined GT-R beat even Porsche's top of the line, ultra rare, Carrera GT (on the Top Gear track, driven by the Stig). It is mind boggling how good this car is at this price. It is truly supercar performance, without the supercar price tag. It has achieved what the Honda NSX always wanted to do. So instead of paying USD600,000 for a Ferrari Enzo, you'll probably end up paying USD70,000 for a GT-R that has Enzo like performance. How crazy is THAT!

What's even more amazing is the technology involved. Sure, the Porsche GT2 is crazy fast, but you have to be a very competent driver to be able to control it. The GT-R on the other hand is suitable for both professionals, and amateurs alike.

Bravo, Nissan. I am officially jealous.

Blogger's Scheduled Posts

I was secretly hoping for this feature.

Blogger's scheduled posts allows users to prepare their blog posts in advance, and schedule when they will be published. So technically, one could write up a year's worth of posts, and have them automatically published throughout the year. I actually thought of doing this for when I was away on trips to China (since my blog is censored there, and I have no access to it).

I also secretly wanted this function so that my blog would keep being updated even after I'm dead.

(this entry was published using Blogger's scheduled posts)

Once you go black...

Perhaps in a feeble attempt to stay on top and stay organized, I have long been a faithful PDA user. Since my Palm V died about 3 years ago, I've been trying hard to find a reliable replacement. Part of the plan was to also combine the whole phone/PDA/mobile email into one device. I tried a lot of options. At one point I got so frustrated, I even switched to the Hipster PDA.

Well, the notorious Blackberry devices finally caught my attention, and I bought in to the hype. The results have been eye-opening. The Blackberry email is great, but to be fair, a lot of providers do push email. Blackberry Internet Service is probably better than others because of their sheer size, but that's not what impressed me the most. The latest devices are just superb.

Not only are they reliable, efficient, and user friendly, but they are miles ahead of the competition. I won't go into the details, since any tech head on the net can tell you the positive details of RIM devices. Just comparing to other PDAs, RIM is much more reliable, extremely logical and easy to use, and the battery life actually performs to level stated by the manufacturer. It has no flaws, aside from perhaps being too boring for some people (usually iPhone users).

RIM doesn't try to do too much with their PDAs, and that's exactly what I want.

iTunes = Slow

I don't know how else to put it. Apple iTunes is excruciatingly slow. My computer isn't anywhere near top of the line. I don't need the latest computer because I don't use heavy duty programs, and I don't play PC games. So why should I upgrade just for a music player. That's what I find to be most inexcusable: iTunes is a music player! Yes, it has other functions like iPod sync, iTunes store, and Quicktime. I would expect delays if all those programs were running all at once, but that is never the case.

Things slow down when I edit song names, organize the songs, or even just scroll up and down. When I say slow, I mean the program just freezes for a full 10 seconds. You can't do anything in iTunes, the CPU usage shoots up to 90-100%, and Windows Task Manager lists the program as "Not Responding".

I find it hard to believe that this type of program is taking up so much processing power. What the hell is it doing?! What could it possibly be doing?! All I want from iTunes is for it to sync to my iPod, and download podcasts when I ask it to. Perhaps it is trying to do too much. This is a flaw in the design. iTunes should be designed to work well on both faster and slower computers. It should give the user the option of making it run "heavy" or "light". If it weren't for my iPod(s), this program would have been tossed long time ago.

Generating Energy: Matrix Style

Generating energy from humans used to be science fiction. It has since become science fact. Sweden is heating an office building from the train station below it. The BTUs generated by commuters passing through heats water, which will transform into 15% of an office building's heating energy.

Unless you have some sort of superpower, the only way humans naturally produce energy is throught bodyheat. To be able to harness this energy is brilliant. Next step is to learn how to harness the power of hurricanes and lightning.

Apple's Piece of the Pie

Apple is really trying to shake their global money tree by attempting to take 20-30% of China Mobile's iPhone service charge revenue. It makes you wonder how much their taking from the likes of AT&T by giving them exclusive US rights, thereby giving AT&T free reign to force two year contracts onto unfortunate users. Then again, AT&T was probably forced to push two year contracts in order to recoup the losses suffered from giving away a portion of their revenue to Apple. Apple in turn is forced to take a chunk from mobile service providers to make up for the iPhone's high manufacturing cost.

A vicious cycle where the consumer ends up footing all the cost. At least both distributors are up front about it. It'll be interesting to see how Apple alters its strategy to lock up different international mobile providers. Who will they choose for Hong Kong? Will they even take a shot at HK since unlocked iPhones are so easily accessible?