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Axiom Audio releases new Audiobyte Computer Speakers November 16, 2007 |
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[image from Axiom Audio]
The Canadian speaker company Axion Audio has released their first set of computer speakers. While they claim to be introducing the “first luxury hi-hi computer speaker system” I think the Soundruid Audio Fury 2.1 system beat them to that. Nevertheless, these are some nice looking speakers…
Continue reading Axiom Audio releases new Audiobyte Computer Speakers
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The Xbox 360 Messenger Kit - Extreme Clicky Factor! November 15, 2007 |
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Microsoft recently released a snap-on keyboard for Xbox 360 controllers which greatly improves the text entry, and thus messaging functions, of the console.
I picked up one of the Xbox 360 Messenger Kits the other day, and it rocks. Basically, it’s a little thumb-keyboard that snaps onto the controller for text entry; presumably this was released to compliment the Windows Live Messenger integration that was added to the 360 via a dashboard update in spring 2007. The kit does prevent the use of the headset that comes with the Xbox 360, so a new headset with in-line volume control and muting is included, along with an instruction manual - I’m not sure who needs instructions, though. Installation consists of snapping the thing onto the controller.
The keyboard itself is a pleasure to use. Press a key, and the keyboard lights up in white - perfect for gaming in the dark. The keys themselves depress with a satisfying click; whoever was in charge of the tactile experience should get a medal. I find myself writing needlessly long messages to people online, complete with grammar, while I get responses of the “madden?” or “no work” variety. The unit is quite light, the controller isn’t much heavier with it attached, I actually prefer it with the chatpad (as it’s called) attached.
The only real drawback, in my opinion, is the price. $30 is a little steep for something that just doesn’t get used that much, unless you think you’ll do a lot of instant messaging from the Xbox. Since any USB keyboard will work for text entry, as will the on-screen keyboard, it’s $30 you don’t really need to spend - but you’ll be glad you did.
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An in-ear-what now? Quick guide to headphones types November 15, 2007 |
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In preparation for some upcoming headphone reviews, I’ve decided to put together this little guide on what is what in headphone land for our readers who might not be versed in the lingo.
Continue reading An in-ear-what now? Quick guide to headphones types
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Why I Love My iPhone Even Though It’s Not Finished November 5, 2007 |
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I love my iPhone.
It does what I need, and isn’t too big. Most of it’s flaws are software - the camera is decent enough, the lack of a GPS isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, and EDGE is fast enough for most tasks and coverage is plentiful.
But the software is lacking.
For example, cell-tower triangulation could make the phone aware of it’s location, though not as precisely as GPS. But unlike GPS, it requires no extra hardware.
The lack of Multimedia Messaging is absurd, especially when someone attempts to send you one: you’ll receive a text message pointing you to a website to view the message, but the link isn’t clickable, and the page won’t open in Mobile Safari anyway. Is this some kind of joke perpetrated by Apple and AT&T? I hope someone is laughing, somewhere.
The list, sadly, goes on - but none of these shortcomings ends up being a dealbreaker: the phone is still fantastic. This is, perhaps, a testament to how crappy most smartphone offerings are.
I replaced a Samsung Blackjack with the iPhone. That phone could do almost everything: 3G data, MMS, run third-party applications, email, and a bunch of other things I loved having. The problem was, again, the software. Windows Mobile is the least stable OS I have ever used. Simple tasks, like deleting photos, became a hassle because the file browser would crash after each delete, and several key presses were required to get back into it. The OS lagged constantly - startup took a minute. The phone actually froze on me pretty regularly. It was bad enough that the iPhone is a huge improvement, even though it can’t do nearly as much as the Blackjack could.
Anyway, the iPhone should keep improving as software updates are released. Apple knows that the software needs improvement; they announced that Mail.app 3.0, which comes with OS X 10.5 Leopard, would sync with the Notes application on the iPhone. It doesn’t now, though it definitely looks like it should, which is baffling - but hopefully an update that allows them to sync will be out soon.
In the end, I’ve got a phone that was clearly rushed to the market with a very limited set of features, but I still love it. Part of it is simple gadget lust, but there’s more: Apple is actually rethinking the cell phone by starting with a minimal feature set and adding the things that people actually need. The iPhone doesn’t do as much as other phones out there, it just does what it does exceptionally well in most cases.
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Habitat for Humanity Finishes Green Homes in LA November 2, 2007 |
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Today, Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy Carter Work Project will be finishing up a group of homes in San Pedro and South Los Angeles. With housing costs being out of the reach of many families in LA, the group helps families get houses by “selling” the houses at cost to the families with interest-free loans. In return, each of the families is required to help out in the planning an building of their new homes.
These houses in Los Angeles will be the first built by the Jimmy Carter Work Project to implement green building elements, including solar panels and energy saving windows among other things. In addition the project is seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which identifies buildings that are environmentally responsible and incur lower operating costs. The organizers were trying to think of ways that they could help to subsidize living costs after the new residents moved in, and their decision to go green will pay off. They have estimated that by including these green elements the houses will only have about $7/month in electricity bills.
Hopefully this project will start to show the public that solar isn’t just for green loving hippies anymore. Here is a clear case of builders choosing solar as a solution to lower monthly energy costs.
Sources:
NPR morning addition 11/2/07
Push to build “green” homes picks up steam [Reuters UK, 11/1/07]
Habitat to build 30 town houses in 5 days [LA times.com, 10/29/07]
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Job Cuts @ Chrysler November 1, 2007 |
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Big Three automaker Chrysler is cutting “up to 12,000 jobs” according to a report from the AP.
Also:
“The company announced it will eliminate four auto models through 2008, including the Dodge Magnum wagon, the convertible version of the Chrysler PT Cruiser, the Chrysler Pacifica crossover and the Chrysler Crossfire sports car.
In the same time frame, Chrysler plans to add the Dodge Journey crossover and Dodge Challenger sports car, along with two new hybrid models, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.”
Why is the auto industry so frustratingly yin & yang in this country? It’s great that Chrysler is becoming more green but it’s so sad (pitiful) to see cost savings through layoffs–especially during the holiday season.
Chrysler to Cut Up to 12,000 Jobs [AP, 11/1/2007]
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Go Buy Halo 3 - You’ll Thank Me Later November 1, 2007 |
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Halo 3. Prettier and more polished; you’ll still feel right at home if you’ve whiled away a chunk of your life playing Halo and its sequel. Graphically, the game is fantastic - the world of Halo in all its next-gen glory. The single player campaign delivers a satisfyingly epic end to the story, with full support for co-op play. Adversarial multiplayer is still top-notch, both in gameplay and matchmaking. But, you expected all of this…
What you didn’t expect were all the little features Bungie added to the package. Take Forge, for example: a tool for creating custom levels - you can’t change the actual map, but the type, number and locations of items can be varied. Along with the ability to create custom rule sets for games, Forge practically ensures that people will still be playing Halo 3 years from now.
Also new is video playback - gameplay videos are recorded, and snippets can be excised and shared from your bungie.net profile, be they images or video. Features like this aren’t things that sell games, but they do make you wonder how other developers get away with charging $60 for games that feel bare-bones by comparison. If you’ve ever wondered why Gears of War has such an inferior matchmaking system compared to Halo 2, you know exactly what I mean.
The game plays how you would expect: massive firefights with seemingly intelligent enemies, massive firefights with seemingly brain-dead enemies, and wild rides in a variety of locales on earth and elsewhere. The weapon balance has been improved, making multiplayer matches even more interesting. A new class of items, Equipment, has been added - this includes items such as the Bubble Shield, which is paradise when your shields are gone and enemies are still shooting - at least until they run inside the shield and then shoot you. Other equipment, such as Auto-Turrets, have more offensive roles.
In campaign mode, Halo 3 picks up right where Halo 2 left off. There’s no recap, so a quick review of wikipedia might be a good idea to refresh your memory.
Finally, this is a game that everyone with an Xbox 360 should own. It’s a top-notch game in every sense: graphics, sound, story, controls, single player, multiplayer, and overall presentation. None of the new features are truly new to gaming, but they’re so well implemented that the result is a game that truly raises the bar for everything that comes after it. Simply put, it’s worth every penny of the $60 price tag.
