All this tech, is good right?

I was doing my daily rounds of the technology websites, via Googles customizable homepage, and found an old chestnutty piece at Wired.
It was asking if all this technology merely kept people trapped in things they never had before, and now believe they cannot live without. Is being able to do so much work (as technology facilitates) a good thing (even with more money coming your way) while ignoring social interactions, and even personal well being?

Maybe one reason for the huge acceptance of technology such as computers and all the internet malarky, is that maybe a lot of people never were really any good at the social thing? Getting a computer or some other device to do your bidding, is a hell of a lot easier than getting someone else to cooperate. Look at it this way, would you rather ask your teenage kids to clean the kitchen, or ask Robby the robot to do it? Exactly!

I don't think it's any great secret that people will always do what is easier for them, even if it means ignoring obvious future consequences. I quite like the illusion that if it wasn't for those pesky computerized gadgets, we would all be living an amazingly rich and rewarding social existance. Nice fantasy. Anyway, I reckon all those people that are capable of it, are living it.

The other piece I saw at Wired, was about a new service which tagged all your photos so you didn't have to. I am really not into the whole photo thing, and I think it's a way of companies pulling people into technology, but with all the non-technological principles. You don't need 'photo' printers, hell, you don't even need to print the things. Someone let me know what the idea is behind that. Anyway, the company says that it can use it's software to identify people in photos, as well as supply appropriate tags to each one. Tags are keywords you can use to search for more specific items (pictures, files, anything) in a whole heap of similar things. Search your tags for BIRTHDAY, and you will see all the images from birthdays, but none from vacations. The problem they are supposed to be solving is that tagging EVERY SINGLE IMAGE you take, is a pain and a drudge. So if you didn't tag your vacation photos with a word you can remember (er... like vaction), you would not see them in a search for VACATION. You can have a whole mess of images, in one huge pile, and at your command, only the ones you want will shuffle to the surface for your viewing enjoyment.

WARNING: If you have not bothered to take the time to tag, or name the image files you've taken because it wasn't important enough that you make time to sort through the oh so precious memories you just HAD to keep, then I don't want to see them. Why not just send your camera on vacation somewhere, and let it take pictures every 30 seconds, no matter where it is. Then let it automatically upload those images to an auto tagging service, which stores it all online for you. Then that service will automatically email selected chums (based on their email keywords, and surfing habits) to show them pictures that the online service has worked out they would be interested in. To which THEIR email would automatically reply that they would/wouldn't have enjoyed them, based on it's own assessment of their email keywords, and surfing habits. Then noting in their automatic journal how much they enjoyed those pictures and would make a note of which images in the future their automated camera should take, so YOUR automated system would rate it highly also. And to did I mention, all of this could take place automatically?

Because that's what you want right? To do everything at hyper speed. To save time, so you can do even MORE things with the spare time you got from all the other sped up things you did quicker before? By now we should have been able to do so much in such a short space of time our heads should have sploded!

Why are you reading this (both of you)? Why not sign up for a blog reading service which scans through posts, extracting keywords you are interested in and telling you how relevant it is? Hang on, why sign up? Get something to only sign you up if based on your preferences, you would have wanted to sign up for it. Then you can save time by not having to subscribe to things that were of no interest to you at all. Why not just save a LOT of time, by telling a service your basic personal details such as age, location, etc. Then it can sign up, subscribe, purchase, rate, surf, email everything you so desperately need, without you having to take the time to do it. That would save a lot of time yes? Maybe even give you time to take the dog for a walk, chat with your chums in the street, see a movie, sit in the park feeding the ducks. While your tamagotchi style internet pet, does it's online thing all by itself.

Of all the people you know, how many of them REALLY know what they really want? I am sure people would love such automation, if it meant saving time... for er... what again? Legend has it that in the beginning there was darkness, and in that darkness a single piece of content was created. Then Google meta-tagged it, and the internet was born. Perhaps nobody will ever know who the mysterious 'Content Creator' was, or maybe not even care. I know I don't, as I have so much information flowing to me now that I could not possibly sort through it or even use it in any meaningful way. My purpose in life is to manage streams of data so they can flow freely, and continue the cycle of er... something.



Hey look, it's the internet of the future!
Remember just to feed it demographic details every couple of days.

Ever needed to express yourself?

If you don't have the luxury to work in a place that bans miserableness, then check out the Cuss Container. It may just change your life.



This image is nothing to do with the Cuss Container.

Company makes whining against the rules

Krysss.com towers has it's fingers crossed that this will sweep the globe, and put all those whiney moaning bastards where they belong. Out of everyone else's way!

Nutzwerk made it compulsory that employees do the big happy smiley every morning. If not they are to remain away from the office until they cheer up. Or more accurately, they can figure out that nobody is interested in their attention hoaring antics, and grow up.

Well done chaps. Need to hint at someone you work with? Show this to them and say what a wonderful world it would be if everywhere subscribed to this way of looking at things.

Full story can be found here at The Register.



No picture, but click here to cheer up.

Finally, cue the angelic chorus and bright lights from heaven...

I grew up thinking that having your own arcade machine IN YOUR HOUSE, would be the best thing ever. But of course, that's just silly, it's impossible right? Not any more...
Looks like Target are going to be selling a $500 arcade cabinet with 12 games on board. Looking up some of the competition, this seems to be the better deal out there. Although the comments on the Target product page make for scary reading.

For some really weird reason, life has always been very good to me, and given me what ever I have wanted. I still remember my first taste of Defender, tucked away in the corner of a dusty seaside arcade, in England. I was useless, but what a rush... since then it's been lurve. I hope to get to see one of these things running, so I get the authentic "never-cleaned"(®Krysss.com) technology product. I may be able to purchase additional cigarette burns, as well as a goldfish bowl screen. Such quality you can see every scan line, and your own internal organs as it x-rays you.

The games are...
Joust, Defender I and II, Robotron, Rampage, Splat, Satan's Hollow, Root Beer Tapper, Bubbles, Wizard of War, Timber and Sinistar.

So if not this, then maybe this for the PSP. I know what you're thinking, MAME, right? But yeah it's groovy and all, however for a quick pick up and play MAME doesn't really do it. It will give you an exact 80's arcade experience with minimal setup. Though it's not really convenient when waiting in line, for what ever it is that person has been talking to the cashier about for the last 20 minutes.



Get me a box of tissues, and CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU DAMMIT!

Xbox 360 - Hands on

Did my usual patrol into Best Buy today, and was stopped in my tracks by a rather sneaky and cheeky installation of an Xbox 360. This is what I saw.

It had two wired controllers and a demo disk inside the machine. Someone was already playing Call of Duty 2 on it. He didn't actually seem to have any previous experience at playing anything like that before. Repeated attempts by his computer controlled buddies, to get him to take cover and stop inhaling bullets, only resulted in a closeup of someones bottom, which he tried to shoot. Needless to say he perished within moments of meeting the enemy. Not entirely sure if he was indeed shot by the other chaps, or his commanding officer, sort of had an accident his way? On his second attempt, something more sinister happened. The game froze, and most of it went blue. Major crash. A quick prod of the reset button and it was back to the demo selection screen.

It seemed to be running with all the features that you can expect to get with a take home Xbox 360, but I was pressed for time, and of course wanted to see the games a runnin'.

Trouble was, apart from Call of Duty 2, and Kameo (which looks like the twisted ramblings of a spoilt 7 year old child), all other games on show were merely video. And I don't mean the good kind that shows you real footage. It was all the flashy and expensive, trailer style of video. Got controller, play game, dur!
So I strolled into Call of Duty 2, which starts off with quite a long set piece you have to wait for, until you can get into hot man on man, blasting action. I got my head sploded. The controller was fine, as it is very similar to an Xbox one, but my PC heritage still yearns for a good ol keyboard and mouse set up for my first person shooters. Kameo....zzz.... this thing has been coming out for ever, and it just seemed so contrived and over designed to me. Snore central on the level they gave you to play.

All in all, the graphics were good, but nothing so far that I couldn't see on a high end PC. I was crushed, dismayed, saddened to see they only had stupid video of Need for Speed Most Wanted. I had seen and heard great things of it, and being more shallow than a puddle in the desert, it would have cheered me no end to get to play with shiny things like that.

Summary, so far, I ain't seen nothing a computer can do. I am really more excited about the PS3 than the Xbox 360. Actually from what I hear all round, I have the PS3 first, then the Nintendo Revolution, after which is the Xbox 360.

Don't forget kids, current Xbox games are going to be amazingly cheap once this thing launches. Some amazing deals to be had soon.



Xbox 360, I still don't know if it's any good or not, help me!

Doom - The Movie

Doom the movie, has been coming out for what seems for ever. And the reviews are saying it's not so good, BUT (there's always a but) it captures the game Doom perfectly. I have not seen any other movie, which captured the essence of a game as completely as this one.

Great cast, and none of the clichés which would have so easily slipped in between the massive amounts of action. Not even the part in an action movie where they all hold up somewhere, pull out blue prints, and explain the 'plot so far' for all the stupids. Then decide which doors they are going to weld shut, with us seeing the last soldier reporting the door is closed, saying "And nothing is going to get in or out". Camera panning down, as he walks away, to trail of slime which we return to a couple of scenes later. Watching him scrabble at that very same two foot thick steel door, while being chomped by the monster of the moment.

If you wanted to give someone an idea of what it's like to play Doom, or any other first person shooter. Show them this movie, it captures it all so well. And as for the bad reviews, this movie never promised to be anything else other than a real good time.



I watched it on the IMAX screen. The bonus was that because of all the crappy reviews, I could get in to see it on a Saturday night, and sit where ever I wanted. Oh yeah

Email junk from family and friends?

Getting lots of emails from people you know, who JUST got a computer? They have only recently gained the ability to type without keep asking where every single letter on the keybaord is. Unfortunately if you are, I don't need to explain it as you're already receiving countless images, jokes, chain letters, and e-cards. If not then you're probably who I am talking about.

Show them this Microsoft Video, it should do all the hinting you could ever need.

Just like teenagers, they believe nobody has seen these things before, and EVERYONE will find it sooo toootally hilarious! So go ahead, send all this junk to people's work email addresses, and see how many responses you get. After all, what are people supposed to say? "Thanks for sending me that video which could quite possibly get me into trouble at work for language/graphical content"? Or maybe, "Thanks for sending me that email so that the e-card company can sell my address on for more spam"?

And eventually it all turns to tears.

"Hey, did you get my email the other day?"

Oh no, I have been deleting them all since I got the third chain letter with 67 people listed in the TO field. I NEVER read any of their emails. "Er.. no, did you send me one?"

"Yeah, it was of this kid falling off a bike, it was so funny!"

Hmmm I saw that one, it was an 8MB file which came into my inbox while on dial-up in a hotel, at a conference for work. I just deleted it from my webmail without looking at it, otherwise it would have taken all night to get it. I saw it four years ago anyway.

"Stop sending me all this tired crap ok? What do I look like, a five year old?"**

And it goes on



** Not actually the end of the conversation, but it is probably what really was wanted (and needed) to be said.

Ipod Video

Now I have to get in on this one. Apple brings out something and they act like it's new? I'm already getting the puke bag for when we have to hear endless droning on about how revolutionary the Ipod Video is. The world according to Apple is that they invented computers, MP3 players, and now had the ground breaking forsight to let people watch video on the go. Of course, Karma prevents me from chuckling to myself, when the Apple sheep who jog (and only took it up because Apple invented it), run out into traffic, or hit a tree. This being as their ears and eyes were filled with some band's music video they just HAVE to take with them.

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP

And anyway, what the hell is so important about listening to music? In a Twitcast the other day, someone asked a question about bringing music files into work, and it being a secure building which did not allow USB devices. Dvorak(he gets no spam) replied (and I completely agree), "How about NOT listening to music and getting on with your work you're being paid to be there to do?".

If you can't have it, then er... don't maybe an option? I just don't get the whole music thing? I like music and appreciate the art. But when did it become mandatory? Take those plugs out of your ears and talk to someone... sorry if that was a little harsh. Might mean some er... brace yourselves.... effort? Oh dear, how can I say such foul things?



Ipod Video

Slingbox is nice

I remember the release of the Slingbox. So when faced with the object in person, I just had to give it a whirl.

This thing is stupidly simple to set up. The idea is that you can plug the Slingbox between your TV and the source of your TV viewing. ANYTHING with a video output, and I mean ANYTHING. Most will plug their Tivo's, or cable boxes into it. You can plug game consoles, video cameras, or as in my case a DirecTivo. They put all the cables you can think of in the box, and yes, the Slingbox has ports IN and OUT. So unlike most other televisual electronics, it actually can plug in, straight out of the box. That includes stereo audio of course. Then just plug the included network cable into your home network. I used a wireless bridge, as I was not going to lay on eight million miles of CAT5 cable through the house just to reach my new toy research product.

The software comes with it, but I just went online and got the latest version of the Slingplayer. Upon installation you tell it what sort of video device you have plugged it into, and it even gives you remote control of your video. By way of an IR Blaster, which is a little emmitter which acts like the light that normally comes from your remote control in your hand. As you set up the device for the first time, you can tell it which model of electronics you have and it will make sure it acts like the remote control, so you don't have to run up/down the whole house to pause or stop the movie etc.

At the end of the setup you are watching your normal television on your computer monitor. You can size the picture as tiny or as large as you like, up to full screen. The magic happens when you go out of your house and watch it in another place over the internet. So the idea is you can watch (and control) your home tv from anywhere in the world.

It guides you through opening your firewall, which you need to do if you want to be able to watch it on the go. If you don't you can still use it within your own network of course.

As soon as I get on the road, I will report back, but so far the thing is amazing.

Of course, the idea is that when you DO go on the road, you will be probably watching on a laptop. So when the software setup starts, it asks you if you have already set up the hardware. If you have, it skips everything and gives you a completed customized setup for your chosen Slinbox. When on the road you can connect via IP or using your ID code of your Slinbox so you can 'find' it from where ever you are.

Groovy. So far the only weirdness that I can find with it (although I haven't taken it on the road yet) is that sometimes the audio seems to slow down ever so slightly. I assume the image does too, but it's harder to see it perhaps.


Click this to see the quality

North American PSP 2.0 Update finally arrives

So here is the process to get your PSP, over to the new 2.0 software version. After doing a normal network update check, this is what follows. Sorry for the crappy quality, I don't happen to have a PSP dev kit lying around in all my piles of gold, and $100 bills I use to light my cigars.



OK here we go...

User Agreement (Phew! Must have been 15 seconds or so since I read one of those)


Yes, of course

Click here for the details of the next 6 screen shots



Battery Warning. Don't play with batteries kids!


One percent... two percent... zzz


Hurrah! Time to play with the new toys...


New browser entry on the menu


Theme, or from what I saw, color selection of background.


Browser in action, before we unleash full screen...


BEHOLD THE MIGHT OF FULL SCREEN!
The mouse pointer you see here as a pen, uses the little analog stick on the PSP to move, VERY nice. There are options for bookmarks and a home page also. Cookie management too, how jolly exciting.


An applied wallpaper, but stupid me used an image that exactly would not look any good at all. The black areas are just where there is no image, nothing more.


Not had much time to mess with it as yet, just wanted to get these images up quickly. So far so good. The crappy looking images are due to a digital camera taking shots of the screen, which has a screen protector on it. The shots where then straigtened out in Photoshop, hence the not very straight looking edges.