Thursday, July 31, 2008

More iPhone fun

Now that everyone has an iPhone, it's pretty safe to say that what a cell phone should look like is finally standardized. Indeed phones shouldn't need any keypads, but just consist of a screen, one that is sharp enough to browse the internet.

In fact this phone already existed five years ago. The P900 was a phone that for the first time dared to make the keypad obsolete, and the big screen the main feature of the phone. Unfortunately the look didn't catch on, possibly because the P900 was bulky.

No such trouble for the iPhone. Thin and sleek, this is the phone I knew five years ago to be the future... It is the cell phone of all cell phones. Mobile de la tutti Mobiles... and I'm not getting one. The success of the Apple's cell confirms my ideals from half a decade ago. So I have no more points to make. It is already a success...

Now on to the next item. What can I make great next?

Saturday, July 26, 2008

iPhone Stuff

Funniest thing heard today between two iPhone owners.

"Oh... you got the old one?"

Also, check out the features that the next generation iPhone must have...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Question for yourselves

Do you make other people look good by example, or do you make other people look good by comparison?

Monday, July 21, 2008

Heroes and idols

You can say about pro wrestling what you may. You may think it's over the top, fake, or violent, but you can't deny pro wrestling knows and respects its past. It respects its heroes. Look no further than Ric Flair at Wrestlemania 24 for the best example of this (out now on DVD and Blu-ray!)

Same feeling is present in baseball, when at last week's All Star game scores of Hall of Famers entered the field, in the most legendary ballpark of all.

See? Sports is not just about competition. It's not even just about glory. Sports is about respecting heroes, idols.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Dumb and dumber

A rave has to be a rave: it comes with a certain notoriety. In fact without this hardcore reputation, a rave won't be as popular as it could be.
However what I don't get about Black is this news message.
  • "stewards" re-sell tickets for a party which is not sold out? I hope people who bought these paid less than running price, because otherwise who could be as stoned to buy tickets for more!? I mean you could still get official tickets at the entrance, for chrissakes.
  • speaking about stoned... 159 arrests for drug possession. I got one thing to say about that, and that is I know pot when I smell it. So either the "stewards" missed a couple of arrests or they allowed a little more than you would expect from the authorities.
  • Anyway I found the number of arrests a little bit high. It sounds fabricated. ("What sounds good? Yeah, it should be over a hundred fifty, otherwise our reputation is shot.")
In the end a good time was had, but when you've been there you'll see that the hardcore reputation is a bit exaggerated.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Age of Nostalgia

Yes, we like to think back to the past, when gas was cheap(er), people had more respect for one another (instead of calling me chinese and pulling their eyes - I'M NOT CHINESE YOU IDIOTS), music was better (ehm... Macarena, New Kids), and stuff wasn't so expensive. Tends to happen when you hit a certain milestone age (like 30), and/or when economy seems to take a downturn (or both, like now)

So in the past month people around me have been discussing Transformers, 80/90s parties and music, old tv shows from that time. All the time forgetting that:
  • music in the 80s was total and utter crap, several exceptions notwithstanding
  • when I have to look at the hairstyles people in movies and television had, my eyes hurt.
  • information about alternatives wasn't readily available. Now there's internet, e-mail and instant messaging to keep you fully up to date
Despite all this musing about the past, I do however recognize the latest fad: the iPhone 3G, and the fact that thousands of Dutch are willing to spend a night on the street to buy one. So at least some people are thinking about the future. And the future is touchscreen, motion sensing, and stylus-free.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Don't blame me, you wanted emancipation

Yes... dancing, whether it's ballroom or latin or salsa, all depends on the male lead. Women are supposed to follow. If the man leads badly, the woman deserves to dance badly.

However that doesn't give women a free pass to humiliate the man. Man is learning to dance. That's what he is taking classes for. Give him a break.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

It's Good To Be Solid

Computer games have come a long way, growing more intelligent and impressive with each title. Metal Gear Solid is one of the forerunners in this growth process, combining a thinking man's game with that of an action hero, while also displaying a lot of humor and philosophy to the minds of gamers.

I did bring MGS2 to one of my philosophy classes, although not to show off the artificial intelligence of the in-game characters per se, rather to illustrate that a game can actually be just as deep and thought-provoking as any form of literature, scientific or fictional or otherwise. MGS2 was a testament to the control of information and how it could shape a society. Stronger still it displayed an uncanny ability to completely manipulate the player and throw him off guard. It's strength lies in making the player believe in the story and to be immersed by it, and then rudely pulling him in all directions, doubting reality and blurring the lines between it and fiction.

In fact MGS4 is probably even worse. Although I must say the philosophical weight is far less than in its predecessors, the story is truly exceptional. It more closely focuses on the main protagonist Solid Snake (now Old Snake), and on the general Metal Gear lore, although mind you, it also is a great running critique on technology, and the risks and benefits associated with it.

The execution of the game is excellent, from both aesthetic and a content perspectives. It is the first game ever that had me going through several emotions, often within a very short lifespan. You care about the characters, actually believing that they are going to cough their lungs to death. You feel their pain when they get a seizure. The hairs on the back of your neck truly stand on end when you fight the Beauties. And you feel a definite sense of accomplishment when you actually work through the game. And you are so excited, and there's so many content left, you want to do it again.

And even when you glance at a spoiler, even when you're quite up to date on the lore and the legend, and are used to Hideo Kojima's jokes, the game still manages to surprise you with a plot twist, or a new reference or a shocking new revelation. And of those MGS4 has plenty. Truly amazing that even when you know something's gonna happen, it does, and you're still in awe.

Finally without a doubt the PS3 finally has it's killer app. This is the game that will put Sony's game console in people's homes... just in time for Final Fantasy XIII and Gran Turismo 5 in the coming two years...