The Palm Pre

In the past, I have ripped apart the Samsung Instinct, which was supposed to be an Iphone killer, barely touched the iphone.  As of recently, a desperate Sprint has teamed up with an even more desperate Palm and developed the Palm Pre.  This phone has a lot of potential.  Just to let everyone know, I am a current Iphone user.  

I recently had the chance to play around with the Palm Pre and it has many features that iphone users were looking for on the iphone 3g.  One feature is the multitasking ability.  Keeping applications open in order to get regular updates is a necessity.  For example, if you buy applications from apple’s app store, the only way we would know if there are any updates to those apps is if we open up the app store again, with the palm pre, it is constantly updating all of it’s applications, so we would be notified without opening up the app store on the Pre.  Another cool trick up the Pre’s sleeve is its ability to update over the air.  If you use calendars on google, yahoo, or even facebook, the palm pre can update all of this over the air, without plugging it into the computer.  This is very cool.  

Another great thing about the Pre is its WebOS operating system.  It uses linux, just as Mac’s do.  The system looks great, however there is a lot of lag when opening applications, probably a consequence of having multitasking.  The user of the phone I played around with also complained about the battery life.  Apple came back against Palm saying that it didn’t use multitasking on the iphone because it drained the battery, apparently they weren’t lying.  

Even though the Palm Pre has some interesting features, there are a few things that I don’t like about it.  

First of all, I do not like the qwerty keyboard.  It is way too small.  I ended up typing with the tips of my fingernails.  The keyboard is smaller than a blackberry keyboard.  The multitouch is really nice on this phone, first touchscreen that can compete with the iphone (may even be better), but I had problems understanding the gestures at first.  I did not have this problem with the iphone because there really isn’t a learning curve for the iphone.  There are gestures and ways to get around the Pre that have to be learned, not really a con, but I would have hoped for something a bit more seamless.  The palm pre is also incapable of capturing video.  And finally, the palm pre has a smaller screen, but at the same resolution as the Iphone 3g.  

The Palm pre is a good looking phone with a few cons, but I do believe that the Pro’s outweigh the cons in this case.  We have to wait until June 19th to see Apple’s rebuttal to the Palm Pre with the Iphone 3gs.  The 3gs offers video, voice control of phone and ipod, multitasking, and a multitude of other features to out do the palm, including faster processor and more memory, up to 32 gigs.  

The only thing I do not like about the iphone 3gs is not apple’s fault, but At&t’s fault.  The new Iphone 3gs will have MMS.   However, the Att network cannot accommodate the MMS feature as of yet so people who get the phone when it comes out (June 19th) won’t be able to fully experience MMS until later this year.  The Iphone 3gs will also be able to be tethered to your computer and the internet connection off the iphone can then be used with any PC or mac anywhere there is an ATT network.  This is really cool, glad apple is providing it, but again ATT said it won’t be available for at least a few months, and of course customers may have to pay more for both the tethering and the MMS.  We will see how people react.  

As for me, I may go back to sprint if the Pre holds true for the next few months and if ATT drastically changes its plan prices.

Filed under: Technology , AT&T, cell phone, Iphone, Iphone 3g, iphone 3gs, Iphone competitor, Iphone killer, New Iphone, Palm, Palm Pre, pda phone, Smartphone, Sprint

THE SIMS 3 RELEASED, my first impression

After being postponed nearly six months, the long awaited third edition to the greatest gaming franchise has finally become available.  The sims 3 holds great promises from open gameplay to the ability to make a unique sim that will behave and react in completely different ways from another sim.  Ever since I heard about the sims 3, I have been looking forward to it.  For those of you who read my previous blog posts about this game, I was really disappointed when EA decided to postpone the game.  All that is in the past now and finally the game of the year is available, and this is what I think of it.

AMAZING!

I own both a mac and a PC, so it was nice to see that the one disc can be installed on both platforms.  When I loaded the game up, it went through the same introductions as the sims 2.  Once you are able to pick the neighborhood, sunset valley, the real fun begins.  

The options to create a sim is unlimited, just like the game promised.  Everything is controlled by sliders and every facial feature can be controlled as well, from the mouth to the fullness and length of the eyebrow.   Once the physical appearance of the sim is decided, it is time to figure out the traits.  

The trait system in the sims 3 is completely new and redefined.  There are a total of five traits that can be selected from many.  Once it is selected, the trait will actively dictate your sims every action.  For example, one of my newly created sims had a trait of a klepto.  Because he is a klepto, he becomes happy when he steals.  Other extraneous traits include daredevil, evil, and neurotic.  

Building homes with the sims 3 is more or less the same as in the sims 2, with the exception of customization of course.  The designers of this game really pushed the idea of customization.  Anything can be clicked and customized to suit your style, including the car you buy for your sim!  A person can easily spend five hours designing and building a home (I don’t have much of a life these days).  

Another great improvement in the game is the career paths.  Now, careers are not limited to a few distinct paths, a sim can now become aspiring writers, painters, hackers, etc. depending on their traits.  For example, if you choose the trait computer whiz, you can become a hacker by hacking late at night.  Also, with books, there are royalties paid, instead of a lump sum.  Along with these new paths, each career also comes with many many opportunities.  These opportunities are presented to your sim and there is a certain amount of time to complete each one.  

I could honestly sit here and talk about the sims 3 a lot more, but there is too much for me to say.  My first impression is this, I am very impressed.  This is a solid game and the developers really did listen to all of us who wanted something more out of this game.  It is an amazing game, if you didn’t buy it yet, please do so, don’t miss out!

Filed under: Technology , Computer, Computer games, EA, Electronic Arts, games, maxis, Technology, The sims, the sims 2, The sims 3