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

The Sims 3 (disappointed with EA)

Just as a Note, today was the day the sims 3 was to be released.  We all know it isn’t

and I would like to reaffirm how upset I am that it has been postponed.

Filed under: Technology , Computer, Computer games, EA, entertainment arts, games, Gaming, maxis, new release date, PC, PC games, The sims, The sims 3, the sims 3 postponed, the sims new release date

A virtual keyboard?

I-Tech’s Virtual Keyboard has been around for some time, but only recently have I had the honor of playing with one myself.  At first I was skeptical because there are actually no buttons that you press.  How do you input information then?  Well there is an infared sensor that detects hand motion and a laser emits a keyboard on any flat surface.  When you press on a “key” the input has been made and the device registers it.  This is the future of computer interfacing in the now!

Infared-Laser Keyboard

I have to admit though, there are some limitations to this device.  For one, you can’t use it on all devices.  You can’t even use it on all computers.  There are only drivers for windows 2000 and windows xp.  I know a bit out-dated but it is still really cool.

Filed under: Technology , Computer, Desk, Future, Hardware, Infared, Input Device, Keyboard, Laser, Mouse, Peripheral, Technology, Virtual Keyboard

Satellites collide in space

Update 3: 2/16/09

There was apparently debris that is falling to Earth from the satellite collision in space about a week ago.  There were complaints by residents in Texas who reported hearing sonic booms.  One photographer photographed some of the debris that was creating this sonic boom.  The full article is here http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/15/texas.sky.debris/index.html

Update 2:  2/14/09:

As more data begins to emerge from this crash, experts are now saying that there are more than 10000 tennis ball sized pieces of debris floating around in space from this one collision.  According to a New Scientist article, people have been expecting something like this to happen for a long time.  According to the article, “less than 10% of the more than 18,000 objects monitored in low and high Earth orbits are working satellites, the rest are dead craft, spent rocket stages and debris.”

I find this truly remarkable, that in the last fifty years of the space agency, so much debris and waste has accumulated around the Earth.  Like I said earlier I don’t think the crash itself was very surprising because there are so many private satellites going into orbit these days, but I feel that things like this are going to happen in greater frequency now.  Not only because we have 10,000 new tennis size pieces of debris floating around, but because over time things will accumulate and become crowded.

I guess the next step for the space agency is to create a waste management program where they would slingshot defunct satellites and various pieces of debris toward the moon or somewhere else in space.  Maybe I should start a private company to do that and take it off of NASA’s hands.

Update:

Click here for a more detailed look into this crash

Two satellites collided in space.  They are saying that the debris generated by this collision may not hit the International Space Station, but there is a high probability of it hitting other satellites in space.

This is a potentially dangerous situation as the article itself says that this can cause a cascade effect.   The debris from one collision causes other satellites to collide and so on.

One satellite in the collision was a “defunct Russian Satellite” and the other satellite was a communication satellite owned by Iridium.  According to Iridium, their satellite was where it was supposed to be at that time.

Who knows what went wrong here, but I suppose this will become more and more problematic because more and more private satellites are going into orbit.  Read article here

Filed under: Technology , Collision, Communication satellite, Debris, Iridium, NASA, Russian Satellite, Satellites, Satellites collide in space, space, Technology

Arthur Benjamin, Mathemagician

Arthur Benjamin is a genius.  This man can square five digit number in his head within seconds.  The audience gives him various digits and numbers to compute and this man does it.  Truly spectacular

Check it out

Filed under: Technology , Arthur Benjamin, Genius, math, Mathemagic, Mathemagician, Mathematics, rainman, TED

Returning to the Moon

During the 1970’s, almost 40 years ago, people set foot on the Moon.

Why is it that we have not even attempted to travel back to the Moon since the Apollo missions ended?

Filed under: Technology , moon, science, space, space travel, Technology

Warcraft 3 on Multi-Touch screen

A screen developed by PQ Labs allows any LCD or Plasma display that is 32″ or greater to become a multi-touch screen.  For those of you who do not know what a multi-touch screen is, I ask only one question.  Have you seen the movie Minority Report?  In Minority Report, Tom Cruise is able to go through various files and images just by swiping his finger and using his hand to move items on a screen.  Well, this technology is actually closer to reality than many of us might believe.  Recently, Microsoft has developed a similar technology called the “Microsoft Surface.”  It holds the same principle of using your hands and fingers to move objects and files on a computer screen, except it is not available for personal use.  Nonetheless, this opens up a whole new world of possibilities, especially in the world of PC gaming.

This screen, which is available for private purchase through PQ labs, lays on top of your lcd or plasma display.  It then connects to your computer via USB and presto, you have your very own multi-touch panel.  Of course this comes at a steep price.  This technology will run you about 2500 dollars for the 32″ fixture and more for larger displays but believe me, if I could afford it, I would definately be purchasing this right now.  I doubt that me writing about this technology will astonish any of you, so I will show you what I am talking about and what I would truly want for Christmas this year.

Warcraft 3 being played on a Multi-Touch display

Filed under: Technology , Computer, computer hardware, Future in gaming, games, monitors, Multi touch display, Multi touch panel, Multi-touch screen, PC, Personal computer, PQ labs, Technology, Warcraft

The sims 3 release date…POSTPONED!

The SIMS 3 is to be delayed until June 2, 2009.

update:

-Apparently the game was postponed because EA wanted to market the game better.  I am pretty sure that the game will market itself because it is only one of the best selling computer gaming franchise in history.  I get that they don’t want to lose money on this release, but how the hell can they?!… they have really pissed off this sims fan.-

The sims 3 release date, which was originally February 20, 2009, is now June 2, 2009.  The sims 3 promises a new way to play the game with desire, wants, and wishes.  The sims 3 is completely customizable from building homes to developing the characters you wish to play.  The game now takes place in an open community, rather than playing a single household and waiting for the game to load every time your sim leaves the house.  Everyone in the community also ages together as one, so there is no need to play multiple households simultaneously.  Each household ages and develops their own stories autonomously without the player actually playing that household.

The sims 3 holds many promises and I am very disappointed that the release has been postponed 4 months.  I have been anticipating the game for about 6 months now and every time I read up on the game I get more and more excited.  I suppose it is a good thing that they are postponing the release to work out the bugs and kinks in order to make the game seamless upon its release, but the game was in development for 4 years now in secrecy.  I would expect that in those four years all the bugs would have been worked out by now.

For whatever reason EA has chose to postpone the game, I hope that they don’t postpone it any further when June comes around by saying it will be released sometime during christmas.

The countdown begins….

Filed under: Technology , EA, games, simulation, The sims, The sims 3

Iphone…yea, i got it

So, I was so fed up with my samsung instinct and the promises that were made by sprint regarding the instinct I switched to the Iphone today.

The Iphone is a genuinely amazing phone.  I am able to load spreadsheets and word documents, as well as find the names of songs that I hear on the radio.  I am able to get stock quotes as well as my weather (yes the instinct does that as well but the iphone looks better doing it).

The only problem I got with the iphone isn’t exactly with the actual phone.  It is the server, AT&T.  The plans that are offered by AT&T are overpriced and you don’t really get your moneys worth.  Sprint definately excels with their plans, but their phones are disappointing.

Yea, i’m paying a lot more to have the iphone, but the amount of versatility and happiness it offers definately outweighs the cost.

Filed under: Technology , AT&T, Iphone, Technology