Gadgets Blog » 2010 » February

The argument over whether or not video games constitute a medium of art is about to get even more confusing. While it’s true, the bulk of games in no way represent something on par with a classic movie (and indeed, few games attempt to actually emulate the cinematic feel of a movie), there have been a few titles that have worked to create interactive, meaningful experiences. Titles like Deus Ex provided an interactive world that allowed for incredible character freedom. More recent games, such as Shadow of the Colossus, worked to create thematic atmospheres in which the player became enthralled. But developer Quantic Dream is preparing to unveil what may be a glimpse at the future of gaming, with their story-heavy release Heavy Rain.

There has been much speculation over this title, as it was pushed back from a Christmas release to the end of February of 2010. The wait, according to the first review from IGN, was worth it. The title follows the story of a family, with four playable characters, but IGN was wise in keeping many of the plot details under wraps. From a technical standpoint, there is still much to talk about. Many of the crucial moments in the game revolve around player decisions, subtle control movements that have oftentimes huge impact on the outcome. As opposed to other titles in the past, which have linear stories, Heavy Rain has a dynamic story that changes based on these interactions. It’s even possible for a character to die, but the game never ends. There’s no instance wherein you’re required to load your game due to a “failure” on the part of the player.

Today’s topic on Best and Worst touches a sensitive spot in my heart. The other day, my beloved cell phone of a year suffered a career-ending injury. As I carried a table up a small set of stairs, I tripped, crushing the touchscreen, and thus rendering the top half of the screen black and unreadable. As anyone who has lost a phone can attest, the hassle that goes along with it is frustrating and time consuming. I was lucky enough to still be under warranty, meaning Verizon (bless them) will have a new device sent my way in a matter of days. However, finding a smartphone that suits your personal needs can be nothing short of laborious, especially considering how difficult it is to determine the long-term use of a phone during a first impression. Don’t be fooled by nice designs or attractive colors, the following phones have issues that make them some of the worst smart phones on the market.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX
This phone is the epitome of style over substance. Its flashy design and attractive touchscreen make it initially appealing, but several design flaws plague the Sidekick. First of all, the structural integrity of the design is a bit suspect, as the screen’s two-axis flip motion can break easily if the phone is subject to any sort of abuse. While the phone sports a full QWERTY keyboard, which can make texting a breeze, the buttons on this particular smartphone are packed together, difficult for anyone with larger hands (or anyone without the fine-tuned motor skills needed to operate a QWERTY keyboard successfully). You’re best off looking for an alternative, such as the T-Mobile Dash, which boasts a great interface based out of Windows Mobile.

Blackberry 8300
As a whole, the Blackberry line of smartphones are quite good, with many features available on a variety of networks. If you’re looking for a device with great business capabilities, web integration, and email, a Blackberry can be a great choice. However, not all Blackberries are created equal, and some, like the 8300, fall flat next to their siblings. The Blackberry 8300, in some regards, is a lesser version of other Blackberry phones, meaning that the interface and keypad aren’t as sturdy and up-to-date. For perhaps the best experience with a Blackberry, check out the Blackberry Storm, which boasts some great unique features.

Nokia Surge 6790
Our final smartphone to avoid also looks like it could be a winner. But, alas, looks are also deceiving, once again. The Nokia Surge has a slim black design and a slide-out keypad, making it one of the better-looking smartphones. The device boasts some great synchronization with Gmail, Yahoo, and Windows Live, even if its operating system is a bit dates compared to competitors. However, there are some puzzling design flaws that make using the Nokia Surge downright frustrating. It’s impossible to dial a number without sliding open the keypad, a flaw that becomes more and more upsetting the longer you have the phone. Also, the small and slightly off-center screen can be hard to squint at in dark environments, as the brightness is lacking. For a similar, but better, alternative, check out the Samsung Jack.

Buried among the car commercials, advertisements “speaking” to men about their masculinity, and a host of beer spots doing nothing to further the “tastes great/less filling” debate, perhaps the biggest Super Bowl ad surprise was provided by one of the most ubiquitous companies in the world. When the instantly-recognizable logo and search engine popped up on screen, I was taken by surprise. What followed was, for all intents and purposes, a sweet (if boring) advertisement touting some of Google’s online features. Weaving the story of an American boy studying in France, meeting a sweet French girl, and ultimately getting married (told entirely through the unseen male’s use of Google), the ad was one of the best “feel-good” moments of the game (aside from the Saints winning, of course).

The advertisement was a bit of a surprise for several reasons, and represents a bizarre move on the part of Google. First and foremost, it was a strange turn towards conventional advertising means for the company. One would be hard-pressed to argue that Google needed the clip to bolster their name recognition. Google was one of the internet pioneers of advertising. Their innovative concept linking non-obstructive ads to specific search terminology has been remarkably profitable for them, making as much as a billion dollars a year for the company.

It’s perhaps the greatest battle of them all: Mac vs. PC. With so many people weighing in on each side, I hardly doubt my opinion will change anyone’s mind, but this week’s Gadget of the Week allows me to give my own personal testimonial, demonstrating both the positives and negatives of a PC-to-Mac transfer. This week, we’ll take a closer look at the Macbook Pro, one of the most prevalent gadgets in the world of electronics, and hopefully you’ll come to understand whether or not it’s for you.

As a dedicated PC user, it took a while to get used to the Mac interface, so let me first describe the experience that Snow Leopard offers the user. Instead of a start menu, arranged in the lower right like with all Windows machines, the Mac operates out of the “dock” system, which provides a toolbar at the base of the computer screen. Built-into this toolbar are a host of Mac programs, including heavily used programs like iTunes to the relatively less involved Time Machine. The Mac pre-installed programs offer a host of features intended to give you an intuitive user experience. Some, however, are better than others. It took a downloadable update to prevent iTunes from having brief skips during song playback, and the arrangement of photos in iPhoto doesn’t translate into an intuitive filing system for other use, but the features that come on such programs will be exciting and fun to play around with.

Seeing as I used my PC version of Microsoft Office quite heavily, I decided to see how the Mac version of these Microsoft programs translated into a PC-dominated computer world. The results took some getting used to, but for the most part, both versions of Office are workable and the files can easily be shared, so long as you remember to save in the correct format. The major annoyance comes in the lack of similar toolbar structure between versions. While editing a cell in Excel for the Mac, for example, the formula does not appear at the top of the screen, making it sometimes difficult to know exactly what edits are being made to the numbers. While this takes some getting used to, the program functions much the same, although some features in the PC version, such as statistical analysis, are not available in their Mac counterparts.

There are some great benefits to switching over, however. The battery life in a normal charging of the Mac far exceeds my PC counterpart. Whereas I often felt that my PC laptop was bound to my desk, my Macbook Pro is capable of following me for a shift at work followed by a trip to class, all in one charge. This creates for an addicting relationship between my computer and myself, a relationship that expands to other parts of the device. The intuitive mouse pad on the Macbook Pro makes it all-but-impossible to switch back to a normal PC mouse system, making for great usage of the control scheme.

It’ s a bit ridiculous to think that the concept of social networking is so new, as its become difficult to imagine the Internet without it. Today, we celebrate a very special day, the sixth birthday of one of the most important websites on the Internet. Facebook has grown from a small niche into an international sensation, with over 350 million people using the site to network with the people around them. Six years is a long time, especially for the Internet, and Facebook’s every-changing identity means that its likely here to stay. For today’s article, we’ll look at some of the things Facebook has gotten right to reach this point in its lifetime, and what it can do to continue to be a mainstay.

1) Put people into networks.
This was, in many regards, the demise of a forerunner of Facebook, that place for friends known as Myspace. Without networks, indicating where people where from or what school they attend, it became easy for random people to find you and request to be your friend. This contributed to the ridiculous amount of spamming that occurred on Myspace, as it became common for people to add requested friends without much consideration for who they were. This was largely because of item #2.

2) Make people use their real names.
In addition to keeping out RiDicuLOUs PuNCTuatION!1, this also greatly reduced the number of scenester teenagers on Facebook. While I can understand wanting to put a witty phrase instead of your actual name, this decision made Facebook seem more professional and made it much easier to find people.

I’d like to start today’s article by shamelessly bragging about my winter break from school, which actually has some bearing on today’s topic. I’m from Missoula, Montana. When fall started, I drove from Montana to Los Angeles for college. This wasn’t as bad as it seems, as there was a week-long layover in Lake Tahoe. However, for winter break, I decided it was time to embark upon the ever-alluring college road trip, driving up the Pacific Coast Highway, to Sacramento, to Eugene, to Portland, to Seattle, and finally home. It was a remarkable week of travel, with the only damper coming two weeks later when I had to make the return trip. It was a great trip, and I was able to spend a lot of time exploring the west coast, bonding with Interstate 5, and hanging out in my car.

For that third reason, I feel incredibly qualified to write about some great car electronics that can improve the quality of your vehicle. If you’ve got a long trip in your future, or if you have a regular commute, a few additions to your automobile can greatly improve the use you get out of it. Here are three great kinds of electronics for your car:

Car Speakers:
While many cars on the market already have serviceable audio systems installed, there are always upgrades available if you find your stock system lacking in volume or quality. Most of these speakers require professional installation, making them more expensive than their price tag would indicate. If you have an older model, purchasing a stereo upgrade can be great for your commute. I almost always listen to music while in the car, and it’s a great way to relieve stress while on the road and pass the time on long trips. Some speaker systems are affordable, allowing you to expand your car audio easily. Check out this Pioneer speaker componant package for a great starting point.

GPS Navigation:
If you live in a big city, one of these units can be a great asset. While companies like Garmin and Tom Tom make devices that have many high end features (such as business directories built into the device), a less expensive model will still be a great asset. By having step by step directions to virtually any destination, it can take much of the stress out of driving to a new locale, or driving in a new city. Be forewarned, though, that some units suffer from confusing menu organization, making them downright dangerous to operate while driving. Always exercise caution, and never operate one while in motion. A great deal can be found on some of the entry-level models in the Garmin StreetPilot series.

I’ve often heard complaints from my gal-friends that boys are insufferably difficult to shop for, especially for the love-it-or-hate-it celebration of love that is Valentine’s Day. Some of this difficultly can be understood. After all, men always have the triumvirate of chocolate, flowers, and jewelry to fall back upon in case all other creative gift ideas fail.

As a young tech aficionado, I’ll admit that it can often be hard to shop for someone who’s into gadgets and electronics. When buying a device for myself, there’s often a rigorous investigative process that goes on, comparing reviews, checking out the unit in a department store, and finally shopping around for the best price. This usually takes several weeks, depending on how much free time I’m willing (or able) to sink into it. However, just because I’m pretentious about this stuff doesn’t mean there aren’t some great (and inexpensive!) gifts for your man on the most loving day of the year. You pretty much can’t go wrong with one of the following.

Netflix Subscription:

Netflix is one of my favorite online distribution companies, and this subscription is a great investment. Forget the entry level subscription; the real asset to Netflix these days is the ability to stream movies and TV shows to your computer, video game console, or Blu-ray player. There are some drawbacks to this system so far, such as a limited availability of new titles and a limited selection of titles one can instantly watch, but the good news is that the streaming accompanies the regular Netflix subscription, meaning your man can watch Lost on his computer before sliding The Departed into his Blu-ray player (all via the same subscription).

A Networking Hub:

For those unfamiliar with these devices, a good networking hub will serve several purposes. First and foremost, it will allow for all computers and office electronics in the house to have access to each other via a wireless signal. This is incredibly useful, as it allows you to do things like print a document while you’re sitting in the living room, or easily transfer files from one computer to another. Also, a hub can greatly increase the strength of your wireless internet signal, allowing you to surf the web regardless of where you are in the house. It may require a little installation, but the results can be both conveinent and a great asset to your computing.

This week’s internet round-up features fantastic YouTube videos, amusing articles, and including the most epic Save the Date of all time, a man with fantastic hammers, and much more. All of these videos are safe for work, so no need to worry about content!

Jeff and Erin’s Epic Wedding
This couple currently living in Australia wasn’t content with a traditional wedding announcement, so with the help of a green screen, an amateur voice actor, and some handy video editing, they’ve cooked up what is sure to be a YouTube classic. Explosions and intense music accompany pictures of the couple throughout their ten year relationship, culminating in a Matrix-like title screen. The ceremony is slated to take place on “the eve of 10-10-10,” but the real question will be if the ceremony can live up to its blockbuster billing!

Talented German Carpenter
Unless you speak the language, it may not seem like much special is going on in this video. . . until the juggling takes a pretty skilled turn towards the fantastic. Well worth a minute of your time!

A Tolkien-esque home in Wales
Constructed out of wood and earth, this house in Wales was designed to minimize the impact on the environment, literally constructing the house under the ground. The photos of this incredible house showcase the wooden framework on the inside, which was designed with sustainability in mind. Whether or not you agree with the mission of “simpler, more sustainable” living, it’s sure to be of interest for architecture buffs and environmentalists alike.

Animals as Best Friends
Reminiscent of the infamous icanhazcheezeburger lolcat meme, this photoblog posts pictures of animals doing cute things. However, the emphasis here is on inter-species friendship, and there is plenty to go around (and without any “funny” text plastered on top, either). My personal favorite is of the hippo and the turtle, but the other shots on the page are adorable as well.

10 Strangest Trees on Earth
As a fan of top ten lists, this entry is especially appealing to me. The trees on this list are spectacular as well, either in regards to their age, immense size, or bizarre growth patterns. Take a look at the General Sherman tree, located in Sequoia National Park. Its a staggering 102 feet in circumference at the base. Also of special note is the Tree of Life, located in Bahrain, which has managed to survive despite being located far away from any source of water.

And finally, if this compilation isn’t enough for your surfing needs, here is a great list of 99 Internet sites (or perhaps we should say, phenomenon) that are perhaps the very best. Some are bound to be familiar, but this compilation makes for a great way to see some pretty spectacular videos and read some great articles.

Apple may be garnering much media attention lately for its much-touted tablet computer, the iPad, but the idea of tablet computing has been around far longer. Touchscreen technology has found its way into a variety of computers, and if you really crave a tablet computer, but are looking for something with a little more computing power than the iPad (or a unit that operates Windows), there are several great devices on the market that combine this touchscreen technology with a laptop, allowing for some great versatility and functionality as well.

A great example of the benefits of this technology comes in the Fujitsu Lifebook P1630, a tablet PC running Windows Vista. There are some immediate differences between this tablet computer and what many people may think a tablet should look like, especially after the unveiling of the iPad. First and foremost, the Lifebook looks a lot like a traditional laptop computer, as opposed to a large iPod Touch. It has a fully-functioning keyboard, and an 8.9 inch swiveling display that is touch-activated, meaning you can flip the screen over the keyboard, making it single tablet, or you can twist the screen around so it’s oriented like a traditional laptop screen. This enables the unit to be proficient in both word processing and touch-screen capabilities.

This version of the Lifebook runs Windows Vista Business, which is indicative of Fujitsu’s target audience here. The screen is smaller than on a traditional laptop, making the unit portable. A stylus comes along with the device for writing on the touchscreen, and some great results were achieved in this way, with the ability to save the writing in a variety of programs in several different formats, such as .jpeg, Word documents, or even in PDFs. The utility here is obviously aimed towards note-taking upon existing documents, likely in the context of an important business meeting.

The best part about the Fujitsu Lifebook series is that they offer the same flexibility as other PC laptops. One of the biggest drawbacks about the Apple iPad is that it will be subject to the same restrictions as the iPhone and the iPod touch. Namely, there won’t be much flexibility with the programs and applications one is able to download and run. With the Fujitsu computer, this problem is avoided, and those who are already familiar with Vista will enjoy virtually no learning curve on the new model. The downside is the price tag, which at around $1800 makes this one of the higher-end Lifebook models, but if the concept interests you, be sure to shop around for other tablet PCs similar to this one!

Check out lower-cost alternatives to the Apple iPad, and compare tablet computers at Smarter.

The battle against the deadly habit of texting and driving has been, according to an article in PC World Magazine, utterly ineffective. According to a study released by the Highway Loss Data Institute, statewide bans on the action do next to nothing to decrease the crash rates in the 19 states that have enacted anti-texting laws. The results are a bit puzzling, and point towards a giant question mark as to the future of this type of legislation.

The organization, HDLI, responsible for the study works in close conjunction with a number of insurance companies, and the study was conducted in order to see if the legislation, including a recent ban on bus and truck drivers texting while driving, had any impact on overall road safety. The results are surprising to say the least, and the HDLI released the following statement in regards to their findings, which explains the procedure they used during the research:

HLDI researchers calculated monthly collision claims per 100 insured vehicle years (a vehicle year is 1 car insured for 1 year, 2 insured for 6 months each, etc.) for vehicles up to 3 years old during the months immediately before and after hand-held phone use was banned while driving in New York (Nov. 2001), the District of Columbia (July 2004), Connecticut (Oct. 2005), and California (July 2008). Comparable data were collected for nearby jurisdictions without such bans. This method controlled for possible changes in collision claim rates unrelated to the bans — changes in the number of miles driven due to the economy, seasonal changes in driving patterns, etc.

So what does this mean for drivers? Texting while driving has been linked in several studies to dangerous driving habits over the last several years. An earlier HLDI study found that cellphone use made a person four times as likely to be injured in a crash. Perhaps the most well-known study of this type was conducted by Virginia Tech, who found in 2009 that texting while driving made the driver 23 times as likely to be involved in a crash. These types of numbers would seem to indicate the opposite of what the most recent HLDI study revealed. Why the discrepancy? Further studies are likely to follow, to either confirm or deny these findings.

As for you, the driver, it should be noted that these laws are for a reason. Whether these results are occurring because people are ignoring the laws, or if there are other factors in place, it’s important to practice safe driving at all times. While that text message or phone call may seem important at the moment, an automobile accident is not something to take lightly, and the repercussions of dangerous driving can have an impact on both your well-being and your wallet, so be sure to keep your gadgets off the road.