I've been a Sirius subscriber for years. Love the service. I got an Acura TL in 2005 that had XM pre-installed with no option to Sirius. So I gave the XM a shot while it was in it's 90 day trial. Oh my crap, XM is terrible. Their "jocks" sound like they're still running a college radio station complete with "uh", "um" and plenty of dead air. Aside from the fact that their encoding sounds like they're broadcasting from a tin can.
That was back in 2005 anyway.
I had/have Sirius in my other cars and have no such objections.
A merger would certainly kill Sirius just because of subscriber counts and that would, well, be the death of satellite radio for me because I rather hear nails on a chalkboard than XM.
- iPhone Cingular biggest flaw. This is probably the #1 block to sales. And the likely reason I won't have an iPhone anytime soon.
- Edge no HSDPA, but the final specks may not be there. Furthermore, this may have been a marketing blunder. HSPDA sounds lame marketing wise. Where as "Edge" has a sound that convey's leading edge technology even if it's far from it. I'll cross my fingers. But it's a shame this isn't available on an EvDO capable network.
You, of course, realize that this works both ways. If they went for Verizon and EVDO, there is no way I would have the iPhone anytime soon. Of course, the 2nd rev will be 3G but that this time when most of the HSPDA network isn't rolled out, it shouldn't be a priority (this is coming from someone in an HSPDA coverage area). But I'm very glad this is GSM and not CDMA so you can actually use this phone in more places than just the US.
I'm amused by the fact that you thought I was talking about the service when I quite specifically was talking about the phone itself.
The Cingular 8525 is merely a branded HTC phone that is exclusive to Cingular.
I've been with Cingular for years. The service is fine and they're a good deal ahead of T-Mobile when it comes to rolling out 3G services (HSDPA is already available in some markets). Customer service blows but I can say that about Verizon and T-Mobile which I've been customers of in previous years.
GSM is great because it's what the world uses. CDMA carriers in the US are the oddity, not the norm. I travel internationally so this is a big deal to me. I don't know who you're talking to but everyone I know that is on a GSM network is fairly pleased with it and they also hate Sprint with a passion. So it might vary by region but everywhere I've been to GSM is awesome.
Oh, I can also buy cool, unlocked phones from eBay, pop my SIM in and they work. Can you do that with Sprint? Verizon?
First I'll admit, I pretty much am a zealot. But many people's dismissal of the product before they see or use it in person is very typical of the telephone game we call the Internet. I saw over here somebody saying this so I'll take it as fact. The truth is we still don't know very much about the product. So let's stop assuming things and think they're set in stone.
My number 1 gripe with people's assumptions is that the iPhone will be a 100% closed-product. This is bunk. Firstly, nobody official has said anything close to that. Just that development kits are not available at this time. Why is that? Let's think about it.
MacWorld is very much Apple's own personal CES. Takes place at the same time for more or less the same purpose: to introduce new products. This show is not so much about the developer because Apple already puts on a giant show just for them, WWDC.
As is widely known, Apple went to great lengths to keep the product a secret. So duh, no development kits were given to even the most tightly NDA'd partners. This thing was even kept secret to most of Apple's OWN employees. So it stands to reason they didn't want to mass-produce developments kits to have available at announcement. Beyond that, third-party software will undoubted bring up alot of flaws in the iPhone-specific parts of the OS and API. I'm sure they don't want somebody else's software mucking with the device at launch that could make it unstable or worse. That isn't to say they don't want third-party software running on it -ever-. Just not at first.
And I'm perfectly okay with that. This is a first-generation device. An Apple first generation device! These tend to be flakey. It does take time to work out the kinks and I'm okay with that too. I'm fairly sure that a dev kit will be available at or shortly after WWDC (hey, that's in June too... hmmmm). They just want time for people to use the device as they intended it.
Concerns about battery life are irrelevant at this point. We don't know how long it will really last. Could be better or worse than everybody is touting. But you know what I couldn't care less either way because I don't spend more than 5 hours per day mucking with or talking on my cell phone. I'm lucky if I can get an hour on even the most smartest of smartphones (and believe me, I've gone through alot of them). I'm willing to be most people won't either.
As for price, puh-lease. Go buy a Cingular 8525 (the super-duper 3G pda-phone that runs Windows Mobile). Aside from WM5 being the most sluggish piece of software on the planet, you'll find that it costs $585 (granted without 2yr contract). That's the same ball park. Same with the Blackjack which is $350 (again, without 2yr contract) but both phones come with negligable internal storage so add on another $100 for 2GB Micro-SD and you're still not close on storage. Some people like removable storage because you can swap cards. I have -never- owned more than 1 memory card for a format, so again, I couldn't care less. Especially considering 8GB is fairly substantial.
So I think most people's fears are overblown. The concern that could be given weight is the QWERTY touch keyboard. But that is a philosophical thing that has to be one way or another. Either you have dedicated tiny buttons or you go virtual and have a large screen. My side on this one is the large screen & virtual keyboard. That's just my preference. I have no need for tiny, fingernail splitting buttons so small that I accidentally press the wrong ones so I much prefer a keyboard on a large pretty screen that I accidentally press buttons on. Even if I wasn't such an Apple whore, I'd side with Steve on this one. Dedicated, ugly micro-keyboards suck (I'm looking at you, Blackjack). The 8525 was, for the most part, comfortable and quick to type on though.
Anyway, I'm sure the next few months will be filled with iPhone bashing as people speculate till their heart's content. I know I'll get one (I've gone through 4 different phones in the past month looking for one that doesn't suck) but the iPhone could very well disappoint me in use, but I won't know that until it comes out in June.
I just bought the Cingular 8525 last week. It... sucks! It's a terrible phone. Mediocre web browser with Pocket IE and is far from "pretty".
But I wanted something with a real keyboard. The keyboard isn't bad and I can type fairly quick with it. The keyboard however does not make up for the 8525's short comings. My car has bluetooth integration and it's worked great with 4 other phones, but not with this one. It keeps connecting and then dropping the connection after 30 seconds. Boo.
Windows Mobile itself is flawed in that it's not very responsive and has a very inconsistent UI.
The iPhone is everything I dreamed about with the exception of not having 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) data service. This 8525 is going back today and I'll just use one of the other non-smartphones I have laying around until then.
I think Apple may have killed sales on many, many Windows Mobile phones for the next couple months while people wait with bated breath for the iPhone.
You're trying to tell me Nintendo designed the Wii with THIS in mind?! Are you wacky?
In my experience, the controller doesn't even track movements that fast very well so all you're doing is overexerting yourself and making yourself look even more ridiculous. I'm stumped as to why swinging the controller AS HARD AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN could be construed as 'normal' gameplay. It says everywhere in the manual and in gameplay, swing gently. A gentle motion is far more accurate than this WiiMote hurdling exercise shown in the video and doesn't result in the wrist-strap dying a horrible death trying to restrain an 80-mph 8oz plastic shard from flying towards your TV.
After about 25 hours of play, the remote has -never- come close to leaving my hand, I've played all the games reasonably well and, yes, after a while my hand does sweat. The video is a prime example of what is going on. I think Chuck Norris would even have a good deal bit more restraint.
In the grand scheme of things, CD's haven't been around all that long. Cassettes and vinyl before that can conceivably make up a good portion of a person's collection.
Re:Must just be the majors. The indies are thrivin
on
iTunes Sales 'Collapsing'
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· Score: 5, Insightful
No, this is just some bad data. If "secretive Apple" isn't publishing data, where do that get it from? Oh yeah, Forrester...
*crickets*
I'm probably missing something and that's okay. Because you can analyze numbers to your hearts content, the point that all the "analysts" are missing is that most of the DRM'd music that's been released is backcatalog, plain and simple. Did it ever occur to anyone that many people probably splurged on legal tunes that they already loved and owned to get it onto their iPod (or whatever). Now that they have all the favorites/classics/etc., there is no reason for them to keep pace with whatever of the 70% crap that the industry pumps out.
Maybe the industry is just slowed down while they wait for Brittany, Nickelback and whatever shitty country singer to release their new album? Stop thinking that small decline in numbers means THE INDUSTRY IS DEAAAAAAD. It's ridiculous.
I waited 12 hours in line for the system so I'm disappointed by this and the fact that there are no component cables to be found (gotta order them online, joy). But the control scheme doesn't suck which can't be changed and is why I bought the system. Overall, another new tech snafu but I'm not really surprised.
Really, this view that I must find a candidate that I agree with on every single issue or I won't vote is silly. In todays complex world, it's utterly impossible to do it. There will always be a number of issues that candidate X has a differing (slightly or majorly) view on. The point is to find a candidate that fits you -best-. This may be difficult considering that many politicians are out of touch with society but it's your duty to put forth an effort.
Many people that don't follow politics cite the fact that many politicians appear the same to them. This is true to a degree that all politicians seem to act the same. They all protect their interests and try to go about their business pandering to their "base" but their views on major things like economics, abortion, war, free speech, etc. separate them like night and day.
I can't fathom how people can be conservative just how some people can't fathom how I could be so liberal. To me it was always a natural choice. If it's not to you, then you're probably just not paying enough attention. Still, ignorance is not an excuse. Pay attention to politics. As frustrating as it is, it's vitally important to your, your nation's and the world's future.
I could also get into a long rant about slant and corruption in the media but that's an auxiliary concern to this point. The same thing goes as with anything, get your news from multiple sources and don't give any single thing too much weight.
It's pretty obvious that he was referring to the entire PS3 run. I know it's popular to hate Sony (heck, I do!) but making their comments seem stupid when yours really are the ones that are doesn't help your cause much.
Does the "We love your characters! It's an homage!" line usually work on legal departments of large companies? My bet is no.
They're developing a project with intentions of taking it commercial all the while using the Nintendo logo and name. I'm not fan of Intellectual Property. I think the concept stinks. I'm not faulting them for using Nintendo characters. But using the name and logo to me implies some affiliation which this page specifically says there isn't any. That's pretty flagrant.
Slashdot Mirror
Small testimonial:
I've been a Sirius subscriber for years. Love the service. I got an Acura TL in 2005 that had XM pre-installed with no option to Sirius. So I gave the XM a shot while it was in it's 90 day trial. Oh my crap, XM is terrible. Their "jocks" sound like they're still running a college radio station complete with "uh", "um" and plenty of dead air. Aside from the fact that their encoding sounds like they're broadcasting from a tin can.
That was back in 2005 anyway.
I had/have Sirius in my other cars and have no such objections.
A merger would certainly kill Sirius just because of subscriber counts and that would, well, be the death of satellite radio for me because I rather hear nails on a chalkboard than XM.
Yes, it is. You'd essentially have two phones by the time you added circuitry for both. The size required would literally be double.
You are assuming that the SIM card is accessible and swapable. It may not be...
It's a GSM phone, of course it is. Besides the fact that during the Keynote, Steve pointed where the SIM goes.
- iPhone Cingular biggest flaw. This is probably the #1 block to sales. And the likely reason I won't have an iPhone anytime soon.
- Edge no HSDPA, but the final specks may not be there. Furthermore, this may have been a marketing blunder. HSPDA sounds lame marketing wise. Where as "Edge" has a sound that convey's leading edge technology even if it's far from it. I'll cross my fingers. But it's a shame this isn't available on an EvDO capable network.
You, of course, realize that this works both ways. If they went for Verizon and EVDO, there is no way I would have the iPhone anytime soon. Of course, the 2nd rev will be 3G but that this time when most of the HSPDA network isn't rolled out, it shouldn't be a priority (this is coming from someone in an HSPDA coverage area). But I'm very glad this is GSM and not CDMA so you can actually use this phone in more places than just the US.
I'm amused by the fact that you thought I was talking about the service when I quite specifically was talking about the phone itself.
The Cingular 8525 is merely a branded HTC phone that is exclusive to Cingular.
I've been with Cingular for years. The service is fine and they're a good deal ahead of T-Mobile when it comes to rolling out 3G services (HSDPA is already available in some markets). Customer service blows but I can say that about Verizon and T-Mobile which I've been customers of in previous years.
GSM is great because it's what the world uses. CDMA carriers in the US are the oddity, not the norm. I travel internationally so this is a big deal to me. I don't know who you're talking to but everyone I know that is on a GSM network is fairly pleased with it and they also hate Sprint with a passion. So it might vary by region but everywhere I've been to GSM is awesome.
Oh, I can also buy cool, unlocked phones from eBay, pop my SIM in and they work. Can you do that with Sprint? Verizon?
That is obviously not the case. If it was primarily a phone, it wouldn't have a touchscreen at all, but rather a keypad.
Why would a keypad be required to be a phone? Seems to me the only necessary thing for something to be considered a phone is a speaker and microphone.
First I'll admit, I pretty much am a zealot. But many people's dismissal of the product before they see or use it in person is very typical of the telephone game we call the Internet. I saw over here somebody saying this so I'll take it as fact. The truth is we still don't know very much about the product. So let's stop assuming things and think they're set in stone.
My number 1 gripe with people's assumptions is that the iPhone will be a 100% closed-product. This is bunk. Firstly, nobody official has said anything close to that. Just that development kits are not available at this time. Why is that? Let's think about it.
MacWorld is very much Apple's own personal CES. Takes place at the same time for more or less the same purpose: to introduce new products. This show is not so much about the developer because Apple already puts on a giant show just for them, WWDC.
As is widely known, Apple went to great lengths to keep the product a secret. So duh, no development kits were given to even the most tightly NDA'd partners. This thing was even kept secret to most of Apple's OWN employees. So it stands to reason they didn't want to mass-produce developments kits to have available at announcement. Beyond that, third-party software will undoubted bring up alot of flaws in the iPhone-specific parts of the OS and API. I'm sure they don't want somebody else's software mucking with the device at launch that could make it unstable or worse. That isn't to say they don't want third-party software running on it -ever-. Just not at first.
And I'm perfectly okay with that. This is a first-generation device. An Apple first generation device! These tend to be flakey. It does take time to work out the kinks and I'm okay with that too. I'm fairly sure that a dev kit will be available at or shortly after WWDC (hey, that's in June too... hmmmm). They just want time for people to use the device as they intended it.
Concerns about battery life are irrelevant at this point. We don't know how long it will really last. Could be better or worse than everybody is touting. But you know what I couldn't care less either way because I don't spend more than 5 hours per day mucking with or talking on my cell phone. I'm lucky if I can get an hour on even the most smartest of smartphones (and believe me, I've gone through alot of them). I'm willing to be most people won't either.
As for price, puh-lease. Go buy a Cingular 8525 (the super-duper 3G pda-phone that runs Windows Mobile). Aside from WM5 being the most sluggish piece of software on the planet, you'll find that it costs $585 (granted without 2yr contract). That's the same ball park. Same with the Blackjack which is $350 (again, without 2yr contract) but both phones come with negligable internal storage so add on another $100 for 2GB Micro-SD and you're still not close on storage. Some people like removable storage because you can swap cards. I have -never- owned more than 1 memory card for a format, so again, I couldn't care less. Especially considering 8GB is fairly substantial.
So I think most people's fears are overblown. The concern that could be given weight is the QWERTY touch keyboard. But that is a philosophical thing that has to be one way or another. Either you have dedicated tiny buttons or you go virtual and have a large screen. My side on this one is the large screen & virtual keyboard. That's just my preference. I have no need for tiny, fingernail splitting buttons so small that I accidentally press the wrong ones so I much prefer a keyboard on a large pretty screen that I accidentally press buttons on. Even if I wasn't such an Apple whore, I'd side with Steve on this one. Dedicated, ugly micro-keyboards suck (I'm looking at you, Blackjack). The 8525 was, for the most part, comfortable and quick to type on though.
Anyway, I'm sure the next few months will be filled with iPhone bashing as people speculate till their heart's content. I know I'll get one (I've gone through 4 different phones in the past month looking for one that doesn't suck) but the iPhone could very well disappoint me in use, but I won't know that until it comes out in June.
That's fine as long as everything isn't portable. There -is- a legitimate need for stationary computers.
Is it a shock to you that the iPhone is primarily a phone?
It's clearly an iPod second. After all, if you were to have a smartphone without mp3 playing capability, you'd look pretty silly.
I just bought the Cingular 8525 last week. It... sucks! It's a terrible phone. Mediocre web browser with Pocket IE and is far from "pretty".
But I wanted something with a real keyboard. The keyboard isn't bad and I can type fairly quick with it. The keyboard however does not make up for the 8525's short comings. My car has bluetooth integration and it's worked great with 4 other phones, but not with this one. It keeps connecting and then dropping the connection after 30 seconds. Boo.
Windows Mobile itself is flawed in that it's not very responsive and has a very inconsistent UI.
The iPhone is everything I dreamed about with the exception of not having 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) data service. This 8525 is going back today and I'll just use one of the other non-smartphones I have laying around until then.
I think Apple may have killed sales on many, many Windows Mobile phones for the next couple months while people wait with bated breath for the iPhone.
So long... and thanks for all the fish!
top 10 most horrible lists that the editors automatically post because it's the end of the year and has "top 10" in it?
My bet is fairly high.
There is no news to be had on weekends.
You're trying to tell me Nintendo designed the Wii with THIS in mind?! Are you wacky?
In my experience, the controller doesn't even track movements that fast very well so all you're doing is overexerting yourself and making yourself look even more ridiculous. I'm stumped as to why swinging the controller AS HARD AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN could be construed as 'normal' gameplay. It says everywhere in the manual and in gameplay, swing gently. A gentle motion is far more accurate than this WiiMote hurdling exercise shown in the video and doesn't result in the wrist-strap dying a horrible death trying to restrain an 80-mph 8oz plastic shard from flying towards your TV.
After about 25 hours of play, the remote has -never- come close to leaving my hand, I've played all the games reasonably well and, yes, after a while my hand does sweat. The video is a prime example of what is going on. I think Chuck Norris would even have a good deal bit more restraint.
In the grand scheme of things, CD's haven't been around all that long. Cassettes and vinyl before that can conceivably make up a good portion of a person's collection.
No, this is just some bad data. If "secretive Apple" isn't publishing data, where do that get it from? Oh yeah, Forrester...
*crickets*
I'm probably missing something and that's okay. Because you can analyze numbers to your hearts content, the point that all the "analysts" are missing is that most of the DRM'd music that's been released is backcatalog, plain and simple. Did it ever occur to anyone that many people probably splurged on legal tunes that they already loved and owned to get it onto their iPod (or whatever). Now that they have all the favorites/classics/etc., there is no reason for them to keep pace with whatever of the 70% crap that the industry pumps out.
Maybe the industry is just slowed down while they wait for Brittany, Nickelback and whatever shitty country singer to release their new album? Stop thinking that small decline in numbers means THE INDUSTRY IS DEAAAAAAD. It's ridiculous.
The joke is on you. You can't copy games from the SD card to another console. You can't copy them back if you format your Wii either.
Great feature, eh?
Apparently, the firmware update is rendering the online portion of the system busted for many people. Mine is one of the affected units.
? board.id=internet&message.id=2729 for more.
See http://forums.nintendo.com/nintendo/board/message
I waited 12 hours in line for the system so I'm disappointed by this and the fact that there are no component cables to be found (gotta order them online, joy). But the control scheme doesn't suck which can't be changed and is why I bought the system. Overall, another new tech snafu but I'm not really surprised.
Really, this view that I must find a candidate that I agree with on every single issue or I won't vote is silly. In todays complex world, it's utterly impossible to do it. There will always be a number of issues that candidate X has a differing (slightly or majorly) view on. The point is to find a candidate that fits you -best-. This may be difficult considering that many politicians are out of touch with society but it's your duty to put forth an effort.
Many people that don't follow politics cite the fact that many politicians appear the same to them. This is true to a degree that all politicians seem to act the same. They all protect their interests and try to go about their business pandering to their "base" but their views on major things like economics, abortion, war, free speech, etc. separate them like night and day.
I can't fathom how people can be conservative just how some people can't fathom how I could be so liberal. To me it was always a natural choice. If it's not to you, then you're probably just not paying enough attention. Still, ignorance is not an excuse. Pay attention to politics. As frustrating as it is, it's vitally important to your, your nation's and the world's future.
I could also get into a long rant about slant and corruption in the media but that's an auxiliary concern to this point. The same thing goes as with anything, get your news from multiple sources and don't give any single thing too much weight.
2. When they say the system launches on Sunday, do I camp out Saturday or Sunday night? (This has confused me in the past with game releases)
Availability on a Sunday generally implies that you need to be there on Sunday.
3. What do I do if I've recently moved and have no friends in the area?
Don't worry, nobody else in line will either.
Thanks, I'll be here all week.
(you guessed it) fuck a stranger in the ass!
It's pretty obvious that he was referring to the entire PS3 run. I know it's popular to hate Sony (heck, I do!) but making their comments seem stupid when yours really are the ones that are doesn't help your cause much.
because you'd have to be brave in order to do anything in it, even post your thoughts and opinions on the Internet.
They'll just dig it up and open it long before they're scheduled to...
Does the "We love your characters! It's an homage!" line usually work on legal departments of large companies? My bet is no.
They're developing a project with intentions of taking it commercial all the while using the Nintendo logo and name. I'm not fan of Intellectual Property. I think the concept stinks. I'm not faulting them for using Nintendo characters. But using the name and logo to me implies some affiliation which this page specifically says there isn't any. That's pretty flagrant.