I got one. Still can't believe it.
Had the U.S. atomic clock in one tab and reloaded the page at 1:59:59 EST. Answered the question (20 + 16) and that was it. Didn't have to enter my password or anythiing. Didn't get a claim code, except through email as a backup. Just added it to my shopping cart and checked out. Well, I tried to check out. The site was inaccessible for 15-20 minutes and I was sweatin' heavy.
But I bought it immediately when the site came back up. It shipped today.
It's not the programmer who made the ipod great. It's Jonathan Ive, the industrial designer.
The Z5, even from the tiny picture in the NYT article, is not designed as well as the ipod. The materials are less engaging--those two types of metal finishes clash. Also, the symbols are weird--I *think* I can guess what the arrow means, but the "circle slash play pause" symbol is like wtf does *that* mean? Finally, the proportions are messy, just from eyeballing it.
One reason that the ipod sells well it that it is aesthetically pleasing. The Z5 is not.
In my experience art can be broadly divided into two categories...
1. representational art. this is art with subject matter drawn from or related to the natural/physical world. This _includes_ abstract art. "To abstract" means "to select." An abstractionist examines subject matter in the real world and "selects" part of it to focus on. It's about discarding inessential information. Think of Rembrandt and Andrew Wyeth but also cubism, Milton Avery (google him), impressionism, etc.
2. non-objective art. this is art that is completely made up from the artist's imagination without a reference point in reality. Think of the patterns on a turkish carpet, Malevich.
Obviously these categories are not completely discrete. Think of, for example, a drawing of buildings done without looking at any real buildings, or Carl Barks. However, they are helpful in classifying art.
"KDE and GNOME are butt ugly. Why would Apple take the easy way out and use some crappy looking window manager like KDE or GNOME?"
Aesthetics are _extremely_ subjective. I agree that the "lickable" Aqua interface is very beautiful. However, there's also a certain beauty in a austere, all-business interface. Think of the old-school telephone vs. the newfangled ones with instruction manuals thicker than...the phone book:)
Of course, there are good compromises between the extremes--like, say, OS 9. That was a gorgeously designed UI. Good lookin' without too many distractions.
You should consider contacting animation departments in art schools...
There are plenty of young, enthusiatic animators who would jump at the chance to get some work experience...especially for the low, low prices you're offering;)
Design a simple flyer, and try to get your programmers out of their aerons and down to the local art schools. Post them in the animation dept (or near the coke machines)...I guarantee you'll get some kind of response.
...a problem with the NWN file. It may show up on your desktop as a document. Just Get Info and append the.dmg extension. Problem solved. Happy gaming!
I haven't read the uplift saga, but I just read KILN PEOPLE which is Brin's most recent...it's out in paperback. Massively good, long read. It's about a world where people can imprint their personalities into clay bodies which last for a day, then upload the memories from their experience. The protagonist is a private eye. Great sci-fi mystery combo.
Slashdot Mirror
I got one. Still can't believe it. Had the U.S. atomic clock in one tab and reloaded the page at 1:59:59 EST. Answered the question (20 + 16) and that was it. Didn't have to enter my password or anythiing. Didn't get a claim code, except through email as a backup. Just added it to my shopping cart and checked out. Well, I tried to check out. The site was inaccessible for 15-20 minutes and I was sweatin' heavy. But I bought it immediately when the site came back up. It shipped today.
It's not the programmer who made the ipod great. It's Jonathan Ive, the industrial designer. The Z5, even from the tiny picture in the NYT article, is not designed as well as the ipod. The materials are less engaging--those two types of metal finishes clash. Also, the symbols are weird--I *think* I can guess what the arrow means, but the "circle slash play pause" symbol is like wtf does *that* mean? Finally, the proportions are messy, just from eyeballing it. One reason that the ipod sells well it that it is aesthetically pleasing. The Z5 is not.
In my experience art can be broadly divided into two categories...
1. representational art. this is art with subject matter drawn from or related to the natural/physical world. This _includes_ abstract art. "To abstract" means "to select." An abstractionist examines subject matter in the real world and "selects" part of it to focus on. It's about discarding inessential information. Think of Rembrandt and Andrew Wyeth but also cubism, Milton Avery (google him), impressionism, etc.
2. non-objective art. this is art that is completely made up from the artist's imagination without a reference point in reality. Think of the patterns on a turkish carpet, Malevich.
Obviously these categories are not completely discrete. Think of, for example, a drawing of buildings done without looking at any real buildings, or Carl Barks. However, they are helpful in classifying art.
cheers.
"KDE and GNOME are butt ugly. Why would Apple take the easy way out and use some crappy looking window manager like KDE or GNOME?"
Aesthetics are _extremely_ subjective. I agree that the "lickable" Aqua interface is very beautiful. However, there's also a certain beauty in a austere, all-business interface. Think of the old-school telephone vs. the newfangled ones with instruction manuals thicker than...the phone book
Of course, there are good compromises between the extremes--like, say, OS 9. That was a gorgeously designed UI. Good lookin' without too many distractions.
BTW my vote for the best X utility--Launchbar.
Regards, Matt
You should consider contacting animation departments in art schools...
;)
There are plenty of young, enthusiatic animators who would jump at the chance to get some work experience...especially for the low, low prices you're offering
Design a simple flyer, and try to get your programmers out of their aerons and down to the local art schools. Post them in the animation dept (or near the coke machines)...I guarantee you'll get some kind of response.
Good luck!
-Matt
...a problem with the NWN file. It may show up on your desktop as a document. Just Get Info and append the .dmg extension. Problem solved. Happy gaming!
I haven't read the uplift saga, but I just read KILN PEOPLE which is Brin's most recent...it's out in paperback. Massively good, long read. It's about a world where people can imprint their personalities into clay bodies which last for a day, then upload the memories from their experience. The protagonist is a private eye. Great sci-fi mystery combo.
Would be cool if the monitor was detachable from the base, for easy transport/storage.
Guess not, though, what with Apple's "integrated" philosophy...sigh...