I agree about the wireless sync. I have the altec m604 speaker (1 of only 3 speaker docks for the zune:() and its nice to drop the zune into that in the kitchen knowing that its syncing with my machine upstairs.
I love everything about it, I've had no issues (though I've also never run into another zune to try the sharing features, but I don't care about that) BUT the lack of accessories is frustrating... Though I just read of a zune dock alarm clock coming out that I'm very interested in.
I just moved out to a horse farm with my wife and our only internet options (other than dial-up) were Wireless or Satellite.
I went with the Wireless option because there were some advantages over satellite. I guess because of the Fair Use Policy Act (is that correct?) I'm limited to 10gb a month on my plan. Ugh, very frustrating for me. I have to plan my machine updates for the end of the month to make sure I have bandwidth available. I don't download movies or rent them from my 360 because not only am i paying a rental fee but probably a bandwidth fee if i go over. So very very frustrating. Not only that but I'm paying double or triple what most of you pay I bet, AND I only get 1.5 download speeds, AND I'm limited to 10gb of bandwidth a month. I'm like a fiend when I go to friends' houses with my laptop "free bandwidth?!? downloaddownloaddownload"
Then fyi, I believe its $2 a gig for each additional gig if i prepay and $5 a gig if I don't prepay... I could be wrong about that last number but its close.
I have a zune and I love it. These replies are hurting my feelings.
I just couldn't deal with the small screen of the similarly priced ipod. The downside though is that there are no freaking accessories. You can go to any online site and find 150 different cases for the iPod. From diamond encrusted cases to cases cut from the t-shirts of workers from sweatshops. Same online store you'll find like 2 for the zune. And they both cost $249.99.
Just to chime in with your post I wanted to add that not only are some people's ISP speeds very slow but some of us are restricted because of Fair Use Acts to how much we can actually download.
I just moved to a more rural area to live on a farm. Being a web developer I had to have a high speed internet connection. Alas the only options were satellite and wireless. I ended up going the wireless route because it had some benefits, but both of them because of Fair Use Acts limit the amounts I can download per month. Currently I'm allotted 10gigs. I can also pay extra so that i can go over, but now when you're talking about streaming/downloading a 3g file, on top of the fee to download I need to add in another few dollars for the actual download. Add to that the time for it to actually download and the fact that I'm a movie lover and watch a lot of movies in a given week, its just not a practical solution for me.
Now I'm in no way saying that downloadable content/movies aren't going to take off, quite the opposite, but there will ALWAYS be a softcopy (hardcopy? I don't know what to call it now) available to the public.
{sarcasm}
I agree! Because the article talked about how this was all planned by the government. How the government was requiring these devices be placed into every bar and restuarant. And how all of this information can be viewed by whoever wants it. No search warrants required obviously, thats exactly what the article said. "Anyone who wants to see if Suzie Smith was drinking last night, will now be able to log in to this website and see!"
{/sarcasm}
The problem is that the government has no right to monitor our every action.
I guess I missed in the article where it said the government was making bars and restaurants use these. AND that they had networked them all together so that the data was being sent back to a central db. Could you point that out for me? kthxbai.
Anytime you start collecting information in advance, "just in case," you're fundamentally doing something wrong.
This is being done all over the place. Fingerprints when you're arrested (still innocent correct?), zipcodes when you purchase something (though you can always lie), e-z-passes, subway cards, ATMs, should I continue? If you're against technology on the whole, then at least we could agree to disagree and part ways... but I doubt you are. So admit information about you is being collected... right now, as you read this.
You're treating innocent, honest people like criminals...
How, by scanning your ID at a bar, are you being treated like a criminal? Do you feel like a criminal every time you use your e-z-pass ? Oh, you don't own an e-z-pass for that exact reason? Then don't order an alcoholic drink at a bar thats going to scan your ID! Bars have always checked your ID, were you against that?
...in order to make life marginally easier for the cops.
First off, it doesn't make life easier for the cops, if anything thats one extra trip they have to make before they pass the case off. If anything it makes life easier on the prosecuting attorney who can now prove that the ass-hat was in fact drunk when he ran over that child. You know who it really makes it easier on? The families of victims of ass-hat drunk drivers. And I don't think anyones suggesting we wouldn't need protection in place. It must be set up in such a way that a warrant is required to gather the data. You go on trial, they present your drinking history from that night, you ask for a warrant which they don't have, then that evidence is inadmissible.
The database should require warrants and be overseen by a provacy advocate group as well as some seriously paranoid geeks for security. But the data should be there if required to prove innocence or guilt.
That's all well and good if we could ensure that it would be used in only this way, but the sad reality is that a system like this will almost certainly be abused. The minimal benefit a system like this may provide isn't worth the risk of abuse.
Actually I'm not so sure it would be abused. Assuming, like you did with the previous poster, that you had processes in place so that warrants would be required to gather data... thats usually going to be a decent safeguard. If that data is ever dug up and brought up in court, your lawyer then asks to see the warrant. If it was obtained without one, AND the proper processes had been established, then you're free... or at least that evidence is not admitted into the trial.
I kind of disagree with you on a few points. First, "expensive add-on features". Let the xbox have as many add-ons as they want or is possible. You don't have to buy any of them. And as long as you're not limited to what you play because you didn't "add-on" this necessary piece I don't see a problem.
Secondly, "If the XBox 360 was a even more expensive with features I didn't intend to use, I'd buy that!". there very well may be some people who are thinking, "If only the 360 had the hd-dvd built in, and a larger hard drive..." Now if they want to pay more for that option, thats up to them.
I can see where you're coming from of it being an expensive system, but so is the ps3. Its kind of where we are now. I almost see the Wii as the niche product (although obviously very popular) since its price point is so much lower than its competitors.
The jump from DVD to High-Def DVD will buy me a better picture, and that's it.
There are some other differences, albeit minor compared to the image quality. Sound has been improved (on both formats). And on HD-DVD (I don't own a bluray) the menu/features have been improved. I guess it is pretty minor, but they are handy and cool. Turning on subtitles while the movie's still playing, checking out all the extras without having to stop the movie from playing. Things like that... turning on all the extras without starting the movie over.
But I do completely agree with you, its just not worth it now for consumers to jump in. I bought a hd-dvd for my 360 for cheap, but that was my max. I can't drop $400 on a tech that hasn't really panned out yet. Everyones waiting for the dual players...once those are sub-150 or so, most people should wait.
System requirements that are too demanding could definitely be an issue. Though what about the holidays right around the corner? I'd like to try crysis and UT3, but I didn't buy them because I figured I'd ask for them for Christmas, see if I get them and if I don't buy them later.
Yeah interesting question. I would say that the sun's magnetosphere would BE the solar system. If that makes sense... but what do I know I've taken zero astronomy classes, I just go by what Discovery tells me,;)
Slashdot Mirror
I agree about the wireless sync. I have the altec m604 speaker (1 of only 3 speaker docks for the zune :() and its nice to drop the zune into that in the kitchen knowing that its syncing with my machine upstairs.
I love everything about it, I've had no issues (though I've also never run into another zune to try the sharing features, but I don't care about that) BUT the lack of accessories is frustrating... Though I just read of a zune dock alarm clock coming out that I'm very interested in.
I just moved out to a horse farm with my wife and our only internet options (other than dial-up) were Wireless or Satellite.
I went with the Wireless option because there were some advantages over satellite. I guess because of the Fair Use Policy Act (is that correct?) I'm limited to 10gb a month on my plan. Ugh, very frustrating for me. I have to plan my machine updates for the end of the month to make sure I have bandwidth available. I don't download movies or rent them from my 360 because not only am i paying a rental fee but probably a bandwidth fee if i go over. So very very frustrating. Not only that but I'm paying double or triple what most of you pay I bet, AND I only get 1.5 download speeds, AND I'm limited to 10gb of bandwidth a month. I'm like a fiend when I go to friends' houses with my laptop "free bandwidth?!? downloaddownloaddownload"
Then fyi, I believe its $2 a gig for each additional gig if i prepay and $5 a gig if I don't prepay... I could be wrong about that last number but its close.
I have a zune and I love it. These replies are hurting my feelings.
I just couldn't deal with the small screen of the similarly priced ipod. The downside though is that there are no freaking accessories. You can go to any online site and find 150 different cases for the iPod. From diamond encrusted cases to cases cut from the t-shirts of workers from sweatshops. Same online store you'll find like 2 for the zune. And they both cost $249.99.
If we could get HD downloads for cheap (let's say $2 an episode) I would gladly pay it.
I'd guess closer to $8. Just guessing though. But hell if you have to pay $80 for a blu-ray disc... I guess you're still making out.
I think he meant "Stealing from me is a worse crime than stealing from someone else." Which is a philosophy I subscribe to.
Still.. what a douche.
Just to chime in with your post I wanted to add that not only are some people's ISP speeds very slow but some of us are restricted because of Fair Use Acts to how much we can actually download.
I just moved to a more rural area to live on a farm. Being a web developer I had to have a high speed internet connection. Alas the only options were satellite and wireless. I ended up going the wireless route because it had some benefits, but both of them because of Fair Use Acts limit the amounts I can download per month. Currently I'm allotted 10gigs. I can also pay extra so that i can go over, but now when you're talking about streaming/downloading a 3g file, on top of the fee to download I need to add in another few dollars for the actual download. Add to that the time for it to actually download and the fact that I'm a movie lover and watch a lot of movies in a given week, its just not a practical solution for me.
Now I'm in no way saying that downloadable content/movies aren't going to take off, quite the opposite, but there will ALWAYS be a softcopy (hardcopy? I don't know what to call it now) available to the public.
tell me again why i care?
You're asking people on the internet to tell you why you should have feelings on things? You need to go out there and create your own opinions champ.
You can score with the consort?
{sarcasm}
I agree! Because the article talked about how this was all planned by the government. How the government was requiring these devices be placed into every bar and restuarant. And how all of this information can be viewed by whoever wants it. No search warrants required obviously, thats exactly what the article said. "Anyone who wants to see if Suzie Smith was drinking last night, will now be able to log in to this website and see!"
{/sarcasm}
The problem is that the government has no right to monitor our every action.
I guess I missed in the article where it said the government was making bars and restaurants use these. AND that they had networked them all together so that the data was being sent back to a central db. Could you point that out for me? kthxbai.
Anytime I hear someone used the hack, cliche word "sheeplike," I think, "Wow, someone just finished his first semester at college."
So congrats on finishing your first semester champ! Knowledge is power!
I definitely disagree with you here.
...in order to make life marginally easier for the cops.
Anytime you start collecting information in advance, "just in case," you're fundamentally doing something wrong.
This is being done all over the place. Fingerprints when you're arrested (still innocent correct?), zipcodes when you purchase something (though you can always lie), e-z-passes, subway cards, ATMs, should I continue? If you're against technology on the whole, then at least we could agree to disagree and part ways... but I doubt you are. So admit information about you is being collected... right now, as you read this.
You're treating innocent, honest people like criminals...
How, by scanning your ID at a bar, are you being treated like a criminal? Do you feel like a criminal every time you use your e-z-pass ? Oh, you don't own an e-z-pass for that exact reason? Then don't order an alcoholic drink at a bar thats going to scan your ID! Bars have always checked your ID, were you against that?
First off, it doesn't make life easier for the cops, if anything thats one extra trip they have to make before they pass the case off. If anything it makes life easier on the prosecuting attorney who can now prove that the ass-hat was in fact drunk when he ran over that child. You know who it really makes it easier on? The families of victims of ass-hat drunk drivers. And I don't think anyones suggesting we wouldn't need protection in place. It must be set up in such a way that a warrant is required to gather the data. You go on trial, they present your drinking history from that night, you ask for a warrant which they don't have, then that evidence is inadmissible.
Actually I'm not so sure it would be abused. Assuming, like you did with the previous poster, that you had processes in place so that warrants would be required to gather data... thats usually going to be a decent safeguard. If that data is ever dug up and brought up in court, your lawyer then asks to see the warrant. If it was obtained without one, AND the proper processes had been established, then you're free... or at least that evidence is not admitted into the trial.
I only paid $40 more and can play hd-dvds so nyaah.
I kind of disagree with you on a few points. First, "expensive add-on features". Let the xbox have as many add-ons as they want or is possible. You don't have to buy any of them. And as long as you're not limited to what you play because you didn't "add-on" this necessary piece I don't see a problem.
Secondly, "If the XBox 360 was a even more expensive with features I didn't intend to use, I'd buy that!". there very well may be some people who are thinking, "If only the 360 had the hd-dvd built in, and a larger hard drive..." Now if they want to pay more for that option, thats up to them.
I can see where you're coming from of it being an expensive system, but so is the ps3. Its kind of where we are now. I almost see the Wii as the niche product (although obviously very popular) since its price point is so much lower than its competitors.
The jump from DVD to High-Def DVD will buy me a better picture, and that's it.
There are some other differences, albeit minor compared to the image quality. Sound has been improved (on both formats). And on HD-DVD (I don't own a bluray) the menu/features have been improved. I guess it is pretty minor, but they are handy and cool. Turning on subtitles while the movie's still playing, checking out all the extras without having to stop the movie from playing. Things like that... turning on all the extras without starting the movie over.
But I do completely agree with you, its just not worth it now for consumers to jump in. I bought a hd-dvd for my 360 for cheap, but that was my max. I can't drop $400 on a tech that hasn't really panned out yet. Everyones waiting for the dual players...once those are sub-150 or so, most people should wait.
I have no idea what you just said.
Her VaJayJay be painin'!
http://www.oprahsvajayjay.com/
System requirements that are too demanding could definitely be an issue. Though what about the holidays right around the corner? I'd like to try crysis and UT3, but I didn't buy them because I figured I'd ask for them for Christmas, see if I get them and if I don't buy them later.
Puny solar system! ;-)
Heh, I love those videos. I haven't seen that one before, thanks for the link.
Yeah interesting question. I would say that the sun's magnetosphere would BE the solar system. If that makes sense... but what do I know I've taken zero astronomy classes, I just go by what Discovery tells me, ;)
noting that there is now an object in our solar system bigger than Sol.
I'm pretty sure Jupiter's magnetosphere is still the largest object in the solar system.
Diameters (approx.)
Sun : 864,900 miles
Holmes : 869,900 miles
Jupiter's Magnetosphere : 16,000,000 miles
Wiki
What magazine was it?
Seconded.
Are we all such twitchy ADD zombies that nobody can maintain their attention for more than a page? I call bullshit on that...
I agree. I often find myself reading long articles when using the facility and I
Have you infected your family with AIDS yet? Get back to me when you have. kthxbye.