Yes, it does support Audible, but it doesn't support wma files. As I said, I have years worth of WMA and WMV files. I don't want to convert them over, or run iTunes when I like Windows Media Player.
I'm a bigtime Microsoft fan. Yes, there are some out there, and I am one of them. (Xbox, 2 Xbox 360's, 3 XP machines, mice, etc. etc. etc.)
I *wanted* to buy a Zune, I really did. I wanted it to integrate in with everything else I own/run.
I was hot to do it until I found out that it didn't integrate in with Windows Media Player....WTF? I have years of files integrated into that player. Microsoft has been pushing it forever, and I went with it. I do like WMP- I think it's a pretty nice piece of software. In fact the only reason I never bought an iPod is because it won't integrate with WMP.
So when Microsoft came out with a player that didn't integrate with its core piece of media software, I thought that was a travesty. But, I was still willing to drink their Kool-Aid...until I found out they don't support Audible.com files.
It's amazing that a DRM infested piece of equipment like this doesn't support DRM infested Audible.com files. It seems like a match made in heaven (for them...) but somehow this failed to happen.
So, no Windows Media Player support...no Audible.com support. I just couldn't bring myself to buy one.
So instead I bought a Creative Zen MicroPhoto. Which became a brick the instant I upgraded the firmware to support Audible.com. I returned that and bought an iRiver Clix.
The Clix is nice- good interface, works well. The Audible.com upgrade didn't go too well (I had to use my wife's computer, because mine wouldn't recognize it) but I eventually got it. But instead of a 30+ Gig powerhouse with video, I ended up with a 2GB flash player. (Does video, but only 15fps)
I would have bought a Toshiba Gigabeat, or one of the new Sansa players, but they don't support Audible.com, and I need that.
Okay, last little bit of my rant here...I do NOT mind paying for content, doesn't bother me one bit. I would RATHER use Audible.com than BitTorrent because I think that artists and writers deserve to be paid for their work. But over the last year I have resorted to downloading at least a dozen books using BitTorrent because Audible.com sucks ass. Not only is the DRM a piece of crap, but the quality of the audio on their files blows.
Should I have gone with the Gigabeat and just used BitTorrent (yay UTorrent!) to get my audiobooks? Possibly...because I don't think that Audible.com deserves any money because they suck. But overall I would rather be guilt-free. But the day that there is a reasonable alternative to the big players (Apple/Audible) I will jump on it immediately. Really, when will they realize that their DRM only frustrates legitimate customers, and those who want to steal are going to do it anyway?
It is fairly easy on casual. I pretty much walked through it.
But now I am playing on Insane, and it is VERY tough. It is also a lot more fun. On Insane it ceases to be some crappy shooter, and turns into a very cool cover shooter.
I'd recommend that the guy who said he wanted simple installation and management does not want to learn the difference between the 3 MySQL management systems that were just mentioned.
Sometimes having choices just complicates things. He can install SQL Server and just tell the other person, "Here, use Enterprise Manager" without having to think about it.
Because if you own *any* other type of company, and you are wasting your time saving money by using a free database, (And from your message I infer that you are spending more time) then your company will never be successful.
As a person who has tasted both success and failure in business, I can tell you that running a business is not the same as having a hobby. If a business owner is doing things like screwing around with a database to save money, then you may not have a viable business.
Dead center on the first shot with a rifle isn't skill. It's luck.
Rifles need to be zeroed in for each person using it. Meaning that the sights will be different for everyone, based on how their eye sits relative to the sights.
Some weapons have fixed sights, which cannot be zeroed. In that case, you need to learn to make adjustments for the difference between the way your eyes sit relative to the sights. In this case you would just always think, 'okay, I need to aim a little bit down to the left'.
A worldclass marksman can pick up a rifle, aim, and really have no idea where the first round will hit.
But, the big difference comes in where the 2nd, 3rd, and all the subsequent rounds hit.
Were all of your shots dead center? Because the way to judge a good marksman is in consistency.
You're right. That is exactly why they do what they have been doing all along. It destroyed the Dreamcast, and they are hoping to do the same to the Xbox and Wii.
But this time it may have backfired. Or at least I hope it did.
Better yet, don't announce it until you can really make it.
Sony hasn't learned anything. They are not using a "it won't get to market until it is done" approach here because they are gentlemen.
What is happening, is that Sony is suffering from their long-time habit of announcing products that are FAR from being complete. In the past they have been able to produce the product (with features removed) for th launch date. But this time they've finally been bitten in the butt, and they just can't do it.
In my mind, Sony is the WORST of the 'announce it just to hurt your competitor' companies out there. Maybe this fiasco will get them to change their ways.
Really, would you pass up millions of dollars (never need to work again) just because you don't want 30 guys to cum on your face?
Wash it off...take a hot shower. Go on vacation for a month, and you'll pretty much forget the whole thing.
The only way to lose dignity is to decide you don't deserve it. Making a ton of money for doing something stupid does not mean you lose your dignity, it just means you made a wise business decision.
Every 1080p tv on the market ALSO has a VGA connection.
Microsoft is moving toward using the VGA connector as an answer to HDMI.
Also, the DRM (I am not an expert on these things, I am only giving anecdotal evidence here) that becomes part of 1080p over HDMI is not in place when using VGA.
It's not like she's new to the business, she seems to be one of the most prolific female game voices out there. I suppose that she is fairly knowledgeable about how the business works.
In my mind, 'games' are something we always take part in for an ulterior purpose. If you learn about what we consider to be primative cultures, their games for boys are always the same: "Let's play, 'fishing' or 'hunting' or 'fighting'"
The games are always there to simulate, and thus teach, what needs to be done in adulthood. And the better you do (score more points, beat the other guy, etc. etc.) is indicative of how well you would do later on in life.
If you are only doing it for 'fun', then you are like the monkey in the zoo- playing with himself all day, but never really getting anywhere.
Really, games that are only played for fun, and not competition, are just like watching a movie. It is a passive experience.
If by 'score' you mean 'achievements', then YES, every 360 game does have achievements.
And if you don't think that the battery situation is a big deal...then I'll sell you my MP3 player sitting next to me. It's a great player...too bad the built in battery will only hold a charge for 30 minutes.
Personally, I love the achievement system on the 360. I think it is one of the best things to happen to gaming for quite a while. And I am NOT in the 12-22 year old group. (38 if you want to know.)
If you have friends that play, then the achievement system is a great way to compare how you are doing. Every Monday morning, my co-workers and I can get on Xboxlive.com to see how we are doing. During the week, we can talk about how difficult different achievements were, etc. etc. It also encourages us to play the same games, at the same time, just for some achievement competition.
Remember, these are games. Most games are about competition. Adding in some 'official' way to track your progress is a good idea.
Otherwise it's like playing tennis with your sister...you aren't allowed to hit the ball hard, or even try to hit it away from her. "Let's just rally..." she says. After a while, that just isn't fun.
I play COD2 ranked games. The people I play against are usually pretty good, and nobody ever jumps on not knowing what they are doing. The number of people who drop is very low.
My friends on the other hand have the same experience you do- in COD2 ranked games they run into a bunch of morons, bad players, people who drop, etc. etc.
But- I have played a LOT more ranked COD2 matches than they have. So, theoretically, I have 'moved up in the rankings' while they are still playing with the scum. People who play enough to move up in rankings don't drop- they are serious about playing, so they stay on.
My guess is that you just haven't moved up far enough to get away from the riff-raff.
The only real difference between the games is that you don't SEE your ranking in COD2, but believe me- it is there, and it works. Keep playing, and you'll be amazed at the difference once you do move up.
Your comments are odd, and seem to be biased against Americans who are in the older age group for gamers. You seem to think that these people would have had unhappy childhoods.
People in that demographic would have grown up in the 1970's and 1980's. Those were two of the best decades to grow up in the U.S.
The people would have been young enough not to have dealt with the Vietnam war. The US was moving into an economic boom, things were IMPROVING. People are always happiest when things are getting better.
We had plenty to eat- yet obesity had not hit an epidemic. By this time we knew the Russkies were chumps, so we didn't stress about that. The problems in the middle east were finally hitting us (Tehran hostages) but Ronnie Regan fixed that mess
So I disagree with what you were trying to infer. Older gamers in the US did not generally have an unhappy childhood.
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Yes, it does support Audible, but it doesn't support wma files. As I said, I have years worth of WMA and WMV files. I don't want to convert them over, or run iTunes when I like Windows Media Player.
I'm a bigtime Microsoft fan. Yes, there are some out there, and I am one of them. (Xbox, 2 Xbox 360's, 3 XP machines, mice, etc. etc. etc.)
I *wanted* to buy a Zune, I really did. I wanted it to integrate in with everything else I own/run.
I was hot to do it until I found out that it didn't integrate in with Windows Media Player....WTF? I have years of files integrated into that player. Microsoft has been pushing it forever, and I went with it. I do like WMP- I think it's a pretty nice piece of software. In fact the only reason I never bought an iPod is because it won't integrate with WMP.
So when Microsoft came out with a player that didn't integrate with its core piece of media software, I thought that was a travesty. But, I was still willing to drink their Kool-Aid...until I found out they don't support Audible.com files.
It's amazing that a DRM infested piece of equipment like this doesn't support DRM infested Audible.com files. It seems like a match made in heaven (for them...) but somehow this failed to happen.
So, no Windows Media Player support...no Audible.com support. I just couldn't bring myself to buy one.
So instead I bought a Creative Zen MicroPhoto. Which became a brick the instant I upgraded the firmware to support Audible.com. I returned that and bought an iRiver Clix.
The Clix is nice- good interface, works well. The Audible.com upgrade didn't go too well (I had to use my wife's computer, because mine wouldn't recognize it) but I eventually got it. But instead of a 30+ Gig powerhouse with video, I ended up with a 2GB flash player. (Does video, but only 15fps)
I would have bought a Toshiba Gigabeat, or one of the new Sansa players, but they don't support Audible.com, and I need that.
Okay, last little bit of my rant here...I do NOT mind paying for content, doesn't bother me one bit. I would RATHER use Audible.com than BitTorrent because I think that artists and writers deserve to be paid for their work. But over the last year I have resorted to downloading at least a dozen books using BitTorrent because Audible.com sucks ass. Not only is the DRM a piece of crap, but the quality of the audio on their files blows.
Should I have gone with the Gigabeat and just used BitTorrent (yay UTorrent!) to get my audiobooks? Possibly...because I don't think that Audible.com deserves any money because they suck. But overall I would rather be guilt-free. But the day that there is a reasonable alternative to the big players (Apple/Audible) I will jump on it immediately. Really, when will they realize that their DRM only frustrates legitimate customers, and those who want to steal are going to do it anyway?
It is fairly easy on casual. I pretty much walked through it.
But now I am playing on Insane, and it is VERY tough. It is also a lot more fun. On Insane it ceases to be some crappy shooter, and turns into a very cool cover shooter.
I'd recommend that the guy who said he wanted simple installation and management does not want to learn the difference between the 3 MySQL management systems that were just mentioned.
Sometimes having choices just complicates things. He can install SQL Server and just tell the other person, "Here, use Enterprise Manager" without having to think about it.
I hope that your company is database related.
Because if you own *any* other type of company, and you are wasting your time saving money by using a free database, (And from your message I infer that you are spending more time) then your company will never be successful.
As a person who has tasted both success and failure in business, I can tell you that running a business is not the same as having a hobby. If a business owner is doing things like screwing around with a database to save money, then you may not have a viable business.
Spend your time building your business.
You're not using the Enterprise level definition of enterprise.
I don't know if Gears of War is fun to watch- but yes, it is awesome to play.
The co-op mode is the BEST co-op I have ever seen. Seamlessly slipping in and out of co-op/single is awesome.
Great to see a blog with nice pictures! Good job on all of them.
Dead center on the first shot with a rifle isn't skill. It's luck.
Rifles need to be zeroed in for each person using it. Meaning that the sights will be different for everyone, based on how their eye sits relative to the sights.
Some weapons have fixed sights, which cannot be zeroed. In that case, you need to learn to make adjustments for the difference between the way your eyes sit relative to the sights. In this case you would just always think, 'okay, I need to aim a little bit down to the left'.
A worldclass marksman can pick up a rifle, aim, and really have no idea where the first round will hit.
But, the big difference comes in where the 2nd, 3rd, and all the subsequent rounds hit.
Were all of your shots dead center? Because the way to judge a good marksman is in consistency.
Thank you, I agree 100%.
Move on...and don't be a music snob.
You're right. That is exactly why they do what they have been doing all along. It destroyed the Dreamcast, and they are hoping to do the same to the Xbox and Wii.
But this time it may have backfired. Or at least I hope it did.
Better yet, don't announce it until you can really make it.
Sony hasn't learned anything. They are not using a "it won't get to market until it is done" approach here because they are gentlemen.
What is happening, is that Sony is suffering from their long-time habit of announcing products that are FAR from being complete. In the past they have been able to produce the product (with features removed) for th launch date. But this time they've finally been bitten in the butt, and they just can't do it.
In my mind, Sony is the WORST of the 'announce it just to hurt your competitor' companies out there. Maybe this fiasco will get them to change their ways.
Why stop at 20X?
If you're making up numbers, you should go for something bigger, like 100X, or 1,000X. Or maybe even A Gajillion Times Faster.
I'd do all of that for the right amount of money.
Really, would you pass up millions of dollars (never need to work again) just because you don't want 30 guys to cum on your face?
Wash it off...take a hot shower. Go on vacation for a month, and you'll pretty much forget the whole thing.
The only way to lose dignity is to decide you don't deserve it. Making a ton of money for doing something stupid does not mean you lose your dignity, it just means you made a wise business decision.
Yes, 1080p is moving to HDMI.
Every 1080p tv on the market ALSO has a VGA connection.
Microsoft is moving toward using the VGA connector as an answer to HDMI.
Also, the DRM (I am not an expert on these things, I am only giving anecdotal evidence here) that becomes part of 1080p over HDMI is not in place when using VGA.
So- how do you get 1080p without DRM and HDMI?
VGA.
A lot of people here are basically saying that Microsoft ripped her off, like they took advantage of some young starving actress.
Take a look at what she HAS done:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_Taylor
or
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1071768/
It's not like she's new to the business, she seems to be one of the most prolific female game voices out there. I suppose that she is fairly knowledgeable about how the business works.
It depends on your way of thinking...
In my mind, 'games' are something we always take part in for an ulterior purpose. If you learn about what we consider to be primative cultures, their games for boys are always the same: "Let's play, 'fishing' or 'hunting' or 'fighting'"
The games are always there to simulate, and thus teach, what needs to be done in adulthood. And the better you do (score more points, beat the other guy, etc. etc.) is indicative of how well you would do later on in life.
If you are only doing it for 'fun', then you are like the monkey in the zoo- playing with himself all day, but never really getting anywhere.
Really, games that are only played for fun, and not competition, are just like watching a movie. It is a passive experience.
If by 'score' you mean 'achievements', then YES, every 360 game does have achievements.
And if you don't think that the battery situation is a big deal...then I'll sell you my MP3 player sitting next to me. It's a great player...too bad the built in battery will only hold a charge for 30 minutes.
Personally, I love the achievement system on the 360. I think it is one of the best things to happen to gaming for quite a while. And I am NOT in the 12-22 year old group. (38 if you want to know.)
If you have friends that play, then the achievement system is a great way to compare how you are doing. Every Monday morning, my co-workers and I can get on Xboxlive.com to see how we are doing. During the week, we can talk about how difficult different achievements were, etc. etc. It also encourages us to play the same games, at the same time, just for some achievement competition.
Remember, these are games. Most games are about competition. Adding in some 'official' way to track your progress is a good idea.
Otherwise it's like playing tennis with your sister...you aren't allowed to hit the ball hard, or even try to hit it away from her. "Let's just rally..." she says. After a while, that just isn't fun.
I'm not sure I agree with this...
I play COD2 ranked games. The people I play against are usually pretty good, and nobody ever jumps on not knowing what they are doing. The number of people who drop is very low.
My friends on the other hand have the same experience you do- in COD2 ranked games they run into a bunch of morons, bad players, people who drop, etc. etc.
But- I have played a LOT more ranked COD2 matches than they have. So, theoretically, I have 'moved up in the rankings' while they are still playing with the scum. People who play enough to move up in rankings don't drop- they are serious about playing, so they stay on.
My guess is that you just haven't moved up far enough to get away from the riff-raff.
The only real difference between the games is that you don't SEE your ranking in COD2, but believe me- it is there, and it works. Keep playing, and you'll be amazed at the difference once you do move up.
I actually wanted to post the same thing.
If you are going to use a phrase or word that is not in common usage, you should make sure you know what the heck you are talking about.
A moron who mangles low-brow English isn't a problem. When someone pretends to know what they are doing, they should try a little harder.
Original Xbox launch: November 15, 2001
Xbox 360 Launch: November 22, 2005
So, your statement of: "almost 3 and half years" is incorrect.
The difference is not big, but since you added in 'almost' it made it look like you were trying to exaggerate things even more.
Brute Force is EXACTLY what I think of everytime I see the Gears of War hype machine.
That game was hyped beyond all hype...at least for the time. (Now it would look like a soft launch) But the game blew.
I was sucked in...won't let that happen again.
Your comments are odd, and seem to be biased against Americans who are in the older age group for gamers. You seem to think that these people would have had unhappy childhoods.
People in that demographic would have grown up in the 1970's and 1980's. Those were two of the best decades to grow up in the U.S.
The people would have been young enough not to have dealt with the Vietnam war. The US was moving into an economic boom, things were IMPROVING. People are always happiest when things are getting better.
We had plenty to eat- yet obesity had not hit an epidemic.
By this time we knew the Russkies were chumps, so we didn't stress about that.
The problems in the middle east were finally hitting us (Tehran hostages) but Ronnie Regan fixed that mess
So I disagree with what you were trying to infer. Older gamers in the US did not generally have an unhappy childhood.
The article is written mainly about 3rd party software support.
The Gamecube fell WAY behind in 3rd party support. They did great with first party- but a lot of big games ignored the 'Cube.