I have noticed that every demo of the phone browser uses the NY Times site, which very nicely puts its stories in narrow columns on its page. This makes me wonder how well pages will look that have more normal, wide segments of text, especially in portrait mode, and especially with fixed width pages. Will we be doing a lot of horizontal finger scrolling to read such pages?
Eh, depends on the site. I have a Treo and one of the tricks I use is I go to a page using Google. Google, when browsing through a device like this, downloads the page, messes with the formatting a bit, then sends it down to the phone. Often it'll display just fine. That's how I browse Wikipedia from my phone. That site doesn't support PDA browsing very well but Google makes it work.
"That's probably because of how Apple changed the face of the music player industry by making them popular for the masses. The same is quite possible for smartphones."
In other words: Hype.
Overrated? Yeesh. Okay, fine, I'll break it down:
"That's probably because of how Apple changed the face of the music player industry by making them popular for the masses. The same is quite possible for smartphones."
I bolded the key word, here. Apple did well with the iPod, therefore they MIGHT do well with the iPhone. That is HYPE. It would be not-hype if the merits of the phone were being discussed, here. There's nothing wrong with saying "I like their other products, so I'm enthusastic about this one.", but let's not go overboard, here. Nobody's held one in their hot little hands, yet. It's all hypothetical until roughly the end of the month.
"That's probably because of how Apple changed the face of the music player industry by making them popular for the masses. The same is quite possible for smartphones."
"You apparently don't remember the time back in the early '90s when Nintendo wouldn't allow the release of Mortal Kombat on the SNES. And then it was finally released without blood or the gruesome fatalities. Back then, no one played Mortal Kombat for the fighting aspect: we wanted to see Sub-Zero rip someone's head off with the spine still attached!"
Interesting that you bring that up. MK caused such an uproar that Nintendo reversed that policy for MKII. The SNES ended up with the best version of it.
"I LIVE in the US and I've never understood this perspective either."
It's actually very easy to understand. Just ask a couple of questions:
How many high school seniors have fathered or mothered a child?
How many high school seniors have killed a person?
The thinking is along the lines of: "I remember what it was like when I was in school, and I don't want my child getting/causing pregnancy and ruining their life." The idea that they're going to go Columbine at a school is a distant thought.
It's not about the act, it's about the probability of it becoming a problem in the household. I don't personally subscribe to that line of thought, but it's not like half the country took a crazy pill or something.
"fishthegeek was likely refering to the fact that a dedicated GPS navigation device, such as TomTom* is going to be a better performer for any serious navigation devices than the system stuck in a multirole system such as a phone."
Amusingly, this is not necessarily true. The cell phone's 'multirole' function also includes a data connection to the internet. This gives it some interesting flexibility that a TomTom does not have, especially with regard to things like traffic updates or use with other applications. That's not to say that TomTom doesn't have its plus sides, but "better performer" is a judgement solely left up to the beholder.
"Seriously, if you are the sort of person that must rely on GPS and a four billion dollar infrastructure to get lunch you probably shouldn't be allowed in public unescorted anyway."
There's a difference between 'rely' and 'better convenience'. You'll be happier in life when you figure that out.
It's simple: Too much undeserved bullshit was flung MS's way. Those that know better fired back. The cycle was fed, both sides grew more extreme in their opinions. It's sort of like Star Wars, in a sense. Everybody was fine and happy nitpicking the special editions and discussing the missteps taken with the prequels until it turned into "George Lucas raped my childhood". That little extreme pushed the people that actually liked the prequels to fire back. Eventually it degenerated into "You're just a stupid fanboy".
I think it's less about underdog and more about who the underdog based on popular opinion is. It's something to think about before likening any particular company to super-villainy.
"Attitudes are changing this way, thankfully, and maybe one day the usa will 'get it'."
The USA already 'gets' it. It takes a while for the new cars to phase in. (300 mil population and all.) In the mean time, you can throw a rock in Los Angeles without hitting 5 Prius's.
"Don't you get tired of hearing how things are cleaner than a toilet seat?"
Yeah, long ago when I realized that the difference between a kitchen counter and a toilet seat is that a counter doesn't get wiped off by human ass meat 5 times a day.
I hear ya. Ever since I've started washing my hands, I've noticed there's an invisible force field that repels all liquids, cat hair, and crumbs from the keyboard. It's an amazing phenomenon that only Douglas Adams could describe in great detail.
Erm, yeah, I suppose it could be a advertising war. But in Nike's case, they're always making new products. Of course they're going to advertise those, despite their brand power.
"since when do software pirates care about watermarks if they can still copy the data just fine?"
If it is a mark of authenticity that is difficult to duplicate, it's easier for discriminating customers to skip. It's the same concept the gubment uses to make money difficult to counterfit.
Slashdot Mirror
Eh, depends on the site. I have a Treo and one of the tricks I use is I go to a page using Google. Google, when browsing through a device like this, downloads the page, messes with the formatting a bit, then sends it down to the phone. Often it'll display just fine. That's how I browse Wikipedia from my phone. That site doesn't support PDA browsing very well but Google makes it work.
"...rubbing my dick on pictures of bob saget, and i'm ready to explode real soon now, too." ... and the name of this show, The Aristocrats!
Rumor has it that it was the Master's Tardis leaving.
Overrated? Yeesh. Okay, fine, I'll break it down:
"That's probably because of how Apple changed the face of the music player industry by making them popular for the masses. The same is quite possible for smartphones."
I bolded the key word, here. Apple did well with the iPod, therefore they MIGHT do well with the iPhone. That is HYPE. It would be not-hype if the merits of the phone were being discussed, here. There's nothing wrong with saying "I like their other products, so I'm enthusastic about this one.", but let's not go overboard, here. Nobody's held one in their hot little hands, yet. It's all hypothetical until roughly the end of the month.
"That's probably because of how Apple changed the face of the music player industry by making them popular for the masses. The same is quite possible for smartphones."
In other words: Hype.
"You apparently don't remember the time back in the early '90s when Nintendo wouldn't allow the release of Mortal Kombat on the SNES. And then it was finally released without blood or the gruesome fatalities. Back then, no one played Mortal Kombat for the fighting aspect: we wanted to see Sub-Zero rip someone's head off with the spine still attached!"
Interesting that you bring that up. MK caused such an uproar that Nintendo reversed that policy for MKII. The SNES ended up with the best version of it.
"I'm not going to put directly on Slashdot the name and phone number of a real person."
Ah yes, the best way to hide personal information from Slashdot. Put it in an article!
"I wouldn't say you were especially quick either."
... said the guy that wrote a rebuttal to something I didn't say.
"Dude. Have you SEEN who our President is? Do you remember the election results?"
Yeah. I also remember the shitty list of candidates we had. I wouldn't be so quick to judge. That election just plain sucked.
"I LIVE in the US and I've never understood this perspective either."
It's actually very easy to understand. Just ask a couple of questions:
How many high school seniors have fathered or mothered a child?
How many high school seniors have killed a person?
The thinking is along the lines of: "I remember what it was like when I was in school, and I don't want my child getting/causing pregnancy and ruining their life." The idea that they're going to go Columbine at a school is a distant thought.
It's not about the act, it's about the probability of it becoming a problem in the household. I don't personally subscribe to that line of thought, but it's not like half the country took a crazy pill or something.
"Is there any reason why Rockstar can't just distribute the game via Steam or something like this?"
Yes. This is the Wii, not the PC version.
"You obviously don't get around much ;)"
Boy that's the truth. I live in Los Angeles and I need a GPS to find the road that leads out of it!
"fishthegeek was likely refering to the fact that a dedicated GPS navigation device, such as TomTom* is going to be a better performer for any serious navigation devices than the system stuck in a multirole system such as a phone."
Amusingly, this is not necessarily true. The cell phone's 'multirole' function also includes a data connection to the internet. This gives it some interesting flexibility that a TomTom does not have, especially with regard to things like traffic updates or use with other applications. That's not to say that TomTom doesn't have its plus sides, but "better performer" is a judgement solely left up to the beholder.
"Seriously, if you are the sort of person that must rely on GPS and a four billion dollar infrastructure to get lunch you probably shouldn't be allowed in public unescorted anyway."
There's a difference between 'rely' and 'better convenience'. You'll be happier in life when you figure that out.
"But how do you explain the M$ fanboys?"
It's simple: Too much undeserved bullshit was flung MS's way. Those that know better fired back. The cycle was fed, both sides grew more extreme in their opinions. It's sort of like Star Wars, in a sense. Everybody was fine and happy nitpicking the special editions and discussing the missteps taken with the prequels until it turned into "George Lucas raped my childhood". That little extreme pushed the people that actually liked the prequels to fire back. Eventually it degenerated into "You're just a stupid fanboy".
I think it's less about underdog and more about who the underdog based on popular opinion is. It's something to think about before likening any particular company to super-villainy.
"Because we all know the President Bush tells the truth and would never mislead us."
Right, so piling on more mistruths is totally justified. I feel full of insight, now.
"That sounds like an awesome pick-up line. Mind if I use it some time?"
The great thing about that pick-up line is you won't be burdened with figuring out how to explain that to your kids.
"Attitudes are changing this way, thankfully, and maybe one day the usa will 'get it'."
The USA already 'gets' it. It takes a while for the new cars to phase in. (300 mil population and all.) In the mean time, you can throw a rock in Los Angeles without hitting 5 Prius's.
"Don't you get tired of hearing how things are cleaner than a toilet seat?"
Yeah, long ago when I realized that the difference between a kitchen counter and a toilet seat is that a counter doesn't get wiped off by human ass meat 5 times a day.
"Wash you damn hands!"
The 'simple solution!' trick to earn positive moderation only works if your simple solution actually addresses the problem at hand.
"I just wash my hands regularly."
I hear ya. Ever since I've started washing my hands, I've noticed there's an invisible force field that repels all liquids, cat hair, and crumbs from the keyboard. It's an amazing phenomenon that only Douglas Adams could describe in great detail.
Erm, yeah, I suppose it could be a advertising war. But in Nike's case, they're always making new products. Of course they're going to advertise those, despite their brand power.
"If you were on the jury and the victim had beaten the thief to death... would you convict? I'm not sure I would."
Over theft?
"since when do software pirates care about watermarks if they can still copy the data just fine?"
If it is a mark of authenticity that is difficult to duplicate, it's easier for discriminating customers to skip. It's the same concept the gubment uses to make money difficult to counterfit.
.. the planet is defended by 5 lions.