Today is the official release in Europe of the Playstation Portable by Sony. It happened much later than i.e. in the USA, but there’s always a positive point about receiving things later than being first. Overall, you receive a product that has been tested already by the large mass of consumers, and you might find important system and security updates already on the internet. Another big bonus for scheduling the product’s release later than in the USA is the by now easier accessibility to more co-branded products (games, dvds, tools, toys) relateed to the PSP.
But I don’t really understand the hype about the product since it’s just another console with nothing else but limitations. Of course it is portable, but the whole thing is small and just for the entertainment of one person. What about your friends – do all have to buy a PSP to enjoy themselves now, or will they rely on their old Playstation 2 or the X-Box?
Further, you need to have special disks for playing games and movies, and you end up buying a totally new consumer product line that simply binds you to the Sony company. Why spending money for music and movie disks if they’re not compatible with your home cinema entertainment system? Do you plan on watching a love movie on the PSP instead of snuggling with your beloved one? I don’t plan on using the PSP for moments of romance, hah!
The games itself are much more expensive than for the counter-products of Nintendo. On top of this, the fact that the display looks dirty by just touching it while playing – this kills every fun off. So where’s the logical sense to reason buying that product except the „I want that now“-factor? I see none to waste approx. 250 Euros for that gadget! I rather choose to play games on that large beamer in our living room ;)
I would only buy such a gadget if it would offer me a combination of a mobile phone, organizer and game console. Anything else is way off the scale for both technology-centered and usability-centered users.
[via Golem and again Golem Test]
Windows Vista: The Killer Application
WebI’m back from the beach, and just have to puke on the following question: What do you need to run the upcoming Windows Vista without facing the classic latency problems? Here’s the answer (rumor?) from Microsoft which probably outdates their official statement:
Since Vista is using 3D vector graphics to calculate the images and graphics on screen, it’s highly advisable to have a high-end machine.
I’ll stick to Windows XP for the near future, and then once I’ve done the Bachelor and actively work on my Master’s degree, I’ll consider buying a new high-end machine. But these requirements above are simply blowing my expenses. The most amazing discovery in concern of DVDs being played on Vistamachines is simply enough of kicking the users: You will probably need a new monitor to watch HDTV since the current systems won’t be truely supported anymore. This means a new stationary PC with a brand new monitor, or a brand new Laptop. On the other hand, I might think of confessing my soul to Apple for this treachery of Microsoft!
[via Teched and Golem]
The Intelligent Mouse
WebWhile using my stationary desktop PC, of course I rely on an optical cordless mouse. This morning I strumbled upon a new gadget from Logitech – the intelligent mouse MX610.
This mouse has an integrated microprocessor, and a bi-directional radio communication. The mouse can warn you about a low battery, new emails or instant messages, and the total of 10 buttons enable the user to specify any other functions if necessary. The Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse will be delivered this month for the price of 49.99 Euros. I believe that’s quite cheap for such a nice gadget. Now this new mouse, and either the Microsoft Keyboard or Optimus Keyboard will integrate my hands with that nifty technology.
Update: Further, the company announced another model, the V400, and by now I’m not sure anymore what to grab up. Either the gadget mouse from above, or the capable mouse which won’t have many problems with different surfaces. I’ve always experienced problems with surfaces, and I’ve been searching for a mouse that could handle it. We’ll see… ;)
[via Golem twice]
Google Pagerank: Down or Off
WebPerhaps its just me again, but I cannot determine the current Google PageRank for any website via their Toolbar service. Must be the morning and the lack of caffine, and my love-ramblings probably did the rest ;) And now after yesterday’s re-categorization, I don’t even know where to file this entry. For now, it’s in „Software“, but would „Alerts“ be more useful and userfriendly?
Update
Now its back alive. Am I too fast with these things? I should be more patient and at finally learn to wait five minutes for an internet service to get back online. But then, it is Google? I do believe they have reliable servers – unless the backbones in Germany had to deal with an intense load.
Live at the Chancelor Duel
Medien, PolitikGermany’s TV stations distribute the live-feed of the Chancelor Schröder and Candidate Merkel on the web. This is a must-see for anybody who’s being interested in the upcoming elections on September 18th. Until now, both politicians do not offer any useful solution to the problems from which the country is suffering. If at least one side would consider that they cannot undo the problems created by the Kohl Administration in the 90s, and if they would not try to argue with the failures of the other party to reason their legitimation for becoming the government, if and then – then we wouldn’t even have to worry about the stupidity of politics.
Update
The reforms of the taxes as suggested by the CDU seems to be worthless under the considerance of the most basic ideas of economics. They cannot finance their reforms, even if they plot their political and financial course to gain support from the rather non-intelligent voters. Surprisingly, Schroeder has given arguments which simply boost Merkel’s ideas off the paper.
Update – Livechat/Blog
Lautgeben offers a live-blog by using IRC…
Query: Loonatics
BlogkulturTo be honest, I don’t understand why Technorati’s Top Searches for the last hour contains the word „Loonatics“ – what is this all about? Are people just mad? Does the blogosphere evolve into nonsense? And do I have nothing else to do? Now I’m tagging that strange word on my own, and if that’s not going to be something special about the Looney Toons from Warner Bros., I don’t know anymore…
Update: Now I found it… it’s an upcoming show called Loonatics Unleashed. ;)
Best of the Blogs 2005: Competition Begins
BlogkulturThe Best of the Blogs competition for 2005 has now begun. Throughout the entire month (September), everybody may suggest your favorite or your own weblog for inclusion in this year’s contest. The categories to nominate weblogs include Best Weblog, Best Multimedia Blog, Best Podcasting Site, Specialprice Reporters Without Borders, and Best Journalistic Blog in different language categories. I’m on this track and have ego-submitted the MikeSchnoor.com… ;)
eBay’s 10th Anniversary
Social MediaI’ve always enjoyed the eBay-phenomenon, and have sometimes participated in digging up some nice deals. I was addicted to eBay in approximately 2002, but in the long run, I was able to get off that addiction to their service. Enjoy your 10th anniversary eBay!
International Hatred: USA vs. Germany
Medien, PolitikA few days ago, German Minister of the Environment Jürgen Tritten explained his harsh opinion on the rather delicate matter of the Hurricane Katrina in the Frankfurter Rundschau:
Now there’s a very interesting read: Not just the politicians, but the readers of the German magazine „Der Spiegel“ have send in their own letters in response to the articles by Der Spiegel including the statement of Trittin. Both Germany and the USA have very different opinions concerning the disaster and the reactions of the politicians. Read the point of view by the US-americans and continue on the counter-view from the Germans. I’m not going to add spice to that soup of false patriotism and propagandistic hatred. The people have suffered enough in New Orleans from that Hurricane, and they clearly don’t need to hear idiotic comments out of the blue. However, if anyone wishes, sure go and write something to Der Spiegel or drop a comment… in the end, Trittin’s comment was not so bold, but the populism by Spiegel kills the frame of international relationships on both political and economical levels.
Update:
As Hokey explained below, a major entry by Lautgeben creates an uproar in the germanspeaking blogosphere. I guess the lack of confidence from which Spiegel suffers each day is just expressed there at best – of course in German.
Technorati Downtime
BlogkulturSince I use this services as only one from Technorati, it was obvious I’d become disappointed for the lack of speed. However, this is not the only problem I’ve had with Technorati. I believe that certain sources that link to the MikeSchnoor.com are simply not included in their index while searching refering domains. While knowing they link to me which can be seen via my website statistic tool, and since they are actually included in Technorati’s cosmos, these sources should appear on the search for this site. Further, these sources sometimes appear in the keyword search and no in the cosmos search.
At least David Sivry offers to solve the latency problems by the end of September, but being honest – isn’t this too long? That’s on why Digg suffered some serious usage damage. Imagine all the loss of profit from Google Adsense… I hope Technorati won’t wait too long or they’ll loose many users to Mark Cuban’s IceRocket – which is not ice, but hot – that depends on how I use it.
Playstation Portable: A waste of your money
WebToday is the official release in Europe of the Playstation Portable by Sony. It happened much later than i.e. in the USA, but there’s always a positive point about receiving things later than being first. Overall, you receive a product that has been tested already by the large mass of consumers, and you might find important system and security updates already on the internet. Another big bonus for scheduling the product’s release later than in the USA is the by now easier accessibility to more co-branded products (games, dvds, tools, toys) relateed to the PSP.
But I don’t really understand the hype about the product since it’s just another console with nothing else but limitations. Of course it is portable, but the whole thing is small and just for the entertainment of one person. What about your friends – do all have to buy a PSP to enjoy themselves now, or will they rely on their old Playstation 2 or the X-Box?
Further, you need to have special disks for playing games and movies, and you end up buying a totally new consumer product line that simply binds you to the Sony company. Why spending money for music and movie disks if they’re not compatible with your home cinema entertainment system? Do you plan on watching a love movie on the PSP instead of snuggling with your beloved one? I don’t plan on using the PSP for moments of romance, hah!
The games itself are much more expensive than for the counter-products of Nintendo. On top of this, the fact that the display looks dirty by just touching it while playing – this kills every fun off. So where’s the logical sense to reason buying that product except the „I want that now“-factor? I see none to waste approx. 250 Euros for that gadget! I rather choose to play games on that large beamer in our living room ;)
I would only buy such a gadget if it would offer me a combination of a mobile phone, organizer and game console. Anything else is way off the scale for both technology-centered and usability-centered users.
[via Golem and again Golem Test]