Tag Archives: gadget

Feb 26 2009
2 Comments
Technology

New Kit

I was particularly interested in the Nikon 18-55mm VR lens, primarily as a way to shoot indoors without having to resort to flash.  It was either that lens, or continue to move myself closer and farther away to compose my shots.

Not that I mind, if I’m doing a dedicated shoot, I move around a lot because I’m using my 50mm 1.8. I’ve also picked a location that will allow me to to move around my subjects.

It’s just that indoors that’s not always practical.  I figure it will be a good walking around lens which will allow me some composition versatility.  Additionally, the VR, or vibration reduction component will allow me some leeway indoors where the lighting isn’t always perfect.

VR’s pretty interesting technology.

I was worried that the Ritz Camera applying for Chapter 11 was going to impact my order.  Thankfully I just got the shipping notice.  Now all that remains is waiting for the lens to arrive.  I got a great price, less than one quarter the cost of the new model 16-85mm VRII lens.

I’m now stalking the package via the internet.  Maybe it’ll get here tomorrow, and I can play with it on Saturday.

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Feb 20 2009
1 Comment
Games

Fighting! On the Street!

First things first.  I have the opening theme for Street Fighter IV stuck in my head.  It has the infectious poppy feel of both a boy band and a teen idol earworm, and I’m kind of stuck with it.  The menu has it looping around and I tonight I found myself starting up the game and then making dinner.  While I kept the music on, I just wanted to dance.

I know.

But, back to the game.  There is a feeling of coming back home, while also finding out that while you were gone, some incredible remodeling took place.  The new Street Fighter IV is a 3d fighter with a true 2d feel.  It just feels like street fighter, but with this fantastic aesthetic with some great special effects.  The collision detection for the fighting is great, and I never feel like an attack should have hit when it didn’t.  Soul Calibur and its sequels had that issue sometimes.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great 3d fighter.

There’s just something about coming back to a two dimensional fight plane.  Continue reading →

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Feb 18 2009
Games

Total number of DS units: 3, no wait, 4

The Nintendo DSi is something I’m very interested in.  Not only is it another Nintendo Handheld DS, bringing my total to ridiculous, but it brings an app store to the table, something I think that would work very well on the DS.

It does work very well for the PSP, but there needs to be more on offer.

Like the entire catalog of PSP games, for starters.

But back to the DSi.  It’s quite different from the two other iterations of the DS.  It’s thinner, for starters.  There’s also a new OS.  The two screens are larger now by a quarter inch each.  Two VGA cameras, one on the hinge and one on the outer face now adorn the case.  These have been used for a photo manipulations application on the Japanese model, but if they’ll be utilized for games in the future is anyone’s guess.  WiFi capabilities (hello WPA) have been enhanced, or rather brought up to date.  An SD card slot has been added, which is how I’m assuming the app store will work.  I guess Nintendo learned their lesson from the Wii.

Dear Nintendo:  Don’t offer an application store if your device does not have sufficient storage to handle more than 35 apps.   I’m just saying.

Backwards compatibility for GameBoy Advance games, is gone.  So those other two models aren’t quite obsolete just yet.  It’s not that they took it out per se, but they did remove the GBA slot, so it’s more of a physical limitation than the hardware is incapable of it.  I’m not going to miss it.

That’s wha the GBA Micro is for.

The system firmware can finally be upgraded, which can be both a blessing and a curse.  Patching is something I really don’t need in my handheld gaming, but seeing as how the previous DS only supports WEP encryption for WiFi, I’ll take the ability to update firmware over none.

The DSi is scheduled to be stateside on April 5th, in black and blue models, for $170.  I’ll post something once I get my hands on one.

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Feb 09 2009
2 Comments
Technology

Kindle 2: Electric Boogaloo

So far, based on the initial reviews of the Kindle 2, I would rate my enthusiasm a rousing, “Meh.”

I’m not sure what I think about the Kindle 2, since Amazon isn’t likely to send me a review unit anytime soon.  I do think that the cost of entry is high, at least for me.  There are some good things, such as USB charging, that have been added, but nothing else seems to make me want to open up my wallet and order it. Without a review unit, it’s hard for me to say, I’m all for whispernet and the cloud without seeing how they work in practice.  I’ve read that the mobile versions of websites do work with the experimental browser included in Kindle 1, but again, not something I’m going to count down the days until I have saved enough money to buy it.  I mean a mobile version of wordpress would be great, possibly twitter.  I’ve read that these apps do work, but then again, it’s impossible to say whether or not they work well.

For me, knowing that these websites work would be a major bullet point for me.

Until I see a unit live, somewhere, and test it out, it’s buying something sight unseen. I mean, I can walk into a sony store and check out their reader.  It’s pretty cool, and I’d consider one, but I have yet to see the Kindle so I’m waiting.

And I’m an early adopter.  If they can’t sell it to me, they’ve got issues, although I guess they don’t have any issues because they’re back ordered and no one is even getting a Kindle 1.  In fact, Kindle 1 preorders that have yet to be fulfilled are getting “upgraded” to the Kindle 2.  Crazy.

I will say this:  If they get the price to around $250, I am there.

Until then, I’ll listen to podcasts on the iPod and wait patiently for a generous price drop or the Kindle 3: Revolution.

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Feb 02 2009
Uncategorized

Assistance Required

“In all seriousness, I’m waiting for you to bring that up to the counter, and the register girl to take one look at it, at you,  and then shake her head, ‘No’ and then slide it back across the counter.”

He scrutinizes the chart on the back of the box.  I’m relieved when a salesman finally approaches us.

“Do you gentlemen need help?”

“Yes,”  I say and point at Homer.  “This man needs lots and lots of help.  Preferably yours.”

Twenty seconds earlier.

“So, what do you think?”  He says, holding up the plastic container.  “Large?  I mean, the chart on the back seems to indicate that I’m right on the border.”  He points to the location on the chart.

“I think,” I say, taking a step back.  “That this is a very personal decision that every man needs to make on his own.  Or get your wife involved.”

Thirty seconds earlier.

“Seriously, I think I may need a codpiece for the costume this year.”

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