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Switched On: Baby steps toward intelligent apparel
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment: For years, futurists have considered a world in which nearly everything one touches or even wears is intelligent and connected. With such a vision in mind, it's easy to poke small holes – eyelets, if you will – around the Nike-Apple "iPed" system announced last week; neither company jumps into partnerships very often. The system that the hardware and footwear giants trotted out works with only one form factor of iPod, albeit Apple's most popular and one that is well-suited to running.The dock-connector receiver that picks up the sensor's signal protrudes from the nano and may cause problems for some carrying cases. In addition, the NikePlus online service, while slick, has no integration with dotMac, Apple's set of online services that have been a sleeper story since all the online excitement around the iTunes Music Store surfaced. And, finally, the "PowerSong" feature sounds like the kind of device that has magically reinvigorates cartoons, like spinach for Popeye, clapping for Tinkerbell or breakups for Nick Lachey. Indeed, the partnership will probably do little to move the needle of Apple's iPod market share in the short run. Most runners who have been in the market for an MP3 player probably purchased an iPod anyway, and competition for real-time data tracking as it exists in Garmin's Forerunner GPS watch is a relatively small market for now.While the partnership will translate into more differentiation for Nike (I can see the rise of the show-modders now, cutting holes in their Dr. Scholl's to order to accept the Sports Pack transmitter), both companies suggest that these are the early days of a longer-term collaboration. Perhaps the next component will be a power fork. Dip it into a serving of mashed potatoes and it signals your iPod to play the verse of Old McDonald that describes an oink-oink here and an oink-oink there.
Bob Ross game contest
Announced on the first day of E3 week, we feel absolutely ashamed that we neglected to bring this wonderful bit of news to you. Turns out 6 lucky winners will have the chance to showcase their art in the upcoming Bob Ross video game. Guidelines, for the moment, are: Only landscape paintings completed using the Bob Ross Wet-on-Wet Technique ® will be accepted. Submission must be the entrant's own original work (using the instructions from Bob's books and DVDs is encouraged) Entrants will be required to assign all copyrights for their submitted work to Bob Ross Interactive LLC, AGFRAG Entertainment Group and Bob Ross Incorporated. Entrants will be required to authorize use of their name, brief biographical information and images for publicity and publication to Bob Ross Interactive LLC, AGFRAG Entertainment Group and Bob Ross Incorporated. A more comprehensive set of guidelines is due to be posted in June.[Thanks AssemblyLineHuman!]
Switched On: TiVo should be on Google's wish list
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:In late 2004, a popular and provocative Flash animation of a exhibit from the fictional "Museum of Media History" described a news blog fantasy of 2014. Google, following a merger with Amazon to form Googlezon, defeats The New York Times in a landmark Supreme Court copyright battle, and creates the Evolving Personalized Information Construct, a Microsoft-trumping mashup of its various news, blogging, and storage sites and TiVo. Yes, TiVo. Don't you remember that Googlezon bought TiVo in 2004? Where have you been for the past two years? Reality? How the Googlezon of 2014 uses TiVo is not made apparent in this fictional history of media, but how the Google of 2006 could use such a company is becoming more clear, particularly since its rival Yahoo purchased the assets of Meedio. Meedio was one of a handful of Windows software companies, along with SageTV and SnapStream, that created software similar to Microsoft Windows' Media Center interface. SnapStream, in fact, was so far out in front of Microsoft that the operating system company showcased the software at the debut of Windows XP as an innovative use of the platform. This, however, has not discouraged Yahoo, which is now giving away Meedio's software as part of Yahoo! Go, a bid to have the lifestyle Web site's brand, aggregated content, and services available through desktop widgets (following Yahoo!'s purchase of Konfabulator last year), cell phones, and now apparently television.
Switched On: Reaching beyond retro
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:I've already grown to like the name, but mostly negative reaction has greeted Nintendo's offical moniker for the console formerly code-named Revolution. "Wii" is certainly Nintendo's highest-concept name ever for a console. Apart from a fair amount of mispronunciation that Nintendo concedes the system will receive, though (I heard someone ask today if it's called "W2," and nothing says "fun" like an IRS form), the literal name of this game is not the figurative one.A year ago, I commented on the Big Three console companies' efforts to court the casual gamer. Microsoft, for example, continues to tout initiatives such as Xbox Live Arcade as a way of bringing new (or maybe old) gamers into the fold. Microsoft cites the high conversion rates for the addictive Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved – a frenetic cross between Asteroids and Robotron -- as evidence that casual gaming has a home on the testosterone-siphoned Xbox 360.However, while Microsoft touts the high adoption rate of Xbox Live as evidence that the Xbox 360 is bringing in new family members playng casual games, it concedes that such games are attracting other family members after its high-powered retail software has opened the front door for the 360. On the other hand, while it may not be expanding the gamer audience, Xbox Live's easily, if slowly available, game demo downloads embody the mixture of quick pickup and advanced graphics I advocated a year ago, and the company's commitment to work with independent developers announced yesterday will be a shot in the arm for this genre-worn industry.Nintendo has been hammering home that Wii's name is consistent with its "virtual console" backward compatibility and controller design that will broaden its appeal beyond the core console fanboy. After all, "GameCube," while uninspiring, could not have been more descriptive, and that didn't help Nintendo escape a distant third place in the home console market even with a lower priced offering.
AGFRAG interview on Bob Ross game
The Nintendo Gal got ahold of Joseph Hatcher, owner of development house AGFRAG, and put him through a gauntlet of questions aimed at getting more information on the Bob Ross game that is destined to hit the Wii, DS, and PC. The interview doesn't exactly drop any huge bits of news pertaining to the title, but Joseph does confirm that the nunchuck attachment is not used in the game. Regardless, it's still a nice brisk read that sheds some light on where the idea came from and what Joseph hopes to accomplish with this title.
Switched On: Pandora's Box (Part 2)
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:Last week's column discussed Slim Devices' elegant Squeezebox hardware, its versatile but complex server software, and SqueezeNetwork, the companion online service through which the hardware accesses the Pandora music recommendation service. Pandora is considered by some to be a "Web 2.0" site -- the blanket term we're all aware of referring to a startup that generates more RSS than revenue.But Pandora's recommendation engine is the best I've tried. Unlike many others, it doesn't rely directly on the purchase behavior or music ownership of other people, be they friends or fellow customers. Rather, it leverages data from the Music Genome Project, a collaboration begun in 2000 to classify music via its attributes. In fact, some criticize Pandora for being "too good" at matching a song's style, and while there is a case that Pandora should include a control for how strictly it should match a given song or artist, users can at least create up to 100 different channels and diversify them by adding names of songs or artists to the mix.Pandora can offer a depth of detail as to which musical attributes it chose when recommending a song. However, it doesn't seem to account for at least some important factors, such as the qualities of a singer's voice. Pandora offers a free tier of service, but access via SqueezeNetwork requires a subscription, which costs between $3 and $4 per month. The low subscription price is worth it for at least a few months, but Pandora needs to greatly expand its catalog to keep subscribers interested. Fortunately, Squeezebox owners get a three-month trial of the premium service, a $12 value.
Switched On: Pandora's Box (Part 1)
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a weekly column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:Slim Devices' Squeezebox and Roku's SoundBridge series are the two best products in the point-to-point digital media receiver market for music. Unlike the AirTunes functionality in Apple's AirPort Express, both products allow you to navigate libraries at the point of listening and neither requires you to turn on your television to hear music as multimedia offerings from a number of other companies. Operating over standard Ethernet or WiFi networks, the third-generation Squeezebox surpasses the sleek industrial design that marked the company's freshman effort, and retains the line's reputation for excellent sound quality when used with capable speakers. The bright vacuum fluorescent display that has long characterized the device illuminates a surprisingly effective and intuitive interface, although the dearth of navigation cues in its two-line presentation can sometimes result in disorientation.The minimalist appearance of the Squeezebox is actually a facade for a complex array of options. It's actually a client for two content sources -- SlimServer, the browser-accessible open-source server that can run on Linux, Mac OS X or Windows XP, and SqueezeNetwork, a set of Web-based content options. Much of the device's versatility can be chalked up to these sources. SlimServer, for example, has a plug-in architecture that allows the use of iTunes libraries, graphical screensavers, an alarm clock, and what may be the least fun Tetris clone ever created. It also has a large number of arcane configuration options for the advanced user.
Revolution support list
Over at Joystiq, blogger Ross Miller strives to keep you updated on all the pertinent information regarding official third-party support for the Revolution. Ross, not one to half-ass it, goes on to explain the respective company's ties with the Nintendo of old and summarizes all that is currently known regarding the project. It's really a worthwhile read and a trusty bookmark as it will be updated with new information as it surfaces.
Switched On: Boot Camp - The Miffing Manual
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a weekly column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:"All right! Listen up, maggot! Welcome to Fort Dragg. I am your Commanding Microsoft Office-er Sgt. Pepper! How do you like that for trademark infringement, Apple Corps? I bet you came here today because you wanted to serve your computer company by beta testing Boot Camp? Well, let me tell you something. It ain't gonna be easy, you puke!"Over the next 50 minutes, I will become your father, your mother, your Apple Specialist, your third-tier tech support person, and your best friend! Your heart may belong to Apple but your butt belongs to me! Your precious vendor won't support other operating systems, so you better be quicker than a FireWire 800 port, because if you ain't, you just may blow your disk up with your laser mouse."You come here as a sack of rotting apples unfit to touch a scroll ball! But I will tear down your hard drive into partitions until you cry. You will feel the burn like a driver CD. You will break like compatibility with classic Mac applications. Your identity will be so far gone that Spotlight won't be able to find it. Remember, there is no Windows ME in 'team.' If you can reset your system clock, you will leave with a time-killing, dual-booting, PC game-running machine! Do you hear me!?""Sir! Yes, sir!"
Bob Ross painting on the Revolution?! [Update 1]
Either the April Fool's jokes are starting early this year or the Gaming Gods have smiled greatly upon us Nintendo-loving gamers. Go Nintendo links to a press release on the official Bob Ross (R.I.P.) website stating a game based on Bob Ross' teachings is to hit the Revolution. Supposedly in collaboration with development house AGFRAG, the game aims to "utilize the unique inputs that the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Revolution have that can truly immerse the players while they learn to paint like Bob Ross and can play the addictive and fun games that we have planned for the title. " So not only can we expect some tutorial-based gameplay, but some minigames as well? Cruel joke or miraculous blessing? [Update: It's truth! Looks like RawmeatCowboy got an email from AGFRAG confirming that the game is indeed headed to the Revolution and DS. Rock! Thanks Adam Blinkinsop!] [Via Go Nintendo]
Switched On: The contractor and the architect
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a weekly column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:
