2006
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Three stories I hope will go away in 2007
Soon 2006 will be but a memory in our collective. There were many highlights, and we'll be focusing on them soon enough, however I would like to take some time to point out a few stories that I hope I will no longer have to read about in 2007: The iPod phone, nee iPhone: This product hasn't been released, and there is a chance it will never be released, and I'm already sick of it. Will it have buttons, will it just be an iPod with wireless, will it run a light version of OS X? I'm sick of the speculation, and this will be the last I have to say about it until Apple announces it (or Macworld 2007 comes to a close, whichever happens first). Gimmicky Marketing: My Dream App, Mac App A Day, MacZot, and MacHeist all captured plenty of headlines this year. Some developers loved them, some developers hated them, and most Mac users were just happy to get cheap (or free) software. Let's just move on people, these sites are simple marketing tactics. There is nothing nefarious about them, nor is there anything particularly inventive about them. If you enjoy participating in them, continue to do them. If you dislike them with the red hot passion of a thousand suns, that's cool. Can everyone just please agree to stop chattering about them? Zune/Vista bashing: Microsoft bashing is something of a staple on the Mac web, but I tire of it. I have been using Vista as one of my primary OSes since Vista Enterprise became available, and you know what? I like it. Do I like it as much as OS X? No, but it is the best version of Windows I have ever used (a title previously held by Windows 2003). As for the Zune, I have yet to see one in person but I hope that it succeeds. Apple could use a strong rival in the MP3 player space, because competition fosters innovation. Let's face it, the iPod of today is pretty much the iPod of 2 years ago with a color screen and more storage. Let's see how Apple can crush the Zune with innovation.
NYU shows its stuff at the Winter 2006 ITP
When hordes of folks gather 'round to show off various forms of gadgetry or design-influenced niceties, we can't help but stare, and while we weren't able to attend NYU's Winter 2006 ITP show like we were last year (and the year before), we were there in spirit, and now we're bringing you the pics. While there's far too much to cover here, a few highlights included the solar (iPod-charging) bikini, which gave the fellas an excellent excuse to gander at such a fanciful article of clothing, the "Botanicallss" plant that lets you know when it needs some lovin', a 3D display known only as the "Orb," and a MIDI-enabled guitar pick. Of course, the LED-infused stones that lit up differently based on arrangement, child-proof rendition of the iRocker music chair, and the motion-activated lamps were all showstoppers as well. So if you're craving a glimpse into the hereafter, be sure to hit the links below to see just how bright (and zany) the not-so-distant future is.[Via MAKE]
Better than Nostradamus: PSP Fanboy's totally accurate 2006 predictions
This might creep you out. Or not. Back in January, Ed wrote up a list of five predictions he had for the PSP for the year 2006. How many did he get right? You may be surprised. Let's take a look:PSP Prediction #1: The UMD movie market will collapse. "It will continue to be priced too high and include the bare minimum in terms of value add (we should have predicted this for 2005)... Inventories will rise, prices will plummet and new content being delivered on the format will level off to something more sustainable by the market."Andrew comments: Ed hit this right on the head. UMDs were never priced the way they should've, and consumers responded. UMD continues Sony's line of producing unsuccessful media formats. Is Blu-Ray next?PSP Prediction #2: The PSP will take on some very specific colors. "Count on at least two new colors, including a hot-rod red and a camo green, possibly marketed with or around the likes of, oh, let's say Gran Turismo 4 and Metal Gear Solid."Andrew comments: While the US market continues to be ignored, Sony has released a number of colors in international markets. Scarily, like the camo green PSP... for Metal Gear Solid. However, to think Gran Turismo 4 would ever come out was silly!PSP Prediction #3: The PSP will allow you to access your PS3 from anywhere. "You'll be able to access PSP content content that is stored on your PS3's HDD (media, game saves, whatever) by accessing it via the PSP over a wifi Internet connection... You won't be streaming PS3 games or anything like that, but who needs memory sticks now?"Andrew comments: Wow. Great job predicting a feature months before its ever announced. Remote Play support does allow you to access your PS3's hard drive in almost the exact same way Ed mentioned. However, you won't be able to access it "from anywhere" until next year.PSP Prediction #4: The PSP will get a price drop and then some. "Yeah, this one is a bit of a no-brainer, but we wanted to get at least 1 out of 5 right. The PSP will certainly see a price drop this year (likely sometime in the Fall, but possibly at E3). We expect the drop to be in the $50 dollar range."Andrew comments: The "no-brainer" proves to be the only prediction to not come true. Sony shed $50 by going Core, but that isn't a price drop, persay. Ed predicted free goodies to be given away with every system, but Sony proves with its Entertainment Pack that it wants you to pay for bad pack-in UMD movies.PSP Prediction #5: Sony will completely botch PSP advertising in 06.Andrew comments: Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!How will PSP Fanboy fare with our 2007 predictions? You'll have to come back in a few weeks when we unveil them!
1UP Awards: PSP earns more nominations than DS
The PSP took a whopping 31 nominations this year in 1UP's annual "1UP Awards." The DS, on the other hand, only received 22. If you're a member of 1UP, now's the chance to rock the vote and show everyone that the PSP really does have an excellent library of games, no matter what Nintendo fanboys may say. Here are some of the categories the PSP is competing in:StrategyMetal Gear Acid 2Field CommanderShootingSyphon Filter: Dark MirrorSOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2Sports NFL Street 3 NCAA Football 07 Racing ATV Offroad Fury Pro ActionLEGO Star Wars IIMega Man: Powered UpMetal Gear Solid: Portable OpsKillzone: LiberationAdventureDaxterGrand theft Auto: Vice City StoriesFightingPower Stone CollectionWWE Smackdown vs. RawGuilty Gear JudgmentTekken: Dark ResurrectionStreet Fighter Alpha 3 MAXOnlineSOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2Puzzle (the PSP nearly swept this category!)Lumines IIEvery Extend ExtraMercury MeltdownExitGunpeyWTFLemmingsSimulationAce Combat X: Skies of DeceptionMost InnovativeLoco RocoMetal Gear Solid: Portable OpsGame of the YearGrand Theft Auto: Vice City StoriesMetal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Liveblogging the 2006 Video Game Awards [update 13]
We survived the yellow carpet (yellow? really?) and we're inside the show bringing you some hot, sexy liveblogging action. Awards drop on Spike TV next Wednesday, but get the goods here early. These prestigious awards are presided over by a huge team of monkeys, three junior kids, and the Duke Nukem Forever development team. We'll be bringing you the hard-hitting questions from the red carpet in a video over the weekend. For now just sit back and read the show, nullifying your need for TiVo.9:19: It's showtime, Sam Jackson comes out onstage and kicks some ass, killing Guitar Heroes left and right. No love for the music? Holy cow, he just dropped a big ol' f-bomb. He gets intro'ed onstage by Stewie, and we're off.9:21: Sam has his hands on PlayStation 4 -- it's high def, wireless, and his has a vagina. RequisiteWii-mote joke here: "Wii-off! Instead of game elbow, we got beat-off elbow." Nice.9:22: Sam riffs on Rockstar and wants to know where his hot coffee is. Heyooooo. "They got a game with two guys kissin? Damn, Rockstar takes controversy and gives it to you right up the ass!"9:24: Jokes about gamers having sex with hot girls. It goes over like a lead ballon. Speaking of balloons, check out the massive amount of L.A. chestage going on.9:25: 50 Cent intros the "Best Human Female in a Video Game in a sort of slurred "here's my drink" English. We'll have what he's having. It's unsure if he even knows what he's talking about.9:26: Vida Guerra takes it all home for her role in Scarface, and the jokes about introducing her to your little friend commence.9:35: Stewie whizzes all over Snakes on Plane, FTW. Sam Jackson ain't above hittin' a baby.9:36: Rachael Leigh Cook and Seth Green present the award for the Best Game Based on a TV Show of a Movie. But our audio is being trumped by Vida Guerra in the next room talking about winning. FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, GIVE US SOME JACKSON AND SHUSH UP OVER THERE! Someone won, but hey, these game developers all look a lot alike. We'll find out who and plug it in here later. We're sure you can't wait.9:40: Daniel Dae Kim ain't Lost, he's here introducing the World Premiere of some Bioshock action. This looks pretty darned familiar, Kim. Get back to your island.9:42: Mocap skit with balls. A chubby dude in a blue suit covered in giant balls plays "the bitch" in Saint's Row. Nice.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 trailer brings the noir
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 caught some attention at E3, but since the spring we haven't seen or heard much about this upcoming adventure title. A new trailer surfaced at Nintendo World, however -- a trailer that features some of the same footage as the E3 trailer, but with double the content as it's twice as long.Hotel Dusk is an adventure story, a mystery that follows ex-cop Kyle Hyde as he tries to track down a missing friend. The beautiful art style is what really pushes this one into the spotlight; the game looks like a graphic novel come to life, and the fact that the DS is held as a book during gameplay only emphasizes the unique style. If Hotel Dusk is as good as it looks, our beloved Phoenix Wright may have some competition at the top of the heap of DS adventure games.Check out the new trailer after the jump.
Like a Phoenix from the ashes: Nintendo World 2006
Okay, so it's not Space World, the legendary Nintendo-only event whose last appearance occurred in 2001. Nintendo's announcement of a new event, however, named Nintendo World 2006, certainly conjures fond memories. The event, which takes place over a mammoth ten-day period from November 3rd to the 12th (and again on November 25th and 26th), will feature hands-on playtime with the Wii and some of the hottest new DS titles. Best of all, it's open to the Japanese public, and completely free. Awesome.While it's unknown if Nintendo will be making any major announcements at the event, it's understood that they will, at the very least, announce more specific details of the Virtual Console service (read: launch titles) a bit closer to Wii Day. What better place to spring some good news on the unsuspecting Japanese?(The image is a personal favorite, from digital artist Greg Martin. Check more of his work here.)
TGS 06: More Metal Slug Anthology screens uncovered
I don't think I can ever get bored of Metal Slug's super expressive and detailed sprites dying ultra-violent deaths, and this year's Tokyo Game Show kicking off today, Gamespot has uncovered a cache of new screens for us all to drool over.Now, in case you don't already know, Metal Slug Anthology is a collection of six previous Metal Slug games. It is set to ship Nov. 7, 2006 and will support two-player wireless multi-player.God, I love this franchise and to think we get six games in one really gets me excited.(Via Gamespot)
Switched On: The gist on your wrist
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment: Watch maker Fossil was among the first companies to support MSN Direct, the smart objects technology first offered by Microsoft in a number of timepieces. Earlier this year, the company, through its Abacus brand, revisited the technology in its Abacus Smart Watch 2006. While the watch is still on the bulky side, it's slimmed down a bit and Fossil has used a sloping profile to minimize the watch's girth. In fact, the Abacus 2006 was no thicker than a workaday Seiko men's watch I purchased last year. Other improvements include more memory and the inclusion of a year of MSN Direct service. Abacus offers the watch with a metal band that nicely complements the watch's masculine design for $179, as well as a number of leather straps. Unlike nearly any other consumer product that includes Microsoft software, it has nary a trace of Microsoft branding. Like all of the MSN Direct watches, the 2006 Abacus uses FM radio technology to communicate updates to the device. After activating the timepiece, you choose content channels from a Microsoft Web site. The content has diversified considerably from when the watch was first launched, but it's still mostly focused on the basics, including a variety of different "faces" -- two of which I found attractive, three more of which were acceptable, and several of which were just hideous.
The real Leopard show-stopper? Developer goodies that weren't on stage
Reports are surfacing on the web that, while everything Apple showed on stage at WWDC 2006 was exciting and purty 'n all, the more exciting attractions are what wasn't shown on stage. AeroExperience, a Vista developer resource site (of all places), claims to have an exclusive list of many of the underlying changes, newly introduced APIs and other developer goodies that might simply not have been prime fodder for the news and PR spotlight session of the keynote.It's a pretty lengthy list, so here are some of the highlights for you cliffnote readers out there: Leopard will feature resolution-independent user interface and there are several functions to get the current scaling factor and apply it to pixel measurements (we've mentioned how cool this is before, and so has Mr. Gruber). Address Book adds support for sharing accounts, allowing an application to restrict content according to user (.Mac already does this, so I'm wondering if they mean some kind of framework or protocol is in place to open this up to something like WebDAV or simple FTP). Automator includes a new user interface and allows things such as action recording, workflow variables and embedding workflows in other applications. Time Machine has an API that allows developers to exclude unimportant files from a backup set which improves backup performance and reduces space needed for a backup (I was curious about how Time Machine would handle 'useless junk' types of files myself). Carbon, the set of APIs built upon Classic MacOS and used by most 3rd party high-profile Mac OS X applications, now allows Cocoa views to be embedded into the application. This could provide applications like Photoshop and Microsoft Office access to advanced functions previously only available to Cocoa applications. Text engine improvements include a systemwide grammar checking facility, smart quote support, automatic link detection and support for copying and pasting multiple selections. Mail stationery is open to developers, allowing any web designer to create fantastic-looking Mail templates, with defined areas for custom user content (bring on the stationary plugin packs!). A new framework is included for publishing and subscribing to RSS and Atom feeds, including complete RSS parsing and generation. Local feeds can be shared over Bonjour zero-configuration sharing and discovery (I suspected something like this; sounds like Safari and Mail.app might share the same RSS database, as can other apps, so users don't have to waste time exporting/importing between RSS apps). Check out the full list at AeroExperience for more of the potentially rocking Leopard features that Steve and company didn't show on stage.
Will Australia get the first look at Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard?
Tim Gaden (of Hawk Wings fame) has written an interesting article for his 'day job' column at APC Magazine about the possibility of our friends down under getting a first peek at Apple's forthcoming update to Mac OS X, 10.5 Leopard. Apparently, Apple has sent emails stating that they will be previewing the August WWDC during special seminars in Australian capitals during the month of June - nearly two months before the real WWDC takes the stage.If this is true, it would be great to hear real details of what Leopard is going to bring, as opposed to mere rumors of a re-built and Spotlight-dependent Finder, Windows virtualization and resolution independence. Here's hoping our Australian neighbors can't keep secrets very well.
Apple Expo 2006 registration now open
Apple Expo 2006, the Apple shindig in Paris, has started accepting registration. If you plan on being in Paris between September 12 - 16th you should check it out. I mean, there isn't that much to do in Paris anyway, so you might as well hang out with some other Macheads.Thanks, Nik.
Windows Vista delayed - again
I almost decided not to post this on the grounds that a lot of us probably won't be surprised, but then I figured it might still be good for a laugh.A friend passed me an article at CNET which reports that Vista has been delayed yet again to January 2007. Windows chief Jim Allchin explained that a few complications would force some PC vendors to wait until '07 to get their hands on the über-delayed upgrade to Microsoft's OS, while others could have it as soon as November 2006. As a result of this quirk, Microsoft ultimately decided to push the hold button again, kicking Vista's debut into January of 2007.Here's hoping Apple will capitalize on this latest roadblock in Vista's development. With Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) still slated to land this year, along with the recent announcements of a new chip from Intel and WWDC's move to August (perhaps for a Leopard release?), I wouldn't be surprised if 2006 turns into a fantastic year for Apple.[thanks to Damien for the pic]
Most of the televisions sold in 2006: HDTVs
Because there haven't been enough consumer studies released regarding HDTVs. Kagan Research is back with another high priced technology report and as usual, we're reporting on it.The big news here? For the first time ever, they expect high definition televisions to make up the majority of TV's sold ithis year. As prices continue to slide and programming continues to increase, more and more people replacing their existing televisions will pick up HDTVs. All this will add up to 20 million HDTVs sold this year, and 104 million by 2008. Broadcasters, electronics manufacturers, content producers, the consumers are out here waiting, just give us what we want, more HD content and more ways to view it. My rant is over for the day.
FPS lineup for 2006
Despite the wealth of first-person shooter titles on the market, there are several new releases lined up for 2006 with a lot of promise. The lineup ranges from MMOFPS Huxley to Matrix-esque time-bender TimeShift, and IGN takes a look in this article.Many of the titles are sequels or expansions to existing FPS franchises, either through the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" or the "milk it for all it's worth" schools of business. The article concludes with some titles that may, if we're extremely lucky, make it out this year. Duke Nukem Forever? Who are we kidding?[Thanks, bandersnatch]
Cringley's crystal ball
Robert X. Cringely wraps each year with a set of tech predictions for the year ahead. Last year he was a bit off his game, but that hasn't stopped him from taking a stab at what lies ahead for a variety of tech players in 2006. His top three predictions involve Apple and are intriguing to say the least. For instance, he sees a Terabyte of download capacity for .Mac users (for real this time), iMacs sporting huge plasma displays for screens, and major inroads against Microsoft and in the internet video arena. Check out The Pulpit for a full run down and chime in below with a few of your own predictions!
My first Macworld, Pre-show and Keynote
Having never been to a Macworld before, let alone San Francisco, I thought I'd let those of you who have never been here in on some first impressions. First off, San Francisco is quite an amazing town. The people have been fantastic, the food, the architecture, and so on. But this isn't a travel blog, it's a Mac blog. So let me tell you about this Macworld thing, seen through the eyes of a total MWSF n00b. And I want to thank everyone for sending in those comments and suggestions on things to do in the City (see, I got it). At least I never called it "frisco."My father, brother, and I travelled to San Francisco with one goal in mind: see the rock show that is the keynote. In fact, we are leaving today because my brother has to get back to his college classes before he gets in trouble. Since when did education mean not broadening your horizons? Oh well. Yes, we paid nearly $200 a person just to be at the real Macworld for a day. We're crazy like that. Luckily, since we got up at 4 a.m. and stood in line for a couple of hours, we did. But I'll talk about that in a moment.
iLounge announces their 2006 Best of Show recipients
The Macworld Expo wraps up on Friday, and the folks at iLounge have identified the stand-out products that make up their 2006 Best of Show list. They are, in no particular order: Altec Lansing inMotion iM9 Speakers Garageband 3 with Podcast Studio iPod Radio Remote Belkin TuneTalk Stereo (we covered the first version of the TuneTalk here) Better Energy Systems Tread Case for iPod nano (aka the company that makes Solio) Contour Design Showcase 5G El Gato EyeTV2 Television Recorder with Export to iPod Griffin TuneCenter Interactive Dock for iPod JBL On Time Speakers and Clock Radio Mophie Relo Case Series for iPod nano and 5G Scosche Bluetooth Car Kit for iPod Shure E500 Earphones XtremeMac Iconz Sport - NBA Series for iPod nano and 5G Congratulations, all! Check these products out if you're at MWSF.
Upcoming sex games: what's the point?
Ever-interesting weblog Terra Nova has a list of upcoming MMOs that fit into the "erotic" or "virtual sex" category, all scheduled for release this year. Including such titillating titles as Naughty America: The Game, and Spend the Night, the list leaves us in no doubt that 2006 will be a crucial year for the increasingly high-profile issue of sex in games. The most insightful piece of commentary on this marketplace yet is the most crucial question for these embryonic MMOs: as Terra Nova's Ren Reynolds asks, "What's the point?" All of these titles need to find some way to innovate on the current ways people integrate sex and romance into their online lives, and while they look to be trying for different niches--from online dating to gaming which keeps itself separate from real life--it'll be interesting to see how many survive, and what sort of clientele they attract along the way.
New Years Marathons INHD
The New Years day marathon has become a bit of a tradition, with my favorite always being all the Twilight Zone episodes on the SciFi channel. But today I've been switching back and forth between the Lions game and the two INHD channels.INHD1 is currently running all their "Fields of Glory" episodes where the explore different sports facilities and their history, great stuff. On INHD2 they're playing all-IMAX all day, from 8 this morning till 7 tomorrow morning. So far I've explored ice caverns at the North Pole, climbed sequoias in California, surfed, played w/ sea otters and rode along in an Indy car all from the comfort of my couch.
