Andrew Busey: My Musings

So daylight savings happened.  My Q (with Windows Mobile) didn’t handle it… even though I had done the update (see previous post).  I did the update again after verifying I was running Windows Mobile 5.  It seems to have worked this time around, which is weird.  Anyway, I think someone needs to test this stuff a little more. 

So I’ve been using Vista for something like four days now.  In general I am really starting to like it.  It definitely takes a while to get used to somethings… like the back arrow to go back to the higher folder rather than the up arrow.

Some minor things seem to either not quite work or to have changed so dramatically that I can’t get them to work they way I want.  Some programs seem to behave a little badly, like Quicktime seems to take over everything in IE now even when I tell it not to and the only way I can get it to let go is to uninstall it.  Which of course breaks iTunes…  So that’s irritating.

Also when I switch from a full screen application (like World of Warcraft) back to the desktop it has some glitchy refresh thing going on.  Given that my video card has 768mb I won’t accept that this is a hardware problem.  Maybe I need more new video card drivers… which frankly I’m a little afraid to install (if they exist, I haven’t checked).

So I like Vista now that it is working, except for some minor things.  My hellacious experience with the install process sucked and I would warn people about that.  But now that I have it going I like it.  I think the UI is definitely a lot better and certainly cooler and more aesthetically appealing.

As I begin to use Office 2007 apps I’ll post my thoughts on them.

This is an interesting article on Crapware from Ars Machina.

I’d probably pay $40-$50 to keep all the crap of a new computer I buy.  Frankly if I wasn’t worried about breaking something with the drivers I’d do a fresh install as soon as I got the computer.  I wonder if the OS CDs come with the crapware on them, never tried that.  Anyway, it’s a waste of an hour or two deleting all the crap that comes pre-installed - even just getting it out of the start menu. 

I’m a gadget guy.  I like to have all the shiny new stuff.  I’ll admit to being skeptical about an Apple phone though.  I’m really not interested in a phone that plays music….  I mean I have an iPod (that I use on planes and in my car) and I listen to iTunes on my computer, but I’m not into it on my phone.  Partially because of battery life issues.  Anyway, personal bias aside, I think the Apple iPhone (or whatever it ends up being called after the being sued by Cisco) looks really cool.  I like the interface and that it does all the things a smart phone does and seems to make browsing better. 

I have a Motorola Q now, for which I was forced to switch to Verizon.  I guess in June I will be forced to switch to Cingular to get the iPhone.  That sucks, because after some of the issues I’ve had in the past with Southwestern Bell (subsequently SBC, then AT&T, and now subsuming Cingular too) I swore never to give them another dime.  I’m going to rationalize it by pretending Apple gets all the money.

Also of note, was the Apple TV (originally called iTV).  I ordered one.  I’ll post a review when I get it.  It looks like it could be cool.  And I’d be glad to see DVDs (and this whole stupid debate between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray) disappear just like CDs did.

Kudos to Apple for again releasing really cool products!

I’ve noticed now at dinner, having drinks, etc., that if someone checks their Blackberry (or other smartphone) everyone else is almost compelled to do so as well.  It’s like a yawn - once one person yawns everyone else almost can’t resist yawning themselves.   

From Time:   5 Things That Went From Buzz to Bust

PS3 Coverage:

TO PLAY’S THE THING

The big story in computer games this year was HOW TO BLOW A HUGE LEAD, by Sony. Its PlayStation 2 was the champ in the last round of the console wars. This time Sony bet on a chip called the Cell and a disc format called Blu-ray. They’re probably awesome, but how would anybody know? The PS3 is hideously expensive–it goes for up to $600–and Sony manufactured only a piddling few hundred thousand for the U.S., fewer for Japan. Plus it’s hard to write games for; the launch titles were lame. You know you’re in trouble when you get beat by something called a Wii.

It is interesting to see the backlash.  I am really curious to see how this turns out.  If one of the Halo games comes out about the time the PS3 supply loosens up that could be ugly for Sony.  I’m also curious to see if they break down and release a non-Blu-Ray PS3 (if they even can, I’m not sure if the PS3 game discs are Blu-Ray).

Another related article from Time:  Sony’s Playstation 3 is Not Worth the Hype

Anyway, I’m just the messenger and I’ll continue to keep you informed.

From CNN:  Attorney argues FCC rules on profanity unfair

Favorite quote:

In an unusual move for a federal court, the judges allowed C-Span cameras to broadcast the hearing, which led Judge Peter W. Hall to ask Eric D. Miller, the lawyer for the government, whether a news broadcast on the case would draw FCC scrutiny.

Too funny.  Society’s view of profanity and what’s acceptable is changing faster than the law (and I guess the politicians) can keep up with.  This case relates to the 2002 and 2003 Billboard Music Awards - and it’s just now getting to court!  Speedy.  Anyway, I thought this was interesting and plays to my people are too easily offended theme.

I’m not sure why anyone will care about what I have to say.  Except, perhaps, for the occasional person looking for start-up advice, info on games and movies, or that wants to follow the projects I’m currently working on.  Maybe one day one of these projects will take off and become really cool.  Until then, well, you’ll just have to pretend to be interested.  Unless you really are, in which case I’m glad.

 So, you ask, what are the projects?

 This is a perfectly reasonable question and I will introduce them all in due time.  Until then, I’ll mention briefly and in a totally obscure and worthless fashion that one of them is called Oxygen Games.  So hey, it’s a game company.  It’s, as is typical of whacky start-ups, in stealth mode.  So, I can’t talk much about it right now.  But soon enough!

Note:  This is not the first post on the blog anymore, I went and grabbed my favorite posts (which I thought might still be marginally insightful) and posted them here with their original timestamps.