Did iPad live up to the hype? Steve Jobs debuts Mac iPad tablet with iPhone OS
January 27, 2010 by vongsundara · 1 Comment
SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 27: Event guests play with the new Apple iPad during an Apple Special Event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts January 27, 2010 in San Francisco, California. CEO Steve Jobs and Apple Inc. introduced its latest creation, the iPad, a mobile tablet browsing device that is a cross between the iPhone and a MacBook laptop. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.
Apple has a habit of crashing the internet. At 1:00 p.m. today, January 27, many servers were overloaded and crashed from the volume of traffic looking for news on Apple’s big tablet unveiling. Apple’s product announcements have become big-time events. Their last major announcement, the iPhone, basically blew away the entire world with concepts that nobody could have even dreamed about, so the hype surrounding their tablet announcement had reached fever pitch. Ultimately, the unveiling was good but didn’t blow anyone away outside of its ridiculously low price. I suppose it was too much to ask to live up to the hype, though the iPhone did just that and then some.
Prior to the announcement, most people had predicted that the iPad would be like a bigger iPhone. I was hopeful that Apple would be able to dream up something better than a bigger iPhone. Unfortunately, I was kind of wrong. Now, I’m not giving Apple enough credit, because there is much more to the iPad, but the perception and word on the street will be that it’s just a bigger iPhone, and Apple will have no one to blame but itself. They even included the exact same home button.
Enough of that though; let’s move on to the positives. The biggest feature to jump out at me is the price point: $499 US dollars. This is the SAME PRICE as the top model of the iPhone. That is absolutely ridiculously low and places the iPad into impulse-purchase territory. Let me repeat that again: the iPad is the same price as an iPhone. Keeping that in mind, the other faults seem to almost disappear.
Instead of comparing the iPad to laptops, this pricepoint lets us compare the iPad to digital photo frames and the Kindle. The cost of the 10-inch LED premium Sony S-Frame is also $499, and that’s just for a digital photo frame. The iPad is also backlit by LED, which makes it at the very east a good digital photo frame. The Kindle has the same dimensions roughly, and the iPad makes the Kindle basically obsolete as a book reader.
SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 27: Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs demonstrates the new iPad as he speaks during an Apple Special Event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts January 27, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Apple introduced its latest creation, the iPad, a mobile tablet browsing device that is a cross between the iPhone and a MacBook laptop. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.
Now down to the bad points. Instead of using a modified Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the iPad instead runs on iPhone OS. I can see why Apple went this route, as this allows easy incorporation of iTunes and the App Store and 100 per cent compatibility with all 140,000 iPhone apps. I still disagree with this decision, however. The iPhone OS was not meant for such a large screen, and Apple should have taken some time to develop a hybrid Mac OS X and iPhone OS, which shouldn’t have been too out of the question as iPhone OS is already a modified Mac OS X. The Mac OS X dock would have made much more sense on a 10-inch screen than the spread out App icons of the iPhone OS.
Also, while it is indeed nice to have the ability to run 140,000 apps off the bat (with the option to zoom in 2X full-screen, blurry but still workable), Apple should have modified Mac OS X and added an App store. Heck, I’m surprised Apple hasn’t added an App store to Mac OS X already (they must be saving this for version 10.6).
Will I buy an iPad? The question isn’t if but when. I’ll probably wait until Apple updates the iPad to at least second generation. I would have bought first generation had the iPad been closer to what I wanted, but the price is just too undeniable.
SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 27: An event guest plays with the new Apple iPad during an Apple Special Event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts January 27, 2010 in San Francisco, California. CEO Steve Jobs and Apple Inc. introduced its latest creation, the iPad, a mobile tablet browsing device that is a cross between the iPhone and a MacBook laptop. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot the second BIG feature that Apple announced: 10 hours of battery life. That’s amazing for a 10-inch screen device (1024×768 resolution) and blows away the battery life of any laptop I’ve heard of.
Watching Sasha Cohen at the United States Nationals 2010 (Spokane, Washington, US)
January 23, 2010 by vongsundara · 2 Comments
SPOKANE, WA - JANUARY 21: Sasha Cohen waves to the crowd after the ladies short program at the US Figure Skating Championships at Spokane Arena on January 21, 2010 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.
I love love love Sasha Cohen. As I write this, I am watching the United States Nationals 2010 taking place in Spokane. Sasha has finished her warm-up and will be up with the next flight of skaters. I haven’t actually watched the U.S. Nationals since Sasha retired four years back, so it’s really great to have her back.
Being a Sasha Cohen fan hasn’t always been easy. Sasha has a history of faltering during her long program at major competitions. The unfortunate part is that most spectators have said that she runs through her programs flawlessly during practice and just can’t execute during competition. This is just too bad because otherwise Sasha may have gone down in history as the best figure skater ever.
Sasha’s artistry and non-jumping elements are, to me, the best from any skater ever. I enjoy watching Sasha’s exhibitions more than her actual programs because she can focus on the non-jumping elements. Her spirals are unmatched in the history of figure skating, and her musical interpretation is fabulous. Her spins have fabulous positioning and gorgeous silhouettes.
SPOKANE, WA - JANUARY 23: Sasha Cohen finishes her routine in the free skate during the US Figure Skating Championships at Spokane Arena on January 23, 2010 in Spokane, Washington. Flatt won ladies championship. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.
Oh . . . here she comes . . . the commercial break is over and they’re showing Sasha on the ice. I am literally holding my breath. Please, please, please keep it together girl.
Opening combination was shaky. I hope they don’t downgrade her to a flutz. Her second combination was also two-footed. But well, as long as she doesn’t fall. A third two-footed landing. Okay, a gorgeous salchow. Damn, I love her spirals. Her first spin, somewhat safe choice.
Down to the second half. Come on girl. Damn, a two-footed triple flip that ended in a fall. Okay, she did a nice clean double-axel. A semi-clean triple loop. Now comes the footwork sequence. Very, very nice. She finishes with her signature spin.
It definitely wasn’t a perfect performance, but considering it’s her first competition back, she did very well. No matter what happens, it is definitely nice to have her back.
Her final score was 174.28 for the competition and is now out of the running for the Olympics. It’s too bad because it would have been nice to have her in Vancouver 2010.
Okay, I’ve had a few minutes to reflect on this now. I have to admit that I am a little bit disappointed, but I am happy that Sasha Cohen decided to make the attempt. Sasha’s story at U.S. Nationals has kept me glued to the television that hasn’t happened in a while.
You’ll always be one of my heroes.
Watching George Clooney in Up in the Air at the movies had me thinking about life
January 22, 2010 by vongsundara · 1 Comment
Why oh why do people have to ruin movies for me? I went to go see Up in the Air yesterday, and it was actually quite a well done film. Unfortunately, the entire plot along with the ending had been spoiled for me by a random person I met at a friend’s party. After going on about how she hates people ruining movies, she then of course proceeded to tell us the entire plot and ending. I’m still bitter. Anyhow, on to the movie.
I’ll leave the plot synopsis to the Wiki entry and movie trailer you can find at the bottom of this review.
George Clooney’s character definitely had me thinking. I suppose that’s the power of movies; they sometimes take my mind to places it would otherwise not go and often have me examining the different aspects of my life. This movie had me examining my decisions around choosing to focus on my career and not making too many connections.
Like the lead character in Up in the Air, I could very well end up old and alone. I have dedicated almost all my time to my craft and couldn’t possibly see myself putting a relationship above my dreams. Heck, if I wanted to live for human connection, I wouldn’t have thrown that all away and moved to Toronto where I effectively know no one. Who knows, maybe the movie is right, but at least for the next few years, I am content to focus on work.
The plot was well thought out, and the actors turned in terrific performances, especially George Clooney in the last third of the movie when his character is beginning to go through some changes.
Overall, I’d recommend this movie to anyone. A movie that can make you think about your life is definitely worth watching.
Commenting on Conan O’Brien’s treatment by NBC and Jay Leno over The Tonight Show
January 20, 2010 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment
I love Conan O’Brien. There’s something about his style of comedy that has always appealed to me. He’s just so strange, so awkward, so ugly, and yet it all comes together in an amazing package. This is why the current situation with Conan O’Brien and NBC is so disheartening to me. This is the biggest network television screw-up since ABC drove Who Wants to be a Millionaire into the ground by over-saturating the airwaves.
First they announce that he’s going to be the new host of The Tonight Show five years in advance as a way to dangle a carrot in front of him so that he won’t leave NBC for greener pastures. Now that he’s done his time and waited the five years, they have completely messed up his transition to official host of The Tonight Show.
I began to grow concerned when I heard that Jay Leno was going to have a show in prime time that preceded The Tonight Show (and local news). Come on, NBC, if you’re that hardcore about Jay Leno then why did you let him off of The Tonight Show to begin with. This move completely undermined Conan’s rise to hosting duties of The Tonight Show, as it showed clearly whom NBC felt was their premiere late-night host.
Now NBC is saying that Conan’s ratings weren’t up to snuff? Well how could they be when NBC spent all their money promoting The Jay Leno Show while undermining The Tonight Show. Goodness sakes, give the dude a chance. Jay Leno and David Letterman are great at what they do, but Conan should have been given more of a chance to do what he does best.
His humour appeals to a different crowd, and I think he really could have had a successful run as The Tonight Show host. Now we’ll never know. Thanks a bunch, NBC. Way to take a great talent and screw him over.
Downtown living in Toronto reminds me a bit of Winnipeg life minus the crazy
January 18, 2010 by vongsundara · 2 Comments
I’m living in downtown Toronto now, my first time living downtown in any city ever. It’s quite the experience, I must admit.
The best part of living downtown is that I feel so close to everything. I can walk down to the Eaton Centre and go shopping, and there’s no shortage of great places to eat. I’m even starting to feel the health benefits, as it’s much easier to walk to where I need to go than to take transit or a cab.
There are definitely some interesting characters down here, though. It’s a bit different than the crazy people from Winnipeg. I think in Winnipeg you can only be so crazy, because there’s always the risk of getting shot or stabbed if you anger the wrong person. Here it’s like people are crazier because they don’t worry about the immediate consequences enough. People have just shouted absolute craziness at me which doesn’t happen a lot in Winnipeg (since in Winnipeg they wouldn’t know if I’m crazy enough to be carrying a weapon). Strangely, that extra layer of fear helps people to be nicer to each other.
The place I’m living in is quite nice; I definitely lucked out. The rent is insanely low for this area, and I’ve already painted the walls and am well on my way to fully decorating the place. Next up on the list is a new rug for the living room.
Drooling over actor Peter Krause from Six Feet Under, Dirty Sexy Money, Parenthood
January 18, 2010 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment
I have really random taste in men sometimes, as you’ll soon find out. That’s why I decided to start this new feature titled “Drooling” where I’ll be showcasing a different hottie in each post. First up on my list of hotties is Peter Krause, whom I first discovered during his days playing Nate on Six Feet Under. Yes, I know that Peter Krause is a fairly safe choice for my first hottie (the others will get more bizarre I promise).
Now, Six Feet Under was a great show regardless, but I must admit that it wouldn’t have been the same without dreamie Peter Krause. Throughout Six Feet Under’s five-year run, the directors were very generous in their use of Peter Krause’s gorgeously hot exposed chest.
My favourite Peter Krause moments came in season one when he was still a little bit rough-and-tumble scruffy. He definitely aged as the series went on and put on a few pounds but never lost his hottie factor.
Peter resurfaced on the short-lived ABC dramedy “Dirty Sexy Money.” The show itself was kind of bland, but at least Peter was there to anchor the hottie factor.
[flickr album=72157623237249100 num=30 size=Square]
-
Latest Posts
- July 26, 2010
Jonathan Thymius, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 26, 2010
Felipe Esparza, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 26, 2010
Tommy Johnagin, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 26, 2010
Myq Kaplan, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 26, 2010
Roy Wood Jr., Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 19, 2010
Mike DeStefano, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 19, 2010
James Adomian, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 19, 2010
Maronzio Vance, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 19, 2010
Laurie Kilmartin, Top 10 Finalist Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7 - July 12, 2010
Semi-Finalists Review, Last Comic Standing NBC 2010 Season 7
- July 26, 2010
Become A Fan On Facebook
Follow My Tweets On Twitter
Watch My Videos On YouTube
Browse My Photos On Flickr
