Black Friday Starts Now!

Many retailers are getting a jump on the holiday deals this year.  Take a look at what Amazon is throwing our way early.

>>>> Black Friday deals <<<< They are here and ready to take all our money. Games, Gadgets, and Gizmos Galore!

Lightning Deals (will be gone very soon):
Current Video Games on Sale: God of War: Collection (PS3) $10, Halo Reach (Xbox 360) $30, Fable III (Xbox 360) $30

The deals are expected to continue through November 27. Then, of course, there’s always the weekend and Cyber Monday.  Lot’s of time to spend lot’s of money.

Black Friday Deals Abound

Don’t stand in line after your Thanksgiving meal. Instead, take a quick nap, park your butt at your desk and fire up www.MyGGGo.com. I’ll be highlighting some kick ass deals that you will not want to miss.

First off, Amazon is starting Black Friday deals early, on November 22. THIS MONDAY!

The deals are expected to continue through November 27. Then, of course, there’s always the weekend and Cyber Monday.  Lot’s of time to spend lot’s of money.

Here’s something to start you grabbing your wallet. How about a 40″ 1080p LCD TV for $399.99 (38% off regular price). This is an Amazon Deal of the Day. Will go fast.

Getting into the Mobile App Dev arena

It’s been a while since I dove into a programming gig. Some of you may know that one of my alter ego’s is JavaDevelop (@JavaDevelop on Twitter) and www.JavaDevelop.com. Don’t waste your time visiting that website since it will only bring you back here. I started my programming days in the late 1990′s with LotusScript on Domino/Notes applications (well actually the 1980′s if you count me playing with Basic on an Atari 1200XL).  Then progressed into the web world with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS; and finally went into the middle-tier of Java, and SQL database work. Around the late-2000′s I got bored and took a programming break.

Now, as my interest in mobile technology is increasing, I’m getting my programming skills sharpened and focusing first on iPhone development. This is a very new space for me, since iPhone development takes place on a Mac (I’m a Windows purist), and is written in a language called Objective-C, which is heavily based on the C programming language (see my background above to identify the discrepancy). That said, my iPhone skills are getting sharper each day, and I have some projects to work on (which I will announce at a future date).

I may also work on apps for the other devices, including Android, Palm, and BlackBerry. Though, that would take me in a very different technical direction, so don’t expect it soon.

To keep up with my mobile development activities, for now you can follow me @JavaDevelop on Twitter.  Sometime in the future, I will revive the website with all that I’m working on.

If you have any app suggestions with the platform you’d like to see an app on, let me know.  Maybe I will take community suggestions for future direction.

Kinect, The Great Fail of 2010

This post will likely seal my fate of ever working for Microsoft or Harmonix. With that, here’s goes my prediction of Kinect, the great fail of 2010. Though, there will be hope of its redemption in 2011.

Microsoft’s next gaming evolution for Xbox 360 is Kinect. As we all know, that’s the camera-based controller that puts you in the game. Kinect will be available for purchase this Fall for $150 stand-alone or $300 packaged with a new Xbox 360S (4BG hard drive & Kinect Adventures game).

Journalists and gamers have now had a few rare opportunities to try out Kinect; at E3, GamesCon, PAX Prime, select Macy’s and Gamestop locations. The people touting that its a really good peripheral for Xbox 360 are either Xbox loyalists or those who have played Dance Central (that’s Harmonix’ new dancing game). Dance Central is an evolution of Dance Dance Revolution, where gameplay is generally fun and precision isn’t always necessary to have the game score properly. Remember that you aren’t dodging, ducking, shooting or jumping from bad guys in it. It’s the kind of game that works and works well with Kinect.

If you listen to people who have played other games, such as DecaSports Paintball, the calibration has to be set several times, the gameplay is generally not fun, and precision is inaccurate. Here lies a big problem. Gamers are going to expect some action/adventure in their games, and if the precision isn’t there (like in the original Wii controllers), gamers are not going to play games much with it. Don’t take my word for it, listen to Alexander Sliwinski and Dave Hinkle of the Xbox 360 Joystiq Fancast.

As recent as last week (PAX Prime), Kinect developers were telling gamers that the Kinect software they were using at PAX was not the final version. I think that’s crazy to know the final build is not yet on the Kinect just a couple weeks away from launch. In one respect, it scares me that there are still glitches being ironed out. On the other hand, it gives hope that calibration and precision may be fixed by software patches.

Other than Dance Central, there is the use of Kinect for navigating menus on the Xbox Dashboard, Netflix, and other similar applications. This is another area where Kinect works well, and can be a great add-on for Xbox users. Though, a great (and I mean great) dance game and dashboard navigator is not going to get anyone (other than loyalists) to pay $150 for Kinect, plus $50 for Dance Central. Would you pay $200 to add a really cool dance game to your Xbox library?

Kinect will not sell well for the 2010 holiday season. You might hear some big buzz as it launches, but when the dust settles, it will be a flop. I expect for every 3 out of 4 Kinect purchases, Dance Central will also be purchased. As for all the other Kinect games, they will sell as well as 3rd party Wii games (aka not sell).

There is a potential saving grace for Kinect though. Remember, the navigation system is very good and there is one solid game available at launch. The saving grace is Microsoft reducing the price of Kinect by 2/3, yes to $50. Fortunately, Microsoft is already selling Kinect games for the same price as Wii games, which makes the games a compelling price point. Would you consider a $50 peripheral to allow you hands-free dashboard navigation, with some limited gaming capability? I might. What about trying out some sub-par hands-free games for a price lower than the typical Xbox 360 game retail price. I might go for that also. To get Kinect and Dance Central for $100, I could see that as compelling. Though, until the Kinect pricing drops by 2/3, this new evolution for Xbox will flounder and ultimately fail.

BlackBerry Bold 9000, Too Clicky & Other Shortcomings

I have used the BlackBerry Bold 9000 as my primary all-in-one converged phone/media device for 18 months. It’s about time I put this device in its place. Let’s get into the issues: keyboard, no touch screen, Gmail integration, limited internal/application memory, and more.

Don’t get me wrong, as longtime user of smartphones, the Bold 9000 has some excellent features, but I’m going to be the grumpy old man today. Remember, my smartphone history is: PalmOne Treo 650 (Verizon), Palm Treo 700p (Verizon), BlackBerry Storm 9530 (Verizon), iPhone 3G (AT&T), and of course Bold 9000 (AT&T).

Keyboard: This keyboard first is just too wide for me. The width needs to be trimmed down a smidge. My former Treo devices had the perfect spacing of keys making typing a breeze. With the Bold 9000, my thumbs need to travel further than necessary. “Click, click, click”, says my keyboard as I type. These keys are ridiculously loud. Just try to type on this thing when you are in a meeting without disturbing everyone in the room; or worse, try checking your email while sitting on a public loo. The guy in the stall next to you is bound to count your clicky keystrokes.

Lack of Touch Screen: There’s not much to say about this. It’s 2010, get with it. Granted, the phone came out in 2008, but still, combined hardware keyboard and touch screen smartphones (Palm OS, Windows Mobile) have been around since 2005. What’s taking RIM so long to get touch screen phones, with a physical keyboard on it? Yes, we can now get our hands on the BlackBerry Torch 9800, but it astounds me that the flagship BlackBerry devices of 2008 and 2009 did not have touch.

Gmail Integration: Gmail has 26 million user accounts. Presumably, many of them are using BlackBerry to read/send Gmail. So, how is it that the BlackBerry operating system still does not support 2-way synchronization? If I archive a Gmail message on the Bold, it will automatically archive when displayed on the PC’s web browser. Though, if I archive a Gmail message on the PC’s web browser, the BlackBerry OS is not smart enough to automatically sync. In fact, there’s no way to force a synchronization, which requires me to archive the same message twice.

Also, if using the BlackBerry’s integrated “Desktop” email client, it displays messages from all integrated email accounts; Exchange, Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, etc. Though, when using Desktop to display messages, there are none of the expected Gmail features, like Archive and Add Star. If you want to use the Gmail features, you have to leave the Desktop and open the Gmail icon to get those features. Simply, it’s a poor and inefficient implementation of Gmail integration and support.

Application Memory: This device has a whopping 128MB of memory reserved for the OS, installed applications, and running applications. What this means is if you install more than 10 apps, get ready to run out of memory and have the phone lock-up forcing a reboot. Also, if you have more than three 3rd party apps running simultaneously, same story…out of memory, forced to reboot. Even though there is 1GB of on-board storage and up-to 16GB of microSD storage, you are still limited to 128MB for all apps. That’s just crap.

Media Playlist Syncing: If you have playlists on the computer in Windows Media Player (WMP) or iTunes, the playlists will only sync to the Bold with the PC installation of the BlackBerry Media Sync application. If you were to use the native WMP or iTunes syncing; music, video, and photos will sync, but no playlists. Stupid, just stupid that RIM cannot use the WMP or iTunes API to get playlists to sync.

On a good note, that’s about all I can complain about. The Media app is sub-par to iPod or PocketTunes (Palm OS), but it’s usable. The screen resolution is great. The phone, speaker, Bluetooth, and other features are great…but this is my Debbie Downer rant.

BlackBerry Desktop 6.0 – First Impression

Today, I got the push from RIM for BlackBerry Desktop Manager to be upgraded.  This post will talk about the upgrade process and my first impressions of this software that I’m likely to never use.

Let’s start with the install. It all began with Windows 7 prompting me with a BlackBerry icon in my system tray. Clicking on the link brought up the BlackBerry Automatic Update dialog. Being a “bleeding edge” tech guy, I grabbed a screen shot and clicked “Install”.

The install was seamless and painless. Basically, sit back and watch. I may suggest grabbing a cup of coffee, as the install took my system about 5 minutes to complete the installation.

The first bit of interesting change, no longer do we call this BlackBerry Desktop Manager.  Now, it’s BlackBerry Desktop Software. I wonder how much time in R&D was spent on that change.

The actual layout of Desktop Software is considerably different from the 5.0 version. You now get a navigation pane on the left side, versus icons covering the entire app. What’s great about this change is, you always have visibility into all your navigation opportunities at all times.  Previously, once you clicked an icon, you’d be brought into a completely new screen, with no visibility back to your previous options. Also, take a look what is in the new navigation area, “Media Sync”.  For the first time, it looks like we will get a decent integrated media sync application.  I will explore this in much more detail.

Initially upon connecting my BlackBerry (Bold 9000) to my Windows 7 computer via USB, Desktop Software did not recognize it. The initial startup screen, “Connect your BlackBerry device”, remained.

After a minute, my USB port recognized the BlackBerry and so did Desktop Software.  It recognized it in the home screen, followed immediately by a pop-up about adding a new BlackBerry device, following immediately by another pop-up screen about discovered music on my device. Having all this automatic discovery is nice and all, though maybe they could have let me complete one activity before bringing up the next pop-up window.

The media sync capability appears to be better than what existed in the past.  I will explore it further and see if it compares at all to using iTunes or Windows Media Player for syncing. As of recently, the only reason I have been using BlackBerry media sync is to get my Windows Media Player (WMP) playlists on my Bold.  Using WMP to sync, only brings over the songs, not the playlists. It’s odd, because with the BlackBerry Storm, it would sync playlists with WMP.

For now, my first impression is overall positive.  The left navigation gives the user a way to easily get back to home or any other place within Desktop Software. The integrated media sync is a great add, plus the media sync screens have a new look to them, giving a sign that RIM is trying to get serious in the multi-media space. Plus, the ability to adjust the size of Desktop Software is a great add.

Be sure to check out Craig Johnston’s book, “My BlackBerry Curve” at Amazon. Why? He’s on the CrackBerry Podcast, and knows his stuff.

Slacker Radio: Now with ABC News

Slacker announced months ago, that with an update coming in 2010 there would be new features and stations added to the streaming radio service. One of those, was the unique addition of ABC News audio feeds.

Months have gone by, and all the new mentioned features have come true; like new clients for BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android with wireless syncing. The ABC News feature has gone unanswered…

…until today.

I opened up my favorite streaming music application in Firefox, to see an advertisement on screen for “ABC NEWS ON SLACKER RADIO!” I clicked the link, and am currently listening away to ABC News feeds. This is definitely a nice addition to the 100+ canned music stations, plus the unlimited number of custom stations, like our own custom Rock Band station.

Later on, I will experiment with trying the new station on my BlackBerry Slacker app. Plus, I will try to make a custom station with both music and news feeds.  Should be interesting.

I’ve seen satellite radio articles bashing the new offering by Slacker. Though, I’m going to give this a solid test drive and report back before making any judgment.

You can check out Slacker Radio in your web browser or smartphone by visiting www.slacker.com.

Closer Look at XBOX Slim Hardware

Short video showing off the sleek new look, via Gametrailers.

XBOX Slimmer and 100% RROD-Proof!

Exactly as Shawn posted earlier in the week, Microsoft has confirmed the existence of the XBOX Slim, featuring a smaller casing, optimized internals, and a ton of extra features, the least of which is  a surprising ‘fix’ to the infamous Red-Ring-Of-Death problem.  From the spec sheets:

Old 360 vs New 360

(image via Joystiq)

There are quite a few bonuses in the Slim.  Aesthetically, it takes up less space on your desk or tv stand so it is easier to hide.  If you prefer to show off your nerd factor, it’s nice on the eyes too – only available in glossy black with chrome accenting. There are 2 additional USB ports, which is nice because those are always in short supply during Rock Band parties.  A 250 GB standard internal hard drive, 1080p HD, 802.11-N internal wi-fi, and lower power consumption all are welcomed new features.  Additional new features are a Kinect port and let’s not forget about TOSLINK.

A minor concern of mine is that there is no memory unit slot, however, it’s possible that the recent USB-hard drive enhancements to the console have eliminated the need for a MU.   Moving your profile from XBOX to XBOX is far easier with the MU in my experience.  I suspect that they have done this to try to eliminate Gamerscore cheating and hacking, as the MUs are notoriously known for.

Finally they have eliminated the Red-Ring-Of-Death completely from the console! Actually they have only removed the red LEDs from the rings, which is in itself probably one of the greatest fixes of all time. Can’t exactly call it the RROD any more can we?

The Slim is available any minute now at Amazon.

Rock Band Stage Kit – Review

If you read my earlier post, you already know that I picked up the Rock Band Stage Kit on a whim (and on the cheap). Now, based on popular demand, it’s time to let you in on my first and thorough impressions of this add-on for Xbox 360 and Rock Band.

Yes, it works with Lego Rock Band!

WHAT IS IT:

The Rock Band Stage Kit is an add-on light and fog system for Xbox 360 and Rock Band games. It’s made by PDP, a peripheral manufacturer for video games and other toys. As far as Rock Band goes, you know PDP as the makers of drum silencers, pedals, and other gear. The RB Stage Kit was released in the holiday season of 2008, with some excitement from the die hard RB community, but little external marketing.

What it does, is shines colored LED lights (red, blue, yellow, red, orange, and green) in specific patterns to the music of Rock Band songs.  The actual “authoring” (as the cool kids call it) of a song in a Rock Band venue determines which lights and which pattern will display during a song. On top of the LED’s, there is also a strobe light/fog machine, which is also activated by the venue authoring of a Rock Band song.

This thing works automatically.  As a user, you plug the Fog Machine into an AC outlet, add some fog juice (more on that later), connect the fog machine to the LED/controller via an included cable, and plug the LED/controller to your Xbox 360 with a permanently connected USB cable. Other than turning on the two power buttons on the back of the fog machine (one for light power, one for fog power), that’s all you have to do to use this system. Setup is a breeze.

From there, play Rock Band like you’d normally play, and enjoy what I like to call a 3-Dimensional Rock Band Experience. Fog, strobe lights, colored patterns of lights really gives the illusion that you are on the stage in the game.

WHAT COMES IN THE BOX:

• Fog Machine (water based) / Strobe Light, with built in AC power cord.
• Fog Juice (1 quart, small bottle)
• LED/Xbox 360 Controller
• Connector cable
• Funnel for Fog Juice
• Manual

WHERE TO BUY IT (on the cheap):

This was released during the 2008 holiday season for $99.99. I do not believe it was a huge seller, due to lack of marketing, it basically being a peripheral with no actual added-value to the game, and the price being too high.  Now, the Stage Kit is being discontinued by some retailers, while others are still stocking it.  I have seen price ranges from $99.99  to as low as $19.99.

GameStop – $19.99, discontinued but still available in some stores. Call and check before you go. Not available online.
BestBuy – $24.99, discontinued but I saw many in the BestBuy I visited this weekend. Call and check before you go. Not available online.
Amazon – $79.99, free shipping. In stock online.
WalMart – $97.63, In stock online.

You can get extra 3rd party fog juice at Guitar Center, which the Rock Band forums are saying is cheaper and gets even better results. I haven’t tried it yet, but will soon, for $24.99.

WHAT GAMES DOES IT WORK WITH:

This works with most, but not all Rock Band games. It does not work with any Guitar Hero or Lips games.  I’ve confirmed that it works with Rock Band 1, Rock Band 2, Rock Band AC/DC Track Pack, and Lego: Rock Band.  It does not work with The Beatles: Rock Band and does not work with the demo of Green Day: Rock Band.

WHAT IS MY TAKE ON IT:

I would have never bought it for the retail price of $99.99.  But at the sub-$30 mark, it pays for itself at your first party.  The LED light are bright and do a great patterned effect on your walls and ceilings. The strobe light, surprisingly comes on at only the perfect spots. The smoke machine is awesome.  Though, the fog juice that comes with the Stage Kit will fog up your room in less than one song, to the point where you won’t be able to see the TV after 3 songs.  People have watered down the fog to get a lesser effect. Others, like me, just turn the fog off after 2 songs, while leaving the lights on.

One thing to note, if you have four players, the light controller must act as one of your Xbox 360 controllers.  This means the singer will have to use the light controller to make their selections.  This is only true if you have 4 players.  If you have 3 or less, the singer can user a standard Xbox 360 controller, as you’d expect.

Now that I have it, every time I fire up Rock Band 2 or Lego: Rock Band, I always turn on the Stage Kit (excluding the fogger). I save the fog juice for parties, but use the lights daily.  It truly makes for an immersive experience. I do hope thay Harmonix continues to support this for Rock Band 3, as it would be a shame to end support for this great 3rd party add-on.