Its Just a Really , Really Big iPod
By: Brad Globe
I am talking of course about the newest "innovation" that Apple is currently pitching to the market. The "iPad" is not the newest tampon design, however that would have been more useful than the actual product in mind.
The iPad, overwhelms the front page of apple.ca and the claims of it being "magic" and "revolutionary" seem to indicate a new step in innovation. Upon watching the keynote, Steve Jobs makes the claim that it (the iPad) is "between a laptop and a internet phone". Or something like that. It doesn't really matter though because it doesn't do anything a laptop can't do and it makes for a pretty cumbersom phone. And did Jobs stress the fact that is "really thin"? you bet. Only this time he had it in a case, not a cheap 10 cent buisiness envelope like he did with the Apple Air keynote. Even the website is peppered with this phrase. Frankly, thats the only thing it has going for it.
Let's go through what the iPad can offer us. Phil Schiller, Senior VP Worldwide Marketing makes the claims that the iPad offers "the best"
1) Websurfing experience
2) Email experience
3) Photo experience
4) Movie Watching experience and
5) "Its going to change the way we do the things we do everyday"
Um okay Phil, sure. And adding "experience" after every ability it can do doesn't make it sound any better.
So far the iPod touch/iPhone can do all of this, and really well too. Except the movie watching. But heck who is going to lug a giant iPad around just in case they feel like watching Dark Night? (Because we were all waiting to be able to watch movies whenever we want).
One of the features of this device is that it "easily views webpages". Both the keynote as well as the iPad video, both available on apple.ca use "The New York Times" as the sample webpage. This is not a coincidence. The reason why is that the text is easy to read and there are lots of pretty pictures to zoom in to. But there is another reason. No Flash. Thats right, this $500 giant iPod Touch can't even read flash player applications. You can see this in the keynote speech, when Jobs sits on the couch and starts using the web browsing application. But what you can't see is the sweat that comes off his brow when he realizes that he just lost me as a customer.
Another disadvantage is that this device relies on existing wireless networks for internet service. You cannot just open it up and expect to be able to surf the web. You need a router. If you want 3G access, there will be another model shipping out a little later than the wifi release (thats just like apple though isn't it). You'll probably need a subscription for that though. And it will cost more too. There is not price yet on the website for 3G, but expect to pay around $600 minimum.
The only thing worth mentioning is that there are some flash drive inputs on the bottom of the device. That would be somewhat useful, except a laptop can do the same thing. It's available in 16, 32 and 64 Gigs and the battery lasts for 10hrs (although im guessing thats just standby time ).
If you have a laptop and you were thinking of replacing it already, this might be for you. But if you don't have a laptop and never really reeded one, you dont need this.
After watching the keynote and the iPad video for this article, I still don't see how this is revolutionary, let alone "magic". At a base price of $500, its just a really really big iPod Touch. By the way did I mention its .5 inches thin!!!!
VoV TradeCentre '10
by: Marc Valeri
NHL
TRADES & SIGNINGS
- PHX has traded F Petteri Nokelainen to ANA for an undisclosed draft pick.
- PHX has traded D Anders Eriksson to NYR for G Miika Wiikman and a 7th-round pick.
- CBJ has traded F Chad Kolarik to PHX for F Alex Picard.
- CAR has traded F Stephane Yell, F Harrison Reed to COL for F Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll and a 6th-round pick
- EDM has traded D Steve Staios to CAL for D Aaron Johnson and a 3rd-round pick.
- CAL has traded F Dustin Boyd to NAS for a 4th-round pick.
- PIT has traded D Chris Peluso to TOR for a 2010 6th-round pick.
- EDM has traded D Lubomir Vishnovsky to ANA for D Ryan Whitney and a 6th-round pick.
- CBJ has traded D Mathieu Roy to the FLA for F Matt Rust.
- TOR has traded G Joey MacDonald to ANA for a 7th-round pick in 2011
- CAR has traded D Andrew Alberts to VAN for a 3rd-round pick.
- CBJ has traded F Fredrik Modin to LA for a conditional draft pick.
- CAR has traded D Joe Corvo to WAS for D Brian Pothier, F Oskar Osala and a 2nd-round pick.
- TOR has traded F Lee Stempniak to PHX for 4th and 7th-round picks.
- CAR has traded F Stephane Yelle.
- CBJ has traded D Milan Jurcina to WAS.
- BUF has traded F Clarke MacArthur to ATL for a 3rd and 4th-rounder.
- CBJ has traded F Raffi Torres to BUF D Nathan Paetsch and 2nd-round pick.
- CAL has traded G Curtis McElhinney to ANA for G Vesa Toskala.
- MIN has traded F Eric Belanger to WAS for a 2nd-round pick.
- TB has traded F Jeff Halpern to LA for F Teddy Purcell and a 3rd-round draft pick (from Panthers).
- VAN has traded D Mathieu Schneider to PHX for D Sean Zimmerman and a conditional 6th-round pick.
- DET hsa traded F Kris Newbury to the NYR for F Jordan Owens.
– PHX has traded F Peter Mueller and F Kevin Porter to COL for F Wojtek Wolski. Wolski has arbitration rights, COL reportedly felt he'd get more than they wanted to pay.
- STL has traded F Yan Stastny to VAN for F Pierre-Cedric Labrie.
– CAR has traded F Scott Walker to WAS for a 7th-round pick.
– EDM claims F Ryan Jones off waivers from NAS.
– ANA trades G Justin Pogge and a 4th-round pick to CAR for D Aaron Ward.
– FLA has traded D Dennis Seidenberg and D Matthew Bartkowski to BOS for F Craig Weller, F Byron Bitz and a 2nd-round pick (from Lightning).
– TOR has traded D Martin Skoula to NJ for a 2010 5th-round pick.
– BOS has traded D Derek Morris to PHX for a 2011 4th-round pick. Morris waived NTC.
– MTL has traded F Matt D’Agostini to STL for F Aaron Palushaj.
– TOR has traded F Alexei Ponikarovsky to PIT for D Martin Skoula and F Luca Caputi. Caputi will remain with the Leafs for the rest of the season and is scheduled to play tonight. TOR turned down 2nd and 4th-round picks in order to acquire Caputi.
– ANA has traded D Nick Boynton to CHI for future considerations.
– BOS has traded F Matt Marquadt to EDM for D Cody Wild.
– MIN has re-signed D Marek Zidlicky to a three-year/$12M deal.
– NYI has traded D Andy Sutton to OTT for a 2010 second-round draft pick.
– ANA has traded D Steve Kampfer to BOS for a 2010 conditional 4th-round pick.
– ATL has signed D Chris Chelios, 48.
– ANA has traded F Evgeny Artyukin to ATL for D Nathan Dystrick and a 2011 conditional draft pick.
– NYI has traded F Greg Moore to NAS for D Dylan Reese.
– EDM has traded D Denis Grebeshkov to NAS for a 2010 2nd-round pick.
– CAL has re-signed F Matt Stajan to a four-year/$14M deal. The deal is worth $3.5M annually.
– ATL F Slava Kozlov, 37, has formally requested a trade. He has a full NTC.
– FLA has traded D Jordan Leopold to PIT for a 2010 2nd-round pick.
– CHI has traded G Joe Fallon to STL for G Hannu Toivonen and D Danny Richmond.
– DAL has re-signed F Steve Ott to a four-year extension.
RUMOURS
- VAN GM Mike Gillis says going rate for a player with an expiring contract was a 2nd-round pick.
- PIT F Alex Ponikarovsky wanted a 4-year deal, TOR unwilling to give it let to trade.
- Kaberle expressed interest in 3 unnamed teams, TOR not interested in making deal with that team. Burke did not ask Kaberle to waive his NTC.
- BOS, CHI, MIN, OTT, SJ, STL, TB, NYI done for today.
- TOR are reportedly not done trading. Kaberle is not involved. F Lee Stempniak has been traded, but not F Wayne Primeau or D Garnett Exelby. PHI and BUF reportedly out of running, STL remains. No word yet on where/return price.
- NAS D Dan Hamhuis is not being traded.
-- EDM D Sheldon Souray will not be traded. Souray (hand infection) is out for the remainder of the season. Likely to be dealt this summer.
- CAR F Ray Whitney not being traded.
- MTL has expressed interest in EDM F Andrew Cogliano.
- TOR D Tomas Kaberle deal, if completed, appears to be down to WAS, PHI or BOS.
- WAS reportedly has offered TOR for F Eric Fehr, D Karl Alzner and a 1st-round pick for D Tomas Kaberle. Shortly after that was leaked Burke and two boardroom members left the boardroom.
- TOR D Tomas Kaberle possibly back in play. Willing to waive NTC is right deal comes along. Kaberle has agreement with Burke - if Burke gets a call for Kaberle, Burke will inform Kaberle of the offer and will let Kaberle decide if he wants to waive his NTC for that team. Kaberle said it is his preference to remain with TOR, and there is NO list of teams he'd be willing to waive his NTC for. VAN not in running.
- VAN shopping F Steve Bernier?
- NYR about to make a deal.
- WAS expected to move winger, deal rumoured to be part of Hamhuis deal.
- PHI not in on DAL G Marty Turco.
– Teams calling for PHX’ F Peter Mueller - COL (most interest), NYR, ATL, CHI, VAN, TOR, EDM.
– ANA D James Wishniewski, F Ryan Whitney unlikely to be traded.
– CBJ F Raffi Torres is generating interest, asking price is a 1st-round pick. Rumoured to be interesting in playing for TOR next season. SJ in on trade talks.
– ANA not actively shopping any defencemen.
– CAR working on moving at least one more player. With Ward deal and another salary expected to go, it’s likely F Ray Whitney stays.
– BUF and MTL interested in ANA D James Wisniewski.
– Asking price for COL F Wojtek Wolski is a 1st-round pick.
– CAL has expressed interest in MIN G Josh Harding.
– DAL and STL scouting VAN G Cory Schneider.
– FLA’s asking price for G Tomas Vokoun is PHI F Jeff Carter.
– NYI receiving lots of interest for G Marty Biron, F Sean Bergenheim and F Richard Park.
– LA in lead for CAR F Ray Whitney. PIT now out of running, WAS interested.
– MTL reportedly not dealing either G Jaroslav Halak or G Carey Price.
– TSN: TB players have been told their flight has been pushed back to 3:30 ET and not to be surprised if there are moves made.
– MTL rumoured to be interested in FLA F Nathan Horton.
– EDM D Sheldon Souray has softened on trade stance. Won’t waive for Canadian team, but will for 19 other teams.
– MTL possibly in on STL F Brad Boyes.
– NYI F Sean Bergenheim was a healthy scratch yesterday, expected to be moved today.
– MTL D Roman Hamrlik asked to waive NTC.
– TOR D Tomas Kaberle has not given team a list of teams he’s interested in, has not expressed interest in waiving NTC. Burke says he will not ask him to waive.
– ANA not trading D Scott Niedermayer.
– TOR and FLA both sellers. PHI and CHI in on G Tomas Vokoun. Bowman tells FAN CHI not in market for a goalie.
– Interested in FLA D Denis Seidenberg is rising despite $1M bonus at season’s end.
– NAS D Dan Hamhuis to PHI for D Ryan Parent. Hamhuis still could remain with NAS. VAN and WAS in on Hamhuis.
VoV
- Email - captaincharisma@hotmail.com
- Twitter - @VoiceofValeri
Book Review: The Line
by Mia Herrera
Good books tell good stories. Great books tell good stories well. The Line by Olga Grushin is a great book. Grushin’s story is simple in summary, but richly complex in execution.
Set in Soviet Russia, a rumor begins to circulate that a famous exiled composer is returning to Moscow to conduct his last symphony. Tickets will be limited, and the line before the concert’s kiosk grows along with peoples’ anticipation. As time passes and seasons change, however, the kiosk remains closed and the line’s individuals begin forming unlikely friendships, recalling buried memories, and encountering unexpected experiences that teach them more about life, its frustrating appearance of futility, and its true beauty.
Though the premise of The Line is simple and its start is a bit slow, Grushin weaves a beautiful and enchanting tale. Her language is rich, her characters are startlingly human and recognizable, and the story slowly yet steadily grows into one that reveals the lushness of everyday life.
Available on April 6, 2010, Grushin’s book is definitely one to look forward to.
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For more information about this book, please visit the Penguin Canada website.
If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of this novel, please e-mail
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Increase your Wifi signal for less than $5
By: Brad Globe
When I say less than $5, I mean it.
About a year ago I bought myself a shiny new IPod touch. I wanted to be able to lay in bed and surf the net before I drifted off from the cyber world into dream world. So when buying it I purchased a router. A really cheap one. $20. It was all I needed really, just one strong enough for my house, (more importantly so neighbours couldn’t steal my signal).
A month after that I bought a PS3. For some reason, the PS3 wouldn’t pick up the signal as well as the IPod did. I was getting a 50-65% reading and often I was kicked off the online games I enjoy so much. Then I did what I normally do to solve problems. I went online but all the suggestions I could find were to “buy a better router”. Further research found these router’s cost $50-60. No way.
Then I came across this little device.
http://www.napoliwireless.net/images/varie/www.freeantennas.com.windsurferUSB.jpg
or check out the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUTT8wdN_VA
It simply re-directs the wifi signal to where you need it to go. I built one and installed it:
Even though it looks ugly, it works. My signal exploded to 90%-100%. Tipping the PS3 on its end vertically will guarantee a signal strength of 92% or greater. Now I bought the lowest-end router, so that means any router could yield these results. So give it a try, spend $5 on tin foil and tape and see for yourself..
Video Game Review: Mass Effect 2
Okay, I really do not want to pull myself away from this game but duty comes first.
Mass Effect 2 is the ridiculously long awaited sequel of the Bioware smash hit, Mass Effect. Mass Effect was a sci fi role playing adventure as you took the role of commander Shepherd, and adventured to save the universe from a common threat.
The game was an instant classic, taking elements of other classic RPGs such as Knights of the Old Republic and Baulder's Gate and implementing them into a beautiful universe with a deep and compelling story. One of the best draws of this game was that the player controlled the story and made the choices instead of just being along for the ride; a factor that is common of RPGs in the past. With full customization and the ability to control every choice of the main character, literally the hero was the player.
Mass Effect 2 has a lot to live up to, and I'm happy to say it more than met the expectations of a three years wait.
Basis
One of the first things to focus on is whether or not a gamer has played the first game. While it would make sense to experience the first story in order to fully appreciate the adventure you're about to embark on, the game does a great job of catching a new gamer up on what has happened while not seeming dry and tacked on.
Also players of the previous title can import their previous character into the new game, and with them comes all the choices that were made, which does impact the outcomes of events in the new game. Again, if a gamer has not played the previous title, when making a new character you will be faced with decisions to make, and the choices you make will effect the foundations of the story you are about to begin.
Mass Effect was a game about making tough choices. Not something new in past games, but this game dared to make the consequences very critical to your choices. While in past games a wrong choice may mean you only get one piece of gold instead of two, in Mass Effect you had to make choices that effected whether or not members of your team would even live to see the next mission, there were real consequences to your decisions. Mass Effect 2 hasn't missed a beat and if anything has upped the ante, some players may think that Bioware has gone overboard with how extreme some outcomes can be, but if anything it adds to making the story compelling and makes the player actually think out what they're going to do or say.
Another thing to be prepared for is that this game is huge. The planets you traverse, the cities that occupy them and even your ship as you bound through space, everything is giant and sometimes a little overwhelming as I found myself getting lost more than once in this huge and immersing universe.
Story
The tale picks up where the first story left off, but right off the bat a huge curveball is thrown at you and the plot twists seem to grow richer and more intriguing the deeper you go. Shepherd now finds himself not only fighting threats of old, but also having to confront a new threat, while allying himself with past enemies and allies alike.
Gameplay
My only complaint is that you can't invert the X axis on the controller... other than that the game handles flawlessly. It's standard action RPG fare and anyone who's played the previous Mass Effect, Knight of the Old Republic or Dragon Age will be familiar with the controls.
But if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Characters and their special skills are still controlled through a heads up menu that allows the player to choose from lists of commands. Some gamers feel this slows down the action, so Bioware has now added a feature to map certain skills to certain buttons, so if you like a particular skill and use it often you no longer have to keep pulling up a menu to use it.
Graphics
The first Mass Effect was gorgeous, though it was plagued with hiccups in the texture loading from the now commonplace Unreal 3 engine. Bioware has perfected their craft and the texture pops are a thing of the past and every single particle of graphics are beautifully made. From the surfaces of an environment to the facial features of the characters, the game is astounding and genuinely feels like you're playing an interactive movie.
Sound
The sound effects have been nicely stepped up from the previous game. A blasting machine gun in the previous game left a less than impressive rat a tat noise, while now that same weapon sounds much more intimidating and leaves the gamer actually thinking this is a threat to their progress.
The music has not lost a step from the masterful original score and if anything has improved. The sweeping orchestral pieces and the melodious anthems leave a very epic feel to the adventure, while at the same time the slow and quiet parts really raise the suspense of an environment.
Of course the voice acting plays a huge role in a game that's comparable to an interactive movie, and it's superb. The nuances and emotions of the characters are done tastefully but still very effectively, no character is over the top and the personalities of these characters shines through in the ways they convey their opinions, feelings and concerns; pair that up with exceptional graphical work on the characters and you have a rather frighteningly believable set of characters.
Final Verdict
I know this is a rushed review, it's because I want to get back to this game. All the flaws of the original game are gone and the final product is an extremely enjoyable adventure to partake in, though I will miss the witty banter of the characters while you ride elevators during loading segments.
If you own an Xbox 360 or a PC that can run it, buy Mass Effect 2, seriously. This was a game that I've been waiting for since 2007 and it has not failed to impress, now if you'll excuse me, I have a galaxy to save, or destroy; after all, it's my choice.
Lee Clifford
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