No Contest

Whaaa?!?

2006-07-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

According to Gizmodo you can sign up for 12 free issues of EGM. Apparently you do not have to register for the conference they are pushing in order to get the mag. I just signed up without a problem.

Here is the link if you are interested.

Argo!! xPod Rumors Swirl

2006-07-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

According to Brier Dudley and the Seattle Times, the J Allard led team may actually be working on a multimedia player code named Argo, not just a music device.

The rumors have gone from Xboy to xPod and back to Xboy. What is Allard and his crew really working on? Well the answer may be: both. The Seattle Times reports that Microsoft is building one device that will be linked with a music service, play games, and include WiFi. The device is also reported to sport a Hard Drive, mesh with the XNA development platform, and include a best in class display. LiveAnywhere compatibility seems logical.

The device sounds promising if it delivers on these promises...err...rumors.

[Update] Engadget has the first clear picture of the alleged Argo. Looks sleek.

Cuttin' Some Rug

2006-07-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

I know this must be the "most watched" video on the web, but for you two people who have not seen it, WATCH THIS NOW! This guy has major skills.

This is Unbelievable

2006-07-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

Did Republicans Deliberately Burn the Flag Amendment?

2006-06-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

You can read it here, here, and here. The Senate, needing 67 votes to send a Flag Amendment to the 50 states, could only muster 66 votes and thus the Amendment went down in flames (all the pun intended).

My question is this: did the Republicans REALLY want to pass this, or did they just want to use it as an issue in the November elections? Are you telling me that Bush and the Republican leadership could not cajole, force, bribe, or threaten McConnell, Bennett, or Chafee (all Republicans who voted against it) into voting for this Amendment?

In my humble opinion this was a stunt by the Republican leadership to embarrass the Democrats. They never really wanted to pass this. And that my friends, embarrasses me.

Warren E. Buffett: Philanthropist, Hypocrite

2006-06-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

As you probably heard Warren Buffett, the worlds second richest man, has donated 85% of his net worth to five foundations. Most of the money (around $30 billion) went to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. After years telling small business owners and farmers that the estate tax was fair and equitable, Mr. Buffett completely avoided paying estate taxes on his own fortune.

Sadly, just 3 weeks earlier, a plan to ease the estate tax burden failed to pass the Senate by 3 votes. Had Buffett spoken up and "said as he did", thousands of small business owners and farmers may have been able to pass their family businesses on to their children.

Warren E. Buffett: Philanthropist, Hypocrite.

A Certain Ministry - An Uncertain Step

2006-06-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I became a Gideon. I didn't mean to, but I did. The Assistant Pastor at my church (Hi Glenn!) encouraged me to attend a meeting to hear more about the organization. For many years I have held the organization in high regard, but I have never learned how the ministry actually works. So, as a young Christian businessman, it was time for me to investigate.

Time commitment, of course, was my biggest concern. My wives final recommendation to me before I went into the meeting was "don't make a commitment until you think and pray about it." I think that was good advice - the right advice.

But as I listened to their presentation I decided to join. They did not press for a time commitment or for a commitment to any particular activities. Rather they encouraged us to join, if for nothing else, to support the ministry financially and to receive their magazine to stay abreast of what is going on with the Gideons.

So I am now a Gideon. Over the coming weeks and months I will be talking with God and my family about how to get involved further.

I REALLY (don't) Need One of These

2006-06-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Distracted by all those "passersby" when playing Zelda? Can't stand human interference when destroying aliens? Looking for less reality while enjoying virtual reality?

Well I have a product for you!

Let me introduce the Gaming Scarf.

Never again be disturbed when the game is on the line!

HDMI - Irrelevant until at least 2010?

2006-06-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

Cesar over at TeamXbox (an IGN site) has an interesting take on why HDMI may not matter for movie playback or video games until at least 2010.

[Update] - OK, here is the scoop on HDMI. HDMI is digital connection that transmits data (video, audio, etc) in a secure format. It is designed to thwart the theft of digital intellectual property. Nearly all HDTV's sold in stores today are HDMI compatible. One year ago only high end HDTV's had the adapter (and even fewer the year before). So why does the world need HDMI all of a sudden? Well, we really don't. The data transmission is really no better than HD Component cables. This whole format is being driven by piracy - the inability of IP owners to protect their property using current technology. Studios have given consumers motivation to "upgrade" to HDMI by threatening to downgrade the video resolution on HD DVD and BluRay discs if you are not using the HDMI ecosystem (which includes archaic acronyms such as HDCP, AACS, and ICT). Theoretically, someone with HD Component cables, an HDTV, and a HD DVD player may only get standard DVD resolution when watching a movie. That is why it is a big deal that, according to the article at TeamXbox, movie studios and manufacturers will not downgrade movies (via the Image Constraint Token) until at least 2010. Therefore, the Xbox 360 (with no HDMI cable yet released) and the PS3 (only the $600 version has HDMI, the $500 version lacks it) will still be able to be used as High Definition video players.

Here is another article saying that Cesar at TeamXbox may be right. And another one here.

Will BluRay Decide the Next-Gen Video Game Battle?

2006-05-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is. The major video game companies will finally be hawking their next-gen "wares" to consumers this fall. Graphics, exclusive content, controllers, and price (more on this later) will all be major selling points. Possibly the biggest selling point will be high definition (defined as 720P or 1080i/p) games and movie playback.

A little history first.

N64 vs PSOne
Remember the Nintendo 64? Remember Mario Kart and Super Mario World? The N64 was a great system with a great controller (first to use the analogue stick and the first to have rumble capability). Sony's Playstation launched around the same time but included one major advancement - the use of a CD-ROM. The N64 used a cartridge format that was more expensive than CD-ROM's and took longer to produce. We know what happened from there - the PSOne became a hit and Sony never looked back.

Dreamcast vs PS2 vs Xbox
The Dreamcast was launched first and used a CD format. The PS2 launched next and Sony included full DVD movie support right out of the box. Thanks to this DVD support, the PS2 made quick work of the Dreamcast and Sega quickly closed down shop. Microsoft (a company with the financial girth to complete with Sony, unlike Sega) launched the Xbox in late 2001. The Xbox also included DVD support (although a clunky plug in was required) and also included a 8 Gigabyte harddrive. The Xbox became the first console to launch with a harddrive. Well, the one year heard start with the PS2 and the 8 (or so) year head start fostering relationships with game developers meant the Xbox had little chance. Although the Xbox had some success (over 20 million consoles sold), it was a distant 2nd to the PS2.

Now we have arrived at the next generation of video game consoles. The Xbox 360 launched in November of 2005 and the Playstation 3 will launch in November of 2006 (the Nintendo Wii will also launch in late 2006). Console manufacturers and game developers alike have all endorsed High Definition gaming. Games on the 360 and the PS3 are required to be compatible with 720p and 1080i. Neither console has an advantage when it comes to High Def gaming.

But what about multimedia and movie playback? The 360 has an internal DVD player while the PS3 will launch with a BluRay player.

So, will the internal BluRay player give Sony the same competitive advantage that the CD game the PSOne and the DVD gave the PS2? The Sony Corporation is literally banking on it. Their gaming, manufacturing and movie division are going "all in" on BluRay. If BluRay loses the format war, the entire corporation could be set back 10 years.

So, once again, will BluRay give the PS3 a competitive advantage in the gaming arena? If optical disks were the ONLY content deliver method like they were with PSOne and PS2, BluRay may be a competitive advantage. This generation of gaming consoles will bring their HD content in through WiFi, through satellite, through PC's, and thought the Internet in addition to optical disks. The disk is no longer the one and only way (nor the cheapest way) to bring gaming content to the gamer.

The Xbox 360 will be launching an HD-DVD drive in the Fall of 2006. This will merely be optional for those who want to watch HD movies and have them tie into the 360's immersive operating system. HD content and movies can also be viewed through your 360 using broadband internet streaming. HD content will also be brought to the 360 via Xbox Live. HD content will be brought to the 360 through a (yet unconfirmed) deal with Direct TV. High Definition is what the 360 is all about and it is format agnostic.

Future posts will look at how price factors into this (the PS3 is $500 or $600 depending on version) and will take a look at the Next-Gen optical wars and how we got to where we are at (for instance, why did MS abruptly abandon its format neutrality last summer?).

What are your thoughts?

Microsoft to bloggers: "Lets be friends"

2006-05-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has an initiative under way to befriend video game bloggers at E306. Let me introduce you to the Blogger Bus! According to Microsoft, this bus will be equipped with power outlets, WiFi, comfortable seating, and beverages for bloggers. It will be located right outside of the Expo so bloggers can go back and forth to report to the huddled masses. For the record, this bus is for invited bloggers only lest it fill up with any wary soul in need of a soft drink and a place to put his feet up.

This is another example of Microsoft's concerted effort to win over gamers and bloggers world wide. Bloggers have received special treatment from Microsoft at last years X05, at CES in January, at the Australia Xbox 360 launch in April and now at E3. Blogger benefits have included plane tickets, hotel rooms, food, behind the scene access, and interviews with Xbox brass. Not a bad gig being a blogger these days!

Microsoft seems to be using blogs as a major component in their marketing efforts. They are even encouraging Xbox employees to speak directly to consumers via blogs. Major Nelson famously burst onto the scene last year, giving readers inside information not even found on Microsoft's official website, Xbox.com. The site is so popular it is practically an official Microsoft Xbox blog. Xbox PR Manager John Porcaro's blog became a semi-official Xbox organ last year near the launch of the 360 as readers flocked their to learn the inside story on why the 360 was selling out and what MS was doing to address the issue. Microsoft's commitment to blogging is also found at Gamerscoreblog (software, general Xbox info), at Xbox Team (Hardware Team), and now at HD DVD Team Blog.

Will this communication effort by Microsoft pay off? This much is clear, Sony is taking the opposite approach. They have been tight-lipped with gamers and the blogging community alike. In this battle, Microsoft is playing the scrappy upstart, Sony is playing the dominate big kid on the block. Time will tell who will win this battle of corporate giants.

Supply chain gymnastics

2006-05-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting article on the development of the Xbox 360 over at Reed-Electronics. Sounds like Microsoft moved mountains to launch this thing on time. It also makes me wonder how Sony is going to pull it off. They are designing a new chip (Cell) from the ground up, they are using a new form of media (Blu-Ray), and they are trying to create their version of Xbox Live - all at the same time. The stakes could not be higher for Sony right now.

First Post - Let's make it memorable ;)

2006-05-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Glenn at glorious.blogs.com for designing No Contest. No Contest will be devoted to my areas of passion: religion, politics, and technology. Hope you enjoy!