It’s here! The XBox one, which gamers have anticipated for months, is now released to the public this November 22, 2013. Let’s see how people are responding.
The cost is $499, $100 more that PS4. But it offers more…or does it? The look of it reminds me of the VCR’s of the 1980s, and it is heavy to carry. There’s no Windows Media Center. Remember those hyped up features? According to some reports, some of those may not be available for months.
But there’s still a lot of good with XBox One. It’s facial technology and language/voice are very impressive. The controllers and dashboards are a lot better. The graphics are to die for! There are some games that are out, but some won’t be out until June, for unknown reasons. I didn’t notice any long lines are madness or any parties celebrating the XBox One release. Maybe it’s because Microsoft did a better job organizing pre-orders.
Or maybe it’s because the PS4 was cheaper. The economy is still sluggish, so price is a factor. Reports say the two dueling consoles are neck and neck in the sales race. Overseas, Play Station 4 is beating XBox One. So maybe there’s another reason you don’t hear about long lines and parties. Personally, I wouldn’t mind having both systems. Who do you think will win the gaming war of 2013?
Two days ago, back on Nov. 15, 2013 , Play Station 4 was released. I reported about the crazy lines and parties. Let’s see the results.
Sony’s newest gaming console sold over one million copies in a 24 hour period. Think about that. Back in November 2006, Play Station 3 was released. As of November 2013, it has sold 80 million units in a seven year period. I don’t know how well Play Station 4 is going to do during the holiday season and beyond, but if this is any indication, this new gaming system will beat it’s predecessor easily. Keep in mind it hasn’t even be released in Europe yet; that doesn’t come until November 29.
Play Station 4 has received rave reviews from critics as well. Many claim it’s leaps and bounds better that the last Play Station. Some say it was well worth the wait. For seven years, it had better be! But not all the news was good news. Some reviewers have complained of duds and defections right outside the box.? Some have reported blue flashing lights. Some said the machine won’t turn on at all.? Don’t panic, this dysfunction has reportedly only affected one in six-hundred consoles sold so far.? So I wouldn’t be worried. So back to your regularly scheduled shopping already in progress. Or are you waiting for the Xbox One?
Today, November 15, 2013, is the release day of Sony’s Play Station 4. I’m sure most of you already know that. Let’s see what this console has to offer, and how some people celebrated.
For many, the madness started at midnight, literally. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, people waited as early as 14 hours in advanced in hopes to get the few remaining available new Play Stations. In Ft. Collins, Colorado, dozens hovered around the city Best Buy by 8:30 Thursday night. One veteran late night shopper had a system of exchanging bathroom breaks with other people in line. In New York City, one hotel hosted a launch party. This party included a live TV show, a light show, and celebrity guest appearances. People started waiting 24 hours in advance for that one.
Why would people go to such extreme lengths? For starters, this is the first Play Station release in 7 years. The games are said to be more innovative. The system will cost you around $400. It has 8 Advanced Micro Device’s processing brains, a 500 gigabyte hard drive, and a 1080p screen resolutions and runs 60 frames per second. Plays Station 4 uses the Duel Shock 4 controller. New games with the new console include Killzone: Shadow Fall and Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Is Plays Station 4 worth it? I’d say is worth buying. It’s not worth standing in line all hours of the night for (but if you ask me, no item is worth all that!) But for $400, I think it’s a good bargain. It would be nice if they included some games. I remember when Nintendo came out, they included Duck Hunt and Super Mario Brothers 1. But from what I’ve heard, I would give it a try. I just wonder why it took seven years for them to build this station. Keep in mind Xbox One comes out next week. Whose going to win the war: Play Station One or Xbox One?
A few days ago, a reported on an organization that uses technology for good and/or combats evil. Here are some more technologies and? organizations that are known for doing good? deeds.
10. Tres Des Hommes: This Dutch based child advocate group used recently used a fictionalized computer based young girl to catch over 1,000 potential predators. Hopefully these suspects will think twice.
9. Raspberry Pi: For around $40, Raspberry Pi helps children learn about computers. Computer use is critical for our next generation and this low cost guarantees all children have an opportunity for this much needed knowledge.
8. Idealist/Action Without Borders: This nonprofit organization allows people to post or get opportunities, interns or jobs to make a better world.
7. Donors Choose: Use this website to donate to your local public schools, or any public school of your choice. Since 2000, they’ve raised over 86 million dollars and helped over 5 million school kids.
6. Keepon: This yellow robot is used for interacting with children. This is especially good for children diagnosed with autism and other socially hindering disorders.
5. Pedometer: This helps with workouts and encourages physical activity, measuring everything from heart rate monitor to calories burned, fighting the good fight against obesity.
4. EFF/Electronic Frontier Foundation: This non-profit website teaches and advocates our rights as digital consumers, including our right to privacy and fair use. With all that’s going on, we could use EFF more than ever.
3. Feeding America: Are you aware 1 in 7 children in the US will go to bed hungry tonight? With this website, you can educate, donate,volunteer, advocate against the injustice of hunger in our own country.
2. Project C.U.R.E.: It’s one of the most respected charities in the world. It’s the largest donators of medical supplies the the poorer nations of the world.
1. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: Their tireless efforts of philanthropy got them Time Person of the Year. They’ve tackles just about every global issue imaginable: education, medicine, getting good food and clean water to those who don’t have, and teaching them to thrive in their own community. It’s recent endowment is 36 billion dollars. That’s going to help a lot of people.
I can’t wait to hear of other technologies or organizations that are doing good in the community, nation and world.
A few months ago, Netflix announced they will be producing movies, documentaries and stand-up comedy shows. There’s even talk of them funding a major motion picture that will be released the same time it’s released in the movie theater.? Content manager Ted Sarandos said in a speech he wants Netflix to release major motion pictures the same day they’re released in the theaters. Don’t let it surprise you. Netflix has been a rebel and a thorn to Hollywood. They got famous releasing DVDs to people without the permission of major movie companies. Guess how they came up with the digital system? Netflix never got the permission they needed from movie houses to distribute movies over the Internet.
So I can see a major showdown brewing about releasing movies the same day of theater release. Let’s just say if Netflix does produce a movie and it’s released the same day, how many people would rather stay home than go to the movies? I see some who just love that movie experience. But how many more would avoid the traffic and crowd, and watch in the comfort of their own home? You see the conflict here? But eventually, what Netflx did became normal. What was so shocking to Hollywood a few years ago is standard today. Will that become so with this movie deal they’re trying to put together?
Need a costume for that contest? Need a costume for your kids? I think I can help. Here are some top Halloween costumes for techies.
10 Small Wonder’s Vicky: For those under 30, Small Wonder was a TV show about a robot in the form of a girl. Talking like a robot in this costume will get you winner-up at least!
9. Lady Cassandra from Doctor Who: For those in North America, try putting on a large piece of a skin like costume. See if people can guess who you are.
8. Albert Einstein: He was voted Time Magazine’s Man of the 20th Century. He’s one of the smartest men of all time. And it’s not a hard costume to put together.
7. Comic Book Guy/Professor Frink from The Simpsons: Because few things say techie like a know it all comic book proprietor and a klutz professor on one of the greatest cartoons of all-time.
6. Your Awkward School Yearbook Photo: Relive your childhood/adolescent turbulence by dressing as your worst picture ever. If you were an up and coming geek, this will be extra special.
4. Any character from Big Bang Theory: Don’t all go for Sheldon or Penny at once!
3. Steve Jobs: If you even do a half decent job at this costume, you’ll be doing better than Ashton Kutcher did (whoops, did I say that aloud?)!
2. Any character from Star Wars: At one contest I attended, Chewbacca came in third and Luke Skywalker came in second.
1. Any character from any Star Trek: At this same contest, an entire group portraying various Star Trek era won and split the first prize! And there were a lot of characters represented. Khan!!!
What are some of your favorite Halloween costumes?
