Microsoft announced a November date for the release of the much anticipated Xbox One. In fact, only 21 countries will have the pleasure of forming long lines and possible fist fights for this gaming machine.
One country that didn’t make this list is Japan. According to Microsoft Japan President Yasuyuki Higuchi, Japan is in the 2nd tier of the Xbox release wave. Higuchi says it won’t be too long after the first tier of releases. So if you’re in Japan, expect your Xbox One sometime in 2014. Other countries like South Korea, Hong Kong and India won’t be seeing an Xbox One until late 2014. So whether Japan’s chance is coming earlier than their Asian counterparts remains to be seen.
At first, I was surprised that Japan wouldn’t get the first crack at the new Xbox. After all, isn’t this the nation that helped launch the home video game revolution in the first place? Apparently, Xbox isn’t very popular in Japan. But it’s sold some. I still feel this is a bad call on Microsoft’s part. Japan is one of the biggest markets in the world. India is one of the biggest markets in the world. Yes, I know many cultures don’t celebrate Christmas like we do. I can only hope they don’t fight, hoop and holler like over the last product like we do. But I’m confident if Xbox One is released simultaneously around the world, they’ll do much better. If American consumers are going to go nuts over Xbox?One this holiday season, shouldn’t other countries take part in?our misery and mayhem?
It’s hard to believe the year is half over. Things have not been boring in the technology world. Here are 10 reasons why:
10.You Tube April Fools: Okay, how freaked out were you when you were told You Tube was going to shut down altogether?
9. Yahoo’s Comeback: In summer 2012, Yahoo was in free for all. Then CEO Marissa Meyer took over and turned the company around. She changed the work environment and?bought companies like Tumblr for over a billion dollars. Someone’s future looks good.
8. Apple Tax Turmoil: According to some lawmakers, this tech giant went all out to avoid paying their fair share in taxes, even depending on tax havens like Ireland. It even landed?Apple executives?in Congress’ hot seat.
7. Google Glass Controversy: Some say it’s innovative, but others say it’s Orwellean. You can take pictures with the blink of an eye. You have to jump through hoops to even get this device. But it can also do some really great things. The debate continues.
6. US vs. China Hacking: This year, the US has accused China of stealing military and other sensitive information. Now, China is accusing the US of being a hacker empire.
5. Apple Stock Tumbles: In September 2012, Apple stocks were at $702. I think that’s an all-time record. Today, they’ll be lucky to see $400 a share. Many have reasons, like stiff competition from Blackberry and others. But if you bought Apple stock in the first half of 2013, my humblest apologies.
4. Twitter Grows Up: This year, so far, twitter has launched a music app. They’ve partnered with ESPN, sharing videos for ad revenue. What will they come up with?next?
3. Xbox One Revealed: We learned this could be the mother of all gaming systems. They have realistic games, voice control, and smart glass. It also has cameras that can see you 24/7. It’s expected to come out in November and cost around $500. Whose going to be in that long Black Friday line?
2. Record Cyber Attack: Several persons were arrested for stealing $45 million dollars from banks around the world. This scheme hit major banks and credit cards in 26 countries. It was believed to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest cyber robbery of all-time.
1. NSA Surveillance?Gate: It was revealed the National Security Agency was gathering our cell phone calls, emails, and social media posts without our knowledge, approval or documentation for years. Some say it’s in the name of security, others say it’s an outright violation. What side are you on?
One of my favorite pastimes is going to Barnes and Noble. Sometimes I go there to buy books and sometimes I go there just to browse. But if numbers like this keep up, pretty soon I may not be going there at all, and neither may you.
The Barnes and Noble financial report is out, as it struggles to compete in the digital reading industry. In this quarter alone, they’ve lost nearly $119 million dollars. If that wasn’t enough, so far in fiscal 2013, (which started in October 2012) they’ve lost 1.3 billion dollars in revenue. From what I’ve been reading, books and e-books like Hunger Games and Fifty?Shades of Grey have kept the company’s head above water. Nook Media, B&N’s answer to Kindle and other e-book devices, are hardly doing better. It reported $108 million dollars in revenue this quarter. That may sound like a lot, but is a third less than this time last year, and nothing compared to other read devices. Some experts say Nooks lack the app support of other devices. They did slash prices and collaborate with Android and Google to improve apps and prices, but was it too much too late?
Well, never say never. At least solutions are being thought of and executed. Programs like Simple Touch are being offered. And B&N are offering other apps and programs that should be?out before the holidays. I really hope these things work. Though I don’t own a Nook, I want them to do well. I read somewhere where all the physical Barnes & Noble locations may be bought out. Goodness, I hope not! Now what am I going to do to replace my Saturday ritual of reading a book and having my cappuccino? But even if it that catastrophe happens, Nook will be the only thing they have to rely on. Can Barnes and Noble survive? Will they?
Last week, I listed the top tech based and sci-fi TV shows of the modern era (from 2000-present). But let’s talk about the last century. I’ve put series and spin-offs together.
10. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Okay, I know this is a controversial one, but those kids wouldn’t be able to fight evil without Zordon and Alpha 5. That robot brought them through more adventures than you’ll ever count. Aye-aye-aye!
9. Knight Rider: The talking car was the star of the show. The talking computerized KITT was the one who did the cool stunts, and remember the red lighting and fatherly advice he often gave David ‘Michael Knight’ Hasselhoff?
8. Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century: It only lasted two seasons, but it was a great TV compliment to the Star Wars craze. Buck Rodgers wakes up in the 25th century to save the Earth from aliens. Erin Gray was nice to look at, too.
7. The Outer Limits: Okay, this mid-60s show borrowed heavily from Twilight Zone. But they went where Twilight Zone wouldn’t even go: the characters were more grotesque, the plots were scarier, the opening was more chilling.
6. Transformers: You know I had to put a cartoon in here. Aliens, good and evil, transform into anything. My favorite transformer was Megatron. I know he was a villain, but he was a good one.
5. Dr. Who: This British show is iconic. The doctor and his colleagues are aliens who travel through time. Through 50 years and 11 doctors, this show has stood the test of time.
4. The Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman: We?can rebuild him. We can make him better. And they did: These injured persons are rebuilt with cyber parts to give them superhuman strength and speed. They become operatives, for the good guys.
3. Twilight Zone: The father of all sci-fi TV. Not only did Serling?introduce us to space, aliens,?time travel, and make monsters of little boys, he made us think. Do you remember To Serve Man? ‘It’s A Cookbook!’
2. Quantam Leap: Dr. Sam Beckett traveled from the 1950s-1980s leaping through other people’s bodies. Dr. Beckett took part in major 20th century events. like the JFK Assassination, Civil Rights Movement, and Vietnam War. So not only was this good sci-fi TV, but a great history lesson.
1. Star Trek: Since 1966, this show, and the franchise that followed (Next Generation, Deep Space Nine) boldly went where no man has gone before! We follow the USS Enterprise through the Milky Way Galaxy, and have been following the USS Enterprise ever since. Have you seen how nuts people get at these conventions?
That’s my list, folks. What shows do you think I missed?
We’ve looked at movies, now let’s look at some top TV shows techies love so far this century.
10. Life On Mars: Though it only lasted one season, this was pretty compelling. A cop gets run over in 2007, wakes up in 1973, and we don’t know how he got there. Then we find out it was a tech/scientific experiment gone haywire, and they’re really in 2035 Mars.
9. Futurama: This cartoon features a young geek?falling in a cryogenic pod and ends?up in the 31st century.?And there’s the hot one-eyed captain. But?nothing speaks tech like?a drunk, obnoxious robot.
8. Chuck: Chuck is a computer geek and slacker who becomes a spy who fights terrorists and other adventures. During?Chuck’s five year run, his life as a spy and computer repair man gets more and more intertwined.
7. Stargate SG1: A military?squad is sent outer space to fight alien threats to the US. Not exactly a revolutionary plot, but?it’s one of the longest running sci-fi TV shows of all time. Plus, I feel totally safe with Richard ‘MacGyver’ Anderson as the captain!
6. Lost: I can’t believe I’m putting this one in here, but it sucked America in. Even the time travel and flashbacks were great. But in the last couple of seasons, it just got confusing, and don’t even get me started on that 2010 finale!
5. House MD: This is a very technology based show. Dr. House and his colleagues turn to scanners, iMacs, you name it to treat diseases rarely even heard of. And?at?least they do it without those mushy?plot lines you see on other medical shows.
4.??Dark Angel: It only lasted a couple of seasons.?But Jessica Alba portrays a genetic superhuman who tries to live a normal life in a post-apocalyptic world. Only thing is, the people who built her won’t let that happen, so she’s always on the run. This show should have lasted a lot longer than it did.
3. Big Bang Theory: This show proves geeks come with diversity. Yes, there’s the stereotypical anti-social Sheldon, but you have Raj, Johnny, and Simon, who sometimes gets razzed for not having a Ph.D.? Then we have Penny, who helps keep them all grounded. These are the ingredients of the greatest comedy around today.
2.?Twenty-Four: Who doesn’t love to see Jack?Bauer fight terrorism, corruption and?other bad guys one hour an episode,?one day a season. But if were not for the CTU division having Bauer’s back, he would’ve been done in the first hour.
1. CSI: This crime show demonstrates the tech chops needed to solve 21st century crimes, from DNA analysis, device tracking, even facial recognition. It sure makes me think before breaking the law. It’s been on for all 13 years for the century, spun several spin-offs, and has almost always stayed on top of the ratings.
Last week, I covered my favorite tech savvy movies of the 21st century. Let’s see what the last century brought us.
10. Scanners: This 1981 film covers a security systems corporation hiring scanners to read people’s thoughts. The ConSec scanner’s head exploding just added that morbid extra.
9. The Computer that Wore Tennis Shoes: Never heard of this 1969 classic? Due to a glitch, Kurt Russell’s brain turns to a computer. But check out what a computer looked like in the late ’60s!
8. Office Space: Ever have one of those ‘I’m mad as heck!’ moments? In 1999, these?software firm workers have those moments. Remember the scene where they smash a computer out in the dessert?
7. Metropolis: This 1927 silent film perhaps gave birth to all sci-fi/tech movies. Set in 2026, people are divided into the thinkers and workers. Check out the tech savvy in this film; it’s decades ahead of it’s time.
6. War Games: In 1983, with the Cold War on everyone’s minds, and home video games on the rise, this movie turns a?fun game into a save the world struggle for all humanity! Look at the home computers we used back then. It was nominated for 3 Oscars.
5. Bladerunner: In 1982, this movie was set in 2019 L.A. Check out how computers are used to communicate and identify. The Bladerunner is to hunt down non-humans. With all the talk of trans humanism, is this film?eerily prophetic?
4. Star Wars: Let’s focus on the 1977 original. It had everything from robots to mind control and characters that are household names. I don’t need to write any further, because the name Star Wars speaks for itself.
3. Tron: Wow, the ’80s were a good time for tech movies. In this one, Kevin Flynn breaks into a computer system and finds himself in the system. This 1982 movie was revolutionary for it’s 3D effects and digital backgrounds, very new at the time.
2. Matrix: Again, this 1999 mega-hit speaks for itself. Are you taking the blue pill or red pill?
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey: It had everything a tech geek could want. Released in 1968, it had artificial intelligence, space travel, the future, and a?talking computer. Anyone notice that if you take HAL and move up each letter, you get IBM? Just saying.
