Month: December 2013

Upgraded to AT&T’s 5gb Data Pro plan w/ tethering

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

You can find WiFi almost anywhere these days so I’ve never really felt the need to have a tethering plan to turn my iPhone 5 into a mobile hotspot. However, I figured since I was paying $30/month for the 3gb data plan an additional $20 to upgrade to 5gb and tethering seemed like a worthy upgrade. So far it’s working pretty well with an LTE connection. Browsing the web on my MacBook is quite quick and it’s easier to get things done on my Mac compared to my iPhone. Maybe it’s just the nerd in me that felt it was necessary to be able to create a mobile hotspot, however there have been many times where I’ve been somewhere without WiFi and I wished I could connect on a device other than my phone. It’ll also be nice to be able to provide web access for others. I never get close to 3gb on my iPhone, and I’m not often away from WiFi so I can’t imagine I’ll come close to the 5gb limit.

Do you have a tethering plan? Do you use it often enough for it to be worth it? Personally, I think all plans should include tethering, but I suppose the 5gb is better for occasional laptop use.

Tonight on TV: The Walking Dead and Getting On

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

 

 

 

 

 

Warning, spoilers ahead!

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Tonight was the mid-season finale of The Walking Dead (it returns in February :/) and it was one of the most thrilling episodes of the season. The Governor and his new recruits showed up at the prison fence heavily armed (and with a freaking tank!). A handful of people died, but I honestly expected it to be worse. It’s been awhile since I’ve read the comics, but I feel like the TV show has been taking it easy on people. Sure Hershel’s death was tragic, and baby Judith’s implied death was heart wrenching, but I kind of expected more main characters to die. I can’t quite remember who all dies at this point in the comics, but I thought I remembered the prison attack being worse than it was portrayed on the TV show. Maybe I’m wrong. Anyway, ultimately the Governor was killed once and for all (though maybe we’ll see zombie Governor? I suppose not, since he was presumably shot in the head). I wanted Rick to kill the governor, I feel like his death was a bit cheap. It’s going to be a long two months but I’m excited to see where the show goes next. Maybe I’ll catch up with the comic in the meantime.

Laurie Metcalf Alex Borstein Niecy Nash

 

The second episode of Getting On centered around an unruly patient who provided quite a few laughs. The shows comedic moments are great, however there’s a lot of dry dialogue between the laughs that tend to slow things down and cause my attention to start to drift. After the first two episodes I’m not sure if I’m going to keep following the show. Have you watched it? What do you think of the series so far?

Twitch Streaming: Beyond Two Souls

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

I finished Beyond Two Souls earlier today and streamed most of the final part of the game on Twitch. I’m in the process of copying all of the videos over to YouTube but until then you can view the videos on my Twitch channel.

Here is the last hour of the game if you’re interested in viewing it:

http://www.twitch.tv/jdh5153/b/484334012

(there’s the Twitch stream on Youtube. I might eventually upload the actual capture file because it should be of better quality).

I enjoyed the conclusion of the game, but honestly the final third of the game is a little strange. It takes a strange turn, and at times it’s difficult to understand what any particular chapter has to do with any other (especially the chapter with the Native American family in the middle of the game). Anyway, I’m going to end up trading Beyond Two Souls in toward Gran Turismo 6.

Phone calls in flight? Really that big of a deal?

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

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http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/disruptions-calling-from-the-clouds/?_r=0

In the few weeks since the FCC first announced that it may allow passengers to use their cell phones in flight (while actually connected to their cellular network in flight) many have been ranting and raving about how horrible a decision it would be. Personally, I’m quite excited for the change if it does indeed happen and airlines follow through. I absolutely hate being on flights that do not offer WiFi. Sure you can watch movies, read or listen to music, but I’ll admit I’m entirely addicted to being connected. A camping trip off the grid is absolutely horrifying to me. I’d love to be able to check in with Facebook, Twitter and WordPress in flight using my cellular data. I’d also enjoy being able to text and keep up to date on plans for when I land.

The main fear is that all of a sudden everyone will be making phone calls and being obnoxious in flight. I really don’t think it’d be that bad. I rode the light rail around Baltimore quite a bit back when I was living in Pennsylvania and people were free to make phone calls but not very many ever did. I know a plane is more compact and quieter so any phone conversation would travel further and seem louder, but how is it any different than being on a flight with a high school or college girl’s basketball team (the last time I flew into Boise the BSU volleyball team was on the flight). Furthermore if it’d bother you that much I’m sure you have a pair of headphones you could put in.

I know my view may not be popular, but think of all the other places people are able to use their phones. Is it really that bad? In Starbucks? On a bus or train? I haven’t found it to bother me at all. As long as I’m plugged in I’m not paying that much attention to what’s going on around me anyway.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Sequence 2

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

assassins-creed-4-black-flag-pirate

I’ve never been much into the Assassin’s Creed games. I’ve played a bit of the first, second and third numbered games (haven’t played Revelations or Brotherhood) and they all failed to hold my attention. Assassin’s Creed III seemed cool, but for whatever reason I only played the first twenty minutes or so and never got into the game.

So far Assassin’s Creed IV is holding my attention a bit better. I just finished sequence 2 tonight and I have to say I enjoyed it. I’m really liking Edward as a character and so far the game has been fun to play. That said I almost returned the game to GameFly and never progressed any further after failing the mission where you chase the sage five times in a row. I hate missions where you have to chase someone. These missions really show off just how bad the controls in Assassin’s Creed games can be. While trying to chase after the guy I was constantly getting stuck on ledges where Edward would grab onto a ledge and just not move, or at times he’d fall the wrong way or jump into a pile of hay when I didn’t want him to.

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The climax and conclusion to sequence 2 at sea was a thrilling experience. I’m looking forward to getting into sequence 3 possibly tomorrow.