Technology

Sony streaming player fiasco

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

So this weekend I brought my Sony digital media player to my girlfriend’s house so that we could watch some movies (because who rents DVDs anymore, really?) However I forgot to throw the remote in my bag. No problem I thought, there’s an iPhone app that lets you control the device. I download the app and it tells me I need to turn the streaming player on first to set it up….Ok… The problem is, there is NO on/off button on the device at all. I’m not sure if Rokus and Apple TV devices are the same, but there is literally NO way to power on the device without the included remote.

I tried unplugging the device and plugging it back in which causes it to power on and display SONY on the TV, but it immediately goes into off / standby after it powers up. I tried pushing the reset button on the device which did the exact same thing as cycling the power.

I even bought a cheap universal remote thinking I could program it to turn on the Sony streaming player. False. None of the Sony codes would work with the device. Lastly I called Sony tech support only to be told that indeed there is no way to turn on the device without the remote, and I could order a new one for $45. Forty-five dollars? Are you kidding? The streaming player itself was $99, who would pay half that price for a new, cheap remote (pictured below). I asked them if there was a way to program a universal remote only to be told they can’t help me unless I have a Sony universal remote and I’d have to call Phillips to see if they could help.

What a mess… I find it hard to believe that the ONLY way to turn the device on is with a cheaply made $45 remote you can only get through Sony. Not cool. I think I’ll be selling this device and getting an Apple TV.

Amazon pokes fun at iPad Mini

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

If you visit Amazon today you’ll see this on the front page:

I’ve had the 7″ Kindle Fire HD for a few weeks now and I’m in love with it, so I’ll have to agree with Amazon, the Fire HD is the better buy. Don’t believe me? Just check the specs Amazon points out. Sure for $130 more you’ll have a wider range of apps to choose from (the smaller selection of apps available for the Fire is its only downfall in my eyes), but just look at what you’ll be missing out on. The Fire HD’s screen is stunning. Don’t believe me? Just play with one in a store. Watch a movie, view pictures, read a magazine. It’s a downright amazing screen. The speakers on the Fire HD are even better. The sound quality is great, and it can actually get pretty loud which is a nice improvement over the original Fire.

Don’t think I’m just hating on Apple. I use (and love) a MacBook Pro and iPhone 4. I just think Amazon makes the best tablet for me.

Chris Pirillo unboxes a Microsoft Surface tablet

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

Chris Pirillo, who I consider to be THE source for technology news and insight, unboxed a Microsoft Surface tablet live on YouTube the other day and I thought I’d share the video below. Very thorough video. Personally I’m happy with my Kindle Fire HD and if I did want to step up to the next level (so to speak) my choice would be between the Fire HD 8.9″ or the iPad. The 7″ Fire HD does everything I want a tablet to do, and it does it well. Browsing the web is great, video looks amazing, and games work well on the Fire (love that Minecraft is now available. It plays great!). I’ll post more on the Fire later. For now, the Surface:

Loot Crate, October 2012

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

Just received my October LootCrate yesterday, and here’s a quick look at what’s inside:

 

This month’s Halloween themed LootCrate included a nice Diablo III shirt, zombie jerky, zombie ‘pea brains’, a zombie hunter dog tag, a ‘health / love potion’, vampire teeth, some zombie buttons and a membership card (don’t believe I’m forgetting anything).

Pretty nice bit of loot this month. Like what you see? Sign up for LootCrate (LootCrate.com), a subscription ‘goodie box’ service. For just under $20 a month (which is including shipping) you’ll get a box filled with geeky / nerdy goodies each month.

I also wanted to share the video below by TobyTurner supporting LootCrate. I love Toby, and think it’s cool that Loot Crate chose him to advertise their product.

Quick glance at the Kindle Fire HD

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

My Kindle Fire HD (7″, 16gb) arrived today and unfortunately I have to head into work in a few minutes so I haven’t had enough time to play with it to write something more thorough. Instead I’ll share a few pictures below. I’ll post a more detailed look at the device in the near future. For now I can say it’s incredibly sexy, the screen is amazing and the device feels great in the hands. I also love the updated OS, and the new powerful speakers are much louder and sound great.

Kindle Fire HD on the way

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

So I had sold my old laptop and Kindle Fire and was planning to use the money to purchase an iPad, however after playing with the Kindle Fire HD I found myself hooked. I loved the first generation Kindle Fire, even though at times it felt limited (especially in the app department). The Fire HD looks incredibly sexy, and I like the ease of accessing my various content in the Kindle environment. Unfortunately only the 7″ 16gb model is currently available. The 7″ 32gb model ships in a little more than a week, and 32gb would be a welcome upgrade, but I’ll settle for 16 which is still twice the size of the first generation Kindle Fire (and the second generation Kindle Fire which also has only 8gb of storage).

I’ll post ‘unboxing’ photos (maybe video) and my first impressions throughout the weekend.

Sirius XM, worth another shot?

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

Nowadays nobody listens to the radio. Instead most people have turned to streaming services such as Pandora and Spotify, and that’s not such a bad thing, but I think you lose something when you turn to these automated services. I’m a Pandora One subscriber and I enjoy the service, however I find myself skipping unfamiliar songs all too often, trying to listen to only my favorite songs. Also Pandora is just too robotic. By that I mean there’s no human interaction. Just song after song. For some this is a good thing, however I’m starting to think it’s not for me.

Furthermore, Pandora doesn’t often play brand new music. That’s why I’ve decided to give SiriusXM another try. I had been a subscriber to XM before the merger and enjoyed it, however in the long run I had to cut the service from my budget. Now I think I may end up getting a Sirius radio for my car.

I’m currently on a 30 day trial of SiriusXM Internet Radio, which lets you stream the service via your computer or phone and it’s been quite enjoyable. I’ve already discovered quite a few new songs I hadn’t heard through Pandora, and I like the human component. I love the news breaks and commentary by the DJ’s. Furthermore it’s nice to be able to listen to the news via CNN or MSNBC if I feel like it, or check out ESPN Radio and SportsCenter throughout the day. There’s also streaming play by play, and of course Howard Stern!

I’m enjoying it so far, and look forward to having the service in my car again. I’d use the app on my phone in the car, except I don’t have 3G coverage until I drive an hour off base.

Sidetracked by Mists of Pandaria and Guild Wars 2

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

 

 

For the first time in a long while I spent the good majority of a weekend in front of a computer. In part it had to do with the fact that I would possibly have to head into work at any given time, but the main reason is my friend and I dove headfirst into World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, and for the first time since I first played WoW I got sucked into the game entirely. The quest progression was actually fun, and we kept going on to find out what we’d see next. The new area is fun to explore, the dungeons are fun to run, and the pet battles are surprisingly addicting. I didn’t experience anything that made me want to stay in the world for hours on end during any other expansion (probably in part because when I first started playing, Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King were already out). After spending the majority of the weekend in Pandaria we’re both level 87 and just slightly burnt out. In the end it was a good time.

Guild Wars 2

I also decided to give Guild Wars 2 a try. I was actually convinced to purchase it mostly because ArenaNet released it for the Mac so quickly. As a new Mac user I feel it’s my duty to support companies that reach out to Mac gamers instead of making Mac gamers use BootCamp or emulators to play their games.

I’ve only spend about an hour in Guild Wars 2 so far, but it’s been an enjoyable experience. Guild Wars plays very differently from World of Warcraft so far. It’s more about experiencing the world and working together with other players, rather than working against them (or being annoyed by them). If you’re on a quest you’ll see other players working on the same quest and you naturally, and fluidly work together to complete the objectives. What I mean is, you don’t have to ‘group’ or anything, you just work together and it feels natural, and you each get your own experience and loot. Beyond standard quests there are world events that are happening all around and you can jump in and help complete the objectives, such as fight a boss, without having to accept a quest or anything. Stuff is just happening in Guild Wars 2 and you decide your role.

What if your wallpaper was digital?

Posted on by GumballsPlaysGames

So I had a random thought tonight and I figured I’d just run with it. What if there was wallpaper that was actually a think, digital, HD screen that covered the walls in the rooms of your house. And let’s say this wallpaper can connect to your computer via WiFi.

Now on your computer there’s a program in which you can enter any room in your house and click on a wall and ‘drag and drop’ designs, posters, and pictures that would all instantly appear on that wall in your house. You could change the color of your walls depending on your mood. You could change any picture ‘hanging’ on your wall whenever you felt like it. You could make ‘posters’ and drag them wherever you please. You could decorate for the holidays with ease.

How cool would it be to drag something from your computer screen and drop it onto a wall? A picture, or a movie even. Having a party? Project the iTunes visualizer onto your walls. Why not?

You’ve seen it in Sci-Fi movies. Walls that reflect the weather outside, or different scenes of nature (or cityscapes). When will it be coming to your home?

You could use projectors, but I think a thin sheet like fabric would be cool. And it should adjust to the light levels in the room as necessary and of course it should be able to be dimmed or shut off while sleeping.

So anyway, just a random train of thought I had tonight in my fatigued state. A guy can dream.