With the release of the iPhone 3GS, Apple finally included an integrated Nike Plus receiver. All you need now is a 20 dollar Nike Plus Sensor and some way of mounting it to your shoe. After a couple of runs, I think this implementation works rather nicely.

To start off, I don’t own any Nike shoes. In the past, I never found them to be very comfortable. My preference nowadays is for Asics or New Balance. Ideally, you want to use this sensor with Nike Plus compatible footwear. There’s a cut-out inside the shoe where you’re supposed to insert the sensor.

I instead picked up a Marware Sportsuit Sensor Case. This allows the user to mount the sensor right above the shoelaces. It’s then securely fastened via Velcro.

In real world testing, I found this combo to be fairly accurate. I compared it with my normal GPS run tracking system and found the distant measurements to be only off by only 1/10th of a mile. This was without any calibration. There was only one occasion where the sensor briefly dropped its connection with the iPhone.

Aside from accuracy, I like how this system adds an interesting facet to what can sometimes be an excruciatingly tedious activity. Workouts can be setup as open or one of many goal oriented scenarios (time, distance, and calorie).

Once you’re done with your workout you’ll get a summary. You also have the option of syncing with iTunes and having your workout stats uploaded to the Nike Plus website where you can track your previous workouts and compare stats with friends.

Overall, this is a hassle free way of tracking work outs and giving individuals further incentive to pursue specific goals. On top of that, you get better than average accuracy without having to spend too much money (I’m assuming you didn’t get the iPhone 3GS just for this feature).

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• The iPhone 3GS Line

Waiting in line for the iPhone 3G S last Friday was a mixed experience. I decided to head up to The Grove Apple Store which is located next to the LA Farmer’s Market. The store employees set up two lines, one for people who had reservations and the other for everyone else. Approximately 20-25 people were ahead of me in the reservations line. Even with this fairly short line, the entire process took over 40 minutes.

I chose not to get the iPhone activated in store. As you probably already know, the activation servers got beat up on Friday. However, once I got home later that afternoon, activation went through instantly.

After a couple of days with the new iPhone, I feel it’s a solid upgrade from the previous generation. The first thing I noticed was the screen. The fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating works as advertised and also feels great. The screen feels like a slick UV-coated magazine cover.

Thanks to processor, cache and memory upgrades, real world performance gets a noticeable upgrade. Apps launch faster and the more processor intensive apps get close to running in a manner befitting their desktop counterparts (Peggle is a prime example).

I purchased a 3G about a year ago so I had to pay the $500 early adopter’s tax to get this phone. But I do believe that all of the numerous moderate to tiny upgrades combine to add a great deal of value to the total package. Have any iPhone 3G S line experiences that you’d like to share?

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After watching 30 TV episodes and one HD movie, I have no problems recommending the Roku. I also give Amazon’s video steaming service a solid thumbs up. I was considering getting an Apple TV, but several days with the Roku has put those plans on hold.

Until Apple comes out with something more compelling, the Roku is going to be a close second to my PS3 in terms of taking on the role of media centerpiece in my home theater. Setup is dead simple and while the menus could use a bit more polish, they do get the job done.

On a crappy 1.5 megabit DSL connection, Amazon’s video quality is surprisingly good. Video is generally clean and in everyday usage, it’s not hard to confuse it with traditional non-streaming media. It’s definitely approaching the quality of an upscaled DVD.

Gran Torino HD looked decent. Crappy bandwidth is what kept me from enjoying the full HD resolution. A few extra megabits would have smoothed things out. But in the end, that didn’t keep me from enjoying this film. There were only two scenes where I saw some excessive pixelation.

The overall variety of titles is a noticeable step up when compared to Netflix’s streaming service. From a casual glance, I’d say that the iTunes store offers a much better selection of titles but I’m not fond having to manage a collection of large video files locally. If Apple wants the Apple TV to succeed commercially, streaming media will be the feature set that Apple needs to embrace going forward.

The Roku/Netflix combo was and still is a great deal. Adding the Amazon Video On Demand store to the Roku is another great way of tapping into your favorite TV shows and films.

Is there room for improvement? Sure, first off I wish they would put out a firmware update so I can add Netflix films to my queue without ever having to use a PC. Cleaning up some the menu kludge and adding 1080p support (maybe requires a hardware refresh?) would get this device into the land of near perfection.

As it stands right now, the Roku is a great home theater addition and the convenience of video streaming far outweighs its minor imperfections.

[Pic from Wired]

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• Upgrading the Home Network

Time to put some pep back into my network. After several years of mostly reliable service, I’ve thrown out my old Linksys router. An AirPort Extreme Base Station has taken its place and for expandability, I’ve included an HP ProCurve 8-port gigabit switch.

Why the upgrade? Well, I’m tired of my MacBook occasionally losing its Wi-Fi connection. I’ve also added a PS3 and Roku to my network, so I need more connectivity options. And finally, that 10 megabit WAN side connection is primitive by today’s standards.

This marriage of Apple and HP works great. After several weeks of heavy use, performance remains fast and consistent. MacBook Wi-Fi issues have disappeared and I have plenty of extra gigabit ports. Eventually, I’ll get some kind of home server (hurry up, Apple!) so I can stream videos to my HDTV.

If you’re wondering why I went with the HP switch, it mostly comes down to reliability. I was considering something from Linksys or D-Link but the reviews were lukewarm. The exterior of the HP has a sturdy old school feel and with all things considered, it’s not overly pricey. I’ve had zero performance/reliability issues with this switch.

With only two devices and some cables, my computers, home theater equipment, printer, and Nintendo DSi all work in harmony. If you want a reliable/simple home network, you might consider going with a similar setup.

[Pic from Apple.com]

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Resident Evil 5 is at the top of my current play list. The single player mode, I find is ok. But where this game really shines is with the online co-op mode. Team dynamics and not having to rely on the stupid computer AI teammate give this game added depth and replay value.

With all that co-op offers why aren’t there more games that offer this feature? I’m sure there are other titles out there but it seems that PVP style games far outpace this type of game play.

Doom, Diablo, and Diablo 2 all offered great co-op experiences. With the success of RE 5, maybe more companies will put co-op at the forefront instead of making it an afterthought.

What are your opinions? Do you enjoy co-op in video games? Any particular titles?

[Pic from Capcom]

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The iPhone version of Peggle is a great port of the original game. True, the background music is missing but everything else is intact. And who really cares about the background music? I always thought that the background music was one of the weakest elements of Peggle.

Gameplay works well within the iPhone interface. You aim the ball launcher with your finger and if you want to fine tune your aiming, you can use the controls on the right side of the screen. Instead of clicking a mouse button, you tap a fire button that’s located on the upper right corner.

Any downside? The loading time of the app is a bit on the long side and as stated above, there is no background music.

Overall, this game is just as addictive as the original. If you’re a fan of Peggle, this app will most likely get a lot of play on your iPhone. And if you’re new to Peggle and want to check out a great casual game, Peggle ranks number one. This is such an addictive game that I think it warps the definition of “casual game.” How can a game get labeled as “casual” when it brings productivity to a grinding halt?

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Tomorrow, participating shops around the world are giving out free comic books to anyone who happens to drop by. The collection of available titles is a nice mix that should appeal to a wide audience.

I was hardcore collector back in the early part of the 1990s. With certain artists jumping ship from Marvel, I eventually lost interest and focused my energies elsewhere.

I’m not saying this will get me back into comic book collecting mode, but this is a great opportunity for collectors and casuals to sample a wide selection of titles. Perhaps there’s an outside chance that I’ll be back in the world of plastic bags and backing boards. More info can be found here.

[Pic from Free Comic Book Day.com]

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I originally found this on Japan Probe. A particularly well done cute cat video.

[Leo the Cat]

From Boing Boing:

Greeted with the news that some Americans of Chinese descent were turned away from the polls because the names on their ID didn’t match with the incompetently assembled voter lists, Texas State Rep. Betty Brown (R) has proposed that they should change their names so that “Americans” can manage them better. (Um, if these people aren’t also “Americans” then why do they get to vote?)

“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” Brown said.

Name consistency would be a more effective solution. Pick one name and stick with it. Forcing people to simplify their names is just making a bad situation worse.

[Video from YouTube]

After about 100+ iPhone downloads, I’ve suffered a fair amount of buyer’s remorse. Some of these games lacked depth, while others suffered from iffy design decisions and/or poor replay value. The five listed here are examples of excellent game design and will give the user solid long-term value.

• Trism – Your typical match the same color puzzle game with a nice twist. The ability to change the orientation of the play field in a way that also changes gameplay separates this title from the rest of the field. Include a unique geometric look, different modes of play, and game play that has hooks and you have a solid winner.
• Fieldrunners – Tower defense games are another popular iPhone genre. This is the first one I know of that includes fun game play with truly excellent production values. Well-crafted graphics and sound with multiple maps will keep users happy for a long time.
• Bejeweled 2 – This office productivity sucker makes a smooth transition to the iPhone. The king of the traditional match three of the same color puzzle game. It’s Bejeweled, it’s on the iPhone, and it retains that great addictive quality. I can’t imagine what will happen once they finally release Peggle.
• Let’s Golf! – Yes, I did mention this title in an earlier post. This is more of a long-term review. This title is still going strong on my iPhone. Gameplay is remains spot-on and it’s currently the default game I go to whenever I have a few minutes to kill.
• iDracula – Proves the point that simple game play even in this day and age can still flourish if this same game play is solid in its execution. Until Diablo gets released on the iPhone, this will be my best alternative.

All of the games listed here will cost you a few bucks. But compared to what you have to pay for a PSP or DS title, these games offer great value. They have withstood the test of time and I don’t see myself deleting them off my iPhone anytime soon.

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