• Sync with your iPhone or Android?
• Have an e-paper display that displays perfectly inside and outside?
• Work as a GPS meter?
• Work a pedometer?
• Show you your text messages?
• Control your music applications?

Pebble can? At least, it will once it’s made. They are currently on Kickstarter looking for a few bucks to help make the product. This will be amazing, and will even feature an open SDK (so anybody can make apps for it). If you can spare it, putting some money into this project is my suggestion. I just hope that for us cheap people out there, it will be a good price when it comes out.

What do you think, is this something you’d be interested in getting? And how much would you pay a watch like this? Let me know in the comments below.

[Via Android and Me]

Quick Summary: Ren, a kid from the city who loves dancing, comes to a small down named Bomont. Due to a Reverend’s son dying 3 years prior while returning from a party; all dancing, drinking, drugs, and loud music are forbidden within city limits.

Involvement difficulty: This was an simple movie to sit down and understand. There weren’t any difficult underlying tones and it was easy to enjoy the movie.

Character Development: There wasn’t an extreme amount of character development in this movie, but more of a few simply changing how they acted. The overly-cautious Reverend learned to trust in young people a little and his daughter (Ren’s target of affection) stopped acting like a harlot. Oh, and Willard learned to dance.

Setting: This movie takes place in a small down of Bomont, in the southern United States. Though what city doesn’t matter, it’s the atmosphere of the city that makes this movie actually work. The city is represented as being fairly cut off and ‘set in their ways’ compared to some larger cities. They’re also very heavily influenced by the Church, failing to abide by any form of antidisestablishmentarianism (the separation of Church and State).

Plot advancement: When the plot starts going dancing and most forms of ‘fun’ become outlawed to ‘protect the children’. Once those kids become teenagers they start rebelling, dancing where their parents can’t see them. There are those also participating in drinking and drugs, but most just dance. The teenagers are clearly unhappy with the anti-dancing laws, but haven’t got the backbone to change it. Ren comes in and becomes that backbone, showing that there are good people out there that just want to dance. Though showing of good morals, Ren convinces the Reverend and the rest of the older townsfolk that the teenagers can prove trustworthy given the chance.

Originality: This is a remake of Footloose from 1984. As far as remakes go, I guess it was all right. However, I’m a little bothered with the way they merged the two. This movie was ‘updated’ to take place in the current time, but most of the character interactions that take place are unrealistic for the current time. Take the racial factors into consideration for example; The black guy works in a cotton factory outside of town. Aside from Ren, there was no other white people working there. Not only that, there were no other mention of anybody else that works out of town except the black guy. And the football team (with exception of two): All black. But the city counsel, the church congregation, and any other figures of authority were almost entirely white.

Aside from that, the idea that everybody has Internet, cell phones and iPods but still are listening to the songs like I Need A Hero, Let’s Hear it for the Boy, and Footloose seems a little off. Don’t get me wrong, I’d complain if those staple songs weren’t in the movie but it still seems strange.

I did find that this version was much less clear-cut on what each side was standing for. In the original version, it was irrational fear of the parents versus the freedom of the teenagers to make their own mistakes. In this version I felt they tried to do the same, but I didn’t get that vibe. Honestly for a larger part of the movie I was on the Reverend’s side. Kids dance these days like they’re having intercourse with clothes on, compared to the dancing of the 80s where it was just energy, footwork, skills and being able to actually dance. This version therefore felt like it was the Reverend trying to protect the kids from acting like floozies. The movie did clean itself up later, but at the beginning it was very vague.

Oh, and there was more dancing in this one, which was one of my biggest complaints from the 1984 version.

Extras: Willard was funny, which is a requirement. I thought the Willard from the first version was just as good. He is by far my favorite character. Whoever chose him for this part did a fantastic job. Seeing him learn to dance gave me a goofy smile.

Wasted Time /VS/ Hooked Time: I felt that the move was fluent. Though I’ll admit I liked the original more solely because the actions fit the time, this movie seemed to have fewer ‘dead’ parts.

Pros: This was a fun, and fairly light-hearted movie. I still like the songs, and the dancing was pretty good. Except Ren, he just came off as a ‘Nancy-boy’.
WOW-factor(s): None.
Can-be-Improved: I felt Ariel, the Rev.’s daughter, was poorly cast. She was a good actress, but appeared as though she was in her early 20s instead of being a high school kid like the rest of the cast. This made it seem a little bit creepy given that Ren looked like he was about 15.

Rating: 7.5/10 Cowboy Hats.

Summation: Overall I liked this movie. I’m actually a little torn about if I liked it more than the first one. Watch it I felt that they made a movie based on Footloose 1984, then cherry-picked the key and memorable moments from the 1984 version so they could call it ‘Footloose’. There is more music and dancing in this one, and less teen angst which I think would be vital in any sort of a remake of a music-themed movie. I think I’d have enjoyed it better if they had remade it as if it took place in the correct era. None the less, it was worth a watch.

Now for an example: Do you want to get rid the ads from MSN Messenger/Windows Live Messenger? I have a solution for it without downloading & installing third-party software or messing around with the hosts file.

1. Open up Internet Explorer. Choose “Tools” from the top toolbar and click “Internet Options.”
2. Select the “Security” tab and highlight “Restricted Sites.” Click the “Sites” button. In the text space, the current site you are on will be displayed. Delete the text and replace it with ” http://rad.msn.com .” This is the Web address that sends advertisements to Windows Live Messenger. Restricting access stops the ads from appearing in the application.
3. Click “Add” and “OK” to close the window. When you launch Windows Live Messenger, the ads will be replaced by a generic “Windows Live Messenger” banner.

Three easy steps that will make you feel uber hacker!

Ok bye bye

What is ImTOO YouTube Video Converter?
ImTOO YouTube Video Converter takes a YouTube video of your choice and converts it into a format you can read offline or on another device (such as AVI, PSP, or FLV). This is useful if you are one of those people who would love to watch videos on your iPod, PSP or phone when you can’t get an internet connection.

What kind of features does it have?

• It can convert files from Youtube to most common video types.
• You can browse Youtube from within the application to find your videos.
• The interface isn’t complicated.

Who should use it?
Anybody who wants to copy a video to their computer to watch over and over again. People who want to watch the videos on the go will also be ideal candidates for this product.

Cons:

• The ‘free trial’ only lets you save a video up to 3 minutes. That means most videos are out, or cut off.
• The browser plug-in/bar only works in IE. I don’t know anybody who uses IE anymore.
• Though easy to use, the interface feels cheap due to the large size of icons, fonts and empty space (like most Microsoft products-cheap).

Pros:

• The program converts files, like it says it would.
• The interface is dummy-proof
• The Trial is free.

Final Thoughts
ImTOO’s YouTube Video Converter did exactly what it said it was going to do; nothing more and nothing less. Considering that it was free, I can’t really complain to much further. If you need to convert a video that is less than 3 minutes long, this program for you. If you have longer videos their Professional version is $29.99.

ImTOO YouTube Video Converter
Also available for Mac.
 
 

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I come to you today to announce Player Versus, a World of Warcraft / Gaming blog. Unlike I R Blogging this will be a more dedicated blog to a subject, where as currently I R Blogging is just whatever I want to talk about. We do this not to make you subscribe or read another page, but to direct more of a focus. Some may care about my gaming views, but couldn’t care less about everything else.

In the near future (possibly tomorrow) I’ll also be putting up some posts on 122 Review, our blog where we give things either 122 minutes (Two hours, Two Minutes) of our time, or a 122 variant (such as 122 pages of a book). Unfortunately, it died pretty quickly when it was first launched. However, we have some half-written posts that should get the chance to see the light (even if they go unread). I encourage you to keep an eye out there.

I’ll also be attempting to update the sites to post on My Twitter account when a new post is published. Following me there may be the best bet if you don’t feel like subscribing to all the other sites.

Fret not about I R Blogging, it will still be used for posts that don’t fit elsewhere. It will likely be about updates that we have or rants. If you like that, then stay tuned, because I’m sure something will provoke another rant.

I’m not actually getting into where I stand on the scale, but will point the one fact that you all should know: Next-Gen consoles are breading gamers that don’t know how to play a game.

The definition of Game:
noun /gām/ 
games, plural
A form of play or sport, esp. a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.

You’ll notice it doesn’t say “Everybody wins”. It requires skills, strength or luck. I would also add into this time. If you can open a game and have it beaten completely in 4 hours, you should ask for your money back.

Let’s compare two games; one from classic gaming and one from next-gen gaming.
Let’s go with Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988 for NES) and Halo 3 (2007 on Xbox 360).

Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of those games that if you beat it, you were it as a badge of honor. Heck, it’s fair to say if you even got to World 8 you were good. There was no cheat codes, you either knew how to do it or you didn’t. You either had the timing and skill down to hit it just right, or didn’t. You pressed two buttons and did it right to win. Button mashing wasn’t even an option for NES, unless the game required you to just press buttons quickly, which it never did.

Halo 3, on the other hand is often referred to as child’s play when it comes down to difficulty. This game can easily be beaten in one sitting, with time to spare, and you can save it. Throw in the fact that the game is engineered in the gamer’s favor so that they do not get stuck or have to over think (or think at all in most cases) to get to the end. Button mashing, grunting and yelling at the TV will easily get you through it. The game does have an extended multiplayer mode, but still on the same premise.

This brings up the question: Are games getting easier to please the new gamers, or are the gamers getting dumber? I feel the answer is yes to both. The current generation is used to winning all the time, because losing may hurt their feelings. We wouldn’t want somebody to be sad, would we?

I hooked up my N64 earlier today and popped in Perfect Dark. I will always love this game. It was challenging, but was fun. You had levels of difficulties and tons of scenarios to work with. It was FPS, but you needed to work through it to get to the end. This included the clunky, over-sized controllers and unrealistic graphics (and deadly paintball mode!). It took my brain about 15 minutes to adjust to thinking again, but it was there. Unfortunately, it took the younger gamer beside me 10 to decide it was ‘too hard’ and quit.
Newer FPS may have you controlling a whole platoon, but how often do you need to pull the trigger and come up with the strategy yourself?

Guess I’ll just become better by process of elimination. Everybody can’t be winners, they don’t give gold stars to losers. Wait, yes they do. Damn.

So what do you think about the current evolution/devolution of gaming? Let me know in the comments!

For those of you that follow me on Twitter (anybody?), I constantly update things I’ve found around the web with just a link. I’m planning on focusing a little more on content, and expanding that here. As well, I’d like to get back to writing reviews of sorts.

Keep an eye out, because I will be posting more content here in due time..this time.

Time To Review (TTR): 122 Pages

Book Intro/Preface: Ready Player One takes place in the not-too-distant future where our protagonist, Wade Watts, is in search of an ‘Easter egg’ which could reward him a late billionaire’s estate. This all happens within a virtual world called the OASIS, which has become nearly a complete replacement for the shambled and distraught real world. Every man, woman and child wants to find the egg, but it will only be rewarded to those able to solve the late billionaires obscure riddles and mazes within the game itself.

Reading difficulty: The book uses a very simple and easy-to-read tone, and contain a lot of in depth or layered context. However, it does revolve around a lot of 80′s trivia and references, which can be lost on those unfamiliar with the decade.

Character Development: Ernest does a fantastic job developing the characters attributes, as well as personalities. Given that much of story takes place in a virtual world, he has taken the liberty to indulge the reader with details of the outfits chosen by the characters to actively attribute to their personalities in a way that is near impossible outside of the game. A large part of the opening chapters is building up the characters, which in connection with the setting puts the reader into the right set of mind to imagine the story line.

Setting: The setting of the story, both in the real world as well in the OASIS, are clearly laid out and described in detail by the author. The minute details given can easily be seen by the reader as our main character, Wade, lives in the contrast of the two worlds. This provides a thriving atmosphere for the story to flourish, and the reader to connect and empathize with the characters living in this environment.

Plot Advancement: The plot and story is wonderful. The story does advance quite slowly compared to main story of similar length, however given the situation and ‘set up’ needed for the rest of the novel to work it is absolutely excusable. The Prologue more than serves it’s purpose and I feel it is absolutely needed for the story to make any sense.

Originality: Though there are an ample number of books that can place in a distraught future, none I’ve read involve so much reference to pop culture of yesteryear. This makes it more enjoyable then the typical ‘the future will suck’ stories.

Wasted Time: About 20 Pages. I love details, but some of the details that went into the setting seems (at least at this point) a little much and weren’t needed to contribute.

Hooked Time: The remaining 102 pages read. It’s a great read, I just needed to get over the ‘is he still going on about this?’ part, and get back to the story.

Pros: It’s an easy read; believable; relatable; in-a-sense, desirable.
WOW-factor(s): I love the 80′s, and I love virtual realities. The combinations of the two would be put me into a blissful coma if they truly exists.

Can-be-Improved: Cut down on the initial details of the setting and focus more on the virtual reality. It’s easier to imagine a ruined trailer park (they exist), but putting more description about a about a virtual reality system good enough to replace real life? That could use a little more attention.

Continue/End Book: Hell Yes!
If yes, how long to continue? Until I’m out of quarters.
Rating: 5 = Go buy this book.

Summation: I’m loving this story, it’s right up my ally. Any book involving the future and technology that makes me want to squeal like a little girl at the though of having some thing that cool is a book I’ll read. My only fear is when I’m done the novel, I’m done. I’d like to see the author put more stories inside the OASIS. I’ll definitely be passing this along to a friend to read when I’m done.

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