Gaming for Fall

The dust has settled from E3 and the following are on my radar

• Skyrim
• Bioshock Infinite
• Uncharted 3
• Starhawk
• Battlefied 3

  

That’s over $300 worth of games!!! Ouch!!  

Listening to Music

I feel like I’ve transitioned to listening exclusively to podcasts.  I have Jill Scott, Beyonce and The Book of Mormon and I don’t think I’ve listened to the albums more than once (albeit they just came out).  That happens when I have tons of podcasts loaded that I love to listen to.  Here’s a sample of what I listen to:

• Android Central
• Buzz Out Loud  (daily) – don’t listen to much after Tom Merit left.
• Dialed In (weekly)
• IGN – Game Scoop (weekly)
• IGN – Podcast Beyond (weekly)
• Loaded (daily)
• Mac OS Ken (daily)
• Oh My Pod (daily & weekly)
• Savage Love
• Tech New Today (video) (daily)
• Tekzilla (video) (daily)
• This Week in Tech (weekly)
• Wall Street Journal (daily)
• Weekend Confirmed (weekly)
• The 404 (daily)

Is it me getting older or am I less interested in hunting for good music?  I was just observing that given the choice I will listen to my podcasts.  That could all change later.

Closer to the Touch

The date fast approaches for the HP (Palm) Touchpad and I’d like to drop my predictions.  

• There will be acclaim for the design, packaging and build quality.
• WebOs will be smooth, but people will miss all the gestures.
• Light to medium demand.
• Lots of promotional pricing.
• Low stock will lead to false demand.

Deep down I want the Touchpad to be a success.  Competition is the only way products get better.  I own a Pre and HP is offering $50 off for having a Pre.  I think that’s a nice gesture, but for a $499 device it doesn’t make much difference.  Apps make the difference.  I’ll say it again... there needs to be a Nook app. 

Most people I talk to have no need for a tablet.  They just want one.  Since I have a Nook, I’ve got my reading situation covered.  It serves its function of carrying around books (no frayed edges or extra weight on my shoulders).  My EVO is a great for browsing the web, checking my RSS feeds, Twitter, Facebook, etc. 

A tablet doesn’t fit in my tech world yet, but I want one to play with too.

Light of the Sun

Blessed is the first track...

I’m so pleased by what I hear and I'm not even finished with the album yet.  That’s a good sign.  Spoken word, thoughtful and passionate lyrics and soulful delivery already put it on par with Adele’s “21”.  I think it’s a notch above because of its concert feel.  "Hear my call" sounds like one of my own journal entries. 

“God, please hear my call. I am afraid for me.

Love has burned me raw I need your healing

I need Your healing.”

I'm glad you're back Jill!

Honeycomb

I want a tablet today not because I need it but because I want it.  I would have loved to have an Android tablet but the interface is unfinished.  The fact that Samsung had to put 2.2 (Froyo) on a tablet was a big fail.  I understand coming to market quickly is important, but when it's at the expense of the product, it hurts you.  Consumers need just one reason NOT to get your product over the HOT product.  When you're competing with a company that consistently makes slick, polished products, you've got to come out of the gate running!  PERIOD.

Honeycomb should have shipped with all Android tablets automatically.  You can't compete with the market leader if you don't have a unified interface. You have got to wow people. Give them a real interface, not a piecemeal one.  If "regular" people have to "figure it out"...they aren't going to.  They'll just go for the "easy" one that everyone has.

**I know criticized HP for not releasing the HP sooner, but it seems like they're making sure their product interface, accessories are ready to go.  Good for them.

I applaud the Android team for realizing this with Ice Cream Sandwich.  Being a consumer, I'd wait for this update before I'd buy an Android tablet.