This is pretty cool. It sounds like once AMD gets their hybrid graphics hardware to act stably, entry level gaming systems will be available at the sub $1000 range ($599 speculated in this blog). It is a good move on AMD’s part to try to make the CPU seems less important to system performance since they are unable to over take Intel. However, recall that Intel has also recognized the importance of the GPU moving forward so AMD will not find this to be an easy to fight either. This all, though, is good for the customer who will have all sorts of computer choices available to them because the competition between Intel, Nvidia, and AMD/ATI. I look forward to seeing how things are in 2009 as this war heats up.
Daily Archives: April 25, 2008
Rockstar Invites You into its Social Club
This is a neat way to establish a community for elite gamers and extreme GTA fans. The “Police Blotter” is quite clever, especially if it feeds back into game play.
Dash Expression, Navigation and Traffic via Car Network
Finally, an a car navigation system that I might consider using. The “Dash Express” link cars together over wireless and cellular networks to provide real traffic condition information. It sounds like only a few cars with the device are needed to provide traffic data, though, I imagine the more cars on the network the better. I wonder, though, can they get enough users to make this viable and I wonder why they didn’t license the technology to companies such as Garmin that already have a stong present in mobile GPS. It would be much easier for me to part with $400 for something I know other people will eventually buy than to take a chance on a start-up company that is challenging a fortified hill. There’s a video embedded in the article, so here’s a link back to the orginal article.
Women Lead in the Use of Some Technology
Some of this this is a little surprising given how male focused technology is typically thought of being. As I’ve worked with the ICS Web 2.0 team, lately I’ve come to question my perception of women and technology, in particular “Mom.” Quite often we think that something has to be so easy a “Mom” can use it. However, “Mom” is not what she used to be. Moms are college educated, they may still work or used to work in offices with PC’s and what not, and Moms are at home using technology and integrating technology into their lifestyle. It totally makes sense that Moms with young children would have to time shift in order to watch the programming they want because tots dominate the TV during their waking hours. It totally makes sense that women participate more in social networking activities — it’s just another way to, or, extentions of existing ways to maintain connections that have always been present. Duh! When you think about it. Yet, I would say the perception that women are not as tech savvy as men persists. I challenge myself and others to think differently and to really consider these “Duh!” situations in which technology seamlessly fits into women’s lifestyles, rather than coming at if from the perspective of “dumbing down” or “pinking” technology for women.
Females Lead In Use Of Certain Tech: Survey
Coming in 2009 in Spectacular 3D
It looks like 2009 will be the year the movie studios start foisting 3-D movies on us in a effort win more profits off of higher tickets prices and to combat piracy. Piracy is not mentioned in this article, but I’m sure it’s a big underlying reason since the same experience cannot be delivered on the small screen. I imagine syched dual images at 144-fps makes for a HUGE file(s) that will require new software, a monster computer to crunch through the file/s, and a higher refresh rate montitor (highest I’ve heard of is 120-Hz) making pirating a 3-D movie pointless. As for the 3-D ready TV’s, my understanding is that 3-D is all generated in hardware via a firmware upgrade in the TV. The source is a 2-D feed that was never shot specifically in 3-D. I don’t know how that compares to something that was shot in to 3-D, but I’ve experienced TI’s 3D TV and it’s taxing on the eyes and the brain. However, the movie studios forget that people are happy watching pirated movies shot by a camera on a cell phone, so I imagine it will not deter piracy. I agree, though, that the premium that can be charged for a viewing a 3D film will keep the studios and theatres rolling in the dough until home technology catches up. As for watching a 3-D movie with current technology — I can’t imagine sitting through 3-hours of “Titanic” due to the quality of the story and eye strain. The same goes for “ET” which I could not even get through when I was little. (Like the “Lion King”, “ET” causes me to go unconcious about 15-mins into the movie and then I come to in the last 10-mins. Imagine the frustration of my parents who took me to see “ET” at least 3 times in an attempt to be good parents, only have me fall asleep every time. Imagine my high school friends who dragged me to the “Lion King” at least 3 times, only find me knocked out in the middle of the movie. They are all convinced that I have a very small dark heart.) I don’t think 3-D would help those movies for me …
What does this all mean? Servers and storage BABY!
Here’s a link to the article.
More Rambling 