Tag: Geek Stuff

Coffee Talk #371: You Digging Google’s New Design Efforts?

After more than a decade of releasing excellent products that were almost always on the ugly side, Google is on a mission to improve its design and UI. The tenets of Google’s design philosophy are focus, elasticity…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Canada Day, RIM’s employees writing letters to rise above, or whether Roger Federer will win another grand slam tournament, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

After more than a decade of releasing excellent products that were almost always on the ugly side, Google is on a mission to improve its design and UI. The tenets of Google’s design philosophy are focus, elasticity, and effortlessness. You can see the new design elements in Google.com, Google+, and Google Calendar. The new design is coming to Gmail in the near future. What do you ladies and gents think of Google’s new design philosophy?

As for me, I absolutely love it. Using Google+ is almost shocking. I don’t think a Google product has ever been more elegant and intuitive. I was 50/50 on Google Calendar at first, but after changing the background image I was able to appreciate its leaner design. The new Gmail design looks fantastic and I can’t wait to use it. Overall I’m super impressed with Google’s new design efforts and totally not surprised that one of the original Apple Macintosh designers (Andy Hertzfeld) is behind it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Google’s new design. Love it? Hate it? Gotta have it (think Aziz Ansari)?!?

Today’s Poll: Will You Use Google+ Project?

Google has gone official with its Google+ Project, a social network that combines features of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, BlackBerry Messenger, and more. On the plus side, it’s seems like a huge and comprehensive service. On the down side, you know there’s a problem when a company has to post six videos just to explain what a service offers.

Naturally, I have to use the service for outreach purposes (and because I have too many Silicon Valley nerd friends that will give me crap if I don’t sign up). However, I’m genuinely curious about some of Google+’s features. The mobile aspect seems like it has a ton of potential. There are millions of Android users out there and it looks like Google+ will feature super-right Android integration. That said, I’m already a bit schizophrenic from juggling my Facebook and Twitter personalities.

Anyway, check out the videos when you get a chance and let me know if you’re interested in Google+.

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People Love Final Cut Pro X, People Hate Final Cut Pro X

The reactions to Apple’s Final Cut Pro X have been fascinating. Some people absolutely love it and some people absolutely hate it. I think everyone is right. Before I explain why, enjoy the Conan O’Brien video above and let me give you an idea of my background with the Final Cut series.

I’ve been using Final Cut Pro since version 4.5. I was never a power editor and after years of experience, I can still do more with Adobe’s Premiere than Apple’s Final Cut. However, I had to learn what I could since the program was used in every studio I’ve worked with, save one (it was an Avid shop, if you’re curious). After years of use, I’m a barely competent editor on Final Cut Pro 7.

Last Friday, I went to my friends office to play with Final Cut Pro X. I absolutely loved it. For a user like me, it’s the perfect blend of power and ease-of-use. It was so much easier for me to do so much more on Final Cut Pro X than Final Cut Pro 7.

Not surprisingly, all the video editors in the office hate it. They think it’s more iMovie Pro than Final Cut Pro. They hate that it’s missing vital features like dual-camera support, the inability to export to tape, the inability to import old Final Cut projects, and much, much more.

I’m positive that Apple will restore features to Final Cut Pro X to accommodate professional users. Their complaints are completely valid. Final Cut Pro X is a fantastic program for casual users and prosumers. For editing professionals, it’s flawed and limited…for now. Until those features are brought to the new version, I’m going to sit back, grab some popcorn, and watch my video-editing friends spit venom at the program.

The great news is that this is the perfect video editing program for me. The bad news is that I’m so far away from buying a new Mac and will have to fight with Premiere until that blessed day comes. *sigh*

Coffee Talk #368: LulzSec — Internet Heroes or Anarchists?

Renowned hacker group LulzSec caused quite a stir when it announced its “Chinga La Migra” initiative on Twitter yesterday. Protesting Arizona Senate Bill 1070 — an anti-illegal immigration measure…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, your 2011 NBA draft analysis, Jim Riggleman’s job prospects, or receiving mystical jewelry from dying aliens, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Renowned hacker group LulzSec caused quite a stir when it announced its “Chinga La Migra” initiative on Twitter yesterday. Protesting Arizona Senate Bill 1070 — an anti-illegal immigration measure that encourages racial profiling — LulzSec is fighting the power by releasing classified documents on the Internet. Here’s an excerpt from the text accompanying the torrent:

We are releasing hundreds of private intelligence bulletins, training manuals, personal email correspondence, names, phone numbers, addresses and passwords belonging to Arizona law enforcement. We are targeting AZDPS specifically because we are against SB1070 and the racial profiling anti-immigrant police state that is Arizona.

Every week we plan on releasing more classified documents and embarassing personal details of military and law enforcement in an effort not just to reveal their racist and corrupt nature but to purposefully sabotage their efforts to terrorize communities fighting an unjust “war on drugs”.

Opinions on the group’s actions are split. Some are hailing LulzSec for using technology to protest a government that devotes too much attention to big-money issues and too little to social reform issues that impact citizens with little power. Others believe that this is a reckless act masquerading as a non-violent protest; the argument is that these leaked documents will lead to innocent law enforcers being harmed or killed.

I’ve been thinking about the issue for the last day and I’m still torn. On one hand, I love that these guys are using technology to make their voice heard. It’s easy to get the government’s attention when you have millions of lobbying dollars to pay off the right politicians (I’m looking at you Comcast, AT&T, etc.). Politicians are slow to act on issues that lack glamour and money like immigration reform.

On the other hand, I’d hate to see a low-ranking officer get killed because of a leaked document. I can’t imagine that everyone that works for the Arizona Department of Public Safety supports SB 1070.

I’d love to get your thoughts on the matter. What do you think of LulzSec’s actions? Are they Internet Robin Hoods or Internet anarchists? Are they fighting for people that can’t fight for themselves? Or are they misguided troublemakers?

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JK Rowling Announces Pottermore, Coming October 2011

JK Rowling has announced her plans for the web site Pottermore. The site will expand on the world of her Harry Potter books by offering new information, e-books, and interactive contests. The Leaky Cauldron has a long list of the site’s features. Here are a few:

  • Pottermore is an interactive new Web site and reading experience with more than 18,000 new words from J.K. Rowling: Much more to come.
  • JKR behind the scenes filming the video picture.
  • An online experience to read, interact with and share the Harry Potter stories. Exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling and more.
  • Pottermore will feature infromation J.K. Rowling has been “hoarding” for years about Harry Potter.
  • Pottermore will be the exclusive place to purchase the digital audio books and, at last, eBooks of the Harry Potter series.

I’m interested in Rowling’s additional stories and finally being able to purchase digital versions of the Harry Potter books, but a lot of the site’s other features aren’t my thing. And you? Are you interested in Pottermore? What features of the site excite you?

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Shaquille O’Neal Uses Tout + Twitter to Announce Retirement

In what must be labelled Retirement 2.0, Shaquille O’Neal announced his retirement using social media services Tout and Twitter. It was a very cool and very modern way to make such a big announcement. It used to be that athletes would contact an important journalist or an established news outlet to leak this kind of information. These days a lot of athletes — and their marketing teams — are taking advantage of social media services for a new kind of buzz that connects them with their fans more directly.

As for the player himself, Shaq was the most dominant center I’ve seen live. At his prime, his combination of speed and power were ridiculous. I’d rank him as the fourth-best center of all time behind Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

What do you boys and girls think of Shaq’s use of social media to announce his retirement? How will you remember him as a player? Where do you think he ranks among the all-time greats?

Amazon + Google + Zynga = Lady Gaga Superstardom

Do you remember when it was cool, modern, and edgy for recording artists to expand their reach using music videos? Compare that to what Lady Gaga is doing today. I’m impressed by how Gaga and her management team have used modern tech to make her an even bigger star. She’s promoting herself with Google Chrome and a version of Zynga’s FarmVille called GagaVille. Her new album, Born This Way, was the best thing that ever happened to Amazon’s Cloud Player service. It’s just progressive marketing and fan outreach.

Although I only like some of her music, I have a crazy amount of respect for Lady Gaga. I love the way she talks about her fans and supports the gay community. I love that she’s a fantastic role model for young people struggling with confidence and identity issues. And I love her modern multimedia onslaught! Paws up monsters!!!

Justin Leeper Talks Still Man Fights

Some of you know Justin Leeper as an old Game Informer editor. Some of you know him from his writing in the SmackDown vs. Raw videogame series. A few of you know him from his comments on this very site. Now you can meet Justin Leeper, author of Still Man Fights!

In this interview, Justin Leeper talks about Still Man Fights and how his experiences in gaming, pro-wrestling, stunt choreography, and writing came together in the book. Find out why people are saying that it’s great for A Game of Thrones Fans and how the book’s fight scenes are similar to combat in Infinity Blade.

Kindly check out the interview and if you dig what Justin has to say then please check out his book.

Ashton Kutcher and UberMedia Launch A.plus Twitter App

Celebrity nerd Ashton Kutcher has teamed up with UberMedia to launch a Twitter app call A.plus. The app runs on Adobe Air (Mac OS and Windows) and is available now. Even though geeks should hate him on paper, Kutcher is actually a pretty savvy tech enthusiast and investor. He’s also one of the most popular Twitter users in the world. I’m curious to see if his popularity will help this app take off.

I’m going to give A.plus a spin this week. It’ll be tough letting go of TweetDeck, but I’m always down to try something new and exciting. How about you? Any interest in A.plus?

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Amazon Now Selling More Kindle Books Than Paper Books

Amazon has announced that in less than four years, it is now selling more Kindle books than paper books — hardcover and paperback combined. While the e-book market is booming, the numbers are still surprising and impressive. Here are some factoids from Amazon’s press release:

  • Since April 1, for every 100 print books Amazon.com has sold, it has sold 105 Kindle books. This includes sales of hardcover and paperback books by Amazon where there is no Kindle edition. Free Kindle books are excluded and if included would make the number even higher.
  • So far in 2011, the tremendous growth of Kindle book sales, combined with the continued growth in Amazon’s print book sales, have resulted in the fastest year-over-year growth rate for Amazon’s U.S. books business, in both units and dollars, in over 10 years. This includes books in all formats, print and digital. Free books are excluded in the calculation of growth rates.
  • In the five weeks since its introduction, Kindle with Special Offers for only $114 is already the bestselling member of the Kindle family in the U.S.
  • Amazon sold more than 3x as many Kindle books so far in 2011 as it did during the same period in 2010.
  • Less than one year after introducing the UK Kindle Store, Amazon.co.uk is now selling more Kindle books than hardcover books, even as hardcover sales continue to grow. Since April 1, Amazon.co.uk customers are purchasing Kindle books over hardcover books at a rate of more than 2 to 1.

Kindles are cheaper than ever before. Kindle software is available on millions of devices, spanning popular platforms like Windows PC, Mac OS, Android, iOS, BlackBerry OS, and Windows Phone 7. It’s just faster and more convenient to buy a digital book rather than a paper one. That said, I’m still surprised by the popularity of Kindle books. How about you? Are you surprised that Amazon is selling more e-books than tree-killing books? Also, shouldn’t you buy a copy of Still Man Fights for Kindle?