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31 janvier Message boardsGreat news today that my Message Boards will be ready for launch.
I shall be trying to push a lot of traffic through to the message boards because I think it's really important to get feedback and discussion about what's going on.
I may have consumed too much caffeine today - feeling a bit like Fry must have done in Futurama just before he hit 100 cups and rescued everyone from the fire (genius) VistafulVista launched yesterday, and was very successful, although the inevitable backlash has started in earnest.
Should probably point out that MSN is part of Microsoft at this point, although it is a very big part of my job to remain unbiased and not be pro any one company - including Microsoft.
But from what I have seen (and used) of Vista, it is an excellent piece of software and will be a major boon to the many of us that have Windows PCs. It seems silly to get drawn into the whole OSX v Vista v Linux debate - they all have their fans and their detractors - but from my point of view, the new Windows is a big step in the right direction.
I'll have some Vista articles up at launch - but you probably guessed that!
In other news...
Fabulous piece in the news today about Baboons deliberately going further afield in their foraging to get more exciting food. The line most of the news agencies have taken is to compare it to shopping - which is a little spurious, but I suppose it makes it easier for people to grasp - just like the figs.
Top Gear was watched in my household on Sunday and the crash footage was pretty intense. 'I could die' said Richard Hammond - just before he nearly did when the tyre blew on his jet powered car. You can watch the footage here
More news on the new message boards coming up later - to make up for yesterday's no post!
29 janvier Down with the kidsHad a fascinating weekend visiting some friends and their kids this weekend, where I was introduced to the wonder that is Guitar Hero on the PS2.
I have to admit this one had passed me by a little since arriving with a bang of publicity, but when you see a 14-year-old rocking through Heart Shaped Box and Sweet Child of Mine, you can't help but think this is a step in the right direction.
If you have had your head buried in the sand for the last couple of years, guitar hero's unique selling point is that you are given a plastic 'guitar' controller with five buttons for the chords and a strummer. The notes (buttons) then roll towards you on a belt and you try to play the right buttons at the right time and strum to play the note.
I make it sound complicated (and I managed to make it LOOK complicated too when I had a go) but it really is massively entertaining.
The weekend also gave me another chance to look at how kids behave on computers having never been without them.
Now, without wanting to date myself too accurately, my computer education started very young and on a ZX Spectrum 48k with rubber keys - so I always believe that I am firmly planted in the computer age. I was an early adopter of the internet, online gamed back when it wasn't a case of just plugging a cable in, and I had a pre-Windows PC.
However, take one look at an 11 -year-old girl building a web page (admittedly a very, very, very glittery one) as well as chatting with her mates on MSN and playing a game all at the same time and you can't help but feel like a bit of a dinosaur. And what with having a sore shoulder from waving a plastic guitar around for a few hours, I can't even suggest that the dinosaur is T-Rex. 26 janvier Gadget that needs inventingI have been doing a little poll this week amongst friends and family as to what gadgets they would most like to be invented. Had some really funny suggestions which will definitely make it into the feature. Someone suggested that they would like a 'foolproof wife entertainer' so he could get on with what he wanted to do, but I think I may leave that one out!
Also been doing a bit on Xbox 360 accessories and a couple of other pieces which will be available at launch, in February some time.
Our feeds are starting to come in now and everything is looking like a real website at last.
Finally for today, Vista launches next week and I will be doing some bits and pieces on that. It's a really, genuinely, superb piece of software that fixes a load of XP's eccentricities and looks lovely whilst it's doing it.
25 janvier Sony announcementSony finally confirmed the much rumoured release date for the PS3 last night, March which at least stopped the rumours that it was set to slip into April. However the thing that really got people talking was the price tag of around £425 for the 60 Gig version – with no cheaper 20 gig option available in Europe as yet. It wasn’t exactly a trade secret that the PS3 would be more expensive than the US on these shores, but this is a massive amount more than the $600 (c.£304) you would pay over the Atlantic. Tax is always blamed in these circumstances along with other differences outside of Japan and the US but, in truth, this is a ludicrous amount more. With the XBox 360 already hitting its stride in this county and the Wii sweeping in to widespread praise to snap up many of the more casual gamers, this might be a tough time for Sony. The PS3 WILL sell, and the 1 million units available in Europe will, no doubt, be in short supply, but with stories of unsold consoles being reduced in Japan and the tepid response from the US, it’s looking increasingly like their dominance of the console market – deservedly brought about by the superlative PS2 – is at an end. 24 janvier Coming togetherWell my channel is starting to come together, although it is taking a lot of hard work from the technical team. I am really looking forward to having the site launched so that I can concentrate on the writing side of things.
Been researching some interesting bits and pieces that will be available at launch to stay tuned for loads of features when we launch in February.
This week, I've been lured back into World of Warcraft by the expansion. Apparently it accounted for 1 in 3 PC computer games bought in Britain - and I can understand why. However, it is particularly time-demanding, which is why I have also written a feature about finding time for gadgets and technology.
There's a brilliant piece on MSN UK Cars about the top 10 police cars - which has really got people talking.
Loads of you seem to doubt that the Lamborghini Gallardo is genuinely used in Italy, but Ian Kelly insists that, should you try speeding around the roads of Salerno you may well find yourself with a photo opportunity as well as a big fine!
Which reminds me. I'll be doing a feature on gadgets in cars later in the year. 22 janvier Erased from lifeStill a little while to launch, but the days are dripping away and I know it’s going to be a tough few weeks to get everything as I want it. One of the things that happened to me in my first few weeks here was that I found a computer glitch had completely killed me from the system. No emails, no access to my laptop and I even had to give my security card back until they had confirmed that I did still work at MSN. Now, luckily, my boss decided that he wouldn’t take the opportunity to quietly rid himself of his newest staff member, but a stressed evening and a week of no mail made me realise just how easy it is these days to lose yourself. Without wanting to sound like I’m Sandra Bullock from the film The Net, (if you haven’t seen it, don’t bother it’s awful) even losing your identity for a few days is tough enough. But, it did give me a chance to get out of meetings and planning for a couple of days and get to writing some features for the launch. Welcome to the Tech & Gadgets blogHello and welcome to the official Tech & Gadgets blog for MSN UK. My name is Patrick and I shall be hoping to give you a little insight into the coolest, most shiny gadgets and gizmos that are hitting the market, or even just a twinkle in their designer's eye. MSN UK strives to bring you an unbiased and interesting slice of the technology pie, and I will be delighted to respond to your views and opinions in this blog, giving you a chance to shape the section and get what YOU want out of it. So, without further ado, let the blogging commence! |
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