Yearly Archives: 2012

Google Street View Disappointment

When has Google Street View gone too far?

You’ve all heard the stories of people offended by Google Street View, having invaded their privacy. The tales are amusing, and always about someone else. These people are shown walking down the street, pissing in their garden, doing something in their home windows, etc.

We recently purchased a lot in cottage country, and too my surprise, the out of the way lake road is on the frickin Street View with images of the lot entrance and lot numbers. It’s not exactly looking in my windows or catching me doing something embarrassing, but I still find it disturbing that our no-longer private country retreat is as open to the Internet as our house in the city.

This is hardly a major violation of privacy, but it is definitely sad, and brings to light how little privacy we all have these days, even simply getting away to the lake for the weekend.

BlackBerry Playbook Update 2.1.0.560

Last week RIM made available to developers and beta testers a new version of the OS for the Playbook tablet. To get the 2.1 beta download you have to request it via this link, and it will show up on the device soon after.

The only new features I’ve noticed as a user, are being able to use the new apps from the v.2.0 update in portrait mode. So apps like Contacts and Messages for example, you can now turn the tablet and they rotate. Wow! Amazing! RIM is so on the cutting edge as usual. But the app rotation is really slow to occur. After rotating the Playbook you have to wait an annoyingly long moment to see it happen. And the other new feature is having Android apps display and run in their own window. Before they all ran inside an obvious emulator app window. Yes, once again, a profound new concept in modern app appearance, display an app in it’s own window.

So the only 2 features that are noticeable to the typical user were once again things that we would have expected by default in any modern tablet, and I know I was fully expecting in the long awaited 2.0 update a short while back. But at least they are finally here, so when I take my PlayBook off the shelf (which is rare) to use instead of my Android based Asus Transformer Prime (which I use daily) I can rotate the screen. Good job RIM! We were expecting those apps and the ability to rotate them I think over a year ago when you released the PlayBook.

Drive (2011)

The uncomplicated storey of a mysterious and skilled car enthusiast, and his relationships with the seedy characters he finds himself involved intertwined with.

At first glance this movie appears to be a snoozer. In fact it seems to go very slowly for the most part. But I think the audience would be divided in half, between the average impatient viewer, that sees only the the surface and is bored. And the more astute viewer that is impressed with the subtle nature of everything that happens.

Our lead, Ryan Gosling, is not an actor I personally have watched a lot in film. But in Drive there is no doubt he has mastered the nack for conveying emotions (and even dialogue) in subtle facial expressions and mannerisms, as well as minimal conversation. And that is the key to making this slow paced suspenseful show work. In this film he reminds me of the late Charles Bronson, who was famous in his movie career for playing many of his roles with this type of quiet strength.

Ryan Gossling is nothing if not impressive in Drive.

9/10

Limitless (2011)

Take an average loser, give him a stash of intelligence enhancing pills, and set him loose on a roller coaster of life’s adventures, and you have the plot for Limitless.

It’s a slightly less than typical Hollywood movie, unique enough to keep your attention for the duration. Neither a great movie nor bad, just good enough to enjoy. The lead is lone-wolf enough to want the typical movie watcher root for the underdog.

7/10

Leap Motion

I just heard about a new hands-free motion sensitive computer interactive device from Leap Motion. For those that need it dumbed down, it’s a thingy that allows you to move stuff on the computer screen like in a sci-fi show.

They are taking pre-orders, and I think I’ll jump onboard as the thing is only $70US plus delivery. Unfortunately they aren’t shipping till December 2012 or later, so it makes you wonder if the thing is for real. That’s the type of ridiculous lead times on new products as RIM generates, so it makes you question if it will actually come out or be outdated by the time it does. You know, like every product RIM has put out in the last number of years. But the promotional videos look great.

You can read all about it on their website, so get the details there.

John Carter (2012)

Take a rebel cowboy/soldier from the 1800’s, transport him against his will to a colonized Mars, and make him a rebel fighter of the resistance in a Martian war. And you have the plot for John Carter.

Several of the reviews I read when this movie was released complained about how confusing the plot was, and how no one can figure out what is going on, but it was fun to watch. Those reviewers were obviously watching some other movie. And if you are too freaking dumb to follow this movie, and the incredibly well defined story line, then you should go the way of Darwinian idiots. That means you are simply too dumb to live. That was the thought that went through my mind as I was watching John Carter, expecting a bizarre and confusing action movie. Not the case in the least.

John Carter is somewhat refreshing compared to the typical Sci-fi flic. However there are man similarities to the movie series known as Star Wars. Then again, any original Star Wars fan knows that George Lucas admitted early on in the original movies success, that he was simply incorporating the basic elements that make a good exciting story. And John Carter follows the exact same formula; the abandoned young hero with special skills, a hero on his own, a heroin that initially doesn’t like him, a war, a rebel alliance, proving yourself to others, yadda yadda, you get the picture.

I liked the show. It’s a bit campy, and often has the odd feel of 70’s bad Sci-Fi. The lead guy is hot yet not a pretty boy. It’s somewhat unique overall, well done and a lot of fun to watch. If you like Sci-Fi and action films it’s an easy sell.

8.5/10

Cuisinart Keurig Coffee Maker

I’ve purchased 2 of the Cuisinart Keurig single brew coffee makers in the past year. One for home and one for the office. They work very well, and for making one or a few cups of coffee or tea at a time, it’s a great convenience. Once you have one of these it’s like doing without a microwave in your kitchen, you simple fall in love with the convenience.

The first one I bought (July 2011) stopped working, the pump would run but little or no water would come out, and the display was acting up. I contacted the mother company (Conair Corporation) customer service and was told to simply send it back if it’s under the warranty period for repair or replacement. Warranty on the model SS-700 is 3 years. The manual insisted on the user sending a $10 money order for processing on all warranty returns, yet the woman on the phone said it’s no longer required and not to bother.

So I sent it back in the original box with a letter explaining the issues and my return address, and in about 2 weeks I received a brand new unit, delivery paid.

Time will tell if it was just a bad machine or if these coffee makers have a short lifespan, but regardless, this is excellent customer service, and I commend Conaire and Cuisinart on such fantasic customer care.

The Cuisinart brand is often a little more money than other brands, but you typically get what you pay for, and here is another example of that fact.

Puncture (2011)

The only draw to the movie initially for me was Chris Evans. In the end, it was still the only reason I watched it. It’s quite a dark and gloomy tale. Apparently based on a real story of a lawyer that struggles with his own drug addiction, and righting a wrong in the US medical supply industry.

There is absolutely nothing fun or uplifting about this. It’s sad and depressing throughout. You don’t watch this type of movie for escapism. The story is slow to get going, but becomes interesting and holds your attention till the end.

I haven’t researched and confirmed the authenticity of the story this movie portrays, but if it is at least loosely true, it is educational (if nothing else) on the abuses that occurs in big business, when money is more important that life.

6/10

Chronicle (2012)

The chronicles of 3 friends that develop super hero like powers.

I wasn’t expecting the entire movie to be shot in the jerky-annoying-handycam Blair Witch Project style. As the movie progresses, it becomes less annoying, and the cinematography starts to show a little more professionalism. Not a lot, but some. The first part of the movie comes across very low budget and poorly done. But we later discover that the special effects are not scrimped on, but rather well done.

The quality of the initial part of the movie is quite bad, so you have to stick it out and wait for it to improve. If you appreciate this type of movie, ride out the crappy first 15 minutes or so, and you may just end up enjoying it.

One of the nice things about this flic is that it isn’t the traditional Hollywood cookie-cutter crap. It’s basically a cast of no-bodies, but they are pretty decent actors in the end.

8/10

Underworld Awakening (2012)

It’s been 9 years since the original Underworld movie, and Kate Beckinsale still looks as hot as ever in her black leather jump suit.

Assuming you are already familiar with the premise, Awakening is the 4th movie in this series. Let’s hope it is the last, as it’s a dying a slow painful death. Unfortunately, much like a vampire, I’m afraid it might keep coming back to life, worse-for-wear each time. This is by far the worst Underworld sequel yet. Calling it disappointing is an understatement. They couldn’t even find enough crappy footage to edit together a full hour and a half. Not that we’d want this half hearted crap-piece to be any longer.

It’s basically a one woman shoot. Kate is on camera almost all the time we aren’t seeing some CGI jumping around. The cast is almost entirely extras and nobodies, accept for two standouts; Theo James and Charles Dance. Theo had few lines, but had great stage presence. They made it appear like he’d end up taking the male lead, however, no one takes the male lead here, just a bunch of guys with a few lines here and there. And Charles Dance is an amazing actor. They didn’t take advantage of him in the least. I think he may have been on screen for a total of 2 minutes, and they made him out to be a wuss.

The movie spends the whole time teasing us with the appearance of Scott Speedman as Michael, but that never happens, they obviously couldn’t get him for the movie. So instead they talk about and search for his character the whole time, and even show him frozen in the tube.

The writing, the plot, the use of actors, this whole Underworld episode sucks!

4/10

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