Tablets - Large square tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab

I bought Samsung Galaxy Tab a few months ago, because I was really interested to find out if there was anything to this tablet computer craze that swooped over the techscene during last year. I was about to buy iPad 2, but then I came into the conclusion that it was just too expensive for my budget also I did not like the fact that Apple controls the applications you can install on iPad. Then I found Samsung Galaxy Tab. I got myself a used one at half the price what a new one would cost and the device was only a few months old so it was a very reasonable deal.

I admit that I am a bit of a addict when it comes to Internet. I spend way too much time in front of my  computer. Tablet does not solve this but when I am reading news or checking Twitter or YouTube videos it is just perfect. Especially in the evenings it is much better to read news from a smaller screen than blast your brains with a light from a 24" monitor. At least for me it does improve my sleep quality.

At least when it comes to iPad it has been gaming that everyone has been buzzing about. In the case of Android devices I haven't found any games that would be that interesting. The quality is all right but nothing that will revolutionise gaming. Galaxy Tab comes with NOVA which is okay for a fps-game. The gyroscopic control is all right but sometimes you find yourself pointing into very strange directions. It needs some improvements.

What is BIG PIECE OF STINKING POO-O is the updating system of Galaxy Tab. Why on earth do you need to install Kies before you can update the firmware. The whole system is just complete bollocks, because my HTC Wildfire is able to do updates over wi-fi. Don't tell me that wi-fi is not reliable. > :( It gets better. The Galaxy tab can't be charged via USB when it is connected to a computer. Woohoo. The update process takes a lot of power (for some reason) and if the battery of your device is not fully charged you will need to cancel the update process and recharge your device. ISN'T THAT MOTHER FUCKING CONVENIENT OR WHAT?!?

In my mind tablet computers are fun innovations that have lot of positive sides but so far I think they still have some drawbacks that limit the usability.

How do you use your tablet computer? Was it worth the money?

The Winner Stands Alone - Paolo Coelho

Yeah, read The Alchemist instead.

Apple Remote - A quick complaint

Maybe a week ago I bought the latest addition to my collection of Apple products - I got myself an iRemote or is it Apple remote. iCan't remember. My problem was that I wanted something that would control both picture and sound with the same remote. Unfortunately Apple Remote meets only half of my requirements.

iRemote or Apple Remote (which one is it anyway)

Apple Remote does work quite well at controlling Front Row. Browsing through your music library, photos and videos is a breeze. Here's the catch, Apple Remote only controls the master volume of the whole computer it does not control the volume level of the music/video player being used. 

Why is this a problem? Well, because I use the optical audio connection of my MacBook Pro to feed audio to my stereo. As we all know when you use optical audio it isn't possible to control the master volume of the computer. Therefore it would be really cool if Apple Remote would control the volume of the player (iTunes/Quicktime) being used. Then it would be possible for me to use just one remote when I watch/ listen material from my laptop. I would just adjust the volume level of my stereo to one level and that would be it, then continue using just Apple Remote. Somehow it is a bit stupid that if you use the better quality sound connection you can not adjust the volume at all using Apple Remote. Apple has a reputation for making products that are easy to use and which operate flawlessly. I guess Apple Remote is an exception to the rule. Who is sleeping at the design department?

If you know how to fix this please drop me a comment.

I can't see you

Once again a book by Paul Auster has found a way to hands. This time I read Auster's newest novel titled "Invsible". It was first published in 2009. This was the third book by Auster I've read. The other two being "Mr. Vertigo" and "Brooklyn Follies". The links guide you to the blog entries that I wrote about those books.

Auster: Invisible (Photo by the author)

Unsurprisingly the book takes place (where else but) in New York with a French connection. It tells the story of Adam Walker and what happend to him during 1967. Auster is a brilliant story teller no doubt about it. He writes in a way that makes the story flow with ease and unexpected twists and turns are placed perfectly. "Invisible" is a thriller, love story and a growth story all at the same package and it is  executed with great precision.

Let it be emphasized, I did enjoy reading this book.

Auster has found the winning formula that goes without saying. When you compare "Brooklyn follies" and "Invisible" I found some points that I find a bit of annoying, mainly because my own world view is compatible with these points and I know Auster has written these points in because he knows people like me enjoy them. This only means that he knows his audience very well. The most prevailing of these points is the intellectual East-Coast university sentiment that is so overwhelming that is hyper analytical and self-concious.

The second point that annoys me is sex and how Auster always needs to put some of it in his books. Yes, yes it is part of being human and quite large part. (The fundamental part?) Sometimes it just seems that the sex is there to get a reaction. In this book there is a sexual relationship that annoyed me. First I was disgusted. Then I tried to explain why the characters did what they did based on their tragic childhood. After that I wanted to kill myself for trying to explain the thing out. Maybe it's just my own problem. Why do I need to analyse everything?

Stargate Universe - it's all over

It is over now. The Stargate franchise will not have show running in the near future. Poo. Stargate Universe was the unique project that pushed the Stargate franchise to another level. In away it did what it promised, but it did not attract enough audience to get the advertisers to buy commercials.

I did like Stargate Universe right from the get go. The setting was new and exciting and there was different types of characters in the cast which created tensions within the crew. There were also fun story lines like the initial powering up of Destiny, power battle between Rush and Young and the main plot line of Destiny's mission was really exciting. I was not so crazy about the invasion of Lucian Alliance to Destiny and the drones were a bit old.  The plot line of Lucian Alliance attacking Destiny tied the series too deeply to the previous Stargate series'. They should've focused more on the new galaxies and find the stories from the new planets and cultures Destiny met or one alternative would have been to explore Destiny's various nooks and crannies. For example, there could have been new technologies that could have created problems or some creatures that would attack the crew.

With it's flaws the show started to get better this season and it is a shame to see it go. However I did like the ending which enables the show to pick up where it left off. That might be sooner than we expect.