Microsoft announced at E3 this year that the Xbox Dashboard would be getting revamped, more than that, it would be getting replaced by a newer supposedly better user interface. There are two parts of this that I am interested in, one being what the new interface will be, what new features it will have and how I will feel about the console I have come to know and love changing. The other is the fact that Microsoft is updating millions of Xboxes all over the world with nothing more than a download via the internet – something that I find staggering as the Xbox Live system will only be down for 24 hours.
Judging from the keynote speach at E3, the change will be a big one but not necessarily a good one. The new interface is drab – grey and black, not the colourful one that greets me currently. Lovely oranges, reds purples, greens and blues will be banished in favour of a more PS3 meets Wii style menu.
Next is the introduction of avatars. The most annoying creation of recent years in my opinion. You can spend half an hour creating a virtual character that is ridiculous and looks nothing like you. Designed so you can share more of your personality with the online community. No thanks. With the new interface when I sign in to Xbox Live and go to my ‘buddy list’ , god help me the American influence, I will now see stupid characters standing around on the screen instead of a list of friends. Is that better user experience? I think not.
This new interface is designed to make the Xbox more family friendly and in doing so will alienate many of its fans. I much prefer the existing Dashboard and even that of the PS3 which is clean, slick and easily navigated. In changing this, the most basic of functionality, Microsoft is trying to take some market share away from the family friendly Wii but will inevitabley dilute it’s niche market and will gamers struggle to identify with the console.
Best Feature: The ability to rip your games to your hard drive for faster loading times and reduced lag.
Worst Feature: Avatars. Trying to compete with second life, PS3’s HOME and the Wii means once again Microsoft have shown they have no imagination or creativity of their own and are simply copying the other guy.
In other words i think Microsoft have shot themselves in the foot with this one, but the technical skills involved with doing so are so mindboggling that I can;t wait to try it out.
I found this ad on YouTube. Its pretty lame really but Microsoft has spent $300 million on a new ad campaign with the ‘…and I’m a PC’ guy from the Apple ads in a similar style. I’m looking forward to seeing those.
Someone in the marketing department should be fired…
To start I would like to say that if someone shows you how to do something with an object that said object was not specifically designed to do, make sure they know how to put it back to the way it was.
Also we tried looking for a solution to the problem but Google came up with nothing relevant. So I thought I would contribute the solution to the world.
My dad had just such a problem with Murcielago air scoops affectionately known as bat wings. They are designed to raise out of the sleek lines of the car when you go above 50km/h to increase airflow to the engine. There is a button on the center console of the car to allow you to raise them at your whim but the engine needs to be running and so obviously the key needs to be in.
Someone told my dad how to ‘fool’ the car into keeping the bat wings up without the engine running. So without a second thought, he did it and, it worked – the engine was off and the bat wings were up. So how do you get them down? When you press the button on the center console the dash reads “FAULT”.
Here’s how to do it but more importantly how to PUT IT BACK courtesy of my father.
“Keeping bat wings up to either clean them or pose:
- start engine
- push bat wings up button
- wait for wings to fully extend
- open engine cover
- have somebody ready to switch off battery isolator
- switch of engine with key
- immediately switch off battery isolator
- wings will now stay up regardless of battery switch or ignition position and engine operation
- Bat wings fault light will indicate fault on dash if push button operated
Returning to normal operation:
- turn battery isolator off
- turn battery isolator on
- hold bat wings push button down
- turn on ignition but do not start engine
- wait for bat wings to fully retract
- start engine
- test bat wings open / close with push button
Done
Have fun! Need I say more?
A protective covering for the PS3 has been released and instead of having the usual crazy designs on the front, it actually has a mould of a scary skull as if trying to break free from the console. This represent a new concept for case mods not only for consoles but for PCs as well. Perhaps a Gears Of War one for the 360 would be appreciated with the upcoming launch of the sequel? Just a thought.
Again, not much time to post about this but I thought I’d share more comical accessories that I find floating around the interweb. Its a USB powered hand warming mouse-mat… that looks like a shark is biting your arm off.
Seriously, where do they come up with these ideas?
Have a look at this little gem.
Article here
I recently had the opportunity to take some pictures of a Lamborhini Mercielago. The full set is on Flickr.
