Blackberry PlayBook vs iPad on Web Fidelity {Gadgets}

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Back in September, RIM announced it was venturing into the tablet market with BlackBerry PlayBook. Matthew from RIM has made a short video demonstrating Blackberry Playbook vs the iPad when it comes to browsing the web.

On the video, Matthew quickly runs through a series of comparison tests with a PlayBook and iPad (running iOS 3.2.2), which demonstrate three things: the speed of the PlayBook Browser, its support for rich Flash content, and the performance of open web standards like HTML 5 on the PlayBook.

Useful Dog {Misc-uity}

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Possibly the happiest video I’ve ever seen. This cute Jack Russell Jesse does tricks and useful things around the house for our amusement. Jesse’s a screen dog and has appeared in commercials and even on Letterman and his owner Heather trains him with positive click reinforcement. The track on the video is called Coffee by Josh Woodward and amazingly he wants you to download it for free!

Londoners Life 4 by Phil Ryan

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Londoners Life 4 – By Phil Ryan
It’s a given that in London you see odd things. City things. Things you don’t see say in the countryside. Urban things. And though they’ve been around a while I saw a thing in town just now that left me speechless. A large man. Standing on a main thoroughfare. Outside John Lewis. In a dayglo boiler suit. An almost radioactive lime green reflective material. The words Computer Sale written all over him. Up each leg. Along his arms. On his chest. On his back. And adding indignity to indignity. On the large sail like top hat he was wearing was an arrow. Pointing to presumably the place holding the computer sale. A human billboard. With a pocket thing. Full of leaflets.

Sadly my initial thought was what must the job interview be like? That said. Oh my god. Who came up with this idea? There used to be guys holding giant signs on poles. They were always listening to something on headphones. Presumably the words “don’t kill yourself” on a constant loop. But the pole was a tangible thing. It said I’m a signpost to the golf clearout. The guy has to hold me or I’ll fall down or blow away. But the suit sign phenomenon. A black hole for human dignity. A nadir in exploitation. It’s just a few steps away from children up chimneys isn’t it? Yes I’ve seen people in costumes before on the streets. There’s a party place near where I live. They do fancy dress. Fireworks. Novelty stuff. Every now and again there’ll be a guy in giant teddy bear costume outside holding a bunch of balloons and dancing around on the pavement. He waves to the cars. We toot our horns and wave back. He waves back. We all smile and feel a little better. Of course I could have this wrong and it could be some earnest protest about the exploitation of bears in circuses. Maybe the balloons are just symbolic. Maybe the party place hires out endangered bears. Perhaps the Giant teddy is begging us to help stop this. His little dance and wave actually blind fury as we smile and wave and drive on. He’s not waving he’s shaking his fists at us. Thoughtless swine. But I like his Teddy bear suit. It’s very nice. Friendly. Evocative of childhood. Whereas the dayglo guys just look frankly naff. And conjure up slavery and low wages. Damn I can’t stop thinking about that Teddy bear now. But as a Londoner my conscience is pricked about ten times every hour.
There’s the smiling young people with clip boards. Fresh faced. Innocent. Optimistic. Students I’m guessing. Saying hello. Giving you a thumbs up. They wear little tabards saying Christian Giving. Starving Children or Africa it’s awful isn’t it. Apparently it’s called chugging. Which is shorthand for charity mugging. They try and stiff you for two pounds a month or someone will die. And secretly they hint it’s your fault. Then there’s the misery tables. Usually the pasteboard ones you buy at B&Q to paper the downstairs lav. But now covered with pictures of beagles having a fag. Monkeys wearing makeup which I thought was quite cute until the earnest young woman put me straight. I gave her a quid. But one truly unique London thing is the anti regime tables. Solemn looking people holding books of people who have disappeared. Down with the nasty regime. They want you to sign a petition. I always do. But of course I can’t help thinking A) I’m not sure the nasty regime is going to be bothered by a petition.

 Especially from a load of concerned Londoners, as currently they’re happy killing people who probably need a bit more protection than a petition but the B is the more worrying. Maybe I’ve now upset the regime by getting involved. Plus now they’ve got my name. Sometimes my postcode. Maybe they’ve got Google Street map. These guys kill people. Uh oh. But that’s another issue for another time. I guess the point is that the streets of London are now covered in stuff. Year on year. People in your way. Stopping you getting where you are going. Don’t get me wrong it’s all generally good. Big Issue. Great. Salvation Army. Fantastic. Red Poppy appeal. Marvellous. But I have to say finally there is one group of London street people that just baffles me. The Hare Krishnas. Uh? A load (sorry make that four to six) of people in thin orange pyjamas shuffling along banging a drum slightly out of time (very annoying if you feel like grooving) and repeating themselves in a sing song voice. And always two of them who don’t have all the orange gear. I saw one the other day with the orange shirty thing but wearing leather bondage trousers covered in zips and high heels. His friend had the orange pyjama bottoms but was sporting a rather fetching pink Puffa jacket with the legend Street Fighter embroidered across it with matching Ugg boots. Clearly they were half krishnas. Not quite fully orange. Trendsetters if you will.

But be careful. If you catch their eye they’ll immediately stop and try and flog you a book with some bloke and a blue elephant on the front. Or sometimes a weird looking CD. So the pavements are filling up. But do we care? Really. Does it bother anyone honestly? No. It’s a London thing.

I Just Threw This On- Cape trend AW10-11 {Fashion}

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The word ‘Cape’ conjours up images of masked super heroes. Thankfully the underwear-over-tights look hasn’t become fashionable, the cape was spotted at fashion weeks world wide and hugging celebrities in print.

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If your arms are nice and toasty inside your cape then you may have to find a willing gentleman to carry your shopping. Wear them long and tailored instead of a traditional coat, knitted as a scarf replacement or caplets to bring your key pieces up to date…Once you get over the question of what you do with your arms there are so many options and here are just a few:

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(above left) Next Black Cape, £40. Simple, smart and a great piece if you want to try the trend subtly.

(above centre) Miss Selfridge Vintage Lace Cape, £25. Sling on over a lbd for an up to date Christmas Party option or try with something black, long and ott for the gothic lolita in you.

(above right) Next Feather Cape, £25. Get the feather trend look without going overboard and nail the cape trend all in one piece.

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(above left) Reiss ‘Candy’ Stitch detail black cape, £195. Leave people thinking “How did she do the zip up?” with this cleverly cut cape with front slits for your arms.

(above centre) Cooper & Stollbrand for Asos.com, £200. Wear it with jodhpurs and boots for an instant countryside look.

(above right) Genevieve Sibayan for Asos.com, £80. Does that name look familiar? That’s right…it’s my design (plug plug). I like their styling or wear it over a staple black coat for an instant update.

Tea, cake and friends are the key ingredients for a FestiviTea Party

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For a second year running The National Autistic Society (NAS), the UK’s leading charity for people affected by autism, are asking people to get together during the festive season and raise money for charity by throwing a FestiviTea Party.

FestiviTea Parties are a chance for friends, family and colleagues to get together during the festive period and share tea, cakes and laughs whilst raising money for the National Autistic Society. They can be held anywhere and at anytime, whether it’s at home, work or even the local community hall. You can make your FestiviTea Party as big or small as you like, and how you raise the money is also up to you. Guests can buy tickets, make a donation, or pay for the cakes and biscuits you bake!

Christmas can often be a stressful time for many families, however it is especially difficult for the half a million people affected by autism; they can often become confused and frightened by sudden changes of routine, unusual foods and new social activities. The NAS relies on donations in order to provide support and services for those affected by autism, and every penny raised really does make a difference.

Jane Asher, President of The National Autistic Society and famous for her cake baking said: “A FestiviTea Party is a great way to have fun and raise money for charity at the same time. I love baking cakes, especially at Christmas time, and if you have children it’s a great activity to get them involved in too. But don’t worry if you’re running out of time: you could always ask some friends to help out, or even pick up some ready-made supplies from the supermarket. Christmas is the perfect time to gather friends together and give something back to your community, and every penny raised from FestiviTea Parties will go towards helping the half a million people affected by autism in the UK.”

Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition, but the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to people’s lives.

All funds raised through FestiviTea parties will be used to support NAS services including Advocacy for Education service, Befriending scheme, Parent to Parent support service and help! programme.

· £20 – will mean we can provide specialist one-to-one befriending support for one person with autism or a member of their family for a month

· £50 – will mean ten more people getting the understanding and help they need through our telephone support

· £100 – will help pay for a full diagnosis of a child at our internationally respected and renowned NAS diagnostic and assessment centre

· £200 – will mean one more adult meeting others, doing things, going places and feeling less isolated for a year at a NAS social group

To find out how to organise your own FestiviTea Party, visit: www.festivitea.org.uk or order a pack by calling 0845 180 0426.

Animal Art de Jour – Monkeys and Mutant Rabbits {Art}

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It seems the world is going animal art crazy and the following two pieces are possibly the most unusual.

This giant passed out monkey is made entirely of flip flops. Built in Sao Paulo Brazin to celebrate the Pixel Show (an international art and design conference). Obviously if anything represents art then it’s a gigantic drunk monkey.

 

An if you’re looking for something to give you nightmares tonight then here it is…

Plush mutant rabbits by Zoe Williams. Not only does she trap the unusual weird little woodland creatures in frames, she also has a collection of mutant red peacocks and rams among other animals.

Love and Other Drugs {Film Preview}

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While Leicester Square was mobbed by screaming Harry Potter fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars arriving for the film’s premiere, two Hollywood A-listers slipped un-noticed past the crowds of autograph seekers into the cinema next door. Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway were there to screen their new film ‘Love and Other Drugs’ and I was lucky enough to be invited along to watch it.

The film, directed by Edward Zwick is based on the non-fiction book ‘Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman’ by Jamie Reidy. Gyllenhaal plays Jamie Randall, a womanizing Viagra salesman. Exuding confidence and charm he’s the object of desire of the women he encounters and the envy of every man including his richer, more successful, less aesthetically blessed younger brother. Despite the bravado, Jamie is deeply insecure, his need to prove himself to his parents deriving from unfulfilled potential due to having ADD. Gyllenhaal found the part difficult to research as the world of pharmaceutical sales is incredibly secretive. He says “I played a CIA agent in a movie and it was easier to research that than researching the world of pharmaceutical sales.”

“When people are going through difficult times some people run towards others while there are some who push people in the other direction isolating themselves.”

Hathaway plays Maggie Murdock. At first Maggie, an artist, appears to be an alluring free spirit with an insatiable libido who won’t let anyone tie her down but her behaviour stems from a deep rooted fear of being rejected due to having an incurable degenerative disease. Hathaway’s clearly invested alot of energy into the part admitting that she found it difficult to leave behind. Insight-fully she remarks “When people are going through difficult times some people run towards others while there are some who push people in the other direction isolating themselves.”

Parkinson’s features heavily in this film and Ed Zwick commented: “We wanted to create a juxtaposition of the character of Jamie and his pill for everything and Maggie with an incurable disease”

Now this makes me feel old…the film’s classed as a period piece. Set in the 90’s, it opens in a second hand electronics store and there are plenty of gadgets to spot for those keen on nostalgia.

a delicate study into the nature of the psychology of love and the constant battle between wants and needs…based on a book about Viagra

There are funny moments, but it’s not a rom-com in the typical sense of the word. They director worked with the cast improvising scenes to steer the film away from the rom-com stereotype. For the cheese like-rs, there’s still a few cheesy moments but if you hated all cheesy moments all the time then possibly you have a heart of stone. Rather than a rom-com, the film’s a delicate study into the nature of the psychology of love and the constant battle between wants and needs…based on a book about Viagra.

Opens in the USA 24th November 2010 and the UK 29th December 2010


Love And Other Drugs Trailer

Call of Duty – Black Ops {Gaming Review}

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Call of Duty – Black Ops exploded into computer games stores all over the country last night with as much with build up and lengthy queues as would be expected at a premiere release of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Considering the build up to this much eagerly awaited title who could blame people joining in line from as early as 5pm? This was of course for a game being released at midnight. Stapelines such as ‘are you ready’, trailers featuring soundtracks such as “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones got games players all over the world excited.

Do you think it was just a little bit more than by chance that the game was released just days before Remembrance Sunday the day that many war heroes are remembered? What about the infamous release date 9/11/ a date that brings to mind one of the world’s biggest tragedies and the start on ‘the war on terror’? Indeed this is Call of Duty, probably the most eagerly anticipated game of the year. The latest in a multi million pound franchise and they are intent on handling every aspect from publicity to the product with military precision.

From the get go everything about Call of duty – Black Ops just screams attention. This is a call to arms. For the first time in the new call of duty franchise for the majority of the game you play Alex Mason, a man who knows much more than he originally lets on to and the game opens with him strapped to a chair in an interrogation room endlessly grilled about a mysterious series of numbers that only he can apparently decode.

Through Flashback sequences we get to uncover more about the numbers and more about Alex Mason and the roles he played in several missions all over the world during the cold war era. This is all I can say because to reveal too much more about the game is like revealing a storyline to a movie; and a movie is just what you are playing; because at times this game is very reminiscent of those all too well remembered movies such as platoon Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter; topless soldiers with bandanas laying out body bags in the sun to the Good Morning Vietnam type deep south soundtrack

Developer Treyarch has done a terrific job in incorporating a movie experience into a game, which in many ways supersedes Modern Warfare 2.  The game play at times is too tight for it’s own good. For example when you are knee deep in the jungle (and trust me the graphics are gorgeous) often you want to go off and explore within the wider range than the game permits, in a way this highlights the faults as some of the levels are almost too compacted for their own good and way too short lived. They are however well-signposted and highly-scripted. But like a one night stand – wham bam and it is over. I completed a game that I waited almost a year for in just over 6 hours – shame

Black Ops though was never meant to be put in any type of league that offers exploration – It is a high intensity First person shooter and it delivers exactly what it says on the tin. Its slick, polished highly cinematic, and it throws every type of war experience from that era as fast as it can. Online game play is where this game was meant to shine – The multiplayer component is beautifully constructed and breathtaking. 14 maps greeted me, designed to explore and on my first play I was already looking at places I could sniper opponents from. “Jungle”, with its winding paths, tree houses and hanging vines, to the brilliant, “Nuketown”, designed to resemble one of those simulated neighbourhoods constructed by the US to test the effects of nuclear hardware. These are aspects that show a lot of thought has gone into the design.

The frame rate remains fast – 60 frames-per-second and the basic shooting mechanics remain as good and refined as they did in modern warfare 2. which was never going to be a bad thing.

My only gripe with these types of games is that often when you have played one you have played them all, I mean c’mon you know you are just going to be shooting; from cover, from a helicopter, from within a team. The principality of it rarely changes. But this said Black Ops does bring something new to the market in the terms of enough varying challenges and online multiplayer action to keep most games players busy.

Well worth a shot.