Twice as big, half the size.

So, I signed up for that 1st generation iPod nano replacement program a couple months ago. I finally got my replacement and it was a 6th generation iPod nano. Apparently, I'm not the only one this has happened to either.

I'm digging the new iPod. It's easily the coolest iPod I've ever owned (not counting my iPhone 4) with the biggest upgrade being the capacity - from 4GB to 8GB. But I'll miss having Breakout in my pocket, mostly for it's Apple history.

That got me thinking about games that could work on the new iPod nano. It has a touch screen and an accelerometer, but hardly any room for on-screen controls with such a small screen (1.1" x 1.1"). While Breakout wouldn't work, swiping and tilting games would be ideal. The first one that came to mind was the classic sliding number puzzle, also with it's own Apple history. A simple marble maze game or a Simon type game with four large buttons would work well at that size, too. Nothing too fancy, just little Cracker Jack size games, befitting the form factor. I know it's not running iOS, so I'm not expecting them to open it up to the app store, but there's an opportunity to do something neat there.

Apple HDTV: why bother?

Here's my take on the forthcoming Apple HDTV.

Years ago MP3 players sucked. There was nothing awesome about them, they were hard to use, low capacity, etc. Apple saw an opportunity to do something awesome. The introduced the iPod and changed the industry.

Same story with digital music. Hard to use, hard to find, pricing all over the place, mostly pirated stuff. Apple saw an opportunity to do something awesome. They introduced the iTunes Store and changed the industry.

And again with smartphones. Everything out there sucked. There was almost nothing smart about them at all, they were hard to use and pretty dreadful to look at. Apple saw an opportunity to do something awesome. They introduced the iPhone and changed the industry.

Same with tablets. Everything sucked, running desktop OSes, as bulky as a laptop, etc. Apple saw an opportunity to do something awesome. They introduced the iPad. Game changer. Everyone is still trying to catch up.

Now we come to televisions. Everything out there sucks. ...oh wait, no it doesn't. The market is littered with awesome TVs!

I upgraded my MP3 because the one I had was only okay. Same with my phone. But my TV is awesome and I just spent $1,500 on it. I'm not getting rid of this thing until it dies a natural death. Upgrade is not something I'd ever do with any TV that works just fine. Hell, I don't even have Blue-Ray yet. Not worth the premium to me and I'm sure millions of other people feel the same way.

Sure Apple's monitors are some of the best out there and movies on them would look gorgeous, but will people buy them? Sony's Bravia line of TVs has the best picture quality I've ever seen, but they are consistently 30% to 50% more expensive than other options and most people don't think they're worth it. Sony is losing money on them quarter after quarter. An Apple HDTV is bound to be in the same price bracket.

What's wrong with the television industry is not the hardware, it's the industry. If an Apple HDTV will let me subscribe to just HBO or AMC and not dozens of useless channels I'll never watch, then I'll start weighing my options. If an Apple HDTV can get me a price lock on my cable bill like they did with my cell phone bill, I'll seriously consider it. If Apple TV can insure that the quality programs I enjoy will stay on the air for more than 6 episodes even if only 7 million people are watching them, I'll buy two!

But if all the Apple HDTV will do is save me a few steps getting to the same content I'm getting now, forget it. If the Apple HDTV is just going to save me the hassle of connecting multiple devices by integrating them into one, not interested. If it lets me change the channel by waving my hands or talking to it, who cares? All those features can be added to my awesome TV with a set-top box, a souped-up AppleTV (and most of them aren't even necessary).

I really think it's a bad idea for Apple to make a TV, but if they do come out with something awesome that blows my socks off it wouldn't be the first time. And I'll probably buy one, dammit.

Superman is from Earth

With the release of Justice League #1, the DC Reboot is officially underway and answers to a lot of questions are starting to trickle out. I've been a fan of Superman my whole life, so it's the changes they're making to him that concern me the most. I have to say, I'm not happy about some of them.

At first, I was just upset that they changed the costume, but I got over that. The red belt serves the same purpose as the red trunks to divide top from bottom. How the cape connects with that collar bugged me, but then I realized that it didn't bug me that Superman can fly and see through walls, so why worry about how his cape stays on? It must be securely fastened to his costume somehow. Superglue, maybe. And the boots with the excessive padding really threw me. Why would Superman need padding or any sort of protection in his costume? He's invulnerable! Batman needs padding, Superman not so much. It can't be a style choice, it doesn't look that comfortable. The explanation we've gotten is that his costume pays homage to his Kryptonian roots. One piece of the big problem I have with the "new" Superman.

Then I was upset about the changes to the characters. No more Lois and Clark (she's even dating someone else)? Clark marrying Lois was one of the best things to happen to Superman in all the time I've been reading him. Seeing Lois try to figure out Superman's secret identity over so many years was getting very tired. And she was a much more effective character once she was in on his secret. But I enjoyed seeing Clark trying to get Lois to pay attention to him over Superman, and I'll enjoy it again. No more Ma and Pa Kent? They were a great addition to the story when John Byrne re-introduced them back in the 80's. They were Clark's moral compass and foundation continuing to give him  guidance. Now, with the Kents gone, it seems he's going to struggle with his humanity and feel like he doesn't fit in because he's an alien. Except, he's not. Not really. And that's the biggest problem I have. Superman is from Earth.

Yes, Superman was rocketed here from Krypton as an infant, but that's it for the influence of Krypton. After he lands, Jonathan and Martha Kent take over. Sure, he eventually learns of his alien heritage, but not before he gets a happy childhood with loving parents, growing up on a farm in Kansas. No matter which origin you go with, he was raised by the Kents to be a normal kid. Eventually, he learns of his abilities and, based on his upbringing, decides to leave the farm and do good in the world. Superman was made by a guy from Smallville, Kansas who wanted to help people and still have some sort of private life. He doesn't go by Kal-El, his Kryptoninan name, he goes by Clark Kent, who was raised on Earth.

I'm a little worried this reboot will bring back aspects of the Superman of the 60's and 70's. The Kryptonian overseer and protector who lived in the Fortress of Solitude and disguised himself as Clark Kent so that he could walk among us. He was creepy. He called the Kents his "foster" parents. He often just called them "The Kents." Who does that? Sometimes you wouldn't even be talking to him, but a robot that looks like him and has all his powers. Creepy, I tell you.

So that's my two cents. Superman is a reflection of the culture around him. And that culture is America. By putting him more in touch with his Kryptonian heritage in the reboot, DC risks taking away a lot of the humanity that makes him who he is. It remains to been seen who he'll be when all the dust settles, but here's hoping he wont be fighting for truth, justice and the Kryptonian way.

What does it mean?

It's a double rainbow! It's so beautiful! What does it mean?

Day of the Honu

Yesterday we stopped by a small beach on the north shore of O'ahu that's a very popular basking and feeding spot for Honu (sea turtles). Volunteers watch the beach and keep tourists from getting too close to any visiting turtles. Still, I was no more than five feet from this one. The picture is a little deceiving, she was about the size of a large tire. I have better pictures on my Canon that I can post later.