As far as minimalist can go

We just got some pretty wild information from one of our Apple sources and while it’s hard to believe at first, it does make sense. We have exclusively been told that the reason Apple just added multitouch gestures for the iPad in the latest iOS 4.3 beta is because the iPad will be losing the home button. Yes, we are told that Apple, at some point in time, will remove the home button from the iPad’s design. Instead of button taps, you will use new multitouch gestures to navigate to the home screen and also to launch the app switcher.

I don't see this happening.  How are you going to do a 5 finger multitouch to close with one hand?

[BGR]

Dodgertown Mourns

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt issued the following statement on Saturday night:

"We lost a member of the Dodgers family today. The entire Dodgers organization is mourning the death of John's daughter Christina and will do everything we can to support John, his wife Roxana and their son Dallas in the aftermath of this senseless tragedy. I spoke with John earlier today and expressed condolences on behalf of the entire Dodgers organization."

[L.A. Times]

Study Linking Vaccine to Autism Was Fraud, Journal Reports

A new examination found, by comparing the reported diagnoses in the paper to hospital records, that Wakefield and colleagues altered facts about patients in their study.

Whoops.

Jenny McCarthy Body Count

Can this stop now?

A Holiday Message From Ricky Gervais: Why I’m an Atheist

Forgiveness is probably the greatest virtue there is. But that’s exactly what it is -­‐ a virtue. Not just a Christian virtue. No one owns being good. I’m good. I just don’t believe I’ll be rewarded for it in heaven. My reward is here and now. It’s knowing that I try to do the right thing. That I lived a good life. And that’s where spirituality really lost its way. When it became a stick to beat people with. “Do this or you’ll burn in hell.”

You won’t burn in hell. But be nice anyway.

I like the last line.

Luddites on a plane

Despite all the reports and blog posts recently my TSA experience today was pretty tame.  Just the normal metal detector and bag X-Rays, no one even tried to grab my junk.  Uneventful flight went something like this; watched a crappy movie, quick nap and then I decided to read a little Gladwell on my Kindle.  

A few chapters in to my book the captain announces our approach to Atlanta and asks for all electronics to be turned off.  Normally I leave the wireless off on my Kindle to conserve the battery and this time was no different.  As I have my Kindle sitting in my lap and tells me I need to turn it off.  I tell her it is off which she shrugs off and moves on.  About this time I look around and there are multiple people still reading their dead tree books so I figure I can keep reading.  

This time the Steve Slater wannabe gives me a snarky, "Uh, that needs to be turned off." I tell him is off and that it is only really "on" when you turn a page.  "Oh so it is always like that, 24/7?" he responds.  He then puts his hand out and asks for it.  I oblige as I have no desire to be considered "a threat" just because this dude has never heard of Kindles.  The gentleman slides the switch on the top which turns on the screensaver.  He slides it again and we are looking at the writing again.  I can see he's getting frustrated when he notices at the top right corner of the screen it says off.  Normally this would be where the bars are on wireless devices but, as I said earlier, I leave the wireless off.  Now the flight attendant is trying to press the "off button" on the screen.  I try to hold it back but a small chuckle escapes. He looks down and gives me the evil eye like I'm playing some practical joke on him when I tell him it is not a touch screen device.  Then he hands it back to me and demands that I "stow it or lose it."

Maybe next time he sees a Kindle he'll just keep on picking up trash huh?

What's the deal Microsoft?

In early promotion for the new motion controller Kinect, Microsoft was advertising the integration with Netflix.  As this promo video shows, as well as the picture above.

 

 

Except now that Kinect has been released there is still no Netflix support.  

As Netflix said on twitter,

@sethcheek We cont to discuss the addition of Kinect features to the Netflix app on Xbox. No def plans or dates have yet been established.

If this is the case then why did Microsoft advertise like it was a working product?  This seems very similar to Microsoft's issue with Rovio, the creators of Angry Birds.

So the question stands, What's the deal Microsoft?

Toy Story Box Set, Yay! or Nay?

Toy Story and its sequels are some of the best animation movies ever produced. I believe Toy Story 3 is currently the highest grossing animated film ever. With that being said when I heard that Amazon was taking pre-orders for the Toy Story Trilogy Box Set I headed straight over.

I click the link from Engadget HD and see that Amazon is pricing the new box set at $69.99 with free shipping to Prime members (free year to students ya know, or really anyone with a .edu email address). Not a bad deal considering what you get; Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy of each movie as well as a full Blu-ray disc of behind the scenes features and whatnot. Just before I pulled the trigger on another treasure for my collection I decided to check on the solo movie prices. This is what I found.

Toy Story can be had for $20.00 which includes the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the movie and no digital version.

Toy Story 2 is available for $20.00 which also includes the Blu-ray and DVD versions, but again is missing the digital version.

Toy Story 3 sells for $28.99 (November 2nd release date) which will include both the Blu-ray and DVD versions but this time they include the digital version also.

So ala carte will cost me $68.99 with no digital versions of the first two movies included. Meanwhile, $69.99 will get all three Blu-rays, DVDs and the digital versions.  Are digital versions of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 worth a dollar to you?  I know where I stand.

 

All links to Amazon products on this page are through my associates program so if you would like to pick any of these up please click through here! Thanks -MF