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The old design wasn’t great either. Sure this new one is crammed, a tad trendy, and maybe a step back for some core users, but that’s not the point. This was about a refresh and getting people interested again.

I agree with your criticism on the design. Those photos could use some space. It’s an idea executed in a quarter, and I think it’s a decent start.

3 days ago on Yahoo revitalizes Flickr with huge images, sharing, and a terabyte of free space (hands-on) 1 reply

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The Xbox hardware is hardly anything without the service it runs on. That service is XBL. People can chose their own value to that service, but part of it is how deeply baked that service is in to everything the system does. I think they’ll make changes, but your analogies aren’t anything like Xbox/XBL. A car doesn’t run on a service. All of the apps and online experiences on the Xbox run on XBL. It’s how they quality control their service and why it costs a premium.

You’re paying them for that service. You decide how much it’s worth to you and then make the decision to subscribe or not. This isn’t the exploitative situation you make it out to be. You can always just not pay.

6 days ago on Microsoft killing off Xbox Points in favor of currency and gift cards system

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His statement is responding to the post that people don’t pay for live “just to stream media”. To say you know the buying intent for over 50% of live is quite the statement and the article you linked doesn’t back up that assumption either.

I think the usage breakdown makes sense. Games are active while media consumption is often passive. I can leave music running or just leave netflix going on in the background but you never do that with games. So while people may use it for streaming media, we still don’t have evidence that media consumption is the reason people pay for live. I still think that comes down to the ability to play games. It’s the unique feature/experience that it holds over the compitition.

6 days ago on Microsoft killing off Xbox Points in favor of currency and gift cards system

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I was just stating what it did. I think it’s a brilliant idea and I can’t imagine using a table saw without one. They are terrifying and this seems like such an obvious advancement and improvement for all involved.

6 days ago on Finger-saving SawStop has been around for a decade, but tool companies aren't interested

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He did just graduate and I don’t think he’s started working there yet. Although he did say he was working on something for/with Microsoft a while back, I’d be surprised if he’s done much for Durango.

6 days ago on Microsoft planning Xbox dashboard UI and tile changes in preparation for next-gen console

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It definitely destroys the blade and the stop mechanism and requires you to replace both. I believe it’s all based on conductivity and you can check your material by touching it to the stopped blade before cutting. In the end you treat it as if its as dangerous as any other table saw. I’ve never seen a misfire on one and though its annoying when you accidentally forget and cause it to deploy with a wrong material, it’s way better than loosing a few fingers.

7 days ago on Finger-saving SawStop has been around for a decade, but tool companies aren't interested 1 reply 1 recommend

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Though they’d love to have everyone as customers, I think you’re use case isn’t one of them. If you don’t play online, there’s a bunch of alternative services that provide you with a superior, free version of media consumption/streaming.

I don’t think they’ll take online multiplayer into the free tier, but I can see basic streaming services going that route. Online MP is their unique service, that isn’t matched on other services.

8 days ago on Microsoft killing off Xbox Points in favor of currency and gift cards system 2 replies

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You have stats to back that up. I’m curious to see if they have provided the usage breakdown or can prove that exact statement. I’m sure they know, but have they reported that?

8 days ago on Microsoft killing off Xbox Points in favor of currency and gift cards system 1 reply

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I don’t think the Google Now aesthetic is Holo. Holo is the baseline for Android design, whereas Google Now is more along the lines of the Google product visual brand language. They’ve been separate so far, but it’ll be interesting to see what they push forward. They could easily keep the different.

8 days ago on Google Maps overhaul leaks ahead of I/O conference 2 replies 1 recommend

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I think the general consensus around surface was top notch hardware and meh software. It want very powerful and has trouble keeping up with the software if that’s what you mean.

10 days ago on Nokia's aluminum Lumia 925 is the best Windows Phone yet, but that's not enough (hands-on) 1 reply 3 recommends

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If you want to play Fez what’s stopping you from playing it on the PC? It’s available on 2 common platforms now, why wait for the OUYA? It’s not worth waiting.

14 days ago on Ouya delays retail launch until June 25th to ensure it can meet demand 1 recommend

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It was the backer version, not the dev version. The one they promised would be the console until they didn’t. The hardware was final. They’ve now backtracked on that and are making button tweaks on the controller. I am not sure if you are upset it got a poor score or just the fact they did a review, but I’m glad they did so I know to avoid it until they revisit it at launch.

14 days ago on Ouya delays retail launch until June 25th to ensure it can meet demand 3 replies 7 recommends

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I don’t know if it would be cheaper. You have to set up a render the exact same way he sets up his lighting/camera and then on top of that set up all the materials.

The one difference is that with a render you can save your scenes and go back and re-render, but that initial set up takes a similar amount (if not more) time.

15 days ago on The illusion of simplicity: photographer Peter Belanger on shooting for Apple 1 reply 1 recommend

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I think it depends. A render can look very similar to these photos, but the amount of work and skill from the individual to create the image is no less than what he goes through for these images. It’s the results that matter and whatever tool works best for that individual to get the results the client wants is just up to them.

15 days ago on The illusion of simplicity: photographer Peter Belanger on shooting for Apple 1 recommend

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I assume because the internet isn’t free and accessible by everyone.* That’s at least the intent of OTA broadcasts.

17 days ago on Crazy like a Fox: how broadcast networks could rake in billions by going cable-only 1 reply

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I find that hard to believe unless you’re strictly an HBO/Showtime person. Sports have their own internet-only packages, OTA covers a lot, then there’s the ability to pay for shows as they air with iTunes/Amazon/Google/Xbox Video/etc.

If you HAVE to have it live, then sure, but I can’t imagine your only options are stealing and paying for cable. I can see that paying for cable might be cheaper than paying outright for shows you want to watch though.

17 days ago on Crazy like a Fox: how broadcast networks could rake in billions by going cable-only 1 reply 2 recommends

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I don’t see why it needs Kinect or how it would have it and remain in a competitive price range but I do believe Kinect will play a big role for Durango.

23 days ago on Xbox Mini

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Well I started this before he changed his stance and didn’t see it until after I posted, but if you read it he says a media only device is on delay (never said it wouldn’t happen) and that a cheap 360 is coming. This concept is more of a bridge of the two, but since its all speculation (even from Paul) I think it’s still worth discussing. It’s just for fun.

24 days ago on Xbox Mini

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Well if it was an “always on” device there would be no boot times. Tweak the UI and you could be playing games or watching Netflix quickly. I don’t think it’s a power issue as much as a software issue.

24 days ago on Xbox Mini 1 recommend

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Agreed. I think Windows 8 is helping because it’s not a gaming device and offers Xbox Music and Xbox Video, but the brand itself is engrained in the consumer as “gaming”. There was an article here yesterday or over the weekend about rebranding, so that could help as well. It won’t be an overnight change.

24 days ago on Xbox Mini

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I’m not ignoring it, but I don’t doubt that they could restructure it. In it’s current state it would be a tough sell, but they stand to make a very compelling product with some minor tweaks to their service. I could see Live TV integration being the pay wall on this device while Netflix, Hulu etc. are all free.

24 days ago on Xbox Mini

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I expanded in some above posts, but think of this more as a disc-less 360 and not a media only streaming device. His speculation is a media only device is delayed while a cheap 360 is coming.

24 days ago on Xbox Mini 1 reply

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He also said an affordable 360 was releasing this year. He said the Mini wasn’t a gaming device. It’s possible that the affordable 360 is the product I have in mind and the Mini something entirely different. It is just speculation though.

24 days ago on Xbox Mini