MG's 'official' chat thread

[Landy]

Just for general chat and blurb. Please do not spam the thread with useless pictures and such. Apart from that, chat away :)

Jason, u got RDR yet?

[Jason]

I have indeed. I didn't notice your party invite yesterday until ages after you sent it - must have been out of the room or something when you sent it. :D

[Landy]

hehe, no worries. Remember to toss mg up on bfplanet :P
What ya think of RDR so far?

[Archangel]

Damn you cool kids and your acronyms.

I don't understand what's happening!

[Lance]

That's alright, I don't either - but then, Jase is English so I never understand what he's talking about *snicker*

[MyNameDidntFit]

I understand. I hate them for it. Bastards.

[Landy]

RDR = Red Dead Redemption (http://www.rockstargames.com/reddeadredemption/)

I wish i was 'cool', but I'm afraid it's just laziness :D

[Jason]

Hai.

I'm impressed with RDR, but also a little underwhelmed now the novelty has worn off. I think I've more or less finished the game (ie Dutch is dead and I'm just farting around on the farm doing trivial missions), and I wasn't thrilled with the storyline, so often a big plus in Rockstar games.

Still, it's a great game for just messing around on, and the multiplayer (particularly the underplayed deathmatch modes) is pretty good.

HAHAHA, New Zealand just took the lead over Italy in the World Cup. :D

[Landy]

Is it just me, or is the store page on steam not working?

[MyNameDidntFit]

Works in Chrome, but not in Steam itself. Weird.

[Landy]

Haven't got chrome. Got same problem with D2D's website. Strange.

[Jason]

I have four days off coming up, only one of them has anything planned for it, and I am absolutely LOVING that thought. My sleep schedule is shot to pieces (shift work will do that to you) - I'm looking forward to being able to sleep until my body decides it's time to wake up rather than my alarm clock or the guy mowing his lawn next door.

So, I have a chance to sleep properly, there's lots of good sport on TV, I have a couple of games I can work through at my leisure (although I'm not looking forward to the rest of Halo ODST much based on the first two levels). Hurrah.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Spend those 4 days getting Frozen Synapse.

[Jason]

Unfortunately, I can't. A £450 M.O.T. (mandatory yearly service for the car to ensure it's roadworthy) plus £65 road tax plus my £50 annual breakdown cover renewal this month has not so much raped my wallet as taken it out back and skullfucked its pets too. I've had to clear the last £250 out of my savings account this month just to stay in the black.
Still, no major outgoings this coming month, all being well, so I can treat myself to Frozen Synapse. Game looks hell of good. (I've been reading too much Achewood...)

[Konrad]

unfortunately, i can't. A £450 m.o.t. (mandatory yearly service for the car to ensure it's roadworthy) plus £65 road tax plus my £50 annual breakdown cover renewal this month has not so much raped my wallet as taken it out back and skullfucked its pets too. I've had to clear the last £250 out of my savings account this month just to stay in the black.

:[

still, no major outgoings this coming month, all being well, so i can treat myself to frozen synapse. Game looks hell of good. (i've been reading too much achewood...)

:]

[MyNameDidntFit]

A £450 M.O.T.

LolWHAT? What the hell are they doing to you car to make you pay that much for it? That would be like me paying $800 on a car service... they cost like... maybe $200 here, as long as you don't drive either an ubersportscar or a tank.

I mean... FFFFFFUUUUUUU-... that is a lot of money for, what? A quick check that I could probably do in half an hour? O_O

[Jason]

New front wishbones both sides, two new front tires, new exhaust, new track rod end, and a complete new set of wipers (farking £30 for windscreen wipers!). It's a mandatory service - if you don't have a M.O.T. certificate, you can't get insurance, and therefore you're not allowed to drive. :-/

I hate French cars.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Wait... why does your car need all that new stuff? :/

[Jason]

Because the old ones were knackered.

[Konrad]

He's an old asian lady.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Because the old ones were knackered.

All of them? Your car must be from the industrial revolution or something.

[Jason]

Nope. It's French.

[MyNameDidntFit]

The French Revolution, then.

[Konrad]

My day has been made a little better.

[Jason]

:lol: - good one, sir.

Unfortunately, whilst the French have their contributions to the world - croissants, Sophie Marceau, surrender, and the most hilarious World Cup performance ever, automotive excellence is most definitely not one of them.

[Konrad]

And this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNfek_KLm9Q

*fucking youtube tags, how do they work?

[Jason]

automatically. ;)

[Steph]

Oooh well I've just finished my training course for my new job and I was in my branch today serving customers (with my line manager there).
I was a bunch of nerves for the whole day, I felt sick once my shift ended 'cause I'd worried too much haha.
The customers are so nice though.
Totally beats trying to control 25 new, over-excited kids every half hour.

Ah, what does everybody here work as?

[Jason]

Coastguard. The hours are hell (2x 12-hour day shifts, followed by 2x 12-hour night shifts, then three and a half days off, then repeat ad infinitum ad insanium.)

[Steph]

Oh God, I've done 12 hour shifts before they're awful.

You looking for a job elsewhere?

[Jason]

Not sure, really. I can't decide whether it's a case of 'grass is greener' or not. I don't hate the job, but it's pretty life-destroying.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I know a slightly lessened version of your pain -- I work 5 times 8/9 hour shifts per week that range from 0430-1330 to 1530-0030. It screws with making plans pretty damn good, but I like it anyway.

[Lance]

"I'm NOT a turtle!" - Ted E Bear

Have to be a Strassman fan to understand that one...

[Jason]

I've decided that being the owner of a site is no fun. Not only do I have to spend all my time hammering away behind the scenes on stuff I barely know how to pronounce, let alone use, you're also all so damn well-behaved that I don't even have to do anything!

I mean, look at poor Konrad... He came here under the promise of power, yet he never gets to abuse it! :p

[Archangel]

I can post some porn links around the place, if you want?

It can be like a scavenger hunt! I'll hide 'em nice and good.

[MyNameDidntFit]

"I'm NOT a turtle!" - Ted E Bear

Have to be a Strassman fan to understand that one...

<3 Strassman.

[Steph]

I've decided that being the owner of a site is no fun. Not only do I have to spend all my time hammering away behind the scenes on stuff I barely know how to pronounce, let alone use, you're also all so damn well-behaved that I don't even have to do anything!

I mean, look at poor Konrad... He came here under the promise of power, yet he never gets to abuse it! :p

Well how can I make it more interesting for you Jason?
I can be abusive, so you or Konrad can flex your unused power ... Post lots of pointless threads ... I don't know ...

[Konrad]

It's ok. Whatever power I don't get to flex here I take out on my genitals later in the shower. Mature-Gamers, you're breaking my balls.

Edit: Neener neener! I just got to move a thread.

[Lance]

Yay, someone else knows Strassman :D

I went to both his shows over here - they were brilliant. I'll never forget in the 2nd show where he tried to say something as Ted E Bear and stuffed it up. He tried to do it again, stuffed it up again. The 3rd time he had to walk off stage David himself was laughing so hard. Its one of those unplanned moments that makes a fantastic show even better.

Can't wait until he comes over again :D

[MyNameDidntFit]

I've never been able to go see him live, but I've watched [one of?] his Strassman Live DVD[s?] and loved it. He's a great ventriloquist and an even better comic.

[Steph]

Day off tomorrow! I love life. [grabs beer]

[Jason]

I also have the day off. I shall mostly be spending it washing clothes in preparation for the weekend's festival. Well, that and taking my car to the garage again. It's got a hole in the exhaust and now sounds like a freaking quadbike.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Day off tomorrow! I love life. [grabs beer]
I also have the day off :D

*grabs bourbon*

Cheers!

Well, that and taking my car to the garage again. It's got a hole in the exhaust and now sounds like a freaking quadbike.

Viva la revolution!

[Steph]

[clinks glasses with MNDF]
Cheers!

Awh well you'll have the festival to look forward to then at least Jason?

[Jason]

Yeah, something like that. £150 and four days camping (I hate camping) to see absolutely zero bands I like and a couple of comedians. Ah, the things we do for those we love...

[Lance]

..... you know what I really hate?

JB Hi-Fi's Buy 2 get 1 free sales on TV Series DVDs.

I always come home $300-400 poorer :angry: And that's with saving $100 or so.

[Jason]

$400?!? Jesus H. Christ on a unicycle man... how do you manage to have that many TV shows you like?!

[Steph]

Awh man, just gotta get this off my chest. I had a really nasty customer today at my work who just kept going and going and going untill I was in tears. It was as if she enjoyed it, I had to get someone else to continue and go compose myself.

Some people are so ignorant.

[Jason]

Gah, sorry to hear that Steph. Some people are just arrogant idiots who don't realise that the poor schlock they're giving dog's abuse to is probably on minimum wage and can't even do anything about the problem they're having, as they're not high enough on the food chain.

If it helps, I was once called 'a disgrace' and physically threatened because I wouldn't let some fat moron's Four year-old daughter swim on her own in a crowded pool with no adult supervision or flotation aids when I was working as a lifeguard. Idiots are everywhere.

[Steph]

Awh it's okay haha. Yeah it was about security checks I had to do just as regular procedure and she just couldn't seem to accept it. And you know after it she said to my colleague who had taken over from me that I was handling it really well and that she accepted everything I said. WTF really? Her attitude stunk.

Yeah that is pretty much common sense with the four year old.

I just can't believe how people can be so ... ah, it's frustrating.

[CemeteryGates]

I know what you're feeling, Steph. Similar stuff has happened to my sister in the family business. Some people are just assholes. That's one of the reasons I'm not involved much in the family business... with my temper, if I stumbled upon one of those jerks, I would endanger the company's reputation.

[MyNameDidntFit]

See, now, me, I would have laughed and told her to get out. It's procedure, if she can't accept it, she's not welcome in the store :)

[Steph]

Haha thanks guys, yeah it's the bank I work in so security is really tight. I felt like saying, well would you like anyone to be able to come in and take that much money out of your account? It's for your own protection. There's just no talking sense to some people.

[Lance]

$400?!? Jesus H. Christ on a unicycle man... how do you manage to have that many TV shows you like?!

Its surprisingly easy - I remember having to do a list for my insurance company (they didn't believe me so I had to provide reciepts and photos) and my DVDs - Shows and Movies - came in at close to $17,000 -.-

Of course a lot of shows I like have between 5-10 seasons each - Stargate alone is 15 seasons, Smallville's up to 8-9 here so far - Family Guy, South Park, Futurama, American Dad all add up to quite a few seasons

Then there's Dexter, Eureka, True Blood, How I met your Mother, Blackadder, Black Books, My Hero

That's just off the top of my head - there's LOTS more I collect

But yeah, I have a SHIT load of stuff, it's kinda an addiction of mine.

Now if I could just afford the bookcases to get them all off the floor :angry:

Scary thing is - there's 5-6 shows that HAVEN'T started being released here on DVD that I plan on getting as well

[Jason]

Yeesh. I'm glad I don't watch all that much TV, to be honest... I'd be even more broke than I am now!
I have a few boxsets of shows I used to love that are no longer on, but the only one that's still showing is the IT Crowd. Other than that, I have Red Dwarf, Blackadder (all four series plus the two specials for £20 - result!), Firefly, Fawlty Towers, Bottom, and the Young Ones.

[Archangel]

I have most of everything you listed.

Couldn't tell you how much I paid for it though.

Men in suits would arrest me.

>.>

[JustaBitOutside]

I haven't seen Red Dwarf in ages, but I was way into it. One of the first British shows I got into. Love the latest season of the IT crowd. Moss being the dungeon master for the corporate business men was the highlight for me so far.

[Jason]

Yeah, I just saw the one where Moss and Roy bunk off work for the afternoon and end up next to a bomb disposal robot. That was quite funny.

[MyNameDidntFit]

..... you know what I really hate?

JB Hi-Fi's Buy 2 get 1 free sales on TV Series DVDs.

I always come home $300-400 poorer :angry: And that's with saving $100 or so.

If it makes you feel better I just spent $200 on Warhammer 40k books >.>

[Jason]

If Games Workshop's prices are anything like they were when I stopped involvement with it, that might only be one or two books. :P

[Lance]

Wait - are we talking $20 novels here, or the $50-60 rules books?

[MyNameDidntFit]

Novels. The thirteen Horus Heresy books available to date -- including a pre-order of Nemesis. They're about $13AUD each (6 or 7GBP).

I don't play the TT so the codexes aren't something I ever plan to buy. Though I have a mate who's an avid TT player so I do plan to borrow them some time for the fluff.

[Lance]

You need to get your friend to join up and discuss that kinda stuff in the RP forum so I'm not just talking to myself :p

Well I'm happy - my Brother-in-Law is manager of a Cash Converters over here (pawn store basically) and he's got 11 360 games he's going to get me for $10 each - not bad for some really good games :D

[MyNameDidntFit]

You need to get your friend to join up and discuss that kinda stuff in the RP forum so I'm not just talking to myself :p
Hehe, he's not a PC-ish person all that much -- though mostly because I don't believe he even has a functioning one at present.

From time to time I've considered getting into 40k TT but each time I find myself remembering the staggering amount of stuff to learn/remember/do/paint and then don't bother >.<

[Jason]

I enjoyed the painting side of TT 40k, but that was about it. It's ironic, really, as that's the only remotely artistic thing I've ever done and been reasonably good at.

[KAZMAIER]

I just thought that I'd start a thread with respect to what various members are doing in the run of a day outside the forum? Personally,I came very close to chucking my "GTA:San Andreas" out the damn window earlier today.You?

[MyNameDidntFit]

I enjoyed the painting side of TT 40k, but that was about it. It's ironic, really, as that's the only remotely artistic thing I've ever done and been reasonably good at.

Well, one of my mates has decreed that he's going to get me into it when he gets back from Greece (he's on holiday, the bastard) -- so we'll see how bad my painting is sometime in the coming months :p

[Steph]

Ah right I get it now. Was wondering why that never made sense.

[MyNameDidntFit]

You may get it now, but I have no idea what you are talking about :/

[Kino]

Hey everyone, new here and loving it so far :)

[Steph]

You may get it now, but I have no idea what you are talking about :/

Ah it's pointless but when I came in here, KAIZMAIER's post about starting a new thread confused me. Then I clicked on this new thread he made that had been moved and it directed me here.
So it makes sense now, I think.

Hey everyone, new here and loving it so far :)

Hello Kino, glad you are =)

[Jason]

Gah, I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm getting old. I'm still hurting from cricket on Sunday. I managed to face the grand total of one ball (I was batting at #10 and came in for the last ball of the innings - incidentally I missed the ball completely but ran a leg bye anyway :p), and took 1-5 (as in one wicket for five runs) in my 1.3 overs with the ball. On the plus side, I got some poor soul with an amazing run out, and we won.
All in all, a good day.

[Kino]

Gah, I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm getting old. I'm still hurting from cricket on Sunday. I managed to face the grand total of one ball (I was batting at #10 and came in for the last ball of the innings - incidentally I missed the ball completely but ran a leg bye anyway :p), and took 1-5 (as in one wicket for five runs) in my 1.3 overs with the ball. On the plus side, I got some poor soul with an amazing run out, and we won.
All in all, a good day.

It must mean me being American, but I have no idea what you just said :P

[MyNameDidntFit]

*shakes head* you guys are missing out on an awesome sport in cricket. Even if you would just get repeatedly beaten by Australia, just like the British are :p



(Yes, Jason, I'm covering my ears and ignoring how utterly terrible the Aussie team is doing at the moment)

[Kino]

I actually like the sport. I catch it on Sky Sports sometimes and I'm really amazed at how the players hit that fast moving ball. I mean we play it in gym class at school sometimes, but nothing as intense as that. However, I'm huge into football, so that should make up for it by not knowing anything about cricket :)

[Jason]

(Yes, Jason, I'm covering my ears and ignoring how utterly terrible the Aussie team is doing at the moment)

Hey, that's not true, you've got... um... all the times you... erm, y'know... Shane Watson's bowling well at least. :p

Nah, I'm counting no chickens - if you can say nothing else for the Aussies, it's that they'll give you one hell of a fight before you kill 'em. I'm really looking forward to the Ashes this winter/summer - I genuinely can't call it - if your bowlers suddenly remember how not to bowl 100 overs of pies then I think the Aussies have got the edge, but unless Mitch gets his wicket-taking edge back, it might just be a rare English win down under, because I have no idea where your wickets are coming from.

[KAZMAIER]

Today,the weather is far too humid,and I'm seriously contemplating throwing my fan I bought out the GD window.It makes a squeeky noise as it oscillates.:angry:


Godspeed.
KAZMAIER

[Kino]

It's way tooooo humid. I hope it rains.

[CemeteryGates]

It's not humid in Mexico City... ever. But it is hot in my house today. This house is abnormally hot... outside it's about 23°C, but in here it's 27°C. =/
The room where I have my consoles and big screen is 35°C. The hottest it's been is 47°C. That's why I prefer to do my gaming at night. I've never even been to a place where that's the natural weather.

[Jason]

Saw Inception last night. Quite enjoyed it, even if the plot twists were a little easy to see coming. The ending cliffhanger was a bit of a letdown, but overall it was an entirely enjoyable film. Leonardo DiCaprio is quickly getting a habit of being in some very good films, much like Brad Pitt has.

[Archangel]

I don't think that final scene could have been done any better than it was. I mean, most folks complains about it, but if it had been different, it wouldn't have left anything to the imagination.

Personally, I like a little mystery. If they'd explained it all away, it wouldn't have been nearly as good.

[MyNameDidntFit]

It's reasonable. By no means do I consider it worth the acclaim it is receiving.

Especially when you consider that two thirds of the plot can be considered to be "I'm sad because my wife is dead but don't want to talk about it".





/Edit: the ending is about as good as the ending to King's Dark Tower series -- which is to say there is no ending. Which I do not consider to be a good ending.

[Jason]

/Edit: the ending is about as good as the ending to King's Dark Tower series -- which is to say there is no ending. Which I do not consider to be a good ending.

This.

Whilst I don't need a definitive ending to tell me what to think and whether the hero lives happily ever after (Blade Runner: DC is my favourite film, incidentally), I do think that the ending to Inception chickened out a little - it smacks of indecision from the writers. If I dedicate two hours to something, I want a satisfactory conclusion to it, or at least something that makes me think, rather than just leaving me hanging between two ENTIRELY different outcomes.

[Archangel]

So then think about what outcome it logically is to be.

For instance:

A: The fact that the film cuts away before we know for certain suggests that they want us to keep guessing. But we think it kept spinning. Here’s our reasoning:... Note that at the end of the film Cobb’s kids haven’t aged. They match exactly his memory of them. A memory which must almost surely by now be out of date, since he’s been away from them for many months. Though he finally sees their faces, otherwise they look exactly as he envisioned them. They're even wearing the same clothes. In reality, his kids would now be older and different than his memories of them. This could suggest that Cobb is still in the dream and the top does indeed keep spinning after the credits roll.

Alternate Theory Aaron points this out in our comments section: "In the opening moments you get a glimpse of Leo's hand. Specifically, he's wearing his wedding ring. Now, if you follow the rest of the movie keeping an eye out for this you will notice that he only has the ring on when he's in the dream world. At the end of the movie he isn't wearing the ring." If the ring only appears when he's in a dream and he's not wearing at the end of the film, that could be confirmation that in fact, the top does stop spinning after the credits and Cobb is at last in the real world.

[Jason]

That actually illustrates my point pretty well.

Whilst I'm a fan of endings that are open to the viewer's interpretation to a certain extent (Pulp Fiction and the contents of the case being a brilliant example of this being done well), I don't like that there's such a HUGE disparity between the two possible outcomes - either he's awake, safe and well and gets what he wanted, or he's still dreaming and likely to spend the rest of his 'real' life a mindless drooling vegetable. There's no subtlety to it, and it seems really clumsily done to me.

[CemeteryGates]

I agree with Jason. One thing is mystery and leaving it to interpretation. Another is to leave it half-assed like that. It's like they were tired of writing and decided not to go through the effort of writing anything better.

Also, I don't get why so many people are comparing it to the Matrix. I can see some very vague resemblance in some things like the "awake/asleep" theme (which is extremely different)... otherwise they've got nothing to do with each other at all.

[Lance]

Oh dead god what have I done

Despite getting 11 games from my brother in law, I thought I'd pick up Red Dead Redemption today since it was on sale.

Suffice to say, Red Dead Redemption, Transformers: War on Cybertron, UFC Undisputed 2010, and Dragon Age: Origins later and I have quite a few games I've not even started yet -.-

[Kino]

I saw Inception last night! It was amazing dude!

[Nonsequitur]

Just saw Inception myself about an hour ago and I was quite impressed. How do we know that we are not butterflies dreaming that we are humans, in Hollywood form. I think Hollywood did okay on this one. The end scene was really the keystone and I think was rather doomed by the expectations that the film built. There really wasn't anyway to wrap it up in a way that would please everyone.

I agree personally with MNDF about the ending of the Dark Tower Series (Btw King's only real good ending). The nice thing King did at the end was to plant the suggestion that Roland had some recall and that perhaps the cycle could end at some point.

Edit - I also had my first bit of Vegimite and Marmite... Wow, there must be some kind of learning curve.

[Jason]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the film as a whole, I just felt that the ending was a little bit of a cop-out. Like you said, there was no way they could end it and please everyone, but I feel that by not sticking to their guns, they ended up mildly disappointing a lot more people than they would have upset had they just made a strong decision and stuck to it.

Still, thoroughly enjoyable movie. DiCaprio is quickly becoming one of my favourite actors.

Also, Nonseq - Marmite is the single most awesome thing ever. Vegemite is Satan in spreadable form.

[Archangel]

Heathen.

Vegemite is glorious.

[Nonsequitur]

I'd like to enjoy either, but I spread them on crackers. I was told that was the wrong idea and next time I'll try them on buttered toast and in lower doses.

[Jason]

Ah, yes. I can see how a thick layer of either on crackers might not make for an ideal first taste. It's definitely best spread thinly on toast.

[Nonsequitur]

Ah, yes. I can see how a thick layer of either on crackers might not make for an ideal first taste. It's definitely best spread thinly on toast.

It was a bit shocking, but butter has a way of making things better. If the butter doesn't work I'll try it on bacon. Bacon makes everything taste better.

[MyNameDidntFit]

There is certainly a learning curve. You have to figure out how much you can stand. Vegemite is, for all intents and purposes, a manliness tester -- Saxton Hale eats it with his BARE HANDS, if you need some sort of indication.

[Lance]

Ah, yes. I can see how a thick layer of either on crackers might not make for an ideal first taste. It's definitely best spread thinly on toast.

Bah, boys :p

I love my Vegemite. Thick on toast, or on crackers with butter, mmmmm

Since I'm allergic to peanuts (and hence peanut butter) I use to have it in Celery Sticks too, that's a real treat.

You guys (not MNDF) really need to man up :D

[MyNameDidntFit]

What can you expect? They aren't Australians.

[CemeteryGates]

An Aussie friend sent me Vegemite once. I didn't pick up the package soon enough and they shipped it back to Australia, and now she doesn't want to send it to me again, even if I pay the shipping. :p
I'm curious about it.

[Steph]

I love my Vegemite. Thick on toast, or on crackers with butter, mmmmm

[shudders]

[Nonsequitur]

Celery Sticks too, that's a real treat.

I'll have to try that as well. For some strange reason I can see that being a good combination.

[Archangel]

You guys (not MNDF) really need to man up :D

What can you expect? They aren't Australians.

*clears throat*

[Jason]

'sok guys. According to Steph, I'm an Aussie too. :p

[Kino]

Whats up peeps?

[MyNameDidntFit]

An Aussie friend sent me Vegemite once. I didn't pick up the package soon enough and they shipped it back to Australia, and now she doesn't want to send it to me again, even if I pay the shipping. :p
I'm curious about it.

I'm going away all next week, but if you remind me next weekend I'll see if we can remedy that situation -- if you're still interested, of course.

[Steph]

'sok guys. According to Steph, I'm an Aussie too. :p

Ssshhh, I never said that :p

[looks around]

[MyNameDidntFit]

Mmm... spent the last 10 hours playing drunken Halo and drunken Castle Crashers...

I swear, after an hour and a half of Castle Crashres I still don't know what SI was doing. Fun though.

Halo, as ever, was amazing fun :D

[Lance]

Never cooking for 8 people ever again.... the cooking/dishes are a killer. But it was my Dad's 70th, so can't complain too much. I'm back now though :D

[Jack]

I think I may play God of War 1, then 2, then 3. My brother picked up the remastered HD versions of 1 and 2 and got number 3 also the other day, and I'm quite curious.

As for that, would anybody like to buy me a ticket to Florida? Thanks a lot.

[Jason]

I just had to start Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer from scratch again (I got to level 60-something on PS3 before losing interest) now I have it on 360.

On one hand, the massive frustration of not having a decent 3-round burst Assault Rifle is driving me to near pad-launching fits of rage, this is countered by the joy of hearing 12 year olds saying "OMG LOOK @ DA LVL5 GUY WUT A N00B!" (they actually pronounce it like that too, y'know...) in the pre-game lobby and then proceeding to wipe the floor with them for the next ten minutes. :D

[Daggers]

I just had to start Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer from scratch again (I got to level 60-something on PS3 before losing interest) now I have it on 360.

On one hand, the massive frustration of not having a decent 3-round burst Assault Rifle is driving me to near pad-launching fits of rage, this is countered by the joy of hearing 12 year olds saying "OMG LOOK @ DA LVL5 GUY WUT A N00B!" (they actually pronounce it like that too, y'know...) in the pre-game lobby and then proceeding to wipe the floor with them for the next ten minutes. :D

I hate hate HATE 12 year old gamers with mics lol, I always go through and mute everyone in the pregame lobby because they just do my frackin head in :angry:

[Steph]

I just had to start Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer from scratch again (I got to level 60-something on PS3 before losing interest) now I have it on 360.

On one hand, the massive frustration of not having a decent 3-round burst Assault Rifle is driving me to near pad-launching fits of rage, this is countered by the joy of hearing 12 year olds saying "OMG LOOK @ DA LVL5 GUY WUT A N00B!" (they actually pronounce it like that too, y'know...) in the pre-game lobby and then proceeding to wipe the floor with them for the next ten minutes. :D

Oh I totally remember that, I was laughing.

[Jason]

Generally, they don't bother me too much unless they have music on in the background or are excessively screamy/abusive. Then I just mute them and hunt them down mercilessly.

[Jason]

Ah, generally they don't bother me too much unless they have loud music on in the background (and are hence constantly transmitting), or they're excessively whiny/squealy/abusive. In those cases, I mute them and proceed to hunt them down with extreme prejudice. :D

[Archangel]

Hurr, joo dubble posst.

I only have the 12 year old problem when in TF2 (likely 'cos it's the only MP game I play), myself. They are damnably annoying. I only hope I wasn't so annoyingly full of myself when I was 12 like half these kids are.

Still, it makes it more satisfying when I switch teams for the sake of putting and arrow through their face or a knife to the spine.

[MyNameDidntFit]

... I'm just now returning from a 5 day hiatus away from home for training-y-work-ish stuff...

So, if anyone was astute enough to notice my absence, that's why.




(also, holy shit the postbit has gone mad in my absence... so different. Undecided as to my opinion yet)

[Jason]

I did indeed notice. I shall recall the flying monkey squadron.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Oh. Uh. Yes. Them. See, I, uh, didn't know they were yours and, well... they don't like chainswords, apparently.

>.>

[Lance]

:D rep+

I did also note the absence - it was strangely quite :p

[Steph]

So I feel like ranting a little ...

As terrible as this sounds, some of my Xbox Live friends are starting to 'dae mah heid in' (really irritate me).

With some it's perverted, inappropriate comments which I'm at my wits end to 'laugh it off' after a year of putting up with it. Others who keep going 'LOLOL FAIL.' or 'LOLWIN' or 'LOLWUT' ... just basically anything with LOL in it goes.

Then there's the ones who are so clingy and it's a pure crime if I have to leave in the middle of a game, which I'll never hear the end of the next time I pop on. They strop at me and I actually have to apologise for having a life. Or they'll start asking me if I want to meet up with them. In particular, one person I usually enjoy playing with, I've really began to avoid. He apparently has feelings for me now which renders all the fun banter we used to have into awkward conversations. On my part anyway.

I don't like it! I want to be able to go on there and just play games, have fun etc. Not have to dread it because if I don't talk to him the second I sign on, he'll bitch for the rest of the night.

I mean f--- off and grow a pair.

[Konrad]

Steph n' Xboxkid sittin in a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G...

[Steph]

I thought no-one could see us up there. Damn.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Try wearing a ghillie suit for your make-out next time.

[Jason]

:lol: - I love you guys.

And Steph, I kind of know what you mean, having witnessed it first hand. This is where a 'block' button would come in oh so very handy on XBL. Just for those times when you really can't be bothered to put up with that kind of thing.

(Oh, and this isn't about the 'me accidentally calling you a cougar' thing, is it? :p)

[Lance]

And Steph, I kind of know what you mean, having witnessed it first hand. This is where a 'block' button would come in oh so very handy on XBL. Just for those times when you really can't be bothered to put up with that kind of thing.

.... you mean you have adolecent boys hitting on you and getting all clingy? Exacly how high *IS* your voice Jase? :p

[Steph]

Try wearing a ghillie suit for your make-out next time.
Rep for that one!

:lol: - I love you guys.

And Steph, I kind of know what you mean, having witnessed it first hand. This is where a 'block' button would come in oh so very handy on XBL. Just for those times when you really can't be bothered to put up with that kind of thing.

(Oh, and this isn't about the 'me accidentally calling you a cougar' thing, is it? :p)

Haha, not at all, I found that rather amusing.

[Hyperion]

I was gone for at least a week because I tried to change phone carriers without reading the fine print which says, "If you try that, we will disconnect your Internet access out of spite."

[Jason]

Ah, yes... that's a frustrating one that. Amazing how many companies have that one hidden away in there somewhere... :p

[Lance]

Watched Daybreakers last night finally - good movie for what it was, and excellent compared to a few Australian movies- it had some WTF moments, some decent twists, and an interesting take on Vampires (although it does fall in to the I am Legend *book not movie* vampire mould)

All in all though, worth checking out :D

[Tiny Cy]

so...anyone on this new Itunes Ping then?
it does have a little way to go yet..
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/shanerichmond/100005582/apples-ping-pongs-a-bit-right-now/

[Jason]

Spent my Sunday swinging round trees in deepest darkest Norfolk. It was surprisingly awesome. Here's a quick clip the good lady shot of me putting Indiana Jones to shame.

I should probably also point out that the entire thing took place about 20-30 feet off the ground - the angle of the video really doesn't do justice to quite how high up you are. Anyway, the point is: AWESOME DAY OUT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKELU3IXWAs

[Diachron]

re: Indiana Jason-- that looks like a blast! I've always wanted to zip-line. I've been skydiving a few times many years ago, but I have completely lost my nerve for it now!

re: Daybreakers-- fun film for certain. I finally caught Cronos after a million years of procratination. Good stuff.. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cronos/?critic=creamcrop

[MyNameDidntFit]

Watched Expendables last night. Was amazingly drunk and the movie was amazingly amazing. Seriously. Awesome movie. So. Much. Win.

And then we continued drinking and watched Star Wars I through VI. So. Much. Win.

And then we noticed that the briefing for the attack on the Death Star is one big innuendo. So. Much. Win.

[CemeteryGates]

It's only three days since I came back from San Francisco, and I'm still thinking about it...

On my last day there, I returned to GameStop because they sold me the box to Resistance: Fall of Men without the game disc inside.
While her co-worker checked it, a rather attractive girl who worked there approached me with a big smile, and asked me what I was taking with me. So I explained I had only returned for my game disc, and she laughed as if I had just told a great joke. Then she turned the conversation into general gaming, and we talked for a little bit. She seemed extremely happy to be talking to me.
I was in a bit of a hurry, though, so I told her I had to get going, which made her look disappointed. After I said goodbye and started heading towards the door, I heard her saw an energetic "see you later!" as I passed by her, and as she finished her sentence, I stopped, turned my head, smiled, and said: "Sorry; not likely. I don't live in San Francisco."
For a moment I caught the way her face changed from a cheerful smile to a disheartened expression.

Now, this isn't the first time I break a girl's heart, nor the first time I break a girl's heart in the US, or at a store, or a good-looking girl... but I don't think I had ever done so that quickly, and certainly not to a gamer girl (which is generally a type of girl that interests me).
And I still have no idea what women find so attractive about me... especially with my awful new look. :p

[MyNameDidntFit]

Damn, she's got a good sales pitch :p

[Steph]

You must have that sexy confidence going on then ;)

[Diachron]

You've got good mojo, then!

[Landy]

Damn, this thread has grown a lot since last time :naughty:

[Jason]

Hehe, we do our best. :)

So, what's everyone currently plotting for their christmas lists?

[Lance]

I'm a little teapot

[Landy]

Hehe, we do our best. :)

So, what's everyone currently plotting for their christmas lists?

Putting away some cash for a new laptop for my mom, then maybe one to myself aswell :P

And you?

[MyNameDidntFit]

Nothing. I'll be so poor after my trip to New Zealand that I'll have to start saving for Iron Maiden and Fiji in March straight away :p

[Archangel]

I was gonna go to New Zealand, but then I didn't have money. Kinda sucked.

My Christmas wishlist at present pretty much = a good set of earphones for ma mp3 player, and/or money.

[CemeteryGates]

Hehe, we do our best. :)

So, what's everyone currently plotting for their christmas lists?



I'm more worried about buying my sister and her soon-to-be husband a wedding gift. They have their civil wedding in October 10 and their wedding by the Catholic church (despite my sister being religiously apathetic and my brother-in-law being an atheist :p) in October 23.

Similarly, as far as receiving gifts goes, my birthday's only about 5 weeks away.


I am planning, however, to get my brother either an external Blu-ray burner for his laptop, or some cool furniture, since he's moving out and on his own soon.
Also planning to get my mother some nice jewlery. Still don't know what I'm gonna get for my father and sister. I'll probably get my brother-in-law a video-game, but he's a bit picky, so it's a bit hard.

I'm far too easy when it comes to gifts. There's always like 300 CDs I want, and at least some 7 video-games. At the moment, I also want a guitar stand, a pack of 6 bass strings, a new guitar amp, a bass amp, cymbals, a mixing console, a pack of thick picks, a new computer, the new "slim" Xbox 360, an SLR digital camera, a car... literally all sorts of stuff with all sorts of wildly varying prices. :D
Knowing my father's side of the family, who are the ones we almost always spend Christmas with, I'll probably get a CD I don't want, a couple of sweaters (despite the fact that in the unusual case the weather demands it, I only wear jackets, never sweaters), a couple of shirts that are too small for me, and a good book or movie, with a small chance I already own it. :p

[Diachron]

So, what's everyone currently plotting for their christmas lists?

We have a massive extended family, so christmas shopping always become a carefully coordinated affair. My wife is very talented at zeroing in on gifts that are both great for the giftee and don't bust the overall budget, so I'll take up my usual role of saying "yeah that's perfect" and then going to get it or send it. :p

[Steph]

I haven't actually thought about what I want for Christmas.
If anything, I just want money haha.

I've just been thinking about what to get my brothers and what I'm gonna do for my mum's birthday.

[Landy]

Morning glory. Anyone tried 'Dead Rising 2' yet?

[MotherGraham~]

I haven't tried Dead Rising 2 as of yet, but I do intend to get it (even though I never bothered buying Dead Rising 1). From what I know it's a pretty awesome game and many things have been improved; fighting-wise anyway.

And on that note, anyone here who intends to get SW:TFU2? And if so, know of any place that might have the Collectors' Edition available still? The only local store that sold the CE, GameMania, had it sold out since two weeks ago. That kind of sucks, because I must have the CE!

[Landy]

I haven't tried Dead Rising 2 as of yet, but I do intend to get it (even though I never bothered buying Dead Rising 1). From what I know it's a pretty awesome game and many things have been improved; fighting-wise anyway.

And on that note, anyone here who intends to get SW:TFU2? And if so, know of any place that might have the Collectors' Edition available still? The only local store that sold the CE, GameMania, had it sold out since two weeks ago. That kind of sucks, because I must have the CE!

Only 'let down' I've heard about the game is the darned time limit you have on each mission. Time limits stresses me out.

Whats SW:TFU2?

[CemeteryGates]

I'm assuming he means Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II.

Personally, I didn't even bother with the first one.

[Archangel]

^ Not much lost, in my opinion.

I did not care particularly for that game, and certainly not for the hype and fanboys that seem to surround it everywhere it goes.

[MotherGraham~]

Yes, I did mean The Force Unleashed II. I've played the demo a day or two ago and must say that a lot of it has been improved. You should give it a try, too.

[Jason]

Dead Rising 2, sadly has many of the flaws that prevented the first one being the classic we all wanted it to be so badly. That's not to say it has all the flaws, and it's a definite improvement with several new features and -crucially- a workable save system (although no autosave system, more on that in a rant soon!).

ST:TFU2 looks promising indeed, and might well finally convince me to buy my first Star Wars game since I grabbed KOTOR for £0.96 in a Steam sale. Reviews will be the ultimate decider, as it'll be competing with Fallout: New Vegas for my money.

[Jason]

Downloaded the demo for Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit last night (amongst other things, including the excellent Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2), and considering it's by Criterion games, who are/were behind the entertaining Burnout series, I was a little disappointed - the level I played with the police car was exceptionally simplistic with very little variety, and the driving mechanics are pretty blunt, where you never really feel like you're in complete control, but never feel in danger of going out of control.

Anyone else given it a spin?

[CemeteryGates]

So today is November 1st, celebrated as The Day of the Dead here in Mexico, and I believe also as All Saints' Day by the Roman Catholic Church (which has a lot of influence in this country, so most celebrate both as one). Because of the connection with the church, it's celebrated into the next day as well, which is the Church's All Souls' Day. Additionally, in many communities the first is dedicated to the children ("Día de los Inocentes" or "Day of the Innocents") and the second is dedicated to the adults ("Día de los Difuntos" which is another name for "Day of the Dead").

In this special occasion, we take the time to remember our dead and honor their memories. While many cultures also assign a day for these purposes, the Mexican tradition is apparently somewhat notorious around the globe for our unique twist on it.
While for others it may be some sort of grim day of mourning, for us it's indeed quite different; altars are raised either at one's home or at the graveyards where our fallen lie in eternal rest, and they are decorated by the Flower of the Dead --cempazúchil, otherwise known as the Aztec Marigold-- among other typical adornments. Many items are placed on it as offerings; they are food, drinks and other things the dead one liked in life. Friends and family gather around the altar and they eat and drink, as well as serve the dead, and they often sing and dance cheerfully, and share stories about the dead one and laugh with it. Sometimes a certain type of poems called "calaveras" (which roughly translates as "skulls" or "skeletons") are written and recited by the attendants specifically for the occasion.
When the altars are dedicated to children, they are typically left toys as offerings, rather than the alcoholic drinks used for adults.

The idea is to celebrate the lives of the deceased with them, pretending they are present, observing and participating from beyond, and to have a good time with the dead as we did when they lived.
Some people take these beliefs very seriously and are completely conviced the dead ones are present and that they will consume their offerings.
Also, when an altar is raised in one's house, it's customary to clean up as much as possible and provide the food and drink used in the offerings by cooking it rather than buying it.
Some of the food specifically associated with this holiday are sugar skulls and 'pan de muerto' ("bread of the dead").

In conclusion: in our paradoxical culture, the famous Day of the Dead is the only day (or, well... two days) of the year when you can't mourn and dwell on pensive reminiscence. :p

Personally, I'll be raising an altar for my fallen later today. It's also the second of two days of Samhain, which being a pagan for some years, I celebrated, and still do in some manner.


Coincidentally, it's also my 21st birthday.

[Steph]

:O
Is that sort of like our Halloween? Although all we do then is dress up party or go trick-or-treating. Nothing compared to that at all ...

Happy 21st Birthday though!

Did you do much for it?

[Archangel]

Steph, Halloween is in itself a derivation of the old pagan festivals held at this time of year--incidentally, Samhain. October 31/November 1 is the end of harvest and the beginning of the frost (up with you Northern Hemisphere folk, anyway), which marked the time of year that crops and cattle started to die. So, there was ritualistic slaughter of the cattle to prepare meat stores for the winter, 'cleansing' bonfires that you'd walk through to purify yourself or your cattle, so on. As it was the point in time when most things started to die, it was also seen as the time of year when the veil between the otherworld was thinnest, and thus one could contact the dead or reach through the veil.

I believe you Scots were the ones to start wearing costumes and masks first, as a means to placate the dead spirits. Wasn't til Christianity ripped off everyone's culture that the event got bastardised into a weekend of profiteering and waste.

I get all of that right, Gates? I'm gonna assume you know more on the matter than I do, given I don't believe or practice any of it. I'm just an enthusiast, at best.

Either way, though, happy birthday (Though I expect I'm too late in saying it, right now, though I am not well versed timezone magick). I guess it has to be happy though, given the day it's on. No pensive reminiscing for you ;).

[CemeteryGates]

:O
Is that sort of like our Halloween? Although all we do then is dress up party or go trick-or-treating. Nothing compared to that at all ...

Happy 21st Birthday though!

Did you do much for it?

Thank you. :)

Nah, it's not like Halloween... we actually celebrate Halloween as well. I guess it's part of the globalization thing. It's kind of funny; we celebrate Halloween that comes from the Gaelic pagan celebration of Samhain (summer's end) and the next day we celebrate the Day of the Dead in conjuction with the Church's All Saints' Day. :p


I haven't done anything yet. I'm going with my parents, brother and best friend to a rather nice restaurant later today, then maybe I'll play video games or watch a movie on my own.
Next weekend I'm throwing a small party at my house, but I don't expect many of my friends to show up. We're all broke this time of the year. :p

[MyNameDidntFit]

Posting this from a shiney new iPhone 4 and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised with how it handles vB. The whole phone is really quite awesome, actually.
The touch typing is taking a bit of getting used to and the auto-corrections are sometimes annoying but other than that this is definitely a piece of tech that I'd call wel and truly worth the money.

[Jason]

I'm quite wanting an iPhone when my current contract expires next summer, but to be quite honest, I'm really reluctant to have itunes on my computer - it's such a horrendously system-strangling piece of software, it's making me reluctant to get one.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Two words: Media Monkey.

[Jason]

I have MediaMonkey. Don't you need iTunes to update the iPhone though?

[MyNameDidntFit]

Doesn't mean it ever needs to be running, though.

[Jason]

Eh, whilst I can't talk from experience (which probably dulls my argument quite considerably) I've heard that it's not so much the program itself, rather all the extra (and unkillable using CTRL+ALT+DEL) processes it hides in the background at startup.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Honestly, as much as it pains me to say, I haven't noticed any slowdown or additional resource usage since installing iTunes. Nor are there any additional processes running in the background that don't relate to iPhone connection--and those amount to another 8000K.
Sufficed to say the 'burden' of iTunes is hardly that at all if you're smart enough not to use the bloated, inefficient piece of crap :)
Though if it bothers you that much, the HTC and Samsung smartphones are worth looking at.

[Archangel]

Anything running on Android actually has a fair chance of being better, really. I can't speak from experience, because I'm living in poverty and whatnot, but Android as a free opensource OS for handheld devices based on the linux Kernel and developed by Google along with a grand plethora of other programmers (such is the awesomeness of opensource products). In essence, that means that it readily can compete (and possibly beat, but again I haven't compared) the iPhone's OS and App Store.

IT also means you're not paying for the OS on the phone itself. iPhone's cost that $400-odd more on all their plans, because Apple are a) yes, money whores, but also b) having to spend lots of money in developing the OS for their products. Anything Android, the OS is developed by Google and the community, and the license is completely free, so it doesn't cost anything.

Because it's Google-supported, too, you also get an inbuilt browser, free maps and an email client with the OS--which continues to remain free.

The HTC Legend (http://www.htc.com/au/product/legend/specification.html) actually has an AMOLED screen, putting it's display as better than the iPhone's.

Alright, so now that I've started on this road, I'm going to go read up on smartphones a whole bunch at some point when I don't have an exam to do during the day.

So, standby for nerdgasms.

[MyNameDidntFit]

The main advantage I've seen when comparing the big three (in person) is that Apple have been doing this for a good while now and, as such, their OS is much more refine than the others, which frankly all have UIs that are mediocre imitations of the iOS 4. The other thing Apple has iS 160,000 more apps than the nearest competitor.

For the most part though I think you'll find they're on level terms or thereabouts and the choice really comes down to the same thing it comes down to with any phone purchase; which one tickles your fancy.

[Archangel]

Yeah, but... If there's any particular similarities in the look of the OS, it's that iOS ripped of Android. 'Cos Android just looked like Linux. 'Cos it is Linux. Depends on the phone, and who decided to tinker with it to look like what, though, so yeah, fairly moot point. Besides, why change what works?

Generally, Android phones will be cheaper and have better hardware though (Given Android is the main product of the Open Handset Alliance, which consists of but is not limited to, Nvidia, Intel, Texas Instruments, Asustek and pretty much all the major phone-based companies). Plus, the Android OS itself is vastly more versatile than iOS, and comes with far more 'power-user' features by default. Additional plus, it has ~100,000 apps, and when you get to 100,000, you generally have everything you need. Plus, 57% of the Android Market is free. Apple's App Store has only 27% of the products as free.

But nonetheless, I still haven't used either really. From what I understand, and from what I can deduce via having a vast amount of common sense at my disposal, iPhone wins a large market share for being easier to use and having all the kinks worked out, but ultimately having less functionality. Meanwhile, Android (being a Linux derivative), pretty much comes with a large amount of the functionality of a PC, plus a bunch of functionality of a phone, but it's still relatively new and has yet to be polished as much.
I think circa Android 3.x (x, as in, once they release version 3 and then update it to 3.x), or perhaps Android 4 will be when they have all the functions in there, and working sexily.

Still, when I discovered the iPhone didn't have an AMOLED, I was fair disappoint. And besides that... Apple? iTunes? Hell naw.

[Jason]

Yeah, in theory, I think that as long as someone actually puts together a decent phone that uses Android (because from what I've seen from scouring through various sites, most of the offerings are a little shaky at the moment), it'll start to catch on. However, I don't think that will be coming for a couple of years yet.

I'm actually still very skeptical over touchscreen phones. With most contracts for a high-end phone these days lasting 18-24 months, I want to be damned sure the phone is working for that whole time, something which hasn't always been the case with touchscreens.

Basically, at the moment, the big manufacturers of phones are HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Apple.

Samsung are out straight away, as the quality of their phones has plummeted since the good old D500, and I'm not confident the phone would work for the full period.

Nokia are improving quite a lot from where they were a few years back with the disaster of the N96.

Sony Ericsson are hit and miss. My K800i I still swear is the best phone I've ever had, and the W995 I have now has been pretty good as well. However, a lot of their phones have serious reliability and durability issues.

Which leaves HTC and Apple. I don't really know much about HTC, but they seem to do pretty good phones, plus my good lady is looking at getting the HTC Wildfire, so I guess I'll check that out.

The main reason I'm leaning towards Apple is that it ticks my current boxes - it's pretty reliable for the most part (I have several friends with them, and am yet to see any having problems that weren't caused by dropping it on concrete), it's a nice comfortable size, and it's got a fantastic selection of Apps.

So that's pretty much the choice at the moment - right now, I feel the iPhone is the more all-round option, but the various Android phones are definitely the ones with more potential.

Still, there's another 6-8 months before I actually have to make the final decision though.

[MyNameDidntFit]

If you're worried about the phone not lasting the length of the contract, you can get it insured for an extra $10 monthly that covers pretty well anything short of setting it on fire and casting it into Mt. Doom. Or,at least, you can here.

[Archangel]

Yeah, in theory, I think that as long as someone actually puts together a decent phone that uses Android (because from what I've seen from scouring through various sites, most of the offerings are a little shaky at the moment), it'll start to catch on. However, I don't think that will be coming for a couple of years yet.

Actually, the present rating for the HTC Desire from both users and from reviewers is significantly higher than the iPhone 4, and the HTC Desire is cheaper (~$750 AUD opposed to ~$1,000 for the iPhone). It comes with an AMOLED screen, and a better CPU and GPU than that built into the iPhone 4, so it's capable of faster and smoother navigation and high-quality video playback. So, yeah... general opinion is that it's better than iPhone 4, it seems...

Also, Android was launched first in late October, 2008. the initial release of iOS was June 2007. In two years, Android has sufficiently caught up with Apple and, technically speaking, overtaken them in terms of hardware and software. iOS4 also is set to be updated this month with some bug fixes and minor additions, with no news on future updates; Android is set for a similar patch, with more additions (including a music store, aka iTunes store replacement), and already has a road map to Android 3.0 in early 2011 and a possible 4.0 or 3.5 in mid 2011. Their rate of improvement is proving to be vastly faster and altogether better than Apple's, and it certainly shouldn't (if the world is inclined to demonstrate reason, anyway) take a couple years for Android to achieve 'victory', as the only thing presently lacking for Android is the victory in the market share.

I'm actually still very skeptical over touchscreen phones. With most contracts for a high-end phone these days lasting 18-24 months, I want to be damned sure the phone is working for that whole time, something which hasn't always been the case with touchscreens.

Historically, it's not the case, because the technology in touchscreen phones is far less proven and tested than standard mechanical-button input. The modern-generation is roughly the safe area though, or is a safer area at any rate. There's very little reason for a touch-device failure at present, actually.

Samsung are out straight away, as the quality of their phones has plummeted since the good old D500, and I'm not confident the phone would work for the full period.

Samsung Galaxy S--rated 9.0 by CNet and 8.4 by Users whereas the iPhone 4 sits at 8.0 and 7.1 respectively. >.>

fantastic selection of Apps.

My point in a former post. Android has more free to download apps, and still has all the major ones any way (Chat and all the socilal networking shenanigans are as-is, anyway, 'cos Android has support for 'em by default. Plus it has a nice shiny Web Browser, which upon further reading is vastly superior to iOS 4's, and scores a 93/100 on the acid3 test (http://acid3.acidtests.org/) (my Firefox 3.6.12 scores 94/100):iOS does not support Adobe Flash (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Flash) or Java (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_%28programming_language%29).[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_%28Apple%29#cite_note-Ultimate_iPhone_FAQs_List.2C_Part_2-28) Websites that use these technologies cannot be viewed in full using iOS devices. In an open letter explaining why Flash is not supported, Steve Jobs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs) called the Adobe product insecure, buggy, battery-intensive, and incompatible with a touch interface.[30] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_%28Apple%29#cite_note-Thoughts_on_Flash-29)
iOS 4's web browser does support a number of HTML5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5) technologies which Apple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.) recommends as alternatives for typical uses of Flash, including native HTML5 video (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5_video) (with limited codec support), and the canvas element (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canvas_element) for drawing 2D graphics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2D_computer_graphics).

Android also has much better audio playback apps. But that's possibly just the audiophile in me talking.

Still, there's another 6-8 months before I actually have to make the final decision though.

$5 on Android raping Apple by then.

/Nerdgasm.

[Tiny Cy]

Well I'm hopefully picking up the HTC Desire Z next week so I'll let you have a play with that :) if I can work it that is! decided to plump for the added QWERT pad. just so I can be flash ;)

[Daggers]

I have the Desire, 6 months now and I'll be honest it's the best phone i've ever owned.

Having said that it's my first smart phone so I don't have much to compare it to...

[Archangel]

Ah, marvelous! As I've said a few times now, my perspective on Android vs iPhone is purely one from a technical/geeky standpoint. An standpoint that usually works out well, but is very well known to not hold up as solidly when you actually get the two phones and use them both to determine which one you like best.

So, yeah, I'd love to hear personal thoughts on it, especially ones versus iPhone. Now that I've gone and researched up on Android and iPhone a whole bunch, I kinda wanna get one...

[CemeteryGates]

Steph, Halloween is in itself a derivation of the old pagan festivals held at this time of year--incidentally, Samhain. October 31/November 1 is the end of harvest and the beginning of the frost (up with you Northern Hemisphere folk, anyway), which marked the time of year that crops and cattle started to die. So, there was ritualistic slaughter of the cattle to prepare meat stores for the winter, 'cleansing' bonfires that you'd walk through to purify yourself or your cattle, so on. As it was the point in time when most things started to die, it was also seen as the time of year when the veil between the otherworld was thinnest, and thus one could contact the dead or reach through the veil.

I believe you Scots were the ones to start wearing costumes and masks first, as a means to placate the dead spirits. Wasn't til Christianity ripped off everyone's culture that the event got bastardised into a weekend of profiteering and waste.

I get all of that right, Gates? I'm gonna assume you know more on the matter than I do, given I don't believe or practice any of it. I'm just an enthusiast, at best.

Either way, though, happy birthday (Though I expect I'm too late in saying it, right now, though I am not well versed timezone magick). I guess it has to be happy though, given the day it's on. No pensive reminiscing for you ;).


That's correct! You know quite a bit on the subject.
And thanks! T'was indeed happy. :D
You posted that around 5PM my timezone, or so; so you were on time. :p


Regarding phones, my brother wants to change his BlackBerry Storm for an iPhone 4.
Me, I have a Motorola QA4 Evoke, I believe it's called. I'm not really interested in accessing the internet and having a Facebook application on my phone... can already do that with the good old iPod touch if I wanted to, anyway. But it's a good phone, if the touch-screen is a bit awkward compared to that of the iPod.
Not looking to replace it anytime soon. :)

[Tiny Cy]

Just got my HTC Desire Z in the post:p very happy with it so far. Touch sensativity is great, apps are enough for me,stlye,look etc. all very nice! The QWERTY keypad is very cute too. maybe not so good if you have fat man hands. I've got square eyes from playing with it all evening. I have an itouch and although I only really use it for the music the HTC is just as good on the internet/screen front. so far so good!

[Archangel]

I believe amongst the apps that Android supports, you can get a number of different media players, so it's possible the HTC could make a better music player.

Good to hear that the HTC Desire runs as well as it does on paper, though. After doing all my research, I've developed a nerd crush for it. Makes me happy to see it doing so well for itself, y'know? :P

[Tiny Cy]

oh and it was all going so well, the battery on the Desire Z is a massive fail for me, but I read that most android phones struggle. such is life! fully charged over night it has lasted from 8am to 3:30pm. I've only sent a couple of texts and looked on the internet twice. Had it on power save too. Bit of a concern if I'm ever out and away from a power supply! it has had a couple of mini crashes too, I hope it lasts for the 2 year contract duration.

[MyNameDidntFit]

7 hour standby life? I'd be making inquiries with the retailer about whether it was a defective battery... Because that's just ridiculous.

As would be expected the battery life on the HTC Specs site (http://www.htc.com/www/product/desirez/specification.html) pegs the battery life at about seventy times that.

[Archangel]

Yeah, 7 hours should not be right. Even with programs and apps running in the background and the like, it should still surpass 7 hours.

On the other hand, though, some Li batteries are fickle things. The first few charges can often not reach full potential as some of 'em have a "wear-in" time, if you will. So give it a couple of days and overnight charges (overnight charges are very good for multi-celled Lithium-ion batteries).

Also, check these out:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-desire-679515/review?artc_pg=9

http://www.mrgadget.com.au/gadget/2010/10-way-to-increase-htc-desire-battery-time/

Doing some of the things those folks tell you should extend it greatly (though they still claim to have gotten ~a day's worth from the battery while doing things).

[CemeteryGates]

Well, damn. I just came back from my best friend's birthday party. I think I just had about four half bottles of different liquors. Scotch, rum, brandy, vodka, tequila... don't think I'd been this drunk since early in the year.
Needed it to relax a little, I guess.

[MyNameDidntFit]

On the other hand, though, some Li batteries are fickle things. The first few charges can often not reach full potential as some of 'em have a "wear-in" time, if you will. So give it a couple of days and overnight charges (overnight charges are very good for multi-celled Lithium-ion batteries).

Aye, this tends to be true. My iPhone was similar in it's lack of battery for the first few days (well, nowhere near as bad as 7 hours without heavy usage, but still barely lasted 24 hours), and it is improving. 9 hours after being unplugged this morning, it's on 86% -- with apps in the background, music playing for a good half hour and being connected to wifi for the entire time. An improvement to say the least.

[Tiny Cy]

Yeah, 7 hours should not be right. Even with programs and apps running in the background and the like, it should still surpass 7 hours.

On the other hand, though, some Li batteries are fickle things. The first few charges can often not reach full potential as some of 'em have a "wear-in" time, if you will. So give it a couple of days and overnight charges (overnight charges are very good for multi-celled Lithium-ion batteries).

Also, check these out:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-desire-679515/review?artc_pg=9

http://www.mrgadget.com.au/gadget/2010/10-way-to-increase-htc-desire-battery-time/

Doing some of the things those folks tell you should extend it greatly (though they still claim to have gotten ~a day's worth from the battery while doing things).
Thanks for your help guys, I have just found in the settings about apps running in the background. didn't even know they were!sneaky :) so I've turned them off and it's a lot better these past 2 days, so I think it may have been one of those using it up. Will keep an eye on it in future. I'm happy again:rofl:

[Jason]

Saw Jimmy Eat World live at the UEA in Norwich on Saturday night. Farking amazing night - we were right near the stage on the left, amazing view, although our heads were pretty much right in the speakers - specifically the one that was miced to the snare drum.


Here's a good indication of how close were were:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs919.snc4/73200_10150327904520304_879230303_15895028_8224770 _n.jpg

A few more photos, courtesy of the good lady.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs938.snc4/75157_10150327901035304_879230303_15894961_4841209 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs492.ash2/76508_10150327901115304_879230303_15894963_4539249 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1157.snc4/149897_10150327900915304_879230303_15894959_545569 2_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1186.snc4/150874_10150327903990304_879230303_15895019_311468 6_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs468.ash2/74097_10150327901585304_879230303_15894970_7181399 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs918.snc4/73141_10150327901765304_879230303_15894974_3188472 _n.jpg

[Steph]

I hate people. This is the conclusion I've drawn since joining Bank of Scotland.

People in my hometown are absolute dicks.

I hate the general public.

And I also hate sales. Also never realised how hard sales are for me. Trying to promote service, do protection questionaires, sell loans, mortgages, URCAs, protection, investments, current accounts, transfers, buildings and contents, savings, whilst doing a transaction boggles my brain. I start to think too much about selling shit to a customer that I process the transaction wrong and end up having to reverse it 'cause I'm doing 'the chat'.

You know how soul destroying it is to go through all that every day, Mrs Bank Manager? She who comes right up in my face and asks why I've not got anything today as if she's gonna deck me right and there, when there's a huge cue behind her and I'm like 'I -- uhh -- I'.

Fuck off!
/Rant

[Jason]

That sucks. But yes, I feel your pain regarding Joe Public. I spend most of my work doing my very utmost to battle Darwinism (http://www.darwinawards.com/) at its finest - people who decide that going for a little jaunt in their 20ft yacht across the entrance to one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world in near-zero visibility is not only a good idea, but such a doddle that they'll try doing it in storm-force winds.

Mr Darwin, you are right - there should be chlorine in the genepool, but I'm contractually obliged to try and disprove your theory.

[Steph]

That sucks. But yes, I feel your pain regarding Joe Public. I spend most of my work doing my very utmost to battle Darwinism (http://www.darwinawards.com/) at its finest - people who decide that going for a little jaunt in their 20ft yacht across the entrance to one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world in near-zero visibility is not only a good idea, but such a doddle that they'll try doing it in storm-force winds.

Mr Darwin, you are right - there should be chlorine in the genepool, but I'm contractually obliged to try and disprove your theory.

Oh man that site is hilarious, thanks for that you've cheered me up =)

And yeah, some people just have absolute zero common sense. I get stuff like that but bank related that's SO obvious but customers don't see it until it smacks them in the face. I actually can't comprehend their idiocy.

How can people be so stupid?

I'm going to drink a lot tomorrow after work.

[Jason]

Yeah, the Darwin Awards are great fun if you're a bit disillusioned with humanity. This one (http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2006-14.html) is a personal favourite.

[Steph]

Lmao!

That's just ... I'm at a loss at why anyone ...

Did this actually happen?

[Jason]

Yup. If you check just underneath it in the smaller print, there's a link to the BBC article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/6132140.stm).

[Landy]

I see MG has grown nicely since my last visit. As Borat would say it:

"Great success!"

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9361/boratj.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/i/boratj.jpg/)

[Swift]

lol i love that movie. hey did u know that the person who played as Borat also played as a gangster known as Ali G on the movie The Ali G Show or the gay dude from the movie Bruno?
http://www.extratextual.tv/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ali2.jpg
http://cdn.thefrisky.com/images/uploads/bruno_movie.jpg

[Konrad]

All three of those characters are from Da Ali G Show, which was pretty damn brilliant. At least the HBO produced part, the British first season with the laugh track was just... bad. And then they took all the good jokes from that one and redid them later on anyway.

Honestly, the movies he did of those characters were absolute crap compared to what he did on the show. The Ali-G movie was a crudely written comedy that had nothing to do with the show's formula, the Borat movie was essentially a majority of the TV-Show pranks redone for the big-screen except more... blunt and in-your-face. I haven't seen Bruno, but I haven't heard great things. He wasn't the best part of Da Ali G show anyway.

[Jason]

The UK version of the Ali G show was initially started as a spoof on a particular subculture of fuckwit that was rather prevalent within society at the time, therefore most of the humour probably didn't carry across too well.
Of course, when it caught on and everyone started watching it, said fuckwits -with no hint of irony- actually started actively IMITATING Ali G, much to the eternal amusement and hilarity of all.

[Konrad]

Luls. I'm sad I missed it then. Someday I guess ill move to Britannia, and learn to appreciate the first season. :p