I've always been a fan of the 'Call of duty' series, and I have spent many hours (and hard earned cash) playing these.  It's safe to say that I love them...... And I know that the game play doesn't change much from release to release, but it just speaks to me. So I have to say that I'm excited about the new 'Call of Duty: Black Ops II'.

It looks like they're moving the series to the future, and getting out of the '60s. I can not wait to see the weapons that you can use.

It's open season on noobs!!!

Imagine If 'Star Wars Episode I' Was A Good Movie.... NSFW

With the re-release of 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace' in 3D, I get a chance to share and relive the Star Wars expirence with my son. But one thing that it has done is make me take another look at the prequels, and wish that those movies could have been better. If you've seen some of my previous posts about the subject of George Lucas and how he desperately NEEDS help with script writing, then you know how I already feel about this.

But clearly I'm not the only one who feels this way.

The folks at Belated Media has asked the same questions, and came up with a more streamlined plot that Lucas should have gone with. Like NOT killing off Darth Maul in the very first movie (such a waist of a good bad guy), and actually making Obi-Wan the focus point of the series. It is very intriging look at the 'Phantom Menace' and makes you wish that George had taken a more simple approach to the prequel's.

The video is a little NSFW because it has some language (F-Bombs) so be careful with the volume. But if you're a Star Wars fan, it is certainly worth a look.

[io9]

Caption this!

Here's mine:

Should've kept that targeting computer on, numb nuts.

http://thegreatgeekmanual.com/

George Lucas Says He Will Never Make Another Star Wars Movie

I think this is some of the best news that has come out of the mouth of George Lucas in some time. Apparently George has decided not to make any more Star Wars movies because of YOU! In an interview with the New York Times, Lucas states that all the criticism about the changes he has made to the original films has hurt his feelings. Instead of listening to his fans he has lashed out at them. Check the quote:

"On the internet, all those same guys that are complaining I made a change are completely changing the movie. I'm saying: 'Fine. But my movie, with my name on it, that says I did it, needs to be the way I want it."

With that said, George states that the new movie "Red Tails" will be his last "Blockbuster" movie. I'm a huge Star Wars fan but considering what he's done to the resent movies, I can't say that this is a bad thing. I'm a reader of many of the new Star Wars books that has expanded the series well beyond the known movies, and I have to say many of those books are superior to what Lucas has come up with. In fact I have seen episodes of the TV series 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' that were better than some of what Lucas has come up with. Lets face it, arguably the best Star Wars installment was 'The Empire Strikes Back', which happen to be the one movie that he had the least involvement with. He didn't direct it (Irvin Kershner), and although he wrote the story, it still needed to be tweaked by screenplay writers (Leigh Brackett & Lawrence Kasdan) for public consumption. Watching George's "unfiltered" work is brutal at best. But craving new Star Wars movies and a major money maker, 20th Century Fox felt compelled to allow Lucas the freedom that he had always wanted...... hence, the prequels.

And we all know how those turned out.... Major money maker, but not the soul that the originals had.

And although I am grateful to George for coming up with the Star Wars universe, my hope is that he turns over the licensing to his kids one day. Allowing them to bring in better writers that are more talented than Lucas ever was.

Sorry George..... Can't say that my feelings are hurt with that statement.

[io9]

Goodbye Steve.....

I just didn't know what to say......

That was my first thought when I got the news (on my iPhone) of Steve Jobs passing. The people who know me also know how I've come to respect over recent years Steve, and all of his products that Apple produced. I'm a Senior Windows Systems Engineer, and my world was built around Microsoft. I remember countless debates over the years with other Macheads about who had the better product, or who has the larger impact to the world. I was convinced that the only people who bought Apple products were elitist jerks who thought that they were somehow better because they spent more money on a computer or MP3 player.

Until my now wife bought me an iPod.

I couldn't believe how elegant it looked, how much music it could hold, and how fast it was. It was simple, and it just worked. I was sure that this would be the only Apple product that I would succumb to, and that Apple really had nothing more to offer me than this. But Steve Jobs changed my thinking, he changed my life and how I do things, he simply changed the world. I realized that Steve Jobs drive to make our lives better was the very reason that changed my mind. It wasn't about a quick turn of profits or to push Apple's stock to its highest. It was simply to change the world and how we do things. I realized that if he built a better computer, a better phone, a better tablet, that other companies would have to play catch up and it would push technology. It would make the world better!

Now the owner of several Apple products..... I get it now.

Thank you Steve Jobs!

I will miss you....

29 Year Old Woman Hears Her Voice For The First Time

Sometimes you think the iPad, Android, or iPhone is the coolest tech out there. This young lady proves that those are a far cry from the coolest.

It's stuff like this is why I dig technology!!!

Check the quote:

"I was born deaf and 8 weeks ago I received a hearing implant. This is the video of them turning it on and me hearing myself for the first time :)".

So cool!!

[i09]

Tim Cook Is The New Sheriff In Town, As Steve Jobs Rides Off Into The Sunset

So after having a moment to digest the Steve Jobs resignation, I've come to some conclusions about the future of Apple. The first is plain and simple...... Apple is not going anywhere. Regardless of what the naysayers think, the future of Apple is very bright. Steve Jobs laid the foundation with products that have, and will continue to change the way we interact with technology. As long as new CEO Tim Cook surrounds himself with smart innovative people who share the same drive of perfection as Jobs did, there's no reason to believe the gravy train will stop.

The trick here is not to compromise.....

That is what made Jobs better than everyone else. He wasn't just happy with competing with other tech companies. He wanted to completely change the way things were done, and he was brilliant at it. No mobile phone company executive thought the masses were interested in a phone that could bring you more than calls and email. Jobs had the foresight to understand how a phone could change the way we do things in our everyday life. The iPod changed the way we listened to music, and how we looked at physical media in general. And the iPad is set to change the landscape of mobile computers.

Steve Jobs has the knack to understand what people want is to simplify their life using technology, and bringing that to them automagicly. And this is the middle ground that Tim Cook finds himself in. Tim Cook needs to figure out how to do this, all the while keeping the "Apple Experience" with any new product that is produced under his watch. Living up to Jobs ability to be half leader and half fortune teller is a daunting task for anyone to live up to. And I certainly don't envy the job ahead of him.

But one thing is certain........ If Steve Jobs picked him as his successor, then that's good enough for me.

"The Amazing Spiderman" Trailer Hits The Net

I don't think that this franchise needed a reboot, as the Sam Rami Spiderman isn't that old. I know that it's all the rage to make changes to a well known story (i.e. Star Trek), however when a story was just used in a movie less than ten years ago, I think it's a mistake. Take a look at the first trailer for "The Amazing Spiderman" and let me know if you think this has the same soul as the Sam Rami versions.

[aintitcool.com]

New Zelda commercial with Robin Williams

This is actually a pretty good commercial.  Reminds me of the World of Warcraft commercials with Mr. T and others.  I hope more celebrities with geek cred will be chosen for future commercials.

"Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic" Trailer Brings Light Sabers To Another Level

Never really got into the "Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic" series but wow, I might have to reconsider that thought process. I have to say that this was one of the most impressive light saber duels I've ever seen (movie or otherwise).

[Crunchgear]

WWDC Shows Off Apple's New iCloud, iOS 5, And OS X Lion

So Apple had the annual WWDC which usually introduces the new iPhone. Well with all the issues that Japan is facing, it looks like we will have to wait until September for that. So Apple came up with some other goodies to get by with.

One of the biggest is iCloud which stores your music, photos, videos, apps and other files. This will allow you to enjoy most of your software and music on all of your iOS devices everywhere. Speaking of iOS, the intro of iOS 5 brings some welcome changes such as a revamp of the notification system and the use of the volume button as a shutter in the camera app. And of course Apple showed off the new OS X Lion which finally brings Full Screen Mode (what took so long) and Mission Control, which is Expose on steroids.

Take a look at all the new stuff here.

Preview Of Windows 8 Looks Hot!!!

Wow!!!

The demo for the new Windows 8 has arrived and I have to say that it looks impressive. I knew that Microsoft was after a completely new look and feel for the next version of Windows, but I had no idea how far they would take it. The build looks similar to Windows phone 7, but on a much larger scale. It looks like Microsoft has finally gotten on board with the user experience being the most important part, and the interaction with their product. Something I think they have missed in the past, but with the kick in the pants help of Apple it looks like they have learned the error of their ways.

Think I'm ready to dump Windows 7 already.....

And I love Windows 7!!!

Nothing Like A Pissed Off Prime.... New Transformers 3 Trailer

With the last Transformers movie sucking so badly, I really didn't have very high hopes for the third installment. Hopefully some of the internet buzz about this movie is true, and it at least sucks a little less than Transformers 2.

Well this trailer has given me a little more hope....

Well If It Still Matters To You....... The White iPhone

Well..... Here it is Captain Ahab!!!

The elusive white unicorn iPhone has surfaced for your approval.....

Does anyone still care?

[Apple]

Zero Punctuation: Nintendo 3DS

Yahtzee is back at it again, this time he targets Nintendo’s newest gimmick game console, the 3DS.

Yahtzee is a British-born, currently Australian-based writer and gamer with a sweet hat and a chip on his shoulder. When he isn't talking very fast into a headset mic he also designs freeware adventure games and has a novel coming out soon. His personal site is www.fullyramblomatic.com.

'All To Easy!!!'

Not everyone wants to be a Jedi....

Take this little girl for example, as she pledges her allegiance to Darth Vader at Disneyland.

Don't think Yoda even saw this one coming.

Protean Electric stuffs an entire powertrain into your wheels

You know that big noisy thing at the front of your car? If Protean Electric has its way, all of that stuff is going to get crammed into your wheels, freeing up lots of weight and enough space for a small hot tub (or anything else). It's the future, man!

Protean's electric motors are entirely integrated into a car's wheels. "Entirely integrated" means that the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differential, regenerative braking system, and all the rest of that random crap that festoons the belly of your car is all somehow shoehorned into the wheels themselves, without actually increasing their size. The only other thing that you need to have a fully operational car is a battery somewhere, but all of a sudden you've got a bunch of space at the front of your car to put it.

When installed, the wheel motors are basically indistinguishable from regular wheels, as you can see from the F-150 in the pic above. The complete systems only weigh about 70 pounds each, but they output 110 horsepower per wheel, meaning that for a car, you're looking at 0-60 in under five seconds with a top speed of 130+ mph.

The appeal of the Protean motors isn't just about making electric cars simpler and more spacious. Since the motors can basically be stuck onto any existing car just by swapping out the wheels, you can put them on existing gas powered cars, toss some batteries in the trunk, and you've got an insta-hybrid.

For the moment, Protean is only offering their motors to "qualified partners," so you can't just run out and by yourself a set. At some point in the future, though, if you want to buy a hybrid but just can't bear to part with your 1994 Volvo wagon (just to pick one random example), in-wheel motors could be a way to make that happen.

Protean, via Autoblog

Apple Store Dancers?

I had no idea that there was such a phenomenon going on in Apple stores all over the country. Apparently there is a dance movement going on, where people are putting up video of themselves showing their moves (or not) in the Apple stores. YouTube has quite a few of the funniest ones, which all walks of life are hitting the dance floor. Some are trying to post a dance video from every Apple store they visit across the country.

I think what I fine most funny is that it doesn't seem to phase most of the Apple workers. They just keep on plugging away at their day, and hardly notice the unusual person making a ass clown of themselves.

That's got to say a lot about the clientele that they see every day.

Enjoy!

[Gizmodo]

Green Lantern ComicCon Trailer

Well here is the ComicCon trailer for the Green Lantern that gives me a ray of hope that this movie won't suck. I still have my doubts, but at least it somewhat looks good.

Well, at least the trailer is worth your time.

Duke Nukem Forever Delayed (What Year Is This?)

 

“Duke Nukem Forever has been delayed.” Nope, that’s not a headline from 1997, but a headline from right now. The game has been pushed back from its May release to June 14 here in the U.S.

Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford, and the game’s executive producer, has made a fun YouTube video explaining the delay.

Not for nothing, but I’m pretty sure they’re running an angle. “Man, how much press will we get if we delay the game again? That would be hilarious.”

The delay is real, in other words, but done to drum up a bit of last minute interest or “wtf, lol” heat. That is my paranoid interpretation.

But good for them. What’s another month, right? At the very least it’s Gearbox we’re talking about, who generally make top-notch stuff.

[via CrunchGear]