Well , it ’s the eve of the eventide of the biggest vacation on the American calendar . What ? Yes , that ’s right the eveof the eve . You do n’t aboveboard intend that people care a whit about consume turkey and givingthanks , do you ? That ’s not the American way , after all . Well , okay , maybe the stuffing - themselves - with - dud part . But the big holiday around these role is Black Friday , the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. when the madding crew come down on the shopping malls and retail outlets around the country for binge themselves on laughably low - price ware — that is , if they can avoid being trampled on the style by the quietus of the bargain - seekers .
If you chance to be in search of deals this Friday , I like you the expert of luck and confer the boon of the Gadgetbox upon you . You might call this week ’s edition “ America ’s Next Top Gadget ” ( if you pick out not to , I wo n’t hold it against you ) . With all the high visibility gizmos of late , I think we ’d take a look at three contenders for the belated gadget to convert it all : Amazon ’s play for reinventing the book , Microsoft ’s late endeavour to take on the iPod , and lastly , my long - look shaft at super - rock - stardom .
Kindle aims for Book 2.0
In face you ’ve been living under some variety of rock , or if you take up brining your bomb on Monday , you ’ve probably learn about Amazon ’s new ebook lecturer , Kindle , by now . The $ 399 gadget features a high - dividing line E Ink screen , and a wireless EVDO connection called “ Whispernet ” that allows you to download electronic books from the Internet without a computer . The machine also sport the potential drop for enlargement via SD trice memory board cards , a weight of just 10.3 snow leopard , a keyboard , and rich battery life story .
It ’s an challenging idea , but one that ’s been repeatedly tried for the last ten years or so — anybody remember the Rocket Ebook ? So far nobody ’s found a way to build a technological twist that trumps the restraint and elegance of the forcible book . Were its only contention sheepskin parchment or the scroll , I ’m certain the Kindle would be rocking our human beings . But as it is , paying $ 400 just so we can pay an additional $ 10 to bribe a book seems like a bit much to me , peculiarly when I can just buy a book for $ 20 or — and I have it off this might voice screwball — take a record book out of the libraryfor free .
That said , there are some skillful advantages to ebooks as a format : not having to worry about finding physical storage for a large collection of books , the ability to search inside a claim , and no monthly fees . And by all accounts , the E Ink screen door is pretty slick . I ’m just not certain if I have room in my life for yet anotherspecializedgadget . While it looks as though the Kindle might be an betterment over previous ebook ventures , it seems about as potential to revolutionise meter reading as the Segway did expatriation .
And , if you involve me , Amazon is missing a major opportunity by not calling the downloadable content for their raw ebook lecturer “ kindling . ” I mean , comeon ; how hard would it have been to guess of that ?
Déjà Zune
It ’s the Microsoft mode : if at first you do n’t succeed , continue throw money at it . Nobody ’s yet cope to construct a gimmick that match the iPod in terms of easiness and ease - of - use , which have ended up being the trumping factors when it comes to music players . Microsoft ’s originalZuneactually ended up being the close of the clustering , but the initial theoretical account was hampered by a identification number of issues — like , oh , the colorbrown .
But as I say , that ’s not about to stop Redmond . Earlier this month , Microsoft denote the 2d - generation of Zune histrion , comprised of several unlike models , including a $ 249 interlingual rendition based on an 80 GB backbreaking drive and two using flash remembering in 8 GB ( $ 199 ) and 4 GB ( $ 149 ) capacities . All three use a novel touch sensitive controller called the Zune Pad , which allows for drug user interfaces somewhat standardized to the iPhone ’s and , at the same time , responds to press various sections as controls , so you do n’t have to face at the Zune to control it . And , if you hope , you’re able to still cull up a 30 GB original Zune , though it lacks the Zune Pad .
Will version two of the Zune even off the deficiency of the original model ? Well there ’s no John Brown , to be trusted , and the company has tweaked the wireless sharing , limiting you to three plays or else of the more byzantine “ three plays or three days ” rule of the original . They ’ve also added wireless synchronise , though you ca n’t yet buy strain directly from the Zune Marketplace over Wi - Fi , as on the iPhone and iPod tactile sensation .
The Zune may not be a challenge to the iPod right off , but the fact that Microsoft is n’t giving up the wraith should give even iPod fans warm fuzzy spirit — by continuing to compete , Microsoft will force Apple to remain on its toe .
Those who are about to rock, we salute you
I ’ve been enchant with Harmonix’sRock Bandever since I got a prospect to see it played live back at the Penny Arcade Expo in August . I ’ve playedGuitar Heroa few times in the past , but I did n’t turn over myself much of ashredder , to be true . But ever since I was a wee cuss , I ’ve nurse a dream of becoming a populace - course drummer — andRock Band , officially secrete yesterday , is start to help me experience that pipe dream .
Okay , perchance not , but so far , I have to say that playing the drums is an incredibly rewarding experience . Pounding away at “ Gimme Shelter ” may have well been one of the gamy decimal point of my true vernal spirit . That ’s not to say that the guitar , vocal , and bass part are not fun , but the drums is intelligibly my especial obsession , to our downstairs neighbour ’s chagrin .
To truly enjoy the game , however , you need the help of admirer — it is RockBand , after all . There ’s nothing quite like you and two friends nailing the swelled rock ending on okay Go ’s “ Here It Goes Again ” for a multi - thousand point bonus . The Band World Tour mode is the highlight of the biz , a campaign - based multiplayer that mimics going on tour ; make a band with your friend , equip your rockers with the appropriate threads , instrument , and even tattoo , and you ’ll work gigs in city around the world , realize money and lover as you do so .
While the game has a seemly birdcall list of over 40 tracks by the likes of The Rolling Stones , The Pixies , Metallica , and Weezer ( most performed by the original arists ) , the rocking does n’t give up there . A virtual cornucopia of downloadable contentedness will be available , starting this week with tracks from artists like The Police and Queens of the Stone Age and later let in full record album from The Who and Nirvana .
It seems unlikely I ’ll find out myself in arealrock band anytime soon — I’m still dealing with the hired hand spasm and mad calf muscle that come from overgorge in the meresimulationof that onetime clock time rock and roll . But if this as close as I ’ll ever get , well , it may be just cheeseparing enough .
Thanks, given
To those of you reader who will be celebrating Black Friday ( or , fine , Thanksgiving ) , we like you the best of lot . In the heart of giving thanks , I ’d like to stretch out my gratitude to all of you lector who tune up in hebdomad after week , and specially to those of you that air emails or reply in the forum . I know who you are , and when my army of robotlike snake god click finally comes through , you will be rewarded , I forebode .
We ’ll see you back here next hebdomad for more gadgetry as we ramp up for themost grand metre of the year .
