My PowerBook Battery.

I have been using this PowerBook for well over two years, and I must say it has been past hell and back. Daily use non-stop, an essential tool of my daily go-about. So much use and things tend to start wearing out, as they say, one case been my battery.

When I received this PowerBook from Apple, as a replacement from my stolen, excuse me, "lost"PowerBook after sent for repairs (a story for another blog post another time), I could get, about 3 hours of light use prior to having to go scrambling for the power adapter.

Slowly, but surely those times started to shorten, and shorten. Today I am lucky if I get an hour and change from light use. Age is starting to show and the peformance of my battery these days it's just a shadow of its mere self.

Although it's expected it's kinda sad when you see things wearing out. Battery, flakey headphone jack, finish coming off, random scratches and bumps, and missing rubber feet. Still, I use it everyday more than any other computer, long live the 12 in. PowerBook!

Maybe a MacBook will take its place one day, retire the old buddy and let him sit on the bench. Until that day comes, excuse me as I need to go plug this on the wall, my battery is acting up again...

Video Of the Week #8: We're Sinking!

Funny TV ad that reminds us that learning other languages is always important. Especially if you want to be german coastguard ;).

Aston Martin Flies 142 Feet In The Air.

This time it wasn't a stunt from a James Bond Movie...

Autoblog reports:

Last weekend during a practice lap at Mid-Ohio Raceway the 009 Aston Martin ALMS went airborne off the track and "flew" 142 feet before landing off the track in the dirt. The track was reportedly wet and the unidentified driver lost control under braking. Fortunately his car was the only one on that part of the track at the time and it amazingly remained level during its separation with terra firma.

Sony Music Europe Site Hacked by Muslim Turkish Hackers.

In what can be labelled as the longest title for a post here at void, I present you Sony Music Europe's site defaced by some muslim turkish hacker.

As of this writing the site is still up and running. Hackers out to delivered a message against the big record labels, or just trying to make a name for themselves?

Switcher Dude Not So Happy After All?

I'm sure you guys recall the story of Stefan, the guy that was trying to become a switcher, and was taking donations to help him get an iMac. I even plugged the guy's site here as to lend a helping hand to his cause.

Turns out he finally got the money needed for the iMac, mostly in part to a generous man who donated over a thousand bucks, but he did it. He ordered, he got it and now I can't help but feel he's disappointed with the whole thing.

Every report after the initial arrival of the mac have been of frustrations,and mostly a whole sense of let-down with the whole thing.

Now, I know switching isn't an easy task, far from it in fact, but maybe sometimes what you wanted isn't really what you really needed. Perhaps an IBM laptop would've been a better option for his current needs? From the look of things it really seems that way, imo.

Apple's MacBook is Here.

From Apple's Hot News feed:

Today, Apple unveiled the newly designed MacBook, the world’s most advanced consumer notebook featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and a gorgeous new 13-inch glossy widescreen display, all in a sleek design that is up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook. Together with the 15-and 17-inch MacBook Pros, the new MacBook completes Apple’s Intel-based portables lineup and replaces both the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook.

I must say Im quite liking these new macbooks. Although the "premium" extra 100+ bucks for the sexy black version is a bit of a bummer. The new keyboard design, the magnetic closing mechanism, and the Macbook Pro-derived MagSafe power connector are all a welcome addition.

If I had the chance I would sell my 12-in. PowerBook and pick one of these MacBooks right away. BTW, doesn't the black MacBook have a WallStreet G3 feel to it?

Joystiq: Wii impressions: the E3 experience.

Joystiq reports:

I'm not convinced that, at this stage, the Wiimote and nunchaku add-on are superior to a gamepad. Miyamoto, speaking last night at a developer's event, said that after becoming comfortable with the Wiimote, it's now impossible for him to go back. I'm not there yet, and I know I'm not alone. It's gonna take a lot of work to rewire how we, longtime gamers, play video games. It's important for Nintendo to understand this, and I believe they do.

I feel the same way. Although what the big N is doing is innovative, I can't help but to think that it's just a big gimmick in ways. How long will waving your arm around in front of your TV be considered fun? Sure if you have some buddies over, but when you just came home from work, want to relax by doing a quick gaming session do you really want to spend your time waving your arm like a maniac? An hour into the game you may start to feel your arms getting tired..

You also have to remember that due to the nature of this new game control, they are many variables that can lead to a poor gameplay experience. Am I not waving my arm right? Should I lift my arm higher up now that I'm standing up? Should I stand back from the TV more? Where do I place the RF bar? Is the RF sensor not picking it up? Are the batteries dead? etc. etc.

Yes it is innovative, however I don't believe it will replace a tradicional gamepad anytime soon. Hopefully game developers will embrace this new type of game control, but not forget the good ol' gamepad.

You may play a newly purchase game with the wiimote for sometime, but eventually I believe most people will fallback to the regular gamepad.

Mission Impossible 3.

Mr. Tom Cruise, nowadays the man everybody knows as the dude who jumps on furniture, eats a placenta, and overall is somewhat cookoo in the head with his religion of choice. Add to that list the whole marriage to Katie Holmes, which is *significant* younger than Mr. Cruise..blah blah blah..

Personal crazy life aside, Mr Cruise has reprised his role as IMF Agent Ethan Hunt, on the third installment of the Mission Impossible series, is this third installment better than the previous ones?

Movie ticket in hand I accepted the given mission on sunday, and here's my report. Running about 2 hours long, the movie is action packed from start to finish. No giving away spoilers, but it was a pretty fun film, well worth the time. The FX stunts were although at times over-the-top, pretty cool and not so crazy as Woo's film. Well worth the admission price. Highly recommended.

Casino Royale.

I'm a huge Bond fan. I have seen all 20-and-then-some Bond flicks. For the record, I believe the best Bond thus far has been Roger Moore, although I have to tip my hat for Sean Connery. Pierce Brosnan, his best work was Goldeneye imo. Die Another Day was better than The World is Not enough, miles ahead better than Tomorrow Never Dies. Yet Goldeneye is the benchmark for the best "new-age" Bond flicks.

When I heard that they were making Casino Royale, I couldn't help but be excited. A prequel of sorts when James wasn't yet a 00-agent. Should you need more 00-facts, Casino Royale is the first James Bond novel by author Ian Fleming. You can say the foundation in which all 20 films have been built upon.

English actor Daniel Craig is the new Bond. By the looks of things, the movie will have some darker tones to it. A more adult oriented, more story driven 007 seems to be what they are aiming at. Instead of crazy over the top CG antics we have witnessed so far, surfing on the north pole anyone?. I believe the Bond franchise needs a restart, maybe a more in-depth plot. Casino Royale seems to be going that way, and I for one, can't wait to see it.

Bond...James Bond.

Watch the High Quality Trailer HERE.