SandynJosh
Apr 23, 09:41 PM
I will be honest and truthful and say for a mobile device on batteries, I'm very impressed as what the iPhone and iPad can do gaming wise.
However I will also state, and I think we all should be honest, that at the moment, Apple are bringing the games DOWN to what their hardware can do, as opposed to making Hardware so great that gaming is being pushed UP to take advantage of Apples industry leading performance.
In your first paragraph you talk about Apple's mobile products, which is where Apple will be putting most of their effort in the foreseeable future. To have successful portable products, having a long time between charges is highly important. The old brute force methods of throwing power and RAM at the gaming performance problem can not be part of the design mindset. Game designers know this and are becoming much better at coding for portable games, but they are not quite there yet. Meanwhile Apple is working to find ways to build in performance and not increase power draw.
THIS is the future as Apple sees it, and their acceptance in the broad general market shows that they are on the right track.
When Apple release GTX580 beating desktops, and/or Xbox360 / PS3 beating gaming devices, I will happily bow down to them being the greatest in graphics.
NOW you have switched to talking about desktop and console gaming computers. THIS is a whole different area. First off, it's a tiny segment of the whole computer market. It's big, but not nearly as huge as what Apple is aiming for with their products.
In a nutshell, Apple's strategy is to capture the mobile device market as completely as they can. They are being highly successful at that strategy from iPods to iPhones, to iPads, to Laptops.
Meanwhile they are growing rapidly in the iMac desktop and tower market due primarily to the halo effect of their success in the portable arena. They are doing this even while the desktop and tower markets are shrinking overall. Can you see why Apple will not be putting a lot of effort into this segment?
But right now, they are trailing by miles due to years of neglect as they just did not have products that could compete, and their one semi attempt at a console got nowhere.
Note: I would LOVE LOVE LOVE Apple to turn this around.
You are right. Apple did not have products that could compete in the desktop and console markets. This was primarily due to game developers not interested in writing games for Intel chips and PowerPC chips. Since the installed base for Intel-based computers was more then a order-of-magnitude larger than the installed base of Macs. Apple was never going to enjoy being a suitable gaming platform until they switched to Intel CPUs.
Once Apple made the switch, they have come a long way towards being an acceptable gaming computer, but they have no desire or plans to go after the high end of this market... it's just not that profitable or large. Remember AlienWare? They had the best gaming computer, IMO, and they had to sell themselves to another company to stay alive.
As for the console market, it's crowded with established competitors and will likely see one squeezed out. Not the kind of market that Apple or anyone else should want to jump into.
They need to ditch the "Laptops on a Stand" design of the iMac for starters, but I feel they never will as they have decided they won't compete and they cannot compete in this sector of the market.
I addressed this above. As for the "Laptops on a Stand" design, it's such a bad design that the largest computer company, HP, as well as others, have copied it.
Console wise, I'm not sure they could compete against a 360 or a PS3. Let's say Apple against a PS4 or a Xbox720
Nope, can't see that happening either.
I address this above. Apple doesn't want to be in this arena. It's small and the competition is deadly.
The low power/trimmed down, casual gamers games, seems to be the only area they are going for.
Once more you are correct. There are many many times more gamers that want a short diversion while they have a few minutes away from home, then those who want to spend thousands on an immersive game experience that requires a larger block of time. "Portability with games optional" trumps "wired to the wall and game-focused" all the way to the bank.
But Again, I would LOVE Apple to turn this around and take high end graphics seriously in their future products.
The high-end gamer is not on Apple's radar at the moment and likely never will be unless a way is found to address hi-end graphics on a portable device without impacting battery life.
I know you'd like Apple to chase this rainbow, but they won't, there's no pot of gold at the end.
However I will also state, and I think we all should be honest, that at the moment, Apple are bringing the games DOWN to what their hardware can do, as opposed to making Hardware so great that gaming is being pushed UP to take advantage of Apples industry leading performance.
In your first paragraph you talk about Apple's mobile products, which is where Apple will be putting most of their effort in the foreseeable future. To have successful portable products, having a long time between charges is highly important. The old brute force methods of throwing power and RAM at the gaming performance problem can not be part of the design mindset. Game designers know this and are becoming much better at coding for portable games, but they are not quite there yet. Meanwhile Apple is working to find ways to build in performance and not increase power draw.
THIS is the future as Apple sees it, and their acceptance in the broad general market shows that they are on the right track.
When Apple release GTX580 beating desktops, and/or Xbox360 / PS3 beating gaming devices, I will happily bow down to them being the greatest in graphics.
NOW you have switched to talking about desktop and console gaming computers. THIS is a whole different area. First off, it's a tiny segment of the whole computer market. It's big, but not nearly as huge as what Apple is aiming for with their products.
In a nutshell, Apple's strategy is to capture the mobile device market as completely as they can. They are being highly successful at that strategy from iPods to iPhones, to iPads, to Laptops.
Meanwhile they are growing rapidly in the iMac desktop and tower market due primarily to the halo effect of their success in the portable arena. They are doing this even while the desktop and tower markets are shrinking overall. Can you see why Apple will not be putting a lot of effort into this segment?
But right now, they are trailing by miles due to years of neglect as they just did not have products that could compete, and their one semi attempt at a console got nowhere.
Note: I would LOVE LOVE LOVE Apple to turn this around.
You are right. Apple did not have products that could compete in the desktop and console markets. This was primarily due to game developers not interested in writing games for Intel chips and PowerPC chips. Since the installed base for Intel-based computers was more then a order-of-magnitude larger than the installed base of Macs. Apple was never going to enjoy being a suitable gaming platform until they switched to Intel CPUs.
Once Apple made the switch, they have come a long way towards being an acceptable gaming computer, but they have no desire or plans to go after the high end of this market... it's just not that profitable or large. Remember AlienWare? They had the best gaming computer, IMO, and they had to sell themselves to another company to stay alive.
As for the console market, it's crowded with established competitors and will likely see one squeezed out. Not the kind of market that Apple or anyone else should want to jump into.
They need to ditch the "Laptops on a Stand" design of the iMac for starters, but I feel they never will as they have decided they won't compete and they cannot compete in this sector of the market.
I addressed this above. As for the "Laptops on a Stand" design, it's such a bad design that the largest computer company, HP, as well as others, have copied it.
Console wise, I'm not sure they could compete against a 360 or a PS3. Let's say Apple against a PS4 or a Xbox720
Nope, can't see that happening either.
I address this above. Apple doesn't want to be in this arena. It's small and the competition is deadly.
The low power/trimmed down, casual gamers games, seems to be the only area they are going for.
Once more you are correct. There are many many times more gamers that want a short diversion while they have a few minutes away from home, then those who want to spend thousands on an immersive game experience that requires a larger block of time. "Portability with games optional" trumps "wired to the wall and game-focused" all the way to the bank.
But Again, I would LOVE Apple to turn this around and take high end graphics seriously in their future products.
The high-end gamer is not on Apple's radar at the moment and likely never will be unless a way is found to address hi-end graphics on a portable device without impacting battery life.
I know you'd like Apple to chase this rainbow, but they won't, there's no pot of gold at the end.
Don't panic
May 3, 05:25 PM
I deem thyself dead forthwith.
yeah, yeah, you always say that, but then when all your hocus-pocus frizzles, and it comes to save your skinny buttock from a mountain troll once again, what are you going to trust: the rabbits dropping out of that sorry hat of yours, or my axe?
i thought so.
yeah, yeah, you always say that, but then when all your hocus-pocus frizzles, and it comes to save your skinny buttock from a mountain troll once again, what are you going to trust: the rabbits dropping out of that sorry hat of yours, or my axe?
i thought so.
Don't panic
May 3, 09:23 AM
after reading the rules a couple of times:
- secret powers: other than not knowing who is what, do we know what the secret powers are and how they work?
- monsters/trap: do we know how many there are at the beginning? what is the range of their powers? why does the villain has two turns, isn't it the same as if he just gets 4 points in that double-turn? or does he get to move his minion. attack, heal, place new monsters/traps move monsters twice every round?
- moving: move to door means open the door and get into the next passage/room? can monsters move and open doors once they are placed?
- are attacks automatic? when do they occur in the turn?
- can the villain/monster fall into the traps?
- how/how fast does the villain move?
- the villain stats are 16/16 plus 2/2 for each hero alive or 16/16 minus 2/2 for each hero dead?
- does the villain knows where the treasures are?
- can you toss dwarves?
- secret powers: other than not knowing who is what, do we know what the secret powers are and how they work?
- monsters/trap: do we know how many there are at the beginning? what is the range of their powers? why does the villain has two turns, isn't it the same as if he just gets 4 points in that double-turn? or does he get to move his minion. attack, heal, place new monsters/traps move monsters twice every round?
- moving: move to door means open the door and get into the next passage/room? can monsters move and open doors once they are placed?
- are attacks automatic? when do they occur in the turn?
- can the villain/monster fall into the traps?
- how/how fast does the villain move?
- the villain stats are 16/16 plus 2/2 for each hero alive or 16/16 minus 2/2 for each hero dead?
- does the villain knows where the treasures are?
- can you toss dwarves?
Westacular
Apr 23, 04:45 PM
Wow, that App Store icon devoured my whole screen (MBP 13)
Yeah. It's surreal. The icons of tomorrow are the desktop wallpapers of today.
Yeah. It's surreal. The icons of tomorrow are the desktop wallpapers of today.
Daveoc64
May 4, 03:08 PM
Is everyone missing the "Preferred" in the headline of this thread? Preferred does not me "only" or "required" or "mandatory."
We're not yet at the point where digitial distribution is a feasible option for everyone, but Apple needs to take the steps towards it now before the rest of the industry passes by.
My opposition to this isn't because I think Digital Distribution is bad (the copy of Windows 7 I'm writing this on was downloaded, legally I might add, from Microsoft), it's because of how Apple is offering it.
I was able to download a .iso of Windows and install it how I wanted to. I was able to back up the .iso to an external hard drive and also to burn a copy of it.
The App Store (unless they change things) wouldn't allow that. I would have no problem with this if Apple included a way to create a DVD or USB installer from the download.
We're not yet at the point where digitial distribution is a feasible option for everyone, but Apple needs to take the steps towards it now before the rest of the industry passes by.
My opposition to this isn't because I think Digital Distribution is bad (the copy of Windows 7 I'm writing this on was downloaded, legally I might add, from Microsoft), it's because of how Apple is offering it.
I was able to download a .iso of Windows and install it how I wanted to. I was able to back up the .iso to an external hard drive and also to burn a copy of it.
The App Store (unless they change things) wouldn't allow that. I would have no problem with this if Apple included a way to create a DVD or USB installer from the download.
toddybody
Apr 7, 11:33 AM
Every choice you make has consequences. If Apple were to put in a non integrated graphics card, they would have less battery life, their Macbooks would be bigger, weigh more and have greater trouble with disposal of heat.
This is not what Apple customers want.
If that were true then why does Apple bless the 15inch with a dedicated solution and not the 13? Battery life? Optimus switching (something they already tout), bigger? the 13" and 15" are the same thickness...the 17" is .02" thicker yet has the SAME spec options as the 15". Footprint is NOT the issue...its a simple price/feature model(want more? pay more). Personally, I think THAT is not what Apple customers want.
Now, I agree with you that they cant go slapping a GTX480m in there for the reasons you cited:)
PS: How did my earlier post imply that Apple should "give parts to companies"...etc ? Apple can do what they like, I just prefer that competition has a chance to push the envelope.
This is not what Apple customers want.
If that were true then why does Apple bless the 15inch with a dedicated solution and not the 13? Battery life? Optimus switching (something they already tout), bigger? the 13" and 15" are the same thickness...the 17" is .02" thicker yet has the SAME spec options as the 15". Footprint is NOT the issue...its a simple price/feature model(want more? pay more). Personally, I think THAT is not what Apple customers want.
Now, I agree with you that they cant go slapping a GTX480m in there for the reasons you cited:)
PS: How did my earlier post imply that Apple should "give parts to companies"...etc ? Apple can do what they like, I just prefer that competition has a chance to push the envelope.
SBlue1
Apr 5, 03:10 PM
boooo! :mad:
SactoGuy18
Mar 30, 07:16 AM
I think a major concern for Apple right now is the possibility they may have NO products to sell by July 2011 for many of their product lines due to the lack of parts coming from Japan. I wouldn't be surprised that Apple may have to aim for a November 2011 simultaneous launch of the iPhone 5, 5G iPod touch and 7G iPod nano so they can assure themselves of supplies of the right parts from manufacturers in South Korea and China for Foxconn.
Eolian
Mar 29, 01:31 PM
I'm not convinced it's as dire as people are making it out to be. Either way, both Apple and Amazon have full rights to access users files on both services for various reasons.
What are your fears on the Amazon terms that don't exist on the MobileMe ones? (Perhaps I'm being dense so some clarification is in need!) :D
Anyone storing remotely anywhere should be aware that they've signed away some rights, of course. FWIW I don't use MobilMe for storage, or for anything else presently.
Someday it would be nice to be able to wirelessly sync my devices through it for free, but that's a different topic :p
What I see is Amazon being explicit here in that they can retain, use and disclose your data in any way they see fit. Period. Apple at least spells out that their use etc is directly related to law enforcement, TOS violations, security/fraud/technical issues, and protection of rights and property.
Do you see this differently?
What are your fears on the Amazon terms that don't exist on the MobileMe ones? (Perhaps I'm being dense so some clarification is in need!) :D
Anyone storing remotely anywhere should be aware that they've signed away some rights, of course. FWIW I don't use MobilMe for storage, or for anything else presently.
Someday it would be nice to be able to wirelessly sync my devices through it for free, but that's a different topic :p
What I see is Amazon being explicit here in that they can retain, use and disclose your data in any way they see fit. Period. Apple at least spells out that their use etc is directly related to law enforcement, TOS violations, security/fraud/technical issues, and protection of rights and property.
Do you see this differently?
bpaluzzi
Apr 7, 01:22 PM
Not really, this tablet looks very interesting, compared to the larger iPod Touch, oops, I mean iPad.
2010 called, they want their ill-informed snarky comment back.
2010 called, they want their ill-informed snarky comment back.
-aggie-
May 4, 12:15 PM
so now we have to wait until mscriv tells you his intentions?
this could take a while. he's probably busy torturing flies or sommthing ;)
We can spend our time insulting him until then. :)
this could take a while. he's probably busy torturing flies or sommthing ;)
We can spend our time insulting him until then. :)
noahtk
Apr 23, 09:56 PM
Why has it taken them so long to embrace HD????!! And no... 720p is not the standard...
itcheroni
Apr 15, 11:25 AM
...
two new 4g devices.. one
T-Mobile Phone Sidekick 4G
new SideKick 4G from
T Mobile Sidekick 4G Pictures
that the new Sidekick will
T-Mobile Samsung Sidekick 4G
DomC
Apr 5, 09:32 PM
I think Apple was just nervous that Toyota would follow up the theme with a notification system that was more than just a centered blue box.
batchtaster
Mar 29, 09:29 AM
It's funny - every time I type the name of the service, it comes out "Clud Drive".
slipper
Nov 5, 01:57 PM
It is cheaper to buy a standalone unit. But then you have to carry around 2 things instead of 1. For some people (including me), that is the major selling point of using the iPhone for navigation. I don't like bringing stuff with me when I travel. The more my iPhone can do, the less junk I need to take with me. It has already replaced my iPod and my laptop. If it can replace my Garmin too, I'm willing to pay extra to make it work.
As for the apps that download maps on the fly, I'm not interested in those as my ONLY navigation solution. There are plenty of places I drive that don't have any cell coverage at all, let alone 3G. I want an app that has the maps preloaded. I haven't decided between the available apps yet, but I am leaning towards Navigon. If their traffic thingy works well, I'll most likely go that route.
So i assume you will be carrying the TomTom mount and iPhone as one piece at all times? :rolleyes:
As for the apps that download maps on the fly, I'm not interested in those as my ONLY navigation solution. There are plenty of places I drive that don't have any cell coverage at all, let alone 3G. I want an app that has the maps preloaded. I haven't decided between the available apps yet, but I am leaning towards Navigon. If their traffic thingy works well, I'll most likely go that route.
So i assume you will be carrying the TomTom mount and iPhone as one piece at all times? :rolleyes:
MartiNZ
May 4, 08:39 PM
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8H7)
Would be my preferred way. Enough with physical media. Very progressive of Apple.
And in a much more prepared way than progressive has been in the past - people are more prepared to lose the optical drive now than they were to lose the floppy drive back in '98. We have such good alternatives now!
I look forward to dling and presumably making a bootable memory stick. And hopefully we don't have to wait much longer :).
Would be my preferred way. Enough with physical media. Very progressive of Apple.
And in a much more prepared way than progressive has been in the past - people are more prepared to lose the optical drive now than they were to lose the floppy drive back in '98. We have such good alternatives now!
I look forward to dling and presumably making a bootable memory stick. And hopefully we don't have to wait much longer :).
kavika411
Apr 15, 07:59 PM
It seemed like a cogent point to me. Your perspective will change if you do any number of things. Bet on horse races for a living and you'll never look at a horse in the same way that other people do.
Earlier itcheroni said ...
Now I don't mean to be cruel, but he isn't making anything, creating anything or contributing anything to society through this livelihood. He's merely siphoning off the flow. And he wants to talk about perspective? It seems to me that making a living that way is guaranteed to give you a warped perspective.
It's a perspective I'm glad I don't share.
Sometimes, with answers, more says less.
You seemed to have missed it. So, I'll re-ask. My question - asked to-the-point because of your histrionics-laden rhetorical question, was this:
Where on earth did itcheroni suggest there.is.nothing.more.important.in.his.brief.life.than.gaining.wealth?
Earlier itcheroni said ...
Now I don't mean to be cruel, but he isn't making anything, creating anything or contributing anything to society through this livelihood. He's merely siphoning off the flow. And he wants to talk about perspective? It seems to me that making a living that way is guaranteed to give you a warped perspective.
It's a perspective I'm glad I don't share.
Sometimes, with answers, more says less.
You seemed to have missed it. So, I'll re-ask. My question - asked to-the-point because of your histrionics-laden rhetorical question, was this:
Where on earth did itcheroni suggest there.is.nothing.more.important.in.his.brief.life.than.gaining.wealth?
Gasu E.
Apr 25, 08:31 AM
Well, I think the previous commenter's point has some validity. A great example of this "form over function" is the iMac. Mobile graphics (and poor ones at that), horrendous thermal management, limited stand orientation...but one damn fine looking computer:D Dont get me wrong, Apple does amazing things with their products. (Im obviously a fan :D) But I do think design is paramount to their efforts (not that function ever takes backseat, it just can be slightly lessoned on some releases). Now, IMO...they knocked both form and function out of the park with the iPad 2, iPhone 4, and 2010 MBA. Bravo
I have to respectfully disagree. Having a large monitor in a small compact desktop form factor was important to me. I have very limited deskspace, even less floorspace, and a variety of needs for the large monitor. You may call this "form", but as far as I am concerned, this is "functionality", since a larger package forces me to make other compromise in my life.
I have to respectfully disagree. Having a large monitor in a small compact desktop form factor was important to me. I have very limited deskspace, even less floorspace, and a variety of needs for the large monitor. You may call this "form", but as far as I am concerned, this is "functionality", since a larger package forces me to make other compromise in my life.
pcharles
Apr 25, 09:29 AM
So much excitement over yet another fake email from Steve Jobs!
the vj
Apr 25, 09:30 AM
Credit cards do, GPS do, you car is, any cellphone is.
The only new story is that Apple has a file with the name.
But remember that Obama as well any other president can have a cellphone with them so they can not being tracked.
The bad news is that the iPhone file is accessible.
The only new story is that Apple has a file with the name.
But remember that Obama as well any other president can have a cellphone with them so they can not being tracked.
The bad news is that the iPhone file is accessible.
paradox00
May 4, 03:42 PM
what makes you think that you can copy it to a USB drive or disc? I have disc for Tiger, Leopard, and Snow Leopard. None of those disc can be copied, some of them can only be used on their original machine (or the exact model). the past 3 OSes can't be copied, and so far there's nothing to suggest we can just make backup copies of Lion.
Oh really? (http://www.walterjessen.com/make-a-bootable-backup-snow-leopard-install-disc/)
As an aside: The disks that only work with one computer are the ones that ship with new macs. No upgrade* disks sold in the Apple Store have that restriction, and there's no reason to assume the mac app store would be any different.
*The "upgrade" disks are full installs, but since the only legal way to install OSX is to install it on a mac that already came with a version of OSX, all standalone disks are technically upgrades.
Oh really? (http://www.walterjessen.com/make-a-bootable-backup-snow-leopard-install-disc/)
As an aside: The disks that only work with one computer are the ones that ship with new macs. No upgrade* disks sold in the Apple Store have that restriction, and there's no reason to assume the mac app store would be any different.
*The "upgrade" disks are full installs, but since the only legal way to install OSX is to install it on a mac that already came with a version of OSX, all standalone disks are technically upgrades.
ravenvii
May 3, 01:24 PM
is it possible for a fight to end with both monsters and heroes in the room? (this will depend on how you organize the HP/AP)
what happens next? another battle the next turn/round? can the heroes run? can the monster be re-located by the villain?
No. No. No.
can the healing treasure bring HP to be higher than the level (e.g, if i am level 3, with 1HP left, I am alone and I find the healing treasure, do i go to 3HP, to 6HP or is it like a flask that i can use in part and in part save/share later)?
No.
can the villain put traps in already explored rooms?
Yes.
would 'explore' also find secret doors if any?
Neat idea, but no. Maybe future games.
what happens next? another battle the next turn/round? can the heroes run? can the monster be re-located by the villain?
No. No. No.
can the healing treasure bring HP to be higher than the level (e.g, if i am level 3, with 1HP left, I am alone and I find the healing treasure, do i go to 3HP, to 6HP or is it like a flask that i can use in part and in part save/share later)?
No.
can the villain put traps in already explored rooms?
Yes.
would 'explore' also find secret doors if any?
Neat idea, but no. Maybe future games.
genetechnics
Jul 30, 08:04 AM
Very good questions.
ps. Apple might choose to make a phone with no music capability... just to delineate the product. That gives people something to understand... and then they can release the combo products.
It's Apple Computer.
ps. Apple might choose to make a phone with no music capability... just to delineate the product. That gives people something to understand... and then they can release the combo products.
It's Apple Computer.