Edge of Tomorrow - Movie Review

Let's keep this review short and to the point.

Went to see this last night with expectations of something in between Groundhog Day and Starship Troopers (which isn't a bad expectation).
I figured there would be a lot of regurgitated plot lines from ''history repeated" style movies. However, it turns out the plot line was quite unique overall.

The action scenes were very intense and felt like you were actually there in the world of Mr Tom Cruise. There was little to no corny cheesiness of any form of relationship between Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise's characters.
It was complex enough to be plausible in terms of the time travel related aspects, but not too complex that one would need to waste time trying to figure out exactly what was going on.
The cast was well chosen, with a few dodgy British over-exagerrated accents thrown in, but nothing that distracted from the scenes.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable action-fest with a well constructed storyline, with a little bit of humor thrown in along the way.

I'd recommend you to go see this one.

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Apple, back in the game...

So WWDC has been and gone, with some interesting insights into what is coming in the near future from Apple; at least from a software perspective!

I was actually expecting to see some hardware announcements there, whether an iWatch or a refreshed iMac or Macbook, or whatever. Just expected to see something.

I was disappointed.

But then after looking at what's coming in OS X 10.10 "Yosemite", and iOS8 I quietly forgot about my absent-hardware-invoked sadness.


First up, OS X "Yosemite". A new simplified, more iOS-esque flat design. Gone are the drop shadows and reflections and rounded window corners. In are a flat aesthetic, gradient-less colours, revised cartoony icons as well as a nice feature which allows the user to go for a dark background to the finder bar.
Also present is a new Spotlight search which appears centre stage when activated. A rejigged notification centre which allows more customisation and reorganisation by the user to see the most relevant content at a glance.  I'm currently awaiting the link to the beta of this... Hope it comes soon!

iOS 8, has a stack full of new features and refinements which take it to the next level, and in some minds a step way ahead of Android. Notifications can be handled from the notification itself e.g.  users can respond to messages right there in the notification. Notification centre itself has be improved much like Yosemite to allow 3rd party functions as well as user customisation. iMessage now acts much like WhatsApp with media and location data incorporated. Users can make use of 'Continuity' which allows them to work on the iOS device, then 'handoff' the workflow to a Mac to resume the work; This also works with users being able to field calls and messages from their Macs as well. There's also iCloud Drive, like Dropbox, there's improvements to Siri with music recognition powered by Shazam, Health apps, as well as an improvement to Spotlight... Many features and enhancements.

As well as all this, Apple also announced 'Swift', a new programming language for Mac and iOS.  The image below shows the main highlights, but this probably needs a post of it's own at some point!

So I'm not disappointed, I'm excited by these new pieces of software and can't wait to get my hands on them.  Given the improvements to iOS, I might even be convinced to go for a new iPhone too (when they finally announce/release it... ;) )

Why I want a Windows Phone

When Windows Phone 7 initially came out in 2010, I was intrigued and loved the fresh take that Microsoft had on the mobile user interface.  Live tiles: awesome.  I got myself a Samsung Omnia 7, with a great 4-inch screen in a great form factor.

I enjoyed using it a lot, and I became something of an advocate for the platform.  So much so that when I had the chance to get a new Nokia Lumia 800 on first arriving in Singapore; I did just that.

I used, I enjoyed, I advocated... But slowly, I started to become disillusioned with Microsoft and Nokia on account of the lack of my favourite apps being ported to the platform.  Soooo I switched back to iPhone, and after realising iPhone screens are like postage stamps, I invested in a Nexus 5.  Don't get me wrong, Android 4.4 Kit-Kat is a great operating system, I like it a lot; the widgets especially. Google Now is also a great feature and I found myself talking to my Nexus 5 more than any other device before (without feeling weird).

So my main disgruntlement with my Nexus 5 is the battery life. It's really really bad. And Google have been promising a software based fix with 4.4.3. I hope it comes soon. And I won't be getting rid of my Nexus 5 only on account of the battery issues.

However. I've missed Windows Phone. And I've seen it develop into a solid mobile OS, and steadily gain a little market share and resign Blackberry to the bin.  Most major apps are now available for the platform, and they're being executed with high quality (in-keeping with the elegant OS UI).

On top of that, Nokia have slowly been refining their hardware year on year (I almost bought a Lumia 925).  Their most recent announcement of the Lumia 635 and 930 (global version of the Icon) in particular left me salivating.  A beautiful form, screen, and with it, a more customisable modern version of the Windows Phone operating system with smart features such as Wi-Fi Sense and the long needed Action Centre for quick access to settings and notifications.  The most encouraging thing here is that Microsoft appears to be listening to the consumer.

Google Now is good.  Siri is ok.  Cortana, appears to be a step above both of them, and even in it's current beta stage, is encouraging to me and presents what a digital assistant should be like.

So, enough ramble, the conclusion here is that I want a Lumia 930 in June. Heck, I'd even settle for a Lumia 635 as it looks like a great budget device!

When I get one, I'll post a review right on here, so please keep checking back!

Would love to hear your comments/experiences with Windows Phone/Android/iOS in the comments section below...

Hiatus over

It's been a lonnnnng time since I posted. And it's time to get back to it...

Windows 8.1 Blue - Kudos Microsoft

I have a really old Asus netbook that has had a version of every single operating system you could think of on it over the years, it's even had a teardown for a new hard drive when the old one snuffed it.  I have been running Windows 8 since it's first leaked Alpha versions and was reasonably pleased with the initial release (despite having to play with my registry to enable downscaling resolutions to run 'metro' apps.)

I downloaded the official Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft and did a clean install.

Install times were a reasonable 25 mins, and of course boot times are about 10 seconds from cold to the login screen.  Awesome.

The Metro Control Panel ("PC Settings") now has a lot more options to handle customisation and system information.  It feels more substantial, and it feels more complete.

The Start Screen is now more customisable with new bigger and smaller Live tile sizes, so tiles such as the weather can display more information and those apps that have no Live tile function can be squeezed in without taking up too much screen real-estate.  Well played again.  As well as the tile functions there's far more colour scheme options and patterned wallpapers that can be used along with an option to use the desktop app's wallpaper (my favourite way of linking the metro and desktop worlds thus far).  The customisations can now happen from the side menu bar meaning changes can be seen as theyre made; a much smarter way of doing things.  Microsoft seems to be listening, and listening well.



Another thing is the return of the Start button from the Desktop app.  Personally, I didn't care about this too much, and now it's back, it looks ok, but I couldve lived with or without it, didnt concern me at all.  But it's back.  Yay.




All in all, this is a great step forwards from Microsoft, and I really look forward to seeing the full release of this version later this year, perhaps alongside a Surface Pro 2 machine???  :-)   There are hundreds or little items that have been tweaked or changed to improve the User Experience and it's mainly for the good.  I'll keep using this as my main desktop and when Mavericks gets a full release I'll be getting a new Mac to test alongside a nice fresh Windows 8.1.  

2013 is an exciting year!

The right opportunity is worth waiting for

Most of my time in Asia was spent with one company, English First.  I originally joined them as a teacher, as I was coming from a teaching role in the UK and I'd knocked out a TEFL Diploma in one of the 6 week boredom-breaks in the Summer between school years.  Cushty.
Anyway, I'd done some time teaching English, and it was quite easy and most students were keen to learn (which always helps).  After several months I came across an opportunity with their global product development department as a Project Manager.  Long story short, it was a great experience and I ran several projects as well as playing my part in others' projects; some project management tasks, some hands on development tasks such as wire-framing  logic design, user experience and so on.  During all my time in Shanghai at EF, I never felt that I was wasting my time and I always felt fully rewarded just by the work I did and what was coming ahead. Truly a great time.  
When I moved to Singapore (following my wife who was promoted to a role based here), I scouted out several jobs and eventually landed a role, which didn't actually have any tasks to do, so I left.  I joined another company, stayed there a while but the CEO's vision and my own didn't match up, so I left.  I joined another company, had a long term plan, but came up against a CEO who couldn't listen and a miserable team (but seriously talented and pleasant), so I left.  I don't wanna say it's Singapore's fault as that would be unfair.  I've been told it could be my own fault for being "fussy".  
But I approach it in the same way that the late Steve Jobs described, ""If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."  Considering I've almost died once before, this is how I'll continue to live.

Xbox One vs PS4 (do you really need either?)

I'm always excited to see new hardware coming to the market, and when they do I always find myself in the quandary of "do I want/need one?".

I currently own a PS3 slimline version.  I use it occasionally for games (FIFA in particular, or whenever new interesting titles drop such as The Last Of Us), but mainly as my media viewing device.  Now that may be Blu-ray movies, or it could be something that I stream from my netbook, or it could even be some YouTube content using the YouTube app on the PS3.  I'm pretty much satisfied with everything that it has to offer me and I'd say I use it maybe 3-4 times a week.  Great.

So why would I need a new console?

Well, from the look of the games coming to the new PS4 and Xbox One, the graphics and performance look almost lifelike.  I was extremely impressed.  Xbox One added a Blu-ray drive, hmmm about time Microsoft. PS4 added ermmmm, a touchpad thing to the controller. Useful.

So as things stand, that's about as far as I understand in terms of what they have that can really convince me to upgrade my home entertainment system.  And in case you didn't catch the tone of what I'm saying here, let me clarify, I'm not convinced I need to upgrade anything.

My personal feelings aside, the devices both seem well designed, and would slot right in underneath the television in most consumers homes I'm sure.  Sony have priced their PS4 reasonably with no additional costs or catches.  Microsoft have really maxed out the price for the Xbox One and justified it by saying that the Kinect comes with it.

Where Sony have really won already, and Microsoft have shot themselves in the foot (then nailed the bleeding foot to the floor), is with the handling of game ownership.  Sony does not require an Internet connection to authenticate a game, nor does it impose any restrictions on the sale, resale, lending, borrowing, frisbee throwing of games to your friends/strangers/who ever.
Microsoft have a series of ridiculous restrictions that require a user to be connected to the Internet at least once every 24 hours (ET phoooone hooooome), and the whole (potential, depending on game studios) farce of restrictions on games 'registered' to your Xbox One that won't be transferable to anyone else without the game being re-bought.

The other crazy thing is Microsoft's response to criticism of the Internet issue. "Just buy an Xbox 360 instead".  Smart Microsoft, really smart.  On top of that, the Xbox One won't even make an appearance in Asia until 2014!?!?!?!  Wowzer.

So it seems Microsoft might have already lost the war before they even got started.  But then again, does anyone really need a new console anyway?

Being Chatted Up

Apparently WhatsApp, of cross platform messaging fame, has set a new PB for messages sent and received in a day.  27 billion messages handled, that's a big jump from the stats given for April.  Boom.  Well done WhatsApp.

I use WhatsApp, and I also use Line and WeChat and Facebook Messenger and Tango and Google Hangouts and Skype.  Seems the only ones I haven't bothered with Viber and KakaoTalk, although I've been told they're not bad.

I use all these different apps depending on who I'm speaking to.  For example, I use WhatsApp with a few friends but also some people that I know professionally, I use Line exclusively with my wife as she likes their 'stickers', I use WeChat to keep in touch with some Chinese friends, Facebook Messenger mainly for friends, Tango for video calling with my wife when she's away travelling and Hangouts for talking to my Mum back home as she's just got an Android phone and realised she can talk to me at any time with it.

You might think,'you know you can do everything you need with just one'.  You'd be right, I could just pick one.  But my friends, colleagues and family are spread out across all these services.  This means that I've got to have a little folder of apps on my Galaxy Nexus just for all these chat apps.  And I'm ok with that, it works for me, I don't need a one-size-fits-all.

I have a feeling though that once WhatsApp starts asking me to pay for the service, I might be reluctant.  The reason being that I don't have to depend on the app because others do a good job too.  Once my free time with them runs out I can just ask regulars on that one to switch to Line or Tango or Hangouts or whatever.  Simple.

I do however, occasionally use SMS still.  So it's not totally dead for me.  I get some free with my mobile contract as well so I feel obliged to use them. But I still wonder what's next for these apps?  Video calling and messaging never really took off, everyone has already jumped on the 'stickers' bandwagon, so what could come next?  Perhaps more seamless sharing of media and news stories and other content?  Bringing some more of the apps to the desktop like Hangouts?  We'll see.