Rating: B
I'm not generally a big fan of Ben Affleck. I don't particularly think he's a very good actor. So imagine how I felt about this movie when I realised his role behind the camera.
After watching the movie, I started to wonder if perhaps Mr. Affleck might want to make a permanent move behind the camera. After some pretty good reviews for Gone Baby Gone directorial debut, I wasn't sure if maybe it was beginner's luck. I think The Town solidifies his capabilities behind the camera. Oh, and who knew Blake Lively could actually act?!
Advertised as a heist film, this gritty picture displays some very human elements, allowing the audience to connect with the characters, making this a serious adult film in a genre that's generally just run and gun. A few slow spots in the middle and a supporting cast that was a little lack lustre are the only two real criticisms I have.
~Cheers.
Monday 14 March 2011
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Product: Jawbone Era
Design: 3.5 / 5
Sound Quality (in): 5 / 5
Sound Quality (out): 4 / 5
Build Quality: 4 / 5
Battery: 5 / 5
Comfort: 4 / 5
MSRP: $129.99 (USD)
Overall: 4.5 / 5
I started using wired headsets while in University. I was pretty active, so the only time I really had to talk on the phone was when I was cooking, or doing laundry. So when I found out about Bluetooth headsets, I jumped at the opportunity of getting one. I picked up my first BT headset to use with my Sony Ericsson T68i (still one of my favourite phones I've ever used). I've been hooked ever since. I have since developed a big distaste for wires in general, opting for the wireless alternative at any opportunity.
For Valentine's Day, I was given my newest headset, Jawbone Era. It boasts using Noise Assassin 3.0, a military grade noise canceling technology using the vibrations of your jaw, and blah blah blah. I'll just let the video tell you what it does.
Jawbone decided that they were going to introduce some new technology to their latest release.
It has the ability to "learn". You can plug it into your computer via its microUSB port, and download apps for it. You can change the voices that talk to you, and other little gimmicky features.
They've also put in an accelerometer. Pretty cool, but totally useless. Another gimmick to increase the price of what I suspect could have cost under $100. But it's certainly gives you pause to think about some of the possibilities of having such technology in place for a headset. I'm fairly certain that, and excited to see, more useful applications will be rolled out in the future. You can currently shake the headset 4x to put it into pairing mode, and double tap to take and end calls.
The incoming sound is a VAST improvement from previous iterations of the Jawbone line. It was pretty good before, but a little soft, and slightly "tinny". The Era has a 25% bigger speaker, giving fuller, richer sounds. It features pretty good stereo-over-mono music (music in one ear), and adaptive volume, depending on how loud your surrounds are.
They boast 5 hour talk time and deliver. And at the push of a button, a voice tells you how much more time you have to speak.
I am however, getting a little bored with their design. It still looks great, but I think it's time for them to try something different. I also don't like their hidden on/off switch, which is located on the inside of the headset. That being said, I am THRILLED that they've done away with the flashing LED light that broadcasts to everyone around you that you're on the phone. Instead, they've put it subtly on the inside of the headset, forming a sleek ring around the jawbone sensor.
Fantastic improvements overall, but I still wish that SOMEBODY (hopefully Jawbone) will come out with a commercial BT headset that will get rid of wind noise.
~Cheers.
Sound Quality (in): 5 / 5
Sound Quality (out): 4 / 5
Build Quality: 4 / 5
Battery: 5 / 5
Comfort: 4 / 5
MSRP: $129.99 (USD)
Overall: 4.5 / 5
I started using wired headsets while in University. I was pretty active, so the only time I really had to talk on the phone was when I was cooking, or doing laundry. So when I found out about Bluetooth headsets, I jumped at the opportunity of getting one. I picked up my first BT headset to use with my Sony Ericsson T68i (still one of my favourite phones I've ever used). I've been hooked ever since. I have since developed a big distaste for wires in general, opting for the wireless alternative at any opportunity.
For Valentine's Day, I was given my newest headset, Jawbone Era. It boasts using Noise Assassin 3.0, a military grade noise canceling technology using the vibrations of your jaw, and blah blah blah. I'll just let the video tell you what it does.
Jawbone decided that they were going to introduce some new technology to their latest release.
It has the ability to "learn". You can plug it into your computer via its microUSB port, and download apps for it. You can change the voices that talk to you, and other little gimmicky features.
They've also put in an accelerometer. Pretty cool, but totally useless. Another gimmick to increase the price of what I suspect could have cost under $100. But it's certainly gives you pause to think about some of the possibilities of having such technology in place for a headset. I'm fairly certain that, and excited to see, more useful applications will be rolled out in the future. You can currently shake the headset 4x to put it into pairing mode, and double tap to take and end calls.
The incoming sound is a VAST improvement from previous iterations of the Jawbone line. It was pretty good before, but a little soft, and slightly "tinny". The Era has a 25% bigger speaker, giving fuller, richer sounds. It features pretty good stereo-over-mono music (music in one ear), and adaptive volume, depending on how loud your surrounds are.
They boast 5 hour talk time and deliver. And at the push of a button, a voice tells you how much more time you have to speak.
I am however, getting a little bored with their design. It still looks great, but I think it's time for them to try something different. I also don't like their hidden on/off switch, which is located on the inside of the headset. That being said, I am THRILLED that they've done away with the flashing LED light that broadcasts to everyone around you that you're on the phone. Instead, they've put it subtly on the inside of the headset, forming a sleek ring around the jawbone sensor.
Fantastic improvements overall, but I still wish that SOMEBODY (hopefully Jawbone) will come out with a commercial BT headset that will get rid of wind noise.
~Cheers.
Saturday 5 March 2011
Movie: The King's Speech (2010)
Rating: A
I was thinking about how to start this entry off in this little blog of mine, and the cliche, "A Crowning Achievement" came to mind. But upon further consideration, I decided that there's probably a dozen or so reviewers out there that would have used this eye-roll worthy pun. A war of nations paled by the war within a single man. Brilliant.
I've got to say, I've never really been a big fan of Colin Firth. But this was a stellar performance. The Oscars don't always get it right, but they were bang on for giving Firth the Best Actor Award this year. And it's great to see new stars rising behind the camera in Tom Hooper as well. Brilliantly crafted, the internal conflict of King George VI with the imminent threat of Nazi Germany breathing down Britain's neck keeps you holding your breath with every careful word uttered by the struggling King. People rise and cheer for sports and war movies, but at the end of this movie, it is an impassioned speech by a dedicated king that gives the audience a reason for elation and exultation.
I did however, find Guy Pearce to be a bit of a miscast in this one. With such brilliant performances from Helena Bonham Carter and the rest of the cast, nothing about Pearce's delivery stood out. Even Michael Gambon, who was in the movie for all of maybe 5 minutes, was able to connect with the audience. And yet, you look forward to moving on to the next scene every time Pearce opens his mouth.
Best movie of 2010 tho? I think I'll still give it to Black Swan.
~Cheers.
I was thinking about how to start this entry off in this little blog of mine, and the cliche, "A Crowning Achievement" came to mind. But upon further consideration, I decided that there's probably a dozen or so reviewers out there that would have used this eye-roll worthy pun. A war of nations paled by the war within a single man. Brilliant.
I've got to say, I've never really been a big fan of Colin Firth. But this was a stellar performance. The Oscars don't always get it right, but they were bang on for giving Firth the Best Actor Award this year. And it's great to see new stars rising behind the camera in Tom Hooper as well. Brilliantly crafted, the internal conflict of King George VI with the imminent threat of Nazi Germany breathing down Britain's neck keeps you holding your breath with every careful word uttered by the struggling King. People rise and cheer for sports and war movies, but at the end of this movie, it is an impassioned speech by a dedicated king that gives the audience a reason for elation and exultation.
I did however, find Guy Pearce to be a bit of a miscast in this one. With such brilliant performances from Helena Bonham Carter and the rest of the cast, nothing about Pearce's delivery stood out. Even Michael Gambon, who was in the movie for all of maybe 5 minutes, was able to connect with the audience. And yet, you look forward to moving on to the next scene every time Pearce opens his mouth.
Best movie of 2010 tho? I think I'll still give it to Black Swan.
~Cheers.
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