Design: 4 / 5
Sound Quality: 4.5 / 5
Build Quality: 4 / 5
Operating System: 3.5 / 5
Available Software: 2 / 5
Battery: 5 / 5
MSRP: $499.99 - $699.99 (CAD)
Overall: 4 / 5
I've had the opportunity to play with the Blackberry Playbook for a few days and at first blush, it is indeed quite impressive.
We can go all day about all the different features and whatnot, so I'm going to try to sum quickly some of my likes and dislikes.
Likes:
I love how the Playbook is an extension of your Blackberry. There's an app called Blackberry Bridge, that once synchronised, your phone and your tablet work almost seamlessly. The Playbook's interface is great. It's clean, intuitive, and very functional. The images are clear and crisp, the webpages load quickly, and there is real multi-tasking capability. At 7", it's a great device to hold in one hand, leaving your other hand to navigate, type, and in my case, have a cup of coffee.
Dislikes:
While it's a beautiful device and I want it and crave it and find it completely droolworthy, it is simply not ready. There are too many OS updates, and scarcely any apps. I am fairly confident that all of this will be solved over time, but in the meantime, it isn't doing what I need for it to do. The Playbook is at the moment, is not stable enough, and with every OS update, you have to make accommodations for possible changes in how you've gotten used to using the device. And of course, there's the issue with the power button. I don't think it's a big deal, since the device will go to sleep on it's own, but turning The Playbook off requires you to sharpen your fingernails into a sharp pin.
Overall
I love it. But it's not ready. Even most of the apps that ARE available aren't ready. And the apps that I will require the most (Documents-To-Go） are nothing more that larger versions of the one that's currently on my Blackberry Torch. Given what's available to date, I drool at the potential of this device. The hardware is great. The software is VERY GOOD....but not exceptional....yet.
Friday, 6 May 2011
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Critique: Cineplex UltraAVX
(blogger's note: More detailed comparison between IMAX & UltraAVX here)
Cineplex has been advertising their "new conecept" theatres at some of their multiplexes dubbed UltraAVX. But for $14.99 plus tax, I really don't think it's worth the money. You're paying halfway between regular admission ($11.99 plus tax) and IMAX admission ($17.99 plus tax), but really, you're just watching a the same movie on a bigger screen. They boast digital projection and immersive sound, but I don't think it's evident enough for the average viewer to differentiate between the better systems you can get for regular price. It's slightly better...but it's not IMAX.
The only real benefit of UltraAVX is reserved seating. You can buy your tickets in advance, and just show up when the movie is about to begin. There's a chance that some idiot's taken your seat, but the seat number is clearly stated on your ticket, and the ushers WILL walk to the middle of the row, and block everyone's view, JUST so that you can get your seat. But it means that you won't have to wait in line TWICE on opening night; once to purchase the ticket, and then over an hour in advance to get a decent seat.
For me, I think that's really all I will use UltraAVX for in the future. If I want to watch a movie on opening night. You know, say for example, for Green Lantern, which opens June 17th.
~Cheers.
Cineplex has been advertising their "new conecept" theatres at some of their multiplexes dubbed UltraAVX. But for $14.99 plus tax, I really don't think it's worth the money. You're paying halfway between regular admission ($11.99 plus tax) and IMAX admission ($17.99 plus tax), but really, you're just watching a the same movie on a bigger screen. They boast digital projection and immersive sound, but I don't think it's evident enough for the average viewer to differentiate between the better systems you can get for regular price. It's slightly better...but it's not IMAX.
The only real benefit of UltraAVX is reserved seating. You can buy your tickets in advance, and just show up when the movie is about to begin. There's a chance that some idiot's taken your seat, but the seat number is clearly stated on your ticket, and the ushers WILL walk to the middle of the row, and block everyone's view, JUST so that you can get your seat. But it means that you won't have to wait in line TWICE on opening night; once to purchase the ticket, and then over an hour in advance to get a decent seat.
For me, I think that's really all I will use UltraAVX for in the future. If I want to watch a movie on opening night. You know, say for example, for Green Lantern, which opens June 17th.
~Cheers.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Movie: The Fast and the Furious 5 ... a.k.a Fast Five (2011)
Rating: B-
Who would have thought that this franchise would have lasted this long? But forget about acting, forget about character development, forget about the laws of physics and you have an action packed, edge of your seat, car crashing, testosterone induced, sweat drenching, extreme version of Ocean's Eleven.
It almost feels like Justin Lin went to the stunt team before he went to the writers...And succeeded. With barely a slow moment in the movie, each stunt performed is more outrageous than the previous. Bringing in most of the main characters from all the previous Fast and the Furious movies also allowed for the movie to fore-go the need for any character development and simply insert the characters as necessary for this film, giving him the flexibility to just focus all attention on blowing things up and mixing in generous amounts of hilarity.
Oh...and by the way, for you fans of the franchise...stick around for the credits.
~Cheers.
Who would have thought that this franchise would have lasted this long? But forget about acting, forget about character development, forget about the laws of physics and you have an action packed, edge of your seat, car crashing, testosterone induced, sweat drenching, extreme version of Ocean's Eleven.
It almost feels like Justin Lin went to the stunt team before he went to the writers...And succeeded. With barely a slow moment in the movie, each stunt performed is more outrageous than the previous. Bringing in most of the main characters from all the previous Fast and the Furious movies also allowed for the movie to fore-go the need for any character development and simply insert the characters as necessary for this film, giving him the flexibility to just focus all attention on blowing things up and mixing in generous amounts of hilarity.
Oh...and by the way, for you fans of the franchise...stick around for the credits.
~Cheers.
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