Video Review – iPhone 3GS vs Nokia N97: Browser Comparison

Well, think you have enough with the iPhone 3GS reviews, hmm… me too.  Always love those comparison videos where they pitch one phone against another.  Be it on the UI, the media player or the browser, always fun to check them out.  This vid from therevivedone features the duel between the Apple iPhone 3GS and the Nokia N97, bet you can tell that the iPhone wins out without even watching the vid given the processor, but nonetheless a nicely done vid, enjoy.

Source – therevivedone

HK71Green Manifesto

There has never been a time like now, when we free people had so much freedom of speech. There has never been a time like now, when freedom of speech are suppressed and crushed under totalitarian regimes, from Iran to China.

Luckily, technology helps, like Iran: Twitter had maintain a lifeline to protesters on their Green Revolution, while video streaming allow the world to witness the conflict. Good citizens in China had make use of technology and develop techniques to penetrate the so called “Great Fire Wall of China”, allowing communication and information flow to continue. However, with the increasing pressure for control from totalitarian regimes everywhere, freedom of speech online is at greater peril than ever before.

And, don’t think this is far away from you. What is happening to Iranians and Mainland Chinese can happen to you and me. The cutoff of most internet services to and from Iran now, can happen here. The introduction of Green Dam on computers in China can happen here, if our lousy government decide to give in to conservative pressure and licence the software, all in the name of “protect our children from filthy online content”. Even the filtering on the “Great Fire Wall of China” can happen here, if we are not vigilant.

In 1946, Martin Niemöller said:
===
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
===

It rings true to this day. Why speak out for online freedom of speech? Because we still can, and we have moral obligation to speak out while we can. Because helping Iranians and Mainland Chinese are just like helping yourself. Walk with us on July 1st in protest against oppression of Freedom of Speech, wear green garment to show our support to Chinese and Iranians, who sacrifice their freedom and lives for the greater good.

Defend Information Freedom, Promote Democracy and Human Rights. The fight starts from your computer. Be the change you wish to see in the world! We will see you at the Victoria Park, on July 1st, 3 p.m.!

Official Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/pages/-HK71Green/97967773855
Official Twitter handle: http://twitter.com/hk71green
Website: http://hk71green.com

Extracted from HK71Green, come support them.

The Sims 3 Review

Image from theSims3.com

Sims, the one gaming dynasty that won’t give in, and EA delivers in the newest Sim game, Sims 3. Will this game live up to it’s predecessor’s reputation, or will it be a most likely forgotten chapter in the history of the Sims?

One positive note in this game is the newly improved neighborhood mode, where players can just zoom in and out of their houses and into the new neighborhood view, without tolerating long transition screens when the Sims move from one building to another. This function also allows more versatility in movement for Sims since with the open roads and bird-eye view mode, the car rides just seem a lot more interesting. The lots in the game also seem more blended into the environment, where in Sims 2 each house was like an isolated area from each family this game offers more freedom in relation to the transition from house to neighborhood.

Another positive thing about the game is maintaining most of the features from Sims 2 but introduce them in a completely different style. Careers in Sims 2 were just drive to work, work, end of work. Now in Sims 3, you have more sub-choices to choose during your work time, such as slacking off, meeting your co-workers and the good-old suck up to the boss. Another concept greatly introduced is the relationships bars for making friends. In Sims 2, you could literally make someone go from an acquaintance to being your best friend in 1 day in game time. Now the bar moves at a more steady rate, no more 10 day friendships.

The sexual content in this game has not changed much from the previous games. Kissing and such is kept at an appropriate level in the game, not much references in the game are made towards sexual content. Violence in the game is also kept the same, with no physical confrontation more than hidden fights and pokes.

The one thing that this game lacks is an attractive environment that would draw the user completely into the game. The graphics just aren’t that amazing, not the graphics that make you feel you are inside the game, right in the shoes of the very Sim you are controlling. Compared to the environment in the Sims 2 game, the graphics look a little more roughed than the skin and environment of the previous game.
Evaluation:

Graphics: The graphical engine is Sims 3 is nothing to be amazed with, but with a game riding on this much reputation and expectations of an excellent Sim game, the graphics are a disappointment.

Gameplay: The new neighborhood mode keeps gameplay streamlined instead of enduring long loading screens. The gameplay now also allows more decisions to be made in the Sim’s lives, making the player feel more involved with their Sim’s lives than before.

Sexual/Violence content: For a Sim game, the Sims 3 offers no new progressions in romantic areas and the violence in the games are still just two Sims going at it in a big cloud of dust that covers everything.

New features: Sims 3 literally takes the old game and turns everything new and exotic by using the exact same features. The new relationship bars and the increased interaction with the Sims and outside environments feels as if the player is inside the screen.

Overall, this is an extraordinary game, one that is worthy to live up to the reputation of the “Sims” franchise, with every new generation bringing something new to the table. Needless to say, Sims 3 is the one that has truly shocked and awed.

Final Grade: A-

Apple Released MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update

On Monday, Apple released the new MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update which adds compatibility for the latest service replacement batteries.

For more information, please visit http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2368.

Source – Apple