Chris Pirillo » galaxy

Samsung Galaxy S Initial Impressions

Chris Pirillo — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:30:18 +0000

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Samsung Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Samsung Galaxy S will be available soon in the AT&T network. I’ve been able to play with it for the past week or so. Despite moderate usage, I haven’t had to charge it since first turning it on. The battery astounded me, to be quite honest. I’ve been pretty happy with this phone. Despite a few negative remarks I’ve seen elsewhere about this phone, this is the best Android device I’ve tried to date. This will definitely be my default Android phone from now on.

It is extremely lightweight. It feels good in the hand, and the screen is large and gorgeous. The screen is super SUPER bright and vibrant. It’s so bright, in fact, that I had to turn the brightness down. The touch screen is extremely responsive. This means that the processor is fast, and everything is speedy out of the box. I feel this is quality hardware on a quality operating system.

In terms of resolution and capabilities, the camera on the Galaxy S is fantastic where HD video is concerned. If you didn’t already notice, I had uploaded a video review of an iPhone screen protector that I wasn’t happy with. That video was shot using this Galaxy S phone. For some reason, in a low-quality setting, I tend to get these “bars” on the video. I’m not sure if you detect that, but I did through the viewfinder. This is some small lines that appear in videos and photos. I’m not sure if this is a hardware or software issue, though. Hopefully Samsung will look into it.

This phone is running the TouchWiz interface, which is nice for helping you to quickly connect up your social networks. The out-of-the-box experience is honestly very good. For instance, swiping the screen in any direction will automatically open up the lock screen. Hello! That, my friends, is what intuitive is all about.

This is a fantastic Android device, no doubt about it… especially when it will only cost you $200 with a new contract. What I like beyond the price and screen is that Samsung paid attention to what a user might actually want when they turn their phone on for the first time. They added some very popular apps right into the phone, including Layer. Layer is so good that it will get a future video all of its own.

More than anything that impressed me, when I launched the Apps application, I saw a few of these default apps. Normally, apps pushed through a manufacturer’s site or service kind of suck, to put it bluntly. However, I was pretty impressed with many of the ones that I found within Samsung.

Again, my summary is that this is the best Android device I’ve used to date. There are a few negatives, but in my opinion they do not detract from the overall performance of the phone. Yes, there is a replaceable battery. However, in order to get the back of the phone off to GET to said battery you’ll need long fingernails or some type of very thin tool to pry it open.

As Apple pointed out, many other phones lose signal when using a “death grip.” It’s honestly not just the iPhone 4 that does this. The same thing happens with the Galaxy S, as shown in a video on YouTube.

Just about anything you would want in an Android device can be found in the Galaxy S. Are you thinking of grabbing one for yourself?

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Samsung Galaxy S Initial Impressions

Should SETI Stop?

Chris Pirillo — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:42:54 +0000

Should SETI Stop?

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Tedd asked over on Lockergnome.net if we feel that SETI should continue. SETI is the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. It is the collective name for a number of activities people undertake to search for extraterrestrial life. SETI projects use scientific methods to search for electromagnetic transmissions from civilizations on distant planets. The United States government contributed to earlier SETI projects, but recent work has been primarily funded by private sources.

There are great challenges in searching across the sky for a first transmission that could be characterized as intelligent, since its direction, spectrum and method of communication are all unknown beforehand. SETI projects necessarily make assumptions to narrow the search, and thus no exhaustive search has been conducted so far.

The answers poured in with people on both sides of the issue. Personally, I do believe that there is intelligent life elsewhere in this universe of ours. We just haven’t found it yet. There’s more to this great universe than what we have discovered. It’s been argued that there are more than three dimensions. How can we know that which we do not know?

I think it would be almost depressing if we are the only living beings to be found anywhere. Heck, it’s kind of strange to think that we’re the only “intelligent” life. Humans rule this planet – at least for now. I just can’t imagine us being the only ones, though. I don’t even want to imagine a universe where we are the smartest things out there.

What do you believe? Are there ETs out there somewhere?

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Should SETI Stop?

Do You Believe in Aliens?

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:38:34 +0000

Do You Believe in Aliens?

I spend most of my time attempting to bring friends the latest news, hottest new hardware and software, and the very latest in technology advancements. While it’s true that I post a few humorous things at times, I know that I still need to take time to lighten up. I decided that, tonight, we’d end the week on a slightly more thought-provoking note.

Do you believe in aliens? I’m not talking about illegal immigrants, folks. I’m referring to “intelligent” life on other planets. Extraterrestrials!

How can you say (with certainty) that humans are the only sentient beings in the universe? Isn’t that rather presumptuous?

The question of the day is: do you believe that intelligent life exists in this universe (beyond planet Earth)? Have you ever had a close encounter of the first, second, or third kind? Are you an ET, yourself?

While I’ve never been a witness to any such event, I do believe that “aliens” exist (just as much as I believe that Jesus existed, even though I’ve never met the dude). I also believe we have some intelligent life floating around the Internet:

Is your computer feeling not-so-very-intelligent right now? Smarten ‘er up through the software center before too long.

Do You Believe in Aliens?

Interactions with an Omnidirectional Projector

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:45:15 +0000

Interactions with an Omnidirectional Projector

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This is a hemispherical dome in which users can interact with data from Virtual Earth and WorldWide Telescope. This was done using a regular projector and a wide-angle lens – and Microsoft technologies!

The Ominidirectional Projector allows you to control 360 degrees of data displayed on the ceiling and walls with voice and hand gesture commands. The system is designed to be simple and easy to build. The entire system is composed of a projector pointing upwards in the center of the room. Around the lens are IR camera sensors that can detect the hand signs that the user makes. By making hand puppets above the projector’s lens, a user can control the world around him.

The most popular program being displayed with the projector is an interactive virtual display of the Galaxy. The user is capable of flying past stars and zoom in on planets or even zoom out to show the entire Milky Way or even zoom out to the Big Bang.

Unfortunately, the Omnidirectional Projector is still in development stages, but Microsoft intends to make the system be able to work in a standard room instead requiring a domed room.

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Interactions with an Omnidirectional Projector

Nintendo Wii Super Mario Galaxy Review and Tips

Chris Pirillo — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:40:40 +0000

Nintendo Wii Super Mario Galaxy Review and Tips

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One of our regular community members, SWAT, has just beaten Super Mario Galaxy. He’s going to give us his review, as well as some tips for playing the game.

So overall, what is your impression of the game? Overall the graphics are very good, even though the ending could have been more difficult.

What was the hardest part? The realm where you turn Mario into a Spring. It’s really difficult.

How does this one compare to other versions of Mario you’ve played? This one ranks up there as probably the best, overall.

How long did it take you to beat the game? It took me about 2 1/2 weeks, playing an hour or two a day.

Does it make it hard during times when the camera cannot keep up with your movements? It’s not bad most of the time, just when jumping from block to block.

What are some other tips you have for us?

Get your timing down right away. It’s critical when jumping.
Get the concept of gravity down. You’ll have to walk on walls and ceilings in this one!
Get as many star bits as you can. These are what unlock the secret worlds.
The ending is much easier than I hoped. I beat Bowser on the first try.

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Nintendo Wii Super Mario Galaxy Review and Tips