WIndows 8 Preview: is their such thing as too user friendly?

Microsoft has around a 90% install base for people that use computers so they can basically set the trend. I feel that this new OS is too simple because I believe they are trying to take back some of the market share they lost from Apple. I believe they are trying to capitalize on the young generation and look hip to them. In my opinion younger generation like the simplicity Apple has to offer, and they do like stuff that is stylistic. This simple OS can help attract people that aren’t used to computers and like simplicity because if they can attract this market it can help increase their install base. This is all fine and dandy but I believe that Microsoft is dumbing down the product too much I believe that most users are not going to be that impressed because we don’t like stuff dumb down too much. The thing that the core audience wants is to innovate the OS and increase the performance as long as you increase performance, and add other stuff to make OS be more efficient is what we want. If Microsoft starts taking the Apple approach on their products I believe they are dumbing it down too much. The thing that makes Microsoft attractive too most is that its not to dumb down like Apple OS and you have more freedom to do what you want and not that many limitations, and the familiarity we have with the product.

Microsoft has to stop dumbing down the product like calling programs “apps” I think that it is silly to call programs apps. The reason for that is because in today’s tech world most people associate the word “apps” with programs that people run on their smartphone and tablets. Even though you can go back to Windows 7 setting with the OS I believe that they should be putting more time and effort to making the OS run more smoothly, adding better security, and less crashing. This OS is best suited for Microsoft’s Windows phone, and future tablets. The simplicity of this OS would really benefit tablets because tablets are like mini computers. If they can effectively make Windows 8 look and run this smooth on tablets and smartphones. For tablets it can make a lot of people jump to Windows based tablets and leave Apple’s Ipads and Android based tablets. The simplicity of Windows 8 on tablets looks really great because if the experience is similar to Windows Phone mango, I will be really impressed. I am really interested to see how the ecosystem will work like how smooth and effective having Microsoft products work during Windows 8. I hope that Microsoft help builds ecosystem like how they are implementing skydrive on Microsoft based products. It will be interesting to see how they integrate Windows 8 to Xbox, Windows Phone, tablets, and other Window products.

In my opinion Windows 8 is too simple for PC users because even though LiveTiles are neat I do not want to use it while I am on my pc because I do not need my PC to be dumbed down. Windows 8 will be really great for tablets and Window phones because LiveTiles are simple and more suited for those devices. Overall, I think it is somewhat a mistake for Microsoft to dumb down Windows 8, but I do think they are doing the right thing because they can increase the install base, and take bake some users from Apple.

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Making of Halo 4: First Look

This is one of the first look on the most anticipated game to come out this generation. Many people are going to be wondering if the Halo franchise can continue without Bungie being at the helm. 343 are going to be taking their second stab at taming the colossal beast in gaming known as Halo. 343 Industries first stab at the beast was when they did the remake for Halo CE, which was an excellent take because it helps bring back some people to the Halo franchise. Halo CE: Anniversary that they made was a great example of remaking a classic because they added HD visuals, and they allowed the user to switch back to the original visuals. Lastly, they added icing to the take by giving the users 5 Halo ce classic maps and 1 firefight map for the users that they can play on the Halo CE disk or via Halo Reach game. They added the classic multiplayer and I especially enjoyed the Halo 1 pistol, which is a tad bit overpowered, but still a treat to play with.

This video of the making of Halo 4 got me excited like spoiled child opening his Christmas presents. Firstly, I loved how they brought back the sprint feature that was in Reach I believe sprint is a crucial move to have in your first person shooters because many FPS’ include sprint I believe it really helps quicken the paces when you play on larger maps in Halo. Secondly, they brought back the Battle Rifle that has been a pivotal weapon in the Halo franchise. This weapon looks very good in the video they showed I like the new visuals they added to the gun. The graphics on the weapon look really good I like the new look it make the gun look futuristic. Lastly, I know many fans of the series are happy about the Battle Rifle being back because less face it DMR is an okay gun but I would rather be using the Battle Rifle, and I also hope they bring back the Carbine Rifle.  Thirdly, the graphics look like they have really improved and the graphics during multiplayer look fresh and clean. The textures look like they have really improved like the ground, walls, the armors, look really vibrant compared to its predecessors.

There are many things that are left to be known, but it’s great that the guys at 343 Industries left us with a little teaser before we get to see more action of the game during E3. Many fans and me included agree that they should not bring back power ups in reach like jetpack, power shield, etc. I kind of hope they bring back the power ups in Halo 3 like bubble shield, power drainer because it helps bring new elements to the game especially when you play the game on larger maps. In conclusion I am a huge Halo fan , and I just hope that this game delivers because we need Halo to be successful because the first person shooter is getting milked dry by franchises like Call of Duty and its other clones even Battlefield 3 because they do nothing innovative to the Genre. Another thing these franchises do is they don’t have a lasting appeal to me because I will play these games for months and get bored because to be honest many people are sick of the military shooter genre. We need Halo to be successful because this franchise has always innovated and many franchises are always trying to catch up to it. I think this game is going to create a huge splash in the gaming industry because we need another Halo that brings it back to its roots like in Halo CE to Halo 3.

This will be the first Halo of the new triolgy that was announced at last E3, and I am guessing the next Halo after this will come out in the next generation Xbox.

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What is your favorite past, present and future Windows Phone in Canada?

With the upcoming release of the HTC Radar 4g, and the Nokia Lumia 800, and Nokia Lumia 900 coming out in the upcoming months. I want to know which past, present, and future Windows Phone in Canada is your favorite

Nokia Lumia 710 which was release in Canada on Rogers is a quality phone for the price it is a low to mid-range Windows Phone that can help people get accustomed to the Mango experience. The costs of the phone is $254.99 outright in Canada, which is a steal considering that for that price you can’t get a better phone for that price, and in my opinion better than most mid-range Android phones.

Then we have the HTC Radar for people in Ontario it is coming soon and it will be released on Wind Mobile. This phone will be Wind Mobile’s first Windows Mobile phone, but it will cost a steep price $399 outright and $99 on Windtab plus. This phone on Wind Mobile will be released on February 22. My opinion on this phone is I think this phone is overpriced. Firstly, the processor on this phone is only 1GHZ, and that is low compared to the Nokia Lumia 710, which is cheaper and its processor is 1.4GHZ. Secondly, Nokia makes quality phones, and people that have Nokia WP7 Phones will have first access to some premium apps and Nokia makes quality apps like Nokia Maps. Thirdly, one major advantage the HTC Radar has over the Nokia Lumia 710 is it has a front facing camera. On the contrary that is an important feature, but currently Window phones do not have Skype or other apps that help with video conferencing with front facing camera. It is not a huge thing because the Skype app will most likely come in a couple of months, and make the HTC Radar more future proof. Lastly, the downside of both of these phones is they only have 8GB of internal storage that is not expandable.

Nokia Lumia 900 is a beautiful phone it has such a sleek design, and I think it is the best looking phone on the market. This phone has the perfect screen size it is sporting a 4.3 inch super AMOLED screen. The screen is also using a Gorilla Glass, which means that the screen of the phone will be more durable, and be able to withstand a beating. The phone will also be sporting a pretty good camera 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss lens, and a 1MP front facing camera. The Nokia Lumia 900 will have a pretty fast processor it will be using a 1.4GHZ processor. The Nokia Lumia 900 is the most hyped Windows Phone to come to North America. This phone has had amazing sales in Europe, and is usually sold out at most retailer. This phone has won many awards at CES for having the best phone at the expo. Currently, this phone is expected to be launched on the Rogers Network in Canada. Maybe other carriers in Canada will be able to carry this quality phone, and it’s expected to release in mid to late 2012. 

I hope Canada will be able to get many second generations Windows Phone launched in Canada from the other companies like Samsung, LG, and some more from HTC. Canadian carriers are starting to carry second generation Window Phones. The phones made from HTC and Samsung like the HTC Titan and the Samsung Focus S have been released in the USA, but didn’t get released in Canada. I think its important for Canadian carriers to pick up Window phones because I believe they are the future, and should train their employees on the products because many workers I have encountered are unfamiliar with Window Phones.

Please leave a comment on which Window Phones are your favorite, and or ones that you are  anticipating

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