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I’m one of those guys that loves a huge desk, the bigger the better I always say… Therefore when it came to buying a new keyboard my priority was to find something that was space efficient, but not in such a way as to be detrimental to usability. I ended up choosing Microsoft’s Arc Keyboard as it seemed to tick those boxes nicely. I’ve had it for a few weeks now, so I thought it was high time for a review.
I’m sure you’ve heard about Microsoft’s constant battle with the European courts. Essentially Europe is saying (and people have been agreeing) that bundling software such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player into the OS is unfair on rival software companies. So far Microsoft have been forced to release a version of Windows without Media Player, fined $1.5 billion and most recently had to create a ballot screen allowing the consumer to choose which browser they want… as well as others.
Taking obvious hints from the Zune HD’s interface, Microsoft have managed to create a clean and modern OS. If it is based on previous incarnations they’ve hidden it well enough that no one would care.
Definitely aimed more at the casual user than the older versions, great emphasis on integration with social networks and Xbox Live is evident. This as well as a media player based on the Zune and lots of swanky graphics certainly markets it as a device for pleasure as well as productivity. Assuming they manage to keep the old functionality they’ve done well to encompass two very different markets.
A couple of weeks ago the Zune software was updated to include support for a vast array of new video formats. I for one completely missed it, so I figured it was worthwhile pointing it out.
Don’t get too excited quite yet, it’s not the Zune HD’s hardware itself which is supporting the files – just the software. When you add your video library folders to the software, all the files show up, and if you then choose to sync one it converts it on the fly. There are also rumours of a purported update for the Zune HD itself, later this spring to natively support these files… we can only hope!
The conversion speed itself is about as fast as the methods I’ve used before the update and the quality is at least as good. Obviously this solution is much nicer than converting the files yourself, eliminating the need to have two versions of everything on your computer. That, and the fact that simply clicking ‘sync’ is a lot easier than messing around with format changers.
Personally I think this is a fantastic update, only made better if the Zune HD does indeed start supporting these files natively, eliminating time wasting conversion completely. It certainly adds a plus point for Microsoft’s player when trying to decide whether to get a Zune or an iPod.
What do you think? Impressed like I am, or do you think it’s not actually all that fantastic? Let us know in the comments below.
Project Natal, due to be released at the end of this year, is Microsoft’s answer to the Nintendo Wii. Two cameras, a microphone and many hours put in by people writing very clever software has enabled the device to add advanced gesture, facial and voice recognition to the 360. All the consumer has to do is get one and plug it in to upgrade their console This give developers many more tools when creating games etc for the Xbox, certainly an exciting prospect.
Using it for games isn’t something that I particularly look forward to; I imagine that it won’t be particularly responsive, very inaccurate and a bit of a novelty which will wear thin extremely quickly, remind you of any Japanese hardware? Ooooh burn! (Just so you know I think the Wii’s a fantastic innovation, just not a games console… more like an alternative to family board games like Pictionary and Tiddly-Winks).
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