Microsoft on lack of Copy/Paste in Windows Phone 7: “People don’t use that anymore….”

By now everyone and their mother has heard of Microsoft’s extremely Apple-esque stance with the upcoming Windows Phone 7. On several fronts, that’s a very, very good thing. On the other hand, comments such as “People don’t use copy/paste anymore” clearly show they [Microsoft] are F*cking stupid (with a capital F no less). Getting everything to be more simplistic and user friendly. Good. Great. Awesome. That’s exactly what they need to do. But overly water down a platform that has traditionally been a power users platform…? There are two very distinct user groups in the mobile sphere currently: (1) The super simple iPhone-like style and (2) the Android-like tinkers platform. In the middle you have the likes of several mobile OS hopefuls. Where does Microsoft sit with WinPhone 7? Well, a week ago I would have said easily in the middle of Apple and Android — a great place to be. Unfortunately, it looks like they’re moving more and more towards Apple every day.

I’ll give the argument that complex information identifying and handling is greatly improved. For example, clicking on a phone number in a text gives you several options, with most if not all being actual useful functions negating the need to copy, navigate, paste. Still, there are plenty of times when copy/paste would be of benefit.

Has the nonsense reached critical mass yet to where you’re already writing off WinPhone 7 as less of a power user’s dream and more of a “childrens toy”?

Blockbusters last stand: Movies for Android?

Besides the epic failure of music labels’ inability to find a working business model in the digital age, there is one other contestant in particular vying for “worst performance in the digital arena ever” award: Blockbuster. When I was a kid (not too long ago), I remember going to Blockbuster sometimes as often as a couple of times every week. It was great. The competition with other locals Hollywood Video (now deceased) and Family Video (greatly downsized) ensured the movie rental market was always on the up and up. And then the digital revolution happened. Since then, Blockbuster has for all intents and purposes, failed to figure out this whole disc-less society.

Late last year, they proved even more that they didn’t understand this new digital age when they proposed a pilot program of movies on SD cards. For the first 10 seconds it seemed like a decent alternative. And then the gears started turning — why driving miles to the movie store (wasting all kinds of physical resources) to pick up a digital file stored on a tiny card? Downloading the same file is exponentially easier. Netflix in particular got it. What happened to Blockbuster?

How about another round, shall we? Building off the success(?) of the OnDemand movie download service currently available only to HTC HD2 users, Blockbuster has announced that other platforms are on their list. According to the chain, Android-powered Motorola handsets will gain support sometime this year. One nifty little feature that I have to give Blockbuster credit for is that the OnDemand service actually allows users to DL full movies to store locally. Granted, DRM is laced throughout, but still. When given the choice, if I’ve got a few, I’ll choose the local copy every time. Supporting only one platform won’t cut it this day and age however. Words on the webs is that an iPad version is in the works. That can only help.

Whatever does and doesn’t end up making it to market, one thing’s for sure; Blockbuster needs to get the lead out and quick. They’re closing stores at breakneck pace and holding depressingly boring press conference after conference rehashing the same empty promises we’ve heard quarter after quarter. Does Blockbuster have what it takes to become relevant again? Or do you not even care anymroe?

Electronista

Screen/film protectors get axed on Apple’s official sales channels.

One of my biggest gripes with touchscreen phones is the vulnerability and finger smudges that plague the massive piece of glass (or plastic) on the device. No matter how tough a company claims their proprietary screen is, at some point a small scratch always developers. So it’s up to 3rd party screen protectors to save the day, right? Wrong…that is if you plan on purchasing said accessory at an Apple Store — physical or digital — from here on out. For so far unknown reasons, finding a screen protector on any official Apple channel is pretty much impossible as Apple is “banning” them. Even more peculiar, stand alone screen protectors as well as cases and other accessories bundled with screen protectors are getting nixed under this new ban. According to iLounge, several prominent accessory makers already knew of this impending ban. So what gives?

I’d really love to hear Apple’s reasoning on this move. If it’s something simple like a new, higher quality requirement or something, ok. I can deal with that. But every other reason I can think of paints an asinine picture. We’ll see soon enough.

Speculate away…

iLounge

[Image Source]

RIM promises great things for BBM this week. Get’s all pushy with 3rd party apps.

Not one, but two morsels of information for BlackBerry users today are ready for your consumption. First up, BlackBerry Messenger. According to RIM, within the next few days, “exciting new things” are coming to the Canadian based platform’s “in-house” IM client. For BBM junkies, this is reason to celebrate as BBM isn’t exactly the most often updated BlackBerry app, routinely going months upon months between updates. Good stuff.

On a wider scale, RIM has also announced that push services are now open to all 3rd party applications. This is huge for the platform as it allows essentially anything and everything to sorta kinda operate much like a native BlackBerry app now that it is all instantaneous.

Getting back the BBM news above, I always like BBM when I had my BlackBerries as it was fast and effective. Eye candy and extra features wouldn’t hurt though. Anyone wanting to wager a few guesses as to what RIM’s big surprises are?

– my guesses are going towards wider multi-IM client support and/or a pretty heavily revamped UI.

BerryReview
Gizmodo

New Macbook Air, Pro/Mac Pro pricing details leaked? “Bag of hurt” with new pricing? [Update]

Is your drool cup full after weeks of waiting for any new news regarding Core i5/i7 updated Macbook Air/Pros and Mac Pros? I just as much as anyone love a well put together computer with beastly internals to match. But a $400 premium for Intel’s “latest” Core i5/i7 chips? Ya, no thank you. The image above was captured from Austrailian site, PC Authority. Whether the prices listed are USD or not I’m not sure, which could explain the price discrepancy. If these are an early look at the new pricing however, it’s pretty disappointing.

The current Macbook Pro for instance jumped from a starting price of $1,499 to $1,899. If the only real changes are the Core i5/i7 chips, “rip-off” would be a good place to start with the descriptions. I mean, it’s not like a Core i7 980x is going in this thing. The Mac Pro could see the 980x and is of course an option with a heavy pricetag, but that shouldn’t effect the starting price much if any.

I’m still eager for the official new systems none the less. I’m just hoping (along with millions of other people) that Apple didn’t jack up the prices by $400 or more just for the new processors. If they do, will it change your purchasing decision one way or the other?

Update: After taking a quick job through the inter webs, it’s not Australia alone that’s displaying weird pricing. New Zealand is also getting in on the pricing inconstancies. At this point, I’m going to say it’s nothing more than a few people (myself included) forgetting about the whole price difference from land mass to land mass for a few seconds, getting all riled up. Though we should know the truth soon enough.

Engadget > PC Authority

Solar road way prototypes pictured. Drool forming in 3..2…

Is it possible to get excited over a roadway? If the roadway in question is a materialized version of the various concepts that have wandered past my eyes in the last few years, then yes. The prototype above is the work of Solar Roadways and shows just how sweet the concept really is. I know it’s weird, but I can’t wait until i start driving on these roads. We’ve still got a few years though

Besides looking helluva cool, there are some actual real-world uses such as (obviously) better night visibility, energy storage/sharing of energy with smart grid, and possibly even mild snow melting support. Anyone else geeked about some new fangled transportation paths?

Gizmodo > GadgetReview

The new age Lava Lamp comes with LED’s, void of liquidy goo…

I remember when I was a kid I had some strange fascination with lava lamps. At my worst point, I had amassed a total of 13 lava lamps — all going at the same time. Ya, it was pretty hectic. But more technological times have come and gone since then, resulting in some pretty cool changes, particularly in how the old Lava Lamp works. Nowadays, the new hotness in illumination technology is LEDs. Naturally, the Lava Lamp has received an update with said technology.

The LED Tube Lamp isn’t the “official” new age Lava Lamp, but based on how it operates and looks, you’d be hard pressed not to find at least a few people making the same observation. Some may be unsure of this new look, longing for the floating blobs of years past that have won over so many already. But seeing as how this isn’t an actual replacement and more of an addition to the Lava Lamp lifestyle means you can have that cake everyone talks so highly about and eat it too!

The only issue with the particular LED lamp picture above is the price — $225. Though make note, each and ever LED Tube Lamp is made to order, so the lofty price isn’t that surprising now is it?

[Product Page: Etsy]

Ubergizmo > Technabob