Link: http://www.apple.com/ipad/

While many Apple fanboys and technophiles are still wetting their pants after the initial unveiling of the new iPad, I find myself joining a growing segment of technology enthusiasts that find themselves wondering, why?

There is no doubt that Jobs and Co. have had their fingers squarely on the pulse of successful innovation ever since the beginning of the iPod phenomenon. And the Mac OS continues to maintain the standard for beautiful, simple and functional UI design in an operating system. But has success after success finally set Apple up for a very vicious self-inflicted wound? Or does the product have enough buzz and name recognition to continue the steamroller-esque trend? Based on initial marketing research and survey information alone, it looks as though the iPad is set to exceed the iPhone in initial demand. But what actually happens when the product actually becomes available is really anybody's guess.

From my perspective though, the iPad is a severely overpriced dissapointment. Basically a scaled-up iPhone/iTouch, it offers no real justification behind its $500-$830 price tag. To give a point of reference, here are some of the core Apple-provided specs for the iPad:

Dimensions/Weight
Height:9.56 inches (242.8 mm)
Width:7.47 inches (189.7 mm)
Depth:0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
Weight:1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

Screen
9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)

Storage
16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Wi-Fi model
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Wi-Fi + 3G model
UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Data only2
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

So based on the specs, what you are basically getting is a more fully-featured e-reader platform with 3G support (for an extra cost). And for this type of device, the more memory the better, which means that if you want to max out at 64GB, you're looking at a hefty $699 (wifi only) or a wallet-busting $829 (wifi/3G).

Are you kidding me??? I'm simply shocked that Apple thinks that this is a value for consumers. For a few hundred less, I can get a Windows-based laptop that will do everything this product does and much more. If I wanted to go the Mac route, for the same price or a little more I could just as easily get a MacBook. I mean, really, the thing doesn't even have USB support and you're still restricted to synching via iTunes! And I'm sorry, but as much as some people rail against it, still no Flash support? Simply ridiculous.

I guess in the end, this device will appeal mainly to Mac fans or those wishing to be on the 'cutting edge' of new hardware releases in order to have a new toy to show off. Because anyone else with at least half of a working brain can see that the value of the iPad is dismal considering how much it costs. Sure, it looks awful pretty. But $500-$800? Sorry guys, either drop the price or build greater flexibility and/or functionality into it!

Jonathan Walters [3:24 PM]:
holy crap... I downloaded the police radio app for 99 cents. Too freaking cool
Sean Raines [3:25 PM]:
ugh, you're going to be one of THOSE people, aren't you?
Jonathan Walters [3:25 PM]:
LOL
Sean Raines [3:25 PM]:
"i don't need this app but it is awesome so I must have it and use it!"
Jonathan Walters [3:26 PM]:
I can't believe you said that! You're the one downloading a barcode scanner!
Sean Raines [3:32 PM]:
yeah, but, well, ya know...
Jonathan Walters [3:32 PM]:
lol
Sean Raines [3:32 PM]:
IT'S AWESOME!!
and what does it mean to you if i want to have an app for keeping track of my monthly cycle!
it's incredibly accurate, if i had a cycle that is
Jonathan Walters [3:33 PM]:
LMFAO

What the hell is Brizzard thinking? My friend Sean just sent me this link over at Starcraft-Fans.com that discusses Blizzard Entertainment's justification of their decision to eliminate LAN support from Starcraft 2 entirely.

Boneheads!!!

Although it won't affect Blizzard's decision in the least, I had to show my support for SC2 LAN play by signing the petition that Starcraft-Fans.com has set up. Here is what I wrote in my petition entry:

This is a poor decision that will alienate more players than it prevents from pirating the game. Has no company learned from examples like Stardock? If you make a quality, fun and well-supported product, people will pay for it even if it completely lacks copy protection. Eliminating what many diehard fans consider a 'core function' of the game will only anger the people that made the first game (and the series) as popular as it is and cause many more to pirate the game that would otherwise have not in the first place. Just hurts to see that money is more important than being loyal to the fanbase...

Link: http://www.paris-air-show.com

This year's Paris Airshow at Le Bourget seems to be pretty interesting so far, mainly because of two big pieces of news.

The first is that the European 'budget' carrier Wizz Air has made an agreement to purchase 50 more A-320s from Airbus, which is a major deal that will mean around $3 billion in sales for the company at a time when it is needed most (read below).

The other significant piece of news was the notable lack of both the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus Military A400M. As many know, both aircraft are centerpiece projects for their respective companies that are both experiencing severe cost overruns and technical delays. The A400M program in particular found itself in jeopardy when it was announced that the payload capacity was found to be below what was initially specified, which instantly caused the German government to question the viability of the program and it's participation in it.

The A400M problems come close on the heels of Airbus' issues with A380 development, which eventually led to orders being retracted for all A-380F cargo models that were to be produced. Not a good trend for the European aerospace giant!

Link: http://vimeo.com/3365942

I've always been intrigued by the posibilities offered by virtual reality and virtual world simulations such as Second Life, and to a lesser extent, games like The Sims. I think for me the holodeck on the Enterprise 'D' was one of the most fascinating depictions of the common use of VR technology (albeit a few hundred years in the future, even in a fictional universe). While persistent online multiplayer games like World of Warcraft or A Tale in the Desert offer an alternate means to interact with people socially, they are still just games that are structured exercises for the user.

Of all the VR games/sims that have ever existed, only Second Life really seems to even touch on the grand possibilities offered by this technology, and elements of that promising simulation can be seen in the fantastic and very moving video below by Bruce Branit:

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

--Drumroll--

And now, the second part of my list of the top ten games I've been playing lately! So without further ado, heeeeeeere's NUMBER FIVE!

Number 5:
Advanced Wars: Days of Ruin (DS)

In terms of total time played, I've probably played the games in the Advanced Wars series for the GBA-SP and NDS more than almost every other game I've played combined. Usually, this is because its my go-to to alleviate boredom during otherwise not-so-useful downtime like lunch hours. That combined with the fact that this game is so addictive that you want to get your hands on it every second you can...

To those that haven't played any of them, you SUCK! But seriously, these are addictive strategy games with simple to play yet difficult to master mechanics that will keep your nose buried in them for hours on end. While the campaign of the latest game, Days of Ruin, is pretty fun, it's only the tip of an iceberg that also includes quick battle modes and custom map creation tools. (among other goodies)

Number 4:

Rock Band 2 (360)

It's funny, because this game comes damn close to sliding into my top 3 (which is kind of a big deal) and I don't even own the game...

But our friends Jon and Brooke do, and whenever we go over to their place to hand out, have dinner or party, Rock Band 2 is always involved at one point or another. In fact, the game has become such an entertainment fixture at their house that entire parties have centered around it, as I'm sure has happened in many other households throughout the country. And lets be honest, you know something is a really big deal when South Park does an episode about you!

Well, to be precise the episode was about Guitar Hero, but close enough in my book...

What is awesome about the game is it's eerily Wii-like mass appeal, which means that nearly anybody of any gaming experience can basically pick it up and act like a freaking rock star. For Cate and I, the game is all the more fun because we like to sing too, and I've even found myself singing songs like When We Were Young while playing guitar!

The bottom line is that this is probably one of the greatest 'social interaction' games ever, and certainly a fantastic game in its own right.

If only I could play any Metallica song on expert...

Number 3:

Grand Theft Auto IV (360)

Love or hate it, there is something special (or repulsive, depending on your point of view) about the GTA series of games. There have been numerous reviews, discussions, complaints, etc, about this game enough as it is, so I won't try to even go there.

I simply want to say that for me, there hasn't really been a game that presented such a truly living, detailed and immersive world like GTA4 does. End of story. And its not just the scope or attention to detail that I adore, its also the story that seems to suck you in and actually care about the survival of your in-game ego, Niko Bellic.

From my first auto theft to snuffing out eastern-European thugs living in the States, this game is a highly addictive and satisfying thrill ride of a win for me.

Well done, Rockstar...

Number 2:

Ace Combat 6 (360)

AC6 (unlike AC360) marks the second flight sim in my top 10 list of games, which is not surprising considering just how much of an aviation junkie I am... But whereas my aviation tastes usually lean towards the 1917 to 1945 period, this game is set in the post-modern era of around 2012 with modern (and near-future) aircraft.

Although the gameplay is definitely more on the arcade-ish side and I tend to be a flight sim authenticity whore, the game looks amazing and plays too damn well for me to gripe at all about it. And did I say how amazing the planes look? Try photorealistic. And for me, it doesn't get much better than flying in a photorealistic A-10 Warthog or Sukhoi Su-47.

So if you're at all remotely interested in air combat and have a 360, spend the $30 or so to pick a copy up!

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And finally, the numero uno on my gaming list, and the one I seem to be playing the most lately is... --drumroll again--

Galactic Civilizations 2: Twilight of the Arnor (PC)

The top spot goes to one of the greatest PC strategy games of all time: GalCiv 2. This game is amazing because it offers one of the most bell-balanced, immersive and playable 4X experiences since Master of Orion 2 burst on the scene back in 1996.

What makes this space strategy game all the more amazing is the company behind it, Stardock. These are in mind mind the gold standard by which all other game development houses should be measured: Excellend product support after launch, listening to fan input & ideas, and putting out quality, feature-packed expansions that don't break the bank for what you get.

For any fan of strategy games and/or scifi stuff, this is it right here. To give an example of why I love it so much, I'll tell you a quick story: During one recent game of GalCiv2, about mid-game part of my empire seemed to be a bit further away from the 'mother country' than I liked, and I thought to myself "if I were those colonies, I'd band together and declare independence! The main part of the empire is far away and their military couldn't do a thing about it right now!"

Sure enough, about a dozen turns later they did just that. And what ensued was a bloody and protracted civil war that turned into a proxy war between myself and a couple of the other major powers. Yeah...

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So that's my full list, hope you enjoyed reading and be sure to check some of these titles out if you live in a cave and have never touched them before!

Once again, I'd like to throw out another High Fidelity-inspired list for all of you that still check out my blog from time to time! Now, I know that to be a true High Fidelity list it needs to be limited to five items, but I'm going to have to break this cardinal rule in order to fit in all the cool stuff I've been playing over the last year or so!

So, without further ado...

Jonathan's Top 10 Games He's Been Playing Lately, Part 1!

Number 10:

Hearts of Iron 2: Doomsday (PC)

First and foremost, I consider myself more of a wargamer than a gamer. I make this distinction because I have a strong love for everything military history, and have been an avid player of war-related games since I was in my early teens. Of course, I also grew up in an arcade that my grandfather owed in the mid-1980s in Daytona Beach which was amazing, so I'm no stranger to 'mainsteam' video games.

But alas, my heart will always be primarily with wargames, and my #10 pick of Hearts of Iron 2: Doomsday (known as HOI to its fans) is a direct reflection of this love for everything wargaming. In a nutshell, HOI is a strategic-level simulation of the WW2 era. Players act as the absolute ruler of their nations, directing everything from military operations and political intrigues to production planning and research priorities.

Amazingly rich and complex, though not without its faults... But the strengths outweigh any weaknesses and the result is a deep, complex and satisfying simulation of the WW2 experience that is not to be missed and will surely remain on your hard drive for some time.

Number 9:

Day of Defeat: Source (PC)

I've been playing the first Day of Defeat (or DoD) on and off since it was first a Half-Life mod back in 2000, and since then DoD has grown into a gaming phenomenon eclipsed only by the likes of Counter-Strike. Although there are tons of PC shooters out there worth playing, DODS as it is now known in its Source engine-based sequel, features solid net code, well-balanced maps and a strong user community.

Although the WW2 genre is turning into a tired one now and the DOD/DODS community seems to be showing signs of an eroding player base that is no doubt finally moving on to newer things, I still find myself firing it up every few weeks to get some kills in on a fast-paced orange map...

Number 8:

Microsoft Flight Simulator X (PC)

This is one of those franchises that truly offers more than just a casual gaming experience, and with this latest version, Microsoft Flight Simulator jumps ahead in terms of realism and features with resulting mass-appeal for real-life pilots and the diehard flight simming crowd alike.

What I truly love about this game is the immersion factor. I can fire it up and do some quick aerobatics or take a short flight between familiar airports, or I can join a virtual airline like Eastern Virtual (my pilot ID is VEA 1774) and fly the virtual skies via VATSIM with other flesh and blood pilots and air traffic controllers! Not to mention the unreal 3rd party support for the product that ensures a steady supply of new aircraft from places like Surclaro for you to use and modified terrain to fly over and into. The sky is truly the limit!

Number 7:

Halo 3 (360)

I'm certainly not a console or 360 junkie, having only recently joined the 2000s by acquiring a new Xbox 360 as a Christmas gift this past year. Yep, I've only had a 360 for about 2 months. Before that I think my last true 'console' was a stripped-down N64 that my friend Josh handed down to me that would shock you if you touched it when the power was on.

Yeah, sad...

So now that I've finally joined the 2000s, it's only natural that I get with the gaming sensation that is HALO, right? Right.

I have to say that I do love this game, which to me is remniscent of James Cameron's Aliens mixed with Pitch Black or Battlefield Earth. (sorry if that link offends you) But as a CAL-level PC FPS gamer, my major obstacle has been adjusting from a very precise and flexible mouse/keyboard control scheme to the cumbersome and awkward 360 controller. That aside though, its been a blast finally experiencing what many console gamers have already been raving about for years.

Number 6:

Left4Dead (PC)

Holy crap. Who doesn't want to play a game that involves the zombie apocalypse!?!?

Valve seems to currently have that midas touch when it comes to PC-based FPS games, and L4D is just another example of their can't-do-wrong business and design decisions. I say this because L4D is one of the most straight-forward and simple games compared to some other, much more involved shooters, but it manages to hit the gameplay target right on the money every time.

One of the best features of the game is the ability to slay zombies cooperatively OR play a 4v4 game with the zombie players taking on the role of higher-powered zombies with special abilities. What is coller than that?

All I have to say is ALL HAIL THE BOOMER!

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So that would be numbers 10-6, stay tuned for the next post in which I announce my top 5!

For those of you who never heard of the book Jennifer Government by Max Barry or of the popular browser-based game NationStates that it directly inspired, the long-awaited sequel to the game is now in open beta!

NationStates 2 promises to expand on the strengths of the original game while also formalizing such things as war, which in NationStates had to be completely roleplayed, or RP'd.

Part of the draw to nationstates is the fact that it can be as simple or complex as you like.

At its most simplistic, you can go and create a nation and watch it grow before your eyes, all the while you are given choices to make that affect your nation's policial and social freedoms, as well as your economy.

But the roleplay element is where NationStates really comes into its own, with each player having the ability to steer their nation through international affairs by way of writing posts on the forums, where proper roleplay etiquitte is strictly enforced.

For those who love to write or want to improve their writing skills while also having fun with others of like mind, there isn't a better way to spend a few hours here and there.

Unfortunately, my time is too limited to be able to post much on the forums. (I think I average a post a month) But for me it is a great thing to be able to hop on every once in awhile and work on my writing skills while also further developing the continuing story of my great little country, Tilsitsin.

If you have a few minutes to kill on the web, stop by and visit my country. (and even create one of your own!)