nutznboltz2003 - Slashdot User

Comment Re:Pretty nice: micro-USB port! (Score 1) 521

by nutznboltz2003 on Wednesday September 28, 2011 @01:15PM (#37541914) Attached to: Amazon Kindle Fire Surfaces

It has a micro USB port, and that's beautiful about it (and the price, of course). That makes it infinitely more expandable than the device it will inevitably be compared against. Who knows, maybe even a camera+mike combo could be connected to it, so you can make Skype calls after all. And connect a nice external storage with thousands of movies. Etc. etc.....

If you want all those options, mics, camera, external storage, etc., why are you even looking at this device? This is a media consumption device that is cloud based. If you need all those features in a small form factor, but a Netbook/Ultrabook... I get that people want a 7 inch tablet that does everything, but this is not the device to do it.

Comment Is this device even running a full Andoid OS? (Score 1) 521

by nutznboltz2003 on Wednesday September 28, 2011 @12:57PM (#37541668) Attached to: Amazon Kindle Fire Surfaces

It was reported that this device was running a forked version of Android, that was heavily skinned. What if that is not the full case. What if it were more of a custom compatibility layer that allows android apps to run on the Kindle OS, similar to how the Playbook does things. Unlike the Nook Color, the Kindle Fire does not have a storage expansion slot and is limited specifically to the Amazon App store. I understand why they are doing this, but I'm wondering if everyone who assumes this will become a rooted device will be disappointed down the road if they find out it's not running a full Android OS underneath the hood like the Nook Color. I think this is an interesting device, and for Kindle owners, the new e-ink models are nice upgrades. I do believe that those people expecting the Fire to be a top of the line Android tablet that can easily/quickly be rooted will be disappointed. The Fire is a media consumption device, nothing more.

Comment Re:Is the Catholic church still against condoms? (Score 1) 547

by nutznboltz2003 on Wednesday August 24, 2011 @08:57AM (#37190040) Attached to: Does Religion Influence Epidemics?

It has been proven in studies that the strategies in order of effectiveness are : - promote contraception - do nothing - promote abstinence.

Do you have links to said studies? I agree with you, but I am interested in furthering my knowledge base.
Thank you

Comment Re:Sorry state of affairs. (Score 1) 166

by nutznboltz2003 on Wednesday August 24, 2011 @08:53AM (#37190012) Attached to: Verizon Makes It Easy To Go Over Your Data Cap

I'm not sure how it is in the rest of the country, but if I actually want coverage (i.e. radio signals) my list of carriers is basically 2, US Cellular or Verizon (or competitors who buy access to their networks like Page Plus).

I'm in the same boat as yourself. Those are the exact two carriers I have access to. That being said, I have been talking to one of my friends who works for Verizon. Apparently, due to companies like Straight Talk (sold by Walmart), Verizon will be offering a pre-paid unlimited text/talk/data plan. Their information sheets show it available for $50/month. Now, this is on their prepaid plans only, but what is interesting, is apparently any VZW phone can work with this prepaid plan, which means I can take my Droid when my contract ends and move to prepaid. Yes, there will be data throttling after 5GB, but honestly, I don't stream videos or listen to Pandora over 3G anyways. Heavy lifting for me has always been done via WiFi, so this won't hurt me at all. I'm guessing VZW will find a way to block tethering, similar to what they are doing now, but who knows if a rooted phone will solve that issue I am curious how people manage to actually use so much data without tethering. What are they doing?

Microsoft Clears MechWarrior4 Free Launch 131

Posted by Soulskill on Thursday April 22, 2010 @03:36AM from the done-and-done dept.

Vamman writes "If you've been following the drama surrounding the free release of MechWarrior4, then you're probably aware that the initial announcement, made last summer, was a bit premature. Now, nearly a year since that announcement was made, MekTek Studios has announced that Microsoft Legal has given clearance for the free release of Mechwarrior4. This move by Microsoft Games couldn't come at a better time for the community, as the owners of MechWarrior are attempting a reboot of the franchise."

Comment Re:Firefly (Score 1) 183

by nutznboltz2003 on Friday March 19, 2010 @08:42AM (#31534974) Attached to: Details Emerge On Futurama's "Rebirth" (and Return)

Hopefully Captain Hammer will come to your rescue!

Comment Re:The next Wii Menu (Score 1) 130

by nutznboltz2003 on Friday March 19, 2010 @08:31AM (#31534900) Attached to: Microsoft Docs Indicate Future Xbox 360 Support For USB Storage

And then watch it be fixed in under 24 hours.

Or, alternatively, watch me not update.

That was my original goal once I got WiiBrew installed. Sadly, I had a friend gift me several WiiWare titles. I never could get the store upgraded alone via WiiBrew, so I ended up just upgrading my Wii. I only used WiiBrew to add watching DVD movies and streaming video from a network share. As I also got a 360 at about the same time, I did not mind loosing the DVD playing on my Wii.

Professor Ditches Grades For XP System 311

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday March 18, 2010 @07:57AM from the exam-quest dept.

schliz writes "Like in World of Warcraft, students of Indiana University's game design classes start as Level 1 avatars with 0 XP, and progress by completing quests solo, as guilds, or in 'pick up groups.' Course coordinator Lee Sheldon says students are responding with 'far greater enthusiasm,' and many specifics of game design could also be directly applied to the workforce. These included: clearly defining goals for workers; providing incremental rewards; and balancing effort and reward."

Comment Re:Actually anti-spam/botnet? (Score 1) 180

by nutznboltz2003 on Friday February 26, 2010 @02:28PM (#31288454) Attached to: US Lawmakers Set Sights On P2P Programs

Sigh... Do you fantasize about your job?

Nope. I stick to fantasizing about Felicia Day.

Sony May Charge For PlayStation Network 212

Posted by Soulskill on Thursday February 04, 2010 @05:17AM from the i'm-sure-that-will-be-popular dept.

In an interview with IGN, Sony's VP of marketing, Peter Dille, responded to a question about the PlayStation Network by saying that the company is considering charging for the service. He said, "It's been our philosophy not to charge for it from launch up until now, but Kaz recently went on the record as saying that's something we're looking at. I can confirm that as well. That's something that we're actively thinking about. What's the best way to approach that if we were to do that? You know, no announcements at this point in time, but it's something we're thinking about." This follows news of a customer survey from last month that listed possibilities for subscription-based PSN features.

Comment One question... (Score 1) 93

by nutznboltz2003 on Thursday October 11, 2007 @12:29PM (#20941543) Attached to: IBM, Linden Labs Call For Portable Avatars

Will our Avatars be able to change genders on the fly? I mean, in my social group I would be myself, but on WoW where I play hot elf..er...manly ogre...

Judge Says RIAA "Disingenuous," Decision Stands 195

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday April 24, 2007 @03:16PM from the smackdown dept.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Judge Lee R. West in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has rejected the arguments made by the RIAA in support of its 'reconsideration' motion in Capitol v. Foster as 'disingenuous' and 'not true,' and accused the RIAA of 'questionable motives.' The decision (PDF) reaffirmed Judge West's earlier decision that defendant Debbie Foster is entitled to be reimbursed for her attorneys fees." Read more for NewYorkCountryLawyer's summary of the smackdown.