Interesting Concepts

Microsoft has recently released a video of Microsoft Office Labs vision of 2019.
Video: Future Vision Montage
The video was interesting but what piqued my curiosity is the gestural input device.  

X-WAND Gestural Input Device

The gestural input device allows for many possibilities and further redefines what I call the universal remote. You can point at a washing machine and turn it off, point it at your computer and use it as a cursor or point it at your smartphone to lock it. The device is similar to the Logitech Harmony series but has a more open concept while the Harmony is restricted to entertainment devices. I would very well want one of these devices and would buy right away. One problem that may plague these devices is

Universal ID

We are entering a so called entertainment/social revolution. We might already be in one. We’ve passed the Internet revolution in the 1990s. The social revolution is not perfect. Companies have problem implementing their products properly. Microsoft is learning with Windows 7. Sony on the other hand, probably isn’t. We need a “Live Anywhere” type service. We need a identity that can be shared by a variety of different devices. A identity that can be carried out from my computer to my blackberry to my gaming handheld. Nintendo is envisioning a My DS type service which is great but it doesn’t connect to anything else. Maybe in the DS2 will we have a truly innovative service. Each device must also be made to communicate with each other. It must be made to communicate with even yourcompetitors. I would love for my PSP to exchange photos with my DSi or my Blackberry to exchange videos with my HTC Touch. It would create a more easier way of sharing rather than each of your friends owning the same devices. Mac OS X and Windows have a basic sharing ideology but it isn’t that good. Apple was kinda mean. One idea that will probably never happen is a unique identity across all platforms. I have a Live ID, Youtube Account, PS3 Home Account, tons of forum accounts, Win7 Taskforce Account, Twitter Account, Paypal Account, Ebay Account, Wikipedia Account, Wii Shop Channel Account and so on. Not one of those accounts/profiles cannot with each other. I have to remember every single one of those passwords and usernames. If I had a unique ID I would be able to connect to all those different things.  The reason we’re not going to have that is the stubbornness of competitive companies. They’re not willing to work well with their market place opponent. Microsoft attempted a form of this with Microsoft Passport but it had to much faults. Unless a miracle happens we’re not going to see anything like it anytime soon.

How to be a better reader and blog writer

It has been 362 days since I first started this blog. As I look back I my previous posts I feel I adopted a different writing style from when I first began. When I started, my writing style was more relaxed and lazy but as time progressed, I figured that most readers preferred a more professional approach. As I changed my writing style more and more visitors came to be and stayed unlike before. I also noticed the less I ask them to comment the more the readers comment. Readers would like a way to stay in touch some other way than a blog which is why you should also give links to your Twitter, Facebook etc. I also noticed the most visitors during holidays when most people are at home, bored.

My Blog

As of February 7th my blog has got 3,084 hits, an amount I’m proud and disappointed of. Today, My whole blog has had only 27 comments which is pretty little. I’ve learned that visitors want original content. I checked some of the more popular blogs and learned that

I would actually want a Xbox Portable!

Credit to teamxbox.com for mockup

Don Reisinger recently wrote a article about Microsoft dumping the Zune and making a Xbox Mobile. I would not like to see the Zune dumped. I refuse to use a iPod because Apple forces us to use iTunes and iTunes on a PC is terrible. I think Microsoft should keep the Zune and release a Xbox Mobile. The Nintendo DS is a great device but hardly has any entertainment features. The PSP is a amazing entertainment device but lacks in games. If Microsoft were to release a game system they should