Pre-Loading a Pre-Order

A while ago, I pre-ordered the new Need for Speed game: Most Wanted.  I received the following email recently:

My pre-order is available for pre-loading. Pre-loading!? Is this like pre-boarding a plane? Am I being Punk'd?  Sorta.  Basically, "pre-loading" means that you can download the software and have it ready to run on the official release date.  The software is locked until the publisher releases the software for you to use.

Really?? In today's world of electronic delivery, why do we even have specified release dates anymore? If I can download the software, then it's ready. Why put some artificial "hold" on it in the first place? Oh, because people buying it in the store will have a disadvantage? Well, duh.  Here's the problem I have with in-store purchasing these days: It doesn't matter.

That's right, if you buy software in the store, there is a VERY good chance that you will have to download a full-length update to the game anyway. So, why bother buying it? When I got Battlefield 3 as a gift, I loaded all 8 Gigs of it, then had to wait as the game was updated from the 'Net anyway. The physical media provided me NOTHING.  Don't get me wrong: I absolutely **HATE** this change in software delivery. If I choose to buy the media, I should be able to use it right out of the box.  For several years that was how things worked. Not anymore. So, why bother?

And, because electronic delivery is essentially the only way to get software now, then why bother with "pre-loading?" Once I download it, let me play it. All the hype and hoopla over release dates is manufactured. It is time to put it to bed. Release the game. If someone pre-orders and they can download it, then they've got it. Period. If there are hard-copy versions available to buy in the store, then let people buy it, install it, and run it. Since they will have to download a full-version update anyway, there is no benefit to making the electronic-delivery purchasers wait for some made-up "release date."

Now that I've had my chance to rant, I'll go pre-load my pre-order. Should take about 8 hours on our CenturyStinks 1.5mb DSL... Yeah, that's right. The fastest speed we have here is 1.5mb. Welcome to the reality of "broadband" in rural America.

IPad Air...ball

At one point, the iPad Mini was rumored to have the name "iPad Air." At a $329 starting price point, they should have kept the name and added "ball" to the end of it. They completely missed the mark. Sure, die-hard fandomites will suck these up just because they are Apple. But, why would anyone in their right mind want one? Other 7-inch tablets are $199-$250. Meanwhile, the big brother is now on its fourth generation, thrown in as an aside to today's Mini launch.

I cannot possibly recommend the Mini to anyone: school or otherwise. Common Core specs aside, the Mini is an absolute waste of money. Want a smaller form factor? Get the new Touch. Want iPad functionality, get a real iPad for $70 more (even an iPad2 is a better device than the mini - and, since the 4 is out, the 3 will most likely drop in price). Apple could have absolutely walked away with the entire tablet market had the Mini been better-spec'd and lower-priced. Finally, Apple throws out a junk ball not seen since Newton. They shoot and miss.

The only saving grace for Apple: Windows 8 will surpass the Mini in absolute fail-ability. Two disastrous tech releases in one week. That's got to be some kind of record.

Zoom the Desktop on Mountain Lion

Apple, in its infinite wisdom, disabled the CTRL-SWIPE for zooming your desktop in Mountain Lion.  Why? Who knows!  The upside is that you can easily fix this:

System Preferences
Accessibility
Zoom

Once there, uncheck the first option. Select the second one (leaving Control, if you want or change it to whatever you want).

Here's a screenshot:

Eden's Edge 2007 Program #EdensEdge

Back in 2007, I took my family to see Hannah Blaylock and Eden's Edge (how they were known back then).  I had been following them for a couple years by that point, and the group was coming to Hope to perform one of their last concerts as HBEE (the shortcut for their band then).

I'm not sure how, but the program for that night was sitting on my desk in the home office. I thought I would scan it in and share it. Well, okay, I am sharing the cover and the bio. The rest of the program was actually a "thank you" list for the Southwest Arkansas Arts Council.  I figured I would spare you that part.

During the show, Hannah asked if there were any songs in particular the audience wanted hear.  It was actually a planned thing so that she could sing with her mother on stage.  I, not being smart enough to "get it" yelled out the title of one my all-time favorite HBEE songs: Jesus Saves.  They graciously obliged.  Frankly, I think they were surprised anyone would actually yell something out of the small (roughly 150-200 people) crowd.

Of course, these days, Eden's Edge sits on the brink of mega stardom.  Their debut major label album (EP, actually) includes hits such as "Amen," "Cherry Pie," and their amazing rendition of "Christ Alone."  I wholeheartedly recommend looking up HBEE's previous works to get the full range and scope of what this talented trio from Arkansas can really do!

Click on the images below to see larger versions.

 



I posted another article about this, right after we had seen them:
http://www.poppedinmyhead.com/2007/09/random-thoughts.html

Fun with homonym triplicates

This all started with Brian Regan's "Reservation reservation reservation" bit.  From there, I decided to jot a few down off the top of my head:

If three apples were tied together and could produce sound only after being eaten, the string would be called a cored chord cord.

If the King of the land decreed that horse tack should be launched at his subjects during the entire term of his rule, it would be the Rein Rain Reign.

If a teenager was really bad at applying acne medicine, you could say he was a poor pore pour.

And, of course, if you addressed several envelopes to multiple twins, they'd be To Two, Too.

If a rich man could buy his dream vacation at the store, it would be found in the "I'll Isle" Aisle.

Yeah, I'm on roll here folks: Naturally, a group of guys headed for a game of golf: Four For Fore!
Gift shop located next to the airport: Buy By Bye. Of course, they only sell NSync CDs...

When the prince has flatulence and it escapes during a dinner party?  That's an Heir Air Ere...

If Orville and Wilbur always took notes on their success and never their failures, it would be a Right Wright write rite... or even a Wright right write rite.... Heck, even a Write right Wright rite.  Or if you asked them about it: Wright write rite, right?

If a beaver chomped down on a live data connection near the bend in the road, it would be a bight byte bite!

A particular method to measure the weight of Miss Tuffett's preferred treat is the Whey Weigh Way.

--Okay, I'm done... for now. :-)