pg808

Member since: Sep 23rd, 2006

pg808's Latest Comments

Blog Activity

Blog	# of Comments
Autoblog	9 Comments
Engadget	1 Comment
Download Squad	6 Comments
PVR Wire	1 Comment

Recent Comments:

Farewell, Internet (Download Squad)

Apr 12th 2011 3:16PM Oh, man. This is not good.

Thank you to all the writers. You guys made DLS a daily site for me.
No one else covers what you guys cover. You will be missed.
Good luck on your future endeavors, and I hope to see your work, soon.

Netflix to introduce streaming-only service -- but not in the US (Download Squad)

Oct 23rd 2009 4:25PM "think pipes" should read "thick pipes"

Netflix to introduce streaming-only service -- but not in the US (Download Squad)

Oct 23rd 2009 4:23PM Netflix is heading towards streaming-only here in the US, too. Reed Hastings, Netflix CEO, even has a funny quote that goes something like "That's why we're called 'Netflix', and not 'DVD In The Mail'."

They'll launch streaming-only plans in the US next year:
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/02/netflix-ceo-well-offer-streaming-only-plan-by-2010.ars

...but who knows when they'll discontinue the DVD-in-the-mail plans.

Other possible reasons for streaming-only in other countries:

- Readily available, low-cost broadband that a number of first world countries have.

- Simpler and cheaper to setup a server farm with think pipes, than multiple warehouses with a ton of discs and employees to process everything.

- Avoiding a DVD-in-the-mail launch now in another country, followed by cancellation of said service here in the US, then the other country, in a couple of years.

- Discs get scratched, lost, and sometimes "disappear in the mail."

- Shiny discs are getting old. My guess is that Blu-Ray will be the last major media format offered in 12cm discs.

Google Voice now available in Hawaii, Alaska (Download Squad)

Oct 7th 2009 5:08PM I live in Honolulu, and I'm glad that calls to Hawaii are now free. Thank you, Google Voice.

Now, when will we be able to get an 808 area code Google Voice number? There are over 1.2 million people living in the 50th state, and our only area code is 808. Please Google, show us a little love!

I don't share my GV number with local friends and co-workers because I don't want them having to call me long-distance. Instead, I've been patiently waiting for the 808 numbers to be released. Now that they announced that they are including Hawaii and Alaska as part of the US, this would be a perfect opportunity to also come up with 808 numbers.

For the record: I'll gladly pay the $10 fee to switch my current number to an 808 one.

REPORT: 2011 Hyundai Sonata won't offer a V6 (Autoblog)

Sep 27th 2009 3:28PM I have a 2007 Sonata V6, but if I were to buy a Sonata today, I'd get the 4-cylinder. 90% Of my driving doesn't involve freeways, but even for the remaining 10% the 4 has enough power. It's a popular family sedan, not a car for those who like to "drive hard" (opinions kept to myself), and if you can get the 2011 4-cylinder with all the bells and whistles currently available on the Sonata (i.e. traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitor, brake assist, sunroof, auto climate, auto headlights, power everything, leather, etc), it'll be great, and $5k less than the Japanese competition. If you drive it until the 10yr/100,000mile warranty runs out, resale value becomes moot.

Oh, and for those who like to drive hard, it can go around 140mph (hehe):
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/18/hot-rodder-to-take-on-the-system/

Advertising coming to Google Voice? (Download Squad)

Jul 16th 2009 7:58PM If/when Google gives us an option to pay for GV and not get ads, I'll be first in line. That is, if they make it reasonable. I pay $20/year for Yahoo! Mail, so I don't see ads when I'm using it, and my outgoing emails don't have that one line ad on the bottom. If Google were to charge something close to that, I'd take it. I doubt Yahoo would ever make $20 on me, based on click through numbers or any sort of ad response measurement. This way we both win.

Oh, and they'd have to offer Hawaii numbers, too, which they currently don't.

Lee's three must-have Firefox addons (Download Squad)

May 6th 2009 7:20PM My Firefox experience is enhanced greatly thanks to the following:

- Adblock Plus. Hard to forgive Noscript after the recent mess.
- Flashblock
- Foxclocks. I work with people in Guam, Hawaii, and both coasts in the mainland.
- Xmarks
- UrlBarExt
- Pixlr. Right-click on a photo and send it to a great online editor.
- IE Tab. For the clueless sites that insist on having IE-only usability.
- Auto Pager
- FEBE/CLOE/OPIE
- Personal Menu + Stop-or-reload button - To save screen space.
- US and BR Dictionaries. How wonderful that Firefox has built-in spell checking.
- DownThemAll

USB Wireless Keypad is perfect for number-crunching on-the-go (Engadget)

Dec 30th 2008 4:12PM This is unnecessary for desktop users, since they have a full keyboard already, and doesn't really make sense for travelers with their laptops, since it's something extra for them to carry (I like to travel light). So, as far as I can tell, the target market for this is people who use a laptop at home, as a desktop replacement, and don't feel like plugging in a real keyboard to their laptop.

On the other hand, I like the media buttons and the overall design of the thing. It's just not for me. Maybe if you travel and do a lot of number crunching, then the extra hassle of carrying this with you would be worth it, since laptop keyboards suck for entering numbers.

Martin, I came to post about their mouse button icon screw up, but you saw it first. The two icons should be vertical, by the way, since horizontally they can obviously be confusing. Heck, they even confused the designers!

New York 2008: Top debuts of the show (w/ Poll) (Autoblog)

Mar 23rd 2008 2:51PM The Genesis and Solstice both have tiny rear seats. They are both "4-seat 2-seaters". Their rear seats aren't really meant for adults. Think of their rear seats as a padded parcel shelf. No one in the market for either car is considering the comfort of passengers 3 and 4, very highly on their lists.

The G8 Sports Truck "never actually went away in Australia":
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/15/new-york-08-preview-2010-pontiac-sports-truck-gm-wants-you-to/
So it's only "new" to us/US. It is significant, though. I'll give you that. It'll be the most driveable truck in the country! (for the record, I don't understand El Caminos)

New York 2008: Top debuts of the show (w/ Poll) (Autoblog)

Mar 23rd 2008 2:34PM The Hyundai Genesis is the "most significant" since it'll bring many racer boys to a Hyundai dealer, something unthinkable before it (side question: What's before Genesis? Darkness?).

However, the Suzuki Kizashi 3 is gorgeous, and manages to look aggressive and luxurious. This is something that only BMW and Audi manage to do with any degree of success. Other cars usually fall on one side of the line or the other. It looks like a Lexus concept with an Audi grill, except that it looks better than any Lexus concept, and the new Audi grill, which looks too ostentatious on the Audis, works here.

The Kia Koup looks beautiful and sporty in a Civic Si way, but will cost significantly less. Good for Kia. If it were the new sporty Celica, people would be putting their names on waiting lists.

The Solstice Coupe is stunning for its timeless beauty. Turn that Pontiac grill into an Alfa Romeo grill, for instance, and no one would blink. Retro 60s yummy, like the first time I saw a Miata (except that the Miata looks English, while the Solstice looks Italian).

Lastly, the Saleen is another impractical, overpriced, go fast, obvious, bright yellow, penis car. Yawn. In that price range, there has got to be a modicum of class, otherwise you can just file it next to "Viper" in my list of cars to laugh at. When you're trying that hard, boys, it's obvious you're compensating.