Loading ...Microsoft’s Kin. Will it compete?
Microsoft has revealed it’s new Windows phone, the Kin. They have partnered with Verizon Wireless, Vodafone and Sharp to create a phone that is designed to share your life as it happens. The Kin features social media integration built into the phone, touch screen and a slide QWERTY keyboard. It also features a built in Zune media player and 4 to 8 gigs of space depending on the model.
The official Kin website gives you a preview of the Kin 1 and Kin 2. Oh Microsoft, what are you doing? The Kin has nothing that is new and exciting.
There are no add ons or applications for the Kin. There is no instant messaging client available on the Kin (for now). Extra features can be pushed through updates to the Kin from Microsoft and Verizon.
Sure, we all like social networking and sharing things. I’m attached to Facebook and Twitter just as much as the woman next to me at the traffic light. Yeah, I see what you’re doing while you wait for the on ramp to clear, lady. At the same time, I want to check my email and see what’s going on with clients, I want to look at my daily to do list for tomorrow, I want to know what I’m making for dinner and when I need to deposit my latest check, I need to check my bank account balance and look at my bills due. Then, I need to check this ridiculous game and Words with Friends to see if I beat my cousin in Mexico yet.
We require apps! We require things that we don’t need. We require things that we do need that will make everything in life more mobile and easier to use. We need organization, bills, bank accounts, Facebook, Twitter, MP3s, a camera…we need it all in one lovely package. This is of course why the Droid and iPhone are clear winners in my book. This is also why I do not see the Kin being a competitor at all.
The built in social media clients aren’t anything to write home about. There isn’t much Microsoft can do to make the clients on the Kin more user friendly or easier to use. I can push a big button on the Kin and share everything with my friends! Big deal. I can push a similar button on my iPhone or Droid and do the same thing. Ping.fm anyone?
Using the built in Zune media player as a big feature of the Kin may push away more people than it pulls in. The Zune has been an absolute fail of an MP3 player. It pulls in around 5% of the market share and never took off the way Microsoft planned. Sure, it’s a built in Zune player and not the Zune that’s a feature but the name “Zune” pushed me away immediately.
I want to do everything and be on Facebook at the same darn time. Is kin going to give me that along with a good phone, stellar Verizon plan (disclosure: I am a happy Verizon customer) and every app I do and don’t need? I don’t think so. I’ll stick with the Droid for now. Call me when Windows Phone 7 comes out in the Fall.
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Featured Stories
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Is Apple Nintendo’s Problem?
Is Apple Nintendo’s Problem?
Nintendo has seen a significant drop in profits lately and most say Apple’s mobile gaming platform is to blame. Nintendo themselves are even keeping an eye on Apple. Sony and Microsoft is no longer the thorn in Mario’s side. It’s the big “little i”.
Is Apple really the biggest issue Nintendo is facing or is it a larger issue? Most likely, a little bit of both. As a hardcore Nintendo fan, I can safely say that my favorite gaming company has failed me the past few years. It all began with the shoddy release of Twilight Princess, the lack of core titles for the DS and then the Wii games that were off-shoots of “Sports” started to move through the shelves.
What’s left for us? The Moms, families and kids are only going to enjoy their Wii for so long. Then, they will put it down for a new toy that’s promising family fun. I have it on good authority to say this since I’ve sold my Nintendo Wii. Why? Because my kids stopped playing it and moved on to something else.
Nintendo has forgotten about their core audience. They have been pumping out games for a brand new audience that were quite successful. You can only go so far with the “Wii-fit-sports-swimming pool-billiards-backyard party” franchise. Frankly, you can only go so far with any franchise. I have to admit, even Zelda is in desperate need of an upgrade.
Bring that issue alongside Nintendo’s current handheld competition and you have a major problem. Apple is starting to dominate in that category. Wait a second, the iPhone/iPod Touch isn’t a handheld system! It’s not? It fits in your hand and you play any game that you can play on other systems. I should say it is.
Nintendo DS requires wi-fi to get into the shop or to download. The iPhone requires a cell phone signal and that’s all. Nintendo DS games cost between $10 and $40. iPhone games cost between $0.99 and $7.00. Even popular games like Command and Conquer and Civilization cost around $6.00.
Apple has a big advantage over Nintendo in the ease of getting your games, organizing your games and they are much more cost effective. Plus, the accessories needed and the price of the games are in Apple’s favor as well.
Nintendo long ago lost a good part of their core audience. They didn’t seem to care since the core audience stuck around for the DS. They moved to a new market with the Nintendo Wii, bringing in the family gaming system and allowed Microsoft and Sony to take their core console gamers.
Apple has moved in on their handheld market in a big way. Not only have they taken a large chunk of the core handheld audience, but they are also taking the casual audience as well. This isn’t the end for Nintendo. It isn’t time to scream doom and gloom or get ready to plan the funeral of Mario. It is time for Nintendo to start looking closer at their audience, the behavior of their audience and who is holding the market shares. -
5 Awesome Nintendo character tattoos
5 Awesome Nintendo character tattoos
Like other uber geeks, we are the beautiful people and we have awesome taste in tattoos, clothing, games, tech, gadgets and nostalgia. A generation grew up on Atari, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and the Mother of video game entertainment of the 1980’s – Nintendo. We proudly wear our dorky gamer badges on our bodies for all to see.
There are probably hundreds of thousands of Nintendo tattoos out there. We scoured the web to find our 5 favorite Nintendo character tattoos.
#5. Hey. Hey Listen!
Why Navi? Of all things, why Navi?! Because you said that as soon as you saw this tattoo. She’s embedded into your brain, the constant screaming of “Hey, hey hey listen!” and this brave man has made sure everyone will remember it. The tattoo is really well done, but we all hate him just a little bit.
#4. Stars and Ghosts, oh my!
This tattoo comes complete with invincible stars and a Boo. It’s quite obvious this girl loves her Nintendo. We love her half-sleeve and her stars. The original photo by Kotaku stated this woman’s husband was the tattoo artist. We love both of them just a little.
#3. 8 Bit Mario
Memories of throwing your controller when Mario died, moving the controller with Mario to make him jump and wanting to kill Toad when your Princess was in another castle come to mind when looking at this tattoo. The original tattoo is credited to artist Jon Poulson on Flickr.
Number 2 and number 1 are after the break
#2. Mega Man 8 Bit
8 bit art is win. Well done 8 bit art of Mega Man on your arm? A lot of win. Orginal source unknown (if someone knows it, please catch us on Twitter so we can credit it!)
#1. Samus Aran
Samus Aran will kick your butt.
Nothing else needs to be said about that. Unreality showed off this piece along with some other great Metroid themed ink.
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E3 2010 Predictions
E3 2010 Predictions
E3 2010 is a couple of months away. As usual, everyone is making predictions and speculating what huge announcements are coming. A lot of talk is revolving around Sony and Microsoft this year. There are hopes of long-awaited games finally coming out in the public eye.I wonder if Duke Nukem will finally come out? Sure. Right.
For E3 this year, I have a couple of predictions of my own. I am hoping that Nintendo redeems themselves and announces a new Legend of Zelda game. I see the game releasing during the 4th quarter of 2010. Gears of War 3 is another prediction. I don’t see it releasing in the 4th quarter of 2010. I see an announcement at E3 with the possibility of release in 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2011.
I asked on Twitter what your predictions for E3 are from The Geek Media’s Twitter and my personal Twitter. The answers after the jump.
@MemBirdman : “I predict a combined 137 minutes of stage time for Natal & Touch during the press conferences. That might be conservative. :/”
@Mifio: “APB launch date announcement, Uncharted 3… And thats all I really care about.”
@DCSilverwing: “ok, my official prediction (based on nothing) Elder Scrolls, and SOME kind of TRON game…”
@Leto: “I don’t have a lot of expectations, after a few flops in March. Hoping that more of The Old Republic is shown off though.”
@MemBirdman: “I predict that Shigeru Miyamoto will do something during the Nintendo press conference totally awesome and mildly pedophilic.” (Wait…what?)
What are your predictions for E3?
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Is Apple Nintendo’s Problem?
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