10 predictions for 2008
Year Zero will become the precedent. On the plane trip home from visiting family over Christmas, I read Eric Davis's analysis of Led Zeppelin's fourth album, part of the 33 1/3 book series. While a lot of it seemed like a stretch--as is the case with any highly intellectualized deconstruction of rock music--it did remind me of a certain sensation created by certain artists and albums, a sense that the listener is more than a mere consumer, but is in fact an active member in a secret club that only other members fully understand, a sort of musical Masonic society. Think of that Zeppelin album, the Grateful Dead, the Residents, or Secret Chiefs 3. In 2007, Trent Reznor, working with 42 Entertainment, took this kind of mystical clubbishness and updated it for the digital era. USB drives with leaked tracks from the upcoming Year Zero record were surreptitiously placed in bathroom stalls at concert venues. Phone numbers with frightening secret messages were encoded in bursts of static or out-of-phase audio signals. Cell phones were distributed to fans who figured out some of the clues; a phone call placed to those phones summoned them to a secret concert. In 2008, we'll see more of these kinds of musical events that use digital technology to break down the wall between audience and artist. The world's best offline record store will go online. There's nothing else like Amoeba Records. Its three locations in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles offer unsurpassed selection--including cellophane-packaged vinyl I've never seen anywhere else--and seem to be curated by music fans with amazing depth and breadth of knowledge. In 2007, Amoeba took its first tentative steps into digital distribution, releasing exclusive recordings from Gram Parsons and Brandi Shearer in both MP3 and CD formats. In 2008, I predict Amoeba will finally go online in a huge way, offering an unsurpassed quantity of MP3 downloads from every imaginable source: major labels (like Amazon MP3 and the other high-profile stores), independent labels (like eMusic), and do-it-yourselfers (like CDBaby). Look for the nascent Amoeba label to offer distribution on terms never before seen in the recording industry--more of a non-exclusive commission model like CD Baby than a typical all-inclusive marketing-recording-publishing-distribution deal like most labels have favored--and for several high-profile artists who've recently quit their labels to sign on. The loudness wars will end. It's been repeated so many times, it's become a cliche: today's recordings are mastered too loud, eliminating dynamic range and making it hard to listen to a complete album. In 2008, artists and producers will finally begin to demand a return to proper mastering, and radio stations and record execs will be in no position to contradict them.The concert business will follow the recorded music business down. It's a bad time to be a big rock concert promoter like Live Nation. According to a recent story in Pollstar, the concert business actually declined in 2007, despite high-profile reunion tours by The Police and Van Halen and David Lee Roth--two acts with so much internal strife that nobody expected to see them on stage again. I say the 15 percent drop in ticket revenues from 2006 to 2007 will be followed by the same or greater drop next year. Music fans are fed up with exorbitant ticket prices, false scarcity, and quasi-legal scalpers, and there are only so many more nostalgia acts to trot out. Where are the young bands that can sell out 20,000-seat arenas for the next 5, 10, 20 years? (And before you call me out on the Arctic Monkeys, let me just counter with Oasis. Huge in the U.K., briefly popular in the U.S., and irrelevant to all but the die-hardest of fans 10 years later.) In other words, the concert business is about to suffer from the main problem that's hurting the recording industry--not MP3s, not piracy, but lack of interest and investment in artists with long-term (as opposed to instant) commercial potential.Led Zeppelin will play again, but not tour. Speaking of nostalgia, it won't be 1973, but the reunited Led Zeppelin will play a handful of shows in the U.S., focusing on a multi-night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden timed around Robert Plant's 60th birthday on August 20.
How to ensure tracks play in sequence in iTunes
How to ensure tracks play in sequence in iTunes
But what's the fun of that? I want to hear these multifile songs as much as their single-file counterparts. I recently downloaded the Beatles' Abbey Road, which was the first long-playing album I ever owned way back when. You guessed it: the Side Two medley downloads as eight separate tracks.So I selected the eight tracks in iTunes' Album view, dragged the selection into Audacity, selected tracks two through eight individually, and pasted them in order after the first track, "You Never Give Me Your Money."You may want to adjust Audacity's default view to give yourself a second-by-second view of the tracks. To do so, click View > Zoom in or press Ctrl-1 (Command-1 on a Mac).Place the selector at the very end of the track, click Edit > Select > Track Start to Cursor (or select the very start of the track and click Edit > Select > Cursor to Track End), and press Ctrl-X or Command-X to cut the track. Next, select the very end of the first track and press Ctrl-P or Command-P to paste the second track after the first. Repeat the steps until the separate tracks are in order in a single track.Move the selector to the end of the second track and choose Edit > Select > Track Start to Cursor to combine separate tracks intended to play in sequence.Screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNETPlay the recombined tracks to ensure they run together seamlessly. You may need to add or delete a microsecond or two to the splice. Once all the tracks have been spliced into a single file that plays as an LP album side (or however you wish the tracks to play together), select the very end of the combined track and click Edit > Select > Track Start to Cursor.To move the combined track out of Audacity, click File > Export Selection. Give the file a name, select the folder you want to store the track in (or click New Folder), choose the type of file (probably MP3), and click the Options button to change the track's bit-rate mode, quality, variable speed, and channel mode.When you export the combined file in Audacity you can set the track's bit rate and other quality options.Screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNETTo import the combined track to your iTunes library, return to iTunes and click File > Add to Library. Navigate to and select the file you just exported from Audacity and click Open.In iTunes, click File > Add to Library, select the file with the combined tracks you exported from Audacity, and click Open.Screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNET Note that Audacity's default file-save location is your Documents folder in Windows and the program's own folder in Applications on a Mac.Audacity is a full-featured audio editor. I've only scratched the surface of the program's capabilities. As I mentioned above, I was able to splice two separate tracks from an album (cut four from side A and cut one from side B) relatively smoothly despite their slightly different tempos.Doing so took some trial and error, but Audacity makes it easy to undo and redo your edits, although you have to be careful when working with multiple audio tracks at one time that you haven't inadvertently selected more audio than you intended.To replace the individual tracks you just combined with the new multitrack file, simply uncheck the single tracks in the iTunes library. You can annotate the new file with the names of the individual tracks or other information by right-clicking the file and choosing Get Info > Info.
But what's the fun of that? I want to hear these multifile songs as much as their single-file counterparts. I recently downloaded the Beatles' Abbey Road, which was the first long-playing album I ever owned way back when. You guessed it: the Side Two medley downloads as eight separate tracks.So I selected the eight tracks in iTunes' Album view, dragged the selection into Audacity, selected tracks two through eight individually, and pasted them in order after the first track, "You Never Give Me Your Money."You may want to adjust Audacity's default view to give yourself a second-by-second view of the tracks. To do so, click View > Zoom in or press Ctrl-1 (Command-1 on a Mac).Place the selector at the very end of the track, click Edit > Select > Track Start to Cursor (or select the very start of the track and click Edit > Select > Cursor to Track End), and press Ctrl-X or Command-X to cut the track. Next, select the very end of the first track and press Ctrl-P or Command-P to paste the second track after the first. Repeat the steps until the separate tracks are in order in a single track.Move the selector to the end of the second track and choose Edit > Select > Track Start to Cursor to combine separate tracks intended to play in sequence.Screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNETPlay the recombined tracks to ensure they run together seamlessly. You may need to add or delete a microsecond or two to the splice. Once all the tracks have been spliced into a single file that plays as an LP album side (or however you wish the tracks to play together), select the very end of the combined track and click Edit > Select > Track Start to Cursor.To move the combined track out of Audacity, click File > Export Selection. Give the file a name, select the folder you want to store the track in (or click New Folder), choose the type of file (probably MP3), and click the Options button to change the track's bit-rate mode, quality, variable speed, and channel mode.When you export the combined file in Audacity you can set the track's bit rate and other quality options.Screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNETTo import the combined track to your iTunes library, return to iTunes and click File > Add to Library. Navigate to and select the file you just exported from Audacity and click Open.In iTunes, click File > Add to Library, select the file with the combined tracks you exported from Audacity, and click Open.Screenshot by Dennis O'Reilly/CNET Note that Audacity's default file-save location is your Documents folder in Windows and the program's own folder in Applications on a Mac.Audacity is a full-featured audio editor. I've only scratched the surface of the program's capabilities. As I mentioned above, I was able to splice two separate tracks from an album (cut four from side A and cut one from side B) relatively smoothly despite their slightly different tempos.Doing so took some trial and error, but Audacity makes it easy to undo and redo your edits, although you have to be careful when working with multiple audio tracks at one time that you haven't inadvertently selected more audio than you intended.To replace the individual tracks you just combined with the new multitrack file, simply uncheck the single tracks in the iTunes library. You can annotate the new file with the names of the individual tracks or other information by right-clicking the file and choosing Get Info > Info.
A real page turner from Adobe
A real page turner from Adobe
The only main difference is that Adobe offers no automatic search and import feature, and does not have a direct portal to the Internet for searching and downloading books. There are two main views from which to navigate the entire application. The library view lets you manage your collection, while the reading view lets you work within one individual eBook or PDF file.Adobe Digital Editions is compatible with any PDF or .epub (International Digital Publishing Forum standard) file. Loading files consists of either dragging and dropping them into the application window or choosing "Add File" in the Library menu.You can view books through Adobe Digital Editions in thumbnail or list view by title, author, publisher, last read, number of pages, date added or status. You can also read any metadata, such as permissions information, attached to a file.Adobe Digital Edition's "bookshelves" are akin to playlists. You drag and drop files from the general library into bookshelves in a column on the left to categorize books, magazine and other digital documents by genre, type or source. Books can be viewed in double or single page views of adjustable screen fits. The simplicity makes sense given the fact that the software is intended to integrate with the Sony Reader.This is the mobile eBook device that is sure to be a favorite with baby boomers once they progress to large print status. The light and sleek PDA-looking thing, which offers adjustable font size, will surely trump clunky large print books, especially given that only bestsellers are usually available in large print. Adobe's new tool may be an effort to attract users now for when that time comes.The cozy interface may also inspire more people to finally take advantage of the proliferation of public domain works now freely available thanks to the mad race of organizations like Google and Microsoft to scan the world's libraries.Reading view in Adobe Digital EditionsAdobe Digital EditionsThere is also a great marginalia tool in the reading view that will make the college English majors jump for joy. You can tab between the annotated pages or bookmark pages with no annotations. My only wish is that Adobe offered a direct Internet portal for finding and downloading files."That doesn't mean in the future that we won't offer ways in the future to acquire content. Adobe sees itself as a helper through this application, we don't intend to become a silo to content like iTunes," said Bill McCoy, general manager of Adobe's digital publishing business.Adobe has a Sample eBook library that will automatically import directly into the ADE and does integrate with sites like eBooks.com, according to McCoy. Other than that, you have to go through your Web browser to find public domain books via Google Books Search or Microsoft Live Search Books and then import them manually.The company said it expects to release Adobe Digital Editions for Linux, and Windows and Mac versions in French, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese by the end of 2007.
The only main difference is that Adobe offers no automatic search and import feature, and does not have a direct portal to the Internet for searching and downloading books. There are two main views from which to navigate the entire application. The library view lets you manage your collection, while the reading view lets you work within one individual eBook or PDF file.Adobe Digital Editions is compatible with any PDF or .epub (International Digital Publishing Forum standard) file. Loading files consists of either dragging and dropping them into the application window or choosing "Add File" in the Library menu.You can view books through Adobe Digital Editions in thumbnail or list view by title, author, publisher, last read, number of pages, date added or status. You can also read any metadata, such as permissions information, attached to a file.Adobe Digital Edition's "bookshelves" are akin to playlists. You drag and drop files from the general library into bookshelves in a column on the left to categorize books, magazine and other digital documents by genre, type or source. Books can be viewed in double or single page views of adjustable screen fits. The simplicity makes sense given the fact that the software is intended to integrate with the Sony Reader.This is the mobile eBook device that is sure to be a favorite with baby boomers once they progress to large print status. The light and sleek PDA-looking thing, which offers adjustable font size, will surely trump clunky large print books, especially given that only bestsellers are usually available in large print. Adobe's new tool may be an effort to attract users now for when that time comes.The cozy interface may also inspire more people to finally take advantage of the proliferation of public domain works now freely available thanks to the mad race of organizations like Google and Microsoft to scan the world's libraries.Reading view in Adobe Digital EditionsAdobe Digital EditionsThere is also a great marginalia tool in the reading view that will make the college English majors jump for joy. You can tab between the annotated pages or bookmark pages with no annotations. My only wish is that Adobe offered a direct Internet portal for finding and downloading files."That doesn't mean in the future that we won't offer ways in the future to acquire content. Adobe sees itself as a helper through this application, we don't intend to become a silo to content like iTunes," said Bill McCoy, general manager of Adobe's digital publishing business.Adobe has a Sample eBook library that will automatically import directly into the ADE and does integrate with sites like eBooks.com, according to McCoy. Other than that, you have to go through your Web browser to find public domain books via Google Books Search or Microsoft Live Search Books and then import them manually.The company said it expects to release Adobe Digital Editions for Linux, and Windows and Mac versions in French, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese by the end of 2007.
Remove unnecessary autostart apps that won't go away
Remove unnecessary autostart apps that won't go away
Pruning your list of autostart appsUncheck the programs on XP's autostart list that you don't need to have on all the time. Candidates include iTunes, Adobe Acrobat, and utilities for cameras, printers, PDAs, and other peripherals you rarely use. (I noticed that my system was loading control programs for a printer I replaced six months ago.)Of course, an entry such as the one on my PC for a discarded printer indicates that you're overdue in uninstalling the program altogether, either by using its own uninstall option off the Start menu, or via Add or Remove Programs.If an entry in your autostart list is unidentifiable, enter the name in your favorite Web search engine, and look for information about it. That's how I found out that I didn't need "point32.exe", which is for Microsoft's IntelliMouse, nor "nwiz.exe", Nvidia's program for "enhancing" my graphics display with features I'll never use.Just be careful not to uncheck the entry for an autostart program that your system needs to function properly. Keep the entries for your antivirus, firewall, and other security programs checked. Also leave active the listings for your network and Windows itself, as well as for printer and other peripherals you use frequently. When in doubt, leave it checked, though a Web search should shine a light on any mystery file names you find there.Msconfig crazinessWhenever you make a change in Msconfig, the program prompts you to restart your system. To prevent the message from popping up in the future, check "Don't show this message again" before you click either Restart or Exit without restarting. The next time you start your PC, you'll see a message stating that the System Configuration utility started in "Diagnostic or Selective Startup" mode. Check "Don't show this message or start up the System Configuration Utility when Windows starts," reopen Msconfig, press the General tab, and select Normal Startup > OK > Exit without restart.Tomorrow: Pare your list of autostart applications in Windows Vista via the Software Explorer.
Pruning your list of autostart appsUncheck the programs on XP's autostart list that you don't need to have on all the time. Candidates include iTunes, Adobe Acrobat, and utilities for cameras, printers, PDAs, and other peripherals you rarely use. (I noticed that my system was loading control programs for a printer I replaced six months ago.)Of course, an entry such as the one on my PC for a discarded printer indicates that you're overdue in uninstalling the program altogether, either by using its own uninstall option off the Start menu, or via Add or Remove Programs.If an entry in your autostart list is unidentifiable, enter the name in your favorite Web search engine, and look for information about it. That's how I found out that I didn't need "point32.exe", which is for Microsoft's IntelliMouse, nor "nwiz.exe", Nvidia's program for "enhancing" my graphics display with features I'll never use.Just be careful not to uncheck the entry for an autostart program that your system needs to function properly. Keep the entries for your antivirus, firewall, and other security programs checked. Also leave active the listings for your network and Windows itself, as well as for printer and other peripherals you use frequently. When in doubt, leave it checked, though a Web search should shine a light on any mystery file names you find there.Msconfig crazinessWhenever you make a change in Msconfig, the program prompts you to restart your system. To prevent the message from popping up in the future, check "Don't show this message again" before you click either Restart or Exit without restarting. The next time you start your PC, you'll see a message stating that the System Configuration utility started in "Diagnostic or Selective Startup" mode. Check "Don't show this message or start up the System Configuration Utility when Windows starts," reopen Msconfig, press the General tab, and select Normal Startup > OK > Exit without restart.Tomorrow: Pare your list of autostart applications in Windows Vista via the Software Explorer.
Graphics showdown- 13 games for newer iPhones
Graphics showdown: 13 games for newer iPhones
Ever wondered what some of the graphical differences are in games that make use of the newer hardware in the latest versions of Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch? So were we. That's why we put together a screenshot comparison gallery of 13 games, all of which are either packing extra OpenGL ES 2.0 goodies, or that more complicated graphics modes that run a whole lot better on the beefier hardware spec. As for our testing, we ran each title on an iPhone 3G and a third-generation iPod Touch, the latter of which packs the faster innards required for some of the advanced OpenGL effects. To our surprise, there were very few apps on the App Store that made use the new graphical spec, and even fewer that required a standalone version of that application to do so. However, many of the developers we talked with said that they were cooking up new titles that would be pushing these new devices a little further than what they had already created. That's good news for those with a newer iPhone or iPod Touch, but a definite thorn in the side of those who might not be able to play some of near-future App Store releases on their original iPhone or iPhone 3G. Click on our slideshow link below to get started. We've also included links to each version of each app (in case there are variations), all of which open up in iTunes. Also, in case we missed any, feel free to leave them in the comments and we'll try to add them later.Update: We've added bonus screenshots of Ravensword, the upcoming 3D RPG, as well as top-down pinball game Wild West Pinball. Images: iPhone games graphics showdownSee full gallery1 - 4 / 14NextPrevSee also: The future of iPhone gamesFor games, no big rush to speedy iPhone 3GSiPhone developer: 3G S graphics will be sooo much better than PSP's
Ever wondered what some of the graphical differences are in games that make use of the newer hardware in the latest versions of Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch? So were we. That's why we put together a screenshot comparison gallery of 13 games, all of which are either packing extra OpenGL ES 2.0 goodies, or that more complicated graphics modes that run a whole lot better on the beefier hardware spec. As for our testing, we ran each title on an iPhone 3G and a third-generation iPod Touch, the latter of which packs the faster innards required for some of the advanced OpenGL effects. To our surprise, there were very few apps on the App Store that made use the new graphical spec, and even fewer that required a standalone version of that application to do so. However, many of the developers we talked with said that they were cooking up new titles that would be pushing these new devices a little further than what they had already created. That's good news for those with a newer iPhone or iPod Touch, but a definite thorn in the side of those who might not be able to play some of near-future App Store releases on their original iPhone or iPhone 3G. Click on our slideshow link below to get started. We've also included links to each version of each app (in case there are variations), all of which open up in iTunes. Also, in case we missed any, feel free to leave them in the comments and we'll try to add them later.Update: We've added bonus screenshots of Ravensword, the upcoming 3D RPG, as well as top-down pinball game Wild West Pinball. Images: iPhone games graphics showdownSee full gallery1 - 4 / 14NextPrevSee also: The future of iPhone gamesFor games, no big rush to speedy iPhone 3GSiPhone developer: 3G S graphics will be sooo much better than PSP's
Report- Future iPad, iPhone to have Qualcomm chips
Report: Future iPad, iPhone to have Qualcomm chips
Is Apple moving to a new wireless chipset supplier for the next iPad and iPhone? An unnamed but "reliable" source is quoted by Engadget today saying that Apple is going to ditch the current Infineon chipsets used in both devices and move to Qualcomm instead. The report seems entirely plausible.Verizon already let it slip that it's going to have an iPad that runs on its network. It's very likely that will be for its CDMA network, and not LTE. The current iPad model only works on GSM networks. Apple probably doesn't want to have to make two different iPads the way it's currently making two different models of iPhone (one with GSM chips for AT&T et al., and one with CDMA for Verizon and perhaps other future carrier partners), so switching to a chipset that allows the device to connect to both networks would be smart. Qualcomm has that, or is going to, very soon. It's long been rumored Apple would eventually start shipping a dual-mode iPhone--a report that the iPhone 5 would work on GSM and CDMA networks hit back in October--so going that way with both of its flagship mobile products makes a lot of sense.Engadget also notes that while the next iPad won't have a USB port, it will have an SD card slot, and has some images of what it would look like.
Is Apple moving to a new wireless chipset supplier for the next iPad and iPhone? An unnamed but "reliable" source is quoted by Engadget today saying that Apple is going to ditch the current Infineon chipsets used in both devices and move to Qualcomm instead. The report seems entirely plausible.Verizon already let it slip that it's going to have an iPad that runs on its network. It's very likely that will be for its CDMA network, and not LTE. The current iPad model only works on GSM networks. Apple probably doesn't want to have to make two different iPads the way it's currently making two different models of iPhone (one with GSM chips for AT&T et al., and one with CDMA for Verizon and perhaps other future carrier partners), so switching to a chipset that allows the device to connect to both networks would be smart. Qualcomm has that, or is going to, very soon. It's long been rumored Apple would eventually start shipping a dual-mode iPhone--a report that the iPhone 5 would work on GSM and CDMA networks hit back in October--so going that way with both of its flagship mobile products makes a lot of sense.Engadget also notes that while the next iPad won't have a USB port, it will have an SD card slot, and has some images of what it would look like.
Report- FTC delays Google-AdMob review over iAd
Report: FTC delays Google-AdMob review over iAd
Google's bid to convince federal regulators that Apple's iAds plan represents healthy competition seems to be paying off.The New York Times reported Tuesday that the Federal Trade Commission extended the amount of time it needed to review Google's proposed acquisition of AdMob in order to review Apple's plans for mobile advertising. The extension is supposed to last through the end of this week, after which point the agency could finally be ready to make a decision.It's seemed pretty obvious for months that the FTC was looking for a showdown over Google's bid to purchase AdMob, the leading mobile advertising company purchased by Google for $750 million last year. But Apple's acquisition of Quattro Wireless and subsequent plans to launch its own advertising network for iPhone applications has caused some to wonder--encouraged by Google--whether or not Apple could provide a check on Google's bid to dominate mobile advertising the way it dominates search advertising.In order to block the deal, the FTC would have to prove that the combination would negatively affect competition in mobile advertising. Google has been preparing for a fight for some time, even launching a Web site to outline its case on the same day it announced plans to acquire AdMob.
Google's bid to convince federal regulators that Apple's iAds plan represents healthy competition seems to be paying off.The New York Times reported Tuesday that the Federal Trade Commission extended the amount of time it needed to review Google's proposed acquisition of AdMob in order to review Apple's plans for mobile advertising. The extension is supposed to last through the end of this week, after which point the agency could finally be ready to make a decision.It's seemed pretty obvious for months that the FTC was looking for a showdown over Google's bid to purchase AdMob, the leading mobile advertising company purchased by Google for $750 million last year. But Apple's acquisition of Quattro Wireless and subsequent plans to launch its own advertising network for iPhone applications has caused some to wonder--encouraged by Google--whether or not Apple could provide a check on Google's bid to dominate mobile advertising the way it dominates search advertising.In order to block the deal, the FTC would have to prove that the combination would negatively affect competition in mobile advertising. Google has been preparing for a fight for some time, even launching a Web site to outline its case on the same day it announced plans to acquire AdMob.
Android Atlas Weekly 87- Updates from Mobile World Congress (Podcast)
Android Atlas Weekly 87: Updates from Mobile World Congress (Podcast)
Andy Rubin dishes on Android tablets, we examine a bowl of jelly beans, and we discuss the exciting new devices coming out of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayPodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 87ANDROID NEWS:-Android chief: We must ‘double down’ on tablets, win the market-Google VP Dishes On Android Tablet and App Strategy-Android crosses 850,000 activations per day with 450,000 apps in the store, Andy Rubin says-Andy Rubin speaks out on Google, Motorola acquisition; wants nothing to do with Moto-Google Hints at ‘Android Jelly Bean’-Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 at MWC-Asus Padfone turns your phone into a tablet, notebook-Pico Projector infused Samsung Galaxy Beam shines its light at Mobile World Congress-TouchnoteEMAILS:Hi,You wondered if there was a cultural reason why Koreans would want a phone with a stylus.Well one reason might be their alphabet.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_languageIt’s a lot easier to write with a pen, than with the round-about way it can be done with a qwerty-keyboard.The same would be true for quite a few other Asian languages.â€" Martinâ€"â€"I just wanted to compliment Jaymar on how well he is doing now with his volume level! When I wrote the original email I had no idea how much of a “â€thingâ€" this was going to turn into.Go Jaymar!- MarcVOICEMAIL:Chris wants to know when the Galaxy S II will be getting ICSEND OF SHOW STUFF:BLOGcnet.com/android-atlasSTREAMcnet.com/live/TIMEWednesdays @ 10am PTEMAIL androidatlas@cnet.comTWITTER@androidatlasJAYMAR@jaymarcabebeJUSTIN @notmyrealnameSTEPHEN @stephenbeachamPHONE866-344-CNET (2638)
Andy Rubin dishes on Android tablets, we examine a bowl of jelly beans, and we discuss the exciting new devices coming out of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayPodcastYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (640x360) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)EPISODE 87ANDROID NEWS:-Android chief: We must ‘double down’ on tablets, win the market-Google VP Dishes On Android Tablet and App Strategy-Android crosses 850,000 activations per day with 450,000 apps in the store, Andy Rubin says-Andy Rubin speaks out on Google, Motorola acquisition; wants nothing to do with Moto-Google Hints at ‘Android Jelly Bean’-Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 at MWC-Asus Padfone turns your phone into a tablet, notebook-Pico Projector infused Samsung Galaxy Beam shines its light at Mobile World Congress-TouchnoteEMAILS:Hi,You wondered if there was a cultural reason why Koreans would want a phone with a stylus.Well one reason might be their alphabet.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_languageIt’s a lot easier to write with a pen, than with the round-about way it can be done with a qwerty-keyboard.The same would be true for quite a few other Asian languages.â€" Martinâ€"â€"I just wanted to compliment Jaymar on how well he is doing now with his volume level! When I wrote the original email I had no idea how much of a “â€thingâ€" this was going to turn into.Go Jaymar!- MarcVOICEMAIL:Chris wants to know when the Galaxy S II will be getting ICSEND OF SHOW STUFF:BLOGcnet.com/android-atlasSTREAMcnet.com/live/TIMEWednesdays @ 10am PTEMAIL androidatlas@cnet.comTWITTER@androidatlasJAYMAR@jaymarcabebeJUSTIN @notmyrealnameSTEPHEN @stephenbeachamPHONE866-344-CNET (2638)
Android 4.0.3 update out for T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II
Android 4.0.3 update out for T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II
Samsung Galaxy S II owners on T-Mobile can update to Android 4.0.3, but they may have to jump through a few hoops first.The latest flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich launched as of yesterday evening for Samsung's Galaxy S II. Owners of the phone can learn how to install it via a T-Mobile support page. But be forewarned -- the update isn't available over the air (OTA), meaning you can't download it directly to your phone.Instead, you have to install it via Samsung's Kies software, which requires you to download and install the update on your PC and then sync it with your phone. Beyond offering ICS, the update promises improvements in performance and stability.Related storiesAndroid updates embarrassing, but do users notice?Samsung Galaxy S II reviewSamsung Galaxy S II LTE getting bite of Ice Cream SandwichSony flavors its 2011 phones with Ice Cream SandwichBut wait.Before you can scoop up a dose of Ice Cream Sandwich, you'll need to make sure you're running at least Android 2.3.6 on your Galaxy S II phone, which is available as an OTA update.Got all that? Don't worry. T-Mobile's page describes all the steps required to reach the peak of Android. But the carrier does warn that if you run into any trouble, you'll have to call Samsung. "The Kies update through Samsung is not supported by T-Mobile and we are unable to assist with Kies or PC questions," T-Mobile explained.Though T-Mobile is trying to be helpful by outlining all the steps involved, this convoluted process clearly shows why Android updates are such a mess. With Google, the device makers. and the carriers all involved in the mix, no one party is truly responsible or accountable for the entire chain of events.Compare that with the process on iOS devices. Apple is the sole party responsible for all updates. The carriers have no involvement. Apple users can download iOS updates to iTunes and sync them with their iPhones and iPads or download and install the updates directly to their devices.It is any wonder Android users have to wait so long for the latest version of Android and other updates?This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Samsung Galaxy S II owners on T-Mobile can update to Android 4.0.3, but they may have to jump through a few hoops first.The latest flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich launched as of yesterday evening for Samsung's Galaxy S II. Owners of the phone can learn how to install it via a T-Mobile support page. But be forewarned -- the update isn't available over the air (OTA), meaning you can't download it directly to your phone.Instead, you have to install it via Samsung's Kies software, which requires you to download and install the update on your PC and then sync it with your phone. Beyond offering ICS, the update promises improvements in performance and stability.Related storiesAndroid updates embarrassing, but do users notice?Samsung Galaxy S II reviewSamsung Galaxy S II LTE getting bite of Ice Cream SandwichSony flavors its 2011 phones with Ice Cream SandwichBut wait.Before you can scoop up a dose of Ice Cream Sandwich, you'll need to make sure you're running at least Android 2.3.6 on your Galaxy S II phone, which is available as an OTA update.Got all that? Don't worry. T-Mobile's page describes all the steps required to reach the peak of Android. But the carrier does warn that if you run into any trouble, you'll have to call Samsung. "The Kies update through Samsung is not supported by T-Mobile and we are unable to assist with Kies or PC questions," T-Mobile explained.Though T-Mobile is trying to be helpful by outlining all the steps involved, this convoluted process clearly shows why Android updates are such a mess. With Google, the device makers. and the carriers all involved in the mix, no one party is truly responsible or accountable for the entire chain of events.Compare that with the process on iOS devices. Apple is the sole party responsible for all updates. The carriers have no involvement. Apple users can download iOS updates to iTunes and sync them with their iPhones and iPads or download and install the updates directly to their devices.It is any wonder Android users have to wait so long for the latest version of Android and other updates?This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Android will be the platform of choice for developers, study says
Android will be the platform of choice for developers, study says
Google's Android will become the preeminent platform for developers over the next 12 months, edging ahead of Apple's iOS, according to a study by research firm Ovum. Nearly all developers, however, will support both platforms. Ovum's call comes as Android continues to suck up market share, with more companies using the platform to crank out a wave of mobile devices. While iOS has seen its market share growth slow in the recent years, it has always been seen as a more lucrative location for developers to make money. As a result, most apps came to iOS first, and the other platforms second. That, however, could all change in the coming months, Ovum said. Android's prevalence is getting hard to ignore, and developers have incorporated new business models such as advertising and in-app purchases to spur revenue. Ovum also said there is growing developer interest in Windows Phone and BlackBerry OS. The results come as both Microsoft and Research in Motion attempt to woo developers over to their respective camps. "The growing momentum behind Windows Phone indicates that Microsoft has managed to convince developers that its platform is worthy of investment; its challenge now is to persuade consumers," said Ovum analyst Adam Leach.The study also said developers are abandoning mobile-centric development tools such as Java, Flash and WAP, and moving to HTML5, a Web-based standard that can run across multiple devices and platforms.
Google's Android will become the preeminent platform for developers over the next 12 months, edging ahead of Apple's iOS, according to a study by research firm Ovum. Nearly all developers, however, will support both platforms. Ovum's call comes as Android continues to suck up market share, with more companies using the platform to crank out a wave of mobile devices. While iOS has seen its market share growth slow in the recent years, it has always been seen as a more lucrative location for developers to make money. As a result, most apps came to iOS first, and the other platforms second. That, however, could all change in the coming months, Ovum said. Android's prevalence is getting hard to ignore, and developers have incorporated new business models such as advertising and in-app purchases to spur revenue. Ovum also said there is growing developer interest in Windows Phone and BlackBerry OS. The results come as both Microsoft and Research in Motion attempt to woo developers over to their respective camps. "The growing momentum behind Windows Phone indicates that Microsoft has managed to convince developers that its platform is worthy of investment; its challenge now is to persuade consumers," said Ovum analyst Adam Leach.The study also said developers are abandoning mobile-centric development tools such as Java, Flash and WAP, and moving to HTML5, a Web-based standard that can run across multiple devices and platforms.
Android trounces Symbian, iOS in Q2, study finds
Android trounces Symbian, iOS in Q2, study finds
In Gartner's findings, Research In Motion's BlackBerry operating system saw its market share drop significantly from 18.7 percent last year to 11.7 percent this year.However, perhaps the most surprising finding of last quarter was that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform was beaten out by Samsung's Bada operating system. According to Gartner, over 2 million Bada-based smartphones were sold last quarter, earning the platform 1.9 percent market share. Windows Phone 7 followed with 1.7 million units sold, helping it to earn 1.6 percent of the market.The last 12 months have been difficult for Microsoft. According to Gartner, the company's market share just one year ago was 4.9 percent on over 3 million unit sales.So why did Android and iOS easily best the competition last quarter? Simple, Gartner says: "These two OSs have the usability that consumers enjoy, the apps that consumers feel they need, and increasingly a portfolio of services delivered by the platform owner, as well."Mobile device salesIn addition, Gartner examined worldwide mobile device sales. And once again, Nokia won out, selling nearly 98 million handsets during the second quarter and securing 22.8 percent market share. However, that figure is off from last year's tally of 111 million unit sales and 30.3 percent share.Samsung was a distant second, selling 69.8 million mobile phones last quarter, helping it to secure 16.3 percent market share. LG and Apple trailed behind with 24.4 million and 19.6 million worldwide handset sales, respectively. LG nabbed 5.7 percent of the worldwide market, while Apple scored 4.6 percent share. Last year, Apple owned just 2.4 percent of the space.All told, the mobile phone market is growing quite rapidly. According to Gartner, 428.7 million handsets were sold worldwide last quarter, easily overshadowing the 368 million sold during the same period last year. Gartner reported that 107.7 million smartphones were sold in the second quarter, up from the 62 million sold in the second quarter of 2010.
In Gartner's findings, Research In Motion's BlackBerry operating system saw its market share drop significantly from 18.7 percent last year to 11.7 percent this year.However, perhaps the most surprising finding of last quarter was that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform was beaten out by Samsung's Bada operating system. According to Gartner, over 2 million Bada-based smartphones were sold last quarter, earning the platform 1.9 percent market share. Windows Phone 7 followed with 1.7 million units sold, helping it to earn 1.6 percent of the market.The last 12 months have been difficult for Microsoft. According to Gartner, the company's market share just one year ago was 4.9 percent on over 3 million unit sales.So why did Android and iOS easily best the competition last quarter? Simple, Gartner says: "These two OSs have the usability that consumers enjoy, the apps that consumers feel they need, and increasingly a portfolio of services delivered by the platform owner, as well."Mobile device salesIn addition, Gartner examined worldwide mobile device sales. And once again, Nokia won out, selling nearly 98 million handsets during the second quarter and securing 22.8 percent market share. However, that figure is off from last year's tally of 111 million unit sales and 30.3 percent share.Samsung was a distant second, selling 69.8 million mobile phones last quarter, helping it to secure 16.3 percent market share. LG and Apple trailed behind with 24.4 million and 19.6 million worldwide handset sales, respectively. LG nabbed 5.7 percent of the worldwide market, while Apple scored 4.6 percent share. Last year, Apple owned just 2.4 percent of the space.All told, the mobile phone market is growing quite rapidly. According to Gartner, 428.7 million handsets were sold worldwide last quarter, easily overshadowing the 368 million sold during the same period last year. Gartner reported that 107.7 million smartphones were sold in the second quarter, up from the 62 million sold in the second quarter of 2010.
Android to overtake Apple in app downloads
Android to overtake Apple in app downloads
Android could notch 8.1 billion app downloads this year, compared with 6 billion for Apple's iOS devices. That marks an explosion of growth for both platforms; Apple had 2.7 billion downloads and Android recorded 1.4 billion last year. The total number of application downloads is expected to grow by 144 percent this year, Ovum said in a report issued today. "Consumers' seemingly insatiable demand for mobile applications is set to continue this year, with downloads from app stores increasing around the world," said Ovum analyst Nick Dillon. "The outlook for the longer term is also positive, with consumers set to continue to use apps to add new features to their phones and to access their favorite services on the go." Android's rise comes in lockstep with the surge in popularity of the platform, both with consumers and electronics manufacturers. A wave of companies have been attracted to the free mobile operating system, which powers smartphones and tablets. Carriers have also put their marketing dollars behind the smartphones, luring in millions of consumers. As a result, Android has seen its market share jump over the past few months. Android also benefits because other application stores such as those at GetJar and Amazon have sprung up to provide alternative sources for mobile programs. Apple, which began the apps craze with the launch of its App Store, can't compete with such diversity, but still leads in the value of its apps. Ovum said that the iPhone will continue to dominate the market for paid applications, with app revenue expected to reach $2.86 billion in 2016, compared with $1.5 billion for Android. That's despite Android taking a near two-to-one lead in app downloads by that time, with 21.8 billion Android app downloads vs. 11.6 billion iOS downloads. Despite the growth, Ovum said it is tougher to create a breakout hit as consumers get more selective and discerning and more applications arrive on the market. "App-savvy consumers are less willing to pay a high premium for anything but 'must have' apps," said Ovum analyst Eden Zoller.
Android could notch 8.1 billion app downloads this year, compared with 6 billion for Apple's iOS devices. That marks an explosion of growth for both platforms; Apple had 2.7 billion downloads and Android recorded 1.4 billion last year. The total number of application downloads is expected to grow by 144 percent this year, Ovum said in a report issued today. "Consumers' seemingly insatiable demand for mobile applications is set to continue this year, with downloads from app stores increasing around the world," said Ovum analyst Nick Dillon. "The outlook for the longer term is also positive, with consumers set to continue to use apps to add new features to their phones and to access their favorite services on the go." Android's rise comes in lockstep with the surge in popularity of the platform, both with consumers and electronics manufacturers. A wave of companies have been attracted to the free mobile operating system, which powers smartphones and tablets. Carriers have also put their marketing dollars behind the smartphones, luring in millions of consumers. As a result, Android has seen its market share jump over the past few months. Android also benefits because other application stores such as those at GetJar and Amazon have sprung up to provide alternative sources for mobile programs. Apple, which began the apps craze with the launch of its App Store, can't compete with such diversity, but still leads in the value of its apps. Ovum said that the iPhone will continue to dominate the market for paid applications, with app revenue expected to reach $2.86 billion in 2016, compared with $1.5 billion for Android. That's despite Android taking a near two-to-one lead in app downloads by that time, with 21.8 billion Android app downloads vs. 11.6 billion iOS downloads. Despite the growth, Ovum said it is tougher to create a breakout hit as consumers get more selective and discerning and more applications arrive on the market. "App-savvy consumers are less willing to pay a high premium for anything but 'must have' apps," said Ovum analyst Eden Zoller.
Android still leads in U.S., but iOS grows stronger
Android still leads in U.S., but iOS grows stronger
Android remains the top dog for U.S. smartphone sales, though Apple's iOS is creeping up.Google's mobile OS took home 52 percent of all U.S. smartphone sales from March through April, showing little gain from the same period last year, Kantar said on Monday. At the same time, iOS grabbed 41.9 percent of smartphone sales in the U.S., an increase of 3.5 percent from a year ago. And Apple has T-Mobile to thank for at least some of that gain, according to Kantar. "The highly anticipated release of the iPhone on T-Mobile has benefited iOS in the latest three-month period, though it has not yet impacted T-Mobile's share in the market," Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director for Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, said in a statement.The iPhone 5 was the top-selling smartphone at T-Mobile over the three-month stretch ending May, even though the carrier had only just launched the phone in mid-April. T-Mobile also managed to lure in a lot of first-time smartphone buyers.Among all T-Mobile subscribers who picked up an iPhone from March through May, 53 percent upgraded from a feature phone, Kantar said. That compares with the average of 45 percent of iPhone buyers who jump from a feature phone. The iPhone also stands to gain more T-Mobile customers down the road. Among T-Mobile subscribers who plan to change their phones over the coming year, 28 percent are eyeing an iPhone.Windows Phone remained in third place among U.S. smartphone sales with a 4.6 percent share. That was up almost 1 percent from the same three-month period in 2012 but down from the sales seen in the three months ending in April.
Android remains the top dog for U.S. smartphone sales, though Apple's iOS is creeping up.Google's mobile OS took home 52 percent of all U.S. smartphone sales from March through April, showing little gain from the same period last year, Kantar said on Monday. At the same time, iOS grabbed 41.9 percent of smartphone sales in the U.S., an increase of 3.5 percent from a year ago. And Apple has T-Mobile to thank for at least some of that gain, according to Kantar. "The highly anticipated release of the iPhone on T-Mobile has benefited iOS in the latest three-month period, though it has not yet impacted T-Mobile's share in the market," Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director for Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, said in a statement.The iPhone 5 was the top-selling smartphone at T-Mobile over the three-month stretch ending May, even though the carrier had only just launched the phone in mid-April. T-Mobile also managed to lure in a lot of first-time smartphone buyers.Among all T-Mobile subscribers who picked up an iPhone from March through May, 53 percent upgraded from a feature phone, Kantar said. That compares with the average of 45 percent of iPhone buyers who jump from a feature phone. The iPhone also stands to gain more T-Mobile customers down the road. Among T-Mobile subscribers who plan to change their phones over the coming year, 28 percent are eyeing an iPhone.Windows Phone remained in third place among U.S. smartphone sales with a 4.6 percent share. That was up almost 1 percent from the same three-month period in 2012 but down from the sales seen in the three months ending in April.
Android snags record 81 percent of smartphone market
Android snags record 81 percent of smartphone market
Android continues to gobble up more of the smartphone market.Google's mobile OS won a global market share of 81.3 percent last quarter, up from 75 percent in the prior year's quarter, research firm Strategy Analytics said on Thursday. Shipments of Android phones hit 204.4 million, a hefty gain over the 129.6 million shipped a year ago.In second place, Apple saw its slice of the smartphone market drop to 13.4 percent from 15.6 percent despite a gain in shipments to 33.8 million. But Apple should regain some of its lost market share this quarter due to demand for the iPhone 5S."Apple also lost some ground to Android because of its limited presence at the lower end of the smartphone market," Strategy Analytics senior analyst Scott Bicheno said in a statement. "Android will need to take further shipments from Apple if it wants to keep growing in the future, but this is unlikely in the near term as the new iPhone 5s model is proving popular and it will help Apple to regain volumes worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2013."Strategy AnalyticsWindows Phone doubled its share of the market to 4 percent from 2 percent as shipments swelled to 10.2 million from just 3.7 million a year ago, a rise of 178 percent. Microsoft's mobile OS is now the fastest growing smartphone platform, Strategy Analytics said. But it still needs a big boost in certain countries."Microsoft's growth is almost entirely due to Nokia and its steadily improving Lumia portfolio across Europe, Asia, and the United States," Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston said in a statement. "However, Microsoft is clearly still at a low level of share worldwide and it is struggling to gain serious traction in several major markets like Japan, South Korea, and Africa."Continuing its downward spiral, BlackBerry watched its smartphone market share plummet to just 1 percent from 4.3 percent as shipments fell to 2.5 million. Strategy Analytics blamed the decline on a weak lineup of BB10 devices.
Android continues to gobble up more of the smartphone market.Google's mobile OS won a global market share of 81.3 percent last quarter, up from 75 percent in the prior year's quarter, research firm Strategy Analytics said on Thursday. Shipments of Android phones hit 204.4 million, a hefty gain over the 129.6 million shipped a year ago.In second place, Apple saw its slice of the smartphone market drop to 13.4 percent from 15.6 percent despite a gain in shipments to 33.8 million. But Apple should regain some of its lost market share this quarter due to demand for the iPhone 5S."Apple also lost some ground to Android because of its limited presence at the lower end of the smartphone market," Strategy Analytics senior analyst Scott Bicheno said in a statement. "Android will need to take further shipments from Apple if it wants to keep growing in the future, but this is unlikely in the near term as the new iPhone 5s model is proving popular and it will help Apple to regain volumes worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2013."Strategy AnalyticsWindows Phone doubled its share of the market to 4 percent from 2 percent as shipments swelled to 10.2 million from just 3.7 million a year ago, a rise of 178 percent. Microsoft's mobile OS is now the fastest growing smartphone platform, Strategy Analytics said. But it still needs a big boost in certain countries."Microsoft's growth is almost entirely due to Nokia and its steadily improving Lumia portfolio across Europe, Asia, and the United States," Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston said in a statement. "However, Microsoft is clearly still at a low level of share worldwide and it is struggling to gain serious traction in several major markets like Japan, South Korea, and Africa."Continuing its downward spiral, BlackBerry watched its smartphone market share plummet to just 1 percent from 4.3 percent as shipments fell to 2.5 million. Strategy Analytics blamed the decline on a weak lineup of BB10 devices.
Analyst- Hey Apple, go buy Netflix
Analyst: Hey Apple, go buy Netflix
Apple and Netflix are competitors in the online movie rental business, but one analyst is suggesting that instead of competing, Apple should buy its rival.Brian Marshall, an analyst with Gleacher & Co., suggested in a note to clients yesterday that Apple's iTunes movie and TV rental business is only about one-tenth the size of Netflix. He estimated that Apple rents approximately 475,000 TV shows and movies every day, while Netflix rents about 5.1 million DVDs and pieces of streaming media per day, according to Computerworld.Looking at the cash side of the business, Marshall estimated that Apple is pulling in about $60 million in rentals and another $50 million in purchases per quarter. Netflix, by comparison, generates about $550 million a quarter."If Apple can grow its rental business similarly to Netflix's historical profile, it's feasible iTunes' annual rental revenue could exceed $1 billion by 2015," said Marshall.Trying to grow as quickly as Netflix has over the years is one approach, but Marshall sees another way for Apple to boost its rental business--buy Netflix."What I'd like to see is Apple buying Netflix," said Marshall. "Netflix has approximately 150,000 titles, while Apple has just 15,000. Apple has a tremendous opportunity." earlier this year, giving users the ability to rent movies and TV shows from iTunes and watch on their televisions. It also added support for Netflix to let people rent from Apple or log in to their Netflix account and watch movies or television shows using that service.
Apple and Netflix are competitors in the online movie rental business, but one analyst is suggesting that instead of competing, Apple should buy its rival.Brian Marshall, an analyst with Gleacher & Co., suggested in a note to clients yesterday that Apple's iTunes movie and TV rental business is only about one-tenth the size of Netflix. He estimated that Apple rents approximately 475,000 TV shows and movies every day, while Netflix rents about 5.1 million DVDs and pieces of streaming media per day, according to Computerworld.Looking at the cash side of the business, Marshall estimated that Apple is pulling in about $60 million in rentals and another $50 million in purchases per quarter. Netflix, by comparison, generates about $550 million a quarter."If Apple can grow its rental business similarly to Netflix's historical profile, it's feasible iTunes' annual rental revenue could exceed $1 billion by 2015," said Marshall.Trying to grow as quickly as Netflix has over the years is one approach, but Marshall sees another way for Apple to boost its rental business--buy Netflix."What I'd like to see is Apple buying Netflix," said Marshall. "Netflix has approximately 150,000 titles, while Apple has just 15,000. Apple has a tremendous opportunity." earlier this year, giving users the ability to rent movies and TV shows from iTunes and watch on their televisions. It also added support for Netflix to let people rent from Apple or log in to their Netflix account and watch movies or television shows using that service.
What Elements from the Original 'Star Wars' Trilogy Need to Be in 'Episode VII'?
Earlier this week, a photo of the Millenium Falcon being built for Star Wars: Episode VII was leaked onto the Web. This morning, J.J. Abrams sent out his own shot from the set, which cheekily confirmed that Han Solo;s ship would be making an appearance. The director won with the true geeks, of course, because his photo involved a more obscure element from the original trilogy: the Dejarik board (or simply holochess board for those of you who aren;t complete nerds for the franchise). It;s made other appearances in animated series and novels and such, but really that prop is a nod to one particular scene in the very first movie.We can probably expect a bunch of callbacks in Episode VII, some of them for the sake of fan service and others as signs of a genuine appreciation for the original trilogy. Hopefully not so much that the winking looks more like a twitch or to where the movie plays like a Star Wars fan film comprised of pastiche and homage. No need to draw too much focus on a board game just to do it, for example. But if it;s there in the shot and we see it, that;s cool. And then there are other elements that ought to just be there out of reason, such as the Millennium Falcon.You can compare the prequels to the original trilogy in order to figure out which elements work best and which don;t work at all, and the former is what you;ll want the new movie to include. That can be themes or manner of speech or humor or specific characters or settings or even type of special effects. One thing that has appeased fans with both official and leaked images from the production is the on-hand creatures, evidence of how not only Abrams but all at Lucasfilm want there to be a mix of old-school puppetry and other practical creature effects as well as some that are computer generated.With Episode VII already filming, it;s not likely that we;ll have any influence over that one, but who knows what kinds of small elements could be thrown in last minute if there;s enough support behind it. Otherwise, we can also hope for these favored elements to appear in the subsequent sequels or even the stand-alone spin-off movies. For instance, a big one for you might be the presence of Boba Fett. Well, he isn;t likely in Episode VII but supposedly one of the spin-offs is totally focused on the fan-favorite bounty hunter.Here;s one I think would be a triumph for a lot of the audience: Han Solo, who we know is returning, should shoot someone first. Sure, that act was representational of what an antihero the guy was before meeting Luke, Leia, etc., but maybe he;s back to his old mentality in old age. I;d also love a memorable musical moment, a la the Cantina Band in Star Wars and the Max Rebo Band in Return of the Jedi(but not Jedi Rocks). Finally, I;d love some little scenes that aren;t so integral to the forward movement of the plot, both extraneous thrills such as the garbage compactor and quiet moments as in the part of The Empire Strikes Back when they;re hiding out in a space slug and just talking.Along with the answer to today;s discussion question, let me know if you;d rather know ahead of time, either with a tweeted or leaked photo like we saw this week or in the trailer, or if you;d like the element you name to be a pleasant surprise.What one element from the original Star Warstrilogy needs to be back forEpisode VII?Here are some responses received so far via Twitter:@thefilmcynic Force as mysticism not superhero powers.
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