The GAO recommends that the FCC collect more data about special access rates in the telecom industry and mobile early termination fees.

View full post on Macworld

According to the twitter account of a PR spokesman for Orange, consumers on their network using HTC Desires will have the update to Froyo in about 4 weeks. The exact quote from his tweet says:

We are working with HTC to bring the 2.2 Android update to Desire customers as soon as we can. This process normally takes about four weeks

It is probably best (for the company) that consumers aren’t given an exact date for the upcoming release, as Android devices are notorious for having updates pushed back beyond release dates.

What do our readers on Orange think about this? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

[via Twitter]

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

Updates for HTC Desires on Orange should take about 4 weeks

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

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Everywhere we look, there are posts about phones being rooted, the ability to flash alternate ROMs, and more. So why should you root your nice, shiny phone? What are the benefits? Well, that’s what we are here to talk about today. Before we go any further, however – a word of caution: rooting or modifying your phone in any way can cause the device to no longer work, or “brick” it. You are at your own risk, should you choose to root or flash your phone, and we assume no liability for any damages.

What is rooting?

Before we get started, I want to explain what “rooting” is.  When you root your phone, you gain “superuser” privileges to the Android operating system. When you are using a stock device, you have the equivalent of “guest” privileges. If you are familiar with any Linux operating system, you know that the superuser privilege allows you to gain access to administrative rights. This level of access gets you down to the nitty gritty of the OS with no restrictions, lets you make changes to the system, and run scripts that would normally be blocked with a standard user account. As long as they are not encrypted, that is… such as the case of the Droid X, which has an encrypted bootloader. With superuser privileges on an Android phone, you can install programs that need complete access to the OS – such as ROM installers (like ROM Manager), theme modifiers (such as Metamorph), and simple apps like DroCap2, which takes screenshots from the device without having to plug it in to your computer.

While the act of rooting does not do much for an end user, it means the world to a coder or developer. Rooting your phone gives you access to run the applications that developers create that need elevated privileges. Always be careful what you install, though, because the wrong program could take over, or even brick your phone.

Advantages

ROMS

So, what are the advantages of rooting your device? Once you have root access and the bootloader is cracked, you can install custom software onto your device. I mentioned ROMs before, and you might be wondering what they are. A “ROM” is the software your phone is running. It is stored in the read-only memory of the device, and is executed after the boot process. Think of a ROM as the OS itself. This is where you can add some features and upgrade others – such as the Froyo (Android 2.2) upgrade. By installing a ROM based off of the Froyo 2.2 software, you gain those features before your device is officially scheduled to receive them. This is great for EOL (End of Life) devices, such as the Droid. While it may still receive a few updates for a short period of time, long term support is not guaranteed. If you look at the T-Mobile G1 , that device is still running strong, thanks to custom ROMs. With ROMs and other add-ons, you can install custom themes as well. The Ultimate Droid mod is big on using dark themes for their ROMs. I, personally, am running Bugless Beast V0.4 on my Droid, which is a Froyo build. This allowed me to have the new version of Android before it was officially released, or even supported. There are tools, such as ROM Manager, that help make the process of flashing your phone much easier.

Custom Themes

As I mentioned above with the Ultimate Droid mod you can install full themes or change just about any graphic you want. There are two ways to do this and that is installing theme packages using installers such as Metamorph or by using the ABD shell in the SDK kit to push the images to the file system. Below are two examples. The first one shows the whole theme applies with the installation of Ultimate Droid. Notice the black notification bar and the different dock icons on the bottom. The second picture was taken on a vanilla install of Bugless Beast V0.4. In this example I used Metamorph to install a few custom icons. The Bluetooth, WiFi, and Signal icons I made and created an installer for them. The battery icon I found on another forums and installed using the same method.

Kernel & Speed

In addition to the visual aspects of rooting your device, you can also update and change other aspects as well. Two main features that are widely changed are the kernel and the baseband. The kernel of a Unix device (such as an Android-powered phone) is the heart of the software. The kernel is the layer of code that handles communication between the hardware and the applications. A lot of developers tweak the kernels for added performance, battery life, and more. Take the original Droid, for instance. The Droid uses the Arm Cortex A8 processor, which is clocked at 550 MHz under standard conditions. Developers, such as the well known ChevyNo1, have made custom kernels which allow you to run your Droid at higher speeds… some at over 1 GHz. Other kernels, however, have been tweaked to conserve battery life by running at slower than stock speeds. It’s all a matter of preference, which is really the entire basis of rooting your device in the first place.

Baseband

The Baseband, mentioned above as the other major change in mind when rooting, controls the radio for your phone. It is, essentially, what controls the phone’s ability to make and receive calls and data. By changing to updated or fixed basebands, you can try to improve both signal and call performance. If you noticed in the pic above, I am running baseband 43.01P for my Droid.

Disadvantages

With everything that’s good, there have to be downsides as well, right? The answer: absolutely. Due to recovery software for Android, such as Nandroid, there isn’t much that you can’t recover from, should something go wrong. With that being said, there is always the chance that you could “brick” your phone by altering it. This is especially true during the initial rooting process, as well as while flashing the bootloader.

Other than bricking your device, there isn’t much more that is seen in the way of disadvantages. I suppose one other would be that it is not available on every device. It is up to the communities of developers out there to find a way to root the phone and crack the bootloader. As we recently discovered with the Droid X (which has an encrypted bootloader), it’s like the old saying goes… where there’s a will, there’s a way. A developer named ‘Birdman‘, along with other developers, recently found a way to root the Droid X, which is just the beginning. With time, the device will (hopefully) be unlocked and flashable so we can have all the custom goodness.

As you see, there are a number of reasons to root your phone. Each phone is different, so be sure to read over any provided documentation carefully. I was once the type that said “I would never root my Droid!” I though it was pointless, but I can tell you now that I would never go back to stock.

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

What is rooting and why should I do it? The pros & cons of Android rooting

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

Think you’re pretty slick by just finding the stand-alone APK’s for apps that you should’ve paid for? Obviously the developers of those apps are sick of their hardwork being distributed for free, but Google has just implemented a service to help them out.

Android’s new licensing service allows the individual app to call Google’s server to check the app against purchase records vs the credentials of the purchase. So if the credentials don’t match, the app won’t have full (if any) functionality on your device.

This will be great for dev’s and consumers alike as long as it verifies the credentials on a per-Google account basis and not on a per-phone basis, which would make getting a new phone quite the frustrating process.

[via android dev blog]

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

Licensing service for Android apps should cut down piracy

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

So you walk into the Verizon store to pick up your shiny new Android phone with a huge smile on your face as the sales rep activates your new baby. Everything is going great. But then out of no where comes the question “would you like to add the insurance plan for your phone ?” and your mind comes to halt. At first you refuse to panic, and inquire as to how much this insurance is….surely it is just some nominal one time fee just to be on the safe side. The sales rep informs you with a very irritating smile that it is an extra seven dollars a month to your bill. Still, you refuse to panic. You simply ask how much the phone is to replace.  As a valued customer already paying at least $200 for the phone plus on average another $30 for the data plan you are sure that the replacement cost for your phone wont be that bad. The sales rep then informs you with an even more irritating smile that it is around six hundred to replace a broken phone unless it is covered by the one year limited warranty provided by the manufacturer. Panic.

So what do you do? You can either add an extra few dollars a month to be on the safe side, or trust to your case and the one year limited warranty. Either option is not appealing. It is at this moment that you realize that Verizon and all other phone carriers really have you by the (metaphorical) batteries when it comes to insuring your phone. I for one went with option C, which is to think about it before the end of 30 days at which point I will have to decide.

What did you decide? Do you think it is fair? Do you know of any alternatives to the choices talked about above? Let us know in the comments.

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

Cell phone insurance… Should you or should you not?

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

1. Will My Kids Like It?

It’s an excellent movie. It’s even that rarity among summer spectacles: a movie that requires a great deal of intellectual attention. I went to a showing with three of my four kids,who were 17, 14, and 11. All three pronounced it an excellent movie. My youngest (11 — my tech-genius minion) said it was very complicated and “in effect, an abyss of metaphors.” He enjoyed it very much, and it was much different from what he expected. So, if your kids think that sounds interesting or know what “abyss of metaphors” means, I would recommend it to them. It does have a great deal of mind-bending action sequences to keep attention on the screen. There’s no nudity, I didn’t notice many swear words, and the violence is stylized and not particularly bloody.

I do think that younger children might either be uninterested in the concept or confused by the layers of dreams. If you have kids who tend to ask a lot of questions at the movies, this one is going to produce a flurry of them. It might be best to hit the theater when it’s quiet.  There are some suspenseful sequences where danger or death seems inevitable, particularly falling to one’s death. It might produce nightmares in kids prone to them.

But I think this movie is going to appeal to geek kids especially. It reminded me in some ways of my childhood fascination with alternate earths.

2. Will I Like It?

It’s a fascinating movie and unlike a lot of movies that deal with heavy themes, it relies on actions and amazing visuals to keep things interesting. It also features a great performance by Leonardo DiCaprio as a man so obsessed with moving on and getting back to his children that he’s willing to take virtually any risk, even in his dreams.

3. What the Heck is This Movie Really About?

Ostensibly, it’s about Cobb (DiCaprio) gathering together a squad of experts in order to enter the mind of a business magnate and implant an idea so deep in his subconscious that the magnate thinks the idea is his very own. In that, it comes across as a caper-style movie. But it’s also about how humans handle loss, the nature of reality, and that what we think we know as the truth might not necessarily be the truth. Plus, buildings fall down, the universe is inverted, and there is a weightless fight sequence.

To summarize the plot more than that would give away spoilers. But this is definitely one movie that will stay with me for a long time.

4. When Would be the Best Time for a Bathroom Break?

There’s really not a good time. It is a long movie and all the visuals are important. If you take pre-teens, make sure they use the facilities before the movie starts. If you must take a break, wait for the part where Cobb goes to recruit a thief for his team.

5. Will I Want to See It Again?

I want to see it again and sort it out some more. It’s a story with many, many layers. I suspect it’s one of those movies that are more interesting on the second viewing than the first.

6. Any Good Previews?

It was a nice change of pace to get previews of adult movies. Oddly, I thought the trailer for the Expendables was the most interesting. That could say good things about the movie, it could say only good things about the trailer. The Social Network trailer struck me as confused and dull. Yet when I checked on-line, I found the script is by Aaron Sorkin. I can only say that if the movie’s good, the trailer did it a disservice.

7. How Are the Special Effects?

It’s 2-D, not 3-D, but that doesn’t stop the effects from being unique and living up to the term of “special” effect. There’s a sequence early in the movie where an architect in the dreamworld decides to completely alter perspective. My other favorite visual is one that plays tricks with mirrors.

8. Is It Loud or Scary?

It’s not so much loud as the visuals are so busy. The score does get pounding at times.

9. Is the Ending Satisfying?

The ending is ambiguous but that doesn’t detract at all from the story. As the tech genius minion said to me, the ending doesn’t really matter, it’s the questions raised by by what happens. The story does have a strong narrative drive and ends in a good place. You can pick the simple answer, if you like.

10. How is the Supporting Cast?

It’s wonderful. Michael Caine was, of course, easy to spot, and so was Ellen Page. But the movie also has Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe and Tom Berenger, who I barely recognized at first. They’re all excellent. Murphy was the ultimate standout for me because he has so little of the movie and yet his character makes a huge impression.

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Image © Universal Pictures

1. Will my kids like it?

Yes! Most of the humor is written for kids, and there are few scary moments of any sort: peril is kept to a minimum. There’s also very little to upset kids of moviegoing age, as even the fact that the children characters are orphans is fairly well glossed over.

2. Will I like it?

Maybe. There’s a fair dose of saccharine as the kids Gru (the main character) takes in predictably melt his heart as he turns into a good dad. There is also a good-sized dose of juvenile humor, so you may find yourself rolling your eyes a bit at the odd fart joke. The human characters are less imaginative than they could have been, though the minions (whatever sort of creature they are) are entertaining enough to carry a movie on their own. In general it’s a good film, but if you’re like me you’ll walk out of the theater thinking of lots of things you would’ve liked to see but didn’t.

3. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?

The film is 95 minutes long, and moves fairly quickly, so waiting until the end is best if it’s feasible. If not, the plot is fairly predictable, so there really isn’t any time in the film that’s significantly better or worse than any other.

4. Is it worth paying more for 3-D?

The 3-D effects don’t add a great deal to the movie, but are used cleverly in places. The movie was clearly made with 3-D in mind, and in fact there’s a very funny bit at the end that only makes sense if you see it in 3-D (see #5).

5. Do I need to sit through the credits for a bonus scene at the end?

You will want to stay for the beginning of the credits for the aforementioned funny 3-D bit. After that, there’s nothing interesting to see.

6. Will I want to see it again?

You probably won’t, but your kids probably will, if they’re anything like mine. It’s a fun film, but it doesn’t stay with you the way a really great film does. It suffers from the inevitable contrast with Toy Story 3, which is in every way a superior movie.

7. Is it loud or scary?

No, not really. My nine-year-old son has always been sensitive to loud noises, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t even flinch once.

8. How’s the animation?

It’s cartoony, very European-style, which fits the plot and characters well— I mean, Gru is trying to steal the moon, so verisimilitude would just get in the way. Plus, the minions are small yellow capsule-shaped creatures, some of whom only have one eye, so I think it’s safe to say that the filmmakers weren’t going for realism. I keep thinking that Gru looks like he could have stepped right out of a Charles Addams cartoon.

9. What about the voices?

Steve Carrell as the main character Gru does a funny vaguely Hungarian-sounding accent (though Gru’s country of origin is never specified). Julie Andrews is nigh-unrecognizable, but amusing, as Gru’s haranguing mother, and Jason Segel has a lot of fun as the voice of Gru’s upstart rival Vector. Other famous voices include Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristin Wiig, and iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove. All the voices are well-done, and it’s very easy to forget the appearances you usually attach to the voices.

10. Anything else special about the film?

Yes. In a very creative move, Universal Pictures and Best Buy teamed up to make a free app for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry that will translate the noises the minions make into English, and promises to unlock more content after the film ends. I can neither recommend nor disparage the app, as it was not yet available when I saw the preview screening I attended. It sounds like it’d at least be worth trying out, seeing as how it’s free. The official website has some fun content, too, including a make-your-own-minion Flash app.

Oh, and, if (like me) your first thought on finding out that the main character’s name is “Gru” was “It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue,” give yourself +5 geek points.

View full post on GeekDad

Photo © Paramount Pictures

1. Will my kids like it?

This will depend greatly on their age and familiarity with the anime series. Younger kids are much more tolerant of bad acting and plot holes, especially if they know the story to start with. Expect a lot of comments about differences between the movie and TV series, and complaints about the pronunciation of names.

My ten year old geeklet enjoyed the movie, but had a lot of complaints. He noted that the actors didn’t seem to believe the story and that the holes in the storyline would leave any non-fans in the dark.

2. Will I like it?

I don’t think so, but a quick survey of Twitter indicates that some people loved it. Coincidentally, most of them also thought the latest Twilight movie was great…

3. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?

Anytime, really, but if you can’t sit through the whole movie, take a break around 30 or 50 minutes.

4. Is it worth paying more for 3D? How about IMAX?

We saw it in 2D because of the 3D reviews, so I’m only repeating what I’ve read. Do not pay extra. The Last Airbender was filmed in 2D with the 3D added as an after-thought. Roger Ebert describes the 3D version as: “You know something is wrong when the screen is filled with flames that have the vibrancy of faded Polaroids. It’s a known fact that 3D causes a measurable decrease in perceived brightness, but ‘Airbender’ looks like it was filmed with a dirty sheet over the lens.”

5. Any good previews?

Rango and Megamind. Both look like they might be fun.

6. Will I want to see it again?

Nope. I won’t even buy the DVD. There is nothing in this movie worth seeing again. Unlike really good movies with fine details, interesting side plots and subtle nuances that make viewing again interesting, The Last Airbender was shallow, one dimensional, and frequently boring.

7. Is it loud or scary?

A few scenes are loud, but not overly so. The actions scenes may be scary to the youngest geeklets. My son was not startled by any scenes, and only slightly anxious over the fight scenes.

8. How are the special effects?

The special effects are without a doubt the best part of the movie. Unfortunately that isn’t saying much. They did get better throughout the movie, but continued to lack the brilliance and color that they showed in the anime series. I realize I’m comparing animation to rendered “live” action, but I think they could have brightened things up.

9. What about the race issues?

While I hope that M. Night isn’t racist, I can’t help but think he was pressured to use Caucasian actors for the “good” roles. It is discussed in much more detail here: “One Kid’s Take on “The Last Airbender’s” Casting Fail” here: ”Got Last Airbender Issues? Ask M. Night Shyamalan” and here: “RaceBending.com”

10. What were the differences between the series and movie?

I can’t say too much for fear of spoiling it, but to me it felt like they tossed each scene into a hat and drew out 103 minutes worth. Everything from the series that played a part in character and relationship development was missing from the movie.

Wired: The final battle, although different from the anime series, was good.

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This Saturday, the 97th edition of the Tour de France starts in Rotterdam, kicking off three weeks of bicycle racing. Twenty-one teams of nine riders each will have to endure 3,600 kilometers of racing and 25 mountain passes to reach the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It is an event full of incredible human achievement and endurance. But it’s also full of geeky goodness. I decided to update last year’s post encouraging you to enjoy the race.

Here are my top ten reasons why geeks should love the Tour de France:

Cheat the wind

10. Aerodynamics. During the three weeks of the Tour, the teams and their riders battle one another. But they also battle against air resistance. In a group of cyclists riding closely together, the rider in front is expending as much as 30% more energy than those behind him or her. That means that a rider doesn’t want to be out in front for long. Bicycling tactics call for a rider to let someone else lead for most of the race day, then come from behind to grab the win. The peloton forms as a way for the riders to share the work of cutting through the wind. A single cyclist out in front riding ahead of the peleton stands little chance of victory, faced with battling the wind alone. This is why breakaways rarely survive.

Follow me on Twitter

9. Twittering Cyclists. Many of the stars of the event are avid users of Twitter. Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) even announced the birth of his son, Max, on Twitter and announced his upcoming (second) retirement on Twitter.  Other Tour de France participants using Twitter include: Levi Leipheimer of Team Radio Shack (@Levi_Leipheimer), Cadel Evans of BMC Racing (@cadelofficial), Dave Zabriskie of Team Garmin (@dzabriskie), Christian Vande Velde of Team Garmin (@ChristianVDV), George Hincapie of BMC Racing (@ghincapie) [Mrs. GeekDoug's favorite], Johan Bruyneel, Manager of Team Radio Shack (@JohanBruyneel), and last year’s champion Alberto Contador (@albertocontador).

image by Fanny Schertzer (CC by sa 2.5)

8. The Team. Like any geek adventure, it’s not just about individual achievement. Sure the team leader gets the fame and glory, but it requires team work for victory. The domestiques help keep the leader safe, lead him in the wind so he can conserve his energy, ferry water bottles from the team car, and even sacrifice their bikes. Each team also has a large group of mechanics who keep everything moving smoothly, including quick wheel changes for flat tires and bike changes after a crash.

Unfortunately, there is no team time trial in the 2010 edition of the race after its brief return last year. The team time trial is the ultimate combination of teamwork, aerodynamics, and outfits. The team suits up in aero helmets, skinsuits, and special time trial bikes to minimize wind resistance. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.) In true team fashion, it is not the time of the first cyclist across, but the time of the fifth man across the finish line that applies to all members of the team.

image by renschmensch

7. The Fans. There are plenty of fans lining the race course, especially as the race cuts through cities and towns. Since the race cuts the town in half, its hard to do much except watch the race. For years it was just fans from each country supporting their countrymen and waiving their flags along the course. Then fans started lining the mountain courses, where the riders have to slow down to deal with the steep inclines. With increased television coverage, fans realized that a crazy costume might get you on worldwide coverage for a few seconds. Didi Senft, who dresses up in a red devil costume, was one of the first costumed spectators. You will see him often. The “Schlugs” line the race course, camping for days in prime locations. There are also the “Schmenges,” Belgian or Dutch cycling fans who end up rather intoxicated at the top of mountain passes.

image from bicycle.com

6. Wind Tunnels. Since aerodynamics play a key role in the Tour, many professional cyclists spend time in a wind tunnel to hone their position for maximum efficiency. The wind is as much the opponent as the other cyclists. Positioning is extremely important for a cyclist to be able to maintain a low drag while still producing sufficient power. Since bicycle aerodynamics are very specific to each different rider’s body size and type, a position that works well for one may not work well for another. Its not just the rider and bicycle frame. They test the water bottles, wheels, helmets, handlebars, and clothing. They even designed a special pocket on the back of the jersey to hold the racing number instead of clipping it on. Watch Lance Armstrong in the Wind Tunnel.

image from Versus

5. Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. These two Brits have been the voice of professional cycling for years. Expect each day to be full of wonderful quips like “He’s really having to dig deeply into the suitcase of courage,” “Carnage is the only way to describe this ascent,” “The devil has joined in and that’s never a good sign”, and “He’s dancing on his pedals.” The Liggett-isms do tend to carry over from year to year. You might want to play Phil and Paul Bingo to help follow along with commentary. Kidding aside, I think they are the best announcing team in all of professional sports. They offer an encyclopedic knowledge of the race, the riders and the course.

4. The Clothing. Anyone who has seen an amateur cyclist cruising down the street knows that cyclists wear special clothes. During a race, there are special jerseys which denote a rider’s status. The leader in the time competition wears the yellow jersey, the leader in the sprint competition wears a green jersey, the king of the mountains wears a polka dot jersey, and the best young rider gets a white jersey. There are also special purpose outfits, such as the time trial kit. In the time trial, racers compete against the clock (either as an individual as a team) and clothe themselves in the most aerodynamic way they can, with special helmets to cut through the wind. (Remember, its all about aerodynamics.)

image by Jarrett Campbell (CC BY 2.0)

3. The Countryside. Over its three weeks, the race winds its way across the French countryside and into neighboring countries. Race coverage is full of helicopter shots, highlighting the racers, farms, castles, rivers and panoramas. Many of the race days are visually stunning. The mountains often loom above, some still speckled with snow. Even in the heat of the summer, French farmers build elaborate monuments to the race as it passes by their farms. Some displays are simple collections of hay bales. Others are elaborate moving displays of bicycle action. There will also be plenty of helicopter shots of medieval castles, cathedrals, and Roman ruins. Part of the Tour’s magic lies in the changing backdrops to the action, with villages competing to devise the most elaborate welcome signs.

image by Trek

2. The Equipment. The Tour de France bicycles are some of the most high-tech equipment used in any human powered sport. Titanium, carbon fiber, and high tensile steel alloys are routinely used for bicycle parts and frames. Lance Armstrong proclaimed in the title of one his books that It’s Not About the Bike. The bikes are still very cool, being the product of intensive development. Many bicycles are wind tunnel tested to maximize aerodynamics. (Remember that it’s all about aerodynamics.) The bikes for the time trial days of the race, where the cyclists rides against the clock (either alone or with their teams), are especially odd looking. This bike bears little resemblance to the geeklets’ boulevard cruisers.

Photo courtesy of CSE Cycling

1. Lance Armstrong. He is back this year, looking for another victory after “retiring” in 2005. What could be a geekier team than one sponsored by Radio Shack. Clearly he is a tremendous athlete, which would place him in the jock category. But Lance has geek credentials. I already mentioned his avid use of Twitter. The silicone cause bracelet phenomenon started when Lance convinced Nike to sell the bright yellow LiveStrong bracelets to raise money to cure cancer. The original target was 25 million; to date, Nike and LiveStrong have sold over 70 million. During the Tour of California last year, his first race after un-retiring, he had two special numbers on the frame of his bike: 1247 and 27.5. The first is the number of days that he had been retired and the second, shocking number represented the 27.5 million people who had died of cancer during his retirement. Lance, after all, is a man who cheated his own death, having survived testicular cancer.

The Kids. I don’t want to forget the kids, since GeekDad is the parenting blog of Wired. My geeklets like watching bike racing. The bright colors, incredible action and great scenery keep their attention. They should be entranced by the vivid images and dulcet tones of Phil and Paul.

Watch. There is live and delayed coverage of the Tour de France on the Versus TV network.

View full post on GeekDad

Image © Disney / Pixar

1. Will my kids like it?

Yes! There are a few peril-fraught moments which caused my seven-year-old daughter to hug my arm tightly, but the film is rated G, so as you’d expect nothing too terrible happens. The humor is balanced well, with plenty for all ages to enjoy: my kids laughed and grinned throughout most of the movie.

2. Will I like it?

Yes! This may be the best of the three Toy Story films, which is saying an awful lot. The Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton) by himself is funny enough that the other humor is almost a bonus. There are at least a dozen references to other movies, including ones (like Star Wars and My Neighbor Totoro) that geek kids are likely to get. And there’s serious poignancy — if your eyes are dry during the last major scene of the film, either you’ve had your tear ducts blocked by plastic surgery or you need your heart thawed out. My sixty-something mother saw the movie with my kids, my wife and me, and she loved it just as much as we did, so I can safely say it crosses generations.

3. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?

The story moves pretty quickly, so there aren’t any particularly great times. If someone really can’t wait till the end, though (the film is 103 minutes long, so that could well happen), I’d recommend going right when the toys are first dropped off at the day-care center — any plot points you miss you’ll pick up easily when you return.

4. Is it worth paying more for 3D? How about IMAX?

I’m not the biggest fan of the 3D trend, but I have to say that yes, it really is worth it for this one. The fact that the whole film was made on computers makes the 3D look utterly seamless, and the fact that it’s a Pixar film means the filmmakers kept it from becoming a distraction. If it’s convenient for you to see it in IMAX 3D, you absolutely should, because it is just absolutely gorgeous. Plus there’s a preview of Hubble 3D that you’ll only see with the IMAX 3D version, which is pretty awesome even if the movie’s been out for several months already.

5. Any good previews?

Yes, though not 100%. My family saw previews for Despicable Me, Tron: Legacy, MegaMind, and Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. Of those: the first two look great (and the Tron trailer is particularly excellent); MegaMind has potential (including great voice talent) but is from DreamWorks so could still be lousy; the less said about the Cats & Dogs movie the better.

6. Do I need to sit through the credits for a bonus scene at the end?

You will want to stay seated to watch some very funny short scenes shown next to the first half (or so) of the credits. Once those are over, though, there’s nothing else to see but scrolling text.

7. Will I want to see it again?

If you’re remotely like me, yes! This is a seriously excellent film which, if there is any justice in the world, will be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar as Up was. As of this writing, I left the theater less than four hours ago, and I’d gladly go see it again right now if I had the time and money. I know I missed some Easter eggs here and there, because Pixar films are always rich with them, and it’d be fun to look for them, too.

8. Is it loud or scary?

There are a few loud moments, but nothing worse than your average movie these days. As for scary, there is one scene not too far from the end where the toys seem to be about to be consumed in a giant incinerator (this is the scene that caused the aforementioned arm-hugging). Small kids will probably be scared by the scene, but it doesn’t last quite long enough that it’s likely to cause too much trauma.

9. How’s the animation of the human characters?

This is where you can really see just how far Pixar has come in the fifteen years since the first Toy Story came out. At that time the kids were in uncanny valley territory, but not at all now, as you’d expect after the quality of Up. Once the new film is out on DVD, I’m going to have to sit down and watch the three movies back-to-back-to-back to really see the evolution of the animation. But the human characters are easily the most realistic animated ones I’ve ever seen.

10. Is the ending satisfying?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, yes! It’s the perfect ending not only for the movie but for the Toy Story trilogy. You’ll cry because it’s sad and you’ll cry because it’s beautiful, and then you’ll grin because they nailed it so perfectly.

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The Karate Kid, Image by Sony Pictures

Before we get to the review I, as head of security for this blog, need to make a very important announcement: Piracy is illegal! We let you into this review with your cellphones, but if anyone pulls one out, even just to check the time, and I see the screen, I will kick you out of this story! I have night-vision goggles, so I’ll know!

Okay, sorry, had to get that out of the way. I mean, they made that announcement at the screening of the movie last night, so I figure it was so important I should repeat it here. Because shaking phone-camera pix of a movie screen will take food out of the mouths of Hollywood movie studio executives.

So, there’s a remake of the classic (well, classic to anyone who was going to movies in the ’80s) Karate Kid. The original starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, in the uplifting tale of a New York kid moved to SoCal, where he immediately gets on the wrong side of a group of mean, karate students. Not only was it a popular movie that embedded itself in our cultural consciousness, it also turned a generation of kids onto martial arts.

So, how was the remake? Well, in classic GeekDad fashion, here are nine things we think you should know about the movie:

[But please, make sure you don't turn on your cellphone during this review, or you will be ejected!]

1. So, it’s The Karate Kid. Is there lots of good, juicy karate in the movie?

Well, actually, no. In reality, there is absolutely no karate in this movie. It’s all kung fu. If playing off the popularity of the original movie weren’t so important, we’d really ding them for not calling it “The Kung Fu Kid.” But we get it. It’s a movie about a kid learning a martial art. Karate, kung fu, whatever.

2. Okay, so not actually karate. What else is different about the film?

Not much. Well sure, it’s set in China instead of SoCal, meaning the alienation of young Dre (played by Will and Jada’s boy, Jaden Smith) is even more stark than the original. He’s not only an American in a radically different culture, he’s African American as well, and stands out like a sore thumb on a sore thumb — which is not good for kids at an age where they just want to fit in.

Otherwise, however, this Karate Kid is an almost beat-for-beat remake of the original, and comes in at almost the same duration (just over two hours). That might seem like a long movie, but it’s well-paced, and earns the development of Dre from a frightened stranger to a confident kid with serious kung fu skills.

3. What about Jackie? Do we get any classic Jackie moves?

Oh yeah. Not a lot, but there is one great Jackie scene where he takes down the bad kung fu gang of boys without actually hitting any of them. But the real joy of the movie is Jackie’s performance as a wounded man with a terrible burden slowly healed through helping someone else. He’s really, really good. I mean, has any other Jackie Chan ever made you cry? I mean, made you get something in your eye, which then waters uncontrollably? No, I think not.

4. Wax on, wax off. Paint the fence. Are they there?

Not exactly, but in spirit yes. And in a fun way that tackles both Dre’s early training and his bad ‘tween habit of leaving his stuff lying around everywhere. There is a good wink to the original “wax on” line about two-thirds of the way through the movie, though.

5. It’s a movie about kids fighting with kids. How rough is it?

I’m not going to lie to you, Marge, it gets a little tough. The bad kung fu kids and their master share the mantra “no mercy,” and punches are not pulled. Compared to the original (in my fuzzy memory), it seems a little rougher, but not radically so.

6. What about training montages? We must have our training montages!

Have no fear, there are two good training montages, one of which involving high-kicking on the Great Wall of China. You’ll be happy.

7. And Jaden Smith? Can he even carry Ralph Macchio’s water?

Jaden Smith is going to be a star. The kid’s got the chops (figuratively and literally), and considering the training he must have done for this film, I’m sure he’ll be making the Die Hard remake in a couple years.

8. How about pee breaks? When’s the best time?

Well, since you’ve seen the bones of this movie before, you could sneak out pretty much anytime and be able to pick up the story when you get back without much pain. But any point between where Dre starts training with Jackie and when they take a day off from training, and you’ll safely not miss anything important.

9. So, bottom line it for us, sensei!

The Karate Kid (2010) is a worthy remake/update of the classic Karate Kid (1984). Jackie Chan is a joy in a surprisingly moving role, and Jaden Smith makes you root for him. The setting is used to great thematic and visual effect, and while everyone knows perfectly well how the movie will end, the theater still erupted in cheers. My kids thought it was “awesome,” and my wife — well she actually said “it’s better than the original.” I’ll play it a little safer, and say it’s just as good, and a great family film in its own right.

Okay, now that the review is over, you’re welcome to take your cellphones out and turn them back on. Thanks for understanding. Remember: piracy is a crime! :p

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It seems every where you look at Computex 2010, your eyes will spot a tablet. They’re not just one size either, 10in tablets, 7 in tablets, Android tablets (woo!), Windows tablets (meh), they all can be found. iPad, be afraid.

[via PCWorld]

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

Computex 2010 Should Be Renamed Tablettex

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

Tony Bradley over at PCWorld has put together the top 5 reasons that Apple (and the iPad) should fear an Android invasion. Here’s my summary of his list:

1. True Multitasking – Sure iPhone OS 4.0 will have multitasking, but it’s still a limited version only usable within certain situations and scenarios
2. Less Restrictive App Market – With nearly 200,000 apps (according to Apple), there is power in numbers. However, with Apple ruling their app market with a very subjective iron fist, how soon is it developers leave the platform? This isn’t helped when Apple approves an app, but then changes the rules down the road and then un-approves the app.
3. Adobe Flash – This horse is pretty dead, but Android supports it. iPhone / iPad doesn’t. End of story.
4. Hardware Diversity – Not in love with Apple hardware but like their software? You’re outta luck my friend. But let’s say you love Android (and who doesn’t) but you cant stand the Moto Droid? No problem, take a look at HTCs offerings, or Samsung’s, or Google’s, or Dell’s. You get the idea. This applies to not only phones, but obviously tablet’s as well.
5. Carrier Diversity – There are Android devices available for pretty much every carrier under the Sun, so finding a device that works on your network shouldn’t be a problem. But if you’d like to get an iPad, you need to sell your soul to ATT, which not everyone is willing to do.

These are my brief opinions on each point that Tony makes, but go check out his article for a more in-depth look.

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

Why iPad Should Fear Android

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Image: NASA

We geeks like to solve puzzles. We like to figure out the rules of our existence, even when we don’t necessarily understand the reasons behind those rules. And, yes, we sometimes like to use these rules as in-jokes, so we can identify fellow geeks more easily, and — let’s be honest here — feel a bit superior to non-geeks.

You know you’ve done it; there’s no sense in denying it. Ever simply said “Rule 34,” assuming everyone who mattered would get the reference? Ever mentioned Godwin’s Law? Ever made a joke involving the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle? Yep, you’re a geek, all right.

Back in November I came up with a list of ten geeky laws that should have existed, but didn’t. Here, then, are ten more:

1. Scotty’s Law – There is no systemic malfunction that cannot be bypassed, even if it means spending hours in the Jefferies tubes.

2. Armstrong’s Law – There is no historical fact, no matter how full of proof it may be, that cannot be claimed invalid by people with insufficient mental capacity. This is a complementary law to Somers and McCarthy’s Law in my first list.

3. GeekDad’s Law - When writing a blog post about certain subjects, the required references must be made. All posts about nuclear weapons, for example, require a reference to Aliens. All posts that mention Yoda, even peripherally, at least one sentence constructed backwards must contain.

4. The Maker Faire Law - It is perfectly reasonable for geeks wearing “If you can’t open it, you don’t own it” buttons to own iPhones and iPads, because they (the devices) are awesome enough that they get a free pass.

5. The Ostrich Law - There is only one Matrix movie, just as there are only three Star Wars films, and the Star Trek films went straight from IV to VI. And the final episode of Battlestar Galactica never aired. (If you have to ask which three Star Wars films, by the way, please turn in your geek badge at the front desk on your way out.)

6. Henson’s Law – The Muppets are NOT just puppets, any more than the Marx Brothers were just comedians, Hitchcock was just a director and Julia Child was just a chef.

7. Kirk and Picard’s Law – Whenever there are two distinct items that are obviously comparable, be they high-tech devices, movies, characters, TV shows, snack foods, etc., you must — MUST — choose a side and be prepared to argue the subject with any other geek you meet.

8. Chuck Jones’s Law – It takes a great deal of talent and effort to produce books, movies, and TV shows that are beloved by both kids and adults. When it happens, though, the results are magical: The Muppets, Looney Tunes, Harry Potter, Phineas & Ferb, etc.

9. Disney Channel’s Law – Live-action TV shows not involving Muppets that are aimed at kids older than six are almost universally unwatchable by adults.

10. Neo’s Law - Apart from the Bill & Ted films, there is no movie starring Keanu Reeves that would not have been much improved by his replacement with an actor with talent.

Any good laws I’ve missed? Let me know in a comment.

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Tony Stark is back in the first popcorn blockbuster of the summer movie season. Stark is still living his double life as a billionaire inventor and the man inside the Iron Man suit. It’s six months after the first movie and now the world knows that he is Iron Man.

How PG-13 is it?

The MPAA says it has “sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.” It’s a superhero movie, so you expect a lot of violence.  There is blood, but no gore.  The fight scenes are intense. You also have to add in a few obscenities and some skimpy clothing. (Scarlett Johansson in leather among them.) You definitely want to leave the little kids at home.

Will my kids like it?

I left my six-year old at home. He was clearly too young. My buddies brought along 9, 12 and 13 year old boys. They all had big grins on their faces after the lights came up. The boys loved the first Iron Man and thought this sequel was great.

I heard complaints from another GeekDad that kids thought it was very loud. He saw some kids with fingers in their ears. I didn’t see that in my showing. The movie is not as loud as a Bruckheimer movie.

Will I like it?

If you liked the first Iron Man, you will surely like this. It’s more of the same. Maybe a little better. It’s probably what you expect, as long as you don’t expect it to be as good as The Dark Knight.

I think Robert Downey Jr. is great in the role of Tony Stark. That was the big surprise the first time around.

Like the first movie, the story has its weaknesses. We stood around griping about some of the obvious flaws. It’s a summer popcorn movie, not a documentary.

How are the special effects?

It’s obvious that no expense was spared. The Iron Man suit and Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash suit all look great. The battle scenes come across great, a little intense, but not too scary for the kids.

Is there a good time for a bathroom break?

The movie runs a bladder-busting 124 minutes. With the numerous trailers before the movie and the need to stay through the credits, you may want to avoid chugging that Cherry Slurpee. Otherwise, make a run for it when Tony loads his father’s model into his convertible.

Any good trailers?

The summer movie season is coming up and there was a bevy of good previews:

• The Last Airbender – M. Night Shyamalan can’t do any worse than The Happening
• Shrek The Final Chapter - More of the same from the big green guy
  
• Super 8 - a mysterious new project written/directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg
• Grown Ups - Adam Sandler and his boys
  
• Robin Hood – Gladiator in Sherwood Forest (Not that it’s a bad thing.)
  
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – Bruckheimer-ish adaptation of the video game franchise
  
• Killers – a token chick flick
  
• Inception – DiCaprio in a  mind-bending film from Christopher Nolan
  

(Anyone know what Super 8 is all about?)

Anything after the credits?

Yes! You may have noticed a brief appearance by Agent Coulson in the movie before he leaves unexpectedly for New Mexico. In the ending clip he finds something that gives us a hint at another upcoming Marvel movie.

Do I need to see the first movie?

Who didn’t see the first movie? If you didn’t see it, the beginning of Iron Man 2 will get you up to speed in the first few minutes. Plus it’s not that complicated: Tony Stark is Iron Man, fighting bad guys in a fancy mechanical suit.

How about replacing Terrence Howard with Don Cheadle?

Cheadle has a slightly bigger role than Howard did in the first movie. Cheadle comes across a bit flatter and more humorless. I think that was expected in the role as a counterbalance to Tony Stark. I’m not sure how to explain a change in actors to the kids.

What about S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers?

There is much more involvement by S.H.I.E.L.D. than the first movie. Samuel L. Jackson is back as Nick Fury. I assume you didn’t miss his brief appearance after the credits of the first Iron Man.

In case you have not heard, Marvel is releasing Captain America and Thor next summer. The Avengers movie is tentatively scheduled for a May 2012 release, to be directed by Joss Whedon.

Images are courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., in “Iron Man 2.” Photo credit: Francois Duhamel © 2010 MVLFFLLC. TM & © 2010 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

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Photo by Michael Lonergan

This is probably the first picture of a cloud that we’ve featured on GeekDad — I’ll be honest, I didn’t check the archives. But doesn’t this cloud bear an amazing resemblance to the head of a certain aged, Grover-voiced Jedi Master?

Thanks to Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, for pointing this out.

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Take Your Child to Work Day is fast approaching — April 22 will be upon us before you know it. Chances are, your place of employment is already making plans to host and entertain more than the usual number of immature people who show up for work every day.

We can think of one certain parent who won’t be taking either of his kids to work on that day (assuming this particular air traffic controller is reinstated by then). But there are plenty of occupations that don’t “show” well, aren’t kid-friendly and, frankly, like a sausage factory or how a bill becomes law, nobody needs to see.

Here are GeekDad’s Top 10 jobs that should not host a Take Your Child to Work Day:

10) Work-From-Home Parent
Let’s face it, you’re desperately waiting for the “Please Take my Kids to your Work Day.” Say it loud, say it proud. (hat tip Johnathan Liu)

9) “Adult” industries
Pretty much anywhere you’re taking your clothes off for money. Unless you like hearing “Why are those women kissing each other?” and “Hey — that’s not my Dad [expletive deleted] my Mom!” or — well, you get the idea. (hat-tip Matt Blum)

8.) Coal miner
Most young kids are afraid of the dark. Do you really want to subject them to being dropped hundreds of feet underground for hours and hours? (hat-tip Matt Blum)

7) Taxi driver
Of course, maybe you like fielding such comments as “Dad, this guy smells funny,” or “Why did he just give you the finger?” or exposing your kid to such banter as “Get off the phone when you’re driving!” or “Sure I can make change for a fifty. I’ve got pennies, dimes, and nickels.”

6) Underwater demolition expert
While not a job for a lot of chitchat, and assuming you can get your child fitted with the appropriate dive gear, do you want your son/daughter going after the cute fishie that is now swimming toward the depth charges you’ve set and will be going off in 5… 4… 3…

5) Professional blogger
You sit at the laptop and piss away hours doing “research” while trying to drink your half-caf soy-milk mocha latte with a hint of cinnamon at Starbucks. You’ll get comments and questions like “I’m bored” (join the club, kid) and “Can I play Club Penguin when you go to the bathroom?” and “What does coffee taste like?” And nobody needs to know about the harmless flirting you do with that 20-something barista who thinks you’re hysterical.

4) Disney World Mascot
This one is all about protecting the last shred of dignity you may have. Your job is to “Create the Magic” for hundreds of children and adults visiting the park while sweating buckets inside a hot costume in the midday Florida sun, but instead you’ll have a tag-along saying “That’s not Minnie Mouse, that’s my Mom!” and “Can I be in the picture, too?” and “When do we get to go on the rides?’

3) Apple factory worker
Because it is not “Bring Your Parents to Work Day”

2) Victoria’s Secret bra fitter
Chances are you have enough sense not to take your son of any age above 3 to this job site. And maybe your kids are comfortable with you flitting around the house in your employee-discount clothing (*cough* Shia LeBeouf *cough*). But do you really want your customers to hear: “Is that the lady you said didn’t have real ones?”

1) Air traffic controller
OK, this year it’s easy to pick a winner. Your kid may have an experience that lasts a lifetime telling a former Navy fighter pilot: “Jet Blue 171, clear for takeoff,” but you may have an experience that lasts a lifetime too: unemployment.

Got any better ideas? Leave a suggestion in the comments.

Photo: Yodel Anecdotal/Flickr

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