Jinni is a new site that lets you search films and tv shows by mood and experience, and is currently in private beta. 

That said, I wouldn’t be telling you this if I didn’t have invites – after all, they don’t call me BetaChris for nothing!

Right now, I have 8 invites left.  First come, first served, when they’re gone, that’s it (at least until jinni gives me some more)…

Drop me an email, comment, or tweet if you’re so inclined, and you’ll be able to try Jinni yourself.

Until next time…

~C

In what can only be described as a pleasant surprise, the HTC Touch Pro’s excellent YouTube application is still on the Fuze, albeit hidden.

Follow these six easy steps to add it to your programs tab:

1.) Open File Explorer

2.) Navigate to the Windows directory

3.) Scroll down to the YouTube shortcut (note there will be two YouTube icons, the shortcut is 25b in size)

4.) Using your stylus, copy the YouTube shortcut to the Start Menu folder

5.) Go to the programs tab

6.) Press any available add button, and add YouTube

Enjoy!

~C

Over the next several days, I am going to be playing with various twitter badges, feeds, and widgets.  First up: a badge, generated directly from www.twitter.com.

I like the ease of use, but this one doesn’t seem very customizable.

(Oh how I wish Spaces supported java script…)

~C

Before you spend your hard earned cash on Quantum of Solace, there are a few (read: ten) things you should know.

In no particular order:

See Casino Royale First.  QoS, as you may have heard, takes within an hour of Casino Royale. There are no flashbacks or any sort of recap to the events that happened earlier, and there is a strong chance of confusion for those foolish enough to watch QoS uninitiated. 

This is not Ian Fleming’s Quantum of Solace.  Yes, there is a short story of the same name by James Bond creator, Ian Fleming. No, the film is not a celluloid adaptation of said story.  The title is no more than an homage to the story of the same name.

Looking for One Liners and Cheeky Humor?  Not in this Bond Flick.  As was the case with Casino Royale before it, it’s not in Quantum of Solace’s nature to be sarcastic.  Replace Bond’s longstanding smug irony with a ruthless assassin.  Bond, in a sense, comes off as an anti-hero. In earlier (pre-Daniel Craig) films Bond might have quipped about how “good help is hard to find” while thwarting a nameless foe; the new Bond would’ve just punched him in the face, and kicked him through a pane of glass.

Come Prepared to Suspend Disbelief.  While the James Bond franchise has always had its share of over the top stunts, QoS takes it to a new level. Marvel at Bond continuing to fight someone after falling off a roof and thru a window, all without so much as a scratch. Just don’t try to apply any sort of logic/reason/plausibility to it.

Don’t be Surprised to hear more about ‘Quantum’ in Future Bond Films. Not to give anything away, but there is much more to Quantum than a lapel pin and a run-in with a few shady looking characters. Could Quantum be the new SPECTRE?

Q is Nowhere to be Found, and may Never be Seen Again.  Desmond Llewelyn (and briefly John Cleese, in Die Another Day) brought a unique sort of comic relief to the Bond Franchise.  There is no place in the new Bond universe for that sort of humor.

Has Bond Lost his Affinity for Gadgets?  While Mi6 still has its fair share of toys, Bond himself only has a camera phone. No Grappling hook watch, no rocket boat, and no remote controlled missile shooting BMW.  The new bond is armed only with his strength, his wits, and his (curiously un-silenced) 9mm.

Dominic Greene is not Your Average Villain. Love him or loathe him, the new villain is not the same type of megalomaniacal creep you’re probably used to.  He’s not bent on world domination, or starting world war 3, or causing immense pain.  More than anything, he’s a heartless profiteer – driven by money above all else. 
 
Vesper is Dead. Really.  Anyone secretly hoping she was still alive?  Sorry to disappoint you, but QoS has no such revelation. 

Last, but not Least:
Fields does, in Fact, Have a First Name.  It’s not revealed in the film, but you can catch it if you watch the credits. It’s Strawberry ;)

~C

If this worked, there should be a short video below.  (It’s an interesting little webisode of Assassino del Morto – a zombie series by my friend John MacDonnell.)

Wonder why this blog has been unusually silent in the past several weeks?  Two reasons: first off, I’ve been incredibly busy, and second , I’ve taken to using twitter more.  Followers are welcome: http://www.twitter.com/betachris.

That’s not to say that I won’t be posting updates here anymore – tweets are limited to 140 characters, after all – just posting to twitter more because it’s perfect for spur of the moment, jot it down while it’s still fresh in my mind events.

Anyone know of a Spaces compatible Twitter gadget?  If so, please let me know.

~C

Careful examination of the letter of request for confidentiality suggests that the HTC Fuze is coming out November 30, 2008.

While the first paragraph of the letter requests the device schematics, part list, block diagram, and theory of operation documents be withheld from public view permanently, the second paragraph requests that other documents, namely the User Manual and Device photos be withheld from the FCC's website until 11/30.

Below follows a quote from HTC's letter of request to the FCC for confidentiality, pay close attention to the verbiage explaining why they are requesting the user manual and photos not to be publicly available until November 30:

       In additional to above mentioned documents, pursuant to Public Notice DA 04-1705 of the
       Commission's policy, in order to comply with the marketing regulations in 47 CFR §2.803 and the
       importation rules in 47 CFR §2.1204, while ensuring that business sensitive information remains
       confidential until the actual marketing of newly authorized devices. We are requesting the
       commission to grant short-term confidentiality request on the following attachments until Nov. 30,
       2008.

       External Photos
       Internal Photos
       Test Setup Photos
       User Manual

That's as close to a concrete release date as any non-AT&T employee is going to get at this point.

Update: According to a leaked AT&T product sheet BGR found, the HTC Fuze now has an official (albeit not yet publicly announced) release date of October 23.  A little over a month to go!

(See for yourself here: http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/09/18/att-launch-updates-htc-fuze-samsung-mirage-bold-moved-to-november/ )

~C

A clever engadget reader uncovered the following from a cached version of AT&T Wireless' web page:

HTC FUZE™(touch screen)
HTC takes Windows Mobile® smartphone design to the next level with the introduction of the highly desirable and elegant HTC FUZE™. The multi faceted HTC FUZE™ is a 3G tri-band HSDPA Windows Mobile smartphone brought to you by AT&T, which allows you access to the world and to a world of features. Going on a trip? Whether it's a spring break cruise to the islands or a business meeting in Hong Kong, AT&T has you covered with the HTC FUZE™. With the largest international footprint of any wireless provider and the powerful HTCFUZE™, only AT&T customers can make and receive calls in more than 200 countries and on 75 major cruise ships. The HTC FUZE™ for AT&T also offers e-mail and Web browsing capabilities in more than 145 countries. The world is your office with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and the HTC FUZE™. Get full access to your Microsoft Outlook mailbox, contacts, calendar, notes, and tasks; edit Microsoft Office documents or view Adobe® PDF attachments; or take advantage of support for multiple email applications including Microsoft Direct Push, Good™ Mobile Messaging, and Blackberry® Connect™.

The HTC FUZE™ is a powerful smartphone that features a large VGA touch screen that includes HTC’s one touch single handed operation TouchFlo 3D user interface for quick access to most used phone features. The HTC FUZE™ includes an AT&T defined 5 row slide out / slide away keyboard for quick text entry and ultra fast messaging. The HTC FUZE™ is one of the most integrated wireless smartphone on the market today. The HTC FUZE™ keeps you connected with email, text and instant messaging, Internet access, personal organizer, video, satellite radio, and more—all at broadband speeds. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS navigation, and Push to Talk round out the robust feature package making the HTC FUZE™ your “ultimate mobile smartphone”.

Get to your destination quicker using voice-guided directions and real-time traffic information from AT&T Navigator. When work is done, relax with AT&T’s Cellular Video (CV) service. Browse the web using a browser like the one on your desktop – zoom in and zoom out. Catch up on the most recent news or enjoy the latest music videos, HBO Mobile®, or sports on ESPN®. Download hot, new music with AT&T Mobile Music or stream XM Satellite radio.

Whether you’re a mobile professional or a professional mobile user, the HTC FUZE™ is the “ultimate mobile smartphone” that allows you to be in charge of your life at work and at play —virtually wherever you go.

Get device specs and details for the HTC FUZE™ today

...To find a different blog to host my rants/tech talk/random musings.  Many (read: most) of the features/modules I've added don't play nice with Chrome.  Granted, Chrome is in beta status, and some incompatibility amongst websites is to be expected, but if I'm going to be using it on a regular basis, I would like every module to work, browser independent. 

That may end up being a challenge - find a browser independent, customizable blog, compatible with a desktop client?

There will probably end up being several test blogs over various sites; the "winner" will become my new blog, end up (hopefully) being more of a hub for technology lovers, and in all likelihood will get it's own domain - NOT attached to blogger, WordPress, etc - something clever, easy to remember, and geek-friendly.

Teknocity?  Technobabble?  TechZone? 

I'm sure those are all taken. 

This is all hypothetical at the moment, but will eventually come to pass. Maybe. Hopefully. 

[Any suggestions for Chrome friendly blog sites are welcome and encouraged.]

~C 

For those of you who have not heard, rumor has it the GSM version of the HTC Touch Pro is coming to AT&T soon, as the HTC Fuze.  How soon?  Well, the fact that a prototype (demo?) unit has apparently been leaked to one lucky XDA Developers user suggests it could be a matter of weeks, not months.

This is pure speculation, but write down this date: September 22.

Why? That date is exactly one year to the day of the release of the AT&T Tilt (read: HTC TYTNII).  It is only fitting then, that they would release the Tilt's successor one year later. 

For the Tilt users out there, don't be surprised if this is the same day the oft-rumored Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM update comes out. (Or not - the tilt update was released - officially - 8/26)

That said, what's with the HTC Touch Pro's name change? 

Assuming that this "Fuze" moniker is in fact what it will be called on AT&T, let's investigate:

      fuze -> (variant of) fuse ->  "to be united or blended"

Almost sounds like it fits HTC's Power Meets Beauty, Work Meets Play tag line, doesn't it?

As for the fact that certain e-tailers are just shy of giving the AT&T Tilt out at this point? Sure, it could be a coincidence, but I doubt it.  

Or all of this talk of the HTC Fuze could be unsubstantiated, and the guessing game as to when the AT&T version of the HTC Touch Pro is coming begins anew.

Either way, I'll keep you posted.

~C

Maybe I'm just not the apple loving type, but nothing in today's WWDC marketing ploy announcement about the 3G iPhone sold me on jumping on the bandwagon, extending my AT&T contract for another 2 years, and buying one. 

A more curvaceous iPhone with faster data and a lower price, and the apple faithful are all but foaming at the mouth. Why? (Maybe it's something in the water?)

Last I checked, 3G or not, the iPhone still didn't have a replaceable battery, nor a good quality camera, nor greater storage capacity than 16gb. 

As I explained in detail to the sales person at the Apple Store (who was foolish enough to say to me, "the iPhone rocks!"), 16gb is not, and will never be, a suitable amount of storage for a device marketed as an iPod companion replacement.  At 192kbps compression, 16gb stores at most 10,000 songs; assuming not adding any additional applications, or video.

Bottom line is, I don't see what all the fuss is about - and am anticipating the launch of the Xperia X1 that much more now. 

Apple showed their hand, and the end result was unsurprising at best, and outright boring at worst.

~C