geek alert with Microsoft SmartGlass

I love gaming. I love being a Geek. I love knowing things about boring stuff and being enthusiastic about it.
I could talk about Assassins Creed III's release towards the end of October, which I am way too excited about, but there's bigger Batarangs in my Batbelt! I'll try not place in too many gaming references.

Microsoft released information about their latest gadget at this years E3 Conference back in June. To fill you in, E3 is a huge annual computer and video game trades show. E3 stands for The Electronic Entertainment Expo, hence E3. Microsoft announced SmartGlass, I'ts a new smartphone and tablet app that you can download to iPhone, Android Handsets or a Windows Phone. It connects to your Xbox live account and works along side you while you watch films, TV and even when playing the latest Games Releases.

Nintendo Wii have brought out something similar. The Wii Tablet (Wii U) as a new type of remote control... almost like a huge TV sized Nintendo DS in your living room that reacts to and moves the game along. But the SmartGlass is different. 1) It's pretty much available for anyone with a phone/tablet and Xbox. 2) You don't need to buy any new hardware. And 3) I believe It may even be a free app.

You know the Mission Impossible films when people stand around about 4-5 virtual screens swiping and moving things from one screen to the other. It's pretty much going to be that. So in game when you want to bring up the menu to change settings, selecting a new weapon or item, viewing the map and selecting your next location or when you cant for the life of you remember what that actress' name is while watching a film or program, you just pick up your phone and its all there ready for you.

I just love this futuristic feel. It might be a bit much. But were better to use over the top tech than when your running around pretending to be a warlock, or a half man half machine, or even Batman.

Anyway, Im off to Geek-out somewhere else about the possibilities.

Much Love! 
Alanna x-x-x

Check out the video link below. Pretty much sums it up, watch out for the cheesiness.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/smartglass

Alanna's Rant (It's long and has no pictures)

I would definitely say I'm not well read and I definitely don't claim to be, but I've always liked the idea.
It takes me a really long time to find a book I love and continue to read beyond the first few pages.
So, what's annoying is when said book is found and the ending is ruined by circumstance of location.
 WHY DID I HAVE TO READ IT ON THE TRAIN!?

I'm purposely not disclosing my choice of book (no, it's not Fifty Shades of Grey) as it has been made into a film and people would tell me off for neither seeing the film and/or reading the book in the first place (also if you where thinking of reading it, it means I don't ruin the ending for you).

I decided to pick up this book and then after completion, watch the film. After finishing and being left with a thought provoking book, my own resolutions and my own ideas of what may happen to the characters after the paper back was closed, I bought the film and really enjoyed it... untill the second to last scene revealed to me a completely new revelation.

Let me explain. So, when reading the book, in the second to last chapter, the protagonist (male) asks a very important question (you can probably guess the question) to a Girl he just met and has become infatuated with, very quickly. In the next and last chapter we see that he is still with his long time girl friend, but essentially in the end the reader is left to decide whether or not he decides to stay with the girl friend or start a new with this other woman. This, I really liked. It made sense not to know the outcome as the protagonist through-out the book is riddled with doubt and forever changing his mind. BUT! And a big but. In the film... he asks his Girl friend the very important question!

...Hang on... What! How dare they change the ending!... wait a minute

*pauses film and finds the book*

I FUCKING  READ IT WRONG!

Never before had I felt so stupid. I had been cheated. The general public and the distracting noises they make. A man on his phone, the mother and her child screaming at each other, they all made me miss it! This isn't fair. The first book I have read for 2 years and they ruin it! Stupid trains.

Now, the characters live happily ever after! Which I am sure I would have loved if I had read it that way in the first place. There is a definite difference between my ending and the films... and it therefore ruined both experiences for me. I'm never reading on the train again.



..........I suppose It's my own fault.


I guess there Is a reason I'm not well read.