Apple iPhone and related items (cont.)

[Kid_Eternity]

Legally, he's entitled to his money back.

Realistically, she or he wouldn't bother but would go to the makers site expecting a patch. I've been a gamer for over 25 years and not once have I or any of my friends taken a PC game back because we know how it is...

 

[Sunray]

I'm guessing that legally you could do that with iTunes too if you wrote a letter etc. etc.

But considering how the platform is designed to give you updates to fix problems as you go along and how noone ever ever releases fully robust software anymore (not like the good old days where releases were held back until they were well and truly ready and tested) you can kinda see how its not really something they want to make easy.

What days were those?

 

[editor]

Realistically, she or he wouldn't bother but would go to the makers site expecting a patch. I've been a gamer for over 25 years and not once have I or any of my friends taken a PC game back because we know how it is...

You've bought some software that wouldn't work as advertised and just accepted it in the hope that an update might come?

Fuck that. I've had several refunds over the years when programs haven't worked as advertised. Even the people at Note Studio (Palm) offered me a full refund when it went wrong - and I've been using it for two years!

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Small dev companies are usually good about that sort of thing, if they're any good, IME. They'll try to solve your problem but if they can't they'll give you your money back. Giant corporate bastards like EA though....

It's something I was thinking about recently when I couldn't get Fallout 3 working. I'd paid twenty quid or whatever it was for it on Steam - what if it had just kept crashing all the time? Legally software is considered a "service" I believe and isn't covered by sale of goods legislation, but there would still be certain rights involved.

 

[Kanda]

Have had no problems with it here.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

You've bought some software that wouldn't work as advertised and just accepted it in the hope that an update might come?

Fuck that. I've had several refunds over the years when programs haven't worked as advertised. Even the people at Note Studio (Palm) offered me a full refund when it went wrong - and I've been using it for two years!

Please, don't start with your usual moving the goal posts debating tactics, we're talking about games not general software. And yes plenty of times games have come that haven't worked (although the term as advertised is a non starter given the different graphical powers of various PC set ups) quite as advertised and yes I and others and just gone meh wait for the patch. It just happens, Sim City on the touch/iPhone will be patched and will run fine. Mark my words.

 

[paolo]

Having found the Apple ear phones just not doing it for me, I thought I'd take the plunge on some in-ear jobbies.

The new Apple ones seemed good on paper, with dual drivers, remote with lots of functions. I they'd have been in stock at Regent Street a week ago, I'd have bought them without question. Glad I couldn't though. Turns out the volume control doesn't work with the iPhone, and user reviews have said they are bass-light (or even bass-non existent).

Instead I've just picked up some Sennheiser MM50s. Reviews have criticised them in the other direction - bass heavy - but that suits me fine. Waaay louder and punchier than the stock head phones (not difficult, arguably). I've just tried some Burial, and it's like hearing it as new - if that's not sounding too clichéd.

So, anyone thinking of getting the new Apple ones, you might want to do some research.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

What do people make of these iPhone HD rumours?

 

[editor]

What do people make of these iPhone HD rumours?

Well, if the bigger screens are already out there, why not? They're going to need something to entice users to upgrade.

 

[Kanda]

What do people make of these iPhone HD rumours?

What rumours?

What does iPhone HD mean?

Screen is fine for me, amazing picture most of the time. I wouldn't upgrade just for higher res (yup, I won't!! Honest )

 

[editor]

What rumours?

What does iPhone HD mean?)

It means high definition screen. The HTC Touch's screen has over twice the number of pixels as the iPhone's and it looks fantastic.

Oh, and here's the Top Ten banned iPhone apps. Weird that they let some utter crap ones through, but ban other crap ones.

10. Flash
9. Zune Skins for iPhone
8. Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the iLounge Lizards
7. Backlit LCD Monitor Buyers Guide
6. ThankGodCopyPaste!
5. iBong
4. Chess (Free Version)
3. AT&T iPhone Contract for Dummies
2. Battery Monitor Pro
1. Steve Jobs Health Timer

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=2669

 

[paolo]

Was going to comment on the rumour. Might hide for a bit.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Nah have your say man!

 

[asbestos]

Was going to comment on the rumour. Might hide for a bit.

The Editor has an iPhone in his Christmas stocking?

 

[Sunray]

This does look very cool indeed and a decent price at 5.99.

 

[editor]

Sorry, but that looks like a Fisher Price game to me!

 

[Crispy]

Maybe they'll do a grownup version with a tortured-soul lead character, on a quest to avenge his father's death at the hand of his one true love who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in a fire at the mansion, by jumping on platforms and collecting things.

 

[Gromit]

Been playing SimCity.

Did 2.5 hours straight on Sunday Morning. That chomped 80% of my battery. Its a power hungry game. Be warned. Not one to play on a long train journey where there is no charger socket etc.

 

[editor]

Maybe they'll do a grownup version with a tortured-soul lead character, on a quest to avenge his father's death at the hand of his one true love who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in a fire at the mansion, by jumping on platforms and collecting things.

Hey, if you're wowed by graphics that look like they were drawn by a not-particularly-talented child, that's good enough for me.

Enjoy!

Been playing SimCity.

Did 2.5 hours straight on Sunday Morning. That chomped 80% of my battery. Its a power hungry game. Be warned. Not one to play on a long train journey where there is no charger socket etc.

That's where the lack of a user replaceable battery can really kick in. Mind you, the game does look great on the iPhone. It won't even run on my Palm any more, and even then it was pretty basic looking stuff

 

[Crispy]

Luckliy for me, I don't dismiss games based on their appearance, preferring to let the gameplay speak for itself. This way, I don't miss out a good game due to a blinkered view of how a videogame should look.

 

[Gromit]

Hey, if you're wowed by graphics that look like they were drawn by a not-particularly-talented child, that's good enough for me.

Enjoy!That's where the lack of a user replaceable battery can really kick in. Mind you, the game does look great on the iPhone. It won't even run on my Palm any more, and even then it was pretty basic looking stuff

I wouldn't have done two and a half hours if it was rubbish.

Yeah lack of a replacement battery sucks. We all know that. No one is going to dispute you there. We've all agreed that time and time again.

 

[Gromit]

Luckliy for me, I don't dismiss games based on their appearance, preferring to let the gameplay speak for itself. This way, I don't miss out a good game due to a blinkered view of how a videogame should look.

I do sometime wish the games industry understood this:

If the gameplay is excelent people will play it even if it doesn't look good.
If the gameplay is shit people won't play it no matter how good it looks.
Place the majority of your importance on developing gameplay.

 

[Sunray]

Hey, if you're wowed by graphics that look like they were drawn by a not-particularly-talented child, that's good enough for me.

Enjoy!That's where the lack of a user replaceable battery can really kick in. Mind you, the game does look great on the iPhone. It won't even run on my Palm any more, and even then it was pretty basic looking stuff

Thats rubbish.

Just buy a portable battery pack. The only time the replaceable battery issue kicks in is when the one I have starts to die. I can get some serious play time with my phone plugged into my external battery.

 

[Sunray]

Looks like the iPhone is a financial headache for mobile operators....

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/132/1050132/iphone-is-the-paris-hilton-of-cellular

 

[editor]

Thats rubbish.

Just buy a portable battery pack. The only time the replaceable battery issue kicks in is when the one I have starts to die. I can get some serious play time with my phone plugged into my external battery.

Oh come on: portable battery packs are OK for extended breaks away (I've got two of them by Proporta), but they're considerably more bulky than replacement batteries and not the kind of thing you can pop in your pocket.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

This does look very cool indeed and a decent price at 5.99.

Looks very much like Loco Roco - not that that's at all a bad thing.

If you like the look of that take a look at Dizzy Bee; there's a demo version and the full price one isn't very expensive. Playing it does make you look like a tit though, tilting the phone all over the shop and swearing.

 

[editor]

Luckliy for me, I don't dismiss games based on their appearance, preferring to let the gameplay speak for itself. This way, I don't miss out a good game due to a blinkered view of how a videogame should look.

Sorry. I didn't realise that it was such bad form to offer any criticism of a game's graphics (I haven't actually criticised the game's gameplay by the way, just the graphics.)

For such a lavish, eye-candy laden platform as the iPhone, I found them rather disappointing.

 

[editor]

Looks like the iPhone is a financial headache for mobile operators....

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/132/1050132/iphone-is-the-paris-hilton-of-cellular

All good news for Android's future, I would have thought.

The best bit, the INQ thinks, is that Strand says it's all journalists' fault. The Ithingey has apparently received too much press attention, "probably due to an uncritical press that have allowed themselves to be seduced by Apple's unique PR machine."

LOL.

 

[Crispy]

My remark wasn't aimed specifically at you, but at people in general who use graphics as a measuring stick for judging a game.

 

[Crispy]

All good news for Android's future, I would have thought.

I would have thought that the inflated internet use would be similar on both platforms. Although android wins due to the abscence of profit-sharing terms with the manufacturer.