Archive for February, 2009

NYC Toy Fair Transfomers

No response, Feb 23, 2009

 

Last week was a thrilling week for me, first started with the new Transformers trailer.  Then coinciding during that weekend was the New York Toy Fair. 

And what happened at the NY Toy Fair? A lot of Transformers toys are what happened. 

Below are a few of the gems.

Devestator

First up is Devastator. As excited as I am to see him(them?) enter the series I find his face disgusting. Green slimy vapor stuff??? Really? 

I have also read rumors that the individual toys will be sold in two fashions, one the vehicles transform into their individual robot mode, while the other forms into Devastator. If this is true then I find it rather pathetic of Hasbro. I was looking forward to blow a good chunk of my pay-cheque on this, but if that is true then no way.

Skids
Mudflap

 

Next the twins, Skids on the top and Mudflap on the bottom.  Not a lot is clear on their character, but judging by their goggley-eyes, I imagine, yet dread they will be some sort of comical relief. 

God help us.

 

Bumblebee

 

 The last movie figure is Bumblebee. For whatever reason I really liked the look of this figure.  I didn’t buy a Bumblebee last time around, and glad I didn’t, I find this figure far more attractive then the first.  This Bumblebee figure will come in a two pack with a Sam Witwicky figure. Yes a Shia Leboeuf figure, I wouldn’t of guessed it either. 

I would highly recommend checking out the rest of the in-depth gallery over on seibertron.com 
There you will find about 150 pictures ranging from new Optimus to the individual Constructicons.  

via seibertron

An evening with DRM.

No response, Feb 09, 2009

I have recently purchased Pineapple Express DVD which included a bonus digital copy.  I never used a bonus digital copy before; I would simply download a version, if I wanted it on my computer. However this time I decided that I would rather try the legal alternative. And after 45 minutes of DRM, confusion, and a new found account with iTunes, it is finally in the download stage.

Unlike the 90 some odd percentage of people who own an iPod; I own a Zune. I am aware of the repercussions of not owning a mainstream product. My first MP3 player was a Dell.

1312

At the beginning of the process, I inserted the DVD. Found a questionable looking .exe file, which brought up a tyrannical demand that I use Internet Explorer. Ignoring the order I happily continued typing in my codes using Chrome. Hitting the submit button I found myself bitch-slapped with another order to use IE. Those orders alone nearly caused me to forgo my newfound legal path and reunite with my questionable yet path of ease.

 

Re-typing every-thing using I.E. I found myself with the option of obtaining either the PC or PSP version. I first opted for the PC version and finding a .wmv file on my desktop; incompatible with the Zune.

Next option I could obtain an .mp4 PSP version.  Since the mp4 version is what I need; I chose the PSP version, after I typed my code for the third time. I found a program searching for my non-existent PSP.

Third and final option being solely listed on the DVD label, not in the DVD, iTunes. Now curious to see how far this excruciating process would last. I grudgingly installed iTunes. Typed my code, and then forced to create an account, which includes credit card.

Through all the useless steps I have taken thus far, this was the first step that offended me, with how far the stubborn scared companies are of the internet. However for the sake of seeing how long this would take, I registered.  

As of right now Pineapple Express is downloading from the iTunes store, with 45 minutes remaining. Once this finishes, and if it works flawlessly, then the process of obtaining this movie will be about two hours.  In that time I could of found a torrent, downloaded, converted to mp4, and transferred to my Zune.

Explain how the legal method is the best?

 

EDIT: The iTunes version is not recognized by the Zune software; claiming “The file was obtained by an online store that Zune does not recognize.” I am now converting the file on my own. 

EDIT AGAIN: It refuses to convert to any compatible file. This is the first time I have had this problem. I will assume it is due to the DRM embedded into the video file. 

No response, Feb 01, 2009

 

ZOMFG!!!1!!