so i decided not to buy the zune (apparently like many others..).
two main reasons why i will not buy zune:
it is a brick. heavier than the iPod with the 80GB.. i will not want to carry it in my pocket or on my neck (where my current iPod nano is most of the time)
the microsoft capitulation to the media companies. the wifi sharing features were supposed to be the key differentiation from the iPod, but the way it is implemented makes it useless. the DRM is implemented in such a way that if i share an MP3 file with a friend, the friend will only be able to listen for it 3 times or for 3 days, even if there is no protection on it.
i think microsoft made a big mistake with the way they implemented the sharing. unlike the weight which is a design mistake that can (and will) be corrected in v2.0 the DRM decision is a philosophical one.
until they will not change their approach i will not be buying it.
it started of with a very poor performance by DJ Moni. she kept mixing different tracks, but didn't read the reactions from the crowd, which basically mostly stood still chatting.. rather than getting energized before massive attack takes the stage.
we just sat on the floor and waited for her to get off stage.
massive attack opened with one of the filler tracks. don't even know what its name is. but from the second song on it was a great show. much better than listening to the CD. it just kept getting better till the end.
during the performance they had a ticker flashing at the bottom of the stage, which they filled initially with trivia facts about NYC (like that this is where both the toilet paper and chewing gum where invented, together with more serious facts) and then mostly used to express their political views (i.e. bush sucks).
harmonix makes guitar hero which is a video game that let players play along popular songs, and works basically like dance, dance revolution.
we tried playing the game in a store in piermont a couple of months ago. i was TERRIBLE, but maskit picked it up quickly (i think she was playing Ziggy Stardust).
i think it will probably qualify as the video game that was most appealing to maskit ever. and i tried to get her involved in many with no success.
i don't know the metrics, but it seems like a very smart strategic acquisition for MTV. they could do a lot with tying it back to their TV and online businesses.
it was a really great performance starting with jose gonzalez that looked very uncomfortable on stage and with all the attention from the crowd, but did magic with his guitar and authentic voice. after about an hour zero 7 and sia took the stage. sia has enough energy for the whole group. she dances awful, and has a poor tastes in clothes, but she gets the crowd going. she has a great voice and charisma, and her presence on stage makes all the difference.
it was the first time i saw a band that part of their setup on stage includes a bar where whomever is currently not playing/singing is making drinks for himself and the rest of the group. they certainly seem to know how to have fun.
overall it was a great night. and we should do it more often.
