abrad45.com

Oh, Apple

June 09, 2017109 words | 1 minute read

9to5Mac on HEVC and HEIF:

At this year’s jam-packed WWDC 2017, Apple introduced two new camera formats that are included in iOS 11: HEVC and HEIF. In using the new camera formats, Apple estimates users will be able to save up to 50% on storage needs, without any loss in image quality. This becomes the perfect solution for users on lower capacity devices, that still want to take advantage of the iPhone’s great camera.

All I heard when they announced this was "we really love collecting $0.99 a month from you suckers who need 50GB of iCloud storage space, so much so that we invented a new file format."

The Women's March On Washington

January 22, 201749 words | 2 minute read

I had plans yesterday and was unfortunately unable to participate in any of the protests which, yesterday, contributed to what was likely the largest series of protests in the history of the United States.

Here are some of my favorite tweets and signs from yesterday, in no particular order:

Small Goals for 2017

January 17, 201794 words | 1 minute read

I've realized that my primary internet home, this site, has been neglected and empty for too long. I'd like to change that by posting shorter, less edited thoughts more frequently. This post serves as a start of that, by discussing a few goals I've got for 2017

  • Blog more (see above).
  • Instagram more.
  • Double 2016's charitable donations.
  • Play more video games. Complete more video games.
  • Give more thoughtful gifts.
  • Contribute to at least one OSS project.
  • Donate time, not just money, to others.
  • Learn to juggle.
  • Be kinder.
  • Care less about every little thing.

My Switch Decision

January 17, 2017599 words | 3 minute read

I'm getting a Nintendo Switch on day one. The launch layout is nothing special, but it includes The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is enough for me. I think I'm more excited about BotW than I've been about any game that's come out in the last decade.

Here's what I'm planning to pick up by 3/3:

  • Nintendo Switch with Gray Joy-Cons: I may have gotten the neon Joy-Cons if they were available for pre-order, but by the time I found them in a store near me, that was not an option. I think the gray ones make the system look a bit more "professional" than having two different-colored neon bars stuck on the side of your console.
  • Breath of the Wild: Special Edition: This is the one I was able to preorder. I totally don't need a ~10" Master Sword statue, but I'll totally get one instead if I have the choice when I pick my system up.
  • Switch Pro Controller: Having one of these around is sort of essential. It's borderline inexcusable that it's $70, but I'd like to be able to play with the best controller for the job, and I expect for BotW, this'll be it.
  • Snipperclips: This $20 eShop game looks good and is supposedly super fun. It'll be a good way to cleanse the palate after marathon Zelda sessions.

  • All the Breath of the Wild Amiibos: looks like this will be five amiibos for $84:

    • Guardian
    • Bokoblin
    • Zelda
    • Link (Archer)
    • Link (Rider)
  • A Micro SD Card: The Switch has 32GB. I'm not sure how much this will end up mattering in practice for someone who primarily purchases physical games, but a SanDisk 128GB Micro SDXC card is only $40 on Amazon right now.

That's about it, honestly. I'm comfortable getting the system, learning how it works and what it's good for, and playing Zelda for a few hundred hours until April when Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes out. I'm excited for Skyrim, Splatoon 2, ARMS and Super Mario Odyssey as well, whenever they'll come out.

Later on, I expect to get:

  • Switch Dock Set: For $90, you essentially get to have a second switch on a second television, which seems really worth it to me. I travel to my parents for the weekend quite often, and getting to play my games on the big screen there would be really great, especially around the holidays.
  • More Joy-Cons: Joy-Cons cost $50 right now and include the $8 wrist strap. I expect over time that'll drop by $10-15, and wouldn't be surprised if games in the future included limited edition colors / designs of Joy-Cons L and R for $100-120. Speaking of, 1-2-Switch would be great if, for $100, it included a set of limited edition Joy-Cons, similar to how Wii Play was only $10 more than a Wiimote.
  • Some Joy-Con charging solution: I'm holding off on this now, but would love a better solution for charging Joy-Cons than plugging them into the docked console, but will wait to use the system before making this decision for real.

Final Notes

  • Nintendo's official switch site says the Switch includes a "Joy-Con Grip". Nintendo separately sells a "Joy-Con Charging Grip" -- are these different?
  • I understand how profit margins work, but for the $300 a Switch costs, you get items Nintendo sells for $200 separately: an $80 set of Joy-Cons, a $90 Switch Dock and a $30 Joy-Con Grip. It feels like, of these, the spare Dock is not including cables or the console itself. I don't think $300 is an outsize cost for a portable home console.
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