Microsoft Surface : First Impressions

As an 'Apple Fanboy', my expectation when I heard of the 'Microsoft Surface' announcement was very low. Microsoft were bound to try to compete with the iPad, and my instant reaction was that they would fail. This was before I actually looked into the Product. 

Following a detailed look at it, I must say that I am surprised at the product they have come out with.

Quite honestly, I think it is a very good attempt at competing with the iPad.

Aesthetically it is incredibly easy on the eye. Even though it features a built in kickstand and keyboard (Which I will speak about in more detail later on), they have still managed to create an appealing design. As you can see from the image, the back of it is attractive, and they have done a very good job with the incorporation of the stand. This is a very useful thing to have around at all times, and makes it very user friendly. 

The only thing I find unattractive on this product is the different coloured keyboard options. The black version looks fantastic, but for me I think the other colours look quite tacky and, well a bit 'plastic'. They just don't seem to go with the actual tablet, which is a shame. Personally I feel a black outline to the keyboard (on the keys and build) would help it to blend in. A shame, but still not a huge issue with the success of the product.

Microsoft have clearly aimed this at a very wide audience, hoping to tempt as many people away from the iPad as possible. The colour options make it more appealing to many who prefer brighter coloured devices. Although this doesn't include me, I know there are many people (like my mum), who will be drawn in by a bright pink keyboard!

The Operating System is, as expected, the Windows 8 'Metro' design. Having used the Release Preview of Windows 8, you can tell when using a mouse that it is designed for touch use - so I went ahead and attached a Touch Screen monitor so I could test it out. Unexpectedly, it actually runs very smoothly. Considering it is far from ready, I was pleasantly surprised by its usability. This can only be a good thing for the Surface. It may have the capability to draw away even the most loyal iOS users. 

The most important thing, as I mentioned before, was that this competes with the iPad. Microsoft are way behind in the tablet market, and this is a very good start for them. The kickstand and keyboard may just sway it for them for many users. Though a tablet, there are many who will want to use it as, in a way, a more portable laptop. This does that for them, once the kickstand and keyboard is out, it is practically a laptop. If the Operating System can hold its own, Microsoft may be on to a winner.

In conclusion, Microsoft seem to have done a good job. They have certainly created a product capable of  scratching the surface of the tablet market, and I for one look forward to seeing whether it can fulfill its promise. It can only be a good thing for Tech Enthusiasts everywhere that there is a strong competitor to the iPad - it can only push technology further and faster. It will be very exciting to see what Apples next move with the iPad is following this release.

I know most readers of this blog will be fans of Apple, just like me, so apologies if this article doesn't appeal to you. However, I felt the news to be something of importance to all tech enthusiasts, and couldn't help myself!

Thanks for reading, leave a comment with your thoughts.

Twitter - @Harrtron.

Film Review : Tsotsi

I recently watched Johannesburg-based Crime-Drama 'Tsotsi' in Class. We are researching 'World Cinema' for A-Level, and how cultural differences can effect how popular films around the world. I did not expect to enjoy the film as I, blinded by the way I was brought up, expected a foreign film to be nothing compared to Blockbusters. Boy was I wrong.

The opening scenes are the most powerful, I do not want to spoil the film as I believe it is very worth watching, but what happens at the begging has a great effect on the end. It's the same as most films really, the 'scene is set'. We find out a bit about the characters, but the events that happen are very disturbing and make you really despise the characters at first. Being branded a 'Crime' film, these events were always going to occur in Tsotsi, but the brutal way in which it happened was the most surprising. I did not quite expect it.

Throughout the film you begin to feel connected to each character - even the 'gangsters'. We find out in the film that Tsotsi isn't actually the characters real name - it means 'Thug'. I was most surprised because, even though the film is in a difference language, I felt like I could truly understand all of the characters. Their culture was being portrayed on screen the entire time, and I did not struggle to understand it as much as I expected. Infact, I did feel sorry for them in many ways. It truly makes you value what you have, when you see the hideous events that occur over in those countries because of Poverty.

In terms of micro-features, the lighting in colour throughout the film was spectacular. Some of the shots are absolutely beautiful, and the way the colour is used to portray the area really is exciting. Though the areas are often very quiet, we see much more in them than would be expected. It just shows how much more there really is in a poor area like that, than you expect to find. The camera-angles throughout are very interesting aswell, and have a very big effect on the way we see the area and the characters that inhabit it. It's hard to explain the angles without visual-aid, but they are very unique and intriguing to watch. Gavin Hood truly did a marvelous job.

In conclusion, I highly recommend the film. Do not let the prospect of Subtitles put you off, it really has very little effect on the experience. The events you will watch are very worth-while, and the ending is, though rather predictable, also an emotional one. World Cinema deserves much more credit than it receives, and I hope that this article will lead to the broadening of your cinema-viewing horizons.

Life without an iPhone.

Recently I lost my iPhone (Silly me, I know..), and was forced to go a week without it, before my insurance replaced it with a new one. In this time, I missed it a stupid amount... Here are some of the reasons.

Firstly, The iPhone allows you to check your email whereever you are. I find myself checking my emails all the time, and I wouldn't if I didn't have the phone. So when I was forced to use an old-fashioned Nokia, I was stunned to find I couldn't hit up my inbox on my way to school! It's suprising how much the iPhone can be used for, and if you own one, I think you'll agree that it's impossible to go back.

Secondly, and following on from email, I could not use Twitter and Facebook on the go! Alot of modern day phones have apps for social networking, but without it it's quite a shock. I don't use them too much anyway, but it really is a shock to the system not being able to check out some tweets during the day.

Thirdly, the iPhone's gaming is alot of fun compared to other phones. I haven't found a phone that has games that come anywhere near to the iPhone's. The accelerometer works flawlessly and the touch-screen is perfect, infact i'd say there isn't another touch screen phone that compares with the quality of the screen. Other phones use pressure etc. for the screen, but the iPhones works fantastically and picks up the slightest touch from the users finger.

Anyway, this post is pretty much finished now. There's more, but i'm sure you all know it - especially if you have one! If not, I'll just be drawing you in!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you liked the post. Please hit me up on the following:

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KORG Electribe EMX-1 Review

The Electribe EMX-1 is a ground-breaking instrument, which is a part of a series of Dance tools. To create music on the EMX, pattern-based programming is used to create sounds beyond your imagination.

Sometimes thought of as a Synthesizer, or even a 'Mixer' of some kind, the EMX allows the user to create sounds using many knobs to change effects, and filters such as Cutoff, Reasonance, and also Modulation such as Pitch, and Amp to create interesting Wobble effects which can be used in Dubstep music.

The EMX uses a Cutting-Edge MMT synthesis engine, and has Twin Vacuum Tubes for Analog Warmth. Vacuum Tubes, though considered a thing of the past in the world of music, add an interesting 'warm' feeling to the sound produced, though it is actually recommended that you leave Tube Gain at it's minimum.

It is possible to use any MIDI Keyboard with this, especially the microKORG Keyboard, as it's made to work with the EMX. There is a keyboard built in to the EMX, however there are no keys - you just use the pattern keys and change the bar with directional arrows. For this price you may expect a slightly more impressive keyboard implemented, but it does the trick for me and I have no major issues .. though I have used a Keyboard with it and it does make it easier to make catchy melodies due to not having toswitch between bars.

Having used the EMX for a couple of months now, I have to say it is a very interesting piece of equipment. At around £450, it certainly isn't cheap to try, but I must recommend it as I have always been a fan of music, and this has allowed me to have a shot at it. I have been able to make all the sounds I want, from Peaceful Electronica to Devastating Dub .. You can do it all with this fascinating device. A few artists who use the EMX are - Calvin Harris, Enter Shikari, and Lady Gaga, to name a few.

Overall, I highly recommend this, especially for 'forward-thinking' musicians. You can make truly unique music with it, and even for the huge price I think it's very much worth it! The design is very nice, the blue is metallic which gives it a nice, shiny appearance. The buttons light up too which is looks impressive - even though it's simple! I'm very pleased with the product, and I hope many more people take the risk with the amount of money I did!

It is incredibly confusing at first, but if you sit down with the trusty manual (which by the way is very informative), you can find yourself making tunes beyond your wildest dreams in no time. I have created a song for my Artists Page on MySpace.. which you can find here. My first main song is called 'Flight of the Dove', and is mainly a peaceful tune. I made it in less than a day, and will display it here to hopefully give you guys a nice insight on what can be created with this. Don't be too critical as it is recorded in terrible quality and is just a quick snippet, no vocals yet or anything!

Flight of the Dove [LOW-QUALITY PREVIEW] by HarleyThorneMusic.

Thanks for reading my post, and I hope you found this interesting! Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, HavokHarrTV, and also follow me on twitter, @Harr2k9!

Bouncedown: iPod touch/iPhone App Review

Bouncedown is an app which is currently at the very top of the 'Top 25' Free Downloaded apps. Personally, I have no idea why Jagex have made it free though.

This app is great, It's very addicting and has already given me hours of fun when I would otherwise have been bored. There is a vast selection on which controls you use which is great because it means more users will get to play the way they are suited to.

Though there are not many cons, one has to be that there is no online leaderboard - I question why but hopefully there will be one in an update soon.

I can only tell you all, Get this app because it's so much fun! Maybe not absolutely everyones cup of tea, but I'm sure it isn't just me who finds this addicting! I've never had so much fun moving sideways on platforms that are moving upwards towards spikes. Once you set a high-score though - You just wanna beat it!

The User Interface is nice, and the design is very fun and suites the target audience - however I am one 16 year-old who looooves the design. The animated background featuring the blue blob character thing really sets it off and looks great!

Overall I think the app is great (as you can probably tell!), and I apologise for the vast amount of Exclamation Marks in this post - but the app deserved them ;]