greybox /// original web media content

Oh Apple…

In 10 years he’ll be calling me a “fag” on XBL

But it’s goddamn cute!

Party submission position

So you can pretty much stop watching this year’s E3 coverage because the only truly important content came out yesterday: the first trailer and gameplay for Valve’s Portal 2. Of course the major surprise they had been teasing fans with turned out to be nothing more than officially announcing Portal 2 for the PS3, presumably as their first homegrown PS3 port rather than allowing EA to subcontract it out as they did with the original Portal. Gabe Newall, bad ass, went on to say that the PS3 release would be the best console version because of the ability to integrate it with Steam for updates and new content, bypassing Microsoft’s grip on Xbox Live.

I understand why Valve would come around to developing for the PS3 in spite of bashing the platform nearly non stop since the console launched. As much as I prefer the XBox library and the stability and usability of XBL, Microsoft does seem to wield and unnecessarily tight grip over the XBL updates, DLC and patches. A developer fighting to release free DLC and updates isn’t something that should be discouraged (especially in the day and age of Activision’s $15 lameass map packs) and I wouldn’t be totally surprised if Steam becomes integrated with XBL at some point in the future. But at the moment, it’s SONY that’s compromising a bit of its pie in order to get an endorsement from Valve.

Valve however is leveraging their prowess at content distribution via Steam against the shortcomings of programming for the PS3. So while it may be a pain that they would prefer not to have to do, the ability to get Steam onto a console is enough of a coup to them to make it worthwhile. Some people seem to think this is a “PS3 win” when in reality it’s Valve’s.

For my part, I’ll probably pick up the 360 and PC/Mac versions. 360 for the ease of gameplay sitting on the couch eating ice cream and Doritos, and the PC/Mac for the updates/mods/support. Valve is and always will be the computer’s game company, so even if the PS3 ends up being the best console version – the PC release will the the definitive release of Portal 2.

Polar

A little behind the curve but…

Holllly shit. I’ve been laughing so hard at this my ribs hurt.

Sad Keanu

It’s the hot new meme!

SubPixel and the Furries

I hope you enjoy this episode.
Please Digg it if you do.

Team killing

Yep. Apple is quickly losing favor over here at Greybox.

Any suggestions on a good MacBook Pro replacement that’s compatible with an easy OSX86 installation? With an expresscard slot would be awesome. Otherwise I guess it’s time to completely convert to Avid Media Composer and give up on FCP. Then again, FCP7’s update was kind of a joke… so that may not be such a terrible thing.

Grumble.

You and me

Opposite of Adults (Kids), by Chiddy Bang.

Yeah. This is going in my Summer 2010 playlist.

L’amour est un oiseau rebelle

This week we talked a lot about the browser Opera and the possibility of it making its way to the iPhone. However, Opera did not begin as a mobile browser. Nope, it started as a normal desktop browser competing with the likes of Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Yet, while a lot of people may not have used Opera – most of us have used technology that Opera pioneered.

Geek Technica has a great article from 2009 that talks about just that, 8 Browser Innovations Started by Opera. It’s pretty interesting stuff, and it might surprise you to learn just how much of the contemporary internet browser resembles what Opera was doing many years ago. Personally, I’m still a FireFox fan (though Chrome continues to interest me as it becomes more and more polished) but Opera always has a home on my computers as a secondary browser if/when I need it.

It’s unfortunate that Opera doesn’t really get the credit it’s due, but I think a large part of that is because that when it really mattered – when Opera could have been indoctrinating a group of alt-browser fans – Opera was pay software. Up against free browsers like IE and Netscape, it’s not exactly shocking it never gained a higher market share. Once Netscape died and the whole Mozilla+FireFox thing began, well, the successor to the IE alternatives was all but decided.  Still, that does not diminish just how creative and visionary the Opera team is.

Forklift training!

For all you forklift operators out there, make sure you watch this video before operating. The video gets real good about halfway in. now i know what your thinking, “hey its in german”! Fear not my friends there are subtitles and the fundamental message is there in black and white and sometimes red!