The Big Picture | Technology

Coming Soon: $200 Apple iPhone 3G

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | 04:30 PM

in Consumer Spending | Technology | Web/Tech

Hints, signs and portents are starting to pile up that Apple (AAPL) will soon deliver unto the world the 3G iPhone that has been heralded in prophecy ever since the current model was born.

That's according to GMSV, who also note:

* Apple announced there are no more iPhones left in its U.S. and U.K. online stores.

* Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says the devices are in short supply at many of the retail outlets as well.

* AT&T’s product listing includes a new option — “iPhone Black,” the rumored color of the 3G model.

* Apple has confirmed to Fortune that Steve Jobs will deliver a keynote address on June 9, the first day of Apple’s World Wide Developers conference.

* AT&T told retail employees not to schedule any vacation between June 15 and July 12 to ensure sufficient staffing for “an exciting Summer Promotional Launch.”

I have steadfastedly refused to buy the first gen, 2G iPhone. I have no need for a pricey gadget that only works on a slowpoke network, and neither do you. (Not that this small quibble prevented 10 million people from buying the gorgeous toy).

However, combine the above with Fortune's report of a forthcoming AT&T big price cut (bringing the price down to $199 for a 2 year contract) and I don't see how I can avoid becoming part of the iPhone nation. . .

The Air Car

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 | 04:00 AM

in Energy | Technology | Venture Capital

Compressed Air Vehicles

New Gadget: iPod to iPod

Monday, April 14, 2008 | 05:00 PM

in Digital Media | Music | Technology

Hey RIAA, suck on this one:

miShare is a sweet little gadget that facilitates song sharing via two iPods, no web connection required, no computer or cable is needed. With the gadget, you can share files, photos, videos and playlists between iPods. Just attach the source and target iPods and press miShare's button to start the transfer.

Sweet!

http://www.mishare.com/

Headline of the Day: Blockbuster Circuit City Merger

Monday, April 14, 2008 | 01:49 PM

in Financial Press | Technology

My favorite headline regarding the Blockbuster (BBI) with Circuit City (CC) merger comes from my friend John, formerly of GMSV, now of All Things Digital:

CircuitBuster Would Merge Failure With Fiasco http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20080414/circuitbuster/

Classic!

Google: Search One Day Into The Future

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 | 08:30 AM

in Technology | Web/Tech

Terrific new technology offering from the brainiacs at Google, allowing you to search precisely one day into the future.

Q: What about insider trading?
A: Let me search tomorrow's Google news to find out!

Excerpt:

A new Google program powered by artificial intelligence allows internet users to search web pages 24 hours before they're created, the company said today.

Google Australia said the new beta search technology which drives the gDay search feature can accurately predict future internet content – and even future events.

The gDay technology – developed in the company's Sydney engineering centre – uses machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques from a system called MATE, or Machine Automated Temporal Extrapolation.

The feature then creates a sophisticated model of what the internet will look like 24 hours from a given point by using the company's index of historic, cached web content and a combination of recurrence plots and "fuzzy measure" analysis.

(rubbing hands gleefully together) Excellent !

Source:
New Google search tool 'can see into future'
News Limited, April 01, 2008 06:30am
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23460961-5014239,00.html

Why Can't I Rip DVDs to My iPod?

Wednesday, March 05, 2008 | 06:30 PM

in Digital Media | Film | Technology | Television | Video

Legally, that is.

This is my annoyance of the moment: Why are DVDs a DRM-locked proprietary platform? When I purchase one, why can't I use this on a convenient, portable device such as my iPod?

What a pain in the arse it is to rip a DVD: Frist, you need to use several products (MP4 Converter, Handbrake, Ripper); 2nd, it takes forever. 3rd, and its illegal to do so.

What brought this about recently was The Simpson's Movie -- actually, more of an extended 90 minute episode. I saw it with my nephews (with me snoozing thru parts of it).

However, going through the extras, I started listening to producer/writer commentary. Unbelievably entertaining stuff, like a terrific radio show with several very funny people cracking each other up. I would have liked to put on the iPod for the train, but no such luck.

~~~

I can rip the basic movie, but not the special audio commentary. Anyone have a clue how to do that?

Sources:

The Complete Guide to Converting DVDs to iPod Format
Jerrod Hofferth
iLounge, November 21, 2005
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-complete-guide-to-converting-dvds-to-ipod-format-mac/

Rip DVDs To Your Mac To View On AppleTV And iPod.
Alexis Kayhill
Mac360, Friday, April 13, 2007
http://mac360.com/index.php/mac360/comments/rip_dvds_to_your_mac_to_view_on_appletv_and_ipod/

Money:Tech NYC Conference

Wednesday, February 06, 2008 | 09:00 AM

in Investing | Technology

As previously mentioned, I am a panelist at the Money:Tech conference today and tomorrow in NYC. (Blogs, Analysts, and the Future of Equity Research)

Tickets are $2,400 a piece -- and they are nearly sold out.

I have 10 comp ticket to give away.

Here are the simple rules:

1. Post a comment asking for it
2. Use your real email address -- not a garbage address. (No one sees it but me)
3. I will ping you, and you will send me registration info (Name, Company/School, Email and Phone #) -- and a sworn promise you will attend.

One caveat -- if you take a ticket, and then don't show up, you owe the full $2,400.

~~~

First 10 requests in comments gets 'em.

The Apple MacWorld Trade

Monday, January 14, 2008 | 09:30 AM

in Consumer Spending | Technology | Trading

With Macworld set to rile up the faithful tomorrow, you may be interested in how Apple's (AAPL) stock has done this week. Is it possible to make money off the Apple keynote talks given by Steve Jobs?

Well, here's your answer:

Via Keynote Index Fund

Game Over in Blu-Ray HD contest?

Tuesday, January 08, 2008 | 05:45 PM

in Digital Media | Film | Technology | Video

I've mentioned the Blu Ray/HD quandry in the past, but it seems the fight is drawing to its conclusion. In both the US and Europe, Blu-ray discs are significantly outselling HD DVDs.

But its this MacRumors chart (below) that pretty much sums up the battle:

Its hard to see how HD has a shot.

Now the question becomes how fast the prices drop on both the Blu Ray players and movies, but for now, I am sticking with an upconvert Sony for the big TV.

UPDATE: January 8, 2008 8:21pm

Why would prices go down?

As we previously discussed, I suspect many consumers have been on the sidelines awaiting the winner of the format war between Blu-Ray and HD.

As that fades away, the total number of purchases of the winner -- Blu Ray -- will go up significantly.

Thus, economies of scale, mass adaptation, and desires for deep market penetration will drive prices lower.

As to the monopoly issue -- I doubt its an issue. 1) These are video playback toys, not an essential product or service; and B) There is still legit competition from ordinary DVD players (fer cryin out loud, you can still buy VCRs for $29).

My apologies for failing to explain the intermediate steps in my thinking . . .

2007 Movie Theater Attendance = Flat

Wednesday, January 02, 2008 | 08:41 PM

in Digital Media | Film | Technology

First CDs, then DVDs, concerts and now movie theater ticket sales

"Ticket sales at North American movie theaters totaled $9.7 billion, a 4% increase over the previous year, according to Media by Numbers, a box office tracking company.

But attendance was flat, after a narrow increase in 2006 and three previous years of sharp declines. Movie fans bought about 1.42 billion tickets last year, according to Media by Numbers. The high watermark of the last 10 years came in 2002, when moviegoers bought about 1.61 billion tickets . . .
But box office results are always a game of glass half-full and glass half-empty, and the half-empties this time seem more prominent.

DVD sales continue to slump both domestically and abroad. The private money that has washed over Hollywood in recent years is starting to slow, investment bankers say, as more hedge funds go home with little to show. And movie executives are worried about the impending collision between striking screenwriters and the important awards shows."
>

In other words, except for ticket price inflation, sales were flat . . .
>

Source:
A Film Year Full of Escapism, Flat in Attendance
BROOKS BARNES
NYT, January 2, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/movies/02year.html

New Business Model: Launch New Sites to Annoy/Sell to Apple

Thursday, December 27, 2007 | 12:48 PM

in Corporate Management | M&A | Technology | Web/Tech | Weblogs

As a longstanding Mac guy, I've spent way too much time defending Apple against people who just didn't understand them. But I have to wonder about their newfound zealotry for buying-to-close sites that play right into Apple's PR strategy by guessing/revealing what upcoming hardware is.

I assume that Fake Steve's discussion of the nastygrams and selling his site to Apple is bogus. Why would Apple even care? He's been outed, AND his book was released. Fake Steve jumped the shark.

~~~

But his posts have given me an idea for a new tech company: Just launch new sites that annoy Apple. Then as each one annoys Real Steve, sell them to Apple.

The obvious ones are the secrets, rumors, and new product launches. Launch plenty of those.

Then there are the sites that spider the patent office, looking at each and every filing Apple does, and surmising wild new products.

But my favorites go beyond Fake Steve, working down the list of fake Apple executives: Fake Peter Oppenheimer (CFO), fake Tim Cook (COO), fake Ron Johnson (Retail), fake Tony Fadell (iPod Division).

Even a Fake Steve Wozniak would be quite amusing, especially if he were portrayed as a bitter drunk (no, wait, that won't generate money from Apple . . .)

HD/Blu-Ray DVDs = $200

Monday, December 17, 2007 | 07:00 PM

in Film | Technology

Okay, they are not quite $200 -- but there are 4 machines on sale at Amazon.com, starting from $223 - $327, (shipping included). That's damn reasonable for an HD machine.

And, they include 10 free discs (5 with the player & 5 by mail) for the HD machines; The Blu-Ray player includes 5 free (by mail).

These Hi-Def DVD players (not recorders) have now dropped to the point where they are very very tempting . . .

HD:

• Toshiba HD-A35 1080p HD DVD Player for ~~$500~~ = $327 (with free shipping).

• Toshiba HD-A30 1080p HD DVD Player for ~~$400~~ = $233 (with free shipping)

• Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player for ~~$300~~ $224 (with free shipping)

BLUE RAY:
• Samsung BD-P1400 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player for ~~$500~~ $280 (with free shipping).

~~~

Note: The Samsung BD-P1400 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player is Amazon's best selling HD DVD (its Blu-Ray); The Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player was the best selling HD machine, but it was replaced by the HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player for ~~$300~~ $224 (with free shipping)

Nice find, via PVR BLog

Argggh!! APC Back up

Sunday, December 16, 2007 | 11:03 AM

in Technology

So after a few years of faithful service, the APC 500 backup begins chirping like a chick for its mother hen.

Given how unreliable the electrical system is here in the sticks (thank you LIPA), the backup is a huge lifesaver for the computer. Several times a week, the power levels drop -- not a full black out, but a momentary loss that w/o the battery, the iMac would be toast.

Incidentally, this turns out to be one of the oddest -- and most useful and appreciated -- gifts I have ever received.

Not only does the uninterruptible power supply, well, not get interrupted, but I don't deal with all the nasty side effects of regular sudden power offs -- lost data, glitchy OS, program problems. I highly recommend getting a UPS if you don't use one.

A quick look up of the APC BP500US, and it turns out that the lead battery needs replacement. Okay, order a new one, ($25), it comes a few days later, charge it up overnight -- and the APC is still chirping away.

~~~

Before I spend some more time on hold with the Philippines trying to reset this, does anyone any shortcuts?

There has to be a simple way to reset this damn thing . . .

W.A.F.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007 | 02:30 PM

in Psychology/Sentiment | Technology | Web/Tech

In researching last week's Kindle post, I came across this interesting phrase: W.A.F.. Here's the definition:

wife acceptance factor n. In an object, especially an electronic device, that normally appeals only to men, the qualities or features added to or modified in the object to make it acceptable to women. Also: WAF

Example Citation:

The reality is that most traditional hi-fi equipment has been designed to appeal to male tastes, and consequently, more typically resembles scientific tools and industrial test equipment than your average home furniture. But, it seems, the growing pressures of the Wife Acceptance Factor is pushing stereo design in a new direction, and creating a new market in the process, one that seems to be marrying hi-fi performance with interior decorating.
—Gerald Levitch, "Heard but not seen," The Toronto Star, September 3, 1989

For any red-blooded American, married gadget-head, this is a major concern . . .

via Wordspy

Goldman Sachs: Sell Tech Selectively

Sunday, December 02, 2007 | 07:31 AM

in Apprenticed Investor | Corporate Management | Earnings | Technology | Valuation

Yeoman's work by Barron's Eric Savitz, who pens the must read techblog Tech Trader Daily, in assembling a laundry list of stocks downgraded by GS (published Friday after the bell).

The money quote from Goldman analysts states they have become "incrementally more cautious on tech fundamentals given the current macroeconomic backdrop."

Additionally, "with software a typically back-end loaded sale, if there is any concern on budgets in the early part of 2008, we would expect CIOs to hold off their purchases until later in the year."

The main area of concern: "Companies with large enterprise exposure and significant dependence on the U.S. consumer."

Ouch.

I have long advocated deciding on an exit strategy prior to owning a stock. While these downgrades may not mean immediately selling them, at the very least you should be revisiting your pre-planned exits. If you are unsure about selling, your trailing stop losses should give you some protection in the event of a selloff. If you are not using trailing stops, then you may want to tighten up your existing stops -- especially on those names that have enjoyed a good run.

What follows is a list of stocks affected by estimate cuts and/or price target changes by sector.

Semis/Chip stocks:

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
ATMI
Broadcom (BRCM)
Entegris (ENTG)
FormFactor (FORM)
International Rectifier (IRF)
Intel (INTC)
Intersil (ISIL)
Microchip (MCHP)
Micrel (MCRL)
Marvell MRVL)
Micron (MU)
Maxim (MXIM)
National Semi (NSM)
Nvidia (NVDA)
Teradyne (TER)
Texas Instruments (TXN)
Volterra (VLTR)

Hardware:

Dell
Directed Electronics (DEIX)
EMC
Emulex (ELX)
IBM
Intevac (IVAC)
Isilon (ISLN)
Lexmark (LXK)
Network Appliance (NTAP)
Sun Microsystems (Java)
Brocade (BRCD)

Goldman previously made similar moves this week in Software:

Adobe (ADBE)
Autodesk (ADSK)
BEA (BEAS)
BMC
Computer Associates (CA)
Check Point (CHKP)
Citrix (CTRX)
Cognos (CGNS)
CommVault (CVLT)
Informatica (INFA)
Macrovision (MVSN)
McAfee (MFE)
Oracle (ORCL)
Quest Software (QSFT)
Red Hat (RHAT)
RightNow (RNOW)
SAP
Secure Computing (SCUR)
Symantec (SYMC)
Tibco (TIBX)

Communications:

Netgear (NTGR)
Corning (GLW)
Cisco (CSCO)
Nortel NT)
Aruba (ARUN)
Juniper (JNPR)

Payment processing companies:

ADP
Paychex (PAYX)
Global Cash Access (GCA)
Global Payments (GPN)
Master Card (MA)
MoneyGram (MGI)
Amdocs (DOX)
Convergys (CVG)
CSG Systems (CSGS)
Synchronoss (SNCR)

IT services:

Accenture (ACN)
Bearing Point (BE)
Sapient (SAPE)
Affiliated Computer Services (ACS)
Computer Sciences (CSC)
EDS
Unisys (UIS)
Cognizant (CTSH)
ExlService (EXLS)
Infosys (INFY)
Patni (PTI)
Satyam (SAY)
Witpro (WIT)

Let me reiterate this: A downgrade on this many stocks is worth noting, but does not mean the world is ending. Experienced traders know to have a plan in effect, to follow their discipline, and to not get panicked into doing something foolish -- on the long or short side.

Sources:
Goldman Turns Wary On Tech Sector; Cuts Estimates, Targets For Dozens Of Stocks
Eric Savitz
Tech Trader Daily, November 30, 2007, 4:25 pm
http://tinyurl.com/yuqg75

Goldman Turns Cautious On Software, Citing Macro Factors; Cuts Ests
Eric Savitz
Tech Trader Daily, November 27, 2007, 9:41 am
http://tinyurl.com/ypl6u2

iPod, Sansa, Zune

Thursday, November 29, 2007 | 07:30 PM

in Digital Media | Technology | Web/Tech

Of all the portable media players I have used (and thats lots), none compares very favorably to the iPod.

But as of late, the gap between them is closing:

Today, long time Apple buff David Pogue gave a pretty nice review to the Zune. And I've spoken to many Sansa users who are very happy with that as their musical gadget of choice.

Its funny to me that Apple spent so many years as the oddball, anti-establishment PC. Now, Steve Jobs has become THE MAN, and other mainstream companies like Sandisk and Microsoft have become the plucky contrarian device makers.

Its somewhat amusing.

Today's NYT had two articles about burgeoning iPod comptitors: The new SanDisk Sansa View, and the revised Microsoft 2nd Generation Zune.

The Times noted the new SanDisk Sansa View compares favorably to the iPod Nano from Apple, at least on paper:

The View comes in 8-gigabyte ($150) and 16-gigabyte ($200) versions, while the Nano has 4 gigabytes ($150) or 8 gigabytes ($200). The View has a 2.4-inch screen as opposed to a 2-inch screen on the Nano. SanDisk claims 35 hours of audio and 7 hours of video playback on a single charge; the Nano claims 24 and 5. The View has a built-in FM radio; the Nano requires a $25 accessory for radio play.

And there’s more. The Nano’s storage capacity can’t be expanded, while the View can add as many as 8 gigabytes using a MicroSD card. The View is bigger than the Nano, about the size of an open slider phone, weighing in at 2.9 ounces compared with the Nano’s 1.74 ounces. In this case, bigger may actually be better"

And then Pogue's review of the Zune was not too bad either:

"You can navigate the Zune’s bright, clear, animated software by clicking the dial at any of its four compass points; select something by clicking the center; and — here’s the twist — scroll through lists by rubbing the pad’s face. Music-player companies have struggled for years to come up with a controller as good as the iPod’s click wheel; Microsoft, in Zune 2.0, has finally done it. The sound quality is very good, especially if you use the 80-gig Zune’s included earbuds. They’re not hard disks like the iPod’s and those of the smaller Zunes; they’re soft rubber bulbs that snuggle securely into your ear canals, sealing out the outside world. . . The 80-gig Zune is still thicker and chunkier than its iPod rival, too."

Me? I'm still an iPod guy:

Here are some of the iPod features that the Zune lacks: Games, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, password-protected volume limiter, graphic equalizer, notepad, auto-synched copy of your computer’s calendar and address book, and Disk Mode, which lets an iPod serve as an external drive for carrying around computer files. Above all, you may miss that thriving virtual bazaar of iPod accessories: more than 3,000 stereo docks, cases, car adapters, and so on, compared with only a handful for the Zune. Here are some of the iTunes software features missing in the Zune’s software: Smart Playlists, which assemble groups of songs based on criteria that you specify (“80’s up-tempo songs I haven’t heard in three months”), choice of visualizers (screen-saver effects that dance to the music), closed captioning for videos and TV, Cover Flow view, and a graphic equalizer. The Zune store is missing a lot of iPod features, too: TV shows, movies, audio books, monthly allowances and comprehensible pricing."

Sources:
A Portable Multimedia Player Takes on the Apple Nano
STEPHEN C. MILLER
NYT, November 29, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/technology/personaltech/29view.html

Microsoft Challenges the iPod (Again)
DAVID POGUE
NYT, November 29, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/technology/personaltech/29pogue.html

Google Page Rank

Friday, November 09, 2007 | 02:15 PM

in Technology | Web/Tech | Weblogs

The Big Picture has a Google Page Rank of ~6

via pr.blogflux.com

Note that this will shift, depending upon which page you are viewing it in -- the main pain, the post page, or something else entirely (i.e., frames). I've watched it bounce around from 0 to 4 to 6.

There has been some controversy lately about Google penalizing certain sites for link monkey business.

Compare this site's PageRanks with that of these MSM, before and after penalties:

Washington Post (from 7 to 5)

Washington Times (from 6 to 4)

Charlotte Observer (from 6 to 4)

Forbes.com (from 7 to 5)

SFGate.com (from 7 to 5)

Sun Times (from 7 to 5)

New Scientist (from 7 to 5)

Seattle Times (from 6 to 4)

More info:

Wikipedia: Page Rank

How Google page Rank Works

Tesla Demo

Wednesday, November 07, 2007 | 12:15 PM

in Technology

Time to take a break from the markets for a little fun lunchtime viewing: Way cool demo of the Tesla electric car, via Mahalo Daily.

hat tip FatMixx

Inventions of the Year

Monday, November 05, 2007 | 07:30 PM

in Technology

Time magazine's annual list of innovation, gadgets, and doodads is out.

The winner, to hardly anyone's surprise, is Apple's iPhone.

However, I find these annual reports fascinating. There's lots of other really cool inventions, and plenty of other cool things in Time's annual issue.

Here' a few of the more interesting items:

Glow Pillow

Biodegradable-dye Tattoo

Cementer Bug

Sugar Battery

Robot Leg

Source:

The Best Inventions Of The Year
Time Magazine
November 2007
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1677329_1678542_1677891,00.html

Going Postal on PR People

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 | 04:16 PM

in Technology | Web/Tech | Weblogs

I LOVE what Chris Anderson did!

I have been hounded by PR 'tards ever since this blog started generating real traffic. (See PR Weenies: Go Away!)

So it is with great pleasure that I am pointing to Wired's Editor-in-Chief, Chris Anderson, who went postal on a group of PR 'tards who have been inundating him with crap email:

So fair warning: I only want two kinds of email: those from people I know, and those from people who have taken the time to find out what I'm interested in and composed a note meant to appeal to that (I love those emails; indeed, that's why my email address is public).

Everything else gets banned on first abuse. The following is just the last month's list of people and companies who have been added to my Outlook blocked list. All of them have sent me something inappropriate at some point in the past 30 days. Many of them sent press releases; others just added me to a distribution list without asking. If their address gets harvested by spammers by being published here, so be it--turnabout is fair play.

There is no getting off this list. If you're on it and have something appropriate to say to me, use a different email address.

He also lists ALL of their email addresses, for the benefit of email spam harvesters.. . . tee hee

Google Blog Search Magically Repaired!

Monday, October 29, 2007 | 04:30 PM

in Technology | Web/Tech | Weblogs

Last month, I asked "What happened to Google Blog Search?"

For some strange reason, a few months ago, Google stopped finding other blogs pointing back here. It was as if they had changed their algo somehow, and no longer were looking for fresh links. Google Blog search seems to be working now.

Funny thing is, the shift sent me scampering over to Technorati -- which I had previously written off as an imminent death-by-Google.

I'd like to tell you that my earlier commentary on Technorati -- Game Over in the Blog Search Space -- was secretly a call to them to get thier $%&t together, grab some financing, and scale up their technology -- but I'd be lying if I did. I assumed that no one could withstand the Google onslaught, and Technorati would merely crumble. I was wrong; Technorati appears to be thriving.

Blog search is one of many, many things that Google does. Its not exactly the core of their business. Blog reactions is the core of what Technorati is about. Even if a gorilla moves into your business space, there is room for a dedicated niche player -- as long as they offer a ~~unique value proposition~~ something worthwhile.

Bill Gates on Facebook

Monday, October 29, 2007 | 06:29 AM

in Corporate Management | Technology | Web/Tech | Weblogs

I assumed this was a older parody (maybe not), but in light of last week's Microsoft $240 million, 1.6% investment in Facebook, it is especially amusing . . .

The Weirdest Product Endorsement Ever

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 | 11:04 PM

in Consumer Spending | Technology

I'm a slob (No kidding?)

It should come as no surprise that I often stain my shirts (I'm careful to move the tie out of the way).

P&G has this stick: Tide to Go. Its not a pre-soak -- its an "instant stain remover."

I can't vouch that the thing doesn't cause cancer, but it sure as hell works.

I used to carry around these portable little "Shout!" wet-nap like things, but the Tide stick is now in my briefcase, and in my desk drawer.

If you are, like me, a sloppy eater, than you must spend $4 (or $18 for a six pack) and get one of these.

~~~

No, I don't get paid a cent for this. But if you click on this link to order it from Amazon, I get 18 cents (So I got THAT going for me, which is nice).

Blade Runner: The Final Cut at the Ziegfeld

Thursday, October 11, 2007 | 04:45 PM

in Digital Media | Film | Technology

I am going this evening to see my favorite sci-fi movie at my favorite movie theater with my favorite movie buddy.

I'll update this later . . .

>
Blade Runner Update October 10, 2007 10:42pm:

First the good news: The movie looks fantastic. As ahead of their time as the retro-future effects were back in 1982, they still look great today: They pop off the screen (and the Ziegfeld is a pretty big screen). The color is wonderful, the perception of depth, the visceral sense of living in an over-polluted, never stops raining dystopian Los Angeles works even better than before.

Whatever digital work that was done on the film print is just marvelous. Even the opening green tree logo that scans line by line looks fantastic. All in all, the technical work was tremendous.

The Sound is also worth noting: Its crystal clear; the sound effects and the darkly gorgeous Vangelis soundtrack are wonderful -- beautiful, brilliantly rendered, dramatically enhancing the film. It also sounded as if additional Vangelis music was added here and there (short clips/segues). I have owned the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack for years, and its simply a must have.

Now for the not so good news:

I first saw the movie while working in the campus cinema at Stony Brook as an undergrad; must have seen it 5 or 6 times the first weekend (showtimes: 7, 9:30 and 12) then another a few more times at a campus Sci-Fi festival. The version I fell in love with had the hard boiled film noir Harrison Ford voice over -- and its not in the Final Cut.

As much as purists claim the film is better off without it, I have to disagree. First, it fills in some details that the complex narrative was otherwise missing. If you do not know the book, there is a complexity to the future world that the movie alludes to, but does not cleanly explain. Second, it creates a void -- there are long moments where the voice over is simply not there -- and needs to be. Lastly, it humanizes the main character, as he his struggles with himself as a Blade Runner.

As to the ending . . . Not much of a spoiler alert, as this has been written about plenty -- but if you don't want to know, stop reading here.

Is Deckard a replicant?

Director Ridley Scott has always argued he was. The Unicorn scene, plus the origami at the end certainly implies as much.

I could give you dozens of arguments why Deckard isn't a replicant -- he gets the shit beat out of him constantly, the other replicants would recognize him as one, he quit his job, he's a drunk . . .

Rather than go down that road, its simply easier to say that Phillip K. Dick, author of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, wrote him as a human. In the book, Deckard takes and passes the Voigt-Kampff test.

Between Ridley Scott, a director whose work looks beautiful, but has trouble telling a great story, and Dick, who was all about creating wildly compelling narratives, I have to go with PKD.

And as my friend Ralph argues so eloquently in the comments, the movie loses much of its appeal once the main character is no longer a person seeking redemption, trying to find his humanity. Instead, it becomes a story about the interaction of biorobotic devices.