Archive for the ‘Gadgets for Geeks’ Category.

„Spiele“-Kritik: While True learn()

Per Zufall bin ich vor einigen Tagen auf ein Juwel im Steam-Shop gestoßen: „while True learn()“. Es ist kein Spiel im klassischen Sinne, sondern mehr eine Simulation zum Lernen von KL/ML-Algorithmen.

Die Geschichte ist schnell erzählt: Programmierer programmiert, kommt nicht weiter, seine Katze übernimmt und erklärt ihm in Katzensprache, was er tun muss. Da er kein Katzisch spricht, baut er mit Hilfe aus dem Netz schrttweise ein System zur Verständigung mit der Mieze.

Das Spiel geht anfangs recht einfach los, ein oder zwei Blöcke positionieren, Verbindungslinien setzen, los.

Über zeitliche Einschränkungen und Kostendruck kommt man aber schnell an den Punkt, an dem man denken muss.

Von mir eine absolute Empfehlung!

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Windows Phone versus iPhone

Since my iPhone 4 was getting slower and I was not willing to purchase a new iPhone for hundreds of Euro I decided to give a Windows phone a try. I purchased a rarely used Nokia Lumia 630 with dual-SIM option via Amazon Marketplace for slightly more than 100 Euro.

I have been using it for a few weeks now, here’s a subjective comparison of the pros & cons:

PRO Lumia 630

Battery
The accu is not glued to the case but can simply be switched.
Price
With littler more than 100 Euro it is much cheaper if compared to the iPhone
Size
Compared with my iPhone 4 the Lumia has a bigger screen, so watching videos on the treadmill is a significantly experience
SD Card
The Lumi comes with 8GB Flash and a SD card slot accepting cards with up to 128 GB. Going from a 16 GB iPhone to 64 GB would have cost around 200 Euro for the iPhone 5.
no more iTunes
No iTunes or any other app is needed, Windows recognizes the phone as standard storage device, I can easily add content to the flash memory or the SD card.
Tiles
Not a bad idea by Microsoft to divide the start screen into tiles. It works, I guess, as good as the iPhone’s icons
Apps
The store comes with only a small part of apps if compared to the Apple or Google store. However as I do not intend to play with my phone I must confess, I have not missed anything in the app selection. One can even get offline navigation for free.
Radio
The Lumia comes with builtin radio, usable as soon as headphones are plugged in. Nice feature!

CON Lumia 630

Okay, now the Con part

Headset
My Sennheiser in-ears with builtin microphone do not work completely, I can’t adjust the volume. I could buy some new ones from Nokia, but they most likely inferior to my Sennheisers.
Audio Player
The Audio player is simply not a thought through as the corresponding Apple app. I guess it’s just a matter of user experience, but it „ain’t feel right“
Video Player
The Video Player sucks! It really sucks in two ways: It constantly nags me that a XBox account would need to be created. Microsoft, if I wanted I would but I DON’T WANT TO! It also has a technical bug: sometimes when I want to continue watching a video a click on the play button does NOTHING! Only pausing and pushing the play button again does the trick.
SMS and Call
Not sure but I haven’t found a way to call a number from which a SMS was sent. Need to investigate further…
Bluetooth Keyboards
I own two BT keyboards, one from HP, the other one the Apple BT keyboard. None is working with the Windows phone, which really sucks. Earlier versions of Windows Phone had Bluetooth HID support, Windows Phone 8.1 does not! (more info)

Conclusion

As of today I am satisfied with the Lumia, unfortunately not because it is technically superior or at least on a similar level as my iPhone, but because of the value I got for a small buck. To have a modern smartphone it’s not necessary to invest hundreds of Euros. Windows had delivered a good, but not very good, operating system that can handle everyday tasks pretty good. The Lumia 630 had good hardware, I was really suprised what is possible for 100 Euro. To get rid of the App issues I will have a closer look on the app market, I’t likely that I will be able to find simpler apps which do not bother me to create unwanted accounts.

Will I keep the Lumia: Yes, but probably not as long as my iPhone 4 which I used since 2010.

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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iPad versus WePad

Meinem Wunsch, mir bei Erscheinen ein iPad zuzulegen, kommt momentan das WePad dazwischen: Linux, USB-Schnittstellen, Kartenleser und alles billiger als bei Apple. Außerdem kann es Flash. Nachzulesen u.a. bei Heise: http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/WePad-Offene-iPad-Alternative-ohne-Preisdiktat-und-Zensur-976053.html.

Nachtrag: Den Forenbeiträgen bei Heise ist zu entnehmen, dass das Gerät bei der Pressekonferenz wohl mit Windows lief http://www.androidpads.com/2010/04/12/new-details-about-the-wepad-price-and-availability/. Naja, wenn die Jungs ihr System selbst nicht zum Laufen bekommen…

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Nokia N8

Morgen soll es nach Angaben von chip.de ein neues Handy-Flaggschiff von Nokia geben, das auch eine neue Symbian Version mitbringt. Was diese kann, findet man hier: http://www.areamobile.de/news/14553-nokia-demonstriert-die-neuerungen-von-symbian-3. Sieht ganz schick aus.

Nachtrag: Nokia bringt drei neue Telefone heraus: http://www.chip.de/news/Nokia-E5-C3-und-C6-Drei-neue-QWERTZ-Handys_42414615.html.

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Schicker Monitor von Dell

Im Allgemeinen bin ich ja kein großer Fan von Dell, aber der 27″ Monitor ist schon schick… 2.560 x 1.440 Pixel, Unmengen Anschlüsse…

http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=de&l=de&s=dhs&cs=dedhs1&sku=381158

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Skype für Symbian

Skype hat jetzt eine offizielle Version seiner Software für Symbian Handys veröffentlicht, die Liste der unterstützten Geräte findet man unter http://www.skype.com/download/skype/symbian/#SymbianModels.

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Noise-Cancelling Kopfhörer von Bose

Im MediaMarkt in Berlin habe ich vor ein paar Tagen mal die neuen QuietComfort 15 Kopfhörer ausprobiert. Mit 350 Euro zwar sagenhaft teuer, vom Ergebnis her aber wahnsinnig gut. Der Krach von mittelgroßen Bassreflexboxen, die genau daneben standen, wurde fast komplett weggedämpft. Für jemanden, der viel fliegt oder fährt, sicher das Geld wert.

http://www.bose.de/DE/de/home-entertainment/headphones-and-headsets/acoustic-noise-cancelling-headphones/qc15/index.jsp)

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Radiowecker für Geeks

Endlich mal ein Radiowecker für IT-affine Menschen: Der Chumby One http://www.chumby.com. In Deutschland bei centarea.de zu haben.

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Neues MacBook

Ein neues MacBook bringt Apple auch noch, Unibody aus Plastik: http://www.golem.de/0910/70615.html.

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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Neue EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon hat auch ein neues Spielzeug für Profi-Fotografen rausgebracht, die EOS-1D Mark IV. Für mich zwar uninteressant, schick ist sie aber schon.

http://www.golem.de/0910/70581.html.

Uwe

Uwe Ziegenhagen likes LaTeX and Python, sometimes even combined. Do you like my content and would like to thank me for it? Consider making a small donation to my local fablab, the Dingfabrik Köln. Details on how to donate can be found here Spenden für die Dingfabrik.

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