Tell It Like It Is...

Five problems with Google Android

Well, actually there's a couple of things in here I'd take issue with but generally pretty much spot on.  Plus I'd add that having a connection API without building the underlying connection architecture is a recipie for disaster.

I'd also take issue with his comments about using SVG rather than pixel rendered graphics.  IT'S A PHONE - it's a constrained platform with limited memory and processing power.  That's why they tend to use drawn UIs rather than dynamically rendered.  Sure if you've a 800Mhz power house in there and huge amounts of memory it doesn't matter.  But then your BOM costs are through the roof.

Dave's November Sweeps

According to several press reports, the current writer's strike is probably going to lead to the cancellation of some otherwise worthwhile shows - hopefully the better of them will be picked up again, but here's my state of play as we hit the end of the first half of several seasons.  Spoiler cuts where necessary but this is a high level thing.

The Good:
Life - continues to impress.  The wheels within wheels nature of the conspiracy really really is getting intense and the characters and story lines get better and better.  It's probably the best police procedural on TV at the moment.  Really worth keeping.

Heroes - while M thinks it's off the boil now I'm still hooked.

My Name is Earl - strong come back with the Prison twist.

Journeyman - ok, so it's Quantum Leap for the naughties with Lucis Voranus - but hey, who needs to know.  The pilot and first couple of episodes were dodgy, but it's really settled down as the time travel angle grows stronger and the nature of the time travel McGuffin is hinted at.  I'm hooked now.

Reaper - Kevin Smith?  A slacker working in a hardware store?  The devil?  What more do you need?  It's low brain stuff but fun.

Chuck - the revelation of the season for me.  It should be a pile of shite with no where to go.  A guy gets a database downloaded into his head and hs to work with a super hot CIA agent and an NSA agent?  Come on!  But, like Psych, they really have built something that works here.


The Mediocre:
Dirty Sexy Money - soapy and not rescused entirely by the superd Donald Sutherland who has grown into his slightly nutty old guy persona that he's been working on for years.  It's not bad, but not great either.

Big Shots - it's fun, but there's not a lot to it.

Stargate Atlantis - unless something else happens, not even the return of Amanda Tapping can rescus this one.

Samantha Who? - Thingy Applegate looking cute as a bitch with amnesia who is trying to make her life better.  Heh.

The Bad:
Bionic Woman - yea gods how it pains me to say this.  It's just bad.  Stunningly, eye wateringly bad.  I actually turned it off about 20 minutes in last night because it was too much for me.  Michelle Ryan looks great, but that's about it.

Flash Gordon  - yeah, I know this one has been renewed for another 22 episodes.  WTF? Episode 1 made my teeth hurt it was so bad.  I couldn't stomach another one.