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Back in December of 2006 I wrote a little entry comparing the DirecTV DVR to the TiVo. The DirecTV HD-DVR (the "HR20" as I'll call it from now on) has improved dramatically since then. Many people experienced a lot of growing pains with their HR20s, but aside from having two shows wiped out early on [...]

I've been using iPhone's Mail application on this trip (I didn't want to bring along a computer), and I must say, I'm rather disappointed in its behavior. It largely boils down to the fact that deleting messages is an incredible pain in the ass. If the app supported spam filtering (or even some basic filters), [...]

This comment on the iPhone sums up a lot of things rather nicely: iPhone is the first device that actually makes me feel as if I'm living in the 21st century. We don't need flying cars: just well thought out devices. From "gambit-7" here.

For the purposes of this question, a few things that aren't "online" include LANs, web-based games, and single-player games. What do you use to play games online? Console (Wii, Xbox 360, PS2/3) Computer (Mac, PC, Linux?) Handheld (Nintendo DS, PSP) Two or more of the above I don't play games online View Results Post a [...]

Post in the comments with your 2008 predictions for the wild and woolly world of technology. Check back in a year to see how many of your predictions hold up. Mine are, in no particular order and heavy on the Apple stuff, as follows: Apple will introduce no new hardware - just updates to current [...]

Blu-Ray players dropped recently, like the Sony BDP-S300 down to $299, but comments like this at Amazon will have me holding off a little while longer: I recently purchased a bdp s300 to go with my new 46 inch sony flat panel tv. Well I found out the hard way that each issue of a [...]

For a few years now, The Sand Trap has used MagpieRSS to handle a few of the RSS feeds on the site. In recent months, it's been acting very flaky. A few weeks ago, I searched for some PHP XML processors. Most seemed to involve PEAR and libraries and whatnot. Phooey, I said. Today I [...]

I gave Twitter an honest shot (I'm "iacas"). Can't say I'll be using it. The only way I'd probably ever use Twitter is via Twitterrific, but I can't stand the Twitter "overloaded" errors. I would have happily paid the $14.95, but the errors just bug me too much. Purely Twitter's fault - I get that [...]

You know, since "switching" to AT&T from CellularOne, I haven't felt the need to hack my iPhone (like this tutorial for installing apps on 1.1.2). Not even a little bit. It's just so much hassle for very little real gain. I'm perfectly content to wait to see what might be possible come February '08, and [...]

Today the Time-Warner technician came to the house to look into the slow, dodgy Internet connection I've had for the past few months. The first thing we did was provision a new modem. I owned my old one and I own the new one. The old one was a Motorola Surfboard 4100. Though it still [...]

I just read the Wikipedia entry on Microsoft Points. I remember hearing quite awhile ago that they'd chosen the point values so that you were always likely to have some left over that you'd want to use - I believe that referred to their music service. The Wikipedia entry makes a compelling argument that it [...]

If you have an Xbox Live account (my "gamertag" appears in the right-hand column, currently), please be aware that Microsoft is set to thoroughly abuse your privacy and the privacy of your friends: After the software update to Xbox in early December, you will be able to meet new friends by browsing the Friends lists [...]

My brother-in-law came over last night and we played Mario Strikers (for Wii) for most of the evening, then jumped into a little Wii Sports. I had previously imported Brandon's Mii character onto my Wii, so he played as his Mii in bowling, tennis, and so on. Unfortunately, though Brandon is a "pro" bowler at [...]

In the mail today I got a pair of envelopes from AT&T. I thought they were the rebate forms for the two RAZRs we have on our three-member Family Talk plan. I had previously noticed online that two of our accounts had the Roadside Assistance ($2.99) on it. I called and had that removed a [...]

Does anyone think Amazon's Kindle is a good idea? Anyone at all? Update: Yup.