mike

The tiny Google Talk app is out. Its very basic, just does IMs and talk between two people. Looks like it might be time for a new IM overview to see how close they are to my dream app. Looks to me like Skype is the only one offering conference calling, making it the only must have. Without file transfers Google Talk will have a tough time making it into the rotation. Without logging AIM is going to continue its decline in the rotation at least until the new version comes out. Yahoo! is still my favorite app that no one uses.

ebgames.com has Xbox 360 up for pre-order. Of course its not just the console. You get the console, 4 games, and extra controller and some other stuff. How much? $600 or $700. I plan on getting the premium version of the console which will be $400 on its own and is the version in the $700 package. The fact that Perfect Dark Zero (the prequal to possibly the best N64 game) might be enough to get me to buy the system. Really the only thing that might hold me back at launch, besides the price, will be how long will it be until I have to buy a new system that supports HD-DVD.

Google Talk is supposed to launch tomorrow. Turns out there the server is already running and you can login using either GAIM or iChat. If you want to try it out, first look at the instructions, then IM me, my GTSN is michael.janke.

My settings for GAIM:
Add an account
Protocol: Jabber
Screen Name: Your gmail id, whatver comes before @gmail.com
Server: talk.google.com
Password: Your Gmail password
I left everything else the same and it worked just fine.

Update (8:33pm): Looks like they shut it down. We’ll probably have to wait until tomorrow. I’m hoping they have a good client to roll out with this.

I finally downloaded Google Earth, I actually thought it was just online but you have to download. For something so simple you can waste a lot of time playing with it. Its just a map of the globe and you can zoom in pretty close and it shows satellite photos. Then you can add all sorts of layers for borders, roads, schools, and a bunch more options. Try it if you are somewhat bored.

I’ve been waiting for this new HBO Friday Night for a few weeks. First with Bill Mahr coming back after most of the summer off and then the return, after a few years I guess, of One Night Stand.

Real Time was a little below average. Cindy Sheehan was supposed to be a guest but her Mom had a stroke and is in the hospital. Paul Hackett was a great guest, he of course ran for the OH-02 seat and narrowly lost. The panel was the problem with the show. Chris Rock was the big guest but he didn’t have a whole lot to say. The other two were Republicans: Asa Hutchinson and Kellyanne Conway. Hutchinson was alright but where did they find Conway. Seemed like every time she spoke you went cross-eyed trying to figure out what she was saying and what it had to do with anything.

Louis CK was the comic tonight on One Night Stand. I had only seen a little of him on Tough Crowd, that is up until this week. He made the late night rounds promoting this show and was really good. Of course that made me know a few of the jokes going in but as a whole package it was a very solid half hour. I am really excited about this show, likely a solid half-hour of stand-up each week. Comedy Central Presents has a new one or two each week but they never promote it and I either haven’t heard of the person or they aren’t very good. From the HBO site coming up they have Patrice O’Neal, Bonnie McFarlane, and Jim Norton.