Hung Truong: The Blog!

Fun New Apple Products: Intel Mac Mini, iPod Hi-Fi, and Leather iPod Case

Today Apple had a “Fun new products” event. I think everyone was expecting a cool new video touch screen iPod gadget. Instead, what we get is kind of boring…

Intel Mac Mini

First off, there’s now an official Intel Mac Mini. I’ve been meaning to get a Mac, so now that there’s an Intel Mac, I can not feel guilty about buying one. (Disclaimer: My mom works at Intel). The entry model starts at $599. It’s still kind of expensive, so maybe I’ll wait ‘til I strike it rich.

iPod Hi-Fi

The new iPod is… not an iPod. Bummer. The iPod hi-fi is just an overpriced jukebox that you can stick your iPod on. iYawn. It seems that Apple is tired of letting all the third-party manufacturers profit from the iPod, so now they’re making overpriced accessories as well. The iPod hi-fi costs $349.

iPod Leather Case

Speaking of overpriced accessories, check out iPod Leather Case! Only $99! If this is a “fun new product” for Apple, I’m not impressed. It doesn’t even provide access to anything while the iPod is in the case!

So there you have it, Apple’s fun new products. I may get an Intel Mac Mini (I wonder if my mom can get a discount), but the others just plain suck!

Final Fantasy XII Potion! Only $12.50 a Pop!

NCSX.com is taking preorders for the “highly limited” (only 3 million units) Final Fantasy XII Potion drink! It’s only $12.50 per bottle! Hey, whatever happened to the standard 300 gp retail price? Now, if it was somehow reasonably priced, I’d totally grab a few just in case I ever got critically hurt. It would have to be a huge emergency for a $12.50 potion, though!

This comic makes a lot more sense now too. It pretty much describes my behavior during all the Final Fantasy games. Why use a phoenix down when a mage can use life? The mage is dead? Oh, I guess we have a catch-22 on our hands. I’m still not using that phoenix down, though. Don’t even get me started on the subject of Elixir hoarding…

I also used to calculate the cost efficiency of using an ether on a mage to cast healing spells, rather than buying potions to heal. Then I’d calculate which healing spell (cure1 vs cure2 vs cure3) would be most MP cost efficient (because casting cure3 on a guy that only needs like, 300 hp is just stupid). Seriously, that’s how big of a nerd I was.

Anyway, getting back on track, anyone wanna split a case of Final Fantasy XII potion with me?

Update: Play-Asia.com has the premium potion in stock for $12.90, though I think shipping is cheaper.

If you wanna go the cheap route, go with Jlist.com. They have the regular bottle for $4.50. That’s the one I went with.

Super Princess Peach Comes Out Tomorrow!

No, not out of the closet, out for Nintendo DS! Now, I’m no girl, but I kinda really want to play this. It’s too bad Peach isn’t as hot in this game as she was in Mario Strikers (um, did I just say Peach was hot?!). Princess Peach has an umbrella to whack enemies with, and she cries a lot. Must be that time of the month… I wonder if she can levitate like she could in Mario 2. That would be pretty cool!

Peach has to save Mario and Luigi, or something like that. I think this game is actually catered towards girls, because check out the official webpage. It’s all… girly. There should be some kind of special feature in the game where if I sense someone approaching, it’ll turn into a super violent macho game or something!

This could be just the thing to keep me occupied until the new Super Mario Bros. comes out for the Nintendo DS. Then again, there’s also homework to keep me occupied. Speaking of which…

Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 on PSP: Loading Time Analysis

Now, I don’t own a PSP, but if I did, I’d be very pissed if my game took more than 6 minutes to actually get to the game. I can probably complete a whole circuit of Mario Kart in 6 minutes! I’d be doubly pissed if I waited all that time to play a wrestling game!

Some wonderfully pissed person has made a video showing exactly how long it takes to load Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 on a PSP. Thankfully, they overlay the audio with the music from Benny Hill, which makes it somewhat bearable.

I believe the issue here is that the designers of the game decided to put all of the crap that was in the PS2 version and just stick it into the PSP without considering anything. Instead of making a game for the PSP, they just crammed too much in there. My favorite part of the video is where it takes about 10 seconds for the game to load up… the loading screen! Seriously, how can you PSP owners put up with this? Get a DS already!

Have You Heard Of Montreal?

No, not that city in Canada, the band, “Of Montreal?” I’ve written about them before, but they’re pretty good, so I think they deserve a whole freakin’ post. In fact, they’re probably my favorite band, at the moment.

My favorite band used to be They Might Be Giants, because of their nerdy lyrics and infectious melodies. Lately, though, they’ve been veering off course and going into some bad territory. When every other release from a rock band is a kid’s album, something is wrong. I have a feeling they’ve sold out, and they’re “over the hill” now, so to speak. Anyway, back to the band at hand.

Of Montreal is this crazy indie type band that plays just the kind of music I like. Insane music! The lyrics usually don’t make any sense, and when they do, they form some kind of grandiose plot, kind of like a rock opera. Many of their song names don’t even make sense. Just check out the tracklisting for their Early Four Track Recordings album. Weird.

I think their more current albums are more synthesis/electronica based, whereas their older albums are more dirty lo-fi guitar sounding affairs (which isn’t a bad thing). Sure, they’re a might bit pretentious, but they’ve got the awesomeness to back it up. The albums I’ve bought from them are Early Four Track Recordings, and Aldhils Arboretum. Both are pretty awesome. The Gay Parade and Horse & Elephant Eatery (No Elephants Allowed) are also really good.

You can download a ton of MP3s from their website (legally, even!). I recommend The Problem With April and Nickee Coco and the Invisible Tree for starters.

It’s really nice to find a band and actually become a fan; Something I haven’t done in quite a while. I really should actively look for new music to listen to, but I guess I’m kind of lazy when it comes to that. Maybe I’ll become an Of Montreal expert before I go looking for any more music…