Comments from Wilson Rothman

Wilson Rothman commented on Intel Denies Atomic iPhone Rumor

Thu, 15 May 2008 16:28:53 EDT

@hanswurst0815: You do know there's no such all-knowing, all-comments-reading person as Gizmodo, right? Just wanted to fill you in on a little corporate secret. (No pun intended.)

Wilson Rothman commented on Alltel Adds 1 Million Subscribers, Makes Sprint Feel Even Worse

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:56:00 EDT

@shaniac: Maybe this piece from a few weeks back will help solve some of the fuzzy new-subscriber math.

Wilson Rothman commented on Inventor Demos Soft Pneumatic Exoskeleton, a Good Getaway Suit

Tue, 13 May 2008 19:01:59 EDT

@ripfire4: He's tethered to a compressor, and in a crowded room, so there wasn't a lot of coolness he could pull off at the time.

Wilson Rothman commented on Full-Body Virtual Foosball Game Called Ukikit (Get It?)

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:54:18 EDT

@nutbastard: And here I thought for sure you were gonna say, "Ukikit sounds like the best Linux version ever!"

Wilson Rothman commented on Hitachi EMIEW 2 Vid Shows Segway-Style Legs, Wheely Kneecaps, Creepy Kid Voice

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:51:17 EDT

@The Monarch: Exactly. Points to you for paying attention.

BTW all: Other clips had the thing talking more, but there was less action—if you follow the Impress link you can see the whole lot.

Wilson Rothman commented on Zeppelins Return to US, Slightly Less Flammable Now

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:06:12 EDT

@RayZR: You really want Led Zeppelin to come back? Haven't you seen the Stones or the Who lately? Or Motley Crue and Van Halen, for that matter? Be careful what you wish for!

Wilson Rothman commented on Pioneer Kuro 2008 First Impressions: New Thin Plasma and Projector Beat All

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:26:33 EDT

@jamesuschrist: $9,000—which is why I said, "The hype-if not the price-seems totally worth it." Not that $9K is high in projector land, but it's still too rich for my blood.

Wilson Rothman commented on Pioneer Kuro 2008 First Impressions: New Thin Plasma and Projector Beat All

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:03:00 EDT

@SigmundTheSeaMonster, ReginaldRareware, Savage1005: You guys seem to forget one key element: I WAS THERE. These pictures, out of about 100, are the best photographic representations of what I actually saw. To the naked eye, this stuff is impressive and the differences are totally obvious (at any angle).

I do agree with Noobs-R-Us that once you take just one TV home, it's harder to think comparatively—to an extent. As for Noobs' black-crush comment, I know full well what it is, and can safely say that the darker blacks help AVOID it, by giving you more gradation of darker shading. And when everything is blasted with backlight, you may not get black crush, but you get the opposite—white explosion?—which is most unpleasant.

Another thing: The LCDs were doing dynamic contrast stuff, too, so that at any given point, a region of the Samsung LED-backlit panel and the entire Sony CCFL-lit panel were varying their brightness to look darker than it was. You could see this pretty clearly—I wish I'd had video of that. That's why the brightness can look relatively different from one pic to the next.

Wilson Rothman commented on Panasonic's DMP-BD50 Their First BD-Live Blu-ray Player

Tue, 06 May 2008 18:23:14 EDT

@Optimus-Prime: Yep. Unlike the PS3, this one can bitstream all codecs over HDMI. Both this and the PS3 can decode them internally, and output PCM signal via HDMI. Not much of a difference, but a big deal for some.

Wilson Rothman commented on Rumor: T-Mobile Lusting To Buy Sprint

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:33:15 EDT

@torax242: Thanks for the catch—just updated. And here I was just proud that I got the "tsch" right. At least I can still spell "Nietzsche." (Right?)

Wilson Rothman commented on JVC Makes First Super Hi-Vision Display, 16 Times Full HD Resolution

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:12:54 EDT

@deadatbirth: D-ILA is LCOS—you know that, right?

Wilson Rothman commented on Crossing Guards Become Big Brothers

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:57:20 EDT

@strider_mt2k: Yep.

Sorry, Jechro—better luck with your next Giz ID!

Wilson Rothman commented on Dolby Volume: Solving the Problem of Annoyingly Loud TV Content

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:42:50 EDT

@frigg: I never said it wasn't compression, I just said it wasn't "straight-up compression" which your excellent elaboration clearly corroborates. Say Hi to Fletcher and Munson for me!

Wilson Rothman commented on Dolby Volume: Solving the Problem of Annoyingly Loud TV Content

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:03:23 EDT

@robotleawesome, AvWuff: You guys should check out the FAQ I linked above—my impression is that this technology is trying a smarter approach than what's been done in the past to tackle these problems, again, not just compression but a more complex analysis of "loudness."

Wilson Rothman commented on Casio Exilim EX-F1 Slow-Mo Super Cam Full Review (Verdict: Totally Unique, Shockingly Powerful)

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:57:57 EDT

@LittleJon: Good catch—sorry 'bout that. Just fixed it.

Wilson Rothman commented on Asus' VX3 Lamborghini Laptop Arrives, Costs 2% of Real Lambo

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:19:31 EDT

@jiggaman: That's one too many gay references out of you, dude. *Sound of BANHAMMER crushing some homophobic dude's virtual skull*

Wilson Rothman commented on One Day Poem Pavilion: The Sun's Powerful Rays Become Cheesy Couplets In Art-School Photosynthesis

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:34:38 EDT

@Hiphopopotamus: Mmm, whatchoosay?

Wilson Rothman commented on One Day Poem Pavilion: The Sun's Powerful Rays Become Cheesy Couplets In Art-School Photosynthesis

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:03:18 EDT

@Daimyo Nintendo: I agree the project is awesome, or I wouldn't have written about it. The poetry needs work, though.

Wilson Rothman commented on Casio Exilim EX-F1: Tomato Violence at 300, 600 and 1200fps

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:32:18 EDT

@karmaghost: Yep, you win the prize! (Which is, sadly, nothing, but great pop-culture sleuthing anyhow.)

Wilson Rothman commented on Mobile Term Madness: LTE, WiMax, EV-DO and More Explained

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:21:27 EDT

@Optimus-Prime: Alas, no, that kind of speed would be limited by hardware. Bottom line: you won't get a speed bump unless you get a new phone.

Wilson Rothman commented on Strange Japanese… Thing… Does… Something

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:03:51 EDT

@Scotland: Sorry dude, that's just not how we roll. (Sound of Banhammer dropping)

Wilson Rothman commented on Doks Emporium Doll House TV May Be World's Smallest Functional Set

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:25:32 EDT

@OMG! Ponies!: Holy crap, Ponies—way to drop the apropos Wire reference!

Wilson Rothman commented on Gateway "Spots" Contest Ends, One Tattooed Jackass Reigns Supreme

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:05:41 EDT

@Hauler: Yeah, Matt, not Mike like I originally typed. I was off by three letters.

Wilson Rothman commented on Best Blu-ray 2.0 Player? Could Be Your PC with CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:17:23 EDT

@Dunny0: Audio output is one of the bigger issues—one concrete example is that the PS3 simply can't do 5.1 or 7.1 analog output to, say, an older but perfectly nice amplifier/receiver. There are sound cards that can do this.

Wilson Rothman commented on NTT Turning Cellphones Into Smellphones

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:59:55 EDT

@Pixelologist: Definitely not the first time—I recall Digiscents quite well. But this is way more involved. And likely due to actually come out, though probably in Japan only.

Wilson Rothman commented on Hands On Skyfire Windows Mobile Browser: It Definitely Doesn't Suck

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:26:35 EDT

@Sleeper_Service: deepdish can't respond to you, because he's been banned for excessive and pointless negativity. Thank you for being optimistic—God knows it's way too easy to shit on Windows Mobile.

Wilson Rothman commented on Ars: iTunes #1 Music Retailer in January (Debunkers Be Hanged)

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:45:17 EDT

@Kaiser-Machead: Not I, but thanks anyway, and keep 'em coming!

Wilson Rothman commented on Verizon Promises In-Home Cell Boosters This Year, But For How Much?

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:09:04 EDT

@agrajag42: That'd be from a slightly different company, also called Verizon.

Wilson Rothman commented on Apple WWDC08 Sessions Open

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:00:41 EDT

@BigViper: Who the hell is Jeasus? And "If you got" is colloquial, you BigDumbViper.

Wilson Rothman commented on Amazon "Simple" TextBuyIt Text-Message Shopping Sounds Complicated

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:16:34 EDT

@pipcorona: See, now that's the kind of common-sense thinking that works. I applaud you for making this thing half-useful.

Wilson Rothman commented on Gasoline Grows On Trees

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:04:28 EDT

@snowtires: You don't cut down the trees to get the fuel, you tap them (or "bung" them, in the parlance of our times). They don't kill trees to make syrup, you know.

Wilson Rothman commented on Defender Hoodie: Look Good, Avoid Bullets

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:13:24 EDT

@Thomas Palmer: It costs £300. The product page just isn't set up for sales yet. But you know, should you buy one? That's probably for you and your druglord to decide.

Wilson Rothman commented on Nokia N810 WiMax Edition Tablet Hands On

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:18:25 EDT

@scoobydoo: Thanks. Good catch—You know, T doesn't think spelling errors are very funny. Stay in school!!

Wilson Rothman commented on Irony: Boba Fett Cast In Carbonite (Well, Bronze) For the Wanton Pleasure of Others

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:47:13 EDT

@TasteTheFlava: Wow, that's some nice factchecking. You and CODIFEROUS are true SW xenobiologists—or would that be xenohistorians? Still, I'd rather be encased in bronze than swallowed hole by the Sarlacc, Mandalorian armor or not.

Wilson Rothman commented on Irony: Boba Fett Cast In Carbonite (Well, Bronze) For the Wanton Pleasure of Others

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:19:49 EDT

@CODIFEROUS: That's pretty SW nerdy, but how do you explain the official SW Data Bank entry I linked to in the post?

Even the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett could not escape the disgusting creature, as an out-of-control rocket pack deposited the armored hunter into the Sarlacc's gullet.

I mean, I'll allow that you may be correct, but I'm gonna need some documentation.

Wilson Rothman commented on HP Media Vault mv2120 Linux Server Reviewed: One Kick-Ass Little Penguin

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:31:24 EDT

@indy360: I think the reason is that it would look too much like that Windows Home Server product of theirs.

@ocha: They're saying April 1 availability (sorry I left that out of the review).

@mksql: It is definitely a NAS, and if I understand your question, the answer is that you would definitely be able to use a non-Time Machine Mac OS network backup program to back up to it. Not a problem, given the fact that I've accessed it on my network from both Macs and PCs.

@eblingmis: Hey, I totally understand your confusion. The idea is that this is a hard drive that connects to your network (i.e. router) and not directly to your computer, so you can put files on it, but so can other people who share the network. Welcome to Gizmodo!!

@ All you dudes discussing video file compatibility: This was one thing I really didn't get a chance to mess around with, but you look like you have a lively discussion going. I will try to do some test with the Xbox (Dave Zatz) but in truth, HP doesn't really care much for the Xbox, and wouldn't bend over backwards to make the MV extra compatible. "Xbox is a game machine... period!" is the message I get from HP. But you guys know I don't believe that.

OK, that's it for me for tonight. Thanks for the enthusiasm!!

Wilson Rothman commented on Question of the Day: Do Hourly Time Machine Backups Piss You Off?

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:23:42 EDT

@nutbastard: How 'bout checking a dictionary before pulling out that holier-than-thou hat?

Wilson Rothman commented on Video: Real-Life Driving With Dash GPS

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:23:30 EDT

@Stacky Botrus: It does, yeah, but 3D view isn't as easy for seeing traffic, and isn't especially useful on routes you already know.

Wilson Rothman commented on Dash Launches Express on Amazon, Drops Price to $400

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:07:57 EDT

@drsmith: Telenav can do plenty, but you are on crack if you actually believe that Dash can't do way more—read our full review here.

Wilson Rothman commented on Lightning Review: Olympus E-420, the World's Smallest, Lightest, Cheapest DSLR

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:34:05 EDT

@drzeller: First of all, it's "Rothman" and I am the reviewer. Second of all, what kind of logic is that? The point of an overly previewy DSLR like this is to demonstrate the effects of various settings. It is a perfect educational tool. And as for this notion that somehow all it takes is skill to get better photos with a DSLR, I direct you to the Nikon D60 (another ENTRY-LEVEL DSLR), which allows someone with limited skill to take much better pictures than this, as I say repeatedly in the piece. Bottom line: if you are a pro, you shouldn't be in the market for this, but if you are just learning, you have a number of options—none perfect.