Z60M is here!

Yep, that’s very true folks, the Z60M is here. Arrived earlier than planned (!) for about two hours ago this Sunday morning. And what can I say? I will have heavy duty service the following hours, installing and setting up everything, so I can’t write blog entries for too long.

I will just tell you my first impressions and then let the photos speak for themselves. The Z60M is beautiful. It’s big, almost bulky, but it’s worth it. The screen is amazin, just amazin. It has silver colored titanium cover. But it don’t have Bluetooth or fingerprint reader, a big loss which I have to discuss further soon. Everything is working smooth though, and I’m very happy.

Z60m, the package Z60m, the contents Z60m, keyboard Z60m, left side Z60m, right side

iPod Video – first impressions

iPod is here!So, I finally succumbed. I’m now officially one of Apple’s bitches (if you pardon the expression). I have the iPod Video Black 60GB right here on my desk. Before I move on to the initial impressions, let’s just complain a little about the time it took to actually get the darn gadget.

I ordered it during a late night last week. The Hong Kong version of AppleStore was promising shipping within 24 hours. And according to the order details, this was true as it was shipped very soon. However, somewhere about there the nice things stopped. Firstly, they offered no tracking details for the package – when clicking track packages I just got to the normal order details. Secondly, the delivery time was more than their estimated 3-4 days – it was more like six business days after shipping. Thirdly, for some mysterious reason, Apple omitted the middle line of my supplied shipping address – effectively confusing the Hong Kong Post. I’m sure they looked like question marks when they saw the address:

Rm 412, Tower B
Clear Water Bay, Kowloon

I mean, it’s not like there are only a few towers to choose from in Clear Water Bay :) Anyway, the HK Post called me and got one package through – which happened to be only the Universal Dock. Boy, had I fun with that dock yesterday! I mean… I didn’t even have the cable to connect it with, so I could just place it different places on the desk and, well, look at it. I recommend it for any bored soul out there. Anyway, today it arrived with a delivery…

First impressions? It looks so good, it’s very thin but it’s heavy. For me that’s almost a positive thing – heavy means quality to me, it means it’s not just a piece of cheap electronics and plastic. The packaging looks almost as expensive and stylish as the iPod itself – they put a lot of effort into it!
iPod is here!

Next impression is to connect it to the computer. And there the trouble begins, because my computer has buggy USB 2.0 support, and iTunes is a major pain in the ass for control freaks like me. I’m not going into all the flaws of iTunes – or rather the imposed limitations – but it’s basically about the awkvard interface and the restrictions on file management. The optimal thing would be to just transfer the files in Windows Explorer and then have a program that can synchronise it all – if I want. I’m sure I’ll get used to iTunes sooner or later, or alternatively find another program to do the work.

And if this isn’t Christmas enough for me – on this Sunday my Z60M finally will be delivered, after two months of delay! Read more about it at z60.nogo.se.

Inspired note

A short note on what’s happening. I have lots and lots of draft blog entries not yet published but I lack either the time (not really true) or the motivation (more true) to publish them. But I promise a series of dissections of everything Hong Kong, so that you guys and gals that haven’t been here yet understand what place this truly is… or what I think it is.

There is a mystery...In the mean time, I can happily conclude that I and my good old friend Paul have started a new creative project. It will become a horror scenario to be played in gaming conventions some time next year. I will not spoil anything yet, as some of my readers here might want to play the scenario, but I can drop some keywords: lighthouse, Scotland, Christmas, St Flannan, chapel, storm, oilskin, candles. The scenario will probably be written in English so that more might enjoy it (in Sweden it will of course be played in Swedish). And for you who don’t get what I mean with scenario and gaming – this is about free form roleplaying, a kind of interactive theatre or storytelling. (Let us know if you would be interested in collaborating in this project).

It really feels good to have a partner in creative work (especially when I and Paul almost always are on the same frequency – unfortunately not on the same continent). I wished I knew more people to sit down with over a cup of coffee and for hours discuss details in a fictional story or just create. It’s hard enough finding like minded creators in Sweden, and Hong Kong hasn’t been better so far in this aspect.

And one more thing. I stumbled over Star Wreck – In the Pirkinning. I’m not that much into either Finnish movies or Star Trek parodies, but I downloaded it because I had nothing better to do (yeah, sure). And I was amazed – it’s basically a bunch of guys like you and me who decide they want to make a movie – and they succeed! They make really cool effects, they try to act and all in all, I’m very impressed. It inspires me – because if they can pull this thing off I can too. Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so impossible to actually make a film… those kind of eye-opening experiences are always a pleasure!