[..'] objcguy’s scribble.

Just got an email from Matias that they’ve posted details on upcoming Tactile Pro 3 keyboard.

Since it’s yet-to-be released product I can’t really tell the build quality or whether the issues that previous versions had are resolved (flimsy lags and ghost keys, to name a few), but I noticed in their product page that Alps mechanical key switches are back (dropping their own replicas used in version 2), and it’s got n-key roll over (finally!).

If you want a decent keyboard with USB 2.0 ports, it seems to be one of the few viable options.

My Rogers bill has this to say:

“Effective December 1, 2009, the Rogers Wireless local calling area for ____ will be changing to align with standard boundaries across the industry. (…) These changes will provide you with clear boundaries of our local calling areas and may make your bill easier to understand. (…) To view the new Vancouver local calling area map and to find out how you can save money with a Long Distance Saver option, visit rogers.com/callingareas.”

Translation:

“You better add Long Distance Plan to your cell phone. Oh, it’s just $5 a month*”

* or a lot more, depending on your situation. Yes, we’re greedy smart asses who know how to suck you dry.

Overall, new unibody Macbook Pro is an improvement over pre-unibody models, but keyboard and screen are definitely not.

Since the introduction of unibody Macbook and Macbook Pros, Apple replaced their display with glossy screens. Unlike most people though, I detest reflective screens. If complaining could ever change things, I will happily keep doing it until Apple provides matte for MacBook Pro, at least as an BTO option. Sigh. I’m willing to pay extra for that !! (note: only 17 inch MacBook Pro has this option.)

Also, you might have guessed it if you read my other posts about keyboards, I’m one of the few who care about the quality of keyboard, and while usable, the key switches of pre-unibody MacBook Pros were leaps and bounds better than current one, which is basically the same as that of old white MacBook.

It’s sad to see all those good quality products go the way of the dodo.

This is pure speculation of mine, as I don’t have first-person experience, but this is my suggestion how to react when Apple slaps a big red ticket on your apps:

1. Disclose the fact that you wrote a useful application for iPhone. a demo video on YouTube would be even better.

2. Disclosed the fact that you submitted your app to Apple for review, and that you received a response from Apple.

3. You can not disclose any information in the email from Apple, but the fact that your app is not available on AppStore can be observed by anyone who has iTunes. So just highlight the fact that your app “is” still not in AppStore. Avoid stating that it “won’t” be available in AppStore.

4. Let anyone guess as to “why” your app is rejected.

5. (Optional) Spread the word about, and provide links to, QuickQwn and Cydia.

“Capricious” seems to be the most catchy word among some circles these days, as MailWrangler also got rejected to Apple’s iPhone AppStore. Adding insult to injury, Apple now made clear that it doesn’t want its blackmails to be disclosed either. Wow. Just wow.

Yeah, that’s it. Apple, can I get refund for my unused iPhone developer license?

Last night I spent about 4 hours straight playing a game called Boom Blox. Simple concept, massively addictive… but I’m a retired game reviewer so I won’t go into details.

The thing is, next morning I got serious pain on the back of my right shoulder as if I made 150+ pitches in a ball game. Lesson learned: game addiction in 21st century is still harmful, but in a new way!

Seriously, if you’re not an active person with strong arm don’t play this game straight longer than an hour. It is important to throw hardballs in the game, and you keep doing it for hours, and then… go figure.

We were forbidden to meet each other

Waited for so long, longing

Set free all over the world now you are

but in the great north, enslaved is your heart

beating only with the curse of fat bills nailed on

Good bye, before we can even say hello

Thank you Rogers, for helping me finally realize I should live a simple life; 

I’m going to another cell provider that is less evil because I don’t believe in online petition. 

But if you happen to do so,

For the record, I hate those artificially flavored system access fees and $15 caller ID option too. $23 extra bucks to squeeze out!

This is it. Actually this is the best keyboard I could get my hands on so far. Chances are you probably have not seen it because it’s only available in Korea for now. I was so lucky that this precious item got just released while I was in Korea for very limited time. In fact I would have not bought Filco Majestouch keyboard at Japan if I knew it was to be released in two weeks. Timing is everything, yes indeed.

Keys have different levels of strength depending on their locations, and the switches are Electric Capacitance ones, which the Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro uses.

Its only, but quite annoying, drawback is its lack of USB port whatsoever. Despite of Its high price (roughly $300), it does not have a USB port. Yeah, truly lame. Or maybe a strategy to force helpless keyboard geeks like to fork out another $300 in a few years down the road…

More pictures (a blog of Korean, there are more photos than letters

As a clueless keyboard collector wannabe, I couldn’t resist and end up getting Filco Majestouch keyboard from Diatec during my trip to Japan. I feel too lazy to take photos and post, so I just googled it and google answered. This is a quite affordable keyboard ($100 approx.) which uses Brown Keyswitches from Cherry.

Brown switches feels lighter than Black one (linear) and I don’t need clicking sound of Blue one, so this is probably the best bang for the buck keyboard for me. 104 key standard layout, USB ports, nothing more, nothing less.