Article by Chris Woodyard
This article talks about the new application iPhone will be announcing which will be able to do the same features as some standard key fobs: lock, unlock, and start a car. The application will work if consumers install a $499 receiver into their car.
The article in general was quite interesting from a personal point of view. I am absolutely speechless at the idea of an iPhone having this power. Quite honestly, I think this would be a bad application to have if the phone can truly start a car in California while used in Kansas as the article mentions. However, can this application turn off a car if accidentally turned on by the phone? Woodyard does not mention this in the article. Also, can the application be started by a few simple touches because we've all experienced the random phone call made by our pockets or items hitting phones in purses, etc.
Woodyard does a good job explaining the application for the most part, yet he jumps around to a few different new applications out which masks the focus of the article. I would have rather known greater detail about the Viper SmartStart application than a line or two about a tow truck application or be your own DJ.
The article gives the dry facts of the application but lacks pros and cons of this new Viper SmartStart. Keeping the article neutral is definitely important but I think some pros and cons would be beneficial to better understanding the new application.
Overall, very interesting article to read, yet lacks the technology behind how this application works and has a few holes in the details of its uses.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2009-10-12-iphone-app-unlocks-car_N.htm
That's all for now folks
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Dueling smartphones: Sprint's Hero, AT&T's Pure
Article by Edward Baig
This article critiques the cell phone "Hero", Sprint's upcoming phone release, and the already on the market AT&T Pure.
I think Baig does a great job of comparing the two phones and he really does take the technological point of view. When Baig breaks down the facts of the phones he does an overall good job of presenting the actual facts and figures yet still lets his opinion sneak into the facts.
In general, Baig's piece is a critique for of AT&T's Pure so the opinionated aspects of his article are ok in this particular story. I think it is a good tool people could use if they were debating between the two types of phones and you can definitely find opinions about each phone all over the Internet. However, I do praise Baig's critique because of his well-structured points and comparisons.
The last thing I noticed about this article is a link within the article telling readers to "Tune in to Baig on ABC's 'America This Morning' Fridays 4:30 a.m." This link is for Baig on TV I believe affects his writing for the printed USA Today. I feel as if his opinions and writing style do reflect more of what a reader would expect to see on TV compared to harder news found in print.
To read his article visit: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2009-10-07-hero-pure-smartphone_N.htm
That's all for now folks
This article critiques the cell phone "Hero", Sprint's upcoming phone release, and the already on the market AT&T Pure.
I think Baig does a great job of comparing the two phones and he really does take the technological point of view. When Baig breaks down the facts of the phones he does an overall good job of presenting the actual facts and figures yet still lets his opinion sneak into the facts.
In general, Baig's piece is a critique for of AT&T's Pure so the opinionated aspects of his article are ok in this particular story. I think it is a good tool people could use if they were debating between the two types of phones and you can definitely find opinions about each phone all over the Internet. However, I do praise Baig's critique because of his well-structured points and comparisons.
The last thing I noticed about this article is a link within the article telling readers to "Tune in to Baig on ABC's 'America This Morning' Fridays 4:30 a.m." This link is for Baig on TV I believe affects his writing for the printed USA Today. I feel as if his opinions and writing style do reflect more of what a reader would expect to see on TV compared to harder news found in print.
To read his article visit: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2009-10-07-hero-pure-smartphone_N.htm
That's all for now folks
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Video game 'Halo' spins off books, action figures and more
(Article by Mike Snider)
This article by Mike Snider about Halo is very well put together and gives the fact a reader is looking for such as dates of new releases and upcoming projects.
The article starts off shaky, however, with the connection of Halo and Star Wars. The comparison of the two franchises is not made clear and is quickly dropped at the start of the article. The use of Star Wars could have better been used if Snider explained just how Halo is meant to rival Star Wars and continued throughout the article contrasting the two.
As the article continues on, I believe some personal opinion of the game slipped into Snider's writing. In regards to the number of people that have bought the new Halo 3: ODST game he says, it is "a nice reception for a game that doesn't star Halo main man, the Master Chief." This quote seems somewhat biased toward the game and the role of Master Chief in Snider's view.
Snider later uses a quote from Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities. I think it would have been beneficial for Snider to explain exactly how Pachter fits into the story and why he chose to quote him particularly. The use of the quote was somewhat random and seemed misplaced.
As far as the breakdown of the rest of the article, Snider did a good job getting the information out to readers. I liked the style of sectioning off the various forms of media such as comics, books, videos, etc. He made his points clear and concise giving the readers expectations for the various outlets and when the public can get their hands on it.
Outside of the rough beginning to this story, I think the overall content and way the material was provided was done well and I feel much more "in the know" regarding the Halo franchise.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2009-10-05-halo-spins-off-products_N.htm
That's all for now folks!
This article by Mike Snider about Halo is very well put together and gives the fact a reader is looking for such as dates of new releases and upcoming projects.
The article starts off shaky, however, with the connection of Halo and Star Wars. The comparison of the two franchises is not made clear and is quickly dropped at the start of the article. The use of Star Wars could have better been used if Snider explained just how Halo is meant to rival Star Wars and continued throughout the article contrasting the two.
As the article continues on, I believe some personal opinion of the game slipped into Snider's writing. In regards to the number of people that have bought the new Halo 3: ODST game he says, it is "a nice reception for a game that doesn't star Halo main man, the Master Chief." This quote seems somewhat biased toward the game and the role of Master Chief in Snider's view.
Snider later uses a quote from Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities. I think it would have been beneficial for Snider to explain exactly how Pachter fits into the story and why he chose to quote him particularly. The use of the quote was somewhat random and seemed misplaced.
As far as the breakdown of the rest of the article, Snider did a good job getting the information out to readers. I liked the style of sectioning off the various forms of media such as comics, books, videos, etc. He made his points clear and concise giving the readers expectations for the various outlets and when the public can get their hands on it.
Outside of the rough beginning to this story, I think the overall content and way the material was provided was done well and I feel much more "in the know" regarding the Halo franchise.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2009-10-05-halo-spins-off-products_N.htm
That's all for now folks!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
First Post
Hello to all the readers out there,
This blog is for my James Scholar Honors Project. I plan on critiquing the Technology beat of U.S.A. Today.
I chose technology because I believe that technology is constantly advancing and affecting us more and more each day. I thought it only made sense to comment on technology stories since I'm using a blog... and advancement in technology in itself!
I plan on looking into stories to see how the writer portrays the topic, what sources are used, if the story is adequate, etc.
My first posting will be on October 5 and I will continue to critique and comment on technology based stories in U.S.A. Today through November 15.
That's all for now folks
This blog is for my James Scholar Honors Project. I plan on critiquing the Technology beat of U.S.A. Today.
I chose technology because I believe that technology is constantly advancing and affecting us more and more each day. I thought it only made sense to comment on technology stories since I'm using a blog... and advancement in technology in itself!
I plan on looking into stories to see how the writer portrays the topic, what sources are used, if the story is adequate, etc.
My first posting will be on October 5 and I will continue to critique and comment on technology based stories in U.S.A. Today through November 15.
That's all for now folks
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)