A tour of Xbox Live and Kinect

This spring, I was invited to Microsoft’s London office for a “tour of Xbox live and Kinect”, the Microsoft Xbox’s online environment and record-setting controllerless peripheral respectively. I personally didn’t know what to expect from a tour of a virtual space but I must say I was surprised to see what Xbox live had to offer in conjunction with Kinect.

I was first introduced to Tanya who represented the Xbox Live system here in the UK and Andy who was a product demonstrator (what an awesome gig). They asked me a series of questions to gauge my familiarity with Xbox live and digital entertainment. “So do you know what Xbox is?” I answered proudly with a hint of embarrassment “Yup. I’m a gold subscriber”, which brought about brief stunned expressions with slight smirks. I needed to establish quickly that I was super familiar with many things Xbox as I was wondering what new info I could get from this encounter. What is there to offer and why am I invited here if there’s nothing new?

Andy then briefly asked “So are you aware of the Kinect?” And again to scroll ahead to fresh material I responded with the collective force of the internet behind me describing the Kinect platform’s recent record breaking sales as well as how the development of the Kinect came about from an issue of WIRED from the previous year. I suppose a simple “yes” could have done...

Down to business then, I was given a super quick demonstration of the hand controls and voice controls of the Kinect very similar to the 2010 E3 Kinect demo. I decided to bring up a few tough issues which I knew were prevalent with the Kinect. For instance when asked to try the voice controls myself, I asked whether the Kinect would recognise my voice in particular or everyone’s indiscriminately. This is a particular issue that could arise from squabbling users who want to do different things with the Kinect. For instance instead of fighting over a remote, siblings would be shouting at the Xbox to play different things. Was there a solution to this? Unfortunately no and it is one of those things which will be smoothened over in what will obviously be a future iteration of Kinect. A few other challenging questions were dropped for instance “why Microsoft Points?” and “will the Kinect recognise twins from each other?” Unfortunately both were tenuously answered.

After having my fun of grilling the demonstrators (who I must say were super nice and super cool people, I was just being cruel). The beauty of the Kinect really shone through. The video communication environment, the party system and the overall social application of Kinect is at a different level to anything else on the market right now. I was demoed to video calling and while video calling has been around for ages, it’s never been quite as streamlined as it is with the Kinect system where you just plug in a piece of hardware and go. With PCs it’s all about installation of various software and if you don’t then trying to find how to get your webcam, microphone and firewall all to work harmoniously.

On top of all that there’s the social appeal to the immediate physical environment. The Kinect platform IS a lot of fun and with friends it can be an awesome tool to make the living room a bit livelier. I mentioned how the Kinect is essentially one of the first steps into making the “Tony Stark garage” from Iron Man a reality and how it could one day link up to the room and control lighting and the blinds after all it can already control what you watch and what you listen to! The demonstrators jested about how I should get a job in their creative team but seriously, that would’ve been awesome! (If you’re reading this Andy/Tanya, then get me that job!)

Through the entire “tour” I eventually discovered something very important about the Kinect. It really is a social apparatus where people separated by distance can come together and interact with one another. This would be amazing for those who are homebound or working abroad. The video calling function from the Kinect can connect to other devices out there and help people keep in touch with loved ones.

After the conclusion of the demonstration I was convinced that Microsoft had demonstrated that they were still a powerhouse of research and technology and the introduction of those discoveries into our homes re-establishes once again the influence that company has on bringing new things into our lives. I couldn’t help but leave without dropping one final challenging question “With so many Kinect’s sold, why is there still such a limited library of games?” I got a surprising piece of advice from this question “Look out for us at this year’s E3.”

The Digital Experience Unleashed & In The Wild

Recently (within an hour of waking up this morning) I bought myself a new iPhone 4 on the 3 network. On The One Plan, I get unlimited data usage which was a good move in hindsight as after 9 hours of owning it, I'd breached the 1.0 GB mark, the upper-end of typical premium data packages. Along with the glorious benefits of having Spotify Premium, Twitter on the go and being able to navigate myself with Google Maps, I also get access to Facebook wherever I am and thus effective use of Facebook Places.

Before taking my internet with me outside my flat, I would plan out my route and take a mental snapshot of a map to where I need to go. Along with a bit of trial and error, investigation and sometimes luck, I'd eventually arrive at my destination give or take 15 minutes depending on how lost I got. With Google Maps available and keeping a tab on where I am, I can confidently - with accurate live information - know which roads I need to go down and which turns to make. Altogether though the internet guided journey turned out to be a far more secluded experience than I expected.

A colleague at work brought up in conversation that everyone was turning into drones with headphones plugged in, zoning out from the wonders of the lush world around them. The overall effect is that it would remove people from the world they were walking in and detract them from physical social interaction. As in talking to each other on the tube, greeting each other in the morning and bursting into song J. R. R. Tolkein style. It's quite prominent in an urban environment where the norm is to leave as small of an imprint on others out of fear from being labeled "weird", I held that she was a bit loony and had this fairytale ideal that everyone was a member of The Lollipop Guild. I must (rather should) make a slight retraction. Walking around I definitely didn't "look around" as much. I didn't experience the beauty of the buildings and the world around me, I was a bit stuck into this portal of information at my fingertips completely taking my surroundings for granted. I wasn't going to open a delightful conversation about the nice weather we've been having with a passer-by, but I did feel that the world was smaller. Overall it felt as if the value of the journey itself, was diminished and it became much more of a means to an end. On the flipside however, with the use of mobile internet and online social networking; I do feel as if there's the potential for sharing a social aspect to my secluded walk.

Facebook Places allows for you to be able to "check in" to various locations. It'll post on your profile where you are, what you're doing and who you're with and if you want to, you can also attach a photo as well (obviously because pics or it didn't happen). Where was the value in this I wondered? Of course there's the bragging. Say you're with someone popular, you'd then of course be popular by proxy. Afterall everyone wants to brag about how because they were near Jimmy Page, they too deserve some of the respect of a rock legend (as if).

Of course the greatest value I think there is, is of course in the sharing with your friends. This provides an avenue of validation for your activities and see what reactions that we'll get from our friends. This makes going out and sharing your activities a learning experience by receiving feedback. And of course you may gain a slight moral justification in that you've been "operating" on transparency, albeit a selective one.

What we've learnt from the success of social networks (and the internet as a whole) is that everyone loves information. But how do you differentiate between what's useful and what's not? Whose opinions do you trust? You of course have a level of trust with your friends. If your friends like something then you might like something. Even if you know that your friend has a crap taste in - let's say films - then at least you'll have a base line to work off. With Facebook Places you can now provide information with what you do, where and then receive feedback/validation. You could do that all before but Facebook Places now adds a certain dash of authenticity, in an environment where anyone can say anything they want.

The downsides? Well of course there's the reduced privacy and you may get some unwanted attention. I personally don't see that as a gargantuan problem mainly because it's an optional feature. Aesthetically it could do with refining too as it seems very blase to have your entire Facebook wall to be filled with photos of where you've been. It'd be nice to have a single "album" or "tour" for people to flick through instead.

On the plus side though, there are many practical benefits to be seen from Facebook places. It of course answers the continual crossroads situation of tracking someone on the move. "I'll call you to find out where you are". Now with Facebook Places and remote internet access you can actually track your friend like an urban ranger. It also of course promotes talking points. Say you were at an interesting location at a particular time or even if it's not that intersting, I'm sure at one point the poster thought it was worthy to point up so there's bound to be a subject of conversation to be found.

Personally I think features which promote the expansion of the internet away from the power socket and onto roads, parks and on the move is a fantastic idea. As an optional feature to help tie friends together, I think it's a step in the right direction. We should always be cautious about what information we put out there though of course. Maybe some friends will have issues with being tagged at being at Marble Arch when they're meant to be at another friends birthday soiree. As much as a step in the right direction it is, it's still a new dimension of social interaction and not everyone is quite as accustomed to it as others.

I'm very much looking forward to further using Facebook Places and mobile internet especially on the golf course to let my friends keep track of the pummeling I deliver to my opponents, hole-by-hole!

Submarine Review

Submarine (15 certificate)
97 mins - Comedy, Drama - Released 18.03.11
Starring: Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins
Director: Richard Ayoade

As we get to our teens - especially our late teens - we all begin to think we are far more mature than our years dictate. The problem is that from the outside looking in, everyone still considers you an adolescent with no grounding on how the world actually works. Submarine is the coming of age story of Oliver Tate’s 16th year in the world and considers himself to be the only sane person in a crazy world. The only difference is that in Oliver Tate’s world, this just might be true.

Submarine is a comedy-drama where the disjointed world of Oliver Tate’s (Craig Roberts) fictitious perspective of the world clashes with those of reality with hilarious outcomes. Beginning with the breakout of his unpopular school image and the wooing of his paramour Jordana (Yasmin Page) and progressing through to the serious subjects of having an estranged family, Submarine dabbles in the fantasy world that all kids share, one of grandeur and romance.

Oliver narrates throughout the entire plot passing witty and fantastical comments about his surroundings as if everything he notices is of a critical importance. Such topics of thought include the moving in of ‘ninjas’ next door and how a frequently bullied girl should follow his manifesto to become popular. These mini-adventures allow for the effortless setup of jokes and the delivery of elegant punchlines which turns Oliver from an awkward kid into a lovable duffle-coated spell-caster who’s able to win us over with uncomfortable laughs.

The rest of the cast deliver an equally as outstanding performance with Oliver’s duffle-coated partner in crime Jordana played by Yasmin Paige who portrays a thick - albeit slightly dry - skinned pyromaniac. Oliver’s parents Lloyd (Noah Taylor) and Jill (Sally Hawkins) bring ladles of deadpan humour as the slightly depressed Lloyd has to compete with ‘life-coach slash prophet slash ninja’ Graham (Paddy Considine). The bond between Oliver and his father is one that evolves and creates a strikingly heartfelt pathos throughout the film.

The combination of executive producer Ben Stiller and director Richard Ayoade made me quite wary of a film supervised by comedy acts, fearful that there would be no reprieve from a cache of jokes that would become overwhelming and subvert the storyline. I was wholly relieved to find my preconceptions defied as the plot and the jokes weaved into it make for a truly well crafted piece of British comedy. Never heavy handed, Ayoade has managed to lace humour in every corner with explosions of uncomfortable humour that will bring laughs and wide grins to every patron at the cinema. With this film nothing is left to waste and every moment is allowed time to fully mature and be savoured. I personally cannot wait until Ayoade’s next venture into feature film directing.

The cinematography in this film is special especially as it’s a comedy and not an exercise in capturing beauty. It’s so pronounced and beautiful that at times you can’t help but feel lost in the romance of what really is a very bleak and frigid setting. A shot of Oliver and Jordana running with fireworks is one that becomes replay-able as one of the more innocent scenes ever witnessed in film.

Overall Submarine is a tremendous film which has a thin veneer of hollowness when it in-fact has oodles of enjoyment and substance beneath. It truly is one of the best British comedy films made and I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a yard stick for future British indie comedies. Without a doubt worth seeing, it can be enjoyed at anytime and especially with a friend to discuss the complexity of the scenes after leaving the theatres.

Review: True Grit

True Grit (15 Certificate)
110 mins - Drama, Western - Released 11.02.11
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin, Josh Brolin

With their 15th entry to the silver screen, the Coen Brothers are looking to secure the top spot in the UK box office with True Grit!

True Grit will be the second film adaptation of the 1968 Charles Portis novel of the same name. The first adaptation in 1969 starred John Wayne, which he received an Academy Award for Best Actor as a result of his performance. The Coen Brothers are looking to beat their predecessor in their first outing into the American Western genre. The genre has gathered dust since the height of it’s glory days around the time of The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Although there have been entries into the genre since, none have quite captured the classic tones of adventure, quest, wilderness and survival of the Wild West like stalwarts of the genre. That is until now.

The story of True Grit revolves around Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), a 14 year-old girl with a head-strong determination to avenge her father’s death at the hands of the coward, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Fully aware that her capabilities are limited at the age of 14, Mattie Ross enlists the help of a U.S. Marshall, however she doesn’t sway the help of the best U.S. Marshall nor the most knowledgeable for the task. She pursues the one which is the most ruthless, the one who is known to possess “True Grit”, U.S. Marshall Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Along the way they are teamed up with Texas Ranger LaBouef (Matt Damon) who is also after Chaney but for his own reasons.

LaBouef (Matt Damon)

The trio set off after Chaney into the Indian territories where they face not only a criminal but the wilderness and the unknown. Here True Grit really sets itself apart and the essence of the Wild West is captured in all it’s glory and savagery. All the decisions made have to be thought through and complacency can become fatal. Even an essential daily act such as sleeping needs to be considered. For instance the size of a flame and setting up camp could attract the attention of marauders or nature’s deadly predators.

Roger Deakins' cinematography does a faultless job of capturing the visual spectacle of the wilderness. As dangerous as it is, the wilds are stunning and vast. Obviously compared to the 1969 adaptation, the Coen Brothers version of True Grit will have a number of advantages in terms of cinematography, however the area which seals the deal, is the night time filming. Dark enough to blanket the terrain, while illuminating enough to identify the characters, True Grit plays on the primal fear of darkness and the unknown in such a way that will turn the audience back into cautious kids. While the trio’s pace slows down at night, the action never bogs down.

The dialogue remains sharp and witty through the whole journey, however viewers should be warned to keep a sharp ear and focus as some of the speech is heavily laced with mannerisms and quirks which contemporary viewers may be unaccustomed to. True Grit should certainly not be watched when drowsy as the comedy is selective to the viewer that pays attention. one liners are limited to classics while most of the witty dialogue is like a track of dominoes, punch lines are triggered after a careful setup. Thankfully, the cast is able to execute the accents flawlessly while keeping them accessible to a modern audience so dialogue becomes a far from gruelling task.

Bridges’ performance is nothing surprising for an actor of his calibre. It’s strong and delightfully witty as his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn is one of a lawman who has seen many winters in his life. Quintessentially American, Rooster only pursues ventures in his best interests. Rumoured to ruthlessly kill his mark as opposed to capture, as a simple kill presents a safer although less honour-bound option. That being said, he is not without honour. Rooster does follow his own moral code which does at times come in conflict with the one laid down by the law but his code of conduct does keeps his character as a force of good.

As Matt Damon’s résumé builds, he becomes a much more seasoned actor and his performance as LaBoeuf is a testament to his growing experience. A chatty lawman, LaBouef continually boasts of the abilities of ‘the’ Texas Rangers however a dash of insecurity is mixed in which makes Matt Damon’s skill-set perfect for the role of LaBeouf, another deep portrayal of a character who is capable yet insecure.

The true spotlight does go to Hollywood newcomer Hailee Steinfeld in her role as Mattie Ross. It’s difficult to think of anyone else that could have executed such a complex yet innocent character. A clever young lady, Mattie is able to match words against those at least three times her age and impressively bend them towards her will while fully aware of her own strengths and weaknesses.

Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld)

This power-cast of heroes handle themselves with gusto in the American wilderness as they happen upon strange and hostile encounters. This all makes the pursuit of Tom Chaney more than one of a manhunt and rather one of a full bona fide Western.

With a full thrust into the Western genre, the Coen Brothers have received a BAFTA for Best Cinematography as well as 7 other nominations and is nominated for a staggering 10 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Actor (Bridges), Supporting Actress (Steinfeld), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

True Grit is a lock for one of the must-see films this February.