column5

http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/127947

OK, after using it for nearly two full days, here is a "first-impressions" sort of review. First, to set up the context of this review, I am coming from a Motorola Razr which I consider to be among the worst phones I have ever owned from a usability and interface standpoint. Doing anything with it other than basic phone calls is not worthwhile. I also carry a company Blackberry to get my Exchange email and a 5th gen iPod 30-gig. My objective in buying the iPhone was to combine all three functins into a single, easy-to-use device. In short, mission accomplished. The user interface on the iPhone is one of the best I have used. Its responsive and intuitive. None of its functions are difficult to access or use. The phone is straightforward and easy to use. The "buttons" are large and easy to target. The phonebook is also easy to use and manage. This was a major pain on the Razor and I'm very happy with what the iPhone offers in this regard. The iPod functionality is very nice. Using coverflow to browse through albums is not only easy, but kind of fun and cool. The drawback here is that the highest capacity iPhone is 16-gig, and you have to pay $100 extra for that capacity. I have ~20-gigs of my CD collection currently ripped so I can no longer carry all of my music with me like I can on the iPod. Just means I have to be more selective (maybe I don't need to take Adam Ant and Thomas Dolby with me everywhere). Using Safari on the iPhone is quite cool, and is the first web browser on a handheld device that I would call useful. The multi-touch controls do a nice job of helping you navigate and zoom in/out on the small but very sharp and clear screen. The iPhone can connect to 802.100b/g networks in addition to the 3g network, so as you roam around and add WiFi networks (such as at work, home, the gym, Starbucks) you start to build up a fairly wide area of even higher performance Internet access. Finally, iPhone 2.0 supports Exchange ActiveSync so I can access my Exchange mail, calendar and contacts. This all works very nicely and takes less than 2 minutes to set up. The major drawback is that when syncing with exchange, you cannot sync any personal calendars or address books from other services--ActiveSync overwrites them. I guess the thrust of this overview is that Apple has done a nice job putting all these features together and making them easy to use. That is really the key IMO and makes the iPhone worth the price if you need all of these features.

Add to that the fact that the Russians are desperately trying to reassert themselves, and that seems to be leading to some revisionist history.

I don't think either of thise aircraft had a HUD in the sense that we think about it today. They certainly couldn't project targeting information, and probably not navigation info from the INS either. @ Edge, I need to host that on c5...

I don't think they will get away with it in the end, but it would help if our friends Murtha and Pelosi would go after this issue like they went after the innocent Haditha Marines.

Word. If those planes had been shot down there would be pictures plastered everywhere.

Kids, this is what happens when you do drugs. Drugs are bad, mmmkay?

I am typing this on the iPhone. The browser on this thing is sick!

Its funny becuause where I live, ATT has the best coverage and the service at (some of) their stores is more than satisfactory. I've been with them since they were BellSouth, then Cingular and now ATT.

I carry a personal cell phone, a company blackberry, and an iPod. So its going to be very nice to consolidate onto one device.

My coworker and I got there an hour before they opened, and were about numbers 25 and 26 in line. I think there were about 100 people lined up when they opened.

Yes, update for the A, along with new B, C and D. I can't give an ETA though, so it might be best to press on and add them as they are available.

Depending on whether you want to wait, we have an actual FA-18C in the works.

Thanks for the feedback guys, its very encouraging to know that the NF series has been so well received. Regarding the weapons pack, I know its a tough issue, but I find that its size and complexity is at odds with what I was originally trying to achieve with NF, which was and is to give people who aren't into ini editing and modding an easy way to gain access to some of the best mods out there. Beginning with NF3, I will be including the Mirage Factory weapons pack and will of course customize the weapons set to match up with the aircraft included in the pack. Experienced users should be able to implement Bunyap's weapons pack with some tweaking of loadouts, but I have to leave that up to the individual user.

More classics from the 80s...not sure what the hell is going on in this video though.

Gleaming Spires

Not my favorite but...I love seeing these guys drive around London in a big azz Caddy...

A post-1979 scenario is in the works but it will require both the MF MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 among others, so won't be a part of NF3.

Usher meets Showbiz

One thing that I have learned from TK is not to promise too much too early, as circumstances can and do cause plans to change. That said, I can bring you up to date on the project: 1. The only aircraft that are 100% sure to be included are the Mirage Factory A-7D and Erikgen's G.91. I am sure there will be others, but nothing has been finalized. 2. I am also looking at some new terrain tiles (there are at least a couple of sets to choose from, and permission must be secured), as well as cellinsky's new environment mod. 3. There will be no strategic assets added (so no SR-71, etc.) Others are working on "strategic" mods but I don't consider the TW series to be a good playground for that for a number of reasons, including the lack of pre-flight planning detail, no aerial refueling, small-scale maps, etc. So the focus will stay tactical. (Should more tactical recon assets become available, such as the RF-84, RF-101, recon Swift and Hunter, etc. those would be a welcome addition). 4. I'm waffling on the naval side of things. Nothing has been decided. Probably not in NF3 but who knows...we really need some high quality, fair-use carriers (particularly the Midway and Forrestal classes, not only for this mod but also for Red Madagascar, which is not completely dead yet despite being announced so many years ago). 5. Sweden. Would love to include some Swedish squadrons, but I am torn on the issue of accuracy. Perhaps someone can help by explaining the Swedish defense posture during the 60s and 70s. Would Swedish squadrons have been deployed to NATO bases in Western Europe? My gut says no, but... 6. France. Very possible to see some additional French units in NF3. Despite leaving NATO, it seems almost inconceivable that they would not have deployed to NATO bases if the Soviets had attacked. I'm interested in hearing any opinions, especially on the French and Swedish questions!

Manetsim has posted the official Mirage Factory A-7E preview at Check-Six: http://www.checksix-fr.com/articles/Articl..._CorsairII.html

I agree there were a couple of seasons that just weren't memorable. Last season was really good though. Yes, there is a new season coming up, it would have already aired but there was a writer's strike in Hollywood last year and the producers of the show decided to push the season back. This upcoming season is supposed to take a fresh approach with a smaller-scale story, so we will see how it turns out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_(season_7)

Guess I am on the other side of this debate. I enjoy RDA in Stargate SG-1, but I prefer Jack Bauer to McG. Not because Keifer is a better actor, but because 24 is such a damn good show in all respects...its like watching a 24 hour movie. Plus I like it because Bauer will torture a suspect on a whim.

How about a 1974?