On Opera DS and the hype of the Arctic Monkeys

With everyone talking about how mobile phone convergence killing non-GSM/3D PDAs, here is another product that could kill them. The Opera Browser for Nintendo DS. Assuming that you could use the browser to surf the net freely on official Nintendo WiFi hotspots (Cloud, BT, McDonalds), people might just ditch their PDAs/laptops and just buy a DS. Of course today's press release statement doesn't say much about what the product will offer. Being released on a card means that you couldn't update the browser too if a security issue warrants it, unless of course Nintendo/Opera releases self-updating files through the NiWiFi network.

The mobile computing industry is moving away from PIM centric devices to Internet/Web centric devices. The fact that Access Japan (developer of the incredibly powerful and popular Access NetFront browser) bought PalmSource and also Nokia releasing a web-centric device (770) just. I used to use my PDA loads but am now finding it more relegated to merely a digital music player, occasional web browser/e-mail checker and pr0n video player. I hardly play games on it apart from the usual PDAMill stuff or when I have to beta test something. In the end I may just eBay it and use the money for something more useful - like good and healthy food. And maybe a gym membership to work the Christmas fat out. And buying more great albums.

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Speaking albums, everyone's talking about the Arctic Monkeys these days. I just bought the debut album (which sold a record breaking 363,000 copies in its first week) Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Hmm... I would give it an average score of 6/10 if I am doing a 'proper' review. But right now I am not really in the mood for some monkey business and Arctic Monkeys, after all the hype, just failed to impress me. I bought this because I support Brit rock indie bands and not craps like R&Bs.

Anyway the first thing I did was ripped the music off to my PC and naming them and sorting them out on my playlist before transferring the music to my player. And the moment I tap on play I thought I was listening to Babyshambles. Uhm... That's bad. I changed tracks. I can hear the similarity to The Libertines but like some of the concern voiced - it sounded like a pretty awful Libertines. Nothing wrong with that except that the Libertines' Up the Bracket was pretty amazing. And awful Libertines tracks were often on B-list singles and bloated up albums

I have heard plentiful of amazing debut albums before. The hugely underrated Dead 60s' post-punk revival. London's Hard-Fi. Maximo Park. Brighton's British Sea Power. I knew I shouldn't be buying into NME's ultra-hyperball after they screwed up on certain ends (Razorlight's Up All Night). Maybe just maybe if they haven't hype it all up I would come out fairly happy (but still giving it 6/10). Indie bands deserves our support in the cut throat music industry and especially now in the age of manufactured fuckwits from reality TV whatever. Sadly for the Arctic Monkeys, I do think the hype (which isn't their fault) will one day come back and bite them silly.

If you want to listen to this album, do not buy into the hype and expect some mind-blowing and glorious life-changing record. Buy the album on its own merit and not through the media's mouth and you may enjoy it. Sadly for this blogger, he was caught up in all the stupid hype that in the end he disappointed only himself. Fortunately for me 2006 could still prove big with Yeti's debut album due this summer.