I know it’s cheesy and I know everyone is doing it but like most of the nerds in the world, I feel like I have to say something. There are simply some days where 140 characters just aren’t enough.

I love Apple. I know it’s a running gag and it’s something I take a lot of shit for from co-workers and family members but it’s true. I’m proud of my love for the company. Not because it’s cool or trendy these days but because Apple represents a philosophy that sits with me like no other company’s has. The idea that technology can be used to create great things, to change the world, is an idea that sits at the heart of what I consider to be my art.

The ability to create something, using amazing tools that allow you to focus on WHAT you are creating not on the act of creation itself, is one of the greatest gifts an artist can receive. Every day for the last eleven years, I have had the privilege of using just such a gift to create things and to teach others to create. Steve Jobs gave me that gift. For that I will be eternally grateful.

I’ve always thought that artists change the world. Their contributions bring something to the world that could not possibly exist without the soul of the artist that is embedded in it. An artists looks at the world with a different lens. The artist sees the world as something that can be changed, absorbed, commented on, made different through the act of creation. Artists view the world as a canvas, to be given color and light, shape and hue. They don’t see themselves as cogs in a machine or some grey lifeless piece in a puzzle with no meaning.

To me, what makes Steve Jobs such a powerful figure is that he seemed to understand that too. Better, he wanted to make sure that everyone could experience that act of creation. The gift that Steve gave to the world was the technology that allowed us to tear open the gates that have kept the tools of creation in the hands of only a few. To put into the hands of the most common person the tools to self expression and allow them to communicate their soul and vision. Steve helped make them commonplace. He helped make them as normal as using a stove.

We’re taking pictures of sunsets and sharing them with our friends and relatives. We’re creating music in our bedrooms, basements and classrooms. We’re shooting films in our back yards. We’re writing poetry and printing books filled with characters we invented. Sure, not all are things you may consider high art. But I would much rather live in this world that has more pictures of sunsets, more songs about love, more movies and stories about adventures in backyards than live an eternity in a world without them.

This is Steve Job’s legacy. The reason so many of us feel a sense of deep loss at his passing. He gave us the modern version of fire for the first time. He gave us the tools to change our world.

Thank you, Steve.

Have you seen this shit? It’s one of these apps that just sits quietly in the App Store, where thousands of other apps reside. The difference between this one and all those others is that it’s pumped full of THE FUTURE.

Word Lens, to put it simply, is a translator. It takes one language and turns it into another like so many of the other translation apps that are out there. The only difference is that Word Lens does it on the fly, in real time.

Hell, I’m going to stop blathering about this bad ass application and let this video show you. WE’RE LIVING IN THE FUTURE!

iPad: Once again, I’ll be honest and say that if it has the Steve Jobs stamp of approval on it, chances are damn good that I’ll own it. This device, however, was even a bit of a stretch for me in terms of justifying a purchase. My initial reaction to it, like so many others, was one of “I have this already. It’s my iPhone”. However, over the months since it’s April 2010 launch, I’ve found it vying for the spot as the single most used piece of tech in my household, second only to the television. For being something that I don’t “really” need, the iPad has managed to ingrain itself into the very fabric of my daily routine. It’s first thing I take out when I get to work, it’s the first thing my daughter asks for when I get home and it’s very often the last thing I see while reading a book in bed or watching a late-night television show with my wife. Say what you will about it, the iPad has managed to exceed my expectations by doing the impossible: carving out a niche in my already over-filled tech life.

Twitter: I was a fan of Twitter in 2009 (and put it on my best-of list then too, I believe) but this simple program has continued to show it’s usefulness in 2010. Part of what makes it so fantastic is it’s simple core structure; 140 character messages, nothing more. With this simple premise, however, Twitter has become my major news source, a vehicle for communicating with podcast listeners and keeping tabs on people I find interesting or inspirational. Hell, it’s even becoming a great vehicle for promoting your movie in the hands of Kevin Smith. Twitter shows that a simple, cleanly executed idea can become so much more when in hands of a creative and active user base. Let’s also mention that the fantastic mobile twitter app, Tweetie, was acquired by Twitter and their subsequent iPad and Mac offerings have become my favorite way to access the service.

Dropbox: This may go down as the most important program I installed on my devices this year. Simply put, Dropbox is a spot on the cloud where I can put my shit, to be accessed by all my devices that need said shit. While other programs and services do something similar, it’s the way in which Dropbox does it that sets it apart. It’s clean and simple with an interface that requires little thought. It’s automated, so it never feels like an FTP program and it’s fast so that uploading things isn’t a pain in the ass waiting game. The simplicity and ease of use make it a program that entered my workflow right away and stayed as an integral part of accessing things from anywhere. It’s a service I simply can’t live without now and it’s saved my ass a number of times. It’s my favorite new discovery of 2010.

The Social Network: I’m not sure, exactly, why I found this movie so inspirational. By all accounts, Mark Zuckerberg is I guy I just couldn’t stand to be around for more than 5 minutes. However, the story of how a college kid and his buddies managed to create a computer program that would embed itself into the very culture of America is a fascinating one for me. There is something about the story of an idealistic young man that takes a risk and becomes a success with that vision that really appeals to me. Sadly, it’s probably just me wishing I had the balls to do something similar but David Fincher’s film really spoke to me. It was also shot in such a warm and beautiful way, using the old Harvard campus to great effect, that it really sucked me into the world. Add the fantastic performances by the principle actors and the eerily quiet score by Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross and it was film that set the bar for me in 2010.

Cooking/Mexican Cuisine/Rick Bayless: In November of 2009, I had a rather life changing moment when I ate at Topolobompo, a gourmet Mexican restaurant owned by chef Rick Bayless. After eating what still stands as one of the most interesting and delicious meals of my life, I walked over to a counter that held a series of cookbooks by the chef. Standing there was a member of the cooking staff on break, reading one of the cookbooks. He spotted me browsing, turned to me and pointed at the book “Rick Bayless’s Mexican Kitchen” and simply said “That one’s the best”. I took his advice and proceeded down a year that was dedicated to not only cooking traditional Mexican food but one where food was finally put into perspective in my own life.

I had cooked off and on over the years but never in a purposeful way. 2010 became the year where I dedicated myself to the idea of good food, prepared simply and in my own kitchen for my family. I wanted to capture the feelings that had been awakened during my meal at Topolobompo and by February, I had hosted my very first dinner party featuring Mexican cuisine. 2010 was the year of cooking meals for my family almost every day and with each new dish, my confidence as a cook grew stronger and stronger. I began consulting my mother on recipes she used to regularly make for us as kids, adding them back into the fabric of my life and passing those flavors onto my own children. In addition to meals for my family, I had the joy of cooking Paella with Moe on an outdoor brick oven for 30 friends, and serving Red Mole to a couple who understood it’s significance and history. Be it meals for everyday or celebratory moments of my life, 2010 was the year where I began to dedicate life to food and it’s proper place in my world. It has been one of the most joyful and satisfying endeavors I have ever undertaken.

Arcade Fire-The Suburbs: This disc captivated me during the summer of 2010 in a way that no other album did. It spun in my car, streamed off my iPod, iPad and Mac at every given opportunity. These songs had hooks and chord progressions that kept me engaged and they even managed to make the whole “concept album” idea palatable. Add to that the fact that they represent an Indie band that managed to reach the pinnacle of the venerated Top 10 list and you have something special. Now, if only everything hadn’t been ruined by their Saturday Night Live appearance which revealed just how goonie that lead singer guy is. Seriously, it’s like Lurch meets Kraftwerk.

I realize there are no videogames on this particular list and it’s not because I didn’t play them. I just feel like I’ve said all that on the podcast, so you can check that out if you’re curious as to my top 2010 games. With that, I’ll close by simply saying a big thank you to all the folks who have listened to us this year, helped celebrate our 5th year of podcasting and continued to make the show a fun thing by writing in and leaving us fantastic voice mails. 2011 represents the third year of Robot Panic’s existence and as such (if we stay true to form) it’s about time for us to start blowing shit up. I just want to thank you for being the kind of people who are mostly cool with that kind of thing and it’s nice to know we have such fun people along for the ride.

You know, I think I talked about most of this stuff already, but it’s too damn awesome not to be remembered for this year.  Let’s begin! 

Back Dynamite:  Okay, so technically the movie was released in 2009, but how many of us saw it in the theater? The awesomeness of this film became truly widespread when it was released onto DVD back in February. The internet was abuzz at the uniqueness of this film, and after at least six different viewings this year I can see why. The brilliance of this film isn’t in it’s clever writing, quotable one-liners, or how it never really takes itself seriously; no the magic comes in how every time you watch it you pick up on something new and funny. It has become my “go to” movie whenever I have company over, and I’m always thanked when the film is done. As of last week, this film was one of the few Netflix streaming videos that won’t allow you to have a Netflix party with. The reason? Everybody would be doing it as this movie is even more awesome in a  shared viewing. I don’t believe Netflix has the bandwidth available for the nightly Black Dynamite parties that would no doubt be going on.  Until then, I say you go just go and buy this film.  It will sit nicely next to The Blues Brothers, Animal House, and Caddyshack.

The Walking Dead: You know, the sad thing about a zombie movie is after two hours the feature ends and we are left wondering what happens next. But what if we could watch what happens to our survivors for a long period of time? At least that was the concept behind the popular comic series developed by Robert Kirkman. For a comic, The Walking Dead is unique as it focuses far more on character development and less on the zombie hoard.  The zombies, in fact, act much like a dangerous natural element that the characters have to deal with and less of a plot element. The other cool thing about The Walking Dead is how real it is. People resort doing doing some pretty nasty things to one another in their quest to stay alive just one more day. Main characters come and go and we should expect that in a world where the dead rule the Earth. This past Fall, AMC released a six-part mini-season based on the comic. I was both excited and a bit anxious as to what we might see onscreen as Hollywood has a tendency to mess things up or dumb things down for their audience. But this was AMC, and the first episode stuck true to the comic storyline. And with over five million viewers, it was the highest-rated premier on AMC and became the most watched cable series for its demographic. The storyline would eventually split from the comic, but the overall tone and emphasis of character development over action stayed the same. AMC has picked up this classic for another 13 episodes, and I personally can’t wait to see what happens next. 

No Ordinary Family:  2010 had some great TV shows: Madmen, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, but this little show on ABC has become a guilty pleasure for me. The show is essentially a live-action version of one of my favoriute films, The Incredibles. The Powells are an ordinary, dysfunctional family who gain super powers after their plane crashes in Brazil. The father (Micheal Chiklis) has super strength, can leap several blocks, and is seemingly invulnerable. The mom (Julie Benz aka Rita from Dexter) is super fast, and as a scientist by trade she is more than curious about how they got their powers. Their kids (Kay Panabaker and Jimmy Bennett) have lesser powers as the girl can read minds while the son has become a Reed Richards super genius. There is a bit of Heroes-like mythology going on in the back-story, but the real strength of the show is the characters and how they interact with one another and grow from their new found abilities.  Whomever is writing the reboot of the Fantastic Four should pay attention to this show, as Disney and ABC “get it.” It’s campy and fun, and even the bit characters play their roles to the tee. Even the unlikely pair of Chiklis and Benz seem to pull off a believable couple together. Bottom line, the show is just plain fun, and I hope I get to see more of it in 2011.

Kinect: I’m one of those people Microsoft was targeting when they thought up Kinect. I don’t own a Wii, but I am interested in what it can do. But with all the shovel-ware and stories about it collecting dust, I could never get myself to drop the cash to jump into the experience. Kinect seemed like a more logical transition for me, and upon purchasing one last Fall I can finally understand what motion gaming is really all about. Folks can argue that there really isn’t a lot out there right now, especially for the hardcore gamers. I can admit that may be true, but I am also convinced that Kinect is here to stay and that the future looks bright for the peripheral. I say this for many reasons, but mainly because the tech just seems to work and there is something magical about gaming with no controllers. It has revitalized the gaming experience for my entire family, and for me that is well worth the money I paid for it. Here’s hoping that the new titles that come out for the system are as tantalizing and cool as Dance Central and Kinect Sports.

Red Dead Redemption:  I might piss off some Grand Theft Auto fans out there, but Red Dead Redemption is a better game.  In fact I do believe that it is RockStar’s BEST game yet and one that I can’t seem to stop playing. Maybe it’s the newness of the Old West that got me hooked. Or perhaps it was the amazing storyline and characters. Or maybe it was the surprise ending that got the internet abuzz with discussions. Whatever the reason, Red Dead Redemption is in my top ten list of favorite games ever played and the new DLC keeps me coming back to the environment for more fun partners.  Not to mention that the DGR night we had in the game, holding the fort from sleazebags on our server was quite frankly one of the best times I have had on Xbox Live ever.  Thanks guys (and Token). 

Inception: Christopher Nolan has proven that he’s the King of the Mountain when it comes to directing movies. Not only did he make us rethink how we view one of the most iconic super heroes of all time, but he can take us to places we never dreamed of before. Such is the case of Inception, a movie that is as close to perfect storytelling as I can remember. We follow Leonardo DiCaprio and his team into the world of the dream and are left wondering if what we experienced was ever real at all. When asked if he could explain what he actually meant by the end of his film he stoically explained, “If I did that it would ruin the entire reason why I filmed Inception. The movie is supposed to leave you questioning. If you feel that way, it did its job. The man is a stud, and I can’t wait for how he ends his Dark Knight trilogy and the upcoming Superman project.

Lost Finale: Never has a show left me feeling so satisfied and with so many unanswered questions at the same time. For six seasons we watched the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 unravel the mysteries of the strange island they were stranded on. The storytelling and acting were top notch, and the show spawned several podcasts as viewers tried to decipher the clues left behind in each episode. Whether you enjoyed the final episode or not, Lost and its canon have secured their place in our society and lore. Just the other day my colleagues warned us not to open the hatch when dealing with a sticky project. It is a show that I will miss, and one that I will also enjoy revisiting on BluRay. 

Mass Effect 2: This is my pick for the Daryl Awards this year. Why, you ask? No, not just because I can bone alien creatures (ohhh yeah) but because the character development in this game is so strong, I actually miss them when I am not playing. Bioware has simply mastered the dialogue tree and you can’t help but feel a connection to the characters in the game. That, and it’s the only game I can remember that built on my decisions from the previous game. Countless references to seemingly unimportant characters and my encounters with them solidify that the world of Mass Effect is uniquely mine; there are no two universes that are exactly alike. They fixed the combat system so things flow much smoother and no more tedious armor and weapon upgrade guessing games, just lock, load, and kick ass. Downloadable content for the title has been nothing less than stellar and the last installment (Lair of the Shadow Broker) dramatically changed the universe I play in. I have to wonder how the addition of that single piece of content will affect Mass Effect 3. That, my friends, is sheer brilliance in game design. 

Good BAD Movies:  As Hollywood searches for some creative ways to express itself without rehashing old ideas (thanks but no thanks Yogi Bear) certain directors have seemingly created their own genre by making really bad movies that are just plain FUN to watch. The story-lines (if any) are paper thin, the acting is laughable, and the effects are ridiculous, but for some strange reason they work. Maybe because these movies know they are bad and never try to be anything other than what they are. This summer, we saw what may be the goriest and most awesome killer fish movie of all time, Pirhana 3D.  A movie that took the 3D realm to new heights with 3D boobage (and mind you there was not one boob onscreen that I didn’t care to see, they were all excellent). It was campy and fun and one of the best times I have had at the movies this year. Later in the fall, I gathered my fellow DGR faithful for a Netflix showing of Bitch Slap, a movie that truly must be experienced in a group setting. The movie was awesomely terrible and one that I plan to enjoy with a group of friends over and and over again. Let’s hope that we see this trend continue as directors take their craft just a bit less serious. It may not make a good movie, but if we are entertained I certainly don’t care.     

Robot Panic:  I remember when I got the email from Hilden, “Hey Ryker thanks for submitting all this cool shit. Here’s access to the blog and keep up the good work.” Those that read my stuff know that I haven’t always been a good writer, in fact we might be able to make a pretty good argument that I’m the opposite. But at least I have the opportunity to contribute to a community that shares my interests and is pretty bad ass. I’ve also been blessed to help the guys do their live shows and that is a real treat.  I am always impressed with their passion in delivering a great show every week, and just how genuine they all are.  Last Summer we all got together at Moe’s for the 5th anniversary show and bonfire (sorry about your neighbor’s house Moe). It was one of the best times I have had all year; hanging with the good friends I have made here and enjoying a night together.  For the real magic in all of this isn’t in the articles I write, or the awesome shows the guys do, but it’s in the community that we all share. So thanks to all my friends here, your are truly amazing.  Here’s hoping for a great 2011!

Ok, I want one. I want one RIGHT EFFING NOW!  I don’t care if have to sell my house and all of my worldly possessions, I want a Batmobile!  In all seriousness folks, for those who have $150,000 just burning a hole in your pocket, you too can own a 1960s style batmobile.  These units are custom made, officially licensed by DC (so you know they are good quality) and come fully equipped with:

• Working flamthrower exhaust (F YEAH)
• DVD player with in-dash LCD screen
• Car sports Radir wheels with accurately shaped bat spinners
• Brand new GM 350 crate engine
• Awesome chrome-painted seat buckets
• Red Bat emergency beacon light (in case their is a crime to get to)
• Batbeam antenna grid
• Bat-Radar
• Actuator switches for raining and lowering the hood and trunk
• Kick ass high end stereo to rock out the Batman theme

Batman and Robin costumes NOT included…

Order yours today here.

The iPod was my gateway drug to the iPhone. Two years ago, being tired of carrying around a phone and an iPod, I decided to take the plunge and invest in a 16GB iPhone 3G. It was the best purchase I’ve ever made. I fully anticipate snarky comments, illuminating me to the wonders of the other smart phones on the market or dismissing Apple as a cult of hipster-Jobs-worshipping-zombies. But you know what? I don’t give a shit about any of that. I have no brand loyalty or nerd rage either way. I just know what works for me. And for two years, the iPhone 3G was my best friend and my most-used tool. I took it everywhere, used it constantly, and rarely did it let me down.

However, over the past several months, as my storage began to run out and my needs increased, I noticed that the 3G was becoming sluggish and quirky. Syncing was hit or miss, sometimes taking ages, and performance was spotty. Even more aggravating was that I was having to “clean the fridge”, constantly making room for new apps or albums. As much as I loved my 3G, I had outgrown it.

Luckily, Apple releases a new product about once every two days (or so it seems), and my two-year contract was just about up. So, when the iPhone 4 was announced, I made my preorder and on launch day I had a shiny new phone sitting on my front steps. So now that I’ve had a week with my new best friend, I figured I’d post some thoughts on the new Apple hotness, just in case some of you are making the upgrade.

The first thing you’ll notice about the iPhone 4 is the form factor. No longer contoured on the backside, the new phone feels more “brickish” than the past three models. The result is a more sturdy and solid feel. Not necessarily “better” or “worse”; just “different”. I can’t say that I prefer the separate buttons for volume, or the new “sound off” switch, but neither do I dislike them. The 1/4″ headphone jack now actually clicks when a cable is plugged in. These changes feel a bit more “industrial” in design, but as I mentioned, where the phone looses some of its sleek sexiness, it makes up for in a feel of durability. Little things like that make me less wary that my phone is going to shatter if I drop it.

Much has been made about the iPhone 4′s “retina” display. If you watched the press conference unveiling, you probably remember Steve Jobs boasting how the display would make you blow a load in your pants due to its unbelievable clarity. Or something like that. I forget the exact wording. Nevertheless, the fact remains that visual sexiness was promised and visual sexiness has indeed been delivered. Games, videos, and pictures always looked nice on my 3G, but on the iPhone 4 they have all reached a new level of quality. Street Fighter IV looks absolutely stunning, as do Espgaluda II and Plants vs. Zombies. And having such a high-quality movie-viewing screen in such a small portable size is nothing short of amazing. So yes, it turns out that all the gross marketing hyperbole was actually based in fact. Who woulda thunk?

Software-wise, many of the updates can be enjoyed via an update to iOS4 if you’re a 3Gs user or own a recent iPod touch. Hell, even my old 3G can be updated to use a few of the new features. But the iPhone 4 has a few additional touches not available on the older models. For example, all you narcissists out there will be able to gaze at your own beauty and take pictures and video of yourself via the new front-facing camera. Flashes were added for the dark times, and a new feature called “Face Time” allows you to video chat with other iPhone 4 users through a WiFi connection. I haven’t used that yet, because I don’t know anybody else with an iPhone 4. Seems like it would be handy, though, especially for deaf users.

In addition, a scaled-down version of iMovie is available to use so you can edit your videos, add effects, and more. I’ve played around with it a bit, but found that while it’s a nice little program, it can be a bit cumbersome to use on such a small screen.

Aside from the sorely-needed additional storage space, the most noticeable upgrade to the iPhone 4 for me has been the system’s speed. My 3G would crawl when loading certain apps. For example, Plants vs. Zombies would take over thirty seconds to boot up, and now the game is instantly loaded to where I last left off. Twitter loads more quickly, my news feeds are almost instantaneous, and my other games zip along quickly. Any frustration I ever had with my 3G has all been wiped out with the iPhone 4.

So yes, I spent $300 on the 32GB model. But, frankly, I would have gladly spend an extra $100 for a 64GB model. Again, this device works perfectly for my needs. I am never without my iPhone and I use it all day long. When something fits my life as well as this does, I have no problem shelling out the cash. And, in two years, I’ll probably do it all over again.

If E3 had a mascot it would be Gran Turismo.  I can’t say how many years E3 has been around, but let’s just say E3 has been around 25 years. I am confident 19 out of 25 years, some sort of Gran Turismo has been in development. Anyway, all you’re supposed to know something is happening with playing a bunch of Sly Cooper games; and Valve, there’s that. People still don’t have much faith in Socom Anal Bead. Personally, I’m looking toward Move for somebody to try something competitive with motion controls. I am probably the only person secretly wishing this.
Oh yeah, no PSP2.

3:08 mormonrage: I think shooters suck as demos
3:08 mormonrage: I’m so sick of seeing guns blowing & up for five minutes in these things

3:13 frozenlava: oh god
3:14 frozenlava: sly in 3d
3:14 frozenlava: big name!
3:14 rockhstrongo: i was just going to say gt5 3d

3:14 mormonrage: slycollection–hell yeah

(more…)

I think I overheard Metroid Other M is coming August and Golden Sun is in November. 3DS? No idea. Everything else; that all next year so no need to go on all about that. You fun folks did. Let’s listen in to all the happy things you said. See Hilden? Positivity! Elders will smile upon the game community you’ve cultivated!

Naw man, seriously I think nobody knocked this conference. Good news. Oh and thanks for saying what you’re talking about. Because I’m still fumbling in the dark over here. Fumbling.

11:26 mormonrage: DK is a done deal. What would be rad is if they had Steve Wiebe introduce it
11:26 TeamFremont: If Wiebe is here, press conference of show.
11:26 antonhritz: DGR will go bananas…
11:27 mormonrage: hell yeah. Then Billy Mitchell crashes the stage and it gets all lucha libre
11:27 antonhritz: and by that i mean they will buy banana flavored tabacco for the huka

12:03 TeamFremont: philosophy ass kicking in 3 2 1
12:03 philhaymes-1: nice!
12:03 philhaymes-1: nintendo already won
12:04 rockhstrongo: you can feel the nerdgasms

(more…)

I’ve been bitching about how worthless E3 is compared to the smaller single hardware conferences for years. E3 is ok for dropping the scantest of detail on new hardware and namedropping the existence of something I would like without showcasing any relevant detail, but as far as gaming software is concerned, the target audience is everybody you’re affiliated with besides yourself.  DGR runs the ustream chat during E3 keynotes.  I don’t follow a livestream of the actual conference or anything, but I drop by various live IRCs and shoutboxes to watch the awful reactions to E3 unfold during my work day. They don’t cease to amuse. Today I overheard what I gathered to be the Microsoft keynote. I decided to cut and paste the fun snippets I read in passing. I have no idea what was announced at the time, but maybe you can put these into context…or just reminisce about what just happened.

2:12 jluedtke: Oh God…
2:12 jluedtke: This is awful.
2:13 jluedtke: Why do I watch these?

(more…)

John Gruber over at the fantastic Daring Fireball linked to this story over at ZDNet titled “Where in the World is J Allard?”.

It’s a question many of us have been wondering with no shortage of speculation on just what “Extreme Business” he’s been on. After all, it’s been over a year since anyone’s heard from the guy and you know he has to be doing something amazing. For those curious on this relic from the Xbox past (and frequent DGR/TFL cannon fodder), following are some highlights from the ZDNet article.

On where he is now (emphasis mine):

“Over the past month or so, I’ve been asking around about Allard’s whereabouts. One of my sources who has been a pretty reliable tipster in the past told me that Allard is on sabbatical and is unlikely to return to Microsoft. His name is still in the Global Address Book inside Microsoft, I hear, and his bio page is still unaltered on the Microsoft Corporate Web site, where he still is listed as Chief Experience Officer and Chief Technology Officer, Entertainment and Devices Division.”

On why he might have left Microsoft:

“Word inside was Allard was none too happy about the killing off of Courier and has finally made good on his (what sounds like they may have been regular) threats about leaving the company all together. (Another person with whom I communicated claimed CEO Steve Ballmer showed Allard the door because of disagreements regarding the Courier’s potential.)”

The article also quotes from sources that state the nature of Allard’s role and importance within the company. I got a chuckle out of the Steve Jobs comparison. Does he not wear shoes either?

My guess is that Allard has taken a Zune and solar sailed into deep space. He is currently using it to colonize a soon to be named Planet X with just his teeth and some gum in Zero G and without oxygen. That shit’s extreme. Sigh. Old jokes die hard here.

The far more respectable John Gruber hazards a guess that we’ll see Allard moving over to Google. I could actually see that.

For old time’s sake: