The Daily Ping

FROM: Rob
DATE: Monday November 13, 2000 -- 10:38:16AM

I bet all that stuff in Tron was accurate.

And whenever *I* do anything on the 'net, before I reach a site, I get a cool graphic of moving through the wires 'n' stuff. And traversing a file system is like flying through a futuristic city. So I don't know what YOU could be talking about. Dude.

But anyhow... it's an interesting phenomenon. I always think it's even more amusing when they mix together two different operating systems to create something wonderfully special.

FROM: Robert
DATE: Monday November 13, 2000 -- 12:16:02PM

I like how popular live video chatting is in movies. Also, how in a movie like "Razor Blade Smile" where it's easy to use yet it manages to skip a lot a la Max Headroom. Amazing...

FROM: Maria
DATE: Monday November 13, 2000 -- 1:44:14PM

It's not realistic, but how about "You've Got Mail"? You've got it right with the abnormally large font and clicking while typing. They were also using some version of AOL like none I've ever seen.

FROM: Matt
DATE: Monday November 13, 2000 -- 3:36:37PM

Dang Rob, You said Tron first.

FROM: Robert
DATE: Monday November 13, 2000 -- 4:25:09PM

What is everyone's take on "Wargames"? Thankfully, I haven't seen that poo in years.

FROM: Tony
DATE: Monday November 13, 2000 -- 7:52:53PM

It was very fake, but the shots in the movie Mission Impossible (I not II) were damned cool, espeically that mail program, itd kick of one existed, that did that.

FROM: Tony
DATE: Sunday January 14, 2001 -- 9:07:39PM

I saw antitrust the other day...and everything was real...Im talking real. I could spot apples new titanum g4, they were using a viariant linux OS in the movie, (I could even id the Bash shell! go me!) Besides that even the screen on the Handspring visors in the movie were done correctly. Besides that, I also spotted were several LaCie CDRW drives (Milos home desk, and Garys home desk.), and a Iomega USB CDRW on Milo's desk at Nurv. Silicon Graphics Flat pannels, I mac "space saving" Keyboard, and finally a Powerbook G3 spotted in one of the last scenes. Just thought Id throw that out considering thats the best on-screen portrayal of the "net" hollywood has ever done.

FROM: Terry Murphy
DATE: Sunday January 14, 2001 -- 10:05:44PM

Parts of Antitrust were semi-realistic, but they really could have used a much better technical advisor. FOr example, when he was done compiling the source code, it had a big window in blinking letters saying "Done Compiling Synapse". Right. No software does that. Also, nobody programs in Java. The source code they showed was bad/amaeturish also (it would be interesting to ID it, parts of it looked a bit like DeCSS, but I'd be willing to bet it was just bad, generic GNU code). Perhaps the worst part was the data cables sitting outside in Building 21. That was completely unrealistic, as they are always hidden under the floor or above the ceiling, but never sitting outside in bundles.

Perhaps the only redeeming features is that it took place in Oregon.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Sunday January 14, 2001 -- 11:48:12PM

Tony -- Good catch on the flick. Nice to know that you're always thinking of the Ping when you're out in the "real world." ;)

On a similar topic as this Ping, you all might want to check out the current User Friendly storyline where one of the characters develops a "Hollywood OS." It's ultra-secure -- as long as you don't type "override security." And the screen is only 20 columns wide. :)

FROM: Paul
DATE: Monday January 15, 2001 -- 12:19:40AM

22 columns wide, Ryan, and you've got a Commodore VIC-20. ;)