So some of the large talk in the tech industry lately is Microsoft contracting none other than comedian Jerry Seinfeld for a whole new ad campaign for Windows Vista. Many have been scratching heads trying to figure out how this would work. Well now the first commercial of the campaign is out.

Watch it and let’s hear your opinion.

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My opinion: It’s no secret that I personally don’t like to use Windows, but I do like Microsoft. While I was excited to see this ad campaign take off the ground, I have to admit after seeing the first commercial, I feel its completely useless. It’s not an advertisement for Windows, it’s a feel good peice about showing Bill Gates as an average guy. An like all average guys he has conversations with Superstar actors who help him pick out a pair of shoes. Does Bill Gates being an average guy even matter?

The overall message I derive from the last 15 seconds is Windows is moist and chewy and the future is delicious.

Now I’m just hungry.

Via Wired.com.

Maxis, the company that has brought the joys of controlling virtual avatar’s lives to litterally millions, is releasing its newest foray into simulation gaming this week.

With The Sims and The Sims 2, Maxis introduced a whole world of highly customizable gameplay simple enough for casual audiences, but challenging and engaging enough for more serious gamers. You created a family, or roommates, or any number of disfucntional scenerios with people living together and released them into a house where you controlled every part of their lives. As you played, your “sims” would grow, learn, get jobs, play, make friends and eventually become highly successful.

This Sunday, Maxis, along with EA Games, will release Spore, a new simulation experience entirely. In Spore you control a species of animals in a quasi-evolutionary series of stages. You start as a cellular creature in the ocean and eventually develop into a space-fairing industrial society. At every point in the game, you control the look of your species and how they progress.

The Creature Creator tool in the game delivers a very complex, but easy to use drag and drop system to create your very own unique creatures. I’ve been playing around with the tool ever since it was released a while back (sans the actual game) and I absolutely love the open-endedness of the creation process. Here’s a couple of my creations displayed on YouTube: Cenatauren, Flocksum, and Skothma.

The game comes complete with online features enabling you to see the worlds and creatures others create and interacting with them.

I’m sure there will be plenty of surprises in Spore when it ships Sunday, September 7.

Until then, try out the Creature Creature free trial download yourself or browse litterally millions of creations online in the Sporepedia.

Yes another Google post.

You never realize just how weird software names can be until an even newer one enters the market. While Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is pretty plain-jane, other Web browsers hold less conspicuous names like Opera, Firefox and now Chrome.

Yesterday Google  released the Windows beta of their new Web browser, Google Chrome. Like Firefox, Camio, and Opera, Chrome is open source encouraging developers to help better the program.

Google seems to have designed Chrome with the intention of delivering the most intuitively simple user interface possible. It looks nice. For example, the URL box serves as a dynamic field meaning that simply typing a word or phrase will either complete the address you’ve already started typing or suggest search phrases at the same time. Then you only need to select which you intent and you’re off!

Under the hood is where the big difference lies when comparing Google Chrome to other Web browsers. Google has developed the browser to handle each browser tab as a separate string of programs. Meaning the content or rich media in one tab will not effect the preformance of the content in another tab. This is a pretty large step if Google can deliver on this feature seeing as one false move in any browser I’ve ever used brings the whole program crashing down.

Since Google Chrome was developed for Windows first, one can’t help wonder how secure it is. On Chrome’s information page, the only mention of internet security is a page that will come up explaining the site your are trying to visit may contain malware or will try to phish your personal information. Of course, you can by pass this page. I seriously doubt, though, that this is the browser’s only security protocol.

It’s exciting to see new things come from Google and with them the new ideas on how old things can be done.

There’s a geeky little comic book on Google’s site explaining the reasons beind Chrome and how it came about.

If you’re running Windows and interested in taking the new browser for a spin, go here. However,  remember the program is in beta and is expected to be buggy. That’s why beta exists!

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Google is always wanting to reinvent things and make them better and, best of all, free! Being the online directory giant it is, Google has taken it upon themselves to release a national 411 phone directory service via a 1-800 number.

The number is pretty easy to remember: 1 (800) GOOG-411.

Upon using the service, I can say it works just like any other 411 service. Simply state your city and state and then the listing you’d like. As with other 411 services, speaking clearly and concisely will have the best effect as you will be talking to a computer.

GOOG-411 will connect your call free of charge and send you on your way. I’ve programmed the number into my cell phone and plan to use it exclusively.

On April 29, Grand Theft Auto IV from Rockstar Games is hitting store shelves everywhere in the states. Authority be darned.

The game is a big deal. The GTA series has seen a lot of controvercy surrounding each release. Criminals blaming the crimes wrought by their own hands almost made the phrase “Grand Theft Auto made me do it” taboo. News and media have made the series more famous than it would have been if they didn’t report the findings of a hackable pornography scene in GTA III. Even activists dedicated to censoring mass media video games use Grand Theft Auto as a banner to preach their particular gospel.

Let it be known, Grand Theft Auto IV and all its predesesors are very mature games. They are made for adults in every way. And just for horse beating sake: Grand Theft Auto is not for kids.

The GTA games have never really been my perferred series. I like the sandbox style of gameplay that encourages the player to go anywhere and do anything, but the gameplay, overly trashy dialogue and thug-like characters make me want to play in another sandbox.

April 29 will possibly start a new media sensation focused on the evils of the gaming empire once again. Keep a tempered mind, however. The same media wanted us to beleive Mass Effect contained raunchy nudies doing… well… what nudies do.

techTalk has a new look! Well technically all the blogs on crestviewbulletin.com have new looks. Spending hours in learning how our blog sites are set up and how they aren’t, I’ve managed to update the layout and look of each.