Sunday, September 15, 2013

The 10 Ways That Men Text Women

In general, men don’t know how to text. We’re slow learners. Even though we’re a full decade into the Texting Revolution, our tiny missives are sometimes rude, sometimes girly, and always confusing. We text when we should call. We forget to reply. And we’re behind the curve when it comes to texting like thissss. 

This is all the more embarrassing when you consider that, with some exceptions, men prefer to text. (Phone is too invasive, e-mail is too taxing, IM is too 2003.) Part of the problem is structural. Texting is an awkward medium, stripped of the nuance of eye contact, body language, or even written elaboration; there’s a fuzzy line between friendly banter and cutting insult. Women have solved this. If a woman garnishes a text with an exclamation point or emoticon, this can lighten the tone, sell a joke, and transform caustic to playful. The smiley face, for all its ridicule, is a useful tool. 

We’re not sure how to use such tools, and when we do, it often looks foolish. These are our ten moves. None of them are ideal.  

The Tweener
Sample texts: “lol!”; “you got the tickets?! omfg!”; “thanks cutie! :)”

He’s so afraid of sounding passive-aggressive that he overcompensates. Plus, it’s artifice. A 36-year-old lawyer, who usually dates much younger women, told me with a straight face, “Yeah, when you’re texting girls in their early twenties, you need to throw in lots of smileys and shit.”

Recipient: Often younger than the guy. This is blatant pandering.

The Passive-Aggressive Texter
Sample texts: “okay.”; “that’s fine.”; “if you want.”

The default. Causes endless misunderstandings. The confusion (usually) stems from an asymmetry of information, not malicious intent. We’re oblivious. When we text, “Okay,” we mean, “Okay,” not, necessarily, “Okay, but I’m going to sulk in my corner and daydream about how good it’d feel to be single.”

Recipient: All recipients — even fellow Passive-Aggressive Texters — can be thrown by these. Texts can be cold. Terse. Brutal. A period in a text carries more weight than a period in an e-mail. Sometimes I receive these from a male friend and catch myself thinking, Why is he being such a prick? before realizing that that’s exactly how I sound. Which is why I often use the following tactic:

The Cliff-hanger
Sample texts: “sounds good ... ”; “i know what you mean … ”; “hope you have a good night … ”

It strikes me as the least awful option — neither curt nor effeminate — and the tone is friendly but not saccharine. I now overuse the Cliff-hanger, so most of my texts sound like I’m about to say something else, and then ...

Recipient: Often left bewildered, as the texts are loaded with different shades of subtext. Do you reply to “I know what you mean … ” or is that the end? This shifts the burden to the recipient. It’s sort of dirty pool.

The Gusher
Sample texts: “I should probably look for a new job, but if I do that, I might lose my discount at the gym. Plus, at my current gym I have a locker, where I can store my protein powder. What do you think?”; “On the one hand, Maury has a right to know about the drug problem, but on the other, shouldn’t we respect his roommate’s privacy?”; “Space is good. We need that space. But how much is too much? You had a really good point last night about—(3 of 7).”

Not only does the Gusher think his life is more interesting than it really is, but he’s the over-texter (or, alternatively, blatherer). He hates the phone, and he fails to grasp that texts should be used primarily for: (1) Logistics; (2) Friendly banter; (3) Flirting. They are not a substitute for real conversation.

Recipient: Girlfriend, friend, co-worker, mother. Anyone. It’s more about who is sending it.

The Buy-a-Voweler
Sample texts: “K, cu l8r”; “TU”; “Ur 2 funny!”

He types as if every letter costs a dollar. Not only is this lazy, it’s selfish: The seconds he saves by typing “k” instead of “okay” (or, Jesus, even “ok”) are unloaded to the reader, who is forced to spend more time deciphering the gibberish.

Recipient: Happily, there’s a silver lining: Now you know there’s no reason to waste your time on a date.

If you ask him a direct question, he’ll answer, but if it’s anything that can go either way? He’s gone. He views texts the way an Army radio operator views transmissions: Once the mission is complete, there’s no need for chitchat. Over and out.

Recipient: Maybe you texted him something funny, hoping to start some conversational pitter-patter. No response. Is he blowing you off or did he see your text, chuckle, and just not realize that he should keep the ball rolling?

The Exclaimer!
Sample texts: “thanks!!!”; “dinner sounds good!!!”; “hope you had a good time at the funeral!”

A subset of the Tweener. As a friend of mine said, “Yeah, I overuse exclamation points. I’m not proud of it. But if I don’t use them, I sound like a dick.” So he, and many men, litter their texts with exclamation points in a misguided attempt to sound friendly! 

Recipient: When someone texts with an Exclaimer!, he or she, subconsciously, becomes more likely to also overuse exclamation points. This causes Exclamation Inflation.

The Shouter
Sample texts: “SEE YOU SOON!”; “YES. SOUNDS GREAT.”; “I’M GOING TO TAKE A NAP. TALK TO YOU LATER.”

There’s a good chance that he’s actually 57. Have you met him in person? How old are those photos on OKCupid?

Recipient: Wonders how, exactly, to tactfully bring this up in conversation. (Is there a way to do this? Please tell me.)

The Carver
Sample texts: “Movie. I’ll get tickets. 8pm. see you there.”; “I had fun.”; “I liked meeting your parents. good people.”

Models his texts after Raymond Carver short stories. Pithy. Choked of emotion. Stops just short of being rude.

Recipient: Probably overcompensates; asks her friends “what it all means.”

The Sexter
Sample texts: “What are you wearing?” “What are you doing right now?” [at 2:07 a.m.]; more?

No straight guy has ever texted “What are you wearing?” curious whether the answer is Betsey Johnson or Alexander Wang. For the Sexter, maybe not every text is a sext, but he skews NC-17 and reveals too much, too soon. Creepy at best and Senatorial Scandal at worst.

Recipient: The only true difference between whether something is Creepy or Sexy is whether the recipient likes the guy. If there’s good chemistry and he’s hot? You’ll probably give him more rope. If you’re lukewarm? Then the exact same text will be viewed as sketchy.


View the original article here

Zoom on Resort: Erdem, Marni, and More

Erdem, known for his ladylike florals and delicate lace pieces, did not disappoint with a resort showing filled with pretty dresses, elegant gowns, and feminine separates. As a contrast to all of the lovely pieces, leather sweatshirts, shift dresses, and jackets added a tough edge. One moto is sure to be a retail hit, with its mix of floral print and ribbed, sporty-inspired detailing.

At Emilio Pucci, Peter Dundas was beach-bound with the house's iconic psychedelic print emblazoned on everything from maxi skirts to swimsuits to the requisite tunic tops and caftans. For those chilly nights spent oceanside, a suspended fur coat seemed to defy gravity, as each strip of electric-blue fur perfectly floated above one another.

Marni honed in on their signature quirky and intellectual sensibility with silk separates in rich jewel tones accented by graphic patterns. Relaxed basics like Bermuda shorts, slouchy track pants, and flat leather sandals were ideal for a woman who leisured in luxury while midi skirts, and perfectly cinched coats offered up options for long, relaxing lunches. One standout purple look touched on the crop-top trend, while revealing nothing thanks to a simple white under layer. Click to get a closer view of the outfit, including a simple yet statement-making necklace that was the ideal finishing touch. 


View the original article here

Raspbmc's June build brings a slew of tweaks: cloud backups and more coming in July

Raspbmc's June build brings a slew of tweaks: cloud backups and more coming in July data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20625484' !== '') ? 'bsd:20625484' : ''; var postID = '20625484'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"home entertainment",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"richard-lawler", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Raspbmc's June build brings a slew of tweaks: cloud backups and more coming in July HDBypostedJun 18th, 2013 at 6:23 AM 0

The Raspberry Pi-focused XBMC port Raspbmc's June changelog is a lengthy one. Among the changes are new settings, new skins, support for the Stealth Nighthawk F117A device and changes to make booting up faster, among many other things. Getting this month's update should only require rebooting one's Raspberry Pi, and a few new mirrors that have joined the network should make downloading the updated software even faster. That's not all however, because the July update is promising Linux kernel updates, Raspbmc "Cloud" features with automatic settings backup / restore across multiple devices and an unspecified "special announcement."

when.eng("eng.perm.init")

Kate Middleton Gussied Up in Pink for the Queen’s Birthday Parade

Last Thursday may have been Kate's final "solo" pregnant appearance, but she still attended the queen's birthday festivities on Saturday. While Kimye was bringing their baby daughter into the world, Kate watched Queen Elizabeth's birthday parade in a pink coatdress, pearl earrings, and a matching hat bedecked with bows. It was no "dalmatian" print, but still a good showing.

The balcony at Buckingham Palace was much more colorful than usual, as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were there to lend some extra pizzazz. 

Are Beatrice and Eugenie's matching powder blue outfits meant to balance out the suggestive light pink of Kate's dress? Perhaps — Kate has worn both colors a lot throughout her pregnancy, so if she's sending subtle hints about her baby's gender, there's no consistency. But admit it — you want to be surprised.


View the original article here

TCL launches 5-inch 1080p Idol X (S950) smartphone with ultra-thin bezel, $280 price

TCL launches 5-inch 1080p Idol X (S950) smartphone with ultra-thin bezel, $280 price data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20625551' !== '') ? 'bsd:20625551' : ''; var postID = '20625551'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"daniel-cooper", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});TCL launches 5-inch 1080p Idol X (S950) smartphone with ultra-thin bezel, $280 price MobileBypostedJun 18th, 2013 at 8:57 AM 0

TCL launches 5inch 1080p idol X S950 smartphone with ultrathin bezel, $280 price

In a world obsessed with body image, we knew it wouldn't be long before our smartphones would start embarking on fad diets. The latest to show off its lack of curves is TCL's China-centric Idol X (S950), which can squeeze into a 6.9mm-thin pair of jeans. Just like the Alcatel version we saw at MWC, this handset comes with a 1080p display, which is bordered by an equally svelte 1.7mm bezel. Internals-wise, Android 4.2 is running on a quad-core, 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6589T chip, 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. On the imagine front, the phone has a hefty 13.1-megapixel primary camera and a two-megapixel front-facing lens. Despite those heavyweight specs, the unit is marked up for a reasonably cheap 1,699 yuan -- $280 to you and me.

when.eng("eng.perm.init")

Switched On: The five P's of the PS4

Switched On: The five P's of the PS4 data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20621494' !== '') ? 'bsd:20621494' : ''; var postID = '20621494'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"sony",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"ross-rubin", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-14d",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Switched On: The five P's of the PS4BypostedJun 16th, 2013 at 5:30 PM 0

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

DNP Switched On The five Ps of the PS4

Throughout the history of home game consoles, it's been notoriously difficult for a leader in one generation to maintain its leadership in the next generation. Sony, for example, went from dominance of the sixth-generation console market, knocking Sega out of the hardware business as Microsoft was gearing up for the original Xbox, to a third-place finish in terms of installed base with its seventh-generation entry, the PlayStation 3. Last November, Switched On discussed how Nintendo turned its back on much of what made the Wii a success, at least in that console's early days. Sony, though, seems to have carefully studied the lessons of the PlayStation 3 and has made many changes in the PlayStation 4 to address that console's challenges.

The Processor

The impressive multi-core Cell processor developed in conjunction with Toshiba powered the PlayStation 3. Few debated that the Cell was extremely powerful, but it had a reputation of being difficult to develop for. With the PlayStation 4, Sony has moved to an x86-based architecture for the first time. In a bit of serendipity for cross-platform development, Microsoft, too, has switched back to an x86 processor architecture after a dalliance with PowerPC in the Xbox 360. In some ways, Microsoft has even more to gain from this since it should facilitate game development across Xbox One hardware and Windows PCs. That said, the switch in processors hasn't meant a retreat from Sony's historical focus on horsepower, as there's a strong case, at least on paper, for the PlayStation 4 to be the most powerful of the eighth-generation consoles.

The Purchase

The first PlayStation 3s had dedicated hardware to support running PlayStation 2 games natively. But that was an expense Sony cut as it sought to bring the PlayStation's price down. With the switch in processors, backward compatibility between the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 isn't practical; Sony will use its purchase of Gaikai to stream a back catalog of PlayStation 3 and older titles from the cloud. It remains to be seen how well this will actually work in the real world, but it should provide some bridge to the past.

The Price

The inclusion of the then-novel Blu-ray drive helped to make the PlayStation 3, with its original 60GB version debuting at $599, one of the most expensive consoles at launch. (The Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System, which debuted in North America in 1991, cost $649.) Not only was price a setback, but the reliance on the difficult-to-source drives resulted in supply shortages for those willing to pay for the beefy console. At the 2013 E3, though, Sony announced that it would be pricing the PlayStation 4 at $399, landing it squarely between the $299 Nintendo Wii U and the $499 Xbox One. Of course, the Xbox One includes the formerly separate Kinect, which brings us to...

The Peripheral

Adding Sony's PlayStation Eye camera will tack another $59 onto the PlayStation 4's purchase price. The Eye can't do everything Kinect can do. Furthermore, it's too early to pass judgment on how much Kinect will contribute to the Xbox One as an integrated part of the system beyond such ancillary or non-gaming tasks like serving up slick player identification, enabling video chat and acting as a TV remote control. Integrating what could be considered a peripheral is always a tough decision. Including motion control helped to make the original Wii a hit, while including a tablet as a second screen hasn't driven interest in the Wii U. In any case, making the Eye a separate purchase, though, helps to give Sony the price advantage over Microsoft.

The Policies

Of course, depending on how many titles one buys, the initial console purchase is only a percentage of what one will spend on a platform over its lifetime. Sony won cheers at its E3 event for noting that it wouldn't employ any new provisions for preventing used disc-based game sales. However, Microsoft has basically said the same thing in that it is up to the publisher to determine such policies. If a third-party publisher wants to enforce provisions around used game sales, they may well find their own ways to do so. The key difference is that the PlayStation 4, unlike the Xbox One, won't require a daily check-in to validate licenses. And even that has been created with an eye toward having digital content available from virtually anywhere.

The game, so to speak, hasn't even begun. The next year will see how factors such as exclusives, third-party (including indie) support, clip sharing and cloud gaming affect the industry. For now, however, Sony's announcement -- or at least the way it made it -- combined with the PS4's tradeoff of a lower price for the lack of an included camera has given it the upper hand in terms of a perception advantage. With its pricing splitting the difference between the flagging Wii U and the potentially overreaching Xbox One, the PlayStation 4 could once again put Sony back on top in the home console market.


Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research, a research and advisory firm focusing on consumer technology adoption. He shares commentary at Techspressive and on Twitter at @rossrubin. when.eng("eng.perm.init")