So, Quake is 30 years old.
To give that some perspective, that's the same age that Space Invaders was... in 2008.
I'm starting to feel slightly old for some reason.
Remote
Alex Kidman
@alexkidman@aus.social
mastodon 4.7.2Multi-award-winning freelance Tech Journo, the Alex in AlexReviewsTech (Web and YouTube). Former editor at CNET, Gizmodo, PC Mag, Finder and many more. Retro gaming, Prince and Godzilla fan. Send coffee. Lots of Coffee.
620 Followers
239 Following
50 Posts
Joined November 21, 2022
Friday night movie time.
There could of course only be one choice of film to watch, rich with visually challenged fiends, cabin fever and, of course, professional pirates. Why, when I was just a lad, looking for my true vocation...
Boosted by @kcarruthers@infosec.exchange
RIP Bill Oddie. A man passionate about wildlife and quite talented when it came to a comedy tune or two.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jul/27/bill-oddie-naturalist-and-broadcaster-dies
Dammit. RIP Tim Curry.
The only actor that Miss Piggy ever cheated on Kermit with. That's a resume in itself, really.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-27/tim-curry-rocky-horror-it-dies-aged-80/107082902
As a working tech journo, I’m used to getting press kits (or access to them) with stills and video for use in stories. It’s the way things are done, for better or worse.
I don’t think I’ve ever waited 16 YEARS to use the video from one, though. Well… not until today, anyway.
#Microsoft #Gaming #WindowsPhone #retrogaming
https://alexreviewstech.com/could-xbox-live-have-saved-windows-phone-video/
![Could Xbox Live have saved Windows Phone? [Video] - Alex Reviews Tech](https://alexreviewstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WinPhoneGaming_splash.webp)
Ooh, I got a shiny thing delivered. Children, gather round. This is called a "CD", and it's one I've been waiting on for some time... presuming it's survived the courier journey, that is. Let's find out together!
Prince Timeless Unboxing
Sunday night is quality movie time.
Note: I'm not putting "good" before the word "quality" there. For a reason.
I am not at all shocked. This is from a brand whose CEO once declared to me (back when I was editing Gizmodo AU) that whether or not its products used child labour was a "trade secret".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-27/kogan-exclusive-brands-website-pricing/106891632
Decided to randomly let my music server choose an album for me to listen to today.
Turns out my music server has an odd sense of taste, because right now, I'm listening to "Chef Aid: The South Park Album"... something I forgot I owned and that I haven't listened to for at least 20 years...
Fresh review time, as I put the “entry level” flagship in the Pixel range this year, the Google Pixel 11 through its paces. It’s not the fanciest Pixel… but this year, it might just be the best Pixel you can buy. Here’s why.
#Google #Pixel11 #Smartphones
https://alexreviewstech.com/google-pixel-11-review-dialling-it-up-to-eleven/
It's been 36 years, and it feels like we're never going to get fresh instructions from Madonna.
When precisely can we stop Vogue-ing?
Grateful to the school bus driver who allowed me to get on board as the scheduled commuter bus decided to run four minutes *early* (and so I missed it, 30 min gap between buses otherwise). Sure, it was full of noisy school kids, but in that moment it was a lifesaver.
About every five years or so, usually when I'm cleaning up, I find my copy of this cursed game. Its single solitary upside is that, back in the day, I got paid to review it.
I should have held out for more money on reflection. The PTSD is real.
Your Prince album of the day... isn't a Prince album, because I'm listening to the Beatles White Album instead.
I'm starting to have my doubts about that Monkey, however. I suspect he does in fact have something to hide...
Well, damn. RIP Dolly. Often a figure of mockery but also a dammed fine musician and philanthropist too.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/aug/25/dolly-parton-country-singer-dead
Fresh review time, as I go into 360 degrees of video with my review of the DJI Osmo 360 II
#DJI #Cameras #Vlogging
https://alexreviewstech.com/dji-osmo-360-ii-review-360-for-the-masses/
Did I leave it too late to declare my candidacy as the new Victorian premier? Anyone know where the forms are stored?
Haven’t done a walk video for positively ages… so let’s go for a walk (and quick camera test) down Sydney’s Devonshire Street Tunnel, heading towards Central Station.
Sydney Devonshire St Tunnel Walk / DJI Osmo 360 II Test Footage
Still a contender for one of the most suss game names ever... and another example of a game that got handed to me as a freelancer because nobody else wanted to review it...
There’s been a reported surge in interest in EVs thanks to the rapidly upwards spiral in fuel prices in Australia. Over at Pickr, I’ve put together my thoughts after many years of only driving EVs (plus, sigh, debunking that whole stupid “EV Fires” argument your stupid uncle always brings up…)
#Australia #EV #Driving
https://www.pickr.com.au/how-to/2026/how-to-buy-an-ev-practical-advice-from-an-ev-owner/
Replying to
@SJohnRoss@dice.camp I was much more into Doom, honestly - I could see that what Quake did was exceptional for its time but it never quite clicked with me. A personal quirk. So it would be Space Invaders pretty easily.
Fresh review time! I’m a big fan of folding phones, but Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold has left me with… some reservations. Find out what they are in my full review!
Well that was excellent. #sumo #NoSpoilers
Apple put the price up on the MacBook Neo at the end of June… so it’s no longer quite the budget bargain it was.
But is it still worth buying? Here’s my full review!
#Apple #MacBookNeo #BudgetLaptops
https://alexreviewstech.com/apple-macbook-neo-review-still-worth-it-now-that-the-price-has-risen/
Sigh. Sydney commuters, if there's half a dozen cops and EMTs carrying out a person (not sure why, they weren't moving though which ain't good...) from a train station then maybe, just maybe GETTING OUT OF THE WAY would be a good idea?
Finding one bad game I had to review back in the day led me to more.
Many, many more. That got me thinking, because presumably SOMEBODY ended up with them.
Was it you? I’ve penned some quick thoughts, but I’d love to hear from anyone who got bad games bought for them at any time in their lives.
Replying to
@MrAndrewD@aus.social Oh no, you're not trapping me that way again. Gene Wilder promised me a world of pure imagination decades beforehand, and I'm still waiting.
I get why reviewers are enjoying the Galaxy Z Fold8, because it’s the “new” size in Samsung’s foldable lineup.
My heart still belongs to the Z Fold8 Ultra size, though. Find out why in my full review!
#Samsung #GalaxyZFold8Ultra #Android #Smartphones
https://alexreviewstech.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold8-ultra-review-is-bigger-better/
Today in Centrelink stupidity: Their insistence on a voice print for disability pension claims INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE ISSUES CLEARLY SPEAKING.
Also, waiting on a call for more than an hour, getting through, being put on hold and then having them HANG UP. FFS.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be sharpening an axe.
Today in "AI Horse crap", an AI detection algorithm just declared one of my articles to be 95% AI written.
Nope, just the wet squishy stuff between my ears, but another good example of why you shouldn't use AI for ANY kind of creative work if you can avoid it.
Random thought: Does Billy Joel realise that going on and on and on about not having started fires is exactly what an arsonist with a guilty conscience would do...?
Replying to
@stilgherrian@eigenmagic.net this isn't the 1970s any more you know. Now go and have "the talk" with HR. Again.
Huh. Came up on one phone as expected but also another review model with no SIM in it. And on that one it came up as a "Presidential alert".
When did we elect a president and why did nobody tell me?
Sumo time.
You know you're getting old when your go-to Microsoft joke is, well... Microsoft Bob.
If you know or remember what that was, you're probably overdue for more than one invasive medical appointment.
On my way to the IT Journo awards, AKA the #Lizzies. Looking forward to catching up with people, as well as applauding the winners. No prizes for me this year - I opted to judge rather than enter.
Replying to
@static Yep, agreed. For a lot (not all) destination charging the infrastructure exists -- otherwise we wouldn't have power -- but it's how you make it accessible and fairly usable that's a little tougher. UK went down an interesting route with this; any fast charger (not destination) must by law allow for tap-and-go payments. This does work, though the trap there is that many charge more (money) if you use a tap-and-go solution.
Replying to
@DavidPenington Fires are, indeed, dangerous. I did consider hybrids as an approach, lent onto the side of the fence where they felt like a compromise paying for engine services and any battery issues. But I do see why they work/appeal in some cases.
Today's afternoon working album is Prince's "Welcome 2 America". And if you're not familiar with that one, here's me opening up my copy five years ago....
#Prince #Music #WhereDoesTheTimeGo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj67imqcvVc
Prince: Welcome 2 America Unboxing
A reminder of an alternative option for those feeling the pain of current fuel prices. Got to be worth a try...
Caterpillar Sick
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL is a fine flagship phone… but it’s also a little hard for me to wholeheartedly recommend. Find out why in my full review!
#Google #Pixel11ProXL #Android
https://alexreviewstech.com/google-pixel-11-pro-xl-review-iterative-higher-price-ai-equals/
Your Prince Album of the day is 2010's 20Ten.
Yes, it's the most Prince-spelled-album-name of all of Prince's albums.
Well, until they unearth EyeWun2SeXXYu7Times: The Concept Album or something from the vault, anyway.
As always, what you do with this information is up to you.
Your Prince album of the day is 2004's "The Chocolate Invasion".
As always, what you do with this information is up to you.
Here’s my Skullcandy Crusher 1080 Headphones review. Contains heavy bass… and some signs of me losing my mind with the habits of some Sydney train commuters. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
It looks like it fell out of HR Giger's nightmares - but is this not-inexpensive gaming keyboard worth it? Over at Pickr I've put the GravaStar Mercury V60 Pro to the test to find out! #gaming #keyboard
https://www.pickr.com.au/reviews/2026/gravastar-mercury-v60-gaming-keyboard/
Time for me to run and review at the same time, as I put the Shokz OpenRun Air 2 headphones through their (and my) paces!
https://alexreviewstech.com/shokz-openrun-air-2-review-video/
![Shokz OpenRun Air 2 Review [Video] - Alex Reviews Tech](https://alexreviewstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SHokzAir2_Splash-scaled.webp)
Fresh video review time, as I go out in this heat to run and test out the Anker Liberty 5 Pro headphones.
Spoiler: It’s hot out there. Who knew?
https://alexreviewstech.com/anker-soundcore-liberty-5-pro-headphones-review-video/
![Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Headphones Review [Video] - Alex Reviews Tech](https://alexreviewstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Soundcore_Splash.webp)
Replying to
@static In one sense, that already happens -- supermarket fuel vouchers are a style of that, aren't they?
There are some regional councils that do have some destination chargers in place -- I recall using one in Albury a little while back -- but I suspect a lot of the pressure there is for more fast charging subsidised infrastructure, which of course costs more and takes longer to roll out...