letstalktech

Sony Xperia Z Quick Tip by Sharrie

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:26:51 +0000

What can I say? It comes in purple so that renders it a must have! ;-)

Sony claims that it's water resistant & dust resistant. Well, I'm not about to take it into the rain since I'm not waterproof nor am I going to text when I go swimming. Still, I guess it's nice to have durability for those who need to travel outdoor a great deal or if you go hiking up the mountains often!

What I love about it is it's 5" size which I now believe to be optimal for a smartphone. Reading magazines on it is still not adequate but I found that I'm more willing to read the texts on the browser as I believe Sony has incorporated a reader (or may be Google did as Chrome is its default browser) into Chrome. (Strange that it's not so on the Nexus 4 though).

I have never had a Sony smartphone but am glad to announce that this is probably it's best so far. Sleek and sharp screen which renders its photos stunning & a pleasure to look at.

UI Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S III vs. HTC One X

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:25:36 +0000

The S III doesn't sport a unibody design, so you can pry off the paper thin back cover at any time, and swap the memory card or the battery. The One X+ is shut tight, but comes with four times the 16 GB storage capacity of a basic S III.

The Galaxy S III sports a physical home key on a pretty thin lower bezel, which is comfortable to operate, and preferable for some people before the capacitive key found on the One X+. Most side and front buttons, physical or not, are easy to feel and responsive on the phones, with the exception of the volume rocker on the One X+, which is too flush with the surface, and with too shallow of a feedback, so it takes getting used to.

Samsung Galaxy S III vs. HTC One X

Steve Jobs Quick Tip by RabidChihuahua

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 20:22:57 +0000

I know I'm late talking about this, but the ugly truth about Steve Jobs is that he wasn't the "genius" that everyone thinks he was.

The people that compare Jobs to folks like Nikola Tesla don't know what they're talking about. Tesla not only had great ideas, but he actually got his hands dirty to actually create machinery and other devices to bring alternating currents to practical use. Similarly, Bjarne Stroustrup not only had the idea to make computer programming easy and logical, he actually worked from 1980-83, buidling off the computer language C to invent C++ (a computer language that's the backbone of so much computer software and video games today). Tesla and Stroustrup were real geniuses. Jobs, on the other hand, was just a guy who had wacky ideas but made his team of computer hardware and software engineers do all the work for him, while Jobs took all the credit.

Jobs, you might have fooled a lot of people into thinking that you were a genius, but you haven't fooled me.

Types of Home Security Systems

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:09:58 +0000

“The ignorance of one in a society impairs the security of all.” This is applicable to any situation. Money has never been a hope for protection. The only real security that we individuals can achieve is a reserve of knowledge and awareness. Ever since, fraud, robbery, and murder have characterized the society’s usurpation. People had been more cautious with their belongings, as entrepreneurs with their assets. As we must fathom, every property is an organized robbery.

From bolt- generated locks to the most developed and technical devices, the market certainly is thriving, as people become more aware and experienced. Homes had been shielded with security cameras and alarms, as well as businesses, complete armed with systematic security kits – ALL for safety measures. In this article, security system types and their relevant descriptions will be discussed:

Types of Home Security System
In this prevailing world of ours, invention has never held back. From gadgets and domestic devices to cars and things that just, on no account, amazes you of what they can do to make life much easier. But thanks to technology, we are given smart options.

While security systems can include a number of singular components such as video cameras and motions sensors, they can be characterized according to two dichotomies.

1) Monitored versus Unmonitored
·         Monitored Security System– These devices, professionally installed and periodically tested, document any insidious activity and then, warning the authority such as the neighborhood as well as with the police force and a team of professionals, in which in this case, becomes more helpful in triggering a notification of an act, and most especially, deterring robbers from stealing. This structure, however, charges a monthly alarm monitoring fee for the indispensable service, along with the upfront cost for installation, which can become costly in the long term. Another drawback is that their dependence on hardwired phoned lines, make it easier for robbers to obliterate the operation just by cutting the lines.

·         Unmonitored Security System or stand- alone alarms – These are devices in which only activate alarm for the knowledge of your neighbors and yourself. Compared to the monitored device, youwill not be notified by your security company, and the police will not be dispatched to your property, which relying from neighbors’ notice can be an impediment. Also, you will also have to install the system yourself and ensure that it is functioning properly. The benefit of these devices, however, is that they are less expensive and you don’t have to pay for any fee. Although they may be fairly easy to set up, it is advisable to ask for technical help as these require running electrical wires to each of the sensors placed around your home.

2) Hardwired versus Wireless
·   Hard wiring a system means all the sensors and alarms are physically linked to a central console or control panel by way of electrical wire. Reliability is its major benefit as it does not damage easily, and are not simply deactivated due to use of numeric codes, only identified by the owner. These devices are typically mounted on walls, crawl spaces and other home structures which sometime can become a drawback if you are in a plan of moving in.

·   Wireless security systems are at the vanguard of security system technology, as they don’t only benefit a lot with their easy feature, but because of their efficiency. These devices require no heavy and octopus wires, which makes them easy to install. They are also incredibly flexible when it comes to sensor placement. One of its major advantages also is that you can easily bring them with you to your next home if you plan of moving.

No matter what kind of security system homeowners have, there are some essential aspects to owning them.Keep these benefits and drawbacks in mind when deciding which type of system is right for you.

I am falling in love AGAIN!

Sun, 4 Nov 2012 14:00:35 +0000

This time with the iPad Mini.

Yes, indeed :-)

Steve Jobs will turn in his grave ;-)
A screen size of 7.9", a mere 0.9" more than most of its competitors, Apple is able to steal the limelights from Samsung, Microsoft, Google and whoever chooses to enter the arena.
No, it is not a mini iPad. It is the iPad mini, a new gadget in its own right!

Yes, it has the specs of the iPad 2, only better and more. To me, it embodies the best of both the iPhone 5 & the iPad 2. iPad mini is THE gadget of the future. It is an electronic paperback, a coffee table book, an MP4 player, a game console & even a mobile phone, all in one.
It is not an oversized Galaxy Note neither is it a downsized iPad. Instead, it is THE gadget of my dream. Yes, finally it is here!

So, in essence, what does iPad mini has that the iPad & iPhone don't? You asked.

The right screen size, lighter weight, thinner body, sleeker surface makes it a delight to hold for hours; be it on the train, plane or in the bed!
A battery life that rivals those of the iPad 2, a less heated case and a much faster processor.
Improved user interface (such as Reader in the browser Safari) & pleasant touch sensory. It is a delight to hold & to touch.
Last but not least, an affordable price (starts from US$329 for 16GB wifi version)!

Oh no, I am happy even if it is 50% more expensive than Nexus 7 & Galaxy Tab 2. It is value for money!
An ecosystem of user friendly Apps with iTunes University where anyone willing is able to get hours of courses from top notch universities and received first class education from anywhere in the world!

I am totally in love & I've good reasons to be!

IPad mini Quick Tip by Sharrie

Sat, 3 Nov 2012 07:33:51 +0000

Finally! The iPad mini was delivered by Apple store to me some 30 hours after the official launch on Nov 2. I have been waiting patiently for Apple to produce something lighter than my iPad 2 which I thought to be the best product Apple had ever produced. It is my favorite even after my acquisition of iPhone 5 2 weeks ago.

Now that I have set up my iPad mini I must admit it has now become my most favorite gadget! For now I am more than 100% happy!

A month on & until iPad Mini arrives (in a week!) ...

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:49:06 +0000

It took me almost a month before I got hold of my very first iPhone, ie. the iPhone 5. I did try to make a go for it on its first 2 days of launch on the Apple.com HK site as in that country it is using the lottery/ballot system to determine who get to buy them every day. Even today it is still adopting that very strategy. I suppose Apple store didn't want to deal with a load of customers coming to its 2 stores in Hong Kong and not serving the crowd well. It's foregone conclusion that there would be loads of crowd. So, whoever get the lucky draw the day before can then go and collect his/her prize the next day. I tried the first 2 days but wasn't so lucky. Then I had to leave for vacation to Korea and hence ended up not getting it thereafter. I finally got one in Singapore upon my arrival to the country last monday. The craze here is not as bad as that of Hong Kong.

I had skipped 6 iPhone versions before generation 5. The reason I decided to buy now was simply because it is now "sleek, thin & light".

After almost a week of use, here are my observations and experiences (based on the fact I have iPad 2 and is familiar with Apple iTunes store and its ecosystem):

The Good

Weight - It is much much lighter than the iPad and also the other generations of iPhones due to its thinner exterior and also a different casing material.
Look - It looks updated, sleek & futuristic. Not that the other iPhones weren't back then when they were launched. Still, I do like the feel of its case and especially the black matt finish.
Speed - With an improved core processor, it runs faster than its predecessor.
Camera - I was an Android user before I bought the iPhone 5. Camera function on the iPhone is much superior and gives a more natural rendition in terms of colors than the Samsung phones. The reason why I chose IPhone 5 over those of Samsung's (latest being S3 and Note 2) is because I really hate the (unnatural) color I spotted on Samsung's screen. That alone is enough to turn me away!

The Bad

Battery - To someone who had been spoilt with long battery life on the iPad (some 9 or 10 hours), the battery life on the iPhone 5 needs some getting use to. If I spend time working on the phone non-stop, it lasts only some 3+ hours, I reckon. However, if one is not constantly playing games or it or downloading apps, it probably can get by the day without recharging, provided one doesn't spend hours talking on the phone. Otherwise, an external battery charger is essential. In this regard, Apple is not optimizing user experience as far as I'm concerned. If it can provide substantially long battery life in iPad mini, why can't it do so on the iPhone?!
Screen size - 4" may be good to hold in the hand but it is a torture when it comes to watching videos. I need at least a 5" so that my eyes won't strain so much! Then again, I guess I'll just have to keep to watching videos on the iPad (or the iPad mini as soon as I get hold of the stock in a week or two)!
Cost - For a 5th generation product with 2 versions of generation 3 & 4, this is one expensive gadget!!! Costing almost US$1000 without contract and about half of it with contract. For the Android phones, they are normally bundled in HK with a two year contract for free!!! Although I paid for it thinking that I'm overpaying, I ended up asking more from the product and in that regard, the iPhone 5 is not good value for money!

So there goes the initial thought and feedback about the IPhone 5. I'm not that crazy over it that I'd go queue for it overnight or am I that excited over it after I bought it. I do feel that other than a better camera, it feels like an iPad nano (except that it has better quality camera). Other than that, it is so much more expensive than the iPad although when it comes to weight, it is just about 1/3 of the newly launched iPad mini. Is it worth paying so much more for a better camera? Well, it's up to individual and also how often one use that for social media. That's the main reason why it is getting a +4 and not +5.

In essence, I feel Apple needs to be more competitive where pricing is concerned and not keeping up with milking its loyal fans and customers years after years. Sure, its shareholders will not agree but after all these years, is Apple only interested in making money? Is that its main motivation? Now that Steve Jobs is no longer around, who is going to keep track of Apple's sense for design and strive for excellence?!

Only time will reveal .........

iPhone 5 Quick Tip by Sharrie

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:19:31 +0000

As far as the iPhone is concerned I'm a late adopter. Most of the Apple products I have had either the first generation (except for the iPad, the 2nd generation). When it comes to the iPhone though, I always find that it hadn't reached the standard I demanded of the cellphone, until now. The criteria I was searching for was sleek, light AND thin.

Finally, Apple satisfies my concerns. Still, I think it can be improved further. A 5" screen would be preferable and also may be an overhaul in its design! I personally think Apple can do better with a sweeping change instead of milking its consumers and fans with the many generations of the same product.

Other than that, I'm quite happy with what I got now. It serves its purpose as a phone in its own class.

While I love my iPad more than my iPhone, I'm anxiously looking forward to the launch of iPad mini next month. I'm definitely preordering it this friday!!! As far as the two products are concerned, iPad reigns!

This is highly recommended

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:45:51 +0000

This book looks at the ways that present-day young people use, and interact with, their cell phones. They are not used just for phone calls anymore.

A teenage boy from China wanted an iPad and a cell phone so much that he felt compelled to sell one of his kidneys on the black market to get the money. He is now in the hospital, suffering from renal failure. He received a lot less than the going rate for his kidney. A young Amish man is returning to the community after rumspringa, but he does not want to give up his cell phone.

In the slums of Rio de Janeiro, a couple of young boys and their cell phones are the only ones telling the world about a gun battle between the government and drug dealers. A majority of the world's youth sleep with their cell phones.

A Venice Beach food truck has created quite a following by using Twitter each morning to give its lunchtime location for that day. Between 1996 and 2010, the number of American teens who smoke has gone down. It might have something to do with the explosion in cell phone usage among teens in that same period.

As part of a study, young people all over the world were asked to go without their cell phones for 24 hours (they had to actually remove the battery). Some found it difficult, but bearable. Others described their feelings using words like dead, lonely, helpless and anxious. A teenge girl posted unpleasant comments about her family on Facebook. When her father found out, he recorded a seven-minute rant, which ended with the father putting two bullets in her laptop.

Regular human contact has generally become a thing of the past. Children don't play outside anymore. Young people don't have anywhere to congregate, like the local movie theater. A group of people can be in a coffeeshop, all working on their laptops (together and alone at the same time). That is part of the reason for people's near obsession with technology. It is the closest they can get to human contact.

If your teenager is spending "too much" time on their cell phone, maybe they are looking for some version of human contact. Reading this book may help explain what they are thinking, and feeling. It is highly recommended.

How Reading Reviews Enables The Butterfly Effect

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:45:44 +0000

It's amazing the amount of people that spend the time to sit and review movies, books, comics, anything. And here I find myself doing the same the thing. I decided to alter my own life by going to a few different Sci-Fi communities and read the reviews and then purchase the book and/or see the movie. I wanted to see if I listened to others opinions and read or watched something that I normally would not go out of my way to do, would have a profound impact on my life. Sort of a Butterfly Effect 2.0. Did exposing myself to these new sci-fi arenas have any effect on me? Read this Review and Find out.

Review #1 The Keepers by Rick Friar:
There was a review first posted here about a series called "The Keepers". The guy reviewing it "Shredder203" (I assume it was a guy) talked a mass hype. Stating that it was as good as Star Wars if not better. I decided to take it for a test spin, because to me, nothing can beat Star Wars. (At least episodes 4-6).

Did I like it? YES! Surprisingly so. One thing I love was the grittyness of the novel. That classic super post apocolyptic space future vibe was strong throughout the entire book. And when I did a little more research, I found out that the author actually specked out his 'Animalian' vehicles from supreme robots that are being built now. It was really interesting to check out his website and see these 'primitive' versions of the robots he describes in his books. It's a big book, but I was able to finish it quickly and recommend it to virtually anyone that likes the classic sci-fi novel that digs a little deeper into amazing technology and future politics.

The Butterfly Effect: While reading the Keepers I was sitting on the bus headed to my friend's place. An amazingly cute girl laughed at me and asked me what I was reading. I told her my plan to read and experience life. We have gone on 3 dates so far and now she is reading The Keepers and we have some epic conversations. So I think the Butterfly is in full Effect.

Review #2 2001: A Space Odyssey - Movie:
I know that I must seem like the worst sci-fi geek ever, because I never had the chance to sit down and fully watch 2001. After reading review of it on SciFiScape, they mentioned a list of a zillion movies that have the HAL theme. So I needed to finally watch it.

Did I like it? YES. I know that in this day and age it is a little slow, but you have to realize that this movie really stands the test of time. Kubrik was a masterful genius and the first scene with the black monolith is 100% amazing. If you have not seen this movie yet, because you are young, but you love sci-fi, it is a must!

The Butterfly Effect: After watching this movie I have been stuck for two days in a philosophical point of view. Nothing crazy to report yet.

I guess that is it. More to come! Watch 2001 Odyssey and read "The Keepers"!

"The Keepers" Tickles The Youthful Part Of My Imagination That Says, "This Is Badass"

Wed, 5 Sep 2012 19:00:36 +0000

"The Keepers" by Rick Friar took my by surprise. A BIG surprise.

When I first saw these books at Barnes and Noble, I saw 3 thick books stacked next to each other and the way I devour a book, I'm always looking for something long and engaging, but what really grabbed me were the illustrations of new and novel machines I never had seen. It was almost as if I was taken back to the first time I saw some of the X-fighters and the Death Star. They tickled the youthful part of my imagination that said, "This is badass."

I took the first book home and from page one the Ender-Like quality had a hold of me. I cancelled my plans for that Saturday night and read until my eyes were bloodshot at 4:00am, when my girlfriend finally complained enough, so I went to bed.

3 hours later.

7:00am I'm up, book opened to page 314 of this 675 page monster. I had never read a book based on the technology of biomimicry, which is manmade science built and influenced by the living world around us. There were one manned piloted machines based off of hummingbirds and hornets. There were "Sidewinders" which are huge snake-like walls hundreds of feet tall that destroy city blocks, annihilating everything in their path.

And this was just the beginning.

Where many books leave you wondering how machines like these are possible, Friar explains it all in depth leaving you feeling like this IS real and these machines CAN be made. It was like reading the manual to the Star Ship Enterprise. (Which I also own.) The machines are called "Animalians" and run on an alternative fuel source, which is cool and gives it a Dune-like feel, but more importantly, this book sticks with you.

The narrative of the book is based through the main characters eyes and it is fun to see how his character arcs. It's not just the typical "Hero's Journey" and the whimsical relevance of today's culture keeps the pace fresh and alive.

Within 3 weeks I read all 3 books and (I won't give any spoilers) I have to say that each book was completely different from the other, more riveting to the next.

If you're looking for a new world to lose yourself in I highly recommend the Keepers. I feel like I accidentally discovered something really big and it's not going to remain a secret for much longer.

It pays to trade in!!!

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:41:14 +0000

This is probably the only phone/tablet I bought on its first day of sale in the market. It is definitely not my first phone or tablet for that matter. Let's not start on that, I've countless of them and am beginning to forget what I actually have/had!!!

Samsung is hitting up the competition with Apple in recent months, with the launch of Galaxy S2 last year (an android phone in direct competition to the iPhone; I have that for about 9 months until last friday when I traded in for this tab phone with a mere US$50!). On that very same day, I also sold my 18th month old Galaxy Tab 1 (the original 7" tab which I got for free when I signed up for the broadband service late 2010) for US$200 cash.

Confusing?
To keep the story short... I had Tab 1 and S2 to begin with. Both I got for free for signing up online services. As of last friday, both are sold. One traded in for the new Tab 2 (subject matter of this review) and another sold for US$200. End of discussion.

Now, to the review about this new gadget.

Tab 2 comes in WiFi and 3G. WiFi price is a steal (US$250). Because I sold both my phone and tablet, and I need a phone of decent screen size (I do a great deal of reading!) I opted for the 3G version (retailing around US$380, I got it for $50 due to the trade in of S2 and I traded in S2 because S3 will be out next week & the old 2nd hand model will dropped in price very quickly otherwise!). The next smartphone size I'll be buying will be the iPhone 5!

Before I got on with comparing the tab and the pad, let's look at the range of Samsung handheld gadgets (phones and tablets). For non-Apple fans, Samsung has 2 bestsellers in the market right now where phones are concerned. The Galaxy S2 and the Galaxy Note. I know friends who have had both and they claimed Galaxy Note is awesome. A bigger screen and much better resolution with a pen to draw too. As for the S2, it will be replaced by S3 next week! The S3 is already creating quite a buzz in the market. If you are interested in them, go to Engadget.com and you'll find a pro review on these products!

Tab or Phone? Or, both in one?!
Now, back to Galaxy Tab 2 (7" 3G version). Comparing it with S2 is like comparing lemon and lime. One is bigger, another lighter. Both can be used as phone. One has bigger screen, the other so much smaller. To buy a phone or a tablet? It's depending on your own usage. I spent a lot of my time on the tablet (more so than my phone, from my past experience with the iPad 2 which I still own but will trade in for iPhone 5 soon, I hope!) so the screen size is very important to me. iPad 2 is a bit too heavy for me to carry around and shop in Hong Kong. The weight is a strain. So, with the Tab 2 a tad lighter than Tab 1, I will attempt to take it out and use it both as a phone and a tablet.

Tab 2 is lighter than Tab 1 and iPad 2. It is about 12 oz. It has a 7" screen size (same as Tab 1 but much bigger than S2 and S3. The new S3 has 4.8" screen and Galaxy Note has 5.3" screen. No doubt, to get a bigger screen one has to settle for more weight! There is improvement for the Tab 2 though, it is lighter than Tab 1 with a much better screen sharpness and clearness (comparatively similar to iPad 2). As I said in my quick tip, it feels like a mini iPad to me running on Android steroid, haha! Tab 2 runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich; hmm, yummy!).

Interface
Switching from the interface of Android 2.3 (if I remember correctly) on the Tab 1 to that of Android 4.0 on Tab 2 is a little disorientating at first. I've had tons of gadgets before so it wasn't difficult to readjust for me. For some, it may be. You do need to experiment with your hands. Afterall, it's Ice Cream Sandwich! Hopefully, it won't get too messy for you!!! ;-)

This is an improved gadget. Other than the hardware, the software is a lot better too! I love to watch videos on this new tab. Reading magazines on Zinio is good too (though not as great as the iPad 2 due to its size and Zinio's imperfect Android app!) and now I can travel in trains and planes without having to lug along the iPad 2. I am not sure if I'll buy the iPad 3 but I am game for mini iPad!!! :-)

The major improvement is in resolution for the Tab 2. Now, it is quite a pleasure to travel around with it. Apple did up the game with the iPad 2 screen and renders the original Tab 1 less pleasurable. In exchange, after some upgrades, Samsung improves the Tab 2 to make it a desirable object! Especially with the much lower prices!!!

As for the operating system (Android 4.0), please read the reviews on other geek site to get a glimpse of all that it has to offer!

For now, I've to go play some games on my new phone! :D

P.S. One thing though, if you're looking to use your phone/tablet for a lot of photography, this is NOT the gadget for you. It only has a 3.0 megapixel camera! The S2 has an 8.0 megapixel camera and I have had no complain on that one! I'd have given it a +5 if it has an 8.0 megapixel camera keeping the price as such!!!

Before I forget, battery life is an hour or two shorter than the Tab 1 while double those of S2!!!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7") Quick Tip by Sharrie

Mon, 28 May 2012 05:23:58 +0000

Samsung hits up the competition with an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet which is going to appeal to a lot of those who are in for an upgrade or trade in. I traded my 9 month Galaxy S2 (cellphone) in for a mere US$50 to get the newly launched (available last friday in Hong Kong) 7" tablet (version 2 of Samsung Galaxy Tab range, named as Galaxy Tab 2).

The new Galaxy Tab 2 (Original tab was launched some 2 years ago; I sold it last friday for cash in the 2nd hand market for US$200, not a bad deal at all!) comes in wifi and 3G version. WiFi version is a steal (only US$200!) while the 3G version is about US$380) in Hong Kong.

For details, please check in later for the full length review. In short, it feels like a mini iPad in my hand!

SOPA/PIPA - My Letter to the Government

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:11:42 +0000

I'm giving this letter a test run to see what others think of me sending it to a Senator for New York.

Dear Senator,

I guess it would be redundant to ask for the release of the monetary figures it took to get this bill a foothold in Congress. Exchanges for bills like that tend to happen only under the table. Perhaps that's part of SOPA's appeal - stopping The Smoking Gun from blowing the lid off ny more Congressional scandals which the public should know about.

You'll have to forgive me for automatically assuming corporate payoffs were involved in getting SOPA and PIPA so much as a mention uttered under one Congressman's breath. We have a particular law in this country stating, in these exact words, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Congress shall make no law... Abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. What part of that clause is so difficult to understand?

Understand that as a writer who has created a name for himsef online, I believe that the First Amendment - and the issues of free speech and free press in particular - might be kind of, sort of important. As I tend to frequently employ harsh language, I am seeing a future of a thousand tickets, at the very least, which I couldn't possibly afford.

As one who has a masterful command of the English language, I can also see a whole lot of wiggle room in the vague, technology-deficient, broad language. Interpretations tend to vary quite a bit, and the desires of the Attorney General and organizations like the MPAA and RIAA will probably bend and flex according to whatever interpretation suits their momentary needs. The RIAA in particular stands to be abusive on a level which rivals the Kim family in North Korea. Lest we not forget, the RIAA is an organization which has never quite come to terms with the very existence of the internet, and they have a ridiculous history of trying to sentence ten-year-olds to years in jail for downloading three songs which cost a collective total of about 15 cents.

Furthermore, it has been claimed that SOPA and PIPA will create thousands of new jobs. I'm well-read on the basic mechanics of a free-market economy, and I can safely say this claim is just bunk thrown out by SOPA and PIPA supporters attempting to parlay the needs of the American publc into support so they can keep their profits and hopefully get some fresh new lawsuit cash from the aforementioned flexible interpretations. As SOPA and PIPA would effectively close down the less-moneyed websites that can't aford lawyers, costing thousands more jobs. This is something that even the staunchest supporters of a centralized economy have pointed out!

I have looked at the list of supporters for these bills and have noticed that nearly all 142 of them are enormous corporations who would be the only ones to benefit from SOPA/PIPA enforcement. The NFL is on the list, and they have a monopoly which is not only legal, but recognized and enforced by the United States government! Makeup giants Revlon and L'Oreal, printing giant Random House, several television giants, MasterCard and Visa, Marvel, Disney Publishing Worldwide, Time Warner, MCA, and Sony are all supporting it. I can't say the presence of any of them is surprising.

This country is not the United States of China or North Korea. It is not the United Soviet States of America. It was built on a foundation guaranteeing every individual protection from infringement of their freedom of expression. That goes for everyone in the country - as a private citizen, the government has no right to make a law silencing me, either on behalf of its own desires or on behalf of some other private individual or organization. No matter how much money it's waving in front of Congressman Du Jour's face.

Please vote no on SOPA and PIPA. Then if possible, burn it and never speak of it again.

Sincerely,
Nicholas Croston

Flipboard for iPhone Quick Tip by devora

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 23:25:45 +0000

Flipboard for iPhone is finally here, and boy, is it gorgeous! Love that I have yet another way to consume information on my iPhone from many outlets all from the same app now :)

Bare-bones Reading Machine

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

This is my third Kindle and over the years I've only gotten more and more satisfied with this simple and powerful reading device. I am still using the third generation Kindle (now known as Kindle Keyboard) and I got the latest device primarily for my wife's use. She's a Kindle newbie, and has for the longest time resisted going the e-reader way. However, after about a month of use she has come to appreciate the convenience and the ease of use of a Kindle. I have also used it, and have come away really impressed with the latest evolutionary step of my favorite reading device.

This year Amazon has introduced not one, but three different Kindles. With the two of the previous generation still available, there are now a total of five Kindles to choose from. You now have more options than ever in deciding what kind of Kindle is best suited for your reading and content-consumption needs. If you are just interested in a simple and straightforward reading device than this version of Kindle is a perfect choice for you.

**** Size and Weight ****

This is by far the smallest and lightest Kindle to date. The whole device is little more than a reading display with a large border around it. It is also very light, substantially lighter than Kindle Keyboard (which I already considered to be a really light reading device). Both of these features make this Kindle very easy to hold, and your hand will almost certainly not get tired even after hours of reading. However, some people prefer the sense of weight of ordinary books, so if this is something that you like than you may not find reading on a Kindle all that comfortable. The small size makes this also one of the most portable devices around. It is just slightly larger than some of the largest smartphones that re available today, and it can fit in a larger pants pocket. I still wouldn't recommend carrying around like that - Kindles tend to be rather fragile, and I've already lost one to the broken display.

**** Display Quality ****

The text contrast and the refresh speed for this Kindle are the same as for the previous generation. Amazon has gotten us used to the regular improvements in e-ink, so this was a bit of a disappointment. Nonetheless, both those features are very good and more than adequate for smooth, enjoyable reading experience.

**** Battery Life ****

The battery life of this device is outstanding. I have not charged it once since the first charging about a month ago. If you are an average reader you can go for months without recharging if you turn Wi-Fi off. This is an appropriate option for people who don't need to sync between different Kindles, who don't download new content frequently, and who don't share quotes and other updates online directly from Kindle.

**** Storage ****

This is another category where Amazon seems to have gone backward. It has reduced the internal storage from 4 GB (which is still available in Kindle Touch) to 2 GB. According to Amazon's calculations that is still sufficient for more than 1400 books, but in my experience that is a bit of an exaggeration. Nonetheless, you will certainly be able to put a thousand or so books onto this Kindle, which is more than you'll probably read in a lifetime. Since you can't put MP3 files onto this Kindle anyways (see below), it is highly unlikely that you will ever need more than 2 GB of internal storage.

**** Other Features ****

Well, there really aren't that many. This Kindle is more defined by what it lacks than what it offers. You can still browse the web, but without a physical keyboard this becomes very painful. Gone are the mp3 player, the headphones jack, and the speakers on the back. As already mentioned, gone is also the keyboard. If you don't have a need for writing frequent notes and comments in your books, than this is not much of a problem. The lack of keyboard is only annoying when you have to jump to a particular location in a book, in which case you have to use the virtual keyboard and the small joystick.

**** Ads ****

The version of Kindle that I got is the one that is ad-supported. In my opinion ads are very unobtrusive, and are only displayed in a narrow strip at the bottom of the home screen and as full-page ads in the sleep mode. So far most of the ads that I've seen have been completely irrelevant to me, but that may change in the future.

**** Other Considerations ****

Another thing that is missing from this Kindle is the power supply. I have several from the previous Kindles that I've owned, so this is not much of a problem for me. You can still charge your Kindle by plugging it into the USB port of your computer, and for fairly infrequent charging this is more than adequate. If you really like the convenience of a power plug, then you can buy one separately from Amazon.

**** Conclusion ****

This version of Kindle is the most rudimentary reading device that I've come across. It does just one thing and it does it really well. If you are an avid reader and don't care about all the bells and whistles that other Kindles have than this would be a great product for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

So This Is What Love Feels like: The Most Amazing iPhone Yet

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 18:07:13 +0000

I know that I had previously said that I wasn't going to pick up the iPhone 4S, but after giving it some thought, I decided to go for it anyways. ...Because why not? I was eligible for an upgrade anyways. Instead of breaking out a lawn chair in front of an Apple like The Woz did, I hit up the Apple site at midnight October 7th and pre-ordered that baby. I figured I would probably receive it in the mail a few days after the October 14th release date, but to my surprise and delight, I received it right on the 14th. Straight from the factory. Activating my iPhone on my own was a total breeze and I did it without incident.

The iPhone 4S may not have been very well-received when it was first announced, but that didn't stop people from ordering it, and it has actually gotten pretty rave reviews. For the past few generations of iPhones, a new one has been introduced approximately every year. However, it took nearly a year and a half to announce this one, so there's got to be some sort of radical new redesign, right? There were rumors of it being thinner, having a larger screen, plus an array of other physical changes, but when the 4S was announced, the main takeaway was that it was a faster iPhone 4 that you could talk to and that had a nice camera. Nonetheless, the Apple faithful, myself included, eventually warmed up to it by the time it was released two weeks later and they sold like hotcakes.

Here are the main three features that the 4S touted over the 4:

A5 Chip
Speed. With the new A5 chip, the same chip that was first used in the iPad 2 released earlier this year, everything is so much faster:

Apps -- Both Apple apps and third party apps pull up lickety split.
Camera -- The camera is ready just a couple of seconds after it's pulled up, and after that, it can take the first photo in 1.1 seconds and all subsequent photos in half a second.
Web & Email -- All things equal -- carrier, connectivity, etc -- the 4S loads content way faster than previous generations of the iPhone. With decent wifi, it's near instantaneous.

Siri
As expected, besides the initial testing of it by asking funny questions, I haven't really used it much nor do I plan on using it much in the future. I've actually had the original Siri app on my phone from when it was first released in early 2010 and had only ever used it once. It's a really neat concept and I could see it aiding people more in the future, but for now, it'll remain another unused cool feature on my phone. Similar to FaceTime.

On the version of Siri integrated with the 4S, every time I've tried to use it for something practical so far, well, let's put it this way -- Siri is like a dog; occasionally, it does tricks for me when we're alone in a controlled setting. However, when I try to show it off to friends or use it in some other setting, it doesn't work more often than not and embarrasses the heck out of me. With the mistakes it makes and its inability to comprehend me the majority of the times, I might as well just be texting or Googling something by hand.

A couple of examples of when Siri has failed me when I tried to use it for reals:

I attempted to send a text to a friend as I drove closer to her house. Instead of sending the "I'm here" that I dictated, it sent "Bear", to which my friend responded, "What about bears?". I've tried the voice to text feature several other times with similar results, so I've decided to just type from now on when I can.
I was out running with a friend in an area with spotty 3G connection, which caused my Pandora to go in and out. I decided that I wanted the reliability of the music preloaded into my iTunes, but I didn't want to stop running to do this, so I turned on Siri and dictated what I wanted through the mic attached to my headset. I tried repeatedly to get it to understand "Play music". Eventually I was screaming "PLAY MUSIC" into my mic while running. When Siri did eventually understand me, she told me she couldn't do anything because I had no connectivity. I don't understand why I needed 3G or wifi to pull up songs that are already on my phone. I ended up having to stop and pull up iPod on my own.

Now to the fun part about Siri: mess around with it, which you've probably seen on blogs and Youtube. My friends and I played around with it and here are some of our favorites...

And my favorite of all...

My friend and I just about lost it when Siri popped out with an actual answer for the last question. What's more is that if you click on any of the options, it actually lists out the nearest swamps, dumps, metal foundries, etc, and shows you their ratings. I love their sense of humor and it would've been so rad to have been on the team that thought of all of these questions and answers.

So my conclusion on Siri: useless for anything practical besides setting the occasional alarm clock, but pretty darn entertaining at other times.

Camera
My favorite feature of all. I'll go as far as to say that the 4S is worth it alone just for the camera. If you've seen some of my food reviews, you know that I love taking pictures, and as such, I've always had at least a point and shoot on me at all times for the past several years. Well, get this -- since getting the 4S, I've officially retired my point and shoot and my purse has become so much lighter. It was no joke when they said during the announcement that this is probably going to be one of the best cameras that most people will own at this point.

Here are some of my favorite things about this feature:

It's 8 mega pixels with 5 element lens. That's 60% more pixels than the 4. These factors make for amazingly high quality, sharp photos.
It has a f/2.4 lens and backside illumination, so it takes amazing low light photos.
IR filter -- the colors are gorgeous.
Not only does the camera pull up really fast, it takes the first picture in 1.1 seconds and subsequent ones in half a second.
Even when the phone is locked, the camera can still be accessed by double clicking the home button.
Photos can be taken with the increase volume button.
Photos can be cropped and enhanced, including the removal of red eye.

Here are some examples. I usually edit my photos, but the ones below are unedited and you can see them in several situations -- outdoors, indoors, low light, etc.

Macro

Indoors

On previous iPhones, these would've been near pitch black

Whatever flaws the photos may have, there's nothing that a little photoshopping can't help.

Last thing I want to note on -- appearance. The iPhone 4S looks near identical to iPhone 4. There are just several minor tweaks to the design. The two most obvious being 1) the iPhone 4S has a couple of extra black lines on either either side, 2) the silent switch was moved down about two millimeters, which doesn't seem like much, but annoyingly, it makes it so that my made-for-iPhone 4 case doesn't accommodate for it. So just keep the latter in mind as you're case shopping for your 4S. If not for the case issues, though, you can barely tell the difference:

I would suggest the 4S to anyone who has a pre-iPhone 4 phone. If you have an iPhone 4, I would say wait for the next one, which will hopefully be a complete redesign.

The 4S is so fast and I can't get enough of the camera. Seriously, if you're typically a point and shoot camera person, this will probably be one of the nicest cameras you've owned up to this point and will replace your need for a separate camera. As for Siri, it's a neat concept, but definitely not a compelling reason to get the iPhone 4S.

Still though, the 4S more than does its job as a smartphone and this is definitely the most amazing iPhone yet.

Atari Arcade - Play Classic Arcade Video Games at Home

Sun, 9 Oct 2011 20:11:07 +0000

Wouldn't it be fun to share with your teens the video games that you grew up with. Since many of them were arcade games, you might think that would be difficult to do. However, Atari Arcade Duo Powered allows you to bring those classic arcade games from the 70s and 80s into your home.

Once you connect your iPad to the Atari Arcade Duo Powered, you just upload the Atari Arcade app and you are good to go. And the stand is lightweight and needs no batteries.

Watch my video review here:

Click here for the rest of my review (including video) on Atari Arcade

A Visionary Who Leaves Behind Quite the iLegacy

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 08:20:56 +0000

Death is always sad, but I've never been one to get too emotional over the death of a public figure. Someone who I didn't personally know. Someone who I had never met. However, in the case of Steve Jobs, I'm deeply saddened to the point of numbness.

Steve Jobs literally changed the world. He revolutionized technology and in turn, those products went on to affect many people's lives in positive and profound ways. His genius-ness enriched our lives through innovations that changed the way that we consume and create music, movie, news, and other information and entertainment, and even changed the way that we communicate with each other, the way we learn, the way we think, and the way we live.

Just to name a few.

Not to mention that many influential and successful young entrepreneurs in the tech sphere of the past couple of decades cite Steve Jobs as a huge inspiration.

Looking back on Steve Jobs' life story and experiences, it's apparent that he's lived a colorful and unconventional life with a lot of bumps in the road. No one could have predicted that someone who lived a life like Steve's to get to the point where he ended up. He was an accident, born to unwed parents who gave him up for adoption. His first chosen set of adoptive parents changed their minds about adopting him. He dropped out of college. He traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. He experimented with psychedelics. He got fired from his own company. He got diagnosed with cancer.

Et cetera, et cetera. You know the story.

Yet, I'm sure that no one can imagine anyone else but Steve as the one who made Apple what it is today. Like it says on his tribute on the Apple site, "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built".

No one says it better or tells his story better than Steve himself, nor is there a better way to showcase his charisma. These two videos will give you the chills, and in light of his passing, especially his third story in the second video:

At only age 56, Steve left us far too soon. He had so much more living to do and so much more to contribute to the world. In spite of the multiple medical leave of absences that he took in recent years, he still made it a point to be a part of every major product and strategic decision at Apple. Looking back on his last years, despite his failing health, it's obvious that he was still brimming with ideas, that he was highly, highly passionate about Apple, technology, and changing the world, and that he had so much more that he wanted to share. He must have worked right up to the point until he really felt like he physically could not give anymore, only resigning less than a month and a half before his passing.

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose". Let this be a lesson to us to live life to the fullest and to take risks into the unknown, no matter how scary. Seriously, go out and live. Boldly. Do something. Find ways to change the world. Spend a little money if you need to. You can't take it with you.

R.I.P. King of Silicon Valley.

Thank you for all that you've shared with us and for being such a visionary and inspiration to so many.

RIP Steve Jobs! The Legacy? Follow Your Heart!

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 05:49:42 +0000

Death knows no boundaries. It does not recognize nationalities, age, demographics, beauty, bank accounts nor fame. We can't really tell who will live to a ripe old age or who will pass on the next day. All we are left with is how much a person has effected in his lifetime, not how long he has lived.

Steve Jobs is the inspiration behind this review. You may/may not like him but you can't quite fault his ingenuity or his strategic marketing even if you're his main competitors. I'd choose to think that Jobs passed away at the height of his career. Whatever could be or would be in the future is up to anyone's speculation. For Steve Jobs, he has done more than most of his peers in the technology sector by simply catering to consumers' needs and a step beyond that. He had simplify life for many and facilitated the world's leap to a more connected world.

He is certainly an icon of our times. Just as Princess Diana was. These are 2 public people whom I woke up unexpectedly to news of their deaths. Shocking? Yes, to quite a degree. They are too young to die and had done a great deal for many in the world. Shocking enough to think about our own mortality and be reminded of our time left in life as well as our place in this life.

Yet, the death of Steve Jobs translates to an immortality - his spirit, his creativity and his belief about following one's own heart will be here to stay for decades if not centuries and beyond.

Most of us don't know the man but most of us personally and intimately know his works. We live our days alongside his many creations. We were transformed one way or another by them. So yes, we know the man, well, in a different dogma and dimension.

Yes, Steve Jobs is gone for now, but his legacy is here to stay, forever and ever....................

(A Lunch Featured Review)

Steve Jobs Quick Tip by Sharrie

Thu, 6 Oct 2011 03:01:17 +0000

A legend. Too young to die at 56! He will live on in many of his fans' hearts though... Go get the iPad 2, it's now officially the last product Jobs launched! A sad day as I type this QT on the iPad 2.

Full of fluff and hyperbole

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 10:14:02 +0000

Not going to lie -- I'm slightly disappointed by Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" keynote yesterday. After keeping us waiting since June of last year, I expected more out of the latest iPhone. For the last three generations of iPhone, they came out with a new one about every 12 months and the successors were all very impressive compared to the former model. So if they're make people wait an extra four months, it better be good. Amazing. Out of this world. Game-changing. All that good stuff. Unfortunately, the announcement left many feeling underwhelmed.

Like many devoted Apple or iPhone fan, I've been (not so) patiently waiting for news of the fifth generation iPhone. I've been so ready to upgrade. When Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO two months ago, however, I thought it would be a long while before the next iPhone would be released. My thought was that if there was an iPhone to be unveiled, surely Steve Jobs would at least announce that as a parting gift his fans. So when it was announced that Apple would be having their "Let's Talk iPhone" keynote yesterday, I set aside my morning to watch the announcement unfold on Engadget's live blog (they didn't allow video streaming this time).

The keynote started off with a lot of build up about how awesome Apple is. There was talk of how successful they've been and they threw out a ton of stats while discussing the success and adoption of iPod, iPod Nano, Lion iOS, iPad, iOS 5, etc, etc. They also threw around a lot of words like, "fast" and "amazing" and "gorgeous", etc. They spoke about that for an entire hour before finally getting to the iPhone. The good stuff, and what we've all been waiting for.

Here are the most significant updates that were announced for the iPhone 4S (yup -- a 4S, not a 5), and you can see the phone in action in this video:

A5 Chip
This is also the chip that's inside of the iPad 2. This hardware will make the iPhone run much, much faster all around than the iPhone 4, whether it's pulling up apps, taking pictures, or surfing the web on Safari. To be more exact, twice as a fast, and graphics load 7x as fast, making activities like game play amazing.

Camera
As a photography enthusiast, this one had me mega juiced when they announced it. Here are the stats:

8 megapixel and can take 3264 x 2448 photos -- 60% more pixels
Backside illumination -- brings in 73% more light
Takes the first photo in just 1.1 seconds and the second in half a second -- 33% faster
IR filter -- for better color accuracy and uniformity
Five element lens -- that's an extra lens compared to iPhone 4 -- 30% more sharpness
f/2.4 -- larger aperture to allow more light in
Face detection
Photo editing -- now allows users to crop, enhance and edit photos in several other ways
1080p HD video recording
Video image stabilization

Here's one example of how amazing the new camera is, to which Phil Schiller remarks, "Do you know how hard it is to make a squirrel stand still?"

My favorite part of the whole camera talk though, was when they compared the speed in which various smartphones capture photos:

Phil quips, "I don't know what Droid Bionic users need to do between pictures. Maybe go get coffee?" Oh snap!

They also mention that the camera could now be accessed even when the phone is locked with a double click of the home button, which is very convenient. Once the camera is pulled up, photos can also be snapped with one of the volume buttons. Also very convenient.

Siri
When they announced this, I was a bit confused because I had already downloaded the Siri app in January of 2010. I tested it once and though it's a cool concept for an app, I had only ever opened it once and never bothered with it again. During the announcement, I tried to pull up the Siri app again and found that it no longer worked. Apparently, Apple acquired Siri in April of 2010 and is now set to be fully integrated into the iPhone 4S. Here it is in action:

It looks pretty neat. During the keynote, some examples included using voice control to ask the phone various questions, such as, "What is the hourly forecast?" and "Do I need a raincoat today?". You can also set an alarm, put something on your calendar, ask for international time and even ask for restaurant recommendations and definition of words. These all sound like cool features, but the one that I think that I'm going to find the most useful is the fact that I can text through voice control. I can finally reply to text messages while driving.

Here's one thing that I couldn't help but think about, though -- how accurate and useful voice control will be. My current iPhone has voice control as well, only it's less functional. Though it comes with a set of features, I find that I only end up using it when I'm driving and need to call someone, but even then, it only accurately calls who I tell it to call 25% of the time. Furthermore, the few times that it does work, I'm practically screaming into the speaker, and enunciating slowly and clearly.

They do make a point to point out that it gets better as it learns your voice. If that's the case and I don't have to mega enunciate and practically scream into my phone every time I use it, I may be taking advantage of it more.

One thing's for certain though: apparently Siri will never cross me,

......

Sounds great, right? Now what else is there? And what does it look like?!

Then the keynote ended.

Yup, that was it. All those rumors of them rolling out a larger screen and thinner body? Nada. It appears that they didn't give the body any tweaks at all. Not even a little. I'm not saying that the new iPhone has to live up to rumors, but if I'm getting a new, hyped up phone, I want it to be new and shiny both on the inside AND the outside. Even if just a slight aesthetic tweak. There was also rumor that there'd be a budget iPhone, which would be the iPhone 4, plus another souped out iPhone. Clearly didn't happen.

So after I got off my high of the event, my take away was this: the iPhone 4S is basically a phone with the same exact body as the 15 month old iPhone 4, with 7 month old hardware, and I can tell it to do things with my voice. The A5 processor sounds great, and the voice control does sound cool. Though as I mentioned earlier, I probably wouldn't be using it much. Plus, it's kind of awkward telling your phone to do things in public.

But on the upside, I'll be taking some amazing photos.

I wasn't the only one underwhelmed; Apple stock took a 5% nosedive immediately after yesterday's announcement. Investors were clearly not impressed either:

I didn't think that I'd be asking myself this, but is the ability to take clearer photos and to be able to text with my voice while I'm driving or jogging really worth the hassle and money to get a new phone for? Not to mention that I'd be tied down to AT&T for another two years. Meanwhile, Apple would release the iPhone 5 in the middle of that contractual period and I'm stuck with an old model for another year.

Before yesterday's talk, it was x's on my calendar until the 5th gen iPhone came out and I was 100% sure that I was going to get it. Now that it's been announced though, I'm really on the fence and almost tempted to just wait a year for iPhone 5 to come out, or even get a non-iPhone phone. I'm sure installing iOS 5 into my current phone will tide me over for at least a bit.

Though when I step back and think about all of its new features again... Twice as fast. Sick new camera. Voice activated texting.

Okay, who am I kidding? I'll probably still be getting it. Though just not with as much enthusiasm as I'd thought.

Update: @beaudotgiles read this post and forwarded me to this article by Jason Kottke breaking it down for naysayers like myself. It's a fantastic post. ...But I still want a unicorn!

Update 2: I got the 4S, and I love it.

This one is very highly recommended

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:30:47 +0000

Everyone loves free, or really inexpensive, tools for their computer or smartphone. This book has lots of them, with website and QR code included.

The well-known computer tools, like Skype, Twitter and OpenOffice are here. There are tools here for web meetings and presentations, tools to share information, tools to convery Word files into pdfs, and convert pdfs into Word files, along with IT and security tools to help keep your computer running smoothly.

WorkTime is a tool that will track every activity on your computer, so you will know just how long you have spent being unproductive. To get a group of people to decide on a convenient day and time for a meeting, consider using WhichDateWorks. If Photoshop is too confusing for editing of pictures, try Picnik or FotoFlexer.

Emailing a screencapture of a whole page to someone else, and having them understand what you are talking about is difficult at best. Jing allows the screencapturing of just part of the page. If you want to add some music or movement to your presentation or website, pay a visit to animoto, ispringfree or ispeech.

Small business owners can use freshbooks to manage their billing online, xpenser to keep track of their expenses, or logomyway for ideas to spruce up their old logo. For those who want to start their own blog or website, there is snappages for quick websites, and wordpress for quick blogs. How are you on writing to-do lists and reminders? Sites like rememberthemilk, doitdoitdone!, teuxdeux and toodledo can make it a lot easier.

Whether you are a computer professional, or someone who can barely send an email, this book is very highly recommended. There is something here for everyone. There is no need to download everything in this book; pick just a few tools and go from there. It may just turn a technophobe into a technophile.

Using itunes 10

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Just a few years ago, a book like Using itunes would have been laughable. After all, itunes was just for downloading music. Since the advent of the iphone, ipod, ipad, etc though, itunes has become a whole lot more than just music. More and more, it's becoming a department store of media options and a book like Using itunes is invaluable in helping us understand our options.

Essentially, any download you need for your iphone(music, ringtones, movies, ebooks, etc), itunes can help. That's probably pretty obvious to most iphone users. What's interesting though is that itunes is now looking to make things easier for the user, both on their pc and their mobile devices: organizing, syncing, reducing clutter, creating playlist, multiple media options. Thus, opening up possibilities for a wider range of users.

Using itunes provides a good description of the various features complete with step by step instructions. There are also lots of pictures and videos that you can watch online. Suitable for those new to itunes but equally valuable to those who haven't used itunes in a while.

CCleaner Cleans your System

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:56:30 +0000

The program CCleaner (www.pirifrom.com/ccleaner) has long been a favorite for maintaining the health of Windows systems. It removes .tmp files, cache files, cookies, has a registry cleaner, and a tool kit for removing old software. The advantage of this tool is that it not only removes the program file but also any left over files in the registry or elsewhere.

CCleaner is safe and easy to use. It would be very difficult to do any real damage to your system with it. You could find you have removed cookies that are temporarily distracting because some web sites may not auto fill blocks for your email, name, or home web site. This means you may have to do this manually for a short time. That's a small price to pay for keeping tour system running "mean and lean".

Now Piriform has released in Beta a version for the Macintosh, too. I have been using the Windows version for years so was eager to try the Mac version. The interface and performance is nearly identical. Some features for Windows, such as the software deletion program are not on the Mac side. Perhaps when the final release version is available this will be corrected. Until then, there is Appcleaner.app (http://www.freemacsoft.net/).

Appcleaner removes applications and their associated files very quickly and effectively. I've also used it for several years and have never had any problem with it. It not only removes the application software but also any entries in the Library (a bit similar to Windows Registry) to leave your system with not useless files taking up space on your drive.

Final Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis Quick Tip by Sharrie

Sat, 9 Jul 2011 05:10:46 +0000

A truly bittersweet moment for the Americans! Russians going to lead in the space-age!? Oh, boy...

BUYER BEWARE: Disappointment from a Longtime Creative User with the ZiiO 7" Tablet

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:06:03 +0000

I have a long history with Creative products, all the way back to the Creative Nomad (if you can believe!), so I was excited when Creative debuted this tablet, but, as a consumer, I've always been skeptical about any product's advertised strengths ... so I waited a while to pick one of these up. I did so about two months ago, and I've been testing it off and on ever since ... and I have to confess some serious disappointments with the Creative ZiiO mostly because it, simply, doesn't perform in the way Creative claims it performs. For the record, I have been in contact with Creative, and I have been assured that they are aware of these shortcomings and are attempting to address them with firmware updates.

As any serious user of contemporary electronics will tell you, memory accessibility is of critical importance. Creative advertises that the ZiiO is available in both 8GB and 16GB models with expandable memory up to 32GB (microSD chips). Out of the box, the unit only has 12GB available; and that's not a tremendous setback since any user is going to be aware that the device requires some internal memory for operations. Subsequent to the purchase, I then purchased three microSD cards: an 8GB, a 16GB, and a 32GB ... and this is where Creative's troubles begin.

The only card that works universally upon use is the 8GB. The 16GB and the 32GB cards will only function properly the first time you've loaded material onto them via the tablet's interface with your PC; however, once you power down your ZiiO for whatever reason, the unit no longer recognizes the media you've loaded onto either of these cards. You have to blank the card and reload all of the media all over again; but, once again, once you power down, rest assured that the ZiiO will not locate your materials once you've powered down. As stated, the only card that doesn't suffer this "lack of recognition" is the 8GB card.

I immediately communicated this error to Creative's technicians, and, as is customary for any tech, the user is first instructed to "power down the unit and start all over." However, the data never returns to the ZiiO's video cache for viewing. It simply vanishes into nothingness. I was then told by a different technician that Creative only tests their product's compatability with MicroSans and Transcend storage cards and that it was highly likely that other manufacturers cards would not work with the product. I explained that all cards were MicroSans cards, and that silenced this technician. Then, I received a third email from a Creative representative who assured me that Creative WAS AWARE of this programming deficiency and technicians were trying to address it with a new firmware update; however, as I've checked Creative's website this morning (two months later), no firmware update has been forthcoming.

Consequently, I've rated the ZiiO an average product (3.0 on Amazon's scale). This is not to say it's exceptional because, if it were, then it would perform AS ADVERTISED out of the box. It doesn't, nor can I assume that it will in the foreseeable future. What this means, in the short term, is that, if you're looking for available memory, you're likely not going to get it with the ZiiO. It's still a good product (the reason for the average ranking); it's just a huge disappointment from this longtime Creative consumer who expected better.

Consider yourself warned. Creative IS NOT a service-friendly organization. It's nearly impossible to contact them regarding technical issues, but it can happen, and you may receive a response (as I've done). Hopefully, the company will inevitably get its act together and provide the marketplace with a suitable alternative to other, more mainstream tablets; this ZiiO just isn't quite there.

New Technologies to Save the Earth Are On the Horizon

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:14:00 +0000

1/2011)The "Artificial Sun," Fusion and Cold Fusion Power

Jan 27, 2011 Credits: First Published on Basil and Spice on Jan 27, 2011

By Dr. Joseph S. Maresca

The EAST project or "Artificial Sun" relies on complex theories and requires advanced technologies because exceedingly high temperatures are reached in the nuclear fusion reactions. This process is similar to reactions that take place in the sun itself . Scientists are assembling a device to withstand the extremely high temperatures of the sun together with the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction itself.

Commercialization is aimed at supplying a stable and continuous output of energy generated by a fusion reaction. The result is an "artificial sun" which produces a safe, clean, and virtually unlimited energy source. In essence, the fusion of the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium results in a tiny loss of mass coupled with a huge release of energy. This is a huge undertaking in a number of fields; namely, theoretical physics, materials science/structure of matter, thermodynamics and electrical power generation.

Scientists everywhere have worked hard to build a device to meet such exacting specifications. Various experiments have shown that a Tokamak is likely to be the best solution. By the mid- 1990s, nearly 100 laboratories equipped with experimental Tokamak devices were in existence globally.

After years of theoretical study and numerous experiments, Wan Yuanxi and his colleagues believed that a non-circular Tokamak device might perform better for the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction. In 1997, Wan together with a group of scientific colleagues, conceptualized an idea to build a non-circular experimental superconducting Tokamak.

Basing his work on known scientific principles, Wan Yuanxi formulated a complete research plan to minimize the potential risks. After years of research, Wan Yuanxi and the EAST project team have made a major breakthrough in Tokamak study.

From the conceptual formulation through to the final stage of generating an electric current, the EAST project team took only a decade and 300 million yuan (US $40 million) in monetary resources. Compared to similar projects elsewhere, China's EAST project team managed to complete their research cheaply and in record time. (1)

The wiring which carries the electric current is another research challenge. Graphene is a material recently developed for use in electronics. Graphene is the name given to a flat monolayer of carbon atoms that are tightly packed into a 2D honeycomb lattice; like a molecular window screen that is one atom thick.

Graphene is the thinnest possible material and its strength is about 200 times stronger than steel. Graphene conducts electricity better than any material known in the engineering art at room temperature. Researchers at Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering explained that graphene is the strongest material ever measured . Essentially, "It would take an elephant, balanced on a pencil, to break through a sheet of graphene the thickness of Saran Wrap." The next research challenge is to insulate the graphene at extremely high temperatures. (2)

Achieving fusion at room temperature was considered impossible until 1989 when Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons at the University of Utah (US) startled scientists with a simple experiment.

The scientists connected a battery to a pair of palladium electrodes immersed in a jar of water containing deuterium (a heavier form of hydrogen) . The electrolytic cell produced heat energy in excess of what was consumed. Both claimed that the origin of the energy was nuclear and that deuterium nuclei were being packed into the palladium’s molecular lattice in such a way that fusion could take place.

Later, it was shown by other groups and Srinivasan’s experiments at BARC in the early 1990s that the reaction produced tritium as well as helium, indicating that cold fusion was real. (3)

A fusion reactor simply can not melt down. Unlike fission, the fusion reaction requires an enormous input of energy to sustain itself. In practice, a fusion reactor consumes a large fraction of its own output in order to create the conditions necessary for the fusion reaction. Any system failure would cut the power to the reactor; thereby allowing it to cool down.

Furthermore, where fission reactors create large quantities of highly radioactive waste, a fusion reactor creates simply helium. Although the conditions for fusion are extreme, fusion is a far safer technology than fission. Even a catastrophic failure (the reactor physically disintegrates) would impact the immediate area only. There might be a charred building devoid of the radioactivity associated with fission reactions.

Fusion, the merging of two small atoms into one with an extensive release of energy, is the process that powers the sun. This is seen as a potential long-term solution to the world’s energy needs. The reason is that vast amounts of energy would be produced without the greenhouse gas emissions. The practical harnessing and commercialization of this powerhouse is thought to be decades away. The technology is well worth pursuing due to the high stakes involved.

Achieving ignition would represent an important and long-sought step toward implementation. One research problem for the researchers and engineers is that the actual reactions would be taking place inside a 2-mm diameter fuel capsule whose temperature and pressure, as it implodes to 1/40 its initial diameter, become much greater than those at the center of the sun. That’s not an easy environment for taking measurements in order to modulate the system to achieve the desired outcome . The research challenge involves developing research tools to trace the reaction inside an imploding pellet with temperatures of 200 million degrees Kelvin or higher. An operable ignition might require an ideal spherical shape at the center of a hohlraum cavity achievable through more advanced measurements in fractal geometry. Fractal geometry deals with objects in non-integer dimensions which can be achieved through complex algorithms.(4)

In a test facility at the University of Rochester, scientists were able to learn important details about the nature of the electric and magnetic fields in and around this tiny capsule. With the system they devised, “we’re taking a snapshot of what these electric and magnetic fields look like,” Petrasso says. “This is information that is very difficult if not impossible to obtain any other way.”

National Ignition Facility (NIF) uses an approach called indirect drive inertial fusion, in which the tiny capsule of heavy hydrogen fuel is centered inside a cavity called a hohlraum. Laser beams bombard the inside walls of the hohlraum, heating it and generating x-rays that cause the capsule to implode. Ignition, the goal of the NIF, means the point at which the energy released by some fusing atoms at the center of the capsule provides the “sparkplug” that causes other surrounding super-dense atoms to fuse, and so on, in a chain reaction. (5)

To achieve ignition, diagnostic tools are needed to reveal the details of what actually happens inside the imploding pellet. Temperatures reach 200 million degrees Kelvin and the pressure can reach a trillion times atmospheric pressure. In order for the ignition to work, the capsule of deuterium and tritium (heavy forms of the element hydrogen) must be ideally spherical, strategically placed at the center of the hohlraum cavity, and set to implode with good symmetry. The room for error in this process is unknown now.

In experiments at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics in Rochester, a second capsule was placed nearby and hit by another set of laser beams. A flash of protons was produced and the first capsule was illuminated inside a hohlraum.

Nelson Hoffman, a plasma physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, says the MIT team has developed “several very effective ways” of measuring important aspects of what goes on inside the fusion capsules, which he says are essential to know “as an indicator of how close they are to the ignition goal.” He adds that as a result, the MIT team has already found surprising phenomena in the way the electric and magnetic fields are distributed. (6)

References:

1) http://www.china.org.cn/english/congress/228000.htm

2) http://bigthink.com/ideas/24381

3) http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sci-tech...cientist_100459264.html

4) http://library.thinkquest.org/3493/frames/fractal.html

5) https://lasers.llnl.gov/

6) http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/plasma-science.html

Joseph S. Maresca Ph.D., CPA, CISA, MBA: His significant writings include over 10 copyrights in the name of the author (Joseph S. Maresca) and a patent in the earthquake sciences. He holds membership in the prestigious Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society and Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society. Joseph S. Maresca Writer's Page.

WWDC 2011 Quick Tip by Sharrie

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 14:47:13 +0000

The statistics announced by Apple were astounding as well as impressive. $2 billion paid to developers, some 200 million users of Apple's iOS. The huge iCloud data center in North Carolina. Well, how do all these translate to profitability? Watch out for Apple stock prices during Fall when the iPhone 5 (shipped with iOS5 presumably?) is being launched! Let's see how accurate that prediction is! ;-)

Steve Job's Announcement of the iCloud Quick Tip by Sharrie

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 15:47:41 +0000

Lasting some 117 mins, the keynote event which some 5200 developers attended entails Apple announcement of 3 major software upgrades. First one covers the Lion OS, an upgrade from Snow Leopard, ie. you need to have Snow Leopard in your system for the latest upgrade to the new OS. Very exciting and one which after hearing some of the major improvements, I'm highly tempted to "reactivate" the use of my MacBook Air. Now, we are seeing something quite phenomenal where the Mac is concerned. The fingers would be put to full use and Mac will be a real fun machine to own with Lion running in the background. The official launch will be in July! Lion reigns!

Next, the iOS 5 for both the iPhone & iPad. For me, it's interesting but not revolutionary. A lot of the improvement and key features are already found on Android machines. However, for the Apple products, true, now they are finally on par. And more importantly, for the Apple fans, it's a dream come true!

Then comes the iCloud which Steve Jobs personally introduced to his audiences. Together with the iOS 5, iCloud will be launched to users in the Fall. And this is where the OS becomes truly powerful. I suspect that might also be the time the iPhone 5 would be launched! So, Fall is the time to look out for! There are some interesting surprises for the developers judging by their cheering. For Apple users, many frustrations have been addressed and that's truly good news! iCloud can be used both by Mac & PC users. For anything more than 5 GB, the price would be US$24.99 per year.

To watch to the entire presentation, click here.
To read the entire presentation, click here.

Top 10 Highlights from the 2011 WWDC Keynote

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 06:57:01 +0000

Steve Jobs and gang announced quite a bit on Monday to kick off this year's WWDC, but there was quite a bit to digest, especially with all the E3 announcements at the same time. As a self-proclaimed Apple fanboy, here's my filtered list of the big take-aways from Monday's event.

iOS 5 - Next iOS software update due this fall.

PC Free syncing - Based on the hours of tech support I've supplied to family and friends, I've very much wanted to recommend an iPad as a replacement for their SpyWare/Virus infected computers. Unfortunately, the first thing you need to do when you get an iPad (or iPhone/iPod Touch for that matter) is connect it to a computer. With PC Free syncing, the iOSdevice really can replacethe traditional desktop computer -- not just play the role of accessory. For me, this was the biggest announcement of the day because it opens up the iPad to all new opportunities.
iPad Split Keyboard - I love reading email on the iPad, but the keyboard can be really difficult to use unless you're in a position to rest the iPad on your lap. The new split keyboard makes it really to hold the ipad in your hands and type with your thumbs as it moves the keys closer to the edges of the screen.
Notifications Update - The iOS notifications have been a bit of a target for Android fanboys due to the antiquated designof the alerts and lack of usability. Rather than reinvent the wheel, Apple just copied the Android method bringing a much more elegant in-app notification update as well as a "lock screen" summary page.

LION - Next OSX Desktop Software due in July

Full Screen Apps - As multi-tasking becomes more prevalent, it sometimes becomes difficult to focus on the task at hand. Full Screen Apps takes the simplicity and focus of iPad apps, and brings it to the desktop computer.
Mission Control - Everyone is pretty familiar with "Alt-Tab" (or Command-Tab) for switching apps. Mission Control is like Alt-Tab on steroids. You really have to see it in action to get the full effect, but it elegantly manages all theapplications, spaces and full-screen apps in a very intuitive and efficient manner.
Auto-Save/Versions - When you quit out of Apps optimized for Lion, you'll no longer be prompted to save your work. Just like Google Docs, documents are auto-saved as you work. Even better, Lion automatically tracks version history of your document so you can easily go back to an earlier version and replace in full or in part Is "Did you save your work" a thing of the past?
$29.99 - This isn't really afeature, but after looking at the pricing grid of all the variants of Windows 7, $29.99 is a steal. Even better, if you use the same accounts on multiple computers, you only have to buy the software once and you can install it on all your computers.

iCloud - Online storage and services from Apple

Music Match - Anyone remember MP3.com from 1998? The idea was that you would put a music CD in your computer, some software would scan it and recognize the album, and then you could stream a copy of those songs from any web browser. The music industry wasn't ready for that, and they quickly shutdown MP3.com with lawsuits. Over ten years later, Apple has enough money to pay the music labels for the rights for this service, and for $25/year you can now store up to 25,000 songs in the cloud and download them to all your iOS devices and computers. And since Apple is providing the "reference" version of each song, you get the high quality stream without having to wait for your files to upload to their servers (a huge advantage over Amazon and Google's offering). Maybe DirecTV will take a page from this approach and stop requiring people to rent DVR's and schedule recordings in advance. Just have DirecTV record every show and let people stream whatever they want on demand.
Backup - As mentioned in the PC Free section, you no longer need a PC to backup your iOS devices. The iCloud service will automatically backup your iOS devices daily to the cloud, so should you lose your iPhone (or perhaps drop it in the ocean), when you get your replacement device, once you login, all your settings and data will be automatically installed back onto your new device -- no computer necessary!
Photo Stream -Take pictures with your iPhone. Then go home and stream the photos to your iPad or through the AppleTV. Apple will store your last 1,000 photos automatically on the cloud. I love the idea that I can take pictures all day of my two adorable kids, and then immediately share the photo stream with the grandparents.

Bonus: Updated Camera App - This list goes all the way to 11! The new iOS Camera app supposedly launches much faster now, and can also be launched directly from the lock screen. So no more fumbling to enter your passcode and launch the app while you're trying to capture that moment in time. Also, you can use the Volume Up button as a shutter button on the phone. Much easier than trying to touch the icon on the screen. A great addition (and I believe yet another thing Apple "borrowed" from a third party developer.

There's still even more coming in the software updates that wasn't announced today, so I can't get to get my hands on the new updates!

Google solves the Frisbee problem

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 22:03:59 +0000

You know how it is - a quick walk in the park on a sunny day and you realize you've forgotten your Frisbee. It's a common problem and unless you have a 12-pack from the sports section of Costco, you're most likely shit out of luck.

If this sounds familiar, you're going to love Google Music, a new service from the company that brought you the Internet, made you pissed off with wherever you actually work, and generally produced everything that was warm and friendly in the last decade.

The incredibly large brains at Google have combined their collective IQs to solve this and other problems including:

Division by zero (easy)
Making Microsoft soil themselves (medium)
Fixing Saturday Night Live (virtually impossible)

Seeing the Frisbee-less masses has made Larry Page sad. As with many of the things he thinks about in the shower and bathroom generally, there has been a subsequent leap in the PageRank of anything to do with Frisbees and throwing things generally. Google engineers found three ways of addressing the oh-too-common Frisbee issue:

Install Frisbee dispensers in 100 feet intervals in every park in the country
Get car manufacturers to add Frisbees in a sort of car-ish version of Dell's bloatware.
Find other common useless discs that can act as Frisbee substitutes.

The first idea was seriously considered, since the Google Streetview prisoners could install the dispensers while driving mindlessly around the world. For those who don't know, the Streetview prisoners live like the cast of Lost, roaming aimlessly around the country in modified Priuses (Prii?) like UPS workers without packages, so this solution made a lot of sense. The second choice almost made the cut except that the Frisbee thing got confused with some green energy initiative and was shut down by GM.

Finally, Google decided that the simplest, fastest way was to make the existing job of CDs pointless - or "reimagined" in the words of Disney. The result is that all of us now have several hundred Frisbees available in our homes, cars and closets. Even friends owe us Frisbees they never returned, and your local Borders will be crapping out Frisbees like a shot-put machine having a seizure.

So once again, we are all indebted to Google and can only dream of kissing the seismically-large foreheads of its Megaminds Larry and Sergei. Now if only I listened to music, I could tell you what it does.

Internet Quick Tip by Sharrie

Mon, 23 May 2011 02:38:18 +0000

Internet has changed life in the last 2 decades. It's one of the best thing humans have invented! Internet expands our knowledge, vision & our world! I can't imagine life without the internet!

2011 Judgment Day Quick Tip by woopak_the_thrill

Sat, 21 May 2011 16:01:23 +0000

Jokes aside, I just heard in the news last night that an old man tried to euthanize his own pets to prepare for the apocalypse....saying that he didn't want them to suffer the trials and tribulations. Thankfully, the animal control and sheriff's dept. were able to take the animals away from him.

Ok, now this is disturbing, some people are actually taking this prophecy seriously.

2011 Judgment Day Quick Tip by woopak_the_thrill

Fri, 20 May 2011 22:41:48 +0000

I just called my banks and they said they do not honor the apocalypse so you could not skip out on paying your bills for a month. The guy who made the prediction said he needed $$ to pay bills too...wow! what a scam!

2011 Judgment Day Quick Tip by woopak_the_thrill

Fri, 20 May 2011 04:38:45 +0000

The more a religious leader tries to predict the end of the world, the more it will not come true. I remember Van Impe and others...but hey I give them credit for being bold enough to try (however dumb their motivations may be).

For God's Sake, Can't Anyone Get It Right?

Thu, 19 May 2011 19:25:02 +0000

In March, we decided to get our daughter a cell phone for her 12th birthday. I decided on a Virgin Mobile No Contract Plan which consists of unlimited web and text (my daughter would rather text than talk) and 300 talk anytime minutes for $25.00 a month. We picked out a cool LG Rumor Touch phone. I liked her phone so much I bought one for myself. We both have been satisfied with the phone itself, until a neighbor's dog got hold of her phone and freakin' ate it. Now here comes the true test of how well a company is run. Time to call Customer Service -- Oh My God....

I spoke to a lady and explained what happened; we only had the phone for 2 months and it got chewed up and destroyed by a neighbor's dog and I wanted a replacement. She just could not grasp the fact that the phone was mangled...."Well what doesn't work?" My reply is "Nothing...it is destroyed". "Are you able to get a picture on it?" and "You mean you can not see any icons on the screen?" were the next five questions she asked. Yes, I said 5 because that's how many times she asked me after repeating to her the phone was destroyed by dog teeth. "Have you tried troubleshooting it?" was her next question. My reply was this (and things are getting a little tense on my end) "No, seeing as how NOTHING works on it 'cause it's mangled, no, it can not be troubleshooted!" Wanna know what her next question was? "Have you tried turning it on and off to see if you can troubleshoot it?" OK - that does it, now I'm angry!! I lost my temper at her stupid question -- (can you blame me? We have been on the phone for 15 minutes now) -- my reply is "You are NOT listening to me! The phone is MANGLED -- it's DESTROYED -- it got EATEN up by a dog -- there is NOTHING left of the phone to try and troubleshoot! Do you understand the phone is in PIECES?" I assumed she got the point this time, because she asked me where I got the phone, I told her, and she said to take it back to the store to get a replacement phone. I felt better.......

...until I realized this was her subtle way of ending our conversation. The store could not take it back and replace it themselves because the 30 days had passed to return it. This was understandable.

The next day I got my hubby to call them back, cause I did not want to deal with Customer Service again. He called, explained the whole situation, and that Rep said they could do nothing about it; they would not replace it. Explaining what the first Rep told me was doing no good, so they transferred us to another Rep. They all said the same thing...we can not replace it; you will have to buy a new one. OK then, I need to cancel our service to that phone (I did not have $100.00 and REFUSED to buy another phone) so we got transferred again. After explaining to this Rep why we wanted to cancel the service, he replied "Oh we will send you a replacement!"

Did they? Well, yes and no. They sent us only the FRONT of a Rumor Touch. Try and stick a mangled back-of-the-phone to the front of a normal phone and see what happens. Not to mention that some of the keys on the keyboard did not work. Time to call again!! My hubby called them again, explained the situation, and they said they would send another replacement. Kenny made it very clear to them that we needed the WHOLE phone, and they assured us they would send one. Got the package today, and what was inside? The FRONT of a phone....again!!! I am assuming right now that we are dealing with idiots. I have now sent them an email, and am waiting for a response.

My rating of +3 is actually for the phone and the plan itself; but to rate the quality of the Customer Service would be a definate -3. In the meantime, I have already paid for her month of service and she can't even use it. And if you're wondering why the neighbor does not pay for a new phone? Well, that will never happen because there is a conflict of how her dog actually got a hold of the phone. I know how the dog got it, but I can not prove for a fact that it was not my daughter's fault..so that's the end of that!!

Would I recommend Virgin Mobile? I really like the phone although the sound quality is not the best. It has a music player on it, and the phone is easy to use. The web is slow on it because it is only 3G, but that's OK because I don't really use that. There are no free apps with this at all-----you want a new ringtone or game or other app, you have to pay for it. Needless to say I have boring ringtones. I tried downloading free ringtones from other companies, but they will not go through or work. The Plan itself is a good one if your credit will not allow you to get a really awesome phone and plan. And I like the idea of no contract. Basically, I just need a phone to text and chat on, and this one is good for that. The Customer Service sucks totally. You may be OK as long as a huge hungry dog with fangs doesn't grab your phone!! Wish me luck........

The Trendsetter

Mon, 16 May 2011 04:03:55 +0000

I believe technology has changed the way we view the world and interact with our loved ones. The success of Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and blogging sites like Blogger and Wordpress have further shaped our experiences. The last decade is a fascinating one as far as social medias are concerned. This has further impacted the way we read and write. Our lives are enhanced regardless if we are conscious or not of this. We google, we tweet, we text, we kindle. We as a generation is seeing a massive and speedy shift in behaviors.

How do we keep up with this exciting and yet mind-boggling informative age? Well, for one, you stay alert with daily engagement in the "social" scenes. You don't meet people as much outside of work. Instead, you engage them through your computer or mobile. You are on the move, as far as technology goes. You also don't talk to them on the phones for hours like you used to in your college days. Instead, you text them with sweet, short and smart messages. You walk around (even to the washroom) with your iPhone or the iPad if you are traveling further. Sometimes to the detriment of your health when you accidentally dropped it into the toilet bowl! Imagine all those contacts lost! Your world collapsed!

You then have to begin looking for new gadgets to replace the old ones or at times even new friends since you can no longer contact the olds! What a life! Now, you get the drift... life is challenging but exciting at the very same time. Charming, isn't it?!

Remember those newspapers? The first thing you grab in the day while your other hand grabs your coffee? They are both sustenance of the day, aren't they? Now, you either read it on PressDisplay or your personal apps on your iPad. What about those magazines you love? Well, they are on Zinio at a fraction of the bookstore's/newspaper stand's prices. The books? On Amazon and Kobo Books at steep discounts. What am I getting at, you say?

Well, for one thing, we no longer live in that old world we know so well in the last century. Whether you realised it or not, we have turned a page in the history of mankind. This is of epoch proportion. The impact on our daily lives far more extensive than Osama's or Obama's effect. The countless and nameless people and companies that have shaped this external environment we live in, do you know who they are? That's what and where I'm getting. That's the subject matter of this review.

Before Facebook, there was Fast Company. It still exists today, just in a slightly different way. A company which used to sell magazines and focused on companies making leaps and bounds in the high tech industry. I came across Fast Company, the magazine, many years ago while browsing in the bookstores in Toronto. Back then, it's rare to find such a magazine in the market. It still is. A magazine which is more geared towards the geek and the nerds. I found it high interesting though. As I was more or less an early adopter of technology, I had my first laptop in 1991 when it was just a 120 mb hard disk capacity! Then I had my first mac in 1993 which cost more than some US$10,000! So, when I was traveling a bit in North America and found one such magazine, I looked for it every time at the airport. Reading magazines is best on a flight, for some reasons.

As Fastcompany is more expensive and thicker (hence, heavier) than other magazines, I found myself buying less of it than I do the other travel-related magazines. Instead, I read them online quite a bit. Yes, they have a site and it is sufficient if you merely want to keep abreast of what's happening or will be the future trend as far as technology goes. This is a site that is worth checking out. Often, it gives one a wide perspective and suggests some good ideas to keep one's company or venture ahead of times. It is also interesting for leisure reading if you're the curious type. I notice the site updates its information quite a bit as I often get email notification once a day and this actually gives me a decent idea if there is anything that interests me.

All in all, one won't really know what to expect out of Fastcompany except that it will be something worth checking out, keep abreast of and good quality read. As far as what will be reported, it's focussing on what high growth companies are venturing into. The site is segmented into 4 sections: technology, co. design, ethonomics & leadership. That's the sum of it and one that's worth the reader's time! Personally, I do believe every forward looking company should subscribe to a hard copy of this magazine for its top executives!

Do we really need to be "always connected"?

Mon, 9 May 2011 22:00:05 +0000

For some of us, living our lives connected to the digital world is a normal occurrence. I can reach anyone at any time, and others can reach me. But is that healthy? Should I step back and take the time to be unplugged? These questions are explored in William Powers' book Hamlet's BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age. I joke about the fact that I can leave the Internet any time I want... I just don't want to yet. But there's some good food for thought here, and Powers has me rethinking my nearly-always-on attitude.

Contents:
Prologue: The Room
Part 1 - What Larks? - The Conundrum of the Connected Life: Busy, Very Busy - In a Digital World, Where's the Depth?; Hello, Mother - The Magic of Screens; Gone Overboard - Falling Out with the Connected Life; Solutions That Aren't - The Trouble with Not Really Meaning It
Part 2 - Beyond The Crowd - Teachings of the Seven Philosophers of Screens: Walking to Heaven - Plato Discovers Distance; The Spa of the Mind - Seneca on Inner Space; Little Mirrors - Gutenberg and the Business of Inwardness; Hamlet's Blackberry - Shakespeare on the Beauty of Old Tools; Inventing Your Life - Ben Franklin on Positive Rituals; The Walden Zone - Thoreau on Making the Home a Refuge; A Cooler Self - McLuhan and the Thermostat of Happiness
Part 3 - In Search of Depth - Ideas in Practice: Not So Busy - Practical Philosophies for Every Day; Disconnectopia - The Internet Sabbath
Afterword - Back to the Room; Acknowledgments; Notes; Further Reading

Powers makes the case, through the use of seven philosophers over the years, about how technology often leads us to become more shallow in our thinking and reasoning. We think this is a recent phenomenon, but it was a fear even back in the days of Socrates and Plato. The act of writing down speeches was thought to be the first step towards less thinking. Why work on memorization and deep thought if you can just read something? Shakespeare used a table, an erasable notebook of specially-treated paper or papyrus, that allowed him to write things down during the day and review them at a later time. Again, a use of technology that helped a person take in and deal with more mental stimuli and clutter. And with more input came less time to listen and reflect, more often giving in to the demand to deal with something immediately before the next thing showed up.

While we tend to think that no time in history has ever been as fast-paced as this, the reality is that each time period has had some level of turmoil and change that was significantly greater than the time before it. So our base problem isn't really new... it's just magnified. More things are going on, we have less time to reflect and contemplate matters, and we lose the ability to think deeply about issues that matter. We end up with sound bites and summaries that we buy into without thinking. To reverse this trend, Powers offers up the concept of an Internet "sabbath", or the conscious decision to go "off the grid" for a period of time. Without the constant bombardment of email, instant messages, tweets, etc., you can spend time reading and thinking... spend time talking with others and interacting with *real* people who matter to you. It's not necessarily easy, as it can be hard to make the decision to not try and keep up with everything that happened in the last 24 hours. But will it really matter if you don't see the latest YouTube video or read the latest blog post by a friend? Won't it still be around if it was really important?

I'll admit that I'm still struggling with the concepts in Hamlet's Blackberry. I know I spend far too much time online at the expense of other things that should get greater attention. But part of the solution is knowing you have a problem, and I think Powers at least got my attention. Well worth reading...

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Friend
Payment: Free

Technology Helps the Middle East

Tue, 3 May 2011 16:17:26 +0000

By Dr. Joseph S. Maresca 9-20- 2010

Joint Middle East Peace Initiative of Israel, the Palestinians and Other Strategic Constituencies and Boundary-Spanning Organizations/Entities

Dead Sea: A view from the Israeli side looking across to Jordan; Photo Credit: David Shankbone--2007, CC Lic, WikipediaThe State of Israel and the Palestinians are on another historic journey which may lead to peace despite temporary setbacks from time to time. The ultimate settlement between Israel and the Palestinians will require a consensus of the parties and cooperation from neighboring states. Moving the agenda forward may mean sanctions for non-cooperating parties like Iran or others.

"We will not build all of the tens of thousands of residential units that are in the planning stages," Netanyahu said, according to reports by Israeli news. "But we will not freeze the lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria and we will not freeze construction."

At a conference entitled "The Sea as an Economic Resource," Shimon Peres said that Israel should stop investing in Judea and Samaria and; instead, build artificial islands in the Mediterranean. I concur with some important environmental and legal provisos/clarifications. In addition, there are possibilities for constructing the "Artificial Sun" together with desalination plants off the Mediterranean Sea along Israel's entire coastline, as well as the Dead Sea. There are legal implications to clarify as well. These are documented in a recent World Court decision. Remember that an "artificial island" may not per se be "naturally formed" for international legal purposes.

World Court Digest

II. Substantive International Law - Second Part

2. LAW OF THE SEA

2.7. Islands / Low-tide elevations

A Case Concerning Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Question between Qatar and Bahrain (Qatar v. Bahrain) Judgment of 16 March 2001 [p. 99] 195. The World Court recalls that the legal definition of an island is "a naturally formed area of land, surrounded by water, which is above water" QUOTE:

205. International treaty law is silent on the question whether low-tide elevations can be considered to be "territory." Nor is the Court aware of a uniform and widespread State practice which might have given rise to a customary rule which unequivocally permits or excludes appropriation of low-tide elevations. It is only in the context of the law of the sea that a number of permissive rules have been established with regard to low-tide elevations which are situated at a relatively short distance from a coast.

206. The few existing rules do not justify a general assumption that low-tide elevations are territory in the same sense as islands. It has never been disputed that islands constitute terra firma, and are subject to the rules and principles of territorial acquisition; the difference in effects which the law of the sea attributes to islands and low-tide elevations is considerable. It is thus not established that in the absence of other rules and legal principles, low-tide elevations can, from the viewpoint of the acquisition of sovereignty, be fully assimilated with islands or other land territory.

207. In this respect the Court recalls the rule that a low-tide elevation which is situated beyond the limits of the territorial sea does not have a territorial sea of its own. A low-tide elevation, therefore, as such does not generate the same rights as islands or other territory. Moreover, it is generally recognized and implicit in the words of the relevant provisions of the Conventions on the Law of the Sea that, whereas a low-tide elevation which is situated within the limits of the territorial sea may be used for the determination of its breadth, this does not hold for a low-tide elevation which is situated less than 12 nautical miles from that low-tide elevation but is beyond the limits of the territorial sea. The law of the sea does not in these circumstances allow application of the so-called "leap-frogging" method. In this respect it is irrelevant whether the coastal State has treated such a low-tide elevation as its property and carried out some governmental acts with regard to it; it does not generate a territorial sea.

Aside from artificial islands, vast monorail systems could be created to transport the Palestinians over select parts of Israeli territories. There are extensive technologies like "cloud computing" to provide support for municipal accounting systems for the West Bank and Gaza. Artificial intelligence and "Advice Giving" systems could provide technical support for the delivery of medical care throughout the Palestinian territories. The current Israeli Kibbutz working group model could provide a forum for matching workers with potential employers or major contractors of corporate or other entities. The Palestinians could emulate a governing structure conceptually similar to Jordan.

Every proposal is referred to a committee of the lower house for consideration and action. If it is approved, a governmental process is in place for submission to the Chamber of Deputies. If approved by this House, it is referred to the Senate for debate and an up or down vote. With Senate approval, the King can either grant consent or refuse. Ultimately, both houses can pass a bill by a two-thirds majority thereby becoming an Act of Parliament overriding the King’s veto.

In Immigrant Inc. by Herman and Smith, Wiley 2010, the authors describe a new method of commercialization for thermodynamic properties of refrigeration. Grama and White studied how milk was made in India. Then, they proceeded to blend Grama's knowledge of Thermodynamics with advances in photovoltaics. The pair looks forward to manufacturing solar powered refrigerators run by simple microprocessors. The solar cooler could preserve cow's milk, yogurt and medicines in villages throughout the world lacking electricity. By extension, the same benefit could be provided for the Palestinians.

The Grameen Bank lends $100 million dollars a month in collateral free loans averaging $200 apiece. The repayment rate is an astounding 98%. A similar financing arrangement could be provided for the Palestinians and supported with assistance from the 57 Nations of the Arab League and the West.

Yunus guarantees loans to the poor; thereby acting as an intermediary. This is not much different from the USA government guaranteeing certain loans to borrowers. The result is that bankers are much more willing to lend money due to the guaranteed payment. Borrowers repay in small weekly amounts. Women have great drive to overcome poverty.

Artificial islands and installations are man-made, surrounded by water from all sides, above the water at high tide, supposed to stay at a specific geographical location for certain periods of time and stationary in their normal modus operandi at sea.

By the law of the sea and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), artificial islands have little legal implications, especially as far as the measurement of the maritime zones are concerned. The Artificial Islands are not considered to be permanent harbor works. This means that the coastal state cannot claim the same rights that have been provided for the permanent harbor works in the determination of the baseline and measurement of maritime zones.

Article 11 of the UNCLOS 1982, provides: "for the purpose of delimiting the territorial sea, the outmost permanent harbor works which form an integral part of the harbor system, are regarded as forming part of the coast. Off-shore installations and artificial islands shall not be considered as permanent harbor works."

The UAE possesses some 60 square kilometers of the Persian Gulf islands. According to Sultan Bin Salim, the project manager of the World Islands, the UAE's island area increased to 1200 kilometers. The construction of these artificial islands will not only entail environmental degradation, but also may alter the geopolitics of the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf is home to many species and biodiverse forms of life.

Over 500 fish, shrimp, and rare turtle species inhabit the area . Experts in international organizations have warned against the destruction of Dubai's sole coral coast and coastal nests of turtles in the initial phases of this project. They have also warned about the change in the quality of the Persian Gulf waters.

There are possibilities to utilize the Dead Sea for artificial islands, as well as salt and mineral cultivation like in ancient times. The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean basin for thousands of years. Biblically, it was a refuge for King David. It was one of the world's first health resorts for Herod the Great, and it has been a supplier of a wide variety of products, from balms for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizer companies. People also use the salt and the minerals from the Dead Sea to create cosmetics and herbal preparations.

The United States Patent Office now has filings which deal exclusively with artificial islands and designs/processes which support ongoing operations utilizing known technologies. i.e. The Man-made island resort complex with surface and underwater entertainment, educational and lodging facilities United States Patent 7036449

Inventors:

Sutter, Kimberly Michelle

A self-sufficient man-made island complex having a plurality of interconnected islands housing a theme resort simulating a tropical paradise in which the guests have a multitude of activities in which they interact and learn about nature and particularly marine life. Lodging and entertainment facilities are located both on the surface and underwater.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an environmentally friendly nature-based theme park on a plurality of synthetic islands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a man-made island resort complex that has a plethora of activities and exhibits that are both surface based and underwater.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a man-made island resort complex having a plethora of activities and exhibits that are educational and fun.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a man-made island resort complex that is operated entirely using natural resources.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a man-made island resort complex that may be transported to other locations.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a man-made island resort complex that is handicap and pet friendly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a man-made island resort complex that is simple and easy to use.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a man-made island resort complex that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention 10. The present invention 10 is a man made island complex providing a plurality of facilities 16 including under water guest quarters 64, an under water monorail 146, under water spa 246, an under water restaurant 254, open ocean marine life wonders and a plurality of above water facilities which may be located off of the main island 22 and accessed by an arched bridge 336 with angel figurines acting as waterfalls.

Also including six dolphin shaped hotels 30 with penthouses 36, bungalows 50, a waterfall 268 that leads to a pool 266, game courts, a church 342, a planetarium 286, restaurants 248, 254, 276, 358, a 24 hour BBQ 380, state of the art gym 388, full golf course 110, an airport 110 and much more. All islands and facilities are handicap and animal friendly. Emergency back up power and other safety features are also provided throughout the resort.

Baidu.com Quick Tip by Sharrie

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:03:35 +0000

In some ways, the Chinese version of Google. In others, it's beyond Google. I like the media aspect of this search engine. If you live in China or needs to search Chinese sites, this is THE ONE. Keep it up, Robin Li!

By the way, this is a company listed in Nasdaq and is trading around US$149!

Samsung Galaxy S II Quick Tip by Sharrie

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:06:17 +0000

It is going to hit the market in the next few days or weeks! I'm looking out for it and am planning on getting one ahead of the iPhone 5 (my neck is growing by the minute!). Here's a quick look by Engadget if you're interested.

Google Offers Quick Tip by Sharrie

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:50:22 +0000

You can sign up for Google Offers if you have Gmail account. It's not automatic so you'll have to do the work yourself. Google is now inviting members to sign up even for those cities that are not having any offers yet. Those who resides in Portland may start shopping!

The way it works? Similar to the other deals site like GroupOn, Yipit, Living Social and Bloomspot. Discounts are said to be some 50% or more. I wonder why Google is not doing it differently though. It seems like Google wants a share of the HUGE pie (especially since the company failed to buy out Groupon!) regardless! Anyhow, more competition is always good for shoppers!

You Can Have A Balanced Life, Away from the Crowds

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:19:33 +0000

Everywhere you turn, you hear someone ask "How are you?" Usually, the response is some variation of "Busy, very busy." It is so prevalent that an anecdote in Hamlet's BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age is a real eye opener. A recent immigrant to the United States heard it so often, it was assumed to be a proper reply to the question. Living in the Digital Age, you are connected all the time; you have a screen in front of you nearly 24 hours a day, whether it be computer, notebook, smart phone, mobile phone, tablet, e-reader. Take a moment and pry your eyes from the screen and look around; wherever you are, there are others engrossed in their screens. Certainly, earlier civilization was never this connected nor were they are busy as you are currently. William Powers, in Hamlet's BlackBerry, uses the past to help you strike a balance with the digital present and in doing so, allow your mind to wander free of technological intrusions.

Contents: Prologue; Introduction; Busy, Very Busy: In a Digital World, Where's the Depth?; Hello, Mother: The Magic of Screens; Gone Overboard: Falling Out with the Connected Life; Solutions That Aren't: The Trouble with Not Really Meaning It; Walking to Heaven: Plato Discovers Distance; The Spa of the Mind: Seneca on Inner Space; Little Mirrors: Gutenberg and the Business of Inwardness; Hamlet's BlackBerry: Shakespeare on the Beauty of Old Tools; Inventing Your Life: Ben Franklin on Positive Rituals; The Walden Zone: Thoreau on Making the Home a Refuge; A Cooler Self: McLuhan and the Thermostat of Happiness; Not So Busy: Practical Philosophies for Every Day; Disconnectopia: The Internet Sabbath; Afterword: Back in the Room; Acknowledgements; Notes; Further Reading

As you lament your connectedness, you probably believe that this is a new human condition. Powers goes back through history to show that this is not a unique position. Starting with Plato, and the rise of the written word, in the fifth century B.C., Socrates was lamenting that people would forget what they learned, relying solely on the written word; they would simply look up that which they needed. This would cause people to lose a free flow of ideas, which they had when engaging people in oral arguments.

Or what about one of the prevailing thoughts shortly after Gutenberg developed a printing press using movable type? Books were made more quickly, were priced cheaply, An Italian scholar decided that this was a menace. " . . . Anyone is free to print whatever they wish, they often disregard that which is best and instead write, merely for the sake of entertainment . . . they twist and corrupt it to the point where it would be be much better to do without such books . . . " It's almost laughable to think that there were detractors of this innovation, which democratized reading. Even with the popularity of e-readers, the book will not disappear, for it has continues to allow us to disconnect from a screen, to take our experience inward.

Hamlet's BlackBerry is full of interesting and thought provoking references. While others believe that paper is vanishing, like the author, I jot notes, ideas, in my Moleskin. It's much more personal, easier to use and navigate than a screen. It also allows for a connection that cannot be made when employing a screen. It says, to the people in the meeting, "You idea was important, it needs to be written down." To me, there is a connection between the thought and the physical act of writing. Because it has been written, there is more power attached to the thought. It exists, physically.

William Powers' Hamlet's BlackBerry provides the reader with the methods to achieve a balanced life. Provided you aren't too busy to read it.

Disclosure:
Obtained from: Amazon Vine
Payment: Free

Skynet is self-aware!

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:10:26 +0000

According to Terminator 2 - Skynet will become self-aware on April 19, 2011 at 8:11pm. As of right now, our email issues have been resolved due to an email server issue tonight; or something else?

Over the years, many so-called computer "glitches" have not only distracted us, the human race, but cost time and money. It seems that a reboot doesn't necessarily fix the problem. I believe we have been distracted by Skynet, Microsoft, and a few others, while other corporations strip us willingly of our privacy. Due to the curiosity of today's society, pushing to become self aware of our email, Facebook, and Twitter messages, we are connected by choice, unaware that to be un-attached to our "gadgets" is to be alone in the world; and this is totally not cool.

So, as I see it, even though Skynet is a fictional corporation of the imagination, we should have safe-guards in place to stop, dis-assemble, and stop any artificial intelligence that might rise against ourselves. After all, we are the ones who have molded, created, and crafted these circuits to do a job for us, and to make our life easier. Let's not loose focus of the pure warm sunlight, cool mountain air, in which we have no control over, however, we learn to adapt, live with, and incorporate in our daily lives. We are Skynet.
Don't destroy what you don't understand. Become self-aware. Life is too short to waste.

Glossy, lightweight and definitely good for keeps

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 06:20:21 +0000

The advantage of having an iPad (read about it in the iPad Buzz community) and/or other tablet (notably Androids) is its lightweight and glossy contents, specifically one that involves more pictures and easy reading. I admit, I did get the tablet more for entertainment than for serious work. Best if they are portable and ultralight.

In other words, this is a gadget for travel. And what do I do most when I travel? I read magazines (and sometimes books) in the airport and while waiting for plane to take off. However, I've often dreaded the weight associated with these materials and many a time I ended up leaving them in hotels during my many trips including "The Memoirs of Geisha" which I specifically remembered leaving it behind in the Sofitel Bora Bora Resort! So, when the iPad and tablets were introduced, I know I'd have a field day going back to reading. In fact, there are so many selections that I've yet had time to read everything I had bought!

Zinio is the apps for digital magazines while Kobo is the one for books which came preloaded with my Samsung Galaxy Tab (from hereon to be refered as Tab). It was easy to set up and before I knew it, I already had some magazines which I've never ever even seen before while browsing at the bookstores downloaded for free into my Tab. Now, that's what I could get used to, I thought!

Having said that, I prefer browsing for magazines on the Zinio website than on the PC. The clicking and typing are more habitually & easily done on the laptop than on my Tab since I don't have an iPhone to practice those texting skills (and for some reasons, 10 fingers are definitely more productive than 2!). In any case, it's just personal preference and I do browse for magazines on my Tab especially during my trips or journeys to and from another city.

For those interested, you can get the Zinio iPad apps from Zinio website or by clicking here if it is not already preloaded into your machine. It is free of charge.

To my pleasure, Zinio has a large selection of magazines covering some 11 broad categories:

art
automative
entertainment
home
lifestyle
men
news
science & tech
sports
travel
women

In each category, there are at least 4 sub-categories. Sports has some 12 sub-categories! So, it takes you quite awhile to go through everyone of them if you simply want to browse and find some free magazines to download. For me, travel it is!

Magazines are mostly in English but other local languages can also be found. It is good to make sure you get the right one before you key in your payment information! Zinio makes it real easy to buy though as those payment info needed to be keyed in only once! I haven't actually try changing my credit card to another one so am not so sure what that entails! I do love to use just one specific credit card for my online payments (that makes it a little safer; best to use one with the lowest credit limit too!). Before you buy the magazine, you can actually browse through it online (not on the tablets but you can try your luck on iPad) and read a max of 3 pages for most magazines. Some, you can even read the entire magazine so it might not make sense for you to buy unless you want to keep a copy of it downloaded and read it offline. Downloading is fast on the PC but slow on my Tab. I do suspect this is because its the different carrier I used.

Now, for the quality of the magazine? Great, even better than the real magazines. Colors are outstanding and stunning. My only complaint is for some magazines, reading it on the Tab is a little straining for the eyes. Not most of them, just a few. That might be due to how the magazine was digitized, I'm not sure. I must say that despite the lightweight nature of the Tab, magazines might be best read on the iPad (with a larger screen) while books are better on the tablets or e-readers. Holding the Tab for hours (even though possibly about 1/2 the weight of the iPad) can be tiring, so let alone the iPad! The 7" screen does mean that you do need to scroll a bit when it comes to magazine though great for the books!

In any case, you don't have to worry about this as Zinio allows you to download one purchase about 6x, if I got it right. I had downloaded the same magazine twice to 2 different PCs and once to my Tab. Good news, isn't it? That possibly mean you can share the cost with friends if you trust your friends with the payment info and him/her that he/she won't splurge on other magazines when you're not around ;-) I think this works especially well for couples and also company accounts. Think news magazines like The Economist, Forbes, etc... Your cost goes down by 6x and the best about Zinio digital magazines? The Cost!

Cost is a mere fraction of the real magazines. Some, the entire year subscription is the mere cost of a paper magazine!!! That translates to more magazines you can download with the same budget!!! For example, National Geographic Traveler is a mere US$10 for 8 digital issues and Outdoor Photographer is also US$10 for 11 issues! Hurry, go grab them!!! I'm getting all my magazines from different corners of the planet hot off the press!!!

Life is magnifique!

SixthSense Quick Tip by Sharrie

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:18:26 +0000

No more computers and keyboards to lug around? Well, this is a new gadget in development and all you need to connect to the internet is a wearable micro-projector and your hands to do the works. Will SixthSense revolutionalized the digital world again? You'll have the answer in less than 5 years!

Check out how it works:

Zinio Digital Magazines Quick Tip by Sharrie

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:35:06 +0000

As with Kobo Apps, this one came with my Samsung Galaxy Tabs. The apps can be used on iPad too. Buying magazines from Zinio apps or its website is easy as a breeze. Prices for a few of the magazines I bought are a steep discount to its paper counterparts. No problem with downloads and it allows you to download to your PC, iPad, Android tablets, etc... If I'm not mistaken, all in all, 6 downloads are allowed in each magazine one buys. So far, I'm very satisfied with it.

There is a wide varieties of magazines offered, including those in foreign languages! Now, I can get my magazines from all over the world as soon as they are off the press! Cool!

You can get your zinio iPad Apps here.

AT&T Threatening Users into Compliance

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:43:15 +0000

One of the primary reasons to jailbreak your iPhone is to use an application called "MyWi" which enables iPhone users to share their cellular data with other wifi devices. For example, if you had a WiFi only iPad, you could use MyWi to browse the internet on your iPad wherever you had cellular service. The MyWi app only cost a one-time fee of about $20 vs, AT&T's monthly fee of $20 IN ADDITION TO your existing data plan. Essentially, users with an unlimited data plan from AT&T really only had unlimited data as long as you only used it how AT&T wanted you to.

In March of 2011, I saw two articles which convinced me to give AT&T's tethering plan a try:

Users reported that iPad's connected via a tethered iPhone would receive GPS information as well
AT&T was sending threatening letters that users of the MyWi app would automatically be enrolled in their Personal Hotspot tethering service.

I was really keen on seeing how the iPad could act as a large screen GPS app while driving while being fed location information from my iPhone and I was really NOT keen on AT&T "automatically" enrolling me in their Personal Hotspot service (yet, ironically, their scare tactic worked).

Anyway, for my first test, I enrolled in the AT&T personal hotspot service, set up a password I would use to let other devices connect to my iPhone, and then tethered my iPad to the phone. I then loaded the Google Maps app on both devices and watched to see how well the GPS tracking worked on the Wifi only iPad during a drive home -- the answer was, not very well. While the location information was being updated on the iPad, it wasn't nearly as real-time, nor as accurate as the iPhone tracking. It appeared that the iPad was still using very basic triangulation to establish GPS, so more often than not, my location was mapped onto buildings rather than on the streets. Also, the location only seemed to be updated about once per minute, so it was not getting real-time updates during the trip. Although the large map display was VERY COOL to have in the car, it wasn't nearly accurate enough to use as a turn-by-turn GPS replacement. Lesson learned, I'll probably spring for the 3G iPad on my next upgrade solely for the enhanced GPS functionality.

Other than that, everything else about the AT&T Personal Hotspot was very favorable. Download speeds were better than I had expected and the iPhone battery life seemed to last longer than when I used the MyWi app for tethering. Also, connecting to the iPhone from the iPad was very fast and easy, and if I was a regular business traveller, I could easily justify the extra expense.

For now, I can still add and remove the Personal Hotspot service on a month-by-month basis, so I'll cancel the service at the end of this month. But for any upcoming trips, I would quickly reactivate the service.

Biofuels Engineering- How Does It Work ?

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:25:28 +0000

Biofuels Engineering Process Technology by Drapcho et al.
A McGraw Hill Publication 2008

Reviewed by: Dr. Joseph S. Maresca

The authors begin by explaining the justification for alternative energy.
The reasons set forth are:

o diminishing oil reserves and the increasing difficulty and cost of extraction
o global climate change considerations
o increasing fuel prices
o the need for energy independence

The largest oil reserves are in Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE and Venezuela.
Geothermal and solar energy have less than 20% efficiency at the current technological
learning curve but zero emissions. Biofuels are substantially carbon neutral according to the authors.
There was a considerable presentation on fuels derived from fermentations;
such as, ethanol, hydrogen, microbial oils and methane.

The strategy for a bioreactor design is based upon the maximum rate of production formation,
biomass production or substrate utilization. Fuel treatments to reduce fire hazards can
contribute 54 MT ( million tons) of bio mass yearly. Muni solid waste has the potential
for biofuel production. Vegetable based fuels capture solar energy through plants and
photosynthetic pigments. These veggie based fuels sequester CO2 from the atmosphere
as a primary carbon source. The carbon is biologically converted to greater energy starches,
celluloses, proteins and oils as storage and structural compounds. Some algae can convert
CO2 to 60% - 70% of their dry weight in the form of storage oils.

Microalgae have very versatile growing conditions dating back to the earliest
eukaryotic organisms on the earth. Algae can inhabit many different environments
as long as water and micronutrients exist alongside. Algae have been shown to
accumulate a high level of lipids consisting of over 80% of their dry weight .

The microbial fuel cell or MFC is a specialized biological reactor where the electrons
processed during microbial metabolic activity are intercepted to provide useful electric
power. In an MFC, the oxidation of the electron donor compound is physically separated
from the terminal electron acceptor. The microbes are grown in the anode chamber where
the electron donor compound is oxidized, with the electrons transferred to the anode
instead of oxygen or an external electron acceptor. MFCs convert chemical to electrical energy.

Emissions from biodiesel in combustion engines are greatly reduced compared to the petroleum
diesel. Nonetheless, nitrogen oxide emissions constitute a drawback. Decreases in NO emissions
are possible with corrections in injection timing and combustion temperatures. These incremental
costs may add more steps to the process and (by implication) more costs.

The thermodynamic properties with respect to temperature of biodiesel fuels compared to diesel
are higher for biodiesel. Higher flash points result in a safer fuel for handling. Density and
viscosity of biodiesel is higher than for petroleum fuels and alcohols. Electricity from
gasification of biomass has a low production cost at 5 cents per KWH. Simultaneous
esterification of free fatty acids to alkyl esters will occur due to increased biodiesel
yields from lower quality feedstocks.

Esterification involves two reactants (alcohol+ acid) to form an ester product.
Esters are common in organic chemistry and may smell like fruit.
This characteristic leads to the application of esters in fragrances.
Ester bonds may be found in polymers. The yield of the product in esterification
may be improved by using Le Chatelier's principle.

Esterification is a reversible reaction as opposed to an irreversible one.
Hydrolysis or "water splitting" is the addition of water and a catalyst like NaOH
to an ester to arrive at the sodium salt of the carboxylic acid and alcohol.
As a result of this reversibility, many esterification reactions are equilibrium reactions.
These reactions go to completion by Le Chatelier's principle.

An irreversible process is a process that cannot return both the system and the surroundings
to the original state(s) assuming a reversal of the original process .
Most processes, of course, are irreversible processes (or nonequilibrium processes).
Letting air from a balloon released into a room is an irreversible process.

Overall, these irreversible processes are a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics,
which is frequently defined in terms of the entropy or disorder of a system.

There are several ways to phrase the second law of thermodynamics. There is a
limit on how efficient any transfer of heat can be. According to the second law of thermodynamics,
some heat will be lost in the process. This loss explains why it is not possible to have a completely
reversible process in everyday life.

For example, a car engine doesn't give back the fuel it took to drive up a hill even if the
car coasts down a mile long hill thereafter.

The authors concentrate efforts substantially on biofuels. Ultimately, the "Artificial Sun"
may prove to be the game changer. Shortly , a scientific team will begin attempts to ignite a
tiny manufactured star inside a lab and trigger a thermonuclear reaction.
Its goal is to generate temperatures of more than 100 million degrees Celsius and pressures billions
of times higher than those found anywhere on earth, from a tiny speck of fuel.

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Livermore will utilize a laser that concentrates 1,000 times the electric generating power of the United States into a billionth of a second. The result should be an explosion in the reaction chamber which will produce 10 times the amount of energy used to create it.

Until now, such fusion has only been possible inside nuclear weapons and highly unstable plasmas created in incredibly strong magnetic fields. The work at Livermore could change the historical applications mix.
Source: NIF, Livermore

Overall, the authors provide a very thorough rendition of biofuels engineering with excellent reference
materials at the end of each chapter. Readers who are conversant in organic chemistry, materials science structure of matter and thermodynamics will appreciate the superior technical presentation embodied in this text . There is an extensive scientific presentation of conversion factors and constants at the end of the book.