In December of 2014 I accidentally spilled some beverage (was it lemonade coconut water?) onto my MacBook Pro (that I'd owned since 2008-2009) and it no longer would work. After a visit at the Genius bar they said it was unfixable. I was on vacation in Florida so I had to have a new laptop to entertain myself for those two weeks alone. Enter the MacBook Air.
I got the 11" model because it's so small and adorable, and a lot cheaper too natch. I bought a little orange skin/case for it to help deter any harsh impacts. It's worked wonderfully ever since I bought it. Convenient, accessible and on-task. I couldn't be happier.
And so light you can put it in your large purse or workbag without a second thought. I can still view Netflix, Amazon Instant or YouTube videos without trouble because the landscape monitor is very high quality.
Although I still miss my very first MacBook Pro, I do have another replacement and this lovely Air to play with.
I've actually left my Lenovo Gaming laptop by the wayside because it's so huge, bulky and the track pad so glitchy and inconvenient to use.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Monday, October 20, 2014
Lotus Notes User Icon/Letterhead
I started a new job in June 2014. Ever since I've pined over the cool user icons I see my colleagues using.
Whenever someone sends an email message, an icon appears on the left-hand side of the email message header.
I did some searching today and found out this is actually a preference setting for letterhead.
Here is how you update your letterhead "icon:"
Whenever someone sends an email message, an icon appears on the left-hand side of the email message header.
I did some searching today and found out this is actually a preference setting for letterhead.
Here is how you update your letterhead "icon:"
 |
| Updating Lotus Notes Mail Letterhead |
- Open Lotus Notes
- Under the File menu, select Preferences
- Under the left-hand side menu select Mail
- Look for the Letterhead tab, and select it
- Scroll to find your preferred letterhead "icon" and select it
- Click ok and close out.
You can send yourself an email to test it.
I'm really happy I took about 5 minutes to search for the how to on Google. It took a while to finagle what the exact nomenclature should be.
It's important to me to express my individuality as much as possible ;o) Good stuff. :)
I'm really happy I took about 5 minutes to search for the how to on Google. It took a while to finagle what the exact nomenclature should be.
It's important to me to express my individuality as much as possible ;o) Good stuff. :)
Monday, August 18, 2014
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Screen Backgrounds
I have new background images/wallpaper for my smartphone and my workstation at work.
I usually like to change up the theme in both my phone and my workstation (but not to match) so that I keep things interesting.
I found a particularly lovely image in my standard computer backgrounds collection that reminds me of hot, spicy food and autumn so it keeps me "warm" just looking at it. Go figure, what unusual reactions things have in me, yeah?
For my phone I used a photo I captured on Instagram of an absolutely lovely sunset. I love sunsets because it's usually the time of day in wintertime that I get to leave work, so my day sorta actually begins.
It's nice having time to do whatever I want to after being cooped up in an office all day (lunch hour not withstanding).
I recently reset my Galaxy S3 phone and lost all my ringtones and photos--a small loss I was willing to take in hopes that the OS would run a little smoother. Also, I'll be traveling overseas at the end of the year, so I wanted to have a clean slate to make sure everything worked well with my new global service plan for this next, upcoming cycle.
This has been a great phone, overall, but I noticed an unusual lag between when I clicked on a text field and when the keyboard popped up, or, sometimes, when I clicked on some applications and when the applications actually opened up.
I found out through trial and error that any delay is usually a symptom of an update that needs to be made in the background. Just going into the Google Play store and downloading whatever updates I wanted to get and then rebooting the phone typically resolved the issue.
I guess a screen background can be a great type of accessory or expression of personality and individuality. It's something that I categorize as a tiny pleasure during the day. It's nice to have some control over these small details that bring a smile to my face.
I usually like to change up the theme in both my phone and my workstation (but not to match) so that I keep things interesting.
I found a particularly lovely image in my standard computer backgrounds collection that reminds me of hot, spicy food and autumn so it keeps me "warm" just looking at it. Go figure, what unusual reactions things have in me, yeah?
 |
| work computer background (toasty) |
It's nice having time to do whatever I want to after being cooped up in an office all day (lunch hour not withstanding).
I recently reset my Galaxy S3 phone and lost all my ringtones and photos--a small loss I was willing to take in hopes that the OS would run a little smoother. Also, I'll be traveling overseas at the end of the year, so I wanted to have a clean slate to make sure everything worked well with my new global service plan for this next, upcoming cycle.
 |
| phone background |
This has been a great phone, overall, but I noticed an unusual lag between when I clicked on a text field and when the keyboard popped up, or, sometimes, when I clicked on some applications and when the applications actually opened up.
I found out through trial and error that any delay is usually a symptom of an update that needs to be made in the background. Just going into the Google Play store and downloading whatever updates I wanted to get and then rebooting the phone typically resolved the issue.
I guess a screen background can be a great type of accessory or expression of personality and individuality. It's something that I categorize as a tiny pleasure during the day. It's nice to have some control over these small details that bring a smile to my face.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Chrome Updates by Adding Apps
 |
| Chrome's update added Apps |
I think this is a great addition that will make it easy for me to quickly access the program I need during a busy workday.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Video Game Review: Outlast
I watched a couple of my favorite gamers/personalities on YouTube playing through the indie game Outlast and I was immensely disappointed.
Outlast is a horror adventure game where the player/protagonist enacts a reporter who secretly infiltrates an abandoned mental asylum at night. The goal is to find out whether the private research firm/think tank that recently took the asylum over was actually using the inmates for horrible, inhumane experiments.
Whenever a topic as banal as mental illness or a mental asylum is made the background for a horror game, you can spell out doom pretty much from the get-go. It's a cop out. It would be fun and interesting if the writers/developers would stop throwing up on the screen and think story and resolution out a little better. I saw nothing more than a whole lot of conjecture, religious superstition, and blood splatter and guts mixed all up in a shaker for good measure. *rolls eyes*
As the amount of body parts, organs, blood pools and splatter, and horribly disfigured characters increase exponentially as you progress, the storyline gets weaker and weaker until it's just a whisp of smoke by the end. *sad panda face*
As you progress through the "levels," question upon question keeps piling up around the player--much like the body parts and guts. It's almost like the developers focused on the great lighting, background graphics, and character schematics first, then left the plot until last--when most of the money was already spent.
If the visual and auditory assaults on the player are not enough to keep them entertained/hooked on this train wreck you can't look away from, they threw in little bits and pieces of information which made the player hope against hope that things would get cleared up in the end. Sadly, that "a-ha!" moment never arrives. There's no payoff.
If the gruesome sights were not enough to shock the young male audience who is obviously targeted for this game, there was a lot of full male frontal nudity--probably harping on homophobia, claustrophobia, and helplessness to kick off the cheap thrills and chills. Any game where the player is unable to equip and defend his/her character, is another clue that the game won't end well. The player is definitely being taken for a ride. And not a fun one at that.
I was really disappointed. This game had so much potential. First of all, this is an indie company, and these are getting some amazing games out lately. They really work on details and they're a joy to play through. The graphics and backgrounds were well designed in Outlast, but imagine if the developers had done their research and interspersed some real, historical, or medical material and information a into a real plot and story line. What a difference that would have made!
I hope that if there ends up being a sequel, it's a lot more well thought out. And a lot less ugly.
Outlast is a horror adventure game where the player/protagonist enacts a reporter who secretly infiltrates an abandoned mental asylum at night. The goal is to find out whether the private research firm/think tank that recently took the asylum over was actually using the inmates for horrible, inhumane experiments.
Whenever a topic as banal as mental illness or a mental asylum is made the background for a horror game, you can spell out doom pretty much from the get-go. It's a cop out. It would be fun and interesting if the writers/developers would stop throwing up on the screen and think story and resolution out a little better. I saw nothing more than a whole lot of conjecture, religious superstition, and blood splatter and guts mixed all up in a shaker for good measure. *rolls eyes*
As the amount of body parts, organs, blood pools and splatter, and horribly disfigured characters increase exponentially as you progress, the storyline gets weaker and weaker until it's just a whisp of smoke by the end. *sad panda face*
As you progress through the "levels," question upon question keeps piling up around the player--much like the body parts and guts. It's almost like the developers focused on the great lighting, background graphics, and character schematics first, then left the plot until last--when most of the money was already spent.
If the visual and auditory assaults on the player are not enough to keep them entertained/hooked on this train wreck you can't look away from, they threw in little bits and pieces of information which made the player hope against hope that things would get cleared up in the end. Sadly, that "a-ha!" moment never arrives. There's no payoff.
If the gruesome sights were not enough to shock the young male audience who is obviously targeted for this game, there was a lot of full male frontal nudity--probably harping on homophobia, claustrophobia, and helplessness to kick off the cheap thrills and chills. Any game where the player is unable to equip and defend his/her character, is another clue that the game won't end well. The player is definitely being taken for a ride. And not a fun one at that.
I was really disappointed. This game had so much potential. First of all, this is an indie company, and these are getting some amazing games out lately. They really work on details and they're a joy to play through. The graphics and backgrounds were well designed in Outlast, but imagine if the developers had done their research and interspersed some real, historical, or medical material and information a into a real plot and story line. What a difference that would have made!
I hope that if there ends up being a sequel, it's a lot more well thought out. And a lot less ugly.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Reading: Document Design for Technical Writers
I've just begun my last in a series of three classes for an online Technical Writing Certificate with the California State University. This last course is on Information Design, and our textbook is Document Design: A Guide for Technical Communicators by Miles Kimball.
The CSU certificate program has done a really great job of mixing student participation, instructor participation, reading, assignments, and additional resources. It's a great blended learning environment.
I completed reading two and a half chapters as we're already into the third week of this class. But yesterday I took a deeper look into some of the other material that the book covers. I think I'm going to enjoy this textbook--and course!--a lot.
Much of the content in the book will serve as a good reminder/refresher of some of the document design concepts and techniques that I studied, a long time ago, in graphic design and journalism courses in college and post.
This time though, the stretch goal is to use a much more structured and logical approach, as we're applying a lot of the research and knowledge that's been gained in recent years, studying how users process, retain, and prefer to receive information. Good stuff!
The book has a good combination of organization, quick reading sections, and photos/figures to clarify concepts--the section on RGB alone is quite well developed, with enough detail but without going overboard.
A treat is that the course document design focus has more of an application for technical writing and the business world that can be applied across industries. And that's the whole point. Websites, reports, how-tos/guides, and business communications all have personalized audiences and topics, but the standards of good design apply to everything equally.
People nowadays have very little time to make an impression on potential customers or clients. It's important to convey clearly and in the best way possible any communication be it on a web site, email, or printed material.
This three course certificate was a stretch goal for myself, trying to span a bit of a gap I've struggled with since I first started studying about websites and programming in 1998. I've been a fan of techie things since forever and would love to get into IT one day. I may still dabble a little in programming in some courses I may take next. I'll see.
This certificate program has done much to reveal some personal and professional gaps that I can fill, and all around, it has been a great learning opportunity. I'm glad I have taken this up.
The CSU certificate program has done a really great job of mixing student participation, instructor participation, reading, assignments, and additional resources. It's a great blended learning environment.
I completed reading two and a half chapters as we're already into the third week of this class. But yesterday I took a deeper look into some of the other material that the book covers. I think I'm going to enjoy this textbook--and course!--a lot.
Much of the content in the book will serve as a good reminder/refresher of some of the document design concepts and techniques that I studied, a long time ago, in graphic design and journalism courses in college and post.
This time though, the stretch goal is to use a much more structured and logical approach, as we're applying a lot of the research and knowledge that's been gained in recent years, studying how users process, retain, and prefer to receive information. Good stuff!
The book has a good combination of organization, quick reading sections, and photos/figures to clarify concepts--the section on RGB alone is quite well developed, with enough detail but without going overboard.
A treat is that the course document design focus has more of an application for technical writing and the business world that can be applied across industries. And that's the whole point. Websites, reports, how-tos/guides, and business communications all have personalized audiences and topics, but the standards of good design apply to everything equally.
People nowadays have very little time to make an impression on potential customers or clients. It's important to convey clearly and in the best way possible any communication be it on a web site, email, or printed material.
This three course certificate was a stretch goal for myself, trying to span a bit of a gap I've struggled with since I first started studying about websites and programming in 1998. I've been a fan of techie things since forever and would love to get into IT one day. I may still dabble a little in programming in some courses I may take next. I'll see.
This certificate program has done much to reveal some personal and professional gaps that I can fill, and all around, it has been a great learning opportunity. I'm glad I have taken this up.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Floppy Drive Music
I discovered MrSolidSnake745's floppy drive music YouTube channel today. It may be my most favorite music discovery this year. Hilarious, awesome, and fascinating. Here's Haddaway's What is Love:
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Learning: Find and Subscribe to a Reddit Discussion Group
This guide will help any English-speaking user locate a Reddit discussion group on a particular topic and subscribe to it.
Step 1. Accessing Reddit
If you already have a Reddit account, skip this step and proceed directly to Step 2. Searching for a Discussion Group
If you don’t already have a Reddit account, you will need to create one. Begin by typing www.reddit.com in your browser’s address bar and clicking enter.
Once you are on the Reddit website, look at the top, right-hand corner where there is a search bar (Search Reddit) and the option to log in or register (Want to join? Login or register in seconds). Select register and proceed through the registration process. (See Figure 1a and 1b. The Reddit Login or Register Options)
Figure 1a and 1b. The Reddit Login or Register Options
Step 2. Searching for a Discussion Group
Step 1. Accessing Reddit
If you already have a Reddit account, skip this step and proceed directly to Step 2. Searching for a Discussion Group
If you don’t already have a Reddit account, you will need to create one. Begin by typing www.reddit.com in your browser’s address bar and clicking enter.
Once you are on the Reddit website, look at the top, right-hand corner where there is a search bar (Search Reddit) and the option to log in or register (Want to join? Login or register in seconds). Select register and proceed through the registration process. (See Figure 1a and 1b. The Reddit Login or Register Options)
Figure 1a and 1b. The Reddit Login or Register Options
Step 2. Searching for a Discussion Group
Make sure you’re logged into your Reddit account. Your name/nickname will appear in the top, right-hand corner.
If you’re not already logged in, then enter your nickname and password at the top, right-hand corner using the fields provided, then click the Login button. (See Figure 2. Logging into Reddit)
Figure 2. Logging into Reddit
Once you have logged in, use the Search Reddit field on the top, right-hand corner (see Figure 2) to enter the type of discussion group you’re lookinog for and click enter.
For this example, we are looking for Minecraft game discussion groups using the advanced search option to narrow down by author, using GenerikB. We type in the search field: minecraft author:GenerikB. (See Figure 4a and 4b. Reddit Search Example—Minecraft Discussion Groups, by a Particular Author)
Figure 4a and 4b. Reddit Search Example—Minecraft Discussion Groups, by a Particular Author
Notice the section that says “too many results? Narrow it down to a subreddit!” This is another option to allow you to narrow down even further by popular category (a.k.a, subreddit) under the topic you’ve just searched for.
Try clicking on one of the options there to see if the results are a good match for what you’re looking for.
Step 3. Subscribe to a Reddit Subreddit/Discussion
Once you have identified a discussion group, or subreddit, to subscribe to, click on the green Subscribe button on the far right hand-side.
Figure 5. Subscribing to a Reddit Subreddit/Dicussion
Any questions or concerns, please leave a comment! Thank you for reading!
Figure 2. Logging into Reddit
Once you have logged in, use the Search Reddit field on the top, right-hand corner (see Figure 2) to enter the type of discussion group you’re lookinog for and click enter.
For this example, we are looking for Minecraft game discussion groups using the advanced search option to narrow down by author, using GenerikB. We type in the search field: minecraft author:GenerikB. (See Figure 4a and 4b. Reddit Search Example—Minecraft Discussion Groups, by a Particular Author)
Figure 4a and 4b. Reddit Search Example—Minecraft Discussion Groups, by a Particular Author
Notice the section that says “too many results? Narrow it down to a subreddit!” This is another option to allow you to narrow down even further by popular category (a.k.a, subreddit) under the topic you’ve just searched for.
Try clicking on one of the options there to see if the results are a good match for what you’re looking for.
Step 3. Subscribe to a Reddit Subreddit/Discussion
Once you have identified a discussion group, or subreddit, to subscribe to, click on the green Subscribe button on the far right hand-side.
Figure 5. Subscribing to a Reddit Subreddit/Dicussion
Any questions or concerns, please leave a comment! Thank you for reading!
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Researching: Tablets
After owning an iPad 2.0 and a Kindle Fire 1.0 I'm now researching the latest tablets to determine whether I want to get a new one or stay with my Kindle Fire. Then there's always the burn: my mom got a Kindle Fire HD and it has a camera. A. CAMERA. Yes. It's on! ;oP
I owned an iPad 2.0 from 2011 to 2012. I gave up on it because it didn't have the functional heft I expected, and I hated burning my hands/lap when it overheated (which was all the time). Sure, it's got the amazing, Apple user intuitive (pictograph) UI that we all have grown to love and admire, but no multiple tabs, no gesture typing/Swype keyboard, and lots of Apple bloatware.
Rather than keep getting irritated, and going back to my MacBook Pro to get anything done, I gave my iPad to the significant other unit. I began holding araging slight grudge w folks who show off Apple products for looks or to look hip. I like function and form, and mostly, making my life easy, not using devices to make a social statement or for fitting in. /rantover
I discovered Gazelle and sold one of my two 3Gs iPhones (the one that still worked, sort of) and relished the little bit of cash I got--and told the significant other unit his iPad could be sold there if he wanted some moolah. Instead, he traded in his iPad 2.0 to Apple for an iPad 3.0. He's been very happy with it since...
In late summer 2012 one of the two SCRUM certification classes I attended offered a Kindle Fire (KF) 1.0 as an incentive. I had been using the Kindle app on my iPhone 3GS and then my Droid Charge phone when I switched, and also on my iPad and MacBook Pro.
I immediately loved the KF. You turn it on, personalize it with your Kindle login, and you're done! No instruction booklet, nothing to confuse the user. Its small size and portability, as well as the black, slightly rubberized surface were huge bonuses. You can surf the net using the Wi-Fi connection, and download apps to keep in the carousel for easy access. Best of all, long battery life and no overheated surface.
So now, almost a year into owning my KF, I'm very happy. Why read up on new tablets then? To see what else has come along.
It's important to read up and narrow down your search for information based on particular features that you're looking for. There is A LOT to read on tablets out there.
My reading is already focused on a few specs:
Additional reading and resources to research tablets:
 |
| (Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) from Cnet Buying Guide I just liked the club sandwich, it's one of my faves ^_^ |
Rather than keep getting irritated, and going back to my MacBook Pro to get anything done, I gave my iPad to the significant other unit. I began holding a
I discovered Gazelle and sold one of my two 3Gs iPhones (the one that still worked, sort of) and relished the little bit of cash I got--and told the significant other unit his iPad could be sold there if he wanted some moolah. Instead, he traded in his iPad 2.0 to Apple for an iPad 3.0. He's been very happy with it since...
In late summer 2012 one of the two SCRUM certification classes I attended offered a Kindle Fire (KF) 1.0 as an incentive. I had been using the Kindle app on my iPhone 3GS and then my Droid Charge phone when I switched, and also on my iPad and MacBook Pro.
I immediately loved the KF. You turn it on, personalize it with your Kindle login, and you're done! No instruction booklet, nothing to confuse the user. Its small size and portability, as well as the black, slightly rubberized surface were huge bonuses. You can surf the net using the Wi-Fi connection, and download apps to keep in the carousel for easy access. Best of all, long battery life and no overheated surface.
So now, almost a year into owning my KF, I'm very happy. Why read up on new tablets then? To see what else has come along.
It's important to read up and narrow down your search for information based on particular features that you're looking for. There is A LOT to read on tablets out there.
My reading is already focused on a few specs:
- devices with the Samsung Swype keyboard or the Android Gesture Typing
- not sure what size I want, but I know I like lighter weight tablets
- easy UI
- good video (I watch a lot of YouTube lately)
- battery life is also important
- do I want a camera? Not really, I have two cameras (Sony and Nikon) and my smartphone.
- I'm an Amazon Prime member so Amazon will have a slight advantage in my reviews.
Additional reading and resources to research tablets:
- Consumer Reports tablet buying guide
- CNet tablet buying guide/Tablet Reviews/best tablets
- PCMag find a tablet
- ZDnet Best Android Tablets (July 2013) [thanks +Mike Kruzel]
- eWeek 10 Hot Tablets
- Wiki Swype page and Swype Competitors section
- TechTree.com: Google Keyboard Hits The Play Store, Features Gesture Typing
- Google Nexus tablet device comparison page
- Samsung Galaxy tablet page
Friday, July 5, 2013
A Note on Earbuds
When I purchased my first iPhone back in the summer of 2007, I immediately rejected the hard, white plastic ear buds that came with the device. Instead, I went and purchased my first ever set of cool ear buds. It turned out to be a semisweet experience: economically painful, midly comfortable, and largely aesthetically pleasing.
$128 dollars (plus tax and S&H) later, I was the proud owner of black/white V-Moda ear buds. I kept seeing these ear buds mentioned all over blogs and Twitter at the time. Little did I know, it was a social media product placement technique. They were the most expensive ear buds I had ever, or would ever purchase. I loved the different sizes of silicone buds for comfort, the grippable textured metal ear bud and the quality of the product. The controls were awesome as well. Regrettably, they disappeared in the void that is my house after about six months, never to be seen again.
Back then I was the hasty victim of social media hype and little to no pre-purchase research. I learned my lesson: research must precede a purchase, form must follow function, and all must follow economy of cost.
Flash forward to 2011, when I was looking for ear buds to use with my Droid Charge. I went to my Verizon store to scope out any potential ear buds and walked away with Pure Gear's PureBoom flat rubberized cord ear buds. These made a horrible sound whenever I accidentally rubbed the cord while listening. Like nails on a chalkboard to be honest. That, and the fact I lost the travel case (if they even came with one?) and I started losing my patience a little with these. But otherwise were comfortable, relatively easy to clean, and didn't break the bank. At some point in time, over the last year or so, they stopped playing sound consistently on the right side, so I decided to look for a replacement.
Finally, I found success in ear bud shopping in spring of this year, when I upgraded my two year old Android Charge to a Samsung Galaxy S-III. Again, crappy ear buds came with my device. I decided I would do due diligence so I wouldn't be ashamed of my ear bud purchase, this time. I was looking for an economical purchase with comfortable buds, some aesthetics, and a control feature to use along with my smartphone's many purposes. Quite the shopping list.
After a Google News, Lifehacker, and C-Net search I ended up looking into Klipsch ear buds on Google Shopping and Amazon. I purchased the Klipsch S4 pair. These don't come with audio control, but they were economical, come with three different size silicone buds for comfort, and a cool, oval, silver metal case to store them in. Love them and use them now for over 8-9 hours a day.
I liked my pair so much, I bought the upgraded version, the Klipsch S4-A Inline with Microphone for Android. After some investigation, I found out I'd need to download their app (Klipsch Control, free) to add additional functionality. Google Play store reviews were negative, with many saying there was no real volume control. I was a little peeved. However, these are comfortable and are a nice upgrade/Plan B in case my original S4s disappear or are damaged.
It pays to research well. This is an accessory category that is absolutely exploding with potentially good products, making a choice can be difficult. Don't get swayed by what other people use, but read the technical info in the reviews to make up your mind. Don't try to ask for too many features, remember the KISS principle. And remember, everyone has return policies and you never really know what will work for you unless you try things out.
Useful resources:
$128 dollars (plus tax and S&H) later, I was the proud owner of black/white V-Moda ear buds. I kept seeing these ear buds mentioned all over blogs and Twitter at the time. Little did I know, it was a social media product placement technique. They were the most expensive ear buds I had ever, or would ever purchase. I loved the different sizes of silicone buds for comfort, the grippable textured metal ear bud and the quality of the product. The controls were awesome as well. Regrettably, they disappeared in the void that is my house after about six months, never to be seen again.
Back then I was the hasty victim of social media hype and little to no pre-purchase research. I learned my lesson: research must precede a purchase, form must follow function, and all must follow economy of cost.
Flash forward to 2011, when I was looking for ear buds to use with my Droid Charge. I went to my Verizon store to scope out any potential ear buds and walked away with Pure Gear's PureBoom flat rubberized cord ear buds. These made a horrible sound whenever I accidentally rubbed the cord while listening. Like nails on a chalkboard to be honest. That, and the fact I lost the travel case (if they even came with one?) and I started losing my patience a little with these. But otherwise were comfortable, relatively easy to clean, and didn't break the bank. At some point in time, over the last year or so, they stopped playing sound consistently on the right side, so I decided to look for a replacement.
Finally, I found success in ear bud shopping in spring of this year, when I upgraded my two year old Android Charge to a Samsung Galaxy S-III. Again, crappy ear buds came with my device. I decided I would do due diligence so I wouldn't be ashamed of my ear bud purchase, this time. I was looking for an economical purchase with comfortable buds, some aesthetics, and a control feature to use along with my smartphone's many purposes. Quite the shopping list.
After a Google News, Lifehacker, and C-Net search I ended up looking into Klipsch ear buds on Google Shopping and Amazon. I purchased the Klipsch S4 pair. These don't come with audio control, but they were economical, come with three different size silicone buds for comfort, and a cool, oval, silver metal case to store them in. Love them and use them now for over 8-9 hours a day.
I liked my pair so much, I bought the upgraded version, the Klipsch S4-A Inline with Microphone for Android. After some investigation, I found out I'd need to download their app (Klipsch Control, free) to add additional functionality. Google Play store reviews were negative, with many saying there was no real volume control. I was a little peeved. However, these are comfortable and are a nice upgrade/Plan B in case my original S4s disappear or are damaged.
It pays to research well. This is an accessory category that is absolutely exploding with potentially good products, making a choice can be difficult. Don't get swayed by what other people use, but read the technical info in the reviews to make up your mind. Don't try to ask for too many features, remember the KISS principle. And remember, everyone has return policies and you never really know what will work for you unless you try things out.
Useful resources:
Saturday, June 29, 2013
TechWeek Chicago 2013
I was able to attend the expo at TechWeek Chicago 2013 on Thursday, June 27. It was a wonderful opportunity to get better acquainted with Chicago-based business in the technology, programming, and online content area.
All around it was a positive experience! I learned a lot about what kinds of companies typically attend, the demographics of the audience, and how this conference compares to others that I have attended.
All around it was a positive experience! I learned a lot about what kinds of companies typically attend, the demographics of the audience, and how this conference compares to others that I have attended.
TechWeek Chicago 2013, a set on Flickr.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Vine vs. Instagram Video
Instagram just implemented video, I haven't tried it yet, but am reading up on the differences between it and Vine.
Check out this great article from CNet titled Instagram vs. Vine: Battle of the Short-Form Video-Sharing Apps (try saying that three times fast!). CNet feels that Vine is buggy, and Instagram walks away the champion, in this comparison.
Another great article is at Forbes, Illustrated Guide to Using Instagram Video.
Check out this great article from CNet titled Instagram vs. Vine: Battle of the Short-Form Video-Sharing Apps (try saying that three times fast!). CNet feels that Vine is buggy, and Instagram walks away the champion, in this comparison.
Another great article is at Forbes, Illustrated Guide to Using Instagram Video.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Learn: Making an Animated Gif
There's a work project that I would like to develop where a banner featuring company logos transitions in order to show a number of company logos for a few seconds.
It's basically an animated gif banner using company logos for finalist companies in an award competition. The banner will feature all the participating company logos, and since there's a few of them, they can rotate through so all of them appear in a few seconds.
The bad news is, I haven't made an animated gif since approximately 1999-2000.
So I have completely forgotten how I used to make them.
To remedy this issue, I went and looked up animated gif tutorials on trusty YouTube and Google search. There's a lot of programs that can make these nowadays!
Here's some of the highlights from the tutorials that I found. Hopefully they can help out someone who is also wondering...
Wired: How-To Make an Animated GIF
To make an animated gif using Adobe ImageReady:
To make an animated gif using Microsoft Paint and UnFreeze:
It's basically an animated gif banner using company logos for finalist companies in an award competition. The banner will feature all the participating company logos, and since there's a few of them, they can rotate through so all of them appear in a few seconds.
The bad news is, I haven't made an animated gif since approximately 1999-2000.
So I have completely forgotten how I used to make them.
To remedy this issue, I went and looked up animated gif tutorials on trusty YouTube and Google search. There's a lot of programs that can make these nowadays!
Here's some of the highlights from the tutorials that I found. Hopefully they can help out someone who is also wondering...
Wired: How-To Make an Animated GIF
To make an animated gif using Adobe ImageReady:
To make an animated gif using Microsoft Paint and UnFreeze:
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Learning: Storify
Today I was perusing my Twitter feed and I discovered a neat little social media tool, called Storify. This tool allows you to compile mentions, images, videos, and more on a particular topic from a variety of social media resources (such as Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Flickr, and Instagram) to tell a story.
It's an uber easy way to microblog with easy access to linkable news and info sources. It's a great way to tell a story or showcase some research you recently did on a hot topic that may be interesting for others.
It's an uber easy way to microblog with easy access to linkable news and info sources. It's a great way to tell a story or showcase some research you recently did on a hot topic that may be interesting for others.
I was looking through Google search for a tutorial, and found a great video by CalmYourBeans on YouTube. Check it out if you want to learn the basics of how Storify works.
And here is my first Storify project, a little report on the repairs the Washington Monument in D.C. is curently undergoing titled Washington Monument Repairs in 2013.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Learning: Vine
By now you probably have heard about Vine, a Twitter application that allows you to capture six seconds worth of video and convert it into a gif-like video for immediate upload to Twitter.
It's a neat little application on Android or iPhone, and it's very popular. Think of it as Instagram for short video bursts.
I looked up "Vine tutorial" on Google just now and discovered a great little intro and how-to all rolled into one, by Cnet no less. Check it out if you aren't already familiar with Vine. This video makes using Vine seem as easy as a piece of cake.
It's a neat little application on Android or iPhone, and it's very popular. Think of it as Instagram for short video bursts.
I looked up "Vine tutorial" on Google just now and discovered a great little intro and how-to all rolled into one, by Cnet no less. Check it out if you aren't already familiar with Vine. This video makes using Vine seem as easy as a piece of cake.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
A Note on Gaming Consoles
Playing World of Warcraft last year and Minecraft this year has brought back some of the joy I used to experience as a teenager playing NES and PC videogames. I didn't realize how much I missed the graphics and visuals, and the great storylines. It's similar to reading an engrossing book, but for visual people: you're transported to another time and place and live through your character's eyes and actions.
The more Minecraft let's play videos I see, the more I want to create in my own creative Minecraft world. I love trying to build things that remind me of my old days of using 3D Architect and other similar desktop software back in the 1990s.
I've also started watching some other let's play and plain run-throughs for a variety of videogames. I've been thinking for some time whether I wanted to again enter the world of gaming consoles--my first and only console ever, the original NES, was bought in 1990 by my dad.
I've been looking around and I think that purchasing a Sony Playstation 3 is a good idea--there are good games for driving, adventure, and first person shooter fans. They have a good, established online network, and they also are bringing out their 4th console so the third one might be a little cheaper right now (teehee).
I looked through XBox and Nintendo information, but to be honest, I love Sony and their laptops and televisions, and I think that using their console is a good idea--at least for me. I may think otherwise after I get the console and start playing, but for now it's a good bet for me after a little bit of research.
I reviewed a variety of retailer websites to see what the pricing structures are like. Bundles are great because they include the console and controller, as well as one or more games to get you started. The hard part was choosing whether I wanted a driving game or Assasins Creed! The retailers I checked were Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Google Shopping, and Amazon Prime. I decided to get my console through Amazon Prime because it was two day shipping, no tax, and no shipping fee. It beat Wal-Mart's direct-to-home shipping total by at least $10.
So what am I going to do on my PS3 once I get it? I hope to do some driving games and maybe a first shooter. I have been really liking the Assassins Creed trailers on TV and on YouTube so I may try that as well. I've always been curious about Tomb Raider, so I may give it a whirl.
The good thing about playing games these days is that there are a ton of locations where you can rent games rather than making the purchase investment. If you don't like a game or don't really want to keep a game collection with limited space at home, you can just rent and forget about storage or feeling guilty about old unliked games.
There's also a ton of let's play and run-throughs on YouTube for a variety of games, so you can follow through another, more apt player's run and see if you want to follow suit. Some players give great advice and know tips and tricks that make a difference in your game play. These are invaluable resources.
I used to play a ton of PC games in the late 1990s and I am looking forward to enjoying again the distraction and engrossing graphics and visuals--hopefully good story lines too!
The more Minecraft let's play videos I see, the more I want to create in my own creative Minecraft world. I love trying to build things that remind me of my old days of using 3D Architect and other similar desktop software back in the 1990s.
I've also started watching some other let's play and plain run-throughs for a variety of videogames. I've been thinking for some time whether I wanted to again enter the world of gaming consoles--my first and only console ever, the original NES, was bought in 1990 by my dad.
I've been looking around and I think that purchasing a Sony Playstation 3 is a good idea--there are good games for driving, adventure, and first person shooter fans. They have a good, established online network, and they also are bringing out their 4th console so the third one might be a little cheaper right now (teehee).
I looked through XBox and Nintendo information, but to be honest, I love Sony and their laptops and televisions, and I think that using their console is a good idea--at least for me. I may think otherwise after I get the console and start playing, but for now it's a good bet for me after a little bit of research.
I reviewed a variety of retailer websites to see what the pricing structures are like. Bundles are great because they include the console and controller, as well as one or more games to get you started. The hard part was choosing whether I wanted a driving game or Assasins Creed! The retailers I checked were Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Google Shopping, and Amazon Prime. I decided to get my console through Amazon Prime because it was two day shipping, no tax, and no shipping fee. It beat Wal-Mart's direct-to-home shipping total by at least $10.
So what am I going to do on my PS3 once I get it? I hope to do some driving games and maybe a first shooter. I have been really liking the Assassins Creed trailers on TV and on YouTube so I may try that as well. I've always been curious about Tomb Raider, so I may give it a whirl.
The good thing about playing games these days is that there are a ton of locations where you can rent games rather than making the purchase investment. If you don't like a game or don't really want to keep a game collection with limited space at home, you can just rent and forget about storage or feeling guilty about old unliked games.
There's also a ton of let's play and run-throughs on YouTube for a variety of games, so you can follow through another, more apt player's run and see if you want to follow suit. Some players give great advice and know tips and tricks that make a difference in your game play. These are invaluable resources.
I used to play a ton of PC games in the late 1990s and I am looking forward to enjoying again the distraction and engrossing graphics and visuals--hopefully good story lines too!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Annoying Page Advertising Example
This is incredibly annoying advertising. An expanding banner at the top and two banners on the side.
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