Archangel31's Tech Blog

Comcast Gets a Thrashing from the FCC

2008-08-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Comcast Corp has been ordered to change how it manages its broadband network after U.S. communications regulators concluded some of its tactics unreasonably restrict Internet users who share movies and other material.

In a precedent-setting decision, the five-member Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to uphold a complaint accusing Comcast of violating the FCC's open-Internet principles by improperly hindering peer-to-peer traffic.

"Subscribers should be able to go where they want, when they want, and generally use the Internet in any legal means," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in a statement.

Comcast said in a statement that it was disappointed by the decision and was considering all its "legal options."

The measure adopted by the FCC does not include any fines against Comcast. But it requires the company to cease impeding peer-to-peer applications, to tell the FCC how the practice has been used, and to notify customers about other network management practices it adopts in the future.

The ruling has been closely watched because it lays out for operators of broadband networks what the FCC considers to be a "reasonable" way for them to manage their networks.

The complaint against Comcast was filed by consumer groups who said the company had blocked file-sharing services, such as BitTorrent, that distribute TV shows and movies.

Comcast's case has become a flash point for a growing debate over a concept known as "network neutrality," that pits open-Internet advocates against some Internet service providers, who say they need to take reasonable steps to manage ever-growing traffic on their networks for the good of all users.

Comcast has said its network management practices were a reasonable choice and has argued that the FCC does not have the authority to enforce its open-Internet policy.

(Reporting by Peter Kaplan, editing by Tim Dobbyn)

*source: NY Times

HP Touchsmart computer

2008-07-31T19:30:00.000-07:00

What tech geek doesn't love the beauty of the fictional Star Trek touch-screen computer?

Over the decades, Star Trek has inspired a wide variety of gadgets: the cell phone, thermal shielding (NASA), and more. Now it has another brainchild.

Touch computing started when Apple introduced the first now-ancient touch-screen handheld computer.

It evolved into more advanced Palm and Pocket PC devices. The iPhone and iPod Touch revolutionized touch technology.

And now, we have personal, effective touch screen desktop computers.

HP (although I'm not impressed with the company) has released a new way of thinking in computing tech. It's called the Touchsmart. It functions just like any other computer - with the exception that its screen is 100% touch sensitive. Yes. You read right. That means that you can now navigate files, games, documents and more as easily as you could if you held them in your hand.

This does not mean the days of the mouse and keyboard are coming to an end. No no no. Ask any FPS gamer if he would rather use a mouse/keyboard interface or a touch screen to navigate the on-screen carnage. Most would agree that the mouse/keyboard gives an element of control that a touch screen would leave to be desired.

However! For the rest of us, this represents a HUGE step forward in computing. We may not reach the level of sophistication the Enterprise computer boasts, but surely we can keep trying.

iPhone 3G released

2008-06-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO - June 9, 2008

"Apple® today introduced the new iPhone 3G, combining all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK. In the US, the new iPhone 3G is priced at a stunning $199 for 8GB and $299 for 16GB."

There you have it folks. If iPhone floats your boat, check out the new model in-store or online.

Palm OS vs Windows Mobile

2008-05-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Palm OS vs Windows Mobile

Palm boasts an impressive, user-friendly GUI. Windows Mobile offers compatibility. Each has its advantages, but some stand out more.

Palm OS
The Pros

Impressive GUI (what you see on the screen)
Great stability (rarely crashes)
Extremely wide range of available programs
Relatively lower prices
Great range of sizes - small to huge
Uses very few resources (Low specs can still provide good performance)
Integration with Microsoft Office requires third-party programs

The Cons

Integration with Microsoft Office requires third-party programs like "Documents to Go"
No built-in speaker
Can't multi-task (Only one program can be run at a time)

Windows Mobile
The Pros

Familiarity of the Windows interface
Drag-and-Drop integration with Windows
Wide multimedia capabilities (Windows Mobile Media Player v9 included)
Can multi task
Better Internet browser (Internet Explorer is included. Others can be downloaded)
Built-in speaker
Decent 3D processor for games

The Cons

Tend to crash
Fewer compatible programs (Very few games)
It's Windows

The decision is up to you. Basically, if you simply want a good, stable organizer, go with the Palm. If you need strong video and music capabilities, Windows Mobile may be a better choice for you.

Cheers,
MS

Protect yourself!

2008-04-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

I just discovered an EXCELLENT Anti-Spyware program that I feel you might be interested in. It's called AVG Anti-Spyware. There is a commercial version, but the free version is just fine:

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-spyware-free/lng/us/tpl/v5

Founder of Wikipedia discourages academic use:

2008-04-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

From the Chronicle of Higher Education:

Jimmy Wales, one founder of Wikipedia, states that “For God sake, you’re in college; don’t cite the encyclopedia.” He goes on to say that he might be creating a summary of info about Wikipedia is (and isn't).

Personally, I don't find myself using the site much. It's fun to play around with, but one would be foolish to attempt real research with the Wikipedia. Anyone can change anything at any time. There is a common myth going around that something that is changed for the ill will be reverted within minutes. Let me tell you here and now - that is completely untrue. There are good Samaritans out there who will change a page back to what it should be, but if it is not...ugh....

Cheers,
MS

Windows Online?

2008-03-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

Bill Gates, creator of the (in)famous Windows operating system has expressed an interest in further changing the way we compute. Get this: He plans for the next generation of Windows to be 100 % online. All software would be run from the internet. Computers would just be means of connecting to the internet and the operating system.

That's nuts.

First of all, what if I want to use my computer WITHOUT being connected to the Internet? Sorry - out of luck. Billy Gate's plan would require a computer to be connected to the Net to even function. No thanks. I'll pass.

If that's not enough, consider the plethora of security issues we would inevitably face. Every bit of your data would be filed online - vulnerable to hackers, viruses, bots, unwelcome visitors, and identity thieves.

This is one reason I'll be switching to Mac when I get the funds. Frankly, I don't trust Microsoft to get it right the first time. It's a scary thought.

"Dude! You're gettin' a Mac!"

OpenOffice

2008-02-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Office is a great program. I won't argue there. It's (generally) well-built and is aesthetically pleasing. But it is so dang expensive! What would you say if I told you of a FREE, fully-compatible, fully-capable office suite?

It's called Open Office. This package is 100% free and is as powerful as - if not more so - Microsoft Office. In many cases, it even goes above and beyond the call of duty - out performing the MS suite.

Check it out here: http://www.openoffice.org

Stay out. Out. OUUUUTTT!

2008-01-28T11:51:00.000-08:00

You wouldn't let someone you don't know walk right into your home uninvited would you? I didn't think so. The same principle applies to computers and the internet. If you don't have a firewall - a door - anyone may enter as he pleases.

Check out this free one here: http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm_free_firewall.jsp

Great site! Join up!

2007-07-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

I know I told you about this before, but you really should join myLot.com

It's a FANTASTIC site for discussions, polls, blogs, friends, and more.

It's completely free, and you get paid - not a lot - but it is real money. By not a lot, I mean a few dollars and cents. Still, it's pretty fun. :D

myLot User Profile

PayPerPost - The Blogger's Dream

2007-06-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

Bloggers, you love to write. You know you do. How would you like to MAKE MONEY blogging? That's the deal with PayPerPost.com Essentially, an advertiser pays PayPerPost.com to have its members write about his/her product or service. PPP then pays the blogger a portion of that. The advantages of this system are two-fold. One, the advertiser gets grand exposure across the internet. Two, the blogger who agrees to write about the advertiser's product/service gets paid for his efforts. That's a beautiful setup. The advertiser gets what he/she wants and the blogger gets compensated as well.

If you are interested in becoming an advertiser, take a look here.

Posts range from a few dollars into the hundreds - yes, PER POST. Now, here's the kicker: If you have a blog that meets these requirements:

You must be at least 18
All post must be in English on English blogs
Your blog URL must be submitted and approved
Your blog must be at least 90 days old (with no gaps over 30 days - no entries posted for 30+ days)
Each post's content must be unique. You can't post the same thing on different blogs.

Interested? Then certainly take a look at PayPerPost's website here. PayPerPost grows by word of mouth marketing So, be sure to tell your fellow bloggers about this opportunity!

Cheers,
MS

Masterseek - Business search engine

2007-05-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

All you entrepeneurs on the net may be interested in this. Masterseek,a new business search engine allows you to search the ineternet for business opportunites. You can also submit your own information free. With this, you can get up to 90,000 visitors! That's awesome! Also, for those interested, Masterseek offers a Pay-Per-Click advertisement program so you can place small ads on their website.

As far as the searching...You can look for companies, products - or both - in many countries. Furthermore, if you would like to invest in this business, that is an option as well. Take a look at that here.

Anyway, take a look at Masterseek. It's quite a great idea someone had.

Cheers,
MS

Bloggerwave - You need to see this

2007-05-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION FELLOW BLOGGERS:

In today's rat race, everyone and his brother is looking to make a few extra dollars here and there. Have you ever wondered how bloggers can make so much money? I definitely did. I signed up for Payperpost a while back, but I wanted to expand a bit...

So, I did some research and found an even better pay-per-post site. It's called Bloggerwave

Basically, as long as you have a blog that's been around for a while and you have time and skills to commit to writing reviews and ads for advertisers, you can make a decent income with your blog. So, seriously. Take a look at Bloggerwave

I think you'll like what you see.

Final Cut Studio 2

2007-04-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

Apple Unveils Final Cut Studio 2
Major Upgrades of Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, Motion & Compressor; and Introduces “Color”
NAB, LAS VEGAS—April 15, 2007—Apple® today unveiled Final Cut Studio® 2, a significant upgrade to the industry’s leading video production suite that delivers new creative tools designed expressly for editors. Final Cut Studio 2 includes Final Cut Pro® 6, which introduces Apple’s ProRes 422 format for uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes and support for mixed video formats and frame rates in a single Timeline; Motion 3 featuring an intuitive 3D environment, paint and new behaviors; Soundtrack® Pro 2 with dozens of innovative tools for multitrack editing, surround mixing and conforming sound to picture; Compressor 3 delivering powerful batch encoding for multiple formats with a single click; and DVD Studio Pro 4.2 for SD and HD DVD authoring. Final Cut Studio 2 also introduces “Color,” a professional color grading and finishing application for ensuring consistent color and creating signature looks.
“Final Cut Studio 2 was specifically designed to enable the rapidly growing community of over 800,000 Final Cut editors worldwide to animate, mix, grade and deliver their work as a natural extension of the editorial process,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “Final Cut Studio 2 is the most powerful production suite on the planet.”
At the core of Final Cut Studio 2 is Final Cut Pro 6, the latest version of Apple’s Emmy award-winning editing software which includes a new Open Format Timeline that lets editors mix and match virtually any video format and frame-rate in a single Timeline without transcoding. ProRes 422, a new full raster, 10-bit 4:2:2 post production format produces stunning HD quality at SD file sizes, making it ideal for working efficiently across a SAN or on a MacBook® Pro in the field. Companies including Panasonic, Sony and RED are embracing ProRes 422 as they continue to innovate on the next generation of cameras. Final Cut Pro 6 also includes optical flow based SmoothCam technology to remove unwanted or jarring camera movement with simple, easy-to-use tools. Deep integration with Motion includes the ability to edit Motion templates with video drop zones and editable text fields directly in Final Cut Pro.
New to Final Cut Studio is Color, which puts a logical task-based color grading and finishing workflow in the hands of every Final Cut Pro editor. The primaries in Color include advanced color correction tools such as gamma, lift and gain adjustments, as well as custom R, G, B and luma curves, and the secondaries provide the ability to isolate specific areas of an image with soft-edged mattes and custom-shaped vignettes, which can be tracked with ease. Professional scopes provide precise monitoring of chrominance and luminance values via waveforms, histograms and new 3D scopes. Color includes over 20 signature looks which can be customized to create a unique mood for any given project, and offers a seamless roundtrip workflow where projects can be sent from Final Cut Pro 6 directly to Color for grading, finishing and final rendering with 32-bit float 4:4:4 image processing.
Motion 3, the latest version of Apple’s groundbreaking motion graphics software, takes all the familiar Motion tools and extends them to a 3D environment. New camera behaviors add depth and realism with drag-and-drop simplicity. Vector based paint tools allow editors to easily create brushes with color, particles, video or pictures. A simple, yet highly precise match moving tool automatically maps any image or effect to the path of any other object. New retiming behaviors enable editors to slip and slide retiming effects on the Timeline without keyframes, while new audio behaviors allow users to easily create animations that respond to soundtrack volume and frequency. Motion 3 includes over 1500 new design elements including professional stock imagery, beautifully animated line drawings and stunning vector artwork.
Soundtrack Pro 2, a brand new version of the audio editing application in Final Cut Studio 2, features powerful new multitrack editing and recording tools in a streamlined interface that simplifies every aspect of the audio post production process. Soundtrack Pro 2 introduces a breakthrough heads up spotting display that lets editors precisely align effects and dialog with picture. Advanced take management tools enable editors to quickly combine pieces of the best takes to craft seamless performances. Stereo and surround mixing tools enable users to create 5.1 and stereo mixes in the same project, saving time and eliminating costly errors. Editors can work with a royalty-free library of over 5,000 professionally produced foley and sound effects, including over 1,000 surround sound effects and evocative multi-channel music tracks. A powerful new Conform tool enables users to synchronize and track changes between picture and sound editorial.
Compressor 3, the latest version of Apple’s industrial strength encoding tool, comes with a new streamlined interface and simplified workflows that make encoding and delivering in multiple formats easier and more efficient than ever. Powerful batch processing and job chaining capabilities enable editors to create pristine quality output for a wide range of delivery formats with a single click. Compressor 3 extends support for industry-standard codecs such as MPEG-2 and H.264 to include new drag-and-drop presets for delivery to broadcast television, web, iPod, Apple TV™, DVD and mobile phones. Dynamic filters applied during pre-processing now support timecode overlays, audio/video fade in and out, and animated watermarks that can be applied directly from Motion projects.
Apple today also introduced Final Cut® Server, a powerful new server application that works seamlessly with Final Cut Studio 2 to provide media asset management and workflow automation for post production and broadcast professionals.
Pricing & Availability
Final Cut Studio 2 will be available in May through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US). Registered users of the current version of Final Cut Studio can upgrade for $499 (US) and registered users from any previous version of Final Cut Pro can upgrade for $699 (US). Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Studio 2 can be found at www.apple.com/finalcutstudio.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

Wi-Fi equipped iPod on the horizon?

2007-04-13T20:21:00.001-07:00

Apple will bring out an iPod with Wi-Fi wireless connectivity on board during the latter half of the year - if the latest whispers coming from Taiwan's electronics manufacturer community are to be believed, that is.

read more | digg story

Apple to Delay Release of Leopard

2007-04-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

Due to the massive success of the Apple iPhone, Apple has had to reallocate a large portion of its research and development staff to improving and updating the new devices. With that in mind, they have decided to delay the release of Mac OSX Leopard by four months - October. This is a minor disappointment for all of us Mac fans, but Apple has decided that this is in the best interests of, not only its employees (less pressure to meet deadlines), but also in the best interests of it's loyal customers. Who wants a buggy operating system? (*cough* WINDOWS *cough*) Not me. Microsoft likely would have kept the release date the same - with less R&D, more bugs, and a probably higher price.

Ugh...Thank God for Apple Computer, Inc.

Cheers,
Michael

Mac OS X Leopard Preview - Time Machine

2007-04-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

You back up your system regularly, right? Well, you would. If you had a better way to do it. With Mac OS X Leopard and Time Machine, not only can you back up and preserve everything on your Mac — including priceless digital photos, music, movies, and documents — without lifting a finger, you can go back in time to recover anything you’ve ever backed up.

Set it, then forget it

The first time you attach an external drive to a Mac running Mac OS X Leopard, Time Machine asks if you’d like to back up to that drive. Set up the drive and Time Machine takes care of everything else, automatically, in the background, so you can get on with your digital life.

Back up everything

Right from the start, Time Machine in Mac OS X Leopard makes a complete backup of all the files on your system. That includes your system files, applications, accounts, preferences, music, photos, movies, documents — everything you keep on your Mac.

As you make changes, Time Machine only backs up what changes, all the while maintaining a comprehensive layout of your system. That way, Time Machine minimizes the space required on your backup device. Since backups are stored on your device by date, you can browse through your entire system as it appeared on any date. And that’s what makes Time Machine different from any backup application you’ve ever tried.

Go back in time

With Time Machine, you can restore your whole system from any past backups and peruse the past with ease. Can’t find a file you want? Enter Time Machine’s time-based browser to see a snapshot of how your entire system looked on any given day — file by file. When you find the file you want, just select it and restore it. Time Machine brings it into the present. You can do the same with a group of files, whole folders, even your entire system. With a single click.

All features referenced in the Mac OS X Leopard Sneak Peek are subject to change.

Preferential Treatment

Time Machine works great out of the box, but you can customize it by modifying the following behaviors in System Preferences:

Backup Disk: Change the drive or volume you’re backing up to. Or back up to a Mac OS X server computer.
Do Not Backup: By default, Time Machine backs up your entire system. But you can also select items you’d rather not back up.
Backup Time: Time Machine will back up every night at midnight, unless you select a different time from this menu.

Developer APIs

Apple provides API access to Time Machine’s underlying facilities to developers can provide the same experience for accessing information in their applications.

As seen on (http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/timemachine.html)

Take that, Microsoft! Even with everything it copies from OS X, Windows Vista hasn't touched this sort of capability! This is fantastic - especially for someone like me who tends to accidentally lose/delete files and data I need.

Cheers,
MS

Creative Zen Micro - 6 GB MP3 player

2007-04-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

For all you iPod-haters out there - you know who you are - Creative has a pretty cool, lower-priced, option. For the record, a 4 GB iPod Nano costs 2X what this baby would cost you. Retailed around $100 USD, this player is a sweet alternative if you just want some tunes.

Product Page [Via Consumerist]

Photoshop CS3!

2007-04-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

Adobe has FINALLY released a new version of Photoshop - CS3. The new version boasts:

Smart Filters
Quick Selection and Refine Edge tools
Advanced compositing
3D compositing and texture editing
Movie Paint
2D and 3D measurement tools
Streamlined interface
Better raw-image processing
Enhanced Vanishing Point with 3D support
Enhanced 32-bit HDR support
Better RAW image processing
Improved Vanishing Point effect
Increased performance
Better B&W processing
Smart Object capability
and MORE!

I've used every version of Photoshop since its release. Photoshop CS2 impressed me. CS3 seems flat out amazing! If you haven't already, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND upgrading to this new program. It seems to be most worth the money!

Cheers,
Michael

Anti-Virus

2007-04-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Having dealt with many viruses in my time, I realize - perhaps more than most - the need for anti-virus security. I began using computers at the age of two. Don't believe me? I kid you not.

Back in "the day," such security measures were not needed. Now, however, we are faced with a much more intense firestorm than ever before.

Have a look at this free AV program: http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

You have to register the program, but that is FREE and painless.

Cheers.

Pixel 2 Life FORUMS!

2007-03-21T17:29:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I told you about Pixel2Life - the excellent tutorial resource. But I neglected to tell you about their forum!

There you can get advice from other members, share ideas, download search engine optimization kits, hire a designer/coder, sell your design services, get help with programs you use, and more.

You will have to register, of course. But that is free, fast, and very easy. My username is Live4Him2007. If you're ever on, drop me one! :D

http://www.pixel2life.com/forums/

Pixel 2 Life tutorial resource

2007-03-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

When I first began the daunting task of developing my own website, I had no clue where to begin. I had only a computer and copies of the Macromedia studio (now Adobe Studio 8) and and Photoshop. I did a search for tutorials that might give me SOME clue as to what the heck to do to begin.

One of the major sites I found is called Pixel 2 Life. It's been around for years now, and with each change it gets better and better.

There you can find excellent tutorials for programs covering MANY topics - from basic HTML and website tips, to Photoshop help and how to create professional quality 3D movies.

I couldn't believe what I saw! :D

http://www.pixel2life.com

Cheers,
MS

Video - This is PRICELESS!

2007-03-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of Apple's WWDC 2006 discussing what I was talking about about earlier - just how much Vista copies OS X Tiger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-2C2gb6ws8

MicroSUX?

2007-03-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

Recent weeks have brought into the limelight discussion as to whether or not Microsoft modeled its newest operating system, Windows Vista, after the well-known Apple OS X.

For years, the Apple operating system has boasted small, single-purpose programs called "widgets." These can be used to track weather, sports scores, podcasts, you name it. Interestingly, Vista now contains similar programs called "gadgets!" Wow, that's not similar at all! Geez.

What's more, OS X has proudly worn its legendary search bar in the upper right portion of the screen. Windows now has its bar in the lower LEFT area of the screen. Coincidence?

Get this: Apple is proud of its beautiful chess program that comes preloaded on every Mac OS X computer. Apparently, so is Microsoft. Vista now has a chess game that is strikingly similar to that of the Macintosh.

In light of this, I don't feel any more compelled to fork over $200 bucks for an operating system that is a mere copy of another, better system.

I've been a PC fan for most of my life. At the age of two, my dad taught me basic DOS commands. But the long-awaited Windows Vista holds no glory in my eyes. Goodbye, MicroSUX! Hello Mac!

Can you accept plastic?

2007-03-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

Webmasters, how would you like to be able to accept credit cards on your site - without having to use a service like Paypal or Moneybookers? http://www.Advantageprocessors.com offers an interesting solution.

Being able to accept credit cards is vital to an internet economy. My site needs to be able to use credit cards all the time. So, I will certainly be looking into this service. http://www.advantageprocessors.com

Both low and high risk merchants will be able to accept cards.
Examples of low risk merchants are:

Retail business
Restaurants
Hotels, Lodging
Mail/Telephone business
Home business
Online Credit card processing

High risk merchants may include:

High risk mail order sites
Travel businesses (some hotels and travel companies)
Gaming (ie. Casinos)
Debt collection groups
pre-paid phone cards
pharmaceuticals

and the like.

If you are involved in any of these, I highly reccommend that you look into this service as you will open yourself up to a plethora of new business opportunities.
For a small fee, you will be able to accept credit cards over the phone or online.
AdvantageProcessors.com also links to reccommended web hosting services you may want to check out. http://www.advantageprocessors.com

You really should check this out!

myLot.com

2007-03-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

Do you like having your voice heard? Do you like a "forum" environment? Then check out myLot. I just joined a few weeks ago.

What you do is this: You identify your interests (technology, for example) and get information about those subjects. You can create new topics, start discussions, comment on other posts, join groups, find friends, etc.

Check it: http://www.mylot.com

Cheers,
Michael

Microsoft Windows Live VP will step down

2007-02-17T15:49:00.000-08:00

The Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's Windows Live platform group, Blake Irving, is to resign.

All this comes after a comprehensive study of Windows Live One Care revealed that its security features fail to meet the antivirus community's standards.

Microsoft refused to comment on Irving's plans for the future.

According to his bio, Irving "and his eams have been responsible for Microsoft's first Internet video conferencing and collaboration products, Internet phone, Internet mail cliet and instant messaging and blogging service. Irving has held development and marketing management roles on the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser software and Windows OS teams."

Bios Life

2007-02-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

I know this isn't about tech, but please forgive the interruption:

If you care about your health and the health of those you love, check this out - http://www.biosyourlife.com

This is better than ANYTHING else out there. Plus, it's listed in the Physicians' Desk Reference and is highly recommended by the Cleveland Clinic - the leading heart institute on the planet!

Bios Life is a REVOLUTIONARY way to control cholesterol as well as or even BETTER than statin medications such as Lipitor, Crestor, Zetia, Vytorin and the like - WITHOUT THE HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS!

You have NOTHING to lose. Bios Life comes with a 100%, 60-day, full money-back guarantee!

Go to http://www.biosyourlife.com/theresults.html to see the results people have had as well as testimonials from seasoned medical professionals!

Best wishes,
Michael

Windows Vista - To upgrade or run away?

2007-02-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

With Microsoft's introduction of Windows Vista, thousands are flocking to buy new, upgraded personal computers.

The recommended system requirements for Vista as released by Microsoft are as follows:

For the boring, basic interface, you need at least the following:

1 GHz processor
512 MB of system memory
A 20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB free
Support for DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory
A DVD-ROM drive
Audio output
Internet access

If you want the full, 3D Aero interface, you will need at least the following:

1 GHz processor
1 GB of system memory (I recommend 1.5 GB or more)
40 GB hard drive with 15 GB free
A DirectX 9 graphics card with:
- WDDM Driver
- 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum - this is insane)
- Pixel Shader 2.0 support
- 32 bits per pixel
A DVD-ROM drive
Audio Output
Internet access

I, personally will never use Microsoft's Windows Vista. Why? The reason is simple. I am a gamer - born and bred, and the truth is hard but simple: Vista is horrible for gaming unless you have a SuperComputer with a graphics card with EXTREME power.

Most new laptop pc's will require more than the minumum 128 MB of graphics memory just to power the desktop! Today's games require (on average) between 64MB and 256MB of dedicated graphics memory to run well. Even in the background, the Vista desktop continues to monopolize graphics power.

With that kind of power drain, you can forget about gaming. In all of my research, I have been hard pressed to find any information about Vista and gaming that is even remotely positive.

The news isn't all bad. Microsoft promises consumers that the new operating system is more secure and the safest to date - but at what cost? Are you aware that in order to make your computer "safer," Microsoft has granted itself access to your computer, files, settings, and programs to make you "more secure"? In my mind, this is nothing but sophisticated hacking. There is a plethora of free software to protect yourself. The less Microsoft is involved - the better. Oh, and let's not forget the MANY security flaws that have already been identified...ugh..

While we're on the Vista/ security note, I thought you would find this fun: http://images.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac/apple-getamac-security_480x376.mov

Microsoft has shot itself in the foot with this latest release. I'm getting a Mac. Anyone wanna join me?

3/27
Archangel31

New Website!

2007-02-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

Hey all you faithfuls! I have FINALLY finished work on my new website: MichaelSwengel.com

Parts of it still need some tweaking, but the building blocks are in place!

I'll mention parts of the site from time to time here on my blog. So, you may want to check it out! :)

Regards,
MS

DClick Ads - Worth a look

2007-01-24T16:38:00.000-08:00

I just signed up for a cool site I found called DClick Ads. (http://www.dclickads.com) Basically, advertisers pay for internet ads to be made available on site owners' pages, and webmasters can get paid for hosting ads on their own sites. I have several websites, and this looks like a good way to monetize.
You can register simply and easily at (http://www.dclickads.com/account/) If you have a website or something you want to get the word out about, signing up and advertising could be worthwile.
Webmasters, you can list information about your site(s). From there, advertisers buy ad space. This looks really cool. check it out. (http://www.dclickads.com)

Digital Camera Review site

2007-01-12T17:16:00.000-08:00

Are you thinking about getting a new camera? I just bought a new Canon Powershot S3 IS - pro grade camera. I LOVE it. When I started my shopping escapade, I had no clue what to look for in a camera. Sure, I knew that I want high quality pictures, and lots of options, but heck if I knew what everything means.

A photographer friend of mine recommended a site to me that he swears by. It's called DPReview. There you can find explanations of every photography term, tips for better pictures, complete reviews of many cameras - including just-released items. Get the pros and cons of each model and learn what you need to look for.

I bought my camera based on the recommendations of this site.

Here's a link: DPReview.com

New to the scene

2007-01-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

Good morning fellow bloggers. I just created this blog - for the heck of it, really. Anyway...a bit about myself...

I am currently a highschool senior in Indiana who will be attending Taylor University starting this fall. I will be majoring in Psychology.

From time to time, I will offer technology advice here that you will be hard pressed to find any where else. For instance: What is the difference between 1080i HDTV's and 1080p HDTV's? Are quad-core processors really any better? How can I stay safe in the Internet firestorm? and more.

I hope to have my first tech-related post up by this evening. Regards, and thanks for reading, bloggers.

Archangel31