WiFi Flyby

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Mashable/~3/iQRR6DIwC2M/

On Friday, I saw the shocking report on the ‘attempted terrorist attack’ –  as some are calling it.  This caused shock among Airport Security Staff.  To my understanding, the alleged terrorist was let through security in another country, before stepping aboard the Delta flight.

Whomever is to blame, is not the point.  The facts are muddled pending an official investigation.   But there has already been a retaliation.

Many airlines now allow access to WiFi throughout the flight.  But that may be changing.  There are new guidelines in the works from TSA about limiting the use of laptops during the final hour of flight.  But there are some interesting points.

Why the final hour? Is it because this ONE attack happened during the final hour of it’s flight?  Not to say that terrorists attacks aren’t bad, but how many flights have there been since Sept. 11, 2001?

If it does stay to be the final hour, what will happen to flights that are 90 minutes long? Will you be forced to listen to cabin noise for most of your flight?

The guideline now does not specifically mention ‘laptops’. It mentions personal belonging.  Does that mean I can’t have a snack I brought, or listen to my MP3 player?  Why would they force people not to let themselves enjoy the flight through some basic necessities to keep boredom at bay.

Is this a necessary retaliation? Maybe. It seems a little soon, and a little paranoid.  But we shall see in the next few days more details about this event.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all! Sorry for not posting much on this for a while, I’ve been really busy.  But I hope to start some more posts soon.  Maybe even a twitter account?

Either way,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

iPhone 3G S

Apple – iPhone – View all the features of iPhone 3G.

Apple is getting sloppy.  Two days after Palm released its last hope, the Palm Pre, Apple released the latest version of their most successful product, the iPhone.  Now I say that Apple is sloppy, because it no longer has a tight grasp on their release dates (ever since the MacBook Air), and with the loss of MacWorld, thier releases will still be very predictable.  Steve Jobs, we all know you’re still working there, what’s going on?

So, the new iPhone 3G [S] (S? whats that?) has had some software, as well as hardware upgrades. Hardware: a new 3.0 megapixel camera with video [come on Apple, the iPhone should have been released v1.0 with a decent camera, and video], and a new white or black case [OOHH]. Software: MMS [what was the hold up?], Video recording, Voice control [both easily avaliable apps - if Apple would allow them], built in Digital Compass [um Apple,.. they have an app for that], and finally, the Holy Grail: Cut, Copy, and PASTE!! Thank you Apple, it took you three tries to get that in the phone, while every other smartphone already has it. AND there is a landscape keyboard!

Seriously Apple, 85% of those upgrades are either easily written apps, or things that should have been on the iPhone in the first place.

I have said in the past, “If you can afford an iPhone, you can afford two.”  This might still be the case, even though Apple (most likely reluctantly) has rolled back the prices. The cheapest iPhone is $99*. Ah Ha! the “*“.  This tool all companies use to lie about their prices on their adds.

Buying an iPhone for $99 gives you the iPhone 3G (not S).  On top of that, you have the $90 a month data plan charge.

The fastest, most powerful iPhone yet.

$199 ^{1 2} 16GB $299 ^{1 2} 32GB

• Improved performance
• 3-megapixel autofocus camera
• Video recording
• Voice Control
• Digital compass
• Cut, Copy & Paste
• MMS²³
• Spotlight Search
• Landscape keyboard
• Voice Memos
• Learn more about iPhone 3G S

New features. New price.

$99 ^{1 2} 8GB

• 2-megapixel camera
• Cut, Copy & Paste
• MMS²³
• Spotlight Search
• Landscape keyboard
• Voice Memos
• Learn more about iPhone 3G

Above is a compare and contrast of the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3G S.  Notice the two main differences: the 3G has a 2 megapixel camera, and less software features than the 3G S. (That, I think, is what the S stands for by the way — software).  If you get the $99 iPhone, you can easily pick up apps to replace those features, both cameras suck anyway, and the 3G might be a little slower and have less memory.

Both the 3G and 3GS share some great features, such as the long saught after Cut, Copy, & Paste and Landscape Keyboard, but one of the most beneficial feature is tethering. Tethering was implimented in the second version of the iPhone, much to AT&T’s dismay, and allows the customer to use the data plan to access the internet on their laptop using the iPhone as the modem. Great!, no having to pay the extra data plan for the PC Card and paying for Wifi. But, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Underneath:
“Surf the web at super fast speeds with your Mac or PC Laptop”, reads Tethering is not available in the US or other countries.  Not in the US? Great marketing ploy Apple… So where do they have tethering?, Norway??? Just another example of phone companies trying to screw us, but that’s for another day..

All in all, the iPhone has, and will continue to, revolutionize the category of smartphones.  None the less, I hope the Pre is will recieved; it is Palm’s last hope.  If you are in the market for an iPhone, you probably have the money to by the high end 32GB one ($299), so go for it.

P.S. Apple, keep your secrets guarded; companies are catching up. And watch out for Windows 7!

Vista Skin on XP

Now, about a year or so ago, I was feeling the woahs about havin only the XP bubble theme for my desktop. I wanted something more sleek and black, like Vista. After months of searching, I finally found a download to make my desktop look like vista. Manys the time I’ve fooled people into thinking I have Vista as my OS.  There is also a download for the Vista Sidebar for XP, but I do not have it installed. The link for the sidebar is: http://www.thoosje.com/sidebar.html.

The link for the desktop theme is: http://www.crystalxp.net/dl/en.gal.130.html This will bring you directly to the download, just cancel and navigate through the site for more information.

And be sure not to delete the files that you download, I messed something up by removing an old theme from my computer, and spent a while resotring it by finding the link again.

SCREENSHOTS:

Amateur Audio Editing

Audio Editing is a diverse subject. People that are avid editors are called “Audio Files”. Audio is also difficult, because there are so many different sources and files to save audio in.

Now, you can spend over $600 for Pro Tools, but in this post I will tell you how to get the bulk of the features for FREE! Everyone likes free.

There are two pieces of software that you need to get started. An audio editor, and an audio file converter.  With the audio editor, you can record, cut, paste, distort, etc. the file. And, in order to play with the files, you might also want to download a file converter, to convert almost any file format to any other file format; such as .wma or .mp3, or .m4a to .mp3.

The file sound converter is called Switch. This can be found at http://www.nch.com.au/switch/. Now, it says it is a trial version, but it does not often bug you, and if it does, just uninstall/redownload it. All this utility does it allow you to import audio files into it, and then you can just choose the output file format of you’re choice, and it can even export the files into the same file folder of the original files. (This is a great way of getting around iTunes file copyrighting – the other way is burning CDs. This is much more efficient, and cheaper)

Now that you have the files to play with, download Audacity. This open source software can be found at: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/. Now, you can either download 1.2.6 or 1.3.6(Beta). I downloaded the beta, and there seem to be no bugs, but I haven’t used it extensively. Also, to access the full functionality of the software, you need a microphone. Most laptops have them built-in, and low-quality mics are cheap.

FEATURES:

Generate:

With audacity, you can generate many different tones, includeing white noise, and a standard 440hz tone (useful for tuning a B flat instrument). Other useful things include Click Tracks, and even Silence. Somewhat self explanatory.

Noise Removal:

An amazing feature in Audacity is the Noise Removal feature. When you are using a plug in microphone, or the built-in one, there is usually background noise; whether it be a fan in the backround, the hum of a jack hammer outside, whatever. Now, what this feature does, is take a “profile” of the noise. this is done by, in silence (or the lack there of), record a few seconds of the background noise. (See photo 1) Now highlight that clip. Then go to Effects > Utility > Noise Removal > Noise Removal… (See photo 2)Click that (noise removal…) and it will bring up a dialoge box. Click on Get Noise Profile, with you’re selection highlighted. (See photo 3)Next, record your audio. (be sure to Mute the noise profile track). (See photo 4)When you are finished, go back to Noise Removal…, and then click OK. (See photo 5)Ta Da! Your track is now free of background noise. (See photo 6)

Effects can also be utilized to create Delays, Amplify your track, and even remove voices!

Audacity can also be used to take two seperate tracks, and splice them together into one stereo track, and vise versa.

For More information, visit http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/

Have fun recording! More tutorials/review to come in the future.

Tetris

So my friend is addicted to Tetris, he is very amazing at it. Well, New Year’s Eve day, he introduced it to me, and now I’m addicted as well.  Now, I’m decent, but have not mastered such techniques as T-Spin and Back-to-Backs. Partly because I have not idea what they are. Post to this comment to explain them and/or post your own Tetris story.

http://weblite.tetrisfriends.com/

Eric Mangini has a home…in Cleveland

Former head coach of the New York Jets, recently fired after the Jets failed to defeat the Miami Dolphins and did not make the playoffs, is now hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Link: http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80df34d0&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

NFL Plays of the Year

Great video of the 2008 NFL Season. Great song too.

Visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ddf5c8

NFL Post Season

Big upset in Indy. Baltimore was expected. Eagles pulled it out. Cardinals, WTF!?

So now comes the Division Championships.

AFC:
BAL v TEN = Baltimore
SD v PIT = PIT (Depending on QB situation)

NFC:
PHI v NYG = Close game. Go Eagles!
ARI v CAR = Fluke game. Easy win for Panthers

So that means BAL v PIT in championship and CAR v NYG/PHI
BAL wins. NYG/PHI wins.

Superbowl XLIII:
BAL vs. NYG/PHI

Cassel or Brady?

As many of you know, the Patriots won their game against the Bills, 13-0. Unfortunately, neither the Jets, nor the Jaguars could win their ballgames, and New England has become another team who are 11-5 and have not made the playoffs.

The New England game in Buffalo was a very peculiar game indeed.  Wind gusts up to 50mph at points twisted the field goal pylons in opposite directions in the stadium. The win was so bad, that it prevented either team to throw a forward pass into the wind in the first half. The runningbacks earned their money that game. So did Cassel, running for a 4th & 10 in the 3rd quarter.

The 2008 Regular Season is over, and now it is time for the playoffs. For the Superbowl, I’m not sure who the contenders will be. Tennessee is doing poorly, Rothlesburger has a concusion, and none of the AFC teams are good, so who will represent the AFC, I do not know. As for the NFC, I think either the Giants, Eagles, or Falcons will make it high on the list.

Breaking News:

Ron Marinelli, head coach of the Detriot Lions, was fired; along with the entire coaching staff except the WR and RB coaches. After going 0-16, what do you expect?

Eric Mangini, head coach of the New York Jets, was fired as well. After going 9-7 after bringing in Farve, this does not seem clear to me. As for Farve, I doubt if he will come back next year.

Now, looking ahead to 2009. Cassel or Brady? Cassel did an outstanding job as QB this season, and the team as a whole with the major rash of injuries this year. That says something about BillBelichick. After listening to 104.1 Patriots Rock Radio Network, one of the hosts commented on how Bill would not have kept Cassel around for 4 years if he didn’t think he [Cassel] could do anything. And that decision sure payed off. It will be an interesting off season, because Cassel is now a free agent, and if the Patriots decide to buy him (for 14+ million dollars – a lot for someone who last played in high school) and make him the franchise, it will be very interesting. Similar to the Drew Bledsoe/ Tom Brady switch, it will all depend on how well Brady recovers from the ACL.

Congradulations to Matt Cassel, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots for a fantastic season.