Student Tech News

Palm's Pre-dicament

2009-05-21T14:15:00.001-05:00

Palm has announced that they will be releasing their much anticipated smartphone, the Pre, on June 6th - two days before Apple's WWDC and presumably, the announcement of the new iPhone. There has been much speculation as to how the Pre will stack up against the iPhone, as well as other heavy-hitters like the Google Android Phones and Windows Mobile phones.

My hope for the Pre is that it succeeds, that it becomes popular with those on the Sprint network and eventually sprouts up at other carriers. Why? Because it's a damn good-looking phone with a really nice operating system, that's why. The webOS is slick - sometimes slicker than the iPhone's OS and offers some features that Apple's golden child doesn't, like support for Flash, a 3 mega-pixel camera, LED flash, wireless charging capabilities, and real use of cloud-based computing services.

The touch functionality doesn't look like it was added on at the end, as was the case with the Blackberry Storm. From the videos I've seen and spec sheets I've read, the Palm Pre could be the phone that breathes new life into a company on the verge of disintegration.

Of course, Palm's history doesn't paint a very good picture for the future of the company. Its Treo "smart" phones were notorious for impromptu restarts, dropped calls, and a variety of other problems. Most of this was due to its very outdated software, which didn't look like it was improved upon since the Palm V. The webOS, however, appears to be quite polished and a great step in the right direction for Palm - as does the lack of a stylus. The user is able to exact a variety of different touch gestures on the device's 3.1-inch screen, several of which are very similar to another popular touchscreen device, and they all have those little nuances that make the experience much more rewarding. For example, flicking a window to one side when there is no window beside it forces that window to "bounce" from side to side slightly before it settles into its original position.

I have not had the pleasure to use the device just yet, but from the many user-generated videos I've seen on YouTube and the demos I've viewed from various tech conventions, I can say that this is the first non-iPhone touchscreen mobile device I'm excited about. I wish I had been selected as a "Real Reviewer" of the Pre after applying for a chance on Palm's site, but I'm sure one of my friends will purchase it and I'll have a chance to try it out then.

It's this kind of eagerness from potential users that Palm needs in order to succeed. I'm not anticipating that they'll beat Apple or RIM, but they need to contend with them for awhile for two big reasons: 1) More touchscreen smartphones mean more reasons to jump ship. If one carrier has the more desirable phone, the other carriers will do everything they can to remain competitive - which means lowered data rates and/or better deals on new phones. 2) Competition breeds innovation. The Pre does some things that other smartphones can't do. When the other guys catch up, Palm will need to up the ante with the next big thing. The more competition for the iPhone and Blackberry, the better for all of us.

On the other side of the argument, there are three things working against Palm that could hinder the success of the Pre. 1) Apple's new iPhone will (allegedly) be announced two days after the Pre's release. Once that happens, all blogs/tech publications will be fixated on Apple's latest iteration of their touchscreen tyke and other devices will fall by the wayside. 2) Sprint's network is mediocre at best. I know a lot of people carry on about AT&T, but in my experience Sprint's customer service and cellular service are atrocious. It may be different elsewhere, but I doubt it and I doubt that a lot of people will make the switch the way they did when the iPhone was released. 3) Palm itself. Palm's history of lackluster software and awkward cellphones (Centro anyone?) isn't helping it push this new phone to the masses. It needs to get a couple of solid professional reviews under its belt and then let the blogosphere take over. Once word gets out that the Pre is the real deal, that should help boost its popularity and keep it afloat.

My word to those of you quick to put down the Pre - use it first. I've seen so many comments in various forums saying how the iPhone is a toy and isn't worth the price. Many of these (for lack of a better word) stupid comments come from those who've never used one for more than five minutes and I'm sure similar sentiments will be expressed about the Pre. That's the problem with the majority of people who post in forums - they feel that if the piece of technology they've been waiting for is missing even one item off their laundry list of desired features, that it's a worthless piece of trash. No phone is perfect. No computer is perfect. Nothing is perfect, so my best advice is to stop worrying about what this (or any other phone) doesn't have and enjoy what it does have. I've gone two years without cut, copy and paste on my iPhone and I've been quite pleased. I went many years without a touchscreen - I'm still in one piece. I'm sure that you'll go for awhile without one or two features on the Pre and you'll survive. Maybe Palm will address it in a firmware update or a new unit, maybe not. However, don't let that deter you from trying something potentially awesome.

Here are some links to different resources on the web concerning the Palm Pre:

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Pre
YouTube demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRnlzbuLRwM

PS: Here are some great comments from the YouTube demonstration I linked to above (I love these things - stupid people make me laugh...):

By 8850407: i f*****g hate the iphone, but i dont think this is gonna beat it apple justs has too much cool applications for everyday life, what could i possibly do with this phone other than browse the net and other media are there even games for this, dont think so , games are a must for a mobile device without downloadable its gonna be boring but the touch is fantastic, its on par with the iphone and, thats my non biased comment

By timcarlisle77:

I just took a huge dump, and I pooped a new Palm Pre. It came out real smooth, like it wanted to be an iphone. However, I never pooped an iphone.

and finally, by mexicano899: i have an iphone & i thought it be the best but i was wrong it freezes & turns off soo dont get an iphone the palm pre look very good looks like it will make life easy sooo im switching 2 sprint when it comes out my friend works in sprint & she say the palm pre look very good & smooth lol soo i think everyone should get the pre & plus it has wireless charging SOOO BETTER THEN AN IPHONE WAY BETTER SOOO SAY GOODBYE 2 THE IPHONE CHEAP ASS PHONE LOL

Ahhh...thanks Internet - I feel refreshed!

Heroes: Getting Better, "Journalists" Not Helping

2009-04-29T16:03:00.001-05:00

I know this isn't tech news, but it's something that irks me every time I see it: A highly respected, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist adequately and creatively dissects the latest episode of Heroes, eloquently pointing out the intricacies of the varying storylines. Then, when the analysis is complete, a slew of commentators intellectually discuss the well-developed, carefully crafted piece and proceed to (in a sophisticated manner, of course) deduce how the series could better improve itself and answer some questions that fans have been asking ever since season 2.

Just kidding.

Some person who's allowed to write for an online publication and calls herself a journalist, goes on a rampage over the last episode of Heroes because it didn't live up to her expectations. The "article" is a page long diatribe blasting the writers for being less-than-stellar and not wrapping up plot lines the way the author would like, followed by thread upon thread of knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers agreeing with her and spewing such gems as (and I sh*t you not):

"Maybe in the next season they'll reveal that President Worf is a mutant with the power to grow a weird-looking forehead and say things like "If you were any other man, I would kill you right where you stand" in some alien-sounding language. Oh, wait, that would be suspiciously akin to plagiarism. Then, again, this is Heroes after all..." - Roklimber

and

"...What I'd like to see is Sylar on a marathon breast cancer walk... with shape-shifty cameos from his mom. (With all his screwy DNA issues from the shifty process he/she is bound to get breast cancer...)" - Mercurial Chimaera

Wow. I am a better person for having read those pearls of wisdom. Thank you.

To be honest, I do feel that the show has been a bit lacking in terms of plot and character development. However, it's not entirely the show's fault - the writers' strike killed the second season (in terms of both length and plot development). Since then, it's struggled to get back on its feet and I am hopeful that when the new season premiers, it returns to its roots and the things that made the first season so excellent. A few suggestions might be:

- Less jumping around from character arc to character arc
- Don't introduce so many "heroes" at once
- Give us some more villains to follow, rather than just Sylar
- Give everyone their original powers back

I miss Hiro being able to both stop time AND teleport without getting a nosebleed. I miss Peter's ability to walk by someone and gain their power.

In response to this riveting work by i09's Annalee Newitz, I say the following:

The tone and anger you took in your article were both unwarranted and just plain dumb. It's a television show. I know you're upset with the direction in which they took Sylar - I am too. However, I also know of three different ways to fix your problem: Channel Up, Channel Down, and Power. If you don't like the show anymore, use one of those three buttons to remedy the situation.

I will continue to follow the show for as long as it's on - I'm invested in the characters. I love the stories and I'm always eager to see what's coming next - and I know I'm not the only one. I haven't given up on the show and I hope more people will stand by it. Will it ever be as awesome as season 1? Probably not. No show ever is.

When Heroes first aired, it was completely different to everything else that was on TV at the time. It was a fresh series that had nowhere to go but up. Combine the premise with some really great promos (I still get chills when I see Claire attempt to kill herself by jumping off the platform in that "home video") and you've got yourself a certifiable hit.

The one thing I will say is that the season premises - just discovering their powers, a potential virus to eradicate those with abilities, giving everyone on earth a power, villains, and the government hunting down the specials - are really great. They're outlines for fantastic volumes. Now that the season is over, the writers have the opportunity to go back and find the magic that made the first season so great and (God willing) make Heroes the show we've all hoped it would become - super-powered.

For now, though, I'll just teleport-on-by the yokels who get paid to rant incessantly (and I suggest you do the same).

The difference between me and them, you ask? I do it for free.

Has Twitter Pecked Facebook's Eyes Out?

2009-04-27T09:32:00.001-05:00

Facebook, once a place for the privileged few (I mean, those still in college), soon opened its doors to high schoolers, then to the world. Now that everyone and their mother (literally) are on Facebook, is it doomed to the same fate that has affected sites like Friendster and MySpace? Are we done with Facebook?

The (not so) new wave in social networking is Twitter - a micro-blogging site that allows people to post what are, at their most basic level, Facebook status updates in 140 characters or less. Twitter has nothing to do with Facebook, but the analogy seems to fit. It's a place where anyone can sign up and "tweet" about whatever is going on in their lives: "I just ate a pancake," "Off to the bathroom - wish me luck," and other sophisticated offerings.

Twitter has been around since 2006, but didn't really catch on until news about politicians tweeting during a Presidential address took flight. Since then, everyone from celebrities (Greg Grunberg, Kevin Smith for example) to the average housewife has a Twitter account.

In its most useful form, Twitter has become a secondary RSS feed - another way to get important/interesting news. On the opposite side, Twitter is a way to feed the ego - a way for average people to feel like they have numerous friends because their followers range in the hundreds, sometimes thousands. In both instances, this is where Twitter "out-socials" Facebook.

Facebook is about "friends" - people you know who you can connect with as long as they confirm your friend request. Once the "Confirm" button is clicked, you are welcomed into their closed-off circle of acquaintances. Sometimes, you're one of 500 - other times, you're one of five. However, Facebook, even though it's open to the public, still seems closed off. It still fuels the clique mentality that permeated high school, college, work life, and beyond. If an invite to a party is sent on Facebook and you're not the sender's friend, you can pretty much guarantee you're not going. If a dozen people are tagged in a note and you're not, you're probably going to be upset and a little hurt. Twitter's not like that. Twitter eliminates the class system and puts regular citizens on the same level as politicians and Hollywood royalty. Where else would you be able to communicate with Oprah or Ashton directly? How great would it be if you posted a link and Shaq found it interesting enough to re-tweet and link to your profile? You don't get that type of interactivity with a Facebook or MySpace because that's not how they work. Twitter truly is about social networking - you can follow whomever you choose and they can follow you back. If they don't follow you, then at least you can see what they're talking about and comment on it.

Facebook has tried to mimic this with their news feed, but it's not the same. Since the news feed is updated any time someone makes a minor update to their profile, it's pretty easy to get lost in the fold. That awesome video you found on YouTube? - trapped between Person A's status update and Person C's addition of 11 favorite movies and 300 photographs from their trip to Cancun.

What does everyone else think? Are you done with Facebook? Do you love Twitter? Do you hate both and use something completely different? Leave a comment and let's start the discussion...

Amazon Unveils HD Video on Demand

2009-04-22T09:46:00.001-05:00

If you have a computer, a TiVo 3 or a Roku set-top box, then you can take advantage of Amazon's new HD VOD service. They offer TV shows and movies in glorious high definition available for immediate streaming over the Internet. Check it out here: Amazon HD Video on Demand

Point Proven

2009-04-14T11:40:00.001-05:00

Remember those obnoxious flame wars I mentioned in my "Response" post yesterday? Well, feel free to read this article from Silicon Valley Insider concerning Microsoft's ads, then peruse the sophisticated ramblings of fanboys (and girls!) on both sides. My personal favorite (possibly NSFW language below):

"Lulz, seriously people defending mac just make me rage. why because they are stupid. You can buy I high end PC or two regular pcs with the same specs of a mac with the same price as a mac. Mac are only for kids you say? yes thats why they have them in schools. I you never learned to used windows or Linux, you are just plain retarded, and don't come to the excuse that you are not a computer scientist or something like that. If you never learned to use a Operative system that is a little bit more complicated and you must WORK with it to keep ruining like you want it to,you are a dumbass and illiterate faggot, its not my fault and i don't care.(YOU ARE THE ONE WASTING MONEY)" - Anon

Doesn't get any more eloquent than that! Check out the article here: Microsoft's Lame New Anti-Apple Ad: Macs Are For Kids

10%-50% Off History Channel DVDs

2009-04-14T08:37:00.001-05:00

Need an added resource for that paper on the Founding Fathers? Doing your masters thesis on God vs. Satan? Check out the History Channel shop and get anywhere from 10% to 50% off their selection of DVDs: History Channel Shop

Firefox Add-On Must-Haves

2009-04-14T08:30:00.001-05:00

I've got two links to two different articles concerning Firefox add-ons. The first is geared toward web developers and has such gems as Firebug and ColorZilla (a friggin' lifesaver when Photoshop is not playing nice). The other has an amalgam of different add-ons, some dev based, some email based. Enjoy!

CNet Web Dev Add-Ons
EveryJoe.com Preferred Add-Ons

A Response to Microsoft, It's Fans, and Apple's Resident Nutcases

2009-04-13T16:02:00.001-05:00

As I'm sure most of you have seen, Microsoft has begun airing a series of ads based on "real people" hunting for laptops within a certain price range. Creatively enough, they've been named the "Laptop Hunters" series. Each ad follows the same formula: Narrator introduces the buyer, explains what they need and tells them that if they can find a laptop with the required specs under a certain price, they can keep it. Sounds straightforward enough. However, here's where Microsoft gets their little dig at Apple: their "real person" either walks into an Apple store (allegedly) or meanders into the Apple section of a Best Buy and proceeds to tell the camera why Apple's aren't worth the money. "They're pretty, but not powerful and way too expensive," seems to sum up the general attitude of each buyer.

Microsoft has always taken jabs at Apple by claiming there's an "Apple Tax" included with every Mac purchase; i.e. "$500 more for a logo," as Microsoft's resident windbag Steve Ballmer has so eloquently stated. Steve seems like an OK guy, but he sounds a little out of touch with reality and quick to dismiss the competition - like when he stated during an interview back in April 2007, "There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance," (arstechnica.com). Interesting, since according to eWeek, the iPhone now holds 1.3% of worldwide smartphone market share. That may not sound like a lot, but that's "17.4 million units from 13.3 million units," shipped for this year. Apple holds the third place spot for worldwide smartphone market share, trailing RIM in number two and Nokia first. So, Mr. Ballmer, you've got the top three cell phone companies in the world that don't use your OS. How long before you acknowledge Apple as a true competitor in the smartphone industry? I understand that they may not have the presence you do in the United States, but they are a competitor whether you'd like to admit it or not. Anyway, moving right along...

I see what Microsoft is trying to say in their new ads: buy PCs - they're cheaper and in this economy, that's most important. True, the economy has really hurt a lot of people and they're being more frugal in their purchases than they may have once been before the recession hit. Unfortunately, a price-war seems to be Microsoft's only viable attack plan at the moment and it may end up hurting them in the long run. The average computer buyer might have considered a Mac due to friends' recommendations, Apple ads, or any number of other reasons before their 401K went belly-up. Now, they see the Microsoft ads on TV or the inter-webs and their minds have been changed. Why should they pay "$500 more for a logo" (thanks Steve, that one always makes me laugh) when they can get a "full-featured" laptop for less? Here's why: long-term value.

I know from experience that I will get significantly more money for my older Mac laptop than I ever would from a PC laptop. Why? Because the PC landscape is always changing and the unit you have now won't be worth what you paid for it in a month. It's unfair and it makes me angry, but it's also a blessing. Technology moves at an alarming pace and the term "science-fiction" is soon becoming obsolete. For example, everyone I know who saw "Minority Report" wanted a computer that you could manipulate using hand motions, throwing windows from one screen to another, pinching and zooming images until your arms got tired. This article from Fast Company discusses a group of engineers and programmers who brought that system into reality. And Microsoft's "Vision of the Future" they demonstrated at the Wharton Business Technology Conference may have seemed 30 to 40 years away, but with inventions like Microsoft's Surface table/computer and Apple's iPhone, the 2019 timestamp placed on the video doesn't sound so far-fetched.

This is not to say PCs aren't worth purchasing. Windows is still what the majority of computer users use and if you run into a problem with your system, I guarantee that you have a friend or know a friend of a friend who can help you fix it. PC users are part of an enormous community with an endless supply of knowledge and I think that's fantastic, because if I'm on a Windows box and I have an issue, I'm 99% sure someone else has had it too and they've found the solution. Windows also has an infinite supply of software available to do anything you could ever imagine, and a lot of it is either very inexpensive or open-source (free). That's worth the price of admission alone.

Every OS has its own mishigas (that's Yiddish for "hangups, craziness"), but it's how you use it that really matters.

I'm of the philosophy, "if it works for you, use it." Macs work for me, so I use them. I know plenty of people who are used to PCs, like the Windows OS and that's perfectly fine. I'm not going to scoff and look down upon them for using anything other than Leopard - I don't care, but there are so many people who do and, to put it mildly, it's frustrating.

Too many articles on various tech blogs contain "fanboy flamewars" within the comments section of each article that don't help either side. One person says that he's never had an issue with his MacBook, then two posts down, someone says he's wrong, the Genius Bar sucks, his Windows machine is so much better and the guy who posted the original comment is gay. This formula continues through 18 pages of comments in response to an article stating Steve Jobs is working on a tablet device to unveil at a speech three months from now. Then, in only a few posts scattered among the hundreds, someone decides that neither OS is worth using and Linux is the best system ever invented in the history of anything that was ever invented. People are very protective of their choice in operating systems - like their choice in pets, or fine wines. They feel that if someone says something derogatory against the OS they use, it's a personal sleight against their tastes and beliefs. It's not. Mac OS X and Windows Vista have never been, nor will ever be Jesus.

To get riled up because someone thinks your computer is inferior is silly and I blame the majority of these "wars" on the Internet. The Internet has made every person with a modem a pixelated-pundit. People, whose opinions have never mattered before now feel that their opinions mean something because they can see them lit up on a screen. It's unfortunate, because even if these individuals had valid points to make, their unwillingness to hear the other side and then label every adversary as a homosexual has completely nulled and voided those points.

Here's what this all comes down to: use what makes you happy and don't let skewed advertising get in the way. I don't agree with Microsoft's recent ads because they send the message that as long as a laptop sells under a certain price and has certain specifications, it's a better choice. It's not. The HP Pavillion that "Lauren" bought wasn't as great as she thought. It's actually kind of slow and the screen isn't hi-res.

My advice: read the spec cards on laptop displays carefully and if you don't know anything about buying a computer, go online and do some research. Read user reviews on different e-commerce sites and see what people like about a particular laptop or desktop. Don't get sucked into the hype on either side; not all Mac users are hipster a-holes and not all Windows users are pencil-pushing nerds. And if you've never even heard of Linux, don't let some overeager freshman computer-science major tell you that it's the best operating system ever created and is much easier to use than Mac OS X or Windows Vista. You'll regret it. Think for yourselves. Think different...ly.

Stanford Offering iPhone App Dev Courses On iTunes U for Free

2009-04-03T15:19:00.001-05:00

Stanford University will be offering slides and lectures from their iPhone Application Development course on iTunes U. The "courses" will be free for download and should complement your other iPhone application development resources nicely.

Videos should appear two days after each class, and will most likely be found here: Stanford on iTunes U
Now that Apple has relaxed its NDA for its SDK, it's AOK to teach the app dev way!

Check out the story right from Stanford here: Stanford News

MacHeist Bundle - 4 Days Left!

2009-04-03T09:44:00.001-05:00

I'm seriously urging every Mac user out there to purchase the MacHeist (@Macheist) bundle on sale for the next 4 days. It only costs $39, you get over $1000 worth of apps, and 25% of the proceeds go to charity. If you're wondering what's in the bundle, here's the list:

iSale
Picturesque 2
SousChef
World of Goo
PhoneView
LittleSnapper
Kinemac
WireTap Studio
Boinx TV (locked currently)
The HIt List (locked currently)
Espresso (locked currently)

If you're a Twitter member, you can get Delicious Library 2 and Multiwinia for free, as well.

As an added bonus, if you refer one friend to purchase the bundle, you get Ambrosia's Pop-Pop puzzle game and if you refer two friends, you get the Koingo Utility Package FOR FREE!

This is an unbeatable deal, so hurry up and get yours today!

MacHeist: www.macheist.com

Follow me on Twitter!

2009-04-03T09:37:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone,

I'm on Twitter: @hcmarks

so feel free to follow me. Thanks!

Google Buying Twitter?

2009-04-03T09:36:00.001-05:00

It's possible that the search giant is eying the micro-blogging giant, but what will that mean for Twitterers/Twitts/Tweeps everywhere? Robert Scoble (@Scobleizer) made some interesting observations on his blog:

"Remember, Google is the company that bought Jaiku and then did nothing with it. It’s the company that bought Dodgeball (a company that had a service very similar to Twitter that was out before Twitter). And did nothing with it (the founders of that company also wrote a "we’re leaving" letter to Google.)"

Check out the whole article here: Scobelizer

What's your take on Google's potential acquisition? Do you see it benefitting Twitter, or even more importantly, Twitter users? Personally, I think Twitter is fine the way it is now. They may not have a business plan, but their formula works and people like it. Like the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it...Google."

Safari 4 beta

2009-02-27T13:22:00.001-05:00

I've been using the new Safari 4 beta (Mac) for a few days now, and I love it! I love that Apple pulled from Chrome and Opera to bring fairly standard browsing options to their flagship browser. It took some getting used to, but I've come to admire and enjoy the top-shelf tab bar - those few extra lines of vertical real estate make the difference. Have you downloaded it yet? What do you like or dislike about it? Leave a comment or drop me a tweet @ hcmarks on Twitter. I'd love to hear what you think - and what could be improved.

If you haven't downloaded it yet, get it for both Mac and Windows here

Bukisa - Share Your Knowledge and Make Some Money!

2009-01-29T11:44:00.001-05:00

So, I posted awhile ago about eHow.com, a place for you to write how-to articles on topics you're familiar with and then get paid for them. Well, I've signed up for a similar site called Bukisa.com. Bukisa follows a similar style to eHow, but it's a little different in that the amount you get paid varies depending on how many views you get, what ads get clicked and the "Bukisa Index." What is the Bukisa Index, you ask? Here's the description right from their site:

"The Bukisa Index represents the amount of USD an author will receive for each 1000 unique visits to his content."

For example, if the Bukisa Index is 4.00, then you'll receive $4.00 for every 1000 unique views your content receives. Pretty cool, huh? Also, if you invite friends and family to join using your unique link, you'll make a little money every time people in your network make money. To sign up and start earning, click here.

Education Fail...featuring Linux!

2008-12-11T09:43:00.001-05:00

An Austin, TX school teacher caught one of her students demonstrating something "inappropriate" on his laptop to the other members of the class. I know what you're thinking, but no nudity was involved. No, this was much worse; it was (shines flashlight under chin)...OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE! The boy with the laptop was handing out Linux Live discs to his classmates in an effort to get them to steer clear of Microsoft Windows. No harm, no foul, right? Wrong.

Apparently the teacher didn't believe any software was free and that both the boy and the company, HeliOS, which promotes and publishes the software, were doing something illegal. An angry and ignorant email from the teacher made its way to HeliOS, followed by a reply from Ken Starks. Both the original email and the reply can be found at the Blog of helios.

Why are the dumbest people always put in charge of our childrens' futures?

eHow - Where to Go When You Don't Know How

2008-12-09T20:46:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon (not using StumbleUpon, interestingly enough) a unique site written by people - for people. eHow.com is a type of social networking site where the users write how-to articles on a variety of subjects, ranging from cleaning your gutters to being a knockout in the sack. No matter what topic you're looking for, chances are an eHow member has already written about it.

A big selling point of the site is that your writing skills can earn you money. If enough people view your articles and rate them highly, you can earn a few bucks as a bonus.

So, if you're wondering how to write a 10 page paper in a single night, or how to cram for a test in a hurry, head over to eHow and soak up as much user-generated knowledge as you can.

As a side note, look for me on there as well - I've begun writing articles for a little side-money so I can afford my upcoming honeymoon...

Soundcheck - iPod vs. Zune

2008-12-09T14:09:00.001-05:00

Right now, Soundcheck on NPR is having a "Soundcheck Smackdown" between the iPod and the Zune. Check it out here: NPR

Dark Knight Uber-Edition Blu-Ray DVD (w/Batpod) at Amazon!

2008-12-04T17:10:00.002-05:00

Just to let everyone know - if you own a Blu-Ray player and plan on purchasing the Dark Knight next week, Amazon.com has the special Limited Edition DVD with Batpod (+Digital Copy and BD Live) for $47.99 - normally $64.98. If you're interested in purchasing it, feel free to click the direct link in my block of Amazon listings on the right-hand side of the page. Enjoy!

ScribeFire = My New Favorite Blog Editor!

2008-12-04T11:11:00.001-05:00

Usually, I log into Blogger and compose my posts, but with the ScribeFire extension for Firefox blogging just got a whole lot simpler.

You ha ve the option of either opening ScribeFire in a new tab/window or allowing it to take up half your browser window, which in my opinion is better. I can search for various things on the web, report on them, pull quotes from them - all without ever leaving ScribeFire.

It has the usual features of a blog editor: text/html editor, font selector, colors, sizes, etc... It also allows you to seamlessly embed YouTube videos into your posts using its custom YouTube search tool. ScribeFire also comes with some interesting features, such as QuickAds. You can place ScribeFire QuickAds banners anywhere on your site via a drag and drop-like function. ScribeFire also makes it easy to promote your blog through sites like Facebook, Mahalo, Digg, and Fark through easy to use wizards built into the extension.

You can easily bring up old posts and edit them, even if you didn't compose them in ScribeFire and add new tags to them through the Categories tab. It has a checkbox interface, so you don't have to type out each individual tag every time you create a new post.

Finally, through ScribeFire's settings tab, you can modify how the posts are formatted, set up FTP access to your server, and insert Technorati links upon publishing. If you have Firefox and your own blog, or you're looking to start one, I highly recommend ScribeFire as a must-install extension. You can download ScribeFire through Firefox's addon page here: ScribeFire

Engadget BlackBerry Storm Review

2008-12-04T10:43:00.003-05:00

I really wanted to love this phone. I love my iPhone, but I have serious respect for RIM and their BlackBerry family. If I was on Verizon's network, I would most likely carry a BlackBerry. However, the Storm needs to fix a few things before I ever consider switching to another carrier or phone.

Joshua Topolsky at Engadget has a really great review of the phone, some really nice pics of the device and a few videos comparing it to the BlackBerry Bold and the iPhone 3G. This is definitely a solid read if you're considering the Storm as a possible gift choice for you or a loved one this holiday season. Check it out here

(Mr. Topolsky, if you ever come across my blog and like it, know the following: I love Engadget...and would love to write for them some day...) <--to any haters out there - it's my blog and I'll shamelessly plug myself if I want. To everyone, regardless of your stance this - thank you for reading! :)

Cell Phones - Some Good, Some...Fail.

2008-12-02T08:54:00.004-05:00

Okay, I had some time over the holiday break to play with the new Blackberry Storm. If I could sum up my experience in one word, it'd be "AAARRRRGGGHHH". I like the idea of having a touch screen you actually click, but the execution is awful. It results in the wrong "buttons" being pressed and trying to compose an email or text message is incredibly difficult. Many times, I found myself deleting letters and re-entering them, then deleting those in an attempt to re-enter the correct letters again.

Also, the animations/actions on the device, like flick-scrolling, opening windows, closing windows, etc... are choppy. Combine that with a lack of Wi-Fi and it creates a really unfinished, unpolished entry from RIM into the touchscreen market. Google/HTC fared much better with the G1 phone. For all the mixed reviews the G1 got in its first weeks, it was a Michaelangelo compared to the exercise in fingerpainting that is the Blackberry Storm.

If I didn't own an iPhone, I'd probably get my hands on Nokia's new touchscreen - the N97. This bad-boy has Wi-Fi, 3G, a 3.5" screen, 32 MB of space and a microSDHC slot for an extra 16GB. Plus, it has a "real web browser" with Flash Video capabilities. Check it out here

Job Hunters Be Warned!

2008-11-25T10:38:00.004-05:00

Just a word of advice for those of you who will be/are hunting for jobs either now or in the future: take down any and all pictures, quotes, applications, comments, and information from the social networking sites you belong to that may link to you any and all of the following activities:

- Heavy drinking
- Streaking
- Promiscuity
- Stealing
- Plagiarizing
- Throwing up gang signs in pictures
- Dressing provocatively (like those sexy pictures of you as a Playboy Bunny at Halloween).
- Anything else that common sense might tell you is bad for your potential employer to see.

More and more companies are checking Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc... to see what their candidates are up to on a regular basis. If there are no pictures of you on Facebook where you aren't holding a red plastic cup/beer bottle, you (a) might have a problem and (b) should take them down.

I don't mean to get preachy, but every day I read stories about employers not hiring students because of what they post on their profiles. All I'm saying is be careful.

High School Musical Malware On the Loose

2008-11-21T15:09:00.002-05:00

If you feel compelled to download a HSM-themed media file from a P2P site, be forewarned - it could be a virus. The known types or viruses/malware that have been attached to these files are:

VB.ADQ
Agent.KGR (Trojan)
Koolbar (adware)

For more information, check out CNet's article here. Be careful out there.

iPhone v2.2 update is available

2008-11-21T15:06:00.002-05:00

If you own an iPhone or iPhone 3G and want the following features added to your already exhaustive list of awesomeness, then plug in your phone and download the new version Apple just released today:

- Google Street View in Maps
- Walking Directions
- Tapping the home screen, no matter which screen you're on, will bring you back to the MAIN home screen
- Security Fixes
- Safari stability

and many more.

Black Friday Deals...Now!

2008-11-21T11:22:00.001-05:00

Black Friday is almost here, so if you want to know which line to be in at 3am that morning, check out blackfriday.info. It lists most stores' black friday ads online so you know what stores have the best deals. Enjoy!