OMG!

Where have I been? I know the only person asking this is Dewey, but here we go.

I've been sucked into the massive gmae known as World of Warcraft and it is awesome. I created a gnome mage and it gets really fun running around, nuking monsters, mining for ores, bulding guns for other players, and doing quests with old friends. The main aspect of this game that I like is that you can pick the alliance you want to join, and since I'm on a player verses player server, I can attack players from the other alliance. DOWN WITH THE HORDE. This game is simply beautiful. If you have any interest in trying the game out, all my old friends and I are on the Bleeding Hollow server which is located on the eastern channel. We also have our own guild started up. We call it The Prime Meridian. Go figure.

56knerd.com now redirects here for the time being.

I'm trying out this MSN Desktop Search, and it's not so bad. It spits out results like iTunes and Spotlight, and you can search from the taskbar. I know I was crying about the Microsoft branded world, but I feel that they have put a little thought behind this product.

I now have the Logitech MX1000, which is the world's first laser mouse.
That's what the box says
Of course it is sweet. I love it.

I changed my mind on the Nintendo DS. Over Thanksgiving I played with my friend's unit and I really enjoyed it. If you remember last time, I didn't really like the thing that much and I made this desicion with over 20 units for sale sitting next to me. Now I can't find the damned thing anywhere. The main reason I changed my mind was that in the near future you will be able to get online with this thing.

That is all for now.

I forgive you?!

It's hard to stay mad at Microsoft when they throw this in your face.

I hope this come out in 2006 like MS plans.

MSN Spaces and how I learned to hate the bomb.

Like many people are probably doing, I’m test driving this new blogging service from MSN (Microshaft, M$, Microsuck). I’m going to get this out of the way and say that I love it when things are integrated with other programs, but there are a few things I can't stand.

Example.

When you publish something on your blog, your friends will get a message through MSN Messenger saying that you’ve updated your blog. You can also publish your playlist to your blog using Windows Media Player that links your list to the MSN Music Store.

By using Microsoft’s Passport, you can make your blog private, so the approved people will have to log in through Passport to see your blog. If your family doesn’t have an MS Passport, they will have to sign up for one. You can even search the web using MSN search.

I love things like this, but I do think it’s just another step closer to an all Microsoft branded world. Pretty soon we’ll be wearing MSN branded clothes, eating from MSN branded plates, while preying at the Church of MSN. We’re being locked into using Microsoft 24/7.

I can’t publish my songs on my blog by using iTunes or Real. I can’t instantly link my song list to the iTunes Music Store or even Napster. I can’t notify my friends that my blog has been updated through AOL. Why does this bug me? It boils down to the iPod. Oh, I said it again. I love talking about the iPod.

I also like to choose a few things.

People on the Windows side of the world are crying foul at Apple because they won’t open the iPod up to other music stores or Windows Media Audio. They cry that customers want a freedom of choice. They claim that Apple is trying to lock iPod users into iTunes and iTunes users into iPods, while Microsoft sits back and says, “Oh, but you can use Windows Media Player to access our music store and other music stores. You can also use our media player to interface with a lot of the mp3 players on the market. What’s that Apple? Oh, iTunes can only access one music store and interface with one player?” *sticks out tongue*

Microsoft is just trying to tighten its grip on the world and I’m starting to get paranoid, man.

Try playing your AAC music collection in Windows Media Player.

You can’t.

Try finding an mp3 player that can play AAC.

You don’t see a lot of them. Most players support mp3 and WMA like the iRiver H120, the Rio Carbon, and the Samsung Napster Music player.

There, you see. Microsoft is trying to lock you into buying music players that support WMA and use music stores that sell songs in the WMA format. Why? To control that market too. Operating systems and web browsers aren’t enough anymore.

Microsoft wants the messenger, search, free e-mail, music store, and now blog markets.

That is why Microsoft integrating everything Microsoft bugs me.

So who is crying about being locked into the Fairplay DRM that Apple uses again? Also, Apple doesn’t even own AAC. It was developed by the same people who brought you mp3, so you can throw out the “AAC is Apple Proprietary,” crap.

But back to the blog.

It’s nothing great. I understand that it’s still in beta. The word beta becomes a part of your blog. You can pick from a lot of different color schemes, but the layout remains the same. They should mix it up a bit like Blogger does. The URL to your site is not pretty either. Again, I prefer Blogger.

Before I sign off, I do have a suggestion for Microsoft (Microstupid, Microslime) on product integration. How about you include a feature that lets me publish to my blog from MS Word, but it lets me publish to Blogger and others too because I’m tired of copying things in Word and then pasting them into the blog of choice.

The New Netscape

The guys at Netscape released a preview of their latest browser, which is simply called Netscape Browser Preview. The browser sports a new, bloated look with too many buttons and clutter. I cleaned it up a bit, but I was still not a fan of it. I understand this is a preview, and I hope they are not done working on the skin

But here is the big kicker. The Netscape browser is built on top of Firefox 0.9.3. I hear the final version will be built on top of 1.0. So basically you’re using a Netscape branded Firefox…sort of like the HP iPod…sort of.

Not Really Impressed with the Nintendo DS.

Like most of America, I spent the day at the local Wal-Mart. I spent a good 95% of that time in the electronics section, and 90% of that time was spent trying to figure out how to start a game on the Nintendo DS. I’m not an idiot when it comes to things like this. The pen was misaligned with the screen, I swear it. That and the Wal-Mart Drone told me the kids had been mashing the screen.

Once I finally got into the game, the controls took a few minutes to get use to. I was playing the Metroid Prime demo. You’re supposed to move around by using the direction pad, look around by using the pen, and you’re supposed to shoot stuff by tapping on the screen with the pen, but that was not happening.

I’m sure there is a lot of potential for the Nintendo DS. I don’t think it will turn out to be another virtual boy. The graphics seems a lot better then the Nintendo 64’s did, and I hope they are even better for the Gameboy Advance 2. The little chat feature on the Nintendo DS is a bit useless. I mean, if I’m sitting next to someone I’m going to communicate by voice, not a DS. I'll have to sit down with this unit more.

I think I’m going to skip this gadget and save for the Sony Playstation Portable.

Deal with the Devil

From Cnet News.

The U.S. Air Force is drafting Microsoft to help simplify its networks and software contracts, a move that could improve its computer security and deliver savings of $100 million.

The Air Force is consolidating its 38 software contracts and nine support contracts with Microsoft into two all-encompassing, agencywide agreements, according to a statement seen by CNET News.com.

The contract, done in conjunction with Dell, will call for the installation and configuration of software as well as ongoing maintenance and upgrades. The deal, which includes 525,000 licenses of Microsoft's Windows and Office, is valued at $500 million over six years, according to Microsoft.

The move is part of the "One Air Force, One Network" strategy that the Air Force plans to announce Friday. An Air Force representative confirmed many details of the announcement, including that it is expected to save the agency $100 million over six years.

"The consolidation will result in standard configurations for all Microsoft desktop and server software," the Air Force said in the statement. "The standard configurations will enforce rigorous security profiles and will be updated online with security patches and software updates."
Digital agenda

Microsoft representatives confirmed that the company will work with the Air Force to define security configurations for the agency's desktop and servers. The representatives also said the deal includes an agencywide help desk service contract.

Now, the fanboys will say,

"OMG teh M$ Windoze suxors, so the computers will crash all the times. STFU K THX!" - Tom Kapowski, age 11, Chicago IL

But that's not really the case anymore. The Air Force is not getting a bunch of servers loaded with Windows 95. Has anyone tried Windows XP or Server 2003? They are like a rock, baby (unless you mess around with system setting, download a bunch of spyware, and watch gobs amount of porn.).

We have a server with Windows Server 2003 sitting in our shop that we store our little word documents to, and it's been very reliable so far. Now, I wouldn't of gone with Microsoft on this deal, and that's mainly because of the bad press with security holes Microsoft has been getting latetly. We all know that it will spell bad news for the Air Force if this system goes down because of a few security exploits "haxored" by kids like Tom Kapowski.

Sad Panda.

Gmail meet Outlook

You can now pop your Gmail to Outlook without the use of some third party program. Just log into Gmail and select the POP setting and then you must configure Outlook to download the mail. Within the next two weeks all accounts should be updated.

Joy.

Know thy iPod

There is no doubt in my mind that a lot of people will have a certain MP3 player device, which in certain places is an open invitation to a mugging, on their Christmas list this year. Oh yes, I’m talking about the iPod. According to a recent survey done by someone who I forgot the name of (I’ll find the link later) 60% of the high school crowd wants an iPod this Christmas. The device is so popular that when the survey was conducted, the iPod was not an option you could choose, showing that a write in can win some sort of popularity contest, but not if it’s the presidential election.

So, here I am writing a guide on what type of iPods there are. I know there are other “alternatives” to the iPod, and I’ll write a different buyer’s guide for that later because I want to focus on one product here.

Basically, the iPod family breaks down like this.

iPod, iPod mini, iPod Photo, and the U2 iPod.

The iPod is the first model of the bunch that’s up for review. It was introduced back in October of 2001, and has gone through several remodels and size changes leading up to now. The iPod comes in two different sizes, the 20GB ($299/5,000 songs) and 40GB ($399/10,000 songs), which is slightly bigger then the 20GB model. Both models boast a 12 hour battery, a click wheel for easy navigation, large hard drive space to hold thousands of songs, and a 2in black and white LCD screen. The package includes the signature, crappy sounding, white headphones, FireWire and USB 2 cables, and the 40GB comes with the dock.

I’ve actually owned a third generation, 10GB model and I enjoyed it, but I had a huge problem with it. The chrome backing. Oh, it looks really nice and expensive, but it scratches really easy, and it’s prone to fingerprint smudges, so the guys at CSI will have no problem finding out who you are. I did own a Jam Jacket protected it from a lot of scratches, but I was tired of polishing it everyday like a good solider does to his boots.

That is why I bought the iPod mini. It’s everything you love about the iPod but smaller.

The iPod mini comes in 5 cool colors (silver, gold, blue, pink, and green), 8 hour battery, and it’s sure to be a hit with the kids. The iPod mini is a lot smaller than its bigger brother because, well, it’s smaller, and it has a 4GB hard drive in it that they say only fits 1,000 songs, but I’ve crammed 1,152 songs on one before with 7MB left to spare. The iPod mini has the same click wheel as the iPod, in fact all iPods have it, and it lacks the chrome backing, so it is not prone to scratches and fingerprints because of its anodized aluminum case. Along with all the cables you need, it also comes with a stylish belt clip. Sure I only get to carry around half of my music collection, but I don’t have to clean the sucker everyday.

The iPod Photo is in everyway shape and form like the iPod except it comes with a color screen capable of displaying 65,536 colors to view photos. It comes in two sizes. 40GB ($499) and 60GB ($599). With the battery, you can listen to 15 hours of music or display a 5 hour picture slideshow with music. While your music plays, you have the capability to view the album art in full color if you wish. By using the special dock, you can hook the iPod Photo up to any TV and share you pictures with family. How sweet. The package comes with the dock, two carrying cases, cables, and headphones. Photo geeks will love it. It’s a great device, but I’ll wait for a price drop and for the thing to get a bit smaller.

Finally, the U2 iPod, which sports a black body, red click wheel, the bands signatures on the chrome backing, it comes with a poster, and a $50 off coupon to purchase the complete U2 collection off of the iTunes Music Store. If you know someone who is a U2 fan and they have expressed no interest in getting it, get it for them anyways. I’m holding out for the Britney Spears iPod. Did I just say that?

This post also appears at . . : : [ Brian DeWitt ] : : . .

The History of Audion

Panic software decided to retire their Mac only music jukebox playing software called Audion. I was birthed into the Mac world during the iTunes 2.0 days, so I never used this program. Following the link below, you will be able to read a write up on the history of Audion, how AOL almost bought it, how it almost became iTunes, and their meeting with Steve Jobs after iTunes was introduced.

It is a very interesting read. This almost makes me want to start work again on my little web browser.


The Ture Story of Audion

See how I rock so well

If you're interested to know how I'm doing in this mad world of Halo 2, here are my stats

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/PlayerGameList.aspx?player=fivesixkay

1337

This makes me want to start a riot.

I'll let the guys from The Screensavers do the talking.

From Alex Albrecht's site.

Well I've officially been let go... along with a bunch of other people from TSS and three other shows. Kevin and Sarah are the only ones left on screen and I don't know what they are planning to do with them. The Screen Savers as you know it is GONE! We were rounded up today at 11am and told to be out of the office at 3pm... very smooth... So I wanted to take this time to say, Thank you... thank you to all of you who gave me the chance to enter your living rooms five days a week and try my best to make you smile. You, the fans of TSS, really made me feel like a million bucks. I know it was hard for some of you to see Patrick go, but I really appreciate you all giving me a chance. I just wish I could have more time to get to know you all...

It has been one of the best experiences of my life... Thank you...

- Alex Albrecht

I was starting to become a big fan of Alex's. He was funny and a great cat to watch.

From Kevin Rose

Television is a crazy business - when you start a new show, you know one day that show will be canceled, and you will be out of work. Some shows last 6 episodes, others last 6 years. That’s just the way it is..

Today many of my friends were let go as the network made changes to revamp for new shows. Unscrewed was canceled, and The Screen Savers is being revamped.

The Screen Savers -
As I’m sure many of you have heard, we lost Alex, Dan, Yoshi, and several behind the scene producers… I know you all have tons of questions, and I don’t know much at this point. I’ve been told there are going to be more darktips, and that the show will still have a tech focus. That’s about it. The new show will continue after the Thanksgiving break. I’ll keep you posted as more develops – it’s time to go drink.

UPDATE: I’ve gotten a ton of “you should leave”, or “you’ve sold out” posts and emails. In moving down here, all of us signed multi-year contracts with G4. The only way we are released of these contracts is if we are fired. I can’t just leave. That said, my goal has always been to create solid tech content on TV. That’s what I still want to do. I love The Screen Savers and it’s been my life for the last four years. I’m going to give it another shot. If it doesn’t work and they let me go, I will move on to other things.

So I guess the thing to do in television is to buy a network, uproot the hosts and supporting cast to a new city, work on a show, and then fire most of the cast 2 months later. I would understand this if the show sucked, but I mean, come on, this was the greates show on G4 TechTV. Martin Sergent had a great show too. Seriously, watch G4 TechTV and you will see how they cut the gold and kept the filth.

Taylor out.

Hostile takeover

I posted that review thingy about firefox over at Dewey's blog.

One down, a few million to go.

Firefox 1.0

I was going to write this really kick ass review of Firefox 1.0, but I've hit a little writer's block it seems. I'll clear my thoghts and get back to it tomorrow. Look for it on Dewey's blogger blog blogy.

Go get Firefox now.

Halo 2

I bought my copy of Halo 2 last night, and I finally got around to playing it tonight. I'm sure the single player mode is going to be great like the original Halo, but I jumped right into Xbox live, and onto a game hosted by one of my friends from back home.

This made four hours whiz by.

Get Halo 2. It is awesome. Yeah.

OH NOES!

Well, 56k nerd went offline again for God knows how long. Davis is moving the site to a new server, one that we are not hosting ourselves, so this may take some time. I'll use this blog to post my oddities for the time being.

I was looking at what type of "blog" to sign up for. Live Journal sucks, and Blogger is owned by Google. I love Google. Blogger it is.


Good Day.