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January 30, 2007
Mac OSX outstars Windows Vista on Amazon.com
Well well, the people have spoken. Windows Vista Ultimate falls one star short of Mac OSX Tiger by user reviews on Amazon.com. Hmm... The future of computing doesn't seem to have the same appeal as what's already out there I guess Microsoft.
Posted by Decemberice at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)
Wall Street Journal: Windows Vista is no Mac OSX
Check out this article from Wall Street Journal's Technology columnist Walt Mossberg. Poor Microsoft. Sucks to be second rate doesn't it.
I have spent all morning using vista and I have to concur with Walt. If I hadn't gotten the software for free, I never would have dumped money on it. I've already got all of it's features and more (and they costed significantly less I might add) I have Mac OSX Tiger, and according to the reviews in the media, it is the superior product.
This is quite the turnaround for Apple. Mac OS used to be scoffed at in the face of Windows. Every dog has it's day I suppose.
Posted by Decemberice at 06:05 PM | Comments (0)
Field Day!
Windows Vista strong-arms Creative Labs and other high end audio card developers.
Boy Microsoft likes to make news in all the wrong ways. Basically, when folks excitedly fired up World of Warcraft say on their newly purchased Vista Ultimate OS... they get basic stereo performance and no dimensional sound effects or special sound support.
Why? Because Microsoft decided to strip hardware sound from Vista, relying instead on a software based processing (That's right musicians this affects you too, not just gamers).
This is because the geniuses who developed the functionality of this in Windows built it into the Kernal mode. Were you aware that PC crashes are far and away dominated by problems with sound processing? How curious.
It puts a smile on my face to see Microsoft make so many people angry, because those are all potential Mac users now. BTW, the mac version of World of Warcraft is still pumping out great audio.
= )
Posted by Decemberice at 05:46 PM | Comments (0)
This pretty much says it all:
Umm... so, I know I said I wasn't going to post anything for a while, but this article pretty much says everything that needs to be said about Microsoft:
Microsoft demos Windows Vista on an iMac
UPDATE:
I thought you should all know that this makes me giddy inside. Not that it adds anything to the article, but seriously... Microsoft demoes their shiny new OS while at the same time inadvertantly advertising for the competitor. Only Microsoft could manage to boggle the mind like this.
Posted by Decemberice at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2007
Feeling Low
I get this way from time to time. I think a lot of it comes from not being able to live by my own rules. This is not my house, despite how much I pay for it. I'm entitled to a room, use of other facilities in the house, and use of a car because I live so far outside of known civilization.
Above and beyond not being my house... this is not my home.
I feel like a dork for being as old as I am and living here, being overweight, being relatively uneducated, and having a checkered financial past. I feel like I'm falling apart in my mid twenties. I don't feel young, I don't feel carefree. I feel this looming burden like I'm on the verge of something horrible.
I've never gotten along with my family. I'm closest to my little sister, but I'm not her biggest fan at the moment. I'm half tempted to pull up stakes tomorrow and just move out. I own: 2 laptops, 2 guitars, 1 amp, 1 dresser, 1 TV stand, Some clothes, a printer, a scanner, a computer desk, a computer chair and a plastic storage shelf thing. AND, thanks to Sarah, two very cool drinking glasses. That's about it.
I'm still tempted though. I keep thinking... what good is living if you aren't really living life by your own rules? I had planned to wait until March to move, but I think I may see what I can pull together and just do it. I'll just pick up stuff as I go. I will get an air mattress, a folding chair, some plastic cutlery and paper plates, bowls, and cups. I could live very close to work so I could walk. I'll be fine.
I bet that I would feel so much better if I just got out there and started living on my own. By my own rules. Then, it might just boost my self-esteem to the point where I start taking care of the other things in my life. Who knows, maybe I would even find someone.
But alas, this is probably all just talk. I know it would break my mom's heart if I told her I was leaving, and aside from being stuck here all by herself, she'd also take a financial hit since I pay way too much to live in my bedroom each month.
I'll get it figured out.
Until then, I don't think I'll be posting to this blog for a while. I'm just not feeling it. It's like all I ever do here anymore is whine and I'm pretty sure that's not healthy. In additiona, I'm pretty sure nobody wants to listen to me whine. So off I go.
I'll blog again when I have something more positive to say.
Posted by Decemberice at 11:57 PM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2007
Tivo + Mac = Bliss
My TiVo is playing suspiciously nice with my mac. It took all of 5 minutes and 4 clicks to set them up. Now I can view all my photos and listen to my iTunes library right there on my TiVo. Somebody had told me that TiVo doesn't play well with Mac so I was a little bit concerned. I find it to be to the contrary though. The interface is intuitive, it was very simple to set up, and it only draws bandwith when I invoke it from the TiVo end. Very sleek. I'm telling you. You need to get a Mac... they rock!
Posted by Decemberice at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)
Take that Taco Bell!
I rarely go to Taco Bell. When it's late and there is nothing else open, I will usually swing by the grocery store and buy something to take home and cook, rather than go to Taco Bell. There are several reasons. However, from time to time, I decide I will give them another shot. Tonight that's what I did, and as usual I regreted it. First off, it certainly isn't Mexican food by any stretch of the imagination. More importantly though, their meat is always grissly (is that a word?), their tomotaoes are always over or under ripened (as tends to happen when they aren't fresh), the Mexican pizzas don't ever seem to be heated all the way through... which is amazing because the guy who works there swears up and down that they aren't pre-made... basically they suck.
Thus, I have dedicated this UnSpun list to things you hate about Taco Bell. Perhaps some corporate big wig will read it and enact change and I will have done my part. That, or the more likely alternative that I will win myself a cease and desist order!
Ice's Things You Hate About Taco Bell List
Posted by Decemberice at 12:17 AM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2007
While My iPod Gently Sleeps
Wow! What a week it has been for the tech industry. It's not quite over yet, but we've seen the big announcements at this point. The iPhone (the Apple iPhone, not the Cisco iPhone) seems to be reigning over them all at this point. I saw something entirely new on Amazon.com regarding it. If you search for iPhone, the top search result will be a blog entry (Amazon now publishes blogs or "plogs" from editors of various departments) talking about the iPhone.
I guess the general feeling in the retail world post iPhone announcement is that if you don't have it to offer, you'd better at least talk about it, put a picture up of it, something.
It was quite heralded the day of it's announcement, but criticism quickly swooped in to attempt to steal the glory. It was actually very warranted criticism; however. There are quite a few drawbacks to the new device:
- No 3G
- Non-removable/non-replacable battery
- Only first-party software at this point
- Big on consumer features, small on productivity/office apps.
I think it's valid to point out that Steve claimed it was the first of a new product line. Even Cingular's big cheese mentioned that it was the first of several devices Cingular and Apple hoped to collaborate on.
For a Gen 1 device from a compnay that's never really produced a phone before... I think it's rather stellar. It certainly has the home user market in the bag. Despite what critics are calling "reviews" on the net, it's important to remember that this product won't even launch for several months. There's still time for things to wrong, corrections to be made, features to be added or dropped... basically it's still a preview at this point. Though, given the way in which it was announced I'd be surprised to see many changes. I don't think Steve would have stood up there and sold it's features if he weren't entirely sure that it was a done deal.
The folks over at Palm; on the other hand, are refering to the Apple iPhone as "vaporware." That term is usually reserved for products that are 100% smoke in the mirrors and never actually come to be. The recently cancelled Phantom game console, for instance, is a glaring example of vaporware.
Apple's iPhone, in contrast, was demoed in working form and even offered up for important Macworld guests to play with.
Perhaps the folks at Palm are frustrated that their own OS and bread and butter devices are on the verge of extinction, only survived by a sellout treo device running Windows Mobile. Palm needs a re-invented identity and quick.
Then again, it remains to be seen if Apple's iPhone will make the bang that Apple proclaims. It's a pretty hefty claim when you say you've reinvented the phone. If anybody could make it sell though, it's Steve Jobs.
Aside from iPhone (and all of it's controversy), There were other announcements at MacWorld of note. Jeff doesn't seem to like the iTV... sorry, Apple TV (seriously, if you were going to rename one of the two, why rename the one that's not under threat of lawsuit?). I have pre-ordered my AppleTV! I'm rather excited for it. That's because 99% of my TV viewing is now done on iTunes. So for me, it's a no-brainer. If you do TiVo or a DVR, it's probably not that big of a deal to you. It's certainly not a breakthrough device as it's been around in various forms (Media Center Extender, iLounge, Xbox 360) for quite some time. You've got to admit though, Apple does it with a sleekness that's totally Apple.
I seriously need to get that widescreen TV to go with it now!
Nobody seems to be talking about Apple's new Wi-Fi gear though. In fact, the only reason I noticed it was because I'm in the market for a new router. The new Airport Base Station (the first refresh in about 5 years) is looking very sleek. It shares a form factore with the AppleTV and the Mac Mini. All-in-all, this MacWorld will prove to be a very expensive one for me!
By the way, the name of this blog came to be because I am writing it as my iPod charges. It simply reminded me that I really haven't chimed in on the iPhone other than to say I want one.
Posted by Decemberice at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2007
Pop the Champagne!
Apple has finally announced the Apple TV, and the iPhone! Screw Vista, it's all about Apple today! I'm lovin' it... the only question now is which credit cards have enough limit for all this new stuff LOL. = )
Posted by Decemberice at 11:09 AM | Comments (1)
January 08, 2007
Charter vs Tivo: Round 1
So, I think every consumer out there should be informed that Charter Telephone service does not work with TiVo. I also think the Charter's so-called customer service department should be informed of this. Knowing that VOIP is a fairly new technology, I called Charter to ensure that I would be able to connect the TiVo via the Charter Telephone service. They assured me I would, it was like any other phone service... that was until I got the TiVo, plugged it in, and it crashed our phone line.
The brilliant guy at Charter said: I guess it just won't work.
Hmm... well, let's see... Charter phone service for $50 a month and useless box I just paid $250 for, or QWEST for $25 a month and functional DVR? No brainer you bastards.
I guess it's not really the Charter Rep's fault, but seriously, TiVo's are fairly common devices, you'd think that they'd train their folks a little better, but hey, obviously they don't care enough about their customer's to do such a thing. Bye bye Charter!
Posted by Decemberice at 11:42 PM | Comments (1)
January 07, 2007
Crazy Warning Labels
I came to the conclusion that the internet has everything covered about 3 years ago, but in order to assist those who may not know:
A Site Ranking The Best Crazy Warning Labels
Great minds behind this site!
Posted by Decemberice at 02:25 AM | Comments (2)
MacWorld Rumor Round-Up with UnSpun!
Haha! You know how much I love Apple. You know how much I love Amazon... Thus I have created a rumor round-up list that you can vote on at UnSpun.com! Yes, that's right, I said vote. It allows you to list your top 3 faves, or bump the ones already on there up a scosh. Check it out:
PS: And no, Ocelot isn't a slated product that I'm aware of. So, before you go blogging about it, It's just something I threw out there as a clever way of saying OSX Version 10.6
Posted by Decemberice at 12:45 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2007
Gary Busey is a Scary, Scary Man
I'm bored out of my mind, and good TV has seased until late January, thus I found myself watching "Celebrity Paranormal Encounters"... and yes that's actually the name of the show. I couldn't possibly make this shit up.
First of all, I would like to point out that these people are not actual celebrities. They are old washed up actors who probably had to sleep with somebody just to get this crappy gig.
Second, I should probably point out that, while I am not closed to the idea that ghosts might exist, I have yet to have a paranormal encounter of my own, so I'm still an objective type to the whole thing, but this show led me to believe they don't actually happen.
Gary Busey on the other hand is a paranormal experience enthusiast who gets giddy and smiles a lot when he thinks he might see a ghost. He all but ran into the supposedly haunted hospital after grabbing all the women up in a giant hug (to be read gropefest) to offer up his "spiritual blessing." Gary, when they say just a little bit of a drug can kill you, they don't mean a lot will make you OK. He was running around like a crazy ass crack ho' beggin' for mo'. He was shouting all this things at the other people like "They know we are here now, they are accepting our presence." and "we are in their world now." But nothing beats my personal favorite of his lines: "I heard a mechanical tiger!"
WTF?!?!
A mechanical tiger? You are telling me that a white plague hospital where 63000 americans died in the early 1900s is haunted by... wait for it... a MECHANICAL TIGER?
Of course, I should have known! It must be the same mechanical tiger that haunts voltron!
What a load of crap. Then he blabbers on about his experiences on the "other side". When he died after a motorcycle accident. He acted like he knew all about everything they said. At some point in a fit of rage he told some girl that he "witnessed the murder" this of course being a murder that happened in the early 1900s... prior to his birth.
Even one of the other, so-called celebs, said at the very end, after they'd left the hospital that he stands by his initial statement that Gary Busey is the scariest thing there.
That man is a damn fool, who made a bigger fool of himself on television for the whole world to see and download additional clips off on VHI's site.
Thanks Gary, for turning what was supposed to be scary into a barrel of laughs!
Posted by Decemberice at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2007
Get your baby up to speed
On the greatest band of all time with this CD: Nirvana
Posted by Decemberice at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)
Something New, Something Old
It's a very new year. Why not usher it in with something very old; Latin! But not just any Latin, cool Latin:
LUKE SUM IPSE PATREM TE
Luke, I am your father.
POTESTATEM OBSCURI LATERIS NESCIS
You don't know the power of the dark side.
SIT VIS VOBISCUM
May the Force be with you.
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE
I think Elvis is still alive.
FUTUE TE ET IPSUM CABALLUM
Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.
IMPUDENS ES LENO
You shameless pimp
CONFACIMUS NAVEGEMUS
Fuck it -- let's go sailing.
CATAPULTAM HABEO. NISI PECUNIAM OMNEM MIHI DABIS, AD CAPUT TUUM SAXUM IMMANE MITTAM
I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.
NIL ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM
Don't let the bastards get you down.
MEI CAPILLI SUNT FLAGRANTES
My hair is on fire
SUNTNE VACCI LAETI
Are your cows happy?
TU STUPIDUS ES
You are dumb.
SUPPEDISNE
Did you fart quietly?
SOLUM POTESTIS PROHIBERE IGNES SILVARUM
Only you can prevent forest fires.
UTINAM LOGICA FALSA TUAM PHILOSOPHIAM TOTAL SUFFODIANT!
May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy!
MACDONALDUS SENEX FUNDUM HABET. E-I-E-I-O. ET IN HOC FUNDO, NONNULLAS BOVES DOMESTICAS HABET. E-I-E-I-O. CUM MOO MOO HIC, CUM MOO MOO IBI. HIC UNA MOO, IBI UNA MOO, UBIQUE UNA MOO MOO. MACDONALDUS SENEX FUNDUM HABET. E-I-E-I-O.
Old MacDonald has a farm. E-I-E-I-O. And on this farm, he has some cows. E-I-E-I-O. With a moo moo here, with a moo moo there. Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. Old MacDonald has a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
TE AUDIRE NO POSSUM. MUSA SAPIENTUM FIXA EST IN AURE.
I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.
SENTIO ALIQUOS TOGATOS CONTRA ME CONSPIRARE.
I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
Posted by Decemberice at 01:17 AM | Comments (1)