In memory of a highly gifted musician and father of the “moon walk” … he inspired millions around the world.
Be at the Philippines: 1,500 Prisoners at Cebu …
… or in India: Bollywood’s unforgettable “GIRLY MAN!”
… or the Guinness Book of World Records event: William and Mary College students…
… and maybe even a surprise wedding.
We will forever miss you!
R.I.P. Michael Jackson 1958-2009
While at work today sometime early afternoon, I happened to accidentally click on my GMAIL tab on Firefox to find new colors running across the screen. Was it the Websense filter doing it’s job by filtering out some color script? The blue was a deeper hue than I could recall and after going through the settings on the “settings” link, was not able to find a solution for the color change. The only thing referencing to “color” was the labels. Asked Kaci if her Gmail looked any different but she replied with a negative.
Got home and checked Gmail. Surely, this wasn’t the Google Gmail blue we’ve always known. Had to check again so clicked on “Settings” on the top right corner and booyah, there was a new tab “THEMES” listed at the end – not visible when I was at work. Was this merely a cosmetic upgrade?
It was a tough choice between “Planets” and “Ninja” but we now know who won.
After Microsoft launched a half-hearted theme option on their HOTMAIL/LIVE website 2 weeks ago, I guess this was just an inevitability especially since the iGoogle page had that feature as an option some years back. Also, the iGoogle page had been tweaked recently to get all the gadgets incorporated in a seamlessly convenient package. A positive step from Google but a giant leap towards the social acceptance of cloud computing.
When we say “Cloud Computing,” think of being able to use your computer anywhere you go without having to tug along your laptop. The concept thrives on the notion that any computer that can connect to the internet can connect to your “computer” which in actuality, exists on external servers. When you download an MP3 or movie or any file for the matter, or when you write up papers or make charts, they get stored on a server making them accessible from any internet ready machine at your disposal. The trick is to make the UI (User Interface) all effortless by blurring the lines between what is stored on your computer’s physical hard drive and what is stored on your “online” computer.
In the future, when you log on to your computer, the operating system you see and interact (Mac OS / Windows / etc) won’t be stored in your hard drive. Google Docs, Adobe’s Photoshop Express, and Microsoft’s Office Live Workspace are a few examples of commercial software backed by well known companies basing their ideas on online applications. The full featured desktop operating system is on it’s way out and even Microsoft’s making sure they don’t miss out on this trend (hint: Azure).
Simply put, Google’s Gmail themes is the tip of the iceberg of bigger things to come. We are going to be seeing another major technological paradigm shift in the next 5 years and whether we like it or not, it’s already taking place.
As anticipated, on October 14th, Apple renewed their tri-pronged attack in the notebook market – a more powerful MacBook Air, a completely redesigned MacBook (the bread and butter of Apple computers), and the gigantor sized multimedia heavy MacBook Pro. By the way, did you know that new Apple products are always announced on Tuesdays? Did they pick the 2nd day of the work week simply because they got too lazy to prepare over the weekend and instead laid to waste a perfectly good “Moon-Day” for prep work? Either ways, one thing is for certain, the new MacBook kicks ass. Or do they?
Physically there are differences but the dimensions are very similar to my MacBook. 1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 inches as opposed to the new sizes – 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 inches. Even the keyboard is identical aside from black color (and backlit feature for the $1,599 model). 4 main physical differences between the new MacBook and mine are:
Additionally, you could add that the battery life bar is on the left-side of the notebook instead of the bottom but that’s nitpicking.
So in essence, the new MacBook IS a “mini” MacBook Pro. It packs a powerful punch with a dedicated GPU from NVIDIA’s 9400M line (the graphics card uses shared DDR3 RAM unlike the DDR2 stuff on my “white” MacBook) and it looks just like the new MBP, only better portability. I like it but the price hike and the lack of customization can be a factor – you only have 2 choices:
On the plus side, the weight has been reduced by 1 pound and both options use more efficient LED lighting for the screens. Also, the touchpad/trackpad no longer has the button at the end and supports 4-finger multi-touch (which is customizable) like the MBA (MacBook Air) and the MBP. It is made of glass and should be flashy enough to cause some to upgrade.
Finally, here’s a picture of my (now previous generation) MacBook. In my opinion, it can hold it’s own and has a very cleancut image without appearing to do a “me-too” look like the rest of the Apple line.
… I also thought I should share a picture of the new iPod Touch (2nd generation) placed alongside my workhorse communications device, Nokia E61. The one to the left is a protector screen sticker thing pasted on top of the iPod in it’s plastic glass case. Boy have I jumped over to the dark side.
If you’re pissed off about not getting Firewire support for the MacBooks, look at the MacBook Pro line. The 15″ is currently on sale and the 17-18″ should be joining soon next month.
My verdict: Wait until the new Mac OS X Snow Leopard’s out (sometime early next year sayz the rumors), then purchase the MacBook without having to pay $$$ for the upgrade. This should also allow ample time for Apple to smooth out the kinks on the new system and hopefully lower prices or even better hardware.
Alright. This is the actual post about the Macbook. So Apple is having their annual “Back to School” special which ties anyone with a school email address to purchase Macbooks at a discount and receive a free iPod. The free iPod deal also encompasses the flashy iPod Touch (only the $299 8GB version) and is done through a worry free efficient rebate system from Apple.
This is also about the time for me to upgrade my laptop from an ungainly old P4 2.7GHz Windows system to a Core 2 Duo MacBook running the latest Mac OS X Leopard which would make sense because I need a new MP3 player, namely the fancy iPod Touch. After going to the Mac store with my old college email address (which still works 
) and configuring a nice setup for $1700, I realized something.
TO MAC OR NOT TO MAC!
The deal has it’s cons. It’s only valid till September 15th and there’s rumors that there’s going to be a completely redesigned MacBook this time around. There are other stories circulating the interwebs about an all-aluminum metal enclosure instead of the cheap white plastic (or black) highly popular MacBook. It’s also going to feature a multi-touch touchpad similar to the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air. That and the iPod Touch will be redesigned and that all these changes are to be set in SEPTEMBER. It’s the 28th today and in a month, my new MacBook and iTouch will look outdated.
The downside to waiting for a new MacBook (if it comes true) is that I’m going to miss out on a free iPod deal and what if Apple jacks up the price? That and the wireless components on a metal encasing will suffer in terms of performance just like the MacBook Pro. After consulting with some Mac-philes today, I’ve decided to embrace the old saying “patience is virtue” and keeping my fingers crossed.
PS: The weirdest thing is the day I started looking for a MacBook and noticed the free iPod deal, it was posted on the popular consumer-advocacy website Consumerist.com.
Despite not being released out for sale, you might be lucky enough to spot the newly redesigned 2009 Mazda6 plying on the roads out to nearby dealerships. Just last Friday, saw one of those beauties heading out west (NW) on MN-55 (aka Olson Memorial Hwy) in Minneapolis while on my way to work at like 8:15AM. The car took a left (west) on CR-6 possibly to take a left on Xenium Ln and get back on 394W where 2 Mazda dealerships lie close.
It just stood out very clear from the Camrys, Accords, and Passats with the swooping lines and the heavily accentuated wheel arcs jutting out in a muscular sporty way. I thought it was strange body-kit on an RX-8 from the rear until I got closer and realized it was a 4-door 6. The headlights were unmistakable and so was the overall design. In terms of looks alone, this is a must-have. Sorry Accord. You’re upscale but if the girlfriend thinks you’re “boring” everything I point you out enthusiastically, you have no chance.
Obviously, the plan is that the dealers get peeks at the new Mazda6’s in person to get the extra push to sell off all of their remaining rather plain looking current generation 6. No wonder you see Mazda putting them on the ads on tv every day.
Update: Pictures of the new and unreleased Mazda 6 out in the open, courtesy of Autoblog.
A few weeks ago while driving down right off-of Central Avenue by Columbia Heights and Fridley, I saw an angry velociraptor-like vehicle driving towards me on the other side of the 2-lane road. My heart skipped a beat, the pupils of my eyes dilated, and everything went into slow-mo. It was starting to get dark but the low-slung advancing menacing outline was quite unmistakably the brand new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Fleeting seconds yawned into minutes and the world seemed to pause giving me the kind of experience space travelers would be going through in the distant future as they engaged into warp speed.
At that very moment, my heart beats were obnoxiously loud as they blended with the rumbling sounds from the 2008 Evolution’s dual-exhaust tail-pipes leaving behind only a haunting melody. A flash of red and the doppler effect acting upon the exhaust notes blew by as I sat in my Civic mesmerized by it all.
I said “OMG DID you SEE that? That was the brand new Mitsubishi Evolution X!!!” to which Kaci said “That green car up ahead?” motioning to some soulless home appliance of a Ford Taurus as it pulled into our lane and sped away.
A week prior to the sighting of this rare beast, I happened upon the previous incarnation of it on Larpenteur Rd with Nima and Kaci in tow. The Evolution IX was a beauty to behold but in terms of sheet-metal magic, the new Evolution (no longer called the Evolution X) was decades ahead of the car it was replacing.
Above is a picture of what the new $32,990 (plus a handsome $5,000 in additional junk any dealer would throw in to bump the price) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution looks like. It comes with an intercooler turbo mounted to feed the stampeding 291 horses hidden in the 2.0 liter MIVEC engine. All 4 wheels roll on the usual grippy S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) AWD (all-wheel drive) setup allowing you for greater control in slippery conditions than any FWD (front-wheel drive) or RWD (rear-wheel drive) automobile.
So why did I bring this up? Was driving out on 10th St today heading west when all of a sudden, I felt a sense of deja-vu. The space time continuum ripped to shreds as time stood still. My hands gripped the now seemingly unfamiliar steering wheel of the Civic as an ominous shadow loomed in at my one O’clock. A black 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX peered out from a back road looking to get onto the busy street. If you’re into cars, you are most likely to understand the immense rivalry between the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX (STi) fans.
Unfortunately for Subaru, ever since Toyota bought a majority stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, it was to be expected that the wild bluestars of World Rally Championship legends was finally going to be tamed. So when the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX (the WRX STi is eye-candy but is quite a bit more expensive) was unveiled, there was a visual sigh of disappointment from millions of fans across the world. While the exterior design elements focused on function over form, the spongy suspension system on the AWD (All-Wheel Drive) didn’t make much sense. After all, this was an Impreza WRX, not a Subaru Legacy (the car you pick if you prefer comfort with AWD in a Subaru).
It wasn’t supposed to be comfortable. It wasn’t supposed to look like a doorstop. Most of all, it wasn’t supposed to be a Corolla. But for the brief 5 seconds that I got to see it, I could tell it was almost as tall as the ugly Dodge Caliber but the giant turbo scoop on the front brought things into perspective. It was a nice looking ride but then again, somewhat plain-jane like a MazdaSpeed3. The black paint definitely helped.
As I drove by admiring the car (What a hypocrite. I just dissed it right here in my blog in this very post), my eyes fixated themselves on a vertical black-sprayed metal thing behind the front grill and the oval logo. Not sure why but everything was in slow-motion and it felt like I was quickly panning the car to look for something that stood out other than the air-intake hood scoop. Controlling the movements of my eye balls felt like using a dusty old analog computer mouse that needed cleaning and you knew it because of the jerky cursor movements on the screen. I duly noted that this WAS indeed the brand new turbo-charged 224 hp $24,850 Impreza WRX and not the STi nor the Legacy nor anything else. And then, I drove past it.
An album of the British band, The Subways, was blaring out OH YEA OH YEA on my CD player and so I missed the chance to even hear the toned down whimpers of the Mitsubishi Evolution’s once great arch-nemesis. Oh Subaru. You will be loved … again someday.
A couple of videos on the Impreza WRX STi against the Lancer Evolution.
As most senseless gadget geeks, I’ve always wanted the Nabaztag. Half of it’s functions borders on the useless but the cute little cuddly French wifi (802.xx) rabbit has a strong personality. Now there’s even more reason to love it and it comes in the form of being able to read books with RFID tags. That is if you get the rabbit with the “/tag” suffix.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags were originally used in WWII. Allied aircrafts had giant transistory units weighing hundreds of pounds and helped ground forces identify friendlies. Nowadays, credit cards, passports, proxy cards, etc carry them the RFID chips. In the case of the Nabaztag, it just reads books with those tags. Then there’s also the RFID stickers you can purchase to have your Nabaztag read news, weather, etc.
Oh and it’ll set you back by $165 + taxes. The first gen bunny goes for a very hot price of $95.
With Easter coming up, this is almost a “must-have” item for families with little ones.
Click here for the online store if you’re interested.
EDIT: Forgot to cite Engadget for the reporting.
So I’d never heard of them before or seen em on TV and the vocals confused me. KC thought it was a chick. Then we saw the video and we were like “oh you’re right it was a chick!” haha. Looks like a goth version of Fergie I said. Found them when I was downloading random samples of songs over the internet and I’d say their hit “Monsoon” or better known in Germany as “Durch den Monsun” (translated ~ Through the Monsoon) is a mix between Nirvana and modern day rock.
So we were wrong. It’s a dude afterall. Bill Kaulitz. Even though he looked like a “she” in this music video and in others. He even sports a french manicure and poses very femininely. Strange. Well that’s his choice I guess. Feel free to find other vids of “Tokio Hotel” over YouTube with half of them revolving around the gay-brother controversy which only seems to make them more popular. Strange.
Tokio Hotel consists of 4 German teenagers – Bill (vocals) and Tom Kaulitz (guitars), Georg Listing (bass), and Gustav Schafer (drums). The band was named after Bill’s love for Tokyo and that’s about it.
Quick review on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. So after the big sale mentioned in a previous post on the N800, managed to convince my boss to purchase one as a VoIP device. It got there a day or so after the new year and the excellent build-quality got me impressed. The boys over at Ritz Camera even had the OS updated to the stuff running on the new N810 – the linux-based OS2008. The GUI on this small yet fashionable device was very slick and intuitive unlike the Symbian S60-based Nokia’s mobile phone OS.
The 3-4″ desktop screen was a gorgeous bright/clear box in 800×400 resolution and packed in 3 layers just like any regular Windows/Mac desktop. You have the wallpaper, the applets (no icons), and the task bar (on the left column). The thing was pretty slim, it came with a stylus nicely integrated along with a stow-away rotating camera that could be used for video conferencing or picture taking.
After pairing up with my Nokia E61, with 2 strokes with the stylus, holy shit you can explore my phone. All the files (including the system folders) are visible and I was able to extract files ala Windows Explorer style. All very easy to use. The applets are so easy to push out to the desktop. Streaming internet radio worked like a charm.
Another great thing about the N800 is that the OS automatically changes the touchscreen inputs when using fingers or a stylus. Unfortunately, the main reason we got it was for VoIP and the Skpe connection wasn’t very stable. You had to leave the software running in the background in order to receive calls (duh) but if you’re on the move, you could lose your Wireless reception nullifying the use of Skype.
However, by deleting other previously accessed SSID’s in the neighborhood, you can let it auto-connect to the one you like. I couldn’t find a “preferred” list but by deleting the other SSID’s that are within range, you are able to connect automatically. It supports WPA/WPA2 so that was another plus. My boss didn’t sound too happy the last time I talked about it to him but there’s so much more this thing can do, and even he knows it.
There are 5 things which makes N800 better than the N810 (although I’ve never used the latter) in my opinion:
For the money, there’s nothing else that can beat it for the moment. This is one serious tiny computer that you can carry around and be proud of.
Upon closer inspection as revealed on this one Chinese website:
- The length and width of the Asus Eee PC are 6.5 x 9 inches.
- The overall plastic case of the device has a rather cheap finish on it.
- The touch-pad left/right buttons are on a rocker arm. This puts undue stress on that seesaw point possibly making it susceptible to breakage. The cheapy chintzy plastic material on the rocker arm further strengthens my point about this being a weak spot.
- The packaging box looks like crap. Maybe in Asia, that’s good stuff but we’re used to seeing plain brown but sturdy looking packaging.
An Engadget’s Chinese website shows that upon installing Windows XP (which is a watered down version instead of the regular XP we have), only 500 MB remains free from the 4GB. So Linux is the way to go.
Wikipedia confirmed that the processor used in the Eee PC is indeed the same used in the R2H-BH059T-3 as mentioned in my previous post which would be the Intel 900MHz Celeron M 353 processor.
Finally, an old review of a prototype from Slash Gear.
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