The Great Bit Bucket In The Sky

Google Reader - Great RSS Aggregator?

2009-02-12T17:18:00.000-05:00

Google Reader is a service provided by Google (obviously) that lets you subscribe to RSS feeds (like my blog *ahem*) and read them through a web browser. Now, I didn't really use an RSS reader, because whenever I have the time to use a computer, it wouldn't necessarily be my own. It may be a friend's computer. I have also used various mobile devices with Internet capablities, such as the iPhone/iPod touch. Having a desktop-based RSS aggregator (like Firefox's Live Bookmarks, Liferea, or even Microsoft Outlook) isn't very useful when you are not using a desktop. I would always just visit the site directly.

However, Google Reader solves that problem of not being able to use my computer every time I visit the Internet. I can use a recent web browser (such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome), whether on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device, and have one place to get all of the latest news on things I am interested on.

I have found the mobile expirience particularly useful and useable. I tested Google Reader on a Blackjack II running Windows Mobile 6.0 with Internet Explorer Mobile. And what can I say, I love it. Of course, it's my own opinion. You may dislike the mobile expirience. Also, the expirience is probably different with other devices, such as the iPhone, etc. But, I can say that on Windows Mobile, I love the mobile version Google provides.

Also, I can even share certain posts that I am interested in with other people, even the general public. I plan on checking out this feature at some point in the future.

For me, Google Reader is a wonderful RSS Aggregator and has boosted my productivity significantly. Give Google Reader a try and see if you find similar results. Did I mention it's free?

Also, this would give you a chance to subscribe to my blog's RSS feed. I try to post in this blog whenever I have time. So, you know what to do! *wink* *wink*

The Giving Tree by MacHeist

2008-12-24T18:01:00.000-05:00

MacHeist has done something that is pretty interesting, at least for the Mac community. They are giving away certain shareware at no charge. It's mainly Mac software, but you can also try to win some iPhone/iPod touch software as well. Visit http://www.macgivingtree.com/ to get it. I think it will only last until the 25th (Christmas Day 2008), so make sure you take advantage of this.

I do not receive money or anything else for teling you about this. I just want to help out people who want some free software.

Sonic The Hedgehog Addictions and The Importance of Graphics in a Game

2008-11-24T20:30:00.000-05:00

I own a Nintendo Wii. I have purchased some Wii Virtual Console games more than a year and a half ago. A couple of these games are Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2. I recently started playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 again. I just love the simplicity of the older games. When I look at some more recent video game titles, I just see more "good graphics" come along than actual content at times.

Don't get me wrong! I love some of the new games out today. Also, a few games got much, much better partly because of the graphics (i.e. Final Fantasy X), but I still think that when people had less room for graphics, they had to be more creative when it came to the game. Some people make fun of the Nintendo Wii's graphics performance (I think it's good enough). But isn't the point of a game to be fun? Some games have the best graphics, but they weren't very fun...

I'm just repeating myself over and over now... Anyway, what "old school" games do you like? Let's discuss.

Comments Are Now Working Again

2008-11-09T13:39:00.002-05:00

It has been brought to my attention that posting comments was either difficult or impossible to do. I had tried to comment on my own posts, and realized that I wasn't able to comment easily. I changed the way you can make comments, and hopefully it will now be functional.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

The New OpenOffice.org 3.0 Really Does Impress

2008-10-26T15:37:00.000-04:00

I had just installed OpenOffice.org 3.0 today. I had downloaded the installer a little while ago, when it was originally released. I wanted to give a quick test run of the 3.0 release. So far, I am quite impressed. I pay attention to the look and feel of the program and one thing that really bothered me about OpenOffice 2.x was the toolbar look in Windows. I can say now, that they made a nice choice in making the toolbars look the way they do. Also notable is the native Mac OS X support. Previously, Mac users had to install the X Window System to use OpenOffice.org. Now, you can use OpenOffice.org without going through that mess. It looks much more native from the screenshots I say. Let me give you a few screenshots of the Windows release.

The New OpenOffice.org Start-up Interface

OpenOffice.org Writer

OpenOffice.org Calc

OpenOffice.org Impress

OpenOffice.org Draw

OpenOffice.org Math

I recommend OpenOffice.org as a viable alternative to Microsoft Office. You can get it today at http://www.openoffice.org/.

The Ubuntu Release Canidate is Out!

2008-10-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

Do you use Ubuntu? Well, why don't you go and support the Ubuntu community by downloading the latest 8.10 Release Canidate. It is suitable for use by most users. Ubuntu 8.10 is coming soon!

http://www.ubuntu.com/

My Thoughts On the New MacBooks (Like We Need Another One)

2008-10-24T19:30:00.000-04:00

Recently, Apple announced some new notebook computers. I'm not going to go talk about what was announced or anything like that. I think other sites like Engadget, Gizmodo, and the New York Times have got that covered. I just wanted to write down how this could affect me in the future. I was considering the switch to the Mac. The things I love about the Mac is that I have the ability to run any PC operating system like Mac OS X, Windows Vista, FreeBSD, OpenSolaris, Linux distributions like Ubuntu, openSUSE, CentOS, and so on. I just like expiriementing with such things when I have lots of free time. I like using laptops. I wanted to go with an aluminum notebook, but that required a MacBook Pro. That was $1999 USD out of my pocket, far too much for me.

The great news about this new notebook announcement is that one could have a back lit keyboard, an aluminum casing, and the other styles of the MacBook Pro for a considerably less amount of money.

However...

My problems with then new MacBook is the lack of FireWire. I don't currently own a video camera, but the main reason I like the Mac is for Movie Editing. I looked at a Dell Studio 15 at Best Buy. It was $849, with a 9-cell battery and FireWire. I really want that. I also don't want to pay $2000 for a MacBook Pro. I'd rather use that on a down payment on a car.

For now, I think I'll stick with these PCs. I am very content with them. It's not like I need a new notebook today. Maybe in a couple of more years...

A Howto: Install KDE 4.1.1 in Kubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

2008-09-23T09:30:00.003-04:00

If you use Kubuntu (or Ubuntu, Xubuntu, etc.), maybe you'll be interested in getting KDE 4.1 on your desktop. It isn't too hard. I found these instructions at the Kubuntu website. I'm taking these instructions there and reproducing them in a different way here, because these instructions that I made up made more sense to me. Maybe it would make more sense to you.

NOTE: I take no resposibility if your system breaks as a result of you following these instructions. Proceed at your own risk.

Now that we have that out of the way...

I started with a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.04 with the GNOME desktop environment. I don't have KDE installed at this point.

First, download and install all updates for good measure.

   sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Next, open the file /etc/apt/sources.list in your favoite text editor (as the superuser):

   sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

NOTE: You may want to replace "vi" with "gedit" or "nano" if you don't want to use vi.

Now, add the following line to the top of the file (as one line):

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-members-kde4/ubuntu hardy main

Then, type the following commands:

   sudo apt-get update

   sudo apt-get install kubuntu-kde4-desktop

You will probably be asked to install packages without verification. If so, enter "y" to say yes.

Hopefully, you will enjoy KDE 4.1 as much as I did.

The Great Internet Challenge - Don't Use Google for 24 Hours

2008-09-20T18:44:00.000-04:00

Google is probably the most popular search engine out there. It has become so popular that the name “Google” is even in the dictionary. Maybe you use Google Search for the results you receive. Maybe you use Google because that is “what everyone else uses.” Maybe you used Google because you didn’t know that there were other choices. All I ask is that you take one day and try to use some other search engine. I’m not saying that Google is evil and you should never use its search feature or any other service that it provides ever. That’d be somewhat extreme. Google is not evil (yet) and they provide some really handy services like Search, Email Accounts, an Online Office Suite, and more. I just want you to look at some alternatives. Maybe you will thank me for the suggestion.

Here are some alternative search engines:

Live Search – http://www.live.com/
Ask.com – http://www.ask.com/
Yahoo! – http://www.yahoo.com/

I’ve been using Live Search for a few days. Now I’ve grown accustomed to it. I like the interface a little bit more than Google’s. I’m not saying that you should switch from Google to another search engine. Just give a try.

Maybe you know about a few more search engines. Then try those. Take it as a fun game to challenge yourself and maybe your friends. If you do know about a search engine that is not listed here, then submit a comment. I’ll add to this as time permits.

The New iPod Nano - First Impressions

2008-09-13T14:28:00.000-04:00

Two days ago (September 11, 2008), I went to my local Apple Retail Store and purchased a new iPod nano. I recently gave up my iPhone (long story), so I wanted a new iPod or some other mp3 player. I heard about an announcement that took place last Tuesday. I loved the idea of the iPod nano being in about 8-9 colors. So, after some looking through and decision making, I got the Product Red colored nano, mostly because red is my favorite color.

So far, everything is going pretty good with my new iPod. I love this slim design. I had it in my pocket all day yesterday, and I almost didn't notice that it was even in my pocket. It's pretty thin, I almost couldn't believe it. Then again, I'm used to those bigger iPods and other thick devices. My favorite part of this new iPod nano upgrade is the all new colors. I originally planned on getting the yellow one, but the red one was more appealing to me. The colors are:

Silver
Black
Purple
Blue
Green
Yellow
Red, and...
Pink

Lot's of colors...

The Apple Salesperson told me that they had just received the new iPods the night before. I apparently was one of the first people to get it. Cool!

People Shouldn't Run (Drive) Away After a Car Accident

2008-08-22T09:34:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I last put a post on this blog. I have to apologize for that. The summer over where I live is just to wonderful. Why would you want to be inside with the computer when there is so much do to?

One thing I saw in the past couple of weeks was quite unbelievable, at least to me. I was in a car talking to the driver. We were stopped at a red light. Suddenly, I heard a loud screech sound as a black car was trying to stop. Apparently, the driver didn't realize it was a red light. He could have been on his cell phone or something else. In any case, it was clear to me that he was distracted.

Unfortunately, the light was green for the other road leading into the freeway (as it usually is). So another car was moving across the street. At that point, they met. They both spun out of control.

So then, as soon as he understood what he just got into, the driver of the black car started to drive off. I was going to get the license plate. To my frustration, a lady with a white van pulled in front of us (when she should have kept going) and blocked our view of the entire car. She didn't stick around, even though she was a witness. Our car started to pursuit this very idiotic driver. Of course, we still couldn't get a license plate.

At least it wasn't the fault of the poor lady who's car got damaged. She was obeying the rules. That man wasn't. I hope the police find that man. The woman did not deserve that.

Remember this blog post the next time you are in a car accident of any kind.

Do You Play Games On Your Phone?

2008-08-02T15:30:00.001-04:00

Practically every cellular phone you can buy now has the capability to play one or two games. I'm not saying that they are great games, but that they are games. Yesterday, after spending about 10 hours in my local mall, I did wish that I had some games on my iPhone. Fortunately, during my lengthy stay at the mall, I did manage to stop by the Apple Retail Store and pick up an iTunes gift card.

When I got home, I purchased the iPhone game "Super Monkey Ball." It was pretty difficult to control. I am getting better at controlling the little monkey. It is a great way to pass some time while you are waiting for someone (like I do).

So, what phone do you have? Does it play games? Maybe you have the iPhone (or the iPod touch). In that case, what applications do you like to use?

Want Ubuntu? Go to Best Buy!

2008-07-13T23:42:00.000-04:00

I love this! Ubuntu, an extremely popular Linux distribution, can be found at your local Best Buy. It is pretty cool to think that something that was sort of an experiment just about four years ago, is now in Best Buy. Can you believe it?

Ubuntu will remain free, as always. You can even get free CDs via ShipIt. But the Ubuntu that is available at Best Buy is pretty interesting. It is the normal Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron" Desktop Edition that is on the disc. It also includes 60 days of vendor support from ValuSoft, the company that is selling the software. Canonical put this up on their blog.

What I like about this is that people will actually think that Ubuntu is something worth using. If someone offered you Ubuntu, would you rather see a burned disc with "Ubuntu" written in a permanent marker, or would you rather see a nice box with some documentation, printed discs, and 60 days of support? Sounds like it would be worth the $19.99 USD.

Will this even last? Or will we see Ubuntu fail in the brick-and-mortar marketplace? Only time will tell.

Google 411 - A Way to Use 411 Without the Cost.

2008-06-04T16:00:00.002-04:00

In the United States, people with telephones and cellular phones can call the number 411 to get access to a directory of different business phone numbers. It can be very handy for when you want to order pizza let's say, but you are in your car and don't have ready access to a phone book. The downside to 411 is that it usually costs money to call it. My telephone service charges one US dollar per call. What if you don't want to pay for it...

Well, thanks to 1-800-GOOG-411, you can get toll-free access to Google's version of 411. If you live in the U.S. or Canada, you can look up business numbers and even connect to that business phone number for free. You must be in the U.S. or Canada looking for businesses in those countries, though. But, you can't complain. It is free, after all!

Just call 1-800-GOOG-411 and go! I wonder how they make money from this...

Participate in Firefox Download Day 2008

2008-06-03T16:00:00.000-04:00

Mozilla will soon release the long-awaited Firefox 3. Firefox 3 has fixed a few issues people have had with Firefox 2, such as being lighter on your computer's resources and all of that other good stuff.

There is an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most software downloads in 24 hours. You can pledge to download it during Download Day. When you do, you'll recieve an E-Mail explaining that they will notify you when it's time to download. I have pledged to download during Download Day. Will you?

Compiz Fusion: Breaking Aero Glass Day By Day

2008-06-02T21:05:00.000-04:00

One of the things the Linux operating system has it going for it is Compiz Fusion. To be technical, Compiz Fusion is a collection of things. One of the key things is a compositing window manager, in which the end result is things like "Wobbly Windows," "Desktop Cube," and transparent menus and windows. Personally, my favorite effect is the "Ring Switcher." It's pretty amazing. This is one of the things that I've seen that get people thinking about Linux as an alternative. Whether Compiz Fusion is a good enough reason to switch your operating system is still up for debate, at least for me.

Here is some YouTube videos that I have found to be a great demonstration of all of the cool things Compiz Fusion can enable your computer to do. Some of the eye candy goes too far to me, but you can go as crazy as you'll allow for the eye candy, so when watching YouTube videos about this, notice the differences in effects.

Do you have a good backup strategy?

2008-05-25T18:38:00.000-04:00

Let me give you a nice little story. My computer had basically broken down. The only way to fix it was to use these restore discs that the computer manufacturer gives you. So, I basically lost everything except my photos and hopefully my songs. It just happened last night, so I am still recovering for this incident. It got me thinking. I am in a serious need of a backup strategy. I don't really have any proper backup.

So, here is a reminder. Do you back up regularly? There are many tools I have heard of, and possibly plan to take advantage of.

SyncToy, by Microsoft, is a tool for Microsoft Windows that would help you sync these files over to another drive. I have also heard of Apple's new Time Machine is supposed to work seamlessly with your Mac experience, and it's part of the new Leopard operating system, so there is no excuse there not to backup.

Except...

What media do you backup to? In my case, I used DVDs. Obviously, hard drives are more convenient. I plan to backup my computer with one when I get one. Apple has this great new product, called Time Capsule, that is supposed to work seamlessly with Time Machine, and it's wireless! I plan to get that because I could use a new router and I would love not to be tied up to a hard drive to backup.

I guess how and (*shudder*) if you backup is up to you.

A Basic Walkthrough of the Ubuntu Installer

2008-05-22T17:27:00.001-04:00

I have been doing a lot of videos recently. This is getting pretty fun!

After experiencing the Live CD, did you decide to go a little closer to the deep end of the pool and install Ubuntu? Well, I do just that by giving you a very high level walkthrough of the Ubuntu installation program. So, here is the video!

I will probably take a break until the weekend. So, see you later!

Exploring the Ubuntu Live CD

2008-05-19T22:49:00.000-04:00

In this video, we actually explore the Ubuntu Live CD and it's interface before we install it to a hard disk. So, enjoy the video!

How to Burn an Ubuntu ISO to a Disc

2008-05-19T03:38:00.000-04:00

In a previous video, I showed you how to get Ubuntu. Now, I show you how to burn an Ubuntu ISO to a disc. So, here's the video!

How to Get Ubuntu

2008-05-19T00:43:00.000-04:00

Ubuntu is a completely free and easy to use Linux flavor (distribution). I show you the three main ways how to get it and specifically how to download it. So, here is the video!

The Sad Realities of Free Web Hosting

2008-05-18T23:32:00.000-04:00

I have been searching for a free web host over the past couple of days. I don't enjoy it. All I need is some space to host a WordPress installation to play around with it. What do I get? Very junky web hosts. I know there is a free WordPress hosted service, but I need to play around with the WordPress Content Management System (CMS) itself, not actually blog with it.

All I can see is, if you want a free host, feel free to try that. But for any good hosting, either buy it, or befriend an owner of a Web Hosting Company.

Why do you blog?

2008-05-16T02:17:00.000-04:00

If you are a blogger, you must have a reason why you blog. Some people do it for fun. Some people do it because they have to. Still some people do it only for money.

I ask this because I think about why I blog every time I make a post. I'm not saying I hate blogging. In fact, a blog is something I can look at some time from now and say, I was or still am there. For me, my blog is like my home on the Internet. I don't really make any money. In fact, I actually lose money for buying the domain name. But I don't regret doing so, and I don't regret doing this blog.

But, I have to think about why I do this blog because, I do not want to loose focus on what my goals are. One of my goals in the future is to, maybe someday, have the blog pay for itself. But, making money is not my obsession. I have noticed some blogs who seem to exist only to get money. The problem with this is, they get too focused on the advertising and not on the content. The content suffers, and their blog fails with them probably dropping it. I believe that content should come first and foremost, and the money will come on its own. For me, it may never come. But, because that is not my real reason for this blog, it doesn't bother me all that much.

For me, the fun of sharing what I have to say with people who are interested enough to read it, is good enough.

My Teacher's Switch from Boot Camp to VMWare Fusion

2008-05-15T00:37:00.000-04:00

My teacher Mr. Bruce Frey, a technology teacher in my local high school, is a Mac person. He decided to switch to VMWare Fusion from Boot Camp. Mr. Frey really enjoys his new virtual machine. He especially likes the fact that VMWare Fusion detected his Boot Camp partition and ran with it. So, without further ado, here is the video!

You can get VMWare Fusion today at http://www.vmware.com/switchtofusion .

Are You a Touch Typist?

2008-05-11T22:09:00.000-04:00

Touch typing is the fastest way to type. It is much faster than the "hunt and peck" typing that most people normally do. Do you "hunt and peck" those keys on the keyboard? I hope not! I used to do that, and typing was considerably slower than now. I type at around 60 words per minute and I love it.

Touch typing is not only a faster way to type, it also helps you to get a job. On one job application I saw, there was a question asking me if I can type and how many words per minute I can type. 60 words per minute is not that bad...

If you're thinking about it, just do it! Use applications that teach you how to type. You can find many applications for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux that teach you this skill. Mavis Beacon Teaches typing is a popular software program on Windows and Macintosh systems. If on Linux, search in your favorite package manager for a typing program. There are several to choose from.