Random observations, teachings and musings of a well trained cubicle superhero.
http://j1.ca
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
disregard
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Japanese Product Design Database.
Product Design Database," a showcase of different consumer products from the '70s, '80s and '90s, mostly, including everything from phones to tape recorders to scooters.
From Engadget and MusicThing
From Engadget and MusicThing
Monday, November 22, 2004
Click for instant love.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Cellular Toronto Audio Tour (Free)
Jaysay:After describing the quality commentary but flawed industrial design and ergonomics of the AGO's Modiglianai audio tour handset, I remembered this site. It has been going around blogs for a while; I should have posted but I am fat and stupid.
Murmer Toronto: http://murmurtoronto.ca
Eye article: http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_08.19.04/city/murmur.html
From Murmur About Page:
[murmur] is an archival audio project that collects and curates stories set in specific Toronto locations. At each of these locations, a [murmur] sign will mark the availability of a story with a telephone number and location code. By using a mobile phone, users are able to listen to the story of that place while engaging in the full physical experience of being there. Some stories suggest that the listener walk around, following a certain path through a place, while others allow a person to wander with both their feet and their gaze.
More Dim Sum today. This will be like 4 times in 2 weeks. I sweat shiu mai and love it.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Habby Burdaye To Me
yey!
Also today, got 2 job offers within hours of each other. Today is a good day, even though I missed the ending of the wickedly freaky SAW. Go see it, then keep the ending to yourself...
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Cast of G4TechTV's The ScreenSavers Fired.
This sadly is not a joke. Nov 11, around 11am G4 canned the entire cast and crew of Unscrewed and The ScreenSavers, they were told to be out of the building by 3pm. Remaining will be Kevin Rose and wifey Sarah Lane. *Sigh* I loved this show. I have honestly been going crazy trying to figure out why the last episode wasnt recorded by my Snapstream box. It's because it was a rerun, and will be reruns until the relaunch sometime after the US holidays. Why does something bad allways happens around my birthday. If the remake sucks Im cancelling for sure. G4, make it a tech show or you're fired.
http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:-RB7CymNw9MJ:www.kevinrose.com/index.php/weblog/comments/131/+&hl=en
Network changes at G4
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.
+krose
http://alexalbrecht.typepad.com/
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
http://sarahlane.typepad.com/
Those of you who watch me on G4TechTV will notice some TSS reruns for the next few days. We're busy regrouping, reorganizing, and relaunching, folks. Today we lost some great, great people in the latest phase of our ongoing evolution. This is the reality of the biz, and it never gets any easier.
TSS has not been canceled, but we need a little time before moving forward. A million thanks to all of you for your constant support and encouragment. I'll see you all again soon. :)s
PS- I want to add just one more (important) thought here. Alex, Dan, Yoshi, Martin, Laura, and the producers we lost today from TSS and Unscrewed are all amazing, talented, funny, and incredibly bright people. I have no doubt that they are all headed for bigger and better things. Class acts, all y'all.
http://samureye.blogspot.com/2004/11/truth-about-g4.html
*In addition to Unscrewed being killed, The Screen Savers is also being altered. After today's taping of TSS, the studio will go dark until they start filming again... and when they do, TSS will be very different, if even recognizable. From what I heard they are basically merging Pulse and TSS. Many cast members from G4's Pulse will be taking a spot on the show and what hosts from the current / old school TSS will be left is debateable. I've heard Kevin and Sarah are staying.. but then again Unscrewed was supposedly in the clear too. As for anyone else, it's up in the air. Also, it was speculated from different sources that the title may be changed.
happy birthday to I. In other news I may be paid by someone new by the end of the week! More travel, more groupies and a lot more tech. Hazzah.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Mark James-Cardboy
I love Playground Magazine. I assure you, next year the vinyl collectable (the other vinyl) market will explode. I haven't been to Magic Pony in Toronto yet, but whe i do i will leave a very poor and happy man. Check out Strangeco, KidRobot, ToyTokyo, Ningyoushi
img err
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Microsoft says tabbed-browsing not important, then "spotlights" a plug in.
in this News.com article Steve Vamos, Microsoft Australia's managing director said ""I don't agree that just because a (competing) product has a feature that we don't have, that feature is important," he said. "It is not. It is only important if it is a feature the customer wants. There are plenty of products out there with features we don't have. We have plenty of features that our customers don't use.
"If there are features in our products that are subpar or need to be added, then I have great confidence that we are an organization that responds pretty quickly and effectively to that."
English reiterated that features such as tabbed browsing are not important to IE users.
Now looky here, Microsoft on it's Main Windows Page Spotlights this free plug-in asking visitors "Want Tabbed Browsing, Search Toolbars, and More?"
Even if this featured plug-in does more than tabbed-browsing, I find it ironic that Windows notes those two Firefox standard features on Windows.com.
http://www.windows.com/
"If there are features in our products that are subpar or need to be added, then I have great confidence that we are an organization that responds pretty quickly and effectively to that."
English reiterated that features such as tabbed browsing are not important to IE users.
Now looky here, Microsoft on it's Main Windows Page Spotlights this free plug-in asking visitors "Want Tabbed Browsing, Search Toolbars, and More?"
Even if this featured plug-in does more than tabbed-browsing, I find it ironic that Windows notes those two Firefox standard features on Windows.com.
http://www.windows.com/
Friday, November 12, 2004
tenbyten.org / 100 Words and Pictures that Define the Time (Flash)
10x10 / 100 Words and Pictures that Define the Time / by Jonathan J. Harris
Every hour, 10x10 scans the RSS feeds of several leading international news sources, and performs an elaborate process of weighted linguistic analysis on the text contained in their top news stories. After this process, conclusions are automatically drawn about the hour's most important words. The top 100 words are chosen, along with 100 corresponding images, culled from the source news stories. At the end of each day, month, and year, 10x10 looks back through its archives to conclude the top 100 words for the given time period. In this way, a constantly evolving record of our world is formed, based on prominent world events, without any human input.
10x10 is built using Perl, MySQL, PHP, and Macromedia Flash.
Every hour, 10x10 scans the RSS feeds of several leading international news sources, and performs an elaborate process of weighted linguistic analysis on the text contained in their top news stories. After this process, conclusions are automatically drawn about the hour's most important words. The top 100 words are chosen, along with 100 corresponding images, culled from the source news stories. At the end of each day, month, and year, 10x10 looks back through its archives to conclude the top 100 words for the given time period. In this way, a constantly evolving record of our world is formed, based on prominent world events, without any human input.
10x10 is built using Perl, MySQL, PHP, and Macromedia Flash.
Gregor's Semi-Automatic LiveJournal Updater
Pointless, yet strangely accurate. I have nothing more to say. And Heidi.
Today was really tiring.
I got out of bed because I had to throw up. I'm really sick. I mean REALLY sick.
I feel a bit strange because we've just moved to Idaho and there's a weird smell in the house.
I'm so ill
I am updating this journal for the first time in ages, because I've been in prison.
I have my own computer and digital camera. Here's a photo of my room. The weather in Ontario is cold. I have nothing more to say.
I went to the doctor yesterday, and he said I have a terrible skin disease which prevents me from coming into contact with other human beings. And bipolar disorder.
You should all do this quiz! It's amazingly accurate. You just put in your name and birthday, and it will tell you you're a moron.
That's enough for now. But I'll leave you with this poem I wrote. It's about my friend Robert, who has bipolar disorder. Just like me. And Heidi.
Created with the Gregor's Semi-Automatic LiveJournal Updater™. Update your journal today!
Powered by Rum and Monkey
Today was really tiring.
I got out of bed because I had to throw up. I'm really sick. I mean REALLY sick.
I feel a bit strange because we've just moved to Idaho and there's a weird smell in the house.
I'm so ill
I am updating this journal for the first time in ages, because I've been in prison.
I have my own computer and digital camera. Here's a photo of my room. The weather in Ontario is cold. I have nothing more to say.
I went to the doctor yesterday, and he said I have a terrible skin disease which prevents me from coming into contact with other human beings. And bipolar disorder.
You should all do this quiz! It's amazingly accurate. You just put in your name and birthday, and it will tell you you're a moron.
That's enough for now. But I'll leave you with this poem I wrote. It's about my friend Robert, who has bipolar disorder. Just like me. And Heidi.
Created with the Gregor's Semi-Automatic LiveJournal Updater™. Update your journal today!
Powered by Rum and Monkey
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Skype & Siemens Bring Wireless VoIP - Digital-Lifestyles.info
Skype & Siemens Bring Wireless VoIP - Digital-Lifestyles.info
Siemens have announced the availability of a range of handsets that work with VoIP (Voice over IP) software, Skype. Simply by plugging the USB adapter into a computer running an updated version of Skype, home and business users will be able to make calls using a cordless handset. Calls to other Skype users will be free and calls to International landlines can be made at very low cost using SkypeOut.
For those of you who like model numbers - the Siemens Gigaset M34 USB PC adapter works with the recently launched Gigaset C340/345 and Gigaset CX340/345isdn, Gigaset S440/445 and Gigaset SX440/445isdn, Gigaset S645 and Gigaset SL440.
The handset range is, in itself, pretty impressive featuring some with built-in cameras capable of sending MMS and others able to do Instant Messanging (IM). Remember, these are not cellular phones, but are for home or office use
Jay say: I still like StanaPhone over Skype. Build the phone service and make it work, before adding IM crapola.
Siemens have announced the availability of a range of handsets that work with VoIP (Voice over IP) software, Skype. Simply by plugging the USB adapter into a computer running an updated version of Skype, home and business users will be able to make calls using a cordless handset. Calls to other Skype users will be free and calls to International landlines can be made at very low cost using SkypeOut.
For those of you who like model numbers - the Siemens Gigaset M34 USB PC adapter works with the recently launched Gigaset C340/345 and Gigaset CX340/345isdn, Gigaset S440/445 and Gigaset SX440/445isdn, Gigaset S645 and Gigaset SL440.
The handset range is, in itself, pretty impressive featuring some with built-in cameras capable of sending MMS and others able to do Instant Messanging (IM). Remember, these are not cellular phones, but are for home or office use
Jay say: I still like StanaPhone over Skype. Build the phone service and make it work, before adding IM crapola.
Microsoft Launches Search Beta
Monday, November 08, 2004
Techno's seedy underbelly: amateur chiropracty
Sneak's Birthday Party at the Docks.
What can i say that zealous fanboys haven't already said here: http://www.tribemagazine.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79851
1. Having a twisted sleep/work pattern is a helpful for the 7am disco dance
2. People still dance until 7am
3. Derrick May, in arguably the weirdest point of the night, bearhugged me to adjust a creaky back. Words "ahhhh techno just fixed my back" followed gutteral screams of snapping vertabrae
4. Derrick Carter rode the final bus to ARC with us (who just needed a ride back downtown)
5. The breaks room faired surprisingly well and Saddler/Chu took me to school
6. No woman on the planet can get lost faster than Uma.
7. Crowd was amazingly happy-go-lucky, resulting in some random and fun conversations
8. Walking out I said "Hey Derrick", Derrick Carter and Derrick May then both turned around and asked me to be more specific as to whom I was speaking.
9. Jay-K is a freaking disco inferno. Of all the move-busting I did that night, Mr. K mopped the dancefloor with pure "'avin' it"-a-tude
10. Possibly top 3 best parties I've ever been to in my life.
Remind me to open a record store and collect the finest beats known to man, then unleash them on an unexpecting wind down crowd at 6am, forcing a surge of ppl back to the dancefloor
What can i say that zealous fanboys haven't already said here: http://www.tribemagazine.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79851
1. Having a twisted sleep/work pattern is a helpful for the 7am disco dance
2. People still dance until 7am
3. Derrick May, in arguably the weirdest point of the night, bearhugged me to adjust a creaky back. Words "ahhhh techno just fixed my back" followed gutteral screams of snapping vertabrae
4. Derrick Carter rode the final bus to ARC with us (who just needed a ride back downtown)
5. The breaks room faired surprisingly well and Saddler/Chu took me to school
6. No woman on the planet can get lost faster than Uma.
7. Crowd was amazingly happy-go-lucky, resulting in some random and fun conversations
8. Walking out I said "Hey Derrick", Derrick Carter and Derrick May then both turned around and asked me to be more specific as to whom I was speaking.
9. Jay-K is a freaking disco inferno. Of all the move-busting I did that night, Mr. K mopped the dancefloor with pure "'avin' it"-a-tude
10. Possibly top 3 best parties I've ever been to in my life.
Remind me to open a record store and collect the finest beats known to man, then unleash them on an unexpecting wind down crowd at 6am, forcing a surge of ppl back to the dancefloor
Thursday, November 04, 2004
The Jtronforce is all around you
in warehouses...in alleyways, we lay in wait for the moment the Jtronforce is called to arms. We will fight fearlessly to defend your planet from the Pointed Stick People of Rigel 7. Lest our energon run dry.
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/transformer.swf
courtesy of MikeyMike via Allthingschristie via comments via internet via Cogeco via modem via router via wireless card via lcdpanel via eyes
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/transformer.swf
courtesy of MikeyMike via Allthingschristie via comments via internet via Cogeco via modem via router via wireless card via lcdpanel via eyes
Coldcut:Solid Steel featuring the one like DJ Shadow (Realaudio)
rtsp://real1.cicv.fr/Dirty/mix_coldcut.rm
Expect this in rar form soon too.
courtesy of dirty (thankfully revamped)
Expect this in rar form soon too.
courtesy of dirty (thankfully revamped)
GUIdebook: Graphical User Interface gallery
GUIdebook: Graphical User Interface gallery
It's a library of user interfaces.
"from command prompts, to GEOS for the commodore 64, through Mac OSX. It's an interesting stroll down memory lane."
via Hemos on Slashdot
It's a library of user interfaces.
"from command prompts, to GEOS for the commodore 64, through Mac OSX. It's an interesting stroll down memory lane."
via Hemos on Slashdot
EAC - Exact Audio Copy (CDex challenger)
EAC - Exact Audio Copy
Through a long string of advanced link-surfery I found an article on Slashdot that listed this app. "/."rs reported better results with EAC in terms of stability and in final mp3 quality when coupled with the LAME 3.96.1 mp3 engine. (http://lame.souceforce.net)
http://www.mpex.net/en/software/download/lamedll.html
I'll give it a whirl, and bump this post with opinions.
Through a long string of advanced link-surfery I found an article on Slashdot that listed this app. "/."rs reported better results with EAC in terms of stability and in final mp3 quality when coupled with the LAME 3.96.1 mp3 engine. (http://lame.souceforce.net)
http://www.mpex.net/en/software/download/lamedll.html
I'll give it a whirl, and bump this post with opinions.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Toshiba recall. damnit!
http://209.167.114.38/support//ProductNotices/mmrp/press.htm
Tokyo—Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has identified a potential issue relating to memory module components (“the components”) which are incorporated into specific models of Toshiba notebook PCs. The components, under certain conditions and when used in combination with certain other components, might potentially cause blue screens or intermittent PC lockups, or undetected memory data corruption,
I dont have user removable standard memory. crap.
Tokyo—Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has identified a potential issue relating to memory module components (“the components”) which are incorporated into specific models of Toshiba notebook PCs. The components, under certain conditions and when used in combination with certain other components, might potentially cause blue screens or intermittent PC lockups, or undetected memory data corruption,
I dont have user removable standard memory. crap.
Gates schleps new media centre and players
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=36251
View a video of Bill Gates' presentation at the Digital Entertainment Anywhere Event Oct. 12, 2004 in Los Angeles, Calif.:
Bill Gates' Keynote, Digital Entertainment Anywhere Event (300 Kbps, 1 hr. 3 min)
What's the vision for Digital Entertainment Anywhere? Well, it's that you should be able to have your music, your photos, your video wherever you go. And that means a lot of different places. It means having those media experiences on the phone in your pocket, having a portable device that kids can watch movies in the back of the car, being able to have these things anywhere in the home, whether it's a bedroom with a TV screen, a room that you've just got your great speakers in and you like to listen to music. And the experience should be unified. If you set up a playlist, it should be available everywhere. If you supply the music, all the devices should be able to play that music. This is a very challenging vision to achieve because it's not something that one company alone can do.
From last month's keynote. Im so out of it. Damn the snusnu
View a video of Bill Gates' presentation at the Digital Entertainment Anywhere Event Oct. 12, 2004 in Los Angeles, Calif.:
Bill Gates' Keynote, Digital Entertainment Anywhere Event (300 Kbps, 1 hr. 3 min)
What's the vision for Digital Entertainment Anywhere? Well, it's that you should be able to have your music, your photos, your video wherever you go. And that means a lot of different places. It means having those media experiences on the phone in your pocket, having a portable device that kids can watch movies in the back of the car, being able to have these things anywhere in the home, whether it's a bedroom with a TV screen, a room that you've just got your great speakers in and you like to listen to music. And the experience should be unified. If you set up a playlist, it should be available everywhere. If you supply the music, all the devices should be able to play that music. This is a very challenging vision to achieve because it's not something that one company alone can do.
From last month's keynote. Im so out of it. Damn the snusnu
www.flickr.com |
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