Hey Audience,
I’m going to be taking a copywriting class on Saturdays for the next month. I can’t wait. Root for me.
Enjoy your weekend!
Archives
All posts for the month June, 2012
Music has been on an evolution since whenever humans first created it. Perhaps the Earth itself created music. Humans though, created all the different ways we now listen to music. From records, to tapes, to streaming online, we invented all of these ways to listen to our favorite soundtracks. Are some of these older forms of music forgotten in the sands of time? Is the almighty mp3 file now the king of the land?
The mp3 file is a giant in today’s world. We’ve built programs and systems to play these devices. Apps like iTunes have made the mp3 wildly accessible to anyone with a computer. They take up no physical space in the real world. And I can send one to a friend with a few clicks of a button or a thumb drive. I also can download an mp3 for on the cheap and then store it into my personal library to use at a moments notice.
Then again, the mp3 isn’t tangible. It’s completely digital. If for instance a car doesn’t have a usb port for my mp3 player I either have to jump through some hoops to get it to work or come to the conclusion that I wont be using the player in my car. Sometimes an mp3 file is misleading and isn’t the exact file you mean’t to buy at all. Have you ever bought a live version of a song when you wanted the stock one?
Speaking of stock, compact discs can be sifted through at a store like Dimple. They are physical place in our world. They aren’t place holders on your computer unless you make them into mp3 files. A cd’s case has its own story along with the pictures of the band inside the case. And a cd has a physical story all its own. Although, I hate when my cd skips because that’s annoying.
So is the lowly cd finished? Should we pass over it and let time swallow it up? I will miss using my gigantic 90′s stereo if the answer is yes. But an mp3 is just so convenient. Is the cd tired or terrific?
I’ve been looking for a new way to search for music lately. Music has always been apart of my life and I’ve always had a way to find it. I’ve been looking at musical apps and I noticed Spotify. What is Spotify? It’s like a giant online playlist of music that you create and your friends influence.
When you open Spotify it will look strangely like iTunes or any other popular music app. So, no points for originality on that front. However, if you delve deeper you’ll notice the search bar on top. Search any word and songs for that word will appear. They may be the song’s title or a band name. Then you can play whatever you find.
This music app has some cool features to it. Your friends can send you music messages and suggestions on Spotify. I’m connected with my friends through Facebook. You have an inbox playlist that holds their music ideas. And playlists can be created at any time. I can even drag music I’ve just found into a playlist. It’s nifty!
My one complaint for this free service is the way advertisements show up. I don’t mind hearing your ad on my playlist. I’m rather used to that from listening to Pandora. Nevertheless, when you then put a giant ad on my screen I feel like you’ve invaded my computer. It’s a little overboard.
Although I’m not a huge fan of the ads, Spotify is super cool. It’s a neat way to find new music. I enjoy that I can receive their suggestions as well as my friends. Making a playlist isn’t difficult either. This app has so much going for it and I’m impressed. You can check it out here.
Everythingness is slowly starting to take over our homes and jobs. While it’s probably impossible to stop, I’m sure we can direct it. If you had a chance to put everythingness into one object, what would it be? I would choose a house. I think that’s where it would get the most use.
Everythingness inside your house may remind some of the Hal9000, but it wouldn’t be nearly as sophisticated. There would be a screen in a central location in your house. This screen would have several different apps within it. Apps that would benefit everyone in the house especially mom. And the screen itself would be about the size of an iPad.
What does this screen with its everythingness do? It tells you when dinner is done. The screen can help you locate things you stored away when you initially moved in. Your “iHouse” also would have a logger for your normal grocery lists and coupons. The iHouse does it all.
You know what else it can do? It can tell you what tools are in the garage. Or, when integral parts of the house are getting old or past their guaranteed warranty. You’d know when to have someone look at your furnace and air conditioner. And as an added bonus you could close the garage door with one of the apps.
Everythingness in your house may feel a little scary. If your house knows everything it might start messing with you. Still, the modern convenience it could bring to a living space seems fairly useful. I especially would want to know where I put things when I moved so my stuff didn’t get lost in the shuffle. What does your everythingness do in your house?
Are you getting bored on the internet? Every once in a while I want to look at some new interesting things on the internet and I don’t quite know where to go. So, I do some searching and find interesting sites. I’m going to share my results with you. If you like them, just make sure to mention me at the next social gathering.
I like to buy things at a deal! That’s why I shop at Tanga. This online store doesn’t always have everything you’re looking for. Regardless, it’s got tons of deals on interesting items. Tanga has rings, electronics, sunglasses, board games, and cool shirts. And it’s all at a low price for that item.
Are you a fan of art? I love art! I even have an account at Deviantart!. Think of an online art gallery where you can meet other artists and share artwork. This is that site. There are blogs, forums, journals, and the art shop. In many cases it’s a more visual FaceBook.
I’m horribly interested in weird technology. Which is why I really enjoy the Gajitz website. You can almost always find something new on this page that makes you turn your head. One of the articles had chew-able pencils for college students. There was another article with a coffee table shaped like a giant Nintendo controller. And the controller worked!
You can find thousands of interesting places on the web. So, I’m going to need your help pursuing them all. If you happen upon anything you’d like to share, please put it in the comments below. Or check out one of these websites and share your experience with them. Let’s get digital.
Have you ever had a piece of technology that you really enjoyed using except for that one annoying hiccup? Then you need a post like this. I’ve decided sometimes I need to vent a little bit at my electronic devices. They need to know I’m willing to tell my audience about that one issue I have with them. And I’m definitely willing to do so.
Dear Sidekick 4G
Bro, I’m sorry I jumped into the pool with you. To be fair though, you have to admit my running front flip was amazing. My friends put you in rice and got you all dry again. Could you please stop coming back to life and then randomly leaving me? It’s like giving hope to a planet that Superman will save them, only for him to leave abruptly. Curse you phone!
Dear XBox 360
Why does your online have to cost money? Why can’t you be more like the PS3 with its free online play? No no, there is nothing wrong with you baby. I’m simply saying you can do all the same things she does. You can play games, play movies, and entertain me. I just like the internet now and again. Just think about it for me okay?
Dear Scion
I don’t think I’m going to let you see that doctor anymore. When you told me you needed to see him for oil I thought that was fine. But then you wanted to see him for temperature problems. Is there something between you two? Look, I can handle it if you need to tell me something. It’s just, I need to get to work and go places. And I thought we had a nice relationship.
Sometimes you have to let your inner demons out in the form of little complaint letters to your machinery. If you have an issue or gripe with a piece of technology, please leave a comment in the form I used up above. I’m positive we will both share that little complaint together. I hope to hear from you soon audience.
Online games come in all shapes and sizes. My favorite shape is free though. AirMech is a free to play real time strategy/tower defense style game with heavy emphasis on mobile tactics. Carbon Games are the makers behind Airmech. It’s a interesting strategy game, though it’s still in its beta. So, because it’s not finished think of this article as a first impression and not a review.
AirMech as I said before is an RTS with tower defense elements. You play as the pilot of an AirMech. This mech is a transformer who can be a walker or a jet with the push of a button. Your team has a large factory base that creates other specialized but weaker units that act independently. If the main base gets taken out then its curtains for you. Which means, you must place your units tactically. Besides fighting, the AirMech functions as a troop transport for the other units in the game.
Playing a defender, assailant, shuttle, “creator”, and team leader can get confusing. Luckily the controls are simple. The mech moves with wasd and fires with the left mouse button. Shift transforms your mech between modes while space lets you pickup or place units on the ground. The Q key opens a window for you to select what units to build next. Because of this design the gameplay is easy to jump into.
Graphically speaking this game looks nice. It’s not the most intensive game on your video card but it has a painted look to it. I would compare it to something like Dota2. Although, while I enjoy this game visually I’m hoping they will work on the music. Or rather I hope they add music. It’s a little barren with only the screeching of factory doors sound effects and gunfire. If my pilot yelled at his enemies and there was a pumpin starcraftian beat I would be happier.
In a nutshell, AirMech is looking pretty good thus far. Airmech’s got strategy and frantic gameplay. The graphics are a little cartoony but really appealing. And my small gripe with the sound will pass hopefully. From a beta standpoint, I didn’t have any lag issues or critical failures. And while it’s difficult to gauge how big the community is currently, I never had to wait for a game. Carbon Games has a innovative game in production. If you’d like to see this game in action click here . Or perhaps you’d like to challenge me, then check out the website.
The battle for technological supremacy rages on. As we make advances in our world we also leave debris on the way side. A book and a Nook may now have an understanding. But, what about two other contestants? What happens when traditional art and paint take on Adobe Photoshop? Here’s the canvas of the battle.
They say art is subjective, but what about its tools? Is Photoshop the way to go for the modern artist? Photoshop only requires the knowledge, a mouse, or electric pen and pad. There is a learning curve and a initial buyin for the product. However, it pays for itself and can easily be just as comparable to traditional painting. And you don’t need to get dirty or lug around a canvas. Did I mention you wont lose art supplies on Photoshop?
Then again, Photoshop isn’t without flaws. It’s a program you’d have to learn and there are plenty of nuances. It’s a bit overwhelming sometimes. Everything is digital which means if you create something it can be erased by accident or by computer trouble. And although it can be printed, it always starts out digital.
Traditional paint however is already printed since, you painted it. It does sometimes require getting messy but that comes with the territory. A painted canvas has a particular feeling to it and physical story that digital work doesn’t. While I’m at it, all of the objects painting requires aren’t just mouse tools on software. And paints have different smells to them as well.
But is traditional painting obsolete? It’s much cheaper nowadays to hire a digital artist in many cases than the traditional kind. It’s probably easier to find a digital artist too. Although, sometimes what is needed is a more physical touch to the art that Photoshop can’t supply. What say you on this argument? Has traditional painting become obsolete or is it still outstanding?
With the infection of the everythingness in our phones and other devices sometimes our apps go awry. After all, anyone can make an app and then distribute it on the internet. Who’s to say what belongs in your technology? Many of these apps have the power to do interesting things. There seems to be an app for most facets in life. Nevertheless, sometimes we find apps that are quite silly. Here’s a stem of the strange software floating around the internet.
One of the strangest is possibly also one of the most entertaining apps I’ve heard of. There is an app called Dont Push. A massive red button appears on your phone and the object of the game is simply to leave the button alone. But come on! It’s just sitting on there waiting for an inevitable finger to do the work. Plus, don’t you want to know what happens when the button finally gets pushed? I bet there is an earth shattering kaboom!
And after the kaboom you can look at the next strange app. Death Talk does exactly what you think it will. It reminds you of death and all its fun flavors. However, that could get a little boring so to spice it up it slideshows gothic and morbid pictures on your phone as well. On this small list of strange apps Death Talk seems the most random. Humans aren’t big at facing their mortality. We will chalk this one up to our braver freeware users.
All of this death and self control over buttons is making me thirsty. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an app that simulated a tasty beverage? How about we try the new iBeer? This strange application simulates a mug of beer right on your phone. It foams, shakes with your movement, and spills off screen too. This is a fairly stingy bar though because the iBeer only gives you one beer. If you spill it all out it goes back to your phone’s main screen.
I don’t have a phone right now, but the Sidekick 4g didn’t seem all that app intensive if you wanted it to stay simple. Are there people in my audience that have strange apps I should know more about? If you can think of or come across a strange app, comment it up! Heck, why not download any of these here and let me know what you think of them. I am dying to get an opinion on them!
We humans are a persistent race. And even though we thrive on advancing our technology, could it be that one day our time on this planet will run out? What will our legacy be after our civilization is over? Is it possible for us to leave our mark on the planet as a testament to our greatness? Here is something we are leaving for the aliens when they come visit the planet’s remains.
Deep in the mountains of Texas the Long Now Foundation is building the 10,000 year clock. This is a clock that’s supposed to last the grandest test of time. A space has been carved out inside this mountain to house the clock. It’s being built to be hundreds of feet tall. The clock will also have working musical parts inside of it.
The chimes inside the clock go off every once in a while. This design is such that the clock never repeats the same melody over 10,000 years. Energy will be stored in the clock as well though so if a visitor would like to make it play a song it will do that too. Would you like to know how many of these clocks are being built and where?
Well I have no idea. The hope is to build this first amazing clock and spread them out through the world. Eastern Nevada seems to be the next stop on the creation list. A spot was chosen in the midst of a grove of bristle cones because the bristle cone pines also can last for tireless years. This grove’s land has already been purchased. I wonder where they will want to build after Nevada?
The idea of this clock is a marvel. Currently the parts are being constructed in California and Seattle. The clock is made of stainless steel, titanium, and dry ceramic. It’s not ready for a visit yet but in the future the Long Now Foundation has stated on their website they would love to have visitors once its finished. To learn more about the clock check out its official website.
