And so it all begins
Well, here is my first post on WordPress. I wonder why Google bought Blogger instead of WordPress, Although this is my first time to use this service, I like it very much. If you made it here, you know who I am.
I am Stephen Vines of the Great State of Oklahoma. I am almost 16. The best word to discribe myself would be geek. Long time Google User. I am the most advance computer user in my school, which isn’t much to say. Best Chess player in my class. Best Gamer to ever touch a Controller. One of the Biggest Nintendo Fans in Oklahoma. I am a pretty big Star Wars Nerd. I was a FireFox and Thunderbird Software tester for 2 years, now beginning testing for Opera. Tested over 500 Beta programs on this wonderful Dell computer that I have had for a year. I am the only person in my scshool that would call themself a Geek, but still uses dailup and have the Largest Download average. I have been a member of over 30 majors forums, have has several sites, and several more Blogs, Moderated almost all of them. I am the Only person to use All 4 major IM networks and still have less than 30 contacts. I manage to keep As and Bs on my report card. I am a person with Simple taste, blunt with the truth, fairly honest, trustworthy, a bit shy, and I always look for the good in things. I live one of the most shelter lives in the world. Well, I don’t think there is much more to say, outside I have some of the strangest friends in the world, yet I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
I think that puts me in Words pretty fair. Yea, I know, I talk like an Oklahoman, but you should listen to me speak. Well, next time I post, I hope I have something worth posting.
Stephen
Googleing from the desktop
As a graphics artist, I could, and was, going to make some Google Wallpaper. Well, I guess I could make some Google wallpaper, but why don’t use just use Google for your wallpaper???
For those that know what I am talking about, I mean use the active desktop feature that is built into windows to view web pages on your desktop. This way you will have interactive wallpaper, much better than anything Yahoo can make.
To do this, right click on your desktop, click properties, click the “desktop” tab, click “customize desktop”, then click the “web” tab. Now click “new”, then you should get a wizard that will have you enter an web address, just enter http://www.google.com/ and click ok, it might try to download google, but don’t worry about it. And now, go back to you desktop to have Google as your wallpaper.
But now this is where Google deleted 2 viruses with one click, use the Google Personilized page as your wallpaper. Now the same page that is a portal in your web browser, is now a desktop application. So now you have the most famous “google widgets” on your desktop. This is much better than Yahoo’s konfabulator, which eats up massive amounts of system resources. Plus, Google Personilized is much easier to use than the Konfabulator. Another benefit of this is that you can have this only virtually on any computer that has internet access including, Home, Work or School. How ever, you must already be logged in with Internet Explorer for this to work.
Did google intead for it to be used like this??? I don’t know, its just something I thought would be useful. Here is some screen shots of it in use.
Later,
Stephen
Bush wins Heismen trophy by a landslide
Regie Bush won the 70th Heismen Trophy Saturday, with almost a record breaking amount of votes. The nearest challange was Vience Young, who almost had 3,000 yards. USC and Texas will be heading into the Rose bowl for the National title.
Texas is coming off a increadable 70 to 3 win for the Big 12 title. I favor Texas to win the game. Texas QB, Vience Young has the best passing in the nation, only liking 231 yards from hiting the 3,000 yard mark, Young’s offence has countinued to improve.
USC will be heading into the game looking for a back to back win for another national title, which the last team to even go play for a national title back to back was OU which lost both games. USC has 2 Heismen trophy winners playing in the game. USC is favored to win the game.
This National Title game will be one to watch. This game promises a lot of action. Both teams will have over 40 points on the score board. I think Texas will pull it off, there going all the way this year.
Stephen
Microsoft Faces Troubles
First, I would like to say that the Xbox 360 is Offically released, but if you havn’t gotten one now, you wont till January, because of Microsoft’s limited release. So gamers that didn’t pre-order, and those that did, they will be waiting to get one. And by Microsoft’s Words, about 15% of the Xbox 360s are having trouble, between freezes and crashes, Microsoft has done it again, another failure. 20% to 25% acording to other sources, are either dispointed with it, or are facing problems too. So Microsoft’s Limited Release, is now hurting them, because too much hype was created.
Second, All computers that have Windows on them are facing a new worm. Named “Sober X” it has cripled the FBI and CIA, because it ran through the system so fast, it was sent massed mail, effecting more. This worm effects your computer, but It first attacks your address book, to make sure the worm continues onward. The worm starts by stating that you have viewed over 30 illegal sites, and wants to know why you’ve been to these sites, then gives you real Names and numbers to the FBI, which has tied up lines. It is recomend that you keep your Anti-Virus programs up-to-date, and run scans about every other day.
Later,
Stephen
Google Talk
Here is my review over Google’s Instant Messaging Program and VOIP, Google Talk.
“They say talk is cheap. Google thinks it should be free. Google Talk enables you to call or send instant messages to your friends for free–anytime, anywhere in the world” – Google
Google Talk, Talking is Good.
This is Google Talk, the World’s Simplist Instant Messenger to date. Its only 900Kbs to download, so I, like many Dial-up users see it as Good. Then for those with slow computers, or dell computers, this program dosn’t even use 1 MB or ram, compared to Yahoo messenger that uses 25+ MBs of Ram, and MSN uses 12+MBs of ram, so Slow computer users see some benefits from it. Google Talk is nothing like Yahoo or MSN Messenger. I will cover the Differences here.
1) No Tabs, Yahoo and MSN both have a huge stack of Tabs, for Weather, News, Games, Music, Stock, and some more junk. Google Talk is just what you see, no Tabs.
2) Google Talk has no Ads. Yahoo, and MSN always seems to fit something in there programs to get you to Buy something, Everything at Google is free.
3) Google is slim, and fast. Yahoo and MSN tacks on hundreds of features that Most users don’t use or don’t know how to use. Google has No Winks & Emotions, No Backgrounds, No Smilies, No Buzzes or Nudges, No display pictures, No alarms, No sports, No “360″ pages or “My Space”, No Entertanment, No calenders, No sports, No music, No videos, No Radios, no dating, No personals, No links to add stuff to the orginal messenger, and No shopping. Just plain Messenging and telephone calls.
4) Talking is good. Google Talk actually lets you make phone calls to another user, try that in Yahoo. Its not Yahoo with Voice, its Yahoo without Voice, or thats the it works for me.
5) The Battle Plan. Google’s goal is making the Most 
universal messenger. If you use South Western Bell for your Telephone service you can call anyone that uses Sprint or another telephone service, in the IM world, if you use MSN, you can’t talk to an Yahoo user or an AIM user. Google says, IM should be like Telephones, not matter what you use, it works. Google Talk is Based on Jabber, a Multi-network of servers, in the Ideal that you should be able to talk to anyone no matter what there using. Although, shortly after Google Talk came out, MSN and Yahoo joined forces to connect there networks togather in order to prevent a lost of users. Although I would worry to much about Yahoo and Microsoft making Google look like an Idiot, because Google and AOL are to close. AOL has the largest IM network in the World, so you might be looking at a bigger network for Google users in the future.
6) Email anyone??? Google Talk is Highly Intergreated with Gmail, the world’s Best Email Service.
7) Google Talk in the Future??? Google Talk will live on, even though only in beta, Google Talk is a powerful messenger.
Google vs. Yahoo vs. MSN
Why??? Why use MSN or Yahoo, can you tell me why??? Google offers everthing Yahoo and MSN, with out selling your personal information or giving ads, or pop-ups, Google is plain, fast, free. Why anything else???
Stephen
If you disagree, or have questions, leave a comment.
The Nintendo Revolution part 1
This is my First review of the Nintendo Revolution.
Nintendo is depending on Inovation instead of power to win the Next Generation Wars, like a chess game, You can have all the powerful peices you want, but with out a strategy, the game is can be taken with a couple of pawns. Much is the same here, Nintendo is using New Ideals as Sony and Microsoft are using power. Although, Nintendo has confirmed that the Revolution will rival the power of the compatition. Nintendo is learning from mistakes that they have made in the past. One is releasing system Specs, and special features. Because it never fails that Sony or Microsoft will copy it. Such as a game database to let you download games, Microsoft has caught on to it and will that it available for the Xbox 360 as a late feature. All because Nintendo had the orginal Ideal first. O well, such is the life of a leader. Well start with the know system specs. 1 ) Stylized shell about the thickness of three DVD cases stacked flatly on top of each other
May come in five different colors including a sleek, glossy black and an Apple-esque white.
2) Backward compatible. Plays both GameCube optical discs and proprietary 12cm discs, the latter of which may be dual-layered for upward of 8GBs storage capacity.
3) Slot-loading drive with stylized blue light.
4) Two USB 2.0 ports located on the rear of the system. 5) No Ethernet jack; Revolution connects to the Internet using 802.11b and 802.11g Wi-Fi wireless. 6) GameCube docking station features inputs for four GCN controllers and two Memory Paks.
7) Two front slots for 512MB flash memory, likely SD Card compatible.
Utilizes wireless controllers. As the picture shows to the right, these are not Remotes, but the controllers, like a light saber with out the blade. A controller, like this inspires game devlopers in many ways, such as the clasic light saber fight between Yoda and Count Dukoo, or Darth Vader and Luke, to the sword fights between Link and Gannon, or just link all togather. Or this could inspire a new Mario Baseball. Just the power of a wand like this is not to go un-notice.
9) Custom-built IBM CPU, codenamed Broadway. 10) Custom-built ATI-GPU, codenamed Hollywood. 11) MoSys-developed 1T-SRAM solution. 12) Nintendo download service: connect online and download classic NES, S-NES and N64 games. I remeber during the last console battle, ever one that had a PS2 could never seemed to stop bragging about the fact that they could play DVDs on there PS2, and yet how many times do they use the DVD player feature, compared to the DVD player they already own???
Another complant was that the disc were small, what was wrong with that though??? Well, no room for those complaints this time, the Revolution will play DVDs and will play GC disc too.
The Nintendo revolution sets slanted on a stand(That comes in the box, unlike the Sony Consoles) The Revoltuion will have a bigger target towards Non-Gamers, Old Gamers, the Older generation, and Girls. Yes there is Girl gamers, but the Market is controlled by Guys, mainly because Guys are better gamers, although some of the gaming chics are pretty good. The Revolution will be a good match against the Xbox 360, and unless bad specs come to The Revolution, or Sony drops the High Price, The wars this time around will be between the ones with the BIG companies, Nintendo and Microsoft, the step child Sony will come in last. The Revolution should run around $300 – $400 in price, rumors have it at $200, The Future will be clearer has time moves along.
Later, Stephen
The Playstation 3
Well, this is my review over the High Praised Playstation 3.
This Console, wich will succeed the Play Station X which came from the Play Station 2 which came from the Play Station. As you can tell, Sony dosn’t care much on naming, nor inovation, just pure power in hopes of another success. As always, the PS3 will use a standard disc size. 0 Mbs of emmbedded video memory, and will use a a more powerful processor than before, with 3.2 Ghz, to match the Xbox 360 Processor, with the exception of the fact that the Xbox 360 has 3 of them and Sony has one, so again, Sony trails in the Power of Microsoft. Stands like PS2, either up or laying down. Same features of the PS2, plays PS3 and PS2 games. Only able to handle only 7 controllers, unlike the PS1 and PS2, which could handle 8. So it has really no special effects that the Xbox 360 can’t match or beat.
Now I will cover what makes this system different from the rest. As you may be able to tell, the PS3 has finally gotten a different controller. Yes, the PS1, the PS2, and the PSX all used the same controller. This controller looks much like Batman’s Batarang, which is good for imaganation, but how will you fill after playing 5 hours with this top heavy controller??? The controller uses Bluetooth technology, which is a good form of wireless technology. But as you can tell from the controller, we still have the 2 joy sticks, in which the one I have never used, and most people don’t either, worthless construction. Still has the kinagarden Triangle, Square, Circle, and X along with the D-Pad. Still has the Right and Left triggers, just that there higher up on the controller, for the reach of an adult only, some more poor design by Sony.
Now what really starts the power of the PS3 is the 2 Teraflops of Graphics, something that Microsoft can’t match. The graphics processor of the PS3 is 50 MHz faster than the Xbox 360’s, wich is like 50 cents out of $100, not worth much. The PS3 supports Blu-Ray technology, Blu-Ray is disc technology that allows a Disc to hold 25 Gbs which is like 36+ regular CDs, so you could fit a Game to match the Teraflop output, just is there a Devloper that has the time to make a game that supports 2 teraflops??? Another thing is that the fact, when the PS3 has been on Show, it never has any games, why??? Because of the Prices of the Console(estimated $900) and the higher Price of the Games(estimated $70), not very devlopers are supporting it. It gives Nintendo and Microsoft more devlopers and more Games, plus Better games.
The PS3 is supposed to be released in the Spring, but as always with the PS, the PS2 , and the PSX, the Japaness will have it first, then Europe, and then in the fall, Americans can have it. All because they fill that Americans need to wait. Just tipical Sony stuff. Thats on of the reasons why I hate Sony. Sony is in last place as always. After doing more research, after reading people saying the the Playstation 3 is just so much better than that of Microsoft and Nintendo, It dosen’t show, not for $900 it dosn’t. This console isn’t on my wishlist, and it shouldn’t be on your’s.
Later,
Stephen
