Many of your may have known that I updated to Windows 8 earlier this year and have really been enjoying it. 2 weeks ago I went ahead and updated my desktop to Windows 8.1 preview which has been really interesting to play with some of the new features. Well here is where the love hate relationship comes in.
Love: Opening email links on to a split screen so I can see the page and still see the email. (although I do have dual monitors so really not necessary)
Love: The changes to the start screen and the new way to access all your programs, also the ease of use now in customizing the start screen.
Love: Program switching and the the way that programs interact with each other and the fun way to close the programs with a swipe of the mouse from top of the screen to bottom. Makes interacting with my programs that much more fun.
Hate: That the Start button was brought back and really isn't a start button at all, the only saving grace is that I can shutdown the computer a little bit faster with a right click, but really it didn't take that long before. Now there is just a pointless start button when I don't need one.
Hate: That the Windows 8 store has not yet partnered with any really great app shops out there to increase the number and quality of apps available. I imagine that store would be sooo much better with access to some android or even a partnership with the amazon store.
Hate: Well that's really all I can think of right now and I suppose that bodes well for the OS.
In conclusion, I've really enjoyed the switch to Windows 8.1 Preview and I am looking forward to the full release in October this year. Hopefully they can make it better than is already is.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Smart Watch? Really.
So many of you might have seen the new Sony Smart watch seen here: Sony Smart Watch
Is this an awesome new thing or just a fleeting niche product that mostly likely will fade away as fast as it popped up? Well my opinion is that they just might have missed the mark on this. These watches remind me of the Calculator watch back in the late 80's early 90's. At the time they were amazing and everyone had to have one, but once you got one you really didn't know what to do with it except maybe cheat on your math homework. And the day after I got mine, I forgot I had it on went to a friends house to go swimming and well....you can guess that my calculator watch didn't work so well after that.
So these smart watches will be the same, just a passing fad, unless..... With the advent of flexible displays and emerging folding screen technology these devices could be viable. Imagine you slap this screen device on your wrist like those old wrist slappers that we all know and love, and while it's on your wrist you can see the time. Then when you want to browse the web or play a game or any other smart phone activity you just take it off your wrist unfold it and go at it.
Smart watches?, I'm gonna say "Nice try" but until we can get some of these other technologies into these watches, they just aren't worth the money.
Is this an awesome new thing or just a fleeting niche product that mostly likely will fade away as fast as it popped up? Well my opinion is that they just might have missed the mark on this. These watches remind me of the Calculator watch back in the late 80's early 90's. At the time they were amazing and everyone had to have one, but once you got one you really didn't know what to do with it except maybe cheat on your math homework. And the day after I got mine, I forgot I had it on went to a friends house to go swimming and well....you can guess that my calculator watch didn't work so well after that.
So these smart watches will be the same, just a passing fad, unless..... With the advent of flexible displays and emerging folding screen technology these devices could be viable. Imagine you slap this screen device on your wrist like those old wrist slappers that we all know and love, and while it's on your wrist you can see the time. Then when you want to browse the web or play a game or any other smart phone activity you just take it off your wrist unfold it and go at it.
Smart watches?, I'm gonna say "Nice try" but until we can get some of these other technologies into these watches, they just aren't worth the money.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Win7 & Office 2010
As many of you may know from my last post (which was really forever ago), I've been using Win 7 now at work and at home. Its been exciting to explore Win 7 and look for things to improve performance and squeeze every inch of power out of my box. One gem of wisdom that I wanted to pass on was how to turn off the User Account Control system on your Win 7 box. If your not sure what they is, it is the "Cancel or Allow" feature of your Win 7 system. Every time you want to change or install a program you get a window pop up that asks you if your "SURE" you want do to that. And you think to yourself "Well of course I do, that why I click on it...Duh!". Well I have awesome news for all you out there who have been wishing you could just turn that feature off. YOU CAN!
From the bottom of the screen select the start menu icon. Then when it opens lick on your user icon in the upper right hand corner of the start menu. This will take you to the User Accounts page. On the right side at the bottom is a link to access the User Account Control Settings. Click once on that link and it will prompt you what to do. You'll see a slider on the left hand side, just slide it all the way to the bottom and click OK.
In a last act of desperation the computer will ask you if your sure you want to do that. Just select yes and then restart your computer. You will never be asked from that silly User Account Control again. If your some reason after you've turned it off you decide you just can't live without it. I suggest a brain scan.....but a more simple task would be to just follow the above steps and instead of sliding the slider to the bottom slide it to the top to activate the User Account Control.
I hope that helps some of you ease the pain of using Win 7 although it really is pretty painless already.
Also this post I wanted to discuss Office 2010. I just recently upgraded and let me tell you I like what I see. Office 2010 version is finally 64-bit compatible. It about time huh? And even the database software is also 64-bit which means faster queries in Access and more available cell processing in Excel. I haven't been able to thoroughly test the software but from what I've seen so far I like the new look and I like some of the new features. If you can I would highly suggest an upgrade. In today's world there is absolutely no reason for a small business to be running office 95. Bite the bullet and spend some of that hard earned cash on a new office upgrade. You'll be glad you did. And as a side comment to that note I think it's very important to always stay up to date with the latest software. It IS an investment and you should treat it as such, your company only stands to gain from being on the forefront of technology and digital know how.
That's all for now, hope to post again soon on the joys of Smart Phones. Till then - happy computing.
From the bottom of the screen select the start menu icon. Then when it opens lick on your user icon in the upper right hand corner of the start menu. This will take you to the User Accounts page. On the right side at the bottom is a link to access the User Account Control Settings. Click once on that link and it will prompt you what to do. You'll see a slider on the left hand side, just slide it all the way to the bottom and click OK.
In a last act of desperation the computer will ask you if your sure you want to do that. Just select yes and then restart your computer. You will never be asked from that silly User Account Control again. If your some reason after you've turned it off you decide you just can't live without it. I suggest a brain scan.....but a more simple task would be to just follow the above steps and instead of sliding the slider to the bottom slide it to the top to activate the User Account Control.
I hope that helps some of you ease the pain of using Win 7 although it really is pretty painless already.
Also this post I wanted to discuss Office 2010. I just recently upgraded and let me tell you I like what I see. Office 2010 version is finally 64-bit compatible. It about time huh? And even the database software is also 64-bit which means faster queries in Access and more available cell processing in Excel. I haven't been able to thoroughly test the software but from what I've seen so far I like the new look and I like some of the new features. If you can I would highly suggest an upgrade. In today's world there is absolutely no reason for a small business to be running office 95. Bite the bullet and spend some of that hard earned cash on a new office upgrade. You'll be glad you did. And as a side comment to that note I think it's very important to always stay up to date with the latest software. It IS an investment and you should treat it as such, your company only stands to gain from being on the forefront of technology and digital know how.
That's all for now, hope to post again soon on the joys of Smart Phones. Till then - happy computing.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Windows 7 Short Review
So after a few weeks of using and tweaking Windows 7, I have decided that it is quite possible the best OS on the market to date. I'm very impressed at how far Microsoft has come with this product and love that it is leaps and bounds ahead of Vista as far as usability,stability, and compatibility. Also this has been the first time for me testing out a 64-bit OS, and I must say that I am very impressed and sad that I didn't switch to 64-bit a long time ago, but perhaps this is just perfect timing for me. 64-bit allow me to utilize all of my current RAM and allows my fancy animation and digitally editing programs to run to their full potential. I didn't realize how well some of my programs could run until I got them on a 64-bit system. You may not know this but allot of the software you buy has been optimized for 64-bit, but you buy the 32-bit program which is really the slower slightly less effective version. Windows 7 has made for a seem less integration of my 32-bit software onto a 64-bit system. I have had no compatibility issues that couldn't be resolved by downloading the latest 64-bit drivers for that software, and Nvidia has really been on the ball and kept up with their 64-bit drivers for Windows 7 and I love that.
Bottom line, if you have the chance to upgrade to windows 7 when it comes out this September I would highly recommend it, especially if your running graphics and digital editing software that could greatly benefit from running at their peak performance capabilities.
Bottom line, if you have the chance to upgrade to windows 7 when it comes out this September I would highly recommend it, especially if your running graphics and digital editing software that could greatly benefit from running at their peak performance capabilities.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Career Day
Well I know it's been forever since I updated this tech blog, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to tell you about the career day I attended recently at Don Mesendick Elementary school in glendale.
I was able to go last year and they invited me again this year, it's so fun to talk about graphics and animation with kids in elementary school, they get so excited when they see all the possibilities available to them.
I gave 5 presentations, each to different classes, and each had to be about 45 - 50 minutes. So it was a lot of talking but it was worth it to see the look on those little faces when I should something about animation and they would just light up.
I learned from last year as well that the students send out thank you notes to all those that attend and give presentations, so I'll really be looking forward to that this year.
Enlightening the minds of the future is fun, and little kids are impressed so easily.
Anyway, Happy Computing!
I was able to go last year and they invited me again this year, it's so fun to talk about graphics and animation with kids in elementary school, they get so excited when they see all the possibilities available to them.
I gave 5 presentations, each to different classes, and each had to be about 45 - 50 minutes. So it was a lot of talking but it was worth it to see the look on those little faces when I should something about animation and they would just light up.
I learned from last year as well that the students send out thank you notes to all those that attend and give presentations, so I'll really be looking forward to that this year.
Enlightening the minds of the future is fun, and little kids are impressed so easily.
Anyway, Happy Computing!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Last Minute Preparations
This month has been great, and I'm excited to start teaching soon, I've learned allot over the past month or so and school has only just started today. My first time teaching a college level course will be tomorrow night and I hope all goes well. Animation is really a joy for me and I hope I can share that joy with the students in my class.
As the semester goes on, I hope to post some of the lessons I've learned and some of the tutorials I've given, who knows if no one else really reads these posts I can always come back later and use them as a history of sorts. Anyway hope your all well, and as always..Happy Computing.
As the semester goes on, I hope to post some of the lessons I've learned and some of the tutorials I've given, who knows if no one else really reads these posts I can always come back later and use them as a history of sorts. Anyway hope your all well, and as always..Happy Computing.
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