Wider-Angle.com

YouTube has gone widescreen!

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:02:00 +0000

I Googled it – but nobody else seems to have noticed yet…?

Maybe I’m the first!

Movie Props

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 06:06:00 +0000

Note the repeated text.

Oops, Seinfield

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:28:00 +0000

Perhaps something that happened during the HD transfer? Forgot to key it back out.

Ah, good old Apple

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 03:40:00 +0000

Tried running in compatibility mode too, no luck.

Animates in nicely, completely fails in placement.

Windows 7

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:20:00 +0000

I’m not gonna write another article (as in, loads of people have written loads of articles) on Windows 7. But I’ll link you to the keynote that introduced it. Dunno how long it’ll be up.
Get it here.

Ah… Don’t you love ‘the arts’ department…

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:22:00 +0000

Okay, so with this new system we have at our school all the teachers get a new notebook. For whatever reason – Education Queensland has the option to get a MacBook (it’s probably some contract they have with Apple). So of course, most of the art department got them (total of six in the school, out of eighty-something). Now, unless they install Windows XP on it – they won’t be able to get on the network (Windows Server 2003) or use any of our software (funnily enough, that means the art staff don’t get to use Photoshop). So they will install XP.

So there is absolutely no point, other than the teachers wanting a pretty brand on their computer, of getting them. Also, seeing as they cost $600 more than the Lenovo notebooks with the same hardware – the kids are missing out on that. They shouldn’t be allowed to do that.

Louis Theroux and the Nazis

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:20:00 +0000

I always like Louis Theroux’s documentaries.

One thing - this guy (Tom Metzger) is screwed up, really, disturbingly screwed up:

…and this guy on the left, is the crazy-nazi-dude’s agent. He reminds me of Bebe Glazer off Frasier.

This is just sick. It’s so sad to see these little girls signing about killing the “ape-like” [black people].

Channel Seven on-air graphics update

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:02:00 +0000

Just noticed this starting at 10.30pm tonight (mind you, I only just flipped over to Seven).

Here’s a classification screen

‘Available in widescreen’ super

Home and Away ad

‘Out of the Question’ superbar

And I’m too lazy to upload some video clips, so you can just watch Channel Seven if you really want to see it.

Lady Ga-ga

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:44:00 +0000

I just saw ‘Lady Ga-ga’ on Rove.

Ga-ga is right. First of all, I’ll just say it’s good to know that she wasn’t lipsyncing. Though, the problem with that – is she was out of tune!!! Mostly at the start. I’m betting she uses one of those auto-tune facillities to record her album, though most ‘artists’ do that now anyway.
Her microphone didn’t do her any good either. Yes it had flashing lights, which is a good start – but the quality was terrible! I bet the audio guys at Rove tried to get her to change it.

Well, at least it’s not as bad as TGS’s website

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:29:00 +0000

So I was poking around. The people at Toowoomba Grammar should really learn how to make the background image not repeat, as well as the virtues of not centering things.

Channel Nine and the Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:40:00 +0000

Here's something that I've been thinking about. When Channel Nine hosts the 2012 Olympics (and I suppose the 2010 Winter Olympics, they can do a lot with the graphics. As in, with their disc/circle theme and the Olympic logo. Seven has done a good job with the 08.08.08 transitioning to the Olympic rings. It'll be interesting to see how Nine does theirs. Should be good, should be good.

Why Macs will never reign in business

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:24:00 +0000

1. PC's (the hardware platform) are cheaper. Way cheaper. There is no good return on buying the more expensive Apple Macs.

2. Microsoft has brilliant licensing deals setup, and they are here to stay. You know I can get Vista Business for $55 (upgrade mind you) and Office 2007 Enterprise for $25? It's insane. Apple won't license it's software (as such) because it could lead to cheap clones of their systems.

3. Almost all businesses have their structure based around a Windows platform (even if their server(s) is/are Linux-based, the clients are mostly - if not all - running Windows). The cost, to change over would be enormous.

4. MCP's are everywhere - in every field too. The closest actual Apple store is in Sydney (only a 20-something-hour drive from here). Where as there are two MCPs within ten minutes of where I'm writing this. Certified support is always at hand.
(Also, there are no Apple dealers where I am living either - the only place that sold them, Myer, recently stopped stocking them. They still sell iPods of course)

More to come if I can be bothered.

Dell Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:55:00 +0000

Click here - Dell 'dfleXion'
Win Dell stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:07:00 +0000

How about starting a [Microsoft] geek religion?
Bill Gates is God.
Steve Jobs is Satan.
Followers must pray towards the holy land of Redmond each patch Tuesday.
More to come.

Microsoft can't be trusted

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:28:00 +0000

So here I am, trying to enter a competition (click 'Special Offers') I found by looking at a Microsoft Australia Windows Vista advertisement that I found out about here. I click on 'Enter Now', try to sign in with my Live account - but wait! Microsoft Australia's SSL certificate has apparently been revoked because they are apparently, not Microsoft! Ouch.
Some pictures if you don't believe me, and no, it's not Norton 360.

UPDATE: Ah. It's working now. Ignore this post. Oh wait, you've already read it.

Buy a Zune, get rid of noise pollution.

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:48:00 +0000

Quick parents, get your children a Zune! We are sick of hearing the 'schkkkkkkkkk-digga-dum-sckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk-kkkkkkk-chaaaa-schkkk- (continues)' of heavy metal music coming from your child's miniature iPod or phone speakers. If you get your child a Zune they can share their 'music' wirelessly around to their 'peeps' so that those of us with an actual taste of music can stop thinking about ramming those iPod or phone speakers up the up the listeners left nostril and needing severe trauma counseling from assault to the ears.
Kill noise pollution, kill your heavy metal loving child, or, alternatively buy a Zune for them. Your choice.

Let's see your Mac do this... Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:44:00 +0000

Ok. I can't be bothered to make a YouTube video, so you can just read.

First of all, Windows Media Centre. If anyone starts thinking "...but what about FrontRow", I'll rip your head off, shove my hand down the gaping hole and pull out your spleen. FrontRow has absolutely nothing on Media Centre, it is a merely a fancy front end for Apple's existing programmes (read if you don't believe me).

I'm going to be talking about Vista Media Centre here.
First of all, photos.

All of them are organised nicely, tagged of course - which it can take from Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Photo Gallery or Windows Media Player. You can also view it by folders. The slideshow button is available everywhere, to which you can play music along with.

Which brings us to music.
There are a multitude of ways you can display your music collection.

(Albums by Year and Now Playing page)

Ok. So on to TV. It is simply the best PVR software out there. No competition.
As soon as you start watching TV it starts recording, so you can rewind straight away, pause, etc. without waiting for the timeshift to kick in (and missing out on that important bit). It can handle Dolby Digital (2 channel and 5 channel - but no 2 channel matrixed sound (ie. Dolby Pro-Logic II/IIx)) as well as HD TV (1080i). The TV guide works without a hitch (in America anyway, a bit of fiddling is required in Australia), and will record your shows and organise them by series and episode. Another great thing, it works with Zune! You can have all of your TV shows on it! It's brilliant.
Another thing (which I won't go into too much detail, but you can Google it), you can extend this entire experience to your TV (including the PVR stuff) even if your PC isn't next to your TV - through an extender, like the Xbox 360. What's great is, say you are watching a show on the main TV, and decide to go to bed you can continue watching it in bed without watching a beat - mid-show.
The menu fades in very nicely over live TV or video, and if you are at your computer using it - move the mouse over the window and controls pop up for you.

(Menu overlay and control overlay)

Anyway, I have to go now - if you want to try it, get Vista Home Premium or Ultimate (x86 or x64). It's great.
Let's see your Mac do that.

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 (breathes in)

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0000

So. You decide to spend $350 on a keyboard/mouse combo. What should you get? Well, if you're keen on Windows Media Center, you might like to look at this.
Microsoft says it is "The ultimate rechargeable keyboard and mouse for Windows Vista and PC entertainment", I gotta say - it is pretty close.
I suppose we'll start at the start.

The unpacking experiences seems to be heading the way a lot of Microsoft's products seem to be going (ala Zune and 360), very nice.
The box gives a go at what the mouse will feel like in your hand - so you can see if it's right for you.
Opening, you'll see a brochure "Think outside the box" (under which is also a quick guide and drivers).

Lifting up the cardboard, the keyboard lifts itself out and presents itself to you - nice. Lift up the next cardboard, and here is all the other stuff (charging dock, batteries, etc).

(Previously mentioned "other stuff")

It is kind of annoying that they had to have a power supply (thankfully it is pretty small, unlike the 360's), but I suppose, it is charging 2000mAh Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries (nice of Microsoft to include them, Energizer brand too).

On to the actually keyboard. The keyboard is very thin but still ergonomic and features nice feeling notebook-style keys - plus, you can pick it up and grip it on the sides and have access to all of the Media Center buttons, including the multifunction touchpad/D-Pad. As well as nice backlit keys and charge lights. Photos below.

And the mouse? Suitable for both left and right-handed people. Five buttons plus scroll and laser of course. There is a battery indicator in the middle which glows when low (which helps drain the battery even faster). And here's the pictures:

Forgot to mention earlier - I don't know how, but as you approach the keyboard it starts glowing (you can change the brightness) and changes depending on the level of light in the room.

So, what's it like? Comfortable for one. I like it. The touchpad/D-Pad (you flick a switch to change between the two) is a bit dodgey. To use the D-Pad you sort of have to flick and click rather than just click which is a bit awkward, the touchpad works ok if you need to quickly do something away from the desk - but you couldn't use it for anything mouse intensive.

I think it's about $320 at Harvey Norman now, which mine seem ridiculously expensive - but if you want a good balance of features (ergonomics + media functions) it is pretty darn good.

I'm filing a lawsuit against Rivers.

noreply@blogger.com (Nicko) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:09:00 +0000

Well, no, not really. But if anyone has a lot of money and can find a brilliant lawyer - then I'd like to get in contact with you. I want to ban Rivers from advertising on TV. They are possibly the worst ads that I have ever seen (except probably a couple of Toowoomba ads, especially one for some cafe that was on a couple of years ago). I mean, what the hell is with the random picture that pops up towards the end of the current series of ads. A bulldog in a tu-tu??? Is that supposed to be funny? And don't start me on the voice over people. Geez. Rivers - hire someone to make the ads, the idea is to make people want to buy the product your selling, not scare them off.