With social network sites like Facebook and Twitter around, people are expressing every moment of themselves via these communication mediums. Call it micro-blogging if you will, I've even heard it called the new "chat room", social networking has become a big part of the internet culture. But what haven't we seen yet? As with past trends, MP3 file sharing, high-speed Internet, web browsers the was "the one" that started it all and then more stemmed from there. Where's the one stop shopping for social networking? Of course I'll stand corrected with users replying with their API program of choice (i.e. TweetDeck, Tweetie, etc.) but there isn't a piece of hardware out there yet that encompasses that. I'm looking at Apple, they did it with the iPod, they did it with iTunes, they did it with MacBook / Powerbook / iMac...
Of course the rumor mill has been churning, but I think the Social Networking culture will really take off once we start seeing big companies integrate status updates into their products. Of course these push notifications are going to get annoying to our friends but I think as we get more and more accustomed to being updated as to what others are doing a redefining of a "tweet" or "status update" will emerge.
To side track though - I really want to know when exactly did Twitter become so popular. Was it the Ashton Kutcher challenge vs. CNN..? I mean really - Twitter was established almost 4 years ago and was really to help users who don't have data cell phones, update others about what's up. Ever text message like 13 people...? Annoying right? Well why not have them subscribe to you via a service that will update them when you post a message. Of course that's changed and now Twitter is the "quick news trend" and "does somebody else think the same thing as me"? Even the idea itself dates back to 2000...
Whether it's Facebook or Twitter, I think social networking... 2.0 will be interesting, especially to see what people are willing to share.
With all the social networks paying tribute via people's personal memories of the late Michael Jackson (1958-2009), I figured it is only appropriate that I pay mine here.
My first exposure to MJ was when I was very young, around the age of 6. I heard his music through the radio, and liked the catchy tunes. "ABC" from the Jackson 5 was one of the more rememberable songs from then. But before the age of 12 I came across my Mom's VHS collection from the 80's and there I found Michael Jackson's Thriller. Which not only included the whole video, but also the making of the video with Jon Landis. That possibly began the magic for me,
Billie Jean was next and I was so amazed at the moonwalk, the way he made it look so easy, yet it was so difficult to replicate. The technique was locked in and it just looked way-2-cool.
Throughout the years, I owned albums, listened to his music, the most re-mememberable being, "Man In The Mirror". I remember listening so closely to those lyrics and it having a direct effect on me, realizing I need to be the best I can be and change starts with me. The same probably goes for a lot of people for many of the songs he wrote and had produced.
Every time I'm in the club, or at a party (weddings) and Michael Jackson comes on, I'm immediately inspired to start dancing and mimicking the moves and style that Michael Jackson put into the spotlight. Even when I went to the arcade, I always looked for "Moonwalker", that game was awesome. Stun 'em with dance moves just like in his music videos.
Not only the King of Pop, but an icon and someone whose legacy will echo through the ages.
Thanks for all you've done Michael.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
With June 19th rapidly approaching, I decided this weekend that I'm not going for the new iPhone until later in December when I can get my subsidy to cover the price of the phone. For me, an iPhone 3G [S] will cost me $537 for the 32GB. I barely have my 16GB [3G] full since I use my iPod for my music collection. If you are also deciding not to go for the new phone, it's not such a bad decision.
The new [S] will only have 4 improvements that aren't accessible in OS 3.0 which is scheduled to be released this Wednesday. Voice Control, Video Recording and the Compass. Of course Apple is touting that it's "faster" which will prove useful with the new background application feature part of the OS 3.0 upgrade. This being the feature I'm mainly concerned about, means that I'd be enjoying 3.0 more and more as new applications hit the market. Most users are raving about Cut-Copy-Paste which of course is going to very nice for retrieving MMS messages.
AT&T has been hearing the cries of many 3G users asking them to help subsidize the new [S] but this is exactly what happened before. Since one's contract is for two years, you cannot upgrade your phone after a year. Personally, if you really need the new phone, go for it. But you'll be better off waiting a year or two, and receiving the subsidy.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
I normally work a 7-7, whether it's night-shift or day-shift. Since I wasn't feeling well...again, boss sent me home early. Every which way I went, traffic. Slow, anxious people stop and starting... traffic. I'm doing my thing, 1st gear letting it ride. I must have passed the same guy 22 times with his speeeed up!!!! Slow down! It's like it's a throttle, not a on/off switch. Anyways....
After I got to local roads, in which I have about another 15 minute commute, I started getting antsy. Started pretending I was a race car driver, shifting uncessesarily, was doing the Ace Ventura bouncing in the seat even though the road was smooth. Then it got real bad. I started looking at people like everyone does when you pass them. But I'd slowly approach their car, sneak a peek, and when they as they would look over I'd look forward real quick so as to not make eye contact and speed up.... Rinse and repeat.
This one lady was on the cell phone, so I put my hand up to my face and started having a conversation about how I'm always on the phone when I'm driving cause I don't have the patience to sit and drive, I need someone to talk to, and I'm road hazard to everyone else.
I was using an accent too, and Indian accent (Zaif - I said Chair and Z-TV!), but speaking spanish words... I was cracking up.
Anyways - I hate traffic. And I'm crazy.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Samsung's new 55" LED TV's just hit the market three weeks ago, and we're one the first households (UN55B7100) to get them (Best Buy hasn't even stocked the version we have yet, but they have it all over their website). A good deal was made in that the TV is already calibrated, a normal $300+ service that was free. Once it was ordered from ClevelandPlasma in Ohio I already started configuring the Home Theater for it.
Our first digital piece is our HD Satellite service from DirecTV. All the TV's in the household have DirecTV but the living room has the HD DVR. This is a pretty nifty device, especially for a Service Provider. Not only can you record up to two shows at a time while watching another, you can stream content from your home network! (BTW the whole house is wired/wireless. Every device in hooked into the network! More on that on a later post.) So I've installed PlayOn and TVersity on my main Media Server so that we can watch Hulu, DVD's, YouTube and InternetTV right on our STB from DirecTV. This also works Vice-Versa on our PC's. Recorded shows on the DVR play on any PC in the household.
As for gmaing, every next generation console is attached via digital and HDMI connections. PlayStation 3, XBox 360 (1st Generation), and Nintendo Wii each are setup for a wide variety of whatever you want to watch. The PlayStation 3 holds the center for entertainment with it's BLU Ray capabilities and HD Audio for movies. (Batman Begins BD and Dark Knight BD) are the first Double Feature we're showing in the next week or so. RockBand 2, Mario Kart Wii, Scene It!: BOS, Halo 3 (expect to hear 4v4 tournament info soon) are just some of the titles we have in our collection.
Lastly to tie all of this together is the audio system. Even though its not the best it still packs a mean punch, and it's in initial stages of becoming better. Powered by a Pioneer 7.1 THX-Certified Receiver, the Bose 11 speaker (6.1) Acoustimass system is what we have currently for audio. After a few weeks of tweaking the audio and trying different settings, I've come across what can be considered OK to good especially for a Bose sound system.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
With social network sites like Facebook and Twitter around, people are expressing every moment of themselves via these communication mediums. Call it micro-blogging if you will, I've even heard it called the new "chat room", social networking has become a big part of the internet culture. But what haven't we seen yet? As with past trends, MP3 file sharing, high-speed Internet, web browsers the was "the one" that started it all and then more stemmed from there. Where's the one stop shopping for social 
networking? Of course I'll stand corrected with users replying with their API program of choice (i.e. TweetDeck, Tweetie, etc.) but there isn't a piece of hardware out there yet that encompasses that. I'm looking at Apple, they did it with the iPod, they did it with iTunes, they did it with MacBook / Powerbook / iMac...
With all the social networks paying tribute via people's personal memories of the late Michael Jackson (1958-2009), I figured it is only appropriate that I pay mine here.
With June 19th rapidly approaching, I decided this weekend that I'm not going for the new iPhone until later in December when I can get my subsidy to cover the price of the phone. For me, an iPhone 3G [S] will cost me $537 for the 32GB. I barely have my 16GB [3G] full since I use my iPod for my music collection. If you are also deciding not to go for the new phone, it's not such a bad decision.
