Today, I bring you more glee and harmony with Apple hardware. Recently, Apple announced that there is a reasonable potential for getting a minor shock from Apple iPod headphones. In my own experiance I have been using headphones since the early 80’s and I can’t not recall a single incident where I was shocked in anyway shape or form. I am pretty sure most of those headphones I was using were not built out of any uber quality components. Once again we have an example of how reliable the information is coming out of Apple. Just recently I blogged about how Apple claimed that netbooks are cheap hunks of junk which break down continually, further they claimed they would not ever build anything like it. Usually this is the type of behavior I expect from Apple. Constantly trying to convince everyone how different they are from the rest of the world. Do you guys remember the gasp from the audience during Steve’s keynote regarding the switch to Intel hardware. Today is a different story, they are trying to convince everyone that getting shocked by your headphones is not all that uncommon. In this case I will allow them to keep their self proclaimed crown and award them the first company I have ever heard of that packages headphones with an extra BOOST! In any event I digress…this is Apple and that explains it all.
I just downloaded and installed the Windows 7 64 Bit Release Cantidate! So far I am totally impressed, only problem I have noticed so far is there is no version of Flash that appears to work in IE8. Sound is working, external wireless USB adaptor worked and I am on the net, I will be posting my system specs and letting you know if all my core software installs without a hitch. I am also shocked by how responsive it is, right now I am downloading 4 significant sized files, posting on my web page, have 4 browser tabs open playing some music and getting windows update…zero delay switching between any of it! EXCITING!
-Update 1: I have installed a few Vista gadgets that are working fine (Google Search Buddy, CPU System Monitor, Control System) I tried to install the free versio of ZoneAlarm and that failed. My understanding is that it is not 64Bit compatible. AVG AntiVirus installed and updated without a hitch. Steam is installed an downloading L4D and CSS. Firefox and Flash are working great.
I also found a forum post that lists a bunch of know compatible software: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=285099.
-Update 2: I have tested 2 games and both play flawlessly (Trials 2 and Left 4 Dead) I have noticed some sound issues when communicating in L4D, according to my friend Sam I sound like a bleating sheep.
More to come…
HAHAHAHAHA! Oh this kind of stuff really gets my giggle box running full steam. I was reading over at www.tomshardware.com a moment ago and came across the following article…
Apple: Netbooks Don’t Deserve Mac Brand
“When I look at Netbooks, I see cracked keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens,” he said. “It’s just not a good consumer experience and not something we would put the Mac brand on. It’s a segment we would not choose to play in.” READ MORE!
I guess these so called “executives” are totally oblivious to their own manufacturing issues on just about every product line that has ever come out of the Apple. Perhaps I can provide them with some level of useful education?
Need I go on?
I guess Apple has decided that their manufacturing flaws are of a higher quality than HP’s or Dell’s. HAHA!HAHA! Ohhh I can’t stop laughing. Personaly if I am going to buy flawed equipment I would rather spend $250-$300 instead of $1800-$2600…how about you? I think it might be time to update the Apple logo with a rotting apple core?
Yummy!
I have been pretty negative about L4D and my friends had been giving me a hard time over it, especially since I have put in over 26 hours on it in the last two weeks. I have obtained about half of the achievements. I am learning to really like this game…or was until Valve started their “Noobification” updates. Luckily my buddy over at www.huntergames.org is working on a L4D Pro Mod. I have spent some time with him testing and I really really really like what I see. Make sure you read all about it here.
I am still waiting breathlessly for this modification or whatever you want to call it. The music alone is top notch not to mention all the rest…GAH hurry up guys!
Hunter Games just recently added a video over on www.youtube.com to show off their recent L4D mod.
My friend Sam (better known as EVOL) has been working on a Left 4 Dead mod for several weeks and it has really started to gain some traction. Over 336 individuals are currently part of the HUNTER GAMES Steam community and they also just hit the front page over at Left 4 Dead Mods. Right now 83 people are active and playing the mod. Considering this mod is just now getting rolling I believe it has tons of potential and I suggest you get involved in the early stages if you want to be considered a grass roots HUNTER 
About Hunter Games:
“Hunter Games” is a Left 4 Dead mod that forces all 8 players in a server to the infected team, and only allows hunters. Various games are played and enforced by the server.
Tag (claw to tag another player if you are “it”)
Reverse Tag/Keepaway (claw to “steal” from another player and make yourself “it”)
Infection/Last Man Standing (claw to infect another player if you are “infected”)
Pounce Race (npc survivor bots are teleported to random map locations, and hunters must race to pounce them)
25 Damage Pounce Session (npc survivor bots run through the map, and all hunters must attempt 25 damage pounces on them)
The individual mini games listed above are short, from 2 to 5 minutes a piece. When one mini game finishes, the next one begins!
Sharpen up your hunter skills!
They currently have 3 servers and try to run 24/7. Be patient, there are still a few bugs, but they should generally be very playable!
games.deadmen.us:27022
games.deadmen.us:27023
games.deadmen.us:27024
LET’S GO HUNTING!
I have been a Pandora fan for several years now and love all the new music that I find while I am listening to bands I already like. In fact, I can’t think of another service or method that has EVER turned me on to so many new sounds (new to me). Back during the Rhapsody heyday (prior to Real Networks) I had some success in finding new music, but not nearly as consistently as I do with Pandora. I have shared a sampling of some tunes that I am enjoying with great frequency. Since there is no way for me to actually share the specific songs I like through Pandora so I am using Playlist below 
Disclaimer: I like some weird stuff so be warned you may hate it?
I hate to admit it, but I have been a die hard fan of Depeche Mode since the early 80’s. I did not dig the last album much, but this new song has potential. Can’t wait for the NEW album. Hey and the video does not TOTALLY suck…great job guys!
If you are constanly on the hunt for some decent software to convert your videos I feel your pain. It seems that I need to have two or three programs installed just to get movies or shows that I legally own on to devices that can legally play them. Well I can’t really promise you any more than a good place to start. Lifehacker.com has a decent little article with some of the same products I would recommend.