latest tech gadgets and news

While doing a search for some new electronic toys, I found one site that interested me very much: http://www.itechnews.net/. This site is regularly updated and contains information about the newest tech gadgets. I think it's a great way to stay up to date with what type of new technologies are coming out. If you like the newest electronics, this is a good site to regularly visit!

Getting rid of the Internet

I just read an interesting article about how researchers are considering scrapping the current Internet in favor of something new. The Internet today wasn't designed for what it can do today, and some feel that starting from scratch is the only way to address all the problems that the Internet has today. I would support the new system, but it is unlikely that anything significant will begin happen for at least several more years.
Here's the link to the article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18095186/

Apple TV

The Apple TV's finally out! Here's an article and a review about it. The review tells you it's audio, video, photo, and internet capabilities. I'm interested to see what happens to the Apple TV and whether it will become successful.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17997102/site/newsweek/
If you're interested about the TV itself, you can go here: http://www.apple.com/appletv/


Here's some for fun - a short article I found interesting about a new use for an iPod: body armor!
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/04/soldier_saved_b.html

101 Fantastic Freebies

For anyone interested in getting the newest programs (for free), you should read this article: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130045-page,1/article.html#.
The programs here might not be as powerful as commercial products, but they will get the job done. The article separates the programs into different categories for easy browsing and provide a brief description of each program.

Wii attracting a wide audience

I was browsing around and come across an article about the Wii.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/fun.games/03/23/wii.retirees.reut/index.html Pretty much it says that the Wii, although less powerful than the XBOX 360 or PS3, was doing more successful because if it's cheaper price and wider appeal. The article tells how the elderly have fun playing with the Wii. Here's a quote, "The Wii outsold the new Microsoft and Sony consoles in January and February and is generating its own buzz with everyone from nuns to cancer patients to toddlers."
With this type of ability, one can only imagine how it can be used in the education world.

home pocket theater

For a while, I've been considering getting a home pocket theater. It's pretty much just like a pair of eyeglasses, except you have two individual screens instead of lenses. The one i was looking at was the Icuiti AV230. There was also a recent article about pocket theaters here: http://news.com.com/This+52-inch+screen+goes+on+your+head/2100-1041_3-6167746.html?tag=nefd.top

Has anyone ever tried one or owned one? It looks like a really interesting gadget ;-)

Apple and iTunes

I just came across this article: here (it's a long link so I didn't show it). Anyways, it discusses problems facing Apple and the iTunes program in Europe. There's one quote in the article that I like: "Do you think it's fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod? I don't. Something has to change..." This article brings up the issue of digital rights technology and how much right a user has over their purchased music.

BBC being questioned

I've recently read some articles about the BCC and some problems they seem to be encountering lately. While reading these I was reminded of the interview we listened to in class about the BBC.

http://www.ricksiegel.com/web2/node/18

There are also several videos online showing how BCC repeated the collapse of WTC7 about half an hour before it it. I've read lots of theories behind this, but it seems that many people think information was leaked somehow. Go to youtube.com and do a search for "bbc 911 wtc7" You'll be able to see for yourself.

Internet Security problems

I just read an article about someone hacked into Ebay (more than once, actually). You can read about it here: http://blog.imagestr.com/?p=40

I think something like this just serves to remind us that while technology has its uses, it also has it's problems. Ebay is a very popular site and with all the money being exchanged, it must maintain its security. If something this big can be compromised, other larger institutions can be too. I think it's important that everyone who uses technology learns about the security issues that come with it.

Random Internet Stuff

Part of our assignment this week was to find your learning style. Here's my scores:

Results for:
    ACT                                  X                REF
         11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11
                            <-- -->

    SEN          X                                       INT
         11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11
                            <-- -->

   VIS                  X                                VRB
         11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11
                            <-- -->

    SEQ                  X                               GLO
         11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11
                            <-- -->

*****************************************************************************
While surfing online, I came across some interesting sites. One is a search site for files for the iPod. If anyone is familiar with torrents, you can try this site: http://www.podtropolis.com/
File-sharing is a rather touchy subject so hopefully this won't cause too many problems.

I also came across a rather fun (although old trick). Take a look below:


The Fastest XP Prank EVER!!!!

Some Neat Tech Gadgets

I like staying up to date with technology, and I've come across some interesting sites about cool (although not always that practical) gadgets and gizmos:
http://www.dynamism.com/Gadgets/category.shtml

and some additional creative usb drives: http://www.mimoco.com/

I'm interested in seeing how the GP2x develops in the future (under gadgets --> video games from the first link). Open source is very popular now, and although there are more security threats, there's also more sharing of ideas. I think this product has a lot more freedom than some of the other available hand held consoles now.


Additional comment about discussion this week:
Part of our assignment this week was to discuss whether it was ethical or not to edit an interview. After responding to the forum, I was reminded of something fun one of my old bosses told me to do (as part of an informal speech training class to prepare me for teaching). If you every get bored in a class or have to listen to someone speak very often, start paying very close attention and you'll pick up on the person's speech habits. Some people will repeat the same phrase over and over while others will have certain patterns of speaking. It's fun to see how everyone's habits are different. However, it's also often these habits that should often be edited from interviews.

Results of losing control of technology in a classroom

I recently came across this article concerning technology in a classroom. A teacher lost control of her computer and now faces 40 years in prison:

http://freestudents.blogspot.com/2007/01/teacher-faces-40-years-in-prison.html

more information about the story here.

Also, since we'll be talking about videos next week, I have this older article about a neat accessory for iPods: http://www.alldvrnews.com/blog_98.shtml
I think that's a very useful tool and looks like a lot of fun.

Mind Mapping Tools

I saw that we're supposed to talk about mind mapping for next week. In one of my previous classes, we had to design plans using them. During that time, I tried several different programs. My favorite was http://www.gliffy.com
The main thing I liked about it was that it was free and accessible by any computer with internet access. It's very convenient and simple to use.

Some of the other programs I've tested were Inspiration and MS Visio . I found Inspiration to also be easy, but it only gives you a 30 day trial period before you actually have to purchase the program. MS Visio was very complex to me, but had a lot of potential. I felt I had only touched the very basics of the program. There's so much the program can do. However, it's also a fairly expensive program, so I think gliffy.com is the best

how to podcast

In preparation for tomorrow's class, I was searching around for some information about podcasting. I've done a lot of audio editing before (mostly using Adobe Audition - http://www.adobe.com/products/audition/). However, I've never done an actual podcast before. I found one website that seemed fairly useful: http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/00-podcast-tutorial-four-ps.htm

Greetings

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post on my newest blog for MMC6936! I look forward to a great semester in this class.