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Screw You Flash!
Adobe makes (usually) great products. I am a huge fan of Photoshop and Premiere Pro. But the flash player sucks.
The flash player is so bad, the flash player is a monkey that shits in a bucket, and then throws shit at you, and then mocks you for being covered in shit. It is a system hog, any page that uses flash runs my system (dual core 4 gigs of ram) up to processing limits while it loads. But that isn’t where the suck comes in…
The suck comes in that it is a buggy piece of crap!
The current version of flash for Firefox (if you are using IE well that is just another different shit throwing monkey ball of suck) won’t work with Youtube videos. Great eh?
The video stops after 2 seconds (perhaps a keyframe issue since you can skip forward).
It is actually a bug in flash itself. This is not limited to windows either.
This is a problem in Flash versions after 9.0r47.
There are several solutions posted from copying a file to the plugins directory of Firefox, this does not work for me, or downgrading (no dice security concerns), or upgrading to the version 10 beta of flash. There are lots of bugs that I have found with this.
This is an old problem, it is time for Adobe to get their shit together and come up with a real fix for this problem. As for developers, think twice before using flash, because if I have to use IE to view your page, I will probably just skip your page.
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August 2008
Magic Dog Door Spawns New Idea!
Plexidoor just anounced a new sliding dog door. It works with an RFID chip (like a ton of dogs have now), when the dog gets close the door slides open. Doesn’t work for other dogs…. Hmm brilliant?
Personally I don’t like the idea of a dog going in/out on their own. I personally don’t like tons of mud everything, so unless the system could be disabled in the rain…
Now a better idea? Put one of those RFID chips on your key chain, you walk to your front door, it automatically unlocks, shut the door and walk away, it automatically locks. Now there is a good idea! Your door is always locked, except for you, in which case its always unlocked!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Everything No Comments » July 2008
File This Under Bad Idea: WASP Knife
Getting stabbed sounds bad… but what if the knife explodes you? What the crap????
WASP Knife does just that. From their website:
As divers, we all know what the effects of compressed gas are underwater. Our training teaches us that our lungs would burst from over-inflation if we held our breath and rose to the surface. This principle is key to the effectiveness of the WASP Injection System.
This weapon injects a freezing cold ball of compressed gas, approximately the size of a basketball, at 800psi nearly instantly. The effects of this injection will drop many of the world’s largest land predators. The effects of the compressed gas not only cause over-inflation during ascent when used underwater, but also freezes all tissues and organs surrounding the point of injection on land or at sea. When used underwater, the injected gas carries the predator to the surface BEFORE blood is released into the water. Thus giving the diver added protection by diverting other potential predators to the surface.
Bayonets were made illegal for their brutal actions, but they didn’t explode you… but I guess… they could now!
This just seems like a bad idea, watch what it does to a watermelon!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Technology 1 Comment » July 2008
Wiiste of Money: Part 2
At E3 (some gaming thing I think), Ninento announced a new motion-plus sensor add-on for the wii-mote. It makes the movements 1-1. Supposed to make control wayyyy better.
It comes with Wii Sports 2 (Resort) which won’t work without it. Yay, more addons for the Wii. Sure… fine… great… The games are getting better. I like that, since my biggest complaint is the games don’t compare to the xBox/PS3 or I just don’t like them. Wii Sports as I said earlier is awesome, so another Wii sports is great.
Drops The Ball
So another good game is coming out… but wait… ONLY ONE GAME IS COMING OUT. Nintendo failed to notify third party developers that motion plus was coming out. The developers found out about motionplus the same time the rest of us did. Know what that means? Another sample game (Wii Sports Resort) will be the only game to use motionplus for some time.
The problem with a lack of quality titles for the wii is only going to increase. Nuts to you Nofriendo!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Technology No Comments » July 2008
I Wasted My Money On A Nintendo Wii
I bought Alanna a wii as an early birthday present, as I thought it would be really fun for us to play together and with friends. Would I go through with the purchase again?
Hell no.
In fact, I am really tempted to sell it. I am not a gamer by any stretch of the imagination, but I like these new party style games. Wii Sports is a perfect example, but the games I really love are the Rock Band/Guitar Hero style of games.
First let me start with Wii Sports, it is fun to play with friends, but I tire of it quickly. The mini games, are for the most part fun, but very limited.
The tennis is the best gameplay of the sports. The only problem is that the longest you can play is best 3 of 5 games. You can’t even play a full set. Its a very cool demo at most.
Baseball sucks. No defense, no intangibles, its hitting and pitching and nothing else.
Bowling is probably the best game. You get to play a full game, which is very nice, it actually feels like bowling!
Golf is my favorite. The game action is very cool having to hit with the right force and read the wind. The problem is that once again it lives in demo territory. There are only 4 clubs, 9 holes, and not much else.
Boxing. I’m not a fan, gameplay is iffy, as its tough to tell exactly what you are doing. I don’t ever play it.
Now wii sports is the best example of wii gameplay, but after 1 week I am getting bored with it. I am looking at some of the other sports games, but they don’t seem to be the same. For instance TopSpin 3 (tennis) makes you control the player with the numchuk, it makes it more of a gamer type game. Tiger Woods golf may be a saving grace, I am going to rent that this week.
Now the saving grace… The music games. No wait. They are a giant ripoff.
Rock Band is a perfect example. The PS2 version is $100, the XBOX/PS3/Wii versions are $170. The wii features match the PS2 version. Gah. The main kicker for me (and the reason I am returning Rock Band) is that there is no song downloads! Instead they try to sell you song discs. That is $30 for a bunch of songs, but I really only want 4 of the songs, and is $7.50 + tax per song. No way. Rock Band goes back.
Now what happens with the wii, I think Alanna wants to keep it, and it is her present, so I am fine keeping it, but unfortunately I am goign to have to spend another $500 to get a 360 and Rock Band, although I may wait to get Rock Band 2, and just buy the Rock Band 1 game. There should be good interoperability.
So in short, the wii is a big money waste. If you are a happy spending $500 for wii sports, then its fine, but there isn’t much else.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Technology 1 Comment » July 2008
Screwing Over By The Telcos Continues: Txt Msg Version
Jim Prentice has asked the Telcos to explain their new text message money theft scheme.
Well here is the low down, you need to pay for incoming text messages, even spam. Can you turn off text messages? No. So there is a potential cost that could be quite large. As you look at the situation more closely you realize that this is a charge that the consumer has no control over. You can’t stop them, you haven’t requested them, there is no pay per use on this.
Further complicating things, is that it is possible to send text messages pretty well free of charge. Example, Bell allows SMS messages to be sent through email addresses:
XXXXXXXXXX@txt.bell.ca
So in theory, you could send 1000 emails to that message inbox, and it would cost the customer $150 -$0.15 per message. Nice system eh? The customer can’t block it, and the only way to protect themselves is to buy a text messaging plan. This is a scam of astronomical proportions and I am very glad that the industry minister has focused on this!
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Technology 2 Comments » July 2008
New Speakers… in Council Bluffs No Less!
I ordered some new speakers earlier this week.
Last weekend I went auditioning, and couldn’t find anything that was exactly what I wanted, but the AV123 rockets fit the bill with a less bright top end, and a little bit more punch for rock music.
Anyway I got the AV123 Rocket 760s:
As well I got the RSC200 Center (Affectionately referred to as ‘Bigfoot’):
And the RSS300 Surrounds:
As you can imagine I am pretty excited and have been watching the tracking. Well today where do they end up! COUNCIL BLUFFS! If you are a huge Tim Kasher fan (Cursive/The Good Life) you would know that he lived near there and has referenced Council Bluffs in a few songs off of The Good Life’s Album of the Year:
Album Of The Year:
spring was popping daises
around rusted trucks and busted lawn chairs.
we moved into a studio in Council Bluffs
to save a couple of bucks.
where the mice came out at night.
neighbors were screaming all the time.
we’d make love in the afternoon
to chelsea girls and bachelor number 2.
i’d play for her some songs i wrote
she’d joke and say i’m shooting through the roof.
i’d say they’re all for you dear.
Inmates:
When you said you’d leave me…well, why haven’t you left me? What are we still doing here, so desperate for company? There’s a greyhound on Jackson Street, there’s an airport in Council Bluffs…hell, there’s a car in the driveway – fifty ways to get lost.
Two of my favorite songs on the album to boot! I figure that this is a good omen. I hope that Tim’s stuff sounds great on the new speakers!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Personal Life No Comments » June 2008
Oh Cursive is SO COOL!
It has been about one year, no not since I blogged last, although it may feel that way. It has been about one year since I saw my favourite band Cursive the one and only time I saw them. It was a great show, and with all the shows I have seen over the years it is hard for me to say that. I honestly wasn’t disappointed. I figured that in honour a year later I would post a list of what I think are Tim Kasher’s best songs (in order no less):
- Sierra (Cursive)
- Art Is Hard (Cursive)
- O’Rourkes 1:20 AM (The Good Life)
- A Gentleman Caller (Cursive)
- Inmates (Acoustic) (The Good Life -Version that Tim sings)
- The Great Decay (Cursive)
- The Martyr (Cursive)
- A Little More (The Good Life)
- The Radiator Hums (Cursive)
- Album Of The Year (The Good Life)
- Staying Alive (Cursive)
- Driftwood: A Fairy Tale (Cursive)
- Ceilings Crack (Cursive)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Everything, Personal Life 1 Comment » May 2008
Slagging Other Companies Goods
Yesterday I went to AudioTronic on Merivale Road in Ottawa to price some receivers to see how the local price would compare to ordering from the states (I’m ordering from the states).
He was asking what speakers I would be using…
For the past few months I have been researching speakers, I have narrowed down my decision to Paradigm, PSB, Aperion, Elemental Designs, and Axiom Audio. I want to listen to at least 3 of those (preferably in house) to get a better idea of what I want. Pretty much all of the systems will be in the near Audiophile calibre and will cost somewhere in excess of $2,000.
I am actually leaning towards Paradigm, PSB, and Axiom since those 3 companies are Canadian have all been around for many years and all have a good reputation. Speakers are very personal item, and are somewhat dependent on your room, and other componentry.
I will be trying Axiom as they offer a 30 day money back guarantee, and while you have to pay for return shipping yourself, my cottage is near their office, so I would be able to return the speakers myself if I choose. Couple that with the fact that they are about half the price as the other two Canadian contenders and it seems that they will be the first ones I try.
…back to Audiotronic. I told the sales guy that I was leaning towards Axiom speakers. His reply: ‘You know those are crap?’
What constructive criticism. He doesn’t sell them so they obviously are terrible. I asked about auditioning some of the speakers he does sell, in my home. He basically refused, or said I may be able to take some speakers they have on the floor for an afternoon. Very apparent that he doesn’t stand by his speakers which aren’t ‘crap’. I asked him how much the setup that I was considering from paradigm would be and he told me $4000, more than double what I was looking at from Axiom. Nothing against Paradigm, but this guy at Audiotronic really turned me off his store. Oh well… back to those who pride themselves on service.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Everything, Technology 1 Comment » April 2008
Bank Commercials
They are on TV all the time. Those bank commercials where they have to remind people that they are independently wealthy.
Customer: My car is broken, my daughter wants to be a doctor, and I’m retiring in 27 minutes and forgot to save…
Banker: Would you like a breakfast nook?
I suppose my question is why do you never see the following in bank commercials?
Customer: I need to retire in 10 years, my ungrateful kid needs another 10k for a victory lap at university, and my savings are lacking…
Banker: Judging by the fact that you ran up a 5k bill on your credit card last month, and have missed 2 mortgage payments this year, not only can we not help you, but we need to raise the rates on your line of credit and lower the limit. Come to think of it, you are a moron and have no money and no hope. Have you considered going to a different bank?
Sigh. No every customer leaves the bank feeling like they won the lottery. Funny how I don’t know anyone who leaves the bank feeling that way.
(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Posted by Tyler Posted in: Everything 1 Comment » April 2008