Site Of the Week: Part X
Ok, so after last weeks fiasco, I promise to redeem myself.
This weeks site was actually fueled because I’m sick of getting JPGs from family members that are 3456X2304px and almost 2MBs in size. I guess since I use Photoshop on a daily basis, I never realized how much of a hassle it was for most people to resize images. If you’re not a computer graphics artist, this task doesn’t seem to be worth it and off you go sending emails with attachments close to a gig in size. No thanks.
Enter ResizR. The tagline says it all, ” Image Resizing is Soooo Easy”. Once you have the picture you want to resize, simply go to the website, browse to the image, choose what size you want it–you can use the slider or type the pixel width in–and click on the “ResizR” button.
Pandora’s Box Updated
If you downloaded Pandora’s Box after I wrote about it quite some time ago, it has been updated. Get the new Pandora’s Box now.
Site Of the Week: Part IX…Continued
So I’ve decided to give MediaMax another chance. The reason is because I found out that they were “dugg” the day before (or the day of, don’t remember) on the popular social news site Digg.com. I’m guessing the files I uploaded took so long to show up because their servers were being pounded by all the new traffic.
So if you didn’t read the previous post, the site of the week is called MediaMax. I attempted to review it on Friday and ran into problem after problem and I finally gave up.
Well, let’s try one more time. The service used to be called StreamCast until they were bought out by MediaMax. This is where all hell broke loose last time and I ended up ranting for about 30 minutes on how MediaMax ruined StreamCast. I can only hope I’m completely wrong.
Site Of the Week: Part IX – Well, Kinda
Alright, here’s the deal. The site I had picked out for the site of the week ended up being the shittiest site I’ve ever come across. The site used to be called StreamLoad until they got bought out by MediaMax. I used to use Streamload all the time to share and store large files via the handy Firefox extension. Not sure when they were bought out by MediaMax, but I do know that they have completely destroyed this service.
They are now offering 25 GBs of free storage and I couldn’t believe it when I first found out. Well, after attempting to review the site, I can see why…you CAN’T upload anything! I attempted to upload a Photoshop PSD, a JPG and an MP3 in both Firefox and Internet Explorer. Nothing worked.
Firefox 1.5.0.7 Released
Well, I was working on my computer when all of the sudden I got a software update pop up from Firefox saying that I need to restart it. I wasn’t expecting this until tomorrow so it is a pleasant surprise.
The update is simply a few security fixes according to the Firefox site. The major upgrade will be coming after version 2.0 is released sometime late October, so be on the lookout.
Foxit Reader 2.0 Released
If you’re still using the slow, bulky Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF’s, let me introduce you to Foxit Reader. It’s a very small and lightweight PDF reader that makes the the process of viewing PDF’s much quicker and more enjoyable.
For those of you already using Foxit reader, you will be glad to know that they have just updated the software to version 2.0.
The only major difference I noticed was the fact that I actually had to install this version, whereas the previous version had no installer. This is not a complaint however, because the installation process took about a half a second. I believe the entire program is only about 1.5MB.
Other than that, the interface is pretty much the same and a few extra features have been added, nothing too major though. But, overall, it’s still worth your time to dump Acrobat and go to the Foxit site and get the new version of Foxit Reader.
Microsoft Zune Makes It’s Move To Unseat iPod
Microsoft has just announced the launch of their first MP3 player, the Zune. The only release date that has been announced is “this holiday season”. They have also not announced the price for it’s 30GB player.
As much as I hate the term “iPod Killer”, no other players have had the 800-pound gorilla, that is Microsoft, on their side.
The specs on the device were pretty much as expected:
- WiFi – iPod doesn’t have
- 30GB HD – iPod now has 60GB & 80GB
- Built-in FM – iPod doesn’t have
- 3-inch Screen – larger than iPod
- Coded Support of: MP3, AAC, WMA and h.264
- Comes in black, brown and white
As you can see, just like most players on the market, the Zune offers the same options as the iPod but also adds some extras that Apple has never bothered with. I think the key to their success it the functionality of the Zune and Windows Media Player 11. If this integrations is as flawless as the iPod and iTunes, the Zune’s chances of success increase dramatically.
Don’t Install iTunes 7
Apple just released iTunes 7 the other day and reports have been popping up everywhere that it is filled with bugs. I believe most of the problems are stemming from the Windows version, but I can’t prove that.
I’ve also had a problem with it in the two days that I have been using it. Everytime I plug my black 5G iPod into my computer iTunes 7 pops up and asks me if I want to update the firmware from v 1.1 to 1.2. Of course I do. So I hit “Download and Install”, and am immediately presented with an error message (below) that says I am not connected to the internet.
That’s weird because I can update my podcasts and browse the iTunes Music Store and also browse the web. No worries though, I’ll just fix the problem in one swift blow by diabling my software firewall…nope. Same error. If anyone has any ideas or has had the same problem, let me know.
Nothing To Do With Technology, But…
I have always stayed away from anything other than technology, especially steering clear of religion or politics. However, my proud-American spirit got the best of me this time.
The article is about Iraq’s head al-Qaida leader calling on his “guinea pigs” to kill at least one American a day for the next two weeks. The twist comes when you see who wrote it…a Muslim American woman.
Well worth five minutes of your time.
New iPod Nano Ads
Well, the big keynote was yesterday and the new iPod Nano ads are available for your viewing pleasure today.
