Why do we pay for TV channels that spew forth thousands of ads a day and turn our brains into mush? For each one hour show we watch, at least 30 minutes of that is advertizing time. This would never be acceptable on a website, the site would not get any repeat users. So why are we paying to watch so many repeated ads, and not even targeted ads! just general dumb ads for products that we have no interest in.
TV as we know it, is coming to an end. Many people (including myself) are, or have already switched to watching video online. No ads, and its free (we have no option to pay yet in Ireland - as iTunes TV, Hulu, Netflix etc don't work here).
Now for those of you who may be saying "ah but you can't really watch tv on a computer screen", well you don't have to. Just buy a small computer like the mac mini, or dell inspiron zino, or hook your laptop up to your tv using a hdmi cable or similar. Then go to sites like TV3, RTE Player, 4OD, TVshack, and of course theres always Google Video Search, YouTube and Vimeo, and there are more options are becoming available every month, like Google TV.
And for those who see little or no value in tv shows, there is a wealth of educational video available online at Vimeo, Google Video Search, and iTune U (University).
So, would you rather spend hours a day paying to watch repeating brain damaging ads? or learning something new for free?
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Star Trek LCARS iPhone wallpaper
Try these. When you set one of these as your iPhone wallpaper, you will see the reason for the colored borders on the top and bottom :)
For more LCARS info try here: http://lcarscom.net/
For more LCARS info try here: http://lcarscom.net/
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Secrets of Simplicity: rules for being simple and usable (Giles Colborne)
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Why is Apple gear more expensive in Ireland
If you compare prices on the Apple US and Apple Ireland sites, you will see examples like a MacBook Pro $1499 US / €1449 Euros.
Or the new iPhone 3G S - $299 US - €299 Euros.
What's wrong with this picture!
If you do a currency conversion its more like $1,499 US = €1,076 Euros, and $299 US = €215 Euros.
Why is it more expensive in Ireland?
It can't be the stores adding profit, because you can buy directly online. And it can't be the cost of importing Macs into Ireland - as the hardware is MADE HERE (in Cork). Or was (I just found this). And if it WAS expense from importing, why is it cheaper in the UK? (£1,149.00 GBP = €1,347.83 EUR) The UK's even further than Ireland from the US.
So what is it? Who gets the extra profit?
Or the new iPhone 3G S - $299 US - €299 Euros.
What's wrong with this picture!
If you do a currency conversion its more like $1,499 US = €1,076 Euros, and $299 US = €215 Euros.
Why is it more expensive in Ireland?
It can't be the stores adding profit, because you can buy directly online. And it can't be the cost of importing Macs into Ireland - as the hardware is MADE HERE (in Cork). Or was (I just found this). And if it WAS expense from importing, why is it cheaper in the UK? (£1,149.00 GBP = €1,347.83 EUR) The UK's even further than Ireland from the US.
So what is it? Who gets the extra profit?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
So you have a hi-spec PC, graphics card, monitor, mouse etc. But theres still something "not quite right"...
Just thought I'd share my experiences with tweaking "hardware" to improve gaming.
So about a year ago I bought/built a high spec PC for gaming - if it can handle the latest FPS games, it can handle anything else (like heavy Adobe software).
The usual - 4gb ram, dual HD (one for OS, one for everything else), high end graphics card, a good 23" Dell monitor, a good mouse (I like Logitech G5, feels good, has counter balance weights etc: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/359&cl=gb,en)
but after all of that, here are the simple things I ended up changing that seemed to make a real difference...
1. I switched to a regular, normal, cheap, white keyboard!
Before I had a very expensive, thin, backlit (blue light) keyboard, and it was cr@p for gaming (or anything else). It reminded me of a laptop keyboard. Sure you can type on it, but try using WASD to control your character during an intense fight and forget it. You loose. Also, what they failed to mention on the pack, was that "backlit with blue lights" actually meant, the spaces in between the keys light up! NOT the actual letter and numbers on the keys!!! - like thats helpful, when I'm playing in the dark with a black keyboard - I want to see the spaces in between the keys!! - yea right!.
The regular (12 euro) white keyboard with big buttons works just great! I can see the keys as they are sufficiently illuminated by the light from the screen (white keys). I can feel the keys - no need to even look for WASD, and its obvious where the numbers are, as the keys are not all placed right on top of each other to save space. I recommend a regular, cheap, white keyboard for gaming.
2. I bought a "Steel Series" mouse mat! (http://www.steelseries.co.uk/proddata.php?partno=E3152&desc1=SteelSeries%204D)
I never thought a mouse mat would make any real difference. I knew that mouse mats with pictures were a no-go, as the pointer jumps around due to the laser mouse thinking the colors in the picture are different height surfaces.
But I used to use just plain (one color) foam/cloth mouse mats. When I switched to this new "plastic" black one, it really made the mouse seem much better, more accurate and sensitive. I'm peeved I didn't switch years ago. A good mouse, combined with a "proper" mat, plus the right mouse acceleration = much improvement in quality. So these hard, plastic mats may be twice the price (approx 30 euros) of a normal foam mat, but they are WELL worth it.
BTW, I got the Dell monitor approx half price from iBood.ie
So about a year ago I bought/built a high spec PC for gaming - if it can handle the latest FPS games, it can handle anything else (like heavy Adobe software).
The usual - 4gb ram, dual HD (one for OS, one for everything else), high end graphics card, a good 23" Dell monitor, a good mouse (I like Logitech G5, feels good, has counter balance weights etc: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/359&cl=gb,en)
but after all of that, here are the simple things I ended up changing that seemed to make a real difference...
1. I switched to a regular, normal, cheap, white keyboard!
Before I had a very expensive, thin, backlit (blue light) keyboard, and it was cr@p for gaming (or anything else). It reminded me of a laptop keyboard. Sure you can type on it, but try using WASD to control your character during an intense fight and forget it. You loose. Also, what they failed to mention on the pack, was that "backlit with blue lights" actually meant, the spaces in between the keys light up! NOT the actual letter and numbers on the keys!!! - like thats helpful, when I'm playing in the dark with a black keyboard - I want to see the spaces in between the keys!! - yea right!.
The regular (12 euro) white keyboard with big buttons works just great! I can see the keys as they are sufficiently illuminated by the light from the screen (white keys). I can feel the keys - no need to even look for WASD, and its obvious where the numbers are, as the keys are not all placed right on top of each other to save space. I recommend a regular, cheap, white keyboard for gaming.
2. I bought a "Steel Series" mouse mat! (http://www.steelseries.co.uk/proddata.php?partno=E3152&desc1=SteelSeries%204D)
I never thought a mouse mat would make any real difference. I knew that mouse mats with pictures were a no-go, as the pointer jumps around due to the laser mouse thinking the colors in the picture are different height surfaces.
But I used to use just plain (one color) foam/cloth mouse mats. When I switched to this new "plastic" black one, it really made the mouse seem much better, more accurate and sensitive. I'm peeved I didn't switch years ago. A good mouse, combined with a "proper" mat, plus the right mouse acceleration = much improvement in quality. So these hard, plastic mats may be twice the price (approx 30 euros) of a normal foam mat, but they are WELL worth it.
BTW, I got the Dell monitor approx half price from iBood.ie
Monday, June 22, 2009
Important links for designers, sales and anyone interested in what’s going on in the world of design!
Everyone in business should read/listen to this book (I prefer the Audio book from iTunes):
http://www.amazon.com/What-Would-Google-Jeff-Jarvis/dp/0061709719
In defense of eye candy (about UI/UX design):
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/indefenseofeyecandy/
UX design:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/06/15/40-helpful-resources-on-user-interface-design-patterns/
GUI Mags (good for UI/UX designers and testers):
http://guimags.com/index.php?p=products_guimags_corporate&nav=nav_guimags
Interesting Graph (about the biggest bankruptcies in history):
http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/transparency/web/0906/trans0609largestbankruptcies.html
More “Transparency” infographics:
http://www.good.is/sections/department/department.php?tname=transparency
New Toyota Prius (nice flash site):
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minisite/newprius/
Guess the logos (makes you think how much you recognize brands and logos):
http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/
Just interesting design stuff here:
http://www.notcot.org/
And more good design links here:
http://dzineblog.com/
http://creattica.com/
http://psd.tutsplus.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
http://www.amazon.com/What-Would-Google-Jeff-Jarvis/dp/0061709719
In defense of eye candy (about UI/UX design):
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/indefenseofeyecandy/
UX design:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/06/15/40-helpful-resources-on-user-interface-design-patterns/
GUI Mags (good for UI/UX designers and testers):
http://guimags.com/index.php?p=products_guimags_corporate&nav=nav_guimags
Interesting Graph (about the biggest bankruptcies in history):
http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/transparency/web/0906/trans0609largestbankruptcies.html
More “Transparency” infographics:
http://www.good.is/sections/department/department.php?tname=transparency
New Toyota Prius (nice flash site):
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minisite/newprius/
Guess the logos (makes you think how much you recognize brands and logos):
http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/
Just interesting design stuff here:
http://www.notcot.org/
And more good design links here:
http://dzineblog.com/
http://creattica.com/
http://psd.tutsplus.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
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