Updates Defined
Posted in: Editorial | Comments (17)
The Updates blog is about movies, software, apps, smartphones, photography, and fun. We’ll occasionally dabble in religion for the sake of truth, but otherwise we try to stay light-hearted here.
Here are some examples of what the Updates blog is all about:
- How to Watch Netflix on Your Android Phone — a post about how I used Playon to run Netflix on my Samsung Captivate in North Carolina, through a Time Warner modem and Belkin Router. Since returning to Florida, I have been unable to get Playon to work using a Centurylink 660W modem. Welcome to the real world.
- What’s Next for Harold Camping — this is an example of shining the light of truth on a false religious premise. I really can’t stand organizations like Family Radio, that sell people on things that are impossible to predict like the end of the world. People donated tons of money to this organization; meanwhile, that money could have been sent to victims of tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes. The money donated to Family Radio could be used to find a cure for diseases. Instead, the money went to pay for billboards proclaiming 5/21/2011 would be the date of the Rapture. What a complete waste of money and precious resources. Harold Camping should be ashamed.
- Royal Pain in the Posterior (Princess Kate Wedding) — we occasionally give our take on celebrity events. We try to give a real world perspective to things like the Princess Kate wedding, where seemingly every major news outlet on TV and online was inculcating the public on who Kate was and how her wedding was a fairy tale. Whatever. Ask Princess Diana if she believes in happily ever afters in this lifetime.
- Darker than Black, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Chinese Connection, Moribito — I rarely get to watch movies or TV; so, if I actually watch something, I like to talk about it.
- Wizard’s hat in the clouds — I love taking photos of interesting sites and items that catch my eye. Cars, clouds, weird M&M shapes … things you won’t see anywhere else.
If you’re bored with the hum-drum, SEO-driven, same-old headlines from Yahoo, Drudge, Rotten Tomatoes, AOL, Twitter, Facebook, Techcrunch, and other sites, be sure to add us to your RSS feed; break the monotony and read the DailySkew!
Tony Vahl @ May 24, 2011
TWiFT: Captivate at the Bottom of a River
Posted in: technology | Comments (0)
Over the weekend, I went camping with a local Boy Scout troop. After spending a relaxing-yet-sleepless night under the stars (I’m just not an outdoorsman), we set out to go canoeing. I helped cook breakfast that morning, and was pretty much DONE after that. However, I wanted to help out.
I figured, “What could possibly go wrong?”
Let’s see. I’d never been canoeing before. I was operating on no sleep. What, indeed.
Before getting in the canoe, I made a terrible choice. I decided to bring my phone to take pictures. For some reason, I thought everything would be fine. I must have been under the impression that this was like riding through Mexico in Epcot Center, or floating through the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World.
Well, long story short, there was a short dam that required speed to go down. We were not going fast enough, got stuck, tried to move the boat over, and flipped over. I fell in, right knee first. Two huge gashes remain on the front of my leg, which will turn into scars, permanent reminders of my folly.
In the process, my phone, which was in some kind of cup holder (who would put a cup holder in a canoe? Talk about a false sense of security), fell in the drink.
We were told that there were two alligators on the river that day. As long as we stayed in our boats, the gators would stay away. “Just don’t go swimming,” said the attendant before we set off.
So, I swam to the dock, helped the kids get to safety, and helped recover the canoe.
And my Captivate sank to the bottom of the river. Doomed to remain there, until some hobbit comes across it centuries from now.
Since this is TWiFT (This Week in Frustrating Tech), I thought I’d give you one final update on my Captivate and the apps, before it met it’s watery grave. Here goes:
- Well, the phone was constantly freezing up and crashing
- The Stitcher app started playing TWiT network shows again; so, it made a strong comeback after being in my app doghouse. I’m glad. I also found great University educational podcasts from Yale, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, and other schools
- I started using an app called Overdrive Media Console to borrow audiobooks and ebooks from the local library. I’ve been listening to The Korean War by Max Hastings. Terrific book, and terrific app. As long as your local library supports Overdrive book borrowing, and you have a library card, you’re all set
- Tunein radio added a feature called Recents, that remembers the last 10 stations you listened to. This became a good work-around for remembering podcasts I’ve found, since Tunein does not let you bookmark podcasts (yet). On a related note, I discovered the Fitzdog podcast, which is a hilarious comedian interview show, and mini Phil Hendrie clips. Tunein radio continues to impress
- I totally got hooked on a tower defense game called Defender. No, not the classic 1980′s video game. I avoided downloading the game because the name was such a rip-off, but after reading so many good reviews, and since I was looking for a defense game that was similar to Plants vs. Zombies, I took the plunge. This game is totally addictive. You’re fighting off trolls and monsters, using arrows and magic spells. You’re defending the outer wall of a castle. Terrific Android game that ran well on my now-low-end Captivate
- I found myself deleting apps to make space for new apps. This totally reminded me of when I was still using my Blackberry Bold on a full-time basis
- I never did manage to update the phone to Gingerbread. I was going to try a different USB cable, but never got around to it. I suspect the constant crashing had something to do with needing to update the OS
Well, to my fellow Samsung Captivate users: it’s been fun being part of your ranks. My phone how now passed away to that great cell phone graveyard in the sky, and I now have a new phone. While the Captivate was definitely an upgrade from Blackberry, it’s constant crashing and quirky Touchwiz interface, and the bloatware from AT&T, was quite annoying. I can honestly say I will not miss the phone, even though it really had its moments. My relationship with the phone was rocky at best, and required a lot of patience on my part. I’m happy to move on to a new phone, and hope this next relationship with technology will be smoother.
I will blog about the new phone in the coming weeks. For now, let us take a moment to reflect on that Captivate, wrapped in a plastic case and screen protected with a clear film, once running Froyo 2.2, now lying at the bottom of a river, waiting to be found.
admin @ May 7, 2012
Skew Review: Transformers Prime Ep 1
Posted in: television | Comments (0)
For all of you Netflix fans who, like me, cut the cord on cable/satellite awhile ago, I’m sure you’re always on the lookout for new TV shows on the streaming side. If you’re a fan of Transformers, you’ve got to check out Transformers Prime.
I watched the first episode the other night with my son, and we were both hooked. First off, Cliff Jumper figured prominently in the show, which took me back to the 1980′s when, as a little boy, I mailed in some Proof of Purchases to get the red Cliff Jumper sports car transformer. Getting that Transformer in the mail was like unlocking a secret character in a video game. It was so cool to add him to the storylines I invented when playing with my toys back then.
Another cool detail about the show is that Peter Cullen is once again the voice of Optimus Prime. This leads to another cool detail: that the cartoon appears to have connections to the movies and original cartoon series. For example, the Transformers have a base hidden inside a cliff (albeit there is no crashed ship on the outside this time). Starscream is still a schemer who wants to be in charge, and Soundwave remains loyal to the true leader of the Decepticons. Bumblebee has the Camaro look from the movies, and sounds like a bee.
The show’s ending had a terrific ending that leaves you wanting more.
It was also cool to see Arcee, who originally appeared in the cartoon Transformers movie.
Oh, and the CGI animation is terrific!
Anyway, Orci and Kurtzman, who wrote the trilogy movie scripts, are involved in this project. They are doing a great job of cleaning up prior continuity errors and bringing out the best in the story and characters. My son and I are looking forward to watching the rest of season 1.
admin @ April 24, 2012
BFA Exhibition 2012
Posted in: Artists | Comments (1)
My wife and I attended a cool art exhibit last night at FAU in Boca Raton called, “History of the Future.” My friend Walter Wordsworth had a terrific photo on display from his 2010 Doll Me photo shoot:
Anyway, after walking through, I went back and took photos of our favorite pieces. We were particularly impressed with works by Jonathon Carillo, and Megan Boehm.
There was also some art that was meant to challenge or confuse, or both. Neither of us were in the mood for that last night. Reality is challenging and confusing enough. Rather than contemplate walking through England with an American Flag blindfold, or human babies suckling on a cow, we wanted to escape confusion, and were drawn to works that spoke to us emotionally.
Anyway, best of luck to the artists who presented their works last night.
admin @ April 20, 2012
Skew Review: The River Season 1
Posted in: television | Comments (0)
Have you seen The River on ABC? Wow. What a show.
My wife and I got hooked on it, for some reason. We don’t usually have a TV appointment; most TV I watch is on Netflix these days, but this show sucked us in.
So, what is the River? It revolves around the search for Dr. Emmett Cole, a Jack Hanna meets Crocodile Hunter kind of character. He would take his family into the jungle and film their exploits for a reality TV show. Audiences in this fictional world got to see his kids grow up, as well as glimpses of his parenting skills, is addition to his adventures.
Anyway, the show starts with the kids grown up, and Dr. Cole having disappeared. His wife, who was very upset that he left for one last expedition, decides to go search for him, even though he’s been declared dead. She recruits her son, who resents the way his dad raised him, and a team of television people and security to go find him. The search is paid for by turning it into a reality show.
Dr. Cole was searching for something mysterious called The Source. He was looking for the secret to life, basically. He thought he was on the cusp of finding it, and just had to delve into the Amazon one last time.
I won’t get into spoilers here, but I do have to talk about one character: the cameraman. He is a snarky Jamaican/British guy who is incredibly cynical. He refuses to help out, and is not shy about saying, “Hey, I’m holding the camera.” As the show progresses, he becomes less distant and tones down his attitude, but he remains humorous about the improbable situations they encounter. In general, the casting for the show was excellent. The producers of this show got terrific actors to play in this series.
I love that the show is shot like it’s a reality show. In other words, the episodes are presented like it’s footage from the expedition. It’s very cool in that it takes advantage of the whole reality show format that people are now used to for a fictional show.
If you like being scared, this is a good show. There are definitely scenes that will make you jump or freak you out. Plus, there’s the overarching mystery of what happened to Dr. Cole. Will they find him? How will they find him?
The ending of Season 1 was spectacular. It felt a bit telegraphed, at first, but the way it unfolded was amazing. If they never shot another episode, I’d be satisfied with this ending.
It does appear that The River will live on, either on ABC or Netflix. I sure hope so, as the ending was a total cliffhanger, and there are many unanswered questions and possibilities for this show. I’m rooting for Season 2 to happen!
admin @ March 29, 2012
Skew Review: Tintin
Posted in: Movies | Comments (0)
So, my son and I decided to watch The Adventures of Tintin this week. What motivated us to watch this movie?
Well, we started watching a 1991 Tintin cartoon on Netflix. We were hooked from the first episode.
I had no attachment to the Tintin character prior to this. I think I may have seen a Tintin comic strip in the El Diario newspaper, when I was a kid. I know the name Herges, the creator of Tintin, was familiar to me. However, I didn’t know a thing about threw character or story.
So, who is Tintin? He is a reporter by trade who is constantly pursuing interesting stories. His adventures are kind of a cross between Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes. He solves mysteries, and pursues hidden treasures and rare objects.
Tintin has a brave and loyal dog named Snowy, and befriends a Popeye seadog named Captain Haddock. Like Holmes, Tintin also has to deal with bumbling detectives and set them straight.
The villains are dastardly, murderous scoundrels. Tintin’s life is in constant danger. Like Indiana Jones, the bullets fly as Tintin evades capture or chases someone.
So, after being sucked into the show, my son and I decided to give the movie a spin. We both loved it. My only issue was that it was too short; I didn’t want it to end.
I read a couple of reviews that complained about the Uncanny Valley effect, where cartoon characters look so lifelike yet are just off enough that it’s unsettling for viewers. I had no issues with this, but your mileage may vary. I personally thought the animation was terrific; way better than similar CG movies shot the same way, like The Polar Express.
The movie was not a box office smash in the USA, but performed well worldwide. There are two sequels planned and in the works. I’m glad.
Did I mention that Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg teamed up to produce this movie, and Spielberg directed? This was the first time Spielberg has done an animated feature. If you are a fan of his adventure movies, you have to see this movie.
John Williams composed the soundtrack. The music sounded fresh; definitely better than his work on Harry Potter. I’m sure, like his most famous works, it’s derivative of someone like Holtz, but I personally don’t care anymore. A well-made cheese lasagna is derivative, too. Know what I mean?
admin @ March 23, 2012
TWiFT: Stitcher
Posted in: technology | Comments (0)
Stitcher is now one of my former favorite apps.
It has totally gone downhill on my Samsung Captivate. It’s on the virtual deathbed.
I’m so grateful to Stitcher for providing great shows to listen to the past couple of years and hosting the DailySkew Mobile Podcast. Unfortunately, on Android 2.2 Froyo, it is terrible. Absolutely terrible.
None of the TWiT Network of shows will play. That’s pretty much a deal-breaker. I did email the folks at Stitcher about this problem awhile ago, but got no real feedback or response.
The Stitcher problems have pushed me to Tunein Radio Pro. I can listen to my favorite podcasts on Tunein, so I pretty much don’t need Stitcher anymore.
Side-note: the problem might be Froyo. I have attempted to update my phone to Gingerbread (AT&T finally released this for the Captivate a couple of weeks ago) and the update failed. So, if the problem is Froyo, I partially blame Samsung/AT&T/Google for creating a frustrating situation where customers can’t even upgrade their OS.
admin @ March 18, 2012
Is Windows Done?
Posted in: technology | Comments (0)
Sitting here, trying to figure out why my wife’s brand new Windows 7 Acer laptop is running sooooo slowwwwllly, I realized I’m starring at the past. The old way of doing things.
Windows is done.
It’s too complicated for the regular everyday user. This has been true for years and years. People (like my wife and kids) refuse to run Windows Update. They complain loudly when an Anti-virus or anti-spyware scan is slowing down their machine. They hate it when Crashplan+ is running to back-up the precious photos and docs that are on the hard drive to the cloud.
And yet, these are the things that allow Windows to function properly.
So, I set things to run in the middle of the night … except, the laptop may not be on. Or my wife might be watching ABC or Netflix on her laptop if she can’t sleep.
And we’re back to square one.
The next computer I buy my wife and kids will be an iPad. With a bluetooth keyboard. That’s it. I’m done with runnning performance checks, clearing Internet Caches and Browsing Histories, launching Disk clean-up, looking up Windows Help and Support … all for an unappreciative audience (my family).
I understand why my wife and kids are ambivalent towards my efforts. They simply want the device to work.
It’s like when the starter on your car fails. You have it towed to the mechanic, the mechanic fixes it, and then what? Do you throw the mechanic a party? Do you celebrate? Toss confetti in the air?
No. You pay the bill, thank the person, and leave. In some cases, you’ll probably grumble about the high cost of the repair.
Okay, most cases.
Fixing a car or a computer reduces negative feelings, and does not create positive feelings.
So, troubleshooting my wife’s laptop, while personally rewarding, offers no positive feedback. In fact, the thought that usually runs through my mind after fixing a performance issue on the computer is, “I wonder what will go wrong next?”
An iPad, on the other hand, would creat positive feedback. The kids would delight in the touchscreen games and educational tools. My wife would love that the device works. If an app crashes (if such a thing even happens on an iOS device), just move on. Or uninstall and reinstall in the appstore. The wife and kids love the appstore on the iPhone, so the transition would be seamless.
In other words, I would not be needed to solve Microsoft Windows Mysteries on my wife’s laptop anymore. The iPad is completely focused on regular everyday users like my family. High-level troubleshooting is not required in most cases. And, even if something does go terribly wrong, just go to the Apple Store and let one of their Geniuses figure it out.
Windows is desperately trying to catch-up, creating the Metro interface for their phones and soon-to-be released Windows 8. They are trying to simplify while holding on to their massive enterprise and consumer market share. I actually like the Metro interface; I prefer it to my clunky Android phone. However, just because I like something doesn’t mean the masses will adopt it.
Will Microsoft succeed in transitioning Windows to a simpler UI, or is it too late?
If Apple plays their cards right, I say it’s too late. There are already stories circulating about major companies like GE switching desktop users to iPad. A machine that runs one app at a time, keeping workers focused on their task? I’m sure the businesses, big and small, love that idea. Plus, an iPad can be used to remotely access robust desktop programs like Microsoft Office on a device that is easier to maintain, in terms of Internet security and servicing costs. Bye-bye, clunky Windows Update. Stay in the server room, with the IT guys. Hello iOS goodness for everyone else.
Of course, Apple has screwed this up before. However, if I were a betting man, I’d bet Apple gets it right this time, and Windows as we know it today ends up becoming a much less relevant OS, something running in the background, and perhaps someday getting tossed in the dustbin of history. Believe me, after thousands of hours of my life wasted on troubleshooting computers in my household, I will not miss the downside of Windows.
admin @ February 20, 2012
Let’s Talk Jar Jar Binks Some More
Posted in: Movies | Comments (0)
So, what was my first impression of Jar Jar Binks? I decided to explore this question after saying in the previous post that Jar Jar is some kind of Rorschach test, where your reaction to his character says something about you.
I’m pretty sure I was embarrassed to be in the theatre when I first saw him on the screen, kinda like the feeling people get when they read my Dream Seeker books, or listen to my podcasts :p
Anyway, I think back to that time and remember how serious Ahmed Best was about the role, and how excited George Lucas was to create a Looney Tunes character for Star Wars.
So, at the time, I basically looked at Jar Jar Binks as an Epic Fail. Fail Whale.
Now, this time around, seeing him in 3D, I felt sorry for Jar Jar. I noticed how annoyed all the other characters were with him, like Qui Gon Jinn and Anakin.
Jar Jar was just so goofy and out of place. It was just like watching Mitt Romney in a debate. I felt so bad for Jar Jar. I really did.
The old meme, “Jar Jar sucks!” is so old and tired. Can we move on to a new meme? I think the actor who piloted Jar Jar deserves that, at the very least. I don’t know what happened to Ahmed Best. Is he still singing and acting? I hope he didn’t end up under a bridge, drinking Victory Gin, muttering about how Jar Jar was misunderstood.
Anyway, my heart goes out to Jar Jar. I also hope that the subconscious point Lucas was making about race sinks into the hard hearts out there, but I doubt it.
admin @ February 18, 2012
Star Wars Episode I Magical Night
Posted in: Editorial, Movies | Comments (0)
Friday night, I asked my son if he wanted to see Star Wars in 3D. He looked at me with these sad, Shrek Puss-in-boots eyes and said, “Yes. I was going to ask if we could go see it.”
So, we went, and it turned out to be a magical night.
First of all, big props to the Liebe Ridge Cinema 8 Theatres. I had not been to that theatre in over a decade; the stadium seating looked great, and the customer service was outstanding, particularly at the ticket booth.
The theatre was mostly full. It was definitely a pro-Star Wars crowd, which was a welcome relief from the typical snark you read online about Episode I. It wasn’t Mystery Science Theater 3000 night. It was actually people who laughed at Jar Jar, thought Anakin was a cute little boy, people who actually got it. We were on the same page with Lucas, for one night.
I suspect most people are on the same page with Lucas. How come the Blu-Ray and 3D and any other new release always sells well, if people hate these movies? What. Are people watching these movies again and again, hoping that something will change? I don’t think so.
Side-note: I noticed something watching Episode I again, this time in 3D. Pretty much every character in the movie is annoyed with Jar Jar Binks, starting with Qui Gon Jinn telling him to go away at the very beginning, through Anakin getting upset with Jar Jar when he made a mess in Watto’s workshop. Even Padme gave a funny, “This guy is weird,” smile on her face when she first met the Gungan. Big Boss Nass wanted to “Punish him,” and only liked him after Jar Jar did something right, at which time he rewarded him by drafting him into the Gungan Army! Then there’s the dinner scene, where Qui Gon is annoyed with Jar Jar again….
This is proof that George Lucas knew Jar Jar would be annoying to audiences. To quote Agent Smith, he set a plate of cookies on the table “Purposefuly, deliberately,” for non-fans to throw against the wall.
Why ™? Well, a tweet from Frank Jonen answers the question:
I remember talking with some friends from Jamaica way back in 1999 who liked Episode I and Jar Jar Binks. It seems like, ahem, some people are quick to take their own prejudices and slap them on the goofy Gungan character.
I hate to give credit to Lucas for being a genius on this kind of visual Rorschach, because I believe he was unaware of this nuance. I think he unconsciously created this possibility. He was disconnected from his deep thoughts here. However, since he wrote the script and made it happen, he does deserve credit for revealing the race-bending tendencies of some movie goers.
Anyway, back to the point (that was some side-note): My son and I enjoyed Episode I in 3D, and would recommend it to anyone who does not hate Jar Jar Binks, LOL.
admin @ February 12, 2012
