Life is like crap these few days... School just rips out the life in you, no time for your own stuff...
No time for Flickr, for photo outings, for podcasting, for blogging, for having a good sleep...
Test, review week, RM, homework, projects, cca, coming home at 6 plus daily completely exhausted, in times like this, a few words of comfort would do one good. And where else to seek refuge, repose, tranquility and peace other than in the word of God?
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;"
I believe deliverance is near, so for all those who feel really bad, hang on, for He is a loving God.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
Updated system UI
There is such a thing as a free lunch. I've managed to get my desktop to resemble Windows Vista, almost very exactly, without getting Vista at all!
Impossible you say? Well, here it is (click to enlarge):
Tell me, this doesn't look a single bit like XP, doesn't it?
Haha...this is the result of Vista Transformation Pack and some 3rd party add-ons! So if any of you is thinking of getting Vista just solely for the beautiful interface, save that few hundred bucks, because you can get that on XP, completely free.
Impossible you say? Well, here it is (click to enlarge):
Tell me, this doesn't look a single bit like XP, doesn't it?
Haha...this is the result of Vista Transformation Pack and some 3rd party add-ons! So if any of you is thinking of getting Vista just solely for the beautiful interface, save that few hundred bucks, because you can get that on XP, completely free.
Friday, March 9, 2007
ReadyBoost and the ribbon UI - finally we see Redmond innovating!
I frequently lament about how Microsoft, from its products, does not seem to have innovation in its work culture. I know that I have been rather mean and rude at times, calling Redmond brainless imitators and unoriginal bastards who blatantly rip features off the Mac OS.
Well, for a change, I shall offer a different viewpoint today, by providing specific examples where Redmond is finally innovating and tapping on the creative and imaginative juices of their developers.
Let’s begin with the much talked about Windows Vista, which is the hottest release now for PC fans (not a lot out there sadly). One new and notable feature which Microsoft seems not to be advertising a lot is ReadyBoost. I feel that they should be boasting about ReadyBoost instead of other not-so-impressive features like IE 7 and Windows Media Player 11 (which is available on XP too).
ReadyBoost basically allows you to use your compatible USB 2.0 thumb-drive or flash memory key as extra RAM when plugged into your Vista machine, thereby improving system performance.
Well, it doesn’t exactly work like true, genuine RAM, but instead functions as additional memory cache, which is memory that the computer can access much more quickly than it can access data on the hard drive. ReadyBoost relies on SuperFetch, significantly improving system responsiveness.
So what are the benefits for end-users? Firstly, this means that you can save quite a sum on buying extra RAM, and secondly, this means that you can have instant performance hikes without you getting your hands dirty opening the CPU to insert more RAM, as and when it is necessary.
In the words of Microsoft: "It's easy to use Windows ReadyBoost. When a removable memory device such as a USB flash drive or a secure digital (SD) memory card is first inserted into a port, Windows Vista checks to see if its performance is fast enough to work with Windows ReadyBoost. If so, you are asked if you want to use this device to speed up system performance. You can choose to allocate part of a USB drive's memory to speed up performance and use the remainder to store files. "
Yup, this is essentially what it does, and isn't it a truly brilliant and remarkably ingenious idea that really deserves our WOW? Features like Photo Gallery and Calender, which has obvious similarities to iPhoto and iCal, should not be aggressively advertised, but it is ReadyBoost that Microsoft should proudly proclaim.
The next example is to be found in the new Office 2007. Everyone who uses it will immediately notice the brand-new, completely redesigned user interface, which they call the ribbon UI.
For the majority who still uses the 2003 version of Office, a screenshot of Word 2007 would show you visually how the ribbon looks like:
Office developers claim that this new UI will help to improve productivity by reorganising certain buttons to help achieve tasks in fewer steps. Personally, I have yet to get my hands on Office 2007 running on Vista, but I have participated in the online test-drive, so I can say that the ribbon is indeed a useful, innovative way of creating a UI. The ribbon is a revolutionary invention, replacing the age old toolbars. But whether the ribbon will take-off as a fresh form of UI in all other future software and stand the test of time is a matter of speculation as it is too early to conclude anything.
However, from what Microsoft claims, Office 2007 is surprisingly selling well, and people are responding well to this new interface, saying that they will take some time to get used to the ribbon, but believing that in the long run, this will be an important productivity improvement tool.
So, very briefly, these are two creative features that Redmond has churned out, and people should pay more attention to them instead of believing in those SBS bus ads which read: Let there be 'Wow', and then have this catch phrase which reads: Pump up the volume of your favourite tunes, or something to that effect. These ads do not properly justify why people should purchase Vista, and advertising for ReadyBoost (as a speed enhancer) and the ribbon (as a productivity improver in Office 07) should be the stuff that's on buses and MRT stations instead.
Well, for a change, I shall offer a different viewpoint today, by providing specific examples where Redmond is finally innovating and tapping on the creative and imaginative juices of their developers.
Let’s begin with the much talked about Windows Vista, which is the hottest release now for PC fans (not a lot out there sadly). One new and notable feature which Microsoft seems not to be advertising a lot is ReadyBoost. I feel that they should be boasting about ReadyBoost instead of other not-so-impressive features like IE 7 and Windows Media Player 11 (which is available on XP too).
ReadyBoost basically allows you to use your compatible USB 2.0 thumb-drive or flash memory key as extra RAM when plugged into your Vista machine, thereby improving system performance.
Well, it doesn’t exactly work like true, genuine RAM, but instead functions as additional memory cache, which is memory that the computer can access much more quickly than it can access data on the hard drive. ReadyBoost relies on SuperFetch, significantly improving system responsiveness.
So what are the benefits for end-users? Firstly, this means that you can save quite a sum on buying extra RAM, and secondly, this means that you can have instant performance hikes without you getting your hands dirty opening the CPU to insert more RAM, as and when it is necessary.
In the words of Microsoft: "It's easy to use Windows ReadyBoost. When a removable memory device such as a USB flash drive or a secure digital (SD) memory card is first inserted into a port, Windows Vista checks to see if its performance is fast enough to work with Windows ReadyBoost. If so, you are asked if you want to use this device to speed up system performance. You can choose to allocate part of a USB drive's memory to speed up performance and use the remainder to store files. "
Yup, this is essentially what it does, and isn't it a truly brilliant and remarkably ingenious idea that really deserves our WOW? Features like Photo Gallery and Calender, which has obvious similarities to iPhoto and iCal, should not be aggressively advertised, but it is ReadyBoost that Microsoft should proudly proclaim.
The next example is to be found in the new Office 2007. Everyone who uses it will immediately notice the brand-new, completely redesigned user interface, which they call the ribbon UI.
For the majority who still uses the 2003 version of Office, a screenshot of Word 2007 would show you visually how the ribbon looks like:
Office developers claim that this new UI will help to improve productivity by reorganising certain buttons to help achieve tasks in fewer steps. Personally, I have yet to get my hands on Office 2007 running on Vista, but I have participated in the online test-drive, so I can say that the ribbon is indeed a useful, innovative way of creating a UI. The ribbon is a revolutionary invention, replacing the age old toolbars. But whether the ribbon will take-off as a fresh form of UI in all other future software and stand the test of time is a matter of speculation as it is too early to conclude anything.
However, from what Microsoft claims, Office 2007 is surprisingly selling well, and people are responding well to this new interface, saying that they will take some time to get used to the ribbon, but believing that in the long run, this will be an important productivity improvement tool.
So, very briefly, these are two creative features that Redmond has churned out, and people should pay more attention to them instead of believing in those SBS bus ads which read: Let there be 'Wow', and then have this catch phrase which reads: Pump up the volume of your favourite tunes, or something to that effect. These ads do not properly justify why people should purchase Vista, and advertising for ReadyBoost (as a speed enhancer) and the ribbon (as a productivity improver in Office 07) should be the stuff that's on buses and MRT stations instead.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
I'm on a blog holiday
This blog is breeding mosquitoes, I know.
Somehow Flickr just seems to be a more interesting and interactive place compared to blogs.
I sincerely apologise for the stagnation. Someday, when there is the time and the passion for writing resurfaces, I'll talk about my new 400D, and give a full evaluation of Ubuntu, Tiger, Vista and XP, and compare them in detail.
Till then, I'm having fun with my Canon (hey that's a pun!) in the DSLR world, and if you would still like to read about my life online, do visit my Flickr, see my beautiful photos, and give some constructive comments. Note that you need a Yahoo account for that though.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MY FLICKR ACCOUNT!!!!
Oh and I've just signed up for photog soc! Lastly, what better way to end off term 1 of 2007 than with a physics test on statics, dynamics and work, energy, power. Argh.
Promise you will check back when I post again?
Somehow Flickr just seems to be a more interesting and interactive place compared to blogs.
I sincerely apologise for the stagnation. Someday, when there is the time and the passion for writing resurfaces, I'll talk about my new 400D, and give a full evaluation of Ubuntu, Tiger, Vista and XP, and compare them in detail.
Till then, I'm having fun with my Canon (hey that's a pun!) in the DSLR world, and if you would still like to read about my life online, do visit my Flickr, see my beautiful photos, and give some constructive comments. Note that you need a Yahoo account for that though.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MY FLICKR ACCOUNT!!!!
Oh and I've just signed up for photog soc! Lastly, what better way to end off term 1 of 2007 than with a physics test on statics, dynamics and work, energy, power. Argh.
Promise you will check back when I post again?
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