The plan now? Well, pack. And party. And take in as much Colorado as I can! Can't freaking wait!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Kicking Ass And Borrowing Money
Got my financial aid package today! That means, in simple terms, THUNDERCATS ARE GOOOO!
The plan now? Well, pack. And party. And take in as much Colorado as I can! Can't freaking wait!
The plan now? Well, pack. And party. And take in as much Colorado as I can! Can't freaking wait!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Google Voice and Google Wave Invites For All (until I run out at least)
Merry Christmas! As a little thank you for you giving me a few minutes of your day, I'm offering 15+ Google Wave invites and 3 Google Voice invites for anyone. Just post a comment and I'll be happy to send one your way!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
What I'm Reading/Playing/Listening to
Just a quick post today (and probably tomorrow) so I can focus on family but I would like to write a quick post today
From time to time I am going to update you on what keeps me busy here is what I have been reading/playing/listening to for the month of December.
Reading- "Under the Dome" by Stephen King
While have not made significant progress on the book, I am more that happy to name it the best novel I have read in quite some time. The progression and atmosphere of the book are perfect and I and makes me look forward to my next opportunity to read it.
Playing- "Assassins Creed 2"
I'll admit I didn't finish the first game but if the ending was anything like the second I'm going to force myself to play through the entire thing. I have currently invested over 20 hours in this game and I still have things to do.
Listening to- "Say Anything" by Say Anything
When "...Is a Real Boy" hit, they registered a blimp on my radar with "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too" but I never expected them to return with an entire album that has done nothing short of blow me away. It's easy listening, it's rock out music and exactly what I look for.
Have any recommendations for me? Shoot me an email at Stephen.Nuytten@gmail.com and I'll take a look!
From time to time I am going to update you on what keeps me busy here is what I have been reading/playing/listening to for the month of December.
Reading- "Under the Dome" by Stephen King
While have not made significant progress on the book, I am more that happy to name it the best novel I have read in quite some time. The progression and atmosphere of the book are perfect and I and makes me look forward to my next opportunity to read it.
Playing- "Assassins Creed 2"
I'll admit I didn't finish the first game but if the ending was anything like the second I'm going to force myself to play through the entire thing. I have currently invested over 20 hours in this game and I still have things to do.
Listening to- "Say Anything" by Say Anything
When "...Is a Real Boy" hit, they registered a blimp on my radar with "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too" but I never expected them to return with an entire album that has done nothing short of blow me away. It's easy listening, it's rock out music and exactly what I look for.
Have any recommendations for me? Shoot me an email at Stephen.Nuytten@gmail.com and I'll take a look!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Art of the Commute Backpack
The contents of my own backpack include my laptop, power supply, wall charger for my phone, usb cable for my phone, calculator, lighter, mini flashlight, ridiculously long ethernet cable, usb headphones, beanie hat and gloves (it is winter in Colorado after all) to make me ready for any situation I can imagine I would get thrown into. Personally, when I combine my laptop, T mobile G1 (with wi-fi tethering) and a power outlet to create a mobile workstation I feel is the envy of any road warrior.
I welcome all comments and any inquiries. Please forwarded them to Stephen.Nuytten@gmail.com for response.
The Not Good, Bad and Ugly
Playing some Assassins Creed 2 (I'll write more about it another time) and assassinated a guard on a rooftop and when he was supposed to slide off the roof and fall to the ground he figured he'd hang around awhile longer as evidenced by these shots.
This is not the first example of bugs in the Assassins Creed games as there are many other example that come to mind. I mean, common Ubisoft! You've created an amazing story and compelling gameplay why can't you seal up the deal with above average coding!
This is not the first example of bugs in the Assassins Creed games as there are many other example that come to mind. I mean, common Ubisoft! You've created an amazing story and compelling gameplay why can't you seal up the deal with above average coding!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Super Simple Review Roundup #1
While I will not intentionally spoil any part of any movie, if you happen to be a purist and wish to have no part of any movie spoiled, please defer reading this until you see them.
Avatar:
Make no mistake, and I hope I'm not building this up too big, Avatar will change how you feel about going to the theater forever. (Yeah, I built it up to big huh?) If you don't take, well, everyones advice, and see this movie in 3D you will have missed out on an amazing cinematic experience.
Blind Side:
If your looking for a feel good movie or a true story this is it. While I'm not completely sure how true the movies version is, it is completely believable and, given the chance, don't miss it.
District 9:
This movie turned out completely different than I expected and I honestly didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The story was great until the end as there really wasn't a decent conclusion and left me wanting more. Watch it but remember, you were warned.
I welcome all comments and any inquiries. Please forwarded them to Stephen.Nuytten@gmail.com for response.
Avatar:
Make no mistake, and I hope I'm not building this up too big, Avatar will change how you feel about going to the theater forever. (Yeah, I built it up to big huh?) If you don't take, well, everyones advice, and see this movie in 3D you will have missed out on an amazing cinematic experience.
Blind Side:
If your looking for a feel good movie or a true story this is it. While I'm not completely sure how true the movies version is, it is completely believable and, given the chance, don't miss it.
District 9:
This movie turned out completely different than I expected and I honestly didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The story was great until the end as there really wasn't a decent conclusion and left me wanting more. Watch it but remember, you were warned.
I welcome all comments and any inquiries. Please forwarded them to Stephen.Nuytten@gmail.com for response.
The State of the Android Operating System
Theres no denying it anymore, Google's Android operating system is poised to dominate the mobile market, with the only thing holding it back being consumer knowledge it is only a matter of time before it overcomes the iPhone. Today, however I would like to speak on the current state and briefly on how I see the next year or so panning out.
*The Android experience I am commenting on is driven via my 13 month old T-Mobile G1 running firmware 1.6 and CyanogenMod 4.2.9.1*
Browser:
Overall, its great and has worked for me in every situation where I needed web access and was not near a PC. Multi touch is what you would expect and it just works. It has bookmarks, history and Google gears compatibility so really, unless flash is reasonable on a mobile device and aside from always appreciated speed enhancements no further work is required here.
Market:
I've been with Android since 1.0 and I have watched this app grow from an innocent collection of few to the amazing little phone enhancer. It was recently found that the Android Market contained over 16,000 apps and I can tell you from personal experience that I use it in a completely different way now than I did a matter of months ago. When I first obtained my G1 every day or two I would go through the list of new applications in the market and was able to see all of the ones added since I last checked in a matter of minutes and be on my way. Now, I don't even bother going through because not only are there too many to go through but most of them seem to be themes or other add-ons for other apps and before long I am frustrated with the whole experience. So now I wait until I hear about a new app from a review site or news update before I open Marketplace and simply search for it.
To fix this situation Google needs to improve what it has already done. That is not only allow you to narrow down results to different categories and "top free"/"top paid" or "just in" but allow you to actively filter out different categories such as add ons while still obtaining a list of the newest apps.
Google Voice/Dialer:
I am reviewing these two apps together as I use them as one and here, is where the genius of Google Voice (formerly GandCentral) really shows. The basic premise of Google Voice is that you have many places where you can be reached and your cell phone is not always the best option. Personally, I only have one real place that I want people to get a hold of me at but it affords me unlimited texting via my data plan, visual (and transcripted) voice mail among other things such as a central location for all of my contacts. I refuse to use anything but an Android device now because it allows me to know that I will always have access to my contacts and I no long have the common problem that a cheap flip phone breaks and I suddenly have lost all of my contacts with no hope of retrieving them. All in all, after Apple denied Google Voice access to the iPhones App Store it became clear that Google Voice was Androids killer app and once it leaves invite only beta and everyone that wants it can use it the masses will embrace it and never understand how they survived without it.
On Screen Keyboard:
As most Android devices are keyboard less the on screen keyboard has become the most used part of the device and this is another part of Android that has grown by leaps and bounds.
When the G1 debuted there was no on screen keyboard and I can tell you that it hurt. Sending a quick "ok" text meant that you flip the keyboard out and punch the keys. With the 1.5 ("Cupcake") release, that simple action was made easier and now with its word prediction software I use it nearly exclusively and aside from the rare occurrences when I end up sending a message stating the "I haven't heard from Texas" when I meant "I haven't heard from Reza" (true story) I am completely satisfied with what Google has offered. Except for some useful buttons that they could add, such as a ".com" button it works beautifully.
Camera/Camcorder:
As the quality of both the camera and camcorder varies from device to device I am simply commenting on the app itself and the options and features it provides. In the settings option, you are presented with many ways to customize your stills and videos for the setting and intended use of the item. For example, if you are planning to send the picture to a friend it wont help either of you if it takes 10 minutes to download on their flip phone, you want a low quality picture in that case. But if you find yourself without a proper camera at an event you want the highest quality available and Android provides you that option as the same is true for video as well.
Final Thoughts:
As you now understand Google's Android has come a long way, has a long way to go and is ultimately bound for dominance. This wont come easily though and probably not even in the coming year unless Google pulls a major upset for Apple fails to bring the iPhone to the level that Google is challenging it to.
I welcome all comments and any inquiries. Please forwarded them to Stephen.Nuytten@gmail.com for response.
*The Android experience I am commenting on is driven via my 13 month old T-Mobile G1 running firmware 1.6 and CyanogenMod 4.2.9.1*
Browser:
Overall, its great and has worked for me in every situation where I needed web access and was not near a PC. Multi touch is what you would expect and it just works. It has bookmarks, history and Google gears compatibility so really, unless flash is reasonable on a mobile device and aside from always appreciated speed enhancements no further work is required here.
Market:
I've been with Android since 1.0 and I have watched this app grow from an innocent collection of few to the amazing little phone enhancer. It was recently found that the Android Market contained over 16,000 apps and I can tell you from personal experience that I use it in a completely different way now than I did a matter of months ago. When I first obtained my G1 every day or two I would go through the list of new applications in the market and was able to see all of the ones added since I last checked in a matter of minutes and be on my way. Now, I don't even bother going through because not only are there too many to go through but most of them seem to be themes or other add-ons for other apps and before long I am frustrated with the whole experience. So now I wait until I hear about a new app from a review site or news update before I open Marketplace and simply search for it.
To fix this situation Google needs to improve what it has already done. That is not only allow you to narrow down results to different categories and "top free"/"top paid" or "just in" but allow you to actively filter out different categories such as add ons while still obtaining a list of the newest apps.
Google Voice/Dialer:
I am reviewing these two apps together as I use them as one and here, is where the genius of Google Voice (formerly GandCentral) really shows. The basic premise of Google Voice is that you have many places where you can be reached and your cell phone is not always the best option. Personally, I only have one real place that I want people to get a hold of me at but it affords me unlimited texting via my data plan, visual (and transcripted) voice mail among other things such as a central location for all of my contacts. I refuse to use anything but an Android device now because it allows me to know that I will always have access to my contacts and I no long have the common problem that a cheap flip phone breaks and I suddenly have lost all of my contacts with no hope of retrieving them. All in all, after Apple denied Google Voice access to the iPhones App Store it became clear that Google Voice was Androids killer app and once it leaves invite only beta and everyone that wants it can use it the masses will embrace it and never understand how they survived without it.
On Screen Keyboard:
As most Android devices are keyboard less the on screen keyboard has become the most used part of the device and this is another part of Android that has grown by leaps and bounds.
When the G1 debuted there was no on screen keyboard and I can tell you that it hurt. Sending a quick "ok" text meant that you flip the keyboard out and punch the keys. With the 1.5 ("Cupcake") release, that simple action was made easier and now with its word prediction software I use it nearly exclusively and aside from the rare occurrences when I end up sending a message stating the "I haven't heard from Texas" when I meant "I haven't heard from Reza" (true story) I am completely satisfied with what Google has offered. Except for some useful buttons that they could add, such as a ".com" button it works beautifully.
Camera/Camcorder:
As the quality of both the camera and camcorder varies from device to device I am simply commenting on the app itself and the options and features it provides. In the settings option, you are presented with many ways to customize your stills and videos for the setting and intended use of the item. For example, if you are planning to send the picture to a friend it wont help either of you if it takes 10 minutes to download on their flip phone, you want a low quality picture in that case. But if you find yourself without a proper camera at an event you want the highest quality available and Android provides you that option as the same is true for video as well.
Final Thoughts:
As you now understand Google's Android has come a long way, has a long way to go and is ultimately bound for dominance. This wont come easily though and probably not even in the coming year unless Google pulls a major upset for Apple fails to bring the iPhone to the level that Google is challenging it to.
I welcome all comments and any inquiries. Please forwarded them to Stephen.Nuytten@gmail.com for response.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Hello World!
Well here it is. I've decided to begin blogging regularly.
I've been reading blogs and following peoples lives through them for the better part of this decade and for whatever reason Ive always felt that the blogging wave has passed and I have always been waiting for that next big thing to jump on. Several chances have come and gone in particular Twitter. I signed up for my @StephenNuytten twitter username on Aug. 9, 2007 have done pretty much nothing really with it. Thats almost 2 1/2 years ago! So now I'm stuck waiting for something else to blow up and hope that I catch it before everyone takes their piece of the pie.
So now I'm here. I'm going to be primarily focusing on the future and sharing my life with you but I'd also like to share snippets of how I got here so please bookmark or subscribe to my blog because this will be my thought cloud for the foreseeable future.
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