Alice Pretchet » News

Americas National text alert system

Alice Pretchet — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:37:40 +0000

Was reading off a blog that America is launching a National alert text messaging system that alerts people in a certain areas or the entire country of severe weather, terrorists attacks or other major emergencies. And although I think this is a great step in the right direction, it does have me wondering wheather or not something more is coming with this next type of text messaging alert system such as, being located via GPS on the phone or being told you have a warrant and to come turn your self in, or other Governemt related things that can be done that might be considered BIG brother type activity.

Of course I am happy that such a system is in place to help alert the people of this great country of emergencies but I think it needs to be watched after carefully because I can see where this could be a serious problem with privacy issues. Was wondering what everyone else thought about this new alert system and future possibilities.

Mrs Ursters first

Alice Pretchet — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:44:15 +0000

I still remember my first post on this blog and how awkward it was to write for the first time for everyone to see online, it was almost scary. So when I read Mrs Ursters very first post on her new blog it brought back memories of my first blog post. Even more I was excited to see that she started a blog so everyone including me could read her great ideas. If you get a chance go check out this great blog that covers topics like technology, science and other categories related to education and understanding.

University of Michigan digitized it’s one millionth book

Alice Pretchet — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:53:49 +0000

University of Michigan digitized it’s one millionth book and I feel really good about this. I know there is a lot of controversy about the scanning and sharing of books, and the project which google ambitiously started with several libraries a while back has stirred debate that may never have a good answer, but I really like the idea of having digital backups of books. Perhaps there will be a universal agreement regarding the best way to handle copyrights and fair use sometime in the future. For now just knowing that there is a backup process going on makes me really happy. Imagine if a fire or some other catastrophic event ruined all the books in just one library – all of that knowledge and power should have an off site back up.

I have to wonder, how much hard drive space does one million books take up?

Yahoo music to merge into Rhapsody – oh why

Alice Pretchet — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:42:53 +0000

In today’s category of bad news, I see a story that says yahoo is merging it’s music service into real network’s rhapsody. Why oh why? I love yahoo music, launchcast, the videos, I have tons of songs and artists rated through the service and it’s something I use everyday. I am not a big fan of the real player from real networks, much preferring musicmatch jukebox, which yahoo did screw with badly, but I still like it better than the real player.

First off, what is going to happen to all of my song ratings? I have a pretty cool customized radio station now that I have given the thumbs up and thumbs down to so many artist and songs, will that just disappear with this merger (sell out!).

I have also been considering some network audio players, and some of them work with rhapsody and some work with yahoo music (one of the factors that has me leaning towards getting this wireless network audio player) – will that functionality cease to sexist with this transition?

Well in protest of this news I am listening to DI.fm today – which has way fewer commercials anyway.

On the plus side with yahoo today – there was an announcement about them buying FoxyTunes, a company that developed a toolbar plug-in application that enables users to control more than 30 desktop and Web-based music players. – But why get that? Just so you can brand it with real networks? Or maybe this was something separate, with the way yahoo has been handling music and music players it may of been best for them to leave foxy tunes alone. There is hope that miscrosoft will not acquire yahoo for many reasons, and for many of the same reasons I hope that foxytunes is not ruined by yahoo like yahoo music will be when it is taken over by real.

Just my humble opinion – an upset rant that may be edited later, updated, or proven wrong at some point. But I doubt it.

Man catches shark – shark bites man

Alice Pretchet — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:44:40 +0000

In Australia a guy reels in a 200 pound shark, gets it up on the dock, then gets bit and almost dies. Now there is a moral to this story somewhere. Perhaps not to catch something bigger than you, or at least something with a much larger mouth and teeth than you have. Perhaps the you should know not to step on a shark’s tail, even if he is not in the water.

Excerpt from story found at Newsvine:

The man had been fishing for tuna when he reeled in the 10-foot shark and landed it on the deck.

“He stepped on its tail and it whipped around and latched on to his tight calf, biting through to the bone,” Russell said.

“The shark had his leg clamped in its jaws for several minutes until other deckhands cut its head off,” he added.

HBO shows coming online

Alice Pretchet — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:12:19 +0000

Home Box Office Television announced they would be putting shows online this year for subscribers to download. At first the service will only be offered in a couple select U.S. cities but plans are to expand it to everyone who subscribes to the service in America, like me. And although most of the shows I am watching today are on Shotime, which already offers the ability to download and watch some of its series online, I am looking forward to when HBO will one day allow everyone who subscribes to its service to be able to watch every show they offer online, whenever and wherever they want to.

CES 2008 tomorrow

Alice Pretchet — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:46:25 +0000

Wendy and I are heading to the airport in route to the consumer electronics show this year in Las Vegas and have already been eying a couple of new gadgets to be showcased there, one of them being the Motorola mobile video projector. If this years CES is anything like last years then I am sure I am going to have a great time but my feet are going to hurt, and my mind is going to be left wanting so much, along with a lot of chit chat, laughs and good times. Anyways I am off to the airport, later.

Underwater mobiles coming

Alice Pretchet — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:53:24 +0000

Darlene wrote a great post in her blog about this company that has invented a way of allowing a person to use a mobile phone in the shower by putting a coating on mobile devices to make them repel water, the coating is called “Ion Mask plasma surface enhancement” and is made by P2I. Being able to use a mobile device in the rain or while in the shower without worry of it breaking is pretty cool and I can see almost endless possibilities for uses of this surface coating technology from laptops to clothes, it should be interesting to see what else they really do apply this coating to in the future.

Mobile video for home surveillance

Alice Pretchet — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:18:24 +0000

Since streaming video has hit mobile phones and devices, companies are now offering real time surveillance of your home on your mobile device. Of course I do this on my web cam and computer with my Motorola. The abilities of having real time video at my home and office are endless but just one example of how I used it recently, is to check up on my baby sitter when she was with our kids. Being able to record is important because then you have something to show the police, should anything need to be shown. Of course the baby sitter did a wonderful job baby sitting but having that little extra bit of security while someone is with my child alone was priceless.

Google Maps Mobile 2.0 Beta

Alice Pretchet — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:11:10 +0000

The Google Maps Mobile 2.0 Beta is coming out and one of the great new features in this 2.0 upgrade is that when you log onto Google maps with your mobile device that is GPS enabled you have the ability to click a button in the menu items and it will show you exactly where you are. As a parent I think this new feature could come in handy as well as people who get lost in BIG cities. Worth checking out if you have a mobile!