Lifergeek.com

Hey Everyone,
Just ordered two new Laptops for home use:

• HP TouchSmart TM2T (Convertable Tablet PC)
• HP CQ10 (Netbook)

I should have reviews coming soon.

Well, it’s about that time of year again.  US series are restarting their 12-22 episodes.  As usual, these series typically begin over the next two to three months, leaving those who don’t stay glued to the TV guide a little out of the loop.  Aside from having to hunt down the ‘official’ site for every show you watch, where can you find a single location consisting of every show you revel in?  Well, in my case I have been sifting through http://www.thetvdb. com site with a lot of success. 

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Beatles Rock Band initially struck me as an oddity that I couldn’t grasp initially.  Not being an avid Beatles fan, I could not see the reason for such a product.  Why devote an entire games just to one group, why tailor the product just for this one band.  They already have Rock Band 2, why not a Rock Band 3 with some of these new features added in?

Well, then the day before the release I got a knock on my door with the Fedex guy, here he was with my very own copy of Beatles Rock Band for review.  Now this review is a little late out the door, but if you share the life I do, you’ll understand why.  But we did get to play the game and I tell you, it was understandable why this needed it’s own title. 

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When I was first told of the concept of Darkest Of Days the newest XBOX 360 game from Phantom EFX, I couldn’t help but think, amazing.  A war game that transcends 5 different War eras, but unlike the Call of Duty series where you are multiple people, you are the same character all the way through.  But how can that work you ask? Time Travel. (continue reading…)

So, I’m sitting here in Starbucks typing away these posts and I thought that not everyone knows about all the perks you get with the handy plastic Starbucks card.  They even make a keychain version that is smaller.

The standard card allows for:

• Free (select) syrups and expanded milk options (like soy)
• Free Refills on same visit for brewed coffee.
• Free drink with Whole Bean purchase.
• and My Favorite, free Wi-fi for 2 hours per day

All require you to signup your card online, so a card off the shelf won’t do it until you activate it online.  You can read more on their programs at: https://www.starbucks.com/card/programs

Just signed up to the “Hi I’m” service.  If you’re looking for a simple way to consolidate your myriad of social sites you manage, this may be the gateway.  They allow somewhat streamlined access for those with facebook and twitter accounts, but you still need a username on their site.  This username will become part of your URL you can give out. Example: http://hi.im/lifergeek

As of today, they support the following services:

• Twitter
• Digg
• Facebook
• Youtube
• Flickr
• MySpace
• LinkedIn
• Blog (takes a generic URL)
• FriendFeed
• GitHub
• 12Seconds
• Seesmic
• Brightkite
• Vimeo

You also get to title your page and include a small blurb about yourself (250 characters).  The page also attempts to pull feed information from some services onto your page, most notably your past few twitters, videos from YouTube, and photos from flickr.

The site is new, and I’m sure is still growing.  There are quite a few other sites I’d like to see added before it fits all my needs.  But as a launchpad to other sites that you can give to people right off, this will fit the bill, assuming your social lineup is within the list of sites they support.

To be fair, they do offer a ‘blog’ entry, but this does not allow you to edit a link name so if you have more than one, they all say ‘blog’.

Link: http://hi.im

“And here they come rounding the final bend.  On The Back Of Natal Still has a huge lead, but look!  Here comes PSP-a-Go-Go coming on strong!  Can she catch Natal, it’s neck and neck, the jockeys are giving it all they got.  They cross the line, it’s a photo finish!”

Well e3 has finally come to a close, and i think it is safe to say no new news is going to be coming out from e3.  Let me get right to the review for Sony’s conference so we can get to see who won.

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“And here they come now rounding the first bend approaching the half-mile marker, On The Back Of Natal still running strong, and Nintendo’s Vitality’s Run is trying to make a push.  Can Vitality’s Run get ahead of the strong lead set by the front runner.  Wait a second, something seems wrong, it looks like Vitality’s Run has broken a leg, no strike that, all 4 legs.  Looks like she will get trampled by Sony’s PSP-a-Go-Go.  Can PSP-a-Go-Go do what Vitality’s Run could not, can she over take On The Back Of Natal?”

So out comes Nintendo and practically trips over their own feet.  Clocking in at only a little over 1 hour long, the media briefing showed exactly Microsoft’s “showing not telling” mentality worked.  The entire thing reminded me of a conference where they were announcing big new consoles, except the were practically the same videos for the previous consoles.  Let’s check my details as I get to the point in the same fashion they did, quick simple and boring.

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Windows 7 on Inspiron 8600

Lets start with the specs on this machine:

• Intel Celeron 1.6ghz processor
• 120gb hard disk, only 60 to be used for this. (note: this is not the original HD, last one ground to a halt)
• 2gb ram (maxed out)
• Broadcom 440x 10/100 lan
• Internal card for Wireless, Intel WM3A2200BG
• nVidia GO5650 (custom Dell unit, can only use drivers from dell)

I had to download the following drivers from Dell:

• nVidia GO5650 video driver for WinXP (R69136.exe)
• Sigmatel STAC 9750 AC97 driver for WinXP (R90698.exe)

I had to download the follwing drivers from Intel’s website:

• Intel® PRO/Wireless Drivers-Only for Windows Vista

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We all have thought it, what would it be like to have something connected to the TV which could lat us control every aspect of what we see on it.  Today, your cable box could also be a DVR, recording shows for you to watch in a heartbeat anytime.  Cable providers provide ever expanding libraries of movies to rival the once big names like Blockbuster or Hollywood Video.  Weather, traffic, streaming video from various sources, even HD video.  Why would you need a HTPC?  Well, not everyone does.

A HTPC makes the most sense if you own alot of our own video or wish to have online content to play.  Most to all Cable providers shy away from letting you add your personal library to what your cable box can show, unless you want to put it on a line in with a different device.  Not always ideal, but that depends on your point of view.  To me, a HTPC should be video or content at your fingertips.  If you have to get up and change a DVD or flick a switch, you did something wrong or just aren’t there yet.  Should you be able to browse?  Chat?  Play youtube video?  Sure, if that’s what you want it to do.

Your HTPC should be more than just a PC connected to a massive monitor.  A good interface can make everything work so much better.  That leave you with a few choices, both limiting each other:

• What hardware will you use?
• What interface?
• Where will your content be?

Lets take a look at my progression to my current solution…

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