Roger Ward

Well, Windows7 seems to be running quite well so far. Installation was super easy, and relatively quick too. I never had brought Vista myself, use it myself at work so the Windows7 layout seemed like a logical extension of Vista.

The new pinned taskbar is a nice feature where you can pin your most commonly used programs. It’s much better than the quick launch within the start menu of XP. Auto windows update is also a much smoother, easier experience too. Speed of the OS is surprising from these eyes. Compared to XP or Vista for that matter, Windows7 flies!

Compatibility with my exisiting software is all good so far. That said, I haven’t chucked a lot of my old legacy games on yet, that may be another story. Knock on wood.

So how did you go in your Windows7 Beta download adventure? Talk about fun just get a beta.  Microsoft have really got to overestimate the demand on something like this. Do they use commodore 64’s for servers or something??

Well obviously not, but it’s a staggering thought about the amount of data transfered in such a short amount of time: 2.5 million downloads x 3 GB image = 7300 TB = 7.15 PB. In a 12 hour download session, that would require something like a 175 GB/s connection. Glad I’m not paying the bill!

Anyway. I’m off to install. Hopefully I see you on the other side from Windows7 land.

Got the new HD Basics Blu-Ray yesterday which I’ve used to re-adjust the settings on my BRAVIA television. Previously I’d posted settings for my “X Series”, but these new settings are wildly different to my previous settings.  I quite like these new settings, they bring out excellent shadow detail with very natural colours.  Novices may not like these settings due to the fact that there are no overblown colours and a low brightness level. But the detail in return is quite astonishing compared to the previous settings.

Let me know what you think.

• Backlight: 2
• Picture: 85
• Brightness: 52
• Color: 55
• Hue: 0
• Color Temperature: Warm 1
• Sharpness: 51
• Noise Reduction: off
• MPEG Noise Reduction: Low
• DRC Mode: Mode 1
• Black Corrector: Low
• Advanced C.E.: Low
• Gamma: Low
• Clear White: off
• Color Space: Standard
• Live Color: off
• DRC Pallette 50/60
  • White Balance
  • R-Gain: -7
  • G-Gain: -7
  • B-Gain: 0
  • R-Bias: 6
  • G-Bias: 4
  • B-Bias: 0-10

• Detail Enhancer: Low
• Edge Enhancer: Low
• Motionflow: High
• Cinemotion: Auto 1

I’ve also attached images below taken after calibration. They’re not totally indicitive due to the camera, but they give a good idea of what the image is like.

No guesses of what I’m going to be doing tonight. This morning the HOT post office delivery chick (stuff political correctness!) we have servicing this area knocked on my door with my Amazon package. Woohoo as Homer Simpson would say. Neighbours, you’ll be staying up late with this noise!

Transformers Blu-Ray Disc

Well the day is here for all those Apple nuts and all those sheep who are always into the latest “FAD”. It’s iPhone day everyone, so enjoy.

Me, well I’ll not be jumping onto the truck with the rest of the sheep. I’m going to be original and go into the mobile shop and get something that isn’t an iPhone. Crazy I know!

Speaking of being crazy. Looks like I’m not the only one who thinks the iPhone is a grand waste of money, so does Talk Soup:

iPhone 3G

As expected, the World’s cashed up consumers are going to go into a froth in the next few weeks thanks to the new 3G iPhone.

Initially I was going to one of those people. I’ve always been interested in the iPhone since the first model was released around 12 months ago. But now I’m not too sure.

Come July 11 people the World over are going wait in lines for hours and sign up to long and expensive phone plans for a product that features built in obsolescence. Crazy, I hear you say. Every company in the World makes a product to be replaced eventually, and you’d be right. But when you look at Apple’s history of products, long life isn’t something they build into their products, in fact if a product lasts longer than 2 years it’s a long time in Apple’s eyes!

The new 3G phone when released will sport a classy 3.5 inch screen, 3G browsing speeds, iPod capability for videos and music and according to Apple, “The best web browsing experience available on a phone today”. That sounds all well and good but there’s quite a few things about the iPhone that suck:

• No MMS picture messaging
• Only 2 megapixel
• No video recording
• No turn by turn GPS instructions
• Massive wanker factor

And that’s just for a start. You just know that Apple are already developing a replacement model with better features, after all 2 megapixel cameras have been around in cameras for quite a few years now and the standard is much higher with most other brands. The lack of MMS is stupid, how many times have you been sent funny picture messages or porn? I know I have a lot! Apple use the excuse that emails will replace MMS, but get outside of a highly populated area and most 3G features are rubbish unless you like being extorted by Telstra and their NextG service.

So no iPhone for me for the moment.  I’d rather not piss my money away on a product that is too expensive for the features when I could probably spend it on something better, like strippers and booze!

So I think I’ll spend my money on a practical 3G phone. But which one? Well, seeing as I don’t practice front cranial intrusion, the Samsung is out and because I have an imagination and aren’t boring Nokia is out also.

So that leaves LG, but it’s made by a company who’s staff eat dogs so I guess that leaves me the Sony. Can’t go wrong with a Sony. Can I?