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Kelly Spore
Christmas In The Square: 2020
Christmas In The Square: 2020
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Frisco Christmas Tree Lighting
Frisco Christmas Tree Lighting
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Civil Forfeiture - John Oliver (HBO)
Civil Forfeiture - John Oliver (HBO)

Technology

Twitter - Twit - Twit

Screenshot_1

You might have noticed on the Kellysworld.net home page there is now a small grey box that has some personal message from me. That message is provided by Twitter, an interesting mixture of instant messaging, blogging and SMS. As other's can explain this cool service better than I, please see below for the Twitter description as provided by one of my favorite web sites, Wikipedia:

"Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send "updates" (text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) via SMS, instant messaging, email, to the Twitter website, or an application such as Twitterrific. Twitter was founded in March 2006 by San Francisco start-up company Obvious Corp.

Image-Twitter
Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and also instantly delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone is the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, instant messaging, SMS, RSS, email or through an application. For SMS, currently three gateway numbers are available: short codes for the USA and Canada and a UK number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email.

Due to Twitter's success, a large number of sites imitating its concept have sprung up around the world, offering country-specific services (e.g. frazr) or combining the micro-blogging facilities with other ideas, such as filesharing(e.g. Pownce). In May, 2007, one source counted as many as 111 such "Twitter-lookalikes" internationally."

Twitter - Twit - Twit

Screenshot_1

You might have noticed on the Kellysworld.net home page there is now a small grey box that has some personal message from me. That message is provided by Twitter, an interesting mixture of instant messaging, blogging and SMS. As other's can explain this cool service better than I, please see below for the Twitter description as provided by one of my favorite web sites, Wikipedia:

"Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send "updates" (text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) via SMS, instant messaging, email, to the Twitter website, or an application such as Twitterrific. Twitter was founded in March 2006 by San Francisco start-up company Obvious Corp.

Image-Twitter
Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and also instantly delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone is the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, instant messaging, SMS, RSS, email or through an application. For SMS, currently three gateway numbers are available: short codes for the USA and Canada and a UK number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email.

Due to Twitter's success, a large number of sites imitating its concept have sprung up around the world, offering country-specific services (e.g. frazr) or combining the micro-blogging facilities with other ideas, such as filesharing(e.g. Pownce). In May, 2007, one source counted as many as 111 such "Twitter-lookalikes" internationally."

Gary Fong Whale Tail

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If you see me taking pictures, you might notice a big white thingy (highly technical term) on top of my camera. You might think it is some jimmy rigged contraption to keep my flash from falling off. In fact it is designed to help improve flash photography by diffusing and shaping the light of a high powered flash, like my Canon 430EX.

I received it a few weeks as a birthday gift from Tracy and I love it! Now, that being said i am still figuring out how this "thingy" works and how to get the very best results. I'm getting better and have learned a few things so far, like setting the camera on 100% manual and slowing the shutter speed down to 1/30", which is incredibly slow and works incredibly well.

You can see a sample photo I took a few blog posts below, a photo of my dad. It's not perfect, but better than i could get without the Whale Tail. Gary Fong, inventor of the Whale Tail, has created a very cool accessory for any high powered flash. Being universal, it will work across the Canon, Nikon and other camera company's flashes. Considering the cost of a flash, the price of the Whale Tail is pretty reasonable. That's not to say cheap, but it is also something that a photography can use for years.

Apple Sells 1,000,000 iPhones

apple_iphone_1

Amazing... in 74 days Apple has taken the mobile phone world by storm... and they are only selling them in the United States and only to AT&T (formally Cingular) customers. As the quick press release states below, it took Apple nearly two years to sell one million iPods. Again, I say, simply amazing and a testament to not only the coolness and functionality of the iPhone; but the wizards of Apple marketing. Just makes you want to go out and help them reach 1.5 million phones, doesn't it?

Apple Sells One Millionth iPhone --- Yesterday, just 74 days after its introduction on June 29, Apple sold the one millionth iPhone. “One million iPhones in 74 days—it took almost two years to achieve this milestone with iPod,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait to get this revolutionary product into the hands of even more customers this holiday season.” [Sep 10, 2007]

Looking for Album Art???

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Came across a cool website while reading Digg, Josh's iTunes Album Art. What is it? Well, it is a webisite that had figured out a way to dig into the heart of the iTunes Music Store and pull out the album art it holds. Why is this cool? Well, if you don't buy your albums on iTunes you may not have the album art and don't want to scan it yourself. If that is the case, then you can use this website to try and grab a high-res version of your new album's cover.

menu-grab

Now, if you are using iTunes then you may already know that Apple gives anyone the ability to download their digital album art; even if you didn't buy the album from iTunes Music Store. It's really easy and works on both Macs and PCs. Josh's iTunes Album Art website is great if you don't have this or don't use iTunes. In any event, it's pretty cool to use. Of course, Apple could shut him down anything they want, and may do so. One never knows with Apple.

Cheap iPods - Get'em While They're HOT!

By now you have probably heard that Apple is releasing a 6th generation iPod called the "iPod Classic" and an iPod based on the iPhone design. That means that stores have to sell off the current stock of 5.5 generation iPods, as well as 2nd generation Nanos; as the Nano got a major redesign as well.

To that end I saw on

that Costco is in the process of liquidating their iPod stock at all of their stores. There are probably none left, but one never knows.
  • 2GB Nano: $49.97
  • 4GB Nano: $99.97
  • 8GB Nano: 149.97
  • 80GB iPod 5.5 Gen: 229.97 (normally $349)
Check out this
.

It's worth noting that other chains may be doing the same thing, although I was in Wal-Mart last night and their iPod were priced the same as they have been since released.

Could Apple Be Planning Movie Rentals???

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I was reading an article on MacRumors I saw a posting that showed this image of an iTunes support page dropdown that included the following (click on image):

  • DidNotReceiveMovie-RentalMovie
  • AccidentalPurchase-RentalMovie
  • ContentQuality-RentalMovie
  • DuplicatePurchase-RentalMovie
  • WrongVErsion-RentalMovie
  • BadMetadata-RentalMovie
  • Other-RentalMovie
There have been rumors that movie rentals were coming to iTunes. While Steve Jobs seems dead set against a subscription model for music (I agree with this stance), a rental plan for movies makes sense. The rumor is that you could rent the movie for 30 days for $2.99 and be able to move it to one other device (i.e., iPod, AppleTV, iPhone, etc...).

Read the MacRumors article

Great Mac Applications

If you are new to the Mac or just researching buying a Mac, one big question on your mind is SOFTWARE. The story you hear is that there isn't any software for the Mac; and what software there is, just really isn't that good. Well, I'm hear to tell you that if you have hear that awful story, rest assured it is a total lie.

Are their more software titles for Windows? Are there some great software titles for Windows? While both of these questions are answered with "yes," it doesn't hold that there aren't many apps for the Mac. Truth be told, there are many GREAT applications for Mac OS X. Many are only available on the Mac. Many will make you wonder why you didn't switch sooner.

All that being said, the hardest thing about moving to a new platform is knowing what applications you just have to try. Below is a list of software that I consider essential, or at least worth trying. This list, long though it is, doesn't come close to showing the shear volume of software available.

Here is a List of Great Mac OS X Applications:

  • Mail - Apple's mail client. You won't find an easier mail client to use anywhere. It isn't light on features. It is easy to use and best of all, it's included in every copy of Mac OS X. If you own a Mac, you have Mail. (Apple - FREE) - Upgrade Coming In October Mail for Mac OS X 10.5
  • - Apple's calendar program. For me this was the most underused program. It isn't perfect and has its quirks, but you can't beat the price and in reality, it does 100% of what most folks need out of a calendar application. If you have .Mac though, it becomes even more useful. (
    )

    - Upgrade Coming In October Mail for Mac OS X 10.

  • - Apple's web browser. There are sites that don't play friendly with it; but not many. While it isn't perfect, you won't find a better browsing experience. Best of all, it too is included with every copy of Mac OS X. It's true most browsers are free, but not every browser is built from the ground-up to work on a Mac.
    (
    ) - Upgrade Coming In October
    (The beta is already available)
  • - You might know this program by another name, Firefox. Camino is based on the exact same code base as Firefox; the major difference between the two is that Camino was developed for the Mac using that code base. There is a version of Firefox for Mac, it's even on this list, but it isn't optimized to run on the Mac like Camino. The drawback to this is simply updates to Camino don't occur as often as they do with Firefox. The upside is that Camino is more Mac compatible, not just running on a Mac, but thriving on a Mac giving Mac users all of the internal tools they expect. For example, built-in spell checking. Because it uses the same code as Firefox, any sites that works with Firefox will work with Camino.
    (
    )
  • for OS X - Many PC users have left Internet Explorer for Firefox. Simply put, it's better. If you used Firefox on a PC, then the Mac version is 100% identical. Most plugins will work on both versions. It isn't 100% Mac like, but works like a dream on a Mac and nearly 100% of all sites will display great on Firefox.
    (
    )
  • - Simply the easiest web creation program I have ever used. With its simple WYSIWYG design and use of themes you can have websites up in minutes. Many programers and designers have created plug-ins as well as themes. If you are going to create a website on a Mac, you have a few choices, but this by far is my choice. (
    )
  • - Here is a tool that has no counterpart that i know of on the PC. Let's say Safari is your broswer of choice, but occasionally you need to use Caminio, Firefox or even Omniweb. While you are using that browser you don't have access to your regular bookmarks. What's a boy to do? Use Bookdog. This program will sync your bookmarks across all of your browsers, and now does it across user profiles. Even better, it sorts your bookmarks and even verifies they still work!
    (
    )
  • - The best music management software on Mac or PC. If you haven't heard of iTunes, then you have been living under a rock for the past few years. If you own an iPod you use iTunes. If you use iTunes, you may want an iPod. If you are buying music on-line, you are probably using iTunes and probably want an iPod. What Apple was shooting for? -
    (
    )
  • If you have bought a Mac in the past 10 years, you have iPhoto. The most recent version was just released and is part of iLife. If you have used photo catalog software on a PC, you are in for a treat. Only Picasa 2.0 comes close to iPhoto, and it isn't a close 2nd. -
    (
    )
  • - When you use this program you will think Apple thought it up; and they should have. iTunes can play videos and store them in its database, but doesn't do it increadibly well. iVideo on the other hand plays all videos and does do it very well. I think it should be closer to $14.95, but who's going to argue over $5. -
    (
    )
  • - They call it an application launcher, but this program has more secrets than the Nixon administration. The author created the software, but it's up to the community to figure out how it works. There is little this program can't do and launching programs is on the simple end. Basically, it was designed to talk to just about every database on your Mac: photos, music, videos, addresses, files, folders and so much more. Quickly becoming one of the most talked about applications in Mac "Geekdom" -
    (
    )
  • - While Apple computers are easy touse, they aren't "As Seen on TV" simple "Set It & Forget It" appliances. They are extremely sophisticated computers that do require some software maintenance. That being said, it isn't difficult and there are a host of free programs out there that do the jobs quite nicely. Any of them will work but this one sits in your menu and requires only that you click and choose the maintenance action you want to run: daily, weekly, monthly. It will do lots of little things for you that will keep your Mac running efficiently. -
    (
    )
  • - This program serves to useful purposes. 1) keeps track of your website logons and passwords, auto entering if you prefer 2) keeps track of all kinds of other data like credit cards, bank accounts, frequent flyer numbers and just about anything else. - (
    )
  • - If you are looking for a great and simple way to manage your recipe collection, then this is a great way to go. Using the iLife look and feel, you can enter your recipes, pull them off of the internet and even go full screen in the kitchen to make reading the recipes easier. (
    )
  • - A great program for the student or the professional. By mimicking a notebook in every way, as well as giving you the ability to index that notebook on the fly, this program becomes an indispensable note-taking tool. (
    )
  • - Apple's answer to a productivity suite. Over the past few years Apple has been upgrading it and making the suite better and better. The original apps were Pages and Keynote. Pages has been a work in progress, but Keynote has been a stellar presentation program since day one rivaling PowerPoint. In the programs latest iteration, they have updated both and added a spreadsheet application. If you get this suite, you probably won't need Office which costs $300 more. - (
    )

“The best camera, is the one you have on you.”
— Chase Jarvis