music from november 2010
by Phil on Dec.01, 2010, under music
The following is a list of music I listened to a lot in November 2010! Some of it was discovered through Girl Talk’s new album, other from the new Digitalism release (and me subsequently looking into Midnight Juggernauts again), random radio play, some music I heard at a bar, more music that I use to listen to back in ’07, some recommendations from work, “Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin ‘?”, and a random link to some crazy Russian beat boxer.
Kylie Minogue – In Your Eyes
Beck – Everyone’s Gotta Learn Sometime
Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Strong (The Neptunes Remix)
The Brothers Johnson – Strawberry Letter #23
New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
DJ Mehdi – Lucky Boy
Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand
FantomenK – The Massacre
FantomenK – CPU Mood
DJ Mehdi – Signatune (T. Bangalter Edit)
Depeche Mode – In Chains
Depeche Mode – In Sympathy
Deadmau5 – Meowingtons Enables Hax
Stimming – Melodica
Daft Punk – Derezzed
Midnight Juggernauts – Vital Signs
Midnight Juggernauts – Shadows
Midnight Juggernauts – Fire Below
Digitalism – Blitz
Digitalism – Stratosphere
Luciana – I Like That
Masta Mic – Best DNB Beatbox
Masta Mic – New Beatbox
Masta Mic – Halloweeen Beatbox
This playlist is available on YouTube here. If you like the songs, buy them! I can’t guaruntee how long the videos in this playlist will stick around either.
an idea for gmail labs and google talk
by Phil on Nov.30, 2010, under tech, user experience
The Introduction
I like the idea of not having to open up another IM client to talk to my friends who use Google Talk instead of Windows Live Messenger. Until Microsoft actually implements cross-protocol IM like they said they were going to back in the day, I stick with using both Google Talk inside of Gmail and Windows Live Messenger.
The Problem
The problem I have though, is that I don’t like my instant messengers beeping at me when I get messages. I prefer visual cues, like how Windows Live Messenger makes the taskbar icon flash. Unfortunately, Google Talk in Gmail does not do this! Back in the days of XP and Vista, the problem was solved by changing the title of the page from “Gmail – …” to “New message from contact” or something to that effect. This would cause a sort of blinking animation in the task bar – as Firefox’s taskbar icon title just shows the title of whatever site you’re currently on.
However, since Windows 7 doesn’t display window titles in the task bar by default – and I rather like this setting – I have no good means of determining when a message has arrived for me. Sure, due to the translucent nature of my window decorations, sometimes I notice the blinking title bar anyway – but its not reliable.
The Idea
Gmail Labs rolls out new features that users can opt into all the time! If one of these new features were to make the browser icon in the toolbar flash when a new message arrives – similar to Windows Live Messenger does – the problem could be solved. However, I’m not entirely sure that’s something a browser lets you do, so unfortunately a plug-in might be required. Either way, the people behind Gmail Labs are smart, and I’m sure they can solve the problem as long as they’re aware the problem exists!
ignite waterloo 4 was awesome: pt. 2
by Phil on Nov.23, 2010, under events
This is part 2 of my post on Ignite Waterloo 4. For part 1, click here!
Alright people, lets continue talking about more of the awesome 5-minute presentations I witnessed on last Thursday!
Doug Moen: The 3-D Printer Revolution
Doug brought us the terrifying topic of 3D printers, what they are, how they work, and why they’ll spell our doom. Okay, I might have exaggerated that last one, but seriously – these things are creepy. A 3D printer is basically a device that can print three dimensional objects – layer by layer. Imagine if you took rapid horizontal cross sections of an object, and then stacked them ontop of each other? Thats sort of what a 3D printer does, but instead of a stack, you something very closely approximating the original object. The best worst part? There are 3D printers that can print the requisite pieces to make a new 3D printer. That’s right, our technology is self replicating. Its only a matter of time before Skynet is formed and we’re all doomed. Doug is associated with KwartzLab, a local hackerspace. I couldn’t find his twitter handle, but you might be able to get a hold him through KwartzLab!
Brydon Gilliss: Change the World
Brydon (twitter: @Brydon) gave a talk that was hilarious, entertaining, and rather enlightening. You see, Brydon realized that by drinking beer, he was slowly killing the environment. Apparently, not much glass from a beer bottle is actually recycled. So Brydon looked to solve this problem, one pint at a time. By installing a beer fridge, ordering a keg of beer a month, and storing said keg inside his beer fridge, Brydon knocked his beer consumption price to about 2 dollars a beer, with zero beer bottles (after initial setup costs). Now I can’t say how, but he also mentioned that you might be able to get local breweries to give you a better price on kegs.
Jonathan Fritz: Intellectual Property and Bill C-32
Jon (twitter: @jonathanmfritz) spoke about the pesky Bill C-32 and the problems it brings to Canadians who want to back up their media in a digital form. Apparently Bill C-32 would prevent you from backing up your media if there is any from of Digital Rights Management on it – even if you legally own a copy of the media and are just trying to watch it on your PC, iPad, etc. Jon also attempted to decipher some of the legalese surrounding copyright, how long it lasts, and what it means for new artists. Jon mentioned that he only broached the tip of this topic’s iceberg and encouraged the audience to get in touch with him to learn more! So if you want to know more, check out that handy twitter ID I supplied to get in touch!
Melanie Baker: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
Melanie (twitter: @melle) debriefed us on how to survive the zombie apocalypse. Apparently, Plants vs. Zombies is not a very good indication of what to expect. Some key pointers were that most literature on the topic is mostly useless, and that common sense and a certain level of physical fitness would help you just as much. Lessons learned? Aim for the head, destroy the brain, water is good (slows down the zombies, natch) and Batman will still be around to help!
Wow, Those Sounded Great!
They were great! And I didn’t even touch on all of presentations, all of which were really interesting and thought provoking. I’m glad to have been able to share some of my experiences from the event, but the best way to learn about this stuff isn’t to read about it on blogs (but please, don’t stop visiting my blog!) but to come out to these events yourself! I’m just doing my part to get people out to awesome events like these. Hopefully I’ll see you at Ignite Waterloo 5!
Update [2010-11-24]: The videos have been posted! Find ‘em here. Thanks again to Philip Bast!
