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February 14, 2009

Is this why we're fat?

Internet trends come and go, but this one blew up big, really quickly.

Launched just five days ago, the bluntly-named This is Why You're Fat attempts to catalogue (with photos!) the egregiousness of our diets.

Frankly, looking at some of this stuff, and reading the descriptions, makes me a bit uneasy. I don't know how we eat some of this stuff, but if it's on a restaurant menu, it's likely because people are daring enough to try it.

As we look at the disaster of the economy's financial excesses, it may not hurt to look at our dietary excesses as well. The articles have flown fast and furious over the years that we're an overweight nation, and each successive generation is more and more overweight. These photos might be a good place to start when attempting to tighten the belt... of food.

Posted by Josh on 10:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Documents to Go: My best friend has returned.

One of my favorite pieces of software for the Palm devices I used to own was Documents to Go, made by a company based out of Milford called DataViz.

The software allows you to open and edit many types of documents in the Microsoft Office suite: Word, Excel and Powerpoint. It allowed you to do this without converting the files, which was very helpful when I needed to make changes. It was so useful that instead of spending a lot of money on a laptop for school, I bought a keyboard that attached to my Palm device, and simply took notes using Documents to Go. Since I can type faster than I can write, and my handwriting is atrocious, I was able to take better notes, and be able to read them later. In the classes I did this, it helped my academic career immensely.

The software was powerful, and many people with Palm devices noticed. It was consistently the most purchased software for the Palm, and Palm even started offering a basic version on all of its newer devices, including its smartphone lines. However, as I drifted from my Palm device to a Blackberry more recently, I had to acclimate myself to being only able to open documents when they came via E-mail.

I was reminded of the software when I updated my Blackberry's phone software. Among the improvements and additions was the basic version of Documents to Go. What I came to find out was that DataViz has been expanding its platform support, now offering Windows Mobile and Blackberry versions. Their site also notes development is underway for other platforms, like the iPhone and Android.

For those who use a smartphone to read their E-mail, this is an exciting development. The beauty behind Documents to Go was the ability to make changes to documents without having to be in front of the computer. On my Blackberry, I would from time to time be asked to proof something in a Word document, and all I could do was reply with a text E-mail saying what paragraph needed fixing, and what words. Now I can actually correct it and send it back to the person who asked for my help. The fact that they could retain much of the document's formatting and display it nicely on the screen was a nice touch. The newer versions even save the formatting it can't handle, and keeps it intact when the document is saved and sent back to someone to look at on a computer.

Documents to Go is worth a look, although whether the basic version, included with some smartphones now (of which the list is growing), or the more powerful Professional Edition is needed will come with some research and time with the software, I've found it quite helpful over the years, and recommend it to those who rely heavily on a phone for E-mail.

Posted by Josh on 10:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Your phone needs software updates too.

In my time in the wireless industry, I've come across something which I feel is worth sharing. iPhone and Android users are the lucky ones; they're trained to check for this, but most of us might not realize how helpful it can be. I'm talking about software updates. For your cell phone.

Many times, problems or bugs are found once a phone is made available to a large audience. Like a computer, a phone runs on a pretty complex set of software, which becomes even more complicated if you own a smartphone like a Blackberry or Windows Mobile device. Other times, the manufacturers or software developers find a way to implement new features that they make available from an update. (One such feature will be discussed in my next post.)

It's easy to forget that as phones become more and more powerful, they also share kinship with their larger computer friends. Software updates are now a helpful way to make sure you're getting the most out of your phone. Releases can help with battery life, bugs, and even feature additions. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see a software update a couple of times a year.

Most cell phone providers and manufacturers maintain a list of software updates on their Web sites, but a useful site that can let you know if you're due for an update can be found and phonenews.com's Firmware Tracker, that lets you know the current version available for your phone.

Many newer phones allow you to download an update "over the air," which means that those with an Internet connection available to the phone can simply click a few menu links and have the phone update itself. Other phones require a little more work. Blackberry and iPhone users generally "tether" their phones, meaning that you hook it up to a computer and use software to update the phone. This is sometimes preferred, as it can give you the chance to back up your information prior to an update, in case something goes wrong.

It's generally a good idea to check your software version every 3-6 months, or update if you're prompted to on your phone. This can many times help you maximize your phone's potential, and limit your frustration.

DISCLAIMER: I have worked, and continue to do so, in the wireless industry as a lowly sales peon. As such, this and all wireless items will avoid any discussion of carriers, but instead focus on the cool technology that's either coming or has arrived. Frankly, that's more fun anyway.

Posted by Josh on 9:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 6, 2009

Casual gaming: some recommendations.

I'm a bit of a workaholic, so although many people my age are into gaming, I don't have time to set aside large chunks of time to tackle challenging, multi-hour video games. Besides, I've always been more of a fan of Ms. Pac-Man than Lara Croft anyway.

As such, when I first got online in the late '90s I was intrigued by the idea of casual gaming, which offered cheap or free gameplay in bite-sized chunks, vs. having to invest hours in the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto (they also generally serve as good all-ages games). Some of the early sites AOL was affiliated with, which is what I used at the time, were Slingo and Boxerjam.

Both services, which are still free and online (and available to non-AOL members too)remain entertaining to play. Slingo, a combination of slots and bingo, offered enjoyable gameplay and was fun to play for hours at a time. The online, multi-player component added to the intrigue, as you fought your way up the ladder.

The same could be said for Boxerjam, which created a series of online multi-player games, some knowledge-based and some strategy-based, that were entertaining in their own right.

Over time, I discovered other great options out there. My current favorite online service is Pogo, which is currently an Electronic Arts subsidiary. EA are the guys behind games like Madden, so they've had a little experience in the gaming realm.

Last summer I signed up for their Club Pogo premium service, which at $40 a year, has been a lot of fun. The Club Pogo membership allows you to earn badges, which are like their equivalent of the XBox Achievements. Hit a certain rank, complete weekly challenges or achieve a certain outcome in a game, and you earn a badge. Special badges are offered at times too. The badge system adds an additional level of addictiveness, and the variety of games (over 100 for Club Pogo members, less for free players) is impressive. They even have online multi-player Scrabble and Monopoly, which are structured to be able to be played in under a half hour. Good stuff.

Another element of casual gaming is the simple, downloadable games. Over the years I've grabbed a game here or there from sites like GameHouse, which have some fun games, many of which can be played free online before purchasing.

I have more recently been a continual fan of Big Fish Games. You can play some of their games online for free, but I like their Game King membership program. For $6.99 a month, you get a credit for a game each and every month. The credits accumulate if you don't use them, so you have time to wait for a game that attracts your attention. They've got hundreds of games to choose from, and they can be installed on more than one computer. Normally these games cost $20 per game, and even with discounts on other sites, I haven't seen anyone come down to that price point. If you want more than one game in a month, you can purchase additional credits, also at $6.99, so really you get as many games you want for $6.99 each.

Casual downloadable games offer varying levels of replay value, so you might tend to burn through them a bit quicker, but given the inexpensive nature of them compared to buying PlayStation or X-Box games, for those who like games that fit into the casual genre, it's a nice way to keep the price down.

Another approach I think is pretty cool is offered by Wild Tangent. There, you purchase coins, and each coin allows you to play a game for up to 24 hours without interruption. Each coin you use reduces the purchase price of a game by 25 cents. So, if you like playing a game occasionally, instead of buying it, you can just use a coin. And if you play a game enough, the price of the game to buy it outright can eventually drop down to as low as $5. This allows for some cool "try before you buy" scenarios that ensure you're happy with what you're getting first, and solves that burnout problem I mentioned before.

There's plenty of other sites, with other methods of doing this, and I'm sure I haven't seen them all. If you've got a good tip on a good site, let me know, and I'll follow up this post with some of your suggestions.

Posted by Josh on 10:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack