Nov
05

Upgraded to Windows 7

I just upgraded to Windows 7 and i gotta say, i like it. Besides the fact that u couldnt actually “Upgrade” from XP to Win7 kinda bugged me, but the fresh start helps (too many old programs) and i know how to bring all my settings over from the old drive. Although, when starting up i was surprised to see that everything worked. no drivers to install. I just had to install Nvidia, and the AC97 Realtek software, big deal.

Windows 7 also seems much faster and smoother then XP, and the new features are a plus. Random backgrounds, changing of colors, and it is very easy to use. o and UAC and windows updates, i can finally turn it off without a fuss. The new taskbar makes my life easy too, thumbnail previews of open windows helps a lot with multi taking. All in all im actually impressed, and nothing has broken, yet. Even games get better FPS. WOW used to get 30-40 FPS, (max settings) now i get 40-50FPS.. nice 10FPS improvement. i’ll take it.

Media center works with out a hitch too, (well not for my streaming OGM files but i’ll work on that) But for anything local, using CCCP will allow you to watch any video file in WMP or media center. if u dont want media center then VLC works wonders. Being able to easily watch anything i have on my PC on my xbox 360 without a 3rd party server makes me very happy.

something that bothered me though was i once again had to find a way to get my PSD and AI thumbnail previews back. Simple solution, Install this: MysticThumbs. Beautiful program, and all you have to do after install is restart or end and start explorer.exe in task manager. Very fast, almost instantly getting a preview for my 200MB+ poster Sized photoshop files.

so, with all that said, i am impressed that M$ finally made a new OS that doesn’t break everything. everything just, works.

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Oct
05

Elegant Steel

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This is Farenheit, a coaster at Hershey park. i got a few pictures that day but this just has a cool presence to it.

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Sep
29

An old Beauty

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I have always found covered bridges to be beautiful. i finally had the chance to go out and photograph this one.

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Sep
13

AEC Facade Visualization

One of the coolest things i have seen in a while. Claus Helfenschneider from Austria and his team created this cool DMX lighting display from an exsisting AEC building. Check it out.

more on AEC below.

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Sep
10

TFLN, FML, OitO

tfln_fmlI have seen more and more of these sites pop up, and they are the funniest and most disturbing things i have ever read. Texts From Last Night, FMyLife, and Overheard in the Office are similar to failblog (image and video based submissions) but are all text instead of images. These sites are user submitted experiences that you can just read for hours.

FMyLife: Ever had something happen and you just sit back and say, Fuck My Life? Well this site is full of that, people comment and rate whether You Deserved It (YDI) or it really is Fuck Your Life (FYL)
“Today, I was driving my new car home when I came around a sharp turn to see a groundhog in the road. I kindly stopped and allowed it to cross when all of the sudden a car slammed into the back of mine. Then, another car went flying around us. That car hit and killed the groundhog. FML”

Overheard in the Office: Just as the title says, random conversations overheard while working. amazing the things you hear in that little cubicle.
Office manager to locksmith: You’re the guys who service my back door, right?

Txt Frm Lst Nght: My favorite of the 3. This site is filled with just 1 or 2 line text messages that were sent to someones phone. The kind of text you probably regret send the next day.
For example:
(870): I dont wanna date her. I just wanna be able to run a blacklight over her face and prove ownership.
(262): Care to explain to me why theres a baby food jar filled with semen in my fridge? or why its labeled as unicorn sweaIt?
(480): You were running around the house covered in syrup, with shredded down pillow feathers on your body screaming “AFLACK!” at everyone

think you get the point, go check it out.

-Zanson

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Sep
09

Apples “big” announcement

maclogoSo, What was so special about today’s Apple announcement? Well, you can now get an ipod with a camera, pretty useful depending on how the quality is, Classic ipods are here to stay, price drops, and o the new iphone/touch 3.1 update and iTunes 9…

Lets start with OS 3.1, now you are able to buy and download ring-tones for $1.29 right from you phone!   ? wait, so lets take a step back here, something you can easily do for free from your computer you are now going to pay $1.29 for just to download it right to your phone? even better, is it’s a 30 sec or less version of the song, and your paying MORE for this version then the original. does anyone else see the problem here? are we really that lazy? (don’t answer that) i mean come on, if you are going to download a 30 second version of a song, about 1/6 the length, wouldn’t you expect to pay, 1/6 the price? apparently people are dumber then they look and apple is taking FULL advantage of this.

Next, iTunes 9. New easy navigation, higher prices, previews from anywhere, basically the same apple song and dance. “New” features that should have been there in the 1st place and are common sense to have, but they make it seem like it such a big deal now. O i almost forgot, iTunes LP. again, something you can get for free by google search, you can now pay more to download album art, lyrics, liner notes, photos and “more”.  Even better is now you can post your wishlist and other fun information right to your Twitter and Facebook. yay just what i want to see, your overpriced links on my facebook wall.

the worst part about all of this is people actually pay for this crap.

anyone else annoyed yet? cuz i sure am. i would continue with the rant, but I’m getting too frustrated at this point.

Summary for those who wanna skip the BS, Apple is charging even MORE for 1/6 of a song and the “new” features are something that should have been there before.

-Zanson

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Sep
08

Celldweller Chapter 01

Wish Upon A Blackstar Chapter 01

Wish Upon A Blackstar Chapter 01

Lets start this off the right way shal we? The new Celldweller, Wish Upon A Blackstar, is now out! well, at least 2 songs off the new album (chapter 01) wich will be a 5 part release. Amazing work (as always) and the artwork is even more incredible. Check it out on myspace, or pick it up on FiXT. Still waiting for my copy in the mail, but a free downloadable version is available with your purchase :D (love that) and an almost personal email from Klayton:

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Sep
08

Welcome to the insanity

Welcome to the Phantoms Era blog. Please do not be alarmed, for you will see random, informative, and maybe some senseless posting on many catagories from movies and music, to computer hardware and software, maybe some car stuff… who knows what you will find. all i know, is that it’s going to be a fun wild ride :D So join me, relax, comment and share.

o, and remember. The Phantom is watching.

-Zanson

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